Little Big Fat

Bobcat Williams is only a myth of a man that may or may not have lived. His story is translated by a team of anthropologists, scientists, and electric engineers with hopes that someday the world can hear the message of the man, the myth, the mystery. When a tree falls in the forest, Bobcat Williams heard it--and that's what he is trying to tell you.

The Bad Sons are the side project of Hollus guitarist/songwriter Michael Lux.

If you choose to hate any band this year, it should be this band.

No one would expect a band named after a pretty boring bait fish to make any measurable splash (pardon the terrible pun)--but in the past couple years, that's just what Common Shiner have set out to do.

Common Shiner originated in Grand Rapids and rose from the Michigan roots-rock rubble just a few years ago. It was not long before their 2006 debut album, So Long..., received accolades from local press and earned radio airplay in West Michigan. Their sophomore effort, Viennas, enjoyed even wider success as it sold across the country and the first single, "No Melody" secured mainstream radio rotation (and eventually charted at 142 on national Adult Contemporary charts). Following those successes, in the fall of 2007 the band made a leap across Lake Michigan to pursue full-time musical careers in Chicago.

The band has a little more in mind than just playing cute music though. Says Bangalore of their line-up, "We want to be able to really rock, but with two less traditional instruments leading: piano and acoustic guitar." But even that goal seems to hide a more interesting pursuit.

The group's real mission? Obliterate pretense and destroy elitist notions in any scene with quality songwriting that appeals to a wide range of listeners. You won't see these boys promoting any indie gimmicks, nor will you find them wearing arena-rock arrogance. What sets the band apart is the marriage of thoughtfulness in songwriting and undeniable accessibility. Everyone who listens to Common Shiner comes away liking something different, and these boys wouldn't want it any other way.

"There's a lot of pretense and segregation in the music world today," says Brooks. "I think it probably started back in the day as a sort of dichotomy of 'Mainstream vs. Indie'. Each crowd could kind of come off as exclusive or snobbish, each had their bad attitudes. And now there's this often-cliquey notion of scene. I think I just feel like listeners can see through that; we want to present music that is unifying and completely without pretense. We want to destroy ridiculous walls. Music is music. And it's community."

Folk/rock band: Geoff Glenn, vocals N guitar; Chris Bennett, vocals, guitar, harmonica, percussion; John Conlon, vocals, guitar, mandolin; Foo, bass, vocals.