Nicole Canaan

Nicole Canaan | My Own Two Hands | 3hive.com

Nicole Canaan | My Own Two Hands | 3hive.com

SLC’s Nicole Canaan has just released her new single (and strongest to date) “Party Person” from her forthcoming album, My Own Two Hands.

Nicole’s voice is powerful on “Party Person” and shines alongside her shimmery guitar work. I know that I have already written this, but this is her best work yet and I am excited to hear the new album!

My Own Two Hands was produced and mastered by the über-talented Isaac Elmont and Bly Wallentine, respectively. It comes out on December 3 via UPHERE! Records. You do not want to miss it.

UPHERE! Comp Vol. 2

UPHERE! Records | Compilation Vol. 2 | 3hive.com
UPHERE! Records | Compilation Vol. 2 | 3hive.com

Provo UT’s UPHERE! Records are releasing their new label comp filled with previously unreleased nuggets from bands like Backhand, Nicole Canaan, The Plastic Cherries and Homephone to name a few. All the profits go to help refugees in Ukraine, 50% to Save The Children and 50% to The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund. This is a KILLER compilation and it’s for a VERY good cause.

Preorders are going on now at UPHERE!’s Bandcamp page, the cassettes ship to you on April 20, 2022.

To wet your whistle and encourage you to buy, check out The Plastic Cherries’ “Aquafina (Tape Mix)” below. Now get out your wallets and buy this cassette and support this very important cause.

BUY THIS COMP!

Backhand

Backhand | Danger, Thy Calling | 3hive.com
Backhand | Danger, Thy Calling | 3hive.com

Backhand have been shredding ear drums and tearing up the stages of Salt Lake and Utah Counties for a little over a year now, they have also released 4 EP’s in that span, including their newest (and strongest) titled Danger, Thy Calling.

Danger, Thy Calling conjures the spirits of bands like Minutemen and early Replacements with bits of added craziness like Idles in there too. I am pretty certain Mr. Owens is channeling the late D. Boon during several moments on this EP.

Give the equally menacing “Everywhere Men” and “Think! Think! Think!” spins below, then get yourself to their Bandcamp page and give these hard working fellas some of your hard earned money. You won’t regret it, I promise.

Backhand

Backhand | Kiki Alarcon | 3hive.com
Backhand | Kiki Alarcon | 3hive.com

Orem, Utah’s “Team of Winners”, Backhand, are like the Tasmanian Devil, leaving mass destruction in their wake. They’re like the biker gang from Hell in Weird Science, who show up to crash your party and destroy your mom’s Three Dog Night record collection.

Take the title track from their debut EP, Kiki Alarcon, it starts out like a nice indie rock song and as soon as you start to get comfortable the brass knuckles are out and you’re picking your teeth up from off the floor. Most of the EP is this way – which is FANTASTIC – and I highly recommend the beat down.

Kiki Alarcon is out now on cassette and digitally via UPHERE! Records. If you live in the Salt Lake – Provo area you can swing by the 3hive Record Lounge and snag yourself a copy. I am looking forward to lots more from these guys. Enjoy.

Nicole Canaan

Nicole Canaan | Wherever | 3hive.com
Nicole Canaan | Wherever | 3hive.com

Nicole Canaan’s newest EP, Whererver, is 19 minutes of dreamy pop goodness featuring five tracks packed full of lush instrumentation and shoegazy vocals. Check out the EP opener “Lose Yourself” (below) for a taste.

Wherever is available now digitally via UPHERE! Records and will be released on cassette in early 2021 which can be preordered at the same link. Enjoy.

Landscaping

Landscaping | Picturesque | 3hive.com
Landscaping | Picturesque | 3hive.com

I am a sucker for a solid groove and Landscaping’s (new solo project of Andrew Petersen) new album, Picturesque, is packed full it. From the Schroeder-like piano and programmed beats and clicks on “Woke Up On The Shore”, to the almost hidden (but way groovy) bass line on “Vacation”, to the full on 80’s vibe of album standout “Full Moon Lovers”, Picturesque is 26 minutes of wall to wall groove.

Give “Full Moon Lovers” (below) a spin, you’ll be glad that you did.

Picturesque is out now and available on CD or digitally via new label UPHERE! Records’ Bandcamp page. Enjoy.