My Random Jukebox

Introducing Common Tongues

2013-06-19T20:51:00.001+01:00

I would like to introduce you to a folk band who are new to my CD collection called Common Tongues. I discovered this band while at the Great Escape Festival in Brighton but was unable to see them. I was gutted as I heard their track called ‘Solitary Thinker’ which I found refreshing and musically captivating.

Tom Anderson (guitars/vocals), Oli Hinkins (guitar), Andrew Stuart-Buttle (violin/keyboards), James Drohan (drums) and Beau Barnard (bass) are the guys that make the music happen and are collectively know as Common Tongues. James from the band told me how they all got together:

‘Tom and Oli grew up together in Cambridge and moved to Brighton to put the band together. The rest of us met them through various friends and recommendations.’

I followed the guys on Twitter and I found out they were playing another gig after the festival. I jumped at the chance to see these guys live! I will confess, before the gig I had only heard two of their tracks but both had such a great sound, how could they disappoint?

The gig itself was in a small venue which gave it a cool intimate feel, and I was ready to see what this band had to offer. Wow! These guys sounded amazing, such an energetic performance filled with great harmonies supported by some great music. When I say great music, these guys can seriously play! Everyone of them sounded great which collectively produced some great musical moments. I’ve got to say that Andrew played the violin like a rock star, he was relentless!

The guys looked like they were having fun with their cheeky banter between songs which made the gig that extra bit more enjoyable. My only fault with the gig was I wished it was a bit longer, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting more. Here is a band that is guaranteed to entertain and I highly recommend you see them if you get the opportunity.

Praying To God by Common Tongues

While at the gig, I bought a copy of their EP ‘Tether & Twine’ which I couldn’t wait to hear as their live performance had me well and truly converted as a fan. The EP is too short but what it lacks in tracks in makes up with a great collection of music that I am so glad that is part of my collection.

Each track gives us something different but includes some great lyrics with the catchy folk sound that this band produces. I keep mentioning the music, but it’s one of the reasons that I really enjoy this band. This is a collection of musicians who individually have great talent but when you put it together it is something special. Vocally they have a deliver some great harmonies which support how great these guys are together. Tom’s vocals are another one of the many highlights as he has a great control switching from a great delicate tone to amazing power which is used to deliver the emotion in the music.

My highlight of the album was going to be ‘Solitary Thinker’ but the more I listen to this EP this changes to ‘Praying to God’. This track just gets better with every listen and I love the gentle intro, the great harmonies and the overall feel of the track. Tom vocals have great emotion in this track which he uses to deliver some great lyrics.

This EP has a charm about it that makes it hard to resist and I can’t recommend it highly enough. I asked James a few more questions about song writing and his favourite track off the album:

‘My favourite element of song writing is the whole thing! We spend forever trying our hardest to get them as near to what we consider perfect as possible. I guess that the original core of the song is the most important thing to get right and then everything builds out from there.

As for my favourite track, that's really hard question as so much time and energy goes into each song. Each one's like a child to some extent...or at least a badly behaved puppy! Personally, I'm very proud of Cold as the devil but that's not to put it above any of the other tunes.’

Cold As The Devil by Common Tongues

So what do Common Tongues have planned for the future?

‘We're all set to so back into the studio in August so there's a lot of writing and rehearsing going on. We're also prepping up for various festivals around the UK and Europe including Cambridge Folk Fest so very much looking forward to that. The EP is hopefully getting a Europe release towards the end of the summer so will, fingers crossed, be back out on the continent for another tour fairly soon.’

This is a band that is firmly on my radar and can’t wait to hear their future releases. Also, I’m hoping to catch them perform live next time I’m down in Brighton. If you like you music with natural folk talent then this is a band for you. I highly recommend you get to see them live as this is a band who is guaranteed to bring a musical performance that you will not forget. These may have been Brighton’s best kept secret but I think the secret is out!

Band Site: commontongues.tumblr.com

Facebook: facebook.com/commontongues

Twitter: twitter.com/commontongues

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/commontongues

YouTube: youtube.com/user/commontongues

Technorati Tags: Common Tongues,Solitary Thinker,Cold as the Devil,Praying to God,folk,music,music recommendations

Corey Tut ‘Chasing down the Bedlam’

2013-06-16T18:30:00.001+01:00

I want to bring to your attention an artist by the name of Corey Tut who has recently released his new album ‘Chasing down the Bedlam’.

Corey is a singer songwriter who’s music has been part of my collection for a few years, and I can’t believe that I haven’t really spoken about him on the blog until now. I can’t remember how our paths crossed but all I know is that I was a fan after hearing his version of Alanis Morissette’s ‘You Oughta Know’.

Something Good by CoreyTuT

I have been able to listen to some of Corey’s older music (including previous bands and other demo’s) and it’s been great to hear the musical evolution in his sound. It feels like I have been a fan from the start and have watched his music grow up to the sound it is today. Musically he has developed in all areas and each release has brought something new but still keeping his core sound that his fans have come to expect.

Corey is a very creative artist and I asked him ‘Why did you decide to become a singer songwriter?’:

‘I always knew I wanted to be a musician/ singer/songwriter. It was all I ever wanted to do. My Mom says I was singing before I could speak, so the voice has always been something that has been in me, trying to get out (for better or worse). I went off to college to get a "real job" but quit after 2 years. I knew study advertising or whatever was not going to fulfil me. The trouble was, I couldn't play an instrument or really write. I moved to NYC right after dropping out of school because there seemed to be more opportunity here than in Chicago. I spent the first few years working with different producers but always git frustrated because they were all trying to fit me into this kind of boy band mould which I didn't like. I decided I needed to learn how to play and write my own material if I was ever going to get any satisfaction out of the music business. So over the last decade I have really tried to learn as much as I can to grow as a writer and musician. Making this record was especially rewarding because it is the first thing I produced entirely myself, and I played about 90% of the instruments myself as well.’

I have spoke to Corey on many of occasions and he is someone who loves what he does. He is an artists who enjoys learning new tricks or techniques to add to his sound. This got me thinking, ‘I wonder what Corey’s goal/target is when he writes a new song?’. He kindly replied:

‘I think my song writing has evolved over time, especially on this new record. On my previous records I think I was really trying to express myself mainly through my lyrics. On this record, because I produced it in my house and was able to really live with the songs and let them grow at their own pace, I think I approached writing from a much more holistic standpoint. I was less concerned with sort of pouring my blood and soul into the lyrics as opposed to making a super well rounded song and track. Of course, I wanted the songs to each have their nugget of truth lyrically, but I also really wanted the tracks to groove and maybe be a bit more fun overall. Of course, I always like to balance the light and the dark in my music, but while making this record I was kind of going through a bit of a spiritual revaluation and I feel like that is reflected in the lighter tone of a lot of the tracks. At least in the grooves, if not in the lyrics.’

Waste My Time by CoreyTuT

You now know about the man behind the music, but what does his new album ‘Chasing down the Bedlam’ have to offer? I can confirm that it is his best work to date. I’m not saying his previous work is bad as I’m a fan, but this album shows that Corey still has more to offer and that his sound keeps getting stronger. It also showcases a greater range, which has resulted in an album that will have something for everyone.

One of the elements of Corey’s music that originally caught my attention was his vocal talents and with each release this seems to have gotten better. He seems as if he is more comfortable with his vocal ability as it sounds so much stronger, and this is showcased in this album.

My highlights from the album include the funky electro track called ‘Pretty Little Liar’ and the summery anthem, ‘Shine a Light’. My favourite track from the album has to be ‘Tired of You’ which shows a more dark edge compared to the rest of the album. Something about the combination of the guitars, drums and vocals just grabs me every time I listen to it.

Overall, this is an album that offers a great selections of sounds as well as some catchy lyrics but still keeps true to Corey’s sound. A great addition to any music fans collection.

Shine A Light by CoreyTuT

We now know about Corey’s past and present but what does he have planned for the future?

‘As far as the future, I will be playing a ton of shows with my band over the summer and through the fall and I am also working on an electronic side project which will hopefully release an EP in the winter or Spring '14. I am also talking to a couple artists about producing for them, which is something I am really excited about.’

As a fan of his work, I always look forward to hear what Corey will release next. I’m not really into electronic music but I will be curious to listen to the side project that is in the works.

If you like what you have read and heard then pick yourself a copy of ‘Chasing down the Bedlam’. While you are there, check out his EP ‘Falling Up: The Pursuit of Life, Love and Happiness Part 1’ and his album ‘Everything’ (which you can get for free by subscribing to his mailing list). Let me know what you think of his music (see Twitter and Facebook links at top of this site) and feel free to let me know your favourite song from the new album.

Bandsite: coreytut.com

Facebook: facebook.com/coreytutmusic

Twitter: twitter.com/CoreyTuT

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/coreytut

YouTube: youtube.com/user/coreytut

Bandcamp: coreytut.bandcamp.com/releases

Technorati Tags: Corey Tut,Chasing down the Bedlam,Everything,Falling Up: The Pursuit of Life,Love and Happiness Part 1,Shine a light,pretty little liar,tired of you,music recommendations,music,singer songwriter

Oleander ‘Something Beautiful’

2013-06-12T21:11:00.001+01:00

Back in 2012 I wrote a double post about a rock band that is a personal favourite of mine called OLEANDER! During this post (see Oleander Part 1 & Part 2) I spoke about my excitement that the guys were planning to release a new album. Well in April 2013, the guys released their 4th album ‘Something Beautiful’.

It’s been almost 10 years since their last album release and I will confess that I did think ‘do they still have that awesome sound?’. So was it worth the wait?, damn right it was!!!

Oleander - Fight! Featuring Uriah Faber by Oleander

The album starts of with the track ‘Fight’ which has such an impact and says ‘Hello, we are OLEANDER and we are BACK!’. This track has got that great trademark rock anthem sound that I have come to expect from these guys.

This album shows that time away from the music scene has been well spent. Their return has brought a stronger sound, by this I mean that every element of their music seems stronger. Musically their experience definitely shines through as they sound great collectively, plus their guitar riffs are still sounding awesome. I have to also say that I think Thomas’s vocals sound even better as he demonstrates a better range and control which you can hear on the softer tracks. Lyrically, they have continued with that annoying ability to get choruses stuck in peoples heads ha ha! They still know how to write a catchy hook.

The album showcases a great mix of hard rocking tracks as well as some great rock ballads to make sure that there is something here for everyone. My picks from the album are ‘Until it’s Over‘ and ‘Something Beautiful‘ which both have a gentle side but still have some bite, for me, that is when Oleander sound their best. My favourite track has to be ‘Where do we go from Here’, wow, this ballad is amazing. This song shows Thomas’s gentle tone and the band give us an emotionally filled sound. This song feels personal and I wonder what the story is behind it, hopefully they may tell me some day.

This is an album that has a great mainstream sound to grab the attention of new fans but to fans like myself it’s just another reason why we love this band and their music. I am already hoping that they have plans for another album. Fans always want music from bands who rock and these guys certainly do!

If you are a fan of rock, then give this album a listen and then BUY IT (it deserves to be in your collection). Then go to Oleander’s social media sites and tell them that their album is awesome! They love to hear from their fans, they are extra cool like that.

Band Site: www.oleander.net

Facebook: facebook.com/oleanderband

Twitter: twitter.com/OLEANDERBAND

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/oleanderband

YouTube: youtube.com/oleandervevo

Technorati Tags: Oleander,Something Beautiful,Fight,Where do we go from Here,Until its over,rock,album recommendations,music

Introducing Varwin

2013-06-09T15:20:00.001+01:00

I would like to introduce you to an artist who goes under the name of Varwin. He kindly contacted me to and asked me to listen to his music, I liked it and now I wish to share it with you readers.

