Milktooth

I’m always trying to stretch myself in terms of my music taste. I do this so I’m open to new genres of music that I just might end up loving. As you can probably tell if you follow my blog, acoustic pop folk is my favorite genre right now but sometimes I need something a little heavier. When I do I usually listen to Mutemath, Muse, The Raconteurs and now Milktooth, this week’s featured band.

Milktooth’s lead singer, David Condos, was having a successful solo career releasing two albums but in 2009 he decided to join with his friends, Ian Leach, Noah Denney, and Michael Ford Jr. and form a band. What resulted was a little rock, a little indie pop and a little folk. Just in the last year they have released two EPs. In June they released a self-titled 6 track EP available on iTunes & Amazon as well as a 3 track EP Halloween in Santa Anna in October.

This is another band out of Nashville showing the city’s diverse indie music scene. Milktooth has only emerged this last year and is gaining a following in the Midwest and I’m hoping they spread out to the west coast. I have a feeling they put on an amazing live show. They along with Andrew Belle and Lórien have all recently had tracks featured on Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Which considering the show's ratings could be a pretty good thing for these artists.

These guys are pretty new and I’m sure they value every new fan so share them and this blog with your friends and family. New artist need as much help and support as they can get these days so if you are enjoying the music make sure you go buy some of their tracks. This site is meant to help support the local independent artists.

http://www.myspace.com/milktoothmusic

http://twitter.com/milktoothmusic

http://www.last.fm/music/milktooth

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Milktooth/55962483341

Happy New Years all!! I can’t wait for this new year and all the new artists I’m going to find and share with you all!!

Tis The Season For New Music! Falalalalala!

I have some great friends. Have I ever mentioned that? During this holiday season I am reminded how blessed I am to not only have so many amazing friends but ones who love music like I do. My friend Valery sent an email out a few weeks back to myself and several music lovers about Christmas music. She was looking for suggestions and wanted to share her favorites with us:

“Hey Music lovers~
Every year (the husband) and I go on a hunt for the perfect Christmas soundtrack(s). Each year I find that my taste changes just a bit and this year I found that I am leaning a little more modern/funky and a little less cheery/traditional. However I have Christmas music on constantly which requires me to have a few different CD’s to switch through. It’s hard to find good stuff!! So I was just thinking since I am always searching for fabulous Christmas music, others might be as well.” ~ Valery

I of course loved this idea of sharing our Christmas favorites and so did several others. Valery has made me some amazing mixed CDsfor me so I know I'lllove her suggestions! Here is what we came up with!

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Valery:
-The Hotel Café presents: Winter Songs. This CD is the bomb, however not traditional so might not be loved by all. It features Sara Bareilles, Brandi Carlile, Lenka, Fiona Apple, Kate Havnevik: are you excited already or what?!? Every song is awesome except #5 Silver Bells by Alice Smith- the last few minutes of the song are soo off key I grimace every time I hear it.
-Christmas Eclectic. Really fun tecno/drum/base beats. AH-mazing!
-Kohala Christmas: This is Hawaiian instrumental. SO beautiful. (Allegra introduced me to this band when i started doing massage... they are wonderful and chill)
-Ella Fitzgerald Wishes You a Swinging Christmas. Ella: Enough said.
-Holiday Dinner Party Music by the Santa Ana Players. Traditional but not too cheese.
-Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails (1&2). Makes me wanna have a christmas dinner party NOW!

Allegra of Frenchie & Flea
I'm a freakishly huge fan of Rosie Thomas's Christmas CD and as a Christmas classic for fond memories in my heart, Amy Grant's Tennessee Christmas album :)

Jennifer of The Style Geek:
- Michael Buble Let it Snow EP
- Sarah McLachlan- Wintersong
- Amy Grant- Home for Christmas
- Kenny G- Miracles

Mary of… well you know where I’m from:

Some of my favorites have already been listed. Sarah McLachlan’s Wintersong is an album I could listen to all year long it is so good. Anything Michael Buble releases I love because he’s my main man (in my dreams) as well as Rosie Thomas who can never miss in my mind. Some other favorites both new and old are:

- Nat King Cole – His Christmas album is legendary and his voice that sounds like butter (if butter could sing) made “The Christmas Song” famous. This album is probably my all time favorite.
- Holiday Noise Vol 1-3 is a collection of holiday tunes by various Nashville artists. http://www.holidaynoise.com/
- A Fine Frenzy Oh, Blue Christmas EP is the perfect collection of holiday songs and holiday themed songs with a broken heart center.
- Josh Groban’s Noel was the highest selling album of 2008 and even if you don’t favor his music style his duet with Brian McKnight is amazing.
- There are a couple other favorite artists such as Joy Williams and Mindy Smith who have some great Christmas music as well so I've included them in a Christmas music playlist for all of you to enjoy this season.

Free Music Alert!!!

