Westwood & Willow (Album Review)

Kevin Sullivan aka 1/2 of Westwood & Willow (taken by ah-nah on flickr)

Westwood & Willow is full of surprises. Their latest album blew me away with it’s originality and spunk which is needed when you’re in a sea full of other rock bands doing the same exact thing. The band, which consists of brothers Sean and Kevin Sullivan, have taken bluesy rock to a whole new level. I don’t know how they do it, but they seem to create a sound that is not only meaningful, but  alarmingly catchy. Their first full length album, Doorways, Vehicles, and Markets, which will be released July 3rd, is a blend of clever lyrics and funky beats. Throughout this review, I will talk about some of my favorite songs off of the album and what I believe they mean (Beware that the conclusions I come to might not be what the Sullivan brothers had in mind when they wrote the songs. But, that’s the point of music, right?) So, check these guys out on myspace and twitter. AND, be sure to download their album off of iTunes. Any band that doubles as a rap group is cool in my book, so take a listen!

1. “Ghost Door” :  This song is a great way to start their album. Right away I was enthralled by the harmonica and the way the song sounded in general. Westwood & Willow really shine in this song and I found myself thinking of Vampire Weekend while listening to them. My favorite lyrics of the song were, ” When two become one, one wants to more. When two are one they’re like a key with a ghost door, they’re going nowhere.” It kind of reminded me of what happens too often; when two people are starting a relationship, one of the people wants the relationship to happen more than the other one does.  One of the things I love most about Westwood & Willow is that they create real stories with their music and this song is no exception.

p.s. Did i mention that hand clapping in songs is one of my favorite things? This song gets an A+ just for that!

2. “Colours”: The lyrics of this song are something that most people can relate to. It’s about growing up, and figuring out who you are and reflecting on being a kid. The lyrics read, “When we were younger it was colours that brought us together, and games grew us apart.” How more real can you get? The song also talks about how some people just want everything handed to them in life, rather than working for things. In addition, they also bring up the point that we don’t have anyone real to look up to anymore as role models, which is definitely true seeing as celebrity scandals seem to be the center of everyone’s chatter lately.

3. “Far Away”: I may be in love with song just for the simple lyric, “I’ll be the cream cheese, you be the Jelly, we’ll get on some toast and we can be happy and oh so tasty” Overall, this is a very cute song about writing to someone who is very far away and how contacting them isn’t the same as being with that special someone in person.

4. “Free At Last”:  This is my FAVORITE song off of their album and it’s not just because of the bongos in the background. One part of the song goes, “Grass will grow yellow with age and be cut free and fly away just as our souls may be free at last.” This line of the song is very philosophical;   some philosophers believe that the soul dies with the body, yet others believe that when you die, your soul is set free and is able to figure out the absolute truths of the world. It has time to think and be on it’s own and actually live without distractions.

Overall, I really enjoyed this album and if you listen carefully to what the Sullivan brothers have to say, you will realize that they are true musicians rising to the top of the Bay Area music scene.  I really hope to see these guys succeed in the future and I wish only best for their future music career! They certainly know how to “Take Care of Bizness”

Sean Sullivan aka the other 1/2 of Westwood & Willow (taken by ah-nah on flickr)

I The Mighty

Reasons why I like this band:

1. Their music is great- aka catchy lyrics, good vocals, etc.

2. They are from the Bay Area

3. Their songs get stuck in my head

4. They are cool people for following me on Twitter

5. Their music is free for download on purevolume. This week only!

6. They are hard working (promoting themselves at Warped Tour 2010 all summer long)

7. They are friends with some of the other bands i have featured such as PK, Picture Atlantic, and Dizzy Balloon.

8. They have an awesome music video that you should watch right now:

I the Mighty – “Technicolor” from I the Mighty on Vimeo.

Follow this band on Twitter!

If you’re in the Bay Area, go check them out live on July 13th, 6 p.m. at The Refuge in Cupertino!

Picture Atlantic

Oh hey music world. Long time no see. I’m pretty sure that no one consciously follows this blog, but if you do, I am really sorry for not updating it in almost three months. Because of my intense school schedule last quarter, I didn’t have much time to write about bands. But going to a concert Downtown Brew last night sparked my inspiration due to a band called Picture Atlantic. They were amazing and I was even happier when they mentioned they were from San Jose, Calif., just a few minutes shy of my home. I’m not sure even where to begin with this band, but as a warning, this won’t be quite as extravaggant as my posts in the past. This will be more of a run-down on my thoughts and ideas of bands, rather than solely focusing on creating a summary of unsigned bands.

I was first surprised by the lead singer, Nik Bartunek’s, pure and fluid voice that rang throughout Downtown Brew. He approaches the stage in a humble manner grabbing the mic like a pro.  This band isn’t in the industry for fame or money, they are in it to share a message. The title of their album, due out soon, is “Dolce et decorem est.” This title is the same as a famous poem by Owen Wilfred, who is known for his work about war. After the concert, Kelly was interested in the band and sent them an e-mail about their music and it’s meaning. Bartunek replied saying that, “I’m vehemently anti-war, and I think that poem really spoke to me in a lot of ways. I see many parallels between the madness of WW1, and the insanity of our Jingoistic military situation in the middle east.” It’s obvious that their lyrics are poetry just like Wilfred’s. It is inspirational for anyone to hear a true artist like Picture Atlantic. They have a deep connection to their words that you don’t find in many artists today (No offense Ke$ha). Overall, their performance was more than any concert-goer could ask for and I am more than pleasantly surprised with their music.

My favorite song of the night was, “Antiques Unltd,” which is off of their album which is on iTunes April 24, 2010.  The song is almost like a lullaby; the way the guitar is strummed beautifully while Burtanek sings from his soul. True magic. To listen to this song see the live performace below or check out their myspace where many of their new songs are streaming for free. One thing is for sure: if they are in the Bay Area over the summer, I will be the first in line for tickets.

PK

4 of the 5 members of PK (Credit: Kelly Whelan)

It’s hard to put into words exactly what the guys of PK are all about. When Kelly Whelan (photographer) and I sat down with them at Backstage Pizza after a performance on the Cal Poly campus, it felt more like hanging out with a bunch of close friends rather than an interview. The guys of the band: Travis Hawley, Nick Fotinakes, Matt Depauw, Mikel Van Kranenburg, and Kevin Menesez were all friends long before they were a band. Together, they grew up in Templeton, Calif. right outside of San Luis Obispo and are currently living in Paso Robles. Though the SLO music scene isn’t very big, PK has gathered a very large fan base in the area and beyond. The first thing I wanted to know about this band, that sound an awful lot like a mix between The Kooks and The Killers, was how they got their name.

Being the joksters they are, the guys decided to say that it stood for “Princess Kevin” referring to Kevin Menesez, the drummer of the band. In reality, the name “PK” came from a book called, “The Power of One.” Now, the band decides to play around with the meaning of the name by making jokes from the acronym PK. Another interesting aspect of this band is the fact that they all contribute in the song writing and music making process.

Although Hawley, the lead singer, works on a lot of the vocal parts, all of the band’s songs are born when their ideas are blended together. Their alternative rock sound and poetic lyrics have left me wondering where this band gets inspiration from. Though you may assume that they may be influenced by other bands in their genre, PK mainly listens to country and artists like Justin Timberlake and Taylor Swift. Though they can’t necessarily pack up and go on tour, the band knows that their musical journey will take them to where they are supposed to be. They are confident in what they do and know that if a record deal happens, it will happen at the right time. PK wants to take it slow and take the time to build a fan base. As of right now, the band will stay around the San Luis Obispo area, promoting their newly released full length album, “Into the Roaring.”

