Rock And Blues International by Rock and Blues International

AUGUST 2021

Rock And Blues International Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Laura Tate ‘Kiko & The Blues Refugees’ James The Prophet The Beach Boys and more!

Rock And Blues International August 2021 Hello Rock And Blues International readers. I hope everybody had a great July. As we’ve been telling you, concert tours are beginning to hit the road. I finally got to get out and see a concert this last month and I’m feeling so much better now. I was really going through a big funk waiting for that to happen. As I reported last month, there are a lot of great concert tours going out on the road now and I want to share those again with you. Among the festivals are the Rebel Rock Festival, Lollapalooza, Aftershock Festival, Utopiafest, 22nd Punk Rock Bowling Festival in Las Vegas, Queensryche, Night Ranger and a whole lot of other bands, not to mention the Louder Than Life Festival with Korn, Metallica, and Judas Priest. Other tours hitting the U.S. and Europe are Styx, Deep Purple with Blue Oyster Cult, Dead and Company, Megadeth with Lamb of God, Alan Parsons Project, Shinedown, Dirty Honey, Black Crowes, Ministry, Deicide, and The Dead Daisies. ShipRocked 2022 has even been announced. There’s going to be a lot of live music hitting the road before the end of the year. Be sure to check out all the tour announcements and ads in this issue. If you’re a publicist and your act doesn’t have a tour announcement in here, then you’re client is really missing out. Don’t leave them by the wayside. And now on to the Åugust issue of Rock And Blues International. In this issue you can read stories about Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Laura Tate, Kiko, James The Prophet, The Beach Boys, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, Autogamm, Ratinoff, Tony Kamel, Turnstile, Four Stroke Baron, Beyond Grace, Warning, and more! As you can see, there are a lot of varied genres of music here for you to check out, or as we like to say, there’s a little of something for everyone here. We have even included the current installment of the novella, “The Biker”. Chapter 5 is being presented here this month and we are looking forward to your feedback on it. Read it and than email us back with your thoughts on this. Should we continue it or should we scrap it? I sincerely hope that everybody reading this 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 link to the magazine 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” August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Contents

VOL. 2 NO. 1

AUGUST 2021

ISSUE NO. 13

CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM Christone “Kingfish” Ingram talks about his new Alligator Records Release 663

12 LAURA TATE

Laura Tate talks about her new live album release, Live From El Paso

Edoardo Fassio talks about Francisco “Kiko” Pereira’s new album Threadbare by Kiko & The Blues Refugees

22 JAMES THE PROPHET

KIKO

James The Prophet releases his debut album, Unimaginable Storms

40 40

THE BEACH BOYS The Beach Boys release new Box Set Feel Flows - The Sunflower & Surf’s Up Sessions 196901971

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

Contents

VOL. 2 NO. 1

AUGUST 2021

ISSUE NO. 13

CONAN GRAY Conan Gray Releases Official Music Video For “People Watching”

68 TONY KAMEL

Wood & Wire’s Tony Kamel announces his solo release Back Down Home

THE BIKER LIMITED EDITION SHORT STORY EMAIL US AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS ONE AND IF YOU WANT MORE OF THIS SERIES.

In This Issue: 6 12 18 20 22 23 26 30

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Laura Tate Steve Gilbert Vanessa Collier Kiko (English Kiko Bonfanti (Italian) Jim Morrison Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella 31 Radiant Baby 32 School of X

34 38 40 45 46 48 50 52 53 54 56

James The Prophet Autogamm Beach Boys Conan Gray Tom MacDonald Kolby Cooper Paul Leary Jasper Lotti Old Moon Four Stroke Baron The Rare Occasions

60 66 68 70 72 74 78 86 84

Turnstile Ratinoff Tony Kamel Infected Rain Beyond Grace Warning Bobby Keller Little Steven The Biker

August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Releases His Sophomore Album 662 6

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram continued from previous page By Kevin Wildman The face of the “Blues” is changing. New styles are being incorporated into it. The sounds of the traditional Blues in not necessarily being phased out as much as new influences are being phased in. More R&B, soul, and even rock are being introduced into the traditional blues sound, albeit very subtly. And now even younger audiences are being introduced to the Blues. One of the catalysts for this “new” influx in the Blues could be attributed to a young Blues performer named Christone Ingram, dubbed Christone “Kingfish” Ingram by Mississippi blues musician, Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry. Perry was a mentor to the young Christone and gave him his new nickname after playing with him a few times. Now 22, Christone is not just an overnight sensation, he has been hard at it since his early teens. By the age of 16 he was presented the prestigious “2015 Rising Star Award” by the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. Prior to that he even performed at the White House in 2014 for Michelle Obama as part of the delegation of students representing the Delta Blues Museum. It’s really no surprise as to the progress that young Kingfish has made over the last few years. He has been studying the blues for quite a while previous to those appearances and accolades. He started even long before that as he was raised on the Blues. By the time he was five years old (yes, five years old), he started becoming enamored with the ‘blues’ when his father showed him a PBS Special about Muddy Waters. This led to trips to the famous Delta Blues Museum to learn more about this great musical art form. It was there were he got his first real taste of the ‘blues’ when he started taking music lessons from Bill Perry and Richard “Daddy Rich” Crisman. He also attended Clarksdale’s Pinetop Perkins Workshop Experience every summer after that. Yes, this boy was on a roll. He started out at 6 years old playing drums. By the time he was 11 he had switched to bass and from that he later moved on to the guitar. His influences range from Robert Johnson to Lightnin’ Hopkins to BB King to Muddy Waters. It wasn’t long before he became additionally influenced by more soulful and rock performers such as Jimi Hendrix and Prince. With influences like that

behind him, it’s no surprised that his take on “the blues” took a bit more progressive turn on his life. In seventh grade, Kingfish started performing around his local town. Soon he started developing his own following, and it wasn’t long before he started performing at bigger clubs in the area, such as Red’s Lounge, the Ground Zero Blues Club, the New Roxy, and the Delta Blues Room. By 2017, he had even moved on to performing at Festivals, such as the 10th St. Louis Blues Festival.

Traditional Blues Album” at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. Actually, to say he was ‘on a roll’ is an understatement. Kingfish was soaring to new heights. continued on next page

By 2019, fate struck and young Christone “Kingfish” Ingram found himself signed to the prestigious Alligator Records, whom released his first album, Kingfish, making him one of the youngest artists ever signed to the record label. Kingfish made it to the #1 Position on both The Billboard Blues Chart and Billboard Heatseeker album chart upon it’s release. Kingfish was even nominated for a Grammy for “Best August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram continued from previous page Now, at only 22 years old, Kingfish is back with his newest Alligator Records release, 662. 662 is named after the telephone area code for the town in which he was raised, Clarksdale, Mississippi. Released just this year, 662 features 13 great songs that showcase the various influences and his take on them. While Kingfish introduced him nationally to the “Blues” community, Christone hopes the new release will really let them see his true personality in his music. “The world was introduced to me with Kingfish,” says Christone. “Now with 662, I want the world to hear and meet a different, more personal side of me. 662 is a direct reflection of my growth as a musician, a songwriter, a bandleader, and as a young man. This album was written during the pandemic, shortly after I returned home from a whirlwind year and a half touring and promoting Kingfish. It was an incredible time of change and growth, moments both good and bad, and I am a better and stronger person for it.”

Virtually almost every song on 662 was cowritten by Tom and Christone together. The union of the two of them was introduced through legendary Bluesman, Buddy Guy, as Christone explains, “Everyone knows that Mr. Guy was behind the first record and he got with Tom, so that Tom could produce this record. From day one, we got together writing songs at his house. It just clicked. It’s not the same kind of formula as Mr. Guy used, but it’s kind of close. I would tell him about things going on in my life or particular things that I wanted to write about and we’ll put our heads together and we’ll get in the writing situation. Tom was literally one of the first songwriter’s to tell me about telling a story and painting a picture when you write a song. That’s kind of what I’ve learned from the sessions and that has made me a little more prepared when I started the Zoom sessions last year and even now.”

Sessions for this album typically started with the two of them bouncing ideas off of each other. “Let me see if I can paint a Christone’s writing partner for this picture of this for you,” explains Christone. Photo Jeff other Fasano new album wasbynone than singer/ “Normally if we’re together on a Zoom songwriter/drummer Tom Hambridge. session, I’ll pick up an acoustic and if there’s 8 Rock and Blues International • August 2021

not a groove that I already have, I’ll give him one to listen to. We’ll just be humming some ideas or I’ll just play something, and he’ll say play that again and I’ll play it again and it’ll sound catchy or something… Or I’ll tell him a story and he might write a couple of lines and I contribute a little bit while I’m playing a groove in the back of it, or vice-versa. And by the end we’ll have a whole song and we’ll record it, then we’ll both lean back and listen to it.” When it comes to the lyrics on this album, the two of them work together as a team bouncing ideas off of each other until they come up with just the right phrasing and a complete thought as to where the lyrics need to go in a song. Christone tells us that this album is definitely more personal to him that the previous album was. “This is definitely my most personal one because I feel it goes a little more in depth on the things that go on in my life. The first record, Kingfish, was everything that was going on in my head, but continued on next page

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram continued from previous page it wasn’t as personal. So, this one two years later is where we wanted to showcase the growth and everything that has been going on in my life behind the guitar.” Christone tells us that one of the most personal songs on the album is the song “Another Live Goes By.” “A lot of the people, when they think about the blues,” describes Christone, “the first thing they think about is ‘my baby left me.’ But with everything that’s going on in the world today, I wanted to showcase was the protest movement, and that was something that we have to write about and talk about in the blues world. So that’s one of the biggest songs for sure and a few other ones that I’m into,” continues Christone, “are “Long Distance Woman,” “You’re Already Gone,” and some of the biographical songs like “Too Young To Remember” and a whole lot of others for sure.” Probably the most personal song on the album for Christone is the song, “Rock And Roll.” Originally written by Ashley Ray & Sean McConnell, Christone took the song and revised the lyrics as a tribute to his late mother, Princess Pride Ingram, as he explains, “We kind of revised some lyrics and made it like a tribute to my mom. I would say that this song is a real personal song for me for sure.” Another interesting song on the album, “She Calls Me Kingfish” is about a woman that seems to be stepping out on him, as Christone tells us. “It’s about a chick that I love, but she’s there, just to be there and she’s slipping out on me. She calls me Kingfish and she’s loving someone else. She’s being manipulative, but you can’t get rid of her. You just sit there and take it. That’s pretty much what “She Calls Me Kingfish” is about. She loves me and then she goes and messes around or some sort.” And then you’ve got the song, “Long Distance Woman,” a song about being on the road and leaving your woman at home. We asked Christone if it was the same woman and he laughed at told us that it could be…. “When you’re on the road… Being a musician calls for a lot of baggage. People consider us to be the type of people to have one in every town, so when you try to find that one person, that person could have that bag over your head. There could be a fight

while you’re on the road while your person is back home. When you dig older women, you can get caught up in certain situations that you maybe you ain’t supposed to be in.” For the song “Too Young To Remember,” Christone takes us down the road past the juke joints he used to frequent at a young age with his uncle. “‘Too Young Too Remember’ is pretty much about life. You know, when I was young I was going to some of the Juke Joints with my uncle who is a local bluesman in Clarksdale, taking me into some of the local Juke Joints and seeing old shacks down the highway that had like an old blues meaning to them. That’s another one that explains I’m too young too remember, but I’m definitely old enough to know about it. I wasn’t around for most of it when he was in his peak and heyday, but the more I got older, the more I learned about it, the more I know about it for sure.” For the song, “I Got To See You,” Christone delves back into those long distance romances, as he explains. “It goes back to the whole long distance thing,” Christone laughs, “I can’t get descriptive, but it goes back into the wanting to see somebody that you’re really into, but you can’t get to them. It was kind of like one of the pains of Covid and being on the road. It was one of the pains of being in that long distance relationship or whatever, not being able to see you mate.” Not every song Christone writes is about relationships. Sometime it’s just about life and the rigors of the road, such as the song “That’s What You Do.” “‘That’s What You Do” is like taking another turn,” says Christone. “It’s about the sacrifices that we go through being on the road and rushing through airports and sometimes not being

able to take a rest before a show. We have to get off the airplane and head straight to soundcheck. I wanted to show and tell about all the stuff we have to go through as a band. We’re doing it because of our love of the blues and the people. When it comes to Christone’s influences, he can’t help but acknowledge the late Robert Johnson and even Son House. These two musicians formed an indelible influence on his and his love for the Blues. “Most definitely,” explains Christone, “he was one of the first ones, him and Son House. And of course, Robert Johnson with that infamous story of his. I heard that growing up. I couldn’t help but want to know this guy and his hidden mystic. So yeah, Robert Johnson was a big influence. A lot of people don’t know that Robert Johnson was really ahead of his time. He has a legacy that will go on forever and be forever revered.” After spending a year and a half promoting his first album, young Christone “Kingfish” Ingram has found being sequestered during the Covid pandemic pretty confining. Although he was able to take some time to continue writing new songs and at times take part in some livestreams, it just hasn’t been the same as touring, He really wants to get back on the road again to promote his new album. And, as you can see here in this story, he has a lot to talk about in his relationships, experiences, and life in general that he wants to get out on stage and perform. It’s time to get back out and tour and we just can’t wait to see him back on the road again as well. The next chance you get, be sure to pick yourself up a copy of Kingfish’s new album release, 662. It’s a good one and we think you’re really going to dig every song on the album.

August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Laura Tate Releases Her New “Live” album Live From El Paso 12

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

Laura Tate continued from previous page By Kevin Wildman Texas singer Laura Tate has just released her newest album, Laura Tate Live From El Paso. This is Laura’s fifth album release following 2017s “Let’s Just Be Real.” The album was recorded live in El Paso, Texas at McKelligan Canyon. McKelligan Canyon features one of the finest natural amphitheaters located in the United States nestled in the foothills of the Franklin Mountains in El Paso. It was there where a benefit concert for the El Paso Foundation’s Laura Tate Fund for the Arts took place. The show wasn’t intended to be the catalyst for Laura’s new album, but after reviewing the recordings from the show back in Los Angeles, it just seemed like a natural thing to do. The El Paso Foundation’s Laura Tate Fund for the Arts is something that Laura holds very close to her heart. Every year they hold this charity event to help young aspiring singers and songwriters purchase much need supplies or fund other things associated with their profession. This is also something that she continues to do whenever and wherever she performs as she explains. “I was raising money for my fund, the Laura Tate Fund for the Arts through the El Paso Community Foundation, to raise money for children or young adults that can’t afford, maybe music lessons, or art supplies or singing lessons, because I struggled like the others. And I just wanted to try to give back because I know funds have been cut for art, all kinds of art. So for every concert that I do or when I make money off the album, I put some of it towards that fund, so that’s the album came about. It’s important for me to do that kind of thing.” The songs on the new album feature pretty much of a greatest hit’s collection from Laura’s four previous albums, as well as a song or two that have been crowd pleasers whenever she performs. Songs on the album range from Stephen Bruton’s “Big Top Hat” to Thin Lizzy’s, “The Boys Are Back In

