Artist Spotlight: Delta Spirit

Today's edition of Artist Spotlight comes to us from a band out of the Golden State, more specifically San Diego, as we unravel the sounds of Delta Spirit. The band consists of Jon Jameson on bass, Brandon Young on percussion, Matthew Vasquez on lead vocals and guitars, Kelly Winrich as a multi-instrumentalist, and Will McLaren on guitar. The group has a wistful, relaxing indie rock sound to them that evokes all the mellow sounds emanating from the West Coast, and has a kind of escapist feel to them that makes it seem like you're traveling with the band down the highway and experiencing all the sights and sounds along with them, as their music plays gently in the background while taking in all the wondrous landscapes that are surrounding you. I first heard their song, appropriately enough titled "California" a while ago, and was intrigued with the band's mellow, organic indie rock style that didn't feel the need to have too much instrumentation that would have otherwise overwhelmed such beautiful and delicate songwriting that relies so heavily on melody to affect the listener in a deep and positive way. A great band that I look forward to hearing more of in 2013.

For more information on Delta Spirit, click on their Facebook page here where you can find out more about the band, including links to listen to their music and find out if any tour dates may be stopping by your area sometime soon. The band is on Twitter as well right over here where you can connect with the band and see what they're doing this very minute. The band's official website is located right here where you can find some more in-depth information regarding the band, including the band's full discography and see the path they took that got them to the point where they are right now.

Local Natives - Hummingbird

Los Angeles, CA's own Local Natives have released their sophomore album titled Hummingbird. The follow up to 2010's Gorilla Manor finds the band creating another terrific album with indie leaning jams that present music from a Californian frame of mind with wondrous musical soundscapes that are designed to allow you to escape to an otherworldly paradise otherwise not accessible from our dimension.

The disc starts off with "You & I", a mellow, rapturing number featuring the lead vocals of Taylor Rice that instantly puts things in perspective for the listener tuning in just now. "Heavy Feet" picks up the ambient instrumentation a notch with some light percussion arrangements that give the band a hint of diversity and showcase their amazing talents and how they first came together due to their love of music. "Black Spot" starts out as an eerie, menacing tune before slight guitar licks chime in gently and lend in a sense of calm and relaxation that continues to bring it on a fascinating musical journey thus far. "Breakers" is an upbeat, bombastic piece that shows off the band's versatility and their ability to keep the audience's attention all the way throughout, something that is very difficult for some bands to accomplish these days.

The second half of the disc gets into gear with my favorite track off the album, "Black Balloons". This upbeat, enthusiastic number evokes the band's free wheeling spirit and their innate ability to weave beautiful, majestic melodies into their music that makes this track one of the main selling points of the album alone. "Mt. Washington" features a terrific acoustic guitar bit that features great transitions in between Taylor's introspective vocals that offer us a glimpse inside the working prowess of the band and how they're able to craft these sonic delights to offer to the musical audience as a treat. We begin to get ready to close out the album with "Colombia" a somber, toned out number that features a brisk piano solo that conjures up images of finality and conclusion as we enter the album's last gasp. The song immediately segues way into the closing track "Bowery", a grandiose, terrific number that does a great job of closing out the album on point and on cue, ensuring that the album comes to a proper end and that all members of the group have an opportunity to let their talents shine in the limelight. I was impressed with Local Natives when I first heard the track "Airplanes" off their debut release and I was amazed with the band's ability to craft an entirely different genre of music that is all their own and has the originality and authenticity to truly go places with this unique sound. I was even more blown away with the group when I saw a YouTube video of them covering Simon & Garfunkel's "Cecilia", in which one member of the group plays the percussion using a tree that made my heart grow fonder of the band and it showed me how much the band truly enjoys being around each other and how they became friends due to their love of playing music.

In summary, a well rehearsed and orchestrated effort from Local Natives, who are making their presence known even greater this time around with an assortment of versatile and cohesive jams that will make you appreciate the talent that emanates from California that much more.

                                                                                                                             Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. You & I
2. Heavy Feet
3. Ceilings
4. Black Spot
5. Breakers
6. Three Months
7. Black Balloons
8. Wooly Mammoth
9. Mt. Washington
10. Colombia
11. Bowery 

The Strokes To Release New Album "Comedown Machine" on March 26th

NYC's standout indie stars The Strokes are ready to release their brand new album titled "Comedown Machine" on March 26th. Last Friday, the band made available a track from that new album titled "One Way Trigger", that evokes a strong electro tinged sound featuring Julian Casablancas' soaring falsetto turning heads all around on this one. The band has announced that the first single titled "All the Time" will be made available at all digital music outlets on February 19th, but it will premiere on the radio on Valentine's Day so check your local alt-rock stations for announcements concerning the song's release as the date draws closer.

