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Alanis Morissette — Smiling. In case you missed it because it didn’t…
By: The Alternative Mixtapes
Tags: Music, Alanis Morissette, Rock, Alternative, Spotify

In case you missed it because it didn’t receive the same level of attention as , Alanis released last week her first album in 8 years: Such Pretty Forks In the Road, and I have to say that it’s possibly her best work since at least Under Rug Swept (2002). Rolling Stone criticised the album because it’s not as edgy and rebellious as Jagged Little Pill, but after 25 years, you cannot expect her to be exactly the same person. People change. Alanis got three kids now as well, and that changes your priorities too. This does not mean that she has lost her knack for great lyrics, she hasn’t. It’s just that she aims it differently know.

The album has several good tracks, including Reasons I Drink and Ablaze. Its first and third singles so far, respectively. My favourite, however, is Smiling, which is one of two new songs written for the Broadway adaptation of Jagged Little Pill (I’m not a fan of musicals but that’s one I’d be interested in watching), and also released as the second single off this new album. It showcases Alanis’ great vocals and got a similar vibe to Uninvited. You can find it below in the Alternative mixtape.

Featured on the following mixtapes:
Get It Together
By: Carlos Calderón
Tags: Emotions, Music, Icelandic, Get It Together, Rock

By Dikta

Sena enf

Reykjavik, Iceland

2009

Rock

This album is straightforward, it is about getting your shit together. Every song is a part of an inner journey of cleaning out the house, there are happy parts, sad parts, there is melancholy, grief, love, and there is part of saying goodbye to some memories or to an outdated self-conception of the self. To let go, to release, not others, myself.

I have gotten my shit together several times, it seems like the process erasing the cookies of my browser, you do have to do it occasionally, it is not something that you do only once. Shit keeps getting stuck inside all the time, there is no way around it, I see it now like a normal process that I must do every couple of months or every year if I am at my best. The problem here is to stop and take the time to do it; It took me this Saturday afternoon and a bottle of wine to do it and it can get ugly.

I listened to this album like 12 times during my whole weekend, most of it I spend it around other people but feeling alone. Loneliness is not about being physically alone but to feel like there is no one to connect to, to feel an outcast, to not belong where you are.

I had known this album for several years, I guess it has a life on its own because it returns to me whenever I need to, like a self-defense mechanism against myself.

Open yourself to me.
Single Spotlight- Chris Shiflett’s “This Ol’ World”
By: Nathan Kanuch
Tags: Pop Culture, Music, Country Music, County, Rock

What is it with artists from outside the country genre making better and more authentic country music than artists within the genre itself? On Chris Shiflett’s 2017 album West Coast Town, he proved he could write a classic Bakersfield country song. And not just one. But a whole album’s worth. Shiflett returns with “This Ol’ World,” the first follow-up to the excellent West Coast Town.

Shiflett has said his next album will be a little more guitar-driven, but if “This Ol’ World” is any indication, the album will still be firmly planted in some breezy, Bakersfield-esque country music.

The song opens with some subtle steel guitar covered by a nice mix of acoustic and electric guitar before the drums kick in. In fact, the strength of the production is felt right from the start. The pacing really allows the song’s urgency to be felt without drowning the listener, and the several solos that come later in the song (both steel and lead guitar) are boot-stompers and really fit the identity Chris Shiflett has cultivated with his solo career. And indeed, Shiflett’s sound has become something worthy of a modern-day Buck Owens or Waylon Jennings. It’s the way the steel guitar and lead guitar play off each other. The two instruments aren’t competing; rather they’re complementing each other- something that characterizes the music of the aforementioned legends.

While the production is strong, the lyrics may even be stronger. I have spoken before about the artist Chris Shiflett has become. He doesn’t come from a country background. So while he can write country-themed lyrics, his strengths reside in crafting rock-oriented lyrics set to country production. “This Ol’ World” isn’t a complicated song lyrically. But what sets it apart is Shiflett’s ability to say so much without resorting to grandiosity.

Shiflett’s point in “This Ol’ World” is straight-forward. “Has this ol’ world lost its god-damn mind?” Shiflett asks. “I hope you’re doing alright,” he continues. It’s a protest song, in a way. But in a larger sense it’s a commentary about the world at large. Rather than resort to typical political clichés, Shiflett combines a rocker’s sense of the world with a country artist’s want to hold to tight to his loved one.

Rock on, Chris!
Accidental President Rock It Out With Self-Titled Debut
Tags: Rock

New Album Out July 1, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sydney, Australia — June 26, 2020 — Accidental President rocks harder than most of their peers by adding a gothic, theatrical approach that puts them levels above the rest. Fronted by Bethany Neville, this Sydney-based trio is proud to announce the release of their self-titled debut, out on all major music and streaming platforms July 1, 2020.

With the bravado of Kittie and the heart of bands like Switchblade Symphony, Accidental President have put their all into their self-titled debut, set for release on July 1, 2020. Composed of nine killer tracks, “Accidental President” promises to be a high octane meets uptempo riffs that give way to hooks that do not quit. They have proven to be a force with the lead single, “Rotten Child,” a punk-inspired rant filled with angst. While they rely on guitar-driven rock, Accidental President delivers a wide variety throughout from the trip-hop infused “Letting Go” to anthemic sentiments about what a waste war is in “Strength Inside.”

