Valencia
Yes, as the band information states, this could be a possibility. Valencia, a Philadelphia group, produces sound similar to that of a handful of other young rock/indie groups. There is energetic drumming and buzzing guitar chord work. Vocals in this genre are either very good or rather average. Valencia manages to put vocals in the former category. An example of this is "The Space Between."
"Away We Go" adds to the list of solid rock songs. "From The Second I Wake" starts with a twist of sound effects and acoustic guitar. The lyrics and vocals are a nice contrast to some of the other tunes. This is a decent rock ballad.
Valencia’s musician lineup includes Shane Henderson – vocals, J.D. Perry – guitar, Maxim Soria – drums, George Ciukurescu – bass, and Brendan Walter – guitar. It is interesting to note that J.D. Perry elected to tour with the band rather than accept a soccer scholarship.
The players started with local shows in the region surrounding Philadelphia, most often with different bands. But eventually the seeds of Valencia started to grow and in 2004 showed the first signs of a consistent project. The group joined with I Surrender, an indie label, then began to book a few concert dates to promote their work.
A tour covering the United States and a few Canadian sites is on the calendar.
Tags: valencia, indie, indie music, independent music, music
Unwritten Law
Let’s try some sarcasm. Can drummer Tony Palermo please play a bit faster and try to put some energy into the music? For some reason, his drumming puts this picture in my mind: a young kid hammerin’ nails into a board "just because." Of course, Palermo does it in perfect time.
That youthful exuberance is a pleasant surprise in a band that has been around for almost two decades. It’s certainly not a bad thing, but how do they keep it up through seven studio albums and consistent live shows? Lead vocalist Scott Russo continues to sing with clarity and a purpose, such as on "Lost Control." The backing/answering vocals from guitarist Steve "kid" Morris and bassist Pat "PK" Kim are quality ingredients in this song’s mix.I can see why so many like these fellows.
"Welcome To Oblivion" is one of the most melodic of recent songs by this San Diego group. But Unwritten Law finds this melody without losing their signature energy.
In the past couple of years, UL has taken their message across the sea, to play in the south of France. While the concert dates were obviously too limited for the liking of UL’s European fans, at least the group made an effort. Another popular move for the band was the participation by PK in a project called Black President, something that took place outside Unwritten Law.
Past work includes Blue Room and Oz Factor, some of the earliest efforts by Unwritten Law. In the five-year span from 1998 to 2003, the group produced Elva and Music in High Places Here’s To the Mourning was recorded in 2005.
If you want to burn calories, do it with an Unwritten Law concert.
Tags: indie music, indie, music, independent music, unwritten law
Thousand Foot Krutch
Describe Thousand Foot Krutch as Canadian Christian rock with growling guitars, aggressive drumming and just a touch of humor, and you would be very close to the truth. Some may have a hard time finding the humor in what sounds like hard, pounding rock, but it’s there.
The group’s 2007 release, The Flame In All Of Us (Tooth & Nail Records) has a song with the same name that features some nice drumming and tasteful background guitar. The chord changes are refreshing. "New Drug" is a straight-forward statement about replacing one addiction with another, and this one sounds as if it will have a more positive influence on the vocalist. "What Do We Know" has something that is missing from many current recordings – kids’ voices in the background.
This is a group with a message, though first-time listeners may have to work a bit to dig the lesson out of the guitars and drums. The band, Trevor McNevan (vocals), Joel Bruyere (bass) and Steve Augustine (drums), is currently on tour, starting with dates in Alabama and Tennessee then making its way up the east coast and through the Midwest. The extended tour continues into December, heading as far west as Oklahoma and Texas.
Thousand Foot Krutch on MySpace
Tags: music, indie music, independent music, thousand foot krutch, indie
The Audition
These young purveyors of rock/pop hail from the Windy City. In the past decade or so, Chicago has been a pretty good scene for this style of music and The Audition comes from that melting pot. With a claim of reinventing pop/rock/punk, Audition has set the goal very high.
They get a good start with songs like "Don’t Be So Hard" (from Controversy Loves Company Victory Records). The group shows its expertise in high-energy rock featuring drums, "fuzz" guitar and quickly sung vocals. Beyond the great title, "Approach The Bench" is a pretty good rock song. With a courtroom theme, the emphasis must be on lyrics and story. From the same CD, "Dance Halls Turn To Ghost Towns" has another intriguing title. Some of the guitar work is just as intriguing.
The October/November tour passes through Texas and California on the way to several shows in Canada. Stops in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio are included toward the end of the calendar. The tour was set to include Boys Like Girls and All Time Low. The Audition also played Paris with Fall Out Boy and made a stop in the UK, to satisfy fans there.
The Audition is: Joe Lussa – bass; Timmy Klepek – guitar; Seth Johnson – guitar; Danny Stevens – vocals; Ryan O’Connor – drums.
Tags: music, indie, the audition, independent music, indie music
Spotty Dogg
It’s interesting to catch a quality band in their infancy, and while Spotty Dogg has been writing and recording seriously for about two years, their CD efforts did not immediately attract a label. From their own studio in the Scottish Highlands, Spotty Dogg attempts to introduce "a new generation of music," according to the band Web site. They make a point of not trying to fit a genre, though the all-inclusive indie handle has to fit (since they are looking for a label).
But this does not mean that Spotty Dogg is not worth a good listen. Included in the Top 100 Unsigned UK Bands list, the five-member band features Jamie Fraser –lead vocals; Alan Greer – keyboards and synthesizers; Gary Lee McKinney – lead guitar and vocals; Darren Mackenzie – rhythm guitar and vocals; Callum Chisolm – drums and percussion.
Gigs so far have been biker rallies, Highland games and other festivals, though some local indoor venues have been on the calendar as well. Spotty Dogg completed a small Scottish tour with other Scottish groups and now attracts fans from around the globe through the Web. Group members list Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Midge Ure and others among musical influences and some of this is evident in the sample music.
For the uninitiated, Spotty Dogg features a crisp, uncomplicated sound, with straightforward drumming by Chisolm. Fraser’s vocals and lyrics are not complex, but the story is expressive nonetheless. Recorded efforts so far included the 2005 CD single that features "High Heels" and "Juno." The full-length 2006 Unleashed also includes "High Heels," "Let’s Go To War" and "Words From The Past." Spotty Dogg’s 2007 CD single features an instrumental version of "U & Me" along with a live version of "Juno." New tunes on the latest recording are "Lying Alone" and "Clocks."
Tags: indie, music, independent music, spotty dogg, indie music