PK’s  CD, released on January 8, 2010 was the first full length album for the band, yet you wouldn’t know it by the sound of it. Some of my favorite tracks include “The Wolves of the East Coast” and “London,” which is featured below:

Though they aren’t sure of their future, PK knows that they will take each opportunity with pleasure. And one day, maybe they’ll get the chance to fulfill their dream and become the opening act for Taylor Swift. I just know that they are successful and will continue to be as long as they keep their optimism and undeniable charm.

Travis Hawley, the lead singer of PK (Credit: Kelly Whelan)

South Jordan

 When I first heard South Jordan, from Bloomington, Ind., I literally thought I was listening to Isaac Slade( the lead singer of The Fray) sing soft melodies into my ear. However, I was completely wrong. I still can’t get over the fact that Michael David Hall, the lead singer of South Jordan sounds eerily similar to Slade, in a good way that is. The rest of the boys in the band, Bobby Campbell, Mike Chan, Greg Olsen, and David Witucki create powerful accompaniment that balance out the mellow, yet hard-hitting vocals. Their influences, Coldplay and U2 are also present in their music with their emotional lyrics and piano-driven tunes.

According to South Jordan’s facebook fan page, they, “write songs that hold honest emotion and represent the highest and lowest experiences people go through in life.” Campbell and Hall, the main songwriters combine inspiring and positive lyrics with beautiful sounds to create a mix that closely resembles the band, Augustana.  Some of my favorite songs the band has, include, “Fatal Flaw,” and “Runaway.” Both are upbeat yet soothing with piano melodies, perfect to listen to while doing homework. The band also shot their first music video for their slow number, “Firefly,” which has been heard on the radio in their town, Bloomington.

In addition to their original songs, South Jordan does of a cover of The Fray’s, “You Found Me,” (a great song, might I add?). To hear all of their songs, go to the band’s myspace or southjordanmusic.com. Every guy in the group brings something different and makes the band even more diverse than one would think. While Hall brings the soothing voice, Olsten is a trained jazz musician, Chan brings his influences of his origins in Malaysia, Campbell provides lyrics and stability to the group, and Witucki completes the bands sound with amazing back up harmonies.  

While it may seem as if this is just a recreational activity for the boys, Hall assures everyone that this is not the case. In an article from Indiana University, where they attend college, it said, “We practice every day. We see this band as a full-time job, not a hobby.” This is proven through the accomplishments South Jordan has already made. Not only do they play local shows, but they’ve also traveled to Florida and will continue traveling to Illinois and Michigan to play at Universities. In the near future, the band hopes to send out their music to big record labels, hoping to land a record deal. There is no doubt in my mind that these boys won’t succeed. They definitely have the talent and spunk needed in order to be that fresh face of the rock/pop genre. My prediction: this is the year for South Jordan to shine.

To keep up to date on South Jordan, follow them on twitter.

Camerae

                     

Most people fall in love at first sight. For me, it was love at first sound. It might (and does) sound cheesy, but I was hooked on this band the first time I heard their songs. Our love story began last night. As I was searching for a new band to feature, I came upon Camerae. The first song I heard from them was their cover of The Ting Ting’s, “That’s Not My Name.” But, I soon realized that this wasn’t all that the band had to offer. Their debut album, “Passage,” which is currently streaming on their myspace, gave me a look at this unsigned band’s full potential. Upon the first note sung out of lead singer, Dave Dobarganes mouth, I knew I would like anything this band created. Camerae has the vocals and beats of Every Avenue, with a hint of Fall Out Boy mixed in. Yet, they are probably the group with the most rock that I’ve featured. They have a grungy, garage band sound to them which makes them all the better.

The members of the band, originally from Orlando, Dave, Adam, Drew, Jonny, and Michael, have been lucky enough to become more than just a band, they are true friends going through this experience together. Adam and Drew, brothers, have been living with Dave for about the last nine years ever since his house burned down. Then, at school, the boys met Adam and after a few experiments, they completed the band with drummer Michael.

On December 1st, Camerae released their first debut album, “Passage,” whose name has many meanings behind it. According to the band’s myspace, “Passage” could mean: a rite of passage, a secret passage or alleyway, or a story. It’s up to the listener to decide what kind of passage they want.  Their facebook also states that their music, “blends ambient beauty and toe-tapping groove with intense delivery and exciting tempo.” This band has the energy needed to put on a grand performance. I am even willing to make the bold statement that this band’s cover of “That’s Not My Name,” is even better than the original.

The guys of Camerae are off to a great start and have a bright future ahead of them. They are eager and excited about their music and embrace their fans with open arms.  The band’s creativity makes them who they are and their listeners appreciate the effort put into their music. They are dedicated and ready to take on the music world, full-force.

Follow this band on Twitter.

Brave Citizens

This past Saturday night was the first time I went to a local church and the reason will undoubtedly intrigue you: I went for a rock concert. Kelly Whelan, my accomplice and photographer for this blog, and I went to The Refuge in Cupertino to see the band, Brave Citizens. At first, we were a little hesitant to go, seeing as it was a small venue and we didn’t know any of the other bands that were playing. But, before I even heard about the concert, Brave Citizens constantly kept popping up in my iTunes. I honestly have no idea how they got there, but at some point, a while back, I must have dowloaded one of their songs. And I’m glad I did.

The band, which consists of Andrew Capra, Adam Bialik, Alex Jones, and Jarred Dooley, was the first to perform. I found it very strange that they opened the show, mostly because they were better than any other band there and they are pretty well known for an unsigned band. After forming in 2007, Brave Citizens first went on tour in the early months of 2008.  By the time March rolled around, they had already been asked to co-headline The Daily Chorus’ tour. Then, in May, they were given the title of “Unsigned Band of the Month,” by Alternative Press Magazine. To top it all off, the band was asked to perform at specific locations for the Vans Warped Tour that same year.  At all of these shows, the band performed the songs off of their EP.

Brave Citizens first released their debut EP, “Revolutions” at the end of 2007. The EP included tracks, including my favorite, “All or Not,” which was played on Los Angeles’ radio station, KROQ. You can also download a track off of their EP, “The Same Way,” at their website. As the band continued to tour in their lovely van named, The Admiral, they made many new fans a long the way. The guys have shared the stage with infamous bands such as, Lydia, PlayRadioPlay!, and Eye Alaska. But, it’s not just about the music for this band.

Brave Citizens- “All or Not” from avery cruz on Vimeo.

This band has a lot to offer and I wouldn’t doubt it if they were signed to a label in the near future. They are personable and easy to talk to. But, most importantly, they have fun while playig music. Over the summer, the band started working on their first full-length album and started pre-production on it a few weeks ago, setting a release date for sometime in 2010. They are truly a joy to watch perform and I can’t wait to see how far they will go. As their website says, “World, meet Brave Citizens.”

Follow this band on Twitter.

photo taken by Kelly Whelan

Photo taken by Kelly Whelan

Photo taken by Kelly Whelan

Photo taken by Kelly Whelan

Downtown Brew

A look at a typical concert at Downtown Brew in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Not only is this a popular brewery, but it is home to many concerts. The brewery has hosted many famous acts and is known for it’s small composure, yet large audiences.

Colin Healy and the Jetskis

For a band made up of five kids who are fresh or a few years out of high school, Colin Healy and the Jetskis is already making their way into the hearts of music lovers across the nation.The guys: Colin Healy, Cullen Macdonald, Harrison Weber, Jon Norton, and Tony Cornicello, are originally from Richmond, Va. Th0ugh Weber, Healy, and Macdonald went to a high school that neighbored Norton and Cornicello’s school, the boys didn’t really know each other and even hated each other at one point. During their freshman year, Cornicello and Norton were far from being friendly and even call themselves rivals. However, once the guys met eachother, their music brought them together.

