Tag: American Idol

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Live Concerts Reviews

Former American Idol Casey Abrams takes us on a jazzy journey

If you aren’t familiar with Casey Abrams, then you must have been living  under a rock for the past eight years.  Abrams is  a long-time member of the Post Modern Jukebox Collective (“PMJ”) and a former American Idol finalist.  Since finishing in sixth place on Season 10, Abrams has been busy writing and recording music with Concord Music (along with PMJ and fellow American Idol contestant Haley Reinhart) and Chesky Records, the label that just released his new album, Jazz, as well as his previous one, Put a Spell on You.  Abrams had previously recorded the full-length Casey Abrams and the EP Casey Abrams and The Gingerbread Band for Concord.

The CD release show for Jazz was held at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s, one of the hip and growing music venues in the Valley.   Not only did the label treat us to a wonderful dinner, but they also gave us VIP status, which included the show plus a Q&A and meet and greet with Abrams afterwards.  Needless to say, it was one of the best show experiences we have ever had.

Abrams is one of the best and most gifted musicians we have ever had the opportunity to review.  He is also probably the best pure whistler we know of.  His face is so expressive and he has a truly natural chemistry that instantly connects him with his audience.  He was joined at various times during the evening by Tony Pulizzi, a gifted guitarist that Abrams “stole” from the Idol house band, trumpeter extraordinaire Ilya Serov, tenor and alto saxophonist and high-school friend Jacob Scesney, vocalist and amazing trombonist Aubrey Logan, PMJ founder and pianist Scott Bradlee and the ever-lovely and talented Reinhart.

There was never a dull moment throughout the 90-minute set, which flew by all too quickly.  Among the incredible songs included in the set were “I’ve got the World on a String,” “Need Your Love so Bad,” “One Note Samba,” “Hound Dog,” “You are so Beautiful,” “The Girl From Ipanema,” “Don’t you Worry ‘Bout a Thing,” “Why Don’t you do Right,” “Fly me to the Moon” (featuring vocals from Serov), and “Cry me a River” (featuring vocals from Reinhart).  They wrapped up the set with a stunning rendition of “L-O-V-E,” which involved everyone who had previously shared the stage during the night.  Every single musician turned in a Grammy winning performance, and it was a pure joy to have experienced the show.

After the show, we got the chance up with old friend Lisa Goe, who was in attendance with her friend, Katie Welch (part of the cast of I Know What You Did Last Summer:  the Unauthorized Musical, playing in June at Three of Clubs), as well as have time to chat with all of the musicians, including Abrams.  This was a night we will not soon forget and we can’t wait to have the chance to review the actual CD after Fringe is through.

Thanks to Abrams’ mom, Pam for being a great host, and to Lora from Chesky who set the whole night up.

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Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre Women in Entertainment

HFF18 day 12 – see it or skip it

Friday was a chance to take in a couple of musicals, and to finally get Scott Golden off my back.  He’s been riding me for two years because I had not seen any of his shows, so I finally bowed and went to see him at The Broadwater, Second Stage.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Runaway Clone

VENUE:  Broadwater, Second Stage

REVIEW:  OMG – Scott Golden can sing, and act, and so can the rest of this amazing cast.  Pamela Eberhardt has written a masterpiece of comedic musical theater, as well as stealing the show with her fabulous portrayal of Laura, maker of clones.  This show was truly one of the best parts of HFF18, and The Unknown Artists deserve all the recognition they can get.  The harmonies created by the amazing cast, which included Golden, Emily Clark, Jeff Scot Carey, Quinn (Eberhardt), Peter Carrier, Shannon Gerrity, Parissa Koo, Adriana Colón, Lucas Alifano and Lindsay Zana was only topped by the incredible voice of the cherry on the top, Katherine Washington as the Runaway Clone.  We attended the show with several of the Cherry Poppins gang, and like me, they were all in awe of this performance.  Hats off to this entire ensemble cast for helping us truly escape the madness of this world and getting us lost in The Agency and a world of clones.

