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Titus Andronicus

stacyamos — Tue, 04 May 2010 10:00:58 +0000

Artist: Titus Andronicus

Hails From: Glen Rock, NJ

Musical Style: Rock, Punk, Classic Rock

For Fans of: The Clash, The Replacements, Neutral Milk Hotel, Bruce Springsteen

Why you should check them out:

Titus Andronicus is a band that comes fully prepared. Armed with a raucous collection of sprawling barroom brawling punk rock and the shout-out-loud mentality to go with it, these New Jersey boys are the hardest working band this side of Ashbury park.

Background Check:

Formed in 2005, the assembly of guitarist Amy Klein, drummer Eric Harm, keyboardist David Robbins, and vocalist/guitarist Patrick Stickles took their moniker from Shakespeare’s most brutal tragedy, Titus Andronicus. Their heavy distortions and loud presence caught the attention of XL Recordings, who picked up their debut LP, The Airing of Grievances, in 2009. The record displayed a ferocious raw energy and quizzical pop culture references (from Batman to Seinfeld), adding another dimension to the group’s prowess, a metaphoric and lyrical maze accompanying the fiery rhythms.

Titus Andronicus then set about an ambitious sophomore effort, upping the productions and enlisting the help of a small army of collaborators, including members of Vivian Girls and The Hold Steady. The result is the universally acclaimed The Monitor. With many of the lo-fi constraints of their previous efforts abandoned, the group delved into deeper musical waters, simultaneously reviving the bar band ethos of the likes of The Pogues, and encompassing the hard working pathos of the Boss himself, Springsteen. Already hailed as one of this year’s standout records, The Monitor is a uniquely skewed work that encompasses a recurring theme of the Civil War, eschews pretension, and resonates in its honesty long after it’s heard.

Where you can find them in cyberspace:

MySpace

titusandronicus.net

On Tour:

JamBase

Similar Artists:

Rupa and the April Fishes

stacyamos — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:18:22 +0000

Artist: Rupa and the April Fishes

Hails from: San Francisco, CA

Musical Style: Punk, Folk, Pop

For Fans of: Manu Chao, Beirut, Julieta Venegas

Un americaine a Paris – Rupa &…

Why you should check them out:

Whether they sing in French, Spanish or English, this multicultural band writes and performs songs that are universally appealing. They draw from many different world sounds, from gypsy punk, American folk, French cabaret, or pop. But this isn’t a hodgepodge of messy influences; the band carefully infuses all these sounds together to make coherent music that reflects the richness of our globalized world.

Background Check:

Rupa Marya is the singer, songwriter and guitar player leading this 5-piece band. She has the type of upbringing that justifies the eclectic sound she’s created in her music. She was born to Indian parents and raised in the U.S., France and India. She admits that it was very confusing as a child to experience such a wide range of cultures and try to make sense of them, and in many ways the songs she writes now is a way to express and digest those experiences.

Rupa also leads something of a double life; she is a doctor of internal medicine by day and a rock star by night. So far she has been able to juggle these two demanding roles; however her music career has been taking off in the last few months so it may only be a matter of time before she is make her living recording and touring. She is currently on tour, so be sure to catch her in all of her multicultural glory.

Where you can find them in Cyberspace:

MySpace

Label

On Tour:

JamBase

Similar Artists:

Demander

stacyamos — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:00:39 +0000

Artist: Demander

Hails From: New York, NY

Musical Style: Rock, HardCore, Indie Punk

For Fans of: Sleater Kinney, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ida Maria

Why you should check them out:

The stunningly aggressive Demander is creating a riotous following with their exceptionally moody and gritty new tracks. Their abrasive punk rock, strong female vocals, and indulgent indie metal have made them a venerable force to be reckoned with.

Background Check:

Singer/bassist Karen Correa and drummer Sivan Harlap were playing together in New York’s the Hissyfits when they first decided to venture out on their own. While opening for acts across the nation had introduced them to music’s manic lifestyle, their current lineup wasn’t quite enough. With a shared desire to make music that was a little rougher around the edges, they formed Demander in 2004 with guitarist Jared Scott, quickly unleashing brash and raucous battle cries amidst chaotically searing punk rock dissonance.Their debut full length, The Unkindness of Ravens, is a smart and tight collection of aggressive jams and darkly themed tones. Their standout single, “Hollis”, features Harlap’s sharply fractured beats, Scott’s screaming guitar cacophony, and Correa’s rumbling bass and dangerously sweet vocals. It was this album that first propelled Demander into supporting posts alongside the Hold Steady and New Model Army, showcasing their playful take on such heavy music. Recently, David Kurutz, who was also Sivan’s old high school pal from California replaced Scott.

After a bout of touring, the band released their Books 7″ in 2008 and have just completed their sophomore LP, Future Brite (release date TBD) which was mixed by luminaries like John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, Screaming Trees) and features guests such as The Hold Steady’s Franz Nicolay.With the early track “Math”, signifying a progressive step towards a new found indie rock lightness and pop punk straightforwardness. Not that Demander is easing up, they’re still packing all of the aggressive punch of the debut. Demander has always been a band on the verge of true breakout status, and Future Brite may be the most aptly titled prediction possible.

Where you can find them in Cyberspace:

MySpace

Demandermusic.com

On Tour:

JamBase