Butch Walker
Self-deprecating rocker
Location: Georgia
Butch Walker loved heavy metal in his youth. He played in bands, but as he grew older so did his tastes. He then founded punk-influenced pop band Marvelous 3. That band had one huge single, "Freak of the Week," and then broke up. So, Butch freaked out a bit. Anyone would. Luckily, he didn't squander his money like he would have if he'd of followed his dreams of being like Warrant.
Bummed out entirely, he started getting asked to write songs and produce albums for other artists. He claims he has only liked a few out of the 45 songs he has written for acts like Avril Lavigne, Midtown, Sevendust, Simple Plan and the Donnas. Whether he liked them or not, Epic did and agreed to let him do his own thing and make an album. He put out Letters (Epic Records) full of guitar-driven powerpop songs about losing love and the like.
Final word: Butch Walker is radio-friendly with enough indie cred to make it acceptable to admit you love his music.
Bury Your Dead
A punch in the face via break-beat
Location: Connecticut
Bury Your Dead are one step ahead of us all. The last year has been filled with a new crop of metalcore bands; musicians who can't decide if they want to be metal or hardcore, so they do both. Bury Your Dead founders Slim B. (guitar) and Mark Castillo (drums) were in metalcore band Hamartia and realized that it wasn't for them. They made a choice between the two merged genres -- they chose to be in a hardcore band.
The band is nothing short of brutal, which is how they ended up signed to Victory Records. The label approached the band after the 2002 Hellfest in New Jersey. Bury Your Dead has that kind of energy and presence live -- it pummels the crowd into submission, making everyone belong to the band. The band released Cover Your Tracks on Oct. 19, and the band has now taken to slowly converting the country to its New England hardcore style.
Final word: Bury Your Dead brings the "mosh 'n roll." Be prepared for spin-kicks at the shows.
Dresden Dolls
Quirky synth-punk duo
Location: Boston, Mass.
The Dresden Dolls are like nothing else. This is one band no one can label generic or tired. Dresden Dolls is comprised of vocalist and pianist Amanda Palmer and drummer Brian Viglione. The general sound is something like a rock-influenced Vaudeville show. If you can imagine a blend of Cabaret style and make-up with the Violent Femmes, you have a general sketch of Dresden Dolls.
The band's live performances are nothing short of carnal eroticism -- something that comes across quite well on their self-titled album (8 Ft. Records). The lyrics are emotional and always have a story line and the powerful piano punctuates the occasionally volatile words.
Final word: The Dresden Dolls will make your head spin. Nothing short.
Macha
Sexy, avant-rock
Location: Athens, Ga.
No sounds are 'off limits' for Macha. The trio infuses styles from all over into their electro-meets-indie breed of rock. The heavily saturated indie/emo market right now certainly doesn't have another band like this -- there isn't another who incorporates the steel drum and ambient sounds in such a layered fashion.
If there was such a thing as a funk-reggae-indie band, Macha would be it. Founding band members Josh McKay and Kai Riedl drew from excursions in Indonesia for inspiration on their latest effort Forget Tomorrow (Jet Set Records). They, along with percussionist Mischo McKay, have created a distinctive sound of textured dense dance-rock.
Final word: You can dance to Eastern-influenced rock, thanks to Macha.
Reach the reporter at chelsea.ide@asu.edu.