Happy Friday! Don’t forget to spring forward on Saturday night. Did you see the #Happens Las Vegas Photo Gallery from last week? So many great memories. Check them out HERE. 

Today is International Women’s Day. Throughout March, WKQX (Q101)/Chicago middayer Lauren O’Neil is sharing “The Women Who Make Q101”’ weekdays at noon for Women’s History Month. She has an hour-long special today at noon (CT). 

WEDG (103.3 The Edge)/Buffalo PM Driver Lexi Ziccardi adds Promotions Director duties for Cumulus/Buffalo. 

Alternative New Music Friday #Happens with Bleachers and Jack Antonoff’s self-titled fourth album today. Let’s take a deep dive into the latest New Music Downloads that need to be on your radar. 

New Music Discovery Downloads

Alice Merton “run away girl (Paper Plane) 

German-Irish-Canadian singer-songwriter Alice Merton has a brand new single “run away girl” on her new label Paper Plane via Strange Loop/Your Army. Alice wrote and produced the song with James Dring (Lana Del Rey, Self Esteem) and her regular collaborator Paul Whalley. It’s from her forthcoming EP that will be supported by a U.S. tour in May. Alice had this to say about “run away girl”: “Since I can remember, in every life phase I have been in, I have always questioned two things: who am I, and who am I supposed to be? I thought when you grow up, all these questions magically get answered but as I continue to witness, I don’t think you ever quite know.”

The Avett Brothers “Love Of A Girl” (Ramseur/American/Thirty Tigers) 

Concord, North Carolina’s The Avett Brothers return with a high-energy new single “Love Of A Girl” released February 28th from the band’s first album in five years. The self-titled release, produced by longtime collaborator, friend and early champion Rick Rubin, arrives May 17th via Ramseur Records/American Recordings/Thirty Tigers. The Avett Brothers will begin performing music from the new album beginning on their own five-day festival April 9-13 in Mexico followed by a spring/summer tour that begins May 16th in Philadelphia. Find the tour dates HERE.  

Judah & The Lion “Long Dark Night” (Cletus The Van) 

Nashville’s Judah & The Lion return with their new single “Long Dark Night” via the band’s own label, Cletus The Van Records. It’s from the band’s forthcoming fifth album, The Process, set to drop on May 10th. The album was inspired by singer Judah Akers personal life and struggles. Inspired by Kübler-Ross’ five stages of grief, the album became a song cycle through the stages of grief through the lens of eventual forgiveness and hope. The band’s breakout singles “Take It All Back” and “Suit And Jacket” were on the band’s sophomore album, Folk Hop N’ Roll, released in 2016. Judah & The Lion head out on tour beginning April 25th in Charlotte. 

Krooked Kings “Sick Of Being Young” (Nobody Gets It)

Salt Lake City 5-piece Krooked Kings aren’t afraid of saying it how it is. Their unpretentious  indie rock takes influence from The Strokes, Bon Iver and Peach Pit while their lyrics reflect the constant, churning coming of age that is being a twenty-something in America. “We just want to make music that will move people,” explains drummer Quinn Casper shortly following the release of their 2023 album “All Out of Good Days.” 

Luke Hemmings “Shakes” (Arista) 

Australia’s Luke Hemmings released his new single “Shakes” on March 6th via Arista. It’s the lead single from his upcoming EP, boy, set to drop April 26th. It’s the second solo release for the former 5 Seconds Of Summer lead singer/guitarist. The EP is a result of continued introspection into maturity and humanity paired with the influence of LCD Soundsystem, My Bloody Valentine, The Verve, and Cocteau Twins culminating in a body of work highlighting both Luke’s personal evolution and his craft as a songwriter. About the new single, Hemmings said, “’Shakes’ was written on a dreary NYC evening in between long periods of being on the road. This made it come naturally to write from a melancholy place and feeling of yearning to be back home and feeling lonely and emotionally depleted.  There is a longing for love and self-acceptance in the lyrics and I hope it to be a song and feeling that anyone listening can find themselves in and attach their own story.”

Rainbow Kitten Surprise “Superstar” (Elektra/3EE) 

Boone, NC’s Rainbow Kitten Surprise is back with their new single “Superstar” released today. Earlier this week, RKS dropped a surprise announcement that bassist Charlie Holt is no longer in the band. The band’s breakthrough single “Fever Pitch” was released in 2018 from the album How To:Friend, Love, Freefall.

St. Vincent “Broken Man” (Virgin)

Dallas singer-songwriter St. Vincent released her new single “Broken Man” on February 29th. It’s the lead single from her forthcoming album, All Born Screaming, set to drop on April 26th. “There are some places, emotionally, that you can only get to by taking the long walk into the woods alone—to find out what your heart is really saying,” Annie Clark, the musician better known as St. Vincent says. It’s St. Vincent’s 7th album and first since her 2021, Daddy’s Home album, which won A Grammy Award for “Best Alternative Album.” 

twenty one pilots “Overcompensate” (Fueled By Ramen/3EE)

Columbus, OH duo twenty one pilots return with their first new music in three years. The highly-anticipated new single “Overcompensate” arrived February 29th. It’s from the band’s upcoming 7th album, Clancy, which drops May 17th. With details of the release teased to fans earlier this month via cryptic mailings and covert artswaps on streaming services, “Overcompensate” welcomes listeners back to the band’s immersive world of “Trench” with layers of synths built over a racing breakbeat in the song. The band’s previous release was Scaled And Icy in 2021 featuring #1 singles “The Outside,” “Saturday,” and “Shy Away.” 

Two Door Cinema Club “Happy Customers” (Glassnote) 

Northern Ireland trio Two Door Cinema Club’s newest single “Happy Customers” debuted on SiriusXM’s Alt Nation on March 6th. It’s the band’s first new music since 2022. “Happy Customers” is a joyous new track that overflows with sunshine-tinged nostalgia, taking fans back to the beloved, early soundscapes. Lead Singer, Alex Trimble’s vocals are at their most versatile, taking on a mezzo-soprano vocal range, and going on to erupt into an instantly-memorable, anthemic chorus. Two Door Cinema Club recently announced a summer U.S. tour that will begin July 13th in Atlanta. Find the tour dates HERE.

New Music Friday #Happens With Bleachers

New Jersey’s Bleachers release their self-titled fourth studio album via Dirty Hit. The 14-track collection is frontman Jack Antonoff’s distinctly New Jersey take on the bizarre sensory contradictions of modern life, on his position in culture, and on the things he cares about. Sonically, it’s sad, it’s joyful, it’s music for driving on the highway to, for crying to and for dancing to at weddings. There’s something reassuringly touchable and concrete about its sentiment: exist in crazy times but remember what counts.

Bleachers will hit the road this month on their highly anticipated “From The Studio To The Stage” tour, which will see the band play across the United Kingdom in March before a U.S. leg in May and June. See the tour dates HERE. 

The band’s previous three releases are Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night (2021), Gone Now (2017), and Strange Desire (2014).

New Music Friday Albums To Check Out Today

Bleachers – Bleachers (Dirty Hit)

The Jesus And Mary Chain – Glasgow Eyes (Fuzz Club)

Kim Gordon – The Collective (Matador/Beggars) 

Torrey – Torrey (Slumberland)

MORE ALT ALBUMS HERE

GOING FOR ADDS

Impacting Songs Next Week (3/12):

Judah & The Lion “Long Dark Night” (Cletus The Van Records)