Genre: Alternative Rock

Junkies' Description:

Romeo Spike is an alternative rock band with a refined, polished sound, partly due to singer Mike Kunz’s smooth vocals and Rhodes electric piano paired with Donn Aaron's guitar and pedal steel. Their clean sound is not simply studio manipulation; we have witnessed them live, and they blew us away. They really are that tight of a band. You will hear bluesy riffs, spacey sounds, and tranquil slide in their music. This may not be the usual mix, but we think it should be. Most of Romeo Spike's songs are calm and relaxing, but there are some amazing upbeat ones, too, like “Spaceman”. Their songwriting is just as impressive as their technical skill and stage presence. “It’s all about the song,” Kunz says. “Songwriting is this weird form of magic where if you happen to be in the right headspace, you just have to play one note and listen for all the music that is already there.” Aaron likens his approach to songwriting to "Tarot Card reading, or playing with a Ouija Board. I find this whole thing to be a fragile mystery, and I leave it at that.”

Album: For The Cause

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Official Bio:

Brought together through mutual friends in 2006, Mike Kunz (then living in Chicago) and Donn Aaron (Atlanta) began with a weekly songwriting challenge designed to trigger each other’s creativity. Each Saturday night they emailed each other a new song, staying up late into the night reworking them over the phone. The band materialized almost by accident as the pair quickly realized their chemistry had a life of it’s own.

They soon ditched the songwriting competition, and drawing on their diverse influences ranging from Elton John to Daniel Lanois, and Kiss to Radiohead, began work on the full length album “For the Cause.” A majority of the record was recorded partially in Chicago and partially in Atlanta as the two sent tracks back and forth across the internet. After several short trips South during the recording of the album, Kunz moved to Atlanta to make Romeo Spike a full time realization. During production of “For the Cause,” the pair caught the attention of Grammy award winner, and long time Elton John mix engineer/producer Matt Still who produced, mixed and provided back-up vocals on almost half the album.

Romeo Spike’s refined rock is led by Kunz’s vocals and Rhodes electric piano, and Aaron’s guitar and pedal steel (which has been described as “playing lightning”). Skyler Ross from Atlanta joined as bassist in mid 2009. In addition to being an accomplished instrumentalist, Sky also sings backing vocals and is a songwriting contributor to the band. Sky grew up with performance in his blood as both of his parents were Broadway performers. The newest member of Romeo Spike is drummer, Owen Liversidge from Glastonbury, England, who came aboard in October 2010. Owen has a modern, dance/pop approach and injects a British flair into Romeo Spike’s rhythm section. He creates a blend of acoustic rock drumming and electronics that are essential to the Romeo Spike sound. As a former frontman/singer for his own band, Owen is integral to the songwriting team and adds a fourth harmony to the group.

Uniquely, three of Romeo Spike’s four members have been lead singers in former bands. Another main strength of the band is found in the accomplished guitarmanship of both Kunz and Aaron. As a teen, Aaron was featured in both “Guitar Player” and “Guitar World” magazines. In 1991, he was the lead guitarist and co-songwriter for the group “Mary My Hope”. He recorded guitar with Ludacris on a track that was featured in the Martin Lawrence motion picture “National Security.” In November 2005, Aaron’s solo album “Unfinished Symphonies” was chosen by Performing Songwriter magazine as one of their “Top 12 Independent DIY Releases.” Aaron’s role in the mastering side of music production in the last several years has allowed him to work with over 10,000 records, with hundreds reaching multi-platinum, platinum or gold sales awards from the RIAA.

No matter how slick and finessed their productions can become, “It’s all about the song,” Kunz says. “Songwriting is this weird form of magic where if you happen to be in the right headspace, you just have to play one note and listen for all the music that is already there.” Aaron describes his approach to songwriting as an exploration in complete mystery: “I liken it toTarot Card reading, or playing with a Ouija Board. I find this whole thing to be a fragile mystery, and I leave it at that.”

Genre: Hard Rock, Alternative Pop Rock

Junkies' Description:

Project Hero combines hard rock instrumentation and backing vocals with pop rock lead vocals. One thing I really love about this band are the guitar solos, and these guys really lay down some good ones. In the original songs written by Nathan Snyder, the three piece vocal harmonies blend together with the hard rockin’ guitar, bass, and drums very nicely. Their album “New Era” tells the story of the disappearance of a super hero, Mr. Silent. I also must mention their incredible cover medley of The Immigrant Song & Bulls On Parade.

