Although rooted in alternative metal, Linkin Park became one of the most successful acts of the 2000s by welcoming elements of hip-hop, modern rock, and atmospheric electronica into their music. The band's rise was indebted to the aggressive rap-rock movement made popular by the likes of Korn and Limp Bizkit, a movement that paired grunge's alienation with a bold, buzzing soundtrack. Linkin Park added a unique spin to that formula, however, focusing as much on the vocal interplay between singer Chester Bennington and rapper Mike Shinoda as the band's muscled instrumentation, which layered DJ effects atop heavy, processed guitars. While the group's sales never eclipsed those of its tremendously successful debut, Hybrid Theory, few ...
Sonny Sandoval (Vocals) Marcos Curiel (Guitar) Traa Daniels (Bass) Wuv Bernardo (Drums) “Music comes down to passion,” says P.O.D. frontman Sonny Sandoval. “There are not a lot of bands out there today who have that. But I think that feeling is coming back around again.” P.O.D. (Payable on Death) certainly has the right to talk about passion in music. Passion has been front and center since the band formed in 1992 in San Diego, CA, and all the way up to the release of their eighth and latest record, Murdered Love. Over the last two decades, the group has sold over 10 million albums (i...
Funeral Party formed late one night in a park in Whittier, California, an East Los Angeles suburb comprised of mostly working-class enclaves. Hardcore bands and metal bands dominated the local music scene at the time. However, in the East Los Angeles neighborhoods adjacent to Whittier, a post-punk, dance-craze revival was emerging and Funeral Party began gigging every weekend. The band quickly developed a following. Initially, they didn’t own any equipment and had to borrow it from other bands at East L.A. backyard parties and warehouses. Funeral Party's DIY ethos mobilized their ascendancy from an erratic underground scene to the international stage. After seeing a performance, Lars Stalfors, who primarily wo...
Traders are a french alternative electro/rock band formed in Besançon in 2010. The band was founded by guitarist Michel Myself, bassist Michel Foune, hacker MichelMichel, and drummer Michel Mauber.Traders are strongly influenced by Soulwax, Goose, Danko Jones, Refused, Public Image Limited, Guns'n'Roses and 2Unlimited. To describe the band's music, we play the rock to the beat....
Coming together in San Diego from three different parts of the US and three very different musical backgrounds, The Tall Ships trio find common ground that somehow works. This unique blend of differences gives the sense they grew up listening to very different music but for very similar reasons. And this mash-up of perspectives gives The Tall Ships a sound that's fresh, different and yet still familiar. The Tall Ships have toured Western and Central Europe and played numerous shows in San Diego sharing the stage with Fin Fang Foom, Sleeping People, Rob Crowe, An Albatross, Milemarker, Rah Bras and Transfer. The Tall Ships are Steve Kuhn (guitar, vocals), Kyle Conwell (bass, vocals), Keith A...
In 2010, songwriter Mark Lombardo tapped into his ancestry and birthed his debut self proclaimed "Ukrainian folk album" in November of that year. The album entitled '7 More For The Beautiful' recorded in a remote wooded location somewhere in upstate New York features a wide arrange of traditional instruments from mandolins to banduras. With the help of Lombardo's brother with mixing/mastering and percussion and his Ukrainian grandmother for certain poetic readings '7 More For The Beautiful' quickly became widely popular among folk fans in the New York area.In May 2011 Lombardo released his follow up album entitled 'Creature's Nectar'. The second album, written and recorded yet again in a remote area of upstate New York, featu...
Monty is an indie singer-songwriter and composer of indie rock music, and hails from the rolling green hills and blue skies of Chester County, Pennsylvania.His unique blend of the classic rock, punk, and acoustic singer-songwriter genres creates a brand of indie rock music that is completely original and absolutely modern.Monty creates and composes solo singer-songwriter material, intense acoustic rock songs, and a form of heavy-hitting power-pop-rock that is indeed a very unique type of indie rock music.He is currently promoting two EPs: the acoustic singer-songwriter EP Acoustic Resurrection released in 2006, and the electric indie rock EP Rock Stars Don't Eat Cookies released in 2009. Both EPs are gett...
