Best Coast the band has revealed a special ten-year anniversary event to celebrate that pivotal moment in Best Coast history back in the year 2010 Best Coast released “Crazy for You”. The debut album from Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno . The duo is going to stream a special performance of the album front to back. Recorded pre-quarantine with special guests including Hayley Williams of Paramore, CHVRCHES singer Lauren Mayberry, and Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus, the online broadcast is set for August 14th at 6 p.m. PST.
“Crazy for You” truly changed my life,” singer-songwriter Cosentino shared in a statement. “I was 22 years old, feeling so lost, confused and anxious — and so I wrote a bunch of songs about it. I had no idea the album would impact people the way it did back then, and I had no idea its legacy would last a decade later. When I started this band, I had no expectations of what would happen, I just wanted to make and play music with my friend. Multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno and I feel so lucky to have been able to do everything we have over the last 10 years, and we are so appreciative of our fans who have stuck with us since the beginning.”
Tickets to watch the stream are on sale now for $10 in advance, $15 on the day of the show (plus fees). Any tips will be donated to the Loveland Foundation, which works to “bring opportunity and healing to communities of colour, and especially to Black women and girls” through “fellowships, residency programs, listening tours, and more.”
“This is the first time we have ever played this album in its entirety and we will be sharing some behind the scenes photos/footage/and stories of the making of the album, the songs and the story of how Best Coast came to be,” the group wrote on the ticketing site. The page also reveals a new Crazy for You capsule collection, which includes t-shirts, prints, and face masks.
from the album “Crazy For You”, available to purchase now from the Wichita Recordings
Rilo Kiley have announced plans to re-issue their extremely rare self-titled debut album from 1999. The recording, originally pressed only on CD and sold exclusively at the band’s early shows, has been out of print since its original pressing 21 years ago. Rilo Kiley will be made available on limited edition vinyl and digital DSPs on October 2nd via Little Record Company, the label started by Rilo Kiley’s own Pierre de Reeder. The vinyl package includes gate-fold and coloured vinyl. Previously only available on CDs that Jenny Lewis and company sold at their early shows, prior to the release of their “official” debut LP, 2001’s Take Offs and Landings.
The Los Angeles four piece arrived on the music scene in 1998 with their very first show at Spaceland in Silverlake. In the audience was comedian Dave Foley who was so impressed with their performance that he introduced himself and immediately encouraged them to record some of their music. Recalls Foley of this first encounter with the fledgling Rilo Kiley:
“January 1998, I was a young man, young compared to now, hanging out in L.A’s alt. rock club scene. One night in particular, I found myself at Spaceland, at the bar drinking when a band started playing. They were good, so good that I stopped fighting for the attention of the bartender and turned to see who it was. On stage was a very young, delightfully unpretentious group named RiloKiley. Between songs they were charming, smart and funny. During songs they were brilliant. After the set I introduced myself and learned that this was their first public performance. I was astonished. They invited me back to their rehearsal space for Thai food and to hear some songs they didn’t have room for in the set. Dreamily, I filled my belly with noodles and my head with one great song after another. I was in a full on, pop music fan swoon. Having decided to force myself into their lives, I suggested (insisted) that I should fund a demo recording. They relented. I also tried to talk them into changing the band’s name. They were unrelenting. A lot of years have passed. I remain proud to know Rilo Kiley and grateful that I had the opportunity and ability to be of some help”.
Some of the songs from that initial Foley-funded demo session formed the foundation for Rilo Kiley and the band handmade copies of the CD to sell at shows before signing to Barsuk Records and going on to release some of the most influential and acclaimed albums of the era. Rilo Kiley officially disbanded in 2013 following the release of their RKivescompilation. They recorded four more albums together, the last being 2007’s Under the Blacklight.
Ron Gallo’s time in quarantine has been filled with creativity, allowing space for him to create his new album, PEACEMEAL due out October 9th. I’ve enjoyed each time Ive seen him Ron Gallo – and his live band are teriffic live, his music and his online persona – since I came across him a few years ago. He’s kind of a free-spirited wild card in that you don’t what you’re going to get with his music. The Philly-based rocker comes off a year’s break with a colourful new batch of songs,
PEACEMEAL, appears to be a pun on the bite-sized nature of the project and the state of mind they were recorded in, clearly preceding the chaotic events of the year it will have been released in.
