In early 1996, the world was seemingly reconciling some of its evolutionary hang-ups. Gary Kasparov defeated Deep Blue in one of the most epic chess matches of all time. Scientists discovered the possible evidence of life on Mars. President Clinton appointed the first female US Secretary of State. And in one cluttered basement in Wilmington, Delaware, the Spinto Band began to materialize. Spinto, huh?
Astrid Williamson is a singer/songwriter from Scotland. She was the frontperson for Scottish trio Goya Dress in the mid-'90s. After the dissolution of the band in late 1996, Williamson opted to go solo under the alias of her first name - adding her last name on later releases. Astrid Williamson is a classically trained pianist and a confessional-style singer/songwriter with a uniquely haunting and beautiful voice. She is often compared to the likes of Tori Amos, Kristin Hersh And Polly Harvey though she definitely remains distinctive in her own right.
A Transmission from Fol Chen: "You know that mysterious black object that the creepy family is staring at on the cover of Led Zeppelin's "Presence" album? Fol Chen sound like that... But we don't sound like Led Zeppelin. (We actually do a little.) Instead, we sound a bit like Prince with Amon Duul II and a children's religious revival, not to mention Hot Chip, Pink Floyd, Gwen Stefani, Pere Ubu, Danielson Famile, Scritti Politti, Boards of Canada, The Blow, and Pulp. (Mostly.) We are using secret powers and the guidance of legendary DJ Donna Donna to combat our nemesis, John Shade.
Self-described as a rock-singer-songwriter, Nacho Vegas blends the polyhedric language of rock and the most stark lyricism into an intense whole. His lyrics are painful and celebratory, pathetic and grand, brutally lucid and of an intimate beauty; a desperate philosophy of survival shines with a wicked sense of humour and a longing for the divine. Nacho Vegas has been a prominent figure in the Spanish 'indie' scene since his work with Eliminator Jr, Manta Ray; bands influenced by Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, and other similar avant-rock acts of the early 90's.
Latin Alternative Rock from Brazil. Music for instable mood rockers.
Grupo Fantasma is an eleven-piece latin funk orchestra from Austin, Texas. Formed in 2000 from the merger of two austin acts, The Blue Noise Band and The Blimp, the band emerged with a sold out show at the former Empanada Parlour in Austin. The band is best known for their exuberant live shows and their recent association with Prince and his 3121 Club in Las Vegas. The band has backed Prince on numerous occasions, including his performance on the ALMA Awards in 2007, and often perform at his afterparty jam sessions. The ensemble has sold more than 20,000 albums independently.
In January 2007, after a stint in the Peace Corps, singer-songwriter Daniel Martin Moore decided to make a bold move in his music career by sending his unsolicited demo to Sub Pop Records. The label, once the home of all things grunge, has explored its softer side in recent years, signing bands such as Iron & Wine and Fleet Foxes. Moore's pensive yet optimistic songs caught Sub Pop's attention, and he soon had a record deal.
Mieka Pauley began as a solo artist in Boston. Her haunting voice and heartbreaking lyrics gained her more than a few fans, securing her bills with Citizen Cope, KT Tunstall, Natasha Bedingfield, Ben Kweller, Mason Jennings, John Legend, the Avett Brothers and many others. She won the first ever Starbucks Emerging Artist Award and the New York Songwriters Circle Songwriting Contest, and she was named Cosmopolitan Magazine's Fun Fearless Female Rockstar of the Year.
Polly Mackey & The Pleasure Principle are: Polly Mackey - Vocals & Guitar
Tom Hassall - Guitar
Paul Bates - Bass
Tom Ryan - Synth/Keys
Adam Valentine - Drums "There’s no doubt that Polly has exactly what it takes to become a major star, her literate thought provoking songs are brought to life by her incredible voice which has that rare quality in that it can effortlessly convey joy and despair, light and shade, without seeming to skip a beat, and of course The Pleasure Principle produce a sound that could be described as tighter than Dawn French’s trousers after a midnight feast.
What do you think of when you hear the name "PowerSolo"? 'Round Denmark way, the moniker apparently conjures the trash-rock psychobilly legacy of Hasil Adkins, the Cramps, and Southern Culture on the Skids. Powersolo may be a power trio, but in this case, the prog-metal acrobatics of rush are replaced with something they call "donkey punk." Two tremolo-loving chicken-scratch, rail-thin guitarists Kim Kix and Atomic Child. And drummer J.C.