Fun. is, well, fun!  Their new album, Some Nights, drops today and you need to hear it.  Fun. formed in New York during the winter of 2008 with Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff.  It’s been a wild ride for the trio, especially with the amount of attention that has been buzzing around their newest release.  Their single, “We Are Young” features one of my favorite live performers, Janelle Monae, who does an outstanding job complementing Nate on lead vocals.  You might have heard it during the Chevy Sonic Superbowl commercial with all the crazy stunts performed by the new car, or on the TV show Glee.  Check out the official video of “We Are Young ft. Janelle Monae” from Some Nights.

The song is probably a bit different than most of the pop songs you’re used to hearing these days, but Fun. isn’t your typical indie pop band.  They have combined a variety of styles to produce alternative pop music that has it’s own distinct and unique sound.  Their journey has taken them from supporting acts like Jack’s Mannequin, Paramore, Relient K, and Janelle Monae to hitting the top of the charts with Some Nights.  It’s all happened fairly quick, as Ruess’s previous band, The Format, broke up in 2008.  After that, he joined with Andrew and Jack to record Fun.’s debut album, Aim and Ignite.  They were supported by thousands of fans within the first year and started to tour with major acts.  Two years after forming, Fun. signed with label Fueled by Ramen and started recording their second album within the next year.  Today, Some Nights is officially born, and you can listen to it right here:

The album stream was released just last week with a note from Nate Reuss thanking fans for their support.  Sorry, Nate, for your struggles with Google email interface.  A few days later and Some Nights has already hit it big, and I think you can hear why.  The arrangement is amazing, the harmonies are brilliant, and the total feel is consistent through each awesome song on the album.  You can see how to purchase the album, and get other information about Fun. at ournameisfun.com.  Have fun with Fun. and remember to listen to more music!

By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC

The ladies of the San Diego based band Lady Day have a soft and sentimental sound that makes me tilt my head and smile while somehow triggering this tiny ache in the pit of my heart. No worries, it’s a good thing. The way you feel when you hear a good song about lost love, makes ya feel wise. Ariel Pemberton, Nichole Stiles, and Sara Swanson may be young and fresh to emerge from the Southern California music scene but their harmonies and shared instrumental responsibilities are captivating, dreamy and their songs feature sexy guitar riffs and a slight underlying folk vibe.  I have a feeling Lady Day will continue to blossom throughout the summer and soon this lovely trio will win all of your hearts!

Lady Day- “Imaginary Boyfriend”

After their show last Saturday at Moniker Warehouse I snagged some info, read the interview with ALL of Lady Day below:

MWL: First things first, what did you eat for breakfast and what is the first song you listened to today?

 NS: Mac n Cheese, Eleanor Rigby (the dubstep version)

AP: Well, I woke up at noon so I just went straight to lunch-angel hair (Trees and Trust by Kye Kye remix)

SS:Girl Scout Cookies (Eyes Wide Open by Gotye)

MWL: Wait, wait. What type of Girl Scout Cookies?

SS: Savannah Smiles I think they’re called?! The lemon ones. FREAKING AMAZING

MWL: Mmmm. Where did you ladies meet and when did you start playing music together?

SS: Ariel and I met at a scrapbooking party in 7th grade, I met Nichole at an 80’s party at church in 10th grade, and Nichole and Ariel met at a pool party in 10th grade. Apparently we like to party. We started playing together almost a year and a half go.

MWL: Are you all originally for LA?

 NS: We’re all kind of from different places, I grew up in Boise; Sara grew up in Alaska, and Ariel in San Diego. We’re based out of San Diego, and Sara just moved to LA last year to finish school at UCLA.

MWL: How did you come up with the name Lady Day?

AP: Billie Holiday’s nickname, and she’s someone we all love. Also, you get to a point in the name choosing process where you’re just over it and come up with so many ridiculous names that you just have to choose one.

MWL: Did any of you have music lessons? When did you decide you wanted to pursue music?

 SS: Ariel and I have both had a couple years of kind of informal guitar lessons, and I couldn’t stick with piano lessons.  Nichole’s one of those lame self-taught people.

