Cory Brown: Indie Music Artist of the Week

Posted by Mike Wilson On February - 8 - 2010

Cory Brown is a California-grown Singer/Songwriter with a distinct gift for crafting songs that draw fans from a variety of ages and backgrounds. Born into a musical family just north of Hollywood, Cory began playing guitar and singing at a young age. Aided by his father Barry (songwriter and lead singer for the early seventies [...]

Album Review of “Know Better Learn Faster” by Thao With the Get Down Stay Down

Posted by Kristin Anderson On October - 27 - 2009

By Kristin Anderson

 

On my search for some quality indie to pay forward, I stumbled across a indie folk band that has helped to solidify the existence of some happy music. Thao With the Get Down Stay Down has succeeded in forcing our spoiled, overindulged, grumpy listeners to smile again. Remember smiling people, it's that thing [...]

Music Festival Survival Guide, Part 2: Mama Maria’s Helpful Hints

Posted by Kristin Anderson On September - 20 - 2009

By Kristin Anderson
 
Hey my festival junkies. Although I am a seasoned professional when it comes to festivals (15 years and going strong), my mom still insists on reminding me how to get back home safe and in one peice. So in an effort to put all moms at ease, I have compiled Mama Maria’s list [...]

Fall Music Festivals 2009

Posted by Kristin Anderson On August - 17 - 2009

By Kristin Anderson
 
Festie fans unite.
 
If you have survived your summer festivals and are up to some fall excitement, I have put together a list of some favorite fall festivals you may want to check out. The fall festival line up includes indoor and outdoor festivals. They’re perfect for anyone — whether you wanna party in [...]

Cory Brown: Indie Music Artist of the Week

Posted by Mike Wilson On February - 8 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Cory Brown is a California-grown Singer/Songwriter with a distinct gift for crafting songs that draw fans from a variety of ages and backgrounds. Born into a musical family just north of Hollywood, Cory began playing guitar and singing at a young age. Aided by his father Barry (songwriter and lead singer for the early seventies band Morning, who shared stages with such artists as Jimi Hendrix and Chicago), Cory developed his natural talent for melodic songwriting and moving musical performance. The latest result is Cory's new debut solo album, Days In A Life, available now.

 

In 2001, after moving north to Berkeley, CA, Cory co-founded the Alternative-Americana Rock band 7th Direction. As their lead singer and primary songwriter, Cory also produced their debut LP Hundred Miles Gone. The album was praised by Relix and Pause/Record magazines, and Dennis Cook of JAMBASE.com named it one of the best albums of 2003. Relix Magazine, featuring 7th Direction in their 2003 article On The Verge: Artists You Should Know About, raved over Cory’s vocal performance and songwriting on his “soaring, harmony-laden” single Forgotten. The song was also featured in January 2003 on NBC’s hit television series Ed. Reviewers placed Cory’s catchy and intelligent songwriting style on the level of such music legends as David Crosby, Neil Young, and Joni Mitchell. Fans compared Cory’s music to contemporary favorites such as Jack Johnson, Ryan Adams, Dave Matthews, and Elliot Smith. Cory’s fans continue to be moved by his melodic yet powerful voice, a unique sonic-blend that gives an extra flavor to his already crowd-pleasing repertoire of songs. He is determined to touch fans and music professionals alike with his talent for captivating turn-of-phrase and everlasting musical melody. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 2% [?]

Father Dude: Indie Music Artist of the Week

Posted by Mike Wilson On February - 1 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Father DudeFATHER DUDE is a man of great conviction.  Tired of cliché and uninspired parody in pop music, Father Dude has blended a myriad of influences into his own style: Epic R&B.  Inspired by an introduction to Doo-Wop and early Rock and Roll/R&B, FD formed his first group at age 11.  After performing a cappella throughout Long Island, New York, he soon made a transition to drum kit in his teenage years.  Whether playing garage rock, Prog Rock, Jazz or Metal, FD prided himself on writing original material.  Some of his greatest influences and inspiration have been listed as Stevie Wonder, Frank Zappa, Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, Phil Collins, P-FUNK, Faith No More and Dr. Dre.  He would eventually return to his soulful vocal roots as a lead singer in the R&B group FUSION.  During the end of  it’s successful independent run including an international tour and radio airplay, FD decided to take full control of his artistry.

 

In late 2008, FATHER DUDE truly came into his own.  He organized his solo material with a team of co-writers and producers and put together a demo of arrangements.  FD and his production team ”Release the Sounds” soon began work on the debut EP entitled “I Feel Ways About Things”.  After it’s release in 2009, FD brought his explosive live show to NYC stages.  When his powerfully soulful voice and hook-laden melodies combine with an eclectic live band featuring some of the best Rock, Gospel, Hip-Hop and R&B musicians, FATHER DUDE delivers a truly unique live experience.  FD has a tough time pin-pointing his sound; “It’s the Past, Present and Future of popular music… don’t ask me stupid questions”.  Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 7% [?]

