Jessica Meuse

Country radio, it's time that you took notice of some of the up-and-coming independent artists that are about the take over your airwaves. Today's country radio definitely isn't your parent's country radio. There is quite a bit of pop in today's country, as well as (GASP!) rap. No matter which side of the fence you straddle in this debate, you can not deny the immense talent pool that country radio has to cull from.Tonight's featured artist is one such talent.

Hailing from Slapout, Alabama, USA, Jessica Meuse is a veteran of reality singing competitions, having performed on NBC's The Voice in 2012, and finishing 4th on the 13th season of Fox's American Idol. It was during her stint on Idol that she made show history by being the only contestant to date to perform an original song during live competition. By the time Meuse hit the Idol stage, I had already given up on reality singing competitions. One can only stand to hear the same songs sung season after season by a different set of competitors for so long. However, when the buzz about her performance of her original song Blue-Eyed Lie hit my radar, I was instantly intrigued. When I found Lie, I was not disappointed!



After hearing this song, I wasn't immediately convinced that country radio was in her future. While there is a strong hint of southern rock to the tune, it's her personality that comes out that screams that she's a pop star in the making. Maybe someone along the lines of a modern day Bonnie Raitt was on the verge of being unleashed to shake up mainstream radio. I had my fingers and toes crossed for this! Alas, as she's moved forward working on her upcoming debut EP, she's begun to find her country voice. And I'm okay with that. While she's been working hard on that EP, she's given us quite a few country covers that show what direction she's gone. Based on what I've been hearing, her future is all but a lock as the next big thing on country radio!



There's a level of vulnerability to her voice that let's her emotions flow freely while holding onto that rock n roll edge that has endeared her to her followers, known as the Meuse Mafia. While I'm no industry expert, I'm something even better... a fan, and from what I see and hear from Jessica Meuse, she has that "it" factor that so many try so hard to manufacturer, but for her, it just comes naturally. And for fans of country music, be it pop or traditional, Jessica Meuse is here to bridge that gap and take the genre to a whole new level!

Head over to the official Jessica Meuse website to stay up to date on the progress of her debut EP, including the release of her upcoming single Rio Grande. Follow her on Twitter and like her on Facebook, and head over to her Soundcloud page to check out some of the coolest cover tunes around!

And as always, check back here on MY Indie Music Blog for all new happenings with Jessica Meuse.

Support independent artists... give indie music a chance.

Lukas Rossi "Hello" Adele Cover (Rock Version)

Okay, now that we've gotten the introduction of Lukas Rossi to MY Indie Music Blog out of the way, let's get down to it, shall we?

A little over three weeks ago, Rossi released a video on YouTube of his rock version of Adele's new hit single, Hello. As a general rule, I am not a fan of cover songs. There are some indie acts that I've seen over the years who aspire to be nothing more than a cover band, and that's fine. Most, if not all of them, are very good at what they do. It takes one hell of a cover song to get me excited. I'd rather see today's independent artist spending their efforts on their music, which is what we're here for.

That being said, check out what has me excited these days...



Ladies and gentlemen, this is unfuckingbelieveable. Hands down, this is the absolute best cover of this song out there today. Had Adele never recorded this and it somehow fell into the lap of one Lukas Rossi and he recorded this... holy fuck! In just over three weeks time (and as of the writing of this post), the video has garnered an astonishing 526,467 views! That's almost unheard of for an independent artist on YouTube. There's a huge amount of buzz surrounding this cover as well, and it could become even louder with your help.

I'd love nothing more than to see this video eclipse the 1 million view mark. To make that happen, Rossi needs all of you to watch the video. Don't just watch it here, head over to his YouTube channel, hit subscribe and press play. After you've become addicted to it (like I have), hit play again. Then again. And while you're repeatedly hitting play, share it with everyone you know and ask them to watch and share it. This is what rock n roll dreams are made of. Let's help one of the brightest indie stars around shine even brighter!

Support independent artists... give indie music a chance.

Lukas Rossi

Tonight is the long overdue introduction of one of the most ridiculously talented independent artists in modern rock music.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada native Lukas Rossi has been on the music scene since 1992. My introduction to Lukas was in 2006 when he was a contestant on the CBS reality singing competition Rockstar Supernova. I'll be the first to admit that he wasn't my favorite to win. That distinction went to another artist who has been prominently featured on this very blog (can you guess who it is?), but that doesn't mean that I wasn't instantly a fan of his. I've followed his impressive career for nearly 10 years now thanks to that show, and tonight, you get to experience Lukas Rossi for yourself!

Over the years, Rossi has amassed one hell of an impressive collection of music for us to indulge our souls in. From fronting bands such as Cleavage, Rockstar Supernova, Stars Down, Switchblade Glory and most recently, Halo Method, to his solo material, you have one of the most accomplished independent artists in the world.










This is just a small sampling of what is Lukas Rossi. With one of the most powerfully expressive and unique voices in rock music today, it won't take much longer before the world is again taken over by the sound that's here to save rock n roll.

Make sure you head over to the official Lukas Rossi website for all things Lukas Rossi. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook. Subscribe to his YouTube channel and look for his music on all of the major music streaming services and on iTunes.

And as always, check back here at MY Indie Music Blog for all things Lukas Rossi.

Support independent artists... give indie music a chance.

