Here is a track by the Ontario native indie rockers Rural Alberta Advantage. Sometimes going by RAA, this trio group rocks the stage and your stereo every time! Take a listen and learn why they become my favorite band of last summer!
RAA formed in 2005 but didn’t release their first full length until 2008. Hometowns was the name of that CD and remains to be their only full length to date.
Hometowns has songs written by Nils Edenloff who undoubtedly drew upon nostalgia of his home life and heart breaks. Edenloff has a distinct voice that makes the sound stand out but it’s Amy Cole, who sings backup vocals makes the band in my opinion.
Songs are built on a foundation of synthesizers, acoustic guitars, drums and sometimes viola with some occasional unique instrument mixed in there. The drums though, add to the unique sound of the band. Paul Banwatt has been playing drums for 17 years and it’s not secret. When you see him play live you can’t help but simply watch him.
I havn’t come up with a band that I can compare RAA to. I would venture to say if you like Arcade Fire, Bright Eyes and Nurtral Milk Hotel, you will like Rural Alberta Advantage. Either way, I can’t recommend enough to check them out.
A love for keyboards, synthesizers and vintage drum machines was the beginning of the musical harmony that brought three female indie artists together. Au Revoir Simone, the hot new indie group is composed of Erika Forster (vocals/keyboard), Annie Hart (vocals/keyboard) and Heather D’Angelo (vocals/drum machine/keyboard).
The journey began when Erika and Annie met on a train while traveling from Vermont to New York. After getting to know each other they discovered that they both had a common interest in beginning an all-keyboard band.
On their return to New York they began playing together and Heather D’Angelo soon joined in on the hot new indie sound that they were producing. Another member, Sung Bin Park, joined the band but left soon after allowing the three remaining members to start again as a trio. They started playing concerts in New York and quickly picked up speed in popularity.
The music of Au Revoir Simone is primarily up-beat and fun in it’s tempo. In a NME (New Musical Express) article, the magazine went on to say that “Au Revoir Simone must have beamed in from a land where lace clouds breeze over crystal lakes and icicles grow from the warm earth. This New York three-piece’s glorious synth-lead alt-folk will leave you crying on the stairs in the middle of the night.”
Au Revoir Simone released their debut album “The Bird of Music” though Moshi Moshi Records in the UK in 2007. And their latest work is the new “Still Night, Still Light” album released on May 19, 2009. Au Revoir Simone is currently touring the world and is planning on making a local stop on their concert tour.
Local Au Revoir Simone Concert This Summer
Friday, June 19: Salt Lake City
Kilby Court
It’s the beginning of March and everyone is dying to break out their shorts and hit the beach…too bad it is still so cold! Five Times August will warm you right up, despite their chill sound.
Five Times August is really just one man – Brad Skistimas. He wants you to remember his name though, so he uses his birthday instead.
Brad has traveled all over these United States, and I have been privileged enough to see him perform live and meet him. The band’s performance at Warehouse Live in Houston, Texas, was amazing – he really interacts with the audience.
You may have heard their music on TV before! Brad got every single song from his first official album on TV (the first show to feature one of his songs was actually the popular Laguna Beach, featuring “Better With You”).
Five Times August creates magic with a simple blend of vocals, guitar, and piano…all performed and recorded by Brad himself. His natural feel and talent for music can bring a relaxing summery feel to anyone’s day, no matter how cold it might actually be outside.
Check out some of his acoustic sessions on YouTube – he’ll even take requests! Here’s his latest:
Today is International Women’s Day. Last week, I went to see the one-night showing of the Half the Sky documentary. Based on Nicholas Kristof’s and Sheryl WuDunn’s New York Times bestseller of the same name, the documentary focuses on three issues affecting women around the world: sex trafficking, maternal mortality and violence against women.
Unfortunately, it was a one-night only event, so I can’t encourage everyone to go see it. But the film did feature appearances by a few great musicians! I love it when artists use their influence to support good causes. It’s just like the Hope for Haiti Now Benefit concert I wrote about a while back. It is great to see that these artists are truly passionate — not only about their music but about doing good things with it.
April Meservy is a local artist located here in the Provo/Orem, Utah area. April has been in the music industry for many, many years, working with many other musicians. She has been on many gospel cds and just recently released her first album, Somewhere Between Sunsets, which is available on itunes.
April is an indie singer/songwriter. She plays the piano and the guitar. However, her voice is probably her most admirable quality. She has such as warm, inviting, and clean sound. The amazing thing about April is that she has proven to be able have extremely diverse vocals. She has enjoyed jazz/blues, pop/rock, dance/electronica, and even gospel/contemporary. I personally think that her pop sound is the best and will help her to become more successful.
One cool thing about April is that she not only is extremely excited about her music, but is just extremely excited about life in general. April is probably one of the nicest, most genuine persons that you will ever meet! So I hope you get a chance to meet her sometime. She has a great smile and a huge heart, which is probably why her music is so heart-felt.
Carli Cutchin from the Reno News and Review said about April Meservy, “[she] is sometimes soulful, sometimes blithe, but always passionate.”
One of her new songs, “Truth Speaks” really is a reflection of April. For she does truly speak truth in her music. I recommend April Meservy for encouraging, feel good music.
So as you may have noticed, i have been postponing making a post (no pun intended) for the past week.
The reasons being that I have had this strange desire to post about the music video, Pop! Goes my Heart, from the 2007 movie, Music and Lyrics. I’ve convinced myself that this post is too random and that no one would enjoy this post as much as me…
But since my desire to post about it has caused me to slack on posting anything for the last week or so, I am going to share it anyways (in hopes that we can move forward). And who knows; maybe you will enjoy this as much as I do!
So here’s a little background:
Music and Lyrics is a romantic comedy in which one of my secret celebrity crushes, Hugh Grant, is a pop star living off the aftermath of his band’s 80s one hit wonder. With an opportunity to get his name back and perform with a teen idol, he obtains a lyricist. Drew Barrymore plays the lyricist, whom saves Hugh Grants music and whom he falls in love with.
Overall, I wouldn’t place the movie in my top ten pick of favorite movies, but I would have to say that I absolutely LOVE all the music (except some from the weird teen idol) and I absolutely love Hugh Grant’s band’s one hit wonder. I bought the album on itunes right after I watched the movie and I even bought the sheet music for one of the songs.
So here’s the video, Pop! Goes my Heart, I have been thinking about and watching for over and over again for the past week. It is cheesy, catchy, and has Hugh Grant written all over it! I hope it makes you smile as much as I do:
It doesn’t matter how many times I watch this video, I enjoy it every time! It may possibly be the best cheesiest/worst music video ever. Gotta love the hip moves.
Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore also conglomerate in the movie, singing together the song which they wrote, Way Back into Love. It is beautiful and they sound GREAT together. I wonder how much they edited their voices and how much was real, because I might now find Hugh Grant now only a cute, hilarious actor, but also a talented musician.
Random Fact: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s mother was Hugh’s piano teacher when he was a child.
In fact I think Hugh Grant could look like a musician. He plays the son of another one hit wonder musician in About a Boy. I would both these movies to any Hugh Grant fans out there.
On a more musical note:
As well as getting some great Hugh Grant music and even some Drew Barrymore in Music and Lyrics , the rest of the soundtrack performed by The Sounds.
I had never heard of The Sounds until after I had watched this movie a few years back and I really like them. Check them out on myspace. I recommend listening to Tony the Beat.
Maybe later this week I will give you a real review about the band seeing as since I have now shared with you my addiction of the week.
Also, the entire soundtrack of About a Boy is done by Badly Drawn Boy. Likewise, after I watched that movie is when I really started to get into that band. good stuff.
Throughout the years, there has been the rise of some truly brilliant musician “Bon’s,” who have all exceeded the definition of their root, meaning good. We have been immensely blessed to have Irish rock vocalist, Bono, performing with U2 since 1976, American hard rock band Bon Jovi rocking since 1983, and more recently indie-rock, folk band, Bon Iver feeding our souls with smooth tunes since 2006.
Bono, with U2, has become one of the most successful bands in popular music today, both critically and commercially. U2 is considered possibly the best of the best and likewise Bono as one of the greatest singers of all time. I can say, I am a HUGE fan!
U2 has won 22 Grammys, which is more than any other band, has released 12 studio albums, and has sold more than 145 million records wordwide. They have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and are high on Rolling Stones list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. Bono, along with his band, has been involved in many humanitarian efforts, most in Africa with DATA organization and the RED campaign, but also with such benefit concerts at the one for Hope For Haiti Now just recently.
Bon Jovi one of America’s prided bands, consisting of leadsinger Jon bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, Drummer Tico Torres, former bassist Alec John Such, and current bassist Hugh McDonald. This Jersey born band has received 11 studio albums and has sold over a 120 million albums worldwide.
