Formerly known as Kopecky Family Band, the freshly renamed Kopecky has a new album – Drug for the Modern Age – coming down the pipe via ATO Records on May 19th. 

Just recently dug into the new ELEL EP and it’s got one very strong thing going for it – fun. The band name is fun to say, the album title is fun to type out and the music within is upbeat, fun and infectious in the good ways. 

I always enjoyed the songwriting prowess of Ben Elkins but found the later works of his previous band, Heypenny, to go too far into the realm of gimmick and repetition. It was never bad, it just wasn’t for me.

ELEL seems to tone it down just the right amount. There’s plenty of energy and I can still foresee a marching band taking this to the streets of any city causing a parade of enthusiasm but it doesn’t feel manic. Granted, it’s all a matter of personal taste but ELEL feels a bit more reflective and grown up while maintaining its ability to incite a good time.

Enjoying this preview of Joe Pisapia’s forthcoming album, Nightvision. The artwork by Sam Smith is what drew me in but the enjoyable pop with a melancholy edge kept me around. 

It’s always a treat to see a Nashville band pop up on the deluge of PR emails that I get on a daily basis. Looks like Penicillin Baby has given themselves an upgrade and are promoting their newest track “Stick It Out” – potentially from a forthcoming full-length album.

I’m happy to hear anything new coming down the pipe from them. That artwork is unreal.

Three Rhode Island natives transplanted to Nashville making bedroom rock-and-roll. Moreso, making enjoyable, carefree, rock-and-roll. There’s something particularly endearing about opening your album with a song called “Us Being Silly” and then following that up with some riff-rock properly mixed with classic rock style guitar solos.

Keep an eye on these guys

I received a message from Bryan Dixon asking to check out his EP, Never Be Hopeless, as he had poured his heart and soul into the creation of the three songs. It’s hard to turn down that kind of enthusiasm! 

After diving in it’s definitely a little outside what you normally hear on WOTT but it’s got a strong pop sensibility and I can see it getting the crowds hopping!

The monthly track experiment continues from V to Z (Joshua Moore) with this sometimes creepy instrumental piece. 

I’ll be real, at first listen I thought this new track from Save/Quit may not be for me but there’s a cool, reserved, sweet sadness to it that builds over time. Sit with it and let it grow on it, as I’m sure it will.

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Sincere condolences to all friends and family to a true gem of Nashville.