Clandestine Bands

Rolling Thunder from the Land Down Under

2011-08-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

Before watching this artist's videos, I would like to take one of their songs and paint an image for you. Go on, close your eyes! Imagine calming folk guitar picking slowly fading in, being quickly joined by an eager, yet restrained, marching drum beat. By now you’re at least tapping your foot or nodding to the beat. Then, stretched across the music comes the harmonic vocals “woo-uh-ooh-hoo-uh-ooh” quickly followed by a lazy voice with a draw filling the air with cryptic lyrics. The voice is charged with emotion but doesn’t let loose…yet. Okay, now that you’re chomping at the bit, I’ll tell you: the song is “Rabbit Song” by Boy and Bear. This rolling thunder from the Land Down Under is a Sydney-based quintet who has toured Britain and Australia (supporting Mumford and Sons, which, oddly enough, write the same Byzantine-style lyrics). The guys are scheduled to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago, Illinois, on August 7th. Then, they’re taking their show to New York for performances at the Mercury Lounge and the Knitting Factory on August 9th and 10th respectively. You can also catch them live on iTunes tomorrow at 8:30 PM. I highly suggest, if you’re within 3 states of one of their shows, you be in attendance. You will not be disappointed. Enjoy!

Playful Pop Wildfire

2011-08-02T08:23:00.000-07:00

One part island music, one part 1950-esque pop. That’s the best way I can describe Babeshadow. Upon first listening to these guys, it quickly became apparent that their sporty rhythms were hypnotic and highly addictive. Nothing screams “Listen to me!” like a band whose sound is refreshingly bold. I believe that comes from not giving into the fear of being original and straying away from materializing mainstream music for the sake of popularity. Pardon the name drop, but, to me, Babeshadow is undeniably Dog is Dead's doppelganger. I give these guys two thumbs up and permanent residency on my iPod. I recommend you do the same. Also, don’t forget to check out Babeshadow on Facebook and MySpace. As always, I would to hear what you, the readers, think about the artists on Clandestine Bands.

Make Room for the Daylights!

2011-07-30T12:15:00.001-07:00

The Daylights, formed in 2004, are a pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. These guys have some chops and even toured with Katy Perry back in 2009. The trio has powered out three albums, one of which is the most recent, self-titled studio album, The Daylights. They are known for their giant melodies and cinematic sound and are said to be L.A.'s most underrated band. The band spent much of last year on the road with OneRepublic and Katy Perry, and they've just completed a tour with Civil Twilight. This is definitely a band worth keeping your eye on.

Get in on the Action!

2011-07-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

If you are an avid fan of music but don't play any instruments, ask yourself, "Why?" Playing music can be as satisfying, if not more, than listening to music. Check out the recommended instruments below and start appreciating music from the other side of the fence!

Music Saves Lives, You Can Help for Free!

2011-07-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

Readers,

I would like to encourage you all to visit socialvibe.com/clandestinebands to help support Music Saves Lives for free!

About Music Saves Lives

Music Saves Lives is the bridge between music and entertainment, and life-saving causes. They concentrate on blood and bone marrow donations. Donations are accepted at many musical events, one being the Warped Tour. Stop by and check out their website at www.musicsaveslives.org to read up on the cause. After you're done there (or don't even wait) go to the Social Vibe page I linked above and help out for free! Thanks.

Matt

A Few Bands I Recommend Checking Out

2011-07-29T11:28:00.001-07:00

On a Mission to Stir the Musical Melting Pot

2011-07-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

Since my blog has been up and running, I have added a few bands that I believe to be relevant and paramount as content contributing to the purpose of this site. Looking over my blog, I realize that, although there’s a small description under the page title, it doesn’t provide much detail into the who, what, where, why and how of my website. I’ll get into that in a bit. First, I’d like to set the scene by answering the simplest question: why am I doing this blog? I’ll tell you why:

I grew up in Northeast Mississippi on the outskirts of the Mississippi Delta. For those of you that don’t know, the Mississippi Delta covers Memphis, Tennessee in the North all the way down to Vicksburg, Mississippi in the South. This area is extremely famous for its distinct style of blues: the Delta blues. It’s one of the earliest styles of blues and it eventually spread across the country giving birth to other blues variations: Chicago and Detroit blues. As a given, growing up in the South exposed me to country music and Southern rap as well. Needless to say, I grew up in a musically rich environment. As a product of that environment, I decided that I would like to be a musician too. I started playing instruments at the age of fifteen and taught myself to play the guitar, bass, drums and piano. A few years later, I started dabbling in singing. I, myself, am no professional. I do not have false hopes of fame and grandeur. I play for fun. And I, as well as most artists, do not like to be strictly associated to one genre of music or another. Therefore, I explore my musical tastes on a constant basis as a mean of being diverse and exposing myself to a wide range of influences. I think it is very evident, if you’ve heard my original music before, when I started to branch out musically. At fifteen, my music sounded like a rebellious teens attempt at emulating Nirvana and Metallica in an attempt to take a popular style of music and brand it as my own. For years, I rocked power chords and variations of such as an easy, uncomplicated method of playing loud and hard. However, as I progressed towards twenty years old, there was a distinct transition into a more soulful, bluesy meets country sound to my music as I moved past the insecure life of teenage rebel. Today, my music is more of a melting pot than ever. If I were to record an album with the songs I’ve written, I honestly think it would be next to impossible to assign a genre. And I like that. I am never satisfied with me, or anyone else for that matter, be labeled as one-dimensional. There are many sides to a person, and I believe music helps us explore those sides. As I stated earlier, I grew up around country, but I didn’t really listen to it. A lot of people make fun of country and, being unsecure, I refused to like something that was made fun of. I’m glad I grew out of that. Worrying about what other people think drives us to lie to ourselves or hide what we’re really like. In the spirit of not caring, I have found many different kinds of music that I genuinely enjoy, though they may not be the popular choice…yet! And now, I have this blog. I want this blog to serve as a single outlet to all musical tastes with no boundaries between genres. I want to share my influences with you.

Finally, as promised, my blog’s who, what, where, why and how:

Who? Everyone. My blog isn’t exclusive to one genre of music.
What? A single outlet of influential artists.
Where? The world over. I think artists from different parts of the world each bring something to the table and can all learn from each other.
Why? I would like to share my influences. A lot of times, you don’t know all the types of music you like until you hear it.
How? The blog itself. Subscribing to the blog means you can receive a constant feed no matter where you are.

Also, my comment boxes, like and dislike buttons and followers list are looking a little lonely. Show some love!

Matt

Powerful Video for Dry the River

2011-07-25T16:13:00.000-07:00

So, I just found yet another great video from a band that, by searching Google, doesn't seem to have great exposure. The video is pretty powerful, which starts with the band members laying on the ground being prepared for, what looks like, a traditional cremation. This video is filled with resonating symbolism. Enjoy!

Purchase this track from Amazon!

I Am Intrigued!

2011-07-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

As apparent in the title, I am taken aback by a band I just came across called Dog is Dead. The combination of powerful lyrics and playful rythm brings to mind hints of Mumford and Sons meets ska. After listening to the video below, I think you'll agree with me that the riffs and beats are quite contagious and draw you in leaving you helpless against the urge to tap your toe. Another thing that has me addicted, at this point, are the bars when the band sings in unison, sounding eerily close to a few Mumford and Sons breaks.

Canadian Sensation!

2011-07-25T15:55:00.000-07:00

The Weeknd, Canadian Abel Tesfaye, is a 21 year-old R&B sensation from Toronto, Canada. His first album, House of Balloons, was released back in March and has been well recepted. House of Balloons was one of three parts of a trilogy which includes Thursday and Echoes of Silence which are expected this summer and fall respectively. On June 16, House of Balloons was nominated for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize. Of of the Weeknd's songs, "High for This", is currently featured in the HBO promo for the last season of Entourage. The Weeknd, in my opinion, steps away from the cliche reusing of themes in certain R&B circles. This, my friends, is the future of R&B and I hope it stays on track.

Up and Comer Marcus Foster

2011-07-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

This guy is bound to be a heavy hitter. Marcus Foster is a British folk/blues artist who plays with an energetic, emotion-driven attitude with lyrics that are hauntingly beautiful. I would certainly go as far as to that we possibly have a British Bob Seger in the works and that’s a big pair of shoes to fill. His songs have been featured in two motion pictures: Twilight and Five Dollars a Day. I'm sure we'll be hearing from Marcus Foster a lot more in the near future.

Hot New Band - High Highs

2011-07-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to present High Highs, a New York-based band. They have a very stripped-down sound about them and emit an upbeat, feel good ambience that provides a relaxing experience. I, myself, am a fan of jaunty jams but I was quite impressed with the aberrant nature in which High Highs’ music hit me. I don't like to label bands, but, in this situation, I believe it's necessary to give you an idea as to what the band's style is. To me, High Highs almost sounds a little like Death Cab for Cutie. If you agree or disagree, feel free to leave a comment. Although I haven’t found their album for sale on Amazon, there are many places that their music is available for listening. Make sure to check out their website at highhighs.com and their Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/highhighs