Cover Lovers: Girls Girls Girls
1989 – 1992 by Velocity Girl (August 28, 2026)
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■ Velocity GirlVelocity Girl was an American indie rock band formed in 1989 in College Park, Maryland, and active in the Washington, D.C., area. The band released three albums before splitting up in 1996. The band reunited for a one-off concert in 2002 and for a few concerts in 2023 and 2024.
I love Velocity Girl, when I first discovered them on MTV’s 120 Minutes, back in the 90s. I didn’t know much about them, other than after they broke up, their singer Sarah Shannon went on to releasing a few albums on Minty Fresh, but in the adult-jazz-easy-listening style (which I mentioned that I do like)… which is a little different than the fuzzy guitar-driven/shoegaze noise of Velocity Girl. I did sort of tried to see the band live when they played with Jale and Echobelly in San Francisco in 1994 – but I was under age and the bar refused my fake ID.
When I wrote about Velocity Girl in 18 years ago, I mentioned that four years before the band was signed to Subpop, they had a different singer named Bridget Cross. I’ve never heard those early Velocity Girl songs, but thanks to Slumberland Records, they are finally releasing those early recordings and demos, titled 1989 – 1992. The album will come out on August 28, 2026.
I was interested and curious, and I did just only briefly listen to some tracks. I was shocked to see they covered The Jam’s “That’s Entertainment” on the record. It’s fast, it’s fuzzy, it’s punky… and there’s something funny hearing the lines “a kick in the balls is all you get in the name of entertainment” sung by a woman. Of course, I do also like Morrissey’s version, which is as macho as you get from Mozzer.
I think Cross’ vocals is an interesting addition, imagine if she had continued on with Velocity Girl… instead, I guess she joined a band called Unrest, and later moved to Alaska.
So, yeah, if you’re interested, keep an eye out for the 1989 – 1992 album, coming out August 28, in vinyl and all that good stuff.
Nocturnes: Redux by Uh Huh Her (August 7, 2026)
Probably took their name from PJ Harvey, and that’s completely fine, because we love the Peej, and we like Uh Huh Her (currently Camila Grey and Leisha Hailey).
The girl duo is celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Nocturnes, with a remaster and re-issue called Nocturnes: Redux, coming out August 7, on Kill Rock Stars.
Some new tracks on the upcoming release includes a never-before-heard original mixes by super producer Tchad Blake (The Bangles, Arctic Monkeys, Sheryl Crow, Cibo Matto), plus two previously unreleased songs: “Shook” and a cover of Sonic Youth’s classic “Kool Thing.” What a time to celebrate, having just seen Kim Gordon last night.
Kool thing, let me play it with your radio
Move me, turn me on, baby-o
Move me, turn me on, baby-o
Disarm by Katie Cruel (June 26, 2026)
It’s a cruel, cruel summer cover, of The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Disarm” courtesy of Katie Cruel (aka Kate Boothman). The song is an indication of what’s to come from Cruel’s upcoming cover lover Cruel Covers project.
Cruel talks about how Smashing Pumpkins was important to her:
I was lucky enough to catch The Smashing Pumpkins at The Kee To Bala, a small lakeside venue in Muskoka. The Pumpkins weren’t really on my list at all. I’d never seen them before and had always gravitated toward trippier, hippier music growing up, but there was no denying the gravity of those songs. The show kind of blew my mind. I was reminded of what a beautiful weirdo Billy Corgan is. There he was in his black robes singing these incredible songs and letting people know it’s okay to be a weirdo too. ‘Disarm’ was in my head for weeks afterward. I really loved how that song sang coming from a woman’s voice. So I recorded it and fell in love with it. That’s really all there is to it. I hope you love it too.
Now… hope to hear that Bananarama cover.
Loud Love by King Ultramega (June 23, 2026)
Supergroup King Ultramega was assembled by bassist Mark Menghi, of Metal Allegiance, to honor the life and musical legacy of the late Chris Cornell from Soundgarden. They recently (June 23) released their cover of “Loud Love”, featuring the vocals of Lzzy Hale (from Halestorm), guitars Alex Skolnick (from Testament), and drums from Dave Krusen (from Pearl Jam). The band is raising money and awareness for MusiCares, the Recording Academy’s nonprofit that provides mental health services, addiction recovery support, and emergency assistance to members of the music community.
Lzzy Hale talked about her involvement in the project:
I don’t think I’ve ever been a good imitator, but I did try to put myself in Chris’ shoes. It’s more about placing yourself inside the song so you can steal its soul. I like to imagine I am the writer and then go about making it my own whilst honoring the original.
It’s hard to believe that we lost Chris Cornell nearly a decade ago.
Expecting by Candice Hoyes (August 28, 2026)
Award-winning musician and vocalist Candice Hoyes recorded a cover of Minnie Riperton’s “Expecting” (originally recorded in 1969). According to the press release, this is the first-ever cover song for “Expecting”… and having listened to the original song, via YouTube, yeah it’s not exactly a song most people will want to cover.
Hoyes offers her reasons for recording her version:
There’s a lot of power in coming to works that we admire that no one has covered. It’s a huge part of keeping the history, the awareness of the music, and the connection to the music alive — to come into songs and inhabit them and use all of your musical powers to make it your own and interpret it in your individual way. That process is very sacred. It’s archival and it’s spiritual. It presses on your power of imagination.
The cover song came out Juneteenth (June 19). Expect to see Hoyes’ debut solo album Expecting on August 28, 2026, via LaReserve Records
Let Him Fly by Maddie Lenhart (April 17, 2026)
Nashville country artist Maddie Lenhart released her version of Patty Griffin’s “Let Him Fly”, a few months ago. The song was recorded live at Treehouse Studios in Nashville, Tennessee.
Lenhart isn’t a stranger to covering song, having recorded “Last Christmas”… er, last Christmas (2025).
Since moving to Nashville, she’s written hundreds of songs, and her debut single “Sober” got nearly a million streams.
Read more Girls Girls Girls.
