This is jazz, and it’s soul, cleanly produced and smoothly sung. Rivers offers an interesting mix of rhythms in “Fairy Tales” from the Play Things EP (2008).

According to her own marketing information, on the Stephanie Rivers Web site, she hails from Tulsa Oklahoma. Apparently she was a child entertainer, singing in and around Tulsa, in just about every venue you can imagine. She lists legends such as Billie Holiday and Aretha Franklin among her influences, along with more recent but equally talented singers such as Ani DiFranco, Lauren Hill and Mariah Carey.

For some reason, it seems those performers who take some time with classical piano and voice develop natural talent in a unique way. “The Whole” has some exquisite jazz guitar to accompany Rivers’ soulful singing. This writer was about to comment on her “worldly” sound when he discovered that she experienced the hip-hop world in London and tasted the music of some of the best in Italy as well. When she began to work on her own “sound” she brought in Camila Celin on lead guitar, Greg Richardson on bass, Dani Correa to contribute on drums and Keenan Walter for some wonderful keyboard work. Thomas Jacobs adds vocals.

There isn’t a label yet, according to the Web information. But it won’t take long, I’d wager.

Stephanie Rivers on MySpace

Tags: Stephanie Rivers, music, indie, indie music, independent music

This indie/pop band is certainly pop, but it sounds like fun music. Here’s their MySpace info, in short form: Based in Linköping, Sweden. In 2008, their first full-length album Spark Large was recorded and highlights the bands one-of-a-kind indie pop sound. While the group does use the mainstay rock sounds of guitars, drums and bass guitar, they also employ an array of more eccentric musical instruments for a indie/pop band, such as xylophone, marimba, banjo, vibraphone and unique vocal harmonies. Marching Band is Erik Sunbring and Jacob Lind from Linkoping, Sweden. According to this dynamic duo, all they need are two bikes, one laptop, three microphones and their keen sense of whimsical instrumentation.”

For a good sample of the light, interesting fare from this Swedish group, try “Make No Plans.” That pretty much says it about this group. But don’t feel you understand them because you see or hear the surface. There is some depth here that will only become apparent with time. They are working with the producer who helped put together collections for several top groups.

“Gorgeous Behavior” is getting a lot of listen. It’s a neat tune. Some of the “Winchester Cathedral” or Turtles sound from the 60s. Nice.

Here’s what the boys state on their Web site: “Our new record will be released on U & L Records August 5, 2008.”

Marching Band on MySpace

Tags: Marching Band, indie music, indie, independent music, music

But contests such as “Road to Rock Fame” can be a tremendous first step for those unsigned bands whose members want to make it in the rock world. According to the contest Web site, musicians from all over the country will submit a bio, photo and one demo song. That alone gets the proverbial foot in the door. However, with the entries judged by “a panel of music industry professionals” it won’t be easy to grab the listener’s ear among dozens, maybe even hundreds of performers.

Each submission must contain a complete original song. Each participant must own all copyright and performance rights to music submission. A submission must not exceed 10 minutes in length.

Some really good news has come out of the “Road to Rock Fame” site – the contest is extended to August 31. This adds a month the original deadline of July 31. The grand prize will include a week of professional recording services. Accommodations are included. The performer or band will also be featured in an industry magazine. Email questions to questions@roadtorockfame.com.

Tags: indie, Road to Rock Fame, music, indie music, independent music

Is there really that much anger out there, among the young? Really?

Or is this frustration and disappointment?

Perhaps a bit of both.

I mean, when your first sample is “Hanging the Executioner” (TBR Wrong Island Records) the listener quickly gets the idea that revenge might be the order of the day. “Borscht” is very raw and very, well, emotional.

Here’s a lengthy, but fairly solid take on Grrrl Friend, “I have a great deal of respect for this band. Not just because they rock, but because of some of the experiences these guys have gone through to create this music. “The Rag” explores rape, abuse, drug addition, homelessness, etc. The sound of this album is extremely raw…The combination of male and female vocals is amazing, with the occasional scream over the sung text. The guitar provides a great countermelody line in the majority of the tracks…Not only that, but the individual lines play together as all music should.” - Independent Clauses

Duffy Wrong Island provides the vocals, bass, guitar and other audio contributions. Tambo is the percussionist and drummer, while also chipping in with backup vocals.

