Indie heat

The concert season is heating up. Scorching sun, overpriced admission and parking, long lines for filthy restrooms--what's not to love? Give yourself and your wallet a break this summer and check out acts at smaller venues. Sample these six independent releases from out acts and enjoy a taste of their wares before they bit your town.

Soul Sex

* Mark Weigle * Mark Weigle Records

Weigle adds dance beats and metal to the pop-folk mix for his fifth release, with collaborator Kevin Harris. This two-disc, tantric-inspired meditation on emotion and sex offers both searing emotion ("Tires and Gasoline," a tribute to Billy Jack Gaither) and raunchy sexuality (the amusing "Mr. Trucker Man"). A serious and sly eye on a queer America you won't see on Bravo.

Worldwide Release

* Sista Otis and the Wholly Rollers * Wholly Roller Records

The band's name and its Detroit pedigree set some big expectations. Happily, Sista Otis and her Wholly Rollers manage to overdeliver. Sista serves up Janis Joplin-inspired 1960s rock mingled with flavors of funk, hip-hop, soul, and urban folk in socially conscious songs. "Rollin' Stone" and "Love Is Spiritual" are standouts.

Judge a Book

* Skott Freedman * Violent Yodel

For his sixth release, singer-songwriter Freedman asked fans to vote on cover songs for him to record. The results are a brilliant mix of unexpected takes on Green Day, the Magnetic Fields, the Cranberries, Jann Arden, Cyndi Lauper, and others, fueled by Freedman's driving piano and warm voice. Jill Sobule ("I Kissed a Girl") guests on a spacious version of her own "Soldiers of Christ."

A Promise of Light

* Jamie Anderson * Tsunami

Anderson is an evil, reckless, villainous outlaw--in her own words ("Felon"). The veteran performer's acoustic folk tunes invite equal doses of laughter and contemplation. "Grace" is a touching memory of two girls finding true love at church camp, while "Your Mama Scares Me" humorously demonstrates that queer families also struggle with mother-in-law issues.

Going Modern

* The Sharp Ease * olFactory/Soft Spot

At long last, Los Angeles scene favorite the Sharp Ease unleashes its first full-length release. The all-female quartet hails straight from the garage--the 12 songs clock in at just more than 27 minutes. The band offers Pixies-style guitar noise and vocal nods to fellow Angeleno Exene Cervenka. Deciphering the meaning of lyrics can get tricky, but jumpy choruses (particularly on "Joan") keep the music moving.

Indie Music for Life

* Various Artists * Spotted Kiva

Two discs' worth of music, 30 singer-songwriters (some out), not a bad track in the bunch, and the proceeds go to cancer research and awareness projects. The brainchild of singer Vicki Blankenship, this is a perfect starter disc for curious music fans. Includes Josh Zuckerman, Allison Tartalia, Ari Gold, Tracy Stark, Sacha Sacket, Keyth Lawrence, and more. If only the low-grade packaging could match the high-quality musical talent.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Liberation Publications, Inc.
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