Bands, clubs, artists, and businesses that you may not have heard of yet…but that we think are going to make a name for themselves really soon ~ and you get to hear about them here, right before they make it big!

BAND
Audio Nation
By Tom Godfrey

In a scene where there are about as many cover bands as there are original, it takes a lot to get noticed and even more to be successful. Audio Nation has done both. Rocking audiences and gaining an almost rabid following since April 2008, this band is here to stay.

“Most of us have been in original bands since we were teenagers,” says drummer Dave Leal, “but this is a way to draw bigger crowds to recognized music and to have the opportunity to play at more venues.”

This five piece powerhouse consists of Leal, singer Nate Byers, Nick Christy on guitar and back- up vocals, Scott Andrews on guitar, and Mardeke “Deke” Mardirossian on Bass.

“We all bring something different to the table,” explains Leal, “I’m an ‘80s guy, and Scott is a ‘70s guy. We play what we know, but we target everything current.” Indeed, part of what makes this band so successful is that they are always listening for their next song. “If there is a new Nickleback song on WAAF, we try to do it first.”

Successful might be an understatement when it comes to Audio Nation. The band is floored by their crowds which have grown to almost monster proportions. At a recent show, the club owner confessed that the band’s fans had more than doubled his occupancy limits.

“It was wild,” Leal laughs. “We were like, ‘What is going on?’ It got to a point where I couldn’t see the other members of the band it was so crowded!”

More than anything, Audio Nation is a band that truly appreciates those who make it out to their shows. Leal contributes their success to word of mouth.

“It’s so gratifying to see all of the Myspace comments the day after a show,” Leal explains. “Everyone brings friends and it has become this social event at our concerts.” Leal is as quick to point out that Audio Nation was nominated for “Band with the Best Groupies” as well as “Best Cover Band” in Pulse.

“It has been a crazy ride,” says Leal. “This has become so much more than I anticipated and it has really done so on its own. We are consistently seeing crowds of 100 or 125. I feel very fortunate to have run into these guys and to be doing this thing.”

To learn more about Audio Nation and upcoming shows, check out myspace.com/audionationri.

BAND
Two “Fur” One:
Nosho/Around the Fur
By Alison Zawadski

After the band Nosho ~ who caught our Editor’s eye, or rather ear ~ was featured as a Homegrown band on Hartford, CT’s independent rock station 106.9 WCCC, they made such an impression that they were asked by the radio station to open for Hurt and Finger 11 at Webster Theatre.

But that’s not all they’ve been up to. Nosho, formed in 2002, has already released two albums, “Headache” in 2003 and “All I have” in November of 2007, and can be heard Sundays at 9 p.m. on WCCC.

Made up of Robin James Deland on vocals, Robert Griffin on guitar, Joe Rogers on bass and Jason Mastorakis on drums, Nosho recently got an endorsement deal from DR Strings after being selected by the company at a showcase in New York City at Crash Mansion in the Bowery.

The band has also gained the recognition of Eric Arena and Jim Fogarty, who produced and mixed “All I Have” and have also worked with major bands like Farewell to Freeway, Shadows Fall and one of Nosho’s primary influences, Killswitch Engage.

Nosho has also had the pleasure of opening for Sevendust, and the influence that Sevendust has had on Nosho runs deep and can be heard throughout “All I Have.” The experience of opening for such a powerhouse band also helped Nosho’s members realize how far they can take their own performances.

“Opening for Sevendust at the Webster opened our eyes to a lot of new things,” Mastorakis said. “We were able to watch the show from the side of the stage and for me watching Morgan Rose [drummer of Sevendust], he showed me how at ease, how in control he was and that was very powerful. Seeing their show is inspirational.”
Playing to a huge crowd on the main stage at Webster Theatre has shown Nosho the heights to which their music can take them.

But Nosho is far from being a one-dimensional opening act. Their energetic live show and dedication to their music stretches the band in two directions. Aside from playing shows as Nosho, packed with driving and melodic original tunes, the band also doubles as a Deftones tribute band, Around the Fur.

