Hockey Dad

What began as something to do while there was no surf has become so much more for Zach Stephenson and Billy Fleming aka Hockey Dad. In 2013 the two, who have been friends since early childhood started jamming in their parent's garage because there were no waves. With Zach on guitar/ vocals and Billy behind the drum kit the two quickly progressed to writing their own songs and had a set together to start playing some shows locally across Wollongong. Ten years on and Hockey Dad now have an EP, three full length albums and a live record under their belt and have headlined tours across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Canada, the USA and UK as well as played main stage sets at some of the worlds biggest festivals. In the process they duo have earned themselves gold and platinum records in Australia, two top 10 chart positions and a loyal set of fans that have sold out shows at some of music's most iconic venues. With a fourth album now recorded, the band have been getting back to the stage over recent months with tours around the world ahead of the first taste of the new album due in the back half of 2023.

REMO DRIVE

To find their muse again, REMO DRIVE went back to where it all began: their parents' basement. It had been a long time coming for the Paulson brothers - Erik (vocals, guitar) and Stephen (bass) - who formed Remo Drive in Bloomington, Minnesota, in 2013 and have since captivated audiences around the world with an earnest, idiosyncratic brand of indie-rock and two highly lauded albums: 2017's Greatest Hits and 2019's Natural, Everyday Degradation.

When the Paulsons stumbled across a Tascam recording desk on Facebook Marketplace in 2019, they thought it might make a nice starting point to demo songs for their then-forthcoming third LP. But $250 and a few weeks later, they found themselves fully entrenched in making the actual album itself. Not only that, but the safety and security of their parents' home provided a welcome respite for the brothers, who have learned they're most creative without a ticking clock and prying eyes peeking over their shoulders.

Weakened Friends

Portland, Maine indie rock trio Weakened Friends dive into the honest truth of being a working musician on their new LP, Quitter, reflecting on lost friendships and self-worth swallowed up by burnout. Songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist Sonia Sturino is supported by Annie Hoffman (bass/vocals) and Adam Hand (drums), filling out a mature and emotive sound.

Central to the record thematically is the empty threat of quitting music and "getting a real job". Sturino wrestles with her relationship with music on the title track, shouting "I love it, but it never really feels okay" over scorching guitars. Despite the implications of the title, quitting is not an option for the band. Even as friends settle into adulthood, Weakened Friends find themselves trapped in a fortress of their own creation, inseparably attached to the eternal youthfulness of life in music. In this liminal zone, life passes by and friendships are weakened, and Quitter takes plenty of time to mourn these losses.