Town,” which features more of a woman’s perspective on the song. Laura tells us that, “ The hard part was figuring out which tunes to put on this,” as these songs were selected from her performance there. Although the new album features 12 songs, there were more than that those twelve performed there that night. It features songs from I Must Be Dreaming, Let’s Just Be Real and the new album. “We’ve been working on some material for the next album and we threw that in as well. So I just picked things that I loved. I’ve loved to sing everything that I’ve recorded. But I sang 22 songs that night. So we were trying to figure out the best possible 12.” One of the more unusual songs on the album is Laura’s rendition of the Thin Lizzy classic, “The Boys Are back In Town.” Laura totally revamps this song where it is almost totally different and hard to distinguish between the original version with a smooth, slowed down tempo that simply puts a different take on the whole song, making it totally hers. “You know, I’ve always thought that a woman should sing it. I’ve always loved the song and I just started playing with it. I wanted to start out with the kind of slow bluesy thing and then kick in and what she’s talking about. ‘Yeah, that chick that used to dance a lot.’ So yeah, I just thought I said it would be an interesting idea to do that.” Another favorite of hers that is on the album is “No Place To Hide,” a song written by Mel Harker and Pat Schunk. Mel Harker has been a big influence on her and she even recorded a previous album of songs just by him. “I really love “No Place To Hide,” and it was written by Mel Harker. Mel Harker is a

brilliant songwriter. I had worked with him when I lived in LA, and he’s never had much success with his songs and struggles. I actually did a whole album of his songs just to try to let people know how wonderful of a writer he is. People ask me a lot, ‘do you write your own stuff. ‘ I can, but I like to feature songwriters that might never ever be heard in my small way. So I’ve always liked that song.” The two songwriters also reunite to write the song “What A Way To Go,” which also features the beautiful background vocals of Teresa James, Terry Wilson, and Jeff Paris. She also selected the song, “I’ll Find Someone Who Will,” which was actually written by two of the people in her band, Teresa James and Terry Wilson. Terry also co-wrote another song that was included on this album, “Can’t Say No.” On another song, Mel Harker and Blues guitarist and songwriter Doug MacLeod teamed up to write the soulful, “Still Got The Blues.” And once you hear this song, you’ll agree, Laura definitely has a lot of Blues in her soul. Also included in this release are a couple of Stephen Bruton songs. They are “Big Top Hat,” and “Nobody Gets Hurt.” “Big Top Hat” was written by Stephen Bruton,” explains Laura. “Stephen Bruton was a great songwriter and he unfortunately passed away

continued on next page August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Laura Tate continued from previous page several years ago, I was fortunate to have met him and listened to his music and so I wanted to do that song. “Big Top Hat” is pretty fun and I know he would have loved it. He also co-wrote “Nobody Gets Hurt.” He was really a nice talented good-looking guy. Its too bad cancer took him away from us.” Another slight departure on the album is the song, “Cowboy Jazz.” When’s the last time you heard an album with a yodel on it. This one definitely sticks out in this great repertoire. 14

“That’s another one that Mel Harker wrote,” says Laura. “I love that one too… It’s the yodeling that got me,” she laughs. Reaching back in for another great Blues song to put on this album, Laura selected the Irma Thomas song, “Hittin’ On Nothing,” that was penned by Naomi Neville. “I like to listen to old Blues singers songs. I just ran across it. ‘I’m hitting on nothing unless you got something for me.’ It’s just not a fun song to sing but always gets kind of a

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

laugh. So I think it’s cute. That’s why I recorded it,” remarks Laura. Terry Wilson teamed up with Jeff Paris to write the song, “If that Ain’t Love.” Jeff is another veteran of Laura’s band. “‘If That ain’t love,’” says Laura. “Yeah, that’s another Terry and Jeff song. A lot of these songs are about really, when I think about all, these songs, are about relationships, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. So, now that I think about continued on next page

LauraTate continued from previous page it, they all have something to do with a relationship of some kind. So I know I’ve been around with relationships. I finally got a good one though.” Another great experience for Laura to come out of this album is her two nominations for the Independent Blues Awards for “Best Live CD” and “Best R&B Song” for “I Need A Man.” “I feel so humbled and honored to be included,” says Laura, “ in this list of people and I just am amazed. I mean, I got a call saying that you’ve been nominated for these Awards and I was like, oh, Lord! You know, you work so hard for so many years and it’s so much and you finally kind of feel validated that you’re doing the right thing. I just think it’s wonderful to be nominated. If would be great to win,” she laughs. “I was just floored, but we’ll see what happens, but just being nominated is an honor for me.” She is especially surprised, yet

happy for the song that was selected for the Best R&B nomination, “I Need A Man.” “I think that’s just a cool song,” continues Laura, “and the way it was recorded that night came out really well. And I’m just excited about it, really excited about it. So I think that’s probably the bluesiest one, other than “Still Got The Blues.” Laura tells us that the recording and release of her new album, Laura Tate - Live From El Paso has really kept her spirits up, especially after having to sit through the Coronavirus Pandemic. She tells us that she waited things out by working on her new music and cooking a lot. She loves to cook. In fact, she had just started a new cooking show called Laura Tate’s Table when the Pandemic hit and now it is on hold for a while. Laura is indeed amazed and honored by all the response that the new album has received so far and her wishes

are that, “I just want them to know that I how much I love every song on there and every writer that’s involved. I have a relationship with them and how honored I am that it’s gotten the attention that it has. I couldn’t have been more humbled, and thrilled by it. And it’s like, ‘they really like me.’ I don’t know what I was expecting, but I’m damned grateful and honored and I hope it keeps going and I hope the next album will go as well. And I appreciate the people that help us get going now. I think it’s great. I’m honored.” Be sure to check out Laura Tate’s new album, “Live From El Paso.” The album features 12 fantastic vocal performances from Laura featuring some great R&B, Blues, and Rock songs, not to mention a great yodeling segment on a cool Country song. There’s a little something for everybody on this new album. Check it out today!

August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

16 Rock and Blues International • July 2021

August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

History - Blues Artist Songwriter Steve Gilbert Recalls Meeting Texas Guitar Slinger Joe “Guitar” Hughes

Like so many artists years ago Steve Gilbert left Texas for the bright lights of the Los Angeles night club scene. He played the clubs until 1998 and then returned to his beloved Houston where blues had originated in his life. It was here that Steve would see an old concert poster that included the late, great Joe “Guitar” Hughes. Steve harbored a great respect for Mr. Hughes and kept the poster. As luck would have it Steve learned the Joe would be performing nearby and made sure he attended that evening. The master did not disappoint and his student was mesmerized and then it happened. As Steve went outside for a bit of fresh air there was Joe Hughes visiting with fans and signing autographs. Quick thinking Steve remembered the poster and it was in his trunk. He went to get it and returned with pen in hand. He approached Mr. Hughes and proudly declared that this was his poster and asked if the bluesman would autograph it

for him. Without missing a beat Joe told Steve in front of everyone that he never played that bill and Steve felt very embarrassed, however, Joe smiled and took the poster from Steve and signed it. To this day that poster is hung in Steve’s home with the fond memory of the bizarre twist that occurred and how Joe brought a good end to a rather strange evening. Steve Gilbert picked up his first guitar at age six. It was an acoustic six string purchased at Sears, a Stella Harmony. Today, the man performs with a modified Epiphone and soon will be performing at The Big easy in Houston Texas. He recorded his most recent album “Hempstead Highway” in Houston co producing with Texas music legend Rock “Dr. Rocket” Romano. In fact track six Steve’s rendition of “If Trouble Was Money” by Albert Collins

is currently producing notable online sales. Steve slows the number down and takes his time presenting it which really accents the topic exceedingly well. There is a definite Texas feel to all of the songs Steve Gilbert performs and that feeling is deeply rooted within due to the influences of T Bone Walker, Joe “Guitar” Hughes and Jimmie Vaughn. He’s been on such top blues radio programs as Howlin’ The Blues hosted by James and Coleen Nagel and Blues On The Move with show hosts Mr. and Mrs. V. The cool thing about Steve Gilbert’s originals is that they are hard 18

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

for to pigeon hole in regard to sub-genre. Steve writes from the heart based on a lifetime of personal experiences and while some are slightly veiled true stories others are so real that he masks them with metaphors, different locations, dates and times. He may remember something that occurred in his past, either to himself or to someone he knew. He casually writes the memory down on scratch paper. In a day or two he goes back to the scratch pad, sits down, and the song comes together. Currently Steve is writing the lyrics and music for an upcoming album and now that the pandemic may have settled down Steve will be performing in greater Houston in the near future. To learn more about Steve Gilbert - Steve Gilbert (stevegilbertmusic.com)

continued on next page August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Blues Sax Queen Vanessa Collier Back On Tour 20

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

Blues Sax Queen Vanessa Collier Back On Tour “There’s a young lady [Vanessa Collier] came onstage with me, I forget where I was, but she’s playing an alto saxophone, and man, she was amazing.” Buddy Guy Vanessa Collier, acclaimed soulful blues singer/saxophonist is back on tour. Last month she kicked off her tour by performing at a fund-raising, Pre-Lima Crossroads Festival Concert under the Big Tent, West Stage, at Fanatics Pub,Thursday, July 29. As a seven-time Blues Music Award (BMA) nominee and a two-time BMA Award Winner for Horn Player of the Year (2020 & 2019), Vanessa Collier is excited to kick off her 2021 tour in support of her critically acclaimed, self-produced fourth album, 2020 release, Heart on the Line. In addition to her BMA awards, Vanessa is also a multi award-winning songwriter, master musician, and multi-instrumentalist, known for seamlessly weaving together funk, soul, rock, and blues styles through soulful vocals, searing saxophone solos, and witty songwriting skills. With her career still in its infancy, Vanessa has already turned many heads, garnering tremendous accolades for her trademark high energy, powerful, fiery, and passionate live shows. Collier started playing saxophone in the fourth grade and was in every school, all-county, and all-state band possible, while also playing AAU basketball, lettering all four years on her varsity basketball team, and graduating high school with honors. After high school, Vanessa earned a scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where she graduated with dual degrees in Performance and Music Production &; Engineering. Since graduating from Berklee, Vanessa has toured extensively, both nationally and internationally, and has released three critically acclaimed albums prior to Heart on the Line: 2014’s Heart, Soul & Saxophone; 2017’s Meeting My Shadow; and 2018’s Honey Up. Honey Up spent nine weeks on the Top 15 Billboard Charts, three months on the Living Blues Report, and is currently spinning on Sirius XM radio. Vanessa says she’s happy performing on stages across the world, hoping that she can make a difference with fans and followers along the way. “I am driven to do this because I find it a total form of expression and connection,” she explains. “I love connecting with an audience and feeling their energy and I hope to inspire people to follow their dreams and passions, to find what brings them joy, and then to pursue it doggedly.” Vanessa also takes that message to young people as she runs clinics across the country and is active with Blues in the Schools programs. At a recent Blues in the School program, Vanessa invited a stage full of elementary and middle school aged kids up to dance around her while she performed a blues shuffle. Watching the joy on the faces of Vanessa, the kids, and everyone in the auditorium, it is no wonder why Vanessa has become awe-inspiring to all who meet her. On top of talent and hard work, Vanessa shares an incredible heart and a strong purpose. To borrow from the words of an article in Blues Blast Magazine, “Vanessa is an important part of the future of the blues, and it would be cool too support her journey.”

PHOTO BY MARTIN GOETTSCH “Heart On The Line”: What The Press Is Saying “On Heart on the Line, Collier’s sax playing is beautifully smooth and mercurial, timed to perfection on her brief solo, utilized powerfully elsewhere to push and lift. Throughout this set, Collier’s band are dynamic, sympathetic and inventive. Heart on the Line is not only the product of a worthy, committed individual, it is a fine blues-rock album which you should definitely check out.” AMERICAN BLUES SCENE “Heart on the Line features Collier’s sax playing, beautifully smooth and mercurial, timed to perfection on her brief solo, utilized powerfully elsewhere to push and lift. Collier gives much to the blues, not only via her music, but also through clinics which she runs as part of the “Blues in the Schools” project. Heart on the Line is not only the product of a worthy, committed individual, it is a fine blues-rock album which you should definitely check out.” ROCK AND BLUES MUSE “Heart on the Line is Collier’s fourth album, and it makes clear why she has won the admiration not only of Joe Louis Walker, but also of Buddy Guy, who referred to her as “amazing”. She tells a good story and plays with a good deal of energy, whether she’s playing soul or blues. On top of that, she adds vocals that are both strong and smooth. This is not only a showcase for excellent musicians, but also the soundtrack to a good time.” GLIDE MAGAZINE “Leave Your Hat On” - From Heart On The Line - Watch at https://youtu.be/o7BgwxXlUDg Vanessa Collier “Heart On The Line” - Summer 2021 Tour Itinerary Aug 1 (Sun) Aug 2 (Mon) Aug 3 (Tues) Aug 14 (Sat) Aug 15 (Sun)

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www.vanessacollier.com www.facebook.com/music.vanessacollier www.twitter.com/vcolliersax www.instagram.com/v_ness_sax/?hl=en August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

video

Kiko: seeking a refuge for the blues By Edoardo Fassio Francisco “Kiko” Pereira, leader of Kiko & the Blues Refugees, lives in Vila Nova de Gaia. Located on the estuary of the Duero river, a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean, it is part of the metropolitan area of Porto; after Lisbon, it is the second largest city in Portugal. Portuguese by family, Kiko was born in Newark (NJ); he leads one of the most interesting contemporary blues outfits in the far west of Europe, but he does not think of himself as a bluesman. A vocalist endowed with culture and charm, a composer and a music instructor, he rather belongs to the area of avant-garde jazz, where he has built a solid reputation in his country. One of his albums, released in 2012 under the name of Jazz Refugees, provides him the opportunity to baptize the current quintet, with António Mão de Ferro, guitars; Jorge Filipe Santos, keyboards; Carl Minnemann, bass and João Castro Cunha, drums. “I liked the name so much I wanted to keep it alive”, maintains Pereira. “It relates to struggle and need, all those who are refugees escape from their home and travel looking for a better life. We are not a blues band in the traditional setting”, he admits. “We are all citizens in this dimension called music and we, too, sometimes escape to look for happiness in other styles that can convey our feelings in a more honest and genuine way”. The idea derives from “Refuge of the Roads”, a 1976 song by Joni Mitchell, one of the artistic icons he loves most. Versatility and unpredictability are the calling cards of Kiko and the guys, augmented by highprofile guest musicians, such as steel guitar ace BJ Cole (formerly with Elton John, Scott Walker, Bjork, R.E.M. and Depeche Mode) or songstress , co-starring in the duet “Sittin’ and Wishin’”. Threadbare, a surprising debut album, is inhabited by all-original songs, where the blues updates its vocabulary. Pereira discusses “Fake News” in a soulful and politically aware way, ventures, sounding like a suburban garage-rocker, into “Poor Man’s Justice”, and is not afraid to juxtapose a jazz lounge hipster lexicon and tone to uneasy subjects. He does exactly so in the jump blues “Too Lazy To Be A Nice Guy” and in the powerful “Sugar For Your Instagram”, where, speaking of the “refugees”, he blames the indifference of the well-fed Western middle classes. His best lies in “Giver”: inspired by James Baldwin, it conveys Curtis Mayfield’s timings, falsetto and apprehensions in a conformist, postmodern world, where “the givers just try, but know it’s not enough”. https://kikoandthebluesrefugees.bandcamp.com/releases 22

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Kiko: cercando un rifugio per il blues By Edoardo Fassio Francisco “Kiko” Pereira, leader di Kiko & the Blues Refugees, vive a Vila Nova de Gaia. Situata sull’estuario del fiume Duero, a un tiro di sasso dall’oceano Atlantico, fa parte dell’area metropolitana di Oporto; dopo Lisbona, è la seconda città del Portogallo. Kiko è nato a Newark, nel New Jersey; guida una delle più interessanti formazioni di blues contemporaneo dell’estremo occidente d’Europa, ma non si ritiene un bluesman. Cantante dotato di cultura e fascino, compositore e insegnante di musica, appartiene piuttosto all’area del jazz d’avanguardia, sotto le cui insegne si è costruito una solida fama nel suo paese. Uno dei suoi album, uscito nel 2012 a nome dei Jazz Refugees, fornisce lo spunto per battezzare l’attuale quintetto, con António Mão de Ferro, chitarre; Jorge Filipe Santos, tastiere; Carl Minnemann, basso e João Castro Cunha, batteria. “Mi piaceva il nome, così l’ho ripreso”, sostiene Pereira. “Ha a che fare con la lotta, lo stato di bisogno, con i profughi in fuga da casa alla ricerca di una vita migliore”. E precisa: “noi non siamo una blues band di impostazione tradizionale. Così, anche noi a volte emigriamo alla ricerca della felicità in altri mondi musicali. Siamo tutti cittadini di questa dimensione che chiamiamo musica, dove vaghiamo per necessità”. Un concetto espresso da uno dei suoi più amati riferimenti artistici, Joni Mitchell, in “Refuge of the Roads”, un brano del 1976. Versatilità e imprevedibilità sono le coordinate di Kiko e dei suoi, a cui si aggiungono ospiti di alto profilo, come il campione della steel guitar BJ Cole (già con Elton John, Scott Walker, Bjork, R.E.M. e Depeche Mode) o la sciantosa Marta Ren, coprotagonista dell’elastico duetto “Sittin’ and Wishin’”. L’album Threadbare, un debutto sorprendente, è popolato da tracce autografe, dove il blues aggiorna il suo vocabolario. Pereira discute in modo soulful e politicamente consapevole di “Fake News”, si avventura, come un garagerocker di periferia, nella “Poor Man’s Justice”, e non teme di accostare un lessico e una metrica da hipster da jazz lounge a discorsi scomodi. Avviene nel jump blues “Too Lazy To Be A Nice Guy” e nel potente “Sugar For Your Instagram”, dove, a proposito dei “refugees”, denuncia l’indifferenza delle middle class occidentali. Il brano migliore della selezione è “Giver”; ispirato da James Baldwin, vi rivivono il falsetto, le scansioni e i timori di Curtis Mayfield in un mondo postmoderno e benpensante, dove “i donatori ci provano, ma sanno che non basta”. https://kikoandthebluesrefugees.bandcamp.com/releases August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

