Indie Update

Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, this pop/rock group of young musicians is a trio in the best sense of the word. There isn’t a lot of additional instrumentation on "The Way It Should Be" for example.

But listeners will not be misled into thinking this is a "power trio" in the classic ’60s and ’70s sense. Listen closely to the beginning of "The Only One." The harmony on the vocals is very tight. This tune moves quickly into some decent rock, with a good rhythm change.

The group is quick to inform Web site visitors that the group is influenced by such pop/soft rock headliners as Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie, Hall & Oats, Billy Ocean, Huey Lewis, Luther Vandross and other musicians and singers "that moms love." In addition, The Mile After is indie in the pure sense of the word. At present the group presents itself as unsigned with their record label listed as "none."

Chase Holfelder and Ben Carter provide the guitar and the vocals, supported by the drumming of Jim Trice. Tour dates include Douglasville, Marietta and Valdosta in the state of Georgia. The group moves on to Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida, along with other Sunshine State stops, before moving back to home ground in the Carolinas.

The Mile After at MySpace

Tags: independent music, indie, the mile after, music, indie music

Interesting. That’s the word, for sure.

Listeners who didn’t experience Sullivan might want to try "Florida Queen" on for size (Cover Your Eyes ,2007 Tooth and Nail). This tune has some nice changes, with the mainstream sound of the choruses contrasting well with the intro and the guitar solo. The vocals run straight and then drop to a minor chord sound that puts some nice flavor in the song.

"Tell Me I’m Wrong" is more straightforward, at the start. But Sullivan seemed to dislike staying in a predictable groove for long. The more discerning fans will like the suit-and-tie look, something that separated the group from other indie pop/rock groups (in appearance at least). "Fire Away" has some of the Brit-pop sound, mixed with true 2000+ American rock. Good keyboard sounds here.

But wait! With all of this nice work, why is Sullivan no longer part of the Cover Your Eyes tour? Well, according to information posted by the band on November 11, 2007, Sullivan "is no more." But fans may be somewhat encouraged that some members of the group feel that this effort won’t disappear for good. Sullivan will try to keep its Web site alive for the time being. Fans may want to check in now and then to see if there is life in the group.

Sullivan at MySpace

Tags: indie music, music, independent music, indie, sullivan

Introduction:

Independent music or famously known as ‘Indie’ music, is used as the term to describe the independence of music from major commercial record labels. These groups are mostly autonomous, self made and more precisely are pioneers. The people from this "Indie" class do everything on their own in recording, publishing and performances. Indie groups are usually not interested in taking help of any big names from Music Industry.

Birth of an Indie Music Band:

The history of Indie Music dates long back in 1960’s. The format of the music then was pop, rock and roll and a slight dash of R&B. The lyrics of the songs was inspired by peace, love and anti-war thoughts. There immerged some bands like "Velvet Underground". This was the band which could be considered as a real "Indie" band. They did everything regarding their album all on their own and created a difference in traditional music. They created songs comprising of almost everything belonging to that time. They tried the new style which was not tried by any other group. Unfortunately, the "Velvet Underground" band sold very few records of them. Even though the musicians are generating various kinds of music today, they are still amazed with the creation of "Velvet Underground".

In the era of 1970 more experimented music originated. There were numerous groups which tried diversity in music and immerged as music bands. One more new form of music aroused during this period named as "Progressive Rock". The music was distinct from hard rock of Beatles and soft music in 1960’s. This was the base of electronic instrumental era that took place in 1990. Music bands like Sire Records and Stiff Records were the most popular that time, which invented "New Wave" form of music.

Indie music took a stiff growth in 1980s. In this period a new form of music immerged known as "alternative music", which was a group formed out of distortion of garage bands. In 1990 the Indie music changed its face. The music was more promising and a missing link between modern music. The commercialization of these pioneers was on a high and they seem to be tied up with major labels than their own Indie labels. The Indie fans got upset with this. Soon the picture changed at the end of 1990s and Indie music got its original identity once again.

The Rock Music is a type of popular music accompanied by vocal melody that is prominent, with instruments like guitar, drums and bass. There are different styles of rock music and according to their type the other instruments vary. Keyboard instruments such as organ, piano or synthesizers are found in rock music. It usually has a strong back beat, and has more of electric or acoustic guitar.

Rock music is traced back to 1950’s era of Rock and Roll and Rockabilly. The different kinds of rock music started in the 1960’s with the folk music blending with rock to form a new category called folk rock. Likewise rock was mixed with blues to create blues rock, with jazz to get jazz-rock fusion and psychedelic rock which has proved to be a hit over time. Rock was introduced to soul, funk and Latin music in the 1970s. After this another set of different styles of rock came out like soft rock, hard rock, progressive rock, heavy metal and punk rock. In the 1980s glam metal, synth- rock, thrash metal, hardcore punk, and alternative rock. Grunge - style rock , Britpop, Indie rock, piano rock, and nu metal.

Elvis Presley, Bill Haley and the Comets, Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash are the few who started off the Rock and Roll music trend. In the United Kingdom this was started by John Lennon’s The Quarry Men. "Move It" was one of the first British rock ‘n roll hits which was by Cliff Richard.

The total new style of rock called the pop punk rock acme into being with the entry of Kurt Cobain and his band called Nirvana. The other bands which went on to make this type of music and made it big in the music industry are Green Day, The Offsprings, Sum 41 and blink -182. The style of rock music that became very famous among the young crowd recently is nu metal. The bands which have established themselves in this type of rock music are Red Hot Chili Pepper, P.O.D., Korn, Deftones, Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit.

Anthony Wilson, the Manchester musical legend and the founder of Factory Records died on the 10^th of August. He was 57 years old and died of Cancer. Anthony Wilson was the man behind the success of several bands in Manchester. Anthony Wilson passed away on Friday evening. Last year, Wilson was diagnosed for Kidney cancer, and had undergone an emergency surgery to remove a kidney, in January.

Wilson, born in Salford as often been dubbed as ‘Mr. Manchester’. He was often referred to as the mastermind of Manchester’s music industry. Wilson started out as a broadcaster, but he managed to influence almost every aspect of the music industry. His influence was not limited only to the music scene in Manchester but extended even to the wider UK music scene. In fact the bands New Order and Happy Mondays were launched by Factory Records. He was also responsible for the launch of Hacienda nightclub.

Phil Saxe who worked at Factory Records with Anthony Wilson had this to say while glorifying the greatness of Wilson,

"Part of me, part of Manchester, part of modern British music has died tonight. I really don’t know what to say. Tony was a genius, basically. I know people say he wasn’t a great businessman, but they’re missing the point. He was a visionary in that he helped bands, who otherwise wouldn’t have made it, who were a bit out of the ordinary. He helped them realize their dreams and through that probably realized himself to be Mr. Manchester".

Stephen Morris had this to say while he paid his tribute to Wilson, "New Order wouldn’t have came to be what they are without Tony and the Factory Record label because he was very passionate about music and he believed the band should have total freedom. He was I think, the only person in the music industry that didn’t believe in contracts. You’d see him do deals with record companies and the whole thing was done on the back of his hand. You could literally do what you want."

Anthony Wilson was truly a great icon and had inspired many around the world. Hundreds have paid tribute to ‘Mr. Manchester’, and his loss has certainly come as a massive blow to both Manchester and its music industry.