Artist: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Hails from: New York, NY

Musical Style: Pop-Punk, Indie Rock

For Fans of: My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain, The Smiths

Why you should check them out:

One of the buzziest bands of 2009, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are currently barnstorming the globe on the heels of their debut album. The band’s recordings and live shows bring a spirit and sound reminiscent of the indie rock salad days of the late 80’s and early 90’s.

Background Check:

On a recent winters’ night a few friends and I braved the frigid New England tundra to check out this New York City quartet, inspired by the strength of their early singles adn 7″s. We weren’t alone! Despite sub-freezing temperatures the show quickly sold-out, leaving many fans and interested parties literally out in the cold. Inside, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, known to their fans simply as The Pains, did not disappoint. They ran through their early tunes and most of their debut self-titled album absorbing the good vibes emanating from the packed house and sending them right back out into the crowd.

POBPAH songs are short, fuzzed-out blasts of noisy pop filled with infectious hooks and boy-girl harmonies provided by keyboardist Peggy Wang and lead singer/guitarist Kip Berman. The compositions are shoegaze wall-of-sound with a punky edge, featuring keyboard swirls and distorted chords punctuated by tidy lead guitar lines and punchy rhythms. The songs tell of love and longing, and their narrators remain undaunted.

The band’s aesthetic harkens back to  the indie sounds of the late 80’s and early 90’s, and some decried POBPAH for being a bit too derivative of that era. Rather than spending time defending these accusations, the foursome has taken the opposite tact by embracing their progenitors and propelling themselves forward. Broadcasting their love for bands like My Bloody Valentine, Black Tambourine and Nirvana, the band is venturing to conquer the indie rock universe, one blog critic at a time.

Fun Fact: The band took their name from the title of an unpublished childrens story that a friend of Kip Berman wrote.

Where you can find them in cyber space:

MySpace Page

POBPAH website

On tour:

JamBase
 

Artist:  The Virgins

Hails From: New York, NY

Musical Style:  Pop, New Wave, Punk

For Fans of:  The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, Talking Heads

Why you should check them out:

Known as of one New York City’s fashionable new bands, The Virgins went from playing a few local shows to premiering alongside Sonic Youth and Patti Smith, becoming one of the most hyped bands of 2008.

Background Check:

Long live pop music, it comes quickly with force, pushing it’s way from mainstream media one catchy little beat at a time.  This time the music in question is from the New York quintet The Virgins, a band whos recent media exposure has resulted in a flurry of immediate success and widespread fanfare.

Formed in 2006, The Virgins self released their first EP in 2007, debuting five upbeat tracks that quickly put them on the map.  Touring with fellow indie favorites Tapes ‘n Tapes and Tokyo Police Club early on, The Virgins popularity reached new heights when their songs were featured on an episode of Gossip Girl, bringing them to an all new demographic of listeners.  While their dance infused pop song “Rich Girls” continued as a Gossip Girl staple, The Virgins returned to the studio to record their debut full length on Atlantic Records.  Released June 2008, The Virgins self-titled album features ten tracks chock full of catchy choruses, playful lyrics and pure 80’s nostalgia. 

Although frontman Donald Cumming has been writing infectious pop songs for years, The Virgins are a true case of being in the right place at the right time.  As new celebrities and models constantly turn up wearing The Virgins band shirts, it’s safe to say that these guys really have it made.

Where you can find them in cyberspace:

The Virgins Website

Myspace page

Wikipedia

where you can find them on tour:

Jambase