Month: September 2016

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Artists Worth Checking Out Awards

Getting to know the 2016 LA Music Critic Award winners – Marina V

We’re nearing the end of our series of interviews with the winners of the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2016.  Today’s interview is special for us because we have been friends with this artist since 2001 when she first moved to Los Angeles from Illinois.  We knew she was special then and over the past 15 years the world has also learned of her unique talent.  She has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe and the UK, as well as playing to large crowds in her native Moscow.  We are talking, of course, of the amazing Russian singer-songwriter named Marina V, who took home the prize for Best Video (live) with a stirring performance of her song, “Beautiful Forever.”

Grab a glass of your favorite wine, put on your favorite tunes, and sit back and learn things about the incredible talent known as Marina V.  As you would expect from our history, this is a long one.

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

MV:  I’ve been performing for only 17 years, but I’ve been writing songs as long as I can remember and singing before I was talking, according to my mom.  I was very shy for many years and wouldn’t perform until I met Nick (my husband), who encouraged me to share my songs with people.  I was attending Illinois College, where they had a talent competition.  I entered and sang my song before the entire campus and won first prize.  But more importantly, people came up to me afterwards and told me how much they loved my song and wanted to get it.  One girl even cried because the song meant as much to her as it did to me.  That statement made an impact with my soul because I realized that my music could affect others just like it affected me.  My music could bring pleasure to others and not just be therapy to me.  That was my catalyst to start performing.  I met you in 2001 at a Songsalive showcase at the old Club Lingerie in Hollywood

IVB:  Who are your influences?

MV:  For anyone that knows me, my primary influence has always been The Beatles, who always inspired me when I was young.   I am also a huge fan of Russian folk music.  Later I began following Jewel and Tori Amos, and discovered my true love for females in music.  Tori is a genius.  Of course, Paul McCartney is one of the greatest influences of all time, and Lennon and McCartney were the most amazing collaboration of all time.

IVB:  What made you decide to DIY?

MV:  It was not a conscious decision.  I realized I wanted to perform and didn’t know what to do, so I went online and searched out singer songwriters who were performing to try to find out what to do next.  It was support from my fellow students that led to my first record.   I learned a valuable lesson about crowd-funding and used email to send to all the students and faculty to pre-order my first CD.  I raised enough to sell 1,000 copies at $10 each.   After I finished that first record, I started sending it to labels and booking agents, but didn’t get much of a response.  I still had the passion and determination so I decided to just do it myself.   My goal was to reach people with my music and maybe reach someone at a label so I wouldn’t have to do it all by myself.   I moved to LA after college because I understood that LA was to be the place to be.

IVB:  Are you seeking to be a mainstream artist?

MV:  Yes.  My dream and my goal has always been to reach as many people as possible with my music.  I need the machine and marketing that you can’t really do on your own unless you have the resources of a label.  My music is pop rock, and my song “You Make me Beautiful” was a top 40 hit in Brazil where I’m right there on the charts with Beyonce and Katy Perry.  On my own I can’t do everything I envision, but I’m doing all that I can at the moment.  That is my true dream and vision.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

MV:  No fucking idea!  I honestly don’t know.  I just keep doing what I’m doing.  I just finished a wonderful and very successful tour in Europe, and I’m very proud of that.  I’ve been working on my “2 Songs a Month Club” through Patreon, and am actively pursuing getting my songs on television and in commercials.  I’m working to get to play more and more places in an effort to reach more fans.   I want to do vinyl print of my album Superhero.  I keep talking to various publishers to get the help I need to make it to the next level.  In the mean time, I’m really living life, travelling, working for myself and getting to love it all.   I think I’m definitely working very hard to move on up.  I think I’m at the top of what an indie artist can do by themselves, and am very hopeful for the future.

IVB:  Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?