You can pre-order "Comedown Machine" right now from the band's website, so click on this link here that will take you to the pre-order page where you can buy the album in digital, CD, or vinyl formats. When you place your pre-order, you'll receive a free download code for "All the Time" upon its release, so I would highly recommend taking advantage of this exclusive offer!

Artist Spotlight: E-mute

Have a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight ready to deliver to the masses today! We head across the pond to London, and uncover the electro infused sounds of E-mute. The group consists of E-Mute on vocals, drums, and piano, Svetlana Vassileva on bass and vocals, Darren Ashford on drums, and Tolis Zavaliaris on guitars and vocals. The band has an edgy, electro infused sound that channels the influences of Moby and Depeche Mode, with an alt-rock edge to boot that will attract devotees of both bands that brings the best of both worlds together to create an insatiable hybrid that is different and not like the other types of music that are permeating the airwaves these days. I've been exposed to a lot more electronic music these days, and the fact that it's coupled with alternative rock which I grew up on enables me to enjoy E-mute pretty easily and experience what the bands from across the pond in England are accomplishing with alot of hard work and determination. A great upstart band that has the ability to achieve success here in the U.S. and beyond. Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "Clock Moves Forward" and "Flying".

For more information on E-mute, click on their Facebook page here where you can find out more info on the band and see what they're like! The band can also be followed on Twitter right over here where you can interact with the members of the band and see if they'll be planning to tour the States sometime soon. The band's official website is located here where you can find more in-depth information regarding the band and if you would like to check out their music, it's available on their BandCamp site located over here where you can decide for yourself if they're the real deal.

The Attic Stairs - Small Things

The Attic Stairs are making their presence known with their all new studio release titled Small Things. The Haverford, PA based group is starting to become a known commodity in and around the Philadelphia area with their own unique blend of indie rock with a strong, sharp focus that immediately makes you feel relaxed and right at home.

The disc starts off with "You're Always Around", a comforting, pleasant sounding track featuring a thunderous vocal refrain sung in unison by lead singer Dan Wriggins and flutist Evangeline Krajewski that immediately puts things in perspective for the rest of the album going forward. "Andy the Bluebird" features many of the same musical characteristics that the prior song exhibited, only on a much grander scale this time around with more variant instrumentation giving the song a bit of an edge than the first track. My favorite track off the disc is "Fire on the Lawn" a beautiful, stunning melodic delight featuring a wonderful acoustic guitar melody and a smooth transition with the dual vocal precision weaving its way in and out of this musical delight that you'll want to put on repeat by the time it's over. "How to Get Happy (When You're Sad)" is a downtempo number designed to put you in a positive frame of mind if you're feeling down for whatever reason, with an organic melodic mindset that will be sure to get you out of your rut and looking ahead to brighter days ahead.

The second half of the album takes shape with "No Sleep" a dazzling, well put together number featuring a well bodied acoustic guitar arrangement and a terrific vocal performance turned in that sees the album sticking to its guns and continuing to forge ahead. "Mary Allen" is a thumping, bombastic number featuring high energy folk based guitars and a strong vocal outlook that ushers in a new kind of folk that we haven't heard before and will leave you with your mouth open in awe by the time the song is all over. We get ready to close out the album with "He Cuts Out and We All Come In", a track that evokes some musical characteristics set forth by Mumford & Sons with some intricate flute arrangements giving the song the ability to stand out among all the rest featured here. The disc comes to an end on "Ambulance Man", a moody, downtempo number that takes in elements of songs we've heard at various points throughout the album, and condenses it in a format that we can easily comprehend to see what we've heard so far and how it makes it feel as a whole. It's great to hear a refreshing change in music with the new folk movement taking shape that is being spearheaded by groups like Mumford & Sons and Fleet Foxes to name a few, and this album really puts it in perspective for us to see the sheer and raw talent that is omnipresent in the great state of Pennsylvania and how this band is leading the charge in this new folk movement that is only going to get bigger as the days and years trickle by.

Overall, a great album from The Attic Stairs, who have made an indelible first impression with a strong and cohesive set of tunes that exemplifies the band's musical prowess and their innate ability to combine folk elements into an easily descriptive format that we can easily comprehend and put into terms that we can easily identify with. Definitely recommended!

                                                                                                                               Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. You're Always Around
2. Andy the Bluebird
3. Small Things
4. Fire on the Lawn
5. How to Get Happy (When You're Sad)
6. Stony Ground
7. No Sleep
8. Mary Allen
9. New York & North
10. He Cuts Out and We All Come In
11. Ambulance Man

The Strokes Release Brand New Song "One Way Trigger"

NYC's indie rock sensations The Strokes are back with a brand new song titled "One Way Trigger". The song was made available to stream on their official website this afternoon and features the band in an upbeat frame of mind with bombastic instrumentation that is reminiscent of "Undercover of Darkness" from their last album, 2011's "Angles" and features Julian's voice reaching a new falsetto never heard before and it almost doesn't sound like him when you first hear it, but that old Strokes charm works it way in almost immediately. The band's experiments with some electronic influences this time around, marking a slight change to the band's dynamic that represents a new era in The Strokes, one of my favorite indie bands of the early '00's.

