Gooseberry is a trio from Brooklyn, New York born during the Fall of 2019. Their combination of alternative rock, indie, and blues is a recipe for a unique sound that Gooseberry delivers in each song. The band consists of Asa Daniels (guitar, vocals), Evin Rossington (drums), and Will Hammond (bass).

Since the release of their 2022 debut EP, Broken Dance, Brooklyn, NY indie rock trio Gooseberry has been busy. Their eminently engaging music has tickled the ears and stirred the hearts of both music fans and the industry itself. The band has racked up hundreds of thousands of streams, garnered praise from editorial stalwarts Under the Radar, Ones to Watch, and more.

Yet, more than anything, in the ten months since the release, Gooseberry has been focused on doing what they do best: playing shows. Deeply connected to the scene in NYC and Brooklyn, they have dazzled crowds from the iconic Baby’s All Right to the legendary Knitting Factory. “We are super fortunate to call a lot of really great – and buzzing – NYC bands our friends” says Daniels. “We feel ourselves part of that community and eternally grateful for being welcomed with such open arms. Our hometown has truly shaped what this band has become.” Gooseberry has played all along the east coast, often with local heartthrobs (My Son The Doctor, Meyru, Cab Ellis) and major touring acts (BabyJake, Grady Spencer & The Work, Tanner Usrey, Maybird) alike.

Now, the power trio is back with a new slate of songs born in Greenpoint and honed to perfection on the road. Conceived and fleshed out over the course of a year, Validate Me as a cohesive piece of art eloquently showcases the unique alternative rock sound that is wholly Gooseberry. “Life as a trio allows us to really lean into dynamics,” explains Daniels. “We can hit you with a squall of distortion and guttural shouts, then shift on a dime and sing you a lullaby.”

Thematically, Validate Me grapples with the relationship between love and making art, magnifying the sacrifices and leaps of faith both require. “Anger as a device can lead to both polished and rough expressions of passion,” says Daniels. “Much of that anger manifests from fear, which drives us down many wayward paths, whether it be fear of rejection, fear of too much understanding, or fear of losing control.”

In addition to Daniels, Rossington, and Hammond, the record features performances by honorary fourth member, Dan Janis, on saxophone and flute. Tracked at two Manhattan studios, Precision Sound Studios and Orbital Music & Sound, the record was produced by the band along with Grammy-nominated engineer Colin Bryson. Longtime collaborator and Grammy-award winning engineer James Meslin (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension, John Petrucci) mixed the record.

What the trio created during these sessions is a record that is foundationally, fundamentally, whole-heartedly Gooseberry. No more, no less. Daniels’s dynamic songwriting soaring over Rossington’s bombastic drums; Hammond’s fluid bass lines the glue holding it all together. Road-keen musicianship wrapped around witty lyricism. More than anything, though, Validate Me proves that Gooseberry knows exactly who they are – gritty rock born at the nexus of DIY and arena-ready pop – and good god they are unapologetic about it.

“Clementine is a grunge/emo/punk band originally from Rockford, IL, now relocated to Milwaukee, WI. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Joe Altamore, lead guitarist Bennett Gillies, bassist Mackenzie (Mack) Sima, and drummer Oliver Wink. 
 Probably the most energetic band of the evening, a mosh pit began up front during Clementine’s set, making the floor wobble. 
 ‘Some dude kicked my pedal board, but it stayed on so that was pretty tight,’ Gillies chuckled. Clementine have been a band since the late 2000’s, originally Altamore, Sima, and Gillies with drummer Max Christofferson. They moved to Milwaukee for college, and prefer Milwaukee’s music scene for its opportunities and voluntary support from the scene. Their first show here was in JJ Kaiser’s basement. 
 Altamore gave some backstory. “I think what really spurred it was, I had an ex-girlfriend that I was dating on and off for like eight years and she’d asked me why we didn’t go with the name “Clementine”, and so I’d think about it and flirt with the idea. She died in a car accident and it was horrible… I think that was what solidified us playing as Clementine. When shitty things like that happen to you, you have no choice. You can either implode or you can do something constructive, and this is what made sense to us.” 
 Altamore shares what the band’s working on now. “We have two LPs, and one was originally going to be two EPs. We’re releasing that first one with singles and we’re excited to do that.”

Eve Casino is a four-piece independently produced rock band from the suburbs of Chicago consisting of Ryan “Haggy” Hegarty (bass/vocals), Marco Obaya (lead guitar/vocals), Sam Skilnik (rhythm guitar/keys/vocals), and Chris Taylor (drums/percussion). Dabbling in genres such as psychedelia, blues, and punk rock & drawing comparisons to a vast array of bands from The Doors to Weezer to The Cars; the band is noncommittal to any specific form of rock music and prefers instead to celebrate their diverse range of influences. The band strives to make each live performance vary from their last, with many songs never being played the same way twice. With their upcoming album releasing in late 2022, the band hopes to continue reaching new fans & reminding audiences that rock is very much alive.