Music Videos

Heavy Bloom's new single "Woke Up" is deeply relatable. I've experienced a relationship that I knew had an expiration date. There's that inexplicable feeling of love, but there's always that dread in the pit of your stomach when you know it's on the outs. The band's co-leads Jeannie Marinella and Joji Harada portray increasingly distant lovers on screen for a song that captures the essence of a couple preparing to go their separate ways. The music video, filmed at Marinella's former teen hangout in Capitol Hill, was directed by Jay Jackson.

The single follows "AIEW" (All I Ever Wanted), a pensive R&B song that celebrates the beauty of connection. For their latest release, Heavy Bloom veers in the opposite direction.

"Woke Up" feels upbeat on the surface due to its fast-paced, poppy beat interlaced with a punchy bassline and light-hearted vocals, but its lyrics are more melancholy, indicating the realization that the person you love isn't quite the same anymore. There's always the question of whether it's all in your head, but it rarely is...

"Woke up early Sunday by mistake, never thought I’d feel any better..."

"You used to think that I would be the one for you..."

Heavy Bloom is also made up of Cory Hamada (bass), Demarcus Baysmore (drums), and Jacob Martin (guitar). The band, first formed by Marinella and Joji Hamada, has come into its own over the past two years, appearing at stages at Capitol Hill Block Party, Fremont Fridays, and Bite of Seattle. Known for its funky grooves, retro vibes, and energetic songs, Heavy Bloom is a band to look out for in the near future.

Heavy Bloom plans to release their first LP within the year. They previously released an eponymous EP in 2023.

For more information about Heavy Bloom, visit their website heavybloom.band and Instagram.

Punk is alive and well, and a complete necessity under the current presidential administration. While the United States is facing an unprecedented political reckoning, we're seeing new voices emerge as well as some familiar faces who are urging citizens to face the music.

In "New American," the first single from punk and hardcore icon Paul Solger's first-ever solo album, Solger and fellow rock & roll giant Duff McKagan eviscerate the current state of America from the perspective of the Red Pill crowd and MAGA loyalists. McKagan takes over lead vocal duty while Solger lays down the riffs. Meanwhile, Dejha Colantuono performs backing vocals.

Solger throws the lyrical punches with lines such as "Like the Good Book says, 'Earth is flat and snowflakes gotta die,'" and "I got a Facebook ad for some tactical pants... Put it on my credit card, 10 easy payments."

If this is a preview of what's to come, listeners are in for a timely treat.

The single was produced by Josh Evans (Pearl Jam, Brandi Carlile, Soundgarden) and Stone Gossard (Loosegroove co-founder). The accompanying visuals were directed by Regan Hagar (Loosegroove's creative director and label co-founder).

Over the course of his 40-plus-year career, Solger has played for his eponymous band (one of Seattle's first hardcore punk bands), The Fartz, 10 Minute Warning, and the Fags. Surprisingly, 20 Years M.I.A. is Solger's first independent effort. Following a string of losses, illness, and an overall hiatus, Solger is eager to get back to the stage and share his music with equally eager fans who have awaited his return.

Solger and his contemporaries inspired many up-and-coming musicians, including current collaborators Gossard and McKagan. Bands like Solger paved the way for what many people identify as grunge.

In his latest work, Solger is channeling his own inspiration from early punk greats such as the Stooges, The Dolls, The Ramones, The Germs, and more.

The journey to Solger's first album has been a long one, but it's at just the right time.

Paul Solger's new album, 20 Years M.I.A., is set to be released on May 8th, 2026, through Loosegroove Records.

The album is available for pre-order here.

EDIT: An album release show for 20 Years M.I.A. will be held at The Clockout Lounge on May 23rd, 2026. ($24; Tickets HERE).

I've had my fair share of run-ins with cult-like establishments and actively avoid them. However, when I first heard of Family Worship Center, I was ready to join. They tease that are a "probably" a cult.

Dubbed by KEXP's Troy Nelson as the "best live band I've heard in years," the Portland-based Family Worship Center plans to lead you to salvation—whatever their version may be. Their latest single, "Garden Grow," is an ode to breaking generational curses and finding love and light within the darkness.

Following "Malibu by Midnight," "Garden Grow" is the second single from the band's upcoming LP, Only Visiting. "Malibu by Midnight" is a neon-soaked drive through Los Angeles, while "Garden Grow" is a pit stop at a church along the way. It forces you to stop and think about your life choices and then wonder, "How did I get here?" or better yet, "How does your garden grow?"

The brainchild of songwriter and keyboardist Andy Krissberg, Family Worship Center transports listeners back to the '70s with their psychedelic sound, rife with influences from gospel and Southern rock, as well as giants such as Leon Russel, The Band, Fleetwood Mac, and more.

The band is described as a "rock-and-soul commune" that "draws its name from a strange, cult-leaning text unearthed during a cross-country field recording journey."

Reveling in the secular, Family Worship Center's songs center on the conundrum of religion, the South, and this strange life as we know it. Many of the songs come from Krissberg's own experiences and his dedication to experiencing and professing the power of the GROOVE.

Well, Family Worship Center is achieving their mission so far.

For more information about Family Worship Center, visit their official website at worshipthefamily.neocities.org.

They are also on Bandcamp and Instagram.

Family Worship Center's Only Visiting is set to be released on June 12th, 2026, from CorpoRAT Records.