To take a listen to "One Way Trigger" in its entirety, simply go to their website here and click on the 'Play' button to begin streaming the song from their SoundCloud page. You may also download the song free of charge by entering in your e-mail address and the country where you live located directly beneath the player and then go to your e-mail, and the song will begin downloading immediately for your listening enjoyment!

Coachella 2013 Lineup Announced!

The lineup for the 2013 Coachella festival was released late last evening, and this year's lineup is an indie music lovers paradise! Among some of the bands that are performing at this year's festival for the weekend of April 12th and 19th include Blur, The Stone Roses, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Modest Mouse, Lou Reed, Passion Pit, Tegan and Sara, Band of Horses, Beach House, Metric, Local Natives, and Of Monsters and Men.

For the weekend of April 13th and 20th, we have Phoenix, The xx, The Postal Service, Sigur Ros, New Order, Grizzly Bear, Two Door Cinema Club, Moby, Franz Ferdinand, Violent Femmes, and Portugal the Man. And rounding out the festival on April 14th and 21st, it will feature Red Hot Chili Peppers, Vampire Weekend, Social Distortion, Wu Tang Clan, The Lumineers, The Gaslight Anthem, Dinosaur Jr. and The Airborne Toxic Event.

For more information on the Coachella festival, simply click on their website right here where you can get the full lineup poster and find out information on how you can purchase tickets as well. Make your plans for the spring early as this festival is guaranteed to sell out quickly!  

Artist Spotlight: Negative Three

Today's edition of Artist Spotlight comes to us from a young up and coming band based out of Trumbull, CT by the name of Negative Three. The band consists of Skye Holden on vocals and guitar, Canaan Fredette on vocals and bass, and Jake Cohen on drums. The band has a youthful, dynamic pop-punk style similar to the likes of blink-182 and Green Day who came from the same roots as these guys, crafting 2 to 3 minute long punk jams that get straight to the point and are designed for you to rock out and have a great time as you're listening. A similar band I featured on this blog, The Foresters (last year's Artist Spotlight of the Year champs) evoked the same musical qualities that this band is currently implementing, and Negative Three have the mindset and maturity to make it in this cutthroat business. A band that can easily pull off a terrific set of concise pop-punk jams designed to get you energized. Some recommended tracks from their extensive collection include "Sheets" and "Cola".

For more information on Negative Three, click on their Facebook fan page located here where you can connect with the band and see where their latest tour dates will be taking place! All of their music is available on their SoundCloud page located here where you can listen to their extensive collection of music and eventually you'll come across your new favorite tune.

BREAKING: The Mars Volta Break Up

Some sad news just coming in now. The Mars Volta, one of the preeminent prog-rock bands of the mid 2000's, are officially no more. The news of the break up came via a series of tweets that frontman Cedric Bixler Zavala started sending out late last night via his own Twitter account. Here are the tweets bunched together in a statement:

"Thank u 2 all VOLTA fans u deserved more especially after the way u rooted for us on this album. I tried my hardest to keep it going But Bosnian Rainbows was what we all got instead. I can't sit here and pretend any more. I no longer am a member of Mars Volta. I honestly thank all of you for buying our records and coming to our shows. You guys were a blast to play in front of We could never had done it with out you. My dream was to get us to the point were Jon Theodore and Ikey Owens came back but sadly it's over Thank u a million times over for ever giving a fuck about our band For the record I tried my hardest to get a full scale North American tour going for Noctourniquet but Omar did not want to. I guess a break from mars volta means starting another band and ignoring all the support the fans gave us. I tried my hardest guys All I can do is move forward with my music and just be happy that mars volta ever happened at all. God Damn we had a blast. Thank u again. I just feel really guilty for not even really saying the truth because a hiatus is just an insult to the fans. To all our fans all over the world: thank you for giving a fuck. You all ruled! I don't think I'll ever hear a fist full of dollars the same. My record will see the light of day soon and I'm excited because it sounds nothing like my previous endeavors. I'm not joking about any of this, I owe it to you guys (all fans) to be serious about this. Thank you to all past members who helped Volta along, as well. We blasted through like a comet and left our mark! If you ever see me in person and want to know why I'll tell you my side of the story. Finally, Please just be happy that it happened at all, remember all the opposition we were met with for just starting a new band back in 2001."