For a chance to check out Nosho before they’re selling out headlining shows at the area’s best rock venues, head to Maximum Capacity in Chicopee on May 23 to catch them at the all-day festival. They’ll also be playing May 28 at Sammy’s Patio in Boston

For booking, music and a full list of shows, check out myspace.com/nosho; for more info on Around the Fur, go to myspace.com/aroundthefurdeftonestribute.

BAND
Birch Hill Dam
By Alex Kantarelis

Central MA has always been a strong breeding ground for metal. And the guys in Birch Hill Dam are proud to sit under that umbrella. The Central MA four-piece have been making a name for themselves all over the New England area with their aggressive sound and their dedicated work ethic. The band has been together for 2 years, and has already accomplished quite a bit in that time. With a full-length album under their belt, they are ready to take the next step as musicians.

Birch Hill Dam doesn’t beat around the bush. Their sound is influence greatly by bands like Black Sabbath, Corrosion of Conformity, Down, and probably most directly, Kyuss. With loud, but not over-done vocals, and unbelievably heavy tone, their CD stands apart from all the other metal and nu-metal wannabes out there.

Their self-released CD, which came out last December, has already got them plenty of attention. While they have been mostly playing in the Worcester and Central MA area, they are not stopping there. “We’re trying to get a lot more exposure for the band. I don’t think we’ve exhausted the Worcester scene, yet but we’d still like to branch out,” said bassist Joe DiMucci. But playing Worcester isn’t so bad, considering some of the shows they’ve played. “We got to open up for Testament at The Palladium,” he said. And that’s a feat that for most bands remains just a fantasy.

Although they have just released an album, they haven’t stopped creating music. Their goals for 2009 are simple: “We’re currently in the writing process and we’ll be working on our 2nd record,” DiMucci said. But the main goal is to get out and play as much as possible. “We have a few songs done, but we’d like to tour the [hell] out this first record,” he added.

So many bands try to make the most marketable sound so they can make money fast, and they fail miserably while doing it. Birch Hill Dam just know how to rock, and plan to continue doing so for a long time. When it comes to playing music, “I’ve got an eternal itch (and it’s not VD),” DiMucci said. “Our ultimate goals are to just do it forever. To go full force,” he added. I, for one, am hoping they can make it happen.

www.myspace.com/birchhilldam

GRADUATE
Matthew Sanchez
By Tine Roycroft

Matthew Sanchez, salsa singer extraordinaire and a familiar name (and voice!) to Pulse readers, is back swinging, swaying and romancing his way into our hearts with his latest single, “En Esta Cama Vacia.” Already getting radio play in both Massachusetts and New York, this song is filled with vocal stylings that can soften the meanest of spirits with contagious rhythm, energy and beauty.

Despite traveling like a fiend to promote the new tune, Sanchez, 22, was able to share the story of how the up-and-coming “El Sonero” came to be.

“Salsa was always in my culture, I’m Puerto Rican,” Sanchez said. “About five years ago, my stepdad told me to try out for the Latin Festival. I tried out and I’ve sung there each year since then.”

At one point, 10,000 people in a crowd was momentous, but today Sanchez considers that to be one of his smaller houses. But no matter the size of the crowd, “El Sonero” always strives to connect with the people and thrives on the energy of his supporters.

“It’s one thing to sing, it’s another thing to put on a great show. There are so many things that go into putting on a show,” Sanchez noted. “You’ve got to give the crowd what they like. Once the crowd has your back, they are into your music, they’re dancing, they’re singing. You kind of just go with that flow.”

With songs like “La Primera Piedra,” and “Senora Ley,” it’s difficult not to love this guy. But if you needed one more reason to call him your best buddy or your true love, here it is: during the day, Sanchez works with Alzheimer’s patients – victims of a disease that affects the memory and ends in death.

“These people have no short term memory,” Sanchez said. “If I ask them at 1:30 what they had for lunch at 12, they won’t remember. But they’ll remember an old song. All the old tunes or hymns they used to sing. We do a lot of singing at work and sing whatever they like.”

The voice of an angel, doing an angel’s work. Check Sanchez out at Myspace.com/MatthewSanchezMusic