Indie Update

A progressive jazz group among the pop/screamo/teen rock groups on indie labels – what a nice surprise. The Reign of Kindo reaches listener ears from Buffalo, New York, a city that consistently amazes those who visit. With dozens of music and cultural venues, this upstate New York city has spawned some talented and interesting individuals.

Reign of Kindo’s new Web site lists Joseph Secchiaroli (guitar/vocals), Steven Padin (drums/vocals), Kelly Sciandra (piano/rhodes/trumpet), Michael Carroll (guitar/sizes) and Jeffery Jarvis (bass/vocals) as the factors in this jazz equation. The group shows its sense of humor by listing Nintendo, winners, food and wild animals as major influences. Could be worse!

From the first keyboard notes of "Hard To Believe" on the band’s EP (One Eleven Records 2007) jazz and piano aficionados will be pleased. Then, to paraphrase another song, bring in the horns. Nice change of pace in the middle stages of the tune – energy without being overbearing. As one music critic likes to say, this is very tasty music. The vocals fit, which is not an easy thing to do in progressive music such as this. There is even a taste of pop/easy listening done with style.

"Needle and Thread" has some interesting guitar interplay at the beginning, with Sciandra’s piano moves almost pulling the listener’s attention away from the strings. But there is no competition here, so much as there is young guys just getting started. "Just Wait" is aptly titled. I’d expect to hear much more from this quintet.

The Reign of Kindo at MySpace

Tags: the reign of kindo, indie music, music, independent music, indie

The name of this group grabs the listener right away. The beginning of "Into The Flood" (East West/TCR 2007) does nothing to change this positive feel. The group seems to want to set a mood and then break into some rock and roll. But the dynamics of the song won’t allow anything unplanned. Excellent vocals and, my gosh, real pace and atmosphere changes within a song. Why don’t other bands get this? Great use of keyboards by this group as well – "Love, Love, Love, Love" and "Ghost of York." This last one is a sweet song that newcomers to As Tall As Lions may want to experience.

As Tall As Lions will be in the Land Down Under in February and March, with concerts in Brisbane, Sydney, Surrey Hills, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. May 4 will find the group back in the U.S., with a gig at Giants Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey.

As Tall As Lions was first composed of Dan Nigro (vocals, guitar, piano); Saen Fitzgerald (guitar, drums); Cliff Sarcona (drums). Hailing from Long Island, New York the group has been playing under the current name for about five years. The current lineup includes Julio Tavarez. Brian Fortune was a former member who contributed guitar and piano.

As Tall As Lions on MySpace

Tags: independent music, music, as tall as lions, indie music, indie

The perception from Tantric’s Web presence is that this unusual group has lived and died several times over recently. One of the moments of living had to be the platinum selling debut CD (2001), with the single "Breakdown." This melodic story-telling effort is fascinating musically. There are no high school/college boy tenor voices front and center with Tantric. The band’s second effort, After We Go, distributed by Maverick Records, was also successful but by most standards didn’t match the blaze of the first CD. The band’s own marketing print credits Hugo Ferriera, an original band member, as keeping breath in the Tantric body when lineup changes and other bumps appeared in the road.

Tantric’s history stretches back almost a decade, when several accomplished musicians headed in a different direction from Days of the New. Members and former members include: Hugo Ferreira, Kevin Miller, Joe Pessia, Erik Leonhardt and Marcus Ratzenboeck. Former members - Todd Whitener, Jesse Vest, Joey Stamper, Kevin McCreery, Matt Taul and Bruce LaFrance.

At this time, there are no new tour dates, though band information promises new dates announced around February 1. The band is currently on the Silent Majority Group label, after working with Maverick from 1999 to 2006. The violin of Ratzenboeck will probably be a key to Tantric success from this point.

As the band’s Web site states, "The story of TANTRIC is far from over. One listen to the band’s brand new material and it all begins again!"

Tantric at MySpace

Tags: independent music, indie music, tantric, indie, music

As we consider the contributions of alternative/pop music critics such as Chicago-based Jim DeRogatis, it is fun to look around at what is now a worldwide indie/alternative passion that crosses cultures. In DeRogatis’ book, "Milk It!" (De Capo Press 2003) the alternative decade of the 1990s got excellent exposure, with the help of DeRogatis’ practiced eye.

In addition to his focus on U.S. alternative and independent-label music, he reached out to understand the British music scene, along with that of some European countries. Now, more than 10 years on, the indie music/alternative music scene is literally world-class. According to www.indiedontdance.blogspot.com , the record label, Tag Team Records, is leading the way in promoting Chinese indie bands.

Some of the key words in the Tag Team Records mission statement: unlikely locations, broaden the scope, culturally relevant. To experienced music industry observers this is a noble cause, of course, and a necessary cause. Tag Team and some of the indie music bloggers have taken up the torch, trying to spread the word about "like-minded" musicians from China, Norway and Holland. The indie music scene in China is small but growing, according to those who know. One of the keys to enjoying indie music from another location on the planet: Be prepared to enjoy the different flavor and atmosphere of the music. Understanding lyrics may have to come later.

Tags: indie music, music, indie, independent music

Having played on the Bad Boys of Rock Tour 2007 with Hinder, Papa Roach and Buckcherry, Revelation Theory must now find a way to move to the next level of the rock industry. The band’s foundation is fairly solid, especially with tunes such as "Slow Burn," a powerful rock and roll effort that is sonically special. But judging from the information about Revelation Theory (or lack of it) online, this band is at the point where more serious marketing is necessary. The acoustic version of "Slow Burn" shows some of the versatility of this quartet.

Revelation Theory went to Vancouver, British Columbia in October and November of 2007 to complete a CD with producer Brian Howes, who also put the finishing touches on Hinder and Puddle of Mudd. In fact, 2007 was a huge year for RT, as the group played hundreds of shows and sold its self-titled CD by the thousands. Moves made by the band this year included coming to terms with Interscope Records. Hailing from New York by way of college in Massachusetts, Revelation Theory works with Idol Roc Entertainment for management, bookings etc.

The band’s newest compilation will be out in the spring of 2008.

Revelation Theory at MySpace

Tags: indie, music, independent music, indie music, revelation theory