In the interest of full disclosure, I think I should share that the Drive-By Truckers have been on my mind all year. On the first day of January, I took a short road trip with a few buddies to see the band play a packed venue in Philadelphia. Just a few songs into their set and it became clear to me how the Drive-By Truckers earned their spot as the champions of today’s alt-country scene: hard work and sweat. On stage, the band displays a sort-of gritty energy which is impossible to deny. Three guitars play at full force through Skynyrd-esque solos, a bottle of whiskey is passed around in between songs, and the whole crowd roars along with the band’s unapologetic anthems of Southern living. If I had to boil the experience down to one word it would be “badass.”

With these images of the band I’d seen that night in January lodged in my head, I have to admit I was a little confused when I first heard “I Do Believe” the opening track off the Drive-By Truckers most recent release, “Go-Go Boots”.   Read More »

Just like that triple decker German chocolate cake that your Grandma brings over every year for Thanksgiving, Yellow Ostrich is all about layers. Alex Schaaf, the man behind the bird, carefully builds his songs by laying out a simple foundation and then adding and subtracting different levels of loops to it. Hypnotic chants, tribal drum grooves, and infectious basslines, combine and intersect to create an undeniably catchy blend. Even the repetitive, image heavy lyrics (Whale, swim with me whale/We will go far into the sea) serve as just another organic ingredient adding towards the entire mixture. The listener is left with the choice to either follow these individual strands intently or step back from them in order to hear the songs as a whole. Both paths prove rewarding. Thus, Yellow Ostrich offers us an unique brand of indie pop that is simple and fun, while at the same time deep enough to get lost in. Sorry Big Bird, looks like we have a new oversized feathered friend on the block.

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If you’re like me (and I suspect a lot of my peers are) then you are more than ready for a break. It’s that point in the semester when classes really start to drag, tests keep coming, and you haven’t had a day off since Columbus Day. Thank God for Thanksgiving. It may actually be the perfect holiday. You get to take a break from school, to spend some time at home, and to stuff yourself with ridiculous amounts of food. And you don’t even have to buy anyone presents. Honestly, other holidays need to take some notes. Anyway, here’s a cornucopia of songs, about going home, family, and even food, for you to enjoy along side that Turkey dinner. (Let’s hope you’re family meal is a little better than the Ramone’s: “Sitting here in Queens eating re-fried beans”)

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Today’s indie music scene runs the serious risk of appearing completely self obsessed. Artists worry about pleasing only a specific niche of fans. Magazines and blogs target an “in the know” crowd and are therefore totally inaccessible to the uninitiated. And fans themselves obsess over learning everything they can about every obscure band to hit the scene. In light of this seemingly self centered framework, it may surprise some to know the extent to which outreach and social engagement play a part in the indie music scene. Read More »

While you were in Econ 101 struggling not to fall asleep as you switched between your facebook homepage and your 87th game of minesweeper, Evan P. Donahue was adding his unique brand of songwriting to the vibrant mix of the Nashville music scene. As a senior at Belmont University, Donahue balances his Audio Engineering major with the task of promoting his debut album Rhythm & Amplitude. Donahue’s band, a tight and poppy rock outfit complete with trumpet and trombone, gigs extensively within the Nashville area and now with a well-polished full length LP in hand is looking to reach a wider audience. I had the recent chance to sit down with both Donahue and drummer Mike Kavouras (the self described “brains behind the project”) and discuss the band’s most recent activities.

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