Off Sub-Pop's label comes Constantines , a Canadian group that creates moody, emotional songs for the working man. Think an indie rock version of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. These guys have a reputation for their powerful live shows and never ending tour schedule. Catch them on one of these dates . Add this Band on Myspace [...]
I haven't posted any hip-hop in a while, so its a nice change of pace to introduce Tim Fite . Fite, a white-boy from Brooklyn, uses head-nodding loops and retro samples as a background for his tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Fite is all over the place with his lyrics, poking fun at everything from Wal-mart to Hamburger Helper. His rants about the rap industry in "I've Been Shot" are hysterical - - but likely to get him in trouble. Add this Band [...]
Just another reminder. Friday Night is the first night of FreeIndie.Com's midnight indie rock dance party at Crash Mansion (Spring and Bowery in NYC). Cheap Alcohol - Attractive People - Great Music. It's gonna be good. A live performance from Cities on Fire right before midnight. Oh, and this guy might show up... Hey Hey!
Remember how boring those orchestra concerts in elementary school were? Kiss Kiss does, and has taken a progressive effort in making chamber music more enjoyable. This five piece from Purchase NY creates a sophisticated orchestra tune, and fuels it with electric instruments and high energy. The result is outstanding. Add this Band on Myspace [...]
Don't be fooled by their long, quirky song titles; Of Montreal is not some flavor of the week Emo band. These Athens Georgia natives fill their upbeat pop songs with sing-along lyrics and dancey guitars and synth riffs. Already a prominent band in the indie rock circuit, Of Montreal may be on their way to becoming a mainstream sensation. Add this Band on Myspace [...]
The 2007 Plug Awards took place last night at Irving Plaza. David Cross hosted the event, which was packed with live performances from Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Silversun Pickups, EL-P, Deerhoof, and Tokyo Police Club. Below are the winners in all categories. For a full list of nominees, go HERE . Album of the Year : Band of Horses - Everything All The Time New Artist of the Year : Arctic Monkeys Female [...]
The Ruling Party builds on simple pop songs by dressing them with emotional undertones. Lead singer Jen Sencion has a versatile voice, that is powerful, yet pleasant. Here is their recent video for No Place to Hide. Warning: Nothing happens in this video. Good song though. Add this Band on Myspace [...]
FreeIndie.Com will be holding its first midnight Screw party next Friday in Manhattan (2/16). DJ Racecar Pajamas will be spinning 80's, 90's and Indie Rock all night. Special live performance by Cities on Fire . If we're lucky, this guy might show up. RSVP to Mike@FreeIndie.Com to get your name on the guest list. If you're on Facebook, join the event here . Anna Nicole Smith - You Will Be Missed
Get Him, Eat Him has the indie rock version of Spider-Man's schedule - - By day, they attend classes at an Ivy Leage University (Brown). By night, they shed their collegiate facades, and share stages with bands like The Arcade Fire, Beirut and The Walkmen. They boast an impressive resume, and have quality music to back it up. The songs below show off their synth-based pop rock. Definitely a band to watch. Add this Band on Myspace [...]
There are two things I avoid taking seriously: songwriters who go by their full name and Canadians. Jeremy Fisher , a singer/songwriter from Vancouver, is making me rethink that bias. Fisher plays instantly catchy, upbeat rock songs that throw back to the styles of 90's alternative bands like the Violent Femmes and Rusted Root. These are memorable tunes that go down easy. Add this Band on Myspace [...]
This is kind of exciting. FreeIndie.Com is up for a SXSW web award for best new music site! I've got some stiff competition, including the homepage for Fuse and the Dixie Chicks. I guess stiff is the wrong word... Anyway, here is the list of nominees: CLICK . If you want to be a doll and vote for FreeIndie, CLICK . Valeze may be playing the closing party for SXSW Interactive. Here is their recent performance on Fearless Music: [...]
This is kind of exciting. FreeIndie.Com is up for a SXSW web award for best new music site! I've got some stiff competition, including the homepage for Fuse and the Dixie Chicks. I guess stiff is the wrong word... Anyway, here is the list of nominees: CLICK . If you want to be a doll and vote for FreeIndie, CLICK . Valeze may be playing the closing party for SXSW Interactive. Here is their recent performance on Fearless Music: [...]
San Francisco's Built For the Sea is the latest addition to my seduction playlist (they come on right before Marvin Gaye). Lead singer Lia Rose's soothing voice creates a unique contrast against the powerful musical build up coming from the guitars, drums and piano behind her. The result is non-pretentious, satisfying mellow rock. The band has been confirmed for SXSW, and will be playing the Noise Pop festival. Add this Band on Myspace [...]
Aside from Cloud Cult 's use of cellos, trumpets and flutes, this six piece from Minneapolis breaks the conventional rock band mold by incorporating art into their repertoire. During their live shows, two visual artists join the band on stage, and transform the music into paintings on large canvases that are later auctioned off to the audience. They then donate most of this money to environmental protection organizations. Al Gore must love these guys. Add this Band on Myspace [...]
If you go to as many concerts as I do, you're going to love this. iConcertCal is a new add-on for your iTunes player that aggregates all of the bands in your playlist, and lists when they are coming to your area. The application scours the Pollstar.Com database to find the dates, venues and supporting acts, and organizes them into a convenient little calender in your visualizer. Oh, and its free. Grab it here . Via Stereogum
The Thermals , a three piece from Oregon, have managed to fuse the sophisticated attitudes of contemporary alt rock with the three chord simplicity of punk. Their short songs overflow with catchy progressions and thought provoking lyrics that hit hard and vanish. Big things are ahead for The Thermals - - they go on tour this February with The Big Sleep. Add this Band on Myspace [...]
The Glass successfully combines hipster rock with techno, creating the ideal sound for people who like dance clubs and hate Usher. In an experimental move, the band substitutes a drum set with a set of turn tables, which gives them more range, variety and control over their beats. They played Hiro Ballroom last night (awesome show), and will be playing Ruff Club at the Annex on February 27th. Add this Band on Myspace [...]
I'm a sucker for The Karate Kid franchise. All of it. Even Hilary Swank in The Next Karate Kid . Who can forget that scene where Pat Morita walks in on the underage babe changing? Brilliant. Combine an indie band with The Karate Kid, and you definitely have my attention. No More Kings did just that. "Sweep The Leg" is an entire song dedicated to Johnny from Cobra Kai, and his cheap hit that takes down Daniel LaRusso during the All Valley Karate Championship. No More Kings was able to [...]
In a matter of weeks, Matt and Kim have gone from playing packed basement parties to playing packed ballrooms. Armed with nothing more than a keyboard, a drum set and smiles on their faces, this Brooklyn twosome creates fresh, addicting, upbeat songs that tingle every dancing bone in the body (if you're not familiar with dancing bones, grab an anatomy textbook). Highly recommended. Add this Band on Myspace [...]
After reading SPIN 's high praise of The Upweling , I was inclined to check out the three piece. These guys conduct a moody maelstrom of strums and electronic sounds beneath lead singer Ari Ingber's powerful vocals. Unlike many other bands searching for a single, The Upwelling creates carefully orchestrated concept albums - each song a chapter in a story, seamlessly bleeding into each other. Add this Band on Myspace [...]
FreeIndie.Com
Bison - Quill
Neutral Milk Hotel- Aeroplane Over the Sea
Shinichi Osawa – Big Beach Mix 2012
Mr Fogg - Eleven
