After releasing their debut LP I Am Haunted, I Am Alive in 2005, Cheyenne quickly began gathering attention from their home base in Norman, Oklahoma. However, the following year brought big changes to the band: a relocation to Brooklyn, a solidified lineup, and naturally, a new group of songs. Building on their debut album (and the subsequent The Land Rush EP), Cheyenne is out to use past difficulties – relocation, lineup changes, freak weather delaying cross-country recording – as fuel for their brand new album The Whale due out December 8.

Having listened to a solid chunk of The Whale, it’s safe to say Cheyenne has raised the bar for themselves and crafted a collection of solid pop rock songs. Their rolling tunes are filled with down home harmonies and tinged by upbeat accents like handclaps(!), prancing piano, and shimmery sleigh bells. It’s difficult to believe that this band is currently unsigned - The Whale is a very positive indicator of Cheyenne’s talents and promising future.

MP3s:
Cheyenne - “The Whale”
Cheyenne - “Painting Horses”

While Hypeful offered you tips for surviving ACL yesterday, I thought I would share some more general tips to festival survival from Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips. As a man of the people, Coyne knows what concertgoers face at big music festivals - events that are both the best and worst things for music fans. Bend an ear and gain some sage advice from someone who knows the ins and outs of summer music festivals.

Following yesterday’s selection of The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir as a band to watch, it seems appropriate to also highlight Brighton, MA. After singer/songwriter Matthew Kerstein made the decision to leave The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, he effectively formed the new band Brighton, MA. Comprised of five members, the band’s name is a reference to the town Kerstein was born in and is as much a general statement about nostalgia and “going home again” as it is an actual location. Combining rustic vocals and honest lyrics, their music delivers exactly that kind of nostalgic backporch perspective without being overly sentimental.

MP3s:
Brighton, MA - “Bet You Never Thought”
Brighton, MA - “Good Kind Of Crazy”

As if opening up for Arcade Fire and Spoon wasn’t enough of a reason to make The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir a band to watch, you can also add praise from Ira Glass, Wayne Coyne, and now Hypeful to their musical resume. Consisting of five core members, SYGC is described as a free-spirited collective of over 50 musical visionaries (take that Polyphonic Spree!). The group turns out short and sweet chamber pop comparable to Belle & Sebastian - and they’re just as infectious. After signing a deal with Bloodshot Records, The Choir will be releasing their self-titled second album on October 23 and undoubtedly receiving heaps of attention.

MP3s:
The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir - “Aspidestra”
The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir - “I Never Thought I Could Feel This Way For A Boy”

If the above photo doesn’t give you an idea of what Beatles era is often associated with the Seattle band Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, then perhaps you should give their track “Hey Momma” a spin. When the song begins with confessions of being a “selfish bastard”, one may not anticipate the surprisingly fun trip ahead filled with pleasant vocal harmonies, whimsical pop orchestration, and (oh yeah!) handclaps.

Recently making their TV debut on “Last Call with Carson Daly”, KK&HWU proved themselves more than capable of skillfully translating their lush sound to live performances. KK&HWU are prepping for their upcoming full length album, having previously released a cassette-only(!) EP and live DVD/CD double-disc.

MP3:
Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground - “Hey Momma”

VIDEO:
Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground - “Hey Momma”