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Jim Morrison: Still Hot, Still Sexy and Still Dead - 50 Years Gone By Kyle K. Mann The winner of the psychedelic ‘60s was James Douglas Morrison. Fifty years after his inexplicable and tragic death in Paris, he looms large over the history of the era as a legend of impeccable credentials. Morrison’s vocals as frontman for the Doors are instantly recognizable. They remain in rock music heritage as a monument of originality and expression. Celebrated by aging Boomers and well-regarded by today’s younger generations, as well as honored not only in his own culture but around the globe, he commands solid respect a full half-century later. Certainly his looks, especially in his early career, were in the top rank of the era’s rock superstars. They also remain instantly recognizable. His iconic appearance is another facet of Morrison’s position in the top rank of the legendary, taking his place with Marilyn Monroe and Elvis. But none of that is why he wins 26

the ‘60s. It’s his integrity. He never once sold out. His towering rage on being

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

informed that the other Doors had sold their number one hit, “Light My Fire,” for a Buick television commercial, is a landmark of the entire era. Morrison threatened to destroy a Buick with a sledgehammer onstage, and the car company got the message and backed out of the deal. It was Morrison who had insisted not only that their musical profits be equally divided, but additionally that everyone in the Doors get a veto on band decisions. That veto came in handy when drummer John Densmore, true to his vocalist’s wishes, later put a halt on the efforts to monetize the Doors’ music in the decades after Morrison’s death. And it was Morrison who insisted on the band’s management being fired, and fired at once, when it was proposed to Morrison privately that he leave the Doors and establish a solo career for more money. Morrison continued on next page

Jim Morrison continued from previous page immediately informed his band mates. Unlike Janis Joplin and other rock stars, Jim Morrison stayed with the guys who got him there. Morrison also was the first rock star to be arrested onstage, in the infamous New Haven incident in which he taunted the police officer who had maced him backstage earlier that evening. But as huge as those factors all were, there is a moment in rock and roll history that stands as the ultimate tribute to the enduring legendary dominance of Jim Morrison. It can be argued that the Beatles started the Sixties in the U.S.A. with their appearance on the premiere television venue in North America, the Ed Sullivan Show, a show, which was squeaky clean. Sullivan had famously refused to display Elvis Presley from the waist down. Admittedly, there wasn’t much The King could do about that. However, the Rolling Stones had caved on changing their lyrics on their hit ‘Let’s Spend the Night Together’ to let’s spend some “TIME” together. Mick Jagger rolled his eyes in the Ed Sullivan TV performance, but he complied. A colossal failure by the Stones, in retrospect. Jim Morrison sang “Girl, we couldn’t get much higher” on Ed Sullivan, despite being told not to. And that, dear readers, is Integrity. Ray Manzarek, Doors’ keyboardist, claimed credit for the decision to agree that the Doors would change the Robby Krieger lyrics to

their runaway hit, then go ahead and sing the lyric as it was. Maybe so, but it was Morrison who sang it. And it was Morrison who faced down an enraged producer afterwards, shrugging off their banishment from further Ed Sullivan appearances with the historic line “Hey man, we just DID the Ed Sullivan Show.” The ultimate badass response. The Doors’ last appearance onstage was in December 1970. Morrison recorded his final album, “L.A. Woman,” in the following months, then died his mysterious Paris death on July 3, 1971, elevating him to Rock Sainthood. Many singers have attempted to follow his act, but few have even come close. It’s crucial to remember that Jim Morrison was an originator. No one was doing what he and the Doors did before them. Yes, the power of his charisma remains untoppable. But many have that attribute. It’s his rebellious moral

superiority, which is supreme. His failings are legendary as well. He was reportedly a mean drunk, capable of shocking and insulting statements. And then there’s the whole “whipped out his dick” thing. Did he really expose himself onstage in Miami? The rest of the Doors say no, and they were onstage with him. No pictures exist. But audio of the event is painful. Morrison, bored and weary of the demands of fame, wanted out. His screaming at the audience and disrupting the performance effectively ended the Doors as a live band. I contend that long after the last person to see Jim Morrison onstage dies off, rock music lovers will still be listening to and discussing him. So let’s say thanks to Morrison, fifty years after his death. Though there is dispute about it, the epitaph written in ancient Greek on his tombstone by his father is usually translated as “True to his own spirit.” Good job, Jim. Fifty years later… You still win. Kyle K. Mann Topanga June 27, 2021 (Originally Posted in Gonzotoday.com)

Rock And Blues International August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

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years ago this year. A string of further acclaimed releases including “I Know I Have A Heart,” “Far Too Late” and “Marry For Love” have already amassed over 5 million streams and 1 million video views.

Polydor Records / UMe Release The Full Album Of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s New Musical Cinderella Polydor Records/UMe has released the full album of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella. The album, written and produced during lockdown in the UK, features voices from the cast of the new musical, as well as high-profile guest vocalists including TODRICK HALL and ADAM LAMBERT. Todrick Hall contributes his unique version of ‘’Only You, Lonely You’’ – originally sung by cast member Ivano Turco – as a bonus track. “Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella” hosted its world premiere at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on 20th July. Cinderella is a new romantic musical comedy based on an original story by 2021 OSCAR® winner EMERALD FENNELL (“Promising Young Woman”) and lyrics by Tony & Olivier award winner DAVID ZIPPEL (“City of Angels”). LAURENCE CONNOR (“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “School of Rock”) directs, with choreography by JOANN M. HUNTER.

March 2020 and continued through lockdown with Andrew Lloyd Webber recording artists remotely and producing the majority of the score from his home. The recording process continued with socially distanced studio sessions at Abbey Road in London. The debut single from the album, “Bad Cinderella,” was released in October last year. This single, the first new material released by Andrew Lloyd Webber in five years, was performed by Carrie Hope Fletcher, who stars as Cinderella. She has starred in “Heathers” (Theatre Royal Haymarket), “The Addams Family” (UK Tour), “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” (UK Tour), “Mary Poppins” (Prince Edward Theatre), and most recently played Fantine in “Les Miserables” at the Sondheim Theatre. She is also a bestselling author and social media personality.

The release of this album mirrors Andrew Lloyd Webber’s creation of a concept album for “Jesus Christ Superstar” Recording for the album began in before the show even debuted exactly 50 Rock and Blues International • August 2021

The full tracklisting for Cinderella is revealed below: TRACKLIST ACT I Buns ‘N’ Roses It Has To Be Her Bad Cinderella So Long Unfair Unbreakable Hunks’ Song Man’s Man So Long (Reprise) / Introduction To Only You Lonely You Only You, Lonely You The Queen’s Boudoir In The Palace I Know You I Know You (Reprise) The Village Square Unfair (Reprise) The Godmother’s Shop Beauty Has A Price ACT II Fanfare The Cinderella Waltz The Ball I Know I Have A Heart Act 2 Scene 2 I Am No Longer Me Moment of Triumph What Were You Thinking? /Introduction To Far Too Late Far Too Late Ego Has A Price (Reprise) The Wedding Fanfare The Wedding March The Ceremony The Vanquishing of the Three-Headed Sea Witch Man’s Man (Reprise) Marry For Love Cinderella’s Soliloquy The Wedding Party Finale BONUS TRACKS Marry for Love (Full Version / Bonus Track) Only You, Lonely You (US Single Version / Bonus Track) Official trailer for Cinderella here at https://youtu.be/1lv184ol0RE Website: www.andrewlloydwebberscinderella.com Facebook: @ALWCinderella Twitter: @ALWCinderella LISTINGS INFORMATION CINDERELLA Written by Emerald Fennell Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics by David Zippel Directed by Laurence Connor Choreography by JoAnn M Hunter

Radiant Baby shares “This Dream”, which Under The Radar praised the track for its full-band setup, “matching Mongeon’s standout vocal performance with jittery guitar lines and earworm synth melodies.” The guitar sets a frantic pace on “This Dream”, while the keyboards fuel the dramatic melody. “This Dream” evokes an intense state of euphoria. The night seems perfect. Wishing to never face reality, the protagonist prays for this ephemeral moment to be the last. The lyrics “I wish we could turn the clock” illustrate the dream of reliving an ideal moment over and over again,” explains Radiant Baby. The music is covered with a subtle veil of reverb, as the energetic bassline and drum performance drive the bridge and propel the song until the end. Born and raised in Montreal, Radiant Baby, aka Felix Mongeon, started producing music in the summer of 2013, a few months into his PhD in psychology. He taught himself music production on Ableton and created a few instrumental tracks, which he later brought into a live setting. But after a handful of sets, he wanted to communicate his energy more directly with the audience. He started to sing on a few of his songs and Radiant Baby was officially born in 2015. It’s My Party, his first EP dropped in 2017, followed by his debut LP Restless, both via Lisbon Lux Records. On his second and upcoming LP Pantomime, Radiant Baby combines contemporary electronic sounds with 70s vintage influences, reminiscent of such artists as Bowie, Blondie, Suicide, Pulp and Serge Gainsbourg. The album will be released on September 24, 2021 via Lisbon Lux Records.

Radiant Baby Shares New Single “This Dream” + Video Pantomine LP Out 9/24 On Lisbon Lux

LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Radiant Baby - “This Dream” YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSJSY544xzg Stream https://idol.lnk.to/ThisDream LINKS Facebook 2 @ https://www.facebook.com/radiantbaby/ Twitter @ https://tellallyourfriendspr.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=63f1674ecdb2a4574b77e600b&id=4e3ca0b872&e=28146e6e7b YouTube @ https://tellallyourfriendspr.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=63f1674ecdb2a4574b77e600b&id=a913f73344&e=28146e6e7b SoundCloud @ https://tellallyourfriendspr.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=63f1674ecdb2a4574b77e600b&id=8a8580705c&e=28146e6e7b Bandcamp @ https://radiantbaby.bandcamp.com/music Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/radiantbaby.fgm/?hl=en August 2021 • Rock and Blues International 31

Photo cred: Ariana Molly

Danish multi-instrumentalist Rasmus Littauer is hitting his stride under the moniker School of X—honing in on his honest expression while simultaneously expanding in every direction. After breakout alt-pop EPs Faded. Dream. (2017), Destiny (2019) and the debut album Armlock (2020), School of X dips his toes into the realms of hip-hop, experimental, singer-songwriter and more, emerging with an ambitious, timeless indie-pop sound on his new album Dancing Through The Void. More than a collection of diverse indie-pop songwriting, Dancing Through the Void is also a message to have self-confidence— and Littauer is walking the walk. “A friend asked whether I worry about making it sound like one album from the same artist, and not 11 different-sounding songs.” It’s a worry that Littauer can relate to; of not fitting in. ““Bag of Bones (feat. Liss)” [the band of recently deceased and beloved lead singer Søren Holm] is about how I sometimes felt like a nobody in my younger years, in a town where football and scooters were high status and playing an instrument was nerdy.” But through reflection comes renewed security: “I’m confident that I could have a techno track and a classical piece on the same album” he says. “Dancing Through the Void is an ode to live and be exactly who you are no matter the noise that surrounds you.”

School of X (Danish/Indie Pop/ Rock/NPR Music/ Rolling Stone) ‘Dancing Through the Void’ LP Out September 24 LISTEN & SHARE School of X - Dancing Through the Void Stream @ https://tambou.lnk.to/TAMB313 School of X - “Feel of It” [Official Music Video] Youtube @ https://youtu.be/50i6DWseHe0

In a year of noise and interruption, Littauer—who has spent most of the past decade touring and working with artists such as Liss, Clairo, Deb Never and MØ as well as on his own music—has been affected more than most. Still, the past year’s global interruptions are the least significant of his recent life changes. “This year I became a father. It makes my thoughts go around and around about my own childhood and how I was raised. You notice a lot of things you want to do differently than your parents, and maybe some things you want to do the same. I also think a lot about the world I’m putting my child into. He will encounter the whole spectrum of emotions and experiences, and it’ll be fun and hard. At times he will be dancing through the void and at times he will be in the void, and so on. I wrote “If You’re Ever Gonna Be Like Me’’ the day I found out I was going to have a baby. It’s written to him as a promise that I’ll always be there.” Dancing Through the Void features Clairo collaborator Kim Tee on “Heart Turned Cold” and Danish band Liss on “Bag of Bones”. “Race for Caress” and “Feel of It” introduce School of X’s first foray into the world of lighthearted, backbeat indie-pop, while every next song on the album oozes with the confidence to try a new spin on his timeless songwriting. Dancing Through the Void - Tracklisting 1. Believe It 2. New Friend 3. Away 4, Heart Turned Cold (feat. Kim Tee) 5. Race for Caress 6. You Will Be Mine 7. Bag of Bones (feat. Liss) 8. Feel of It 9. 1989 10. Modest 11. If You’re Ever Gonna Be Like Me Contact School Of X Online

School of X - “Away” [Brodie Sessions] Youtube @ https://youtu.be/dk99D5WN5Hk

Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/schoolofx Website @ https://schoolofx.org

School of X - “Away” Stream @ https://tambou.lnk.to/TAMB312 School of X - “Away” [Official Music Video] Youtube @ https://youtu.be/hGCwy3FvrGU 32

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/school-of-x/1237113429 Bandcamp @ https://schoolofx.bandcamp.com Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/schoolofx/

June 2021 • Rock and Blues International 39

French-American Hip Hop Artist James The Prophet Shares Powerful debut LP ‘Unimaginable Storms’ With his debut album Unimaginable Storms out Friday via Sony Music / Rupture, rising 20-year-old rapper James The Prophet unveiled a final preview with a soulful, autobiographical new single“Up & Down.” Amidst a backdrop of richly colored beats blending jazz, soul, funk, and old school hip hop, this new album is eclectic, but unswerving in its consistency – holding 10 tracks on which James graciously slows the torrent of his demons and visions. Socially conscious, insightful singles like jazz-funk banger “Power On” ( https://jamestheprophet.lnk.to/poweron ),towering Trumpism protest song “G.O.P” ( https://youtu.be/4SD1iiLoSE0 ) ft. French platinum artist Kalash Criminel, “Get it Right” (https://open.spotify.com/track/5qOi9JSbpAtoVYFILIw7ED?si=0cc615633ad6465d) and “The Truth” ( https://open.spotify.com/track/7heLgThLy1cktQDqpOhkbC?si=6c2a08a4de544f9f ) offered a sample of why James’ chameleonic flow has launched a meteoric rise in France (hip-hop’s second biggest market). A pair of introspective lo-fi cuts released in June like “Tobago” ( https://jamestheprophet.lnk.to/tobago ) ft. Chester Watson and “Sentinel” ( https://jamestheprophet.lnk.to/sentinel ) ft. UK rapper Lord Apex have further cemented James’ status as an ascendant global talent not to be missed. In a genre that can be driven so much by ego, James’ more reflective bars are what set him apart. “It’s important to be real. My sensitivity is my strength,” he says. “When I started rapping it was really about my emotions. It was so much easier to express myself in verse – like therapy, I guess. We should teach men to be more open and less about toxic masculinity.” The album’s title then is a nod to the fact that beyond what may be apparent visibly, everyone is dealing with their private crises. “‘Unimaginable Storms’ represents the idea you could be six feet away from someone and have no idea what they’re going through. I thought the idea was something anyone can relate to – not knowing what the person opposite you is thinking or feeling,” he explains. 40 Rock and Blues International •• November 34 August 2021 2020

French-American Hip Hop Artist James The Prophet Shares Powerful Autobiographical Single “Up & Down” at https://jamestheprophet.lnk.to/upanddown Debut LP Unimaginable Storms Out On (Sony Music / Rupture) at https://jamestheprophet.lnk.to/unimaginablestorms-album Triple citizenship has given O’Brien an outsider status befitting his prophetic moniker: one foot in all three cultures, at home in none. Unimaginable Storms is a similarly paradoxical album — at once visceral and inviting, silky-smooth and barbed, amorous and anxious, melancholy and spirited, cool and gloomy, discreet and sometimes exposed. James was recently contacted by the French Embassy in Houston, TX to record a performance and conversation with the platinum rapper Bun B, which aired on June 21 for Fête de la musique, France’s World Music Day here at https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=569895307337503&ref=watch_permalink. Following last year’s We Love Green festival with Young Thug, Lana Del Rey & Bad Bunny, he’ll be opening up for hip hop legend Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) soon. James’ early freestyle went viral after being shared by the country’s biggest rapper Booba. He went on to share stages with all-timers like The Pharcyde, appearing on France 24, Vanity Fair, GQ and beyond. In 2018, James was a promise, a future conjugated in the present tense, the kid no one saw coming who had what it takes to break the status quo: the petty habits of a rap scene fast-gentrifying. With Summer Archives ( https://open.spotify.com/album/4ZQGZlfulMNEano61OWVtg?si=ixzbpwnST0yL6ThThnaMQA ), his first mixtape for Rupture, James The Prophet dug deep, probing his guts and thoughts in an act of explosive intimacy. Maybe James wasn’t yet a prophet in his country, but his name started to circulate. The follow-up, Unimaginable Storms is here, bringing with it the hint of a new generational voice in the global hip hop world.

