What are you listening to?

Bands these days have it rough.  Top 40 has been destroyed by music sharing and downloads.  A hit record does not guarantee millions in your bank account.  As summer reaches the midway point I am reminded how important music is. Soundtracks to bar-b-qs and beach days become memories.  Ke$ha and Beyonce make you think of Summer 2011.  Maybe you like that Jason Derulo song where he steals again from another song.

But does the FM radio help out any of these artists?  Does anyone still listen to FM radio?  It always troubled me how poor the NYC FM stations were.

Where could I find new music?  Where do they stop playing Two Tickets to Paradise?

Not satellite radio for sure.  You get plenty of that.

But there is a revolution brewing and I am not sure the record companies or mainstream media want you to know about it.

I find bands these days realize hit records are fleeting and do not guarantee the kind of riches, say, Hall and Oates enjoyed.

Pop stars rarely write their songs.  They have autotune fix their problems and sharp producers create focus group pop candy.

Not a bad thing, unless it is the only game in town.  I likes me some Katy Perry just like the next guy (ok, not you sir, I do not like where your mind is.)  

But for every Katy Perry there is a Joy Formidable.  You like Nickelback do you?  Try some Muse.  

Bands fighting for airplay are polishing their acts and dominating live shows.  This is where the money is.  And let's be honest, when you set out to be a rock star you do so to make it BIG!!  

During the past year I have seen The National, White Rabbits, Eels, Mumford and Sons, The Decemberists, A Civil Twilight and a new band, Caveman, to name a few. Each band was engaging and well-prepared to capture an audience.  Each band performed their material in a different, cohesive and fun way.  They were smart, they were talented and they compelled a live audience.

No egg costumes, either!  Music, in its primest form.  This is the future.  Bruce, U2 and Coldplay know it.  Tour, tour, then tour some more.  

I urge you to hit the web or maybe WFMU (Fordham) to seek some alternatives.

Some summer tracks to start the search...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb1o42RdVzA  Cut/Copy " Need You Now" Playing in Brooklyn next month.  Great 80s throwback synths.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFeIW_6PCe8  Gomez "Options"  Veteran Brit band playing NYC tomorrow and Philly ( I will be there!!) on Friday.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59bLUwYONEI  Airborne Toxic Event "Changing"  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wa7dFR09vU  A Civil Twilight "Letters from the Sky"  Maybe the best opening act I have ever seen.

http://www.thefader.com/2011/06/27/caveman-old-friend-mp3/ Caveman "old Friend" This band has opened for 3 bands I have seen this year and stole the show each time.  They have their first album coming out in September.  $10 record release party 9.15.11 @ Mercury Lounge.  You should be there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLSOzcEQjiE  The Decemberists "This is Why We Fight?"  Maybe the best album so far in 2011.  The King is Dead mixes alt country, pop and folk rock.  And you can see REM's Peter Buck's blueprint all over it (he was involved in production and writing.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4Qp1TEKswQ  Eels "Fresh Blood"  My favorite performer for the better part of a decade.  In Williamsburg twice this month.  He is genius.

Call me an aging hipster, out of touch relic or whatever you like.  Still very comfortable in my glass house, scared to join the mainstream.

Now if I can only get paid for that.

For much more music go to: guidetosomewhere.blogspot.com