Sheer Mag / Daniel Romano’s Outfit / Fast Kids
Underlying every great record, every career-defining work of art, is a certain ineffable, increasingly rarified quality: unity of vision. Great songs need not announce their greatness: their marriage of idea with action, soul with sound, appears as something which is naturally effortless, unforced—they are what they are because they have no choice but to be. On Playing Favorites, Sheer Mag’s third full length and first with Third Man Records, this precise, matured clarity of vision is put on full display. Over the course of the past decade, Sheer Mag have labored to carve out a discernibly singular position within the canon of contemporary rock: toggling with ease between the refined flourishes of a “connoisseur’s band” and the ecstatic colloquialism of populist songwriting—yet displaying no strict loyalty to either camp—their sound, while oft-referenced, is unmistakably and immediately recognizable as theirs alone. With Playing Favorites, Sheer Mag have capitalized on a decade’s worth of devotion to their own collective spirit—a spirit refined in both the sweaty trenches of punk warehouses and the larger-than-life glamour of concert halls—emerging with a dense work of gripping emotions, massive hooks, and masterfully constructed power-pop anthems. This is the record the Philadelphian rock and roll four-piece has always been destined to make. Playing Favorites expands with a sense of undeniable vitality, buoyed by rock and roll’s singular capacity to channel a relentless compassion for human life. Playing Favorites’ greatest achievement, is perhaps its unabashed embrace of nakedly emotional, arena-sized choruses, which seem to fizz out of some sort of timeless radio set to the frequency of pure human experience. As Halladay puts it, “Nobody seems to write straight up rock bangers anymore–more than anything else, we want this record to put huge, catchy songwriting front and center.” Playing Favorites is undoubtedly a record by the same Sheer Mag that audiences of all stripes have spent the last decade falling in love with. In fact, for all of its sonic departures and evolutions, this record is perhaps the most “Sheer Mag” release yet. Not so much a return to form, but rather a realization of those greatest promises that the band has up until now only hinted at. With Playing Favorites, Sheer Mag cater to their tastes and their tastes alone: so long as they continue to do so, the future of rock and roll, that great human tradition, is in the best of hands. The Outfit release career defining new album, Preservers of the Pearl, asserting themselves as messengers of the new wave of underground rock and roll, pushing the movement forward alongside fellow trailblazers Mystery Lights, Sheer Mag, Shadow Show, Uni Boys + more.Everything has been leading here. For the first time since Attack in Black, Daniel Romano shifts from his position as sole writer, opening the floor to Outfit stalwarts Ian Romano and Carson McHone, and welcoming into the fold longtime friend and legendary Canadian rock-n-roller, Tommy Major. The band is functioning for the first time as a true collective — multiple voices and perspectives — all serving one creative pulse. The result is both a new beginning and a homecoming — an album that feels discovered, not designed.The Outfit are making music that is purposeful and profoundly urgent. Preservers of the Pearl is an invocation as much as an album – it’s fearless in a time of great compromise, and resolute in an age of peripheral bullshit. Here is a band serving something greater than themselves.
Charles Latham and the Borrowed Band / Dragmatic / The Buzzard Company
Buzzard Company is a rock quartet based in Raleigh, led by Mike Mullarkey. Buzzard Company harnesses the forgotten and familiar, drawing inspiration from psychedelic blues, grunge, heartland, and garage rock to create high-energy, guitar-driven tunes. Mullarkey’s lyrics reflect upon the disintegrating political landscape, earnest self-examination, along with the anxiety and optimism of uncertain times https://buzzardcompany.bandcamp.com/ Charles Latham & The Borrowed band “Latham’s music is passionate with biting wit.” –NPR”Reminiscent of the glorious sloppiness of Neil Young & Crazy Horse.” – Folk Radio UK “One of the sharpest songwriters to emerge of late on the antifolk sphere…Charles Latham could be your new hero.” – INDY Weekly Charles Latham is a singular voice in the North Carolina music scene — a bold and imaginative songwriter whose sharp wit, emotional depth, and magnetic performances have earned him comparisons to legends like Bob Dylan, John Prine, and Robyn Hitchcock. After years of crisscrossing the U.S. and U.K., Latham put down roots in Durham, NC, in 2014. His 2017 album, Little Me Time, highlighted his talent for pairing razor-sharp lyrics with compelling melodies and expansive production. To bring his songs to life on stage, Latham formed The Borrowed Band, an ensemble of some of the region’s most respected musicians, including former members of Ben Folds Five, Shooter Jennings, and 6 String Drag. Together, they deliver a captivating blend of ballads and barnstormers, drawing on the chemistry of vintage duets like Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris while adding a modern twist. https://charleslatham.bandcamp.com/album/charles-latham-and-the-borrowed-band
Victor Jones
Victor Jones is a dance rock singer/songwriter based in Brooklyn, NY. He plays music for mental breakdowns that can only be resolved with a raging party or a cathartic singalong. Victor gained success with his concept album “Zookeeper” and singles like “Mother Teresa” and “I Get Hurt,” the latter reaching millions of people on social media. He is 6’3” if that’s important to you.
