This Christmas, nab a local band’s album. Whatever your genre preference, there is a local band playing songs just for you. Here are albums out now from midstate musicians.
METAL
Meet at Sundown ("Meet at Sundown"): These Perry County rockers are inspired by southern rock, metal and punk — so expect to headbang while listening to the extended play.
Available: $5 on www.meetatsundown.bandcamp.com. Digital version is free from same site.
Catch the band live 10 p.m. Dec. 8 at Laserdome, 2050 Auction Road, Manheim.
Small Town Titans ("Small Town Titans"): Formed while the members studied at Lebanon Valley College, Small Town Titans packs a big sound. Be sure to listen to "Sky High," which showcases the band's range and command of their music — be it fast or slow.
Available: $5 on www.smalltowntitans.com. Digital version is $4.99 on the same site.
Catch the band live 10 p.m. Dec. 14 at Gullifty’s Underground in Camp Hill.
ROCK
Darry Miller & The Veil ("Grip Your Seat"): With a voice constantly set to swoon, Darry Miller & The Veil combine smooth vocals, catchy melodies and soaring instrumentation to create one ear pleasing package. Keep an ear out for "Quite the Substance," a poppy number that practically commands you to dance.
Available: $2.97 on iTunes.
Catch the band live 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at Tellus 360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster.
Ducky Duke.
CHRISTINE BAKER, The Patriot-News
Ducky & the Vintage ("Flowers"): Lead singer Ducky Duke made headlines earlier this year when he was on "The Voice" and "Last Call with Carson Daly." Ducky & the Vintage's music is rock with a hint of blues, as embodied on the song "Days of the Walking Dead."
Available: $5.94 at Amazon.com and on iTunes.
Red Sea Radio ("Old Toys"): Billed as "Music that makes for happy headphones," Red Sea Radio is an electro-rock group whose feel leans melancholy.
Available: $9.99 on iTunes. $8.99 on Amazon.com.
Catch the band live 9 p.m. Dec. 21 at Stage on Herr, 268 Herr Street, Harrisburg.
FOLK
Brethren ("November"): The three-song extended play is catchy and makes a great soundtrack to driving down country roads. Known for its three part harmonies, this band is focused on producing simple and honest music. "Death Becomes Us" is the song to listen out for.
Available: $5 at one of the band's shows. A digital version is available on www.brethren1.bandcamp.com for free.
Catch the band live 7 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Chameleon Club, 223 N. Water St., Lancaster.
Lost Companion ("Lost Companion"): With a solid Mumford and Sons-esque sound, Lost Companion is Americana at its most raw. Joe Gualtier is the man behind the one-man band, and he uses his songs to weld stories out of a few strums of his guitar. His peers are taking notice too. His song "Oh Death" won an honorable mention at the 2012 East Coast Songwriting Convention.
Available: $3 at www.lostcompanionmusic.com.
Catch the musician live 8-10 p.m. Dec. 8 at Warm Hearts Cafe, 25 E. Main St., Mechanicsburg.
Seasons.
Seasons ("Joy on High"): The latest CD from the Celtic group is loaded with Christmas classics — each with their own folk spin. Tracks include a rendition of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."
Available: $10 starting Dec. 1 at www.seasonsmusic.com.
Catch the band live 8 p.m. Dec. 1 at Warm Hearts Cafe, 25 E. Main St., Mechanicsburg.
The Vulcans ("Shadows"): This Mechanicsburg-based Americana trio won first place in the 2011 Susquehanna Folk Society Song Writing Contest for their song "Someone I Used to Know," not to be confused with the Gotye hit. Inspired by The Avett Brothers, the group's lyrics make hearts ache and soar.
Available: $8.98 on Amazon.com, a digital version is $7.99 on www.thevulcans.bandcamp.com or $9.90 on iTunes.
HIP-HOP
J. Bair.
Image taken with an iphone4 using the Hipstamatic app.
CHRISTINE BAKER, The Patriot-News
J. Bair ("H-I-P H-O-P Back to Basics"): J. Bair's love of old school hip-hop shows in his latest single, which also includes his song "Rap Scholar." Produced by Dennis "Aganee" Jenkins, the Harrisburg man who co-produced Justin Bieber's "Die in Your Arms," the lead song features sick beats and rhymes.
Available: $1.25 at Music Man, 16 Kline Village, Harrisburg and Mr. Mike's Record Store, 27 S. Third St., Harrisburg. A digital version is available online at www.JBAIRmusic.com.
Monroe Crusoe ("Change the World"): Crusoe is originally from Liberia and his international background heavily influences his sound. His message is positivity, urging others to be the change in the world that makes it a better place to live in.
Available: $12 at Crusoe's website, www.monroecrusoe.net. A digital version is available for $9.90 on iTunes.
POP
Dana Alexandra ("Wash Your Mouth Out"): With a hint of Regina Spektor, Kate Nash and Lily Allen in her music, Dana Alexandra's music is upbeat, quirky and incredibly catchy. "The Underdog" is one of her biggest hits.
Available: $10 on danaalexandra.bandcamp.com, $9.90 on iTunes.
The Jellybricks.
The Jellybricks ("Suckers"): Not many bands can say they have a song that has been named "Coolest Song in the World For This Week" by E-street band member Steven Van Zandt. But The Jellybricks can. Its song "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" impressed the music legend, earning the group a shout out on Van Zandt's radio show "Little Steven's Underground Garage." The rest of the album rocks too, but "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" is definitely worth a listen.
Available: $5.99 on iTunes, $6.93 on Amazon.com.
Kingsfoil ("A Beating Heart is a Bleeding Heart"): This York-based band has taken off in the past year, having appeared on VH1. While initial attention might have been brought by the group's celebrity drummer, Frankie Muniz, it's the strength of the music that keeps people tuned in. Kingsfoil is quickly gathering a vast fan group. After listening to the single "What Your Mother Taught You," it's easy to see why.
Available: $10 at www.kingsfoil.com or $9.99 for a digital copy on iTunes.
Catch the band live 7 p.m. Dec. 29 at the Chameleon Club, 223 N. Water St., Lancaster.
COUNTRY
Ben Gallaher
Ben Gallaher ("Ben Gallaher"): Growing up in Camp Hill, Gallaher always loved country music. Now he's decided to make it his profession, even going so far as to study in the country music capital of the world — Nashville, Tennessee. Above the Mason Dixon Line, Gallaher has received the Arpeggio Award from Pennsylvania Education of Children in Arts Network, Inc. for his work in music. His premiere album was also in the top 50 of the iTunes' country albums chart in April this year.
Available: $9.99 on iTunes.
Catch him live 9 p.m. Dec. 7 at Buck Wild’s Rode House, 5401 Carlisle Pike, Hampden Twp.
BLUES
Ajay Shugart ("Tied Down"): One does not have to be old to play the blues, as this Boiling Springs teen proves. He's been writing songs since he was 13 — but "Tied Down" marks his first full length album.
Available: $6.93 on iTunes.
Catch him live 9 p.m. Dec. 21 at The Holly Inn, 31 S. Baltimore Ave., Mount Holly Springs.