Kingdom of Few - Revolution

Rock n roll: "A type of popular dance music originating in the 1950s, characterized by a heavy beat and simple melodies."

Revolution: "a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving"

Put those two together and what do you get? You get Calgary, Alberta, Canada indie rockers Kingdom of Few.

A long-time favorite of mine here at MY Indie Music Blog, Kingdom of Few hit our earholes with a rock no roll explosion this summer with Revolution, their highly anticipated follow-up to their 2011 debut EP, Ep. Curtis Butala, lead vocals; John Clarke, drums/vocals; Reno Serani, guitar/vocals and Alex Parks, bass/vocals, have stepped up their game in quite a substantial way. Revolution is as polished an effort as anything offered up by cookie-cutter mainstream acts. Their sound is more refined and ripe with huge stadium worthy guitar riffs and sing along worthy hooks from track to track. This is rock done right.

The only problem that I have with Revolution is that it's only a five song EP! But then, this is a genius marketing ploy by the band... it leaves you craving for more! It's easy to get lost in these five songs, though. Hit play, then hit repeat, and let Kingdom of Few take over your rock n roll soul for a while. You'll be glad that you did!

Make sure you follow the band on Twitter and like them on Facebook. Don't forget to head over to iTunes to download your copy of Revolution and grab a copy of their debut EP while you're there.

And as always, check back here with me at MY Indie Music Blog for all things Kingdom of Few as they happen.

Support independent artists... give indie music a chance.

WHY Unplugged

Something incredible has just happened in the world of independent music. Once in a great while, a band or artist with a voice loud and powerful enough comes along with the ability to reshape our cultural landscape. For this generation, that band is Winnipeg, Manitoba's very own WHY.



Recently, Brian Cook and Eric Nordquist performed an acoustic gig that was released in all of its glory today on YouTube by the band. There's nothing like unplugging the amps to let an artists true artistry shine, which is exactly what Brian and Eric do in this video. Mr. Cook, you have an incredibly powerful voice, both in the literal and metaphorical sense. You have a message to share with the world, "...Never say you're bound by fear. Never let your dreams drown in forgotten years. Hold out for the chance, for the chance to be brave. Time is the essence, from the cradle to the grave..." You give me the courage to continue to be a voice for the independent artist, and for that and for your immense talents that you and WHY continue to share with us, I want to publicly thank you. To those of you reading these words or listening to the music, use your voice to make a difference. The world needs to know of WHY and their message. Let's make sure they hear it.

Support independent artists. Give indie music a chance.

The Mars Patrol

When I started this blog a little over three years ago, one of my first posts was about a renaissance of sorts that was taking place in the world of independent music. It was, and is, being spearheaded by a group of artists out of England that were turning my world upside down with some of the best music anywhere in the world. That renaissance continues, with more and more bands/artists joining in. Tonight, I bring you one of the brightest of them. Meet The Mars Patrol...

Edinburgh Scotland and London, England are responsible for my latest obsession, The Mars Patrol. The Mars Patrol are Davina Divine, vocals ; Ross Nelson, guitar; Stephen Parker, bass; Mat Baker, keys; JamescWilliamson, guitar and Lewis Searle, drums. One of the hottest bands on the indie scene, their highly anticipated debut album, Human Condition, is on the horizon. I've heard it. I've listened to it non-stop. I've hit replay several times on several tracks. I've fallen madly in love with every single thing about this band.

The lead single off of Condition, Girl I Used To Know, is slated for an October 19th release. But of course, the band has a bit of a teaser floating around out there that I'll share with you here.



From the moment that I first started to stalk their music, there was an instant familiarity to The Mars Patrol. They remind me of quite a few bands from the late 80s and early 90s, but at the same time, this is a distinct sound unlike anything else on the radio today. Human Condition is honestly the exact type of debut album that can immediately put an artist on the map in a really big way. Coming in at 11 songs, there is no let down from start to end.  I can honestly say that I have no idea how they managed to pick Girl as the lead single There are 11 tracks on this album that I would love to hear playing on satellite radio or our local Top 40 and adult contemporary over the air (traditional FM radio) stations. Be on the listen for standout tracks Stop Pushing You Away, Promise, I Wonder and Forever. And when you finish listening to Human Condition the first time, I dare you to try to get Davina's voice out of your soul.

Head over to the official The Mars Patrol website and make sure that you signup for their mailing list. Trust me when I say this, this band is going to be HUGE. Follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook. And as always, check back with me here on MY Indie Music Blog for all things The Mars Patrol.

Support independent artists. Give indie music a chance.

Jesse W Johnson - Primal Scream

It's hard to believe that it's been almost three years since I got an email from one Jesse W. Johnson regarding his band Jet W Lee. He found me via this blog and reached out in hopes of getting a mention. Since then, I can't imagine this journey not including either Jet W Lee or Jesse W. Johnson!

I heard from Springfield, Illinois, USA native Johnson again recently and was given an advanced listen to his latest EP, Primal Scream, ahead of its October 17th release date. Let me say this about Primal Scream... damn! Following the tried and true blueprint from his 2014 release Cannon Rows, Johnson brings more of his darkly melodic blend of Americana, folk and indie rock front and center with Primal Scream.