They have been inducted into the UK Music Hall Of Fame and awarded Merit at the American Music Awards. Also, just recently Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora have been inducted into the Songwiters Hall of Fame. They are considered classics in music. Personally I’m a fan of their famous song, “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
Bon Iver is the newer of these bands and less known, but has the potential to get it big, especially with the correlation of it’s groups “bon” or good title. Bon Iver is an indie, folk rock band that was founded by Justin Vernon in Wisconsin, United States. He joined Michael Noyce, Sean Carey, and Matthew McCaughan to form the entire band.
The band’s CD, “For Emma, Forever Ago” has just recently been released by indie rock label, Jagjaguwar. Already this album was ranked number 29 in the Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Albums of 2008. Their Music has been aired on tv shows, such as: House, Chuck, Grey’s Anatomy, Skins,David Letterman, etc. Also, Bon Iver worked with St. Vincent in 2009 on the New Moon song, “Rosyln.”
I have recently become a huge fan of Bon Iver. Their music really speaks to my soul. Probably their most famous song and one of my favorite songs written by them is the lamenting and lovely, “Skinny Love.”
What do you think of Bon Iver? Do you think they could ever get as big as the other “Bon’s,” Bono and Bon Jovi?
Sunday, January 31st, 2010 was an eventful night for the 52nd annual Grammy awards. Not only did we have Elton John and Lady Gaga team up for a duet song, Taylor win her first grammy for her album Fearless, which was given the title “album of the year,” but we also had Carrie Underwood, Keri Hudson, Usher, Celine Dion, and Smokey Robinson joined in a Michael Jackson “Earth Song” tribute!
The song was in 3D and many celebrities, such as Beyonce were seen wearing glasses and you could have been too if you happened to have some glasses with you at home.
At the conclusion of the song, all the performers turned to look at the many pictures of Michael Jackson. It was a great tribute.
Lastly, Michael Jackson’s children, Prince Michael and Paris accepted their father’s lifetime achievement award.It was weird seeing the children so soon after their father’s passing, however they made a great speech, saying, “Our father was always concerned about the planet and humanity,” and continued with, “Throughout his songs, his message was simple: love. We will continue to spread his message and help the world. Thank you. We love you, Daddy.”
Seeing as tonight I also just saw, Michael Jackson’s documentary video, “This Is It” tonight, I thought this was a fabulous night! Michael Jackson has such great talent and I thought it was great to tribute him at the Grammys. Rest in peace MJ!
I hope you check out the new “This Is It” album on itunes. I LOVE the song, This is it.
1977 brought a whole new sound that people had never heard, and a sound that many people didn’t want to hear. But that is exactly the thing that appealed to punk rockers. They wrote and played music because it’s what they loved, not to get fame and money.
Punk rock has evolved since then, and the big question now remains is punk rock dead?
Friday, January 22, 2010 many well -known celebrities and musicians helped out with Hope For Haiti Now, a global benefit concert for earthquake relief. This telethon took place in in 3 cities: Los Angeles, New York, and London.
George Clooney organized this concert with MTV to help earn more relief for Haiti, which has already lost roughly 200, 000 people.
During the benefit concert, celebrities and musicians answered phones and performed music to get people to call in and donate money to the hope for Haiti Now earthquake relief.
Coldplay, Beyonce, as well as a joint efforts with Bono, Jay-Z, Rhianna, and the Edge, performed in London. The latter four musicians performed together a new song, “Stranded– Haiti mon Amour.” Their collaboration turned out to be successful, giving the world a catchy song and Haiti relief money. Check out their song below!
In New York, Haitian-born, Wycleaf Jean hosted and sang. With him Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Shakira, and Sting performed.
And in LA, George Clooney took charge and was joined by musicians: Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, and Kid Rock.
I have to say Clooney actually did a great job getting great artists to join together in a great cause. I wish I could have personally been at the benefit concert, but then again I wouldn’t know which one I would have wanted to be at!!
Good news: you can purchase the songs from the concert on itunes and all the proceeds will go the earthquake relief in Haiti.
If you want to help Haiti out and missed the Hope For Haiti Now benefit concert, you still can. Just visit Hope For Haiti Now to donate.
Here is a track by the Ontario native indie rockers Rural Alberta Advantage. Sometimes going by RAA, this trio group rocks the stage and your stereo every time! Take a listen and learn why they become my favorite band of last summer!
