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SPIN, popchips Reveal 5 Finalists in Band Search
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250 artists entered, but five put on the best live shows of the bunch to make the finals of pop up l...250 artists entered, but five put on the best live shows of the bunch to make the finals of pop up live, a hunt for hot new talent, presented by SPIN and popchips: NYC's Christine Hoberg, Chicago's Counterpunch, L.A.'s Starving for Gravity, the Bruises from San Francisco, and Seattle's Ramona the Band.
Starting today, visit pop up live on Facebook to vote for your favorite video of the five, and choose wisely: the winner earns a chance to perform at one of SPIN's events in Austin, in March 2012.
A panel including SPIN Senior Editor David Marchese, Tom Windish of the Windish Agency, and select local music bloggers from the SPIN Blog Network chose the finalists from a pool of four bands who played a pop up love show in their hometown.
While it's now up to you to choose the winner, we asked Marchese to share what exactly he liked about each finalist:
NYC: Christine Hoberg
"This singer-songwriter was a fun respite from the surfeit of rock bashers that entered the contest. But Hoberg's soulful vocal style and mellow accompaniment set her apart, too."
Chicago: Counterpunch
"These aptly-named Chicago bros hit hard with crisp, crunching guitars, classic pop-punk energy, and that perfectly nasal blink-182-style vocalizing."
L.A.: Starving for Gravity
"Starving for Gravity fits in nicely with the long L.A. tradition of rock dudes mining the blues for drama. Thick, oozing slide guitars are the perfect complement to devil-in-me lyrics and wailing vocals."
San Francisco: The Bruises
"Catchy, new wave melodies and a Donnas-like guitar attack sung with a snarl. Fierce."
Seattle: Ramona the Band
"This was definitely the weirdest of all the bands I judged -- and that's a good thing. Sort of trip-hop; sort of folkie; definitely moody and interesting."
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Pop Up Live: popchips selects The Bruises as San Francisco Winner
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Sounds like: Veruca Salt, Sleater-Kinney, PJ Harvey, The Breeders
What's so good?
San Francisc...Sounds like: Veruca Salt, Sleater-Kinney, PJ Harvey, The Breeders
What's so good?
San Francisco band The Bruises has battled through thick competition to emerge as the winner of popchips’ San Francisco gauntlet, as selected by both fans and judges (including yours truly, of Indie Shuffle). Their winning music video, shot in a boxing ring, perfectly captured the raw essence of their girl-punk (you can check it out here). Now it’s on to the voting (which you can do over on popchips’ website).
Fans are now invited to support the band as they battle to take the grand prize: an opportunity to perform the SPIN stage during Austin’s premier music festival. For a competition that began with 250 emerging bands, we’re definitely excited to see the field narrowed down to just five. The competition is stiff (with great acts from NY, LA, Chicago and Seattle), but we’re confident that The City by the Bay will prevail!
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(Interview) - The Bruises Seeing the Road Covered By the Motion Light
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Two friends pack up their guitars and head west for Los Angeles and end up in San Fransico … yeah, i...Two friends pack up their guitars and head west for Los Angeles and end up in San Fransico … yeah, it sounds like an intro to a joke or even a cliché story, but that’s exactly what happened for former Springfield, Ill., natives Jen Black and Aja Blue.
The two guitarists/singers have been playing together for 10 years now, first in the band Veloria Beat, then they formed the Bruises in 2004. Not your stereotypical female singer/songwriters, although they did start as an acoustic duo, Black and Blue like it loud with crunchy guitars, strong back beats and hooks galor. They play sweet power pop that has more hooks than a bass pro shop.
"The ‘hookiness’ of our songs is probably the hugest thing that stood out to us (aside from the fact that our last names are Blue and Black) when we started playing music together. We knew we had something pretty special," Bruises guitarist/singer Jen Black said.
Motion Light by The BruisesOn their latest EP, Motion Light, Black and Blue (and yes, those are their real names) along with Wendy Brents, Tamara Waite have compiled five new pop rockers that would make everyone from Veruca Salt to T. Rex proud.
"There is no science to our songwriting process. Thankfully, Aja isn’t afraid to sing absolute jibberish when we’re jamming out, and usually a melody forms from that," Black said.
