Band of the Week (Final Edition)- Year 2: Month 6: Week 3 - South of Ramona

Well this is it folks.  Band of the Week has been a huge success for Ear to the Ground, and has really helped up to connect with some really amazing people. You've probably noticed over the last couple of months that the weekly aspect of this feature has been lacking. Rest assured it is not from lack of suitable bands, in fact, it has been the opposite problem - the best kind of problem to have. The number of bands who have approached me to hear their music has increased, and trying to narrow down all the great music to one band of the week has been difficult. And so, it is mixed feeling, but a great sense of hope that I announce that this will be the final Band of the Week feature on Ear to the Ground (at least until I decide to revive it ;-) )  But don't worry, as always, Ear to the Ground is dedicated to featuring bands on the rise, on the verge and on the edge. Next week, we will introducing a brand new feature which I think you will enjoy.  Meanwhile, Band of the Month polling will continue (details to be announced soon as to how this will work) and around the first of December we will be unavailing our Second Annual Band of the Year Poll to see who will follow in the footsteps of The Mobbs.  All 12 Bands of the Month (so far that is In Cages, MAKAR, The Gypsy West, Northbrook Garage and The Disappointment) will be up for Band of the Year, plus I will select up to 8 "Wildcards".

But enough, we have one more Band of the Week to introduce.  South of Ramona are young band from Salt Lake City, Utah.  The band features: Keith Araneo on banjo, Michael "Thom" Brown on drums, Richard Dean on vocals and bass, and Eric Lo on guitar. 

South of Ramona - Demo

The opening notes of The Curse of Queen Laveau (which is the first song on the band's Demo which they are offering for free on Bandcamp) are a haunting foreshadowing of the music to come.  The use of the banjo as lead on thee five song demo sets a plaintive - sometimes melancholy and sometimes wistful - tone.  Richard Dean's vocals - especially when it stretches into a high register - sends a shiver down my spinal column).  

The second track is called Westward Souls. For some reason, I imagine the ghosts of the early settlers who died on the passage to California moving silently but surely through desert canyons and across vast mountain ranges toward their destination.  I'm not sure if that image is really what the song is about, but it's the emotional response I receive from the music.

The next track Misery actually brings the tempo up in a cathartic dance of release. Despite the slight up-tick in tempo, Misery lives up to it's title as the despair is clearly evident even in the midst of the lively folk dance around a smoldering campfire.

Robber's Roost is a classic folk music story song. It keeps the tempo of the previous song, but the dance has ended, and the dancers have sat at the feet of the band to listen to the tale being woven through the bands unique layers of sound. 

Forgotten Memories' rollicking sound gets the dancers toes a tapping, and I found it hard not to move to the music. I really love the way the guitar and banjo interact and react to each other on this tune. The song and the demo end with an instrumental break which comes to an abrupt close which left me wanting more, which I suspect is just what the band had in mind.

South of Ramona are on Facebook and Twitter so go check them out. Like and Follow.  This is a band with a unique sound and bright future. They are in the studio working an album, and we will definitely fill you in on the details when they become available. South of Ramona will be playing a show in SLC at The Dawg Pound.  If you happen to be in Salt Lake tomorrow night be sure to check them out live and tell them hello from Ear to the Ground.

Will close with a video of the band covering the classic House of the Rising Sun, followed by the Bandcamp widget to grab the band's Demo for free.

Later Days!

Band of the Week - Year 2:Month 6:Week 2 - Sci-Fi Romance

By now - I'm sure - you've grabbed your copy of The Ghost of John Henry due to my compelling review and the fact that it is one incredible record.  If not - do it now.
The Ghost Of John Henry on Amazon.com.

Now, I want to tell you a little bit more about Sci-Fi Romance . 

Sci-Fi Romance was founded by Vance Kotrla. For sometime he was Sci-Fi Romance, but he has some help now.  Drummer Kurt Bloom and Cellist Jody Stark round out the starkly, darkly beautiful sound that is Sci-Fi Romance.

In 2010, Vance released ...and surrender my body to the flames.  A cover of the traditional New Year's anthem Auld Land Syne followed in December of that year. Just ahead of The Ghost of John Henry the band released an amazing cover of House of the Rising Sun.   You can get all of those releases via the bands Bandcamp page. 

I'm excited to add this band to my formidable list of Bands of the Week.  For an indie band this early in their career, I can't emphasize how impressive a piece of work, The Ghost of John Henry really is. You will want to get in on the ground floor (so to speak) of this band, and you will want to do that soon because the steam locomotive is leaving the station.

