Like Trains and Taxis? LOVE Trains and Taxis

We don't know about you, but we just love ourselves some new EP material, makes us feel hip and young, you know. The self-proclaimed "indie soul" band is releasing Charlie, their second EP which serves as teaser for their full-length.
And what a teaser it is! We remember seeing them in New Brunswick's Alfa Art Gallery a while back, and boy were they worth it. The music is real rich, loaded with smooth talent and a touch of wit--you can literally hear the girls and gay men melting in their seats.

They're playing around the Red Bank/Asbury Park area of NJ these next two weeks.

DOWNLOAD: Like Trains and Taxis "Charlie"
DOWNLOAD: Like Trains and Taxis "Day Wrecker"

Website: www.liketrainsandtaxis.com
Book 'em! www.sonicbids.com/liketrainsandtaxis

Enjoy!
-SD

The Veterans - The Screaming Females

They're that band. The band that made you care about live shows and being in a scene instead of knowing all the words to the latest song on the radio (bleh). They're just awesome; haphazardly fun with a quirky twist and a frontwoman with a penchant for vintage dresses. Hopefully they'll be as groundbreaking for you as they have been for New Brunswick. Check out they're myspace for a list of gigs -- they're playing everywhere!

Site: http://www.screamingfemales.com/
myspace: http://www.myspace.com/screamingfemales

DOWNLOAD: The Screaming Females "Fun"

Enjoy!

-SD

Longing for Some Good Music - Liz Longley

Not much time to write, but luckily, the music speaks for itself. Liz Longley is - flawless. Enough said. 

See for yourself. Liz is performing at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston this Thursday, September 24th at College Night, 7pm-12am.

Free music. Free food. Free prizes.

You bet, free admission.

Watch this beautiful video of "Naked Trees"



MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/lizlongley

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Liz_Longley

-SK

Crunching On Max Vernon

Katy Perry's getting a run for her money. Seriously, you can't talk about Max Vernon without mentioning his "I Kissed A Girl" cover. You'd think that if a guy sang this song it would sound pretty, well, straight. But Vernon's slick. He changed all self-referrals in the song to male, but still kept the line "hope my boyfriend don't mind it," which adds a whole other level of ambiguity and scandal! Ya!

To top it all off he's one steamy piano man. He's incredibly witty lyrically, but not in that "I'm trying to be funny while talking about the stupid crap we fill our lives with" kind of way, it's more like "I'm just doing this because I want to. Yeah, while playing the piano incredibly well.. with my toes." Minus playing with the toes part though...

...But if he did play the piano with his toes we'd crunch on him twice.

Max Vernon, you are one sly son-of-a-gun.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/maxvernon

DOWNLOAD: Max Vernon "I Kissed A Girl"

DOWNLOAD: Max Vernon "Politburo Technocrats and Prophesizing Maniacs"

PS: Check out his Ace of Base Cover here.

-SD

Wait For Green - Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

These Floridians are well ingrained in that cluster-fuck of a genre, you know, the one that blends funk, reggae, hip-hop and rock. Think of the white guys with dreads from Clueless that "belong on that grassy knoll ova there" as Brittany Murphy and Alicia Silverstone put it so cunningly.

Well, now that you've got that picture in your head you can imagine what the music sounds like. It's pretty much 311 that borders on Sublime... in the best way possible of course. In other words, addictively chill.

Yeah, we have a feeling "Wait For Green" doesn't really mean waiting for the traffic light...

Check out the grassy knoll in LA on October 2nd at Whiskey A Go Go.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/waitforgreen
Twitter: http://twitter.com/WAITFORGREEN

DOWNLOAD: Wait For Green "Build It Up, Burn It Down"

-SD

Tha Shake - I Bet That You Look Good On The Dance Floor

There's been a long legacy of great American rock n' roll, and The Shake are making this legacy proud.

The guitar riffs tricky but catchy, perfectly suited for air guitar. The vocals present a kind of beautiful contradiction. On the one hand, the vocals are very in your face, but on the other they are quite aloof and nonchalant. Let's not forget to mention that girls are bound to swoon over this band like Penny Lane and the band aids from Almost Famous.

Here's to you guys being featured in the next Guitar Hero.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theshakeband
Twitter: http://twitter.com/theshakeband

DOWNLOAD: The Shake "Dyin' Ain't The End Of The World"
DOWNLOAD: The Shake "Princes & Kings"

-SD

Egon's Unicat - It's Alive!

Instead of trying to write something clever an witty about these guys from Illinois, we figured it would be better to post this storyline we stumbled upon. After all, that's what really sold us on the band.

