[usr=4.5]
For fans of: The White Stripes, The Strokes, The Black Keys.

Insane guitar riffs? Check. Stellar vocals? Check. Band name that makes a Futurama reference? Check MATE.

Missouri-based trio Scruffy and the Janitors has all the makings of greatness on their self-titled EP via This Tall Records. Showcasing a sound beyond their years (all three members are between the ages of 17 and 20), Scruffy and the Janitors channel alternative rock legends like The White Stripes, The Strokes, and The Black Keys with their blend of fuzzy garage rock and post-punk fusion.

The two-track EP starts off with “Shake It Off,” which steadily creeps in before breaking into a hard rocking Mudhoney-meets-The-Kinks sound that’s damn near impossible not to jam out to. The track speaks of brushing off the troubles that life throws at you, while still standing your ground. “Shake it off, cause it ain’t only me,” frontman Steven Foster growls, “we were never friends, we were never friends…”

Next up is “Low Belly,” which will have you hooked from the first couple of distinctive, unforgettable bass lines. Complimented by unrelenting percussion and undeniably catchy guitar licks, Foster debates where his life went off course, and if there was anything he could do to change it. “They say I’ve changed,” he ponders, “I keep thinking to myself, ‘where’d it all go wrong?!'” Foster’s vocals are especially on-point on “Low Belly,” sounding like a delicious mixture of Alex Turner and early Mick Jagger.

Although short and sweet, the EP packs one hell of a punch and is not easily forgotten – let’s hope we don’t have to wait too long for more!

You can get your free download of Scruffy and the Janitors album here.

The post Scruffy and the Janitors – Scruffy and the Janitors EP appeared first on JamSpreader.

Twin Wave, a fairly new act from Brooklyn, opened up the show with a psychedelic-pop set that inspired dancing throughout the crowd.  The songs were filled with falsetto, synth, and a whole lot of wah pedal.  With a mix of soul and ambient indie influence, Twin Wave was an opener that caught attention, rather than holding onto it for later acts.  I’d like to see this band again in a year or so, given more time to step out of the box with their sound and presence.

The Grizzled Mighty took the stage next, and the powerful two-piece took it by fiery storm.  I would like to compare them to The White Stripes, but after drummer Whitney Petty declared mid-set that The White Stripes can “suck her dick,” I figured I’d better not (but I sort of just did).  Petty, who played guitar in a little band called Deerhunter for a short while, certainly had enough energy and skill to prove herself as one not to be compared.  Ryan Granger completed the duo with his vocals and guitar,  easily producing crunchy riffs and frequent face-melting solos.  The Grizzled Mighty was pure rock ‘n’ roll, bluesy undertones and all.

The band’s music wasn’t the only thing emitting rock ‘n’ roll.  When Granger lost his balance and fell backwards onto the kick drum mid-song, neither he nor Petty skipped a beat, continuing on to the end of the song with a fallen cymbal stand.  Soon after, Petty’s rack tom fell over, also finding itself lost in the electrifying performance.  Again, the song continued without pause, and was met at the end with a crowd member declaring “that was awesome” as everyone cheered in agreement.

The Grizzled Mighty’s set was a rare surprise, as the same stellar performance could have easily been for a sold out crowd at an arena show.  You can check out a few pictures below, as well as a video from the end of the set.

For fans of: The Black Keys, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and uh, awesome music.

And don’t forget to “like” Twin Wave and The Grizzled Mighty on Facebook!

The post SHOW REVIEW: The Grizzled Mighty and Twin Wave at Pianos NYC appeared first on JamSpreader.

Surf’s up, so is the new garage session video for The Growler’s “Burden of The Captain.” The video comes in part of The Growler’s Hung At Heart garage recordings (so far 2 other videos been posted). Interestingly enough, the band scrapped the original Dan Auerbach produced Hung At Heart for the fuzzier, sun drenched garage produced sound as seen in these clips. The perfect soundtrack for your trek through the badlands to the local In-N-Out. Check out the other videos here.

The post Watch The Growlers Perform “Burden of The Captain” In Their Garage appeared first on JamSpreader.

Concert season is rapidly approaching, and the people over at the Bottle Rock Music Festival took out the big guns for this spring’s debut show.  The festivals organizers have announced the headliners as The Black Keys, Cake, and The Flaming Lips, with supporting acts of Alabama Shakes, The Shins, Ben Harper and Rodrigo y Gabriella.  The four-day Napa Valley musical extravaganza going from May 9-12 will see the likes of over 40 acts that will be announced at a later date.  Tickets go on sale this Sunday, February 3^rd, so make sure to snatch them up early, because this sounds like an experience that should not be missed!

The post Bottle Rock Music Festival Starting Concert Off Season With A Bang appeared first on JamSpreader.