Brooklyn-based experimental rock outfit Bear In Heaven is proof that hard work and perseverance pays off. Formed by Jon Philpot in 2003 and despite having released two earlier records, the band finally has broken through in 2010. This year, they’ve re-released Beast Rest Forth Mouth, with a bonus remix album featuring The Field, Studio, High
The Giving Tree Band has mastered the art of American indie folk and they show off their big, full sound on their most recent album, The Joke, The Threat & The Obvious. The Illinois band began as brothers and has expanded into an 8-piece folk ensemble that plays classic folk music with a little bit
Drowning Pool has been heavily involved in and around the music scene for about ten years now- and it’s no secret why they’ve remained such a hard rock staple. Standing outside the Nokia Theater last night waiting to be ushered in with the rest of the press there was a lot of hushed talk about
Refreshing. That is the word that describes Wild International. Familiar enough to bring a smile to your face but with an off-beat twist that leaves an air of mystery. The three guys of Wild International, Ryan Camenzuli, Greg Coffey and Bryan Daly, have what it takes to shatter the glass-ceiling of commercial pop-rock with their
All musicians must pay their dues before hitting it big, and sometimes it’ll be years before they see a tour or record deal. Mobile, Alabama’s Kristy Lee had a different story, however: she released an album at a very early stage in her career and after ten years of establishing herself as an artist, is
Today we’re trying something new with our Artists in Residence slot. We’re showcasing Burbank’s Back Pocket Memory this morning for a one-day residency and featuring a new installment from a former Resident a little later on today. Next week we’ll kick off the official Artists in Residence for November, South Africa’s Parlotones, but today, let’s
Newcomers Archie Powell & The Exports have just released their debut full-length album, Skip Work, and are making grit-covered guitar pop that is accompanied by charming lyrics and formidable songwriting. The Chicago band is still new, but their sound is a fresh mix of influences like Elvis Costello and Weezer that has us bopping our
A few years back I visited a Yoko Ono retrospective exhibit in Japan featuring the work from her 1966 show at the Indica gallery. This was the show that acquainted John Lennon with Yoko’s work. At the time I was very familiar with the Beatles catalog and much of John’s later work, but not at
Singer-songwriter Kevin Devine and indie-rockers Manchester Orchestra have been making music as separate, and very different, entities for years. This year, Kevin Devine has joined up with the guys from Manchester Orchestra to form a new band called Bad Books. Their self-titled debut album is out now as a digital release and will be available
When a band names itself after something common, it can be helpful in a familiar catchy sense or a hokey hindrance. But these aren’t your grandma’s Grandchildren. Powered by the beat-driven, orchestral-pop epics of primary songwriter Aleks Martray, the Philadelphia-based groups has seen their profile grow dramatically in 2010. Currently touring the country with bands