With our first annual Jamoff under our belt, Relix wants you to know all about the 10 winners. From Connecticut to California, the 10 best unsigned bands are about to explode! Make sure you catch them in concert now so in 10 years you can say “I saw those guys back when they were playing the Lion’s Den!”
1.JONAH SMITH:BROOKLYN,
NY
TELL
IT TO THE MOUNTAIN
It’s really the voice that gets you first. Deep and soulful, it’s
a force to be reckoned with. Yet the man behind it is a fairly meek and mild
guy who is equally talented pounding the keys of a Fender Rhodes. With a traditional
guitar, bass and drums backing, the group adds additional soul flavor with flute
and sax. With an aesthetic and groove years beyond his age, Smith’s appeal
reaches across genres. Jonah’s second album, Beneath the Underdog,
was released last year. www.jonahsmith.com
2.RAISINHILL: REDDING,
CT
NAMELESS
 Guitarist John Kasiewicz studied under Ernie Stires while
attending Goddard College and brings an intense jazz flare to the group, while
bassist Brian Anderson lends a full-bodied low end. Drummer Jay Bond plays with
a dynamic range that allows the band to venture from heavy jams to island rhythms
to fusion and beyond. Playing strictly instrumental, they’ve become an
increasing presence on the summer festival circuit. Their self-titled album
is out now.
www.raisinhill.com
3.HOT BUTTERED RUM STRING
BAND
EVOLUTION
E VOLU T I O N
If you’re in the market for “high altitude bluegrass,” look
no further. This fivepiece has been making serious inroads into the bluegrass
community, garnering rave reviews. Though steeped in traditional bluegrass,
the band resonates as much with the folkies as those equipped with dancing feet.
Having already shared the stage with the likes of Darol Anger, Tony Furtado
and Bruce Molasky, they are one of the hottest young bluegrass bands out there.
The band’s debut, In These Parts, will be released this summer.
www.hotbutteredrum.net
4.MAPPARI:BOSTON, MA
RISE
 Mappari’s name is derived from a geographical
word that means “where sound never dies.” That sound is firmly rooted
in rock and roll and led by frontman and lead guitarist Will Dailey. In 2002,
Dailey was nominated for Outstanding Male Vocalist at the Boston Music Awards.
The group is rounded out with another guitar, bass and drums and has toured
heavily ever since its first gig in 1999, sharing bills with G. Love, Kay Hanley
and Moth. The band has recorded two EPs as well as the full-length Nice Enough
to Notice. www.mappari.com
5.TEN MILE TIDE:SAN FRANCISCO,
CA
SWEET LIFE
 It’s not often that identical twins
are both musically talented, but the Munning twins— Jason and Justin—are
just that. Handling lead and rhythm guitars, respectively, they each tackle
vocal duties as well. Drawing on folk-based rock influences like Bob Dylan,
CSN&Y and Neil Young, the band has received a warm reception have shared
the stage with The Wailers, Dispatch, moe., MOFRO, and Railroad Earth, and have
recently released their second album, Midnight is Early. www.tenmiletide.com
6.REBEL SOUL BAND:VENICE,
CA
DESTINATION UNKNOWN
Led by singer/songwriter Rich Sheldon, this four-piece taps everything
from funk and bluegrass to country and psychedelic for inspiration. Together
just over two years, the band is beginning to finally gel their sound into a
cohesive, southern California vibe. Skilled and tourschooled musicians round
out the RSB lineup as each brings considerable experience to the band. The group’s
second album, recorded live in the studio and self-titled, is out now. www.rebelsoulband.com
7.OM
TRIO:NEW YORK, NY
L
Hailing from San Francisco via New Jersey, this keyboard-led trio
has been dubbed “elevator music for headbangers.” Easily cross-pollinating
jazz, funk, trance and metal, they blaze a unique musical trail. From Rage Against
the Machine’s “Bullet in Your Head” to the Red Hot Chili Peppers’
“Suck My Kiss,” they tackle covers with an energy and intensity
all their own. The band has released five discs, the most recent being the acclaimed
studio album Globalpositioningrecord. www.omtrio.com
8.NEXT
TRIBE:BROOKLYN, NY
SERENADE THE WAVESL
Have you ever wondered what flamenco guitar, electric sitar and
Afro-Latin drum‘n’bass dance beats would sound like with some lyrics
and a splash of psychedelic improvisation? Next Tribe is probably the closest
group you’re going to find that fits the bill. Phil Scotti (drums), James
Criscitiello (bass) and Rob Mastrianni (guitar, vocals) jump from funk to punk
and world to rock to create the trio’s extremely diverse sound. Having
already played alongside everyone from Robert Randolph and Spearhead to The
New Deal and The Disco Biscuits, they’ve made significant headway into
the scene. www.nexttribe.com
9.ZEN
TRICKSTERS:LONG ISLAND, NY
FOR YOU
Having been around for almost 25 years, it’s safe to say that
the Zen Tricksters are built to last. Its three principal members—Jeff
Mattson (guitar), Klyph Black (bass) and Tom Circosta (rhythm guitar)—know
the music of the Grateful Dead as well as or better than the remaining members
themselves. Mixing their sets with Dead tunes and originals, Phil Lesh has said
of the band, “The Tricksters are more than just a cover band… Their
stuff is brilliant. They are great players!” The band’s most recent
effort, Shaking Off the Weirdness, features Rob Barraco, Buddy Cage and Jason
Crosby. www.zentricksters.com
10.SATELLITE
UNION:CHARLOTTE, NC
SICKNESS IN B
Exploding out of Charlotte, this trio moves from jazz to rock to
electronica, all within the space of a song. Keyboardist Eric McGregor got his
initial inspiration from church music, later fusing jazz and gospel into his
repertoire. On the flip side, drummer/percussionist Frank Bloom studied under
frequent Widespread Panic guest Dr. Arvin Scott in Athens, honing his chops
while opening for bands like Rusted Root and friends Acoustic Syndicate. Its
first studio effort will be available this summer. www.satelliteunion.com
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