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A chance meeting outside of the Troubadour in Los Angeles was Drive A’s inception: the siren lure of live music with its booming bass, white hot lights, and rapt crowds used to be a night out for vocalist/guitarist Bruno Mascolo and rhythm guitarist Jason Nott, but now it’s their bread and butter as professional musicians. The random conversation they had outside the club turned into a bond of working relationship as they developed on ideas for songs and wrote music together. With killer riffs, punk rock hooks, and a raw, Rock 'N' Roll gutter-snarl, Drive A had a winning formula that quickly caught on. The band logged miles playing 100 shows in just over a year, supporting bands like Rise Against, Papa Roach, Anti-Flag, and Pennywise.

In 2009, Drive A released their debut Loss of Desire, a collection of anthems for a new generation. Personal and from the heart yet relatable, the songs appeal to our everyday frustrations. “I think what sets us apart from a lot of bands out there right now is the fact that we are experiencing the exact same things as our fans and that’s what our songs are about,” says guitarist Jason Nott. Bruno agrees, “The songs on this album are about being frustrated with a lot of things, most of the lyrics I write are personal, but I think anyone listening can relate to them in their own way. I leave it up to them to interpret what they are hearing.”

Drive A continue to hit the road in the US and abroad, inciting audiences to let go and be swept away by the rock-n-roll spectacle. “Touring is the life’s blood of this band,” says Bruno. “Recording and everything else is cool, but we are a live band and that is the best way to experience Drive A.”       You can get a taste for Drive A’s infectious punk-infused rock by playing their single “Take a Side” on JamLegend. To find out more about Drive A, please visit their MySpace and Facebook pages.    

While JamLgend is a great platform for emerging bands to showcase their songs, sometimes we have the privilege of working with Gold- and Platinum-certified artists who are eager to engage their fans by adding a new, interactive dimension to their music. To celebrate the September 28 release of Invented, the first new Jimmy Eat World album in over three years, the band added a sample of the first single from the album “My Best Theory” to JamLegend.

Jimmy Eat World formed in Mesa, Arizona in 1993 as a four-piece punk band, right as the genre was pushing into the mainstream with bands like Green Day. After a string of self-released demos, EP, and album, the band signed to Capitol Records. Meanwhile, their musical style evolved from crunchy punk to a more emo sound like their contemporaries like the Promise Ring or Sunny Day Real Estate. With their song “Lucky Denver Mint” featured in the Drew Barrymore movie Never Been Kissed, Jimmy Eat World’s popularity exploded. In 2001, they released their seminal release Bleed American which sold over 1 million copies and was certified Platinum. The follow-up Futures from 2004 was certified Gold.

Since the end of 2008, Jimmy Eat World have been working on songs that would become Invented. They teamed up again with producer Mark Trombino for a dozen songs that were finally finished in early summer 2010. Invented will be available on September 28, but you can get a free sneak preview with a sample of the first single “My Best Theory” on JamLegend! For more info on Jimmy Eat World, you can visit their official site (where you can preorder Invented), Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter.

 

Slightly Stoopid is nothing but--they're a savvy bunch who know how to write great, catchy songs and keep things DYI and close to home.  What started out as a fun music project for high school kids back in 1995 became a career in music when the late Bill Nowell, frontman for Sublime, decided to sign Slightly Stoopid to his Skunk imprint.  The band released a self-titled album which included the song "Prophet" featuring Nowell, which was eventually covered by Sublime.  It seems that Nowell's ear was right on the mark: Slightly Stoopid's mix of bratty punk and laid-back reggae was a perfect formula that was eaten up by the public hungry for more bands like Sublime.

Eventually, Slightly Stoopid formed their own record label Stoopid Records to release their own albums.  They also expanded their lineup from a duo of founding members Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald to include drummer Ryan Moran, Oguer Ocon on percussion as well as C Money and Dela on brass to bolster their live sound.  Bouncing from continent to continent, Slightly Stoopid cultivated fans all over the world, from Europe to Asia to Australia to anywhere in between, because their live shows have a positive, infectious energy that gets the audience going.  “They make it worth our while--when we go out and people are having that good of a time, the energy goes back and forth. Just a good time--we rely on each other’s energy," says Kyle.  Adds Miles, "The most important part is being out there 200 days a year. You’re going back to towns twice a year, so people get to come out, and that gave us a real loyal following. Wherever we go, you have these Stoopidheads going crazy. For us, it’s pretty much the greatest job in the world.”

Despite the constant touring, Slightly Stoopid found time to write new songs and release albums consistently, including live albums and DVDs that channel the best aspect of their shows.  JamLegend is pleased to present a great selection of Slightly Stoopid songs including an awesome UB40 cover "I Would Do for You" from their anthology Slightly Not Stoned Enough To Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid as well as the original song "2 AM" from their studio album Chronchitis, available to play below.

For more info on Slightly Stoopid, check out their official site, MySpace, or Facebook.  Their albums are available via iTunes and Amazon as well as many other sites and record stores.  Slightly Stoopid will be on the road this month, of course, so check them out if they're coming to your town!

June 5, 2010 Saturday      Ozark      AR      Wakarusa
June 12, 2010 Saturday     Santa Rosa     CA     Harmony Festival
June 13, 2010 Sunday     Santa Rosa     CA     Harmony Festival
June 18, 2010 Friday     Jacksonville     OR     Britt Pavilion
June 19, 2010 Saturday     Redmond     WA     Marymoor Amphitheatre
June 20, 2010 Sunday     Spokane     WA     Riverfront Park Amphitheatre
June 22, 2010 Tuesday     Missoula     MT     Ryan Creek Meadows
June 23, 2010 Wednesday     Boise     ID     Idaho Center Amphitheatre
June 24, 2010 Thursday     Salt Lake City     UT     The Depot
June 25, 2010 Friday     Las Vegas     NV     The Pool at the Hard Rock
June 26, 2010 Saturday     Phoenix     AZ     Celebrity Theatre