New York – New Music Seminar (NMS), dedicated to exploring ideas that will lead to a better music business through networking, engagement and discussion about the future of music and business, returns to New York for its annual conference, June 8-10 at The New Yorker Hotel. From breakout indie artists to visionary CEOs and executives, NMS is
New York – Nestled on a deserted stretch of The West Side Highway, it would be palpably improbable to happen on The Westway by chance. Yet, Manhattan’s Lower West Side venue called forth a cadre of Sylvan Esso supporters on Thursday night. Pooled against the club’s doors, the crowd seemingly materialized out of thin air. A quiet
Chicago – The story goes like this: Nathan Quiroga and Benjamin Verdoes were both looking for something more. More than what their bands – Mad Rads and Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Bands – could provide. More depth. More growth. More of a challenge. So these Seattle musicians challenged each other and collaborated for three long
Austin – Sleepy Sun released the exquisite record, “Maui Tears” in late 2013 and has been touring since. The five piece has an old school rock aesthetic that is rare, especially for a nostalgic band. Where many bands have gotten back in to warm sounding harmonies, Sleepy Sun has a dark tone extenuated by the powerful voice
Chicago – I recently was sitting in traffic, blasting the radio to drown out the honking horns, when a hypnotizing song started to play. It started off with an eerie melody, followed by a ghostly voice and a killer beat. The chorus seemed strangely ironic as I sat in gridlock: “Locked in a cage for
Chicago – New Jersey BFFs Brandon Asraf and John Tacon have been making music since they were teenagers, but not until 2008 did they start writing songs and performing seriously as a duo. The two formed Brick + Mortar, with John on drums and back up vocals and Brandon on bass, lead vocals, and occasional guitar,
Los Angeles – Swedish soul-pop singer and songwriter Erik Hassle today announced twelve tour dates supporting U.S label mate MØ on her upcoming North American tour this month. The tour begins in Washington, DC, mid-May and finishes in Los Angeles in June, with stops in Brooklyn, Vancouver, Chicago and Seattle among others. His Somebody’s Party EP has gained critical acclaim across
Austin – Shannon and the Clams emerged from Oakland in 2009. Their sound is not just nostalgic, it sounds like authentic music from the 50’s and 60’s. Front woman Shannon Shaw has a powerful rasp which vocalist/guitarist Cody Blanchard nearly matches, giving the sound of a doo-wop girl group. Though a bit of an odd
Nashville – On his first ever solo album, Folk Singer, Vol. 1, Willie Watson plays ten recycled tunes. They are stripped down and vulnerable, naked as the day they were born. He’s reviving the roots from which the modern folk movement has blossomed. At a time when traditional instruments and music have morphed beyond recognition (e.g.,
Los Angeles – One may recognize crash’s angelic falsetto from the indie folk musical collective Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes, but Hardly Criminal proves that he can enchant and mesmerize all on his own. The 11-track solo debut album is a tidal wave of emotion that appropriately crashes with a perfect balance of groove, shake, heartache,