MV:  I got a really sweet deal from a local dealership who sponsored us with the car we used for our C to Shining Sea tour.  I also once had a fan give me $10,000 to work on an album.  I was doing crowd funding before that was a word.  I love inventing new ways to find support for my music.  All of it brings me closer to my fans and brings me great joy because I get to be a part of my fans’ joy.  Without the support of my fans I would be nowhere.

I’m currently doing dinner concerts where I cook them a gourmet meal and then play their requests.  Another time we had a fan that offered us support, which included fixing some appliances in our home and helping us build a fence around our house.  He never charged us for his labor although we did split the materials cost.  That’s what fan interaction is all about.  I’m also working on editing a video of our tour from Europe.  We did the same thing for our C to Shining Sea tour.

IVB:  How can your fans find out more about you?

MV:  The best place is my website.  They can also check out my Facebook page, join my Komrades group on Facebook, follow me on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

If they can’t make it out to see me live, I’m doing an online residency on Ampli.fy during the month of September.

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Artists Worth Checking Out

TnT brings back ‘Pieces’ of rock and roll history

Were you an 80’s hair band fan?  Do you love the music of Rock of Ages?  Then we have the band for you.  TnT is a new indie rock band that is composed of Joy Tolbert on lead vocals and Tim Toz on electric guitar, and man, do these cats know how to rock!

They have just released their debut single “Pieces,” which is available on iTunes, or you can stream it on Apple Music.

Even though these two musicians come from the world of 24 track reel to reel recordings, huge studios, leather and lace, CBGB’s and the Village Voice being a musician’s bible, fate brought them together through the miracle of the internet.  They found each other through SoundCloud, embracing the digitally streaming music that they individually made and uploaded.  It didn’t take long before the pair realized that they could make music together, even though they were 150 miles apart.

Tolbert heard one of Toz’s instrumental songs and wanted to put a melody and words to it.  Says Tolbert, “Tim was okay with the idea, but I could tell that he wasn’t sure what might come out of this.”  When she sent the tune back to him with her ideas, he was happily surprised, and “Life Rolls By” was created, the first song of many songs that they have collaborated on.

Working apart for the first 18 months, the team did not actually meet until they had written about 12 songs together.  “Working at a distance has its advantages and disadvantages,” says Tolbert.  “Tim worked out the arrangements, playing all the instruments, and I recorded scratch vocals on my iPhone to work out the parts.”

“(It) seems simple enough,” Toz says, “but there’s a good amount of volley back and forth to get to the final versions.”  The team knew that ultimately they would need to come together to record the real vocals.  “I kept thinking I would just get some remote recording rig to take up to Joy’s place. But the reality was I had a rig I could take now.  So that’s what we did.”

If “Pieces” is any indication, we would say the process is working just fine for TnT.  We can hardly wait for the release of their debut album.  In the meantime, check out their Facebook page and listen to them on iTunes and Apple Music.  We highly recommend you add them to your favorites.

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Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

Jon Mullane’s new album simply shines

Last week we told you about Jon Mullane and the release show for his new album and the documentary about his life.  Today we will be reviewing that album, and sharing our interview with this amazing indie artist.

Shine kicks off with an old-fashioned 90’s rocker “My New American Girl,” which immediately lets the listener know that Mullane has come to play.  It is catchy, up beat, and totally radio friendly.  That trend continues with the second track, “Shine on Tonight,” and the third track, “Way Up,” which could be the new anthem for positivity. 

Honestly, there isn’t a weak track on this album.  The hits just keep coming in track four “In Your Life” and track five “Don’t Let Go,” before Mullane changes gears with a power ballad at track six, “Any Other Way.”  Track seven brings us the amazing hit “Born Beautiful” before giving way to the rocking “Take me Away” at track eight.  The album closes with two more amazing tracks, “So Into U” and “Body Rock” before providing a bonus track remix of “Any Other Way” with just piano and voice.  “Body Rock” is perfect rocker that puts an exclamation point on the statement that is Shine.

All in all, this album has set the bar for indie pop/rock and made Mullane the frontrunner for an LA Music Critic Award for the second half of 2016.

