Archive for the Indie Rock Category
 Seriously, this guy is amazing! Andrew Bird is an accomplished violinist who is able to add that instrument along with some very impressive whistling to create a sound all his own. This is music that is hard to classify, there just aren’t that many artists out there that are doing what Bird is doing and it might be easier to list instruments that he can’t play instead of those that he can. His music can rock, it can make you cry, it can be fun, and at times, it can be ethereal; it’s just takes you somewhere else.
One thing that Bird and I have in common is that we both learned to play the violin by the Suzuki method which directly leads to one of our major differences, he is amazing on the violin and I gave up before I was 7!
It’s been a long road but Andrew Bird has worked himself into the Indie spotlight with albums like Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs and his latest release Armchair Apocrypha. Favorite tracks include “Sovay,” “Skin, Is My” and “Fake Palindromes” but to be honest, you really can’t go wrong with Mr. Bird.
Download “Heretics” from Armchair Apocrypha.
If you like Andrew Bird try: Sufjan Stevens, Jose Gonzalez, Tobias Froberg
(more…)
 1 Comment »
 One of the new and upcoming underground bands in the Utah and Northern California area’s (and expanding) is a group called Victim Effect. This Rock, Metal, Melt Your Face Off, Progressive fusion band has an extremely unique writing style which is perfectly combined with a strong and commanding stage presence. As a well practiced band which cares more about the fans and the music than they do fame and riches, be prepared to become a hardcore fan as you get addicted to their self titled CD, Victim Effect, which is almost exclusively sold only at their concerts and their website. With three guitarists (who compliment each other very well in their musical composition), a bassist, an amazing drummer (which all super amazing bands should have), keytarist (for electronica awesomeness and sample playback), male vocal lead, and female back-up vocals.
Started in Sacramento, CA and relocated to Provo, UT this is definitely a band that wants you as a fan and will prove it. Send them a myspace message, talk to them after a show, bump into them somewhere random, and this is a band who wants to get to know every single one of their fans. They have gone on a few mini-tours up and down the west coast and hit most of the western US states. Where many Indie bands in this genre fail, Victim Effect successfully makes you want to move to the music.
When it comes to making a list or searching for a new less-known band to listen to, going to a concert is the best exposure you can get to Victim Effect. They have a song called “Alice Alice” for free download on their website, or you can listen to a few of their songs as well as see their “Go Fight” music video on their Myspace page. I would recommend “You Bet” and “Backwoods Gunsmen” as initial songs to listen to in addition to the “Go Fight” music video.
Label type: Indie
(more…)
1 Comment »
 Imogen Heap, the talented and dynamic ex-Frou Frou front woman takes the lead as a soloist continuing with her strong independent sounds and emotion evoking lyrics. Regardless of what style of music you come from, you are sure to enjoy listening to “Hide and Seek” as well as the rest of the tracks on her recent album Speak for Yourself. It’s a well-rounded, powerful album that you not only need to hear but are sure to love after you do.
On stage there really isn’t an explanation that will do her justice. Mixing and looping her own sounds and creations live, she provides a unique expression of multiple instruments controlled over a MIDI keyboard and laptop while singing at the same time. She is self-taught in sequencing, music engineering, and sampling. On musical instruments, she is proficient in playing piano (her first instrument), as well as the cello, clarinet, guitar, drums, and the unique Array Mbira.
Imogen is an accomplished singer/songwriter and producer who has worked with people from Josh Groban (ah hem, no comment), Britney Spears (we might just forgive her this one time for that), Jeff Beck, Sean Lennon, Blue October, and even Acacia. She has been burned a few times and doesn’t trust big music labels, rightly so, but has recently sided with BMG after working explicitly with Almo and Megaphone.
As far as genres are concerned, good luck really hitting the nail on the head, but as far as an attempt we could put her in the following: Electronic, Alternative, Indie Rock, and Ambient.
Label Type: Indie
(more…)
2 Comments »
 I’ll be honest; when a friend first suggested these guys to me I thought, “There is no way I could ever like a band with a name like ‘Wolfmother!’” I was SO DEAD WRONG!
This Australian trio is heading up a much needed revival of what we now call “classic rock.” With fuzzed out guitars, mystical vocals, distorted organs, and drum beats that you have to bang your head to, Wolfmother brings a very retro 70’s funk groove rock sound that makes me think of the perfect fusion of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.
Their self-titled debut album is one of those abums seems like a “greatest hits” album or something, tons of these songs could have been released as singles. Favorite songs are “Joker and the Thief,” “Love Train,” “Dimension,” “Tales From the Forest of Gnomes,” and “Colossal.” The whole album is tasty!
I saw these guys in concert in Salt Lake City. They played with Mute Math and The Cinematics. They rocked for a good two hours and melted my face off. Andrew even pulled out a double necked SG for one song, but didn’t end up using it because it wasn’t prepped the way he wanted it.
(more…)
No Comments »
|
Entries (RSS)