The lead single and title track, Primal Scream, is one hell of an indicator as to what's in store for you. At only 5 songs, Johnson manages to pack quite a bit into a small package. He runs the gambit from rock to folk to Americana and back again, and never skips a beat. Song after song flows by and before you realize it, you've been listening for an hour or so on repeat. That's an hour or so well spent.  

"There's something sleeping inside of me and I've been waiting for it to wake up..." My pick for standout track on this EP easily goes to Fucked Up First, a rocking little ditty that gets inside of your head and stays there. I absolutely love every single thing about this song, and I for one and glad that that little something inside of Jesse W. Johnson woke up!

If you're in the greater Chicago area, make sure you head out to Cafe Mustache on Saturday, October 17th for the Primal Scream release show. If you see Jesse, tell him I said hello and buy him a beer for me!

Head over to the official Jesse W. Johnson website now. Follow Jesse on Twitter, like him on Facebook and head over to his Bandcamp page to download some (or, preferably all) of his previous tunes. And as always, follow along here at MY Indie Music Blog for all thing Jesse W. Johnson as they happen!

Support independent artists. Give indie music a chance.

Mile Marker Zero

Hey there! We're back at this weekend and we've got some AMAZING music to bring to you from all over the world here on MY Indie Music Blog. And what better place to start than in our own (almost) backyard... New Haven, Connecticut, USA!

A couple of months ago, I was down in Connecticut for a Chaser Eight re-release show of their latest EP. On the bill that night was New Haven progressive rock quintet Mile Marker Zero. Featuring vocalist Dave Alley, John Tuohy on guitar, Mark Focarile on keyboard, bassist Tim Rykoski and drummer Doug Alle, MMZ did nothing less than blow me away that night. Having never heard of them before, I was able to go to the show with an open mind. No expectations, just a chance to check out a "local" New England band and enjoy some good music.


 
Saying I was blown away by this band that night would be a bit of an understatement. What started out as a smooth, low-key melodic rock intro quickly exploded into a rousing rock n roll explosion in my earholes that didn't let up for the next 20 minutes. The only thing that disappointed me about their set was that it ended. MMZ is everything that today's modern rock radio fails to be. There's no cookie cutter pretense to their sound. Going back and listening to their catalog, you know that what they started out as is exactly what they intend to be, 100% pure rock.

Now I'm left scratching me head and wondering, why the hell haven't more people heard of Mile Marker Zero??? New Englanders, no distance is too great to travel to support great regional talent, and the same goes for you wherever you are reading this. Trust me, I know. My borders have expanded in the last few years. If I can drive a few hundred miles to see a band, why can't you? It beats the hell out of over paying to see the latest mainstream darling prove that great studio engineers can get you far.

Head over to the official Mile Marker Zero website. Follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook. For all of you Mile Marker Zero one stop music shopping, head over to the MMZ music hub. And as always, check back here on MY Indie Music Blog for all things Mile Marker Zero.

Support independent artists. Give indie music a chance.

Broken Romeo - Side One

This is just a quick stop in to right a wrong here on MY Indie Music Blog...

During my unplanned hiatus, Broken Romeo has been hard at work completing song after song for their new album, Side One.

Regular readers of this blog, as well as those who follow me on Twitter or are friends with me on Facebook, know what a mark I am for Tuscon, Arizona's Broken Romeo. It's no coincidence that they came into my life about the time that I undertook this journey of music discovery. I like to think of it as divine intervention by the music gods. I happened upon one so called critic's review of their album Desperation Daze and knew that I had to do what I could, whenever I could, to make sure these guys were properly appreciated for what they give us, which is in-your-face-unapologetic-rock-n-fucking-roll. Period. Since they released Desperation Daze and while they've been working hard on Side One, the guys have gone back through their impressive catalog and remastered and reissued four other albums for our indie music loving listening pleasure: Retribution, Mother Mercury, Bleed and Temptation. This represents one of the baddest ass catalogs of music available today, indie or mainstream (and quite frankly, ten times better than ANY mainstream artist's renderings today). Now, with the near completion of Side One, it's all coming full circle for the guys.


 
Seven songs down and three to go... but man, what a seven song intro this has been. I may have been away for a while, but I damn sure haven't missed a single one of these being released! Get your asses over to their Bandcamp page now and download the first seven tunes from Side One as well as their other albums. Then make sure you follow the band on Twitter and like them on Facebook and pay their official website a visit so that you don't miss out on ANY of these releases. And just so you know, this is an early front-runner for my top indie album of the year!

Support independent artists. Give indie music a chance.

Chaser Eight: Naked

It's not everyday that one of the greatest rock n roll bands on the planet turns off the amps and strips themselves down for our listening pleasure. But when they do, damn it's something special.

New Haven, Connecticut's own Chaser Eight is at it again. This time, they've managed to one up themselves with their latest EP release, Chaser Eight: Naked. When I first heard of their plans to release an acoustic EP, I wondered how in the world one of the most energetic stage bands could possible turn it down quite a few notches and pull off an unplugged set. For starters, how could they possibly pick just a few songs from their impressive repertoire to re-record for an acoustic album? Having seen them live twice, I couldn't wait to see how they where going to pull this off (of course, I had no doubt that they could and would). Well, this my friends, is as close to musical nirvana as you're likely to get.



