Music does not need words. That is the case with a lot of music out there in the world. There is classical, hip hop and even rock that is all about the keys, the beats and the guitar. That is what Garret Thomas and his music is all about. He is a rocker whose influence is clearly Stevie Ray Vaughan and Sammy Hagar with the excess of riffs and whatnot. Fun Time is all about bringing the rock to the forefront of Garrets sound. It is a quickie though, so do not let your mind wander or you will miss it. It is a teaser, so it makes you yearn for more. I Sealed My Faith will remind older folks of the 80s rock scene and bring back fond memories of tailgating before their favorite concerts. The Lost Train of Souls sounds similar to the previous, but turns out a wild side towards the middle that cannot be ignored. Into the Gates of Heaven is a different pace than the rest, an obvious softer side for the sensitive rockers out there, while Bed Time Story brings the rock full circle. It is not your typical night time tale. Garret Thomas might not say much, well anything, when it comes to lyrics in his music, but he is still able to connect with the rock fans out there who are fans of a good dose of guitar. (https://www.reverbnation.com/garretthomas)

DaMaDa is a group that is heavily influenced by Chinese minority tribes. That is not something one hears every day, neither is the music if one is not ravaging through the internet to stumble upon an Asian speaking musical act. Alas here is DaMaDa in all their eccentric glory. They are eccentric to those who are not familiar with the language or style of the music, but they might just be the norm in China. Nevertheless they have more than a handful of songs for listeners to enjoy. Good Morning Miao Mountain sounds like experimental pop with a 70s base. If that is not interesting, do not know what is. Tai Yang (Sun Drum) appears to have a lot of screaming along with native sounding drums. That must be the tribal influence. Wan Wande Yue Liang appears to be the ballad of the DaMaDa bunch with it sounding the most heartfelt. With all the Asian sounding titles, there were English ones as well, like A Red Heart and Crest. Both were not sung in English though, but Crest did sound American in the musical sense. Lastly, Good News from Beijing sounded like a Broadway showtune with its theatrical bursts. DaMaDa is for people who like to take risks when it comes to discovering new music. (www.damada.net)

Ohio, that is the place those kids from Glee hail from on the hit Fox show. They sing popped out versions of the latest and most popular songs. Ohio, that is the place where Andrew Varner hails from as well. Unlike the kids from Glee, he chooses to sing his own songs, like the ones that can be found on his latest EP Shades of Red. It is a pop record that has a more mature sound, think about the music one could hear dominating Vh1, and there you go; Andrew Varner. Let’s Go Somewhere talks about home sweet home, but has a sense of adventure in between every line, while They Don’t Know has a Panic! At The Disco, Pretty Odd era, to it. Give Me a Reason is piano driven and Sleepwalkers Dream is something you would be likely to find on an album by The Script. Andrew Varner is not a pop artist like One Direction or Carly Rae Jepsen, he is more for those who have a drivers license and can vote; adult contemporary pop, much like Phillip Phillips and Kelly Clarkson. Check out Andrew Varner if he sounds like the kind of music you would want on your iPod. (www.andrewvarnermusic.com)

Jazz is one of the classiest forms of music out there. There is an elegance to it that Jazz musicians can contribute and lay out for others to enjoy. That is exactly what the smooth jazz group Jazz Now does. The Denver, CO band does their best at events that include graduation celebrations, cocktail parties, New Years Eve events and more. Recordame would be fitting for a nice evening at dinner. Imagine Jazz Now playing as you dine on the finest lobster money can buy. The clean lines of the music matches the environment they play; flawless. After dinner one might take to the dance floor. In that case Jazz Now can deliver in that department too with Con Alma. The mid-tempo of this track is perfect for putting feet to the floor and moving about. Now when it comes to Green Dolphin Street, it is not about people out enjoying life. No, no, this song will remind listeners of classic movie scenes in which the actors are amidst a dream sequence of sorts. Jazz Now can create and help develop any setting with their music, be it a night out on the town with loved ones, a romantic evening for two or the scene of a movie you’ve yearned to see. (https://www.jazznow.biz/)

It seems that every few years electronic music comes to the forefront of popularity, and is no longer some underground thing for an indie band to play in a small club in Silverlake. While Tygerstrype is not the next Skrillex, they have made their own brand of electronic music that is infused with pop elements that call for it to be catchy and melodic at times. Their album Lackadaisical Daisy starts with what they are all about right out the gate with Somnambulent. Then they get a little 80s with Angelic Eyes, and make you second guess what Little Bro is about. If one was not looking at the title, they would assume the worst, but in the end it showcases that electronic music can have a humanistic base to it and not just be about a good time on the dance floor. The pop shines in MRKT Madness and title track, Lackadaisical Daisy, while the psychedelic side comes through in Malevolence. Commercially speaking, if Tygerstrype sent Charisma of the Sun out into the mainstream world, it would garner success. Lackadaisical Daisy is out now, so pick it up and also check out their other latest, Odessa (Caribou) because if you are into acts like Awe Fox and Oh Fortuna, then you will love Philadelphias Tygerstrype. (https://www.facebook.com/Tygerstrype)

There is more to Country music than singing about a morning on the farm, and Robbie Lee proves just that. This country boy looks like a full blown cowboy and owns that masculine twang like a boss, as he draws inspiration not only from the world around him, but the people he loves most. Most of the songs Robbie Lee offers up are about the love he has for his family, but more on those later. Right now the focus is on the Country tunes that bring about the party feeling. Its All Up to You and Crowtown Saturday Night are both up tempo pieces that will make any country fan get up and take on the dance floor at the local pub. Now to the heart of the record which happens to be made up of the real emotions that Robbie Lee pours out into song about his wife and daughter. Before You Speak is a slow, moving song tells the story of Robbies upbringing. He now only shines light on his past but his present with his wife. Miracle to Me tells the ups and downs are worth it, while By Your Side is like a musical promise to always be there, as is Thats Our Job. Those were all great, but it was the song about his daughter, Sarahs Song, that really hit it home. The shout outs to all Sarahs favorite things like Spongebob and Barney were cute touches that made it very personal. Robbie Lee is a Country man who puts his heart, literally, into his music much like that of George Straight.

As the East coast continues to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy, relief groups around the country are banding together to raise funds and provide assistance for those impacted by one of the worst storms in recent memory. Joining in the movement is Hollywood’s ArtistPR.com, an international music promotion company led by President and CEO John Mahoney.

Coinciding with the blockbuster 12-12-12 concert in New York City at the world famous Madison Square Garden, ArtistPR.com contributed to the campaign which supports the Robin Hood Relief Fund. Featuring Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, Dave Grohl, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Chris Martin, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Eddie Vedder, Roger Waters, Kanye West, The Who, Paul McCartney and more, the event donated every cent to non-profit organizations supporting thousands of people throughout the tri-state area.

Hailing from the bustling, sunny streets of Los Angeles is rock and roll’s next up and coming heavyweight act, challenging the entire scene with their energized melodies and powerful guitar-driven songs. Poised to become Southern California’s next staple act, Rockchild is taking the local market by storm with their debut full-length LP, Living on Fire. Featuring the single “Against a Man” along with 10 other tracks of in-your-face, melodic rock, this five-piece phenomenon is ready to hit the road and take on the U.S. from coast to coast.