#support your local scene!

[madamtrashbat]

I have a handful of recs, too, for the really small bands, if you please.

Altar de Fey - Bay area legends. Deathrock before deathrock had a name. Been kicking ass for 40 years and still make impeccable music.

Dancing Plague - Portland-based dark electronic. Connor has that deep, rich voice associated with goth acts. Think Peter Steele and go lower. Incredibly dancey and wonderful. Also just a great dude.

Nox Novacula - Seattle deathrock that cites Bauhaus and Christian Death as strong influences. Femme singer. Incredibly nice people.

Blu Anxxiety - An absolute powerhouse of NYC dark freestyle. Borders on parody but it's comedy in the best way. They have a song called Uninvited from the Funeral Home, and a lyric that says "I've got a black belt in gravedigging, hi-yah." Like, come on.

And, some local favorites because they're my friends:

Mercury's Butterfly - Dreamy, slow goth Etherealwave. Insanely influenced by early Christian Death. He even models his look after Roz Williams. Trad goth as hell. Look him up on Bandcamp, or on instagram at @feywer

Cryo - Muscle Car Deathrock. Heavily influenced by Crimson Scarlet, Kælan Mikla, and general 80s postpunk. Milo, their lead singer, is one of my best friends and deeply invested into music (any pictures you see of them with makeup on is my doing!) and their guitarist is just an absolute face melter. Just absolutely shreds on the strings. They have no official demo out yet but it'll be out soon. Follow them on Instagram at @cryo_lophosaurus and support my friends!

Dear Baby Bats - Goth Band Recommendations

As a middle sibling goth (I’ve been in the subculture for close to 10 years now, so not a baby bat but not an elder goth either), let me turn you on to some bands because we do not gatekeep in this house!! Also, if you want consistently good lesser-known & brand new goth band recs, go follow Awfully Sinister on TikTok and Instagram. He’s a DJ & has great recs. I've found so much music through him because it's really hard to keep up with all the new bands cropping up every year. You want to avoid the goth subreddit because they are extremely gatekeeper-y and argue over labels constantly. It’ll just confuse you, and they are not nice over there.

If you’re very new to the subculture, and you haven’t yet listened to all of Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, Christian Death, Cocteau Twins, Clan of Xymox, Joy Division, and Depeche Mode, go do so now. You'll want to know which of them you really enjoy the most because it will help you know which sub-subgenre(s) of goth you want to watch out for, and it'll tell you what to look for to find it. For example, Sisters of Mercy is the gothic rock subgenre, Christian Death is deathrock, Cocteau Twins is ethereal wave, Clan of Xymox is like the original darkwave, Joy Division is classic post-punk, etc.

I’ve bolded some of my absolute must-listen to goth bands, and I've put monthly Spotify listeners for each band so you know which ones deserve WAY more love. And in my pre-list ramblings for each OG band, I've given you some key terms to look up so you can more easily find music that's similar to what you enjoy. Okay, here we go:

If you like Bauhaus:

Bauhaus is a hard one because honestly, nobody really sounds like them, and they aren't really that closely associated with a specific sub-subgenre of goth. They have an extremely unique sound. They’re my favorite band of all time (I even have a tattoo for them, like I am devoted lol), but even I have a difficult time finding other bands that scratch their particular itch for me. These bands I’ve listed are as close as you’re gonna get imo.

Virgin Prunes (80’s band that has absolutely unhinged music in the way Bauhaus has unhinged music; one of my favorites; no one else does it like them and no one else ever will; I would actually give my left foot to see them live); 13.2k monthly listeners (this is actually physically painful to me, how is it this low!!! don't walk, RUN to go listen to them)

Alien Sex Fiend (80’s classic unhinged goth); 77k monthly listeners

Sextile (modern band that has some very Bauhaus-sounding guitar work at times); 147k listeners

The Danse Society (80’s unhinged goth; has similar experimental vibes to Bauhaus imo); 36k listeners

