The independent scene in music is the fun place to be. The trick is, it’s also one of the hardest places to be. Independent labels are small, they don’t grab world-wide attention usually – at least not at first, and part of the appeal is getting in on the action before everyone else. If you’re into music, look beyond independent bands to find the sort of things you only wish you knew about.

Steve Burns

You might know him from Blue’s Clues, but the soft, eclectic music of this once-hard-rocker is more than mellow. It’s pretty darn great. Steve does some multi-instrument work and sings the lead vocal. So far his reception has been very warm indeed.

Girl Talk

An eclectic collection of songs of many different genres by Gregg Gillis. He has everything from mixed dance classics to slow lyrical pieces. Gregg’s stage show is also known to be a bit lacking in the clothing department.

Buckethead

So not that obscure as he’s shown up on Guitar Hero an in the new Guns and Roses, but still you might not have realized what you were seeing. An amazing guitarist with a penchant for a white Halloween mask and an overturned fried chicken on his head, Buckethead is certainly a very special individual.

God of Shamisen

Led by a master of the obscure Japanese Shamisen, the unique blend of instruments in the God of Shamisen is interesting and entertaining. The band covers a multitude of genres, including progressive rock, metal, and funk.

The Dirtbombs

They have been around for ten years, but you still probably haven’t heard much about them. The garage band sound started as a side project for Mick Collins and is now a rather notable, although still obscure, rock band.

Runforyerlife

A female ska band with a pleasing approach to the genre. The band makes you want to dance or at the very least nod your head in time to the music. A bit edgier than No Doubt, this is a new spin on ska that people are enjoying quite a bit.

The Veils

A developing band, the Veils have already released three albums, each of which is more mature and interesting than the next. The Viels have a variety of sounds running from powerful, edgy lyrics to the drawn-out ballads and obscure symbolic creations.