CHTJ, credits  Dashboard Confessional, Sigur Ros, and Nirvana as influences. At the same time, the band doesn’t classify themselves in one genre. “we all bring different genres into this one band; [it] really completes it and sets it to a genre all on it’s own,” Healy said in an interview with teen.com. When the guys first started as a band and tried to figure out what their name should be, they had a bit of trouble. But, soon Healy’s brother came to the rescue when he came up with the band name “The Jetskis.” Though Healy liked this name, the band decided together that they would be called, “Colin Healy and the Jetskis” to give the band a more old-timey feel that they didn’t feel many other bands had these days. The band’s debut album, “… or just don’t go” includes five songs including hits like “The One” and “Taste of Your Lips.”  The EP, “powerfully portrays the ins and outs of love and relationships, through the prism of restlessness and vigor,” said the band’s myspace. “there seems to be nothing rudderless about the band’s piano-driven, upbeat-but-heartbroken pop nuggets, maneuvering easily from Ben Folds-ish hooks to a youthful rocket, dropping anchor nowhere in between,” Ryan Muldon, of the Richmond Times Dispatch, said.

The bands lyrics and sound have a distinctness; they sound like something you might have heard before, but at the same time, they’re something completely new. Recently, the band released their first Christmas song, “Meet Me Under the Mistletoe,” which can be purchased on itunes. Though the band hasn’t been together for too long, they have already played with some pretty popular bands. So far, the band has shared the stage with bands like: Yearling, The Downtown Fiction, and even The Maine. The future looks bright for Colin Healy and the Jetskis. Hopefully, they’ll one day be able to play Warped Tour or their own headlining concert and show the world what they’ve got.

A live performance of “The One” :

To keep up to date on this band’s progress, follow them on twitter @Officialchtj

The History of The White Tie Affair

A timeline (of pictures ) of The White Tie Affair’s journey from an unkown band to major success.

The Relay Company

When I first heard The Real Company, my first reaction was, “Thank goodness!! Finally, a band from the south bay area who is amazing.” Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m sure there are many bands from the south bay that are good, but they are hard to find. The Relay Company, from San Jose, Calif., have a sound similar to The Rocket Summer mixed with Dashboard Confessional with a little This Providence sprinkled in there. Some of the band’s influences include Relient K and Anberlin.  The band  was originally formed by brothers, Adam and Stephen Mariucci in 2006. Soon, Jonathan Fernandez, Ryan Rosendin, and Lachlan Franckx joined which completed the band. So far, the guys of the band have played with other acts such as: Rookie of the Year, Quietdrive, Gym Class Heroes, The Summer Set, and The Higher.

This past summer, the band released their first album called, “The Relay Co.” Already, on iTunes, that band has gotten great feedback from their loving supporters. The band had Producer Tym Ellis work with them. Ellis has also worked with Wyclef Jean and the band, I Am Empire. The Relay Company also collaborated with Greg Camp, a former member of the band Smash Mouth.  Some of my favorite songs from the album are, “Run,” “Little White Lie,” and “I’ve been Screaming.” All of these songs sound like they came off of a  The Rocket Summer album. The Relay Company uses a lot of piano to create their melodies. Meanwhile the vocals of lead singer, Adam Mariucci, are quite catchy as well as the lyrics. Within the first hour of listening to their music, I was already singing along with the songs. To hear more of their songs, check out the bands myspace.

The band has already performed all across the Bay Area including at Santa Clara University, Hot Topics in malls, and various venues in San Francisco. They were also one of the top six finalists in the Pac Sun Tour where the winner would open for the infamous band Saosin. Though the boys of the band are trying to balance their educations with their musical journey, neither one of these has been compromised.

Currently, the band is trying to get their songs on the radio through Radio U. This station, which plays an eclectic mix of popular music,  is aimed at 12-24 year olds. If you are in San Luis Obispo (88.9) or Santa Maria (91.5) call in and request to hear The Relay Company’s song, “I’ve Been Screaming.” There is no doubt in my mind that you wouldn’t be instantly hooked. I promise you, listening to this band is definitely worth your time and your money. With their catchy beats and radio-esque songs, I wouldn’t doubt it if I heard them on the radio in a year. I have high hopes for this band because they have so much potential. The Relay Company will surprise you.

To get updates about The Relay Company follow them on twitter.

Nothing Ever Stays

Performances and an Interview with the band Nothing Ever Stays:

 

Disco Curtis

For four guys who are practically fresh out of high school, I am amazed at how well they are doing on the pop/rock scene. The boys of Disco Curtis are A.J.,  Tanner, Garrett, and Brendan. Some critics have likened them to All Time Low and Forever The Sickest Kids. In my opinion, they sound similar to The White Tie Affair and The Maine. The band, from Colleyville, Texas, officially formed as a group on August 2, 2008.  Three of the guys: Tanner, A.J., and Garrett have been playing music together for years and are long time friends. Brendan, only 16-years-old when he joined the group, was the last addition. Now that they are all out of high school, the band can focus on going across the country on tours. Disco Curtis’ first EP, “Play With Fire, Get Burned,” came out on September 26, 2009. The band worked with Geoff Rockwell, who has also worked with Forever The Sickest Kids, on the EP.  The cd has six songs on it, including their debut song, “Ashley,” which the band just shot a music video for near their hometown. Tanner, who writes a majority of the music for the band, is inspired by personal experiences and wants to relate to fans and their emotions. One of my favorite parts of this band, is that they seem so natural. Whether you listen to them on their EP or you hear an acoustic performance, they sound the same. Even when they sing their cover of Lady Gaga’s song, “Just Dance,” they play music effortlessly.

One of the great things about Disco Curtis is their youtube account. I’m not going to lie, I’ve probably watched almost video that they’ve posted.  You can’t help but laugh at the boys of the band who are just rolling with the punches. Now, they have “webisodes” where they update fans and talk about the progress of the band. They are almost like blog posts, but in video form. Their youtube channel, which they call “DCTV” has videos from events such as Tanner’s graduation party, acoustic performances of their songs, and Q&As from fans.  Since the band has been on tour, they have also been updating their fans through tour updates. One of the main reasons that Disco Curtis has continued to play music and create new songs is the fans. They show a great amount of support for their fans and try to give back to them as much as possible.

Already, Disco Curtis has already played with Shwayze, PlayRadioPlay, Forever The Sickest Kids, A Change of Pace, Sky Eats Airplane, Artist vs. Poet, First Class Fever, and many more. Though the band has faced some obstacles lately-Tanner’s lung collapsed suddenly in July- they will continue to play music wherever they go. Up next for the band is a Hot Topic tour that will go through many states on the east coast including: New York, Massachusettes, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. To find out more about this band and to keep up to date on their progress, follow them on twitter.

The Right Coast

Don’t lie. You know you love Taylor Swift. Her lyrics just speak to you, no matter what age you are. So, when I heard The Right Coast’s version of Swift’s “Love Story,” I was head over heels in love with their cover.

