DATELINE: BOSTON One of my favorite things is sharing great new music . I get to match you readers up with some of the best, the newest and unsigned talent out there. It's music that you would otherwise never get to hear. For the talented, yet-underexposed, subject bands, being showcased on this webpage is a great chance to show what they've got... They get the opportunity to shine before a wide, new audience and to make friends. If the band is from Boston... All the better. [...]
DATELINE: MONTREAL Having just appeared at the Middle East - Montreal's Bad Flirt, a 6-piece punk pop band destined for great things, are making quite a name for themselves just in time for their new album to be released her in 2008. (It's untitled and unmastered as of yet. They sent me an early copy and it already sounds great without the additional attention it will receive.) Here's a look at the band's first single to be released and the new video they crafted: [...]
DATELINE: My Heart, Your Ears - You know, for someone who lives his life for great music - and for someone who expounds on the virtues of misunderstood and unappreciated artists and remarkable songs.... I don't listen to as much music as I would like, or I should ( or that I need to - based entirely on my inbox and mail backlog.) Life gets you messed up worried and twisted around . I'm behind at work (not so much that anyone [...]
DATELINE: Los Angeles - On the "Must-See" List in '08 JONATHAN RICE I'm going out on a limb - Jonathan Rice is probably going to be my solo artist of the year in 2008. (Well, that's at least how I feel right now.) Last year we saw the promising Rice embarked on tour with Rilo Kiley ( RSL *top 40 2007 ) and Grand Ole Party. He did not disappoint. Indie [...]
DATELINE: Third Layer of Hell WTF? ... THE SOCIAL PRESSURE OF VALENTINES DAY Feelings, nothing more than - feelings. RSL DAY OF THE DEAD VALENTINES DAY LEFT OVERS: Despite my cynicism - Here are some remarkable songs: Ween - Learnin' to Love The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony The New Pornographers - The Bleeding Heart Show [...]
DATELINE: Boston, MA A SILLY GOOD LIVE SHOW - One of the hottest tickets these days is probably one of the most talented and unlikely. (Wasn't it just yesterday that America was enraptured with bubblegum rock and Britney Spears?) David Ford (an RSL favorite) is a remarkable singer-songwriter from the UK. His song lyrics and presentation strike at the heart and his music soothes the soul. He appears at a very nearly sold-out two night stand at the Paradise Lounge in Boston. Headlining [...]
On March 25th, Counting Crows will release the double-length CD "Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings." It's their eighth album and their first since 2006's " New Amsterdam: Live at Heineken Music Hall ," - a 2003 performance of their songs recorded in front of an audience. The new record represents the first new material from the band in studio in five years (" Films about Ghosts " - 2003). The new album represents a return to form for one of America's best bands and arguably one of its most creative songwriters in Adam Duritz. What follows is [...]
DATELINE: BROOKLYN, NEW YORK - If you don't know Georgie James this is your crash course. I named the band's 2007 release "Places" a Top Fifteen Album of the Year and Georgie James was my Best New Artist of the Year ! Soon the world will know how good these guys really are... On Wednesday, February 27th, Georgie James ( Saddle Creek Records ) make their national television debut on the Conan O'Brien Show! [...]
MP3s for the GRIND. The Week That Was / The Week That Will Be Who doesn't love themed blog posts? By no means is this Work Mix playlist perfect - but here are songs for labor - guaranteed to spark some interesting thoughts. If you think I'm missing any really good ones, drop me an email and let me know. Here's to getting through another week of working for the man. Nothing tragic here - There are worse things... I suppose. [...]
DATELINE: BROOKLYN, NEW YORK - Preface to the post: Some of you will understand and follow every word of what I am about to write. To be honest this preface isn't for you. It's for those good folks who read this page and have come to feel that they can "trust" my judgment when it comes to exciting new bands. They feel safe and I don't take that kind of loyalty or my responsibility lightly. That's why I telling you in advance that today, I plan to challenge [...]
DATELINE: BOSTON - To understand what I now know about The Motion Sick , it helps to appreciate a good storytelling and a great pop song. The band's songs grow stronger track and track, fed by strong lyrics and interesting imagery. This is excellent news for wordsmiths and poets - who have been all but abandoned by musicians these days. The band's brand new second album is titled, "The Truth Will Catch You, Just Wait..." is in stores and available online. There is more to this music than [...]
