Month: August 2018

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews Women in Entertainment

New Years Day, In This Moment, Halestorm at Big Sky Brewing Company – live performance review

Personally, I’ve never been a huge fan of hard core or  metal music.  I can listen to it for its musicianship, but the thought of actually attending a concert was foreign.  That all changed recently when I had to work security for a concert featuring three hard rock/metal bands – New Years Day, In This Moment and Halestorm.

Halestorm did their meet and greet before the gates opened, and lead singer Lzzy Hale and her brother RJ, who plays drums in the band, immediately introduced themselves to me.  After they had finished the meet and greet, we chatted about some mutual friends in the Rival Sons, who had opened for them when the band played the Wilma a few years back.  I also met Jessica, the manager for New Years Day, and we talked about the LA music scene, where the band is from.

For the most part, the crowd was young and well-behaved.  For many of them, this is the closest they come to a religious experience, and after experiencing the energy and magic myself, I can understand why they are such die-hard fans.  As a huge fan myself of female-fronted bands, it was an honor to see three such bands at this show.

New Years Day started the evening off with a riveting 30 minute set featuring those sterling vocals of Ash Costello, and driving guitar of Nikki Misery.  Everyone in the band was simply amazing, and they worked the crowd to a frenzy in preparation for the remainder of the show.  The band’s chemistry was palpable, and Costello was a master at crowd engagement.  Her stage presence was monumental, and she had her fans in the palm of her hand.

The next band to take the stage was In This Moment, fronted by lead vocalist Maria Brinks.  This portion of the show was so much more than just a concert, it was an event.  Brinks is a female version of Alice Cooper, and she and her band put on a theatrical spectacle, including having a pair of dancers that perform alongside Brinks.

This was also the portion of the concert that seemed like a church service, with Brinks serving as the pastor and the entire audience as her congregation.  They were fully into the spectacle, and stayed engaged throughout the 75 minute show.  My favorite moment was the band’s cover of Phil Collins‘ “In the Air Tonight,” and I’ll never look at that song the same again.

What also made this portion of the evening fun was hanging out with JR from Halestorm and guitarist Nikki, his drummer and their tech guy from New Years Day, who stood with me to watch most of In This Moment‘s show.  There were amazingly humble and kind individuals despite their star status, and I was impressed by all four of them.

Finally, it was time for the headliner, and the crowd was up for the pinnacle of the evening.  For only a four-part band, Halestorm puts out a lot of music.  Unlike Costello and Brinks, lead singer Lzzy Hale is also a badass guitarist, and showed her skills throughout their set.

Hale has that Joan Jett look, and plays like she’s a Runaway herself.  Her brother RJ is one hell of a drummer, and performed an impressive drum solo during the show.  The band played a lot of songs from their new album Vicious, including the stirring title track which closed their show.

All in all, it was an incredible night, and left me with a new respect for hard rock and metal music and their fans.  After the show, both In This Moment and New Years Day held their meet and greets.  I covered the latter, and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know their fans and talking further with members of the band.  I look forward to the next time these bands come to Missoula.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Zach Callison, Constanza Herrero, Benjamin Jason Douglas, Robbie Fulks and Linda Gail Lewis, My Brothers and I

We made it to Friday again.  Unfortunately, there are only two weeks left of summer, so get out there and enjoy.  These five artists should give you some listening enjoyment, so let’s get going.

Artist Name:  Zach Callison

Album Name:  A Picture Perfect Hollywood Heartbreak

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Alt Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Phantom Love; 2.  Interlude I – Franticity; 3.  She Don’t Know; 4.  Interlude II – Christie Only Knows; 5.  Nightmare; 6.  Interlude III – Second Thoughts; 7.  Curtain Call; 8.  Interlude IV – Showtime (ft Grace Rolek); 9.  War!

Publicist:  Magic Tree Productions

Review:  Zach Callison is best known as an actor on The Cartoon Network (the voice of Steven Universe), and Disney XD (the voice of Prince James on Sofia the First), as well as numerous guests appearances including the role of Brian on The Goldbergs, but he is a fine musician in his own right.  On his debut EP, he combines the best of both worlds with a stirring and theatrical concept album that would also make a great Broadway show.  Callison has set the bar high for his next album with this stellar debut album.  We have no doubt that he will be able to meet or exceed that standard, as his vocal abilities are truly outstanding.  Too few artists can pull off a concept album like this, and we are thankful for the chance to catch an artist on the rise.

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one!

Artist Name:  Constanza Herrero

Album Name:  Constanza Herrero

Label:  A&R Records

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1,  Packing Up; 2.  Silent War; 3.  Caged; 4.  Young Tree; 5.  High Heels; 6.  Me Voy (Packing Up)

Publicist:  The A&R Department

Review:  We featured the video for “Packing Up” recently, and fell in love with the Latin sound of Constanza Herrero.  This lady has a very bright future on the radio, and we believe she could become a superstar.  She has the look and sound to make it big, and her music would make great placements for television and film.  There is not a weak song on the EP, and we think this one belongs on repeat.  We really love “Packing Up” as well as the ballad “Caged,” but all of the tracks are simply great music.  She closes the EP with a Spanish version of “Packing Up,” giving her the chance to cross-over to Latin stations.

Recommendation:  Drop everything and Get this one!

