Parks and Recreation (NBC)

Once again, the NBC Parks and Recreation team have rustled through the Fervor Records catalog and handpicked some vintage gems to feature on the next edition.  After raiding the supply on a recent episode ‘Bowling For Votes’, which featured 10 different Fervor tracks, the two camps are getting quite friendly.

The quirky sit-com, led by Amy Poehler of SNL fame, is in it’s 4th season and just keeps gaining momentum.  Recent cast addition Rob Lowe has garnered entirely new audiences, and the consistent authentic early 80′s soundtrack is probably not an accident.

Fervor Records Vintage Masters Blue Shoes landed their melodramatic new wave track It’s You & Me (1980) in the new episode, alongside contemporaries Loosely Tight, whose arena rock anthem Rough & Tough (1979) also appears in the show.

Parks and Recreation episode 415 airs tonight (Thursday Feb 16th) at 8:30/7:30c.  Tune in to hear legendary 80′s rockers and new wave punks underscore the next generation of hipsters.

Both of the Fervor Records Vintage Masters tracks are available on iTunes (below).

It’s You & Me, Blue Shoes, from the Fervor Records release The Best of Blue Shoes
Rough & Tough, Loosely Tight, from the Fervor Records release The Best of Loosely Tight

Latin-Reggae-Rock Fusion Act Showcasing At Major Music Festival In Austin And Many Cities In Between

Scottsdale, AZ 2/15/12– Fayuca, a progressive Latin Reggae-Rock-Punk band who proudly represent Arizona on the national scene, are known for not only their incredibly high-energy, charismatic live show; but also their relentless coast to coast touring.  Blending their mother tongue with the ethos of reggae and the passion of punk- the result is sultry, heady, stoner rock with a Spanish twist.

This March the genre-blurring trio are heading to the famed South By Southwest (SXSW) festival in downtown Austin.  Not only will they be performing at the Wildfire Reggae and Arts Festival and the Texas Rockfest, but they’ll also be playing the official High Times Magazine party on 6th St. where they’re nominated for a (10th Annual) HIGH TIMES 2012 Doobie Award for Best New/Underground Artist.

Fayuca will kick off their multi-city tour in Scottsdale, AZ on Thursday March 8th, headlining the Roxy Lounge (7443 E. 6th Street, Scottsdale, AZ).  Doors open at 7pm, tickets are $10 and guests 21+ are welcome with a valid ID.  Joining them on the bill are support acts Neato and Common Measures.

The locally-based band, who recently opened up the night at Authority Zero’s CD release party, has become a regular on the festival circuit, sharing the stage with many notable acts including Damian Marley, Nas, 311, The Dirty Heads, and Fishbone.

The band recently signed a deal with Phoenix-based Fervor Records, who launched two pop acts on MTV last year (Super Stereo, Tarik NuClothes) and work regularly with the film and television industries to provide independent music.  The partnership will see a release of Fayuca’s fourth album, which is currently in the works, and was named by ThePier.org as one of the most anticipated releases of 2012, alongside artists like No Doubt and Michael Franti.

Audiences can get a sneak peek of the new Fayuca tunes on the upcoming sweep of the great Southwest.  Tour dates are as follows, check here for all schedule updates.

Thu 3/8 – Scottsdale, AZ – The Roxy Lounge
Fri 3/9 – Flagstaff, AZ – The Green Room
Sat 3/10 – Albuquerque, NM – The Launchpad
Sun 3/11 – Amarillo, TX – The 806
Tue 3/13 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
Thu 3/15 – Austin, TX – Wildfire Reggae & Arts Festival
Fri 3/16 – Austin, TX – Texas Rockfest
Sat 3/17 – Corpus Christi – Texas House of Rock
Sun 3/18 – Austin, TX – High Times SXSW Party, The Blind Pig
Tue 3/20 – Albuquerque, NM – Jagermeister Secret Show
Thu 3/22 – Santa Fe, NM – Evangelo’s Underground
Fri 3/23 – Denver, CO – SSV Vapor Fest @ Summit Music Hall
Sat 3/24 – Pueblo, CO – The Senate

