May 16 2008

Jamies Elsewhere - A Band That’s Already Hit

Tag: Artist Reviews — Broadtexter @ 10:25 am

 

I’ve never seen Jamies Elsewhere live and I’d actually never even heard of them before checking them out on Myspace.  However, I was totally blown away when I did listen to them.   I guess the sign of a really good band is when they can just grab you from hearing their music and you don’t have to hear any hype about them.  I could tell I wasn’t the only one who had found their music…they have over 28,000 friends on Myspace and hundreds of fans who have signed up to receive their mobile alerts using Broadtexter.

On first listen you can hear that this band is the real deal.  The vocal range of the lead singer is truly amazing.  Not only is his range incredible, but the way he phrases each word is really what makes me love the songs.  The song ‘O’ The Trophy Bearer’ is actually quite an operatic song in its melody and musical production.  It’s incredible how big a sound they are able to create at the beginning of the song with just piano, vocals, and strings.  The album was produced by Casey Bates who produced bands like Chiodos and Fear Before the March of Flames.

Jamies Elsewhere’s story is pretty amazing.  The band was started by two brothers, Matthew and Anthony Scarpelli…Matthew played guitar and Anthony drums.  They always wrote songs together growing up but really decided to take it to the next level in 2005.  They named their band Jamies Elswhere after an 80’s Chicago area venue that held warm memories for their father.  The band held auditions and found lead guitarist Anthony Carioscia who flew over 2,000 miles for the audition.  They then found keys and bass, but no lead vocals.  Even in the face of not having a lead singer they began writing music (THAT is determination or some kind of faith).  Then, about a year and a half later, some of the guys in the band were at a party and heard Chris Paterson singing acoustically.  It turned out that Chris had wanted to audition for the band but was not able to make it due to a car accident he had been in (now, I’m not going to say that this was ‘meant to be,’ but it’s certainly weird).
 
They toured the entire west coast for over a year, sold over 5,000 copies of their D.I.Y. EP.  and caught the eye of Victory Records in 2007.


There latest album Guidebook For Sinners Turned Saints is a mix of songs about regret, love, hate, happiness, and forgiveness…and you really get a sense of all five of those things through the music.  Lead singer Chris Paterson definitely has a style of singing/screaming that is unique compared to a lot of the other indie, emo, and alternative bands out there today.  

Be sure to check out this band as they tour all over the country through June 25th.

Jamies Elsewhere - Links
MySpace
Mobile Club 

May 07 2008

Top Weekly Artists

Tag: Top Weekly Artists — Broadtexter @ 10:17 am
We have 5 great Broadtexter artist reviews for you this week:

And, in case you missed last week’s reviews:

If you have some big news on the horizon and you think it might affect a decision to consider you for an upcoming Top Artists selection, then please Contact Us about it.  We look forward to hearing from you.

May 07 2008

Empire ISIS - Pop Meets Reggae Meets Hip-Hop

Tag: Artist Reviews — Broadtexter @ 10:13 am
When I first heard Empire ISIS I thought that it was going to be the kind of music that I wouldn’t be able to write a review for because I’m not always such a fan of the Reggae/Pop/Hip-Hop genre.  But then I gave Empire ISIS a good listen and I realized this is an incredible mash up of the best elements of all those genres. 

On the pop side Empire ISIS has the best of the melodic aspects of Gwen Stefanie.  I could not help but think if an artist like Madonna was breaking on the scene now, this would have been the type of music she would have been producing.  As a rapper Empire ISIS is incredibly laid back and loose in a way that makes you think she doesn’t care about what she’s saying but yet every word just falls seamlessly into place.  For fans of EVE, I think they will find a new artist they love in Empire ISIS.

It’s no wonder that Empire ISIS was nominated for Most Promising Entertainer at the International Reggae and World Music Awards and winner of Best New International Artist of Canada at the SOBA Awards.  She was also ranked number 7 on the top 10 unsigned artists in the world by The Frost Report.  

My favorite song that is available on her Myspace page is ‘Get Up On It.  Obviously I’m not the only one, as the song went on the European record pool charts for 5 weeks at number 40, and is currently charting in the US.  Empire ISIS has opened for such acts as Capleton, Bounty Killa, Elephant Man, Gyptian, Sizzla and many more.


The last thing I would say about Empire ISIS after all this talk about her music, is that she is also not hard on the eyes.  Currently most of her tour dates are overseas, but she comes to New York City on June 8th 2008 as part of the Pepsi Tour.  Check out her Myspace and be sure to sign up for her mobile club so you can see and hear her soon!