The Mars Volta formed in 2001 and featured Cedric Bixler Zavala and Omar Rodriguez Lopez, who were a part of the influential early 90's band At The Drive In. The band released their debut effort Deloused In The Comatorium in 2003, which contained tracks such as "Inertiatic ESP" and "Televators". It wasn't until their sophomore album Frances The Mute in 2005 where things really took off for the band. The album went gold on the strength of singles like "The Widow" and the 12 minute long "L'Via L'Viaquez". Amputechture followed in 2006, and was a bit of a step backward for the band, containing songs such as "Viscera Eyes" and "Vicarious Atonement" and was not as successful as its predecessor. The band made a huge return to form in 2008 with The Bedlam In Goliath, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 album chart, their highest ranking there, and contained strong tracks such as "Wax Simulacra", "Goliath", "Aberinkula", and "Ilyena". Their next album, Octahedron followed a year later and was a more pure, prog rock based album containing tracks like "Since We've Been Wrong" and "Cotopaxi". Their last album came out just last year, called Noctourniquet and contained one memorable track in the form of "The Malkin Jewel".

I had the opportunity to catch The Mars Volta twice in concert, once back in 2005 at the Worcester Palladium and again in 2008 at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, RI. They put on a hell of a live show, and were an essential part of my musical heritage and enabled me to move past the ordinary type of music that I normally listened to, and transition into a more complex, otherworldly state of mind. I will miss these guys dearly and hope the best for them in the years to come. 

Mod Sun Releases Music Video For "My Hippy"

Bllomington, MN native Mod Sun has just released his brand new music video for the song "My Hippy". The song is a psychedelic, trippy delight featuring bizarre costumes, dark and out of this world imagery, and Mod Sun's positive and outrageous persona fitting in well with his positive blend of hip-hop that he refers to as "hippy-hop". A video that definitely needs to be seen to be believed.

For more info on Mod Sun, 'Like' him on Facebook here and follow him on Twitter here.

Bear Language To Release New Single "Mary Go Round" on February 15th

Boston's indie rock sensations Bear Language are gearing up for the February 15th release of their brand new single titled "Mary Go Round". You may have heard the song at their show at The Middle East Upstairs a few months back, and the song is ready to see the light of day much to the delight of their ever growing fanbase. The announcement was made in a very eerie, disoriented video posted on the band's YouTube page yesterday that you can view directly below:

For more information on Bear Language, 'Like' them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter here.

Vacationer To Perform At SXSW, Tour With Body Language

Philadelphia's own Vacationer will be performing at this year's SXSW festival in Austin, TX. The annual festival is a mecca for indie rock fans to get exposure to hundreds of cutting edge, indie bands over a span of 5 days in a fun, interactive setting featuring hundreds of booths in a fun, music-centric community.

The festival will take place from March 12th-March 17th. For more information on the festival, click on their official website located right here where you can find more information on the bands that will be performing, along with how you can attend the festival as well. Here are the dates of shows that Vacationer will be performing at leading up to SXSW with Body Language:

2/28/13 Amityville, NY @ Revolution Bar & Music Hall
3/1/13 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's
3/2/13 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
3/5/13 Raleigh, NC @ Kings Barcade
3/6/13 Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
3/8/13 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
3/9/13 San Antonio, TX  @The Ten Eleven

Artist Spotlight: Abbe May

We continue our trip Down Under this week with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we uncover the dark and mysterious sounds of Australia's own Abbe May. Emanating from a small coastal town in the southwestern section of Australia, Abbe has a gothic, electronic infused sound that ventures into avant-garde territory, but manages to put listeners in a trance with her edgy, dark style capturing the audience's attention almost immediately. I'm not a huge fan of gothic influenced music, but something about her image captivated me almost immediately and gravitated me towards her sound in which I admired the electronic influence interspersed throughout that contributed to an overall cohesive and direct musical sound. Her song "Karmageddon" is an accurate representation of the overall sound that she's trying to convey to her listening audience.

For more information on Abbe May, head on over to her Facebook page located right here where you can get more information on her background, and peruse her photo gallery as well to see some eye-catching images of Abbe. Her Twitter account is located right over here where you can communicate directly with her and see if any tour dates will make its way over to the States sometime soon! Her official website is right here where you can get a listen to her music along with a host of other in-depth features.

Andrew McMahon Announces Spring Tour Dates, Debut Solo EP

Andrew McMahon, frontman for Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin, has announced a slate of tour dates that will commence in the springtime. Andrew has assembled a 6-piece backing band for this tour, and they will play an assortment of songs from all facets of Andrew's career including some songs from his brand new solo EP, which should see the light of day sometime this spring.

