Beert’s 2024 Music in Review

By Beert

Greetings fellow Ticklers,

This past year, 2024, definitely contained a lot of great music no matter what your tastes. I’d love to share some standouts from my perspective.

As per usual, there were a few releases that stood out and held my gaze as Album of the Year contenders.

Bellyard gave us their self-titled EP in January. It is a fantastic album that really led the race for Album of the Year. It is hard to pigeonhole this record into a genre. There are elements of blues, country, folk/Americana, “heavy,” and others. It is just a real stand out record that literally had my jaw drop upon first listen. I was so drawn in, that when my partner arrived home later in the day, I had her sit down to listen. She, too, was captured by what she was hearing. I cannot recommend this Sump Pump Records release enough. It is something your collection needs, no matter what style of music you prefer. There will be something that holds your attention, for sure.

https://sumppumprecords.bandcamp.com/album/bellyard

Sprints released Letter to Self in physical format, in January, as well. The year started off with two releases vying for my music-nerd love. It is a solid album from start to finish. It is full of emotion and grit. Plus, it has an infectious energy that made me wonder if much could contend with such a powerful album. I was very happy to see that the world agreed, as Sprints continued to get some well-deserved attention. Don’t sleep on this one, either.

https://sprintsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/letter-to-self

In summer 2023, I went on a trip to Denver with a few friends. Our main purpose was to see Off With Their Heads at The Marquis. The trip was a blast, which included such highlights as Slashers horror-themed bar, Meow Wolf with others on their first experience, a visit to Mile High Comics, TRVE and Crooked Stave breweries, finding an unhealthy curiosity about the various “$—Per Scoop” restaurants, and record shopping of course. As we made it to the Marquis with plenty of time to spare, I was blown away by Denver’s own Tuff Bluff as an opening act. As luck would have it for 2024, Tuff Bluff released their poppy, yet punk, self-titled album in May. The album really gave me pause and even more appreciation for the band. It is another album where there every song will bend your ear. I’m anxiously awaiting to see what else this trio releases, and hopefully convincing them to take a trip north (and slightly east) one of these months.

https://tuffbluff.bandcamp.com/album/tuff-bluff

In June, Dune-inspired doomsayers out of Montreal, Sons of Arrakis released their album Volume II. It is heavy and spacey, which is understandably reverent to Frank Herbert’s tales of politics, spice-trade, and interplanetary mysticism. I was very happy to add a copy of this to my collection. The record is both dark and bright, with a heaviness that isn’t plodding. I really can’t say enough about Sons of Arrakis. If you are into the worlds of Dune and some soaring riffage, look no further.

https://sonsofarrakis.bandcamp.com/album/volume-ii

And my last contender for Album of the Year for 2024, is also my pick. Moon Woman, from Austria, gave us When Things Shine Bright. Their sophomore album is a fantastic follow up to their first release, Open Gates (2020). When Things Shine Bright is really an aural trip for your mind and body. Moon Woman possesses the ability to take the listener to other places. It’s artistic and heavy, but mellow and meandering. Moon Woman carries a weight while not pummeling your senses. A music offers transcendent meditation, without making it silly or unmeaningful. If you only end up selecting a single album from 2024, When Things Shine Bright by Moon Woman would be the one I recommend. And it’s very rare that I can whittle down to only one album from a given year.

https://sonsofarrakis.bandcamp.com/album/volume-ii

If I may, please take in these other, killer releases from 2024, in no particular order:

Year of October, I Took a Walk (ep).

Year of October, Live From Everywhere, Volume I.

Shooting Daggers, Smug (single).

The Shitfits, Collateral Damage.

The Courettes, Shake (ep).

Tite Nauts, Hostile Territory.

Wizzerd, Kronia/Saturnalia (double lp).

Eight Foot Manchild, Doom Brass (lp).

Eight Foot Manchild, Do Spirits Return? (ep).

Hayley and the Crushers, Unsubscribe from the Underground (complete with a cover of Juice Newton!).

Busy Weather, Look Up!

And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention attending a few live shows in 2024, that I really enjoyed.

In May, The Pentagram String Band played at a park shelter in Old Storybook Island Park in Rapid City, South Dakota. Spent a great night with a wonderful group of touring musicians.

June brought HIRS Collective to town. I was blown away! This duo was touring for over two months, and it was fury mixed with intensity, smooshed between two slices of anger and vitriol, and served with a dancing smile. I really couldn’t believe I got to witness their set and want nothing more than to see them return.

In July, Off With Their Heads came back to Rapid City. This band has always been fun, yet meaningful. If you’re already a fan, you know the emotions that they can pull out of you. Their live show is goofy, silly, and fun. Of course, if the band resonates with you, you know there will probably be some tears as well. Local greats, Dead Marthas and Born to Suffer opened the show, making it sonically appealing to everyone’s ears.

August had Destiny Bond (Colorado), Mormon Mincers (California), Grave Solace (South Dakota), and locals Defect and Continuum on tap. It was a really fun night of music and friendship, with an all-around good feeling at a show that mixed genres.

And finally, in September, I booked my only show of the year. I was stoked to bring Mars Red Sky (France) to town, along with their North American tour mates Howling Giant (Tennessee). Wizzerd came down from Kalispell, Montana, and Continuum opened the show. The show was just a full on good time with heavy music in its varying forms. The crowd was great and everyone was in the right frame of mind to make this show a success, in an entertainment-way. Plus, my childhood friend and his partner were in attendance, traveling all the way from Huntsville, Alabama. Getting the chance to book such a big show was a thrill (and, of course, it frayed my nerves as I waited to see if people would come out, which of course they did to see these amazing touring bands).

Now, I’m sure there are a billion things I am forgetting to mention for the year 2024 in music. But I did start a list for this past year, so I wouldn’t forget so much. I’ll continue to do that through 2025. And maybe, just maybe, I can actually find some time to get some actual reviews written and submitted in 2025. Only time will tell.