August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Rock and Blues International • June 2021

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Rock and Blues International • February 2021

December 2020 • Rock and Blues International

Photographer credit: Chris Joao

Autogamm Take You On A Journey Through Berlin With New Video-Single “I Am A Situation” Watch the Video for “I am a Situation” https://youtu.be/JozKtg5V6ak Stream “No Rules” https://ffm.to/no-rules Autogramm, the synth-driven, power-pop trio from Chicago and Vancouver have premiered a new video for their latest single via Louder Than War. “I Am A Situation”, created by Berlin film maker and artist Dana Tucker (Peaches/Saskia Hahn) is featured on the band’s sophomore album, No Rules via Nevado Records. The black and white video portrays a Kraftwerk-like, day in the life of actress Kim Kraczon in midpandemic Berlin. The video echoes the sentiment of the song’s despondent lyrics. Discussing the video bassist C.C. Voltage admits, “we originally wanted to have friends from all over the globe filming parts in their respective cities, but we ended up asking people to delay their parts due to the virus. We were surprised and delighted that Kim and Dana filmed in Berlin regardless.” Regarding the message behind the lyrics, drummer The Silo explains “I wrote the lyrics to Situation a little more than a year ago, right at the beginning of the COVID pandemic lockdown. It was perhaps for the first time in a long while seeing myself at a distance. These very unusual events can force us to re-evaluate our lives in a way that life as usual tends to blind us to. I was thinking about how a person’s life can appear from the outside to be so settled, ideal, in the right place, while on the inside they may be struggling, drifting, gone awry. This sort of thing tends to be exacerbated by our 38 Rock and Blues International • August 2021

Photo Credit: Chuck Schmidt Staub

suddenly very isolated lives, when all we get to see from our friends and loved ones is an idyllic representation that we’re fed through social media. Not everyone is comfortable sharing their fears and struggles in the public forum. So this song is just an acknowledgement of my own fucked-up-ness at that time, and also a reminder to really check in with your friends, because they may be having a hard time, despite appearances.” Order New Album “No Rules” https://autogramm.bandcamp.com/album/no-rules-2 Marx, bassist CC Voltage, and Chicago-based drummer The Silo, draw on influences from The Cars, The Go Go’s, Gary Numan, 20/20 and Devo. Along with calling Canada, the U.S., UK and Germany home at various points, the band also has a long-standing connection to the art, punk, and skateboarding communities world-wide. No Rules keeps with the band’s tradition of crafting singalong pop-anthems, while adding angular elements that are reminiscent of Ghost in the Machine-era Police. For the band, the album title refers less to a no-gods-no-masters set of rules as it does to a no boundaries aspiration. Instead of building walls, they want to build bridges. DISCOVER Website:https://www.autogramm.band/ Bandcamp:https://autogramm.bandcamp.com/releases Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/autogrammband/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/autogrammband/ Twitter:https://twitter.com/Autogrammband Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Yq0GO9ZFd9aK9iKEVNe6D Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM-YkwLUwK8r5UDgRgTnlog

June 2021 • Rock and Blues International 45

THE BEACH BOYS SHARE TWO UNRELEASED TRACKS FROM FORTHCOMING NEW BOX SET, FEEL FLOWS – THE SUNFLOWER & SURF’S UP SESSIONS 1969-1971: A CAPPELLA OF “SURF’S UP” AND NEWLY CREATED ALTERNATE VERSION OF “THIS WHOLE WORLD” 5CD COLLECTION INCLUDES NEW REMASTERS OF ORIGINAL ALBUMS AND BOASTS 135 TRACKS INCLUDING 108 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS, LIVE RECORDINGS, DEMOS, ALTERNATE VERSIONS AND MIXES, INSTRUMENTALS AND A CAPPELLA TRACKS

AVAILABLE AUGUST 27 VIA CAPITOL/UMe 40

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

Pre-order Feel Flows – The Sunflower and Surf’s Up Sessions 19691971 at https://thebeachboys.lnk.to/FeelFlowsPhysicalPR Stream/share “Surfs Up” (A Cappella) & “This Whole World” (Alternate Ending) at https://thebeachboys.lnk.to/FeelFlowsPR The Beach Boys forthcoming new box set, Feel Flows – The Sunflower and Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971, due August 27 via Capitol/UMe, boasts 135 tracks, including 108 previously unreleased tracks, live recordings, radio promos, alternate versions, alternate mixes, isolated backing tracks and a cappella versions, culled from the album sessions.

popular “Wings of Man” advertising campaign, the ad focused on Southern California and featured the song under narration from Orson Welles. This coda has never been heard anywhere since the commercial aired in 1971. These latest releases follow the live version of fan favorite “Susie Cincinnati” and an early, folky incarnation of “Big Sur.”

Ahead of the release, The Beach Boys have shared two more unreleased tracks: a stunning a cappella version of “Surf’s Up,” the eponymous closing track of their 1971 album, initially written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks for the famously aborted Smile album, and a reimagined mix of “This Whole World,” one of the many standouts from 1970’s Sunflower. This exquisite iteration of “Surf’s Up” allows listeners to hear the band’s unadulterated vocals and impeccable harmonies in their purest form. Brian’s lead vocal for the second section of the song was recorded in December 1966 during the Smile sessions while the other vocal parts were added in 1971. The version of “This Whole World” was newly created for Feel Flows and features an alternate lead vocal take from Carl Wilson, a lead vocal part from Brian Wilson on the bridge that wasn’t used on the original, and an alternate ending originally recorded for an Eastern Airlines commercial that the group appeared in briefly. Part of Eastern’s

Feel Flows is being released in honor of 50 years of The Beach Boys’ timeless and often underappreciated albums, Sunflower and Surf’s Up. The expansive 5CD box set chronicles and explores in depth this metamorphic and highly influential 1969-1971 period of the band’s legendary career. Assembled by Mark Linett and Alan Boyd, the team behind 2013’s GRAMMY® Award-winning SMiLE Sessions, the expansive collection features newly remastered versions of Sunflower and Surf’s Up and boasts 135 tracks, including 108 previously unreleased tracks, live recordings, radio promos, alternate versions, alternate mixes, isolated backing tracks and a cappella versions, culled from the album sessions. Housed in a book style package, the set is rounded out with a 48-page book loaded with unreleased and rare photos, lyric sheets, continued on next page August 2021 • Rock and Blues International 41

THE BEACH BOYS BOX SET continued

tape box images, recording artifacts, insightful new liner notes by noted radio veteran and Beach Boys afficionado Howie Edelson, and new and archival interviews from Al Jardine, Brian Wilson, Bruce Johnston, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love, and others. Feel Flows will also be released in abbreviated versions including 4LP on both black vinyl and limited edition Translucent Blue and Translucent Gold color vinyl, 2LP black vinyl and 2CD editions.

Feel Flows is already receiving rave reviews across the US and UK with Uncut featuring it as their Reissue of the Month and awarding it a 9/10 review that states “Feel Flows is emphatic proof that The Beach Boys never stopped making sublime, artful, spiritually invested music,” adding “Sunflower and Surf’s Up represent their second great peak.” Mojo declared in their 4/5 review that “Feel Flows is full of little revelations, glimpses of The Beach Boys’ haphazardly evolving, still magical process in the early ’70s,” while Goldmine’s current cover feature details the making of the collection and includes a perfect 5-star review that exclaims “Sunflower and Surf’s Up are rightly regarded as among The Beach Boys’ best efforts, and the bonus tracks enrich the experience.” Ultimate Classic Rock quite simply proclaims “Feel Flows soundly confirms their standing as one of the era’s all-time greats.” FEEL FLOWS – THE SUNFLOWER AND SURF’S UP SESSIONS 1969-1971 DISC 1 SUNFLOWER - ORIGINAL ALBUM 1. Slip On Through (2019 master) (2:19) 2. This Whole World (2019 master) (1:58) 3. Add Some Music To Your Day (2019 master) (3:36) 4. Got To Know The Woman (2019 master) (2:43) 5. Deirdre (2019 master) (3:30) 6. It’s About Time (2019 master) (2:57) 7. Tears In The Morning (2019 master) (4:07) 8. All I Wanna Do (2019 master) (2:36) 9. Forever (2019 master) (2:42) 10. Our Sweet Love (2019 master) (2:41) 11. At My Window (2019 master) (2:32) 12. Cool, Cool Water (2019 master) (5:03) 13. Sunflower Promo 1 (previously unreleased) (0:59) SUNFLOWER - LIVE Previously Unreleased – Produced by The Beach Boys 14. This Whole World (Live 1988) (2:10) 15. Add Some Music To Your Day (Live 1993) (3:23) 16. Susie Cincinnati (Live 1976) (2:46) 17. Back Home (Live 1976) (3:15) 18. It’s About Time (Live 1971) (3:45) 19. Riot In Cell Block 9 (Live 1970) (3:34) SUNFLOWER - BONUS TRACKS 20. Break Away (original 1969 single mix) (2:55) 21. Celebrate The News (previously unreleased 2020 mix) (2:37) 22. Loop De Loop (previously unreleased 1969 mix) (2:59) 23. San Miguel (previously unreleased 2020 mix) (2:33) 24. Susie Cincinnati (previously unreleased 2020 mix) (3:02) 25. Good Time (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:56) 26. Two Can Play (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:06) 27. Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) (2021 stereo mix – previously unreleased) (3:21) 42 Rock and Blues International • August 2021

DISC TWO SURF’S UP - ORIGINAL ALBUM 1. Don’t Go Near The Water (2019 master) (2:41) 2. Long Promised Road (2019 master) (3:32) 3. Take A Load Off Your Feet (2019 master) (2:32) 4. Disney Girls (1957) (2019 master) (4:08) 5. Student Demonstration Time (2019 master) (3:59) 6. Feel Flows (2019 master) (4:44) 7. Lookin’ At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) (2019 master) (1:57) 8. A Day In The Life Of A Tree (2019 master) (3:09) 9. Til I Die (2019 master) (2:32) 10. Surf’s Up (2019 master) (4:14) 11. Surf’s Up Promo (previously unreleased) (1:02) SURF’S UP - LIVE Previously Unreleased 12. Take A Load Off Your Feet (Live 1993) (2:35) 13. Long Promised Road (Live 1972) (4:14) 14. Disney Girls (Live 1982) (4:23) 15. Surf’s Up (Live 1973) (4:58) 16. Student Demonstration Time (Live 1971) (4:42) SURF’S UP - BONUS TRACKS Previously unreleased (unless otherwise noted) 17. Big Sur (previously unreleased) (2:35) 18. H.E.L.P. Is On The Way (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:31) 19. Sweet And Bitter (previously unreleased) (2:33) 20. My Solution (previously unreleased) (3:44) 21. 4th of July (2019 mix – previously unreleased) (3:11) 22. Sound of Free (1970 single mix, 2019 master) (2:22) 23. Lady (Fallin’ In Love) (1970 stereo mix – previously unreleased) (2:21) 24. Seasons In The Sun (previously unreleased) (3:27) DISC THREE SUNFLOWER SESSIONS Previously unreleased 1. Sunflower Promo 2 (previously unreleased) (0:59) 2. Slip On Through (track and backing vocals – previously unreleased) (2:47) 3. This Whole World (long version track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:10) 4. Add Some Music To Your Day (track and backing vocals – previously unreleased) (4:35) 5. Deirdre (track – previously unreleased) (3:34) 6. It’s About Time (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (2:53) 7. Tears In The Morning (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (4:08) 8. All I Wanna Do (session intro, track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:46) 9. Forever (session highlights – previously unreleased) (3:36) 10. Forever (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:01) 11. Our Sweet Love (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (2:39) 12. At My Window (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (2:50) 13. Cool Cool Water (alternate 2019 mix – previously unreleased) (6:24) 14. San Miguel (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (2:57) 15. Loop De Loop (track – previously unreleased) (2:49) 16. Good Time (session intro, track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (4:27) 17. When Girls Get Together (track – previously unreleased) (1:47) 18. Slip On Through (alternate 1969 mix with session intro – previously unreleased) (3:25) 19. Our Sweet Love (string section – previously unreleased) (1:00) continued on next page

THE BEACH BOYS BOX SET continued 1969-1970 A CAPPELLA Previously unreleased 20. San Miguel (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (1:00) 21. Break Away (Tag) (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:18) 22. Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) (a Cappella – previously unreleased) (2:44) 23. Good Time (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:19) 24. This Whole World (backing vocals section – previously unreleased) (1:05) 25. Add Some Music To Your Day (a Cappella – previously unreleased) (3:30) 26. Got To Know The Woman (a Cappella – previously unreleased) (2:52) 27. It’s About Time (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:50) 28. All I Wanna Do (a Cappella – previously unreleased) (2:58) 29. Forever (previously unreleased 2019 a Cappella mix) (2:52) DISC FOUR SURF’S UP SESSIONS Previously unreleased 1. Don’t Go Near The Water (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:45) 2. Long Promised Road (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:38) 3. Take A Load Off Your Feet (alternate vocal – previously unreleased) (2:28) 4. Disney Girls (1957) (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (4:17) 5. Student Demonstration Time (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:46) 6. Feel Flows (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (5:02) 7. Lookin’ At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) (session intro and alternate mix – previously unreleased) (2:43) 8. A Day In The Life Of A Tree (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (2:55) 9. Til I Die (long version with alternate lyrics – previously unreleased) (4:47) (Brian Wilson) 10. Surf’s Up (2019 mix – previously unreleased) (4:08) (Brian Wilson-Van Dyke Parks) 11. (Wouldn’t It Be Nice To) Live Again (extended 2019 – previously unreleased) (6:50) (Dennis Wilson-Stanley Shapiro) SURF’S UP - A CAPPELLA Previously unreleased 12. Don’t Go Near The Water (previously unreleased 2020 a Cappella mix) (2:36) (Alan Jardine-Mike Love) 13. Long Promised Road (a Cappella – previously unreleased) (4:00) 14. Feel Flows (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:33) 15. Disney Girls (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:36) 16. A Day In The Life Of A Tree (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:32)

17. Til I Die (a Cappella – previously unreleased) (2:36) 18. Surf’s Up (a Cappella – previously unreleased) (4:04) Bonus Tracks Previously unreleased 19. I Just Got My Pay (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:43) 20. Walkin’ (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:44) 21. When Girls Get Together (previously unreleased 2020 mix) (3:45) 22. Baby Baby (previously unreleased) (3:13) 23. Awake (previously unreleased) (3:44) 24. It’s A New Day (previously unreleased) (2:20) DISC FIVE Bonus Disc Previously unreleased 1. This Whole World (alternate ending – previously unreleased) (1:41) 2. Add Some Music To Your Day (previously unreleased alternate version) (3:27) 3. Don’t Go Near The Water (alternate version – previously unreleased) (2:42) 4. Surf’s Up Part 1 (1971 remake track with 1966 Brian vocal – previously unreleased) (1:41) 5. Soulful Old Man Sunshine (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (3:14) (Brian Wilson-Rick Henn-Don Ralke) 6. I’m Goin’ Your Way (previously unreleased alternate mix) (2:24) (Dennis Wilson) 7. Where Is She (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:22) (Brian Wilson) 8. Carnival (Over The Waves/Sobra Las Olas) (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (1:34) 9. It’s Natural (previously unreleased) (2:35) 10. Medley: All Of My Love / Ecology (previously unreleased) (5:05) 11. Before (previously unreleased) (2:25) 12. Behold The Night (previously unreleased) (2:26) 13. Old Movie (Cuddle Up) (previously unreleased) (3:37) 14. Hawaiian Dream (previously unreleased) (4:33) 15. Settle Down / Sound Of Free (basic session outtake – previously unreleased) (2:17) 16. I’ve Got A Friend (previously unreleased) (2:26) 17. Til I Die (piano demo – previously unreleased) (1:55) 18. Back Home (previously unreleased demo) (2:20) 19. Back Home (alternate version – previously unreleased) (2:34) 20. Won’t You Tell Me (demo – previously unreleased) (2:01) 21. Won’t You Tell Me (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:54) 22. Barbara (previously unreleased 2020 mix) (2:59) 23. Slip On Through (early version track) (2:48) 24. Susie Cincinnati (basic session highlights – previously unreleased) (3:05) 25. My Solution (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:04) 26. You Never Give Me Your Money (previously unreleased) (0:40) 27. Medley: Happy Birthday, Brian / God Only Knows (previously unreleased) (2:47) 28. You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:32) 29. Marcella (a Cappella – previously unreleased) (3:27) FOLLOW THE BEACH BOYS: thebeachboys.com facebook.com/TheBeachBoys twitter.com/TheBeachBoys Instagram.com/TheBeachBoys tiktok.com/@thebeachboys.official August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Rock and Blues International

