WHEELS 2.0 DOESN’T NEED A WEATHERMAN TO KNOW WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS

The Wheels team was saddened by the news about music legend Les Paul passing away at the age of 94. Les was not only a guitar legend but also an innovator in the studio; he will be missed. On a brighter note, we are poised to bring you another killer batch of new talent. Be sure to keep the music coming to [email protected]—and make our day by following us on Twitter: @rknthefreewrld and @senorcerveza.

ONES TO WATCH
Like a Storm (www.myspace.com/likeastorm; @likeastormmusic): We’ve been following the rapid progress of these Vancouver-based, New Zealand-bred hard rockers for several months now. The band, which sounds like a cross between Stabbing Westward and Filter, is currently on tour with Creed and selling upwards of 200 CDs a night. They recently inked a deal with Prospect Park and are repped by Deb Klein. Their single “Chemical Infatuation” will be impacting Alternative and Active Rock radio this week. It’s been a long journey for the band, who have spent the last year and half writing and recording their debut album with Mike Plotnikoff (Three Days Grace/My Chemical Romance/ Flyleaf). We love the album and think you will too, so be sure to pick up your copy of The End of the Beginning when it drops early next year. In the meantime, check out the video here for “Chemical Infatuation,” which will debut on MTV’s Headbangers Ball, and be sure to catch the single on an upcoming episode of Royal Pains.

N’Dambi (www.myspace.com/ndambi; @ndambi) is a soulful songstress from Dallas who has caught our attention with her captivating sound and wicked good looks. She’s multi-faceted, incorporating singing, songwriting and producing, as well as writing short stories, poetry and novels. Her rich voice and magnetic aura bring us back to talents like Chaka Khan, Tina Turner and Nina Simone. Before taking center stage, N’Dambi toured and recorded with Erykah Badu and appeared in several of her videos, including “On and On” and “Tyrone.” With two internationally recognized albums under her belt, her third release, Pink Elephant, due out on Stax Oct. 6, brings with it, conviction, talent, honesty and the kind of music that we’ll be listening to for years to come.

ON DECK
Audible Mainframe (www.myspace.com/audiblem; @amfmusic): This uber-talented live hip-hop/rock band out of Long Beach (they’re originally from Boston) is releasing its second full-length album, Transients, on Aug. 25, with a big West Coast CD release party at the Viper Room Aug. 27. The group has performed with such artists as Damian Marley, Blackalicious and Arrested Development; what sets them apart are powerful lyrics coupled with high-energy live performances.

BAND/ARTIST UPDATES
Raven Quinn (www.ravenquinn.net): Things appear to be heating up on both the foreign and domestic fronts for this stunning rock goddess. Sources tell us that the vampire weasels are lining up to sink their fangs in. Find your way over to www.ravenquinn.net for more.

BUZZIN’
Ambulance Ltd. (www.myspace.com/ambulanceltd): Seeing great reviews from Vanity Fair, AP and Rolling Stone. The guys in the band have been on the road with Dean and Britta and Lissy Trullie and will play a couple of their own gigs next week on their first N.Y. shows since escaping from TVT: Aug. 17 @ Brooklyn’s Union Hall, and Aug. 18 @ the Mercury Lounge.