It has been a crazy few years for Matt Drenik. After being diagnosed with Uveitis, an autoimmune disease that affects the eyes, the then Lions front man saw life in a different light (no pun intended). He began to write softer songs without the help of his bandmates and decided to pack up and move
Emerging from the white water rapids of independent music like an old soul, is blues songwriter Grace Woodroofe. In a relatively short time, she’s been able to channel some of the most classic and substantial influences into finding the substance within to make her own raw and real music. There’s that bit about collaborating with her
As we’ve written about over the past few months, Of Monsters and Men are one of the breakout new bands of 2012. During their first proper U.S. tour, they’ve sold out almost every venue they’ve played and their song “Little Talks” has been on radio stations everywhere. Before they played their last show of their
In case you didn’t read my review of Brian Lopez’s recently released album, Ultra, go now, oh foolish one, and read it. There. Well done. Thus, in case you didn’t notice, Brian Lopez is, indeed, awesome. And now, as you arrive at the top of this interview, you, in the privacy of your own mind,
Over the past few weeks, we’ve taken an extensive look at one of our favorite new bands, Memoryhouse. The Canadian duo’s brand of dream pop has won them legions of fans across the globe. Signed to Sub Pop, the band’s album The Slideshow Effect was released last month to much acclaim, as was their month
“You look really tired,” I told Kip Berman, frontman of New York-based The Pains of Being Pure at Heart when I was finally able to take a good look at him backstage before the band’s Kuala Lumpur show began. Exhausted and somewhat physically drained − thanks to a year on the road and countless flights
The Los Angeles-based sextet, RACES, had a great 2011, which found the band signing with French Kiss Records, playing numerous shows in its hometown, and geared up for a record release. But last year was just a push for what the indie-folk outfit has in store in 2012. Not only is the six-piece’s debut full-length,
Since the debut of The Joy Formidable’s first EP, A Balloon Called Moaning, in early 2009, the UK-based trio hasn’t stopped to take a breath. Led by the feisty vocalist/guitarist, Ritzy Bryan, the alternative/dream pop outfit has spent the last three years primarily on the road, stopping only to record its debut LP The Big
Firehorse is the latest project from singer/songwriter/instrumentalist Leah Siegel. In Sept 2011 the Brooklyn-based singer released her eclectic debut, And so they ran faster…to critical acclaim. Produced by Geoff Stanfield (Mark Kozelek, Sun Kil Moon, Moby) and with Steve Elliot on guitar, Tim Luntzel (Rosanne Cash, Loudon Wainwright III) on bass, and Brian Wolfe (Sufjan
It’s only been a week since catching Ava Luna at Mercury Lounge, and I’ve been jamming out to them ever since. As witnessed during that show, the band seems to have found a great combination of friends and influences to really be a best new and emerging band. Ava Luna is Carlos Hernandez on vocals