Sex Beat (80’s band); not even really on Spotify

Ritual Howls (modern band; I don’t know why it gives Bauhaus, but it does; one of the few modern bands that scratches that particular itch for me); 45k listeners

The Agnes Circle (modern band; one of my favorites; they have the right Bauhaus-like atmosphere for me); 52k listeners

Traitrs (I can’t explain why they remind me of Bauhaus, but they do; another one of my fave modern bands; they make me want to start levitating and doing the Ian Curtis dance in the same way Bauhaus does lol); 239k listeners

If you like Siouxsie and the Banshees:

Siouxsie is another one that's hard to pin down sound-wise because again, they don't really fit into one specific sub-subgenre, so all of these recs are just goth bands with female vocalists who have the same kind of powerful vocals that Siouxsie does.

Second Still (modern band; singer sounds a lot like Siouxsie to me at times); 69k listeners

Skeletal Family (80’s band; has the same “women in punk” vibes that Siouxsie has); 55k listeners

Xmal Deutschland (80’s band; has the same powerful vocals that Siouxsie has; makes you wanna go stupid go crazy the way the Banshees do); 73k listeners

Secret Shame (modern band w/ w woman singer; has the same rage that Siouxsie songs have to me, especially early Siouxsie); 6k listeners (let's get those numbers up, folks!!!)

Rosegarden Funeral Party (modern band w/ a woman vocalist); 57k listeners

If you like Depeche Mode:

For Depeche Mode enjoyers (which DM is kind of on the fringes of what’s considered “goth,” but they’re so entrenched in the subculture that I included them anyway), you’re gonna want to delve into modern goth playlists that have a lot of EBM (electronic body music) and modern goth that leans towards synthpop/synthwave. So those are the kinds of playlists you’ll want to search up for similar sounds to DM.

Nuovo Testamento (modern band; combines post-punk and pop elements in a way that’s very similar to Depeche Mode; lots of fun live, and they have a good sound); 25k listeners

Boy Harsher (modern band; relies heavily on synth; feels like it should be playing at every goth club); 558k listeners

ULTRA SUNN (modern band; singer sounds like Dave Gahan); 217k listeners (they just blew up on tiktok recently, which explains why this just skyrocketed since the last time I was on their Spotify page lol; good for them, good for them, they deserve it)

Ministry's first album, which was synthwave/synthpop before they went industrial (this is one of my all-time favorite albums)

French Police (modern band); 252k listeners

Closed Tear (modern band); 152k listeners

Night Sins (modern band); 33k listeners

If you like The Cure:

You'll be hard-pressed to find a goth band that wasn't influenced by The Cure, so I really can't give you any key terms for what to look up lol. They also changed their sound so frequently that it entirely depends on what era of The Cure's music you're looking to find similar music for.

Vision Video (modern band; combines post-punk and pop elements like The Cure does; one of my fave modern goth bands; they are INCREDIBLE live); 52k listeners (I'm gonna need y'all to get a song or two of theirs to blow up on tiktok expeditiously lol)

Urban Heat (modern band; great live); 36k listeners

The Chameleons (80’s band; very underrated; they are also very good live); 167k listeners

House of Harm (modern band, very new; also very good live; has pop elements); 44k listeners

Deceits (modern band, another very new one); 28k listeners (it's crazy how much this number has grown the past two months because it was in the single thousands not that long ago; everyone say thank you, tiktok)

Drab Majesty (modern band; their instrumentals remind me of The Cure); 172k listeners

Double Echo (modern band; their instrumentals also remind me of The Cure); 15k listeners (let's get these numbers up!!!)

The Bolshoi (underrated 80’s band that combines new wave and goth elements in a similar way to The Cure); 114k listeners

If you like Clan of Xymox:

Most of these bands will be modern ones because Clan of Xymox was honestly way ahead of their time. (They are also amazing live, so go see them before they eventually call it quits!) For playlists that are full of their vibe, you’re gonna want to look up “darkwave” playlists and also some EBM. Clan of Xymox pioneered darkwave, so any darkwave band you listen to is gonna be influenced by their sound in some way or another.

