Maverick Smith’s “We Make Fire, They Make Smoke” lands not with a thud, but with the distinct, satisfying crackle of something catching alight. It’s a title that carries the grit of the Ohio Valley in its consonants, a resolute statement from a band – Paige Bosic on commanding vocals and rhythm guitar, Sean Boynes sculpting soundscapes on guitar, Jim Courtney’s intricate drumming, Charlie Kovach’s...

Okay, let’s talk about Aynaz, shall we? They've dropped a single called “To My Angel Friend,” and it feels less like a tune and more like… a sudden breeze through a dusty attic window. You know, the kind where long-forgotten trinkets catch the light and make you blink? It’s a tribute, see, to a friend gone. A sort of musical memorial with Celtic undertones,...