Every day in December until the 25th Amazon is putting up a free Christmas song to download. You can still get all the previous releases. Who doesn’t love free music!! You can even get Joy William’s Christmas EP for free if you tell 5 friends (link is in the right hand column).

Merry Christmas Everyone!! May you have a blessed and safe Christmas. 

Crystal Thomas

This week’s artist was born to sing. Crystal Thomas comes from a long line of women singers in her family. She is the fifth generation of female performers and she knew it was her turn to carry on the tradition. Crystal is based in Nashville and created her EP The Touch of My Skin while working as a pastry chef. She sounds like a friend I’d like to have!

Crystal released her EP last April and you can get it for free by telling 5 friends about it or pay what you want. The link is in the right column with all the other music downloads.

Her touring schedule is mainly in the Nashville area but I have a feeling this new artist will be making her voice known in the months to come. You can find her music on Brite Revolution as well.

http://www.myspace.com/crystalthomas

http://www.last.fm/music/Crystal+Thomas

Check back later this week for a Christmas music midweek feature!!

City And Colour

There is something I don’t always understand in the music industry. Solo Projects. Beyonce, Chris Cornell and many others have left their bands/groups to do their own solo projects. To me it just seems like a move to get more attention and fame and not share the credit and acknowledgement with others. Especially when the solo projects don’t really differ that much from the group. Not that the solo projects aren’t good, I still enjoy them. This is a bit of a pet peeve of mine but there are a few exceptions. Justin Timberlake’s solo efforts were definitely better than his boy band days and I grew to appreciate his musical talents. Of course Eric Clapton and Sting cannot really be criticized for their solo efforts either. For the most part though you really have to show me that you can do something really different in your solo project in order to impress me. Well, City And Colour has done that leaps and bounds.

City And Colour is comprised of Dallas Green who didn’t just go solo he did a 180 and went for a completely different genre. Dallas was the lead singer of a hardcore alternative band out of Canada called Alexisonfire and if you are streaming his music right now hardcore is not really what comes to mind when describing City And Colour. Dallas went folk acoustic, which is currently my favorite genre! He also didn’t want his solo project to go by his own name (already winning points with me) and decided to release his music with an alias. (I’ll give you ten points if you can figure out why he chose that name).

Dallas started writing and recording his music in between Alexisonfire gigs and started making it available to the band’s fans and started a huge buzz about the new directions he was taking. With the fans supporting him Dallas released his first solo album titled Sometimes, in 2005 which was soon followed by a live album in 2006 and a sophomore album in 2008 titled Bring Me You Love. I can only imagine the reaction of Alexisonfire fans hearing City And Colour for the first time. Its not what you expect out of a tattoo covered alternative rock singer but it makes me appreciate his work so much more.

http://www.myspace.com/dallasgreen

http://www.cityandcolour.ca/

I hope you are enjoying this new shift for Dallas Green as much as I am. I love comments so feel free to let me know what you think.

Erin McCarley

It has amazed me lately the community of artists in Nashville. Everyone seems to know everyone but not only that they collaborate, tour together, co-write songs together and are each others back up for shows. I realized this while researching this weeks artist, Erin McCarley. The first song of Erin’s I heard was “Pitter-Pat” on an amazing mixed CD a friend made me and I loved it immediately.

Click on the player below to hear some of Erin's tracks.

As I looked into this artist I discovered that she is also basing herself out of Nashville as are many of the other artists featured here. Not only that but she is buddies with them! As I was watching a video of her performance on Craig Ferguson I recognized Matthew Perryman Jones on the guitar, K.S. Rhoads (soon to be featured here) on keyboard and possibly Andy Davis on the keys as well but there wasn’t a clear shot of him but he wore the same hat Andy seems to always wear and had the same moves I saw in him live. Erin also co-wrote one of her songs with Greg Laswell, another one of our features here.

Erin is currently touring with Ten out of Tenn which is a group that does a collaborative tour with Nashville artist such as Joy Williams, Andy Davis, Andrew Belle, Griffin House, Matthew Perryman Jones and Katie Herceg. Do those names sound familiar? They should because they have all been featured on this blog. All these artist and many more cycle through the tour so they are not all performing at once. It is an ever-changing collaboration and they are coming to Los Angeles tomorrow and I sadly will not be able to attend.

Before Erin started pursuing a career as singer/songwriter she was a sheltered girl from Dallas, Texas who was given a quick awakening to the ways of the world after she left the comforts of her safe family environment. Erin started out as just a singer but later discovered her skills in song writing while living in San Diego. She decided to take her career to the next level and moved herself to Nashville with all the many aspiring artists there. She has been setting herself above the rest making waves at the South By Southwest conference last year and has had her songs featured on several hit TV shows such as Grey’s Anatomy (known for his great song choices), One Tree Hill, Kyle XY and several others.

