Sounds Of Secret Stages 2018: Reality Something

While I may not be there in body, my mind and heart will be away down south in Dixie this weekend. Why, you may ask? Well, it's Secret Stages, y'all! August 3-4 sees this boutique festival take over Birmingham once again, bringing together sounds from all ends of the spectrum. If you're in the vicinity, you should absolutely stop what you're doing and go see some folks do their thing. I've put together a shortlist of some artists I'd make time for if I was at the festival, and I hope you'll check them out regardless of whether you're in Alabama this weekend or not.

Nashville's Reality Something has a serious sweet tooth for the 1990s, from a musical standpoint at least. It's not a bad decade to crush on, and the foursome uses touchstones like Belly and Veruca Salt to craft taut, muscular college radio nuggets. The heavy strutting sound is given voice by Elena Franklin, who adds tempting coos and brassy boldness in equal measure. For those of us who were around during the era of flannels and baby doll dresses, Reality Something's music strikes an especially appealingly nostalgic chord.

[posted 8.4.18]