by Dalila Bevab
Queen, Nirvana, Radiohead and Pink Floyd gained notoriety through the help of college radio stations, attracting young adults seeking new tunes. Some of the most iconic and legendary bands gained initial popularity through the support of passionate college students across the world.
With the COVID-19 outbreak, millions of Americans have self-quarantined, which can lead to immense boredom or a chance to explore the awesome music that’s out there.
Louisville is a hotspot for music lovers. One stroll through the Highlands or a click on Spotify introduces students to unique sounds. These are the five local bands students should be listening to on their self-quarantine adventure: Anemic Royalty, Shark Sandwich, Boa, GRLwood and The Happy Yew.
High-energy, party rock band Anemic Royalty’s turf is the Highlands, where the original trio met and formed their group in middle school. Their main influences are West Coast punk scene bands Fidlar and SWMRS. There is also a classic rock and 70’s punk flare to their songs. Anemic Royalty tries to keep their shows loud and rowdy while maintaining the feeling that it is a safe space.
“We like to make it feel like we’re all one big crazy family,” lead vocalist Jeremy Rochman said.
The band is releasing a full album in the summer. Their latest single “Angels” is loud, raw and an energetic song to jam to before taking that dreaded online exam or while relaxing on the patio or in the backyard. “Angels” and Anemic Royalty’s other songs can be streamed on Spotify. Follow the band on their adventures on Instagram, @anemicroyaltyofficial.
Shark Sandwich’s raw, punk sound is brought to life at their engaging live shows. Photo courtesy of Sara Collins.
“Loud and fast songs about being sad and dogs” is punk band Shark Sandwich’s brand. Lead vocalist and guitarist Raven Burns-Gibson screams her heart out in the name of anarchism and feminism, revolutionizing what it means to be a female artist in the underground rock scene.
“I would describe it as riot ‘grrl’ punk,” she said.
Shark Sandwich is primarily inspired by the original riot “grrl” bands of the 90’s like Bikini Kill, the Gits and Bratmobile. But they also take influence from other, earlier punk groups like Crass and Black Flag, as well as local Louisville punk bands.
One of their favorite songs they’ve written is called “Cop Song.” Burns-Gibson said, “It discusses the militarization of the police and how they disproportionally target people of color.”
The band describes their shows as exhausting in a good way. Burns-Gibson said, “I’ve been told our sets are notable for their energy and loudness, as well as their brevity.”
The band will post updates on future shows on its Instagram page, @sharksandwichband. The band’s music can be streamed on Bandcamp.
Three-piece psychedelic groove rock band Boa blends 60’s and 70’s psychedelia, modern rock sensibilities and lots of vocal harmonies, making it difficult to categorize them into one type of sound. Their influences hit a wide spectrum, ranging from old country, hip-hop, pop and more. Boa’s high-energy shows are characterized by plenty of dancing and crowd surfing and are what the members look forward to the most.
The song every student should listen to first is “Jawbone,” the first track off their debut album “Someplace Special,” which is on Spotify.
“The song is about the home we grew up in,” the band said in an Instagram response. “If the crowd is happy and getting down to our music, that mood is pumped directly into us and makes us get even more into our performance and have a hell of a time.” Follow Boa’s Instagram for future gigs, @boa_usa.
Boa is best-known for its funky and mellow sound. Photo courtesy of Will Fenwick.
Scream-pop female-fronted duo GRLwood is redefining the mellow dream pop subgenre by juxtaposing their rage with angelic shrieks. They are influenced by Black Sabbath, Hole and other screamo rock bands characterized as angry and passionate with strong reverb in their music.
“Our shows are awesome because our fans are typically very wonderful people—a whole bunch of freaks and weirdos, and we are freaks and weirdos and we have fun,” the band said in an e-mail response.
The band suggests students listen to “Get Shot” to get a feel for their sound because it’s a digestible song that’s not too poppy or too heavy. Check for future dates to see them in concert on their Instagram page, @grlwood_band.
GRLwood is best-known for the viral song on TikTok, “I’m Yer Dad.” Photo courtesy of Jerry McIlvoy.
Loud, fast and energetic concerts with crazy costumes and a mosh pit are The Happy Yew’s brand. It’s difficult to describe their music subjectively, but Nirvana, The Misfits, Weezer and the Pixies are their notable influences. They play many punk shows, where things go pretty hard.
“We view our music as more happy and bright with elements of punk,” the band said in an Instagram response. The ideal song to showcase what The Happy Yew has to bring to the table is the energetic and beautifully distorted tune, “Fight Song.” Get to know the band know on their Instagram, @thehappyyew.
The Happy Yew performs at Steven House in Louisville. Photo courtesy of Olivia Brotzge.
Sadly, the bands have had to cancel upcoming shows due to COVID-19, but follow them on their Instagram accounts to stay updated for any livestreams or future shows.
Self-quarantining and social distancing does not mean students can’t continue to explore and discover new things from their homes. Music is therapeutic and can help ease anxieties and stress during a rough transition at any point in life, but it’s especially important now. Turn off the TV, put some headphones in and ease into a magical, musical world fueled by great local music.