Month: June 2018

Categories
Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre

HFF18 day 2 – see it or skip it

With only two reviews to write from our first day of Fringe, we had lots of down time yesterday.  That gave us the chance to hit Big Lots and stock up on essentials for the next two weeks, and catch up on sleep.  Staying out of that hot sun was another good reason to lay low.

Finally it was time to head back down to the Fringe, and we had a couple of interesting shows to check out.  We were joined by our dear friend Rasika Mathur, the creator and actress who brought us last year’s My Hustle has ADHD, who met us at the Hobgoblin Playhouse for our first show of the evening.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Story of my Life

VENUE:  The Hobgoblin Playhouse

REVIEW: This was our second show at this amazing venue, and once again that grand piano was the star of the show.  Although not an original show (it had a brief run off Broadway), it was nevertheless extremely well done by members of Chromolume Theatre, who exceeded our expectations in their interpretation of the songs and the material.  This was easily one of the best musicals we have ever seen at Fringe.  Andrew Schulman, who played Thomas and Daniel Koh, who played Alvin, truly embodied their characters, giving the audience an honest look at the lives of these two life-long friends, and the adventures they shared during that life.  The direction of Michael Marchak and the musical direction of Richard Bereni were also quite evident, as they worked the full gamut of our emotions, creating memorable moment after memorable moment.  The actors performance of “The Butterfly Song” had us in tears with the simple beauty of the story and the imagery that the words created in our minds.

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is our third straight no-brainer.  You simply must see this show, especially if you love music and want to be truly moved by a wonderful story about friendship.  This one deserves a long run.  You can still catch it on June 16 at 10 p.m. and June 23 at 7:30 p.m.   You can purchase your tickets here.

We had a little time before our next show, so Rasika suggested we grab a drink.  We headed over to the next venue, found a parking place, and walked around until we found the Next Door Lounge on Highland.  We had the Georgia Julep, and it was mighty tasty.  It was fun catching up with Rasika, comparing notes on the first show, and discussing what to expect from the next one.  After taking the obligatory selfie, and posting it to social media, we headed over to the Los Angeles LGBT Center for our next show.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Dangerous Cures of Dr. B

VENUE:  The Los Angeles LGBT Center

REVIEW:  We didn’t know what to expect from this show, but since they had applied for the Larry Cornwall Award, we had to screen it.  The play is based on the true life antics of John R. Brinkley, a so-called “doctor” and radio pioneer who achieved infamy during the 1920’s and 30’s for his radical use of goat glands to “cure” male impotency and other problems.  This is not a “feel-good” show, which was painfully obviously in the quiet and introspective looks on the faces of the audience as they left the venue.  While Jess Weaver and Garrett Crouch did a great job of providing music within the context of the show, it did not rise to the level of necessity to the overall story that is required for the Larry Cornwall Award.  This was a truly dark story of a man who was in many ways just another Jim Jones or David Karesh, and the insane ways that people can ignore reality when it opposes their rosy picture.  Kudos to the Puckwit Gang, who turned in stellar ensemble performances and brought the sordid story to life.

RECOMMENDATION:      Even though you won’t leave the venue feeling better, this is a show you should definitely see.  Hopefully it will open  your eyes to the dangers of being blinded by any one person and their philosophy.  You can still catch it on June 13, 19 and 22 at 10:30 p.m., June 17 at 6 p.m., and June 23 at 8 p.m.   You can purchase your tickets here.

 

 

Categories
Hollywood Fringe Festival See it or Skip it Theatre Women in Entertainment

HFF18 day 1 – see it or skip it

After 17 hours of driving, and an overnight stay in Las Vegas, we arrived in Los Angeles mid afternoon.  Our first show wasn’t until 7 p.m., so we had time to visit with friends, get situated at the airBNB and clean up before heading into Hollywood for our first night of fringing.

Our first stop was the newly opened Hobgoblin Playhouse (6520 Hollywood Boulevard), managed by the stellar team of Greg Crafts and Jenn Scuderi Crafts, who also manage Studio/Stage.  It was great to catch up with them pre-show, and to hear the back story about our first show of #HFF18, which was written and performed by Laura Jo Trexler.

Once they got the contract to manage the space, they discovered this beautiful grand piano inside.  They called Trexler to come and tune the piano.  During the session, she mentioned that she had written a one-woman show and asked if they knew where she could perform it.  Obviously, the response was “At the Fringe,” and the rest, they say, is history.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Play On!  A Musical Romp with Shakespeare’s Heroines

VENUE:  The Hobgoblin Playhouse

REVIEW: Trexler is incredible, both as an actress and musician.  The songs she has so skillfully created depict the true character of each of these legendary women as written about by William Shakespeare, including Juliet, Rosalind, Ophelia, Olivia, Beatrice, Viola, Adriana, Lady M, Gertrude, and the Dark Lady,   The production was in every way imaginable just perfect, and set the bar extremely high for this year’s Fringe.  Greg Crafts did an admirable job stepping in for the stage manager, who was under the weather, and perfectly executed the lighting plan.  Trexler’s performance had all that you would expect from a Broadway show, with just the right amount of theatricality added to the songs to make them come alive and memorable.  She even had recorded a soundtrack of the songs, and made the CD available for her patrons at a “pay what you can” price.  This was definitely the way to start our 2018 Fringe Experience.  Welcome to the Fringe, Laura Jo!  We’re so glad we found you.

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is a no-brainer.  You simply must see this show, especially if you love music and Shakespeare.  This one deserves a long run.  You can still catch it on June 15 at 10 p.m., June 16 at noon and June 24 at 11:30 a.m., or buy the soundtrack and listen it these great songs over and over again.  You can purchase your tickets here.