"It can be a chorus, a prechorus, or a verse that’s inspired by a guitar lead, a bass line, or even a drum beat, and then it’s generally a take-home process for myself and Jen to hash out," added Bruises guitarist/singer Aja Blue. "Other times our songs will sprout from something I (or more rarely Jen) start on acoustic guitar at home. That said, all four members contribute to the final product and it’s never done until we have everyone’s seal of approval."
For the recording of Motion Light, Black and Blue had Wendy Brents on bass, who has been with the band for a couple years now, but right before recording, they added new drummer Tamara Waite, who slides behind the drum kit flawlessly adding a heavier backbeat sound for the band.
"These two girls bring a lot to the table in terms of songwriting and the direction we’re going," Black said. "Just when Aja and I start to get too poppy, Tamara and Wendy pull back the reigns and keep it interesting."
With a solid line up in check, sticking with their do-it-yourself ethics, The Bruises have once again self-released the new EP. This belies just about everything most bands shoot for considering most bands start out looking for the pot of gold of a major label, but these girls are different.
"Signing to a major label is not in the Bruises game plan, but it’s not something we really seek out at this point," Blue said. "We’ve always done everything independently, and honestly, at this point, the music industry is crazy. The business model is changing, and it’s extremely difficult for a record label to offer anything of substance to a band like us.
"Our primary goal right now is just to get out there and expand our fanbase, tour, and record more," added Black. "That said, if you know of a label with a sweet deal, shoot em our way!"
Perhaps, after word gets out about the Motion Light EP, the labels will come calling, because Motion Light is, and dare I say, the best thing the band has put out. Straddling the line between mainstream and indie, the album appeals to vast audience. However, lyrically, the five-song EP is filled with heartbreak.
"This whole EP is basically about Aja’s love life over the past couple years. It’s pretty safe to say that if you are dating a musician you are goning to have a song or two written about you at some point, and this person inspired an entire EP, "Black said. "That said, some of these songs have taken on different meaning over time. It’s very therapeutic during the songwriting process. But, over time and live performances their meaning changes, just like memories. Sometimes they still hurt; other times they are just another rock song."
However, there is always a bright light at the end of the tunnel as they say. The album ends on a sexy high note with the track "Whiskey Waltz." It is a slow seductive jam, which weaves the tale of a late night at a bar sipping drinks and not wanting to go home alone.
"Honestly, the reason we chose ‘Whiskey Waltz’ to end the EP is because it is different and it issexy," Blue said. "It’s simple yet somehow epic. There was no way this song was going to begin or even be in the middle of the record."
There is no end in sight for The Bruises. They are touring the West Coast regularly to support the album and writing for their follow up. They are hoping to get back in the studio this summer and record with Michael Eisenstein (Letters to Cleo, he also mixed Motion Light) in LA to put out another EP.
"We would rather put out a couple EPs a year and keep people (and ourselves) interested than put out a tired full length every couple years and let people forget about us," Blue said. "We are feeling really energetic and more focused than ever, and just want to keep churning out songs and touring."
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The Bruises - Motion Light EP Review
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Always up for a good cold beer or a glass of wine and good food, The Bruises co-founders Jen Black a...Always up for a good cold beer or a glass of wine and good food, The Bruises co-founders Jen Black and Aja Blue have the uncanny ability to make power pop songs that will get your ass shaking. The two life-long friends and musicians, along with their solid back-beat – bassist Wendy Brents and drummer Tamara Waite – have recently released their latest offering: a hard-driving, hook-filled five-song EP entitled Motion Light.
Four of the five songs are dark, with their soul searching after heartbreak. San Francisco high-rent payers, singers and guitarists Black and Blue are unabashedly honest with the lyrics. They aren’t afraid to wear their heart on their sleeve even if it is broken, bloodied and - forgive the pun - bruised. The key, however, to these lyrics is that they are backed with such beautiful melodies and hooks that you can’t help but be pulled in.
Even though the lyrics and music are a juxtaposition, they work flawlessly together. Opening track “Friction” has that sound which makes you want to get in your car, crank up the stereo and drive as fast as you can away from confrontation. “Mean What You Say” has Black’s in-your-face honesty with rock ‘n’ roll flare and the title track is a brooding spacey gem filled with hope…which is also one of the best songs that the Bruises have written. In a bit of a surprise, the album doesn’t end on a down note. “Whiskey Waltz” is a slow, sexy burner of sipping single malt and not wanting to be alone.
Filled to the brim with “whoa’s” and “uh oh’s,” Motion Light is pure rock ‘n’ roll pleasure that will having you singing right along with the band. Jen Black and Aja Blue have steadily grown with each album and they have never sounded so good…be still my bruised heart.
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Black and Blue show off their new Bruises (EP Release Writeup)
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The Bruises got their start as an acoustic duo, but it's hard to tell judging from the punky power-p...The Bruises got their start as an acoustic duo, but it's hard to tell judging from the punky power-pop that the San Francisco quartet now plays. Jen Black and Aja Blue made the transition to the harder stuff as they relocated to Los Angeles from Illinois in 2004, and they've continued to turn things up to 11 since getting to the Bay Area a year later. "It's been a pretty natural progression as far as where we are now musically," Black says. "We still write songs the same way we did 10 years ago, but now we've honed our craft a little more and collaborate more as a full band to get to the final product."
The band recorded its latest EP, Motion Light, in December and January at Faultline Studios in SOMA with Kyle McGraw, but it's the postproduction guys who show the band's cards: Michael Eisenstein and Hans DeKline have worked with artists like Letters to Cleo, Veruca Salt's Nina Gordon, Juliana Hatfield, and the Von Bondies. But the sound of San Francisco can be heard loud and clear in the Bruises' music, which deftly balances a mainstream sheen with DIY attitude.
"This city can really kick your ass if you aren't on it all the time, so we've learned the importance of hard work," Black says. "Our lives transpire in this city, so [we are influenced by] the relationships we have here, the bands we've played with and seen, the food, the beer, the wine, and the high price of rent to live in this beautiful place."
The band — which also includes bassist Wendy Brents and drummer Tamara Waite — is celebrating the release of Motion Light at Bottom of the Hill on Friday, March 4. "This will be our first big show with our current lineup, and we're excited to debut all of the songs from the EP as well as a few brand-new ones we’ve just written," Black says. "These new songs will definitely make you dance."
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The Bruises "Motion Light" EP review
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With an addictive and catchy sound, The Bruises’ EP release, Motion Light, is a piece of work driven...With an addictive and catchy sound, The Bruises’ EP release, Motion Light, is a piece of work driven by hypnotic melodies that is reminiscent of a current release from a top-notch band. Raw and uninhibited, and thoroughly entitled to provoke you with their songs about a no-frills relationship, these ladies dark yet melodious style is as tight-knit as it is fronted with brazen energy.
The Bruises broke into the San Fransisco Bay-area scene in 2001 when Jen Black met acoustic-singer and songwriter Aja Blue—which explains the wounded reference—and started an acoustic-duo together. They brought forth genuine rock energy to their live acoustic performances that paved the way to their edgier sound evident in their latest EP. Ditching their acoustic guitars for electric instruments as well as the addition of two newer members, Wendy Brents and Tamara Waite, The Bruises are more than willing to share their gift to the world in Motion Light.
These user-abuser songs here are hard to shake from the mind even once the EP is over. There is a certain spark to the EP, demonstrating that The Bruises are grounded in deep potential. In “Mean What You Say,” the #3 track to the EP, the band’s layered harmonized vocals convey a sense of loss over a relationship that is in decline. The sweet voice juxtaposed with the lyrically oppressive topic exhibits a slice of history with those involved. Instead of rehashing an old and contrived storyline, the words to the song are refreshing and supply a distinct jolt that provides a much needed catharsis for listeners going through the same thing. Fundamentally sound, the title-track mends the rougher edges of the EP and displays a softer side to The Bruises. Like the entire CD, “Motion Light” develops on an incline but once the rush hits, the impact is immediate and full-forced. Motion Light will leave you reeling from its emotive quality and eagerly looking forward to The Bruises next full-length release.
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Amplifier Magazine Interview/Review
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Dream Big
Rock and roll has a storied tradition of bands moving from small-town USA to California...Dream Big
Rock and roll has a storied tradition of bands moving from small-town USA to California to make it big. Anyone who remembers VH1’s Behind the Music knows the plot. A couple friends with little more than two nickels to rub together head west in search of the glitz, the glamour, and the tousled hair magic of LA. For Illinois natives Jen Black and Aja Blue, the story is a familiar one, a tale of two Midwestern friends who packed up their belongings and headed 2,000 miles west. Unfortunately for their band The Bruises, the reality is not always like it is on TV.
“First of all, we were crossing our fingers,” says singer/guitarist Blue, who was named after the Steely Dan album Aja. “We both had awful credit. Our minivan was attached to our U-Haul trailer because we didn’t have any place to put all our shit, so we were on foot trying to find an apartment.”
Luckily, they stumbled upon a particularly compassionate landlord. “I think she felt for us,” says Black, who also sings and plays guitar. “She could see the fear in our eyes.”
Black and Blue (yes, those are their real names) met in 2001 in Black’s hometown of Peoria, Illinois and soon discovered that, in addition to the coincidental name connection, the two shared a love of guitar. Soon the duo began writing songs together, christening themselves The Bruises. After failing to reach a larger audience with an album of Murmurs-like acoustic guitar pop in 2002, the band decided that a change was in order. So they ditched the acoustic guitars and moved West, first to Los Angeles and then to their current home in San Francisco.
A few tracks from 2004’s Ladies and Gentlemen…EP found their way onto MTV’s teen dating show Parental Control, but it is the band’s newest full-length, Connected, that truly finds Black and Blue primed for bigger and better things. Mixing hard-hitting guitar work with sweet pop melodies, the album is a step forward in sound and style for a band that, according to Black, is still trying to find its niche.
“We’re very pop oriented,” says Black. “I still would like to consider ourselves indie-pop, but we’re kind of right in between. We’re a little too quirky for commercial radio, but we’re a little bit too mainstream sounding for indie-kids.”
The media has had an equally difficult time categorizing the band, resulting in confusing labels such as punk pop and challenging comparisons to bands like Sleater-Kinney and The Donnas.
“People keep calling us grrrl punk, with three r’s, you know?” says Black. “I can understand the Sleater-Kinney reference, because some of our guitar kind of reminds me of that, but I think there are a lot of other male-fronted bands that we are much more associated with….We’re not punk, and we definitely don’t sound like riot girls, by any means.”
As Black and Blue prepare for the release of Connected and the inevitable onslaught of touring to follow, one cannot help but root for The Bruises. Their story is the fulfillment of every small town person’s big dream, that of a self-described “momma’s girl” (Black) and her friend, living it big. One can only imagine what their parents must think.
“My mom has always been one of those dream huge kind of people,” says Black. “She’s always supported me one hundred percent. I don’t think she thought I was crazy (for moving to California), but she was sad. And I think—like always, she’s usually right—she just knew that I didn’t have any idea what I was getting into. She still wonders all the time when I’m coming home. I just tell her I don’t know.”
--Frank Valish
"Connected" Review
The new release from this San Francisco-based group (yes, Jen Black and Aja Blue are their real names) showcases their ample pop writing chops, primarily, as well as a slick recording. The guitars are out front with the vocals, all of which propel the music forward in a very driving and melodic fashion. There is certainly a lot of the 80’s in evidence, as well as some Sleater-Kinney, Veruca Salt, and a bit of the poppier side of Liz Phair. What makes them stand apart from other groups of the genre are the non-generic melodic vocal lines, imminently hummable without being utterly predictable, not an easy thing to do, and perhaps a result of their years honing their quieter side as an acoustic duo. It transfers nicely to distorted guitars and a driving backbeat, especially on tunes like “Wake Up” and the aptly titled “Black and Blue.”
--William Carey
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"Connected" Review - Performer Magazine
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Hott Damn!” cries the final track on The Bruises’ latest album, and it’s a pretty accurate exclamati...Hott Damn!” cries the final track on The Bruises’ latest album, and it’s a pretty accurate exclamation. Connected sees the San Francisco pop/rock band (led by vocalists/guitarists and aptly-named Jenni Black and Aja Blue) perfect its jump from acoustic to electric with a pointier, edge-sharp energy that lines right up with their raved-about live performances.
