Rock And Blues International - Sept. 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020

Rock And Blues International Evelyn Rubio Zakiya Hooker Embraces Her Legacy Savoy Brown Ain’t Done Yet

That Sexy Songstress From Mexico City

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE NEW JELLY ROLL FREEDOM ROCKERS MARK MAY PETER PARCEK SHAWN PITTMAN ANNIKA CHAMBERS LITTLE STEVEN MELANIE C and more!

Rock And Blues International September 2020 Welcome to the September Issue of Rock And Blues International. I know it’s still a bit hard for us in the music industry still. Venues are closed, clubs are closed or at the very least struggling to deal with the lack of business and money. Lots of musicians out there are trying to re-evaluate their future and how they are going to cope with the ‘new normal’.

Most bands have to rely on touring in order to feed themselves, and there are only a very few places to perform. If any of you know where any place that is open for touring bands, please let us know and we’ll try to pass that information on. However, the bright part of this pandemic, if you can call it ‘bright’ is the creativity and inspiration that is creeping into some of our bands and musicians out there. While live music has practically come to a standstill, more albums, EPs, and projects are exploding on to the charts. Creativity is at an all time high. I’m hoping that by March or April of next year, tours will be flourishing again. I know I’m tired of having to watch everything on television. I just love that ‘live’ feel and can’t wait to get back to it again. Let’s cross our fingers and pray that all this ends soon and the new beginning is better than it was before.

Now, on to the new issue. We have a lot of great stories in here for you to read this month.

We have several new writers that are happy to find this new publication to write for and I hope you like their stories. I’d like to invite you to check out the new column by “Blues @” DJ, Charles Christian. Charles is writing an Americana column for us. Also be sure to check out his radio show at “Blues @”. Just look at page 2 to get the address to tune into. ‘Blues @’ has a lot of great shows, so be sure to tune into them. I would also like to welcome ‘Rock Radio UK’ to our publication. If you’re into ‘Rock’, old or new, be sure to check them out at www.rock-radio.co.uk. That station is exploding with great music.

I sincerely hope that everybody reading this new publication finds something here that they like and I would like to encourage you to let your friends and colleagues know about us. Just look for us every month at http://www.rockandbluesinternational.com. I would also like to encourage you to email us for a free subscription to Rock And Blues International as well.

Just email us at rockandbluesinternational@gmail.com and in the subject line simply put “Sign Me Up” and we’ll email you a copy each month when it is published.

Kevin Wildman Kevin Wildman Editor and Publisher

Rock And Blues International Kevin Wildman Editor and Publisher

Web Address Http://www.rockandbluesinternational.com Mailing Address Box 1162, League City, TX 77573 Phone 281-650-1953

For Advertising email us at rockandbluesinternational@gmail.com or call 281-650-1953 For A Free Subscription email us at rockandblues international@gmail.com and in the subject line put “Sign Me Up Now” September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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Contents

VOL. 1 NO. 2

SEPTEMBER 2020

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ISSUE NO. 2

EVELYN RUBIO That Sexy, Songstress From Mexico City Releases Her New Album Crossing Borders

8 BERT WILLS

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The Man That Came Up On Blues Called Country

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MARK MAY Mark May Releases His New Album, Deep Dark Demon On Gulf Coast Records

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photo by Wendy Turner

ZAKIYA HOOKER

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Zakiya Hooker Embraces Her Legacy John Lee Hooker’s Talented Daughter Finds Her Way Forward

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PETER PARCEK Soul-Guitar Virtuoso And Songwriter Peter Parcek Stays Close To The Bone With His Haunted, Primal New Album Mississippi Suitcase

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Rock and Blues International • September

2020

Contents

VOL. 1 NO. 2

SEPTEMBER 2020

Subscribe Now!54

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ISSUE NO. 2

FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS Fitz and The Tantrums Release Their New Album, Pickin’ Up The Pieces: Live In Chicago

SAVOY BROWN

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Savoy Brown Ain’t Done Yet Legendary Blues-Rock Band Release New Album

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Photo by Juan Junco

LITTLE STEVEN Little Steven’s Early Solo Career Celebrated With Expanded CD/DVD Edition Of Acclaimed Rock N Roll Rebel – The Early Work

In This Issue: 6 8 10 14 16 18 22 25 26 29 30 32 33 34 36 37 38 39 40

Evelyn Rubio Bert Wills Mark May Lady Bianca Roots Music Report New Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers Zakiya Hooker Blues On The Hill Peter Parcek Chris Gardner Shawn Pittman Annika Chambers The Travellin’ Brothers Charles Christian’s Americana Snow Patrol and the Saturday Songwriters Foxes Aquihayaquihay Carre Icona Pop

41 42 43 44 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 54 56 58 60 61 62 64 65

Glass Animals GG Magree Melanie C Alan Moe Monsarrat Soldier Hauskey Moonchild Sanelly Jim Beam National Talent Search Tour Everything Everything Tove Lo Los Mocosos Fitz and the Tantrums Treva Blomquist Black Pumas Monte Warden Felt Josie Cotton Garza Micah Willis & Austin Payne

66 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 76 77 78 79 80 81 83 84 87 88

Matriarchs RIP Youth Chase Atlantic Trevor Powers Eliot Bronso Otto Inara George Savoy Brown Golden Shoals Night Cobra Society 1 Korn Genghis Tron Tetrarch Aether Realm Little Steven Guns N’ Roses Chubby Checker & The Twist

September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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Evelyn Rubio 6

Rock and Blues International • September 2020

That Sexy Songstress From Mexico City

Ms. Evelyn Rubio If you haven’t caught an Evelyn Rubio show then you are missing something. This sexy, sultry multi-talented artist is hot, hot, hot. Talk about stage presence and the ability to deliver this woman gets it done. From her toe tapping original high energy songs down to her seductive romantic torch songs such as “I’m Going To Love You Tonight” this lady brings the night alive.

When Evelyn performed her “He Did Me Wrong But He Did It Right” at Mattorosso in Montebelluna Italy the women in the audience gave her a standing ovation shouting bravo,bravo.

Evelyn had recorded the song in both English and Spanish and delivered the tune in both languages. While in Las Vegas performing at the noted jazz enclave The Dispensary Ms. Rubio blew the crowd away with songs from her Billboard charting album “Hombres”. A performance so good that to this day Evelyn has a standing offer to perform anytime she is visiting the entertainment capital of the world. Most recently Evelyn unveiled her newest album “Crossing Borders” produced by Grammy Award winner Mr. Larry Fulcher. A compilation of heart felt solid numbers. One being “I Don’t Understand” a social injustice narrative from the viewpoint of just not understanding the visible rejection of others in a modern day world. The other “Border Town” which includes Evelyn’s marvelous sax appeal presents the story of a lonely woman finding true love that is so hard to find. The album contains fifteen tracks, three of which are in her native language, Spanish.

All of the songs were recorded with top shelf Grammy Award winning musicians that delivered a wall of sound. Recorded in three cities: Los Angeles, Austin, and Houston with the executive production being handled by Productions on Seaspeed “Crossing Borders” is yet another from the heart release from Ms. Rubio. Earlier this year Evelyn was also in the studio recording with outlaw country artist Steve Griggs at Lucky Run Studio, Americana recording artist Chris Gardner at Wire Road Studio, and soon to be released her magnificent sax work will be featured on rock icon Al Staehely’s new release “Feel the Heat”. Evelyn also teamed with Relaxing Blues Productions and her “I’m Going To Love You Tonight” music video is currently passing the 27,000 views mark along with yet another just released music video, her duet with Chris Gardner, on You Tube “Miracles”. Then add to that Evelyn’s new “Border Town” video, which was shot on location, is currently being featured on her YouTube channel.

Beyond the music one only has to review Evelyn’s biography to realize that the woman was destined to rise up and cross borders bringing her rich Hispanic heritage to the U.S. and beyond. It was Evelyn’s Mother that encouraged her at a young age to advance her skills, which would lead her to the leading role of Mary Magdalene in the Canadian production of “Jesus Christ Superstar”.

Later, after arriving in the United States, an introduction to Calvin Owens would lead her to record “Hombres” which would eventually be spun on radio stations around the globe. Evelyn would record with B.B. King bandleader James “Boogaloo” Bolden as well as perform with the Richard Brown Orchestra. Evelyn’s career has taken her to Europe and then back to her beloved Mexico to perform at the top vacation spots in that country as well. All the while penning her songs for her newest release “Crossing Borders”. Today with Covid in place Evelyn is taking it easy in a border town where she enjoys the sunny days and jogging on the beach by the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. To learn more about Evelyn Rubio visit www.evelynrubio.com September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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The Man That Came Up On Blues Called Country – Bert Wills

There is a part of the United States known as Appalachia. A mountainous region famous for its hard working coal miners, timber workers, and farmers.

These folks produced and still to this day continue to produce some of the best music in the world. It’s down home in nature, written and sung among family and neighbors about life in general. Life as it unfolds in their world. Poor folks for the most part but folks filled with spirit, pride, honesty, and a lot of love.

To this very day it’s still common for families to get together and one family brings the potato salad and another the baked beans. Music is a big thing in Appalachia and at family and neighborhood get togethers, neighbors and relatives bring flat tops, harmonicas, fiddles, sometimes a dulcimer, or an accordion. Any adult that has lived in this neck of the woods as a young boy or girl would be deeply influenced by their roots in music, that’s a given. It’s just how it is. That brings us to Bert Wills.

Bert Wills is one of the most sought after studio session players today. Bert hails from a town named Ashland that’s located in the northeastern part of Kentucky so naturally the man grew up on Appalachian music. Today, years later, when Bert performs in Texas or out 8

of state the accolades about his performance will be that his music comes across with a lot of heart. Bert’s musical presence was harvested in Appalachia and then nurtured in Texas. Bert’s Dad took care of Hank Williams’ seven Cadillacs. His songs struck a chord with Bert. Radio presented Hank’s music as country but it had this other feeling to it as well and that other feeling was the blues. Hearing Hank’s music with his Dad was a positive experience for a kid still learning to play a six string. In fact he was already carrying around a desire to write some music back then and now today does he ever write some good songs. Short on money but long on time Bert taught himself how to play both the guitar and

Rock and Blues International • September 2020

the harmonica. It’s interesting to note that Bert decided that he wanted to play the harmonica after hearing Bob Dylan on harp. Around the age of twelve Bert would hitchhike home to northern Kentucky from Texas, guitar slung over his shoulder and while waiting for the next ride he learned to play the harmonica. He received his first harmonica from a man named Dub Williams when he was seven or eight. Mr. Williams played the harp straight up meaning he favored songs like Jimmy Crack Corn and other American folk songs. Bert has come a long way since those early days.

In fact if you heard Bert lay down a lick or two today, his harp playing would absolutely blow you away, guaranteed.

It’s crisp, clear, he bends notes with amazing feeling and it will draw you in before you know it. This occurs because the man feels what he is playing and that is what they say about the blues, it’s a feeling. Bert Wills is the real deal. His albums reflect what you have just read.

Take a listen, real American musical culture. Country music and Blues live right next door to each other. Bert Wills exemplifies that musical cross culture in his body of work. Check him out. https:// bertwillsmusic.com/

Bert Wills

Legendary Texas Singer/Songwriter Bert Wills Delivers The Goods

Down in southeastern Texas lives a man that was born in rural Kentucky but moved to Texas years ago. He came here playing the blues harp with a slow, winding country bent to it, part of his Kentucky roots, and the recording industry was quick to pick up on his unique sound.

Abilities is used in the plural here and that’s because the man not only wails a mean harp but his guitar work is aces as well. His name is Bert Wills and if you are a studio musician you know that name well as the man is sought after by many producers. One of those producers is Andy Bradley, known world wide for his talents at the console, his past co-ownership in of SugarHill Studios, and his successful book titled, “House Of Hits”. Bert and Andy go back a ways, 35 years to be exact, both know each other’s talents well so it would be of no big surprise that they could team on a compilation of Bert’s songs for a new album.

It would not be their first collaboration as Andy has recorded nearly every album Bert has presented to the world. A new album has come to life recently simply titled “Bert Wills”. It’s just being shipped to radio stations right now and let me tell you whether you are a blues fan or an Americana fan or both this album is packed with stirring and riveting selections. Both men have similar personalities, friendly but direct. Both will tell you where to go in a New York second if you are a poser and both will be the first to tell you how welcomed you are if you are the real deal. Bert is known throughout the industry internationally and has worked with a ton of well known stars over the years. He’s also an accomplished songwriter and when he puts his Kentucky roots into a song well Katy bar the door because it’s going to be good. His last gig was with Nashville artist Rob McNurlin who is part of the Marty Stuart clan. Then he returned to Texas to work on his new blues Americana album. The end result was a fourteen track collection of 13 original songs and one cover, not a klunker among them. On the collection you can hear the raw strains of good back woods country music in Bert’s voice and on the same collection you will hear some of the best blues you have heard in years. To learn more access www.bertwillsmusic.com

Submitted for Grammy® Nomination

Mark May Photo and Cover Photo photo by Wendy HannahTurner Wolf

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Rock and Blues International • August September 2020 2020

Blues Guitarist Mark May Releases Deep Dark Demon on Gulf Coast Records

By Kevin Wildman Blues musician Mark May has just released his seventh album, Deep Dark Demon, on Mike Zito’s Gulf Coast Records.

The new album is bringing some great reviews to the Gulf Coast legend. Deep Dark Demon debuted at #2 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart, as well as scoring great opening slots on the Living Blues Charts, and The Roots Music Blues Chart along with several others. It should come as no surprise to many, as his previous album, Blues Heaven hit #6 on the Billboard Blues Chart and remained there for 5 weeks.

Mark has been performing his own special style of the ‘Blues’ for over 20 years on the Gulf Coast, and made quite a name for himself over the years. When it comes to the blues, Mark just oozes it. His guitar work ranks among the best, and his songwriting skills have just gotten better and better as time goes on. When it came time for the Allman Brothers Band to pick an opening act for their 1997/98 Amphitheater tour, Mark was the choice. When Dickey Betts and Great Southern needed an additional guitarist, Mark May was the choice. In fact, Mark performed on several tours with Dickey and went on to record on one of Dickey’s solo albums. Mark has created such a name and following for his music, that prestigious publications, such as Blues Review, Guitar Player, Guitar World, Tone Quest, Vintage Guitar, and several other magazines have featured him within their pages. That’s quite a feat for any guitarist to muster. May and his band have also racked up quite a track record for performing as well. After honing his skills in the smoke-filled Blues bars of Texas, he has moved on to even bigger and better gigs. Maybe you’ve seen him at one of the many festivals that he’s appeared at, such as the Telluride Blues and Brews, Mississippi Valley Blues Fest, King Biscuit, Tremblant International Blues Festival, Dallas International Guitar Show, and Chenango Blues Festival, not to mention countless more. The man literally tours non-stop. If you haven’t seen him perform, you’re definitely missing out and you will need to include this on your bucket list. You’ll be glad you did.

Now Mark is back again with his newest masterpiece, Deep Dark Demon, and eleven of the best songs he’s every written, not to mention some of the best guitar playing of his career. The songs on this new album feature incendiary licks, great melodies, and some really heartfelt lyrics. Believe me, they really are. The song, “For Your Love” will literally melt your heart.

Mark tells us that it took a little over a year to record, produce and issue. Deep Dark Demon was recorded in Houston, Texas at West Room Recorders, which is also owned by one of the members of his band, Geronimo Calderon. Geronimo is the drummer in his band and also performs on the album. Also performing on the album is Darrell Lacy (bass & vocals), Billy Wells (guitar &

vocals), and Brandon Jackson (drums).

Mark tells us that one of the unique things about this album is that it includes some great three-part harmonies and has a bit more of a blues-rock sound.

“Well, you know,” says Mark, “when I first started out, I had more of a traditional blues sound back in the 90s with the harmonica player and all that kind of stuff and it’s slowly kind of creeps its way back more towards a blues rock thing. I think this album, probably more than some of the other ones has that.

We have more three-part vocal harmonies on this album than I think I’ve ever had, which is something new. I’ve had two part vocal harmonies on some my songs, but I think this is the first one where I’ve had three parts on quite a few of the songs.”

Mark puts quite a bit of thought into his songs, and those lyrics turn out to be something extremely personal to him. We sat down with Mark to get a little more insight to Deep Dark Demon and his take on several of the songs.

Rock And Blues International: Give me an idea what some of these songs are about Mark. “Harvey’s Dirty Side”, What is that one about?

Mark: I think everybody knows what Harvey’s dirty said is around Houston. It’s all about, of course, the hurricane (Harvey) that about drowned us all in 2017. It just went on for days and weeks, so how can I not write a song about it. Right! Yeah, a lot of my musician friends lost their stuff. A lot of people lost their houses. Some people lost their lives. It was a crazy time. Until Covid came along, it was the craziest time I’ve ever seen.

R & BI: “BBQ And Blues”, now that seems pretty self-explanatory.

that sort of thing.

R & BI: How about “Back”?

Mark: “Back” is just looking back at times and things that you used to do. There’s several songs on this album that have that theme. It’s about just getting older and looking back at things. Looking back at the time when you really had it going on and you were on fire. Wishing you could go back and revisit it, and get it going again like that.

R & BI: Do you have any regrets in particular about “back then”.

Mark: Oh, I think everybody has regrets. There’s all kinds of different things...

You could say, ‘What if I would have done it this way, or that way. Whether it be your music career or in your love life or whatever.

Would things have been different if you would have just decided to do one thing instead of the other, or not screwed things up yourself somehow.

R & BI: All right now, the title track, “Deep Dark Demon.” What is Mark May’s “Deep Dark Demon”? That’s kind of an interesting title for both the album and the title song.

Mark: Oh gosh, that’s a good question.

Really! I mean, there’s so many. Everybody has things they have got to deal with in life, you know, back in the old days. I wanted to write a blues song for the International Blues Competition that we we’re going to be in. I wanted it to be an old school kind of Blues song, but I also wanted to tell a story. It just talks about problems that we all face everyday and some of them are a lot bigger

Mark: Yeah, there are lots of festivals around the country that are called Blues, Brews and Barbecue Festivals. I kept seeing it over and over as a theme for these festivals.

I thought it would just be nice to have kind of a song to go with that theme for the fans, because that’s kind of what a lot of their weekends are like, whether it be in their backyard or at a festival. It’s kind of a continued on next page celebration of just the music and the fans and September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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Mark May continued from previous page than others. It’s just basically about what everybody has to deal with. Some of them are worse than others and I just decided to sit down and write that song so I’d have a good, older style blues song for the International Blues Competition.

R & BI: How do you think the song measured up?

Mark: Well, it’s the title track of the album. I think it’s a pretty strong track. We get a good reaction out of it. It has gotten a lot of radio airplay so far. So yeah, it’s going good.

R & BI: “Sweet Music”. How about that one.

Mark: All right, well “Sweet Music” is basically about my love for what I what I do... for my music. It’s something that we all need in our lives and I’m lucky enough to be able to do this for a living and make music for people. I like to try to make them happy.

I’m grateful that I can do something that I like. A lot of people have to do jobs that they don’t like and I get to do what I want to do, so I’m just grateful for it. And so I’m playing music man, great music specifically.

R & BI: Now what about “Rollin Me Down”? I’ve never heard that phrase before.

Mark: it’s just a good old Louisianastyle Blues song. It’s a love song. I got the title from my girlfriend’s mom. We were over at her house and her parents live in Louisiana. She said something about ‘rollin me down’ and I didn’t even know what she was talking about at the moment. I just thought that’d be a good hook line for a song.

So I just brought it back to Houston and sat down and kind of wrote it in a Louisianastyle song. It’s just a good ‘ole love song.

R & BI: How about “My Last Ride.”

To me it sounded like it gave a bit of a nod to The Allman Brothers band.

Mark: That’s another one about just growing older and looking back at things that you could have done differently. Even different decisions you could have made and you had to try to figure out a way to right your wrongs and make up for things that you did, even if it wasn’t on purpose. It’s just one of those things where I think every musician has a time where they just kind of think, ‘well, this is my last album or my last tour if things don’t start going better. You know, like this and that, You’re always kind of thinking. ‘All right. I got to get this thing going’, so it’s about a combination of things.

It’s about growing older and just trying to right the wrongs, kind of look over your career and your life, and trying to analyze what’s going on. Whether or not you’re on the right track or just never know.

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it’s definitely not your last ride.

Mark: That’s right. It’s funny.

Somebody even asked me. Hey, are you sick or something? Are you saying goodbye? I said ‘no!’

R & BI: Now we’ve made it up to “For Your Love.” You must have been in a strange mood for this one. That’s kind of one of those ‘love sick’ kind of songs.

Mark: Right.

Yeah, it’s just another kind of an R&B, Soul, Blues, love song.

R & BI: It’s a little bit different from the other songs on the album.

Mark: Yeah, it’s a little bit different.

You know, I’ve always liked Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Gladys Knight, and all those R&B singers that were so good... all those bands like that. I’ve always liked that style of music and always kind of wanted to do a whole album of stuff like that. If you remember back to Telephone Road, I had that song called “Took me by surprise.” I don’t know if you remember. It’s so long ago. It’s been a while. It also is a similar style song that I had the Memphis Horns on, so I’ve done a couple things like that over my career. I just slip them in here and there. But yeah, it’s just a good oldfashioned kind of, like I said, a Rhythm and Blues, Blues kind of Soul song.

R & BI: And now you’re “Walking Out That Door.”

Mark: The actual line is ‘I won’t be walking out that door,’ but it’s too long for a title. I guess it’s another love song about if you like somebody you’re with and you don’t think there’s any chance you’re leaving and you’re telling them not to worry about it.

R & BI: The next song on the album is “Something Good.”

Mark: Well that one there is basically just about the world we live in today. There’s a lot of lot of sadness and grief and once again, back to the ‘everybody has their demons’, the problems, like how are going to deal with them. Everybody needs something to look forward to. I’ve seen this a lot with musicians, where they just can’t buy a break.

There’s several guys that I know are like this.

If that guy could just get a break and see the R & BI: Well by sound of this album, light at the end of the tunnel, that there’s Rock and Blues International • September 2020

something out there, that he’s got a chance to do better. Some people just can’t seem to get a break like that, but everybody needs something good to happen to them in their life or their career, their love life, their family life, just do just to keep them keep them going every day in the world, you know. So that’s what that sounds about.

R & BI: Last song on the album….

“Invisible Man.” Mark: Okay, “Invisible Man.” Actually my bass player came up with the idea for this one. He had kind of a shell of a song and had that hook line. Basically the song’s about a guy who really likes a girl a lot and she just doesn’t see him at all. She’s goes out with all these other guys and he has a strong feeling for her and she just can’t see him. I mean, he’s just invisible to her. It’s a song about trying to try to show somebody that you care about them, but they’ve not really seen it.

Yeah folks, if you haven’t experienced Mark May, you really need to take a good listen to Deep Dark Demon. This is his best album to date, showing a new side to both his writing and performing ability. It contains some of the best songs he’s ever written, and performances that you will want to listen to over and over again.

Also if you get a chance, take a listen to any of his previous releases. They include Call On The Blues, Telephone Road, Doll Maker, In Texas Live, Release My Soul, and Blues Heaven.

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Rock and Blues International • September 2020

By Pinky Black Lady Bianca is happy to announce that her new EP, Lady Bianca Sings Hold On Just A Little While Longer / Gonna Have A Mighty Good Time is now available and being distributed through Magic-O-Records. Her new album contains some of the most touching Gospel songs you’ve ever heard.

Magic-O-Records tells us that this new release will no doubt rank up there with some of the finest Gospel albums ever recorded.

Magic-O tells us that this album has a bit of the “old School music infused with a new feel that will make you shake your head and pat your feet, just like the folks did in the sanctified Churches across the land.

Lady Bianca is certainly no stranger to Gospel music. Her first experience with Gospel music was when she studied at the San Francisco Conservatory Of Music many years ago. She always felt that Gospel was rooted in her soul and one listen to her new album, Lady Bianca Sings….” and you’ll see that she was definitely made for singing this style of music.

While Lady Bianca’s new EP is Gospel, she also has experienced many other genres of music and recorded and performed with some of the biggest recording stars around. Lady Bianca’s first professional gig was at the age of 17 when she joined up with Quinn Harris and the Masterminds. It was Quinn Harris who gave her the stage name Lady Bianca. Her given name is Bianca Thornton. This led to her inclusion on two songs of a compilation album by Reynolds Records in 1970.

Besides singing, she also dabbled in a bit of acting and in 1972, she played the role of Billie Holliday in the San Francisco stage production of Joe Hendricks’ Evolution Of The Blues, a role that was quite suited to her.

Throughout the 70s you could find her performing in various clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area where she honed her craft to perfection. It was during this time where she came to the attention of Sly Stone from Sly and The Family Stone, who asked her to join his band. It was there where she did double duty as both a backup vocalist and keyboardist. This also resulted in her performance on Sly and The Family Stone’s 1976 album, Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I’m Back. This led to even more high-profile gigs. She even found herself on the road with the legendary Frank Zappa, and can be heard on his song, “Wind Up Working At A Gas Station.” In addition, she can also be heard on his albums, You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol.6 and Philly ’76.

Since then she has performed and recorded with a plethora of artists, including Lee Oskar, Merle Haggrd, Taj Mahal, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Frankie Lee, and Maria Muldaur, to name a few. Lady Bianca has even appeared on five albums by Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison. Those albums included, Beautiful Vision (1982),

Lady Bianca Releases New Gospel EP, Lady Bianca Sings...

Inarticulate Speech of the Heart (1983), Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast (1984), A Sense of Wonder (1985), and No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (1986).

Since those days, Lady Bianca has been extremely busy and has gone on to form her own record label, Magic-O-Records, and release over 11 solo albums. Three of her albums have even been nominated for GRAMMY® Awards. Those albums are Best Kept Secret, Rollin’, and Through A Woman’s Eyes. You might have even caught her performances at the San Francisco Blues

Festival, Sarasota Blues Festival, and the Monterey Bay Blues Festival, among others over the years.

Now Lady Bianca is back with a new EP that is very dear to her heart, and really showcases her spirituality, Lady Bianca Sings Hold On Just A Little While Longer / Gonna Have A Mighty Good Time. Her hopes are that this EP becomes an uplifting theme for the times we are in right now and touches her fans hearts as much as it touched her when she recorded it.

Check it out now on Magic-O-Records.

September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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Rock and Blues International • September 2020

Charlie Musselwhite, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Jimbo Mathus, the Late Jim Dickinson, Luther Dickinson and Cody Dickinson Are the New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers

By Kevin Wildman The time is a little over 12 years ago and Squirrel Nut Zippers’ guitarist and vocalist Jimbo Mathus is sitting in a nondescript building in Coldwater, Mississiippi. The room he is in is about 400 square feet or more, maybe

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about 25 by 25 feet. The building looks like an old biker’s repair shop… nothing fancy… but definitely full of inspiration on this day. It’s somewhat out of the way in a rural section of Mississippi. Outside the building is a chain link fence with concertina wire along the top of

Rock and Blues International • August September 2020 2020

it to fend off any unwelcome guests. Jimbo is sitting inside the Zebra Ranch Recording Studio.

Over in one corner is the late Jim Dickinson, sitting at his cherry red baby grand Baldwin piano that Baldwin had given him, which he was so proud of. North Mississippi

Jimbo Mathus Allstars guitarist, Luther Dickinson is sitting not far from him. To the right of Luther is the legendary harmonica virtuoso Charlie Musselwhite with a small amp near him. Sitting in the only isolation room at the drums is North Mississippi Allstars drummer Cody Dickinson.

Also in attendance is Grammy® award winning musician Alvin Youngblood Hart. Everybody is assembled in one room, complete with their recording engineer. The session for the unofficial “roots supergroup” New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers is in full swing. For the most part, this is an afternoon recording session and things have to be wrapped up soon because Jim will be heading to the house by 5:00 p.m. in time to catch one of his favorite afternoon shows, Mid-South Wrestling along with some dinner. Every time this show came on, you could expect Jim to be there, cheering on his favorite wrestlers. Yes folks, in this nondescript building in the sticks, one of the most impressive recording sessions ever is taking place.

This is the recording session for the newly released New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers, Volumes I and II. Volume I is out this month on September 4th, and Volume II will be out in the spring of 2021, The ten great classics on Volume I are very inspirational. This is Blues the way it’s supposed to be played… stripped down, bare, and full of emotion.

There’s no high tech machinery in play here.

It’s strictly lo-fi and performed traditionally the old school way. For more than twelve years, the recordings from those session were hidden

Alvin Youngblood Hart

away, sometimes almost referred to in a way where they might have been classified as being just a legend. Did they happen really?

Well folks, they really did happen and have now come to light twelve years later. Sometimes you just have to wait for something good to happen… and it finally did with this new release. The album has sat in the studio archives for years, but finally Luther Dickinson and his partner and engineer, Kevin Houston took it out, dusted it off, and finished the production on the album.

Listening to the album, you can literally visualize the recording of the project. It really comes out in the mix. Here’s this group of some of the finest Blues performers that the Blues has to offer, sitting virtually in a circle just passing the mic to one another and each one taking the lead on a song. Strictly unbelievable… When Stoney Plain Records founder, Holger Peterson heard about this legendary session, he knew he had to release it and he contacted Luther and lit the fire. In some respects, we have him to thank for finally unearthing this long forgotten project. Thank god it happened.

“The New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers album was conceived in the back of a tour bus,” Luther Dickinson recalls. “Mavis Staples and Charlie Musselwhite had hit the road together, with the North Mississippi Allstars as the house band. The tour forged lifelong friendships and collaborations; it changed our lives in so many ways.

“The package tour was classic showbiz.

We’d all been snookered; the tour bus wasn’t what we’d imagined. Instead of rock ‘n’ roll luxury, we found ourselves in hard-cushioned, straight-back retirement home mass transport.

The stationary armrests made sleeping futile— so Charlie and I passed the miles shooting the breeze. Charlie made a list of great recordings I should check out, which became a catalyst for our recording session.

“The name of our recording project was born in the back of that ramshackle bus. We had a concept before we had a record. As I explained Alvin Youngblood Hart’s mission to live life as a ‘Freedom Rocker,’ Charlie pointed out the window: there was a new moon that evening.

Suddenly, ‘New Moon Freedom Rockers’ materialized. (Dad added ‘Jelly Roll’ after the recording session.).”

The result of that tour was the catalyst for this great new/old recording that is finally being released now. Songs on New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers Volume 1 and their featuring members include: “Blues Why You Worry Me” (featuring Charlie Musselwhite), “Pony Blues” (featuring Alvin Youngblood Hart), “Night Time” (featuring Jimbo Mathus), “Come on Down to My House” (featuring Jim Dickinson), “K.C. Moan” (featuring Charlie Musselwhite), “Let’s Work Together” (featuring Jim Dickinson), “Shake It and Break It” (featuring Jimbo Mathus), “Stone Free” (featuring Alvin Youngblood Hart), “Stop and Listen Blues” (featuring Alvin Youngblood Hart), and “Strange Land” (featuring Charlie Musselwhite).

I had a chance to sit down with

Jim Dickinson Jimbo Mathus recently and gain a little more insight to this legendary recording session and he revealed quite a bit about it.

Rock And Blues International: For me this sounded like an authentic traditional Blues session. When you look back at the recording sessions for this project, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?

Jimbo Mathus: Well I think of Zebra Ranch Recording Studio. I’ve worked there so long with Luther, Jim, and Cody. I started working there just as soon as they opened the place up, so I think immediately of Jim. And of Luther being the great idea man, and pulling ideas like that together and getting us all together. Anything in Zebra Ranch was going in the same sort of technique, the same style, and same spirit, which is we would gather around the microphones with some small amps and just play properly. We would do one or two takes, maybe just one take and that was usually what you got, so it was a very fun, spirited and relaxed session. It was all a lot of fun as we were all singing and passing the baton around in the room there eager to hear what the next idea was going to be. Then you just run it down and push play. You talk about authentic Blues records, that’s how they were made.

RABI: When you are selecting the songs for this album back then, was there any discussion about the songs first or did you just pass the mic around and each person just say ‘this is the song we’re doing now’?

Jimbo Mathus: Yep. That’s exactly right.

‘Here’s how it goes.’ And if there’s any special tricks in there, we talk them out and then within two or three or four minutes we would be recording. There was no pre-production on it other than just, we’re all like-minded cats that are used to working in the same way, so there was no problems.

RABI: Had you all worked together before, or was it was this a first time for some of you to interact with the others?

Jimbo Mathus: You know, the only person that I hadn’t really worked a lot with was Charlie Musselwhite. I had hung out with him a contined on next page

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New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers continued from previous page

Cody Dickinson bunch in Clarksdale, Mississippi where he goes to visit all the time and it was my hometown, so I hung out with Charlie. Luther had played with him. They were backing Charlie up for a while.

So that was where the lightning bolt went off and Luther said, ‘hey, let’s get Charlie up to the Zebra Ranch with the family band.’ And so just about everyone else had worked extensively together. Charlie not so much, but I hung out with him enough to know what kind of cat he was and so it was really good. It was a broad age group of cats in there from Jim, Charlie, and the older guys, Alvin and myself with Cody and Luther being a little younger. Even 12 years ago we had a lot of experience under our belts.

RABI: What made you select the songs “Night Time” and “Shake It and Break It. Jimbo Mathus: Well, “Shake It and Break It” is something that I had been doing with Jim and Luther and Cody for quite a while. It’s based on an old Charlie Patton thing. We were all really into the Charlie Patton Groove and riffs and influence of Blues, you know, which tends to make something sound older and cooler, anyway. That’s more of a Ragtime thing and a great showcase for Jim’s piano and it’s something we all already knew and so I popped him out the “Night Time” thing. It’s something

Luther Dickinson

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that I had actually been writing. Jim had asked me to write some songs. He was going to do another solo album. I actually went out to Zebra Ranch and worked on a couple of songs with him.

“Night Time” was one that I had kind of pidgin-holed in my mind for Jim, but when I had got out there, he didn’t know the words. So I just said, I’ll just sing it. That’s where “Night Time” came from. I had been writing it with him in mind and the boys in mind.

RABI: When some of the other songs came up, was there anything like, ‘Oh Great, I’ve always wanted to do that song”?

Jimbo Mathus: Oh sure man, several absolutely. Several jump out at me, “K.C. Moan”, that’s something on the old Harry Smith collection of songs that he put out back in the 60s, that turned on so many people to blues and folk music and stuff. And that K.C. Moan was one of those on there that I’ve always really dug and so was I was excited when they pulled that out. “Let’s Work Together”, the Canned Heat song was killer. I just always loved Canned Heat. I mean, there’s a blues band, a real blues rock band that did it good, you know. Oh, if any blues rock band did it really good, I’d say Canned Heat would be at the top of my list. I was playing with Larry Taylor and worked with him a bunch on some Buddy Guy tours. I love Canned Heat. So I was super excited when he pulled that one out and those two strike me right off the bat.

RABI: Are there any others that jump out at you as well?

Jimbo Mathus: Oh yeah, “Stop And Listen Blues” and “Come On Down To My House.” I love that good old Memphis Jug Band Sound, that down in the alley Jug Band sound. I’m always keen on it. Just throw a mandolin on it and hoop and holler. They were super. I was excited about every one of them. Of course to hear Alvin play “Stone Free” was like a dream come true.

There’s another song by a Blues Icon.

Jimi Hendrix did it right. So yeah, it was like those two sessions and both of those albums came together in like two afternoons. That’s it.

RABI: So they came together fairly easy then.

Jimbo Mathus: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Like I said, we’re all like minded and already sort of have the same mythology and philosophy of the Blues, the same steeped-in tradition history. I mean, literal history. The people like Charlie and Jim involved, you know. I mean, you’re looking at literal Blues history right there. It was a bunch of likeminded cats.

RABI: Looking back, since it took so long to get this out, did you ever think it would materialize?

Rock and Blues International • September 2020

Charlie Musselwhite Jimbo Mathus: You know, knowing Luther, I knew that he would find a place for it when the time was right, that was a very important session. That was Jim’s last session and some of his best work that he did in his studio. It was sounding really good then and he had his piano and they had really tweaked the sound on it, so we knew it was important, and we knew it was great. I trusted that Luther would find a home for it someday when the opportunity arose because he doesn’t forget stuff like that. He’s got a great process, so that sometimes takes a while to see the results of this. It took 10 years or more for fruition, you know, so it’s a long game for us anyway.

RABI: And what are your thoughts about it coming out as a two volume set” Jimbo Mathus: I was happy that it was a double volume set. I think that it’s great that somebody would take the energy, the resources and the time to actually put it in the two volume set. I think it was very cool of them. I think in a way it is very smart and what needed to be done.

Rather than just pick twelve songs and leave the other ones alone, they kind of go together. I think my favorite part is just the fact that it’s were being released in its entirety in two volumes. I think it’ time for the blues world too, because it’s a breath of fresh air… the way it’s recorded with the people and personnel involved and the song selection. I think it’s going to be very refreshing for the blues world and maybe even get some new people interested in the Blues. There’s not a lot more I can say about it at this point. I know it’s a cliché, but I think the music will speak for itself. I really think it will. I think it’s really going to inspire a lot of people. I hope so, and that would be a great goal and the ultimate goal.

Well there you go folks, Jimbo certainly has a lot of pride wrapped up in this album, and it really comes as no surprise. In this age of over produced music and lightning fast BluesRock, it’s kind of refreshing to hear something a bit more traditional and down to earth. I think that this album will definitely turn a few heads.

When you get a chance and if you’re into the Blues, then give this album a try. I really think it will help broaden your horizons a bit. Check out a bit of the old-school blues, done the right way.

Congratulations goes out to Stony Plain Records, Jim Dickinson, Charlie Musselwhite, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Luther and Cody Dickinson, Jimbo Mathus and all the folks involved in this project… Job well done.

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September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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Rock And Blues International

Zakiya Hooker 22

Rock and Blues International • September 2020

Zakiya Hooker Embraces Her Legacy John Lee Hooker’s Talented Daughter Finds Her Way Forward

By Lee Zimmerman There are those that would argue that being the offspring of a famous artist might provide a free ticket to fame and fortune. That theory is certainly easy to understand. After all, taking advantage of the family history and accompanying connections could easily provide a pathway to recording opportunities, a fast track to a record company and a checklist of superior session players eager to lend their services to any subsequent sessions.

On the other hand, it can also be a burden. How so? Just ask Julian Lennon, James McCartney, AJ Croce, or any number of other commercially-challenged children who couldn’t quite overcome the public’s unreasonable expectations and absolute need to associate their parents’ craft and creativity with whatever original sounds their sons and daughters choose to share. It’s a high bar to be sure, and one that’s often thrust on any child with ambitions of their own, especially those who know better than to compete with their forebear’s lingering legacy.

Like the others who set out to follow the path plowed by their parents, Zakiya Hooker knew early on that the spirit of her father — the great blues legend John Lee Hooker — would always loom large over anything she attempted on her own. Nevertheless, she persevered and slowly built an impressive catalog all her own. Nevertheless, his influence on her is, of course, indelible, and easily understood. Prior to going out on her own, she wrote and recorded with her dad prior to his passing in 2001. She continues to share his songs in live performance. Yet she’s never allowed his iconic presence to overshadow her own efforts, choosing instead to not only mine the music bestowed on her by her birthright, but to also expand the

boundaries of the blues and integrate it with jazz, soul, rock, country, and R&B to create a sound she can call her own.

Her latest album, fittingly titled Legacy, demonstrates the broad artistic palette that she so eagerly embraces. Her fifth outing overall, it’s also her most impressive in both its sound and scope. It finds her at a peak of prowess with confidence and creativity.

Coproduced by her husband and an R&B artist himself, Ollan Christopher, and Anthony Cook, it was recorded in the recording facility Christopher founded with her father, Boom Boom Studios in rural Georgia. Notably too, it gives Hooker an opportunity to show off the skills and savvy she’s honed on stages worldwide, even when relegated to a studio setting.

Indeed, Legacy boasts any number of self-penned highlights, from the smooth groove of “Big Girl Panties,” the crisp and clean “Beautiful Eyes” and sweet but assured “Love The Pain Away” to the countryinfused sentiment of the beautiful ballad “One More Day” and the bluesy bluster of “Hang On For a While” and “What Am I Gonna Do.” In a word, Hooker’s made her masterpiece, a work well worthy of the legacy she’s living up to

her own.

We recently had an opportunity to speak with this tenacious and talented artist and get her view of what it takes to make it in the sometimes manic world of music.

Rock And Blues International: It can be intimidating to be the son or daughter of a famous father — people have certain expectations and want to hold you to that higher standard. How have you been able to deal with that and come out from under the shadow of to your father?

Zakiya Hooker: When my father was alive and I started doing music professionally, he was kind of leery because he knew what it was like in the music world for a man, and that it was going to be much harder for me.

Not just because I am a female, but because I carry the Hooker name. I told him that people expected me to do blues like him. He looked at me and said, “You do your music like you do your music and don’t try to be me. Your music is how you feel it and people will accept it.”.

I will always be in the shadow of my

“I’ve had my ups and I’ve had my downs,” Hooker insists on opening track “Front Door To Hell,” but regardless, it’s clear she’s found a continued on next page special redemption of September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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rary blues artists like Keb Mo and Eric Bibb.

RABI: Who are your most valued influences?

Zakiya: The first would be my father.

He was my prime example of how to “follow your dream.” I got from him the idea that everyone is not going to like your music but you have to do you and not let others change your dream so that it becomes their dream.

He never forgot his dream. He was — and is — an amazing man. Because of all the hard times that we have had — running from hard times in Detroit and the struggle when we arrived in California with nothing but the clothes we carried with us — my children have always inspired me and never let me lose faith in myself, even when I did not know where our next meal would come from.

Love from my heroes has been my most valued influence.

Zakiya Hooker continued from previous page father and people will always call me “John Lee Hooker’s daughter”. I just hope that when people say Zakiya Hooker, they look past that giant shadow and see me and not just “John Lee Hooker’s daughter.” I am really pleased that people have finally begun to see me as an individual and a viable artist.

It is a tough market out there, but I will keep pressing on.

RABI: Have you had people come up to you and tell you that they knew your dad or saw him performing, and then make their own comments and. comparisons?

Zakiya: Yes. People do it all the time.

I think it is just a way to break the ice when they meet me, and they are also proud of the fact that they met him and the impact he had on their lives. I make it a point to always take time to listen and thank them for sharing.

RABI: What have you done in terms of developing your own style?

Zakiya: By writing my own songs the way I feel them and hear them, I hope that I can convey to people my story, and the story of the people that I write about. I hope that they will begin to associate the style I write and sing about as Zakiya.

Evolution is a good thing.

RABI: Blues is a time-honored template but many people just imitate what’s come before — what do you think it takes in terms of originality and innovation to move the blues forward?

Zakiya: It will definitely be the younger generation that opens that portal for change. They interpret the music differently from us, and they put their passion and feeling in it. They stay true to the tradition, but they also put their spin on it. I love what some of the young folks are doing. Some have chosen to stay very traditional, and some have combined the old, the new and the future to create a beautiful fusion of the blues RABI: Can you tell us what inspired some of these songs on the new album?

Zakiya: Some of them came from personal experience, some came from watching what some of my friends were going through, some came from my childhood watching the interaction between my parents and other relatives, some came as a phrase I may have heard and thought it would make a good song because it related to things people were going through. I never know when something will inspire me to write a song. Life is always the best book to get a song from.

RABI: What do you do to distinguish yourself, not only from your dad but from other blues artists as well?

Zakiya: Just be who I am. My songs RABI: Do you mostly write your own come from my experiences and the things I material? see as I travel through this life. My style of Zakiya: For the most part yes. Some music and my life itself are quite different of the songs from my earlier CD’s were cofrom my dad’s life, so just that alone written by me, Ollan and Anthony Cook distinguishes me from him. Some folks tell me my music is not quite blues, but to me it is RABI: Who are some of the contemmy blues. I am glad that it is a bit different. porary artists that you’re listening to now?

Blues is evolving, and that’s good because Zakiya: I like a lot of the old school you don’t have to get stuck in the crowd and R&B, the very old traditional blues — John you can broaden what people call the blues.

Lee, Howlin Wolf and the more contempo24 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

RABI: How is the new album progression from your earlier efforts?

Zakiya: The new album is completely me. It is somewhat eclectic, like me, and It has a style of music that is very diverse. It does not fit in a box. It almost covers all types of music. I have a little country, a little rock, some blues and RABI: Anything you might have done differently?

Zakiya: Yes, I would have done more semi-traditional blues songs.

RABI: What is your ultimate career goal?

Zakiya: To be able to do music until I leave this earth. Music is a total package. It heals the body, the soul, the mind and there is no better high than when you share your music with others RABI: Are you satisfied with your progress so far?

Zakiya: Yes. Just to be able to still function, be healthy and be able to fill my life with the things I love to do. My music has reached a lot of people and made them happy, stirred memories of loved ones and allowed me to meet some wonderful people from all around the world. I had to learn to stop being so hard on myself and look at how far I have come. I am blessed.

RABI: What do you consider your greatest career achievement so far?

Zakiya: Learning to play guitar. I am not a prolific player. I am a chord player and minimal rhythm guitar player. They tease me and say that I have my dad’s rhythm, but that’s fine. I love being able to sit down and write a song to the music I hear, give it to my producers and let them do their magic.

RABI: Anything you’d like to add?

Zakiya: To all of the young folks, and some old folks who have been doing this forever, never give up, keep on pushing and don’t let anyone tell you that you are not good enough. If you have faith in yourself and what you do, that is enough to make you a success in your eyes, and that is what really counts — how you feel about yourself.

Australian Syndicated Blues Radio Show Has Got It Working There are radio shows and then there are radio shows and when you want choice music you know what you are looking for and a man in Australia has got the it working big time. His name is Barry Maxwell, most folks call him “Baz” and this man knows his blues. His down under “Blues On The Hill” radio show has been picked up by radio station after radio station and no wonder. This radio show host is in there, he knows the blues and presents song after song in an easy going show format that is highly addictive not to mention extremely entertaining.

Baz became a big time blues lover back in the eighties after hearing Buddy Guy for the first time. The experience was so cool that it then led him on a journey of discovery even going all the way back to the sources and checking out Charlie Patton, Robert Johnson, Son House, Burnside and more. Their history and music were so cool that he wanted to share the latest in blues with the world and so he approached Sunbury Radio 99.3 FM with a new show idea. The show would be named “Blues On The Hill”. A show that would focus on what’s new in blues more so than focusing on the classics. A show that would present what’s cooking right now and since then Blues On The Hill has become so popular that today it is an internationally syndicated radio show. Baz’s passion for all things blues brought him to Memphis Tennessee in America where in both 2016 and 2019 he was chosen to be one of the judges at the annual International Blues Challenge that hosts over two hundred entries from around the world. Not one to sit still Baz became the President of the noted “Shake Shack” aka The Hume Blues Club where still today the man handles the bookings and emcee’s their weekly live events. But it doesn’t stop there, no way, no how as the man went on to organize Australia’s first Blues Music Hall Of Fame which is located in the state of Victoria. However, even with all these extra curricular activities going on Barry still finds time to this day to listen to the new submissions for his radio show. In fact artists can submit their music via Dropbox along with their one sheets to Barry. As an example most recently “Blues On The Hill” featured three tracks belonging to blues singer/songwriter Sam Barlow out of El Paso Texas. Baz commented, “Energy, Passion and soul. Next generation Blues great- ness. Get on it Blues people.” Quite a compliment coming from a man that is head over heels in love with the blues. Show spins are submitted to both the Australian Blues And Roots Chart as well as the internationally famous Living Blues Report in America.

If you are traveling and Australia is in your plans you will want to check out the information that Barry Maxwell is connected to down under. Whether you are a big time fan of the blues or an established blues artist looking for that righteous gig check out the roads that Barry can point you toward. In the mean time tune in and turn on to the hot, new blues releases from around the world on the Blues On The Hill radio show. You can check out what’s happening at www.facebook.com/ bluesonthehill September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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Peter Parcek 26

Rock and Blues International • September 2020

Soul-Guitar Virtuoso And Songwriter Peter Parcek Stays Close To The Bone With His Haunted, Primal New Album Mississippi Suitcase

By Kevin Wildman Singer/Songwriter and Blues guitarist, Peter Parcek has just released his new album, Mississippi Suitcase. This is the third one from this guitar virtuoso. His first two are 2017s Everyone Wants To Go To Heaven, and his 2010 debut release, The Mathematics Of Love. The Mathematics of Love was nominated for a Blues Music Award.

For this new release, Peter has assembled a veritble who’s who of Blues luminaries to accompany him on this 11-song project. Among them are North Mississippi All Stars’ Luther Dickinson, Muscle Shoals organist Spooner Oldham and harmonica legend Mickey Raphael. Additional musicians on the album are bassist Dennis Crouch (Gregg Allman, Elvis Costello), Dominic Davis (Jack White), Marc Hickox, organist Tom West, and drummers Tim Carman and Marco Giovino.

The album was produced by Ducky Carlisle (Buddy Guy , Susan Tedeschi, William Bell) and Parcek, with additional production

by Marco Giovino.

Before we get into the album, here’s a little background on Peter. Peter originally hails from Middletown, Connecticut. After graduating high school there, he journeyed off to merry old England to check out the music scene there. It was there that he received his post-high school education in music, as he got caught up in the magical music scene there.

Very few American musicians can really say that they experienced the great renaissance of Blues music that was taking place there in England in person. While a great deal of America was being immersed in the new rock scene here, Peter was able to get first hand experience from the British musicians that had re-discovered American Blues. There he was, watching up close, the guitar mastery of Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, while they were still performing in clubs. It was unbelievable for him. Wow, he was now playing the same clubs as these cats. What an experience! When he returned to the states with his first-class tutorials in British Blues, he rediscovered his own roots of the Kings, Albert, Freddie and B.B., along with Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Skip James, and even Jimi Hendrix. It wasn’t long before he wound up moving to Boston, Massachusetts, where he became the music director for the legendary Pinetop Perkins. His music career was now in full swing. If that wasn’t enough, Parcek even received an extreme comment of encouragement from quite an unlikely source, but one that would cement him in this world of music from then on. During a chance encounter with Buddy Guy backstage at a gig, Peter had picked up a guitar that had been lying there and started noodleing around on it.

Buddy walks in, and puts his fingers to his lips to motion everyone else around to quiet down so he can absorb a bit of Peter’s playing and he becomes really entranced in it. When Parcek finishes, Buddy comes over and remarks to

him, “You’re as bad as Eric Clapton. And I know Eric Clapton.”

That chance remark follows Peter to this day. In fact, it may even be one of the driving forces behind his music today.

When Buddy tells you you’re “bad’, you had better stay “bad.” And let me tell you, after checking out one of his past albums and this new one, Mississippi Suitcase, that guy is “BAD”, bad to the bone.

Peter Parcek’s new album Mississippi Suitcase is a really fine album. For this new release, Peter decided to pay respects to seven of his favorite musicians, along with writing four extraordihadn’t played it literally in a number of years nary new tunes. Now this is the hard part. and he said, ‘oh man, yeah. I think that would Where do I start here…. with the covers, or be cool.” We had this young drummer guy with the originals? Let’s see… Why don’t we that plays in a band from up here called GA start off with the covers and save the best for 20, who are starting to make some noise. It’s last. a very traditional blues band and it’s really Cover songs on this album run the cool, and his name is Tim Carman. And so gamut from mild to wild. Peter tackles songs Mark said to Tim, here’s what we’re going to such as Peter Green’s “The Supernatural,” do. This is the way we used to do it. What do which by the way, Green would probably love you hear? Tim heard this with a little more Parcek’s take on it. When Peter Green first aggressive like approach on drums, and that wrote the song, he was a member of John kind of informed, you know, where we took it.

Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. John Mayall was It’s basically live. What you’re hearing is live. infamous for discovering the world’s best The only thing that’s overdubbed is the musicians and then setting them on a path of keyboards. I’m really proud of it. I feel like it their own. Just ask Eric Clapton. Along that came out really well. We weren’t trying to line, he includes the Sonny Boy Williamson mimic or copy anything, this is what we feel song, “Until My Love Comes To Town,” and we hope people like it.”

Frankie Lee Sim’s “She Likes To Boogie Real Another stand off song on the album is Hard.” There is even a real head-turner, “Life the revisited Lou Reed song, “Waiting For The Is A One Way Ticket,” by someone I’m not Man.” It is definitely not your traditional really familiar with, Pleasant George. This Blues song either, yet Peter and the guys song is really good. The most unusual of the explored it a bit and took it to something choices are the songs, “I’m Waiting For The different, and at times the vocals on it or quite Man” by Lou Reed, “Beyond Here Lies reminiscent of Lou’s.

Nothing,” by Bob Dylan, and a really most When asked about the vocals and the unlikely choice, “Eleanor Rigby” by The song, Peter say, “Well, you know, it’s one of Beatles. Let me tell you, “Eleanor Rigby” those things… guitar players who sing… right. really rocks. He takes this Beatles classic and So sometimes it’s not that hard to do the totally makes it his own masterpiece. If I talking part. It might be hard to do the singing hadn’t have known better, I would have part of it, but yeah, it’s funny because I didn’t thought that this was one of his own. He really study the song other than learning the certainly has his own really cool interpretation lyric. Obviously I admire him and love the of if. song you know. He has an incredible catalog I asked him how it came about and he of great songs. But yeah, I just sort of got into explained to me, “It’s funny because the guy character. It was kind of a weird thing. who played bass on most of the record, Mark Other cover songs on the album, did Hickox and I used to do that in a band together pose quite a challenge at times, but Peter and a long time ago as an instrumental. So we his band pulled it off quite nicely. I even told were rehearsing the songs before we went into him that I really enjoyed his version of Peter the studio and I said to Mark. ‘What do you continued on next page think about trying “Eleanor Rigby” again?’ We September 2020 • Rock and Blues International 27

Peter Parcek continued from previous page

Green’s “The Supernatural.” It really is one of around us. In addition to that, it is set to a fantastic groove filled with some of the the best songs on the album. greatest slide guitar work you’ve ever heard, “You just totally made my day,” replied capped off with some real explosive solos.

Peter about my remark, “it’s funny because Even Jimi Hendrix would have a bit of envy if I’ve been wanting to do that for a while, but I he heard this piece. Peter tells us that he’s felt like it was just really a steep mountain to extremely proud of this one. climb musically. Even though it’s not fast, It’s “I’m pretty proud of that. I hope this so intense. Then the other part of it is, okay doesn’t sound pretentious to you. I don’t mean even once you learned his version, you can’t it to be pretentious, but it was my attempt to just mimic it, because the man already laid it get like almost the Book of Revelation meets down. So then it’s how can I find a way to William Butler Yeats meets Jimi Hendrix, kind make a statement that’s valid, that’s deep of thing. It is kind of weird, but that’s what I emotionally and does some kind of justice to was going for. There’s some backward guitar his genius without just mimicking. So I’ve stuff in there and there’s some kind of forced myself to only quote one of his prophetic lyrics to it. It is so pretty, you choruses. And on all the rest of them, I had to know.” come up with something that could stand up.

The title track off the album “MissisYeah, I’m really proud of that, just because I sippi Suitcase” is a very impressive song and felt like it was a really steep mountain to Peter really captures a great feeling here. climb. They say sometimes it’s almost easier However, perhaps the biggest part of the song to play fast. I know this is gonna sound weird, and the album is where the title track gets its but you can almost hide behind the notes. But name. It really comes from a very unlikely when you play slow, your soul is naked. It’s source, but that’s what makes for a great story. out there, and if you’re not deep or you ain’t Peter was happy to share the story with me. got nothing to say, it’s going to be very “On the title track, “Mississippi evident. So we’ve all been guilty of that at Suitcase, I was trying to find a way to do a 20/ times. I wanted to try to make sure that it was 20 version of Albert King meets Howlin Wolf valid, that it stood up on its own. And for you to say that, that means a tremendous amount to and it actually stems from a cab ride. I go periodically to Memphis, sometimes to play, me because I think that’s a beautiful piece of sometimes its just to attend things down there music.” and I have some friends that live in and around The musicianship on the rest of the Memphis. So one day I was taking a cab from cover songs on the album are all equally well the airport and the cabbie was kind of like done. I really enjoy each and every one of Robin Williams. I mean, he just like started them. Peter’s work on the Bob Dylan song, and he didn’t stop and it was funny as heck.

“Beyond Here Lies Nothing” is also very He had all kinds of commentary about people inspiring, but the real gems on this album are on the side of the road, but then he started Peter’s own work. The man is a true craftsman. Each of the four original songs speaks to telling me about his life. And he said that he had recently seen his son, and his son’s a different part of Peter’s personality and drive children and he was talking so much about his for creating great music. family and being so familiar, that I asked him, Mississippi Suitcase starts off with one of Peter’s well-crafted originals, “The World Is which I really shouldn’t have. ‘Well, how’s your wife? And then he veered off into this…

Upside Down.” The song just explodes with ‘Well me and my wife, we don’t get along too the feeling of today and what’s going on 28 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

well. I haven’t seen her for quite a while.’ He said. ‘I remember vividly the day I left.’ And I replied ‘yeah.’ He then said ‘here’s what happened. It just wasn’t working with her and I told her she could have the other car. She could have the house. She could have the TV and I went upstairs and I put everything I own into two Mississippi suitcases and I brought them down, threw them in the car and I left. I knew if I didn’t leave right, then something really bad was going to happen.’

Peter further explains, “And so of course, I was overwhelmed with the intensity of the story, but I was also puzzled by the phrase two Mississippi suitcases. He said ‘Oh, yeah. Yeah, you’re from the north.’ He then said, ‘Hefty bags, same thing.’”

“So that’s where that song actually springs from,” say Peter, “and then a friend of mine and an amazing drummer was going or had gone through the same thing recently... a break up with his wife. And so that I’m kind of between those elements that all kind of morphed into that and so true to life, so that’s the story. Luckily, it’s not my own story personally, but it’s something I hope people can relate to.”

He goes on to tell us that another one of the songs on the album, “Head Full Of Ghosts,” is loosely based on a book of the same name. Peter says he saw it in a bookstore and picked it up and started reading it a bit, just by chance. As he started to read, he just started feeling the song, and hearing the music in his head. He got himself a copy of the book and read it. He tells us that it was like the music was already there and he just started tuning into it. It’s great where some musicians get their inspiration from. It comes all sorts of ways.

The last original on the album is equally as impressive. It’s titled “Everybody Ought To Make A Change,” and Peter told me, “Everybody ought to make a change. I mean everybody ‘ought to make a change.’ Yeah, that’s just because It’s just a kind of a truth, you know. I mean because we’re all gonna have to leave here. I’m not trying to be maudlin about it, but we are going to all leave here. So sometimes we need to change it up.

You know, what were you thinking, what you’re wearing. Yeah, change your money, change your honey, so you don’t start acting funny.”

Peter has put together quite an album here, definitely something to be proud of, and something for people to remember, but we asked Peter, ‘What would he want people to think of if this album if it is the first piece of work of his that they have heard. What would he want them to remember the most, and he told us, “That’s an excellent question. I want them to come away with, ‘this guy’s honest.

He’s one of us. He feels it. He’s trying to share what he’s feeling. It’s trying to reach out to me. With these songs with his playing with his singing and more importantly with his heart he’s digging deep and he’s bringing it now.

He’s doing his best to bring it.’”

And after hearing this album and talking to Peter about it, he hit the nail on the head with that last remark. Peter did reach out to me with his music, which I did find quite honest. He is digging deep and bringing it hard right now… and very honestly. If you’re into some great Blues or Blues-Rock, then give Mississippi Suitcase a try. I think you’re really going to like it. I sure did.

Chris Gardner Drops New 14 Song Compilation “Second Helpings” Plus His Brand New Video “Hangin’ On The Line”

After 26 straight weeks on the charts at Roots Music Reports Chris Gardner entered into the studio and came away with another great release “Second Helpings”. The fourteen song compilation is jam packed with pure Americana including Chris’s fan favorite “Real American Hero”. The story of a man that keeps hanging in there through all of life’s trials because he is who he is, a real American hero. Also on the album is another fan favorite “Hangin’ On The Line” which Chris also released as an imaginative story telling video now featured on You Tube. Chris also teamed with two top singer/songwriters in their own right, Bert Wills on “A Girl Like That” and with Evelyn Rubio on “Miracles”.

Altogether fourteen great tracks and not a clunker among them.