Artist Name:  Benjamin Jason Douglas

Album Name:  First World Blues

Label:  Flour Sack Cape Records

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1,  Tentpole; 2.  Beat Black and Blue Collar Blues; 3.  Walking Down the Grain; 4.  Raggedy Andy Williams; 5.  Doc Red Blues; 6.  Digging a Stigmata; 7.  Funny Feeling; 8.  Tchoupitoulas; 9.  Street Preacher; 10.  Gloria

Publicist:  Broken Jukebox Media

Review:  With his gravelly voice, Americana is the perfect choice for the musical style of Benjamin Jason Douglas.  The album has been a work in progress for the past three years, and the results were worth the wait.  He is already getting critical praise for his first single, “Raggedy Andy Williams,” and we think that the praise will continue for the entire album.  His songs are reminiscent of Randy Newman, capturing the wit and humor in his lyrics.  He even gives us a gospel sound for “Tentpole.”  With his various different musical styles, we think this album accurately portrays the state of Americana music today.

Recommendation:  If you are a fan of Americana music, then this album should be at the top of your “Must Have” list.

Artist Name:  Robbie Fulks and Linda Gail Lewis

Album Name:  Wild! Wild! Wild!

Label:  Bloodshot Records

Genre:  Country

Track Listing:  1.  Round too Long; 2.  I Just Lived a Country Song; 3.  That’s why They Call it Temptation; 4.  Wild Wild Wild; 5.  Who Cares; 6.  Till Death; 7.  Memphis Never Falls From Style; 8.  Boogie Woogie Country Gal; 9.  Foolmaker; 10.  Your Red Wagon; 11.  On the Jericho Road; 12.  It Came From the South; 13.  Hardluck, Mississippi

Publicist:  Bloodshot Records

Review:  Robbie Fulks is a Grammy nominated singer-songwriter while Linda Gail Lewis is the younger sister of Jerry Lee Lewis.  Together they recreate the amazing rockabilly sound made famous by her older brother, and sound great in the process.  It is no wonder that Lewis has been making music for more than 50 years, but the surprise that this is only her third album.  (The other two were a duet album with her brother and You Win Again with Van Morrison.)  Fulks, on the other hand, has recorded 13 solo albums since 1996, receiving two Grammy nominations for Folk Album and American Roots Song (“Alabama at Night”).  This amazing collaboration should earn him another nomination, as every song is simply perfect classic country.

Recommendation:  This one is a must have for every lover of classic country and early rockabilly music.  Get it now!

Artist Name:  My Brothers and I

Album Name:  Heartbeat

Label:  Expunged Records

Genre:  Indie Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  When You’re Ready; 2.  Temporary Love; 3.  Didn’t see it Coming; 4.  Just Getting to Know You; 5.  My Heart; 6.  Always be Loving You

Publicist:  Impulse Artists

Review:  Back in March 2016, we had the privilege to review this band at the final stop of their tour in Spokane, Washington.  Their released their debut album Don’t Sleep Alone back in 2015, so we’ve been patiently waiting for their new one.  Trust us – it was time well spent.  Their arrangements are tighter, the songs are extremely well written, and definitely sound better than most of what’s on today’s Top 40 radio stations.  This EP could be the breakout the band has been waiting for, starting with the lead track, “When You’re Back.”  Other impressive tracks include “Didn’t See it Coming,” the bittersweet “Just Getting to Know You,” and “My Heart.”

Recommendation:  You simply must Get this one today!

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Crack of Dawn, Xeresa, Black Cat Road, Peter Kleinhans, Delta Will

Finally, a true day off.  We will still be busy here on Indie Voice Blog, with a ton of album and performance reviews on the way.  In the meantime, here are five new artists to check out.

Artist Name:   Crack of Dawn

Album Name:   Spotlight

Label: Ford Street Records

Genre:   R&B/Funk

Track Listing: 1.  Crack of Dawn; 2.  Somebody’s Watching; 3.  Booby Ruby; 4.  Keep the Faith; 5.  It’s Alright; 6.  Ol’ Skool; 7.  Seasons Change; 8.  Spotlight; 9.  Your Love; 10.  Changes

Publicist:   Last Tango Media

Review:   Take the funkiness of Parliament, add in the horns of Tower of Power and the amazing vocals and songwriting of Earth, Wind and Fire, and you have an idea of the awesomeness of Crack of Dawn.  The party starts on the first note and lasts until the end of the album.  It is impossible not to get a smile on your face listening to these jams, and we think this album is the perfect remedy to the summer doldrums.  Every track is killer, and we would love to hear them on the radio.  If you love Old School R&B and funk, then you simply must check out Canada’s premier band, Crack of Dawn!

Recommendation:   Get this one and get your groove on!

Artist Name: Xeresa

Album Name:   II

Label:   Shore Dive Records

Genre:   Electronica/Shoegaze

Track Listing:   1.  Arcturon (ft Roman Kalitkin); 2.  California Queen; 3.  Killer (ft Anastasia Panchenko); 4.  The Good Life (ft Tom Lugo); 5.  Atlanta to Mumbai (ft Nicolas Castello); 6.  Feels Like the First Time (ft Mina Karimi); 7.  The Last Genesis (ft Nicollette Vaughn); 8.  Fehlerfluss (ft Vlimmer); 9.  And I Don’t Know About you Now (ft Phil Wilson and Claire Janet Oneill); 10.  Far Beyond the World of Sleep; 11.  I’m Your Vessel (ft Dani Mari); 12.  Newtonite (ft Corasandel); 13.  Ocean (ft Cat Hall); 14.  Xeresa’s Theme

Publicist:   Shore Dive Records

Review:  Some of the best electronica we have ever heard seems to come out of the UK, and Xeresa is no exception.  Their second album is a wonderful collection of electronica/shoegaze that kept our toes tapping with the great beat, while the vocals kept our ears filled with a groovy sound.  This is perfect music for your party or just good times in general.  Our favorite tracks include “Killer,” “The Good Life,” “And I Know About you Now,” “Newtonite,” and “Ocean.”

Recommendation:  We think you should definitely Get this one.

Artist Name:  Black Cat Road

Album Name:  Black Cat Road

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Crow Show; 2.  Faith and Ammunition; 3.  Undertow; 4.  Hard Hearted Woman; 5.  Rock Salt and Nails; 6.  Watch the Middle; 7.  Work It; 8.  Coal Mine; 9.  Rain Pushing; 10.  Eleanor; 11.  Talk is Cheap; 12.  Black Cat Road; 13.  Damned

Publicist:  ABIK Radio Promotions

Review:  From the far reaches of Maine comes an amazing mixture of rock and blues called Black Cat Road.  Featuring the stellar vocals and washboard of Jessie Mae Hines, this killer band features Steve “the Ice Man” Bailey on guitar and vocals, Kate Seavey on bass, guitar and vocals, Don “SlowPoke Johnson” Reed on keys, percussion and bass, and Chris “Krank” Hartogh on drums.  This is drinking music, perfect for that Friday night party or anytime you want to have a good time.   Besides Hines’ vocals, Bailey shows he can also sing the blues on “Hard Hearted Woman.”  There is not a weak track on the album, and we recommend you put it on repeat and just have fun.

Recommendation:  You simply MUST Get this one.  You will not regret the decision in the morning.

Artist Name:  Peter Kleinhans

Album Name:  Something’s not Right

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  3,000,000 Years; 2.  A Separate Time; 3.  Leaving Home; 4.  To Hell and Back; 5.  Something’s not Right; 6.  Falling Apart; 7.  Sky Blue; 8.  ’til the Music Stops; 9.  Turn the Tide; 10.  Waltz Into Darkness; 11.  Halifax Harbor

Publicist:  EMPKT PR

Review:  Peter Kleinhans adds a little jazz to his pop/rock vibe, making the music brighter and even more upbeat, starting with the first note of “3,000,000 Years.”  This is one of the best debut albums we have reviewed, and we see great things ahead for this artist.  He has a little of “Weird Al” in his tongue-in-cheek lyrics, and every song is well crafted and well written.  These songs make political statements, and speak out loud what so many Americans are thinking and feeling inside.  In many ways, this album could be a modern-day version of the protest songs of Woody Guthrie.

Recommendation:  Definitely give this one a spin!

Artist Name:  Delta Will

Album Name:  Multitudes I

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Psych-pop and soul

Track Listing:  1.  Liquid Magma; 2.  Nothing is Enough; 3.  Into the Wild; 4.  Tout va Bien; 5.  No Skin no Bones; 6.  Feel Like

Publicist:  Auteur Research

Review:  Toronto based Delta Will is released their album in three parts, and this album is the first section.  Through the three portions, a full image of the band should emerge, and possibly we will be able to categorize their genre-bending sound.  There are elements of retro new wave and 80s britpop, but the vibe is so much more.  These songs are upbeat and fun, and would be perfect for a multitude of commercial use as well as radio airplay.  We love every song, but are especially impressed by the instrumental “Tout va Bien.”

Recommendation:  This one is a no-brainer – Get it today and expect parts II and III to be equally as good.

 

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – KT Tunstall, Cosmogyral, Jordan Siwek, Provincial Camps, Hulk Wasabi

Well, we survived Pearl Jam and last night’s rock show which featured New Years Day, In This Moment and Halestorm.  Wach for our review of the show this weekend.  Then I spent this morning taking up the floor from the Pearl Jam concert.  Three crazy days but it was fun work.

Time now for our weekly hump day edition of Get it or Forget it.  Here’s the latest from a familiar face, as well as four new artists.  Let’s get going.

Artist Name:  KT Tunstall

Album Name:  BBC Live Sessions

Label:  Universal Music/EMI

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Black Horse and Cherry Tree; 2.  Tangled up in Blue; 3.  The Prayer; 4.  Suddenly I See; 5.  Fake Plastic Trees, 6.  Other Side of the World; 7.  Get ur Freak On

Publicist:  Right Angle PR

Review:  We were lucky enough to catch KT Tunstall when she opened for Barenaked Ladies at the Big Sky Amphitheater earlier this summer, and have been fans of her music for many years.  This wonderful EP is a compilation of several live performances Tunstall did for the BBC, and captures all the fun and excitement of her live show with a set of some of her biggest hits.

Recommendation:  If you love KT specifically, or great pop music in general, this is a wonderful addition to your collection.  Get it.

Artist Name:  Cosmogyral

Album Name:  Behold

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Metal

Track Listing:  1.  Apostles of Ignorance; 2.  Reap What you Sow; 3.  Agony & Ecstasy; 4.  Path of Ruin; 5.  Last one Standing; 6.  In Chaos Lies Creation; 7.  Final Judgment; 8.  Time/Set This World Alight; 9.  Coming Storm; 10.  Age of Reason; 11.  Honor in Death; 12.  Behold the Fire’s Rage

Publicist:  Eric Alper PR

Review:  Let me be honest – metal is not my favorite music, but after spending last night watching New Years Day, In This Moment and Halestorm, I more fully understand the intense love metal fans have for their music.  Cosmogryal formed four years ago and has been tearing up the Florida metal scene ever since.  This is their debut album, and it seems that the wait will be worth it for their fans.  The musicanship is first rate, and most of the screamo is understandable.  Their energy comes through loud and clear, and we are sure that their live show is incredible.

Recommendation:  We think it is a worthy effort and definitely worth checking out for any metal fans.

