IN THE SPOTLIGHT: STEVE WEXLER AND THE TOP SHELF

Meet STEVE WEXLER AND THE TOP SHELF; a 10-piece band with an impressive roster that turns out innovative and energetic arrangements of classic hits. (Click here for the band member's tidbits)

They are best known for their arrangements of famous songs like The Temptations’ “My Girl,” EW&F’s “Got To Get You Into My Life,” Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally,” Ray Charles’ “Georgia,” and Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon,”. The band acts as an instant time machine, bringing the listeners back to an amazing era in music while putting a uniquely modern twist to their performance. Check out their amazing video performance below:

VISIT THEIR OFFICIAL WEBSITE http://www.stevewexlermusic.com/

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TOWN HALL: THE MIDDLE

I'm all ears with this awesome acoustic cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle,” brought to you by an indie folk band from New York City, TOWN HALL.


The band is preparing to release their first full-length album this March, produced by Brooklyn-based music collective, Mason Jar Music.

You can follow them at:
Website: [http://townhallband.com]
Facebook: [http://www.facebook.com/TownHallBand]
& for more information: [http://flavors.me/townhall]
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ELLENONCEAGAIN: THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA

Texas singer Ellen Hinton aka ELLENONCEAGAIN covers one of the most popular bosanova hit, "The Girl From Ipanema". Watch the video below and prepare to be amazed!


Ellen's voice was a knock-out!! This one is probably the best version i've heard yet! Love it!!! =)
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BOBTOWN: MY BODY IS A CAGE

Indie folk-Americana band BOBTOWN takes on Arcade Fire's anthem “My Body Is a Cage”. Watch the video here:


I heard a lot of cover of this song but was not convinced but this one -it's beautiful! Totally an eargasm!! =)

BOBTOWN is: Karen Dahlstrom, Alan Lee Backer, Katherine Etzel, Fred Stesney and Jen McDearman. You can visit their official website here.
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ANNE-MARIE SANDERSON: VOICES CARRY

Here's ANNE-MARIE SANDERSON and her folked-up cover version of Til Tuesdays 1985 hit single "Voices Carry".

I absolutely dig this cover! Anne has a sweet, wonderful voice that I can listen up all day!...Instant fan from the Philippines!!! =)

You can check her out at the ff. links:

http://annemariesanderson.com/

http://twitter.com/AnneMariesian

http://facebook.com/TheAnneMariesian

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MEET BENJAMIN BAKER

In the spotlight for this post is a singer songwriter named BENJAMIN BAKER. I got the chance to listen to his latest album titled Acoustified: Volume 2 which is full of cover songs i wasn't familiar with but ended liking all the tracks! I must say, I was very impressed. Each song has a different feel and sound to it. I have yet to get tired of it and I play it constantly!!

THEME SONG FROM 'CHEERS'


CANNIBAL QUEEN
To stream the whole album, click here.

I also loved the anticks that he did with Kid Cudi's Pursuit of Happiness. Watch!


Baker is sure to continue growing artistically and in a some years become a truly great artist with more great music to look back at and smile. =)

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THE INEVITABLE BACKLASH covers The Supremes

Check out this rockin' cover version of The Supremes' Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart performed by THE INEVITABLE BACKLASH, a rock band based on Los Angeles, CA. It's the first track from their latest album titled Boys Got A Future under Hegemony records.


Want to get this for free? Click here.

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CALL ME (BLONDIE COVER)

I'm not really a fan of this Blondie's 1980 classic but a band from Austin, Texas called THE BLUE HIT made an impressive cover interpretation of the song. With that fantastic vocal and great instruments, these guys really nailed it! Keep em' coming!!!



Follow this band on the ff. links:
thebluehit.com
myspace/bluehit

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Rendezvous with TONY LUCCA

If you remember the teen drama series Malibu Shores sometime in the late 1990's then you probably familiar with TONY LUCCA.

Today, he is already a noted singer-songwriter with sixth studio album under his belt. His latest work Rendezvous With The Angels features his most thoughtful, tuneful and mature record yet. This includes an amazingly well done cover of Billy Joel's hit VIENNA. I really like the updated folky version of the song and you can stream it's entirety here:

VIENNA http://vista.streamguys.com/jspiewak/lucca_vienna.wma

Try also to watch Lucca's great performance of Richard Marx's NOW AND FOREVER with former N'sych member JC CHASEZ...


...and his breath taking version of I CANT MAKE YOU LOVE ME. He's not only blessed with a great voice, also plays a killer piano ang guitar!


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LOVE DARLING: CLOSER

Here's a cover version of CLOSER (originally from Kings Of Leon) as performed by an emerging indie-rock, alternative band called LOVE DARLING.

Download the song here: http://akidamusic.com/Love_Darling_Closer.mp3

Composed of three young, talented individuals namely Shay Magro (guitarist/vocals), Mike Wolpe (bass/keyboard) and Christian Jovanny Trujillo (drums), the trio continues to create great music with the released of their new album Sunshine Dust, a follow up of their successful debut EP, Pawnshop Radio On.

