Remember my drunken rant about The Kennedy award show where Hootie & The Blowfish played in tribute to Brian Wilson? It was submitted for a Pulitzer or a Dundie…I can’t remember. The question was posed to me, who would I rather have up on that stage to replace Hootie. I now have my answer. The Explorers Club.

The six-piece out of Charleston recreate the Beach Boys sound so well it’s almost frightening. Many have tried, some have been successful, but nobody has even come close to hitting it on the head like The Explorers Club. The three piece overlapping harmonies effortlessly wash over you from the onset and hook you immediately.

There was a day recently that was 70 and sunny in Chicago (just one, mind you) and I had the sun-roof open, windows down and Freedom Wind blaring. I was sporting my snappy Von Zipper Aviators and I found a little slice of heaven. The Explorers Club made me forget the shit Chicago winter that I just lived through. It snowed the following day. Bastards!

Freedom Wind will leave you smiling from ear to ear. There are no shortage of gems during the span of 35 minutes. A couple of the standouts include the lead track, “Forever,” “Do You Love Me?” that sounds like it penned by Brian Wilson himself, and “Last Kiss & Forever.”

MySpace | Dead Oceans

The Explorers Club - Do You Love Me?

Put The Rustlanders on stage at Winterland, hand Scorsese a camera, have these boys play “Holdin’ Out” and God as my witness, you might just be watching The Last Waltz. When I first listened to The Rustlanders self-titled debut, I felt like I was listening to Richard Manuel and Levon Helm harmonize. After playing “Holdin’ Out” three times in a row, I finally come to grips with the fact that I was not having a flashback and was able to move forward with the rest of the album.

The Rustlanders are good ol’ Americana at its best. Influences abound throughout the disc, but the foursome from State College, PA take those influences to work and create their own sound. “Blind Faith” is an absolutely brilliant track with great lyrics that are powerfully delivered with a rich Hammond organ and a ripping guitar solo.

It doesn’t look like they’ll be outside the Pittsburgh area for awhile. If you happen to be in that neck of the woods and enjoy Americana, I would make my way out to a show. For those of you that don’t live in PA, buy the album and patiently wait for The Rustlanders to roll into town.

Website | The Rustlanders

The Rustlanders - La Conchita

When I was really young my parents would always try and get me to eat McDonald’s cheeseburgers. That was supposed to be my special treat, but all I wanted to do is eat hot dogs. No matter who told me how good these cheeseburgers were, all I wanted to do was eat me some hot dogs. Finally one day I broke down sunk my teeth into my first McDonald’s cheeseburger and, you know what? It was mighty delicious.

What the hell does this have to do with The Acorn? I’ve been reading so many positive reviews about Glory Hope Mountain that I just kept on putting it off. I finally broke down and downloaded this album on eMusic and, much like that first bite of US Grade A Beef, I was hooked immediately. The songs feel like a house of cards - like they can fall apart at any moment and I guess that’s what appeals to me. Glory Hope Mountain is a haunting, fragile piece of work that’s full of emotion.

And these songs should sound emotional. Glory Hope Mountain tells the turbulent life story of lead singer Rolf Klausener’s mother; her mother who died during childbirth, her abusive father, natural disasters that plagued her native Honderus, and the new life she found in a move to Canada. Rolf studied West Indian rhythms and Honduras Folk Music to shape the sound and I’d imagine his mother is beaming with pride.

As a whole, I personally dig The Acorn’s upbeat tunes more than the slower ones and their sound reminds me of Midlake or Talking Heads. “Crooked Legs” and “Flood Part 1″ are fantastically intricate tunes that really get inside you. While the some of the slow tracks may take a little more time to grow on you, the closing tune “Lullaby” is strikingly beautiful at first listen.

They are going to be at The Empty Bottle in Chicago this Friday, so if you’re in town, try to make your way out to see them. If you miss them, don’t worry. They’ll be be recording a live session with us in the studio during their stay in the windy city.

Website | MySpace | Paper Bag Records

The Acorn - Crooked Legs

The Acorn - Flood Pt. 1

It took me about 10 seconds of the first track, “Photograph,” to get the feeling of Potlatch. Those first few piano notes set the tone for a stunning debut from Bean Pickers Union. “Photograph” examines a town torn apart by a flood and they lyrics combined with the music makes the town come alive. The music absorbs you and places you at the scene that singer/songwriter, Chuck Melchin, paints for you.

Melchin is without a doubt a wonderfully talented songwriter, as the 10 song Potlatch examines pain and struggle in a number of settings. But in addition to being a songwriter, Melchin is fantastic storyteller. My buddy Moish once commented to me that Patterson Hood wasn’t the best songwriter, but was a spectacular storyteller. Melchin, in my opinion, wins in both categories.

The third track, “Reaper,” tells the story of a man murdering his lifetime friend, Travis. Travis comes to an untimely end as the man finds him attacking his wife. It’s just Melchin and his guitar crafting the tune, but it makes me feel like a fly on the wall as the character fells Travis with his sickle.

This is a brilliant album that will appeal to fans of Neil Young, The Jayhawks, Uncle Tupelo and their many descendants. I don’t know how Bean Pickers Union will manage to put out a better effort in the future, but I’ll be listening.

MySpace | Website | Buy Bean Pickers Union - Potlatch

Bean Pickers Union - Photograph

There have been countless bands that have tried to do too much in one sitting. Its like they are trying to cram all their thoughts into 40 minute release and it often comes off sounding disjointed and, well, like shit. Plants and Animals are one of the few bands that succeed even as they sometimes seem to be all over the place.

I was taken by their w/ Avec EP last year as each of the four tunes had an epic feel to them. The anxiously awaited LP, Parc Avenue, continues the bands lofty aspirations in creating a unique and orchestral sound. I read one review labeling them as jam band. That’s like comparing me to Perez Hilton because we both blog.

While the Montreal three-piece do jam, there is none of that endless noodling with no end in sight that plagues so many jam bands out there today. This is just 3 dudes from Canada aspiring to create some sweet music by blending numerous genres.

With each listen, you’ll find a little something more to hold on to. This is not a disc that can be digested in one or even two sittings. You need to crack open a cold one, slap the headphones on and immerse yourself in Parc Avenue. Much like another HearYa favorite, Port O’Brien, Plants and Animals have a vibe that makes you want to listen to them over and over.

Website | MySpace

Both tracks courtesy of Pasta Primavera:

Plants and Animals - Bye Bye Bye

Plants and Animals - Mercy

Do you ever find yourself humming a tune and for the life of you can’t remember who sings or where you heard it? That happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I was humming this tune, “Hey Little Kitty,” for what felt like days on end before I gave up trying to solve the puzzle. Shortly after, I popped on Park The Van’s website and voila. There were The Peekers. I felt like Robert Langdon at the end of The DaVinci Code.

The Peekers are the latest addition to the fantastic Park The Van label and have recently kicked out a brief 12 minute EP chock full of harmonies, soul and an infectious vibe that will have you subconsciously humming the tunes later in day. The EP blends each song so seamlessly that it feels like a suite instead of a collection of scattered tunes.

If you dig the Park The Van label, I’m sure you’ll like this six-piece from Shreveport.

MySpace | Park the Van