Supergroups Stateside
We've already offered a few other 'Stateside' tips on our Potential Supergroup page (this is due for an update soon so stay tuned as I'm sure there'll be a few more stateside names added), but on this page we thought we would share some of the most 'awesome' independant american bands shaking the foundations of the american music industry right now. If your in the States then this is probably old news to you ....but if you're not, then here are a few musicians and bands that will most probably blow your tiny little (..or even big enormous) minds...
While we were still investigating the best bands for our first Irish supergroup page and simultaniously scanning for the worlds best indie record companies, we stumbled over and had our ears blasted by what we can only describe as a truly awesome sound from what are undoubtedly one of the States new greats. At the time we were actualy investigating La Rocca, a Dublin band who have been sunning themselves on an extensive musical 'Californian' break that was begining to resemble 'Oisin's tale of the otherworld ', whereby, unbeknown to the band , whole generations and centuries were passing by as they transformed into an ever distant memory to folks back home. This extended escapade was due to 1) La Rocca having such a damn good time in the States and...
2) The band signing and begining to have a fair bit of success with one of the best independant record companies on the West Coast of America ..or possibly even the whole continent! The label certainly had an almost exclusively good sense of taste when it came to signing up their bands. The label, called ' Dangerbird Records' ( ... and this is the point in the article where everyone west of the statue of Liberty will know exactly where we are heading with this..), also seemed to have one of the most encouraging, positive and helpfull attitudes towards independant artists and towards every member of the small family of bands gathered up in it's books . It was no wander that La Rocca were taking so long to pay their 'home' ground a visit.
Yet among this small , cosy family of artistic talents that also include the enigmatic Eulogies, Joy Zipper, Darker My Love, All Smiles, Sea Wolf and The One AM Radio, there was one band name that everyone in this musical family couldn't help but boast about and they are ' The Silversun Pickups'. If you've read our 'tale of two films' page then you may recall us crediting 'The Frames' as being one of the true pioneers from the other side of the atlantic who, alongside american bands such as Nirvana, engineered throughout the nineties 'the melodic, intensly loud to deadly quite, to intensly loud again' musical styles that eventualy formed the backbones and templates of many of todays 'Nu metal' megabands. Also, if you're a little older, you may also remember the late seventies to early eighties battle among UK rock and heavy metal bands to break the world record for the loudest ever concert - with Motorhead and the Ian Gillan band becoming the main competitors in the persuit of the most 'decibels delivered' . Well , the Silversun Pickups have re -edited that musical template with a 'loud, to incredibly loud, to an intensely melodic and yet so incredibly loud, that it's a miracle you can distinguish what any sound is at all' kind of format that leaves some of those former rock giants looking a little like toy poodles in a Rottwieler show.
As we adjusted our historical sense of 'past genre echo location' we found that there was something else about this humble bands delivery that kept making us think 'progressive sixties' that we just couldn't quite figure out... Could it possibly have been the way that ex-pine marten Joseph Lester resembles a certain Doors keyboard player while he's locked in concentration on those keys and that little boxes of sound morphing treats? Maybe it was the way drummer Christopher Guanlao seems to resemble a young Kieth Moon while his arms are breakdancing over those snares and cymbals.. or was it the sudden bursts of rampant energy and movement that seem to suddenly overpower Guitarist Brian Aubert while on stage that never ceased to amaze and entertain fellow bassist Nikki Moniger whenever they played live ; and that in itself - for many 'rocktogenarians' (realy old rock fans) - will recreate images and memories of a young Pete Townsend and astounded John Entwistle in the days shortly before (and after) Pete developed and mastered his energetic windmill and 'behind the back' lead. Further sound testing also noted a hint of Mickey Dolenz (of the Monkees) in Brians vocal chords along with a generous slice of Jimi Hendrix being absorbed into some of the lead riffs with just enough authenticity to compare with the UKs new 'Hendrix' Jamie Dickenson (see and hear Stubb on supergroups two). And then there was the computerised mastery of 'Feedback' - one of modern rocks most overlooked tools - brought about by the live scooping and looping of Brians lead by Josephs box of tricks. Younger music buffs have often noted a comparrison in their stances (whenever live) that somehow seemed to hint at New Order and Joy Division - no doubt aided by the occaisional cover.
One thing is certain, and that is that many, many music fans worldwide who were on the verge of 'giving up' altogether with modern music have started to listen again purely because of The Silversun Pickups, and that their sound has made people remember that the world had forgotten just how loud and exciting new music can realy be.
