Rediscover: Joe Cocker

I love Joe Cocker's voice. So gritty and soulful! Not to mention he can still rock 40+ years later. Oh, and as an extra bonus, you get Leon Russell in this video too!

Learn more about Joe Cocker here.

Rediscover: The Parlor Mob

I was super excited when I discovered The Parlor Mob. I had been searching for some good Rock & Roll for months and all I could find was folk rock and hipster music. Then, lo and behold, The Parlor Mob! (and there was much rejoicing in the camp.) If you like Led Zeppelin you'll probably like these guys.

Learn more about The Parlor Mob here. (I know... That's a link to their facebook page, but their page on their label is way outdated...)

Discover: Crash Kings

Usually if you have a band consisting of keys, drums and bass, it's a Jazz band. And usually if you have a three piece rock band, it will have guitar, drums and bass... Neither of those is true of Crash Kings. A three piece rock band with no guitars is pretty fascinating. I know... I know... Ben Folds Five did it "first", but this music sounds like it should have guitars in it. Definitely worth a good listen or two!

Learn more about Crash Kings here.

Discover: Reignwolf

Reignwolf is a super dirty, hard hitting one, two or three piece band depending on when you catch a performance. Some might call it garbage but I call it greatness.  Regardless of which side of that fine line you believe Reignwolf falls on, you can't deny their energy. I personally love their sound and am looking forward to an album release (hopefully) soon.

Find out more about Reignwolf here.

Discover: The Record Company

Today's Discovery is The Record Company -- a three-piece Blues/Rock band from LA. You might not find anything overly surprising or mind blowing here, but you will find some solid blues rock; and as the title of their most recent EP states, it "Feels So Good".

Find out more about The Record Company here.

Rediscover: Band of Skulls

YES to Rock 'n' Roll!!! Can't wait for Band of Skulls now album to come out at the end of next month. Until then, find out more about Band of Skulls here.

Rediscover: Amos Lee

It's been a while since I've listened to Amos Lee. *counting on fingers* Oh my word... Has it really been 8 years? Yep. I bought his first album, "Amos Lee" when it came out and loved it. I just recently bought his latest album, "Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song" and it's hitting the spot! Why did I ever stop listening to him? This album is a bit more musically broad than his first album with a good mix of folk, blues and rock, but it all flows together very well. I'm glad to see such a good artist grow and expand while remaining to be exactly who he is. I'd love to see him do something with Ben Harper. That would be awesome. And on that note, it's time for me to go play catch up with all of his albums that I've missed. 

Discover: The Stone Foxes

How can you go wrong with some good blues/rock? You can't... especially when it incorporates Edgar Allan Poe.

Learn more about The Stone Foxes here.

Rediscover: The Smashing Pumpkins

Any time I hear The Smashing Pumpkins, I'm always reminded of my high school years. I don't know that there were many rock bands more popular than them back in the mid/late 90's besides Nirvana.

I never got to see the Pumpkins perform, but I would have loved to. I know that Billy Corgan has put the band back together over the last few years, but I don't think it would be the same. Maybe it would... Anyway, enjoy some nostalgia!

Discover: Future of Forestry

One of my friends told me about this band a while back. I didn't really check them out until recently, but I'm glad I did. The songs are far more "detailed compositions" and far less "three or four chords played over and over". They toured as a three-piece a while back and I would have loved to catch that. I always enjoy a good multi-instrumental shindig.

Find out more about Future of Forestry here.

Discover: Shovels & Rope

I discovered Shovels & Rope about a year and a half ago and was instantly sucked in by their sound, energy, and how rough around the edges they are (both live and on their album). There's a lot of gritty, pretty noise coming from this two-piece and I love it. You can taste the dirt coming off the kick and snare on "Tickin' Bomb" and the swagger of the horns on "Hail Hail" will make anyone want to shake their hips... even if they hate dancing. If you happen to be one of those non-dancing folk and prefer to have your heart ripped out of your chest instead, "This Means War" will do the trick. It's all here. A perfect sound track to this dirty, wonderful, painful, amazing thing we call life.

Learn more about Shovels & Rope here.