Hearing a reserved *AUDRA* does wonders for your soul. On the standout track, To Find Him, you can hear a vulnerability in her voice that's a surprising change from the power we've become accustomed to. Don't worry though, her vocals are on full display in Moving On, mixed with just the right amount of restraint to draw you in to her world as she says goodbye to a love as she moves on.

If I have one complaint about the EP, it's that Major and Minor didn't make the cut. But then, that's just me be greedy :) At least I got to hear a stripped down version in their recent StageIt show.

Make sure you visit the official Chaser Eight website. Follow the band on Twitter and like them on Facebook. Then head over to iTunes to download your copy of Chaser Eight: Naked as well as all of their previous releases. Trust me, your earholes will thank you!

And as always, follow along right here on MY Indie Music Blog for all things Chaser Eight as they happen!

Support independent artists. Give indie music a chance.

Alisa Sharp- Say What You Want

Yes, I'm back at it again! I don't know about you, but I'm glad this bout of writer's block is finally gone!

Something that I'm going to attempt in the coming days, weeks and months is to broaden my musical horizons, so to speak, and begin to bring you a more eclectic mix of music here on MY Indie Music Blog. I'll never turn my back on the rock and roll, don't get me wrong, but there is so much more out there that deserves to be heard. I can't tell you how excited I am for what's coming up!

Case in point, tonight's feature artist.

Los Angeles, California based indie pop singer Alisa Sharp released her latest single Say What You Want back in July. A social media firestorm erupted as she Tweeted and posted to everyone and anyone who would give her song a listen. I happened to have been one of the lucky recipients of said Tweets. Admittedly, I wasn't immediately a fan of the song itself. Don't get me wrong, I've been a fan of Alisa's for some time now, but her particular style of music isn't necessarily what I prefer these days. She is what you might expect to hear on your local Top 40 radio station. This particular blog is the exact opposite of that, and for good reason. In no way, shape or form do I slight Alisa for her style of music. As I've stated before, I force myself to listen to my local Top 40 station for at least 15 minutes a day. It gives me a different perspective for what I hope to accomplish with this blog. But sometimes, I am my own worst enemy because I often find that I've overlooked someone who is the perfect fit for this blog. That's what I've found in Alisa Sharp and Say What You Want.


What Alisa does, she does extremely well. She has a huge voice that's full of emotion. Her visible scars, which she wears proudly, do not define who she is. It's that voice, which makes Say What You Want the type of song that reaches down into your soul and grabs a hold of it and refuses to let go. No words that I type here can do this song or this artist the justice that they deserve. I've told Alisa this and I'll repeat it here: SHE made me a fan of this song. "...I'll be your haven just say what you want, so say what you want...". Alisa Sharp, thank YOU for having the voice to say what you want. I can not wait for the album to come out!

Make sure you check out the official Alisa Sharp website. Follow her on Twitter and like her on Facebook. Head over to Bandcamp, Reverbnation and Soundcloud to download Say What You Want. And as always, follow along here on MY Indie Music Blog for everything Alisa Sharp as it happens.

Support independent artists. Give indie music a chance.

FEATURETTE

Welcome back to MY Indie Music Blog!

I know we celebrated our third anniversary some time ago, but then a funny thing called life got in the way of all the music I had planned to share with you. Good thing life had a way of working things out so that we could happily co-exist. Now I can get back to what matters to us here at MY Indie Music Blog- the music!

The journey of an independent music blogger is filled with wide open highways as well as winding back roads that take us all over the musical spectrum. Fortunately for me, that means that I'm exposed to so much more music than your average mainstream radio listener. Sure, this blog has often been accused of favoritism with one style of music over another. While it's never been my intention to alienate certain types of music, this blog is more or less dependent on whatever my musical taste happens to be at any given time. It just so happens that my indie music loving soul tends to favor my rock n roll side more than most others! That is until now. This certain electro-pop duo from Canada reached out to me to take a listen to their upcoming EP and I was instantly blown away. So let's see what we've got in store for you as we officially kick off our third year of bringing you the very best in independent music from all over the world!

FEATURETTE is an electro-pop duo from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Made up of Lexie Jay (vocals) and Jon Fedorsen (drums/production). I can honestly say that I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I agreed to take a listen to their upcoming release Crave. I haven't been into the electro sound since the new wave days of the 80's (yes, I just dated myself) and the alternative sounds of the late 80's and early 90's. Admittedly, my musical preference leans towards rock and metal. It's amazing what happens to you when you break down some of your own barriers and just let the music take over your soul, which is exactly what happened when I pressed play on Crave.

Playing in two distinct volumes, Crave is best described by Lexie as "(a) ‘featurette’ - like a mini movie - so we’ve written the songs to express that story and really help the listener feel what the girl is going through. The first vol. is rather dark (craving passion, lust, destruction - the wild side), and then the second is the resolution (craving love, respect, resolution, self acceptance)..."