 

 

Band of the Week: Year 2, Month 6, Week 1 - The Joy of Painting

So, let's get this Band of the Week train back on the tracks.... shall we...


It's May 2012 and this is still the first week, and so we are on track so far for May.  We won't mention April which apparently only lasted two weeks.... but what a two weeks.  A Band of the Month post and poll is coming soon... a head to head match-up between Nikki Sue & the Bad News and The Disappointment.  Man that sounds way more depressing than it actually is... which is not at all depressing...


But we are in May and we have Joy!  The Joy of Painting to be exact.  And lo, and behold, we have a Nashville, Tennessee based band.  How odd for this music blog - also based in Nashville, Tennessee - to hit up a band close to our home.  Not unprecedented to be sure... but.... whatever...


The Joy of Painting is five guys - Garreth, Mark, Chris, Kyle and Dave.  The list their genre on Facebook as two-car garage pop.  I like that. More to the point, I like the music this band makes. See, even before Jack White and The Black Keys moved to town there have been a long line of great rock bands. I'm old, so I know it goes back to White Animals, Practical Stylists, The Movement, Raging Fire, Questionnaires, Shadow 15, The Sluggers and that it moved forward to bands like Screaming Cheetah Wheelies, Political Funk (from the 'boro), Self and on.  I'm not quite old enough to go back before that first group....


My point being, this current rock music scene - JEFF the Brotherhood, PUJOL, Diarrhea Planet and The Joy of Painting is not a new development, but it is an exciting new chapter in an on-going narrative.


Blah, Blah, Blah -- Joe, enough of your jibber-jabber.  Give us some music.  Okay - 

The Joy of Painting are on Facebook and Twitter so go like and follow and what-not.


So yeah - that is The Joy of Painting.  Now - Go get the band's latest release Asterisk *

(On Amazon)

or... give the album a listen and head to the band's Bandcamp page to purchase.  

Band of the "Week": Year 2, Month 5, Number 2

Yes, yes, I've been neglectful of naming Bands of the Week..um..weekly, but I hope you'll forgive me now that you realize I've been working on the Volume 1 compilation.

I've also been neglectful when it comes to the 2nd Band of the Week for April - Nikki Sue & the Bad News.  They've made our shuffle a couple of times (at least once if not twice), and I've been really digging the sound. So, let's right the wrong and get to it.

Nikki Sue & the Bad News are a New Jersey Indie/Alt-Country/Americana band, and man do they bring it.  On their latest release Lower Places, they bring the Twang more-so than on last year's Anchored. Don't get me wrong both sets bring the rock and the twang along with Nikki Sue's unique and wonderful voice.  Anchored is Free from the band's Bandcamp site. Lower Places is available for you to Name your price.  So grab Anchored for free and then drop a fair price for Lower Places - 'kay?


Here's Nikki Sue & the Bad News in action (from Couch by Couchwest 2012):

This music to me is like a long, lazy drive down a gravel road on a perfect summer day. Like their fellow, New Jerseyians (ites?)The Amboys Nikki Sue and company are showing us in Nashville what real country is all about. Kudos from Music City to Jersey.

If you are so moved, hit them up on Facebook Twitter and Other Assorted Places

Band of the Week: Year 2, Month 5, Week 1ish - The Disappointment

Okay Okay Band of the Week is back after a week off, and we have a surprise - we felt so bad about not having a Band of the Week that we are going to have two this week.  

Our good friends, and previous Band of the Month runners-up The End Men, turned us on to two bands a while back.  The first was The Gypsy West who ended up being our Band of the Month for February.  Now, we present for your listening pleasure The Disappointment.


The Disappointment are from Brooklyn. The make music for the new depression.  Here is how they describe themselves:

the shockingly unique and poetic story of four white males, with beards, living in brooklyn, who like a modern take on rocknroll, blues, and soul music. big surprise. tell your friends.

Here is Technically 17 a demo single.

These audacious kids... They done went and made an EP of John Lennon songs called the Plastic Ono EP.  It's available from Bandcamp also for free.

  I'll avoid the way too obvious The Disappointment will not disappoint (oops).  Sarcasm and bluesy soulful rock and roll are not an obvious match.  I just mean that soulful, at least theoretically, denotes a level of straight-forwardness... regardless, The Disappointment make it work.  Like The End Men and some of  the other bands coming out of the tri-state area, The Disappointment in spite of their sarcasm play authentic blues-based music which their own style, and they play it well.   


