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Incomplete Neighbor: Glorious New Weather
August 31, 2008
Great Gustav! Incomplete Neighbor, an indie rock band from San Diego has put together a batch of demos bound for their debut album coming late this Fall or possibly in the Spring. Incomplete Neighbor is also designing artwork for a press packet, album, t-shirts, stickers, and website with small tours of the West coast and Southwest currently being planned for Spring of 2009.
Glorious New Weather, one of the new demo tracks on slate for the release, eerily portends hurricane season, unfortunately drilling down strongly off the US Gulf Coast – although we imagine their song has more to do with the lyricist’s world coming loose at the seams and the need for a major ’stratospheric’ event of some sort to come wash away all his troubles. We have been known to be very wrong though, sometimes abysmally.
A distorted guitar riff pulls us in over the crisp steady drums in this demo song, into which perfectly placed drifting guitar and heartfelt vocals come together in an infectious mix that will you you putting the song on repeat for many weeks to come. Its a thing of beauty, and until release you’ll be forced to wait, listen, lurk and possibly pester over and over at their social site. [cs]
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War Tapes: Dreaming of You
August 30, 2008
“Heart Quaking Doom-Pop, from California”
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“In just a few short years, War Tapes have become a staple of the local scene, with the band playing everything from Hollywood dance nights to South L.A. loft parties. In between charming hipsters with their self-proclaimed (via MySpace) “heart-quaking doom-pop,” the band have been courting the gothabilly crowd with dates opening for Tiger Army. War Tapes’ appearance at F Yeah Fest precedes the September release of a self-titled EP fueled by guitar-heavy tunes that are morose in that mid-1980s KROQ way. Standout lines from the release include “All day long, I sit and communicate with the dead corpse that I call my girlfriend” (from “She Lied”). That should be enough reason to see this band.” - Liz Ohanesian- LA WEEKLY |
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IR SoCal Presents: The Pacific Story
August 29, 2008
This is the story of The Pacific, a three piece indie group of some Japanese heritage, whom have been pouring their hearts into the many storied high-energy performances in the Los Angeles rock underground. For years The Pacific have stormed the local scene with their own brand of British stylized rock, influenced by such greats as the Verve, Stone Roses and Swervedriver, just to name a few.
Bandmates Curt, Mike and Sammy were last seen featured by our own FenderGirl in the archives of the Indie Music Project several years previous. Fast forward to June of 2008 and we have a brand new full length release by The Pacific called Smoke & Mirrors, released on Intravenous Records. It’s a positive, energetic and well mastered effort which once again captures the group’s live sound in all of it’s wild panache.
I was introduced to the group originally by a friend from high school in the LA outfit The Lost & Found, another local group influenced by such UK greats as Paul Weller and Stiff Little Fingers. The Pacific join other talented bands in our local scene like IR favorites, The Weather Underground, slowly solidifying LA as a top destination for fans of the Brit-pop sound (outside of the UK of course).
FEATURED TRACKS: THE PACIFIC
1) Got it Made (Burn LA)
2) Hey Now
3) Buzzcocking Iggy Popping
The Pacific
“Hey Now” (mp3)
from “Smoke and Mirrors”
(Intravenous Records)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
The Pacific
“Got It Made (Burn L.A.)” (mp3)
from “Sound x3 EP”
(Intravenous Records)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Elks: Fuck Season
August 29, 2008
Out of the Woods of New Hampshire, Elks have announced that their primary sound genre is ‘face melting’, so we thought it was time to unleash this pent up beast right before your long weekend starts.
Located somewhere underneath the pitch dripping branches of The Black Angels family tree, Elks emerge in a psychedelic eruption, kicking up a trail of oozing darkness with their thick metal prints, laying torrential waste to any who might try to challenge them on their natural stage. So, sharpen your axe and say your prayers. This is music for the hunt.
Fuck Season is currently available for free at the Elks den, along with one other song to display in your trophy case. [cs]
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Deas Vail: White Lights
August 28, 2008
Formed while its members were students at Arkansas Tech in the Midwestern hamlet of Russellville, the band has gone through several different members before settling in with its current lineup for the past two-and-a-half years. While at school, Blaylock began writing songs he initially envisioned as solo works, but when coupled with an affinity for the indie-rock scene, Deas Vail was born.
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Blaylock discovered and embraced the indie rock scene his senior year of high school, eschewing the bluegrass and folk enriched home he grew up in (his sister Hannah fronts bluegrass/country outfit Eden’s Edge). “When we started, it was something we wanted to do because we enjoy music,” Blaylock said. “We write songs because we love songs. They make us happy or explain an experience. That’s why I grab hold of these songs and love them. It’s something we really care about.” Upon the record’s release [All the Houses Look the Same] last spring, the band took on a healthy touring schedule that saw them crisscrossing the country for much of the year.