"Egon's Unicat is a myth. It doesn't exist. For those of you who have stumbled upon this myth be wary that your life may be in danger. Egon was just a humble professor of Biochemistry and Law at the University of Vermont when he stumbled upon a most peculiar strand of DNA while doing his laundry in one of the campus dormitories. He took a sample of this DNA from an anonymous students "I'm With Stupid" shirt and went home that night to run some routine tests. The tests were anything but routine however when Egon's cat (named Johncat) became sick due to some spoiled tuna the professor had given him and spastically tore up the entire lab. During the chaos Johncat had been harmed due to broken class and the unidentified DNA crept into his blood stream causing both of his front legs to immediately rot and fall off of his body. Egon, immediately frantic ran to help the crazy critter, but at that very moment Johncat's body began shaking and bubbling violently and a brand new leg sprouted from the middle of Johncat's chest. The cat now had only three legs, but one of these legs was protruding from the middle of the cats chest as if he were a snowmobile or tricycle. Egon then decided that Johncat was no longer the same cat he had grown to love and cherish all those years of teaching, he had become a UNICAT....
or Egon's Unicat could just be a rock n' roll band having a schizo nature in appearance and sound that hails from the Illinois Valley... you decide."

They're playing all over Illinois these upcoming months, with a stint in Wisconsin:
Aug 14 2009 - Fox Valley Hot Topic (acoustic) in Aurora, Illinois (Woohoo Wayne's World) at 5:00PM
Aug 15 2009 - The Afterdark in Steven’s Point, Wisconsin at 6:00PM
Aug 22 2009 - The Mutiny in Chicago, Illinois at 9:00PM
Sep 5 2009 - Mary’s Place in Rockford, Illinois at 9:00PM
Sep 6 2009 - 9th St. Pub in LaSalle, Illinois at 10:00PM
Sep 26 2009 - CJ’s Lounge in Rockford, Illinois at 10:00PM
Oct 10 2009 - SOP’s in Peoria, Illinois at 10:00PM
Oct 20 2009 - Otto’s in DeKalb, Illinois at 8:30PM
Nov 25 2009 - 9th street Pub in LaSalle, Illinois at 10:00PM

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/egonsunicat

DOWNLOAD: Egon's Unicat "Silver Dragon Ninja" (Live)

-SD

The Hollow Sound - Shhh It's a Secret

The Hollow Sound totally caught us off guard. Usually bands with female vox fall into at least one of three categories: whiny punk-pop (ie Meg and Dia), operatic depression (Evanescence) or angelically light (Tegan and Sara). So, as we were all placing bets on what this band sounded like based on opening guitar riffs we figured we had run into The Veronicas... again.

But boy oh boy were we wrong. The riffs, although punk-pop in influence, are brilliantly placed among Maddie Herec's smooth alto-ranged vocals. The hooks are addictive, but not in an adolescent kind of way.
It okay, get obsessed... we won't tell anyone.

If you're planning on going to six flags in Agawam, MA August 27th, you should go say hi to 'em. They'll be playing with All Time Low if that does (but totally shouldn't) make a difference.

If you can't wait that long, they'll be on Music Matters TV this Sunday (August 16th) at 1:00PM.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thehollowsound
Twitter: http://twitter.com/thehollowsound

DOWNLOAD: The Hollow Sound "Of Arms and Ocean"

-SD

22 Days of Summer -- August Concert List

Having trouble marking your calendars for the last summer concerts? Here's an updated list of what's left for August:

EAST COAST:

SEX! - Those crazy Berklee dudes who can sing a blues song about just about anything are heading up the coast for an afternoon festival of good music. 

August 15 - KahBand Music and Arts Festival - 3 pm - Bangor, Maine.

PARAGRAPH - They're retro! They're futuristic! And they're playing four nights in a row across Florida.

August 19 - Exodus Coffee - 8 pm - Port St. Lucie, Florida

August 20 - 1982 Bar - 9 pm - Gainesville, Florida

August 21 - Cock N' Bull - 8 pm - Sarasota, Florida

August 22 - Spank - 8 pm - Gainesville, Florida

THE GENTLEMEN'S BET - The overachievers in their class, these men spice up their songs with the jazzy sounds of trumpet and alto sax. 

August 22 - Spike Hill - 7.30 pm - Brooklyn, New York ($5)

YOU CAN BE A WESLEY - Indie lovers unite - these guys have an infectious sound, filling their songs with heavy guitars and hard to miss hooks. 

