Artist: Toro Y Moi

Hails From: Columbia, South Carolina

Musical Style: Indie Pop, Electronic

for fans of: MGMT, Neon Indian, Animal Collective

Blessa

why you should check them out:

At the forefront of the chillwave scene, Chazwick Bundick, aka Toro Y Moi, is poised to have a promising 2010 and beyond while helping to turn the lo-fi sound into a reason to stop staring at your drink and get on the dancefloor. With one well-layered track after another, his music eschews worry, and practically begs you to relax and have a good time.

Background check:

Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Chaz formed the indie-rock outfit, The Heist and The Accomplice, in 2004. After the release of their album, Connections Work, he started his own project, Toro Y Moi. Along with friend and contemporary, Ernest Greene (better known as Washed Out), Chaz helped usher in the chillwave, or glo-fi movement. With the release of his album, Causers of This, in January, 2010, and remixes of songs by Washed Out and Tegan & Sara, his style of filtered vocals over highly-textured production has earned him some growing critical acclaim. With the upcoming release of the 7″ “Leave Everywhere” on Carpark Records, and a summer tour of Europe set to get underway, the future looks bright for Toro Y Moi.

–Dylan Macturk

where you can find them in cyberspace:

Website

Myspace

on tour:

Jambase

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