Brandon Ehrgood’s vocals are smooth and clear on this amazing cover. In addition, the other members of the band, John Becker, Eric Camarota, and Curran Blevins use their instruments to create a rock based rhythm for the song that is typically found in the pop/country genre. The band, originally from Lancaster, Pa., makes the transition from country to rock look effortless. Although they’ve only been together since the spring of 2008, The Right Coast has already made a name for themselves in the rock/pop genre. The band has been compared to The Summer Set, Anarbor, and The Maine. The momentum for this band is just starting to pick up. The boys just shot their first music video in New York City, are touring with The Status and The Fold throughout this month (Fork In the Road, Knife In the Turkey Tour), and will start recording rough demos for their new EP due out next year. Their first EP, “This is Now,” which was released in December 2008, includes four original songs that are all definitely worth your money. But, the band has made a deal with their fans: If they reach 1000 followers on twitter, they will allow free downloads of the EP. In addition, the band has a new Acoustic EP of their original songs coming out on December 1. All of the songs on the EP have something special about them. My favorite, “Madeline,” is a very sweet song about a girl who this guy is thinking about nonstop. Basically, he professes his love about her and wishes to be with her. I think it’s one of those songs that a lot of people can relate to, as cheesy as it might be. The other songs off of their debut EP are equally entrancing and will be stuck in your head for hours.

The guys of The Right Coast have everything they need in order to make it. They have the looks, the sound, and most importantly, the personality. In an interview with Fearless Radio, the boys of the band acted like any other young guys. They have quirky personalities and it shows through their interview answers. When asked what kind of product their music could endorse, their answers included, ShamWow, Fanta, and Fruit of the Loom. They are optimistic guys who are making music in order to have fun and let loose. They want to share their passion with the world, especially Australia, according to the interview. As of now, The Right Coast is featured as Smartpunk.net’s Unsigned Artist of the Month. However, this is just a preview of how far the band will go in the future. They have already been featured on MTV shows like “The Hills,” and, “Paris Hilton Is My BFF.”

Up next, the band will go on tour again including some West Coast dates for the same time. Also, the next EP, as mentioned before, is already in pre-production, with the band already doing some writing. To hear more of this band, either go to their myspace or their purevolume pages.

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Raining and OK

Do you ever feel like you just need to take a moment for yourself? Maybe you want to go sit down and read a good book by yourself, or maybe you feel like just tuning out the world and working on some homework. Either way, Raining and Ok should be a part of these types of activities. The band’s music keeps you relaxed and energized with upbeat yet soothing rock/alternative melodies. For the past couple of days, I have turned Raining and OK on whenever I need to crack down and do work. This is very odd, because most of the time, when I do anything, there has to be complete silence. Raining and OK, originally from Phoenix, Ariz., first came together as a solid band in December 2007. The guys: Trevor Tillery, Nick Duplessis, Austin Tingle and Stephen Spears, released their first LP, “The Devil on Your Shoulder,” and haven’t stopped making music since. According to their myspace, ” We strive to write music from our hearts that questions, evokes feeling, and explores perspective.” The band has a similar sound to Brighten, Third Eye Blind, Silverchair, and Goodbye Tomorrow, according to absolutepunk.net. On March 17, 2009, Raining and OK released their EP, “Always Will Be.” The album was produced by Matt Grabe who has also worked with bands such as The Maine, This Century, and The Summer Set. Dan Young,  lead singer for the band This Providence, also helped co-produce the album. You might be thinking that Raining and OK is an odd name for the group. I mean, some of us really like the weather, and this album definitely reminds me of a rainy winter day when you bundle up and reflect upon yourself. But, the story behind the band name is actually quite unique. In an interview with Fearless radio, the band recalled when a friend took a random book called ” Training Handbook” and whited out some of the letters, leaving Raining and OK as the title of the book. Their music may sound similar to other bands, but I feel that there is something exceptional about this band. Maybe it’s the vocals, the lyrics, or even how the songs flow. In the song, “Always Will Be,” one of my personal favorites, the band talks about the people of the world being obsessed with material items, yet what people are really looking for in life is love. The lyrics read, “Oh high up in the trees, do the birds sing of peace?//While bullets rip the sky for wars, from idiots and guns.  Am I to adhere to the fears we hold so dear?// It aches within our hearts as we stuff our shopping carts.”

To follow this band and keep up to date, follow them on twitter.

Dropout Year

With four EPs already released, Dropout Year has more evidence of musical talent than any other unsigned band I’ve seen. The band, originally from Owings Mills, Md. seem to be on a roll to success despite not being under a record label. What makes this band so special? Perhaps it’s the fact that most of them have known each other since high school, giving them a sense of togetherness on and off the stage. They aren’t just bandmates, they are friends. According to the band’s myspace, “having strong personal relationships has already improved the band.” “The chemistry on and off the stage is great,” Steve Reter said. The guys of the band: Steve Reter, Adam Goodman, Brandon Reter, and Dan Ciarrocchi have been through many changes. Most recently, a little over two weeks ago, their drummer, Jordan Young, decided to pursue a different musical path, bringing the band down to four members. Though the band  is still trying to figure out what to do, they are still performing. The band’s next performance is on December 2nd in Towson, Md. with New Found Glory. Now, I’m not sure how much you know about New Found Glory, but they are pretty darn famous. Being able to play in the same concert as New Found Glory is huge for Dropout Year. The band’s name, according to a quote from Brandon Reter, came from the fact that the dropout year is, “‘…a time in your life when you’re so stressed out, nothing’s going your way and you just want to give up.” Yet, their music is anything but stressful. It’s upbeat and usually happy. Absolutepunk.net claims that the band sounds like a mix between All Time Low, Mayday Parade, and Hit the Lights. One of my favorite songs from their newest EP, “The Way We Play,” is “Mile Marker.” The song’s lyrics read: “State lines aren’t the only boundaries I’ve crossed recently//but these exit signs, miles away they keep reminding me that I’m coming home to see you// but never left behind thoughts a certain girl had somehow planted in my mind//thoughts we played out before, but feel so new//any direction I go will always bring me back to you.//so I’ll count another mile marker on my way through Pennsylvania.”

The band, who was on the Vans Warped Tour in2008,  was recently named one of the best unsigned bands by the Baltimore Sun. ” Dropout Year [is] a quality band with some incredible potential,” said absoultepunk.net’s review of their most recent EP. “They play their instruments cleanly and accessibly.” Currently, the band is working on their newest music video, which is due out in the near future. To learn more about this band and keep up to date on their whereabouts, follow them on twitter.

Tour Dates of Featured Bands

Dizzy Balloon:

November 14, 2009 @ The Catalyst Atrium in Santa Cruz, Calif. 8 p.m. $10 at the door.

November 28, 2009 @ The Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco, Calif. 8 p.m. $10. Also playing: Luke Franks, Scene of Action, and The Jakes

Vogue in the Movement:

November 8, 2009 @ The LA Galaxy Play Off Game in Carson, Calif. 3 p.m.

November 19, 2009 @ The Dome in Bakersfield, Calif. 6 p.m. Also playing: Escape the Fate

November 20, 2009 @ Kuppajoe in Fresno, Calif. 7 p.m. Also playing: Picture Atlantic

November 21, 2009 @ Club Retro in Orangevale, Calif. 7 p.m. Also playing: Verbatym

November 22, 2009 @ Modesto Virtual in Modesto, Caif. 7 p.m. Also playing: Verbatym.