August 29 - Trash Bar - 8 pm - Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York

WEST COAST: 

THE J. WALKERS - What other band do you know that plays the fiddle? They've got more shows coming up in the Fall, but why wait? 

August 16 - Lakewood Bar & Grill - 6 pm - Dallas, Texas

-SK

The J. Walkers - Abbey Road Is Screaming Their Name

Fiddle anyone? Hell yes.

When we first checked out The J. Walkers single "Let's Feel It," we automatically knew that this was a band to watch out for. Starting out with some pop beats, then sailing like a classic DMB track only to turn into a full Yellowcard blast, and then an integrated mixture? All mayhem is breaking loose, and we're just going to sit back and watch.

Oh, the rest of their stuff is just as superb, and we hear they play a killer live show too.


Aug 16 2009 - Lakewood Bar & Grill in Dallas, Texas at 6:00PM
Sep 2 2009 - Dreamworld Complex w/ 5 Years and Counting in Arlington, Texas at 8:00PM
Dec 18 2009 - Winter Slam Jam in Tyler, Texas at 8:00PM

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thejwalkersband
Twitter: http://twitter.com/thejwalkers


DOWNLOAD: The J. Walkers "Losing Me"

-SD

Anybody Want SEX!

Prudes, don't shy away from these guys just because of their blatant band name - they're from Berklee! It's okay! 

Add them to that trifecta of a genre we love to listen to known as rock, blues and soul. Vocalist Andrew Burri's raspy and raw vocals plea with sweet determination. Throw in full-band singing bridges and harmonies, mix in some lengthy guitar solos and you got yourself some damn good blues songs. And we all know, you can sing about just about anything irrelevant with passion in good blues songs (por ejemplo, their highlights include "Chevy Nova" and "Golden Shoes). 

It's obvious that we love SEX! But what we'd really love is if they'd put out their CD already.

Catch them while you can:

August 15 - 3pm - KahBand Music & Arts Festival - Bangor, Maine. 

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thisissexmusic

The video's a little shady -- it kinda looks a little like a hippie commune was set free -- but the music, oh it's good:

sex recording session

-SK

A City Heart - The Love Of Flashing Lights

Versatility is something rarely achieved by artists, but this online collaboration almost defines the term. The synths and electro-beats combined with organic vocals adds raw emotion to something so inanimate. A City Heart is a band that can give you an urge to dance and feel contemplative and existential all at the same time... so beat that Postal Service!
We can picture these songs all over TV/movie scenes, remixed into fist-pumping club hits and played on every major radio and satellite radio station as well.

Get stoked for their upcoming album. From what we heard on their album teaser, it's gonna rock your socks off.

Check out ACH's track "Maybe, It's Vanity" here.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/acityheart

-SD

Crunching On Allison Weiss

She's the threat that's taking over the 21st century--singer, songwriter, graphic designer, and quirky. She's nerdy in that oh-so-cool kind of way that makes you laugh and leap with her in her music.

If you're following us on twitter you'd know that we just saw 500 Days of Summer and that thought it was superb in all aspects. Allison's single "I'm Ready," which is featured as our download below, would have been a perfect, seamless inclusion which embodies the quaint, yet loud, oxymoronic confusion of love.

We're head over heels. Who can resist a girl in chunky plastic specs anyhoo?
Oh, and did we mention she's touring? Check her dates out on her myspace.

Official Site: http://allisonw.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/allisonweiss
Twitter: http://twitter.com/allisonweiss

DOWNLOAD: Allison Weiss "I'm Ready"

-SD

Merced - We're Not Worthy!

Wayne's World references aside, we can't help but really dig this band Merced. Some of the guitar-work reminds us of Circa Survive and mellow Incubus, while the melodies seem to be influenced by Augustana and Ryan Adams; but overall a Nashvile knockout.

They've already gotten some major cred by having their first EP recorded with Sean Neff (Chicago, Rascal Flatts) and later on working with Fred Williams and Ainslie Grosser (Mutemath). They're definitely headed in the right direction, but what Merced needs is a killer live show and a feature on the Twilight soundtrack to catapult them into stardom and eternal fame.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mercedmusic

-SD

Paragraph - The Swankiest Of Words

With a vocalist who can "out-Prince" anyone, Paragraph, hailing from Staten Island, NY, kind of remind us of the Dandy Warhols by the way that they're so retro but so futuristic as well. Put it this way, if there was a Studio 54 in space, these guys would be the VIP section along with MGMT.