AP: Individually we’ve all wanted to purse music for a long time, and had been talking about several individual projects, but the story of  how the three of us came together is kind of funny. We were at a show in LA one night, which happened to be 21+ and we weren’t old enough to get inside. After several failed attempts at sneaking in, we finally found a way inside (we can’t share our sneaking-in secrets). While inside, listening to the band that really wasn’t worth all the trouble, we jokingly suggested we should just start our own band so we could get into these shows easier. The idea stuck though and we decided to give it a go. The shows are still not easy to get into, and apparently we can’t even stay at our own shows if it’s 21+.

SS: Yeah if we had only known that then we could’ve saved a lot of trouble. But we’re in it for the long haul now.

NS: I’m in it for the music I don’t know about those twerps.

MWL: Who writes your songs? Do you all write together?

 NS: We don’t have one main songwriter. Up until recently we’ve written songs almost entirely collaboratively, sitting in the same room. It can be a very long, tiring, painful process, but we keep going until we’re practically bald.

MWL: What is your writing process?

 SS: We don’t have a really consistent process, but it’s very collaborative. We all have certain strengths and we just get together in a room and throw them in the middle. Nichole usually brings some sort of musical element, whether it is a riff or chords or whatever, Ariel is genius at cranking out melodies, and I usually bring or add the lyrics. That being said we try to switch it up so we don’t get stuck in perpetuating those roles.

MWL: “Gathered” is a deep song, can you tell me what it is about and what it means to the writer, to all of you…

SS: What’s funny about that song is that we never had a clear concept or direction for it.  It’s actually the first song we wrote together, and we just had no idea what we were doing, and it kind of follows our writing process at the time…we wrote different parts of the song in different parts of my house and relied on our collective stream of consciousness to write the song. The literal meaning I guess is open to interpretation, to us it represents this day and night we spent as a band, but we don’t want the personal meanings of our songs to mess with the listener’s perception of it.

MWL:  How would you describe your music?

AP: We have yet to figure that one out. We’re so varied in influences and what we want to sound like, right now we’re just trying to hone in on that and really refine what our sound is.

MWL: Do you have a favorite song to play?

 NS: California Love

SS: Catch Me Up

AP: Imag Bf [Imaginary Boyfriend]

MWL: You have 4 songs on the web, are you working on anything new?

NS: We’re in a transition stage right now, where we’re focusing on writing new stuff, defining our style, and making changes to our old stuff, so it’s put a hold on recording anything more official.  If we release something we just want to do it right and not unnecessarily rush the process, so we’re working towards getting to that point. Hopefully soon though!

MWL: Who are your musical and non-musical influences?

NS: Musical influences have always been somewhat inconsistent with us, and they’re always changing. The list could go on and on, but some main ones are Justin Vernon, Grizzly Bear, WHY?, Talking Heads, Lauryn Hill, Laura Marling. If you asked us this next week the list would probably be different.

SS: Besides musical influences, literature really influences my writing, everything from Dostoevsky and Fitzgerald to the Hunger Games.

MWL: How do you feel about the music industry as it stands today? What do you think the future of the industry holds?

SS: I’m not really sure where the industry is headed, but I feel like the importance of being signed to a major label is fading, and the opportunities to have more control of the various aspects of the music, whether it be recording or releasing, are becoming easier, and there are more opportunities to be creative within that independence. With that, yeah, questions of income are raised, but I think we’re part of a collective that is just happy our music is out there for people to have.

Lady Day- “Catch Me Up”

 You can add the lovely trio on facebook + reverb. XX

 By: Katie McVeay| Beat-Play Ambassador New York| crookedsunshine|Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC

Click the pic for more LADY DAY concert photos!!

Be sure to check out Lady Day for more info and stick around for more an EXCLUSIVE MWL INTERVIEW WITH THE BAND

Photography By: Shane Suski |Ambassador of Photography | San Diego, CA| @shanewithmwl | Beat-Play and Music Without Labels, LLC

Bugs in the Dark puts me somewhere between a strangely playful childhood nightmare and a sultry sexual fantasy. Meow! Their new music video directed by Keith Hamilton perfectly mirrors their noisy Brooklyn punk-rock, pull my hair and make me scream sound. Front woman Karen Rockower took some time to fill me in on how the band came together and what they’re up to the next few months, including SXSW and a mini-documentary featuring the band!

MWL: Can you give me a little background on how the band formed? When, where?

