Antibalas
By Mandana Beigi
Security

Born and breed in Brooklyn, New York, this band is as diverse, complex, and captivating as the city that brought them together. Antibalas, which is Spanish for “bulletproof,” is sort of like the Ozomatli of the East Coast.

Story appears in issue # 25   Buy Issue

The One Am Radio
By Mandana Beigi
This Too Will Pass

This Too Will Pass is Hirshikesh Hirway’s (pronounced rishie-kaysh) solo debut on Dangerbird Records, featuring Hrishkesh on guitar, cello, drums, and drum programming with a stellar line-up of contributing musicians on other instruments.

Story appears in issue # 25   Buy Issue

Tobias Froberg
By Mandana Beigi
Somewhere In The City

Here is an incredibly talented singer/songwriter straight from Gotland, Sweden’s largest island, in the middle of the Baltic Sea. Tobias Froberg is one of the many musicians who have been inspired by the natural beauty and peaceful lifestyle of an island that has long been home to artists for generations.

Story appears in issue # 25   Buy Issue

Buffalo Killers
By Mandana Beigi
Buffalo Killers

2006 was a disappointing year for the fans of Thee Shams (pronounced “The” Shams), who had to bid farewell to this pivotal Cincinnati garage band. Within months of the demise of Thee Shams, the Gabbard Brothers, Zachary (Bass/vocals), Andrew (guitar/vocals), and longtime friend, Joseph Sebaali (drums) came together to form what is now Buffalo Killers. With a name controversial enough to piss off vegetarians (and possibly, Native American, too), the trio is for the most part a psychedelic rock spirit with Midwestern blues/country sensibilities at heart.

Story appears in issue # 24   Buy Issue

Two Gallants
By Mandana Beigi
Nothing to You

Pulling their name from a James Joyce story, this San Franciscan duo began its journey a couple of years ago playing outside of the city’s public transportation terminals. Slowly developing a local fan base, Two Gallants managed to become one of the most popular homespun bands from San Francisco.

Story appears in issue # 24   Buy Issue

Mike Dillon’s Go-go Jungle
By Mandana Beigi
Battery Milk

Mike Dillon’s personal history is just as interesting as his musical background. Born and raised in Houston, Dillon was a member of the essential Texas bands: Billy Goat, and Hairy Apes BMX - though, his musical journey continued on with experimental groups such as The Malachy Papers, Critters Buggin, and Garage A Trois. Dillon, a percussionist by trade, re-discovered the vibraphone while overcoming drug addiction. Having no more gear to pawn except his vibes, he entered into his own special ‘rehab’ by learning to play Thelonious Monk’s “Well You Needn’t.”

Story appears in issue # 24   Buy Issue

120 Days
By Mandana Beigi
120 Days

This is the new generation of rock. In fact, if there were an electronic/neo rock revolution, 120 Days should be the ones leading the movement. They are the epitome of a sound that has traveled through the tunnel of time and been influenced by generations of rockers. From the Velvet Underground, Joy Division, and Kraftwerk to the Stooges, David Bowie, Primal Scream and Radiohead, this band reflects the passage of time, the classic influences, and the evolution of music all at once. They are also the first Norwegian band to ever be signed directly to a US label.

Story appears in issue # 23   Buy Issue

Aterciopelados
By Mandana Beigi
Oye

After nearly five years of silence, the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated Columbian rockers are back with Oye, their first studio album after Gozo Poderoso (2001). In the past few years, Andrea Echeverri (vocals, guitars) and Hector Buitrago (bass, arrangements) were both dedicated to their solo projects, which were well-received by fans and critiques equally.

Story appears in issue # 23   Buy Issue

Dj Krush
By Mandana Beigi
Stepping Stones: The Self-remixed Best

Japanese mixmaster/producer, DJ Krush (Hideaki Ishii) was born in 1962 in Tokyo. After watching the movie Wild Style in the early 80s, he was inspired to become a DJ. The next day he bought some “DJing” instruments and became obsessed with the idea of mastering the art of turntablism. His first band Krush Posse was formed in 1978 and gained him tremendous recognition as Japan’s first DJ to perform with live musicians on the stage.

