Tag: Roger Len Smith

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Artists Worth Checking Out Hollywood Fringe Festival Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 27

It’s our final Monday Mashup of the month, and we have some great new music to share with you.  Check out the latest news as well.

LA MUSIC CRITIC TO DEBUT SHOW AT HFF19

Our very own LA Music Critic, Bob Leggett, will be debuting a solo show at next year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival.  Inspired by the amazing productions put on by the Soaring Solo Community, he has hired Jessica Lynn Johnson to help him develop his show, Livin’ the Dream, which will debut at HFF19 next year.  The show is the story of his life and career, focusing on not just dreaming about great things, but accomplishing them as well.  Watch for the Indiegogo campaign being launched in August, and support him on his latest adventure.  We are very proud to be a part of what should be a great show.

VK LYNNE RELEASES AUDIO BOOK OF POETRY

VK Lynne, the lead single of multi-LA Music Critic Award winning band The Spider Accomplice is releasing an audio book containing 35 of her poems, read by a plethora of her friends.  Entitled The Release and Reclamation of Victoria Kerygma, the audiobook is available on Bandcamp.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week is from Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, members of the Mountain Home Music family of artists.  They have created a beautiful song that is being released to support the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Trust Fund which, like the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, provides support for struggling artists.  We think you will love this beautiful arrangement and we hope you will likewise support these organizations that help indie musicians.

Our next single is an upbeat pop tune from Mike Edel.  He was featured in our March Ten Great Singles article, and this time around, he promises he will “Go With You.”  We think this one could be a huge hit, and look forward to what’s still to come from this amazing artist.

Our third single is being released by Elkka through Femme Culture, and is an upbeat dance tune called “Stay (warm edit).”  We think this one goes hand in hand with our previous single, and should help get your Monday off to a great start.

Our fourth single continues the positive spin as CJ Hooper releases his first track from his forthcoming album.  “When we Rise” is the perfect remedy for the Monday blahs.

Our final single this week comes from Caibedo Island.  They encourage us to be “Stronger,” and we love the sentiment.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first music video comes from an artist we reviewed last week, Roger Len Smith, who was introduced to us by a long-time friend Bobbo Byrnes, lead vocalist of The Fallen Stars.  Here is “Raining on a Sunny Day.”

Next up is the latest video from Grammy-nominated artist Janiva Magness for the title track from her latest album on Blue Élan Records, Love is an Army, featuring LA Music Critic Award winning artist Bryan Stephens.  We hope you enjoy this one as much as we do.

Our third video this week is a political statement about gentrification of our great cities.  Nick Ferrio releases “I Don’t Know How Long” and we totally understand his concerns.

Our fourth video has the rhythm of the islands as Constanza Herrero talks about “Packing Up.”  This video should get your juices flowing and get you on the dance floor.

Our final video this week is the R&B and soul sound of Roxanne Tataei.  Here’s “Crimson Eyes.”  We hope this firmly places your Monday in a good place.  Have a great week and we’ll be back soon with our articles on the Ten Amazing Videos and Ten Great Singles released in July.

 

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Matty T Wall, Genevieve Vincent, Echo Courts, Bijou Noir, Roger Len Smith

Happy Friday, our last one in July.  Let’s celebrate with five more great artists for your consideration.

Artist Name:  Matty T Wall

Album Name:  Sidewinder

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues/Rock/Soul

Track Listing:  1.  Slideride; 2.  Sidewinder; 3.  Something Beautiful; 4.  Change is Gonna Come; 5.  Can’t Stop Thinkin; 6.  Shake It; 7.  Going Down; 8.  Ain’t That the Truth; 9.  Sophia’s Strut; 10.  Walk out the Door; 11.  Live it all Behind; 12.  Mississippi Kkkrossroads

Publicist:  Frank Roszak Promotions

Review:  Matty T Wall mixes his blues with a healthy does of Southern Rock, which makes them exciting and fresh.  His first track, “Slideride” is an instrumental masterpiece and a perfect demonstration of using a finger slide on his guitar.  He follows that up with the title track, which takes off like a rocket, taking the listener’s breath away with the sheer power and intensity of his sound.  From there he throws us a curve and gives us a funky pop/rock tune in “Something Beautiful,” followed by the soulful sound of “Change is Gonna Come.”  He even gives us a smooth jazz masterpiece with “Ain’t That the Truth.”  It is clear that Wall is a force to be reckoned with, and every smart radio station manager and music supervisor will immediately add his catalog to their collection.  This artist needs to get his butt from Australia to America because his music will take this country by storm.  He has something for everyone on this album, and it deserves repeated listens.