Varwin is the stage name of the talented singer songwriter Anthony Varwin who has made it his mission to bring us his style of bluesy folk music. Here is an artist who’s music is heard with the use of an acoustic guitar, sitar and a didgeridoo. This may sound like a crazy combination, but I can confirm that it works with great effect.

Anthony (Varwin) told me that the reason he got into music was ‘My sister got a guitar in her room, but never learned, and I thought it's a pity to get an instrument and not to play it’. I’m happy that his sister neglected that guitar, because he picked it up we now have a musician who wants to bring us music that we do not just hear but also feel. He also told me ‘Lyrics and music are both important in my music. If I don't have something interesting to say or a message to say, there is no point to speak or sing or play.’ A musician driven by purpose, I like that.

Anthony has so far released the album called ‘VARWIN’ which can be downloaded free at his Bandcamp site (click here). This album is influenced by artists like Ben Harper, John Butler (who I’m a huge fan of) and Peter Gabriel. I can definitely hear this influences when listening to his album.

This album does sound raw and a little rough around the edges but I think it has an honest soul that to me is captivating. Sometimes music has to be imperfect to be amazing, if that makes sense. The blend of the instruments used in the album at times is spellbinding which results in me losing myself in the music. I wasn’t sure on the didgeridoo when I first heard the album, but I think it helps make the album stand out and is essential to the albums cool sound. Anthony raw vocal tone fits well with the music to add to it’s charm, but I feel the vocals as well as lyrics are eclipsed by the great music.

My favourite track of the album is ‘Another Day’ which has a wonderful intro that entices you in. This is Anthony’s favourite track which he describes as having ‘a kind of special soul’ and I can totally agree with him. He also mentions that ‘War is a good share’ is another favourite of his: ‘it has a great message and that's the song where all instruments melt together’’

This is an album that is a grower. I feel the first listen may catch you off guard by the use of the didgeridoo but by the second listen, you will be drawn in by the album’s soul and character. A debut worthy of attention.

WALKABOUT by Varwin

I know from speaking to Anthony that he is reworking some of his songs and I can’t wait to hear the end results. I know from speaking to other musicians that their musical journey is about learning and evolving, because of this I know Varwin has a great sounding future ahead of him. I will be eagerly awaiting to hear what new material he will release and to hear his natural evolution in his music.

I do recommend you have a listen to his music even if it may not be your typical sound. I really enjoy his music and it is his unique sound that caught my attention, maybe it will capture yours as well. I am thankful that Anthony brought his music to my attention, it’s been a great addiction to my collection.

Band site: varwin.com

Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Varwin/

Twitter: twitter.com/Thevarwin

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/varwin

Bandcamp: varwin.bandcamp.com

Technorati Tags: Varwin,new music,bluesy folk,album review,john butler trio,music recommendation,walkabout,another day

The Venetian is here!

2013-06-05T22:10:00.001+01:00

I want to introduce you to ‘The Venetian’. What can I say about this musician? To start with, his identity is a secret. I did want to find out his identity but I like the fact that ‘The Venetian’ is an enigma. I can also say he moved from the beautiful city of Venice and now lives in Los Angeles. I can also confirm he is an amazing and unique musician!

I asked ‘The Venetian’ how he and his music were created:

”Everything started when I was at this show in Los Angeles. I was in one of the clubs on Sunset and this band -from the east coast- got the stage and started playing. I was impressed how many fans they had considering that they were from the east coast and they were not famous like Lady Gaga or Muse. Anyway, they started playing and the music was horrible. I couldn't believe the fact that so many people liked them until the singer actually started performing. He was wearing women's clothes and he was very "dandy and glam" in a way. So something click on me and got back home thinking "I need to put together a show that will be a real "show", that when people walk away from the club will remember and will talk about it. So then the whole idea started taking shape.”

My Sweet Italian Pie by thevenetianband

His music follows no trends and does not sound like the commercial music you hear on the radio. In my opinion, his music is art form and has it’s own wonderful sound. If I had to describe it, I would say it was rock opera, yes I said that right. Before any of you stop reading because I said rock opera, I recommend you read on as I’m going to let the man himself describe it to you:

”I've always been a fan of music. I'm a singer, a guitarist, a bass player, a composer, I play piano, I arrange for orchestra, I'm a songwriter. When you love music so much it's kinda hard to pick a genre and stick with that. I love funk, I love classic rock, I love opera, I love classic music, and the fact that I love and I listen to all this music influences my sound and me. When I write a song I'm not thinking about writing a rock song or a pop song or a blues song, I just write melodies and chords progression and then I step back and start producing the song according with the feeling that gives me back. That's why in my albums you can hear different styles of music. My voice is the same, my guitar (I just use one) is the same for every recording, my bass player uses the same bass and so on. The sound of a band is created by all those factors and you can play different styles keeping the same over all sound.”

As you can see from the video of “The Black Cat” (above) his music is only part of The Venetian experience. His music is very theatrical and it reminds me so much of the great Freddie Mercury. I asked him if Freddie is a big influence and who else inspires him:

”Queen is number one. The voice of Freddie was something that comes from another planet. He was a great songwriter and performer too and he really influenced me. The Beatles were another big influence on my music as well as Led Zeppelin. I've always been a fan of classic rock and when I came here in the US I discovered funk and James Brown. On my new EP that will be out in few months there is a fuck-rock tunes in the style of James Brown. Mika and Muse are 2 big influences in my sound as well and I remember singing Mika's songs to get my falsetto stronger. I liked his voice. Micheal Buble' also has a voice that I really like, he reminds me of Frank Sinatra.”

My Good Friend by thevenetianband

So far The Venetian has released the album ‘Let me tell you a Story’. This is a wonderful adventure down the musical rabbit hole that leads you to a rock opera filled with great riffs and awesome vocals. This is an album that continues to surprise me with some of it’s very simple but technically gifted production. With every listen I am hearing something new or am listen to a song in with a new perspective.

The vocals and guitar seem to work together in a symbiotic relationship as they collectively deliver a dark melodic sound filled with different styles of emotion. The vocals delivered by this musician is a lesson on how to deliver the right amount of emotion with a stunning vocal range and at the same time, sound unique. This great sound helps to tell the stories which have an intelligent depth to them that you would expect from an artist like himself.

What do I choose as my favourite song? I have been struggling to pick my favourite as I keep hearing something new and keep changing my selection. However, I think it has to be ‘Black Cat’. This song has something special about it that I can’t put into words and I love the sexy guitar riffs that can be heard, it sounds so good.

Dancing Angel by thevenetianband

With such an amazing and breath taking debut release already done, what does the future hold for this gifted artist?

”I'm working on a new EP. It will have 5 songs (2 will be opera songs that I will sing in Italian, 3 rock songs that I will sing in English). It is a concept album (just like my first full length) and I got the idea from an Edgar Allan Poe poem "The Valley Of Unrest". In the EP I'm telling the story of this strange man traveling with no real destination from village to village and one day he passes by this ghost town that used to be full of live and happy people that little by little died. While he's crossing the village he can feel how happy the people used to be and he can still "see" people having fun, people falling in love, people celebrating. The over all message is that nothing is forever but everything you do will leave a trace. There are gonna be some videos that we will produce after the EP is ready. I’m actually very exited about it because I haven’t been in a studio recording my songs in almost a year.”

The Venetian is one of the most unique artists I have heard since starting my blog and it’s great to know that artists like himself are out there. This is an artist who knows how he wants his music to sound without compromise and does not hold back on how he wants his music to feel.

I have to thank Sherry from New Driven Radio who recommended this artist to me. This is an artist who is welcomed with open arms into my collection.

I am excited to hear what The Venetian has planned for the future. I know that it will have his unique trait on it and will guarantee to entertain like true musicians always do. I highly recommend you open your ears and listen to the art he has created.

Band site: www.thevenetianband.com

Facebook: facebook.com/thevenetianbandpage

Twitter: twitter.com/thevenetianband

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/thevenetianband

YouTube: youtube.com/user/thevenetianband

Bandcamp: thevenetianband.bandcamp.com

Technorati Tags: The Venetian,Let me tell you a story,the black cat,my good friend,dancing angel,rock,music,rock opera,Freddie Mercury,New Driven Radio,music recommendations

Introducing “In Air”

2013-06-02T15:53:00.001+01:00

Let me introduce you to another band I heard while listening to New Driven Radio. Say hello to the guys from In Air who provide a sound that could be called pop-rock but I would call more an alternative pop sound that has a catchy melody but showcases a contemporary depth.

In Air are made up of the following guys:

Mo Nabulsi-Vocals, Keys, Guitar
Michael Overton- Lead Guitar/ Bass
Anthony Holguin- drums

These guys have only been together for a few years but they are catching a lot of peoples attention, including mine. So, how did these guys come together? I will let Mo (from the band) tell you:

“In Air originated with myself and Mike (lead guitar); we met through my sister and got along quite well in the musical sense so we decided to start a band. Anthony joined later as our drummer and we have been working together fantastically ever since. We have all been in this specific project together for about 2 years now.”

In Air have recently released their debut EP ‘The Glow’ which is available on CDBaby and ITunes. They describe their EP as “strings, keys, beats, bass; soul-soaked, invisibly driven, unyielding in pursuit of the perfect chord, melody, groove; just to feel a little more than human”. I describe it as really catchy tunage ha ha!

This four track EP is way too short for me, I wish it was at least another 3 tracks longer as every time it finishes I feel left wanting more. I’m not sure if this is a master plan by them to leave us feeling this way. Putting that aside, this is a great EP that I’m so happy to have as part of my music collection.

I know I always focus on the vocals or guitars when listening to music, but this is one of those albums that musically stands out. These guys sound great vocally, but it is their overall musical sound that has caught my attention with this release. Their music has so many layers and I hear a lot of sounds going on but at the same time it has a simplistic feel that is easy to enjoy. This sound is accompanied by some well crafted lyrics that are easy to pick up and sing along to.

Out of the four amazing tracks that they have for your listening delight, my favourite of the EP is without a shadow of a doubt is “Flipside” as this track always gets stuck in my head if I think about the EP. As I said earlier, it’s so catchy but I like it ha ha! I asked Mo what his favourite tracks were on this release and I also asked what element of song writing is important to them:

“Hard to decide; its between Seven Seas and Blind and Naked; They are probably not the fan favourites but they both ignite a feeling in me that is impossible to explain. Probably has something to do with where I was in my life when we wrote those. As for the song writing, it’s hard to say because without great lyrics a song lacks life and without great tones a song can just sound cheesy; so I would definitely put equal importance on both in our genre of music. I don't have a standard environment or way I write songs; it can happen anywhere”.

Flip Side by inair

So, with a great debut under their belts what do In Air have planned for the future? (as always I’m hoping for a full album release).

“Well, we’re released "The Glow" EP and we are heading back into the studio very soon to track some great new songs that we have been working on. WE are gonna keep hustling until hopefully something big breaks for us.”

Like all bands I post on my blog, this is another band that I am a fan of and feel that you readers should know about. I am eager to hear what new sounds they are going to release and no doubt you will hear about their next release here. As always, if you like what you hear then support their music, In Air are a great band!

Website: weareinair.com

Facebook: facebook.com/inairmusic

Twitter: twitter.com/InAirMusic

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/inair

Reverbnation: reverbnation.com/inair

Technorati Tags: In Air,The Glow,New Driven Radio,Flipside,Wasted,pop rock,EP,music recommendations,music

Tim McNary

2013-05-28T21:30:00.001+01:00

I want to introduce you readers to an artist called Tim McNary who’s style of Americana has caught my attention. I would describe his music as raw country soul, the emotion in his writing shows a man who has experienced the highs and lows that life throws at us. Tim’s music has been compared to some of my favourite artists such as Ryan Adams and Ryan Bingham. When listening to his music you can hear the comparison but Tim still brings his own style to the table.

