For the hard rock quartet Megaphone, the mission has been simple: Saving rock n’ roll from the machine, and bringing it back to where it should be – loud, catchy and in your face. It’s obvious they’re succeeding with that mission due to a huge draw in their native Orlando, Florida, extensive radio play, and gigs opening for arena headliners and festival appearances. With their new album, Exit Silent Mode, filled to the brim with unforgettable hooks, melodies and songs, Megaphone is poised to take everything about their band to the next level.

The following is an interview on Megaphone’s experience of getting their music onto the infamous Rock Band game.

Q) How did you get involved in the Rock Band project?

If you’re standing in a forest, tilting your head way back to glimpse the tops of all those majestic, thickly trunked trees, it’s just impossible not to be moved by their centuries-old resilience; the stoic strength that sees them through even the harshest storms that Mother Nature can unleash.

Yet locked deep within the core of each of those mighty oaks and towering sequoias is something even stronger than their outwardly impressive surface layers: the heartwood.

A tree’s densest, most durable—and often most beautiful—element, the heartwood is the robust, knotty marrow that keeps it standing proud and tall for all to marvel at. And not only is Heartwood also the name of Canadian singer-songwriter Sora’s astonishing third release, it’s as well the perfect metaphor for her music: gorgeous, rich, endlessly enduring.

Raised in the 60s by free-spirited artists living like gypsies in picturesque locations like Cheyene Walk, Chelsea or Cornwall, Klay D-C (AKA Klay Dumas-Copas) is a master of creating musical tapestries that are full of flavor and life. His latest solo release, Ritmo, is a magical musical journey that combines technical prowess with an ear for colorful melodies.

A natural story-teller, the first track, “Mungabunga,” introduces us to a soft acoustic piano before blossoming into a wiggy, upbeat number garnished with salsa rhythms. The totally unexpected arrangement dances between the acoustic piano and electric instruments (guitar and bass) in a melodic tease that excites and intoxicates.

Phoenix will be returning to the states this winter and making a stop at The Joint on January 28.

2009 has been a career-defining year for the band with the release of their critically acclaimed album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Selling more than 200,000 copies to date, WAP is being heralded as one of the best albums of the year. These incredible songs spring to life even more so on stage, with dynamic guitars, infectious choruses and addictive rhythms building to sheer exhilaration as the audience rides Phoenix’s sonic high.

Contemporary Pianist/Composer, Ann Sweeten, (www.Annsweeten.com) has crafted a signature sound over the course of 8 chart-topping albums and 2 Italian compilation albums over the past 13 years. Often placed in the New Age genre, her style is decidedly unique, embracing not only the classical realm, but aspects of jazz, film scoring, and popular music. Sweeten’s music has aired and been reviewed across the world to wide critical acclaim. Her music is also played on Internet radio, DMX/Spafax Music, Muzak, Clear Channel, AOL Music/XM Audio Visions channel, XM Satellite, and Music Choice (Soundscapes).

Musical Achievements:

The independent albums that I chose have shown a new musical direction. The albums contain originality in arragements and sound, helping to redefine the current music landscape. The list includes unsigned and indie band’s albums/EP’s that are signed to labels.

The indie movement and community needs to keep regenerating. The music is out there, but we just need to keep building an indie music community to help expose these artists to the masses.

The list of indie artists’ albums are not in any particular order.

Grammy nominated and 8X Nammy Award winner Jana Mashonee will be performing “O Holy Night” LIVE on My Fox DC Monday, Dec. 21st at 9:40 am. Add to your holiday spirit by tuning in and watching this amazing singer perform a holiday classic! You can watch her perform at www.myfoxdc.com.

Jana Mashonee’s upcoming album, New Moon Born on Miss Molly Records/SONY RED, is set for release in America on February 16, 2010. New Moon Born has already picked up an award for Best Pop Album at the most recent Indian Summer Music Awards and has recently won for Song/Single of the year for “A Change Is Gonna Come” at the Eleventh Annual Native American Music Awards (NAMMY) as well as a nod for a 2009 Independent Music Award.