Recommendation:  Run out and Get this one Today!

Artist Name:  Genevieve Vincent

Album Name:  Petit Rêve

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Classical Opera

Track Listing:  1.  Entre Ombreet Lumière; 2.  Les Couleurs; 3.  Stase dans les Moments; 4.  Le Son Serien

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Genevieve Vincent is a very talented Canadian whose operatic soprano soars to the heavens on these four simple songs she wrote for piano and vocal.  Petit Rêve translates to Little Dream, and the soaring sound of these songs will take you to that place where you too can remember your dreams.  Although this type of music is not our favorite, it is easy to see the genius and talent in her work, and to know that this lady belongs in places like opera houses and Radio City Music Hall to deliver her music to those who truly enjoy the classical sounds of opera.

Recommendation:  If you love opera and classical music, definitely give this one a taste.

Artist Name:  Echo Courts

Album Name:  Room with a View

Label:  Refresh Records

Genre:  Indie Folk Rock

Track Listing:  1.  I Don’t Mind; 2.  Take Away; 3.  Replacement #3; 4.  Strawberry Pie; 5.  My Mind is not Right; 6.  Not for You; 7.  Daisies #4; 8.  Room with a View; 9.  Tail Lights; 10.  The one You’re Dreaming Of

Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  Echo Courts bring us southern folk rock from Greensboro, NC, and the sound is very reminiscent of 60s and 70s psychedelic rock bands, as well as, the Beatles.  You can almost see the smoky haze on the stage as the band delivers their music, enveloped in the drug-induced fervor of that era.  The sound is light but with obvious genius reflected in their songwriting, both in their lyrics and melody.  It is relaxing and the perfect mood setter for the weekend.  Our favorite cuts include “Replacement #3,” “My Mind is not Right,” “Not for You,” “Daisies #4,” and the title cut.

Recommendation:  Definitely worthy of your attention, we recommend you check them out today.

Artist Name:  Bijou Noir

Album Name:  We are Alone Together

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Alone Together; 2.  Cruel Trick; 3.  Body Out; 4.  Living City; 5.  Do This to Me; 6.  Masquerade; 7.  Drinking Your Words; 8.  The Spine in Your Back; 9.  My Flesh is Weak; 10.  The Planet is Dying; 11.  Walking Alone

Publicist:  Give / Take

Review:  The band has a modern Top 40 sound that would play well on radio, especially college radio, and could also be suitable for placement in television and film.  The songs are well crafted, insightful, thought-provoking, and downright enjoyable.  We could easily put this one on repeat, starting with the incredible title track which kicks it off, and the first single, “Cruel Trick.”  It is hard to believe that this is their debut record, as the band’s chemistry is tight and the production makes the band sound like they have been playing together forever.  This one has all the makings of an incredible break-out album.  Check out “Body Out” and “Living City” for a rocking good time.

Recommendation:  Get on board now before this band takes off.  Get it!

Artist Name:  Roger Len Smith

Album Name:  Anything Goes

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Americana/Roots

Track Listing:  1.  Can’t Wait for Another Day; 2.  Raining on a Sunny Day; 3.  Anything Goes; 4.  Leaving it all Behind; 5.  House of Cards; 6.  Empty; 7.  Zander & Zoey; 8.  Got to Thinking; 9.  Aim; 10.  Down at Juniors

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Roger Len Smith has been making music for a while, and this is his sixth album.  The kicker is that it is his first since 2009, and the wait was definitely worth it.  He has assembled a host of musicians, including Rami Jaffee from The Foo Fighters and local Austin musician friends Noelle Hampton, Andre Moran, Jimmy Spencer and Kim Deschamps in creating this rocking roots/ Americana sound.  This music will make you get up and boogie, as it is impossible to listen to it and not move around.  This is the perfect soundtrack for Friday and Saturday nights at the honky tonk after a tough work week. especially the rocking “Got to Thinking.”  It also shows that fighting spirit within every country musician to write relevant and sometimes controversial songs.  Every lover of country, Americana and roots will find something to love with this collection, which even has a little bit of Elvis-inspiration (check out the amazing “Raining on a Sunny Day,” which we will be featuring on Monday in our music video feature portion of the Monday Mashup).

Recommendation:  We are wondering where this artist has been hiding, because we totally dig his sound.  Welcome back Mr. Smith.  Don’t make us wait so long next time.  This one is a keeper!