Perhaps one of the greatest things to come out of the blog boom of the mid-2000s was a website that combines classic recording techniques with the contemporary distribution methods we've all come to enjoy. Daytrotter invites bands to stop into the Horseshack recording studio in Rock Island, Illinois and lay down tracks on their vintage analog equipment. Bands perform live in the studio with no overdubs, and the resulting sessions are posted shortly thereafter to Daytrotter's website, free of charge. Some bands, such as Margot and the Nuclear So & So's, have even taken these sessions and put them out as physical releases.

Additionally, Daytrotter now offers higher quality downloads for sale as part of the Record Barn, Daytrotter's online music store. Those who want lossless files can grab an entire band's session for $4, while still having the option to download the MP3s free of charge. So far, over 120 bands are selling their sessions as part of the Record Barn, with more being added every week.

Daytrotter has also dipped its foot into booking live shows, having spent almost a year putting together "Barnstormer" tours and performances. The Barnstormer series follows bands through performances in barns and attics in the Great Lakes area. The latest Barnstormer features Character Approved performances by Delta Spirit, Ra Ra Riot, Free Energy and more.

[Image: Daytrotter]