• August 2021

Conan Gray releases the official music video for new single “People Watching” today. Listen to “People Watching” here at https:// conangray.lnk.to/PeopleWatchingPR and watch the official music video here at https://youtu.be/goqqohUitmw! The video, directed by Joe Mischo, finds Conan working in a coffee house watching everyone fall in love around him while he is multi-tasking, you’ll have to watch to find out what happens! On the new video Conan said: “The best place on earth to people watch is the cafe. The perfect couples talking about their mornings, students studying, sweet couples who’ve sat at the same table for decades. It’s wonderful. My best friend Ashley and I used to joke about the idea of us working at a cafe together, how terrible we’d be at our job because we’d get so distracted staring at people. So for the people watching video I brought Ashley to LA and thought I’d play the situation out, really show how much of a beautiful disaster it would be if I were to work at a cafe as I always say I should’ve.” Earlier this week Conan was in Venice, Italy when the track dropped celebrated with fans online (see here) and in just a few short days the track already has nearly 2 million streams and launched to nearly 500,000 views on the lyric video. UPROXX praised the track saying, “His vulnerable new single…Gray explores what it feels like to see other people fall in and out of love while remaining outside of the relationship format, safe from the turmoil, but also removed from the intimacy.”

Conan Gray Releases Official Music Video For “People Watching” Out Now Watch “People Watching” Music Video (Post/Share) here at https://youtu.be/goqqohUitmw

Conan co-wrote the track with Grammy Award winning Julia Michaels and frequent collaborator Dan Nigro (Olivia Rodrigo) and enlisted Grammy Award winning Serben Ghenea for mixing. After teasing the track earlier this month it received a staggering 115k pre-saves leading into release. It also arrives on the heels of his recent anthem “Astronomy.” The latter has amassed nearly 35 million streams and counting in addition to 4.5 million views on the music video. Not to mention, Taylor Swift took to her personal Instagram to praise the track saying: “This one is on another level!! Support/stream/buy this ethereal work of art. So much love & respect @conangray.” She went on to personally select Gray to tease upcoming music with Olivia Rodrigo. Meanwhile, Rodrigo handpicked him to appear in the “Sour Prom” music video. Long before closing in on nearly 5 billion streams in three years, achieving platinum singles, and attracting unanimous applause courtesy of everyone from Sir Elton John to Taylor Swift, Conan Gray turned his bedroom into an escape from the darkness around him and a de facto creative hive. At just 12-years-old, the Central Texas native wrote songs at a feverish pace and engaged followers on social media with a flurry of content, including hand drawings, photographs, Vlogs, and raw

thoughts. By the time he released his debut single “Idle Town” in 2018, the audience was not only ready for what he had to say, but they also needed it. Over the next three years, he filled that need with the Sunset Season EP, three sold out North American tours and two sold out European tours, and his 2020 full-length debut album, Kid Krow [Republic Records]. The RIAA certified Gold record bowed at #1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, #2 on the Top Album Sales chart, and #5 on the Top 200, scoring “The Top New Artist Debut of 2020” and “The Top Solo Full Length Album Debut of 2020.” It yielded a pair of platinum singles—“Heather” and “Maniac.” Along the way, he delivered rapturous performances on television shows such as Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and The Today Show. Crowned “Best New Artist” by Billboard and touted among People’s “Ones To Watch,” he also garnered praise from Vogue, V Man, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Paper, The Fader, Forbes, MTV, I-D, Wonderland, Clash, Notion, Seventeen, W Magazine and many more. This year he previously released “Overdrive” & “Astronomy” and was hand selected by Taylor Swift to preview some of her newly re-recorded songs online and he appeared in Olivia Rodrigo Conan has ultimately affirmed himself as the voice of his generation by speaking directly to that generation with care and without a filter. He’ll continue to do so in 2021, he readies new music and much more to come on the horizon.

CONAN GRAY SOCIALS: Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/conangray/?hl=en TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@conangray?lang=en Twitter @ https://republicrecords.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3051269687d98ad95ab882a80&id=4e971bf785&e=8c586f3e2f August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Tom MacDonald Opens Up About Addiction & Mental Health On New Single & Music Video “Withdrawals” counting. Get it here at https://open.spotify.com/track/ 2EghIQGoeNh8fL15XZT4na?si=c1e0c2885cbe40e4. It’s impossible to cancel Tom MacDonald, because the movement has become too strong. Recently, “Snowflakes” amassed over 4 million total streams to date and just shy of 10 million YouTube views on the music video. Right out of the gate, BroBible praised the single and claimed “the counter-culture hip-hop artist hits harder than ever.” The independent rapper, internet-breaking firebrand, and counterculture force of nature landed on multiple charts with “Snowflakes.” Without any traditional label or distribution, it crashed the Billboard Hot 100 at #71, while he clinched the #1 spot on the Emerging Artist Chart, R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales Chart, and Rap Digital Song Sales Chart. He also hit #2 on the Digital Song Sales Chart and #8 on the Canadian Digital Songs Sales Chart. Not to mention, it held the #1 spot on all of iTunes for six days in a row. Once he found out his competition Nightbirde is battling terminal cancer, he actually encouraged his followers to buy her song “It’s OK (Live Maple House Sessions),” and helped her get to #1. Speaking to his pure dominance of the culture from the outside, YouTube Music included “Snowflakes” in a new commercial spot at https://www.instagram.com/reel/CP1cz0eABbY/ ?utm_medium=copy_link, while the music video has clocked 6.6 million YouTube views.

Credit: Nova Rockafeller As unapologetically honest as ever, the most controversial rapper in the world Tom MacDonald wrestles his inner demons and gets real about addiction and mental health on the new single and music video “Withdrawals.” Get it here at https://open.spotify.com/track/ 5dv6vn3bc2OaAdjT55ZooZ?si=f78daa395d41442b. Watch the music video here at https://youtu.be/KOtA6qCh8Vo. Over a sparse beat, he speaks bluntly and honestly about his ongoing battles, detailing his story so far at the same time. Tom opens up about his previous struggles with alcohol and pills, his mental breakdown in 2017, and the subsequent fight through “the darkest period” of his life. Lyrically, he confesses, “This is what kids call withdrawals,” before wondering on the hypnotic hook, “I’m gonna beat it, or I won’t.” Once again, his girlfriend Nova Rockafeller stepped behind the camera to direct an intimate and intense portrait of his lyrical descent into the abyss and emergence from it. “Four years ago, I had a massive mental breakdown stemming from a couple years of heavy alcoholism,” he states. “After that, I went through a nine-month battle with anxiety, depression, and overall poor mental health—therapy, pills, the whole nine yards. I actually quit making music for almost a year and moved back in with my mom in Canada. When I returned to making music, I knew myself better than I ever thought possible. It was that newly discovered selfknowledge that led to ‘Dear Rappers’, going viral and my entire life changing. The WORST thing that ever happened to me ended up being the BEST thing that ever happened to me. The track is kind of a rags to riches story, really.” Just last week, he proved he’s more than just shock value on the seven-minute confessional “Don’t Look Down.” In under seven days, the music video already racked up over 4 million YouTube views and 52 Rock and Blues International •• November 46 August 2021 2020

Get it here at https://youtu.be/fCMwlorNEZk Everything sets the stage for Tom’s next album—coming this summer. Saying what everyone else thinks without fear (or a single f*ck given), Tom MacDonald doesn’t censor himself, compromise, or change for anybody, and that’s why he’s quietly become one of the biggest independent artists in the world. After a successful career in professional wrestling and a series of early releases, the Vancouverborn artist went from near-poverty to viral infamy with 2017’s “Dear Rappers.” In just four years, he architected a 21st century cottage industry entirely outside of the system alongside his collaborator, video director, and girlfriend Nova Rockafeller. Beyond north of halfa-billion YouTube views and hundreds of millions of streams, he logged six number ones on different Billboard charts in 2021 alone between “Fake Woke” and “No Good Bastards.” At the same time, he’s completely bucked the modern model by selling his last five fulllength albums—Deathreats [2018], Ghostories [2019], Killing the Neighbors [2020], Flowers for the Dead [2020], Gravestones [2020], and As Far As The Stars [2021]—only on CD. Within its first week, As Far As The Stars moved 35,000-plus units. He’s the rare outlier to be featured on Fox News and Daily Wire as well as Inked Magazine. Selling out tours, moving merch in mammoth qualities, and occupying #1 on the iTunes Overall Top Songs Chart multiple times, Tom doesn’t need to care what anybody thinks, because he’s empowered an audience of millions to do the same. SOCIAL LINKS FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/TomMacDonaldOfficial YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/TomMacDonaldOfficial INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/hangovergang TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/IAmTomMacDonald WEBSITE: http://www.hangovergang.com

August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Records in partnership with Combustion Music. Stacked with highenergy rockers, scorching break-up anthems and reflective love songs, pre-save/pre-add the EP ahttps://kolbycooper.lnk.to/andersoncounty and listen now to the title track “Boy From Anderson County.” The gifted songwriter has an uncanny ability to turn his and his friends’ life stories into relatable songs his rabidly zealous fanbase can’t get enough of, and his upcoming EP is no different. As Whiskey Riff betted early on, “it’ll only be a matter of time before the world knows Cooper’s name.” The title track kicks off the project with Cooper’s heavy southern drawl giving a standout performance in this heartfelt love song, reminiscing on the impact his wife has had on his life and recognizing it was her who made him a man. “Lots of swampy slide and grinding guitars complement the struggle in the Texan singer-songwriter’s pain-soaked stories,” Billboard perfectly exemplifies the unique sound Cooper is known for, and his previously released, tormentingly raw “it’s not you, it’s me” track, “Excuses,” doesn’t sway from what fans demand from the upand-coming star. Co-written by Cooper, Jameson Rodgers and Brent Anderson, Cooper’s rough-hewn vocals are at the forefront in “Good For You,” as he wishfully pines after the girl who didn’t let him hold her back, while “Way To Go” is self-deprecation at its finest but leaves Cooper enlightened by the mistakes of his past, taking Michael Jackson’s advice to change the “man in the mirror” if he ever hopes for a lasting relationship. The up-beat, catchy track, “This Song Don’t Make No Sense,” finds Cooper dumbfounded by his former affirmation for his departed ex. Lastly, “Her Favorite Songs” is a vividly witty, tongue-in-cheek scorcher flaunting all of Cooper’s success to a formidable antagonist. Applauded for his honest, rebellious and non-apologetic attitude, the six songs, produced by Philip Mosley, embody everything that makes the Texan unique. Fans can anticipate songs ranging from intoxicatingly high-energy to sympathetically heartbroken. “Ready to take the country world by storm” (Whiskey Riff), Cooper drops Boy From Anderson County on Friday, August 6.

“Boy From Anderson County” Kolby Cooper To Release Six-Track EP Friday August 6 Watch the Lyric Video for IG Track “Boy From Anderson County” @ https://youtu.be/jK-6P0E79ko Watch the Visualizer for Previously Released “Excuses” @ https://youtu.be/cGCSljXrOzU Prolific singer-songwriter Kolby Cooper announces today the release date of his six-track EP, Boy From Anderson County, to be Friday, August 6. The 22-year-old brings the heat with his highly anticipated debut project from BBR Music Group / Wheelhouse 48 Rock and Blues International • August 2021

Only three years out of high school, still living in his small East Texas hometown, Kolby Cooper started selling out shows and clocking millions of streams using only his songs as muscle, earning streaming numbers typically reserved for household names. Amassing over 120 million on-demand streams to date, Kolby will release his first EP as a signed artist, Boy From Anderson County, on August 6 via BBR Music Group / Wheelhouse Records in partnership with Combustion Music. The prolific songwriter has an uncanny ability to turn his and his friends’ life stories into relatable songs his rabidly zealous fanbase can’t get enough of, and his upcoming EP is no different, stacking the release with high-energy rockers, scorching break-up anthems and reflective love songs. With new music on the horizon, Kolby continues his strenuous tour schedule throughout 2021, headlining sold-out shows all over the country, bringing with him his signature blend of Lonestar State roots, rough-hewn vocals and wailing electric guitar. Fans will have no doubt that his forthcoming EP is authentically Kolby. For more information on Kolby Cooper, visit his website here at https://www.kolbycooper.com

Boy From Anderson County Track Listing 1. Boy From Anderson County (Kolby Cooper, Jordan Walker) 2. Good For You (Kolby Cooper, Jameson Rodgers, Brent Anderson) 3. Excuses (Kolby Cooper, Brett Tyler, Jordan Walker) 4. Way To Go (Kolby Cooper, Mike Walker, Josh Jenkins) 5. This Song Don’t Make No Sense (Kolby Cooper, Jordan Walker, Matt McKinney) 6. Her Favorite Songs (Kolby Cooper, Jordan Walker, Jacob Davis)

June 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Paul Leary shares the story behind his wildly idiosyncratic new music video, and how he met up with the writer/producer of SpongeBob for this iconic collaboration: Back in the late 1980’s the Buttholes were contacted by Tom Stern and Alex Winter about making a short movie starring the band. This was the result. Their goal was to pitch it to a major to make a feature film. It was picked up by Fox, I believe. The Butthole Surfers got cut out of the script entirely, except for some soundtrack work. We were replaced by an all-star cast including Brook Shields, Keanu Reeves, Randy Quaid, and Mr. T. The movie was called “Freaked”, and is brilliant. But the President at Fox who signed the project got replaced with someone who hated it, and it never received a proper release. But that is how I met Tom. We’ve been friends ever since. I sent him my album and he asked to make a video for it, and chose Cow. Stern adds: I’ve been a mega fan of Paul and his guitar wizardry ever since I first saw the Butthole Surfers play the legendary Pyramid Club in 1984, sandwiched in between drag shows, and then at CBGBs, a show I shot for my NYU Film School video class. Watch the film at https://youtu.be/ wiyG0Ly6eFs

Paul Leary (Butthole Surfers) Releases New Album Born Stupid Paul Leary (Butthole Surfers) Shares “Do You Like to Eat a Cow?” Video at https://youtu.be/Kc636hCblLk Directed By Tom Stern (SpongeBob SquarePants/Crank Yankers) Paul Leary (Butthole Surfers) shareq a new music video for “Do You Like to Eat a Cow?” directed by Tom Stern (SpongeBob

SquarePants/Crank Yankers). The song is off his solo return LP Born Stupid, out now via Shimmy Disc/Joyful Noise.