Erin McCarley released her debut album, Love, Save The Empty last winter and the title track was featured in the film He’s Just Not That Into You and was the only song from the soundtrack that was given a music video to go along with the film. You can check out the full album on iTunes and Amazon.

http://www.erinmccarley.com/

http://www.myspace.com/erinmccarley

 


I hope you enjoyed the feature this week after the unplanned break last week do to technical difficulties with the flash player. Let me know what you think of this week’s artist and remember I love comments! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Here is a little taste of mine. This was the view I got to wake up to every morning in Lake Tahoe.

Flash Player Meltdown

UPDATE!! Thanks to my good friend Aaron, who is my savior when it comes to computers and all things technology related, I now have a new flash player system!! Of course the old one came back but too late, I'm done with you disappearing player!! Working on changing them all over now and will have a new artist next week. Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for all of you!

Well I don't know what happened but the flash player I have been using has disappeared off the internet like some illegal drug scam. The website doesn't exist anymore and all the players on my previous posts are gone!!

So now I'm on the hunt for another system and will have to redo all my previous posts. Let me know if you have some suggestions.

In the mean time enjoy some music off the old player and check out the free music downloads when you tell 5 friends or pay what you want. Joy Williams has a Christmas EP! I'm so excited!

On a side note: I should have know this was going to be an interesting day when I almost walked out of the house holding one running shoe instead of my water bottle... 

Sincerly,

Frustrated with technology Mary

Andy Davis

This week’s featured artist wasn’t on the schedule for this week but after seeing him live Friday night at the Hotel Café in Hollywood I couldn’t resist. Andy Davis has quickly become one of my favorite artists coming out of Nashville and there are so many talented artists trying to make it in Music City. Andy is another Brite Revolution find (I swear I don’t work for Brite but I’m starting to think I should!) and they are supplying two exclusive tracks each month. At his concert he performed several new tracks that Andy hasn’t made available yet but guess what? I have them complements of Brite. If you haven’t signed up for a Brite Revolution subscription I would highly recommend it.

Andy Davis is a powerful performer and it was all I could do to resist dancing during his show but I was afraid I might embarrass my friends. He started off the concert behind the keyboard then switched to the acoustic guitar but it was behind the keyboard that Andy was really shining. He was absolutely electric on the keys and his stool could not contain him. It was so much fun watching him perform. After the concert he came out and made the rounds meeting people and I got the chance to introduce myself and wanted to ask for a picture with him but I felt like a dork asking even though everyone else was doing it too. I regret not asking but I can’t change that now. Oh well…

Andy Davis comes from a musical family in Baton Rouge where his dad played guitar and his mother played the piano (now I know where he got his multiple talents). Andy moved to Nashville for college and started writing songs and performing and had such a great response from friends and was later asked to open for his friend Dave Barnes (another favorite of mine). His homemade CDs were doing tremendously well and Andy caught the attention of Runway Network who helped him release a newly mixed version of his first recording titled, Thinks of Her. Andy’s most recent album, Let The Woman, is where all but one of the tracks on the playlist are from. "Chicago, City of Shoulders" is from his EP Fine China.

All of Andy’s albums are available on iTunes and Amazon. You’ll find a better deal on Amazon and they have a simple downloading tool that will put the music and artwork straight into your iTunes library.

Also I would highly recommend this video of Andy covering Etta James’ “At Last” in what appears to be and impromptu shoot in a stairwell. I was completely rapture by this version of one of the greatest love songs of all time.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s artist. Let me know what you think of Andy’s music. Also I promise next week to feature an artist not from Brite Revolution. Happy Monday!

Photo Credits

Photo 1 - Kyle Barnes Photography

Photo 2 - Mary's I Need A Better Camera Photography

Photo 3 - Micah Kandros Photography

The Silver Seas

Music can be intense. Filled with emotion and heavy hearts from artists who have a therapeutic outlet in the music they write. There is a time when I enjoy that music but sometimes I just need something happy and carefree. The Silver Seas are one of the bands I go to when I need that kind of music. Their music tells a story and I feel like I’m listening to a classic tune even though they are a new band.

The Silver Seas started out as The Bees (U.S.) but due the fact that there was a UK band with the same name they decided to change it with the release of their second album, High Society in 2006. Their first album, Starry Gazey Pie was released in 2004 under their original name. All the tracks featured are from that first album so when searching iTunes you have to look under The Bees or join Brite Revolution where they have been posting their older tunes. The band is working towards releasing their new album this year titled Chateau Revenge.

The band comes out of Nashville, TN and consists of four members. Daniel Tashian is lead vocals and guitar. Jason Lehning is piano and backing vocals. John Deaderick is electric bass and David Gehrke is on the drums as well as backing vocals. I don’t have an exact date for their new album but you can grab their first two on iTunes as well as on Brite Revolution. Hope you enjoyed this week’s feature!!

http://www.myspace.com/thesilverseas

http://www.thesilverseas.net/

Contest Winner!!

Well its official!

I've picked a winner.

I used my super scientific number generator known as my coworker

and asked her to pick a number between 1 and 8.

Soooo....

The winner is Craftygal86 from

Knots by Ashley

She has a super cute blog and Etsy store.

