Archers of Loaf

Singer/guitarist Eric Bachmann, guitarist Eric Johnson, bassist Matt Gentling, and drummer Mark Price formed Archers of Loaf in Chapel Hill, NC in 1991. Stalwarts of the 90’s indie scene, the band confidently combined off-kilter pop, punk and noise. Bachmann has kept busy since the Archers first hung it up in 1998, releasing records under his own name and as Crooked Fingers. But for fans who thought they’d never hear “Web In Front” live again, the band’s current string of reunion dates is a welcome surprise for 2011.

Born during the rise of grunge and alternative rock, Collective Soul broke into mainstream popularity when they rose to international fame in 1993 with the rock anthem “Shine.” The multi-platinum quintet has been making music for two decades since then and has a catalog of #1 hits under their belts. Collective Soul helped shape and define alternative rock with lots of guitars and attitude. Collective Soul continues to rock quite simply for the love of music. The band that helped sonically define alternative rock is more focused and energized than ever. And as Ed Roland puts it, fans can continue to expect “lots of guitars and a fun attitude from the southern gentlemen of rock and roll.”

The Jayhawks are back with a stunning new album. It’s their first in five years, and one of their finest achievements in a long, acclaimed career. Praise for Paging Mr. Proust is plentiful.

“From the opening notes of “Quiet Notes & Empty Spaces,” it quickly becomes clear that Paging Mr. Proust will be something special. Gary Louris’ delicate tenor floats atop beds of lush harmonies through the song’s unforgettable melody and chorus, and it’s only the beginning. Proust is the Jayhawks’ ninth album since coming together in Minneapolis in 1985….Louris and the band’s late 1990s lineup play like they never parted, with scintillating results.” – Sam Gnerre, Daily Breeze

When you hear Jessie Baylin sing for the first time, it takes a matter of moments to realize that she’s intimately familiar with pop’s history – but not at all interested in repeating it. Her songs – and her plangent voice – carry a classic pop tone that evoke memories of the Brill Building and Laurel Canyon in the ‘70s while retaining a decidedly modern, empowered worldview. Baylin’s ability to listen is palpable throughout Little Spark, in her mellifluous phrasing, the gentle twang that’s crept into her voice in recent years. But even more tangible is her ability to feel – and make her listeners feel. Listen to a song like “Joy Is Suspicious” – a starkly vulnerable self-assessment about learning to love against some pretty strong odds – and try to remain unmoved.