Here is the full list of tour dates just announced a short time ago:

3/12/13                                Tucson, AZ                          The Rock           
3/16/13                                Dallas, TX                            Trees
3/19/13                                Scottsdale, AZ                   Martini Ranch
3/20/13                                San Diego, CA                    House of Blues
3/21/13                                Santa Ana, CA                    The Observatory
3/23/13                                San Francisco, CA             Great American Music Hall
3/25/13                                Portland, OR                      Hawthorne Theater
3/26/13                                Seattle, WA                        The Showbox at the Market
3/28/13                                Salt Lake City                     Club Sound
3/29/13                                Denver, CO                         Marquis Theater
3/30/13                                Omaha, NE                         Slowdown
4/1/13                                   Minneapolis, MN             Fine Line Music Café
4/2/13                                   Milwaukee, WI                    Turner Hall
4/4/13                                   Chicago, IL                          Lincoln Hall
4/5/13                                   Detroit, MI                          St Andrew’s Hall
4/6/13                                   Cleveland Heights           Grog Shop
4/8/13                                   Boston, MA                        Paradise Rock Club
4/9/13                                   New York, NY                    Highline Ballroom
4/10/13                                Philadelphia, PA              Theater of Living Arts
4/12/13                                Brooklyn, NY                      Warsaw
4/15/13                                Washington, DC               9:30 Club
4/16/13                                Charlotte, NC                    Visulite Theater
4/17/13                                Nashville, TN                     3rd & Lindsley
4/19/13                                Fort Lauderdale, FL         Culture Room
4/20/13                                Orlando, FL                         Beacham Theater
4/21/13                                Atlanta, GA                         The Loft

The Doctors Fox To Perform With New Beard At The Milky Way

Boston's own The Doctors Fox will be performing a show in a little less than 2 weeks at The Milky Way in Jamaica Plain. The Doctors Fox are a melting pot of rock, bluegrass, reggae, funk, bossa-nova, and jazz all rolled into one, sort of like a musical burrito of sorts. Joining them for this show will be Brooklyn's own New Beard, a band that has a penchant for performing with an electric tuba, a guitar player who could pass as a spitting image of Frank Zappa, a lead singer who resembles a hobbit but with a booming voice, and a saxophone player and a drummer who aren't that bad either. All this should be reason enough for you to come out and check out these two bands in action!

The show will take place on Thursday, January 31st at 9:30pm. Tickets are $5 at the door and the show is 21+. For more information on The Doctors Fox, visit their BandCamp page here where you can download their latest album. And if you would like to check out New Beard, visit their BandCamp right here where you can discover their wide assortment of musical delights.

Artist Spotlight: Cub Scouts

For today's edition of Artist Spotlight, we had to the land Down Under, specifically Brisbane, Australia and unwrap the eclectic sounds of Cub Scouts. The band consists of Tim Nelson on vocals and piano, Zoe Davis on vocals and bass, Sam Netterfield on vocals and keys, Daniel Puusaari on drums, and Andrew Williams on guitar. The band has a dreamy, focused indie rock dynamic similar to the stylings of Beach House and Vacationer with a strong emphasis put on keyboards and synthesizers to get their musical point across to their prospective listening audience. I've become a bigger fan of indie rock in the past few years, specifically the aforementioned bands I previously mentioned that utilize an electronic dynamic within their music that makes it feel like you're watching the band live in concert right before your very eyes, and in awe and amazement of the musical kinship of everyone involved who have gathered to create these compositions for you. A terrific indie band that is definitely deserving of greater exposure here in the U.S. Some highly recommended tracks for you to check out include "Evie" and "Told You So".

For more information on Cub Scouts, head on over to the band's Facebook page located here where you can find out more information on this up and coming Aussie band. The group is also on Twitter right over here where you can stay in touch with the band and see if any tour dates will be popping up in the U.S. soon. The group's official website located here contains links where you can listen to the band's music and find more in-depth info related to the band. If you would like to purchase their new EP "Told You So", you can buy it on iTunes at this link right here.

Me vs. Gravity - Begin EP

Boston, MA's own Me vs. Gravity are back with their second EP titled Begin. The disc is a clever mix of rock and electronic beats superimposed with a strong lyrical mindset that makes the band a big hit with the teenage crowd, and this EP reinforces the notion that their best is yet to come.

The disc starts out with the EP's title track, "Begin" a downtempo, slightly electronic infused delight with the strong lead vocals of Zach Nelson guiding you through the song at ease, and gives you a preview of the type of songs we can expect to hear moving forward. "What Went Wrong" picks up the melodic intensity quite a bit with a stronger emphasis put on the drums, brought yo you courtesy of Benjamin Meyers who contributes a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to each track that the band produces, and assumes a bit of a leadership role from a listener standpoint. My favorite track off the disc is "Alone", a downtempo ballad that is able to strike a balance between the rock and electronic influences, and is able to integrate those components into the song without making it sound drowned out and convoluted, plus the lyrics definitely strike a chord with the devoted members of their fanbase who will grow to appreciate this song almost immediately after first listen. "Killing Me" closes out the EP with an intense, consistent tune with more prominent guitar riffs delivering the finishing touch that closes out the disc on an uptempo scale, the total opposite of the sound when the disc first started, but provides for an assorted variety to give a little something to everyone, not just the casual music listener. I've seen these guys in concert twice before, most recently back in October at Cafe 939 and I was impressed with the band's popularity with their mostly female fanbase, and how devoted they are to their fans where they spent almost an hour talking with fans after the show where they signed autographs and took pictures and it really speaks to mind about how hard working and genuine these guys are and how much they appreciate their fans for coming out to see the band perform the songs that they themselves have worked so hard to write and record.

