LIGHTHOUSE
Outside Stage A
7:00 GRANDFABRIC (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
Grandfabric has titled the pop song formula just enough to create a sound that is as unique as it is accessible. The Philadelphia band carries the torch of the loud (i.e. post-Sinatra) Hudson beat sound of Yo La Tengo and the Feelies, but has marked its own territory with quirky chord changes that bring to mind early Talking Heads.
8:20 NO VACANCY (NEWARK, DE)
No Vacancy is an original rock band from Northern Delaware, who’s sound has been compared to the Psychedelic Furs, Jeff Buckley and U2, and have been creating quite a buzz with their powerful music, songwriting and live performances.
9:40 THE PHOENIX TRAP (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
The Phoenix Trap, hailing from Philadelphia, PA, is a Pop/Rock outfit that likes to blend in some hints of Blues and Soul. This is combined with some toe-tappping and head bobbing energy, to create a fun show experience for all ages.
11:00 TANGERINE (PITTSBURGH, PA)
With his raspy baritone, Tangerine lead singer Tony Matz sounds world-weary beyond his years and indeed, for a debut release, the level of musicianship on Tangerine (self-release) shows a maturity in arrangements and dynamics that many more-seasoned bands strive for yet never achieve. This two guitar, bass, drum combo has a bit of an 80‚s sound with its chorused guitars and Matz‚ almost Morrissey-like detachment, but Tangerine is no retro throwback. With great melodic hooks and engaging, mature lyrics, Tangerine has that intangible something that makes it stand out. This is an outstanding release by on of Pittsburgh‚s best new bands. Catch them while you can. - Pittsburgh Magazine

Inside Stage B - Face Down Records Presents
7:40 THE SWIVEL CHAIRS (BROOKLYN, NY)
The duo of Jason Brown and Jeremy Grites have been playing their own brand of folk-rock/indie-pop for 12 years now. Influences and song styles range from old country and 60's pop, to quiet folk and angular indie-rock. They released a retrospective, 5 cd boxed set last summer, a brand new cd on Paisley Pop Records last fall and have an upcoming split cd release on Face Down Records due out this spring.
9:00 THE COMMONS (TRENTON, NJ)
The Commons are a rock/pop/alt-country band hailing from Trenton, NJ. Compared at times to the likes of Bob Mould and Frank Black, they have been quoted as possessing a near-heroic quality delivering a forceful and gentle grace full of melodic, haunting guitar work and deep lyrics. Together for four years, 400 shows logged up and down the east coast, two full-length albums, an EP, several compilations (including Face Down Records tribute to The Who “Who’s Not Forgotten”), and tracks in two independent movies, The Commons find themselves riding high on the release of their third critically acclaimed full-length offering Come On Get Gone.
10:20 DIPSOMANIACS (NJ)
The Dipsomaniacs are the longstanding melodic garage-rock/power-pop band from NJ in love with rock and roll. Compared most often to the Who, Wilco and the Replacements, they've released several CDs, appeared on countless compilations/tributes and have played all over the country. The Dipsomaniacs critically acclaimed new CD, Freakin Eureka, was released in the fall of 2003 on FDR/Jam Records).
11:40 BASTARDS OF MELODY (JERSEY CITY, NJ)
The Jersey City power pop band, Bastards of Melody, newest CD, Break Up, was recently released on Face Down Records. The album consists of 10 succinct new songs ranging in style from high velocity, garagey rock, to mid-tempo jangle-pop and even features an introspective acoustic ballad. No matter what style or speed, the Bastards remain true to their power-pop roots, keeping things melodic and catchy throughout.

