Stumbling onto the Detroit music scene in late 2006, The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre (JCM) have been raising the ire of working musicians and anonymous bloggers ever since with their “Is this for real?” performances and always controversial Lavender Blog. The JCM consist of the Bret Easton Ellis spouting Bryan Metro, towering, ex-hockey player, nihilist Johnny Retro (JR), and guitarist Adam Leroy.  Their music has been described as barely listenable, ridiculous garage rock mixed with ‘Sub-Suicide’ beats.  Their stage shows are a mix of music and theater in an un-gay way and tend to polarize the audience, with a record 45 people walking out of a show once, in Toledo.  They pride themselves on being the only blog in existence that is also a band and secretly love anonymous commentators.
To hear the song 'Sonic Egyptian' from Jesus Chainsaw Massacre, click on the play button below the band photo.

Anna Johnson is a girl who makes music from the deepest part of her heart. It's intentionally simple/stripped/sincere so people feel what she feels. Effortless. Beautiful. No unnecessary words. No unnecessary flash. Lyrics and music from her soul to yours. Alison Krauss meets pop meets Norah Jones meets something honest and true. In 2008, Anna won the hearts of the legendary rock band Queen, when they heard her song "Flowers On Monday" and gave her a full 4-year scholarship to pursue songwriting at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, MN. After one year of training, Anna moved to Music City, Nashville, TN to record her national debut album, "Ready To Go". Since its release in May 2010, Anna has shared the stage with musicians like Colbie Caillat, Jim Lauderdale, John Carter Cash, Orla Fallon
and others!
To hear the song 'Damaged and Bruised' from Anna Johnson, click on the play button below her photo.

“The Little Band with a Big Sound” - Karmin is Boston’s premier acoustic pop sound. Armed with two voices, a guitar, and a wooden box; Nick Noonan and Amy Heidemann put on a dynamic show - full of catchy pop tunes, feel-good ballads, and rock/hip-hop inspired concoctions! Karmin creates a high-energy and exhilarating musical expression.  Fellow singer/songwriter Melissa Polinar writes, “Amy's guitar chops, vocal gymnastics and control is unbelievable and mind-blowing.  Nick 's musicianship compliments with vocal harmonies, percussion, horns, and keys.  With their extensive musicianship and artistry, all I can say is that these two mean business and that they're absolutely not your average "Sonny & Cher" formulaic combo.”
To hear the song 'Take It Away' from Karmin, click on the play button below the band photo.

Little Embers is a collaborative effort featuring Theresa Hoffmann & her husband Anthony Rizzo. While she writes the songs, he provides the setting from which the tunes take flight. Influenced by artists such as Wilco, Paul Westerberg and Lucinda Williams, Little Embers has found their own unique style. As a founding member of the critically acclaimed punk band Garden Variety, and best known for his work in Vic Thrill and the Saturn Missile, Rizzo's sensitive, but assertive electric guitar draws upon a rich and varied musical background. Combined with Theresa's ghostly evocative songwriting, the combination is compelling. Theirs is roots music of a decidedly different stripe; the cool fire of their soulful sound has been impressing New York City audiences for some time and Little Embers' presence in the emerging Queens music scene cannot be underestimated.
To hear ‘ Raise The Dead’ from Little Embers, click on the play button below.

 Though unsightly and temperamental from an early age,  Modern Man excelled at making lots of noise. Their style can be described as loud, honest and melodic rock and roll  in the vein of The Black Keys, Wilco, and Tokyo Police Club. As a band, Modern Man believes firmly in tube amps, koozies and shouting. Modern Man is Zach Goodwin (guitar), Lee Cain (vocals, guitar), Matt Dosberg (bass), Paul Withers (drums).
To hear ‘1957’ from Modern Man, click on the play button below.

Introducing the unique musical adventure that is The Ne Plus Ultra. This Houston band is comprised of musical powerhouses, vocalist Johanna Russell and bassist Don Russell, along with keyboard/beat whiz, Gus (K!dbe@t) Solis. This team, who have decades of combined experience in the local and national music scene (K!dbe@t formerly of the band Aftershock – Retrograde Records and Don Russell formerly of Small Craft Advisory), have spent the last year recording and engineering 'Drop In', their first album together as The Ne Plus Ultra.
To hear ‘M.A.S.E.’ from The Ne Plus Ultra, click on the play button below.

The Northcoast Jazz Collective is one of the premier jazz bands in the Cleveland area. Together as a unit since 2003, featured members are Dan Maier (piano), John Gallo (acoustic bass), Dave Frank (reeds), and leader Mark Grey (drums). The band plays straight up modern jazz that is creative, emotional, and accessible. Most of the music in their repertoire consists of original compositions and members’ arrangements of jazz classic. Their approach and style of writing and performing consists of the collective influences and history of not only the member’s experiences on the 1960s and 1980s New York Jazz scenes, but also the modern feel of their present jazz experiences in Cleveland.
To hear ‘Changing Times’ from Northcoast Jazz Collective, click on the play button below.