I was curious on what made him decide to follow the path of a musician and wondered who or what has inspired him. I asked Tim these questions and he was kind enough to provide these answers:

What made you decide to become a musician?

“Singing is honestly part of my earliest memories. I’ve been pulling melodies out of the air for a long time. Somehow, I didn’t get serious about music until the two years I spent in South America (principally in Guatemala,Peru and Brazil), right after I graduated from the University. It was then that I began to song write and learn to play guitar. I decided to become a full time musician after 4 unfulfilling years spent in banking. Since then I’ve slept in my van a good bit and eaten a lot of rice and beans, but never regretted my decision to dedicate my life to making music. This feels like the best use of my short time here on earth.”

Bela - While We Are Waking by McNary

Which musicians do you look to for inspiration?

“I'm especially inspired by musicians like Bon Iver who are creative in the way they orchestrate sound, while still prioritizing the emotiveness of each song. Though the music he writes doesn't especially resemble the music I write, I find the mixture of lush soundscapes and emotive song writing to be very inspirational. This is an area I’d like to experiment more with on my next EP. Paul Warner (a good friend and extremely talented and tasteful songwriter & producer) inspires me in much the same way that Bon Iver does. I’m hoping to have him produce some songs of mine in the near future.

I also greatly admire artists like Tyler Lyle (an LA based songwriter with a golden voice) whose lyrics I find to be poignant, poetic, and inventive at the same time. He inspires me in a big way to become a more skilled lyricist.”

Whenever You Call - While We Are Waking by McNary

Tim has released the EP ‘While We Were Walking’ which is a wonderful collection of songs. This is an EP that has no frills or over production, this is all about the music (the way it should be). The music is simplistic yet complex as it provides the right atmosphere and emotion for the lyrics. Each song is a well written story that is told by Tim’s great vocal tone which has a raw honest sound to it that is great to hear. I think honest is the best way to describe this EP and I think this is the reason why it has caught my attention. This EP is a hidden gem in the vast amount of music that is available out there and deserves to be heard!

So you are probably wondering which of his tracks would I recommend. I would recommend the tracks ‘Honeysuckle Dervish’ and ‘Bela’, both tracks show off Tim’s great musical style. However, ‘Empty are We’ is amazing, I rate this song very highly and is up there with some of the great songs written by some of my favourite artists such as Ryan Adams and Glen Hansard. This is a wonderfully crafted song which has resulted in a haunting and moving track that has soul and emotion. Getting the right emotion into a song that a listener feels instantly is a rare talent. I understand that I have given this song high praise, but I’m just telling it as it is.

What is you favourite track off the album and why?

“I can’t say that I have a favourite track on the album. It is certainly the first recording effort of mine where I’ve felt I have been able to begin to capture the emotion that I feel when I perform the songs live. It is definitely a solid picture of where I was when the album was recorded, and reflects the substantial artistic growth I’ve experienced during the past few years.”

Empty Are We - While We Are Waking by McNary

What’s the future plans for your music?

“I moved to Nashville in the state of Tennessee one month ago. My reasoning for that is to challenge myself to grow both as a songwriter and musician by living in a more music centric place. A medium term plan of mine is to come out with another EP in the next 9 months. I have several songs that I think are very strong and would record professionally tomorrow if I had the funding!”

Tim had generously gave fans the option to download either or both of his EP’s on Noisetrade (click here). I recommend you head over make a donation or spread the love for his music on your social media sites. This is some amazing music waiting for your listening pleasure.

I hope with the support of his fans that he will release his new EP as I for one can not wait to hear what story his new music will tell. I feel that Tim has so much more to offer and I hope he gets the opportunity to show us that his best is yet to come.

As always I have provided some links for some of Tim’s sites and feel free to go say hello to Tim. I can honestly say that Tim is such a nice guy, he is always great to chat to. Go and listen to his music, say hello and support the great work that this artist provides for us listeners.

Website: mcnarymusic.com

Facebook: facebook.com/McNaryMusic

Twitter: twitter.com/McNarymusic

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/mcnary

Bandcamp: mcnary.bandcamp.com/

Technorati Tags: Tim McNary,While we were Walking,Empty we are,Bela,Honeysuckle Dervish,americana,country soul,music recommendations,ryan adams,glen Hansard

Great Escape Festival 2013 Day 3

2013-05-26T18:52:00.001+01:00

The final day of The Great Escape Festival (See Day 1 and Day 2) and another full day was planned with more great artists that were chosen by Laura (my wife) and myself. Lets see how many of these artists were worthy additions to my ever growing music collection.

Matt Bonner

Well, I don’t really know how to explain this one as it was technically not part of the Great Escape Festival but a part of Brighton Fringe. I’m including it as part of my post as it was a musical event during a music festival. I became aware of Matt’s music because of Hadleigh Ford (blog regular) who included him in the compilation album Pink Christmas (see post Pink Christmas). Matt is an acoustic singer songwriter from the Brighton area whose music has recently become part of my collection.

Brighton is never a normal place and this is probably why I like the this city. To show that this is a place of randomness, Matt’s gig was held in a back of a van, yes this is true! I will say that, as strange as it may sound, it was a good set and it sounded better than some of the venues I have visited during my festival experience. Matt sung a nice selection of songs which included ‘I Sailed to You’ which is one of my favourite tracks by him and he also did a cover of R Kelly’s ‘Ignition’ which is the first time I’ve heard that song done acoustically. But overall, it was a cool and random set from a talented local singer songwriter. An artist well worth listening to.

I Sailed To You- Matt Bonner by Matt Bonner

Thomas J Speight

I had originally planned to see a band called The Beards who sing about beards (yes this is all true) but Thomas had a last minute set announced and because I am a fan of his music, I changed my plans to go and see him perform instead. I saw Thomas during my visit to Kendal Calling 2012 (see post Kendal Calling - Day 2) and he was as equally as good as he was then. Thomas always brings a great show to the crowds that see him.

This venue was in a tent which made it feel more like my typical festival experience. He did a mixture of new and old tracks and it was nice to hear a good variation. I really enjoyed his new material and I am looking forward to future a release, but I would say that as a fan ha ha! I was happy to hear him perform ‘Willow Tree’ as it is one of my favourite tracks that I have heard from him. He is such a talented artist that I recommend you go and listen to, also maybe see perform live.

Willow Tree by Thomas J Speight

The Temperance Movement

I have blogged about the band a few weeks ago (see The Temperance Movement) and I mentioned my excitement to see this band. However this excitement was short lived as they did not play at the festival. I got to the venue at the time they were meant to play and I also double checked the time on the festivals website. A band came on stage and I noticed that this did not look like the band nor did they sound anywhere anything similar. I checked with the venue who said that the band pulled out, I was not amused. To make things worse, the festival put on twitter 10 minutes before the gig that The Temperance Movement were playing. Lets say I was less than happy about this. Long story short, I left the venue in search of some random act to go and see.

Only Friend by The Temperance Movement

DUNE

Because of the shambles involved with the previous gig of The Temperance Movement, we decided to head to the venue for Laura’s next choice. As we got there earlier than planned, we were able to catch the set by an act called Dune.

This Australian electro-pop group may not have been planned but it was a nice surprise. Jade had a cool and energetic stage presence which kept the crowd entertained and at times showcased some amazing vocals. This may not have been my type of sound but I respected that this act put on a great show which sounded good.

DUNE - Shoestring - full length version by This Is Dune

Chloe Howl

Another selection by Laura and another cool choice. Chloe is an electro-pop sounding artist who at times with her lyrics reminded me a little of a style similar to Lily Allen. As a young artist she has a nice creative way with her lyrics which is delivered by her great voice. I feel that she is one to watch out for, there is something about her sound that will be a hit in the commercial music scene.

Rumour by Chlöe Howl

Bears Den

This acoustic folk band have a great sound, unfortunately I was unable to see them. I queued for 40 mins as I watched people with delegate passes going in and I was eventually told that the venue was full. Again I was left frustrated. This was my last participation as there was no one else left that I wanted to go and see at the festival. It was a shame that my festival experience with Great Escape ended like this.

Day 3 Awards

Artist of the Day: Thomas J Speight

Song of the Day: Willow Tree (Thomas J Speight)

I know that my last day was crazy and that I did not get to see some of the artist that I wanted to see. Saying that, I did have a good time overall but I’m not going to lie, it could have been better. I did get to see some great new artists and some of them have become additions to my music collection. I would say that my top 3 acts for the festival (in no particular order) were:

3 different artists who bring their own awesome style of music and who made the festival so much fun. I had a good time at the festival but I am in two minds if I would return next year or maybe I might try a different festival.

So my festival for this year is over, feel free to share some of your festival experiences with me (if you would like to) at the links at the top of my site. Until next, rock on my friends!

Technorati Tags: Great Escape Festival,Matt Bonner,Thomas J Speight,Temperance Movement,The Beards,Dune,Chloe Howl,Bears Den,music,folk,singersongwriter

Great Escape Festival 2013 Day 2

2013-05-21T23:00:00.001+01:00

I survived day one of my experience at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton and I had already found some amazing new bands for my collection (see post Great Escape Festival Day 1). Day 2 was planned a little differently as I was going to listen to music that was selected by my wife Laura. This way I could have my ears opened to some new sounds and it was going to give me a more varied festival experience.

Mo Kenney

First of the day was one of Laura’s choices which was an artist by the name of Mo Kenney, a singer songwriter from Canada. She played a great selection of songs and told some nice stories between songs which entertained the audience. Mo’s music had a pleasant tone to it and I really enjoyed the set. Laura bought Mo’s album and I have to admit, I’m looking forward to listening to it (maybe a review in the future).

Current Swell

Story Time!!! I had this band on my shortlist to watch, but I decided not to see them because I wanted to go to a discussion about blogs in the music industry. However once I got to this seminar, I was not allowed in as I did not have a delegate's pass. Maybe I should have checked the website beforehand, but they should let anyone interested to attend. Anyway, I quickly dashed to catch the set by Current Swell.

This set was well worth going to, these guys were awesome. This roots rock Canadian band gave us a great set that was one of my highlights of the festival. They started off with a bluesy sounding track and finished with a heavier rock vibe, these guys can really mix it up. As a band, they complimented each other well, they each performed their own little solo with their instruments (can’t beat a drum solo). They were that good that I picked myself a copy of their album after the set and can’t wait to hear it in full.

Brad's Song by currentswell

The Dunwells

I am not used to seeing three guitarists in one band, but these guys have them in their band and to great effect. The Dunwells surprised me with their blend of UK rock with Americana and their use of different singers plus some cool harmonies. I know I had heard one of their tracks before hand but these guys caught me off guard on how good they sounded. I just wished they had a better venue as I don’t think they had the crowd that they deserved. I do have plans to purchase their album and look forward to hopefully catching their next live performance. Definitely a band to watch for.

I Could Be A King | The Dunwells by concordmusicgroup

Jake Isaac

This guy caught my attention when I did my homework on the festival with his wonderful soulful tone. I heard his track ‘Stronger’ beforehand and this track sounded even better live which was also a favourite from his set. Jake is not only a great soul singer but he knows how to please the crowd with his friendly and funny personality. My only issue with the set was that it’s location was in a nightclub and its sound system did not fit his style of music. Apart from that, this is another performer that I would like to see again in the future and I also bought a copy of his EP for my collection.

Marika Hackman

This artist was another choice by Laura and I have to admit that this was a great selection. Marika performed her set in a small church which the venues acoustics suited her style of music and voice. Marika is a singer songwriter who’s gentle vocals are soothing and who also has a great lyrical style. This was a nice performance which added to its venue made it a highlight of my festival experience.

