VETIVER: are an American folk band. They great sound, with yes indeed, the banjo featuring on a lot of their tracks. :D Their first album came out in 2004, and they have had a steady stream on various labels, they have also had some good collaborations with artists like Devendra Banhart Recently being signed to SubPop records, their recent album is titled 'The Errant Charm' and was released in 2011. They have a nice laid back sound to them as well.
One of my favourite songs is called 'Wonder Why'
THE VETTES: are a band headed by lead singer Rachel Vette, who recruited her brothers to be in the band. They have a very synth rock/pop sound. So a bit different to the bands I normally post. They released their first EP in 2008 titled 'T.V.' and their first album came out in 2010 called 'Plasticville'
One of their best known songs, which I really like is called 'Give 'Em What They Want', supposedly speaking about the celebrity culture.
Thats all for V.
Love and Peace everyone, hope you are enjoying the A-Z :D
THE TWO MAN GENTLEMEN BAND: is made up of banjo player Andy Bean and bassist Fuller Condon. They have a great, jazz, folk, americana type style, with witty lyrics. They have a fun party feeling to them, with light strumming, and drinks in hand type of attitude. Their shows have a reputation, of them dressing as characters and handing out kazoos to the audience. They have released 3 albums, the first is a self-titled one released in 2005, a good few in between and their latest coming out this year titled 'Two at a Time'.
One of my favourite songs is called 'I Like to Party With Girls'
T is also for TWO HOURS TRAFFIC: are a Canadian indie rock band, supposedly named after the prologue to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In 2005 they released their self titled album, and some others along the way, their latest being released in 2009 titled 'Territory', with another album planned for this year I think. Their songs seem to be popular as background songs to drama teen shows such as gossip girl and one tree hill..
One of the my favourites is called 'Sure Can Start'
POKEY LAFARGE/POKEY LAFARGE AND THE SOUTH CITY THREE:
He/They are a band originally from St Louis, Missouri, and have a ragtime, early american, string, banjo type music. Pokey himself has grown up travelling being inspired by the cotton kingdom, and legendary blues-men. In 2007 he released a solo album titled 'Marmalade' and a follow up one in 2008 called 'Beat, Move and Shake'. In 2009 he started working with The South City Three, and they released an album in 2010 titled 'Riverboat Soul'.
One of the songs I like is called 'La La Blues' >
P is also for PALE YOUNG GENTLEMEN: Are a band hailing from Madison, Wisconsin. Their first self titled album was released in 2007, and their follow up album called 'Black Forest (tra la la)' was released in 2008. Their first album had bouncy grand piano feel to it, and the second album has a more string based sound, with acoustic, plucking guitar rhythms, a cello and other such instruments.
One of the songs I like is called 'In the Crook of my Good Arm' There were some really strange videos that people had compiled with film clips and that on youtube, this one is a bit gory, so I warn you now, you may want to just press play and not look if thats not your thing.... but I think its quite a funny video, and of course the song is awesome. :D
MATTHEW AND THE ATLAS: are an English band, who have an alternative folk sound. Some of their instruments include a banjo, an accordion, piano, and other usual instruments. They have released two EP albums in 2010, one titled 'To the North' the other 'Kingdom of Our Own'
My favourite song (mainly because it was the first one I heard, that made me love them) is called 'I followed fires'
The next band for M is MELODICA, MELODY AND ME: they are also a folk band, but they try and combine some ska into their songs. It's very chilled music, but has a nice beat to it underneath that keeps it happy, rather than melancholy. From Brixton, UK, they have a really nice sound. They have two EP releases, one in 2010 called 'Piece me Back Together' the other in 2011 called 'Come Outside' (with some bonus tracks on them as well)
Here is 'Piece me Back Together'
That's all for M. Have been trying to limit myself to two bands per letter, as I realize 3 is a bit of a crowd.
JOY KILLS SORROW: is a Boston based string band, that draws on bluegrass roots, and ties it with a modern acousticy sound. They first cropped up in 2005. Their self titled album was released in 2006, and Their second album came out in 2010 titled 'Darkness Sure Becomes This City'. And the most recent was released in 2011 title 'This Unknown Science'
My favourite song is called 'You Made it Easy' but it's not on youtube so if you click the name it will take you to the page you can listen to it on! Another good one is called 'Send Me a Letter'
My other band for J is called JUXTAPOLLUTION: Troy Holder makes all the tracks himself, and isn't signed or anything. There aren't really any vocals on the tracks that I've listened too, and its mostly drum and bass rhythms.
One of the one's I like is called 'Song for Charles' (If you click on that link it will open the page that has the song right there on it.)
If you like that kind of thing he has a bunch of little albums that are filled with different rhythms. Here is a link to his bandcamp, where you can listen to them all.
Hope everyone is enjoying their A-Z challenges- I'm starting to get worried about what music I will have for the letter Z.
THE HONEY BROTHERS: are a group of guys, who came about around 2001with their folksy harmonised, mariachi type style. They have instruments such as the ukelele, banjo, cow bell, electric guitar, and drums, keyboards all the usual things! Their debut album came out in 2003 called 'Honey 4 U' which was engineered by Adrian Grenier (actor in Entourage and other things).
They had a couple of other albums released in 2006 called 'Songs for your Sister' and ones from 'The Winter Tour'. If you want to check out the rest of their albums there are some on their last.fm page, as well as on youtube, and spotify.
My two favourites are called 'Little Boy' (sorry I couldn't find a live version for this one)
And also 'Moonlight' (which also has no live version or music video)
Also another band that I wanted to share with you is called HOW TO SWIM: They are a 9 piece orchestral pop band from Glasgow. They have been together for a while, but their first album was released in 2010 titled 'Retina (or More Fun Than A Vat of Love)'. I love their songs, they are so original with their lyrics, and I love the fusion of their instruments with the pop sound.
One of my favourites from their album is called 'High School Apocalypse' (the video isn't that great and they didn't have a live one for this particular song)
So folks, I hope you like the H songs.
Does anyone have interesting factoids involving the letter H?
