Eisley

Time for another band!

Eisley is my pick for today. This band out of Tyler, TX consists of 5 members of the Dupree family--3 sisters, a brother, and a cousin--all extremely talented, too. The first time I saw this band was opening for New Found Glory, which is a rather odd pairing because their sound is definitely more folky than pop-punky. They describe their sound as indie-rock/pop. Their album, Room Noises, tends to put me in a such a mellow mood that I often mind myself falling asleep--but that's not a bad thing!



The band was formed in 1997 when the youngest Dupree wrote the band's first song at age EIGHT! Labels started taking notice early and the band is now signed to Warner/Reprise Records.

My last suggestion, Griffin House has the power to capture your attention right away, but Eisley is a little different. I don't think it's that you have to be in the right mood, but you have to be willing to hear something different. The band has opened for many big acts such as Coldplay, Brand New, Snow Patrol, New Found Glory, The Fray, Switchfoot, Taking Back Sunday, Mute Math, etc.

The Dupree sisters had been getting a lot of press in the last couple of years because their music has led to romance. Sherri Dupree married Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory (a while after the bands toured together), and Chauntelle Dupree was engaged to Adam Lazarra of Taking Back Sunday and set to marry in March of 2008. Sadly, as I was researching this band today, I discovered that both couples have split. No one likes to hear that kind of news :(

If you are thinking of romance, I swear that the songs, "My Lovely" and "Just Like We Do," are destined to be featured on the soundtrack for a romantic comedy someday. I have yet to be disappointed by any of the bands songs. Even when Sherri was sick at a show in Philly once, the live performance didn't suffer.

I don't think I can accurately describe Eisley's sound, but this is a little of what their myspace says:
Indie Rock, (on a major; but that's just a style vs. status issue). Emotional but not Emo (stop saying emo). Pop but not so popular (Warhol did pop in a commercial way. Rauchenberg did pop in fine art way). Soul-ful but not Soul,Dream-pop, but not a Dreamsicle (well, maybe... if dark chocolate replaced the vanilla interior). Alt (because AP magazine says so.) but not alternative...Maybe if the Fathers of "Alt" endorsed it, but Stipe or Cobaine will never agree. Haunting but not in an evil way; not like a scary, scary clown. Folkish (sometimes) but not country. Catchy - like when you catchy a fishy. Moody but not e-winey. Melodic - yes.very ...Radio Rock? Not so far; the machine says they're not "broad" enuf' lyrically, so maybe that's good...

Enough talking, not enough listening...go check them out! They have a new album that I haven't picked up yet, but what I have heard so far is great. Room Noises is great, and their newest release, Combinations, is even better.

Oh wait! They also have ANOTHER EP out called Like The Actors. I guess we both have a lot of listening to do now...


Abbey

Griffin House

Hey there,

My pick for today is actually an old favorite of mine that has recently been revived.

I first heard Griffin House at The Point in Bryn Mawr, PA in early 2005, I believe. The Point is unfortunately closed now; it was a GREAT little coffee shop for live music. Fun Fact: The Point was owned by Jesse and Rich of Point Entertainment, who I hired last summer during my internship to do production for the Campus Philly Kick-Off. Full circle!

Anyway, Griffin House is described as rock/folk/punk, but I would have to say he is pretty country. I normally don't like country music very much, but Griffin has a lot of soul and charm. He's from my homestate of Ohio, so what more needs to be said?!

You have probably heard him before, but never knew it. His song, "Waterfall" was featured on a commercial for Rembrandt Oral Health. During my research, I realized that this commercial debuted exactly a year ago today during an episode of Desperate Housewives. The commercial was deemed risque and controversy ensued...YouTube even has a disclaimer, but honestly, it's just kissing. Take a look...





If you are looking for a really sappy love song (that is actually good), fall in love with Griffin's "The Guy That Says Goodbye (To You Is Out Of His Mind)".

I haven't heard much of his new material, but it sounds pretty good. I recommend his album, Lost and Found. You can listen to some of his old stuff on his PureVolume site; I remember really enjoying, "Tell Me Lie", live when I first saw them. When I saw GH for the second time at World Cafe Live, they expanded a bit from their original acoustic sound to more of a rock and roll groove. All of the tracks that I have found online sound mostly acoustic and country-like, but believe me when I tell you that Griffin can be classified as blues/rock/jazz/country/etc....

This is great music to relax to, study to, take a hike or a drive to, whatever...Griffin definitely sets a mood. Lost and Found is pretty mellow, but tracks like "The Way I Was Made" take you by surprise. Take a listen and see if you are captivated like I was.


