Based out of Richmond, Virginia, the Congress have burst onto the scene with a killer sophomore effort entitled The Game, to be released on September 9 on American Paradox Records. Thanks to JamBase, you can stream the new album today.
Composed of Scott Lane on guitar and vocals, Jonathan Meadows on bass and vocals, Chris Speasmaker on keys and Raphael Katchinoff on drums, the Congress treads that thin line between folk, Americana and indie rock with a precision that will ensure that fans of all three genres will love this release. They will also appeal to fans of classic country as well.
From the opening notes of “Home Again” to the closing refrain of “Farewell,” the Congress deliver nine songs that belong on the playlist of every lover of independent music.
The album was produced by the band, mixed by Adrian Olsen and recorded at Denver’s Macy Sound Studios and Richmond’s Montrose Studios. Among the engineers that worked on the album were Logan Muckler, Scott Lane and Grammy winner John Macy. The mastering was accomplished by another Grammy winner, Brian Lucey, who has worked with the Black Keys and Grace Potter.
Truthfully, there is not a weak track on the album. Every song packs a punch and keeps the listener engaged throughout. It’s no wonder that this band has toured with the likes of Lake Street Drive, the Tedeschi-Trucks Band and Hard Working Americans, and is currently on a headlining tour that includes performances at such festivals as Wakarusa and High Sierra.
Indie Voice Blog is proud to highly recommend The Game. This album should be in the hands of every serious music lover. We think they just might become your favorite indie band.
Daddy Issues is an alternative/indie rock band based in San Diego, California, composed of Angela Alvarez on lead vocals and rhythm guitar and Julia “Jules” Whelpton on bass and back-up vocals.
We are excited to introduce this band to you on the eve of the release of their debut album. Sit back, relax and learn things about this most promising indie rock band.
IVB: How long have you been performing as a band?
DI: Jules and I met in October of 2013 right after I moved to San Diego from Arizona. She was playing in a band called the Justice Fire that asked me to come audition, based off a Craig’s List ad I put in the musician community. Jules and I really hit it off on multiple levels and we soon left that project to start Daddy Issues. The other members rotate based on availability so we have several lead guitar players and drummers we play with.
IVB: Who do you consider to be your influences?
DI: We both love classic rock and were raised on The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, ZZ Top and more. We also love The Killers, Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys, No Doubt, Nirvana, and The Pretty Reckless. Our sound definitely has a 90s throwback feel.
IVB: What makes your new release so special?
DI: It’s special to us because it took us so long to finally get it created! We were working on our sound and our songs for a while, and once we decided we were ready to record, we went through a few different producers until we found the right one. We didn’t want to put out anything that wasn’t high quality and “radio ready,” and we weren’t really getting what we wanted at first.
We ended up recording with Jim Wirt who produced Incubus, Fiona Apple and others. Jim moved his studio to Cleveland a few years back where I grew up, and Jules also has family from Ohio, so that’s something else that makes the album special. We got an LA recording experience at “home,” so that was really cool. We also got to tour the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while recording, which we absolutely loved.
Overall, the album represents the last three years of hard work, ups and downs, and we’re excited to finally get some music in the hands of our loyal fans.
IVB: What are your future plans?
DI: So much! Videos, tours and more recording. This is just the beginning! We are still writing and have some new songs we’re really excited about.
IVB: Do you have any stories you want to share about your band
touring, recording, or fan interaction?
DI: When we were first starting out, our guitar player was only 20. We played at a 21+ venue for a battle of the bands, and the security people kept a close eye on him, only letting him come in to play the show and insisting he leave as soon as we were done. Later in the night, he hopped the fence in the back and was sitting at the bar (not drinking), but got caught anyway. As a result, we were kicked out of the battle and the word spread pretty fast. Rumor had it that we were banned from the venue as well. It actually helped to put us on the map here in San Diego, because we were new and people were talking about how scandalous we were to get kicked out of the battle. We’ve since played that venue again, so there aren’t any hard feelings anymore.
Then earlier this year while attending NAMM, Jules and I went to one of the parties. There were a lot of people there listening to the bands and she decided she wanted to crowd surf for the first time. I stood up on one of the tables to keep track of where she was, but she spent the next 20-30 minutes getting passed around the crowd. The next day, she was covered in bruises and as we walked around the show floor, everyone recognized us and wanted to talk about it. The best part was a guy that said, “In the 20 years I’ve been attending NAMM, I think that’s the first time I’ve seen someone crowd surf.”