Marika Hackman - Cannibal by Marika Hackman

Caitlin Park

I stumbled across Caitlin’s set while waiting for next act to start. I caught about 5 songs and they were pretty good, her electro acoustic sound is not normally my type of thing but I enjoyed it. Caitlin has a very cool and quirky stage presence which I liked, definitely an artist who does her music the way she wants too, I respect that. Maybe not something I would buy, but a good artist that maybe another one to watch for the future.

Baby Teeth by Caitlin Park (official)

Another selection by Laura which when listening to this pint sized Danish songstress I knew this was her type of sound. Mo reminded me a little of a cross between Bjork and Robyn with her style of electro pop with a crazy twist. The set was ok, Laura definitely enjoyed it more than me, but not really my cup of tea.

MØ - Waste Of Time by _MØ_

Day 2 was definitely a busy day filled with a great variation of sounds and a few more festival highlights. Like Day 1 I have chosen my band and song of the day, which are:

Day 2 Awards

Band of the Day: Current Swell

Song of the Day: Stronger (Jake Isaac)

I did prefer Day 1 just because it was more my styles of music but it was still another day filled with great music. I will say that Laura did choose some amazing artists that I did enjoy, her taste in music isn’t too bad ha ha! Spoiler ALERT, the final day was eventful, but you will have to check out the next part to find out how.

Technorati Tags: Great Escape Festival,Mo Kenney,Current Swell,The Dunwells,Jake Isaac,Marika Hackman,Caitlin Park,Mo,music,festival.

Great Escape Festival 2013 Day 1

2013-05-19T19:44:00.001+01:00

I`m writing this post after my 3 day experience at the Great Escape Festival in Brighton. This has been my first time at this festival.

The Great Escape Festival showcases over 350 artists over a 3 day period in 30 venues scattered around the town centre of Brighton. It has been a weird but interesting experience to be running around town to the next venue instead of running round a field (the usual festival experience!) They had a great selection of different styles of music to fit everyone's tastes and they kept me on my toes with so much music to choose from.

You are probably wondering how my time went during the festival and I’m planning to write three posts, one for each day. Each post will let you know who I saw with a mini review and a track for you to listen to. I have continued my usual randomness of sounds but have a listen as your new favourite band may be waiting for you.

Houndmouth

What a great way to start my first day at the festival with this folky Americana sounding band with a mix of guitar riffs and harmonising vocals. This band sounded great together and is definitely my type of sound. They had a slow start but once they found there groove it got a lot better. They did their best with the small audience they had due to the early time slot, my only issue was that they didn’t have any CD’s with them, I wanted to buy a copy!

Brother and Bones

Words can not express how much this band surprised me (in a good way). This band played in a cool little pub called The Hope (which I plan to go back to ha ha). I will admit, I heard one song by the band before going to see them but I did not expect the awesome show I witnessed.

The folk rock band provided a great set which had a mixture of tempo’s and some vocals that blew my mind. The band themselves were on fire, they sounded awesome with great beats and awesome riffs. Credit has to go to Rich for his vocals, some of the best folk rock vocals I have heard live in a long time. When he sung ‘Gold & Silver’, I was stunned not only by the great vocals but also how great of a song it was, it was a showstopper moment. This is a band that is firmly on my radar and has a new fan to add to their ranks.

After the gig, I asked Yiannis (drummer) if they had any copies of their EP available, unfortunately they left them in the van. I spoke to Yiannis and Rich for a short while and they were both great guys who seemed very grounded. They told me they are working on their new album.

I am planning to get their two previous EP’s soon and when I do, expect to hear more from Brother and Bones. Like I said, I’m a fan now!

Skin and Bone by Brother & Bones

We were Evergreen

This trio were playing at the Hub and the sun was shining which made their happy go lucky electro pop sound very good to listen to. However, their music wasn’t really the kind of sound that I would normally listen to and I thought they were just ok (tough critic ha ha).

Leeway by We Were Evergreen

Tom Odell

I will be the first to admit, I don’t like to follow the hype that comes with some artists and I know there has been a lot of attention on Tom’s music. It was by chance that I caught Tom’s performance. He put on a good show and he seemed like a nice guy, but I am not sure what all the fuss is about. I’m not saying I dislike his music, I thought it was ok but I have heard better from artists who don’t get this kind of attention.

Long Way Down (demo) by Tom Odell

Jeremy Loops

When I did my research for the festival, Jeremy was one of the acts that I was really excited to see. Did he live up to my expectation? YES!!!!

I can only describe Jeremy’s live performance as a musical trip of illusion and magic. I know you are reading this and wondering what I’m talking about, let me try to explain. The magic and illusion is the result of a loop pedal that Jeremy uses to create his music which is a mash up of different elements including folk, reggae, with other crazy good sounds. Check out the video for ‘Power’ below to see what I mean. Jeremy is such a happy guy and that happiness was infectious, resulting in a fun gig that made everyone smile. During his performance he was accompanied on stage by rapper Motheo Moleko and saxophonist Jamie Faull who were great additions to this musical party.

My favourite song of the set was ‘My Shoes’ which featured Motheo performing some guest vocals. This upbeat track was the last song of the night (my gig day too) and it had the crowd jumping around like crazy.

I caught up with Moleko (really nice guy) after the gig when I bought myself a copy of Jeremy’s EP (which I will review soon). He told me that a new album is in the works, obviously I’m excited about that.

So, day one was over and I was buzzing from the music that I heard. Here are my mini awards for the music of the day:

Day 1 Awards

Band of the Day: Brother & Bones

Song of the Day: Gold & Silver (by Brother & Bones)

I couldn’t wait for day two to begin to find out what new music was going to catch my attention. The next post will be soon and will continue my adventures during The Great Escape Festival. Until then, let me know which of these artists have now become a new favourite of yours.

Technorati Tags: Great Escape Festival,Houndmouth,Brother & Bones,We Were Evergreen,Tom Odell,Jeremy Loop,music festival,music

Introducing Little Brother Eli

2013-05-15T20:47:00.001+01:00

This blog is about a very cool bluesy rock band called ‘Little Brother Eli’. These guys emailed me and asked if I would consider reviewing their debut self titled EP. Below is the video for ‘Animal Fair’ which was the first track I heard from the band and caused me to have the line ‘monkey monkey monkey’ stuck in my head for the last few weeks (watch the video, you know what I mean). I have to admit I absolutely love the track ‘Animal Fair’, but I will talk about that later in the post. After hearing this track, I was a newly converted fan!

‘Little Brother Eli’ is the creation of Alex Grew and Joshua Rigal. These guys have made it their mission to bring us some kick ass bluesy rock with an old skool hip hop twist. Very cool mission!

I had the opportunity to talk to the guys and get some more information about this talented band:

What was the reason behind the band name?

The name took some considerable thought. We knew we wanted "Brother" in there somewhere, because we felt like that conveyed a little bit about us as a partnership. The name Eli sprung up from a few different places, there are some biblical references to Eli in the old testament, and also a particularly interesting character in the Cohen brothers' film "There Will Be Blood".

What and who was the influences behind your sound?

Everyone in the band brings their own influences to the 'sound' of LBE - from serious blues guitar to backbone hip-hop influenced drums. With regards to the songs, Josh and I bring in our own personal influences. I learnt a lot about melody from listening to my Dad's ELO records, so Jeff Lynne is a huge influence on me. I know Josh brings a great deal of his funk and soul background to the music, so it's artists like Stevie Wonder and Larry Graham from him. I think you can hear our mutual fondness of Jack White and The Black Keys as well.

Awkward Positions by LittleBrotherEli

As I mentioned earlier, the guys have released a their self titled debut EP. This very short 3 track EP sounds so good and I have my CD copy of it on order (I can’t wait to play it to death at my own convenience!).

The EP starts off like a hurricane with the track ‘Animal Fair’. Words can’t express how much I love this song and it’s journey into raw distorted guitar rock blues. I have to admit the lyrics are crazy but I like it! I like how this song screams energy but they slow it down and then bring the noise back! Talk about teasing us with their sound. This song has been stuck in my head since I heard it, it’s sooooooo good.

‘Awkward Positions’ offers us something a little slower with some sexier lyrics. This track oozes a haunting atmosphere that is designed to entice. At first I thought this track was just ok, but the more I hear the more it seduces me. If I could name this song I would have called it ‘The sexy minx’ ha ha!

Last up is ‘When She Sings’ which starts off slow, with gentle vocals before kicking in with a funky rock vibe and then slows it back down to a stripped down gentle finale. This song is a roller coaster of sounds but it’s musical journey is awesome!

Each track offers something different but at the same time showcases the great sound that this band brings. Musically, the band rock with some great drumming and some sexy blues guitar riffs (check out the video below ‘Hanging’ to hear what I mean’). Alex’s vocals showed a great bluesy range which included a gentle soulful tone to a raw rockin sound. I will admit, the vocals on ‘Awkward Positions’ are sublime. There is something familiar about Alex’s tone but I can’t put my finger on it. Overall, ‘Little Brother Eli’ have brought us an EP that deserves attention as there is some magic to be heard.

When She Sings (B-side) by LittleBrotherEli

So you know what ‘Little Brother Eli’ have to bring to the table when you listen to their EP but I feel there is so much more for them to offer. Their best is still to come! I asked the guys about their live show and their plans for the future:

What can we expect from your live shows?

High energy levels and some occasional synchronised dance moves. We love performing, I think that other than the music - that's what we're in it for really. We have great fun on stage hopefully that comes across - particularly in songs like Animal Fair. We also work really hard in rehearsal to make our live performances a fulfilling experience for the audience, so that the set feels as 'complete' as any any recorded album should.

Your EP is a little short, is there an album planned for the future?

Ha ha, it is, I think we may have slightly pushed the boundaries of it being and extended play. We have the material for an album, and we can't wait to get it laid down - there are plans to moving on this sometime in the next year, but obviously at the moment, we're taking our first steps, finding our feet and it's all about building from here.

Their EP may be short and sweet but I can’t wait for the full length album. I have high expectations for their future releases as they have already demonstrated that they have real talent and have a great range of sounds. I’m going to be eagerly waiting for ‘Little Brother Eli’ next release if not an album then another EP, all I know is that I want to hear more and hope your readers agree. Follow their progress at the sites below and show your support to their great music.

Bandsite: littlebrothereli.com

Facebook: facebook.com/LittleBrotherEli

Twitter:twitter.com/littlebroeli

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/littlebrothereli

Bandcamp: littlebrothereli.bandcamp.com/album/little-brother-eli-ep

Technorati Tags: Little Brother Eli,self titled,EP,Blues,rock,Animal Fair,Awkward Position,When she sings,music,recommend

Introducing VARNA!

2013-05-12T16:27:00.001+01:00

I want to introduce you to an awesome rock band called VARNA! This band has definitely caught my attention for many reasons and I am going to explain why. I am a huge fan of rock music (which is part of my musical foundations) and this band know how to rock!

The band consists of Tiana Woods (vocals), Rossen Pinkas (guitar) and Rob Shin (drums), collectively they bring us a melodic rock sound that is getting a lot of well deserved interest. VARNA have a great commercial rock sound but at the same time they still have their own sound that stands out from the rock crowd (this is one of the reasons I noticed the band).

The main reason that this band has stood out for me is the killer vocals that are provided by Tiana Woods. This lady can REALLY sing and I have to admit, she has one of the best female rock vocals I have heard in a while. In my opinion she is up there with some of todays great female rockers like Hayley Williams (Paramore) and Lizzy Hale (Halestorm). She has fantastic vocal tone and a great range, both she seems to control with great ease. Don’t get me wrong, the music provided by Rossen and Rob is awesome but I think they would admit that Tiana steals the show.