“Singer Bethany Neville has a fantastic voice, and guitarist Dave Ben Lee has a repertoire of huge riffs, and together they have some remarkable harmonies. These guys are well worth catching again, I look forward to watching them develop.” — Grant Ottley, March 2020 The rockpit.net

While this may be Accidental President’s debut, they’ve been making waves throughout their native Australia with their pulsating live shows that have left countless audiences craving more. Influenced by the likes of Evanescence and Alter Bridge, this rocking trio have made their mark in venues near and far, and plan on continuing that as soon as live music is deemed safe once more in 2020.

“Stadium-rending riffs, crushingly dramatic builds and a hard echoing and choral vocal. Bold and struck by a furious passion for that original rock ’n’ roll carnage, these performers are impossible to ignore.” — Happy Mag

Those interested in adding “Rotten Child” to their rock playlists, reviewing ‘Accidental President,’ or interviewing the band for a site, podcast, or radio show can reach out via the information provided below.

For more information on Accidental President, please visit: http://accidentalpresident.com.au

###

About:

Accidental President

accidentalpres@gmail.com

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AccidentalPresident/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accidentalpresident/

Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/rpk/accidentalpresident

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/04KcqpW3I6QL94vRmXdtT8

Source: ArtistPR Music Press Release

#Rock, #MusicNews, #News, #PressRelease
Artist Interview: Moss Agate
Tags: Blues, Rock, Progressive Rock

Tell us about yourself and your music

I began teaching myself guitar and piano at age ten. By 16 I was playing in a band and writing songs. After touring with Kilgore Trout in the 70s warming the stage for Aerosmith and other I bought an old hearse and traveled the country for four years, settling down in Arizona, living in the sticks with no electricity or running water for 18 years..just writing songs and playing acoustic. Then, I came back to Michigan, got the old band back together and started rocking again. Several members and four albums later…here we are!

Talk to us more about your latest release

Our latest release is a classic style rocker. We started out as blues/bluesrock, but each album had it’s own “flavor”, and I felt it was time to rock the house! I had local artist Dennis Preston do the cover art for this album…felt it was time. He’s been doing album covers for many years, is well known, and he wanted to do it….we are very grateful…the cover is awesome, and is what got us noticed for a review in issue 80 of Rocktopia’s Fireworks Magazine! Thanks, Dennis!

What inspired you to write this release?

I’d been writing a lot of classic rock style songs over the years, the band was right, the time was right, time to release one. Each time we’d get new members our sound and style would change slightly, even though we could play the old albums as they were played. This band ROCKS, so I wanted the new album to reflect that…it does!

Any plans to release a video?

We have some live video of us..from a concert we did with Savoy Brown, from a Grandstand show we did, and from some other gigs.

Any plans to hit the road?

not at present…currently back in the studio working on the next album, as well as 2 solo albums. But, who knows…gigs come and we go!!

As an indie artist, how do you brand yourself and your music to stand out from the rest of the artists out there?

Hopefully, sounding more retro than most bands today, we’re turning the heads of classic rock lovers around the world.

Who have you been listening to lately?

I listen to no one…unless by accident, so that I WON’T be influenced by anyone else, probably why my sound is retro. Part of why I hid away for 18 years..just me and a guitar.

Tell us about your passions

Besides music? Historical restoration..I make old casings and trim no longer in production, build fireplace mantles and Victorian style porches, etc. I collect fossils..have all my life, study plants and animals, bird watching, fishing, classic cars, and archeology. (I also collect old amps..but that’s music related)

What else is happening next in your world?

Is there time for anything else?

Thanks for an awesome interview, Robert!

Connect with Moss Agate

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Moss-Agate/8071228834

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MossAgate1

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-44709074

Reverbnation: https://www.reverbnation.com/mossagate

Source: ArtistPR Indie Artist Interviews
“Ramble On”
By: Andrew Reilly
Tags: Music, Rock And Roll, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin Ii, Rock

This, on the other hand, is the best Led Zeppelin song, even if not necessarily the fullest example of a Led Zeppelin song. The hallmarks are there, of course — the multi-stylistic arrangement, the oddball flourishes, dorky yet simultaneously pretentious Lord Of The Rings references, and so on — but in “Ramble On” the band actually bottled the whole experience together in a way they had yet to prior and would arguably never do in the years to come. There were bigger amplifications of elements laid down here, but it’s hard to argue seriously that such harmonious balance was really even broached again.

Note that echo on Plant’s wail, now starting to complement the authority with which the young singer was still learning to wield. Note Bonham finding a perfect percussion track (allegedly) atop a plastic waste basket. Note the country jangle in Page’s electric lines. Note that perhaps no greater contribution to rock music exists than Jones’ walking bass line. Note the magnificent simplicity of everything involved and the way it all creates such a flawless journey from wistful acoustic opening to four-on-the-floor rock-n-roll closer.

If you were a 12-year-old boy just getting into this band, this is exactly what you needed to hear to know this band was for you. If you are a 40-year-old man who never stopped liking them, this is all the proof you ever needed that your fandom was the right decision. Led Zeppelin was not always perfect, nor did they always make the right choices, but here in the confines of these four and a half minutes they were, and they did.

