In our never-ending quest to dig up great bands whose tickets cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into beautiful butterflies. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around the bands’ various websites and see what you think of these four under the radar acts…
Sure Seattle’s Ivan & Alyosha take their name from two characters in Dostoevsky’s definitive novel Brothers Karamazov, but if you’re expecting a band that plays some form of twee, hyper-literate music that’s full of arcane polysyllabic words – then you’re likely to be a bit disappointed. Simply stated, the band plays a dreamy brand of folk-pop that’s highlighted by their beautiful, soulful harmonies. Once you dig in a bit deeper, it’s the confessional songwriting of Tim Wilson that truly pulls you in.
Earlier this year Ivan & Alyosha released their sophomore EP Fathers Be Kind, and have garnered a heap of praise from NPR’s All Songs Considered who recently invited the band to perform a Tiny Desk Concert. The band will be out on the road for the next two months holding down opening slots for Aimee Mann, John Vanderslice and Brandi Carlile.
Recommended If You Like: Blind Pilot, Grand Archives, Fleet Foxes
In our never-ending quest to dig up great bands whose tickets cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into their beautiful butterfly. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around the bands’ various websites, and see what you think of these two under the radar acts…
It’s not too often that I get a chance to write about a band that got its start at my alma mater, so I thought I’d seize the opportunity to do just that by telling you about the music of Jukebox The Ghost. The three piece act, consisting of of Ben Thornewill (vocals & piano), Tommy Siegel (vocals & guitar) and Jesse Kristin (drums), formed while students at The George Washington University in Washington, DC during the early aughts. JTG’s name comes from a Captain Beefheart song and a line from the book Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov.
While DC had previously been the epicenter of the hardcore movement in the 1980s, the music of Jukebox The Ghost couldn’t be more different from the aggressiveness of those bands. Blending synth-y, uptempo, piano-pop with bouncy rhythms, the trio sound is influenced by the likes of Ben Folds, The Postal Service and Passion Pit. The band, who released their sophomore full length effort Everything Under The Sun via Yep Rock earlier this month, recently stopped by the Ed Sullivan Theater where they made their network television debut performing the album’s lead single Schizophrenia on Late Night With David Letterman.
In our never-ending quest to dig up great bands whose tickets cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into their beautiful butterfly. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around the bands’ various websites, and see what you think of these four under the radar acts…
In music critics never-ending quest to label every sub-genre we now have something called “chillwave”. While I won’t wax poetic on that subject, one of the acts that have been lumped into this ever growing movement – along with the likes of Neon Indian, Beach Fossils and Memory Tapes – is Best Coast (whether they actually like it or not). The two-piece act, fronted by Bethany Cosentino, have been garnering a lot of much deserved blog attention over the last year after releasing a series of much buzzed about 7-inch singles. READ ON for more on Best Coast and three other acts…
In our never-ending quest to dig up some great bands that cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s Deli, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into their beautiful butterfly. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around the bands’ various websites, and see what you think of these four under the radar acts…
I seem to have an affinity towards bands coming out of the Laurel Canyon-area these days. In the late 1960s and early ’70s the small neighborhood nestled in the Hollywood Hills above Los Angeles was the epicenter for the folk and country rock movement, and now, over the last few years, the area’s rich musical history is influencing a new generation of bands. The latest to dive head first into the pool is the L.A.-based act Truth & Salvage Co., whose sound impressed Black Crowes lead singer Chris Robinson so much that he decided to sign the band to his Silver Arrow label and produce their debut.
Splitting the songwriting duties between four people, the band’s doesn’t fall too far from the Crowes tree, leaning more on the vintage weed and whiskey sound of outlaw country, than Southern-fried rock and blues. Drawing influences from the likes of Waylon Jennings, Little Feat, The Grateful Dead and CSN – they arrive at some amalgam that’s firmly rooted in the past, that at times is rowdy rock, and others mellow laments. Truth & Salvage Co. will release their self-titled debut next week, and will head out on a lengthy summer tour that will includes appearances at Bonnaroo and High Sierra, as well several dates serving as the The Black Crowes’ opener.
Every couple of weeks we take a look at a few under the radar bands for our beloved Blips column. Today, we kick off a new column, Blips Update, to take a more in-depth look at what one of the artists we’ve featured in Blips has accomplished since being profiled on our humble site.
When we last profiled Will, the Southern-bred singer/songwriter had just released a marvelous double EP called North/South and had moved up to NYC in an attempt to perform as much as possible. Will has succeeded not only in playing a shit-ton of gigs, but he has also written a huge batch of tunes. So what does an independent artist do with a boatload of songs to share? Will came up with the innovative idea of posting a song a week on a new website called the 52/52 Project.
Each week, McCranie posts a demo, live track, cover or whatever strikes his fancy on the 52/52 Project website with the goal of compiling the best tracks at the end of the year for a full length LP. He’s even opened the project up to his fans by encouraging them to remix or add their own tracks to any of his tunes. Everyone seems to win in this situation – Will gets his music out there, Will’s fans get a new song a week and the A&R staffers of the world get to check out the full range of McCranie’s music without leaving their desks.
