Rock City Road

We are in Woodstock, NY, to celebrate Elke’s birthday. For a long time, Woodstock has been a happy place for a few days away from the city. In 2021, we discovered an awesome Airbnb, a house on Rock City Road, where nothing blocks the views of the forest and the mountains. Having a glass of wine on the terrace, watching birds, deer, and other animals, and letting the mind wander is the most relaxing thing.

Woodstock is, of course, famous for music, and while we caught one or the other show there, it is typically quiet in the evening. But we got our dose of rock last Saturday ahead of this trip when we headed out to see Stanley Simmons’s first NYC show. It is no secret that Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons are the sons of KISS founders Paul and Gene. But their music is very different: melodic, slightly folk-oriented, with two-part harmonies. We expected the mix of hardcore music fans and industry people typically drawn to acts on the cusp of national stardom. But no, it was old-school KISS fans who dominated the audience.

The band leaned into it. The performance was much more hard rock than the recorded versions, and Nick sported some of the grimaces his dad is known for. At the end of the show, Paul Stanley materialized from the audience and caused a major commotion. On the other hand, Nick and Evan must have been happy with the long line for their handsomely priced merch.

We wish they could soon step fully out of the shadow of their larger-than-life fathers. Their album Dancing While The World Is Ending draws on many influences (but not KISS) and comes highly recommended as a showcase for how rock music can sound in 2026.

Discovery of the Week: Three new albums

October is the prime month for album releases, and it is hard for us to keep up with all the listening. Aside from Stanley Simmons’ debut, we also enjoyed To All The People I’ve Loved by London-via-Spain singer-songwriter Eva McBel for its quirky indie rock. The Berlin-based Chinese-German artist Lia Lia delights with smart pop songs on her debut Armor. And B of Briz is back with her new album A Lyrical Fash Bash. There are, of course, her no-holds-barred lyrics – the title does not promise too much – as well as the intricate, creative production.

Cover Song of the Week: Claxy - I Need My Girl

Claxy’s cover of The National’s “I Need My Girl” caught me immediately with its restless pulse and beautiful electronic production. The song was everywhere back in 2013, so hearing it transformed this way feels both familiar and completely new. Germany-based Brazilian duo Clara Valente and Gui Gautreaux turn the original love song into something more personal, connecting its central line to their three-year-old daughter, Nina, and building the track into a bittersweet, dancefloor-ready shimmer.

This Week in glamglare history

1 Year Ago: Sessa - Nome de Deus

Elke gave herself a groovy birthday present in the form of a gorgeous song by Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Sessa. Sessa released the album Pequena Vertigem de Amor last November.

5 Years Ago: Bunny X - Young & In Love

“Young & In Love” was the title track of NYC 80s synth-pop duo Bunny X. Since then, they have released two more albums and performed at the last glamglare presents showcase in 2019.

10 Years Ago: Red Love - Does It Make You

Red Love is the project of Matt Tong and Alex Newport, both of whom have serious music-industry credentials. “Does It Make You” was a very promising start in 2016, but something happened after they released their self-titled debut album, which is available only on Bandcamp.

Song Pick of the Day

Listen to all seven songs on YouTube, or follow our daily updated Song Pick playlists on YouTube, Apple Music, or Spotify.

• JoJo Worthington - Ever Ender Star Infinity
• Siri Neel - West Street
• Wynd - Hopeful
• Calico City - Marigold & Cosmos
• Dragonflies - Setting Sun
• Odette - Don’t
• Vacations - Lucky, Forever

We publish one Song Pick of the Day every day. You can subscribe to receive them by email.

Nine Photos: Stanley Simmons at Mercury Lounge

I did not come to Stanley Simmons because of KISS. I came because I had fallen for “Body Down” long before I knew who was behind the band, and because “Temporary Love” later confirmed that this was not just a one-song crush. We featured Stanley Simmons twice as Song Pick of the Day, and seeing them at Mercury Lounge for their first NYC show on the heels of their album Dancing While The World Is Ending felt like following the music exactly where it wanted to go. Here is a little glimpse of the night.