Indie Music Universe

While most bands only dream of finding the right chemistry, Los Angeles-based duo Mad Planet oozed it from the very beginning.  Vocalist/bassist Cooper Gillespie and drummer Greg Gordon were bartending at the now defunct Hollywood nightclub Safari Sam’s when sparks flew–both musically and romantically–and they decided to pair up as a couple and a band.

The duo immediately discovered a shared love of trip-hop, rock and jazz. “We wanted to go in more of a Massive Attack, Portishead direction,” says Gordon, who had previously been a member of the Nervous Return, a punk-rock outfit that toured with the likes of Blink 182 and No Doubt.  Gillespie had fronted Bang Sugar Bang, an aggressive punk-rock trio, and felt compelled to try something new.

Mad Planet began recording their debut album in early 2009, using their Silver Lake apartment as a studio.  Gillespie and Gordon wanted to craft their own distinct sound and turn their musical vision into a reality, so they decided to record and produce the album themselves.  “It felt great to do everything just the way we wanted it,” says Gillespie.

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Popularity: unranked [?]

The band was formed of all previously signed touring bands.  Dave Schroeder, the lead singer, is a songwriter that has written three other full length records under the name of SO THEY SAY.  When he decided to start the new band he had already written the first three records for ME VERSE YOU.  The hooky choruses and great verses heard on their debut album, ANOTHER ENEMY is only the beginning of the three albums that ME VERSE YOU will release.

Instrumentation

David Schroeder – Vocals/Guitar

Matt Amelung – Guitar

Joe Hamilton – Bass

Kevin Fuwell – Drums

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Popularity: unranked [?]

A bit more than a year since they formed, Washington DC based Typefighter, has already
recorded their debut EP (I Want to See You Game, Boys, I Want to See You Brave), embarked on a month long national tour, and gained quite a following in their native city.

Now they look forward, and have begun working on a full-length album, as well as organizing another national tour.  2010 should be a big year for Ryan Mclaughlin, Erik Anderson, John Crum, and Will Waikart; one thing is for sure, they still have a lot more to show with their own unique blend of “dream-pop-folk”(brightestyoungthings.com) and will be sure to “warm our hearts” (Allournoise.com).

Instrumentation

Ryan McLaughlin – Vocals, Autoharp, Guitar, Ukulele

Mary Voutsas – Piano, Rhodes, Vocals

Will Waikart – Drums

John Crum – Guitar, Bass, Banjo

Erik Anderson – Guitar, Bass, Vocals

Website

MySpace

Hype Machine

Last.Fm

Twitter

Facebook

Discography

 I Want To See You Game, Boys, I Want To See You Brave 

Song Samples

Ocean Floor

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All the Air

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Popularity: unranked [?]

Ohio based, nationally touring and regionally reigning – If you haven't heard of The Zou yet, you will soon. 

Born in a Midwestern scene dominated by affluent white youths, The Zou is a transnational ethnic musical collective of 2nd generation Americans.  They are the sons and daughters of Lebanese revolutionaries, Palestinian refugees, Italian grocers, and Chinese peasants.  This unique background shows in the crafting of their indie rock.  The Zou's music reflects a quality and creativity seldom found in mainstream music.

Since 2007, The Zou has been marching across the country, gathering the support of music lovers and critics.  They have been described as "Intelligent and electrifying Nouveau Rock", "A dark assemblage of snarky lyrics, gritty bass, and 2 colossal keyboardists" and "Indie rock to be proud of".

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Popularity: 4% [?]

Chasing Jones, a four piece Pop Rock band, has defined themselves with high energy performances, catchy lyrics and steady grooves.  The first pieces of the group came together in 2007 with brothers Nick and Adam DiLullo collaborating for the first time.  With a solid foundation they were able to convince LA based drummer Blair Brown, a graduate of the Musicians Institute, to return home and join the band.  In 2008 they independently released their first EP, The Lie, to a sold out release party at the Starlite Room in Edmonton.  The puzzle was soon complete when Grant MacEwan music graduate Dwayne Ulliac joined as the new bassist.

With an invitation to showcase at Canadian Music Week 2010, radio play on stations across Canada, and great reviews coming in from all over, the groups name and distinct sound is being recognized on the local and national music scene.   As a band who frequents some of the top venues and colleges in Edmonton, Chasing Jones has shared the stage with hot acts like Tokyo Police Club, Hot Panda, Radio For Help, appeared in local magazines like Vue & SEE weekly, and on blogs all over the internet.

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Popularity: 8% [?]

Single Parents is the project of three friends: Fernando Dotta, Anderson Lima and Rafael Farah. Based out of São Paulo, Brazil, the band was formed in 2008 via a partnership between Fernando (vocals, guitar) and Anderson (bass).