You all should check it out!

Craftygal86 loves Haley Bonar featured two weeks ago.

Email me to claim your prize and I'll send you Haley's newest album!

This week's feature on The Silver Seas coming shortly.

Matthew Perryman Jones

This week’s artist, Matthew Perryman Jones, comes from my favorite site – Brite Revolution. I know, I know a lot of the featured artists have come from Brite but they have such great artist there I just can’t help it. Jones is one of the many amazing singer/songwriters that are coming out of Nashville these days. Nashville is Music City and although I have never been there I’m pretty sure it will be my favorite place ever when I finally get myself there (anyone up for a road trip?).

Jones is originally from Georgia where he started his music career playing at Eddie’s Attic, which is where The Civil Wars recorded their live album. Soon Jones was encouraged to head to Nashville where he joined the musical community of independent artists. Jones began touring and writing with his fellow artists including the collaboration group Ten Out of Ten. TOT is a group of artists who tour and perform together whose members have included Joy Williams, Andrew Belle and Katie Herzig.

While touring, writing and recording three albums and one EP Jones has also had his music featured on several TV shows including Kyle XY, The Hills, Private Practice, One Tree Hill and Bones.

Jones’ most recent album is available on iTunes and his previous album you can download from the widget in the right hand column here for free if you tell  five friends or pay what you want.

Available albums from Matthew Perryman Jones

Swallow the Sea, 2008

Throwing Punches in the Dark, 2006

For the Road (EP), 2003

Nowhere Else But Here, 2000

http://www.myspace.com/mpjmusic

Almost forgot!! Music giveaway this week!!

Become a "public" follower (unless you are already a follower) and leave a comment stating who your favorite artist is on Mary's Musicology and if you win you'll get their recent album!!
Enter to win by 11-7-09

Haley Bonar

There isn’t too much information on this week’s featured artist Haley Bonar. I found her while listening to Pandora Radio at work and took note when I heard “Big Star” come on. I quickly wrote down her name and promised to look into her more.

What I do know about Haley is that she is a 25-year-old pop folk singer/songwriter from South Dakota who now resides in Minnesota. She plays a 1957 acoustic Guild guitar, which makes me happy as I have a 1962 acoustic Guild I call “Ole Willie”. Bonar is signed to Afternoon Records, an independent record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

If you are enjoying Haley Bonar’s music and would like to purchase it then here is how you do it. Some of her early releases are available on iTunes but her recent album Big Star is only available from the store on Afternoon Records’ website. You can still sample 30-second clips on iTunes as well.

To buy:

You will need a paypal account in order to pay for your purchase

http://www.afternoonrecords.com/catalog/music

Find Haley Bonar in the list and you can choose to download her MP3 album ($8.99), purchase and actual CD or if you are really cool, a vinyl.

Once you have made your purchase just sit back and wait a few minutes and don’t start freaking out like I did wondering how to get the music after you’ve paid. You will receive an email from AR with a link and codes to download a zip of the album. Just add it into your iTunes or player of choice and bam!! You’ve got yourself some new music.

Hope you enjoyed this weeks feature artist! I love comments so let me know what you think.

 www.haleybonar.com

*Spoiler* Next week we just might have a CD giveaway! Yeahy!!

Andrew Belle

When I was about 6 or 7 years old I had a friend in the apartment below who was a few years older than me. She had high heels, make up, and music - music that my mom would not let me listen to. Still I couldn’t resist the cassette tapes of Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson that my friend was willing to lend me. So every once in a while I would sneak down, borrow the tape, then listen to it quietly in my room. My mom was always very cautious about the music I listened to which is probably a good thing but it didn’t quiet my desire to hear the pop music of the day. I had this trip down memory lane after reading about this week’s artist, Andrew Belle. Andrew Belle is another Brite Revolution find from their new/emerging section.

After reading about Belle I discovered we had a similar history with music. When Belle was young his parents wouldn’t let him listen to the radio or secular music until he was in high school. In Junior High he would secretly record music off the radio and then listen to it quietly in his room. His first album was by the Counting Crows – one that had been out for several years but that time spent secretly listening to that music set the foundation for his career in music.

“Not that I think of myself now as important to music as Adam Duritz or the Counting Crows have been, nor do I even dare to compare myself to such talent, but thinking back on my earliest experiences with music, there is no doubt that those quiet moments spent alone in my bedroom shaped my desires and passions and gave me the hope to make my small mark on this world, one song at a time.”
-Andrew Belle

Belle is a 25-year-old singer/songwriter from Chicago who is also residing in Nashville. His EP All Those Pretty Lights was released last fall and his full length album, The Ladder, will be released January 2010. You can download his EP for free or be a good human being and pay something. Click here to download. He has a duet with Katie Herzig, who was featured here a while back, which is the first track on our playlist. The last track “My Oldest Friend” is a demo and shows off his Coldplay sound. Belle has probably been my favorite find on Brite Revolution next to Joy Williams.

