Autoheart :: Pigeon Pit :: Raegan
(3/17/24)
Cornerstone Berkeley
Shot and Written by Fiestaban Photography
Straight out of early-aughts London, Autoheart is cleaning up on their first ever North American βLove Me Love Me Love Meβ tour with all-sold-out shows across the Pond and new fans everywhere they go. Jody Gadsen, Simon Neilson and Barney JC are hitting the big time with over 150 million streams on Spotify and βStalkerβs Tangoβ and βMoscowβ becoming hits, especially amongst anime fans and TikTok. Their heartfelt indie rock might have traditionally catered to Millenials whom miss The Killers, βClocksβ-era Coldplay or Arctic Monkeys, but Gen Z has beat them to the punch. Their second stop on the tour at the Cornerstone in Berkeley, CA was an absolute treasure trove of sing-alongs, replete with genuine fanatics singing along to every word of every song. Check out their 10th anniversary re-release of their 2013 album Punch, along with a full demo album called, Punch Demos.
Pigeon Pit
Hailing from Olympia, WA and awash with the equal parts Appalachian blues and folk-punk, Pigeon Pit lives somewhere in the musical spirit of Hank Williams, Lavender Country, Daniel Johnston and Modest Mouse. There are bands with feeling, and then there are bands like Pigeon Pit, whom rail against the system, class and gender inequality, racism, environmental degradation, all while instilling hope the hearts of everyone who bears witness. Their lead singer, a trans-activist, Lomes Oleander (βwhen Iβm around other trans people, I know we got each otherβ¦β) grew up nearby in Santa Cruz, so this leg of the tour with Autoheart was a bit of a homecoming. With songs like βMilk Cratesβ and βSoup For My Familyβ, there is heartbreak and exasperation, but there is always beauty and community in equal doses. Check out their set on NPR Tiny Desk and their latest release, Feather River Canyon Blues.
Raegan
Part doll, part angel, all diva, (and a dead ringer for Clueless-era Alicia Silverstone) Raegan has burst onto the scene as a self-produced queer alt-pop icon whom is already making a name for herself on TikTok and social media, with songs like βTim Burtonβ, βCoinsβ, βFROGSβ and βWaltzβ (a lesbian retelling of Romeo And Juliet). If youβre fans of Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish or Ariana Grande, Raegan belongs on your music playlists. Look out for her forthcoming debut EP Fuck Raegan on April 5th.
