What do you call a five-piece, unsigned, alternative rock band from coastal California? You could call them a “critically overlooked act†like MTV did, or you could call them “one of the top 16 unsigned bands in North America†like Rolling Stone Magazine did. But whatever you do, don’t call them “indie.”
In the past few years, Harrisburg, PA’s Koji has become just as well-known for his activism, unrelenting positivity, and the intimacy of his live shows as he has for his recorded music. He just arrived home from an extensive North American co-headliner with labelmates Turnover, and idobi editor Eleanor Grace caught up with him at one of the tour’s final dates to talk about how the past two months on the road have treated him, working with a full band, his thoughts on the scene, and how this tour has seen him reclaim his voice.
idobi editor Eleanor Grace caught up with From Indian Lakes’ Joey Vannucchi and Rick Gutierrez at the Toronto stop of their tour with Lydia to talk about the band’s latest record, their decision to stay independent, the climate of the music industry for independent bands, and much more.
Matt Pond’s first official solo release The Lives Inside The Lines In Your Hands brings a lighthearted and soft-rock/alternative feel to the generally optimistic lyrics. The album is good overall, but the listener is left feeling unsatisfied with overly simple melodies and lackluster lyrics.
The Early November will be releasing In Currents through Rise Records on July 3rd. In late May, the band will embark on a headlining tour with support from The Wonder Years, The Swellers, and Young Statues.
In a recent interview, Anthony Rainville, vocalist of the Boston, MA pop-rock group Stay, discusses their upcoming LP American Cherry Bomb, the band’s recent rise in popularity, playing Never Say Never Festival and more.
You, Me and Everyone We Know has had its share of great hardships and downfalls, but it has finally reached two landmarks in 2010: a headlining tour and a full-length release.
AJ McLean remembers the conversation well. Kevin Richardson was having doubts about his future in the Backstreet Boys, and one night in the dressing room after a 2005 show, he told his friends in the mega-selling boy band how he was feeling. “There’s some things I need to do first, for me,” McLean recalled Richardson saying. The group had been discussing “when we wanted to start recording again,” McLean said. “Everyone was ready, but that was the first time Kevin put it out in the atmosphere that he wasn’t.” The Boys needed some time to digest Richardson’s news. In June… Read more »
Early in July, Rusty Shaffer, the founder of Optek, a small music company in Reno, Nev., visited Salon’s offices to show me his invention, the Fretlight guitar. Though it looks and feels like a standard, rock ‘n’ roll-ready instrument, the Fretlight contains a set of LEDs invisibly embedded inside its fretboard — connect the guitar to a computer and the lights spark up to indicate where to put your fingers in order to play a chord. Shaffer is certain that his guitar is a great leap forward for the normally tech-averse guitar industry; the Fretlight, he says, will transform guitar… Read more »
Hollywood – There was no questioning where the love was Friday night as star-studded functions leading up to Sunday’s Grammy Awards continued around Los Angeles. Artists such as the legendary James Brown, Justin Timberlake, Pink, Carlos Santana and the Black Eyed Peas came together for a old-fashioned jam session at the Avalon Hollywood nightclub. Half tsunami-relief concert, half party to celebrate the launch of the Peas member Will.I.Am’s new label, I.Am.Music, the show started off with enough energy to light up Times Square for weeks and ended with an even more electric charge. The Peas kicked the night off with… Read more »
