Band Updates!

Hey guys, so I have a lot of updates on many of the bands I have reviewed.

First of all, I would like to unfortunately announce that the band Living Like Ghosts is breaking up. You can still buy their CDs and merch off of their website (hint hint).

Secondly, the lead singer of Masters of the Universe is getting married (CONGRATS); but because of his new commitment, he will be leaving the band. So I urge anyone who can sing and lives in the Pittsburgh, PA area to contact them on facebook/myspace to try out.

Next, I was fortunate enough to get a copy of The Last Good Year's new live ablum. Needless to say it is awesome, they have gotten much, much better as a whole. Their vocal harmonies are spot on (something that is very apparent from the first song on the album). I also really liked their song selection and order for the album, they obviously have worked hard to improve their sound and their performance. I must say that this may in fact push their overall score to a 9.25/10. So again if you haven't already, read my previous review and CHECK THEM OUT!

Fourthly, Toby Kane's new record is out, entitled The Heart Machine and is available on iTunes. Fittingly enough, 20% of all of his record sales this month will be given to The American Heart Institute- South Dakota. SO BUY HIS ALBUM! Once I finally get around to buying it, I'll let you know what I think.

Fifthly, The Fighting Jamesons are recording and releasing a new album soon, so check them out on facebook for updates!


Finally, a few weeks ago I went to the flood city music festival. Unfortunately, all of the acts I saw were signed so I can't review them. Regardless, I wanted to comment on the development of the festival. I've been going to the "Johnstown folk festival" for nearly ten years now, and needless to say I have been a little disappointed in its development. The festival started as a free festival with countless young budding, unsigned musicians with many local vendors etc etc. Now, the festival is dominated by large acts; and although I do think it is still awesome festival, it has lost its charm. This past year the one and only Gregg Allman headlined the festival, causing them to charge me 20 bucks for admission and really limited the number of acts present at the festival (because it cost them a lot to get Allman there). Because of the limited number of acts, there were only three stages compared to past years where there would be 7+ stages. The committee in charge of the festival most likely upped the price for renting a vendor tent because there were only 7 tents selling foods/drinks/etc. which is a significant downsize compared to its previous glory. I will admit though that the bands that they did have there were really talented and I had a lot of fun listening to some great music. I also managed to shove my way through the crowed to the second row and got to see the one and only Gregg Allman up-close and personal. I will also admit that 20 bucks is quite a steal for a full day of music (35 for the full weekend). Because of the price and the performances, I can't help but recommend this festival to all music fans because it is definitely worth it. However, I can't help but wonder what could have been.

As always, don't forget to like us on facebook (through that link or by clicking like in the top left corner), follow us by email or through blogger (also on the right); and, if you can, please donate! (again on the right) Thanks for reading and keep listening to unsigned bands!

The Last Good Year

So again, I want to apologize for how long it took me between posts. The University somehow managed to screw up the internet and thus I have been without it for nearly a month. Fortunately for you guys, I have found an AWESOME band that is worth the wait. The Last Good Year is a critically acclaimed unsigned band having won many awards including being nominated by Nuvo magazine as Indianapolis's "Best Local Group" as well as winning "Indy's Next Big Thing" battle of the bands. Their popularity has allowed them to travel the country and develop an even larger and well deserved following. I have had a lot of trouble thinking of bands to compare them to because they are truly a crossover between classic and modern rock; I would almost call them a crossover between Jet and Incubus. Listening to The Last Good Year is like hopping in a time machine and going back to when music was great, but with an updated sound that sullen teenagers could listen to.

The lead singer definitely has an incredible voice. Even when he sings higher and louder, he keeps his voice clear and natural. Out of all of the bands I have reviewed, this guy definitely has one of the best voices (maybe even the best). His voice actually reminds me a lot of Brandon Boyd of Incubus, especially when they really start to belt they sound almost exactly the same, and personally I think that is a huge compliment (and is also why i think they sound a little bit like Incubus). Their guitar playing is really good, they have a great combination of chords and moving lines. The lead guitarist is a pretty good soloist as well, I feel like he could be a little more creative but he does a good job of making his solos fit the chords and fit the feel of the song. The bass player is really strong, he does a great job of both walking and moving with the guitars as well as holding notes when he needs to. The guitars and the bass always work really well together which is HUGE. I've found that this type of cohesion is more rare than one would expect these days. The drummer is actually pretty good as well. I will say he has never done anything to wow me in the music I have heard thus far. However, he does a great job of pushing the band and keeping them together. He does throw in some pretty cool rhythms and sounds occasionally, so I have to give him props for that. To me, sometimes it feels like he may be relying on the snare a little too much, but really truly I can't fault him because it doesn't diminish the band and what he does sounds great with what everyone else is doing.