I don’t where I’d go with Grrrl Friend. I haven’t lived some of this. But in my years, life has come to piss me off too.

Grrrl Friend on MySpace

Tags: indie, independent music, indie music, Grrrl Friend, music

First of all, this is acoustic music. It’s also pop. Some will question whether the style can truly be called alternative, especially when listening to “Survive” (Origins Unknown 2008) for the first time. But the CD production is really quite good.

Eric Hogg has a youthful voice and with that, a youthful presentation. He is certainly talented. Perhaps the beauty he is able to experience outside his window has something to do with the emotions and the need to express large ideas. Victoria, British Columbia can do that to a person.

“The Fallout” from the same collection has a slightly different feel from the first-mentioned tune. This one has a bit more edge and picks up the rhythm somewhat. In fact, there are some bigger questions being asked in “The Fallout.”

It’s hard to pinpoint where the strongest influences are with Eric Hogg. His list of influences is very long and contains quite a variety of musical styles. It is tempting to close in on one classic band or legendary singer to explain a new performer. We could do that with The Beatles, Pink Floyd and King Crimson as influences here. The Flaming Lips might be a newer influence. But that doesn’t tell it all.

The title tune from his collection, “Origins Unknown” pretty much tells the story. We just don’t know the answer to the question being asked. Maybe Eric will figure this out over a long career.

Eric Hogg on MySpace

Tags: Eric Hogg, music, indie, independent music, indie music

With a beautiful and poetic name such as Dada Veda and the genuine appearance of a man who has found something very special, listeners might expect a type of music that is for a select audience.

But Dada Veda, now living and working in Albania, is a folk artist and a singer, along with being an “orange-robed meditation-yoga teacher and a social worker.” This performer’s roots are in New York City, where his early musical influences were Chuck Berry, Bill Haley, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly and other classic rock-and-roll legends.

He was an excellent student in college and began learning guitar at that time. A hitchhiking trip to California led to a meeting with an Indian monk. This was the beginning of a long journey for Dada Veda that led through the Ananda Marga yoga society. Part of his training was in devotional songs called “bhajans” and in mantra chanting. He eventually became a full-time yoga monk.

He has traveled the world, singing and writing. His CD Brighter Than The Sun from 2003 first showed that “The songs are acoustic-based folk music whose lyrics weave together spiritual, ecological and social justice themes. There is also a touch of country in the songs, and one listener dubbed the blend ‘Country and Eastern Music.’” Try out “It’s The System” for a good example.

Band members include Dada Veda – vocals, guitar; Redi Dashi – guitar solos, bass; Vasudeva – backing vocals; Andi Haxihvseni – drums.

Dada Veda on MySpace

Tags: Dada Veda, indie, music, independent music, indie music

This “independent artist” markets himself as a singer of the “melodramatic popular song” as well as billing himself as a player/singer of Americana and folk music. After listening to a couple of tunes, I would buy that definition. I might even buy the Ten Year Sleep CD from 2007, which Gore put on his own label. This fellow is definitely an indie artist.

“Coming Apart” is a slow-moving, sad-atmosphere type of song. It may bring you down the first time you listen to it, but then, I think that’s what Gore intends. It is fairly well produced, to say the least.

Now, I must admit, “Bourbon Cigarettes” is really my kind of tune. Gore gives the listener a good bar song that is somewhat country and only a bit folk. But I could see this scenario playing out in some riverside tavern, where you may find all sorts of folks, and all categories in the social mix. The guitar solo is rather nice. This song puts me in mind of what T-Bone Burnett might produce, or should I say, already has produced.

Hey, now “Eight Years True” is Americana and folk. I hear a song that Gram Parsons would enjoy and John Hartford would understand.

I’d listen to Craig Gore again.

