Dennis and Lois are legends in the music industry. Having been around since the early days of CBGB, they’ve attended over 10,000 shows. Check out the Kickstarter and help out so their story can come to life!
There are bands, there are fans, and then there’s Dennis and Lois
Dennis and Lois are legends in the music industry. Having been around since the early days of CBGB, they’ve attended over 10,000 shows. Check out the Kickstarter and help out so their story can come to life!
Filed under Holy Freaking Crap!, Random, Whoa!
Check ‘Em Out: Colt.22
Los Angeles alternative indie-rock band Colt.22 will release their highly-anticipated debut album Freedom/Freewill on indie label Elite Frequency Group with distribution by The Orchard on Friday, August 25th. Colt.22 is a collaboration between two experienced music producers and writers, John “Fingazz” Stary and Travis Pavur.
Their mission is to draw upon influences of the past and fuse them with the sound of now. This fusion has a powerful reaction, like the recoil of a gun, firing out lyrical content like bullets of self-awareness and knowledge. They blend Stary’s gritty emotional vocals and driving beats with Pavur’s solid rock guitar riffs. A compilation of 11 songs, Freedom/Freewill is an exploration of blues, rock, and electronic music that uses heavy anthemic chants layered with harmonies.
Pre-order Freedom/Freewill – http://apple.co/2t32elP
The video for the album’s first single “Call To Action” is a tribute to cult classic films like Kill Bill and Sin City. Following Los Angeles parkour stunt group Substance Over Hype, “it’s got gunfights, martial arts, and car chases and is generally bad ass” (Ghettoblaster Magazine).
Both, Fingazz and Pavur, met in 2011 while working on a project for Interscope Records. Fingazz is a platinum award certified hip-hop producer best known around the globe as one of the few masters of the “talkbox,” which has been featured on records by Snoop Dogg, Mike Posner, Far East Movement, Flo Rida, Tyga, Bryson Tiller, Just Blaze, and many more. His sound can be described as “Future Funk” and his song “Winning” won on So You Think You Can Dance.
In contrast, the New Orleans-born Pavur is a rocker through and through. He has recorded and produced countless up and coming rock acts from his own Los Angeles studio, Golden Beat Recording. Currently, he is an engineer at the historic Valentine Recording Studios as well, working with acts like Lana Del Rey and Eagles of Death Metal. During their time at Interscope, the two lived together in a Hollywood Hills music collective. They immediately hit it off and began working together with an intense focus to fuel the world with a new alt rock sound. Enter: Colt.22.
Another track, “Find Your Pride” has been featured in the promos for Showtime’s show Billions.
Filed under Check 'em Out!, new albums, video
Coast Modern Tour Dates
Photo Credit: Faye Webster
Off the back of single releases totaling over 30 Million streams, Coast Modern – comprised of Coleman Trapp and Luke Atlas – recently announced that their highly anticipated self-titled debut album will be released on July 28th, 2017, via 300 Entertainment / +1 Records. The band is pleased to announce their headlining Fall tour, kicking off this September.
Like a trip to Disneyland; with each song like a stop in another world, Coast Modern’s debut album is a rollercoaster ride through a musical spectrum that spans from introspective acoustic streams of consciousness to psychedelic jams to relaxed dancehall vibes. Coast Modern are capable of covering a large swath of musical territory, yet a strong, self-aware voice and a sense of groove tie them all together.
After releasing their debut single, “Hollow Life”, the duo have gone on to release a handful of tracks in their short tenure as a band – the anthemic “Animals,” summer-tinged “Guru” and jungle cruise jam, “The Way It Was” (all four of which sat at the top of the HypeMachine charts), and followed up with “Comb My Hair”, “Pockets Full of No” and “Dive” – tracks to kick you out of the most serious of funks.
Garnering attention from every tastemaker under the sun, including Pigeons and Planes, Entertainment Weekly, Vanity Fair and more, their tracks would creep their way to the airwaves, generating heavy rotation from the likes of SiriusXM Alt Nation and KCRW.
Coast Modern made their live debut at SXSW, playing their first shows ever as a band, and just a few weeks later were playing one of New York City’s most coveted venues, Terminal 5, kicking off their support slot touring with BORNS. The duo has since toured with the likes of The Wombats, The Temper Trap and just wrapped up the Alt Nation Advanced Placement Tour.
