There’s a saying that’s been the favorite of any baby boomer worth their weight in their parent’s war bonds. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” If that’s true, consider Secret Stuf gone. Te Nashville trio has been through its fair share of tough, and it comes out in droves in the band’s first vinyl release, Tis is Fine. Members Michael Pfohl, Nathan Childers, and Alexander Gonser juggled relationships, the hosting of bi-weekly house shows, and a full-time college course load while writing and recording the impassioned, ardent five song EP – multiple times. Tis is Fine was engineered and produced by Jon Hicks (Relient K, Haste the Day, Dance Gavin Dance) in his aptly-titled studio, Jon’s House. Not only once, either. Michael Pfohl – frontman and founding member – reminisces, “We had what we thought was a finished record several times only to listen back through and realize it wasn’t quite ready.” At one point, the band even had to request the percussive aid of Aaron Lunsford (As Cities Burn) in what would prove to be the final version of Tis is Fine. Te professionalism and crafsmanship doesn’t stop with the skins, though. All five songs survey a fully focused mastery of songwriting, instrumentation, and melody. Even the ever-present honesty in the vocal projection exists as a defining factor of the EP. Pfohl’s voice quivers in the delivery of “Messages on my phone only make me feel alone/ Everyone just wants what they can get from me/ And no one asks me how I’m really doing” in the colloquially poignant “I Lost My Dinosaur.” Secret Stuf has endured what most bands don’t even endure in a lifetime, and all before their second release. Tis is Fine captures the angst and misery of formative years, set on the backdrop of struggling to do even that. It focuses on shortcomings, the burdens of stress, overly critical selfanalysis, and coming to terms with it all (the acknowledgement of which is where the title originates). Still, Secret Stuf found a way to use their trials to define Tis is Fine. So, the next time anyone spouts the tired, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going,” you can tell them “I know a band that did that.” Look for Secret Stuf’s Tis Is Fine to be released this January on Seattle’s Spartan Records and stay tuned to spartanrecords.com for more release news, new music, tour dates, and more.

A carpenter by trade, Zachariah Red was born and raised on the shores on Lake Michigan in Racine, WI, a once thriving midwestern town that now sits checkered with abandoned factories.

Zachariah in no stranger to hard work and turmoil. Through his blend of driving midwestern country, rock'n'roll, and acoustic tunes, his songs tell the stories of America's backbone. From hard times and addiction to the little things in life, faith, and happiness.

In a scene dominated by prepackaged label-groomed artists, Zachariah Red is a breath of fresh air with music by and for common, blue-collar Americans.

For fans of Of Monsters And Men, Modest Mouse, Shovels and Rope, 

Pageant has the heart of a painter, the mind of a tailor, and the soul of an astronaut tumbling home with a starlit guitar. “Pageant plays songs based in old-school country, ’50s girl-pop, and perky piano indie-pop… A fascinating and engaging amalgam.” Independentclauses.com

Lead singer-songwriter Derek Porter’s rich, contemplative voice and guitar intermingles with his sister Erika’s lilting vocals, guitar, and ukelele to create a lush tapestry of moving and playful music. Additional songwriting and instrumentation from Stephen Allbritten rounds out this collection of curious poets.

For fans of Of Monsters And Men, Modest Mouse, Shovels and Rope,

(New studio content coming soon)