Posts Tagged ‘Daptone Records’

The ALTONS – ” When You Go (Thats When You’ll Know) “

Posted: January 10, 2021 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Though Bryan Ponce and Adriana Flores share the stage with Joey Q as part of the East LA souldies outfit Thee Sinseers, they really step into the spotlight with The Altons, a group they themselves founded along with drummer Caitlin Moss and bassist Gabriel Maldonado . On this their debut single on Penrose, Bryan sings the lead with a smoky-sweet falsetto that bends tenderly from growl to howl and back again. The group takes a turn through a classic Miracles-style mid-tempo groove on the A-side, leaving you helplessly addicted to their sweet eponymous refrain, “When you go that’s when you’ll know…” However, it’s the B-side that prompted producer Bosco Mann to declare Bryan Ponce the most underrated singer on the scene today.

Of course that won’t last long when the soul heads get their needles in “Over and Over.” The secret is out. Dude can sing. This is my jam. They really step into the spotlight with The Altons, a group they themselves founded . On this their debut single on Penrose, Bryan sings the lead with a smoky-sweet falsetto that bends tenderly from growl to howl and back again. The group takes a turn through a classic Miracles-style mid-tempo groove on the A-side, leaving you helplessly addicted to their sweet eponymous refrain, When you go that’s when you’ll know… However, it’s the B-side that prompted producer Bosco Mann to declare Bryan Ponce the most underrated singer on the scene today.

Daptone Records started up their Penrose label offshoot label this year to showcase the new soul in So-Cal (Soul-Cal?) and they didn’t hold back. Vicky Tafoya is up there at number two and here are The Altons at a solid number 10. The sweet soul falsetto will slow your life down and put you in an enviable state of mind where the rat race fades away, the sun is setting, the waves are lightly massaging the sand and you are reclined with your favourite drink taking it all in. This record really will take you there.

The Altons are a 5-piece band driven by soul and rock mixed into one sonic sound.

released April 10th, 2020

The MYSTERY LIGHTS – ” Follow Me Home “

Posted: November 24, 2016 in MUSIC
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The Mystery Lights came to be 15 years ago when L.A Solano and Mike Brandon met and formed the group at the end of their middle school era. The band broke up and got back together multiple times as members left for college and other life adventures. It wasn’t until Solano and Brandon moved to New York together seven years ago that the band started to record their music and signed with a record label. It was also in New York that The Mystery Lights locked in their current lineup, with bassist Alex Amini and drummer Zach Butler.

The four-piece released their first album this past June with Wick Records (a subsidiary of Daptone). The Mystery Lights actually toured on the self-titled album a couple of times before laying down the tracks with their label and have continued to tour since its release. The boys will be playing throughout the U.S until early December, when they will then head to Europe. Their U.S tour will include two special shows of note at The Crepe Place in Santa Cruz, where Solano and Brandon frequently played during the band’s early years.

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The Mystery Lights perform with a whole lotta heart. Lead singer Mike Brandon was truly impressive. I have never seen someone play guitar and sing while jumping three feet in the air over and over and over again. Who knew such an incredible range of motion could be contained in the smallest of spaces? After seeing one of their live shows, it’s clear how the album came to be. And although the 11-track self-titled work truly captures the band’s authentic sound, this is one act that is truly meant to be heard live.