Tag: Bobbo Byrnes

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

Get it or forget it – Bobbo Byrnes, Wily Bo Walker, Mark Tolstrup, De’Anza, Peggy James

It’s Thursday again, and Friday is knocking on the door.  Check out these five incredible artists to get you ready for the weekend.

Artist Name:  Bobbo Byrnes

Album Name:  Two Sides to this Town

Label:  Song & Whispers

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Angelia; 2.  Heart Like Mine; 3.  Glad; 4.  Jealous Kind; 5.  Massachusetts; 6.  Dam; 7.  Welfare Calling; 8.  Last Hurrah; 9.  Summer Wine; 10.  Vegas

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Bobbo Byrnes has been a staple of the burgeoning Americana movement in America for quite a few years.  Whether playing solo, with his lovely wife Tracy in their band The Fallen Stars, or in the combined band Riddle and the Stars, Byrnes consistently delivers some of the best music in the world.  While his vocals may be an acquired taste, much like Tom Waits, his musicianship is never in question, as he delivers stellar performances on just about anything with strings.  We have known him since the early 2000s, and have seen him and his band perform countless times, including award winning performances for the Orange County Music Awards (OCMA) and the SoCal Music Live Awards.  He and his bands are also multiple winners of the LA Music Critic Awards.  However, since the release of his last solo album Motel Americana, which we reviewed back in September 2016, he has stepped up his game, and this album may well be his best to date.  Several tracks truly shine, including “Heart Like Mine,” “Jealous Kind,” “Dam” (the best “damn” song they have ever done), “Welfare Cadillac,” and “Summer Wine.”

Recommendation:  Get it NOW!

Artist Name:  Wily Bo Walker

Album Name:  Almost Transparent Blues

Label:  Mescal Canyon Records

Genre:  Blues/Americana/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Chattahoochee Coochee Man; 2.  Loan me a Dime; 3.  I Want to Know; 4.  Storm Warning; 5.  Motel Blues; 6.  Did I Forget; 7.  Fool for You; 8.  Walking with the Devil; 9.  Long way to Heaven; 10.  Moon Over Indigo; 11.  Light at the End of the Tunnel

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  Wily Bo Walker is a Scotsman who has established himself on the American blues scene, becoming one of the very few UK artists to be inducted into the U.S. Blues Hall of Fame.  Just a casual listen to his latest release erases any doubt that he is worthy of that honor.  His sound is a mix of blues, soul, classic R&B, jazz rock and Americana, and all of it is HOT!  His songs are the stuff of legends – perfect storytelling and lyrical content, a gravelly voice that leaves no doubt to the listener that this artist has lived what he sings about, and a collection of some of the greatest musicians in the world – making Walker’s music the type that you want to listen to over and over again.  This one is definitely the best blues album we have reviewed this year, and probably one of the best solo efforts as well.  Look for it to win a few awards.  There isn’t a weak song on this album.

Recommendation:  This is a MUST-HAVE for your collection, regardless of your musical tastes.  Get it before it’s gone.

Artist Name:  Mark Tolstrup

Album Name:  Northstar

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Northstar; 2.  Hey Hey Baby; 3.  I Don’t Know; 4.  Milk and Honey; 5.  Old Man’s Blues; 6.  City in the Rain; 7.  Haunted House Blues; 8.  On the Nickel; 9.  Back Water Blues; 10.  Free Brother; 11.  My Song is Don’t Worry; 12.  Dead Man’s Shirt; 13.  Requiem for Coyote

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Northstar is an intensely personal album that could only have come from Mark Tolstrup.  He lays it all on the line in the title track that sets the mood for the entire album, letting his listeners know right off the bat that they are in for a treat.  He wrote the title to be sung at the funeral of his father.  He shares these amazing songs with a cast of incredible musicians, including Jessica Wern on drums and vocal, James Gascoyne on bass, Sharon Bolton on vocals, Chris Carey on keyboard, Dave Lambert on sax, Woody Strobeck on trombone, and Oona Grady on fiddle, among others.  Together they take Tostrup’s personal vision and make it universal.  We love the overall tone of the album, and the varying kinds of blues displayed, as well as his covers of Tom Waits’ “On the Nickel” and Michael Eck’s “Dead Man’s Shirt.”

Recommendation:  You should definitely Get this one.

Artist Name:  De’Anza

Album Name:  Cosmic Dream

Label:  Fusion Beats

Genre:  Latin Alternative/Electronic

Track Listing:  1.  Cosmic Dream; 2.  La Puerta; 3.  Want; 4.  Stage I:  Light Sleep; 5.  Llena de Gracia; 6.  Stage III:  Deep Sleep; 7.  ¿Estás Recibiendo?; 8.  Stage V:  REM; 9.  War

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  De’Anza brings us Latin culture to the world of electronic funk in this concept album tracing the various stages of the sleep cycle.  Several of the tracks are written in Spanish and delivered with a myriad of funkiness and electronica.  We love the Latin vibe of her music, which could easily translate to serious radio airplay, as well as making some interesting placement options for television and film, especially “Want,” with its R&B groove and truly funky style.

Recommendation:  Give this artist a listen.  We think you’ll be hooked.

Artist Name:  Peggy James

Album Name:  Nothing in Between

Label:  Happy Growl Records

Genre:  Singer-Songwriter Country/Folk

Track Listing:  1.  We had to Meet; 2.  X-Files; 3.  An Hour with You; 4.  Lover; 5.  Nothing in Between; 6.  Muscle Man; 7.  Gotta Have a Love; 8.  In One Ear (and out the Other); 9.  Ghost; 10.  Sound of Your Wheels; 11.  Fallen Snow; 12.  I Wish you Well

Publicist:  Daystorm Music

Review:  Milwaukee native songbird Peggy James has released an amazing solo effort which mixes her Midwestern roots with her Southwestern influences, creating a truly unique sound that has a folky Emmylou Harris/Shawn Colvin vibe over a Grace Potter like organ sound, as well as some of the finest guitar we’ve heard in a long time.  James has such a sweet, pure and beautiful voice that takes this well-crafted gems and makes them sparkle even brighter, shining the light on every facet of the song.  The stories will draw you in, and the musicianship will keep you interested.  You will find that you don’t want anything to come between you and this music.

Recommendation:  Run out and Get this one today!

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

Get it or forget it: Katie Garibaldi, Bobbo Byrnes, Lauren Adams

We’re back with another edition of Get it or Forget It.  Due to my work schedule, I will not be able to publish any reviews tomorrow, so this will have to do until Sunday.  But worry not, we have three amazing artists for you today who will definitely keep you company until our next review.

katie-garibaldi

Artist Name:  Katie Garibaldi

Album Name:  Rooted Clarity

Label:  None

Genre:  Singer Songwriter Acoustic Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Delightful; 2.  I Am; 3.  In my Wildest Dreams; 4.  On my Own; 5.  Bird in a Cage 

Publicist:  None

Review:  Katie Garibaldi has been making quite a name for herself within the Americana community, where there seems to be little emphasis on whether or not an artist is on a label.  Lovers of Americana music seem to place a value on the music and not the source in determining where they give their support.  Maybe the rest of the music industry could learn something from this practice.  At any rate, Garibaldi has a voice and style of music that throws back to a time when music was purer and simpler, in the vein of Patsy Cline, Barbara Mandrell and Lynn Anderson.  Take for example the first track, “Delightful,” which has been nominated for a Hollywood Music in Media award, and has been released as a music video.

The rest of the EP is just as wonderful.  Garibaldi has a special ability to wow us with the simplicity of good music and her amazing voice.  The best track in our humble opinion is “On my Own.”

Recommendation:  If you love soaring vocals and great music that features mandolin, fiddle, and strings, then this is definitely the EP for you.  Indie Voice Blog is proud to give Rooted Clarity a rating of Get It.

bobbo

Artist Name:  Bobbo Byrnes

Album Name:  Motel Americana

Label:  Songs & Whispers

Genre:  Singer Songwriter Acoustic Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Hold Me; 2.  To her Door; 3.  APB; 4.  Hate This Town; 5.  I may Never Know; 6.  Heading South; 7.  Millsboro; 8.  Solitaire; 9.  No Expectations; 10.  Nothing Needs to be Said; 11.  1, 2, 3; 12.  Long way to Nashville 

Publicist:  None

Review:  Anyone who has spent any time in Southern California has probably been exposed to the music of Bobbo Byrnes, one half of The Fallen Stars, a band praised as one of the next generation of Americana bands.   Even though this is a solo album, Byrnes continues to rely on his wife Tracy’s mad bass skills and powerful backing vocals, as well as the skills of bandmate Ben Riddle of Byrnes’ other band, Riddle and the Stars.  In fact, many of the songs contained on this album have been performed at some time by one or both of those bands.   But it is the shear genius of Byrnes, who by the way contributes vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, mandolin, pedal steel, dobro, tricone, accordion, mandoguitar, tenor guitar, piano, B3 organ, dumpster, harmonica, drums and monotron to the mix, that is demonstrated in 12 amazing songs, nine of which Byrnes either wrote or co-wrote.  Strongest tracks include “Hold Me,” “APB,” “Hate This Town,” “I may Never Know,” “No Expectation,” and “1, 2, 3.”

Recommendation:  Byrnes is becoming one of the hardest working musicians in the Americana community, and his first solo album is further proof of his abilities.  Motel Americana is a definite Get It if you love great music.

lauren-adams

Artist Name:  Lauren Adams

Album Name:  Somewhere Else

Label:  None

Genre:  Singer Songwriter Acoustic Americana

Track Listing:  1.  It Takes What it Takes; 2.  Somewhere Else; 3.  Henry (from Saginaw, MI); 4.  Heavy, Heavy Heart; 5.  Miss You; 6.  The Shoe Fits; 7.  Oh Marie; 8.  Between me and You; 9.  We try Harder; 10.  Bayview Drive; 11.  National Cheer up the Lonely Day; 12.  Seminole Wind 

Publicist:  KG Music Press

Review:  Lauren Adams is one of the predominant female voices in Americana music today, as well as a very talented voice over artist.  On her latest offering she gives us more amazing tidbits that are worthy of your attention, including an amazing cover and inspiring arrangement of John Anderson’s seminal hit, “Seminole Wind.”  Adams also continues to support the Americana music community by incorporating the musical abilities of some of its best musicians on her projects, and the list of those who have contributed to this project is a who’s who of some of the best and brightest.   This is one of those albums that you can listen to from start to finish and never be bored, as the gamut of Americana music is revealed in the musical gems contained within this release.  The strongest tracks are “It Takes What it Takes,” “Miss You,” “Oh Marie,” “We try Harder,” “Bayview Drive,” and “Seminole Wind.”

Recommendation:  It is hard to believe that Adams has been performing for the past 38 years, as her music is always fresh and new.  This is by far one of her best offerings to date, and Indie Voice Blog is proud to give it a rating of “You Better Get it Now!”