Digital Lows CD Release Party

5/6/11

No introduction is needed. Cities Aviv is releasing his first full-length, Digital Lows - a righteous 12 track album - this evening at the Hi-Tone. Cities was even kind enough to release a digital copy of his CD for free. Download it from the link below.

Cities Aviv - Digial Lows

Hiatus

Sorry for the hiatus, I've been busy with... life? I guess. Anyway, I've got a few new bands to pop out there. A few are local a few are not, all are something I would consider enjoyable. Also, if you read this blog will you please do me the favor of following me? It makes me feel important- thus posting more good music for you to enjoy.

Thanks.

Valley Of The Sun + Truckfighters Summer Tour

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Sweden’s Truckfighters to play the U.S. July 2011

Fuzz rock powerhouses Truckfighters are bringing their groundbreaking brand of stoner rock to the U.S. July 13-23.

Truckfighters is a stoner rock band from Sweden. After releasing ep’s in 2001and 2002, they recorded a split-EP with local Swedish band Firestone in 2003. In2005 they released their debut album Gravity X on both MeteorCity Records and Fuzzorama Records. Their follow-up album, Phi, was released in 2007 by Poison Tree Records in the U.S. and on the Fuzzorama label elsewhere. Latest album is Mania where the band has a more progressive sound. Over the years Truckfighters have moved from classic stoner to progressive/alternative metal/stoner. Their sounds has been described as classic desert rock similar to bands like Dozer, Fu Manchu (with whom they have toured), and Kyuss. They have been featured on the MTV Sweden show “Fuzz”.

Truckfighters will be joined for most of their U.S. dates by Cincinnati, OH band Valley of the Sun. The tour will stay on the east coast/midwest. Booking of the tour has just begun, any inquiries should be directed to:

journeytothevalleyofthesun@hotmail.com


Valley Of The Sun has also started a kick starter program to fund their latest album. So if you're into these guys and want to support good music, help 'em out! --> Valley Of The Sun

Dead Gaze

First up is a band that I found when I discovered Flight. They go by the name Dead Gaze and hail from the hills of Mississippi. You should be scared, because this band will melt your eardrums with their garage / surfer-esque sound that has been peppered with a splash of psyche rock - for good measure or course. I have a large problem with admitting this, but they sound a little like Wavves... but better. I'm a big fan of Wavve's album, King Of The Beach, but Dead Gaze has a much more original and honest approach to their sound than Wavves. But who fucking cares, it's good music so listen to it.

Myspace
Dead Gaze

Mount Carmel

A real roots-rock, psyche based, 70's blues rock band is hard to find these days. However, with the popularity of bands like Radio Moscow, Black Keys, and Tame Impala, we're seeing a lot more bands popping up with a sound so influenced and sculpted from the pioneers of rock'n'roll it's hard to not enjoy. Mount Carmel comes from the Columbus, Ohio where they're doing a very good job of keeping a roots sound alive with bands like The Black Keys and Soledad Brothers. Carmel sounds to have major influence from some of the 60's and 70's greats such as: Cream, Beck Bogart Appice and possibly even some Blue Cheer. Don't sleep on this gem if you're into this sound.


Youtube
Myspace
Mount Carmel - Mount Carmel

The Blewjays

Here's another solid group popping up in Memphis. The Blewjays is a garage / rockabilly duo from Memphis TN that is composed of Willaim Stull and Rickie Kyle. If you're a Memphis native you might have caught William Stull performing his solo material or his side project: William Stull and The Bad Men (which is composed of the drummer and front man of The Dirty Streets). I'm not a huge rockabilly guy, so pinning them on influences is hard. However, if you're a fan of Link Wray or Flt Duo Jets, then you'll gladly approve of the Blewjays. They're legit.


Myspace(William Stull)
William Stull & The Bad Men
Facebook (The Blewjays)

The Muddy Reds

It's been awhile since i've heard a good soulful rock'n'roll album I could honestly listen to from start to finish. That all ended when I found out about The Muddy Reds. Their latest release, Mannequin, is a nine track album that will have yourself asking why they're not signed-- at least that was my initial thought. This album has hints of Ryan Bingham's country style rock'n'roll peppered with a Kings Of Leon up-beat soulful feel. Give the album a good listen, because if the the swinging guitars and soulful vocals don't make your head nod you might want to check your pulse. Check their myspace, facebook, or bandcamp for updates. I believe they are touring around west at the moment.