You know the drill go Like, Follow, Stalk or whatever:  I'll leave you with a live version of Working Class Hero from the aforementioned Plastic Ono EP.

Part two our Band of the Week catch up entry will be on tap tomorrow.

Band of the Week: Year 2, Month 4, Week 5: Finn Bonel

Whenever, I feature a solo artist as my "Band of the Week", I feel compelled to explain that I named  the Band of Week segment and decided early on that it would encompass any performing artist or collective and not just bands.


Okay, with that disclaimer out of the way...


Finn Bonel is from South London.  His music is influenced by a number of different sounds from British soul to American folk.  There is, I perceive a bit of the troubadour in Finn Bonel. Strong songwriting, a great and unique voice and a bit of the story-teller (which every great troubadour needs) - all of this and it's the songs which stuck with me, and kept me coming back for more, and finally convinced me to name Finn Bonel as Band of the Week.


For me, music is about emotions and memories and feelings and truth.  I can't always eloquently explain why I like a certain song, singer or band, but I can tell you about the feelings the music evokes.  Simplicity and a voice that reaches inside and tugs at your heart and draws the listener into the 3:00 or so story-song.  Rustic is a word used on his website, and while one would not expect such a description to fit a singer from London - damned if it doesn't.  Go check him out!


Here's a peak into what I like about Finn Bonel - the official video for Love's the Only Thing:

Like it?  It can be yours for a pittance* at Amazon:

*assuming that is that a pittance is .89USD or .69GBP.

He's on Facebook and Twitter and Soundcloud and others which you can link to from his homepage.

Band of the Week: Year 2, Month 4, Week 4: Northbrook Garage

"I don't mind other guys dancing with my girl
That's fine, I know them all pretty well
But I know sometimes I must get out in the light
Better leave her behind with the kids, they're alright
The kids are alright"  - The Who










And yes, the kids are alright....

We were first introduced to  Northbrook Garage by way of their cover of Big Star's Thirteen from this years Couch by Couch West Festival.  In case you missed it, here it is:

The cover was inspired by the band's recent sessions at legendary Ardent Studios in Memphis where Big Star and front man (the late) Alex Chilton recorded (plus many others).  

The most obvious thing you notice about Northbrook Garage is that they are young - like young, young.  I mean, the older I get the older "young" becomes, but Northbrook Garage are in their early to mid teens. But, putting that aside for a minute, because c'mon One Direction are young teens, but the comparisons end there. ***Bloggers Note*** I can honestly say I know absolutely nothing of any substance about One Direction, so this last statement is a huge assumption.  ***End Note***

One can't help but have expectations about what a band of cute kids from the suburbs of Chicago will be and sound like, but this band blows all of those expectations out of the water.  They groove deep and they've got the chops to carry off the music they take on. From their originals to their eclectic and sometimes surprising mix of cover tunes.  They have caught ear of many who know more than me what soulful music is... Read this quote and then watch this video:

“The babies are bringing back soul! Ain’t that something!” - Sharon Jones (of Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings)

You can grab the bands debut single from Amazon - click on the pic below:

Northbrook Garage on Facebook

And on Twitter

Finally on You Tube

Obviously these kids are just starting out, and only time will tell where their musical journey will take them.  For now, us jaded old folks can just sit back and marvel and dig the grooves they're laying down.... I'll end with one final video - a cover of Bob Dylan's Make You Feel my Love:

 

Band of the Week: Year 2: Month 4: Week:3 - Calicocat

In all the excitement being generated from the collective sofas of the world via Couch by Couchwest, you might think I would forget about my weekly (go figure) Band of the Week feature, but No.  Not only have I decided upon a Band of the Week, but it's a Nashville band.  For a Nashville-based music blog this doesn't happen very often.  Calicocat are deserving of the honor.  Calicocat is Matt Robinson, Nelson Christopher and Coley (no last name given on the Bandcamp or Facebook Page.  


The music is fresh indie sounds of the here and now with a sugary coating of 60s pop and a half a dozen or more diverse influences. The thing is, to me, it seems like this band really knows their stuff, and that they have a genuine love of the music.  Mostly, Calicocat are a lot of fun.


Well - to it.  Here's a widget with their latest album for your listening pleasure.





