Artist: The Futureheads

Hails From: Sunderland, England

Musical Style: Indie, Rock, Pop

For Fans of: Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, The Clash
Stuck Dumb

Why you should check them out:

The frenetic beats coming out of England’s The Futureheads push through the murk of even the thickest London fog in an exhilarating whirlwind of Brit pop. Perfecting their sound over the course of a decade, the group’s latest album may be their most accomplished yet.

Background Check:

Has it really been six years since The Futureheads released their debut self-titled album? Man, I remember driving around in college blasting their infectiously simple and straight-for-the-throat brand of indie rock from the car speakers.  Ever since that debut, this quartet from across the pond have been steadily whipping out hits like they were hot cakes. Composed of frontman Barry Hyde, drummer (and brother) David Hyde, guitarist Ross Millard and bassist David Craig, the band actually formed in 2000 and survived on a diet of free practice spaces and positive word of mouth before their breakthrough success in 2004.

After their 2005 sophomore release, News And Tributes, The Futureheads founded their own label, Nul Records, and broke free of the constraints they were up against before. This Is Not The World, released in 2008, saw the group edging closer to the punk rock and new wave sounds they grew up with. A mainstay of the British music scene and European festivals alike, it seems The Futureheads don’t quite get the recognition in the U.S. that they do at home.

No matter, with the darkly angular songs that make up The Futureheads’ latest album, Chaos, the band makes a sure fire return without ever missing a beat. Each track is a mini mine field of sharp, plaintive indie rock; from the pop punk graces of ‘Heartbeat Song’ to the stop-start synergy of “Struck Dumb.’ In the six years between their debut and today, the Futureheads have not lost a single ounce of energy, and they don’t seem likely to any time soon.

–Charlie Swanson

Where you can find them in cyberspace:

thefutureheads.com

myspace

On Tour:

jambase

artist: Sonny and the Sunsets

hails from: San Francisco, CA

musical style: Doo Wop, Garage-Pop, Folk Rock

for fans of: The Kinks, Beach Boys, Everly Brothers

Death Cream

why you should check them out:

Sonny and the Sunsets are creating a sound that aims for the middle ground between nostalgic surf-pop and lo-fi garage rock. Think Beach Boys meets The Kingsmen. It’s a common sound trend amongst many buzzed-up blog bands, however this San Francisco quartet have managed to produce an honest and witty sound that sets them apart from their contemporaries.

background check:

The leader singer and songwriter of the group Sonny Smith grew up in San Francisco before moving onto the rockier pastures of Gunninson Colorado. In Colorado he worked as a professional musician playing piano in local bars and clubs around town. After some time there he moved to Costa Rica, but eventually found his way back to Northern California. He began releasing solo records in early 2000 and started to make a name for himself  – even touring with Neko Case.

However in 2007 he decided to change his approach and put his sound in front of an ensemble he dubbed Sonny and the Sunsets. The band’s debut was released on Soft Abuse in 2009 and has created quite a stir in the burgeoning San Francisco underground rock scene. Several SF all stars make guest appearances on the album, including Kelly Stoltz, Tim Cohen (of The Fresh and Only’s), and Heidi Alexander (of The Sandwitches). The songwriting balances on the Sonny’s humorous and creative lyrics, along with the catchy surf sounds of sugary guitar melodies. It’s a perfect summer record, so make sure you get acquainted with it as soon as you can.

–Dawson Ludwig

where you can find them in cyberspace:

myspace

sonnysmith.com

on tour:

sonnysmith.com

Artist: The Bronx 

Hails From: Los Angeles, CA

Musical Style: Punk, Hardcore, Metal

For Fans Of: New Bomb Turks, Queens of the Stone Age, Rocket From The Crypt, Turbonegro

Slave Labor

Why You Should Check Them Out:

The Bronx – ironically not from New York – are one of the hottest and rocking-est acts to come out of LA in years. Known for their punishing sounds and kinetic live shows, the band can know add acting to their resume, as they perform a cameo as the legendary Black Flag in the impending biopic of Germ’s lead singer Darby Crash.

Background Check:

The Bronx are sort of like George Foreman: they insist on uniformity when naming their offspring. Whereas Foreman named each of his sons ‘George,’ The Bronx dubbed each of their three albums The Bronx. This propensity for eponymous titles varied – slightly – with the release of 2009’s mariachi-themed album, Mariachi El Bronx.

The band’s stock and trade is an aggressive brand of hardcore punk mastered by bands like Drive Like Jehu: adrenaline-fueled bombast and high-voltage, in-your-face vocals. Each subsequent release retains the group’s energy while adding ever more catchy choruses and hooks to the high-octane mix.

The Bronx are now back where they began on their own White Drugs label after a foray on a major. And as they approach almost a full decade of existence as a band, there’s no better time to catch them perform in either their original incarnation or as their alter-egos, Mariachi El Bronx. One word of advice: if you go see the former, bring some earplugs.

–Matthew Dube

Where You Can Find Them In Cyberspace:

myspace

thebronx.com

On Tour:

jambase: The Bronx

jambase: El Mariachi Bronx