IVB: What types of social media do you use?
DI: We have a website and Facebook pages, and we prefer Twitter and Instagram. Check us out live as well, with upcoming shows at the Roar Room in Glendale on September 9 and our CD release show at the House of Blues in San Diego on September 10.
Indie alternative pop act FOXTRAX has landed on the scene with the release of their new EP The Cabin. Formed in early 2015, the trio of Long Island, New York natives is composed of Ben Schneid on lead vocals and guitar, Jon Stenz on drums and Jared Stenz on bass. They began performing together after they had each graduated from college, after deciding that pursuing music as a profession was a better alternative than finding traditional employment. They sequestered themselves in a small cabin in the woods of North Carolina, resulting in the tunes that comprise the new EP.
Their name came from watching the fox tracks in the snow outside their cabin. They came to realize that the tracks reminded them of their own unpredictable and meandering journey into the music business.
They moved to Los Angeles in late 2015, and began to work on their live show. After only a few months on the scene, they were approached by producer/engineer Ben Roulston, who had worked with Florence and the Machine, who believed that he knew the perfect label for them. Rouston added production and a fresher mix to the EP and got Brian Lucey (Artic Monkeys, Cage the Elephant, Black Keys) to master the tracks.
The band celebrated the release of their EP with the almost simultaneous release of their first music video, which debuted on Vevo. They have already achieved the No. 1 position on Apple Music’s New Music Spotlight and recently were named by LiveNation as part of their “Ones to Watch” series.
If you are fortunate enough to live in California, the band has two upcoming dates in the near future: On September 6 in San Francisco at the The Rickshaw Stop and on September 8 at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. They will be providing support for Barns Courtney at both shows. Tickets are available here.
Check out their website and Facebook pages, follow them on Twitter and Instagram and by all means subscribe to their YouTube Channel.
Ever since he burst onto the indie music scene with the release of his debut album The Middle Way in 2005, Shane Alexander has been making a name for himself.
During the past 11 years, he has released five CDs, toured throughout the United States and 11 other countries as both a headliner and as support for such notable acts as Bon Iver, Jewel, John Hiatt, Suzanne Vega, Seal, Styx and Yes, and has had his music placed in more than 100 television shows and films. His recent track “Skyway Drive-in” from 2013’s Ladera recently surpassed more than 6.5 million plays on Spotify.
His latest offering, Bliss, is further proof that Alexander has a handle on creating incredible music. The new CD, which will be released on July 8, is the first to be recorded in Alexander’s own Buddhaland Studios in Ventura County, California, about 150 miles up the coast from Los Angeles.
“It was an amazing experience to be at the helm in my own studio, at long last,” said Alexander, “there are many first takes on this record, which led to the songs feeling organic and honest.”
According to his press release, “Bliss is a timeless tribute to both the artist’s classic rock influences and more recent contemporaries such as Jonathan Wilson, Ryan Adams and Conor Oberst. . .” (courtesy of Kim Grant, KG Music Press). Based on our listen of the CD, we could not agree more.
Our favorite track is the second one, “Something Real Never Dies,” but the CD is packed with great songs that should be placed on repeat while the listener sits back and relaxes. In fact, this CD should be considered the soundtrack for relaxation.
Several of the musicians that made his last release, Ladera, so good have returned to play on Bliss, including lapsteel by Ojai’s own Jesse Siebenberg and keys by Peter Adams (Josh Groban, Tears for Fears, Ricki Lee Jones). Alexander also adds two members of his current live band, bassist Vic Ruiz and drummer Josh Grolemund, to the mix, as well as incredible harmonies from vocalists Justine Bennett, Jamie Drake and Sarah Pigion. He even brings back drummer/percussionist Aaron Sterling (John Mayer, The Civil Wars, Taylor Swift) from his 2010 release Mono Solo on three tracks.
We especially love the cover art, which is hand drawn by veteran rock-n-roll artist Alan Forbes.
Alexander will be performing for his fans in Los Angeles on July 6 at the world-famous Troubadour before heading off on his summer US tour. He plans to tour Europe in the fall of 2016.