The Last Good Year has a pretty good live show. They have a stellar live sound and their levels are always good, but their backup vocals could use a little work because sometimes they come in on the wrong note. Luckily for them, only a little more practice can fix that. They generally do a good job of moving around when the lead singer isn't singing, which keeps it entertaining. The bass and the lead guitar could do a little more while they are not singing though, sometimes they look a little lost on stage. When watching them, the band as a whole tends to bring a lot of energy early in the song, then it dies down, until the end of the song when they get pumped up again. Like most bands, they need to keep the energy up during the entire song; unless, of course, it is a slower song. Yeah, I know it is tiring, but the crowd loves it. I know what I've said seems a little negative, but this band is a MUST SEE SHOW, the music is awesome and they are only going to get better on stage which means that this is one show you don't want to miss!

Now it comes down to the grade, this band, flat out is one of the best I have reviewed. They have lots of talent, they have great cohesion, and make awesome music together. Like all bands, they aren't perfect, but they can only get better and I guarantee that they will be signed. Their live show is good, their music is awesome, what more could any listener want? So finally, I will give them an 8.5/10, once they work out a few things in their live show, they are easily a 9/10. SO CHECK THEM OUT before they get famous and everything associated with them becomes ridiculously expensive: web, myspace, like them on facebook or +1 them on google+. Don't forget to support them by buying their music, the link to their self titled album is posted under Band CD's and Downloads.

Also, don't forget to like us on facebook (through that link or by clicking "like" in the top left corner), follow us by email or through blogger (on the right); and, if you can, please donate! Thanks for reading and keep listening to unsigned bands!

Toby Kane

Fortunately for me, this blog has become popular enough that artists are starting to come to me about being reviewed. One of which is Toby Kane, a singer song writer from Sioux Falls, SD. His music reminds me of a time when the radio didn't make me want to vomit. Sorry, I just had to add that. I would definitely say that he and his band, the Toby Kane Band, sound similar to the Gin Blossoms back in the 90s, aka they are easy listening on the ears. Toby is currently pursuing a solo career. When asked why he decided to do such a thing considering the success of the Toby Kane Band he said that it "happened very organically...I enjoy the creativity and common goal of a band. But as often happens when writing, it can be difficult to dictate when a song or lyric idea hits, and next thing you know it's 7 or 8 songs. When that happens for me, the itch to go test them out is pretty much all-consuming." So playing to his strengths, he left, and fortunately for us, he is writing and sharing the music he hears in his head. Side note: the band still plays together 4-5 times a year.

He is currently working on a new solo album entitled "The Heart Machine" which he describes "is my effort to write a heartfelt set of songs that are diverse, fun, and heavily produced without losing the singer/songwriter, indie spirit". Which in my opinion is quite an undertaking; if he can pull it off, I will be incredibly impressed, and thus, I wish him good luck. Overall, this is good easy listening, summer music that gets your foot tapping and your head bobbing.

Toby has a really unique voice, to me it sounds like a combination of Bob Dylan, Jon Bon Jovi (a designation that seems to have caused some strife between my girlfriend and me, so leave your opinion in the comments), and Steven Page which makes for a really cool listening experience. He has a pretty good range, and is always in tune which is really important when marketing yourself as a singer/songwriter. His lyrics are pretty good too i especially like the lyric "Life is hard, but hard's okay" which I feel is a great summation of human experience. From what I've heard of his guitar playing he is pretty good, he does a good job of not sticking to the same three chords over and over again and keeps his music interesting. He hasn't done anything yet to wow me; no incredible solos or anything like that. I will admit though that his style doesn't really call for such, and I will also admit that I don't have a large body of work currently to base my opinion on. Hopefully, when his new album is released I can make a more informed decision.