Hope you enjoyed reading about Andrew Belle and hearing his music. For more information check out his webpage and myspace.

http://www.andrewbelle.com/

http://www.myspace.com/andrewbelle

*** All photos of Belle are by www.dartphotographie.net

Nikki & Rich

This week’s new artist is hot off the presses. Nikki & Rich is a brand new duo that just signed with Warner Bros. Records. They had only their second show together last Thursday at The Viper Room in Hollywood and I was invited to attend. I was enticed with free admission and open bar to celebrate the duo’s signing and I happily attended.

Nikki & Rich are comprised of Nikki Leonti, a pastor’s daughter from California, and Rich Velonskis, who goes by Rich Skillz, from Queens, New York. Rich is a former DJ and hip-hop/R&B producer who has produced tracks for Robin Thicke, Ludacris and several others. Nikki on the other hand was working out of Nashville as a background singer for Carrie Underwood. Rich was looking to do something different with his music and found Nikki in 2007 to collaborate as the vocals to his tracks.

So what happens when you pair Rich’s DJ/Remixing/Producing skills with Nikki’s strong vocals? Something that sounds like the Supremes, a little Amy Winehouse and a touch of the Black Eyed Peas. Music that will make you want to shimmy and shake, do the mashed potato and the Beyonce booty shake all at the same time.

At their show last Thursday I knew I was in for a treat when the three back up singers came out all wearing the same vintage gold dress and matching black wigs. Rich started out with some beats and a beautiful woman in black came out and began dancing on the stage to welcome Nikki up. The backing track for “Heatwave” started up, a few choreographed moves and Nikki appeared dazzling a short white sequined dress and high heels. Everyone on stage had great energy, the music was great and the spirits in the room were high thanks to the open bar.

Nikki & Rich have taken the great sounds from 40 years ago and made them contemporary without being just a tribute group. They have already had several tracks featured on Entourage and the new 90210 so this new duo is on their way to be a huge success. Their single “Cat & Mouse” is available on iTunes and you can hear two other tracks on myspace.com. Their debut album is due out in 2010 and I’ll keep you all updated on the release. Hope you all enjoyed this brand new group. I thought we could use a little music that gets the body moving since the cold weather is setting in.

Giveaway Winners!!!!

Drum roll please.....

Well after my super scientific procedure of picking a winner

(name on a piece of paper - 3 entries = 3 pieces of paper)

I have chosen the following lucky music lovers:

Grand Prize of a $20 iTunes gift card goes to:

Stephanie from The Gimlins - http://thegimlinfamily.blogspot.com/

Second Prize of a $10 iTunes gift card goes to:

Jeanneoli from A Bushel and a Peck - http://www.bushelandapeck.typepad.com/

Thank you to all who entered and gave me mention on you blogs and Twitter,

especially Stephanie, Lindsey and Beth - You three gave me great shout outs and I'm so grateful.

And to my dear friend Allegra who suggested I do this giveaway so you should be thanking her for your gift cards ;)

Congrats winners!!

To collect your prize email me at:

marysmusicologyblog@gmail.com

and I will be sending your gift card to your email.

(If I do not hear from the winners by Friday, October 17th the prize will roll over to the next giveaway so hurry, hurry!!)

Michael Bublé - New Album

Today was a good day.

Why?

Well, because Michael Bublé's new album Crazy Love came out today!

I heard it a while back and now I can finally share it with you.

I've been a fan of Michael since his start and love his work with bringing back the standards of music.

I have been to two of his concerts and I am always amazed at his incredible vocal skills and cheaky humor.

I usually leave his concerts with my face and stomach hurting from laughing.

He has this power to hold the audience in the palm of his hand with his wit, charm, boyish good looks and crooner status.

Here is a little taste of the first track off the new album.

If this song doesn't make you want to move your hips and have a Michael Bublé moment (when you all of a sudden have a desire for a dirty martini and a cigarette even though you don't smoke) then you might be broken inside... ;)

Love it!!

Enter to Win An iTunes Gift Card!

Hey there music lovers!!

Are you ready for the first giveaway on

Mary's Monday Musicology?!

Here's how it will go:

For ONE entry become a follower of this blog

(Note: You must follow publicly or I can't tell that you are a follower)

For TWO entries become a follower and post a comment on this entry or one of your favorite artists I've featured.

For THREE entries become a follower, leave a comment and mention this little page on your own blog or website. Be sure to let me know in a comment if you do that.

What will you win you ask?

First prize will be a $20 gift card to iTunes

Second prize will be a $10 gift card to iTunes

I am a huge supporter of buying the music you love and supporting the artist so here is a little incentive to do that.

Be sure to check back on Monday's feature to see if you won!

Well, I'm off to see live the artist for next week's feature and can't wait to hear from all of you!