I found that it's nearly impossible to get the hauntingly beautiful vocals of Lexie Jay out of my head. I've found myself, on more than one occasion in the past few weeks, getting lost in the album for hours at a time, just listening to it on repeat. I've gotten tangled up in the web that they've weaved in this girls journey for love. I can feel her passion unfolding as she slips down that slippery slope of self-destruction before ultimately finding that self acceptance she craved from the beginning. A standout track on the album is Sticks and Stones, where she begs her love over and over "...I love you, I love you, don't leave me on my own." My heart literally ached the first time I heard this track. The passion and emotion in the vocals are about as real as they come. It's as if Lexie Jay has experienced this emotion in her real life (and how do we know that she hasn't?). What FEATURETTE has done is trumped any artist on mainstream radio. They've written a cohesively perfect album that brings back storytelling. There's depth and meaning to every word being sung. It flows perfectly from track to track to tell the story from the dark beginnings of Broken to the resolute finisher Procession "... somebody's gonna take over the world tonight. Somebody's gonna fall. Somebody stands tall... and that could be, I could be that girl. And she could be me..."

Well played FEATURETTE, well played. I'm hooked.

Mark October 15th on your calendar now. That's the official release date for Crave. I've heard it in its entirety. I'm obsessed. You'll find out why for yourself. And you'll thank Lexie and Jon as I am now. 

Follow FEATURETTE on Twitter. Like them on Facebook. And heard over to their official website now to pre-order Crave.

And as always, follow along right here on MY Indie Music Blog for all things FEATURETTE as they happen.

Support independent artists. Give indie music a chance.

Dos Ringos - KY Women

Dos Ringos is back on MY Indie Music Blog with my pick for song of the summer, KY Women.

To say that I was a little excited when the guys sent this song to me would be an understatement. Having become such a fan of this band, I'm always on the lookout for new material by them. Each time, I'm left wanting more, and in advance of their upcoming double EP, KY Women is exactly what I needed to get my Dos Ringos fix!

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KY Women is just a good old fashioned southern rock song done right. Picture yourself cruising down your favorite back road on your way to nowhere in particular. Roll the windows down and crank this tune as loud as you can. Then hit repeat. I've done this on more than one occasion and it does wonders for your country music loving soul. At the same time, it makes up for the rash of "bro country" that's hitting the airwaves over on your local FM dial. Country music purists can rest assured that the genre is indeed safe in the hands of Dos Ringos!

Follow Dos Ringos on Twitter and like them on Facebook. Make sure you check out the official Dos Ringos website and don't forget to download your copy of KY Women while you're there!

And as always, make sure you check back here with me at MY Indie Music Blog for all things Dos Ringos as they happen!

Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.

When Particles Collide - This Town

During the course of the last four and a half years (or so), the most gratifying aspect of my love and support for independent artists has been their accessibility. No cattle call VIP experience from any major record label act will ever top sitting in a bar on a Friday night before a gig and just talking with two of my favorite people in the entire universe. Which is exactly what I had the chance to do this past weekend in Dover, New Hampshire with Sasha Alcott and Chris Viner, who make up rock n roll duo When Particles Collide. I was reminded that I have been a fan and supporter of WPC for roughly four years of their four and a half year existence. In this time, I have had a front row seat for their evolution from a pop/punk power duo (Making Enemies and Pop! Pop! Bang! Bang!) to full fledged rock n roll icons for the indie scene with Ego, Photoelectric and their latest EP, This Town.

This Town is a 6 song EP that pays homage to their hometown of Bangor, Maine and was born out of the tragic loss of a couple of their friends from Bangor in a car accident last summer. Having listened to this EP almost non-stop since its pre-release to pledge backers and having heard the songs live, I can honestly say that I have never heard a body of art as personal and full of raw emotion as This Town.




For those who were there and lived these songs, This Town is a fitting tribute to lost lives and a more fitting tribute to the town that shaped all of their lives. The independent music community is a tight knit group. To be a part of it is indeed something special. And for When Particles Collide, I will forever be grateful.

Head over to the When Particles Collide Bandcamp page to download This Town. For those local to Maine and New Hampshire, you can head to your local Bull Moose Records store to buy the cd. Follow the band on Twitter and like them on Facebook. But most importantly, check them out at one of their two album release shows on May 29th and the Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub in Boston (event info is here) and on May 30th at the Asylum in Portland, Maine (event info is here) and check back here with MY Indie Music Blog for info on their upcoming summer tour dates.

Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.

Twelve Years Driven is back at it again...

Growing up in Dallas in the late 80's and early 90's, I was exposed to quite an eclectic variety of music. The state of today's mainstream radio is what made me realize how good we really had it back in the day in Big D. At the time, we were all over the place three or four nights a week, from Greenville Avenue to Deep Ellum to Dallas Alley. We'd hop from bar to bar listening to everything from rock to blues to country to Tejano to house music to rap to piano bars... you get the idea. There was one place in particular, Dallas City Limits, where I first cut my teeth on the metal sound that would shape my younger years. Twelve Years Driven has brought me back to that time and now everything has come full circle.

Houston, TX, metal quintet Twelve Years Driven is back again with another stellar EP, the self-titled Twelve Years Driven. Proving that it's never good enough to rest on your own laurels, the guys have taken the old adage of "stepping up their game" to an entirely new level. If I weren't already a huge mark for this band, this EP would be the one that turned me. From the second that you hit play, the band is already at full throttle with Devil's Way and you just know you're in for something special. Guitarist Larry Gilstrap told me that they think this is the best work that they've done so far. Who am I to argue? My response to him was that I listen to a lot of Sirius XM Octane. This four song EP is the best thing going on in the world of metal music right now. Period. There isn't a single artist played on Octane that I'd take over Twelve Years Driven, and there are some really good bands on there that are in the prime of their careers. I'd STILL take Twelve Years Driven over every one of them. Every single time.

