Happy Friday! Smile, Alternative New Music Friday #Happens with new albums out today for you to check out from Coldplay, Jake Bugg, Katastro, and The Smile. Plus, the Bad Monkey Soundtrack Celebrating The Music Of Tom Petty with several alternative artists contributing cover songs, including Eddie Vedder “Room At The Top” and Weezer “Here Comes My Girl.” 

We learn about Balu Brigada who are from New Zealand and Ekoh who is from Las Vegas this week. Both have new singles now available for you to listen & download on the #HAPPENS Alternative Downloads page. Your Alternative New Music Discovery is queued up for you below.

Ratings Love! Nielsen September ‘24 PPM Ratings are being released this week and here’s the latest stations to post 6+ increases: WEND (106,5 The End)/Charlotte is up big 3.6-4.9, KNRK (94/7)/Portland climbs 2.2-2.3, KXRK (X96)/Salt Lake City gains 4.2-4.5, KXTE (X107.5 Xtreme Radio)/Las Vegas rises 2.2-2.5, and WNWV/Cleveland jumps 3.0-3.4.

WEND PD Chris Crowley says, “September was a great month for WEND and to me just shows the passion Charlotte has for this music, 106.5 The End as a brand itself (celebrating 30 years next year!) and the Woody and Wilcox Show with Chelsea and Cool Beans. Without a strong lead-in from a show as plugged in and dedicated as they are, The End wouldn’t do nearly as well.”

Meanwhile, iHeart Charlotte is busy helping people in Western North Carolina communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Crowley shares, “Monday, WEND began our Operation Airdrop initiative for iHeart Charlotte. Along with our sister stations we organized aircraft, pilots and volunteers to collect and fly supplies over to Western North Carolina for the relief effort. We set up collection points at various places around Charlotte and as of October 2nd collected enough for 355 flights (that’s over 217,000 pounds of supplies). This is going to be a long and arduous way back for the people and those communities – we just want to do everything we can to help them along the way.” #NorthCarolinaStrong

Yesterday (10/3) marked the 30th Anniversary of The Cranberries second album, No Need To Argue. The album included the band’s massive breakthrough single “Zombie” and helped push the album to over 17 million in worldwide sales. Producer Stephen Street shared, “The great thing about ‘Zombie’ was that there was no pressure felt by myself or the band to make it a ‘hit single.’ When we recorded it, we were having fun and they were letting off steam, showing another side of the band that had not been heard before. We certainly were not worrying about making a ‘hit’ we just wanted to make a great rocking track! It is incredible to see the history that the song has created!”

Three Days Grace announces original singer Adam Gontier has returned to the band. Get the 411 on Alternative Music Info.

Mike Kaplan, Mike Bacon, and Mike Parrish hang with Jelly Roll. Check out the smiles on Alternative Photos.

ICYMI: beabadoobee was on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night performing her single “Beaches.” Check it out HERE.

Now, let’s dig in on the latest new music that needs to be on your radar.

ALTERNATIVE NEW MUSIC DISCOVERY  

Balu Brigada “So Cold” (Atlantic) 

Listen & Download HERE.

New Zealand duo Balu Brigada released “So Cold” late last week. Balu Brigada consists of brothers, Henry and Pierre Beasley, who are now based in New York. 

“‘So Cold’ is about tripping up on all the subtleties of the dating game,” say Balu Brigada. “It’s the realization that there’s a lot of smoke and mirrors when it comes to attraction, and that a lot of things that feel like ‘mystique’ when you’ve got beer goggles on, are actually just someone being elusive.” 

Henry and Pierre have spent much of the past few years creating a unique future-facing sound of their own, prioritizing dual vocals, prominent bass hooks, and punchy drums while showcasing a left-of-center pop sensibility and natural ability to skate genres. Following their 2022 debut EP, I Should Be Home, Balu Brigada signed to Atlantic and released their second EP, Find A Way in 2023. 

Balu Brigada has been touring with twenty one pilots.

Ekoh “Good Things f/Lo Spirit” (Just Us League)

Listen & Download HERE.

Las Vegas’ Ekoh released “Good Things f/Lo Spirit” this week. The multifaceted musical force has etched his distinctive mark by blending hip-hop, rock, and alternative. 

Ekoh says, “Good Things is about questioning where all the things that used to bring happiness went. It explores the feeling of emptiness, wondering, ‘Is this all I’ll ever be?’ while holding onto the hope that there are still good things waiting out there.” 

KXTE (X107.5 Xtreme Radio)/Las Vegas has been playing “Good Things” since April. 

“My music is about embracing REAL LIFE, the struggle, the good times, the frustration, the anger, the heartache. It’s all real because it’s all true,” says Ekoh. “I have felt and experienced it all.” 

Ekoh brings his high-energy delivery and authentic connection with his fans on a 27-city headline tour across the U.S. and Canada beginning October 25th in Sacramento. Find the tour dates for Ekoh’s “Drag Me From Hell Tour” HERE.

NEW ALBUMS OUT TODAY

Bad Monkey – Soundtrack (WaterTower)

Coldplay – Moon Music (Parlophone/Atlantic)

Jake Bugg – A Modern Distraction (Arista)

Katastro – Until The End Of Time (Kamp/Controlled Substance Sound Labs)

The Smile – Cutouts (XL/Beggars Group)

MORE ALT ALBUMS HERE

GOING FOR ADDS

Impacting Next Week (10/8):

Balu Brigada “So Cold” (Atlantic) 

U2 “Picture Of You (X+W)” (Interscope)