With the local music scenes overflowing amid talented bands and endless myspace pages, it is easy for the casual music fan to get lost in the shuffle.
As album sales continue to plummet, forty-eight percent of teenagers reportedly did not buy a single CD in 2007. Instead of getting input from reviewers or even results of album sales, we are left to our own devices to uncover the music we crave. With an abundance of home recording programs capable of producing near studio quality products, it seems now the scarcity of a professional sounding band stretches only as far as the corner bar. In this new recurring feature, I will be showcasing the best local and regional bands that the Midwest has to offer. Each installment will highlight a handful of bands that are fighting the good fight and deserve some of your listening attention.
This week, we are kicking things off with four bands; some have long been on the radar of S*KM, and some are just recently discovered. Whatever the case, these are bands producing a unique and interesting sound worthy of a listen by anyone who’s seeking good music in 2008.
Ruckus & the Trousers
Indie, Rock, Folk
HQ: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
www.ruckusandthetrousers.com
Good friends of S*KM, Ruckus & the Trousers have been putting out finger snapping rock and roll like it was an endangered species. The axis of each cut spins from the creative force of band founder, and front man, Brandon Gorelli. Blessed with the natural gift of songwriting, Brandon and his Ruckus causing Trousers fill their unique blend of soft acoustic jams and foot stomping guitar work full of unique storytelling, often borrowing from fiction and reality. These laid back and energetic jams are the perfect soundtrack for life’s emotional rollercoaster. Ruckus & the Trousers have released two independent LPs, the latest which is titled, Cartoon Lightning. The next time you can catch them live is on Tuesday, April 16 at the Keynote Café in Jeanette, Penn.
Lo-Pan
Crunk, Classic Rock, Psychedelic
HQ: Columbus, Ohio
www.myspace.com/lopandemic
With thick creeping guitar tones and gruff vocals, Lo-Pan features a heavily textured sound perfect for a good head bang. If Clutch, Mastodon and Queens of the Stone Age had a three-way, the offspring would be Lo-Pan. Their sound is crafted perfectly to feature just enough metal for face-punching in the pit, but it’s splashed with the right blend rock to lay down a solid grove. Lo-Pan will be playing next on Friday, April 25 at the Jigsaw Saloon in Parma, Ohio.
If These Trees Could Talk
Experimental, Rock, Indie
HQ: Akron, Ohio
www.myspace.com/ifthesetreescouldtalk
This five-piece, triple-guitar threat, captivates you as it embarks on an epic instrumental journey sure to evoke numerous emotions, sometime within one piece. Offering some of the most creative and original material any local music scene has witnessed in sometime, If These Trees could talk presents thought provoking guitar layering and song arrangement. Driven by moody and atmospheric sounds, comparisons could be drawn to Dredg, combined with a pinch of Tool. That comparison, although high in name value, still would not do them justice. Their subtle crescendos and breakdowns emerge unexpectedly, and jar any existing expectations. If These Trees Could Talk is currently working on a new album and they will be playing next on Friday, April 25 at the Beachland Tavern in Cleveland, Ohio.
Biclops / Day Without Dawn (Out of Town Special)
Metal, Experimental, Showtunes
HQ: Matawan, New Jersey
www.biclops.net
www.myspace.com/daywithoutdawn
Although this band’s geographical location does not fall within our Midwestern category, however they are just too damn good to ignore. Formally know as The Postman Syndrome, and most recently as Day Without Dawn, Biclops blends a ridiculous amount of rock styling easily into one sound. During the Postman Syndrome days, I fancied their seamless mingling of metal, rock, experimental and indie influences. Regrettably their LP Terraforming never found its way into my collection, for whatever reason. I was left only with one MP3 track, buried away on my hard drive, to listen to whenever I recalled their name.
Each new name from the New Jersey natives seems to increase the aggression found within their music. Day Without Dawn is their crowning achievement, showcasing the perfect assortment of subgenre chaos. If they can keep one name long enough for anyone to remember, Biclops has the technical and creative skills to make a legitimate impact on the music industry. With only a couple tracks currently recorded, the jury is still out. If their previous track record is any indication, we can be sure Biclops will continue to make innovative and inspiring music that will laugh in the face of genre borders. They will be playing next on Friday, April 25 at House Show in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
If you are a band or know of one and would like to be consider for this feature, please e-mail a sample of your music and short bio to bands@sawkick.com.