Newly Discovered Gem: Alberta Cross

So I'm going to see Portugal The Man on Tuesday, if you haven't heard any of their stuff check them out they're awesome.  On a slightly related note though, I decided to check out the opening band, Alberta Cross.  Upon seeing the name I started to get excited about another potentially awesome Canadian indie band.  I watched the first video I could find on YouTube and immediately got hooked.  Diving a little bit deeper I discovered the band was situated in New York but actually had roots before that in Sweden and the U.K.  So why the name Alberta Cross?  I couldn't tell you, but I'm happy it caught my attention.

When I discover new music that I fall in love with, I always explore several different things, like the information I wrote above, but also how many albums do they have, how long have they been together and sometimes, why the hell aren't they famous yet?  So I looked into it and the answers to those questions are four EPs/albums, four years and most importantly, I have absolutely no idea.  

It turns out this band has been on tour with many big name bands like Oasis, The Shins, Bat For Lashes, Dave Matthews Band, Ben Harper, Them Crooked Vultures and Mumford & Sons.  So I really don't understand why I hadn't heard this amazing band until now.  You would think that at least some people would go to the shows early enough to catch the opener and that some of those people would have adequate musical taste to spread around this amazing band like crazy.  That ladies and gentlemen is why a four year old band is getting a post in a new music and concert blog, because people are crazy.

I bought their full length album, Broken Side Of Time, and I regret the fact that I couldn't find the other three EPs, but I'll definitely be buying them at the show on Tuesday.  So upon listening to the one full album I could find, I would describe this band as an amazing mix between Band Of Horses, Neil Young and Radiohead.  Broken Side Of Time has a perfect mix between blues inspired driving rock tunes, ballads and epic building anthem style songs.  What can I say, it's just the perfect mix between blues, rock, indie and alternative.  It's driving music with a perfectly soothing voice overtop which is like a mix between Neil Young and Thom Yorke.  

Some highlights from the album are ATX, Old Man Chicago, Broken Side Of Time and The Thief & The Heartbreaker.  Every other song on the album is amazing too, I can't say I even came close to disliking a single one.  Obviously I'm extremely excited for the show on Tuesday, not only do I get to see this amazing newly discovered gem, I also get to see Portugal The Man for the second time and the first time did not disappoint whatsoever.  Down below is Lucy Rider, the first song I ever heard from this amazing band, and definitely not the last.