Anybody out in Florida? Check out four consecutive shows in the area:

August 19th - Exodus Coffee in Port St. Lucie, Florida at 8:00PM
August 20th - 1982 Bar in Gainesville, Florida at 9:00PM
August 21st - Cock N’ Bull in Sarasota, Florida at 8:00PM
August 22nd - Spank in Gainesville, Florida at 10:00PM

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/paragraphmusic

DOWNLOAD - Paragraph "Metal Murphy (Live)"

-SD

Ay Ay Capatin - We All Have Hooks For Hands

We think they're name should have been "The Indie Brady Bunch," but an ironic pirate/song structure name is still okay in our book.
The nine-piece band hails from South Dakota with an eclectic grounded sound which features some really loose vocals and borderline noise-pop guitar. We love this crew due to their unjaded pure sound that would fit in with any kind of scene-- be it the crazy L.E.S. and Brooklyn hipsters, Cali surfers that still shop at Abercrombie & Fitch, or even on a fishing boat somewhere near Lake Tahoe. (o people really fish at Lake Tahoe?)

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/weallhavehooksforhands
Twitter: http://twitter.com/hooks4hands

DOWNLOAD - We All Have Hooks For Hands "Made Up Of Tiny Lights"

-SD

An Inroduction To Sunshine - The Perfect Day

Think of a Central Park concert on a lazy Sunday with lots of grass... to sit on.
As simple as their sound may be, they definitely have the "X" factor of great, timeless rock; an essential classic. In short, they have a strong and steady folk rock style, catchy hooks, four part harmonies and melodic phrasing.
We would love to see An Introduction To Sunshine play a set with O.A.R. or a solid opening act for Dave Matthews.

Check out their super neato video for "A Lesson In Economics"

An Introduction to Sunshine - A Lesson in Economics from Alex Purifoy on Vimeo.

-SD

Are They The Best Men? - The Gentlemen's Bet

The Gentlemen's Bet is like that kid in your class who tried to be good at everything you weren't -- lucky for us, we're not 12 and don't seem to care. The Boston-based TGB blends just about every genre of music -- rock, folk, jazz, blues -- into one indescribable sound that can only be named as ''really good'' with due promise to marry into "great."

Start with their slow songs. Take the song "Beverly" - in our humble opinion, half rock half potential elevator music (we say this with a respect to jazz, not elevators), sprinkled with mellow psychedelic vibes -- this music is more than chill, it lets you peacefully melt away.

What really gives these gentlemen the extra punch is that they go beyond the standard 4 piece band. Their songs are embellished with the jazzy sounds of trumpet and alto sax. Skip on the vocals for now, and just delve into the good old fashioned music.

Let's give these guys a good chance. They're on tour now in the East, promoting their debut LP, From a Greater Height.

Grab a pair of ears and head downtown:

August 22nd, 2009 - 7.30pm - Spike Hill

184 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11211 - $5

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thegentlemenboston
Twitter: http://twitter.com/gentlemensbet

DOWNLOAD: The Gentlemen's Bet "Zodiac"

Check out a little live action with their performance of

"Beverly" at Sullivan Hall:

-SK

Call Yourself - Is That A Mental Exercise?

This band is the epitome of what a punk rock band should sound like today. No eyeliner, no whiny pre-pubescent wails and no hipster wayfarers- without the lenses of course. Plus, who can resist a Bouncing Souls influence?
So here's the low-down. These five guys put on kick ass live shows all around Jersey. (If you don't believe me, click here).
If you want to listen to something a bit more nostalgic without the glitz, glamour and synths of 21st century radio, we beg you to check them out. Hell, they aren't even on twitter.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/callyourself

DOWNLOAD - Call Yourself "We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat"

-SD

Stella By Starlight - Great Jazz Reference Or Cosmic Mess?

Take some of Cobra Starship guitar-synth mix, add some 3OH!3 lyrical silliness, then stir in a dash of Imogen Heap, and you'll find yourself baking an imaginary metaphor.

Apologies for the buzzkill, but if it makes you feel any better these peeps seem like the kind of fun and outrageous friends you'd definitely want to partner up with at a bar-mitzvah. After all, we know how competitive it can be to get glow-in-the-dark necklaces and bracelets. (And how awesome they look?!)

Check out this video for the making of "Invisible". It's like they've redefined what a modern day electro-pop ballad should sound like, so take that Lady Gaga! They're new album is on the cusp of release according to their twitter.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/stellabystarlightband
Twitter: http://twitter.com/StellaTwitt

DOWNLOAD - Stella By Starlight "As Good As It Gets"

-SD

Kittens Ablaze - Even PETA Would Love 'Em

We're just going to come out and say it. Kittens Ablaze kicks major bootay. They're confident with a definitive point of view, and their live shows look like more fun than Six Flags.