As far as a live performance is concerned, he does a good job (the only video's ive seen are with his band though). He always looks like he is having a great time on stage and I think that speaks to his love of music and the crowd always really responds to that. Being a singer/songwriter it is always difficult as a solo act to put on a good show, and since I have yet to see a video of him as a solo act I will just give him a little advice and tell him to get a wireless mic headset, that way he can walk around maybe jump and move a little more instead of being confined to a stand mic. So for now I'm going to have to dock him a little bit but as far as what he does with what he has he does a good job overall.

So now I have come to the end of yet another review, and it is again time for the grade. I do really like Toby's music, he has a really cool voice, good lyrics, pretty solid guitars, and as I said before his music reminds me of a time when listening to the radio was a good experience. I think there is a high probability of him getting signed and having a successful career, and hopefully he will come to the east coast so I can see him perform! Coming down to the grade, I think he has earned every bit of a 8/10; however, this grade could go higher depending on his next album. CHECK HIM OUT: tobykane.com, like him on Facebook, Follow him on twitter. Buy music by Toby Kane and the Toby Kane Band on the right under Band CD's and Downloads.


Also, don't forget to like us on facebook (through that link or by clicking "like" in the top left corner), follow us by email or through blogger (on the right); and, if you can, please donate! (again on the right) Thanks for reading and keep listening to unsigned bands!

On an Unrelated Topic: Congratulations Justin Harper

I just wanted to take a few moments to congratulate Richmond Spider Alum Justin Harper on being drafted into the NBA by the Cleveland Cavaliers; and now, is headed to the Orlando Magic (because of a trade). All of the Spiders are rooting for you, Good luck!

4onthefloor

Wow, so I apologize for taking so long in between posts, but I guess everyone needs a vacation now and again. With summer officially starting, I felt the need to have a southern blues/rock band blow my mind, which is exactly what I found with 4onthefloor. They hail from Minneapolis, Minnesota, which is hardly southern, but managed to infuse many elements of southern blues and rock into their music (i.e slide guitar, etc.) While listening to them and writing my review, my roommate immediately noted that they sound a lot like ZZ Top, to which I agreed, but instead of having long beards as a gimmick, each member has a bass drum. When I asked them about the bass drums they simply responded "How else are we going to fight the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse? FOUR BASS DRUMS. These are end times." Touche, guys. They have only released 1 album so far entitled 4x4. When asking them about where they came up with the name for the album, they told me that it brings up a familiar biblical scene, Noah's Ark. They also said that there are 16 tracks on the album and 4 x 4 =16. Despite having only released one album, they have become massively popular, mostly due to their upbeat catchy music.

The lead singer has an awesome sounding voice perfectly suited for their style of music. He has a little trouble singing high, due to his deeper voice, but he usually substitutes the lack of high range by using a more gravelly voice, similar to what Kurt Cobain did in order to sing higher, which brings a different level of emotion to the songs. The guitarists do a great job with their moving lines and really make the music bluesy; which makes this band sound similar to ZZ Top. I also really like their chord progressions, sometimes pushing the envelope a little with things you wouldn't think would work initially but end up sounding great in the end. Mostly, I love that they keep things complex so that I am never bored when listening to them. However, from what I've heard of some of their solos, I haven't been particularly impressed, but practice makes perfect and they will definitely get there. I'm going to comment on the bass as the drums as a whole, because really truly in most bands they work together anyways. Honestly, neither of them seem to really stand out to me, aka they have yet to do anything to really impress me, but they have yet to do anything to disappoint me. They work together really well to help drive the music, and stay in the background so that the guitars, harmonic etc. get showcased. So I don't think it is an artifact of their style that neither have truly impressed me. Finally, I must say I love their gimmick: a bass drum per member member that spell out 4 on the floor is just really cool and I love that they wail on them during live performances.

4onthefloor has a really great live sound. In fact, I may actually like their live sound better than their studio sound (not to detract from their studio sound by any means) but this band brings it when they are live. But per usual, one of the great things about going to a live show is seeing the show. I do wish they overall would try to move around a little more. The lead singer does a solid job, and I understand that it is difficult because they are all playing bass drums, but they could put on a little more show and just look like they are having more fun up there; because if they are having fun, generally the audience is having fun as well, and that really is the whole point of a live show. That isn't to say that I wouldn't see them live, because I would love to have them come to The National in Richmond, VA (hint, hint guys) because I do think it would be an awesome show regardless.

