Final Post On Blogspot: Blog Has Moved!

I am going to stop updating Musical Musings here on Blogspot. The blog has moved to the main TwoGroove site and can be found here.

So, change bookmarks to www.twogroove.com/blog and check out the site! The feed from the site appears above as well.

SXSW: Pendulum

You may have already heard of them, but I just have to share. Pendulum will be coming to Austin as part of SXSW. Previously a drum n' bass outfit, Pendulum has evolved into something completely different. They are now a high energy rock band that heavily incorporates their electronic roots. I have been waiting for a few years to see them and can't wait. They'll be at La Zona Rosa on March 21st.

Being that TwoGroove is so new, I didn't try to finagle a press badge out of the grip of SXSW organizers, but me and my trusty wristband will be there waiting to get in. If you get a chance, join me. Hope to see you there.

Past, Present, Future: Tori Sparks

Much like The Scarlets, Tori Sparks' music seems new but familiar at the same time. Her combination of smoky, sultry vocals and instrumental variety have been tried by many others; I'm here to tell you that Tori succeeds where they fall short. Check out the music in the little player below.

Basic Information

Members/Instruments: Steel and Gut String Guitars, Vocals. A rotating cast of characters plays upright and electric bass, drums, percussion, guitar, banjo, mandolin, accordion, violin, cello, steel, horns, and more…

Year Formed: 2004

1.Past: What is your musical background? What has led you to this point?
I was born in Chicago and grew up in Florida. I played cello and piano when I was younger, but eventually switched to guitar. I started played shows when I was a student at Florida State, and while still in college I signed a recording contract with a small label based in Nashville. I’d already recorded an EP on my own, but the album I worked on with them was the first full-length record. They didn’t really release the album, per se – long story – and I luckily escaped what was a pretty bad deal. I stayed in Nashville because everyone I worked with was here, my band is here, and it’s an easy city to tour our of. I started touring heavily on my own, and have since been lucky enough to play all over the States and overseas.

2.Present: Where are you at now in your career? What are you currently working on?
After splitting with the label, I started my own record label and publishing company, and released the next album Under This Yellow Sun on my own. I’ve been lucky in that the album has had some success – lots of good press, college radio play, and a few bigger opportunities. The single “Cold War” was on the Paste New Music Sampler, and released on a compilation in Europe that has sold 30,000+ copies. I toured a lot, as usual, in support of that record while working on songs for the next one. I’m in the studio working on it now.

3.Future: What’s coming up for you? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I’m in the process of recording my third album, The Scorpion in the Story. It’s a concept album about people’s tendency to act according to their natures – each song is a “story” about someone I met while on the road last year. It’s been a lot of fun to work on, it feels like a collection of characters all slowly coming to life. It’s almost like writing a book of short stories. This album is more adventurous, musically, than the last one, and featured some really amazing guest musicians. I’ll be releasing that album in June on Glass Mountain Records. I’ll be touring and would like to continue giving more guest lectures. That’s been very rewarding, and finally having a college booking agent has made those easier to come by.

In the near future, I’ll be performing at Folk Alliance in Memphis and be playing a number of shows in Austin and in other parts of Texas during SXSW.

4.Where can people find more of your music?
The internet is a great source, instant gratification. All of my albums can be found on iTunes and other download services, as well as on my website (ToriSparks.com), CDBaby.com, BestBuy.com, Target.com, Amazon.com, and many other websites. Certain Borders Books and Music stores carry physical copies of the CDs, as do a number of independent record stores around the country.

5.Anything you’d like to plug?
Mostly the new album! It will be released in June, and I’ll be touring heavily in the second half of 2009 and through all of 2010. Hope to see everyone on the road.

Past, Present, Future: Oak is Keeping

Add Cream to Queens of the Stone Age, mix with a Spoon. That's the recipe for Oak is Keeping's brand of rock. While reading the interview below, check out their music here on TwoGroove. You'll be hooked.

Their CD Release Party will be on April 25th at the Red Eyed Fly in Austin, TX. See you there!

Members/Instruments:
Shay Isdale – Vocals / Guitar
Mastin Kirksey – Drums
Zac Bogart – Guitar / backing vocals
Adam Keeling – Bass Guitar / backing vocals

Year Formed:
The band formed in 2007 by Shay and Mastin, but recorded and played under the name Dead Leaves. We’ve had a few different line-ups, but midway through 2008 we were joined by Zac and Adam and have been getting better ever since.

1. Past: What is your musical background? What has led you to this point?
Each member of the band has their own, distinct musical background & influences, but we all have one major thing in common… the love of dark, heavy melodic music. Driven by fuzzy guitar riffs and powerful bass & drums. And the desire to create this type of face melting rock has brought us together.

Shay and Mastin we actually band mates in a San Marcos alternative band called Plinko, who opened for the Burden Brothers a couple times. Zac and Adam are actually from Seattle, though they didn’t know each other when they lived there.

Our influences can range from Queens of the Stone Age to Radiohead and Cream to Led Zeppelin (which we have covered a song from each of those artists).

2. Present: Where are you at now in your career? What are you currently working on?
Even though the band formed in 2007, we didn’t really start taking off until 08. So, we are still a pretty new band, but there is a lot of potential in this group. We’ve released two EPs, one in 2007 called Dead Leaves (we used our old name since most of the songs were written under that name) and one in late 2008 called MURDERdeathKILL. We are currently finishing up our first full length album with should be done in mid-March. We are going to have our CD release party in April, so look out for that!

3. Future: What’s coming up for you? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
As I said above, we are finishing our first full length album very soon. Once that bad boy is done, we will push it and play as many shows as we can to support it. We plan on shooting a music video in the very near future to support a couple of the songs from the album.

In 5 years… I don’t see any limit to this band or it’s potential. The song writing has only gotten better, live shows keep improving, more fans keep showing up and damn is it fun to be in a rock and roll band. I only see Oak is Keeping moving up the chain.

4. Where can people find more of your music?
We, of course, have a myspace page like everyone else. . But you can also just go to, www.oakiskeeping.com. The website actually just directs you to the myspace page, but soon enough, we’ll get the real page full of juicy info!

We also have sites on CDfuse.com, facebook, reverbnation, do512.com, www.sonicbids.com/oakiskeeping and a few other social sites.

5. Anything you’d like to plug?
We have a busy SXSW weekend in March, so keep an eye out for us. We’ll update our site with show info as soon as we get everything locked down. We are also going to have our CD release party in April for our first full length album. It's going to be April 25th at The Red Eyed Fly.