Once again, we’ve gotta give props all around — there are several labels in the Bay area (Blue Heart and A.D.D. spring immediately to mind) consistently putting out great music that’s getting heard everywhere. But New Granada really stepped up this year, not only releasing a record by a local band (Isobella’s surrogate emotions of the silver screen) that made it onto indie airplay charts of CMJ (College Music Journal), but also further investing in the local scene via its successful regular New Granada Presents showcase nights at the New World. Longtime Tampa musicians Keith and Susie Ulrey and Chris Deininger may have only wanted to have a name to put on their friends’ and their own records when they started years ago, and that may still be the case. But these days they’re introducing listeners worldwide to Bay area sounds, as well as putting it onstage regularly — and they’re doing a hell of a job. www.newgranada.com.
This article appears in Sep 14-20, 2005.