I ended up becoming great friends with Paul, Gibby, and the band and was so thrilled when we became collaborators - Paul has composed music for several film and tv projects I’ve done over the years, notably for the film I made with Alex Winter, Freaked. I recently wrote a SpongeBob movie for Netflix and learned that The Butthole Surfers are like the SpongeBob writers favorite band, which was so awesome because SpongeBob Squarepants is Paul’s favorite television show. When Paul came to play live guitar over a sold out 20th anniversary screening of Freaked at the Egyptian Theater last February, right before Covid hit, I had the honor of introducing Paul to the SpongeBob braintrust. They gave him a bunch of swag, including this awesome boombox which is now Paul’s main home audio system. When I heard this song I was gripped by a vision, and realizing that vision became my Covid passion project. I made it entirely myself - a crew and cast of one. I did all the editing and VFX as well. It was the perfect Covid experiment and kind of kept me sane ironic when you watch the nightmarish trip into madness that is the Do You Want To Eat A Cow video. I always thought The Butthole Surfers music had an epic/psychedelic aesthetic that was sort of like Punk Rock Pink Floyd. So this video may or may not include a little tip of the hat to a certain famous record cover. continued on next page

Born Stupid LP Out Now Via Shimmy-Disc/Joyful Noise at https://shimmy-disc.net/bornstupid.html 50

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Paul Leary continued from previous page Since the Butthole Surfers often referenced iconic rock in their own song and record titles, like Hairway to Steven, it felt right. Paul Leary issued his debut solo album The History Of Dogs in 1991. And now, thirty years later he’s releasing the follow up Born Stupid. Thirty years may seem like an oddly excessive length of time between albums, but that’s apropos, as nearly all the highlights of Leary’s legendary career have been odd and excessive. Leary is best known as guitarist/ vocalist for the infamous psychedelic noise rock band Butthole Surfers. The Butthole Surfers’ aggressively surrealist recordings and live shows have become mythology in the world of underground music. The headline of a 2016 profile in Vice magazine summed this legacy up neatly, stating the “Butthole Surfers Were the Epitome of Every Hell-Raising Rock ‘n’ Roll Legend You Ever Heard.” Beyond the group’s extreme persona, Leary was creating seriously brilliant music with the Butthole Surfers. The significance of that work can be measured in the far-reaching scope of the band’s influence. It’s widely known that Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain was an ardent admirer. Comedic iconoclast Eric Andre has acknowledged being inspired by the group. Pillars of arena rock like U2, and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones can also be added to this list — and both have collaborated with Leary in various capacities. Much of the subversive creative spirit that fueled the Butthole Surfers’ best work can be found inside the grooves of Leary’s charmingly twisted new album. Musically, Born Stupid largely steps away from the atomic punk energy and fuzzed-out metal riffing that defined the Butthole Surfers’ sound. Instead, Leary has crafted an equally

compelling soundscape filled with carnival sideshow calliopes, spaghetti western guitar motifs, and off-kilter German beer hall waltzes. But where the Butthole Surfers’ work was often squarely focused on the manipulation of sounds and textures, Born Stupid is heavily rooted in the craft of song, and the record’s finely structured musical landscapes work to support the stories being sung. The connection between Born Stupid and vintage Butthole Surfers’ music is not just stylistic. Longtime fans of Leary’s work will be pleased by the presence of a couple radically reworked interpretations of Butthole Surfers-era material, including a giddily demented singalong version of the “The Shah Sleeps in Lee Harvey’s Grave.” According to Leary, there was no grand vision behind the conception of Born Stupid. “I wasn’t planning on making another album, but over the years songs kept popping into my head. So I figured I might as well record them.” Leary has seized a ripe cultural moment to send this music out to the world, as Born Stupid speaks effectively to the damaged state of contemporary U.S. culture. There’s no better example than the album’s title track, a perfect anthem for the modern American age. “With so much strife and peril in this world I’d like to help make things better. But, instead, I had to be born stupid,” Leary croons in a warped country drawl, evoking the voice of Lee Hazlewood as sung through a cancer kazoo. Throughout the album Leary is joined by drummer Josh Freese, known for his work with a range of artists, including The Vandals, Guns N’ Roses, and Devo. It’s important to note that Born Stupid will be the first release on the newly relaunched incarnation of Shimmy-Disc, the influential independent record label founded

by producer/musician and underground music impresario Kramer in 1987. Kramer revived Shimmy-Disc for his 2020 tenure as Joyful Noise Recordings’ Artist in Residence. Leary and Kramer have enjoyed a long collaborative relationship. “I’ve known Kramer since the early 1980’s when he was playing for Shockabilly,” Leary shared. “I was a big fan and we met when Shockabilly played in Austin, Texas. Then later on the Butthole Surfers were without a bass player, and Kramer offered to play bass for us on a European tour. We’ve been friends ever since.” Leary’s Born Stupid is a fitting project for Shimmy-Disc’s reboot, the album shares the label’s dark sense of humor, and irreverent approach to experimental music. So perhaps it’s not surprising that Kramer (who also mastered the LP) is effusive in his praise for the project. “Paul Leary’s first solo LP in thirty years is the first release on my 21st century Shimmy-Disc label, which had to begin with a big bang,” Kramer explained. “But I think that what we have here is far more than just a bang. It’s more like a shot heard ‘round the world, I reckon. Deafening in its genius. An entire universe of sound and song, simultaneously poignant and pugnacious, fearlessly culled from over forty intrepid years of infinitely mind-bending stupidity. Born Stupid is so inspiring it makes me want to quit music right now, quit while I’m ahead. It can’t possibly get any better than this. Too late now, though. I already bought a new turntable. Looks like I’m in ‘til the bitter end. Thanks a lot, Paul. I owe you one.” PAUL LEARY LINKS Facebook https://www.facebook.com/paul.leary.165 Twitter https://twitter.com/Learymon Instagram https://www.instagram.com/paul.leary/?hl=en

WATCH & SHARE: Paul Leary - “Do You Like to Eat a Cow?” YouTube @ https://youtu.be/Kc636hCblLk LISTEN & SHARE: Paul Leary - Born Stupid Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/album/2xKVhVdJTaA5e99HAZJeMd?si=lHMkPPslQN2O3l3xrXsvKQ LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Paul Leary - “Gary Floyd Revisited” YouTube @ https://youtu.be/E3bNln__YpA LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Paul Leary - “What Are You Gonna Do” YouTube @ https://youtu.be/8kNkYBsfhjw LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Paul Leary - “Born Stupid” YouTube @ https://youtu.be/qIEv9dZCTy4 August 2021 • Rock and Blues International 51

Singer-songwriter and producer Jasper Lotti has revealed that she’s reemerging as YULLOLA. To encapsulate this evolution she’s releasing a new song titled “Jasper Lotti,” that is accompanied by a music video which displays the symbolic transition from one identity to another. Directed by YULLOLA, featuring Jasper Lotti and YULLOLA, watch the video here at https://youtu.be/1eZvO9eNSgY, out now via D36. At the start of last year’s lockdown, Jasper Lotti set out to face the disconnection that persistently haunts the individuals of her generation. The dystopia explored in her debut EP XOskeleton and on her recent single “Sword” ( https://youtu.be/I1b0DaTPasA )coupled with the reality of that dystopian state coming to life during the pandemic, led Lotti to explore her deeper desire for human connection and meaning amongst the digital dissociation of the contemporary world.

Jasper Lotti Reemerges As YULLOLA Watch The Video For “Jasper Lotti” by YULLOLA at https://youtu.be/1eZvO9eNSgY

“I wanted to make this song and video to symbolize my evolution manifesting from mind into reality. A fever dream ends with me crossing through a portal, entering my next iteration.” - YULLOLA

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After the death of her grandfather, in which she spontaneously released an EP dedicated to him titled Kiss Tha Future that explores transhumanism, she began to more directly connect to her roots and her ancestors. Emerging in 2021 with a new sense of purpose, learning that she desired to express herself more through the lens of mythology and spiritual practice, like that of her ethereal origins and Indian ancestors, YULLOLA began to emerge. Translating to stormy, surging waves in Sanskrit, also alluding to waves in terms of energy, frequency and vibration, YULLOLA makes her debut, closing out the chapter of Jasper Lotti and opening the new world of YULLOLA. YULLOLA: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/yullola/ Bandcamp https://yullola.bandcamp.com

Rural New Hampshire band Old Moon announce their debut full length today. Hear and share Altars via Bandcamp @ https://oldmoon.bandcamp.com and Soundcloud @ https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp The project of singer and multi instrumentalist Tom Weir, Old Moon seamlessly blends clamoring post punk rhythms with jangling guitars and shimmering noise. Old Moon’s new album Altars is a descent into a swirling world full of driving basslines, melodic hooks and emotive lyrics. The album is an assured debut from Weir who plays all instruments on the record. Altars is Old Moon’s first full length record after a string of EPs and demos throughout 2020, and its first release on up and coming label A La Carte Records. The album was recorded by Weir in rural New Hampshire over the fall and winter of 2020, mixed in Portland and San Francisco by Shaun Durkan of Weekend, and mastered by Will Killingsworth at Western Massachusetts’ Dead Air Studios. Recent descriptions of Old Moon’s music from peers include, “like Blitz if they were on Slumberland Records” and “like For Against playing with True Widow’s gear.” While these descriptions ring true, Altars is more than just a rehashing of tropes. Old Moon has created a sound of its own that seamlessly blends genres and references its forebears without falling prey to familiar patterns. Altars is available for download on July 9th, 2021 and on vinyl in late July via A La Carte Records. Orders are available here at https://oldmoon.bandcamp.com Artist: Old Moon Album: Altars Record label: A La Carte Records Release date: July 9th, 2021 01. Ephemeral 02. Chains of Sleep 03. Past Lives 04. Anhedonia 05. Taste 06. Untouched 07. Drowse Down 08. Laid To Waste On The Web: oldmoon.bandcamp.com instagram.com/old_moon__

Old Moon Announce Debut Full Length Album ‘Altars’ Rural New Hampshire Jangly Post-Punk Filled With Noisy Hooks, Bandcamp Daily ‘New & Notable’ Featured Release Hear/share Altars album Bandcamp @ https://oldmoon.bandcamp.com Soundcloud @ https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp

facebook.com/OldMoonNH August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Photographer credit: Chris M. Stanton

Four Stroke Baron Announce New Album, Classics Video And Single Streaming Now The album, mixed by Devin Townsend, will be released this October WATCH THE VIDEO FOR FRIDAY KNIGHT AT https://youtu.be/5L-1lmnPyXU Four Stroke Baron have announced their band new album, titled Classics, due for release via Prosthetic Records this October. Mixed by Devin Townsend, Classics is their third full length studio album, brimming with catchy riffs and unforgettable choruses - in other words,

classics. The first single, Friday Knight, is streaming everywhere now, and the accompanying video is premiering exclusively via Revolver. Classics will be released digitally and on physical formats on October 1. Of the album announcement, the

band comment: “This is the best thing we’ve ever done, and we’re calling it right now that every song is a future classic. We told Devin Townsend to go as hard as possible continued on next page

Listen to Friday Knight via Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/0QMXwPaFvYH5Ko7AiafLCb?si=_qLkXcbuRJGE2SamG20slA&dl_branch=1 Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/classics/1566025538 Bandcamp https://fourstrokebaron.bandcamp.com/album/classics 54

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Four Stroke Baron continued from previous page when doing the sound design and adding textures, which upped the insanity factor 100x” Having streamlined into a duo, Kirk Witt and Matt Vallarino cast a sardonic eye over the human condition - as seen through their own uniquely distorted lens, and told via tales involving a murderous rampage at a kegger while dressed as a knight - in this first single, Friday Knight - to being trapped in a casino during a robbery whilst on acid, and other such adventures. They are our guides as we traverse the filthiest folds in the dark underbelly of Reno, Nevada; illuminating the darkest corners of their twisted psyches with their upbeat and insanely catchy pop hooks. The distinctive dynamic between the duo has undoubtedly solidified their songwriting chops and allowed them to be more bold in their approach when writing Classics. Embracing their intense relationship, which they put down to vibrating at the same frequency, they gave themselves permission to go down whatever weird rabbit holes presented themselves. The only rule they set was that there had to be a memorable melody to each and every track. They then enlisted the only person they knew who could add the extra layer of embellishment that the album required. Enter Devin Townsend. The added textures brought in by Townsend during mixing elevate these ten tracks to another level. Sometimes it’s necessary to allow time to pass to reveal the true nature of a classic track; Four Stroke Baron have shaved the waiting time all the way down to zero. It will soon be time to hit play - the classics will all be there waiting for you. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fourstrokebaron

Classics track list

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1. Radium 2. Rolling Gloom1999 3. Khera 4. Prostitute Part II: Pretty Woman (Makes Money) 5. 13 Steps to Stockton 6. G.O! 7. Friday Knight 8. Coast of Barbary 9. Sundowner 10. Russian Thought Experiment Four Stroke Baron recently announced a string of North American tour dates supporting Sarah Longfield - see below. More shows are planned for the coming months. 5 November - The Annex - Madison, WI 6 November - St. Croix Casino - Turtle Lake, WI 7 November - Gabes - Iowa City, IA 9 November - Piere’s Entertainment Center - Fort Wayne, IN 10 November - Empire Concert Club - Akron, OH 11 November - Crafthouse - Pittsburgh, PA 12 November - The Chance - Poughkeepsie, NY 13 November - Dingbatz - Clifton, NJ 14 November - The Kingsland - Brooklyn, NY 16 November - Sellersville Theater - Sellersvlle, PA 18 November - Token Lounge - Westland, M 19 November - The Firehouse - Richmond, IN 20 November - Bourbon On Division - Chicago, IL

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The Rare Occasions Share New Music Video for “Origami” ‘Big Whoop’ Out Everywhere Now The Rare Occasions share a music video for their single “Origami” via Glide Magazine, who praises its “throwback style that sounds entirely familiar yet noticeably vanguard.” In the video, the characters wear origami-style paper animal masks while playing instruments and throwing punches. It isn’t until the fighting resolves that the masks can come off and all can dance to the “beat rock, surf, and ’60s squonk” sound that 56

is “Origami.” On working with the director of the video, the band says, “With many possible interpretations of the song, Chelsea’s take was unique in that it incorporated scenes of clouded consciousness and an overcoming of toxic masculinity. It is a journey, both lyrically and sonically, so naturally we built origami-style paper animal masks to

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

visually reflect the character’s growth from start to finish. Our previous experience of working with Chelsea on the music video for “Stay” made the making of this video really fun and experimental, and it was great having her on board for another project.” The LA-based and New Englandbred indie rock band The Rare Occasions continued on next page

The Rare Occasions continued from previous page recently released their much-anticipated sophomore album, Big Whoop. Big Whoop was defined by the intensely DIY nature of the recording process. Almost every aspect of the production was done by the band. The recording sessions were all done in McLaughlin’s living room and spare bedroom, where he also mixed the songs. Luke Imbusch composed the orchestral arrangements, recruiting and then conducting a live string quartet for the recording. The band collectively shares production credits, with each member bringing their own unique contributions to the table. Mastering was done by Brian Lucey at Magic Garden. On the album, the band says, “So much of this album was born out of struggle which forced us out of our comfort zones and to think beyond our own barriers. After the departure of our guitarist, Peter, we knew we had more to give to the world. This process pushed us to broaden our approach to songwriting, arranging and production. We had released a couple of preliminary singles and then the pandemic hit which halted everything for months. This forced us to step back again, refine what we had created, and expand our new sound even further.” Big Whoop is now out everywhere. The Rare Occasions are an LA-based, New England-bred indie rock band known for their explosive garage rock anthems with catchy vocal harmonies. Brian McLaughlin (vocals) and Luke Imbusch (drums) have been making music together since their early teenage years. They formed The Rare Occasions while attending college in Boston where they met Jeremy Cohen (bass). Since then, the band have toured nationally, won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and released a vast catalog of music online. After the departure of a fourth member in 2018, Brian, Jeremy, and Luke started on their newest full-length record, Big Whoop. Working as a three-piece has allowed them to flourish creatively; their new songs feature wall-of-sound guitars, electronic soundscapes, and lush orchestral arrangements, with intricately-woven lyrical themes of existentialism and a pointed sense of cheekiness. Big Whoop was recorded and mixed entirely by the band themselves in their cramped rehearsal space - everything from the essential power trio instrumentation to layers of analog synths and a live string ensemble make an appearance in this labor of love, due to be released in Summer 2021. Despite the struggles of COVID-19, The Rare Occasions have managed to capture the increasing attention of listeners online from around the world, and the band looks forward to sharing their new music with live audiences once venues can safely open their doors.

