Pongid

July Featured Artists: Alex Mitchell and Lullwater

Alex Mitchell

An up-and-coming performer quickly gaining attention for his creativity and improvisational skill, Alex Mitchell is pushing the limits of what the violin can do. Armed with a 5-string NS Designs CR5 and a host of guitar effects, Alex forms his compositions around the concept of looping and delay, in which parts are layered to create the illusion of multiple instruments. At times he sounds like a deep cello, a multi-octave ensemble, a screaming guitar, or a soothing synthesizer - all out of one instrument, all live.

Alex has performed at Carnegie Hall (solo), the Kennedy Center, Constitution Hall (to a crowd of 3,000), the Canadian Embassy, the German Cultural Center in New York, Don Hill's (a known rock venue), at a concert in Salzburg, Austria for Mozart's 250th Birthday, the Palladium in McLean, Disneyworld, and at several small venues and private events in Manhattan and Virginia. He also performed at local elementary and middle schools to inspire a younger generation into continuing the violin.

In addition, he was the first violinist in a working classical string quartet that regularly played weddings, art shows, and conferences around the D.C area for a couple of years.

Several of Alex's live performances on YouTube have received over 200,000 views (as of this writing) and given him international recognition by a small but supportive fan base. After the YouTube videos started getting attention, he was contacted by quite a few people asking for higher quality recordings. In the summer of 2007 he recorded a low-budget album, "Evolution," and released it on iTunes. It sold a lot better than he ever thought it would, and he used the money from that album to finance a new EP, "Intercosm," that was professionally mastered and released in August 2008. He is currently seeking a label for his next major release.

Alex was accepted at Berklee College of Music, but after reviewing financial concerns, he chose to pursue his music in New York City while attending Fordham University.

Since moving to New York, Alex is now affiliated with the PUMP NY management firm and the Original Sessions booking agency.

For more information, please visit http://www.alexmitchell.org/

YouTube Reference:
Soldier's Lullaby - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyRMPayl0KI
Intercosm - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H32CMFFEsIA
Neoclassical - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td5jcwehBEU
Evolution - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgaVJ_uIvms

Instrumentation
Alex Mitchell - Electric Violin + Loopstation

Discography
"Intercosm" - Latest release, see it on iTunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=286049871&s=143441
Or Retail: http://cdbaby.com/cd/alexmitchell2

"Evolution" - Low-budget album available on iTunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=260916770&s=143441

Lullwater

Named for the street address of the basement where the band first began, Lullwater is an up beat alternative/ modern rock band with a large array of originals and covers.  Having just released their debut album, Faithful Sinners, the guys of Lullwater are promoting the album and connecting with fans. This premier album shows the diversity of Lullwater’s music and talent.  From folk/acoustic rock to some heavier melodic modern rock riffs. There is a unique sound that appeals for all kinds of music lovers, and that is portrayed in Lullwater's music.

Created in Athens, Lullwater played its first show at DT’s Downunder, and has since played venues in the musically inclined city of Athens and all over the southeast. Lullwater released its debut album faithful Sinners in 2008, which was recorded with Asa Leffer and Eric Friar in DARC studios. Lullwater will be releasing its new EP "Forest For The Trees" in the summer of 2009.

Lullwater is heavily influenced by 90's rock and Classic rock of the 1970's. The band brings a different sound to the stage with strong vocals, intense and melodic guitar solos, and solid/powerful percussion. 

The band is led by frontman John Strickland who heads up the vocals and guitar.  Brett Strickland (no relation to John) displays his virtuosic style on lead guitar and Nick Thomas handles drums and percussion.  The newest member of the band is Carter Jones who has taken over the bass guitar.


Instrumentation
John Strickland- Lead vocals, Guitar
Nick Thomas - Drums, percussion
Brett Strickland- Lead Guitar, vocals
Carter Jones- Bass

Discography
Lullwater released their debut album Faithful Sinners in January 2008. It is a full length album with 10 tracks.
While recording the title track of the album, “Faithful Sinners,” John Neff of the Drive By Truckers caught wind of the sound, and consequentially graced that song with his amazing pedal steel guitar. Another outstanding musician, Drew Carman, also played exceptional banjo on Faithful Sinners.

"Forest For The Trees" is Lullwater's brand new EP that will be released in the summer of 2009. The album consist of gritty rock (A Forgotten Name) to folk rock (Whatever Happened) to Alternative Rock (Alive). The band is extremely proud of this new album and is touring to promote it.