Artist Name:  Jordan Siwek

Album Name:  Sun Inside You

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Singer-songwriter Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Island With no Name; 2.  Lover and a Giver; 3.  Sun Inside You; 4.  Reach Me; 5.  Never Give Up; 6.  Can we go Back; 7.  Waiting for  You; 8.  Fun Ride; 9.  Underachiever (Know Your Song); 10.  Ecstasy; 11.  Floating

Publicist:  EMPKT PR

Review:  We featured Jordan Siwek’s first single, “Lover and a Giver,” and knew that we would enjoy the entire album.  We were not disappointed.  He truly belongs on the radio, and his songs would also make great placements for commercials as well as television and film.  We may be witnessing the birth of the next Elton John, as Siwek’s music has that same feeling, especially Elton’s early material.  He adds a jazzy vibe to “Island  with no Name” and the title track, which is definitely Top 40 worthy.  He returns to the simple sound of the piano on “Reach Me” and “Underachiever (Know Your Song.”  Other songs that we love include “Never Give Up,” “Waiting for You,” and “Floating.”

Recommendation:  This one is a no-brainer.  Definitely Get it.

Artist Name:  Provincial Camps

Album Name:  Fuzz Pop

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Temple in the Sky; 2.  In Your Heart my House; 3.  Bigger Drags; 4.  Mother; 5.  Jaws; 6.  House of Dust; 7.  Life Companion; 8.  See you Tomorrow; 9.  Caroline No; 10.  Retreat

Publicist:  Eric Alper PR

Review:  The musicianship is solid on this new album from Canadian indie rockers Provincial Camps.  We only wish the vocals were as well done.  They tend to be quite pitchy, but the outstanding musical performance behind the vocals makes them tolerable.  The music is perfect for college and underground radio.  With the energy displayed on the album, we imagine they also put on a pretty good live show.

Recommendation:  If you like your indie rock raw, then you will probably enjoy this one.

Artist Name:  Hulk Wasabi

Album Name:  Learning About Shoegaze with Friends!

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Pop/Rock/lo fi

Track Listing:  1.  Space Dog; 2.  A lil bit zen ‘n a lil bit Stud; 3.  I’m Tim Buckley’s Boy; 4.  Basic Situation at Greyhound Station; 5.  The Youth’s Almost Enough; 6.  You Could at Least Leave the Light On (Because it’s Night, Because it’s Time, Because it’s Night-Time); 7.  Chanara; 8.  Hi Kids, Hi Mom

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  This is an interesting album.  “Space Dog” is an instrumental that has almost a carnival-like sound, or something you might hear in a David Lynch film.  As he was quick to point out, the production is lo fi, and the disparity between the quality of the vocals and the instrumentation drives home that point.  The second track has a ska feel that could make an interesting instrumental.  The third track tries on a surf rock style, while  the fourth one is more britpop.  On track five, you get the feeling that you’re listening to a Bond title track,   One thing is for sure, every song is different stylistically, and there should be something for just about everyone here.

Recommendation:  If vocal quality is important to you, you want to skip this one.  Otherwise, we think it is definitely worth checking out.

 

 

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Trans FX, The 131ers, Ed Prz, Demi Mitchell, Dorian Frankel

This is going to be a very busy week.  We will be spending 16 hours on Monday working the Pearl Jam concert at Washington Grizzly Stadium.  Then on Tuesday, we return to the Big Sky Brewing Company for the Halestorm concert.  In the meantime, here’s our first Get it of Forget it article of the week, and we have a lot of debuts to review this time around.  Enjoy.

Artist Name:  Trans FX

Album Name:  The Showroom Dummies

Label:  Reversed Tornado

Genre:  Electronic

Track Listing:  1.  The Way it Sounds (ft. Lillian Maring); 2.  The Common Good / Is it Ever Enough; 3.  Sunday Morning (Reed/Cale) (ft. Abby Dahlquist); 4.  Something Better; 5.  Modern Working Woman (ft. Lillian Maring); 6.  People Like You; 7.  I’m a Dreamer (Denny) (ft. Valerie Warren); 8.  Vertigo (ft. Valerie Warren)

Publicist:  Mystic Sons

Review:  This is a very strange album.  It is obvious that some thought went into these songs, but it seems almost like they are totally unmastered.  The vocals sound like they were added to the music separately and never blended in, which makes for a very disjointed sound.  Of the three vocalists Trans FX uses for this project, none of them seem to grasp the complexity of the music, and their voices don’t do anything for the songs.

Recommendation:  Just Forget it.

Artist Name:  The 131ers

Album Name:  Nothing’s as it Should Be

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Crazy; 2.  Don’t Wanna Go; 3.  Ballerina; 4.  Face On; 5.  Get Rich; 6.  OG Food; 7.  Close my Eyes; 8.  I Lost; 9.  Rome; 10.  Leave This Man Behind; 11.  Nothings’ as it Should Be

Publicist:  Independent Music Media

Review:  Torrance, California is the home of The 131ers, and they should count themselves very lucky indeed.  The band is an indie rock quartet that mixes indie rock with funk, edge and soul, creating rock and roll that makes you want to dance.  Their sophomore album could be the soundtrack for all of your summer activities.  It kicks off with the fun and imaginative “Crazy” and never misses a beat.  We recommend that you just put this one on repeat, because one listen just ain’t enough.  We think “Get Rich” could be their break-out radio hit, so station managers, check out this band and add “Get Rich” to  your rotation.

Recommendation:  Get this one before you start your summer activities.  You’ll be glad you did.

Artist Name:  Ed Prz

Album Name:  For You

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Singer-songwriter

Track Listing:  1.  Intro; 2.  For You; 3.  Better Days; 4.  Where all Dreams Dwell; 5.  Everything Turns to Gold; 6.  One with the Stars

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  The songs on Ed Prz’s debut EP are raw, as he recorded them in his bedroom. They feel very intimate, as if you are sitting in the room with him, and for that reason alone, they have serious potential.  We would love for him to get a good producer that would bring out all of his hidden talent and make these songs pop.  We salute Prz for his valiant effort, and would love to listen again when his songs are more polished.

Recommendation:  Put this one on simmer.   We’re sure it will be ready later.

Artist Name:  Demi Mitchell

Album Name:  The Overflow

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Alt Rock/Acid Folk

Track Listing:  1.  Get it Together; 2.  Out of Here; 3.  Dancing in the Sand; 4.  Dark Sea; 5.  The Overflow; 6.  Fiction From Fact; 7.  Medicine Woman; 8.  Man of my Mind; 9.  Coming Down

Publicist:  Collected PR

Review:  Demi Mitchell is further proof that some of the best indie music is coming from down under.  Mitchell hails from Newcastle, Australia, and brings her amazing mix of alt rock, folk and Americana to the Americas just in time to ride the current wave of Americana love that is permeating our music scene.  We think she should do quite well on American radio, and look forward to catching her on tour, preferably opening for someone like Mumford & Sons, The Infamous Stringdusters or Chris Stapleton.  She reminds us a bit of Lydia Loveless, and we think they would make a smashing collaboration.  We love this album, and every song is great.  Put it on repeat, grab a glass of wine, and chill.

Recommendation:  Rush out and Get this one.

Artist Name:  Dorian Frankel

Album Name:  One More Song

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Singer-songwriter Country/Folk/Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Handful of Sunshine; 2.  Be my You; 3.  The Pull; 4.  Vampire; 5.  Will you be Okay; 6.  Made of Music; 7.  Cross a Line; 8.  Naked; 9.  Another Close Call; 10.  Lydia; 11.  Broken; 12.  Hollyweed; 13.  Everybody Can Sing; 14.  The ballad; 15.  I Can’t Lie; 16.  Be Nice; 17.  If it Were Easy; 18.  These Important Days; 19.  Just Go; 20.  A Good Goodbye; 21.  Wordless; 22.  Second Wind; 23.  Strugglers/Stragglers; 24.  One More Song

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  By day Dorian Frankel is a casting director, but when that aspect of her life closes for the day, the inner artist emerges and boy, can she sing.  You can hear the southern country in her voice and inflections, and her music is a combination of country, folk and pop, capturing the best of each genre and adding Frankel’s sweet voice as the cherry on top.  We could see Frankel also sitting in at her favorite piano bar, like maybe Tramp Stamp Grannys, and singing her favorite show tunes along with the pianist and the other celebrity patrons that frequent the club.  Frankel packs 24 songs into this incredible album, so there’s something for everyone here.

Recommendation:  Definitely add this one to your easy listening collection.  Get it today.

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 29

Happy Pearl Jam day!  Will be working the concert at the University of Montana Washington Grizzly Stadium all day, so should be interesting.  We have news today, along with five new singles and music videos, so let’s get going.

FLATHEAD LAKE BLUES FESTIVAL RETURNS TO POLSON

Last year we attended the Flathead Lake Blues Festival and presented the LA Music Critic Award for Best Blues Band to Polly O’Keary and the Rhythm Method.  This year we’re unable to attend, but didn’t want you to miss out on all the fun.

Here are the details:  The campground next to the venue at the Regatta Shoreline Amphitheater opens Wednesday night, August 15, and is FREE for the entire weekend.   The venue gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 17, and the music begins at 6 p.m.  The venue gates reopen for Saturday’s performance at 2 p.m. with music beginning at 4 p.m.  The host for the weekend is Steve Pickel from Anderson Radio Broadcasting.   Friday’s show is the Montana Musician Review, featuring one of last year’s performers, Jameson and the Sordid Seed, as well as John Kelly and the Atomic Blues Band, Andrew Scotchie and the River Rats, Big Daddy and the Blue Notes, with the Flathead All Star Band, and the CD Woodbury Trio.  The night ends with a Grand Jam involving all of the day’s artists.  Saturday is the Pacific Northwest All Stars and will feature 19 of the finest blues musicians from five states, including seven competitors of the International Blues Challenge.

RACHEL SAGE WANTS YOU FOR HER NEXT MUSIC VIDEO

Last week we were privileged to review the latest album from indie artist Rachel Sage.  Here’s her personal request to be a part of the music video for her new single, “Spark.”

I’m so excited to share my upcoming project with you, & I’d be honored to have as many of you involved as possible. I want YOU to be in my next music video for my song “Spark”!

“Spark” is about passion in all its many forms — love, creativity, friendship etc. so I’d be thrilled to include footage of you doing something you’re passionate about or even a video of you with the people you love! Example ideas could include: dancing, singing, rollerskating, painting, taking a walk by beautiful scenery, or just jamming out. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Grab your phone (PLEASE SHOOT HORIZONTALLY), DSLR camera, or GoPro
  • Shoot a 30-60 second clip
  • Submit your clip using THIS FORM

You can stream (or if you’d rather, download) the track, & read the lyrics below to get inspired.

ALL ENTRIES will receive a special prize package for participating, and those whose videos are selected will be credited at the end of the video & featured on my socials (so be sure to include your social links when submitting).

VIDEO REQUIREMENTS

Clip Length: 30-60 seconds
Max File Size: 300 MB
File Format: .mov, .avi, or .mp4
please shoot in HD if possible

DEADLINE: 11:59 PM EDT AUGUST 27, 2018

So go ahead and show me your “Spark”! I hope you will join me for this project, & I can’t wait to see what y’all come up with xoxo!!

