Big news for one of tbt*'s Ultimate Local Bands in 2009: Tailgunner Joe and the Earls of Slander have been named one of seven bands to watch this year by Spin magazine. The Tampa boys -- brothers Travis Moore and Cannon Lee, as well as Zakk Bosserman and Kyle Pierce -- were likened to Jet and the Cars and lauded for their "poppy melodies and speak-sung vocals that sound as beer-soaked as they do righteous." Word is a big FM station in New England played their track "The Street" over the weekend. Head over to Spin.com for a free download of "The Street." We (And tease, tease: Come back to Soundcheck Thursday for much, much more on Tailgunner Joe...)

[Photo by Lance Aram Rothstein / tbt*]