Month: August 2019

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Singles and Videos

Monday mashup 2019: vol. 23

Are you ready for the new week?  We have five new singles and music videos for you, as well as some news from the indie music front.  On the LA Music Critic Award front, we finally have a battle for Fan Favorite brewing.  The first 30+ votes were all for one band, but two more have now entered the fray, and it’s a close battle.  The deadline for voting is midnight CDT on Wednesday, August 28, so remember to vote for your favorite band.  The winners will be announced on Friday.

INDIE MUSICIAN NEEDS YOUR HELP

If you’ve spent any time on the LA music scene, then you are familiar with the amazing artist Jesse MacLeod.  Ari Herstand or Ari’s Take recently updated us on MacLeod’s medical issues.  Here’s his post:

“If you know Jesse MacLeod, you know his heart. If you’ve heard his songs, you know his soul. He was one of the first friends I made in Los Angeles and has remained one of (my)  best friends ever since.

He is loyal and caring. Supportive and compassionate. And I don’t have to tell you how incredibly talented he is. He writes soulful, heartfelt songs that captivate even the most skeptical rooms. He knows how to craft a lyric that can seem so simple, but penetrates you right to your core. Whether he’s singing about getting busy in the restaurant bathroom with the waitress, or stumbling through a relationship ‘just being a man’ or simply having a ‘real good feeling’ about a new love interest, his music makes you feel right at home. He’s got one of those voices that you want to take a long road trip listening to. Or grab a lover and slow dance to. He’s one of my favorite singer/songwriters. And an all around great guy.

Many of you know that Jesse got melanoma a couple years ago. At the time it was contained to his lower lip. After surgery, reconstruction and radiation, he went into remission. Unfortunately, it has come back with a vengeance. It has metastasized and Jesse currently has multiple tumors of varying sizes in his lungs, hip, shoulder, ribs and lymph nodes.

He will be undergoing treatment and will be fighting this thing with everything he’s got. But he needs our help!

He will be staying with his parents in Memphis during this process, but he will be getting treatment in Los Angeles. I encourage you to give whatever donation you can to help Jesse along this process to help cover the plane tickets and the extra medical costs.

At the very least, please shoot him a message and let him know you’re thinking about him. He really appreciates it. And pop on one of his records (might I suggest “Just Being a Man” or “Real Good Feeling”) and spend some time meditating to his beautiful contributions to the world.

His music has affected and influenced me more than he’ll ever know.

Thank you for your love and support of Jesse during this time of need.”

NEW SINGLES

Our first single today comes from Canadian Margø and is a hot electronic pop tune called “Lovelost.”  We think it’s the perfect way to get your week off to a great start.

Our second single will give you an immediate feeling of deja vu, as the rich tones and musical stylings of Julian James will remind you of a cross between the rich voice of Van Morrison and the jazz greatness of New Orleans.  Check out “Looking for a Light” and let us know what you think.

https://soundcloud.com/julian-james-813506639/looking-for-a-light/s-Bm7gv

Next up is the sweet sound of Caitlin Nicole with her latest single, “Differently Able Man,” complete with a strong message and perfect harmonies.

Single number four is a straight-ahead country tune that reminds us of a cross between Montgomery Gentry and Blake Shelton.  Check out Matt Westin and “Stomp On.”

Our final single this week is from Peach Luffe, who is trying to become a Canadian citizen so he can be a full-time musician.  His latest is a deep song about hopelessness, set in an upbeat manner that entices the listener to truly listen to his message.  Check out “On my Side.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first music video is from a gentleman that truly needs no introduction.  it is a powerful video about sexual abuse and comes to us from one of the greatest country musicians of our time, Vince Gill.  Check out his message contained in “Forever Changed,” the latest single from his forthcoming album, Okie,

Next up is an animated lyric video from another pair of greats, Cherié Currie and Brie Darling.  It is a cover of “Do it Again” from The Kinks.  Enjoy their version.

Our third single comes from Adera, and we really love the sound of “Little Feather.”  The song talks about a topic we are all too familiar with – anxiety.  We think she nails it with this visualization of her song.

Our next video has collected more than 3 million views in less than 10 days, and combines two of today’s best – Lauv and Anne-Marie.  Check out “F**k I’m Lonely.”  We bet you can relate to this one.

We close things out this week with the fun sound of Lush Puppy with their insanely fun video for their latest song, “Ms. Grey.”  This one should tide you over until the next edition.  See you soon.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music New Music Friday Reviews

Get it or forget it – new music Friday vol. 1

It’s finally Friday.  We hope you’ve enjoyed the debuts of our new review series this week, which we are culminating today with New Music Fridays.  We have some great ones that are being released today, including the first album in 18 years for The Rembrandts.  Let’s do this!

Artist Name:  Mark Cameron

Album Name:  On a Roll

Label:  COP Records

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Trouble Brewin; 2.  On Your way to the Top; 3.  Dirty Biscuit; 4.  Ridin the Rails; 5.  On a Roll; 6.  Dicey; 7.  Next Stop is the Blues; 8.  Where I got you From; 9.  Movin Out; 10.  Back Seat Boogie; 11.  Here we go; 12.  What Lucy Says; 13.  Mojo Shuffle; 14.  Dreams

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  Mark Cameron is a gravel-voiced guitar-slinging blues man from Minnesota who has been belting his songs for the past 30 years.  His voice sounds like he’s been living his words, while his guitar stylings would make B.B. King proud to play with him.    This is music you can sink your teeth into, and perfect for that weekend wind-down.  Each song is juicy with the blues, and worthy of multiple listens.  His killer band features Sheri Cameron on saxophone, Scott Lundberg on bass, Dan Schroeder on drums and Rick Miller on harmonica.

Recommendation:  This one definitely belongs in the music library of every serious lover of the blues.  Add it today.

Artist Name:  The Rembrandts

Album Name:  Via Satellite

Label:  Blue Élan Records

Genre:  Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  How Far Would you Go; 2.  Broken Toy; 3.  Me and Fate; 4.  Count on You; 5.  Traveling From Home; 6.  Come to Califor-i-ya; 7.  Now; 8.  Off of the Edge; 9.  You’d Think I’d Know; 10.  On my Own

Publicist:  MAD Ink PR

Review:  We are so overjoyed to share the first new album from The Rembrandts in 18 years.  We teased  you with “How Far would you Go” back in April and “Broken Toy” in May.  Every other song on this album is equally amazing, and we would not be surprised to see them win another Grammy.  We really love both of their singles, as well as “Count on You,” ‘Come to Californ-i-ya,” “Now,” “and You’d Think I’d Know.”  We’re so glad that they kept their promise when they said “I’ll be There for You” – welcome back.

Recommendation:  If you love great pop-rock, then this one is a no-brainer – go get it.

Artist Name:  Claire Courchene

Album Name:  The Happiness of Being Sad

Label:  DoubleMayjah Records

Genre:  Neo-classical

Track Listing:  1.  Insupportable Loneliness; 2.  Flirting with Melancholy; 3.  Strange Impending Doom; 4.  Sweet as an Untimely End; 5.  Escape the Memories; 6.  Atmosphere of Sorrow

Publicist:  DoubleMayjah Records

Review:  Nothing soothes the savage beast like beautiful music, and these tracks prove that old adage.  Claire Courchene is a gifted composer and musician and her music, which is somewhat dark and moody, is still sweet.  These songs are perfect for relaxing and for bedtime, but can also be enjoyed whenever the stresses of the world become too much to bear.  This one is going on repeat.

Recommendation:  If you love to fall asleep to music, or just need to relax from a stressful day, get this one and put it on repeat.

Artist Name:  Jason Hawk Harris

Album Name:  Love and the Dark

Label:  Country/Americana

Track Listing:  1.  The Smoke and the Stars; 2.  Cussing at the Light; 3.  Confused; 4.  Giving Up; 5.  Phantom Limb; 6.  I’m Afraid; 7.  Blessed Interruption; 8.  Red Room Blues; 9.  Grandfather

Publicist:  Bloodshot Records

Review:  Many of you may remember Jason Hawk Harris from his days with The Show Ponies, but he’s been tearing it up as a solo artist since November 2017 after beginning his career as a classically trained composer.  His brand of Americana has all the pain of great country music, from the woeful lyrics to the perfect accompaniment.  So much has happened to him since that debut solo album, and he shares it with us on this new project.  Harris delivers music that stays with you and is not easily forgotten.  He hits home like a punch to the stomach, followed by a full body massage, leaving the listener wiser to the ways of the world.  Believe us when we say you will remember his words long after the songs have ended.

Recommendation:  This is one of our favorite albums of 2019.  Go Get it now!!

Artist Name:  The Atom Age

Album Name:  Cry Til You Die

Label:  Tiger Dream Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Love is a Numbers Game; 2.  We Disappear in the Night; 3.  Never Looking; 4.  Blink Twice; 5.  Walk Through Walls; 6.  Bloodletter; 7.  Lost on Me; 8.  Bad Seas; 9.  When I Crawl Back; 10.  Cry Til You Die

Publicist:  Earshot Media

Review:  Punk has always been considered to be the energetic form of rock music, until now.  The Atom Age ushers in a new form of indie rock that makes punk music seem like geriatric fodder.  They burst forth from the first note and announce that they have arrived, and their energy is contagious.  One listen to this album and you will be re-energized and ready for anything.  Put this one on whenever you need a lift – it’s better than a gallon of coffee.

Recommendation:  Perk it up and put this one on.  You’ll be glad you did.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music Reviews Thursday Treats

Get it or forget it – Thursday treats vol. 1

Thanks for checking us out this week.  Since so many of the reviews we do are of artists we’ve previously featured, we are proud to debut the other half of our Treats reviews.  That’s right, you get two Treats every week – Tuesday and Thursday.  Here are today’s delightful quintet.

Artist Name:  Diana Rein

Album Name:  Queen of my Castle

Label:  Gulf Coast Records

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Yes, I Sing the Blues; 2.  Worth; 3.  Walking Away; 4.  The Midnight Line; 5.  Time’s Ticking Away; 6.  Queen of my Castle; 7.  Pure Soul; 8.  One Foot In; 9.  My Love; 10.  It’s You; 11.  In the Chill of the Night; 12.  I Can’t Quit You; 13.  Get Down; 14.  Heat; 15.  Zoe

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  Diana Rein has become the quintessential blues musician, combining incredible guitar riffs with well-crafted songs sung with just the right amount of sass.  She starts the album off with an affirmation of her intent (“Yes, I Sing the Blues”) and then blows us away with her limitless talent and street cred.  Throughout this amazing release she shows the world why she received three LA Music Critic Awards and was recently nominated for three more in the current cycle.  There is no doubt in our minds that she is the female equivalent of BB King, and we are proud to champion this blistering blues guitarist.

Recommendation:  What are you waiting for?  Run out and grab this one today.

Artist Name:  Marty Brown

Album Name:  American Way

Label:  Plowboy Records

Genre:  Country

Track Listing:  1.  American Highway; 2.  I’m on a Roll (Better Than it’s Ever Been); 3.  Umbrella Lovers; 4.  Shaking all Over the World; 5.  When the Blues Come Around; 6.  Right out of Left Field; 7.  Kentucky Blues; 8.  Casino Winnebago; 9.  Velvet Chains; 10.  Mona Lisa Smiles

Publicist:  So Much Moore Media

Review:  Marty Brown is a true country troubadour, and his music bridges the gap between classic greatness and modern day country.  He is obviously influenced by such country greats as Vince Gill (“Right out of Left Field”), Alabama (“Umbrella Lovers” and “Shaking all Over the World”) and Sawyer Brown (“I’m on a Roll (Better Than It’s Ever Been)), and provides a modern take on their sound.  This is music that belongs on country radio, and is the perfect soundtrack for your two-stepping honky-tonking evenings.

Recommendation:  If you love great country, then this is the perfect one for you – go get it!

Artist Name:  Kelly’s Lot

Album Name:  Can’t Take my Soul

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues/Americana/Roots

Track Listing:  1.  All I Ever Want is the Blues; 2.  All Hope Ain’t Lost 3.  Alyssa; 4.  Woe is Me; 5.  Safe and Warm; 6.  Rise Up (Léve-Toi); 7.  Broke Myself; 8.  Let it Breathe; 9.  Dirt; 10.  Little Bit of This; 11.  Can’t Take my Soul; 12.  Mon Ami

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  Kelly Zirbes and her band have been a Southern California staple for the past 25 years, and their 14th album is the true cream of the crop.  Her voice is tailor-made for the blues, and she passionately shares from her heart these blues-infused songs about the state of the world today.  She is truly a modern-day Janis Joplin.  These songs need to be listened to multiple times so you can catch all the nuances of the lyrics and the subtle greatness of the instrumentation.  We promise you that it will be well worth your time.  Even though “All I Want is the Blues,” “All Hope Ain’t Lost,” so “Rise Up”, be “Safe and Warm” and “Let it Breathe” because they “Can’t Take My Soul.”  For an added treat, check out the zydeco sound of “Woe is Me.”

Recommendation:  Run out and get this one.

Artist Name:  Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers

Album Name:  Heart of Memphis

Label:  Blueskitty Records

Genre:  1.  Another Sleepless Night; 2.  Dirty Pool; 3.  Come on Over; 4.  Cradle to the Hearse; 5.  No Time; 6.  Heart of Memphis; 7.  Memphis Soul Stew; 8.  Strange Angels

 Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  This is the third straight year we have had the privilege of reviewing material from Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers, and this is our favorite so far.  This lady and her band know how to make great music, and to share their passion with their listeners.  This is music that is truly enjoyable, and would make great placements for both film and television, as well as be the life of your weekend parties.  Grab a cold one and put this one on repeat.  The pure sound will keep you enthralled, especially on the title track.

Recommendation:  This one is a definite must-have for your collection.

Artist Name:  Casey Abrams

Album Name:  Jazz

Label:  Chesky Records

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  Autumn Leaves; 2.  I’ve got the World on a String; 3.  Need Your Love so Bad; 4.  You are so Beautiful; 5.  Why Don’t you do Right?; 6.  Hound Dog; 7.  One Note Samba; 8. L-O-V-E; 9.  The Girl from Ipanema; 10.  Fly me to the Moon; 11.  Round Midnight; 12.  Blackbird

Publicist:  Chesky Records

Review:  We had the distinct pleasure of being at the CD release show for this album back in May, and we previously reviewed the live versions of these songs.  As many of you know, Abrams has become a staple in Postmodern Jukebox, and this album demonstrates that Abrams also knows how to reinterpret classic songs, but with a jazzier sound.  His music is not just loved by fans but is also receiving critical acclaim.  The album versions feature Anne Drummond on flute, Jimmy Greene on saxophone, Mark Whitfield on guitar and Giveton Gelin on trumpet, joining Abrams on bass and vocals, and they quickly show why they are the dream band.  We are sure these versions will quickly join your growing list of favorite tunes, especially “You are so Beautiful,” “L-O-V-E,” “The Girl From Ipanema” and “Fly me to the Moon.”  We are proud to welcome this former American Idol contestant to the industry’s elite.