Mary

Lórien

This week is another great find from Brite Revolution. Lórien is a great new band coming out of Nashville, TN. They got their start back in 2005 and since then have released two EPs and one full length album last February. This group of friends and strangers has come together to create a great new sound. They are gaining a great following throughout the Midwest and Southeast and are starting a tour though the area. They have been know to put on an amazing live show so if they come to your town be sure to check them out and let me know. No shows yet for California…

Memphis, TN. The Hi Tone. September 30 2009.

Springfield, MO. The Outland Ballroom. October 1 2009.

Kansas City, MO. Mainstree Cafe. October 2 2009.

Urbana, IL. The IMC Theatre. October 3 2009.

Chicago, IL. October 4 2009.

Carmel, IN. The Warehouse. October 5, 2009.

Cincinnati, OH. Play By Play Cafe. October 6, 2009.

Nashville, TN. Mercy Lounge [Next Big Nashville]. October 7 2009.

Knoxville, TN. The Shed. October 10 2009.

Winston-Salem, NC. Club Oasis. October 11 2009.

Greensboro, NC. The Cliff. October 12 2009.

Peachtree City, GA. First Presbytarian. October 15 2009.

Macon, GA. The Refuge. October 16 2009.

Pulaski, TN. Festively Local. October 18 2009.

Joy Williams

If you have been following this music blog then this week’s artist will be familiar. If you haven’t then shame on you! There is some good stuff here! Back in May I did a feature on John Paul White, which turned into a double feature as I discovered his new duo The Civil Wars with Joy Williams. I quickly fell in love with the duo and knew the name Joy Williams sounded very familiar to me. After doing some research on Williams I came upon some surprising information. This was the same Joy Williams who was once blond and released purely Christian albums! Now she is brunette and fully emerged in the pop folk and singer/songwriter world of Nashville. The transformation was so different that I only recognized her name! I remember her hit tracks that played on Christian radio and I was never really struck by them but now I cannot get enough of her music. If I really wanted to pursue being a solo artist the new Joy Williams is the type of artist I would want to be. Her music is moving, her style is vintage bohemian and all around wonderful. Can you tell I’m a huge fan? She has quickly become one of my top five favorite artists and I cannot get enough of her music on Brite Revolution. You all know how much I love Brite.

There isn’t much information on Williams online but I was lucky enough to find a bio on the Brite Revolution site. She is currently 26 years old and has been involved in music and touring for a decade. She signed with Sony/BMG at age 17 after turning down offers at age 14!! She has been nominated for quite a few Dove Awards. In 2005 she broke off from her label to try a new direction with her career. While I love some Christian music I feel that artist are often stifled and forced to adhere to a specific formula. I feel reaffirmed in my opinion hearing the difference in William’s music then and now.

I have a strong feeling that her music will be taking off very soon. Two of her tracks have been featured on Grey’s Anatomy, known for featuring new artist, including the very emotional season premiere. I was actually watching the premiere while doing my research on Williams and couldn’t believe it when I heard them play “Speaking A Dead Language” on the show. I’m pretty sure my jaw dropped. What are the odds?

Williams is currently touring with Ten Out Of Ten, which is a collaboration of ten amazing artist, several featured here, and a part of Brite Revolution. You can find several of William’s new EPs on iTunes as well as new music each month on Brite.

I hope you enjoyed learning a little about Joy William and hearing her music. If you like what you hear make sure you go purchase some her music or join Brite Revolution! You can see more on Joy's Myspace or check out her blog about her travels with Ten Out Of Ten. Also, if you want to check out her duo The Civil Wars there is a link on the side bar for their live album release.

http://www.myspace.com/joywilliamsmusic

http://yettonadventures.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to leave comments and let me know what you think! Happy Monday!

William Fitzsimmons

I feel as though I have bit off more than I can chew with this week’s artist. My good friend Allegra suggested him to me a few weeks ago. She had started listening to this guy William Fitzsimmons and wanted to find out more about her new favorite artist. As I have mentioned before, she and I have very similar taste in music so if she likes something I know I will too. So I looked into Fitzsimmons, read his bio, and realized this was not an artist that I could figure out. His upbringing is so unique that you know without a doubt what has shaped him into the artist his is today. So rather than making any of my own assumptions I’m going to just give you some facts.




William Fitzsimmons is the youngest child of two blind parents. His parents, since they were blind, brought in a large selection of musical instruments including a full pipe organ that his father built into the house. His childhood was spent filled with sounds and music as well as an education on the greats of folk music. James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan of course were some of the few. Of course to me this sounds like the greatest upbringing to a music lover like myself. I grew up in a home where music was rarely played with the exception of classical, a little Julio Iglesias and Neil Diamond. Where my music makes my dad “nervous” and is just the “same notes over and over.” My love and taste in music came from God knows where but was definitely not born in the home like Fitzsimmons. This upbringing does have his affects as he is described as one of the oddest people you will ever meet and struggles with social skills and the art of shaving… His beard reminds me of the creepy guy in the small town who all the children are afraid of until one day he saves your life and turns out to be just a weird but good person. I’m pretty sure a guy like that is in every movie.

