Monday's can be a bear even during the awesome summer months. To help you with your "case of the Monday" blues today, A-Sides has three entirely different artists to feature, who in their own right all - to quote the classic WWE tag team of Edge and Christian - " reek of awesomeness."
Platinum selling rockers Marianas Trench are first up today. The band, who have already broke out huge in their native Canada, are on a roll here in the states thanks to their recently-released Face the Music EP and especially their 2011 Ever After release. Josh Ramsay, Matt Webb, Mike Ayley, and Ian Casselman, who are currently in the midst of The Noise Tour sponsored by Journeys, stopped by the Music Conservatory of Westchester to film an A-Sides session. There, they played (and slayed) a tune off Ever After ("Fallout") and spoke about their success in Canada and their emerging status in the states. Watch the performance and interview below, and visit the A-Sides YouTube page for their acoustic version of "Celebrity Status" off their Masterpiece Theatrealbum from 2009. Get hip on this band quickly. They're about to take off in the U.S. like Lindsay Lohan after a hit and run. I kid!
"Fallout"
Interview
Whereas Marianas Trench are lovable Canucks, Stephen Kellogg has carved a niche with Americana rock along with his band The Sixers. While his band, who have become infamous for their infectiously alive live performances, are on a hiatus, Kellogg just dropped a brand new solo album called Blunderstone Rookery and it's among the year's best releases. A masterful songwriter, Kellogg spins moving tales on this album - all inspired by an up-and-down year he went through including the birth of his fourth child, and the deaths of his grandmother and mother-in-law. Watch the music master talk about it all, and perform "Forgive You, Forgive Me" below. Oh, and visit the A-Sides YouTube channel for his exclusive take on "Crosses" off the new album. Watch. Listen. Love.
"Forgive You, Forgive Me"
Rounding out our trifecta of "awesomeness" today is rising songstress Egine, who has scored millions of hits on YouTube with her debut songs without having a full-length album out yet. Speaking of which, the Armenia-born and Russia-bred singer is currently working on that as her music continues to sell on iTunes and, yes, blow up YouTube. Her current single "Moon of Dreams" features T-Pain and has scored over 4 million views alone. Watch her perform an acoustic version of "Dreams" below followed by an interview. Oh, and view A-Sides' YouTube page for "If We Let It Go" performed wicked acoustic. Before you watch any of this, let me Cliff Notes it a bit for you. Egine's mother is a singer, her dad is a bass player, and she's already won numerous international awards for her music skills. She also attended the State Music College of Pop & Jazz Arts in Moscow. What I guess I'm trying to say is there's substance behind this beauty. Ch-ch-Check it out.
"Moon of Dreams"
Interview
About A-Sides Music
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides Music" series usually features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing. A-Sides celebrates its two-year anniversary with a concert in White Plains, NY on Saturday, July 27 featuring Kopecky Family Band. Get your tickets here.