Our next show wasn’t for a couple of hours, so we headed over to Fringe Concierge to pick up our credentials and then stopped at Three Clubs for a drink.  It was wonderful to run into several of the Cherry Poppins ladies, including Alli Miller, Sarah Haworth Hodges, and Sarah Wines, along with their amazing cohorts including Michael Shaw Fisher, Cory Robinson and Schoen Hodges.  We even managed to find Laura Wiley there as well.

We headed back to The Complex for our 10:30 show at The Flight Theatre, and ran into Victoria Watson and Better-Lemons‘ own Enci Box.  Watch for our reviews on that website as well.  Before we knew it, it was time for our second show of the night.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Rental

VENUE:  The Flight Theatre at The Complex

REVIEW: This one was a last minute addition to our schedule, and boy are we glad we went.  This show was impeccable, and wonderfully written and directed by Ben Ubiñas.  The show starred Jake Corvino and Ali Astin, the amazing actress daughter of Sean Astin, best known to millions as “Sam” in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  In today’s era of #MeToo, female empowerment and sexual politics, this show was right on point.  Both Astin and Corvino turned in Tony Award-worthy performances as a call girl and her virgin client.  The story takes you in one direction and then shifts into an entirely different one, with mind-blowing results.  Trust us when we say that you will walk away from this one with an entirely new perspective on the world’s oldest profession.

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is likewise a no-brainer.  There is only one performance left on June 14 at 6 p.m., and you owe it to yourself to attend.  You can grab your tickets here.

It was so good catching up with Ali after the performance.  We hadn’t seen her since 2012 when we worked at the Renaissance Faire.  We are sure the world will be seeing a lot more of this amazing actress.

 

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

Nominations announced for LA Music Critic Awards for first half of 2018

If you recall, we had to revise our submissions dates after the second half of 2017 because we had so many submissions.  As a result, the nominations we are announcing today cover the period  from December 1, 2017 through May 31, 2018.  We still received 339 submissions this time around, including more than 100 international ones, making our job harder than ever to winnow them down to those we have selected.

As always, fans are encouraged to vote for the Fan Favorite Award.  To vote for your favorite,  simply leave a comment below in the following format:  “I vote for (name of artist) for Fan Favorite.”  No other comments will be counted toward the Fan Favorite Award, and each reader may only vote once.   Comments made on other social media sites will not count.

Fans are also encouraged to comment on other award nominations, and those comments will be reviewed by the Awards committee.  However, they will not count for the Fan Favorite Award unless the comment specifically says that the artist is being nominated for the Fan Favorite Award. 

The deadline for voting for the Fan Favorite Award is Wednesday, June 27, 2018, at midnight MST.  The full list of winners will be announced at 2 p.m. MST on Friday, June 29, 2018.

Without further delay, here are the nominations.

BEST EP (Male) – Michael Malarkey (Captain Solitaire); Kevin Daniel (Myself Through You); Rich Krueger (Life Ain’t That Long); Eric Benoit (Heartrender); Larry Lacerte (Dreaming of the Ways)

BEST EP (Male International) – Tom Richardson (Promise of the Light); Average Dez (Beautiful Life); Purkinje (Voyager); Jeremy Romeo (All You’re Meant to Be); Saux (Right)

BEST EP (Female) – Alezzandra (The Black Rose); Amanda Mair (To the Moon); Kyler England (The Wilderness); Margaret Glaspy (Born Yesterday)

BEST EP (Female International) – Oklou (The Rite of May); Yuki Ame (Anamnesis); Clare Hennessy (April); Violetta Zironi (Half Moon Lane); Elin K (Still Your Desire)

BEST EP (Group) – TIDES (Crossroads); Only Bricks (Foundation); The Spider Accomplice (Los Angeles:  The Dichotomy); Tribal Seeds (Roots Party); Wildeor (Wildeor)

BEST EP (Group International) – Calembour (Let the Wind Lead us Home); Ellevator (Ellevator); Mushy Callahan (Revelations); Accent (In This Together); The Dreggs (Seas Embrace); Belle and the Beats (Lose Your Feathers)

BEST CD (Male) – Keith Harkin (In the Round); Rob Bonfiglio (Trouble Again); David Philips (Get Along); Kris Barras (The Divine and Dirty); Frank Hannon (From One Place . . . to Another, Vols 1 & 2); Luke Winslow-King (Blue Mesa)

BEST CD (Male International) – Mr. Pong (Echoes Between a Rock and a Hard Place); Jon Allen (Blue Flame); Endre Nordvik (Suburb Hero); Sule (Hold On); Dom Fricot (Deserts)

BEST CD (Female) – Kari Kimmel (Gold & Glitter); Janiva Magness (Love is an Army); Caitlin Canty (Motel Bouquet); Katie Herzig (Moment of Bliss); Leilani Wolfgramm (Live Wire); Cindy Alexander (Nowhere to Hide)

BEST CD (Female International) – Em Joy (The Feast); Bossie (Not Pictured); Kira May (Sense); Lucy Wise (Winter Sun); Esme Bridie (Today it Rains)

BEST CD (Group) – RVZOO & The Sugar Spun Elephant Band (Guiding Star); Hello Stranger (Long Division); The Nightowls (We are the Nightowls); Floods (Bad Times); The Evening Attraction (The End, Again); Southern Halo (Just Like in the Movies)

BEST CD (Group International) – John Flanagan Trio (Honest Man); Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm (Shoot me Down); Vickers Vimy (Atlas of Hearts); Fifth Dawn (Duality); Dany Franchi Band (Problem Child)

BEST VIDEO (OFFICIAL) (Male) – Andy Sydow (“Reasons for Departure”); Sean McMahon (“Show me the Way”); David Garfield (“I Lied”), Keaton Simons (“1 2 3 Go”); Harts (“Ain’t Nothing on Me”); Rob Drabkin (“It’s a Beautiful Day”)

BEST VIDEO (OFFICIAL) (Female) – FlecHaus (“Tell me Something”); Hannah Lucia (“Your Love”); Janey Street (“Undone”); Dree Mon (“Rebel Soul”); Kari Kimmel (“High”); Lucy Levinsohn (“Dear God”)

