Play It By, and By, and By

I discovered these guys early this morning while I was preparing to work on my college essays, but the minute I heard them, I had to put my school stuff down and just absorb what these guys had to offer. A fresh blend of pop-punk and straight-laced hard-rock, Play It By deliver driving rhythms that pump your pulse with melodies that drive you insane with catchiness.

Out of San Luis Obispo, California, Play It By are a sick pop-punk/hard-rock quartet featuring Kyle Dozeman on lead vocals and guitar, Darrin Sarkisian on guitar, Danny "Dan-O" Pozzan on bass, and Ed Marshall on drums. These guys are seriously sick, and even before I get into their repertoire, I just have to say that their music is well constructed, and their playing is tight as hell. The curtain has dropped on winging it; these guys are professionals and they make damn well sure you know it. Though some of their new songs up on Myspace include "Movement Never Lies," "One Step Ahead (So Dance)," and "The Good Years," it is songs from their 2007 demo that instantly attract me, and the ones I want to talk about here. Now I don't know if the songs on the '07 demo were rough cuts, or professionally recorded in a studio, but whatever PIB did, it worked fantastically, and I hope that every other song they record follows suit in this style, because this is a sound that people could really, really dig.

I start my set-list with "Misery in Melody," a pop-punk serenade that fills my senses and blasts me through the clouds on a train of heart-felt vocals and ripping guitar chords. From second one, PIB is synched up perfectly, and as Marshall blasts in on the crash, snare, and toms, Pozzan takes up the pulse of the song, laying down notes that keep your heart thumping and your head moving. One of my favorite parts of this song is Marshall's drum roll right before I'm blasted through a pop-punk chorus by Sarkisian and Dozeman on guitar, as Dozeman's vocals blend elements of Fall Out Boy, Blink-182, and American Hi-Fi into the lace of a brilliant background. Everything about this song is right: Marshall's drums match Pozzan's bass so well it's like one wall of rhythm breaking down your door as Sarkisian's guitar notes highlight the highs of life in brilliant melody. Dozeman's vocals, meanwhile, take me higher through the stratosphere in sing-along phenomena, the perfect icing on an awesome cake. Two thumbs way, way up. The best first track I could listen to. 

Track two is "Love Like a Horror Movie." Like the first song, "Love Like a Horror Movie" continues PIB's dabbling in pop-punk influences, but branches out a little more to the alternative-rock vein, incorporating an almost Angels & Airwaves/(+44)-like drumbeat (ironic, I know lol), and the song is all the better for it. With a chorus that bleeds melody into your ears, there is no way anyone with any sense of melody and pop perfection could not like this track. Pozzan is on his mark in this one, with bass lines that drive you through what feels like a brick wall, but you soon realize is Sarkisian's and Dozeman's tightly-locked guitars. All four guys work so well in this song, I'm not sure anymore if I like "Misery in Melody" better, and I loved that song. This is definitely one of the must-hear songs on the album, and clearly a song with the intensity to be a hit single.

The last track I listen to is "Shipwrecked," a more alternative song than the previous two had been. But don't worry, PIB don't abandon their pop-punk melodies for long, and as Sarkisian wraps us up in notes and progressions, Marshall and Pozzan provide a brilliant stage for the chords and riffs. Of Dozeman, what can be said, other than that his vocals are perfect, and, feeding into and out of Sarkisian's sick mini guitar solo, make this a five out of five stars song. There's no other way to say it; this song rocks. Period, end of story.

But that's not the end of the story for these guys. They're only just getting started. Soon to be moving up to San Francisco, California, Play It By are sure to make a huge splash in the coming months. Keep your eyes out and ears open for these guys, there's no way you'll be able to miss them.

