Tag Archive for 'noise pop'

Not everyone needs a Grammy

Published by jayschneider on February 23, 2009 in Artist News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Did you catch the Grammys? Well you’re not alone. In fact, according to the New York Times 19.7 million viewers tuned in. More interesting, however, is the post-Grammy surge in numbers for all participating artists. The fact of the matter is when you win an award like a Grammy you get much more than just bragging rights you’re also going to see a significant increase in album sales.

Indie artists don’t need to win a Grammy to gain some momentum in this industry. In fact, I’ve got a few stories for you that prove just that. Plushgun, our favorite Electronic Indie band, signed to Tommy Boy Entertainment as a result of their OurStage story. Coconut Records increased their album sales by an incredible amount and Scissors for Lefty has been given the chance to play at Noise Pop this year thanks, in part, to their participation on OurStage.

Coconut Records:coconut-records
No doubt you’ve heard of this forward-thinking, catchy artist. I bet you didn’t know that he was once an unknown OurStager himself. After winning the Grand Prize in October of 2007, his song “West Coast” was featured as one of the top 10 “favorited” songs on OurStage. Then he appeared in a feature interview (part 1 and part 2) for OurStage with our very own Quinn Strassel. The story was picked up by blogger and online personality Perez Hilton. Coconut Records immediately saw an increase in album sales by about 1500% on iTunes. By offering unique Polaroids with each album purchase, Jason Schwartzman added a personal touch for his fans and put his name into the mainstream as a dynamic artist.

plushgunPlushgun:
Your favorite electro-indie pop band is no stranger to rising success. This group is the very definition of increased success through OurStage. As a steady contest winner month after month for almost an entire year, Plushgun certainly proved their consistency as a rising talent. The next step was to play some high profile gigs. They were afforded the opportunity to play at CMJ in 2007, and SXSW in 2008 through the festivals’ partnerships with OurStage. Their strong stage presence sealed the deal with Tommy Boy Records (who had been following them for several months online). The rest is history.

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Scissors for Lefty:
This indie rock band was already moderately well-known before becoming a member on OurStage. Last year, they played at SXSW as a part of the Rachel Ray feature stage. This band was no stranger to the spotlight. However, after joining OurStage and ranking high in the Noise Pop Channel, Scissors for Lefty has now been selected to play the 2009 Noise Pop Festival.

Whether you’re a band trying to hit it big, or an artist just trying to add a few fans to your following, keep in mind that you don’t need a Grammy to achieve success. Artists like Coconut Records, Plushgun, and Scissors for Lefty are great examples.

Noise Pop 2009 Preview: Get the Most Noise for Your Pop

Published by ejquinn on February 20, 2009 in Artist Feature, Artist News, Festivals and OurStage@. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

San Francisco’s Noise Pop Festival may just be the best kept secret on America’s indie festival circuit. But this year’s loaded lineup may just blow its cover. Indie legends Stephen Malkmus and Bob Mould share the bill with “it” bands like No Age, Ra Ra Riot, and Antony and the Johnsons. If you’re a Noise Pop Newbie looking to make the most of the experience, here are a few tips:

Map it Out:

Think of Noise Pop as the Bay Area’s mini version of South By Southwest. Tons of great bands descend upon San Francisco and play venues across the city. Like SXSW, it can get incredibly difficult to keep the schedule straight. Before you walk out the door, print out Noise Pop’s online schedule. Highlight the bands you really want to see and make a plan.

Bands to See (bigger names):

rarariotStephen Malkmus: Those pining for a Pavement reunion can at least get a solo fix from their ex-frontman. Good to see him back in NoCal.

Ra Ra Riot: With strings, horns, and an electric stage performance, seeing them live is like watching a feel-good version of Arcade Fire.  Scroll to the bottom on this page to watch my interview with them at last year’s SXSW.

Martha Wainwright: Persistent comparisons to her brother Rufus undermine her own astounding talent and skill. If you haven’t heard her voice live, do yourself a favor and get to this show.

Bands to See (hidden gems):

Sholi: After opening for Iron and Wine this past fall and signing with Touch and Go, Sholi is poised for a breakout year. Be there as they officially release their new CD at Bottom of the Hill. (P.S. They booked the gig through OurStage’s Marketplace!).

sholi

Clues and Harbours:  If you want to see the show all the in-the-know critics will be attending, spend Saturday night at The Rickshaw Stop where Clues (featuring former members of The Unicorns and Arcade Fire) will be playing one of their first shows.  Don’t miss the roster of impressive openers, including Harbours whom OurStage fans will know for their spacey-pop masterpiece, “Telling Lies.”

Scissors for Lefty: After winning over OurStage fans by releasing a free preview of their EP this past fall, SFL kicks off Thursday night’s festivities with a free happy hour show at Benders.  Don’t miss their catchy blend of pop/punk.

Things to Do During the Day:

scissorsforleftyIf you’re visiting San Francisco from out of town, skip the city’s overrun tourist traps (i.e. Alcatraz, Fisherman’s Wharf, etc…) and head to the much hipper Mission District.  Get over a hangover with an excellent brunch at The Pork Store Cafe at 16th St. and Valencia (the mango mimosas are delicious).  Head south on Valencia (stopping at the abundant thrift stores along the way) until you arrive at the Pirate Supply Store (which actually masks an excellent writing center for kids in the back).  Don’t ask, just go.  And if you could use a cool treat, Mitchell’s homemade ice cream is worth the wait in the inevitable line out front.

Start Preparing Now:

Figuring out what bands to see can be exhausting and overwhelming.  We’ve made your life easier by creating this playlist of all the OurStage artists at Noise Pop.  Enjoy!

