SAN CISCO

San Cisco made its way into my happening as their cover of Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" popped up on my YouTube feed. The original song featuring Pharrell and Nile had me hooked, and I was game for another artist's rendition of the hit. San Cisco creates a new perspective on the song, weaving in another of Pharrell's songs, which makes their cover all that much more interesting. It's brilliant, watch it and repeat.

The Australian quartet led by Jordi on vocals and guitar has a quirky feel for the indie pop genre and their album out titled Awkward intrigues and satisfies that yearning for a new and strange sound. Watching their live performances seems like a cosy and intimate experience and each of the members, Jordi, Josh, Nick and Scarlett, seem relatable and comforted with the sound they provide for their audience. 

One of their first hits, "Awkward," also the title to their album, creates a strange but lovely interpretation of an experience that happens to many and the lyrics and overall sound create a fun and eccentric vibe. It seems that through each performance, Jordi and Scarlett tweak or slightly alter their performance with this tune, keeping their listeners refreshed and falling deeper for the band. 

My favorite of their songs is "Rocket Ship" and I can't help but feel good and well when this upbeat tune hits me. Probably one of the strangest music videos, but you can fully see San Cisco at their most alive, but finest as well as they show how to have a good time with friends. This might also inspire you to do something bold and slightly mad like San Cisco seems to do through each of their videos. 

If you have some time, watch this video of Scarlett, Jordi, and Josh at a sit down in the Big Room; these fifteen minutes made me love this small band much more and their presence seems so relatable and holistic. 

With their recent fame of the Daft Punk cover, there are high hopes for the small town kids from "down under." 

(i do not own this photo)

PAPER ROUTE

When I was fourteen I went to my first concert. I had the idea in my head that opening bands were composed of a prerecorded tape of classical music, welcoming in locals before the real show started. Thankfully I was proven my wrongful misconception. We were first greeted by a petite woman in her twenties, sporting a deep parted, jet black main and the tattoos that suited her powerful and independent demeanor, known as lights. lights shared with the audience her twist on electro-pop, and even won me over with her fun and quirky sound. 

The band that followed her became the go-to band for my anytime-playlists, the songs that kept me interested and confused, and the lyrics made me rethink my disposition: Paper Route. I swooned at their ease on stage and the slow but oddly, relatable lyrics that JT preached to his crowd. Paper Route continues to connect and challenge me as they release various EPs and full length albums, their most recent being "The Peace of Wild Things," which is rad. This band was formed in Nashville, Tennessee and were previously referred to as For All the Drifters (check out the song "Perfect Machine"), but upon changing their name for themselves and the band, they were launched into what is now known as Paper Route.

This band weaves in so many powerful instruments that create a quirky and cool vibe that makes you want to tap your foot along to their wicked tunes.  Though their band has changed its grouping, now lacking one of its wingmen, Andy Smith, Paper Route remains steady and original in their sound and continues to wow their listeners. Here is a really cool acoustic version of their song "Are We All Forgotten" on the Absence album. If you really take a look deep into the lyrics, I hope this bands and their songs bring you a new perspective like it did for me.

(i do not own this photo)