Let it come down…the ancient barrier between grass eaters and meat eaters. The old dichotomy of carnivore and herbivore has dissolved in primal hunger to spawn creatures who eat flesh or grass at will. Lions graze on the veldt. A herd of carnivorous, man-eating wildebeests stalks the villages, creatures who are warm-blooded or cold-blooded according to altered surroundings. At the end of the human line, everything is permitted. William S. Burroughs. The Western Lands


“...the group’s sound is both cleverly tuneful and agressively angular, striking a strange and delicate balance. It’s the kind of music that seems too disjointed to stand on it’s own for long, but AgroLola never seems to lose footing. The songs are tight and concise works, playing out on an ever-shifting landscape that seems like it could dead end at any moment, and yet they also somehow manage to hummable.... Jason Bugg - Freelance - Mountain X.

For a certain kind of listener only a certain kind of rock will do. It must be rough, turbulent and filled with the kind of desperate passion that can’t be captured by a tune you could hum in the shower. AgroLola’s self-titled debut doesn’t include any songs you could whistle on a quiet walk on a sunny spring day, but it does contain a fair number of songs that would be the ideal soundtrack for trashing your apartment...the album is 10 tracks of guitar-fueled vitriol...Steve Shanafelt-A&E editor - Mountain X.

MySpace Page

The Baker Family Band is an 'Indie Rock' and 'Alt. Country' band from Asheville which features musicians Stuart and Elizabeth Baker, Nathan Ribner, David Barrett, and Daniel Resner. Mr. and Mrs. Baker released their debut album, "Transaction" (available on itunes and the band's MySpace), in early 2007. After "Transaction" hit the streets, The Baker Family Band (formerly known as The Bakers) played a few shows in the Asheville and Winston Salem areas. But the two were not alone for long...Mr. and Mrs. Baker spawned three of their very own "children": Nathan, David, and Danny. With a complete family on board, The Bakers became "The Baker Family Band," and began playing shows around the Southeast as a full band.

MySpace

From the steaming shitpile heights of some deep dank holler of Western North Carolina,
where the random artist may find himself crimsoned and face down in a ditch. 
Plummeting from high upon yon obelisks to and for those-about-to-rock.
Living by the simple guidelines set in motion by their ancient Chinese master:
"Pillage and Rape, Ragin' like an Ape, Ragin' like an Animal........... You say you wanna rock..?
By Thor's Hammer... you shall." 

MySpace Page
ReverbNation Page

"The vocal harmonies and guitar hooks alone make Bugs Multiply worth checking out ... With a definite flare for the indie-rock sound, this band has the potential to garner some much-deserved adoration.
Mary Beth Hascall
Playbackstl.com
"Rather than play noisy alternative rock, these guys present surprisingly radio-friendly hard pop that is immediately catchy and uplifting. Mr. Cox (the band's songwriter) comes up with songs that borrow from 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s pop...reinventing them with unusual chord structures and modern recording techniques. (Rating: 4++++)"
babysue.com
"Their songs are driving with fiery moments rarely held in check for long. Lavishing in harmony in the vocal and guitar departments, Bugs Multiply have no issue at all with taking the helm of alternative pops next radio-friendly champion."
SMOTHER MAGAZINE
Smother.net

MySpace Page

In an attempt to separate themselves from the teeming mass of indistinguishable rock bands, Asheville, NC’s By Morning has developed a persona that not only allows them to remain “rock”, but also appeal to a wider variety of listeners. But By Morning is much more than rock. Thick, clear guitar runs and hook harmonies are backed up by a rhythm section that does more than just act as a backbone - it sends the music over the edge. What results is active and moving music that appeals to the high-energy heads and those that appreciate something they can sing along to. 

By Morning has teethed on stages across the southeast and honed a craft for their energetic, crowd participating live show. Sharing the stage with a wide range of music genres: Sanctity (Roadrunner Records), Look What I Did (Combat), The Summer Obsession (Virgin), The Bangkok 5 (Universal Records), and many more local and regional bands, been featured on several radio stations, including on air performances at WXRY Unsigned (Columbia, SC) and 105.9 The Mountain (Asheville, NC). By Morning has performed at The 2006 Atlantis Music Festival in Atlanta, GA, and 2007 Bele Chere Festival in Asheville, NC. 

