Aron Magner on Deadtronica, Courtney Barnett Rediscovers Live Music
Plus: Zack Feinberg on 20 years of songs he was too scared to finish
Relix Daily
May 02, 2026
May 2, 2026
Compiled by Mike Greenhaus
FEATURE
Sometime since the pandemic, Courtney Barnett caught the live-music bug all over again. “I really did fall in love with music again and just being a fan—going out and enjoying the experience of standing in a room with other people and being consumed by a show,” the 38-year-old singer/songwriter/guitarist says. “It was fun, and you can’t force that. It was nice to allow myself to feel that, especially coming out of COVID, when there weren’t concerts for so long.”
FEATURE
“What a blessing it is that Phil, Bobby and Billy made such concerted efforts to collaborate with so many different musicians of different generations, and how encouraging they were to have us musicians play their songs expressed through our unique identities,” Disco Biscuits keyboard player Aron Magner proclaims, on the afternoon after appearing at the Joy Theater in New Orleans for the Busted Down in Bourbon Street event as a member of Grahame Lesh & Friends, alongside Oteil Burbridge, Daniel Donato, John Kadlecik, John Molo, Kanika Moore, Bill Payne and the Preservation Hall Horns.
WATCH
The Disco Biscuits Light Up the Capitol Theatre with a Three-Song Psychedelic Journey
Relive the magic of The Disco Biscuits' March 23, 2023 show at the Capitol Theatre, as they seamlessly weave through "Gangster," "Spacebirdmatingcall," and "Cyclone.” Archival concert footage captured by Relix.
The 3rd collaborative album between Les Claypool & Sean Ono Lennon (the previous sold over 150,000 combined) is an elaborate concept record reflecting on morality, the warnings of A.I., and the slippery slope of optimization without empathy. Told across 14 songs - which ooze with classic psychedelic / progressive rock stylings - and the accompanying comic book by Rich Ragsdale, The Great Parrot-Ox and The Golden Egg of Empathy is a peak for both The Claypool-Lennon Delirium and rock music at large.
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FEATURE
“Part of what held me up from doing this sooner was a lack of confidence as far as my singing—it took me continually putting myself out of my comfort zone and doing these shows to get more comfortable and that’s helped me became a little less blocked up and self-conscious with my songwriting,” The Revivalists co-founder and guitarist Zack Feinberg says, as he traces the origins of his nascent solo project and its accompanying debut album, Call It a Miracle, which collects original material he has been chipping away at for, in some cases, close to two decades. “There was the pandemic and, in 2021, I had twins, so that’s occupied a large space in my life. With the band going, I never carved out the time to do this, but a friend of mine in New Orleans kept encouraging me. I said, ‘I’m nervous,’ and he said, ‘That’s where the good shit is—that’s where the growth is.’”
WATCH
The Revivalists' Zack Feinberg Teams Up with FLAX for an Intimate Live Relix Session
Caught live on February 11, 2020, The Revivalists' guitarist Zack Feinberg joins forces with FLAX for a special performance at Relix. A rare archival gem showcasing the collaborative spirit at the heart of the jam scene.
Catch Phish live from Sphere in Las Vegas on May 2 with a high-quality webcast that brings their signature improvisation and the venue’s mind-blowing visuals straight to your screen. Perfect for a couch tour night without missing a moment of the experience.
REVIEW
By now, most of us recognize the Internet to be a vast wasteland of AI slop and political ragebait. But once in a while, something peaks out from the depths to remind us that the internet is also how we find weird new music. Quebec duo Angine de Poitrine are that reminder. In early 2026, the band’s performance for KEXP went viral on YouTube – two figures dressed in all polka dots, wearing papier-mâché masks, playing hyper-complex yet freakishly fun microtonal math rock. Two months later, Angine de Poitrine dropped their second album, Vol. II, proof that Internet hype isn’t just smoke and mirrors.
NEWS
Woods have confirmed the lineup for their annual Woodsist Festival. The 2026 edition of the band-curated event will once again be held at Arrowood Farms in Accord, NY, this time on September 26 and 27. In addition to a set by Woods themselves, the lineup will feature headliners Destroyer and Cate Le Bon, as well as Dead Moon’s Toody Cole, Frog, Hayden Pedigo, Ryan Davis and The Roadhouse Band, Otto Benson, Dutch Interior, Rogê and Okonski. In addition, the event will boast a solo performance from Mdou Moctar and appearances by Secular Music Group, Jens Kuross and Ruby Of Thanks. Perhaps most intriguing, Woodsist will also serve as the backdrop for Divine Songs: The Music Of Alice Coltrane, though the lineup for that special performance has not yet been announced.
NEWS
Guster have confirmed the lineup for their eighth On the Ocean festival. The event will once again return to singer/guitarist Adam Gardner’s hometown of Portland, ME, with the festivities taking place at Merrill Auditorium on August 7 and Thompson’s Point on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9. At Merrill Auditorium, Guster will collaborate with the Portland Symphony Orchestra, while Saturday’s festival lineup will feature Iron & Wine, The Barr Brothers, Bebe Stockwell, Dave Butler & Friends and Cilla Bonnie. (Iron & Wine’s Same Beam sat in with Guster and Mike Gordon for “Dreams” at Bourbon & Beyond last year and Butler is a touring member of the group.) Then, on August 9, Guster will perform their 2006 record Ganging Up On The Sun in full for the first time to mark the 20th anniversary of the LP’s release and welcome Watchhouse, Neal Francis, Eggy and Khatumu for support sets.
WATCH
Guster Delivers a Stunning Cover of "Hard Times" at The Relix Session
Filmed on January 17, 2019, Guster takes the Relix stage for an intimate session performance of "Hard Times." A beautifully stripped-back moment from the beloved indie rock band, preserved in the Relix archival vault.
NEWS
Brazilian indie act Banda AL9 have premiered their take on “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend,” a catchy reworking of The Rubinoos’ 1978 power-pop favorite, via Wicked Cool Records. “’I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend’ just clicked with us right away,” the band offered in a statement. “It has that upbeat, feel-good energy we love, plus strong vocal harmonies—something we always look for in songs. The guitars really stand out too, especially the solo, which adds a great touch. It’s fun, catchy, and all about love, which is something we’ll never get tired of singing about.”
WATCH
Banda AL9 Brings Their Bold Brazilian Indie Sound to the Relix Office
Brazilian indie sensations Banda AL9 stop by for a Live From Relix session, showcasing their modern, vibrant sound — including a fresh cover of The Rubinoos' "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend." A captivating introduction to one of the scene’s most exciting emerging acts.
Grateful Dead
In The Dark - Silver Variant