Ready to send us your footage?
Fill out this release form to give us your info & upload your file.
We prefer to receive your file via Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box.

Questions? Problems uploading? Contact us!

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week, “Where You Are,” is a sweet upbeat song from Christine Parker, which should get your new week off to a great start.  We simply love her sweet voice and the sentiments of the song.  Enjoy!

Next up is an artist who has graced our blog on numerous occasions.  Here is the latest single from Kanisha K, who reminds us that “Talk is Cheap.”  We love the banjo and the country pop feel of this song.

Our third single comes from Texas-born and current Los Angeles based artist Kim Kline.  We are so glad to see her back in action, and truly dig her song, “Stand Tall.”  We think she’ll make a believer of you as well.

Our fourth single this week is from County Line Runner, and we think you’ll love it if you’re a Tom Petty fan.  Check out “Hard to Find,” and let us know what  you think.

Our final single this week has a retro sound that we like.  Here’s “Daddy’s Girl (PR)” from Catey Shaw.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first music video this week is from an artist we introduced last week.  We think Honey River has all the makings of a major star, and their debut single, “Peace, Love,” could be the breakout they are looking for.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Next up is PSA from No Small Children, who let us know about the problems in our schools with their song, “I’m So Concerned.”  Each of the members of the band is a school teacher, and this song is very personal to them.  We love the message and support the band in their efforts to improve our educational system.

Last week we reviewed their album, and now we get to share their first music video for “Tools of War.”  Here is Fellow Robot, with a warning of their own.

Our fourth video this week comes from Night on the first anniversary of the disaster in Charlottesville.  It is a powerful protest song, and so timely.  Please let us know what you think.

Our final video this week is from Project BWQ.  It is a stirring video for their single “Phosphene,” and we think it will help set the tone for your week.  Enjoy and we’ll see you soon with another edition of Get it or Forget it.

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

Travelers’ Rest Festival – day 2 review (part 2)

We continue with the second part of our review of the second day of Travelers’ Rest Festival, brought to us by the good folks at Knitting Factory Entertainment and our friends at Big Sky Brewing Company.

Photo courtesy of Amanda Leigh Smith Photography

The next band to play the Main Stage was a mellow indie-pop/rock band from Chicago named Whitney.  They had been touring with The Decemberists since late May, performing at Red Rocks in Colorado, the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, House of Blues in Las Vegas and Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay in San Diego, and the Festival was the last stop on their tour.  The band released their only album in 2016, which has found success on Spotify, reaching the staggering total of more than 25 million streams.  Featuring the falsetto of Julien Ehrlich and the songwriting core of Ehrlich and Max Kakacek, the band played songs from their album, The Light Upon the Lake.  The official line-up for the band now includes Malcolm Brown, Tracy Chouteau, Charles Glanders, Josiah Marshall and Will Miller, in addition to the founding duo of Ehrlich and Kakacek.

The final performer on the Ponderosa Stage was Brooklyn-based punk rock band Parquet Courts.  While this was my least favorite performance of the Festival, the audience was totally into them, jumping and dancing around and fully engaged in the show.  As with most punk rock music, the songs were short, so the band was able to pack a lot of music into their 45 minute set.  Their energy level was atomic, and that energy passed to the crowd, which gave it back to the band in spades.  It was such a huge difference from the music of Ural Thomas, but the appreciative fans didn’t seem to care, and couldn’t seem to get enough of the only true rock band on the Festival roster.

photo courtesy of Zoran Orlic

With the Ponderosa Stage put to bed, the action returned to the Main Stage for the remainder of the Festival.  First up was Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, who wowed the crowd with his well-crafted songs, performing acoustically.  To tell you the truth, by this time in the Festival, I had been working for more than 24 hours, and unable to devote my attention to his set.  I was also trying to recover from the ear-blowing set performed by Parquet Courts, so I pretty much zoned out for Tweedy’s entire performance.

There was about a 45 minute break after Tweedy concluded his set so that the stage could once again be set for The Decemberists, who played their album, The Crane Wife, from start to finish, as they originally intended it to sound.  This portion of their show lasted for about 80 minutes.  After they brought their album to life, they returned for a series of encores and didn’t finish playing until almost 11:45 p.m.

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend, full of new friends, new music, and a wonderful experience.  We can hardly wait until next year to do it all again.  Our heartfelt thanks to the production crew from Knitting Factory Presents, who put together one of the finest festivals I have ever attended, The Decemberists for curating such a diverse line-up of artists, the crew of Riversongs Gourmet Catering for keeping us fed, and all the new friends I made among the performing artists and their crews.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

Travelers’ Rest Festival – day 2 review (part 1)

Here’s the first part of our review of the second day of Travelers’ Rest Festival, brought to us by the good folks at Knitting Factory Entertainment and our friends at Big Sky Brewing Company.  Day Two followed the same format as Day One, with four artists performing on the Ponderosa Stage and five artists on the main stage, including a second day of The Decemberists headlining.

The first artist of the day was NPR’s latest darling, the adorable Gaelynn Lea.  Despite her diminutive size, she is an amazing violin player whose vocals bring her fans to tears.  She is also one of the most humble artists I have ever encountered in my 30 years in the music industry.  She packed the structure around the Ponderosa Stage like no other artist that played there, and even got Chris Funk (guitar), Jenny Conlee (accordion) and Nate Query (upright bass) from The Decemberists and Joy Pearson (vocals) and Rebecca Marie Miller (vocals) from Lenore to join her for her final song.  Her new album comes out in September, and we can’t wait to review it and share it with you.  It was one of the best performances I have ever experienced, and set the bar for the rest of the day.

The first artist on the Main Stage came all the way from Morocco, bringing their native sound to share with the Festival attendees.  Dressed Bedouin style, Tinariwen shared their drums, guitar, bass and native vocals and the crowd loved it.  The rhythms were amazing, and it was near impossible not to break into dance during the show.  They have a very unique sound that translates well on the Festival scene, and they kept the audience very entertained and engaged throughout their performance.

Here’s the link to their most recent album on Spotify.

Back to the Ponderosa Stage for LA-based indie rock trio Cardioid, composed of Lizzy Ellison on lead vocals and guitar, Riley Geare on drums and Erica  Shafer on bass.  Although the band started in Portland, it has transplanted to the City of Angels, where they are working on their next album, Fantasy Metal, which we can’t wait to review.  Their sound is pure indie rock, with exquisite guitar and bass performances, a throbbing drum beat and the voice of Ellison like the cherry on top of your favorite sundae.  They turned in one of the best rock performances of the Festival, and their 30-minute set was far too short to adequately display their immense talent.

The second artist to take the Main Stage was also the oldest artist performing.  Mavis Staples is 79 years old, and joined her family’s band, The Staple Singers, in 1949.  The band began as a gospel and folk group until after they signed with Stax Records in 1968.  They switched up their sound to a more R&B/soul vibe, and with their third Stax album, they reached #2 on the charts with “Respect Yourself,” and #1 with “I’ll Take You There.”  Staples’ music defies genre, as her sound is a combination of gospel, jazz, blues, R&B, soul and folk.  She wrote the amazing “Freedom Highway” for Martin Luther King in 1962, and participated in the Selma march alongside Dr. King.  She has won multiple Grammy awards, giving her a rich catalog from which to perform.  Unfortunately, 45 minutes is not nearly enough time for her to showcase her immense talent, but she did get to wow the crowd with the aforementioned “Freedom Highway” and “I’ll Take You There,” with which she ended her set.  Her music brought back so many great memories of growing up in the 70s, and was the true highlight of the weekend for me.

The action returned to the Ponderosa Stage and continued in that same 70s R&B/soul vibe with the performance by Ural Thomas & the Pain.  The band is composed of Ural Thomas on vocals, Scott Magee on drums and backing vocals, Arcellus Sykes on bass, Brent Martens on guitar, Steve Aman on keys, Bruce Withycomb on baritone sax, Willie Matheis on tenor sax and Dave Monnie on trumpet.  Thomas had some success back in the late 60s and early 70s when he performed more than 40 shows at the acclaimed Apollo Theater, but left what he considered an unfair business to return home to Portland.  Thomas never gave up his music, and sponsored a jam session in his home for nearly 20 years.  In 2016, Magee convinced him to return to the business, and Ural Thomas & the Pain was born.  Their debut album on Tender Loving Empire is scheduled to be released on September 28.  With that kind of a pedigree, you know the joint was jumpin’.  Thomas was the perfect complement to continue to R&B/soul trip started by Staples, and kept the Ponderosa Stage audience engaged and dancing throughout his set.  He even managed to squeeze in an extra song  beyond his 30-minute set.  His performance was my second most favorite of the Festival.

We’ll be back soon with part 2 of our review.

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

Travelers’ Rest Festival – day 1 review (part 2)

And we’re back for the second half of our review of the first day of Travelers’ Rest Festival, brought to us by the good folks at Knitting Factory Entertainment and our friends at Big Sky Brewing Company.

The third band to grace the Main Stage was the Tune-Yards, an electronic dance/trance band that mixes their unusual electronica with incredible lyrics over pervasive drums and a riveting bass track.  Based in Oakland, California, the band is composed of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner and signed by 4AD Records.  Although not my favorite kind of music, their electrifying performance stirred up the crowd and had most of them dancing around.  They have been touring in support of their latest album, I Can Feel You Creep Into my Private Life, which we suggest you check out on Spotify.

The Ponderosa Stage’s final performance for the day came from the undeniably gifted solo artist known as Waxahatchee.  Her real name is Katie Crutchfield, and she is signed to Merge Records, which will be releasing her new EP on September 7.  Her voice is like manna from heaven, and her simple accompaniment makes her songs seem like heirlooms passed down from generation to generation, as special the 100th time as the first.  She treated the crowd to a rousing solo set of new and old songs, and despite being a solo artist performing after a band, she held her own and gave the packed structure all it could handle.    As the final performer of the night on the Ponderosa Stage, she got an extra 15 minutes, but the time still passed by too quickly, for both me and the huge crowd gathered to catch her set.  Check out her latest single, “Chapel of Pines,” on Spotify, and definitely get her EP as soon as it becomes available.

The action returned to the Main Stage for Death Cab for Cutie.  This was my first exposure to the band, which is signed to Atlantic Records, although my wife and step-daughter (who attended the show) are huge fans.  The band is preparing to release their new album, Thank you for Today, and played songs from the new release, as well as some of their classic hits like “I Will Follow You Into the Dark.”  Here’s the lyric video for the first single from the new album, “I Dreamt we Spoke Again.”

Many of  the band’s oldest fans have not been impressed by the direction of the band since the departure of Chris Walla, and that attitude seemed to be present at this show.  However, as someone who had never heard the band perform before, I thoroughly enjoyed their new material, which is true indie rock and reminded me of the music of groups like The Plain White Ts and Snow Patrol.  I think Ben Gibbard and DCFC are amazing, and I was glad for the chance to hear them perform.  I  will definitely be checking out the new album when it is released on August 17.

Photo courtesy of Brian Bruemmer (Rubatophoto.com)

After a 35 minute break to set up the stage, headliners The Decemberists started their set, and performed for nearly two hours straight.   Although I had heard the name, I was not familiar with their material.  Needless to say, after watching them perform for nearly five hours over the two day festival, spending time with Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee and Nate Query backstage, and meeting Colin Meloy’s mom, I have become a big fan.  Their fans remind me of those that support another of my favorite groups, Blue October, since their musical style is similar and both bands have an amazingly close connection with their fans.  I thoroughly enjoyed the stimulating sound and the intellectual while still fun lyrics as much as the banter, and was pleased to see the energy the fans gave back to the performers.  The stories the band told were interesting, including the back story to “The Bicycle Song.”  Since the band has been together for 18 years, they had a wealth of material to draw from, including songs from their latest, I’ll Be Your Girl.  Sara Watkins lent her amazing fiddle and voice to a song about Butte miners, while Sarah Jarosz added her vocals to “We All Die Young.”

The band concluded their amazing performance with a very interesting song about a whale, which contained a lot of audience participation, and an inflatable whale that floated about the crowd.

Needless to say, the crowd loved every minute of their performance, and it was a huge job to get them to leave.  Fortunately for all of us, there was still another day of great music to come.  We’ll be back tomorrow with our review of day 2.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

Travelers’ Rest Festival – day 1 review (part 1)

One of my several jobs is working for a company called CMS to provide security for concerts.  As such, it was my privilege to work the entire Travelers’ Rest Festival, held for the second year at the Big Sky Brewing Company Amphitheatre in Missoula, Montana, and produced by the incredible team at Knitting Factory Entertainment.  The entire team was a joy to work with, especially my old friend, Mandi Zilner, the Marketing Director.

At the time the Festival began, I was only familiar with a couple of the 17 bands playing, but by the end of the weekend, I had gained some new musical loves, and reconnected to a voice from my childhood.

I got the perfect assignment, covering catering and the backstage gate, which was also located next to the Ponderosa Stage, giving me a bird’s eye view.  There were nine performances each day, four on the Ponderosa Stage and five on the Main Stage.  Once the music began at 3:30 p.m. each day, it never stopped until around 9 p.m., when there was a break while the crew prepared the Main Stage for the headliner, The Decemberists, who also curated the Festival and selected all the participating bands.

The first band to take the Ponderosa Stage was local Missoula band Rotgut Whines.  They turned in an impressive 30 minute set which got the Festival off to a great start.  This duo has an impressive pop rock sound that got the audience grooving and ready for the rest of the bands to come.  Although the band normally plays a few cover songs in their local shows, this set was all originals, and the crowd seemed very appreciative of the band.

The action then turned to the Main State, where Richmond, Virginia based artist Lucy Dacus was the first artist to play.  Dacus is signed to Matador Records, and from her performance it is easy to understand why she is considered one of Richmond’s treasures.  She is a brilliant guitar player, and her sound is reminiscent of artists like Ingrid Michaelson, Ali Handal and Cindy Alexander.  She played songs from her latest album, Historian, and has been touring North America in support of the album.  She turned in an impressive 45-minute set that stimulated the crowd, and added fuel to the fire that was started with Rotgun Whines‘ set.

Everything changed when Portland-based band Lenore took the Ponderosa Stage.  The standing room only crowd swelled until they could no longer fit underneath the stage’s shaded section, and still they came.   Composed of native Montanan Joy Pearson and Portland’s Rebecca Marie Miller on lead vocals, Edward Cameron on guitar and Jessie Dettwiler on cello, this band has a sound that works its way into your heart and your head and never leaves.  The harmonies are heavenly and exquisite, as is the combination of guitar and cello that forms the musical accompaniment.  Their 30 minute set went by way too fast, and the audience didn’t want to let them go.

The band also turned out to be super nice humans, as we spent a lot of time talking as they came and went backstage.  It was an honor to spend time with them, and they became my favorite discovery of the weekend.

The music returned to the Main Stage for one of the few acts I was familiar with before the Festival began.  I was fortunate enough to meet Sara Watkins back in 1999-2000 at Fan Fair in Nashville when she and her band Nickel Creek were just getting started, and attended several of their shows over the years, including the 25th Anniversary Show at The Wilma in 2014.  She has joined forces with two other bluegrass phenoms, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan to form I’m With Her, and this super-group is one of the best in the world.  They released their debut album this past February on Rounder Records.  Their 45-minute set was amazing, as their voices joined together as one instrument, meshed with their individual virtuosity on a multitude of stringed instruments, including fiddle, banjo, mandolin and guitar.  The perform in the traditional bluegrass way, gathered round a single microphone, which also adds to their unique harmony.

I also got to spend a lot of time with Sarah J and Aoife backstage, and met Aoife’s famly and Sara W’s nanny.  They were as nice off stage as they are incredible on it.

Returning to the Ponderosa Stage, the next performer was Matt the Electrician from Austin, Texas.  Matt is a folk rock singer-songwriter, with a similar style to artists like The White Buffalo and Joe Purdy.  He performed alone with his wife providing backing vocals.  Although a solo artist, he still filled the stage with his powerful stage presence and gave the packed structure a show they would not soon forget.  He is an artist that I am sure will soon become a household name, as his music is head and shoulders above many of his peers.  He is another artist I’m so glad I met because I truly loved his sound and his well-crafted songs.  I look forward to the chance to hear him again soon.  His most recent album, The Doubles, is available here.

I’ll be back later today with part 2 of our review of the first day of Travelers’ Rest.