Now that you’ve read the review, sit back and learn things about this amazing indie artist. 

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

JM:  Since I was 15, in high school.

 IVB:  Who do you consider to be your influences?

JM:  U2, Bowie, any song with a great melody!

 IVB:  What makes your new release so special?

JM:  Every song on this album creates a sense of enthusiasm in the listener, and I have been told by many that the songs bring them both comfort and optimism.

We’ve released three singles and music videos before releasing the album, one of which, ‘My New American Girl’ broke Top 40 on the Hot AC Billboard Radio chart.
The music video for ‘Any Other Way’ won an HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Award) for Best Music Video.

The song, “Born Beautiful,” encourages all of us to embrace the beauty we can find within ourselves, and through this song and its video, in which a young woman rejects suicide, I have formed partnerships with mental health organizations, including the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA.org), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI.org – US), and the Campaign to Change Direction (changedirection.org – US), to help raise awareness and change the culture of mental health.

Essentially, I’ve developed a musical story leading up to the release of the full album.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

JM:  The album release last Thursday was coordinated with the release of a documentary about my life and music career, Jon Mullane – Shine On.  

My current single from the album, “Born Beautiful,” has been released as well as a video for the song, which has been nominated for a 2016 IMEA (International Music & Entertainment Award) for Best Music Video. I have also been nominated for Best Pop Artist this year.

After the release party, I will be going out on tour across the US, Canada, and Europe. Tour planning is underway.

 IVB:  Do you have any stories you want to share about your band – touring, recording, or fan interaction.

JM:  There is nothing more fulfilling than hearing from a fan that has been touched by my music.  I received this e-mail from a fan in Austria:

“Hi my friend Jon,

I pray, that all is well with you and your dear ones my friend?

Really always newly thanks for your amazing music, to me, you are one of the greatest composers and musicians of all time and I always hope, that you and your mates will make in the near future another record. I will forever support you and still love all your albums so very much.

Sadly, my beloved dad Peter is very weak and down, the side effects of the chemotherapy are horrible.

But especially I never give up to trust in God and music always is medicine to me too.

Take care my friend, know, I always appreciate you Jon and keep you and all the ones in your life in my prayers and thoughts too.

Sending you all my best wishes and kindest regards from very hot Austria,

yours forever friend and fan”

Mullane is a wonderful addition to any listener’s “must-have” indie music catalog.  To find out more about him, check out his website and Facebook pages and follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

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Artists Worth Checking Out

Jon Mullane set to release new album and documentary

Jon Mullane is an award winning rock/pop singer and songwriter who is originally from Canada.  Mullane is releasing is new album, Shine, on Friday, September 16.  In celebration of this event, and the soon to be released documentary of his life, entitled Shine On, Mullane is hosting a show at the Acoustic Playhouse at the Dragonfly in Hollywood, California.  The doors will open tonight at 8:30 p.m., with the documentary screening starting at 9.  The screening will be followed at 9:45 p.m. with a full band concert featuring all the songs on the new album.

A videographer will be in attendance and the footage from the release show will be added to the documentary before it is submitted for international distribution by documentary filmmaker John Rosborough of RPM Productions.

Mullane is also one of the founders and one of the performers for the “Live The Dream Tour,” which recently held a successful fundraising show at the Wilshire Ebell Theater.   You can find out more about this organization, the fundraiser, and its goals by visiting their website.

Check out Mullane’s music video for his latest single “Born Beautiful” by clicking here.  The single serves as the catalyst for Jon’s partnership with the Campaign to Change Direction, an organization dedicated to changing the stigma surrounding mental health issues.  As a result of this partnership, Mullane’s image appeared in Times Square, and he is featured prominently on their news page along with news about other partners including Prince Harry, Michelle Obama, Richard Gere, and Chris Stapleton.

