Welcome to The Spark, a feature on AltWire where we put the spotlight on fun, exciting and electrifying bands that we feel deserve your undivided attention. All available for immediate consumption and in satisfying servings for your cerebral taste buds. Fast food for your ears, what could be better then that?
Streets of Laredo – Brooklyn NY, USA- Auckland NZ (Independent)
Recently added to the lineup for Bonnaroo 2014, Streets of Laredo are a fantastic indie-folk family band originally from New Zealand who now reside in Brooklyn, NY. Winners of the Adult Album Alternative award last year at the Unsigned Only Music Competition; Streets of Laredo have managed to greatly wow us with their jangly folk sound, and we can’t help but feel that this band will explode this year and really make their mark on the billboard charts.
Few bands in our opinion have the ability to be classified as a true “breath of fresh air” to the music industry, but this is one adjective that Streets of Laredo most certainly exemplifies. Perhaps it’s their unique sound inspired by their Kiwi-roots, their wonderful lyricism, or fantastic rhythm, but Streets of Laredo are a cut above many indie-folk bands currently saturating the music industry.
Listen to their second single “Lonsdale Line” off of their “Volume 1″ EP below:
Donovan Blanc – New Brunswick NJ, USA (Captured Tracks)
Comprised of duo Joseph Fekete and Raymond Schwab, the two artists that make up Donovan Blanc have actually been making music together for quite some time, previously releasing 9 EPs as the “full blown-pop” act Honeydrum, before bringing that project to a close to evolve into their latest identity: Donovan Blanc.
The newest signing to the Captured Tracks family, Donovan Blanc mixes silky vocal harmonies, complex arrangements and bold rhythmic progressions to create a tasty retro sound reminiscent of the era of peace, love, rock n’ roll and Woodstock: the 1960s.
Listen to their debut single “Minha Menina” (Portuguese for “My Girl”) via Captured Tracks below:
