Tag Archive for 'r.e.m.'

ARTISTS RALLY AROUND THE SAVE PASTE CAMPAIGN

Published by KB@OS on May 15, 2009 in Editorial, In the News and OurStage Partners. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

paste_logo2From Seattle to Boston, economic hardships are hitting many major players in the world of print media and the entertainment titles are not exempt. The latest would-be causality is the independently published entertainment magazine Paste, but not if its readers and an arsenal of artists have anything to do with it. To counter-balance the impact of rapidly decreasing advertising dollars, the two-time National Magazine Award nominee has launched a campaign appealing to its record-high readership. Contribute to the Save Paste campaign and receive exclusive tracks from artists like G. Love and Special Sauce, Josh Ritter, The Decemberists and many more.

Paste has long been a beacon for people who relish the discovery of new music, literature and independent movies. Many of the artists covered by the magazine are showing their appreciation for the taste-maker and industry leader by donating rare and exclusive tracks to anyone who donates to the cause. Other bands, like R.E.M. and Band Of Horses, have donated autographed posters to be given away to random supporters.

Singer/songwriter Cary Brothers summarized the sentiments of many industry insiders when saying, “Times are tough in the music industry, and now more than ever we need people like the team at Paste looking out for artists on the fringe of the mainstream.”

We at OurStage hope the music lovers and indie artists in our community will be inspired to save one of the most respected voices championing independent music. Donations to help out our friends at Paste can be made HERE.

Artists contributing songs for the Save Paste Campaign so far:
A Camp, Ari Hest, Army of Me, Arrested Development, Ben Folds, Ben Wakeman, Betty LaVette, Bill Mallonee, Birdmonster, Bloodkin, Bob Mould, Brandi Carlile, Cara Luft, Cary Brothers, Cowboy Junkies, Dan Zimmerman, Derek Webb, Duncan Sheik, G. Love and Special Sauce, Gomez, Greg Laswell, Indigo Girls, Islands, Jamie Lidell, Jason Harrod, Jennifer Daniels, Jesse Sykes And The Sweet Hereafter, Joe Henry, John Doe, John Roderick (The Long Winters), Josh Ritter, Josh Rouse, Keller Williams, Liam Finn, Loney Dear, Luke Brindley, Marc Broussard, Matt Nathanson, Matthew Caws, Matthew Sweet, Meiko, Neko Case, Of Montreal, Ortolan, Over the Rhine, Passion Pit, Patterson Hood, Portastatic, Robert Pollard, Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3, Rosie Thomas, Samantha Crain, Sandra McCracken, Shawn Mullins, She & Him, Slow Runner, Soul-Junk, Southeast Engine, State Radio, String Cheese Incident, Switchfoot, Thao, The Avett Brothers, The Clarks, The Decemberists, The Jayhawks, The Low Anthem, The Minus 5, The Rosewood Thieves, The Spring Standards, Umphree’s McGee, Venice Is Sinking, Welcome Wagon, William Fitzimmons
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Staff Picks: Essential College Rock…

Published by brianw on April 9, 2009 in Editorial, Playlists and Rock. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

…And, who they influenced!

My first installment of Staff Picks! I finally get my chance to share my list of the three college rock bands that I think we owe the most thanks to. I’d had this list on my desk for weeks before our editor Jessica finally let me publish it – apparently all I had to do was “ask”.

College rock is one of the most important forces driving the evolution of music forward. Where would we be without the bands that met in the basements of dirty dorms to howl and screech instead of writing papers? That is not a world I want to live in, I can tell you that.

they might be giants

3) They Might Be Giants.

Sure they’re nerdy. Of course you don’t hear an accordion used in rock music often. But when it’s done well, people listen. They Might Be Giants came from humble beginnings, including recording some of their first songs on an answering machine as the greeting in order to spread the message about their songs. Their unique sound took them from gigs in front of an answering machine to one of the best-recognized rock bands of our time.

REM

2) R.E.M.

Allmusicguide said it best when they wrote, “R.E.M. mark the point when post-punk turned into alternative rock.” No other single band so clearly straddled the gap of turning a fringe movement of complicated vocals and carefully laid out guitar work. Everyone remembers Automatic For The People as one of the immortal albums.

 

the pixies

1)Pixies.
While they weren’t a massive commercial success, the Pixies turned out to be one of the most important bands to sparking the grunge and alt rock revolution of the early 1990’s. Even Kurt Cobain of Nirvana attributed much of his own success and inspiration to listening the Pixies. In a 1994 interview, Cobain said:

“When I heard the Pixies for the first time, I connected with that band so heavily I should have been in that band – or at least in a Pixies cover band. We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and hard.”

These bands, in addition to shaping the future of modern rock music, have played a heavy hand in shaping alt rock on OurStage as well. Check out some of the below artists for a sample – they the cream of our crop, all with powerful influences from some of the bands mentioned above.