For the most part, the tunes on the album are pepped and high-spirited. A coat of jumpy beats dilutes the dark lyrics in “Black and Blue,” and “Dancing is Dangerous,” Connected‘s standout staple, features rippling synth, melodic curves and a catchy chorus. Yet there are some spots where The Bruises become more sensitive, like on “Hold Me Down.” “Handful of Tears” has a tender feel as well, with lyrics crying out, “‘Cause I know what it’s like to run against the rain / Running out of breath and running the wrong way / I don’t even know if I can say it / But I’m wrong all the time / This heart of mine is not steel plated / And now there’s nowhere left to hide.”
Often likened to Sleater-Kinney, though with poppier pushes and vintage female harmonies, The Bruises do achieve a sense of fiery rawness. Rhythmic drums by Derrick Hostetter and bass by Dan Carr and Noah Heldfond back the 12 tracks on the album with feverish throbs that further hold the tones up and keep them ablaze.
Most impressively, though, The Bruises demonstrate that they know how to effectively dip into different tastes, from punk to indie to pop, and blend each genre with a fist full of dynamism. The result is a power-driven full-length effort that’s an electrifying force all the way through. (Self-released)
-Robbie Salapuddin
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"Connected" Review- TheOwlMag
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"San Francisco female fronted band The Bruises prove that chicks rule as album Connected prevails as..."San Francisco female fronted band The Bruises prove that chicks rule as album Connected prevails as a poppy estrogen treat. Aja Blue and Jen Black, originally from Illinois, both showcase their respected creativity as they write/sing/play guitar on the album. Scott Tusa of Scissors for Lefty fame produced the album, which might give The Donnas a run for their reputation. Album highlights include the edgy "Hold Me Down" and "Here's to Us" on the album, which is very buffered. "Found" has a very bohemian tone to it, unlike any of the other eleven tracks. This album has arrived at the perfect time, as the country has grown sick of the Spice Girls reunion." - Julianne Shapiro
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"Connected" Review - Readjunk.com
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The Bruises are two young ladies from Southern California who play guitar-heavy power pop with stron...The Bruises are two young ladies from Southern California who play guitar-heavy power pop with strong hooks and enjoyable vocals. There may be little to make their sound any different than their predecessors, but they can sing, play, and write decent songs, so there's really no complaining from my end. While I love the heavy and crunchy guitars, I almost wish they could add a few more dynamics into the sound, like some organ or other instrumentation. I can definitely see a lot of potential here, and with the right production and promotion, they could be very popular.
RATING & SUMMARY:
Bottom Line: Solid power pop with strong songwriting and loads of potential.
Notable Tracks: Perfect Vision, Wake Up
Overall Rating: (3 1/2 Stars)
Reviewer: Daniel Field
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"Connected" Review - Palebear.com
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It’s simplistic to just say that San Francisco’s The Bruises remind me of the Donnas and of Sleater-...It’s simplistic to just say that San Francisco’s The Bruises remind me of the Donnas and of Sleater-Kinney. But, it’s Xmas Eve and I’m just trying to reduce the CD “stack” for the new year. So there you go - I guess it’s better than nothing hey?
Really, there are some pretty decent grrl-punk pop songs in here that I hope to get into next year. But time is short - so rock on, Aja and Jen. I’ll catch up to you later.
-www.palebear.com
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"Connected" Review - Out Smart Magazine
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Genderless lyrics and the absence of pronouns make us think the two women comprising this indie band...Genderless lyrics and the absence of pronouns make us think the two women comprising this indie band from San Francisco are queer. Regardless, they rock, especially with "Distraction" and "Hott Damn!" Available Jan. 22 from Black Heart Blue Starr Music (www.thebruises.com). — Review: N.F.
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"Connected" Review - Onlinerock.com
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The Bruises’ music feel as devised as the band’s name (since the leading talents here are duel songw...The Bruises’ music feel as devised as the band’s name (since the leading talents here are duel songwriters and vocalist/guitarists, Jen Black and Aja Blue). The hooks have been presorted and organized for maximum efficiency, the lyrics feel like a continuation of each other with our girls singing about the same lousy guy (or is it just that all these guys are exactly the same to our heroines?) and his repetitive antics bent on breaking hearts.
