Cosmic dance-floor ascension. 

Wave Machine< Hawaii < Uniting Souls < Seattle < Housepitality < Los Angeles < La Aldea < Costa Rica

The Gin Pennies play pop songs, no doubt about it, but enveloped by a gypsy outfit of percussive guitars, upright bass, violin and trumpet, there’s a unique slant to their forthcoming debut that sets it apart from the masses. If Lake Street Dive traveled back to 1920’s Paris and made a record with Django Reinhardt, it might sound something like The Gin Pennies.

At the core, The Gin Pennies are an indie-pop band with a sensual female vocalist supported by a delightful gypsy band aesthetic. It’s an engaging mixture of era and vibe, where modern-day indie-pop meets a 1920s French juke joint...in Austin Texas.

Willodean is an Austin-via-Los Angeles based trio that combines indie-rock, power-pop, and American roots with beautiful string arrangements and impeccable musicianship. Their music echoes the melodic smarts of Sufjan Stevens and packs the instrumental punch of a band like Wilco. 

After releasing 4 EPs (28 songs!) in 2017 Willodean is back with a collection that shows off their love of pop music taking 7 classic songs in unexpected directions. From a dark take on Henry Glover's (Rivieras / The Ramones) oldie California Sun to an acoustic treatment of George Michael's Praying For Time. The record includes songs from INXS, The Beatles, Nick Drake, Pearl Jam & Phil Collins. 

All of their own music is written by Wooten & produced by bassist Eric Holden, recorded in-house at Holden’s studio and released by their own label, Bigger Better More Records. In many ways, Willodean is a continuation of the partnership Holden and Wooten kicked off a decade ago, when the two formed Cheap Lullaby Records. Starting with their band at the time, The Bloody Lovelies, they went on to sign more than a dozen acts and release over 35 records for artists such as The BellRays, Joan As Police Woman, The Silver Seas, Ivan & Alyosha, Ane Brun, Teitur, Gus Black, Josh Ottum, Kathryn Williams, Robin McKelle, and David Mead. The guys have turned a new corner with Willodean, blending their modern DIY production aesthetic and smart, lyric-based songwriting with singer Abbie Huxley’s Tennessee grit.

Christopher Hawley is following