Actively Independent Music
Active Indie Music Blog is a way for you to be guided to discover the huge amount of talent held by independent artists from all over the world.
Purpose
Live, Love, Sing.
-Matt
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Stephanie Bosch's "Stupid Charlie" Turning Heads All Over The Country
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tinashé, Paul Cresey and Some Reviews
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Broken Bells
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Zolas
This is way too long overdue. Life these past couple weeks has been full of recording, working to make a buck and of course watching the Olympics. Its funny how when the winter Olympics are on, your TV is constantly turned on, set to one of the many broadcasting companies who cover the games and becomes your life for 2 weeks. Since these spectacular games are being held in Vancouver this year, there is no better band to be featured this week than Vancouver's own, The Zolas. One of the many great bands to be making an incredible mark on the Vancouver music scene. These guys originally formed under the name Lotus Child and recently changed their name to The Zolas. The band is made up of Zachary Gray and TomDobrzanski but they bring in additional musicians to help them out along the way. Adian Knight who is set to tour with We Are The City in March played on alot of the bass tracks of their new album Tic Toc Tic which can be purchased on Itunes. Joining them on their latest tour was Henry Alcock of Bend Sinister and Henry and the Nightcrawlers. This dude was a blast to hang out with. Very laid back and a busy musician playing in three big Vancouver bands.
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Peak Performance Project
I spent the night sifting through the other finalists of the PPP but two in particular blew me out of the water. First Bodhi Jones reminded me of a blissful blend of Ray LaMontagne and Ben Harper. His songs are full of amazing melodies and folk guitar. Its amazing what one can do with two instruments, a guitar and a voice. You can download his album for free right off his myspace at http://www.myspace.com/bodhijones and believe me it is a great one. But the one that really turned me into a fan isn't one you can find on his album. Part of the PEAK boot camp was to write a song titled "In a Minute" and record it live off the floor. Bodhi Jones' song was absolutely amazing...probably my favorite of all. The PEAK released these live recordings and you can download all of them off their website at http://www.peakperformanceproject.com/?p=1127
The other artist that caught my ear was Adrian Glynn from Vancouver. He has the sound of a young Iron and Wine. He also reminded me of Elliot Smith when I first listened to his songs. The production on his songs are brilliant and this humanitarian sure knows how to write a killer song. Key tracks to check out would be "Mother's Song" and "Marianne". Check out his myspace at http://www.myspace.com/adrianglynn and keep your eyes open for a CD on I tunes.
Other finalists of the PEAK performance project include: Adaline, Alexandria Maillot, Ben Sigston, Danny Echo, Familia, Free Flow, Garrett Kato, Kuba Oms, Run the Red Light, Sweetheart, Tea, The Painted Birds, TV Heart Attack, and Wassabi Collective.
Check them all out as they are some of BC's best.
That's all for this post,
Live, Love, Sing.
-Matt
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Temper Trap
This week I'm going to venture to the land down under and talk about a melodramatic popular song rock band from Melbourne Australia. Although The Temper Trap isn't exactly independent, they will most likely be foreign to most of us in the northern hemisphere. At one of my own bands recent rehearsals, our singer mentioned the band with promise to send me a link to some live videos of T.T.T. The first video was good but to be honest didn't really think much of them. I almost quit right there and didn't bother to go on the second link, but I figured I would give it a chance and I'm sure glad I did. As soon as the verse started I was instantly hooked, and without second thought, immediately bought their album on I tunes.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Fields of Green/We Are The City
This week I've left my hometown of Edmonton, also known in winter as 'The Freezer' to find myself in the interior BC city of Kelowna. As of now it is 12:29 AM pacific time, and I sit in strange but such familiar surroundings while writing. The basement of an old friend where I have not been for almost three years. After being up at my cabin in Vernon for the last three days, her and her family generously agreed to let me crash for a few nights as I ventured down the valley for what will be an amazing music weekend.
The CD release of local Kelowna band Fields of Green on Saturday night at Kelowna Community Theater. 'Blanktown' will be their debut release with plans to support the album with a tour around western Canada starting in February. Now this old friend I spoke of in the first paragraph has been dating the drummer for some time now which is how I got to know him. We have spoke quite a few times, building a friendship as we share the same passion for music, and for the first time today I finally got to meet him in person.
I came across the band many months ago before I even knew there was a connection. From the first time I heard old demos that were streaming on myspace, I was a fan. Having a personal connection to Johnny now has allowed me to hear some of the CD and I tell you, PICK UP YOUR COPY! It is fantastic. Backed by Tree Fort Music, a small indie label here in Kelowna, these guys put their hearts into this record and it shows. A great variety as they include a country song on this record. I'm not a huge country guy, but I loved it. This record seriously has a mix of hooks, jams and blissful riffs and melodies. I haven't had the opportunity to meet the rest of the band yet, but I have also come across singer Kyle Tubbs' solo material quite some time ago as well. I very much look forward to spending time with these amazing musicians over the weekend as they unleash Blanktown on to the global music scene.
MP3's from Blanktown can be found on their myspace page at http://myspace.com/fieldsofgreenmusic
The disc should be on Itunes shortly as well if there is any interest in grabbing a copy for your library. You will not regret it.
www.fieldsofgreen.ca
Now for the second part of my double post for this week. Staying on topic with amazing Kelowna bands, this one blew me away when I discovered their myspace two summers ago. We Are the City is a progressive indie rock act making their mark in a huge way on the music scene. These guys recently put out their debut release titled 'In a Quiet World' and has done a lot of touring to support it. I was lucky enough to witness these guys live last time they rolled through Edmonton in the fall when they played an afternoon gig at the Empress Alehouse on Whyte. I finally got to chat with the guys in person after a year of on and off messaging on myspace. All the guys are great friends with all the members of Fields of Green so I was pumped to have the chance to hang out again this weekend. But the road calls for this trio and they will be in Port Alberni the night of the release.
To the album...In a Quiet world is an amazing collection of tunes and I don't think I can say I would skip a single song as I listen to it from front to back. One song in particular titled 'Feel Is A Word' sends me to a different place mentally as I blast my studio monitors back home as Andy's amazing floor tom riff comes blaring after the first verse. Definitely a riff to send you elsewhere among many that are featured on this incredible disc.
The Trio has been working hard and it is finally starting to pay off. In the recent past months, they band was involved in The Peak Performance Project put on by a BC radio station called..you guessed it..The Peak. The top three bands from a finalist pool of 20, after of a couple months of public voting is guaranteed $50,000. That's the third place prize money. Only to rise from there. Placements still haven't been made but man, that's a lot of money to help move along your music career. This contest has also allowed these guys to play amazing venues like their upcoming show at the Peak Performance Project Finale at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. I'd like to take the time right now to congratulate them on this huge success.
We are the City comes through Edmonton next on February 5th to play at Brixx Bar and Grill under the Starlite room. I would strongly advise to check them out if you have a chance as it is an amazing musical experience. MP3's are streaming on their myspace at http://www.myspace.com/thecitiesmusic and the album is available on ITunes for $9.99
www.wearethecity.ca
That's all for this double post on the opening week of Actively Independent. Stay tuned for next week's artist.
Live, Love, Sing.
-Matt