And here is an earlier EP which you can download for free:


  And finally here is the absolute latest and a peek into the band's next album which is coming soon.





Guess what I've already  said finally and I have one more goody to offer up cause it's Friday night and the rules are out the window.... Calicocat are also on Soundcloud and here is a track called Tome of Love which is so fresh it's still dripping:

Band of the Week: Year 2, Month 4, Week 2: Kafka

Hey I'm running late with this, but let's get to it....

Wayne Kafka comes from Burnley in the UK. We've already featured a couple of tracks in our daily music shuffles and with each listen, I became more and more convinced that I needed to write some more about this gifted musician, songwriter and singer.


Go follow, Like, Subscribe to and Bookmark Kafka today!

Kafka has a album out called Mysterious Skin which you can get a taste of via a download from Noisetrade:

 And then you can go get the whole thing over at Amazon.

 

Kafka the artist makes passionate, intelligent and uplifting music.  Mysterious Skin was produced by Mark Jones who has worked with Peter Gabriel, Black Grape and Blue Nile.

Kafka the man - blogs about important topics.  

Oh and most importantly given the seriousness of the last two paragraphs, Kafka has an excellent sense of humor - a quality much needed in the world today.

And I'll end this with a clip of Kafka covering on my favorite Replacements songs:

Band of the Week: Year 2, Month 4, Week 1: A Social State

Hailing from Scranton, Pennsylvania - home of The Office, Indie Rock band A Social State went old school on their most recent release. Everyone's Your Friend was recorded live direct to analog tape. This method helped to create the warm and rich sounds of heard on the record. 


One stand out track on the album is Arcadia.  The song begins with a howl of feedback and kicks in with a powerful driving beat and Edward Cuozzo's powerful vocal onslaught.  The song broods and soars all the while being driven forward by the relentless rhythm section.


Dads and Cigarettes is a gentle, almost lilting song and serves to show-off the depth and versatility of this young band.


You know the drill by now - check them out and Like and Follow.



Check out the song County Prison below:

 

Use the widget below to check out the band on video:

Everyone's Your Friend is available now at amazon - click the album cover below:

Band of the Week: Year 2, Month 3, Week 4: The Weekend Forecast

Way way back in May 2011 (the first month of this blogs existence), we did a brief notice about a band called The Weekend Forecast.  At the time, they were a brand new band, and just a few snippets of songs had been released via YouTube clips. We promised to keep our Ear to the Ground and to report back on the band.  


We had called that post "Rumblings" - meaning you put your ear to the ground, and sometimes you'll hear a distant sound of something approaching, and though you may not be sure exactly what that something may be, you keep listening.  It can take patience, and something that sound may end up being something of little significance, but, I've found, sometimes it is well worth the wait.


And so... we flash forward to February 2012, and The Weekend Forecast have put out an album and video.  And now that they are Band of the Week on Ear to the Ground, the sky's the limit.


First up, is the video for the first song on the album, "Sun, Doubt & Scenic Routes".  The song is I'm Done and the video is a play on the Intro to the television series, Dexter.








 And yes, since you asked (blogging can be a lonely business, so sometimes we have to imagine our readers asking questions), that is Benji Schwimmer, season 2 winner of So You Think You Can Dance?.  

The album is out and available right here, right now:

Band of the Week: Year 2, Month 3, Week 3: The Amboys

What exactly can you say about The Amboys?


Ah hell, just take a look and dance, dammit!





The Amboys - Worrisome // Live @ Asbury Lanes, NJ from Anthony Yebra on Vimeo.




The song you just fell in love with is called Worrisome and it is just one of many great ones on the band's most recent EP - Led Into the Woods.  We were first introduced to the band when Popa's Tunes included another fine song from the EP Ashley Meets the Wolf on one of his incredible compilations.  The song captured our attention and we grabbed the whole damn EP, and now we are about to go collect the whole set with includes another EP Mary Celeste and an album called Everything from the Moon to the Sun.


And yeah, in case you didn't notice, we're late with the Band of the Week, but you know what... well we are that's all.  To all my Nashville Readers - The Amboys are a going to be at The Basement on March 11th.  Sure to be a raucous good time - come prepared to dance and sweat.


The band mixes traditional folk instrumentation, a indie-punk vibe and a wicked sense of humor. The music they make is well - listen and watch and enjoy:



The Amboys - Ashley Meets the Wolf // Live @ Asbury Lanes, NJ from Anthony Yebra on Vimeo.


