Marc Delgado | Barefoot on Bumblebees | Indigo Starrcar
In the spirit of starting a new year and trying new things, we’re bringing to you a few tunes that are bit outside of our preferred genres.
For starters, we would like to show you some music from Marc Delgado. Originally from California, Delgado grew tired of the daily grind and moved into the woods. It was there, presumably, that he developed a firm grasp on Americana, which is at the very heart of this latest track, “January.” Upon pressing the play button, fans of Wilco shall rejoice as soon as the slide guitar comes in– and Delgado’s knack for a telling-it-like-it-is vocal style is sure to hit home with many fans of late-‘60s/ early-‘70s songwriting. The production is thick, with buttery compression, and complete with a vibe that steers closely to the genre’s founding fathers, such as The Band, Neil Young, and even some nods to Bob Dylan. “January” comes just in time for the new year to begin and will fit nicely amongst listeners who like songs about “loss, getting older, and moving forward.”
It has been a fantastic challenge to try and find the words to describe Tucson-based Barefoot on Bumblebees as they have a sound that goes against the very grain of our usual brand. However, we wish to do everything in our power to encourage this duo to continue making music because the direction that they are going is seemingly uncharted. Armed primarily with a banjo (Christopher Stryker) and a drum kit (Gianna Purcell), their latest single, “Another Way,” deals with “overcoming adversity in the wake of mental collapse.” And while their sound is unlike anything we’ve ever featured on the blog, we cannot ignore the subject matter, as it needs to be discussed in every style and flavor available. “Another Way” begins quite innocently, but, by its conclusion, opens up in a manner that should not be overlooked, much like its message. This track comes from their upcoming LP, Let It Feel Like Something, due out in February.
Since we’ve already ripped off the bandaid with genres that are beyond our wheelhouse, Indigo Starrcar have an indie pop anthem for folks who might be struggling with getting over a breakup: “9 Years.” This Michigan-based group wins major points with us by featuring a bass guitar instead of the genre’s usual calling card of synth. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with synth or midi, but, as far as we’re concerned, very few things in life come close to that delicious grind of low end against steel frets. The band have categorized this track under the pop umbrella, but it veers dangerously close to indie rock bands like Local Natives and The Band Camino. The vocals are on point, so be sure to soak those up while taking some bass to your face.
-TM