Saintseneca
Saintseneca’s Zac Little has been thinking a lot about memory. Not necessarily his memories, though they creep in often, too. Rather, he mulls over the idea of memory itself: its resilience, its haziness, how it slips away as we try to hang on, the way it resurfaces despite our best efforts to forget. Memory is the common thread running throughout the Columbus folk-punk band’s fourth album, Pillar of Na, arriving in late summer via ANTI- Records. Following 2015’s critically lauded Such Things, the new album’s name is rooted in remembrance, referencing the Genesis story of Lot’s wife who looks back at a burning Sodom after God instructs her not to. She looks back, and God turns her into a pillar of salt. “Na,” meanwhile, is the chemical symbol for sodium. “Nah” is a passive refusal and the universal song word. It means nothing and stands for nothing. It is “as it is.” Like Lot’s wife, Little cannot help but revisit where—and how—he grew up. Raised in church in southeastern Appalachian Ohio, he took up preaching when he was still a teenager, sometimes in small country settings and other times to congregations of thousands. But these days he’s more interested in listening. And questioning. Musically, Pillar of Na is Saintseneca’s most ambitious album to date, with Little aiming to incorporate genre elements he’d rarely heard in folk. “I wanted to use the idiom of folk-rock, or whatever you want to call it, and to try to do something that had never been done before,” Little explains. “To reach way back, echoing ancient folk melodies, tie that into punk rock, and then push it into the future. I told Mike Mogis I wanted Violent Femmes meets the new Blade Runner soundtrack. I’m looking for the intersection between Kendrick Lamar and The Fairport Convention.” “You’re always going to be situated in the folk legacy,” Little continues, acknowledging his past recordings, which include three albums (the aforementioned Such Things, 2014’s Dark Arc, 2011’s Last) and three EPs (2016’s The Mallwalker, 2010’s Grey Flag, and 2009’s self-titled). “But let’s move forward. I’m not trying to make the lost Velvet Underground B-side. I want to find something that has never been heard before, or at least go down trying.”
Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers
“Here’s to life!” Fans around the world can be found singing the chorus of the Roger Clyne-penned fan favorite “Mekong” and toasting their glasses in unison to celebrate life through rock-n-roll. But the inspiration for the song dates back to the time Roger went to Taipei, Taiwan, as a college student to teach English during the day and busk with his guitar at night for money. Today, as Clyne prepares to release his 11th studio album, he continues to transform his life experiences, inspirations, observations and his own muses into timeless music. And whether he’s wearing his Converse high tops, boots or sandals, Clyne’s blend of punk rock, americana, indie-pop and mariachi influences have made him, drummer PH Naffah, guitarist Jim Dalton and bassist Nick Scropos – collectively known as Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers – one of America’s best live rock-n-roll bands. Starting with the seminal Tempe quartet, The Refreshments, Clyne and Naffah put the fun in rock & roll during the 90s grunge era with a sense of humor. They also started what would become a trademark sound on all future albums by adding mariachi horns, something Clyne was influenced by while in college studying Cultural Anthropology with an ethnography study of mariachis during a three month Spanish-immersion stay with a local family in Ensenada, Mexico. The Refreshments’ debut album, “Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big & Buzzy,” became a cult classic. Changes within their record label and internal band issues resulted in Clyne and Naffah going on a vision quest of sorts in the Whetstone Mountains near the Clyne Ranch in Southeastern Arizona. It was there that Clyne found inspiration in the rolling hills and the jukeboxes of small town taverns that still played Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash – music he had shed from his youth in favor of bands like Camper Van Beethoven & They Might Be Giants. But after reconnecting with those old country records, Clyne and Naffah wrote and recorded under a new moniker what would become Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers’ debut album, “Honky Tonk Union.” The album was the perfect combination of classic rock and twang, and fans immediately connected with it. Their independent release, “Honky Tonk Union,” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Internet Album Sales chart in 1999 prompting a call from a Billboard exec to their Manager demanding, “Who the hell is Roger Clyne and why is he #1 on my chart?!” beating out much better known artists that week like Santana, Creed, Nine Inch Nails, Melissa Ethridge and 311. RCPM released eight more albums that landed in the top ten of Billboard’s Internet Album Sales chart, including a No.1 debut for their third album, “¡Americano!” – all without the backing of a major record label and while flying under the radar of commercial radio. Currently, they just finished their next album, “Hell to Breakfast.” The first single hit streaming on November 21st, 2025, the second single will drop Jan 9th, 2026 and the album launches March 6th, 2026. Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers have toured all over the US and achieved a faithful following through hard work and great music. They have done this all while being independent, without the safety net of a label or a label’s radio promotion department. Dubbed “The Springsteen of the Southwest,” by the Asbury Park Press the band delivers exciting live performances that garner declarations like the one from emcee Jay Peterman of the Seinfeld TV show at Alice Cooper’s annual Christmas Pudding event, “Young man, you light that stage a-flame!”
The Callous Daoboys
The recklessly free-spirited collective from Atlanta, Georgia, revels in high-strung extremity, music that’s somehow dense, impenetrable, and chaotic yet confusingly inviting.
Auslander – Rammstein Tribute
Chasing Supernovas
LIE
Leila’s Rose
Formed in 2021 at the University of South Dakota, Leila’s Rose is an indie/alternative rock band based out of Omaha, NE. The five-piece group features Easton Ritz (lead vocals), Adam Kays (lead guitar), Kadin Williams (rhythm guitar/backing vocals), Connor Drahota (bass), and Micah Hansen (drums/backing vocals). Known for their dynamic sound and infectious energy, the band has built a reputation for high-energy live shows that leave a lasting impression. The band has performed extensively across the upper Midwest, frequently playing across South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa. They have built a loyal following with their electrifying stage presence, driving guitar riffs, and shining vocals. From college bars to small arenas, Leila’s Rose consistently delivers unforgettable performances that connect with audiences. In 2024, Leila’s Rose took a major step forward, recording their debut EP “Make It Easy” in Omaha. Released on January 16, 2025, the four-track project showcases their growth as a band. Blending indie rock, alternative pop, and folk elements, “Make It Easy” marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the band. GIVE EM’ A LISTEN HERE
Ashes to Amber
Emerging from Orange, CA, Ashes to Amber is a Post Wave/Indie Pop project that formed in 2018. Driven deeply by guitar melodies from the inspirations of Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Eric Johnson, Kane Acosta fused a new tonality to the indie pop genre. He has released 3 full-length albums: Jade (2019), Do not Pick the Flowers (2021), and My Little Maniac (2023) as well as three EP’s and a myriad of singles
Mitch Gettman Band
Violenteer
