Saimons was formed in March 2005 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It all began when Santiago and Sebastian after leaving their original band decided to start another one with Felipe, a high school classmate. Unlike most bands from Argentina the idea was to compose and perform in English......... Read MORE!
A catchy brand of garage rock, delta blues, and folk revival with influences such as Bob Dylan, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Johnny Cash, Kings of Leon, Bruce Springsteen, Mavis Staples, and U2. The response has been amazing, crossing generational, race, class, and genre boundaries... Read MORE!
LPM Voice would like to personally recognize each of these Featured Artists listed below for doing a outstanding job. We hope that you take the time to check out each of them and let us know what your thoughts are.
Paper or Plastic has been rated one of the Top 10 up-and-coming bands in the Northwest and 'Audience Choice' by the Experience Music Project's 'Sound Off' competition. They've opened for acclaimed rockers The Tubes at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, opened for Bowling For Soup, played the Vans Warped Tour, played the Roseland Theater in Portland, opened for Geoff Byrd at the Aladdin Theater, been one of 300 finalists, TWICE, out of 13,000 applicants in the International Songwriting Competition (top 3%), and received widespread national college radio airplay.
Roms and Resumes formed in 2005 in Kent, WA. Adam Wong (guitar), Jesse Mittleider (drums) and Cameron Cowles (bass,vocals) had played together in previous bands, post-hardcore group Four AM, and a pop-punk outfit called Vic.
After Four AM's split, Adam started writting with high school friend Jon Naidu (guitar,vocals). The name Roms and Resumes, surfaced from a lack of employment and hours spent at the computer.
Once the duo was offered their first show, they enlisted the help of Cameron and Jesse to complete the line up. Their first show went well and the line up was locked in.
After the usual string of local shows and battle of the bands the group recorded Rochambeaux. Recorded in the groups home studio, they self-released the disc in December of 2006.
In September 2007, the group began to work with producer Brandon Bee (Moneta, Amber Pacific) and started on a new EP.
"Worlds Apart" was released in December of 2007 online. The record included 5 new tracks and was mastered by Troy Glessner (Emery, Mewithoutyou).
SweetKiss Momma, out of Puyallup, WA (about 30 min. south of Seattle), is a band for the ages. Though they have been fittingly described as a sort of "roots" or "southern" rock, those classifications fall short when you recognize the late-60's British invasion, 70's era jam band, and even early 80's metal that impressively seeps it's way into the "SKM" brew. Whether it be classic blues riffs, 3-part harmonies, funk-inspired breakdowns, or grandiose anthems, none are out of place in their dynamically capable hands. These guys obviously spent some time digesting their parent's record collections, and seem as though they would be right at home on a vinyl LP circa '74.
At the heart of their original material is a soulful bend that is completely genuine. These boys, who were raised on a steady diet of hymns and spirituals, skillfully combine aspects of this upbringing with the sunny-day vibe and playful bravado you would expect from a group just as concerned with rocking your socks off as any other article of clothing. Lyrically, "SKM" embraces such classic themes as; cheap love, costly loss, and afternoons spent wasting time, all with a slight wink to a naughty streak buried just under the surface.
If you've been longing to find others like you; those who still believe that Rock-n-Roll can help save the world, then let me introduce you to your new favorite band: SWEETKISS MOMMA.
Over the past couple of years, Seattle has been steadily churning out great bands in the indie rock genre. Now, The Reaching is spearheading that movement thanks to their amalgamation of arena rock anthems garnished with an indie rock twist.
The group, featuring Jake McVay (vocals/guitar/piano), Kyle McGuire (guitar), Mark Blaney (bass), and Ericka Wallace (drums), came together in Tacoma, WA in January 2007. The members had met through their endeavors in other bands and decided to play a few jam sessions together. They immediately realized that the chemistry they had was exactly what they were looking for.
The Reaching's name reflects the band's desire to communicate the theme of humanity reaching out for some meaning and purpose. "Our musical approach," says Mark, "is to write songs about relevant situations that people often find themselves in."
The group's alternative/indie sound is a unique combination of Snow Patrol and early U2/Coldplay with a dash of MuteMath thrown in for good effect. There is a subdued sense of grandeur behind each song that creates a layer of excitement and suspense for the listener.
The Reaching have just released their debut album, The Fairytale Has Left Us Bleeding on iTunes, Amazon, Napster, and good old fashioned CD.
Recent accomplishments: - "Constantly" is being played by KPWZ 106.5 FM in Bellingham, WA - Featured in the Winter 2009 edition of VAIN Magazine (www.callmevain.com) - Featured on the "Rock 4 Life Volume 2" compilation album by Quickstar Productions, available on iTunes, Amazon mp3, and CD.
Striving to create music that's far more about strong songwriting than rock star fame, The Welcome Home combine influences from bands like The Get Up Kids and Saves the Day with their love for Jazz and Motown Acts such as Stevie Wonder & The Jackson 5, crafting a sound that is distincltly their own
Singer/Songwriter Brandon Swift is the Latest Unique Addition
To The Atlanta Based Label’s Growing, Eclectic Stable Of Artists
Which Includes Rockers Mark Gaignard & The Also Ran, Veteran Bluesman
Guitar Red, And Kindie Rock Band The Baby Grands
Brandon Swift is a talented singer-songwriter with a fresh insight into mundane everyday life, all because a freak accident led Swift to re-evaluate his current situation. “I decided life’s just too short and a year backpacking in Europe would be something I might not ever get to do,” Brandon reflects. So he spent the months prior to the release of his self-titled debut solo album on Backspace Records busking in the streets of Amsterdam, climbing the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain, and cycling across Europe.
At one point Swift met a couple who had transformed a van into permanent mobile living quarters that used solar panels to provide extra power. That got him thinking about his yet to be released album and an idea for a green U.S. tour. Having gained a new perspective on life in general, he returned to the states eight months early, bought a van and, of course, a solar panel. With this new green outlook, Brandon is prepared to share his music with whoever will listen.
On his self-titled release, Swift’s music conveys the message that life is too fragile not to enjoy while combining strong melodies and a steady hand on acoustic guitar. The album’s vibe touches on a variety of grassroots styles mixed with a modern day alternative influence. From the upbeat “Shine” to the sweet, melancholy “Satellite,” the former Strawberry Nixon frontman explores the complexities revolving around the many decisions we face in life and the chain of events that can take them from complicated to confounding. “Surrounded,” co-written with producer Ben Rowell, focuses on arpeggiated guitars over a strong, driving beat while examining the common threads in life that many people share. But it’s Brandon’s vocal performance that really stands out on the album. “Ben was adamant that we not use Auto-Tune and I’m really glad we didn’t need to,” Brandon says. “It just sounds way more natural and real.” In other words, what you hear is what you get with Brandon Swift.
As with all their other releases, a portion of the label’s profits from Brandon Swift will go to The Georgia Transplant Foundation. All of Backspace’s recordings are dedicated to the memory of Mack Lindsey, their friend, business partner and heart transplant recipient.