Bio of Griffin House:

Griffin House is a performer. The Ohio native possesses a talent for literally sucking the background noise out of a concert venue, turning it into his own musical vacuum. Go to a show in any city, and you'll find House playing a small, crowded venue. You've probably never heard his oddball name (is it one guy or a band?) before, but decide to pay attention between trips to the bar. An intense House approaches the mic, sings a few lyrics over a simple chord progression, and instantly you're locked on him. You can't look away, you can't think of anything else and wouldn't want to if you could. The room is silent, save the frequency from the amplifiers. Interrupted only by his own nervous chatter, House plays a brief but immaculate set of folksy rock tunes that sends you dashing to the merchandise table to buy up all the CDs you can get your hands on. This is how most fans, including VH1 Senior Vice President Bill Flanagan, have come to pay him accolades. "I bought (House's) CD (after a show in New York City), and this never happens. I took it home and must have listened to it 20 times that weekend," Flanagan said on the Aug. 28 edition of "CBS Sunday Morning." (A clip of the show is available at www.myspace.com/griffinhouse) Flanagan put House on an esteemed list of the five best emerging songwriters in the U.S., alongside Ray Lamontagne and Joseph Arthur. At 25, House is a study in ambition. He tirelessly writes lyrics and works out melodies on his Martin acoustic. House's career is in its adolescence, but it's also something of a quick success. After the CBS feature, House's second album "Lost & Found" went to No. 1 at Amazon.com and remained in the top spot for several days. "I think we are in the very beginning," House said. "Even Lost & Found, it was not a record that had any money pushed behind it. I'm hoping with the next record and with the touring and having a fan base, people will take better notice when it hits the stores." His newest tracks are a collection of gutsy rock songs like "Murder in the First," "Czech Republic," "Cause I Miss You," along with the quixotic "The Guy that Says Goodbye to You is Out of his Mind." A former golf phenom from Southwest Ohio suburbia, House carries himself as one might picture a young, sinewy Neal Cassady, with all the infectious energy. House is his own muse. He's a chameleon - audiences are never quite sure which guy will show up. Will it be the quiet, bearded troubadour who gently strums on a bare stage with only drum and keyboard accompaniment? Or perhaps a lucky crowd will get to catch a glimpse of a leaping gnome disguised as a front man for a band composed of Nashville musicians Ian Fitchuk on drums, Cason Cooley on piano, Court Clement on lead guitar and Jeff Irwin on bass. Despite not yet signing with a major label, House acknowledged there are certain perks of being unsigned. "I've met with labels that are interested in what we are doing, but no one's involved in giving us money to make a record, but nobody's telling us what to - we have complete freedom to do what we want," he said. House has said he didn't learn how to write songs until he heard Springsteen and Woody Guthrie, who he discovered after hearing to Wilco and Billy Bragg's Mermaid Avenue albums. VH1's Flanagan noted House's influences as a blend of Wilco, U2 and Ryan Adams. "He's a young man with a young man's influences," Flanagan said. His Nettwerk America debut, "Lost & Found," released in 2004 and recorded in Nashville, highlights the best of what House has to offer. In it, he expresses conflicting themes of spirituality, love, redemption and betrayal with lush melodies and clever lyrics. The experience of playing live shows and getting better at performing his songs has given House a new perspective. "In terms of learning about arrangements and learning how to keep a song interesting from start to finish is something I've gotten better at. I feel like I have writer's block 95 percent of the time. You'll hear a melody or a part that you've been kicking around in your head, a myriad of words that are the best way to express how you feel," he said. "I feel like words are guests who are knocking at your door and you either let them in or turn them away." Unlike those unwanted words, House has no intentions of ever being turned away.
~Benjamin Poston

Jet Lag Gemini

Hi there!

The first band I would like to profile is Jet Lag Gemini of Doghouse Records. Conveniently, their new album, Fire The Cannons, is hitting stores TODAY, January 22nd.

I first heard about these guys when I was doing some freelance writing for NYBreakOutBands.com. JLG was one of the featured bands, and they were also touring with some of my other favorite bands last summer, Suburban Legends and Patent Pending.

I spent some time with the guys last November in NYC, and I have to say, this isn't your average band. Read part of their bio from their MySpace to see just how unique this band is...

"Representing three countries between them, lead singer/rhythm guitarist, Misha Safonov (22), emigrated from Russia in 1993, lead guitarist, Vlad Gheorghiu (18) and his brother and bass player, Matt (Mathei) Gheorghiu (20), came to the U.S. seven years ago from Romania. Rounding out the band, drummer Dan Diliberto (18), the lone non-immigrant of the group, grew up in New Jersey.
The band’s first EP, Business (Doghouse Records 2006), with its playful and classic rock leanings, merely hinted at things to come. Jet Lag Gemini’s knack for blending the energy of more abrasive bands with great pop hooks and hair-raising guitar solos, has won them countless fans both locally and nationwide. This culminated in several national tours including dates on the Vans Warped Tour, as well as playing with Hellogoodbye, The Almost, The Matches, Halifax, and others.
Produced by Jon Kaplan (The Starting Line, Lola Ray), Fire The Cannons is the perfect marriage of both shimmery pop and rock ‘n’ roll grit, and will be released by Doghouse Records on January 22, 2008. It will be a rock odyssey you will surely not want to miss."

Their song, "Run This City," was used as a theme for Dunkin Donuts and their sponsorship of the 2007 NYC Marathon, and this same song was recently featured on an episode of MTV's "The Hills."

Their performance at the Marathon was impressive because it was freezing outside, very early in the morning, and they didn't really have a crowd. The stage was situated at the 26 mile marker, across from spectator stands (who were there for the Marathon...not the band). Here are some photos from their performance at the NYC Marathon...

Thanks for reading! Check out Jet Lag Gemini or even pick up their new album, Fire The Cannons!

The First Movement

Hi there!
Welcome to my blog about music. I love to discover new music--online and at shows. A lot of the bands that I have been following over the last 5 years or so are starting to hit it big (like Paramore getting a Grammy nod?!).

I will be selecting a band to highlight a few times a week. Let me know what you think! Good or bad!

Thanks

Abbey