March 29, 2011

Jango Airplay Top 10

Here's the Top 10 Jango Airplay artists for the week ending March 27. We just keep seeing some great new artists popping into the Top 10 each week. Check them out below and show some support.

#1: Aron Seals
Aron Seals is a rock/fusion guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. His music is heavily influenced by film scoring, and makes use of midi guitar to play various stings sounds while accompanying the solo guitar.

Click to hear Aron Seals:
Fearless
#2: Smoke1
Born in Kansas City, MI and moved to Humboldt, TN at five years old, hip-hop became a second language for Smoke1. Now he's C.E.O. of Stay Focuz'd Entertainment, and trying to do just that on every track.

Click to hear Smoke1:
Grippin' Grain
#3: The Avant-Garde Metallic Orchestra
Minnesota's Avant-Garde Metallic Orchestra plays sophisticated metal instrumentals with a heavy symphony-orchestral backup. Their compositions are a fertile blend of building momentum and grand moments.

Click to hear The Avant-Garde Metallic Orchestra:
The Trooper
#4: Toy Horses
Toy Horses are one of Wales' brightest indie gems. After airplay in the UK their music came to the attention of KCRW starmaker Nic Harcourt who put them on radio & stages in the States. Their debut album is expected in early 2011.

Click to hear Toy Horses:
And It Was You
#5: The BC Trees
The BC Trees play hip-hop with simple, cold beats featuring live instrumentation and highlighting a socially-concious flow. They recently released their debut album, "Imperfect Paradise."

Click to hear The BC Trees:
Imperfect Paradise
#6: Thunderridge Bluegrass Band
The Thunderridge Bluegrass Band is a Kentucky quartet playing classic, tuneful bluegrass music. They blend smooth vocal harmonies over tight, melodic instrumental work.

Click to hear Thunderridge Bluegrass Band:
Don't Go Walking In The Moonlight
#7: Immanifest
Named for the pure, formless plane from which creation & manifestation arise, Immanifest emanated from Florida in 2008. Combining huge arrangements, complex, melodic guitars and fast, precise drumming, they play a fresh take on symphonic black/death metal.

Click to hear Immanifest:
Thaumiel
#8: Jess Turner
Jess Turner has been writing music since age 13, and is a classically trained pianist, cellist, and composer. Lately she has arrived at a smart brand of pop, showcasing her clean, langorous vocals and neatly propulsive instrumental work.

Click to hear Jess Turner:
Chespeake
#9: TruBlend
R&B duo TruBlend was formed in the summer of 2005 in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently writing and producing their full-length debut, between performances at the Hard Rock Cafe and BET TV events.

Click to hear TruBlend:
I Can't Believe
#10: Riley Etheridge Jr.
Riley Etheridge Jr. is a New York City singer-songwriter with deep roots in musical Americana. He recently released the album "Things I Used To Know," described in the press as an "elegiac, contemplative collection of sad, funny, and ultimately redemptive alternative country."

Click to hear Riley Etheridge Jr.:
In This Moment

What is Your Biggest Breakthrough ?



We all know about putting in 10,000 hours of practice. We definitely all know about slogging it out in a van cross country, eating Subway & Taco Bell, sleeping on couches, borrowing money from your supportive significant other for gas to get back home. Madonna says she used to go dumpster diving in NYC just so she could eat. Many bands live in their rehearsal space, play shows to five people and run up a bar tab that's more than they get paid at the end of the night. This is all collectively called 'paying your dues.' But that's not what we're interested in today.

What we want to hear about today are great stories about that biggest breakthrough. When was the day that all that 'paying your dues' actually paid off? Did you hook up with a great producer? Did your video go viral? You sold out your first show? These are the moments that make it all worthwhile and keep up pushing even harder for that next breakthrough.

Tell us your stories in the comments, we can't wait to hear.

The Jango Jugglers

March 22, 2011

It's Time to Play at Your Local Open Mic Night

Listen to Jango.comThis week on Jango Airplay we have a guest blog post from David Craver, founder of OpenMic.US, the most comprehensive open mic list in the world. Let's hear what David has to say...

"Today's 'indie' musicians have a plethora of marketing tools at their disposal. The Internet provides a virtual ‘touch-point’ that allows for constant, on-going communication with their fans. But, there is no substitute for personal contact.

Many ‘rising stars’ use live-music open mics to build their fan-base.

Jamie D., an Atlanta-based musician, frequently attends local open mics. He stated, “I’ve tripled my fan-base by working the open mic circuit. It’s the most effective method for meeting new people, gaining fans, and networking, that I can think of.”

The formula is simple; take the stage, give it your best, circulate through the crowd and trade ‘demo’ CDs for email addresses. The net result is that the audience members have seen you perform, talked with you, and have your music to play in their car on the way home. When artists take the time to cultivate new fans using this method, the new fans are more-likely to respond to email invitations to purchase music and to attend shows.

In today’s crowded indie music space, it’s critical to make a personal connection with fans. Open mics provide a music-centric, fun, environment where musicians can perform their original music, network with other musicians, and build their fan-base."

- David Craver, founder of OpenMic.US

For more info on David's Open Mic listing go to OpenMic.US

Jango Airplay Top 10

Here's the Jango Airplay Top 10 for the week ending March 20. There's a lot of new faces in here this week and return act The Avant-Garde Metallic Orchestra has climbed up to reach the top spot. Check them out below and drop everyone a line in the comments section below.

#1: The Avant-Garde Metallic Orchestra
Minnesota's Avant-Garde Metallic Orchestra plays sophisticated metal instrumentals with a heavy symphony-orchestral backup. Their compositions are a fertile blend of building momentum and grand moments.