Grade: A+
Great writing, though I disagree with some of it pretty fiercely.
By: Tom Ritchford
Tags: Music, Conservatives, Culture, Rock, Protest

The author took this photo of the band Lesion at Arlene’s Grocery on 27 September 2000

Great writing, though I disagree with some of it pretty fiercely.

In Revolution, Won’t Get Fooled Again and Holiday In Cambodia, cynicism about the political process is not “conservative”. In particular, interpreting Holiday in Cambodia as some sort of neo-con anthem is bizarre and revisionist.

!!!

—

I was not really aware of Safe European Home — I must have heard it because I’ve listened to that album, though I don’t own it. I feel that a song talking about racism and class warfare is intrinsically progressive and as above, to interpret any statement from the Clash as somehow conservative requires a strong reality distortion field to pull off.

—

On the other hand, you missed out bigtime in omitting Rush’s 1976 2112 (did I get the order right?)

With the whole endless A-side a thinly veiled dramatization of Ayn Rand’s dreary little 1937 SF novel Anthem, and the classic drug song Passage To Bangkok on the flip, 2112 is likely the first example of the trope that a libertarian is a conservative who smokes pot.

(Passage To Bangkok still stands up musically if you don’t listen too closely to the lyrics — the best verse is “Sweet Jamaican pipe dreams/Golden Acapulco nights/Then Morocco, and the East/Fly by morning light,” and it goes downhill from there, with such wincers as, “The natives smile, and pass along/A sample of their yield.” Best taken as a period piece.)

—

I left, and I am returned, with a print issue of the November 1976 Galaxy magazine in front of me.

It contains a brutally funny review of 2112, written by the celebrated Canadian SF writer Spider Robinson, and through the miracle of the Internet and Archive.org specifically, you can see a high quality image of it here: the 2112 review starts all the way to the right.

—

As for the rest of the article — great, thanks for ruining these already awful songs a little further!

But I jest, it was a fascinating read and the whole thing brought me back to days when I was younger and dumber and had a lot of fun.
Meet Butch Classic
By: Music Enthusiast
Tags: Lyrics, Music, Songs, Rap, Rock

Meet Butch Classic. He is a 30 year old music artist from Allegan, MI.

He started making music around three years ago because he has always enjoyed music and it has always been a part of his life. He has always been in choir or band and was able to exercise his musical gifts. Butch Classic has a natural talent so it was not a surprise when he decided to pursue it as a career.

He is not defined by one genre, he likes to sing and rap. He can do all music, including rock. His most successful track currently is titled, “Here Me Out.” It has over 9K streams on Spotify. Butch Classic truly believes that his new music will blow that track out of the water.

He is inspired by a numerous number of artists. Some which include Juice WRLD, Micheal Jackson, Lil Wayne, Marvin Gaye, Trippie Redd, Dababy, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber. One thing about Classic Butcher is that he is now a recovered addict that has a positive outlook on life. He believes that his life can only go up from there and he looks up to God for the good in life.

Instagram: cl.assic.999
The Day You Flew Away (2020)
Tags: Music, Review, Space, Psychedelic Rock, Rock

Sleep ca. 2020

Mr. Gnome have crafted a behemoth of a double LP. The married duo navigate deeply intimate themes through tie-die tinted glasses, saturating the record with an other-worldly aroma that would even make Sean Lennon stir from his DMT induced slumber.

The thing about The Day You Flew Away that impresses me the most is its spaciousness. Most tracks hover around 4:30 in length separate by much shorter transitions that could have just as easily been tacked on to the feature-length songs — a decision that adds to the spacious feel of the album and allows the more memorable tracks stand on their own. Beautifully layered melodies swirl around distorted bass lines and meticulously intriguing drumming. Repetition is used to comfort the listener, freeing Mr. Gnome to do literally whatever they want throughout the 77 minute romp through grief and rebirth. Space Opera, a heartbreaking tale of a futile revenge, is performed with masterful conviction and precision. The ebb and flow of the vocals, drums, and guitar each having their turn in the spotlight before joining together in an ass-kicking climax.

Songs like How to Talk in Technicolor and The Moon show off how Mr. Gnome seamlessly meld electronic synths and beats into their sound. The psychedelia doesn’t come from towering 15 guitar amps in Stevie Nicks’s bathroom, but from carefully choosing sounds and intelligently assembling them around Mr. Gnome’s greatest strength: the vocals. Everything in the album is baked in a health portion Nicole’s voice. Harmonizing and whispering the listener into a trance, one might compare her to Chino Moreno, but the texture gives more of dreamy, Lana Del Rey vibe. Her voice dominates every track, but the simple lyrics allows room for the other instruments to bubble to the surface.

The simple rhythms and patterns with slight variation throughout the song are beautifully crafted and never overstay their welcome. Each track is presented with the confidence of a lead single, and the result is a double-LP packed with memorable melodies that leaves the album feeling like an intimate fever dream that can’t possibly exist in real life.

