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bands I either caught live opening for someone else or heard about through the grapevine who truly rock and blow me away... These artists are forward moving with a classic sensibility... worth checking out
Consider The Source [myspace.com/considerthemusic] 3 piece Progressive/Psychedelic/Jam Band from NYC. These guys surely are a sight to see. They're composed of Gabriel Marin on Fretless Guitar, Fretless Chaturangui (22-String Indian Slide Guitar -- dude never whips out a straight up guitar), John Ferrara on 4&5 String Basses and Justin Ahiyon on the drum set, percussion, samples. These dudes had me absolutely mesmerized.
Jolly [myspace.com/jollyband] - 4 piece mellow, melodic progressive rock band in the vein of Porcupine Tree. I heard their demo/ep and immediately felt like it's exactly what my ears have been searching for.
Back Door Slam [myspace.com/backdoorslam] - 3 piece Blues Rock band from Isle of Man. They're each 21, but have incredible chops. They're currently on tour with Gov't Mule. They are Davy Knowles (vocals, lead guitar, mandolin, lap steel), Ross Doyle (drums) and Adam Jones (bass).
Sam Kininger Band [myspace.com/samkiningerband] - Funk/jazz/hip-hop based around alto-saxophonist Sam Kininger - who is best known for his work with Soulive. Sam is from Boston and is a Berklee alum. He's also performed with Dave Matthews and Wyclef Jean. He performs with a keyboard player, bassist and Nikki Glaspie on drums. Nikki is incredible. She is also a Berklee album and recently has been drumming on tour for Beyonce. I see her face from time to time in drummer magazines.
Pete Levin Band [myspace.com/petelevinband] - 3 piece Freeform jazz covers of classic music lead by the very talented brother of King Crimson bassist Tony Levin
Sampson and the Folkadelics [myspace.com/sampsonandthefolkadelics] - 5 piece Funk/Hip-Hop/Reggae band from NY. They play super unique, tight, and completely danceable cover songs with a focus on vocal harmonies. One guy plays guitar, beatbox and contributes vocals. Another guy plays the fucking MANDOLIN (wah-wah style) and contributes vocals. Then there's the main vocalist. Drummer. Bass player.
Earl Greyhound [myspace.com/earlgreyhound] - 3 piece Rock band from NYC in the vein of 1970's rock/soul. Very visually stimulating. The three members are: a super skinny long-haired white dude who reminds me a lot of early David Gilmour (he plays guitar and sings), a super skinny black chick with a sizeable afro (she plays bass and sings - the harmonies and contrast of the two voices is really something), and a medium sized groovy black dude (he tears up the drums)
Heavy Hand [myspace.com/1heavyhand] - 3 piece Rock band from Philadelphia in the vein of 1960's and 1970's rock
Here's stuff that's not from this year, but I really grew to appreciate, this year
The Breeders - Kim Deal of The Pixies' band formed in 1988. Her twin sister, Kelley Deal, is also part of the project. They had a huge hit in 1993, Cannonball [video on youtube]. I'm sure you've heard it.
Lettuce - 7 piece modern funk/jazz band with clear influences of the forefathers of funk. They originally formed in 1992 when all 7 members met as teenagers at Berklee's Summer Music Program.
Muse
Ojos de Brujo - nine-piece hip-hop/flamenco/rock band from Barcelona, Spain
Roy Orbison - a legend who doesn't receive his fair recognition. Probably because he wasn't a visually stimulating man. Before he died in 1988 he was part of the pop super-group, The Traveling Wilburys, along with George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan. [music video for The Traveling Wilburys single, Handle With Care]
Thievery Corporation - last.fm describes this DC-based duo as, "downtempo/electronica with influences of dub, acid jazz, Indian classical and Brazilian styles fused together with a lounge aesthetic." I describe them as an eargasm.
The Ventures - I swear you've heard all of their songs. You just didn't stop to think about who the artist was. They formed in 1958. Were among the first bands to really mess with distortion. They're still making music, creating their own unique instrumental covers.
Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999) -- talk about a concept album! This is a fucking masterpiece... and I'm not into super pretentious over-the-top technical shit. I couldn't digest Dream Theater until I heard this record from start to finish.
