Pulses.

pulses., from Virginia, is a fresh offering of progressive post-hardcore. From humble beginnings in their debut album bouquet in 2017, the band has a clear-cut unique sound that sets them apart. Characterized by memorable genre-staple callouts and a passion for their craft, the four-piece has won the hearts of listeners in their short tenure. One could expect to hear pulses. in the shuffle of such bands as Happy Hour, Dwellings, and good friends I Met A Yeti.

This group got their start with the LP bouquet. in 2017, before gearing up for 2020’s Speak It Into Existence. The latter record recruited such guest vocalists as longtime band friend Sierra Binondo of With Sails Ahead, Gavin Cole, and emo legend Max Bemis. Speak It Into Existence is chock full of quirky guitar runs, funky riffs, and a sense that the record is a passion project produced to perfection to bring the band’s ideas to life. pulses. then crafted the EP Speak Less, showcasing the heavier side of their songwriting with short, succinct wallops reminiscent of The Fall of Troy. It was this niche EP that the group themselves fell in love with and emphatically performed on large stages as soon as live performances came back in 2021.

With no signs of slowing down, pulses. made the most of 2021 with Speak Less and their return to the stage. The band secured a spot on Blue Ridge Rock Festival’s main stage, sharing it with the likes of A Day To Remember, Spiritbox, and The Ghost Inside. Their long-standing friendships with fellow indie bands With Sails Ahead and I Met a Yeti remain a strong example of the camaraderie young groups can form. Keep your eyes on pulses. as the perfect exhibition of four friends creating unconventional tunes to a dedicated audience.

Greenhead

We are Greenhead, a three piece Stoner Doom band from just outside Washington D.C. Together the band first formed in December of 2021 with Nick Groves (Lead Guitar) and Ian McPhail (Drummer); soon after, they were joined by Alex Dixon (Bassist) in March of 2022. Greenhead experiments different genres like Stoner, Doom, Desert and Hardcore, to create a very unique and original sound. In the past two months, Greenhead has written a full original album, consisting of different genres, complex rhythms, odd time signatures, heavy breakdowns, and more. The band has played numerous venues around the DMV area, and their only just getting started.

Motel Portrait

Motel Portrait is a band from Frederick Maryland with a revolving lineup spearheaded by guitarist and vocalist Logan Wilms. Currently Ian Mcphail is on the drums and Nick Groves is on the bass. Motel Portrait released their debut EP Car Crash in 2020, as well as a recent experimental noise piece Rood Eht Nepo in May 2022. Their first full length album With Love & Solidarity will be released sometime in early 2023. Combining elements of abstract noise with shoegaze, punk, doom, and 80s inspired alternative rock. Lyrically they play with elements of depression, paranoia, political anger, regret, and exploitation under capitalism.

Motel Portrait is embarked on their first tour of the east coast in the summer of 2022. Motel Portrait has also been organizing shows in their hometown of Fredrick Maryland to fundraise for a community fridge and other mutual aid efforts like HIPS & The Trevor Project.

The Ramen Legion

The Ramen Legion is a 5 piece rock band out of DC. Recently adding 3 new members and making loud noises. The band formed in 2019 and released their debut record not too long after that. Go check out their newest song ‘lets pretend we’re in Hawaii. The ramen legion combines genres from pop punk to post hardcore with everything in between.