Unfortunately, we have come to the end of another post, but at least this means you guys finally get to see the grade. I think this band is very talented and they have an awesome gimmick. More importantly, I think that they play really great music and have a magnificent live, as well as studio, sound and are just a ton of fun to listen to. But, as I said they could work on a few things: their live energy as well as their soloing, so I can't give them full marks even though I wish I could. I still think that overall they are an awesome band so I have to give them an 8.5/10 so you guys NEED to check them out: like them, Follow them http://www.myspace.com/the4onthefloor, http://www.4otf.com/. BUY THEIR ALBUM, using this link 4x4, or by clicking under the Band CD's and Downloads tab on the right.

Also, don't forget to like us on facebook (through that link or by clicking like in the top left corner), follow us by email or through blogger (also on the right); and, if you can, please donate! (again on the right) Thanks for reading and keep listening to unsigned bands!

I need bands!

To all of my faithful readers, I need help finding bands. PLEEAASSEEE leave some in the comments below! Thanks guys.

Living Like Ghosts

So it is rare that I find an emo-ish rock band that I like, but Living Like Ghosts has proved to be an exception. Hailing from Detroit and formed in 2009, they have put out 3 albums We Won't Be Run by these Machines 2009, Treading Water 2010, and Monsters 2011 (although this might just be a single), which have collectively sold around 4,000 copies worldwide. Regardless, this band is highly prolific having recorded an album a year, which when trying to get signed, is important to have a large body of work. To try to narrow down their sound, they remind me the most of the band Scary Kids Scaring Kids.

Now, let's get started with the band members. The lead singer can really belt it. He has a good voice, a little whiny but it doesn't get in the way, and he seems to have a really good range and reminds me most of.....well I can't actually put my finger on who he sounds like (if anyone), so you guys will have to let me know. I really like the guitarists in this band, they do a great job of driving the music with melody and harmony lines creating some really cool sounds and sometimes really pushing the envelope. From what I've been able to tell, the lead guitar play is actually a pretty good soloist, too. He doesn't do anything incredibly out of the ordinary, but he does manage to hold it down. Next, the bass player seems pretty good, he doesn't seem to do anything really special in his playing either. Generally, he is just following the guitars and holding down the chords, but I think this is because of the genre and thus I cannot really fault him for it. That being said, he and the drummer do a good job of staying together and staying on top of the beat, and therefore, keeping the band together. The drummer throws down some pretty cool rhythms, I like his sparing use of the double bass as well as his use of the bell on the cymbal which adds some edge to his playing. Overall, I think the band comes together really well; especially on recordings where their sound is well blended and very well thought out.

Now, onto their live performances. As far as the overall energy, they do a great job. They jump around a lot, head bang, etc. and look like they are having a lot of fun out there on the stage. They could of course, still do more, although they already do more throughout their performances than most of the bands that I have reviewed so far. My main issue is with their sound on stage, although their music is still very good. The way they seem to balance the instruments during sound check is different from the studio and thus I feel they lose a little bit of what I liked so much about their studio albums. I'm not sure if this is their doing, or whichever klutz is working sound at the places they play, but I would suggest that they do a more meticulous check. Regardless, they still are obviously having a lot of fun on stage and the music is still there so I would DEFINITELY see this band live, I guarantee it would be an awesome show!

Yet again we find ourselves at the end of a review, so its time for the grade. I must restate that I generally am not a huge fan of this genre; however, if there is any band to like it is Living Like Ghosts for sure. They have a very good vocalist, some sweet guitars, a really good drummer, and a solid bass player...what more could a music lover want? They also obviously work well together to write some pretty solid music. Their live show also looks like it could be a ton of fun and although their live sound needs a little work, I'm sure they can get there and make a must see show. So now it is time for the grade, I guess on the 10 scale (per usual) I would have to give them an 8 and maybe an 8.5 if they get their live sound working better. I almost guarantee that this band will be signed in not too long so CHECK THEM OUT: http://livinglikeghosts.com/, http://www.facebook.com/livinglikeghosts, http://www.myspace.com/livinglikeghosts, http://www.reverbnation.com/livinglikeghosts. Links to their albums are provided on the right under the Band CDs and Downloads section and don't forget to either follow Mac's Music Blog on blogspot or like us on facebook (click there or the like button in the top left). Finally, please donate any amount helps! Keep reading and keep listening!