In February, MxyerTones.com selected By Morning as Artist Pick of the Day for February 22nd. A total of 5,819 downloads of their single "Run" was downloaded. This made By Morning the second largest download in MyxerTone's history.

In April of 08, By Morning rose to #3 out of 1,607, on Ourstage.com in their Rock  Channel. Then again in July with a placement of #7 out of 1,236, in Alternative Rock.

The future is bright for this rock quintet. With the online release of The Migration EP (2008), that followed their successful 2006 release Illustrations, By Morning plans on building stronger fanbases and bringing new listeners a fresh approch to the genre of Rock.
 

MySpace Page

MySpace

Joy and David walked into the nightclub with a strange feeling. The air itself was alive with energy, the crowd abuzz with anticipation. They ran into June and Duffy, who explained to them that four amazing and young men were about to take the stage. They went by a relatively unassuming name: Hey Neighbor! Friendly enough, but as the lights went down and the bearded one introduced the first guitar chord, a strum that could sear a sirloin on both sides, all preconceptions went out the window; this was something not to watch, but to behold. Joy glanced at Paul and Molly, several couples to the right, who simultaneously made their hands into "guns" and pointed them at their temples. "Yes," Joy thought to herself, "These catchy melodies DO stick in your head like a bullet!" David giggled. Even Jean and Jim, as well as Jim and Christie, were impressed. Hey Neighbor plowed through thirty-six songs, all in a row, before gallantly exiting a privileged stage and a captivated crowd. Every knee tremored with unparalleled pleasure. And every hand met another for a solid fifteen minutes until the youths returned to grant the assembly another half-hour of redemption through sound. Later, as Joy and David retired to their chambers, the former related, "Hey Neighbor, I'm leaving you. It's hard to be honest, but sometimes you just have to give it all to the band."

MySpace Page

The HiTMeN have made a name for themselves playing clandestine CIA functions in the 80's during the Reagan years. Known as the original "Freedom Jam Band", Tommy Gunz and Johnny Slapya are legends among government operatives worldwide. And as Dick Cheney's favorite band and as some of the only folks who've ever succeeded at making him dance, The HiTMeN are indeed quite special. When not focused on being washed up ROCK STARS, The HiTMeN still find time to throw together haphazard assassination attempts...specializing in targeting honorable but vulnerable third-world leaders who unsmartly refuse to sell out their country's resources to our corporations. This my friends is a problem. At the end of the day The HiTMeN can still make a jackal dance and a company money...all in the name of FREEDOM. Limited time offer, only while supplies last.

MySpace Page

Miles: drums, keyboard, background vocals
Paul: lead guitar, piano, organ, bass, background vocals
Chad: guitar, vocals, bass, organ
Christian: bass

MySpace Page

Influenced by modern alternative rock, punk, classic blues, and the experiences that drive people to express them selves with whatever means necessary, Lake Effekt is comfortable in a full spectrum of sounds.

MySpace

Lamb Handler (The Shepherds of Rock) As long as I can remember rock and roll has always been there for me. At the end of a long day’s work, playing in the background of a party or the centerpiece of a stripper’s routine, Rock is KING. Lamb Handler want to be part of that history, to be part of the soundtrack to your life. Lamb Handler has been a band for a little over a year now and is about to release their debut album entitled “The Shepherds of Rock”. The album is full of high energy Rock that is fuel for the party or a shot of adrenaline for that long drive. No matter what the occasion, this music will no doubt fuel the fire within. Sonically Shepherds of Rock is heavier than Chuck Berry and sonically it’s lighter than Slayer. But that’s all pedals and equipment. With musical Chihuahua ears like ours, we hear heavy and mellow as the attitude of how a song is played, with what’s said, and how it’s said. And of course, there are few more attitudes than two. ‘S.O.R.’ hits on stalking, strutting, savoring, seducing, searching, saluting, shaking, and a favorite…scarfing! It’s an album that has the power of a Vette and the agility of an electric eel. Plus the taste of sweat & cream. But for those of you who want to know what we sound like, without having to push the play button, you might find pieces of: Electric Six, AC/DC, Jack White, Faith-No-More, Joe Buck, Kiss, Queens Of The Stone Age, P.J.Harvey, Hank I-II-III, Johnny Cash, along with many other prophets of groove. Live, Lamb Handler will take you through the journey of Rock, old school country and soul. You will dance your ass off and drink more than when you found out your girlfriend missed her period. All of our favorite artists have written songs that will last until the sun burns out. And like them, Lamb Handler has a love and pride for writing songs that move and stick like Ali’s Bees & Butterflies. We want to meet the kid in South Dakota who’ll be jamming on us, in a pair of ancient headphones, at 4AM; 20 years from now …that’s what we are all about.

