Release Alert- High On Stress – Still Here

Posted on May 15, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

Four male musicians playing on an elevated stage to a crowd of people.

It is always a good day when High On Stress release new music and May 8th was the date of this particular gift of happiness. It might be me but as a Minneapolis native this band just sounds like the Twin Cities. Their songs often have themes that undoubtedly hit the mark across many people but there is something about the spirit, sound, vibe…just the overall groove that their songs hit that evokes this area. There is a moment in time long ago…rolling down Lyndale on the MTC past Painter Park, OarFolk, Mortimers…it sits in the songs of High On Stress with me. Maybe it is all in my head since I have been listening to them for so long but my opinion on that is never going to change.

This latest set (on Rum Bar Records) is the follow-up to 2020’s Hold Me In although they did also release some singles in the interim between full albums. There are twelve tracks total here and it is a great listen all the way through. They open with the pointed “House of Cards” which is a song that has a subdued energy that feels like it is just itching to burst out. Also included are the energetic “Over/Thru” (several cool guitar tones on this one) and “Time Will Tell You” (rhythm section powered awesomeness).

There are also some nice slower tempo numbers like “Cliffhanger” and “Ambassador” (which has a interesting drum line that gives this track a bit of an unsettled vibe). For my own favorite song I have to go all the way to the title track in slot twelve. There is something just a little bit different about the tone and sonic atmosphere of this one – a little edgier, sharper…maybe a little bit colder sound. Whatever it is, it works really well on this very poignant, straightforward track that also features a couple boisterous bridges that made me happy.

As always, Leet’s vocals throughout are delivered with a clarity and earnest energy that feels very real and true. They combine well with the other talented musicians in High on Stress for an excellent album. I highly recommend Still Here to your attention and hope you can make time to listen to it soon!

If you have time and are interested it is also worth picking up their Live at First Avenue album – just a sweet concert recording to enjoy.

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:

Musicians on this are: Nick Leet (vocals, guitar, piano, organ), Mark Devaraj (drums), Jim Soule (bass guitar, backing vocals), Chad Wheeling (guitar).

Order this one here – several options!

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/still-here

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

Highonstressband.com

https://www.instagram.com/highonstressmpls

Playlist links

5 To Spin for 05.06.2026: Belvedere, High On Stress, Amyl and the Sniffers, Avenues, Aree and the Pure Heart

https://bandcamp.com/jackmesenbourg/playlist/03022026

Prior review links

Song Review- Dan Murphy & High On Stress – “Tethered”

Song Review- Nick Leet “Edge of Town” from the album Detours

Just a few ideas if you have the time: purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂

Release Alert – Big D and the Kids Table – Whiplash – from the upcoming album The Good Ole American Saturday Night

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

Six men stand and are looking slightly upward toward the view. Most of them are dressed in black and are set against a black and white checkerboard background.

Band photo by Alacrity Photography

If you have previously heard any music from this epic ska-punk band (legends I would say) you may be as pumped as I am to hear about this upcoming LP. It has been awhile for sure (five years since Do Your Art) and I had been wondering when we might be getting some new music. This single drops today and will be followed on June 12th with a full album release via SideOneDummy Records.

Musically this track lives up to its name twenty seconds in as a slow-paced, light and melodic intro turns abruptly on a nice sound explosion at that mark. All the energy, powerful beats and clever mix of instruments that have been trademarks of the band are present here in spades. I would even say they sound edgier and a little more pumped up than what they delivered on Do Your Art. This song is a great preview and I will be looking forward to when that full LP drops in June.

If you have some time and the inclination you can also check out the album that introduced me to this group back in 2011. For The Damned, The Dumb and the Delirious is an eighteen song set that is full of ska-powered fun, a little humor and much energy.

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:

You can check a cool video (shot and edited by Mike Rickshaw) for this here on YouTube:

Pre-save the album (this helps out a lot!):

https://bigd.lnk.to/whiplash

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

Homepage DYA

https://www.instagram.com/bigdandthekidstable

Release Alert- The Dollyrots – “Attention Span”

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

A man and a woman lit with a spotlight and goofing off.

Band photo by Jen Rosenstein

I have definitely been swirling around the fringes of this band for awhile – hearing their music in various places, missing chances at a couple shows, breezing through a few articles…so aware and disconnected I guess. I do distinctly remember hearing their Arrested Youth EP (years ago…maybe 2015?) and thinking that they had a pretty cool energy and a bit of an eclectic sound that was a mix of punk, pop and rock. It was a band that sounded authentic to me so kind of a bummer that I did not stay up on them over the years.

They have released a lot of music since that time and you can check their Bandcamp page to pick up a few songs or albums if you have the inclination. I got the heads up on this new single (out March 13th on Wicked Cool Records) from Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media and really like the way it kicks off with rowdy guitars and big crashing drums. It then jumps into the strong vocal track that is carried along on some nice bass textures. The guitar sound and tone do a great job of giving this pop-punk song a little bit of an extra edge. This single is an engaging track that deserves a spot in your collection.

The band also just jumped on tour for most of March and have a slot on the Van’s Warped Tour June 13-14 (Washington DC – Festival Grounds at RFK Campus).

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:

Musicians on this are: Kelly Ogden (lead vocals, bass), Luis Cabezas (guitar, vocals) and Simon Hancock (drums).

Pre-save:

https://orcd.co/dollyrotsattentionspan

Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.dollyrots.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thedollyrots

Release Alert – Johnny O’Neil – Live at Le Musique Room

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

A man on a music stage playing a V- shaped electric guitar.

This Minnesota band has been kicking out good old rock & roll since their 2021 debut Truth or Dare. If you have time to go back and give that a listen my fav songs there are “Tell Me What You Think You Know” and “Comin’ For You” which both deliver a lot of that good, clean energy you might remember from the 80’s.

Since that first release the band has changed just a little, becoming a three-piece in 2025 after the departure of guitarist John Funk. This new album mostly features songs from Truth or Dare and 2023’s Brand New Day but also includes a new track “Lover” which (as per their Bandcamp page) “is the first single from (their) upcoming third studio album.” The recording is well engineered and produced and the music is the solid rock sounds these guys deliver so well. This is a good starting point also if you are new to this band and want a sampler of their sounds as you wait for that upcoming album.

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:

You can purchase this now here:

https://johnnyoneil.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-le-musique-room

Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/johnny_oneilofficial/

Release Alert- Bill Scorzari – “I Stayed” from the upcoming album Sidereal Days (Day 2)

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

a black and white image of a man with a long beard looking off to the left and upward

Having spent plenty of time listening to Sidereal Days (Day 1) since it came out I was excited to see the press release from Dreamspider Publicity on January 23rd that this new single had dropped. Also, even though the actual release date for the full Day 2 album is currently September 25th my understanding is that there will be a single out each month until then…so definitely something to look forward to along the way.

You only have to read the list of musicians (below) to understand you are in for a treat and pushing play brings that thought to life. The music here is delicately crafted, gentle in tone but with a sharp acoustic melody poking through like pinpricks of pain. The big acoustic bass plays so well in this song also, a heartbeat offset by the drum line. Like all of Scorzari’s lyrics the ones here are right from the heart, raw and stark as they weave a story of love lost.

This is a great first single to hear off of Sidereal Days (Day 2) and I will be looking forward to more music from the album soon.

Musicians on this are: Bill Scorzari (acoustic guitar, vocals), Erin Rae (harmony vocals), Marie Lewey (backing vocals), Cindy Richardson Walker (backing vocals), Juan Solorzano (pedal steel), Danny Mitchell (piano, Hammond B3 organ), Chelsea McGough (cello), Eamon McLoughlin (violin), Michael Rinne (upright acoustic bass) and Neilson Hubbard (drums, percussion).

