
Record Label: S/R
Genre: New Wave
Band Link: www.myspace.com/johnomara
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Described as some as “electro-folk,” John O’Mara’s one-man-band sounds more like a sadsack doing karaoke to Ziggy Stardust-era Bowie.
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Record Label: Fat Wreck Chords
Genre: Rock
Band Link: www.americansteel.org
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American Steel’s second Fat Wreck Chords album offers more melodic rock (punk?) that fans will love from American Steel. This is their 5th overall album, but I think this is the first time I’m hearing their music on CD. I saw the band open for Gaslight Anthem last year and they were pretty good. I just didn’t know their music so I was left clueless. Now that I heard some tunes from American Steel, I’d love to see them live again.
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Record Label: Sire Records
Genre: Soundtrack
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500 Days of Summer is the talk about indie movie of the summer. 2 years ago, it was Little Miss Sunshine, last year everyone thought it was Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (which sucked by the way). This year it’s 500 Days of Summer. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, and directed by Marc Webb. The movie is about the 500 days that were spent between Tom and Summer. So wait, they don’t stay together? What a bummer! That’s okay, I’ll take Zooey off Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s hands.
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Indie/new wave act, The Dear & Departed, have signed to Equal Vision Records. The band recently wrapped up recording with New Found Glory guitarist, Chad Gilbert (H2O, Fireworks), and will release the new material as a digital EP and 7” later this year and tour to support.
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Simple Minds are to appear in a new documentary about the Brat Pack film director, John Hughes, who died at the age of 59 from a heart attack in New York City last week. Jim Kerr, lead singer of Simple Minds, today confirmed that on their forthcoming ‘Graffiti Soul’ world tour; they’ll dedicate “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” to the memory of John Hughes and how his teenage coming-of-age films defined a generation.
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Record Label: Rain City Records
Genre: Indie
Band Link: www.waterandbodies.com
Portland’s Water and Bodies is a new band project from Kaddisfly members Christopher Ruff, Beau Kuther, Kelsey Kuther, and Aaron Tollefson. The only member not present is bassist Kile Brewer. I’m not familiar with Kaddisfly’s music since I never got around to reviewing their CD. Water and Bodies EP contains 6 tracks in total and is available for download at Rain City Records website.
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The Rifles are my new favorite band this year and I’ve already posted 2 music video from them. What’s great about British bands is they record a lot of music videos. Here’s a music video of my favorite songs (Peace and Quiet) from the band, which is off their first album “No Love Lost:”
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Record Label: S/R
Genre: Post-Punk
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Motorik offers up some listless 80s post-punk, now with 50% more emotional detachment! Bands like Joy Division, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Wire, and Bauhaus are clear influences, but Motorik does little to broaden the genre outside of incorporating flat-sounding dance punk/death disco.
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British rock band New Model Army have announced initial dates for their next North American tour. I believe more dates are being announced (I hope) but so far the band will be playing in Asbury Park, Philly but nothing in Hoboken or New York City yet. Let’s just hope the band can get their Visas this time…
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