BrandsForBands

Born into a space between the notes of Fleetwood Mac and the words of Sylvia Plath’. Running Red Lights is an indie/folk/rock quartet with members from small towns all across Eastern Canada. As described by Chicago music blog, Direct Current, they are 'a charming mix-up of breezy Fleetwood Mac-styled song-craft with bold strokes of folk, modern Americana and a hint of good old soul vibes'. The band’s first full-length album “There’s A Bluebird In My Heart” was named the 'most eagerly awaited album of 2014' by ROKLINE Magazine. The leading single Mulberry Love was named #1 Song of 2013 by N.Y Blog Given and Taken in Ink and the popularity of the song allowed the band an opportunity to perform on the nationally televised program Canada Am. Since the release of the album the band has been getting sweeping praise from music journalists and bloggers across the world.


RECENT PRESS QUOTES:

This is beautiful, melodic and harmonious stuff with lush instrumentation throughout and for fans of the mighty Fleetwood Mac this is a dream come true. And as for the Americans? Well, they'll just have to start trying harder I think. Bieber doesn't even come close to Running Red Lights'. -Listen with Monger, Jan 20, 2014

'Few songs have captured my attention as quickly and forcefully as 'Mulberry Love'. Since it arrived in my inbox I have not listened to another song. 'Mulberry Love' is the kind of song that makes other songs not matter'. -NY Blog Given and Taken in Ink (#1 Song of 2013)

they've struck gold' -California Blog Music Murmur Jan 14, 2014

Running Red Lights showed last night that they are the complete package. They have the songwriting talent, instrumental proficiency, showmanship, passion and wide appeal to make a really big splash with their upcoming album. Expect big things'-Toronto Rhapcity, March 2013

Wild arctic nature. Big city pulse. Fearless synthesizers, miles and miles of reverb, and delicate rhythms. Delicious swedish indietronica from Stockholm by way of San Francisco and the cold northern regions of Sweden. Long nights of dancing and long hikes in the mountains. Single "UR Road" feels like a long fun summer distilled into four minutes of sweet electropop with bouncy hooks and lush vocals. There's even some whistling in there as well. Sameblod is one of Swedens most promising and exciting new acts - Frederick and Mikael in Sameblod have received lots of blog-attention, even more plays on Soundcloud and hopefully this is just the beginning.

Alexi Glickman began performing and releasing music as Sandy's in 2012 after fronting the Botticellis and touring with Little Wings. In Summer of 2014 Thomas Campbell put out Sandy's debut record, Fourth Dementia, via Um Yeah Arts.

On his new EP, Prom, he wraps five melodic gems with layers of vintage tape echo and open ­tuned Stratocaster shimmer for a dreamy late­ summer slow dance. Alexi recalls, “my first memories of music were in these big echoey rooms watching my Dad and his dance company rehearse. I wanted to make an EP that had a presence like that.” Prom features album art by Nat Russell that depicts a lone guitarist playing for a seemingly vast, empty landscape— save for the multitude of glowing stars in the cosmos. It’s a lonely image but also a transcendent one­­ in the same spirit as the opening lines of Chris Bell’s I Am The Cosmos, “Every Night I tell myself I am the cosmos / I am the wind / But that don’t get you back again.”

Lyrically, Prom deals with a similar kind of social desolation— when friends drift away after school or turn their backs on their old friends as they pair off to get married. “Sometimes there’s an openness of spirit that begins to fade in people as they grow older— songs like "Consolidated Identity" are a kind of last dance with that person before they become someone else.” Recorded mostly live to a 1960s Scully 4-track in a house in the Sierra Foothills of Northern California, Prom centers around Alexi’s guitar— an on old Fender, open tuned, echoplexed—reverberating in the old wood panels of the forest dwelling turned recording studio.

Sandy’s band, made of Burton Li (the Botticellis), Nick Aives, (The Range of Light Wilderness, Vetiver), Dave Muller, and Jeremy Black (Apollo Sunshine), blend into one instrument— winding through rich harmonic passages like they were riding a wave.

“I decided to keep two tunes on the EP instrumentals to invite folks to listen to them in a different way. Vocals can sometimes steal the show—when there’s an intricate composition underneath you wonder if anyone notices. I have vocal versions that I’d like to put out someday but I thought opening with an instrumental on each side of the EP was a fun way to welcome folks into this little world.”

Calling all Hobos, Twisters, Freaks, and Geeks: pogo the crust out yr eyes, and marvel in this blindingly bright, full color 3-D world of ours. The sunsets are getting more beautiful 'ery damn day thanks to pollution. You can order some psilocybin on the internet and watch nukes explode online all from the comfort of your own bed! Get outdoors cuz life is beautiful and everything is terrible. It's so yo gabba great that God itself is here. Why not R-O-C-K in the USA? From yr Bedrock in Cali-forn-i-a! Do the Flintstone flop and go WAY OUT! Close yr eyes and pretend yr a cave person (like you really have to pretend) and yr riding Space Mountain at Disneyland for the 1st time. Yeah friend! 2001 is here again! Welcome back to the future!