Story appears in issue # 23   Buy Issue

Million Billion
By Mandana Beigi
Ready.Fire.Aim.

From packed residencies at Hotel Café and Tangier to frequent shows on the Sunset Strip, this LA trio has made a name for itself at the local hot spots. Gavin Bellour (lead vocals), Brian Ulrich (drums), and Yonatan Elkayam (keyboard/upright bass/harmonica) first played on stage together in 2005, and within a year, not only were they were able to build a strong local fan base, but they also set a release date for their debut album, Ready, Fire. Aim. (Mercy).

Story appears in issue # 22   Buy Issue

The Bronx
By Mandana Beigi
The Bronx

So, how about a band that shouts “welcome to your shitty future” and provides 3-D glasses to see them live on the “Bronx-O-Vision” tour? They claim that “[their] scientists are working overtime to ensure that optimum visual balance and musical gratitude are achieved simultaneously.” Their second self-titled album (and first major release) was recorded in a Venice Beach studio that was allegedly a former meth clinic where “vocals were tracked separately on a microphone that Hitler used to address the Motherland!” That is, in fact, the kind of weirdness and dark humor that makes you hooked on their music immediately.

Story appears in issue # 22   Buy Issue

Hello Fever
By Mandana Beigi
Broken Lines

As an indie post-punk band, Hello Fever is far from embodying the linear structure and sound of a three-piece act: a singer/guitarist, a drummer, and a bass player! Opting for a more dynamic line-up, all three band members contribute to the vocals and share the spotlight. Hello Fever – Chy Lin (drums, vocals), Sam Farfsing (guitar, vocals), Jonah (bass, vocals) – is a minimal indie group of untrained rockers who have built a collaborating platform in the creation and performance of their music.

Story appears in issue # 22   Buy Issue

Mexican Institute Of Sound
By Mandana Beigi
Mejico Maxico

From the underground music movement of Mexico City comes an audio collage of electronica, pop, cumbia, dub, and cha-cha-cha.

Story appears in issue # 21   Buy Issue

Gor
By Mandana Beigi
Gor

Armenian world music artist Gor Mkhitarian’s US debut is a solid step into the American alternative music scene. A seamless blend of Armenian traditional music and jazzy/folky Western pop, this is the kind of album that you would play over and over again!

Story appears in issue # 21   Buy Issue

Janove Ottesen
By Mandana Beigi
Francis’ Lonely Nights

Francis’ Lonely Nights is Janove [yah-NO-vuh] Ottesen’s solo debut with twelve well-crafted, vivid songs. For those familiar with Ottesen’s alter ego, Janove “The Jackal” Kaizer – front man of the popular band, Kaizer Orchestra, this album will be a surprising experience.

Story appears in issue # 21   Buy Issue

Brandi Shearer & The Robin Nolan Trio
By Mandana Beigi
Rendezvous At The Nightery

Amoeba Music, the largest indie record chain in the US, is launching its own label in April with three releases including Rendezvous at the Nightery from Brandi Shearer and the Robin Nolan Trio. The album is a diverse collection of Gypsy/Jazz tunes highlighted by Shearer’s silky seductive vocals and the Bay Area’s most celebrated gypsy trio. A series of dazzling in-store performances by the band prompted Amoeba to sign them and celebrate the debut of both the label and the record in the spring of 2006.

Story appears in issue # 20   Buy Issue

Nyco
By Mandana Beigi
Two

From the Windy City comes this 4-piece rock band with a great deal of classical sentiments and training. Ted Atkatz, the principal percussionist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, founded the band while on a yearlong sabbatical from the CSO. He traded his drumsticks for a Gibson acoustic guitar and a Nord Keyboard to put a different spin on his musical energy. He wrote 12 songs and collaborated with the Chicago’s finest musicians including the trio who later joined him to form NYCO - Devin Staples (drums, vocals), Kells Nollernberger (bass vocals), and Dave Saenger (guitar).

