Datsik: This 21-year-old, ultra-grimey dupstep artist hasn’t released his own full-length album yet, but he has plenty of tracks on the internet that will leave fans of Bar 9 and Bassnectar reeling. Once self-described as “robostep,” Datsik has produced some bangin’ tunes that stand out in the dubstep scene. In fact, some of his releases have made it to the number one spot on Beatport. Check out the tracks “apples” and “retreat.”
-Jaimie Fife

Nomo: Ghost Rock – A bunch of music students from Michigan got together and made an album combining jazz, funk, and afro-beat with a healthy dose of experimental noise. Hypnotic and strange, but impossible not to dance to.
-Nick Dillon

Grass Widow: Grass Widow – Part of the new Bay Area girl wave, this will drill its way into your skull- better than Vivian Girls, vibrant as the Raincoats.
-Jenn Hartman

The Mountain Goats: All Hail West Texas. Currently working as a three-piece, this North Carolina-based band’s 2002 release was recorded entirely on a boom box tape deck solo by singer/guitarist/mastermind John Darnielle. Quippy lyrics, lo-fi recording style and a sound reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel.
-Adam Bates

Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over The Sea – I know this album came out years ago and they’re not around anymore, but I’m behind on almost everything, including this strange and wonderful, lo-fi pop gem.
-Teo Crider

Nurses: apples acres – Simply said, this album is brilliant. It’s been my highway companion while traveling for the holiday season. Its skipless; I almost always listen to it all the way through. One of my top albums of 2009. And I’m pretty sure ‘Lita’ is going to be stuck in my head for at least another month.
-Haylee Nighbert

Alex McMurray: How to Be a Cannonball – The frontman for Royal Fingerbowl’s second solo album is a mix of hilarity, darkness, tongue-in-cheek love and New Orleans flavor. A master storyteller and phrase-turner, McMurray is impossible not to compare to Tom Waits, but don’t do it to his face. He might stab you.
-Django Bohren

Neurotic Outsiders: Self titled – It’s an odd super group from 1996, featuring Duff and Matt from G n’ R, Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols and John Taylor from Duran Duran. They only did one album, but it’s timeless, like an old friend.
-Dave Stanley

Twiddy and the Argonauts- EP – I heard this band at the Battle of the Bands last year and just picked them up again. I love the jazz infused with Red Hot Chili Peppers like tones that are groovy but young and fresh.
-Tabitha Englebright

Weezer: Raditude – I have been glued to this record ever since it came out in November. The songs are finely crafted, hooky, Rivers Cuomo gems about love and life. My favorite song on the record is (If You’re Wondering if I Want You To) I Want You to.” Check it out for yourselves.
-Boris Budd

Le Fits: Sportif – Although this album from Philadelphia front man Ben Riesman is from 2007 I just got turned onto it. A must have for fans of Lou Reed and Luna, no two songs sound the same.
-Anna Rankin

Austin Jenckes: Coming of Age – Still blown away with how cool this record is. It’s a great pick-me-up with all this grey weather we are having.
-Brian Fannin

White Denim: Fits – I fell in love with this band a few months ago and can’t stop giving it a listen. The three-piece is from Austin and is unbelievable cool, a mix between Hendrix, Captain Beefheart and the Sonics.
-Brent Cole

This full length release, Coming of Age can best be described as acoustic pop with a dash of folk and a sprinkle of gospel. Austin’s voice has a wide emotive range sounding similar to John Mayer with some Justin Timberlake on the top end and Chris Cornell on the low end. His falsetto is well placed and sweetly tone-full.

Equally talented vocally as he is on the guitar, Austin has a clever sense of rhythm and articulation. Bassist Justin Harcus does a great job of adding transitioning riffs that glue the songs. Drummer Joey Sanchez is laid back, in the pocket and crisp. Keys are played by Brian Fennel and Dave Coram, adding complexity and mood to the songs they are featured on. Dan Kennelly joins Austin for one track with some soothing electric guitar.

Coming of Age lists 10 tracks but contains an eleventh bonus track. This bonus track contains contemporary vocal effects that bring the song into more of an R&B genre. This track alone warrants Austin to be on the airwaves. But it’s the entire album that will retain a loyal following. The lyrics give us an insightful look into personal spaces, which feels more like sage advice from an old soul than it does from a young man.

Recorded at Wiseman Studios the production work is up to par with any commercially available record. Listening with ear buds make the experience personal, enabling you to discover deeper layers to the music. Vocal harmonies and clean acoustic melodies subtly wait in the background to be discovered.