Plushgun releases debut album “Pins and Panzers”

Published by jayschneider on February 16, 2009 in Artist Feature and Pop. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , .

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Plushgun started like a lot of other musical projects: Singer Dan Ingala writing songs on his acoustic guitar in his “overpriced and undersized ‘bedroom’ in New York City”. He decided to go in a new direction from that point by adding edgy synthesizers to his songs. Now armed with catchy tunes and innovative instrumentation, Ingala sought out to find gigs to play. He then hooked up with the rest of the band to fill out his sound (Taylor Armstrong-Guitar/Vocals and Matt Bogdanow- Drums/Vocals).

Plushgun’s debut full-length album is as catchy as it is unique. The album starts with an ambient fade in, and ends just the same. But don’t let that fool you the “gun” is just as much present in this album as the “plush”. Songs like “How We Roll” and “Union Pool” add a harsher punch to the smoothness of a lot of the melodies. Even within the first song, “Dancing in a Minefield,” after the first few lines, you suddenly get hit with a barrage of driving synth tracks and quickly delivered lyrics. The CD peaks around “Union Pool” and ends in a decently subtle “ballad” with “An Aria“.

This isn’t the first time that Plushgun is making an appearance on OurStage as a feature, nor is it their first time in this blog. Having been in the top 10 in numerous channels for a total of over 10 months as well as gaining notable awards such as the Noise Pop critics choice and CMJ showcase, this band’s new album isn’t the first news piece about them. In fact, they have recently been featured over at AOL. Plushgun’s new album “Pins and Panzers” drops February 17th, and you can download it from iTunes or pick it up at one of their shows. In fact, they have a couple of release parties planned: February 18th, at Fontana’s in New York, NY and Febuary 19th, at Harper’s Ferry in Boston, MA. Keep an eye on this band as they are on the rise and check them out next time they’re in your area!

This Week @ OurStage: February 6, 2009

Published by admin on February 7, 2009 in Artist Feature and Download of the Week. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

You might have noticed the flurry of posts we’ve been churning out lately – The editorial team at OurStage has pushed the blog in overdrive and we’re excited to share all of our latest news with you! In case you missed something (you mean you haven’t set the blog as your homepage yet?), here’s a quick recap to keep you up to date:

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Noise Pop Announces Line-Up and OurStage contest winners:
The powers that be over at Noise Pop made their picks and we couldn’t be happier for the winners: Scissors for Lefty, Kings and Queens, Harbours and Dizzy Balloon. Check them out and be on the lookout for more Noise Pop news… hint: these aren’t the only OurStagers making their way to the Bay Area stages!

acc_williamsriley Williams Riley Band win American Country Countdown contest:
Just 6 months ago, this band didn’t even exist! But, in that short time, they collaborated with guitarist Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Edwin McCain and Bryan White and were featured on AOL’s country music blog, The Boot. Now, they’ve won the ACC Top 40 Superstar contest on OurStage. “Williams Riley’s CD is on par with the major label releases coming out of Nashville, commented  Kix Brooks (Brooks & Dunn) the host of ACC Top 40. “Their song sounds great on the radio. They’ve got an exciting future in front of them.  We’re proud our competition was helpful in getting them out the gate.”

ieshdwbrweff-320x240Free Download Available Now:
Fighting With Wire wants to hook you up with a completely free 5 song EP + the official music video for “Everyone Needs A Nemesis” just for signing up to the new Fighting With Wire mailing list. This is only available for a limited time, so be sure to download your free gift now.

Noise Pop Festival Announces OurStage Winners!

Published by jayschneider on February 4, 2009 in Artist Feature and Artist News. 14 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Noise Pop is approaching again and the 2009 festival is shaping up to have an outstanding lineup. The Noise Pop channel on OurStage was a great success and OurStage artists are right on the front lines again this year. The winners from the channel are:

Scissors For Lefty: This upbeat, garage rock band was chosen by NoisePop to play the 2009 festival in the Noise Pop channel competition in October of 2008. They liken their sound to that of The Kinks and The Flaming Lips, among others. The classic, distinctive vocals are well supported by the thick, driving guitar lines and drum beats. Check out the teaser for their upcoming EP, which was the song that won them a spot in the upcoming festival!

Kings and Queens:This indie/alternative band has its influences placed in Neu!, Roxy Music, and Nick Drake. Appearing out of the conclusion of a previous project, “The Pleased”, Kings and Queens forge a new sound of their own with tight, yet ambient riffs underneath subtle vocal lines. Congratulations to these guys on their noise pop selection for November of 2008. Swing on over to their fanclub and listen for yourself!

Harbours: This band finds its sound intertwined with the indie pop genre and a hint of ’60s pop. The band’s self-proclaimed influences include Gino Washington, Spoon, and Badfinger. Their light vocals with tight harmonies compliment the driving, indie instrumentation so well that it seems that you just couldn’t have it any other way. It’s no wonder why Noise Pop took notice of their channel placement in December of 2008. Check them out!

Dizzy Balloon: “It’s not lazy, or boring, or melancholic. It’s a new generation of energetic, optimistic, well-crafted pop rock.” This self-statement by the band is simply the best way they can be described. Why settle for something average and run-of-the-mill when you can sit back and listen to these guys? With well-crafted guitar parts and cutting synth tracks, there’s just simply no reason not to give this band your full attention. Not to mention, their reputation of being a phenomenal live act. That’s why they are your winner for January 2009.

Again, congrats to these bands. Check them out, tearing up the stage at Noise Pop 2009 if you get the chance. Want more Noise Pop music? Check out last years winners!