When you see a live band that you’ve never heard before, it’s not typical to be instantly hooked – but that’s totally what happened when I saw Rescue the Hero at last month’s Syke show (Down N’ Dirty Fest @ Jaxx).  It’s also super rad that when asked about the best show they’ve ever played, these guys sa...

It would appear as though a new dance rock era is upon us – with bands like MGMT, Foxy Shazam, and even the Yeah Yeah Yeahs causing a commotion over the past couple years.  Of course, Virginia locals – The Gloom – caught the wave just in time and are bringing their own unique mix of “hipster disco” to the floor.  The...

Although they’ve only been together for a little less than five months, the members of Commends are no strangers to the Northern Virginia music scene.  All the guys have been in other popular local bands before this one; you might know vocalist Anton and bass...

With a name like Tomorrow’s Ours to inspire their determination and creativity, it’s no big surprise that this 5-piece pop punk/screamo band from Fredericksburg is hitting VA with an intense energy.  They’ve been together as a full band for less than a year (although th...

So in between procrastinating your homework, refreshing your Facebook page and ooVoo-ing to your heart’s content, I’m prettttty sure you have a minute or two to help out one of the 3 stellar bands competing in this month’s Syke Band of the Month competition. Seriously though. 

This month we’ve got Tomorrow’s Ours  o...

If you’re going to stand out against a mass of talented musicians in the NOVA scene, then you need to make sure that your band isn’t doing the same old things that everyone else is. Meet The OK Corral from Springfield, VA.  With soulful vocals and ...

If it’s time to switch up your play list, and you’re looking for something a little more unique, you definitely want to load it up with some Hello Conductor!  This Richmond-based quartette fuses several different musical elements and styles (most predominantly rock and indie) to create a progressive sound that will keep you hungry for more.

Hello Conductor actua...

If you’re in the mood for something with a little more bite than your favorite pop band, but aren’t necessarily down with conventional hardcore or screamo, then Autostrada’s heavy alternative fusion  is the perfect catch for your end-of-summer playlist.   With a unique sound and poignant lyrics this quartette is sure to pea...

While the band Rosy Likes Red adopted their name from a short story by Connor Kaos (RLR’s lead singer and founder), their success will certainly not be short-lived.  Drawing inspiration from some pretty unlikely sources – like 19th Century Romanticism for starters – this up-and-coming pop-punk quartette puts a modern spin on some of thei...

For twins Max and Spencer Ernst making music is nothing new – they’ve been performing live for almost a decade, and writing songs for even longer.  In September of last year Max and Spencer picked up Pat Shine on guitar and Greg Mallick on drums, formed Trustfall, and have been causing quite a stir in the DC Metro/NOVA music scene.  While many NOVA bands are going in a p...

For those of you 7 Cities kids that caught Honour Crest this past weekend at Peppermint Beach Club (with Sky Eats Airplane, In Fear and Faith, The Word Alive, and Eyes Set to Kill) you know exactly why they’re Syke’s Band of the Month – not only is their set tight but they definitely know how to bring it!  While the band has been in existence for a few years, the origin...

Flying into the Northern Virginia music scene at an intangible speed is Diesel Pigeons.  With polar opposite influences (ranging from pop punk to metal to blues) this quartette has managed to create a synth-driven force blasting to the top of our radar. They’re so good, in fact, that they are the first ever winners of Syke’s Band Of The Month Voting Contest! 

Just when you thought you might have to pack up those plaid pants, suspenders and ditch your dance moves Virginia Beach band Rude Zombie is breathing new life into the ska scene!  In fact, their name even refers to the idea that ska music is making a comeback – the term “rude” (at least in this sense) is often associated with ska music, and while pop culture co...

Ex Astris might not have their full lineup set in stone but that hasn’t hindered their chances at becoming one of 7 Cities’ newest shining stars.  While the story of their start is somewhat of a joke (and involving lyrics inspired from a can of some other energy drink), their abundance of talent is not.  With Andrew as the lead vocalist, Tavish on guitar, Mark o...

If you like to get down with the metalcore kids but want something just a little softer on the ears you’ll be excited to rock out with Richmond, VA’s newest pop rock phenomenon Girls Get All The Action.  Vocalist Chris Baldwin and guitarist Jason Thompson started writing music together for GGATA back in July of 2008 but didn’t complete the band until October.  Hail...

For being such a new band, The Downtown Fiction’s abounding (and instant) success really comes as no big surprise to anyone who’s familiar with their music.  Although they’ve only been rocking together as a trio for around 6 months (they played  their first show in September, 2008), TDF have established a cohesiveness that many bands take several years to develop.&...

If you're at all familiar with the music scene in Virginia, then you're probably also aware of the abundance of musical acts here.  So how does an up-and-coming band break out of the redundant cycle of over-classified, genre-driven rock? Well, they might want to start by taking some tips from Virginia Beach's moonUNIT.  When asked what aspect of their music gives them th...