In 1854, Henry David Thoreau conducted an experiment in home economics by living in a small, self-built cabin in the woods near Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. His intentions were mainly to conduct an experiment: Could he survive, possibly even thrive, by stripping away all superfluous luxuries, living a plain, simple life in radically reduced conditions? During his voyage of self discovery, Thoreau emphasized the importance of solitude, contemplation, and closeness to nature in his writings; and over 150 years later, a band that shares the same name as Thoreau’s book and cabin home, emphasize the same sentiments in their sound.

Walden(pond) is an emerging Grand Rapids, Michigan based trio consisting of Nolan Potter (guitar/vocals/piano), Danny Gilmore (drums/back-up Vocals), and Matt Carey (bass). Much like Thoreau escaping “over-civilization…in search of the raw and savage delight of the wilderness,” Walden(pond)’s sound avoids the over-produced world of mainstream rock and roll and chooses to exist on the outskirts where their sprightly guitar arrangements dance like water bugs; their bass croaks wildly like bullfrogs in heat; and vocals float and ripple like wind over water.

Earlier this year, the newly formed trio completed their debut album, Like a Jackknife Gleaming, featuring ten serene tracks full of earthy compositions, 90′s alternative nostalgia, and hints of psychedelia. The album is now available to purchase and download via iTunes and ready to stream on BandSoup.com.

My personal favorite song, I Get Back, proves that Walden(pond) is a force to be reckoned with. Potter’s crafty guitar work and infectious vocals is a perfect introduction to a band that sounds like self discovery, nature, and healthy isolation wrapped in one simplistic package.

Thoreau once said: “Nations are possessed with an insane ambition to perpetuate the memory of themselves by the amount of hammered stone they leave … One piece of good sense is more memorable than a monument as high as the moon.” The members of Walden(pond) have left one good piece of sense with their latest album and it will be remembered.

Listen to Walden(pond) tracks on BandSoup.com!

Hard rockin’ Hollywood, California quartet Inside the Black truly embody what their hometown is all about: sex and the spotlight.  Their throaty wails and aggressive chords are half vintage rock, half Buckcherry; a perfect mashup of old and new to satisfy various types of rock and roll fans.

2010 has been an exciting year for the band. On top of continuously bringing the house down at legendary Los Angeles landmarks like The Whisky A Go Go, The Viper Room, The Key Club, The Cat Club, Dragonfly, and The Cobalt Café, the band has returned to the studio to work on the follow up to their 2006 self titled release and will be featured on the upcoming soundtrack to Heavy Metal’s first digital comic, Gates, set to release in 2011.

Recently, Inside the Black graciously uploaded their 2006 self titled release on Bandcamp and made it available as a free download. Get familiar with the band on BandSoup and then head over to their Bandcamp site if you like what you hear!

Listen to Inside the Black on BandSoup.com Here

Download Inside the Black’s 2006 Album Here

Wild video from Brighton, UK DJ, Mumdance. Directed by Ben Reed.

When Austin, Texas based folk-pop singer Elisa Ferrari was an infant, her parents often lulled her to sleep with the sound of music. As time passed, her connection to music grew even stronger and at five years old Elisa was convinced her destiny in life was to become a world famous pianist. This dream might have come true if her family could afford a piano, but one of her loving uncles went the practical route and gave her an acoustic guitar for Christmas. The rest is history.

Combining her childhood experiences with her master’s degree in Ethnomusicology, Elisa Ferrari’s sound is an amalgam of present day folk-pop, Brazilian pop, tango, tropicalia, bossa nova, and forro– a true melting pot of global sounds. This can be heard on her latest album, isla de niños, an 8-track trip filled with haunting strings, South American jazz percussion, and sultry vocals.

With her soft and spirited voice, Ferrari touches on love, life, decision, and biting political critiques pushing for social awareness in today’s cultural climate like no other female pop vocalist. A perfect introduction to her whimsy would be her first bandsoup submission, Oh Henry, a dark atmospheric song that shows why many compare her to the popular vocalist, Neko Case.

Elisa Ferrari says it has taken her years to have the courage to share her music with the public, which is such an odd statement from the artist that created the courageous and daring isla de niños. I guess we can thank her parents, uncle, and the “wizard behind the curtain” that gave her the push to share her gift with the rest of the world.

Click Here to Listen to Elisa Ferrari on BandSoup!

Listening to London, England based instrumental rock group Rumour Cubes is like watching shadows waltz in crystal blue pools of beautiful music. Grabbing influences from post-modern giants such as Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Joe Bartlett (bass), Siew Cottis (viola), Hannah Morgan (violin), Omar Rahwangi (drums), Adam Stark (guitar, electronics) and Simon Stark (guitar, electronics) construct surreal, multilayered pieces that reveal something new to the ear after each rewind.

After forming in 2009, the band completed and released their debut EP, We Have Sound Houses Also, in September of this year. Taking advantage of new internet promotional avenues, Rumour Cubes is offering a free download of their three track EP on their bandcamp website, as well as a physical option that comes in a beautifully designed case made from recycled material and includes an A3 poster.

The first cut from the record, The University is a Factory, is a slow building ship full of paranoia sailing through seas of glimmering guitars, splashing cymbals, and bubbling bass before it hits the perfect storm and rocks out of control through waves of heavy electric chords and violin stabs. This epic opener sets the precedent for the rest of the EP and puts this relatively unknown band from London in the same ranks as the celebrated musicians they look up to.

Click Here to Listen to Rumour Cubes on BandSoup.com!

Click here to Download Rumour Cubes’ debut EP

BandSoup.com proudly presents our first compilation album featuring some of our main site’s favorite artists and single song uploads!

Bandabaisse Vol. 1 features a bubbling cauldron full of infectious folk, pop, and alternative rock tunes from twelve rising independent bands and solo artists hailing from Canada, Denmark, and various locations within the United States. Drenched in emotion and superior musicianship, this compilation album features stunning recordings from Ghost Ghost, Black Rose Trick, Subterraneans Collective, Or, The Whale, Junebug, Kid Architect, The Last Monarchs, The American Standard. Westwood & Willow, Ten Feet Deep, Tourmaline, and Mink Valley.

Infectious, whimsical, and sometimes haunting– Bandabaisse will not taste like your average internet compilation. Each ingredient was carefully selected and placed, giving this free download delectable synergy and an unforgettable long lasting flavor.

Thank you  to all the participating bands for their support and music. We look forward to hearing more from you in the future and hope everyone that listens likes your music as much as we do.

As for everyone else, thank you for coming to the site and downloading. Please let us know what you think via a comment or tweet.

Bon Appétit!

-Team BandSoup

Download: BandSoup.com Presents: Bandabaisse Vol. 1

Stream/Download on BandCamp

On October 23rd the finals of the 2010 Band to Band Combat event will be held at Washington DC club Rumors and will feature the five finalists– Perks, Cooked Crow, Same Old Sound, Modern Thieves, and Lethal Peanut– playing their hearts out for the coveted opening spot for DC’s largest New Years’ Eve event, The Downtown Countdown.

All proceeds benefit Music4More; a charity organization providing financial and in-kind resources to sustain and foster under-funded music programs in schools and communities across the United States.

DMV!  Now is your time to show some support for one of BandSoup’s spotlight artists– Modern Thieves. The group needs all the support they can get live and in person (only in person votes count). So, clear your calendars on October 23rd and enjoy a a fun, competitive music event that supports a fantastic and much needed charity!

Hope to see you there.

The often concealed Washington D.C. indie music scene continues to reveal its talent on BandSoup’s main page; this time in the form of alternative rock quartet Modern Thieves.  Ryan Murphy, the charismatic lead singer, fronts the band of veteran thieves– made up of guitarist Mike Trella, bassist Brian Chafin, and drummer Brendan McCourt– that have rocked various chocolate city venues since 2004 with their popular local band Politicks. The combination of raw talent, professional musicianship, and like-minded inspiration led to the group’s 2010 debut EP, MDRN THVS, featuring five tracks of highly accessible pop-alt bliss.

