Indie Update

From California – After Midnight Project! They might, indeed, be the real thing. This group does have a song by that title. "The Real Thing" (The Becoming EP) is nice music. It’s quality rock and roll with a philosophy that grabs for an understanding of the universe.

The question is: Where are they? According to their Web information, they play in Long Beach and then, a couple of months later, in West Hollywood. Considering that this group is a project put together during time away from college classes and so on, I would guess fans can’t expect them to tour the world just yet.

But with songs such as "Take Me Home" from the same EP, the After Midnight Project should consider going out into the world with their music. Of course, the strength of any successful touring band is lyrics + music = more listeners. These guys may be on the way.

"The Becoming" a title tune, sneaks up on the listener, eerily referring to the spider and the helpless fly. But then it’s slay and desecrate, and a "last mistake." Good stuff here, all done without growling and pounding. See, it can be done! Go back to 2005 and "Party Dress" (After Midnight Project). The band started strong and remains so.

Personal note: If I was 20 again, I would buy this band’s stuff. But as the song asks, "What have I become?"

After Midnight Project on MySpace

Tags: indie music, music, After Midnight Project, indie, independent music

This young L.A. musician is putting out some unusual sounds, in that there is country-rock in "Beyond My Means" (Open To Close 2007 What Have You), along with some straightforward country and just a nice piece of folk. What is surprising with this one tune is that Hexum lists The Beatles, Wilco, The Police, Wayne Shorter, The Beach Boys, Jason Falkner, Stevie Wonder, Elliott Smith, Steely Dan, David Bowie, Beck and Radiohead as major influences. The list doesn’t include any truly folk/country artists.

Then comes "Little City Driver" from the same collection. The listener gets a completely different feel. Perhaps it would be best to stop trying to categorize new music. (Yeah right!) In the decades of popular music and popular music reviews, very few have been able to resist the temptation to put artists and musicians in convenient cubbyholes.

Try out "Work of Art" (Realistic Fantasy 2005 What Have You) to get another taste of acoustic work that pre-dates some of the current balladeers by a couple of years. Or check in with "How Many Times" The Story So Far 2006 What Have You). Hexum is a veteran on the indie music scene, with songwriting efforts reaching back several years. Look for him around the Golden State.

Zack Hexum on MySpace

Tags: independent music, music, Zack Hexum, indie, indie music

Music from Delaware! That’s a good start, because we just don’t see too many musicians/artists from this oft-forgotten state. There doesn’t seem to be a solid reason for this, but it is true. Perhaps the residents of that area of the United States might argue, or at least strongly suggest, that there are more talented people in Delaware than the world is aware. No argument from this quarter so let us hear more.

The Spinto Band is Jon Eaton, Albert Birney, Nick Krill, Thomas Hughes, Jeffrey Hobson, Sam Hughes and Joey Hobson (at least according to the group’s myspace page. The band’s self-titled Web site is cute, to say the least. (Personal note: Just as Susan Sarandon "hate’s cute" in Bull Durham, this writer is not particularly enamored of cute.)

"The Cat’s Pajamas" is cute. Or is that – the cat’s pajamas are cute?

In either case, this live version of the tune has the feel of a 90s techno/Andy Warhol-influenced effort. Not bad, just slightly unusual. But then, what would the listener expect when the first name on the band’s "influence" list is Burt Bacharach?! Not a problem, just slightly unusual again. But then we move down that list to Frank Zappa, The Zombies and David Bowie, and once again, we, the listener are comfortable.

For the listener new to The Spinto Band – try out "Oh Mandy" or "Crack The Whip" (Nice and Nicely Done 2005). The CD title says it best.

The Spinto Band on MySpace

Tags: indie, The Spinto Band, music, independent music, indie music

Being greeted by a flying insect and the electronic atmosphere of "Intro" (Songs From the Glasshouse) puts the listener right where he/she needs to be to enjoy some of the "rock, ambient, electronica" of The Panic Division.

New listeners can samle "Here We Go" or "Day You Left" to get some idea of how this works. Colton Holliday (vocals, guitar, keys) joined forces with Daniel Stanush (guitar, Rhodes, keys), Tavis Wilson (bass, keys), Jesse Garcia (drums) and Diego Chavez (electronics, programming) to create what could serve as excellent club dance music as well as pleasant ambient music. This CD was introduced in August of 2007.

This is not music that is heavy on philosophy, though lyrics do drive some of the work of The Panic Division. The group also pays some attention to musical dynamics and song structure, so these tunes aren’t just rhythm tracks. This is certainly true of "Day You Left." Nice keyboard finish.

Look for the group in California, Arizona, Washington and other points west, as The Panic Division moves about from their San Antonio base. There is some word going about that Daniel Stanush is not part of the mix anymore. I guess it’s best to take that at face value. Let’s see what happens from here.

The Panic Division on MySpace

Tags: indie music, indie, The Panic Division, music, independent music

What do you get when you tie Sunday morning and alternative rock together, in a Web search or in real life? It may be your fate to get some words and phrases such as "The Velvet Underground" and "ska" thrown your way.

The questions are: What is appropriate for "alternative seekers" on a Sunday morning? What is comfortable for those same listeners? Discussions with rock aficionados in the past have uncovered some interesting theories on this subject. Many among the classic-rock set  feel they can live best with bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Who and The Allman Brothers Band on Saturday night, but must have The Moody Blues or great folk rock such as Joni Mitchell on Sunday morning. It’s a headache thing, really.

A quick trip to www.last.fm brought up a California group called No Doubt that even includes the phrase "Sunday Morning" in its music. According to this Web site (the social music revolution) No Doubt compares favourably to Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Pink and Alanis Morissette. Not all bad, but maybe a bit too soft for many alternative listeners.

At blogcritics.org, visitors may find references to Red Hot Chili Peppers, Woodstock ‘94 and Nine Inch Nails. Perhaps that’s a bit closer to the coffee and Red Bull type of music you are looking for.

In closing, let’s look at www.bartoy.blogspot.com for some "Sunday morning coffee with Uncle Tupelo." Maybe that’s more to your taste. No matter where you travel for your morning after music, don’t let the music die just because it’s not Saturday night.

Tags: indie, Sunday Morning Coming Down, indie music, music, independent music