About Chris - Chris Gardner hails from Buffalo New York and moved to Houston years ago and now calls Texas home. To date Chris has written and recorded four national top twenty songs, two which reached number one, cracked the Billboard Hot 200 coming in 152, and in 2019 Chris’s album “Hangin’ On The Line” was on multiple charts for weeks and even peaked at the coveted number one spot on Roots Music Reports. Writer for Houston CityBook Magazine pens about Chris, “A hockey-playing high-tech locksmith by day, Chris Gardner has the keys to the Americana Charts”.

“Second Helpings” was recorded at Wire Road Studios and co-produced by Chris and world famous mixing engineer Andy Bradley. Chris’s choice of studio musicians included composer/arranger Paul English on piano, Wayne Turner (Hank Williams Jr for 27 years) on guitar, Bert Wills (legendary Texas country harmonica man) on harp, Rankin Peters, Mark Andes (Firefall, Spirit, and Canned Heat) on bass, the late great Kenny Cordray on guitar, Tyson Sheth on drums, on peddle steel and banjo Brian Thomas, and on fiddle Hillary Sloan.

To learn more - www.chrisgardnermusic.com No animals were harmed while recording “Second Helpings” September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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Shawn Pittman Releases His Lucky Thirteenth Album, Make It Right!

By Kevin Wildman Oklahoma native and Austin transplant, bluesman Shawn Pittman is back with another great album, Make It Right! Make It Right! is Shawn’s 13th solo album, and the follow up to 2018s Everybody Wants To Know, the album that he did in conjunction with Jay Moeller.

Make It Right! was released on Continental Blue Heaven records and features thirteen of the best traditional style Blues songs that I’ve heard in a long time. Four or five of them are covers, and the rest are Shawn Pittman originals. When I sit here and listen to this newly received CD, visions of Lightnin’ Hopkins and John Lee Hooker race through my mind. On this album, Shawn truly embraces his roots. This is something that seems to be lacking in a lot of Blues recordings these days and although it sounds traditional, it also sounds sincerely like Shawn, a newly revitalized Shawn. Shawn usually takes a little time between albums to collect his thoughts. Sometimes the breaks are large, sometimes just a year or two. His recordings have slowed down a bit since 2009 and 2010 when he was turning out several albums a year, but now he seems a bit more focused and the quality of the songs are just fantastic.

Shawn recorded this album in Holland when he was over there doing a few festival shows in 2019. The album was recorded during breaks between shows. Recording took place at Heyman studios near Copenhagen. The owner of the studio, Christian Heyman Zinckernagel, was also the engineer there. He met Christian through his tour manager, Erkan Ozdemir, who was also doing double duty playing bass with Shawn on the tour. Levent Ozdemir, Erkan’s son, performed drums on the album.

Evidently the studio and its surroundings helped to inspire Shawn and his new songs. He really felt comfortable there and got off to all the tape machines and analog radios around the studio. Right off the bat he struck up a friendship with Christian and the ambiance of the studio really made Shawn feel at home and helped to bring out his best work yet.

Among the songs on the album are at least 4 covers, Albert King’s “Finger On The Trigger,” Junior Kimbrough’s “I Feel Good,” Eddie Taylor’s “There Will Be A Day,” and Bobby Blue Bland’s “Woke Up Screaming.”

Although these songs are really great, the true gems on this album are the Shawn Pittman originals. “Finger On The Trigger” features some of the tastiest playing I’ve heard Shawn perform. On “I Feel Good”, Shawn keeps the groove flowing throughout the song, nothing fancy, just plain tasty. “There Will Be A Day,” really features some inspired picking, and “Woke Up Screaming,” is definitely a tour de force.

The album starts off with a Shawn Pittman original, “Done Tole You So!”, and when Shawn sings “Done Tole You So”, there’s a lesson to be learned there. Yeah, he knew she would take your money, so don’t go

knockin’ on his door cryin’. This is your the album, and it is so inspiring. It moves so classic song about gold digging women… effortlessly and sounds so smooth. And it’s building on the old themes of love and no wonder I think that. As they sat down to betrayal. record that song, Shawn tells us that Christian, “Make It Right,” the title song has a the engineer, declared that they were going to great gritty, drivin’ sound to it. It definitely make history with this song. Without a doubt, was the right song to name the album after. it’s one of my top picks off the album.

He’s right you know, “Gotta Make It Better, Also, one of the most inspiring things Gotta Make It Right.” And he certainly did about this album is the lyrics. From thought with this album. He made it better and no provoking to plain visionary, the lyrics from doubt about… he made it right! this album are some of the best to come out of Everything is just right about this Shawn’s head to date. I know I’ve used this album. The songs, the song structure, the term already in this story, but here it comes melodies, the tones. Oh god, the tones… you again. The lyrics on this album are just could write a whole story about the tones that inspirational. They’re delivered with great Shawn is getting out of his Jimmy Vaughan thought and sincerity. There’s no forced Tex-Mex Strat and Super Reverb, not to falsetto’s (well, maybe one) or growls here, mention his Butterscotch tele through his just tastily delivered and honest.

Bassman. But let’s not forget the other guys I could go on and on about this new in the equation either, Erkan and Levent are record, but the truth is you just got to just a powerhouse together. No wonder he experience it yourself. If you’re into Shawn picked them to play on his festival tour that Pittman already, then you know this is a good year. To use them in the studio was pure album. If you’ve never heard of Shawn genius. The three of them sound as if they before, you’ll swear you just discovered a had been playing together for years. The new talent... someone very sincere and honest. album really sounds tight.

Yeah, this is one of Shawn’s best albums, if The song, “I’m Done,” has a refreshing not his best yet. slide guitar sound on it that’s really smooth.

This album is well worth adding to Shawn tells us that that slide guitar was your collection, and for those of you who inspired by Hound Dog Taylor. Then you take have never heard about Shawn Pittman a song like “How Long.” All I can say is before, get up off your ass and get yourself a “Wow, what a great song.” The slow tempo copy. This will be one of the best traditional on this song is perhaps the slowest song on style Blues albums you’ll hear this year.

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This Gospel Girl Can Deliver The Blues Ms. Annika Chambers know that seated in the audience were two successful music producers: Larry Fulcher (inductee into the Blues Hall of Fame) and Richard Cagle (President of Montrose Records). The blues world was new to her and so when they approached her about recording on the Montrose label this was indeed an interesting opportunity. Soon after that performance Larry presented Annika with about forty songs to choose from and Rich prepared the recording studio.

Annika’s first album “Making My Mark” came to life and it was a smoking presentation of multiple blues numbers that were cool to the max. She loved the album and knew that being new to the blues world, only her own hard work toward gaining as much visibility as she could, would help shore up the success of her first album “Making My Mark”. It was her personal desire to see the album succeed that motivated her to pass out file card sized

Within the blues world there is a lady named Annika Chambers. Annika is known around the world as the rising star of both traditional and soul blues. On stage she has the presence of Tina Turner, fast moving, upbeat including a smile to die for. When you slow things down she has this Etta James kind of delivery that is reminiscent of the traditional blues scene years ago, but yet Annika is one hundred percent her own person in both delivery and presence.

She grew up on gospel and in church people noted that this young fifteen year old girl could really sing. People were commenting that when she turned on the praise music you were sure it was from her heart. Annika was introduced to the blues while in the Army and not too long afterward Annika and her band entered what is known as the International Blues Competition which was hosted by the Houston Blues Society. Little did she 32 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

ads in freezing weather no less than on Beale Street in Memphis Tennessee.

Chilled to the bone, water freezing in the corners of her eyes, she would smile and hand a card to anyone that would accept one.

This ladies and gentlemen is Annika Chambers. A very dedicated, talented, ambitious blues singer. In fact, it wasn’t long afterward that Annika received the coveted Blues Music Award from her peers and soon after that festival date after festival date. Annika has received five Blues Music Award nominations to date. Today her presence at American based blues festival and key events remains strong plus Annika is one of the most sought after blues acts in Europe. She’s even performed at the Big Blues Bender in Las Vegas and on stage at Europe’s largest blues festival, Lucerne. When she returns to her home town of Houston, Texas she packs them in no matter which stage she is on and no wonder, her performances are aces.

When she’s in Memphis she can hardly get from one club to another without being stopped and being congratulated on her BMA and her albums. If you haven’t seen an Annika Chambers show or heard her music, check her out - this woman’s got it working! https://www.annikachambers.com/

Blues From The Soul Spain’s The Travellin’ Brothers

Spain is noted for its colorful splendor, fantastic cuisine and memorable music. One only has to visit Spain once to come away with a unquenchable thirst to return and do it all over again.

Nestled within the far northern region of Basque Country, Spain resides a passionate band of musicians known in their native land as The Travellin’ Brothers.

Not an ordinary run of the mill band but one that has struck a chord with literally thousands upon thousands of music lovers around the world. The reason they stand out is absolutely everything they represent and present is top shelf.

Extremely professional. However, being professional alone is not their only calling card. No it’s something much deeper, they’ve got it together.

Their sound, their arrangements, their stage presence wreaks of passion and audiences absolutely love them. In fact it is common to witness multiple standing ovations through out the night at any one of their gigs. Happens all the time.

The Travellin’ Brothers pay

homage to the blues and color inside the lines all the while delivering the blues with soul, real heart felt soul. A great example of this blues from the soul can be found within their “Thunderstorm Blues” song that resides on their latest

album Travellin’ Brothers 1001 Nights. A wailing sax by Alain leads the way to the rich tenor voice of front man brother Jon who explodes into a deep gritty from the heart delivery. Jon requests some keys and Mike kills it, then he passes it back to Jon who shares more of the story who then encourages lead guitar man, Aitor, to step forward. Back to Jon for a touch more of the story and then the entire band including Eneko on bass and Isi on drums lights it up big time. Absolutely killer. If you like drums and New Orleans style sounds their “Magnolia Route” will knock your socks off. A cool groove that delivers New Orleans style music no matter where in the world you are when you hear it. This is a highly polished team of musicians who love to present passionate, touching performances. This is why they fill theatres and festivals with ease. The Travellin’ Brothers are one of those points of light that reside in Spain that beckons you back and makes you glad you returned. A fresh, clean sound filled with passion, love, loss, redemption, and brotherhood. Check them out – too cool to say the least! http:// www.travellinbrothers.com/

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Charles Christian’s Americana HAS AMERICANA LOST ITS WAY?

By Charles Christian** I produce and host a weekly syndicated Americana show for FM and internet radio. No big deal about that. And in the course of each week I receive a shed load of new releases and keep track of both the US and UK Americana singles and albums charts. No big deal about that either except… most of the music I see coming my way is not Americana.

listening to madrigals and Gregorian chants on our iPhones.

For example I’m so Happy I Cry by Fantastic Negrito on his new album Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? is an up-dated version of an old field holler blues-type song. Then there’s an outfit called Gangstagrass who are producing a mix of hip-hop meets bluesgrass. Check out their new album No Time For Enemies. It sounds like a recipe for total disaster but it really works, it’s pushing the boundaries again and not trying to preserve a musical form in aspic, based on what it was like 70 or more years ago.

And then there’s Tobert John & The Wreck – the title track of their new album Last Light on the Highway is almost 70’s Prog Rock.

Now the traditional definition of Americana is too Rock for Country and too Country for Rock but the stuff I’m receiving is neither Rock nor Country.

Instead I get a lot of singer-songwriter from people (mainly men) who appear to be oblivious to the fact Tom Paxton and Bob Dylan did it all first, and better, about 60 years ago. However the bulk of the material is what I’d call “Corrs Lite” – The Corrs in this case being an Irish band who were big in the 1990s playing the kind of inoffensive pop you could have in the background at a dinner party.

It’s music that’s not pop enough to make the current Top 40 charts. Not country enough to make the country charts.

And not edgy enough to make the indie charts. It’s audio landfill all too often sung by delicate boy-and-girl couples who have endless fey tunes about unhappy relationships.

Fantastic Negrito

My own definition of Americana is fairly basic: can you imagine Sheryl Crow or the late Tom Petty playing it? If the

So what is Americana? It’s a huge genre that takes us from the country-rock of The Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers in the late Sixties/early Seventies through to Blues, R&B, Roots, Southern Rock, Rockabilly and even Bluegrass. It can be funny, it can be sad, it can have a serious message – or just be about bourbon and bad decisions. There’s a lot of songs about bourbon and bad decisions.

Most importantly, it is a genre that is constantly pushing new boundaries and evolving. Of course it needs to evolve, all music needs to evolve otherwise we’d be

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Gangstagrass

Americana. Sorry, just because you wear a Stetson and doubledenim doesn’t automatically make your music Americana.

‘My’ Americana has a rockier, bluesier, rootsier vibe – the R in Americana stands for Rock.

Robert John and The Wreck answer is “yes” then it’s Americana. It’s the kind of music you’d hear live in a bar or club that’s not so quiet you can’t hear, yet also not so loud it makes your ears bleed. (Or was it only me who spent his college years at gigs standing way too close to the stacks of Marshall cabinets?)

It’s also the kind of music that sets your feet tapping and that you could dance to, if you were in the mood.

All of which brings me back to where I started and the question of why am I seeing so much bland stuff in the charts or being pushed my way? The cynic in me says its because their labels know the music is not going to make the main pop and country charts so they brand it as

Rant over… here are video links to some of the tracks I’m currently playing. * Crazy by Shadow & The Thrill – forget the Gnarls Barkley original, this sounds like it’s being played by the ghost of Gary Moore https://youtu.be/3Fy9-R49XM * Looking for an Old Friend by The Georgia Thunderbolts – some classic Southern Rock https://youtu.be/ KlAewYVm-Ps * It Ain’t My Fault by Brothers Osborne – yes it’s a bourbon and bad decisions song

Tom Petty * Legends Never Die by Orville Peck & Shania Twain – an almost surreal kitschfest https://youtu.be/PV3dDRNmj_U * Tattoos Trucks & Country Music

by Matt Ward – very droll https://youtu.be/ faaZwLXThjI * Down Home Girl by Rainbow Girls – https://youtu.be/sRo-G7U5VDk **He looks pretty young but he’s just backdated.

New Music From Scotland

SNOW PATROL AND THE SATURDAY SONGWRITERS RELEASE THE FIRESIDE SESSIONS EP

Snow Patrol have announced details of a brand-new EP. Written and recorded during lockdown, The Fireside Sessions was released on August 21st and is made up of five songs written with the band’s fans during a series of streams on Instagram Live dubbed ‘Saturday Songwrite’. In a nod to this collaboration, The Fireside Sessions will be released under the banner of Snow Patrol And The Saturday Songwriters. The EP was produced by Iain Archer. It was released digitally and on CD and was preceded by the single “Reaching Out To You” on July 30th.

The band are partnering with the Trussell Trust Charity for the EP and all

proceeds from the project will go to the antipoverty charity. Speaking about how The Fireside Sessions came about, frontman Gary Lightbody says, “During lockdown I wrote a song each Saturday on Instagram Live.

People from all over the world participated and each week there was 4 or 5 thousand people involved over the course of the hour: The Saturday Songwriters. They would suggest chords and lyrics and I would put them all together and add in a few of my own where appropriate but my unwritten rule was that there would be lyrics from a Saturday Songwriter in each line of the song. We did it for 11 weeks and wrote 12 songs together. It was a lot of fun.”

Completing the EP’s tracklisting alongside “Reaching Out To You” are “On The Edge Of All This”, “The Curve Of Earth”, “Dance With Me” and “Light Years”. The Fireside Sessions follow’s last year’s Reworked album, which saw the quintet offer up alternate versions of iconic tracks alongside some deep cuts. Reworked reached Number 3 in the UK charts.

The Trussell Trust supports a nationwide network of food banks to provide emergency support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK. Food banks have seen a

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huge increase in need for emergency support during the coronavirus outbreak. The Trussell Trust reports a soaring 89% increase in need for emergency food parcels during April 2020 compared to the same month last year, including a 107% rise in parcels given to children. The number of families with children receiving parcels has doubled compared to the same period last year.

Wherever possible, food banks are continuing to provide emergency support to people in their community in the safest way possible. Many have had to make significant changes to the way they work in order to protect the health of everyone at the food bank – whether that’s people who need the food bank, people volunteering, or people donating.

The Trussell Trust is here to end the need for food banks in UK.They support a UK-wide network of more than 1,200 food bank centres and together we provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK. The Trussell Trust’s food bank network brings together volunteers, staff and supporters of all faiths and none to make a difference. Local churches play a vital part in this work, with around 12,000 churches actively involved in donating food, and providing venues, volunteers and financial support for food banks.

You can read more about The Trussell Trust www.trusselltrust.org

New Music From England The British pop darling Foxes released her latest single, “Woman,” taken from her forthcoming project. This release serves as the follow up to “Love Not Loving You,” which marked her return from a gamechanging three year hiatus. The song is out today via [PIAS] Recordings.

“Woman” is a bold statement of empowerment and reclamation of control as a woman, with a universal message of standing up to the unacceptable, with a powerful ability to be interpreted uniquely to each and every woman who listens. The song is paired with a powerful new animated video directed

by Gemma Green-Hope. Talking about the single, Foxes (real name Louisa Rose Allen) reveals: “There’s a lot of injustices in the world right now and I hope this single can be interpreted by any woman, in any situation, facing injustice, facing any situation that they know is wrong, and helps to stand up and say no to what isn’t right.”

The single was also written in part as an ode to her close-knit family of formidably strong women who have shaped her - in particular her grandmother, Kathleen - and follows on from Foxes’ comeback banger “Love Not Loving You” - a bold, buoyant single that transported you to the light at the end of the tunnel, hailed by Teen Vogue as “an incredibly catchy song” with E! Online praising it for its “typically impressive pop production.” The power to press play again after pressing pause and the beacon of strength, independence and empowerment she felt when reconnecting with herself while taking a break from music. Watch the Rauri Cantelo-directed, video HERE, filmed DIY style at home during quarantine.

Propelled into the industry at just 19, Foxes was at the forefront of pop with her critically acclaimed debut album Glorious, and a GRAMMY Award winning collaboration with EDM giant Zedd for ‘Clarity.’ In 2017, Foxes decided to press pause and focus on connecting with herself. During that time, she’s been working on writing and recording and is now ready to return to the musical arena with “Woman” and “Love Not Loving You” before it, marking her foray back into the limelight.

FOXES UNVEIL PERSONAL NEW SONG AND MUSIC VIDEO, ‘WOMAN’ – OUT NOW September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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M-Pop From Mexico

but similar amongst themselves. For AQUIHAYAQUIHAY this doesn’t make sense because anyone can be AQUIHAYAQUIHAY. They pushed aside those stereotypes and realized that by accepting the fact that none of us are the same or feel the same, we all can coexist in harmony and support each other by respecting each other’s ideologies without betraying our own convictions. They believe we can learn from each other’s experiences and accept ourselves the way that we are. We are in a constant flux and something so cliché as a global idea or stereotype shouldn’t define us. Led by Adrian Be (global MGMT and creative director), the project was born at the beginning of 2016, eventually getting its name in April when the last member of the band joined. These young artists - trained by the streets and real-life experiences - sing, write, produce, direct, compose, and craft their own brand. They have redefined the concept of “Boy Bands” in Mexico and in the US, and are the forerunners of the Mexican Pop (M-Pop) movement. Being AQUIHAYAQUIHAY is believing in yourself, it’s overcoming stigmas, it’s dismissing clichés that others cast upon you, it’s leaving everything behind to become who you really are, it’s bonding with your kind and never feeling the need to prove anything to anyone.

M-Pop Mexican Anti-Boyband AQUIHAYAQUIHAY Kisses Toxic Love Goodbye in New Single + Video “MUACK” After announcing inking with Steve Aoki’s new Latin imprint Dim Mak En Fuego via Billboard, AQUIHAYAQUIHAY release latest single “MUACK,” an alt-trap record that flaunts their musical versatility and unique flow.

Produced by Phynx & Adrian Be, the track blends lo-fi hip-hop and Latin trap and kisses toxic love goodbye with finesse and swag. “‘MUACK’ describes the courage, adrenaline, and confidence that comes with saying ‘no’ to a toxic relationship. Breaking free from the chains [of love] and doing what you want which rushes blood to your head...but freedom is a double-edged sword if you don’t make the right moves. ‘Kiss on the cheek so it doesn’t hurt anymore’ a healthy way to say goodbye to toxic love,” affirms AQUIHAYAQUIHAY.

lized a HDMI transmitter to digitally share the camera display between their homes in Islas Canarias, Spain and the Monterrey, Mexico set.

The captivating music by AQUIHAYAQUIHAY & the creative vision by director Tomás Conterio, co-director Cruz Lee, and on-set producer DEVI by SLOWLY make for a perfect formula of cinematic brilliance & sonic genius.

AQUIHAYAQUIHAY’s distinct and varietal sound provides listeners with something different in each release. Their ability to bounce between Latin trap, hip-hop, pop, R&B, and more shows their chameleonic abilities and their vast potential to be the pioneers of M-Pop in all Spanish-speaking territories. Stay tuned for more on AQUIHAYAQUIHAY coming soon!

Centered around obscurity, surrealism, Defining M-Pop as a mixture of R&B, and public image, the video shows Hip-Hop, and Latin traditional genres, Jay-lee, AQUIHAYAQUIHAY turning from heroes to Neqer, Phynx, Zizzy, and Nehly (from anti-heroes. The visuals follow them under a Monterrey and Guadalajara) founded the glowing green substance into the darker side world’s first Anti-Boyband: of power, greed, and fame showing AQUIHAYAQUIHAY. Most people think that AQUIHAYAQUIHAY being seduced by it all. in order to be a part of something big or imporThe video is one of the first videos to be di- tant there must be a common thread, something rected via a livestream. The co-directors uti- that makes that group different from the rest 38 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

Dim Mak En Fuego (DMEF) is the new home for the global Latin underground.

Founded in July 2020, the imprint spotlights the genre-defying sounds burning up dance floors worldwide and fosters the boundless voices who are originating hybrid sounds in their own vision. As a breeding ground for the innovative artists pushing the scene forward, the label fuses music, visuals, fashion and internet culture to discover and develop the singular art and artists defining the sounds of tomorrow. Dim Mak En Fuego is the next evolution of Dim Mak, the iconic independent record label founded by two-time Grammy-nominated DJ/producer Steve Aoki in 1996. For more than two decades, the brand has stood at the epicenter of emerging youth culture and has shaped definitive movements across punk, indie and dance music, launching the careers of Bloc Party, The Kills, The Chainsmokers, The Bloody Beetroots, Deorro, Keys N Krates, MSTRKRFT and many others. Evolving from the eclectic vision and DIY spirit of Dim Mak, DMEF transcends genres, languages and borders, all while channeling la gente’s unique music, culture and identity through the Latin experience and challenging the old ways of traditional Latin music.

French Psychedelia Band

The LA based French psychedelic electronic rock trio Carré premiered the EP track “Freeform.” This follows the release of their debut singles “This is Not a Band” and “Urgency” this past spring, which earned media comparisons to the edgy dark electronic rockers Cold Cave, Nitzer Ebb and dance floor favorites Factory Floor, Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy and Soulwax.

The EP is a blend of the electronic French Touch with heavy Anglo Saxon rock and Industrial influences. With live instrumentation, featuring two drummers, they blend aggressive, dark and chaotic elements with organic hypnotic drum loops.

The journey matters as much as the destination. The trio sends you on several different landscapes throughout the entire EP with long instrumental range paired at times with lyrical seeking to keep the message as open as possible. Abstraction and interpretation are key here.

From the Magritte inspired first track “This is not a band”, an ode to “Freeform” approach on the second track, a full dive into self introspection on “Rollercoaster” to the magical words of the mystic psychonaut Terrence McKenna on the techno beat driven

French Electronic Psychedelic Rockers CARRÉ Release A New Track “FREEFORM” From Their Self-Titled Debut EP Debut EP Is Available On All DSPS Via Nomad Eel Records single “Urgency,” CARRÉ doesn’t offer you answers to what the destination is, but more so they open door for you to explore where your intrinsic perception lies to. The EP closes on a remix of the first single by E DARTA, a French DJ, adding a Berlin touch to the CARRÉ essence; it opens the music to multiple approaches, leading the band to new territory for upcoming material.

CARRÉ = square in French, well, not only, it also translates as playing tight, or on point. Carré seeks to create a psychedelic and unparalleled experience for listeners as each member of the band brings his own inspiration to the table. Created by its three members in 2019, “The making of our band started with this whole idea of having two drummers perform together. It felt like a statement,” says Jules. “We always wanted to keep people moving and tend to focus on the beats first when we write.”

collecting rare instruments around the world which he uses in his other project called Acoustic Resistance.

Electronic: Jules de Gasperis - (drums, vocals, synths, production and mixing) is a studio owner in Los Angeles and was raised in Paris where he sharpened his knowledge of synthesizers and machines at the time Ed Banger, Justice and Soulwax came to the mainstream.

Psychedelic: Keveen Baudouin (guitars, vocals, synth and production) has been living in Los Angeles for the longest (10 years), performing with many bands from the rock/psych scene, developing an edgy approach to the guitar influenced by out of the box players like Nels Cline, Jonny Greenwood or Marc Ribaut.

“With lyrics that highlight an element of provocation, and freedom of perception, Carré is all about conception, abstraction and distortion of reality. Stemming from a surrealistic outlook on our world, inspired by geometrical shapes and patterns, Carré gives birth to an angular, edgy musical experience.

“There’s something about not getting Organic: Julien Boyé attached to the form, when you step back and (drums, percussion, vocals) is disengage yourself from the form, you a drummer for many touring become in touch with something more pure acts (Nouvelle Vague, James and spiritual, while remaining in the square.”

Supercave). He has been -Carré September 2020 • Rock and Blues International 39

New Music From Sweden

ICONA POP RELEASE NEW SUMMER SMASH, ‘FEELS IN MY BODY’ Global chart-topping duo Icona Pop are back following their 2020 smash collaborations with heavyweights Steve Aoki and Hayden James, this time with another banger called “Feels In My Body,” which is out now via RECORD COMPANY TEN/ ULTRA Music. The song also comes paired with a music video, shot by director Gustav Stegfors and acclaimed Director of Photography, Crille Forsberg (David Bowie, Adele, ZAYN).

Speaking about their new feel goodsummer jam, Icona Pop’s Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo reveal, “Feels In My Body is all about hitting your peak, being so full of energy that you want to burst and share it with everyone around you.”

Swedish chart-topping duo Icona Pop continue to slay since their 2013 full-length debut, This Is… Icona Pop, which garnered critical acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork and Rolling Stone as the duo performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and America’s Got Talent in addition to featuring on the iconic HBO series Girls and a popular Saturday Night Live sketch. They canvased the globe on sold out tours with Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, and One Direction and joined Tiësto for the banger “Let’s Go” in 2014. Along the way, the duo has performed alongside everyone from Avicii to The Chainsmokers as well as gracing the stages of Ultra, Tomorrowland, Mark Ronson’s Club Heartbreak, and more.

Since then, they have consistently filled the gap in music when it comes to upbeat, carefree, quality dance-pop.

“Feels In The Body” follows two massive collaborations this year for Icona Pop, including “Right Time,” with Australian producer and songwriter Hayden James, Last year, the girls DJ’d across which Rolling Stone said “captures the Europe, Asia and North America as well feeling of the dance floor during this time of isolation,” and “I Love My Friends,” the lead as released a string of bangers including their Yves V and Afrojack collaboration single off Steve Aoki’s recent album, Neon for “We Got That Cool.” In addition, Future IV. 40 Rock and Blues International • August September 2020 2020

IconaPop continued their message of inclusivity, self-acceptance and positivity on the road for their WorldPride tour, culminating with a show-stopping performance at Stockholm Pride that included a special appearance from Sporty Spice herself, Melanie C.

New Music From England

Glass Animals’ New Album Dreamland Is Out Now Glass Animals released their hugely anticipated third album Dreamland into the world. Dreamland, which is released via Republic Records, is available everywhere now.

It’s been a whirlwind 2020 for Glass Animals— the UK’s truly original and hugely loved band, who confidently set out their stall for their fervently anticipated third album with first single “Your Love (Déjà vu)” in February. After subsequently setting off on an impressive run of tour dates to celebrate the new music, everything the Dave Bayley-fronted four-piece thought was in full motion was brought abruptly to a halt, and along with the rest of the world, Glass Animals was sent into full lockdown.

However, being the uniquely creative band that they are, the last four months have seen them adapt to the new normal—conjuring up new ways to connect with their international fanbase and bringing some distraction and innovation in difficult times. They’ve released a series of ingenious covers, built their own Open-Source website, created their very own TV network and made some jaw-droppingly inventive music videos. All while, crucially, inviting people into the enchanted world of Dreamland and revealing their brilliant new album via songs like “Heat Waves,” “Dreamland” and “It’s All So Incredibly

Loud.”

At the heart of Dreamland lies the quietly enigmatic Dave Bayley, the band’s frontman and producer extraordinaire whose work extends far beyond that of Glass Animals, with credits including Joey Bada$$, Flume, Wale, Khalid and most recently Denzel Curry on the late 2019 single “Tokyo Drifting.” For Bayley, Dreamland is a nostalgic memoir of his life so far, covering expansive and difficult ground and holding nothing back. It’s packed full of personal experiences, none more emotional than when the band’s drummer Joe Seaward was involved in a monstrous bike accident in July 2018, which threatened his life, and that of Glass Animals altogether.

As a result, Dreamland is the band’s boldest album yet—a powerful and personal story that was born out of time of immense confusion and uncertainty for the band, and as a result it’s an album that is very timely for the world today.

Having cancelled extensive international touring plans (including two sold-out shows at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre with Denzel Curry) and unexpectedly navigated the release of their new album through a pandemic, Glass Animals is excited to announce their return to the stage. They have even shared some brandnew European and U.K. tour dates for 2021 Amassing over two billion global streams to date, British four-piece Glass Animals is led by singer, songwriter and producer Dave Bayley with his bandmates and childhood friends Joe Seaward, Ed Irwin-Singer and Drew MacFarlane. Their second album, How To Be A Human Being, was one of the most critically acclaimed and widely adored records of 2016. With praise from various press outlets, including Billboard, Pitchfork, The FADER, The Guardian, The Telegraph and more, it was nominated for the Mercury Prize Album Of The Year Award in 2017. Glass Animals also made appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Late Late Show with James Corden. As well as producing both of Glass Animals’ studio albums, ZABA and How To Be A Human Being, Dave has worked with a number of artists outside of the band, including 6lack, Khalid, Joey Bada$$, DJ Dahi, Flume and MorMor. September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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New Music From Australian Singer/Songwriter

By Pinky Black GG Magree, also known as Georgia Magree is a woman with many facets to her career. She is an Australian electronic music producer, DJ and singer/songwriter. Originally from Sydney, Australia, GG has relocated to Los Angeles, California. And why not, a lot of the music business is centered around sunny California. It seems like this is the most logical place for her to continue with her career.

