71 – Limozine’, ‘The Cherry Bluestorms’ & ‘Zig Zag Birds’
Limozine:
“Limozine are a Rock ‘n’ Roll band from London inspired by The Cramps, The Stooges The Stones and The Ramones. Limozine have released three albums, Car Crash Casino in 2007, Evil Love in 2010, and Full Service in 2012.”
(Info obtained from the band facebook page here)
The Cherry Bluestorms:
“Upon the release of their Stukas Over Disneyland mini-album, punk rock legends The Dickies were about to go on their first U.S. tour since the untimely death of Chuck Wagon. The band asked Glen Laughlin to tour with them on guitar, vocals and keyboards. Following the tour Glen returned to Los Angeles to increasing demand as a session player. He also took the opportunity to begin recording his debut solo album with famed producer Earle Mankey. Unfortunately, he was involved in a motor vehicle accident on the way to the studio and crushed his left hand, apparently ending his career as a musician. As we know, the story didn’t quite end there.
With his hand still in a cast, Glen formed The Skin Trade. Seven months later The Skin Trade played their first show, featuring Glen on lead vocals and two-fingered bass. Glen later rejoined The Dickies as bassist and then as guitarist for several years. He also began to use the many non-standard tunings he developed as a result of his hand injury.
Following The Dickies’ Idjit Savant tour, Glen purchased part of the studio where “Idjit” was recorded. Since then, in addition to The Cherry Bluestorms, Glen has produced The Dickies, movie star Heather Graham and tracks for CSI: Las Vegas. He has also produced indie artists such as Neil Ormandy, Reuben “Big Reub” Vigil and The Reloaders, The Ben Gunn Society, and The Greatcoats. His latest project involves members of Fishbone, Suicidal Tendencies and Ivan Neville.
Having landed a development deal with A&M which led to collaborations with recording world luminaries Chris Lord-Alge and Mike Clink, Deborah Gee placed several songs from her debut solo album “Portal” in TV and films. She was looking for a collaborator for her next venture. After meeting Glen at a coffeehouse and discovering their mutual love for ‘60’s guitar-based melodic rock, the two began working on what was to become The Cherry Bluestorms’ debut album, Transit of Venus. They formed a band and were spotted at their first show by a promoter, whereupon their second show was before a festival crowd in New Hampshire. The band has subsequently entertained crowds and enjoyed critical praise from their hometown Hollywood haunts to Canada and the UK, including The Cavern, famous home of The Beatles.
The Bluestorms gave Transit of Venus a splendid send-off at Hollywood’s Cinespace, where they had a genuine Fillmore lightshow and a live string quartet accompanying a performance of the entire album. TOV was noted as one of the top 100 indie albums of 2007 by IPO’s David Bash. TOV has been critically praised by L.A. Weekly, Glasswerk UK, Powerpopaholic, Not Lame, Absolute Powerpop and others, many singling out the bands’ version of the Beatles’ “Baby, You’re a Rich Man”. “Violent Heart” from TOV and “A True Heart Wears A Thorny Crown” from their upcoming second album were placed in hit Stephen Cannell television shows.
Speaking of second albums, the band is nearly finished recording their sophomore effort, an ambitious concept album called Bad Penny Opera. The album is due out later this year. Meanwhile, Deborah has also begun tracking her second solo album, Geeology, with Glen co-producing.”
(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)
Zig Zag Birds:
“With one foot in the sun-soaked Sixties, and the other in the do-it-yourself YouTube generation, Zig Zag Birds began as an experiment and quickly got out of hand. British singer-songwriters David Rael and Edward Randell and drummer Will Pickering bring their feelgood pop songs to life with the help of rudimentary recording gear, a video camera and some very talented friends.
A bedroom album that sounds like a 5-star suite, their debut EP features strings, brass, flutes and a small army of backing singers – all held together with Sellotape and cups of tea. And, most importantly, outstanding tunes. They don’t write ’em like this any more: Zig Zag Birds’s infectious melodies and lush vocal harmonies draw on The Beatles and The Beach Boys, the storytelling of Lieber & Stoller and the playfulness of Steely Dan. They are equally at home with straight-up rock ‘n’ roll (Brighter Shade of Blue), with chamber-pop balladry (A Song A Day) and even campy Halloween mischief (Bump In The Night). These are uncynical, fresh, infinitely hummable tunes to put a grin on your face and a spring in your step.”
