PRAY FOR SOUND, Live at POST.Fest 2025 (Self-released). As part of a three-day celebration of post-rock held in Indianapolis, Indiana in July of 2025, Pray For Sound played a marvelous set on the venue’s Annex stage. Not only do they fill the traditional post-rock mold of subtlety backed by power, they also create some highly melodic tunes via solid, clean guitar work and tender, ethereal keyboards. This is a high-energy band that knows just where to put said energy, and when to pull back a little. The mix makes for the ideal live pace.

BRAND X, Theory of Nothing (MoonJune). It’s hard to go wrong with a Brand X concert. So, the quality of this show from 1977 should surprise no one. The surprise comes from learning this show was recorded for broadcast purposes and wound up buried in keyboardist Robin Lumley’s attic! Sadly, Lumley passed away in 2023. This recording was most likely the result of gathering his belongings. Bassist Percy Jones took possession of the tapes and restored them, for which we should be grateful. Everyone is firing on all cylinders at this show. Guitarist John Goodsall is taking no prisoners while Jones moves his slinky, fretless bass lines all about, often creating counter-melodies. The dual drum attack of Kenwood Dennard and Morris Pert keeps things raw and aggressive. Nope … no surprises here. But it’s still a journey very much worth taking.

THE FIERCE AND THE DEAD, Regional Theater (TFATD). Not a band eager to remain in place, experimental rockers The Fierce and The Dead continue to evolve from their early post-rock grooves into music with vocals and the addition of a fifth member. The music is still raw and aggressive, but the vocal element also adds a certain level of compositional stability. After all, the lyrics have to lead somewhere! The band has created an album that denotes their growth and experience over the last 16 years. Consider this the next evolution.

MIKAEL MÅNI, Half Sun (Self-Release). A pleasant bit of fusion that finds the sweet spot between Pat Metheny and Al DiMeola. Guitarists Mikåel Mani is a highly lyrical player, with each note sounding completely planned and deliberate like a piece of classical music. But his approach is warm and emotional, where it could’ve come off sounding robotic. Måni’s backing band provides lovely support. But make no mistake … this is the guitarist’s show. He’ll be driving the car, thank you very much. That being said, there’s plenty of room for everyone to contribute, giving the music just the service it needs. A nice crowd-pleasure for those chill evenings.

AFROFUTURISTICS, The Enigmatic (Self-released). Truthfully, the album’s title is a bit deceiving. There’s nothing all that mysterious about this music. It’s a fascinating blend of jazz, hip-hop, and Afro-beat. It’s a cool bit of fusion for these days, where many musical styles have enthusiastically occupied the same space at the same time. It may not be every day that a rapper collides with a horn section, but it happens here and it’s worth the price of admission. The saxophone leads are highly lyrical to the point of sounding like another vocalist. The guitars and bass do a great job of holding down or accentuating the groove. What a cool way for a fan of one musical style to learn to appreciate another! Chicago is in the midst of anther musical movement, and Afrofuturistics will help lead the charge.

WEEZER, Weezer (Warner Records, Inc). The Gold Album (no doubt its future moniker) feels like a throwback to the legendary Blue album, featuring de-tuned guitar growl and subject matter that comes from 30 years of the experience in life, love, and the music industry. They’re executed with the familiar dry wit that made the band what they are. A prime example is “C.E.O.,” a song that bears a striking resemblance to “The Sweater Song.” This was clearly done on purpose, as the song’s lyrics point toward record companies insisting the band merely repeat the old formula just to sell records. Which goes to show that Weezer still has plenty of attitude to spare, and what’s old can be made new again with the proper addition of worldly experience.

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