SONG PREMIERE: Scranton indie folk band Sweetnest takes time to ‘Heal’ hearts and minds
Everyone needs time to heal. For Sweetnest, it has been over three and a half years. The indie folk duo of vocalist/ukulele player Amanda Rogan and guitarist Matt Malone has continued writing music since the release of their split EP with fellow Scranton band A Fire With Friends in early 2020, but the same struggles […]
VIDEO PREMIERE: Scranton indie rock pirates Esta Coda ride the friendly seas of ‘Happenstance’
When talking to Esta Coda about their band, songwriting, live shows, or just life in general, the theme that keeps coming up again and again is “friendship.” It’s the force that motivates them, surrounds them, flows through them, and binds them together, to roughly paraphrase a friendly Jedi. It’s key to the longevity of the […]
Exeter heavy metal band Royal Hell signs with Heaven and Hell Records to release sophomore album
From a press release: It’s a match made in hell – Heaven and Hell Records announced that Royal Hell has been signed to the label as they prepare their forthcoming album, “Second Sight of the Grand Seer,” for release this September. Hailing from Northeastern Pennsylvania, Royal Hell grew up in and around the small Luzerne […]
VIDEO PREMIERE: Markus A. D. croons haunting doo-wop heartache over ‘Ms. Sery’
Late last year, the Camp Rattler crew helped Wilkes-Barre singer/songwriter and Plains native Markus A. D. debut a moody little folk punk ballad called “Sharing a Breath” on this page, and today we’re back with a new emotional number called “Ms. Sery,” recorded at JL Studios in Olyphant. For the accompanying black-and-white music video, I’ll […]
SONG PREMIERE: Scranton hard rock band The Holtzmann Effect leaves impact with ‘Asteroid’
Ever since they debuted at the NEPA Scene Open Mic in the spring of 2018, The Holtzmann Effect has emerged as a natural force to be reckoned with in the Northeastern Pennsylvania music scene. The Scranton-based hard rock band – consisting of vocalist/guitarist Tyler “Beef” Zeiss, drummer Cody Sibio, guitarist Tyler Salak, and bassist Grant […]
Lackawanna Historical Society hosts Ukrainian pysanky-making workshop in Scranton on April 3
From a press release: As many are currently thinking about Ukraine, the Lackawanna Historical Society will teach a traditional Ukrainian craft that also ties into Easter. Dating back to prehistoric Ukraine, folklore claims that pysanky, elaborately decorated eggs, can help ward off evil from overtaking the world. Intricate patterns are drawn on the eggs with […]
VIDEO PREMIERE: Scranton pop punks Anytime Soon visit Castle Bam before ‘Holding My Breath Through the Lehigh Tunnel’
The music of Anytime Soon often captures the sound of growing up on early 2000s punk and emo tunes, Vans Warped Tour, MTV, CKY DVDs, “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater,” “Jackass,” and “Viva La Bam,” so when it came time for the Scranton band to search for shooting locations for their next music video, what better […]
EP PREMIERE: Wilkes-Barre thrash metal band Cruel Bomb drops ‘Man Made’ destruction
Much like the destructive weapon they are named after, Cruel Bomb packs a lot into a little package. The Wilkes-Barre band’s new EP, “Man Made,” has only five tracks, but it contains all the fierce firepower of a full album of old school trash metal with only three members – vocalist/guitarist Brandon James, bassist Kennie […]
EXCLUSIVE: Scranton alt rockers The Boastfuls ‘Medicate’ with emotional and aggressive single
Today, Scranton alternative rock band The Boastfuls released their second single, “Medicate,” on all major streaming platforms. The song speaks about the frustration of relying on medication, trying to discover the true root of a problem, and explaining the emptiness that dependency leaves on everyone around it. It is for anyone that has dealt with […]
NEPA MUSIC NOTES: Telco, Don’t Panic, Eric Best, 5-7-Zero, Flowers for You, Crooked Ways, John Hahn, and more
After a few years away, the NEPA Music Notes column received a warm welcome back last week, so I’ll take that as a sign that you want to see more roundups of new and noteworthy local songs, albums, and shows. Let’s dive right in! 🎶🎶 Schuylkill Haven guitarist John Hahn, who got his start touring […]
