Allston Rock City

Today’s band is Westchester County, New York’s Looking Glass Wars.

Location: Westchester County, New York
Label: Unsigned
For Fans of: Bayside, Brand New
Recommended Tunes: “She’s Mad Madly In Love” and “Is This Really Poison?”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/lookingglasswars
How I Found Them: I’ve been following Looking Glass Wars since they started, they’re made up of ex members from previous well known southern New York indie rock bands.

Speaking of Tennessee, check out Hello Spencer. Ambient, shimmering guitars. Energetic drums. Singer kinda sounds like a mature Dustin from Thrice (minus the screaming). One hit away from being a hit band.

Label: Unsigned
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
For Fans Of: Mute Math, Dredg, Open Hand, National Skyline
Recommended Song: “Compromised Time”

Hello Spencer on Myspace

Nashville has had a long reputation of being a Country Music town, since that entire industry is based there. However, Nashville has much more to offer than country. One band breaking out of Nashville’s country stereotype is indie rock group Lorien. I would describe them as an indie rock version of Muse meets as Tall as Lions. These four gentleman and lady write catchy, well-crafted songs without compromising creativity and musical “complexity”. This band has made their way on to top unsigned band lists from the Daily Chorus and Absolute Punk. Once this band gets done with college degrees and whatever else is keeping them from touring non-stop, they will be able to go as far as they want to go.

Recommended songs: You Got Me Down, Monster Ate the Pilot
Similar Artists: Muse, Gatsby’s American Dream, As Tall As Lions

Visit Lorien on MySpace

La Cosa Nostra is a band I’ve known for a long time, and has some potential, if they ever get all their cards in order they could put out some great music.

Location: Mahopac, New York
Label: Unsigned
For Fans of: At The Drive In, Fall of Troy
Recommended Tunes: “Shutt Yo Mutt” and “Episcapallian Mamallian”(from 1:30 on)
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/lacosanostra44
How I Found Them: Recommendation from a friend.

City of Ships hales from Richmond, VA, but their MySpace simply lists their location at “transient”. This could be in part to a very heaving touring schedule the band is taking part in right now across the entire US. The band has a heavy and big sound that is surprising considering there are only three members in the group. The amount of sound produced by this trio is enough reason alone to give this band some attention. City of Ships as a heavy group is very good, and I’m surprised they aren’t signed to a prominent label for heavier music, but they also manage to write softer and more melodic material that is just as enjoyable. The more I listen to this band the more I enjoy them; they are extremely talented musicians who write well-crafted, intricate, and creative music.

Similar Artists: Isis, Between the Buried and Me, Tool

Check out City of Ships on MySpace or on their Official Website

New York’s Greene Reveal is another band I’ve been following for a good couple years now and am very happy with how they’ve continued to progress as a band. Hopefully someone will pick these guys up soon.

Location: Watertown, New York
Label: Unsigned(I can’t imagine for much longer)
For Fans Of: Circa Survive, Aberdien
Recommended Tunes: “Karakul Carpets VA” and “Happiness”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/greenereveal
How I Found Them: I clicked on their myspace page by mistake a little over 2 years ago, and I thank my mouse.

Label: none
Location: NYC
For Fans Of: Smashing Pumpkins, Muse, National Skyline
Recommended Song: “Daylight”

The song “Daylight” is an epic rock production that you have to hear. Jean-Philip Grobler, a South-African-turned-Brooklynite, is writing incredible music. He has a touring band but unfortunately he’s holed up in South Africa right now working on visa complications.

Kites on Myspace

Lady Radiator is yet another great band out of the great state of New Jersey, and have comprised most of what I’ve been listening to over the past couple days.
Location: Union City, New Jersey
Label: Emerald Moon Records
For Fans of: At The Drive In, Circa Survive, Glassjaw
Recommended Tunes: “Ready Explode” and “Elude”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ladyradiatormusic

This band isn’t exactly unknown, they’re signed to Polyvinyl Record Co. in the US and One Little Indian in Europe. Polyvinyl has always been one of my favorite indie labels in the US and being on Bjork’s label, One Little Indian, just makes them that much more awesome. Asobi Seksu is eclectic pop music, at times upbeat and playful, other times it’s subdued and melancholy, but no matter what they do they do it well The group is a guy, James Hanna, and a girl, Yuki Chikudate (she’s a “looker”). The band is leaving their homebase of Brooklyn to tour the US and Canada before heading off to Europe in November.

Go read more about them and listen to good music at their MySpace page

Delicious dark rock.

Label: The Militia Group
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
For Fans Of: Silversun Pickups, Stateless, Nine Inch Nails (maybe), dark things
Recommended Song: “The Dirtiest Queen”

Complaints:
The singer has a cool voice, but it’s too reminiscent of Maroon 5, not human or relate-able enough.

What They Look Like:
Kinda famous. Maybe not famous enough. I can’t really tell who the “front man” is in their pictures. In this picture above, for example, the two guys on the right are more qualified to be front men than the guy closest to the camera.

Lovedrug on Myspace