RUSTY RUDDER
Outside Stage A
5:40 ANOTHER LINCOLN (BALTIMORE, MD)
Another Lincoln is a female fronted band that blends 3 part harmonies, catchy hooks, and driving guitars into an energetic, mesmerizing stage show.
7:00 LUZER (Trenton, NJ)
Formed in late 1999, LUZER is one of New Jersey's most promising up and coming modern rock bands. LUZER's influences range from The Beatles to KISS to The Beach Boys, The Cars, and Queen, but their sound is a power-pop amalgamation of all of these. In the words of LUZER’s singer/songwriter Tim Mahoney, “We are just four guys who love rock n’ roll.” But LUZER’s not just that. They are four extremely talented young musicians who are standing tall on the horizon of the new millennium's "Rock N’ Roll Renaissance".
8:20 CARBONDALE (NYC)
Steeped equally in the urgent sensibilities of modern rock and the singer-songwriter tradition of the Seventies, 'cause 7 ate 9 - the debut album by New York City's Carbondale - echos the folkloric past while imparting the complex realities of contemporary life.
9:40 FOOLED BY APRIL (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
"Really catchy choruses, really catchy hooks. Perfection in the form of the three(ish) minute pop song. Big, happy, contented sigh..." - Austin American-Statesman (SXSW Recap). Fooled By April's debut Ep #1 seller on CDBaby, CMJ Top 200 and Top Ten Add.
11:00 EVOKA (WINSTON-SALEM, NC)
"Born from the hills of Western North Carolina, Evoka are most likely the best band you've never heard of. 2004 will likely change all of that as the band readies the release "When The Day Comes". Combining elements of etheral brit bands such as Radiohead and Kent, mixed with American Rock, Evoka are forging the gap between "The Pond".
12:20 THE ROSENBERGS (NYC)
The Rosenbergs are a band of New York City-based musicians whose jet-propelled pop has made them one of the hottest acts on the indie scene. The Rosenbergs have been able to achieve mass media exposure in the U.S. Their music has been heard on numerous TV shows, including Dawson's Creek, MTV's Real World and Undergrads, Fox's Party of Five and ESPN's Summer X-Games, as well as The Howard Stern Show, XM Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio and numerous commercial, college and Internet radio stations. The Rosenbergs have just completed their third CD with production wizard Keith Cleversley (Flaming Lips, Hum, Posies, Spiritualized). The songs represent the next step in what is certain to be a dazzling career, and reinforce the widely held belief that The Rosenbergs are here to stay.

Outside Stage B
6:20 RADIO CAROLINE (BALTIMORE, MD)
7:40 THE SO & SO’S (NYC)
Featuring three-time Boston Music Award nominee Meghan Toohey, bassist Rodrigo Monterrey, guitarist Jay Barclay and drummer Chris Hobbick, The So and So's create moody pop songs seeped in edgy guitar hooks and passionate vocals. "Give Me Drama", their full-length debut, features songs produced by Victor Van Vugt (PJ Harvey,Nick Cave)and was released earlier this year. The record has since been generating increasing excitement from critics and fans in the U.S. as well as in Europe. Their powerful and inspired live shows, spearheaded by Toohey's expressive vocals and spirited guitar work, never fail to wow the band's ever-growing fan base. The So and So's were recently proclaimed one of five "bands with buzz" by the Boston Globe.
9:00 LOVEDRUG (OHIO)
The Ohio-based rock band musically delivers highbrow pop art akin to Mercury Rev, early Radiohead or Sunny Day Real Estate, crossed with the pop sensibilities of Third Eye Blind and the arena grandeur of Queen.
10:20 3RD DEGREE (BROOKLYN, NY)
Rock and Roll straight outa Brooklyn. Blurring the line between modern and classic rock, 3rd Degree may love bands like STP and Foo Fighters as well as The Beatles and The Who, but they don't sound like any of them.
11:40 BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB (JERSEY CITY, NJ)
Billionaire Boys Club, or BBC, as some call it, was formed in the summer of 2002 by four like-minded young men, tired of being told what was cool and hell-bent on having their own say. Bored with the same lame sounds being peddled over the airwaves, our friends in Billionaire Boys Club resolved to be at the forefront of a revolution years overdue—the re-birth of Rock & Roll. What they stand for is simple: honest, catchy, guitar-driven/harmony-laden rock with street credibility. They have a sound and image that go hand-in-hand, but they are definitely not all style and no substance.