Give this one a listen here:

https://billscorzari.hearnow.com/i-stayed

Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.billscorzari.com/

https://www.instagram.com/billscorzari

His song “When Will My Time Come Along” also appears in my 5 To Spin playlist for 06.30.2025

https://bandcamp.com/jackmesenbourg/playlist/06302025

Prior Reviews:

Song Review – Bill Scorzari “All Behind Me Now” from the album The Crosswinds of Kansas

Release Alert! Bill Scorzari – “All This Time”

Album Review- Bill Scorzari – Sidereal Days (Day 1)

Release Alert! Seahaven- “Long Goodbye”

Posted on January 11, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

Four men standing in a dimly lit area. They are all dresses in black.

You may remember I had written about this band and the upcoming tour to support the 15th anniversary of their Winter Forever album. That tour kicks off January 21st in Santa Ana, CA and news just dropped about this new single. I gave it a spin and was pleased to hear the energetic rhythm, smooth vocals and a soaring guitar solo that comes in around the 1:30 mark. This track is a nice blend of the energy of Seahaven’s early work and the polish they added on later releases such as Halo of Hurt.

You can catch this one on streaming in your usual places – easy access link below:

https://lnk.to/seahaven

Also, if you want to get jazzed up a bit for that Winter Forever music there is a very nice acoustic version of “Understanding” offered up here by the band:

A quick note that this tour now looks to be eighteen US dates and six over in the UK and is selling out so if interested…it might be a good idea to jump on some tickets soon.

And keep that awesome community around you in mind always 🙂

Release Alert! Ultrabomb – “Artificial Stars” off the upcoming album The Bridges That We Burn

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Jack Mesenbourg

Three men dressed in black t-shirts (with lettering) look out at the viewer. They appear to be pretty happy.

This band has been one of my favorites since they first joined forces around 2021 and although the lineup has changed slightly since then all the music has been great. Greg Norton (Hüsker Dü) has remained the front man throughout and seems to have a special talent for both finding skilled musicians to play with and also for pulling them from bands that I have spent a lot of time listening to over the years. In this current version of Ultrabomb he is joined by Derek O’Brien (Social Distortion, D.I. and Adolescents) and Ryan Smith (Soul Asylum).

For me the best thing about this track is the overall tone and sound that it has – there is something just a little bit vintage and throwback about the whole thing and I find it awesome. I was fortunate enough to grow up in the Minneapolis music scene of the 80’s and there are echoes of the energy and urgency from those days coursing through this song. These three musicians are tight and seamless in their playing with driving drums, a punchy bass line and the kind of melody work that sticks in your head.

You can check this out on your streaming channels (quick link here):

https://ffm.to/ultrabomb-artificialstars

The album is scheduled to release April 3, 2026 on DC-Jam Records / Virgin Music Group

Keep an eye out for any pre-save or pre-order info that surfaces out there as this one is going to be a hot commodity 🙂

Release Alert! Jaguero – “Lit

Posted on December 27, 2025 by Jack Mesenbourg

Four casually dressed men, front lit as the scene is dark, stand in a field looking forward the viewer.

This just released single is from a band that is new to me, in this case hailing from the Italian alt music scene. After giving this one a few listens I also jumped back in their catalog and gave their 2022 EP Worst Weekend Ever a spin. It is a good one with a few different vibes and sounds going on that keep you interested. You can check it out as you wait for the expected upcoming new album from them.

“Lit” is loud right from the start with drums and nice little squealing guitar clips in a couple places as it leads into the vocal track. It keeps the guitar sound at the front throughout and has a supersonic bass that really fills a lot of the back space with buzzy goodness. This song moves along at a nice pace and has an engaging energy that makes it memorable.

You can check this on your usual streaming services and catch it here also:

There is also more info and music at their Bandcamp page https://jaguero.bandcamp.com/

…and if you can, think about purchasing this after you hear it as streaming music does not pay well even times a thousand.