Structurally speaking, they have a seamless mash-up of some classical string instruments alongside some particular indie/folk sounding guitar and harmonica, all with some synth in there to really blow your mind.

Although they've gotten compared to Ra Ra Riot, Arcade Fire and the Pixies, and accurately so, we at Tambourine feel a bit differently. For starters, the aforementioned instrumental mash-up sounds a lot like the Islands, whose album Arm's Way is probably one of the best and underrated albums of 2008. We're glad that another act like Islands can come along and whip out a great repertoire of exciting and unique tracks. Oh, and we can't help but point out that vocalist Tim Spellman sounds like the love child of Brian Molko (Placebo) and Paul Banks (Interpol).


Myspace: www.myspace.com/kittensablaze
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kittensablaze

DOWNLOAD - Kittens Ablaze "Strobelight"

-SD

You Can Be a Wesley - Fresh From The Bakery

You can be different.

Premiering their new album Heard Like Us yesterday, the Boston-based band gives us a chance to hold on to a piece of their latest creation -- releasing their album in the i-never-thought-it'd-come-back vinyl form (but digital download comes with for all of you robots).

YCBW doesn't just stop at the vinyl. The quartet, all BU just-alums, brings us an old school indie sound, throwing us back to all the things we love. Lead singer Saara's clear and simple voice soars through the band's quirky songs, infused with heavy guitars and hard to miss hooks. Eat it up, Indie lovers, this summer album's infectious sound is something you can put on your good list, right between tight jeans and brimmed hats.

Check them out on the East Side:

August 29, 2009 - 8pm - Trash Bar - 256 Grand St. between Driggs & Roebling, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York 11211.

Site:http://www.youcanbeawesley.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/youcanbeawesley

Check out their rad video for "Creatures" right hurr.

You Can Be A Wesley - Creatures from Nick Zegel on Vimeo.

-SK

Vic Kingsley - Another Beautiful Letdown

Vic Kingsley's music reminds us of the good old days when we used to sit out on the hammock all day and watch A Walk To Remember at night. Those days never actually happened, but one can dream...
Kingsley is sort of like the new Jon Foreman of Switchfoot: heartfelt, deep and honest with all of the right influences. The stuff is raw and emotional, but you can't really get a forecast of what a live show would be like. We can imagine some teenage girls getting really into it while swooning over how cute and sensitive he is while writing "Mrs. Kingsley" all over their notebooks.
But what we think Kingsley really needs is a great producer, someone like Steve Lilywhite or even M Ward, to add a bit of appropriate noise and quirkiness to make him a true legend.

Myspace: www.myspace.com/vickingsley
Twitter: http://twitter.com/VicKingsley

DOWNLOAD - Vic Kingsley "Fall With You"

-SD

E.A.R.T.H. - aka West Coast De La Soul

Bottom line, this crew is all about the understated energy associated with most hip-hop acts of the 90s. That's the reason we took a liking to E.A.R.T.H., which stands for "Everything Around Revolves Thru Hip-Hop".

As expected, their lyrics are aimed crowd-pleasers which are witty and introspective.
Their latest sophomore album, Grass Roots: From The Ground Up, definitely has an old school vibe laced with some modern elements. Tracks like "Average Man" and "Feel Good Music" are simply themed, but our featured download, "Sexin' After Textin'" definitely documents some foreplay for phone sex. Although digital beats and some auto-tune blips definitely give their sound a minimal update, we would love to see some DJs get their hands on this stuff and remix the shit out of it.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/earthcrew
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/earthcrew

DOWNLOAD - E.A.R.T.H. "SEXIN' AFTER TEXTIN'"

-SD

Submit Your Stuff

Hey you!

So we want to put your stuff up on our page, and if you're reading this then we guess you want to be a part of Tambourine too.

So here's the deal:

1. Shoot us an email at tambourineshake@gmail.com. Physical mailing address is available upon request for all of you still running around with a walkman, but who needs paper and plastic anymore? It's the future dudez save the environment.

2. In this email, tell us whatever you want about your music, college and your dreams of world peace. Also, we heart mp3s, and so does every college student. Streaming is a-okay, but downloads are awesomely awesome for peeps on the go so please include a link to your mp3s NOT your band site or myspace.

3. If you're playing any gigs, send over a list of tourdates, maybe we'll come by and check you out.

It's just that simple folks.