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Robert Rice's vocals are something special. He's a breed apart. The hottest percussion section ever assembled with Kris Wood on bass and Mark Sebren on drums punch you right in the eardrums from the get-go, and with Adam Simmons and Larry Gilstrap shredding guitars like nobody's business, Twelve Years Driven remind me so much of Pantera in their early days that it's uncanny. Remember my mention of Dallas City Limits back in the day? Yes, I was there when Pantera was cutting their teeth in the Dallas music scene before they blew up worldwide. Yes, I remember how hungry they were and how that set them apart from every other act at the time. Guess what I see and hear in Twelve Years Driven? Exactly. There's a torch that needs to be lit again. When it is, I want to see these guys standing tall over all of us leading the way for indie artists the world over to finally have their time to shine.

Check out the official Twelve Years Driven website and their Reverbnation page. Follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook. Most importantly, request the hell out of them on your local radio stations and on the many internet stations already on the bandwagon. It's time to take back the airwaves!

And as always, follow along here on MY Indie Music Blog for all things Twelve Years Driven as they happen!

Give indie music a chance.

Chaser Eight by Chaser Eight

Regular readers of MY Indie Music blog, as well as those of you who follow me on Twitter, know that I unashamedly show favoritism towards certain indie artists. There's a good reason why I do this. When you find a singer/band that exceeds your own passion with the music that they create, they deserve every ounce of support that you can muster. This is why Chaser Eight is back on MY Indie Music Blog with their new, self-titled album, Chaser Eight.

I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity of enjoying Chaser Eight for several weeks now as I was forwarded an advanced copy of the album by the band. I have taken a more personal interest in this particular project because I was also given the chance by the band to hear the music in its most honest form: the demos. I was invited in to the recording process by Chaser Eight and asked for my input on the demos and what I would like to hear on the new album. I had never been asked to give my opinion of an artists music up to this point in this manner. For this opportunity, I will always hold this band in the highest of regards, both as artists and as friends.

Now, let's get down to the business of the music. The first single, Lead Me Down, gives you an immediate indication of what your in store for... one helluva rocking good time!



I've also had the pleasure of witnessing the spectacle that is Chaser Eight live and in living color. There aren't many acts out there, mainstream or indie, that transfer their energy from the studio to the stage as flawlessly as Chaser Eight does. Their artistry is pure and genuine and you never feel put off by the disappointment that what you listened to at home isn't what you heard when you saw them live. I'd even be willing to go out on a limb to say that the live product is a step above the recorded product. And THAT is saying a lot.

 The official release date for Chaser Eight is 02/17/2015, which is just a few hours from now. There is a HUGE release party scheduled for a few days later on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at The Ballroom at The Outer Space in Hamden, Connecticut. If you are within relative driving distance, I highly suggest that you do not miss out on the opportunity to see one of the hottest bands in the world of not just indie music, but the world period. There's a reason why I consider myself to be one of the biggest Crazy 8's around. It's your turn to find out why.



Make sure that you're following Chaser Eight on Twitter, like them on Facebook and sign up for their newsletter on the official website for all news related to the official release of Chaser Eight.

And as always, stay tuned here at MY Indie Music Blog for all things Chaser Eight!

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Project Dirty™ - Just In Time

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, it is with enormous pride and great pleasure that I bring back to MY Indie Music Blog one of my forever favorites, Project Dirty™!!!

Mark your calendars for 02/03/2015. That, my friends, is the worldwide release date for their new single Just In Time!!!!

Micah and Rhett have once again been gracious in allowing me to preview the new single and tonight I'm going to share just a snipet of it with you right here!



What you're witnessing is the evolution of one of the most important indie artists around. Already staking their claim as one of the hottest up-and-coming artists on SiriusXM Channel 3 (20 on 20), as well as numerous radio stations all across America, Germany, Australia, Venezuela and Brazil (are you sensing a trend here?), Just In Time gives us more of what we've come to expect from Project Dirty™ while allowing us to hear the growth of their sound. As I've begun to state on previous posts, as well as on Twitter, I don't want to see indie artists dominating the Billboard mainstream charts. I want to see artists like Project Dirty™ taking the helm of a new generation of REAL music that outshines every single contemporary artist out there today. As far as I'm concerned, Just In Time has arrived just in time!

Now go set whatever reminders you need for the worldwide release of Just In Time on 02/03/2015 on iTunes. Make sure you check out the official Project Dirty™ website, follow the guys on Twitter (Project Dirty™, Micah Faulkner, Rhett Fisher), like them on Facebook, check out and download their previous releases on iTunes, and as always, follow along right here at MY Indie Music Blog for all things Project Dirty™ as they happen!

Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.

Euphoria Audio UK Spring Tour 2015

To all of my readers in the United Kingdom, I am jealous of you. SERIOUSLY jealous of you. Hot on the heals of their critically acclaimed and long overdue debut album, Euphoria Audio, Euphoria Audio has announced the first leg of their 2015 UK tour! I'm jealous of all of you because you are there and I am not. You have the chance to see the band hand picked by Aerosmith to open for them at a benefit concert in Singapore. I'm jealous of you because those of you who have yet to experience Euphoria Audio live and in living color now have the chance to do just that.