With musical influences from Band of Skulls to PJ Harvey, from Smashing Pumpkins to the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, these guyz are definitely the band to watch out for!...For more information about the group, visit their official website here:
http://www.lovedarlingmusic.com/

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SAVE ME A PLACE (Fleetwood Mac cover)

Check out a Fleetwood Mac cover here as performed by Los Angeles CA band, White Arrows.

save me a place
Save Me A Place (Fleetwood Mac Cover)- White Arrows

The band is made up of LA natives, Mickey Schiff and Henry Schiff, JP Caballero, Steven Bernett, Rob Banks and Damon Kellard. They started out more of a youth cult than a band however, their music has grown to be featured in MTV show The City and HBO's How to make it in America.

Their EP Heart and Lungs is set to released this month (US). For more info about this band, click here: www.myspace.com/whitearrows

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Meet THE VILLAINS!

Here's a group that blends rock, country, indie and heavy into their music. Talking about Atlanta-based band The Villains. Last June 29, Rockridge Music re-released their debut album called Just Another Saturday Night which include a great cover from Pure Prairie League 1975 classic hit, AMIE.


Stream the music here:


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PEOPLE WHO DIED...

If you like listening to garage-rock kind of music, check out Cuban born now Brooklyn, NY based rocker ARIEL APARICIO as he covers one of Jim Caroll Band's classic hit, People Who Died.

While Aparicio incorporates the lyrics and layout of the original, he personalizes it by giving it an energetic and catchy twist that will definitely stuck in your head all day.

PEOPLE WHO DIED

The track is included in his new EP, The Bedroom Tapes (2010).

For more information of this artist, visit the ff. links below:

www.arielaparicio.com

www.myspace.com/arielapariciomusic

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8MM: BAD MOON RISING

Los Angeles based 8MM- whom I have never heard until now- reinterpreted one of Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1969 classic hit, Bad Moon Rising.

8MM have been critically acclaimed and named as one of the Top Bands You Need To Know by Alternative Press and a Buzz Band by the LA Times. Some of their songs has also been featured on top tv shows like Greys Anatomy, Kings, One Tree Hill, Cold Case, Moonlight, and the movie soundtrack of Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Try checking the band on the ff. links:

Official Website
MySpace
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I CAN CHANGE by See Green

From LCD Soundsystem's chart topper album This Is Happening (2010), check out Courtenay Green and her band SEE GREEN- as they take a great interpretation of the song called I Can Change.


The song is up for free download here.

If you want to know more of these guys, feel free to visit their links below:

http://www.seegreenmusic.com/

http://www.myspace.com/courtenaygreen

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Art of Chaos: Hide and Seek

ART OF CHAOS is an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. Led by Brian Torres (vocals, guitar), the band's got their strong television exposure when they won in MTV2 Battle of the Bands in 2007.

They continue to get waves in the music scene that even Linkin Park personally asked them to join in their Project Revolution tour. They also performed gigs with more mainstream bands like My Chemical Romance, H.I.M. and Taking Back Sunday.

AOC is known for their live and energetic performances but with their rendition of IMOGEN HEAP'S Hide and Seek, the take was so relaxing and i really like the atmospheric background underlay. It's an awesome cover actually!

You can tream the song below:



MySpace Profile? Click here.

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CRAZY for KEVIN HAMMOND

If you like the bluesy sounds of Jack Johnson or the acoustic vibes of Matt Nathanson, you might also like up and coming singer/songwriter KEVIN HAMMOND.

He has a unique sound of his own and delivers a soulful blend of folk rock with pop sensibility that begs for more spin of his music. I heard that he's currently gearing up his first full length album (under A&M/Octone) due out later this year.

For now, check out Hammond's cover of Gnarls Barkely's Crazy, which is a cut from his self-titled EP in 2009.




You can also visit his MySpace Profile here.

Special thanks also to Rockridgemusic for this track. :D

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King of Blues Music: Duke Robillard

He may not be a household name in my country Phillipines but in the 'Blues music world', American singer songwriter/producer DUKE ROBILLARD is a total talented artist and has been thrilling the music scene for over three decades.
He is generally regarded as a master guitar player- having won numerous awards including Best Blues Guitarist (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004 The Blues Music Awards) and a two times Grammy nominee (2007, 2010) for Best Contemporary Blues (for Guitar Groove-A-rama album) and Best Traditional Blues (for Stomp! The Blues tonight album) respectively.


Robillard stays on the road, playing as many as 250 dates a year. And still proving, night after night, that his true talent is bringing people out to hear the music, appreciate the show and most especially keeping the blues music alive.

Below is a cut from his latest work Tale from the Tiki Louge, a cover song originally performed by Les Paul and Mary Ford.

BYE BYE BLUES (featuring Sunny Crownover)



Try also to watch this modern interpretation of the classic song SWAY.



Special thanks to Danny for sharing the song, photos and the artist infos. You can also visit Duke Robillard official website here.

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LOST CAUSE by Kelley Ryan

The name Kelley Ryan is totally new to me...and when I first heard her rendition of Beck's LOST CAUSE, she really blew me away!!...This is perfect for anybody who likes Brandi Carlisle, Indigo Girls, Mindy Smith or any of the hundreds of other female folkers in between.

For more information about Kelley Ryan, visit her official website here.

Special thanks to Ms. Melissa Berlin of Rockridgemusic for this song. I really appreciate it for sending me this awesome track. :D

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