Four down, one to go.
It’s that time again! Here at Punk Goes Prenatt, for the next five weeks, we’ll give you 50 artists that you need to tune your attention to throughout 2019. Spanning artists in genres like rap, pop-punk, electronic, post-hardcore, rock, and acoustic, Prenatt’s Picks will show you the finest acts to check out.
This is part four of five. If you didn’t read the previous list, click here.
Without further delay, let’s start the list!
Shortly
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Out Now: Richmond – EP (Triple Crown)
For Fans Of: Bogues, Future Teens, Small Talks
Alexandria Maniak is one hell of a singer-songwriter. The Michigan based musician has done quite a lot in such a short amount of time. She signed with Triple Crown Records (Heart Attack Man, O’Brother, Tiny Moving Parts) in 2017, shared stages with Sorority Noise, Jeff Rosenstock, and The Wonder Years, and had The Wonder Years cover her song “Finders Keepers” on a split EP. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Maniak is striving to make 2019 her year. Shortly will be heading out on tour with Prenatt’s Picks artist Small Talks in May and will be appearing at BLED Fest in Hartland, Mich., on May 25 with Hawthorne Heights, For The Fallen Dreams, and SeeYouSpaceCowboy.
Song to Listen to: “Finders Keepers”
City Morgue
Hometown: New York City, NY
Out Now: City Morgue Vol. 1: Hell Or High Water (Hikari-Ultra/Republic)
For Fans Of: 6ix9ine, Ho99o9, XXXTENTACTION
Rough, violent, and deadly are the best words to describe City Morgue, the hip-hop group hailing from the Big Apple. City Morgue is made up of Junius Rogers (ZillaKami), Vinicius Sosa (SosMula), and producer Bouabdallah Sami Nehari (Thraxx), and together, they’re here to amplify rap’s lifestyle of sex, drugs, and violence. ZillaKami, prior to City Morgue, used to ghostwrite for rapper 6ix9ine, but stopped writing for the rapper after he refused to pay back for money 6ix9ine owed him. He then met SosMula and Thraxx and the rest is history. The group released their debut record City Morgue Vol. 1: Hell Or High Water last fall on Republic Records (Florence + The Machine, Jonas Brothers, Tïesto). They’re touring with $uicideboy$ on their Grey Day Tour this summer along with Turnstile, Denzel Curry, and Pouya.
Song to Listen to: “Arson”
Winnetka Bowling League
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Out Now: Winnetka Bowling League (RCA)
For Fans Of: lovelytheband, The Mowgli’s, Night Riots
Winnetka Bowling League’s mastermind Matthew Koma is no stranger to the world of music. You’ve probably heard his talented songwriting skills on tracks like Zedd’s “Clarity”, Carly Rae Jepsen’s “This Kiss”, and Kelly Clarkson’s “Someone”. Case in point, dude knows how to write a catchy tune. Now with his group Winnetka Bowling League, he’s continuing his ability of writing damn good songs with his band. Their debut single “On The 5” took the world of college radio by storm at the end of last summer. Their catchy Cali summer vibes will keep you smiling all year long. They played their first show last year with Mother Mother and will be dropping their second EP Cloudy With A Chance Of Sun later this month via RCA Records (Brockhampton, Foo Fighters, Walk The Moon). Keep your ears locked on them.
Song to Listen to: “Kombucha”
Stand Atlantic
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Out Now: Skinny Dipping (Hopeless)
For Fans Of: Eat Your Heart Out, ROAM, We Were Sharks
Last year, Aussie pop-punk trio Stand Atlantic started getting the attention they deserved. Now in 2019, they want you to pay attention. The group made up of Bonnie Fraser (vocals/guitar), David Potter (bass), and Jonno Panichi (drums), are kicking ass and taking names, touring across the globe with people like Neck Deep, State Champs, and ONE OK ROCK, and dropping banger after banger of songs. Their latest album Skinny Dipping, released by Hopeless Records (The Dangerous Summer, Have Mercy, Sylar), was an honorable mention for the best albums of 2018. They even appeared on compilations such as Songs That Saved My Life and Rock Sounds’s Worship And Tributes: Volume II, covering Modern Baseball and Taking Back Sunday. The Aussie trio will make an appearance at Reading And Leeds this summer with Enter Shikari, nothing,nowhere., and FIDLAR, and will play the whole Sad Summer Fest with Mayday Parade, Just Friends, and Mom Jeans..
