Pierce the Veil
This past July, the alternative rock band Pierce the Veil made a pit stop performance in Fargo at the Up District Festival Field. Seeing as a part of my soul died by not being able to see them live previously, I found the presale code immediately and bought tickets as soon as they dropped.
While I am already a regular listener of the band, and have been since I was 11 years old, I threw them into an even heavier rotation. There were countless folks who attended past shows that took the time to make playlists for PTV’s setlists, and that’s what I primarily focused on, amongst other personal favorites.
Standout songs: “Gold Metal Ribbon,” “Yeah Boy and Doll Face” and “Caraphernelia.”
The Sundays
I’m already a huge fan of this band as it is, but their music fits the summer so well that I play them much more frequently throughout the season. The indie-pop band released three albums before they announced their indefinite hiatus, and each one of them is a piece of art. Their 1989 debut album, “Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic,” has to be my personal favorite though!
Harriet Wheeler is one of my favorite female vocalists to ever exist and with the gentle guitar, played by David Gavurin, their work is something I never get tired of hearing. If I hear one of their songs come across my playlist, there is a high likelihood that I will have it stuck in my head for the rest of the day.
Standout songs: “You’re Not the Only One I Know,” “On Earth” and “Summertime.”
Elliott Smith
If you know me at all, this should not come as a surprise to you. My all-time favorite artist to ever exist is Smith, and I have in fact made that one of my personality traits–I’m not ashamed of it either, and those who get it get it.
No matter what the weather is or how I’m feeling that day, 65% of the songs I listen to each day are likely his. I can’t help it, to say the man was extremely talented feels like an immense understatement. His work really resonates with me and it’s not like he is not continuing to influence music that is being made today.
Standout songs: “Clementine,” “Sweet Adeline” and “No Name #2.”
Roy Blair
Similar to the Sundays, Blair is another artist that I seem to listen to more frequently during summertime. His only album, “Cat Heaven,” is overall much more upbeat and it just seems to be one that I associate with summer more.
I discovered his music for the first time during the summer of 2018, so I’m assuming it has a lot to do with that. As I’ve mentioned in a previous piece, Blair was an artist I have spent quite a long time listening to. It feels a little ridiculous to say I grew up listening to it, seeing as I’m only 20 years old, but I’ve had the same album on repeat for the past six summers so it seems close enough.
Standout songs: “Thunder,” “Alex” and “Dennis.”
New Discoveries
To avoid getting burnt out by the music I was listening to, I made the effort to constantly have new songs in rotation. There were countless new songs that I discovered this summer, of varying genres, and it seems fitting to share them for those in the same position.
“Attack Dogs” by Iris Bilinsky; “Fold Ya’ Up Like a Blanket” by Enjoy, the Drums; “Chloroform” by Nothing; “The Recluse” by Cursive; “Will I See You Again?” by Thee Sacred Souls; “Plays Pretty for Baby” by Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer; “Crop Circles” by Odie Leigh; “The Thrill of Loneliness” by Hanna Stretton; and of course, “Double Life” by Pharrell Williams.