MySpace Page

featuring current/ex members of:

The Bite
Black Eyed Dog
Drugmoney
The Hellsayers
Hey Neighbor
Highs In the Low 30s
The If You Wannas
Jeffrey Dean Foster & The Birds of Prey
The Low Numbers
The Makeout Room
Manband
My-55
The Nein
On the Take
Piedmont Charisma
The Rich and Famous
The Sexpatriates
Sugar and the Plums
The Victuals

MySpace Page

Woody Brown – vocals, guitar
Tyler Bence – guitar, vocals
Chris Martin – bass, vocals
Thomas Carter – drums



The Beat Goes On, the sophomore album from Atlanta’s The Modern Society, is a succinct 35 minutes of foot-stomping, hand-clapping rock n’ roll. Written in the band’s practice space – a whitewashed barn surrounded by cattle, nestled in a valley between the Georgia hills north of Atlanta – the album pulses with working class fervor and impeccable style, all anchored by frontman Brown’s winsome sand-papered howl.  The Beat Goes On is both immediately engaging (just try to sit still and not sing along) and rewarding upon listen after listen.

Formed three years ago by Brown and Bence over shared musical passions and whiskey, The Modern Society came together like a big bang of the right place and the right time. The two had first met while playing in different area bands and when they joined up, they immediately began finishing each other’s songs.  Bence knew Martin and Carter since high school, where they’d all met through their various bands, and he brought them to play one night.  Ask Brown how it all came together and he can’t really explain…they simply met and practiced together only once to discover it felt like they’d known each other their entire lives…it was just magic.  After demo-ing five songs and sharing them online to a good response, the band booked their first show with no expectations only to have close to 400 kids show up to hear them.  By their third show The Modern Society was nominated for a few Atlanta Music Guide awards and shortly thereafter entered the studio to record their debut.

The making of 2005’s Friend and Enemies, recorded in Atlanta with local producer Danny Howes, proved to be a frenzied process for the young band.  Taking out a loan and cribbing together studio time in between their day jobs, the band members tracked their different parts individually, rarely with another band member in the room.  Regardless, The Modern Society soldiered on to craft a winning first album that, by self-releasing on iTunes, earned them enough money to buy a van and hit the road.

After touring the Midwest and Southeast for the better part of a year – including a stop at Milwaukee’s Summerfest – the band played a month-long residency in Chicago before heading home to Atlanta to write new songs.  Somewhere in between writing, more touring, road trips across the U.S. and some time spent in Europe, the band uploaded the video for a new song, “Black Daisies,” to the Music Nation site.  Catching the eye of Original Signal Recordings, Music Nation’s sister company and label, the band was chosen as the winner of Music Nation’s online rock competition.  The Modern Society signed to OSR and headed to Los Angeles to record their second album.

With producer Stacy Jones (American Hi-Fi singer/guitarist; producer of Towers Of London, Low vs Diamond, Plain White T’s) manning the controls, The Beat Goes On was recorded in a whirlwind three weeks consisting of a hotel with a tree growing through its lobby (the Bevonshire), Hite beer, Willie Chambers at The Kibitz Room, and The DeathStar (the studio, not the spaceship).  The resultant ten songs depict rebellious young love, the need for escape, and the weary loneliness that can come with youth – all sprinkled with a distinctive Southern grit.  From the anthemic chorus of “Matinee,” to the sexy, bluesy stomp of “Paper Moon” or the wistful “History,” The Beat Goes On is a retro-inspired modern classic.  By the time album closer “Mona Lisa” begins, with its wall-of-sound guitars and rallying cry, don’t be surprised to find yourself ready to hit repeat and listen to The Modern Society all over again.
For more information about The Modern Society, please contact Amanda Pitts at Original Signal Recordings, tel: 212.625.3590 x319, faxer: 212.625.3594, emailer: amanda@originalsignalrecordings.com.