Kicking off in San Francisco and hitting major markets including New York, Chicago and a hometown show in LA, be sure to catch the band on the road this Fall.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Sep-6 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
Sep-7 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
Sep-8 – Seattle, WA – Tractor
Sep-9 – Spokane, WI- Tinnabulation Music Festival
Sep-11 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
Sep-12 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall
Sep-14 – Kansas City, MO – Record Bar
Sep-16 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird
Sep-18 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
Sep-19 – Detroit, MI – Shelter
Sep-20 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
Sep-22 – Washington, DC – U Street Music Hall
Sep-23 – Albany, NY – The Hollow
Sep-25 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
Sep-26 – Boston, MA – Great Scott
Sep-27 – Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle
Sep-29 – Nashville, TN – The High Watt
Sep-30 – Atlanta, GA – Vinyl
Oct-2 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
Oct-3 – Austin, TX – Stubbs JR
Oct-4 – Dallas, TX – HOB – Cambridge Room
Oct-7 – Phoenix, AZ – Rebel
Oct-8 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
Oct-9 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo
Oct-10 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
Filed under new albums, Shows
Newest Love: Palo Duro
“Surrounded by an ethereal haze of guitars and billowing bass lines, Michael J. Winningham’s bittersweet vocals simmer as he croons over an ’80s-era snare” — SPIN
Palo Duro is the pulsating, technicolor universe of Michael J. Winningham, an Austin based songwriter previously fronting the band Gold Beach.
In July 2012, Michael reached out to his childhood friend, producer Sam Cohen (Kevin Morby, Benjamin Booker) to continue work on a new Gold Beach record. As teenagers, Sam helped Michael arrange his first song at a house party in Houston TX. They were 16 years old at the time. Fast forward many years later and this creative synergy proved to be strong—Instantly, in the studio, exciting and bold ideas emerged. Collaboration and endless possibilities informed the arrangements between Sam, Michael, and keyboardist Carlos Orozco, and a new spirit was born. This was no longer Gold Beach.
Two years flew by and a rotating cast of musicians were invited to join the recording process. New songs emerged from studios in Wimberley TX, New York City, and Los Angeles. In this time, 23 songs were recorded, and eventually, Michael would name the project Palo Duro. In the summer of 2016, the music was introduced to 30th Century Records founder Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse, and plans began to release the music.
The first single, “Darken the Glow” is a William Onyeabor inspired pop song with scaling guitars, a dirty back beat and a chorus that soars in the direction of Quincy Jones. “Darken the Glow” embodies the trust, the celebration, and ultimately, the creativity of this body of work and the people involved. The found footage video, featuring hundreds of skeleton-clad Lucha Libre fighters dancing while eating ramen, sumo-wrestlers, and dragons falling from the sky, echoes this celebration.
Filed under Awesome, Check 'em Out!, listen, Newest Love, video
Check ‘Em Out: Tattoo Money
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Filed under Awesome, Check 'em Out!, listen, new albums, video
Check ‘Em Out: The Kite String Tangle
Australian electronic artist and producer The Kite String Tangle has dropped his debut self-titled album, and it is an absolute work of art. (Check it out below!)
This latest addition to the solo project of Danny Harley is an exploration into the idea of what success and happiness truly mean. The honesty that flows throughout the 11 tracks is crystal clear, with a heavy emotional quality reflected throughout the brave production choices and unburdened lyrics.
“It’s a dynamic album that I hope shows many sides to the music I make and what I’m trying to do with The Kite String Tangle, which is essentially to reach people and hopefully provide a soundtrack for their own existential crisis,” Harley said.
The album was written in his bedroom in order to retain that ‘bedroom producer’ ethos, wanting to create something honest, something of which he could be really proud.
“I think throughout the album you can hear me trying to find my sound and my place in the world, and whilst I wanted to create something timeless and cohesive, I think there’s also a clunky charm to when it sounds a little lost and confused. To be honest, it’s a good representation of how I was feeling throughout a lot of the process,” he said.