BEST VIDEO (OFFICIAL) (Group) – The Zephyr Bones (“Telephone”); The Spider Accomplice (“Swallow”); Halo Circus (“Narcissist”); Fanny Walked the Earth (“Lured”); Floods (“Heavy Hearts”)

BEST VIDEO (FOR A CAUSE) – Alice Wallace (“Elephant”); riVerse (“Giant”), Ashley Delima (“Stay in America”)

BEST VIDEO (LYRIC) – Janiva Magness (“Protest Song”); Polly Baker (“Scraped Knees”); Foreign Figures (“Heart of Gold”); Cindy Alexander (“Passenger”); A Big Yes and a small no (“Enough is Enough”)

BEST VIDEO (COVER) – Frank Hannon (“Blue Sky”); Frank Hannon (“Sunrise in Texas”); Pros & iCons (“I Did Something Bad”)

BEST VIDEO (COLLABORATION) – Blue Elan Family (“Shine Down on Us”); Chelsea Williams and Poco (“Rose of Cimarron”)

BEST VIDEO (INTERNATIONAL) – Black Mamba (“Loop”); Young Galaxy (“Frontier”); DJ Moh Green (“Por Favor”)

BEST SINGLE (Male) – Keaton Simons (“1 2 3 Go”); Jesse Dayton (“May Have to do it”); Craig Cardiff (“Okay Cupid”); Johnny Stimson (“End of Times”); Jon Allen (“Jonah’s Whale”)

BEST SINGLE (Female) – Janiva Magness (“Down Below”); Aja Warren (“Show me the Magic”); Kris Angelis (“A Billion Hearts”); Ashley Delima (“Stay in America”); Manda Mosher (“Please Stand By”)

BEST SINGLE (Group) – Delsinki (“Wishing Upon a Star”); Crimson Calamity (“Fool’s Gold”); SIGNY (“Human”); Halo Circus (“Narcissist”); Feel Alright (“Cool Water”)

BEST SINGLE (INTERNATIONAL) – Reichelt (“Seduced by the Light Side”); tantamsound (“Blue”); The Dreggs (“Feel Alive”); Belle and the Beats (“Soldiers of the Night”); South Village (“Say it Now”)

BEST COMPILATION ALBUM – Worth of Souls; Transference

BEST COVER ALBUM – Mark Erelli (Mixtape), Frank Hannon (From One Place . . . to Another, Vols 1 & 2); Craig Cardiff (Upstream Fishing All the Words, He Is – Birthday Cards for Bob Dylan)

BEST BLUES ARTIST – Janiva Magness, Meg Williams, Victoria Ginty, Peggie Perkins, Luke Winslow-King

BEST BLUES BAND – Ghalia and the Mamas Boys, The Keeshea Pratt Band, Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm, Barrence Whitfield & the Savages

BEST BLUES (TRADITIONAL) ARTIST/BAND – Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys, Johnny Tucker, Miss Freddye, Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps, Peter V Blues Train

BEST BLUEGRASS ARTIST/BAND – Tommy Emmuel, John Flanagan Trio, Becky Buller, Nefesh Mountain, Sideline

BEST CELTIC ARTIST/BAND – Wildeor, Vickers Vimy

BEST COMEBACK ARTIST – Rita Coolidge, Michael Peterson, Fanny Walks the Earth

BEST COUNTRY ARTIST – Ruby Boots, McMains, Laura Benitez, Sara Morgan, Kevin Daniel

BEST COUNTRY BAND – Flood County, Steven Casper & Cowboy Angst, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, Southern Halo

BEST EDM/DANCE ARTIST/BAND – Computer Magic, Cultural Critic, Oklou, Saux, Amanda Mair

BEST FOLK ARTIST – Em Joy, Bob Crain, John Hufford, Tom Richardson, Martha Reich

BEST FOLK BAND – The Fisherman & the Sea; The Raven & the Fox, Century Thief, The Dreggs, Mala Ruckus

BEST HARD ROCK/METAL ARTIST/BAND – Tiavara, 1099, Animal Confession, Ovtlier, Ascending Dawn

BEST HIP-HOP/RAP ARTIST/BAND – 070 Shake, Mollys Reech, Camp Hope, Discrepancies

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST – Tom Richardson, Clare Hennessy, Dom Fricot, Kira May, Jon Allen

BEST INTERNATIONAL BAND – Black Mamba, John Flanagan Trio, Fifth Dawn, The Dreggs, Belle and the Beats

BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARTIST/BAND – mmph, Mr. Pong, Jamison Isaak, Fernando Perdomo, Jay Katana

BEST JAZZ ARTIST – Kristina Koller, Shirley Crabbe, Patrick Yandall, John Proulx. Dani Ocean

BEST JAZZ BAND –  The Brubeck Brothers Quartet, News from Planet Kniffen, Grand Marquis, Susan Krebs Chamber Band, Roberta Donnay & the Prohibition Mob Band

BEST LATIN ARTIST/BAND – Adan Jodorowsky, Dexist, Cheo & Ulises Hadjis

BEST POP ARTIST – Cindy Alexander, Kari Kimmel, Kyler England, Amanda Mair, Michael Malarkey

BEST POP BAND – Thrillchaser, Viv and the Revival, Floods, Only Bricks, For Esme

BEST PUNK ARTIST/BAND – This is Eggland, The Tracys, Typhoid Rosie, Sharp/Shock, Johnny & the Bootlegs

BEST R&B/SOUL ARTIST – Marieme, Ann, Jon Allen

BEST R&B/SOUL BAND –  Ghost & the City, TIDES, The Nightowls, Ebb & Flow Band, Into the Ark

BEST ROCK ARTIST – Malina Moye, Alezzandra, Adrian Underhill, Margaret Glaspy, David Hopkins

BEST ROCK BAND – The Spider Accomplice, Hello Stranger, ROCKET, Fifth Dawn, Black Mamba, Halo Circus

BEST REGGAE ARTIST/BAND – Freevolt, Super Hi-Fi, Tribal Seeds, Leilani Wolfgramm, Sly & Robbie meet Dubmatix

BEST RETRO ARTIST/BAND – The Evening Attraction, The Swinging Laurels

BEST ROOTS/AMERICANA ARTIST – Alison Ferrier, Caitlin Canty, Jenny Van West, Elise Wunder, Gerry Spehar, McMains

BEST ROOTS/AMERICANA BAND – Acadian Driftwood, Under the Oak, County Well, Bay Station, Porlolo

BEST SOUTHERN ROCK ARTIST/BAND – Blackwater Lake, James Scott Bullard, David Fitzpatrick, Allman Goldflies Band

RISING STAR – Jamey Geston, Ray Goren, Rachel Arianna

BEST SINGER-SONGWRITER – Average Dez, Caleb Michael, Katie Vincent, Michael McDermott, Jenny Van West, Mike Vitale

FAN FAVORITE – ???

 

Categories
Hollywood Fringe Festival Theatre

Ten most anticipated shows at HFF18

We can hardly believe that it’s time again to head down to Los Angeles for the ninth annual Hollywood Fringe Festival.  Out of the 380 available shows, we have chosen 51 to attend, including about 15 we are screening for our annual Larry Cornwall Award for Musical Excellence.  Here are the ten shows we are most excited about.  We are including links to their pages as well as the name of the venue.

10.  Earworm (McCadden Theatre) – We love the premise of this show and think it could be fun.  They are also up for the Larry Cornwall Award.

9.  Sex and the Musical (Three Clubs).  Laura Wiley brought us the incredibly fun Buffy kills Edward last year and we can’t wait to see what she does with this one, a prequel to the beloved Sex and the City show from HBO.

8,  With my Eyes Shut (Studio/Stage).  One of our favorite actresses from last year was Esther Mira.  She’s back with a new show, and it’s also being considered for the Larry Cornwall Award.

7.  Wild at Hart (The Lounge).  Solo shows are always a big hit for us at Fringe, and no one directs them better than Jessica Lynn Johnson.  This one should be great and it’s up for a Larry Cornwall Award as well.

6.  Sam Shaber:  Lie, Death & Duran Duran (The Complex).  Who doesn’t love the music of Duran Duran?  We are definitely intrigued by this one and it’s also being considered for the Larry Cornwall Award.

5.  Met Again (Studio/Stage).  A tender love story, and it’s a Theatre Unleashed show.  What more do we need to say?

4.  Stripped (The Broadwater).  Fringe gives us the chance to check out the taboo, and to see it from different viewpoints.  This one should be interesting to view, and it’s up for a Larry Cornwall Award as well.

3.  A Very Die Hard Christmas (Studio/Stage).  Living in Montana, we have missed this holiday show from Theatre Unleashed for the past three years.  We are true Die Hard fans and can’t wait to see this production.  Besides, who doesn’t want to see Jim Martyka as a villain?  This one is also being considered for the Larry Cornwall Award.

2.  Doctor Nympho vs. The Sex Zombies (Three Clubs).  Three words sum up this one – Michael Shaw Fisher!  This is the first Orgasmico musical since 2013’s Exorcistic, and he’s doing it in conjunction with one of the hottest companies at Fringe – Cherry Poppins.  What can go wrong?

1,  The Craftlesque (Three Clubs).  This is another show that we have missed being in Montana.  Alli Miller and Sarah Haworth Hodges and their Cherry Poppins ladies are sure to make this one great.

We’ll see you in Los Angeles Monday night.  This is gonna be epic!

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Ten Amazing Videos Women in Entertainment

Ten amazing videos released in May 2018

Every Monday we bring you news from the indie arts world, as well as new singles and music videos.  Unfortunately, we receive so many requests that we are unable to accommodate everyone.  We decided to create a monthly listing of singles and music videos we thought were worthy but didn’t have space for in our weekly Monday Mashup.  Here is our list of videos for the month of May.

Our first video this month comes from Cardhouse.  It is a rare “live at home rehearsal” of his new single, “Unintentional.”  We like it and hope you will too.

Next up is “Better With You,” the latest from Jesse McCartney, who is prepping for his U.S. tour, in support of his first new music since 2014.  This one will make you happy.

Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon has released two amazing albums this year, covering his favorite songs and adding his own touch to them.  Here is his cover of Blackberry Smoke’s  “Sunrise in Texas.”

Next up is some hip-hop from Marty Grimes for his video for “Trouble,” filmed in Thailand.  Check out the beauty of the cinematography.

Our fifth video comes from Bastian Lee Jones, and is a beautiful vision of love.  Check out “Hold Me,” one of the finest instrumental videos we have seen this year.

Next we have some harder rock music in the form of Beta Camp‘s song, “Devil on my Shoulders.”  This one should get your heart beat racing.

Our seventh video is “War on the Radio” by Jeffrey Foucault.  This one is pure Southern rock, and the images are priceless.  Let us know what you think.

And now for something completely different.  Here’s the amazing Latin duo Cheo & Ulises Hadjis with the title cut from their new album, “Donde.”  Enjoy this cultural break.

Next up is “Mexico” from the amazing duo Jenesia.  This one is stunningly beautiful, and the song is great as well.  Get up and groove to this track.

Our final video for May is from Swedish band Tiny Fighter for their song, “Hollow Talk.”  Hope this will tide you over until we come back with more great indie singles and videos.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Ten Great Singles Women in Entertainment

Ten great singles released in May 2018

Every Monday we bring you news from the indie arts world, as well as new singles and music videos.  Unfortunately, we receive so many requests that we are unable to accommodate everyone.  We decided to create a monthly listing of singles and music videos we thought were worthy but didn’t have space for in our weekly Monday Mashup.  Here is our list of singles for the month of May.