For more info on Alexander, check out his website and Facebook pages, follow him on Twitter, and subscribe to his YouTube channel.
It has been said that the mark of a great songwriter is the ability to take their own personal story and convert it into a song that delivers that truth in a way that is universally understood. If that be the case, then Cindy Alexander is one of the greatest songwriters ever, and her latest effort, Deep Waters, is the crown jewel in her songwriting career.
Alexander has previously delivered seven studio albums that showed us her angst, her frustration with the dating scene, her struggles with self acceptance, and her battle with and victory over breast cancer. With the release of Deep Waters, she provides us with songs about the beauty of true love, and the culmination of her quest for it.
After working with producer and good friend Dave Darling (Boxing Gandhis, Meredith Brooks) for many years, this time out she partnered with acclaimed artist, writer and producer Colin Devlin, best known for his solo work and as half of leading Irish duo, The Devlins.
Needless to say, this change did not come without apprehension. “When you’re scared to make a change you should do it anyway,” Alexander says, with the conviction of one who has faced her fear and come out the other side. “You’re not given gifts to hold them back.”
Set up by Blue Élan Records founder/president Kirk Pasich, Alexander and Devlin went on the musical equivalent of a blind date. “The first thing we were trying to do was see if these two strangers could create anything without having any rules or parameters about what we were going to say or how we were going to do it,” she says. “I usually write all my own lyrics. This time, there was someone else’s experiences and life coming in and adding more meaning and context into every song.”
The resulting partnership was a success, as reflected in the first track they wrote together, the turbulent title track, which talks about unreservedly abandoning oneself to another person. “That’s the beautiful thing about art,” she says. “You can dive in and go to places that may be too scary to go to in real life.”
After hearing their first batch of songs, the label recognized their creative chemistry and asked for a full album. Alexander ultimately wrote or co-wrote eight of the album’s 10 tracks. She also does a stunning cover of Jann Arden’s “Good Mother.”
Every song on Deep Waters hits the mark and delivers what will surely be seen as a milestone in Alexander’s career. Alexander sums it up well, “I feel like you can’t stop me now. I’ve got this,” she says. “When you’ve experienced any kind of brush with your mortality, you want to thrive, not just survive. The fact that I get to live my dream and make music for a living, I don’t take any of that for granted.”
Indie Voice Blog is proud to highly recommend Deep Waters as one of the best albums of 2016 and strongly encourage you to grab a copy of it when it is released on July 15. If you’re lucky enough to live in the Los Angeles area, Alexander will be celebrating the release with a show at one of her favorite venues, Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach on July 17. Check out her website or Facebook pages for more details, and don’t forget to follow her on Twitter as well.
Thanks to publicist Melissa Dragich-Cordero of MADInk PR for providing the background material.
Junk Parlor has been considered a galvanizing force on the Bay Area indie rock scene ever since it was launched serendipitously in 2013. The sound was born from the wild musical wanderings of Jason Vanderford, who is renowned for his five years of recording and touring with gypsy jazz sensation, The Hot Club of San Francisco. Junk Parlor’s energizing musical collage includes 50’s rock and roll rumbling atop gypsy rhythms, a bit of Gipsy Rhumba, tango, Eastern Euro/Hungarian music, belly dance, and punk.
Based on their two earlier releases (their 2013 debut Wild Tones and its 2015 follow-up Melusina), Junk Parlor has been compared to such diverse acts as Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, Gogol Bordello, the Dead Kennedys and Tom Waits. Vanderford was raised on “rock and roll and punk and everything under the sun,” so other sounds are certain to appear as the gypsy junk rockers continue their jam.
Vanderford also plays acoustic banjo and rhythm guitar, and is joined by the group’s co-founder, RT Goodrich, on drums and cajon, Laela Peterson-Stolen on violin and viola and Tim Bush on fretless bass.
The new single, “Mick Jagger’s Heart” was inspired by the Rolling Stone’s “Dear Doctor.” Vanderford described it as “when the heartache of Leonard Cohen decides to lament under the sun amidst the California surf.” The video for the track, both of which are being released on May 26, is skillfully directed by Jeannie Jo, using scenes of San Francisco cityscapes as a metaphor for heartbreak.
