Tag: The BGP

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Singles and Videos

Monday mashup 2021 (vol 16)

Welcome to our final Monday Mashup from Oklahoma because . . . (drumroll please!) . . . we’re moving to North Carolina!  My wife and I have purchased a beautiful home built in 1900 in the sleepy little town of Scotland Neck, North Carolina and are in the process of moving there.  We hope to be back up and running by the first of June.  In the meantime, enjoy these great new singles and music videos.

NEW SINGLES

First up is the latest from a group we discovered at a show in Spokane a few years ago.  Hailing from Portland, the BGP are fun pop that is uplifting and will definitely put a smile on your face.  Check out “20 Ways.”

20 Ways · The Bgp (spotify.com)

The pandemic has brought out some of t he best from indie artists and this next single is living proof.  Check out this collaboration from Lucy Schwartz, MILCK and KPH & the Canary Collective.  They want us to know that despite the restrictions placed on us because of COVID, we are “Not Alone.”

Not Alone (Tiny Paper Clips) [feat. MILCK, KPH & The Canary Collective] · Lucy Schwartz, MILCK, KPH & The Canary Collective (spotify.com)

Our third single is from the effervescent Sonia Rao, who has not graced our pages in far too long  We have always loved her music, and this song was recently selected by the City of Los Angeles as one of the best.  We wholeheartedly agree.  Check out “Louder.”

Louder · Sonia Rao (spotify.com)

Powerful women have always had a place in country music, and a new voice has appeared on the horizon.  We are proud to present the debut single from Allison Cipris, and we could not agree more – “She’s a Queen.”

She’s a Queen · Allison Cipris (spotify.com)

We close out our new singles with this hyper-pop offering from Binny which is perfect for your work-out soundtrack.  Please send us “Feedback” on this great new tune.

Feedback · BINNY (spotify.com)

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Cindy Alexander is back with another stellar video for the never ending amazing collection of songs on her latest, While the Angels Sigh.  We are humbled that this truly gifted talent continues to provide some of the best music and videos in the indie world today.  Here’s “Walking Constellation.”

Another Blue Élan Records artist is also back with a new video and it is beautiful in its simplicity.  We love the toy piano and the sentiments expressed by Chelsea Williams with her song “High Speed Chase.”

Switching gears to the high energy rock of the band ROCKET, we are proud to present their latest offering.  Filmed during a sold-out show at LA’s El Rey theater, this band shows not signs of “Fading Out.”

Our fourth video comes from one of LA’s resident guitar bad asses, none other than Ali Handal.  Her latest visual and sonic treat is a lyric video for her song, “Pour me Another.”  All we can say is “Yes, please.”

We close out our videos with another lyric video, his time from our Nashville friends, Crimson Calamity.  Let their vocal harmonies roll over you as they bring us this ode to “My Best Friends.”

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

My Brothers and I wrap tour in Spokane, Washington

Back on February 1, we told you about an amazing alt-pop band out of Portland, Oregon named My Brothers and I who were heading out for their first headlining tour.  This past Saturday, March 26, that tour concluded with a show at The Big Dipper in Spokane, Washington.

The venue was amazing.  Long a Spokane icon, the Big Dipper has been renovated and turned into a state of the art music venue with incredible sound and an even more incredible sound man named Jeff.  He made the night that much more memorable with his mastery of the board.

Thanks to the band’s publicist, Alex Steininger of In Music we Trust PR, an interview with the band was set up before the show.  I arrived at the venue early and helped the band load in and get set up for sound check.  The interview was conducted throughout that process, and will be published at a later date.

While all that was going on, the opening band, The BGP, arrived for their sound check.  Imagine my surprise to learn that the band’s founder and lead singer, Brandon Ghorley, was friends with, and had performed with, several of my LA musical peeps, including Keaton Simons, Tony Lucca, Aijia and Andy Grammer, and Clara C.

By the time the doors opened, there was a line around the building of fans anxious for the show.  Both bands took the time to talk to the fans and welcome them to the show.

The BGP took the stage first.  Upon encouragement from Ghorley, everyone left their comfortable seats and made their way to the floor in front of the stage, where they stood mesmerized during the entire performance.

Featuring music from their latest EP, Fort Knox, as well as covers of “Bennie and the Jets” and “What a Fool Believes,” the BGP rocked the joint like a lesser-known version of Maroon 5.  Ghorley’s stage presence was breathtaking to behold, as he seamlessly interacted with the audience while also entertaining them with his keyboard and vocal abilities.  His bandmates, Phil Hopper on guitar and keys and Josh Demorow on drums truly complemented his sound while making memorable moments of their own.

These guys are the real deal.  If you have a chance to catch their live show, don’t miss it.  Check out their website, follow them on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

After a short break, My Brothers and I took the stage, while the audience joined them in front of the stage.  David, the youngest of the three Wurgler boys that make up 60% of the band, is the lead singer, while his older siblings Erik is on bass and Scott is on drums.  Childhood friends Jordan Roach on guitar and Johnny Iliyn on keys make up the rest of the band.

The band has begun to receive attention from their recently released CD Don’t Dream Alone, including a placement in last week’s Pretty Little Liars episode.  Over the course of an hour, the band brought to life every cut from that CD, as well as tease us with an upcoming song, “Tell Me,” which has its own interesting tale to tell.

David’s sultry vocals, coupled with the driving bass of Erik and the perfect beat of Scott made each song come alive.  Jordan’s guitar and John’s keys filled in the melody, creating the perfect blend of musical genius culminating in songs that had meaningful lyrics and a beat that made you want to stand up and dance.  Hearing the audience sing along was the icing on the cake of one of the best live performances I have ever experienced.

My Brothers and I are definitely for real.  I strongly recommend them, as well as the BGP, as bands to take notice of now before they skyrocket to the top of the charts.