Wind up Records has a new artist that is starting to make waves. They are Thriving Ivory and earplugsrequired.com caught their set at Sonar Lounge on May 4th. Think back to when rock music had melodies with meaningful lyrics, strong keyboard playing and unique vocals (okay all of you in your late 30s to 40s, no this is not Journey but I did hear a little bit that sounded like them in the one track "Day of Rain"), now fast forward to 2008 and you have Thriving Ivory.
Currently touring with Seventh Seal, Thriving Ivory performed a set that is promoting an album that still has to see it's official release (you can pick it up though at their shows). The set also included a few surprises. They did a song that frontman Clayton Stroop refered to a member of the Roots prior to. It included beatboxing and transitioned into Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven". They also ended with the Beatles' "Let it Be".
Being that Thriving Ivory is virtually an unknown here on the East Coast, the audiences have been small but that hasn't detered them. Stroop mentioned that at times it seemed they were only playing to the bartenders. Give them time. With a very distinctive voice which compares to some of the bands that this band lists as their influences (think Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace) this is a band that people will remember.