This video is as close as I'll get until these guys head out on their first world tour, which I desperately hope will happen VERY soon. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of this band. Every day, I force myself to listen to my local Top 40 station for 15 minutes. I often find myself begging for bands like Euphoria Audio to get their shot at righting everything that's wrong with mainstream radio today. Very recently, I've found myself reevaluating that very sentiment. I no longer want indie artists to take over mainstream radio. That would mean that they've fallen under the influence of the decision makers that are ruining music for us today. No, I want indie artists to outshine their mainstream contemporaries and create a new era of music. REAL music for fans of real music! Euphoria Audio is the exact type of artist that can do this!!!

Check out their tour dates for the first leg of their Spring tour:

MARCH 2015
5th - Golden Diamond - Sutton in Ashfield
6th - Lounge 41 - Workington
14th - AOR Festival - Camp HRH, Pwllheli - North Wales
21st - **The 229 Club - Great Portland St. - London** £6 per ticket via Paypal

APRIL 2015
10th - **The Hop - Wakefield** £5 per ticket via Paypal

More dates will be announced soon, so make sure you are following the band on Twitter,
like them on Facebook and join their mailing list on the official Euphoria Audio website to ensure that you receive all the important updates as they happen, but most importantly, head over to iTunes right now to download Euphoria Audio and get ready for the eargasm of a lifetime! 

And as always, check back here with MY Indie Music Blog for all things Euphoria Audio as they occur!

Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.

Top Indie Albums/EPs of 2014

2014 was one hell of a year for me musically. For this first time since I became the unofficial voice for the independent artist, I made it an entire year without a single purchase of a "mainstream" artist's material. You read that correctly. Not one single mainstream record label got a single penny of my hard earned money in 2014. Every single cent that I spent last year on Bandcamp, iTunes, cdBaby, Reverbnation, Amazon, every pledge made on PledgeMusic and Indiegogo, went to hard working independent artists. And I spent A LOT of money!

Now, I've intentionally held on to this post for a reason. Towards the end of each year, we get inundated with lists from all over the music spectrum. I wanted to give you all some time to be able to enjoy each of those lists, as well as to give myself time to make sure what I was giving you truly was the best of what was given to us last year. Some of the albums/EPs on this list you've heard of from previous posts, others may be new to you but are already near and dear to my indie music loving soul. So without further ado, I give to you, my faithful readers and lovers of all things indie, MY Indie Music Blog's list of the top indie albums/EPs of 2014!

Honorable mention:

Little Donkey - Real Woman  www.littledonkeymusic.com

The Well Reds - Volume  www.thewellreds.com

Collette Andrea - Steady Sun  www.colletteandrea.com

Simpleton & Cityfolk - Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken  www.simpletonandcityfolk.bandcamp.com

Ghost of Paul Revere - Believe  www.ghostofpaulrevere.com

Rikaan Ray - Inaugurated  www.rikaanray.bandcamp.com

Forever Still - Scars  www.foreverstill.dk

Sleeperstar - Lost Machines  www.sleeperstar.com

Lori Henriques - How Great Can This Day Be  www.lorihenriques.com

D. Edward - Love Is  www.dedwardmusic.com

Olivia Millerschin - Over the Weather  www.oliviamillerschin.com

Nicki Kris - Dream Big  www.nickikris.com

Codie Prevost - All Kinds of Crazy   www.codieprevost.com

Ben Harvey - #Two  www.soundcloud.com/BenHarveyMusic

Gunther Brown - Good Nights for Daydreams  www.guntherbrown.com

Alexander McKay - Brings Us Together  www.alexandermckaymusic.com

Mad Anthony - Sank for Days  www.madanthony.bandcamp.com

3PM - Slow Me Down  www.3pm-music.com

Step Echo - Songs for the Broken  www.stepecho.com  

Haster - Let It Go  www.haster.us

Friends of Emmet - State of Mind  www.friendsofemmet.com

Josh Damigo - I Will Be There  www.joshdamigo.com

And, now let's have a listen to the MY Indie Music Blog Top 10 (or so) indie albums/EPs for 2014!

10. Adrian Pain & The Dead Sexy - Picture Day at Night School

Toronto, Ontario all-core rockers Adrian Pain & The Dead Sexy were so far ahead of their own game with Night School that I have a hard time keeping the volume turned down much below blow-my-fucking-eardrums-out every and anytime I listen! For those of you who think rock n roll is dead, Adrian Pain & The Dead Sexy would like to have a talk with you!

www.all-corerecords.com/Adrian_Pain___Dead_Sexy

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9. Aloud - It's Got to Be Now

The biggest compliment I can give to this Boston, Massachusetts quartet is simply this: They are one of the best live acts that I have EVER seen. Period. This was one of the many successful crowd funded campaigns that I supported this year (at the recommendation of Sasha Alcott from When Particles Collide), and It's Got to Be Now is a rockers delight from start to finish.

www.allthingsaloud.com/








8. The Porter Draw - The Porter Draw

The Porter Draw is one finely polished album that flawlessly blends roots rock with alt-country and Americana. If there were ever a call for a revival of today's mainstream country music, I would put my first call in to the this band. I mean, how many people have balls big enough to track a cover of a Bruce Springsteen tune and do it better than the Boss ever did?

www.theporterdraw.com/






7. Broken Romeo - Side 1 (2014)

Tuscon, Arizona alt-rockers Broken Romeo did things their own way in 2014 by piecing together what turned out to be an epic follow-up to the smash hit album Desperation Daze. The band recorded and released the first five songs off of the EP one epic rock anthem at a time, one after another... and the EP isn't even finished yet! I can say with certainty that the completed product is already on my list for 2015!!!