The Sequence:

November 6, 2009 @ The House of Blues in Los Angeles, Calif. 7 p.m.$16. Also playing: Saosin, Eye Alaska, POS, and Inner Party System

November 14, 2009 @ Queen Bees in San Diego, Calif. 7 p.m. Also playing: Adestria and Uh oh! Explosion

November 17, 2009 @ Chain Reaction in Anaheim, Calif. 7 p.m. Also playing: This Century

December 19, 2009 @ The Velour (Acoustic Christmas show) in Provo, Utah. 8 p.m. $8. Also playing: Allred

The Arrival:

December 11, 2009 @ The Mixtape in Grand Rapids, Mich. 6:30 p.m. Also playing: Craig Owens

December 12, 2009 @ Mojoes Coffeehouse in Orland Park, Ill. 6 p.m. Also playing: Craig Owens

December 13, 2009 @ The Crofoot in Pontiac, Mich. 6 p.m. Also playing: Craig Owens

This Condition:

November 14, 2009 @ Mill Hill Basement in Trenton, N.J. 6 p.m.

November 23, 2009 @ Angels and Kings in New York, NY. 8 p.m.

November 28, 2009 @ The Turk House in Boston, Mass. 4 p.m. Also playing: My Arcadia

November 29, 2009 @ Paramus VFW in Paramus, N.J. 5 p.m.

The Heyday:

November 6, 2009 @ Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, Wyo. 6 p.m. FREE.

November 7, 2009 @ Copper Mountain Conference Center in Copper Mountain, Colo. 8 p.m.

November 13, 2009 @ Sokol Auditorium in Omaha, Neb. 8 p.m.

November 18, 2009 @ University of Texas El Paso (Music Cafe Series) in El Paso, Texas. 11:30 a.m.

February 5, 2010 @ Marian Univeristy (Library) in Indianapolis, Ind. 9 p.m.

Dropout Year:

December 2, 2009 @ The Recher Theatre in Towson, Md. 6:30 p.m. Also playing: New Found Glory

KCPR DJ Interview with Andrew Woloz

Audio to interview: http://www.archive.org/details/KcprDjInterviewWithAndrewWoloz

Transcript:

Intro:

Today, I am speaking with Andrew Woloz. He is a sophomore business and music major at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. Not only is he a DJ for the Cal Poly radio, KCPR, but he is also a creator of music himself. For the lat five years, Andrew has grown to know and understand the music industry, how it works, and what it takes to make it as an up and coming band. In this interview he will discuss his journey to the radio station and why he enjoys music so much.

Q: When did you first get involved with music?

A:  I guess, probably in high school when I started joining bands and I started playing different instruments and trying different things and I decided I really liked it. And then, I used to want to go into finance and stuff, but once I got here, I kind of realized that it’s really boring and I would rather be doing something that I really enjoy like music.

Q: How do you plan on mixing business and music?

A: I want to do marketing for a music label. Or be a promoter for golden voice or livenation. If I ever get enough money, I would want to open my own record label.

Q: What was the first CD you ever bought?

A: Blink 182- Enema of the State

Q: What type of music are you mainly interested in?

A: I really like Indie Rock. More underground stuff and I really like dance music too.

Q: What do you classify as dance music?

A: Electronic

Q: How did you get involved with KCPR?

A: Last year, I saw their ads and thought it was pretty cool that we had a radio. I applied, got an interview and got in. I had to have a mentor that went on air with me and help me out. After that quarter was done, I had a graveyard shift from one to four in the morning. And then, this quarter I got twelve to two on Thursdays.

Q: What was the interview process like for that?

A: They make you go into a room, and there are six people interviewing you, all of the directors.  They’ll ask you what your favorite band is, what your favorite genre is, some bands that are in that genre, and why you like it. They made me hula hoop for 10 minutes or something.

Q: What kind of music do you play during your rotation?

A: I have to play a lot of new ads, cds sent to the station. You’re supposed to play six per hour, but you get to pick which ones you want to play. We have these things called music meetings where we listen to the music so we know what it sounds like before we play it. I get to play half those, and half what I want to play. I play Minusthebear a lot and Pinback.

Q: Do you have people call in and request songs?

A: Yeah, you get callers and they will request a song, but a lot of the time we wont have it because we’re not allowed to play off an iPod for FCC reasons, so we have to play any CD that’s there.

Q: Where do they get the music from?

A: Record labels send them the music because it will get played on the radio, so they get it for free. Then the music directors go through all of the CDs that they get in a week, they probably get 100 CDs a month. And they have to go through every single one and decide if they want it for the station. It kind of sucks because we have no say as to what goes in. But, the directors are young hipster like people who weed out everything.

Q: Why is music so enjoyable for you?

A: It calms me down. It keeps me occupied, no matter what I do, when I have it there, it’s cool. I’m in a good mood.

Q: When do you listen to music?

A: Every second of every day-even when I do homework. I would listen during tests, but I’m not allowed to.

Q: What kinds of instruments do you play?

A: I play guitar and bass. I’ve played a lot of ukelele lately, which is really fun.

Q: Do you have any projects or bands that you’ve been a part of?

A: In high school I did- two different ones. One of them got pretty big on the local scene, but then I decided I didn’t want to be in it anymore because I didn’t like the type of music we were playing.

Q: Who do you look to for inspiration?

A: Jimi Hndrix- he’s the man. He invented so many new ways to play the guitar. His music is just amazing.

Q: How do you discover all of these underground bands?

A: Last fm is my number one tool, its probably my favorite website. Its like Pandora, but it tracks your plays and your plays in iTunes and you can have friends and a facebook wall. And it tells you new bands that you might like based off of what you play. It also has an event calendar where you can track all of your concerts, which is really cool.

Q: What catches your attention when you first listen to a new band?

A: Something different. No offense to this place, but everything I hear is Reggae and it pisses me off and it all sounds exactly the same so when I hear something that’s not, I’m really happy.

Q: What do you think the music industry looks for today in bands?

A: Something that they haven’t heard before, but still sounds good together. There are lots of bands that don’t sound like anything else, like noise rock. As long as they have an interesting sound. I found this new band called The XX- they are really cool. They blend a female vocal and a male vocal with really cool synth-like guitars. It sounds really good together. Something innovative, something like that.

Q: What advice would you give unsigned bands that are looking for a label?

A: Keep trying. Practice everyday. There are people out there who like you, and if people like you, they’ll sign you.

Q: Do you have any plans/projects for the future?

A: I’m starting a band soon with one of my friends from high school. We don’t really know what we’re going to do, but we’ll figure it out.

You, Me, and Everyone We Know

For almost two years, i have been listening to this band. And somehow, I never knew that they didn’t have a record label. Why is this, you ask? Well, just listen to their music and you’ll figure it out. You, Me, and Everyone We Know is a pop/rock quartet that hails from Washington D.C. Though they’ve been on many tours throughout the country, some people still haven’t heard of them. Lucky for you, now you do. They sound like a mix between of Fall Out Boy, with a bit of Coheed and Cambria mixed in. Band members, Ben Liebisch, Rico Vigil, Aaron Stern, and Noel Milford, released their debut EP,”Party for the Grown and Sexy,” at the end of 2006.  At that time, the band decided the best way to promote their new album was to give it away for free. When this offer was given to anyone who visited their myspace, over 30,000 people downloaded the album. The album can still be downloaded for free at last.fm After many tours, including performing at South By Southwest(SXSW), Bamboozle, and the Vans Warped Tour, the band was tired and ready for a break. Though they still performed, they were not on tour constantly as they were before. One day, while the band was riding in their van, the tire blew out and they had to pull over to the side of the road.  The band was soon watching their van and personal items go up in flames. Instead of having a negative reaction, the boys took it as a sign that they should start recording new music soon. Not long after this incident, they went to Minneapolis after they ended one more tour with the band Sing It Loud. On December 8, 2008, they released their follow up six song EP titled, “So Young, So Insane.” A few weeks later, the band was invited to play at a benefit concert in Orland, Ill. The concert included other performers like Asteria, Breathe Electric, and The Fastest Kid Alive. Though they’ve had some tough luck, I still believe that this band is optimistic when it comes to their music. A regular occurrence for You, Me and Everyone We Know, is to perform the classic, “Build Me Up Buttercup,” in order to pump and loosen up the crowd. Being an unsigned band might be hard these days. Not only do you have to support yourself at home, you also have to support yourself while on the road, and costs can add up pretty quickly. Luckily, for You, Me and Everyone We Know, they don’t have to worry about saving up money for food. That’s because, they are one of the winner’s to Denny’s “Adopt-a-Band” fan voting contest. Their prize includes free food from Denny’s, as well as getting a chance to meet their fans at an “afterparty” meet and greet at the restaurant. Though the band sounds a little bit different on their newer EP than on their first one, the sound is still something that anyone can enjoy. My favorite song off of , “So Young, So Insane,” is “I Can Get Back Up Now.” :