Telescreens / The Wallabies
New York based Telescreens live and breathe by the principles of rock and roll- their mission is to give fans an escape from the overly negative, mundane, & stress inducing world that we all currently live in. At this point, Telescreens have become an inescapable force in NYC’s underground rock movement. From overpacked DIY shows in East Village backyards/Bushwick lofts, sold out shows at Bowery Ballroom, and a slot at New York’s premier music festival (Governors Ball)- the force and power of Telescreens has become a must for all fans of rock music. Telescreens released their debut album ‘The Return’ in 2020 after years of carefully crafting a narrative & new sound nostalgic of old rock and roll while maintaining a modern approach to sonics. Their most recent release, ‘Stare Wide’ EP, fuses this sound with heavy rock anthems that represent escapism & individuality. The band looks to continue to break boundaries with their upcoming album ‘7’ – staying true to their rock and roll roots while offering fresh dynamics to their repertoire. The Wallabies are a five piece indie alternative rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Coming from the college scene, they have strong DIY roots, performing dozens of house shows, and incorporate a wide range of influences from pop to metal to craft ripping guitar centric rock music. They released three self recorded singles in the Fall of 2025, and are currently recording a debut EP to release in 2026.
Thelma and the Sleaze / Meltdown Rodeo
Thelma and The Sleaze is continuing it’s power trio touring formation which dominated last year across the country opening for Driver By Truckers. Fresh out of the studio they will be playing mostly a new set of songs and some of the all time classics. They will also have the (5) edition of their limited edition Feb Grrlz Tour T Shirt.She Shreds Magazine ShowcaseRolling Stone Magazine
Rehash / Fudge / glowr
(Miami, FL) Aged 17 to 20, Rehash are a talented, 4 piece band from South Florida taking influence from classic rock and 90s rock. The result is a versatile, unique sound which covers a wide range of genres, such as rock, pop and even bossa nova! They have gained a cult following throughout social media gaining 90k followers on Tiktok, 85k on instagram and over 380k monthly listeners on spotify. They have released 2 albums with 2 songs getting over a million streams on Spotify. https://rehashok.bandcamp.com/ https://www.instagram.com/rehash.ok/# Fudge Hailing from Wilmington, North Carolina, Fudge aims to combine driving rock guitars with melodic and explosive choruses. Releasing their debut EP “Kicking Around” in late 2024, Fudge has been growing a loyal fan base for putting on exciting live shows.Fudge recently released “Interstate”. Interstate is an anthemic 90s inspired tune about hating your day job. Combining compelling songwriting with driving rock based guitars, Interstate is the perfect tune for a long drive or winding down after a busy day. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHpcY41GgbXdw3Yo90LgAMA/ glowr is the project of songwriter Nikki Knapp, based in Raleigh, NC. Through relatable lyrics and dynamic song structures, glowr’s emotive indie rock brings you into the raw healing journey that is foundational to the project. https://glowr.bandcamp.com
Titus Andronicus (solo) / Personality Cult / Verity Den / Steve Oliva playing the songs of Dan McGee
¡QUE VIVA! PRESENTS: OUR FRIEND DANA BENEFIT FOR DAN MCGEE ELECTRIC ROCK & ROLL:TITUS ANDRONICUS (SOLO)PERSONALITY CULTVERITY DEN ACOUSTIC OPENER:STEVE OLIVA PLAYS SPIDER BAGS PLUS DJS:CRAIG LAYABOUTAND DJ BUG SPRAY
Secret Monkey Weekend / The Mad Starlings
Secret Monkey Weekend – Family rock trio from Durham NC have been playing clubs, festivals and civic events since 2017. Ella handles the bass, Lila is a powerful drummer and lead singer. Papa Jefferson is on guitar and vocals. With their debut album already having gotten great reviews, and their second album release coming soon (both produced by Don Dixon — R.E.M., The Smithereens), it may not be long before they’re playing bigger venues. The MAD STARLiNGS — Born from the ashes of 90s rock band Gravity’s Pull, Durham, NCs the Mad Starlings take inspiration from music they listened to growing up as brothers in Wilmington, Delaware. Veterans of touring and sharing the stage with bands like Hootie & the Blowfish, Dillon Fence, Dave Matthews Band and others, their goal has always been to create that perfect electric pop/rock song on stage and in the studio. Their latest studio work with Ryan Pickett (My Morning Jacket, Ray LaMontagne) will be released later this spring.
Gold Connections / Kristoff Walkenson
“This sounds like hard-won hope as one who’s surviving–or trying to–on the other side of the algorithm…Gold Connections bring it all back home. Where the hurt and the heart is.” – Paste “A dynamic effort from one of today’s best up-and-coming rock bands [A TOP ALBUM OF 2024]” – Garden & Gun “A vivid, gothic soundscape for the ages.” – KEXP “Timeless, trend-averse stuff, just killer songs with deft arrangements executed with flair.” – Stereogum
Austin Royale / Monsoon / Colormekrazy
Monsoon is a two-piece indie rock band from Athens, Georgia who weave together unorthodox styles to create music that dips between the conscious and subconscious. Their new album Ghost Party is now available on all streaming platforms. After the release of Monsoon’s debut album “Ride A’Rolla” the band garnered the attention of Toyota and were contacted about using the title track for a Toyota Corolla commercial. From there, the placement landed a spot just after the 2016 Super Bowl half-time show and the band was invited to participate in the world’s first “360 multi-cam music video” launched by Google. Between the reach of the placements and touring, Monsoon gained a small cult-like following along the East Coast. Now, after the release of Ghost Party in 2022, Monsoon stays busy, relentlessly touring up and down the East Coast, Midwest, and Canada.