When you listen to Matt Hires, what comes across is the sound of an artist self-assured, authentic, and at ease with being completely and utterly himself. On his debut F-Stop/ Atlantic release, Take Us To The Start, the 23-year-old Florida native fuses the intimacy of the great singer/songwriters with indelible pop/rock hooks and propulsive rhythms. The result is a mesmerizing collection of songs that are immediately enchanting, while becoming more deeply rewarding with each listen.

Produced by Eric Rosse (Sara Bareilles), Take Us To The Start is filled with delights, most notably Hires’s voice, an instrument striking in its warmth, expressiveness, and ability to convey a multitude of emotions within a single song. From the first notes of “Honey, Let Me Sing You A Song,” Matt’s vocals envelop the listener, creating an intimate, captivating realm.

Call them what you want. Punk? Rock? Psychobilly? Or just plain wrong. The Koffin Kats don’t even know what to consider themselves but firmly believe in the spirit of Rock n’ Roll and all of its excess and beautiful evil. Having influences ranging from bands such as Alice Cooper, Motley Crue, The Quakes, Tom Waits, and Bad religion. The sound is everything but normal. Detroit, Michigan. June of 2003 marked the arrival of this band. Vic Victor having been in numerous bands but not going anywhere beyond a local bar or the basement was fed up with not being able to be apart of a touring band. Never really being a singer or a front man before he got together with long time friend Tommy T Bags, who would later become Tommy Koffin, and started laying down the material that would become the upright bass throwing, beer slamming, blood gushing, and sonic assault known as The Koffin Kats. They had the songs that resided around thumping upright bass and wild distorted guitar with lyrics of drug use, self loathing, and all things evil.  DamianDetroit came in around early October of 2003. By the end of November they had recorded the first album. 8 songs and self titled it’s a departure from what the band would become musically and stylistically but still holds the sound of the Koffin Kats. If you’re wondering what change is? They have only gotten faster, stronger, and smarter with the songs these days. Damian laid it out in one practice. To be in California by July of 2004 was the goal. It happened. This caught the attention of Hairball 8 Records out of San Antonio, Texas. A deal was struck up to distribute the S/T release and after a summer long tour KK was back in the studio to record Inhumane. Released on Hairball 8, Inhumane was faster and had more anger behind it. Not to mention it was twice as long as S/T. They set out on tour cross country in February of 2005. Then in July. None of the tours were financially that great for the band. Being lucky to break even was a success. This was hard for DamianDetroit who had a house and other real life things to pay for. So Vic and Tommy had to move on and brought in Katch who was a drummer for Tommy’s’ former punk band called P.R.E.S.S. The goal was to not slow down. The tours were fun. The people they met on the road were awesome. The guys were hooked and in November of 2005 they recorded the quick and pissed off Straying From The Pack release. The record was dark and began to show a departure from the psychobilly sound to a punk edge. More so then Inhumane. They toured through 2006 on it and once again found themselves in need of a new drummer. As explained by Vic and Tommy. Some people are made for the road. Those who can live in a van, eat bad food, not worry about money or the future, can detach themselves from girlfriends and family, and whatever other issues that wait back home will survive longer. Road dogs. The band found this in E Balls’ return to drums. 2007 has been busy with non-stop touring of the states and a Canadian tour. During this time the band has written enough material for the a new record.

Ed Kowalczyk of Live - A biography 

Ed Kowalczyk, widely known as the lead-singer, frontman, guitarist of the band LIVE, has built an impressive résumé with his bandmates that includes eight full-length albums, total CD sales exceeding 20 million, a huge international fan base and extensive touring all over the world. Live has been one of the most successful and enduring alternative rock bands of the 1990s and 2000s. 

One of the main things that have enabled Live to maintain a devoted fan base is the substantial and durable nature of their lyrics, which have often reflected Kowalczyk's personal and spiritual concerns. “My approach as a songwriter is to write songs that are not finite and will resonate with listeners for a really long time,” Kowalczyk asserts. “Sixteen years after our first album, Mental Jewelry, I am still able to get something out of songs Live recorded in the early 1990s--and I think that one of the reasons why we have had so many fans for so long is that our fans are also continuing to find nuances in the songs.” 

Ed is releasing his first solo album, ALIVE, on July 6th, 2010. 

Check out Those Darlins here.

BEST OF NASHVILLE & NEXT BIG NASHVILLE PICK "If history has taught us anything, it's that punk rock and old-time country music have more in common than anyone would have ever suspected. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., trio known as Those Darlins illustrate this truism. [They] banded together over their love of The Carter Family's deadpan, crazed music and bring an energy to live performance that recalls the antics of punk heroes such as The Cramps...If the folks who ran the Grand Ole Opry had any sense, Those Darlins would be hawking Goo Goo Clusters and stirring up audiences with originals such as "The Whole Damn Thing," a tale of unrepentant chicken-eating." -EDD HURT, Nashville Scene

