Tag: #METOO

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Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it

HFF19 day 3 (part 1) – see it or skip it

Saturday was a FULL day of fringing, beginning with my first show at noon and ending with my final show at 12:30 a.m.  It was a hodge-podge day of hits, misses and in-betweens, so let’s get to the reviews.

TITLE OF SHOW:  An yet Another Evening with the Sistahs – Unsung Sheroes

VENUE:  The Hudson Theatres (Guild)

REVIEW:  One of my all-time favorite Fringe shows was “I Never met a Jerk I Didn’t Like,” which introduced me to the brilliance of Tiffany Phillips.  She’s back this year, along with Fredericka Meek and Erika Cohen, to bring us a lesson in black history that will break your heart.  We learn about the history of three prominent black women – slaves Anarcha Westcott and Ellen Craft and Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm.  This show will move you like few Fringe shows have, and is the perfect way to start your Fringe Saturdays.  This one is definitely one of the best shows of HFF19.

RECOMMENDATION:  This is definitely a don’t miss show, so get your tickets before it sells out.  Remaining performances are June 22 and 29 at noon.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Son of a Bitch

VENUE:  The Broadwater (Second Stage)

REVIEW:  Son of a Bitch is a brilliant piece of historical fiction that captures the spirit of the intriguing story of Lee Atwater and his role in the 1988 Presidential elections that resulted in George Bush‘s victory over the more popular Michael Dukakis.  Director Billy Ray Brewton has perfectly captured the intelligent writing of Lucy Gillespie, with amazing performances from Ben Hethcoat as Atwater, Dennis Gersten as Vice-President Bush,  Luke Forbes as “Jr.,” and David McElwee as the Vice-President’s Chief of Staff Jim.  Chloe Dworkin (Cass) and Corsica Wilson (Gladys) turned in excellent supporting performances.  If you care about politics, then this is a must see.

RECOMMENDATION:  This is definitely a don’t miss show, so get your tickets before it sells out.  Remaining performances are June 21 at 8 p.m., June 22 at 11 p.m., June 26 at 5 p.m. and June 29 at 6:30 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Mormon Playgirl

VENUE:  The Complex (OMR Theatre)

REVIEW:  It seems more and more actresses are coming forward with their #MeToo stories, and CC Sheffield is one of the more prominent ones.  This could have been a powerful show, but instead was shallow and disjointed.  Sheffield does a good job of telling it through her portrayal of a number of characters, but the central one was relegated to a too-short segment at the very end of her show.  There is a lot of potential for this story, but unfortunately it was not used.  This one is definitely a work in progress.

RECOMMENDATION:  It might be wise to sit this one out until she has the chance to better define her story.  If you’re brave, give it a chance.  Remaining performances are June 20 and 28 at 6:30 p.m., and June 30 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are available on her Fringe project page.

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 31

It’s our final Monday Mashup for the month of August, and we’ve got plenty of news and great new singles and music videos.  Last night we worked the Shakey Graves concert at Big Sky Brewing Company, and it was an amazingly chill evening.  The music was incredible, and the performers were very good and fun to hang with.  Thanks so much to Rayland Baxter and Shakey Graves for being incredible and easy to talk to.  Watch for our review shortly.

SONIA RAO GIVES INSPIRING TEDx TALK

One of our favorite indie artists, Sonia Rao, shares from her heart on “The Shame and Power of Being a Woman.”  This one deserves a mass audience.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2018 UNSIGNED ONLY MUSIC COMPETITION

Congratulations to the following winners of this year’s Unsigned Only Music Competition.  We look forward to hearing more from them and to reviewing their projects.

Grand Prize – Eric Ethridge (Sarnia, ON, Canada) “Girl On Fire”

AAA (Adult Album Alternative)

First Place – DENNY (Minneapolis, MN, USA) “Girls Like You”
Second Place – O-SHiN (Berlin, Germany) “Aimless”

Adult Contemporary (AC)

First Place – Sahara Beck (Fortitude Valley, QLD, Australia) “Here We Go Again”
Second Place – Da Candy (Kiev, Ukraine) “Runaway (ft Nathaniel)”

Americana

First Place – Todd Tyler (Aiken, SC, USA) “Run”
Second Place – Brad Anderson (Manchester, England) “Death Do Us Part”

Christian

First Place – Drew Greenway (Henderson, TN, USA) “Walk In The Light”
Second Place – Dave Pettigrew (Ridgewood, NJ, USA) “Undertow”

Country

First Place – Kaylee Bell (Waimate, New Zealand) “Getting Closer”
Second Place – Virginia Creek (Chincoteague, VA, USA) “Kiss Me Sober”

EDM

First Place – Reign (Oshawa, ON, Canada) “Make Me”
Second Place – Pokki DJ (Imperia, Italy) “Remember This Night”

Folk/Singer-Songwriter

First Place – Leon Of Athens (Athens, Greece) “Aeroplane”
Second Place – Ezra Vancil (Dallas, TX, USA) “Complicated Man”

Pop/Top 40

First Place – Adrielle Bow Belle (New York, NY, USA) “Runaway”
Second Place – Carrie Lane (Montclair, NJ, USA) “Drowning”

R&B/Hip-Hop

First Place – Denzil Porter (Bronx, NY, USA) “Time Soon Come”
Second Place – Mayah (Cairns, QLD, Australia) “XO Girl”

Rock

First Place – The Royal Foundry (Sherwood Park, AB, Canada) “Lost In Your Head”
Second Place – Glass Mansions (Columbia, SC, USA) “Just Friends”

Screen Shot

First Place – Big Little Lions (Royston, BC, Canada) “Find Your Tribe”
Second Place – Jayde (Port Hope, ON, Canada) “Perfect Strangers”

Teen

First Place – Hailey Belle (Santa Clarita, CA, USA) “Fall So Easily”
Second Place – Under The Radar (Memphis, TN, USA) “Boom”

Vocal Performance

First Place – Paul Loren (New York, NY, USA) “I Know A Place”
Second Place – Elinor Sitrish (Dimona, Israel) “One Reason”

Fandemonium Winner (winner selected by online public vote) – Haddon Cord (Boise, ID, USA) “A Million Songs”

Unsigned Only is now accepting entries for the 2019 competition. This year, Unsigned Only has added five new categories for artists to enter. The complete list of categories includes: AAA (Adult Album Alternative); AC (Adult Contemporary); Americana; Blues; Christian; Country; EDM; Folk/Singer-Songwriter; Instrumental; Jazz; Latin; Pop/Top 40; R&B/Hip-Hop; Rock; Screen Shot (songs suitable for placment in film, tv, etc.); Teen (for artists 18 years old and younger); Vocal Performance; and World Music.  More information can be found at: https://www.unsignedonly.com.  To hear the winning songs, download low-res photos, and view the complete list of winners, go to: https://www.unsignedonly.com/winners

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week is from one of our favorite Santa Monica bands, Only Bricks.  Their latest is called “Ordinary,” and we believe the band is anything but.  Check them out and let us know what you think.

Next is the latest from Blue Élan Records artist Amy Wilcox.  Her single is called “Somebody,” and is the second single from her forthcoming EP West.  We can’t wait to hear the rest.

Our third single this week is “Dancing” from Basement Revolver, Ontario, Canada, and we really like this gritty indie rock track.

Our fourth single this week is from Amy Stroup, who was born in Boston and raised in Abilene, Texas.  It’s called “Wild Nights,” and we love it.  What do you think?

Our final single this week is from the amazing R&B/alt pop voice of Thomas Graff.  It’s called “Make it Easy,” and we think that it accurately describes this artist’s future in the business.  Enjoy the groove.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Long time indie giant Greg Laswell is finally releasing a new album on September 21.  The first single from it is called “Royal Empress,” and it was debuted by Los Angeles tastemaker Nic Harcourt  (KCRW) on August 14.  Here’s the lyric video for the song, which we simply love since it reminds us of vintage Springsteen.

Next up is the latest from Satellite Citi, which we introduced to you last year.  The song is entitled “Collide” and that’s what is going to happen soon when the world finds out about this amazing rock band with a lead singer that not only plays drums, but can also compete with Amy Lee.  Enjoy this one!

Our third video this week is from Tim Burlingame and Kathrin Shorr, also known as Sweet Talk Radio.  We really love this beautiful video for “Blue,” and think you will too.

Our next video is “Running” from Daniel Ellsworth and The Great Lakes.  This one has such a chill vibe that we think it is perfect for your Monday.

Time for our final video this week.  We’re closing out without another chill tune from Falcon Jane.  Here’s “Ginger Ale.”  Are you thirsty yet?

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 26

Happy Monday – ready for another week?  We’ve got some great new music to share today, as we head into the last full week in July.  We hope you enjoy these tunes.

EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEAK

Here is an exclusive sneak peak from a “new” artist we really like.  The single won’t be available until August 24, but we wanted you to have the exclusive first listen to “Second Time” by Ferera Swan.

“This is a song that has truly helped me grieve & heal.  I re-branded this year under my new artist name . . . [This] will be the first song that will introduce my new brand, sound, new music, and projects that will work as a campaign to help spread awareness in the areas of adoption, foster care, trauma education, and mental/emotional health.”

NEW SINGLES

First up is the latest from one of the best blues singers in the indie world.  This time around, she has decided to cover an old Paul Rodgers and Bad Company song, “Ready for Love.”  Check out this awesome version from Gina Sicilia from her new forthcoming album on Blue Élan Records.

Next up is a song from the super group of Delaney Gibson and Amy Arani known as SIGNY, based out of Austin, Texas.  This one is perfect for summer living, as it’s all about the “Water.”

Maya Payne is a young lady who has had number one hits from her native New Zealand to Poland.  She’s back with her new single, and we have no doubt it will be just as great as her previous hits.  Here’s “Jungle.”

Our fourth single today is from future country superstar Ryan Calhoun.  His latest is a play on words called “Chaser” and we think you will love this one.

Our final single today is the first single from the debut album by Helenor.  It is eerie and the perfect mood setter for a Monday.  Check out “Ocean State.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Last week we introduced you to Post Season when we reviewed their new album.  These guys put the fun into punk.  Check out their lyric video for their second single, “Numb to This.”

Next up is the latest from the amazing acoustic band Mapache, which we reviewed last week.  They just released a short, three-song EP of cover songs, and this is the first song from it “Lonesome LA Cowboy,” a huge hit for the New Riders of the Purple Sage.

Last week Well Well Well simultaneously released two EPs, which we reviewed on Friday.  Today we want to share the music video for “Day After Day.”

Our fourth video this week is an upbeat, radio friendly girl power track from Rachael Cantu.  We really love this video and the song as well.  Here’s “Run Free.”

Our final video this week is in response to the #Metoo movement from Lora Kelley.  Here is her song “Good Men Don’t Hurt You.”

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

HFF18 day 13 – see it or skip it

As we wrap up our coverage of HFF18, we find ourselves slowing down and more fully savoring the beauty and talent of the available shows, and Saturday was a perfect example.  We had originally packed our schedule but ended up only seeing two of those shows, opting instead to check out a couple of additional shows that had a lot of buzz and for which we were personally sought out to attend.  It proved to be the perfect remedy for our last full day of fringing this year.

Because of the Cultural Event happening on Hollywood Boulevard, the street was closed between Highland and Western.  We decided to come around the north end, travelling down beautiful Laurel Canyon Boulevard and then south on Santa Monica.  It only added about 20 minutes to our trip, so we had time to stop at Eat This and enjoy their breakfast special with scrambled eggs, mixed with bacon and cheese.  So worth it.  From there it was over to The Lounge Theatre to start our day with a pair of Jessica Lynn Johnson solo shows.

TITLE OF SHOW:  SQUIRREL!!

VENUE:  The Lounge Theatre

REVIEW:  Soaring Solo and Johnson are becoming synonymous with quality Fringe shows, and this one was no exception.  Sarah Rose Reynolds is a force of nature, a comedic actress who can sing and does both with an unforgettable flair.  She wears her ADHD like a badge of honor, and gave us not only an incredibly funny and refreshing show, but revealed herself to be a wonderful human being as well.  It was also amazing how our two worlds intersected, as we discovered we had several friends in common, including The Groundlings’ Tracy Newman and indie music queen Abby Posner.  We even had the same taste in Fringe shows, as we met up later in the day for another amazing musical treasure at Three Clubs.  Reynolds earned herself an encore, and will be back next weekend.

RECOMMENDATION:  Reynolds only performed three shows during Fringe, two of them before we arrived in Los Angeles, so we were privileged to get to attend her closing show.  Thank goodness for you LA that you will have one more chance to see her next Saturday, June 30 at 5 p.m.  Get your tickets now because she is almost sold out, and you don’t want to miss this masterpiece of solo theater.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Wild at Hart:  A Tale of Trauma & Triumph

VENUE:  The Lounge Theatre

REVIEW:  This show was the 14th one we reviewed for our Larry Cornwall Award, and it was a true image of beauty.  Kamakshi Hart has a beautiful voice, whether chanting her mantra or singing out show tunes.  Her story, although full of pain and trauma, is told so beautifully that the audience can’t help but be uplifted by her unquenchable spirit and her ability to triumph over that tragedy.  Of all the #metoo stories at this year’s Fringe, hers is the most touching and powerful.  Johnson has once again left her mark upon an actor with this compelling tale of incest, rape, and abuse and the ultimate freedom obtained through dealing with that trauma and learning how to help others faced with similar pain.  Hart’s ability to bounce back and conquer her shame is an encouraging story and model for us to emulate.  We are so thankful that we had the opportunity to take that journey with her and to be able to apply it to our own personal battles.

RECOMMENDATION:  Like Reynolds’ show, this one was only performed three times.  We hope for your sakes that it is extended.  If it is, do whatever it takes to see this one.

We threw out our schedule for the rest of the day, and decided to check out a couple of shows that we had really wanted to see.  Rasika Mathur joined us, along with Johnson and Reynolds for our next show at Three Clubs, one of the best venues for Fringe.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Stages:  Girl Meets Boy, Boy Meets Boy, Girl Meets Drink

VENUE:  Three Clubs

REVIEW:  Emily Goglia is one of the most gifted voices and talents we have ever experienced in our eight years of doing Fringe.  You’ve probably seen her on NBC’s Grease Live! or if you’re a fan of a capella music, on The Sing-Off as the lead singer of Element.  At any rate, she is a voice that you will never forget, and we are privileged to get the chance to see her perform so intimately on the small stage of the Hollywood Fringe.  When she’s not singing in Los Angeles, she tours the world with the USO show, entertaining our troops.  Stages is a work of art and beauty, capturing the essence of the five stages of grief with a powerhouse performance that has literally taken Los Angeles by storm.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll drink plenty of alcohol, and anxiously await the chance to do it all again.  We’re just sad that we didn’t discover the amazing talent earlier, but now that we have, we will tell the world about her.

RECOMMENDATIONS:  Be on the lookout for the next chance to catch her, as this was her closing performance.  By any means necessary, don’t miss her next show.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Parisian Dream

VENUE:  The Assistance League Playhouse

REVIEW:  The venue was one of the most beautiful we have ever seen, and perfect for this amazing show by Cabaret Versatile, who we had not experienced since 2012.  Director Lola Ohlala has assembled a remarkable troupe who truly understand and demonstrate the beautiful art of French cabaret, and took the audience on a sweet journey to Paris.  The dancing by troupe members Natalie J. Davis, Ohlala, Sarah Marquelle Krueger and Julianne Kusmierczyk, and British newcomer Georgie Leahy was breathtaking, while Krueger and Ohlala also mesmerized us with their singing voices.  They were supported by the acting of Evan O’Brien and Aaron Stiles, who truly complemented the troupe with their comedic mime.  This was a true Fringe event and must be experienced.  We will treasure the memories of this performance until the next time they return, which we hope will not be another six years.

RECOMMENDATION:  If you EVER get the chance to see Cabaret Versatile, we highly recommend you jump at that opportunity – they will give you a show that you will never forget.

 

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

HFF18 day 6 – see it or skip it (part 1)

Saturday was our busiest day of HFF18, with nine shows on our schedule, ranging from 11:30 a.m. to 11:55 p.m.  We knocked out the Friday reviews and then headed down to Fringe – first stop, The Broadwater.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Stripped

VENUE:  The Broadwater Studio

REVIEW:   Julia Cavanaugh is a former exotic dancer who discovered that recovery from emotional trauma is possible, and doesn’t require you to remove your clothes.  She was extremely vulnerable during the show, and shared her hard fought lessons learned with strength and confidence.  Although not quite yet a triple threat, she did have an amazing voice, and supplemented her impressive acting skills with that beautiful singing voice.  The show was humorous and powerful, and left this reviewer wanting to know more.  We will definitely be looking for bigger and better for Ms. Cavanaugh.  This was the first of five shows we reviewed on Saturday that were directed or assisted by the Queen of the Solo show herself, Jessica Lynn Johnson, and it was great to see her impressive students, and have the chance to hang out with her at the first three shows.

RECOMMENDATION:  This was one of the best solo shows we’ve seen this year.  Don’t miss your chance to check it out.  She has one show remaining on June 21 at 9:30 p.m.  Grab your tickets here.

TITLE OF SHOW:  My Calico Soul

VENUE:  The Broadwater Studio

REVIEW:   Steve Brock is many things – singer-songwriter, actor, bisexual, autistic, talented, but what he definitely is not is timid.  He confidently tells his story in song and speech, and draws the audience in with his sweetness and charm.  He was honest about his labels – those imparted on him and those he assigned himself.  He led the audience through his life story, and even had a talk back session at the end so that the audience could ask question about anything they did not understand.  Although there were some technical issues, Brock handled them with grace, and did not let them interfere with his show.  His voice is sweet and he writes beautiful songs, especially the title track that he uses to open and close the show.  All in all it was a most worthy effort.

RECOMMENDATION:  You should definitely check this one out, especially if you like to see how hard work and perseverance wins out over obstacles.  His remaining shows are June 22 at 9:30 p.m. and June 24 at 4 p.m.  You can buy your tickets here.

TITLE OF SHOW:  #METOO

VENUE:  Asylum Studio C

REVIEW:   Star Stone brings one of the most timely of topics to the Fringe stage – #metoo.  Her performance breaks chains and shatters taboos about eating disorders, alcoholism and unwanted sexual advances.  Her courage is manifested in this show, and the 25 characters you will meet explain the struggles she has endured, and eventually conquered.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll get pissed off, but ultimately you will be proud of her accomplishments in the struggle for female empowerment and the right to say “No.”  Consent is far too often a difficult thing to obtain, but men in general need to understand that it is a mandatory part of any sexual encounter.  Stone reminds us of this, and helps liberate us from the belief that men always get their way – by any means necessary.  We reject that notion, and vow to always obtain consent, whether it has been granted before or not.  Men have no right to assume that just because she doesn’t say anything, it’s all right to proceed.  Let us treat each other like we want to be treated, and allow true love to grow and healing to begin.

RECOMMENDATION:  Every man in Los Angeles needs to see this show and learn the truth, and every woman needs to come and be uplifted with this positive message.  The final show is June 22 at 8:30 p.m.  Get your tickets here.

We’ll be right back with part 2.

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

HFF18 day 3 – see it or skip it (part 1)

Yesterday was another easy day of reviews, with time left over to catch a movie.  We checked out Ocean’s 8, and it was perfect, and even told a convincing story of the connection between the movies staring George Clooney and the current one with Julia Roberts.  Afterwards it was time to head down to the Fringe, with five shows on our schedule.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Dracula’s Taste Test

VENUE:  The Broadwater Black Box

REVIEW:   We had no idea what to expect from this show, and picked it because it had Dracula in the title.  We were pleasantly surprised to find it a rollicking good time, singing karaoke with Dracula and his monster friends, and listening to Quasimodo deliver the perfect stand-up comedy routine.  The cast was amazing, with knock-out performances by Carrie Keranen as Quasimodo, Jeff Sumner as Creep, Crystal Keith as the Ghost of Mina Harker and Marz Richards as Dracula.   C.J. Merriman did a great job of choreographing and directing this show, with musical direction by Ryan Johnson, who also provided the piano accompaniment as The Phantom of the Opera.  This is the kind of show you can only get at Fringe – no agenda, no propaganda, and no purpose other than to just have fun.

RECOMMENDATION:  If you want a good time, and to forget about the world for an hour, come immerse yourself in this show.  It is just what the doctor ordered.  You can still catch it on June 17 at 6 p.m. and June 21 at 10 p.m.   You can purchase your tickets here.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Echoes

VENUE:  The Broadwater Second Stage

REVIEW:   It was a honor to review this play, which has already won awards around the world, including the Adelaide Fringe, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Prague Fringe.  The cast of Catherine Lidstone as Samira and Bree Wernicke as Tillie was sheer perfection, bringing this interesting parallel story to life.  We quickly lost track of time as these ladies told their individual tales.  Despite them being 175 years apart, they were similar in so many ways, living in a time and place where females were not respected and were forced to be whatever their abusive husbands wanted.  To share in their tenacity for justice and freedom and their mission to help others was the core of the show, and the audience was buying every second of this magnificent performance.   The simplistic staging added to the timeliness of the story, which comes at a time when women are once again rising up against their male antagonists.    This one is well worth the investment of time and money, for the knowledge you can glean from it is without price.

RECOMMENDATION:  Definitely see it – it is a treasure that will become a powerful motivator for change.  Catch one of their remaining performances on June 14 at 8 p.m., June 15 at 7:30 p.m., June 17 at 4 p.m., June 21 at 5:30 p.m. and June 22 at 9 p.m.  You can buy tickets here.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Other Side of the Razor Ribbon

VENUE:  Asylum Studio C

REVIEW:  This was our first solo play, and we were looking forward to it because of the subject matter – writing.  As writers, we are always looking for helpful hints and ways to improve our blog, and to have the opportunity to hear from the acclaimed “Memoir Midwife” seemed like a good idea.  However, it wasn’t exactly what we had thought it would be.  Stacy Dymalski wrote the show, based on her encounter with a budding writer, David C. Taylor, who was incarcerated for human smuggling.   Dymalski worked with Taylor for several years, mailing his transcripts back and forth while creating what was to become the Jacumba Connection.  We expected the show to be more about that interaction, but the majority of the show was spent on explaining Dymalski’s personal backstory.  While that was interesting, it was not the story that the title reflected.  We think the show would have benefitted greatly by having a director, as the backstory portion was longer than the subject matter portion.  Still, it was a worthy effort, and the inclusion of her musically gifted son Derrick (who played flute, clarinet and sax) helped set the mood for the show with his beautiful compositions.

RECOMMENDATION:  This is a good Fringe show that could be tweaked to be even better.  We still think you should see it, just don’t go expecting to hear a lot about the writing process.  Enjoy the music and listen to the story and you’ll leave fulfilled.  Remaining performances are June 16 at noon, June 21 at 7 p.m. and June 23 at 3 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased here.

Don’t go away – part 2 is coming soon.

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Reviews Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 16

April is winding down and summer will be here soon (we hope!).   Here is the latest indie news, as well as some new singles and music videos which have been recently released. Have a great week and come back tomorrow for our interview with acclaimed country artist Michael Peterson.

HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL

The 9th annual Hollywood Fringe Festival runs June 7-24, with previews running the week before.  Check their Facebook page for pre-festival events, and mark you calendar for May 1, when tickets go on sale for this year’s event.  We will be there from June 12 to the 25, and can hardly wait.  Hope to see you all around LA.

LA MUSIC CRITIC AWARD WINNERS SHOWCASE

Plans are complete for this year’s showcase, which will be held on June 19 at the Mint on Pico Boulevard.  Tickets go on sale on May 1, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.  Come out and support indie music and support our most worthy charity.  We have some great plans for the evening, including the bestowing of the 2018 Icon Award, so don’t miss out.

NEW SINGLES

Up first this week is the latest from the soulful Sam Hammerman, with this masterful song “Miss the Days.”  It is a sweet and smooth way to start your week, so check him out.

Next up is an indie rock tune from South Village, an Australian band from Melbourne.   We think you will like these guys, who are reminiscent of the Gin Blossoms.  Here’s “Say it Now.”

Originally signed to Elton John’s Rocket Records, UK standout Johnny Stimson reveals his first single with “End of Time.”  It is a dreamy pop song that will give you chills.  Please let us know what you think.

https://soundcloud.com/antifragile_music/end-of-time-johnny-stimson/s-wLpLJ

Our fourth single today is a special preview and comes from Canadian troubadour Craig Cardiff, who brings us a double dose of his song “Okay Cupid.”    We love the instrumentation, and the smooth voice, which reminds us of Cat Stevens.  Watch for its release next Friday, April 27.

Our final single today comes from Lachlan Vines, an artist we featured last year.  Here is his current single, “Take it Back.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first one today comes from Grammy-nominated blues artist Janiva Magness, and is a lyric video for her protest song, “Home.”  We think this one will give you the strength and resolve to stand up for your beliefs.

Next we travel to Amsterdam for Not.Your.Regular.Boy‘s latest video for “Crazyland.”  This one has enough energy to get your going strong this week.

Our third video today is one of the most creative we have viewed since Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way you Are.”  Check out the amazing artist Andy Sydow and his hand-drawn animation for “Reasons for Departure.”

Fourth on our list today is from the groovalicous sounds of ellee ven.  The cinematography on this one is delicious, and the story is well told.  Check out “For Your Love.”

Last but not least this week is the latest powerful video from multi-award winning Americana artist Alice Wallace.  Check out her moving female empowerment video for “Elephants.”