Fall Artists to Watch - Part II

[mp3] The Wheel: "Whimper and Wail"

The Wheel are one of those band's that you say - "wait - how did I miss these guys?" Just listening to their 2007 record Desire and Dissolving Men, immediately elicited the above emotion. Rumor has it that the Wisconsin natives (what up Mike Baily) have signed with Rounder Records in the past few weeks. The Wheel have opened for Bon Iver, and are going to be playing some high profile showcases this CMJ, including the Brooklyn Vegan party at Music Hall of Williamsburg. They play a simple and pastoral brand of country-folk that has a melancholy streak to it - even recalling Leonard Cohen at some points. They have several new demos up on their myspace now, and are certainly going to be making huge strides as the fall moves into winter.

also...

[mp3] Zambri: "From the Starts"

Zambri have been our radar for a good bit now, and have been slowly building up momentum in New York on the back of their furious live show and consistent string of New York tour dates. The band sent us over their new mp3 "From the Starts" which they gave away to all of the fans who attended their Bang for Changes EP release show, which we unfortunately missed. We're jerks. "From the Starts" channels a more atmospheric Bat for Lashes type of indie rock, which is different from Zambri's usual in your face type of synth-driven dance-rock. The song is quite brooding and moody, while dialing down the wailing dual female vocals from sisters Jessica and Christi Jo Zambri. It's a nice change of pace for the group and shows a mature forward progression of the band's songwriting and approach to their music. They are all over CMJ this year, so make sure to catch at least one of their shows - it's 100% worth it. See Zambri's CMJ dates after the jump.

ZAMBRI CMJ DATES
Oct 20 2009 CMJ Club NME party @ BLVD new York
Oct 23 2009 CMJ FAMOUS FRIENDS PARTY @ 88 Palace Brooklyn, New York
Oct 24 2009 CMJ Spike Hill Party NY, New York

THE WHEEL CMJ & NATIONAL TOUR
Oct 17 2009 The Washington Burlington, Iowa
Oct 20 2009 Music Hall of Williamsburg Brooklyn Vegan Party Brooklyn, New York
Oct 23 2009 Piano’s (SKEWER CMJ 2009) planetary group / future sounds NY New York
Oct 23 2009 Bowery Ballroom - High Road showcase New York, New York
Oct 24 2009 TBA NYC New York, New York
Oct 30 2009 Bottleneck Lawrence, Kansas
Nov 12 2009 Fox Theater Boulder, Colorado
Nov 13 2009 Bluebird Theater Denver, Colorado
Nov 14 2009 In the Venue Salt Lake City, Utah
Nov 17 2009 Bottleneck Lawrence, Kansas
Nov 18 2009 The Blue Note Columbia, Missouri
Nov 19 2009 Peoples Court Des Moines, Iowa
Nov 20 2009 Turner Hall Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nov 21 2009 Majestic Theater Madison, Wisconsin
Nov 22 2009 First Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota