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.
We had a wonderful weekend. On Friday we reviewed Doctor Nympho vs. The Sex Zombies and had a fantastic after-show hang with Alli Miller and Michael Shaw Fisher. On Saturday, we headed down to the Hotel Cafe, where we enjoyed both Willie Wisely (with our friends Dan Kalisher and Erik Kertes in his band) and Jesse Macht and his band. We were also happy to run into our friends Eric and Eliza Roberts, and have a chance to catch up. On Sunday we got about halfway through our tech rehearsal for my solo show, Livin’ the Dream (a journalistic journey) for the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Preview night is June 7, with additional performances on June 16, 20, 23 and 28. We hope to see you at one of our performances.
NEW SINGLES
We have an extra treat for you this week, as this one fell through the cracks when it was first submitted. It’s a little bit blues, a little bit zydeco and a whole lot of fun. Will Jacobs is an American living in Berlin who is sharing the power of the blues with Europe. His single is a tribute to his adopted hometown of Berlin, and is called “Berlin Bounce.” Check it out – we bet you’ll be cutting a rug in no time flat.
Our first single comes from the band that made us fall in love with “Friends.” The Rembrandts are back and getting ready to release their new album on Blue Élan Records. Check out “Broken Toy.” It perfectly reminds us of why we say “I’ll be There for You.”
Next up is a truly rocking song from a British band. Their latest if called “Lita’s Place,” and it highlights what this band does well – entertain. Check out Exiled – we think they’re going to be around for a while.
Next up is a song that is beautiful in its simplicity, stripped down to its purest form and perfectly performed by New West. Here’s the latest single “Those Eyes.”
Single number four is a definite keeper from Goodside that is fresh but still oddly familiar. It’s called “I’ve Been Feeling Something Lately,” and has a smooth sweet sound that is perfect for summer. Check it out.
Our final single this week is from West Coast Weekend, and their funky retro song, “Heart Attack.” This one has the feel of a Maroon 5 smash and could be a huge hit on radio. Give it up for the next amazing pop superstars.
NEW MUSIC VIDEOS
First up is the remarkable and soulful sound of Kensington Moore. We introduced this song to you in March as part of our Ten Great Singles, but it really comes home on the music video. This song really got to us, and we think it could be a major smash. Check out “I Don’t Like you Anymore.”
It’s amazing how a beautiful female voice can change everything. Take for example the music of Ignescent a driving hard-rock band with incredibly sharp edges. Add the voice of lead singer Jennifer Benson, and the fullness of the band is brought forth, much like what Amy Lee does for Evanescence. Check out the lyric video for “Into the Night” – it will have you banging your head in nothing flat.
Our third video is for all you lovers of 80s/90s rock bands. The master of guitar has returned and he’s better than ever. Slash is now joined by Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators and they’re on a mission to save rock and roll. Check out Exhibit 1, ‘Boulevard of Broken Hearts.” Behold, the king returns.
Next up is a band that is heading for Los Angeles, and will be playing here at the Bootleg Theater on May 19. They pack a powerful punch and remind us of back when the Red Hot Chili Peppers were huge. They call themselves The Unlikely Candidates, but we think they soon will be your go-to choice for great music. Here’s their video for “Novocaine.”
Our final video this is “Cry Like a Girl,” from one of our long-time favorites, Brooke Moriber. We introduced her to you back in October 2015, and she was a nominee for the LA Music Critic Awards for the second half of 2015. We think she’ll become one of your favorites as well.