Streaming Radio: last fm, Pongid radio,

Links

http://www.lullwatermusic.com

"Whatever Happened" Music video

athensmusic.net

Lullwatermusic

Sessomorte Video

Lisa LaRue video

June Featured Artists - The Brymers and Akasha

The Brymers band is a five piece rock-n-roll group from the 1960's known for its fuzz guitar, pounding harp, hammond B3, and melodic harmonies.  The group's influences were The Kinks, The Byrds, the Stones, and The Allman Brothers. the Brymers are known for their 60's classic hit of "Sacrifice."  The Brymers have three CD's on the market and over 90 recorded tracks in their catalog that cover all genres.  Visit: www.thebrymers.com or call 541.683.2263.

Instrumentation
All original members perform and record with The Brymers.  Dick Lee (drums, vocals); Jim Mellick (vocals, harp, lead guitar); Bill Brumley (bass guitar, vocals), Kenny Sinner (vocals, keyboards, sax), and Kenny Valentine, (vocals, guitar, keyboards).

Discography
LP: "Boulders" 1980's featuring "Sacrifice"
CD: "Sacrifice" featured on Garage Punks Unknowns.
CD: 'Sacrifice" 24 tracks of Brymers 1960's recordings - released June 2007.
CD: "Where Are They Now"  - 14 original tracks from the Brymers - released October, 2007.
CD: "40 Year Brotherhood" 18 tracks released by The Brymers - October, 2008 (new) Visit: www.thebrymers.com

Links

http://www.thebrymers.com

Akasha is a rock band formed in San José, Costa Rica in 2002. Guitarist Emmanuel Sotela founded the band, and shortly after guitarist Roberto Artavia joined in. Later, after trying out and playing with various musicians, lead vocalist Julio Nájera, bass player and background vocals Manuel Villalobos and drummer Narayan Barrantes joined Akasha to complete a line-up they we are all happy with and most importantly, that was effective playing their unique style of rock. In only five years the band has grown, accomplished many goals, and has participated in over 100 concerts, both national and international. Towards the beginning, in 2003, they participated in a tour entitled “El Ciclo de los Grandes” (Cycle of the Great), where only the most recognized bands in the country were included (all bands that played exist since the early 90’s, yet Akasha, founded only a year before, was the only new band that had reached the level required to participate). Also in 2003, the band participated in two music festivals called “Feria Rock” (Rock Fair), and again, Akasha was the only relatively new band that was included. Finally towards the end of the year, the band played in a concert called “Festival Panamericano 2003” which is held every year in Latin America’s most recognized business school, (INCAE Business School) with more that 5000 people in attendance. In 2004, the band exclusively dedicated their time to compose new material and worked to polish existing songs, playing in only local gigs to try out the material and keep active. In 2005, when they formally came back to the stages, Akasha was hired by one Latin America’s most important brand names (“Ron Flor de Caña”), to play three large concerts in Nicaragua which were a great success. After returning to Costa Rica, Akasha (for the second time) was one of four bands that played in the “Festival Panamericano 2005”. Recently, in November 2006, Akasha won first place in a contest, with over 80 bands participating, organized and sponsored by one of the largest breweries in Latin America (the Argentinean “Quilmes”). This brought them a contract offer from Alejandro Taranto, one of Latin America’s most recognized managers and producers (he worked with highly acclaimed bands such as Los Fabulosos Cadillacs and A.N.I.M.A.L.), to distribute their new album throughout South America. Currently Akasha has offers for a tour in Guatemala and is awaiting confirmation for a tour in South America to promote their album, Descriptar. On February 28, a short documentary based on the recording process of the album, press conference, and Q&A with fans was broadcasted on national television, along with the music video for the first single, Cartas Marcadas. The Album: Descriptar Akasha is currently promoting their first album titled Descriptar, which was released on March 15, 2007. The album was recorded in August-September of 2006 with producer Jesse Alvarado in Audio Arte Studios, the most important recording studio in the country, mixed at Sonic Response Studios (Los Angeles) and mastered in World Class Audio (Los Angeles). The record consists of 11 tracks (8 songs and 3 interludes), including Estatuas de Sal (Salt Statues), Arrodillados en la Sombra (Kneeling in the Shadows) and Cartas Marcadas (Tainted Letters), the first single that reached radio stations on February 15. Their first music video began rotating in music television on February 28 and was a instant hit. Currently Akasha just finished a tour called the Costa Bazooka with US producer Bruce La Pierre, alonside of various bands, including the grammy nominated Turning Point from Texas, Ionia and Stereopath from New York, Endway and Death by Fame from Boston and Before the Fall from Dallas. Akasha will be touring the US in May of 2008 playing dates in Boston, Texas and New York, and also playing the In Rock We Trust show in upstate NY. They are also expected to play in late of 2008 the Locobazooka show. Instrumentation Emma - Guitars Nara - Drums Mauni - Bass and Vocals Bob - Guitars Julio - Vocals Discography "Descriptar" released on March 2007 independantly Has sprung the hit single "Cartas Marcadas" and is soon to release the second single and video, "Descriptar". Record can be found at itunes music and cdbaby.com

