Tonight’s New Music Show Preview: Coldplay is not retiring (yet), Austin’s most “Powerful” new band & more!

It’s hard to keep up with all the new music that’s coming out these days.  We get it.  That’s what we’re here for!  You may not know that Sheryl Crow recently recruited Gary Clark Jr. to play on her new album.  Or that Alt-J dropped a new song just this morning.  It’s OK! Just set your radio for 8pm tonight and settle in for our New Music Show.  By the time you get to work Tuesday morning, you’ll be the new music guru of your office! Here’s your cheat sheet for tonight’s show …

COLDPLAY “Hypnotised”

So much for calling it quits! After hinting that the end was near, Coldplay felt inspired enough to crank out a handful of new songs.  Their new EP Kaleidoscope is due out in June and preceded by the song “Hypnotised”.  While the band is calling it a “non-single”, we still feel compelled to give it a spin for you tonight.  Unlike some of their recent offerings that leaned upon an almost EDM-vibe, “Hypnotised” is a ballad that simmers yet never quite reaches a boil.

POKEY LAFARGE “Riot In The Streets”

My bet is that you’ve never heard a song written about a riot that’s a as playful as this. Pokey LaFarge, an artist based in St. Louis, felt the need to respond to the unrest that occurred in Ferguson, Missouri back in 2014.  We’ve grown accustomed to Pokey’s old-timey style, but juxtaposed with this type of social commentary is a brave step.  We’re used to social (or political) songs that are rather direct and predictably full of angst, but songs like this are a clever distraction that may end up being finding more impact.

FIRST IMPRESSION: SWEET SPIRIT

“Come Feel the Power!” frontwoman Sabrina Ellis belts out on the album opener aptly titled “The Power”.  From the opening notes of their new album, the nine piece Austin based band, Sweet Spirit, is immediately endearing.  Bold and brash, St. Mojo is a potent collection of rock and soul.  One would imagine the only thing better than listening to the new album is seeing this band live.  The new album was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, and their energy will radiate out of your speakers.  We’ve play you back to back tracks from Sweet Spirit tonight.

If you miss anything on the show or want to keep up on new music, make sure to subscribe to our ‘XPN Best New Music’ Playlist on Spotify: