New band alert (Ivan & Alyosha)

Though not entirely new to the scene, Ivan & Alyosha are releasing their debut album February 26 titled 'All the Times We Had'. The band, who are not strangers to the road, with a few EPs under their belt have collaborated with The Low Anthems Jesse Lauter and keyboardist/engineer Chad Copelin for their most recent project.

I&A are originally from Seattle, though you may have seen them perform live in your hometown if you reside on the West coast. If you decided to lock The Head and the Heart in a room with Yukon Blonde, this would be the result. I&A's 'All the Times We Had', which you can stream on NPR is full of pretty melodic hooks, and endearing lyricism. It's a rootsy, honest album. Every song sounds like a hit.

At a time where folk-pop rock is starting to seem overdone, Ivan & Alyosha come in and revive it. The band together just creates very beautiful music.

Visit their webiste to find out more: Ivan & Alyosha

New band alert (Pickwick)

A band so new they aren't even on Wikipedia yet here's introducing, Pickwick. I received an e-mail from Dine Alone Records a few weeks ago saying they had signed a new band called Pickwick. The Seattle hometown heros have a surprisingly large following for such a low key group.

Pickwick is a rough around all the right edges, soul garage rock outfit with splashes of punk for good measure. The band plays in varying styles. Some funky, some even sounding like they belong in a NOLA jazz group. Pickwick vocals are especially unique to this particular sound of dream garage rock resembling a more soulful Pixies, or Cold War Kids.

The group is the type of audiophyllic musicians who pay clear attention to detail noting, harnessing, and perfecting their influences. Hacienda Motel, the bands first song off Can't Talk Medicine is a clear debut. The song, which was also the first song the band has had played on the radio, exemplifies how rock is done right shaping their sound with varying influence.

Priding themselves in the use of unique musical aesthetic, Pickwick will be releasing their first "big" album in March titled Can't Talk Medicine. The album is available for pre-order here: http://tinyurl.com/7q48aq9