What better way to get the year off to a fresh start than by checking out some up-and-coming local bands? Tonight's musical prescription, specially formulated for us by the inimitable Dr. K and his all-knowing consultant Richard Rice, features three rootsy, rockin Bay Area bands whose music is guaranteed to cure whatever could possibly ail you!

Combining the talents of songwriter/guitarist Vince Dewald, bassist Jimmy Dewald, Ben Andrews (guitar, violin), Jeremy Shanok (drums), and Melissa Merrill (vocals), Buxter Hoot'n plays a raw and eclectic form of roots rock that draws from a deep reverence for both tradition and psychedelia. The group's homegrown sound inhabits original songs that swerve from blues to rock to psychedelic and world sounds, forging a gritty, poignant unique sound along the way.

With swagger to spare, TV Mike and the Scarecrowes steer a high-spirited course between alt-country and traditional bluegrass, coloring both inside and outside the lines as they go. Singer/songwriter TV Mike is joined by soulful vocalist Andrea Delarosa, guitarist Matt Lundquist, Toby Oler on banjo, drummer Charlie Knote, Chris Jones, and bassist Emery Barter.

The genesis of grunge/country/blues band Otto Mobile and the Moaners apparently hinges on a visit from the Great Beyond, in the form of guitarist/pedal steel player Matt Lundquist's great, great grand Uncle Otto: "In the resulting jam session, Otto gave young Lundquist a slide and taught him hundreds of his songs unheard since the 30's. He woke the next morning with...some riffs and hooks to begin collecting the songs of the wandering spirit of Otto Mobile." The band also features Toby Oler, Connor O'Sullivan, Emery Barter, Elliott Peck, and Nate Brenner.

Visit Buxter Hoot'n's MySpace page

Visit TV Mike's MySpace page

Visit Otto Mobile's MySpace page

Listen to a track from Buxter Hoot'n:

[audio]466[/audio]

Listen to a track from TV Mike:

[audio]487[/audio]

Listen to a track from Otto Mobile:

[audio]486[/audio]