Indie Update

Stephen Speaks and hundreds have been listening. (OK, that play on words was way too easy.) But the keyboards and vocals that deliver "Disappear" (Symptoms of Love 2007) will attract the attention of more fans as this group spreads the word. Straight out of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Stephen Speaks also makes its mark with "So Many People" from the same recording. This is not a rock band, really, but an acoustic ballad effort that works.

Generally considered a "garage band" throughout a successful run that began almost a decade ago, Stephen Speaks has reached audiences around the world. "Passenger Seat" and "Out Of My League" go back to 2000 and 2003, finding international success years ago. It really should be no surprise. The piano on "Out Of My League" is fine, fine!

Much of the top-quality work from Stephen Speaks comes from a home studio, through the efforts of Rockwell Ryan Ripperger and Dain Samuelson. In fact, the "distribution" of music is literally a word-of-mouth tale, with radio play and fans responsible for the group’s popularity. As the band’s information states, most of this was accomplished with "no lawyer, no record label and no booking agent." Ripperger and Samuelson do get professional help when playing some larger venues, with individual musicians and rock bands such as The Hero Factor helping out. Can we expect more widespread greatness out of this dynamic duo? It remains to be seen.

Stephen Speaks at MySpace

Tags: independent music, indie, indie music, music, stephen speaks

Nightmare of You sets the tone with "I Was Never A Normal Boy" tune from its Bang CD (2007 The Bevonshire). The lyrics of this song are interesting, though they don’t quite stretch to the vision that the title promises. Close. (This veteran listener would encourage them to keep up the good work.) The title tune, "Bang" shows some of the musicianship the lies deep within these individuals. David Bowie is in there somewhere! Good tune. I would suggest that first-time listeners experience Thumbelina from Nightmare Of You(2005, The Bevonshire).

Hailing from the Big Apple, Nightmare Of You’s current work includes Bethlehem, Pennsylvania before heading over the pond to London and Birmingham. The band, composed of Brandon Reilly, Joseph McCaffrey, Samuel Siegler and Ryan Heil, list such greats as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Velvet Underground, The Jam, Squeeze and others as major influences. With such major talents as Bowie and Velvet Underground in their heads, Nightmare Of You is at least building a foundation for some good future work.

What are the major components for Nightmare Of You? Guitars, of course, and an experienced drummer. But then, most rock bands have that. Wordplay and lyrical content will be the deciding factor. Most Nightmare Of You fans are already convinced that the group is making its mark as lyrical artists.

Nightmare of You at MySpace

Tags: indie, independent music, nightmare of you, indie music, music

It’s a rare rock/alternative group that separates itself from the run-of-the-mill bands with a band member on piano and other keyboards. Lydia is on its way, with singer/keyboardist Mindy White. But there is much more to this Gilbert, Arizona group. In addition to White, the group is composed of Leighton Antelman (vocals/guitar), Steve McGraw (guitar), Evan Aranbul (bass), Craig Taylor (drums) and Ethan Koozer (guitar). This lineup is a slight change from the original group that included different keyboardist, bassist and drummer.

Currently in the studio, working on a 2008 album, Lydia’s sound does approach the pop/easy listening range, especially with ballads like "A Camera Lens and Careful Days" from This December: It’s One More and I’m Free. But the radio-style, interview voice-over and ensuing drums take the listener out of that mindset. "Smile You’ve Won" from the same disc is a risk-taking type of song, with some offbeat drumming and unusual vocal work (for a young rock group) that sets the tune apart. Once again, the keyboard sound is good.

Lydia is limiting its live shows because of the studio work, but will be playing a charity gig in their home area with other bands. A full-schedule United States tour is in the works once the new CD hits the streets. The band will also travel to foreign ports in the future, as their audience grows.

Lydia at MySpace

Tags: indie, independent music, music, indie music, lydia

Faktion, from Dallas, is a rock band. Just ask one of the band members. But labelling the group as 99 percent rock is not a bad thing, necessarily. Why not 100 percent? Not many groups reach that level of commitment. Let’s wait and see with Faktion.

"Feel The Fire" from 2007 is a very good song. The vocals of Aaron Pose are excellent. The dynamics are fine, fading nicely thanks to some good studio production. "Distance" (2006, Roadrunner) makes quite a different statement, with its rock ballad beginning and guitar work. The concept is good and the mix of vocals works, though the lyrics leave a bit to be desired.

"Take It All Away" (2006, Roadrunner) is a pounding rock song, maybe one of the band’s best overall. Personal note- having grown up listening to Yes, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and so on – I don’t wonder why people are broken. The lyrics of this tune are worth a read, as well as a listening-to. For some reason the drums/percussion work very well in Faktion tunes. I’d like to hear more of Jeremy Moore (no pun intended, really!)

Pose, Moore and Faktion date their beginnings in 2002, when most of the members were somehow connected to North Texas State University in Denton. Faktion plays a date in Houston, and then returns to home base for a couple of gigs, including one in Denton.

Faktion at MySpace

Tags: independent music, indie music, faktion, music, indie

It’s certainly no surprise that this veteran group is from New Orleans, Louisiana, a city that has sent dozens of talented musical children into the world. It must be the air and water! The mix of people works so well with Better Than Ezra (analysis, emotion and rhythm/feel from the individuals) that it is hard to imagine they would put out a below-average record. So far, it hasn’t happened.

"Silly Fool" (artifakt, 2001 Fudge Records) is an intriguing song, with great synth sounds and comfortable rhythm that builds well to the end. This is something of intellectual rock. Nice vocals, by the way! This veteran indie/alternative rock band also put together a fine song in "Juicy," (Before The Robots, 2005 Artemis), which is blues in a way, but is also music to sway to - great combination. Most of the work is so simply done, with bass, drums and guitar, but the added keyboard sounds and background vocals hit the mark.

Always tapped as a rock/pop band, Better Than Ezra is the work of Kevin Griffin (vocals, guitar), tom Drummond (bass) and Travis McNabb (drums). As mentioned earlier, some of their early efforts were on Fudge Records, but the band’s current label is V2/Artemis. The group recently completed the Ezra Open (September), a celebrity golf tournament that raised funds for the rebuilding efforts in the Big Easy. Better Than Ezra will be at the New Orleans House of Blues in December (a limited engagement).

Better Than Ezra at MySpace

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