Youngster Year

The Leap is the latest installment in Rod Coote’s constant repertoire, and it carries no less meaning than its predecessors. This EP is deeply personal for the Melbourne artist, who has just wrapped up his first European headline tour and is already plotting the next big thing.

Songs used:

"Blue Lake" - Rod Coote

"The Leap" - Rod Coote

Hot on the heels of their sophomore album, Wunderhorse visited America to play two small shows before returning home to prepare for their heavily anticipated UK headline tour. And I was fortunate enough to talk with them about it all. Read my accompanying review of their NY show on youngsteryear.com!

Year by year, AKA Lui has been quietly turning out singles, evolving and developing his signature sound with every release. Each has felt like a major affair, but none have come close to the gravity of his latest undertaking. With Sapphire Blue, AKA Lui hasn’t so much closed the book on his past as he has begun a new chapter for music production, exploration and drive for what is soon to follow.

Sapphire Blue, the debut EP from Byron Bay solo artist AKA Lui is out everywhere Friday, June 21st.

Kate "Babyshakes" Dillon is all in on Full Flower Moon Band — and has been since the project's humble beginnings nearly ten years ago. With a full lineup and an ever evolving catalog of albums battling one another to the death, Full Flower is a machine of unstoppable force. And there's so much more to what makes this machine go...

The new single from Full Flower Moon Band, "Illegal Things," is out April 4th, soon to be followed by a brand new album.

Over the many talks I have been fortunate to enjoy with the boys of Le Shiv, one theme continues to weave its way through every discussion: this band is something else entirely. With friends all around the world, they’ve proven not to be contained by mere political borders. Le Shiv has traveled the globe, leaving new lifelong fans in their wake everywhere they go.

With the COVID snag and a second trans-hemispheric move long behind them, Le Shiv have hit a new stride with their writing and recording practices. They attacked the new year with the unveiling of their debut EP, New World Colour, and are already gearing up for their next release — the EP was only the beginning for this indelible, enduring band.

Le Shiv are touring their home country NOW through the end of March. Get out and see them if you’re local!

Somewhere at the intersection of country, grunge, shoegaze and indie rock (an infrastructural enigma of cross streets that will leave city planners scratching their balding heads), lies Wednesday -- the band that burgeoned onto the scene from the seed of a solo project some five or six years ago. They have since risen to a storied status among contemporary indie bands, solidifying their place with the release of their 2023 album, "Rat Saw God."

After months of touring the album, they're back, this time in the North and Southeast for a round of intimate shows before going international once again. And there is still more to come from this enduring group of musicians -- try to keep up!

It's time for another year-end countdown! On (approximately) the first anniversary of Youngster Year's most streamed episode, we continue the tradition with Youngster Yearly Volume Two.

Enjoy this extra long, extra special bonus episode as we count down and play selections from five of my favorite albums of 2023, review the podcast's impressive analytics from this past year, discuss four highly anticipated releases coming up very soon, right some wrongs, reminisce about past interviews and oh, so much more.

Join me, and celebrate a year of great music and great independent journalism. Here's to many more!

Listeners and critics alike have revered The Dwarves as some of the last true purveyors of punk -- and then, some have not. But there is one thing that everyone can agree on: having churned out an endless flow of unapologetic punk rock since the 1980s, The Dwarves have undoubtedly solidified themselves as a longstanding force to be reckoned with.

The Dwarves have just released their latest record, entitled "Concept Album," and frontman Blag Dahlia could not be happier to have created this new body of work surrounded by friends, some old, some new (but mostly old). They're touring it now, so make sure to get out and see them when you can!

Talk about "Holding Out On a Dream" -- Pensacola's Glazed Eyes have been nurturing their debut album of the same name since 2019. Finally, this Friday, it will be released to the world. Listen to this interview to get a better idea of what to expect from them, and to educate yourself on the history of this enduring local band.

Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if Turnover and Gin Blossoms had a beautiful, multitalented lovechild? I'd be really surprised if you had managed to dream that one up, because I certainly hadn't -- but now there is no need to wonder. Enter: Glazed Eyes.

Support Glazed Eyes by listening to "Holding Out On a Dream," out Friday via Sunday Drive Records, and see them live at their release show on December 22nd at The Handlebar!

Indie legends Built to Spill rode into town the weekend before last -- their first couple of shows back from an Australian run were spent with the fine people of Pensacola, Florida. I was fortunate to speak with singer/songwriter/guitarist Doug Martsch just after soundcheck for a brief crash course on all things Built to Spill, and the man did not disappoint. He is incredibly humble and kind, and his wisdom is unquestionable. Give it a listen and see what I mean!

Super special thank you to Night Moves Fest for helping set this one up -- it wouldn't have happened without them!