NYC Scene Report – The Cosmic Coronas, Hannah Gill & the Hours, & more


This week's NYC Scene Report features the column debut of rockers The Cosmic Coronas, the bluesy, soulful, sounds of Hannah Gill and the Hours, the headbanging hard rock of Rebelmatic, and the indie pop of Stefan Alexander.

* Discovering NYC rock band The Cosmic Coronas was easy, they emailed me introducing themselves. Now, before every artist goes and floods every writer's inbox, the blind email only works when your music is great. For The Cosmic Coronas, their talent was clear on first listen.

A combination of two bands – The Fabulous Rhinos and The SuffTown Traffic Jam – The Cosmic Coronas was born out of a desire to create the "ultimate rock, punk, and funk musical experience." With "The Rider," the lead single off of their recently released self-titled EP, they're giving listeners a soaring pop-rock song that works as a fantastic introduction to the band.

The video for "The Rider" was shot on the day of The Cosmic Coronas EP release show at Mercury Lounge (one of my favorite venues in the city). Check it out, and get to know this talented band.


* I've featured Hannah Gill here in the past, and every time she releases new music I think, "Man, oh man, what an incredible voice!" If you haven't heard her, or her band, Hannah Gill & the Hours, it's time to make that happen!

The latest from Hannah Gill & the Hours is "Austin," a gorgeous song that's equal parts classic blues, and modern soul, with a sprinkling of 70s pop influences thrown in for good measure.

"Austin" is off of the band's recently released EP, The Water. You know how every human being needs water to survive? If you're a fan of great vocalists, you may feel the same way about Hannah Gill & the Hours' The Water. Check out "Austin" to hear what I mean.


* I've been writing about NYC emcee/rock singer Creature for over a decade (his Artist of the Week feature was in May of '06), and I’m featuring him again today because his band, Rebelmatic, has a powerful new release.

Politically charged hard rock done right, Rebelmatic was born out of the city's incredible punk and hardcore lineage, and if you've ever been to one of their shows you know how raucous the live experience can be (FYI, it's totally worth any effort you have to make to see them live).

Rebelmatic's latest is "No Limit," which is off of their 2016 EP, Judas Goat. They describe the sound of the song as "equal doses of Arthur Lee era proto-metal, and southern rock." I describe it as something you need to hear, and headbang to.


* Some people think pop music only exists on Top 40 radio, but in reality there's a huge indie pop scene, and NYC is filled with great indie pop artists. Take, for example, NYC’s Stefan Alexander, whose latest single, "Skeleton," is a dose of indie pop goodness, with R&B, and electronic, influences.

Alexander says of the lyrical content of "Skeleton," "The song is about a very close friend I had in high school, but I rounded the friendship up to a romantic relationship for the sake of the song. The friendship ended in such a confusing and terrible way that it forever changed how I thought about the longevity of any relationship, both romantic and platonic."

Musically, "Skeleton" sounds like it would fit in perfectly in any DJ’s late night playlist. Click play, and make it part of yours.


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

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