As a first taste of the record, Ron Gallo is sharing “Wunday (Crazy After Dark)” and its video, which similarly feels starkly off-topic (and therefore refreshing) for quarantine with its blunt opening line: “All I wanna do is go to the store and not see anyone I know.” “It’s an introvert summertime party jam celebrating alone time and isolation, but then after too much solo time starting to go crazy.,”
“The video is self-directed, shot and edited, being limited to whatever Chiara [his wife] and I can do with an iPhone, the two of us and our immediate surroundings. Wanted to recreate a sunny day in the happily solo life, then turning into a psycho after the sun goes down desperate for human connection.”
It’s definitely been a year. I hope getting this message makes you not think about any of it for at least like 30 seconds. I just wanted to say hey and tell you about some things :
we finished an album called “PEACEMEAL” that’s coming out in March 2021, you can hear 5 of the tracks now AND please watch the videos. from the upcoming album, “PEACEMEAL”, out 10/9/20. rongallomusic.com.
PIAS, [Merlin] Redeye Distribution (on behalf of New West Records)
People have been trying to bury rock and roll for a long time, declaring countless times that rock is dead. Well, if Mojo Nixon taught us nothing else (and there’s a lot to be learned from Mojo), he taught us that “you can’t kill rock n roll.”
The Bobby Lees are a young bone-shaking Garage Rock band out of Woodstock NY. Their new record ‘Skin Suit’ is produced by underground punk legend Jon Spencer of the Blues Explosion, and mixes classic garage-punk hits with raw and emotive storytelling.In the past year they’ve played with The Chats, Future Islands, Boss Hog, Daddy Long Legs, Shannon & The Clams and Murphy’s Law. They will be on tour in the US and Europe throughout 2020.
If you need proof that Mojo is correct about that, then look toward The Bobby Lees. Ironically, this band is from Woodstock, New York, but don’t expect any folky songs about love and peace (not that there is anything wrong with those) on the band’s new album Skin Suit, It’s pretty fitting that the album was produced by Spencer. Right from the beginning of the album, that band plays with similar energy and volume to any of Spencer’s projects. There is also something of The Stooges in the band’s sound. You can hear it not only in the wildly fuzzed-out guitar and powerful vocals, but also in the bass line that is enough to make you feel a rumble in your gut.
If you’re looking for subtleties, this is not the album for you. But then, when has rock and roll ever been about subtleties? This album is about fuzzy garage-punk guitar, rumbling bass, frantic beats, and vocals that are made for loud and fast rock and roll. Fronted by Sam Quartin, whose vocal charisma channels some of the preposterous intensity of the Alan Vega/Cave/Cramps lineage, the band’s second album is an explosion of intensity of high-concept, low-budget rock’n’roll. The band show they’ve got the chops and the weirdness to refresh vintage rock, punk, and blues without the commercialism that has plagued other prominent garage bands of their generation
The album ends with a cover of Richard Hell’s “Blank Generation”. This version is pretty true to the original. Both versions feature loud guitars that may or may not have been tuned precisely. The biggest difference is the howled vocals by Sam Quartin. How many bands have you heard lately that can get away with desecrating “I’m a Man” and sound credible? It’s all in Quartin’s leering vocal and Casa’s muscular guitar.
Fear not, loyal reader. Rock isn’t dead. It is alive and well in the capable hands of The Bobby Lees. In fact, the next time you hear that rock is dead, you should present this album as evidence to the contrary. Every one of the 13 songs on this album is an absolute pounder. Even if you’ve never seen the band live, you get the idea that their live shows must be amazing considering the energy they put into recording.
There’s the certainty of Punk, the immediacy of Garage, the anger of those who don’t care here, ‘Move‘ is a one and a half minute snarl, but even when they show some musical chops, as on the percussive ‘Coin‘, there’s the itchiness of a freshly grown scab. – STEVE SWIFT’S ROCK REMEDY
Storming to the scene with a howling sense of rebellion and nonconformity. – ALTERNATIVE PRESS
The Bobby Lees are the giant green cyclops of rock ‘n’ roll. – BTRtoday
our new record “Skin Suit” being released on 5/8/20 by Alive Natural Sound Records.
A newly remastered deluxe edition of Lou Reed’s “New York” will include 26 previously unreleased recordings. The 1989 album will be given its first remastering in a massive deluxe edition by Rhino Records, out September 25th.
