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Elliot Yamin, the beloved third place runner-up for Season 5 of American Idol recently performed for U.S. military men and women stationed overseas. Many people also know Yamin for his commercial radio hits, “Wait For You” and “Fight For Love”.

OurStage caught up with Yamin in Guam, the first stop of his USO-sponsored Pacific Rim tour, and asked the Gold & Platinum-selling R&B singer about life before Idol, his experience on the show and what life as an indie artist has been like since the season wrapped.

(L to R) Allen Aucoin, Alissa, Brownie, Kyle

Meeting The Disco Biscuits was amazing and Camp was one of the most fun times of my life!

-Alissa Miller

Last weekend I loaded up my ‘97 Outback, now affectionately known as the “Biscomobile,” and boogied across I-90 to attend Camp Bisco— The Disco Biscuits‘ annual music festival in Mariaville, NY. I was on a mission: to make sure the band met their biggest fan. Mission accomplished, despite the ankle deep mud that destroyed my Pumas and the monsoon that totaled our camp site.

I had the chance to sit down and chat with The Disco Bisuits’ biggest fan Alissa Miller, and her boyfriend Kyle while waiting backstage for the meet and greet. If it wasn’t for entering the contest Alissa wouldn’t have been able to attend camp with her friends at all, let alone rub elbows with her favorite band. Once Alissa and Kyle saw the band it was nonstop, ear-to-ear smiles for both them and the band—bassist Marc “Brownie” Brownstein  appeared especially elated to meet the fan they chose as their biggest. Everyone was joking about the craziness of Camp and there were more than a few laughs describing the antics of fellow festival goers.

Helping The Disco Biscuits and their biggest fan meet one another was just one of the many highlights of this year’s Camp. The three days of non-stop musical fun left a lot of people wondering how next year’s line up could possibly top this year’s.

Marc Brownstein of The Disco Biscuits

When I arrived on Thursday night, two nights prior to the meet and greet, The Disco Biscuits were ripping it up on the main stage. Biscuits fans in the crowd explained to me that the band started Camp Bisco in order to play longer sets in a festival atmosphere, and that with each passing year the festival gets bigger and better.  In fact, this was only the first of six Disco Biscuits sets over the course of the festival since the band was scheduled to headline every night—including multiple sets on Friday and Saturday. Talk about endurance!

After the Biscuits wrapped up their first performance, the crowd migrated over to the top of the hill for the Twisted All-Stars tent featuring the psychedelic synthesized sounds of Prometheus, Ott and Shpongle. Ott’s smooth dub tunes may have helped all the wearied road warriors in the crowd “chillax” after a long day of driving. However, they did little to quell the excitement that comes with seeing a rare US performance by Shpongle, especially one including the very groovy “Star Shpongled Banner.”

Toby Leaman (L) and Juston Stens (R) of Dr. Dog

On Friday, the main stage kicked off at noon with one of my favorite Philly bands, Dr. Dog. With Beach Boy-like harmonies and energy to spare, it was the perfect wake-up call for festival goers camped out near the main stage. Set highlights included, “Worst Trip,” “The Rabbit, The Bat And The Reindeer” and “The Old Days”. After Dr. Dog, K’Naan serenaded the crowd with his unique brand of Somalian inspired hip hop. I knew that Camp Bisco was indeed a very special place for everyone to come together for a good time as I listened to the whole crowd singing his hit “Soobax.”

K'Naan

On Saturday after the meet and greet, I made my way through the mud to catch the rest of Sound Tribe Sector 9’s (STS9) brilliant set on the main stage. Next was a double set by The Disco Biscuits with James Murphy from LCD Soundsystem sandwiched in between to give The Biscuits time to prepare for the most epic live show ever witnessed. I can only describe it as an eternity of mind-blowing jams plus inflatable walruses. The band was so into the groove that by the time their set was over, I wasn’t sure if anyone had enough energy for the festival-ending DFA Disco Tent.

All in all, I had an incredible time and I’m glad that Alissa did too. I’d like to thank The Disco Biscuits and the folks over at Meatcamp Productions for putting on one heck of a fest. I can’t wait to go again next year!

The Disco Biscuits

Break out the sunscreen, glow sticks and canteen because you’re about to go on a magical electronic journey to upstate New York for Camp Bisco 8! Yes, it’s that time of year when electrorock pioneers, The Disco Biscuits, headline each night of their annual three day flagship festival. This summer, Camp Bisco is set to take place July 16th-18th, and will feature a diverse lineup including Damien Marley, Nas, STS9, Chromeo, Kid Cudi, Asher Roth, Flying Lotus, Pretty Lights, and fellow Philadelphians Dr. Dog. DJ’s from DFA records, such as members of LCD Soundsystem, will have your feet stomping the grounds of the Indian Lookout Country Club in Mariaville, NY long after the sun goes down.

The Disco Biscuits—with some help from OurStage—want to reward their biggest fan with a pair of tickets to Camp Bisco 8 along with an exclusive meet and greet with the band at the festival! No matter what crazy act of fandom you’ve committed in the name of The Disco Biscuits — attending each and every rock opera performance in person, blinding yourself while recreating their famous light show in your living room, walking half way across the country barefoot to attend Bisco Inferno—you now have the chance to let the band know you’re number one. If you think you’ve got what it takes to to win the title, follow these two, easy steps:

1. Register and fill out an OurStage fan profile, if you don’t already have one, by clicking here

2. Once you are registered, leave a comment for The Disco Biscuits on their OurStage page explaining why you’re their biggest fan. When your post is up, you’ll be automatically entered into the contest.

