Someone sign these guys
The end of the world… I mean, year… is approaching. That means it time for end of the year lists and since the other writers on this site know more about almost everything than I do, I decided my first list for the end of ‘o5, would be Top 10 Unsigned Bands/Artists. In Letterman Top 10 style, I will be counting down form 10 to 1. Before I go any further, I must set my criteria for this list.
-All bands on this list must be unsigned by any label, this includes independent labels.
-Ok, so I guess that’s all the criteria I need… AWAY WE GO!
10. Keyke (www.myspace.com/keyke)
First of all, it’s pronounce “CAKE” not “KEY-KEY”, so get that straight. Keyke’s recordings are not much to wow about, but her live performance is one-of-a-kind. She possesses an awkward, shy quality that makes watching her play inspiring. You can tell she believes in her music and loves it, yet has a love/hate relationship with being on stage in front of people. She plays at open mics and clubs in Brooklyn almost every week.
9. Kill Hands (www.myspace.com/killhands)
From the ashes of some great punk rock bands in Philly comes Kill Hands, self-described as “Philadelphia soul meets punk rock and roll.” A great band that has been together for a short time, but has already hit the Philadelphia scene hard playing the Northstar Bar, the Khyber, and various other clubs every weekend.
8. And We Danced (www.andwedancedmusic.com)
This Pottstown, PA based band is the only band on here with the dreaded “-core” suffix. I am not Mr. Hardcore Music by any means and have only choice bands in the related genres that I listen to, but And We Danced has become one of them. Their debut EP has yet to be released, but their live show is impressive. Labels are starting to express interest and bigger name acts have recently been offerring And We Danced’s singer the opportunity to sing for them, but I suspect he’ll be sticking around and that And We Danced will be signed soon after the EP comes out.
7. Straitlaced (www.straitlacedrocks.com)
The Philadelphia area’s Origivation Magazine has been giving these guys quite a bit of press in the past few months and I recently had the opportunity to find out why. An impressive live perfomance, amazing professionality, and a solid self-released EP top the list of why this band is in the top 10. With noticeable influences from modern rock and pop-punk acts, they seem to still be in the “finding their sound” stage. However, they are good and I am more than willing to enjoy the experience of watchign them grow up as a band.
6. bang bang Beautiful (www.myspace.com/bangbangbeautiful)
“Wow!” was the first thing that came to mind when I saw bang bang live. Their demo recordings are not too shabby, but their live set is very impressive. Besides the flailing around, Mick Jagger poses, and spastic dancing, their music is pretty damn good too. Their sound immediately brought to mind The Mars Volta/At the Drive-In and the Blood Brothers… so if you are into disjointed punk-influenced math rock with high pitched vocals, bang bang Beautiful is where it’s at.
5. Holler Wild Rose! (www.hollerwildrose.com)
Northern NJ’s Holler Wild Rose! is working on their first release and, if I remember correctly, will no longer be able to be considered “unsigned” when they do because a Brooklyn based indy label is going to put the release out with them. That’s okay, because at this current moment, they still fit the description of being an unsigned band. Instrumentation and experimentation are the landmarks of their sound, but what impresses me most is lead singer, John, and his sister, Morgan. The vocals are so emotionally powerful, even when the lyrics are unrecognizable. Radiohead comes to mind as the most obvious comparison.
4. Harris (www.harriscore.com)
Massachusetts rock and roll band that truly encapsulates the MA indy rock sound, Harris proves that they can rep for their home state. As a long time listener of bands like Piebald and Cave In, I truly appreciate Harris’s sound. Chris Coleman will be reviewing their self-released “The Light is Seeping Through the Cracks” in the coming weeks and I strongly recommend seeing these guys live.
3. Subliminal Orphans (www.subliminalorphans.com)
Ill-adelphia strikes back at the current hip-hop trends with the ill-est music from the city since The Roots released “Phrenology” in 2002. Having shared stages with Cypress Hill and other rock-rap giants, this full band hip-hop/rock/soul act will be a pleasant surprise to anyone that’s been trying to find hip-hop that is worthwhile. They are back in the studio, so for now hit them up at their Myspace page.
2. Greenwood (www.greenwoodrock.com)
Maryland based indy rockers that relocated from Tennesse in early 2005, Greenwood is reminiscent of early Jimmy Eat World (“Static Prevails” era) and Camper Van Beethoven (whom you’d know by their 80’s hit “Take the Skinheads Bowling” that was used as the theme to Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine). Their self-released debut full length has just been released and will be reviewed here in the next couple of weeks. Based on their live show and their 3-song demo, I expect the release to be a permanent fixture in my rotation. I trust I won’t be disappointed.
1. Miss Argentina (www.missargentinamusic.com)
There is so much to say about Philly’s Miss Argentina. Lead singer, Mercedes, first made her name in Havalina (formerly Havalina Rail Company). Guitarist, Matt, has played in and aroudn the Philly scene for years. The rhythm section of Pete on bass and Blayer on drums also brings much focus and experience to the table. In a word, Miss Argentina is fun. Fun throwback rock with tongue-in-cheek lyrics about sex, drugs, and well… you get the point. Their recent signing of John Tovar as management, former Marilyn Manson manager until a few months back, should bring them to the national spotlight soon enough.