Sounds Like: Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Sum 41, Green Day, American Hi-Fi

Key Tracks from 2007 Demo and 2008 Demo (respectively): "Misery in Melody," "Love Like a Horror Movie," "Shipwrecked," "Movement Never Lies," "One Step Ahead (So Dance)," "The Good Years"

Check out Play It By more at: http://www.myspace.com/playitby, http://www.purevolume.com/playitby and http://www.unsigned.com/playitby  

The Road to Bremen

Hey everyone. I know it's been almost a couple of weeks since I posted about a new artist, but with college applications due so soon, and the holidays, plus getting sick for a few days, I was just swamped with stuff. Luckily though, I found a group last night to help sooth my over-worked mind, and I've been listening to them all day. So, without any furthers digressions, I present to you Road to Bremen.

An alternative-rock/pop-punk band out of Los Angeles, California, Road to Bremen combine sharp-edged alternative-rock rhythms with pop-punk-inspired vocals and melodies. Composed of members Darren Massey (lead vocals), Nick Alley (lead guitar, piano, and vocals), Danny Bell (bass), and Johnny Ashkar (drums and percussion), Road to Bremen's sound showers listeners with a rainbow of influences, from AC/DC and My Chemical Romance to The Strokes and The White Stripes (at least by my opinion). 

I was so floored by this group's debut EP, I couldn't think of any reason in the world why these guys aren't playing shows on Warped Tour, or headlining the pop-punk or alternative circuits with Sum 41 and MCR. Though RTB's EP Foreword starts off with "Oxygen," however, which is in itself a kick-ass track, I'm pushed over the limit with their next song, "Hands Down," the first track that begs to be described here, in luscious detail. Biting the pop-punk heels of "Oxygen," "Hands Down" begins on a slick guitar riff laid down by Alley, and as Ashkar counts in on the drums and Bell pumps us full of anticipation with a building tempo, Massey's Queen-style vocals bring the house down and burn the dance floor up, and this song is already my new favorite song of the week. A song that would be at home on both a rockin' car stereo or a DJ's jam amp, "Hands Down" delivers a punch of raw-edged rock with a nice lace of pop-punk vocals and melody rounding it off. As all four members build towards the conclusion, the floor suddenly drops out, and this song is fucking incredible.

Track three is "Paper Walls," another MCR-esque song that makes phenomenal use of Alley's key prowess, as Ashkar descends into a jazzy drumbeat, but picks up the pace as Bell chimes in with a John Entwhistle-like bass line. Meanwhile, Massey busies himself with combining the vocal styles of Ryan Key with the musical ferocity of My Chemical Romance, and this track is versatile enough to play well next to Kill Hannah, or sit anywhere on The Black Parade. With a bursting chorus that makes use of Bell's blasting bass notes and Ashkar's drumbeats, situated next to Alley's quirky keys and powerful guitar riffs, and Massey's smooth-as-steel vocals, "Paper Walls" is definitely one of the must-hear tracks on the EP.

Though the track "Bitch," is also a fun song, the last song that really sends shivers up my spine is "The Vagrant," a piano-guitar riff-driven song which again melds Queen-style harmonies with MCR theatricality and AC/DC guitars in an unusual, but flattering and interesting fashion. The lyrics are clever as hell, and the melody is catchy to the point that I'll be humming it all night through dinner and as I go to sleep tonight. I know it's been a couple of weeks since I had a group for you guys, but I'm telling you, these guys are well worth the wait. Catchy, clever, and with a sick sense of style that throws back to MCR's theatricality, Road to Bremen is sure to take the alternative/pop-punk circuit by storm. But just because these guys share a few characteristics with some other bands, don't even think of pigeon-holing them in any category. If RTB have proven anything, it's that they're versatile enough to go in any direction they want, and rock at it. I'm already getting money to reserve for Warped Tour next year, because with a sick EP like this, there's no way anyone in their right mind would pass these guys up. 

Sounds Like: Queen, My Chemical Romance, The White Stripes, AC/DC, The Beach Boys

Key Tracks from Foreword: "Hands Down," "Paper Walls," "The Vagrant," "Oxygen"

Check out Road to Bremen more at: http://www.myspace.com/roadtobremen and http://www.unsigned.com/roadtobremen  

Sorry for My Absence

I apologize to all of you who come and check my blog every day for my absence this week. It's been a long, hard week, with work and self-exploration, and I thank you all for being patient with me. I will have another band for you all soon, though. I do apologize for letting a whole week go by, but sometimes these things cannot be helped. Bare with me, and I will have a new article for you soon. Happy holidays and cheers guys (and girls). Peace.

We're All Blaming Johnny

I know you guys are all salivating at the mouth for a new group, and I'm sorry it's been a couple of days since I updated. What with my sister's birthday last Thursday, and mine on Saturday (yes all, I am now 19), it was a busy and crammed weekend, and I still had to make time for at least a couple of my college application essays.

But now I'm back, and do I have a group for you. Out of the same Bay Area in California that spawned Green Day and Metallica, I present you with Blaming Johnny, a five-piece ska-punk band that puts a new twist on the reggae-rock sound. Composed of Sierra Harry (vocals), Jan Lembke (guitar), Josh Lippman (guitar), Justyn (bass), and Erik Falkowsky (drums), Blaming Johnny have built a large following both in their home state and online thanks to their unique female vocal-ska style music, and such songs as "Help Yourself" and "1158."

But I'm getting ahead of myself, and nothing will do these guys (and girl) justice but telling the whole truth. Though they have undergone a couple of lineup changes since their inception, Blaming Johnny have soldiered on, releasing their debut recording, The Driving an Escalade EP, and following it up recently in 2008 with their debut full-length album, The Yellow Album. Though this seemed a tad Weezer-ish to me in the beginning, after listening to the first 15 seconds of the first track, I'm floored, and all of my preconceptions evaporate.

This first track is "Part of the Club," and from the first guitar riffs from Lembke and Lippman, I'm already in love with it. Lembke leads in on a sweet Sublime-esque, ska riff, and then Lippman takes it up a notch with a clear and crisp hard-rock riff. Then Falkowsky drum rolls in, and Justyn's bass line are strongly pumping away. Then comes Sierra Harry's voice, and this song is already a five-star track 45 seconds in. With clear, clever lyrics and a voice that just sweeps you away in melody and tone, Sierra proves to be a most powerful frontwoman, and the song is only better for it. I particularly love the slow down-speed up dynamic and rhythm of the song, and along with Lembke's and Lippman's charging guitar riffs, Justyn's bass locks tightly with Falkowsky's drum beats as we're all brought home on Sierra's vocals. Clearly, this song has to be the lead-off single for the album (at least in my opinion), because the minute a record label hears this, they'd have to be braindead not to sign these guys in a heartbeat. Brilliant. 

Track two is one of the tracks that helped Blaming Johnny build their initial following. "1158" starts with with a more mellow, more contemplative set of notes from Lembke, as Falkowsky slowly builds in with a more post-grunge style drum beat. Then Lippman sears away any doubt I might have had with a sweet progression that burns me from outside in. Love it. Justyn's bass, meanwhile, busies itself with providing the perfect ledge for Lembke's and Lippman's guitars to climb out on. Then the whole dynamic changes. We go from Alice in Chains to Evanescence in the blink of an eye as Sierra blasts in on a vocal line that could pull anyone from a static stupor. Though not pushing her voice to the same ranges as Amy Lee might, Sierra still dazzles my ears with her vocals, even as she opts for a lower key and lower range. What's the big surprise in this song, though? If the post-grunge, Evanescence sound didn't really appeal to you, no worries. For the last minute of the song, Blaming Johnny prove how versatile they really are, as amongst drum rolls from Falkowsky and pick-slides from Lippman and Lembke, they pull back to their reggae-rock, ska-punk sound before finishing the song with a true hard-rock finale.     

The third track on my set-list is "Pirate Party/Retrospekt," and from the recording of the first few seconds of the track, I feel like I should ready myself for something out of "Fiddler on the Roof" (for those of you who've never seen it, it's a great movie). Then Johnny moves to a more ska-rock sound as Falkowsky amps up his drums, and amid cymbal crashes, Lembke and Lippman fly in on ska notes and progressions as Justyn's bass pulls back a little, but still keeps time under the other guitars. Sierra's voice here is ska-rock, yes, but there also seems to be something deeper to it, as it takes on a darker tone than it had in "Part of the Club." This is a definite must-hear track on the album. Certainly not a filler track, and not one that anyone could call fluff. 

