Artist: Ida Maria

Hails From: Norway/Sweden

Musical Style: Indie Pop, Punk

For Fans of: PJ Harvey, Joan Jett, The Donnas

Why you should check her out:

America loves Sweden.  We love the funny shoes, the impossibly clear skys, but mostly we love the music.  And if a cute and sassy pop queen emerges we’ll love that even more.  Hence Ida Maria, the immediate sensation out of Stockholm by the way of neighboring Norway, who has collected an instant fanbase here in the states before ever setting foot to soil.

Background check:

Thinking of the popular acts out of the arctic circle typically bring out names like Bjork and ABBA, bands and performers characterized by dreamscapes and electronic hooks full of the bleeps and creeps that come with a full six months of darkness.  Imagine the blast of glacial surprise upon hearing Ida Maria’s first punk filled anthem, “I like you so much better when you’re naked.”  Echoing Joan Jetts ode to rock, even down to Jetts rowdy image and hither come stares all mixed into an out of the blue Andy Warhol inspired video, the single propelled Ida Maria to a national spotlight in Sweden and gained attention in the U.K. and beyond.

Yet, Ida Maria isn’t a one trick pony, her other songs remind one of Cat Power’s wandering narratives combined with tight, catchy guitar hooks reminiscent of Weezer. Her debut full length, Fortress Around My Heart, is already a frenzied affair in Europe, and even the decidedly finiky Pitchfork is giving props to Ida Maria’s wicked little gems.

Growing up in Nesma, Norway, a town smaller than most American suburbs, Ida Maria Siversten was just another girl who chose guitars over piano and began playing shows at 14.  After relocating to Sweden’s capital of musical dominance, Ida Maria quickly surrounded herself with a few like minded gentlemen and grew into a hometown hero.  Her playful and brash songs invited the frigid nation to warm their toes on the dance floor and word spread fast that this new “Queen of the World” had plans for broader shores.

Where you can find her in cyberspace:

Myspace

Ida Maria website

Wikipedia

On Tour:

Jambase
 

Artist: A Place to Bury Strangers

Hails from:  Brooklyn, NY

Musical Style:  New Wave, Alternative Indie Rock

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

Why you should check them out:

“Total Sonic Annihilation” is what they promise, and you better beleive that this Brooklyn based trio delivers it.  After all, they are not called New York’s loudest band for nothing.

Background Check:

Imagine My Bloody Valentine distortion with the raw sound and monotone vocals of Joy Division, and you might have some insight as to what to expect from these up-and-coming rockers.  Armed with guitarist Oliver Akerman’s self made effects pedals (through his company Death By Audio) and a talent for voluminous melodics, A Place to Bury Strangers have been attacking eardrums all over the country for nearly three years since their first EP in 2006.

Maintaining relative success with shows alongside The Jesus and Mary Chain and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, the trio’s biggest breakthrough came from a highly positive Pitchfork review of their debut full-length album in 2007, resulting in the first 500 albums selling out instantly.  Featuring machine like percision from drummer Jono Mofo and the fierce rhythms of bassist Jay Space, A Place to Bury Strangers are a band continually accelerating through their atmospheric sounds and fierce dance inducing beats.  While listening to their self-titled debut on full blast might give you somewhat of an idea what A Place to Bury Strangers are capable of, their live performances are truly a force to be reckond with, just don’t forget the ear plugs.

Where you can find them in cyberspace:

Myspace page

A Place to Bury Stranges website

Wikipedia

Where you can find them on tour: 

Jambase 

Artist:  So Many Dynamos

Hails From:  St. Louis, Missouri

Musical Style:  Indie, Experimental, Pop

For Fans of:  Pixies, Fugazi, Les Savy Fav

Why you should check them out:

Touring relentlessly since forming in 2002, So Many Dynamos (the name is a palindrome!) are a hard working band out of Missouri soon to release their most progressive album to date and continue their ascent into the ranks of indie rock notoriety.

Background Check:  

So Many Dynamos are a band making it the old fashion way, releasing each new album anyway they can and playing every little U.S. venue along the way (and word is, these guys put on one hell of a show).

Picking up where now defunct experimental rockers Q and not U left off,  So Many Dynamos manipulate instrumental chaos and densly layered melodies, offering dance music with technical percision.  Beginning with ther debut EP back in 2003 through to their up and coming full length The Loud Wars, produced by Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie, So Many Dynamos are a band continually progressing and tighening their style.  From the sound of their newly released single “New Bones”, this band just keeps getting better.

Where you can find them in cyberspace:

Myspace page

Wikipedia

Dynamos Recording

Where you can find them on tour:

Jambase