December 8th, 2005 at 11:52 pm
Thanks for putting Greenwood on your list. The only place for these guys to go is up!!
December 9th, 2005 at 8:03 am
Greenwood might be the most under rated rockers of their time, I went to school in TN with the fellas and hear them now from where they were 5 years ago amazes me cause they were good then. Someone in MD needs to look into these guys and give them a shot cause their stuff isn’t like the turkey slop that gets all the air time or poo that comes flying off the shelfs in the stores. Greenwood plays for the music and the fans, not for the money…refreshing
December 9th, 2005 at 9:25 am
i am just telling it like i see it. i look forward to reviewing their new cd, they have wowed me live and their previous demo was solid for a demo. maybe one day we’ll be seeing them opening up on tour with indy rock big shots, or perhaps being the big shots themselves
December 12th, 2005 at 8:34 am
[…] I recently put together a top 10 list entitled “Someone sign these guys!”, in which the only criteria to be on the list (besides impressing me as a superb band) was that the bands/artist could not be signed by an major or independent label. I have received a positive response regarding the article and the bands and wanted to briefly follow up with our readers. […]
December 12th, 2005 at 10:13 am
[…] Well, in this reviewer’s humble opinion, Damien found his musical niche, Peasant has realized it’s potential and is bound to keep going up from here. I was unsure about what seemed like some misplaced drums in the seventh track, “One Whole Year”, but since the folloing song happens to be my favorite on the album, “Sipping Furious”, I’ll let that one slide. All in all, a very solid self-release (had I known that “That Works Records” was not a label, but only a faux-label he released his own albums on, I’d have included Peasant in “Someone sign these guys”) from a young musician that knows where he wants to go but is allowing himself to be patient in getting there. […]
December 12th, 2005 at 11:48 pm
looks like a good list…
December 17th, 2005 at 12:04 am
Greenwood is THE best band maybe of all time!!!
they really need to get famous NOW!
cuz they have REAL talent and their concerts ROCK and their totally into their music, let alone being WICKED awesome guys!!!
yea….I kinda like Greenwood…just a little haha
December 20th, 2005 at 7:28 pm
if you like greenwood, you will also like .heretoday. similar styles, violin on half their songs. both christian. hopefully they will play together soon (and i will have something to do with that…)
December 20th, 2005 at 7:28 pm
forgot website to listen to .heretoday.
www.myspace.com/heretoday
January 4th, 2006 at 6:05 pm
[…] I recently put together a top 10 list entitled “Someone sign these guys”, in which the only criteria to be on the list (besides impressing me as a superb band) was that the bands/artist could not be signed by an major or independent label. I have received a positive response regarding the article and the bands and wanted to briefly follow up with our readers. […]
January 11th, 2006 at 11:36 am
[…] SS: Harris! I think we still owe them after all we’ve put them through the past couple years, all the more reason to prove their good intentions overall. Very rarely do we sense that type of sincerity and devotion they show, while also making great music. They were featured in Someone sign these guys” and will undoubted be featured here soon. […]
January 28th, 2006 at 7:04 pm
[…] 12. האתר Crap filter נותן לכם רשימה של עשרה אמנים והרכבים ש’’חייבים להחתים כבר’’, או במילים אחרות - שימו אוזן על העשיריה הזו, אולי תגלו משהו שווה לפני כולם. [אנגלית] […]
January 28th, 2006 at 9:03 pm
holy shit, i think we’ve been targeted by terrorists!
January 28th, 2006 at 11:30 pm
it is true vin, i have placed biochemicals that make your face melt off in your water… mwhahaha.
January 29th, 2006 at 2:02 am
עונג שבת » ארכיון » עונג שבת - איטס דה מאדרפאקינג חורף! is full of shit. There’s no fucking way האתר לכם רשימה של עשרה אמנים והרכבים ש’’חייבים להחתים. And I will fucking die if אולי תגלו משהו שווה לפני כולם. So get your head out of your ass buddy!
January 30th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
I’d like to translate what was written, but I don’t even know what language it is. Anyone? It looks Hebrew or Middle Eastern of some sort…
January 30th, 2006 at 3:33 pm
It’s Hebrew, I believe, and the trackback is from a site located in Israel.
At first I thought it was spam, but I checked it out the site is legit, just in a crazy silly language, so I approved them. It’s nice to see we’re getting international recognition.
If anybody was curious enough, I’m sure you could e-mail the author and ask him. If he’s linking to us, it’s a safe bet that he speaks at least enough English to give you the gist of it.
January 30th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
Do it! Do it! Do it!
Yay, ask the Jew man what he said!
January 30th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
Talk to him anyway, but this is what it says, “The site crap filter gives you list of ten artists and compositions that ‘must stamp already’, or in the other words, put an ear on the one tenth is this, maybe will discover something worth before all of them”
I think it means, “Fellow Jew dudes, let’s go sign these awesome American bands before the Americans do…”
February 27th, 2006 at 11:19 am
[…] In December, I wrote a piece on the top ten unsigned bands of 2005 and Harris rocked their way into the top 5 (#4 to be exact). The band has been on the steady rise to the top of their local scene and are undoubtedly going to hit the national scene hard in the coming months and years. Their live show is excellent and their sound is unique and powerful. Check their Myspace page for upcoming shows near you. […]