NYC Scene Report – Pink Mexico, Rubblebucket, & more

This week's NYC Scene Report features a blistering rock song from Pink Mexico, a sip of “Lemonade” from indie art-pop-rock band Rubblebucket, a smooth, soulful invitation from Lion Babe, and an acoustic session from All Types of Kinds.

* Describing themselves as “grunge Kenny Loggins,” Pink Mexico will fly you directly into a punk rock danger zone with “High Dive.” “High Dive” is first single off the band’s upcoming album, Dump, which is due out March 1st via Burger Records (digital and cassette) and Little Dickman Records (vinyl).

The brainchild of Robert Preston Collum, who’s manned the drums for a variety of indie acts, including Shilpa Ray, WALTZ, and Lola Pistola, Pink Mexico calls Brooklyn home, and judging by “High Dive” they shake the windows whenever they perform.

While we eagerly await their next tour, let’s enjoy Pink Mexico’s “High Dive.”


* A wise man once said, “Lemonade was a popular drink, and it still is” (RIP Guru). For NYC indie art-pop-rock band Rubblebucket, it also happens to be the name of their latest single.

“Lemonade” is off the band’s 2018 album, Sun Machine, which documents the pain of Rubblebucket duo Kalmia Traver and Alex Toth’s romantic breakup, as well as several other life-altering events – namely Traver’s battle with cancer (congrats to her on joining the survivor’s club! #FuckCancer), and Toth’s decision to get sober.

“When I got cancer and Alex quit drinking, that was the beginning of a huge journey for both of us,” Traver explained in a statement, “So much of that journey has been about giving myself the freedom to exist on my own terms, believing in my ideas instead of self-editing. I think this album represents both of us allowing ourselves that freedom in a totally new way, and hopefully it’ll give people inspiration to be creative in their own lives, and to just soften up a bit, too.”

Toth adds that when it comes to the music of Sun Machine, “Kal and I are both jazz musicians, and jazz is very much driven by improvisation—it’s about getting in touch with that inner spontaneity, where you’re channeling ideas rather than thinking them up. There’s a lot of moments on this album that happened from us being in a trance-like zone, and coming up with weird sounds in the middle of the recording, sometimes by accident.”

Check out the sounds of Rubblebucket by clicking play on this live version “Lemonade.”


* Lion Babe have been one of the city’s premier groove providers for years, and their latest single is an invitation for everyone to “Get Into The Party Life.”

Smooth and sultry, “Get Into The Party Life” is a sonic explosion of sensuality. Before the song was even halfway over I was ready for the party … as long as it was a party for two, if you know what I mean (of course you know what I mean. That was like the least subtle comment ever).

Give “Get Into The Party Life” a spin. It’s sure to put you in a good mood.


* NYC-based multi-genre foursome All Types of Kinds are going to be BUSY for the rest of winter. The band has a bevy of live shows lined up, including a residency at Rockwood Music Hall (you can find all their show dates on their Facebook page).

In addition to their live shows, the band will also be working on the follow up to their debut EP, Love Songs, and releasing new singles, and videos, along the way.

Speaking of videos, to get a taste for what All Types of Kinds can do check out this acoustic performance of their song “A Name That I Know.” You may have to crank up the volume a bit, but it’s worth it, as they sound great.


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