Big Whoop - Tracklisting 01. Alone 02. Bolts 03. Control 04. Stay 05. Origami 06. Sparrow 07. Call Me When You Get There 08. The American Way 09. Do Not Do Drugs 10. Cynical 11. Set It Right 12. The Fold continued on next page

LINK Website http://www.therareoccasions.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheRareOccasions Twitter https://tellallyourfriendspr.us10.list-manage.com/track/click Soundcloud https://tellallyourfriendspr.us10.list-manage.com/track/click Bandcamp https://therareoccasions.bandcamp.com/music Instagram https://www.instagram.com/therareoccasions/ YouTube https://tellallyourfriendspr.us10.list-manage.com/track/click August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

The Rare Occasions continued from previous page WATCH & SHARE: The Rare Occasions - “Origami” [Official Music Video] YouTube https://youtu.be/QJfDw1kCom8 LISTEN & SHARE: The Rare Occasions - Big Whoop Stream https://therareoccasions.bandcamp.com credit: Robin Parsons

LISTEN & WATCH: The Rare Occasions - “Call Me When You Get There” Watch https://youtu.be/61rdU8uC__k Stream https://open.spotify.com/track/6XyQ26O034K3fCEKxkciJ2?si=a3b26728aa0b4bb1 LISTEN & SHARE: The Rare Occasions - “Stay” Stream https://fanlink.to/trostay LISTEN & SHARE: The Rare Occasions - “Control” Soundcloud https://tellallyourfriendspr.us10.list-manage.com/track/ click?u=63f1674ecdb2a4574b77e600b&id=981d9a38cd&e=28146e6e7b Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/3O3zOgCkwmfyetX7SrjgmQ?si=jMURl-StSmS3WF4uDAW32w Bandcamp https://therareoccasions.bandcamp.com/track/control LISTEN & SHARE: The Rare Occasions - “Set It Right” Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/the-rare-occasions/set-it-right-1 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/7H0hSowcZnennYr8RIDLob?si=MQ6WZdnIQHylmpT8f4Mi-A Bandcamp https://therareoccasions.bandcamp.com/track/set-it-right LISTEN & SHARE: The Rare Occasions - “Alone” Soundcloud https://tellallyourfriendspr.us10.list-manage.com/track/ click?u=63f1674ecdb2a4574b77e600b&id=3a68df7de8&e=28146e6e7b Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/0EhbZ1kLIio916p3GmEXBT?si=9XgkBs0yQOWFDDkXtn-EYQ Bandcamp https://therareoccasions.bandcamp.com/track/alone

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

PHOTO CREDIT: JOSE ROJAS

Turnstile Announces New Album Out 8/27 + Enlists Blood Orange for New Song and Video GLOW ON OUT AUGUST 27TH VIA ROADRUNNER RECORDS SHARES NEW SONG AND VIDEO “ALIEN LOVE CALL” FEAT. BLOOD ORANGE “ALIEN LOVE CALL” feat. Blood Orange WATCH: https://youtu.be/9EXzz9QyWd0 LISTEN: https://turnstile.lnk.to/GLOWON Turnstile announces their new album Glow On, out August 27th via Roadrunner Records, and shares the new song, “Alien Loce Call” feat. Blood Orange. The track is availableon all streaming platforms ( https://turnstile.lnk.to/GLOWON ) and joined by a music video of Hi8 live performance footage directed and edited by the band’s own Brendan Yates and Pat McCrory – watch it here at https://youtu.be/9EXzz9QyWd0.

Recorded with producer Mike Elizondo and co-produced by Yates, Glow On follows Turnstile’s 2018 album Time & Space ( https://roadrunnerrecords.lnk.to/timeandspace ), which saw the Baltimore band charting new ground for hardcore, expanding stylistic boundaries and celebrating new possibilities. With GLOW ON that utopic vision is fully realized; 15 tracks devoid of borders, boundaries, or entry obstacles, only continued on next page

60 Rock and Blues International • August 2021

Turnstile

youth-driven hardcore punk is intent on breaking down barriers, sonically and ideologically.

continued from previous page abundant imagination, heart, and grooves plucked from all corners of the musical spectrum. Glow On includes the singles “Holiday,” “Mystery,” “No Surprise,” and “T.L.C. (Turnstile Love Connection) from Turnstile’s recent Turnstile Love Connection ( https://turnstile.lnk.to/TLC ) EP and companion short film ( https://youtu.be/WdJZlmhQXug ). Glow On also includes guest features from Blood Orange on “Alien Love Call,” “Lonely Dezires,” with additional vocal contributions on “Endless.” “Turnstile has the ability to lure even the most poptimistic listener with spectacular hooks,” affirmed NPR remarking on the band’s single “Holiday” ( https://youtu.be/ WdJZlmhQXug ), while The Fader named the track one of the 20 Best Rock Songs Right Now with Pitchfork adding it to their weekly Pitchfork Selects playlist. Rolling Stone praised album opener “Mystery” ( https://youtu.be/WdJZlmhQXug ) for its “no-nonsense barrage of chugging power chords, stadium-sized rock drums, and scorching guitar solos,” with Stereogum declaring, “If you’re gonna go big, you might as well go gigantic, and with ‘Mystery’ Turnstile sound like they’re about to be huge.” Bringing superhuman energy to the stage, Turnstile are scheduled to perform a string of sold-out headline shows this summer, which kick off August 22nd at Irving Plaza in New York City and conclude with a performance on September 9th at Metro in Chicago, IL. Later this fall they are set for a series of festival performances, including Dover, Delaware’s Firefly Music Festival (9/23), Louisville, Kentucky’s Louder Than Life (9/24), Indianola, Iowa’s Knotfest (9/25), followed by appearances next year at Spain’s Primavera Sound on 6/5, France’s Hellfest on 6/23, and the united Kingdom’s Outbreak Festival on 6/24. Full Tour dates can be found here at https:// www.turnstilehardcore.com/tour/. Always more appeal than demand, more liberation than limitation, Turnstile extended their hand in 2018 with Time & Space. Recorded with producer Will Yip, Time & Space marked Turnstile’s Roadrunner Records debut and saw the band exploding the most outsized tropes of hardcore with tremendous heart. The album earned “Best of 2018” honors from The New Yorker, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, NPR Billboard and more, with GQ naming TIME & SPACE one of “The Best Albums That Shaped the 2010s.” Reminding us that all music is dance music, Turnstile linked up with Australian producer Mall Grab in 2020 to release Share A View, a collaborative EP of three reimagined Time & Space tracks – “Generator,” “Real Thing,” and “I Don’t Wanna Be Blind.” Comprised of Brendan Yates (Vocals), Franz Lyons (Bass/Vocals), Brady Ebert (Guitars), Pat McCrory (Guitars), and Daniel Fang (Drums), Turnstile’s brand of youth-minded,

Turnstile GLOW ON Roadrunner Records August 27, 2021 1. MYSTERY 2. BLACKOUT 3. DON’T PLAY 4. UNDERWATER BOI 5. HOLIDAY 6. HUMANOID / SHAKE IT UP 7. ENDLESS 8. FLY AGAIN 9. ALIEN LOVE CALL (FEAT. BLOOD ORANGE) 10. WILD WRLD 11. DANCE-OFF 12. NEW HEART DESIGN 13. T.L.C. (TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION) 14. NO SURPRISE 15. LONELY DEZIRES (FEAT. BLOOD ORANGE) Connect with Turnstile: WEBSITE https://www.turnstilehardcore.com INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/turnstiletribe/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/turnstilehc TWITTER https://www.twitter.com/turnstilehc SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/artist/2qnpHrOzdmOo1S4ox3j17x APPLE MUSIC https://music.apple.com/us/artist/turnstile/4472006 August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

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Still from “Take Me Away” video photo credit: Jen Rosenstein

Ratinoff Releases His New Song And Video For “Take Me Away” RATINOFF “Take Me Away” Link/Embed: https://youtu.be/oJkL01ulxpE Stream “Take Me Away” here: https://orcd.co/vrxv7no “incredibly reminiscent of the alternative-rock from the aforementioned decades, skillfully blending metal, electro, pop, and industrial” – Substream Magazine SoCal-based alt-rock artist RATINOFF (full name: Jay Ratinoff) releases “Take Me Away” on July 16, the second single and follow-up to the song “Light Me Up” from his upcoming album LET IT OUT (due out September 17 through CEN/The Orchard). With “’Take Me Away’ I wanted to write a fun dance song, The inspiration came from an experience I had when I met a girl one morning, and by that evening, we on our first date,” says Ratinoff. Its accompanying video features a cast of characters and a revolving car door of human behavior. “The experience of shooting the music video was quite fun. It’s sort of a day in the life of an Uber/Lyft driver, the concept came from video director Jen Rosenstein, I have worked before as a driver, so I knew exactly what I was getting into,” Ratinoff explains. Once a budding Latin pop star with acting credits to his name, Ratinoff made waves with a pair of explosive singles which amassed over half a million YouTube views but feeling unfulfilled artistically he took a leap of faith and changed direction. On his new set of songs, he ignites a fresh sound independent of border and genre lines. Fusing his life experience with retro alt-rock sounds and energy. Even the most hard-hearted cynic or entrenched musical tribal follower would be hard pushed not to fall for its raucous charms immediately” – Dancing About Architecture Ratinoff’s debut album Let It Out was produced by Grammy-nominated producer Wes Sharon (Parker Millsap, Turnpike Troubadours), Ratinoff elaborates, “The experience of working with Wes was amazing, making the album was one of the best experiences I ever had, I found my voice.” Website @ https://www.ratinoffmusic.com Facebook@ https://www.facebook.com/RatinoffMusic Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/ratinoffmusic/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/4xR2LXlsMuNxZg0xJfEE5l?si=ewDhxBW9QkiCw7NhKhwNsA&nd=1 66 Rock and Blues International • August 2021

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made. He’s got a mental scrapbook filled with special moments he experienced on the shores and waters of the port city once known as “the Ellis Island of the West.”

Wood & Wire’s Tony Kamel Announces Solo Release Back Down Home Watch the groovy studio video of “Amen” now at https://youtu.be/fKGvFsLnyfU ; Album out September 24 “It’s been a long hard week, a long hard month, it’s been a long hard year. Hard times are nothing new around here,” sings Houstonborn songwriter and frontman for the Grammy-nominated string band Wood & Wire, Tony Kamel, on his new tune “Amen.” With a refrain that celebrates making it to the other side of life’s trials and tribulations, “Amen” feels like it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time in the life of musicians or music fans or humanity as a whole; the third verse an impossibly positive song of hope for the pandemic to come to an end. Piano, lap steel, horns, and—in the most Texan twist ever— percussion played on a Yeti cup carry Kamel’s rollicking, good-time melody from words on the page right to every dancefloor, backyard barbeque, road trip, and festival stage imaginable. “Amen” is just one of ten tracks from Kamel’s upcoming solo album, Back Down Home— set to be released September 24th via album-producer Bruce Robison’s The Next Waltz label. This week, The Austin Chronicle premiered a studio-shot music video for “Amen,” praising how it “sets the album’s tone,” adding, “The jaunty number rollicks with an easy rhythm and laid-back wisdom.” Fans can watch the video now at https://youtu.be/fKGvFsLnyfU and pre-order or pre-save Back Down Home before release day right here at https://tonykamel.fanlink.to/ backdownhome. Back Down Home is the first full solo-artist album from renowned singer-songwriter and producer Bruce Robison’s The Next Waltz label. In just a few days of no-fuss tracking at the Bunker, Robison’s all-analog studio in Lockhart, Texas, Kamel and several talented contributors crafted an album that fully conveys the downhome vibe its title suggests, as well as the laid-back nature of life on Texas’ Gulf Coast, especially Galveston. The operative word in the album’s title, “home,” usually takes on a twofold meaning: the place where people live and the place where people come from, but for Kamel, it also represents the place where his happiest memories were 68 Rock and Blues International • August 2021

Kamel says that relaxed feel was easy to achieve partly because of the atmosphere at the Bunker, where Robison purposely avoided the usual, glass-separated studio setup in favor of an environment that’s more like your cool uncle’s throwback gameroom. There’s not a computer screen in sight, and if the vintage 2inch reel-to-reel tape recorder happens to capture a bird’s well-timed chirp or a slightly imperfect note, that just adds character. “I had a lot of fun making this album, and it turned out better than I could have hoped for,” Kamel says. “I had no experience doing things any other way than how I’ve done them with Wood & Wire. Hell, I hadn’t even really played with a drummer more than a few times in my career.” The sum of all of these parts is a sonic travelogue of sorts that takes listeners from Texas-imprinted country-folk, old-time and bluegrass styles to Louisiana’s singular stew of Cajun, jazz, funk and other special ingredients; a stunning solo debut most aptly described as Third Coast roots music. In conjunction with the release of Back Down Home, Kamel is creating an accompanying podcast that he calls his “thank you to the people and places that inspired the record.” Featuring interviews with Back Down Home’s cast and crew about making the album, as well as other artists and characters who dive into some of the deeper facets of the album’s subject matter—the Gulf Coast, going back to day jobs, overcoming sudden changes, and more. Stay tuned for more info on the podcast at tonykamelmusic.com. Remarkably, until Kamel joined Wood & Wire in 2012, he’d never played professionally. Actually, he’d barely played for anyone— not even family—until many years after he pulled his mother’s old classical guitar out of their attic when he was 12. Being a musical late bloomer still got Kamel to the Grammys (for Wood & Wire’s North of Despair). But Back Down Home started gestating even before that; producer Bruce Robison had been encouraging Kamel to record a solo album for at least four years. And now—just after the arrival of his first child—it’s here.

Back Down Home Tracklist: Amen Slow on The Gulf Johnny Law Who Am I Kidding? Let It Slide Heat The Surfer This River Reuben’s Train Change

Photo Credit: Victoria Wonka

Infected Rain Announces U.S. Tour Dates with Butcher Babies and Stitched Up Heart Kicking Off at Metal In The Mountains on August 28 International modern metal band INFECTED RAIN is thrilled to announce that they will hit the road in the United States with headliners Butcher Babies this year! Featuring additional support from Stitched Up Heart and Kaleido (on select dates), the tour will kick off at Metal In The Mountains in Pipestem, WV on August 28 and will make over a month’s worth of stops in various popular markets, coming to a close in Sacramento, CA at Aftershock Festival on October 8. Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 16 at 10:00 AM local time. Check individual venue listings for tickets and more information, and see below for all confirmed tour dates. INFECTED RAIN’s Lena Scissorhands says: “Here we come America – to all of you that have been patiently waiting, we are coming for you with the amazing Butcher Babies, Stitched Up Heart and Kaleido.” 70

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Expected soon, INFECTED RAIN’s next release will follow their aforementioned latest full-length album, Endorphin, featuring multi-faceted fan favorites such as “The Earth Mantra”, “Passerby”, “Lure”, “Storm”, “Black Gold” and more. Fierce screams and growls, heavy riffs and pounding beats combined with ingenious samples make INFECTED RAIN’s style an energetic blend of the best modern metal styles the heavy music scene currently has to offer. Formed in 2008, the band made their first appearance on stage in the same year, performing a concert dedicated to Slayer. Countless shows all over Europe and Russia followed, alongside headlining slots at some of Europe’s biggest festivals, until they gained the well-deserved attention of leading rock and metal label Napalm Records. INFECTED RAIN has released two EPs, several singles and four critically acclaimed full-length records to date

Infected Rain continued from previous page Order Endorphin here at https://www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/infectedrain Watch a recent singthrough video of “Taphephobia” here at https://youtu.be/eIW8i58yag4 Watch more recent videos from INFECTED RAIN here: “Passerby” music video https://youtu.be/Nhw7pFWNZV4 “The Earth Mantra” music video https://youtu.be/UA0UBIbS5L8 “Lure” lyric video https://youtu.be/oKPYk5b1dyQ “Storm” lyric video https://youtu.be/REtjpFsl2rk “Black Gold” music video https://youtu.be/gswQRa9iXJg INFECTED RAIN is: Lena – Vocals Vova – Bass Sergey – Guitar Vidick – Guitar Eugene – Drums

For more information, please visit: WEBSITE https://www.infectedrain.com/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/infectedrain TWITTER https://www.twitter.com/infectedrain INFECTED RAIN U.S. Tour Dates with Butcher Babies, Stitched Up Heart and Kaleido: *- Festival Date

Aug 28 - Pipestem, WV @ Metal In The Mountains* Aug 29 - Jacksonville, FL @ Hooligans Music Hall Aug 30 - Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre Aug 31 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade Sept 1 - New Orleans, LA @ Southport Hall Sept 3 - Sauget, IL @ Pop’s Sept 4 - Pryor, OK @ Rocklahoma* Sept 5 - Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre Sept 6 - Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep Sept 7 - Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater Sept 9 - Chippewa Falls, WI @ Every Buddy’s Bar^+ Sept 10 - Ashwaubenon, WI @ Epic Event Center^+ Sept 11 - Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s Rock Club Sept 12 - Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop^+ Sept 14 - Lakewood, OH @ Winchester Music Tavern Sept 15 - Warrendale, PA @ Jergels Sept 17 - Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo Iron Works Sept 18 - Cambridge, MA @ Middle East (Downstairs) Sept 19 - New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre Sept 20 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance Theatre Sept 21 - Harrisburg, PA @ HMAC Sept 23 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Scandals Live Sept 25 - Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life* Sept 28 - Dallas, TX @ Trees Sept 29 - Houston, TX @ Scout Bar Sept 30 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger Oct 1 - Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room Oct 2 - Lubbock, TX @ Jake’s Backroom Oct 4 - El Paso, TX @ Rockhouse Bar & Grill Oct 5 - Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole Oct 6 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge Oct 7 - Los Angeles @ 1720 Oct 8 - Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock* August 2021 • Rock and Blues International 71

that rage with unfettered fury and unbound frustration against the rise of isolationism, exploitation, rampant militarism, and religious indoctrination. Recorded at Stuck On A Name studio by Ian Boult and Bookhouse studio by Tom Hill, before being mixed and mastered by Charles Elliott (Tastemaker Audio / Abysmal Dawn), Our Kingdom Undone is both a crushing statement of intent and a vital reminder that the personal is political, that the ends do not justify the means, and that we must not let our fear divide us and drive us into an age of unreason.