VARNA have released their debut EP 'This Time, It's Personal' which is a 3 track taster of what this band are capable of. It showcases their rock sound which is accompanied with some great guitar riffs and amazing vocals. All three tracks could be released as singles as each one is as strong as the next. My favourite track has to be ‘Down’ as it is the first track I heard and on my second listen I was already singing along to parts of it. Yes it’s that good as well as catchy, I would definitely recommend this EP to ALL fans of rock!

My Heart by varnamusic

I got the chance to talk to the band and ask them a few questions, this is what they had to say:

The band name VARNA, what’s the story behind it or why the name?

We actually have three reasons why we picked Varna. It was the name of the street our rehearsal studio was located on, Ross (guitarist) is from Bulgaria (Varna is one of the biggest cities there) and it was mentioned in Tiana's favourite book, 'Interview with The Vampire'. We took it as a sign and renamed our band, VARNA (formerly Living Eulogy, which we started in early 2010).

Who are your inspirations behind the bands sound?

Mariah Carey and Slayer, which people always don't get right away. If you listen to the vocals and the guitar work, it makes perfect sense.

What do VARNA have planned for 2013?

Right now, our goal is to play as many shows as we're offered and continue to spread the word about VARNA, so we can keep making music for our supporters. This band is 100% financed and run by us. We are looking for a management deal and are accepting offers! Meanwhile, you can check us performing around Southern California and we working on a plan to tour nationally very soon.

Running Away by varnamusic

This is a band I feel are going to be around for a long time and I recommend to check them out. This band are very friendly on the social media sites, so you should go say hello.

VARNA are a great band on the rise and with our support they can hopefully get the opportunity to release a full album of great rock songs for our listening pleasure. Until then, I will support their music as a fan and eagerly await for new tracks.

Band Site: varnaband.com

Facebook: facebook.com/varnaband

Twitter: twitter.com/varnaband

YouTube:youtube.com/varnaband

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/varnamusic

Technorati Tags: VARNA,This time it's Personal,Down,Running Away,My Heart,rock,Paramore,Halestorm,music recommendation

May Gig ‘Tom McRae’

2013-05-08T21:06:00.001+01:00

Since I started my blog, I have learned to appreciate the musical style of acoustic singer songwriters. This appreciation has become the style of music I have bought the most in my collection over the last year.

One of my favourite artists I have bought is the singer Tom McRae. I have to confess that Tom is fairly new to my collection as I have only been a fan since September 2012, like I said earlier, a new found appreciation for this type of sound. He may be new to my collection but he is already becoming a personal favourite and easily makes my top 5 singer songwriters of ALL time! Yes, his music is that good!

Tom’s current tour is connected to his 2012 release ‘From the Lowlands’ which I bought while at the gig. This album is a collection of well crafted songs which continues to showcase Tom’s amazing lyrical style alongside a sublime vocal talent.

The gig itself was at the Sage Gateshead which I have only been to a few times but every gig I’ve been to there has been excellent.

The support act for Tom was the vocal talent of Chloe Swann who sounded good but her music wasn’t my kind of sound. However I still recommend you check her out.

Autumn Leaves by -SWANN-

To the main event, Mr Tom McRae. All I can say is that he was much more than I expected. I’m not sure what I was expecting before hand but the show he produced was a lesson on how to be an all round entertainer. One of the things that struck me about Tom was he was a funny guy and I loved how he kept the audience entertained between songs. His humour and his friendly persona made the show even more special, I wish more live performers had these people skills.

He played most of the tracks off the new album, my highlights included ‘Nothing on the Dry land’ and ‘Prometheus’ which both sounded so good. My favourite song off the album and my favourite song of the night was ‘All that’s Gone’. This song literally blew me away, the combination of Tom’s great vocal and the songs great lyrics made this track a special moment. He also sung tracks off his older albums which I was very happy about as they included some of my favourite tracks. ‘For the Restless’ and ‘Bloodless’ sounded even better live. My other highlight of the night had to be ‘You only Disappear’, this was another song that the words said so much and was delivered with a great vocal tone that Tom possesses.

During the songs, Tom got the audience involved by singing along and sometimes even whistling! I have to admit, sometimes it sounded great but other times it was horrific ha ha! He gave a nice speech at the end of his 2 hour set thanking every for coming out as he says that solo performances are made special because of the audience.

Tom McRae - Sloop John B by LotusBleu

Tom is one of those musicians who’s recorded music sounds great, but hearing him live is another level. His voice has such a wonderful tone that makes his music hard to resist. This combines with his great talent he has with his lyrics and guitar style makes his music such a winning combination.

As gigs go, this is with some of my favourites and I can’t wait to see Tom perform live again. I was a fan before hand but now I have a better appreciation of his music. I can’t recommend the music of Tom McRae highly enough, such a great talent.

Website: tommcrae.com

Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Tom-McRae

Twitter: twitter.com/tommcrae

Technorati Tags: Tom McRae,From the Wasteland,Sloop John B,Nothing on the Dry land,Prometheus,All thats gone,For the Restless,Bloodless,singer songwriter,recommedation,gig

Buster Brown and the Get Downs

2013-05-05T19:24:00.001+01:00

Last month I got recommended to check out the band ‘Buster Brown and the Get Down’. These guys from Washington DC have an awesome sound and I’m so glad that they were recommend to me (thanks to Christopher McVey from the band Redline Addiction).

I have read that the the band’s line-up has changed over the years but they have now found the right combination of musicians which include Dustin Conley (vocals & guitar), John Lee (Electric Guitar), Perry Lemmon (Percussion), Mike Echols (Bass Guitar), Michael Prior (Keyboards) and Dathan Harper aka Flex Mathews (MC). This group of guys have developed a reputation of delivering charismatic energetic music that can be described as a combination of rock, funk, jazz, hip-hop, blues and reggae.

Can't Let You Go by getdownwithbrown

So, on to the music, this band have released their album ‘Like the blink of an eye’ which lasts a lot long than that ha ha! From start to finish the album has a feel good factor that makes their music so infectious, even their slower tracks still feel good. This album has a cocktail of sounds and when I first heard this I was was kept guessing on what they were going to offer next. It just shows that this is a band that can offer variety and still deliver some great music.

This is a band that is collectively strong and together help to deliver the music. I mean that normally I would say that the vocals or guitars stand out but this time it’s EVERYONE that sounds great. Don’t get me wrong I do enjoy the vocals delivered by Dustin and Flex but it just adds to the already awesome sound.

Makin Love by getdownwithbrown

What tracks would I recommend of this funky little album? There are so many good tracks to choose from but I would choose ‘For boys and girls’ (which offers a nice soulful vibe with some cool vocals) and ‘Makin Love’ (this is a great little funky track). Without a doubt, my favourite song off the album has to be ‘Can’t let you go’ which feels like summer, I mean it has a happy sound that makes me think of summer, I understand it may sound weird but I’m writing what I’m feeling. This is a track that ticks all the right boxes for me, sounds so good!

Good God by getdownwithbrown

The sun is shining while I write this post and the music is sounding so good. I wish someday that I may get the opportunity to see these guys live as I imagine that they deliver a great musical experience that will leave you wanting more. If you get the opportunity to see ‘Buster Brown and the Get Downs’ perform live, enjoy it for me and let me know about it. Otherwise check these guys out and support their music, everyone needs a little funk in their life!

Website: getdownwithbrown.com

Facebook: facebook.com/GetDownWithBrown

Twitter: twitter.com/getdownwithbrow

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/getdownwithbrown

YouTube: youtube.com/busterbrownband

Technorati Tags: Buster Brown and the get Downs,Soul,funk,rock,reggae,Good God,Makin Love,can't let you go,music,recommendation,album review

The Temperance Movement

2013-05-01T20:37:00.001+01:00

Not long now until I head to the south of the UK to the Great Escape Festival in Brighton, good times are coming! So many bands in 3 days, I wonder how many I will see?

The band that I am most eager to see is the bluesy rockers ‘The Temperance Movement’. I have only been a fan for a few months after a friend from work recommended them to me, and I’m glad she did!

The Temperance Movement have an amazing old school southern rock vibe with a bluesy edge. The band have such a great sound that I got converted into a fan 42 seconds into the first track (when you know, you just know). The biggest surprise about this band is that these guys are from the UK!!! I would not have guessed it from their sound, what a great surprise. The Brits are still here to rock!!!

So far these guys have released the EP ‘Pride’ which is awesome but only a taster of what is to come (I hope there is more, fingers crossed for a full album).

The EP has a great balance of tempo and shows that these guys are NO one trick pony. The track ‘Only Friend’ showcases the bands more natural sound with some back to basics cool riffs and a simplistic rock feel. This may sound dull, but trust me it isn’t as it shows that natural rock vibe that some of the great southern rock bands like Skynyrd and Allman Brothers often release.

The band show off their tender side with the tracks ‘Pride’ and ‘Lovers & Fighters’. These tracks are all about the vocals, as here is where you can listen to some amazing emotion which assists in telling the stories of some nicely written lyrics. The band sound great on these tracks but they are over shadowed by some vocal magic.

Now this is where the music step up and the band show us how to rock. ‘Be Luck’ has some catchy riffs that get your feet tapping or grab for that trusty air guitar. This track definitely has that wonderful southern rock flavour that I never get tired of listening too. ‘Ain’t no telling’ shows off their great bluesy rock sound with some great vocals and awesome guitar riffs. This is the first track I heard and my favourite, I love a good dirty bluesy rock sound! I can happily listen to this song all day! This is such a great EP but as always, I wished there was more tracks.

Only Friend by The Temperance Movement

I really can’t wait to see these guys live and it’s in a little venue which means it’s going to sound AWESOME!!! Yes, I’m a little excited, but this is what music is all about. I recommend you check these guys out and head over to their social media sites to keep up to date with what’s going on in their rockin world. I hoping there will be an album in the future, if there is, then expect me to review it as this band rocks.

Website: thetemperancemovement.com

Facebook: facebook.com/pages/The-Temperance-Movement

Twitter: twitter.com/ttm_tweets

YouTube: youtube.com/user/temperanceband

Technorati Tags: Temperance Movement,Pride,EP review,rock,Only Friend,Lovers & Fighters,Ain't no telling,Be lucky,southern rock

Why do I blog about music?

2013-04-28T13:37:00.001+01:00

Last week I was asked by a guy at work about my blog, he said he has heard me speak about it few times and wanted to know a little bit more. This is how the conversation went after I explained what my blog was about:

Guy from work: Cool, how many readers do you have?

Me: Don’t know, don’t really check.

Guy from work: (shocked look) why do you bother blogging if you are not bothered about how many readers you have?

Me: It’s not that I’m not bothered but it’s not the reason why I blog

Guy from work: er, ok . . . . . that’s a bit weird (end of conversation)

I found the conversation strange, but I guess he wasn’t bothered about my reasons why I blog. So, I thought I’d write a post on why I blog about music and answer a few questions that I would ask another music blogger, I guess I’m interviewing myself. I know that may sound weird but at least it may give some answers to other people who may be interested in blogging or want to understand why I write my blog.

13inlet - Summer Girl (Acoustic) by 13inlet

Why do you write a blog about music? In a nutshell, because music is such a major part of my life, it’s not just a hobby. There are so many reasons why music is such an important part of my life, but I guess it’s about what a song can bring. For example, there is nothing like the feeling of hearing a new track and the emotion it creates in you when you are hearing something really awesome. It sounds so good that you get lost in the song, either singing along, tapping your fingers/feet or even air drumming.

I first started the blog because when I joined Twitter I got talking to a few musicians and long story short, they said I should start a blog. One of these artists was Pat Schmid from the band Monkey Trick and 13Inlet. I understand that some people read my blog and they will see that I may not be the greatest of writers but I hope they read the passion I have for the music, this is what keeps me writing.

