Local Music - "Optimistic Automatic" by Freak Owls

Genre: Electrocoustic/Folk
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Latest Album: Taxidermy (2010)
Label: Sing Engine Records
Other Notable Songs: "Little Things"

Fun Fact: Their single "Optimistic Automatic" was recently used a short film about Brazilian skateboarders by Novis Films for what they call their Summer Sessions.

Freak Owls Website HERE.

International - "Dominoes" by The Big Pink

Genre: Electro-Rock
Hometown: London, England
Latest Album: A Brief History of Love (2009)
Label: 4AD
Other Notable Songs: "Velvet"

Fun Fact: Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell released their album in late 2009, entitled "A Brief History of Love". Regarding the title, Cordell explains that the album encompasses "every different aspect of love... The good, the bad, the boring, the exciting, the dreams, the nightmares, the whole thing."

The Big Pink Website HERE.

Cover - "Float On" by Blackbird Blackbird

Original: "Float On" by Modest Mouse

Genre: Electronic/Psychedelic
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Latest Album: Summer Heart (2010)
Label: (unsigned)
Other Notable Songs: "Erasers" and "Pure"

Fun Fact: Members of Modest Mouse were interviewed by the AV Club. This was Isaac Brock's take on the song:

"It was a completely conscious thing. I was just kind of fed up with how bad shit had been going, and how dark everything was, with bad news coming from everywhere. Our president is just a fucking daily dose of bad news! Then you've got the well-intentioned scientists telling us that everything is fucked. I just want to feel good for a day."

Blackbird Blackbird Website HERE.




The Original:

Acoustic - "Fire and Rain" by Matt Kearney

Genre: Folk
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Latest Album: City Of Black And White (2009)
Label: Aware/Universal Records
Other Notable Songs: "Nothing Left To Loose" and "Closer to Love"

Fun Fact: Matt first picked up a guitar in college, where he learned to play and write his own songs. After he found God, he stopped partying, started playing music and eventually started his career as a singer/songwriter.

Matt Kearney Website HERE.

New Favorite - "Green Eyed Love" by Mayer Hawthorne

Genre: Soul
Hometown: Ann Arbour, MI
Latest Album: A Strange Arrangement (2009)
Label: Stones Throw Records
Other Notable Songs: "Just Ain't Gonna Work Out"

Fun Fact: His debut single, "Just Ain't Gonna Work Out"/"When I Said Goodbye", was released on a red heart-shaped 7" record on Stones Throw Records on November 4, 2008

Mayer Hawthorne Website HERE.