Tag: Durango Songwriters Expo

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or forget it – Amnesia Scanner, Everlast, decker., Baby Jey, Saint Slumber

By the time you read this I will be on the road to Denver for the Durango Songwriters Expo.  We think you will love these artists, including the long-awaiting return of rock/hip-hop icon Everlast.  Let’s get started.

Artist Name:  Amnesia Scanner

Album Name:  Another Life

Label:  PAN

Genre:  Experimental performance art

Track Listing:  1.  Symmetribal; 2.  Unlinear (ft Pan Daijing); 3.  A.W.O.L.; 4.  Another Life; 5.  Daemon; 6.  Too Wrong; 7.  Spectacult (ft Oracle); 8.  Faceless; 9.  Chain; 10.  Securitaz; 11.  Chaos (ft Pan Daijing); 12.  Rewild

Publicist:  Worldwide Friendly Society

Review:  This concept might work as a live performance piece, but it does not work as an album.  The “music” pushes the limits of tolerance, especially the first two track.  Beginning with “A.W.O.L,” it begins to sound more like music that you don’t mind listening to.  Unfortunately, the voice distortion on the title track quickly begins to irritate your ears, making it extremely difficult to continue listening,

Recommendation:  Unless you’re in the mood for some extreme performance art that stretches the border of what we consider “music,” we recommend you just forget this one.

Artist Name:  Everlast

Album Name:  Everlast Presents Whitey Ford’s House of Pain

Label:   Martyr-Inc Records

Genre:  Pop/Rock/Soul/Blues/Hip-Hop

Track Listing:  1.  One of Us; 2.  The Culling; 3.  It Ain’t Easy; 4.  The Climb (Interlude); 5.  The Climb; 6.  Slow Your Roll (ft Aloe Blacc); 7.  Smokin’ & Drinkin’; 8.  Ooooohh (I Don’t Need You (ft Slug); 9.  Summer Rain (Interlude); 10.  Summer Rain; 11.  Don’t Complain; 12.  Break it Down; 13.  Break it Down (Interlude); 14.  HeartBeat; 15.  Dream Slate

Publicist:  MSO PR

Review:  Returning with a new studio album after a seven-year absence, Everlast aka Whitey Ford returns to reclaim his rightful place as one of the most diverse and unique artists in today’s music scene.  He shows his soulful sound on “One of Us” before spitting rapid-fire rhymes on the politically charged “The Culling.”  The autobiographical “It Ain’t Easy” debuted in Rolling Stone, and it is a masterpiece that would work well on the radio.  You can feel the passion in his voice and tell that he is singing from the heart.  That passion continues on “The Climb.”  He joins with Aloe Blacc for the soulful hip-hop sound of “Slow Your Roll” and closes out the album with the amazing song “Break it Down.”

Recommendation:  You simply MUST have this one – Get it!

Artist Name:  decker.

Album Name:  Born to Wake Up

Label:  Royal Potato Family

Genre:  Folk/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  No Beginning, No End (Intro); 2.  The Strawman; 3.  Burnin Grass; 4.  The Garden; 5.  The Matador; 6.  Awake; 7.  Smudge; 8.  Mexico; 9.  The Saint; 10.  No End, No Beginning (Outro)

Publicist:  Royal Potato Family

Review:  decker. is a gifted songwriter who knows how to deliver his more intimate thoughts in a folk/rock medium that entices the listener to pay attention and learn.  He displays a great depth of musical character, and his music runs the gamut of singer-songwriter to pop-rock band.  Best cuts include “Burnin Grass,” their creative cover of “The Garden,” “The Matador,” “Awake,” “Mexico” and “The Saint.”

Recommendation:  We highly recommend you just Get this one!