Having just released the visuals to “The Prize” there’s no denying fans will be dusting off their dancing shoes right in time for his Splendour in the Grass set. It’s a party tune that will have you working up a sweat on a hot summery day, and will keep you warm during the cold winter nights.
“Waiting” on the other hand is an underground pulsating banger with a more melodious insight into the light and shade of what electronic music means to this producer. It’s simple in lyrical content but intricate in production conceptualisation.
As you go on this musical journey with The Kite String Tangle you’ll hear a strong presence of strings and horns, something Harley longed to record for a long time. You’ll even hear organs, pianos, drums and all manner of acoustic instruments dotted throughout.
“I’ve always wanted to record strings and horns but have never had the opportunity to up until now. I’ve always been trying to marry the worlds of more traditional song writing like Bon Iver, James Blake, London Grammar and Broods, with artists that are more heavy handed with their production like Odesza, Flume and Purity Ring,” he said.
The Kite String Tangle’s debut album is available everywhere now via Exist Recordings, and Australian fans can catch him performing at Splendour in the Grass today on the “Mix Up Stage”.
And if you weren’t quick enough to snatch up Splendour tickets, not to worry. The Kite String Tangle is hitting the road shortly after for a national tour with ODESZA in September and some boutique festivals in Wollongong on August 19 and in Brisbane on October 14 at Red Deer Festival. For tickets and further info, head to http://www.thekitestringtangle.com.
Filed under Check 'em Out!, listen, new albums, video
Newest From X Ambassadors: “Ahead Of Myself”
“Triumphant, euphoric, immensely uplifting” – Clash Magazine
“Bombastic rock that’s as stomping as it is diaristic, leavened by big-tent pop hooks and a hint of hip-hop swagger” – Rolling Stone
US trio X Ambassadors return with a brand new single “Ahead Of Myself” which is the lead track from their upcoming second album.
Released today, “Ahead Of Myself” was co-written with American multi-platinum selling songwriter, producer, and musician Scott Harris (Shawn Mendes, Chainsmokers) and was added straight onto Spotify’s UK and Global New Music Playlists as well as Deezer and Amazon’s Brand New Music UK playlists.
“Ahead Of Myself” is the first taste of their new album, the follow up to the critically acclaimed, gold-certified debut album VHS, which featured the two multi-platinum hits “Renegades” and “Unsteady”.
The success of VHS saw X Ambassadors venture out on a near two-year touring odyssey, winning over fans around the world and performing at the likes of Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Life is Beautiful, Shaky Knees festivals and many more.
The three-piece, formed of brothers Sam and Casey Harris and college friend Adam Levin, have collaborated with a number of top names such as Tom Morello, Elle King, A$AP Ferg, Wiz Khalifa, Eminem and labelmates Imagine Dragons.
Earlier this year they gave fans a taste of their current sonic direction with the release of “The Devil You Know”, which featured in a trailer for the upcoming Tom Cruise film American Made, “Torches” which was heard in Transformers: The Last Knight, and the inspirational “Hoping”, which came about following the US presidential election.
X Ambassadors will be playing the Radio 1/NME stage at this year’s Reading and Leeds Festival before headlining a show at London’s ULU on August 29th.
Filed under listen, new albums
Check ‘Em Out: Late Night Episode
Alt-rock band Late Night Episode gives the world a taste of their forthcoming EP with new single, “Talk About Love.” To date, the band has released one official self-produced single, “Swim” and an acoustic demo of “Lost In Cali.” Both releases have established a steady online presence that caught the attention of producers Shep Goodman and Aaron Accetta of Dirty Canvas (American Authors, Young Rising Sons) who signed the band in late 2016.
Late Night Episode was formed in New York City’s East Village neighborhood by lead singer Daniel Lonner and guitarist Eric Sherman. Brett Daniel (drums) and Giovanni Stockton-Rossini (bass) would later join to complete the band’s line-up of stellar musicians and songwriters.
Once praised by Billboard for their signature version of “rowdy rock,” and having received comparisons to ‘Kings of Leon’ by The Music Ninja, Late Night Episode is just starting to prove their ability to attract audiences from all genres. In fact, in addition to producing their own music, Late Night Episode have also executive produced Topaz Jones’ critically acclaimed soul-funk record, Arcade.
