How do you find "new to you" bands?

Laundrew · « **on:** 5 Jan 2012, 12:26 am »

A large percentage of the music of which I enjoy is not exactly considered as mainstream and at times, this presents interesting challenges when I am searching for “new to me” bands related to my favorite music genre. Individuals at my workplace seem to have little or no interest in music and this also coincides with my immediate “corporeal” circle. Local AM and FM radio stations are also out of the question as they do not broadcast music that I enjoy.

I am fortunate that a couple of the “brick and mortar” stores I frequent have small Gothic sections and sometimes I will purchase a CD based on the cover art alone. Interestingly enough I have experienced a high success rate at bringing home some great music employing this hit and miss method.

Gothic social sites and Gothic Internet radio are excellent sources for discovering “new to me” bands and also re-discovering long forgotten bands that I enjoyed many years ago. Another great way to find new bands is from online CD stores as most of these sites have a “people who purchased this CD also purchased…” section. Ironically, one of the best search formats that I now use is YouTube. Just type in your favourite music genre and it can take weeks to fully explore all of your options – and the videos are a plus also.

So to quickly sum this up, I was curious as to what methods other individuals employ to discover new bands related to their favorite music genre.

Be well…

AVnerdguy · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Jan 2012, 12:41 am »

Very much like you do. I'm lucky that we have a few classic "record" stores for new and used media.

Lately I've used Pandora and found many things by putting my favorites in and seeing what they think I may like. I can't say that I get a lot of unfamiliar things but occasionally I find something I didn't know about. Then I add that artist to a new station list and see what comes from that. Pretty interesting and I have purchased some material that I didn't know existed.

mkaiser · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 Jan 2012, 01:12 am »

Laundrew,
Go to the website called The End Records. They are a music distributer. They also do a "recommended or sounds similar" section to the music bands you currently enjoy so, you can find other music like it.
It is also a good site to keep up too date on your bands past and recent releases in case you have forgotten something by them.
A great site to find new bands. They also have a sampler so you can here the band before purchasing.
They also have a free subscribe and you receive updates updates weekly.

Check it out.

Mark

BrysTony · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Jan 2012, 01:24 am »

A "tool" that I use when I hear something unfamiliar on the radio that I like is Shazam. Shazam is an iPhone Ap that listens to what you are hearing and identifies the artist and song.

Tony

sfraser · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Jan 2012, 01:30 am »

I have a couple of friends who are big "music hounds" and they have introduced me to quite of few great bands over the past 20 years or so, and i guess i have done the same for them. Lately I have been subscribing to Relix magazine, which I have found quite informative regarding bands I might like. Infact my " find" of 2011 was mentioned in Relix last year, a band called the Mother Hips. They have been around for over 20 years, but I just found out what I was missing last year. Thanks Relix!

mcoaggie · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Jan 2012, 03:13 am »

With music online this has become much easier. I used the "related artists" on spotify, pandora's recommendations, you tube, my space's music section. I also listen to some college radio stations as I have the luxary of finding those local in Atlanta. Another option is the vast music on satelite radio.
And of course the music threads on this forum.

Phil A · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Jan 2012, 03:14 am »

There's also www.musicplasma.com that will give you similar type artists. I'm fortunate that there are a couple of nice small clubs that have people who basically are either up and coming or on the verge of making it. When they outgrow those, we have the Birchmere (www.birchmere.com) which is famous and not super huge compared to stadiums or concert halls. I've seen a number of people at the small clubs who have made it since then. My favorite is the Iota Club in Arlington, VA (www.iotaclubandcafe.com). They don't sell tickets in advance. First come, first serve. Probably holds about a couple of hundred people packed. I get there early and eat dinner at the bar (usually with the performers and they don't kick you out during warm-up or charge a cover under after warm up and the cover is not usually expensive - $12-15 is most common). The food is great and sometimes I hear about new performers from the current performers or the bartender or someone at the show. One of the bartenders told me there's four people in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame who played there at one time or another (it's been in business about 18 years). Several years back I saw Ryan Adams solo acoustic. I also saw Amos Lee there 4 months before his first album came out on Blue Note Records. I don't think there were 40 people there. His last album "Mission Bell" is great and was No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in the beginning of last February.

Hoosierdaddy · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 Jan 2012, 03:29 am »

I utilize www.metacritic.com they compile all reviews from all sources, including people that actually buy the music. From there I take their reviews/ratings and go to the artist sites or amazon/itunes to listen. I then make buying decisions from there. I have some great finds there in the last 5 years that are still in heavy rotation....

neekomax · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 Jan 2012, 03:48 am »

1. Spotify
2. Slacker
3. KCRW Eclectic 24
4. Pitchfork Magazine
5. Friends who are in the know.

JfTM · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Jan 2012, 03:53 am »

I listen to WWOZ.org out of New Orleans. Most of theDJs are in the business somehow and bring in their finds. OZ also has a standing policy that artists who show up at the station get put on air live; I've found some great stuff that way.