Harsh Symmetry (modern, very new; very heavily relies on synth); 29k listeners

Ssleeping Desiress (modern band; instrumentals similar to Xymox); 55k listeners

Twin Tribes (probably my favorite modern goth band; they are fucking incredible, and I’m dying to see them live); 276k listeners

ACTORS (modern band; heavily relies on synth); 86k listeners

Mareux (modern; heavily relies on synth); 4.8 million listeners (this is wild!!!! everyone say thank you, tiktok)

Sixth June (modern); 23k listeners

If you like Christian Death:

All of these recs will be deathrock recs or goth bands that heavily leaned on punk sounds. So if CD is the OG goth band you’re most fond of, you’re gonna want to delve into deathrock playlists for similar sounds.

Asylum Party (80’s band); not on spotify

45 Grave (80’s band); 47k listeners

Voodoo Church (80’s band; probably my favorite out of this bunch; I actually like them more than Christian Death); 7k listeners (let's get these numbers up immediately!!!!)

Ausgang (80’s band); 2k listeners (WHAT; they deserve so much more, damn)

Corpus Delicti (90’s band; they are very good; they sound the least like Christian Death on this list imo); 26k listeners

13th Chime (80’s band; very underrated); 6k listeners

The Birthday Party (80’s band; very unhinged sound); 54k listeners

UK Decay (you know, I actually don’t know what era they’re from; unhinged sound); 1k listeners (omg)

Super Heroines (underrated 80’s band); 2k listeners (you see what I meant about underrated?)

If you like Cocteau Twins:

Cocteau Twins’ early sound is usually categorized as “ethereal wave” goth, so those are the playlists you’ll want to look up if you enjoy their early sound. If you like their later sound, you’re gonna want to lean more towards shoegaze for similar vibes.

Dead Can Dance (80’s band; NO one, and I mean NO ONE, was doing it like Dead Can Dance; so fun to dance to in the goth club); 332k listeners

Lycia (90’s band; their music is very transcendent); 20k listeners

Linea Aspera (modern band; gorgeous woman vocals; honestly, their music is just very beautiful); 67k listeners

If you like Joy Division:

All of these bands will be ones that sound very classically post-punk, so those are the playlists to search out; emphasis on "classic" because post-punk is a very broad term that gets applied to a lot of music. I would argue that Joy Division has had the most influence out of all the OG goth bands on the current goth sound/goth renaissance we're going through right now, so there are a LOT of bands out there for you if you’re a JD fan.

Molchat Doma (modern band); 2.5 million listeners (wow lol, they've grown so much over the past two years, it's actually insane; good for them)

Soviet Soviet (modern band); 152k listeners

Fearing (modern band; very good live); 30k listeners

Ploho (modern band); 146k listeners

Pink Turns Blue (criminally underrated 80’s band; they are SO good live); 98k listeners (this is an actual travesty, this band is way too good to not even be in the hundred thousands)

The Sound (another incredibly underrated 80’s band); 119k listeners

This Cold Night (modern; has the deep vocals of Joy Division and the driving bass); 150k listeners

Bleib Modern (modern); has very similar vocals to Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, which is a band listed under the Sisters of Mercy section of this post, so if you end up liking this band, you should also listen to Red Lorry Yellow Lorry & vice versa; 36k listeners

Lebanon Hanover (modern; has the existential angst that Joy Division always ignites in me); 936k listeners (this is crazy, holy shit!!!!!! go, Lebanon Hanover, go!! now if only they would tour the damn US)

She Past Away (modern; deep vocals); 226k listeners

Belgrado (modern; woman vocals!); 18k listeners (they deserve better than this!!)