MySpace Page

No Honor Lost was formed in January 2006 by Landon Ramsey and Justin Lewis after the split of their old band, Under Crimson Skies. Both heavily influenced by old school punk and hardcore, they decided to start a band that reflected the sounds, ideals and community that were associated with the early styles of these types of music. Daniel Rodriguez was brought in on bass and original UCS drummer Josh Hollifield came in on drums. This lineup recorded a 4 song demo and began to gather a small but loyal local following. 
After about 8 months or so Daniel stepped down and Thomas Burnett, formerly of Spill the Blood, took over on bass. With a new bass player, the group went into the studio in the summer of 07 and recorded a full-length, entitled New World Horror. During this time the group started to branch out into the regional punk scene and made their prescence known. 
In early 2008, after 5 years of playing with Josh and Landon, Justin stepped down from the vocalist position. Tryouts began immediately and the band received many great responses. The decision was a hard one but NHL finally decided to try a dual-vocal approach and Tyler and Andrew, formerly of the Avoiders, were given the vocal slot. 
NHL's sound has been described as "old-school hardcore punk in the vein of Poison Idea, which means hardcore before it became thrash" (Chris Peigler, www.stillnotdead.com...go there NOW), and the band has also had their sound associated with acts such as old Agnostic Front, Hoods, Pennywise and H20. While the group appreciates comparison and gives respect to the bands that came before, they hope to carve out their own path and get their message across. 
NHL is what you would consider a DIY band. The group respects the hell out of what Ian McKaye and Minor Threat did for the landscape of music in this area, but are far from straight edge. Songs such as Soda Popinski reflect the band's love of hanging with friends and drinking beer. Other songs, such as New World Horror, address the growing power and corruption of the US government and the complacency of their beloved working class. 


MySpace

MySpace Page

Since forming in 2005, Opus Grey has been producing and performing their music under their own label: Drone Recordings. Opus Grey's approach to original songwriting is to start with a basic musical idea, teach it to the other members, expand on it and then finish it. It sounds overly simple; however, the band is lucky enough to have members that can read into what the others are feeling about how the sound should be. Through the collective experience of the members, very unusual passages and changes can be executed that younger bands wouldn't dare attempt. Rock is the dominant sound of the music. Add a sprinkle of Pop, Blues, Rap, Jazz, Metal, Ambient, Screamo and a scoop of Jam: now you have an Opus Grey set.
 
Playing locally for the past three years, OG has shared stages with Lamb Handler, The Goodies, Jucifer, MindShapeFist, The Archrivals, Life on the Blue Dot, Dissent, Dead Girl, Blitch and many others in some of the best live-music venues in Asheville.
 
The band came together in a natural sort of way. In the mid-to-late ninety's when Clubs like 31 Patton, The Alternative Pub, Be Here Now and 45 Cherry reigned, Duncan (guitarist for Milkface) was introduced to Jason Butler (Porcelynn). In turn, Jason introduced Duncan to Dennis (Mobius Knot). After a couple of years of just knowing each other and hanging out, they attempted to create a rock outfit called F No.8. Excessive partying, however, led to the would-be band's early demise.
 
A few years later Duncan ran into Dennis at a mutual friend's birthday party. Both were pleasantly surprised to see each other there. After many drinks, Dennis says to Duncan, "Ya know… Jason, JG, and I get together to jam on stuff every Wednesday. I show up and play my hardest, even if I don't feel like it. It is therapeutic." At that time, Duncan was already spinning his wheels. He knew that this was the perfect opportunity to get in on the ground level with other players cut from the same cloth. That is how it began. The recent addition of Danielle’s vocals brings even more to Opus Grey’s future.
 