How much time do you spend on the blog – It’s weird as I only write 2 posts per week but it seems to take up a lot of my spare time, but I enjoy it so I don’t mind. I would say most of the time is spent researching for new music than writing about it.

What have I learnt from my time writing the blog? I don’t know where to begin, it has been a huge learning curve and I have learned so much that I will give a few examples. I have learnt about the power of music fans, how they can help artists release new music with the sites like Pledge Music and Kickstarter. My first pledge project was with the amazing singer songwriter Hadleigh Ford who released his album ‘Solow’ through Pledge Music. Since then, I always like to go on these music sites to see what new music I can support.

Butterfly by Hadleigh Ford

I have also learnt more about internet radio and how it is a new way for independent musicians to get their music heard. One of my favourite internet radio stations is New Driven Radio and because of them I have found so many great new artists. These internet radio stations are always looking for new music to help promote, but they need musicians and fans to let them know as there is so much music out there. I suggested a local band called Sky Red to New Driven and because I did, this band got their first radio play (very cool)

What are the highs and low’s of blogging? This is an easy one as my answer sort of answers both highs and lows and it’s about the response I get from musicians. I love music and I love being able to be an extra voice to help spread the word of great music. When I write posts I either do it becomes I’ve found some great music and I want to share it or sometimes an artists will contact me to help spread the word.

The major low’s of my blog is when an artist asks me to write about their music and I get no thanks for doing it. I know that may sound petty but if a musicians has asked me to review their music and I have spent the time to listen then write about it, a little thank you would be nice. I’m not asking for some huge gesture of thanks, just the words ‘thank you’ would do. I won’t mention names, but there has been a few musicians that have not been in touch after a post was written.

However, on the other side of the coin, some of the messages I have received have been at times overwhelming. I have had some amazing messages of gratitude and it’s these moments that keep me blogging.

Sky Red -Tomorrow Starts Today (Demo) by Sky Red UK

Would I recommend blogging? If you have a drive or passion in what you wish to blog about then I would definitely say YES! I’m not going to lie as there are times where it’s hard work and sometimes you question why, but I would stick with. I will openly admit that in January 2012 I came very close to quitting as it felt like it was too much and my motivation had gone. However, I spoke to some other bloggers and a few musicians who reminded me why us music bloggers do what we do. For that, I am grateful.

I hope other bloggers read this and relate to what I’ve been saying. I know bloggers who talk about different topics but I think the foundations of why we blog are the same, we enjoy what we do!

As for my blog, I have no plans to stop as my relationship with music is as strong as ever. So much planned for the future and I hope you come along for the journey!

Technorati Tags: Blogging,New Driven Radio,Hadleigh Ford,Sky Red,Pat Schmid,13Inlet,Monkey Trick

Shawn Nelson & The Good Buds

2013-04-24T21:03:00.001+01:00

One of my favourite things about writing the blog is when I get emails with recommendations of music to check out, and find the music is good, I mean REALLY good! One of these recommended bands is Shawn Nelson & The Good Buds.

These guys have a cool country rock sound that I really enjoy. I’ll hold my hands up, I don’t have a lot of this country sound in my collection but I am buying more. However, it’s bands like this who continue to open my mind to other genres of music.

Shawn Nelson is no stranger to the music scene as he has already released a few albums to great reviews. However he has returned with his band ‘The Good Buds’ who are Fletcher Murchison (Electric Mandolin), Will Webster (Electric Guitar), Joe Beckham (Bass), Patrick Herzfeld (Drums) and Graham Wilkinson (Harmony Vocals on "Yea Ya Right"). Together they are bringing us some amazing music to keep our ears entertained.

One Day by ShawnNelsonMusic

Shawn Nelson & The Good Buds have produced a new 4 track EP called ‘Enough’, which to be honest isn’t enough as I would have liked to hear more tracks. I must not grumble as what they have produced is a great sounding EP that showcases their talent and I hope this results in them releasing an album very soon.

This EP ticks all the right boxes with great sounding music, amazing vocals but it’s the lyrics that steal the show. They have that genuine feel that talks about elements of everyday life, there is some great lyrical writing on show. I love the first verse for ‘Come what May’:

Hard times hit us all
Better find the wherewithal
Gotta get up and fight another day
‘Cause life spins round and round
One day you’re up the next you’re down
And you know it’ll always go that way
You gotta get up and fight another day

There is something in their writing style that reminds me a little of Lynyrd Skynyrd. I don’t want to take anything away from the music as it sounds great, the EP shows a great mix of tempo, to the foot stomping ‘Yeah Ya Right’ to the more laid back ‘Come what May’. There is a sound here for everyone.

‘Enough’ is by far my favourite track, this song from the first listen caught my attention, there is something special about it. Again I will mention the lyrics as they talk about the difference between the rich and poor and they are delivered with a great vocal tone that tells the story with a wonderful natural feel. I like the lyrics:

You can call me crazy
Tell me I’m outta touch
But don’t tell me we got it easy
‘Cause I do believe I’ve had enough

This track also has an amazing guitar solo, it’s so good! I just love this track!!!

Come What May by ShawnNelsonMusic

I am going to start listening to the rest of Shawn Nelson’s music out there as there is something about his style that I am really enjoying. You never know, I might give them some mini reviews on here, so watch this space!

I do hope that Shawn Nelson & The Good Buds continue with some more releases and I hope its VERY soon. If you are reading this and thinking that country music is not for you, then try something new and give these guys a chance. This is a great sounding band that I am so glad Go Artist Go.com for contacting me about this band, for that I would like to thank them again ‘Thank You’. I will recommend you checking out Go Artist Go.com site out as they have a few other very cool artists for you to check out too.

Check out the links below to find out more and to hear some more great tracks that they have to offer. If you like what you hear, don’t forget to show your support and spread the word of the great sound of Shawn Nelson & The Good Buds.

Band site: shawnnelsonmusic.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/shawnnelsonmusic

Twitter: twitter.com/shawnnelsonband

YouTube: youtube.com/shawnnelsonmusic

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/shawnnelsonmusic

Enough by ShawnNelsonMusic

Technorati Tags: Shawn Nelson & The Good Buds,Enough,Come what May,One Day,Yeah Ya Right,country rock,Lynyrd Skynyrd,recommend

Como Brothers Band ‘Still Waters’ EP

2013-04-21T17:22:00.001+01:00

I first came across the Como Brothers last year when I heard their track ‘I Don’t Like You’ on New Driven Radio. This track had a great pop-rock feel with a little attitude and some catchy hooks. I did some homework on the brothers Matt and Andrew Como and found out this track was from their debut release ‘The Speed of Sound’. This EP is a solid release by the brothers, it showed that these guys have some real talent with great vocals and catchy lyrics.

I Don't Like You by comobrothersband

The new release ‘Still Waters’ EP is an evolution of their debut release and showcases that there is so much more to these guys. It seems that since their first release they have learned a lot and it seems they have strengthened every element of their sound. This has resulted in a very strong release that deserves the attention it is receiving.

This EP has a more mature sound than ‘The Speed of Sound’ and they are starting to show us more of their rock side. I have found the vocals are sounding stronger and show improved range and Andrew seems more confident in his guitar skills as he has thrown in a lot of very awesome riffs giving the EP its rockier edge.

The track ‘Parachute’ is the stand out track and it’s causing a stir in a lot of music circles. It ticks all the right boxes which could result in a huge commercial hit with its awesome vocals and some killer guitar riffs. My favourite track ‘Bad Karma’ has a more funky rock edge to it that reminds me a little of music by ‘The Script’. I like how this track has a little bit of attitude to it’s sound and you should check out the awesome guitar solo.

Overall, I highly recommend this EP to anyone who wants a great sounding pop-rock album with some great vocals, catchy lyrics and some cool guitar riffs.

Parachute - Still Waters EP by comobrothersband

I got the chance to ask The Como Brothers a few questions, this is what they said:

This is your second release, did you have a goal in mind before you started writing it? We actually started to write these songs while recording "The Speed of Sound". We started recording them Spring 2012 but put it on the back burner to write/record songs for Kayla Stockert. We finished recording the EP songs during the Summer/Fall of 2012. We also started to record our full length album Summer 2012. Our album will have 12 new songs and is scheduled to be released this summer. We are always writing new songs and will have enough songs for another full length album soon. I guess the answer is that we are always thinking and writing new songs with the goal of improving our craft and enjoy doing it!

Come on, what is it like working together? How do you survive as brothers that work together? It is great to always have a brother to turn to for support, advice and just plain honesty so yes with this comes some battles. Usually the battle is if one of us is really stuck on an idea and we just don't see eye to eye. In these times we can be stubborn but in the end we take each others advice because it does improve the song. We are each others sounding board and best friend so even when things get ugly we work it out. We do respect each others opinion and work on each others songs.

Bad Karma - Still Waters EP by comobrothersband

This is your chance to say something to the readers and your fans, what would you like to say? Wow! We have so much to say so we will try to keep it short. First, we have had an awesome two years coming to this point because of our fans so we want them to know that they are awesome! Without their constant support we would not be where we are. We also want them to know that we are currently trying to get as many radio/television interviews as we can. We are trying to get the word out so tune-in and find out the latest news! We will be playing at The Bitter End in NYC on May 31st so come out to see us. We would love to meet you!

So, a new album is on its way soon, I’ll be having me a copy of that on it’s release. If the level of music from the two EP’s are anything to go by, then this album will be the start of bigger things to come for the brothers. I can’t wait to hear it, but until then grab yourself a copy of ‘The Speed of Sound’ and ‘Still Waters’ EP, you won’t be disappointed.

Website: comobrothersband.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/ComoBrothersBand

Twitter: twitter.com/ComoBrosBand

YouTube: youtube.com/ComoBrothersBand

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/comobrothersband

Technorati Tags: Como Brothers Band,pop,rock,Still Waters,The Speed of Sound,Parachute,Bad Karma,I Didn't like you,music recommendation

Euphoria Audio Pledge

2013-04-17T20:38:00.001+01:00

It’s only been about four weeks since I introduced you all to the great music of the awesome rock band they call Euphoria Audio (see post Introducing Euphoria Audio). In the post I mentioned how much I enjoy this bands style of rock and how I couldn’t wait for them to release their debut album. Now they are planning to release their debut with the help of their fans using a my favourite fan funding site Pledge Music. If you know their music then go to the link below to show your support:

pledgemusic.com/projects/euphoriaaudio

If you need a little information about the band, then this is a UK rock band that is catching a lot of people’s attention with their sound. Their music has a strong rock sound which is heavily influenced by bands such as Nickelback, Coldplay, Lifehouse and Goo Goo Dolls. Their music is full of great riffs, cool lyrics and some killer vocals. If this describes music you enjoy then Euphoria Audio is the band for you!

I got the chance to ask the guys a few questions about their new project:

Why did you decide to use a fan funding site like Pledge Music?

We love our relationship with our fans and make every effort to reply and talk to every one. We truly find it so overwhelming that people take the time to support and interact with us. We love it. We chose Pledge as this extends this notion even further and really allows the fans to be a part of our album with us. It's great!

"Fly Tonight" Unplugged for the BBC - 05/04/13 by Euphoria Audio

What would it mean to you to have the support of your fans to help release your debut album?

It would mean a lot to us, definitively. Our fans are there for us all of the time and they are incredible! To have their support in getting this album together and pressing it worldwide is something we find so exciting and we can not wait for everybody to hear our debut record. So much heart and soul has gone into making this record and to have the fans right there by our side is amazing. Their support is insane, we are overwhelmed everyday.

The guys from the band made a cool video (see above) talking some more about the new album and a little bit more. I like how they talk about their personal favourite tracks off the new album.

