AND YOUR NAME IS: Manchester Orchestra

With an opening slot on the Kings of Leon / Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, you would think think this band would have instant cred. Well....they do. And here's why. If you missed them this time around in NY, catch them in about a month with Annuals.

AND YOUR NAME IS: Augie March

Welcome to your new favorite band. Meet Augie March of Melbourne, Australia... no, seriously. meet them. Monday night. Mercury Lounge. 8:30pm. 12 bucks. Yes, the same price as one half-sized drink at a swanky rooftop bar. But that bar will always be there. Augie March will not always be at Mercury Lounge for 12 bucks. The way things are going though, if you're cool with shelling out $100/ticket on Craigslist when they sell out High Line in nine months, then enjoy that rooftop bar.

Massive, massive props to Wendy-Mo for the word.

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Official Site: Augie March
Augie March on MySpace

AND YOUR NAME IS: Fionn Regan

Sometimes I like his music. Sometimes I'm not sure. All I know for sure is that it is worth a listen. Catch him in New York on May 19 (Union Hall) and May 20 (Mercury Lounge).

AND YOUR NAME(S) ARE: Low Stars -and- The Explorers Club

Even though I'm fairly sure Ethan Johns did not produce the new records by Low Stars and The Explorers Club, I'm still not completely convinced. Why? Because everything he touches sounds like a damn gold record (back when being 'solid gold' was cooler than platinum) from the 60s and 70s (Kings of Leon, Ray LaMontagne, The Jayhawks, etc). Which brings me to today's featured artists.

Unfortunately, I don't have time to spice up this post with some photos, but just roll with me on this one.

LISTEN:
1. Low Stars: for BIG fans of The Jayhawks.

2. The Explorers Club: for BIG fans of The Beach Boys.

AND YOUR (NEW) NAME IS: The Broken West

During my weekly perusing of The Village Voice, in hopes that the newly released schedule for The Bowery Ballroom, Mercury Lounge, or Rockwood Music Hall would reveal one of those "can't miss, I don't care if it's your birthday" shows, I've been coming up empty. No big deal, just personal preference (or lack thereof). Well, the wait is over, thanks to my microprocessing internet machine. Meet The Broken West (f/k/a The Brokedown, who appeared on THE ROTATION ROOM's Newsletter Worthy mixtape series last year).

Embarking on a U.S. tour in support of The Walkmen, an accomplishment in itself, The Broken West will be introducing themselves to a new audience every night this spring. Something about the "let's just go real l0-fi on them to sound even more meaningful" is wearing thin on me. I some heel-stomping, tambourine-shaking rock to lighten the load. The Broken West might be it.
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The Broken West on MySpace
[Image from their MySpace page]

AND YOUR NAME IS: The Young Lords

As I prepare my "Favorites of 2006" list, it's already time to look ahead to 2007. Up-and-coming fast are the bands who, in addition to their parents' collections of The Rolling Stones / The Clash / The Beatles / Bob Dylan, are now also seemingly influenced by contemporary acts like Kings of Leon and Babyshambles.

With the operative word being "young," a band to keep your eye on during 2007 is The Young Lords. I've been seeing these guys at shows around New York, and even on random Converse/John Varvatos posters.
If you want to actually hear how they sound, check out their MySpace page, and come to The Annex on January 13.

PS - For what it's worth, Neal Casal is down with them. For me, that's as good as money, sir.
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Both images from the band's MySpace page.