For the past few weeks, Coming of Age has served as a grounding point reloading the soul with warmth and hope after a long day or challenging event. I highly recommend this album.

Self Released
For more visit: www.austinjenckes.com

The first performer was Austin Jenckes. His soulful voice has awe-striking emotional power, and hisguitar chops aren’t too shabby either. He broke into a technical riff, while continuing to wail, showing he was born to perform.

The Featured act was JB and David Payne from The JB Quartet. David plays bass for the group and JB fronts the band from behind a Fender Rhodes. They played a jazzy lounge version of their killer set, including a great cover of the Patio Kings. JB’s precise tenor singing complimented the smooth keys and bass, soothing all who listened. When asked what possessed him to play the cover, JB said he wanted to give Plan B. a proper blessing. (The Patio Kings used to play the 3B and Factory, the same space that is now Plan B.)

The final act of the night was Cara Albouq, well known for her stripped down soulful songs. Whereever she performs the audience is drawn in by her prowess. She’s a gorgeous woman with a great set of pipes and the ability to shred on the guitar, the perfect package. I can’t emphasize the importance of Cara adding some original songs to her repertoire. I think that she could easily have a hit record.

There were many artists who played great sets. The Plan B. Saloon is and will be a great venue for new artists.

Austin Jenckes, a student at Western Washington University, has released his album entitled Coming of Age. Photo courtesy of artist

Playing music has always been a part of Austin Jenckes life. For him, it was not merely a hobby that evolved; it’s been a passion since day one. From first picking up a guitar at the tender age of eight, to his current touring in the here and now, he finds himself as busy as ever.

His album, Coming of Age, was released this past spring. While it is long on hooks and crafty melodies, it admittedly has a bit of a polished edge.

“I was trying to grab a lot of people,” he said, explaining the pop feel to the recording.

Nonetheless, it managed to generate a decent buzz for Jenckes. He has since toured off and on in support of the disc, traveling all over the Western states. “We go on a West Coast tour next week,” he said.

Jenckes is also no stranger to the Bellingham scene, having played the Cobra Lounge and the Wild Buffalo within the past month.

There is no date set for a new album, but the writing has commenced. His newer demo finds him returning to a more stripped down, Southern and folksy feel. Originally from the tiny, nearby town of Duvall, WA, the 21-year-old Jenckes has been performing nonstop in all sorts of venues. Be it coffee shops, clubs, student unions or even churches, he always seems to find a niche in which to belong. Initially, he began performing at the modest venues in his hometown. Soon after he ventured into various open mic nights in the Seattle area. He cut his teeth, however, at the Still Life Cafe in the Freemont when he was 15. “That’s where I learned to get friendly with the stage,” he said.

Eventually, his playing took him all the way to Oklahoma, which brought him closer to his Southern rock roots. “I was a big fan,” he says of the genre. His father taught him to play guitar, and Lynyrd Skynrd and the Eagles were among the early repertoire.

Being from the Northwest, however, Jenckes soon gravitated to the grunge scene, emulating his favorite artists from the era. While on the surface that might seem like a mere pit stop on the way to finding his true musical self, it did end up forging a beneficial relationship that lasted the better part of six months. “I took lessons from Maestro David Kyle,” he said.

No small feat, when considering Kyle’s clientele over the years has included the likes of Geoff Tate, Chris Cornell and Layne Staley.

To this day, Jenckes maintains that his voice is the focus of his music, as opposed to flashy instrumentation. “I’ll still show off a little bit [on guitar],” he added a bit sheepishly.

In addition to touring, Jenckes has found other things to keep him busy since the release of Coming of Age.

In August, as per usual for growing solo artists, he hired a backup band. It was not, however, haphazardly thrown together. In addition to friends, the lineup includes family members and his high school music teacher. Talk about coming full circle. As it turned out, there was more good fortune for Jenckes in August, as he landed an endorsement with Alvarez guitars.

It goes without saying that the validation of being endorsed by a name brand would be a validating benchmark for anyone’s career. But the other obvious perk wasn’t lost on him. “It’s nice getting free guitars,” he added.

However, it doesn’t look like the rock star accoutrements will go to his head anytime soon, given that he is still a student at Western Washington University. He happens to be a recording major, and an opportunistic one at that. “I just recorded my new demo there,” he said.

Time to add “resourcefulness” to his list of talents.