Tag: Alisha Zalkin

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Reviews

Jesse Macht lays it all out on Hotel Cafe Second Stage

Several years ago our friend Laura G. Falls (Red Boot PR) turned us on to one of her clients, Jesse Macht.  At the time he had just released what became one of our favorite albums, Suitcase Heart, which we reviewed back in January 2015 on AXS.com.

Macht’s father is actor Stephen Macht, and his brother is Gabriel Macht, star of USA’s Suits.  Although he isn’t an actor, he has still made a presence in Hollywood with the placement of his music in a multitude of shows, including The Next Great American Band, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, LA Ink, The Voice, and much of Viacom’s programming.

Through his publicist, Macht became affiliated with Keaton Simons and his step-father, Eric Roberts.  As a result, Simons placed his song “When I Go” on the Suits season 5 episode “Faith,” while Roberts became a recurring character on the show.

Macht brought his “A” game to the intimate Second Stage at the renowned Hotel Café.  His band included Rob Humphreys on drums Kenneth Belcher on guitar, Jeff Liffmann on piano and Tyler Carroll on bass.

During the show, he played songs from his diverse catalog, including the title track to his latest album, I Was Born, which was become one of his most successful songs, and “Broken my Faith,” which is one of our favorite songs off Suitcase Heart.  Despite some technical difficulties mid-set, Macht and his band turned in a superlative set, culminating in one of the best covers we have ever heard of the Tina Turner classic, “What’s Love Got to do With It.”

All in all it was a wonderful night of great music and catching up with friends, as Roberts and his wife Eliza were among the audience members, as well as Alisha and Dan Kalisher of Sleep Machine, another Red Boot client.  We highly recommend going to his live performance if he ever makes it to where you live.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out

Sleep Machine premieres music video for ‘Animal High’

Sleep Machine is an amazing rock band based in Los Angeles, featuring Alisha Zalkin on lead vocals, Dan Kalisher on guitar and Kiel Feher on drums.  If you’ve been following this writer’s posts, then you know that the band has been nominated for several LA Music Critic Awards, and won the award for Best Video (live) in 2015.

The band has been hard at work on their sophomore EP, Animal High, which is set to drop on September 20.  It is our pleasure today to help those efforts by premiering their new music video for the title track, which the band released yesterday, September 5.

According to their website, the band touts itself as a modern-day female-fronted Led Zeppelin.  Although many bands fall short of their hype, Sleep Machine is right on with their assessment.  Take a listen to their video, and we are sure you will agree.

Sleep Machine has already garnered an impressive list of placements from their debut EP, Cover me in Gold.  Those placements include Quantico, Finding Carter, Younger, and The Royals.   That trend continues with placement of two of their new songs in a recent episode of The Fosters.

Besides the TV placements, Sleep Machine has also been featured in Entertainment Weekly and was chosen by Myspace as the “Artist of the Day.”  Individually, they have each performed on global tours and on such stages as The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The View and the MTV Movie Awards, as well as at such famous Los Angeles venues as the Hotel Café and the Viper Room.

These guys are the real thing.  Check them out through their website and Facebook pages, follow them on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

 

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Women in Entertainment

Women in entertainment: Alisha Zalkin, fearless front woman

Happy Monday – it’s time for another edition of the Women in Entertainment series.  Today we will spotlight Alisha Zalkin, a Los Angeles based singer/songwriter and the lead singer of the popular rock band Sleep Machine,  which was recently featured by Entertainment Weekly.
Alisha was brought to this reviewer’s attention by another Women in Entertainment member, Laura Goldfarb of Red Boot PR in June 2014, after the release of On This Road, which was reviewed by Examiner.com.  This reviewer was so impressed with the EP that he attended a live performance in Los Angeles later than month, which resulted in Alisha’ first live review.
In addition to the attention given to Alisha by Examiner.com, she was also named one of the eight break-out artists of 2014 by AXS.com and was the recipient of two 2014 LA Music Critic Awards:  Best CD for On This Road and Best Music Video for the album’s single, “Fearless.”
AXS.com had this to say about Alisha:  “San Diego may have been her hometown, but Los Angeles is falling in love with Alisha Zalkin.  What sets her apart from other singer/songwriters is her heartfelt passion for social change and her willingness to set an example for others to emulate.  Her ballad “Fearless” has set the standard for social change and become an anthem for those fighting oppression and social stigma.  Alisha is well on her way to becoming one of Los Angeles’ biggest stars in 2015.”
It seems that the writer at AXS.com nailed his prediction in this case.  Since December 2014, Alisha has become the lead singer for Sleep Machine, a hard-rocking LA indie rock band which is quickly coming to national attention.  The band has already received placements for their music on several national shows, including The Fosters (ABC Family) and Younger (TV Land), in addition to a commercial for the upcoming ABC drama series Quantico.  The band’s single “Wild for You” was featured by Entertainment Weekly in their TV Jukebox feature.
What inspires Alisha?  “I’ve always been one to find inspiration from music that comes from a pure place, regardless of genre.  I’m inspired by well-written songs that are delivered with purpose.  Anything that reaches out and grabs my emotions.  Music and emotions go hand in hand.  My emotions inspire my music and the music I listen to influences my emotions.”
Where does Alisha see herself in the future?  “I’m currently playing around town (LA) with my band Sleep Machine.  We will be releasing a music video for our song, “Game Over,” from our debut EP Cover me in Gold.  We are also in the process of putting together our second EP.  In addition, I am working on a new solo record, writing and recording for a new folk project, and working as a session singer.”
It is just this kind of work ethic that has propelled Alisha into the spotlight, and promises listeners that good things are still to come for this impressive artist.  To keep up with Alisha, check out her website and Facebook page, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to her YouTube channel.
Thanks to Laura Goldfarb for the background information and for turning this reviewer on to this amazing artist.