Empire ISIS - Links
MySpace
Mobile Club

May 07 2008

Jonathan Clay - A Singer/Songwriter with the Blues

Tag: Artist Reviews — Broadtexter @ 10:12 am
Jonathan Clay has written a true soul singer/songwriter hit with his song ‘This One’s For Me’.  The lyric THIS ONE’S FOR ME / AND WHO I WANNA BE seals the deal for me.  With guitar chops to boot, this singer/songwriter has written a perfect song in my book.  If I had to compare it to anyone I would have to say it reminds me of what I like best from Jonny Lang.  This song has hints of Jonny Lang’s hits ‘Lie to Me’ and ‘Red Light’ while still being totally unique and original.

 

Clay manages to merge the genres of blues and singer/songwriter seamlessly.  One of the things I find most interesting is how he manages the chord structures of his songs.  On ‘This One’s For Me’ he keeps traditional blues I / IV / V chords ending the verse on the V chord.  However, rather than changing his chord for the downbeat of the chorus, he stays on the Bb and has his voice sing the 5th above his new Tonic chord.  I also love the slow build of the rocking Bb chord going up a whole step to the C and then speeding it up with a cool walk up from the F to the G hanging on the Bb before finally going up to the V chord and then resolving back to where he started the verses on an F chord.  In my opinion it’s A perfect blues/soul structure.

Of course, the chords would mean nothing without the right lyrics and Clay also has huge powers with his words.  His songs are very genuine and you can tell they are written about real people and real relationships in his life.  It’s no wonder at all that Jonathan has been recognized by some of the biggest TV shows today.  His music has been heard on MTV’s The Real World, Newport Beach, and The Hills.  I think that Jonathan would also appeal to fans of John Mayer, Jesse McCartney, Howie Day, and Lifehouse.  


What’s maybe most amazing about Jonathan Clay is that he is only 22 years old.  I am sure that this is going to be an artist to watch in the years to come.  Jonathan can be seen touring with another Broadtexter artist Todd Carey.  Be sure to check out his Myspace page for a full tour list.

Jonathan Clay - Links
Website 
MySpace 
Mobile Club 

May 07 2008

Danger Is My Middle Name - Dangerously Good Music

Tag: Artist Reviews — Broadtexter @ 10:12 am
Danger Is My Middle Name is the new King of Emo!  They are not only Emo, but Hardcore Emo.  Any band that will have a chorus that says YOU’RE BETTER OFF / WHEN YOU’RE BETTER DEAD is alright by me.  The same way that GREEN DAY had a hit with the stripped down acoustic ballad ‘Time Of Your Life’, I feel that DIMMN could do the same with their song ‘New Friend Regrets’.  Bad Emo is when bands think, “what would someone who felt really sad write here?”  Good Emo is when the singer/songwriter really truly does want to be dead and is not kidding.  That is the feeling I get when I hear ‘New Friend Regrets’ by DIMMN.

When lead singer Gabe Atkins sings BREAK MY OPEN ARMS / SO PAIN IS ALL I FEEL I truly believe on some level he wants that to happen to him.  For fans of Taking Back Sunday, The Used, New Found Glory, Blink 182, and Paramore I think you will like the music of DIMMN.  


Danger Is My Middle Name is the real deal… check out their MySpace page and trying to catch a live show.  Even though DIMMN is still a young and upcoming band, they have played such high profile venues as The Hard Rock and First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Be sure to find out when they are in your area this summer!

DIMMN - Links

May 07 2008

Justin Nozuka - A Rising Star!

Tag: Artist Reviews — Broadtexter @ 10:12 am

 

Justin Nozuka jumped out at me because I am a huge fan of the neo-soul acoustic style of Citizen Cope.  Nozuka’s song ‘Mr. Therapy Man’ reminds me of some of the best elements of Citizen Cope’s music but manages to be totally original as well.

Then I checked out his song, ‘After Tonight’ and realized that I was already a huge fan of Justin Nozuka!  I had heard ‘After Tonight’ countless times on Sirus Radio and fell in love with it immediately.  I was so excited to see that this great artist has been with Broadtexter for a while now and is quickly gaining fans in his mobile fan club.

Half Japanese, half American - Justin Nozuka was born in New York and grew up in Toronto.  Raised by a single mother, Justin was the sixth of seven children, where all four of his brothers are artists in one form or another.  As a teen, he spun Motown, folk, and hip-hop records as he fleshed out his music skills learning guitar with his Mexican friends at boarding school.  