In addition, the video has been nominated for an International Music & Entertainment Award (IMEA) as Best Music Video, while Mulane has also been nominated for Best Pop Artist.   The video is also being considered for a Hollywood Music in Media Award (HMMA) and has been submitted to the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS) for consideration for a Grammy, of which Mullane is a voting member.

Have fun at the premiere and join us again soon as we review the new album and publish our interview with Mullane.  In the meantime, check out his website and Facebook pages and follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Awards

Getting to know the 2016 LA Music Critic Award winners – Lovers and Poets

photo by Brandie Bell

We’re getting near the end of this series with only six more interviews left to do.  Today we’re talking with the dynamic duo of Shannon Hurley and Ben Eisen, otherwise know as Lovers and Poets.  The duo won two awards – Best Video (official) Band for “You+ Me in the Summer” and Best CD (Band) for II.

Our connection with this artist goes back more than 10 years, and we have seen a lot of growth along the way, both in the solo career of Hurley and in the formation and rise of Lovers and Poets.

I still remember fondly the first time I heard them perform at an industry conference in Nashville.  I knew then that this pairing would be ideal and that this group had a future ahead of them.

So, sit back, grab a glass of wine, and learn things about the simply amazing band known as Lovers and Poets.  Please note that Eisen was unable at the time of the interview, so all comments came from Hurley, his better half.

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

L&P:  I started my solo career in 2001.  I first began going to open mics with only four songs in my catalog.  Ben had to drive me around everywhere since I didn’t have a car.  Speaking of Ben, we first met in 2001 when we were playing together in a Duran Duran tribute band.  Lovers and Poets came about in 2008 when we were living in Nashville.  Along the way, we also created the Don’t Call us Tori singer-songwriter showcase series 2004.  Some of the first artists to play in that series were Jordana, Colleen Grace and Marina V (who will be interviewed next week).  Bob (aka me) was a big part of that series, hosting the showcases and helping me book the artists, while Steven Leavitt (another friend and co-founder) ran the sound.  The showcases ended shortly before Ben and I moved to Nashville.  We also played the early days of Hotel Café before the venue became as big as it is today.   We’re now happy to be back playing their Second Stage.  It’s truly a shame to see all the small intimate venues in LA going away.  Ben has been involved in LA Soul Project and prefers to be part of an ensemble.  He is happy to be a key player in others’ successes.

IVB:  Who are your influences?

L&P:  As a band, our influences were groups like Belle and Sebastian, Morcheeba, Portishead, really any British and trip-hop/90’s bands whose music includes samples and really good beat.  Others that have influenced us include Bird and the Bee (especially Greg Kurstin, who has worked with Adele and Kelly Clarkson), and most recently,  Moby.  My personal influences were The Beatles (I learned all their songs on piano and guitar), Kate Bush and Tori Amos (a big influence on me)  I was influenced to play keyboards by Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran.  Ben loves the  soulful classics and classic rock artists like James Jameson, The Who, Paul McCartney, Sting and The Police.

IVB:  What made you decide to DIY?

L&P:  I didn’t know any better.  My career started after the record label crash.  I had friends that had label deals and lost them, and I didn’t want to be a part of that.  I was such a late bloomer that I wanted to do it myself to prevent those horror stories from happening.  With DIY, I have control over what gets released and what direction my music will take.  I love making music my own way.

IVB:  Are you seeking to be a mainstream artist?

Despite all that, yes.  I love to collaborate with mainstream artists and producers, and loved doing remixes with members of dance trance world.  I worked with some huge artists in that genre, and through them I’ve been heard all over the world.   I want to continue that as well as work with the top producers in America.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

L&P:  We’re in music video mode right now.  We want to make videos for many of the songs on our new album.  We think the visual component is very important and I have developed a love for editing.  It’s fun.  We want to continue to collaborate on future songs with outside producers.  We don’t have any plans for our next album yet, and we just want to see what will happenin – Moby, if you’re ready this, we’re ready when you are!

IVB:  Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?