Download/Purchase
Mysapce
Facebook

Knowledge Nick

Yet another young hip-hop artists who is emerging in the Memphis music scene. These dudes are coming out of nowhere! First Total Savage, then Cities Aviv, and now Knowledge Nick. In a city so thirsty for genuine hip hop, we are actually seeing some pretty good talent emerge! I don't need to write a paragraph on why I think knowledge is good, although I will say if you're a fan of Mission, Giant Panda, Zion I, Cunninglinguists, or any well written chill hip-hop, download his EP. Hope the dude keeps it up, we (Memphis) need to hear more. Also, the second link I provided is a track from "Royal T's LP- 4 All Seasons & Knowledge Nicks Second LP- Transcribed Sentiment. LP is set to release early spring 2011." If DJ Hush is writing these beats, don't stop. This shit is real.

The Enlightenment EP
Another Song
Myspace
Youtube

Artimus Pyledriver

This is real southern rock, none of that pussy footin' Scott Stapp vocal shit. Artimus Pyledrive sounds like Bon Scott vocals placed on top of a volcano of explosive southern riffs. In all seriousness, this band is great. Somehow, they've managed to drop an EP in 02 and a full-length in 05 and not been picked up. I can only speculate it's because of lack of exposure and touring? Regardless they have two albums that are 100 mph from start to finish. Check out their pages for updates. They're playing in the Atlanta area and hopefully touring more.

Southern Fried EP
Artimus Pyledriver

Myspace

The GunSlingers

This garage-rock/rockabilly/blues sound, so proudly hails from Memphis, TN and is some real roots soundin' shit-- I'm not kidding. With an attitude made of steel, this drum and guitar duo could rip through a lot of the mainstream southern crap that is so prevalent in the Memphis music scene. More light needs to be shed on bands like The Gunslingers, but on a major scale. The Gunslingers often remind me of Link Wray at times or maybe even some Flat Duo Jets. Either way, I'm proud to say it's from Memphis TN. Here is a link to listen. Check their myspace and facebook for updates and shows.

Myspace
Facebook
Buy / Download / Listen

Tanks

Here's another Rock'N'Roll band that is sure to blast you away. The four piece Memphis, TN based band just dropped their self-titled EP. With a musical style that most suitably fits in the stoner-rock category, this album is peppered with influence ranging from hardcore, punk, 90's rock, to roots based rock'n'roll like MC5. Who really gives a shit about categorizing them though, it's good! You can stream the album here or pick up a copy at a show.

Myspace
Bandcamp

Gypsyhawk

Dueling guitars, melodic riffs, and epic vocals-- all sorts of bad ass shit, rock is supposed to sound like. Gypsyhawk, Based out of California, is a four-piece band that manages to capture a very classic rock sound sprinkled with metal and hard rock influence. This album makes for a sound that is not forced or overdone. The band appears to be headed out on an eastward tour and is probably coming to your town so don't sleep on these guys.

Myspace
Gypsyhawk - Patience and Perseverance

Flight

When I think of Mississippi, deep-fried anything and the birth of blues comes to mind... not electro punk / psyche / lo-fi / garage / awesomeness!! So this next band is a bit mysterious to me and it seems I am not alone on that. As i've read on torrent site what.cd and other blogs, it remains unknown whether Flight is a one-man-band or a quartet. This only makes it more exciting, as Flight may be one big secret being that so few know about them. Regardless, they have an unmistakable sound that encompasses overly distorted vocals, fuzzy guitars and echoed drums that will send chills down your spine. For fans of Wavves, Mgmt, or Cheap Time.

Myspace
Flight - The Lead Riders LP

Duce & The Pit Vipers

Scouring myspace and blogspot for more unsigned and under-appreciated artists, I managed to find a few this week worth posting. Lately I've been listening to a lot of rock'n'roll and riff heavy music... I can't seem to get enough of this shit. With that said, here is one high energy rock'n'roll band from Memphis - Duce & The Pit Vipers. The four-piece, whiskey drinking, party-rock band makes me wish I owned a Harley and could survive a 140mph drive down I240 while being set on fire-- I'm serious. Well, not really, but the music is vigorous and has a driving force. Duce & The Pit Vipers most definitely remind me of a less stoner and more rock basedGlasspack or Nighthorse. Check 'em out.