MySpace

A random guy once labeled tHE POLES as “tectonic-rock.” Hell knows exactly what that means but the imagery is nice and it seems to fit. One thing is for certain; tHE POLES play subtly intricate rock that is that is moody, visceral, and heady in a slow-burn kinda way. As the name implies tHE POLES exude a multi-faceted aesthetic. They are simultaneously complex and minimalist, intricate and straightforward. With a new bassist and a ton of new material the band will head into the studio this winter to record their first full length. The band plans to tour the Midwest this spring and then embark on several southeast circuits through the summer and fall.------------------------------ The Poles hail from the hollers and hills Asheville NC. They emerged on the Asheville rock scene (no…really) in 2004 and quickly galvanized a steady regional following with a focused and defined sound. Elements of multiple genres merge and detach, a volatile crock-pot of emotion, invention, and restraint. Compared to bands as diverse as Pink Floyd and the Jesus Lizard they are a band of both breath and depth, a rarity is this day of pre-packaged rock clichés. Signed to Minneapolis based label DoublePlusGood records in 2005 the band joined an already diverse roster including Self-Evident, Happy, The Means and The Willis. The Poles released their DoublePlusGood Records debut EP “As Above, So Below” on 4.11.06. The Poles have toured extensively in the Southeast, Midwest and all points in between. They have raked in favorable press and have been featured on podcasts from Brooklyn to Barcelona. The boys are currently breaking in their new bass player Matt Gentling who replaced founding member Eli Wengerd in mid-2007.----------------------------------------------------------------- Todd Lemiesz (guitarist/lead vox/songwriter) is the former drummer/bass player of H. Chinaski, a Wisconsin based art/math rock outfit. Once in Asheville Lemiesz spent the next four years writing and recording for local films (Ether, The Nudger) and performing with local heavyweights Lube Royale and Sex Patriates. Bruce Rogers (guitar/synth/vox) supplies the texture and tension. Todd and Bruce met while auditioning for another band and they basically ran off together. They went through a few incarnations, and they went through a lot of drummers. Drummer Jon McDuffie cut his teeth with the Athens, GA experimental/post-hardcore trio SciFu. He enjoys matching socks and awkward silences. Recent addition Matt Gentling (Band of Horses, Archers of Loaf, Manband) has allowed tHE POLES to expand their dynamics and sound to new heights. Get ready for the post-rock fiasco. Dig it.

Band Homepage
MySpace Page

Robots began when Brien Worsham (Secret Lives! of the Freemasons) and Javi Bolea (Boy In Sleep, Kings of Prussia) met and decided to make some fresh new music.  Within one month the majority of songwriting for their debut  'WIN' EP was complete and the songs were recorded within the next month.
Here is the story of Win: Robot is made. Sent to house to work. Falls in love with the woman. Rejection. Murder. World domination. New songs for record #2 are already in the works along with a mix-tape release. RBTS are available for house parties and cool shows. myspace.com/robotswin

MySpace Page

Mixing influences from 60's British pop (The Beatles, The Kinks) and modern rock (Weezer, The All-American Rejects), The Stellas' sound features strong melodies and catchy hooks that appeal to everyone from casual listeners to the most jaded music fans.

The Stellas debut CD, "Cry Baby Cry", was released Summer 2008, produced by Joe Kuhlmann (Transmission Fields, The Houston Brothers, The Near Misses). In March 2008, they were a featured artist on the Charlotte morning show, Fox News Rising, making an appearance complete with a live performance and interview. They have received spins on WEND 106.5's "90 Minutes" in Charlotte, and WXRY's "Unsigned" out of Columbia, SC.

The Stellas have shared the stage with Athenaeum, Blind Melon, SAFETYSUIT, The Pink Spiders and Jealousy Curve.


"..... The Stellas follow the example of Fountains of Wayne by cross-pollinating the sounds of the British Invasion with alternative rock." - K.Foster (Free Times)

".....they were the loudest act on the bill for both days....." - Steve Caraway (Musician)

"..... the Weezer-worshipping trip(py)tych also seem to have cut their teeth on a solid stack vintage vinyl from the likes of The Kinks, The Zombies, and The Hollies, with a little Cobain and The Cars thrown in for roughage."-Timothy C. Davis (Creative Loafing)

MySpace Page

Forming February of 2008, Teenage Heart is comprised of five friends who have set out to bring the fun back to punk rock.  Drawing influences from bands like Samiam, Descendents and Dag Nasty, Teenage Heart sing about the finer things in life, such as women and having a good time.  Featuring members of Shovelfight, Just Die!, New Wave Blasphemy and Sunshine SS.