Of “Talk About Love,” Lonner proclaims: “The name Late Night Episode is a nod to high school nostalgia and the song is about learning how to grow up – though I still have a bit to do, it was written in my parent’s basement.”
Just released today is another new track “Golden Age.” The band has received previous acclaim from Billboard, Nylon and Pigeons and Planes. Their new single for this video is set to be added to Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist, as well as being on rotation on Sirius XM’s Alt-Nation.
Filed under Check 'em Out!, listen, video
The Darkness Is Back With New Track “All The Pretty Girls”
England’s most distinctive, multiple award-winning, platinum-selling, hugely entertaining rock gods – and one-time saviors of rock’n’roll turned national pleasures – The Darkness are back with their fifth album Pinewood Smile, due for release October 6th through Cooking Vinyl.
Marking the announcement, the band has today unveiled the spectacular album opener “All The Pretty Girls” across all streaming platforms. It’s also available for download with pre-orders of the album for the instant gratification of fans.
“All The Pretty Girls” is a glorious, hard-rockin’, autobiographical anthem intellectually examining the fact that when you’re a rock star you get a lot of attention from ladies and discussing the ethical conundrums that come with that.
As Justin Hawkins so eloquently sings with trouser-splitting vocal magnificence; “All the pretty girls, like me for who I am / All the pretty girls, when the record goes platinum / Plenty of action, massive attraction, when you’re selling out stadiums / All the pretty girls… and their mums”.
Addressing the forthcoming album and The Darkness’ undoubted relevance in 2017, Justin asks, somewhat rhetorically of the world at large, “Why should anybody care? Because if you don’t, we’re fucked!! History will remember us as the apathetic generation who negligently ushered in a dreadful dystopian age that may or may not come to be known as ‘The Rise of the Arseclowns’. We cannot allow this to continue! You may not give a shit about Brexit or Trump, but PLEASE… give a shit about The Darkness otherwise the last bastion of cultural sensibility will fall and our airwaves will be polluted by meaningless pop purveyed by arseholes and morons… Oh wait!”
In addition to the cerebral treatise of “All The Pretty Girls”, the album boasts the swashbuckling “Buccaneers Of Hispaniola”, the expletive-strewn howl of frustration that is “Southern Trains”, the hugely emotional “Why Don’t The Beautiful Cry?”, the globally anthemic “Japanese Prisoner Of Love”, and the ode to pumping out smash hit after smash hit “Solid Gold”, which finds The Darkness addressing the turbulent nature of the music industry and how they have enjoyed its flamboyant highs and spectacular lows.
Written in Putney, recorded in Cornwall and produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse), the compositions have all the crucial elements of classic Darkness fare, but with added layers for the ears to peel away at… like a sonic onion but a lot tastier. It also features the drumming and vocal talents of gorgeous new band member Rufus Tiger Taylor, son of Queen legend Roger Taylor, who shares vocal duties with Justin on two of the tracks.
To celebrate the release of their comeback album Pinewood Smile, The Darkness will be touring extensively at the end of this year playing 17 dates in the UK throughout November and December including a headline show at London’s Hammersmith Eventim Apollo on December 10th (see dates below). The shows are part of a wider European tour, full dates can be found at http://www.thedarknesslive.com/tour-dates/
The Darkness has returned revitalized, re-energized and ready to take the world by the balls once again with Pinewood Smile.
PINEWOOD SMILE TRACKLIST
- All The Pretty Girls
- Buccaneers Of Hispaniola
- Solid Gold
- Southern Trains
- Why Don’t The Beautiful Cry?
- Japanese Prisoner Of Love
- Lay Down With Me, Barbara
- I Wish I Was In Heaven
- Happiness
- Stampede Of Love
The album will be released on CD, limited edition Deluxe CD (featuring four bonus tracks), Gatefold Heavyweight Vinyl, cassette and in both Standard and Deluxe digital versions.
THE DARKNESS UK TOUR DATES
NOVEMBER
11/23 – Southampton, O2 Guildhall
11/24 – Manchester, Academy
11/25 – Blackburn, King George’s Hall
11/27 – Leeds, O2 Academy
11/28 – Newcastle, O2 Academy
11/29 – Glasgow, O2 Academy
DECEMBER
12/1 – Stoke-On-Trent, Victoria Hall
12/2 – Nottingham, Rock City
12/3 – Norwich, UEA
12/5 – Guildford, G Live
12/6 – Margate, Winter Gardens
12/7 – Southend-On-Sea, Cliffs Pavilion
12/9 – Birmingham, O2 Academy
12/10 – London, Eventim Apollo
12/11 – Brighton, Dome
12/13 – Cardiff, St David’s Hall
12/14 – Bristol, Colston Hall
2003 gave birth to one of the most extraordinary and best-loved bands in the UK. The Darkness released their debut album Permission To Land to overnight success, topping the UK charts, going 5x Platinum and selling over 1.5 MILLION copies in the UK alone. It spawned a series of hit singles including “I Believe In A Thing Called Love”, “Growing On Me”, “Get Your Hands Off My Woman” and “Love Is Only A Feeling”. It clocked up a series of awards including three BRIT Awards, two Kerrang Awards and an Ivor Novello for ‘Songwriters Of The Year’ amongst many others.
The Darkness played a number of landmark shows, including a headline set at the 2004 Reading & Leeds Festivals, as part of a whirlwind career of global touring as international sensations. The band then built upon the success of their debut with their 2005 follow up One Way Ticket To Hell… And Back, which produced the Top 10 hit “One Way Ticket”.
In 2006 Justin Hawkins left the band, checking into rehab and The Darkness fell apart. Following successful treatment, the band reformed in 2011 touring Europe and South America in 2012 with Lady Gaga. They released their comeback album Hot Cakes that year and Last Of Our Kind in 2015.
The band have now returned in 2017 with Pinewood Smile, their first album to come through Cooking Vinyl. Ahead of the album’s announcement, The Darkness toured Europe in support of Guns N’ Roses and are playing a number of festivals in the UK and Europe during the summer.
Filed under Awesome, Band Change-ups, Highly Anticipated, Holy Freaking Crap!, new albums, Shows, Whoa!
New Music From The Struts – “One Night Only”
Photo credit: Catie Laffoon
Acclaimed UK rock band The Struts release “One Night Only”, the new single out on Polydor/Interscope Records. “One Night Only” is the first piece of music to be revealed from the band’s forthcoming album—the highly anticipated follow up to their 2016 debut Everybody Wants.
Of the track, lead vocalist Luke Spiller says, “This song is mainly about the relationship between a performer and his/her audience. After touring throughout the United States, we’ve developed a strong relationship with our audience and started to feel more responsibility to them—mainly to give a great show every night. The song has many theatrical moments, making the arrangement one of the most ambitious songs we’ve done. It’s definitely over the top and larger than life, but after experiencing our audience and how they react to our music, I think it’s even more fitting.”
The band has been touring nonstop since forming including worldwide headlining shows, prestigious festival plays and support slots for The Rolling Stones, The Who, Guns N’Roses, Mötley Crüe and The Killers. The Struts will now be opening the first leg of Foo Fighters’ autumn tour across the US – see full dates below.
Formed in Derby, England in 2012, The Struts are Spiller, Adam Slack (guitar), Jed Elliott (bass) and Gethin Davies (drums).
“The guys are on course to be one of the UK’s biggest rock bands. ‘Everybody Wants’ is a real contender” – Daily Star
“Reviving the glam rock lifestyle but also imbuing it with some downright mature 21st century sensibilities.” – GQ
THE STRUTS LIVE
August 19-20—Osaka/Tokyo, Japan—Summer Sonic
September 2—St. Louis, MO—Ballpark Village
October 7—San Bernardino, CA—Cal Jam 17
October 12—Washington, D.C.—The Anthem*
October 14—Richmond, VA—Richmond Coliseum*
October 15—Greensboro, NC—Greensboro Coliseum Complex*
October 17—Columbia, SC—Colonial Life Arena*
October 18—Knoxville, TN—Thompson-Boling Arena*
October 20—Cincinnati, OH—US Bank Arena*
October 21—Lexington, KY—Rupp Arena*
October 23—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena*
October 24—Memphis, TN—FedEx Forum*
October 26—Birmingham, AL—BJCC*
*opening for Foo Fighters
Musically Amusing 