Make no mistake about it, this Denver-based group is, was, or soon will be, on tour! In fact, they are playing in Boulder and Littleton in the home state of Colorado in May.

They start their Web samples with “Best of What I Do (In Response To Nothing 2003), an energetic tune that relies on quick drums and some growling/picked bass to make things happen. Nice middle-of-the-song break, with a treble sound to the bass for icing on the break cake.

“Pictures Have Faded” from the same CD, has a choppy rhythm, which helps make it an interesting song. I’m not sure what the vocals are supposed to tell us about the singer’s talent. It’s slightly off key. Perhaps that makes it cool or cute. You tell me.

“I’m sorry you were wrong” from 2005, probably won’t jump out at the new listener. It should satisfy the Saving Verona fan, however. This listener likes the experimental feel of some tunes. “Cancer Dancer” (fresh-mix Chinatown 2007) is an involving song. The listener has to stay awake for the changes, stops and the discomfort the band intends to put on the disc.

The band is composed of Bryce Hoops (vocals, guitar), Randy Troup (bass, vocals) and Paul Harris (drums).

Saving Verona on MySpace
[tags]Saving Verona[/tags]

This, dear friends, is something slightly different. It is advertised as “emo” of course, though it could also fit today’s “alternative” and rock/pop categories. But let us step outside of categories for now to consider These Green Eyes, a band from Connecticut that offers, in 2008, Relapse to Recovery and such tunes as “Words” and “Sucker Punch.”

The first of those tunes seems to speak from a very personal point of view, but there is just enough universal interest in the young-person angst to capture a few listeners. The music is good rock, with energy enough to carry the style.

“Counter Punch” has a dark feel in the beginning, as well as an interesting way of presenting the drums and overall rhythm. While These Green Eyes sounds much like some other 21st century young rock bands, “Counter Punch” serves to separate them, especially the hurried lyrical content. Good stuff! Nice bass work!

Search among the list of influences for this group and you’ll find the standard Coheed & Cambria, Death Cab For Cutie and Jimmy Eat World. But there are a few gems there too, such as U2, Dave Brubeck and Wes Montgomery. But then there’s “Self Inflicted” from House of Glass 2005 Martyr Records. Try it and see.
These Green Eyes on MySpace
[tags]These Green Eyes[/tags]

This Tulsa, Oklahoma artist offered some comfortable listening tunes with Chasing Chimaera (Nobility EP 2006). Case in point – “Landings.”

There are two things about The Hero Factor that are immediately noticeable: the strong singing voice on the above tune and the photo displayed on the Web site. The guy is playing a Fender bass! He’s not at the piano or holding an acoustic guitar. That’s news.

“unfinished jem” from blackwatch sessions (Nobility 2007) is certainly that. Listeners will find this music excellent for those low-key days. It ain’t dance music, baby!! Well, “Come Down” is a bit more upbeat. But I don’t think these fellows intended The Hero Factor to be a popular on the disco-club circuit.

Member list for The Hero Factor includes: Ben Kilgore – Vocals; Eric Arndt – Bass, Vocals; Matt Fisher – Guitar, Chad Copelin – Keyboards, Nathan Price – Drums. They report, in Web bio, that they have “battled “societal pressures” for six years as well as working through “major lineup changes.” But the current mix seems to work, with keyboard and electronic sound used selectively.

The Hero Factor has some summer 2008 dates and is attracting hundreds to regional shows. Quality rock/alternative music is to be found here.

The Hero Factor on MySpace
[tags]The Hero Factor[/tags]

Is this The Beatles, The Stones, The Dave Clark Five – back from the early 1960s? How about The Spencer Davis Group with a young Steve Winwood?

“Believe In Me” (Parallel Play 2008 Murderecords) has some of that flavor, most certainly. This tune from the Toronto group has straightforward rock rhythm, lyrics that are not complex and keyboards that tie the whole thing together. When this talented band moves on to “Witch’s Wand” from the same CD, the listener may be transported once again, to the days of youth and bicycles. Is that a Beach Boys influence on the backup vocals? Sure it is.

The lineup of musicians includes Jay Ferguson, Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland, Andrew Scott and they want us to know “I’m Not A Kid Anymore.” Well, boys, we certainly get that. As with most of their other tunes, this is perfect length for those FM stations that tend toward the old three-minute tune. Some bands can use all of those classic groups as influences and make it their own. Sloan has done this with Parallel Play. For example, with “Emergency 911″ – hey boys, how do you reproduce all of these different styles? As someone once asked Bob Dylan – where does it all come from?

Sloan will be in Detroit, Philadelphia, D.C. Boston, New York, Cleveland and Chicago, with a tour beginning June 14.

Sloan on MySpace
[tags]Sloan[/tags]

Anytime you win a “best of” award you must have something somebody wants. In most cases, what is offered is quality product. In Molly Jenson’s case, what those somebodies want is good folk/rock type music.

Let’s get one thing out of the way – This listener likes the blue shoes.

That said, “Thinking Of You” (Maybe Tomorrow) brings back some great memories for the folkies and bohemian rockers of the 1950s and 1960s. Joni Mitchell would be proud, I think. Good squeeze box ending.

Jenson hails from Orange County, California. That might explain something, but it would be difficult to determine what. “And You Were” from the same collection is an example of a somewhat-rough cut, with no attempt to cover the human element in the guitar and the voice. In the era of CD music that is too clean, this is rather good to hear. Check out “Wait For You Here.” That’s all. Just check it out.

Jenson provides acoustic guitar to her tunes, along with help from a long list of musicians. These include Trinidad Sanchez III, Darla Hawn, Brandon Walters, Brett Bixby and Kelly Bennett. The “influences” list provided by Jenson is not surprising. When you get inspiration from Patty Griffin, Harry Nilsson, the Cardigans, Rufus Wainwright and Tori Amos, it would be hard to go wrong.

Molly Jenson on MySpace
[tags]Molly Jenson[/tags]