KR: The band was formed in 2007 by guitarist/vocalists Zach Glass and myself  along with original drummer, Julia Lomax. We were living in Brooklyn and had been playing music for a while and had the idea of starting a rock band. We liked the idea of challenging ourselves by writing without bass. The goal was to write music that didn’t have easy or obvious progressions, while keeping it fun. Our original drummer, Julia, moved to California and is now the mother of two beautiful boys. We played with a few different people before we found our current drummer, Rich Crescenti. He’s the first one we’ve been able to write new material with since Julia left. We’re so happy we found him!

MWL: Tell me about the name Bugs in the Dark , how did you come up with that?

KR: Coming up with band names is always a challenge. I feel like I have a running list of 5 great names that always disappears when I need it. We came up with “Bugs in the Dark” based on childhood fears combined with the idea of a shot in the dark. The name suited the creepy feeling of our music, but also has a childlike quality to it. In NYC it’s easy to feel like just another bug in the dark scavenging for enough support to keep you going.

MWL: Do you remember the first time you picked up an instrument, which was it? When did you recognize your passion for creating music?

KR: I have been playing music my whole life. I studied piano as a kid, but never did well as a student with structured lessons. I always sang. I studied voice through high school and started playing the guitar my senior year of college and that’s when things really clicked for me. As soon as I learned my first two chords I was writing songs and have never stopped. I found I did better musically when I taught myself in my own way. My approach to music is totally based on feel and inspiration.

MWL: Who are your musical and non-musical influences?

KR: Zach and I love Sonic Youth, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, PJ Harvey, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Pixies, Pavement, Elvis Costello (and Presley), Sleigh Bells, The Kills, Blonde Redhead…I could go on and on. We’re both really attracted to similar kinds of tension, heaviness, poetic lyrics and counter intuitive melodies. Rich has a different pool of taste, which we’ve found to be really cool in what we all bring to the band. Non-musical influences range from movies to Walt Whitman, news stories, dystopian novels, flowers and our dog. Everything really.

Bugs in the Dark- “Gasoline”

MWL: Do you write all of your songs?

KR: Yeah, we write everything. Once we played a Kyle Minogue cover when we performed at an Australian event on Anzac Day. That was really fun, but we never kept it going.  We recently had a Kickstarter campaign in which one of the rewards was to cover and record a song of the supporter’s choice. We have an assignment to do a classic rock cover that we’re hoping to release soon.

MWL: What is your writing process?

KR: As a band, we really love to write together. Often Zach or I will come up with a basic song structure and bring it to rehearsal and we’ll workshop it until it comes together. Sometimes we’ll just start playing something new out of nowhere and have a new song within an hour. That’s the most magical feeling. But we love the process as well – our last song took us a month or two to finish and we loved working on it and are proud of how it turned out.

MWL: Are you writing anything now?

KR: Yes! We have a lot of unfinished things that we are hashing away at. We’re always writing and re-working old songs. It keeps things fresh, which keeps us motivated to get to the rehearsal space.

MWL:  How would you describe your music?

KR: Someone recently wrote that we were “Ferocious Sex Rockers”. I thought that was pretty bad ass. We’ve been referred to as “Apocalyptic Rock Perpetrators” and “Awesomely tense”.  I’ve always thought of us as creepy art rockers. We play indie rock, but it’s not straightforward. It’s also not just noise. There are melodies and there’s enough repetition to give the audience something to hold on to. I do think that our music has an element that is only tangible when seeing us live. There’s a connection and energy in our performance that there is no way to record.

MWL: Do you have a favorite song? One that means the most?

KR: I always have a favorite, but it changes. For me it’s about how we’re locking in as a band at any given time.

MWL: Any favorite bands or musicians you enjoy collaborating or playing with?

KR: We have some friends in LA that we met in Pittsburgh who we love. They use to be a band called Medic Medic but now they’re performing as Lakookala. Locally we love playing with Raccoon Fighter, BAMBARA, Butchers and Bakers, Gone Bad, Unstoppable Death Machines. We recently played with JAPANTHER in Brooklyn and we opened for Jeff the Brotherhood in Halifax, which was great; and we’re gonna play with Seasick Mama in Austin next month.

MWL: What are your hobbies, every day life… what is it like?

KR: I have a solo project and I play guitar in another band (Seasick Mama). I work as a tattoo artist, which I love because it’s another creative outlet and it’s very social. I get to spend most of my days drawing, tattooing and playing music, which I’m very grateful for. Zach and I have a dog, Trolley, who we’re madly in love with. We love food and road trips. Zach is part of a video blogging puppeteer group called Glove and Boots. They are super fun and creative and you can see their episodes on youtube. Rich records/produces other bands and teaches audio engineering, so his life is very centered around music from the performance to the technical.

