Video of the Day: Twinnie – Better When I’m Drunk

After becoming a staple behind the scenes as a singer and dancer and on stage with touring productions of Rock of Ages and Footloose, Twinnie appears as the main attraction on this single in advance of her upcoming record. This song walks that delicate line between a great night and a delicate day after.

Rock is the New Roll: Electric Radio Kings – Back To Black

Las Vegas based Electric Radio Kings are Paul Christiana on vocals with a Jim Morrison meets Scott Weiland vibe, Stacey Blades and Keith Horne on guitars, Johnny Rude on drums and Del Cheetah from Chris Angel’s band on bass guitar. Much in the Stone Temple Pilots/Cheap Trick mold Electric Radio has just enough frills to grab your attention, but stop just short of going over the top. With a recent endorsement from the one and only Alice Cooper we are ready for a full length L.P., boys! Here, they deliver a stunningly stellar version of the Amy Wine Winehouse song “Back to Black.”

Five Cool Ones: Five More Reasons Rock Is Not Dead

There are a lot of new bands that are worth your attention doing business in bars all across the country. Given today’s musical landscape and the amount of really hard rocking, kick-ass bands that are applying their trade it is not easy to separate the cool from the lame. Here are five more reasons that Rock is definitely alive and well.

Sons of Kong – Cold Hearted Woman

Not technically a new band, they released a smokin’ E.P. SHAG in 2016, this Wisconsin based Blues Rock band is on the brink of much more acclaim. Look for their first proper L.P. to be released sometime towards the end of 2018.

Babylon Shakes – Making A Million

Some sort of devil spawn hybrid of Sleaze, Glam, 70’s Rock and Roll and 80’s Sunset strip, these guys are thrashing their way deep into your ears with an infectious brand of Rock that you haven’t seen since Guns ‘N’ Roses ruled the world.

Liliac – Chain of Thorns

Liliac is a band of hard rocking Los Angeles based with none of them over the age of 16. And guess what, they are good. Even bordering on great. Expanding beyond their weekly appearances on the Santa Monica Pier their debut album, Chain of Thorns, was released on January 25th. Stewart Copeland heard the band and was impressed enough with drummer Abigail Cristea to take the band under his wing and help sponsor them to the next level.

Denman – Alive In Overdrive

The Nashville cats Denman are ready to take their Heavy Metal Metallica inspired vibe to the big time with their latest record, Raw Deal. Here, we have another band that has been living the dream in small bars and clubs and just maybe will hit the big time with their polished new record of pure Rock and Roll.

Massive Wagons – Tokyo

Massive Wagons with their 2018 release Full Nelson is already on our radar, but with more and more listens this band is rocketing to the top of our listening charts. From the U.K. the vibe is straight ahead Rock and Roll with strong hooks, mighty choruses, and radio friendly songs. And yes, there is cowbell.

 

 

 

Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Albums Released This Week (March 8, 2019)

The year in music is certainly heating up. This week, Country crooner Maren Morris shows her Pop Music roots with a terrific new release, Girl, Dido is back front and center with a set of atmospheric gems, and there is the return of the fabulous Meat Puppets to celebrate. And, Dan Auerbach and his Easy Eye Sound studio continue to expose us to the type of music we should have been listening to all along with the Delta Blues styling of Leo “Bud” Welch and the appropriately named, The Angels in Heaven Done Signed My Name.

Here are five really cool records that caught our ear-tention this week.

Leo “Bud” Welch – The Angels in Heaven Signed My Name

Leo “Bud” Welch was in his 80’s during the sessions for The Angels in Heaven Signed My Name. Full of pathos and swagger, the ten songs presented here were recorded by Dan Auerbach and his production team at Easy Eye sound using a bare bones template with Bud playing a 1953 Les Paul and the Black Keys Richard Swift on drums. Unfortunately, both Bud Welch and Richard Swift passed away before this record was released. Listen closely to the last track, “Sweet Home.” This was the last song on the last album that Leo “Bud” Welch would ever record as he mournfully sings his one last great hurrah, “I may be dead and gone, I’ll let you know before I go.”

The Wild Reeds – Cheers

Expanded to a five-piece with a more fleshed out expansive sound that will bring to mind sort of a groovy-tone hybrid of The Go Gos and Fleetwood Mac. All of the songs are pretty much festival stage ready with a bounce that might remind you of Oh Pep!, Lucious, or even First Aid Kit.

Justus Proffitt – L.A.’s Got Me Down

Barrel your way through the first couple of songs that hit you between the ears with a lot of sonic mayhem and sound distortion and what you are left with is a pretty much a thing of beauty. Deeply thought-provoking with beautiful melodies, this record could be a love letter to Elliott Smith.

The Picturebooks – Hands of Time

You pretty much have Jack White and The White stripes to thank for this bend even existing. Garage-Stomp Rock in all the best of ways. When the duo gets cranking on “Like My World Explodes” you suddenly realize what Steven Tyler should be doing instead of going Bro-Country on our ass. This one is greasy and swampy in all the best of ways.

Patty Griffin – Patty Griffin

The new self-titled L.P. by Patty Griffin is quite simply a beautiful record and just might be up for several awards once the end of the year rolls around. Listen closely, and yes, that is ex boyfriend Robert Plant on background vocals on “What Now.” The guitar work is intricate, the vocals pristine, and the songwriting  is first-rate storytelling of the highest caliber. If she ever was to name an album after herself this one of legacy proportions.

 

 

 

 

 

Video of the Day: Murray A. Lightburn – To The Top

Murray A. Lightburn as the lead singer of the Montreal Chamber-Pop band The Dears has released what might be the Soul album of the year with his latest solo effort Hear Me Out. With his street corner vocal style and an expressive voice that at times brings to mind Bryan Wilson and at other times Scott Walker to complement his Curtis Mayfield vibe, a new star is forming before your very ears.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (March 1, 2019)

The year keeps rambling along with some real nice records released this week. The Flamin’ Groovies have the reiissue of the year in the bag already with a new pressing of Gonna Rock Tonight! The Complete Recordings 1969 to 1971. Royal Trux finally puts out a proper album on Fat Possum Records, and Art Rockers Japanese House released Good at Falling.

Here are five really excellent records that have caught our ear-tention.

Cats in Space – Day Trip to Narnia

Cats in Space would have fit in quite nicely in your late 70’s into the early album collection right up next to Toto, Foreigner, there are even shades of Boston and early era Journey on this one. Don’t sleep on the Rock opus “The Story of Johnny Rocket I to VII. There is a lot of Kansas on that epic song cycle.

Dee White – Southern Gentlemen

It is hard to believe that this Southern Gentleman is only 20 years old. Another really excellent find from the Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound, Dee White has a vintage songwriters ear for a melody. His smooth delivery and vintage old school production, complete with strings in just the right places, will bring you back to early Glen Campbell and Roy Orbison.

Quaker City Nighthawks – QCNH

Combining the greasy strut of 70’s Rock with Texas Blues and you get the Quaker City Nighthawks. A diverse listen that gets more compelling with each listen it is hard to tell if these guys are more influenced by Creedence Clearwater, Neil Young, or Tom Waits. If Blackberry Smoke were only a bit less country they would sound like these guys.

Durand Jones & The Indications – American Love Call

A vintage 70’s R&B sound with a modern day political bent. With dual vocals Durand Jones and drummer Aaron Frazer, Jackie Wilson along with Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions will be an immediate comparison. This a a terrific record and would have been made by Marvin Gaye if he was still alive.

The Cactus Blossoms – Easy Way

A male version of First Aid Kit, these Minneapolis siblings carry on the singing duo tradition handed down from Simon and Garfunkel, and most notably, The Everly Brothers. With their gorgeous harmonies the brothers create a timeless sound. This is a record you will like at first listen and grow to love after 3 or more.