Song to Listen to: “Lavender Bones”
JM Lansdowne
Hometown: Hot Springs, AR/Hattiesburg, MS
Out Now: Escapades – Single (Self-Released)
For Fans Of: Sam Outlaw, Chuck Ragan, Bruce Springsteen
Sometimes reading the mailing lists you get from labels pays off. That’s how I discovered Americana artist JM Lansdowne, a Springsteen/Elvis Costello-esque signer-songwriter turning dark moments into music gold. Lansdowne first got his big break in 2014, being taken under the wing of Vinnie Fiorello from Less Than Jake and record label Paper + Plastick (Blowfuse, Devon Kay & The Solutions, Flatfoot 56). This got him on stage with groups and artists like Shiny Toy Guns, JT Woodruff of Hawthorne Heights, and even Eisley. Now by himself, the musician is trying to make his mark in the world. He’ll be touring with Orion Walsh and Justin Swafford in late April through early May.
Song to Listen to: “Motorcycle Queen”
Sanction
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Out Now: The Infringement Of God’s Plan (Pure Noise)
For Fans Of: Bent Life, Vein, Year Of The Knife
This is the heaviest shit from the 631. Long Island’s Sanction go hard and stay hard, blasting beats and beatdowns that’ll leave you bruised, that is if you’re lucky. The hardcore/metal are one of the sickest acts to come out of Long Island in years, bringing in a sense of brutality that the hardcore world needs. They’ve toured with Dying Fetus, Emmure, and Harm’s Way, and have done shows with Counterparts, Despised Icon, and Left Behind. Oh, and to show how hard they go, they sold knives with their logo on it. Yup, they’re hardcore. Eat your heart out, Code Orange. Sanction are currently on the road with fellow Pure Noise Records (Graduating Life, Masked Intruder, Rotting Out) act Knocked Loose.
Song to Listen to: “Fixated Upon A Figure”
THEMIXTAPE
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Out Now: Waking Up – Single (Self-Released)
For Fans Of: Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, Hit The Lights, Sing It Loud
The late 2000s were a simple time. Obama was president, Facebook was growing popular, and Twilight was a thing. At that time, five friends from Buffalo formed a group called THEMIXTAPE, doing several local shows in the area before fading away. Fast forward to 2018, most pop-rock artists from that time in the city’s history (RIP Letterset, Crush, The Everlasting, and Rescue Dawn). Suddenly, THEMIXTAPE are back. The group did a sold out reunion show at Rec Room last year and just opened up for Aaron Carter. Stay turned for more on Buffalo’s biggest comeback kids.
Song to Listen to: “Waking Up”
Dead American
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Out Now: False Intentions – Single (Self-Released)
For Fans Of: Glassjaw, letlive., Saosin
Ever since Cove Reber left Saosin a few years back, fans wondered what’d he do next. No one expected this. Hard rock in the vein of letlive., Refused, and Alexisonfire is what comes from Dead American. Don’t be surprised if the group start appearing on rock stations across the country. They dropped there debut EP The Shape Of Punk Is Dumb last year and just released a new song called “False Intentions” back in January. A full-length is in the band’s future sometime this year. In their short time of existence, they’ve done shows with Lower Definition, Hands Like Houses, and Saosin, and will be touring with Beartooth later this month with Of Mice & Men. Keep on trucking, Cove.
Song to Listen to: “False Intentions”
Matt Maeson
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Out Now: Bank On The Funeral (Atlantic)
For Fans Of: Jeff Buckley, firekid, Andy Hull
It’s odd when your breakout single is two years old but helps you get attention now. That’s what happened to east coast singer-songwriter Matt Maeson. His song “Cringe” from his EP Who Killed Matt Maeson started gaining traction on alternative radio stations. He’s lucky he is getting this success. Years ago, Maeson did drugs, tons of them, and went to jail. Maeson’s bad experiences have helped shape the man he currently is, and all of his tales can be heard on his debut album Bank On The Funeral out now via Atlantic Records (alt-j, Death Cab For Cutie, Mason Ramsey). Maeson will be at Alternative Buffalo’s Kerfuffle this year with Walk The Moon, The Head And The Heart, and Houses.
Song to Listen to: “I Just Don’t Care That Much”
Out Last
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Out Now: Self//Medicated – EP (Race City Music Group)
For Fans Of: Chelsea Grin, Fit For A King, Like Moths To Flames
I present to you the heaviest memelords in the genre. Hailing from the Queen City is Out Last, a heavy sextet that bring you the finest old school metalcore. The group have a “a drive to tell stories through through their instruments and experiences,” according to their Facebook page. They’ve played with some of the finest acts like Palisades, Ice Nine Kills, and I Set My Friends On Fire. Out Last are touring with Execution Day later in May. A new EP will be coming out soon.
Song to Listen to: “Self//Medicated”
Check back next week for the final list!
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