Improvement Movement
Improvement Movement, the social betterment campaign/prog-rock quartet/non-denominational cult from Atlanta, GA, have made a new record just for you and your modern day malaise. It’s called Your Perfect Real Life, because, well, there’s a lot going right these days, right? Arriving August 21, 2026 via ATO Records, Your Perfect Real Life is prismatic, angular, jumpy, and eccentric. It’s sure to inundate your ears, corporeal form, and spiritual body with equal parts unadulterated bliss and realist catharsis, or, in other words, as much good as you can reasonably feel these days. Set in a world of chaos where the news seems to be perpetually recounting stories of planes falling out of the sky, urban wildfires, the uncanny nature of a southern snowfall, and schlepping ads that feel plucked from a sci-fi movie, Your Perfect Real Life makes an earnest case for embracing life’s relentless unpredictability. Animated by the band’s baroque take on the angular harmonies of grunge, the record’s eleven tracks sprawl and simmer, enlivened by the Improvement Movement’s novel employment of dynamics, sticky melodies, four-part harmony, and a treasure trove of experimental instruments. If you’ve ever found yourself enraptured by the lush harmonies of Fleet Foxes, the theatrics of early Genesis tracks, or the candid intimacy of Art Garfunkel, Improvement Movement may be for you. Improvement Movement is a democracy, and so they say, “things move slow.” That may be true for the internal machinations of the band, but their output has been quite regular. Each member of the band, who have largely been eschewing definition, are songwriters and instrumentalists who have spent the better part of a decade in the fertile DIY scene in Atlanta, GA. In that time they’ve been swirling, relatively undisrupted, in their own primordial ooze and rubbing elbows with folks from the no wave, punk, improv, and free jazz scenes. “Atlanta is about as DIY as it gets,” they say. “We’ve got some of the most killing musicians in the world all spread out on these kinds of islands of urbanization. There’s always something new.” That said, the band hasn’t been in Atlanta much lately; they were on the road relentlessly over the last two years, supporting Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Iron & Wine, Houndmouth, and Khurangbin. When it came to making a new record, the slog of touring had to be reckoned with. “It was a gauntlet, trying to live day by day. There was no room for anything with too much premeditation.” “We all have a disposition where we’d like to be positive,” they say, noting how their 2024 sophomore pursuit Slump focused in on the minutiae of personal friendships, relationships, and the noble pursuit of right relation. Your Perfect Real Life takes a wider view, reflecting on timely yet universal themes of mundanity, futility, fear, and acceptance. The band took a uniquely holistic approach to composing its songs, describing how they sought to write from their instruments in a way that could reflect the synergy they found playing live night after night. The collective effervescence of sharing and making art in community is one of the most life-affirming experiences we have. It makes sense that a band set on bridging our brutal realities and the catharsis of art-making is so plugged into that source. With Improvement Movement in our ears, we may as well keep pushing that rock up the hill, singing in unison. Don’t delay, join today!
Cheerleader Roadkill
Cheerleader Roadkill, a pop-punk band from the western Chicago suburbs, founded in 2022. Classmates Noel Kovac (guitar, vocals) and Jack Metz (bass), inspired by the sound of 90s pop punk bands like blink-182, Simple Plan, and Sum 41, they began writing songs in Kovac’s garage in July of 2022 and soon turned their attention to finding a drummer. After 6 months of rotating through a handful of drummers, fellow classmate Jesse Ortega (drums) was brought into the fold and solidified the current lineup.
Hot Freaks
Hot Freaks formed in Minneapolis in the early 2010s, releasing their self-titled debut LP in 2013—a collection of bright, danceable indie-pop tracks with a glossy disco sheen and disarmingly vulnerable lyrics. Blending the emotional openness of of Montreal and Voxtrot with flashes of MGMT’s playful charisma, the record captured the band’s tight-knit chemistry and earned them a loyal following in the Minneapolis scene. Though they rarely toured beyond the Midwest, the group—made up of longtime friends whose relationships stretched back over a decade—became a beloved local staple before amicably disbanding in 2015 as members moved on to new chapters. Years later, the internet gave Hot Freaks a second life. During the pandemic, their 2013 single “PUPPY PRINCESS” unexpectedly went viral on TikTok, introducing the band’s heartfelt, humor-tinged indie pop to a new global audience. What began as nostalgia among friends quickly turned into a full reunion as fans discovered the band’s earnest songwriting and infectious energy. Now reconnecting with listeners around the world, Hot Freaks are stepping back onto the stage with renewed momentum—releasing rare material, debuting new visuals, and turning a handful of hometown reunion shows into the start of a much bigger return.
guardin
Guardin is an alternative singer-songwriter from Western New York whose music has inspired countless others through his honest lyrics and creative endeavors. Guardin has toured around the country as a headliner and co-headliner and in support of OliverFrancis, Gnash,Wicca Phase, Guccihighwaters, Lund, and Sewerperson.
clovers daughter
clovers daughter is the indie pop/alternative project of Minneapolis-based songwriter Noor Shami. The Palestinian-American artist blends the emotional honesty of Big Thief, the depth of Ethel Cain, and the dreamy textures of The Marías into an intimate yet expansive indie pop sound. clovers daughter’s debut EP, Bittersweet (2025), introduced her introspective approach to songwriting, exploring the push and pull of young relationships through themes of nostalgia, uncertainty, and connection. Later that year, she released her debut album, Am I Worth It?, a 10-track project centered on the aftermath of betrayal and the emotional patterns that linger long after a relationship ends.Her second EP, Fragile Feeling (2026), builds on those themes with a more refined perspective, examining vulnerability, miscommunication, and the complexities of intimacy with clarity and restraint. In under two years, clovers daughter has toured with Darlingside and BabyJake, surpassed 180,000 streams on Spotify, and was named Artist of the Month by The Current in June 2026. With her sophomore album set for an August 2026 release, clovers daughter will bring her dynamic live show across the Midwest on a regional tour starting in August through September.
