TEE "The Earth Explorer"

TEE is a five piece flute front progressive rock band from Tokyo, Japan. Their so-called 'European' sound is unique considering their far-east origin. The imaginative tunes with complex ensembles and rhythms will definitely catch the attention of prog lovers all over the world. Their sound will remind you bands like Camel, King Crimson, Asia Minor or even Frank Zappa on some parts. The band was formed in 2004 when... more

Kevin BARTLETT

You may not know his name but you have definitely heard his music more than once or twice in your life. Maybe on HBO, or on MTV, or on VH1, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel. Doesn't ring the bell? How about American Idol Rewind, or Dr. 90210? We had interviewed Kevin Bartlett a couple of years ago when his second solo album GLOW IN THE DARK was released. Bartlett has been quiet since that time but but he has been secretly brewing new projects. A few months ago he had put a new song...more

Peter Hammill, founding member of Van Der Graaf Generator, released his 28th solo album " nearly 3 months ago. He recently got back home from a short tour covering North America, Canada and Italy. In the 70's when bands like...more

FRIGHT PIG Barque At The Lune *** REVERSAL OF GRAVITY Scuba Gear ***

Special Ed and the Shortbus

Special Ed and the Shortbus is a bubbling fountain of virtuosic insanity. Seeing them play is like watching a high-speed train about to jump the tracks. Unstoppable energy matched with technical mastery, outlandish humor and fully engaging entertainment, the Shortbus is a sight to be hold.

Jug band, Bluegrass, Old-Timey, String Band, Vaudevillian, call it what you will, it's just American music (except when it's Eastern European). The primary objective is to play the music that they would like to hear, using two banjos, two guitars, a mandolin, a fiddle, a trap set, a doghouse bass, many kazoos, and a whole host of other toys.

Special Ed and the Shortbus have been playing music since the Spring of 2002. Based in Richmond, VA, they have traveled far and wide through the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, New England and Midwest. As they've been playing, the music has moved in many directions as their individual characters have come together and morphed each other's playing. They have gained a reputation both near and far for high energy and sometimes bizarre live acts, stream of consciousness stage banter and a tight looseness that only comes from years of performing and practice.

While striving to push traditional music into new and unusual positions, Special Ed and the Shortbus has also gained notoriety as solid executioners of various traditional styles – winning individual instrument competitions at a variety of fiddler’s conventions – including a recent 1st Place Bluegrass Fiddle at the 72nd Galax Fiddlers Convention and 4th Place Mandolin at the 2007 Tazewell County Fiddlers Convention - and performing for folklife festivals and workshops. Whether playing bluegrass, old-time, ragtime, klezmer, or some bizarre hybrid excavated from the depths of their brains, the ultimate goals of Special Ed & the Shortbus are entertainment and creation.

The band released 3 albums over the years. The first one was more like straight ahead bluegrass, it is called "Special Ed and the Shortbus Bluegrass Band". Their second release is "Downhill From Here", a switch in style and lyrics, as the band calls it, their foray into the dirty side.

The latest release came only two months ago, and it is the bands best so far. "Ground Beef Patrol". The band seems to still be reveling the dirty side with bold lyrics, which give them a punkster attitude with the newgrass stamp on it. Trouser Gravy (the CD sheet describes it as "The name says it all...Banjo Banjo Banjo!") and Dirty Baby (a song for the ladies)have real interesting lyrics in that sense. Another surprise on the CD is a traditional Hungarian folk dance song Czardas, a must to hear.

The band is formed by 5 talented musicians: Josh Bearman (mandolin, banjo, bass, jawharp and vocals); Ben Belcher (banjo, bass, vocals); Jake Sellers (battery and percussion); Aaron Lewis (fiddle, vocals); "Special" Ed Brogan (guitar, vocals).

The band is in the midst of their 6th annual Halloween Musicals - this year it is a two part play:
Episode 1: The Birth of The Zombie Stringband
Episode 2: The Trials of the Zombie Stringband in the Seven Layers of Musical Hell
This play features video/puppets/song/dance/and plentyvof brain eating.

Their fiddler Aaron Lewis, won 1st prize bluegrass fiddle at the Galax Old Time Fiddlers Convention in 2007.

For more information about the band you can visit their website at: Specialedshortbus.com. They also have a great myspace page with songs you can listen to and purchase, and it is at: myspace.com/specialedandtheshortbus. All three of their albums can be purchased on CD BABY.

Special Ed and the Shortbus also recently won the Southeastern Independent Music World Series put on by Discmakers and Billboard MagazineDiscmakers.com