Click to hear The Avant-Garde Metallic Orchestra:
The Trooper
#2: BLOCKSQUAD
Mississippi's own BLOCKSQUAD deliver recognizable southern hip-hop but with an unorthodox flow. Coupled with the industry standard production, you get a sound that is fresh but familiar.

Click to hear BLOCKSQUAD:
SWAGG ON ESKIMO
#3: Aron Seals
Aron Seals is a rock/fusion guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. His music is heavily influenced by film scoring, and makes use of midi guitar to play various stings sounds while accompanying the solo guitar.

Click to hear Aron Seals:
Fearless
#4: Toy Horses
Toy Horses are one of Wales' brightest indie gems. After airplay in the UK their music came to the attention of KCRW starmaker Nic Harcourt who put them on radio & stages in the States. Their debut album is expected in early 2011.

Click to hear Toy Horses:
And It Was You
#5: One Step Away
Comiong together in 2007, One Step Away started out competing in local battles of the bands, which they won habitually with their sunny, melodic rock. With passionate professionalism and studio-precision sound, One Step Away performances have a mesmerizing appeal as they mind-meld with their audiences.

Click to hear One Step Away:
Here We Go
#6: the black sharks
The Black Sharks are an English band with a love for great pop tunes, they are currently working on their debut Album with a release date being set for Spring 2011, the debut singles 'lose control' ws released November 1st and is surfing a wave of succes in the UK.

Click to hear the black sharks:
lose control
#7: Jason Ehleben
Jason began playing piano early at the age of 5. He picked up the guitar soon after that and has made it a habit of studying both new instruments and composition ever since. "Wake" is aJason's first full-length instrumental album featuring 8 songs that were self-written, performed, and recorded during 2010.

Click to hear Jason Ehleben:
WAke
#8: The Vandon Arms
In a damp, cold basement just off of Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa, The Vandon Arms started off as a gorup of friends playing the music they loved for no one but themselves. Once the gorup started taking part in local shows their popularity increased at an incredible rate. The band wasn't just known for their unique sound and catchy melodies but a Vandon Arms show was a big party.

Click to hear The Vandon Arms:
Health to the Company
#9: Born One
After a well deserved hiatus Born One is back with a combination approach of delivering albums under his self owned independent label 'NuWurd Records." Both Born and fellow labelmate Zachariah Ware aka Known Strength as well as the very much appreciated help of J-biz.

Click to hear Born One:
This World
#10: Stonehoney
On their debut album The Cedar Creek Sessions, the Austin, Texas-based quartet Stonehoney delivers a bracing set of 14 original tunes that effortlessly transcend genre restrictions, merging rootsy grit with savvy melodic hooks and pointed lyrical insight.

Click to hear Stonehoney:
Feels Like Home

March 14, 2011

Jango Airplay Top 10

Here's the top 10 for the week ending March 13. Check them out below, there's always some great artists popping up and they deserve your ears.

#1: Noctura
Noctura is a modern rock two piece from Indiana. They've lately earned airplay on major rock radio, and are scheduled to release their first album this year.

Click to hear Noctura:
My Last Goodbye
#2: The Avant-Garde Metallic Orchestra
Minnesota's Avant-Garde Metallic Orchestra plays sophisticated metal instrumentals with a heavy symphony-orchestral backup. Their compositions are a fertile blend of building momentum and grand moments.

Click to hear The Avant-Garde Metallic Orchestra:
The Trooper
#3: Daniel Fries
Mixing new age & ambient aesthetics with pop sensibility, New York-based Duvid conjures serene, comforting spaces, and hypnotizes with his themes.

Click to hear Daniel Fries:
Bodas De Galisteo
#4: October Rage
Hard-rocking Aussies October Rage play by two rules: big & heavy. Formed in 2008, they are now preparing to release their debut album to an ever-growing legion of fans.

Click to hear October Rage:
Silver Line
#5: Soft Words Traverse
A band that lives up nicely to its description as "sonic terrains to accompany the wide range of emotions that we, as humans, experience on a moment-to-moment basis."

Click to hear Soft Words Traverse:
Sprawling Certainty
#6: Aron Seals
Aron Seals is a rock/fusion guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. His music is heavily influenced by film scoring, and makes use of midi guitar to play various stings sounds while accompanying the solo guitar.

Click to hear Aron Seals:
Fearless
#7: Marc Enfroy
Inspired by the death of his sister from melanoma, marc enfroy began teaching himself to compose music in 2006. By interweaving beautiful instrumental piano melodies with touching orcehstral arrangements in a style he calls Cinematic Piano, Marc has soothed many hearts with his warm and original compositions.

Click to hear Marc Enfroy:
Imperfect Paradise
#8: The Plastic Believers
The Plastic Believers are an experimental pop/rock duo from Minneapolis, MN, who wrap beautiful melodies in a sense of impending doom. Their debut album "All The Things We Carry" was released on November 5th, 2010.

Click to hear The Plastic Believers:
On The Beach
#9: Philadelphia Slick
As a hip hop band, Philadelphia Slick feels obligated to keep their ears tuned into everything. Funk, Soul, and Jazz were starting points, but the group has since branched out to incorporate classical, tango, techno, and other genres into their music. What results is a sound that is "both retro and futuristic in equal doses."

Click to hear Philadelphia Slick:
Hit Song
#10: YDUB
YDUB's motto is to persevere until they make it to the top. Through their music they hope to spread the idea that if they can make it so can anyone with the help and support of their loyal fans.

Click to hear YDUB:
Damn Im Dope