Originally from Cheltenham, England, Sam Pickering Pick has lived in Northern California since 2002. He started writing and recording songs at 18 but after moving to the US he put together a succession of recording studio arrangements so he could continue producing his own albums. He released eight albums digitally for free via music websites, finally putting his 2010 album, The Boy In The Back, up on iTunes and Bandcamp. In 2011 he wrote and recorded his tenth album, this time releasing it via the Canadian folk label Yer Bird Records. ...
Black Capone, aka Brian Wright of Chicago, gets his musical inspirations from artists like Wu Tang, 2 Pac, NWA, Notorious B.I.G. and others. He fell in love with music at the young age of three after receiving a boom box stereo as a gift. This lead to Brian's discovery of music and allowed him to develop his own delivery of his music that combines multiple styles; at just the age of 16 he began writing his own music and has now produced an EP, Kawasaki Yamaha, which is now available on SoundCloud. Look for more to come on this artist in the near future....
Yung Tuck has been puttin it down for many moons. Since 1996 to be exact. Doing everything from rapping, singing, producing and performing. In his native town of Monroe, Louisiana, he learned the fundamentals of music. Making his way to Seattle, Washington, he encountered the best and worse of the music industry. With groups such as THA DRAGONZ and DURDY under his belt, he has come to realize that the best route to take is solo. In that, ISREININ PRODUCTIONS was born. In making that decision, he had Seattle backing him up in his epiphany. Producing music for not only himself, but for various artists became the everyday life for Y.T.G. Then came the search for a studio home. With the music scene in Seattle being close to non...
Kaotik was born Stephen Daniel Pippin on March 21, 1984. For the first few years of his life, music was not of much interest to the young artist due to the fact that he was only exposed to the country and southern rock genres and very little else. That is, until the young age of 7 or so, when he began to notice such popular mainstream artists as M.C. Hammer and Vanilla Ice performing their own catchy and unique blends of hip hop and pop. The music was addictive, enthralling, moving and unforgettable to the young Kaotik. Needless to say, an immediate and enthusiastic fan was born. In the 2nd grade, Stephen would write and ...
A Denver-based power trio emerging onto the scene, The Big Motif plays rock music in a way that can be described in one word: naked. The band has molded a sound combining elements of many genres including rock, blues, jazz, and reggae that is stripped down and raw, exuding a powerful musical concept that appeals to a diverse demographic. With the recent release 'Does It Weigh Heavy', The Big Motif has been tapping into the Colorado music scene while continuing to expand its original repertoire. The always fresh and exciting live performances leave audiences with an experience they won’t soon forget....
THE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT ON THE WORKING CLASSThree years ago, hard working men and women the world over were collectively under the assumption that their nest eggs were secure, their homes were the safest of all investments, and that the economy was on the upswing. Then, with virtually no warning, their lives were turned upside down, as an entire generation saw their dreams dashed and plans dismantled. It all happened with the Speed of Darkness.Nothing has mattered more to Flogging Molly than their new record, Speed of Darkness. "It wasn't the album we set out to write," vocalist/guitarist Dave King says. "It became the album we had to write." Musically and lyrically, Flogging Molly ha...
After a year and a half on the road touring 2010’s Feeding The Wolves, 10 Years reached a turning point. It was time to move forward and take full control of their career by launching their own label, Palehorse Records. In addition, the band decided to self-produce their fourth album, Minus the Machine, at drummer/guitarist Brian Vodinh’s Kashmir Recording. Splitting up with a major label after five years was “a very scary step to take,” Hasek admits. “It’s like breaking up with a longtime girlfriend. You’re used to the motions, but when it becomes stale and unhappy, you need to move on and get energy back into your life. There was no anger on e...
Celtachor began in the early months of 2007 with Stephen Roche and David Quinn. The band take its numerous influences from black, doom, and folk metal, The Main focus was to bring the Mythology of the Irish saga’s to life from the grief of the Son’s of Tuireann to the Life and Death of Cu Chulainn, The band see themselves as the narrators of the legends of the ancient times of Eire. Celtachor incorporate Irish whistle and bodhran into the music with crushing hooks and Drums of ...