Originally released in 1989, New York marked the 15th album of Reed’s solo career. Hailed by critics and fans alike, the LP would go down as one of the rocker’s strongest efforts, earning Reed his first Grammy nomination. Notable tracks from the LP include “Busload of Faith” and the modern rock chart-topper “Dirty Blvd.”
The new expanded reissue of New York will include a remastered version of the original album on CD and vinyl, along with 26 previously unreleased studio and live recordings culled from Reed’s archives. These include demo versions and alternate mixes of many of New York’s songs. Bonus material includes live renditions of the Velvet Underground classic “Sweet Jane” and “Walk on the Wild Side,” Reed’s hit single from 1972’s Transformer. The first CD makes up the remastered album, the second CD consists of live versions and the final disc contains unreleased early versions of the album’s tracks.
A concert film, The New York Album, will also be included in the set. The recording, which captures Reed performing the entire LP live in Montreal at the Theatre St. Denis, was previously released in 1990 on VHS and laserdisc. The long out-of-print video makes its DVD debut here; it’s also being made available on streaming services.
A hardcover book accompanies the New York: Deluxe Edition set. It features new liner notes written by David Fricke, along with essays from archivist Don Fleming. Reed’s widow, Laurie Anderson, and recently deceased music producer Hal Willner also contributed to the book’s publication.
The New York: Deluxe Edition comes out September. 25th. It’s available for pre-order now.
Los Angeles, CA (July 23, 2020) — In between E Street Band and Crazy Horse work, master rock singer songwriter-guitarist Nils Lofgren fit in his first tour with a full band in over 15 years. Inspired by the writing with the great Lou Reed on his last studio album, Nils knew it was time. Audience and band alike sharing their souls, gifts, spirit and energy on the tour made for a fresh, new live sound for Nils. The result is in an earthy, rockin’ album that breathes life into a world temporarily void of the excitement, energy, tenderness, and spontaneity of live music during COVID-19.
The 16-track collection, entitled “Weathered”, and issued on Lofgren’s own Cattle Track Road Records in double-CD configuration, was produced by the musician and his wife Amy, and is due out on August 21, 2020.
It was recorded on the road during select intimate tour dates in the U.S. supporting his recent Blue With Lou studio album. “My dear friends who made that album all agreed to come. Andy Newmark, Kevin McCormick, Cindy Mizelle, and my brother Tom Lofgren joining us to form an amazing band,” notes Nils. “In preparation for the tour my wonderful wife Amy hosted us all in our home and garage studio to put the show together. Amy designed our merchandise, cooked beautiful food for us and created a safe, welcoming musical environment for all. We created the show’s foundation to work from and headed out to share this fresh, new band.”
Improvisation has always been a key element in live performances for Nils, a veteran member of some of the greatest rock bands in history, as well as an accomplished and successful solo artist. “All the band members are old friends used to being encouraged to stretch out and improvise with me,” he explains. That freedom shows throughout Weathered. “Our crew did a fabulous job getting everything right for us to do our best every night.” He continues, “Regularly hearing inspired, improvisational surprises from your fellow bandmates elevated our interaction and made for one of a kind, unique shows every night. We all thrive in a live setting and at every show, the audience kicked the music up to a special level we only reach with their contagious, inspired energy.” That comes across brilliantly on this celebratory live album.
The album contains live renditions of two of the Lou Reed/Nils Lofgren penned songs, “Don’t Let Your Guard Down” and “Give,” along with Nils’ rocking protest song “Rock or Not” and the tenderly wistful “Too Blue to Play,” all from the Blue With Lou album. Cindy Mizelle’s heartfelt vocals complement throughout the double album, but on “Big Tears Fall” they take the lead and on the duet “Tender Love” they are especially powerful.
In addition to her soulful harmonies, you’ll also hear Cindy’s improvisational “scatting” throughout, becoming another instrument inside this stellar band. The dark, minor blues “Too Many Miles” is a wonderful example of this.
Nils pushes his electric soloing to new heights throughout. In “Give,” a co-write and timely lyric with the great Lou Reed, you’ll hear him at his improvisational best, launching into a “backwards” guitar segment, mid solo.
There’s a fabulous 14-minute-plus version of the haunting “Girl in Motion,” set up by a wonderful studio story of Ringo Starr watching the original recording go down and offering amazing advice.