Boy Pilot: Indie Music Band of the Week

Posted by Mike Wilson On December - 15 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

boy pilotMusic as a means to healing. Melody as a means of providing hope. There exists a specific line of music that is comprised of folks who have changed the world around them; we are working on furthering that line. BOY PILOT is a band that partners with friends, fans and non-profits to holistically make a difference that matters in the long run.

 

Instrumentation:

David J. Portalatin: Lead Vocals, Guitar

Jonathan Lammering: Drums, Percussion

Jacob Rivera: Guitar

 

Websites:

Official website

Myspace

 

Discography:

The Boy Pilot E.P.

Popularity: 18% [?]

+Spanx T. Urquhart: Indie Music Artist of the Week

Posted by Mike Wilson On November - 23 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

+Spanx T. UrquhartTimid and soft spoken during early childhood, no one imagined his future interests might include songwriting and stage performance.  Attending schools in The West Indies, Japan and various parts of the states, exotic locales like Okinawa and Jamaica helped to shape +Spanx cosmopolitan worldview and love of different cultures and music.

 

The eldest of three talented siblings, his father remembers the infant +Spanx (too young yet to walk or speak) humming in tune The National Anthem while being coddled during its repeated performance at a theater.

 

As +Spanx showed great promise, his parents later encouraged him to study the cornet which led to a discovery of numerous instruments.  He became proficient on electric bass while performing with Top 40, retro-pop and classic rock groups, also developing a versatile yet powerful vocal that ranges from ballads & barbershop to hip-hop and hard rock… measured experiences which led to +Spanx fronting the Miami-based trio kNiption FiT, an enigmatic power-pop band best described as "The Monkees meet Rush…"

 

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Popularity: 21% [?]

deVries: Indie Music Artist of the Week

Posted by Mike Wilson On November - 17 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

deVriesdeVries (pro. devreese; Dutch def. from/of the North) is the new band of singer/writer/guitarist Travis DeVries of Seattle band The Turn-ons.  The August '09 issue of Spin magazine list The Turn-ons in its 100 "greatest bands you've (probably) never heard." Peter Buck of R.E.M. described them as “…simply my favorite new Seattle band. If I said that their sound was a combination of the Velvets, T. Rex and Spiritualized with a dash of Yo La Tengo, it wouldn’t do them justice [Q Magazine]." The Turn-ons played sold out shows with widely-known indie bands such as The Strokes, BRMC, Interpol, and played their last show with The Jesus & Mary Chain in '08.

 

Travis moved to NYC in the summer of '08 after recording "Death to God" in Seattle.  Death to God was produced and mixed by Turn-ons’ producer and member, Erik Blood(The Moondoggies, Tea Cozies, Romance). It was then mixed by legendary producer, Kramer(Galaxy 500, Low, Sufian Stevens).  Upon receiving the tracks for mastering, Kramer enthusiastically proclaimed “Travis, you’re a fucking genius.  This music is just too good” and “this shit is amazing.”

 

deVries' sound hearkens back to the reining days of Britpop/Madchester bands such as The Stone Roses and Suede.  Travis' lyrics touch on a wide range of social and human conditions and emotions of which he feels strongly about.  His songs range in issues from trans-gender children(Boys are Bores), to global warming(Slowing Down), and hints of economic upheaval(Black Thursday Repeat).  His gift of weaving lush orchestration & intensely personal lyrics is a reminder of how music can save your soul.

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Popularity: 21% [?]

White Picket Fence: Indie Music Band of the Week

Posted by Mike Wilson On November - 9 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

White Picket FenceWhite Picket Fence is honest, unadulterated indie rock with a sense of urgency that gives their material absolute credibility… Not because of the way somebody can describe it, but because of the way that it exists intrinsically. Please listen for yourself before continuing, as everything else is secondary to the music.

 

Since the band’s inception in 2008, White Picket Fence has been doing everything in their power to be heard. Equally at home in their van, the band has played non-stop to a variety of venues across the state, giving performances that have been praised both for their unique intensity and youthful charm. Coupled with their undeniable group chemistry and genuine appreciation for each opportunity that allows them to progress as artists, this effort has amassed substantial good press for the band. On an almost weekly basis, the group has been featured in numerous regional publications, and recently procured a spot for their now-sold-out, self-titled EP on Central New York’s Top 10 list of releases for 2008.

 

After pushing that record to its final sale, White Picket Fence went back into The Square Studio to work with Steve Sopchak (The Brilliant Light, Eyes Averted, Remember Tomorrow) on their first full length record called “Clocks and Calendars.” It will be independently released on June 6th, and a self-booked, national summer tour is to follow.

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Popularity: 22% [?]

