Hey Indabans.  Just a quick reminder to enter our latest remix contest by July 14th at 11:59 PM.  This time a real prize is on the line - the chance to create the theme music for our podcast.  We've - well, Josh and Dan - have been working hard to line-up quality guests and we need some kicking theme music to along with the show.  You're remixing samples from one of our favorite bands, Jukebox the Ghost, who were cool enough to let us use their tracks free of charge. 

Now there are already a bunch of great submissions but I know you've got a burning desire to try your hand at it as well.  So, stop messing around and start messing around with these tracks.  Who knows, you just make have your name on the theme music for the most popular podcast in IndabaMusic history! (you also get an iPod shuffle)

I swung by the forums a few days ago and found some Indabans discussing the state of bass in modern rock songs.  I thought I should put it up here in case anyone might want to chime in.  Here is the first post in the thread, by Nikhil Goyal:

Hi! this is a discussion about the role of the bass in rock music and possibilities for innovative use. For some odd reason, the sound of the bass is always subdued and the bass play itself is nothing much to talk about in rock music except a few bands like RHCP. When i compare this with a band of old like Blind Faith (Clapton, winwood, grech), I find it weird. Any opinions on why i cannot hear the bass when i hear Nickelback, Hoobastank or Vertical Horizon? Seems like the bass is almost redundant . .

So, if you think you can add something head on over to the forums and make yourself heard. 

I'm fully aware that I am a week late on this news but I wanted to wait for the weekend to give it the most time on the front page.  Indaban JD Allen got an amazing review in last Sunday's NYTimes for his new album, "I am, I am."  The album is available Here and the full review article is here (the writer goes on to review 3 other new releases).  But here is JD's review, in full:

“I Am I Am” (Sunnyside), the new trio album by the youngish tenor saxophonist J. D. Allen, is redolent of serious jazz from the mid-1960s. But it’s not sentimental or glib; it’s dry, focused and compressed. More than half its tracks are under four minutes, and if you’ve listened to much serious jazz lately, that alone is a reason to be curious. In his mid-30s, Mr. Allen sounds as if he’s been through jazz pedagogy, but he’s not of it; the record is alive with the rhythmic slang and vernacular of the bandstand. (Gregg August is the bassist and Rudy Royston is the drummer.) Some of these tunes are based on small motifs, expanded in the style of Sonny Rollins; others are harmonic-motion exercises, expanded in the style of John Coltrane. Balanced somewhere between études and collective workouts, all the tracks contain nuggets of song, and Mr. Allen’s even, balanced sound works through them with remarkable care, never revealing too much or stiffing you on a good melody.

Let me be the first, and certainly not the last, to say Congrats, JD.  You've made all of Indaba proud to count you among our members.  You couldn't ask for a better review than that!  My hope is that one day I won't even post about positive Times reviews of Indaba members because they'll be so many, but for now, this is certainly exciting. 

After many weeks of hard work and participation from the Indaba community, Leo Laporte chose a new theme song for The Tech Guy Show and announced it on-air yesterday. With over 50 remixes to choose from the new theme will be a remix created by Indaba member Mdl Productions.

Make sure to check out Mdl's remix, the other final nominees David Glazier and Paul Minshall, and all of the entries! A big thank you to everyone involved, especially Ashley Witt for introducing us to Leo and providing the original sound files, Leo for being so enthusiastic about the project and to everyone who participated. We hope everyone had a great time, we certainly did!

Well, not just drummers; a whole band.  Check this idea from Indaban JA Recordings that he posted in the forums:

Pretty great idea, Juan.  If anyone is in for it, reply in the forum post.

From Matt Siegel's Blog

Thanks to everyone who submitted entires for the Leo Laporte Tech Guy challenge! We're excited to see how it turns out - a lot of hard work went into the submissions and everyone did a fantastic job.

Voting is now open for Indaba Music members, and we'll be letting you know about how voting will work for others in the next few days. Good luck everyone! Vote now!

Attention!  Indaba has a new challenge for you and and it's a good one.  Leo Laporte is the host of the Tech Guy show, a bi-weekly radio show celebrating all things tech.  Turns out his old theme song - by our own Ashley Witt - needs an upgrade and you could be the one to do just that.  From the page...

After recently celebrating the one year anniversary of The Tech Guy show, Leo Laporte is looking for the second year to be even better. To kick things off, Leo is asking the Indaba Music community (which also just celebrated its one year anniversary!) to create the new Tech Guy theme song.

The original song was composed and recorded by our very own Ashley Witt. Ashley has generously provided all the original files for you to use in your audition for the next Tech Guy theme song. You can remix the song any way you like but your submission MUST be a recognizable derivation of the original song to be considered. Entries are due by March 14, 11:59pm EST.

So what are you waiting for?  ENTER NOW!

My good friend and master of all things hip and cool, Amandalyn Ferri, reviews Indaban Tiffany Randol's new album, Kiss Me, Kiss Me.

"Kiss Me, Kiss Me", the self produced debut solo E.P. from Brooklyn based Tiffany Randol (lead singer of the glam rock outfit, Valez) composed an upbeat collection of perfectly orchestrated pop gems. The title track starts off the E.P. with high promises of jazzy soul filled vocals placed precisely on playful instrumental pieces. Peaking right in the middle with, "Half a Second" leaving remembrance of a bolder Feist mixed with the sweetness of the Cardigans. Still, finishing off strong with, "All I Wanna Do is Love" brings in breezy beach like feel while twisting half way through to a hard rock edge making it the album's most diverse song.   A first time production like this can only lead to high hopes and budding interest in Ms. Randol's future.

Not a bad review from a woman I know to be very discriminating when it comes to tunes.  Anyway, Kiss Me, Kiss Me is available on iTunes and you should buy it today!

Do you have an album you're willing to put up for review?  Let me know at Streeter@IndabaMusic.com

No, this is not a post about medieval footwear (although I could do one if that's what you guys are into).  This is a post about Indaban, Peasant, and some of his goings on.  If you're not familiar with him I highly suggest you check out some of his folky tunes.  But there is more going on with this young man than a few songs.  In preparation for the release of his upcoming album, On The Ground, we got wind of a few fun promotions via email.

Peasant is playing a series of shows at different NYC coffee shops and, just by showing up, you get a free coffee sleeve with three free downloads AND you can enter to win - wait for it - a pair of Peasant's shoes.  The dates and coffee shops are available on the top of Peasant's MySpace page.  But if you don't want to go there, just check the list.

• Jan 29, Cake Shop, 9PM
• Jan 30, Cocoa Bar, 8PM
• Jan 31, Think Coffee, 8PM
• Feb1, Sip, 8PM
• Feb 2, Red Horse Cafe (Brooklyn), 8PM 

And hey, if you can't make it to the shows, at least pre-order the album for less than the price of a fancy latte. 

Pssst. Have a show you want me to talk about?  Email me at Streeter@IndabaMusic.com and let me know.