It’s very rare for Nils to get the entire band that made a studio record out on the road with him. It pays off dramatically here. Andy Newmark on drums (John Lennon, Sly Stone, David Bowie, Eric Clapton…) Kevin McCormick on bass, vocals (Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jackson Browne, Melissa Ethridge, Keb’ Mo’…) Cindy Mizelle on vocals (Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Steely Dan, Bruce Springsteen…) and Tom Lofgren on guitars, keyboards, vocals, who’s been playing with Nils since his early band Grin, combine to create a fresh, inspired take on these classic Nils songs.
Weathered includes “Like Rain” from Grin and seven other standards from his solo work. Nils’ brothers Mike and Mark Lofgren join the band on the Hank Williams classic “Mind Your Own Business.” The art of improvisation resurfaces during the “Jam / Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” which builds to a crescendo before his classic “I Came To Dance.”
“We kept the shows reckless and fun with a lot of jamming and interaction. Tour bussing from town to town all over America, we all brought our collective experience and love for performing to every show,” Nils reflects. “Turning up to ‘eleven’ and wailing inside this amazing band was a joy and revelation to me, having been away from playing with my own electric band for so long. Proud to share this rough and ready collection that breathes new life and inspiration into the best of my songs.
“After 51 years on the road, I’m so grateful to have been inspired by this band and our audiences as never before!”
Veteran folk singer/songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter strapped on her boots for a new album called “The Dirt And The Stars” (out August. 7th), and so far the singles have been promising. That includes “American Stooge,” a classic Americana rocker about a jaded all-American guy who can’t quite find the right avenues for his cynicism. Or, as Carpenter puts it, “‘American Stooge’ is a song dedicated to those experts in sycophancy who roam the halls of Congress and government, attaching themselves to any powerful interest that suits their need to be relevant and feeds their appetite for power.”
Produced by Ethan Johns (Ray LaMontagne, Paul McCartney, Kings of Leon) and recorded entirely live at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Bath, in southwest England, the album finds the 5-time GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter pondering life’s intimate, personal moments and exploring its most universally challenging questions at an unprecedented time. Written at her rural Virginia farmhouse before stay-at-home orders became the “new normal,” the songs celebrate invaluable experiences and irreplaceable wisdom, while also advocating exploration of the best in all of us.
“The Dirt And The Stars,” the newest album from Mary Chapin Carpenter, will be available everywhere August 7th
Montreal’s Yves Jarvis follows up of last year album with his first new release of 2020, in the breezy, softly lilting new track, “Victim“. Jarvis’ light touch belies the song’s heavier, more harrowing subject matter, which he says reflects negotiating “a tightrope walk between victor and victim”. Beautiful, affecting stuff, and hopefully a harbinger of a larger release from Yves Jarvis sometime in the near future. On the heels of his gorgeous new single from last month, Montreal’s Yves Jarvis shares another one from his just announced new full-length, coming this fall. Sundry Rock SongStock is out September 25th on ANTI- Records.
“Sundry Rock Song Stock’ is my upcoming album out on September 25th and on Vinyl November 13th.
Sima Cunnningham and Macie Stewart of Ohmme make average rock bands sound unimaginative and unremarkable—while most bands are happy just rolling a hoop with a stick, Ohmme are reinventing said hoops, but they have far too much humility to ever point out that discrepancy. The band’s new album “Fantasize Your Ghost” follows 2018’s Parts, and it shows off the Chicago duo’s strengths: writing fascinatingly experimental songs with surprising accessibility and braiding their voices to a staggering effect.
Both musicians are classically trained, and their live shows prominently feature their raucous violin and guitar slinging as well as their unique artistic vision. Their forthcoming album opens with the wonderfully puzzling riff of “Flood Your Gut,” followed by the seraphic vocal harmonies and guitar bleed of “Selling Candy,” and right away, you know you’re on a sonically and artistically fruitful path. Another highlight is “3 2 4 3,” where colossal strings meet their astounding vocal might and subtle yet effective guitar lines.
Official Video for “3 2 4 3” by Ohmme off the album ‘Fantasize Your Ghost’ out on Joyful Noise Recordings.