The last song I listen to is "Help Yourself." This song is fantastic, beginning on a sick guitar riff by Lembke before blasting into rampaging drum rolls and bass notes from Falkowsky and Justyn, respectively. Then Lippman enters, and his palm-mutes are just what the doctor ordered. Next to Lembke's awesome riffing, one of the things I love most about this song is when the guitars drain out and we're left with Justyn's bass notes. This guy must be understated all the time for being the bassist, but the fact remains that he knows his instrument, and he's damn good at it. Above all the organized confusion of Blaming Johnny's instrumental parts, Sierra's voice pours a sweet, tangy, sugar of vocal notes on to an already incredible song, This is truly amazing icing on an already incredible cake. Even if Sierra's vocals sucked, this song would still rock. But they don't, and because of that, this song is definitely my second favorite of the night, right after "Part of the Club." I could not have finished on a better track, and if these are only four songs for their album, I'd love to see what else Blaming Johnny have up their sleeves. Less Than Jake, No Doubt, move over, Blaming Johnny is here to claim the spotlight they truly have earned. 

Sounds Like: No Doubt, Less Than Jake, Mustard Plug, Evanescence

Key Tracks from The Yellow Album: "Part of the Club," "Help Yourself," "1158," "Pirate Party/Retrosepkt"

Check out Blaming Johnny more at: http://www.myspace.com/blamingjohnny and http://www.unsigned.com/blamingjohnny

And We're Mod Amish

I found these guys today while just typing in random words to Google and seeing who came up with a Myspace account. Luckily though, I was rewarded with the discovery of these guys. I guess sometimes things just happen like that, and you just get lucky for no reason at all other than taking a swing and seeing what you hit.

An alternative/indie-rock band out of San Diego, California, Mod Amish create an all-new sound with their traditional four-man lineup. Composed of Shannon Jones (vocals and guitar), Mike Drake (guitars), Gerry Matthews (bass and vocals), and Jim Benuska (drums), Mod Amish burst out onto the indie/alternative scene with surreal lyrics encased in meldoic and catchy tunes.

Though these guys aren't signed yet (and I can't for the life of me figure out why that is), their album No Use for Sunshine was on UCLA's most played albums of '08, and after listening to a few of their songs I can see why. With a sound that blends Oasis with The Posies, Mod Amish craft a sound that has me swaying, almost like I've discovered an acid-alternative band. A unique combination, and one that my love grows for with every passing second I listen to them.

The first track I listen to from No Use for Sunshine which has me immediately hooked is "Involving a Hearse," a creepy name for a truly alternative song. Starting with a feedback-filled guitar riff by Drake, Jones pulls the song into the stratosphere from second 3 with his unique vocal style. Layed on top of Matthews's pumping bass notes and Benuska's frantic drumming, Jones's vocals are like nothing I've ever heard before. Pretty good for the first 25 seconds of the first song from a band I've never heard of before from San Diego. The song is short and sweet, the way it should be, and just as quickly as it started, it's over. What makes this song so playable for college radio, though, aside from Jones's unique vocals and Drake's melodic, yet garage-rock-inspired guitar, is the rhythm section. Matthews's bass notes synch up nice and tightly with Benuska's drumming, and behind the frantic pounding away there is an almost romantic feel to the song. Five out of five stars easy, and a great first track to listen to.

Track two is "September," a popular play on UCLA college radio, and after hearing Drake's starting guitar riff, it's no wonder why. The song is unique in its ability to exude the feeling of September. I can literally feel the cold air around me as I listen to it, and that's the test of a truly amazing song. Here, Benuska has opted for a minimalist druming style, but that changes dramatically as we enter the first chorus. Then the chains are off, and Benuska is almost Travis Barker-like in his rhythmic style. Beside him, Matthews applies a Krist Novaselic bass line to the verses that almost drowns in the choruses, only to resurface again during the next chorus. While Drake, Matthews, and Benuska make solid use of the Pixies loud-quiet-loud dynamic, Jones adds sparse rhythm guitar riffs to the wall of sound, and vocals that just swirl around you. I am truly so wrapped up in Jones's vocals, made stronger by the music set out by the other three, that if it was the middle of July it would still feel like September. Two thumbs up for this one. Way, way up.