Album: New Era

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Official Bio:

Project Hero sends you on a journey no other band can. Through memorable riffs, unique hooks, three-part vocal harmonies, and creative storytelling, the band stands firm on the premise that rock music can be entertaining and meaningful again. Although the lyrics often paint a picture of a fictional world, the origin and meaning of the words are deeply rooted in the reality of primary songwriter Nathan Snyder’s life.
The best way to define the sound of Project Hero would be to say that they incorporate the epic song-writing of bands like Muse and Avenged Sevenfold with the accessibility of Foo Fighters and Green Day style rock.

Genre: Alternative Rock, Art Rock

Junkies' Description:

When these guys sent us their stuff and described it as alternative Russian art-rock, I wasn’t quite sure what my ears were about to experience. The experience was great. Nice Cliques are band with amazing guitar riffs and solos, well written lyrics, and some nice keys thrown in here and there. Other than that, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what they sound like. I’ve heard great ballads, great hard jams, and at one point, I heard their keyboard solo sound like some you would hear out an Emerson, Lake, and Palmer song. So yeah, lots of fantastic and different tunes here. And yes, the lyrics are English, not Russian.

Album: Populra Art






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Album: We Don't Even Like Them






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Album: The Room






DOWNLOAD The Room For FREE from Bandcamp

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Official Bio:

We're trying to play music without limiting ourselves to stylistic boundries, however banal it may sound. You, the listener, may get acquianted with our songs directly on this site and follow the development of music from early recordings to the most recent releases.
For those completely new to our music we can still provide a sort of a starting point. The influence of such well-known artists as The Beatles, Radiohead, King Crimson and Pink Floyd can be found in our music, since all of the members adore the abovementioned bands.
We hope everyone will find something personal for oneself in our songs. We'll keep up churning out good music for your pleasure!

Genre: Alternative Rock, Rock n' Roll

Junkies' Description:

Goodnight Lights are nothing short of a great rock band. Amazing riffs, lyrics, vocals, bass, drums...hell, there’s not a flaw. If the Rolling Stones were spliced together with the Pixies, you would get the Goodnight Lights. The song that first hooked me was “Hannah.” You can’t beat the guitar in that song. It’s actually pretty hard to describe their songs since I find a new side to the band the deeper I dig into their albums. I want to dance to some while others I just want to stand and nod my head to while I take it all in. You’re missing out if you don’t give this band a chance.

Album: Goodnight Lights

DOWNLOAD the album Goodnight Lights for FREE from Bandcamp

Album: Electric Spark

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Official Bio:

Goodnight Lights have been playing Philadelphia venues such as World Cafe, Johnny Brenda's, The Khyber, The Fire, and The “M” Room, since January 2008. With Mike Schraeger writing the majority of songs and Jonah Delso and Ian Charlton contributing with some of their own tunes, the band’s sound is diverse, yet cohesive. Always constant are Schraeger’s well-placed guitar riffs and Delso’s bass lines that are sure to move your feet. Combine that with Mike Ziegler’s powerhouse drumming, Faith Charlton’s haunting vocal harmonies and synth counter melodies, and Ian’s strat-twanging guitar and you have Goodnight Lights.
The band's sound encompasses the charm and diversity of Pavement and the Velvet Underground. This is mixed with the twisted pop sensibilities of Pixies and Built to Spill and raw urgency of the Replacements, Arcade Fire and the Stooges.

Genre: Alternative Rock, Rock n' Roll

Junkies' Description:

The Black Shades are an alternative rock band with a heavy dose of real hard-hitting rock n’ roll. Aaron Clark’s vocals are instantly recognizable, but every song is different. Their debut EP Turn Me On Electric proves that the Black Shades are anything but predictable. In “GNF,” you hear hard, slightly garagey guitar, wailing rock vocals, and hand clapping. The lyrics and vocal style, as well as the memorable guitar riffs and the keyboard in the opening song “Turn Me On Electricity,” have made it one of my favorite songs of 2010 so far. “Tuff Love” and “GNF” are pure garage rock excellence. The background vocals in “Say Say Say” give it a cool retro vibe. And in “Don’t Put Salt On My Grave” opens with ballad-y Beatles background vocals, with edgy high pitched alternative rock vocals, surf rock guitar, and hand claps, and then the song explodes unexpectedly with hard bluesy garage rock guitar riffs. This is a band that’s not to be overlooked.

