Howdy, all!

I’m bringing you guys a list of people and groups who deserve some limelight. They’re out there, winning loyal fans one at a time, but hey, doesn’t everyone need a boost? Plus I figured you guys could use some new music. New music is always a good thing! I recommend taking a deeper look into all of these bands and going out and supporting them by buying their albums and spreading the word on them. Tashia’s orders

I give you,

There For Tomorrow: A band that formed in Orlando, Florida, they’ve been around since about 2003. They released an album called Point of Origin in April of 2004 and started doing local radio shows and local concerts to gain support and their following. This got the attention of the Warped Tour people and they were given spots in 2006 and 2007. In 2007 and 2008, they released two EPs and in 2009 released their next full album called A Little Faster, which is their most well-known album and has gotten them a larger fanbase.

A Little Faster is a great album. Its driven by strong guitar and the powerful, wide-ranged voice of Maika Maile. The lyrics are clear-cut and extremely catchy and the band was able to write songs that everyone can relate to, yet not find them over cliche. The entire album is entirely clever and one of those albums that you want to listen to all over again as soon as the last note is played.
Similar Bands: Jimmy Eat World, The Hives, Third Eye Blind
Great Songs: Deathbed, Backbone, A Little Faster, Burn the Night Away

Thriving Ivory: A five-piece band who all met while in school in Santa Barbara, California, these guys are one of the few rock bands who have a pianist as a permanent part of the group. Its rare and amazing to see a group in this genre utilize a beautiful sound like that and make it sound effortless. Their self-titled album was released in June of 2008 and the first single from the album, “Angels On the Moon”, helped it become #1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart and six months later, “Angels On the Moon” was on the U.S. Pop Chart. They released an EP in 2009 titled Tell Me Your Name and are working on their next album, rumored to be out later this year.

Their debut album started off with the song “Angels On The Moon”, which became their most successful song. But don’t think these guys are one-hit wonders. They released two singles that were non-album songs, one of them a holiday song and the other a B-side and their second single, “Hey Lady” featured a tragically romantic tale in the video. The album proudly shows off their pianist, Scott Jason, who also writes the songs and Clayton Stroope, who is the vocalist with a set of pipes that obviously take control of the song and listeners alike. The lyrics to the songs make you daydream and bring you reality all at once, which is something in terms of creativity most rock bands these days lack.
Similar Bands: Five For Fighting, 3 Doors Down
Great Songs: Angels On the Moon, Overrated, Runaway, For Heaven’s Sake

Kill Hannah: This band, hailing from Chicago, Illinois, doesn’t need me to tell you how great they are. They’ve got one of the most loyal, powerful fanbases in the world. And they don’t give a fuck if Kill Hannah becomes mainstream or not. For them, its the music and the band themselves. Not to mention they’ve put out fifteen albums (six full studio, seven EPs, and two compilations), eleven promo sample albums, and three DVDs. Pretty damn impressive for being around since 1993. Their first album(with a major label), For Never & Ever, was released in 2003. But before that, they were releasing their albums on their own and one with a minor label right before FN&E. Their first big single didn’t happen until their 2006 album Until There’s Nothing Left Of Us, which was “Lips Like Morphine” and that reached #37 on the Modern Rock charts.

They’re newest album, Wake Up The Sleepers, is one of their most popular albums and was released just as they had to cancel the majority of their U.S. tour dates due to their equipment being stolen in the fall of 2009. Problems with touring are common within the KH crew, but they don’t let it phase them. They carry on.

I’m not going to highlight an album with them, because they have so much work out and available, but I know my personal favorite albums are American Jet Set, For Never & Ever, Until There’s Nothing Left Of Us, Wake Up The Sleepers, and the Hummingbirds the Size of Bullets EP. Each album has its own sound, yet it keeps the simple Kill Hannah personality to go with it. Mostly due to Mat Devine’s vocals, which are the constant through the years. But these guys are an amazing band and an amazingly nice group of people and they love their fans as much as they’d love their own family. They keep to their roots and keep their believers, especially the Chicago scene, close to their hearts.
Similar Bands: 30 Seconds to Mars, AFI, Dashboard Confessional, and The White Tie Affair
Great Songs: Welcome To Chicago Motherfucker, Kennedy, Lips Like Morphine, Sick Boy, Boys And Girls, New Heart For Christmas, Believer, The Chase, The Collapse, Strobe Lights, Promise Me

Now, go do these three bands a favor and BUY THEIR ALBUMS! They’re all so talented and are great guys!

Tashia