Hello once again and welcome back to MY Indie Music Blog! It's been a while. It feels good to be back again. Who's ready for some new music? Well, let's go get to it then, shall we?
Join me in welcoming Atlanta, Ga's very own Betty Brokn to MY Indie Music Blog!
Riptides (featuring Eric Fontaine) is the latest single from Atlanta electro pop indie duo Betty Brokn. Meg Scalise and Torin Degnats (formerly of The Well Reds), with some help from their friends, make up this exciting new music venture that first hit our radar earlier this year with their first two singles 1985 and Lemonade. Musically, their sound is described by the duo as "...music that bounces candidly from serious to playful, from sassy to broken, to I am woman hear me roar." There's a little jazz, a little bit of the blues and whole lot of soul in their sound. Riptides has quickly become a track favorite on my Spotify playlist. It's like a throwback to the 50's, infused with that jazzy blues sound but with the throttle wide open blasting down the highway in a rat rod! If Hulu decides somewhere down the line to bring back their femme fatale show Reprisal, I can totally hear Riptides as the title song!
The duo is currently working on a 6-song Ep that I personally can not wait to hear. As is usually the case with artists that I showcase here at MY Indie Music Blog, their sound is fresh and so far removed from today's mainstream radio mess. I'm hoping for big things for them in the very near future! Click here for the link tree to follow Betty Brokn so that you don't miss out on any new happenings and as always, follow along here at MY Indie Music Blog for any updates.
Support unsigned artists. Give indie music a chance.
Portland, Maine indie rockers Jeremiah Freed first hit the national music scene back in March of 2002 with their self titled debut album, Jeremiah Freed, which spawned the hit single Again. As it went in the music industry back then, much as it does today, the stars didn't quite align the way they should have for Jeremiah Freed. 2003's Slowburn would mark the final studio album the guys would release for 14 years. A lot has changed in that time, but one thing remains... Jeremiah Freed was and is a force to be reckoned with!
Companion, Part 1, marks the long overdue return of Jeremiah Freed to the world of indie modern/alternative rock. Most of the original band members are back... Joe Smith on vocals, Jake Roche and Nick Goodale on guitar and Matt Cosby on bass are joined by new drummer Andy Cosby. 14 years hasn't diminished the talents of this group one bit. Companion is the type of EP that you wish were at the very least an LP, if not a double live album. As soon as you pop the cd in (yes, kids, there are still those of us who enjoy listening to music that isn't streamed thru our headphones on our phone), there's this build up to track one, Hey Mama, that instantly takes you back to 2002. The sound is still the same, but in a grown up, we've lived our lives but can still do this better than 99% of the bands on radio today vibe. As a biased fan, I can make that statement. Also, as a biased fan, I can tune into our local alternative station and prove that statement to be true.
Bad Feeling is the rousing lead single off of Companion that is sure to catapult this EP to the forefront of the modern rock sound. There are hints of the bands southern rock styling on Hey Mama and I'm on Fire, and for you bluesy rock lovers, Thank You should satisfy you immensely. For my money, though, this entire EP pays me back in spades on one track... Heartbreak Atlanta. Easily the standout track on Companion, this song literally came out of nowhere for me when I first listened to the the EP. Here I am, rocking right along to the first two tracks, then this song hit every single feel that I've been feeling for the last year and a half. It's not every single time out that an artist can hit one out of the park like Jeremiah Freed has with this song. They shouldn't be expected to. But when they do, man, do they ever. Heartbreak Atlanta reminds me of growing up listening to my dad's old vinyl albums and 45s. The popular song was always the A side release. Every once in a while, you'd flip the record and discover a hidden gem on the B side. I'd put this track right up there with Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam, God Only Knows by the Beach Boys or Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers. It's that damn good.
But don't take my word for it. Go out, support the band, and buy your copy of Companion, Part 1 today. If you're fortunate enough to live in Maine, you can head to your local Bull Moose music store and pick up your copy there. If not, click here to order it online. For the streaming crowd, hit up Spotify, iTunes and Google Play. Make sure you follow Jeremiah Freed on Twitter and like them on Facebook, and check out the official Jeremiah Freed website. And if you're one of the lucky ones who got your tickets to their first stage show in 10 years, I'll see you in Portland, Maine at the Portland H.O.M.E. on August 19th.
Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.
