indie spotlight

Indie spotlight for March 25, 2018 (Show 184)

3/25/2018

Birds of Chicago is a partnership between JT Nero and Allison Russell. Their voices blend and bounce of each other, often trading lead vocal duties in the course of a verse. @jtandalli

Swim in the Wild is the Adventure Alternative Band- A Sound Born in the Rock & Rolling plains of the Carolina's with East Coast Vibes and flavors of Appalachian Folk. @SwimInTheWild

Just Like Fruit are a Brighton-based alternative rock ‘n’ roll band. Their noisy and lively guitar pop takes inspiration from every corner of their record collections, from Bill Withers and Chuck Berry to Pavement and Courtney Barnett. @justlikefruit

Evil Creek is a heavy hitting acoustic rock band out of Ottawa, Canada showcasing a musical style influenced by bands such as Days of the new and Alice in Chains @evil_creek

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Indie spotlight for March 18, 2018 (Show 183)

3/17/2018

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Erisa Rei, is a singer/ songwriter firmly established in the Americana genre but possessing a sound that can be described only as “homegrown soul”. Whether she is performing in Nashville or entertaining fans while touring Europe, Erisa’s down-to-earth personality and lyrical storytelling have helped audiences discover a genuine and authentic connection. @erisareimusic

Jael Bird Joseph's musical style is clearly a new brand of folk, and his melodies and meaningful lyrics leave none indifferent. Recognized for the sensitivity in his voice, a tone that can make one think of artists such as Dallas Green (City and Colour) or Damien Rice, his music comprises songs sometimes heart breaking and other times completely wild and amusing! @jaelbirdmusic

Mandy Pennington is a 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Louisville, Kentucky. With a passion for self-awareness and authenticity, Mandy brings a penetrating honesty to her lyrics. Her music can be found on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, Noisetrade, Soundcloud, ReverbNation, and more. Recently, she has been exploring a brand new style; piano ballads with subtle 80s-synth-pop influences. @MandyPMusic

The Giant Peach is an indie art rock band from Middlebury VT. Their music captures a bitter-sweetness wrestled into songs late at night. United from disparate backgrounds in folk, blues, and jazz, the members of The Giant Peach came together to render these tales of stubborn love, mistakes, and repeated carelessness with a cutting honesty and an unexpected joy. @thegiantpeachmusic

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Indie spotlight for March 11, 2018 (Show 182)

3/10/2018

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Spiral Crush is one of Michigan’s emerging rock bands that cannot be ignored. Consistently delivering high-energy, unforgettable live performances, this band reminds us what loving and experiencing rock ‘n’ roll is all about. Their sound is diverse and contains undertones of classic and alternative rock. @spiralcrush

Snake Anthony is a progressive funk rock band from New York. Their debut EP explores Rock and Funk in an exciting and modern way, from odd meters to traditional blues-rock influenced riffs. Several different generations, tastes, and points of view combine to create a unique amalgamation that is Snake Anthony. @snakeanthonyband

Black Paisley is a five-piece band from Stockholm, Sweden including old wardogs and experienced musicians who finally, after a career as a cover band, decided to bring out some material on their own. Thier debut album “Late Bloomer” has been very well received by both critics and fans all over the World. @Black_Paisleys

The Blackwater Fever takes their dark, distinctive sound and injects it with ’90s grunge, ’50s slow dance, moments of prog rock, punk, soul and an ’80s New Order. The Brisbane trio sounds more adventurous, eclectic and surprisingly succinct than ever before on their new release 'Delusions'. @blackwaterfever

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Indie spotlight for March 4, 2018 (Show 181)

3/4/2018

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Griffin House was born and raised in Springfield, Ohio. He picked up the guitar when he was 18, started writing songs right away, and within a couple years started making records and performing live. These days House tours the United States both solo-acoustic and with a band headlining his own shows. @GriffinHouse

Vim & Vigor is an ensemble pop-folk band from Washington, DC. With influences ranging from Amy Winehouse to Mumford & Sons. Vim & Vigor produces a sound that is unique and earnest, with rich harmonies and layers of instrumentation. Vim & Vigor is a band full of team players, switching leads on vocals and instruments. @vimandvigormus

Dan Masterson is a Boston-based performing songwriter whose influences -- including Jack's Mannequin, Sara Bareilles, and Billy Joel -- come together to create a distinct piano-driven alternative pop-rock sound which has traversed the airwaves on over 100 independent radio stations nationwide. Dan is a proud, if anxious, millennial @Dan_Masterson

Stephen Babcock began playing guitar at the age of 15 after stealing records from his older brother's bedroom and falling in love with music. He has continued to craft his skills as a singer-songwriter, recording and performing a catalog of original music, including two EPs and two full-length LPs. His latest "Fiction" is set to release April 2018. @StephenBMusic

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Indie spotlight for February 4, 2018 (Show 180)

2/4/2018

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Kasey Anderson has released solo recordings as well as with his group the Honkies. He is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and musician born in Portland, relocated to Bellingham when he was 18, and operated at times from Seattle. His music has been described as Americana and alt-country and he cites his musical influences as Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, Faces and Bob Dylan. @leasdef

Guy Major is an Ottawa Canada and east coast musician performing for 30 years, Guy is a captivating performer, both solo, or in a band. He has performed on CBC live national radio (Canada) on several occasions and at large festivals. He appeared on Atlantic Airwaves with Natalie MacMaster, performed for The Corrs by chance, and recorded his debut album in 2004. @guymajor24

Alexander Wren's debut EP 'The Good in Goodbye' marks the beginning of one midwestern boy’s journey of intent, the hard-won determination to find his own voice—literally and lyrically—on his own terms. A Ft. Wayne, IN native, Alexander now makes his home in Nashville. 'The Good in Goodbye' is a testament to Alexander’s interpretive skill, his ‘old school’ turn of phrasing and his Velcro-fierce valuing of simplicity and truth. @alexander_wren

Angie Aparo is A Folk Rock Country Punk Jazz Singer trapped in a love song. His powerful words, vocals, instruments, effects are wrapped up into musical art films. Angie is an audio scientist with sounds, both modern and traditional, then mixing technology that we use every day to create his songs. What has come out of him is a gutted-out heart, a re-wired brain and motor skills that are sharper than a butcher knife in the kitchen. @AngieAparo

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Indie spotlight for January 28, 2018 (Show 179)

1/27/2018

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Jeffrey Gaines has maintained an impressive standard for soul-searching, introspective lyrics and catchy, uplifting melodies throughout his two-and-a-half-decade recording career. Since bursting on the scene with his self-titled 1992 debut album, the charismatic singer-songwriter-guitarist has built a beloved body of recordings that’s won him a large and deeply devoted international fan base. @jeffreygmusic

Doron Ferdman left his music career behind in 2007 to become a doctor. But despite being immersed in medicine, the songs kept pouring out. Ten years later he was back in the studio working on ‘Back and Forth’, his first full-length album. It’s a collection of laid back, emotional and infectious songs about flat-lined relationships, being true to yourself, saving lives and leaving home. @Dferdmed

Campbell Harrison is known for his powerful lyrics and catchy melodies, his distinctive voice and guitar style reaffirm his reputation as a fresh new sound. His first album "Dreamer In A Bottle" was released in July 2017 and can be found on all major retail sites and streaming services. This follows his debut EP "Behind Glass" which dropped in late 2015. @Cam0001

Dane Joneshill has released a debut album that is dynamic and cohesive. Sonically the album stretches from fingerpicked folk to full-blown rock and ranges from stripped down to full band. Textured with a creaky old upright piano, hollow-body slide guitar, and dark cello, Dane delivers these songs in a voice that roars and whispers, always seeking the emotional heart of the song. WEBSITE

