NYC

Last week the wife and I cleared the family van out and hit the road for a 12-hour trek to New York City from our Midwest abode. This wasn’t really a pleasure trip, as we were going out to load up our oldest and her belongings and move her back to Indiana after a successful […]

Flyover Sounds : Sankofa & Chef Mike’s 313260

I’ve been following Midwest rapper Sankofa for a few years now. I can remember hearing his praises by local music writers well over a decade ago, but hadn’t really locked into the world of hip hop just yet. Not that I’m an expert now(far from it), but I know what I like when I hear […]

Complex Distractions Presents ‘Flyover Sounds’

I’ve been writing about music for almost nine years now. I started this site in December of 2011. Within these nine years I’ve spent an ample amount of time talking about “local” bands. Bands and artists that while may not live in my zip code, I could easily meet them for coffee or a beer […]

Joyhouse Premiere’s “Truman” Video; There Will Be Blood

Midwestern three-piece Joyhouse were just about done recording their debut EP back in March when the world shut down. Recording vocals a week before the state of Indiana went on lockdown, the band which consists of Chris Kelsey(vocals, guitar), Ian Skeans(vocals, guitar) and Kiah Gerig(drums), thought they were a mere few weeks away from debuting […]

Shelter From The Storm

It does’t matter how many times you go through it, a tornado is always a scary situation. Last night was no exception. Throughout the day I kept reading about a storm heading our way, from as far away as Iowa(or Idaho, I get them mixed up.) Rain, hail, thunder, lightning, and damaging winds were all […]

Sankofa : Weird Summer

Stephen Eric Bryden, aka Sankofa, is the premier Midwest wordsmith. A guy whose vernacular is that of an Encyclopedia Britannica, and his rhymes are always in-the-moment and of the utmost urgency. He’s a thoughtful lyricist, whether he’s rapping about our failing political system(“Joe Harvey X #doubledownondumb”), social unrest(“Killer Mike For President”), or the best damn […]

John Prine 1946-2020

I have never been a fan of country music. I’m just not wired for it. Much like how some people aren’t wired for jazz, David Lynch, or TLC shows. And even though I may not be down with outlaw country or Little People, Big World, I do appreciate a great songwriter. Guys like Kris Kristofferson, […]

Sankofa Drops Video For “Blood of the Eagle’s Eye”; ‘$5,000 Flashlights’ Out Sept. 2nd

There really is none greater than Sankofa. The Midwest rapper has been quietly(and sometimes not so quietly) writing and recording thoughtful, introspective, and next-level rhymes now for over ten years(but less than 50.) He’s a worldly fellow but calls Fort Wayne, Indiana home. Whenever there’s a chance to hit a stage and spread the knowledge […]

Vandolah : Don’t Stop Giving Up

This review originally ran in Whatzup Magazine back in June of 2016. I’m running it here just in case you feel like digging into a Midwest musical treasure. Mark Hutchins was the guy behind the mic in Vandolah, as well as the sardonic point-of-view in most of the songs. He was a good friend of […]

Metavari : Symmetri

Nate Utesch has been the leader and sole constant in the electronic band Metavari since its inception back in 2008. He’s cultivated the sound and aesthetic from the sprawling vastness of post-rock to a much tighter electronic feel quite seamlessly. If you listen to early Metavari, say something like Be One of Us and Hear […]