To sum it all up, a well rehearsed and executed effort from Me vs. Gravity, who are beginning to move on up the pedestal of Boston area bands who are making their presence known to some of the most passionate music fans in the entire country, and have the "it" factor that so many other bands strive to achieve stylistically.

                                                                                                                              EP Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Begin
2. What Went Wrong
3. Alone
4. Killing Me

Artist Spotlight: Beau Cassidy

Time to start off your Tuesday with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight. Today, we have an emerging and extremely talented singer-songwriter by the name of Beau Cassidy. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, FL Beau spent some time here in the Boston area as he was a student at BU where he formed the pop/rock band The Fates (who was a past Artist Spotlight feature here). He has decided to step out on his own and see what's on the other side of the fence musically, and it's somewhat different from his previous venture. Beau has an extremely powerful and wide ranging voice that enables him to tackle different styles of pop music with an intricate and focused style that is all his own. I had the opportunity to see Beau in concert when he was with The Fates, and I'm so happy that he's found his identity as a solo artist and stepped out into the forefront as he is a truly gifted individual with a special talent that he's ready to share with the world.

For more info on Beau Cassidy, head on over to his Facebook music page located here where you can listen to his debut solo single, "Paint Me In Black". He's also available to be followed on Twitter right here where you can stay up to date on any future concert appearances that may be stopping by the Boston area relatively soon! His debut single is also available on his ReverbNation page located here where you can listen to what he has to offer you.

The Foresters - The Foresters EP

Bethany, Connecticut's own The Foresters have arrived on the scene with their self-titled debut EP. The disc is a refreshing collection of works from a group of young talented brothers Evan (13 yrs. old), Hayden (11 yrs. old), and Liam (9 yrs. old) that show everyone that young kids know how to rock too with a simple and straightforward pop-punk blast that is reminiscent of how Green Day and blink-182 first got their start, and they're well on their way to achieving that same level of success in the years to come.

The disc starts off strong with my favorite track off the disc, "Better" a noisy, punk-fueled barrage that gets off into high gear right from the start with an assortment of blasting guitar riffs and loud, blasting drum patterns that show off the band's remarkable musicality that is incredible to find at this young of an age. "Rubber Band" takes it back old school with a raw, dynamic sound that give the listening audience an idea of what to expect as we move forward. "Mugshot" pumps it up to 11 with an loud, furious rhythmic guitar pattern that show the band's evolution into a group of experienced and dedicated musicians that can play with the big boys anytime and are more than "just a group of kids". "Mastermind" is a more melodic, toned down tune that ventures into a more pop-punk direction than the others, and relies upon the collective wisdom of the brothers to craft a sonically pleasing track that goes well above and beyond the call of duty.

The disc's latter half features "Bleach'd", a fast moving opus that hearkens back to the early heyday of Nirvana with a fast paced, quick moving opus that condenses all of the members' individual talents in a span of just under 2 and a half minutes that allows the band to show what they're all about in a quick and orderly fashion. 'This Time" features some Ramones styled drum patterns that begin to close out the disc much like the same way it started, fast moving punk rhythms and no holds barred drum patterns that put everything in perspective right away. The disc ultimately concludes on "Alone", a tightly wound, encapsulated jam that brings together all the elements we've heard so far in one unique package that brings together an assortment of vocals, guitars, and drum beats that sound much like the works of a polished, veteran act. I was quite impressed when I first heard The Foresters a few months back and was amazed with the band's intense desire to get involved in music after first seeing Green Day in concert back in 2010 that encouraged them to save up their money to buy instruments that led them to ultimately form the band. Being exposed to music at such a young age can make a world of difference in young people's lives and enrich them with confidence and self-esteem that can help them get good grades in school, and possibly pursue careers within the field of music.

In conclusion, a solid and well rehearsed debut effort from The Foresters, a band that I'll be keeping a close eye on in the years to come, and a group that have all the necessary components to go forward with a possible future in the world of music in a live capacity.

                                                                                                                                      EP Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Better
2. Rubber Band
3. Mugshot
4. Mastermind
5. Bleach'd
6. This Time
7. Alone     

The Sheepdogs Release Music Video For "Feeling Good"

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada's own The Sheepdogs (a past Artist Spotlight alumni) just released their brand new music video yesterday for 'Feeling Good", the latest single from their self-titled album. The stop motion video features the band transforming into action figures while taking part in a variety of fun, battle scenes dressed up in costumes reminiscent of G.I. Joe figures all while maintaining a clever and entertaining visual aesthetic that will appeal to many devoted fans of their fanbase.

If you haven't checked out The Sheepdogs yet, their self-titled debut album is now available on iTunes and Spotify, plus 'Like' them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter right here.

