Youngster Year

The Chameleons are widely regarded as unsung pioneers of the post punk variety, having influenced countless bands who are wildly successful to this day. But like many accomplished musicians who’ve been around the block more than a few times and continue to prove their instinctive need to create, lead singer and main songwriter Vox is fervently humble, and his processes have remained largely the sa...

Dissatisfied with what their home country had to offer, Radio Free Alice packed up and moved to the northern hemisphere. But leaving their home country wasn’t a choice for them — it was simply the necessary next step in becoming a global force. If you dig, you’ll find countless phenomenal Australian bands. But you have to dig. Radio Free Alice is taking your shovel away from you and saving you the...

About a month ago, I sat down with Earth to Josh, a young artist from Lismore who just self-produced his debut album — but don’t confuse “young” with “new.” Josh has been making music for years, honing his craft and quietly building up a repertoire for the ages. His album, inventively titled “Josh To Earth,” is the product of this long stretch of creative exploration and is just as experimental as...

To Hinds, challenge and opportunity are synonymous. In the face of adversity, the duo never even stopped to wonder if they would continue — the question was how. And last month, we found our answer in VIVA HINDS . Hinds is currently touring North America through the end of October. Then, they return to their home country of Spain, where they’ll pick things back up early next year before heading of...

The first three dates of their North American tour supporting Fontaines D.C. were cancelled due to illness. But at a time when most other bands might have cut their losses, Been Stellar got to work and made their own shows, playing songs from their debut album for anyone who cared to listen. I saw them a few stops after the official start of the tour, and their drive is unmistakable. When Fontaine...

The Leap is the latest installment in Rod Coote’s constant repertoire, and it carries no less meaning than its predecessors. This EP is deeply personal for the Melbourne artist, who has just wrapped up his first European headline tour and is already plotting the next big thing. Songs used: "Blue Lake" - Rod Coote "The Leap" - Rod Coote

Hot on the heels of their sophomore album, Wunderhorse visited America to play two small shows before returning home to prepare for their heavily anticipated UK headline tour. And I was fortunate enough to talk with them about it all. Read my accompanying review of their NY show on youngsteryear.com!

Year by year, AKA Lui has been quietly turning out singles, evolving and developing his signature sound with every release. Each has felt like a major affair, but none have come close to the gravity of his latest undertaking. With Sapphire Blue , AKA Lui hasn’t so much closed the book on his past as he has begun a new chapter for music production, exploration and drive for what is soon to follow....

Kate "Babyshakes" Dillon is all in on Full Flower Moon Band — and has been since the project's humble beginnings nearly ten years ago. With a full lineup and an ever evolving catalog of albums battling one another to the death, Full Flower is a machine of unstoppable force. And there's so much more to what makes this machine go... The new single from Full Flower Moon Band, "...

Over the many talks I have been fortunate to enjoy with the boys of Le Shiv, one theme continues to weave its way through every discussion: this band is something else entirely. With friends all around the world, they’ve proven not to be contained by mere political borders. Le Shiv has traveled the globe, leaving new lifelong fans in their wake everywhere they go. With the COVID snag and a second...

Somewhere at the intersection of country, grunge, shoegaze and indie rock (an infrastructural enigma of cross streets that will leave city planners scratching their balding heads), lies Wednesday -- the band that burgeoned onto the scene from the seed of a solo project some five or six years ago. They have since risen to a storied status among contemporary indie bands, solidifying their place with...

It's time for another year-end countdown! On (approximately) the first anniversary of Youngster Year's most streamed episode, we continue the tradition with Youngster Yearly Volume Two. Enjoy this extra long, extra special bonus episode as we count down and play selections from five of my favorite albums of 2023, review the podcast's impressive analytics from this past year, discuss fo...

Listeners and critics alike have revered The Dwarves as some of the last true purveyors of punk -- and then, some have not. But there is one thing that everyone can agree on: having churned out an endless flow of unapologetic punk rock since the 1980s, The Dwarves have undoubtedly solidified themselves as a longstanding force to be reckoned with. The Dwarves have just released their latest record,...