As Vanderford tells it, Junk Parlor began almost by accident. Vanderford had emerged as one of the Bay area’s “go-to” musicians in the years following his time with The Hot Club of San Francisco. Bush, his uncle, asked him to play an acoustic gig but Vanderford would only agree if Bush played bass for him Shortly thereafter, they were joined by Goodfellow, who wanted to create a group with Vanderford and Bush. Vanderford explained, “I was hesitant but asked him to sit in with me for a few months. Then he shows up one day saying he booked the band. I told him we didn’t have a name and he said we better get one. So then I took it seriously.”
The clever band name came from his younger days, when his bedroom stored his collection of vintage furniture and pictures he’d bought at antique stores. He vowed then that if he ever had a band of his own, he would call it what he called that space: Junk Parlor.
Junk Parlor’s members have played the gamut of festivals and prestigious venues including Outside Lands, Kate Wolfe Fest, Djangofest, Gaia Fest and SXSW. Vanderford has played, recorded and toured with the Americano Social Club, The Hot Club of San Francisco, Clint Baker’s New Orleans Jazz Band, Little Charlie’s Caravan, Avatar Ensemble and Seth Ford Young Quartet, while Goodrich has laid down rhythms and toured with Staggerwing, Beso Negro and Standing Room Only. Meanwhile, Bush has played extensively with Danny Montana, Sweetie Pie and the Doughboys, Chuck Day, Sam Andrew, Jim Martin, and Freddie Roulette.
Looking ahead, Vanderford says that the new album, which will include “Mick Jagger’s Heart,” will build upon what Junk Parlor has been doing since day one. “Our first two records are simply two sides of the same coin,” he says. “I am looking forward to our next project as we already have all the songs and have been playing them out and getting a wonderful response. This one will include a few instrumentals, but have more of an emphasis on vocals.
“What I’m learning through all of these recording and performing experiences is that it doesn’t matter if you’re a jazz musician, singer or dancer, the goal is always telling a great story. I love getting out there and hearing people’s stories and then transforming those into songs that can be interpreted in unique ways by the band, dancers and everyone in the audience that it touches.”
For more info, check out their website and Facebook pages and subscribe to their YouTube Channel.
It has been said that one of the marks of a great artist is the ability to build on past works, rather that rebuild. That is exactly what Rod Melancon has done with his latest EP, LA 14, recently released on indie label Blue Élan Records.
If you didn’t know that this EP had just been released, most listeners would think it was a contemporary of country greats like Merle Haggard or Johnny Cash. Melancon’s songs have that timeless appeal of those greats and others.
Through the five songs on LA 14, Melancon reveals his Southern Louisiana roots through his lyrics and choice of music, a sound that is part blues, part country with just a touch of rock and roll – the perfect recipe for Americana music.
Thankfully, this EP is a preview of his forthcoming full length album which will be released later this year and produced by Brian Whelan, the former lead guitarist for Dwight Yoakum.
Of the five tracks, “The Lights of Carencro” is the most unique, with elements of rock usually found in the music of such artists as Led Zeppelin and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The track stands out from the rest, which are more country than rock.
All of the songs tell amazing stories, and definitely leave the listener wanting to hear more from this gifted artist. We highly recommend you check out Melancon and get on board before the world learns of his amazing talent.
For more information, check out his website and Facebook pages, follow him on Twitter, and subscribe to his YouTube channel.
Thank you to Melissa Dragich-Cordero of Mad Ink PR for providing the background materials and referring this wonderful EP to me for a review.
Several years ago, this reviewer took his then-girlfriend (and now wife) Chelle to see Alan Jackson at the Pacific Amphitheatre. The opening act that night was a new band called the Zac Brown Band. The excitement he felt that night is akin to what he’s feeling after his first listen to the new CD …And Friends by the Jason Adamo Band.
Adamo has crafted a masterpiece that should launch him and his band into the stratosphere of mainstream music. He wrote or co-wrote all but one of the seven tracks and has put together a team of musicians that are highly skilled in their craft, including Mark McKee, who mixed, mastered, produced and engineered this masterpiece.
From start to finish, this is a CD you can put on repeat and listen to over and over. Although every song is amazing, this reviewer’s favorite track is “Let Go,” with its incredible musicianship and a Keith Urban influenced sound. This song could launch the band and belongs on country radio now.