Artist Name:  Baby Jey

Album Name:  Someday Cowboy

Label:  Maintenance Records

Genre:  Alt Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Hannah Holliday’s Son; 2.  U Don’t Have 2 go Alone; 3.  Toboggan; 4.  Someday my Space Cowboy Will Come; 5.  Hundred Percent; 6.  Bernice Kentner; 7.  Teach me 2 Forget; 8.  Every Thing; 9.  I Accept

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  What do you get when you cross a hip-hop producer with two singer-songwriters?  You get the amazing album Someday Cowboy, the latest from Baby Jey (Jeremy Witten and Dean Kheroufi).   From the first notes of “Hannah Holliday’s Son,” it becomes quickly quite obvious that this is not your normal singer-songwriter angst – this is undeniably just fun and upbeat alternative pop music, which is just screaming to be played on the radio.  It takes the chill factor all the way to 10, and deserves to be put on repeat.  Every song is worthy.

Recommendation:  You NEED this one in your music library – run out and Get it.

Artist Name:  Saint Slumber

Album Name:  Youth//2

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Stay Away; 2.  I Think I Like You; 3.  Marrow; 4.  Coast; 5.  Infinite

Publicist:  Right Angle PR

Review:  This year has been a great one for Saint Slumber.  We featured the video for their single “Infinite” on September 10, and immediately knew that this band was on the rise.  It appears we were right because they recently played the iHeart Radio 104.5 Birthday Bash as well as the Monolith Tour with the likes of 30 Seconds to Mars, Portugal, the Man and Walk the Moon, in addition to being chosen for performances by SoFar Sounds and Balcony TV.    The sky is the limit for this band, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see them at next year’s Grammy Awards.  All five songs are amazing, and don’t be surprised to hear them pumping from your local radio station.

Recommendation:  Sell whatever you can and Get a ticket onboard this train before it leaves the station.

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 35

Looking forward to heading down to Denver on Wednesday for this year’s Durango Songwriters Expo.  We’re having a meet and greet at The Walnut Room on Wednesday night before the Expo kicks off with their showcase on Thursday night and closes Saturday night with a concert.  Should be an interesting weekend, and it will be warmer there than here in Montana.  In the meantime, here are the latest happenings in indie music, as well as five new singles and five new videos for you to check out.

COLIN DEVLIN CD RELEASE SHOW AT HOTEL CAFÉ

Colin Devlin and Blue Élan Records will celebrate the release of Devlin’s new album High Point (which we will be reviewing on Friday) with a concert at the esteemed Hotel Café on Wednesday, October 3.  The opening act is Devlin’s labelmates Roan Yellowthorn, who are making their Los Angeles debut.  Roan Yellowthorn goes on at 7 p.m., followed by Devlin at 8 p.m.  If you are in or near Los Angeles, we strongly encourage you to be there.

SPOTIFY TO ALLOW INDIE ARTISTS DIRECT UPLOADS

Spotify has announced a new feature which will enable independent artists to upload tracks to the service directly – without any requirement for a third-party aggregator or record label.  The feature currently remains in invite-only beta mode – with a few hundred United States artists being ushered in – but Spotify says that, in the future, it will “bring upload to even more artists, labels, and teams.”

Artists will be able access the upload function via the Spotify For Artists platform, which counted more than 200,000 verified acts amongst its monthly user base at the end of June.

The best part is that this new upload feature is completely free, unlike the current feature provided by existing third-party digital aggregators/distributors such as CD Baby, TuneCore, Distrokid and Ditto – all of which require either a one-off upload fee or a yearly subscription payment from artists.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single today comes from long-time indie artist Amy Kuney, who advises us to just “Hold On.”  We should all listen to her advice.

Our second single comes from another great artist client of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services.  Here is “Highway Jawn” from Paul Edelman and Jangling Sparrows.  This one will get your toes a tapping while you sit back and enjoy your whiskey and beer chaser.  We can’t wait to hear the rest of the album.

Next up is the latest from LA Music Critic Award winners Lovers & Poets.  Check out their cover of the title track from the 1968 sci-fi film “Barbarella.”  We really love the 60s vibe of this song, which bring back great memories of the powerful female singers of that era.

Our fourth single comes from another amazing publicist, Jennifer Allison Publicity.  Please enjoy this premiere of the new single, “Desnudame” by Joaquin Torres.  Spanish and English never sounded better together.