DATELINE: BOSTON - It's been a long time since I was a night club guy. But Avalon and its sister club Axis, soon to be flattened (or at least gutted and rebuilt) to become a single massive superstructure - the new House of Blues Boston, were at one time home to indie rock acts and visiting bands of some note on tour. Get Ready Boston - The NEW House of Blues A Massive Club will be erected on Landsdowne Street A far [...]
DATELINE: FEATURED ARTISTS in BOSTON - What to do? What to do? If you are going out tonight and you're in Boston this is definitely one hot possibility. Check them out at the Paradise . Even if you don't make it out - both artists are worth checking out. They come recommended from RSL. The Pierces are two sister-sirens with remarkable, beautiful voices. Their songs are uplifting, haunting, enchanting and enticing. What isn't clear is whether they are singing on stage or a figment of [...]
DATELINE: British Columbia, Canada - How smokin' hot is Canada's Black Mountain? The indie rock band, Stephen McBean, Amber Webber, Matt Camirand, Jeremy Schmidt and Joshua Wells, have a silly good new album "In the Future" in stores now. It's the band's second full-length LP since 2005's self-titled "Black Mountain" release (also on the Jagjaguwar label.) What is Black Mountain? A trudging guitar band, the resurrection of old school rock psychedelia with elements of post-modern progressive rock - and lots of volume. This is one great listen! Right now - [...]
DATELINE: Brooklyn, NY - I daresay that Pela's 2007 album, "Anytown Graffiti" was overlooked by many in 2007. The band has songs that play out like movie scenes - just imagine: tension, drama, action and triumph. A new tour can only mean good things. Here's a chance to see what you've been missing! - Pela is Billy McCarthy (Vocals and Guitar), Eric Sanderson (Bass and Vocals), Nate Martinez (Guitar), Tomislav Zovich (Drums and Vocals) and Chris Herb (Keyboards and Vocals). The band is on tour kicking it off at the end of this month [...]
DATELINE: Phoenix, Arizona - Music and sales have long danced the samba together. The Super Bowl is the King of all events when it comes to advertising. O - sweet music! According from more than one source in the know, tomorrow's Super Bowl advertisements will be dominated by the music of up-and-coming independent rock musicians. Here's the inside scoop on what you can expect, music-wise, between the plays during the commercial breaks ... CHECK THESE OUT NOW, THEY'RE GETTING PULLED DOWN THEM DOWN. There's More music [...]
DATELINE: Louisville, Kentucky - One of the music projects I am most excited about in 2008 is an instrumental duo from Kentucky. The Photographic are guitarist Jamey See Tai and drummer Chad Blevins. The duo use their own instrumentation, some synth effects and looping to create a sonic presence that rivals that of hugely talented instrumentalists Explosions in the Sky. Galaxia Records will release a remarkable album on March 11th called, " Pictures of a Changing World [...]
DATELINE: Akron, Ohio (and the World) - Thirty Years after their debut LP, the World probably still isn't ready for DEVO, but the band unfolded like the leathery wings of a pterodactyl and still circle the planet today. There are elements of punk and anti-punk both mixed with the ironic and, clearly, the iconic. Some thirty years ago, the band produced the "Are We Not Men Album" and our strange world would seem a little stranger. In 1978, Devo released this [...]
DATELINE: BOSTON - Just one year removed from the most famous "non-incident" event in the city of Boston's history.... I stop for a moment, and ask, What happened? And, How have we all grown? If you are at all puzzled - I am asking you about " Mooninite-Gate " or attack of the " Zebbler-ism ", " The Hanging of The Lite-Brites... " Whatever you want to call it - the events of 1/31/07 are now a year old. I remember, and evidently so does much of the world. Boston, you [...]
DATELINE: MONTREAL - New favorite Hot Springs, a loud and promising Montreal band fronted by indie rocker, part-time hip hop artist and model, Giselle have released a video and I wanted to share it with you. New Development from Hot Springs the "Headrush" video: Headrush [...]
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