(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)
68 – ‘Turning Plates’ and ‘Howl Griff’
Turning Plates:
“Turning Plates are an award winning group of musicians based in Glasgow. Using theirdiverse classical, jazz and rock backgrounds they create a uniquely alternative style. Founded in 2009 their mixing of synthesizers and effect laden guitars with the more melancholy sounds of clarinet, cello and trombone, combined with the use of unusual time signatures, have led to the band quickly finding a distinct and individual sound. The band sites an eclectic mix of influences from the Smashing Pumpkins to Sigur Ros to Baroque music.
On the back of early successes the band has recently recorded an EP comprising 6 songs at Glasgow’s prestigious Chem19 studios with producer Jamie Savage which is due for release in April 2012. During 2011 the band’s song Tin Man won an award in Playmusic Pickup magazine’s unsigned band competition and finished their first tour taking in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Stirling Falkirk and Ayr over Easter 2011. In addition the band have gigged frequently in Glasgow doing both electric and acoustic shows, supporting several touring bands including Silversun Pickups, Scanners, Slaraffenland and The Neat.”
(Info obtained from the band’s Official Website)
Howl Griff:
“After receiving much press and public acclaim for our debut, Welsh-language record Howl Griff, we unleashed our second album The Hum – this one in English. Along with single releases Bluebirds and Sunrise, the album has garnered heady acclaim.
“Bloody lush – a new band we love,” said Lauren Laverne on her daytime BBC 6music show. She’s not alone in liking what she hears. “Life-affirming,” wrote The Independent. “Gorgeous harmonies and warm ’60s melodies – the result is quite lovely,” added Stuff magazine. “A Welsh Brian Wilson,” claims Clash magazine.
So when the lovely Lauren Laverne asked if we were interested in giving away an MPfree on her show, who were we to argue? Thanks to her and the 6music crew, you can download the Sunrise single for zero pence on our free MP3s page.
We’ve been played widely across BBC 6music, Radio One, Radio Wales, Radio London and noted Californian station KCRW too, which is nice.”
(Info obtained from the band’s Official Website)
62 – ‘Lorena B’ and ‘New Manhattan’
Lorena B:
“Lorena B, a post-dubstep group based in London, UK, already caught the attention of Jarvis Cocker, and respectful bloggers like Cruel Rhythm have favorably compared them to the young electronic producers freshening up the UK scene.
Following the release of their self-produced debut album, they went on a short tour in the UK, and since had their songs played on BBC radio, XFM radio, the BBC Music Video Festival and popular blogs.
They have played the main support for Blonde Redhead and for the Junior Boys, collaborated with international producer BORGORE and other local artists and have been invited to play in showcases in the CMJ Music Marathon in New York and in the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg.
Their passion for UK’s alternative and electronic music, which they frequently play on DJ sets and their radio show, is also apparent in their upcoming EP, with strong influences from leading producers like James Blake, Hudson Mohawke and SBTRKT.”
(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)
New Manhattan:
54 – ‘MoCara’, ‘Criminal Brainstorm’ and ‘Derider’
MoCara:
“MoCara are a four-piece alternative/punk/ska band from Leatherhead in Surrey. MoCara’s sound is thick with loud melodic guitars, thundering funk-driven bass lines, intense pummelling drums, ska grooves, big choruses, passionate lyrics and loads more; all of which come together with a shared obsession with creating our own vibe: A vibe that we want to spread as far as possible.
That MoCara sound has taken the band to some of the best venues in London and South East England as well as a minor headline slot at Guilfest. It has also taken the band far in many competitions; most notably to the final of Jar Music Live’s Maldives Breakout Festival at the O2 Academy Islington.
The bands first EP, ‘The Shallow South’, was released in June 2011.”