Album: Turn Me On, Electricity

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Official Bio:

The Black Shades formed in October 2009 in the disguise as a cover band called "The Red Square". The original founding members, Aaron, Mike Dean, and Mike O'B formed a cover band while their current band was in defunct mode. During one of those many practices, they decided to start writing original tunes, and they really liked what was coming out of it. Skip forward to a few weeks later in November, and they added lead guitarist Jared Kowalski and continued writing songs.
After various names were tried out, The Black Shades became the end product, and they played their first show in December 2009. In February 2010, TBS started their first EP "Turn Me On, Electric" at 1313 Studios in Nashville, recorded by Mike Vecchio. During this time, Jared bowed out of the band to gain control of financial issues. The trio that started the band recorded the EP by themselves, and pushed forward by adding Michael Thomas to take Jared's place. In March, on the eve of the EP release, drummer Mike O'Brien informed the band that he too would be leaving, for pretty much the same reason Jared had to leave, to secure a better financial future. Mike was soon replaced by Jerry Kessinger, a drummer TBS had met a few months prior while sharing a show with his former band.
Now here we are, 6 months later, several member changes, an EP, a handful of shows, and an official complete lineup. We are The Black Shades.

Genre: Alternative Rock

Junkies' Description:

Elspeth is a five piece alternative indie rock band from Newry and Belfast Ireland that is shrouded in mystery. Their influences include: The Stone Roses, The Smiths. Radiohead, Interpol, and that lad who keeps scratching with his stump when he has a perfectly good hand. We don’t have much more information about them, except that they make solid alternative rock music that is getting an ever-increasing number of downloads and audio plays on myspace. I personally love their ballads, yet they have songs like “24 Hour Paramedic” that make me want to jump out of my chair and dance.

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Official Bio:

Genre: Alternative Rock

Junkies' Description:

The alternative rock trio True Womanhood definitely has an unique sound. The vocals are run through a malfunctioning tape delay, creating a melancholy tone. The best way to describe them is “Radiohead’s younger cousin.” Really, it’s hard to describe them any further than that since each song is so much different than the last. The first time I listened to “Dream Cargoes”, I had to lay my head back and let the trippy, upbeat yet dark sound waves take me away. I couldn’t get it out of my head for a while (which is a good thing). Expect great things from these guys.

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Free Remix Album Download from Bandcamp



Official Bio:

True Womanhood are a trio formed in 2008 in Washington, DC. The band members are Thomas Redmond (vocals, guitar) Melissa Beattie (bass) and Noam Elsner (drums, electronics). True Womanhood passionately rejects the mass hallucination of nostalgia for an imaginary time when everyone was 14, having sex and smoking weed all day at the beach
True Womanhood bonded over a shared nostalgia for the songwriting craft of 1980's British groups such as the Smiths and Joy Division and an interest in the futuristic beats and sounds of modern day electronica, dubstep and hip hop. The trio's devotion to both these seemingly disparate poles has yielded songs that at once can be strident and melodic, experimental and addictive, a unique blend of textures intricately woven into cohesive pop songs. This skillful assembly is especially evident in its explosive live delivery, where True Womanhood make use of an ever evolving stage set up which has based itself around the likes of timpani, industrial blades, and antique drum machines and synths triggering new age electronics.
Their debut EP, Basement Membranes, on the Baltimore label Environmental Aesthetics,was recorded mainly at the DIY venue and effects pedal factory Death By Audio in Brooklyn, before the finishing touches were applied with the help of J. Robbins (Jawbox) at his studio in Baltimore. It was released in 2010. The group's first full-length album, recorded and mixed by Robbins, is complete pending release. In the short time they've been together, True Womanhood has had the opportunity to perform both in and outside of their home city with hip, national acts such as HEALTH; A Place to Bury Strangers; Titus Andronicus; The Antlers; Times New Viking; Xiu Xiu; Beach Fossils; These Are Powers; Bear Hands; Crystal Antlers; Indian Jewelry; The Mae Shi; AIDS Wolf.