All you have to do is listen to a song like ‘After Tonight’ to hear the great influences in Justin’s music.  What is amazing is how Justin manages to meld folk, soul, and hip-hop seamlessly into one song.  It’s no wonder that during his short career, Justin has already snagged stage time with greats like John Cale, Crowded House and Ziggy Marley.

Even though Justin is a guitar aficionado versed in styles from blues to flamenco, it is really his voice that stands out to me as the secret to his success.  Nozuka should be the poster child for singing and not ‘over-pushing’ your voice.  He knows his voice very well and the areas in which it sounds best.  The result of his songs is a vocal quality that is easy to listen to and makes the listener feel as though they are being washed over with sound.

I would highly suggest checking out Justin this summer as he is moving into bigger rooms and his career is continuing to grow.  This summer he will be playing venues such as The Double Door in Chicago, The Birchmere in Virginia, The Magic Bag in Michigan, and The Bowery Ballroom in New York City.

Justin Nozuka - Links

 

May 07 2008

Still Standing - Nice-Spirited Hard Rock

Tag: Artist Reviews — Broadtexter @ 10:12 am
It’s nice to see that the Punk/Rock scene is alive and well in Los Angeles, thanks in part to bands such as Still Standing.  Still Standing, started by twin brothers Justin and Johnny, are no strangers to hardship and adversity.  When they were only 14 years old their lives were turned upside down by the loss of their father.  The brothers were moved to a new neighborhood and consequently found themselves in the middle of fights, being the outsiders.  With that tragedy as a childhood background, it’s no wonder that Justin and Johnny found their voice in Punk/Rock music.  The two banded together and found strength in one another and in the music that they were creating.  They taught themselves guitar with the guitars their father (also a musician) left behind.  Finally drummer Alex Z. stepped in and Still Standing was born.

One of the things I like most about Still Standing are the messages within their songs.  They are a hard-thrashing rock band but if you actually listen to the lyrics of the songs, you’ll hear that they have quite powerful and positive messages in their music.  They manage to stay true to their convictions and give incredibly powerful life advice without being cheesy or corny….which not all bands are able to do.  One song that stands out in particular to me is ‘Never Be Afraid’ which is available on their Myspace page.   The chorus repeats NEVER BE AFRAID TO A STAND FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU BELIEVE IN / DON’T LET THE PRESSURE GET YOU DOWN / ALWAYS STAND UP PROUD / STAND UP NOW.  Still Standing are also masters at writing a solid pop/hook chorus with infectious melodies.  

Still Standing found themselves once at the center of a growing punk rock scene in Philadelphia.  After establishing a strong fan base and creating a buzz, they finished a showcase for a friend at Sony Records and had the opportunity to make their way to Los Angeles to record with Producer Tommy Henriksen (Clear Static, Balay, Mighty Six Ninety).  After completing their six-song EP, they met Songwriter/Producer Marti Frederiksen (Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue) and began recording their full-length record.  They also added second guitarist Lonny Paul to the the bands line-up.  

Be sure to check out this Hard Rock Punk band and their ability to say something strong and positive while not losing their cutting edge.

Still Standing - Links

 

May 06 2008

Broadtexter = Awareness

Tag: Broadtexter News — Broadtexter @ 9:18 pm

We started Broadtexter because of the importance of real-time information, the over-abundance of meaningless information, and an understanding about how text messaging and the mobile phone could converge to solve every problem in your life (except for world turmoil, food/water shortages, your student loans, and how to stay ahead of the “cool kids”).  We applied this to bands and artists and music and musicians you love…but we decided that we could try harder…because the world is heating up into a giant frenzy of super-important issues and one ginormous, super-sized election. 

You want to stay in-the-know, ahead-of-the-curve, at the top of the game, riding the crest, flying higher than two guys at a Bob Marley tribute show, etc…so we’re offering some social, political, and cool mobile alert groups of our own.  

Joining any of these clubs is completely free!  By joining you will get up to 5 text messages per week (but probably more like 2 or 3 on average — sometimes none).  This should help you feel the kind of confidence that topples regimes and wins lotteries.  You can unsubscribe anytime!  Free…hard to negotiate with that!  Just click on any club link above and use the widget on the right to join up.  

Now…go save the planet…go.

