In early 1996, the world was seemingly reconciling some of its evolutionary hang-ups. Gary Kasparov defeated Deep Blue in one of the most epic chess matches of all time. Scientists discovered the possible evidence of life on Mars. President Clinton appointed the first female US Secretary of State. And in one cluttered basement in Wilmington, Delaware, the Spinto Band began to materialize. Spinto, huh?
The story actually begins deep in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, where band member Nick Krill was rummaging through the personal effects of his late grandfather, the guitar player Roy Spinto. For years, Roy had penned lyrics on the inside of Cracker Jack boxes, and in one simple juxtaposition of time and fate, Nick found the lyrics that would inspire the creation of the Spinto Band. And they hit the ground running. The energy was undeniable, and it wasn't long before Jon Eaton, Thomas Hughes, Nick Krill, Joe Hobson, Sam Hughes, Jeff Hobson and Albert Birney (who has since left the band to pursue the visual arts) found themselves with a massive musical proliferation at hand.
Eight years and seven self-released albums later, the Spinto Band is in the prime vein of musical prowess. Utilizing an indie-pop sensibility that brings to mind the Flaming Lips and Pavement, their songs can send you careening into the heights of lysergic bliss or provide the catchiest vibes to shake your tail feather to. Either way, this six-piece outfit has the goods to deliver us all from the doldrums of banality.
Currently teamed up with Nashville producing duo, Robin Eaton and Lij (of Alex the Great recording studios), and preparing a May release through Bar-None Records, the band's sound exudes a finesse that belies their youth (their ages range from 20-25). With rich, textured guitars, and multiple-part vocal harmonies, the Spinto Band's repertoire is a maelstrom of indie perfection. It's quirky, energetic, radiant, and aptly engaging.
The Spinto Band has performed with such acts as the Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players, and Of Montreal. It's an inevitable transgression beyond the words on this page; the Spinto Band excels. Thank you, Roy.

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1) Field Mouse is a four-piece dream pop band from Brooklyn, NY. Seamlessly interweaving influences from shoegaze, indie, and power pop, Field Mouse offers lush sonic textures and expansive soundscapes to complement the airy, wistful vocals of singer/guitarist Rachel Browne. Through complex and delicate harmonies, the songwriting of Browne and guitarist Andrew Futral breathes new life into common themes of lost love and renewal.

The band has been honing its sound since its formation in 2010, and has solidified its lineup with the recent addition of bassist Danielle DePalma and drummer Geoff Lewit. Their first release on Small Plates Records finds the group realizing its musical vision, incorporating rich synthesizers and feedback to give an edge to its soaring arrangements and pop sensibilities.

Find out more at http://fieldmousemusic.com

2) Field Mouse is an electronic project from Lanarkshire, Scotland chiefly by Jay Kural, who "make sounds with lots of small things, and some bigger things." Recently released a split cassette with The Japanese War Effort on Gerry Loves Records.

http://fieldmousetheband.tumblr.com/
http://soundcloud.com/fieldmouse

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Dubbed "Chew It Up, Spit It Out, Rock and Roll," Cheers Elephant is a raw, rootsy, psychedelic pop rock quartet from Philadelphia, PA. Digging deep into three-part harmonies and arranging songs that'll make your dad's toe tap, your mom's hip shake, and your sister's heart throb. A style reminiscent of The Kinks, and combined with a sensibility of the modern age, the group's signature sound bleeds with British flare, American gusto, and all under the umbrella of catchy pop rock.

Nominated as the best indie act in the tri state area of 2011 by Tri State Indie, Cheers is about to one-up themselves with their next LP Like Wind Blows Fire. An album already receiving critical acclaim from the likes of, former Talking Heads, David Bowie, and King Crimson member, Adrian Belew as "fucking brilliant". Sharing the stage with such greats as Chubby Checker, DMC, The Go! Team, The Spinto Band, and Devo, Cheers Elephant impresses with a live show that feels like a cross between David Bryne, Animal of the Muppets, and far-out impulses equivalent to evangelicals speaking in tongue. Cheers Elephant is channeling something close to the devil, god, or cocaine.

Having toured the North East and Mid West exclusively, Cheers is now expanding everywhere East of the Continental Divide, including SXSW this spring and setting their sights on the West Coast and Europe shortly after.

With a friendship dating back to kindergarten and including two cousins, the group possesses chemistry akin to a well-oiled machine running at break-neck speed. So why not take a sip of Cheers Elephant? The buzz is good...

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