new SWEDEN Music

A couple of years ago, I used to manage a band called Parkwright. I remember when they played the Kennett Flash. It was a good turnout and a great bill. The Flash is a really nice venue... BYOB, right in the middle of historic Kennett Square, PA. The Flash actually won a WSTW Homey Award this year for "Best Venue."

Anyways, Parkwright played a great set, and so did Hippocampus, but if my memory serves me correctly also on the bill was a guy that went by the name "another fellow." I may stand corrected, but I do remember watching this guy's set and thinking to myself... now that's someone that "gets it." He had captivating showmanship, great stage presence and not to mention an awesome, folky voice. His songs and performance made me feel as if I had been swept away to some private party held by Saddle Creek, along a river bank, in the middle of Omaha, Nebraska. It was memorable... and when the set was over, I made sure to go up and grab the two CDs he was handing out. I told him he had a great performance, and that I was looking forward to seeing him play again soon. Then, I scurried off to my secluded, mad scientist laboratory to continue building and organizing Monster, which is what I've done for the past two-three years.

Well, another fellow continued on his course, and is now singing for a band that has made quite a bit of noise over the past year. New Sweden is what happens when you assemble passionate, talented musicians, and lock them in a room full of energetic, Americana-infused fairy dust. They play because they want to. It's lightning in a bottle, or on a stage, or in a parking lot under a sign with their name on it.



New Sweden was established in November 2009 along the unconquered banks of the Delaware River, a region commonly known as Wilmington, DE. The genesis s of New Sweden, and subsequent growth, stems from a combined interest to create powerful, heartfelt, and innovative tunes that capture the roots of American spirit and exploration. One can hear the influence of traditional Folk (Woody Guthrie, Burl Ives) combined with an explorative indie edge (The Avett Brothers, Bright Eyes) meshing together to form an emotional sonic slurry. In other words, grab a tambourine and staple it to an old wooden chest; throw some drifting viola over a droning pump organ; slam a bass line on top of a grinding guitar and banjo; New Sweden aggressively create their sound by whatever means possible in order to capture emotions of joy, sadness, anger, and confusion.

Citizens of the Mid-Atlantic region have been able to experience New Sweden throughout 2010 in bars, restaurants, opera houses, coffee shops, and riverbanks. A relentless and energetic live act, New Sweden has become a household name in the state of Delaware, gaining titles of Spark Summer Music Series and Out & About's Musikarmageddon.

Currently, the band is in the midst of recording their first full length album, due for release in Spring 2011. New Sweden’s collective eyes, ears, and other body parts are fixed on expanding the New Sweden territory in 2011 by playing Philly, New York, Boston, D.C., and any other spot that wants to hoedown. After all, live music and sharing emotions are truly what New Sweden is about. "Out to sea, the big wide sea, I wonder what we’ll see.” - NS

New Sweden is William Dobies- guitar, vocals, boots, handyman; Caroline Stratton- viola, pump organ, bells, nuclear fuel; Dan Weirauch- bass, vocals, noisemakers, oceanography; Jimmy Dukenfield- banjo, vocals, pump organ, guitar, mandolin, hipster; Zac Dukenfield- drums, wooden chest, xylophone, scrapper.



Congrats to Delaware! Joseph "Joey" Graham, Joe Biden, Sugar Ray Leonard, Freelance Whales front man-Judah Dadone, Revolution, I Love You, Monster Entertainment LLC and now "new SWEDEN" :)

I-M

"Goodbye Old Friend"

Roach #Yum

Tempamental Featured on Hot 97

Monster Entertainment artist Tempamental was FEATURED on Hot 97 with DJ Kay Slay... YES, you just read that right. We have officially hit the streets HARD from Virginia to Massachusetts. So from here on out, when I say "Get Familiar" I'm not only referring to Monster but to Tempamental's debut album that's on its way courtesy of Black Ink MMG (www.blackinkmmg.com)!

Wanna hear the Hot 97 radio broadcast? CLICK LINK BELOW
DOWNLOAD



"Get Familiar" Tempamental's debut album is due out early summer, late spring 2011. Keep checking back for details.

I-M

Monster Entertainment LLC is a Philadelphia-based artist management, promotions and booking company
www.wearemonsterent.com

Gold Streets

Yep, it's official! There's not enough time in the day. I need another 12 hours to get everything that I want to get done... DONE.

Full review of this year's MMC coming shortly, for now... Gold Streets



This year's Millennium Music Conference, held in Harrisburg, PA the last couple of days was pretty successful. Great panels, mentoring sessions and bands... it was good catching up with people you only see once a year.

