Olivine

http://weareolivine.tumblr.com/

Oh wow. It's November 16 and it has been a REALLY LONG TIME. Like... a really long time. I am so sorry that I have been MIA. It's just been a pretty hectic semester, what with it being my last one and all and discovering new music wasn't exactly the highest on my to do list, if ya feel me.

But have no fear! Because I'm bringing you guys a good one!

Meet Olivine. Now, they kind of helped me in my band search, because they're the ones who found me on tumblr and followed me. Now, I check out every single person that follows me because I figure if they are, we must have similar interests, right? And to be honest, the second their autoplay started, I almost left because my sound was all the way up and autoplay is never kind to those with their volume on max. Of course, it only took about 4 seconds into the autoplayed song for me to realize leaving the page would be a horrendous idea.

"You just might break a billion hearts tonight." That's the first line listeners hear from singer Jake Mai and lordy, it is a damn good line sung by a damn good voice. And he's backed by a damn good band. So it doesn't shock me at all that they managed to snag the attention of John Feldmann, who has worked with just about every band I have ever loved. (No seriously. All Time Low, The Used, The Cab, Foxy Shazam, Neon Trees, Blitz Kids, Good Charlotte, Story of the Year. The list seriously goes on and on.) Feldmann then invited the band out to his studio and well, have you listened to the four songs on their website? He did a damn good job of producing them, that's all I have to say.

This Dallas based band-- TEXAS REPRESENT!-- has some talent, and if you enjoy bands like SafetySuit and Go Radio, chances are you are going to fall head over heels in love with Olivine. Actually, you're probably going to love them anyway, just because they remind me so much of the music that I obsessed over in the early high school years. (We're talkin' Yellowcard and Dashboard Confessional, and who didn't love Yellowcard and Dashboard Confessional?)

Olivine is definitely a band to keep your eye on. Mark my words. If we're going to see the alternative scene of the mid-2000s come back, it's gonna be spearheaded by this group. And I can only hope that people get on that, because I would LOVE to hear these boys on the radio.

Go Download: I'm gonna be that person and say to download the title track from their debut album 'Drift' (which you can pick up now on iTunes) just because it is a REALLY good song. BUT, you should also check out "Without You," because the strings are phenomenal. In fact, just listen to all four songs they have up on their tumblr page.

Moonlight Social Revisited

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Moonlight-Social/179450492094951


So, my most ardent and loyal readers, the name Moonlight Social isn't new to you. If it is, you obviously have missed out on their original post, my feature on them and the fact that they made my Top 10 List of Discoveries for this past year. And if you're new, well, you should probably familiarize yourself with them now while you have that opportunity so readily available to you.


Now, you're probably wondering to yourself, why have they made yet another resurgence on your blog, Vicci? Well, dear reader, I'll tell you. You see, my buddies known as Moonlight Social have been mighty busy since I last wrote about them. They raised over $16,500 through their kickstarter (the original goal being set at $15,00) and they recorded their debut album--out July 21-- with Matt Noveskey of Blue October. They've been playing shows. They've been keeping fans in the loop with track-by-track videos. They just released a cover of Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men, AND, as of today, they've released their first music video. On top of all that awesome sauce (am I allowed to say awesome sauce, or does that deduct credibility points?) they've been receiving pretty good reviews from people who matter a helluva lot more than I do. You know, people like Gene Foley of Foley Entertainment who said, "Moonlight Social is the real deal. The writing, musicianship and vocals are all outstanding. These songs are as strong as anything on the radio. This is clearly an artist worth your time and attention," so now you guys can see that I'm not just saying they're great because I know them. 


It probably would have been easier to list the things they haven't been up to, but hey, the more you know.


Now, on to this music video, shall we?


The song is "Heading South," which, if you pledged $5 to them, you received for download. Honestly, it's a catchy song, and the musicality of it is superb. (It kind of makes my heart warm and fuzzy inside knowing that I know such talented people.) And what I love most about this video is that it is quite literally the video personification of what I believe embodies the band. Note, I could be way off on this one, but that's okay cuz it's my opinion. We get to see a bit of the writing process, we get to see them travel, and most importantly, you get the complete and utter sense of Texas. (There's also a pretty boss fire, but I may be a slight pyromaniac). Maybe I'm a little bit cheesy, but there is nothing I love more than the fact that when you listen this band's music, you can hear Texas. It places you in the middle of a warm day when the sun is shining as you lay in a field surrounded by bluebonnets. Sure, it's a romanticized picture of Texas, but it's Texas nonetheless, and they depict that marvelously in the video. It kind of makes me want to go outside and yell "Texas Forever!" (Friday Night Lights reference, anyone?)


Now, don't get me wrong, that in no way means they aren't accessible to everyone else. I mean, good music is for everybody really, it's just a matter of getting everybody to realize it's okay to find it good. I still stand by what I've said in the past. Moonlight Social is gonna go places. So if I were you, I'd start falling in love with them now so you can say you've been there since the first video, you know, cuz sometimes it's just cool to say you've been there from the beginning.


Go Download: PICK UP THEIR DEBUT ALBUM 'HEADING SOUTH' JULY 21!!!!


Also, after rambling for long enough, here's that video :)

Summit Grove

http://www.facebook.com/summitgroveband

Before I start this post, I just want to let you guys know that I went to an awesome concert last night, and now have a handful of bands to promote. But I'm going to start with a band that DIDN'T perform last night.

How does that work you ask? Well, I bought my little sister an Allstar Weekend shirt because she loves them just as much as I do, but lives in Alabama, thus couldn't come with me. In buying that shirt, their super nice merch guy handed me this flyer type dealy for his band.



Well, because he was so nice, I HAD to give him a chance, right? And I'm glad I did. In fact, I wish this band had been on the ticket as well because they would have fit in wonderfully amongst the others. I really like Jason Carter's voice (he was the merch guy, guitarist Vincent Rennie adds beautiful guitar to those vocals and Dominic Rennie has the percussion down on lock. For real, the longer I sit here at my computer listening to their release "What We're Fighting For," the more I wish I had gotten to seen them live.

That's ok though. I guess this just means that they will have to come to Austin sometime :)

They kind of remind me of Cartel with a hint of Allstar Weekend. Allstar Cartel. (Hah, was that funny? No? Womp.) And I will certainly be adding them to my iPod. I highly suggest you do the same and keep watch for them.

Their sound is definitely something I can imagine getting big. You go, Summit Grove! (And really. You should come to Austin. Just sayin.)

Go Download: Their whole EP on iTunes! It is DEFINITELY worth the $4.95. (But if you're wondering which song is my fave, then check out "Waiting On One Knee")