I Ate Your Microphone

"Animals and Insects" from (Logic Will Break Your Heart) could be called a haunting ballad. In fact, it probably has been called that. The Stills certainly have found a way to put musical pieces together, but this tune is a bit more than the every day ballad. When the listener gets to the last third of the song, and hears the loudness increase along with the frustration, it becomes rather clear that "throwing grenades at a Christmas choir" might be a logical choice.

"Retour A Vega" is a much more melodic tune from this band that employs foreign languages, violins and more to bring the correct atmosphere to the front. The guitar parts are also excellent in this fine song-writing example.

Of course, this shouldn’t be so surprising from a Montreal gathering of musicians. In the group: Tim Fletcher – vocals/guitar, Dave Hamelin – vocals/guitar, Liam O’Neil – keyboards, Olivier Corbeil – bass, Julien Blais – drums.

New listeners may want to start their Stills experience with "In The Beginning" (Without Feathers 2006 Vice). Good song, with a fine keyboard treatment. "Helicopters" is from the same collection.

Bottom line- this is a talented group! But those who got on The Stills bandwagon early already know that.

The Stills on MySpace

Tags: indie, music, The Stills, independent music, indie music

Eccentric. Experimental. Necessarily independent.

To write that The Stiletto Formal is unusual, would be writing the easy way. It may be more to the point to state that this desert country group (Phoenix) is eclectic. The band members do indeed choose from a number of different styles and influences. In fact, The Stiletto Formal does so with a mix of styles in one song (listen to "Tastes Like Black Licorice" This Is My Boomstick 2006.) This tune definitely is not dancing music!

The Stiletto Formal musical efforts are a joint effort from Kyle Howard, Pat McCarthy, Sunny Davis, Jimi Lamp and Paul Neely, according to the band’s Web information. A second tune that is readily sampled by new listeners is "The Fall of Ambrose Bierce" (This Is My Boomstick 2006). Now, you could dance to this tune, if frenzy is your dancing style. The song may or may not pay homage to the American journalist/satirist who wrote "The Devil’s Dictionary," among other works.

Fans may be drawn to the special sound and message of this group because they put their influences in the titles of songs. Walt Whitman gets a nod with "I Sing The Body Electric" (This Is My Boomstick 2006). This tune is the most "melodic" of the three mentioned.

Recent shows in California and Utah were cancelled. Catch this band for it’s challenging sound and that haunting violin!

The Stiletto Formal on MySpace

Tags: indie, independent music, indie music, music, The Stiletto Formal

Maybe this group should be called the Traveling Hanks. But that would be too much like some other collection of good musicians.

However, this California group is starting on an extended, and we mean extended, tour that kicks off in Florida with half a dozen gigs, and moves on to Georgia – Athens, Atlanta etc.  (That’s just in March.) The Hanks move on to North Carolina, Virginia and other locations along the eastern seaboard in early April. From there, it’s on to New York, Pennsylvania, and some New England area dates. Leaving little time to catch their collective breaths, the band plays across the upper Midwest throughout the month of April and finishes up in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Texas etc. Distance indeed!

As for the music currently played out on CD, "Cinnamon Scars" (Distance 2008) is a song with a good concept and lyrical theme. While not a powerful song musically, there is a solid message here. "Wrath of Poseidon" from the same new CD is a bit more interesting musically, probably because of the rhythm treatment. As with most of The Hanks’ songs, dynamics is key. There is definitely a taste of the great band "Yes" in these songs. Nice work!

Tags: indie,independent music, indie music, music, The Hanks