Today, I add a new feature to this ever-growing blog: Duderman Discovers. In these special blog entries, I will put the spotlight on a little known band that, in my opinion, all of my readers should be aware of due to their talent (or lack of) and potential. Pretty cool, right?
The first artist I want to spotlight is a band from Orange, California called Aushua. I was made aware of these guys by Thrice, who expressed their admiration for this group so much that they recruited them for backup vocals on The Alchemy Index tracks “Firebreather” and “Child of Dust,” as well as recommending them on their website (www.alchemyindex.com).
Out of curiosity, I checked their Myspace and was immediately taken by their sound. It reminded me of all the best qualities of early anthematic U2 (soaring guitars, a steady rhythm section), but without the “we play ONLY stadiums” pretentiousness. Singer Phil Newyear is a captivating person to listen to; every lyric sounds so heartfelt that you can easily become attached.
Their No Harm Done EP is available through various digital retailers like iTunes and Amazon, and it’s DEFINITELY worth checking out (it’s also super inexpensive). From the title track to the final track “Soldier Boy,” Aushua has a sound that many bands often (unsuccessfully) strive for a sophomore album or a “mainstream breakthrough.” Aushua, still a young group, has this cherished sound already in the palms of their hands.