Recommendation:  Go grab this one – it’s all you’ll need on your desert island getaway.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music Reviews Unknown Wednesdays

Get it or forget it – Unknown Wednesdays vol. 1

We hope you enjoyed yesterday’s debut of Tuesday Treats, which will feature the latest releases from artists we are familiar with or have previously been featured on Indie Voice Blog.  Today we debut Unknown Wednesdays, where we introduce you to up and coming artists we have not previously reviewed.  Here we go.

Artist Name:  R. W. Roldan

Album Name:  Can You Feel This

Label:  Allswell Records

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Falling Star; 2.  Bad Love Pain; 3.  Those Who Fall; 4.  Big Skies; 5.  Night Before; 6.  Lauryn’s Song; 7.  Wyatt Earp; 8.  The Color Of; 9.  Hey Girl; 10.  Foreplay; 11.  Forevermore; 12.  Dead Batteries; 13.  Drift Away

Publicist:  Working Brilliantly

Review:  R.W. Roldan truly has a way with words, and his heartfelt passion can be heard and felt in every song on his latest project, which mixes a healthy dose of classic country with his Americana outlook on the world’s problems.  His songs have so much food for thought, and are perfect for contemplating over a cold brew.  Welcome to the latest incarnation of Woody Guthrie – we’re ready to listen.

Recommendation:  Definitely worth an add to  your music library.

Artist Name:  Resident

Album Name:  Darkness That Shines

Label: WayOut Sound

Genre:  Alt Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Downtown Summer; 2.  Looking Out; 3.  Enigma; 4.  Golden; 5.  Darkness That Shines

Publicist:  None

Review:  Our relationship with producer Ed Donnelly began when he was with Aderra and continues to this day with his production work at WayOut Studios.  His latest project introduces us to the band Resident, and we are quite impressed.  The project only has five songs, but they are powerful enough to make an impression and convince us that this band belongs on the radio.  We would love to see them perform live, as we are sure that the energy contained in these tracks would translate to an amazing show.  Keep your eyes on these guys – we’re sure they will become a household name in no time flat.  Every song is great and we think you’ll be turning them up and placing this EP on repeat.

Recommendation:  Run out and get this one now.

Artist Name:  Max Fischer

Album Name: Oh No

Label:  Blossom Records

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Oh No; 2.  Get it Out; 3.  Talk to Me; 4.  Wonder Years; 5.  Four Eyes

Publicist:  Logan Barnes

Review:  Say hello to Max Fischer, who is not only stunning in her appearance but also has a killer voice that turns every song into a potential Top 40 masterpiece.  This is a performer that can write her own ticket to the top, and we think you should definitely go along for the ride.  All five songs are perfect for not only radio, but also placements in television and film.  We are simply floored by her talent and can’t wait to see what comes next.  All hail the new Queen of Pop!

Recommendation:  This one is a must-have for your collection.  Go get it now!

Artist Name:  Odds Lane

Album Name:  Lost and Found

Label:  Gulf Coast Records

Genre:  Blues Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Blood on the Van; 2.  Don’t Give it Away; 3.  HARD RAIN; 4.   I Ain’t Missing You; 5.  A Little too Late; 6.  Lost and Found; 7.  Moth to a Flame; 8.  Seven States; 9.  Spare Change; 10.  What’s Your Name; 11.  White Castle Blues

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  These guys bring the best of classic rock to a solid understanding of the blues, with a sound like The Doobie Brothers meet ZZ Top.   They hit the ground running with the first track and don’t let up until the final note.  They even throw in a Steely Dan vibe on “A Little Too Late.”  We can only imagine how amazing they must be in concert, and hope we have the chance to check them out soon.  Every song is a rocking workshop in how to get it done.  We can easily see these songs placed in film and television, and blasting from the radio.  Don’t miss the chance to add this amazing band to your list of favorites.

Recommendation:  Drop what you’re doing and run out to get this one!

Artist Name:  Billy Price

Album Name:  Dog Eat Dog

Label:  Gulf Coast Records

Genre:  Soul Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Working on Your Chain Gang; 2.  Lose my Number; 3.  We’re in Love; 4.  Dog Eat Dog; 5.  My Love Will Never Die; 6.  All Night Long Cafe; 7.  Toxicity; 8.  Remnants; 9.  Same Old Heartaches; 10.  More Than I Needed; 11.  You Gotta Leave

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  It takes a special band to mix the complexities of soul and R&B into their blues sound, and Billy Price and his band have that ability in spades.  They remind us of the goodness of The Blues Brothers, although their sound is truly their own.  From the first notes of “Working on Your Chain Gang” to the final downbeat of “You Gotta Leave,” this music pulls the listener in and takes them captive.  The truth is that the music is so amazing that you don’t mind giving in to its charm.  This is the perfect soundtrack for your weekend party, and a great way to chill down from those working class blues.  All we can say about this one is Listen.  Enjoy.  Repeat.

Recommendation:  Definitely get this one.

 

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Reviews Tuesday Treats

Get it or forget it – Tuesday treats vol. 1

We are proud to launch our first edition of Tuesday Treats, which will feature the latest releases from artists we are familiar with or have previously been featured on Indie Voice Blog.  Let’s get started.

Artist Name:  Bryan Haraway

Album Name:  Bryan Haraway

Label:  Melrose Artists/Part Time Criminal Artists

Genre:  Americana Rock

Track Listing:  1.  We get High; 2.  How it is; 3.  My Song; 4.  Alive; 5.  Moonlighting; 6.  Lucia; 7.  Sleep Well; 8.  Far Away; 9.  Jenny

Publicist:   Devious Planet

Review:  Bryan Haraway has been a staple on the Vegas music scene with his band, Part Time Criminals.  This is is first solo album, and we think he made a perfect one.  Not only is he a gifted songwriter and vocalist, but his guitar chops are spot on, creating a solid sound that brings out the best of Americana and old-fashioned rock and roll in the style of Tom Petty.  The album kicks off with the feisty “We Get High,” which was also his first single and should be a major breakout hit.  The album just gets better with each song, living the listener with the feeling that they have experienced something potentially life-changing.  You can’t lose with this one.

Recommendation:  This one is a major smash.  Don’t waste time – go get it now.

Artist Name:  Delbert McClinton and Self-Made Men + Dana

Album Name:  Tall, Dark & Handsome

Label:  Hot Shot Records

Genre:  Blues/Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Mr. Smith; 2.  If I Hock my Guitar; 3.  No Chicken on the Bone; 4.  Let’s Get Down Like we Used to; 5.  Gone to Mexico; 6.  Lulu; 7.  Loud Mouth; 8.  Down in the Mouth; 9.  Ruby & Jules; 10.  Any Other Way; 11.  A Fool Like Me; 12.  Can’t Get Up; 13.  Temporarily Insane; 14.  A Poem

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  Delbert McClinton has been making music for more than 50 years, and has been called the “Godfather” of Americana Music.  On this, his 26th album to date, the listener is treated to a sweet treat that further proves what an American treasure McClinton is.  His band is made up of some of the best in the business, including the sweet sound of Dana Robbins on saxophone, Jack Bruno on drums, Mike Joyce on bass, Bob Britt on guitar, James Pennebaker on guitar, Quentin Ware on trumpet and Dennis Wage on keyboards.  Get down to this jam.  There are some surprises here as well, like “Gone to Mexico,” that will keep you engaged until the final note.

Recommendation:  Don’t even think about it – just get up and get this one.

Artist Name:  Lasers Lasers Birmingham

Album Name:  Warning

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  California Country

Track Listing:  1.  Warning; 2.  Perfection in 3/4 Time; 3.  After Party After Life; 4.  Sugar Momma; 5.  Wild Animals; 6.  Lead me On; 7.  Don’t go Trying to Fix Me; 8.  Phantom Vibrations; 9.  Emmylou; 10.  Numbers and Figures; 11.  What a Shame

Publicist:  KG Music Press

Review:  We haven’t heard from Alex Owen aka Lasers Lasers Birmingham since he came out with Royal Blue back in 2016, which earned him a nomination for an LA Music Critic Award.  On his official debut full-length album, he reaffirms that nomination, and gives us another healthy dose of California Country.  He has the twang and the songs to put him on every country music lover’s radar, and we think he has the goods to rise to the top.  Pop a top and put this one on repeat.

Recommendation:  Definitely go get this one.

Artist Name:  Mike Jacoby

Album Name:  Long Beach Calling

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Long Beach Calling; 2.  Here and Now; 3.  Pine Box; 4.  Your Love Song; 5.  Just in Case; 6.  Knew Right Away; 7.  Smile; 8.  Hangers (a Christmas Tale); 9.  BBQ Pit; 10.  Play Like Richards; 11.  Long Live the King; Bonus Track – Yes, But

Publicist:  KG Music Press

Review:  Like Birmingham, we last heard from Mike Jacoby back in 2016 when he released northsoutheastwest, which also garnered him an LA Music Critic Award nomination.  Just like that release, he produced, recorded and mixed this album as well, bringing back Grammy-winning mastering engineer Gavin Lurssen to sweeten the deal.  However, unlike his previous release, which focused on acoustic guitar, this time around Jacoby unleashes his electric side to further establish himself as one of the best in the business.  He belongs in that amazing group of Americana artists that includes Brian Whelan, Chris Shifflett and Rod Melancon.  His music is exciting and relatable, and should keep him busy.  We fully expect to see him on our next list of nominations for this masterpiece, which is definitely going on repeat.

Recommendation:  This one needs to be on your short list of the best of 2019.  Go grab yourself a copy.

Artist Name:  The HawtThorns

Album Name:  Morning Sun

Label:  Forty Below Records

Genre:  Pop/Rock/Country

Track Listing:  1.  Shaking; 2.  Rebel Road; 3.  Morning Sun; 4.  Give me a Sign; 5.  Broken Wings; 6.  The 405; 7.  All I Know; 8.  Come Back From the Stars; 9.  Nobody Gives a Damn About Songs Anymore; 10.  Steady Fire; 11.  Lucky Charm

Publicist:  Devious Planet

Review:  The HawtThorns are a husband and wife band composed of KP Hawthorn, one of the founders of CALICO the band, and rocking blues guitarist Johnny Hawthorn.   All of the songs are either written or co-written by KP, with the exception of “Give me a Sign” (written by Johnny) and “Nobody Gives a Damn About Songs Anymore,” written and recorded by the amazing John Moreland.  Coincidentally, that same song was recently covered by KP’s former CALICO bandmate, Manda Mosher.  In addition, “The 405” was recorded by CALICO on their second album.  Other than that, these two former band members have gone on divergent paths, and we love the direction both of them have taken with their music.  We truly love the harmonies that the HawtThorns have created.  There is not a weak song on the album, and we are sure we will be playing many of these songs over and over again, especially “Shaking,” “Rebel Road,” the title track, “Broken Wings,” “All I Know,” and “Come Back From the Stars.”

Recommendation:  This one is a no-brainer – you simply MUST add this album to your collection.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Singles and Videos Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2019: vol 22

There are very few challenges that I have been unable to meet in my life, but trying to become a shift manager at Pizza Hut is on that list.  As a result, I am actively pursuing other employment and have an interview tomorrow for another customer service job.  I apologize for my lack of attention to this blog, but it has been hard to concentrate on music when I was fighting such an uphill battle.  Thankfully, that battle is over, and we’re back to start a new week with the latest Monday Mashup.

On the LA Music Critic Awards front, we have not been getting the number of views that the nominations normally bring and as a result there has only been one artist nominated for Fan Favorite so far.  We strongly encourage the nominated artists to rally their fans in this regard.  Your fans still have until August 28 to vote.

We are redefining our scope of reviews, and plan to follow this format in the future.  Mondays (Monday Mashup) will feature singles and videos, and recent artist news and updates.  Tuesdays and Thursdays (Tuesday/Thursday Treats) will feature reviews of artists we are familiar with and have previously reviewed.  Wednesdays (Unknown Wednesdays) will feature new artists who have not been previously reviewed by this blog.  Fridays (New Music Friday) will feature reviews of releases scheduled for that day.  We hope that you enjoy our new focus.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week is from a new artist who came to our attention courtesy of The Village Idiots.  Her name is Allanah Jeffreys and we think that she has an amazing future, if her latest song “Loyalty” is any indication.  Enjoy this piece of amazing artistry.

Next up is the intriguing sound of Teach me Human, who sound similar to Crash Test Dummies.  We really love the sound of their latest single, “Lonely Night,” and think it just might be the breakout hit they need.

Our third single is the latest jazz masterpiece from Lady Antebellum guitarist (and LA Music Critic Award winner) Slim Gambill.  Here he teams up with Jeff Coffin for the masterful “54321.”  This one deserves a Grammy!

Next up is a smooth synth-pop/rock artist by the name of Emily Breeze, and we really are digging on her sound.  Check out “Work” and see if it doesn’t brighten your day.

Our final single this week is from Axel Mansoor, and this incredibly sweet groove should get your week off to a great start to “Paradise.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

First up this week is a video with breathtaking cinematography from Soaware.  Check out the rocking sound of “Voltures.”  We last featured them back in April, and their rocking has only improved.

If you love blues rock then you will love the latest from Dudley Taft, “Give me a Song.”  We think this one will power your week.

Our third video will remind you of the powerful vocals of Adele, but this artist may make you forget all about her.  She is a powerful force who we think will be on the music scene for a long time.  Check out “99” from Harlea.

Next up is the synth-heavy sound of Holliday Howe, who’d “Rather Forget.”  We think everyone can identify with the sentiments expressed in her video, and think she has a definite future in indie music.

We close out this edition of Monday Mashup with the latest R&B goodness from Bassette, as she shows us that “She Bad.”  Get your groove on and enjoy this new week.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out indie music LA Music Critic Awards

Nominations for first half of 2019 (Updated)

This transition has been kicking our butts.  So sorry it has taken us so long to announce the nominations for the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2019, but with the new job and long hours, there hasn’t been a lot of free time.  Not only that, we are still crashing at our brother’s house, so we have to work off the laptop instead of the desktop.  Thanks for your patience while we work things out.

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, August 28, 2019, at midnight CDT.  The full list of winners will be announced at 2 p.m. CDT on Friday,August 30, 2019.

Without further delay, here are the nominations.

BEST EP (Male) – PAehNE (beautyandpain Part 1), Shayfer James (Hope and a Hand Grenade), Shane Guerrette (Shane Guerrette)

BEST EP (Female) – Ariel Gold (Grace), Kat Holland (Retrovision)

BEST EP (Group) – NIIGHTS (Hellebores Part One & Two), Illiterate Light (Sweet Beast), Ballroam Boxer (A Little Wild), The Reverend Shawn Amos (Kitchen Table Blues Vol. 1)

BEST EP (International Artist) – Marcus Haran (A True Story:  A Soundscape to In-Difference)

BEST EP (International Group) –The Fisherman & The Sea (The Hurt & the Humour), Brother Brad (Get Around), Leading Edge (Ghost), Jet Plane (Falls Feather), Iridea (Agitationist)

BEST CD (Male) – Joshua Powell (Psycho/Tropic), Chris Koza (Sleepwalkers Part 1), The Suitcase Junket (Mean Dog Trampoline), Tony Campanella (Taking it to the Streets)

BEST CD (Female) – Kathryn Grimm (Blues Tools), Susan Santos (No U Turn), Sydney Wright (Seiche); Diana Rein (Queen of my Castle)

BEST CD (Group) – Cold Weather Company (Find Light), The Empty Pockets (Tanglewoods), Jeffrey Halford & the Healers (West Towards South), Authority Zero (Persona Non Grata), WANK (White Knuckle Ride)

BEST CD (International Artist) – Ronny Morris (Sweet Silence), Kinnie Starr (Feed the Fire)

BEST CD (International Group) –Bahuki (Tell it to the Worms), LeBarons (Summer of Death),

BEST VIDEO (OFFICIAL) (Male) – Jerad Finck (“Home”), Banners (“Got it in You”), Keaton Simons (“A Chance in the World”), Fred Hostetler (“Heart Radio Part 1”)

BEST VIDEO (OFFICIAL) (Female) –Diana Rein (“Queen of my Castle”), Kensington Moore (“I Don’t Like you Anymore”), Brooke Moriber (“Cry Like a Girl”), Dayla (“Closer”), Alice Wallace (“The Blue”), Kris Angelis (“Reappear”)

BEST VIDEO (OFFICIAL) (Group) – Riddle the Sphinx (“Lullaby”), Falling Through April (“Recover // Relapse”), Aly & AJ (“Church”), We Three (“Lifeline”), The Spear Shakers (“Leaving it all Behind”), Taco Mouth (“The White House”)

BEST VIDEO (LYRIC) – Kevin McHale (“Help Me Now”), Paige Peel (“The Crown”), Jess McAvoy (“Do What you Want”), Whisperado (“Band One Out”)

BEST VIDEO (COLLABORATION) – Red Wanting Blue and Liz Brasher (“I Got a Feeling it Hurts”), Americana Kitchen Band (“All Dressed Up”)

BEST VIDEO (COVER) – Cherié Currie & Brie Darling (“The Motivator”), PaperDolls Band (“Billy”), Fuel on Fire (“With or Without You”), Olivia Millerschin (“New Year’s Day”)

BEST VIDEO (INTERNATIONAL) – Girl Crush (“Blame Girls”), Ivan and the Parazol (“When I was 17”), Augustine (“Luzon”)

BEST SINGLE (Male) – Titus Calderbank (“Mistakes”), Rusty Young (“Listen to Your Heart”), Keifer Sutherland (“Something to Love”), Tony Lucca (“Restless Heart”), Aqualung (“Complicated”)

BEST SINGLE (Female) – Chanel Lóran (“Pretend”), Car Astor (“Hush”), Eden Espinosa (“Bed for 2”), Lucy Gallant (“Not Normal”), Brigitte Purdy (“Blue Collar Woman”), Kat Holland (“The One”)

BEST SINGLE (Group) – The Rembrandts (“Broken Toy”), West Coast Weekend (“Heart Attack”), Cherié Currie & Brie Darling (“The Motivator”), Southern Halo (“Sunshine”), Skiver (“No Goodbyes”)

BEST SINGLE (INTERNATIONAL) – The Black Fever (“No Work”), Theo Bard (“The Gift”), Belle and the Beats (“Qetesh”), Straw (“Perfectly Fine”), Philip la Rosa (“Fable”)

BEST SINGLE (COLLABORATION) – William Shatner, Jeff Cook & Neal McCoy (“Why Not Me”)

BEST BLUES ARTIST – Diana Rein, The Reverend Shawn Amos, Kathryn Grimm, Susan Santos, Niecie, Vin Mott, Tony Campanella

BEST BLUES BAND – Benny Turner & Cash McCall, Dee Miller Band, Tiffany Pollack & Eric Johanson, Trevor B. Power Band, Head Honchos, Karen Lawrence and Blue by Nature

BEST BLUEGRASS ARTIST/BAND – Balsam Range, Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, The Cleverlys

BEST COLLABORATION – Al Jourgensen & Beauty in Choas, Americana Kitchen Band, Ali Handal and Debby Holiday

BEST COMEBACK ARTIST – Aqualung, The Rembrandts, Cherié Currie & Brie Darling

BEST COMPILATION ALBUM – Born to Uke (Various Artists)

BEST COUNTRY ARTIST – Jimmy Charles, Kamber Cain

BEST COUNTRY BAND – Lowdown Drifters, The Vegabonds, Cliffs and Caves

BEST EDM/DANCE ARTIST/BAND – Dree Patterson, Kim Cameron, Blue Angels, Lavender Fields, Daiju, TNEO

BEST FOLK ARTIST – Joshua Powell, Chris Peace, David Huckfelt

BEST FOLK BAND –   Bettman & Halpin, Eric Brace Peter Cooper & Thomm Jutz, Cold Weather Company, The Empty Pockets, The Well Pennies

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST –Ronny Morris, Kinney Starr, Marcus Haran, Will Jacobs

BEST INTERNATIONAL BAND –Belle and the Beats, Straw, The Black Fever, Iridea, The Fisherman & The Sea

BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARTIST/BAND – Tommy Emmanuel & John Knowles, Hugh Marsh

BEST JAZZ ARTIST/BAND – The Odd Dogs, The Charlie Wooton Project

BEST LATIN ARTIST/BAND – Orkesta Mendoza, Constanza Herrero

BEST POP ARTIST – Eden Espinosa, Sydney Wright, Derek Smallman, PAehNE, Sarra

BEST POP BAND – We Three, Royal Canoe, Bahuki

BEST POP/ROCK ARTIST/BAND – Curtis Peoples, Car Astor, Tony Lucca, Jordan Siwek

BEST PUNK ARTIST/BAND – Taco Mouth

BEST R&B/SOUL ARTIST/BAND –Waxcat, Billy Price

BEST ALT ROCK ARTIST/BAND – Illiterate Light, Neverwonder

BEST ROCK ARTIST/BAND –Beauty in Chaos, After-Death Plan, Odds Lane, Cherié Currie & Brie Darling

BEST ROOTS/AMERICANA ARTIST – Billy Craig, Chris Koza, Ted Russell Kamp, Alice Wallace, Jason Robert

BEST ROOTS/AMERICANA BAND – Jeffrey Halford & the Healers, Harrison Country, Jason Robert Band

BEST SINGER-SONGWRITER – Ariel Gold, Melissa Phillips, Fred Hostetler

RISING STAR –Katile, Rachel Ariana, Amy Wilcox, Chelsea Williams

FAN FAVORITE – Your choice goes here

Categories
Uncategorized

Editorial: change is in the air

The last three months have been extremely challenging, as I quit my job at Noodles Express to travel down to Los Angeles and follow my dream of doing a show at the Hollywood Fringe.  That involved staying in an Airbnb hostel, rehearsing and performing four times during the Fringe, and working sporadically for TrendSource.

Once the Fringe was over on June 30, I returned home to Missoula and immediately began packing for our move.  We spent the next 17 days packing as much as we could into our storage unit there, cleaning the apartment, and giving away a ton of stuff.  On Saturday, July 20, we said our goodbyes to our friend Victoria Watson who had hosted us on Friday, and set off on our new adventure.

After making a short stop in Choteau to visit family, we headed off to Yellowstone Park, arriving mid-afternoon.  We spent the rest of that day and Sunday circling the park before ending the day on Sunday at a hotel in Cody, Wyoming.  Monday morning we were up early and headed to Devil’s Tower before ending the day at Mount Rushmore, ending the night at the KOA there.  On Tuesday we headed over to Des Moines, Iowa and spent a couple of nights visiting with our dear friend and director of Girls Rock Des Moines, Sara Routh, meeting her husband and their children.  We left there Thursday morning, intending a short visit with my brother Charles and his family in Midwest City, Oklahoma.

After talking about our adventure with them, Charles’ wife Mandy talked us into staying for an extended time and putting the rest of our trip on hold.  They offered us a place in their RV and Mandy even got both of us jobs with her at Pizza Hut.

My new career as a shift manager began yesterday, and it was a crazy day, since we were short-staffed.  That craziness continued today for my second day onboard, and I haven’t even finished my training yet.  It felt good to be thrust into the fire and see just how much I could accomplish based only on my preview experience and my ability to be flexible.  Thanks to my boss Coy Brown for giving me this opportunity.

As a result of these changes, my blog is on hiatus.  We do have some upcoming articles we promised to do, but will not be producing as much content as we have in the past.  I am sure we will be back to normal eventually, and simply ask that you be patient with us until we are able to get back into the rhythm again.

In the meantime, we are working hard on the nominations for the first half of 2019, and hope to have that published shortly.  We look forward to sharing our list with you soon.  Take care and keep supporting indie music and theater.