If you like popular music, check out America's next big band, New Neighbors (www.newneighbors.info). (The band used to call itself IY.) My son Chris, 22, is their guitarist. In addition to their own website, they also maintain a page on MySpace: www.myspace.com/newneighbors.
Here are two of their songs: "Shortlist", "Twenty-Third Hour"
Chris recently recorded a solo EP (The Spring EP), which you can download for free here.
New Neighbors plays mostly its own material. Like me, you may find it easier to judge a new band by listening to them play something familiar. Check out their cover of "Such Great Heights," recorded live at a show in Ithaca. The recording isn't studio quality, but it nicely captures the feel of their live performances.
But the best way to evaluate any band is to hear them play. Check their website to find their next scheduled show.
My son Hayden, 19, also has a band. They're The Sauce, and Hayden is their bassist and lead singer. They're more in the soul-funk vein. Here's one of Hayden's original compositions:
And here's their cover of a Bill Withers favorite:
