With SXSW coming up, I thought it would be fitting to pick an album from one of Austin, Texas’ finest, Bob Schneider.  Although the CD has been out for a few months, I finally got a chance to listen to it several times this past weekend, and truly dug everything about it.  Lovely Creatures, which is Bob’s eleventh solo album, is an eclectic mix of music styles that have made Schneider a popular and successful musician over the years.  In addition to including one of his live classic hits “Tarantula”, this album also features the smooth and catchy “40 Dogs (like Romeo and Juliet)” and the melancholy duet “Changing Your Mind” with folk legend Patty Griffin.  Be sure to give Lovely Creatures a listen and if you get the chance, be sure to see Bob live.  He puts on a killer show for his audience.  To learn more about Bob Schneider, please visit www.bobschneidermusic.com

This week’s pick is the creative side-project for Brian Burton (better known as Danger Mouse) and James Mercer (lead singer of The Shins).  The pair decided to start this Indie Rock band after meeting at a Danish music festival in 2004 and finding they were fans of each other's work.  Their debut album as Broken Bells will be released on March 9, 2010.  The first single released was “The High Road” followed by “Vaporize”.  The result of this incredible pairing yields very melodic and soulful music.  To learn more about Broken Bells, visit www.brokenbells.com

Yesterday, I got a call from ATO Records requesting I go see their band Dawes at the Double Door in Chicago. Now I have seen Dawes at the Double Door before and they blew me away. However, that was over a year ago, and at that moment, they were unsigned.  Now, a year later, these Los Angeles rockers are signed to ATO and have been receiving high accolades from several magazines including Rolling Stone.  Dawes’ debut album, North Hills, was recorded in Laurel Canyon, California and captured on analog tape giving the music that vintage sound.  Part Neil Young, part Fleet Foxes, part Wilco, and part Delta Spirit, these four guys are making music that is very hard to stop listening to.  With smooth harmonies, mid-tempo arrangements, and that 60’s whimsy vibe, Dawes is sure to have a promising future. Stand out tracks include “Love Is All I Am” and “When You Call My Name”.  To end their set last night, lead singer Taylor Goldsmith got all Bruce Springsteen on their hit “When My Time Comes”, which completely rocked the crowd. It was too bad there was another band after them…we all could have heard a lot more of Dawes!  To learn more about the band, please visit www.myspace.com/dawestheband

If you had listened to the radio at any time during the early 2000’s, then I can guarantee you heard Alex Band’s voice.  As the lead singer of the Los Angeles alternative rock band The Calling, Band provided the signature sound that made their song “Wherever You Will Go” a smash hit.  In 2005, the band decided to take an indefinite hiatus, forcing Band to embark in a solo career.  During his time alone, Band provided the vocals to Carlos Santana’s “Why Don’t You & I” which became a number 1 hit on the AC charts.  Band’s highly anticipated debut solo album We’ve All Been There will be released in April 2010.  The first single will be “Tonight” which will definitely bring the powerful voice of Band back to the radio.  It is still hard to believe that this huge rocker voice comes from a little guy like Alex.  To learn more about Alex Band, be sure to visit www.alexband.net

On Saturday night, I had the pleasure of checking out the Cold War Kids at a sold out show at Chicago’s Vic theatre.  This show was one of four that the band was doing to promote the release of their Behave Yourself EP. Recorded in between tours with Death Cab For Cutie, the EP contains four tracks, with a bonus fifth song found only on the physical CD.  Throughout the show, the guys showcased these new gems including the catchy lead track “Audience”. Overall, this short release portrays a lighter, smooth sound similar to that of a Jeff Buckley.  With Behave Yourself, these Long Beach California natives prove that talent and confidence can be expressed in less than 15 minutes!  To hear more from the Cold War Kids, be sure to visit www.coldwarkids.com