Craig Gore on MySpace

Tags: music, independent music, indie, Craig Gore, indie music

Sure, she’s a good singer. This lady bills herself as folk/rock and from the little I’ve heard so far she fits the mixed genre rather well. “Down To Me” from How Much Noise (2008) reminds me of some of the singers from the 1960s rock ballad heydays. But it’s hard to remember just who they are!!

“Love Song” from the same collection might be Joni Mitchell (at least a bit) and some of Carole King as well. Let’s leave it at this - Kowalchuk sings well, and that should be sufficient to attract plenty of fans. “To a Flame” is a lovely tune.

She sang with a group called All So Jimmy, an a capella group that won awards, according to public relations information. Being from Oakland, California certainly helps put her in position to experience, and possibly work with, excellent musicians.

Those who have experienced her in the past comment on her vocal range and clarity at all levels. Others take note of her personality and sense of humor. That latter trait is exemplified by her reference to monkeys and use of monkey sounds to accompany her own harmonies. Check this out: Nothing says love like a monkey!! You may want to check out “Monkey Business.”

This should be included FYI: “Produced by Margrit Eichler of San Francisco’s True Margrit, How Much Noise features a bevy of talented musicians: Eichler herself on keys, as well as her drummer Andrew Bacon; several members of the rapidly rising Bay Area folk-pop band Blame Sally: Jeri Jones on electric guitar and Pam Delgado on percussion; multifaceted bass players Daniel Fabricant and Paul Olguin; Sacramento-based singer-songwriter Teresa Esguerra on acoustic guitar, and Yair Evnin on cello.”

Christina Kowalchuk on MySpace

Tags: independent music, Christina Kowalchuk, indie, indie music, music

City music, this is. Two cities, to be exact.

Bischeop Csynnikal is from Chicago. It’s his hometown. But, as the Web site states, he hails from the “City of Wind” but is stuck in the “City of Sin.”

Csynnikal’s collection of songs is called 1st of A New Breed. What breed this is meant to be, I’m not sure. The songs are good hip-hop, with some rap feel. The final cuts are well produced and very listenable. Maybe it’s best to let another set of ears weigh in on just where this music fits, if it is necessary to find a category.

On CDBaby, the writer (I think it was Bryson Taylor) calls it this way – “….he describes his flow as a hybrid of lyricism, battle rap, poetry, and philosophy, into one perfect flow unlike the world has ever heard. The name Bishop comes from a Chicago friend who nicknamed him, commenting he was wise but had two sides. The name Cynical comes from a female friend who described to him that he had a Cynical mindframe. He went to go look it up in the dictionary, and it just stuck.”

Damon Hodge, of Las Vegas Weekly Magazine, writes, “When Csynnikal does this, as on “Father’s Smile”—in which he tells his unborn child how growing up without a dad led him to death row—and the a cappella verse on the socially incisive “Illegal,” he’s on his A-game. Csynnikal’s lyrics and storytelling can be quite memorable; his voice and most of his beats, not so much.”

OK, I’ll go with that.

Bischeop Csynnikal on MySpace

Tags: indie, independent music, music, indie music, Bischeop Csynnikal

I know, it’s a worn-out phrase, but 5 More Days is straightforward about being a screamo band. The new song featured on the band’s MySpace site is “It Can’t Get Darker.” There are days when I would have to agree.

However, there is some nice vocal work laced in here, though not enough for my taste. This is a pretty tight band, and some of the “bigger” names of the genre have apparently realized this. 5 More Days has played with some of the better-known acts.

According to the limited information on the Web site, “The Band has been playing now for 3 years. Has had the honor to play with national bands such as Alesana, A Day To Remember, The Sleeping, A Thorn For Every Heart, Mayday Parade, and many more.” Not bad, not bad.

The group is from deep in southern California, sort of in the San Diego/Tijuana area. Good place to live and work, if you can get it done. Check out some of the videos of these guys, if you don’t believe they are a balls-to-the-wall act. I’m not sure how far they’ll go, but the girls are screaming. That’s always a good thing.

5 More Days on MySpace

Tags: indie, 5 More Days, music, independent music, indie music