Old time folk music had a dark underbelly from it's early days.  When The Violent Femmes put Country Death Song on the (imho) underrated second album - that band was adding to a long list of DARK folk murder songs. I mention that because the darkly sensual undertones of Led into the Woods brings that to mind.


I'd write more, but it's late and all... So go Like and Follow and all that good stuff.

Band of the Week: Year 2: Month 3: Week 2 - Citizen Smith

Having fully ensconced ourselves as the undisputed, preeminent Nashville-based New York/New Jersey music blog - now out to conquer the world.  We move on to Leicester, UK.  Last year, we introduced you, our dear readers, to Themselves and now, we present as out Band of the Week:  Citizen Smith (ReverbNation, Facebook and Twitter).  Citizen Smith take their name from a 1970s British sitcom.  Here's a peek at the Theme from that show for us ignorant Yanks:




 Citizen Smith the band play high energy, rock with a dirty, bluesy sound.  The first track I heard was a nifty rocker called Uncle Jack.  Give it a look and listen here:



According to the band's bio, Citizen Smith formed in 2009, and they list their influences as Radiohead, Placebo, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns ‘N' Roses, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Slayer, and The Hollies to name a few. Quite a list. What I hear when I listen to the band is a cool mix of ripping hard rock with infectious hooks and just plain fun music. They are developing a following in the hometown, and I'm happy to introduce them to my Nashville, New York, New Jersey and apparently Russian audience. I hook you up with some more tuneage here from the band's ReverbNation Page:

 

And as I like to do - don't just take my word for it - check out what other people are saying about Citizen Smith:

 

Band of the Week: Year 2 Week 8 - The Gypsy West

It's Week 8 of Year two for Band of the Week (I counted) - unless I missed counting one... oh well...


This time we offer a huge tip of the hat (or is it a tip of the huge hat) to The End Men for directing us to their fellow Brooklynites (Brooklyners?)  The Gypsy West.


"Kids these days, no nothing about history... blah blah blah."  Yeah well the bands I've been hearing lately tell another story... maybe they're just kids from my point of view as an old man (wise?) perhaps, but anyway, one thing is clear The Gypsy West know their history and they are not afraid to go BIG.


Channeling early psychedelic, progressive, grunge, metal and tapping into an original source all their own, The Gypsy West make loud, new/old music that seems destined for big things.
Take a look and listen.







The band released their first album, Dustfires,  in 2008.   In early 2010, the released Accomplices, the first of a trilogy of EPs which tells a story of revolution and Phoenix: 


"Articulate yet speechless, inspired yet immobile, Phoenix represents the common person and their potential."


Accomplices II was released in September 2011.  Dustfires, Accomplices I & II, and new 


live cut, Time, are all available at the band's Bandcamp site.







You can "like", "follow" or "subscribe" to The Gypsy West.  I'll wait.


The Gypsy West's list of influences is diverse, surprising and just plain silly, but their music is powerful and relevant. It's about Freedom - isn't that what all great Rock and Roll should be about?  


Viva La Revolución - Viva The Gypsy West... Peace! 

Band of the Week - Year 2 - Week 8 or 9 - From the Outside

For our newer readers, who may be quick to point out that From the Outside is one person, I will point to our long and storied history of Bands of the Week which includes many fine one-person bands and at least one small pony.  Except not the small pony part....  But anyway, as you study this long and illustrious list, you will see that we are dedicated to introducing bands, regardless of genre or geographic locale, who we dig and think some of our readers might dig, too.

From the Outside, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil,  is already part of the extended Ear to the Ground family... yes, I said family... too weird?  whatever... We featured them in an earlier Ear to the Ground Recommends post (or whatever I called it).  But, Rafael Veiga who is From the Outside just released a new full length album, and we gave a listen last night and loved what we heard.

From the Outside does Electronic/Post-Rock stuff, and The Sound of Motion demonstrates a diversity of cool sounds.   The Sound of Motion is a follow-up to the Matching Opposites EP which was released way back in September of 2011.




If you like what you hear, download those two releases via Bandcamp (Name your price), and get all social media-like and connect at Twitter and Facebook.  Or even You Tube.

I'll leave you with a video of a song from the new one....

