Category: Reviews

Reviews of music albums, singles or videos.

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or forget it – Access:Icarus, Relative Ways, Zak Trojano, Klammer, CJ Hooper

It’s finally Friday, and we want to get you ready for the weekend with new releases from these five artists.  Here we go.

Artist Name:  Access:Icarus

Album Name:  Eye of the Storm (Remix EP)

Label:  Dr. Music Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Eye of the Storm; 2.  Eye of the Storm (Gravity Shock Club Mix); 3.  Eye of the Storm (Gravity Shock version); 4.  Eye of the Storm (Gravity Shock Radio Edit)

Publicist:  Dr. Music Promotion

Review:  We have never reviewed an EP composed entirely of multiple versions of the same song until now.  Germany’s own indie rock stars Access:Icarus have the perfect song in “Eye of the Storm” to accomplish this feat, and all four versions (as well as the Official Lyric Video) are incredible, and each is different enough to warrant this special treatment.  We think you are going to love this one, and want to hear it over and over again.

Recommendation:  What are you waiting for?  Get this one and boogie!

Artist Name:  Relative Ways

Album Name:  Alaska

Label:  A&R Records

Genre:  Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Once Upon a Time . . .; 2.  Enter, the Woods; 3.  The Fox and the Grapes; 4.  Last First Time; 5.  Pride; 6.  Birds of Prey; 7.  Qualia; 8.  This World; 9.  Parenthisis; 10.  . . . but in the End; 11.  Frames; 12.  Alaska

Publicist:  The A&R Department

Review:  This album is a natural segue from Access:Icarus, although the rock has a harder edge than their EP.  Still, it is good to know that rock and roll is alive and well, and living down under.  This is music that belongs on rock radio, and we would also love to see the live performances of these tracks.  This band NEEDS to get on a tour of America ASAP.  Led by multi-instrumentalist Mat Finnemore, this band is truly ready for the spotlight, and the tracks on Alaska are some of the best rock tracks we have reviewed this year.  Just put this one on repeat and ROCK OUT!

Recommendation:  You simply MUST Get this one – it will truly rock your world!

Artist Name:  Zak Trojano

Album Name:  Wolf Trees

Label:  Whistle Pig Records

Genre:  Americana/Folk Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Kid’s Got Heart; 2.  Nowhere Shuffle; 3.  My Room; 4.  Everyone Knows You; 5.  99 Ways; 6.  Wolf Trees; 7.  Young Surrender; 8.  Paper Wings; 9.  Lights are Low

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  Fingerstyle guitarist and singer-songwriter Zak Trojano has an old soul, as reflected in this amazing collection of Americana, folk rock tunes.  He reminds us of the late great Jim Croce in his storytelling and song structure, and early Keith Urban in his style.  Every song is truly unique, making this an easy album to simply put on repeat and then bask in the glory and warmth of Trojano’s voice and his incredible songwriting.  You can’t go wrong with any of these songs, so just grab a glass of wine and let the music wash over you, clearing away the day.

Recommendation:  If you are in the mood for some relaxing and reflective songwriting, then we highly recommend you give this one a listen.  It would sound great in your musical library.

Artist Name:  Klammer

Album Name:  You Have Been Processed

Label:  Under Dogz Records

Genre:  Post-Punk

Track Listing:  1.  Coast to Coast; 2.  Modern God; 3.  No Memory; 4.  Spiral Girl; 5.  Mechanical Boy; 6.  Baddest Blocks; 7.  Tonight; 8.  Common Sense; 9.  ‘Twas but a Magpie; 10.  Human Clay; 11.  Production; 12.  A Long Cold Summer

Publicist:  Shameless Promotion

Review:  They may consider themselves post-punk, but we think Klammer is just plain good rock music in the style of The Cure and Depeche Mode.  Their music is definitely universal, and should do as well in America as it has done in the UK.  This is another album suitable for being put on repeat and then just rocking out to the beat.  We love every song, but especially dig “Modern God,” “Spiral Girl,” “Baddest Blocks,” “Tonight,” “Common Sense,” and “Human Clay.”

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one.