Myspace

Valley Of The Sun

More stoner-rock! Valley Of The Sun comes from Cincinnati OH and do so with a driving force. With monster riffs in 'I Breathe The Earth' and 'Tail Of The Serpent' this four-piece stoner / rock'n'roll machine comes out strong from the start and is hard to pass up. For a band that's unsigned, they're easily compairable to bands like Priestess and The Sword. I hope to be hearing more from Valley Of The Sun soon. Check 'em out.


Myspace
Website
Bandcamp

Hellbender

This four piece stoner-rock extravaganza hails out of Cookville Tennessee and will melt your face if you are lucky enough to catch them live. I'm serious. This band sounds exactly like you think they sound-- loud. Aside from being incredibly loud they're groovy, riff heavy, and most obviously psychedelic. At times you may wonder if the songs are ever going go end, and if you're like me you'll wish they never did. This band could very well be the second coming of Earthless, but much more doomy. Hellbender keep the jam alive and hopefulle you'll keep them producing more music by supporting them. Check their myspace for tour dates and updates.

Myspace
Facebook
Meltface Records

Hong Faux

Holy shit. Good thing no one checks this blog or else I'd feel bad for not posting for an entire month. So, in that time I should have accumulated at least twenty different bands, right? No. Not at all. In fact, finding good unsinged music is pretty damn hard considering everyone and their mom has a "record label" now. So I'm bending the rules a little bit. Since finding bands that are completely unsigned is so hard, I'm considering small bands that are on small labels just as easily unheard. So with that said, I have three new bands I feel incredibly worthy of showcasing.



Hong Faux, a Sweden stoner/fuzz/rock band with vocals that sometimes remind me of Soundgarden and/or Kamchatka, I can't quite make up my mind. Either way, they're producing a sludgy fuzzy sound with catchy guitar riffs that are comparable to Queens Of The Stone Age with a Fu Manchu guitar tone. This band only has a three track demo that costs whatever you make it. The demo is available on their Bandcamp account. Check 'em out. Highly Recommended!

Bandcamp

Myspace

Facebook

Total Savage

Total Savage. One of two people producing some real hip-hop in Memphis (currently). Well, I shouldn't get ahead of myself. He's producing real hip-hop to my standards. I've grown up on Hieroglyphics, Souls Of Mischief, Mission (Crown City), Zion I, PUTS... & that vein of hip-hop. So, it's a major surprise to hear someone producing anything but Three Six Mafia styled hip-hop in Memphis. Not to mention, him and his DJ are the only ones on stage-- not an entourage of dudes with gym towels and gaudy jewelry. So when someone breaks away from the terrible trend I'm instantly impressed. Savage is creating an interesting blend of unorthodox beats that sound like something out of the early 90's or late 80's. It's funky, soulful at times, and mostly upbeat. What's interesting about Savage is how he doesn't sample anything. He writes all his beats from scratch, writes all his own material and produces a CD quality recoding in his own home studio having done all of this without any know-how. That to me is impressive. You can check him out on his Myspace or Facebook for tour dates where he can be found touring with Memphis's own, aristocrunk, whateverthefuckthatis, Lord T & Eloise. Don't sleep, this dude is good and up 'n coming.

Myspace

Facebook

Cities Aviv

Cities Aviv, woah! This dude has a killer flow. He only has two tracks up right now and the most recent was Coastin' which was produced by Fat Sandwich Records. Aviv is comparable to some jazzy, down-tempo, chill hip-hop and producing a similar sound for fans of PUTS, Mission, Arts The BeatDoctor, & The Visioneers. I can't wait to see more of this guy in Memphis. With a music scene so lacking of this style of hip-hop he could possibly shed light on a less gangster and more chill side of the music, which Memphis has hardly been exposed to-- with the exception of Total Savage, Iron Mic, and a few others in Memphis who are doing their thing. Watch out for him in Memphis and check Fat Sandwich Records for updates.

Myspace

Bandcamp

Cities Aviv Mixtape Download <--- Worth the download

Crusades

Damn! Blossoming out of North Carolina comes a psychedelic, high energy, metal duo that go by the name of Crusades. Similar to ASG and The Sword in some ways, the band has catchy melodies that leave you singing and fuzzy guitar riffs you can’t forget. The band caught my ear after vigorously searching for unsigned music worthy of posting and damnit, they’re beyond worthy. As far as their mysapce goes, there’s only two tracks up, but I’m determined to find an EP or something to post. Hopefully I will. In the meantime, support this band. Hell, book ‘em in Memphis if you can. I’d go see ‘em!

Myspace