Unsigned artists with the potential to break into the big time.
Sweet like the folk lullabies of Sufjan Stevens and sour like the melancholy emo-pop of Straylight Run, Michigan's Anathallo recalls a number of contemporary independent acts. But catch its live show, and you will witness something that feels entirely different.
Armed with a full horn section and an arsenal of percussion, the youngsters tear through their set with irresistible harmonies and frequent shifts in melodic direction. The eight-person ensemble comprises self-described high-school band geeks, jazz heads and classic-pop aficionados.
"Floating World," the 6-year-old band's first proper full-length, is available for purchase via Anathallo's Web site (anathallo.com) and will be in stores starting June 6. "With each tour, we're finding our shows more and more performative," co-founder and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Dost says. "I think we'd like to expand on that and experiment more with what a show should be without being gimmicky." The band is currently on tour and is slated to perform at this year's Lollapalooza.