GG has now teamed up with In Her Words vocalist Joey Fleming for her new release, “Nervous Habits.” On this new song she shares vocals with Joey in what can be described as ‘tight hooks over melodic dubstep instrumentation.’

GG has become widely well know for her ‘raucous bass music which also pierces this fine song. “Nervous Habits” sort of takes her in a different direction this time around though. It shows her sensitive side a bit more than other songs she has released through her extremely personal lyrics and the delivery of them. Joey and GG trade off their verses like a couple of young lovers trying hard to make sense out of their relationship and keep their love alive. To each of them, they are each other’s ‘nervous habit.’ Throughout the song a bass line keeps repeating itself over and over, delivering a bit of an ominous feeling to the relationship in the song. The song itself exudes this raw emotion through some incredible vocals resulting in these intense feelings of doubt and hope.

GG tells us that “Everyone has that one love that they can’t break away from…

‘Nervous Habits’ is a story about mine.”

Through GG’s undeniable skill in production, acting and as a singer/songwriter, she has also brought an incredible video to

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Australian Powerhouse GG Magree Joins Joey Fleming for “Nervous Habits” this track as well. The two characters in this video are definitely going through a rough time as they try to grapple with their feelings.

It really makes the song quite interesting. No doubt, this is going to be a hit and a big favorite for all of GG’s fans. It will probably touch the hearts of some of Joey’s fans also.

Since the release of GG’s debut vocal in 2016 with “Frontlines”, she has shown her incredible skills as a DJ, producer and singer/songwriter, making her one of the most sought after people in the electronic music industry. Her work with Nightmre and Zeds Dead with the song “Frontlines” has received over 28 million streams on Spotify. Her other works have done equally as well.

She did a fantastic remix of the Billie Eilish song, “Wish You Were Gay.”

Rock and Blues International • September 2020

She has been revered for her original singles such as “Ghost”, “I Wanna Lose You,” “Jauz” and her collaboration with Sullivan King on “Flatline”. She has literally become one of Australia’s top exports, now bringing great new music to the world. GG has also shared the stage with quite a few big names in the business, including Pharrell, DJ Snake, WuTang Clan, Zeds Dead, Virtual Self, Iggy Azalea, Nightmre, and a few others.

Her co-star on this song and video is equally as well known. He is the lead singer of the alternative punk band, In Her Words.

Joey Fleming is also based in Los Angeles.

His ability to communicate with his fans through his music and heartfelt lyrics has helped connect to them in more than just a musical way, but a spiritual way as well.

When he sings, they feel what he feels. They feel like they are sharing the same experience. Fleming and his band In Her Words have released a lot of songs and EPs since their inception in 2013. Now he is breaking new ground with his collaboration with GG Magree on her song “Nervous Habits,” which will definitely bring him to another audience.

This has been quite the song for the two of them, and after listening to the song and watching the video, I hope it’s not the last we see of them together. They make quite a team, and they really do justice to the premise and music of this song and video. Congratulations go out to GG and Joey for such a fine performance…

New Music From The U.K.

‘MELANIE C’ LP TRACKLISTING ‘Who I Am’ ‘Blame It On Me’ ‘Good Enough’ ‘Escape’ ‘Overload’ ‘Fearless’ ‘Here I Am’ ‘Nowhere To Run’ ‘In And Out Of Love’ ‘End Of Everything’

Melanie C Releases Her New Self-Titled Album, Melanie C On October 2 Global superstar Melanie C has announced the release of her highly anticipated eighth studio full-length. The remarkable self-titled ‘Melanie C’ album is due October 2, 2020. The album will be available digitally, on CD and on vinyl, both in standard edition and as x2 deluxe CD edition with bonus tracks, exclusive colored vinyl, and special limited deluxe vinyl with exclusive 12” singles.

Accompanying this exciting news, is her brand new single and official music video for “In And Out Of Love.”Speaking about her latest single, Melanie C reveals “It’s so brilliant to release a pure pop, up-beat, positive fun tune. I think it’s exactly what the world needs right now!”

On ‘Melanie C’ the legendary pop-icon wears her heart on her sleeve in this refreshingly honest and reflective collection of dancefloor gems. Through-out, Melanie takes the listener on a heartfelt, foot-stomping journey of introspection, growth and

acceptance, all the while reminding us of her undeniable knack for always remaining so effortlessly relevant and ahead of the curve when it comes to her music.

vulnerability and self-love. All of which, prove to be an irresistible first taste of what fans can expect from the new album, coming this October 2.

By embracing her life-long love of dance music and classic pop, this splendid new album continues to reaffirm the Spice Girl as one of the most loved and critically acclaimed pop starlets of our time. With this new chapter underway and reflected in her choice of collaborators, such as Shura, Rae Morris, Little Boots and Nadia Rose, as well as longtime Spice Girls legend Richard “Biff” Stannard, and an impressive 21-years since the release of her highly lauded Northern Star solo debut, “Melanie C” is destined to satisfy both lifelong fans of hers and a whole new generation of “Team Sporties”.

2020 has seen Melanie C return to the solo pop stage on her own unequivocal terms.

A vital voice in the modern discourse on depression, body positivity, and the LGBTQ community, her trailblazing influence has arguably never been more apparent. Whether presenting her friend Billie Eilish with a BRIT Award, being remixed by the esteemed Joe Goddard or discussing her journey thus far on a recent episode of BBC’s Desert Island Discs, Melanie C is ready to share with fans her greatest music to date.

Her latest single, “In And Out Of Love” serves as the follow up to ‘Blame It On Me,’ another blast of empowering, unapologetic pop, and before that, “Who I Am,’ a track that embraced the power of

With over 100 million records sold and multiple BRIT, Ivor, Billboard and Olivier Awards under her belt, her forthcoming album nonetheless feels like new, assured ground for Melanie C - and a glorious new chapter for Girl Power.

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ALAN MOE MONSARRAT J Balvin by Orli Arias 44 26

Rock and Blues International • August September 2020 2020

Reggae From Austin

AUSTIN-BASED REGGAE ARTIST PREMIERES THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR THE TITLE TRACK OF HIS NEW ALBUM ‘AGRICULTURE’ ALBUM SET TO DROP NOV. 6 Austin-based indie record label Music4Life announces Monsarrat’s first solo album in 50 years with official release show to take place Nov. 6 at Flamingo Cantina; the album’s title track and accompanying music video, ‘Agriculture,’ featuring Jamaican singer General Smiley is available now!

Austin-based reggae singer Alan Moe Monsarrat (The Lotions, I-Tex, Mau Mau Chaplains) premieres the music video for the title track of his new album “Agriculture” with Reggaeville. The album is set to be released on Friday, Nov. 6 via Austin-based record label Music4Life. The album is Monsarrat’s first solo project in nearly 50 years and will be celebrated with an official album release show taking place Friday, Nov. 6 at 10:30 p.m. at Flamingo Cantina, located at 515 E. Sixth St., Austin, Texas 78701. Monsarrat has performed on countless albums with various bands including being a founding member of the first reggae band in Texas, The Lotions (circa 1978), as well as performing in Stop the Truck, I-Tex and also fronting The Mau-Mau Chaplains, Austin’s premier reggae outfit who have been recognized for doing more than 500 shows at their weekly residency on Wednesday nights at Flamingo Cantina for more than 10 years. Monsarrat’s new project can be described as a collection of original roots reggae tunes with heavy dub overtones and Latin / African rhythms. The 10track LP explores themes of gratitude, acceptance and perseverance in the face of strife and struggle. For more information on Monsarrat, please see: www.alanmoemonsarrat.com.

“We have been waiting a long time for this day,” said Alan Moe Monsarrat. “Our video production team and PR firm Juice have done a great job and this is one big step forward for us.

General Smiley and I are looking forward to the reactions from our fans as ‘Agriculture’ grows!”

Monsarrat recently released the title track from the album on all digital platforms on July 10. The single can be found on Music4Life’s YouTube page. The single is a collaboration with Jamaican singer General Smiley (Studio One, one half of “Michigan & Smiley”). The new track was recorded to encourage others to reconnect to the land, grow their own food to improve their health, and to decrease dependence on commercial food products. Monsarrat was inspired to write this song based on a conversation with a Rastaman in Jamaica a few years ago.

“Some years ago, my girlfriend Angela and I were in Negril, Jamaica sitting in a seaside bar,” said Monsarrat. “The bar was playing a Mau Mau Chaplains CD on their system. While we were sitting there an elderly Rasta gentleman came by to say he loved it and we started to talk with him. Being well aware of the rampant hunger which exists there, I asked him why more people didn’t grow food in such fertile soil? The Rastaman told me the Christian

preachers tell the people not to worry about doing that because ‘Jesus is coming and He will take care of them.’ The Rastaman said the youths should get off the couch and do a likkle farmin’.”

“When Moe brought me this concept, it really resonated with me,” said Music4Life owner, R.J. Johnson. “I know many of us have no idea how our food is produced. One of the ways we can help people take control of their diet and what they put into their body is to encourage people to connect to the Earth and grow their own food.”

This is the second song that Moe and General Smiley have produced with Music4Life together after their 2018 song and video, “Under The Overpass.” Both songs will be included on Moe’s solo reggae album coming later this year from Music4Life.

“It’s been a long time since the people were fighting for the freedom of cannabis in Jamaica, so when it was finally decriminalized, I thought all I need is one acre to plant my own,” said General Smiley.

The song “Agriculture” features Alan Moe Monsarrat on lead and background vocals, bass guitar, lyrics, Errol Bennet aka General Smiley on vocals and lyrics, R.J. Johnson on keyboards and drum programming, background vocals, recording engineer, final mix and videography, Marc Schaefgen on guitar, Ras Gilbert on kette drum, cabasa and tambourine, Mark Wilson on saxophone and Micah Shalom on trumpet and trombone. Chris Fischer did the mastering, Zach Jones did the graphic design, Zojak Worldwide handled the digital distribution and Shay & Tom Taylor did the videography and video editing.

The “Agriculture” Album Will Be A Double Vinyl Set With The Tracklist As Follows: Heavy Load Within Your Power Agriculture feat. General Smiley Mama Don’t Approve Turn The Tide Warm and Wet Perfect Friends No Mistakes feat Soulfiya Under The Overpass feat General Smiley Only Jah (Loves Them All) feat Phillipidon Alan Moe Monsarrat was born in the midst of mysterious and unbelievably bizarre circumstances in August of 1951. There were many babies such as Moe in Phenix City, Alabama, the town known at the time as “The Wickedest City in America,” babies were bought or stolen on a regular basis, then sold.

Moe was raised as their own by his parents of record, George and Wilma Monsarrat. George was a distinguished military man and Wilma was a prominent local resident. Moe grew up on military posts across the United States and in Japan. He started down the path of public performance at a very early age, singing in the church choir. Having barely reached his teens, he was recruited by older members of a local band who heard him singing in the showers during gym class.

Moe played his first professional gig in 1964, singing Western pop to an enthralled pack of locals and expatriates at a Tokyo nightclub.

Landing in San Antonio for his high school years, Moe joined the Texas music scene, singing and playing in a myriad of bands. He has been at it ever since then, pretty much nonstop, writing, singing, and playing fivestring bass. He was a founding member of The Lotions, the first reggae band in Texas. As well as performing in Stop the Truck, Moe also fronts The Mau-Mau Chaplains, Austin’s premier reggae outfit. On April 20, 2018 at Austin Reggae Festival, the Mau Mau Chaplains received a proclamation from the City of Austin declaring that day as “Mau Mau Chaplains Day” in Austin. They were recognized for doing more than 500 shows at their weekly residency on Wednesday nights at Flamingo Cantina for more than 10 years. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Moe has continued to do his weekly residency with The Mau Mau Chaplains streaming through Facebook Live while all the clubs on Austin’s historic 6th Street Entertainment District have been boarded up and closed.

General Smiley (Errol Bennet) began his career in the late ‘70s at Studio One in Jamaica under the direction of the late Sir Coxsone Dodd. He was in a duo, Michigan & Smiley, who recorded their first number one hit “Rub A Dub Style,” followed by the equally popular “Nice Up The Dance” and later on another big hit in Jamaica called “Diseases.” Since then, he’s been working on many different musical projects with no shortage of lyrics.

Music4Life is run by producer @DJRJ. RJ has been performing in Austin’s reggae scene since 1987 with many different bands. He coproduced his first album in 1990 for Root 1, and went on to do another album with them that was picked up by a Brazilian label. RJ started the label Music4Life in 2014 and has since worked with mainly Austin-based and Caribbean artists.

RJ has also been involved with hip-hop groups including The Cooly Girls, and has done shows at Liberty Lunch, Mercado Caribe and early SXSW showcases. His bi-weekly radio program, Reggae Evolution, has been on the air on KAZI 88.7 FM every other Tuesday night from 7-10 p.m. since 1989. His burning passion, to make this world a kinder sweeter place using reggae music, cannot be stopped!

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Rock And Blues International

By Sheena Johnson Danish guitarist and songwriter, Asger Tarpgaard has just announced his new project Souldier, and released his first single from the album, “I Wear Shades.” The album is titled A Handful of Dust, and is scheduled to be released later this year. No release date has been set yet.

It was recorded in the freetown of Christiana in Copenhagen, Denmark. A Handful of Dust was produced by Boi Holm with Andreas Murga on bass and Theis Alstrup on drums. You may know Asger from his time in the pop trio Private. He was also the guitarist in Superheroes. With Superheroes, Tarpgaard’s highly successful band, he toured the world and performed at several festivals, including the Roskilde Festival. The band was even the opening act on the Orange Stage.

Now after a brief hiatus, Asger is back with his new project, which is a play on the words soul and soldier. He tells us that this is “the contradictions between something emotional, thoughtful, heartfelt and something emotionless, cold and impersonal.”

The first single off the album, “I Wear Shades,” envokes a sound somewhat similar to the 70s. Asger tells us that this song harkens back to the sounds of The Beach Boys, Supertramp, The Lovin’ Spoonful, and the songs of George Harrison and Paul McCartney, yet it still comes off with a more modern pop feel to it.

“I like that my music plays on something traditional, but still feels original and new, this feeling that you’re finding a unique corner within the great world of songwriting that hasn’t been taken yet” The song was actually written on the piano that Asger used to play in his childhood home. He had the piano brought to his home in Copenhagen. He liked the sound on the piano so well, that it inspired him to use it to write the new song. It brought back a lot of memories to him as he reminisced that the sound of the piano was the same today as when he used to use it 30 years ago. It was with that sound that he drove inspiration into the song “I Wear Shades.”

In addition to releasing the new song, Asger has also released a video to it where he shows him as a young man searching for a special white gate. It features him walking slow motion through the fields and forests searching.

Producers of the video, Anne Solie Madsen and Anders Christiansen tell us, “We shot the video during the early stages of the COVID 19 lockdown, while the three of us were quarantined on the island Møn. It’s sort of a creative exploration of the strangeness we felt, being completely isolated. The feeling of having all the time in the world coupled with a dystopic unease of not knowing where things were heading. It unfolds as a series of unhurried snapshots - a variety of uncanny juxtapositions. The video itself is a plotless portrait of a drifter. A dreamlike pastiche of the “young dude in search of enlightenment” genre.

We think that these themes and imagery suit this beautiful song well.”

Look for this album later this year. If the rest of the album is as good as the new single, it should be well worth waiting for, and quite a wonderful debut album fo Asher Tarpgaard.

New Music From Australia

Australian Psych-Pop Newcomer Hauskey Releases Debut Single Slow Low-Key Star Bound Anthem Debuts Outside Australia

By Bob Kelpie Hauskey is relatively a new name outside of Australia, but right now, his debut single, “Slow” is in heavy rotation there.

Hauskey is the alter ego of songwriter and musician, Andy Hopkins. He is literally a oneman band. Not only does he write his own music, but he also performs and produces it also.

Hauskey comes to us via Perth, Australia, where he has been writing songs since he has been 13 years old. Some people start early, and Hauskey got his jump-start at an early age. His first pieces came by way of early poetry he had written. He says he won’t share any of these early lyrics, but he hangs on to them for dear life. They do mean a lot to him. Of course, now he’s more inspired by his new music. “A great song is like a great movie” he muses, “you become so engrossed in it that you ‘become it’ and forget you’re even watching a movie. That’s what good music should do too.”

His new song, “Slow,” is what he and the radio stations across Australia call ‘good music.’ Australia radio station, Triple J just loves it and has whole-heartedly gotten behind it and is giving it massive support. The single is now spreading globally around the world through his signing with slowplay/Republic Records.

We’re told that “Slow” is somewhat reminiscent of a combination of different groups and musicians, such as Tame Impala and Kevin Abstract with a touch of Mac DeMarco thrown in. Quite a combination, but Hauskey seems to be able to pull it off. His press kit describes it as “ personified but with a louche kick and drive. Groove-heavy, groove-laden.” It’s the kind of song that just sticks in your head for a while. At any rate, it’s a great start for this Australian native.

One thing that we find a bit different for this young Aussie man was how he first was introduced to music. While a lot of musicians become indoctrinated through the music of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, or even Bob Dylan, this wasn’t the case for Andy. His big epitome came through finding a record in his mother’s record collection that was a bit different for people his age. He found a record from John Coltrane. After spinning that for quite a while, he knew what he wanted to do… play music. He seemed to be completely enamored by US saxophonists and the song that really got him going was “Naima” by the John Coltrane Quintet.

Andy aka Hauskey is certainly an industrious young man. He went to school at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, which is reportedly a really tough and expensive school to get in. Hugh Jackman and Frances O’Connor both attended that school.

As we said, it is an expensive school to go to, and Andy found that out as well. However,

Photo by Penny Whittenbaker

used van and headed out into the country to a being the industrious young chap he is, when rural farm where he immersed himself in his funds ran low, he actually started a music writing more songs…. lots of new songs. Yes, school of his own. That worked for a while, this young Aussie was filled with determinabut then Andy decided to take a big leap and tion. His writing got better and better with he packed up his bags and moved to one of the every song, and now the result is “Slow.” In big metropolitan centers of music, London, addition to the new single, he has an EP that England. It was definitely a good choice for will be out soon, so we really do expect to hear Andy. Within no time he was working part great things from him down the road. time and playing a lot of local gigs. Well, the In the meantime, you can check out his choice was good for some things, but it wasn’t new single “Slow” on Spotify, Amazon Music, good financially, and he returned to Australia YouTube Music, audiomack, and at the iTunes to work on his craft. Although it didn’t work Store. Give it a listen, we think you’ll like it. out for him in London, that didn’t dampen his spirits. When he got back, he bought himself a September 2020 • Rock and Blues International 47

New Music From South Africa

Moonchild Sanelly Announces Nudes EP To Be Released September 11 recent release from Nudes. A lot of her songs

By Roscoe P. opening talk about sex, and she has no We’re happy to announce, that South problem talking about a Africa’s “Queen Of Goom,” Moonchild man’s anatomy. She was Sanelly, born Sanelisiwe Twisha, will be recently asked if she releasing her new EP Nudes. Nudes is might edit the song for a scheduled for release this month on Septemmuch broader audience ber 11th through Transgressive Records. and her remark was quite Moonchild will no doubt be one of this years simply, “how many songs breakout artists with this new project. She talk about pussy?” I can has become quite noticeable with her tell by that response that signature blue-colored hair and her selfshe definitely doesn’t see created genre, “Future Ghetto Punk.” Since the need for editing in that her foray into the music and dancing, Moonchild has made quite a name for herself, song.

Her lyrics are quite and is indeed ready to take on a worldwide explicit and include audience. In 2018 she went on a European “where the d*ck at”. Yes tour with the South African hip-hop group, people they are quite Die Antwoood. Her music has been a explicit, but they also combination of experimental electronic, afrocarry a message, stating punk, pop with a touch of her background of that “that women can be kawaito, hip up and jazz. She has even as open as we want to be appeared at the prestigious SXSW in Austin, about sexuality” and that Texas and also made an appearance at women aren’t always the Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Spain. submissive partner.

As a prequel to the release of her new Moonchild adds, “Unless EP, Moonchild has released a new song and we talk about female video for “Where De Dee Kat,” her most 48 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

desire, rape culture exists”.

The video for the song is also quite explicit and is bound to stir up a lot of controversy, as it features the singer wrapped up in bondage being driven around in a van.

It was an extremely wild video to shoot as director Jesse Roth relates about filming, “Of all the stupid shit I’ve been asked to do in my career, tying a bondage-clad singer to the back of a van and driving around with the doors open setting off smoke bombs in her face is right up there. Nearly spent the night in jail. Banging tune though.”

Prior to the announcement of the release of Nudes, Moonchild can be seen in the video for Beyoncé ‘s video for the song “My Power” for her Black Is King visual album. The song original was originally featured in The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack, which also featured Tierra Whack, Nija, Busiswa, DJ Lag, and Yemi Alade.

Moonchild’s extreme approach to female sex empowerment has gained her quite a lot of attention and has led her to collaborations with Beyoncé, Die Antwoord, Gorillaz, Diplo and Wizkid. She is definitely making waves in the music business now gaining not only a lot of attention, but also a dedicated following of fans. Moonchild also gained quite a lot of notoriety with her appearance with the #thunderthighschallenge on TikTok. Believe it or not, this lady is just getting started. I have a feeling that we’re going to be hearing a lot from her in the future.

Moonchild Sanelly Nudes EP Transgressive Records September 11, 2020 1. Bashiri 2. Thunda Thighs 3. Newton Chips (Aramboa remix) 4. F-Boyz 5. Where De Dee Kat 6. Weh Mameh 7. Boys And Girls ft. Patty Monroe 8. Come Correct

News From Canada Canadian Music Week (CMW) is pleased to announce the Jim Beam National Talent Search Tour will take place virtually September 26 – October 3, 2020, with 30minute episodes spotlighting five bands from eight Canadian cities. Hosted by Josie Dye of Indie88, each of the resulting regional webisodes will be streamed via Indies.ca and cmw.net/music plus Vimeo, Facebook Live and YouTube as well as partnering radio stations across the country.

CMW and the Jim Beam National Talent Search Tour has provided 40 of Canada’s best new bands with their own virtual stage, ownership of their own recordings, and starring roles in this musical event that could rewrite the way homegrown independent talent is discovered. Each episode will focus on one city and feature interviews and performances from five local bands. Fans are invited to vote for their favourite band to play live at the Jim Beam INDIES in 2021 at www.indies.ca.

The 40 bands have already began recording the Jim Beam National Talent Search episodes during socially-distanced sessions, which will be edited so each indie artist or group will sound their best and shine online. All 40 artists will also receive a master tape of the multi-track sound recording and the accompanying multicamera video to be used in any way they wish to promote themselves.

“What, in previous years, would have been a chance for one band to play live at the Jim Beam INDIES in Toronto for a crowd of about 1000, will now be a career calling-card for 40 bands representing priceless international exposure that will serve these artists for years to come,” said Canadian Music Week president Neill Dixon. “CMW’s national talent search webcast presents a way to preserve an invaluable talent initiative that was already underway when the pandemic shut us all down.”

Unfortunately, on the eve of the first showcase, live gatherings were banned across Canada and CMW itself was eventually cancelled for the duration of 2020 due to COVID-19. Canadian Music Week has used this challenging landscape as an opportunity to find new ways of supporting independent artists and industry by providing a safe, online platform for artists to showcase, and for career development with the Virtual Voices (Online Webinar Series).

For the last 37 years, Canadian Music Week is Canada’s leading annual entertainment event dedicated to the expression and growth of the country’s music, media and entertainment industries. Combining multifaceted information-intensive conferences; a trade exposition; awards shows and the nation’s largest new music festival which spans five nights of performances, with hundreds of showcasing bands at more than 40 live music venues in downtown Toronto.

Canadian Music Week Announces Dates For The Virtual Jim Beam National Talent Search Tour Featuring 40 Bands from Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, and Saskatoon Virtual Jim Beam National Talent Search Tour September 26 – October 3, 2020 Streaming Nightly at 7pm ET FREE at www.indies.ca

Phoenix and the Silvervoodoos Tumbleweeds / Kaye & Co.

September 26 – Vancouver featuring Redwoods / Small Town Artillery / Raincity / Gnarfunkel / Maddie King September 27 – Calgary featuring Jon Martin and Lovers / Justine Giles / ROOKS / Youngbloods / Krissy Fenia September 28 – Edmonton featuring Rebecca Lappa / Kane Ingocnito / Jacquie Daniels and the Jokers / RIELL / Shawnee September 29 – Saskatoon featuring Afterglow / Aurora Bella / Alexandra Beck /

September 30 – Toronto featuring Dustin Bird / VILIVANT / Goodnight, Sunrise / Parasona / Autumn Kings October 1 – Ottawa featuring CZN / Paragon Cause / The Tackies / The Wilderness / The Lionlyls October 2 – Montreal featuring December Rose / The Day Dreamers / Brittany Kennell / Patrick Rock / Cowboy Meets Pirate October 3 – Halifax featuring The Blue Lane / Elyse Aeryn / Wheeler / The Collective / Carry The Lost Live streams via Indies.ca and cmw.net/music plus Vimeo, Facebook Live and YouTube

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New Music From The U.K.

Everything Everything Releases New Album ‘RE-ANIMATOR’ This Month New Single, “Violent Sun” Out Now! Everything Everything share their new single ‘Violent Sun’. It was premiered as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record on BBC Radio 1, making it their third single in a row to receive a premiere from Annie Mac. It’s the latest song to preview the band’s fifth album ‘RE-ANIMATOR’ which follows on September 11.

The release date of the ‘RE-ANIMATOR’ album was moved back to September 11 due to COVID-19 related delays. The band commented, “We’re sorry to announce that we have to push the RE-ANIMATOR release date back a bit to 11th September, due to COVID-related delays. We’re disappointed too, of course, but we now have the opportunity to work on something exciting for around the new release date. Thank you for bearing with us; we can’t wait for you to hear the album in full, we’re really proud of it.”

The closing track on the new album, ‘Violent Sun’ feels like a first in the Everything Everything catalogue. It’s a propulsive rush of melody with a cinematic scale. Its relentless Kraut Springsteen vibe simultaneously captures the anxiety and the euphoria of desperately trying to reach the finish line before it’s too late. The band wanted it to feel like the last song played on the dance floor.

Do or die.

song of your life. You only have these four minutes to make it happen, so make it happen!”

That urgency also informs the accompanying video. Using a GoPro camera, each band member filmed himself frantically sprinting through their localities during lockdown. And there’s no let-up in the interspersed performance footage. At first glance, nothing is out of the ordinary as the band tear into the song, each wearing red jumpsuits that contrast the white background.

But a closer look reveals a subtle reference to a traumatic moment in Everything Everything’s recent history. On the day lockdown was announced the band’s lock-up in Manchester caught fire, destroying much of their equipment. They used some of the burnt out instruments in this video, their blackened embers chalking the backdrop.

In keeping with the rest of the videos from the ‘REANIMATOR’ campaign, the ‘Violent Sun’ visual was directed

by Higgs. He has demonstrated just how engaging DIY video content can be, using everything from new-found animation and spectral rendering skills to the power of a simple idea that’s well executed.

Frontman Jonathan Higgs commented, “‘Violent Sun’ is about the feeling that ‘Violent Sun’, ‘Planets’, something terrible is approaching fast, and ‘Arch Enemy’ and ‘In Birdsong’ you want to hold on to this moment forever.

TOPSas byinstant Justin Aranha are all available It’s the last song of the night, and the last 34 Rock and Blues International • August 50 September 2020 2020

downloads for fans who pre-order ‘REANIMATOR’ here. Album bundles include signed albums and prints, plus exclusive merch designs.

‘Lost Powers’ ‘Big Climb’ ‘It Was A Monstering’ ‘Planets’ ‘Moonlight’ ‘Arch Enemy’ ‘Lord Of The Trapdoor’ ‘Black Hyena’ ‘In Birdsong’ ‘The Actor’ ‘Violent Sun’

News From Sweden

Tove Lo Unveils Video For “Mateo” Off Her New Album, Sushine Kitty

GRAMMY® Award nominated, multiplatinum-selling artist Tove Lo has released the highly anticipated video for “Mateo,” a clear fan-favorite off her critically acclaimed fourth studio album, Sunshine Kitty. Filmed in while in quarantine and edited by Garrett Guidera, the video features nearly 1,000 of Tove’s fans from all over the world, each one dressed to the nines in every color of the rainbow, showcasing their unique personalities– a true testament to the dedication and passion of her loyal fanbase.

Speaking about the video, Tove reveals, “Since ‘Sunshine Kitty’ was released, ‘Mateo’ has been a fan favorite. I always knew I wanted to do a visual for it. We had shot footage for the lyric video at a beautiful venue in Manchester called Albert Hall in early March, right before we had to cancel the European shows and fly home due to COVID. So much of the last few months has been about what can’t happen, doing the quarantine karaoke challenge was a way to still connect with my fans and give everyone something to safely do while locked down. I was so overwhelmed by all the submissions, there were just about 1000 and everyone was so fun and creative with it. I wish the song could be 10 times longer so we could have fit all in!”

Recently, Tove debuted an exclusive performance of her song “sadder badder cooler,” for CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s #PLAYATHOME series.

The song was taken from the recently released Paw Prints Edition of Sunshine Kitty; a 22-track expanded version of the album which includes all fourteen original tracks, plus her two FINNEAS-produced songs, “Bikini Porn” and “Passion and Pain Taste The Same When I’m Weak,” remixes, live recordings and more. Talking about “sadder badder cooler,” Tove Lo details: “Elvira Anderfjärd and I wrote sadder badder cooler after going deep about how every heart break kind of chips away a little piece of you, but it also gives you power if you let it. And how breaking it off with someone who’s bad to you is always a mixed feeling of sadness, anger and big relief. This song to me is full of glitter and power and I hope it hits heavy with my fans.”