Our final single this week is the first release from new Blue Élan Records artist Lisa Lambe.  We think the title of the song, “Beautiful Thing,” sums up the incredible music she has created.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video offers timely advice on what it means to be “beautiful.”  Check out this amazing video for “Costume Party” by The Voice‘s Season 12 runner-up, Lauren Duski.

Next is the video for the first single off the forthcoming album from We are the City.  For a rocking good time, check out “When I Dream, I Dream of You.”

Our third video this week is from Zoey Clarke, who we introduced to you last year when we reviewed her last album.  We really like the sound of her new material, including “Rewind,” and can’t wait to hear the rest of her new music.

If you like nostalgic videos, then our fourth video this week will likely take your breath away, especially if you love Irish Castles.  Check out the latest, “The Hill Dwellers,” from Kramies.

Our final video this week is from the incredible Korean-American artist, Tiffany Young.  She will be in Los Angeles on October 3 from 6-8 p.m. at the Sunset H&M (8580 Sunset Blvd) to celebrate the release of her new video, “Teach You,” as well as her new collaborative effort with H&M.

See you soon with our first Get it or Forget it for October.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Get it or Forget it Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Larry Lacerte, Ghost of You, Lomboy, Marieme, Jamison Isaak

It’s Thursday, and we are so thankful to be able to continually bring you new and exciting indie artists to check out.  We are also so thankful to be able to host one of the biggest documentary film festivals in the country, and are having a blast volunteering in support of the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.  Here are five more artists that are worthy of your attention.

Artist Name:  Larry Lacerte

Album Name:  Dreaming of the Ways

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Roots/Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Dreaming of the Ways; 2.  Work of Love; 3.  One More Whiskey; 4.  Love me Wrong; 5.  Alone

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  We met Larry Lacerte at last year’s Durango Songwriters Expo and were impressed with his style.  He has just released his first studio EP, and it has lived up to the standards he demonstrated at Durango.  It is the perfect cross-over between Roots Rock, Americana and Country, and should do well in any of those formats.  The songs are well crafted and feature the perfect country voice of Lacerte.  We especially love the banjo on “Work of Love,” as well as the amazing slide guitar on “One More Whiskey.”  “Love me Wrong” reminds us of a cross between Jason Aldean and Clint Black.  He closes the all-too-short five-song EP with “Alone,” which reminds us many of our greatest accomplishments happen when we are forging our own way.  We can’t wait for what’s next for this talented indie artist.

Recommendation:  You should definitely Get this one.  It has all the makings of a breakout hit.

Artist Name:  Ghost of You

Album Name:  Black Yoga

Label:  Indies Scope

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Recognize; 2.  Break Into Eden; 3.  Skeleton; 4.  Locust; 5.  Tempest; 6.  Feast; 7.  The Ark Won’t Come; 8.  A Rifle and a Spoon

Publicist:  Indies Scope

Review:  All the way from the Czech Republic comes Ghost of You, who bill themselves as psychedelic art-rock.  We think they are more than that.  The first track, “Recognize” is eerily reminiscent of U2, while “Break into Eden,” with its amazing bass work, and “Skeleton” have more of a techno sound.  In fact, that tag applies to the majority of the album.  This music would do well in the EDM/Dance scene, so DJ’s take notice.  They have accomplished their mission of taking rock into a different arena.  Well done.

Recommendation:  Give these guys a chance, America, and check out the European rock scene.

Artist Name:  Lomboy

Album Name:  Warped Caress

Label:  Cracki Records

Genre:  Dream Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Alien Lady; 2.  Worth to You; 3.  Loverboy; 4.  Love Ain’t got the Groove; 5.  Director’s Paralysis

Publicist:  Practise Music

Review:  Lomboy splits her time between Paris and Tokyo, with backing bands in both cities.  Her music has an 80’s pop feel, reminiscent of Madonna, and is perfect for radio.  Her music is dreamy and airy, with heavenly vocals on top of a dance soundtrack that is just as enjoyable to listen to as it is to dance to.  Her sound is multi-dimensional, with “Alien Lady” being more of a dance track while “Worth to You,” with its stunning flute solos, a very dreamy pop sound that is perfect for chill time.  On “Loverboy,” she incorporates her Japanese influence while the overall track is reminiscent of a cross between Enya and Dido.