The Day You Flew Away is one of my all-time favorite psychedelic records not only because of the substance of the music, but its optimism. Its murky valleys give way to majestic peaks on Gold Edges and Insane Love. Sun Drugged, essentially a power chord ballad paired with a marching drum beat, remind of the grandiose sides of Muse but with restrained, delicate vocals that gives the whole track a whimsical, sun-drenched sound, circumventing the fist-pumping path we’ve heard too many times before and forging their own cosmic destiny.
A psychedelic exploration of rose-colored-revelry
By: Jordan Claes
Tags: Music, Music Review, Indie, New Music, Rock

Now, If I were to tell you the story of how RAE and Addison met, you’d probably think I was lying. Their initial encounter is so positively serendipitous that it sounds like the makings of a Judd Apatow movie. One night, RAE and Addison were out clubbing in downtown L.A. In Memoriam to the fallen rock star, Tom Petty, both Addison and RAE wore circular rose-colored sunglasses. The two strangers spotted one another from across the crowded room in a shared slow-motion moment of realization. Sixpence None the Richer began to play, champagne fell from the sky, and the two danced with one another long into the night. Ok, that last part probably didn’t happen but hey — it’s my rose-colored story, after all. The rest, so they say, is history. The two began collaborating and writing music the very next day. Culminating with the release of their debut music video for ‘Walking on the Sun’.

rosecoloredworld’s debut music video for ‘Walking on the Sun’

The video is a small glimpse into RAE and Scott’s rosecoloredworld. It’s a psychedelic, transcendent ‘tea party’, dripping in Dionysian excess. In short, It’s the after-party of your dreams. RAE and Scott perform alongside a full band and belt out the anthem of their most recent earworm. In an apartment brimming with lovers and friends, the scene is both titillating and demure. It feels inherently out of place, almost foreign. Kind of like RAE and Scott were beamed on the stage from another decade. The duo’s fashion, choreography, and ambiance are what help set the tone for ‘Walking on the Sun’. Piloting the audience through a rose-colored lens of revelry.

More than anything else, ‘Walking on the Sun’ is catchy. Addison Scott’s incredible falsetto is impossible to ignore, conjuring images of a young Pharrell or Justin Timberlake. Pair that with the powerful, driving vocals and lyrics of RAE and what you have is one massive pop tune. rosecoloredworld have all the potential to not just be successful but to be HUGE. I can already picture an audience of thousands, all adorned in rose-colored sunglasses, dancing and singing their hearts out. Their funk-infused style of indie dream-pop is so sweet that it could literally rot your teeth — in the best way possible. The future is truly bright( (and rosy) for RAE and Addison.

Follow rosecoloredworld via their socials below!

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram
1960s Classic Rock Quiz Missing Lyrics
Tags: Quiz, Rock

1960s Classic Rock Quiz The Missing Lyrics Edition. I just love 60s classic rock. Many say the 60s was the dawn of rock music. Bands such as The Doors, The Rolling Stones and Jimmy Hendrix came on the scene. Can you imagine what it must have been like?

Your parents are boring you with Val Doonican. Then you hear Substitute by The Who on the wireless. That’s when you get hooked on 60s classic rock. The guitar rift is forever imprinted on your soul. I am fortunate enough to have seen The Who in concert. They were absolutely awesome.

I do love most types of rock music and I also love The Blues. If you’re also a fan you should take The Classic Blues Music Quiz. If you’re a pure rock fan we have The Seventies Rock Music Quiz

Things they do look awful __ , I hope I die before I get old

The Who

I became a fan of sixties rock during my twenties. My personal favourite is The Kinks. That’s what inspired me to create a 1960s Classic Rock Missing Lyrics Quiz. Feel free to comment below.

1970s Top of the Pops Quiz

Try The 1990s Movie Quiz 2
Inhaler, ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’ — Album Review ★★★★★
Tags: Album Reviews, Gsgm, Inhaler, Indie, Rock

Words: Emily Harris | Published: July 22, 2021

There’s nothing quite like discovering a new album like ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’ by Inhaler. What a delight!

The Dublin band dazzle the ears with their natural abilities, tearing through the indie worlds with zeal, and it’s no surprise that they’re now at the top of the album chart as I write this review.

Since their first rehearsal session, the band, established in 2016, has never looked back. Furthermore, the group has wowed crowds worldwide during their time, putting them on track to become the next major indie rock band on the planet. On the other hand, Frontman Elijah Hewson will know a thing or two about this, having grown up seeing his father, Bono, have a long and successful career with U2.

Engaging From The Start

The album’s lead track, ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This,’ opens with the same title as the record. With a synth-rock core that blends seamlessly with an indelible percussion rhythm, it is instantly engaging. In addition, the guitar hook leads the way for Elijah’s powerful vocal delivery.

‘A Night On The Floor,’ another masterpiece, adds a modern twist to the avant-garde of music. It’s unique with various sounds that jump out of the mix, hooking us from the start. ‘Totally’ is also a personal favourite, with its structure and groove adding a new level of class to the album.

‘My Honest Face’ and ‘Cheer Up Baby’ are also among the album’s highlights. But, every track is excellent, and it’s great to see indie music reigning supreme on the album charts once more!

You can take a listen to ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’ by Inhaler below. Also, please let us know your thoughts on this new release by commenting on this article. As always, we love to hear your feedback. So, do you think this is one of the best new indie records to emerge from 2021 so far?
Are These Courtney Barnett’s Two Best Songs?
By: Alex Johnson
Tags: Music, Alternative, Rock, Album Review

“I’m Not Your Mother, I’m Not Your Bitch” is definitely less lyrically intricate than the previous track, but there‘s still a lot worth talking about. The title touches on two harmful and frequent ways to refer to women. “I’m not your bitch” references the casual or overt disrespect that men feel comfortable directing toward women on a daily basis, where “I’m not your mother” is a little more nuanced. Some people argue that the reason we should be respectful to women is that “they’re someone’s mother/sister/daughter/wife”. The problem with this reasoning is that it frames women’s worth around their relationship to men, or, in the case of “mother”, outdated gender norms that place women’s only value in motherhood, rather than acknowledging that women have intrinsic worth regardless of their family.

Here’s the song before I talk about the lyrics.

The first verse of the song is: “I’m not your mother, I’m not your bitch. I hear you mutter under your breath. Put up or shut up, it’s all the same, it’s all the same, never change, never change.” Barnett speaks on verbal harassment (“I hear you mutter…”) as well as calling out men directly, saying that nothing has changed and demanding they get on their shit (“Put up or shut up”). To me, though, the best lyrics on the song are in the bridge.

The first half of the bridge says “I get most self-defensive when I know I’m wrong, think we all can agree”, which calls out the inevitable discourse that comes from discussing topics like this. “Not all men”, “well, I don’t do that”, “what do you want me to do about it?” and statements along these lines frequently come up from men trying to defend themselves, assuming that these conversations are about them specifically, when they’re very often not. And Courtney doesn’t sugarcoat what she thinks about these statements; the second part of the bridge says “I try my best to be patient, but I can only put up with so much shit”. I don’t really need to explain much here, the song is blunt enough.

“I’m Not Your Mother” is an amazing expression of the anger she feels about situations like the one on “Nameless, Faceless”. And by themselves, they’re well-written, sharp critiques set to great music, but together, these two songs might be the two best songs Courtney Barnett has ever written.

At least until her new album comes out in November.
Create a relaxing and beautiful outdoor space with supplies from one of the best landscape supply…
By: Rock, Block Hardscape Supply
Tags: Pebble, Dominion River Rock, Rock, Rock And Gravel

Create a relaxing and beautiful outdoor space with supplies from one of the best landscape supply in San Diego County. Landscape pebbles from Rock & Block Hardscape Supply are one of the best choices for a complete landscape makeover. Landscape pebbles have low maintenance and are easy to install, a good option for those who have drainage concern in their yard. We offer rocks and pebbles that come in different shapes and sizes which is specially made to enhance your landscape.

Landscape pebbles help in preventing soil erosion. They are long-lasting and less expensive, a great way to improve and avoid weed growth in your yard as well as keep the growth of weed at bay for a longer time. They add beauty to the landscape, especially a garden with various flowers and plants. Pathways, when covered with stones and pebbles, look appealing and visually exciting and gives the pathways a defined border. They offer coverage to an uneven, neglected pathway and add contrast and texture, giving your landscape a wholly different and vibrant look. Rock & Block Hardscape Supply offers top quality pebbles that can be used in a yard, tree base, ground covers, and outdoor living space.
“Call Me!” Spotlight on Chris Montez
By: Spotlight Central
Tags: Music, Rock And Roll, Mexican Music, Latinos, Rock

Spotlight Central: Eventually you attended Hawthorne High where you jammed with a certain group of brothers?

Chris Montez: [Laughs] Do mean the guys who were trying to get famous?

Spotlight Central: Yeah! Is it true?

Chris Montez: Yeah! I used to go over and hang out with Brian Wilson and his brothers, Carl and Dennis, before they became The Beach Boys. I’d go over — and I remember Brian being at the piano, and Carl was there, and Dennis would be on drums, of course — and we’d just jam to rock and roll, like Chuck Berry or whatever came into our minds, just to be rock and rollers. So, yeah, I used to go and hang out with those guys all the time.

And I remember one day Dennis Wilson saying, “Chris, do you like malts?” And I said, “Yeah,” but I didn’t know what he meant. He said, “I’m gonna make you a malt.” We didn’t have that kind of stuff around my house — we just ate tortillas and beans and stuff. Even when I was little, I never drank milk. Before I went to school in the morning, I’d have a cup of coffee, I’d have some beans and eggs, and boom, I’d go.

But, anyway, Dennis said, “I’m gonna make you a malt.” So I said, “OK,” and he pulled out a blender and he put a few scoops of ice cream in it and he said, “Here’s the secret!” Then he took out a jar which had powdered malt in it and put that in and he blended it up and said, “Here you go.” And that’s when I learned how it got that special flavor; I never knew that before.

Spotlight Central: Same here! As a teen, you really wanted to see Ritchie Valens when he played at a local hop near you, didn’t you?

Chris Montez: Yeah, he was my inspiration, because there were no other Mexican singers around. I liked his music and I said, “Wow, he’s Mexican!” and I thought to myself, “I could be a rock and roller like him,” or, at least, “I could be into music.”

And one day I went to that hop, which was sold out, but I didn’t care. They said, “Ritchie will be out in a few minutes.” And I was at the back end of the hall — and there were, maybe, 200 people there; that’s how small the building was — and the band just got through playing and they said, “He’ll be out in a minute.” I said to myself, “I’m back here. I don’t care whether I talk to him, or even see him, as long as I can hear him sing ‘La Bamba’ and ‘Donna,’ just so I could say, ‘I was there.’”

