One thing I’ve gotten really into over the past year is indie music. I’ve gone to see quite a few musicians and bands in my area and it is really a nice experience being able to see a show for $10-$20 and be right up in front of the stage. (Not to mention usually being able to walk right out of the venue afterwards and not have to get stuck in traffic for ages.)

There are so many great musicians out there that I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites on here from time to time! So consider this my first indie music roundup. I’ve cultivated a playlist that’s over 15 hours long at this point, so I’ve got a lot of music to suggest in the future.

First up is Moon Walker, a Brooklyn-based musician who makes hard rock music that is extremely topical and political. His most recent album, Wasteland Country, came out in May and is absolutely fantastic. I saw him perform in Asheville, North Carolina back in late March and it was an amazing show!

As one sample of his music, I recommend “HAPPY FACE,” which was released as a single last year.

The first band that I went to see in person this past year was Mega Infinity, a ska punk band that I became friends with on TikTok! I caught their show at The Milestone in Charlotte, a classic venue for punk acts. Before I heard their music, I couldn’t even tell you what “ska punk” is but now I know I like it. Their most recent album is Harmonic Convergence that came out this year and it is great! Here I will highlight one of their older songs, “Sozin’s Comet,” which is one of those if-you-know-you-know references!

(As an aside, I am super jealous of Mike Digiulio’s sublime guitar riffing ability.)

Another band I first became friends with on TikTok is ColorMeKrazy!, an electronic alt rock group from Raleigh, North Carolina. I most recently saw them perform at The Milestone in July of this year, and they are incredible, high-energy performers!

For an example of their music, let me highlight their most recent release, IMPERMANENCE_!

The next two musicians are acts I also saw in Asheville. The first is Emerson Woolf and the Wishbones, who are a fascinating genre blend that I would describe as “folk rock.” I saw them in July of this year and it was an amazing show!

I first became aware of Emerson Woolf and the Wishbones when their sapphic love song “Thia Kane” went viral, and it is just an incredible high energy song that I can listen to over and over!

I was really on a concert roll in July, and I saw ColorMeKrazy!, Emerson Woolf, and this third act all in the span of a week! Renee Christine performs what I would call incredibly passionate folk music, often backed up by cello, and covering cultural and social topics. Her show was sublime.

One thing I absolutely love about her music is how much passion and energy she puts into it. You feel like she is putting EVERYTHING into her singing, which gives it a sincerity one rarely sees. Her breakout hit was “Lehigh Valley,” which is the perfect introduction to her work.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet Renee after the concert, get a vinyl album signed, and get a photo with her.

(She has such a commanding stage presence I was kinda surprised she wasn’t taller than me!)

Let me share one more recent act I came across that I absolutely love! Theophobia has been around for a number of years but only released their first full album this year, and I am rather obsessed with it! It is hard to describe their music other than to share their own description: “Muppetcore 70s style musical supergroup.” I love every song on their album, but let me highlight “God of War.”

All of these bands are the sort that I feel like I will be able to say “I got to see them before they blew up.” (I even said as much to Renee Christine, though she was humbly skeptical.) I really enjoy highlighting up and coming groups on my TikTok page and now here on my blog.

Hopefully folks find posts like this interesting; let me know what you think!