Recommendation:  Don’t pass this one up.  Get it today.

Artist Name:  Marieme

Album Name:  Marieme

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Soul

Track Listing:  1.  Leave; 2.  Be the Change (The Shelter); 3.  Ask for Help

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  Senegalese-native Marieme is taking America by storm with her powerful voice and timely, socially-driven lyrics.  Her style is similar to such other powerful artists as Erykah Badu, Billie Holiday and Lauryn Hill.  The emotion behind the lead track, “Leave,” conveys what it was like to leave her native country and come to America to start fresh.  The second track, “Be the Change (The Shelter,” is a moving ballad that compels us to not wait for others to lead the charge for change, but to be the one that does it.  Her final track, “Ask for Help,” is the corresponding call for action.  We feel Marieme has a huge future in this business.

Recommendation:  This is our pick of the month.  Get it immediately.

Artist Name:  Jamison Isaak

Album Name:  EP1

Label:  FLORA

Genre:  Instrumental

Track Listing:  1.  Sharalee; 2.  Upstairs; 3.  Wind; 4.  More

Publicist:  Auteur Research

Review:  Jamison Isaak has been making music under the monikers Teen Daze, Two Bicycles and Pacific Coliseum for years, but this is his first time recording under his own name.  His music is meditative, reflective and perfect for chilling.  It explores the beauty of piano and pedal steel guitar, and fills the room with such calm that the listener can relax and reflect.  He is already getting critical praise from the likes of NPR, and he lives up to the hype.

Recommendation:  If you enjoy a musical interlude while you meditate, or just appreciate great music, then you must Get this one.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Best of 2017 Women in Entertainment

Best American EPs of 2017

Continuing on with our “Best of” lists for 2017, here are the Best 15 EPs released by American artists, as well as a few more that deserve mention.  You can find the complete reviews of each EP in our Get it or Forget it columns.

Honorable Mention – Red Hymns self-titled EP; Helen Culver Seven Year Glitch; After Hours Radio What Happened?; Broken Bellows The Card Table; Life Lessons Best When in Motion

15.  Sam Marine, Big Dark City – Definitely a surprise, this five song EP was obviously the result of an artist who has learned how to become part of the local community and reach out to them for help when needed.  We think you’ll be hearing a lot more from this artist in the future.

14.  Surf Rock is Dead, We Have no Friends? – A perfect combination of American and Australian ingenuity, this was another surprise this year with a huge potential.

13.  Eli Raybon, Green – This 20-year old Southerner has risen to the challenge and has set the bar high for subsequent projects.

12.  Mare Island, Eponymous – Likewise this Bay area band has some large footprints to fill in the future with this amazing debut EP.

11.  Ben Anderson, YouTopia – Indie label Chromodyne chose wisely in signing Anderson, and his four-song EP shows great promise.

10.  Riley Smith, self-titled – Riley Smith has made quite a name for himself as an actor on such beloved programs as Frequency and Nashville.  He can now add accomplished musician to his resume, as this EP was simply amazing.

9.  Ryan Sims, My Side of the Story – Another rising star in the country music field had a lot of help from his friends, including Jason “Slim” Gambill, Darryl Jones, Kenny Aronoff and Kim Bullard.  They helped him achieve a breakthrough sound that will have him rising up in Nashville in no time at all.

8.  Jacquie, The Only One – She survived NBC’s The Voice and a bad experience with the music industry to come back stronger than ever as an indie artist.  Can’t wait to see what’s next from this future superstar.

7.  Social Repose, Empress – Nearly 300,000 Facebook fans can’t be wrong about this one, and their latest EP proved just how good they are.

6.  Matt Westerman, Life Out Loud – One of LA’s brightest rising stars, Matt Westerman has a very promising future ahead.  We truly believe the sky is the limit for him.

5.  The Khourys, Good Stuff – Sisters Guila and Jahnna will surprise you – imagine one doing vocals and one doing rap – the combination is heaven’s nectar.  They are just as good in concert.

4.  RVBY My Dear, Cycles – Australian born and Brooklyn based musician Gabbi Coenen blew us away with her sophomore release.  Watch out for this one.

3.  Alex Mabey, Enough – An alumni of the Durango Songwriters Expo, Mabey seems destined to follow in the steps of another famous alumni, Meghan Trainor.

2.  Katie Costello, New World – A perennial winner of many awards, including the LA Music Critic Awards, Costello brought us both an EP and an album in 2017, and both were superb.  Here’s of taste of what makes this artist so great.

1.  Vinnie Paolizzi, Kids – Biggest surprise of the year was receiving an EP from this young self-promoted artist that simply blew us away.  We are dying to see what comes next from this young man.

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Durango Songwriters Expo Get it or Forget it Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Whitney Lusk, Zoey Clarke, Xs and ARROWs, Dopapod, POLLENS

*Started writing this last night but didn’t finish it, so it’s now Christmas Eve *

It’s the Eve of the Eve and we’re still at work reviewing the myriad of new releases we have received.  We have another five for you today, which you can check out on your holiday downtime.  Enjoy these delicacies.

Artist Name:  Whitney Lusk

Album Name:  This is Who I Am

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Country/Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Still the One You Want (pop); 2.  I’m Better Off; 3.  Your Strong; 4.  Won’t Run Away; 5.  Lack of Love; 6.  Heaven’s got a Good One; 7.  Where we Got it (ft. Kylee & Andrew Lusk); 8.  Who I Am; 9.  Still the one you Want (country)

Publicist:  None

Review:  We first heard Whitney Lusk at the Durango Songwriters Expo in Denver this past October, and were impressed by this young woman’s songwriting chops.  She is definitely one of the voices of the future, and her songs are very radio friendly, both country and pop.  She deserves some serious industry consideration, and we believe this album is the perfect vehicle to garner that attention.  She reminds us of a younger Jessica Andrews, and even Taylor Swift, when they first broke into country radio.  Her country instrumentation is perfect for her sweet, airy voice and her storytelling songs perfectly fit that genre.  There is not a weak song on this album.  Kudos to Joel Pack for his production and to Stephan Hawkes for his mastering of this gem, one of the best debut albums we have reviewed this year.

Recommendation:  A true no-brainer, you simply MUST Get this one!

Artist Name:  Zoey Clarke

Album Name:  Creative Juices

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  EDM/R&B

Track Listing:  1.  Wonder Woman; 2.  Bernadine; 3.  Rewind; 4.  Shots Fired; 5.  Sometime; 6.  Gone; 7.  That Part

Publicist:  First Born Music and Entertainment

Review:  We love that this EP is introduced/hosted by DJ Scream, and could easily hear these songs at our local club.  This music sets your body to rocking and begs you to get out on the dance floor and boogie.  The first track is pure dance and then an awesome R&B vibe comes out of the second and third tracks.  Just watch out for the explicit language on “Bernardine.”  The EDM vibe returns on “Shots Fired” and “Sometime” before she closes out the last two tracks back in the R&B camp.  Every one of these songs is truly worthy of industry attention.  We look forward to hearing more from this fresh new voice.

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one – you’ll be dancing in no time.

Artist Name:  Xs and ARROWs

Album Name:  From Here

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Missing; 2.  Fire From Gold; 3.  Par Ici; 4.  Questions (ft. Glen Hansard)

Publicist:  None

Review:  This amazing trio of Los Angeles ladies began their career as a quartet under the band name EXIT, and even opened for U2 at the Staples Center for a performance of “Out of Control.”  This version has them more subdued but no less intoxicating, with their steady rhythm, soaring vocals and thoughtful lyrics.  We really love the guest vocals of Glen Hansard on “Questions.”  The industry needs to wake up and see what kind of homegrown talent exists in their own city.  This band deserves their turn on the world’s stage, and we truly believe they will achieve that.  Our only complaint is that this 4-song is just too short, and we can’t wait to hear more.

Recommendation:  Be the first to jump on this bandwagon before their train leaves the station.  Get their debut EP now.

