Win A Date With The Singer! Kickstarter Bands That Actually Deserve Your Money

The Mowgli's

Christmas may be over, but lots of local musicians are still hoping for a little seasonal generosity. They're seeking help footing the bill for production of their albums -- remember those? -- and have turned to Kickstarter. You may be feeling tapped out at this time of year, but, hey, the economy's improving, right? Right? Anyway, here are five completely worthy local musicians who will put your shekels to good use.

This unsigned Echo Park indie band with a '90s feel has spent most of 2011 writing the follow-up to their well-received debut The American Leagues. Now they're hoping fans will pitch in so they can make their second work with influential producers. "DIY is over," quips lead singer Danny Bobbe. "It's all about DIT -- do it together."

Hailing from Hollywood, this rock/folk/'70s-style outfit needs ransom money to rescue various members of the group who have been kidnapped by their producer. That's their story, anyway. If it doesn't work out, not only won't we get a new album out of them, but we'll never hear from them again, except when they're taking our orders at a local Vegan restaurant, apparently.

Fusing latin, jazz, and classical, Quattro is a four-member ensemble trying to make their debut album, which they describe as "the rebirth of raw un-compromised self-expression." We weren't aware it had died in the first place! Percussionist Jorge Villanueva says that their music is fused together with ease, and connects with people in the same way.