Live Vibes + Fresh Tracks You Need to Hear 🎧
What’s up, friend!? Welcome to Songs That Don’t Suck, I’m your host, Mark. Every week, I dig through hundreds of new releases… but first — a concert review!
🎤 Concert Recap: Bridge City Sinners + Co.
A few months back I caught Bridge City Sinners opening for The Devil Makes Three at the House of Blues. They casually mentioned a headliner later in the year — and fall arrived, so here we are.
I hit up Globe Iron in Cleveland again (my second time). It’s still growing on me. I’ll admit: I wish there were stools around the edges. They do have a seated section upstairs, but it was like 2–3× the cost of GA that night. Not for me. I scoped out a spot I liked on the floor — there’s a tiny shelf I could rest my recorder on — and I settled in.
We got two openers:
- Joshua Quimby (alt‑country, with a fiddle). Solid, atmospheric.
- The second act… well, let’s just say I kept checking my watch. Not my vibe.
I tried to swap batteries for my recorder, but no dice — venue didn’t have extras, re-entry wasn’t allowed, so I gambled on getting Bridge City Sinners captured in full.
And boy did they deliver.
Michael was back in the lineup (he missed the previous show due to, fun fact — having a baby that same day). The difference? Huge. They played a 20‑song set, half drawn from their latest release. The energy was relentless. No drummer, yet the stage felt alive constantly. Libby’s vocals switched from angelic serenity to razor‑sharp in seconds — a wild, captivating contrast. Lyrically dark, but the presentation? Infectious.
If they roll into your town — don’t sleep. I wore the show shirt later that week to a store, and got a “cool shirt” compliment from the cashier… who — random as this is — “knew them.” Maybe they didn’t expect an old fart like me to be into them, but here we are.
🎧 New Music on the Radar
Here are my picks for the week:
- “Tipping Point” — Megadeth
Big news: Megadeth is releasing their final album and going on one last tour. This is the lead single. It’s vintage Megadeth — blazing riffs, monstrous drums, Mustaine’s signature snarling vocals. If you love metal, this lands hard. - “Let’s Make This Happen” — The Utopiates
They appeared on the podcast before (Ep. 18). This feels like “mostly indie rock & roll with a punch.” There’s 80s influence in the synths and guitar work. The bridge around four minutes hits emotionally — it’s a moment. Solid return from a band I’m keeping eyes (and ears) on. - “Another Day” — Twin City
These guys tap into that UK guitar rock sound — think Manchester, think melodic grit. No frills, just strong hooks and emotion. If you like guitar-forward bands that don’t overthink, this will land. - “Tell Me What You Want” — The Clause
They remind me of early Maroon 5 (yes, I said it). Strong vocal presence, good hooks, smart bridges. I found this one as a pleasant surprise — solid band with room to grow. - “One Sore Eye” — Scarhaven
Their second release. The first leaned grudge/alt-rock heavily; this one takes steps in a slightly different direction. The opening pulls you in, then it builds and chugs. Vocally, there are shades of Chris Cornell, but the artist has enough individuality to keep it from feeling derivative. Chorus sticks.
👇 Final Thoughts & Listener Tips
- If Bridge City Sinners hit your town, go. They embrace all, they energize, and they leave you wanting more.
- For Megadeth fans: this next album is going to be monumental (for so many reasons).
- Watch how The Utopiates and Scarhaven evolve — they’re both on interesting trajectories.
- Leave a review, subscribe, and spread the word. The newsletter gets you into the Live Music Archive — free access — and there’s merch + polls + concert photos.
Thanks for listening. As always — get out, support the artists. The music world needs you.
Peace,
Mark / Songs That Don’t Suck