(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)
Criminal Brainstorm:
Derider:
“Bursting through the seams of Brighton, this explosive quintet have been relentlessly hitch-hiking across stages, brushing arms with the likes of Cerebral Ballzy and Abdoujaparov and earning a slot on Ipswich Music Day’s main stage. The band, consisting of fireball figurehead Whitnee Springfield, guitarists Sin and Rayna Vandèl, bass player Chuck Tango and sticksman Nate Marcus are now in the process of writing the material that will become their debut album.”
(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)
29 – ‘The Touch’, ‘Vetoes’, ‘The Recusants’ and ‘Pharaohs From The Grave’
The Touch:
“The Touch initially made a name for themselves with their party inducing Dance-Punk sets around Adelaide in 2008. Since then the band has expanded their sound adding ethereal vocal hooks, multi-layerd washes of synth and intricate guitar interplay whilst loosing none of their energetic delivery. The band has played numerous high profile Australian festivals (Big Day Out, Parklife and One Movement) and supported bands like Phoenix, Ladyhawke, Miami Horror, The Swiss and many more. ”
(Quote obtained from the band’s facebook page)
Check out The Touch‘s music video for ‘SHOT’:
Vetoes:
(No biography info available on the artists’ website)
The Recusants:
(No biography info available on the artists’ website)
Pharaohs From The Grave:
www.myspace.com/pharaohsfromthegrave
“An alternative punk rock band of London musicians Emily Wolf O, Katharine Kibela, UJ and Par Mahn. Formed in 2009. Set to release their EP ‘Machines’ in June 2011.”
26 – ‘A Genuine Freakshow’, ‘OK’, ‘Alvin Purple’ and ‘Radio 9’
A Genuine Freakshow:
“A Genuine Freakshow. An artful blend of experimentalism and pop sensibility from Reading comprising the traditional rock ‘n’ roll facets of guitars, bass and drums but augmented by the less obvious additions of cello, violin and trumpet. A band that embrace the icy soundscapes of Sigur Ros but remain entranced by the possibilities of the pop song.
The genesis of this multitude is, as you would expect, less than straightforward. A question as to how the band came into being brings forth a plethora of answers and a volley of disagreement. Various members’ recall of history blurs between fact and (assumed) fiction. What can be said for sure is that by 2008 the current line-up was settled and the previous experiments which saw them begin as “too pop to be challenging” and then swing the opposite way until they were “too post-rock to be fun” had been amended and developed to hit the sweet spot that remains their raison d’etre to this point.
Prior to that settled point, the band had already made their mark in the world with the release of a debut EP that all those still in the band from that time (those changes of personnel again) agree was the “too pop” point. In what would become standard AGF fashion, the follow up ‘0.008%’ EP was, naturally, the “too post-rock” response. A musical equilibrium was found with the release of ‘We Are The Undercurrents’ in 2008 and its follow up ‘Holding Hearts’ in the same year. By the end of that year another equilibrium was achieved with the permanent recruitment of the final pieces of the band, drummer Jack Bryant just making it in time to play the band’s autumn dates by fast-tracking the set in a hectic three week period of cramming on his part.
Plaudits followed for this settled unit. ‘Holding Hearts’ made Tom Robinson’s ‘Best Of 2008’, Word magazine’s Mark Ellen fell for the band, leading to their recent appearance on the magazine’s CD for October. Meanwhile, the seven settled into a touring schedule that saw them build a healthy evangelical fanbase leading to a sold out Bush Hall show in February of 2010. In tandem with touring throughout 2009 and 2010, the band entered the studio with producer Jordan Fish to completely re-record the album that had been taking shape throughout these single releases, so unhappy were they with the final version mark one. A brave decision, some would say foolhardy, but one that is vindicated by the now complete debut album, ‘Oftentimes’ that finally ended its gestation on 8th November 2010.
The journey of this firmly bonded septet – despite the notices from media names – has taken place through the old-fashioned world of word-of-mouth and touring. In keeping with that ethic ‘Oftentimes’ comes to you via band-owned Peartree Records, all members making a firm decision to retain their ownership of their music and complete control over their musical destinies. In support of the album A Genuine Freakshow returned to the touring world for an extensive run of dates from September through December 2010 with plenty more to follow in 2011.”