While McCranie has obviously spent a lot of time on the website, he’s still playing a bunch of gigs. When we profiled Will for Blips he mainly performed solo but over the last six months he’s been performing with a band giving his originals a fuller sound in the live setting. Last Sunday, McCranie rocked a 52/52 Project launch party at NYC’s Rockwood Music Hall backed by the Not So Sober Novembers. Check out their version of Take Your Place…
Will McCranie’s next gig is at Asylum in Washington D.C. on February 9.
In our never-ending quest to dig up some great bands that cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s Deli, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into their beautiful butterfly. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around the bands’ various websites, and see what you think of these three under the radar acts…
Not only do We Were Promised Jetpacks boast one of the finest aeronautical band names since Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, but they share a very similar sound with Frightened Rabbit – albeit on overdrive – as a) they possess the requisite Scottish accents and b) often construct their songs similarly by building progressions via scalar chord combinations. In other words, they’ll start with a chord and structure a progression by adding and subtracting notes within that same scale. The result translates to unique and peaceful indie pop.
If there’s anyone besides me out there counting the days down to the release of Frightened Rabbit’s third full-length as your most anticipated of the year, these guys ought to buy you some time. The comparisons should come as no surprise as the two bands are label mates, thereby officially making Fat Cat Records of the most promising indie labels today. That makes two terrific Scottish bands without ceilings in as many years (three if you count the Twilight Sad, but I’m not quite sold on them yet).
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READ ON for more Blips-worthy bands – Lubriphonic & Head For The Hills…
In our never-ending quest to dig up some great bands that cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s Deli, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into their beautiful butterfly. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around their various websites, and see what you think of these three under the radar musical groups…
I know what you’re thinking, didn’t we already write a Blips on someone named Lissie? While technically true – that was Lissie Trullie – this Lissie (full name Lissie Maurus) sounds nothing like the downtown New York rock we’ve previously written about. With her unassuming girl-next-door looks Lissie puts out an enchanting and powerful blend of Gospel-infused, dusty Americana that’s influenced by equal parts the blues of her native state of Illinois and the sun-baked folk sounds of her current home California.
READ ON for more on Lissie, Morningsides and Local Natives…
In our never-ending quest to dig up some great bands that cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s Deli, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into their beautiful butterfly. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around their various websites, and see what you think of these three under the radar musical groups…
Today marks a first, as we feature the solo work of a member of a band that was one of our very first Blips acts, Fleet Foxes. Known best as the the drummer for the bearded folk-rockers, J. Tillman has been steadily recording and putting out albums for the last five years, but it’s only been recently that he’s started to gain the attention he deserves. Tillman managed to put out two albums full of his hauntingly baritone vocals and sparse sleepy-folk arrangements this year with Vacilando Territory Blues and Year in the Kingdom – the latter featuring some backing vocals from his current band mates.
Tillman, who seemed to be playing at every SXSW showcase last March, has crafted a sound that doesn’t fall to far from the Nick Drake tree, and is currently providing me the perfect listen as we head deeper in the fall. J. Tillman hits the road for a cross-country headlining tour this November.
READ ON for two more unheralded Blips-worthy artists…
In our never-ending quest to dig up some great bands that cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s Deli, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into their beautiful butterfly. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around their various websites, and see what you think of these two under the radar musical groups…
If you’re looking for that next band to fit comfortably in your record collection next to My Morning Jacket, Band Of Horses and Fleet Foxes than look no further than the California act Dawes. Drenched in exquisite harmonies, pedal steel flourishes, acoustic guitar strumming and aching lyrics about heartbreak the band makes quintessential West Coast country-rock drawing influences from the likes of Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Crazy Horse and The Eagles.
Dawes’ ATO debut, North Hills,which hits stores next month (though currently available now as a digital download), is loaded with their hazy laments providing quite possibly the perfect sunrise soundtrack as you throw back that last night cap. The band recently wrapped up a cross-country run opening for Deer Tick and have a handful of dates currently on deck with weekly residency shows at the Echo and Detroit Bar.
READ ON for a look at another under the radar band…
In our never-ending quest to dig up some great bands that cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s Deli, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into their beautiful butterfly. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around their various websites, and see what you think of these three under the radar musical groups…
Generally, one would look somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon line for spirited gospel-infused Americana, but contrary to conventional wisdom it’s the City Of Brotherly Love that the roots-revival act Hoots & Hellmouth calls home. The band combines its plaintive lyrics with high and lonesome bluegrass harmonies, fire and brimstone playing and folkie-acoustic ballads that will make it almost impossible to keep your feet from stomping along.
If you’re a fan of OCMS or YMSB then this band’s latest disc The Holy Open Secret should fit nicely into your collection of contemporary old-time music. Hoots & Hellmouth kick off their summer tour tonight, with an album release party an New York City’s Joe’s Pub.