Though Fitzsimmons was raised on music it was not the career he pursued. Here is where he gets even more interesting to me. He actually pursued a career working with the mentally ill in the mental health industry. It takes a special person to want to work with the mentally ill and apparently he was one of them. William became a practicing therapist but music was calling him back. Now he incorporates therapy and music singing about things he believes matter most.

Fitzsimmons released his first album, Until We Are Ghosts, in 2005 and the next year released Goodnight. Both albums were self produced until his most recent album, The Sparrow and the Crow, released in 2008 which is his first studio recorded album. My favorite track is the first on our playlist and is off the newest album. It is a duo with a currently unknown but familiar sounding female, which is probably why I love it so much. I cannot get enough of male/female duos! I was only able to upload two tracks this week due to technical difficulties so I added a coupleto the old flash player. Fitzsimmons reminds me of Peter Bradley Adams who used to be a part of the duo Eastmountainsouth that tragically is no more. So if you like this music checkout Adams and Eastmountainsouth.

http://www.williamfitzsimmons.com/

http://www.myspace.com/williamfitzsimmons

I hope you enjoyed this week’s feature. Please let me know what you think as comments our welcome. I also love new music suggestions and as my friend now knows, those suggestions just might become one of my features. Also, if you have an artist or band that you love you can write your own blurb and become one of our midweek features!

MUSE at the VMAs

I had to share the video of MUSE at the VMAs with you. "Uprising" is their new single and I love the bass on this track. They are one of my top 5 favorite bands! They are such passionate performers and their new album rocks.

Muse - New Music - More Music Videos

Anyone else feeling like joining some sort of revolution after listening to this song? This could have been William Wallace's fight song!

A Fine Frenzy

There are some people who are incredibly gifted and talented in the arts. Then there are those who are just gorgeous people. It’s the people who are both beautiful AND talented that make the rest of us just look bad. Alison Sudol of A Fine Frenzy is one of those people. Long gorgeous red hair that would make Poison Ivy jealous, dimples and amazing lips. Wrap up that package with an angelic voice and songwriting skills and I suddenly feel less than average. Lets add that she is only 24 and her band A Fine Frenzy has just released their second album this past week. The new album, Bomb In A Birdcage was one of Amazon’s Daily Deals and I have not stopped listening to it since I added it to the trusty iPod. Check out three tracks from the new album.








My First experience with A Fine Frenzy was actually on a mixed tape. Actually it was a CD but mixed CD doesn’t sound right to me. I’m sure we have all received one at sometime in our life whether it was from a special someone or a friend. Most of my closest friends live about 3 hours away so I make a lot of weekend trips up to see them. Since I have amazing friends they have often made me mixed tapes for my long car rides with their current favorites. Those mixes have been some of my favorite things I’ve gotten from my friends. The last one I received was a double disc set and it felt like Christmas putting it in the CD player not knowing what was on it. A Fine Frenzy’s track “Almost Lover” was on that mix and I immediately fell in love with it. Her music has changed a bit with the new album but it seems to only be getting better. Since, releasing her first album in 2007 titled One Cell In The Sea A Fine Frenzy has toured with Rufus Wainwright and Brandi Carlile.

Alison taught herself to play piano and began to write her own songs. She loves the outdoors and literature as well, which is where she found the name for her band. A Fine Frenzy comes from a line in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

I hope you enjoy a little sample of her music. If you enjoy it please go buy the Bomb In A Birdcage because the entire album is excellent.

http://www.afinefrenzy.com/

http://www.myspace.com/afinefrenzy

I hope you enjoyed this weeks feature. Please let me know what you think. I love comments!

Paolo Nutini

This weeks feature is one of my all time favorite artists. Don't let the name fool you, Paolo Nutini was born and raised in Scotland. I first heard his great track "New Shoes" on his first album, These Streets. The other tracks below are from his new album Sunny Side Up. It is a great album and is one of my top five favorite albums of the year. I apologize for the short post but a weekend camping trip has consumed my time. Enjoy!


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www.paolonutini.com

Amy Stroup

Sometimes I get a craving for new music. Well, let me rephrase that, I always have a craving for new music but sometimes I let myself loose on iTunes and Amazon buying anything that strikes my fancy. This week’s artist is a discovery from my last music rampage. Amy Stroup grew up in Texas and knew she wanted to do music right out of high school. When her parents asked her if she wanted help buying a guitar or a car she without hesitation chose the guitar. Her mom took her to Dallas where she picked out a Taylor guitar (she chose well) and began writing her own music.

Amy now resides in Nashville, TN where all the talented folk go to try and make it big (it’s not called Music City for nothing). She seems to be having some success as she is in the middle of her fourth independent release. The Other Side Of Love is a four part release, Session One is available now on iTunes and Sessions Two through Four will be available over the next few months. Check out Session One on the playlist below.