Artist Spotlight: Kid Disaster

Ready with another edition of Artist Spotlight to close out the week for you! Today, we have an emerging rock band from right here in Beantown by the name of Kid Disaster. The group consists of Shane Dolley on lead vocals, Russell Alba on guitar, Colin Talbot on guitar, and Sean Noyes on drums. The band has an eclectic mixture of pop-punk rhythms and a slight metal touch mixed in with an indie sensibility that makes them entirely worth listening to and definitely not a waste of your time. The band played on the Vans Warped Tour back in the summer of 2011 and have opened for some prominent acts such as There For Tomorrow, Terrible Things, and A Skylit Drive. The band is currently in the process of recording their brand new EP with John Naclerio, who has worked with Brand New, My Chemical Romance, and Senses Fail and was also at the helm of their self-titled EP as well. So as you can see, the band have accomplished a great deal in their young career, and I can only imagine what the future has in store for them but I know they'll be a force to be reckoned with in the days and months to come! A terrific local act that definitely gets my stamp of approval as far as I'm concerned. Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "Reversal" and "A Shot In The Dark... And I'm The Bullet".

For more information on Kid Disaster, click on their Facebook page right here where you can listen to their music by clicking on the 'Music' tab and select which song you would like to listen to. The band can also be followed on Twitter right here where you can stay up to date on what the band have going on this very minute, including upcoming tour dates stopping by near you relatively soon! The band's official website is located right here for other additional, pertinent info relative to the band.

Brian Medlin & The Elk Band - Brian Medlin & The Elk Band

Ardmore, PA's Brian Medlin has launched a brand new side project and formed a new group called Brian Medlin & The Elk Band. The self-titled release is a welcome mixture of relaxing, folk leaning rhythms that yearn to be heard the moment you download it and provide for a comforting backdrop as the cold, winter months linger on.

The disc starts out with "A Ghost Called Love", a wondrous, folk infused jam with an array of relaxing acoustic guitar arrangements and lightly tuned percussion arrangements that give you an idea of the type of music that we'll encounter in our journey through the album. "Put It On" is a downtempo number that brings the energy level down a couple of notches, and relies upon Brian's vocals to create a comforting beacon that bridges the gap between the varying degrees of tempos and a well rounded and diverse album begins to take shape in the process. My favorite track off the disc is "Steady My Love" a beautiful, organically composed ballad that highlights Brian's exquisite vocal abilities that feel right at home amongst the backdrop of the simple yet elegant instrumentation that lays before you as you're listening. "Living Tribute" continues to dabble in a downtempo frame of mind with Brian's voice growing deeper with each passing moment that ticks by.

The second half kicks off with "Sink Or Swim", a pleasant sounding ballad that varies in degree on the type of instrumentation being implemented, albeit on a higher degree of tempo this time around that gives us a different flavor and a even greater variety that we hope to hear more of going forward. The disc starts to come to a close on "Loveless", a deeply personal, authentic ballad that shows off Brian's personable side and his ability to weave thought provoking lyricism within the instrumentation that puts a great touch on a well rounded and executed album all the way throughout. The disc ultimately concludes on "Last Domino", a terrific closing track that brings together all the elements that we've heard so far, and condenses them in an encapsulated format that allows us to look back and see all the shapes and sounds that we've heard in succession one after another right here. I've been a big admirer of Brian Medlin when I first heard him as a drummer for Person L, and was immediately impressed with his musicianship when I heard his solo work that was the subject of an Artist Spotlight feature here on the blog last year, and I was equally impressed with his ability to wear multiple hats at the same time with being both a drummer and a singer-songwriter at the same time that shows to me that he has his presence known at multiple points of entry during the creative process, and reveals a deeply committed and passionate individual dedicated to his craft.

To sum it all up, a terrific and well planned debut effort from Brian Medlin & The Elk Band, who have crafted a simple and straightforward collection of works that show a group who know what they want to sound like going in, and the results of their labor are eloquently shown right here.

                                                                                                                                  Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Ghost Called Love
2. Put It On
3. Steady My Love
4. Beacon of Light
5. Living Tribute
6. Sink or Swim
7. Best You Can Do
8. Loveless
9. Making a Change
10. Last Domino     

Artist Spotlight: This Much

Today, we're kicking off the first Artist Spotlight of 2013! Today, we head over to Allston, MA otherwise known as Allston Rock City, and find the distinct sounds of This Much. The group consists of Terrence Mulhern on lead vocals, guitar, and keys, John Stricker on bass, and Denny Kennedy on drums. The group is an indie leaning mixture of Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes with their own authentic and unique take on it that shows off their creativity and where their roots lie as well. I'm huge fans of both of their respective influences, and the overall instrumentation in their music is spot on and show off a creative blend that is unique to them and identify where they are in their respective careers and where they intend to go moving forward. A terrific local band that is worth keeping an eye on throughout the new calendar year. Some recommended tracks for you to try out and have a listen at include "Steady Feet" and "The Noise".

