Whose playing this Saturday?

Goodtime, The Crowd, Wendy Wang, Arden Alexa.

Going by the stage name Goodtime, Johnny is your college buddy.  He’d be at home performing at a frat party or at Coachella, or just hanging out at the crib.  Goodtime’s music shows definite folk influence, with echoes of Bob Dylan, but with an up-to-date feel, maybe like if he had an 808 and a Rivian.  Goodtime hails from New York, but has performed across the country.  His latest single, “I Guess That’s Just Life” contemplates the countdown you remember is there after a breakup, after investing so much, and being that much older.  Was breaking up worth it?

The Crowd, project of Alec Joseph and Caye, who could easily be leading pricey excursion yoga retreats, will have you surfing on cotton candy.  MGMT’s “Electric Feel” takes place in the forest The Crowd sprouted from.  Their music shows influences from the serenity and solitude of Bon Iver, the purple haze of Tame Impala, with a touch of the islands.  Speaking of, The Crowd has a series of live performances beautifully filmed around Hawaii which can be found on YouTube.  Their latest release is an EP titled “Heaven and Hell” takes us through three heavenly, meditative scenes, balanced by the last song that hits us right away with the truth of our darker desires, “Why do all good things come from Hell?”

Wendy Wang is a magical companion, maybe like Terra Branford.  Not that she’s all perfect, she can be the bad guy, but only for the pictures.  Her 5 song EP of songs inspired by her pets somehow perfectly captures the different feelings we experience throughout the lives of our pets, so listen only when you’re emotionally ready.  Her latest release, “Nitrivacation” shows the scars one inevitably gets trying to be magical out here in the real, cold world, and how she gets through it.  Hopefully we’ll get to hear her upcoming single, “Gum”, on Saturday!

Arden Alexa is not the drama, but is actually totally the drama.  Arden’s songs are like opening up her diary, they give us a window into the heart of a girl growing up.  Earlier songs about high-school boyfriends turn into anthems wherein she searches for power in her womanhood, matched by a visual shift wherein strawberry pink cashmere splits into pure white silk and deep rouge velvet.  Her latest single, “Thank God”, resonates the relief we make ourselves feel after we avoid falling for a crush that was quickly turning into a crutch, and was only ever going to use us as a crutch.

Catch the show Saturday, May 3, at Juneshine on Main St.  

Listen to all the artists on our weekly artist roundup!