The Matriarch + Shell Bells + Vanity Plates

The Matriarch is a queer, indie rock/folk pop band based out of Bloomington, IN. The band’s origins are one of cosmic coincidence- an unexpected knee injury during the height of the pandemic gave space for the members to experiment with a new creative outlet: music.

Their determination to grow together musically and to create a safe, inclusive space for the LGBTQIA+ community made them darlings of the Bloomington music scene. Two years later, the band has played over 50 shows across Indiana, opening for contemporaries including Kid Sistr, Okey Dokey, Busman’s Holiday and Glad Rags.

In their debut EP “Welcome to The Matriarch,” the band beckons listeners kindly into their musical home, exploring community, growth and the beauty of being a beginner. In their upcoming album “Be Safe, I Love You,” they throw open all the doors and windows to let sunlight touch the corners of every room. Vines grow tenderly on the walls, and it’s okay if the floors get a little wet from warm summer rain. The Matriarch pushes the boundaries of their sound, weaving together glittery synths, guitar dripping in reverb, and triumphant
vocal layers, complete with a cool assuredness that comes with comfort in their craft.

Nothing is off limits to sing about- The Matriarch explores climate anxiety and kick-ass cowgirls amongst new revelations about friendship and love.

VANITY PLATES

For two years following the breakup of his band Ugly Brothers, Alex Shah went through a songwriting dry spell. That changed in early 2018 with the materialization of a series of simple, angsty, power-chord-driven rock songs, a sonic departure from the meticulously composed chamber pop of his previous group. Shah quickly hit the studio to capture these songs, recruiting friends Shane Timm on drums and Ian Worcester on bass. The resulting album, You Want to Move, was released shortly after and Vanity Plates was born.

They spent the next two years honing their unique brand of introspective indie rock at shows around the midwest. In the wake of a few lineup changes, a shelved 2020 album, and a pandemic-induced hiatus, Vanity Plates finally returned to Silver City Studios in 2023 to record Good Grief, their first album in over five years.

Good Grief features Shah’s most confessional songwriting to date, though surf and doo-wop riffs, textured melodic solos, and perfectly-placed jam breaks bring you back into your body just when Shah’s painfully relatable lyrics start getting to your head. These moving parts create a rich and nuanced sonic landscape so that the sad lines don’t need to be taken neat and the clever lines get their well-deserved exclamation points. This collection of songs sits comfortably within itself as a cohesive, honest body of alt pop that reminds the listener that they are not alone in their experiences. Good Grief serves as an invitation, an acknowledgment that we all have the same things to say as its songwriter, even if we don’t do it as poetically or with such a nice Wisconsin accent or with our friends counting us in. Good Grief is due out May 24th on Editoris.”