Jana Mashonee’s upcoming album, New Moon Born on Miss Molly Records/SONY RED, is set for release in America on February 16, 2010.

New Moon Born has already picked up an award for Best Pop Album at the most recent Indian Summer Music Awards and has recently won for Song/Single of the year for “A Change Is Gonna Come” at the Eleventh Annual Native American Music Awards (NAMMY) as well as a nod for a 2009 Independent Music Award.

Mashonee’s featured track is an emotional cover of Sam Cooke’s soul classic, “A Change Is Gonna Come,” with Juno Award-winning guitarist Derek Miller. Jana debuted the song and the powerful music video at her live performance for the 2009 American Indian Presidential Inaugural Ball in Washington, DC.

An awful tragedy, and a reason to make music every day.

On Tuesday, 19-year old indie folksinger Taylor Mitchell was hiking alone on a trail in Cape Breton when she was attacked by coyotes. Nearby hikers stopped the attack and Mitchell was rushed to hospital, but she died of her injuries on Wednesday morning.

Mitchell had just released her debut full-length album, For Your Consideration, and was in the process of touring in support of the release. She was taking a short break from her east coast schedule when the tragedy occurred.

DIY Indie Artist Dave Hibbert Shows Us the Ropes

Sometimes, a career in music can feel like careening down a canyon in a haycart – you’re on a wild ride but you’ve got absolutely zero control over your fate. Who knows if you’ll ever get discovered? Who knows if a label will ever take an interest in your demo?

The desire not to be left with two broken legs at the bottom of a gorge where no one can hear you scream leads some musicians to conquer the industry on their own terms. This week, TheBuzz spoke with performing and recording artist Dave Hibbert, who, after fifteen years at the heart of the indie music scene on Canada’s west coast, has to decided to take the reins and record his own album.

The Decision

As the brainchild behind the punk-pop inspired dance rock project, Sunday Night Scene, Jimme Coccaro’s unquestionable ambition to make music a reality is pure. And America’s Playmate his debut LP out October 13th via iTunes and Chamberlain Records — is just a glimpse of what’s to come from this incredibly likable songwriter and performer. Quickly making a name for himself in the Northeast, Jimmie has shared the stage with the likes of All Time Low, Cartel, A Rocket Summer, and Valencia.

With all the cards stacked in his favor, Sunday Night Scene is prepped and ready to release his newest album “America’s Playmate” on October 13th via Chamberlain Records. Coinciding with the release of the new record, SNS will head out on the “America’s Playmate Tour” hitting almost every major city in the nation.

Matthew Ryan gives us a taste of his upcoming album, Dear Lover. Stay tuned… I am sure more leaks will be posted as a the date of the release gets near.

Super 400 is gearing up to release their fifth studio album, Sweet Fist, out September 15th, 2009 on Response Records/Rock Ridge Music. Recorded on tape at the famed Ardent Studios in Memphis, TN, with cover art by Klaus Voormann, the renowned creator of the Beatles’ ‘Revolver’ album cover, this album is the band’s most skillful work to date, holding strong to their influences from legends like Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Blind Faith and Zeppelin.

Super 400 takes the classic ‘power trio’ approach: three instruments taking up the sonic space of an airplane hangar, rocking to the heavens – but their vocal dynamics and spiritual synergy cause the sounds to swell to the bursting point.

In the band’s first year, Geoff Travis of Trade 2 Records brought them over to London, and they were signed by Island Records.  Island planned to herald the return of Rock and Roll with Super 400 as a flagship force in the new millennium.  The young band had their first album in the chamber, ready to take on the world. In a twist of fate that would foreshadow an unstable music biz, Polygram Co was soon bought out, folding the hierarchy at Island, but this didn’t break the bands bond, only made them stronger.