Three new bands at the intersection of folk and classic rock for fans of Dawes

House Above The Sun – “King of the Valley (Restless Idealist)”
-In typical folk rock fashion, this track is ultimately the story of a broken relationship and the unfortunate turn to alcohol for soothing. “It’s just another cold and lonely morning…” is the repeated refrain, a bluesy coping commentary. But halfway through this epic (8 minute plus!) track, there’s an interlude with beautiful harmonies and an almost lullaby-style expression of sincerity. If you miss the days of rock operas and epic musical compositions with high level performance, definitely spin this unique track from House Above the Sun. I’ve never really heard anything like it, even though some of the patterns feel quite familiar (in a good way).

The Fisherman Three – “Electricity”
-“It was like you invented electricity, turned me on and made me see.” What an opening line! I’m a sucker for a good opening line and this one really captured me. As I continued listening, I found the guitar and the vocals to be equally endearing. There’s something subtle about the energy of this track. It has some Tom Petty vibes to it. I appreciate the timeless nature of the composition style here. There’s an energy in the propelling rhythm that just makes me want to tap my foot along to this one. It tells a compelling narrative and makes you feel some deep emotions, so it’s a bit YES of support from me.

Jon Lindsay – “Dear Assassin”
-Every time I’ve clicked play on this song, I’ve thought of David Ramirez on the first line. Heck, even the lyrical concept feels like something Ramirez would write. I’m not sure if this feels more like Ramirez or maybe Ryan Adams, but nevertheless you get the idea of the sound from those comps. The electric guitars have just the right amount of alt rock fuzz, but it’s the quality of the lead vocal that cuts through the mix that makes it really work for me. It’s a sound that you can imagine working from a really big stage; the lyrics on the chorus almost demand to be sung by the crowd. The little synth details on the second verse (and through the song) really give a nice layer of texture. Lyrically, it seems to be about wondering why he’s still with a partner who is actually killing him. It’s a scathing idea, but is conveyed really well with some raw rock elements and outstanding vocal. This is what alt rock is all about.

Image courtesy: The Fisherman Three IG