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: 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.

Metallica will headline KROQ's 2008 Weenie Roast. The thrash metal pioneers -- who will release a new, Rick Rubin-produced studio album this September -- will support L.A.'s premiere modern rock outlet on May 17, performing alongside the Offspring, the Raconteurs, Rise Against, Bad Religion, Pennywise, the Bravery and Flogging Molly.

The day before this month's Weenie Roast Y Fiesta 2008 -- which also includes Scars On Broadway, Seether, MGMT and Atreyu, among others -- Metallica will also headline KFMA Day, a day-long festival gig in Tuscon at the Pima County Fairgrounds. The band's only other confirmed appearance at the moment comes on June 13, when they touch down at Bonnaroo in Machester, TN.

In advance of their ninth album and first in memory without the production guidance of Bob Rock, Metallica will spend much of June, July and August on the European Festival circuit. The KROQ headlining stint is ironic, because the station shunned the band for years in favor of alternative bands like Depeche Mode, U2 and the Cure.

New York's the Bravery unleashed synth-driven tunes from their latest album, 'The Sun and the Moon,' including the New Order-esque 'An Honest Mistake,' in our New York studio recently. Enjoy and keep reading for the full setlist.

Due to scheduling conflicts, the Bravery had to compete with festival-circuit favorites the Roots, Umphrey's McGee and ALO for audience attention when they took to the Echo Project's Eclipse Stage on Sunday in Atlanta. The band made the best of the situation, loosening up for what frontman Sam Endicott dubbed their "weirdest gig ever." Going with the informal vibe, Endicott shared the story behind 'Bad Sun' from the band's 2007 release, 'The Sun and the Moon.'

The tune tells the story of Endicott's ex-girlfriend, who broke up with him several times in favor of another man, allegedly a member of the Russian Mafia who had her phone tapped during one of the periods she was with Endicott. After breaking up with Endicott for a third time, she married the other guy, explaining that he was the only person she knew who was crazier than her. "I thought that was really interesting," Endicott said. "So I wrote a song about it."

'The Ocean,' by the Bravery

ABC's hit show 'Grey's Anatomy' constantly raises the question, "When and why do some people live and some people die?" As 'The Ocean,' by the Bravery, begins to play, a teenage boy is close to dying, but he's saved; a very chatty woman is about to lose her tongue, but the surgery is successful. Charlie, a semi-comatose patient also known as "Really Old Guy," says he's going to die today ... and he does. When there is no one there to answer, sometimes the best reply is unspoken, and the lyrics from a song can say so much more than dialog. In this case, Charlie's doctor, Izzy, confronts him, pleading, "You can't die; I need you." The song answers, "So many voices and nothing is there / But the ghost of you asking me, 'Why, why did I leave?' "

Killers vs. Bravery/Fall Out Boy

Fightin' Words: "How do you defend that? If you say, 'My heart really belongs to what I'm doing now, but you used to be in a ska band." (Brandon Flowers)

Killers frontman Flowers has a real knack for cheesing people off. When he mocked rival band the Bravery, singer Sam Endicott swung back in an interview, calling Flowers a "little girl." Then Flowers complained about losing the attention of his label to Fall Out Boy, a rant which received a swift reply from Pete Wentz. Wentz later dismissed the whole affair, saying, "We both use too much hair product and run our mouths way more than our bands would like."

Judges' Decision: Killers, for sheer number of punches thrown