Leonora Post Punk (modern; Mexican goth band w/ Spanish vocals, so support them! They’re amazing! They have those deep vocals you want when you’re looking for a similar sound to Joy Division); 56k listeners

O. Children (modern; has the deep vocals & interesting bass lines that Joy Division was known for; great band); 29k listeners

If you like Sisters of Mercy:

This is one of my least favorite goth subcategories, which is odd because I actually love Sisters. But if you’re looking for a lot of music that sounds like SoM, I’d suggest delving into the 90’s and early 2000’s goth music scene. Search out those playlists.

Rosetta Stone (90’s band); 54k listeners

Miazma (modern); 10k listeners

Red Lorry Yellow Lorry (another criminally underrated 80’s band; one of my fave goth bands); 40k listeners (THEY!! DESERVE!! BETTER!!)

Dreamtime (modern); 65 listeners (ouch lol, please go show them some love)

Fields of the Nephilim (80’s, I think; if you’re a metalhead, you’ll probably appreciate this band); 95k listeners

The Merry Thoughts (80s); 19k listeners

Also, if you want a 1500-song, 105-hour goth playlist that’s constantly growing, here you go. The name of it is a dig at my ex lol: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6jCV530pMmOEmDHj4CLNka?si=cEVKiyAwQpaieGiV2pMyqw

[andoutofharm]

while we’re on the topic: SO many local bands are fronted by or made up of incredible women!!! check out their music!! go to their shows!! support women in music and especially women in music in your community and local scene!

[thatdiabolicalfeminist]

What would it be like if people in your community looked out for you?

What would it look like if people outside your most-texted friends and closest family knew you and were invested in your wellbeing and were willing to make deliberate effort to contribute to it?

What would a healthy supportive community, full of a wide variety of people who aren't all necessarily friends, look like?

What would make your community more like that?

What structures or opportunities already exist that might enable that? Are they sufficient? Why or why not? If you don't know what kinds of organizations etc exist in your community, how could you find out? If they aren't sufficient, what could you do to contribute or create new opportunities for relating with each other?

What barriers interrupt opportunities for healthy connection and support in your community? What would effectively addressing those barriers look like?

What would be the easiest possible first step that one busy person could take to start to make your community more connected? Can you think of anything that you personally could do?

What kinds of skills or ideas would be necessary that you can't provide? How could you find people with those kinds of skills or ideas who are also interested in community care and who might be willing to work together?

You're probably marginalized by at least one form of oppression. Most people are. You're probably busy and tired. Most people are. What would make it possible for you to contribute anyway? What would make it possible for other busy tired people to contribute?

If you want your community to care for you—if you need that, as I'm convinced all people do—you might have to figure out how to care for your community first. If you wanted that, how would you start?

[gohandinhand]

the biggest of thank yous to @princington for bringing pnw au: summer to life with such care! 🥺🥰

[des-herbes-folles]

[kandicon]

I am. once again thinking about Ashes aftercare

[emmathompsonegot]

The other thing about the Boston area (including Camberville etc) is that it’s a great example of medium density urban planning with mixed use neighborhoods and access to yards and green space, BUT it’s nearly impossible to find a one bedroom apartment for less than 2.5k/month, so you turn 30, and your options are basically to find a partner to move in with, or to be a 30 year old professional with a reasonably well paying job and 3 roommates, which is why the city has such a bad retention problem despite being so young overall. Or you move to Rhode Island

[muspeccoll]

You've heard about our collections, but have you heard about our carts? Every librarian has a favorite book cart. Meet some of the best and worst in Special Collections.

[jojotier]

Highlights from Twelfth Night:

- The musiiiiic, they used a bunch of Spanish songs with a full Cuban band and made sure the lead singer was also Feste the Clown, which was incredible

- Feste's slutty little outfits. Dear lord. They put this fool in a full sparkly silver bodysuit with a Dipping neckline that like went Down his chest and he opens act 2 sensually moving his hips in a club. Ideal gender

- Leather Daddy Malvolio. No notes

- transmasc Sebastian to contrast Viola's crossdressing as Cessario..... Something i never knew i needed until this moment

