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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2019: vol. 6

OMG – that was the best Grammys Show we have ever witnessed.  Everything that was lacking in last week’s Super Bowl was present – superstar performances, inspiring speeches and incredible music throughout.  Alicia Keys was the perfect host and her “Songs I Wish I’d Written” segment brought us to tears.  It was also about time that the talents of Women in Entertainment were clearly on display, showing the world what we already know.  We’ve got some news for you today that is the perfect segue to that, as well as five new singles and music videos for your consideration.  Here we go!

INDIE ARTISTS SHINE AT 61ST GRAMMY AWARDS SHOW

Congratulations to indie band Opium Moon on their Grammy win last night for Best New Age Album.  Huge props to amazing violinist Lili Haydn and her equally amazing band for this honor.

Congratulations also to two artists we had the privilege of reviewing here on our blog.  Composer and music educator John Daversa took home three Grammys for his amazing jazz album American Dreamers that featured DACA kids and spotlighted their cause.  Blues legend Buddy Guy won for Best Traditional Blues Album for The Blues is Alive and Well.

LA MUSIC CRITIC AWARD WINNERS SHOWCASE TO HONOR WOMEN IN ENTERTAINMENT

The Third Annual LA Music Critic Award Winners Showcase is set for Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at The Mint LA.  This year’s Showcase will honor the role of Women in Entertainment, and will feature a stellar line-up that includes Fanny Walked the Earth (the first all-girl group to release an album on a major label); multiple-award winning rock band The Spider Accomplice, led by VK Lynne; Rebelle Road artist The HawtThorns, led by label co-founder KP Hawthorn (former member of award-winning group CALICO the Band); blues phenom Brigitte Rios Purdy; Americana sweetheart Amilia K. Spicer; and two of our International winners, blues band Reloaded Norway and Latin singer Constanza Herrero.  We expect to announce a couple more artists in the coming weeks.  Tickets are now on sale for just $10 in advance or $13 day of show, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.  We hope to see you there.

BIG SKY DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL SET FOR FEBRUARY 15-24, WITH OPENING NIGHT FILM AT THE WILMA

This year the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival will celebrate its 16th opening night on Saturday, February 16 with a free screening of a film that celebrates winter culture and the pioneer who helped bring it to the big screen.

Directed by Patrick Creadon, SKI BUM: THE WARREN MILLER STORY chronicles the life and times of the legendary filmmaker who, through his annual ski films and national tours which began in the early 1950’s, was a driving force in the development and promotion of the ski industry in America and throughout the world.

The screening will begin at 6:00 p.m. at The Wilma (131 S. Higgins) with a Q&A with filmmakers and cast following the screening.  We advise you to show up early to make sure you get a seat.  This year’s free opening night is made possible by Bob Ward’s Sports and Outdoors.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week comes from Australian folk singer Short Shadows.  We love his vibe and the sentiments contained in “Nothing Good Comes from Preston.”  Check out those horns.

Our second single is a sweet pop song from David Alexander called “Falling.”  We love the strings and the heavenly vocals and think you’ll want to hear more from this young man.

https://soundcloud.com/david-alexander-300103527/falling/s-CJZ6d

Next up is the rocking sound of Signs & Symbols, who share their latest single “Coffee for Friends.”  This one will get your week off to a rocking start.

Our fourth single is from pop artist Kat Holland.  We really think she’s “The One,” and think you will want to add this artist to your favorites.

Our final single this week comes from UK band Woman’s Hour and is very powerful both sonically and lyrically.  Check out “Luke.”  We think you’ll be searching for more of their material.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video this week is from Los Angeles street performer Katie Ferrera.  It is a powerful and beautifully shot video that shows what it’s like to busk, as well as the raw talent of this amazing artist.  Here’s “Weightless.”

Next up is “People Get Ready,” the gritty tune from another UK artist, Emma Bosworth.  The song talks about mental health issues and presents them in terms we can all understand.  Please give this artist your attention.

Our third video is a blues smoker from The Spear Shakers, who we introduced to you last month in our Ten Amazing Videos from December article.  Here is their latest, “I Went Down Easy.”

Next up is an amazing live performance of the power ballad “There has to be More” from Eliza Spear.  The song talks about transitioning to Los Angeles from North Carolina, and offers hope that there is more than just what you can see.  We think you should take her advice to heart.

Our final video this week will definitely give you something to think about, as it is all about global warming and resultant changes.  Check out this powerful and thought-provoking video from KLOGR for their song “Somethings in the Air.”

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Best of 2018 Women in Entertainment

Forty best albums of 2018

What a year for indie music.  We received a boatload of review requests from around the world, and published reviews of nearly 1,000 CDs and EPs.  We culled through those we reviewed first to pick our nominations for the LA Music Critic Awards, and now to compile our list of the 40 Best CDs of 2018.