Artist Name:  Dōpapod

Album Name:  MEGAGEM

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Prog Rock/Dance

Track Listing:  1.  Plaese Haalp; 2.  Piazole; 3.  Zonk; 4.  Mucho; 5.  Confabulation; 6.  Turn by Turn; 7.  Buster Brown; 8.  Starfish

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  OMG – we were not prepared for the awesomeness that is Dōpapod!  Where have they been hiding?  MEGAGEM is their fifth studio album, and we are in love with it.  It’s as if the Beatles joined up with Led Zeppelin, and we can’t stop listening.  Based on what we hear on this album, this band deserves their upcoming sabbatical, and they have left a legacy to tide us over until the return in 2019.  We never would have believed that a prog rock band could create dance instrumental music, but check out “Piazole” and “Zonk” to see what we mean.  The band’s instrumental flexibility reminds us of Dick Dale.  From surprise we moved to utter amazement on the incredible Spanish track “Mucho,” which has some of the meanest keys we’ve heard since our last Dave Yaden show.   They return to the prog rock vibe for the rest of the album, and especially shine on “Confabulation” and “Buster Brown,” which has an almost jazzy feel.  Truth be told, every track is a winner.

Recommendation:  Get up and Get it. NOW!

Artist Name:  POLLENS

Album Name:  Mister Manufacture

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Avant-pop/experimental indie rock

Track Listing:  1.  Close; 2.  Dinosaurs; 3.  J-Train; 4.  Looks; 5.  Not Talking; 6.  Words

Publicist:  Behind the Curtains Media

Review:  Pollens is not your “band next door.”  They play experimental music utilizing percussion, shouting and ambient noise, and they have a lot to say.  This unusual duo consists of two unnamed musicians who are truly modern-day beatniks, reciting poetry with a myriad of musical sounds underscoring their lyrics.  Some of the songs are nonsensical while others actually seem to be trying to espouse their view of modern day life.  The music is by no means commercial, but we’re sure there are a few people who would enjoy their truly unique sound.  “Looks” and “Words” are the best tracks.

Recommendation:  Unless you are truly eclectic in your musical tastes, or like the experimental vibe, it might be best to Forget this one.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Durango Songwriters Expo Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2017: Vol. 42

What a wonderful Veterans Day weekend!  All of our favorite sports teams – Griz, Deacons and Wizards – won their games and the Dolphins play tonight on Monday Night Football.  The only thing that can top that is great indie music, and we have that in spades!

NINA STOREY LAUNCHES ASTRAL QUEEN

One of our favorite indie musicians, Nina Storey, recently joined with Mark McGee and launched their new techno-pop band Astral Queen.  The first single, “Take  it all the Way,” is a smash and the obvious next step in the evolution of her music.  Check it out below, and don’t forget to subscribe to her amazing blog Strangely Optimistic, as well.

THE CREAM CONTINUES TO RISE WITH MILCK’s REMAKE OF HER VIRAL HIT, “QUIET” 

In light of the recent news about sexual assault in the entertainment industry, MILCK has remade her video for  “Quiet.”  We think it is one of the most powerful videos we have ever seen, both visually and sonically.  We especially love the inclusion of the orchestra, as well as the multiple story lines.  Thank you Atlantic Records for allowing your artist to speak her mind and share this amazing song, which should help in bringing closure to these victims.

DAVID GARFIELD TEAMS WITH SMOKEY ROBINSON FOR NEW SINGLE

The new single by David Garfield, “I Lied,” ft. J. Paris, was co-written by the one and only Smokey Robinson.  The vocals of J. Paris soar on wings of angels, perfectly highlighting the instrumental soundtrack provided by Garfield.  The country vibe fits perfectly with the strings and vocals to highlight this “instant classic.”  We guarantee this one will make your day.

NEW SINGLES

First up today is “Common Sense,” the latest from Down and Outlaws, a San Francisco-based rock and roll quartet.  This one is sure to get your new week off to a rocking start.

Our second new single this week is from Australian brother duo Sellars.  “Linear Time” is a classic rock tune that will surely stand the test of time.  Welcome to the indie rock world, Sellars.  We look forward to hearing much more from them in the future.