Our first single comes from the Amsterdam-based collective Rembrandtpark, with vocals from London artist Joshua Braithwait.  Here is “Death for a Living.”

Our second single is “Through This Darkness” by Tony Njoku.  It is an electronic DIY that we think is rather interesting.

The Yada Yada Yadas offer us “Seven Years, and we dig their alternative rock sound.  What do you think?

Our next single is from Tonsu and features Brianna Sorgiovanni.  It is a delightful electro-pop tune called “A Broken World,” and we are very pleased to share it with you.

At the halfway point, it’s Declan O’Donovan, with a rootsy tune called “Hank.”  This one is very retro and reminds us of Randy Newman.

Our second five begins with “Fire Up (Here we Go)” by Charmless i.  It’s a rocking little tune that will get you fired up to power through your day.  We hope you enjoy it.

Our next single is an R&B/Soul tune that will get you feeling fine.  Here’s Jackson James Smith with “Midnight Romance.”

Single number eight “Superficial Feeling” from Written Years.  This one has a wonderful 80’s retro vibe that we are sure you will love.

Our next single is from dynamic duo Max Caddy.  They would appreciate it if you would “Hear me Out.”  We think that is good advice.

Last but not least this month is Marc Salvador, closing out our May singles list with “Shadow.”  We’ll be back tomorrow with Ten Amazing Music Videos from May.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Hollywood Fringe Festival LA Music Critic Awards Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday Mashup 2018: vol. 22

It’s another week, and it will be a busy one.  We will be leaving on Sunday to head down to Los Angeles for the Hollywood Fringe Festival.  We have 51 shows on our schedule to review, including about 15 that have submitted for consideration of our Larry Cornwall Award for Musical Excellence.  We will also be  having our second annual LA Music Critic Award Winners Showcase on June 19 at The Mint, where we will have some amazing winners perform in support of the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.  Tickets are available online for $10, and will be available at the door for $13.  We hope to see you there.

UNSIGNED ONLY COMPETITION ENDS JUNE 6

The final week of the Unsigned Only “Grand Slam” special promotion has kicked off, running until midnight on June 6 (CST).  All entries will also be included into the 2018 Unsigned Only Music Competition.  This is your very last time to enter, so if you want to enter more songs (or enter for the first time this year), you still have a chance to participate in this year’s competition, but you need to hurry.

Winners for the previous three weeks of the promotion, as well as the current week, will be announced along with all of the other category winners in September 2018.   Just for entering, all entrants will receive 100 free spins to Radio Airplay (regardless of whether you are an existing Radio Airplay member or a new member).  Additionally, every entrant will also be entered into the overall 2018 Unsigned Only competition and have the chance for their music to be heard by a high-profile panel of judges, as well as be eligible to share in over $150,000 in cash and prizes.

HOME RUN | May 30 – June 6 | GET PAID FOR THE WIN – Click Here For Info
Click Here To Enter Your Songs
NEW SINGLES
First up today is a long-time favorite of this blog, and one of the amazing artists signed to Blue Élan Records.  Recent winner of the LA Music Critic Award for Rising Star, here is “Honey, Honey” from the unforgettable Chelsea Williams.

Next up is “Sort Myself Out” from Becoming Bristol, fka The Exchange.  We like the sound of this band and look forward to hearing much more from them.

Single number three today is from a voice familiar to lovers of the TV shows Suits, Lucifer, Bones, Nashville and One Tree Hill.  Gareth Dunlop has a new single that we think you’ll love.  Here is “Blind to the Pain” from his forthcoming EP Many Moons Ago.

https://soundcloud.com/gareth-dunlop-official/blind-to-the-pain

Our fourth single today is from The Cravens, who we have previously reviewed and featured on this blog.  They have a “Message” for you, and we think you’ll be glad to get it.

Our final single today is “Don’t Blink” from John Santiago, frontman for Johnny & the Bootlegs, which we recently reviewed in Get it or Forget it.  Let us know what you think.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video this week is from Lauren Balthrop‘s upcoming September album, This Time Around.  Here is the lyric video for “Down.”

Next is the very retro feel of Peter Cat with his new single “Hand Through Hair.”  Groovy, Baby.

Our third video this week is from one of the newest artists on Blue Élan Records, Red Wanting Blue.  Here is the video for their new single, “High and Dry.”

And now, for something completely different, here is a sneak preview of the new video from Runaway Symphony which will be released on June 12.  Check out this live performance of “The Fall of Man.”

Our final video this week is “All the Way” from Cherry Pools.  We think it’s the perfect segue to summer and a wonderful week.  See you soon.

 

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it LA Music Critic Awards Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Alice Skye, Krantz, Jackson Reed, Shirley Crabbe, Dany Franchi, Smaller Hearts

With these six reviews we have finally made it to the end of the submissions for the first half of 2018 for the LA Music Critic Awards.  Tomorrow we will bring you our normal Monday Mashup, followed on Tuesday and Wednesday by our Ten Great Singles and Ten Amazing Videos for the month of May.  On Thursday we present our Ten 2018 Fringe shows we are most excited about, and on Friday we will announce the nominations for the LA Music Critic Awards.  Gonna be a busy week.  Here we go.

Artist Name:  Alice Skye

Album Name:  Friends with Feelings

Label:  CAAMA Music

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  For Every Year; 2.  Poetry by Text; 3.  1966; 4.  Friends with Feelings; 5.  For Those who Need It; 6.  60%; 7.  Melbourne; 8.  She Oak; 9.  Only Bones get Left Behind; 10.  The Only Version of You

Publicist:  Penney and Logan

Review:  Alice Skye is the latest Australian artist to perfectly capture that Hotel Cafe’ sound made famous by artists like Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson and Colbie Caillat.  Her music is breezy and upbeat, with soaring vocals and keys combined in memorable and radio friendly songs.  It is no surprise that Skye is considered one of the best songwriters in Australia, nor that the highly respected CAAMA Music signed her to a recording contract.  This is the kind of music you don’t get tired of, despite repeated listens.  Although the entire album is a worthy effort, our favorites include “Poetry by Text,” the title track, “60%,” “Melbourne,” and “Only Bones get Left Behind.”

Recommendation:  This one deserves a definite spot in your music library – we recommend you Get it.

Artist Name:  Krantz

Album Name:  The Pennock Tapes

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Weedeater; 2.  All Outta Love; 3.  Can’t Forget; 4.  Run Away with Me; 5.  Until we Meet Again

Publicist:  Effectively Immediately PR

Review:  Krantz has a very cool retro rock vibe which turns their songs into something insanely cool.  All five songs are delivered in an upbeat, energetic frenzy, which probably indicates that they are a blast to watch perform live.  The influences from the golden age of rock and roll are evident in their music, ranging from the Monkees, Buddy Holly and Little Richard to British invasion bands like Herman’s Hermits and Mott the Hoople.  This is music that will appeal to music lovers of all ages, from Baby Boomers to Millennials.  The EP is just too short, but they leave us with hope “Until we Meet Again.”

Recommendation:  Krantz has an instantly memorable sound that appeals to all ages.  Definitely Get this one for your collection.

Artist Name:  Jackson Reed

Album Name:  Dark Areas of Description

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Folk/Instrumental

Track Listing:  1.  Dark Areas of Description; 2.  Taller Than Me; 3.  Cathedral Grove; 4.  Restless Ones; 5.  Love Won’t Stop a Hurricane; 6.  Forgotten Ones; 7.  Nasty Boy

Publicist:  Auteur Research

Review:  The album opens with the title track, an experimental instrumental song that is dark and dangerous with a healthy folk vibe that demonstrates the musical skills of Jackson Reed.  Unfortunately, as shown on the next track, “Taller Than Me,” he does not have the same abilities vocally,   His tone is pitchy, but he manages to pull it off through sheer tenacity because the songs are so well written and otherwise skillfully played.  On “Restless Ones” and “Forgotten One,s”  he returns to that skillful instrumental style, and they are by far the best songs on the EP.

Recommendation:  If quality vocals are a necessity for you, then forget this one.  However, if you can ignore that small shortcoming, and love great musicianship, then definitely Get this one.

Artist Name:  Shirley Crabbe

Album Name:  Bridges 

Label:  MaiSong Music and Entertainment

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  Isn’t This a Lovely Day; 2.  Taking a Chance on Love; 3.  Bridges; 4.  The Bridge; 5.  I Didn’t Know What Time it Was; 6.  Promise Me; 7.  The Windmills of Your Mind; 8.  And so it Goes; 9.  Thief in the Night; 10.  Blessed Assurance

Publicist:  Mouthpiece Music

Review:  Shirley Crabbe possesses one of those voices we haven’t heard in quite a few years, truly reminiscent of jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald.  Crabbe has assembled some of the finest jazz players in New York City, including the unbelievable pianist, Donald Vega, who brings his magic to each and every song.  Her music is a throwback to the Golden Age of Jazz vocals, and instantly creates images of a smoky lounge with a cigarette-smoking pianist and the spotlight on the someone like Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald, complete with a feather boa singer her heart out.  It is music for relaxing and forgetting about the troubles of the day, and definitely belongs in the music library of every jazz and standards lover.  Listen to it from start to finish, because it definitely builds that chill mood.  We know it’s cliche, but if she recorded an album singing the phone book, people would buy it.  She closes the album with a stirring interpretation of the Gospel classic, “Blessed Assurance,” leaving us to only say, “We believe.”

Recommendation:  Don’t be left out in the cold,   Get this one now.

Artist Name:  Dany Franchi

Album Name:  Problem Child

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues/Funk

Track Listing:  1.  Back to the River; 2.  Give me a Sign; 3.  Big Town Playboy; 4.  Real Love; 5.  Run Around; 6.  You Don’t Want Me; 7.  Don’t Steal my Time; 8.  Sensation; 9.  My Only One; 10.  Big Kind Hearted Man; 11.  Every Thing Gonna be Alright; 12.  Wanna Know; 13.  Problem Child

Publicist:  Frank Roszak Promotions

Review:  Italian born blues guitarist Dany Franchi has been taking the blues world by storm these past few years, and is currently touring across the United States in support of his amazing new release, Problem Child.  From the first notes of “Back to the River,” the horns, combined with Franchi’s soaring vocals and riveting guitar riffs, demonstrate that this is a blues artist you simply cannot ignore.  You will find something to like in every song on the album, and may find yourself putting a few of them on repeat.

Recommendation:  You simply must add this one to your collection.  Get it now!

Artist Name:  Smaller Hearts

Album Name:  Smaller Hearts

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Electro-pop

Track Listing:  1.  Summertime III; 2.  Lost Words; 3.  Crossing; 4.  Maisie; 5.  The Ups and Downs of Forgetting Everything; 6.  Chipper; 7.  Hibernation; 8.  Summertime IV; 9.  U1OG; 10.  Climbing; 11.  The Year we Spent Awake

Publicist:  Pigeon Row

Review:  The electro-pop scene seems to be getting a lot of attention lately, especially from international acts.  While they strive to be a cross between Pet Shop Boys and The Postal Service, they fail to reach that level of greatness.  According to our resident expert on electronic music, the songs are too slow to reach the desired sound.  In addition, they had an irritating undertone that was almost as annoying as the sound of mosquitoes.  They did, however, achieve their mission on “Maisie” and “Chipper,” but missed the mark on the other nine.  We think they need to go back to the drawing board and spend some time listening to the bands they are trying to emulate before making another attempt.

Recommendation:  Forget this one, but be open to their next attempt.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it LA Music Critic Awards Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Gyles Bartle, Jamison Isaak, For Esme’, Hello Stranger, Sandra Love and the Reason, Quin Gibbs

June has arrived and with it all the craziness of summer.  We received more than 340 submissions for the first half of 2018 for  the LA Music Critic Awards, and more than 100 of those were from outside the United States – pretty impressive.  We will have six reviews per day for you today and tomorrow, after which we will compile our nominations for the Awards.  The nominations will be announced on June 8.  We truly thank you for your support.  Let’s get started.

Artist Name:  Gyles Bartle

Album Name:  96

Label:  Because Music

Genre:  Hip-Hop

Track Listing:  1.  You; 2.  Days Apart; 3.  Gold; 4.  9th Flr; 5.  Medium

Publicist:  Worldwide Friendly Society Communications

Review:  From South East London comes Gyles Bartle, a 20 year old hip-hop artist with something to prove on his debut EP.  He has crafted some sick beats to underscore his well-written words.  His style is similar to Snoop Dogg, but he speaks of things that impact his life in the UK.  We expect to hear much more from this promising artist.  Our only major critique is to speak more clearly, especially when words are your “Medium.”

Recommendation:  If you like hip-hop – give this one a spin.

Artist Name:  Jamison Isaak

Album Name:  EP2

Label:  FLORA

Genre:  Instrumental

Track Listing:  1.  First; 2.  Us; 3.  Animals; 4.  Peace

Publicist:  Auteur Research

Review:  We introduced you to this amazing artist back in February when we reviewed his first EP, and are thrilled to once again have the chance to review his new one.  He continues to amaze us with his piano prowess,   This time around, his music is more upbeat than reflective, but still soothing, especially his single, “Us.”  Jamison Isaak is the recipe for the perfect “chill.”

Recommendation:  This one is another must-have.  Get it and relax today.

Artist Name:  For Esmé

Album Name:  Righteous Woman

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Doubtmouth; 2.  For Others; 3.  Small Talk; 4.  You; 5.  Make a Sound; 6.  Just Yet

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Toronto-based band For Esmé is a beacon of hope for the future of pop music.  Their bright tone, upbeat electronic sound and heartfelt lyrics give us hope that there are bands that understand the future of the business, and the importance of being real in this unreal world.  Their songs honestly address the issues affecting young women in our current age, and bring those issues into focus  in a way that few previous artists have done.  From the hard-charging “Doubtmouth,” this EP blasts off into the stratosphere and never comes down.  Musically, these tunes would play well in the EDM community and be the perfect additions to the latest dance club mix.

Recommendation:  This one is a keeper.  We highly recommend you Get it today.

Artist Name:  Hello Stranger

Album Name:  Long Division

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Alt Rock

Track Listing:  1.  The Flood; 2.  All the Things I’m Not; 3.  Smiling in the Night; 4.  Virginia; 5.  Breakthrough; 6.  Little Old Me; 7.  I Didn’t Speak for You; 8.  We Don’t Talk About Them; 9.  Celebration; 10.  Ovation; 11.  Victorious

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Hello Stranger is the latest alt rock band from Los Angeles whose sound is extremely radio friendly.  Behind the charismatic and soaring voice of Sam Deffenbaugh, the band rocks out behind the stimulating drums of Daniel Rodriguez, the electrifying guitar of Deffenbaugh and the steady bass of Sam Plotkin (who also supplies great backing vocals).  They demonstrate that they understand their rock history, with obvious influence from bands like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on “All the Things I’m Not” and “Smiling in the Night,” among others.  From just listening to these great songs, we would love to see their live performance, as we can only imagine the energetic way they must be.  While we like the entire album, our favorite tracks include the two previously named, as well as “Virginia,” “Breakthrough,” “I Didn’t Speak for You,” “Ovation,” and “Victorious.”

Recommendation:  Get this one like your life depends upon it – they will make your day!

Artist Name:  Sandra Love and the Reason

Album Name:  Manifest Your Dreams

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Funk/Soul/Blues/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Tired; 2.  Ain’t Nobody; 3.  Can’t Come Back; 4.  Mind Your Business; 5.  Wild Woman; 6.  Music (Please Don’t Go); 7.  On Everything; 8.  Channel Fever; 9.  Beans; 10.  Manifest; 11.  I Need Money

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Besides Mardi Gras, New Orleans is well known for being the home of a plethora of incredible musicians.  The latest to stake their claim is Sandra Love and the Reason, which combine funk, soul, rock and blues to create their own special sound.  While we are sure they put on a great show, their debut album could have used a bit more engineering, especially on the vocals.  Love obviously has a lot of passion and emotion in her voice, but she gets pitchy at times, which distracts a little from the amazing musicianship of her band.  The good news is that the band is so tight and the music so hot that it is easy to overlook the pitch because it is so easy to just get caught up in the music.  The album is a worthy first effort, and we are sure that the next one will be even better.

Recommendation:  We think this band has potential.  Grab their debut CD and watch them live if you can.

Artist Name:  Quin Gibbs

Album Name:  Beautiful Noize:  The 90s Baby EP

Label:  Nuclear Group Entertainment

Genre:  Hip-Hop/Rap

Track Listing:  1.  Christopher Shakur; 2.  90s Love; 3.  Candy Land; 4.  LaLa; 5.  62 Cents (ft. iSHY); 6.  Between the Sheetz (ft. Waun Love); 7.  Shawn Gibbs

Publicist:  Nuclear Group Entertainment

Review:  Caution parents:  This one is labeled “Explicit” for good reason.  Despite the language, Quin Gibbs has a good command of his words, and knows how to create memorable tunes situated on a base of sick beats.  The words are raw and real, and bring Gibbs into the realm of such artists as Tupac, Snoop Dogg and Notorious B.I.G.  We have a feeling that you’ll be hearing a lot more from Mr. Gibbs, as this EP serves as a teaser for his upcoming full-length album.  Best tracks include “90s Love” and “Between the Sheetz.”

Recommendation:  If you love Tupac, Snoop Dogg, hip-hop and rap, then you should grab this one.

 

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

Get it or forget it – Michael Malarkey, Cheo and Ulises Hadjis, Belle and the Beats, Dexist, Danie Ocean Band

Happy Friday.  Worked the Bon Iver concert last night in the rain, and very thankful to finally be dry and warm.  We’ve got five more reviews for your consideration today, and we’re almost to the finish line.  We hope to be there by Monday.  Thanks for bearing with us.  We think this batch of submissions for the LA Music Critic Awards are some of the strongest yet, and think you’ll be happy with our nominations, which will be announced next Friday.

Artist Name:  Michael Malarkey

Album Name:  Captain Solitaire

Label:  Hudson Records

Genre:  Singer-songwriter/Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Captain Solitaire; 2.  Friends; 3.  Bloody Nose

Publicist:  Mystic Sons

Review:  You probably know Michael Malarkey from his four seasons as Enzo on The Vampire Diaries, but what you may not know is he’s an amazing singer-songwriter as well.  His three-song EP has just been released, and it has everything needed to turn Malarkey into a well-known musician as well, joining the ranks of actors like Ryan Sims, Jeff Bridges, and Jared Leto who have previously proven their musical abilities.  Malarkey has the same “speaking-singing” style as Shawn Mullins, and we think he may be just as successful as a musician as we is as an actor.  You can’t go wrong with this EP, as all three songs are great.  Our favorite is the title track.

Recommendation:  Run, don’t walk, to your nearest digital outlet and Get this one today!

Artist Name:  Cheo & Ulises Hadjis

Album Name:  Dónde

Label:  Cosmica

Genre:  Latin

Track Listing:  1.  Piensa En Mí; 2.  ¿Dónde?; 3.  Como Antes; 4.  Aquí Vinimos; 5.  Lo Que Es Cierto; 6.  De No Haberte Conocido; 7.  No Suena Igual; 8.  Los Continentes

Publicist:  Cosmica Artists

Review:  Cheo, formerly of Los Amigos Invisibles, and Latin Grammy nominee Ulises Hadjis have joined forces on their first collaboration, creating a work of art that transcends the language barrier.  Much like the Gipsy Kings have become a world-wide phenomenon despite the multiple languages they speak (none of which are English), the Latin rhythms of Cheo and Hadjis combine to create music that doesn’t need to be understood to be enjoyed.  The title track has such a great rhythm and sound, with perfect flamenco flair and amazing horns, that it lifts the music into another dimension that isn’t bound by language.  We think this is one of the best Latin albums we have ever reviewed, and look forward to hearing more from this dynamic duo.  This music belongs in the library of every music supervisor as well, as it would make excellent placements in television and film.

Recommendation:  Regardless of whether you speak Spanish or not, you will enjoy this album.  It belongs in your music library and we strongly encourage you to Get it.

Artist Name:  Belle and the Beats

Album Name:  Lose Your Feathers

Label:  BERT Music

Genre:  Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Deeper; 2.  Down and Lost; 3.  You and I; 4.  Soldier of the Night

Publicist:  TCBYML

Review:  Belle and the Beats are no strangers to readers of this blog, as they have been featured twice in our Monday Mashup, as well as making it onto the list of Amazing Videos from April.  This Amsterdam-based band is head and shoulders one of the best international acts we have heard this year.  Their provocative video for “Deeper” conveys the depth of the song, and it is easily one of our favorites, although quite frankly, all four of these songs are amazing.  We can’t wait to hear a full length album from this band, which is quickly becoming one of our favorite imports.

Recommendation:  Don’t wait – this group will blow you away.  You NEED to Get this EP ASAP!

Artist Name:  Dexist

Album Name:  Los No Lugares

Label:  Musarañas Records

Genre:  Latin

Track Listing:  1.  AzulNegroGris; 2.  Libre; 3.  Escudos y Lanzas; 4.  Tu Juego Perfecto; 5.  Lunar; 6.  1984; 7.  100 Días; 8.  Nuevas Sombras; 9.  Renacimiento; 10.  No Tenim Por (remastered)

Publicist:  Musarañas Records

Review:  Dexist hails from Barcelona, Spain, and brings us post-punk and electro-pop tunes in Spanish.  Although we were skeptical at first, they really do pull it off, showing us that the punk vibe has infiltrated music in multiple countries, not just the US and UK.  The angst, heartbreak and despair come through despite the language barrier, and the addition of an electronic vibe adds to the punk feel of the music.

Recommendation:  If you love punk music, you will probably dig this one.

Artist Name:  Danie Ocean Band

Album Name:  Love Won’t Let Me Fail

Label:  Winding Way Records

Genre:  R&B/Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  Sunshine; 2.  Shut up and Satisfy; 3.  Firebreathing Woman; 4.  Don’t Complain; 5.  Possibility; 6.  You Oughta Know; 7.  Not Good Enough; 8.  Reciprocity; 9.  Love Won’t let me Fail; 10.  The Difference

Publicist:  Winding Way Records

Review:  For those of you who love instant gratification, you will discover a ton of it in the debut release from the Danie Ocean Band.  With a breezy R&B-flavored jazz sound, this one is guaranteed to please.  Ocean’s vocals are impeccable and her music is upbeat and full of life.  The songs are well-crafted and help the listener’s spirits to soar to new heights, especially that incredible trumpet provided by Bill Giffear.  She even throws in a bit of rock on “Firebreathing Woman,” and does an excellent cover of the Alanis Morissette classic “You Oughta Know.”  Her overall vibe is Bonnie Raitt meets Sophie B. Hawkins, with a touch of Dinah Krall thrown in for good measure.

Recommendation:  This one is a no-brainer – definitely Get this one!