"I've always been interested in communication; I began with words because they came pretty easy to me, but then I started noticing how one could communicate a different range of emotions and experience without them. And when you put them together, you can tell stories with an extra emotional dimension. That's why so many songs use cliches-- they let the music carry the meaning. "I feel sad," just say that while you strum an A minor (or any minor, of course, but A's one of the easiest) and see how much easier it is to touch someone else with that sadness.
Music shoots through us, piercing straight in to our wordless, emotional states of being. As such, it is a powerful tool and I'd like to try to use it to raise people's awareness of the sorry state of the world. And also to cheer us up sometimes, make us laugh a little. Really, when you think about it, nothing's funnier than a naked emperor, prancing on parade. "
Check out the NEW video for "Step by Step":
Al Baker is a Troubacore Folk artist from Manchester in the UK. He has only been playing since January 2006 and has already toured the UK, US, Canada and Ireland with his band, The Dole Queue. He has appeared on stage with well respected acts such as Atilla The Stockbroker, David Rovics, Evan Greer, Ryan Harvey, Tom Frampton, Mark Gunnery, Legion of Filth and Gideon Conn. Al released his first album, On The Use of Jack Boots, in December 2006 which has received glowing reviews. He plans on releasing his second album in 2010.
Al Baker & The Dole Queue
Fuck small talk. Tommy the Unsentimental is a three-piece band based in Parkville, Maryland and comprised of Laura Pinder on lead guitar and vocals, Samantha Manchester on bass, and Ryan Gibson on drums. Having felt alienated from the fashion-conscious, hetero-normative scenedom of "indie"pendent culture, Pinder, Manchester, & Gibson made the decision to create music together while standing in a rainstorm outside a local coffehouse, unapologetically spilling their entrails to one another in a fashion prohibited by 'normal' social bullshit. They are unified in their mission to never stray from raw honesty and unfettered passion into the tired bowels of empty irony. The members of Tommy the Unsentimental do not want to play music that represents an audience--rather, all of their music is intensely personal, ranging from accounts of sexual assault to tales of institutionalized youth. When creating, they have two goals in mind--to create good music, and to tear down the barriers of what is "acceptable" and what is "weird" in human interaction. These musicians seek to lay out their livers for public dissection, and leave it at that.
Tommy the Unsentimental is currently recording their first album, and plans to tour the US in the summer of 2010.
"Thank God I'm an Atheist"
Nat Simons is one of Spain's finest folk singers. Her deeply soothing and invigorating voice is not only enough to draw you in, but will leave you feeling mesmerized. Often writing songs of political and social significance, Nat Simmons is a true artist. Her much awaited debut studio album is scheduled for release in 2010.

The Last Internationale is a folk duo, an electric rock and roll/blues/punk rock band, or a million people in the streets shouting "NO!" to war. Based in Manhattoes territory, what some today would call Manhattan, the band is especially known for their explosive live performances and outspokenness on issues of social, economic, and environmental justice.
Any of their hardcore fans could testify to the fact that this one of few bands that isn't actually afraid to take a stand on certain issues and state the obvious- like, "Obama is a war monger!" The best part is that they take their message to the streets, often playing protests, rallies, parades, riots, etc. With lyrics like "rob the rich/give to the poorest," that message is to love your mothers, not your enemies- who, by the way, have names and addresses ;).
Among other accomplishments, TLI has been featured on Amy Goodman's award-winning show Democracy Now!, can be heard on several radio stations around the world, and is going to be featured in the upcoming international documentary Freedom Rocks!, which includes music celebrities (who don't need a bio) like Bruce Springsteen, Bono, and Victor Jara.
Their second album is slated for release in March 2010, made possible by your support.

Born in a Cent merges punk/ska/indie/prog into one unique sound that has become our signature. We've become known for our radical political / anarcha feminist lyrics, community-building benefit shows, and our performances at protests and after-parties.
With our friends and comrades, we're building up a celebratory political music scene in the NYC area. We love shows that create safe spaces for queer and trans folk, women, and people of color; and we strive to make all of the shows that we book or play such spaces.