Last but not least, here is “The Weight” (ft. Sickflip), from FRASE, an electronic artist from Montreal.   Let us know what you think.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

“Take Your Time” by Lender is an amazing dance video that has been making the film festival circuit, garnering critical and fan praise and support.  We think it is an artistic masterpiece.  Let us know what you think.

Next up is “Give Erin a Compliment (so Kind)” ft, April Olsen, the latest single from Jaye Bartell.  It is an interesting Americana song that should stimulate your senses as you begin a new week.

Our last new video this week is a lyric video from Durango Songwriter Expo alum Rachel Price.  Check out “Love is War” and have a great week.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Durango Songwriters Expo Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Canyon City, Monica Chapman, Marc Berger, Alex Mabey

We were so amazed at the level of talent at this year’s Durango Songwriters Expo.  It was our first trip since we moved to Montana, and the talent pool, which has already spawned such acts as Meghan Trainor, Alissa Moreno, Tim Fagan and others just keeps getting better.  Two of our reviews today are artists we saw perform at DSE.  We think all of these reviews will encourage and entice you to continue supporting indie music.

Artist Name:  Canyon City

Album Name:  Constellation

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Folk

Track Listing:  1.  Our Way; 2.  Find You; 3.  Midnight Flight; 4.  Like I Did; 5.  Train; 6.  For the Day; 7.  Oh my God; 8.  Satellite; 9.  Run; 10.  Be Scared With Me

Publicist:  Red Boot PR

Review:  Canyon City aka Paul Johnson has a sound smooth as silk, with a dreamy voice that will soothe the listener’s soul and provide the perfect background for a major chill session.  His music goes down like a fine glass of wine, warming your body as his vibe eases your tensions and stresses, creating a truly relaxing feel.  This is music that would be at home on Hot AC and AAA stations, as this music demands radio airplay.  From the first track onwards, Canyon City gives you song after song that will change your mind about indie music.  There are no weak tracks on the album, but we really love “Our Way,” the title track (which is also the first single), “Train,” “For the Day,” and “Satellite.”

Recommendation:  This is a must have for your musical collection.  It will soon become one of your favorites, so Get it now and play it often.

Artist Name:  Monica Chapman

Album Name:  Small World

Label:  Live Records

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  A Shine on Your Shoes; 2.  Goldfinger; 3.  Piel Canela; 4.  Small World; 5.  Caravan; 6.  Baby It’s Cold Outside; 7.  Big Spender; 8.  What Kind of Fool am I; 9.  So in Love; 10.  Orange Colored Sky; 11.  Don’t Explain; 12.  A Foggy Day

Publicist:  None

Review:  Monica Chapman is a Canadian artist who was born in Romania, and teaches jazz in her spare time.  She has gathered a stellar collection of jazz standards and incorporated the incomparable voices of Mike Murley, Reg Schwager and Kevin Turcotte into her sound.  Jazz standards never go out of style, and Chapman has the perfect voice for these songs.   We love great horns, and she uses them to perfection, especially on “A Shine on Your Shoes.”  This is a great soundtrack for your daily or weekly happy hour, and the tunes will surely put a smile on your face.  We love her take on the James Bond classic “Goldfinger,” as well as the Duke Ellington classic “Caravan.”  Other impressive gems are “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “Big Spender,” and “Orange Colored Sky.”

Recommendation:  If you love jazz, then this is a great album for your collection.

Artist Name:  Marc Berger

Album Name:  Ride

Label:  Real Records

Genre:   Americana/Roots

Track Listing:  1.  Nobody Gonna Ride on the Railroad; 2.  Take it on the Chin; 3.  Ride; 4.  Time Waits for no Man; 5.  Montana; 6.  Twister; 7.  Heavenly Ancients; 8.  Object of my Affection; 9.  Long way from Vixenburg; 10.  A Bottle of Wine, a Suitcase, an Umbrella; 11.  Object of my Affection (instrumental)

Publicist:  None

Review:  Marc Berger has the perfect voice for roots/Americana – full of gravel, spit and determination.  He underscores his gritty sound with a musical background that is soothing, smooth and pure.  The underlying mandolin, accordion, slide guitar and harmonica flow seamlessly with the percussion and acoustic guitar.  This album takes off from the first note and never disappoints.   While every track is wonderful, we particularly love the title track, “Time Waits for no Man,” “Montana,” “Twister,” and “Long Way from Vixenburg.”