Please note multiple comments do not increase your chances of winning. So play nice and only post one time. The deadline to enter is July 3rd, 11:59 PM EST —all posts made after the deadline are ineligible. The winners will be selected by The Disco Biscuits and announced on July 6th. The winner will be responsible for their own transportation to and from the event.

Stay tuned to the OurStage Blog around festival time for exclusive Camp Bisco coverage!

If you’re looking for things to do at SXSW we have plenty to add to your itinerary: a list of must-sees from Paste Magazine’s Jay Sweet, a TON of OurStage artists live on stage and some great (and entertaining) resources for indie artists and music lovers alike!

1) Sweet 16: artists not to miss

Living in the Northeast during March is a mud-filled, merciless grind. Luckily, the gods created SXSW. Yes the BBQ and Shiner Bock beer-soaked savior for those suffering Seasonal Affective Disorder begins this weekend. In wading through the oodles of e-mail invites, Jay Sweet, OurStage’s Editor at Large, has compiled the Sweet 16 list of artists not to miss while strolling along the sunny streets of Austin:
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2) Over 80 OurStage Artists performing at SXSW!

Having just discovered that 86 members of the OurStage artist community will be performing at SXSW showcases next week, we’re glowing with pride like parents of a champion little leaguer! We dare you to try to catch them all live and in action!
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3) Get Tour:Smart

At OurStage, we have a soft spot for NIN drummers; we recently posted an interview with current drummer Ilan Rubin and have recently launched a new partnership with past drummer, Martin Atkins.  Anyone trying to make a go in the music industry needs to know Martin; he’s a champion of independent musicians and their tour buses (which might not be your own RV, but we’re hoping it is at least a step above Greyhound). Swing by Martin’s booth at SXSW to get real-world advice on how to survive your own music career and pick up a free CD with tracks from OurStage artists.

To jump start your learning process, Martin has pulled together a list of his top 10 nuggets of advice for OurStage artists on the road:
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San Francisco’s Noise Pop Festival may just be the best kept secret on America’s indie festival circuit. But this year’s loaded lineup may just blow its cover. Indie legends Stephen Malkmus and Bob Mould share the bill with “it” bands like No Age, Ra Ra Riot, and Antony and the Johnsons. If you’re a Noise Pop Newbie looking to make the most of the experience, here are a few tips:

Map it Out:

Think of Noise Pop as the Bay Area’s mini version of South By Southwest. Tons of great bands descend upon San Francisco and play venues across the city. Like SXSW, it can get incredibly difficult to keep the schedule straight. Before you walk out the door, print out Noise Pop’s online schedule. Highlight the bands you really want to see and make a plan.

Bands to See (bigger names):

Stephen Malkmus: Those pining for a Pavement reunion can at least get a solo fix from their ex-frontman. Good to see him back in NoCal.

Ra Ra Riot: With strings, horns, and an electric stage performance, seeing them live is like watching a feel-good version of Arcade Fire.  Scroll to the bottom on this page to watch my interview with them at last year’s SXSW.

Martha Wainwright: Persistent comparisons to her brother Rufus undermine her own astounding talent and skill. If you haven’t heard her voice live, do yourself a favor and get to this show.

Bands to See (hidden gems):

Sholi: After opening for Iron and Wine this past fall and signing with Touch and Go, Sholi is poised for a breakout year. Be there as they officially release their new CD at Bottom of the Hill. (P.S. They booked the gig through OurStage’s Marketplace!).

Clues and Harbours:  If you want to see the show all the in-the-know critics will be attending, spend Saturday night at The Rickshaw Stop where Clues (featuring former members of The Unicorns and Arcade Fire) will be playing one of their first shows.  Don’t miss the roster of impressive openers, including Harbours whom OurStage fans will know for their spacey-pop masterpiece, “Telling Lies.”

Scissors for Lefty: After winning over OurStage fans by releasing a free preview of their EP this past fall, SFL kicks off Thursday night’s festivities with a free happy hour show at Benders.  Don’t miss their catchy blend of pop/punk.

Things to Do During the Day:

If you’re visiting San Francisco from out of town, skip the city’s overrun tourist traps (i.e. Alcatraz, Fisherman’s Wharf, etc…) and head to the much hipper Mission District.  Get over a hangover with an excellent brunch at The Pork Store Cafe at 16th St. and Valencia (the mango mimosas are delicious).  Head south on Valencia (stopping at the abundant thrift stores along the way) until you arrive at the Pirate Supply Store (which actually masks an excellent writing center for kids in the back).  Don’t ask, just go.  And if you could use a cool treat, Mitchell’s homemade ice cream is worth the wait in the inevitable line out front.

Start Preparing Now:

Figuring out what bands to see can be exhausting and overwhelming.  We’ve made your life easier by creating this playlist of all the OurStage artists at Noise Pop.  Enjoy!