May 01 2008

Weekly Top Artists

Tag: Top Weekly Artists — Broadtexter @ 1:05 pm

As we enter the second week and second round of Broadtexter Weekly Top Artists reviews, we’d like to make sure we clarify that there are no cash prizes, no European Vacations, no ceremonies, and no recording contracts (see last weeks reviews here).  The Broadtexter Team simply loves music.  Since we have thousands of musicians and bands now using Broadtexter we wanted to expose you to some of the acts using Broadtexter.  Also, having thousand of people searching our site we’ve made it our goal to help you artists get new fans.  So, the drum roll please…

WEEKLY TOP ARTISTS

We take a look at a few factors to select artists and you can read more about here.  The selectees for this week are below.  Please visit the individual reviews and leave a comment (support your fellow artists!):

If you have some big news on the horizon and you think it might affect a decision to consider you for an upcoming Top Artists selection, then please Contact Us about it.  We look forward to hearing from you.

May 01 2008

Greeley Estates - Hard Rock Hits the Road Hard

Tag: Artist Reviews — Broadtexter @ 12:58 pm

There are many Broadtexter bands going out on the WARPED Tour this summer and one to watch out for in particular is Greeley Estates. This summer’s tour is especially long with dates from June 25 - August 17th. Also, during that time they will be releasing their upcoming album Go West Young Man, Let the Evil Go East (hitting stores May 6th). The band, lead by lead singer Ryan Zimmerman is a hard-hitting indie rock act. Zimmerman says “Go West…is more aggressive and the lyric content is darker.” The album was Produced by Cory Spotts (Bless The Fall, Job For a Cowboy). For fans of Bless The Fall (another Broadtexter band) I think you will love Greeley Estates.

Greeley Estates pushes to the front of the pack as one of the few young bands putting the relationship with their fans above all else. Greeley Estates live shows go unparalleled. With a dynamic style reflecting numerous musical backgrounds, Greeley captures the audience and sears a lasting impression. Stripped to its core, the musical foundation reflects catchy melody and pop sensibility infinitely amplified by a hardcore edge and intense vocals.

Although Greeley Estates calls Arizona home, they are more often found navigating the pages of an atlas. In addition to performing nightly, Greeley emphasizes getting to know fans on a personal level, providing the human identity that is clearly evident in their lyrics and presence. Though Greeley Estates‘ journey has just begun, they’ve already achieved unparalleled significance among their peers. They’ve completed 3 national tours including every date of Vans Warped Tour 2005. They’ve self-released a full length album Outside of This and a full length DVD, The Death of Greeley Estates - both of which have garnered a top-five spot on SmartPunk’s overall sales rankings.

Be sure to see them this summer as they hit the road!

Greeley Estates Links:
http://www.broadtexter.com/greeley-estates
http://www.myspace.com/greeleyestates

May 01 2008

Ryan Montbleau - Soul Singing

Tag: Artist Reviews — Broadtexter @ 12:58 pm

Ryan Montbleau is true soul singer.  For anyone who has followed his career over the years you can notice how this singer/songwriter has matured into a smooth, seasoned performer.  Ryan straddles the fence of being a ‘jam band’ and a singer/songwriter and does it in the best of ways.  For those who are fans of Martin Sexton you will see that you have found another artist who is able to write melodic songs (that have true song structure) but give that free-flowing sense of ‘jammy-ness’.  It’s certainly not an easy bridge to cross.  

Ryan Montbleau “This”

In 2007 Ryan won the Boston Music Award for Best Local Male Vocalist.  Ryan’s song ‘If It Comes Around’ from 2007’s critically acclaimed album Patience On Friday took second place out of more than 15,000 songs written by amateur and professional songwriters from over 100 countries.  Judges included Tom Waits, Nellie Furtado, Loretta Lynn and Frank Black.  

Patience On Friday’s 14-song adventure begins with Montbleau’s expressive vibrato contemplating life’s fragility a cappella in ‘How Many Time’ and dashes through the Jamaican postcard from a broken heart ‘Draw the Line’.  It pauses for the high-spirited sustenance of the Gypsy swinger Eggs and flows on to the classic Philly soul update This.  To really experience Ryan Montbleau’s music you must get out there and see a live show with his band.
  
“I really enjoy going out and meeting people and performing these songs with the guys in the band, who are my closest friends.  And when we’re on stage together, the people in the audience are right there with us so even a sad song can become uplifting.  We’re all in it together.  When you strip away all the goals I might have as an artist and a working musician, what I really want to do with my life is uplift people,” Montbleau says. “My favorite thing in the world is looking out from the stage and seeing smiling faces.”

So be sure to sign up for Ryan’s mobile fan club and catch a live show!

Ryan Montbleau Links
Homepage
Mobile Fan Club
MySpace 

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