Genre: Alternative Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Junkies' Description:

I can’t decide if Sweet Lights reminds me of 60s psychedelic rock or todays mellow alternative rock. Really, it’s a combination of both. If I had to choose, I would say it’s The Moody Blues meets Fleet Foxes. Nonetheless, all of the songs are solid and definitely worth your time to hear. I think you’ll find the self-titled debut album a relaxing listen. My favorite track is “Endless Town.” Find out your favorite by getting the album. It’s definitely worth getting. There is also a great cover of the Traveling Wilburys to listen to.

Album: Sweet Lights

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Sweet Lights - Are We Gonna Work it Out from Sweet Lights on Vimeo.

href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo.

Sweet Lights - A Hundred Needle Pins from Sweet Lights on Vimeo.

Shaking Through Vol 2 Ep 7: Sweet Lights from Weathervane Music on Vimeo.

Genre: Psychedelic Rock/Pop, Alternative

Junkies' Description:

Black Whales is a Psychedelic pop/rock group out of Seattle made up of Alex Plain on vocals/guitar, Alan Foote on guitar, Davey Brozowski on drums/percussion, Ryan Middleton on Bass, and Mike Bayer on organ/percussion.
Their debut EP, Origins, is loaded with hooks, the lyrics are well-written, and everything comes together perfectly.
Just listen to this band. I mean what more can I say that isn’t in the official bio?

Album: Origins

Single: Rattle Your Bones

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Official Bio:

Black Whales (black * whAYles), n. : Flowers on drugs, warm-hearted spaghetti-westerns, reverbsoaked, tubey riffs in the hay amidst an organized chaos of booming and danceable rhythms, honeysticky melodics, jangly guitar hooks, tambourines, shaker magic.
Origins , the debut EP from Seattle, WA’s Black Whales will get you good. It will hit all of your sweet spots, it will surprise you with its seemingly effortless, effortlessly seamless songwriting. It will cause you, while in the middle of going through your pile of releases, to excitedly remember that brilliant bands that are just at the start of undoubtedly great journeys are indeed sometimes in said pile (this will happen because Black Whales is such a band).
The quintet officially formed in early 2008. With limited dough and loose song ideas, Black Whales entered Soundhouse Recording and Chroma Sound studios with producer Zack Reinig in early 2008 to record together for the first time, and the resulting fire, drive and intuitively addictive nature of their Origins EP both solidified each members’commitment to and excitement about the band. Before, Black Whales were a good idea; a great project—after leaving the studio, Black Whales were a unit. A team. A Band with a capital B.
Thus, Origins’ thematic content is twofold: obviously, it’s the band’s recorded starting point. More importantly, however, it’s each member shaking off the past and everything that goes with it. As lead vocalist/guitarist Alex Robert explains, “No memories, no regrets, no heartbreak, no blood. The album is meant to sound wide-eyed and optimistic but with lots of ghosts and memories still hanging around. I guess that's as close as it gets to thematic.”
Indeed, on the title track (which starts with a bright, mellow guitar line that is then built upon with echoey toms that are then built upon with more deeply reverbed guitars that sound like they were recorded in a tank across the room), Black Whales’ refrain is “I don’t owe you anything./I don’t owe you anything.” They’re not being dismissive, just honest, confident, explanatory.
There’s so much darkness in their pop, and there’s so much brightness in their shade. Black Whales are far from being one-dimensional; they’ve done what, if one is honest with oneself, only happens rarely: they’ve found perfect matches and musical foils with each other. They’ve found an incredibly textural, experimentally off-center, perfectly hearthitting way of bringing their amazing songs to fruition. Again, quoting Robert: “I think this record shows what kind of music we would have wanted to listen to, before recording it...if that makes sense.”
It does. Black Whales are a force recorded. Black Whales are a force live. Black Whales is the kind of band, and Origins the kind of EP, that will reward you for caring about music…and they’re just getting started.
RECORD CREDITS: All songs on "Origins" were recorded, mixed and produced by Zack Reinig at Soundhouse Recording and Chroma Sound in Seattle, WA during February and August of 2008, except "Young Blood", which was recorded and mixed at Chasing Rabbits by Paulo Pugliese and Black Whales in February of 2009.