- sprinkling in a good peppering of Spanish into the Shakespearean dialogue. Absolute vibe, along with the Nearly Full Latino Cast

- like they were yellow thigh high leather heels that had straps that attached to gis belt and accentuated his ass. Like it was Full Leather Daddy Attire

- Fabian as the drug dealer was not on my bingo sheet but I will integrate that into every viewing of Twelfth Night I ever do from now on

- everyone acted precisely as insane as possible when in love. None of these people were normal. Phenomenal

- before Sebastian comes out at the end the framing makes it look like Cessario is a playboy who's strung along not only Olivia but Antonio and Orsino at the same time, and Orsino is just in fucking shambles

- like there were black leather belts. Tied around the heels. I need you to understand. Yeah, yeah the myriad of leather belts were cross gartered. Like it was an Excessive amount of belts

- Orsino threatening to kill Cessario by tossing him in the pool and Cessario saying he'd be happy to die so Orsino just recoils. Because he can't. He loves Cessario so.

- the emotion in Cessario/Viola's voice as they meet with their twin again.... The tears..... God.......

Cons:

- Sir Aguecheek did fortnite dances.

[thekidsfromyestergay]

My tags: just listen to female fronted hardcore bands 🙄

Me, in a female fronted alt-metal/hardcore band: 😐

[nofatclips]

Histoires de Fous by Aksak Maboul, live at Les Ateliers Claus for Kiosk Radio

[retrograde-raven]

I was at a hardcore show on Halloween and through a combination of vodka, weed, the holiday, my costume, gender, and just the general vibe I gained a better understanding of what it means and I'm going to try and explain it now.

Punk shows (not hardcore shows), are about fighting. They're about moving your body and taking up space and doing what you want without being afraid of falling because you know if you fall the people around you will help you up. The pit is about Community.

Hardcore shows are also about fighting, but in a different way. Hardcore shows are about getting low and dirty and fighting for your life because if you don't you'll get trampled. They're about taking up space because your space is all you have. At a hardcore show you don't worry about falling down because if you fall down you pick yourself up and keep on swinging. The pit is about You.

Both Punk and hardcore create catharsis. It's a release of built up energy--fear, anger, sadness--you can channel all of that into the pit and have a better time for it. Shows are a great way to find strength and get more comfortable with moving your body. But they do that in different ways. Punk helps you find strength in your community. Hardcore helps you find strength in yourself.

[yourturntofnaf]

goth anzu because why not.

I feel like she would enjoy some of the more dark wave style goth music, she'd enjoy synth heavy music I feel. maybe she'd like rosegarden funeral party. I think she'd also enjoy sillier bands like the scary bitches and antiworld a whole lot. out of the og bands, I think she would most like siouxsie.

when it comes to attending shows, she seems like the type to show up whenever she can but admittedly misses a lot of shows. she would but merch any show she makes however, and would talk to literally everyone. she'd be the life of the party.

I want to redo this sometime and give her a more new wave adjacent style with a lot of color. for this I just wanted to try giving her more muted colors in contrast to her actual design.

[spacey-spoon]

Reminder to support your local scene be it crafting, music etc...

I love going to pub/small venue alternative shows and visiting craft markets to help our cool local crafters! It helps the environment and keeps that stuff alive so just remember even if the band isn't big they can rock just as much ^^

[artjipson]

Embracing the Harmony: The Irresistible Allure of Dayton's Local Music Scene

In the heart of Ohio, where the Great Miami River winds its way through the landscape, lies a city pulsating with rhythm and alive with melody – Dayton. Often overshadowed by larger musical hubs, Dayton boasts a local music scene that is as diverse and vibrant as the city itself. From intimate venues to grand concert halls, the Gem City resonates with the beats of talented local musicians who…

[effroid]

I have done no plugging for these on here, oops. I'm extending this a day, so sub to sticker club within 25-ish hours to get your cool stickers for this month! Includes so many extra treats. After this, you'll get the a slap a month by yours truly mailed to you! patreon link here ~ sharing is caring!