We come across lots of great artists from outside Nashville, so we're showing them some love, too. We'll highlight our faves every so often, so stay tuned...

The music of Boston based Eli "Paperboy" Reed will absolutely blow your mind on first listen. It's loud. It's pop. It's soul. It's rhythm. It's what you need to be listening to, right now. With influences like Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, and even the early sounds of Jackson 5, Eli "Paperboy" Reed brings to the table something that has not not been heard in years. And he's not merely "recreating" an old sound, but taking the feel of early R&B music and making it possible for today's listeners to really enjoy something that they may or may not have appreciated before.

His newest single,Come And Get It was released in May and has received nothing but an influx of support. The full length album will debut with Capitol Records on August 10. And I'm going to go ahead and warn you: before you buy the record (which you definitely should do), make sure you have dancing shoes on. As soon as you pop this one into your stereo, your feet will involuntarily start going nuts, and make you want to get up and dance!

Eli has a momentum that cannot be stopped, so climb aboard the train before it's too late -- I promise, it's gonna be a fun ride. Go ahead and save the date for his album release, August 10, and eagerly await all that Eli "Paperboy" Reed has to offer.

It's always nice to hear new sounds, experiments, and projects in today's realm of music. However, every now and then, it's nice to get a little refresher--to hear the kind of music that doesn't take any effort to listen to. This is the music of Atlanta based artist Nathan Angelo. I first heard Nathan in Greenville, SC opening for Marc Broussard, and despite my love for Marc, his opener stole my heart before he even walked on stage. Nathan's addictive melodies, soulful feel, and incomprehensible talent as both a singer and pianist make him a delightfully refreshing listen in today's hectic world. His first album, "Through Playing Me," was released 2005, but his newest EP, which hit the market this past fall, is what truly embodies his style. The project, entitled "These Ol' Keys EP" was overseen and produced by Nashville's own, Andy Davis.

According to Nathan, the EP is a snapshot of where he's headed musically and showcases his "musical roots from the organ of old-fashioned gospel music to the grooves of Motown and Memphis-soaked music." The album is available either through Nathan's site or on iTunes, and is definitely worth checking out.

I love discovering new music. Of course being in Nashville, that is very easy to do. Recently, I attended a friend's cd release show, where I was introduced to a truly inspiring group. Pearl and the Beard are a unique trio from New York City with a powerful set of vocals and an incredible blend of assorted instruments (cello, guitar, glockenspiel, melodica, drums, accordion, etc.). Jocelyn Mackenzie, Emily Hope Price, and Jeremy Styles have created a sound that is a real force of nature. From the sweet, melodic arrangement of "Voice In My Throat" to the epic working song "Oh, Death", Pearl and the Beard are storytellers with an amazing passion for the music they make. ...Oh, and they have one of the most fun band names I've heard in a long time... (by Jon D.)

Songs to check out: "Oh, Death", "Slow Motion Machine Gun", Voice In My Throat"

Pearl and the Beard

We launched Beyond Music City awhile back with a feature on a guy named Justin from Oregon, namely the talented Justin Jude. Now for our 15th artist feature, we'd like to introduce you to another talented guy named Justin from Oregon. This time it's the fabulous Justin Klump. You need to check out "Thousand Mile Dream", the latest album from this Portland-based singer-songwriter. From the super-catchy "A Song For You" and "Slowly Changing" to the tender poignancy of "Someday Soon" and "More Than Twice", Justin Klump writes and plays honest, introspective acoustic pop folk music that will warm your heart and your mood.

One of my favorite new bands these days is The Rocketboys. I had the pleasure to meet one of the members during the Next Big Nashville music festival and once I heard their music, I was hooked. Hailing from another music city (Austin, TX), these guys have accomplished a truly complete sound. With wonderful swells, rich melodies and mature songwriting, The Rocketboys have pieced together a sound that's as wide and deep as an ocean. A few listens will quickly reveal comparisons with such incredible artists like Pedro The Lion, Greg Laswell, Matt Pond PA and even (wait for it) Coldplay. And that's not such a bad group to be compared with if I say so myself. Be on the lookout for these guys. The Rocketboys are on the right track.