Inside Stage C
7:00 FALLEN FROM GRACE (RANDOLPH, NJ)
Fallen from Grace is a fresh blend of soulful vocals, catchy acoustic guitar riffs and moving hip-hop beats.  FFG merged the best elements of the different genres to create a complete and unforgettable sound. Vertical Horizon vs. Dave Matthews meets Dido.
8:20 PARALLAX PROJECT (HARRISBURG, PA)
Parallax Project, which began as a solo outing for Michael Giblin, bassist for the critically acclaimed pop band Cherry Twister, blends the best of Mod, Punk, and Pop, and infuses it with the keen observations of classic singer-songwriter rock. Energy, wit, sweat, and melody.
9:40 NEW INVISIBLE JOY (PITTSBURGH, PA)
With the release of "Trust", in February ’04, New Invisible Joy is reaping rave reviews from critics who call it "a breathtaking album of anthemic pop songs not unlike the one that just won ‘Record of the Year’ at the Grammy's" (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Named Pittsburgh's Best Local Unsigned Band by Citysearch.com; New Invisible Joy has opened for several national artists such as John Mayer, The Strokes, and Hoobastank. Chart magazine's ChartAttack.com called one New Invisible Joy NXNE performance "sheer gratification" with a "contagious attitude that was immediately picked up by the crowd… excellent… wow." The band will also be included on Volume 2 of The Best of the Songwriters Hall of Fame New Writers Showcase to be released this May.
11:00 AEROVOX (NYC)
With influences ranging from Echo & the Bunnymen, Ride and The Stone Roses to New Order and Psychedelic Furs, AEROVOX are architects of what they refer to as "post punk space rock" which they exhibit to great effect on their recent 'The Sky Highatrist EP' release.
12:20 THE QUEUE (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
Piano, guitar, bass, drums and lots of energy: the Queue will have you up on your feet and dancing in no time flat! This four piece band from Philadelphia writes songs so catchy that you are guaranteed to be singing along by the second verse. For the Queue it's all about great pop melodies, 3 part harmonies and fun, fun, fun!

Inside Stage D
7:40 ARTHUR YORIA (HOUSTON, TX)
Built on beefy rhythms, unforgettable riffs, soaring melodies and clever lyrics that can quickly go from touching to venomous, Arthur Yoria's songs are models of contemporary pop song craft. I’ll Be Here Awake is the Houston based, Chicago native’s debut full-length CD on 12 Records, Inc.
9:00 STEPHEN RESO (HARRISBURG, PA)
Stephen's heartfelt emotional lyrics and soaring pop anthems have captivated audiences and packed venues across the country. The young man from Harrisburg has appeared on compilations with the likes of Material Issue, Matthew Sweet, Local H, The Posies, and more. Tracks from "Ordinary Life", his 1st release on GIG RECORDS, was featured on MTV's Real World Las Vegas last fall.
10:20 BOWMAN (BOSTON, MA)
BOWMAN is a singer/songwriter, who has been causing quite a buzz in the Boston area, as well as at several of the music conferences/showcases. In 2002, BOWMAN was invited to participate at NEMO in Boston, EAT'M in Las Vegas, the Atlantis Music Conference in Atlanta, as well as the 6th Annual Millenium Music Conference. In addition, Billy Bowman was nominated for a Best Male Vocalist Award at last year's Boston Music Awards. He has been catching the eye of several producers, as well as A&R people for whom BOWMAN has been showcasing. Check him out while he's still unsigned!
11:40 STARGAZER LILY (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
"Stargazer Lily is like an amusement park…with something for everyone. This five-year-old four-piece from Philly packs love, anger, wit, pain, joy, and sex into 3 minute and 15 second rock rides"

Friday, April 23rd Performers by Venue

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