GRAMMY® Award nomination for Best Music Video. The critically acclaimed fulllength joins Tove’s already growing catalog of Golden Globe Award nominated and GRAMMY Award® nominated multiplatinum hits.

In other news, Tove Lo recently DJ’ed quarantine phenomenon Animal Crossing’s first ever ‘Live Virtual Party,’ DJing a short set and interacting fans via her own avatar on (YouTube influencer) Nintentalk Island.

During the recent pandemic, Animal Crossing has emerged as a pop-culture phenomenon becoming the best-selling Nintendo Switch title.

Talking about her experience, Tove gushed, ““It was so cool to be part of the first show in Animal Crossing! I got real hooked on this game while in quarantine, the world is so charming and magical. And while being starved of interaction with my fans and show jitters this was such a great thing to do! I’m so impressed and grateful to Nintentalk for helping make this happen! And my fans made the coolest outfits and an awesome stage!”

Sunshine Kitty is a collection of empowered and enigmatic pop gems and features a top-rated cast of collaborators and guests including Kylie Minogue, Jax Jones, ‘Sunshine Kitty’ (Paw Prints Edition) ALMA, MC Zaac and Doja Cat. The album’s is out everywhere now. lead single, “Glad He’s Gone” received a September 2020 • Rock and Blues International 51

it landed them on the first WATCHA Tour, the pioneer Latin alternative cavalcade. Los Mocosos got rave review performing alongside Café Tacuba, Molotov, and others as the world was becoming aware of the neophyte Rock-enEspañol movement. But the group fell apart when it played the San Jose stopover at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds and the lead vocalist refused to go onstage. But in a matter of months Los Mocosos were back on the scene with a new singer and a new attitude.

Their follow-up album,“Shades of Brown,” unveiled the dynamic voice and charisma of Manny Martinez, who helped Los Mocosos continue to ascend alongside a new crop of California Latin fusion bands like Ozomatli, B-Side Players, Yeska and others.

Tunes like “Spill the Wine,” “Soy Callejero,” “Caliente,” and their tribute to El Rey, “Tito Puente”, were street anthems fusing funk, salsa, rock, rap, and ska. Proud of their Mission District roots Los Mocosos took a hard look at the gentrification of their ‘hood on “Mi Barrio Loco,” one of the first bands to address the issue.

Los Mocosos Is All Grown Up: Legendary Bay Area Band To Release First Album In 15 Years “Los Mocosos is a gumbo of everything we grew up listening to, like salsa, hip-hop, soul, jazz and the Monkees,” is how trombonist and co-bandleader Victor Castro described the sound of the band whose name translates loosely to snotty-nose-brats in a San Francisco Chronicle article in 2004. “We all love what we do, and I think it shows when we perform that we’re having a good time.”

After a several year hiatuses, the good times are back for Los Mocosos as they return to the world stage with a new album to be released on September 18, 2020 titled, “All Grown Up.” But to inspire their fans until then the group is busting out with the single, “United We Stand,” that speaks to the blatant authoritarianism plaguing the streets of police brutality, immigrant persecution, deportation, racism, and protest turbulence.

Los Mocosos grew out of a series of 1996 garage jams in the Mission District.

Formed by bassist Happy Sanchez and Victor Castro, the band got its recording legs hanging around the halls of now-defunct Aztlan Records,

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the first Spanish-language rock label in the country. Their first album, “Mocos Locos” was an underground barrio classic with themes like “Brown and Proud,” and remakes of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass’, “The Lonely Bull,” and cantina classics, “La Boa” and “Volver Volver.”

Out the box people saw Los Mocosos as a continuance of the 1970s Bay Area Latin rock movement, a scene that never really went away.

Santana, Malo, Azteca, Sapo, Dakila and others, served as inspirations but the group added a twist that introduced audiences to new sounds in Latin pop like reggaeton, ska and rap.

“We made sure we didn’t leave out any of the sauce of the Mission District, all that Soul and Latin Funk,” says Shorty Ramos, saxophonist with Los Mocosos. “People would ask if we played Salsa and we’d say No, yeah we put a Latin beat in there, but we twist it around. We had a band member that would say we take the clave and turn it in knots.”

On the strength of “Mocos Locos” (Crazy Boogers),

Rock and Blues International • September 2020

“American Us,” came next and was produced by Greg Landau, the acclaimed awardwinning producer, and featured a new band minus Happy Sanchez, who left the group in 2002 to pursue other endeavors. It was a much slicker commercialized production that include studio mixes by Garry Hughes and Donal Hodgson (Sting, Vitamin C, Tina Turner). But the synthesis was the same with Lowrider classics like “I’m Your Puppet,” socio-political songs like “Señor Presidente”, “The Beast,” and “Bacalao,” a Latino hip hop ode fusing mambo that featured Martinez spitting out politically charged verses.

“American Us” was embraced by a wider public and led to tours with Los Lobos and Santana as well as playing prestigious venues like Washington’s Kennedy Center and New York’s Central Park. They were awarded a San Francisco Wammy Award for Best International Band and a California Music Award for Outstanding Latin Album, and were part of the groundbreaking compilation, “Escena AlterLatina: The Future Sound in Español,” one of the first Latin Rock compilations to crack the Billboard Latin Charts.

Overall, the first of wave of Los Mocosos created a fan base and a library of songs that were the soundtrack for the emerging LatinX generation and a non-Latino audience willing to jump in the mosh pit with them. How they ascended into the pop limelight and achieved admirable success is perhaps the culmination of dreams fulfilled that were first culled as young snotty nosed brats running the streets of the SF Mission.

“It’s just amazing to be making music with your friends. I started with Happy when we were 15 (years old) and we would dress up and pretend we were playing on tour in my garage,” recalled Castro. “We would have these little concerts with the coffee can lights till his mom came down and told us to knock it off,” adds Sanchez.

“But it’s been a trip to play places like Des Moines, Iowa or Little Rock, Arkansas, and they never heard anything like it, a band from The Mission with horns, the funk, the montunos,

with people of all ages dancing,” says Sanchez.

“It was amazing to be in Europe and to see a whole room of people in Berlin that knew our lyrics,” adds Castro.

Los Mocosos are messengers at a time of tremendous change and social upheaval for Latinos and all peoples around the globe. But they don’t take themselves so seriously that they don’t have fun. Audience members have been known to throw Kleenex at the stage — for their snotty noses but now they’re “All Grown Up” and using the Kleenex to wipe the noses of their grand kids.

“It’s inspiring and fulfilling because it shows we’re doing something right,” Castro says about the band’s fame. “Our music has no boundaries or colors, and we enjoy people enjoying what we do. In the end, everyone walks away with a smile.”

(Jesse ‘Chuy’ Varela) THE REVIVAL Los Mocosos never really broke up but faded away as key members pursued new projects. Happy Sanchez, owner of Secret Studios in San Francisco, co-founded the Latin Soul Syndicate with Santana percussionist, Karl Perazzo. The group scored over a 100 music placements in films and television shows like McFarland USA, The Sopranos, Devil Wears Prada, The Ugly Truth, Desperate Housewives, Beverley Hills Chihuahua, Dexter, Nurse Jackie, Malcolm in the Middle, and Criminal Minds.

But a few years ago the nucleus of Los Mocosos re-emerged as The Hip Spanic Allstars and produced three albums that perked ears around town. It was this reunification that led to Happy Sanchez suggesting that Los Mocosos consider a comeback. What follows is an interview with Sanchez explaining why Los Mocosos are getting back together and reflections on “All Grown Up.” Q: Los Mocosos are back with a new album, “All Grown Up.” What led to the revival of the band and can you explain the title of the album?

were “All Grown Up” Q: The band has always been known for its lead singers, who is the latest lead singer and what does he bring to the band?

HS: Back in 2014, Karl and I were working on a new Latin Soul Syndicate album.

Over the past 3 albums we would invite other singers to record on some of our material including Tony Lindsay, Armando Cordova, Orlando Torriente and most recently a young Mexican American singer from Richmond CA, who had been playing piano in Karl’s salsa group Avance, Juan Luis Perez. What makes Juan Ele (he has decided to call himself that from now on) such a special singer is his ability to sing convincingly in various styles (salsa, soul, rock). Having grown up in a Spanish speaking family listening to Mexican music and his mother’s involvement in the local Baptist church, which led him from a young age to play in the church’s gospel band, Juan Ele can sing in a soulful Spanish style that is totally unique.

Also, by being in his mid thirties, Juan Ele has been able to give Los Mocosos an injection of youthfulness – like a shot of musical Viagra!

Q: Tell us about the process to create the songs on All Grown Up? HS: From the very beginning of Los Mocosos, there was always a core group of members. This core group would always include myself, Victor and Shorty up until 2002 when I left the band. Typically the core group would also include the singer – in this new formation, Juan Ele and Dave Shul are also part of the core, so we all collaborated in the creative process 5 ways. Each one of us would bring a few demos to the table and then we all decided as a group which songs would be worked on. Because of the current state of affairs for Latinos within this country and at the border, a few of our songs have variations on these themes. Los Mocosos has always been very conscious of the affairs regarding Hispanic’s lives, pride and immigration, releasing songs like Brown & Proud, Wetback, Shades of Brown, The Border, Mi Barrio Loco and Señor Presidente.

Q: What about the musicians?

HS: A few years ago (2017) the band Hip Spanic Allstars performed at the Fillmore Jazz Festival – since that act was really just a recording project that I put together back in 2010, and since some of the fellas that performed on that recording were on tour with their main bands (Santana, Primus), I ended up putting a local group of good friends together (including Victor and Shorty) and we played the festival. We had such a good time, and the response was so positive, other gig offers soon followed. So we decided to write new material to have more songs that featured the current members and this also gave me the opportunity to perform some songs that I had co-written with Karl Perazzo as the Latin Soul Syndicate that were never played live. We ended up recording this material and releasing “Old School Revolution” in 2018. While I was doing interviews promoting the new album, I’d inevitably spend half the interview talking about Los Mocosos! A month later we were having a meal together and I pitched Shorty and Vic on the idea of putting out one last Los Mocosos album, Shorty jokingly said that since it was 20 years since the band was formed, and since we started off as the snotty nosed brats – by now we

HS: As a producer, I’ve been lucky enough to have my own wrecking crew over the past 20 years! When we were making the first Mocosos album “Mocos Locos” the actual creative core was comprised only of singer Piero Ornelas and myself, so we reached out to friends that we grew up with to help us out with the tracking of the music, this included my pals Karl Perazzo on all the percussion, Jay Lane on drums, Norbert Stachel on sax and Marty Wehner on trombone. Piero invited Steve Carter on piano and Danny Eisenberg on organ. From that point forward, Karl, Jay and Norbert have been involved with almost every recording I’ve done since - Including All Grown Up! Since then, I rounded off the crew with my good friend Dave “the cholo with the solo” Shul on guitar, Bob Crawford on keys, Dave K Mathews and lately Tony Stead on the Hammond organ and finally up until his passing, the master - Mic Gillette on all of the brass! These guys make / made eve rything sound so greasy and tight. On this album, Shorty Ramos played all of the sax parts and the talented newcomer Ruben Sandoval was on trombone.

Q: You’ve also got Karl Perazzo from Santana and the acclaimed Chuck Prophet on this date. That’s heavy company. What’s their relationship to the band?

HS: After I left Los Mocosos in 2002, I had the opportunity to start creating music for Movies and Television. I reached out to Karl and invited him to be my partner and the Latin Soul Syndicate was born. We put out 3 albums of music from 2003 thru 2010 and had a good amount of success. In 2006, a director who was a fan of our material reached out to us to write and record some exclusive songs for a movie he was working on, so I invited Chuck Prophet to collaborate on a couple of the tunes – he’s a really talented songwriter! One of the tunes on All Grown Up was a song us three did together “Brother and Sisters” I’m grateful the fellas in Mocosos were cool with it being on the album, it’s finally seeing the light of day!

Q: Some people see Los Mocosos as a continuance of the 1970s Latin Rock scene that rose from the Mission? How do you see it and how important is The Mission to the personality of the band?

The musical history of the mission is a thread that is woven into the fabric of Los Mocosos, culturally and musically. 4 out of the 5 core members grew up in San Francisco (even though Juan Ele grew up in Richmond - he likes to remind us that his parents were from the mission) and based on the fact that I’m 58, Vic is 60, Shorty 62 and Dave Shul is 55, we all experienced a lot of the same music and cultural events in our youth – KSOL, KDIA, Santana on New Years Eve at Winterland, El Gran Combo at the Saint Francis Hotel, Earth Wind and Fire at the Oakland Coliseum, Joe Cuba at the California Hall, the 24th Street fair, Carnival, Aquatic Park, and the list goes on. Ultimately, cruising up and down Mission street with oldies, Santana and War blasting from car stereos became the soundtrack to our past and the roadmap to our future!

Q: At this stage of the game, what do hope to accomplish with this new release?

HS: Well, hoping not to sound bitter or anything… The fact that I started this band back in 1998 and that Shorty, Victor and myself worked our butts off and sacrificed a lot to get the band up and running, it was and has been one of the most gratifying chapters of our lives.

We mustn’t forget all of the artistic contributions of our past singers – Piero Ornelas, Manny Martinez and Carlos Soto. We all actually created something that was able to travel all over the USA multiple times, Canada, Europe and Australia, spreading little bits and pieces of the sounds that we grew up with mixed in with other influences and creating music that was heartfelt and inspired by all of our musical forefathers – Tito Puente, Sly Stone, Carlos Santana, James Brown. Now it’s 20 years later and we’ve all come full circle, we’re all older and a little greyer, all of us Mocosos that were there from the beginning now have the honor to be there at the end . I’m hoping that “All Grown Up” will be appreciated for it’s classic sounds and it’s political influences… Mostly it’s an album that’s fueled by friendship and a desire to prove to ourselves that we could still access our inner mocoso!

September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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Fitz and The Tantrums Release Their New Album, Pickin’ Up The Pieces: Live In Chicago industry. Large venues, as well as clubs and

By Roscoe P. bars across the planet are suffering a Fitz and The Tantrums have just complete shutdown resulting in the loss of released the date for their upcoming new live hundreds of thousands of jobs, not to mention album. Fitz and The Tantrums: Live In the bands that have to rely on touring to make Chicago is set for release on October 2nd a living. Even the venue where this album through Dangerbird Records. This also was recorded in 2011, Metro, the legendary marks the 10th Anniversary of Fitz and The Chicago night club was forced to close it’s Tantrums debut album, Pickin’ Up The doors and turn to a GoFundMe campaign to Pieces. In celebration of this, the band has attempt to survive the ravages of COVID-19 released their first single from the album, and the fallout in its path.

“Pickin’ Up The Pieces.” The release of this Yes folks, Fitz and The Tantrums: Live song from the album was done strategically In Chicago was recorded in 2011 at the to honor the release of their debut album ten Chicago nightclub, Metro. Their concert that years ago. night was broadcast live on the Palladia Drummer John Wicks reflects, “That Network and listened to by thousands of record provided a great calling card. They people, adding new members to the band’s were great songs and they showcased our fanbase. The new release not only features musicianship which was super important for all the songs from the broadcast, but it also the live show and a big key to our early adds six more songs to the package that success.”

It is quite ironic that “Live In Chicago” didn’t make it to the broadcast because of time constrictions. This album captures a comes at a time when touring has virtually moment in time where the band was fresh and come to a standstill around the planet. Bands energetic and ready to make a name for and fans alike are forced to come to deal with themselves. It features the extreme electric a worldwide shutdown of the touring music 54 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

performance of the band with all its pop sensibilities and hook filled songs, as well as the obvious camaraderie of the band onstage.

Although the band was relatively young, it was most definitely tight and this recording features the early repertoire of the band along with their own style of neo-soul music.

Onstage for this concert was James King (Saxophone/Flute), Joseph Karnes (bass), Jeremy Ruzumna (keyboards) and John Wicks (drums) along with lead singers Michael Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs.

Fitz and The Tantrums were formed in 2008 and quickly rose through the ranks of the L.A. Music Scene to be known at L.A.’s ‘Premiere Party Band’. It wasn’t long for this band to become ‘multi-platinum hitmakers’.

The band started out with their own independently produced and released 5-song EP which was quickly noticed by Dangerbird Records, who took no time to sign them to a label and release the band’s debut album, Pickin’ Up The Pieces. Pickin’ Up The Pieces, released in 2010 spawned the hit singles, “MoneyGrapper” and “Don’t Gotta

Work It Out.” The album reached #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. Since that fateful day, Fitz and The Tantrums have gone on to release seven Top Ten singles. Their songs have been featured on countless radio formats, as well as appearing in commercials, films, and various TV shows, taking the band on tours all around the planed and gathering fans worldwide.

Fitz and The Tantrums released their second album, More Than Just A Dream in 2013. The album produced two hit singles, “Out Of My League,” which reached Number One on Billboard’s Alternative Songs Chart and “The Walker” which also reached Number One on Billboard’s Alternative Songs Chart.

This was followed by their third album in 2016, the self-titled Fitz and The Tantrums.

Fitz and The Tantrums. yielded one of their most famous songs to date, “HandClap.” The single was RIAA-certified 2x Platinum and has received more 400 million global streams. That’s quite a feat for any band.

“HandClap” was so popular, that the band was asked to perform it on many television shows, including ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars,” “Good Morning America,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” NBC’s “TODAY,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “America’s Got Talent,” the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the “Ellen DeGeneres Show”.

Now the band is back again with Fitz

and The Tantrums: Live In Chicago, and we expect that to become as popular as all their other releases have been and we just can’t wait to get our hands on a copy.

This is definitely one album that you are going to have to check out.

Look for it this October 2nd.

Fitz and The Tantrums: Live In Chicago 1. Intro (Live In Chicago) 2. Don’t Gotta Work It Out (Live In Chicago) 3. Winds of Change (Live In Chicago) 4. Breakin’ The Chains of Love (Live In Chicago) 5. Pickin’ Up The Pieces (Live In Chicago) 6. Rich Girls (Live In Chicago) 7. Wake Up (Live In Chicago) 8. 6am (Live In Chicago) 9. Tighter (Live In Chicago) 10. Love Sick Man (Live In Chicago) 11. L.O.V. (Live In Chicago)

12. Steady As She Goes (Live In Chicago) 13. Dear Mr. President (Live In Chicago) 14. News 4 U (Live In Chicago) 15. We Don’t Need Love Songs (Live In Chicago) 16. Sweet Dreams (Live In Chicago) 17. Moneygrabber (Live In Chicago)

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September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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Treva Blomquist 30

Rock and Blues International • September 2020

Award-Winning SingerSongwriter Treva Blomquist Releases New Album, Snakes & Sinners

By Sheena Johnson Nashville Americana singer/songwriter Treva Blomquist has just released her new album, Snakes & Sinners. Snakes & Sinners is the follow up to her last release, 2016’s The Risk & The Gift. The album was produced by Nathan Johnson and J. Brandon Owens, and takes Treva down a new path with her music.

While her other albums have followed along the path of a more traditional Americana sound, Treva veered off a bit into a different direction… a very different direction. This path and album is filled with a bit of the indie-pop sounds, coupled with lo-fi drumbeats and synth driven emotions. Yes, it’s taken her into a more pop-driven direction that will no doubt expose her to a completely different audience, that she probably never expected to venture into when she put out her previous albums, like Plain Vanilla Me, As It Should Be, These Fading Things, So We Would Know, and The Risk And The Gift. It’s not completely pop though, there are strong hints of her Americana past here.

There is a lot of different aspects about this album that Treva has explored along the way. Her songwriting approach was much different with Snakes & Saints than her previous albums. As Treva explains, “This is the first album where I had the title before the songs.

The journey into more of a pop-driven sound has also been spotted by other magazines as well. Her song “Strong” was immediately noticed by PopMatters, who said the song “speaks strongly to the positivity heard on the pop-oriented album, demonstrat-

ing her ability to craft memorable hooks and throw light at the dark without being overly sentimental.”

This album has become a very strong and introspective album for Treva as she states about the album’s opening song “Strong” that, “This song is a chance to say ‘I’m sorry’ to people I’ve not loved as well as I could have.”

With this album, Treva also explores the Ying and the Yang of her soul and delves deep inside her to pull out the subject matter portrayed here. . “I went a new direction intentionally and wanted to express the unique relationship of light and dark within us.

We always have a choice.

We get to decide who we want to be, and what we want to hold onto.”

The next song on the album, “Secret”, also reveals a bit about Treva’s thoughts and feelings during the recording of this album. “So many times I feel as if I am missing something; as if I need more instructions or I don’t really know what I’m doing so I can’t move forward. I’ve learned that many times, people fake it until they make it. This song is saying ‘what if the secret is that there isn’t a secret?’”

Treva really explores her emotions on this album, delving into subject matter such as breakups (“Sugar”), past relationships (“Sorry”), depression (“The Bottom”), and finding your way (“Woke Up”). Yes, there certainly is a lot of introspection in the songs on this album. Check out songs like “The Light” and “Gift.” Treva really bares her soul on this album. It is definitely a thought provoking album filled with the mysteries of life solved one at a time.

There is a lot of positively on this album reflected in its songs. American Songwriter hit the nail on the head when they said, “...it’s that beguiling allure that provides the most resilient impression overall, a captivating and compelling sound that rings with yearning and optimism, hope and deliberation, all in equal measure.”

Treva has certainly come a long way since here appearance at the 2005 Kerrville New Folk Competition where she was a finalist in the first competition she ever entered. By the sounds of the new album, she has come away a winner, but she has always been a winner, as evidenced when she took away the Grand Prize at the RiverBluff Performing Songwriter Competition for her song, “I Could Get Used To This.” “I Could Get Used To This” also appeared on her first album, Plain Vanilla Me. Snakes & Sinners is a great continuation to Treva’s career. It shows that she is not afraid to venture outside her comfort zone and take risks. And with the songs on this new album, it was definitely a risk well taken.

Welcome to the new Treva Blomquist. I can only imagine the great stories she has left to tell and look forward to her next album to see what great songs she has to bring us.

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Photo credit: Jackie Lee Young

Black Pumas Announce Deluxe Edition of Their Grammy-Nominated Breakout Self-Titled Debut Album Featuring Bonus Tracks of Unreleased Originals, Live In-Studio Versions, and Covers of Tracy Chapman, The Beatles & More Out Digitally Now / Physically October 9

Black Pumas, the Austin duo of frontman/songwriter Eric Burton and producer/ guitarist Adrian Quesada, released a deluxe version of their breakout self-titled debut album on August 28 digitally and it will be available on October 9 physically. Since its release in 2019, Black Pumas has sold 155K+ album equivalents worldwide, spawned the massive hit single “Colors” - which hit #1 at AAA Radio and has been streamed over 60 million times - and seen the band nominated for Best New Artist at the 2020 Grammy Awards. The new 2-LP deluxe edition will feature new artwork and a gatefold with unpublished in-studio and live photographs, as well as a bonus 7-inch featuring three new unreleased originals; three live in-studio versions (“Colors,” “Oct 33,” “Confines”); a live version of “Know You Better” recorded at C-Boys Heart & Soul, the Austin club where the band first made a name for itself; and covers of the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” Death’s “Politicians in My Eyes,” Bobby “Blue” Bland’s

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“Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City,” and Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” a cover they premiered live on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last month.

Black Pumas’ official live session of “Colors” is a huge viral hit on YouTube, with nearly 27 million views, and today they share a new video of the live version of “Confines” that appears on the deluxe album, an incredible rendition that features a string quartet. The Fader premiered the video today, with Burton saying of the song, “It is a reminder to remain equanimous in life during trials and tribulations while also not being afraid to have dreams.”

Sometimes, a life-changing connection can be closer than you think. In 2017, singer and songwriter Eric Burton made his way from California to Texas. Born in the San Fernando Valley, he grew up singing in church and then got heavily involved in musical theater. He

Rock and Blues International • September 2020

started busking at the Santa Monica pier, where he brought in a few hundred dollars a day and developed his performance skills. Burton traveled through the Western states before deciding to settle down in Austin, TX—setting up his busking spot on a downtown street corner, at 6th Street and Congress, for maximum exposure.

Meantime, Grammy Award-winning guitarist and producer Adrian Quesada was looking to collaborate with someone new. He reached out to friends in Los Angeles, in London, but nothing seemed right. A mutual friend mentioned Burton to Quesada, saying that he was the best singer he had ever heard. The two musicians connected, but Burton took a while to respond (“My friends were like ‘Dude, you’re a mad man, you need to hit that guy back!’”) Finally, he called Quesada and sang to him over the phone. “I loved his energy, his vibe, and I knew it would be incredible on

record,” Quesada says. “From the moment I heard him on the phone, I was all about it.”

The results of that inauspicious beginning can now be heard on the acclaimed 2019 self-titled debut album from Black Pumas, the group that Burton and Quesada assembled.

In just a couple of years’ time, Burton and Quesada turned their unplanned meeting into a Grammy-nominated act with songs that have racked up millions of streams and won overwhelming critical praise and multiple soldout tours across North America and Europe. The album won acclaim from Rolling Stone, who praised “the tireless, charismatic energy of singer Eric Burton,” Pitchfork, who raved, “The duo’s flair for drama is so stirring, they can seem acutely cinematic,” NPR, The Fader, The Guardian, Billboard, Essence, and many more.

Their anthemic single “Colors” hit #1 at AAA Radio and has been streamed over 57 million times across all platforms. Meanwhile, the official live video of “Colors” has been viewed over 26 million times on YouTube.

Quesada had a storied reputation from playing in bands like Grupo Fantasma and Brownout, accompanying artists from Prince to Daniel Johnston, and producing such acclaimed projects as 2018’s Look At My Soul: The Latin Shade Of Texas Soul. For the tracks that kicked off this project, though, he had a different direction in mind. “I was looking for somebody with their own identity,” says Quesada, “who liked Neil Young as much as Sam Cooke.”

Burton’s taste, range, and experience proved to be exactly what Quesada was seeking.

“We just take to the same kind of music,” he says. “I listen to East Coast hip-hop, old soul music, folk music. We were on the same wavelength from the get-go.” KCRW would eventually describe their sound as “Wu-Tang Clan meets James Brown.”

The first day they got together in the studio, they wrote and recorded the dusty funk that would become the Black Pumas’ first two singles, “Black Moon Rising” and “Fire.”

Quesada had produced the music for “Black Moon Rising” on the day of the 2017 solar eclipse, and Burton took that concept and ran with it. “Right away, the hair stood up on the back of my neck,” says Quesada. “I knew, ‘This is it—this is the guy.’”

The duo also knew that they didn’t want their sound to be too retro or imitative. “We didn’t want to just do throwback soul and pretend that hip-hop never happened,” says Quesada. “It had to feel sincere coming from us.

I have a certain aesthetic in the studio, Eric has a voice that evokes a certain era, but I don’t think we reference that too directly.”

the music sounded live. They booked a residency at Austin’s C-Boy’s Heart & Soul.

“We only rehearsed twice, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,” says Quesada.

“But with the first show, we knew it was unique, special—the chemistry and fire were there immediately. And what Eric could do as a frontman was like nothing I’d ever seen.” As word got out, the C-Boy’s shows turned into a local phenomenon (“the hottest party in town,” according to the Austin American-Statesman), with lines around the block despite the fact that the band had only released one song. That strong local support led to Black Pumas being awarded Best New Band at the 2019 Austin Music Awards.

“Adrian has had the time and the interest to really dive into a specific sound, to recreate something he heard on a Motown record,” adds Burton. “And because of that specific knowledge, he provides an interesting sandbox for me, whose background is in theater, to do something super-unorthodox—to be an art student and play with all the colors I have, but to put it on something that’s more familiar to listeners’ ears.

The release of Black Pumas was followed by an incredible breakout year, crowned by the duo’s nomination for Best New Artist at the 2020 Grammys alongside the likes of Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and Lil Nas X. The band sold out multiple tours across North America and Europe, thanks to a massive fanbase now known as the Puma Pack. They have brought their incredible live performances to The Ellen Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, CBS This Morning, PBS’s Austin City Limits, Late Night With Seth Meyers, and most recently, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, who premiered their powerful live version of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” a song that has a particular resonance for Burton and his nomadic past.

With Black Pumas having evolved from an idea to a session and eventually an album, they decided to put a band together to see how

Quesada and Burton both return, over and over, to the almost mystical connection they felt from the beginning. It’s this sense of

common purpose, of shared vision, that gives Black Pumas its focus and power—and that points to even more great things ahead.

“It’s so seamless, it’s like we’re musical brothers to some degree,” says Burton. “It feels so easy to meld together that what’s most important for us now is to continue to look for new sounds—to make sure we’re feeding ourselves the knowledge to continue to evolve.

Every time we get together, it’s better than the last time.”

DELUXE TRACK LIST Black Moon Rising Colors Know You Better Fire OCT 33 Stay Gold Old Confines Touch the Sky Sweet Conversations BONUS TRACKS Fast Car (Tracy Chapman Cover) I’m Ready Red Rover Black Cat Politicians In My Eyes (Death Cover) Colors (Live in Studio) Oct 33 (Live in Studio) Confines (Live in Studio) Know You Better (Live at C-Boys) Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles Cover) Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City (Bobby “Blue” Bland Cover)

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tore up goin’ through a very unexpected divorce….years later, after I married the love of my life, Brandi, (who is my publisher), she got the song to George Strait. Strait cut it and took it to the top of the Country charts and the song earned a Million Airplay Award from BMI….the song just came out TODAY (Aug 21) on Josh Turner’s new album honoring Country Music’s Classic Songs. This honor is so very humbling.

RABI: You were inducted into the Texas Music Hall of fame as a solo artist in 2011 The Wagoneers reunited when the band was inducted as well. Do you guys still play out live? Are any of the members in The Dangerous Few?

Monte Warden Releases New Album Monte Warden Combines His Signature Twang With A Shot Of Classic Jazzy Blues Groove In The Debut Release Of “Monte Warden and The Dangerous Few”

By Jay Randall Listening to the new debut release of Monte Warden and The Dangerous Few, you can’t help but hear remnants of the Chicago Blues Speak Easy Prohibition days in the Cotton Club when the likes of Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa and many other big bands would play into the early morning hours of the smoke filled venue. Monte Warden has amassed a combo of seasoned musicians that magically combine the unique vocal styling of Monte’s signature twang with tasty lyrics and musical combinations of instrument mastery that create a unique sound of their own. The Dangerous Few is composed of longtime Austin musicians Mas Palermo on drums, Erik Telford on horns, Brent Wilson (of the Wagoneers) on bass, T. Jarrod Bonta on piano, and Warden. Palermo and Telford share production credit with Tim Palmer (whose credits include U2, Pearl Jam, David Bowie) and Brandi Warden (multiplatinum music publisher, Monte’s co-writer, and wife). This is another example of how Monte Wardens songwriting skills keep maturing and developing with time. Like a fine wine it just gets better.