Githead: LandingGithead are Colin Newman (of Wire), Malka Spigel and Max Franken (of Minimal Compact), and Robin Rimbaud (Scanner). But who they are is far less important than what they are: a band, rather than just a collaboration of individuals.

 

Landing the fourth release (third full-length) by Githead is now streaming in its' entirety at the link below:

 

http://www.githead.com/mp3/~Landing/radioplayer3.html

 

The band started in 2004, initially to play as a one-off at the Swim record label's 10th anniversary event at the ICA. It soon became obvious that there was a natural and rare chemistry that could enable real organic development over time.

 

Progression was swift. A solid base was fashioned with the band's 2004 debut, the ‘self titling' EP Headgit. Written, recorded and mixed in fervent, whirlwind fashion, all in Swim's London studio, the band used Headgit as a platform on which to build. Its signature hypnotic motorik combined with a fresh, almost raw approach resulted in a set of exciting tracks, some of which remain stage favorites.

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 17% [?]

clipd beaksAfter two woozy, psychedelic, and often–claustrophobic records that touched upon their great potential (2006's Preyers EP and 2007's Hoarse Lords), the Oakland-based Clipd Beaks have birthed something pretty damn amazing. To Realize is a turning-point. A record of personal and artistic growth. Sonically expansive, lyrically profound, and deeply moving. It recalls the societal hangover depicted in the great California rock records of the early 70's, while sitting firmly in the noisy, chaotic present day. It's a tribute to love, to moving forward, to rejecting doom. To Realize places itself as a beacon of sprawling, humanist hope in an increasingly digital world. Anyone who still believes in the transformative power of Rock n' Roll will recognize it in this record.

 

"Sounds perfectly fuzzed to these ears"Stereogum

 

“Wildly danceable, postpunk mania” - Time Out

 

“Beneath the caustic bass and smeared keyboards lies some serious, seriously damaged songwriting” - The Onion

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Popularity: 16% [?]

Molina & JohnsonMolina & Johnson by Molina & Johnson

 

Consider the collective catalogs of these two prolific masters of the new American folk songcraft: Magnolia Electric Co., Centro-matic, Songs: Ohia, South San Gabriel. Now, let's just be honest. A little bit of artistic ego and one-upsmanship can serve a greater purpose. In this collaboration between Jason Molina and Will Johnson, each seem to hold the other's talents to the fire and elevate both performance and creativity. In the friendly sharing of ideas, Molina and Johnson become two poets' poets in a workshop to craft a singular, searing elegy.

 

Extended Vacation by On FillmoreExtended Vacation by On Fillmore

 

Once dubbed "the rhythm section's revenge" by Jim O'Rourke, On Fillmore is back with their most elaborate work, Extended Vacation. The duo is formed by bassist Darin Gray and percussionist Glenn Kotche, who were originally hand-picked by O'Rourke as the rhythm section for his album Eurekaand joined him on several tours and his next two albums. It was in 2000 during a gig at Scott Walker's Meltdown Festival in London while touring with O'Rourke that On Fillmore was conceptualized. Nearly a decade later, the band is stretching the very definition of "rhythm section."

 

Love Comes Close by Cold CaveLove Comes Close by Cold Cave

 

"Love Comes Close" is the debut full-length from Philly/New York quartet COLD CAVE. Following on singles on Hospital Productions, Whats Your Rupture?, and Dais, as well as a comp of early material, Matador is now reissuing the instantly sold-out self-released album from August 2009. The warm, rich synth pop sounds are laced with equal measures of romance and nihilism. Somewhere in these realms of negative hiss and out-of-body bliss, there is a peak awaiting all who enter.

Popularity: 18% [?]

Van Rissenhem: Indie Music Artist of the Week

Posted by Mike Wilson On November - 2 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

Van Risseghem"If you feel you’ve been going through the motions, take your hands & just let go." 21 year old Tulsa native, Jonathan Van Risseghem sings on his full length release The Motions. The motion of his career has greatly accelerated recently, as he experiences a fast growing following.

 

Within 6 months of releasing The Motions, Van Risseghem has been regularily played on a variety of Westwood One and Clear Channel radio stations across the nation. Title track, "The Motions" has been added to frequent rotation in Delta Airlines national/worldwide in-flight radio and boarding entertainment as well as broadcast on 17,000+ (AMC and Cinemark and more) theatres as pre-movie entertainment. Van Risseghem's songs are also featured on the KNYZ104.5 compilation CD, the Hollywood Music In Media Awards Compilation CD, and voted for KHTT106.9 Listener's Choice.

 

Perhaps it's something about the excessively commercial nature of pop music these days that make people want to reach back in time. Or, maybe it is just the music itself – spirited, direct, colorful. Whatever it is, Van Risseghem taps that energy of yesterday’s music with it’s tones & rhythms, producing a rich-textured sound topped off with an engaging vocal delivery. He joins these solid arrangements with ear catching melodies in any chart topper of today’s music.

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Popularity: 25% [?]

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