L&P:  We had a European tour in 2012, actually it was a Shannon Hurley solo tour, but we raised the money through Kickstarter.  It was amazing to see the fans that came together to support us.  We went to the UK and Amsterdam, and played in London and Liverpool, among others.  We even got to play the Cavern Club.  We were playing a club across the street and the owner of that venue took us to the Cavern Club and got us on stage.  It was a pretty cool experience.

IVB:   Where can your fans find you on social media?

L&P:  Both the band and I can be found on ReverbNation, as well as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Bandcamp.  We also  have a YouTube channel.

Our music has been played on such shows as Scorpion and the Australian soap opera Home and Away.  We also seem to be popular on reality shows and The Young and the Restless.

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Reviews

Get it or Forget it: Good Field, Ancient Warfare, Elouise

We’re back with another edition of our Get it or Forget it series.  This week we will give you the rundown on three more artists whose publicists have submitted material for review.  Our first two artists come to us courtesy of Michelle King of Noisy Ghost PR, while the third comes from Kim Grant at KG Music Press.  Thanks to them for the opportunity to review their clients’ offerings.

good-field

Artist Name:  Good Field

Album Name:  Future Me

Label:  Piscino Records

Genre:  Indie Pop Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Future Me; 2.  Business; 3.  Control; 4.  Hospital Bed; 5.  Telecommunication; 6.  Holdin’ On; 7.  Wait; 8.  Tonight; 9.  At the Airport; 10.  Do it

 Publicist:  Noisy Ghose PR

Review:  With a voice reminiscent of a cross between Tom Petty and Eric Clapton, Paul Prince and his bandmates in Good Field deliver a brilliant album that was two years in the making.  Although the album was first released in July 2015, Future Me is the type of album that stays relevant and fresh, and provides top value for your entertainment dollar.

Every song is fun to listen to, with a strong bass line, a memorable voice and lyrics you can sink your teeth into.  Once you listen to it, you can easily see why the album reached #2 on the CMJ Radio Select Self-Released Chart.  Strongest tracks include the title track, “Control,” “Telecommunication,” “Tonight,” and “Do It,” and any one of them would be a perfect fit for radio.  in addition, “Hospital Bed” has a sound reminiscent of “Last Dance with Mary Jane.”

Recommendation:   This one is a no brainer – definitely Get It, relax and play it until the grooves wear out.

ancient-warfare

Artist Name:  Ancient Warfare

Album Name:  The Pale Horse

Label:  Alias Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Darlin; 2.  Dreamcatcher; 3.  Gunsmoke; 4.  The Last Living Trial; 5.  Tusk & Mouth; 6.  Lickin’ Lies; 7.  Rolling Tides; 8.  Wintertimes

 Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  Ancient Warfare call themselves “southern gothic/drone rock,” but to this reviewer, this is simply indie rock.  Featuring Echo Wilcox on guitar and lead vocals; Emily Hagihara on drums, keys and background vocals; Derek Rhineheimer on bass and backing vocals and Seth Murphy on cello, Ancient Warfare combines elements of indie and progressive rock to create a welcome sound in the indie marketplace.  Wilcox’s vocals are not pretty, but they are effective and mesh well with the down-south feel of the music, which is reminiscent of The Doobie Brother’s Black Water as well as early Led Zeppelin.  Strongest tracks include “Gunsmoke” and “The Last Living Trial,” with their amazing violin provided by Rachel Yanarella, the eerie guitar work joined with more amazing violin on “Lickin’ Lies,”  and the haunting sound of “Rolling Tides,” both instrumentally and vocally.

