Victoria Abraham defines one up and coming artist each week so you can impress your friends with your musical brilliance. This week, she tackles Little Comets, an indie rock trio from Jarrow and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Dig out your best hipster shoes and adjust your black-rimmed fake glasses, because Little Comets are the latest British indie rock group to make sweet love to your ears. With a slew of tours around the UK and a pending second album, they are definitely worth a listen.
Origins: Jarrow and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
Band members: Robert Coles (lead vocals, guitar), Michael Coles (lead guitar, backing vocals), Matthew Hall (bass, backing vocals). But it’s also all about nicknames with this band, Michael is Mickey and Matt is “the cat.”
Known for: They’ve been described as playing “kitchen sink indie,” whatever that means. But we love their clever lyrics, Robert’s unique voice, and the overall guitar-heavy sound.
Used in a sentence: “Even when they’re singing about arguments and worries, the Little Comets make you want to dance.”
File next to: Dutch Uncles, Frankie & The Heartstrings
Listen to now: Their acoustic version of “Jennifer.”
Fun facts: Read more…
Kings of Leon are clearing up rumours after Perez Hilton reported yesterday that the band was planning on leaving Columbia Records to move to Warner Bros. A source to the online blogger also claimed that the band was going to pay out the recording costs with Columbia, citing that the band “have enough heft to negotiate such a favourable deal.”
However, the band made announced today that these claims are completely false. “Consider the source. Kings of Leon have always had and continue to have a great relationship with their label,” stated the band.
Kings of Leon have left Columbia Records and will be recording with Warner Brothers, reports Perez Hilton. The new deal requires the group to pay half of the recording costs, but gives them more control over production and a larger cut of the profits.
“Kings of Leon are one of the few bands on the planet who have enough heft to negotiate such a favourable deal,” said a source. “It is virtually unheard of, but it shows how keen Warner Brothers were to have them on their books.”
With a new album due out in November, John Mayer has announced two charity shows that will take place during the holiday season, according to johnmayer.com. Mayer will perform with the John Mayer Trio, which is made up of himself, bassist Pino Palladino, and drummer Steve Jordan.
The Trio will be playing at San Diego’s Copley Symphony Hall on December 29, and at Las Vegas’ The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on New Year’s Eve. All ticket proceeds for both shows will go to Military Outreach Ministry Camp Pendleton, a not-for-profit organization that supports young military families, and the Veterans Health Research Institute, an institute that investigates such issues as the causes and best treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and other war-related injuries.
Ticket prices for the San Diego show are $60.50 (US), and prices for the Las Vegas show range from $96.00 – $226.00 (US). Tickets for both shows went on sale on Saturday. Mayor Hawthorne and The County will be opening for Mayer.
After listening to music from Angel Taylor, you will truly believe the singer is heaven-sent. The 21-year-old singer and songwriter from California is a perfect example of how a simple love for music can transform into something much bigger.
With her first album, “Love Travels,” released digitally on March 31, and the single “Make Me Believe” already selected as Single of the Week on iTunes, it is clear that this self-declared California homebody has got something special. Taylor has travelled a far way from her musical roots, which sprung from gospel music in church.
“I started writing songs when I was about 14. My sister was writing poetry at the time, and that was how the writing aspect came around,” explains Taylor (who is the youngest of five sisters). “I guess I kind of ‘copy-catted’ her a little bit! The piano thing happened in our church. My mom would go to church to work in the summer, and I would tag along to go play around in the piano room.”
Taylor never took her musical creations on the piano as an indication towards her future as a singer. “It was so fun for me, putting together lyrics and piano. But I never wanted to be a musician just because I didn’t think it was feasible. I was kind of set on being a third grade teacher, and I wanted to be that for as long as I can remember.”