(Quote obtained from the band’s official website)
OK:
“Welcome to the bright and colorful world of OK! …Four Cardiffians with a love of pop, truly terrible jokes and generally jumping around like idiots.
Having been obsessed with depressing music as a teen, singer Joe Paine decided he would dry his tears and form a band that would make people feel good again! Rounding up good friend and bass player Adam Barrah, the two waved their West-Walian hometown farewell and, with wonder in their eyes and love in their hearts, set sail for Cardiff.
After a few months playing acoustic shows and generally getting very drunk, the two quickly be-friended guitarist Oliver Miles. The technical whiz-kid hit it off with the boys and was soon on stage performing with them.
In desperate need of a drummer, the band coincidentally bumped in to ex ‘Inner-city Pirates’ sticksman Dave Powell. With their notoriously weird sense of humour, the four got on like a series of terrible house fires and soon released their debut record ‘Under The Weather But Over The Moon’ at a frantic launch party in Cardiff’s renowned ‘Buffalo Bar’.
It wasn’t long before the band had begun to transform Joe’s old-fashioned ‘Libertinesian’ sing-alongs into faster, tighter and dancier full-band pounders. OK have since played a string of packed-out shows, which have left audience and band members alike in sweaty heaps!”
(Quote obtained from the band’s facebook page)
Alvin Purple:
(No biography info available on the artist’s website)
Radio 9:
“Radio 9 is a collective (usually 3 live members, not including the laptop) that plays electronic music that isn’t boring. Augmented by real drums, guitar and bass and even some vocals, their energetic, melodic Krautpop kicks arse. varying from subtle, mellifluous atmospherics to harsh postpunk whiteouts, the band frequently improvise live in extended rhythmic bop. previously based in the UK, now Oslo, the band have worked with Paul Epworth (Florence and the Machine, Bloc Party) and Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode, Sons and Daughters). The band have just released an album, ‘Endless Streams of Light’ on Oblong.”
(Quote obtained from the band’s facebook page)
25 – ‘Club Smith’, ‘Dustland’, ‘Southern’, and ‘Gorgeous George’
Club Smith:
(No biography info available on the artist’s website)
Dustland:
(No biography info available on the artist’s website)
Southern:
www.myspace.com/thisissouthernmusic
“Hailing from Belfast, Southern are a musical trio consisting of siblings Thom and Lucy Southern and one of the best exports of the past 12 months. Lead vocalist and songwriter Thom Southern got his start busking around Belfast and Dublin for pocket money. At the tender age of 17 he won ‘Belfast Busker of the Year Award’ which gave him a coveted slot in the Belfast Nashville festival. Through the festival he won the ‘Katherine Brick Award’ for ‘Young Songwriter of the Year’. Soon afterwards Thom joined together with his sister Lucy and their childhood friend Jonny Lee.
It was not long afterwards that Southern began to make a big impact on the Belfast and Dublin music scene playing with well-known artists such as John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Steve Harley, Nanci Griffith, John Hannen, Benitta Hill and Iain Archer.”
(Quote obtained from the band’s facebook page)
Gorgeous George:
www.gorgeousgeorgetheband.tumblr.com
“Gorgeous George play a mixture of balkan folk, eastern european jewish klezmer, and manouche jazz, with cockney voices and lyrics about overtime, saturday afternoon results and everyone wearing the same bloody aftershave. bonjour.
We like eastern europe and south west london and we’re here to unite the two.
We are currently working hard on our debut EP ‘Dangle The Carrot’ for a mid-may release and doing lots and lots of gigs.”
(Quote obtained from the band’s facebook page)
14 – ‘The Savage Nomads’, ‘The Method’, ‘Hi-Life Wedding’, and ‘Letters To Fiesta”
The Savage Nomads:
www.myspace.com/thesavagenomads
The Method:
www.myspace.com/methodofficial
Hi-Life Wedding:
Letters To Fiesta:
www.myspace.com/letterstofiesta
London Unsigned Music 