If there's one thing Mitch Buttress and Ryan Spratt know, it's how to make the best with what they have. Hailing from San Francisco, the duo known as Lazertag have made a name for themselves by crafting earnest indie-pop with nothing more than an acoustic guitar and some old, forty dollar Casio keyboards. This past year they took that same lo-fi attitude to South by Southwest when they hopped in a Dodge Magnum van, hit the road and played for whomever would listen.

"We played one show in a parking spot on the street," the band tells OurStage.com, where they have recently started creating a buzz with fans. "We had actually built a pretty big crowd but this old antiques dealer came out and yelled at us, and said he would call the cops." Fortunately, the guys left with not only a great story but also a film documenting the trip, which became their official video for the song 'Silver State.' The clip, filmed by their friend Brad Ungar, went on to win the grand prize in OurStage's video contest.

With the recent release of their debut record, 'Modern Cuts for the Modern Man,' the future looks bright for these DIY rockers. Lazertag may even find themselves at SXSW again, perhaps even on a traditional stage. If not, they may have to employ their secret weapon, which keyboardist Ryan revealed: "It is very rare, but sometimes Mitch will freestyle rap." Word.

New York rock trio Lights Resolve found a friendly face in the crowd while performing at the Note in West Chester, PA, last week. Bam Margera, 'Jackass' prankster and owner of the venue and restaurant, was not shy about showing his guests how enthusiastic he was about their music.

"In the beginning of our set, [Bam] popped up waving his hand in the air signaling his whole crew to support [us]," singer Matt Reich told OurStage.com, a site where fans are ranking them in the top 25 in the alternative category. "Before we knew it, a few dudes were dancing around, clapping their hands, getting rowdy ... having a killer time." But the highlight of the night for them came when Bam, who is vocal about his adoration of Norwegian death metal and has toured with H.I.M., and crew huddled to sing their anthemic track 'This Could Be the Last Time,' leaving the crowd and the band itself "riveted."

Hometown: Knoxville, TN

Sounds Like: Ray LaMontagne, Damien Rice

The Story: Baker started off his musical career in a college duo that turned into a rock band, but he's now on his own. "I'm so minimal in what I do," he said. "It's just me and an acoustic guitar. The connection is through passion and emotion." Baker's been doing pretty well for himself, landing opening spots for established artists like John Legend, Chris Isaak, James Blunt and Natasha Bedingfield. Earlier in the year, he released his debut EP, 'It's Getting Too Late to Say It's Early,' and he's since been gaining fans on OurStage, as well as the road.

Hometown: New York, NY

Sounds Like: Aesop Rock, Atmosphere

The Story: Don't let the name fool you -- Yak Ballz is as serious as it gets when it comes to making true, original hip-hop. The Queens, New York native has spent the last two years polishing his flow and stage presence while catching the attention of some of the most respected names in underground hip-hop. After releasing his debut record in 2000, Definitive Jux owner and indie rap icon El-P took notice of the young emcee, and not long after Yak found himself collaborating and touring with other Def Jux artists. On his breakthrough sophomore release, the young rapper showcases his unique lyrical style and passionate delivery. Yak himself is confident that he has produced something special, with good reason. In an interview with OurStage, he said, "I think my music, when given the chance, is too original to go unnoticed." Read the rest of the interview here.

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Sounds Like: Needtobreathe, U2

The Story: The atmospheric openings of songs like 'We're on Fire' and 'Galaxy' are reminiscent of the influence U2 has had on this band -- and it's not surprising that lead vocalist AJ recently covered 'Beautiful Day.' Taking their name from a passed-on lyric that AJ once wrote, the group was only together for a year before they began recording together. After working on two EPs, they found themselves with enough material for their full-length debut, 'Last Embrace.' The title track placed first in OurStage's Music Finals in July. Northern Room have recently found themselves making the festival rounds, supporting acts like Dashboard Confessional and the Bravery.