Amy has a little country flare to her music but that is not the genre she restricts herself to. Amy writes her own songs about love, loss, life and the usual with a little spiritual reflection as well. Her first album Solidity, released in 2003 and Here I Am released the following year are spiritually themed albums with songs about her relationship with and faith in God. Her third album Chasing Greenlights was released in 2007 and shows her trying out a new genre in pop still sticking to her spiritual roots. With the release of The Other Side Of Love: Session One Amy seems to be on the love boat. Maybe she has fallen in love? We’ll see with the release of the next three sessions.

http://amystroup.com/

http://www.myspace.com/amystroup

MUTEMATH

I had to do it. I have to feature one of my all time favorite bands even though they are not necessarily up and coming or unknown. Although I don't think they are as known as I believe they should be. MUTEMATH released their second album last Tuesday and it is all I have listened to since. I'm trying out the new player so click below to hear some of my favorite tracks from Armistice (I had a hard time picking just a few). You can also hear some tracks from their first album on the old player.





My first experience with MUTEMATH was hearing from coworkers about their appearance on Jimmy Kimmel. Something about playing the song backwards was all I heard but it didn’t make sense to me. Not until I watched the music video for “Typical” did I understand and was blown away by the skills it took to pull off what they did. MUTEMATH actually learned to play the song backwards then reversed it for the video so it played the right way but everything they did looked backwards. Not understanding what I’m talking about? Check out the video:



MUTEMATH was formed in 2003 coming out of New Orleans and released their first EP title Reset in 2004, which unfortunately is out of print. Several of the members were formally a part of the Christian band Earthsuit which disbanded shortly before MUTMATH was formed. Warner Bros. Records released their self-titled full-length album in 2006. After the success of their track “Spotlight” which was featured in the Twilight soundtrack they released their sophomore album last week, titled Armistice. The band toiled and nearly quit when trying to make this record. They had quite a few songs written but they weren’t happy with any of them and couldn’t agree on what to do. With the help of a new producer they decided to scrap those songs and write all new ones. They took all that frustration and put it into writing new songs for the album and apparently that worked out because the new album is amazing. Thank goodness they didn’t call it quits!

MUTEMATH has quickly become one of my top five favorite bands not to mention they are some of the nicest guys out there. Every one I know who has spent time with them has come away saying, “Man, those guys are awesome,” which makes me want to promote their music even more. They also play the keytar so, enough said there. Their live performances are worth watching as well. Flipping over their instruments, and moving about the stage, switching instruments like a bunch of 5 year olds but somehow they magically make it work and it ends up sounding amazing.

I hope you enjoy this week’s featured band. Enjoy their music and feel free to leave your comments on what you think. To learn more about the band and the process they went through to record Armistice check out their website.

http://mutemath.com/

http://www.myspace.com/mutemath

The Weepies

The first time I heard The Weepies was on the television show Dirty Sexy Money, which was sadly canceled by ABC last season (but that’s a whole other blog). In one particular episode, there is a guy and a girl (as there usually is) who have a secret love affair. The girl loves The Weepies and the boy, who is very rich, brings in The Weepies to do a private performance for the lovebirds since they cannot risk being seen in public. It was such a sweet scene seeing the girl’s face as she opens up the door to her favorite band who then proceed to play “Somebody Loved” and the couple dance together in a moment so romantic every girl wished her guy or some guy would do that for her. That was my first experience with The Weepies, and as a hopeless romantic myself I quickly went to purchase the love song and many others.

Love is a recurring theme with The Weepies who are themselves a boy and a girl who met, made beautiful music together, fell in love, got married, had a baby and then made more beautiful music. Deb Talen and Steve Tannen were both pursuing solo music careers in 2001 when they met at one of Tannen’s shows. They released their first album together as The Weepies in 2003 titled Happiness—maybe a little reflection of what they were finding in each other. It was their next album though that set their career in motion when they released Say I Am You on Nettwerk Records in 2006. Their album topped the folk charts in eight different countries and appeared in quite a few television shows and feature films. They spent the next year touring with the Hotel Café tour and playing at several festivals in Ireland and Germany.

When Deb and Steve finally returned to their home in Topanga, CA they were exhausted but they didn’t waste any time before they were getting married and having their son Theo in 2007 then releasing their most current album, Hideaway, in 2008. Throw in a little appearance on Dirty Sexy Money and you’ve got quite an exciting year. This past April Deb and Steve started recording their next album with a release date that is TBD.

Folk music has become one of my top three favorites genres of music in the last two years. Although when I tell people I love folk they assume I mean anything with a banjo. While I do love a good banjo it’s the pop folk that I love and thanks to The Weepies I now know what to call it. Make it indie pop folk and its even better.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s pick as much as I do. Please leave your comments on what you think of the music as I would love to hear your thoughts. Over the next few weeks I’m going to be trying out a new music player for the page because I am being a little restricted on the music playlist.com has available. The new player is a little less user friendly for me but we’ll see how it works out!

http://theweepies.com/

http://www.myspace.com/theweepies

http://twitter.com/theweepies