These guys have a lot of talent and are humble about their music. They know that if they don’t get signed, it’s not the worst thing in the world, because they simply enjoy making music. In an interview, guitarist, Rico Vigil said,”‘The days of ‘needing’ a label are gone for us. If and when we sign, we will look back knowing it was the smartest decision we ever made for this band.’” To learn more about the band and check out some more of their music check out their myspace.

The Heyday.

The Heyday, from Denver, Colo., thoroughly enjoy playing music for their fans. Their goal isn’t to become the best band on the planet, but rather take each moment as it comes and enjoy expressing themselves. The band includes:  Randy Ramirez, singer, Peter Wynn, bassist, Jeff Appareti, pianist, Sean Bennett, drums, and Brian Martin, guitarist. The group, which cohesively came together in 2006, describes their music as pop and rock with a bit of twang. At the start of their careers, Ramirez and Appareti were in the band formally known as, “Like Chasing Wind.” Also, current members Martin and Bennett, left their previous groups to become a part of The Heyday. Once the band had a solid base, they started practicing their music. Now, usually bands have a studio or a garage where they can practice, but for The Heyday, this was a different story. Instead, the group held practice in Appareti’s parents’ basement. Although it’s not the ideal place for a band to practice, this was a humble start for a band that would soon be recording a full-length album in a studio. But, before the band got into the studio, they first spent the whole summer of 2006 writing and practicing music. At the end of the three months, the band had written a total of five songs. That’s when they packed up their stuff and drove out to Ft.Collins, Colo. to record their demo. Once in the studio, they were offered a full-length album and soon began working with Jeff Juliano who has worked with bands such as: OAR, Jason Mraz, and John Mayer. At the end of the process, The Heyday recorded ten songs and released their ten song self-titled debut album in September 2007. Now, three of the songs off of the album, are available for download on their myspace, free of charge. According to their myspace biography, the band claims that their music is fit for, “‘ the drive home with your friends on the last night of summer.’” The band, who has been likened to the Fray, has strong support from their local radio stations and fans in the area which is what makes the band love the Denver area so much. So, not only do they get inspiration from their fan base, but also from the beauty of the land they are surrounded by. The Heyday’s cd can be listened to when you feel like getting pumped up or maybe when you need to finish some homework. It’s relaxing, yet upbeat. In their popular song, “Come In or Stay Out,” they lyrics read, “When that lonesome road  starts to take its toll on you//Don’t you call me back, no, I ain’t gonna be no fool//
You say you want to come, well home is where the heart is baby// And you ain’t got no home at all.” Their first music video, for this song, shows exactly what this band is all about: having fun. They hope to carry their charismatic views into their careers, as well. “‘progressing is something we really look forward to in the future,’” Ramirez said. This band has goals that they will no doubt achieve. Just be lucky that you heard about The Heyday first, so that when they do make it in the music world, you can say you’ve known about them for quite some time. To stay up to date on this band, follow them on twitter.

This Condition.

With the current music industry, it’s hard to tell what record labels are looking for when they sign bands. Looking at This Condition, you would assume that the band is signed. I mean, they have the looks, the experience, and the sound.  The band hasn’t been on the music scene that long, but they’ve definitely put their feet in the door. Originally, this five-piece band was split into two different bands. Nicky C., Bass, Anthony Giambalvo, guitar, and Steve, drums, were all part of a band titled, “Fallendale,” while Mike McGovern, guitar, was in the band, “Outcry.” Eventually, the two bands merged, reformulated, and added in singer Nate Cyphert. From there, the band recorded an EP, “Find it in You,” which was released in August  2007. Following the release of the EP, This Condition went on tour through out the month of June the following year. While touring the East Coast, they made approximately 18 stops, where they gained a bigger fan base. Then, in October 2008, the band was featured as one of the top 100 bands on purevolume’s  site, making the band’s fame a reality. Soon after this great success, they released their second EP, “We Don’t Have To Be Alone,” in November 2008. After the success of their summer tour, the band signed on to do a few mini-tours with some big names. They played in Bamboozle ’09 after winning the Online Break Contest that gave them the spot in the concert. The band also won a spot in Adelphi university’s Spring concert, opening for Yellowcard, after winning a battle of the bands competition. In addition, This Condition played at Vans Warped Tour ’09 in the tour’s Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas venues. The band has shared the stage with bands like The Dangerous Summer, Between the Trees, and Automatic Loveletter. According to absolutepunk.net’s review of the band, they sound similar to: Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The Kooks, and The Maine. They have also been compared to Cartel, The Almost, Boys Like Girls, and Motion City Soundtrack. One of their newest songs, and one of my favorites, called, “Home(won’t let you go)” is about a relationship that seems to end because of distance, but when one of the people in this relationship comes home, things are back to normal again. The lyrics read, “Tell me a story. Tell me something. Tell me anything// Maybe a secret that we can hold onto when we’re apart// I’m not going to mess this up// I couldn’t say enough// We’d both be liars if we said it didn’t matter to us//…” To check out a live performance of the band playing this song click here for youtube. And speaking of youtube: even if you aren’t a big fan of their music, check out the other videos on their youtube account. Not only do these guys update you on their music careers and tours, but they do some pretty silly stuff. For example, you can watch some of the band members rap, sing badly about certain people, or even see their pretty slick dance moves. This Condition= my new obsession. Love them with all of your heart. Click here to follow this band on twitter

The Arrival.

