We're heading down to SXSW this week. BBQ, beer and bands!

The RiO!B Band of the Week is one that takes their sound to an epic level. They come from Sacramento, CA and they are called A Lot Like Birds.
With seven members in this group, you can only imagine the number of ways they can create sound. This prog-rock band just released their debut album in late 2009 and it's called Plan B. It's a mix of music that can go anywhere from metal to punk to ambient and that's just within a few tracks!
It's available… Read More

Our band of the week comes from Sydney, Australia. Their music, however, seems like it may come from outer space. The band is called SleepMakesWaves; an instrumental-progressive rock band that you could listen to stone sober or a bit under the influence. Either way, it's some fine music.

This unsigned band released their last album back in 2009. It's called The Split LP where they share their record with another band named Tangled Thoughts Of… Read More

This week's RiO! Band of the Week has got to be, hands down, the most different type of music ever to win a band battle. Primarily because the band promotes themselves as a western folk-swing group. Behold, from Reno, Nevada, the band known as Buster Blue.

When I first came across these guys and put them in the battle I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. I thought that they would get a few votes and that would be the end of it. But they managed to round… Read More

Müenster, Germany is representing loud and fast as our RiO! Band of the Week is the metal group Versus The Throne.
This five-piece German hardcore band does not screw around as their music is metal to the bone. Screaming vocals mixed with hard yet melodic guitar assaults and pounding drums, I'm pretty sure that this band is the soundtrack to many a German dominatrix as she beats her slaves.
Their Myspace… Read More

In a first for the RiO!B, our band of the week comes from Caracas, Venezuela in South America and they're called Viniloversus.

You would think that a band from the southern hemisphere may have a latin vibe to them. Well you can go ahead and throw that idea right your window. The sound that comes from this four-piece group can only be described as upbeat dance-garage rock. If you need a comparison, think of the first album from Arctic Monkeys.
Make… Read More

This week's RiO! Band of the Week champion hails from the Golden State of California but their music is anything but sunny and cheery.

The band known as This Nightmare Ends At Sunrise is that band that you'll blast really loud to annoy the crap outta your little sister if she keeps playing her Ke$ha CD. It's loud, demonic hardcore screamo music that will make you want to fight someone in a concrete room even if you had absolutely no desire to.
Head… Read More

We are proud to announce the very first Rock it Out! Band of the Week for 2010. They hail from London, England and they go by the name Used2BSyris.
Originally hailing from Gaborone, Botswana, they're a three-piece rock band that calls upon the sounds of Nirvana, Bush and early Incubus to rock the socks off of old London town. Head on over to their Myspace page to check out some of their music and to let 'em… Read More

Well it's been an incredible year for finding new bands here on the RiO!B. So many bands have been seen and featured by us, thanks to your help, and a lucky few have been called the RiO! Band of the Week. So for the final time in 2009 we hand off the title to the band you voted for: Meriwether.
Hailing from Baton Rouge, LA, Meriwether's music is a mix of southern/alternative/hard rock. Imagine taking… Read More

Vancouver, BC in Canada is apparently becoming the spot for many of the RiO! Bands of the Week as we've had many from the region and this week is no different. A round of applause for the band Goodbye Beatdown for winning the title this week.
A band that rocks Canada's West Coast, these guys have more of a SoCal vibe as their sound is reminiscent of bands including Sublime and Red Hot Chili Peppers. If you're sitting all bundled up in your robe next to a crackling… Read More

For the last two weeks the state of California claimed the title of RiO! Band of the Week but now the title returns to the east coast and belongs to the band This Condition.
These unsigned Long Island, NY pop-punk rockers bring infectious sounds to your ears that you'll be bouncing around to all day long. Luckily the vocals, provided by the lead singer Nate Andrew, aren't whiny or too emo which makes it a lot easier to listen to. So do yourself a favor and head… Read More