So they said, “Ten minutes,” and I’m standing and waiting in the back and, all of a sudden, I turn to my right and Ritchie Valens is standing right next to me!

“Wow!” I said, “Are you Ritchie Valens?” And he said, “Yeah,” and he shook my hand, and I was so thrilled. I couldn’t explain it to him. I told him I wanted to be a singer, but I hadn’t really planned that as my life’s work.

And we talked for a second — I think I was a sophomore in high school, maybe, at the time — and I said, “It’s really a pleasure meeting you,” and he was so kind. He smiled at me, and then he went off to sing, and I said to myself, “If I ever become connected with music in any way, I’m gonna treat people the way Ritchie Valens just treated me.”
Tonic — Do You Know
By: The Alternative Mixtapes
Tags: Music, Rock, Alternative, Band, Playlist

I got a request last week for this week’s #ThrowbackThursday entry: “If You Could Only See” from American alternative rock powerhouse, . So, naturally, I complied by featuring a different song from the same band (=. I got nothing against “If You Could Only See”. It’s a great song, possible Tonic’s best and undoubtedly their most iconic track to date (after all, it was 1997’s most-played song in rock radio), but that is precisely the reason I opted to talk about a different, lesser known gem included in their 2002 album, Head On Straight, Do You Know.

This song is a guitar-driven alternative rock song with a melodic chorus, but the reason why I’ve always liked it so much is that it got terrific lyrics, which shine the most during the great chorus. I don’t think this tune got much attention back then when it came out, but it’s not too late to give an overlooked outstanding song a second chance. Tonic and Do You Know certainly deserve it.

“Do you know how it feels to be angry Do you know how it feels to be hurt When you live all your life for a moment Just to prove that you know what it’s worth Do you know” Tonic, Do You Know

Featured on the following mixtapes:
Gary Dranow and The Manic Emotions exemplify the tasteful authenticity of classical rock and Blues…
Tags: Blues, Singer Songwriter, Rock

Gary Dranow and The Manic Emotions exemplify the tasteful authenticity of classical rock and Blues music in their new album ‘Never Give Up.’

Park City, Utah — June 11th, 2021 — Gary Dranow and The Manic Emotions is a three-piece band ready to take the listeners on an exhilarating journey through music. Having mastered the art of classic rock and authentic blues in an era of heavily auto-tuned pop music, the band stands out for its striking originality.

Telling tales of love, heartbreak, relationships, loss, and the accompanying mental struggles of such emotions, Gary Dranow and The Manic Emotions create compositions that transcend the boundaries of known genres. This is made possible through the band’s connection to its roots which brings richness to its lyrics and distinct touch to its performances.

Gary Dranow and The Manic Emotions is releasing its first album, ‘Destiny Road’, following the release of its prelude “Destiny Road — Rough Cuts”. Although the album itself has been ten years in the making, the band believes the time is just right for the world to experience its work which they had originally intended to release in the summer of 1995 using Jefferson Airplane’s old 2” 16 track machine. Even though the original plan never came to fruition as the band fought personal battles, the tracks making up ‘Destiny Road’ remain the same as they were when first conceived ten years ago. However, in order to stay true to the times and changes, Emotions decided to release the prelude to memorialize the things as they were.

With its second album titled ‘Never Give Up’ scheduled to release in the winter of 2021, Gary Dranow and The Manic Emotions is currently booking gigs and performing throughout the Greater Salt Lake City including Park City, Utah.

Check out and learn more about Gary Dranow and The Manic Emotions through their website and other links given below.

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About:

Gary Dranow and the Manic Emotions is a three-piece band with Gary Dranow on the vocals and guitar, Bob Nellis on the drums, and Jeff Lawrence on the bass and vocals. Having worked on an album for over ten years, the band is ready to take the world by storm with renewed zeal and enthusiasm. The band members are full of vigor and excitement, and their second album is scheduled to be released soon in the winter of 2021.

Contact:

Name: Gary Dranow

Email: gary@modernskiracing.com

Phone: (801)680–6066, (435)200–9037

Links:

Twitter https://twitter.com/garydranow

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUODf-9t6S4

SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/gary-dranow

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-dranow-24795716/

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ln6vyEEr8rYl7ZB5aJv0T

Source: ArtistPR Music Press Release

#Blues, #Rock, #SingerSongwriter, #PressRelease
Far From Your Sun is a new band that is keen on bringing the best of rock music to its fans all…
Tags: Hard Rock, Rock, Progressive Rock

Far From Your Sun is a new band that is keen on bringing the best of rock music to its fans all around the world. The band is keen to break into the music industry and being the best of current rock music to rock music lovers all across the globe.

Paris, lle de France — June 7, 2021 — Far From Your Sun (FFYS) is a project aiming to showcase current rock music compositions by bringing together the work of talented artists coming from various backgrounds such as photography, painting and writing.

Borrowing from romanticism and poetry, which can be sometimes dark or troubling, each piece is the illustration of an experience, a moment in time, where both humans and nature are the main protagonists.

Far From Your Sun means that we can live fulfilled and happy in the shadow of the artificial lights, far from the fads, far from a flattering, but often elusive, misleading sun. This is the big influence behind the work of these musicians who want their project to be an inspiration for all of their fans.

