Four Finger Five
Sounds like a bit of a misnomer for a band that has only three members (each with the standard number of digits), and that’s what makes it a fantastic moniker for a group that continually confounds any attempts at categorization. Incorporating a myriad of genres, including jazz, soul, rock, and pop, this trio from Muskegon, Michigan, has concocted a truly unique style, deftly taking the classic triumvirate of guitar, bass, and drums and building a sound that is at once innovative and creative, while feeling as familiar as a thrift store coat."We wanted a sound that is vintage, reminiscent of the ’60s and ’70s, but presenting it in our own way," says lead vocalist/guitarist Joe Sturgill.
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fourfingerfive.com
myspace.com/fourfingerfive
Charmparticles
Charmparticles are back and have triumphantly delivered their first full-length album, Alive in the Hot Spell. An exquisite hour of swirling, dreamlike melodies and hooks, Alive in the Hot Spell retains familiar Charmparticles elements - Pamela Rooney’s haunting vocals, Sarah FitzGerald’s shimmering guitar work and Nathanael Merrill’s gigantic drums - but the album’s 12 tracks contain several surprises from the band mostly known for its shoegaze roots. Songs range from spare ballads to bombastic, angry rockers - with a healthy dose of catchy, pretty pop songs in between. With Alive in the Hot Spell, Charmparticles manage several new feats - and they sound more than ever like the band they were meant to be.
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charmparticles.com
myspace.com/charmparticles
Anthony Smith's Trunk Fulla Funk
An infectiously grooving sextet featuring stellar musicians from across the country - a hybrid of classic funk / rock / soul influences, with all the rock and jam-oriented improvisation you might expect.
"TFF" is indeed the product of Smith’s experience and imagination, and perhaps more importantly, his rare talent as an effective, charismatic band leader. Smith’s choices to fill the roles of backing musicians are savvy and precise, and nowhere was this more evident than when choosing a lead singer and co-frontman.
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myspace.com/trunkfullafunk