White Lights is their latest EP release. |
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Sentinel: Avalanche
August 27, 2008
Sentinel, a dream-pop four piece from Oakland has returned with another very solid effort on their May 2008 release, “Kites Without Strings”. Avalanche is the second track off their new CD, a beautiful and ethereal pop-driven snapshot portraying jumping into the quick moving avalanche of newfound love without any cares in the world.
Sentinel formed in 2000 in Long Beach, California as a project between musical visionary Dennis Bestafka and long-time vocalist Tarabud. Following Airborne Infantry deployment in Iraq, Dennis returned to the San Francisco area in 2003 to rekindle the project and later picked up local musicians Jenna Tiano and David Serotkin. They then put out a few well received albums in the space up to the recent release of ‘Kites’.
You can find the new album at CDBaby as well as over on iTunes. If you’d like to hear some songs from past albums, take a listen to some past IR: San Francisco shows, specifically #42 and #49. [cs]
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Sentinel: Diamond Bows
The Wax Standard: Kind Fate
August 26, 2008
The Wax Standard is a DC-based indie/alternative rock band; fans describe them as “atmospheric, gritty and poignant”, with “haunting melodies and bittersweet lyrics that are soulful and insightful.” Band members Julie Arranaga (lead vocals, guitar), Paul Fadoul (drums, keyboard, backing vocals), Dustin Cawley (lead guitar) and Jerry Skiscim (bass, mandolin, strings) cite influences such as The Pixies, Wilco, Ryan Adams, The Shins, The New Pornographers, The Beatles, Television and Neil Young among others.
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Formed in the spring of 2007, The Wax Standard performs original songs by Arranaga and play live regularly in the DC area. Formed in the spring of 2007 The Wax Standard started performing original songs penned by Arranaga. Jerry, a native DC musician, joined the group that summer, bringing with him a diverse musical background. Dusty joined in 2008, a guitar slinging transplant from rural Illinois. The Wax Standard entered Bethesda’s Avalon Studios to record their debut EP which |
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IODA Promonet Links
Peggy Sue: Superman
August 25, 2008
Formerly named Peggy Sue & The Pirates up until very recently, the self-annointed untraditional folk duo of Rosa ‘REX’ Slade and KatyBeth ‘KLAW’ Young from Brighton, UK, released a live version of this song in July from the iTunes festival.
Their new EP ‘The Body Parts EP’ was released under the newer Peggy Sue & The Pictures moniker although they seemingly have shortened the name back down to basics after their recent tour ended.
You can get this lo-fi song about the introspective and jaded Superman at the duo’s MySpace site or the live iTunes festival version here. All other songs are listed under different variations of Peggy Sue, not too difficult to track down.
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Winterun: Heavy Rain
August 24, 2008
WINTERUN – INTO THE UNDERGROUND
Below the shallows of mainstream music there lies an alternative scene running rich and deep. Having spent the last five years building a strong clan within this healthy community in Australia and abroad, Winterun now lure you Into The Underground.
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Following on from the success of The Full Effect (2004) and Welcome To… (2006), Winterun have captured their live energy with album number three. Into The Underground sounds like a truckload of logs set loose down a mountainside. It’s a rolling blend of infectious heavy rock – chockfull of chunky riffs, grooves and stomp.
Into The Underground was recorded by Neil Thomason at Head Gap Studios (Magic Dirt, The Slits, Batrider) and mixed/mastered by Paul Fox (Deftones, Dirty Three, Nation Blue). The album was tracked onto two inch tape, giving it a thick analogue sound – adding extra depth to Winterun’s heavy grooves. |
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Bell Hollow: Copper Crayon
August 23, 2008
New York four-piece Bell Hollow has crafted a dark, lush, and somewhat wistful ten song masterpiece in their newest release ‘Foxgloves’. The song we are featuring today, ‘Copper Crayon’, immediately lures the listener down into a dark yet enticingly romantic environ, conjuring up images of a seemingly cultist noir flavored tale of gothic lust.
Jangly guitar flits throughout the song, eventually exploding into successive distorted waves of surf slumber, and ultimately bringing to mind the drifting guitar textures of our two favorite bands from neighboring Pennyslvania, The Ocean Blue and Riverside.
Released November 2007 on five03 Records, the debut full-length ‘Foxgloves’ debuted at #166 on the CMJ charts and ‘Copper Crayon’ was featured earlier on our Detroit show with host Les Zaldor.
