Kid Architect
Since 2008, Washington DC’s Kid Architect have been working hard at constructing a new rock and roll blueprint.
Instead of processed pop ballads and manufactured music, KA focuses on heavy piano driven compositions drenched in airy guitars and passionate, poetic vocals. Lead vocalist and king of the keys Thom Bridgwood is both infectious and versatile. Equipped with a lung reminiscent of Incubus’ Brandon Boyd, Thom commands ears and hypnotizes listeners with his heartfelt wails. His vocals, when mixed in the buoyant instrumentation and percussion, blooms like spring foliage, despite the blustery context. It’s these types of casual combinations that turn little bands into giants.
After listening to the five tracks on BandSoup, I was shocked to see that the band is brand new. Two short years in and they already carry a sound that belongs to a veteran group that has bled on stage for two decades. It seems that the rest of the DMV is catching on as well.
In March of 2009, KA released their first EP, PhilosoRaptor, and have already distributed over 1,000 copies around the local metropolitan area. Motivated by their instant success, the band went back into the studio and hammered out their first LP, The Great Pretend, which is slated to release sometime this month (September 2010). If the diamonds in the rough uploaded to BandSoup are examples of a newly formed band cutting their teeth, the The Great Pretend might be the unveiling of rock’s latest perfect design. Get ready to stand in awe.
Listen to Kid Architect on BandSoup
Free Album: Black EL & Durkin- Color Commentary
After numerous leaks and a stunning video, Boston MC Black EL is mic’d up and ready to give the hip hop community his color commentary on life and music.
The Dick Vitale of Hip Hop shows his everlasting energy and excitement for music on his sophomore release, even more so than on his debut, A Major Minority, an almost impossible feat.
Black has definitely upped his game and has transformed from a diaper dandy into a PTPer with Ryan Durkin at his side. Tune in.
Download: Black EL & Durkin- Color Commentary // Stream the album here
Selling Out Your Shows Every Time
By Mike Venti @ The Wayward Musician
A sold out show is a day that every artist looks forward to. Nothing’s better than a packed house where the energy emanates from the audience to the stage and back again.
Unfortunately, many artists don’t get to experience sold out shows that often, if at all. Perhaps, only at the occasional CD release show, or a coveted opening spot for a more established act.
Thankfully, there is an easy way for you to change this and begin playing sold out shows more often. It’s quite simple in fact.
Free Album: Outasight- Never Say Never
Listen to MORE music from Outasight on BandSoup by Clicking Here!
It has been quite a beautiful ride to watch Outasight grow into a superstar. So far, on every free release, he has found a way to one-up himself, refresh the swagger, and tweak the mishaps from the album before, which has quickly molded him into one of the most talented and beloved new artists of the internet age. On his highly anticipated new mix tape, Never Say Never, he has done it once again.
Never Say Never shines a dimmed spotlight on a vulnerable Outasight trying to cope with numerous situations every twenty something faces at one point: worrying about college degrees, 9-5 jobs, and social status; dealing with getting older, the loneliness that comes with age, and new responsibilities; and contemplating relationships, women, and the future, while trying to live it up in the Big Apple. With all of this happening at once, it seems that the Yonkers MC lost a bit of hope and belief in himself as an artist. A natural reaction to a brutal and lonely time in our adult lives, but one that will be immediately muted by his fan base after listening to these fourteen new tracks.
As we sit and wait for his major label debut with all the freebies he has given us, we will begin to wonder with Outasight:
I’m on my way
I’m not sure how the rest goes
Soon as I do I’ll let you know…
But I think we already know. And we look forward to it.
Download: Outasight- Never Say Never
The Last Monarchs
An acoustic guitar wielding singer/songwriter sneaking into college music rooms with a classically trained cellist to practice folk music sounds like a scene from a romantic comedy entry at Sundance, but it’s actually how The Last Monarchs began their journey as a band.
After numerous mischievous adventures under the moon, lead singer Matt Rouch realized he was onto something good and began his hunt for highly talented musicians that shared the same passion for folk music and story telling that burned inside of him. Now, with Matt Rouch on acoustic guitar/vocals, Sara Boyce on violin, Todd Koren on drums, and Andrew Hill on upright bass, The Last Monarchs strive to bring unique and heartfelt folk music to Alexandria, Virginia and the rest of the DC metro area.
Despite Northern Virginia and DC ‘s lack of interest and output in folk music, The Last Monarchs have seemingly arrived at the perfect time. Today’s indie rock universe widely accepts and encourages the organic sound the Monarchs execute with ease. Combine that notion with Rouch’s breezy vocals, Sara and Andrew’s accompanying strings, and the band’s serendipitous open market location– The Last Monarchs could soon become DC’s first big folk rock outfit.
Currently, The Last Monarchs are preparing to release a follow up EP to there 2009 release One Fell Swoop. The band will re-record “Riders from the Hillside,” along with a few other previously released tracks. If you are a fellow 703er like us here at BandSoup, be sure to check out The Last Monarchs’ upcoming live events on their Myspace page (which also streams their entire One Fell Swoop EP). The band has recently adjusted their setlist to fit the DC bar scene, adding more bluesy rockin’ songs like Riders, but still add a sprinkle of quieter folk music.
You can listen to the live studio recording of “Riders from the Hillside” here on BandSoup!
Ghost Ghost
Popularized by The Beatles in 1967 with Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and then mastered by its predecessors Pink Floyd, The Who and David Bowie, the concept album is one of Rock music’s toughest creative quests. Many try, many fail– only Gods prevail.
Modern bands such as The Mars Volta, Coheed and Cambria and Green Day have had success with their conceptual records, but many present day attempts fall short of their initial ambition; however, this notion was smashed by a recent BandSoup entry from a New York based indie rock band, Ghost Ghost.
