Above Image Via Facebook: Alt Nation

By Josh McCann

It’s time to be thankful for…Alt Nation! As always, here’s the latest music and news within the Alt Nation (Sirius XM) world. I’ll also talk about their new “Impact Track of the Week,” which is a new thing they are doing!

New Songs

Momma “Ohio All The Time”

Lauren Mayberry “Crocodile Tears”

Anna Shoemaker “Game of Thrones”

Fazerdaze “Cherry Pie”

Luvcat “He’s My Man”

Sam fender “People Watching”

Wombats “Blood On The Hospital Floor”

Wallice “Gut Punch Love”

Impact Track Of The Week

Alt Nation recently started their “Impact Track Of The Week.” I like the idea. It gives a song a better chance to make it onto rotation. There are so many great bands in the Alt Nation world—this will help separate some from the rest of the pack. Some impact tracks have been: Vienna Vienna “Vienna (Everything’s Fine),” Phoneboy “I Look Alive,” Sam Fender “People Watching.” I mean, Sam Fender has been around for a while but somehow hasn’t broken through in the US. It’ll be interesting to see what the next impact track will be.

Throwback: The White Stripes “Fell In Love With A Girl”

I was sitting at home when this came on. The opening guitar chords are some of the best in rock and roll history. When I heard this for the first time back in 2001, it was like a breath of fresh air. Mainstream radio wasn’t a great place for rock at the time. But luckily, indie rock bands like The Strokes and Yeah Yeah Yeah’s were taking over Brooklyn. The alt rock music scene was favoring underground bands (check out the book, Meet Me In The Bathroom). The White Stripes were a big part of this change. Jack and Meg White were so cool and mysterious. Were they married? Were they siblings? I’d turn up the dial, the reverb and distortion hitting my bedroom walls. Fans have their favs, but this will always be a classic.

Alt-18

During November, Bastille was number one on two different occasions. Balu Brigada also took the number one spot. The top 5 for 11/22 were: Blink-182 “Take Me In,” Hozier “Nobody’s Soldier,” Balu Brigada “So Cold,” Bastille “Blue Sky & The Painter,” Twenty One Pilots “Routines In The Night.” Also, I introduced Badflower and Suki Waterhouse on the countdown! Thanks Alt Nation! Pretty soon the Alt-36 end of the year countdown will be here. It’ll be so fun to listen to all of the songs that made up the countdown this year.

Breakthrough Act of the Month: Gigi Perez “Sailor Song”

I really believe Gigi Perez’s “Sailor Song” has a chance to be a hit single. It’s so different. The more I hear it, the more I like it. She’s also from Jersey, home of my favorite artist ever, Bruce Springsteen. Maybe Gigi could open for fellow Jersey Alt Nation artists, The Gaslight Anthem.

Music Video of the Month: Momma “Ohio All The Time”

If you’ve ever lived in a small town next to a field, this one is for you. The band rocks out in open spaces, rides in the back of a truck, and looks into the camera for some cool shots. The song has some 90’s indie rock vibes. They are having fun being in a band. That’s really what it’s all about. It’s a good jam to blast.