I'm baaaack! And for very good reason. After taking the past year off
to recharge, so to speak, I've been lured back from my sabbatical by
none other than Twelve Years Driven. You remember them, the hard
hitting, badass metal boys from Texas that have made a few appearances
here on MY Indie Music Blog? Of course you do. But I'm here today to
introduce you to a whole new side of them. The dressed up, even harder
hitting side than what you got from Lab Work I & II and Lab Work III. Twelve Years Driven is back, and nastier than ever. They're here to declare war!
War
is the latest EP from Houston, TX based hard rock/metal band Twelve
Years Driven. Robert Rice (vocals), Larry Gilstrap and Michael MacSherry
(guitars), Kris Wood (bass) and Chubbs Malone (drums) have taken a
craft that they have proven to be extremely good at and completely blown
the cover off it and reinvent themselves as the preeminate metal band
in today's music industry.
Press play and Chubbs Malone immediately sets the tone for the entire EP on the opening track Victim, and it doesn't even come close to stopping there. The lead single, Good God Damn,
is a direct call to arms against the snowflake generation that's full
of keyboard courage. While Rice is spitting venom at them, that
signature Kris Wood bass line chimes in with some nasty ass guitar licks
from MacSherry and Gilstrap. And that drum line... Lars Ulrich would
cream in his jeans after hearing it! (The addition of Chubbs Malone to the lineup was a genius move.)Twelve Years Driven truly doesn't
give a good God damn, and I fucking love them for it! Track after track,
War sets a new standard for not just the independent music scene, but the entire modern rock/metal genre.
War is about as polished as an independently
produced EP can be and then some. The guys spared no expense and brought
in music industry veterans Dave Fortman to mix and Ted Jensen to master
(at Sterling Sound in NYC). The two have worked with the likes of Alice
in Chains, Mudvayne, Slipknot, Seether, Mastodon... the list reads like
a who's who of today's mainstream modern rock/metal scene. And the work
the the guys put in in the studio is not lost on me. They put 5 of the
best tracks I've heard in some time together here and all I can wish for
every time I listen to War is that it was a full album. I don't want the music to end. It's that damn good. So I do the next best thing. I hit repeat.
My boy Larry Gilstrap once told me (about their EP Lab Work III)
that they had put their best work out there for us. Little did he know
what their future had in store for them. If you follow the band on
social media, you already know the response that their fans have given War, and for good reason. War
is the type of EP that can and should finally flip the script for these guys. It's time for this independent artist to get their time
to shine. Even if it means going to War.
War,
the new EP by Houston, Texas based Twelve Years Driven, is making the
rounds on the internet. You can order a physical copy on cd if that's
your flavor by heading over to CDBaby. You can download War on iTunes and Google Play. But my suggestion is to head over to their merch site on Squareup.com.
While your picking up a cd, you can grab some sweet ass t-shirts,
beanies, hats, jewelry. Every purchase you make helps the guys get down
to road to the next gig as well as helps them out in the studio. I've
done my part, and I'll continue to help them out in any way they need
that I can.
Don't forget to check out the official Twelve Years Driven website. While you're there, join their official mailing list to keep informed of all things Twelve Years Driven. Follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook.
Support unsigned artists. Give indie music a chance.
It is with heartfelt regret that I post this today. I've decided to step away from the blog for a while. This is something that I've been doing a lot of soul searching over the course of the past year. Regular readers and those who follow me on Twitter have seen the obvious downturn in the number of posts here on MY Indie Music Blog. A funny thing called life seems to have gotten in the way of my best intentions with this blog. What started out as being a bit more "selective" with the artists that I chose to feature has turned into I just don't have the time to commit myself 110% to what I started nearly four years ago. As my daughters get older, I find that I have less and less time to think about the content that I want to present to you. I have never stopped listening to the music and I never will. I have never stopped supporting independent artists and I never will. I have recently signed on with the Indie Music Coalition to be a content contributor for their online monthly music magazine. That will be the one avenue that I have to post about the music that I am so passionate about. It will also allow me to be more selective with the content because I've got one shot per month to get it out to you.
That being said, please continue to seek me out on Twitter, as well as those of you who I am friends with on Facebook. If any of you would like to connect with me there as well, send me a friend request (search for Carlos Gnipp... I'm pretty easy to find there!). And I WILL continue to support independent artists on my Twitter feed, so please continue to search me out there as well (@cgnipp).
Until we meet again here at MY Indie Music Blog, please, please, please continue to support independent artists. Give indie music a chance!