Support that local community when you can 🙂

Release Alert! Bicycle Inn – Long in the Tooth

Posted on November 26, 2025 by Jack Mesenbourg

Back in September I had the opportunity to preview the single “Longsword (4th Place)” off of this new album. I enjoyed that track especially the harder guitar riffs and some of the subtleties of the melody. This full set just dropped on November 21st and is a really solid collection of edgier-than-usual emo music.

Right from go the lead-off song “In the End, It’s Just Starting Again” brings much energy from a cycling, buzzing guitar riff and a prominent but simple drum line. That track also features a really nice down-tempo moment right around the 00:40 mark before rising into some anguished vocals. Other stand-outs on this for me were “Ordinary Hell” (cool drum / bass interplay) and “I’d Bet My Life On It”” (nice, subtle guitar melody and a bit of a sonic buzz groove).

You can stream it in all of your usual places and if you have the inclination please think about purchasing it as streaming music does not pay well even times a thousand.

Release Alert! Six Going On Seven – “Jack Jones” from the upcoming album Human Tears

Posted on November 20, 2025 by Jack Mesenbourg

Single black and white images of three men. The two on the left are looking at the camera while the third man, in the middle, stares off to the left while drinking from a coffee cup.

Well, twenty-four years between albums is admittedly a long time but I was pretty interested when I received the press release from Earshot Media. I was not aware of this band back in the late 90’s and early 00’s when they were actively putting out three albums in five years. Instead I had run across them during one of those Apple Music rabbit holes where you start clicking on “Similar Artists” (I think back then it was “you might also like…” or “other artists like…”?) and eventually cross paths with some interesting bands. I believe that particular chase had started with Samian but however it started, I ended up on Self-Made Mess (1997) from Six Going on Seven. The music on that album was unique in its sparse lyrics and the arrangements woven around those words. “Flu Season” and “Getaway Car” are two stand-out tracks on that release. They had a couple more after that with Heartbreak’s Got Backbeat and American’t (Or Won’t) before they dropped off the scene. Josh English (vocals, bass) released some solo work after that (“Great like Ghosts” is a favorite of mine) and I am unfortunately not aware of what James Bransford (guitar) and Will Bartlett (drums) have been up to in the interim.

The new album is set to come out January 9, 2026 via Spartan Records and this single is the first one available to check out their current sound. It opens up soft and slow and sets a kind of wistful tone that is joined by a little piano before filling out to a more full sound a little after the one minute mark. The song from that point on is defined by a fairly linear drum track which sets an excellent framework for the music. It is enhanced by bass guitar that adds sonic texture and guitar that jumps through at some moments like a lonely scream. The vocals are clear and assertive, delivering lyrics that have a definite story to tell. This track, which shows the band is back and already going strong, is a good listen and hopefully a sign of a lot of good things to come on that album.

You can check out the video for this one here on YouTube:

You can pre-save the album (and yes, this does help:) here:

https://orcd.co/humantears

And get a pre-order in for the vinyl here:

Six Going On Seven

Let me know what you think!

	Release Alert- High… on Song Review- Nick Leet “Edge o…
	Release Alert- High… on Song Review- Dan Murphy &…
	Release Alert- High… on 5 To Spin for 05.06.2026: Belv…
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Category Archives: Release Alert

Release Alert- High On Stress – Still Here

Release Alert – Big D and the Kids Table – Whiplash – from the upcoming album The Good Ole American Saturday Night

Release Alert- The Dollyrots – “Attention Span”

Release Alert – Johnny O’Neil – Live at Le Musique Room

Release Alert- Bill Scorzari – “I Stayed” from the upcoming album Sidereal Days (Day 2)

Release Alert! Seahaven- “Long Goodbye”

Release Alert! Ultrabomb – “Artificial Stars” off the upcoming album The Bridges That We Burn

Release Alert! Jaguero – “Lit

Release Alert! Bicycle Inn – Long in the Tooth

Release Alert! Six Going On Seven – “Jack Jones” from the upcoming album Human Tears