The perpetual powerchord barrage that coats this album like a hard sugar coating is at once hard not to like and difficult to penetrate. The first half of Connected plays like a compilation of mid-nineties rock groups that faded into the soft-underbelly of a thousand indie flick soundtracks, like a pair of talented musicians attempting to appeal to everyone without being too edgy for anyone. The lyrics dutifully veer away from meaning, instead opting for dull obviousness (example: “I look left / I look right”).
“Distraction” and “Black and Blue” are perfectly executed melodic, neo-punk diatribes that could have had the Bruises on stage at the Bronze back in 1996. It’s all sickly sweet and superb as background music, but hardly seems weighty or worthwhile when compared to the playful pop narratives and instrumental explorations of groups like Tegan and Sara or the Long Blondes (or, for that matter, the spazz and beauty of femme-fronted powerhouses like Gossip or fellow San Franciscans Erase Errata).
By the time the Bruises kick into “Found,” which is strangely labeled as an interlude although it yields the most listenable and interesting bits the band has to offer, expectations have been lowered and the aural explorations and intrinsically more interesting arrangements of Connected’s second half come crashing down like a sublime force. “Safety in Recovery” captures the listener unwittingly with a glistening guitar and keyboard interlock and splattering crescendo snare. The track negates earlier attempts and catchy chorus work with a heartfelt, half-time march that actually hits the emotional buttons it’s aiming for. “Hott Damn!” finally roils and tumbles into the semi-monotone cool the Bruises had been heading toward for forty minutes, with a nice slab of post-punk throb and selfless emoting. “Here’s To Us” and “Distance Makes the Heart Bleed” leave the first chunk of heartbreak anthems in the dust and “Found,” with its slow-creeping fog of reverb-soaked guitar finds the group at its best, exploring the possibilities of ecstasy that a great rock group can divulge.
Cut this disc in half. Toss out the first seven tracks and you’ve got a stellar EP. Too bad the Bruises start it all off with a hefty dose of toss-off filler.
Favorite Track: “Found (Interlude)”
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The Owl Mag Blog
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"...this high energy band falls somewhere between the hiatusing queercore band The Butchies, and the..."...this high energy band falls somewhere between the hiatusing queercore band The Butchies, and the hyper-pop Letters to Cleo (you know, that band that performed on the roof of Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles' high school in 10 Things I Hate About You). They have an album coming out really soon, and this one, titled Connected, has a bit of polish, and a lot more of a pop punk sound than previous acoustic efforts. In the meantime check out their live show, which will leave you with a smile on your face. I'll close this with words that they always do: Hot damn." - Bernadette Harris.
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San Francisco Bay Guardian
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"Call it an occupational hazard, but sometimes I get really sick of San Franciscan hipster irony. Do..."Call it an occupational hazard, but sometimes I get really sick of San Franciscan hipster irony. Does everything have to be doled out with a knowing wink? Is there a rule that states a great pop song cannot be appreciated exactly as such without cheapening it with a sense of amused detachment? Say it ain't so, or else a great many of the Pabst Blue Ribbon contingent are about to miss out, sorry to say. Back from a stint in Los Angeles, local floor fillers the Bruises are once again elevating heartbeats with their wonderfully irony-free punk pop. Singer-guitarists Jenni Black and Aja Blue continue to explore the middle ground between Joan Jett and Sleater-Kinney while Mary Glide and Derrick Hostetter render the necessary sweat-soaked rhythms." - Todd Lavoie
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Pop Beat
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"Download of the Week: "Beautiful Mess" by recent Bay Area transplants the Bruises. The co-ed indie-..."Download of the Week: "Beautiful Mess" by recent Bay Area transplants the Bruises. The co-ed indie-pop quartet played its very first Bay Area show last month to a packed room at Edinburgh Castle. They were so inspired that they spent the next few days in the studio laying the foundation for a new album, which they plan to release next month. Catch them live Tuesday at the Hemlock Tavern. Download "Beautiful Mess" at www.my space.com/thebruises."