MWL: What are you listening to these days?? Any recommendations?

KR: I’m listening to the Kills right now. I am loving Sleigh Bells these days. I like the recent Middle Brother record and I’m bored by the most recent Florence and The Machine album. I love the new Bjork record and I keep going back to Bat For Lashes for inspiration.

MWL: What’s new with you? Anything in the making? Recording anything new, videos, planning any tours?

KR: We’re getting ready to play a DIY music festival being held at Tommy’s Tavern on 2/24 and then we are heading to Austin for SXSW. We’re not officially in the festival, but we’ll be playing some parties down there and having a little crew film us. We’ve  been filming a lot of our recent shows and we’re hoping to combine all this footage to have a cool  mini documentary coming out soon.

MWL: How do you feel about the music industry as it stands today?

KR: It’s a great climate for new music. All the great material out there keeps the fire under our ass to keep creating.  We know we have a lot of fans because we’ll often get texts like “my friends in LA were just saying Bugs in the Dark is their new favorite band!”. And we haven’t played LA for a couple years now, so someone out there is sharing our music with all their friends and we just hope they keep spreading the word. Social media is our best friend. It’s amazing what Facebook can do for a band. We have never had any formal label support, which has been a struggle at times, but we do love the freedom to do what we like. We’re incredibly proud of all that we accomplished in 2011 with touring through Europe, releasing a new EP and playing the Halifax Pop Explosion. Doing that kind of stuff without support is a real challenge.

MWL: Anything else you might want to add before we conclude?

KR: Bugs in the Dark rocks! You should come see us live and get our stuff!

Bugs in the Dark- “Aaron”

Well, no one says it better than the front-woman herself! Check out tour, event, and release info on their website!

  By: Katie McVeay| Beat-Play Ambassador New York| crookedsunshine|Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC

The First Class Collective is back with a new record titled “Love Isn’t Love”! The First Class Collective is a New York tribe comprised of Four members – Amjay(@Amjaygotnext), who is a beautiful songstress that also does poetry, raps, & plays three instruments & also has over 500,000 youtube views,  Justin Baron (@JustinAbaron) who is an amazing male singer/piano player who also plays drums, guitar, and ukulele, Dot The One who is a master lyricist, rapper, performer, poet, & writer, and The Producer Nana Kwabena.

This new record was originally released on February 14th 2012 “Valentines Day.” The song deals with the ups & downs a couple may go through in the quest for true love, and only in separation do they realize that they were actually destined for each other. This definitely has a light spring vibe, and in my opinion is an instant classic for this summer.

These guys are killing it these days. They release something new almost everyday. They are definitely blowing up, and fast. Check out some of their live stuff below..amazing! The sickest Musiq Soulchild cover I’ve ever heard!

Also you have GOT to check out their latest project, the 17 track masterpiece, absolutely CLASSIC mixtape Above Ground Level (A.G.L.) on datpiff.

For upcoming shows or booking you can check out www.dottheone.com.

Expect a lot more from First Class Collective. If you’re not first you’re last!

Post by: Dante Cullari Founder & CEO Beat-Play, LLC

Chances are, you’ve probably heard music from Can’t Stop Won’t Stop without even knowing it.  This is one of my favorite bands to follow because they simply have the best media out there.  They’ve become well known from their video collaborations with Devin Graham (aka Super Tramp) that feature some of the best stunts and extreme activities ever.  The viral hits have collected millions of views, which directed a lot of attention to the music and iTunes store for the tracks behind the action.  Can’t Stop Won’t Stop is an independent hip hop team from Provo, UT that continues to produce fresh hip hop music with insane videos.  The latest video features the world’s largest rope swing, and it’s exhilarating.  It’s accumulated nearly 4,000,000 views in just five days, so check it out.

