Promote your unknown bands

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In most areas in this world you have some great talents who however have not made it... yet. Playing for crowds of 20 - 100 people in local pubs, maybe even somewhat known in the local area but totally unknown outside of their own area. But talented nonetheless and deserving a step up.

Anyone has some bands he would like to give their moment of fame?



Here's a few I like...

The Fools is a UK based band formed by two guys from Belfast, Northern Ireland. The guitarist was a friend of mine when I lived in N.Ireland myself. The band could be described as acoustic-folk-rock-singer-songwriter hotchpotch. They are currently no longer active due to the drummer leaving, but the others formed a new band (follow the link in their blog) very shortly ago.

The mighty Messiah Syndrome were a metal/industrial band from Derry, Northern Ireland. The guitarist and lyricist was a guy I used to often meet in the goth bar in Belfast. The main strength of the band lies in the combination of the IMO quality lyrics and the impressive vocals by frontman Sean (who sounds even more raw and powerful on stage than on record). The band unfortunately broke up, I was lucky to witness one of their final concerts even though I had to spend the night on the streets of Derry afterwards

Solemn Novena are a gothic rock band from Belfast and the last one I'll name where I know the band members personally. Mainly the guitarist and vocalist, Mark, was a pal of mine with whom I often had chats in the goth bar. The band is currently doing very well with many gigs in Ireland and a well-received demo, also their first couple of gigs abroad went well and they hope to get a record deal in the near future. Things don't look bad at all.

The Black Tokens are an indie/retro rock band from Belfast. They unfortunately replaced their former vocalist whose style I liked a lot, and unfortunately their songs with him are no longer on their site. The new material still sounds promising though.

The Musical Box are a Quebecois (sp?) cover band that was 'stuck' in 1973...but supposedly have gone on to 'the Lamb Lies down on Broadway'...they have a web site. Saw 'em about 10 years ago, but for those of us who missed Genesis the first time around...

Three unknown bands in real life that is.

One. U.K. Progressive Rock/ Fusion? Band that formed in 1977 - two great albums and a live album but they disbanded in 1980. Members 1977 lineup:

John Wetton - Vocals and Bass player (Roxy Music, King Crimson, Asia)
Bill Bruford - Drums (Earthworks, King Crimson)
Eddie Jobson - Keyboards (Roxy Music, then did film composing for a little while)
Alan Holdworth - Guitar (solo afterwards and many projects)

Need I say more?


Two. Gentle Giant - Okay prog rock fans, if you don't know who they are or never heard of them, the prog rocker from the 70s would say, "that person should be shot". They are a virtually unknown progressive rock band that made about 7 really good albums (I think). It is true that the vocals are high pitched and a little weak, but what incredible things this band did!! ! Not commercial at all, not radio ready, but completely adventurous music that challenges the brain and emotion. Imagine Yes with weaker vocals and more mid-evil sounding (eh...modes and singing styles) and a little less complexity, and you have Gentle Giant. Btw, each member of the band individually can play about 5 or 6 instruments. I recommend "Octopus" (1972) for a good introductory album.

Five (no, three sir) ah yes, three: Blotted Science - This is just about the most complex technical prog metal band that I have heard of since Dream Theater...in some ways, this 3 piece outfit blows Dream Theater out of the water but not in every way (yet, I hope they will soon). This band is very intense, heavier, much more adventurous, and much more technical. Perfect music to keep the 80 year olds in the next door nursing home complaining from the noise!! (just kidding). A lot of fast notes, scariness, and just complete insanity. I realllllllly recommend a listen!

You can look up these bands in Youtube, or get the albums. I seriously hope you enjoy.

Rook and the Ravens are an English band from Glossop who play really cool Indie rock

OK, here's a few local Rhode Island bands that are pretty cool.
Your Mom and the Kerplunx - They were a ska band a few of my friends, and our high school music teacher's daughter formed back in '02. They split up two years later, but did some reunion shows about a year ago. For some reason, there's a gigantic ska scene here in Newport. I don't know why.