NY TIMES PICK "This young country trio from Murfreesboro, Tenn., is a tangle of bare legs, cowboy boots and Southern sass. In defiance of its moniker, the band is resolutely unladylike: “I got drunk and I ate a chicken/I ate a chicken I found in my kitchen/Not just a leg and not just a wing/I’d like to let you know that I ate the whole damn thing,” they yelp over acoustic guitar and mandolin. The band’s songs, which can be deliciously unserious, are as memorable as they are charming." -Amanda Petrusich, NY Times

PITCHFORK- Track Review - "Wild One" "When Those Darlins sing "If you can't handle crazy go ahead and leave," they're not crazy-talking the way Patsy Cline talked crazy-in-love, but insinuating something darker and probably a lot more dangerous. The trio's sassy Tennessee twang and nimble rockabilly swing, however, could have landed them a regional radio showcase with Cline back in the day. Hey, they've already opened for late-career Wanda Jackson in Nashville and, not to whack the hornet's nest of authenticity or anything, make for more legitimate heirs to the pioneering early rock queen's throne than any country-punk act I can think of. First proper single "Wild One" is a brisk, breathless, three-minute drum, bass, and baritone ukulele romp of no-bullshit "my way or the highway" declarations sung in slightly jaded three-part harmonies." — Amy Granzin

The story continues to evolve with Canada's the New Deal, as they celebrate the seismic collision of live, improvised jamming with the energy and flow of contemporary dance music. Since the band's formation in 1999, a self described "beautiful accident,"  North American response has been exceptional. Audiences have embraced what is now called the "New Deal Sound".

At the vanguard of a new progressive style, the New Deal has become a live touring phenomenon. They have appeared at Bonnaroo, Jazz Fest New Orleans, the Coachella Festival, Street Scene in San Diego, Berkfest and the Detroit Electronic Music Festival to name just a few. They have headlined over 400 shows in the past 4 years. The New Deal inspires audiences of all kinds, from packed dance clubs across North America, to spellbound receptions during opening tours with Herbie Hancock or Page McConnel from Phish. The New Deal's second studio release complements their catalogue of 3 live releases. Their sophomore studio recording, entitled "Gone Gone Gone," explores the nuances of tempo, melody and thematic repetition for which the band is so well known. And for the first time ever, the band has invited guest vocalists Feist and Martina Sorbara to add new texture to their musical offering.

Unique, unforgettable and completely original, the New Deal has captured the attention music audiences throughout North America. Their latest studio release will bring the band's celebrated sound to an even larger audience.

The New Deal is Jamie Shields, Dan Kurtz, and Darren Shearer.

"This is the sound of a man on fire. Smart, funny and honestly out of his mind; but he comes back long enough to sing about it. One of the best singer/songwriters I've ever heard."
- Bob Boilen (Host - NPR's All Songs Considered)

Named one of the "best living songwriters" by Robin Hilton (Producer - NPR's All Songs Considered)

"David Dondero is this generation's Townes Van Zandt, a peripatetic tumbleweed casting across the country's highways and dirt roads searching for truth and love. His reedy tenor shuffles through clever verbal forays, over ragamuffin folk, brightened by Dondero's road-wizened stoicism. His latest, Simple Love, features his characteristic wit and unexpected sonic complexity thanks to a full backing band, which joins him on the road."
- Houston Chronicle Feature

"An All-American troubadour. Simple Love full of road-weary Americana. Songs that document that love is anything but simple. Funny stories full of sarcasm, contempt at times and sentimentality. Lots of ups and down."
- My Old Kentucky Blog

"It's easy to like Simple Love... Dondero's detailed descriptions are still the best thing about him. He's able to evoke a complete experiential landscape: suicide bridges, dark, cool churches, muddy rivers."
- Pitchfork (7.0)

"Wilmington, NC man David Dondero is not your average singer/songwriter. He has a magi-like gift for intertwining great storytelling with super catchy melodies that are not bo-ring."
- Usounds

The Northeast Ohio Drum & Music Jam is a group of music minded folk that gather to play music have a few drinks and see what we can make.

The Malah

This eager, young electronica act from Greenville, SC has spent many years tweaking their many musical influences and has developed a unique sound that is captivating hungry jam band listeners, ready for a new genre stand out . As the music begins, a transformation takes place. An eruption of sonic bass boom brings the groove alive and the addition of unique samples creates an atmospheric pressure in your brain. Quick organic drum beats shake the floor and melodic trancey guitar riffs race through your veins. The only release is from the hook that grabs you and quickly sticks in your memory glands. Vibes in the room forever change the ambience each and every session, setting the music of The Malah in a class of it’s own. We invite you to take a musical journey and….Experience the Electro~grooves!

The River Junction Band has just had an amazing year, opening for such acts as Toby Keith, Travis Tritt, Johnny Reid, George Canyon, Aaron Pritchett, Julian Austin, Jamie Warren, The Road Hammers, Tara Oram, Doc Walker, & Jessie Farrell. 

Its no wonder they captured the 2008 "Most Popular Country" Group from Scene Magazine, and are currently in the running for the Toronto Independant Music Awards "Best Live" electric performance. Their incredible debut EP produced by Robert Nation, at E.M.A.C Recording Stuidios in London Ont. Canada has had rave reviews. Their singles "Overdrive" and "Born Country" have had much sucess on the European internet TSP Radio, along with several radio stations accross Southwestern Ontario.