The video was created by Devin Graham, and the music is “Up and Away (feat. June)” by Can’t Stop Won’t Stop.  CSWS features Big Spoon, Ne-Z, and DJ TRON majik.  They started over two and a half years ago with big dreams, and hit the ground running in their first studio session.  Their claim of being “straight up party music for straight up party people” has led to some cool opportunities, especially when it comes to putting together shows and gaining fans.  With influences like Aesop Rock, Breakestra, J5, The Beastie Boys, SiD, Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, and Doomtree, you can bet that Can’t Stop Won’t Stop is well-gounded.  Their combination of beats, horns, flow, and hooks are super fresh and the perfect sound for any party.  Just check out “Cool Summer” from their Kitchen Clean EP in the Huge Bike Jump video, which went viral last year:

This is the song and video that first led me to Can’t Stop Won’t Stop a year and a half ago.  Being an extreme spots addict myself, I couldn’t get enough.  Then, when the “World’s Largest Rope Swing” video came out last week, I had an idea who might be involved.  However, there is more to CSWS then just cool music integrated with awesome videos.  Their five-song Kitchen Clean EP released April 4, 2011 and is an excellent debut.  Every song delivers the same party vibe you’re used to hearing in the videos, with a lot of energy and lyrical flow.  These guys have been going DIY and honestly there’s no better way to do it, especially when your product sounds like this.  Give these guys some love for their innovation, ingenuity, and their music of course.  Check out the “Human Slingshot” video, featuring “Stop, Drop, Roll” from your new favorite band.

I grew up wakeboarding, so I love junk like this on the water.  In fact, I’d be right along side everyone in any of these videos if I had the chance.  I’m just happy to be bringing you some fresh music to start the spring season with.  Be sure to check out the Kitchen Clean EP and the new single on the Can’t Stop Won’t Stop iTunes page by clicking on the single art below.

By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC

Last time I wrote about Lovedrug on here they’d just released a new single and video for their track “Dinosaur.”  Now, as the release date for their new album, Wild Blood, inches ever closer they’ve released the title track to YouTube. Featuring a riff and chorus that hook into your grey matter and deserve to be repeated as many times as they are, this is stadium rock for the club scene.  Make sure to listen the whole way through –  the gospel chorus harmonies layered into the last thirty seconds gave me chills.

Between this, “Dinosaur” and “Pink Champagne,” my hopes are high that Lovedrug is firing on all cylinders.  For as much as I appreciated their sidestep into grungier territory on The Sucker Punch Show, it’s exciting to see them bring the brute force of that sound back to the lush, foggy, indie-pop that launched the band’s career back in 2004.  I wish more bands had the talent and skill to devour entire genres of music and fold those styles into their voice.  What started as U2 by way of the Pixies and Nada Surf has become 2012 by way of the 90s – and that’s a treat for music fans.

Below, the band’s laid back doc-clip for “Pink Champagne”:

Chris Cullari | Beat-Play Ambassador Los Angeles |@Chris_Cullari | Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC |

I continue to scout all genres in Nashville for the best independent artists on the rise and recently came across Chancellor Warhol.  Chance is a hip hop artist born and raised in Nashville who has really developed over the last couple years.  His creativity and art form resonates throughout all aspects of his life, which gives his music more meaning and relativity than most.  His first album, Japanese Lunchbox, was released in 2010 and voted Best Rap Album of 2010 by Nashville Scene.  Combining electro and hip hop has given Chancellor Warhol a distinct sound and set him apart from the rest.  His latest project, The Silver Factory, is a huge 13-track album with some of the freshest beats and creative rhymes of 2011.  Check out the promo video for “Crystal Clear” (feat. Particle People).

Now you want more, I know.  His sophomore album is filled with killer tracks and I’m gonna let you listen to the whole thing!  However, there is more to the music than just beats and cool rhymes that encompass stories of love and moving on.  Chancellor Warhol is not just a stage name, but a mission in which Chance is a dictator of his own art; hence, Chancellor (a position of government) and Warhol (Andy Warhol).  The main idea is that it is up to us as well to dictate art for ourselves and not to simply let popular culture determine what we see and do.  ”Warhol has also supported a long list of artists, including Questlove, Kid Cudi, G-Side, and Yelawolf.  His music has been featured on the industry podcast ‘Bands Under the Radar,’ HBO’s ‘Less Than Kind’, and the Gen Art Film Festival’s award winning film, Saeng-il (Birthday).”  So, it gives me great pleasure to bring you Chancellor Warhol’s, The Silver Factory.