I'm a (music) nut. What kind of music am I into? Everything on the menu with extras on it. I can only choose one? I'll take ROCK 'N' ROLL, then. Rock 'n' Roll, in all it's twisted gnarly rooted glory, is what SHANNON AND THE CLAMS (da) do (ron ron) heads and tails above and more importantly, BEYOND the other troglodytes and biscuit-heads out there. Can a group be a "girl group" if there is only one girl in the group? Can a modern working band be considered "oldies"? No silly, but the rules are none, and anything goes, and this is PUNK, punk. Or is it rock ‘n’ roll, or whatever? It is SHANNON AND THE CLAMS and they do what they want. Do yrself a favor and tune in yr tinfoil hat. From pop ballads to doo woppers, bomp stompers and punk rippers, country clippers and some psych-o trippers, it's all R’n’R and it's all right there in the Clams’ hooded velvet trick bag. Ya feel lucky, punk?

SHANNON AND THE CLAMS are rumored to be from NOW in Oakland California and comprised of Shannon Shaw (vocals, bass), Cody Blanchard (vocals, guitar), and Ian Amberson (drums, vocals). What started as an open mic project for a shy, young Shannon to try out some tunes ended with the Clams meeting and forming a band. Many have said to have been possessed by thee (eerily similar at times) haunted howls and beautiful growls of their two lead vocalists, hypnotized by their heavy heartbeats, and mesmerized by their magical music. This is a ride that contains both thrills and chills so hold on tight. Your ears may become infested with a real Buddy Holly jolly kinda joy (oh boy) while you stutter along to a hiccupy song. Take a scratch and a sniff at these stickers and get bit by their bad-brained snarls. It's always Christmas (if you want it). It's your party time, and it's excellent. Cry-yi-yi if you want to, but be sure to surf a splish-splash with a laugh later.

The reality is, these Three Little Rascals broke free of our gang and their time, stopped thru the decades, soaked up the sounds ‘n’ spuds…. and like the lady and gentlemen they are, gifted us with the honor to hear their soundtrack of their brains – and their wonderful rock ‘n’ rule of the now and forever. SHANNON AND THE CLAMS present to all of us the greatest present: their first LP for Hardly Art, Dreams in the Rat House.

--NOBUNNY, 2013

Sleep Thieves is an Irish electronic music act from Dublin, Ireland. The band consists of Sorcha Brennan (Vocals, Keys), Keith Byrne (Guitar, Keys) and Wayne Fahy (Vocals, Keys and bass). The band are currently recording a follow up to their EP Islands released in 2012. A new single titled "Sparks" is due for release in September 2013 with the album due for release in the first quarter 2014.

Sleep Thieves play moody and hypnotic electronic music, described as 'disco-noir' by the Irish Times. They have built a loyal live following throughout Ireland for their vital and atmospheric performances.

Islands EP : "Stream of the week : .....think wave-y-gothic vocals (Austra/Fever Ray/The Golden Filter) floating in and out from the dark to the bright side and back!" – Deer De Bois, (Belgium), May 2012 "The songs are dipped in atmospherics .... a brooding synth and vocal refrain on ‘Out Of The Darkness’, a stepping out into the clearing of sorts that indicates the band’s new identity and mood.." – Niall Byrne, Nialler9.com, May 2012

“When we write songs, we start with our own experience and dig to find a unique angle to capture and communicate relatable human emotions and situations. Whether it’s about identity, relationships, fucking, whatever, we try to be vivid and specific about the universal and timeless.  We want to do more than just tell you about our love, pain, desire etc… we want to pull you right into the middle of it.”   -Danielle Harris of Slow Sugar on their forthcoming EP.

Bursting onto the scene in March of 2015, Slow Sugar has been rapidly proving their worth among the seemingly endless supply of NYC hopefuls clawing for their chance at stardom. Armed with a mix of pop and indie sensibilities, their carefully crafted alternative pop sound is not only immediately infectious, but also intricate and deep.  After only a year on the scene, its clear Slow Sugar is a force to be reckoned with in the New York pop game.

A chance meeting in a student jazz combo at the University of Pennsylvania (and a shared self-proclaimed “misfit” mentality) brought together the sultry vocal stylings of lead singer Danielle Harris and songwriting chops of guitarist and vocalist Alex Utay in 2012. While Harris completed her degree in art history and Utay went the clock-punching route with a marketing position at Pepsi, the duo kept in touch. Upon Harris’ graduation in 2014, which ironically coincided with Utay putting in his two weeks notice at Pepsi, they began collaborating on a regular basis for the remainder of the year, churning out songs that would make even the most jaded industry veteran sit up and take notice. With a growing catalog of songs and years of pent up enthusiasm, Slow Sugar was finally ready to take NYC by storm.