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Indie spotlight for January 21, 2018 (Show 178)

1/18/2018

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The Crowning has already begun to establish themselves as a regional powerhouse with their unique take on the Alt Rock / Grunge sound. They have a heavy hitting blend of rock containing a strong melodic core with elements of Punk, Grunge and Funk. @crowningmusi

The Silver Mirrors are a Psych-y, Garage-y, Rock n Roll band from Boston pushing the frontiers of turtleneck rock with stormy clouds of fuzz, toe tappin' rockers, and western skies through bloodshot eyes. @silver_mirrors

Sons of Luther is a band of brothers and others lead by Wren Williams, a singer/songwriter originally from Attica, New York. Wren's new full length album "Venom & Sugar" featuring his new backing band, Sons of Luther, was released on January 6th 2017. @WrenWilliam

Holy Smokes is a Southern Ontario Rock and Roll, consisting of Jake Dunning, Sam Old, and Alex Hamnett. They released their first EP in August 2017 with 5 tracks and felt it would give you a little taste of where we come from and an inkling of where we are going. @HoliestofSmoke

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Indie spotlight for January 7, 2018 (Show 177)

1/6/2018

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JJ Heller is a Nashville-based singer/ songwriter, with a passion to inspire and encourage the hearts of women. With over 14 years of full-time experience in front of audiences, JJ has a way of drawing in listeners of all ages with stories and songs from the perspective of a woman juggling the roles of wife, mother and career artist. @jjheller

Amy Goloby is an up-and-coming folk singer from Houston who grew up with a passion for music. She began her musical journey at the age of twelve and started writing songs when she was sixteen Her new album “Back to New” is a folk, Americana mixture of love songs with an element of faith. @amygoloby

The Weather Station is the project of Toronto songwriter Tamara Lindeman. The new album, 'The Weather Station' it is a work of profound urgency, artistic generosity, and joy. Self-titled and self-produced, the album unearths a vital new energy from Lindeman’s acclaimed songwriting practice, marrying it to a bold new sense of confidence. @TheWeatherStn

Steve Hartsoe taps the Americana and British Invasion wellspring that nourished his formative musical years in the San Francisco Bay Area. The former AP journalist delivers a diverse mix of rootsy songs about love, loss and languor, propelled by gritty guitars, strained vocals and groove-tight rhythms. His new album, “The Big Fix” is available now. @hartsoemusic

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Best of Indie Spotlight 2017

12/31/2017

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We featured a total of 148 artists this year on the indie spotlight and these 32 tracks are the ones that stayed with us. Check out The Mad Music Asylum on Sunday night, New Years Eve starting at 10 pm to hear these great tunes.

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Indie spotlight for December 3, 2017 (Show 174)

12/3/2017

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Amber Rahman, is springing into the music industry as a singer, songwriter, and actress that is not afraid to be radically herself. As her debut CD, “Change In The Weather” hits radio stations, her feature film debut simultaneously plays in select theaters, the artist is an up and coming songwriting force to be reckoned with. @AmberRahmanRR

Andrea von Kampen has quickly established herself in the recording studio and on the road. Her deft guitar work and intuitive song construction display striking maturity, and her effortless vocal delivery has been praised by Hear Nebraska as "soulful and worn-in." She was featured as a finalist in NPR's Tiny Desk Contest. @avonkampen

Gigi Rae is an up and coming star whose stage presence and energy are dynamic. As stated by her fans, Gigi Rae’s sweet and melodic voice is her signature. Gigi Rae, who was born in 1996, showed early signs of becoming an entertainer with her theatrical nature and ability to steal the show in any setting. @GigiRaeOfficial

Lizzy Ficco is a Colorado Native who began to cognitively sing at the ripe age of 2 years old. She started writing poetry in the fourth grade, and began adding guitar melodies to her words at the age of 12. Her newest single: "Till Death Do Us Part", will be featured on her first ever album, "The Journey". @lizzyficcomusic