Far From Your Sun released their first album “In the beginning… was the emotion” in 2016. Due to extra-musical factors, they did not have the opportunity to present the sequel to this album. But this time around they have decided to work on their musical journey and make rock music for music lovers. Far From Your Sun are happy to announce that they are currently working on their next album, which is called “The Origin of Suffering” and the album should be released during late 2021. Some demo tracks of their album are already available on their Soundcloud page. This second album will cover a very wide range of music, from rock songs to more ambient acoustics as well as tracks featuring classical orchestral instruments.

Far From You Sun is open to collaborations and very responsive on their social media. Follow the band on their social media handles to stay updated with new releases and much more.

About:

Far From Your Sun are a hundred percent studio-based and anonymous project, meaning that they do not reveal the identities of the musicians who compose for them (no photos, no names…). The goal is to put music, and only music, first. The musicians are there to make music for the project and have no intentions to be renowned for their work or to be famous.

Contact:

Name: Far From Your Sun

Email: farfromyoursun@gmail.com

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FarFromYourSun

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farfromyoursun/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FarFromYourSun

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/farfromyoursun

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/farfromyoursun

Reverbnation: https://www.reverbnation.com/farfromyoursun

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1wIybSA1nKjT89hj0R8Ey0?si=7-jarz_0S26etliadaUJtA&nd=1

Lastfm: https://www.last.fm/music/Far+From+Your+Sun

Source: ArtistPR Music Press Release

#HardRock, #ProgressiveRock, #Rock, #PressRelease
Shredding Tears
By: Frank Collia
Tags: Eddie Van Halen, Music, Van Halen, Rap, Rock

Tributes are fine, and in many cases deserving, but the best and purest way to honor an artist when they die is to spend time with their art. If you aren’t listening to Van Halen, do so. Put it on in the background, but stop and dedicate a moment to appreciate the magic Eddie had in his fingers. For yourself as much as him.

It’s easy to forget, or never to have known, that in the early 80s, Van Halen was as big a deal as you could be. They were universally acknowledged as cool, crossing party lines — rock, metal, punk, rap — when those party lines were innocently intertwined. See Fast Times at Ridgemont High for exhibit one.

Don’t get me wrong, there were definitely cliques and not a lot of cross-pollinating between groups, but almost everyone shared a lingua franca that has been fragmented out of existence today. Everyone knew Van Halen, or Run DMC, or Michael Jackson, and there wasn’t anything weird about liking them. I think these were better times, but due to circumstances rather than nostalgic superiority.

Things remained this way through most of the 90s. Even at the height of grunge and gangsta, it wouldn’t be uncommon to have Nirvana and Snoop on the same mix. Ironically, it seems like rap-rock permanently upended the equilibrium. It was inevitable that this unholy bastard would emerge, the prophesized antichrist in a backwards red baseball cap.

Rap and rock went their separate ways at the turn of the century. The former flooded the mainstream, while the latter has trickled away to niche streams. Blame what you want: the Internet, 9/11, Fred Durst. Or don’t blame anything. The world moves the way it moves. Great art remains the same.
A Tirbute To Eddie Van Halen
By: Ata Tekeli
Tags: Hard Rock, Metal Music, Rock, Eddie Van Halen

Lost the battle against cancer. But he left us with a great legacy from Obituary and Van Halen.

A shock and grief through the metal world when his death is being officially announced. Here, we’ll delve into the life of one of the greatest metal artists known in history.

Who is Eddie Van Halen?

Eddie Van Halen is a Dutch producer, musician, arranger, and songwriter. Even more, he’s one of the best guitarists known in history.

How did Eddie Van Halen’s musical career start?

He started taking piano lessons when he was 7. But he decided that sitting in front of a piano was boring and directed his focus on drums. But everything changed when Van Halen decided that he’d be better off with playing guitar. He practiced 8–9 hours a day, and two years later, he could play Eric Clapton’s Cream solos. But his music career officially started when he founded Mamut in 1974 with his brother. Still, he didn’t stop there. Eight years later, he rose to fame by working at Michael Jackson’s Thriller’s and playing the guitar solos of one of the famous song “Beat It”. He also brought quite an attention to this song and made quite a headline by writing his song named Eruption. Finally, he also became one of the prominent guitarists in the shred technique and known to his day until his death.

Everything changed in the late 1990s

When he got diagnosed with throat and mouth cancer that led him to be too unbearable to be around. But he told his physicians that he was putting guitar chords in his mouth for 12–14 hours per day. He had beaten throat cancer, but it took quite a long time to beat mouth cancer. He had beaten same cancer, and in the final years of his life, he still had to fight throat cancer that killed him. Two decades of cancer fight ended by his death on October 6, 2020.

See you in Valhalla van Halen

Have you ever listened to Eddie Van Halen? How did you view him? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Rick Rubin… Please Record An Old Sex Pistol In His Bathroom
By: Bob Driver - Da Bob
Tags: Satire, Music, Rock, Punk, Spotify

Serious Question — Does anyone know the hairy musical production genius, Rick Rubin? I need to get a message to him.

Paging Mr. Rubin, Mr. Rick Rubin… Your musical knack is in desperate need!