The other day, I flipped through the music in my iTunes library, listening to whatever came on next. Suddenly, a pop/rock song came on and I instantly knew which band was playing: The Arrival. Though I haven’t owned their songs for that long, they have a sound that can’t be mistaken.The band, which includes members, Jeff Mitchell-vocals, Chris Kutsor-guitar, Peter Stormer-Bass, Hondu Knight-drums, and Alex Knight-guitar,  is a pop/rock band originally from Madison, Alabama. This band sounds similar to My American Heart, with a little bit more of an electronic vibe, The Rocket Summer, and A Rocket to the Moon. But, according to an Alter the Press interview with the band, they would describe their sound as, “if you were to put a live band behind Justin Timberlake.” The Arrival first started up in 2008 as a four piece band with an entirely different sound. Once Jeff wrote the song, “Locked and Loaded,” their true sound emerged and they took on their new identity. They have already done six U.S. tours since the release of their debut EP, “Believe the Hype.” So far, the band has played shows with: VersaEmerge, Eye Alaska, Racing Kites, A Day to Remember, Millionaires, Hypercrush, and brokenCYDE. For being together for such a small amount of time, The Arrival has taken their career pretty far, and plan to take it even farther in the future. In May, the band was back in the studio working hard with Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount, who has worked with bands like: Cartel, Mayday Parade, and Every Avenue(one of my personal favorites). Through this new work relationship, the band created some new pieces that they are now displaying on their myspace.The new songs, called “Turn the Page,” and “Surrounded,” keep The Arrival’s old sound, but with better lyrics. “Turn the Page,” which was written by guitarist Chris Kutsor, talks about where a couple went wrong in a relationship and how he/she has to move on and keep living their life. “I never thought I would see the end of us// But lately things haven’t felt the same// Now, I’m looking back, wondering how we got off track// When I look in your eyes, tell me why you can’t look back// I know the story’s over, tell me why things have to change// If this is where we have to end, then why can’t I turn the page.” Not only do these guys write their own music, but they do covers of other songs too. To commemorate the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, The Arrival recorded a cover of his song, “Rock With You.” Also, for the, “Rockin’ Romance Compilation,” the band covered Seal’s, “Kiss from a Rose.” Both songs are currently streaming on the band’s myspace as well as the band’s upcoming shows. Until then, check out a video of the band performing their song, “turn the page,” on youtube.  Not only do these guys have the musical talent, but they always welcome new fans with open arms, especially at concerts. “Feel free to come say hi to us,” the band said in the interview with Alter the Press. The Arrival is a force to be reckoned with and as they put it, “The Arrival is taking over 2009, so watch out!” To hear The Arrival’s EP, go to their purevolume page where they are streaming it for free.

Stay up to date with the band on twitter: Follow them by clicking here.

The Sequence.

When I first went on a hunt to find my next featured band, I came across The Sequence, and I frowned. While every band I’ve featured sounds like they probably are unsigned, The Sequence has a true professional sound. When I first heard their song, “All In,” on their myspace, I immediately scrolled down the page to find out if they had a label, which I assumed they did. I was stunned to find that such a talented band to be unsigned. This is the moment I knew I had to feature this band. They had that sound, like a lot of other pop-rock bands, that makes you want to sing a long. One more thing that made me fall even more in love with this band was the fact that they are fighters. The group, which now consists of: Travis Van Hoff , vocals, Brandon Dennis, drums, and the three guitarists, Jason Yatta, Kevin Connor, and Craig Broombaugh, was not always so perfect. Originally, Matt Carmichael was the lead vocalist of the band. But, a little while after the release of their debut album, “Simplify,” on July 2, 2007, Carmichael decided to leave the group because his heart wasn’t 100% into the project like the other four members.  Soon, Van Hoff was brought on board to become the new lead singer as well as Broombaugh, who became the third and final guitarist. These boys, which are originally from Cypress, Calif., have grown into their musical shoes. Their “In Lights” EP which was released on January 13, 2009 features four songs including a cover of Rihanna’s, “Disturbia.” Like many other bands these days, The Sequence took the hip-hop song and made a punk version out of it.  In a review for The Sequence’s  EP, absolutepunk.net said that the cover, “will likely probe to be superior to The Cab’s.” This is a major accomplishment for a band that is unsigned especially being compared to a band that took off and is signed to one of the most prominent pop-rock labels, Fueled By Ramen. The band, which takes their musical journey one day at a time, went on tour this past summer with The Doppler Effect, Hope for A.m., and The RAD in the “We Put the FU in Fun” tour. The Sequence got another big boost in their career when they were asked to play before an LA Galaxy game at the Home Depot center in early March of this year. With all of these opportunities, including a featured song on The Real World in 2008, this band is bound to get noticed one way or another. The one song to pay attention to on their EP is called, “Til I die.” The lyrics read, “it’s hard to believe that youweren’t meant for me//it doesn’t seem fair no matter how hard i try// its hard to believe that you weren’t meant for me//cause you set the mark for the rest of my life and i wont settle for less even if i have to search till i die.//” This song, which many can relate to, talks about a relationship that ended. The lyrics say that he’ll be comparing everyone else he meets or dates to this one girl because he was someone he fell in love with. This band, a mix between The All-American Rejects, The Cab, and A Rocket to the Moon, presents a new take on pop-rock. They include, more agressive songs, ballads, and covers of other songs. These guys have “it” and like their tour name, they definitely put the FU in fun.To keep up to date with this band, follow their twitter.

Hello Hollywood.

In May, Hello Hollywood was the number one artist on the music site, purevolume.com. Considering the band released their first songs in November 2008, this is a huge deal. For a band in the genre consisting of bands like We the Kings and All Time Low, Hello Hollywood is  making quick progress. The five members of the band include: Mike Wolf, vocals, Dakota Jamison, guitar, Steven Simpson, guitar, Jeremy Jones, bass, and Dan Beauvais, drums. In their short time together as a band, these boys have already played  with The Maine, The Cab, The Summerset, A Change of Pace, and The Higher. The band, which is originally from Peoria, Arizona, released their first EP, “Late Nights and Lovers” on July 14, 2009. Since then, the band continues to work hard and practices for what may soon be an upcoming tour. But, until they do go on tour, they are still humble and continue to try to expand their fan base. They are still willing to play at birthday parties, celebrations, and high schools. This isn’t just because they are bored or because they feel like doing charity. Instead, Hello Hollywood performs, because they simply enjoy it. “We do not take our passion for granted, and we will work hard until the end,” the band said in a blog posted August 8, 2009. Though I am not the biggest fan of The Jonas Brothers, this band oddly sounds a bit like them. Only, they are the more rock and pop version. There are also similarities to the bands, The Rocket Summer and My Favorite Highway heard in the songs. One of the songs, “Summer Sweetness,” talks about a summer fling between two people. It can make you almost feel the sand between your toes and the sun warming your skin, as Wolf sings the lyrics. “Well I don’t care if the stars fall from the sky//It doesn’t matter how or where// I’ll love you for all time// Well, picture this, you and I// Together in the sand// I just love this feeling you give me// makes me want to hold your hand//. The majority of this band’s songs are about love and happiness that life brings a long with it.  In words, these are definitely not the emo kids that the usual pop/rock scene is used to. In addition to the love songs these boys produce, they also make it a thing to do their cover of Chris Brown’s, “With You,” at live performances. Which, might I add, seems better than the original. Though they did get criticism for playing the song at concerts, the band stands behind the song and says that they had been playing it before the whole ‘Chris Brown Beats Rihanna’ ordeal occurred. Hello Hollywood has high hopes for the future including a possible acoustic ep that could come out by the end of 2009. This band is bound to explode into a huge hit, and the members know this as well. A tweet on the band’s twitter said, “Starting in Nov/Dec you’ll see Hello Hollywood everywhere you look. We’re getting ready to initiate this takeover.”

Empires.

For a band that started only three years ago, Empires is quickly becoming a well known band throughout the world. Lately, the band has received even more publicity for being one of the few bands included in Airwalk’s Unsigned Hero Contest, an online competition that gives new bands a chance to play the SPIN and musicgorilla.com showcases  at one of the biggest music festivals in Austin, Texas in 2010 and a cash prize of $5000. This comes as no surprise to the band, who, in an interview for the Airwalk website described the luck they’ve had.  “It’s always felt like things just fall in place for us,’ guitarist Tom Conrad said. Conrad and his friend Sean Van Vleet, the vocals for the group, started up the band and soon moved to Chicago where they recruited friends Max Steger, guitar, and Ryan Luciani, drums. Soon after, the band brought along Alfred Smith to play bass, who completed the band.