Mastodon - Blood Mountain (2006)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
Consider The Source [myspace.com/considerthemusic] 3 piece Progressive/Psychedelic/Jam Band from NYC. These guys surely are a sight to see. They're composed of Gabriel Marin on Fretless Guitar, Fretless Chaturangui (22-String Indian Slide Guitar -- dude never whips out a straight up guitar), John Ferrara on 4&5 String Basses and Justin Ahiyon on the drum set, percussion, samples. These dudes had me absolutely mesmerized.
Jolly [myspace.com/jollyband] - 4 piece mellow, melodic progressive rock band in the vein of Porcupine Tree. I heard their demo/ep and immediately felt like it's exactly what my ears have been searching for.
Back Door Slam [myspace.com/backdoorslam] - 3 piece Blues Rock band from Isle of Man. They're each 21, but have incredible chops. They're currently on tour with Gov't Mule. They are Davy Knowles (vocals, lead guitar, mandolin, lap steel), Ross Doyle (drums) and Adam Jones (bass).
Sam Kininger Band [myspace.com/samkiningerband] - Funk/jazz/hip-hop based around alto-saxophonist Sam Kininger - who is best known for his work with Soulive. Sam is from Boston and is a Berklee alum. He's also performed with Dave Matthews and Wyclef Jean. He performs with a keyboard player, bassist and Nikki Glaspie on drums. Nikki is incredible. She is also a Berklee album and recently has been drumming on tour for Beyonce. I see her face from time to time in drummer magazines.
Pete Levin Band [myspace.com/petelevinband] - 3 piece Freeform jazz covers of classic music lead by the very talented brother of King Crimson bassist Tony Levin
Sampson and the Folkadelics [myspace.com/sampsonandthefolkadelics] - 5 piece Funk/Hip-Hop/Reggae band from NY. They play super unique, tight, and completely danceable cover songs with a focus on vocal harmonies. One guy plays guitar, beatbox and contributes vocals. Another guy plays the fucking MANDOLIN (wah-wah style) and contributes vocals. Then there's the main vocalist. Drummer. Bass player.
Earl Greyhound [myspace.com/earlgreyhound] - 3 piece Rock band from NYC in the vein of 1970's rock/soul. Very visually stimulating. The three members are: a super skinny long-haired white dude who reminds me a lot of early David Gilmour (he plays guitar and sings), a super skinny black chick with a sizeable afro (she plays bass and sings - the harmonies and contrast of the two voices is really something), and a medium sized groovy black dude (he tears up the drums)
Heavy Hand [myspace.com/1heavyhand] - 3 piece Rock band from Philadelphia in the vein of 1960's and 1970's rock
Here's stuff that's not from this year, but I really grew to appreciate, this year
The Breeders - Kim Deal of The Pixies' band formed in 1988. Her twin sister, Kelley Deal, is also part of the project. They had a huge hit in 1993, Cannonball [video on youtube]. I'm sure you've heard it.
Lettuce - 7 piece modern funk/jazz band with clear influences of the forefathers of funk. They originally formed in 1992 when all 7 members met as teenagers at Berklee's Summer Music Program.
Muse
Ojos de Brujo - nine-piece hip-hop/flamenco/rock band from Barcelona, Spain
Roy Orbison - a legend who doesn't receive his fair recognition. Probably because he wasn't a visually stimulating man. Before he died in 1988 he was part of the pop super-group, The Traveling Wilburys, along with George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan. [music video for The Traveling Wilburys single, Handle With Care]
Thievery Corporation - last.fm describes this DC-based duo as, "downtempo/electronica with influences of dub, acid jazz, Indian classical and Brazilian styles fused together with a lounge aesthetic." I describe them as an eargasm.
The Ventures - I swear you've heard all of their songs. You just didn't stop to think about who the artist was. They formed in 1958. Were among the first bands to really mess with distortion. They're still making music, creating their own unique instrumental covers.
Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999) -- talk about a concept album! This is a fucking masterpiece... and I'm not into super pretentious over-the-top technical shit. I couldn't digest Dream Theater until I heard this record from start to finish.
Mastodon - Blood Mountain (2006)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
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