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?
Snow Patrol is an alternative rock band which formed in Dundee, Scotland in 1994 and currently based in Bangor, Northern Ireland, where most of the band members are from. They consist of Gary Lightbody (vocals, guitar), Nathan Connolly (guitar, vocals), Paul Wilson (bass), Tom Simpson (keyboards) and Johnny Quinn (drums). Lightbody and Quinn are the only original members who remain in the band. The band became wildly successful on both sides of the Atlantic on the back of their fourth record...
Ed James is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter playing bubblegum pop influenced power pop music inspired by exuberant, good-time oldies artists such as The Monkees and The Beatles. He has been featured on a bunch of indie music compilation and tribute CDs as well as four full-fledged solo albums to his own credit. He's perhaps best known for 2003's 'Poprocket', a release that the All Music Guide praised as having an "air of instant gratification" since James' "joy is pretty darn addicting".
The Airborne Toxic Event is an American indie rock band from the Los Angeles neighborhood of Los Feliz that consists of singer and guitarist Mikel Jollett, guitarist and keyboardist Steven Chen, bassist Noah Harmon, drummer Daren Taylor, and keyboardist and violist Anna Bulbrook. Named after a section of the book White Noise, by Don DeLillo, the group incorporates string instruments and keyboards, along with a standard rock lineup of guitar, drums, and bass guitar. They are signed to Majordomo Records. On March 4, 2009, the band signed to Island Records.
Not to be mistaken as Phoenix, The Royal Concept, formerly known as The Concept.
Interpol's lead singer and guitarist Paul Banks released a solo album under the name Julian Plenti, and has written and performed under the Plenti moniker for several years, according to a source close to the situation. While the album was recorded recently, some of the songs were written more than ten years ago. He's done a lot of work with Niall Darcy, with whom there has been a long time mutual admiration.
Matt Hales (born January 17, 1972), better known as Aqualung, is a British singer/songwriter best known in the United Kingdom for his song "Strange And Beautiful", which was featured on a television advertisement for the new Volkswagen Beetle during the summer of 2002 and went on to become a Top 10 hit in the UK singles chart later that year. Prior to his success as Aqualung, Hales was known as the lead singer of mid-1990s, London-based Britpop band Ruth.
Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Islands is a 6 piece band founded by former The Unicorns frontman Nick Thorburn (briefly taking the stage name "Nick Diamonds") and drummer J'Aime Tambeur. Following the untimely disbandment of The Unicorns as they teetered on the brink of breaking through, Islands' debut release entitled Return to the Sea, with its quirky sounds and refreshing, catchy melodies includes collaborations with members of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade.