Super Art Fight

[Photo Courtesy of HawkStudios]

“ Pairing cutting-edge artists in the art of creative combat before a blank wall of canvas, the audience is drawn in as a new masterpiece is created before their eyes…Add a punk rock sensibility and some of the most entertaining live commentary to hit the stage, Super Art Fight is taking the nation by storm, one event at a time.”

► press coverage ||| here
► videos ||| here

Hard Nips

[photo courtesy of ports bishop]

“People look at us and think we’re just cute Japanese girls. But we’re hard rock,”

-guitarist Mariko Tamegai

► video ||| here
► video interview ||| here

Starscream

[ Photo by Ben Mason//Visuals by Dan Winckler ]

Starscream is Damon Hardjowirogo and George Stroud of New York City. Raised musically on post-rock, Starscream use Nintendo Game Boys and Commodore 64′s to faux-invent the future.

► listen ||| here
► releases ||| here

TV Torso

“ TV Torso is a musical band of friendly Texans with an affinity for skewed pop, repetition, skeletal guitar music, minimalism, tuning drum sets, and recording guitar direct. Matt Oliver and Jordan Johns formed the group in 2008. James Rhea plays the bass guitar. ” -last.fm

► interview ||| here
► mp3s ||| here

Justen Stens & The Get Real Gang

“He’s the former drummer for Dr. Dog, and has recently parted ways to work on his own stuff. His myspace page says he’s working on a new EP that’s set to release any second now (maybe it’s already out there). But here’s the good part – he’s working on a full-length album to be released later this summer which is being produced by none other than Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys (Oz just shivered a little – like after a great pee). And get this, it’ll be co-produced by Seth Kauffman of Floating Action (one of my recent favorites).

As Tom Cruise says in Magnolia, get your phasers, get your lasers, get your tasers pointed at Juston Stens. His album is going to be strong to quite strong. In the meantime, chew on this tasty cover he does of a great Floating Action track.” -hearya.com

► downloads ||| here

Slow Animal

“The opening bars bring to mind the dreamy haze of that first warm night, friends seated on city stoops, the roar of the streets echoing well past 7:30.” -sound on the sound

There’s not much information out on New Jersey duo Slow Animal — we know their names are Alexander and Daniel, and if their MySpace is any indication, they like chopped-up YouTube videos of scenes from Home Alone. Luckily, you don’t need much to enjoy “theFUNsun,” a sharp, noisy blast of fuzz-rock that resembles their stateside brethren Frat Dad. If you like this, be sure to grab Slow Animal’s self-titled four-song EP from theirBandcamp page — it’s free and super promising. (via Transparent Blog.)

► listen ||| here
► releases ||| here

Tre Orsi

“. . . if their amazingly solid set is any indication of things to come the band will be one to watch in 2009. . . Each song slowly built, with tension-filled undertones and heavy layers of guitar and big bass lines, before exploding outward in waves of blistering sound” – Popmatters

“They are straight to the point and electric, a pure adrenaline rush fuelled by efficiency. Guitars may be played sideways but the band never fails to take us from one point to another in the most efficient way : not thinking about it and giving it all.” – Millefeuille (France)

► releases ||| here
► mp3s ||| here

Martha’s Vineyard Ferries

A brand new band featuring elisha weisner (kahoots), bob weston (shellac), and chris

► downloads ||| here

Arc in Round

” Philadelphia 4-piece Arc in Round reflect a sonic sensibility garnered from endless hours of studio tracking, tweaking and sonic experimentation. The band spins out carefully crafted dark pop—taut yet spacey, noisy yet melodic. Humming bass, shuffly drums, glitchy keyboards and dissonant, pedal-treated guitar all melt together into an iridescent sheet of sonorous reduction.” -last.fm

► listen ||| here

Zachary Cale Band

[photo by alfra martini]

“Zachary Cale is a songwriter’s songwriter, as prolific as he is original. His voice can be delicate for love or wry for satire. The ability to hear what is in a song has guided him well in the making of his own. While the influence of traditional American music is always present in his compositions, he is able to infuse something fresh and new to the form.” -John Allen (WFMU)

► releases and mp3s ||| here
► video ||| here