Pretty sick.  One of my favorite tracks is “Weapon (feat. Boss of Nova),” and it does a killer job of setting up the entire album.  The Silver Factory really is a weapon.  It’s a weapon that no one has invented yet, and you can bet that it will get people’s attention.  My next favorite, “Kings and Queens (feat. Nite Nite),” is one of the biggest bullets.  It proves how the ways of our world lead to self-destruction because of who we look to as our leaders and who or what we try to emulate in our society.  I think it shows how we tend to chase dreams that are littered with lies and fakes.  Pretty cool.  Chance speaks a lot of truth about popular culture in The Silver Factory.  

One of the best things about this record is all of the incredible collaborations with various artists.  The hooks are dope, and the tones are right on.  It’s amazing how you can have a variety of artists help in the production of a record, but it still has a reoccurring vibe throughout.  Chancellor Warhol has accomplished that.  Check out chancellorwarhol.com for more music and freshness.

By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC

Dr. Dog is an indie rock band from Philadelphia, PA who have become loved for creating memorable songs by blending unapologetic ’60s pop worship with lo-fi recording techniques.  Their sound is unmistakeable and their albums have become widespread due to touring with My Morning Jacket and M. Ward following the release of Easy Beat in 2005.  Their newest record, Be The Void, just released last week on February 7, 2012.  Check out the video for their single, “That Old Black Hole.”

Dr. Dog is Toby Leaman (bass), Scott McMicken (lead guitar), Frank McElroy (rhythm guitar), Zach Miller (keyboard), and Eric Slick (drums).  The lead singer role is shared by Leaman and McMicken, while all members contribute harmonies.  The last time I saw Dr. Dog live was years ago at The Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA.  Their recorded songs are even better live.  The energy from all members and the sharing of lead vocals keeps everything fresh, while retaining their niche sound.  That’s kind of what separates these guys from other bands.  It’s unique to see two guys on stage share the role of lead vocals, and it gives the listener a different vocal sound just like changing a guitar or switching up a drum groove.  Pretty cool.  Check out my favorite song by Dr. Dog, from their 2010 album Shame Shame, “Shadow People.”

My favorite aspect of Dr. Dog’s music isn’t just the solid songwriting, but the harmonies and raw musicianship in general stirs something inside me.  Their voices and style is particularly unique because there’s nothing in the way of you and the band playing their songs.  The production is low-fi and it allows their music to come across naturally and play so organically.  It’s especially cool to see them in concert because the show is even better than the album, which is difficult to find with many independent rock bands today.  I grew up just north of Philly, so it’s very cool to see this band get national attention, even as an independent artists.

Be sure to check out more music and tour dates from Dr. Dog on their website by clicking on the photo above.  I hope you enjoyed some new independent tunes from my home town of Philadelphia, PA.  Remember to listen to more music!

By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC

Joy of Painting is a garage pop band from Nashville, TN with a killer debut album called Asterisk.  The album drops today, and will be launched with a free CD release show tonight at Bonhoffer’s in Murfreesboro, TN.  I first heard the band at 5 Spot in East Nashville, where they rocked out with tunes from their debut record.  Asterisk is packed full of energy, great songs, and solid musicianship.  I think this one will surprise you because, well, a debut album from an indie rock band in Nashville, TN isn’t hard to come by.  However, Joy of Painting is really on to something with their first release.  It separates itself from the pack, in a good way.  You’ll be singing or humming these songs to yourself after the first listen.  There are appropriate dynamics, good song forms and great use of melody throughout the album.  Enough of me talking about it, hear for yourself!

Like I said, a great debut album from a fairly new Nashville rock band.  The occasional post-punk vibe blends so well with the original garage pop.  It’s also a bit rare to see a band find their style so early in their career, but this one fits.  It even flows from high energy, danceable songs like “No Bones” to the ballad feel of “The Bird.”  Their single and first track on the album, “Old Love,” starts the album off with a bang on the common theme of how difficult love is.  The record continues to expand on the topic with songs like “My Personality” that question why it’s so difficult to have a steady relationship.  Whatever the theme, I’m sure we can all relate to at least one of these tracks at some point in our lives.

Joy of Painting will be playing at The Basement on March 5 for the first Beat-Play event in Nashville!  Even if you’re planning on attending their release show tonight in Murfreesboro, this event will be another awesome chance for you to catch these guys live.  Most importantly, make sure you listen to and buy this record if you haven’t already.  Asterisk is already one of my favorite independent albums of the new year.  For more on Joy of Painting, check out their Facebook page.  Remember to listen to more music!

By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC