0

Tweet

Artist of the Week: Makeshift Innocence

Oh, the fun ways of discovering new music. Who knew that when my dad brought home a case of beer, he would be bringing home a whole new avenue for me to wander down, looking for more music?

A few weeks ago, my dad bought case of Big Rock that came with a CD – Big Rock Untapped II. This compilation CD showcased a number of fantastic, new Canadian artists. I then went onto Big Rock Untapped’s website, www.bigrockuntapped.com and found a whole pile of uploads from artists that I’d never listened to before. It was simply delightful, like putting on a coat that you haven’t worn in months and finding a ten-dollar bill in the pocket! This site is a really amazing way for artists to get exposure, and is definitely worth checking out.

One of these fantastic groups I found was Makeshift Innocence, from Calgary. You could call them a folk-rock group, but they’re also bluesy and reggae-inspired, with some jazz-influenced rhythms thrown in for good measure. Fronted by Jesse James Cameron, Makeshift Innocence has been together since 2007. In less than two years, they have released one album and a couple of singles on iTunes.

Cameron’s deep and powerful vocals combine with the clean sound of acoustic guitars, creating a sound that’s never hard on the ears and absolutely beautiful. The band’s bio on MySpace calls the music “the sound of a feeling.” This is probably the best way of describing it. The emotions that are transpired through the lyrics and melodies are unavoidable and touched my heart. The music is inspiring, and left me feeling vulnerable and pensive. Music doesn’t have the same effect on everyone, and there is only so much that words can express, so listen to Makeshift Innocence yourself, or make a reservation at the Ironwood Stage and Grill on May 16th to see the band play live. I know I’ll be there!