A Floridian of Cuban descent, Raul Malo started playing bass guitar while in high school and was a member of a small band playing the high school dance circuit. That band was known alternately as The Boys, The Tom Boys, and The Basics with Malo sharing vocal duties with guitarist, Tommy Anthony. In 1990, he became the vocalist for the four-man band, The Mavericks, for whom he penned most of the songs.
Mark Kozelek was born and raised in Massillon, Ohio. Upon relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, he met drummer Anthony Koutsos. After the pair moved once again to San Francisco, California, Red House Painters formed with the addition of guitarist Gorden Mack and bassist Jerry Vessel. From 1992 to 1996, Red House Painters released a series of acclaimed albums, showcasing Kozelek's intense, highly autobiographical songs.
Teddy Thompson was born in London, England in 1976 and is the son of Linda Thompson and Richard Thompson (Richard & Linda Thompson), and the brother of singer Kamila Thompson. Teddy's style is difficult to categorize, because his influences are varied. Growing up around folk music, he listened to a musical gamut that covered Hank Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Sam Cooke and gospel. As he fell in with other musical progeny, most notably close friend Rufus Wainwright, his sound developed into his own combination of country/western, rock, and his father's folk-rock.
Buckinghamsire based singer-songwriter Dave Hamilton-Smith (of Desert City Silence and Plurals) presents a sincere and heartfelt acoustic solo project here. Combining a John Frusciante influenced playing style, Buckley-esque vocals and a jaw-droppingly emotional core, these are songs that can reach into you and take hold of your very soul. His debut album 'You Can't Argue With Silence' was released on Dead Pilot Records in May 2008, and next up is the 'Cigarettes' EP, being released on Division Street very soon, with another full length following that.
Jason Isbell is an alt-country singer /songwriter /guitarist from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Best known for his years with the Drive-By Truckers where he played with his then wife, bassist Shonna Tucker. Isbell - who joined the Truckers in 2001 - left the band in early 2007 around the same time as his divorce from Tucker was finalized. In addition to being a gifted songwriter, Isbell is regarded as an exceptional guitar player.
The Ghost Hotel began life as a three-piece pop-rock band back in 2005. Formed as a vehicle for the songs of former Team Jedi bassist and guitarist Aaron Gibson, the band brought on a mixture of rough and ready guitar noise, acoustic twang and pop sensibility. Boasting the formidable rhythm section of Jack Kennedy (Grand Central - Bass) and Steven Rea (The White Trash - Drums), the trio set ears pricking up around Perth and were soon supporting the likes of Bob Evans and Youth Group.
Steve Earle (born January 17, 1955) is a singer-songwriter best known for his country music and rock 'n roll tinged "alt-country." He is also a published writer, a keen political activist (particularly in protesting against the death penalty in the U.S., as in his song "Ellis Unit One" from the movie Dead Man Walking), and has written and directed a play. Steve also had a small role as a recovering addict on the HBO television show "The Wire".
A.A. Bondy is an abbreviation of Auguste Arthur Bondy (aka Scott Bondy), the former lead singer of Birmingham, AL's Southern grunge darlings Verbena. After Verbena broke up in 2003, Bondy retreated to a Catskills home in Palenville in upstate New York and in time began writing songs again, emerging with a stripped-down indie folk sound. He recorded and mixed his debut album, "American Hearts", at a barn near his home, releasing the project in 2007 on the Superphonic imprint. The album was picked up by Fat Possum and re-released early in 2008.
Band of Horses, known early in its life simply as Horses, is an Indie band formed in Seattle and later moved to Charleston, South Carolina, United States by Ben Bridwell, Mat Brooke, Tim Meinig and Chris Early. Creighton Barret and Rob Hampton Later replaced Meinig and Early and in February 2006 Joe Arnone joined the troupe. They are currently signed to Fat Possum Records. Band of Horses was formed by Ben Bridwell (guitar, vocals) and Mat Brooke (guitar) in 2004 after the break-up of their previous band, Carissa's Wierd.
Real Estate is a band from Ridgewood, New Jersey, United States, now based in Brooklyn, N.Y. The band has roots in the Garden State and they’re led by singer/guitarist Martin Courtney and feature guitarist Matthew Mondanile (the latter known to some for his work in Ducktails, Predator Vision, and The Parasails) as well as Alex Bleeker on bass and Etienne Duguay (also of Predator Vision) on the drums.