NYC Scene Report – Toy Cars, VÉRITÉ, & more

This week’s NYC Scene Report features indie rockers Toy Cars starting their year off right, a dope remix of one of alt-pop fave VÉRITÉ’s singles, the column debut of pop punk newcomers The Nectars, and psych alt-rock trio Karabas Barabas paying tribute to a comedic actor.

* When I saw New Jersey-based rockers Toy Cars last year at NYC’s Mercury Lounge I absolutely loved their sound, which I described as “stadium rock meets indie rock.”

On January 12th a whole lot more people are going to be introduced to their music, as Toy Cars will be releasing their full length debut, Paint Brain. The album, which will be a self-released, and self-funded, project, was reportedly inspired by the concept of attempting to find joy during life’s lulls.

I can tell you from personal experience that Toy Cars’ live performances are a joy, as is the lead single off of Paint Brain, which is titled “Cold.” You can check out the video for “Cold” right here.


* This past year NYC alt-pop artist VÉRITÉ broke through in a major way, seeing her music streamed over 135 million times on Spotify. That’s not a typo, that’s an NYC indie artist hitting it big (and yes, she was featured here very early on, including twice in 2014, so there’s a chance you really did hear her here first!).

VÉRITÉ will be hitting the road with Irish singer-songwriter EDEN March 1st through April 14th. While you wait for her to come to your town, check out an incredible remix of her single “Phase Me Out.” The remix was done by R&B producer Heavy Mellow, and with tinges of classic La Roux, it’s an uptempo gem that’s just begging to be cranked up and played at a high volume.


* Straight outta New Jersey, The Nectars are a new band that are getting a jump on 2018, and judging by their debut single, “Heaven,” they’re going to be a great addition to the area’s rock scene.

“Heaven” is a pop-punk song that will have you rocking out wherever you happen to be listening – home, car, office, parking lot of a Trader Joe’s (hey, it happens!). The songwriting leans towards pop, with a hook that will get stuck in your head, while the rock aspects lean towards punk, with a blistering guitar, and fast paced drums.

Give “Heaven” a spin. I think you’ll find these Nectars are pretty sweet!


* Brooklyn-based psych alt-rock trio Karabas Barabas had a really fun idea for a tribute to one of their favorite characters from the Canadian comedy series Trailer Park Boys. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in-between the completion of the song, and the band’s ultimate goal of having the song appear on the show, and/or having some of the cast members in the video – the actor they wrote about, John F. Dunsworth, who played Jim Lahey on the show, passed away.

Karabas Barabas ultimately decided to include the song, titled “Lahey,” as a tribute to Dunsworth on their recently released sophomore album, Sex with the Devil. It’s quite the infectious tune that will have you heading to your liquor cabinet to pour one out for Dunsworth, and have “a little drinky poo” of your own. Check it out.


For more of the best of NYC’s indie music scene, come back next Wednesday, and check out the archives for previous columns.