Welcome back to Bonus Track: my “letter from the editor” column on the past month in music and life. Glad to have you here.
Here’s what I’ve got this month:
- How do we prioritize live music
- Thoughts on new LPs from YABAI! and PUP
- A spotlight on SLUGFEST 2025
Priority List
There’s too much good live music and not enough time (or money) to catch it all.
That truth’s hit especially hard these past few weeks. May started with a flight to Vermont for unforgettable DIY shows and some much-needed time with close friends. That trip landed squarely between Slow Teeth’s euphoric record release show and a highly anticipated Jimmy Eat World concert at Cat’s Cradle. My partner, ever the voice of reason, suggested I should take it easier, for my budget’s sake.
In a twist of fate, the decision was made for me: I missed Jimmy Eat World due to a family illness. I got a refund, but the sting lingered. It’s a gut punch to miss out on something you’ve been looking forward to for months. That’s the curse of loving live music: FOMO is part of the game.
But the concert gods giveth and taketh. The following weekend, Private Cathedral had their record release show at The Pinhook, and they were gracious enough to extend an invite. There was an excellent turnout for a night of art pop. It reminded me why I go to shows in the first place. Not just for the big names but for the novel, brilliant, tightly packed gigs that only happen in certain rooms at the right moment.
I realized what gets to me the most isn’t missing a show. It’s missing all the shows I can’t possibly get to. Try scrolling event pages for The Pinhook, Local 506, Monstercade, or The Milestone and marvel at how many stacked bills are happening statewide. You’re telling me I could see JER, Jelly Diver, BANGZZ, and blankstate. on the same bill for just $20? (Why don’t I live in Charlotte?)
We’re lucky to live near scenes where so many incredible acts play out each week. Abundance comes with choices, but that’s okay. Part of the magic is in choosing which moments to show up for and showing up fully. It’s harder to do that consistently than it is to find a show to attend.
In Case You Missed It…
These few weeks have been busy as always, but not without exciting milestones. We had our first (very poetic) album review from Stephen Mullaney. Also, my goal of “30 articles in 2025” has already been blown out of the water for those keeping track.
Here’s a quick recap of the latest goods:
- Interview: Sarah Edwards (Culture Editor at Indy Week) — Persisting as free local press in 2025, how music journalism navigates bands-as-a-brand, and what makes the Triangle a special scene
- New Music NC: April 2025 — Featuring Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson, SCOBY, and 50 new releases from North Carolina artists
- Interview: SCOBY — Leveling up as a band, seamlessly bringing in new members, and the key themes behind The Perfect Pleasure
- YABAI! and How We Build a Music Community — Returning to a familiar music scene and bringing their energy back home
- Interview: Boygirl Rising — Becoming best friends, making space for community building, and starting a queer folk music festival
- Review: The King Teen — Us Ugly Guys Got Style — Breaking down the debut solo EP by The King Teen, the “singinest songmakerupper in Durham”
- Interview: Chicken Ranch Road Show — Blending diverse musical backgrounds, being in a “cowgirl ragtime band”, and finding your people to make art with
June is booked with excellent interviews and essays (plus a surprise announcement), with two new pieces every week. You won’t want to miss them!
This Month in Music
YABAI! — Out of Touch [Self-released]
Full disclosure: YABAI! is the brainchild of my best friend/former bandmate Phil Smith. Personal bias aside, this debut record is fantastic, primed for summertime, and worth your attention.
After two years of teaching English in Japan, Phil returned to Vermont without expecting to start a band. He just wanted to write music again and have fun. But that’s not how Phil works. Case in point: the sheer momentum this four-piece of Champlain College grads has built up in just over a year. Shows, singles, and crucial community building culminated in Out of Touch, a tight 10-track, 38-minute rock set that refuses to waste a moment.
YABAI! carves out a bouncy, uplifting space where Midwestern emo’s intricate guitar work meets melodic punk rock. Phil’s vocals are bright but sometimes lean into full-throated belts, emphasizing lyrics reflecting on lost family members, culture shock during his Japanese sojourn, and falling out of touch (get it?) with friends. The result feels like a blend of The Menzingers’ melodic anthems and Petey USA’s knack for turning personal stories into communal sing-alongs.
Songs like “Sundog” and “Plum Island” are the kinds of earworms I wish I could’ve written. Perfect crowd-pleasers to get folks engaged and bouncing around. Mitch Bergeron’s lead guitar work alternates between jangly, Midwestern emo-esque riffs and melodic chord progressions. Eric Winebrenner’s bass grooves help drive songs forward, while his deeper vocals take the lead on “Doves”, contrasting wonderfully with Phil’s higher register. Scott Barrett on drums brings everything from understated groove-keeping to explosive fills, especially on songs like “Staying In” where there’s more space to let loose.
The band’s piecemeal DIY recording approach — recorded at home and with a local producer — could have led to an inconsistent final product. Instead, there is a tremendous level of cohesion throughout the record. Each song feels purposeful within the larger arc, lyrically and in terms of song variety. Ultimately, Out of Touch sounds like a band that knows what it wants to be and has the chops to get there.
Top Tracks: “Sundog”, “Plum Island”, “Let’s Just Dance Together”
PUP — Who Will Look After The Dogs? [Rise / Little Dipper]
Do you ever feel like bands that consistently put out good music wind up getting underrated? Because PUP has given me that vibe since their fantastic second LP, The Dream Is Over. Whenever they drop a new single, I know it will be good. And the songs leading up to this latest album — “Paranoid”, “Hallways”, “Get Dumber”, and “Olive Garden” — had me more excited than ever.
Beyond their catchy punk rock earworms, standardly littered throughout the track listing, there’s a more profound sense of introspection this time around. Singer Stefon Babcock toils with an imploding relationship while watching his bandmates and best friends settle down, get married, and have kids. Writing lyrics like “I’m losing the will to keep dragging on, but I can’t die yet ’cause who will look after the dog?” is a dramatic yet effective way to process unimaginable heartbreak.
Despite the thematic weight, it’s an album that I can’t stop listening to. There’s a raw energy that reminds me of the band’s 2013 self-titled debut, combined with 12 years of growth as musicians and people. PUP is just as fun, fast, and out of control, but in a way that genuinely feels fresh and stands out among their killer discography.
This record is so good that my partner lied to me, saying she didn’t like PUP so that she could buy tickets for their upcoming tour with Jeff Rosenstock as a birthday present. The truth is that this record made her a convert. Find someone who loves you like that and hold onto them dearly.
Top Tracks: “Paranoid”, “Concrete”, “Needed To Hear It”
Overall, here are my top records from the month so far:
And here’s a convenient playlist of my favorite new songs in 2025:
Follow me on Apple Music and/or Last.fm if you feel so inclined.
Artist Spotlight: SLUGFEST 2025
It’s been a chaotic month, so we’re wrapping up with a short spotlight on SLUGFEST 2025! If you missed my interview with Boygirl Rising, SLUGFEST is a queer, DIY, anti-folk festival in its second year at Panther Lake outside of Raleigh. 24 local and touring acts are coming through for this weekend of outdoor music and camping.
The festival starts at 12 pm on May 31st and concludes at 10 pm on June 1st. Plenty of community resources, like Musicians for Overdose Prevention and Plus Raleigh, will also be present. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic experience, rain or shine. Tickets are $21 for single days, $32 for weekend passes, and a suggested $20 donation for on-site camping.
I’ll be covering the fest and interviewing folks for the website. Hope to see you there!
That’s all for this month’s column. Thanks for reading! Stay safe, be sane, and support local music. (And freeze your Oreos!) 🤘
Leave a Reply