Artist Name:  CJ Hooper

Album Name:  Urban Road

Label:  A&R Records

Genre:  Country/Pop

Track Listing:  1.  When we Rise; 2.  Burning me Up; 3.  Highway 14; 4.  Time

Publicist:  The A&R Department

Review:  We featured the lead single, “When we Rise,” in our Monday Mashup column last month, and it leads off this incredible but short four-song EP.  There is a definite country pop vibe on that first track, similar to the current style of Keith Urban with a little Jason Mraz and The Eagles thrown in for good measure, but the song could just as easily cross-over to the pop side, making it a great candidate for heavy radio airplay in multiple formats.  In fact, all four songs are radio worthy, and the songs would also be great candidates for commercial use or placement in films and television.  This songs are sure to become some of your favorites in no time at all.

Recommendation:  We can’t get enough of this one.  Definitely Get it!

 

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

Get it or forget it – Shari Puorto Band, Fir Cone Children, MillaMusic, Christine Hitt, Bugge Wesseltoft and Prins Thomas

Well, Thursday has arrived and we’re almost to the weekend.  Should be a great one, and we will be covering the Shakey Graves concert on Saturday.  In the meantime, here are five more indie artists to check out.

Artist Name:  Shari Puorto Band

Album Name:  Live at Bogie’s

Label:  Little Lightning Production

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  It’s a Damn Shame; 2.  Home of the Blues; 3.  Outta my Mind; 4.  Guilty; 5.  Six Months Sober; 6.  Sugar Daddy; 7.  Evidence; 8.  All I Want is You; 9.  My Obsession; 10.  All About You; 11.  Tired; 12.  Can’t Find my way Home

Publicist:  ABIK Radio Promotions

Review:  Shari Puorto and her band have been tearing up the Southern California blues scene for years, and this live recording from Westlake Village’s Bogie’s demonstrates just why she is so popular.  Her songwriting is excellent, and has won her an award in the Song of the Year competition while that sexy voice has won the award for Best Female Vocalist in the Southbay Music Awards.  Truthfully, it’s a “Damn Shame” that she is not more widely known, as she is one of the best blues singers in the genre today.  If you live anywhere in Southern California, we strongly encourage you to go catch her show live!

Recommendation:  Don’t even think about it – just Get it!

Artist Name:  Fir Cone Children

Album Name:  The Straight and the Curly

Label:  Blackjack Illuminist Records

Genre:  Punk/Shoegaze

Track Listing:  1.  3D (ft Krissy Vanderwoude); 2.  On my Plate (ft Krissy Vanderwoude); 3.  Top of the Shelf; 4.  Down Below; 5.  Beastie Girls; 6.  Chasing Shadows; 7.  The Straight & the Curly (Part 1:  The World at Stake) (ft Krissy Vanderwoude); 8.  The Straight & the Curly (Part 2:  To the Rescue); 9.  Festival (ft Krissy Vanderwoude); 10.  Blend In; 11.  Awesomenitis!; 12.  We’re Going Out (ft Krissy Vanderwoude)

Publicist:  Blackjack Illuminist Records & Promotion

Review:  Shoegaze is our favorite kind of punk because it retains all the energy and drive of traditional punk without all the angst.  Germany’s Fir Cone Children is one of the best we have heard this year, and we love their latest album, especially the guest vocals of Krissy Vanderwoude.  If their live show has even half of the energy on this album then they must be amazing to watch.  Like traditional punk, these songs are limited to about two minutes each, and that’s the perfect amount of time to grasp the meaning of song, work up a sweat and move on to the next song.  We think this band has a legitimate chance of making it on the American music scene.

Recommendation:  If upbeat punk is your thing, or you just like high energy music, then give this one a spin.

Artist Name: MillaMusic

Album Name:  Vol 1

Label:  MillaSound

Genre:  Pop/Soul/R&B

Track Listing:  1.  On the Line; 2.  Wrong or Right; 3.  Hey Now; 4.  Gotta Know Your Name; 5.  Why Won’t You; 6.  Surrender

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  We last heard from Stephen Miller in 2016 when we reviewed his last album, MillaMix.  Now he’s back with MillaMusic Vol 1, featuring Mike Robledo.  The first track, “On the Line,” was a Top Finalist in the UK Songwriting Competition back in 2015, and we simply love this song, which has “hit” written all over it.  In fact, all six of these songs are simply amazing, and demonstrate the incredible talents of Mike Robledo.  We are most appreciative to Stephen Miller for bringing this project to fruition, and we love his collaboration on “Hey Now.”

Recommendation:  If you need a lift, this is the perfect album for you.  Get it and enjoy.

Artist Name:  Christine Hitt

Album Name:  Magical Kite

Label:  MAXJAZZ

Genre:  Jazz/Standards

Track Listing:  1.  Wade in the Water; 2.  Magical Kite; 3.  Don’t you Worry ‘Bout a Thing; 4.  Shower the People; 5.  Yardbird Suite; 6.  Believe in Me; 7.  Shine on Harvest Moon; 8.  Smile; 9.  Around the World

Publicist:  Mouthpiece Music

Review:  Christine Hitt is a jazz lover’s dream vocalist.  She effortlessly transforms standards and pop hits into modern-day jazz classics which should appease just about every music lover.  She is also a multi-instrumentalist with both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music.  Besides singing, she is currently a coach for jazz pianists and vocalists at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.  This amazing album was recorded at Capitol Records and features John Beasley, Jeff Hamilton, Gene Coye, Leo Amuedo and Bob Sheppard, and was produced by Geoffrey Keezer.  Our favorite track is her cover of James Taylor’s “Shower the People.”

Recommendation:  Check this one out.

Artist Name:  Bugge Wesseltoft & Prins Thomas

Album Name:  Bugge Wesseltoft & Prins Thomas

Label:  Smalltown Supersound

Genre:  Instrumental Jazz/EDM

Track Listing:  1.  Furugerget; 2.  Norte do Brasil; 3.  Sin Tempo; 4.  Bar Asfelt; 5.  Epilog

Publicist:  Worldwide Friendly Society

Review:  What do you get when you blend one of the world’s premier ECM jazz musicians with a modern day electronic dance artist?  You get an interesting mix of music that is not only fun to listen to, but will get you in the mood for dancing as well.  NPR debuted this album, and their review is very technical, but a good read.  On our end, these five tracks offer jazz and EDM lovers intriguing melodies performed by a myriad of instruments, including drums, synthesizer and keys.  They even added one of Norway’s greatest jazz drummers, Jon Christensen, the the mix, and his touch is very evident on these tunes, especially “Sin Tempo.”  This is definitely one of the most unique collaborations we have ever reviewed, and we like it, a lot.  Thank you Norway for sharing two of your greatest treasures.

Recommendation:  We guarantee you don’t have anything like this in your music library, so definitely go out and Get it.

 

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

Get it or forget it – Sterling Infinity, I See Rivers, The Chamanas, Rocket 3, Escape Goat

We’re back on a Wednesday for another round of Get it or Forget it.  We have five new bands for you to check out, so let’s get this party rolling.

Artist Name:  Sterling Infinity

Album Name:  Sterling Infinity (Deluxe)

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  EDM/Soul

Track Listing:  1.  Sterling Infinity (Calling); 2.  Put me in Your Mouth; 3.  Wolf Sex; 4.  #Hypnotized – #SexDrone Remix; 5.  Say Hey 2U;  6.  You’ve Changed; 7.  #XWeveLanded – Soul Raptured Remix; 8.  The Infinite One -1- Sterling Infinity; 9.  #Hypnotized (Pyramid Black Club Remix); 10.  #Hypnotized (Baby Girl); 11.  #Hypnotized – #SexDrone Remix (radio version); 12.  Xstacy We’ve Landed

Publicist:  EMPKT PR

Review:  Listening to the lyrics of these intense dance tunes, it’s hard to believe that Sterling Infinity was a former gospel singer.  What he is now is the reincarnation of Prince, and his lyrics are filled with sexual images and innuendos, superimposed over a driving dance beat.  These songs will definitely get you moving on the dance floor.  Apparently, he is hoping you really like “#Hypnotized,” as there are four versions of the song on this album.  It is hard to get an accurate impression of the singer from these dance tunes, and we hope that he releases some more lyric-driven songs in the future like “Say Hey 2U” and “You’ve Changed,” which could do well on the radio.

Recommendation:  If you love to dance, then this is your album.  If you prefer songs with substance, then you might want to forget this one.

Artist Name:  I See Rivers

Album Name:  I See Rivers

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Play it Cool; 2.  Give Up; 3.  I Don’t Know; 4.  I Think I Like You

Publicist:  Lander PR

Review:  The first thing that grabs you about I See Rivers is the incredible harmony of their voices.  The songs are well written and would do well on the radio and as placements on television and film.  These ladies could SING, and could probably sell copies of them singing the phone book.  They remind us of such wonderful girl groups as Wilson Phillips, Raining Jain and Redhead Express.  Our only regret is that there are only four tracks on the EP, because we want to hear more.  This one is definitely going on repeat.

Recommendation:  I See Rivers is heading to the top of the charts.  Get this one now.

Artist Name:  The Chamanas

Album Name:  NEA II

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Latin Pop

Track Listing:  1.  La Verdad; 2.  Wedding Cake; 3.  Un Tulipán; 4.  Primera Vez; 5.  Descansar; 6.  Feel it Still; 7.  El Farol; 8.  Saltar; 9.  Alma Ciega; 10.  Desprender

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  The Chamanas hail from the bordertowns of El Paso, Texas and Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, and have already garnered a Latin Grammy nomination for their debut album.  On NEA II, they have re-recorded their sophomore album NEA, and added their first English language songs to the mix.  Behind the amazingly silky smooth vocals of Paulina Reza, the band, composed of Manual Calderon on keys, Hectro Carreon on guitar and Alejandro Bustillios on drums continues the rich musical heritage of Selena, making this incredible Latin pop available to America.  Regardless of whether you know Spanish or not, you will love the sound of this band, and will want to hear them again and again, especially their Spanish cover of Portugal. The Man‘s huge hit, “Feel it Still.”

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one, the sooner the better!

Artist Name:  Rocket 3

Album Name:  What’s the Frequency?

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Pop

Track Listing:  1.  I Choose Love; 2.  Echoes; 3.  What If; 4.  Hip Shot; 5.  Favorite Thing; 6.  Slow Your Roll; 7.  Giving Up; 8.  I Don’t Need You; 9.  Evershine

Publicist:  In Music We Trust

Review:  Portland-based pop-punk band Rocket 3 has been burning up the local music scene since 2012, and released their debut album Burn in 2014.  The album reached #76 on the CMJ Top 200 album charts, and earned the band critical praise.  They return for their sophomore release with further proof that they are not a fluke.  With a sound similar to No Doubt, these guys could just make as huge a splash on Top 40 radio as they have on College Radio.  The songs are generally upbeat, despite the heavy tone of the lyrics.  Overall, the songs are generally relatable, as we have all been through the ups and downs of love and most of us addictions as well.  Listen carefully to the lyrics and be encouraged that you are not alone.

Recommendation:  This one deserves to be in the music library of every pop music lover.  Get it.

Artist Name:  Escape Goat

Album Name:  Escape Goat

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Alt Funk/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Imaginary Saint; 2.  Prisoner’s Dilemma; 3.  Beehive; 4.  Autopilot; 5.  Fortify; 6.  Writing on the Wall

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Edmonton, Canada has provided us with another dose of great alternative indie music in the form of Escape Goat.  Their music is strong, with well-written lyrics, a funky bass beat from Erin Dobbin, and memorable vocals from lead singer Scott Renton.  The band also features amazing guitar licks from guitarist Neil Jackson and a steady drum beat from Kyle Anderson.  The album starts off strong with “Imaginary Saint” and continues to impress all the way through.  Their music contains the best of rock combined with funk, and should make them even more accessible to the American radio scene, especially college radio.  We think the band would do well touring the States, and look forward to the opportunity to catch their live performance.

Recommendation:  If you love to rock, or just love great music, then you simply must Get this one.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or forget it – Thornton Lee and the Dirty Blues Company, Ian Crawford, Luke Daggers, Marshall, Walt Weiskopf

Welcome to another week of Get it or Forget it.  We have five unique artists for you to check out today.  Let’s get going.

Artist Name:  Thornton Lee and the Dirty Blues Company

Album Name:  Matheus Mendes

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Juke House; 2.  My Girl is Trouble; 3.  Cutting Heads; 4.  Crash, Regret and Cry; 5.  Bad Eye; 6.  Dirty; 7.  Born in San Antonio; 8.  Dark Fall and Night Creeps; 9.  Golden Hair Blues; 10.  “Free” Train; 11.  Other People’s Problems; 12.  The River

Publicist:  ABIK Radio Promotions

Review:  There are a lot of blues artists in the world but we have never heard the blues played like Thornton Lee and the Dirty Blues Company.  Th e closest comparison we can find is the sound of The Blues Brothers – lots of horns, honky-tonking keys, gravelly voice and a damn good time.  This is party-time blues aka the dirty blues, and we think it is simply amazing.  This album starts off strong and gets even better.  This is the kind of blues that you put on repeat and just enjoy from start to finish.  They even throw in a little rock and roll on “Cutting Heads.”  As the lyrics say, “Every man and every woman should hear the blues we play.”  You can’t go wrong with this one.

Recommendation:  If you love great music, then you must add this one to your library.  Get it.

Artist Name:  Ian Crawford

Album Name:  Grand Wheel

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Americana/Country

Track Listing:  1.  Wool Mind; 2.   I Want You; 3.  Grand Wheel; 4.  See you in the Fall if the Creek Don’t Rise; 5.  The Storm; 6.  Stingray (Energy of the Unknown); 7.  Barstow Ghost; 8.  We all Fall Down; 9.  Over my Head (bonus track); 10.  Busted (bonus track)

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Ian Crawford has been a legend in the city of Seattle, Washington for many years, but has not released an album until now.  The album is currently only available digitally, but we think that it is too good to remain that way.  Combining elements of Americana, country, folk and rock, Crawford brings his A game and sets the bar high for anything he does subsequent to the debut.  This is one of the best debuts we have heard all year, making Crawford an artist that deserves to be at the top of his class.  Just when you think you can stick him in a genre box, he comes along with an instrumental song like “Stingray (Energy of the Unknown)” and you think you’re listening to Jimi Hendrix.  This is an artist that deserves to be on your radar.

Recommendation:  If you only check out one unknown artist this year, it had better be Ian Crawford.  You can’t go wrong here, so Get this one or stream it on Spotify.  You will thank us later.

Artist Name:  Luke Daggers

Album Name:  Into the Night

Label:  Self-released

Genre:

Track Listing:  1.  Into the Night; 2.  Burning Waters; 3.  Mirror; 4.  I Want to Disappear (instrumental)

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  We have listened to a lot of different levels of production in the thousands of reviews we have previously done.  The debut releases from Ian Crawford and Luke Daggers are on opposite ends of that spectrum.  While there is some good instrumentation here, the vocals leave something to desire.  They are pitchy and not of the same quality as the instrumentation.  We do see potential from this artist, but he is not there yet.

Recommendation:  Just forget this one, but he check out future releases.  We believe he just may surprise us.

Artist Name:  Marshall

Album Name:  Carnivals and Other Tragedies

Label:  Hey Man! Records

Genre:  Folk/Roots

Track Listing:  1,  Carnival Ride; 2,  Merry-go-Round; 3.  Make it Right; 4.  The Devil’s in the Details; 5.  El Nino; 6.  Lost and Found; 7.  The River

Publicist:  KG Music Press

Review:  The title Troubadour is one of the highest you can give to a singer-songwriter, and Marshall has definitely earned that title.  His songs are immaculate, replete with stunning lyrics, amazing guitar and the feeling that  you can learn something from the wisdom of this man.  He has been lighting up the Chicago acoustic music scene for years, and we think it is definitely time for him to spread his sound nationwide.  His music is a mix of the wisdom of Woody Guthrie and the joy of Jim Croce, and we think he definitely deserves a larger audience.   This is one of the best of the best we have reviewed this year.

Recommendation:  Don’t waste any time – Get this one.

Artist Name:  Walt Weiskopf

Album Name:  European Quartet

Label:  Orenda Records

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  KMA; 2.  Gates of Madrid; 3.  Wizard; 4.  See the Pyramid; 5.  Darth; 6.  Soul Eyes; 7.  Bolivia

Publicist:  Orenda Records

Review:  We couldn’t have planned a better conclusion to today’s Get it or Forget it article than this stirring jazz performance by tenor saxophonist Walt Weiskopf and his European Quartet.  This is some of the best jazz we have heard this year.  Playing with three of Europe’s finest musicians – pianist Carl Winther, bassist Daniel Franck and drummer Anders Mogensen – this recording captures all the beauty and joy of the music of Weiskopf.  You may also know him as the saxophonist for Steely Dan.  This is the perfect soundtrack for your daily wind-down and is best served with a glass of your favorite wine.  Let the music envelope you and soothe your senses as this mellow jazz stimulates your cerebral cortex.  This is by far the best jazz we have heard this year.

Recommendation:  If you love jazz, this is a must-have.  Get it today!

 

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.

 

Categories
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!

 

Categories
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.

 

 

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.