For more information on the band/label, please visit the Fervor Records Fayuca artist page
Photo caption (below): Fayuca, photo by Robb Castro
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Jeff Freundlich (L) and John Costello (R) with 12 News Today Anchor Syleste Rodriguez (photo by Jen Costello)

Monday morning was a busy day for journalists, as the news of Sunday night’s Grammy winners spread, more somber stories were surfacing on the untimely death of an icon.  Fervor Records execs Jeff Freundlich and John Costello joined Syleste Rodriguez in the KPNX studios to discuss the awards show and the shocking news of Whitney Houston’s passing.

Jeff Freundlich, President of Fervor Records, not only runs the operation on a day-to-day basis, but also composes and performs music for TV and Film.  His business partner John Costello, whose TV/Film composition credits are too numerous to mention, is most well-known as a producer of hip-hop, R&B and pop for MTV acts like Tarik NuClothes.  He has also released critically acclaimed albums as an artist himself.

During the segment (originally scheduled to recap the 54th Annual Grammys) the successful record label owners chatted about Houston’s legacy and how she changed the industry forever as an unrivaled pop star.  As a company that’s been active in the global music community for over 22 years, Fervor’s unique insight on the topic was welcomed by the Channel 12 staff and viewers.

The six-time Grammy winner will always be remembered for her excellence, as is evident in the clips used of her stunning early 90′s Super Bowl performance.  The 12 News Today team also touched on whether or not she was about to make a comeback with a new film and album due out soon, which was met with differing opinions from Freundlich and Costello.

KPNX is the NBC affiliate in the Phoenix metro-area, and has worked with Fervor Records before.  In December, the two entities joined forces to discuss a popular NBC prime time drama (Parenthood) that featured several recordings from the local label in one episode, all by Arizona musicians.

Blues-man extraordinaire Hans Olson comes from the Sonoran desert of Arizona, and in his music one can almost taste the dry heat and desperation of the washed out landscape.  What better fit for a deadly dusty western series like FX’s Justified?

This is not the first time Fervor and FX have danced this duel, and probably won’t be the last (an earlier episode tapped the Fervor Vintage Masters catalog with a cut from The Revenants’ Black Cadillacs).

But this time, in episode 305 of Justified, it’s Hans Olson’s title track from the Fervor Records release Hard Time that will be featured.  It airs on Valentine’s day, which also happens to be Arizona’s 100th birthday.

So tune in to FX tomorrow night, February 14, 2012, and catch the Arizona blues legend singing his low-down song, Hard Time (available on iTunes) just in time for the centennial celebration.

Once the toast of Sunset Strip, Hollywood glam rockers Jailhouse sold over 400,000 records in the late 80’s without the help of a major label. With full-page spreads in Rolling Stone rival Circus Magazine, Jailhouse were a towering aquanet force to be reckoned with.  Now Fervor Records has put out a tasty collection of the songs that put them on the map.

Having come on the scene at the peak of the ‘Glam and Sleaze’ era with their breakout EP Alive In A Mad World, Jailhouse’s big hair and knee-bending guitar solos rocketed them right to the top.

As guitarist/songwriter Michael Raphael said in a Coyote Music interview, “That was a different time.  Back then it was more about the image.  Jailhouse wasn’t Poison, but we were about the image. Music then [in the glam metal era of the 80's] was a whole different world.  The look was so important.  But the music was big in that band, too.”

Jailhouse, whose primary lineup included members of heavy metal band Ratt and Rough Cutt (Matt Thorne and Amir Derakh), was active from about 1988-1991.  Derakh went on to form Orgy, and founding member Michael Raphael eventually formed Neve.