The Sleights
The Sleights – The Sleights are a punk rock band hailing from Colorado Springs. Pulling from its strong punk rock and rock & roll roots, the band keeps the music short and simple, and the live shows fast and fun. The band has recorded 2 EPs and three LPs, the third of which will be released in mid 2026.https://thesleights1.bandcamp.com/Goners UK – Few bands consistently bring the energy that Goners UK brings; whether on record or live shows, the hometown heroes are unwavering in their delivery of fast paced, heavy handed, no-bullshit punk rock. Hailing from the snowy caps of Bozeman, Montana, the quintet stops at literally nothing to bring their storied tunes to every corner of the map. https://gonersuk.bandcamp.com/
BOOF!
BOOF! – Reckless and Feckless queer punks out of DFWhttps://booftheworld.bandcamp.com/DSM-5 – Omaha pop punk / punk rockhttps://dsm5.bandcamp.com/Nancy Raygun – 3 piece hard core band from the 402https://www.instagram.com/xx_nancyraygun_xx/
Homestyle Dinner Rolls
From their name to their music to their beautiful hair, Homestyle Dinner Rolls is bound to turn heads. Crashing onto the underground Utah scene in 2020, HDR has made a name for themselves opening for artists such as Jeremy Jordan, Dexter and the Moonrocks, and Winona Fighter. Called “a Provo favorite” by Provo Music Magazine, each show they put on is a spectacle; “And boy do Homestyle Dinner Rolls know how to loosen an atmosphere and encourage interaction.” With plans to tour in early 2026 and an increasingly popular online presence, Homestyle Dinner Rolls is bound to be the next big name in rock. Even if it is a silly one.
Surely Tempo
Surely Tempo is a 5-piece indie rock band from Santa Ana, California, known for their melodic sound, energetic live shows, and steady organic growth. Since forming in 2020, the band has built a strong following through consistent releases, touring, and viral content. They’ve accumulated millions of streams across platforms and sold out notable Southern California venues including The Glasshouse in Pomona and The El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. Surely Tempo has also supported Enjambre on two national tours. Their latest album, Against All Odds, reflects themes of ambition, frustration, and pushing forward despite setbacks, capturing the band’s current momentum as they continue expanding their reach. They are currently in the works on their next full album “Mr.Metronome” which is set to release later in 2026.
Bob Log III
Bob Log III is a one man band slide guitar party. A perverse product of the Arizona desert, Bob Log III has been diligently travelling the globe since 1996, showcasing his incomparable talents and developing a devoted following along the way. A whirlwind of dexterous limbs and digits, this super star sonic showman has to be seen to be believed. Clad in his cannonball man, extra tight jumpsuit and signature motorcycle helmet with telephone/microphone attached, Bob Log III unfailingly sweats up a river while kicking on a kick drum, stomping his homemade foot cymbal and playing slide on an old archtop guitar. His endless pursuit for musical mayhem and a downright party has seen his unique talents utilized for children’s birthday parties, obscure beer barns, mammoth music festivals and everything in between. Yet, beyond these mesmerizing visuals, lies the true reason for Bob Log’s international cult status and superhero adoration. It is quite simply the guitar playing – finger picked lightning, sliding up and down, stopping when it wants to, then starting again when it feels like it, all in a way that makes people move uncontrollably, smile and reel. Excerpts from an unpublished journal – The Adventures of Bob Log III and His Faithful Guitar, by The Guitar: Chapter 39 HELP! 162 shows this year! 30 Countries! My strings hurt! My nut aches! My volume knob was broken by a Swedish girl’s butt! I don’t even know where we are right now. We have been doing this for 12 years! One man, kicking shit and playing guitar! He never stops! EVER! People keep smiling, dancing, sweating, dancing…… I am covered in beer! His suit smells so bad! QUOTES AND TESTIMONIALS And now let’s hear some actual words from notable people who know and love, or at least know Bob Log III… TOM WAITS “And then there’s this guy named Bob Log, you ever heard of him? He’s this little kid — nobody even knows how old he is — wears a motorcycle helmet and he has a microphone inside of it and he puts the glass over the front so you can’t see his face, and plays slide guitar. It’s just the loudest strangest stuff you’ve ever heard. You don’t understand one word he’s saying. I like people who glue macaroni on to a piece of cardboard and paint it gold. That’s what I aspire to basically.” ROBERT PLANT “Dear Bob, it’s been ages since Sweden.” POISON IVY (The Cramps) “If you do that again, we are kicking you off the tour.” FRANZ FERDINAND (Nick) “… Can I ride in your car?” BLOWFLY “Bob Log, you play guitar by yourself, you play drums by yourself, you drive yourself, but I bet you need help to masturbate.” GARY NUMAN “Hello” WEEN “Can I have one of your sandwiches?” SHARON JONES “Bob Log, you can use my dressing room. Wait…let me get you a towel.” SHONEN KNIFE “Can we sit your knee?” CHRISTINA SPENCER (BOSS HOG) “Can I wear your suit? Oh, wait…nevermind.” SAHARA HOT NIGHTS “We’re not mad! Really! We love Bob Log!” (in a Swedish accent) T-MODEL FORD “Try playing THAT, mutha fucker! HEY! You sat on my sandwich!”