The Drums

The Drums are an American indie pop band from Brooklyn, New York. The current lineup consists of Jonathan Pierce (vocals), Jacob Graham (guitar), Connor Hanwick (drums), and Tom Haslow (guitar). Haslow only plays with the band during live events. Founding members Jonathan Pierce and Jacob Graham first became friends as children, having met at a summer camp. Soon after their first meeting they formed the electro-pop group Goat Explosion. The two separated for several years: Pierce formed indie rock group Elkland which quickly gained attention and was signed by Columbia Records; meanwhile, Graham formed Horse Shoes which was signed by Shelflife Records. Eventually, having both grown tired of electronic music, they decided to switch from synthesizers to guitars, and formed the Drums in late 2006, recruiting drummer Connor Hanwick. The band cite their major influences as The Wake, The Smiths, Joy Division, The Zombies, The Tough Alliance, The Legends, The Shangri-las and Orange Juice. Graham also mentions that reverb in general has played a major role in their sound: "...If reverb didn't exist we wouldn't have bothered trying to start a band." This is "Best Friend" off of their debut album The Drums.

http://thedrums.com/

Smelly Dog

Maps & Atlases

Maps & Atlases is a rock group from Chicago, IL, equally influenced by folk and experimental music. They have often been labeled as a math rock band though their music has developed a slightly more pop-oriented style over time. Maps & Atlases formed in the fall of 2004 when the founding members met in art school at Columbia College Chicago. Shiraz Dada (bass), Chris Hainey (drums), Dave Davison(guitar/vocals), and Erin Elders (guitar) first came together trying to find a sound that was both technical and organic, along the same vein as their musical influences. Shiraz Dada is the only member of the group who was born and raised in the Chicago area. Chris Hainey is originally from Texas, Dave Davison from Pennsylvania, and Erin Elders grew up in Hawaii. Dada is also a sound engineer and recorded all of the band's early material at their studio/practice space. The group was also featured in a Pabst Blue Ribbon advertisement in The Onion (to add to their growing fame). This is "Israli Caves" off of their debut album Perch Patchwork released in June of 2010.

http://www.mapsandatlases.org

Smelly Dog

Twin Shadow

Twin Shadow is the stage name of American musician George Lewis Jr. Lewis was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Florida, before eventually relocating to Brooklyn and adopting the Twin Shadow moniker. In 2010, he released his debut album Forget, produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear. The album has been described as "steeped in 1980s new wave", "building from streaks of haunting synth textures" and "hazily new wave-tinged pop". I couldn't seem to pull up much information on this band as a whole. I am fairly new to this band and look forward to seeing them live when they stroll through town. This band has a lot of potential if it sticks to its roots! This is their song "At My Heels" off of the debut album.

www.twinshadow.net

Smelly Dog

The Soft Pack

The Soft Pack is a garage rock band hailing from San Diego, CA, but is now based out of Los Angeles. The band was originally named The Muslims, but changed the name due to "ignorant and racist" comments. The current lineup consists of Matt Lamkin (vocals/guitar), Matty McLoughlin (guitar), David Lantzman (bass), and Brian Hill (drums). Matt Lamkin has stated Soft Pack can describe the band as being "well mannered" or it can refer to a device that when worn is intended to convince others that the wearer has a penis. Having released records through labels such as 1928 Recordings, Sweet Tooth Records, Caspian Records and I Hate Rock n' Roll, the band is currently signed to Kemado Records. The band's single "Answer to Yourself" was the final song streamed on WOXY.com before its sudden shutdown on March 23, 2010. The song has also been used in the new Grolsch beer commercial that aired in August of 2010. This is that very song off of their debut album The Soft Pack that was released in February 2010.

http://thesoftpackofficial.com

Smelly Dog

Best Coast

Best Coast is an American indie rock band based out of Los Angeles, CA. The band currently consists of Bethany Cosentino, who writes all of the band's songs and fronts the group, multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno, and former Vivian Girls drummer Ali Koehler. The band is recognizable for their fuzzy, low-fidelity sound in the vein of surf rock. They signed to the labels Mexican Summer (US) and Wichita Records (Europe), who released debut album Crazy For You in July 2010. Prior to this the band released a number of singles on smaller independent labels, including Make You Mine on Group Tightener and Something In The Way on Dean Allen Spunt's Post Present Medium label. The band made a decision not to include material from these releases on their debut album. This is "crazy For You" off their debut album of the same name.

http://www.bestycoasty.blogspot.com

Smelly Dog