Victoria Abraham defines one up and coming artist each week so you can impress your friends with your musical brilliance. This week, she tackles The Maine, an indie punk band from Tempe, Arizona.

If you’re missing some head-banging in your life, then you’re probably musically compatible with The Maine. These guys have some serious stage presence and strong vocals. They recently wrapped up their North American Pioneer World Tour with Lydia and The Arkells. If their performance was anything like the one I saw in Saskatoon, then this band definitely owned the audience and stage.

Band Members: John O’Callaghan (Vocals),  Garrett Nickelsen (Bass), Pat Kirch (Drums), Kennedy Brock (Guitar, Vocals), Jared Monaco (Guitar)

Known for: This band is known for badass stage antics and strum-worthy guitar solos.

Used in a sentence: “They may be from the deserts of Arizona, but The Maine won’t hang you out to dry.”

Download now: Misery

Fun facts:  Read more…

XM Radio Canada will host the Independent Music Awards and open their recording studio for live-to-air sets by some up-and-coming bands in Canada, all in support of Canadian Music Week (CMW) taking place on March 11 through March 14.

“This is the fourth year XM Canada and CMW have teamed up for the Independent Music Awards,” said Neill Dixon, President of Canadian Music Week, in a statement. “XM Canada’s continued support during CMW has helped foster and showcase great Canadian musicians looking to break-through in the saturated music industry.”

Music lovers can listen to Canadian bands like Arkells, USS, Hey Rosetta!, Crystal Castles among others live when XM brings The Independent Music Awards live-to-air on March 14. The event will be broadcast from the Royal York Hotel on The Verge (XM Canada’s rock channel 87).

XM Canada will also be opening up its recording studio on Avenue Road in Toronto, to invite Canadian artists to perform acoustic sets live-to-air. The satellite radio company expects to broadcast around 30 Canadian bands over the span of 2 days.