Rock and Blues International got to sit down with Monte for a short interview.

Rock And Blues International: Who were your most influential artist growing up?

Monte Warden: I never would’ve even picked up a guitar without hearing my folks’ Buddy Holly records…I also loved, Elvis, Cash, Hank, Sinatra as a kid and in Austin, I was as influenced by punk as I was the Outlaw movement…which was not that unusual being

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Monte: The Wags have performed since our 2011 induction and perform extensively.

We have a 3rd album in the can. The amazing guitarist for the Wags, Brent Wilson, is also the upright bass player for the Few…our drummer, Mas Palermo, is in both bands and co-produced the Few album with Brandi, Erik Telford, and uber engineer, Tim Palmer (Google him!)

RABI: What and who influenced you to the New Monte Warden Sound of The Dangerous Few? Monte: The great somgwriters of the era known as ‘The Great American Songbook’ – Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Sammy Cahn, Bacharach/David, Jimmy Van Heusen,…its an era where the ‘songs’ are more the stars than the artist who sang them…I have found writing in this style has been the most rewarding experience, artistically, of my very blessed career.

from Austin.

RABI: Long before your new release with the Dangerous Few we heard you were the ripe old age of 15 when you formed the Wagoneers. When and what label did you get signed to and how many releases did you guys put out.

Monte: I was 15 when my 1st real band, Whoa Trigger, was formed (we won Best New Band in 83 at the Austin Musiv Awards), I was 19 when The Wags got together. We were the 1st act to be signed to a major from the very 1st SXSW in ’87. A&M Records signed us. We were blessed to make two albums for A&M, the 1st one, Stout and High, is regarded as one of the 1st Americana albums in history (tho the phrase ‘Americana’ wasn’t around then).

RABI: What were some of your most memorable Tour dates with the Wagoneers?

Monte: The Wags picked almost a thousand dates in 4 years, so we were blessed to pick several great shows. We toured extensively with Willie and Emmylou. One of my favorite memories was that in Oct ’89 we opened both for The Ramones and Bill Monroe in a 3 week span. Not many acts can say that!

RABI: After the Wagoneers disbanded you wrote a little song called “Desperately”.

Can you tell us a little history on that?

Monte: I wrote Desperately with my dear friend, Bruce Robison, in ’96 as I was

Rock and Blues International • September 2020

RABI: We know this Covid Pandemic has taken its toll on the music business and ability to perform. Are you doing anything online and do Monte Warden and The Dangerous Few have any plans to do any online shows or features. Do you guys hope to Tour once the Pandemic passes and venues start to open again?

Monte: We will tour EXTENSIVELY once the ‘all clear’ is given…I have a Friday live-stream called, The Monte Warden Feel Good Hour I do EVERY Fri at 7 ct on my facebook page. www.facebook.com/ montewarden The live stream has been a GodSend for the family. The patronage from the fans has kept our lights on the fridge full thru all this. We are so very blessed.

By T.J. The underground HipHop duo, Felt is back with their first new LP in over a decade. Since their last release in 2009, Felt 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez, Felt seemed to just disappear.

Now they have returned with a surprise album, Felt 4 U. It was definitely a surprise and no one expected it when Felt dropped the standalone single “Name In Ya Mouth” just last month. It was followed up quickly with the new LP, Felt 4 U. Felt is the dynamic duo of Slug and Murs. Slug is the MC of the Minneapolis based Hip-Hop duo Atmosphere, and Murs was a member of the Oakland Hip-Hop collective, Living Legends.

Slug is considered a conscious rapper and often. He likes to concentrate on his love life and other subjects.

Murs tends to stay away from gang-influenced rap.

Felt has always had a cult-like following on the Hip-Hop market and their previous three albums are still favorites among that scene.

Now Felt is back with a new outlook on things that show how much they have matured as songwriters and musicians since their last album, Felt 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez was released. They definitely showcase these songs with a new revitalized sound and perspective.

Felt 4 U features 12 new tracks of great new music, which should really bring a lot of notice to the album and Felt itself. The album also features guest spots from some really impressive guest musicians.

This is something that never happened on other Felt albums. Guest appearances on this new album include Blimes, The Grouch, Aesop Rock, and Shepard Albertson.

Ant, the other half of Atmosphere, handled production on the album. He also produced the duo’s second album, Felt 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet.

Felt’s first album, Felt: A Tribute to Christina Ricci was produced by Living Legends member, The Grouch, who also guests on this album. It’s interesting that the first three albums Felt released were all titled after actresses.

The songs on this new album are being heralded as simply fantastic. Additional songs on the album also include the funky sounds of “Never’s Enough” and the smooth vibe of “Underwater.” “Underwater” features a guest appearance from female rapper Blimes. Shepard Albertson joins in on the

Felt Makes A Return with Surprise Album Felt 4 U, Marking The Hip-Hop Supergroup’s First LP In Over A Decade song “Crimson Skies,” while The Grouch and the money spent.

Aesop Rock guest on “Hologram”.

Track Listing: One of the big overall feels of the Never’s Enough album is through the closeness of these two Find My Way rappers. It shows in the music. It explodes in Don’t Do Me Like That their creativity. Both of the musicians have Trees learned a lot about each other and a lot about Through The Night themselves in this new release. They seem to Freeze Tag really connect together and all the tracks are Sticks & Stones impressively cohesive. Without a doubt, this Underwater (feat. Blimes) is their finest release yet. If this is anything Alexander F’real like what may be coming in the future, then Hologram the future of Felt will certainly be extraordi(feat. The Grouch & Aesop Rock) nary. This is definitely on of the best Rap Crimson Skies albums ever. If you’re into this genre of (feat. Shepard Albertson music, then you’re going to have to add this Borboleta one to your collection. It will be well worth September 2020 • Rock and Blues International 61

Reissues Breakthrough Album CONVERTIBLE MUSIC Featuring the Hits “He Could Be The One” and “Johnny, Are You Queer?”

By Greg Fontaine Queer,” has reissued her breakthrough album, Convertible Music this last month. Besides 80s New Wave Star, Josie Cotton is being on her breakthrough album, “Johnny back with us again. The lady that brought us Are You Queer” was also used on the the controversial song, “Johnny Are You 62 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

soundtracks to Jackass Number Two, and Valley Girl. This song really brought Josie a lot of attention, both good and bad, but making the best of it all, the good prevailed.

It was originally released by Elektra Records in 1982. The following year it received a lot of attention when it was used in the 1983 film, Valley Girl, starring E.J. Daily, Deborah Foreman and Nicholas Cage. In fact Valley Girl featured the first starring role of Nicholas Cage in a leading man position.

Josie even had a cameo in the movie, as she appears during the prom scene performing “Johnny Are You Queer,” He Could Be The One, and “School Is In.” We hadn’t heard much about Josie until last fall when she emerged with a new song, “Ukrainian Cowboy.” This has given her the push she needed to get back on her horse and start singing and recording again.

“Ukrainian Cowboy” also kicked off a new album, Everything Is Oh Yeah! This album of finished songs had been hidden away in Josie’s attic for a number of years. It took the producers of the show, Stranger Things to get her to dig it out of the attic. Evidently they were looking for some 80s inspired songs to include in the soundtrack to the show. Josie retrieved the songs from the attic and remixed the entire project, thus creating her new album. So far, Everything Is Oh Yeah! has been receiving great reviews from both the press and her fans as well.

All Music Guide raved, “Cotton is a weirder version of Cyndi Lauper with a voice big and versatile enough to match.” Boing Boing added, “[Everything Is Oh Yeah!] is both a time capsule and a time-travel fantasy that bounces from new wave to surf to girl group to neo-rockabilly… there are some fun, mid-‘80s gems in here for sure.”

Now the news is all about the reissue of Convertible. This album re-emerges due to something that Josie learned about just recently. It seems that there is a cool breakthrough in the music industry for artists just like here. As Josie explains, “There’s now a provision that for once is in favor of the artist. It’s basically a legal window that allows recording artists to get their masters back from the label after a 30-year window.

Most 80’s artists are eligible but the catch is you have to formally request it. So as of a few weeks ago, I officially have the rights back to my first two records on Elektra Records. I am over the moon.”

Convertible Music was released last month at the beginning of August. “This record changed everything for me,” Josie exclaims enthusiastically. She released the album digitally on her own label, Kitten Robot Records. The reissue of the album also features the Punk favorite, “(Let’s Do) The Blackout.” “I’m very excited about [releasing this song],” she says. “It was on the B-side of the original 12” for ‘Johnny, Are You Queer?’ Not many people have heard it except my hardcore fans.”

“Convertible Music essentially put me on the map as a recording artist and songwriter which was my ultimate goal,” she says. “It’s funny though I think my name ended up being more famous than I am if that makes any sense.”

“Johnny Are You Queer” was written by the Pain brothers, Larson and Bobby (Stray Cats, The Go-Go’s, Fear, Levi & The Rockets). They also produced Convertible Music, bringing a variety of songs styles into

Need the Night Tonight”’), and Farfisa-driven the mix, such as Surf, New Wave, Girl swoony pop bliss (‘Rockin’ Love,” “So Groups, and Pop. Close’).”

Josie explains about the variety of Josie tells us that she is set for a lot of music encapsulated in Convertible Music, work as she will be reissuing here entire “The Paine brothers had this incredible knack catalog to be released on Kitten Robot to predict musical trends and what would be relevant down the road. I was in awe of their Records. She is also hard at work in the studio recording her 8th and newest album talent and they saw something in me so we were a good match. They were great mentors release. to me and taught me so much about Check out the newly reissued Convertsongwriting and record production.” ible Music by Josie Cotton, now out on Kitten Also included on Convertible Music Robot Records. are the songs, “He Could Be The One,” “Rockin’ Love”, “Systematic Way,” and “No CONVERTIBLE MUSIC Pictures Of Dad.” Track listing “Even though making this album was “He Could Be the One” – 2:48 more like a David Lynch movie gone wrong, “Rockin’ Love” – 3:02 we laughed a lot as we were recording it,” “Waitin’ for Your Love” – 3:21 reminisces Josie who wrote a majority of the “So Close” – 2:39 songs. “The Paine Brothers were incredible “I Need the Night, Tonight” – 3:12 story tellers. Someone will tell their story one “(Let’s Do) The Blackout” – 2:57 day and I hope it’s me because I had a “Johnny Are You Queer?” – 2:46 ringside seat. We made some noise… yes we “Systematic Way” – 2:57 did.”

“Another Girl” – 3:14 All Music Guide proclaimed Convert“Bye, Bye Baby” – 2:57 ible Music as “a classic of the whole “No Pictures of Dad” – 3:33 California girly pop scene of the early ’80s, “Tell Him” – 2:36 on a level with the Go Go’s’ Beauty and the Beat, Bonnie Hayes’ Good Clean Fun, and “Part Shangri-Las, part Rachel Sweet, the first Bangles EP.” It goes on to perfectly the all-original Josie has long been a favorite encapsulate the album by saying, “the songs, hipster vocalist of mine ever since I took mostly written either by Cotton herself or her personally her nasally joyous anthem producers, Bobby and Larson Paine, are neat “Johnny, Are You Queer?” ’60s pastiches with elements of surf (the - John Waters, director/actor/artist glorious opener, ‘He Could Be the One’), “The summer’s best beach record.”

Shangri-Las-style melodrama (the sultry ‘I - Rolling Stone September 2020 • Rock and Blues International 63

new remix and video, Rob has been busy working on a number of other projects. It also includes working on some DJ live streams based on the Yoga-inspired platform Live Kick (www.livekick.com) for what has been described as a “super high energy ‘Amplified Yoga’ class.”

He has also put together a special playlist to be used in alignment with hotel/venue Surf Lodge in New York’s The Hamptons.

Perhaps though, the most important thing he has done during this break has been starting his own Record Label, Magnetic Moon (www.magneticmoon.com).

This new label will not only feature his own material, but also to several artists that he has now signed to that label. Rob tells us that he has signed some amazing talent to the new fledgling label, “We have some amazing new music from ToBy and Racquel Jones (from Thievery fame). Both of these artists are on fire.”

ToBy has already released his new debut EP, The Outside, this summer to some great critical acclaim. Under The Radar boasts, “His smooth flow and the sunburnt trap beats set the backdrop for stories that range from reflections on Egyptian mythology to the tolls of excess and meditations on mortality.”

Ladygunn also gave it extreme praise saying, “His music is skillfully rhythmic and tactically melodic, as each song integrates a new level of dynamicality and variety, with aspects of lofi beats, rap, and hiphop.”

Rob tells us that he is also getting ready to release his second solo EP that will feature guests, Emeline, Seann Bowe, Yesac, Racquel Jones, and Calica.

GARZA (featuring Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation) Releases “Deep Blue (Riviera Mix)” Rob Garza Launches Label MAGNETIC MOON

By James Wilcox As Rob explains, this is “a perfect Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation soundtrack to the imaginary summer we has certainly been productive lately. He has never had, ‘Deep Blue (Riviera Mix)’ features released a remix of “Deep Blue” off his a summertime housey, loungey vibe perfect critically acclaimed solo debut EP, Where The for pools, beaches or summer mix tapes, Moon Lies. The new remix is titled “Deep featuring vocals by Seann Bowe.

Blue (Riviera Mix)”. Where The Moon Lies This mix encapsulates the sun, the was just released last November. Thievery water and summer nostalgia.”

Already the new remix is Corporation, like so many other bands, has getting quite a bit of attention. taken a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This worked out to the band’s Earmark says that “Deep Blue advantage, as they have been touring almost (Riviera Mix)” exudes a smooth non-stop for 25 years. With the pandemic bossa nova tropical vibe that looming overhead, Rob Garza, working under flows from the track effortlessly. the name of his solo project, Garza, decided Once that deep bass hits alongside to take advantage of the situation to rework a catchy finger-snapping chorus, it’s impossible not to get weak at the song.

In addition he has also put together a the knees and fall completely in love.” new video for the song which takes you to a tropical oasis filled some great underwater Elicit Magazine was equally impressed with the new scenes, divers, majestic mountains, and release and says it is “a delicate beautiful beaches. From frolicking in the balance of rhythm, texture and sand to couples swinging in the wind and people playing in the water, the video melody. [Garza] manages to push conjures up a beautiful image of tranquility musical boundaries while still that goes well with the music. Hell, it really remaining wholly accessible.” looks like fun. I’m ready to go there.

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feelings with others. So, I cope with that by pouring all of my emotions into a song.”

X starts off with the title track, “X”, which Producer Austin Payne, who also co-wrote some of the songs on the album tells us that, “it’s the concept of both the good parts and the bad parts of a relationship, unlike the other songs, which only focus on either the good or the bad. The title track encompasses and intertwines the good and the bad into one complete message.”

That song is followed up by “Play It Safe,” “Selfish” and “So Long.” All of these three songs were previously released as singles.

Willis tells us that the song “So Long,” “ describes the part of a relationship when you and your partner realize that you simply aren’t meant for each other.”

Others songs on the album will definitely grab your attention. Take the song, “When I’m Loving U.” This song is about the “ unmistakable high that comes from loving someone unconditionally.”

“On ‘U Girl,’ for example, we wrote the basic idea for the song in about five minutes,” shares Payne. “The flow was so fluid and natural.

It’s definitely one of my favorites on the EP.” While the subjects of these songs cross a few barriers, it still illustrates Micah’s feel about how the music affects him. “There’s just something magical about music,” he shares. “It just makes me feel good.”

MULTI-TALENTED ARTIST MICAH WILLIS TEAMS UP WITH PRODUCER AUSTIN PAYNE ON NEW EP

By James Wilcox Micah Willis has just released his new EP, X, combining elements of pop, funk, and hip-hop, to create a sonic texture all his own.

This is not surprising at all, as Micah cites his influences as The Weeknd and Fleetwood Mac. Teaming up with Austin to help him fulfill his vision on this project is producer Austin Payne. When you listen to this new project, you’ll be able to tell the synchronicity developed between the two of them. The two were involved throughout the whole process from writing the songs, to mixing and production, which they did together.

“This was something neither of us had much experience with,” admits Willis. But we thought it was important, given how personal these songs are. We literally spent days on tiny little sections to make them just right. It was a year-long process, but it was worth it.”

For some of you out there hearing about Austin for the first time, please be aware that he is not a novice to this vocation.

Music is in his soul. He even comes from an extremely musical family. His father is Blues singer/songwriter Kenny Neal. Austin started

out playing music with his dad. Since those days he has become quite a prolific artist. He won four Downbeat Magazine awards before even graduating high school. He has also gone on to work and perform with artists such as Neon Trees, James Valentine (Maroon 5), Steve Smith (Journey), and Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band).

For his new album X, Willis bares his soul and reveals his true self, something he doesn’t do quite often. It can be detected in every song on the album, through his heartfelt lyrics and melodic vocal tones.

“Each song I write comes from a different source of inspiration,” adds Willis. “I find that my most honest songs are my best. I generally don’t go out of my way to share my

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New Signings

Photo credit: Luke Scroggins Photobomb Production

Upstate Records is Proud to Announce the Signing of Matriarchs Matriarchs Brings Crushing Blend of Metallic Hardcore and NuMetal into an Amalgamation of Pure Musical Aggressiveness Matriarchs teamed up with Upstate Records and Blood Blast Distribution (Nuclear Blast) to set their upcoming album, Year Of The Rat, on maximum overdrive.

Matriarchs is a metallic hardcore band, formed originally in Los Angeles in 2014. Starting out as studio project by founding member Ben Levi, Matriarchs has established themselves as recognizable name in the metal/hardcore community.

Drawing inspiration for their affinity for modern European Beat Down and ‘90s New York metallic hardcore, Matriarchs assembled a team of veteran metal and hardcore musicians to release their first studio release, Scandalous Jointz, on Eulogy Records in 2015.

Produced by Nick Jett of Terror and mastered by Matt Hyde (Lionheart, Hatebreed, Deftones), the sonic ferocity and energizing success of Scandalous Jointz immediately brought them to the national touring level, ultimately sharing the stage with such acts as Soulfly, Harm’s Way, Disgrace, Bane, Backtrack, Sworn Enemy and Vision Of Disorder.

After a brief hiatus in 2018 to reflect on the future strategy of the band, Matriarchs went for an overhaul and parted with ways with Richard Barthel then recruited vocalist K Enagonio and guitarist Carlos Pagan to complete their new studio full-length release, Year Of The Rat. Year Of The Rat will hit the streets this fall.

Matriarchs is: Carlos Pagan, K Enagonio, Ben Levi.

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Radikal Records Sign Rising Production Duo RIP Youth RIP Youth Release Their Australian Hit “You Love” With Bombs Away & Reigan

By Bob Kelpie American Australian DJ/writer/production duo, RIP Youth received some great news this month as they were signed to Radikal Records. RIP Youth consists of Dylan Bowes and James Maas.

The duo has had quite a career so far as they have written hit songs for several artists over the years. They decided that this time around, they would grab the bull by the horns and start their own musical project, RIP Youth.

They have just released their debut single, “You Love.” For “You Love” they reached out and collaborated with a couple of close friends. They teamed up with fellow Australians, the ARIA-nominated and platinum selling DJ/Producers Bombs Away, as well as singer/songwriter Reigan, who happens to be affiliated with Sony Music Entertainment. The new collaboration proved to be a huge success as they started garnering support from radio stations all over Australia. Now they have teamed up with Radikal Records for what looks like a promising future as Radikal Records has signed them to release this new project worldwide. The new release also features new remixes of “You Love.” No doubt this will set the world on its ears as when they hear this new material.

Radikal Records tells us that this new music is very much in the vein of Madeon, Calvin Harris, and Zedd/Allessia Cara. That is definitely a great group of musicians to be likened too. This is a fantastic start for RIP Youth, and we’re told that this is likely to be known as the perfect track for your summer enjoyment.

RIP Youth tells us, “We knew this song was special from the very beginning. We were pumped about the message and Reigan’s vocals were on point. The collab with Bombs Away was super exciting and we can’t wait to share this with everyone.”

RIP Youth has plans in store to release even more great material this year through Radikal Records, along with even more remixes of “You Love.” They are extremely motivated through this new signing and the confidence that being with Radikal Records gives them.

Reigan tells us: “Once the lyrics for ‘You Love’ began to swirl, we realized we were tapping into something beautiful. It felt genuine.

We spoke about living in the now, feeling the preciousness of time, and being grateful no matter the situation. We feel like it’s a message the world need to be reminded of.”

Bombs Away added, “We have been chomping at the bit to finally release this one! We had such a ball working together and are absolutely ecstatic to see everyone’s reaction!”

By T.J. The dynamic trio, Chase Atlantic has just signed a lucrative deal with Fearless Records and now joins the label’s roster of great worldwide artists. Chase Atlantic is reportedly the “missing link between woozy trap, nocturnal R&B, and psychedelic alternative through sonic experimentation.”

The band was formed in Australia in 2014 and has since resettled in Los Angeles, where they are now based. Already the band has gotten over 200 million streams with songs such as “Friends” [55.9 million Spotify streams], “Swim” [41.8 million Spotify streams], “Into It” [37.3 million Spotify streams], and “Okay” [21.7 million Spotify streams].

Magazines such as Alternative Press, Substream Magazine, PopCrush, and mixdwn have presented them with cover stories and extreme praise on the work they have done so far. Even Billboard has taken notice of this talented young trio.

This talented team of Mitchel Cave, Clinton Cave, and Christian Anthony has certainly been vigilant in their quest to create new music and a sound of their own.

They intend to do even greater things now that they have been signed to Fearless Records and continue to work intensely on their debut release for the new label.

The band has just released their new single, “Out The Roof” along with a new video to accompany it. As they explain, “As our first release of the year, we wanted to come back strong with a song that reflected the chaotic world around us. We wrote the song in one night and traveled to the Mojave Desert to film the music video the next day.”

Chase Atlantic started out their career with a serious of EP releases, Dalliance (2014), Nostalgia (2015), and Paradise (2016). By 2017 they had signed to Warner Music Group where they again released a series of EP releases, Part One, Part Two, and Part 3 to promote the release of their self-titled debut album, Chase Atlantic. The

Fearless Records Welcome Chase Atlantic To Their Roster band’s follow up album to this was 2019’s Phases.

OnesToWatch predicted “while we would say the sky is the limit for Chase Atlantic with a showing this strong, chances are they would just break out of the stratosphere in the year to come.”

Since forming the band has been quite active, touring the world extensively with concerts in the U.S., U.K. and Europe, with sell out shows in many cities. They have also performed at various festivals, such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Reading, and Leeds.

Chase Atlantic and Fearless Records have no doubt made a great connection with this new signing and the band can’t wait to get their new Fearless Records debut release out soon.

You can definitely expect to hear a lot about Chase Atlantic in the future. Congratulations goes out to both Fearless Records and Chase Atlantic for such a cool merger.

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god,” he says. “But it’s an illusion. We think we can dictate every day of our lives but that’s like playing chess during an earthquake. Sometimes the pieces move themselves.”

Drawing influence from Keiichi Koike’s Ultra Heaven, Richard Teschner’s puppets, and ancient folklore, Capricorn surfaced. After finding a cabin near the Sawtooth Mountains with an old piano, Powers filled his back seats with instruments, cassette recorders, and a computer, and left for a month alone. “We’ve forgotten how bizarre our planet is,” he explains. “Insects are their own gospel choir. Rain is a fucking fever dream. The more Earth I included, the more alien it felt.”

Capricorn, out via Fat Possum Records, paints a world of melancholia and unsettling beauty. Powers’ field recordings, classical motifs, and software sculptures don’t stop time; they examine it like a beetle under a microscope - exposing that the extraordinary is often hidden in plain sight. “From the minute we wake up, we’re in a trance,” he says. “This is music for our digital coma.” photo credit: Jamie Powers

The project is releasing alongside a book and cassette with artwork designed by Los Angeles’ Collin Fletcher whose practice is based on experimentation and collaboration with musicians and artists across a variety of fields including his work with Warp Records, Hood

By Air, and Halcyon Veil. The book releasing alongside the album also features a collection of photographs Trevor has taken over the last few years. Listen to Capricorn above, see album details below, and stay tuned for more from Trevor Powers coming soon.

TREVOR POWERS RELEASES NEW ALBUM VIA FAT POSSUM RECORDS Today, Trevor Powers is surprising fans with the release of his new album Capricorn, available digitally and on cassette accompanied by a special edition book. The follow-up to 2018’s Mulberry Violence (Powers’ debut under his birth name) which NPR called “as gorgeous and ornate as it is bleakly unsettling,” the new album plays like a fairy tale or alien quest. Fragmented and full of grace, Capricorn serves as a meditation on the passage of time - existing both in the past and future.

streams, thunder but with their voices mangled and played with. I fell in love with the idea that everything has a voice. Combining those with piano melodies felt like some kind of Mister Rogers hallucination. I also created some crude digital instruments out of noise pollution, like planes and highways but the most natural sounds were always the most alien. I wanted to make something that felt as peaceful as it was haunting. Anything that did that and served the music, I made use of.”

Speaking on the album, Powers says: “The field recordings are mostly a patchwork of nature: wind, insects, rain, birds, frogs,

After a severe panic attack made his legs numb for a week, Powers knew something had to change. “Control is our

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Trevor Powers Capricorn Fat Possum Records 1. First Rain 2. Earth To Earth 3. The Riverine 4. A New Name 5. Ghosts of Shanghai 6. Blue Savior 7. Pest 8. 2166

Empty Spaces, the new album from acclaimed singer/songwriter Eliot Bronson, was just released on July 24th and has enjoyed some spectacular reviews. Today Atwood Magazine hosted a track by track breakdown of the collection, last week his single, “Let Me Go” was part of Rolling Stone Country’s pick of the week and tomorrow, July 29th at 11am EST, Eliot will be featured on Atlanta’s NPR affiliate WABE’s City Lights program.

Several tracks from the album have been featured on top Americana and indie folk playlists while Eliot and his album have been embraced by outlets such as; Mother Church Pew, The Bluegrass Situation, PRX’s Beyond A Song, The Boot, American Songwriter, UK’s West NorFOLK Radio, DittyTV, Alternative Root, Today In Nashville, The Marinade, Rootstime, Thank Folk for That, and many more.

Eliot Bronson Releases “Raw and Meaningful” New Album Empty Spaces

The early reviews of Empty Spaces have been overwhelmingly positive; Rolling Stone Country praised the songs, “...cascading chorus harmonies, swirling mellotron, and distorted guitar solo...sad and fragile but impossibly massive all at once,” Atwood shares, ““Empty Spaces” dives into the bittersweet depths of emotional experience with humility, honesty, grace, and sadness,” Glide Magazine raves, “Bronson taps into some of his finest crooning with a touch of Chris Isaak and a touch of Jason Isbell...his song serves as a reminder of the high level of quality Bronson possesses in his songwriting craftsmanship, singing and overall musicality.”

Empty Spaces receives critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, The Bluegrass Situation, Glide, Atwood and more….

Empty Spaces was written during a period of tumult — including the breakup of a 10-year relationship, the end of an

engagement, and a move from Brosnan’s adopted home of Atlanta to his current headquarters in Nashville. Empty Spaces is about loss, redemption, the places we leave, and the homes we make for ourselves. More importantly, it’s an album about starting again and it’s truly Bronson’s sharpest songwriting to date.

Bronson shares, “I began writing the kind of songs I needed to hear,” he explains. “Empty Spaces was the best healing work I could’ve ever done. I had a weird, challenging childhood, and I originally turned to music because I didn’t have anywhere else to go. I made my own little world that made me feel safe and understood. This time, I really needed to find that space again. I made this record for the same reason that I wrote my first song. It wasn’t for anybody else; it was for me. Hearing the right words at the right moment can be the most magical elixir you can possibly take. It can heal you.”

Though to fully heal, Bronson, who Paste Magazine called “an Americana gem,” needed to make some changes. He relocated, he made the conscious decision to escape the shadow of his influences, too, writing a new batch of songs that sounded not like Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, or Tom Waits, but like Eliot Bronson. He sank more time into his daily meditation practice, allowing creativity to enter his life in waves. And after recording his two previous albums with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile), he also decided to co-produce the new record with longtime bandmate Will Robertson, setting up in Robertson’s basement studio and tracking Empty Spaces’ 10 songs in a series of live, full-band performances. The result is an album that’s emotive, pensive, melancholy, and wholly moving. This isn’t just a record about empty spaces, after all. It’s a record about the new discoveries that can fill that emptiness.

Empty Spaces is out now.

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OTTO SHARES DEBUT EP WORLD GREETINGS Massachusetts-based producer OTTO shares his debut EP World Greetings via PLZ Make It Ruins. Described as, “a deep fried cheese ball with a fully ignited cheese sauce” by the producer, World Greetings is a mindboggling and completely novel mix of bedroom pop and 90’s IDM songs. Built on OTTO’s handmade instruments and synthesizers, that the producer sees as works of art as much as the songs, World Greetings features previously released single “About You Now” and contains 6 tracks of heady, off the wall fun.

To celebrate the release of this new EP, OTTO and PLZ Make It Ruins are releasing a special edition collection of limited merch featuring a kaleidoscopic array of T-shirts and a World Greetings stress toy. The merch collection, featuring OTTO T-shirts as well as the World Greetings stress toy, and limited edition World Greetings cassettes are available now at www.PLZ.world.

programmed rhythms, glitchy breakbeats and custom built synthesizer art pieces was hard to ignore. Vegyn had this to say about signing OTTO: “OTTO was initially shown to me by my friend Sydney, who now works with me at PLZ. I was dumbfounded when I first heard his cover of “About You Now” on Soundcloud. At first, I didn’t recognize the song but once the chorus hit it all came flooding back. We reached out not long after and everything else he sent over was just as impressive as the last.”

OTTO’s music, playful and deceptively sinister, mirrors the artist’s fascination with cartoon characters and kids’ TV shows from his childhood. It evokes not only the feelings of joy they provide, but also the existential and materialistic dangers these corporate mascots represent. OTTO’s buoyant, analog melodies represent the fun, technicolor appeal of such characters.

