Our Favorites Music Videos from June 2013

We've got a lot of ground to cover today, so let's go ahead and begin..

DEER TICK have been one of America's favorite bands for three years now. They belonged to New England long before that. The new music video for "The Rock" lets fans get up close and personal with Machiavellian front man John McCauley. The new album from Deer Tick, Negativity out September 24th

AM & SHAWN LEE are probably in discussions to being the most underrated live acts in music today. It's not something I say lightly. Following my example, my friends have been stunned by how invigorating and alive their sets are. With a vibrant new album - their second collaborative effort called, La Musique Numérique, AM & Shawn Lee expand on their already groove-worthy pop. Every song on these records is clearly steeped from the minds of two individuals with keen ideas and are willing to experiment. They wrap up their current round of shows at The Griffin in San Diego tonight.

YEAH YEAH YEAHS debuted a new music video shot at the Empire State Building. “Despair” is the second single off the NYC-based trio’s album Mosquito, on Interscope. The video for “Despair” was produced by Noisey. Mosquito debuted at #5 this spring on the Billboard Top 200. People are listening. And watching.

RIVERBOAT GAMBLERS are an unapologetic band. They make punk and rock music. They don't really like labels so much which means you are apt to see and hear just about anything at a live show. (I think that's pretty cool.) Their latest album is The Wolf You Feed. The new video is "Blue Ghosts."

Three years ago, VIKESH KAPOOR performed at Howard Zinn's memorial service in Boston, in front of Zinn's family and colleagues (including Noam Chomsky). Inspired by Zinn's lifelong battle against class/race injustice, Kapoor spent the next two years in Portland, Oregon working on a concept record based on a related newspaper article. His debut album, The Ballad Of Willy Robbins, out this Fall, chronicles the brutal but hopeful story of a working class man who slowly loses everything: ambitions, health, family, shelter. The album was co-produced by Adam Selzer (M. Ward) and features stellar participation from Nate Query (Decemberists, Black Prairie), Jeff Ratner (Langhorne Slim) and Birger Olsen (Denver). Kapoor just wrapped a run of dates. Just in case you missed him, here's a new live video filmed at the Star Theater in Portland, OR on May 16th.

One of the new 'underground' bands I think will make big waves this year is Chicago's TWIN PEAKS. Their debut record, Sunken, is coming out July 9th on Autumn Tone. Shot on Super 16mm Kodak Color Negative Film by Director Ryan Oh, here is the new music video for "Fast Eddie."

Hard Rock and Figure Skating.. Who would have thought?? PISSED JEANS can bring the noise. "Romanticize Me" was director Joe Stakun. The song appears on the band's new album, Honeys (Sub Pop).

SMITH WESTERNS published the video for “Idol” this week. The song appears on their latest effort Soft Will (on Mom+Pop). The video is shot, edited and directed by Sandy Kim and produced by Colby Hewitt. “Idol” is a dreamy pop song but the video is anything but.

JAPANTHER is the music and art project of Matt Reilly and Ian Vanek. Known for their unconventional live performances, the duo has appeared alongside synchronized swimmers, giant dinosaurs & BMX bikers, atop the Williamsburg Bridge, with giant puppets and marionettes, and in the back of a moving truck. Now, they’re gearing up to tour the US in support of their new album, Eat Like Lisa Act Like Bart, which was released via Recess Records. Here's a two-fer of new videos from the band. The first is for "Something To Do." It is followed by "Stolen Flowers." National tour dates kicked off yesterday.

DEAD BOOTS are gearing up "Verónica" LP available July 16th, 2013. The band formerly known as 'Tab The Band' will release the record in Boston at the Middle East the next night. These guys put on a tight show, this is one you won't want to miss. Here's the music video for "Saturdays."