The tracks, 'Melody for Lovers,' 'Hang Around,' and 'Electric Nights,' showcase a band that is tour-tight, delivering rockband sass that is riddled with splendid vocal harmonies and catchy choruses. Their matching haircuts and vintage wardrobes imply that they fell into a time warp and landed here, in 2011, before covering their bodies in tattoos. But don't be fooled by their aesthetics. The allure of the Biters is not due in its entirety to their look. While the obvious influences of all shades of punk and rock are there, they also manage to blend an affinity for basic, sugary sweet pop into the mix; a nice way to differentiate themselves from the packs of bands attempting similar sounds. read more

For some of you, Disappears is THE coolest band you’ve never heard of. Formed just over two years ago by Brian Case and Graeme Gibson, they’ve released two well-received records, both on the totally-with-it Kranky imprint, and toured the US and Europe. Indie prom king John Dwyer is a former member, and Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley joined up in 2010. ‘Guider,’ ‘New Fast,’ and ‘Marigold’ are three shining examples of Disappears reverby and vocally remonstrative sound, performed at Vibes Music in Indianapolis for Laundromatinee.com. read more

The hills of the Commonwealth shine in the songs of Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore. Both men are truly gifted musicians and folk singers hailing from Kentucky. Ben Sollee is an exceptional cellist and songwriter with musical lineage harking back to an inclusion playing alongside Abigail Washburn and Bela Fleck in the Sparrow Quartet. Daniel Martin Moore is a folk songwriter on SubPop with a blessed, tranquil drawl that marries his full-blooded, but delicate playing that comes across as easy reassurance in his songs. read more

The hills of the Commonwealth shine in the songs of Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore. Both men are truly gifted musicians and folk singers hailing from Kentucky. Ben Sollee is an exceptional cellist and songwriter with musical lineage harking back to an inclusion playing alongside Abigail Washburn and Bela Fleck in the Sparrow Quartet. Daniel Martin Moore is a folk songwriter on SubPop with a blessed, tranquil drawl that marries his full-blooded, but delicate playing that comes across as easy reassurance in his songs. read more

On the record, Golden Bloom is Shawn Fogel: singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist. On the road, he is joined by a chosen few, creating the same full, rich palette that his recordings demonstrate. Golden Bloom joined Laundromatinee.com late this spring for two of Fogel’s handcrafted gems, performed at the French Pharmacie in Broadripple, IN. read more

Once upon a time, before Prince William and Kate Middleton became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, there was The Dutchess and The Duke. Unlike ordinary dukes and duchesses, Kimberly Morrison and Jesse Lortz were from Seattle and made beautiful folk music. They also were not married but were in fact childhood friends who just so happened to play guitar and sing. Every now and then they would tour the country and people would come from miles around to hear them play. After playing music for three years, however, The Dutchess and The Duke decided it was time to stop playing music together and went their separate ways. Humble folk enthusiasts around the country were very sad, but they all hoped that one day The Dutchess and The Duke would play together again. read more

Me: I feel like we can all agree that technology has added a lot to the musical landscape since forever ago. I mean, electric guitars, right? You: Duh. Me: BUT, while it’s awesome to hear someone create music using sound boards and keystrokes or pedals and reverb, there’s something even more mesmerising about someone who can step back from that technology and create music acoustically, right? Take Nicole Atkins, for instance. Before opening for The Black Keys at The Lawn at White River State Park, Atkins performed for our crew in downtown Indy by the canal. She came strapped with just an acoustic guitar and her voice, and all we had to do was mic her up and start filming. That’s when shit got real. read more

Epstein has been a part of many bands in the past, (most recently Neutral Uke Hotel,) and decided to find his current line-up through Craigslist ads. He and his wife/bandmate/drummer Sophia Cacciola rounded up a small troupe of insanely talented women, handed each an instrument or two, and told the ladies to have at it. The first song, ‘Amylee,’ exemplifies the result: beautifully sung harmonies, an impressively full, round, rich sound, and the constant entertainment of taking it all in. The girls all sparkle and shine, in their snappy red and black ensembles, and their use of what seems to be each and every instrument that they could possibly fit into their van impresses time after time. read more

Tim Kinsella, the only permanent member of Chicago’s Joan of Arc, has been cranking out his own eclectic brand of math pop since the mid-90s. He and his ever-changing back-up band recently joined Laundromatinee.com at Lovebird Recording Studios, delivering a crisp, punctuated session, featuring the songs ‘Love Life’ and ‘What Whorse You Wrote Id On.’ read more