OTTO, an electronics student, analogue synth designer and musician, caught Yet his dense, chaotic drum programthe attention of PLZ Make It Ruins label head ming, and jarring rhythmic and textural shifts, evoke the feelings of dread Vegyn with early musical sketches posted to OTTO feels towards electronic waste.

Soundcloud. OTTO’s musical world, a multiverse containing highly tuned voices meant to “I find it funny and also very troubling,” OTTO says, “that 15-20 years represent “corporate sprites”, immaculately 70 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

after all of this kids’ media, there are still bits and pieces of these obsolete franchises drifting around in the form of cheap plastic shit, now in landfills and contributing to lakes of toxic leachate.”

Hear World Greetings and buy the limited edition OTTO and PLZ Make It Ruins merch above, and stay tuned for more from OTTO soon.

nity to keep them working. With the previously unreleased duet version of “Sex In Cars” featuring Grohl, she hopes to continue helping.

“I always knew I wanted this version of ‘Sex In Cars’ with Dave to benefit some amazing non-profit,” George says. “As the pandemic hit and it became very clear that live music would not resume for many, many months, I immediately thought of Sweet Relief, not only because they help so many musicians, but also because they help everyone in the music industry.”

George has many friends in the music industry and has seen their jobs evaporate.

“All of those people who work at venues booking shows, stage managing, bartending, lighting, mixing sound, and on and on... Sweet Relief is set up to help all of these workers during this crisis and also any other crisis that might come.”

Inara George (The Bird and The Bee) Launches “Road Angel Project” Benefit With “Sex In Cars” Duet With Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) The Bird and The Bee vocalist Inara George has teamed with Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters for a new single “Sex In Cars: Road Angel Project,” a duet version of the track “Sex In Cars” from George’s latest release “The Youth of Angst”. The song is available now on all streaming platforms.

“I wrote ‘Sex In Cars’ after the artist Terry Allen asked if I’d be a part of an art installation entitled “Road Angel” that he was creating for The Contemporary Austin,” George explains.

“Sex In Cars: Road Angel Project” is the first in a series of planned “Road Angel Project” singles, which will see all proceeds donated via a partnership with Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. The COVID-19 Relief Fund at Sweet Relief provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who have lost income due to the global pandemic.

“Having been such a massive fan of Inara for years, it’s always such an incredible honor to work with her, whether on Foo Fighters music or for The Bird and The Bee,” Grohl says. “Her voice is timeless, so pure and real. So I jumped at the chance to duet with her on this song. It was a dream come

true! And for a great cause: Musicians coming together to support each other in difficult times, working to keep the music alive.”

The name “Road Angel Project” is an Allen-authorized nod back to the piece that inspired “Sex In Cars,” and the cover image for the series

by Alice Lin is based on a Brian Fitzsimmons photograph of Allen’s actual installation.

Sweet Relief’s Aric Steinberg says, “Sweet Relief is so grateful to be a part of the Road Angel Project. It’s been incredible to see the music community come together during this pandemic, and this is another example of good people doing good things.

The funds raised will allow us to help even more music industry professionals in desperate need and we are truly thankful for Inara and Dave’s support.”

The second volume of the “Road Angel Project” is already being prepped for a Sept. 4th release. The three-song bundle “Road Angel Project: Volume 2” will include songs by Alex Lilly, Danielle De Andrea (featuring Larry Goldings), and Mike Viola.

For more information about the Sweet Relief COVID-19 fund, visit: https:// www.sweetrelief.org/covid-19-fund.html

With “Road Angel Project,” George is continuing to follow a line of thought that began with her current release “The Youth of Angst”. George saw so many musicians and music industry friends out of work during the pandemic and saw an opportuSeptember 2020 • Rock and Blues International

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Rock and Blues International • September 2020 Photo by Arnie G

Savoy Brown Ain’t Done Yet Legendary Blues-Rock Band Releases New Album

By Kevin Wildman Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown have just released what might be their 42nd album, Ain’t Done Yet.” Even Kim Simmonds doesn’t really recall just how many album there have been since the first album was released in 1967. Actually, the first album that Savoy Brown released was Shake Down, and it was only released in the U.K. It wasn’t issued in the U.S. till it appeared on CD in 1990. Looking back, Kim reflects, “I was 17 when I formed the band, 18 when we did the first singles, and 19 when we did the first album in 67. That’s the time frame for putting things in perspective. I was the youngest of my whole group of people.”

Kim and Savoy Brown became one of the top Blues/Rock bands in England very quickly. Between John Mayall with Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, and Savoy Brown, they held the top spots when it came to this genre of music. In fact, it was Savoy Brown who helped launch the careers of many bands and musicians over the years, such as Ten Year’s After and Jethro Tull, who would open for Savoy Brown occasionally at The Marquee Club in London on Blues Night.

Fortunately for Kim, his parents were very ‘hands off’, and allowed him to follow his dream, which by the way has done very well for him over the years. Who would have believed that a young clerk at the age of fifteen from the War Office in London would become one of the most famous musicians of the 20th Century? Kim tells us, “I got that job, you know and I was putting the band together. Before I knew it I was professional and on the road and my parents were very, very supportive, their drop out kid was certainly going to make something of himself. They never put pressure on me. They were very supportive and they were very hands-off parents, which I really didn’t appreciate when I was like 19 years old, you know. I would have liked my parents to be less hands off than they were, but of course that gave me a lot of freedom. They gave me a hand, and with that freedom, just let me live my own life. You know, of course, I wouldn’t have done what I’ve done without that.”

And to this day, Kim has been doing exactly what he wanted. He and the reputation of Savoy Brown is the sort of thing that legends are built on. His rich musical history is something that a lot of musicians would sell their souls for. With album releases such as “Street Corner Talking,” “Raw Sienna,” “Withchy Feelin’,” “Looking In,” “Jack The Toad,” “Blue Matter,” and “Lion’s Share,” Savoy Brown would forge a musical legacy that other musicians could only marvel at.

Now Savoy Brown is back with their 42nd album, Ain’t Done Yet. Ain’t Done Yet is the follow up to last year’s hit album, City Night. Yes, Kim is back with another masterpiece containing ten masterfully written and performed songs.

Accompanying him again on this album is bassist Pat DeSalvo and drummer Garnet Grimm. These two have been recording and performing with Kin now since 2009, and the three of them have developed into a very tight BluesRock trio.

For Kim the songs come fairly easy now… less distractions, and more inspiration. We asked him if it was harder now after writing and recording some 400+ songs and he tells us, “ No, it’s not harder. I think it was harder years and years ago. I would always bring people into the band and songwriters to help the band.

You know, I had a certain output that I could do, but not like I am now. When you’re in your 20s or something, you have a family and you have distractions. So now my family’s grown up and moved away. And so it’s just me and my wife and it’s just a question for me to stay in the zone and have fun creating.

I don’t have so many distractions in life now like I did in the 70s. It’s easier in that respect. But of course, you know writing a song is never easy. For some of the songs in the new album, I’ve done 15 demos. You’re trying to get the right thing, to get the right key, to get the right tempo, trying to get the right anything. Then suddenly it comes together. Other songs, of course, will come a little bit quicker but even then the hard work is staying open to inspiration.”

Touching on that subject of inspiration, I had to ask him about a few of the songs on the album, so naturally I started off with the song, “Jaguar Car.” Rock And Blues International: Well then, how about “Jaguar Car.” Do you or did you ever own a Jaguar?

Kim Simmonds: No, I don’t have a Jag, but my brother had one in the 60s. I’m well familiar with that car and I had a lot of

Old English cars in the seventies. None of the young people wanted to try them back then.

Now they’re all worth a fortune. We can’t find one them now, but back in the 70s you could pick them up in England and for next to nothing. But no, I don’t have a Jag. I was just wanting to write a blues song about a car and you know, you can’t write about a red Cadillac. It’s been done already. Of course the Jaguar car has always been great Blues imagery and it played an important part in our lives. Nobody has written any songs about Jaguar cars, so hopefully it’s original.

RABI: You talk about Blues imagery.

How about “Rocking In Louisiana.” That song really has that Louisiana feel to it, especially with the slide guitar. How did that come about? Did you go to Mardi Gras a lot?

Kim Simmonds: Well, not lately. I used to go there once or twice a year for many years. I played at the old “Warehouse.”

I have a lot of memories from playing at that venue. I had written the song as an electric demo. A friend of mine, John said to me.

‘Hey, that’s pretty good. Maybe you should put a dobro on it. So, I put the dobro on and suddenly it’s what “Rocking In Louisiana” is all about. I have a lot of great memories of Louisiana and great memories of playing with the early Louisiana rock bands. In the early 70s, we would be on the bill with Potliquor.

They were one of the bands I had a lot of dates with. You can write a song and you can continued on next page

September 2020 • Rock and Blues International

73

Savoy Brown Ain’t Done Yet continued from previous page

Photo by Juan Junco

think back and bring a little bit of of your life experience into a song. But again, it’s a song and it’s not a biographical piece, it’s just a tribute. I was trying to make it a nod to the past and the players from the past, my roots, and the roots that I’m playing. That’s what I’m trying to do all the time.”

RABI: How about “Soho Girl.” Is it permissible for married men to write about young women?

Kim Simmonds: Believe me, my wife is used to it actually. She understands that concept. I was writing about Soho in London, and again, I’m going back to the early 60s. It used to be a red light district and the call girls were around all the time. It might have that same element now, I don’t know. I was writing a song about a call girl in Soho and the original scene was ‘I’ve got this girl. She’s cool, but she goes to love them all the time.’ And then before I know it I get this line, ‘She sleeps with a gun’ and suddenly, I’m in SoHo in New York City. So then it morphs into this girl from Soho, New York, but the inspiration was from Soho, London.

But no, I’ve never had a girlfriend that slept with a gun.

RABI: Looking back at this new album. Are there any songs that gave you a bit of difficulty?

Kim Simmonds: Yeah, absolutely. I

mean the “Soho Girl” song right away.

There might be some others as well. “Feel Like A Gypsy” was like that It that started off like ’Traveling Man Blues’ or something like that. On my Facebook page, my Facebook guy that helps me with pre-production with songs, has the whole story about “Feel Like A Gypsy.” How it started, the lyric and how it morphed into “Feel Like A Gypsy,” but “Soho Girl” was a tough one because I had “Soho Girl” as a straight Blues Shuffle. It was a Jimmy Reed type thing with harmonica. It sounded really, really good, but I thought to myself, ‘Well, you know, we all heard that, we all love to be Reed’, but you know, I don’t think I was doing service to my song. So I kept on going with it and came up with the version that you hear here on this album. I had recorded it for the previous album, City Night. And back then I had it too heavy. It’s is a heavy song now, you know… distorted guitar and all that stuff. But for the previous album, it was really out to town. It was like, what is this, Motorhead? So, you know, I can’t do that. So it was a question of how do I keep that sort of rock edge and element, but tone it down a little bit so that I could put on an album. It wasn’t slated for the album at first, but then I heard the demo I did previously and I thought, that’s a good song, I shouldn’t throw it away. And then

74 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

when we recorded it for the new album, we all had a better idea of how we overplayed our hand. Pat and Garnet as well. We had overplayed our hand on the first time we tried in the studio, so we were able to understand how the song should be and how to play it better. I had a better guitar sound, still crunchy, still attacking, still rocking, but it wasn’t going suddenly somewhere where a blues person wouldn’t enjoy it. That’s what I was hoping for anyway. I wanted a song that was progressive and you haven’t heard before. I wanted a certain Blues element in it that would be a hybrid. I think we captured it this time around, but like I say, it took a while on my writing side to get it and then it took a while for the rest of the band to get it.

RABI: All right. Was there a song on the album that just kind of jumped out of your guitar at you? You know something that just came so easy, it was unbelievable.

Kim Simmonds: I think, “All Gone Wrong” of course. It all went right for me, so that one became very easy. There’s no multiple demos of that. Also, “Crying Guitar,” the instrumental. Those things came very easy to me.

RABI: I know you are happy with all the songs on the album, but are there any songs on the album that you are exceptionally proud of” Kim Simmonds: I think songs like “River On The Rise.” And “Rocking In Louisiana.” Both of these songs are very exciting to me. Sometimes you sit back and say to yourself. ‘Why did I write that?’

That’s okay. It’s a nice feeling when you put the puzzle pieces together and there’s a sense of wonderment to it. I’m really happy with my guitar playing on “Devil’s Highway” and “Feel Like A Gypsy.” I am very proud of my guitar playing on this album.

And Kim should be very happy with his performance on this album. It is one of the best album’s he’s every put out. In fact, the truth is that all the albums just get better and better as the year’s go by. Possibly because he’s not afraid to bare his soul when he writes and performs these songs. “Ain’t Done Yet” contains some of the best solos and melodies we’ve heard yet. The subject matter is great and the delivery is even better.

It doesn’t hurt to have a tight band as well.

But don’t just take our word for it, just ask Bruce Quarto, QVR founder and CEO of Kim’s record label, “Quarto Valley Records is honored to continue working with Savoy Brown on this second QVR release, Ain’t Done Yet, which is now one of my all-time favorites. It’s full of great energy that is the trademark of all their blues-rock music, and everyone who hears it will immediately agree that Savoy Brown ain’t nowhere near done yet.”

“The new album is a continuance of the approach I’ve been taking with the band this past decade,” says guitarist/singer/ songwriter Kim Simmonds.

Be sure to check out the new Kim Simmonds/Savoy Brown masterpiece, Ain’t Done Yet.

aware take on the guilt and anxiety that bubble up when coming to grips with one’s born-with-it privilege. “The song ‘Sittin’ Pretty’ speaks to the powerlessness I feel when reading the news about the troubling issues in our society like wealth inequality, climate change, and school shootings,” says Alvey. “When touring full time, the thought of joining a protest march or becoming active in local politics feels impossible when most days you’re figuring out where you’re going to sleep that night after the show.”

The clever touch Golden Shoals leave on their songs is what sticks with listeners; a twist at the end, a smart rehashing of radio-hit lyrics, the upbeat but heavy introspective looks into the mirror. Their musical journey seems to have hit its stride, especially as Alvey and Kilianski dig in, unpack, and reevaluate their own stories, observations, trials, and successes. Their compassionate and thoughtful songwriting takes center stage in this new chapter of the band, while their undeniable musicianship continues to uplift and inspire the project. For this patient, tenacious band, the Shoals are indeed Golden, and ripe for more great music to come.

Golden Shoals Release Self-Titled Full-Length Album rolls eyes at the wacky people and places we The road to Golden Shoals has been a encounter as touring folk musicians—friends long, fruitful journey for Amy Alvey and Mark Kilianski. The duo has toured on foot— and contemporaries in cowboys costumes, white jumpsuits, and punk rock mullets; gig to gig with backpacks and instrument house parties, hotel conferences, and cases—for weeks at a time; called Asheville, bluegrass bands playing ‘80’s songs.”

Boston, California, and New Jersey home; and lived in various moving vehicles on the The album ebbs and flows from the road for the past seven years under different names and incarnations. After all of that, their joyfully ironic opening track all the way to more emotional and understated tunes like new self-titled record, Golden Shoals, “I’ll Fall In Love represents a fresh start for Alvey and Again”; a gentle Kilianski; one that is more inclusive of the lament about inspirations they’ve taken in since beginning wanting to be more their musical journey. Out now, Golden than friends, to no Shoals contains twelve new songs which avail. “Rather than examine love and loss, personal growth, and cutting off our political strife; all through an inward-facing friendship, we lens and void of pretense or preachiness. In worked through their album review, Folk Radio said Golden those difficult Shoals is “consistently musically infectious feelings, became and emotionally weightier than it seems at first hearing” and No Depression called it “an better friends for it, and I moved on to album of this summer, and every summer new loves,” says after.”

Kilianski. “A couple Engineered and mixed by Matt Lohan and produced by Lohan, Alvey, and Kilianski, of years after its inception, the song Golden Shoals features only one additional adopted a twist musician; Landon George’s upright bass and ending, turning the drums. Together, the aforementioned musicians wove a bright and intricate tapestry cliche country song trope of unrequited from only four threads. Golden Shoals opens love on its head.” with “Everybody’s Singing,” a straightforThe album closes ward country swing tune about some not so with “Sittin’ Pretty,” straightforward personalities. Alvey and an incredibly selfKilianski proclaim the song “celebrates and 76 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

Houston’s Night Cobra Debut New EP In Praise of the Shadow

By Bob Kelpie Houston has bred a lot of great bands.

When people think about Houston, they focus on bands such as ZZ Top, King’s X, and mainstream bands like that, but let me tell you, they also turn out some of the heaviest bands you’ve ever heard too.

One of those bands is Night Cobra.

Night Cobra is certainly getting the Heavy Metal Scene talking in Houston right now.

Their spectacular take on Heavy Metal is somewhat reminiscent of the “real” Metal we were experiencing in the 80s. Their special blend of Rock ‘N’ Roll and Heavy Metal will definitely set them apart from the rest. Their music is infused with a sonic tapestry that will blow your head off your soldiers and fill you with some of the heaviest riffs you’ve ever heard. Their 4-song debut EP, In Praise of the Shadow has got to be one of the heaviest pieces of music we’ve heard in a long time.

This is the kind of music that will have you raising your fist in the air and bobbing your head till your brain shakes loose. It’s great to hear this young band return to the roots of Metal, but infuse it with a style so unmistakably all their own.

Songs like “Chains of the Beats,” “Escape From Earth,” “In Praise of the Shadow,” and “Nightmare Eternal” will restore your faith in the power of Metal. It’s plain to see that these guys are in for the long haul. They’re here to make their voices

up with it. It will definitely get you pumped known. If you are really in tune with the Metal up for some more Night Cobra!!! scene, then you probably know who these Night Cobra is Christian Larson guys are. They all have a dignified pedigree in (vocals), Bill Fool and Brandon Barger Metal. The band features past and current (guitars), Trevi Biles (bass) and The Mighty members of bands such as Necrofier, VenomCheech (drums). ous Maximus, Killer Hearts, and The Satanic Overlords of Rock N Roll. I’ve seen the Satanic Overlords of Rock N Roll in a small club in Houston, Texas called Rudyard’s British Pub, and these guys were unbelievable.

With members from bands like that in Night Cobra, there is no doubt in my mind that this could well be the future of Heavy Metal.

But don’t just take my word for it, when Night Cobra premiered their EP In Praise of the Shadow through CVLT Nation, CVLT proclaimed “I threw on the new EP from Houston, TX’s Night Cobra called ‘In Praise of the Shadow’ and fist pumped a hole in my wall! I don’t know about you, but as soon as I hit play on this new metal punk classic I can barely type because my fingers just want to dance on my invisible strings. Normally I’d say this is road warrior music, but these days I’d settle for a loud stereo and the road in my mind.”

I have to admit, I feel pretty much the same about the new EP. It is definitely a force to be reckoned with and one that will leave your brain screaming for more. For myself, I really need to hear more from this band, but for now an EP will have to suffice. If you get a chance, buy this EP and burn your CD player September 2020 • Rock and Blues International 77

Longstanding Industrial Metal Band SOCIETY 1 Debut New Video for “Get Up Again” sure everyone right now is feeling somewhat

By Tank destroyed and that’s understandable. Things The Los Angeles based Industrial aren’t easy. The point of the song is to Metal band, Society 1 has just released their say...take a breath, refocus then get up again new video for the song “Get Up Again,” and just keep going no matter what.” which will be included on their upcoming The video was directed by Zane, from album release, Black Level Six. Just two months ago, the band released a futuristic sci- Lord Zane Productions. Though you may not be familiar with Lord Zane Productions, no fi styled video for the song “Bleed You doubt you’ve seen some of their work. They Away” from the same album. “Bleed You are the force behind videos for Zakk Wylde, Away” and “Get Up Again” can be streamed DMC (Run DMC), Static-X, John 5 and now via Spotify. many others. This is also one of the first “Get Up Again” was written by videos to feature the current lineup for Society 1 vocalist Lord Zane, who tells us Society 1. Although this incarnation of the that “This is the most positive song I’ve ever band had been on the road prior to the written.” He continues on to reveal about the shutdown, this video may be the first time song, “It’s basically about getting up after that a lot of fans will have seen them. They getting knocked down, no matter how many have been recording and touring with this times you may find yourself in less than lineup since 2019. They had hit the road for desirable situations. Whatever happens, just keep getting back up to fight another day. I’m the Static-X Memorial Tour and had been 78 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

performing together until the lockdowns started.

Zane is extremely proud of the new lineup. He truly believes that this is the best group of musicians he could have ever picked for this project. “This line up came together fast and it just clicked,” Zane says. “It feels great to finally get the new line up in a proper video. We didn’t have a lot of downtime to do videos but now, due to the pandemic, we have all the time we need since touring is on hold.

When we decided to create this, we just wanted to create a video that was very abstract and didn’t really take place anywhere in reality. We figured, ‘Let’s visually escape for this one.’ Everyone wants a little escape right now including us.”

Black Level Six is the sixth album release from Society 1. Previously they have released four studio albums, a live album, and a compilation album as a band. Lead singer Zane has released a spoken word poetry album on his own. Album titles include Slacker Jesus (1999), Words as Carriers (2002), Exit Through Fear (2003), The Sound That Ends Creation (2006), The Years of Spiritual Dissent (2006), Live And Raw (2008), as well as a couple of independent releases.

The band has also built up quite a reputation for themselves for doing things a little out of the norm, such as their performance at the Download Festival where vocalist Zane performed the entire set suspended by meat hooks through his back.

You know that definitely freaked out the audience. He has been known to do similar types of performance like this as well.

The 13 tracks for Black Level Six were recorded at Pawnshop studios, and mixed by Greg Hetson, Shane Smith and Blake Harden.

It was mastered by Mike Wells, and coproduced by Patrick Burkholder. The theme of the album is based on recovering from heartbreak and is spearheaded by Zane’s “cutting-edge songwriting and lyrical mastery.” Zane approaches the subject in more of an unconventional way, which fits in with Society 1’s reputation. The band’s music on this album has also been described as “very somber, but very delicate in a way – and sad and creepy all at the same time.”

Members of the band include lead vocalist Zane, Russian drummer Zhenya Pro, bassist Jimmy Minj, and guitarist Johnny Pilz. Black Level Six is scheduled for release later this year, as no date has been officially set.

KORN SHARE COVER OF THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND “THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA” featuring YELAWOLF ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AWAKENING YOUTH - AVAILABLE NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON BANDCAMP

By Tank American Nu Metal band, Korn has launched a campaign to help support the nonprofit organization, Awakening Youth. Korn has always been known as a band that recognizes and supports various social efforts. Now they are out to help Awakening Youth.

This is a cause that Korn guitarist and co-founder Brian “Head” Welch”, really takes to heart. Awakening Youth was featured in the documentary Loud Krazy Love, which was about Brian. Awakening Youth is a nonprofit organization that helps young people that have lost a parent through death, divorce, addiction, and adoption, among other reasons.

For this occasion, Korn has recorded a rendition of the legendary Charlie Daniels Band hit, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” They have published the song on Bandcamp, and it is for sale for only $2 a download, which is a bargain. All of the proceeds from this download release will be donated to Awakening Youth. This continues the mutual job Korn and Awakening Youth are doing when they included the non-profit organization in the documentary, Loud Krazy Love. Awakening Youth is an extraordinary program that provides a mission to uplift young men and women in the recovery process after losing a parent. It provides a one on one support system to help motivate and restore families in crisis.

The song features a fantastic collaboration between Korn fronton, Jonathan Davis

multitude of fans over the years. In fact, they and YelaWolf. The two get together in the have done so well for themselves, that they song and trade of verses as they assume the have sold of 40 million albums and received roles of “Johnny” and “The Devil”, making two GRAMMY® Awards, not to mention for one helluva inspirational song. Korn their Sold-Out shows all over the world. proceeds to really tear it up in this song Korn’s version of “The Devil Went battling it out with some really intense Down To Georgia” was recorded during the dueling guitar leads. The song sounds sessions for the band’s most recent album, sensational. This indeed puts a new take on The Nothing, which was released just last the song, and “The Devil Goes Down To year. It is the thirteenth studio album Georgia” is likely to become a hit again after released by the group. The Nothing hit the this release.

Billboard Charts at number eight when it was Jonathan Davis was really ecstatic about re-recording the song and tells us, “I’ve released. According to Jonathan Davis, the name of the album was inspired by a villain always said it, but country music is some of from The NeverEnding Story. the darkest ever. Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, and, of course, Charlie Daniels all turned pain into some really powerful music that sounded alive. ‘The Devil Went Down To Georgia’ is a classic story, and we wanted to release it now to help others in need.”

We would like to urge the readers of Rock And Blues International to join in with this great cause. Go to Bandcamp, and download this song to help out in a really great cause. Our sincere praise goes out to Korn and Yela Wolf for this great collaboration and we hope it really brings some much-deserved attention to this organization.

Since the GRAMMY® Awardwinning band Korn released their first self-titled debut album, they have created quite a legacy. The band has become one of Rock’s most popular acts, gathering a September 2020 • Rock and Blues International 79

New Metal Music

By Tank Genghis Tron has re-emerged back into the scene as they have announced a return to the studio to record their next album. This four-piece experimental metal band has been hiatus for quite a long time now. The last time we really heard from them was when they released their last fulllength album, Board Up The House back in 2008. After two years of touring behind the album, they kind of disappeared.

Now the band is back and ready for action with a new lineup of members.

Former lead vocalist Mookie Singerman has left the group and the founding members Hamilton Jordan (guitar, bass, drum programming) and Michael Sochynsky (keyboards, drum programming) will be joined by new vocalist Tony Wolski and Nick Yacyshun from the band Sumac/Baptists. Fans of the band have been waiting for news like this for a long time. The new album will be the band’s third full-length album. Previous albums included Dead Mountain Mouth in 2006 and Board Up The House in 2008.

Genghis Tron has already entered GodCity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts with producer Kurt Ballou. The band is really excited with the prospects of recording a new album. As Michael Sochynsky tells us, “We said it was just a hiatus and we meant it! It’s been incredible writing music again and hearing everything come together in the studio. This is the album we’ve always wanted to write. We can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on.”

Kicking things off, Genghis Tron have reissued their first two full-length albums Board Up The House and Dead Mountain Mouth on vinyl for the first time in over 10 years.

Genghis Tron was formed in Poughkeepsie, New York and latter moved to Brooklyn, New York before continuing on to San Francisco, California. Hamilton Jordan and Michael Sochynsky met in college and quickly got together to create a style of music that they thought was lacking at the time.

Their combination of metal, grind, and electronic music definitely set them apart from the rest of the pack. Both of the guys would spend their time doing the entire drum programming before adding layers and layers of guitars and synthesizers to the mix.

“I was 19 when we started writing Dead Mountain Mouth with Kurt Ballou, who songs,” Jordan, now 36, recalls. “Michael also has returned to produce their new was 20. The first thing we tried to do was comeback album. “We developed the idea of cram together all our influences—shredding writing records that worked on multiple guitars and blastbeats, and then out of levels,” Sochynsky explains. “We wanted to nowhere comes this really pleasant sounding make a brutal, heavy record—something you Boards Of Canada or Autechre moment. It could really lose your shit to—but we also seemed like a great idea at the time.” wanted to make a record that was incredibly Their first release was the 2005 EP, layered and detailed at the same time.

Cloak of Love. It was produced by überSomething you could listen to on headphones guitarist Colin Marston of Krallice and and hear stuff you didn’t notice the first Behold … The Arctopus. The sound was couple of times.” definitely all their own as they blended This was followed by non-stop touring together electronica, grind, and a number of with bands such as Arctopus, Converge, other genres together to create something Kylesa, Gaza, The Faint, Baroness, and even completely unheard of. Canada’s Exclaim!

The Dillinger Escape Plan. They were said, “Adored or reviled, Genghis Tron are definitely getting known on the touring now nearing the head of the line in pushing circuit. the extreme music envelope.”

Their follow up album, Board Up The The band made their album debut, 80 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

GENGHIS TRON RETURN FROM HIATUS & ENTER STUDIO; NEW ALBUM COMING 2021 House followed in 2008 and featured Dillinger Escape Plan lead singer, Greg Puciato. In some ways it was groundbreaking. Reviews of praise for the album started coming in. The New York Times named it as a “Critic’s Choice.” The magazine Rock Sound called it their “Album Of The Year.” They were even requested by the booking agents for Coachella to perform there in 2009, which made them one of the hit sets of the desert festival. Then the following year, the band went on an extended hiatus.

Now the band is back and we can only guess what’s in store for them. Could this be a return to their earlier sound? Could this be something completely different? We won’t know till next year. One thing is for sure….

Producer Kurt Ballou is back, so something good is definitely going to happen!

By Greg Fontaine Napalm Records is happy to announce that they have just signed powerhouse metal band Tetrarch to a worldwide recording deal with their label.

This comes just as the band is ready to release their upcoming second album, Unstable.

It comes as no surprise that Napalm Records jumped at the chance of signing this fledgling young Metal band to their label. The band has been making quite a name for themselves in the Metal music scene. Their fierceness as a band has been recognized around the world and their songs have come to be known as power-packed songs filled with an aggressive new sound filled with great hooks performed by members with the technical chops to pull this great new list of songs off. The driving force behind this band has definitely brought them to attention of a lot of great magazines out there like Guitar World, Guitar Player, Premier Guitar, and Metal Hammer, just to name a few. Lead guitarist Diamond Rowe has been lauded by all these magazines as a force to be reckoned with.

She is the first African American lead guitarist from Metal to be spotlighted in all these magazines.

Napalm Records Managing Director Thomas Caser just can’t believe the luck the label had in signing this great new Metal Force. He says, “Welcome TETRARCH – undoubtedly the hottest newcomer and soon to be a house-hold name in the Metal world! They are fresh and exciting, and we are proud and thrilled to work this amazing band!”

To say the band is excited about the signing is rather mild. The members of Tetrarch are just ecstatic about the signing and take it as the next step to becoming one of the real driving forces in Metal. They know that their signing to Napalm will take them places that they only dreamed of.

Lead guitarist Diamond Rowe has been quite vocal about this great opportunity and tells us, “None of us in Tetrarch have ever been shy about the goals that we have for this band. Therefore, it is no secret that since the beginning we have always made our goal to become one of the biggest modern metal bands of this generation. We are extremely excited to have found a partner for this journey with Napalm Records, and it is very apparent that they believe in us to the same degree. They are ready and willing to work with us however necessary to take Tetrarch to the top. We look forward to continuing this ride with them.”

