Weakened Friends are a fuzzed-out, high-energy indie rock trio from Portland, Maine, known for their punchy hooks, raw lyricism, and loud, cathartic live shows. Led by songwriter/guitarist Sonia Sturino, with Annie Hoffman on bass and Adam Hand on drums, the band channels a mix of 90s alt-rock nostalgia and modern emotional intensity.

On their Don Giovanni debut Home Movies, Rodeo Boys are upping the ante. Their music owes as much to the twang of country as it does to the fuzz of grunge, and it’s a winning combination. Lead single “Sugar” sits somewhere between Bully and SPICE, a gritty slice of feedback-drenched rock ‘n’ roll that immediately makes it clear where Rodeo Boys’ passions lie–in loud, crunchy, catchy alt rock. “Dog Leg” plays out like a supersized take on classic rock, all roaring solos and guttural hooks, and epic closer “Tomboy Radio” is a proggy masterclass in dynamics. Home Movies hardly lets up all through its 40 minutes, the space folk of “Hail Mary” allowing a couple minutes to breathe, but it all seems to zip by. Vocalist Tiff Hannay says Rodeo Boys’ goal as a queer blue-collar band is “to give a voice to young queer people in small towns,” and what a powerful voice it is.

Cool Party is your new favorite favorite’s indie girl rage bagel rock. The group takes influence from bands: Wednesday, feeble little horse, Mannequin Pussy, BCNR, MJ Lenderman, and so many more. Cool Party makes music for people who enjoy “women, loud noises, arson, chaos, etc.” Cool Party is Laurel (lead vocals, guitar), Mario (guitar, vocals), Andi (bass, vocals + screams), and Vaughn (drums). Heavy hitters, soft vocals (sorry not sorry), “just put a bow on it”, and not giving a fuck, we are the “sweet baby princess babies who play instruments together sometimes”.