What We’re Listening To Wednesday

What We’re Listening To Wednesday (May 19, 2021)

There is the scent of Rock and Roll wafting through the halls of Rock is the New Roll this week as all ears start to turn towards the summer when Rock is king and good times are sure to be the order of the day.

Ayron Jones not only has a strong set of pipes but doesn’t sleep on the dude’s guitar skills. Here, with his latest single “Take Your Time” he delivers the ballad in full “Wind Cries Mary” mold.

And Speaking of Stevie Ray, here, with his band Cardinal Black, Chris Buck has returned with his version of Texas Blues, Welsh style.

Never one to shy away from a good power ballad, here the Picturebooks team up with the bombastic Lizzy Hale of Halestorm fame on a slow burn of a song that will shake rattle and roll you.

Billy Gibbons is priming his retro fueled car and getting ready to launch a new record. Here, on the video from “My Lucky Card” Billy heads to the Joshua Tree Desert Honky-Tonk Pappy & Harriets barbeque restaurant and music venue most probably visiting the ghost of Gram Parsons while he is there.

And, since we are huge fans of the over-the-top Survivor Roller disco sound of Night Flight Orchestra their new single “White Jeans” had to make our list.

What We’re Listening To Wednesday (March 10, 2021)

The listening week is shaping up to be pretty groovy this time around with some really tasty morsels blaring from inside the offices at Rock is the New Roll H.Q.

If you are not hip to the band Beebe Gallini and their scene, no worries, the new record is set to drop In March and we are grooving to their latest single “My Way of Thinking” a groovy mix of go-go beats, garage band bombast. There literally is nothing not to like with this one. Look for Pandemos to be released into the wild on March 21.

And, if you are ready to throw your head back, let your nears flop in the wind, and sing out with unbridled joy Snoopy style then “Congratulations” courtesy of The Nobility, the self-glossed 53rd best band in Nashville, will tickle your tail feathers and definitely make your day better, especially played multiple times at increasingly high volumes.

Always suckers for a good cover song, Janita, the up-and-coming Finnish songstress wraps herself in a Peter Gabriel blanket hipping up “Digging In The Dirt” from the 1992 album Us.

And, keeping the frozen tundra theme going, Vintage Caravan, the boys from Iceland are blasting our ears with some Progressive/Stoner Rock version of Kansas on Acid with their new one “Crystallized,” and we can’t get enough of it.

And Speaking of Psychedelic Rock, Black Mountain out of Vancouver, British Columbia has dropped a couple of Black Sabbath evoking singles including the epic “Juniors Eyes.”

And, what better way to end a fine What We’re Listening To Wednesday than capping things off with a cover version of the Janis semi-deep cut “Kosmic Blues” in the deft hands of RITNR Hall of Famers The Last Internationale.

What We’re Listening To Wednesday: October 6, 2019.

Here are just some of the songs and artists that worked their way into our ears this week:

Temples – Hot Motion

Released late September this record has been spinning pretty consistently at Rock is the New Roll HQ. Their third full-length record after an absence of almost three years, this one is full of Marc Bolan influenced energy. “Your either on something” is the cream of an excellent crop.

Avett Brothers – High Steppin’

From their new one Closer Than Together the Avett brothers 20 years in are growing up in front of our very ears.

Ride – Clouds of St. Marie

One of our favorite songs of the year, Ride their album, This Is Not A Safe Place is their best release since 1992,

The Dirty Denims – Ready, Steady, Go

With her Joan Jett by way of Debbie Harry vocal swagger Mirjam and the boys rock this town with a blend of AC/DC and Kiss inspired Rock as well as Roll. We are becoming big fans of this band.

Hazel English – Shaking

This Aussie now living in California delivers some fine dreamy Jangle Pop on this one. A fine put the top down and cruise tune if there ever was one.

Stoney LaRue – Hill Country Boogaloo

Everything great about the Texas hill country is name checked here from Lone Star Beer to Gruene Hall and the Guadalupe River.

Evan Felker and Carrie Rodriguez – Whiskey In Your Water

With his band The Turnpike Troubadours pretty much imploding Evan Felker is taking off in his own direction here with a classy duet featuring Carrie Rodriguez.

The Rhyolite Sound – Margaritas and Cocaine

Hailing from Las Vegas these guys play what they call desert Honk Tonk. Nothing sets me straight like cheap women and beer. Mojave Gold is our Tonk record of the year.