(Tie) 6. Project Dirty - Blue Fire

Los Angeles, California electronic pop/rock duo Project Dirty is currently exploding on the pop scene. They represent the best chance indie music has of crushing the misconception that the major record labels dictate to us what we hear. SiriusXM satellite radio has become the stomping grounds for song after song by Project Dirty, and Blue Fire took off like a rocket in 2014!

www.projectdirty.com/






(Tie) 6. Ruth Willow - Heart Requiem

Making her debut on MY Indie Music Blog is Liverpool, United Kingdom's Ruth Willow. I've been trying to find a way to get her on this blog since I first listened to Heart Requiem but my biggest fear is that my words will not do her music justice. So much emotion comes out in her songs that I get lost in her voice and find myself continuously hitting repeat just to hear more. Ruth Willow is a prime example of an indie artist that should be outshining every single mainstream artist on a global stage.

 
www.ruthwillow.co.uk





(Tie) 5. Katie Cole - Lay It All Down

Los Angeles, California based Aussie native Katie Cole is back on MY Indie Music Blog with something special that's missing from today's mainstream radio, Lay It All Down. With one of the strongest voices in music today, Katie's songs instantly have a familiar feeling. There's a charm to her that reminds you of some of music's classic folk/rock artists with a fresh update for today.

www.katiecoleofficial.com/ 




(Tie) 5. When Particles Collide - Photoelectric

Bangor, Maine husband/wife duo When Particles Collide had one helluva coming out party in 2014. Already an established favorite in the Northeast, Chris and Sasha managed to cut Photoelectric, embarked on their first cross-country tour, and still found the time to fit in the beginnings of yet another album! Classic rock, modern rock, punk rock, call Photoelectric what you want as long as you call it a raucous, ass-kicking, rocking good time! When it comes to the DIY indie artist, there aren't many better or more on top of their game as WPC!

www.whenparticlescollide.com/





4. David Gielan - The Golden Record

Los Angeles, California based David Gielan is the ultimate indie artist. Singer/songwriter, producer, engineer, composer... these are just a few of the hats that he wears. Whether it's producing hit indie record after record for some of the best in the industry at his studio, Melody Maker Productions, or constantly redefining himself as a singer/songwriter, David does it all. The Golden Record was a late entry in 2014 and well worth the wait. Venturing into the electronic genre, this is not at all what we've come to expect from our favorite indie artist, but damn, what an impressive 3 song EP this is.

www.gielan.com

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3. Euphoria Audio - Euphoria Audio

As I've grown to love Wakefield, United Kingdom based Euphoria Audio more and more over the last two years, their sound becomes more and more familiar to me. So much so that I often forget that I'm not listening to them on a local radio station. Prior to the release of Euphoria Audio, we've become familiar with Gravity, 3 Seconds, Speechless and Our Yesterdays to name a few. But put this entire album together in one cohesive package and Euphoria Audio comes off more like a greatest hits album than a debut. Chock full of huge stadium pounding guitar riffs and soaring vocals, it's easy to see why Aerosmith (yes, THAT Aerosmith) asked the guys to open for them at their first ever show in Singapore last summer. This band is that good and this band is ready for the world to discover what the EUAUArmy already knows!

www.euphoria-audio.com 

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2. Spaceship Days - Saving the Universe

The evolution of indie music in 2014 was never more evident than with Durham, North Carolina alt-rockers Spaceship Days and their album Saving the Universe. Song after song, verse after verse, Universe gives back to fans of real music what has been taken from them over the years. As soon as I hit play when I was first checking out this band, I knew this band was a bona fide superstar in the making. Spaceship Days is taking the helm as one of the best bands around, and in doing so, they are bringing the most original modern rock sound there is in any medium today.

www.spaceshipdaysmusic.com





1. Ryan Star - ANGELS + ANIMALS

It's almost unheard of in today's mainstream music that an artist on the verge of having one of their biggest "commercially" successful years would just walk away from a major label recording contract. In 2014, New York native Ryan Star did just that. After achieving success with his major label debut, 11:59, 2014 looked like it was chalking up to be the year of Ryan Star. Switching record labels after a hugely successful self-funded single (Stay Awhile) became a viral YouTube sensation, the realization that his creative freedom was going to be severely hindered, Ryan decided to return to his indie roots and record his music on his terms with his vision. It says more about the artist and what's important to him than what we may have ever given him credit for. Sure, we all knew the passion was there in his previous recordings. Now we get a taste of his character. A N G E L S + A N I M A L S is what you get when an artist is unwilling to compromise his craft to conform to some standard set by someone that just doesn't get it. Ryan Star, I would like to personally thank you for setting a standard that every other artist will have to strive for for the rest of their careers. Others may say they give their fans what they want. Very few ever deliver. You sir delivered and then some. Here's looking forward to 2015 and After the Elephant.

www.rstar.net






Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.