Trust me people, I cannot overstate how much the musical universe is in serious peril right now and needs the sage, hairy eardrums of Rick Rubin. Actually, his melodious timing could not be more critical!

Please, someone power up the Bat Signal and point it over the skies of Malibu and summon the mysterious, creative powers of this bushy, shaggy, hair-covered music producer.

The Bat Signal

Mr. Rubin, pick up the red Bat phone! This music Commissioner is desperate for your help. In fact, the musical gods are imploring YOU to once again engage your recording powers to save an abundance of classics oozing out of a certain founding father of punk!

A former Sex Pistol! And yes… these are classics tunes that only YOU can save!

Help us Rick Rubin… You’re only hope!

A generation ago your American Recordings revived the Man In Black… Johnny Cash. Your simple approach and style resurrected the voice that many of us liken to the voice of GOD — Himself! You gently pushed the aged and vulnerable Cash into singing tunes far outside his normal songbook and instilled in him the confidence to own them.

Johnny Cash — Hurt

Currently there is another important — Outlaw — type character waiting in the wings for your Midas Touch. Waiting for your uncontrollable beard to push, prod and massage the back of another aged and rebelled rocker. You may know him as The Sheriff of Rockingham, The Pick-Pocket of Piccadilly, The Lord of La Cienega… Stephen Philip Jones! Founding member and chugging guitarist of the all-important, Sex Pistols!

Mr. Rubin…. May I call you Ricky? Open your Instagram Account right now and scroll to Jonesy’s Jukebox. Watch and listen to the Duke of Jones strum out several 70’s pop classics in his bathroom. The vibe is right up your punk, acoustic, single mic alley.

Seriously, there isn’t anything more punk rock right now than Steve Jones covering “Knock Three Times” by Tony Orlando & Dawn! Or The Righteous Brothers’ “Soul And Inspiration”
Haim - Women In Music Pt III. Review
By: Sandy Woodhouse
Tags: Music, Haim, Music Review, Pop, Rock

Haim’s magnum opus has arrived. They’ve been an active trio since 2012, and after a few promising, and somewhat lackluster releases, it now feels their journey and vision is in a glorious phase. Here we have a mature, raw, vulnerable work, that brings together a wide range of influences into a bursting unified sound.

The main singles of the album, ‘The Steps’ and ‘Don’t Wanna’ are great, classic Haim Rock/Country/Pop fusion. But things start to get proper thrilling with ‘I Know Alone’. Skippy electronic drum rhythms and synths literally make this a Garage bop. The novel fusions continue in almost every track. ‘Another Try’ brings a Reggae/Dub taste, then the Thundercat collaboration ‘3 AM’ with Funk vibes. And still, all throughout, the Country/Rock influences remain strong. Beautiful performances serenade us in ‘Leaning On You’, and ‘Gasoline’ where Taylor Swift makes a surprise appearance.

There is a clear thematic message here too. In ‘Man From The Magazine’, they sing about awkward, uncomfortable encounters with rude press, and assumptively sexist guitar shop attendees. “It feels very universal to any woman who plays music about going into a guitar store or a music shop and immediately either being asked, ‘Oh, do you want to start to play guitar?’ or ‘Are you looking for a guitar for your boyfriend?’ And you’re like, ‘What the fuck?’ It’s the worst feeling.” Danielle Haim commented when speaking on the song.

Another standout moment for me though, has got to be ‘All That Ever Mattered’. A well produced, fat mix of heavy drums and fun guitars draws you in at the start. And then the chorus hits… wow! We hear these abused vocal screams, distorted out of any sonic refrain, punch through the mix. I was genuinely shocked when I heard it. It’s a bold, confident sound that you really don’t expect. And that’s what sets this apart from the sisters’ previous work. It’s bold, it’s confident. A wild, unbridled, ‘this is me, take it or leave it’ record. An empowering and inspiring body of work.

“The whole mantra of this record is about being fearless and not holding yourself back. I feel like there are so many times when there’s that voice in your head going. ‘Be scared, be scared, stop, stop, stop,’ and with this record, we’ve shut that thing off so if one of us is like that, I have two sisters who say, ‘Keep going’.” - Alana Haim

9/10
To Be a Man
By: Abhishek Paul
Tags: Music, Rock And Roll, Wisdom, Poetry, Rock

There’s a lot being said about gender, with the implicit message being that men tend to behave quite badly much of the time (aka “toxic masculinity”). Amidst all the heated arguments (which I don’t think changes anyone’s mind), I found this little gem by Boston recorded 4 decades ago. I love their take on what’s become a hot button topic — it’s almost as if God knew we could all do with some encouragement today.

What does it take to be a man?

What does it take to see

It’s all heart and soul

A gentle hand

So easy to want and so hard to give

How can you be a man

’Til you see beyond the life you live?

Oh, what does it take to be a man?

We can be blind, but a man tries to see

It takes tenderness

For a man to be what he can be

And what does it mean

If you’re weak or strong?

A gentle feelin’

can make it right or make it wrong

What does it take to be a man?

The will to give and not receive

The strength to say what you believe

The heart to feel what others feel inside

To see what they can see

A man is somethin’ that’s real

It’s not what you are

It’s what you can feel

It can’t be too late

To look through the hate and see

I know that’s what a man can be