Within the first minute of listening to "Be Calm" I was texting my friend telling him to check out this band. Fun is a New York based rock group that more than lives up to what their name suggests they will be. Nate Ruess, former lead singer of "The Format" along with band mates Jack Antonoff, and Andrew Dost combine the loveable indie rock elements with beautiful string compositions creating music that is impossible to... well... not have "fun" listening to! So grab your friends, your family, and some fireworks and enjoy listening to Fun.

They are releasing their first full length album August 25th and you can see them live in Nashville on September 22nd at Rocketown.

Stephen Fryrear is an Austin TX based soulful pop singer that you NEED to know. Stephen has a history with Nashville as he attended and graduated from Belmont University in 2008. Though we were sad to see him leave, this passionate and expressive singer songwriter has a solid future in the music industry. His music is groovy, melodic and sincere and will immediately have you enthralled. After listening to Stephen for just a few minutes, I found myself completely lost in the story of his music.

P.S.. Follow Me Down... that's all I have to say.

Check out his EP "Heartstrings" available on iTunes and stay tuned for Nashville shows of Stephen on our calendar!

You've gotta hand it to Atlanta for giving us this piano pop all-star. Tim Brantley's melodies and lyrical ebb and flow will immediately put you in a better mood. There are only those certain songs that can inspire you no matter whats on your mind. "The Race" did just that for me.

With influences spanning from David Gray, Elton John, Hall & Oates, Fleetwood Mac and Wilco, Tim infuses his piano pop instrumentation with vocals that command attention.

Give Tim half a minute and you'll be re-acquainted with the reason why you love music so much. Come out and hear Tim at 12th and Porter August 1st with our friend Andy Davis and Josh Hoge. That will be a night to remember for sure!

I'm not sure who originally coined the phrase, but it's true that Rock 'n Roll can save your soul. It's a dirty world out there and sometimes life calls for the big guns to be brought out. And when life gets rough, Atlanta-based Death On Two Wheels is the ace up your sleeve.

Now those first few statements may be filled with silly rock analogies, but give DO2W a listen and you'll quickly see what I mean. There's something comforting about hearing a sound so raw and care-free. Good rock is hard to find, and these guys definitely doing it right. With pounding drums, gritty guitar lines, majestic organ fillers, a "gut-busting" bass sound (thanks School of Rock) and vocals and harmonies harking back to the glory days of rock, DO2W has all the makings of the next great rock band. They are the true spirit of classic rock brought to life in a new generation. Maybe that's why they are so much fun to listen to.

If you are a fan of Kings of Leon, Black Crowes, Jet or any of their legendary predecessors, you'll dig these guys. Check them out and get ready to feel alive again. (Jon D.)

We know that not everyone is in to the singer/songwriter formula. And sometimes the best music does not require a voice to sing along. Music is much bigger than the kind of styles coming out of Nashville, which is why we are glad to tell you about Kinder Orchestra.

A moniker for instrumentalist and composer Dennis Webber, Kinder Orchestra combines a wide variety of instruments and styles to create a unique sound so Hitchcockian yet so beautiful at the same time. Dennis has a rare talent of meshing together dissonant tones and rhythms with gentle and fragile melodies. His recent collection of instrumentations "The Inspiria Suite", a soundtrack to the short film "Inspiria", transports listeners into what feels like a very awkward and haunting dream filled with confusion and wonder. His sound is intricate and playful, yet can be deeply disturbing, which is why he was a perfect fit to compose the soundtrack to a short film paying homage to Dario Argento's "Suspiria" horror classic.

We definitely believe there's great things to come for the one-man band and hope to hear what wild and complex stories we'll be taken next.