One band I have to make note of to see more than once a year is Gold Streets. Their performance Friday night at ABC (Appalachian Brewing Company) Abbey Bar Harrisburg was delightful to say the least. I now have basslines stuck in my head that I'll be humming at work tomorrow. There's something about a female bassist that just makes life better. Add in an Indie, Psychedelic, Rock version of Robyn's "Dancin' on my Own" and you have what I like to call a complete Friday evening. Oh, and the Scottish ale was tasty.

Check out Gold Streets at a venue near you... or on a Facebook near you. www.facebook.com/gold.streets

"Billy's Dead" MP3 Link via Pennlive.com

Why Watch TV?

I love Chick-fil-a

immeasurable

What a Grammy night right? At this moment, the amount of stokedness that I have for music is immeasurable. I'm not sure what to be more hype about... this,



this,



Or THIS!



What a great night of performances. Congratulations to Arcade Fire on wowing millions. Definitely well deserved. Also, I was wrong... I thought Bieber had it locked for new artist! He lost out to Esperanza Spalding, a bassist who has been heating up the jazz world for a while. Congrats to Esperanza! I hope she doesn't get beat up by a mob of 13 year old girls... they can hit pretty hard from what I remember.

Now begins a new year of music! Who's hot? Who's next? Radiohead(2/19/11)? Very much hopeful for 2011. As always, I'll stay reporting as much as possible... Indie first!

I-M

Case Closed and Phantasm perform this weekend at MMC www.musicconference.net

The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards

Rehearsal Pics... Artists prepare for music's biggest night. I hope Christina Agumalera gets to perform... I hope she remembers her words. (Ok I quit) She knows I love her!







Didn't realize that Cee Lo Green's F*** You was nominated for Record of the Year? Even though I love "F You", I think Eminem and Rihanna will take it. Although, it could be Lady Antebellum... choices choices.

Will Bieber take best new artist? Is he still new? Seems like he's been out for 3 years... wasn't he ten when his first single dropped? I can't remember... seems like so much has happened since then. Maybe Drake will sneak up and take it. Probably not though. CBS is hoping to break another record... I think they may. We'll have to wait and see! Happy Grammy Day

I-M

Why Watch TV?

Homey Time!

I will seriously bop you upside the head if you don't tune in tomorrow from 8pm-10pm! It's the 85th annual Homey Awards! Actually, I'm not sure how many annuals it's been, but it's tradition, and it's Indie and you need to listen. Especially if you are a nominee!

Congrats to the nominees and good luck!

Artist of the Year
Boy Wonder
Ike
Mouth of Wilson
New Sweden
Rod Kim

Album of the Year
Brixton Saint – The Cure for the Babylon Brain
Evergreen – Here Is Now
Ike – Tie the Knot…
Mouth of Wilson – Untamed Animals
Rivers Monroe – Meteors

Best E.P.
Done @ 21 – The EP
Josten Swingline – Three Against One
The Pleasure – The Sunflowers EP
Rachel Schain – Happy Happy
Rod Kim – All About You

Song of the Year
Ike – 1-Way to Avalon
Josten Swingline – Not This Time
Matt Rubba – Last Dance
Mother Redcap – Ever After
Rachel Schain – Rockstar, Bitch!
Shaun Ruymen – Luckiest Man Alive
Tim Williams – Back Again

Best Band
Fat Daddy Has Been
FelixHunger
Ike
New Sweden
Rivers Monroe

Best Male Artist
Boy Wonder
Dylan McGuire
Rod Kim
Ryan Tennis
Tim Williams

Best Female Artist
Andrea Nardello
Hannah Zaic
Laura Cheadle
Lori Citro
Rachel Schain

Best New Artist
FelixHunger
Evergreen
New Sweden
Parachuting Apostles
Rachel Schain

Best Songwriter
Gina Degnars (of Little Invisibles)
John Faye (of Ike)
Kyle Swartzwelder
Lori Citro
Rod Kim

Best Lead Singer
Dom Malandro – The Parachuting Apostles
Gina Degnars – Little Invisibles
John Faye – Ike
Jonathan Cooney – The Pleasure
Mike Reading – Rivers Monroe

Best Guitarist
Brett Talley – Ike
Christian Kaye – Done@21
Christie Lenee
Dylan McGuire
Matt Varga – Rivers Monroe

