I have to tell you…this week was surprisingly good in new material.  Also in the mix are songs that haven’t been officially released yet.  Let’s take a look.

Well, let’s get it kicked off with a tune from an unusually named band, Ha Ha Tonka.  I thought their name might have something to do with the toy trucks but it is a Missouri State Park.  They are from Springfield, MO, and formed back in 2004 and through the release of three albums, they have developed a style of lush and smart indie rock.  I can really see these guys easily fitting into the mainstream.  All they need is one of their songs from their latest album, NOVEL SOUNDS OF THE NOVEAU SOUTH, to make it’s way onto GREY’S ANATOMY, and off they’ll go.  I played the track “Giant Strides.”

I finished that opening set with the familiar voice of Pete Yorn.  I played “Last Summer,” off his latest effort, BACK AND FORTH.  He’s put together another very listenable experience with this album.  He spent time in Nebraska before and during the recording of this CD.  He also opted to have a backing band, instead of recording all the instruments himself for the album.  Pete just kicked off his Summer tour and is currently on the West Coast, but he will be swinging by the Boston area with a visit to our House of Blues on July 26th.  Check out his website to see if he has any dates listed for a city near you.

Switching musical direction here with wickedly talented seventeen-year-old, by the name of Sarah Jarosz.  She plays the mandolin, guitar and banjo; she sings quite sweetly and writes her own material.  She started playing on stage with the likes of Ricky Skaggs and David Grisman when she was just twelve.  On her debut, full-length CD, SONG UP IN HER HEAD, she wrote eleven of the thirteen tracks.  She cleverly covers the Decemberists‘ "Shankill Butchers" and Tom Waits‘ "Come on Up to the House."  She favors a bluegrass/country slant but she can delve into quiet pop and I can see that being her commercial angle, if she chooses that path.  Hell, at seventeen with all the talent she has, she can take any road…and be very successful.  This is track number two, “Edge Of A Dream.”

I followed that up with “Get Up (And Shout)!”  It’s a new single from the Born Again Floozies.  They get a little vocal assistance from Jane Jensen and ESW.  That song just keeps growing on me.  Jane’s voice fits well with the current sound of the Floozies.  I also like the scratchy back-up vocals.  They have already released a video too and it’s available to view on You Tube.  (It’s also a very interest subject matter, lyrically speaking.)

Let’s keep things moving here with the latest from The Extraordinaires.  They are a four-piece band out of Philadelphia.  I went to their web site to find out some information about them and instead of re-working their bio, I thought I would just quote from them.  It’s easier and it’s actually funny.  So here goes, “Aside from theater, film, and visual art we play music. We would describe our music by saying, "swoosh", or with a picture of Shaq slamming a dunk. We tell stories through lyrical craftsmanship and our sound can sometimes be like an electric muppet showdown.”  The track I chose for airplay has a “Beatle-esque” quality to it.  It’s called “Eloise The Eloquent” and it’s from their debut album; ELECTRIC AND BENEVOLENT.

Closing off that two-song set was the latest by Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam.  Davy steps right out front on this latest release from Back Door Slam.  He has the skills; he plays a mean blues-rock style guitar, he writes most of the music and he sings the songs.  The track I played was written and vocally supported by Jonatha Brooke.  The song “Taste Of Danger” appears on her album released last year but I really like this version better.  They sound great together and I like the complimentary effect Davy’s guitar has on the overall feel of the song.  Oh, before I forget the album is called COMING UP FOR AIR, which was produced by Peter Frampton.  There’s a name I bet you haven’t heard for a while.

My lineage subject was A. A. Bondy.  The two A’s stand for his birth name, which is Augeste Arthur.  He went by Scott when he was the frontman of his first band, Verbena.  Verbena was often referred to as a Southern version of Nirvana, because of their Alabama roots and their gritty, aggressive style.  Verbena disbanded in 2003 and Bondy changed his moniker, along with his musical direction, and launched a solo career in 2007.  Bondy just released his second solo effort and titled it WHEN THE DEVIL’S LOOSE.  It is not scheduled for release until September 1st but I thought I would share it with you since I got my hands on it early.  The tune is the quasi title track and is actually called “Devil’s Loose.”

I play some new music from Django Django.  I played “Storm,” which is released as a single.  That’s the way it’s going now with “Back To The Future” and bands releasing 45’s.  For those too young to remember 45’s, the term can be interchanged with the term, Single.  You know, I have to confess to you that sometimes I just don’t know or can’t get a lot of information on bands because they are so new.  Django Django is one of those bands.  All I know is that they are from the UK.  There has been a bit of buzz over this new single.  Every article claims that they are some combination of two disparate bands, like crossing Hot Chip with Neil Young.  I think they sound remarkably like the band Homunculus.  Check out their song “Here And There” and you’ll hear Django Django.  Whoo!  I’m glad I got that off my chest. (You might have to scroll up on the site to find the tune I mentioned. The link is weak.)

“Western Star” is the latest single from History For Sale. These four boys hail from Seattle and self-released their self-titled EP in December of last year.  But a music magazine got a hold of the disc and featured it in a very recent issue, which is how I found it.  Hey, you gotta get new material from many sources.  It’s all good by me.

I finished that song set with new material from White Rabbits.  This band also hails from Missouri, but from Columbia.  The sextet includes the usual rock band make-up that includes a piano player and two drummers.  That’s unusual these days but it really shows up in that track, “Percussion Drum.”  Check out their myspace page and listen to the song and you’ll hear that it all makes sense.  It’s from the album IT’S FRIGHTENING.

Let me slip in one more from Venice Is Sinking.  This mixed-gender, five-piece band out of Athens, GA won a Heineken Band competition and with a little more support get additional attention to their new CD entitled AZAR.  I played track number three and it’s called “Okay.”

There goes another show. Thanks for checking in and I’ll type at you next week. If you get the chance check out the show live at www.backbone.com/simmons and it’s also available through i-Tunes Radio.  Just click on the RADIO icon; go to College Radio and scroll down to Simmons College.  The new music show airs every Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  I am also available on WMFO on Thursdays from 2:00 to 5:00 PM.  Also, check out my other show the Uptown Blues Party every Friday from 4 to 7 PM.  (Also on Simmons)  It’s three hours of up-tempo, blues-based music to get your weekend off to a great start.