Recommendation:  We highly recommend you Get It.  We believe The Pale Horse will become one of your favorite listens.

elouise

Artist Name:  Elouise

Album Name:  Deep Water

Label:  None

Genre:  Americana/Alt Country/Bluegrass

Track Listing:  1.  I’ll Fly Away; 2.  Deep Water; 3.  Saturn Bar; 4.  Amazing Grace; 5.  Shadow of the Pines; 6.  Oh Lord; 7.  Evil; 8.  Hurricane; 9.  I’ll be Good to you; 10.  Black Horses; 11.  East Jesus; 12.  Silent Night; 13.  Fire and Brimstone

 Publicist:  KG Music Press

Review:  Deep Water is the debut album from alt country/Americana band Elouise, based in the small Los Angeles community of Altadena.  With a sound the band calls “Blackgrass” and which sounds eerily like something out of New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, Elouise redefines what it means to be an Americana/bluegrass band.  Composed of Elouise Walker, John Chamberlin, Rich Dembowski, Michelle Beauchesne and William Bongiovanni, the band adds some amazing guest musicians to the mix, including Dave Aron on clarinet, Sam Prevost on trombone and Colin Nairne on mandolin.

Among the high points of this album are the original arrangements they have given to such stalwart and traditional hymns as “I’ll Fly Away” and “Amazing Grace.”  This music would be perfect for placement in television and film, especially on a show like NCIS:  New Orleans.

This is an album that needs to be experienced from start to finish, as each track builds on the previous one to create a soundtrack of life in the deep south.

Recommendation:  We would be remiss if we did not give this debut album a rating of Get It.  While no one could possibly say that the album is pretty or vocally stunning, it should be part of every serious music lover’s collection.  It is gritty, provocative and real, and for that reason alone, we highly recommend it.

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Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

Camille Bloom’s newest release exposes her talent

Seattle-based indie artist Camille Bloom is an open book in her latest offering, Pieces of Me, which she released on September 9.  Over the years, Bloom has released five full length albums (including this one) and three EPs, but she has never exposed herself as much as she does on her very personal Pieces of Me.

Armed with this new release, Bloom has hit the road again on a 15 city tour in support of her new material.  Bloom also intends to hit a few more cities afterwards, including our hometown of Missoula, Montana, on her release tour.  Her travels will take her to Utah, Colorado, Arizona and California, with stops at such venues as Avogrado’s Number in Fort Collins, Colorado; Blackboard Café in Prescott Valley, Arizona; Uptown Billards in Flagstaff, Arizona; The Gallery in Phoeniz, Arizona; Bar Lubitsch in West Hollywood, California and Lestat’s West Music Venue in San Diego, California.

Music Connection Magazine said it best, “It doesn’t take too long to fall in love with Camille Bloom.  She is funny, down to earth and just an excellent songwriter . . . whether solo or supported.  Bloom’s touring career has a bright future.”

From the gentle soothing sounds of “Lift me Up” to the closing notes of the dance remix of the same song, Pieces of Me provides a close personal look into the genius that is Bloom.  Every song continues that theme, with the title track, “Hit the Road,” and “Turn Back to You” as some of the strongest tunes.  We especially love the sound of Zak Borden’s mandolin in “Turn Back to You,” which adds the perfect supporting touch to underscore the truth of her lyrics.

We strongly recommend this album, which has reset the bar high for other indie artists to attain.  This album is once again definitely in the running as one of the best of 2016.

For more on Bloom, check out her website and Facebook pages, follow her on Twitter, and subscribe to her YouTube channel.  If you’re on the west coast, make sure you get to one of her shows – you will definitely not be disappointed in the quality of material Bloom brings to each show.

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Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

The Congress’ new album is a game changer

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, the Congress have burst onto the scene with a killer sophomore effort entitled The Game, to be released on September 9 on American Paradox Records.  Thanks to JamBase, you can stream the new album today.

Composed of Scott Lane on guitar and vocals, Jonathan Meadows on bass and vocals, Chris Speasmaker on keys and Raphael Katchinoff on drums, the Congress treads that thin line between folk, Americana and indie rock with a precision that will ensure that fans of all three genres will love this release.  They will also appeal to fans of classic country as well.

From the opening notes of “Home Again” to the closing refrain of “Farewell,” the Congress deliver nine songs that belong on the playlist of every lover of independent music.

