New York and Philly-based indie trio Personal Trainer modulate between energies hushed and explosive on debut single “Backyard,” a standout first release that demonstrates the group’s aptitude for powerfully anthemic songwriting. This is in large part due to the immense restraint that separates the track’s verses from its immediately sing-alongable chorus; underpinning lead vocalist Melina Harris’ initially quiet performance are the soft palpitations of a muted percussive backbone and feedback-adjacent guitar arpeggios, both of which come to the precipice of burning it all down before artfully scaling back. Personal Trainer’s balancing act eventually leads to a rip-roaring, instantly memorable vamp (“Well I’m making the rules as I go”), accentuated by harmonies and scorching garage rock riffs, delivering a satisfying, triumphant listen. No NYC gigs on the horizon (though they are playing in New Haven on May 26th), so stream the track below in the meantime. —Connor Beckett McInerney

Coming off their raucous first round win at Our Wicked Lady’s Winter Madness, it’s as good a time as ever to revisit Woodstock by-way-of NYC garage band the Bobby Lees and their energetic sound. 2018’s BEAUTY PAGEANT (rerecorded last year with new tracks in a REDUX format) rips and thrills, due in no small part to Sam Quartin’s frothy vocal delivery, an unhinged, at times drawling performance that well-complements the outfit’s grungy, melodic guitar rock. Listening to PAGEANT is a breathless experience with few downtempo pauses, the majority of its tracks a breakneck, white hot fury; rendered live, it’s an absolute barnburner. Give it a listen below ahead of their Winter Madness quarterfinals performance next weekend. 

Demo is a cursory, two-track offering by Brooklyn-based five piece Oil Bay, one that despite its short nine-minute run time firmly establishes the band’s ear for enchanting garage and tactile synths. A-Side “STRANGERdemo” builds mystery with its noir-inspired melodies and instrumentation, rife with lurid allusions to late night tales and heavy-compress guitars, opening with equal measures of disorienting keys and screaming strings, this downtempo energy fading with the introduction of “SpacesuitDEMO” and its accompanying breakbeat pace. With no shortage of reverb and a flexibility to incorporate experimental electronic accents into their lofi sound Oil Bay is tailor-made for listeners looking for gritty, noisy Indie rock — listen below, and catch them at C’Mon Everybody on April 7th.

Did everyone have a good Saturday? Because High Waisted certainly did. Their recently dropped “Boys Can’t Dance,” the first single off the upcoming Sick of Saying Sorry is a triumphant ode to the weekend, a power ballad on jumping headfirst into the frenzy, inhibitions-be-damned — and it’s accompanying video further emphasizes this hedonism en force. Frontwoman and guitarist Jessica Louise Dye’s powerful vox, proclaims how cutting a rug and letting loose is the perfect panacea to “[being] stuck inside [your] own head,” atop visuals of a wild bachelorette party and body positive male stripping. Massive riffs and danceable melodies abound, indicative of the garage and surf-infused energy we can expect from their new record, out May 22nd. Until then, watch their new video below, and catch High Waisted at Mercury Lounge on February 22nd. —Connor Beckett McInerney, Photo by Michael Todaro