You can pick up Foxgloves at e-music, iTunes or directly from the label. [cs]
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Airstrip One: Circles
August 22, 2008
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Airstrip One are a three piece from West London. Formed in 2006 under the name ‘Fyrstikk’ and hailing from the UK, Poland & Malta, they are a blend of catchy guitar riffs, melodic vocals and influences ranging from Pearl Jam to Beirut.
The band recorded their first demo’s in 2006, and September 2008 sees the first formal release, EP ‘Into the Silence’ which contains one surviving demo (re-recorded) from the original 06 recordings and 5 other fresh tracks. The EP will be available from iTunes soon, or directly from the band. Circles is the first single from the it, and is available as a free download from Myspace. |
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Still Time: Power of Now
August 21, 2008
With vocals swimming into the mystic range of Van Morrison and even Vedder or Duritz, San Luis Obispo’s Still Time adeptly soaks up a variety of rock, folk, jazz and reggae influences and styles in the ever-widening musical tributary the band has finally arrived at with their debut album.
From San Luis Obispo, on California’s central coast, Still Time released their first album ‘Stream of Consciousness’ in 2007. Through word of mouth they’ve sold a few thousand copies of the release and are playing all the perfect venues in California, including lots of recognizable events like the Welcome Week Block Party at Cal Poly SLO.
Still Time really does do a perfect job representing the amalgamation of laid back styles in this state that you’ll find people listening to, from the beaches to the mountains, and even jamming to out in the desert. Their CD solidly hits the spot, reminding me of road trips checking out bands from SLO and numerous other coastal towns during the over-extended college years.
You can pick up this track as well as the album at e-music , cdbaby, or iTunes. This ones for LeRoi! [cs]
In Memoriam: LeRoi Moore (Dave Matthews Band, 1962-2008)
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New Media Expo: 2008 [Las Vegas Recap]
August 20, 2008
This last week, the New Media Expo arrived for the fourth time at its new home, the Las Vegas Convention Center. For the newly named 2008 Expo, I had the pleasure of staying with fellow content producer from Detroit, Mikel OD of Most People are DJ’s and Steve from Geek Cred next door to the main Hilton property.
Mikel and I thought it might be nice to record a bit in the sweltering 110 degree heat, so we brought the recorder along poolside during happy hour each day for a bit of quick relaxed thoughts about the festival, nothing too deep – just a bit of kick back banter and a few SoCal music recommendations that I thought Mikel’s audience might enjoy.
On the first day of the Expo I had the honor of speaking on an iProng Magazine panel on the convention floor next to CC Chapman, Brian Ibbott of Coverville, Ariel Hyatt (Ariel Cyber PR), and musician Natalie Gelman. The topic stretched from promoting your podcast, to promoting yourself online as an independent musician.
We also attended the Coverville 500 concert on Saturday where we saw some of the best performances being offered in Vegas that night, including IR favorites, Chance & The Choir (see video clip below). Overall, we had a great time, possibly due to the added distraction value that Vegas brings to the mix. While this was nice, I can also see that as being a detriment as it drags community away from a centralized meeting place after-hours or even during the event(s).
You can check out the MPAD #157 (NME 08 Recapisode) episode at the link below. Give Mikel OD some love. He’s got a great show folks!
More shout-outs: Dave Warner (Dave’s Lounge), Seth Harwood, the Revision 3 peeps, Anji Bee & Ryan Lum (Lovespirals), Dan Diamond and Elsie’s Yoga Kula
MPAD #157 (NME ‘08 RECAPISODE)
(DOWNLOAD IT HERE!!!)
Chance & The Choir Video Link (Vimeo)
Chance & The Choir VIdeo Link 2 (Vimeo)
Chance & The Choir Video Link 3 (Flickr)
Geoff Smith w/ Leo LaPorte (Vimeo)
This Town Needs Guns: Baboon
August 20, 2008
This Town Needs Guns are Stuart Smith, Tim Collis, Chris Collis, & Jamie Cooper from Oxford in the UK
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Blood Red Sun: All at Once
August 19, 2008
Since we’re not getting enough of the constant Sugar flowing from Bob Mould’s Minneapolis & now Washington based cookie jar, we’ve decided to forage further to the east and break the lock off the overstocked New York musical pantry, bringing you a somewhat similar sounding and striking selection off the 2007 release by NY musical protagonists, Blood Red Sun.
BRS let out a blast of inspirational rock that transcends what’s currently on the radio waves with ‘All at Once’, from their 2007 release A Nation of Saviors on Thought Crime Records. Like neighboring New Jersey’s The Milwaukees, Blood Red Sun are the torchbearers of an intelligent and solid sound movement we hope breaks some of the grip that mass media has on keeping quality new music at bay.
You can purchase the tracks from A Nation of Saviors at CDBaby or iTunes. [cs]