The album was produced by the band, mixed by Adrian Olsen and recorded at Denver’s Macy Sound Studios and Richmond’s Montrose Studios.  Among the engineers that worked on the album were Logan Muckler, Scott Lane and Grammy winner John Macy.  The mastering was accomplished by another Grammy winner, Brian Lucey, who has worked with the Black Keys and Grace Potter.

Truthfully, there is not a weak track on the album.  Every song packs a punch and keeps the listener engaged throughout.  It’s no wonder that this band has toured with the likes of Lake Street Drive, the Tedeschi-Trucks Band and Hard Working Americans, and is currently on a headlining tour that includes performances at such festivals as Wakarusa and High Sierra.

Indie Voice Blog is proud to highly recommend The Game.  This album should be in the hands of every serious music lover.  We think they just might become your favorite indie band.

Check out their website and Facebook pages, follow them on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube Channel.

Thanks to Laura Goldfarb of Red Boot PR for the recommendation.

Categories
Reviews

Get it or forget it: Swahili Blonde, Jenny Gillespie, Flavor Waster

Welcome to our new review series called “Get it or Forget it.”   We receive so many requests for reviews from publicists, and unfortunately we cannot feature them all.  However, we don’t want to ignore any of these requests, so we have come up with this new series to give you a shortened review and our recommendation as to whether you should get it or forget it.  Each review will follow the same format.  We will identify the artist, the name of the release, the name of the publicist, provide a short review, and make our recommendation.  We hope that this information will be valuable to you in making your music purchasing decisions.

swahili-blonde

Artist Name:  Swahili Blonde

Album Name:  And Only the Melody was Real

Label:  Neurotic Yell Records

Genre:  Electronica

Track Listing:  1.  Ailvinya; 2.  Dark Dawn; 3.  Her Name is Hope; 4.  On the Other Side; 5.  Rose my Emperor; 6.  Saturn Farewell; 7.  The Diamond Room; 8.  Vous Enchanter Mon Coeur

 Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:   Swahili Blonde is the solo project for indie artist Nicole Turley, and includes collaborations with other artists including members of RHCP, Duran Duran, Slits, Devo and other LA artists.  Turley plays all the instruments herself, although she did co-write several of the songs with her close friend, Jennifer P. Fraser.  The arrangements are tight, with Tracks 3, 4, 6 and 8 being the best.

Recommendation:  If you are a fan of interesting rhythms and electronica music, you should definitely Get it.

jenny-gillespie

Artist Name:  Jenny Gillespie

Album Name:  Cure for Dreaming

Label:  Narooma Records

Genre:  Folk, electronica, jazz and pop

Track Listing:  1.  Dhyana by the River; 2.  No Stone; 3.  Part Potawatomi; 4.  Evening Loving; 5.  Last Mystery Train; 6.  Involuntary Sway; 7.  His Voyage Innocent; 8.  Pain Travels (Chakra Husker)

 Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  In the same way Enya captured our imagination with her ethereal songs, Jenny Gillespie weaves her stories through a myriad of musical styles that capture the listener’s attention.  Her voice is smoky and haunting, while her lyrics give the listener much to think about.   This is the type of album you can easily listen to from start to finish, although Tracks 3, 5, 7 and 8 are especially powerful.

Recommendation:  If you love relaxing music with powerful lyrics and a soothing sound, then you should definitely Get it.

flavor-waster

Artist Name:  Flavor Waster

Album Name:  It’s Always Sunny When You’re Cool

Label:  None

Genre:  Alternative

Track Listing:  1.  The Comments; 2.  Delta; 3.  Metal Fossils; 4.  Brunswick; 5.  It’s Always Sunny When You’re Cool; 6.  Blackest Prius; 7.  Ashes; 8.  The Perils of Revolutionary Piety; 9.  Where We’ve Never Been, We’ll Never Go; 10.  Private Language

 Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  A conglomeration of sounds emanate from this diverse debut, featuring former Caverns members Kevin Hilliard and Patrick Taylor, as well as vocalist Jodi Jones, drummer/producer Martin MacAlister and Ryan Burke.  The music takes you to multiple places, with the best sounds coming from Tracks 4, 5, 7 and 9.  If you love a frentic sound, check out Track 8.