Drummer Ruben Lamar truly believes that this new alignment with Napalm will

Napalm Records Sign Metal Band Tetrarch To A Lucrative Worldwide Deal instantly clicked with the team over there, so definitely take the band to great heights. it feels good to join forces.”

“We’ve always dreamt about being one of the Keep your eyes and ears poised for the biggest metal bands out there. I’m excited next step from Tetrarch, which will be the that Napalm Records have joined us on this upcoming album, Unstable and Napalm journey. They are excited to work with us and Records. Recorded earlier this year, the help take our band to the top and I am stoked band has already released their first single, for what the future holds for us” “I’m Not Right,” which has spread across When it comes to having a new team metal and mainstream radio together. It’s not behind the band, guitarist/vocalist John Fore surprising the song is doing so well. Wellis just walking on air. He believes that this is known metal producer, Dave Otero, who you the best thing to happen to Tetrarch so far. probably know from his work with bands like “We in Tetrarch have always strived to Cattle Decaptiation, Allegeon, and Khemmis, surround ourselves with a team that shares produced “I’m Not Right”. The video for our same vision and goals. We have found “I’m Not Right” has already received more that partner in Napalm Records, and I am so than 1.2 million views since it was released. stoked for what the future holds together as Yes, Metal fans, keep your eyes and we take on the next chapter of this Tetrarch ears peeled for this band. Along with Napalm journey!”

Records they will be making a big name for Bassist Ryan Lerner concludes with themselves. the same anticipation, “I am incredibly excited to partner with Napalm Records. We September 2020 • Rock and Blues International 81

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Rock and Blues International • September 2020

by Tank North Carolina’s Metal Maven’s, Aether Realm, are scheduled to reissue their 2017 album “Tarot” this month on September 11th. This is the album that literally “Put These Guys On The Map.” Now fans will be able to add this to their collection in a new multitude of formats. The album will be reissued through Napalm Records.

Aether Realm’s music is “fast, extremely melodic Death Metal, with a bit of a folk influence. Tarot is the second album by the band. The song off the album titled “The Sun, The Moon, The Stars” gained quite momentum after being included in the game “osu!”

The band’s first release was an in-house demo titled Odin Will Provide, and this was released in 2011 by their first full-length album, One Chosen by The Gods,” with was released in 2013 by Primitive Ways Records. It took the band four years to come up with their second full-length album, Tarot.

Tarot gave the band a lot of new attention by old fans as well as new fans all around the world.

In 2018 Aether Realm was signed to Napalm Records.

Working with Napalm, they released their third album, Redneck Vikings From Hell this year. Now Napalm is reissuing Tarot this month.

The reissue of Tarot is an expanded one and now includes the song, “The Magician”. “The Magician” was first issued as a stand-alone single, and gained quite a lot of attention on the underground Metal scene.

It definitely helped to establish the band with a sound all their own. Various Metal Blogs, such as No Clean Singing, and Angry Metal Guy helped to boost the popularity of this song and the band itself.

The theme of Tarot is somewhat based off the concept of Tarot Cards. It starts off with the song, “The Fool,” which starts off “modestly” before evolving into a fullfledged dynamic fury filled with a bit of “Black Metal fueled with a cool southern style riff”. This is followed by the title-track of the album, “Tarot” which propels the band into a much heavier sound that sets the pace for the rest of the album. The song “King of Cups” also features the skills of their labelmate, Christopher Bowe of the pirate metal band, Alestorm. The album continues to soar to even greater heights before the climax song, the almost 20 minute opus, “The Sun, The Moon, The Star.” This was quite the album for this fledgling young band when it came out. Utilizing the production skills of Kile Odell, the band manages to blend “Southern Americana-Metal Riffs with European-tinged symphonic soundscapes. It was quite the feat for this young band, but it definitely help to create a distinctive sound all their own. The reissue features as the last

photo by Tyler Gresham

Napalm Records Reissue Aether Realm’s 2nd Album, Tarot song on the album, “The Magician.”

Now the band has also released a new video from Tarot for the song “King Of Cups.” This video comes in the form of a new guitar and bass play through of the song.

A statement from Aether Realm reports, “We’re stoked AF to announce that while we’re still not from Finland, we finally have booking representation there. Aether Realm will be joining the Decibel Touring roster for Europe and Asia (including Russia).

Volkmar Udri will handle all booking in these regions. Time to show y’all how we do it down in North Carolina.”

Decibel Touring is extremely happy to add them to their roster. Decibel Touring CEO and founder Mike Heinemann added, “I am more than happy to have those virtuosos and one of the most promising newcomer bands on the agency’s roster. Since one of Decibel’s main aims is to work futureoriented and to build up talented artists, this collaboration will for sure be successful and we are looking forward to working together.”

Aether Realm is: Vincent “Jake” Jones - bass vocals, Heinrich Arnold - guitar, vocals, Tyler Gresham - drums, and Donny Burbage - guitar.

Tarot reissue tracklisting: 1. The Fool 2. Tarot 3. The Tower 4. King of Cups (feat. Chris Bowes) 5. Death 6. The Chariot 7. The Devil 8. The Emperor

9. Strength 10. Temperance 11. The Sun, the Moon, the Star 12. The Magician (Bonus Track) The reissue of Tarot will be available in the following formats: -CD Digipak -2LP Gatefold Black -2LP Gatefold Creamy White -2LP Gatefold Marble Red/Black *SOLD OUT* -CD + Shirt Bundle -2LP Black +Shirt Bundle (Napalm North America Mailorder Only) -2LP Creamy White + Shirt Bundle (Napalm North America Mailorder Only) -2LP Red Black Marble + Shirt Bundle *SOLD OUT*

New reissue cover art by Adrian Baxter

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poster and “Live At The Ritz 1987” concert DVD, Voice of America is paired with its own foldout poster and “Live at Rockpalast 1984” DVD and Men Without Women includes a 16panel fold out poster and “Live at Rockpalast 1982” DVD. Taken together, the three concert DVDs in the box set, or also available on the individual CD/DVD album versions, provide a compelling document of Van Zandt and the band’s evolution with the 1982 Rockpalast concert marking only the second-ever Disciples of Soul show. “We were much bigger in Europe due to the political nature of our music and I also credit performing on the Rockpalast TV show in ‘82 and again in ‘84 that went live to 17 countries with helping to get our music to a massive audience,” says Van Zandt.” It was a blast revisiting these shows and I’m thrilled they are now being released for all to enjoy.”

LITTLE STEVEN’S EARLY SOLO CAREER CELEBRATED WITH EXPANDED CD/DVD EDITION OF ACCLAIMED ROCKNROLL REBEL – THE EARLY WORK BOX SET OUT NOW VIA WICKED COOL/UMe 13-DISC ANTHOLOGY COLLECTS SIX CLASSIC LONG-OUT-OF-PRINT ALBUMS ALONGSIDE RARE LIVE CONCERT VIDEOS AND FOUR ADDITIONAL CDS FEATURING 51 BONUS TRACKS OF RARE AND UNRELEASED RECORDINGS OF STUDIO OUTTAKES, B-SIDES, REHEARSALS, LIVE PERFORMANCES AND MORE Little Steven’s acclaimed careerspanning box set, RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work is out now via Wicked Cool/ UMe. The 13-disc CD/DVD set collects all of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s solo records between 1982 and 1999, including newly remastered editions of six classic albums: Men Without Women (1982), Voice Of America (1983), Freedom – No Compromise (1987), Revolution (1989) and Born Again Savage (1999), as well as the landmark protest record, Sun City (1985), by Artists United Against Apartheid, the supergroup of musicians brought together by Van Zandt, record producer Arthur Baker and journalist Danny Schechter, to fight racial injustice in South Africa. Men Without Women, Voice Of America, and Freedom – No Compromise each include an exclusive DVD featuring a classic full-length live concert video from the same era as the album.

Mastering, also boasts four CDs of rarities culled from Van Zandt’s personal vault, allowing an in-depth look at his early solo career with 51 tracks spanning previously unreleased demos, B-sides, rehearsals, outtakes, radio spots, non-album singles, classic concert performances, and a number of studio gems, previously unavailable until the box set’s original vinyl release in December 2019. One of the many highlights is the rollicking title track that gives the collection its name. Van Zandt offers personal background and insight about the bonus tracks in the accompanying liner notes.

The CD/DVD box set of RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work is available to purchase exclusively via the uDiscover music store: https://littlesteven.lnk.to/Catalog

Long out-of-print on CD, all six albums are also now available globally as The comprehensive collection, individual CD or CD/DVD editions. Freedom mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway – No Compromise features an 8-panel foldout 84 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

To coincide with the release of RockNRoll Rebel, Van Zandt has been making select performances from the live DVDs available on his official YouTube channel for the first time. The videos can be watched here: https://littlesteven.lnk.to/ Catalog/YouTube Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul made their spectacular debut with 1982’s Men Without Women, highlighted by a pair of rock radio favorites in the opening “Lyin’ In A Bed Of Fire” and “Forever,” the latter of which spent nine weeks on Billboard’s “Hot 100” while also receiving heavy rotation at the newly launched MTV. Van Zandt and the Disciples of Soul celebrated Men Without Women with sold out live dates including a legendary performance at NYC’s famed Peppermint Lounge that saw electrifying renditions of the album’s “Save Me” and “This Time It’s For Real” (written by Van Zandt and made famous by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes), both included on RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work.

Nearly four decades later, Van Zandt’s “Out Of The Darkness,” a standout from his album Voice Of America with its hopeful lyrics of “There’s a hunger can’t be satisfied/ And the streets are filled with rage/It’s time to dig deep inside ourselves/And face the life we’ve made” sound as relevant as ever, and sadly could have been written about our current times. “As I said on tour back then and continue to say, we have entered a dark time in the history of our civilization, and not just in the USA, the problem is worldwide.

Increased nationalism, isolationism, and religious extremism are nearly everywhere.

Those of us who believe in the globalization of peace and prosperity must stick together and be prepared to non-violently fight for what we believe in for as long as it takes.”

A small quantity of the vinyl edition of RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work, released in December 2019, are still available exclusively via uDiscover. Limited to just 1,000 copies, the bespoke slipcase box set collects the six remastered albums across seven colored vinyl LPs alongside the same four CDs of rarities and bonus tracks. In

addition, all six original albums are available individually via uDiscover on both 180-gram black vinyl and exclusive limited edition 180gram color swirl vinyl mirroring the psychedelic platters included in the box set.

Notably, Born Again Savage is available individually on 2LP vinyl for the first time ever, while the recent vinyl reissue of Sun City, by Artists United Against Apartheid – the extraordinary supergroup brought together by Van Zandt, producer Arthur Baker and journalist Danny Schechter to fight racial injustice in South Africa – marks the landmark protest album’s first time on vinyl since its initial release 35 years ago.

The long-out-of-print LP arrived earlier this year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s historic release from a South African prison after 27 years in captivity. Van Zandt is donating all artist and publishing royalties from Sun City to the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation for the TeachRock.org music history curriculum.

All six Little Steven albums are also available digitally as individual Deluxe Editions, each expanded with the same rare and unreleased material from the era that make up the four discs of rarities in the physical collection. The Early Work, a special digital-only collection compiling 10 previously unreleased tracks of early rehearsals and live performances, is also now available.

Also now available digitally is the rare 1985 three-song 12” EP, Let Me See Your I.D., featuring the Extended Mix, Street Mix and Beat and Scratch Mix of the landmark “Sun City” single. All albums can be streamed/ downloaded below.

A staunch advocate for public education, teachers and music education, Van Zandt is founder of the non-profit Rock and Roll Forever Foundation and TeachRock, the national initiative to bring popular music history curriculum into schools across the country by using the history and culture of music to engage students in all disciplines.

TeachRock recently launched their Roadshow series of living-room style talks with special musical and celebrity guests and education heroes discussing music, education, and national issues. According to Van Zandt, “The basic idea is this virtual Roadshow will go from town to town, exploring the region’s music history, talking to whoever’s around, and looking at how the arts shaped each place.”

Co-hosted by Van Zandt and actor Drew Carey, the pilot Roadshow, “In Cleveland,” featured producer, songwriter, and longtime Pat Benatar collaborator Neil Giraldo; Lance Freed, son of founding Rock and Roll radio personality Alan Freed; the groundbreaking FM DJ Kid Leo, musicians Michael Stanley and Conya Doss; Cleveland International Records’ Steve Popovich, Jr, as well as Hough Reads founder Rhonda Crowder and a reunion of Little Steven and young activists from the Columbus, Ohio Mosaic program. The inaugural Roadshow can be viewed here: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=q05FDOam0oQ

The “In Detroit” episode aired on Thursday, August 6, 8pm ET with Carey once again co-hosting and featured guest Martha Reeves. More guests will be announced soon.

For more information and to register for the Little Steven TeachRock Roadshow visit TeachRock.org/Roadshow Proceeds from and donations to the Roadshow series will benefit TeachRock, which provides teachers with no-cost interdisciplinary, arts-driven materials and lesson plans designed to keep students engaged and in school. TeachRock lesson plans are used by more than 30,000 registered teachers in all 50 states and offer distance learning materials too.

MEN WITHOUT WOMEN VOICE OF AMERICA FREEDOM NO COMPROMISE REVOLUTION BORN AGAIN SAVAGE SUN CITY THE EARLY WORK LET ME SEE YOUR I.D. LITTLE STEVEN ROCKNROLL REBEL – THE EARLY WORK (UMe/Wicked Cool)

TRACKLISTING

ROCKPALAST: LIVE AT GRUGAHALLE, GERMANY – 1982 (DVD) Intro (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) Lyin’ In A Bed Of Fire (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) Save Me (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) Forever (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) Inside Of Me (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) Take It Inside (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) Until The Good Is Gone (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) Princess Of Little Italy (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) Caravan (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) Under The Gun (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) I Played The Fool (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) I Don’t Want To Go Home (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) Angel Eyes (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) This Time It’s For Real (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) Can I Get A Witness (Live At Grugahalle, Germany – 1982) Closing Credits

Little Steven And The Disciples Of Soul: VOICE OF AMERICA (1983) Voice Of America Justice Checkpoint Charlie Solidarity Out Of The Darkness Los Desaparecidos (The Disappeared Ones) Fear I Am A Patriot (And The River Opens For The Righteous) Among The Believers Undefeated (Everybody Goes Home) continued on next page September 2020 • Rock and Blues International 85

Little Steven And The Disciples Of Soul: MEN WITHOUT WOMEN (1982) Lyin’ In A Bed Of Fire Inside Of Me Until The Good Is Gone Men Without Women Under The Gun Save Me Princess Of Little Italy Angel Eyes Forever I’ve Been Waiting

ROCKPALAST: LIVE AT LORELEY, GERMANY – 1984 (DVD) Peter Ruchel Intro (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Voice Of America (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Justice (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Save Me (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Fear (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Lyin’ In A Bed Of Fire (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) I Am A Patriot (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Solidarity (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Under The Gun (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Checkpoint Charlie (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Los Desaparecidos (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Out Of The Darkness (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Undefeated (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Men Without Women (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Forever (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Princess Of Little Italy (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Angel Eyes (Live At Loreley, Germany – 1984) Closing Credits Peter Ruchel Interview [Concert Film]

New York – 1987) Undefeated (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) Native American Feat. Bruce Springsteen (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) Sun City Feat. Bruce Springsteen (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) LITTLE STEVEN: REVOLUTION (1989) Revolution Where Do We Go From Here Revolution Education Balance Love and Forgiveness Newspeak Sexy Leonard Peltier Liberation Theology Discipline LITTLE STEVEN VAN ZANDT: BORN AGAIN SAVAGE (1999) Born Again Savage Camouflage of Righteousness Guns, Drugs, And Gasoline Face of God Saint Francis Salvation Organize Flesheater Lust for Enlightenment Tongues of Angels

I’ve Been Waiting (Early Version / 1982) Caravan (Britt Row Version / 1982) Save Me (Live At Peppermint Lounge, New York, NY, July 18, 1982) Time (Studio Track / 1982) CD2: VOICE OF AMERICA (BONUS TRACKS) This Time It’s For Real (Live At Marquee Club, London, UK, October 18, 1982) It’s Possible (Studio Track/Mono) Vote! (That Mutha Out) (12” Single Version) Vote! Pt. II (1984 Rap Version) Vote! Pt. III (After World War III) (Rap Version / 12” Single Version) Vote! Pt. IV (Instrumental / 12” Single Version) Vote! Pt. V (1984 Rap Version) Caravan (Live At Marquee Club, London, UK, October 18, 1982) I Don’t Want To Go Home (Live At Marquee Club, London, UK, October 18, 1982) US Festival Radio Spot 1983 Alive For The First Time (Writing Session, The Birth Of A Song / 1983) Voice Of America Radio Spot 1984 Out Of The Darkness (12” Single Version) Inside Of Me (French TV/1983)

LITTLE STEVEN

LITTLE STEVEN: FREEDOM – NO COMPROMISE (1987) Freedom Trail Of Broken Treaties Pretoria Bitter Fruit No More Party’s Can’t You Feel The Fire Native American Sanctuary

LIVE AT THE RITZ, NEW YORK – 1987 (DVD) Freedom (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) Sanctuary (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) Under The Gun (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) Los Desaparecidos (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) I Am A Patriot (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) Pretoria (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) Fear (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) Trail Of Broken Treaties (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) Bitter Fruit (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) Checkpoint Charlie (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) Vote! (Live At The Ritz, New York – 1987) No More Party’s (Live At The Ritz,

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ARTISTS UNITED AGAINST APARTHEID: SUN CITY (1985) Sun City No More Apartheid Revolutionary Situation Sun City (Version II) (Edit) Let Me See Your I.D. The Struggle Continues Silver And Gold BONUS TRACKS (4CD):

CD1: MEN WITHOUT WOMEN (AND BEFORE) (BONUS TRACKS) RockNRoll Rebel Who Told You? (Live At Gulliver’s Pub, Red Bank, NJ, June 15, 1973) That’s How It Feels (Live At Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ, May 30, 1976) When You Dance (Rehearsal, 1976 / Mono) Little Darlin’ (Stone Pony Rehearsal, 1977 / Mono) Ain’t No Lady (Stone Pony Rehearsal, 1977 / Mono) Love On The Wrong Side Of Town (Stone Pony Rehearsal, 1977 / Mono) Little Girl So Fine (Rehearsal, 1976 / Mono) Some Things Just Don’t Change (Stone Pony Rehearsal, 1977 / Mono) She Got Me Where She Wants Me (Stone Pony Rehearsal, 1977 / Mono) Men Without Women (1982 Radio Spot) Angel Eyes (Britt Row Version / 1982) Forever (Britt Row Version / 1982) Until The Good Is Gone (Britt Row Version / 1982)

Rock and Blues International • September 2020

CD3: SUN CITY (BONUS TRACKS) Let Me See Your I.D. (Extended Mix / 12” Single Version) Let Me See Your I.D. (Extended Street Mix / 12” Single Version) Let Me See Your I.D. (Beat And Scratch Mix / 12” Single Version) Not So Far Away (Dub Mix / UK 12” Single Version) Sun City (Last Remix / UK 12” Single Version) Soweto Nights The Struggle Continues (Extra Miles Davis Version)

CD4: FREEDOM – NO COMPROMISE, REVOLUTION (AND LATER) (BONUS TRACKS) Bitter Fruit (Cana No Mas Dub Mix / UK 12” Single Version) Bitter Fruit (No Pasaran Mix / UK 12” Single Version) Bitter Fruit (Platano Quemado Mix With Steel Drums / UK 12” Single Version) Fruta Amarga (12” Single Version) No More Party’s (For Those About To Party...) Rock Mix / 12” Single Version) No More Party’s (Funky Party Edit / R&B Mix / UK 7” Single Version) Vote Jesse In (Jesse Jackson Campaign Song) Revolution (Naked City Mix / UK 12” Single) Revolution (Naked City Mix Pt. 2 / Maceo’s Thang / UK 12” Single) I Wish It Would Rain (Vin Scelsa Hungerthon, 1995) Princess Of Little Italy (Vin Scelsa Hungerthon / 1989) It’s Been A Long Time (Solo Acoustic)

Guns N’ Roses ‘Greatest Hits’ Makes Its Vinyl Debut On September 25th Includes The Band’s Top Five Hit “SHADOW OF YOUR LOVE

By Greg Fontaine

We’ve got great news this month for Guns N’ Roses fans out there… especially the vinyl enthusiasts. Geffen / UMe will be reissuing their Top 10 hit album, Greatest Hits this month on vinyl! The album will be hitting the streets on September 25th. This is the first time that Greatest Hits has ever appeared on vinyl. When it was first released in 2004, it came out digitally and on CD. Greatest Hits made it to No. 3 on the Billboard 200 Chart and No. 1 on the U.K. Albums Chart. By 2007 it had reached No. 1 on the Catalog Albums chart. Greatest Hits has been certified 5 times Platinum by the RIAA, and in the United Kingdom it reached 7 times Platinum. No doubt that this vinyl edition will be raising that score significantly. The album reentered the Billboard 200 chart again in 2012, selling around 85,000 copies due to a promotion by Amazon and Google Play.

Greatest Hits is also one of the longest charting albums in Billboard history. It is only one of seven albums to ever reach this status. Till now, the album has spent 441 weeks on their chart.

When it did come out in 2004, there was a bit of controversy about the album. Axl Rose had wanted the album delayed a bit because the band was working on their new album Chinese Democracy. Some fans believed that the album wasn’t long enough and left off some of the hits. Face it folks, this was a one-off album of greatest hits. To satisfy the pickiest of fans you would have had to include just about every song

the band ever did and a 10 CD greatest hits album was out of the question. At any rate, this album featured a fair selection of their songs and really did go on to satisfy the fans, or how else would they have sold so many copies.

This album contains all eight of Guns N’ Roses Top 40 Billboard Hot 100 Tracks, with six of them reaching the RIAA certified Gold status. It really did contain a lot of the band’s hit songs, such as “Welcome To The Jungle,” “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” “Paradise City,” “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” “Live And Let Die,” and “Sympathy For The Devil” from the Interview With The Vampire. Yeah, there is a lot of great material here. All the songs mentioned here along with eight more of their greatest definitely make this album release a good listen. There are songs her from Appetite For Destruction, G N’ R Lies, Use Your Illusion 1, Use Your Illusion 2, and The Spaghetti Incident.

The new reissue of Greatest Hits be pressed as a 2 LP set on 180 gram audiophile black vinyl. There will also be two additional deluxe pressings of the album. One will be a 2 disc, silver colored vinyl with red and white splatter. The second deluxe set will be done as a 2 disc, picture disc. The picture disc set will be released exclusively through the band’s website. Artwork on the cover appears to be a direct copy of the original artwork from the CD. Obviously if you’re a Guns N’ Roses fan, this is going to have to be added to your collection. I know your turntables are screaming out for this cool new reissue.

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“The Twist” At 60 Celebrated With Physical Releases Of Original Twist With Chubby Checker Album + New’ Dancin’ Party: The Chubby Checker Colection (1960 - 1966) + “The Twist” 7” EP

By Greg Fontaine This month, we are celebrating “The Twist” along with ABKCO Records which is reissuing “The Twist” by Chubby Checker.

The Twist was not just a song and a dance, it is a phenomena. From 1959 through the early sixties, this became the hit dance of the time. It was so popular that it went on to inspire dances such as The Jerk, The Pony, The Watusi, The Mashed Potato, The Monkey, and many more, but none remained as popular as The Twist. Performer Hank Ballard took advantage of this and wrote a song about the dance, which he also called “The Twist.” Here’s where the plot thickens…. Television producer and dance host, Dick Clark heard the song and wanted to feature it on his show, American Bandstand.

However Dick thought that Ballard’s version, albeit the original, was too raunchy for Dick Clark’s audience, so he approached the Philadelphia label, Cameo/Parkway to record a new version of the song. His suggestion and choice to sing the new version was the legendary Chubby Checker. Chubby Checker was a young, wholesome singer, and fit the demographics of Clark’s audience. Chubby had already had a hit song with another cover called “The Class” and just fit the bill perfectly. And a star was born… Chubby Checker released the song and on September 24th it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Chubby has become synonymous with “The Twist.” In fact, most people don’t even remember who Hank Ballard was, but definitely know ‘Mr. Twist’ himself, Chubby Checker. To celebrate this occasion, ABKCO the b-side.

Records is celebrating the 60th Anniversary of In 2008 when Billboard celebrated the ‘The Twist’, Chubby Checker, and the 50th anniversary of their Hot 100 single Cameo/Parkway labels with commemorative chart, “The Twist” was reported as the releases scheduled this month on September number one song of that half-century span.

25th. This will include a 7" vinyl 45 of “The Again when they celebrated their 60th Twist”, along with CD and Vinyl LP versions anniversary, “The Twist” held onto the top of the new, definitive “Dancin’ Party: The position again. Other accolades have been Chubby Checker Collection (1960 - 1966).” given to “The Twist” and Chubby Checker as “Dancin’ Party” contains twenty-one songs, well. It is in the National Recording Registry of which seventeen became Top 40 hits. at the Library of Congress, and it has been Twelve of those hit the Top 20 and seven inducted into the Grammy® Hall of Fame. It went to the Top 10 with two of them reaching was also recognized by the Recording the #1 status. It also includes “The Twist”, which by the way made it to Number 1 twice, Academy as the Best Rock & Roll Recording at the 1961 Grammy® Awards. once in 1960 and then again in 1962. It was Chubby Checker’s follow up to “The the first #1 hit to hit the charts at #1 twice, Twist” was a hit with “Let’s Twist Again.” something that hasn’t ever happened again.

Without a doubt, “The Twist” made an impact Another thing to note about that was that the on the music history. It is also included on first time it was released, the b-side was “Dancin’ Party: The Chubby Checker “Toot” and in 1961 when it was reissued Collection (1860 - 1966). again, the b-side was “Twistin’ USA”. The The other hits being released again reissued 45 coming out this month will during this celebration include You Can’t Sit feature both “Toot” and “Twistin’ USA” on 88 Rock and Blues International • September 2020

Down: Cameo Parkway Dance Crazes 1958 - 1964 with features performance by Chubby Checker, The Orlons, Dovells, Dee Dee Sharp, Bobby Rydell, The Applejacks and others. Highlights of this release are the songs, The Orlons’ “Wah-Watusi,” Dee Dee Sharp’s “Mashed Potato Time,” “The Bristol Stomp” and “You Can’t Sit Down” by the Dovells, “Slow Twistin’” by Chubby Checker and Dee Dee Sharp as well as Bobby Rydell’s “Cha Cha Cha” plus sixteen more.

To round out this celebration, another release is You Got The Power: Cameo Parkway Northern Soul 1964 - 1967. These would go on to become part of Britain’s Northern Soul “lifestyle phenomena”. These included singles by Frankie Beverly & The Butlers, Bunny Sigler, The Orlons, Evie Sands, Candy and the Kisses, Christine Cooper and Eddie Holman. This 20-track collection is extraordinary.

Well, we urge you to take part in this great celebration of “The Twist” and the

phenomena that it created. Here’s a chance to get back to your dance roots this September 25th.

ABKCO’s September 25 Cameo Parkway releases

21. Hey You! Little Boo-Ga-Loo **DENOTE CHARTS IN TOP TEN

Twist with Chubby Checker (Remastered) – vinyl and digital 1.

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Twistin’ U.S.A. The “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” Shimmy The “C.C. Rider” Stroll The Strand The Chicken The Hucklebuck The Twist The Madison “Love Is Strange” Calypso The “Mexican Hat” Twist The Slop The Pony

The Twist (Remastered) 7’’ EP and digital 1. The Twist 2. Toot 3. Twistin’ U.S.A. Dancin’ Party - The Chubby Checker Collection: 1960 - 1966 – CD 1.

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The Twist ** The Hucklebuck Pony Time ** Dance The Mess Around Let’s Twist Again ** The Fly ** Dancin’ Party Slow Twistin’ ** Popeye The Hitchhiker ** Limbo Rock ** Let’s Limbo Some More Twist It Up (single version) Birdland (single version) What Do Ya Say! Loddy Lo Hooka Tooka Hey, Bobba Needle Lazy Elsie Molly (At The) Discotheque You Just Don’t Know (What You Do To Me)

You Can’t Sit Down: Cameo Parkway Dance Crazes 1958-1964 – CD 1. The Twist - Chubby Checker 2. The Wah-Watusi - The Orlons 3. Bristol Stomp - The Dovells 4. Mashed Potato Time - Dee Dee Sharp 5. You Can’t Sit Down - The Dovells 6. The Third House (In From The Right) - Bobby Rydell 7. Do The Bird - Dee Dee Sharp 8. Slow Twistin’ - Chubby Checker w/Dee Dee Sharp 9. Shimmy Shimmy - The Orlons 10. The 81 - Candy And The Kisses 11. (Everybody Do) The Swim, Pt 1 - The Marlins 12. The Popeye Waddle - Don Covay 13. Do The New Continental - The Dovells 14. Baby, Do The Froog - Dardenelles 15. Rocka-Conga - The Applejacks 16. The Hucklebuck- Chubby Checker 17. The Mash - Tom Young & The Hippies 18. Mexican Hat Rock - The Applejacks 19. The Cha-Cha-Cha - Bobby Rydell 20. When You Dance - The Turbans 21. Everybody South Street - The Taffys 22. Twistin’ U.S.A. - Chubby Checker

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You Got The Power - The Four Exceptions Because Of My Heart - Frankie Beverly & The Butlers (Whoa, Whoa) I Love Him So - Nikki Blu Girl Don’t Make Me Wait - Bunny Sigler It’s Rough Out There - Jerry Jackson Envy (In My Eyes) - The Orlons Picture Me Gone - Evie Sands Country Girl - Vickie Baines Night Owl - Bobby Paris Village Of Tears - Ben Zine You Just Don’t Know (What You Do To Me) - Chubby Checker The 81 - Candy And The Kisses Shake And Shingaling (Part 1) - Gene Waiters S.O.S. (Heart In Distress) - Christine Cooper Eddie’s My Name - Eddie Holman Pass Me By - Hattie Winston The Grass (Will Sing For You) - Lonnie Youngblood (Your Love Was Just A) False Alarm - Tari Stevens Who Do You Think You Are - The Soul City You Didn’t Say A Word - Yvonne Baker

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