New Music Tuesday: Shaun Barrowes

The name Shaun Barrowes may only ring a bell to the most devout American Idol fan, which -- depending on your point of view -- is either for better or for worse.

His brief foray into the pop culture mainstream notwithstanding, Barrowes more than holds his own with his debut album, Big Bang Theory. When he's not licensing his music to animated children's shows and winning countless indie competitions (most recently, the Slice the Pie competition, which allowed him the needed funds to catapult his career), he's channeling all the singer-songwriter greats on such tracks as "When I Take Your Hand" (romantic without being cloying), "Hop, Skip, and a Jump" (think Jerry Lee Lewis on Red Bull), and "Somebody Like You" (an American Jamie Cullum).

Comparisons aside, Barrowes' music is shown strong on this solid debut album, which -- while clearly defined -- shows that he has room to grow and evolve while remaining true to his artistic vision.

FILE UNDER: Indie, singer-songwriter
SOUNDS LIKE: Jerry Lee Lewis, Jamie Cullum
MUST HEAR: "Somebody Like You."

WANNA WIN A COPY OF BIG BANG THEORY? EMAIL info@akashamultimedia.com WITH THE SUBJECT "SHAUN BARROWES" AND YOUR NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS. THE WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON NEXT WEEK'S NEW MUSIC TUESDAY BLOG!

Scars on Broadway To Kick Off Debut Record Release With Exclusive Los Angeles Event

Concert To Be Broadcast LIVE On Scars' Website

Los Angeles, CA - July 23, 2008 -- Scars on Broadway, the collaboration between guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan, will launch the highly-anticipated release of their self-titled debut with an exclusive concert in the band's hometown of Los Angeles on Monday, July 28, the night before the CD hits stores. The special show, presented by L.A. radio powerhouse KROQ-FM, will be held in the massive and ornate lobby of downtown's railway terminal, Union Station, and will be simulcast live at www.scarsonbroadway.com beginning at 9:25PM PT/12:25AM ET. All details to view the web broadcast, which is being powered by iStreamPlanet and Microsoft Silverlight, can be found on the band's website.

To receive one of the limited number of wristbands that gains entry into this special performance, fans will pre-purchase the new Scars on Broadway CD beginning at 7:00PM on Monday evening at a special Best Buy tent to be set up at Union Station. The CDs at Union Station will be autographed exclusively for this event by Daron and John from Scars on Broadway.L.A.'s Union Station is a fitting place to celebrate the CD's release; not only were Daron and John raised in the area, but Union Station has been the setting for quite a bit of Hollywood celluloid throughout the decades - "Speed," "Blade Runner," "Star Trek: First Contact," and the Fox TV's series, "24" have all filmed there.Scars on Broadway has already played a handful of live shows, including Coachella 2008, where the Los Angeles Times singled them out as "one of the festival's hottest highlights." They also opened for Metallica at an L.A. benefit gig - SPIN said that their set "made it clear how little System's hiatus has dulled each man's hyperactive creativity." The band's European tour kicks off in Paris on August 29, and they will headline a North American trek beginning in October.