Songwriters Sima Cunnningham and Macie Stewart formed their unbreakable bond performing throughout the fringes of Chicago’s many interlocking communities, collaborating with titans from the city’s indie rock, hip-hop, and improvised worlds. but together, along with drummer Matt Carroll, they’ve stretched the boundaries of what guitar music can do starting with the band’s experimental 2016 self-titled EP and their adventurous debut 2018 LP parts. now their longstanding partnership culminates with the stunning and muscular follow-up fantasize your ghost.
Ohmme formed in 2014 as an outlet for Cunningham and Stewart to explore an unconventional approach to their instruments. “that’s the whole genesis of the band: us walking up to our guitars and saying, ‘how can we make this noisemaker do something different?'” says Cunningham. but as their musical collaboration strengthened, bringing parts and intensive tours with acts like Wilco, Iron & Wine, Twin Peaks, and more, the band’s scope and focus has also broadened. “grinding on tour last year for so long, it can alter your mental state where you have to think about your life in a different way than you would if you’re home. a lot of the songs stemmed from just thinking about all of the possibilities that life could be and could take,” says Stewart. the commanding single “3 2 4 3” tackles the terrifying realization of needing to make a change. their deft scene-setting and the way their disparate voices blend together heightens the song’s inherent anxiety.
These moments of emotional clarity fill fantasize your ghost. written across 2019, early sketches of the album’s tracklist were demoed at Sam Evian’s Flying Cloud studios in upstate New York. “that’s where we really started to see the record come together,” says Cunningham. the sessions were intensely collaborative and open, the product of long, existential conversations between Stewart and Cunningham in the van about their lives and how to channel the anger they were feeling about the state of the world. tracks like the driving opener “Flood Your Gut” underwent several revisions with Ohmme uncovering several new directions the song could go before finishing it. fantasize your ghost was recorded over a six day session in with indie rock journeyman producer Chris Cohen and captures the astounding magnetism and ferocity of their live show. Fantasize your ghost encapsulates the thrilling and sometimes terrifying joy of moving forward even if you don’t know where you’re going. it’s an album that asks necessary questions: when life demands a crossroads, what version of yourself are you going to pursue? what part of yourself will you feed and let flourish and what do you have to let go of? this is a record of strength, of best friends believing in each other. unapologetic and brave, Ohmme are ready to figure it all out together.
Ohmme off their album ‘Fantasize Your Ghost’ out on Joyful Noise Recordings.
For the past six years, Toronto’s experimental pop mutineers, Jaunt, have been working on and anticipating the release of their first album, All In One. The band, which features several of the city’s well-avowed musicians, created a richly imagined, fully developed project which is emblematic of Jaunt’s realized sound and spirit — a kind of bright generativeness, which came from a wide rolodex of influences, pleasantly ranging from hip-hop to new-age.
With two EPs under their belts over the past four years, Jaunt‘s “All In One” the Toronto experimental pop band’s first full-length — is the fruit of years of labour and it shows in the tightness and completeness of each track.
With the help of co-producer Alex Sowinski of BADBADNOTGOOD, the band are united in their ability to create so many moving parts and countermelodies while maintaining focus on one lead expression throughout each track. Jaunt’s ability to replace the hegemonic idea of lead guitar with a variety of acoustic piano licks is refreshing and allows the guitars to shine in a more rhythmic role.
This move can be tricky, but Jaunt introduce subtle hooks that keep the listener up to speed with the progressions of each composition, like in second track “Nostalgia for the Present Moment,” which features catchy, cutting piano melodies throughout the composition. The harsh upper register of an old piano dangles over the vocal melodies in contrast to the smoothly chorused synths that melt to fill the spaces in-between.
Our debut album ‘All in One’ is out everywhere today! We’re beyond thankful for everyone who helped shape the record in some way or another over the last few years. Despite the strange moment we’re currently collectively experiencing, it feels important for us to release this music now. It was a labour of love, and I feel the music reflects a sense of optimism and positivity that’s good for all of us!
Thanks for being here, The Band: Pat, Caitlin, Daniel, Duncan, Nick & Tom
Two dollars from each record purchased will be given to Black Women in Motion, a “Toronto-based, youth-led organization that empowers and supports the advancement of Black woman and survivors of sexual violence.” Jaunt will match all proceeds/gross sales up to $5000 CAD.
The Debut Full-Length Record from the Toronto Experimental Pop Group Jaunt. On Exclusive Light Blue Vinyl
