Welcome to another edition of Indie Noise. Today, we take a look at two bands which have recently found their way onto my radar screen. Today’s theme? Trios. Both of these bands are comprised of 3 members and yet their sound is bigger than many 5-piece bands. As always, check out these groups and if you like them, support them.

Our first band is a group that I heard of the grapevine. Several friends took a trip to Las Vegas to see Poison and caught Deep Purple while they were there (“Smoke on the Water,” anyone?). Playing with Deep Purple? A group called Burning Brides. A few days later, I had a link to Burning Brides in my inbox. Naturally, I followed the link and stopped by the bands’ myspace page. There are four songs posted to the band’s player and instantly I got a 1960s, 1970s rock vibe from them.

Burning Brides is a trio hailing from Philadelphia but one listen to their sound, and you’d think they were much larger. Their songs sound big and are hook driven, with infectious riffs and memorable lyrics. With a reputation as a killer live act, Burning Brides can deliver the rock and roll goods. In fact, you might recognize the band from a tune that found itself on a little game called Guitar Hero. That’s right, “Heart Full of Black” was one of the “surprise” songs to find its way onto the game. Amongst some of the big name bands and well-known songs, Burning Brides earned a slot with “Heart Full of Black” a song that I’ve been known to play for hours on the game.

But aside from their cameo on Guitar Hero, Burning Brides mixes well. Guitarist/vocalist Dimitri Coats delivers riffs that stick with the listener and bassist (and Dimitri’s wife) Melanie Coats lays down a solid foundation alongside drummer Pete Beeman. As a trio, they deliver much more. It’s well worth the visit to their Myspace page. In particular, check out “She Comes to Me” which has an undeniable groove that just begs to be blasted from open car windows.

The band is on tour right now. You could do worse than heading out to check out their show.

Also up for your consideration is District 63. A lot of folks might argue that any band without a bass player isn’t worth the the tape their tunes are recorded on. That’s certainly not the case with District 63. Guitarist Steve and drummer Gus manage a tight rhythm section behind Shelly’s powerhouse vocals which really give District 63 the edge over similar groups.

The band has been featured on Women Rock Radio and fit in well with most of the other artists in rotation there. These are gritty rock tunes with a raw quality that is a reminder that rock isn’t supposed to be this glossy, polished gemstone.

Check their music player. There are 5 songs posted from their 2007 demo. Personally, I’m fond of “Battle Cry” and “Misery” but you can’t go wrong with any of the tunes. District 63 is currently in the studio recording new songs so look for great, new things from them in the near future. We’re excited for what’s on the horizon.

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