"3 Seconds" Unplugged for the BBC - 12/04/13 by Euphoria Audio

I have to admit, I have high expectations for this album as the tracks I have heard so far are quality. I am totally hooked on the track “3 Seconds” as it’s one of those tracks you can’t help but sing along to and its a great track. I can’t wait to hear what other gems they will have on the new album.

As you can gather for my pledge I have opted for my usual of a signed copy of the new album, you know it’s got to be CD’s for me. It’s going to be a welcomed addition to my ever growing collection.

You know between now and the end of the project you will hear a little more from Euphoria Audio on the blog and on my twitter page (@myrandomjukebox). I have all the confidence that these guys will hit their target as their music speaks for itself but it still needs fans like us to support and spread the word. So lets support this bands great music!

Band Site: euphoria-audio.com/

MySpace: myspace.com/euphoriaaudio

Facebook: facebook.com/euphoriaaudio

Twitter: twitter.com/euphoriaaudio

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/euphoria-audio

Technorati Tags: Euphoria Audio,Pledge Music,rock,new album,music recommendations,3 Seconds,Fly Tonight

Say hello to the ‘Suburban Dirts’

2013-04-14T19:12:00.001+01:00

Let me introduce you to a band called ‘Suburban Dirts’ who describe themselves as a ‘Trailer trash country blues band’. I’m not sure why they think they are trailer trash but the country blues band I definitely agree with. I first heard about this band via of the artist Marching Donald (see post Introducing Marching Donald) and I’m so glad I did as I love this bands bluesy sound.

Suburban Dirts have mentioned that some of their influences include Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Ryan Adams so some of their sound has a more Americana folk feel. They have described their sound as timeless, when I first heard this comment I wasn’t sure on what they meant. I’m guessing with such timeless legends like these as influences, their sound will have the same feel. All I know know is that a like their sound a lot.

Tacho Breakdown Blues (Part 2) - Suburban Dirts by Suburban Dirts

So far the band have released their self titled album ‘Suburban Dirts’ which I can confirm sounds really damn good. I like how there are so many different sounds for you to hear on this album, there is something for everyone. Personally, I prefer when they hit the bluesy side of their sound, it makes my ears very happy.

The band themselves sound amazing but I have a feeling that seeing them perform live will be even better, hopefully I will find this out myself someday. As a blues fan, for me it’s all about the vocals and guitar, with this album they help provide a strong element to it’s sound. John Wheatley’s voice has a great raw sound that helps make the album, he has such a unique tone which shows soul. These vocals also help deliver lyrics that are down to earth and tell some entertaining stories. As for the guitarist Dave Moyes, he provides us with some sexy riffs and some great solo’s which I do not get tired of hearing, this guy has some great skills.

As for the songs, my favourite tracks off the album include ‘I Ain’t Cut Out For Working 9 To 5’ which has a great foot stomping good time vibe. This is such a fun track and imagine this being a big hit during their live performances. I also like the track ‘I need your love so bad’ (cover of by Little Willy John song) on which they slow things down and we get to hear some nice tender vocals.

The first track off the album ‘Tacho Breakdown Blues (Part 2)’ is my favourite and what a way to start an album with an epic 7 minute musical journey. On this journey we a treated to some cool piano skills and some raw soulful vocals but this track belongs to the lead guitarist. One of the reason’s I am a big fan of the blues is how sexy an electric guitar can sound (it’s so good!) and Dave Moyes brings that element to this song. I have listened to this song a lot and I can not get tired of hearing it.

Overall is this an album that is more than welcome in my collection and demonstrates that blues music is alive and kicking in this modern age.

Stuck On You - Suburban Dirts by Suburban Dirts

The band did tell me what they have planned for the future, ‘Our second album, "A tiny little island in the Big Bad Sea", is due out this summer - we're really proud of it and can't wait to get it heard - and we're gonna start recording our third album, a concept album that we're currently writing. It's gonna be big.’

I can’t wait to hear the new album and when I do you will hear about it here! Concept albums always get me curious as who knows what sounds they will have, they can be a musical mystery but I’m sure it will be good. Until then you have their debut album to keep you entertained until their new releases. I’m a fan (if you couldn’t tell) and I hope I have converted you too. Go check out the album for yourself and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Facebook: facebook.com/suburbandirts

Twitter: twitter.com/suburbandirts

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/suburbandirts

YouTube: youtube.com/user/SuburbanDirts

"I Aint Cut Out For Working 9 To 5" - Suburban Dirts by Suburban Dirts

Technorati Tags: Suburban Dirts,Marching Donald,self titled,blues,americana,Bruce Springsteen,Bob Dylan,album review,recommend,Tacho Breakdown Blues,I Aint Cut Out For Working 9 To 5,Need your love so bad

We want more BELT!!!

2013-04-09T21:03:00.001+01:00

Regular readers will know that I have been showing my support to the awesome band called BELT. There is something about this bands sound that makes me happy, smile like a madman and has been know to make me act like a crazed baboon (some people might call it dancing ha ha). This bands hybrid sound of funky punk rock is a party in a musical album. I have described them as ‘if Weezer and Barenaked Ladies conceived a love child’ this is what it would sound like ha ha!

Back to business!!! The guys from BELT are needing our help using the fan funding site indiegogo.com to release their new album. If you have not shown your support, WHY NOT? Go to the link below and show your support or please wait until you have read the rest of the post:

indiegogo.com/help-belt-finish-their-unfinished-album

In case you didn’t know already, if you "Like" them on Facebook (HERE) they will send you a FREE download of the album DISQUIETUDE (see BELT – Disquietude for review). Get it, listen and support the new album.

LIONS AND WHALES by BELT

To give you a better insight into this crazy good band, I got the chance to ask Terry Brennan (the genius mastermind behind the music) a few questions.

Your style of music has so many flavours to it, which artists have helped to influence your style?

‘Almost anything that was any good from the 20th century has influenced the "BELT Sound," it's the evolution of rock. All the music I listened to growing up up has added a little spice to the soup. Early bands like The Beatles were a huge influence of course, as well as bands like The Kinks, Led Zeppelin, Electric Light Orchestra, Pink
Floyd etc. Then you have bands that were my middle school contemporaries like Nirvana, Green Day, Toadies, Radiohead, Weezer and the like. I was also a hug hip-hop fan, so you can find elements of that if you listen closely. I've always admired bands such as The Clash and The Pixies that can switch up their style at the drop of a hat, and I think that comes through. The game for us is not emulating anybody specific, and thus creating a new hybrid that draws elements we like from infinite styles.’

From the videos I have seen of your live performances, fun seems to a priority. What is the important factor when you perform live?

‘It really depends on the environment. If we're performing at a venue that encourages the audience to listen, we may try to pull off a deeper and more varied set that takes the audience on an emotional ride. If we're playing a beer-pong fest with a bunch of drunken frat boys, we'll probably just smash 'em in the face with something loud and fast, drop the mic and leave as they pick up the pieces. The most important thing is vibe. We keep it fun, so people don't feel self-conscious about dancing and dorking out to some kick-ass rock.’

Will the dinosaurs really come back from space? (listen to the track below)

‘In a way that you may not be able to comprehend just yet... yes.’

When the Dinosaurs Come Back From Outer-space by BELT

What can we expect from the new album?

‘The new album, because of the way we recorded it, has a much more cohesive sound from song to song. We focused a lot less on added bells and whistles, and more on capturing a tight performance. It's the best we've ever recorded because it's what we actually sound like. Everything was done live, and so the vibe between us as we play goes on tape as well. That's the magic everyone's looking for in this
process, and I think we've done a fantastic job of making it happen. About half the songs on the album are brand new, the other half are tunes we've done in the past, but not been satisfied with. I'd say, in summary, that this album is the quintessential BELT album. It's really a defining moment for us.’

YOU S**T ON MY HEART by BELT

I always enjoy talking to Terry as his view on the world is crazy but very cool. Terry has also been very kind to let me add two new tracks from the new album ‘Lions and Whales’ and ‘You S**T on my heart’ which both tracks are AWESOME!.

We have not long left before this project is finished and we need your support. Tell your friends, neighbours, social media connections and lets get the target hit. This will be an amazing album and you can say you were part of it.

Donate for album: indiegogo.com/help-belt-finish-their-unfinished-album

Bandsite: beltmusic.net

Facebook (“LIKE” to get free copy of DISQUIETUDE): facebook.com/pages/BELT/

Twitter: twitter.com/Beltband

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/beltband

YouTube: youtube.com/user/beltband

Technorati Tags: BELT,DISQUIETUDE,Lions and Whales,You S**T on my heart,support music,music recommend,rock,punk,funk

Introducing Dox!

2013-04-07T17:26:00.001+01:00

You might recognise this artist from a previous blog (see March Gig - Cherry Suede) and if not, let me introduce you to the rock musician they call Dox. I first heard about Dox (aka Richard Docherty) after Cherry Suede announced that he would be supporting them at their Newcastle gig. After doing some homework, I found out that this guy sounded good and I couldn’t wait to hear him perform live.

The tracks I heard from his Soundcloud site were impressive but hearing him live was on another level. He is definitely one of those artists you need to hear live to know how good this guy can rock. I got the chance to talk to Dox after the gig and he told me about which artists have helped to influenced his sound:

‘I take influence from a wide variety of artists and genres. I was brought up on Bob Dylan, The Beatles, even Cliff Richard etc.... (heavily influenced from parents). I am an 80's child so Michael Jackson was (and still is) one of my all-time heroes. My major ROCK influences these days would be Alter Bridge, GNR, Metallica, Stone Sour, Steel Panther, Hendrix, Incubus, and Black Stone Cherry, etc. Although I am not just fixated on Rock. I am a big fan of Blues, Stevie Ray Vaughn, BB King, Hendrix. I have even been trying some Classical Andrea Bocelli. I think that listening to a wider variety of music help to come up with more creative songs/lyrics.’

Dox - Take The Ride (Original) by DoxDocherty

While watching Dox on stage the outstanding element to his music was his vocals, he has great range which he switches between power to gentle vocals with such ease. He seems confident in his vocal abilities, so much so that he has covered ‘Por Ti Volare by Andrea Bocelli (click to listen) and I’m no expert on operatic music but I thought it sounded good. He told me the secret behind his killer vocals:

‘I have worked very hard to get my voice where it is now. I never thought I would be a Singer. I was always a guitarist until I joined my first band (Minnikin), when I was asked if I wanted to have a go at doing the lead vocals. Everything just took off from there really. They already had a set list sorted so I basically had to learn any song they chucked at me!

When I first started singing, I would try to "train" my voice (I use the term "train" very loosely, as I had no real idea what I was doing) by listening to Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. Really chucking myself in at the deep end!! I would listen to songs on repeat until I could hit the notes that they were hitting.

I find that gigging is one of the best things for training your voice. Most of what I have learned is from personal experience! I used to have this real "James Hetfield" growl thing going on, but, after waking up voiceless after gigs, I realised that it wasn't the way to go.

There are 2 main things keeping my voice healthy these days!! The first was discovering a wonderful guy called Myles from a wonderful band called "Alter Bridge". I listen to Alter Bridge before all my gigs to warm up!! The second was finding my wonderful vocal coach Anna-Leigh . This lady has made sounds come out of my mouth that I didn’t even know about. We work heavily on improving my range (which increases with every lesson).’

Dox - Never Change - New (Original) by DoxDocherty

During his set he performed some cool rock covers including songs by Hinder, Creed and Alter Bridge but I felt he was sounded better when he performed his own material. His own songs sounded so good, maybe because their sound were more natural to his style. Overall they were written well, musically solid and vocals were awesome as I mentioned earlier. I have to admit during the gig I was thinking “I can’t wait for this guy to release a cd” and to my surprise after the gig, Richard kindly gave me one of his new EP’s.