RECOMMENDATION:  This was their closing show, but you can be sure they will receive an encore extension.  Make sure you rush to the Fringe site and get your tickets as soon as they go on sale.

We met one of our nearest and dearest friends, Rosine Avedissian Correa and her husband, Ronnie, for drinks at the Plunge and had a chance to catch up before heading over to the Main Stage for the second musical of the night.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Parallel Worlds

VENUE:  Broadwater, Main Stage

REVIEW:  Parallel Worlds is unlike anything we have ever seen at Fringe before.  It is a unique blend of film, stage play and rock concert that shatters the boundaries that limit so many other Fringe shows.  The premise is simple – a rock band is brought in and commissioned to write a soundtrack for a film, but their music creates a parallel world where the story line of the film changes.  Elise Testone from American Idol gives a powerful performance as Tabitha and Casey Lee Hurt does likewise as Miles.  They are the lead singers in an incredible band that features Angelica Abrams on keys and backing vocals, Shareef Addo on bass, Fabrizio Cavallaro on drums and Braden Lyle on guitar.  Shawn Reaves as J.B. and Marci Miller as Ella are our on-screen lovers, and their performances are breathtaking to behold.  Quite frankly, this show is too big for Fringe, and deserves more time to allow the audience to be swept up into their world.  It is a world worth visiting, and we would love to see just how far this one can go.

RECOMMENDATION:  We strongly encourage you to visit their website, and be on the look-out for their next performance.  It could very well change your life.

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

Get it or forget it – Grand Marquis, Bob Crain, David Gerald, Elin K, Worth of Souls

Happy Yellow Shirt Tuesday.  Today we wear yellow to bring awareness to Suicide Prevention, and one of our reviews today is dedicated to healing the soul.  Check it out, along with four others and have a wonderful week.

Artist Name:  Grand Marquis

Album Name:  Brighter Days

Label:  Grand Marquis Music

Genre:  Jazz/Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Another Lover; 2.  Brighter Days; 3.  I’m on Fire; 4.  Night Shift; 5.  It Don’t Matter; 6.  Ain’t no Spark; 7.  Bad Seed; 8.  Many Rivers to Cross; 9.  Down by the Riverside

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  This amazing six-piece band was formed in Kansas City in 1998, and over the last 20 years, they have released a total of eight albums, including their latest Brighter Days.  Their music exemplifies the best of jazz, swing and blues with a timeless sound that could have been lifted straight from a 1920’s speakeasy.  The first seven tracks are originals, while “Many Rivers to Cross” is a stirring cover of the Jimmy Cliff 1969 classic, and “Down by the Riverside” is a gospel standard.  Bryan Richmond’s lead vocals are meaty and perfectly suited to the music.  What really sets this band apart are those amazing horns, featuring Chad Boydston on trumpet, Ben Ruth on sousaphone, Trevor Turla on trombone and Redmond on soprano, alto, tenor and baritone sax, as well as the equally amazing rhythm section of Ruth on upright bass and Fritz Hutchinson on drums.  That becomes immediately evident on “Another Lover,” and continues throughout the album.  The blues, with amazing slide guitar, come to the front on the title cut, and will have you jumping up, shouting “I Believe!”  Just put this album on repeat and enjoy!

Recommendation:  This one is a no-brainer – Get it NOW!

Artist Name:  Bob Crain

Album Name:  Live @ The Folk Barn

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Folk Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Pacific Nature; 2.  Fossil Fuels; 3.  Last of the Old Folk Rockers; 4.  Profits in War; 5.  Texas Text Book Massacre; 6.  Retirement Homes for Nuclear Weapons; 7.  Hippie Ghost Dance; 8.  Thanks for Having Me; 9.  The Gold Rush of 2000; 10.  Closing; 11.  The Meaning of This Song

Publicist:  Be Sharp Music

Review:  Melbourne-based folk rock singer-songwriter Bob Crain brings us the sound of his live California performance on this release.  He is a natural storyteller, and his songs bring us the Australian equivalent of Woody Guthrie.  He tackles a multitude of relevant issues, including the environment, fossil fuels, war and peace, nuclear weapons and more in these modern day folk songs.  His tone is instructional and his style is laid-back, making it easier to take his messages to heart.

Recommendation:  If causes are your passion, then you should definitely check out this one.

Artist Name:  David Gerald

Album Name:  N2U

Label:  David Gerald Enterprises

Genre:  Blues Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Baddest Girl in Town; 2.  Do it all Again; 3.  Don’t Wanna Fall in Love; 4.  Hug You Squeeze You (live); 5.  N2U; 6.  Need You Like Now; 7.  State of Emergency; 8.  Things I Wanna Do; 9.  Willie the Wimp (live); 10.  You Belong with Me

Publicist:  Powderfinger Promotions

Review:  His vocals are soulful, reminiscent of Murray Head, who portrayed Judas in the original Broadway cast of Jesus Christ Superstar.  His guitar playing is equally impressive, as is the fact that he personally played every instrument on this album, as well as doing the mixing and recording.  His efforts have paid off handsomely with this sterling album of original tunes, mixing blues, rock and soul into a perfect blend.  This album is worthy of industry attention, and would make a great soundtrack for a multitude of television, film and commercial placement.  There is not a weak song on the album, and it is worthy of repeated plays.  Check out the guitar shredding on “Don’t Wanna Fall in Love,”  as well as the live tunes “Hug You Squeeze You” and “Willie the Wimp.”

Recommendation:  Get this one now!

Artist Name:  Elin K

Album Name:  Still Your Desire

Label:  Musichelp

Genre:  Electronic Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Living Me; 2.  Inside my Mind; 3.  Still Your Desire

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  We simply love these sweeping pop songs.  Elin K has a voice similar to Lady Gaga meets Enya, and her musical accompaniment fills up the air, perfectly supporting that voice.  These songs are ripe for dance remixes, and would make great placements for film or television.  We believe we will be  hearing a lot more from this amazing artist in the future, and are more than happy to be standard bearers for her talent.  We can’t wait to hear what comes next, because this short 3-song EP barely whet our appetite.

Recommendation:  Join this bandwagon.  Get it now and spread the word.

Artist Name:  Various

Album Name:  Worth of Souls

Label:  Stone Angel Music

Genre:  Contemporary Christian

Track Listing:  1.  Come as you Are (Kenz Hall); 2.  Oceans (Jordan Moyes and Ashley Hess); 3.  Lift me Out (Ellee Duke); 4.  That Mountain (Charley Jenkins); 5.  How can it Be? (Sierra Lauren); 6.  O Glorious Day (Jordan Moyes); 7.  The Homecoming (Jim Daneker); 8.  Tears of the Saints (Trevor Price); 9.  Lay it Down (Ashley Hess); 10.  Redeemed (Justin Williams); 11.  Push and Pull (Emily Bea); 12.  He Knows What He’s Doing (Charley Jenkins); 13.  Worth of Souls (Ashley Hess)

Publicist:  Morris Public Relations

Review:  World-renowned pianist, composer and producer Paul Cardall has amassed 13 Contemporary Christian songs performed by some of today’s fresh new voices into a project with the aim to fight depression by restoring confidence and anchoring our hope in a kind and loving Lord.  Working with co-producer Trevor Price (who also sings “Tears of the Saints”), the album is released on Cardall’s label, Stone Angel Music.  Among the artists performing on this album are American Idol participant Kenz Hall, Jordan Moyes, Ashley Hess, Ellee Duke, Charley Jenkins, Sierra Lauren, Jim Daneker, Justin Williams and Emily Bea.  This album is a must-have for everyone who struggles with depression, or sometimes feels lonely or lost.  We believe healing lies in these 13 songs, and they are great for worship as well.  We especially loved “Lift me Out,” “That Mountain,” “How Can it Be?,” “The Homecoming,” “Tears of the Saints,” “Lay it Down,” “Push and Pull,” “He Knows What He’s Doing,” and the title track.

Recommendation:  We strongly recommend you GET this one ASAP and put it on repeat when those feelings of depression or loneliness come.

 

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

Get it or forget it – Halo Circus, Champyons, Curvs, The County Well, Clare Hennessy

We’re halfway through March, and tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day.  We are so happy this day has arrived because we get to share some amazing music with you today, including the long awaited new release from Halo Circus.  Grab your coffee and let’s get started!

Artist Name:  Halo Circus

Album Name:  Robots and Wranglers

Label:  Halo Circus Propaganda

Genre:  Alt Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Oh Money; 2.  Contact; 3.  Narcissist; 4.  Got it Made; 5.  Commander; 6.  Y Para Que; 7.  Pledge of Allegiance; 8.  Off the World

Publicist:  Far Digital PR

Review:  We have loved Allison Iraheta ever since her appearance on American Idol, and the emergence of Halo Circus.  Their debut album Bunny was a huge success, and they subsequently became the first major indie to allow their fans to determine their tour through a crowdfunding platform.  Their sophomore release, East Lansing Sessions EP, was also a critical success.  Now, with the release of Robots and Wranglers today, they have scaled back their band to a duo featuring Iraheta and her husband, Matthew Hager, all without missing a beat.   Their first single, “Narcissist,” has become a smash hit, and their video for it has been blowing up YouTube since its release three weeks ago,  accumulating more than 43,000 views.   Words cannot adequately express the greatness of this album.  It hits the ground running with the rocking, radio-friendly hit song “Oh Money,” and takes off from there, gaining altitude with every song.  It is no hype that the future of the industry begins with Halo Circus.  Robots and Wranglers is the perfect blueprint for commercial success for any indie artist wanting to be the best.  Besides “Narcissist” and “Oh Money,” other potential hit songs include “Got it Made” and “Commander.”

Recommendation:  Don’t even think about it, just Get it.  You owe it to yourself!

Artist Name:  Champyons

Album Name:  Cha Cha Cha

Label:  Embassy of Music

Genre:  Synth Pop/Dance

Track Listing:  1.  Dusty; 2.  No Applause; 3.  Geld; 4.  Cold Wars; 5.  Interlude; 6.  Maria Luiza; 7.  Living in the Movies; 8.  I’m Organic; 9.  Interlude II; 10.  Oceans; 11.  R.F.G.; 12.  Roaming in Paris; 13.  To the Bottom

Publicist:  Guerilla Music Promotion

Review:  You have probably never come across a band like Champyons.  Already a large part of the pulsating music scene in Berlin, they are poised to take on the world with their own brand of synthesized music, perfect for listening and dancing.  This album has one potential hit after another, and is so much fun to listen to.  Our favorites include “Dusty,” “Cold Wars,” “Living in the Movies,” “Oceans,” and “Roaming in Paris.”

Recommendation:  This one is worth a try.  Check it out and you’ll see why.

Artist Name:  Curvs

Album Name:  Hauntropics

Label:  Fysisk Format

Genre:  Synth Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Airwolf Ghandi; 2.  Atlantic Cologne; 3.  Avian; 4.  Bamboo Town; 5.  Blowpipe; 6.  Boeing 909; 7.  Delusive; 8.  Don Johnson; 9.  Khyber Pass Pt. 1; 10.  Khyber Pass Pt. 2

Publicist:  Viral Propaganda PR

Review:  Norwegian synth rockers Curvs have arrived on the scene with an intriguing form of music that is high energy, upbeat and danceable.  Their music can best be described as drug-induced fantasies with a driving dance beat.  The album would make a great soundtrack for your next costume party, and is guaranteed to keep the interest of your attendees.  DJ’s far and wide need to look to this band for material for their next mix-tape.

Recommendation:  Give them a chance, especially if you like cutting edge dance and house music.

Artist Name:  The County Well

Album Name:  Future Country

Label:  Floating Records

Genre:  Roots/Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Alabama; 2.  Baby; 3.  Empty Hall; 4.  Extra Heavy; 5.  Hollywood; 6.  Light; 7.  Mezzanine; 8.  Mrs. Soul; 9.  Ship you Can’t Steer; 10.  Subtle and Serene; 11.  Whiskey Before Noon

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  The County Well is an artist collective based in Marin County, California.  Future Country is a collaborative effort between those local artists and touring musicians, overseen by Floating Records.    Graham Guest gets the party going with “Alabama,” complete with pedal steel, harmonica, drums and bass in a Paul Simon-like country island jam that features the amazing backing vocals of Sophie Meier.  Guest returns on “Baby,” with amazing harmonies from Amy Nordstrom and some intriguing slide guitar and dobro as well.  On “Empty Hall,” Guest switches gears to a more blues sound, with an intricate layer of harmonica and those amazing vocal harmonies.  Don Zimmer comes along on “Extra Heavy,” with his Grateful Dead influence as well as lap steel and piano, before becoming more of a troubadour with his tribute-filled “Hollywood.”  “Light” is a beautiful acoustic track that clears your palate before Guest and Zimmer combine on the roots-heavy tune “Mezzanine,” complete with out of this world trombone.  Zimmer adds in some flute to his guitar to “Mrs. Soul” before doing it Jethro-Tull style on “Ship you Can’t Steer.”  The album closes with the instrumental tune “Subtle and Serene” before delivering what is sure to become a St. Patrick’s Day standard, “Whiskey Before Noon.”

Recommendation:  This one puts an American roots spin on the traditional celtic traditions of St. Patrick’s Day.  Enjoy it with your green beer and Jamison’s.

Artist Name:  Clare Hennessy

Album Name:  April

Label:  A&R Records

Genre:  Folk

Track Listing:  1.  Cherry Red; 2.  Bittersweetest; 3.  Famine or Feast; 4.  April

Publicist:  The A&R Department

Review:  Clare Hennessy has to have one of the sweetest, airiest voices we have heard in recent memory, and her rich folky tunes are perfectly set to her voice and her choice of instrumental backing.  Its sound is perfectly relaxing and soothing, taking away all of the listener’s cares with each note.  The only thing wrong with this EP is that is just too short at only four songs, and definitely leaves us wanting another dose soon.  We can hardly wait to hear what’s next from Hennessy.  She is a true treasure.

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

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Interviews LA Music Critic Awards Women in Entertainment

Getting to know the 2016 LA Music Critic Award winners – Allison Iraheta

Courtesy of Matthew Hager (Halo Circus), photo by Michael Becker

Over the past few years, we have had the chance to see quite a few of our indie music friends take the national stage on American Idol and The Voice, including Brooke White, Tony Lucca, Katrina Parker, and Justin Hopkins, to name a few.  However, this is the first time that we have become friends with an artist who has gone indie after appearing on one of those shows.  Thanks to Patrick O’Heffernan for introducing us.

We had a delightful time interviewing Allison Iraheta, who appeared on season 8 of American Idol and was originally signed to Jive Records.  Many of her greatest achievements, though, have been accomplished after she became an indie artist.  Iraheta was the winner of the Best Pop/Rock Female Artist for the first half of 2016, primarily on the strength of her band’s single, “Desire (Lo Que Vale La Pena).”  Iraheta and Halo Circus also finished second in the Fan Favorite category.

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

AI:  Since I was six years old when I got my first gig at an opening for a department store.  I sang a ranchera song.  I was also a big fan of Selena, but unlike her, I grew up in South Central Los Angeles, and primarily spoke Spanish, being the child of Salvadorian parents.  We were surrounded by a true cultural mix of music.  I loved the emotion behind rancheras music, which in turn became the inspiration for our current music.  I recently turned 24.

IVB:   Who are your influences?

AI:  My first big influence was Linda Ronstadt, especially her album “Canciones de mi Padre.”  My dad also turned me on to Paul Williams.  Other artists that inspired me included Amy Winehouse, Roy Orbison, Brenda Lee, PJ Harvey, and Radiohead  This definitely led to our music being very diverse.  We didn’t have to be stuck with one sound but were able to show a myriad of colors.

IVB:   What made you decide to DIY?

AI:  I didn’t really have much of a choice.  As you know, I was signed to Jive Records just as the old music business began to fall apart.  There were lots of job upheavals and a change in the rules, affecting the whole industry.  I was actually dropped by Jive in the middle of my tour and found out about it via Twitter.  I was only 18, but decided to finish out the tour.  It was in shock, having gone from nothing to successful and then back again.  Once I got back from tour, I didn’t know where I was musically, and felt lost, not sure what to do anymore.  I did a few demos to make money and was very close to giving up on the industry.  I felt betrayed and injured and was not yet aware of the DIY side of the industry.  However, I don’t hold any resentments and am still friends with some of those same industry people.

I met Matthew (Hager) when I was doing a demo for a song he was pitching to Carrie Underwood.  We started writing together and I returned to my roots to find inspiration.  Everything we were doing sounded like it needed to be done by a band, which led to the formation of Halo Circus in 2013.  The support we have received is what has propelled us to where we are now, and new opportunities are happening all the time.  Everyone in the band is a veteran musician.  Matthew was a No. 1 Billboard multi-platinum producer who crossed multiple genres working with the likes of Duran Duran, Scott Weiland, Mindi Abair, and Mandy Moore.  Brian Stead was and is a relentless guitar aficionado who evokes energy and charisma.  In addition to being an accomplished Cantonese and orchestral drummer, Veronica Bellino worked with Jeff Beck and DMC of Run DMC before leaving Halo Circus.  She was replaced by Stead’s friend, Matteo Eyia.  

Magic happens in this band.  It happened when we were writing, when we were recording, and when we were failing.  The only thing that mattered was keeping it honest and getting it right, whatever that meant. We may be inconvenient, but we continue to attract believers.

IVB:  Do you want to go back to being a mainstream artist?

AI:  There is a balance to moving on from the previous level of exposure to the creative freedom we have now.  We believe we can return to that level, but on our own terms.  We are doing it through the back channel and believe that is a better way for us to return.  We love what is happening in the indie scene.

Last February, we shocked the music industry when we announced in Billboard Magazine that we would be embarking on the first fully crowd-sourced American tour ever to be attempted on such a large scale.  With the help of our fans and Road Nation, the program that allowed this format, we reached full funding just nine weeks later, and confirmed a tour of 30 cities.

IVB:  What are your future plans? 

AI:  We are definitely going back on tour in the not too distant future.  We would love to revisit some of the places where we played on our last tour.  We have some new stuff on the horizon and are so proud of those who have supported us from the beginning.  There will be surprises and thank you’s and fun stuff for everyone.

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

AI.  During the tour we were scheduled to play a show in Orlando during Hurricane Matthew.  We played the show despite the weather.  When we got to the venue under very gray clouds, there were about 30 of our fans waiting for us with signs proclaiming “End of the World” show.  We lost our AirBnB reservation for the night due to the storm, and had no place to stay after the show.  Consequently, we started heading out of Orlando, but couldn’t find anyplace open that had gas or water.  We did finally find some gas, and just kept driving until we found a hotel where we could stay.  It was a scary time and we saw cars driving on the wrong side of the road, trying to get away from the storm.

IVB:  What is the significance of the rabbit?

AI:  It represented humans for me during the writing of our first album Bunny.  I seemed to notice them everywhere.  The totem for bunny meant prey, with their fluffy tails for hawks to see, but they are also very cute, adorable and fast.  I came to the conclusion that the prettier you are, the more different you are, the more likely you are to become prey.

IVB:  What social media do you use?

AI:  I have a Facebook page with a link to the band’s website.  I also use Twitter and Instagram, and of course we have a channel on YouTube, all of which our fans can subscribe to or follow.