After playing together for a couple of months, Fernando moved to Brighton, UK, where he began to compose songs in English on acoustic guitar, and continued his transatlantic musical exchange with Anderson.

Once rejoined in Brazil, the duo gathered demos produced over these six months they were apart to start working on final versions.

Single Parents became a trio in March 2009 when Rafael Farah (drums) joined the band. “We melded our styles and genres, focusing on Britrock and American alternative rock from the 90’s.”, says Fernando.

The band released their debut EP in December 2009, titled Could You Explain?, including four tracks written in English, whose distinct  and identifiable influences contribute to shape their musical identity. Farah comments: “We selected the demo versions that best embody the project’s aim, working on them for months before heading into the studio”.

As the EP’s title suggests, the band does not intend to restrict their sound to specific references, but to give each track a unique feel. “We came up with different structures for each song, where the theme and ambience change throughout. That is the contradiction we’re looking to express in our compositions”, highlights Anderson.

The band is currently rehearsing in studio, warming up for gigs in 2010. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 6% [?]

By Kristin Anderson

You can run and you can hide but Venus Infers will find you.

The Orange County-based band comprises frontman Davis Fetter, drummer Steve Wilmot, guitarist Hiro Makino and bassist Richard Marion.  Although this band is technically an indie rock band they do not make reference to themselves as such..Venus Infers stands by the motto that "music is for all ears". "When composing the art, artists should be discriminating," Fetter said, but "not when choosing their audience." And the world, mainstream and otherwise are most certainly in agreement.

I was sure that all the wonderful reviews meant that the band was enough like other popular bands to have the general public in a tizzy of lemming like agreement. But sometimes, just sometimes the masses are on to something. Venus Infers is remarkable. They have single-handedly taken all the things that you love about music and executed a sound that is so natural, so precisely its own flavor of rock genius, I am completely smitten. They move you the way bands like Coldplay, Radiohead, and The Killers do, with a grasp on what connects people and the common thread that bonds how we feel and the choices we make. All this and they make it seem effortless.

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Popularity: 7% [?]

Hightide Blues took the stage for the first time in 2006 and has been gracing hundreds of stages for thousands of fans ever since. Their sound is a throw back to southern rock with a modern twist and an original delivery that's in a category of it's own. With their high-energy performances and huge fan base it's no surprise that Hightide Blues has shared the stage with national acts such as Sara Bareilles, JJ Grey & Mofro, Delta Spirit, Graham Colton, Jason Isbell, Matt Costa, Donavon Frankenreiter, Sister Hazel, The Whigs, Zac Brown Band, Karl Denson, and many more.

Their delivery of acoustic and electric guitars with a hard-hitting rhythm section has lead to sold out shows all over the Southeast and won't be stopping there. Hightide Blues played Bonnaroo 2008, and are expanding their touring with shows all over the US of A.

In February 2008 Hightide Blues recorded their second EP "Love Come Easy" with producer Richard McLaurin at House of David Studios in Nashville, where music legends Elvis, Neil Young, B.B. King, Joe Cocker, and Roy Orbison recorded some of the most influential albums in music history. The highly anticipated "Love Come Easy" is generating excitement from fans and major record labels alike. Being labeled the fastest up and coming band in the Southeast, Hightide Blues is following in the footsteps of the many music legends who graced the very same studio, and anything is possible for this band as they tour the country picking up momentum and fans along the way.

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Popularity: 3% [?]

By Kristin Anderson

Indie fans stop running in place. On June 23, Kava Kava, who hail from Yorkshire UK, are releasing their first U.S album, Forwards, on Midnight Swimming. Having started as a four-piece psychedelic funk band gracing the underground festival and party scene, KAVA KAVA has now expanded into a six piece force to be reckoned with — that fully realizes a distinct and unique sound that is bringing the indie music scene to its knees.

The vocals of singer Pat Fulgoni, who sounds like a masculine angel, are accompanied by a revolving line-up that includes Matt Bond (guitar), Martin Chung (bass), Chris Corrigan (drums), Steve Davies and Ian Bailey (horn section) alongside vocals, guitars, electronica, brass, strings and a  funky rhythm section.  The combination of lead singer Pat Fulgoni and the unified expression of sound will rip you from time and space and let you fall into a state of dream sequence. Filled with raw power and energy, this music moves. You are sure to move with it..

Fulgoni has done quite a few collaborations on his own, lending his voice to several songs released by Hospital Records and Subliminal Soup Records. The single Beliefs off of Nu:Tones's "Back of Beyond" album reached #17 on the singles chart in the UK and featured vocals by Pat. Smooth as glass and desperately funky, Kava Kava is ripping through sound barriers and embedding themselves in mainstream culture.

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Popularity: 23% [?]