The EP itself was collection of covers as well as his own material, including a track from his new band ‘Sky Red’. As for the EP it sounded as good as I would expect but it left me wanting more, but that is the downside of EP’s. My favourite from it is an amazing track called ‘Dyin’ Friend’, I love the gentleness of the track and how the well written lyrics are delivered.

Sky Red - Tomorrow Starts Today (Demo) by DoxDocherty

So what is planned for Dox and his new band ‘Sky Red’? I’ll let Dox tell you:

‘My plans now are to get my new band Sky Red off the ground with good friend Marc Playle. I do love doing the Solo, and acoustic duo stuff, but I need to get back into a full band set-up so I can Rock Out. Marc and myself are working very hard to come up with some new material. We have a website under construction and we are currently auditioning drummers and bassists (If you live in the North-East then please feel free to drop me a message if you would like to audition). The big plan is simply to GET MY MUSIC HEARD!!’

Dox did tell me about his new band after the gig and talked about the skills of the guitarist Marc Playle. I have since checked out Marc and this guy has some serious guitars skills, I mean SERIOUS skills. After watching these videos all I could think was between Marc’s guitar skills and Dox’s vocals we are going to be treated to some epic music in the future. YOU WILL hear more from the guys in the future not only am I a fan but it’s good to support some local musicians. Now I’m impatiently waiting for new music and hopefully a new album. Check out Dox/Sky Red and be prepared to join me in anticipation for the future releases.

Facebook/Dox: facebook.com/doxdocherty

Facebook/SkyRed: facebook.com/skyreduk

Soundcloud/Dox: soundcloud.com/doxdocherty

Soundcloud/SkyRed: soundcloud.com/skyreduk

Marc Playle Website: marcplayle.com/

Technorati Tags: Dox,Richard Docherty,Sky Red,Marc Playle,Dyin Friend,Tomorrow Starts Today,Never Change,Take a Ride,Support local musicians,rock,recommend

Angels Fall ‘Yesterdays Gone’

2013-04-03T20:48:00.001+01:00

Do you like your rock with a cool acoustic sound and some awesome vocals? If so, say hello ‘Angels Fall’. The man behind the music is Joel Jorgensen and this guy has a heartfelt style of music that is heard through his vocals as well as his music. I first came across the band after hearing the song ‘Drunk Enough’ on New Driven Radio (I did say it’s an awesome source of music).

Joel’s style of acoustic rock is a sound that works for me, its more of the way it feels than how it sounds (if that makes sense). I asked Joel ‘which artists have helped to influence your sound?’

‘The artists the really helped shape my sound are Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin (for the raspy rock voice). Alice in Chains, STP, Staind for the rock music style. Beck, Tori Amos, NIN, Dylan, Beatles for lyrics and melodies.’

Angels Fall have released their debut album ‘Yesterday’s Gone’. I will confess that I have only listened to this album recently and that I do not own the album yet, however this album WILL be joining my collection as I can’t get enough of this albums sound. I like how this album has an acoustic rock soul, as I mentioned earlier it’s about how it feels not just it’s sound. At times it has your typical rock ballad feel on some of the tracks but I really like that sound and it fit the lyrics perfectly for me. I have to mention the lyrics as they are not afraid to showcase some very heartfelt words, check out ‘Drunk Enough’ to hear what I’m talking about.

For me, the only element of this album that is better than the lyrics is Joel’s vocals, there is something about his raw vocal tone that has me hooked. Maybe it is how he manages to tell his stories from his lyrics with the right level of emotion that feels natural.

Call On Me by Angels Fall

My favourite tracks off the album? Obviously I’m going to pick ‘Drunk Enough’, this is the first track I heard and the lyrics are some of my favourite off the album. Overall it is a great track and it’s also Joel’s favourite track, he told me why:

‘I would have to say that my favourite song is ‘Drunk Enough’. At first I have to admit that I didn’t like the song as I felt it was too honest and how direct it came across lyrically. The song pointed out all of my flaws and it pinned me as the bad guy. It showed me in the harsh light of reality that I was not accustom to. I think most of us are quite comfortable hiding in the shadows while we do what we do. The song is me bearing it all with no smoke or mirrors. It’s my anthem, my apologies and a reminder to not be that person. That’s what makes it my favourite song.’

My other pick off the album is ‘Too Late’ which is another heartfelt well written track that I can’t get enough of. But my favourite track has to be the title track ‘Yesterdays Gone’, I love the lyrics and the feel of this song and it includes my favourite line:

‘Yesterday's gone and tomorrow is almost here.
and I don't want to leave you here.’

Yesterday's Gone by Angels Fall

Joel told me that his plans for the future are ‘I want to stay true to my sound and keep writing from the heart. I want to continue to share my music with the world and hope it changes lives even if it’s one at a time.’

This is the kind of guy who keeps his goals simple, I respect that. I’m hoping for more new music for the future, I always want new music.

I feel that this band will have a great 2013, I hope you agree. You can follow their progress and show your support at the links below. I predict that if Angels Fall continue to release albums of this calibre then not only will they become a member of my elite favourites of my rock collection but they will become a huge name in the rock world!

Facebook: AngelsFallMusic.com

Twitter: twitter.com/angelsfallmusic

YouTube: youtube.com/user/AngelsFallBand

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/angels-fall-music/tracks

Technorati Tags: Angels Fall,New Driven Radio,Yesterdays Gone,Drunk Enough,Too Late,rock,music recommendations,acoustic rock

Another March Gig!–Heymoonshaker

2013-03-31T18:41:00.001+01:00

It’s only been about a week since my last gig (see March Gig Cherry Suede) and I’ve already been to another. This time it was for the band Heymoonshaker! I was searching the local venues for some more gigs and stumbled across these guys playing at the Hoochie Coochie Bar in Newcastle. When I checked these guys out, my ears were confused about what they were hearing but they liked what they heard.

Rock + Blues + BEATBOXING = Heymoonshaker!

Yes you are reading that right and this style works, I mean it REALLY WORKS! This is awesome is addictive. Andy Balcon provides bluesy vocals which have that wonderful raw sound that I always love to hear. As for Dave Crowe, I don’t know much about beat boxing but his skills sound amazing, so many sounds coming from one guy, HE’S CRAZY GOOD!

Separately they guys have an amazing sound of their own but what they create together is something special. I have not heard a sound like this and I can’t get enough of it. I can’t get over the fact that these guys have only been working together for a few years as they sound so good together.

As for the gig . . . . . . WOW! This guys have great energy on stage that continued to fuel the crowd throughout the night. As for their sound, these are one of those bands that you need to see and hear live as their sound is SO GOOD! Andy’s vocals sounded even better and he is pretty useful with the 6 string too. But credit on the night had to go to Dave as not only was his beat boxing insane (in a good way) but he continued to keep the crowd involved. They played most of the tracks off the album and a few others that I did not recognise. This all resulted in a fun night and a memorable gig, one that I will repeat if they play again near me.

While at the gig I picked myself a copy of Heymoonshakers new album ‘Shakerism’. This album album already has the potential to be in my top 10 albums for the end of year. As I described earlier their sound is original (to me anyway) and stands out, can’t get enough of the Beatbox Blues! This album is difficult to not get lost in, the beats gets my feet stomping and the vocals make me sing along, this is a good thing except for me singing along ha ha!

Heymoonshaker - Ten Letter Word by Heymoonshaker

This 9 track EP is an all killer no filler, it even included a 9 minute track of Dave showing off his mad beat boxing skills from their London set. The more I listen to this album the more I become hooked, I can’t say anymore than I love this sound! There are so many good tracks to choose from on this album but I HIGHLY recommend ‘Ten Letter Word’, ‘Wallet Switcher’ and ‘Cream F Feeling’. I could explain why I recommend these tracks but I struggle to but the emotions I feel when I hear them, sometimes with bluesy music its all about the emotion of the songs. My overall favourite track is ‘Colly Drop’, this track has some raw dirty bluesy vocals with some dirty guitar playing and some dirty beat boxing beats, yes its DIRTY but oh so good!

I know it seems that I might be going a little over board with my love for this bands music, but I’m addicted and hope you are too. I really hope these guys release more new music soon as I need more ha ha! If you want your music original, with amazing vocals, some cool guitar riffs and some crazy out of this world beat boxing then these guys are for you!!!

Facebook: facebook.com/heymoonshaker

Twitter: twitter.com/Heymoonshaker

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/heymoonshaker

YouTube: youtube.com/user/AndyBaLconOfficial

Technorati Tags: Heymoonshaker,Shakerism,Colly Drop,Beatbox Blues,gig review,music recommendations,Wallet Switcher,Ten Letter Word,Cream F Feeling,hoochie coochie,blues,rock,beatbox Blues

Belt - ‘Disquietude’

2013-03-27T21:04:00.001Z

I have talked previous about the band BELT and their project to raise funds for their new album (see post Belt Band need your Help). As you can see from the post I have put my money where my mouth is and showed my support to this crazy but talented band.

If you don’t know who BELT are then let me educate you! BELT are a funky punk rock band that have an infectious sound that makes me happy. There is something about their music and lyrics that is fun. Sometimes music can get too serious and this band are here to help turn that frown upside down (yes, I just said that).

BELT’s latest album is called ‘Disquietude’ and it is such an awesome album. I know that you would expect me to say that, but it’s true, this album deserves to be in your collection! I will have to quickly mention that if you are easily offended by a few naughty words then please leave now! (I mean that in a nice way).

When the Dinosaurs Come Back From Outer-space by BELT

When I first heard the album I thought that this was a cool funky album that some people might find juvenile (NOT ME!) and had a few really good tracks. But, do not judge this album by it’s cover. The more I listen to this album the more I discover more favourite tracks and some very clever use of lyrics.

Let me talk about the lyrics a little as more there is some clever wordsmith going on in this album. On the surface they may seem witty but they have been but together with great thought and imagination. Some of the tracks when you listen to them have a some deeper meaning behind them. For example one of my favourite tracks ‘Priorities’ talks about how some people only think about themselves and their own little world. It’s true, sometimes we need to look at our priorities in life.

As for the music, if feeling good was a sound then it might just sound like this, if not then it’s very close! I can imagine that these guys would sound so good live and I hope someday I will catch them perform.

Ok, time for me to choose my favourite tracks off the album (drum roll please!!!). I think they have to be ‘Priorities’ and ‘Shaft’ as these songs sound so good but I like the meaning behind the lyrics, again a credit to the writing. I also want to quickly mention that I love the guitar solo in ‘Shaft’, it’s so good! My other favourite song is ‘When the dinosaurs come back from outer space’, such a funny song and when I hear it all I can picture is a crazy cartoon video to go along with it. Yes, my head is crazy at times!

In America by BELT

Just to showcase the guys a little more, I have added a video (below) of the guys performing a funky little version of Peter Gabriel’s ‘Sledge Hammer’.

If you didn’t know already, if you "Like" them on Facebook (HERE) they will send you a FREE download of the album DISQUIETUDE! Free music from an awesome band, you’ll be crazy not to head there now. Wait!!!!! Finish reading the blog first ha ha!

If you like what you’ve heard then click the link below to support the music:

indiegogo.com/help-belt-finish-their-unfinished-album

If you are not convinced yet (crazy people) then you can check out the links below or you can say hello to the guys, I can confirm that they are awesome people! Otherwise spread the word of BELT and help support these guys in their music as well as their new album. Come on, I WANT the new album!

Bandsite: beltmusic.net

Facebook (“LIKE” to get free copy of DISQUIETUDE): facebook.com/pages/BELT/

Twitter: twitter.com/Beltband

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/beltband

YouTube: youtube.com/user/beltband

Technorati Tags: Belt,DISQUIETUDE,Shaft,Priorities,When the dinosaurs come back from outer space,funk,rock,punk,recommend,music