Their videos for title track “Please Come Back” and “Modern Girl” (Enigma Records) dominated MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball in its heyday and are still in heavy rotation on the VH1 Classics reel.

Now digitally remastered and available on iTunes, Jailhouse’s Please Come Back features 7 time-capsule tracks of sickening-sweet 80′s glam rock for your headbanging pleasure.

Alright, purists.  Get ready for balls-to-the-wall Metal at its peak!!

The Best of Lucian Blaque has just been unleashed from the Fervor Records Vintage Masters archives and is hitting the pavement running.  Two tracks from the album have already been licensed to films, including  The Grey (with Liam Neeson) which features “Running A.D. Part 2″ and hits theaters nationwide on Friday.  You can also hear the first cut on the album, “Gene Pool”, in Donovan’s Echo with Danny Glover (2011).

Recorded at Florida’s Morrisound Studios in 1990, this collection offers 11 tracks of the real deal- true heavy metal.  Lucian Blaque became prominent in the Tampa Bay area in the late 80′s, and is considered one of the most underrated concentrations of talent in their genre. Vocalist “Mad Dog” Wade Black was celebrated for his powerful, high range chops and dead-on accuracy, often compared to Rob Halford of Judas Priest; while guitarist Kevin Wilson shredded like none other.

With notably melodic and tasteful compositions, Lucian Blaque rose above the standard flashy technical acrobatics that saturated the scene.  These coastal headbangers, who shared the stage with Trixter and Queensryche, bridged the gap between the origins of Metal and the later progressive sound, embracing the best of the history of the genre.  With undeniable musicianship, the result was critically acclaimed. Experience the best of Metal, the Best of Lucian Blaque!

“Lucian Blaque is the Metal bands’ Metal band, and the critic’s choice.” – Florida Xposure Magazine

The Best of Lucian Blaque is now available on iTunes, Amazon, and all major e-tailers.

Read the retrospective Maximum Metal interview with guitarist/songwriter Kevin Wilson

See live video footage of Lucian Blaque at a Florida club show

Greg Anderson (left, photo by Kimberly Jarman), John Costello

Canadian radio station and premiere international jazz destination, CafeJazz.ca, is known for not only its tasteful selection of new and classic material, but also its in-depth reviews of songs, albums and artists.  The critically acclaimed program, which is broadcast on FM and web affiliates in over 20 different countries, specializes in the smooth jazz variety and has become a trusted source for the community to discover new music and get to know their favorite composers and performers.

At the end of 2011, Cafe Jazz (led by award-winning programming pioneer Ted Hasiuk) published its 8th Annual Recap of the recent ‘musical fabric’ and listed the best-of picks from their playlist.  The choices came from a compilation of 1068 unique selections by 569 artists on 42 original programs.  Among them were many mentions of two artists from the Fervor family: Greg Anderson and John Costello.  Both are solo artists who collaborate often.

Guitarist Greg Anderson, whose 2011 release Blue Ocean has been in heavy rotation, made quite a splash.  The album was produced by John Costello and features Greg’s soaring guitar work with minimalist vocals.

On Cafe Jazz, Blue Ocean was the #12 most played album of the year, right behind six-time Grammy nominee Dave Koz.  John Costello’s solo release, Beyond Smooth (which features sax and keys) made the top 50.

In the ‘Top Artists’ category, Greg Anderson came in at #19, ahead of the original smooth jazz godfather himself, David Benoit.  Individual tracks from Blue Ocean also got a little attention, as the title track was the #15 most played song, with deeper cut “Cool Jungle Rain” snagging an honorable mention.

Producer and artist John Costello was profiled several times throughout the year on Cafe Jazz.  Songs “Sunrise Mist” and “Fine Wine” from Beyond Smooth were spotlighted last summer (and recently), while November’s ‘Vintage Collection’ feature dug into “Oceans of Sand” from a previous Costello release (A Cooler Shade of Jazz).