And as "September" trails out "Fade" begins, and I'm glued to the speakers once again by the alternative honey dripping out of them. This one is less meditative, more rock-inspired, and starting on the drum bashes by Benuska, and the hard thumping bass lines by Matthews, Drake and Jones lay down Pixies and Posies-like guitar progression, creating an alternative paradise. Jones's vocals here are amplified by Matthews's vocals as well, and the interaction of the two voices takes on an almost Alice in Chains vocal dynamic. Again, Mod Amish make use of the Pixies' sound dynamic, and the song is only better for it. It's short, it's catchy, and the melody stays with you even after it's ended. That's the mark of a good song; if you remember it.

The last track on my set-list is "Disgrace," a slow, surreal song that grabs me from second one. Drake's guitar is on the ball here, and he sound more and more like Joe Santiago with every note he plays. Jones's vocals and rhythm guitar are steady and controlled; almost hypnotic. Matthews particularly shines on this song, as his bass lines carry the guitars to new heights, and it certainly wouldn't be the same without him. Then there is Benuska, laying down a slow, rhythmic drumbeat. Benuska proves here that the drums don't need to be hit hard or fast to be powerful. The power is in how they relate to the guitars and bass. A truly solid track, and the best track that I could have ended my set-list with. If you haven't heard of these guys yet, you will, and I wouldn't be surprised in the least if it was very, very soon.

Sounds Like: Pixies, The Posies, R.E.M., The Who, Sonic Youth

Key Tracks from No Use for Sunshine: "Fade," September," "Involving a Hearse," "Disgrace"

Check out Mod Amish more at: http://www.myspace.com/modamish

What Do You Guys Want?

Ok so for a few months now, this blog has centered mainly around reviews of new bands and albums. While I will continue to bring you guys new music to listen to and new bands to check out, I also want to know what else you guys want to see and read.

Should I try my hand at interviews? Would you like links to, and news of music videos from these groups when they come out? Shall I continue to write about groups I've already introduced to you, letting you know about new album releases and new songs? Top ten or twenty lists of songs and bands (unsigned and new, of course) for every month? 

Feedback is much appreciated, so I can keep building this blog into something that you all will want to continue to read. Comment on anything you'd like to see here, and if there's something you'd like to add, please feel free to raise your voice with an idea about how I can keep this interesting. 

If you read every day, or regularly, please click on the "follow" button. I want to get to know my readers as much as I can, so please don't shy away from giving me a shout through a comment or email. 

Also, if you haven't already, head over to Facebook and join the group I set up for the blog. just type in New Rock News 43 and search, and it should come up. If you want to friend me, and talk about new ideas, or if you know someone I should review, message me or send me an email. This should be as fun for you guys to read as it is for me to write, so tell me what you want, and I'll try to deliver. 

Who Says You Need a Major Label to Make a Sick Music Video?

Check out these awesome music videos for a bunch of the groups I've reviewed here on Youtube:

Tepetricy - "A Lonesome Night in Triage" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9O1fmneXao

Homebrewe - "Miss You" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57imQkkwRQU

The Flight Station - "The Last Time" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOZv6yZrB6w

Room Next Door - "No King" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak7yCCif5HQ

Narration - "Miracle" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNPjWFTVXd8

Soul Bomb - "Broken Down Angel" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZB1pucPf7Y

Cube 41 - "Nasty Mind" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3H_0Cd6kAk

Heart-Set Self-Destruct - "Burn the Sky" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oojNqfZw7Y

Almost Kings - "On Like That" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ3NJfS3pqo

Shadows Lie - "Dead End" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jx8ji0cJrk