The band’s ten track concept album, No Clothes on Ragged Island, is based on the life of New York poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. The project was conceived by Kevin Peckham and Karl Ward on February 20, 2010 after reading Savage Beauty, a biography on Edna Millay’s life. Each track is a scene from the poet’s life, told in chronological order. All songs were written on February 21, just one day shy of Millay’s 118th birthday. Arrangement, recording, and mixing were completed within one week.
Edna St. Vincent Millay was the first woman to receive a Pullitzer Prize for Poetry, but is better known for her unconventional, sexually promiscuous, bohemian lifestyle. Ghost Ghost’s members are constantly absorbing inspiration from literature and reincarnating it into their music, but Edna’s “morphine addiction, sexual trysts and tragic end—when she was discovered dead at the bottom of her stairwell—are the imagery rock music is made of.”
Full of beautiful folk arrangements, haunting vocals, and picturesque poetics, No Clothes on Ragged Island is this year’s best kept secret. Ghost Ghost has constructed a conceptual classic and the real travesty lies in its abandonment. Make room on your 2010 top ten list, it’s almost frightening what Ghost Ghost has accomplished.
You can stream the entire No Clothes on Ragged Island by clicking here. On this site you can listen, read the lyrics and concept of each song by clicking on the song title, and of course, make a purchase. $10 for the Compact Disc Deluxe Package is an absolute steal! It includes: The CD, an immediate free digital download of all 10 songs, a free “No Clothes on Ragged Island” booklet that includes a timeline of the songs in the context of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s life, as well as lyrics and guitar chords for all ten songs, a poster and more.
You can stream my personal favorite track, Bizarre Love Triangle, Here @ BandSoup.com!
Fanbridge.com
In the land of DIY one of the toughest things to do is organize. The geniuses at Fanbridge.com have come up with a fantastic idea to help you with just that.
Fanbridge helps artists build valuable fan relationships.
We do this by making it fun, easy and effective for artists of all sizes from around the world to leverage our Fan Relationship Management platform to engage with their fans.
Powering over 70 million valuable artist/fan relationships and counting!
Any band or solo artist with a substantial fan base looking to grow and maintain their fan connections and communication need to check this out ASAP! Make sure to tell them BandSoup sent you.
Subterraneans Collective
Dextrous, diverse, and downright funky best describe the Hamilton, Ontario Canada based group known as the Subterraneans Collective.
What started out as a acoustic duo in 2003, formed by Jay Baggett & Jon “the Bassist” Busutti, has now turned into a versatile seven piece group that are often supported by “Collective” members ranging from soloist horn players to simple percussionists. This wide range of sound and genre gives their music unexpected, Shyamalan-esque twists and turns, which adds excitement to the layers that eventually lead to a crisp, full, and stainless body of work.
Led by Jay Baggett (Vocals, Guitar), David Abbey (Drums, Vocals), Dave Reed (Keys,Vocals) and Jess Stone (Bass, Vocals), Subterraneans Collective recently opened their doors to new members and added Sam Klass, Tarek Ajak and Aerin Ellison, who lend their talents on Guitar, Sax/Flute and Trumpet respectively. After forming their new multi-faceted power collective, the Subterraneans released their 2010 debut, self produced, full length album, The Sinking Ship.
The Sinking Ship is a schizophrenic record laced with a wide range of musical moods: folk to reggae, shoegaze to pop, spaced out to funky. The band’s respect and admiration for Tom Waits, Grateful Dead, and The Television blare throughout the LP, but are comfortably nestled in between the Collective’s own genius, giving new life to old legends.
The band is now offering a double vinyl package that includes a free download copy of the album (which you’ll receive while the vinyl’s being pressed– it might have already been pressed pre-bandsoup article [?]), as well as three brand new, unheard, unreleased and otherwise unavailable tracks. Right now is the best time to jump on this, as the price will go up in the not-too-distant future. You can order The Sinking Ship on the Subterraneans Collective’s website here.
If you want a taste of Subterraneans Collective…
Check out “Devil May Not Care” on BandSoup.com!
Why Music Should Never Be Given Away for ‘Free’
The music industry has changed DRASTICALLY. The latest trend: artists giving out their music for free, usually with a zip file link posted on their website, blog, twitter, or facebook account in hopes that the freebie will give their music more exposure or an opportunity to go “viral.” MicControl founder Jon Ostrow explains to artists why they shouldn’t give their music away for “free” and gives fantastic tips on how to receive e-currency for all of their hard work. [Via TightMix]
Or, The Whale
Americana is a term that many use to describe red, white and blue nostalgia– the collecting of flags, patriotic memorabilia, or any other artifact related to our country’s storied history; however, to a music fan, it defines the melting pot genre of music that embodies the heart and soul of American ethos. Combining country, folk, rhythm & blues, and rock & roll, Americana (also referred to as Alternative Country) is baseball, hamburgers, hot dogs, Ford Model T’s, and Elvis on a toasted bun.
San Francisco based Or, The Whale‘s 2009 ode to Jimson Weed, “Datura,” is a perfect example of the genre and the feeling. Lead vocalist and guitarist Alex Robins struts over a beautiful arrangement full of folk chords, slide guitars, frolicking keys, and infectious harmonies from Lindsay Garfield; a poisonous combination powerful enough to make any listener hallucinate under a sky of apple pie.
After the release of their critically acclaimed 2007 release Light Poles and Pines, and their 2009 self titled follow up, Or, The Whale continues to woo music enthusiasts around the US with their complex yet polished sound. With the growing popularity of bands like Fleet Foxes, Blitzen Trapper, and The Avett Brothers, it’s only a matter of time before San Francisco’s best kept secret is revealed…and then treasured like polaroids, stamps, and old family recipes.
