We are rolling again. Erica has detoxed from BBQ and Shiner, and is no longer using her trip to Austin as an excuse to put off listening to your music. She has also convinced Jesse to step away from his BlackBerry just long enough to give you what we’ve got this week. We encourage you to reload our inbox with your next conference picks or just what you’ve been digging lately: [email protected]
ONES TO WATCH
Alice Russell (www.myspace.com/alicerusselluk): British soul singer brings her sassy, fresh vibe to growing U.S. audiences. Just off the heels of a stellar SXSW performance, Alice continues her run of the West Coast with dates in San Francisco, Seattle and Portland. While Alice has been compared to the likes of the recent female powerhouses budding in the U.K., her funky Motown-esque flavor brings something that we have yet to see from Amy Winehouse, Duffy and Adele. Her recent album, Pot of Gold, is garnering acclaim from the press, and fans are growing exponentially. The album boasts upbeat tracks like “Got The Hunger?,” which gets the crowd dancing and singing along, and a fantastic cover of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.” She’s performed alongside The Roots, De La Soul and Roy Ayers, but is now making a name for herself as the real thing, and nothing short of a headlining act.
Sugar Red Drive (www.myspace.com/sugarreddrive): N.Y.- based rock band just finished their debut album, produced by Pat Gasperini (former member of Pound). They’ve shared the stage with bands like Seether, Theory of a Deadman, Live, Finger Eleven, Sick Puppies and more. They’ve also done numerous radio performances and are coming off a very impressive SXSW gig. Make sure to look them up (we’ve made it easy for you). We’ll have exciting updates over the next several weeks. Stay tuned for action!
BAND/ARTIST UPDATES
Mother Mother (www.myspace.com/mothermotherspace): Just played CMW, and it was the buzz gig of the conference, with over 200 people being turned away. Shortly after, they made their way to SXSW for the Last Gang Records/Paper Bag Records showcase, which was a smash. Keep your eye on this quirky Canadian quintet as they continue to arouse audiences with their funky and memorable style.
Glacier Hiking (www.myspace.com/glacierhiking): Be sure to remember this Lionsgate signed band, which we hipped you to a while ago, because they, too, are coming off a successful run in Austin. With a packed gig at the BMI showcase and a Fox News appearance, the buzz on this band could very well be unstoppable.
ON DECK
The Trews (www.myspace.com/thetrews): This Nova Scotia foursome recently made an appearance on Canada AM to promote their latest album, which will be available in the U.S. April 9. That’ll make six releases for the veteran rock band, which continues to build a base. Catch them on tour throughout the states come March 30.
