Indie rock journeypeople of various acclaimed ensembles, projects and collaborations? Check. Love of folk fundamentals but an even greater love of blowing up those fundamentals and pushing stylistic envelopes? Check. Purveyors of nu-Americana (Numericana?) committed to genre pluralism and deconstruction of — don’t fall asleep on me, this is going somewhere! Neko Case and M. Ward, the hardest-working alt-country crooners in show business have been teaming up since Ward’s 2006 album Post War. It makes a lot of sense given their career parallels and stylistic similarities, namely their proven willingness to make any kind of music under the sun, so long as it’s good.

Enter “Man,” which could be the soundtrack to a road trip from college radio-era Athens to Riot Grrl-era Seattle. Crunchy guitar riffs and blistering drum fills are the coins of this realm. Case’s vocals, accustomed to driving, take a backseat. The gender bending directness of the lyricism is very punk, if the smooth production belies a reluctance to go all the way down the rabbit hole. But who cares, Case seems to be saying – “Man” isn’t just a subversion of the gender binary, but stylistic pigeonholing too. Case is no Kathleen Hanna, and she’s well aware, but there’s nothing wrong with being a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll.

Roadkill Ghost Choir hails from DeLand, Florida, which may be why it took us so long to get turned on to them. But despite their small town roots, these guys have a tremendous sound suitably described as indie-American, fitting somewhere in between Fleet Foxes and Trampled by Turtles. “Beggars Guild,” the first track off of their Quiet Light EP, is illustrative of this home cooked style. Chock full of banjo and even a little brass, “Beggars Guild” is a true toe tapper. Stream it below.

STREAM: Roadkill Ghost Choir – “Beggars Guild “

Cass McCombs is a self-proclaimed vagabond. Originally from California, Cass spent many of his formative years honing his song writing skills on the East Coast and couch surfing the greater United States. His extensive travels likely account for his eclectic style of song writing, which is apparent in his latest song “Three Men Sitting On A Hollow Log.” A departure from the punk and rock genres which he traditionally occupies, this track embodies Deep South folksiness and brings to mind simpler times. Stream it below.

STREAM: Cass McCombs – “Three Men Sitting On A Hollow Log” 

New Desert Blues continue to win the West with their video for “Adam.” The piece fits the band’s bleak alt-folk just nicely, featuring a man suffering from a fatal case of mistaken identity in the middle of the desert. Watch it above and study up on these UK up-and-comers.

STREAM: New Desert Blues – “Adam”

Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon has a bug for collaborations, which is evident from his work with artists varying from Peter Gabriel to Kanye West. Now he’s gotten together with Brain Moen (Peter Wolf Crier) and Phil Cook (Megafaun) to write some good ol’ blues rock as The Shouting Matches. Though the group’s debut record, Grownass Man, still features delicate, pretty songs like “I Need A Change” and the Bon-Iverish “Gallup, NM,” it’s tracks like the lazily rocking “New Theme” that are the heart of the record. The tune is light and easygoing with drums and keys enough for mid-afternoon toe-tapping and swaying in the summertime shade. The group’s Coachella set (up on YouTube in three parts) clearly demonstrates the new aesthetic as the trio lays down some smooth riffs under a pavilion in what looks to be uncomfortable heat. It’s a record that plays best with the sun high in the sky, and a cold drink in your hand.

“Purple Yellow Red And Blue” is the latest cut to emerge from Portugal. The Man‘s upcoming Danger Mouse-produced LP, Evil Friends. The track proudly bares Mr. Burton’s midas touch, the same classy pop style that has pushed Electric Guest, Gnarls Barkley, Broken Bells and pretty much everything else the producer has touched into the national spotlight. Stream it above.

It’s hardly rare for artists these days to find some common ground between pop and folk music. More often than not, the final product can be described as “cute,” “whimsical,” or something else of the fluffy variety. Rarely, though, do you find music that manages to capture these two genres in their rawest forms.

Enter Misty Miller. The London singer-songwriter is gearing up to release her sophomore EP, Next To You, and today we’re happy to be premiering of its tracks, “I’ve Got Everything.” “I’ve Got Everything” doesn’t rely on much other than a bare-bones acoustic guitar and Miller’s folk sensibilities. As minimalist as it is, though, Miller’s knack for pop melodies shine under her sweet, earthy vocals. Listen below and see for yourself. You can also check out some of Miller’s other tracks — “Anything For You” and “Little Drummer” — after the jump.

Misty Miller’s Next To You EP is set for release on May 19th via Relentless.

STREAM: Misty Miller – “I’ve Got Everything”

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Indiana quartet Houndmouth are gearing up to leave the familiar behind and head on tour where most every face will belong to a stranger. New track “On The Road” features deep, steady drums, dirty guitars and vocal harmonies that are sharp, sweet and twangy in all the right measures. The dual voices croon, “I’m goin’ down where nobody knows me,” but if they keep making tunes this good they won’t be able to stay anonymous for long.

“On The Road” is off of the group’s debut album, From The Hills Below The City, which comes out June 4th on Rough Trade.

This past summer we premiered “Thom,” the debut track from UK act New Desert Blues. Despite living thousands of miles away from the American heartland, the South Coast five-piece manages to show more true grit in their bleak folk-rock than most bands here in the States. Today the band continues westward with “River,” a new track that continues to carve out the niche set up by “Thom.” Stream it for the first time on All Things Go below. If you like what you hear, head over to New Desert Blues’ Soundcloud to listen to some more from the band.

STREAM: New Desert Blues – “River” [PREMIERE]

This post was curated and written by the band Tennis. You can catch them performing live tonight, October 8th in Washington, DC at the Rock ‘N Roll Hotel. Tickets are available HERE.

God Bless Devon Williams. At first listen, you wouldn’t think Devon is the next Bruce Springsteen and, let me set the record straight, he’s not – but the two have way more in common than you think. A self-made man (there’s a rags to riches story somewhere in here), with heart, soul, and most importantly, an amazing stage presence. Devon’s personality on stage can at times be even bigger than his music. Musicians sometimes feel the need to be comedians, but Devon genuinely is one, which is an added bonus.

A unanimous favorite of ours last year was Devon’s “Slight Pain” off of his album Euphoria. There are some truly breathtaking moments on that record that we have relived and recycled on numerous mixtapes. His most recent single “Savor” is off his upcoming release available on New Images, the label run by Real Estate‘s Matt Mondanile.

STREAM: Devon Williams – “Savor”