Listeners' Favorite this month: Wounded Buffalo Theory

Wounded Buffalo Theory is an experimental apocalypse rock band out of Brooklyn, NY consisting of Jay Cowit, Rob Malko, Lucas Shine, and John Blanton. The band is currently playing shows and finishing work on it's 5th studio album, in addition to searching for regional and national representation in the hopes of further taking WBT on the road to locations around the country. Long fans of free music distribution, the band constantly updates www.woundedbuffalotheory.net with new music, videos, pictures, setlists, and other info. The band can be reached for any reason at woundedbuffalotheory@gmail.com.



Formed in 2002 by Cowit (drums/vocals), Malko (bass/vocals/keyboards), John Blanton (guitar/vocals) and Mark Wise (guitar), WBT was spawned from a collective desire to create intelligent, beautiful, raging, and diverse music in both the live setting and in the studio.

WBT's early days saw a penchant for intense live showmanship, often playing 3 hour shows with no break, not repeating setlists at any show, and offering a wide array of originals (and a few ironic covers) that made for a unique gig experience. As the band grew, more emphasis was placed on solid songwriting that would last longer in the listener's mind than the last notes of the live show. The band took its love for the composition of Neil Young, Led Zepplin, Bob Mould, The Replacements, and Pink Floyd, as well as its desire to place those sentiments inside the context of its more complex influences, such as Mogwai, King Crimson, and Frank Zappa, and combined it all into a swirling din of noise, words, and melody that would develop into a patented Buffalo sound.

The band became a trio in 2004, following the departure of Wise, and began a string of well received and exciting shows around the tri-state area, including shows at the Knitting Factory, Mercury Lounge, Tobacco Road, Kennys Castways and more.

The band also became active as far as studio releases, recording its debut EP, Red, in their home studio with no assistance whatsoever, and releasing it completely independently. Red showcased individual songs in a studio setting that had been staples of the WBT catalogue, and included new sounds and diversity not heard from the band before, including acoustic tracks and the beginnings of the band's great interest in ambient music.

The band's appreciation for the works of Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, Manual, and Windy and Carl paved the way for WBT's second official release, Blue, in 2005. Recorded completely live, with no overdubs, the album featured the band's instrumental side, including many strictly ambient works, as well as the band's increasing techno influences.

By this point, the band had grown slightly dismayed at the continued notion of simply not being able to play long enough at shows, so, utilizing a beautiful Andes, NY location, the band organized CabinFest, a yearly festival featuring multiple nights of WBT, plus a bevy of established bands that have become friends with Buffalo over the years. The 2008 edition (Cabinfest 5) featured over 20 acts over 3 nights, including an epic headlining set by WBT.

The band recorded and produced Green in 2007, a full length LP featuring 8 new songs that rank among the band's best work. Finally getting a chance to take their time and work within the limitless confines of their home studio, the band was able to create a cohesive and lush song cycle, a rock/pop/progressive collection that is drawn equally from the band's songwriting and instrumental prowess.

The band is currently finishing work on "It's Alright is Not Alright," the upcoming album due to be released later this fall.


Instrumentation
Jason Cowit - drums, percussion, vocals, keyboards
Robert Malko - bass, vocals, keyboards
Lucas Shine - guitar, vocals
John Blanton - keyboards, vocals, guitar

Discography
"Red" EP - self-released 2004
"Blue" EP - self-released 2005
"Japan on the Moon" LP - self-released 2006
"Green" LP - self-released 2007
"El Brome" EP - self-released 2008
"It's Alright is Not Alright" LP - self released (late 2008)

Links

http://www.woundedbuffalotheory.net

Official Website

Wounded Buffalo Theory Myspace

Cabinfest: Annual Wounded Buffalo Theory festival

Wounded Buffalo Theory on Facebook

Pongid Radio in Second Life

We continue to add the Artists/Bands that we play to our office in Second Life....

Wild Ginger Kitchen Video

Check out eLoah

1undread video - check it out

Sound Liberation - another video live from The Blue Note