Recommendation:  Unless you enjoy alternative music that is chaotic and unfocused, you should probably just Forget it.

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Artists Worth Checking Out

Daddy Issues prepares to release debut album

New album releases on September 10

Daddy Issues is an alternative/indie rock band based in San Diego, California, composed of Angela Alvarez on lead vocals and rhythm guitar and Julia “Jules” Whelpton on bass and back-up vocals.

We are excited to introduce this band to you on the eve of the release of their debut album.  Sit back, relax and learn things about this most promising indie rock band.

Daddy Issues #1 Press Shot

IVB:   How long  have you been performing as a band?  

DI:  Jules and I met in October of 2013 right after I moved to San Diego from Arizona.  She was playing in a band called the Justice Fire that asked me to come audition, based off a Craig’s List ad I put in the musician community.  Jules and I really hit it off on multiple levels and we soon left that project to start Daddy Issues.  The other members rotate based on availability so we have several lead guitar players and drummers we play with.

IVB:  Who do you consider to be your influences?
DI:  We both love classic rock and were raised on The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, ZZ Top and more.  We also love The Killers, Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys, No Doubt, Nirvana, and The Pretty Reckless.  Our sound definitely has a 90s throwback feel.
Daddy Issues - #2Photo
IVB:  What makes your new release so special?

DI:  It’s special to us because it took us so long to finally get it created!  We were working on our sound and our songs for a while, and once we decided we were ready to record, we went through a few different producers until we found the right one.  We didn’t want to put out anything that wasn’t high quality and “radio ready,” and we weren’t really getting what we wanted at first.

We ended up recording with Jim Wirt who produced Incubus, Fiona Apple and others.  Jim moved his studio to Cleveland a few years back where I grew up, and Jules also has family from Ohio, so that’s something else that makes the album special.  We got an LA recording experience at “home,” so that was really cool.  We also got to tour the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while recording, which we absolutely loved.

Overall, the album represents the last three years of hard work, ups and downs, and we’re excited to finally get some music in the hands of our loyal fans.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

DI:  So much!  Videos, tours and more recording.  This is just the beginning!  We are still writing and have some new songs we’re really excited about.
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IVB:  Do you have any stories you want to share about your band
            touring, recording, or fan interaction?
DI:  When we were first starting out, our guitar player was only 20.  We played at a 21+ venue for a battle of the bands, and the security people kept a close eye on him, only letting him come in to play the show and insisting he leave as soon as we were done.  Later in the night, he hopped the fence in the back and was sitting at the bar (not drinking), but got caught anyway.  As a result, we were kicked out of the battle and the word spread pretty fast.  Rumor had it that we were banned from the venue as well.  It actually helped to put us on the map here in San Diego, because we were new and people were talking about how scandalous we were to get kicked out of the battle.  We’ve since played that venue again, so there aren’t any hard feelings anymore.
Then earlier this year while attending NAMM, Jules and I went to one of the parties.  There were a lot of people there listening to the bands and she decided she wanted to crowd surf for the first time.  I stood up on one of the tables to keep track of where she was, but she spent the next 20-30 minutes getting passed around the crowd.  The next day, she was covered in bruises and as we walked around the show floor, everyone recognized us and wanted to talk about it. The best part was a guy that said, “In the 20 years I’ve been attending NAMM, I think that’s the first time I’ve seen someone crowd surf.”
IVB:  What types of social media do you use?
DI:  We have a website and Facebook pages, and we prefer Twitter and Instagram.  Check us out live as well, with upcoming shows at the Roar Room in Glendale on September 9 and our CD release show at the House of Blues in San Diego on September 10.