The EP has many notable highlights beginning with the cold and blustery “Left of Las Vegas”, a passionate ode to a profane Pacific rendezvous that sets the precedent for this band’s bright future; “Should Have Known Better” displays their versatility as they down tune their guitars and add weight to Chafin’s bass, giving an Alice n Chains like backdrop to Murphy’s musings; and “Used to Be” is a song that spotlights the band’s bread and butter– Ryan Murphy gliding his illusory vocals over clouds of dreamy guitar plucks and vocal effects– and gives fans another solid reason to jump on the bandwagon before everyone on the Beltway is sporting a MDRN THVS bumper sticker.

Many of today’s most celebrated indie bands test the waters with an EP, but few find the synergy within the band and with a huge audience after its creation and release. Modern Thieves are one of the lucky few that have already found their chemistry in the studio and it’s only a matter of time before it reflects on stage and throughout the internet, allowing the Thieves to steal the hearts of an even larger audience.

You can stream and purchase MDRN THVS for the low price of $3 (or more if you’d like) on their Bandcamp page. You can also get regular updates, videos, and music from the band on their homepage.

Click Here to Listen to the Modern Thieves on BandSoup.com!

Also, make sure to take advantage of the Modern Thieves free download of Manhattan; a track off their debut EP.

Hyperactive, loud, and infectious are three adjectives that best describe Fred, Tanya and Jeremy; the three headed monster known in Vancouver as Mink Valley. The three friends decided to join forces on a porch in Northern Vancouver after playing in numerous projects apart, feeling the sound they could make together would be one beautiful disaster.

Mink Valley has just completed their first LP and is already back in the studio working on the follow up. The Mink Valley LP, which can be purchased on the band’s website, is full of catchy surf rock riffs (“Indiespazzazz”, “Pseudo Selector”, “Cockfight”), 90′s indie rock nostalgia (“Defbed”), and hipster poetics. The selections from the record (that can be streamed on the music section of their site, as well as on the main BandSoup page) were undoubtedly aroused by the classic work of Dinosaur Jr., Weezer, and The Pixies– three bands with an extreme amount of style influence on the 90′s alternative movement– but Mink Valley puts enough of their own personality into the mix to make it their very own.

Mink Valley is one of the edgiest and creative bands that I have covered on this site so far. Each song has a MV signature, but at the same time, sounds totally different than the song that preceded it. As a child of the 90′s and a huge fan of all the alternative/independent music that was made during this era, the dosage of nostalgia you get from MV’s jams warms me up inside. It also doesn’t hurt that their bassist looks like Kennedy, the once popular MTV VJ.

Make sure to check out Mink Valley and support their fantastic debut! Click here to go to their main hub. Also, be on the look out for Mink Valley and other great BandSoup bands on the first BandSoup compilation album, which will be made available as a free download!

Click Here to Check Out “Indiespazzazz” on BandSoup!

The wide smiles and childlike passion that radiate from brothers Kevin and Sean Sullivan are just as infectious as their pop-folk arrangements. The San Francisco based duo, better known as Westwood & Willow, have proved that unpretentious acoustic music has its place with their debut full length LP, Doorways, Vehicles and Markets. The album, which was written, recorded, and produced by the Sullivans at their own home studio, is both fun and full of emotion. Kevin’s stripped down acoustic guitar and vocals mesh well with Sean’s light accompaniments, while the subtle hand claps (“You Could Be Yellow”) and funny lyrics (“Stay That Way”) give an interesting twist to a melancholic genre that has become all to predictable.

Like many young start up artists today, the duo decided to use the power of the internet to fund the release, as well as their own West Coast coffee house tour. Westwood & Willow called upon the Pledge Music website to ask fans to contribute money in exchange for digital downloads of their first EP and debut album, videos, handmade pictures, t-shirts, poetry books, personal songs written by the band, and more. Contributors also received updates, exclusive content, and a portion of their donations went to Musicians On Call– a nonprofit organization that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. After a great response from fans to fund the project and tour, and an even better response from local media and critics, Westwood & Willow’s debut was a huge success and the foundation for bigger things to come.

You can listen to “The Sweetest Fruit” from Doorways, Vehicles and Markets by clicking below and visiting the main BandSoup website. Check in with Westwood & Willow on twitter and at their homepage.

Click Here to Listen to Westwood & Willow on BandSoup!