Due to the sheer volume, we only considered full-length projects for this list, but that doesn’t mean that quite a few of the EPs we reviewed weren’t also worthy of distinction.  We may yet put together another list of just EPs.

In the meantime, while we wait for the winners of the second half of 2018 for the LA Music Critic Awards to be announced tomorrow, here are our favorite CDs of 2018.  You can find their individual reviews by searching for them on our blog.

40.  Kate ReidThe Heart Already Knows

39.  Deb RyderEnjoy the Ride

38.  Jeffrey FoucaultWar on the Radio

37.  Katie HerzigMoment of Bliss

36.  Eric Tingstad – Electric Spirit

35.  Fanny Walked the Earth – self-titled

34.  Wily Bo WalkerAlmost Transparent Blues

33.  Buddy GuyThe Blues is Alive and Well

32.  Walt WeiskopfEuropean Quartet

31.  Mindi Abair & the BoneshakersAll I Got for Christmas is the Blues

30.  YYNOT – self-titled

29.  Peter V Blues Band Shaken but not Deterred

28.  Delta MoonBabylon is Falling

27.  The TextonesOld Stone Gang

26.  Ronny MorrisSweet Silence

25.  Sydney WrightSeiche

24.  GleesonThe Years Have It

23.  Colin DevlinHigh Point

22.  EverlastDon’t Complain

21.  ZsuzsikaStart Again

20.  Michael PetersonFrom Here to Eternity

19.  K. Michelle DuboisAutumn

18.    Broken BellowsI, Kaleidoscope

17.  Rachel SageMyopia

16.  Janiva MagnessLove is an Army

15.  John Flanagan TrioHonest Man

14.  Lee Ainley’s Blues StormShoot me Down

13.  FloodsBad Times

12.  Frank Hannon (From One Place . . . to Another, vols 1 and 2)

11.  Keith HarkinIn the Round

10.  Southern HaloJust Like in the Movies

9.  Cindy Alexander – Nowhere to Hide

8.  Kari KimmelGold & Glitter

7.  Hymn for HerPop-n-Downers

6.  Jordan Siwek Sun Inside You

5.  Slim GambillFake Jazz

4.  Gina SiciliaHeard the Lie

3.  Birds and ArrowsArbitrary Magic

2.  Brigitte Rios PurdyStill I Rise

and the Best Album of 2018 goes to

Norway Reloaded – My Longest Mile

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 47

Merry Christmas.  Welcome to our special Christmas Eve edition of Monday Mashup.  We hope you have accomplished all of your Christmas shopping and are preparing to spend tomorrow with family and friends.  Don’t forget to vote for your Fan Favorite, with voting to close this Friday.  Currently, YYNOT remains in first place with 146 votes, but Jordan Siwek is coming on strong and currently has 102 votes, followed by Mindi Abair and Reloaded Norway, both with 43 votes.  Winners will be announced on January 4.  In the meantime, here’s some new music to get you in the mood.  We’ll be back on Wednesday with Get it or Forget it.

INDIE MUSICIANS CELEBRATE THE SEASON

There have been a lot of ingenious indie artists sharing the holidays with their friends, and we salute them for their efforts.  This year’s award for best campaign goes to Jennifer Vazquez for her “12 Days ‘Til Christmas.”  She created a group for her fans, and serenaded them every day with a different a capella Christmas song.  Way to raise your awareness, Jen!

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week comes from the sweet pop sound of mobil avenue.  We really like their song, and look forward to seeing what they come up with as they anticipate releasing a lot of singles in 2019.  Here’s “Hearts.”

Next up is a cover of the classic song “Christmastime is Here” which we have all heard over and over again in the classic Christmas show A Charlie Brown Christmas.  Hats off to Grayshot for a splendid job.

Our third single is another holiday classic.  This time around, Matt LeGrand brings us his pop version of “White Christmas.”  Enjoy.

Next up is the latest from LA’s own Standing Before Kings.  Check out this historically accurate song, “St. Helena” and let it rock your holidays.

For our final single this week, we bring you YouTube sensation Arlene Zelina.  We shared her beautiful Christmas song two weeks ago, and now bring you her new single, “Dream of Me.”  We can’t get enough of her voice and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first music video this week encourages everyone “Don’t be Lonely This Christmas” with the sweet Americana sound of The Herron Brothers.  We think that’s great advice.

Next is the latest from Family Jools.  We love the feel of “Don’t Know.”  Please let us know what you think.

Last week we had the privilege of reviewing the latest album from SoutherlandAyers.  Today we are proud to share the music video for their first single, “Great Flight Home.”  We think this one is perfect for this season.

Our fourth music video comes from electro-rock artist MORRISON.  Here is her song “Heart on Fire,” which we think is smoking hot.  This girl can siiiiiing!

We close out the week with the latest one-man “boy band” in the person of Dylan Dunlap.  Fresh off his opening slot for OneRepublic, check out his video for “LiarLover.”  We think this one will get your week off to a great start.