The Nines Music

In February 1999, three longtime friends from West Texas went to a pizza place in Austin, Texas, for a prearranged meeting with a young man from Illinois. The Illinoisan had just moved to Austin, and he had put up a flyer that caught the interest of the others. They ate pizza and discussed movies and arcana. They also decided to meet the next day with their various instruments (two guitars, bass, and drums). A friend of theirs sent a recording of one of their live shows to a record label in Baltimore, and that label offered to put out albums for the band. The band agreed. A year later they put out a second album (Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever). They began to tour often, all over the world. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled instrumentals, what they refer to as “cathartic mini-symphonies,” and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows.

While Philadelphia’s Dr. Dog released their first recording in 2001, it wasn’t until 2004 when My Morning Jacket invited them on two tours that the band was catapulted into the national spotlight. Touring heavily to support their growing catalogue lead to apperances on David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon and more.Dr. Dog’s renewed commitment to cultivating a stripped-down live sound on the latest release “Be The Void”. “This record comes from our pushing toward a rawer, more powerful, somewhat jittery competence,” explains guitarist-vocalist Scott McMicken. “We drew a lot of inspiration from soul music and the Rolling Stones and the Velvet Underground—music that’s got its roots in live expression rather than that studio-perfected sort of vibe.” “Be The Void” showcases the critically adored band’s same style of scrappy yet hook-packed rock served up by Dr. Dog for more than a decade.

When it came time to record Delta Spirit’s third album, the band members knew one thing: It was time to shake off the stylistic labels that have shadowed them since they formed in San Diego, CA, in 2005. Though lyricists Matt Vasquez and Kelly Winrich were grateful for the warm reviews that their previous albums Ode To Sunshine (2008) and History From Below (2010) received, they were perplexed at being called “rootsy Americana” or “twangy folk.” In their eyes, Delta Spirit has always been a thoroughly modern rock band, and, with their self-titled new album, they set out to prove it.

Walk Off The Earth is an unconventional, multi-talented five-piece musical phenomena based in Burlington, Ontario (just outside of Toronto), their brilliant 5-people-playing-one-guitar interpretation of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” recently exploded on Youtube garnering well over 35 million views in under 2 weeks. The massive fan response quickly drew attention to their collection of innovative songs and videos spanning their last 5 years and generated an unprecedented flood of media interest. New fans from around the world immediately fell in love with the band’s organic, independent, sincere and honest original songwriting, cover interpretations and beautifully filmed videos. For the past 5 years, the band has built a massive following of dedicated fans from around the world through their unique and heartwarming approach to songwriting, filming and constant, open interaction with everyone their music touches.

Irony is a part of life. Though the music business may at times have nothing to do with “real” life, irony is a part of the biz. Just ask singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Shuggie Otis. Shuggie Otis, for those not familiar with him through David Byrne’s heroic disinterment of his 1974 album, Inspiration Information or through his authorship of the wonderful Strawberry Letter 23 - is the son of legendary R ‘n’ B bandleader Johnny Otis. A musical prodigy he was playing with his father by the time he was 13 and from the word go displayed an uncanny mastery of the blues guitar.

Kid Koala is a world-renowned scratch DJ who has made a name for himself both with his music and visual art. He has released four solo albums on Ninja Tune: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (2001), Some of My Best Friends Are DJs (2003), Your Mom’s Favorite DJ (2006) and 12 bit Blues (2012) as well as 2 graphic novels: Nufonia Must Fall (2003) and award-winning Space Cadet (2011). He has also been involved in collaborations such as Gorillaz, Deltron 3030, The Slew and toured with the likes of Radiohead, the Beastie Boys, Money Mark, John Medeski, A Tribe Called Quest, Mike Patton, Jack Johnson, DJ Shadow, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

After nearly a decade as Matt Pond PA, this year the singer-songwriter Matt Pond has removed the “PA” from his name, to coincide with the release of his first solo album. That record, The Lives Inside The Lines In Your Hand, is a collection of melodic, catchy gems that wouldn’t sound out of place on a John Hughes movie soundtrack. Even if Pond’s name doesn’t ring a bell, you’ve probably heard his work on the small and big screens, possibly in a Starbucks holiday commercial, in the film Lebanon, PA (for which he wrote the score), or on the television program The OC.

i grew up outside of chicago,
starting writing songs in san francisco,
and now live in brooklyn

my music is a version of indie hip hop
mixed with electronics
mixed with me headbanging

but i’m still figuring it out

Boston-based phenomenon Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys are dada darlings of the steampunk world, sharing music for anyone who has ever been broken. While The Toys are on stage one feels psychically kidnapped to their ‘Portable Carnival’. The WIREFOREST boasts 7 musicians (guitars, upright bass, drums, viola, mandolin, broken toys, melodica, accordion, ukulele, flute…) and rolls with a surreal troupe of any number of midway and burlesque performers. The Army of Broken Toys offers a unique rock club run-away to the circus experience and has been featured nationally on NPR’s Here and Now, All Songs Considered and MuchMusic. Walter Sickert was named Best Artist 2011 and 2012 in the Boston Phoenix Reader’s Poll and his visual art was part of the Art is Evil touring stage/music/art show.

Serving in the US Navy as a real-life air traffic controller, singer/songwriter Dave Munro sent home 4-track demos he had written and recorded during his deployment. With his enlistment up, Munro returned to hometown Boston and discovered an impressive number of fans, prompting the genesis of the aptly-named rock band Air Traffic Controller.
With a refreshing, modern day, indie rock sound resembling The Decemberists, ATC further infuses its compositions with unforgettable pop sensibilities in the vein of Petty, McCartney, and Springsteen. Munro keeps it honest, with autobiographical lyrics and well-crafted storytelling reminiscent of classic singer/songwriters such as Paul Simon and Cat Stevens. Air Traffic Contoller won Album of the Year for their album Nordo at the 2013 New England Music Awards. WERS radio calls Air Traffic Controller “One of Boston’s finest independent bands” and during the height of The One’s radio campaign the band’s debut became one of the top three most-added albums on college radio stations nationwide.