Well, BeatCrave readers, the votes have been cast, the count is in, and the BeatCrave Fav Artist of January is The Kickback! Congrats! And thanks to all of those who participated and voted for your fav band!
We selected five bands for January, and we need you to vote for your favorite BeatCrave Fav of the month! Beat Crave Favs are bands that we here at BC select because, well, they are our favorite new bands to come across our inboxes, iTunes folders, and CD players (remember those?). Cast your vote after the jump, and we’ll announce the winner on February 3!
Los Angeles-based band Monroe, formerly known as Wreckonomics, have been carving a name for themselves in music scenes across the nation. The four-man band first got together in the summer of 2009 after studying music at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. Now, they spend their days playing live shows in Los Angeles and are currently working on their debut album. Their first EP Outer Space featured seven songs with strong vocals by lead vocalist and guitarist Lawrence IV. He’s got a soft-toned voice that resembles that one of Brandon Boyd and Sting.
Their song “Body Snatchers” is nothing like Radiohead‘s own, but you’ve got to commend Monroe for generating a melting pot of different sounds. They’re not entirely rock, but also not entirely funk or hip hop. Overall, Monroe has a relaxing sound that will even remind you of the king of reggae Bob Marley. Since their inception, Monroe has kept busy playing shows in Los Angeles at notable venues like The House of Blues, The Roxy, and The Whiskey. We support their efforts and are glad to make them our BeatCrave Fav. Check them out.
Like most any band worthy of a spin, Castle Lights evolved plenty before becoming what it is today. It initially started as a solo project for Jeremiah Woods back in 2007, then it underwent a name change – from LightParade to its current moniker. Now, the Houston, Texas-based rock trio is a solid entity that seems to know its abilities and strengths. We say this because of the tracks heard on their 2010 EP release, Paint the Stars, their sound hits heavily on the nerves. On the whole, theirs is a swirling, complex, multi-layered endeavor with respect to music as a living, breathing entity – so much so that they’ve the knack to let their instruments do the singing for them, so to speak. Thankfully, their talent is not confined to studio walls; their acoustic version of the lead track from their EP, which can be found on video below, is a testament to versatility and involved live exploration on the part of the audience – something we’d love to dive into ourselves. Check them out in our BeatCrave Fav series below, and be sure to vote for them in this month’s poll!
The best way to describe the Boston-based trio Grey Valley Ghosts is as “evil pop.” Frontman and guitarist Madison Taylor doesn’t rock out to soft melodic pop, his band is more hardcore, like Nirvana or Tool. Their self-titled debut album will have you thinking you’re back in 1994 playing Sonic Adventure on your Sega.
This year the trio will play a handful of shows in the U.S. to support their sophomore album Bad Mallady. We’re excited to see where a band like Grey Valley Ghosts – who doesn’t sound like every other indie pop band coming out of Echo Park – fits in today’s music world, and we support their music. Check them out in our BeatCrave Fav series below.
The Kickback joins the ranks of Great Bands We Admire (as well as today’s BeatCrave Fav) mainly for their live quality. We’re sure you’ve experienced the band that sounds great in studio, but not so much on stage – well, rest assured that that’s something not to be concerned with when it comes to the Chicago-based band. Originally from Vermillion, South Dakota, this five-piece indie rock group consists of brothers Billy and Danny Yost (on guitars and keyboards, etc., respectfully), whose move from South Dakota to the windy city in 2009 planted the roots of what we assume will continue to be a brilliant display of talent with their fleshed-out band.
Not only will they be kicking off the new year locally at the famed Lincoln Hall in Chicago, but following their most recent EP, Mea Culpa Mea Culpa, they’ll soon be releasing a full-length, hopefully coming much sooner than we expect. Until then, check them out in our BeatCrave Fav series below, and be sure to vote for them in our poll at the end of the month.
Don’t confuse Wolves with Wolfmother. The two bands may hail from the land of Oz and share a somewhat similar name, but their musical sound couldn’t be more different. This indie band got their start in Western Australia, where they have opened for internationally renown bands like Metric, Gyroscope and The Mess Hall. Most recently, the band of five caught the attention of producer Sylvia Massy who’s worked with hot bands like System of a Down and also the legendary Johnny Cash. Now, Wolves are set to release their debut album in 2012.
If The Good Rebels seem at all familiar to you, it’s probably because you know them under the name Pan Am. The eclectic Los Angeles-based band credits their sound and inspiration from many a reputable source. With self-proclaimed melodic beacons include The Beatles, Oasis and The Kinks – as well as varied sixties themes and rifts – theirs is a sound that most anyone can appreciate in the name of nostalgia.
As 2011 wraps up, all the blogs are posting their end of the year lists. We’ll also be presenting a ton of lists including Top Bands of 2011, Top Albums of 2011, and plenty more! However–we are kicking off the best of the best with some of the artists YOU – the reader – have chosen as some of our favorite BeatCrave Favs. We not only began highlighting some of the best up-and-coming, talented indie acts in January but we also gave you a chance to crown some artists with a BeatCrave Fav of the Month title. Those who earned the title advanced into the running for 2011′s last Fav poll.
We now ask you to cast your votes in for BEATCRAVE FAV OF THE YEAR! See who you voted as some of your favorite artists during 2011 below and make your voice heard. Most importantly – support the band you especially cherish!