Band of the Week - Year 2 Week 7 or is it 8 - The Kirby Sewell Band

The Kirby Sewell Band are a sultry, smooth blues-influenced band from Canada.  They have a diverse range of  influences without watering down any of them.  Kirby Sewell has a great voice and the band delivers a tight mix of Americana, Country, Blues and Rock.  Their cover of Def Leppard's Pour Some Sugar on Me is cool.  Here listen:





The title track from their album Bought Myself  a Hammer is smooth grooving blues number that just feels familiar.

They are on Facebook and Twitter 

Here is an earlier album -The Blues Found Me.



Or you can get both The Blues Found Me and Bought Myself a Hammer from the band's store:

Finally - Here's what other people are saying about Kirby Sewell Band:

Band of the Week - Year 2 Week 6 (or something) - Makar

Makar, I'm told, is a 15th Century Scottish term for poet. Makar is also this really killer duo from New York City.  We already recommended them based on a couple of tracks I heard from their 2005 debut 99 Cent Dreams.  Now, I've had the chance to hear their long awaited follow up Funeral Genius, and it's time to start shouting from the roof tops.  Actually, I just like shouting from rooftops, but Makar is worth shouting about.

Makar | Funeral Genius | CD Baby

Makar is husband and wife Mark Purnell and Andrea DeAngelis.  They play piano and acoustic guitar driven alt-rock.  It's intelligent, catchy and unique.  In short it's everything, got me into this type of music in the first place.  The bands list of influences reads like a playlist off my MP3 player, and includes Nick Drake - so bonus points there.

Here's a video of a live performance of  the title track from the one:




If you remember from the Ear to the Ground recommends post (and I know you remember everything I write), this is the band that does my anthem of late - Hate My Job.  Go check out that video.

Here's how to hook up with the band:

Facebook  Twitter Website

I'll leave with another track from Funeral Genius:


I Wanna Know What I Don't Know by MakarMusic

Band of the Week Year 2; Week 5 (But whose counting)

After a week off - we are back with the Ear to the Ground signature feature: Band of the Week - where we turn the spotlight on a great band/artist who you may or may not have heard of, but which deserves nay demands you attention.


(brief aside) please be sure (if you haven't) to check out the Band of the Month nominees from last month and vote for your favorite on the sidebar to the left (as your facing the screen - if you are inside the screen that would be to your right and it might be backwards, but I'm not sure). (end aside)


Enough silliness - The End Men (Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, ReverbNation) demand our full attention.  They are a hard rocking, blues-based, theatrical band for NYC (hat tip to Popa2unes for the heads up).


One of the songs up on the band's ReverbNation is called A Dirty Song and man, it's filthy in the best possible way.  The vocals are growling and menacing and (as one reviewer noted) remind me of Tom Waits, but I tend to think it goes back to the blues men who influenced Mr. Waits.  It is truly that raw and real.  The music has a driving quality which suggests (as the same reviewer noted) White Stripes but once again I feel this comes from a older and richer source. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with White Stripes meets Tom Waits. It's a fitting description of The End Men, and it's as awesome as it sounds.  This is old music made new (I think I said something similar about Don Ryan, but, it is true about The End Men as well). Don't believe me, well I can prove it.  Take a listen via the neat-o ReverbNation widget:

See! If you are convinced, click on the picture just below this to purchase and download the bands EP Build It Up for less than $5 at Amazon.com:

Band of the Week Year 2 Week 4: Spencer Walters

Spencer Walters is from Illinois or is it Illinois (I can never remember how you are supposed to pronounce it).  He was in a pop band  (from what I can tell), and now, he's making music that speaks to him - simply beautiful songs like There I Go and City Lights.  You can use the BandCamp Widget below to purchase his solo debut EP, and you should. It's good stuff.

He's on the Facebook thing and that Twitter site...oh and he co-owns his own record label Paperduck.

Finally, I found a video for There I Go   You can give it a view below the widget....

Band of the Week Year 2 Week 3: Jesse Payne

Ear to the Ground recommended Jesse Payne a week or so ago - now, I am pleased to name him our third Band of the Week for this year*. Below is a bandcamp widget thingy for his latest release, Buffalo.

  Jesse Payne is from Birmingham, Alabama. He plays it stark and beautifully minimalistic and then he raves it up in true modern Southern alt-folk/rock style. He's got a great voice, and the songs stick with me in a good way. Like many of the Bands I've named Band of the Week, Jesse Payne, seems destined for great things. I for one am on-board, and I hope you'll check him out, too.

Here's a chance to check out Jesse Payne via ReverbNation:







*Band of the Week Year 2 runs from December 2011 to November 2012.