Artist/Band Spotlight #15: MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND

Friends -

Sometimes, on very special occasions, you get a whole lot more than you paid for. I was out with a few friends on a Tuesday night and we decided to stop by the Hotel Cafe, knowing that they never book bad music. Our stars must have been inline that night, because we walked into My Brightest Diamond playing their sophomore album A Thousand Shark's Teeth. I was so blown away, I e-mailed everyone I could think of while I was still standing in the crowd.

MBD Official MySpace Page
MyBrightestDiamond.com


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MEET THE (WOMEN BEHIND THE) BAND:
Shara Worden: Vocals, lyricist, many instruments
A variety of other musicians, depending on show or album


WHO IS MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND?
My Brightest Diamond is the project of an incredible woman named Shara Worden; she is the captain of this musical ship. Shara is based out of Brooklyn, New York, but has lived in many corners of the United States. "Picking up an opera degree at the University of North Texas, Shara immersed herself in the songs of Purcell and Debussy. After college, she moved to New York City to simultaneously continue her opera studies and pursue her songwriting ambitions, releasing two albums with her band Awry." - asthmatickitty.com

After Awry, Shara ventured out on her own and started My Brightest Diamond. Although the music and lyrics are always the same, much changes about MBD; no one can predict the number of musicians on stage, the instruments used, and Shara's costume for the night. There is theatre and storytelling in each vowel. She reminds me a lot of a stronger, louder Tori Amos or a female Damien Rice.

One of my favorite songs played at the Hotel Cafe was "Apples." This song felt like it was sung as a memoir of a carnival side show act before his life came to this. This person is remembering the summers with his Grandfather spent in an apple orchard and the innocence of a simpler time.

All of MBD's recorded music has been released on independent Asthmatic Kitty Records.


LISTEN UP!
A Thousand Shark's Teeth (June 17, 2008)
***Stream A Thousand Shark's Teeth here!
Tear It Down [Remixes] (March 6, 2007)
Bring Me The Workhorse (August 2006)


FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE:
"Golden Star" LIVE!


"Dragonfly" Official Video



WHY YOU SHOULD LOVE MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND, TOO:
***You have never heard or experienced as much musical force as from this five-foot powerhouse!
***Much like the songs on Missy Higgins's "Sound of White" album, MBD's songs tell emotional and intense stories that make your imagination run wild.
***Music + charity + merchandise = a perfect combination. Shara created a t-shirt for the Yellow Bird Project, an organization that gets musicians to sell tees and donate the profit to charity. Check out here design here!


UPCOMING SHOWS:
Aug 8 2008 4:00P Haldern Festival, Rees


Thanks!
Julia

PS - Are we friends on MySpace yet? No? Click HERE!

Artist/Band Spotlight #14: "I heard these guys are good..."

Friends -

This week I thought I would switch things up a bit and list off some of the great bands that have come to my attention recently. I haven't seen any of these bands perform live yet, so I can't justify a full review, but I want to get the music out there so we can start to love them together.

As always, if there is a great band below the radar that you are passionate about, please let me know!


LUDO (St. Louis, Missouri)

Ludo's Official MySpace Page
LudoRock.com
"Love Me Dead" official video


I was driving through Hollywood listening to Love Line on KROQ and heard Ludo's single "Love Me Dead." I fell in love with the song the same way I couldn't stop listening to Cute Is What We Aim For's "Curse of Curves." This is a 100% pure fun pop-rock band like Panic at the Disco and Bowling for Soup. Ludo has been a band for eights years now, but they are just picking up speed. The guys are on Warped Tour all Summer, so no matter where you call home, you can probably catch these guys sometime soon. Their latest album, "You're Awful, I Love You" was released on Island Def Jam Records.


BRYAN SCARY AND THE SHREDDING TEARS (Brooklyn, NY)

Bryan Scary's Official MySpace Page
BryanScary.com
"Purple Rocket" LIVE! at the "Flight of the Knife" CD release party, Halloween 2006


Bryan Scary is many things, and many sounds, at one. His music can be described as "semi-psychedelic art pop," which I think fits well because I know Andy Warhol would have been a fan. The band's biggest influences are the Beatles, the Kinks, Queen, and XTC; all of which blend beautifully in each song. I also hear a lot of Silverchair's latest sound in BSATST's latest album "Flight of the Knife," available on indie label Black and Greene Records. I can't think of many other modern bands that groove like this one, but if you are into theatrical pop-rock (The Matches) and idolize Freddie Mercury, you are sure to love Bryan Scary!


THE FORMAT (Phoenix, AZ)

The Format's Official MySpace Page
TheFormat.com
"Dog Problems" official video


The Format, from Peoria, AZ, started as a two-man band with vocalist Nate Ruess and multi-instrumentalist Sam Means, but has grown into a full band over the last half-decade. I love that this band has a very mellow, indie rock feel with lyrics that catch your attention as they float by. The songs are melodically simple but deep in their comprehension and analysis of modern relationships. Some of The Format's Top Friends on MySpace are Steel Train and The Honorary Title. These guys have struggled with Elektra/Atlantic Records and finding their way, but they kept on and eventually took back the reigns; the band's latest album "Dog Problems" was released July 2006 on their own Vanity Label.



Great Shows This Week in L.A.
July 7: Under the Influence of Giants (Monday residency) w/ Bridges and Mico Stai @ Spaceland, Silver Lake (FREE)
July 7: Princeton (Monday residency), Dirty Mittens, Le Switch, and Young Animals @ Silver Lake Lounge, Silver Lake (FREE)
July 8 - Gene Simmons is signing his new book, "Ladies of the Night: A Historical and Personal Perspective of the Oldest Profession in the World" @ Borders, 1360 Westwood Blvd., Westwood (7:00P p.m., FREE)
July 9: Natasha Bedingfield w/ The Veronicas and Kate Voegele @ House of Blues, Sunset Strip
July 10: Tilly and the Wall w/ Castledoor @ the EchoPlex (below the Echo), Echo Park
July 10: Glare Of Rockets, The Holy Rolling Empire, The Monthlies, The Forward, and The Young Whiskey @ The AlterKnit (Knitting Factory), Hollywood
July 11: Flobots @ House of Blues, Anaheim
July 12: OneRepublic @ Pacific Ampitheatre, Costa Mesa
July 12: The Who w/ Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, and The Flaming Lips @ The Hollywood Bowl
July 13: Live w/ Collective Soul and Blues Traveler @ Greek Theatre


Thanks!
Julia

PS - Check out all of my Monday reviews and be my friend on my MySpace page!!!