Both Anderson and Costello were named in the final category, ‘Discovery, Debut, Break Through and Comeback Artists of the Year’.

See the full 2011 Cafe Jazz Recap here

Learn more about Cafe Jazz and Fervor Records

Check out these Fervor Records releases on iTunes:

One Tree Hill, the CW drama that follows the lives of high school brothers and their basketball pursuits, has just launched its ninth and final season.  The show has grown with the characters as they’ve entered into adulthood, and the variety of scenes has spiced up a bit, too.

Next week finds some of the cast in a strip club, where the raunchy jams of Fervor’s Tarik NuClothes resound from the seedy venue.  Tune in on Wednesday January 25th at 8/7 central to catch Bubble Shaker, from NuClothes’ 2011 debut Emperor’s NuClothes in One Tree Hill episode 903.

Check out the full, hi-def, uncut video of Bubble Shaker on YouTube, or a slightly toned down version on MTV.com.

NBC hipster hit Parks and Recreation is now in it’s 4th season and going strong.  The show, headed up by SNL veteran Amy Poehler, has solidified its spot in the pop cult-scape and continues to gain critical acclaim.

Next week’s edition, Bowling For Votes (413), features an entirely Fervorlicious soundtrack.  Every single song in the upcoming episode will be from the Fervor Records collection, some are commercially available and some are from the archives (see links below).

Tune in Thursday Jan 26th at 8:30/7:30 central to hear the quintessential 1970′s southern rock sounds of the Tennessee River Crooks and Danny Holiday playing his 80′s hit Superman with Rick Springfield’s backing band.  Other Fervor Vintage Masters artists on the show include 70′s/80′s arena rockers Loosely Tight and new wave/punk pioneers Blue Shoes.

Superman, Danny Holiday (pictured above), from the Fervor Records archives

Farmin’ Man, Tennessee River Crooks, from the Fervor Records archives

It’s You And Me, Blue Shoes, from the Fervor Records release The Best of Blue Shoes

Rough and Tough and Bombs Away, Loosely Tight, from the Fervor Records release The Best of Loosely Tight

Shout It Out and Love Me Good, Chinatown, from the Fervor Records release Takin’ It Sleazy!

Deuces Are Wild and Road Trip, Howell-Freundlich Overdrive, from the Fervor Records archives

Valley Music Licensing Firm Secures Indie Cred As Well As Mainstream Success

Phoenix, AZ, 1/12/12– As 2012 tiptoes in and Arizona approaches its centennial celebration of statehood, Phoenixʼs Fervor Records isnʼt missing a beat as it proudly represents the desert on a national stage. Not only did the label land three classic tracks in last weekʼs episode of network prime time drama Parenthood (NBC), but it also managed to place music in two official selections of the Sundance Film Festival this year.

On January 22nd, the renowned gathering of independent filmmakers offers the sophomoric cinema effort from actor/director Josh Radnor, Liberal Arts. It stars Radnor himself, whoʼs known for his role on CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, as well as High School Musicalʼs Zac Efron and rising star Elizabeth Olsen.

The highly anticipated release features “Lost Dreams” by The Soulsations, a 1960ʻs Phoenix- based soul group from the Fervor archives.
A few days later, festival goers can catch Marshall Lewyʼs California Solo starring Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later), which profiles a former British rockstar and L.A. resident as he gets a DUI and faces deportation.

Lewyʼs film, which debuts at Sundance on January 25th, includes a 1967 tune from touring Country band Tommy Strange and the Features. The track “She Was Never Mine To Lose” was recorded right here in the Grand Canyon state, and is available on the Fervor Records release Vintage Country 1959-1967.

The 2012 Sundance Film Festival takes place in Park City, UT from January 19-29. Read more about Fervor Records television and film placements here.

For more info visit: www.fervor-records.com / www.sundance.org

Photo caption: Tommy Strange, The Soulsations