TUNSI, born and raised on the East Coast (CT) is an artist who is bound to conquer radio waves nationwide.His music blends many types of unpredictable styles and delivers raw lyrical talent over strong beats. TUNSI grew up with the hip-hop scene - break dancing and spinning records in the early 80's. Those hip-hop influences soon inspired him to cultivate his own musical talents that will propel into the next millennium.He combines his hip-hop roots with a complex, yet contemporary style. TUNSI delivers his raps with a unique style that can be defined as "underground wisdom." He performs with a passion and energy that motivates crowds and reaches his audience not only through his music, but also through...
“Don’t Be a Dick!” Words of wisdom from the mouth of new teenage pop punk band Emily’s Army. Influenced by the rich East Bay music scene, Gilman Street, classic power pop, and garage rock, Emily’s Army craft heartfelt teenage anthems dealing in cautionary tales, politics, and the pressures of adolescence. The band members have known each other for most of their lives and discovered their passion for music together. From four-year olds hitting piñatas to little league baseball to surfing to collecting punk rock records; Max, Cole, and Joey formed the band in 2004 as Raining Souls. The name didn’t stick but it wasn’t long before inspiration a...
Florida as of late, has churned out dozens of young bands trying to gain recognition, but none have broken out quite as well as Orlando's Sleeping with Sirens. Influenced by bands like Drop Dead Gorgeous and rock bands like Dance Gavin Dance, the post hardcore 5 piece finds a harmonious balance between melody and aggressive breakdowns. Having sold over 25,000 records on their debut album, 25,000 on their second, and touring nonstop, Sleeping with Sirens prove that it's entirely possible for newcomers to kick down doors and burst onto the scene. With a live energy that matches the intensity of the recording, SWS are going to be turning heads for anyone within earshot of a pair of speakers. Let's C...
OM&M was founded by Austin Carlile, the original vocalist of Attack Attack, and bassist Jaxin Hall, an import from Auckland, New Zealand. The two recorded the demo "Seven Thousand Miles For What?" with close friends at Paper Tiger Studios in Columbus, Ohio. The two searched for other members for about a month when they came across Tino Arteaga, drummer of Lower Definition, and Phil Manansala, touring guitarist for A Static Lullaby. Austin and Jaxin moved to southern California to join up with the two, and began writing. OM&M has since been writing, and will head into the studio July 14th with Joey Sturgis to record their debut full length album, which will be in stores and online everywhere! They will be on Van's Warped To...
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE have consistently pushed the envelope to redefine both themselves and the various sub-genres they’ve made their mark within. 2009’s “Sleepwalking” full-length yielded no exception as the band ventured into the territory of Post-Hardcore / Southern Rock with no reservations. Their fresh approach to an otherwise stale scene gathered critical acclaim and found “Ghost In The Mirror” featured on the both the Saw VI Soundtrack and DVD/Blu-Ray releases. Subsequent touring with the likes of Asking Alexandria, From First To Last, and Alesana facilitated the delivery of their music to the masses and established a live precedent that the band continues to bui...
Fischer-Z were a British rock band formed in 1976 by John Watts and Steve Skolnik at Brunel University. The original line-up consisted of John Watts (vocals, guitar), David Graham (bass), Steve Skolnik (keyboards), and Steve Liddle (drums). Fischer-Z's first hit was "The Worker" from the album Word Salad which firmly established Watts' ability to convey worldly political issues in narrative songs against a background of quirky pop and reggae-influenced music. In an interview in Record Mirror in 1981, Watts put this down to the remix of the song from the album version, which put the emphasis on the keyboards rather than his guitar....
The Brooklyn-based duo The Mast creates a propulsive and expansive sound featuring undulating vocals, hypnotic electric guitar riffs, and polyrhythmic drumming. With a hybrid drum set of frame drums, djembes, floor toms, and various cymbals, the seemingly eight-armed Matt Kilmer, weaves a scintilating tapestry of rhythms. Singer and guitarist Haale’s interlocking guitar riffs and evocative vocals combine to create a sound that is at once danceable and deep, inventive and inviting, balancing wild abandon and focused control. While their music ...