In our never-ending quest to dig up some great bands that cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s Deli, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into their beautiful butterfly. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around their various websites, and see what you think of these four under the radar musical groups…
If you caught BuzzUniverse’s eye opening set at Mountain Jam last year you probably aren’t surprised that the eclectic group from New Jersey has been invited back to perform at this year’s festival. BuzzU gets people dancing with their high energy originals and diverse cover selections, a quality that acts as an aural shot of espresso for festival attendees.
READ ON for more about BuzzU and Nashville’s The Sways…
In our never-ending quest to dig up some great bands that cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s Deli, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into their beautiful butterfly. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around their various websites, and see what you think of these four under the radar musical groups…
On one of the coldest days in recent memory, Will McCranie couldn’t stop sweating. When Will takes the stage – as he did on that bitterly cold evening for a record release party at Banjo Jim’s – he puts every ounce of energy into performing his heartfelt songs often leaving him in a pool of sweat. This two-time winner of the Lokal Loudness Award for Favorite Solo Act in Augusta, GA moved to New York City last year with eyes on furthering his musical journey in the big city.
READ ON for more on Will and three other Blips-worthy bands…
In our never-ending quest to dig up some great bands that cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s Deli, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into their beautiful butterfly. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around their various websites, and see what you think of these three under the radar musical groups…
I could easily start this out by saying Ireland’s The Answer is a “mid level band struggling with their own limitations in the harsh face of stardom” considering they sound remarkably like Stillwater – the fictional band from Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous. The Answer are the living embodiment of a modern Classic Rock band, with lead singer Cormac Neeson looking like he just stepped straight of central casting for the part with his long hair and Robert Plant meets Geddy Lee-inspired vocals. The band’s arena-ready hard rock sound derives heavy influences from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and any other number of like-minded bands from that era.
I recently caught The Answer playing an abbreviated in-store set where they rocked the place like it was MSG with blistering guitar solos and Neeson’s charismatic stage swagger. The band recently released their first stateside EP, Never Too Late, and currently have the high profile task of holding down the opening slot for AC/DC on their world tour that stretches into summer of 2009, but will also return stateside for headlining tour of their own.
In our never-ending quest to dig up some great bands that cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s Deli, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into their beautiful butterfly. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around their various websites, and see what you think of these four up-and-coming musical groups…
For me, most bands that have found themselves categorized as jamgrass just don’t do it for me. I like my jam music to rock and show some edge. When Boris Garcia came on the scene as the latest jamgrass sensation I was skeptical that we needed another band in that genre. Then I finally heard there music and I’m having a hard time turning it off. These guys combine the bluegrass stylings of Yonder and Railroad Earth with the hearty rock of folks like Tom Petty and David Lowery of Cracker to create a unique urgent sound that stands out from their peers.
Earlier this month Boris Garcia released a terrific collection of tunes entitled Once More into the Bliss produced by Railroad Earth’s Tim Carbone and features guest appearances from Donna Jean Godchaux-McKay, Buddy Cage and Carbone. The band celebrates the release of the album on November 28 at the Sellersville Theater in Sellersville, PA. Be sure to catch ‘em while they’re still playing small venues. You won’t be sorry.
In our never-ending quest to dig up some great bands that cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s Deli, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into their beautiful butterfly. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, and check out these developing artists.
Before the members of The Strokes got married, dated celebrities and went to rehab they put out Is This It? their debut album, which came to define the downtown New York sound of the early aughts. The album sounded dangerous and the Julian Casablancas & Co. were notorious for living the sex, drugs and rock and roll lifestyle that seemed to go hand in hand with their brash, Velvet Underground influenced sound. It’s been awhile since an album has felt that scuzzy and dirty to me until I heard the music of another New York City-based band – The Virgins.
The band’s self-titled debut is chocked full of songs about all night partying that end with cocaine for brunch, set to a disco-funk-rock sound that combines elements of The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem and VHS or Beta. The Virgins are about to head out for on a three-week tour holding down the opening slot for Black Kids, so head in early and check them out.
via Yep Rock earlier this month, recently stopped by the Ed Sullivan Theater where they made their network television debut performing the album’s lead single Schizophrenia on Late Night With David Letterman.
debut next week, and will head out on a lengthy summer tour that will includes appearances at Bonnaroo and High Sierra, as well several dates serving as the The Black Crowes’ opener.
and 
– the latter featuring some backing vocals from his current band mates.
which hits stores next month (though currently available now as a digital download), is loaded with their hazy laments providing quite possibly the perfect sunrise soundtrack as you throw back that last night cap. The band recently wrapped up a cross-country run opening for Deer Tick and have a handful of dates currently on deck with weekly residency shows at the Echo and Detroit Bar.
should fit nicely into your collection of contemporary old-time music. Hoots & Hellmouth kick off their summer tour tonight, with an album release party an New York City’s Joe’s Pub.
produced by Railroad Earth’s Tim Carbone and features guest appearances from Donna Jean Godchaux-McKay, Buddy Cage and Carbone. The band celebrates the release of the album on November 28 at the Sellersville Theater in Sellersville, PA. Be sure to catch ‘em while they’re still playing small venues. You won’t be sorry.