Throughout 2007, the band stayed focused and spent a majority of their time writing and practicing original music. By February 2008, their first album, “Howl,” was ready. The album, which was free for download, was downloaded around 55,000 times by the end of 2008 giving this band the head start they needed. Empires, which, according to their MySpace, credits Queen, The Police, Led Zeppelin, Blur, Pixies, and Nirvana as influences, created an entire album that the whole band was proud of. As a whole they wrote, engineered, art directed, and produced the album without any outside help. One of the best songs on the album is a song entitled, “Hayley” which is about a girl who commits suicide.  The lyrics read,”They took him to the hills, where they made him a star//Everyone loved who they knew from afar// They farmed a deceiver, who wed a believer// With her fed, she conceived his little girl// who oppressed called in danger; Torched his eyes with her anger//All the flashes captured daddy’s dismay and she took her life before she could run away//.” To see a video of a live performce, click here: youtube.

The sound of this band is somewhat close to what other indie bands are doing, but there is something special about their songs, lyrics, and melodies. As a typical indie/rock music listener, I don’t usually enjoy bands that have that rough edge to them. But, something about Empires, particularly Sean Van Vleet’s beautiful voice, makes me want to listen to this band for hours and possibly days. They sound like a mix between The Cab, Escape the Fate, and Head Automatica yet they have a bit of a folk-like and garage sound to them.  Empires has opened for bands like The Ting Tings, Steel Train, and Gavin Rossdale. If they win Airwalk’s competition, their future music careers will change drastically. Go to Airwalk’s website on October 15 to see if the band won. These boys have a lot of ambition and are already planning their follow-up album. “…we were friends long before we were bandmates. We all have different perspectives musically, but there’s a collective mindset that makes it all work,” Conrad said. Empires describes makes an analogy that sums up their group in a sentence. “Rome wasn’t built in a day and for listeners neither were the Empires.” To learn more about Empires go to their MySpace: myspace.com/empires or follow them on twitter: twitter.com/weareempires.

Top Record Labels

http://manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/files/thumbnails/aab81078-adf4-11de-84a6-000255111976.wm.png

For my data visualization, I created a wordle.  I thought it would be helpful for my blog for a few reasons. First of all, it wcould potentially help unsigned bands find record labels that are known as the “big dogs.” Also, it will help them figure out where there sound will go. I’m not saying that bands have to change in order to get a record deal, but i am saying that it might help to get a feel for what kinds of artists already belong to which label. This will help them determine which label they will best fit with and who they will want to contact in the future. There are so many record labels out there, but featuring the big ones is a big attraction for unsigned bands. There are also so many bands out there with potential, that they all should have the chance to be signed. Another purpose of this data visualization is to show the large diversity within music labels. Although some record labels have a certain demographic they try to reach through their artists, some of the labels have a large variety of artists. Take, for example, Universal Music Group, the biggest record label in the United States. They might have pop artists like Gwen Stefani and Kanye West, but they also have classics like Elton John and Jimi Hendrix on their label. In addition to that, they even have country singer Shania Twain under their label. Through this wordle, new artists and unsigned bands will hopefully find out where they fit in in the music industry.

Vogue in the Movement.

Imagine this: Vogue in the Movement is about done setting up the stage for their concert as you walk in the doors. When they start to play their first song, you scan the room seeing mostly teenagers and 20-somethings bopping their heads and moving their bodies to the beat. But, in the back of the room, you notice a woman and man in their late 30′s and someone’s grandma mouthing the words to the lyrics. For most Vogue in the Movement concerts, this isn’t typical, but whenever they have a concert in their hometown of Bakerfield, CA, Vogue’s lead singer, Chris Puckett’s  family comes out to support him. Puckett’s dad has shown his support in many ways including allowing the band to take his motor home, The Road Hogg, on tour, while Ryan Sanders’, the guitarist for the group, mom became the band’s hair stylist. Though they are an unsigned band, Vogue in the Movement has proved that they have great potential. Seth McConnell, 23, the drummer for the band founded the group in 2006 with different members and had lots of ambition for his music. “I wanted to start a band that was all about business, like in it to win it, not just doing local shows…” he said. These are some hard working boys with loads of talent, without a doubt. Recently, Vogue in the Movement was given a large amount of exposure when they were chosen to compete in MTV’s contest called “I want my music on MTV.” If they win the competition, their music video for the song, “Head Over Heels” will be played in regular rotation on the station. The other two members of the group, Bryce Nichols, has been deemed the quiet one while Connor Crawford, 20, the original vocalist but now guitarist, is known for his tattoo of the Oprah Winfrey logo on his wrist. As for their music, this band is right on track to becoming something big, yet the music industry hasn’t picked up on their sound yet. “I think it’s really tough to get noticed ever since the creation of MySpace. You have to have original music, good sound, a good look, and a cohesive idea surrounding the band,” said Sanders. Despite their lack of label thus far, I see this band landing a record deal in the near future. They’ve already played with bands like Fall Out Boy, Hellogoodbye, Forever the Sickest Kids, and The Matches. Vogue in the Movement has a unique sound, mostly due to Puckett’s voice. They don’t sound like any other band vocally, but their lyrics do remind me of The White Tie Affair.  Why not check them out and fall Head Over Heels for Vogue in the Movement?

Check out Vogue in the Movement’s Myspace Blog:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=51920019&blogId=508286224

Vogue in the Movement’s Video for Head Over Heels:

http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/428262/head-over-heels.jhtml

Keep up to date with the band. Follow their Street Team on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/VITMstreetteam

Dizzy Balloon.

Most bands and artists that come out of the Bay Area produce rap music. Legends like E-40, Andre Nickatina, and Keak Da Sneak have all sprung from what is now called the “Yay Area.” Yet, there are some special indie pop rock bands from the Bay that have tremendous talent. Dizzy Balloon is an example of just that. With their sprightly music, and questionable lyrics, the band will make you feel like a kid again. They hail from Oakland, California where its normal to hear lyrics to songs that sound something like, “Jesus Christ had dreads so shake ‘em,” or “Got my Vans on, but they look like sneakers.” The band includes five friends: Jonny, Joey, Raffi, Louie, and Petros. According to their Myspace music account, the band is a,  “new generation of energetic, optimistic, well-crafted pop rock.” Dizzy Balloon creates catchy beats that include piano, drums, and hand clapping. Their debut album was released on September 30, 2008. Since then, they have performed many shows, but they tend to stick around the Bay Area and perform at venues in and around San Francisco. The lyrics to their song, ”Chinatown,” read, “there’s something wrong in chinatown// it’s not so fun, no laugh around// who do you think is on your side?// open your eyes girl, i’ll blow your mind//. Although I have come to terms with the fact that I will probably never understand where these men get the inspiration for their songs, I can at least give them props for mixing the lyrics with a catchy tune. The band sounds like a mix between Jet,  Keane, and a bit of the Beatles. Yet, they are so bizarre, you can’t really even tell who they are. It’s simply unique.  They capture the essence of youth and make sure to keep their songs upbeat no matter what the subject matter is. They have a classic sound that makes you instantly fall in love with them, no matter what type of music you are into. It’s an old time feel that makes me get up and dance, unlike the songs on the radio today. The songs make you feel like that crazy girl at the concert that gets up, dances, and screams for the lead singer because they are so “rad.” These are  joyous songs written for the purpose of entertainment and happiness which is what makes Dizzy Balloon so different than the other bands out there today. Just because they are unsigned, doesnt mean they wont make it in the music industry. Dizzy Balloon should take advice from fellow Oakland artist, MC Hammer because they are, “too legit to quit.”

Check out a video of Dizzy Balloon’s music video for their song, “Crazy Jane”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7V05ZGj-0I

Follow Dizzy Balloon on Twitter!

To check out Dizzy Balloon’s most recent blog post click here!: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=16701410&blogId=511188486