US10 On Spitfire Radio: 4th Of July Edition

Independent radio is a good thing for obvious reasons, but no reason so obvious as loosening music fans from the narrow lanes of restricted listening and limited music discovery. Major radio stations have their painfully structured playlists of songs that you'll hear repeated every hour on the hour with little room for deviation. And then there are free spirits like Spitfire Radio across the pond in  Birmingham, England who are all about being a quality alternative and a source for amazing music that you may not otherwise find. That's where Barry Tomes (a Brit) and Brooke Henderson (a Yankee) come in as hosts of the program, US10 which showcases 10 of the BEST new and emerging bands/artists from the US. Isn't it lovely how we Americans and the English have been able to get along despite that nasty American Revolution-thing?

Now being given the opportunity to select 10 of my favorite artists for this week's edition of US10 was a pretty honor, yet a really difficult one. Why difficult? Because although 10 may sound like a lot of artists to choose, it's barely scratches the surface due to the abundance of good shit out there just waiting to be discovered by ears like yours.

My US10 turned out to very LA-centric and, if you know me, there will be a few familiar names: it wasn't intentional, I'm just very fond of much of the music growing in my own backyard. So check out the show (with adorable and witty banter courtesy of Brooke and Barry whom I thank for indulging my selections), dig into the music and perhaps turn yourself on to a new band.


Bands featured:
The Last Internationale
X Ambassadors
Big Black Delta
Finish Ticket
Terraplane Sun
Irontom
Dead Sara
American Royalty
The Features
Sabrosa Purr

Song Spotlight: Catching Finish Ticket On Their Way Out

"So our band name is a funny one. We basically decided that we don't ever want to share the true meaning behind the name because, we were in high school when we came up with it and we aren't too fond of the meaning anymore, to say the least. We like to make up stories in each interview. Usually we say that it is because we ran track in high school and it has to do with placing in a race. Another one is that we want to travel to Finland and don't have the funds to buy a ticket out there, so instead we dropped one of the n's in Finnish and made it our name. We usually have a lot more, but those are the two that I remember at the moment."

-Brendan

Okay. So this is what we're dealing with where twin brothers Brendan and Michael Hoye, Gabe Stein and Alex DiDonato who are San Francisco Bay Area's Finish Ticket are concerned: mystery, wanderlust and chronic lying.

Aside from these issues (all of which can be solved with a little counseling), tomorrow- Tuesday, February 26th- marks a day of great import for these guys: the release of their debut full length album, Tears You Apart, where clean, airy and unobstructed production is the name of the game. Former Rilo Kiley bassist Pierre de Reeder served as producer and the result is 11 solid tracks that are pop/rock lush with melodies of lovely; straddling those lines and- along with Brendan's silken vocals- it's ear candy, if you will.

Utter ear candy is surely the third track, "Catch You On My Way Out," which is a musing and contemplative song that, with pretty piano and guitar support, expands and contracts emotionally as well as sonically in all of the right places. Where are we going with this wistful song?

 

"In a modern world, you're a different kind. With every step I take you fall behind..."

"Lyrically, this song is basically about putting our lives on hold to pursue music and having to let our relationships with friends, family, and girlfriends suffer because of it." Alex says. "It’s about trying to find that balance, but never really being able to." Damn that rock and roll lifestyle but somebody's got to do it.

Did I mention that their album, Tears You Apart, comes out tomorrow Tuesday, February 26th? Okay. Ear candy.
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