Mississippi Man does sound a bit like its name- playing a kind of folkish-southern-blues-Americana mixture that seems far removed from their home in Southern California.   Recommended to us by Raymond Richards, our long-time session...

Portland-based band Day of Lions are led by Gena Gastaldi, who writes bittersweet ditties that are powerfully simple in construction and timeless in quality.  At times both charming and sad in tone, the music often amplifies the seemingly...

A kinetic blend of nerve-tingling melody and jagged angles, Southern Belle has proven plenty already with an impressive debut record under their belts, and plans for two more next year.  Hailing from Portland, Oregon, the group rides the kind of...

Portland's Leonard Mynx is a special talent who manages to conjure some great folk talents.  Think of the poetic beauty of Bob Dylan or the hushed timelessness of M. Ward.  His very fine record Vesper is highly recommended, especially if you...

The New York Rifles are actually from Portland.. go figure.  But aside from the geographic misdirection, the songs of leader Scott Young ring infectiously true.   Combining punk energy with big hooks, the band at times seems like the...

The Portland Cello Project is an indie orchestra, a band of cello players that numbers from 8-16 at any given time.  Because most of the players are classically trained, the project allows them to experiment with mainstream music in its various...

Autralia-native Andy Clockwise, who completed a residency at the Spaceland in Los Angeles in July, is an audacious performer and fine songwriter who combines in-your-face lyrics with big melodies.  The song "My Generation", turns the celebratory...

Aside from being finalists in the "Best Band Name" category, The Whore Moans are killer performers who bring punk energy to everything they do.  (And that's a good thing.)  The Seattle band definitely livened up our last round of sessions in...

Derby have released two highly recommended records that range from power pop to more melancholic rock.    Fans of bands like the Pernice Brothers, the Byrds, Fountains of Wayne and a little band called The Beatles will likely find a lot to...

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Laura Gibson has captured a good deal of attention for her latest record, Beast of Seasons.  With its quiet, often mournful tone, the record has a timeless beauty, accentuated by finger-picking guitar work and a...

Andrew Deadman has the weary croon of M. Ward, though his music sways along on a gentle ocean breeze.  With songs both achingly beautiful and admirable in their restraint, he is clearly a talented songwriter with a voice perfectly matching the...

Led by Elvis Estela, aka Nobody or DJ Nobody,  and Niki Randa, Blank Blue play "psychedelic bass music" (Estela's term).   Randa's ethereal voice magnifies the psychedelic mood.   The band released its first record, Western...

The Hectors create shimmery landscapes of angular pop.  You hear echoes of lots of great bands-- a little Pavement here, some Echo and the Bunnymen, a dash of the Pixies... but they manage to keep thing fresh with the distinctive voice of Corinne...

Check out this session with Los Angeles band, Heavy Young Heathens.

Olin and the Moon are generating buzz in Los Angeles for their highly cinematic brand of alternative country.  Led by singer/songwriter David LaBrel, the band also includes LaBrel's brother Travis on lead guitar, Marshall Vore on drums, Brian...

Johnathan Hylander and Sean Johnson played a manic brand of garage rock in E>K>U>K, but they've cleaned up a bit musically for their newest band, The Voyeurs- playing swirly, smart pop that is both insinuating and clever.  Based on their...

With a name like The Whispertown 2000, you might think the band is an Atari-loving synth band or perhaps a Ronco product of some sort.  So you may be surprised to hear the outstanding alt-country tunes eminating from this decidely non-robotic...

Dear Seasons, please forgive me.  As you may recall, it was a miserable, chilly, rainy day when you came by for your session in February.  I was not in a good mood.  I was thinking about how I might stay warm, huddled in the rain...

Giant Drag has been in limbo for a a few years, after generating a good deal of buzz/success with its initial recordings.  Definitely check out Hearts and Unicorns to see why the band's mix of melodic, edgy grunge-rock has struck a chord with so...

Brother and sister Ivan, age 15, and Ada, 13, of Tiny Masters of Today have captured the attention of the rock elite (David Bowie, Karen O, and more) and generated a lot of buzz (and airplay) since their debut a couple of years ago as the poster...