Talk about "Holding Out On a Dream" -- Pensacola's Glazed Eyes have been nurturing their debut album of the same name since 2019. Finally, this Friday, it will be released to the world. Listen to this interview to get a better idea of what to expect from them, and to educate yourself on the history of this enduring local band. Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if Turnov...

Indie legends Built to Spill rode into town the weekend before last -- their first couple of shows back from an Australian run were spent with the fine people of Pensacola, Florida. I was fortunate to speak with singer/songwriter/guitarist Doug Martsch just after soundcheck for a brief crash course on all things Built to Spill, and the man did not disappoint. He is incredibly humble and kind, and...

Lunar Vacation have been making music together since high school, and although that wasn't really that long ago, they are wise beyond their years. With an imminent sophomore album, the band has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. See them at the Night Moves Festival in Pensacola November 4th, and stay tuned for that release! Out soon on Keeled Scales.

Since the deepest, darkest, early days of Chicago's Deeper, the group has been curating a distinct brand that is unmistakably theirs. The faintest hint at one of their songs from any release (be that on your home stereo, coffee shop ambience, or at a festival from some distant stage) conjures immediate recognition: this is Deeper. The spellbinding third album, Careful!, comes out September 8th...

I recently had a great opportunity to sit down with Chris Gaylor—best known as the drummer for The All-American Rejects—to talk about his time thus far with Australian legends Le Shiv for an ongoing project, but we set aside some time at the end of our interview for a quick chat about The Rejects, and what they have going on at the moment. This is that chat—short and sweet, yet informational and e...

Dirty Heads have by now solidified themselves as a true southern California staple group, with each release continuing to demonstrate their ability to effortlessly transcend genre. It seems the trick to their unique brand of artistry is to often create (and at times, reimagine) as an extension of an intended mood, without overthinking or taking things too seriously--a feat much easier said than do...

This episode marks a Youngster Year first: Jack interviews a concert venue. But this isn't just any venue--Bobby and Brit have founded one of the few established backyard venues in the Los Angeles area, with the rise in popularity of backyard shows being only a recent phenomenon. Although DIY shows and backyard events aren't anything new for the indie scene, seldom have we witnessed a &quo...

Ron Gallo takes little for granted, and time is certainly no exception. FOREGROUND MUSIC is not only yet another original take on what's really going on, but also a survey of Ron's primary ruminations on the world from past, present, and future. Still, the substance of these songs--some in-your-face, some buried deep within--is hyper-current, timeless, and relevant as ever. The fourth stud...

LA's hyperactive Crossing I's Dotting T's have been called many things--"genre-defying" is one of those labels, and perhaps the most expansive. It's mostly just a complement from critics, parallel to "unique" or "special." At its root, it plainly urges you to listen to this band and make up your mind for yourself, and it's highly likely you'll agree.   Matt has assembled a brand new lineup fo...

In this special extended episode, Jack takes some time to discuss his favorite releases of the past year, as well as a few he's looking forward to in the new year. Featuring clips of past YY interviews with some of these amazing artists! PLUS: a sneak peak at what's to come in the very near future, as we enter into a brand new era of Youngster Year. What were some of your favorites? Let us know on...

Nearly four years passed between the release of Pool Kids’ first album and their most recent self-titled—but four years without an album doesn’t mean four years of inactivity. While “Safe Sex” stands on its own as a DIY release, the difference in processes between their two full-lengths is impressive. With a new goal to write with a wider range of listeners in mind, Christine challenged herself to...

KNOWN. is so much more to Cody than just a recording project—it’s an expression of a deep appreciation and admiration for the visceral effects that music brings to the listener. Through his music, he seeks to instill the very same feelings he feels when listening to his favorite artists, and the authenticity of his personality shows just how much he values connecting with listeners and fans in thi...