Twenty7 adds Middle Eastern flavor and other ethnic music influences to rock, forming a unique style of music with strong rhythms, technical guitar riffs, and powerful vocals. In the United States, Twenty7 has performed up and down the West Coast at well-known venues such as The House of Blues, The Whisky a Go Go, and The Viper Room, as well as at several universities. The band performed at the Sunset Strip Music Festival in 2008 and played as the house band for the Whisky a Go Go for 3 months in 2009. They have also been featured in a variety of US publications, including The Examiner, Music Connection, and Music Industry News Network. Outside the United States, Twenty7 appeared on...
coo·per – noun \...
Pop is not a dirty word. John That won't give up until you're convinced. His eclectic mix of classic oldschool to modern party pop is sure to get anybody on their feet. As his powderd sugar tunes are sprinkled on your ear drums your feet will begin to tap, your hands clap and your mind long for more John That. You'll find yourself using the P-word in public. Soon p** will be part of your vocabulary, you'll let it slip out in a casual conversation. Next you'll find yourself saying it at school, work, to your friends and family, maybe even on Sundays. When anyone asks you'll know who to blame, never fiction always fact, blame John That....
What do Four Loko, the Notorious B.I.G. and porn star Roxy Reynolds all have in common? They’re all influences credited by Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire, the Crown Heights rapper who has rap critics and bloggers from all corners of the Web saluting his eclectic and eccentric take on East Coast rap. “I don’t believe in fitting in,” says eXquire. “I believe in standing out.” It’s precisely this ideology that has garnered eXquire so much buzz in the past few months.Growing up in Brooklyn, eXquire idolized Biggie, whom he calls “the first rapper I was obsessed with,” and Cam’ron, whose Confessions Of Fire was the first CD he ever bought. He’s planned on being a rappe...
Fiona Apple defied categorization or any easy career path, almost running the pattern in reverse, opening her career as a highly touted and popular alternative singer/songwriter, then transitioning into a cult artist. Apple certainly benefited from the open-door policy of modern rock in the mid-’90s, following the path of crossover alt-rock piano-based songwriters like Tori Amos, but Apple was hardly an Amos copycat: she had a strong jazz undertow in her vocal phrasing and melodies, she had richer arrangements, she had a poppier bent to her songs. All these things helped her 1996 debut, Tidal, find a wide audience, one that increased considerably in the wake of the controversial video for the single “Criminal,” but Apple m...
Dusty Colours is a British acoustic duo made up of Ed Burgon and Dan Triance, which formed in November 2001 in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, under the name Retro Conspiracy (an earlier incarnation was Abyss, dating back to 1999). The name was changed to Dusty Colours in 2006 after stripping back their sound from an electric four-piece including drums and keyboards to an acoustic duo. They had been writing songs, solo and combined, since early childhood. However, while they had been recording since 2001, only since late 2006 did the quality of recording equipment and production substantially improve. This allowed for greater experimentation when it came to arranging ...
Born in a developing new town on the west coast of Florida, Vito Genovese lived his entire life in the same county. When he turned 18, Vito moved north to Tallahassee to find an identity for himself. To help himself break free of the foreclosure induced by his somewhat-reclusive upbringing, Vito began composing music and releasing it to friends and internet peers. He began with experimental electronic and ambient music. However, this style did not prove popular and some initially wrote him off as "talentless". ...
Innovative, Fresh, Irie and Wild are just a few of the words that come to mind when mentioning Seeds-N-Stems. Homegrown in Casper, Wyoming in 2005 this band has been spreading the seed of good music and good vibes across the midwest in small bars and festivals for about six years now. They have independently released two albums Life is Poetry Music is Love 2008 and Buds like Gems 2011 and are still currently unsigned. The band consists of five members Brennan Capellas Lead Vocal/Ukulele, DfCtV mc/vocals, Rob E Love Guitar, A-Bomb Bass, and Jarrad Campos on the Drums. As far as musical style these guys are kind of hard to explain the mix reggae, rockand hip-hop to form a style all of their own. Some of there influences inclu...
