Mountain Head have hit the ground runnin’ here on the Toronto scene. These two brothers aren’t new to the scene but after spending some time in the mountains…Mountain Head was born. Their first single “We Stole Your Head” is a heavy dream rock tune. The drums have a hip hop vibe to them and the rhythm hits hard with the bass and synth combo. See these mysterious bearded brothers this Friday March 13^th at The Rivoli along with F.Scott & the Nighthawks as well as Joan Smith & the Jane Does. Excellent lineup! – Kris Gies

Last November, a Boston collective called The Shallows released a shoegaze treat quite transportive. Arsonist is all that is good about the ethereal genre, why with tracks like “Beginners,” whose guitar chords linger splendidly, elegant vocals enchant, and reliable rhythms impress, there is little not to enjoy. The overdriven bass that leads the title track adds a rock edge to the floating arpeggios that explode into tough fuzz-rich strums in the choruses. “Glacial Lakes” pays homage to the genre’s ‘80s U.K origins with its pure dream-pop elements while “Charmed” coasts to a soothing end somewhere far from where your emotions were before the start of the record. Stream the title track of this new EP below for a quicker way to get to your weekend. - Rene Cobar

Uptown overdrive champs Guilty Giraffe shine on their newly released self titled LP, incorporating an aggressive smattering of varied guitar-driven subgenera over the course of ten immaculately-produced tracks. From the introductory “Babyface” the Yonkers quartet makes their love of effects pedals well-known, quickly pivoting from a shoegazing overture to dream-pop arpeggios; this dynamic blend of sounds dark and bright continues well-through album standouts like “Xanax” and “Washed Out,” wherein frontman Mathew McGinnis’s growling vox shifts between grungy, full-throated yells and plainspoken singspeak, a delightful performance that places him somewhere between Kevin Shields and Andrew WK. With acrobatic licks and a penchant for the occasional, experimental soundscape (“Cool as a Fan”), Guilty Giraffe shreds through and through — listen to our premiere stream of the record below, and catch the band at Berlin on March 1st.

Boston’s waterfront neighborhood of Charlestown is currently echoing the screaming guitar solos and furious rhythms of its local heroes Ringtail. The quartet of gentlemen that comprise the group has released a new single titled “Ask the Dust,” which immediately revs up and blasts off into a shoegaze paradise of dreamy electric guitar leads, raw vocal deliveries, and eruptive drum fills. With hints of sweet shoegaze and spicy stoner metal, the new song is a treat you can savor for a while. The group is gearing up for a hometown show at Midway Cafe on March 13th, and for a strong 2020 to come. Stream the new single below for a sick blend of styles your midweek deserves. - Rene Cobar