Best Bass Player
Adam Beck – Fat Daddy Has Been
Drew Hoffman – Pleasure
Jake Dean – Boy Wonder/The Parachuting Apostles
Kirby Chin – Rivers Monroe
Susan Steen – Ike

Best Drummer
Branden King – The Parachuting Apostles
Dan Fedele – Rivers Monroe
Drew Keane – Josten Swingline
Rob Benton – Boy Wonder
Tom Kristich – Ike

Best Keyboardist/Pianist
Ania Aliaksandrava – Glen Landing
Gina Degnars – Little Invisibles
Mat Welch – Rivers Monroe
Papa Cheadle – Laura Cheadle
Sam Barry – The Pleasure

Best Live Act
Da Rezarekt
Fat Daddy Has Been
Little Invisibles
The Pleasure
Rivers Monroe

Best Rock Song
12 Mile Circle – Last to Know
Boy Wonder – Psycho
Done @ 21 – In the Crowd
The Parachuting Apostles – Limb by Limb
The Pleasure – Sunflowers

Best R&B/Funk song
Boy Wonder – Surrender
Da Rezarekt – I Know
Fat Daddy Has Been – Summer Smile
Kareem – Clear Away the Stain
Theotis Joe Jr. – SuperStar

Best Alternative Song
The Atomic Square – 60 Seconds
Early Ape – These Aren’t the People
Overlook – Stars
Phantasm – Change the Channel
The Quelle Source – Hi-Fi Glasses Crush

Best Folk/Americana/Bluegrass Artist
JD Malone
John Byrne
Kyle Swartzwelder
Larry Saklad
Marc Silver

Best Young Artist
Along Came May
Diverse
Liz Raine
The Pleasure
Rachel Mink

Best Venue for Music
Burlap & Bean in Newtown Square, PA
The Harmony Grange in Pike Creek/Wilmington, DE
The Kennett Flash in Kennett Square, PA
Mojo Main in Newark, DE
The Note in West Chester, PA

Best Music Video
Laura Cheadle – Change (It’s Alright)
Mary Scholz – I Miss You
New Sweden – View from the Mountain
Parachuting Apostles – Let’s Do It Right (This Time)
Todd Chappelle – The Google Song

Tune in 8pm-10pm tomorrow for a special Homey Award's edition of Hometown Heroes on 93.7FM, WSTW or www.wstw.com/heroes.


I must say, after going through the nominees I was very impressed with Diverse (www.facebook.com/diversepopgroup.eddiezach). Those young dudes can sing and write. Be on the look out for them to make some noise in the up coming years. Ike may have a Lady Gaga night along with Boy Wonder... just my predictions. We will find out the facts pretty soon. Should be a fun time!

I-M

The 2010 Reader's Choice Awards

Origivation Magazine's Reader's Choice Awards Show will be Thursday, March 10th, 7:00pm - 10:00pm at The Legendary Dobbs 304 South Street Philadelphia, PA. Cover is $8. Check out the Nominees below.

Best Pop Act: Ike, The Fractals, Post Post, The Beekeepers
Best Indie Rock Act: Cheers Elephant, Toy Soldiers, The Quelle Source, TJ Kong & The Atomic Bomb
Best Folk Act: Up the Chain, Sisters 3, The Spinning Leaves, Bells Bells Bells, The Bird Choir
Best Singer/Songwriter (Male): Hezakiah Jones, Ryan Tennis, Don McClosky, Chris Kasper
Best Singer/Songwriter (Female): Birdie Busch, Suzie Brown, Christine Havrilla, Hunter Gatherer, Christie Lenee
Best Live Show: Dr. Dog, Da Rezarekt, Man Man, Downtown Harvest
Best Touring Act: Good Old War, Free Energy, Dr. Dog, Hoots & Hellmouth
Best Music Venue: Milkboy Coffee, World Cafe Live, Johnny Brendas, North Star
Best Open Mic/Oen Jam: Triumph Brewery, Dawson St. Pub, McGuilicuddy's, World Cafe Live
Best Music Video: The Swimmers, Metropolis America, Parachuting Apostles, Sun Airway, George Stanford



If you are free that Thursday, get there... should be a fun time. Monster Entertainment's The Quelle Source will be performing a two song set in between awards.

www.facebook.com/pages/Origivation-Magazine/174187909292957?v=info
www.origivation.com

I-M

Cheers

Cheers Elephant

Currently Featured on Reverbnation.com!

Reverbnation.com

CheersElephant.com

Imagination Is Everything