If Freelance Whales were a coffee, they would undoubtedly be a blend. Their sound tastily combines the aged, nostalgic warmth of folk with the smooth sweetness of pop. It’s relaxing, yet it’s energetic. It’s ethereal, yet it’s urban. It’s conventional, yet it’s cool. South American coffee growers can harvest their crop to it and Starbucks customers can receive their warm espressos to it. In case you didn’t already know, Starbucks did in fact use their song, “Generator ^ First Floor” in a television commercial, so there is some truth to that last juxtaposition at least in the minds of Starbucks executives. Numerous companies and television shows have likewise used Freelance Whales’ music, driving home the point that they are simply a good and much desired mix. read more

Neon Indian is a bit of an underdog in the scope of recent electro/synth-pop revival in that it doesn't attempt to relive any of the worn cliches trampled by many others. Founder Alan Palomo builds his brand electronic sound collages without forgetting what makes a great song: memorable hooks and throttling rhythm. Neon Indian is the third, and finest, project imagined by the ambitious Palomo. Some wondered if the magic would transcend beyond the studio. We decided to give Alan and his live outfit a shot in the old library of Earth House Collective. Affirmative evidence is shown in these videos as the band proves the strength of the songwriting easily transitions to the live performance. read more

Regarding the word “Elsinore,” there are several possible definitions. There’s the city in Denmark where Shakespeare set Hamlet; the small town in Utah; the lake and corresponding city in Sacramento, California; the historic theatre in Salem, Oregon; the car model by Honda; and last but not least, the indie rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Not a whole lot seems to connect the various definitions, but then again, maybe there’s some underlying synchronicity at work here and I’m too oblivious to see it. Have fun looking for it, and let me know if you find anything. read more

When you talk with people who geek out about music (*cough), they can often tell you they’ve got a favorite Dylan/Bowie/Lou Reed/prolific songwriter period. Don’t get me wrong, the body of work is great, but there’s a few albums that were released over the course of a few years that really speak to you. These albums are what you immediately think of as defining that artist, despite the decades worth of music they created; do you think about Blonde on Blonde or Highway 61 Revisited, Ziggy Stardust or Heroes, Loaded or Transformer? For me, Johnny Cash is no exception to this pantheon and that kind of explains why Murder by Death is so great. read more

Returning to his solo career and releasing his latest album, "My Old, Familiar Friend," Brendan Benson showcases his skill for writing catchy pop songs that still have some of the grit from his days as a Raconteur. While at The Pop Machine he played three such songs for us, stripping down his stage plot to just a beautiful acoustic guitar and his scratchy, straightforward vocals. read more

Nestled within the walls of the Earth House Collective, in a library lined with bright book spines and creaking hardwood floors, Ra Ra Riot performed a 3-song Laundromatinee.com session, displaying their blend of classic instrumentation with indie rock whimsy. read more

These videos show the strength and capacity of front-woman Erika Wennerstrom’s vocals and prove an inherent energy lies within the songs themselves. The band’s rock’n’roll sound flirts with country, blues, and pop, creating a rich, melodic sound that can be played loud or soft. read more

Portland, Oregon's The Thermals have carved out a beautiful niche in the punk-pop world over the last 10 years, but it hasn't always been the easiest road to glory. In 2010, The Thermals teamed up with Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla to create their fifth studio album, "Personal Life." Both songs in this session are featured on that album, and as Pitchfork.com says, they are "pretty damn catchy!" read more

The Grates hail from Brisbane, Australia. That’s right. If Men at Work were to sing to them, “Do you come from the land down under?” they would have to answer, “Yes.” As to whether or not they hear the thunder, I cannot say. Since forming in 2002, they have released two full length albums as well as numerous EPs and 7-inches. All four songs featured here can be found on their 2008 release "Teeth Lost, Hearts Won," an album that displayed the band’s ability to progress as artists as well as have fun with their music. With an album due in the near future, it’ll be interesting to see what comes next. Until then, enjoy these videos and go put another shrimp on the barbie! read more

Portugal. The Man perform live at Vibes Music for LaundroMatinee.com read more

What you may not have gotten from watching these videos is that front man Van Pierszalowski used to be a fisherman, spending his summers fishing salmon off the coast of Alaska’s Kodiak Island. Listening to songs, this seemingly arbitrary fact makes perfect sense as the songs do have a shanty-like quality about them, and much of Port O’Brien’s earlier work directly addresses Van’s life as a fisherman. The experience comes through much less often in lyrics nowadays, but it still resides firmly in their sound and will most likely continue to influence their future efforts.... read more