Recommendation:  This one is a worthy addition to your Americana collection – Get it.

Artist Name:  Alex Mabey

Album Name:  Enough

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Folk/Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Bravest Daughter; 2.  Enough; 3.  Wild and Free; 4.  Soldier’s Wife; 5.  Run to the Edge; 6.  Jesus Was

Publicist:  None

Review:  We met this artist at DSE, and were immediately overcome with the beauty of her voice and the power of her words.  That amazement continues from the opening notes of “Bravest Daughter,” the first track of her EP Enough, as it becomes quickly clear that Alex Mabey has arrived as the new voice in folk/Americana music.  Her songs are well crafted, her voice soars like a bird, and the musical accompaniment is first rate, especially the cello on the first track and on “Soldier’s Wife.”   Our only complaint is that this six-song EP is simply too short – merely teasing us with her greatness.   The title track has such potential for placement in television and film, and creates a yearning for Mabey’s music that can never be fully quenched, but will keep bringing the listener back for more.  “Wild and Free” and “Run to the Edge” likewise grabbed our attention, and deserve serious radio airplay.

Recommendation:  Run, don’t walk, and Get this one now.  It is an absolute must have for your musical library.

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Awards Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2017: Vol. 38

Happy Native American Day fka Columbus Day.  Just got back last night from an incredible three days in Denver for the Durango Songwriters Expo.  What a wonderful time of reconnecting with old friends like Warren Sellers, Steve Garvan, Bobby Rymer, Richard Harris, Jim Attebery, Vince West, Jill Sobule and Scott Krippayne and meeting wonderful new friends like Elise Wunder, hit songwriter Chris Lindsley, budding superstars and twins Carly and Martina, Chloe Tang and others.  Got to  be a part of Steve’s DIY panel, as well as attend some amazing showcases, listening sessions and panels.  Watch for my review this week.

TVMAs HANDED OUT

Congratulations to Tim Moyer and the Temecula Valley Music Awards for another successful year.  We also congratulate all the winners which were announced over the weekend.  Here is a list of the winners:

Best Blues Out of Town – Sarah Rogo
Best Country – America’s Kountry
Best Cover Band – Endeavor
Best Jazz – David Maldonado 
Best Pop OOT – Dree Mon
Best R&B/Soul – Shea
Best Rock – Midnight Satellites
Best Rock OOT – The Crooked Stones
Best Singer/Songwriter OOT – Savannah Philyaw
Best Singer/Songwriter- Dulaney and Company
Best Youth Cover – Makayla Phillips
Best Youth Original – Minor Strut
People’s Choice – Minor Strut
Artist of The Year – Ben Allen

NEW SINGLES

We wanted to spotlight some new singles from performers we saw at Durango this weekend.  First up is Marion, who has an amazing new EDM single, “Electric Gold.”  If this one doesn’t get you up and dancing, then you need to wake up.

Next up is Gracie Day, whose new single is already getting rave reviews.  Check out “I Don’t Want Whiskey.”  The song starts at about 1:35.

Our third single is “Home” from Rachel Price.  She is an amazing singer songwriter that definitely has a huge future in music.  Check out this live recording from her performance at The Mint in Los Angeles.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

First up today is a favorite of this blog, and many of you in addition.  Katie Costello is becoming the queen of DIY and is an extremely gifted artist.  Check out her video for her latest “Hearts on Fire.”

Next up is a lyric video from amazing UK artist Hannah Trigwell.  She has joined up with Captive on her song, “I Could be the One.”  This is another one that will make you want to get up and dance.

Last but not least this week is a live video from another of this blog’s favorite acts, Calico the Band.  Check out “The Leaving Kind.”