Julia Nunes (pronounced NOONZ) is a native to upstate NY. She is a talented songwriter, guitarist, and ukulele player. Her talent is just now reaching to the public from internet websites such as YouTube.com and Myspace.com. Her albums consist of all original work, however she does perform quite a few covers on YouTube!  Her video performance of "Into The Sunshine" has nearly one million views, and continuing to grow. Before the video was featured on YouTube, Nunes was the winner of the Bushman World Ukulele Contest. Bushman is the world's leading performance ukulele, and her winning tugged her into the music world. Her entry was a cover of Destiny's Child's "Survivor."
To hear Julia's song ‘Through The Floorboards’, click on the play button below her photo.

PJ’s My Cousin Too is a Michigan/Illinois fusion of rhythm and funk formed by Michigan cousins Ryan Kramar and Jordan Jackson. Currently based out of Chicago, IL., the band’s interests and influences reflect the diversity of the city they call home and they maintain a goal of not being assigned a category—just a good time and a good sound. Originally from Lake Orion, Michigan, Ryan Kramar is the singer and guitarist for PJ’s. Ryan has been in a number of bands over the years, including his current other project, Hemi. A laid back, free-spirit, Ryan urges the crowd to rock with PJ’s through his Kramarisms and “mystique”. Jordan Jackson is the guitarist for PJ’s, originally from Clarkston Michigan.  Though originally an acoustic player, Jordan has expanded to electric with PJ’s. He does not intend to bring his talents to South Beach at this time.
To hear the song ‘Flatline’, from PJs My Cousin Too, click on the play button below.

The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band is a three-piece American country blues band from Brown County, Indiana. They play more than 250 dates per year at venues ranging from bars to festivals. A combination of authenticity and originality is evident throughout their music, driven by the trio’s big damn vocals and melodies, gutbucket guitar playing, and foot-stomping rhythms, all in service of songs that are honest and moving, devoid of irony or artifice. The Big Damn Band is very much a family affair, with the good reverend on finger-style resonator guitar and lead vocals, his wife “Washboard” Breezy Peyton on washboard and vocals, and distant cousin Aaron “Cuz” Persinger on drums and bucket. The band’s home base is deep in the hills of Southern Indiana’s Brown County, which boasts a population of 14,957. (Or 14,954 when the band’s out on the road, including appearances at the Austin City Limits festival and tours with Flogging Molly, Derek Trucks, and Clutch.) 
To hear the song ‘Clap Your Hands’, from The Reverend Payton's Big Damn Band, click on the play button below.

Amanda Shires is just a down-to-earth, self-effacing West Texas gal currently residing in Nashville, working her tail off trying to find her niche in the music industry as an independent artist. Her Texas twang and fetching vibrato (“less goat, more note!” she teases herself with a laugh) can dance playfully around a melody or haunt a line like a mournful ghost, and she deftly employs her fiddle/violin, ukulele and even whistling skills to similar effect. The resulting sound is a beautiful but woozily surrealistic swoon — as well befits an artist who cites Leonard Cohen and alt-country dark horse Richard Buckner as two of her biggest musical influences. Or, as a review in Americana UK once observed: “At times, her energetic, jittery vocals and eccentric lyrical subjects mark her out as a young female heir to the godfather of strange, Tom Waits. In her more conventional moments, Shires sounds like the weird young niece of Dolly Parton.”
To hear the song ‘When You Need A Train It Never Comes’ from Amanda Shires, click on the play button below.

If art is a take on one’s perception or reaction to existence, than that is what Shotgun Lover shoots for. The band steams straight ahead with it’s take on youth in America and Rock and Roll . But the listener can only go as far as the writer is willing to stick to his guns. This is what Shotgun Lover has tried to be about since day one. Genuine American Rock and Roll meant to be enjoyed, listened to, danced to, drank to, and felt. Shotgun Lover is: Andrew Nelson (Vocals, Guitars), Blount Floyd (BGV, Guitars), Nathan Roland (Bass), and Chris Johnston (Percussion) . With countless gigs, practices, and stories behind them the guys hit the garage and started pounding out the tunes that now define who they are and the music they make. Their influences range from Led Zeppelin to Black Sabbath to Wilco and My Morning Jacket.
To hear the song ‘Bout You’ from Shotgun Lover, click on the play button below the band photo.

Austin Psych Fest writes: “When four bearded, long-haired White dudes walk on stage with amps even taller than they are, you can bet your life savings that you’re about to hear some serious stoner metal. Their songs groove and have memorable melodies; the vocals are pleasant; their bassist has one of the meanest tones I’ve ever heard”  Smoke and Feathers began in Austin, TX with the meeting of Hunter Cahalan and Josh Terry in late 2007, both possessing unique singing and guitar techniques. Josh's heavy southern stylings and Hunter's eery psychedelic pulses merged into a unique blend of rock and roll which could ultimately be described as psychedelic southern rock. Local bassist Alan Houston met the pair, bringing a deep low end and groovy thumps into the mix. Soon after, the group picked up Geoff Guillard. Geoff brought intense beats with tastefully intricate rhythms to the already booming sound of Smoke and Feathers.
 To hear ‘Wicked Ways’ from Smoke and Feathers, click on the play button below the band photo.

Smooth Sailing is a metal band from Seattle, WA. The band members are: Patrick Oiye, Christopher Elizaga, Brandon Elizaga, Jake Vice, Timmy Keene and Ryan Adams. Some say Smooth Sailing was created as the musical outlet for a group of professional arm wrestlers. This would explain the force with which they play and their incredibly strong forearms, but it falls short when one realizes that the band is deathly afraid of holding hands. Others claim the band formed when the members accidentally walked into the wrong practice space and just decided to jam with the strangers they found rather than look dumb and admit they were in the wrong room. In reality, the band came together when the various members realized that their other projects just weren't over-the-top or heavy enough. 
To hear Smooth Sailing's ‘Sunday Morning Margaritas’, click on the play button below the band photo.

Sure, Utah is famous for producing young musical performing groups centered on families. Warning: StankBot Tyrrany is not the Osmonds or SHeDAISY. StankBot Tyranny is a juggernaut of badass, thumping, distortion-filled music headed by three youngbloods: 11-year old Will Holle on the drums; 13-year old brother Ben Holle on guitar; and brother-in-arms 17-year old Nick Anjerweirden on bass. With combined vocals, StankBot Tyranny is a musical force to be reckoned with. Oh yeah, StankBot Tyranny is also lots of fun both musically and in person. Will, Ben and Nick are mutually influenced by Black Flag, Nirvana and The Ramones. Together, these influences unite like an awesome, world-conquering giant space robot with laser beam-shooting eyes.
To hear the song ‘Rumble Strip’ from StankBot Tyranny, click on the play button below the band photo.

Described as making music that bridges the gap between electro-pop/new wave and supercharged indie-rock, These Electric Lives play their own brand of “melodic dance rock”. TEL’s exciting and energetic live show consistently delivers uplifting and danceable anthems fueled by an intensity of honest emotion and the powerful soaring voice of lead singer Mark Stanfield. These Electric Lives’ infectious and catchy songs have become increasingly popular with DJ's and producers in Canada, the US, and Europe. The full band line-up consists of: Bryan Lowe, Gary Peter, Robbie Butcher and the aforementioned Mark Stanfield. 
To hear the song ‘Hit The Ground Running’ from These Electric Lives, click on the play button below.

Jackie Tohn has been an actor since she was 9 and a musician since she was 20. She was also was a semi-finalist on the eighth season of American Idol. ‘Miss Personality’, as Ryan Seacrest dubbed her, was highly featured during the New York audition episode when she made the walls come crashing down - literally!  Her vocals, eclectic outfits and fanny-packs left a memorable impression on America, as well as the judges.  Before Idol, the guitar-toting singer/songwriter recorded a full-length album, called ‘Beguiling’, which received much critical acclaim. The song ‘What is Love’, from Jackie's second album, ‘2.YO’,  is featured in the movie ‘You Again’ (starring Kristen Bell and Jamie Lee Curtis). Jackie is also one half of the vocal duo Powerfox and Ponymane with fellow L.A. musician Jes Hudak.
To hear Jackie's song ‘Relax’, click on the play button below her photo.

Full of mean riffs, surfy guitar licks, FM-ready melodies and layers of ball-busting female vocals, The Worsties are a raw mix of sexy party rock. The Worsties formed in 2005 with vocalist Anna Worstell, guitarist Jesse Worstell and bassist Jairo Ruiz. Nathan Shelton joined the band on drums in March of 2008. The Worsties have generated quite a stir in the local and regional touring circuit sharing the stage with such acts as Bon Jovi, Kid Rock, Big Boi, Candlebox, Cage the Elephant, Marcy Playground, Theory of a Deadman and a slew of others. The band melds the sounds of 70's era punk, 80's pop and glam, dance, The Pixies and even Motorhead to create a feisty, straight ahead rock n' rollin' good time. The Worsties maintain a strong presence with unmatched style and an always unpredictable live performance. If you want to satisfy your taste buds with some sexy drenched rock n' roll, then The Worsties are your band. 
To hear the song ‘Party Dress’ from The Worsties, click the play button below the band photo.

David Wu is a mutli-talented musician, producer and music columnist from Seattle, WA. David is the creative mind behind The Fringemunks. The Fringemunks are a music group consisting of three ‘cloned’ anthropomorphic chipmunks: Feebo, Notchy and Pie. They are known mostly for recapping all episodes of the first three seasons of Fox television series Fringe with parodies of well-known pop songs. The group is, in itself, a loose parody of Alvin and the Chipmunks. The voices of the group are all performed by Wu, who speeds up the playback of his voice to create higher-pitched voices. For their songs, Wu performs all of the instruments (heard in real-time) and writes the parody lyrics. In February 2010, Alyssa Milano sent a Twitter message with a link to the video for The Fringemunks' ‘iPad Song’ (a parody of Michael Jackson's ‘Bad’ that criticized the device), along with a statement that it had made her laugh.
To hear David Wu’s ‘iPad Song’ click on the play button below his photo.