Indie music fans might actually find something familiar in the sound of modern rock band Take to the Oars and their recent January 2011 release American Volume. Especially fans of Vonnegut. Because it is Vonnegut. In June of last year, Vonnegut officially changed its name to Take to the Oars, essentially saying that their...
Sometimes what you name something is important. The Raven and The Writing Desk. When I first read the name of this haunting indie-pop band, my attention was immediately arrested. Instantly my brain created associations with Edgar Allen Poe, C.S. Lewis, and that old video game Myst. What an interesting name; it suggests what you’re...
With all the music I listen to in my role as a blogger, one thing I truly enjoy is observing the growth of an artist–to see how a musician progresses from one record to the next. I love it when the new record is better than the last. Take Denver-based singer/songwriter Katey Laurel, for...
I gotta tell ya–I haven’t been this excited about an upcoming release in quite some time. I’ve had a few good things to say about Churchill over the past year or so, and it’s no secret that I’m a fan–and judging from the turnout at their shows, it’s clear I’m not the only one....
I swear this blog is not becoming exclusively about Denver music. It’s just that the past few weeks have been a flurry of activity and new releases around here. Oh, Starling doesn’t seem to be a constant entity; it comes around once year, during the holidays. Actually, Oh, Starling consists of indie artists Dan Craig (whose...
Here’s yet another Denver indie artist who is making waves (see my blog tagline above). Rachel James and her band Brighton Boulevard have been spreading their brand of pop-rock around Denver for awhile now. But those who are familiar with Rachel James’ past musical efforts will find a different tone on the new EP...
Typically, when a band labels themselves “Americana”, there is a certain amount of expectation as to what it’s going to sound like. So when Denver-based “Americana” band The Congress sent me their self-titled EP for review, I got a bit of a surprise. T’weren’t at all what I expected. Don’t get me wrong. This...
Here’s an indie band that’s been getting a lot of attention in their part of the world–which just happens to be New Jersey. In fact, Bern & the Brights has been nominated locally for two Hoboken Music Awards, for Outstanding Band and Outstanding EP. The EP for which they’ve been nominated, Swing Shift Maisies, was released back in July. ...
In case you’re new to this here blog (or to my other blog, The Developing Aritist)…you might be wondering about the occasional “LOCALS ON SHUFFLE” updates that appear in my Twitter feed on the sidebar. Simply put, I’m a fan of local music. When I get hold of a recording made by a band...
For a young singer/songwriter barely 20 years old, Denver local artist Laura Brehm is already somewhat of a veteran in the indie music field. With two full-length recordings already to her credit, Brehm has been playing the Denver local music scene for nearly four years now. Growing up in a musical family, she says...
