Wednesday night on the Lower East Side started with unabashed energy as Sag Harbor, New York-hailing duo The Glazzies performed its guitar-stormed tracks at Pianos' Upstairs Lounge. Along with drummer Dave Horn, whose Johnny Cash T-shirt added to the room's ominous yet warm aura, singer Peter Landi broke into tight songs that conveyed the passionate angst of Nirvana while burning the mirror-paneled stage with its own punk fire. Just across the street at Arlene's Grocery, New Jersey quintet Owel delivered a shinier but no less fiery sound, frontman Jay Sakong and his bandmates playing soaring, violin-girded cuts that recalled the grand-rock of Muse but glowed in a unique halo of ferocity and sonority. Fellow five-piece Controller (pictured, scheduled to play our Pianos indie show on Friday) took the bustling Arlene's next, jumping into pop-bubbled rock pieces that almost sounded like Bruce Springsteen beside a synth station. There was also something of '80s dance in these delightfully loud songs, as vividly seen in lead vocalist Jon Bellinger's elastic sways and swoons, the movements of a bashful master of ceremonies. Back at Pianos, the five mustached men of Los Angeles' Bird Dog brought things down to a somewhat calmer notch, their folk-inflected rock songs reaching particular beauty with gliding harmonies and topping the high-ceilinged hall with western sun. New York-via-Israel musician Tesha closed the evening a few blocks away at Fat Baby. Before a wall that had pictures of such hip-hop masters as Tupac, the computer-decked artist dipped into subtly moving fantasias of skipping beats and sputtering synths, almost holding time in a bewitchingly nocturnal instant and then releasing it back into the wee hours of the morning. - Zach Weg

“The Ocean and The Sea,” Bird Dog’s lead single on their debut album Hello Latigo, grabs you with its reverent calling, drawing to mind the vocal harmonies of the Avett Brothers (but as if the Avetts were playing arenas these days). The song builds, driving an imaginary tempo-change, tossing in woodblock hits and a bass line as it moves from the beginning's tranquil birdsong to a chugging guitar bridge that heads, presumably, to the ocean and the sea. Check it out if you’re into sweeping grand folk like the Kings of Leon but still down-to-earth.

You can catch them at 3Clubs in Hollywood on April 22nd or the Hotel Cafe on May 1st. - Brian J.K. Regan

Is it just us or the country/folk resurgence that invaded NYC in the early '10s has somewhat calmed down, surpassed by the 90's rock revival and also by the take off of the electronic scene? Whether this is true or not (things look different from different perspectives), great rootsy bands keep making good music in the five boroughs, including Brooklyn collective Bird Dog, who will be headlining Rough Trade on February 26th. CHeck out their single "Dear Friend."

Bird Dog rolled out this video for "Until the Sadness is Gone" on July 22nd via the blog Audiofiles.  It's pretty straightforward, consisting of a simple street performance by the quartet, but goddamn if it doesn't inspire a wave of well-or-mis-placed feels to see a band of bros demonstrating their ability to pull some gear out of their van and make their 'Muricana magic happen anytime, and anywhere.  Its a very organic representation of the lifestyle, right down to the beer bottle on the floorboards in the background that makes me want to grow a moustache, pack up my guitar and head for the sunset.  Bird Dog found their way to Nashville from New Braufels, TX, further upholding this city as the Ellis Island of the industry.  They showcase their brand of dusky Southern rock on their album, "Age of Anxiety," released independently thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign. It's crunchy and gritty with an undercurrent of pathos, kind of like an ice cream cone dropped in the red dirt of their homeland. However, their own description of "Lowdown chooglin' Americana" probably does Bird Dog the most justice.  The band is going to be performing in at The End on September 18th.  -Terra James-Jura

This band submitted their music for coverage here.

Folk music for people who get the Blues, Bird Dog (our Artist of the Month winner last week) sees the stories that fall through the cracks and brings them roaring to life... and ready to drink to.

Exploiting a missing link between Americana and Irish folk, the threesome takes a close look around their urban environment, bringing us colorful characters who would be alright... if only they could get some sleep tonight (streaming below, from 'Lost Teeth' off the band's 'River EP' released last year). Another track we enjoyed is latest bandcamp upload 'Old Dog: Slopped and Chewed,' which takes a meandering older song and turns it on its head, adding bizarre conversations about dogs to a song written for a canine companion. See Bird Dog live at the Holiday Spectacular at Frank's Cocktail Lounge in Ft. Greene, BK on Thursday December 12th from 8-11. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)