Lyndon · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Jan 2012, 04:06 am »

Thanks for the rec's, guys. I'll check this stuff out.
I just tend to read reviews from many sources, and still go to Robert Christgau, who was the head of music at the Village Voice for 30 years. I also find that the people on his forum are good sources for music I have never listened to, old stuff and new.
http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blog.aspx
And I will still read the Voice's Pazz and Jop Review of the past year, which will come out in February, and the music receives votes from reviewers and fans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pazz_%26_Jop
I also enjoy the music presentations from npr, and their tiny desk concert with Wilco was fun!
Lyndon

Laundrew · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Jan 2012, 10:27 pm »

Quote from: mkaiser on 5 Jan 2012, 01:12 am

Laundrew,
Go to the website called The End Records.

Mark

Greetings Mark

Thank you very much for the recommendation as I did not know about The End Records website and it is going to be definitely helping increase my music collection.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone else who has offered some great recommendations. I quickly looked at Pandora, but due to an issue with licensing, I can not access this site from Canada.

Thanks again

Be well...

mkaiser · « **Reply #12 on:** 5 Jan 2012, 11:25 pm »

Your very welcome Laundrew. As you explore the site it gets better the deeper you dig.

Mark

sfraser · « **Reply #13 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 01:05 am »

Quote from: Laundrew on 5 Jan 2012, 10:27 pm

Greetings Mark

Thank you very much for the recommendation as I did not know about The End Records website and it is going to be definitely helping increase my music collection.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone else who has offered some great recommendations. I quickly looked at Pandora, but due to an issue with licensing, I can not access this site from Canada.

Thanks again

Be well...

If you are really interested you can purchase services which will trick applications such as Pandora into thinking you have a US registered IP address. And I agree Pandora is a really cool service.

Cheers

Diamond Dog · « **Reply #14 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 03:33 am »

You can expose yourself to a lot of interesting new ( or new to you ) music and learn more about artists you enjoy by finding out more about the the artists they enjoy, recommend or were influenced by. I decided to explore two acts who became favorites of mine ( Arcade Fire and TV On The Radio ) because they got shout-outs from Bowie before they started gaining popularity.

D.D.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #15 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 05:05 am »

I've found a lot of great stuff on Spotify and Rhapsody, but I've also got more than a few great suggestions from Laundrew! He's definitely got some off the beaten path taste (and I mean that as a big compliment), so i've found some great stuff just following his lead.

I get a lot of new stuff from my colleagues. Most of my music writers are in their late 20's/early 30's and they've got pretty wide ranges of tastes as well. They've certainly turned me on to a lot of great music over the last few years.

sharpsuxx · « **Reply #16 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 05:15 am »

+1 for spotify, pandora, MOG, rhapsody, youtube...the best stuff my wife and I find is (if you're. lucky) see the band live and listen to who opens for them. I find that typically the music the bands I like, like I also tend to like.

In short watch live music!

Laundrew · « **Reply #17 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 10:15 pm »

Quote from: TONEPUB on 6 Jan 2012, 05:05 am

I've found a lot of great stuff on Spotify and Rhapsody, but I've also got more than a few great suggestions from Laundrew! He's definitely got some off the beaten path taste (and I mean that as a big compliment), so i've found some great stuff just following his lead.

Thank you for your kinds words TONEPUB

When I got home from work today, Lady Laundrew informed me that I had to pick up a parcel. It was my order from CD Universe and I often have great success at finding some rarer CDs by the bands I enjoy from this on-line site. I had ordered 11 CDs from them and it was almost like Christmas again opening the parcel and I know that the Beasties are going to be very busy over the next couple of days.

What helps me a great deal when I am looking for CDs in "brick and mortar" stores is my iPod as it has all of my music on it, I can ensure that I do not purchase duplicate CDs - my memory is not what it used to be

Be well...

WGH · « **Reply #18 on:** 7 Jan 2012, 12:03 am »

I get introduced to new bands through KXCI, their playlists are by independent programers. The late night shows are extremely eclectic. You can even call the DJ to make a request or find out more about the music you just heard.
Check out this weeks KXCI Program Guide

Here are just a few examples with a nod to Laundrew:

Tempest Broog: Old and new progressive, psychedelic, and experimental rock for the creative, nocturnal and everyone in between!

Hex Enduction Hours: Join Julio as he brings you the best of punk, post-punk, and noise rock from the US, UK, and other parts of the world!

Underground Sounds/Sideshow Radio: Hosted by rotating hosts.

Bat Country Radio: From the Land of Rock That Time Forgot, join Paleo Dave as he spins a sonic Gonzo-esque mix of punk, metal, alt-grunge, and other weird, wild & wacky stuff.

The Hub: Bob cuts the wheat from the chaff to play only the most interesting, cutting edge indie rock and alternative tunes. Fiercely independent music for fiercely independent people.

Under Surveillance: live mix of electro, dubstep, italo, dnb, synthpop & etc...

TONEPUB · « **Reply #19 on:** 7 Jan 2012, 01:28 am »

I think my favorite Laundrew find was Diamanda Galas...