Triangle Forest - these guys are a synthpop trio from Providence. They won the WBRU Rock Hunt (which is a REALLY big deal in Rhode Island because WBRU is our only alternative rock station) and have played local shows opening up for bands like The Bravery, Shiny Toy Guns and Silversun Pickups.

ZOX - This is WHY WBRU Rock Hunt has become a big deal. These guys won, and got signed to the indie label SideOneDummy, have gotten play on MTV2 and Fuse, got an album into the Billboard 200, etc. etc. They have three records out (the first two were reissued on SideOneDummy and this years A Line in the Sand was their first record solely for the label). They're kind of a reggae/alternative band with a violin as the lead instrument.

Dhp, those bands sound really interesting. I'm looking into them Listening to Blotted Science's myspace, I'm already tempted to buy the album... After I raise the funds for Opeth's Watershed (coming out in 2 days!) and Cynic's Focus.
Have you heard of Cynic? Death/prog/fusion (I hate putting bands in categories!), recorded only one album in 1993, the two core members have since gone on and done other projects together in different styles. They've had a reunion though and are supposedly recording a new album this year.
I'm into a lot of bands local to me in New Zealand. There aren't any particularly successful prog bands in NZ but I'm into a lot of different styles anyway. Favourites of mine are Jakob (quite successful now, "post-rock"/massive great textureful awesomeness), So So Modern (also successful overseas, crazy 3xsynths/3xguitars/drums).
I'm into some of the people on Archaic Horizon especially Sora Shima (another NZ band).
Yeah, I don't really know that many others.

Blotted Science are good though i sorta prefer Behold... The Arctopus, have you heard Dawn Of Azazel? there the only band i can think of from NZ, i guess i should look up some of yours

sorry im not really going with the OP, i could, but i doubt you guys would want descriptions of about 30, mostly Australian, mostly metal bands id end up spending the night compiling

three metal bands i cannot promote enough:
Alchemist, psychedelic metal, the only one of the three i would recommend to people who aren't big metalheads
Demilich, old Finnish death metal [also their website has their albums for free]
Destroyer 666, death/black/thrash, really exiting stuff im hoping i see them live one day, id probably go off worse than i did when i saw f**k ... im dead

and i got Brute Chant, Killer Each of You awhile ago thats rather good

Kammarheit, my favorite ambient artist, though admittedly its not coming from a huge pool
Teenage Head [espeshaly the first album], new wave? i dunno some kind of punk, apparently my dad was a big fan back when he was my age but they are still rocking around Canada
The Orphans [the australian one], Post punk or something, they seem to be slowly getting somewhere though im still waiting for an album

Never heard of Dawn of Azazel.I'm kinda surprised that I didn't know them, but IMHO NZ really doesn't have any great metal bands, only the type that just use one-note riffs and slow drumming.. not my thing. I'll give them a listen... after I finish listening to the new Opeth album (It's amazing amazing!)
Alchemist definitely sounds interesting.

The following 3 (plus other post) are my own projects:

The Syndicate - Alternative Metal with punk lyrics. Done recording my 1st EP, Just gotta sing over with my wrote out lyrics.

M0AN3R - Drum N Bass, first demo of M0AN3R available to listen to.

The Session - Techno with IDM traits, nothing yet, but EPs are coming.

the like for The Syndicate doesn't work, and it appears there are allot of bands with that name on myspace

Änglagård - A fairly unknown swedish prog rock band. Most of their songs are instrumental and quite experimental but they're surprisingly good. There's two legally free songs on the page I linked to.

Perhaps Arcturus? I'm not sure how well known they are... Avant-garde metal. Their third album, The Sham Mirrors, is one of my favorites. The second one is pretty good, too, except the vocals can get really annoying.

Hey I have an original vinyl of Teenage Head's first album, I went to one of their shows in Edmonton back in 1980.
Right now I am into the group Estradasphere, and the Secret Chiefs.

Phideaux - Prog 70's style , my favourite album is Doomsday Afternoon.

Black Bonzo - Prog, they have 2 albums with good songs on both.