“Game of Love” has a Lumineers feel to it, and is probably the second best song on the CD, followed closely by the first track, “Beautiful Believer.” “Believer” was a co-write with Brett Young, and Adamo’s performance brings out all the beauty of the tune.
Another worthy cut is “Oliver,” which Adamo wrote about his sister’s adopted son. The truth is that there are no bad cuts on this CD, and it should appeal to all true music lovers.
We are proud to highly recommend this CD and encourage all music lovers to call their local stations and demand they play the Jason Adamo Band.
For more info, check out their website and Facebook pages, follow them on Twitter and subscribe to their YouTube channel.
“Classic rock” is more than just a musical genre. It encapsulates a sound and a generation where social ills were addressed in powerful lyrics over a screaming guitar riff. It is not ashamed of its country roots, and incorporates elements of bluegrass, country and folk into its mix.
Morgan Washam has captured that sound with his debut solo record, Blood Moon, which was released in September 2015. Like true classic rock, his music combines the essence of folk, country, blues, rock and jazz under the Americana umbrella, while his lyrical content is inspired by his life experiences as well as his views on spiritual and political events.
Washam is a singer/songwriter and guitarist hailing from the Appalachian hills of Ohio who has been performing music since the age of 11 when he first picked up his mom’s guitar. During his early career he played in many groups, with the most notable being the jam band Peach Melba with whom he toured throughout the Midwestern United States from 1996 until 2004, when the group disbanded. During that time, the group recorded three albums.
Washam is a big advocate of music education, and has spent much of his free time working with youth in public schools, teaching and inspiring them to immerse themselves creatively in the arts through music. He also worked with his home town arts advocacy organization, helping them to renovate a performance theater.
In 2007, Morgan launched his own production house called Wildwood Media. The company continues to produce creative projects for regional artists as well as for educators and organizations throughout southern Ohio.
From the first notes of “On Down the Road,” the listener will think he has stumbled onto a classic track by The Marshall Tucker Band, The Allman Brothers or Lynyrd Skynyrd. This sense of familiarity permeates the album and makes it seem like you are listening to an old friend instead of a new artist.
This album is worthy of repeated listens. The lyrical content is full of meat and words to ponder, unlike so much fluff in today’s music scene. We highly recommend our viewers check out this artist and enjoy Blood Moon for what it is: a true classic. The music is available for streaming on Spotify and for download through Google Music, iTunes and Amazon Music.
For more info, you can check out his website and Facebook pages, follow him on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to his YouTube channel.
New York City has always been on the cutting edge of musical direction, but the release today of Ryal‘s self-titled EP raises that bar to a new level. Although critics of her earlier releases have likened Ryal to the style of Bjork and Portishead, her latest contribution is more akin to an electronica version of ABBA, combined with a little Lady Gaga. Like “Dancing Queen” and “Bad Romance,” the songs on this EP will keep your toes tapping and compel you to the dance floor.
Along with the release of the EP, Ryal has also released a music video for “Lonely Love,” which is one of the best this reviewer has seen in a while.
“My wish is that people will listen to this and want to dance as much as I have while I have made this record,” says Ryal.
All six songs on the EP are amazing, but two songs especially stand out. The first is the opening track, “City Lives,” which opens with a steady beat and the words “Who you gonna be? Who you gonna love?” This song truly rocks and makes it is difficult to sit still while listening.
The other outstanding song is “Lonely Love.” I dare you to try to sit still for this one as well. Check out the video above.
Ryal added these words: “It’s easier to write a depressing song, but more of a challenge to be optimistic, and attempt writing timeless numbers that also give the listener positive feelings. I don’t want to make pop songs full of fluff, but rather make songs full of content that resonates with my age group.”
Ryal has also received a lot of attention from two other songs on the EP, “Wish” and “Jill.” Speaking of “Jill,” you can hear the song when you visit your local Starbucks nationally.
You can check out the entire EP, which is currently streaming on Sundcloud. If ever there was a “must-have” album for 2016, Ryal’s new EP is the one.
For more info on Ryal, check out her website and Facebook pages, follow her on Twitter, and subscribe to her YouTube and Soundcloud channels.