For more information on This Much, click on their Facebook page here and follow them on Twitter here for all the latest breaking news pertaining to the band. The band's official website located here allows you to listen to the band's latest EP via their SoundCloud page which is integrated directly in the website so that you don't have to click on another browser window!

It's Getting Hot in Here As WTKK Finally Settles On Hot 96.9 As Permanent Format

 
After over a week of gimmicky format changes from Nova 96.9 to Mike 96.9 and the hilarious Bone 96.9 (insert joke here), WTKK has finally settled on Hot 96.9 as the permanent name for the brand new station. The station will play an assortment of rhythm and dance tracks from the artists of yesteryear and today, such as Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Usher, and Rihanna. New hire Pebbles officially kicked off the station this morning at 11am by playing the first of 13,000 consecutive songs in a row.

To check out the station, simply go over to www.hot969boston.com and 'Like' them on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/hot969boston and follow them on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/hot969boston

Pat Brown - In My Room EP

Burnsville, Minnesota native Pat Brown, formerly of the pop-punk band Sing It Loud has released his debut solo EP titled In My Room. The disc is a refreshing and inviting mixture of laid-back, acoustic rhythms that maintains a strong musical ethos that permeates this disc with great fervor and simplicity.

The disc starts off with "Who We Are", which just happens to be my favorite track off the album. The tune is a no frills, strictly acoustic based number that immediately jolts you to life with Pat's dynamic and introspective vocal style that puts things in perspective right away and gives you an idea of the type of music that we can expect to hear on the rest of the EP. "Your Own Good" is another strong musical entry with solid acoustic guitar riffs and Pat's beautiful and inspirational vocal style fitting in together perfectly with the rest of the album like a jigsaw puzzle piece. "Annually" is a melodic, organic number that brings it all home with a relaxing number that brings everyone together in a group sing-along and bonding together over their love of music. We begin to close out the disc with "iPod on Shuffle", a passionate, all around perfect tune that does a great job of spotlighting Pat's exquisite vocal abilities in a richly dynamic setting that fits Pat perfectly and allows him to be who he is, a truly gifted and talented songwriter. The EP ultimately concludes with the disc's title track, an amazing way to close out the disc with dazzling acoustic guitar riffs and Pat's jaw dropping vocal abilities that were featured quite prominently, wrap everything up together neatly and ensure that everything on the effort turns out the way it intended to. I managed to catch Pat Brown in concert last month at The Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge where he opened up for Mod Sun, and I was completely blown away with his vocal abilities and his simple and straightforward singer-songwriter style that was completely original and all his own. He wasn't trying to emulate anyone else but himself, and that's what makes him completely unique and special from all the other singer-songwriters coming up in the scene today.

To sum it all up, a truly remarkable and cohesive debut set from Pat Brown, who has completely come into his own with an amazing collection of tunes that show off his dynamic musical persona, and the truly creative and passionate individual that he is musically.

                                                                                                                                 EP Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Who We Are
2. Your Own Good
3. Annually
4. iPod on Shuffle
5. In My Room 

WTKK Settles on 96.9 MIKE FM As The (Hopefully) Final Format Switch

It appears that Greater Media has finally settled on an appropriate format for the new station. WTKK has settled on 96.9 MIKE FM as the new and (hopefully) final format change after a series of stunt formats within the last couple of days. The station has settled on a "We play anything" mantra that you may remember when it was known as 93.7 MIKE FM that launched in 2005 and signed off the air in 2011. With the addition of Pebbles yesterday, the station also just hired Cadillac Jack to oversee the station's programming and will be in charge of all 5 stations in Greater Media's Boston cluster.

The new station is available online at: www.969mikefm.com

Pebbles Joins 96.9FM, Station Switching to Stunt Formats

Pebbles, formerly co-host of the Ramiro and Pebbles morning show on Jamn 94.5FM, has been named morning host on 96.9FM. The station, which flipped formats yesterday to the stunt format Power 96.9FM, has flipped again to an electronic dance station called Nova 96.9FM. This is expected to be another short lived format change, as Greater Media is experimenting with a host of different formats, and may lean towards a rock/alternative station as their final format switch.

Pebbles was at Jamn 94.5FM for 17 years before being laid off by the Clear Channel owned station in November. No word yet on the official launch date of her new morning show.

Power 96.9FM Debuts!

A new radio station debuted this morning on the Boston airwaves! Power 96.9FM debuted at 10:00AM this morning, with the first song being Rihanna's "Diamonds". The station replaces Talk 96.9FM, a conservative talk station that had been in place in the Boston market since 1999. The new station is an R&B/hip-hop format designed to compete with JAMN 94.5FM, featuring a host of hip-hop and R&B acts including Rick Ross, Miguel, Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Nicki Minaj.

The new station can be accessed on the traditional FM dial at 96.9FM, and can also be accessed via their website at www.power969.com No word yet as to whether this is a set in stone format, or it's just another stunt format.