Their live debut came at the end of March 2015 with a packed show Bowery Electric, and it has been nothing if not explosive since then. Slow Sugar went on to spend the rest of the year playing and selling out some of the city’s most renowned clubs and festivals, such as Communion’s NYC showcase at Rockwood Music Hall, Mercury Lounge, CMJ at the Bitter End, and a huge show at Highline Ballroom in December 2015.

Riding the wave of this momentum, the duo headed into the studio during the winter of 2015/2016 to record their highly anticipated debut EP with up-and-coming producer Jon Buscema. Harris and Utay have come a long way from their days of text books and college bands, and judging from their captivating live show and killer upcoming EP, it’s quite clear: Pop has never tasted so good.

Social Studies crafts intricate songs that combine angular indie rock and classic twee-pop. What distingishes the San Francsico-based group is their ecclectic, complex song writing: unusual structures and mathy beats are tempered by soft edges and danceable casio hooks. Moody, defiant and hopeful, the lyrics celebrate duality through themes of discontent, violence, innocence, renewal, nostalgia, regret and joy. All these elements take shape in unpredictable, catchy songs that burrow into your consciousness and demand repeat listening and a critical reading between the lines. Combine this imaginative songwriting with a consistently high energy live show, and it is no surprise that Social Studies has generated a loyal fanbase and strong buzz in the SF Bay Area and beyond.

The New York based Spires seemingly came out of nowhere last year, the rock band burst onto the scene last Summer with a Residency at Pianos on the Lower East Side. After winning over audiences and media alike with this stunning entrance and highly praised live sets at the Northside Festival and CMJ they followed it up with shows with Temples, The Horrors, Toy, Noah and the Whale, Allah-Las, Widowspeak, Caveman and Hookworms.

Their debut single "Candy Flip"(b/w "Comic Book) was released by 401K Music in the US and on the Too Pure Singles Club in the UK to great critical acclaim from both sides of the Atlantic. BBC 6 Music made it their single of the week, KEXP championed the band and featured them in session, the NME, The New York Times, Brooklyn Vegan, all raved about the band and the single which was produced by Connor Hanwick of The Drums and mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer (Muse, Johnny Marr, Alberta Cross, Temples).

New Zealand born Sasha Carlson (guitar/singer) loves to go on vacation. He basically lives for it. During one such vacation, he met Aussie born Toto Vivian (guitar/keys/BV’s), and the two bonded over a strong love of life and music. Spending the summer in the idyllic setting of Bryon Bay, the two soaked in the sun and spit it out into a bunch of well-crafted, neo-shoegaze, pop songs.

With summer coming to a close, Sasha convinced Toto to help him continue his vacation by taking a trip to London. After hanging out in the East End of London, they decided to make the vacation a permanent one. Joining up with British Thomas Beal (bass), they took up in a Hackney bedroom to self-record. Booked for their first gig, they had one problem – no drummer. Flying buddy Jacob Moore (drums) in from New Zealand a week before the gig, SPLASHH, named after a favorite childhood water park, has gotten off to a furious start and has never looked back.

Described as making happy, sun-drenched music that is inspired by the nostalgic spirit of the 90’s, Splashh’s sound is based on distorted grooves, dreamy nostalgia and melody. Filled with carefree attitude, their music transports the listener to the summers of yesteryear kicking back with good friends. It sounds of dreamy fuzz being thrust through the walls of your neighbor’s garage as the ‘slackers on summer holiday’ dream of adventure, fun and the open road. Leaving the beaches behind for a small bedroom in Hackney, the result is a myriad of floating fuzz laden grunge pop tunes with a punk twist.

Featuring singles “Vacation”, “Need It”, and “All I Wanna Do”, assembled together with unreleased material, Comfort will be released via Brooklyn indie Kanine Records this summer.

After forming in Chicago in 2009, Stepdad (then roommates ultramark and Ryan McCarthy) soon moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in order to write and record their debut offering Ordinaire EP. After tremendous local response, the band grew to four members in order to perform their avant brand of electro-pop live. With the help of bassist Alex Fives and drummer Jeremy Malvin, the band gained popularity on tour and catching the attention of critics and fans alike.

"Jungles" starts off this album with a sense of dark optimism in the face of ruin, finding ultramark intoning "we don't belong to ourselves/they've been planning their attack/we belong to places/strong and brave, courageous our tired faces." The following nine cuts, however, promote a poise of lightheartedness that's sometimes hard to find in the world of modern electronic music. "My Leather, My Fur, My Nails" is perhaps a whimsical take on an overbearing relationships, in which one half of the couple wishes to wear the other around like a coat. And why not? If "My Leather, My Fur, My Nails" should be one extreme, then the following track, "Cutie Boots," is at the opposite end of the same spectrum of love, complete with a heartwarming jangle of acoustic guitar, xylophone-esque synth lines and hushed vocals. Stepdad's original version of Ordinaire EP could easily stand alone, but in the addition of bonus tracks "Fine Love" and "Magic Stones" we're seeing a sure sign of good things to come, leaving the listener with a want for what's next in store for this talented quartet of musicians.