Story appears in issue # 20   Buy Issue

Ellery
By Mandana Beigi
Lying Awake

Tasha and Justin Golden first met at college in Cincinnati, where their initial attempts to play music together were nothing more than casual experiments. They soon began their musical journey as “Diving the Plunder” at a number of local venues. Soon after, the two got married and spent many weekends traveling, writing, and performing music while dedicating their weekdays to studying and finishing up school. During their senior year at college, Tasha and Justin recorded their very first album, which was originally intended to be just for a few friends. To their surprise, the number of requests poured in within a few weeks and the duo found themselves making more home copies that they could possibly handle. So, they decided to professionally master and properly manufacture the album.

Story appears in issue # 20   Buy Issue

The Bosch
By Mandana Beigi
Buy One, Get One

This high energy, fast-paced, pop/punk/rock quartet from New York City will rock your world and have you on your feet, dancing, jumping, and screaming before the end of the first track.

Story appears in issue # 19   Buy Issue

The Exit
By Mandana Beigi
Home For An Island

The above verses perfectly reflect the vibe and the soul of this album; it’s all about being in love and/or being alive. And in so many ways, Home For An Island vocalizes all the insecurities, fears, and heartaches that have filled the world in the past few years.

Story appears in issue # 18   Buy Issue

Girls On Film
By Mandana Beigi
Danceteria

Part retro, part progressive, this four-piece girl band from Tallahassee, Florida has managed to put a new spin on electronic music.

Story appears in issue # 18   Buy Issue

The Red Note
By Mandana Beigi
Weatherman

What began as a series of solo acoustic performances in the Czech Republic and Ireland is now a mesmerizing blues-based, Latin-inspired live rock band.

Story appears in issue # 18   Buy Issue

Mobius Band
By Mandana Beigi
The Loving Sounds of Static

This dynamic trio hails from Shutesbury, Massachusetts (population 1,800); a small town band with a big town sound! Selling more than 5,000 copies of their self-recorded and released EPs, Mobious Band wrote the songs of their debut LP, The Loving Sounds of Static, in the basement of their isolated split-level place at the end of a long dirt road in Shutesbury. But the sound was bound to break out of the 27square miles limits of their hometown and travel, so that you and I can get the chance to restore our faith in electro pop/rock.

Story appears in issue # 17   Buy Issue

Randy & The Bloody Lovelies
By Mandana Beigi
Lift

If you’ve never heard of the Bloody Lovelies, Lift is pretty much going to be the debut record for you (with some changes, which we’ll get into in a little bit), but for those of you who do know the band and have heard their debut, Some Truth and a Little Bit of Money (2003), this is going to be an interesting sophomore release.

Story appears in issue # 17   Buy Issue

The Living Things
By Mandana Beigi
Ahead Of The Lions

Finally a good straight-up rock ‘n’ roll band that doesn’t mess around and knows how to bring out that fiery, trashy sound that’s been dead for a while. It is a band of brothers: Lillian, Eve, and Bosh Berlin.

Story appears in issue # 17   Buy Issue

World Leader Pretend
By Mandana Beigi
Punches

“This is my world… And I am the world leader pretend… This is my life… And this is my time” -- that was R.E.M.’s subtle and mysterious tune of the late 80s (and one of my all time favorites). Whether it was an inner monologue in self-reflection and self-hatred, or a typical experience of internal conflict, or a political shout about one man’s power and stupidity, the song remains as oblique as it did 20 years ago.

Story appears in issue # 16   Buy Issue

Nortec Collective
By Mandana Beigi
Tijuana Sessions Vol. 3

Four years ago, Tijuana introduced the world to the gang of Nortec Collective: Fussible (Pepe Mogt), Bostich (Ramón Amezcua), Panóptica (Roberto Mendoza), Clorofila (Jorge Verdín) and Hiperboreal (Pedro Gabriel Beas). The city that has and will continue to live under the shadow of both San Diego and the rest of Mexico is home to these five amazing artists, who have come together and packed dance floors across the world. And electronica hasn’t been the same since Nortec’s first Tijuana Sessions in 2001.

Story appears in issue # 16   Buy Issue

Pelican
By Mandana Beigi
The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw

Although many have attempted to label and/or categorize this Chicago quartet in various genres, Pelican’s music is a sound that doesn’t really fit into any existing genre.

Story appears in issue # 16   Buy Issue