Another year is in the books here at MY Indie Music Blog, so that means it's time for my list of the top albums/EPs for 2015. Unlike last year, when I couldn't bring myself to single out just 10 artists, I made a firm commitment to that number this year. Although the number of posts was down this year from years past, that doesn't mean that I wasn't listening! There was a ton of quality work put out by independent artists all over the globe, and I took in as many of them as my ears and wallet could handle. So without further ado, here is the MY Indie Music Blog top indie albums/EPs of 2015:
10. Jesse W. Johnson - 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. Jesse W. Johnson official website
9. Ships Have Sailed - Moodswings Los Angeles alternative pop/rock/electronic duo Ships Have Sailed are making their debut on MY Indie Music Blog. This is a fine example of "just because I haven't featured them doesn't mean I haven't been listening". From the moment I first downloaded Moodswings and hit play, they felt like an act that I've been listening to for years. Catchy pop melodies blend in well with just enough electronica to pull together a nice sound tailor made for a new musical revolution that is indie music.
8. Star-Splitter - Afterglow Another first timer on the blog is Atlanta electronic duo Star-Splitter and their debut EP Afterglow. Coming in at just 3 songs, this is what happens when an artist gives you more with less. This is the most melodic, hauntingly beautiful 3 songs I've heard this year. You can hit play and let the songs repeat on an endless loop and get lost in the harmony over and over again. This is a very well put together effort and I can not wait to hear what Andi and Torin have up their sleeves for their full length debut.
7. Kingdom of Few - Revolution A
long-time favorite of mine here at MY Indie Music Blog, Kingdom of Few
hit our earholes with a rock n roll explosion this summer with Revolution, their highly anticipated follow-up to their 2011 debut EP, Ep. The guys 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. This is rock done right.
6. Chris Watkins & Drunk Poets - London Can Take It It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of the Americana sound, and Alaska native Chris Watkins hits all the marks with London Can Take It. This album easily takes top prize for the "not yet featured on this blog" album of the year (if one such prize existed!). I will be righting that wrong soon and get a full length feature up on this newly discovered (to me) talent. I've already begun to check out other offerings by Watkins and only get more excited by the prospect of having his music in my life. He really is an exceptional talent that I can not believe hasn't been discovered by the mainstream. Oh well, their loss is our forever win!
5. Message to Venus - Victims & Villains No strangers to MY Indie Music Blog, Message to Venus made a HUGE statement this year with the release of their highly anticipated full-length debut album Victims & Villains. To say that this is the future of modern rock music is somewhat of an understatement. This is the savior of the genre. Message to Venus put everything they had and then some into a stellar effort. Hard hitting, huge stadium worthy guitar riffs and some of the hardest hitting percusions around wound together tightly by one of the premier frontmen in rock music today, Message to Venus has laid down the gauntlet on today's rock genre. The challenge is now there for the major label acts to try to keep up! Message to Venus official website
4. Twelve Years Driven - Twelve Years Driven Twelve Years Driven proved 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. 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. 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 mainstream radio that I'd take over this band right now. These guys are peaking at the right time. I see 2016 being their year!
3. Featurette - Crave, Volume 1 & 2 Playing in two distinct volumes, Crave is best described by lead vocalist Lexie Jay 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've found that it's nearly impossible to get the hauntingly beautiful vocals of Lexie out of my head. The
passion and emotion in the vocals are about as real as they come. What FEATURETTE has done is 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 a distinct story of love and lust
from the dark beginnings of Broken to the resolute finisher Procession.
2. When Particles Collide - This Town WPC recently celebrated their 5th year together as a band. It's been roughly 4 and a half years of that time that I've been a fan. I've had the pleasure of driving all over Maine and New Hampshire to see them play and have gotten to know Sasha and Chris over the years. I was even in attendance with my daughters when they got married a few summers ago in Bangor. It's their hometown that's on full display on This Town and is a fitting tribute to the town and people who made them what they became as both a band and as individuals. For those who were there and lived these songs, This Town
is a tribute to lost lives. Having heard these songs played out on numerous ocassions live, I know first hand the raw emotion and honest truths behind the lyrics. There isn't a harder working duo in the music industry today, and soon, the whole world is going to know what I already do. When Particles Collide official website
1. Chaser Eight - Chaser Eight/Naked 2015 was the year of Chaser Eight for me. Having featured them on this blog on multiple ocassions and cutting my teeth with the Chaser Eight live experience, the release of Chaser Eight and the companion EP Chaser Eight Naked, was the turning point in my love affair with this band. 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. 2016 promises to deliver more of what I've come to know and love from this band as they have already slated new single releases beginning this month and continuing into March. This is a great time to be a #Crazy8, and I take pride in being the biggest one of all!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