Hometown: Richmond, VA

Sounds Like: Nick Drake, Adem, Iron & Wine

The Story: Brothers Christian and James Mason have been making a name for themselves with gorgeous acoustic ballads reminiscent of singer-songwriters from the '70s. On their first full-length album, 'The Sun, the Moon and the Sea,' the duo finger-pick their guitars to create rich textures in the vein of Nick Drake, and sing with the hushed restraint of Elliott Smith. The brothers' tunes have ended up on CMJ radio charts and placed 2nd in the Folk channel on OurStage, as well as earning them opening act slots for Magnolia Electric Company and indie darlings Mates of State. For all the attention they've gotten, mainly through grassroots marketing, the two should be commended as much for their promotion skills as for their music. Keep an eye on these two.

Hometown: Melbourne, Fla.

Sounds Like: Death Cab For Cutie, Mineral, the Album Leaf

The Story: If Finland frontman Josh Fleenor's voice sounds familiar to you, it may be because of its eerie similarity to the vocals of indie icon Ben Gibbard. The budding band from Melbourne, Fla., is well aware of the obvious comparison but maintains a gentle, dreamy guitar-pop sound that is all its own. The guys showcase their knack for melody on the song 'Through These Walls,' which may also elicit Death Cab comparisons. Fans have started buzzing about Finland on OurStage, but the band hasn't quite reached rock star status just yet -- the members' current jobs include pizza delivery boys, a cook and a Nike employee. Keep an eye (and an ear) out as they start making their way up the indie-rock food chain.

Hometown: Chicago

Sounds Like: Glen Hansard, Damien Rice, Amos Lee

The Story: Intimate lyrics and powerful vocals accompanied by soft guitar and melodious strings define the sound of this young songwriter's first record, 'The Pregnant Letter.' With the help of TJ Callanta on violin and backing vocals, the 24-year-old's music has been catching the attention of many, including DeVotchka, who took the pair on a mini-tour as their opening act. Meanwhile, on YouTube, viewers have been raving about the "songs we didn't write but wished we did" -- covers of mellow tracks like the Postal Service's 'Such Great Heights,' Damien Rice's 'Volcano' and Ryan Adams' 'Two,' and even an acoustic reworking of Regina Spektor's 'On the Radio.'

Hometown: Boulder, CO

Sounds Like: Annie Lennox, Ani DiFranco

The Story: At age 19, Charisse left home to follow her dreams all the way to New York City's Lower East Side with nothing but a suitcase and a guitar. Her presence and songwriting talent soon brought offers of pop stardom, but Charisse opted to keep her artistic integrity intact, unwilling to trade her mature musical catalog for something of lesser substance. Eventually she caught the attention of producers Jack Daley and Steven Wolf (Lenny Kravitz, Joss Stone, Annie Lennox) who helped the aspiring songstress produce an EP entitled 'Pleasure Victim.' Within a month of joining OurStage, Charisse's song 'Red Handed' reached the No. 5 spot in the Indie Pop category, and another, 'Can't Tear Us Down,' made its way to No. 1 on CMJ.


Free Download: 'Bohemians' (MP3)

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Sounds Like: We Are Scientists, Arctic Monkeys

Free Download: 'Dreaming of an M16' (MP3)

The Story: Upbeat, danceable rock with angsty vocals and a chick with a seriously gorgeous voice? Yeah, for most indie rock fans out there, the Shapes will be right up your alley. This New York-area band released their self-titled EP in 2005 and have since kept up the buzz by opening for the likes of the Bravery and A Place to Bury Strangers. They've also enjoyed the benefits of being a fan favorite on OurStage.com. All the votes the received have landed them at the top of the channel's monthly contests in rock and indie categories. As a result, they've won the opportunity to showcase their fun, frenetic rock 'n' roll at CMJ this year. And if you're a fan of shows like MTV's 'Made' or 'Gossip Girl' you've likely heard their tunes, which have been sprinkled through a number of their no doubt dramatic, episodes.

Read OurStage's interview with the Shapes after the jump.