Underground Bands and Indie Music Reviews

The 2010 Warped Tour is bringing a powerful lineup of bands from today’s best genres. This year, the quality of music Warped Tour is producing is high enough to attract much more than the usual junior high emo kid.

Alesana

This is a newer band full of energy.  Stay away from them if you’re against a little screaming, but they are sure to put on an incredible show.

Alkaline Trio

I saw these guys back in 2002, and they put on a great show.  Especially if you aren’t into all the screaming of a lot of other Warped Tour bands, you need to see Alkaline Trio.  I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like them, and their music, old and new alike, is most exquisite.

Attack Attack

Come see Attack Attack if you want to see something new.  These guys are definitely different, but their show this year is bound to be epic.  Most of their songs rapidly change from intense screaming to ultra-rad, heavy techno.  Attack Attack is not for everyone, but I fell for them and am stoked to see their show.

The Bouncing Souls

I’m disappointed these guys aren’t coming to Salt Lake City, but if you are fortunate enough to live where they are playing- see list here- this is a must.  These guys have been around for just over twenty years and have been rocking the whole time.  Their music is about as timeless as it gets in the punk scene, and their show is highly recommended.

Dropkick Murphys

This is going to be one of the biggest shows at Warped Tour this year and one that is worth battling the crowd.  This American celtic punk group is guaranteed to be a crowd pleasure, and one you need to see

Emarosa

I found this band a year ago am excited to see them in action.  It’s a harder screaming band with a lot of energy.

Pennywise

Pennywise is a classic as far as the punk scene goes.  They’ve been around for a while and put on a lot of excellent shows.  If you haven’t seen them yet, you need to this year.

Pierce the Veil

This is the most emo band that made my list, and the most emo band I actually listen to.  I haven’t seen these guys play yet, but I am sure they’re going to rock.  I fell in love with their music and am looking forward to seeing them this summer.

I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m not hip to the whole indie-music scene. It’ll usually take me until a band gets nationally recognized to really appreciate their sound. However, late last June, an indie-loving friend of mine dragged me along to a hole-in-the-wall music venue in Salt Lake and I had the privilege of listening to Paul Jacobsen & The Madison Arm.

With a alt-folk sound, Paul Jacobsen & The Madison Arm lured me into their musical world of guitars, banjos, and pump organs. I especially loved the presence of the organ, adding richness to Jacobsen’s vocals and an old-time church richness not often found in folk music.

Above all, I love meaningful lyrics, and Paul Jacobsen & The Madison Arm did not disappoint. Jacobsen sang with such earnestness, I felt like each song was a personal message delivered directly to me. In between songs, his easy-going demeanor won over the audience with

One particular song, At That Day, lulled me into a blissful half-sleep with its charming layering of voices and its ethereal lyrics. Below is a recording of the song at the concert where I discovered them (Kilby Court in Salt Lake City). The song steadily builds in intensity until a soul-gripping wail about five minutes into the song. Please close your eyes, listen and enjoy. I promise it’s worth it.

BONUS VIDEO

Paul Jacobsen of Utah’s Band of Annuals joined Paul Jacobsen & The Madison Arm and treated the audience with this incredible, newly created masterpiece. The recorder of this video dubbed it Wind at my Feet, although the song is still untitled. Do yourself a favor and listen to it.

If you still can’t get enough, visit Paul Jacobsen & The Madison Arm or Band of Annuals at their MySpace pages.

Matt Beilis is a new artist out of New York City. His sound is described as “a place where soul and hip-hop grooves meet the electricity of a rock band.” He has just released a new album called “CAN’T HELP BUT WONDER” that has caught the attention of many music lovers.

“Matt Beilis‘s new album sounds polished but live at the same time, which is a tough balance to strike. He manages to be both catchy and soulful, two of the best elements of good pop music.” –Ryan Dusick of Maroon 5

Here is a cover of Bruno Mars’ new song “Just the way you are.” This rendition amazed me and caught my attention. It demonstrates how Matt Beilis‘s sound connects the popularity of pop music to the soulful-rock-sound that makes it his own.

Check Matt Beilis out at his website http://www.mattbeilis.com/ and see for yourself the talent of this new up-and-coming artist.