We've given two links for you to sample their incredibly 'well thought out twinkles', their official site and their MySpace page, along with a sneak peek of them on an obscure american music show (-thats a joke by the way-) and a link to their proud label where you can check up on some of their friends and find out about some 'special Silversun Pickup remixes' from the Dangerbird extended family.... Plus look out for some special editions of 'SWOON'
the Pickups new album due for release April 14th
Silversun Pickups.com
Silversun MySpace Page
Dangerbird Records
...This is not an article about wannabe popstars....this is an article about an addiction to the source of music...this is not an aticle about people who can only play in one note, one key or instrument...this is an article about a band of songwriters and musicians who can master any instrument they can get their hands on and have been doing so publicly for the last fifeteen years....this is an article about COUNTING CROWS.
OK, Sorry for the poor 'Mercury' song spoof but this next supergroup are not only tearing up the States but they're also (at the exact time of writing) tearing up the whole planet on their current world tour and are also a cornerstone of American rock in their own right. Outside the States they are probably best remembered by musical agnostics for their nineties version of 'Big Yellow Taxi'...or maybe even vaguely as that amazing 'unknown band' that was the only ever unsigned act to play at the' Rock and Roll Hall of Fame' when it was Van Morrisons turn to recieve the honour .But to those in the know they are best remembered for their amazing 'live' sets, their delivery of the aforementioned 'Mercury' -about a dangerous 'relationship addiction' -and pretty much every note they have ever played or sung. We've added a couple of tracks from the new album above entitled 1492 - a song of the trials of historical identity in the multi cultural 'melting pot' that should connect with a majority of the earths human beings (unless they come from a family that has lived in the same village for a thousand years and is severely interbred and quite possibly brain dead) and 'I dream of Michaelangelo' - a slightly more laid back Crows jewel on the trials of 'relationships'.In all honesty, Counting Crows realy don't need an introduction to the world stage (they are currently playing to crowds of up to and beyond 60,000 on the European leg of their tour) but just in case (like me) you may have recently wandered where they are and just what they are doing...don't worry, because they're right back on top at the very cutting edge of rock with a whole feast of new goodies being released to leave both old and new fans alike utterly awestruck. The new album, called 'Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings' is a swashbuckling array of passionate music and prolific vocals, with first class renditions expertly delivered by every artist and intrument on the set - with Dave Immergluck deserving (as always) a special mention for some truly brilliant lead phases on every stringed instrument that ever finds it's way into his hands. For more info on future goodies , where they are touring etc..follow the relevant links below as releases to look out for also include their current single 'You Can't Count On Me' and an upcoming Live DVD of their recent re-performance of the 1993 debut album 'August and Everything After'- also featuring tracks from the new album -all is due for release shortly.Fans of 'Immy' (and Jim's 'Glider)' might also be interested in his interview appearance in 'Return Of The Dancehall Sweethearts' on the Irish Rock Cornerstone who first inspired him after they visited LA on their 'Man Who Built America ' tour in 1978 (see the Rock Cornertone one page). Counting Crows are currently: Adam Duritz, Charles Gillingham, Dave Immergluck, Jim Bogios, Dan Vickrey and David Bryson.Sites are...
Counting Crows. com MySpace Glider (Dave and Jim)
Partnerships...
throughout history the world has been repeatedly altered, bettered, recrafted, revisualised and dominated by memorable partnerships. In all walks of life from the time of Adam and Eve the partnerships of two minds have opened doors and achieved things that would otherwise just not have been achieved . Adam and Eve's 'becoming the first people ever to be thrown out of a club' routine isn't the best example, our world is now full of recognisable names wherever we look..such as Marks and Spencer, Bradford and Bingly, Hanah and Barbara..or... Laurel and Hardy? ..Batman and Robin..?? Cheech and Chong..?!?!!
In music, the most famous ever partnership has to be Lennon and McCartney . Their simple melodies dominated, inspired and reshaped the musical culture of the world and entire generations throughout the sixties, seventies and beyond and The Beatles have remained unchallanged as the top selling songwriting team of all time..But...
In Portland and Oregon there is a new duo rising whose own turnover could match Lennon and McCartney's if not on sales, then most certainly on sheer creative turnover. Mackintosh and Braun are the latest pairing of creative minds making a big impact in the musical and media world and the musical genre is not the Northern Soul and Beat music of the Beatles but an ambient electronica that blends inventive acoustic skill with an advanced and flowing electro that stands a full head and shoulders above all the seventies and eighties electro pioneers who originaly inspired their sound. Fans of the TV series 'Chuck' or MTV's 'The Real World Cancun' will no doubt be familiar with their sound which has been steadily filtering it's way throughout the worlds media on TV, film and radio ever scince releasing their debut album 'The Sound' independantly in 2007.
Their music flows with an ambience and beat that glides out onto a highly inventive dreamscape and draws listeners souls up into a fluid and creamy stratosphere of sounds that will make listeners want to set their own special time apart from the world and lock themselves away with their CDs...a brand new one of which should be available very soon. So if you want to scream in an electronic delight just click the link for the Lennon and McCartney of Electronic Soul..