MySpace Page

Formed in summer of 2008 consists of three members
JOHN-VOCALS
BEN-BASS
TED-DRUMS
Here is some artwork inspired by the band
 

the lyrical content is made up mostly of john's anti establishmentism mixed with ted's love for abstract prose and topped with ben's 
ear for hit's. 
an example:
my heart you break it you buy it
and if you don't i'ma break it and blame it on you 
my heart you break it you buy it
you'sa a bull in my china shop of love. 
my heart you break it you buy it
why did you leave me you bitch?

their self titled first album which was a limited release of 39 cdr's features hand screened artwork. 
their second album "guess who's coming to dinner" is due for release november 1st on cassette. 
the don't have a myspace page but you can check their label's website for more info and news. 
www.weemsnet.com

Creative Loafing - Published 11-21-07
"Crafted with a strong ear for multi-part harmonies, and an obvious fondness for gentle synth and keyboard baubles, the T-Fields' user-friendly melodies land somewhere between Beulah's quirk and Coldplay's orchestral swoon on the sounds-like meter." - Schacht


Charlotte Observer - Published 12-16-07
"The debut 8-song album by Charlotte foursome Transmission Fields aptly introduces itself with a memorable melody and strikingly poetic lyrics. It remains consistent throughout. Balancing whimsy and aching, the group’s hummable pop-rock hooks recall classic R.E.M. or ‘90s alternative pop such as Matthew Sweet. “Hero,” on the other hand, veers towards Superchunk-style indie-rock. “Days of Waiting” builds a beachy-bluesy intro into a melancholy rock chorus reminiscent of Verses.
Neitzel’s voice glides easily into his upper register while flanked by nicely understated harmonies. The band maintains its own sound throughout, yet “Words” is laced with shades of Americana due to Neitzel’s slightly twangy phrasing (especially on “Run”) and the warmth of dreamy shoegazer pop." - Courntey Devores


Creative Loafing - Published 1-12-08
"The Transmission Fields' mood-laden, echo-harnessed, harmony-laced and melody-tinged power pop has been evolving nicely over the past year. The Charlotte collective's music gels like they are long-running veterans, as exhibited by the quartet's loosely-wound yet strong 8-track debut Words, Numbers, and Phonetic Sounds released last fall." - Shukla
Hot Indie News - Published 2-28-08
"You'd be forgiven for thinking such an inclusive-sounding album would take the kitchen-sink tack on its miniature pop odyssey, and Transmission Fields will inevitably attract the ire of avant-garde rockists who'd rather they did. Almost a century of amorphous "modernism" has maligned the simplistic, melodic, and sentimental urges that periodically surface in the slipstream of musical composition. But for every blandly pretty ballad, there's a song like "While I Sleep," which swaddles its quintessentially bubblegum chords in sheets of bittersweet counterpoint melody.

It's hard to pin down why Transmission Fields never feel like they're talking down to you or skirting the airbrushed condescension of a Coldplay single in their uber-accessible tracks. The greatest asset on that count is probably Lee Neitzel's effortlessly superior voice, which anchors anthemic refrains with ideal falsetto and just a pinch of rasp. There's something geographically on point about this quartet of North Carolinians as well—where we might expect shiny bombast from such power pop, the Fields are more about coziness, which is why the breezy southern rock guitar solo in "Run" comes more naturally than the glassy left-field electro-breakdown in "Days of Waiting." And while those valleys do cut swaths between the high points—and sometimes TF are guilty of killing time before the climb—I won't argue with a band that successfully molds conventions rather than casually obliterating them." - Klee
 
Absolute Powerpop - 07-11-08

"This Charlotte, NC band has an engaging sound that comes in somewhere between indie pop and power pop, and the opening track "While I Sleep" is a perfect example of the best of both styles - just try getting that "I belieeeeve it all" chorus out of your head. Other standouts include the kinetic "Hero", which suggests a more conventional Guided by Voices with a longer attention span; the languid "Days of Waiting", and the near-Americana of "Run". A promising debut and with 8 tracks, a bargain at $5."

MySpace