Beyond Grace, ‘Factions Speak Louder Than Herds’, Premiering Now Nottingham, UK based death metal act, Beyond Grace are premiering their new single and accompanying horror inspired music video, Factions Speak Louder Than Herds. Factions Speak Louder Than Herds is the second single to be taken from their upcoming sophomore album, Our Kingdom Undone, due for release via Prosthetic Records on September 3. Speaking on the new single, Andy Walmsley (vocals) comments: “The title comes from an interview with the writer Si Spurrier - and while I’m sure he’s not the first to use the phrase I still want him to get the credit - about how the loudest, nastiest voices so often drown out any hope of communication or compromise, with the lyrics also touching upon the

way that this sort of abuse perpetuates itself, how it poisons and polarises us, and blinds us to the damage we’re doing - both to others and to ourselves.” Our Kingdom Undone sees Beyond Grace refining and redefining their sound into something that’s simultaneously more intricate and more intense than ever before, combining conceptually ambitious songwriting and high octane heaviness in equal measure.

BEYOND GRACE is: Andy Walmsley – vocals Tim Yearsley – guitar Chris Morley – guitar Andrew Workman – bass Ed Gorrod – drums

Our Kingdom Undone tracklist: 1. Dark Forest Doctrine 2. Barmecide Feast 3. Hive Mind 4. Factions Speak Louder Than Herds 5. The Price of Peace 6. Persona Non Grata 7. Fearmonger 8. Our Kingdom Undone

The album’s gestation period took place under a pall of social unrest and political uncertainty the world over, so it’s perhaps no surprise that each of Our Kingdom Undone’s eight songs is a cathartic scream of raw emotion and primal poetry. Full to the brim with lyrics

Watch The Music Video For Factions Speak Louder Than Herds Here at https://youtu.be/9KlDpaY1fGE Pre-order Our Kingdom Undone here at http://smarturl.it/BeyondGrace

FOLLOW BEYOND GRACE ONLINE: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wearebeyondgrace/ Twitter https://prostheticrecords.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=33fd7185ce9751ccfa7639eb1&id=237e298e5c&e=3833abc280 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wearebeyondgrace/ 72

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WARNING Announce Watching from a Distance - Live at Roadburn Album Cappio Records is pleased to announce the label’s first physical product, due for release this autumn. WARNING’s Watching from a Distance - Live at Roadburn was recorded at the 2017 edition of the festival in The Netherlands, capturing the return of the legendary doom band after an extended hiatus. The limited edition double gatefold album is available to order here at https:// cappiorecords.bandcamp.com Recorded by Marcel van de Vondervoort and his team on site, audio was mixed by Chris Fullard (Idles, Ulver) , and mastered by Michael Lawrence at Bladud Flies! (Ulver, Current 93). The double gatefold vinyl features exclusively commissioned artwork by Finnish artist Tekla Vály, who has created photographic interpretations of the paintings by Matt Mahurin which formed studio album’s original sleeve artwork. WARNING released Watching from a Distance back in 2006, before disbanding in 2008. The record continued to gain fans in the band’s absence, and after a prolonged hiatus, Patrick Walker reformed WARNING for Roadburn Festival in 2017 where they performed Watching from a Distance in full. The band went on to play a string of dates and further festivals including Hellfest and Desertfest, before once again downing tools. The pressing is limited to just 500 hand-numbered copies, and is expected to ship in September. The WARNING back catalogue is available digitally via Cappio Records, with studio albums given the reissue treatment courtesy of Svart Records at https://svartrecords.com/artist/warning/. WARNING releases and merchandise are available via their online store at https://warningband.bigcartel.com The line up for Watching from a Distance - Live at Roadburn is: Patrick Walker - Guitar and Vocals Marcus Hatfield - Bass Wayne Taylor - Guitar Andrew Prestidge - Drums

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Warningdoom Website https://linktr.ee/Cappiorecords Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/215tdyVWdDYOjufDKf6UJg?si=ayNprhpSRLCybGCtVuKfpA&dl_branch=1 74

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Rock and Blues International • July 2021

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Guitarist Bobby Keller Joins NEW DILEMMA for Fall Tour with Cold + Announces VIP Experience and Guitar Lesson Bundles Guitarist Bobby Keller has been tapped by New Dilemma to join the alt-metal/ hard rock band for an American tour with Cold this fall. Keller, who was recently honored with an official Bobby Keller preset in renowned German record producer and connoisseur of guitar tone Lasse Lammert’s new Tonality Suite, will offer a Bobby Keller VIP Experience and Guitar Lesson bundle throughout the tour. The pre-show Bobby Keller VIP Experience and Guitar Lesson will include one on one scheduled guitar lessons and demos featuring his ESP Guitars, EMG Pickups and the STL Lasse Lammert Tonality Suite on each date of the tour. “I am so excited to be hitting the road this September with my New Dilemma family and getting the opportunity to tour with Cold,” says Keller. “Just the thought of getting back out there excites me to no end. It has been way too long! So, with this tour, I wanted to try to give people the opportunity to come hang pre-show and get some personalized guitar lessons unlike anything they may have ever had before, and some amazing goodies to go with! Plus, I wanted to try and showcase my new settings on the Lasse Lammert STL Tonality Suite and how good it f**king sounds. In addition, how easy it is to use and how a tool like this can help spark your guitar ideas and make them a reality!” In addition to the personalized guitar lesson, each Bobby Keller VIP Experience and Guitar Lesson bundle will also include a signed Bobby Keller 8x10, VIP guitar pick set, VIP laminate, t-shirt, stickers and other goodies, in addition to the lesson. Bobby Keller VIP Experience and Guitar Lesson bundles are limited to 10 spots per date and are only available by purchasing in advance. Bobby Keller VIP Experience and Guitar Lesson bundles are $50 and are available at https://checkout.square.site/buy/ FZNOBN42XHRTB6CDGRYYCURR. Bobby Keller has received praise from Guitar World, Ultimate Guitar, BraveWords, Loudwire and countless other major press outlets throughout the world for his mesmerizing solo singles “Reign in Fire,” “Light continued on next page

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Bobby Keller continued from previous page Bearer” and “Perpetual Dreams,” which will all appear on Keller’s highly anticipated solo album, Reign in Fire. Listen to the singles at https://my.bio/bobbykellerofficial. Playthroughs for each of the tracks are also available: “Perpetual Dreams” - https://youtu.be/MQaQj9YvFNU “Light Bearer” - https://youtu.be/0LXqV9DRqRU “Reign in Fire” - https://youtu.be/F6d38MxblM0 Keller’s idea to start a solo project began with Ben Johnson, a talented producer, drummer and recording engineer currently working under Will Putney (Fit For An Autopsy/Thy Art is Murder) at Graphic Nature Audio in Belleville, NJ, producing and writing songs together. The team’s take on instrumental guitar music is without a doubt a oneof-a-kind experience that will propel the genre even farther into the future. A native of Orlando, Keller has been setting the music industry ablaze with his unique style of guitar playing since 2009 and is considered one of the top guitar players in the United States. Inspired by guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani and Dimebag Darrell, he bases his playing in the blues, but also combines both incredible speed and euphonic rhythms into his technique to create a truly individual sound. Having toured nationally with the band Avatar and playing alongside the likes of renowned artists such as Evanescence, Hellyeah, Mastodon, Gojira, Nonpoint, and Jonathan Davis (Korn), Keller is currently endorsed by ESP Guitars, EMG Pickups, Richter Straps, Driftwood Amps, SIT Strings, WB Gear, Fortin Amplification, Neural DSP, Graph Tech Guitar Labs, FU-Tone, Klotz Cables, Quantum Industries Cases and JH Audio. In 2016, Keller starred in the Theater Works Production of Rock of Ages as the lead guitar player for the “house band” of the Bourbon Room in Hollywood.

New Dilemma tour dates with Cold: 9/15 - Albany, NY - Upstate Music Hall 9/16 - Laconia, NH - Granite St Music Hall 9/17 - Chicopee, MA - Geraldine’s 9/18 - Norwalk, CT - Wall Street Theater 9/19 - Providence, RI - Fete Music Hall 9/22 - Teaneck, NJ - Debonair Music Hall 9/23 - Hopewell, VA - Beacon Theater 9/24 - Spartanburg, SC - Ground Zero 9/26 - Fort Myers, FL - Buddha Rock Club 9/27 - Destin, FL - Club LA 9/29 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade 9/30 - Charleston, WV - Rock City Cake Company 10/1 - Louisville, KY - Diamond Pub 10/2 - Harrison, OH - Blue Note 10/3 - Harrisburg, PA - HMAC 10/6 - Lakewood, OH - Winchester 10/7 - Lombard, IL - Brauerhouse 10/8 - Iowa City, IA - Wildwood 10/9 - St Paul, MN - Turf Club 10/10 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall 10/13 - Des Moines, IA - Lefty’s 10/14 - Lincoln, NE - The Royal Grove 10/15 - Denver, CO - Herman’s Hideaway 10/16 - Colorado Springs - Sunshine Studios 10/19 - Scottsdale, AZ - Pub Rock 10/21 - Austin, TX - Come and Take It 10/22 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar 10/23 - San Antonio, TX - Rock Box 10/24 - Dallas, TX - Trees 10/27 - St. Louis, MO - Red Flag 10/28 - Bloomington, IL - Castle Theater 10/29 - Flint, MI - Machine Shop 10/30 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Piere’s 10/31 - Pittsburgh, PA - Crafthouse 11/06 - Jacksonville, NC - Hooligans 11/17 - Indianapolis, IN - Hi-Fi 11/19 - Columbus, OH - The King of Clubs 11/20 - Northampton, PA - The Gin Mill

Bobby Keller online: www.bobbykellerofficial.com www.facebook.com/bobbykellerofficial www.instagram.com/bobbykellerofficial www.youtube.com/bobbykellerofficial New Dilemma is a four-piece hard rock/alternative metal band from Orlando, formed in 2017. New Dilemma’s debut EP, Is Your Story Over, was released last year via Pavement Entertainment. Is Your Story Over was produced and mixed by Ben Johnson and mastered by Machine The Producer (Lamb Of God, Clutch, Fallout Boy). The EP’s first single, “Is Your Story Over,” charted at #27 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Radio Charts and #10 on Foundations Rock Radio charts alongside some of today’s biggest bands. New Dilemma is: Joey Factor - Vocals Bobby Keller - Guitar Clyde Clark - Bass James Christopher Lane - Drums New Dilemma online: www.newdilemma.com www.facebook.com/NewDilemmaBand/ www.instagram.com/newdilemmaband/ www.youtube.com/c/NEWDILEMMABAND/featured https://open.spotify.com/artist/ 7gm9X59GacbIWorq5MY9il?si=roNuUrIHTPiimLOk_3Fohg&dl_branch=1

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Little Steven’s Explosive New Concert Record, “Summer Of Sorcery Live! At The Beacon Theatre”, Out Now Via Wicked Cool/UMe; Memoir Set For September 28 80

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AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY VIDEO WITH 5.1 SURROUND, 3CD AND AS A LIMITED EDITION 5LP VINYL BOX SET HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCES FROM PETER WOLF, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, JIMMY BARNES, NILS LOFGREN, PETER GARRETT, NICK GRAVENITES AND MORE WATCH/SHARE “SUMMER OF SORCERY” (LIVE AT THE BEACON) @ https://youtu.be/dvjaGnSpF9I STEVIE VAN ZANDT’S MEMOIR “UNREQUITED INFATUATIONS” DUE SEPTEMBER 28 VIA HACHETTE Professionally filmed and recorded before a sold-out crowd at New York City’s historic Beacon Theatre on November 6, 2019, the live concert extravaganza, Summer Of Sorcery Live! At The Beacon Theatre, expertly captures Little Steven, aka Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stevie Van Zandt, bringing the house down with his band the Disciples of Soul as they showcase their acclaimed 2019 album, Summer Of Sorcery, a 12-track record about the first rush of summer and the electric feeling of unlimited possibilities. The full two-and-a-half-hour concert – the triumphant hometown culmination of the Summer of Sorcery’s European and U.S. tours – is out now via Wicked Cool Records/UMe in a variety of formats including Blu-ray video as well as audio-only versions on 3CD and as a limited edition 5LP 180-gram “Psychedelic Psorcery Pswirl” color vinyl box set, which is exclusively available via uDiscoverMusic and LittleSteven.com. The Blu-ray features the entire concert in HD video with the audio offered in both stereo and 5.1 surround sound to provide the next best possible experience to being at the rock ‘n’ soul revue. The live album, which was mixed by Bob Clearmountain and mastered by Bob Ludwig, both career-long collaborators, includes thrilling performances of every song from Summer of Sorcery alongside tracks from throughout Van Zandt’s solo career, songs he wrote for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, and some souped-up covers. WATCH/EMBED “SUMMER OF SORCERY” (LIVE AT THE BEACON) https://youtu.be/dvjaGnSpF9I WATCH/EMBED “SUPERFLY TERRAPLANE” (LIVE AT THE BEACON) https://youtu.be/zGJXDF8dKf4 WATCH/EMBED “PARTY MAMBO” (LIVE AT THE BEACON) https://youtu.be/OteI7JfcOsg Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul were joined throughout the Summer of Sorcery tour by an array of legendary friends and family. Summer of Sorcery Live! At The Beacon Theatre is highlighted by a surprise appearance by the one and only Peter Wolf, who lends his inimitable vocals to powerhouse versions of J Geils Band’s “Freeze Frame” and Artists United Against Apartheid’s landmark protest anthem, “Sun City.” Summer Of Sorcery Live! At The Beacon Theatre is rounded out with nearly an extra hour of live music featuring seven previously unreleased bonus performances recorded throughout 2017-2019, including with such superstar special guests as Australian music legends Jimmy Barnes and Peter Garrett, longtime friend and E Street Band bandmate Nils Lofgren, and the legendary Nick

Gravenites, who joins Van Zandt for a spectacular rendition of the Electric Flag’s “Groovin’ Is Easy.” In addition, Peter Wolf returns for an explosive cover of The Showstoppers’ hit, “(Ain’t Nothin’ But A) Houseparty,” recorded during the Soulfire Tour but, according to Van Zandt, “too good to leave on the shelf.” The festivities come to a rousing conclusion with a star-studded version of “Sun City,” which edits together performances with Jimmy Barnes, Jake Clemons, Sam Fender, Peter Garrett, Courtney Hadwin, Garland Jeffreys and Bruce Springsteen. “We were born freaks, misfits, and outcasts,” Van Zandt writes in the album’s liner notes, which also include personal comments about each performance. “We got into this business because no other would have us. While we were here we figured we might as well create a world of our own, because we didn’t fit in the one we were being offered. Being on the road with a band is the ultimate manifestation of that fantasy. Together you travel, you perform, you dispense joy, and you get to see the world while avoiding it at the same time. “Such was the case with the troubadour missionaries and parttime exorcists known as the Disciples of Soul as they sprinkled enlightenment to a dark world from May 27, 2017 to November 6, 2019. First as the Soulfire was lit in the overture and finally as the Summer of Sorcery played out its magical denouement. Herein embodies the still sparkling evidence of the latter, that which began as stranger’s prayers imagined and ended as a family’s promise fulfilled. Enjoy it at as much as we did at whatever volume is required to force your neighbors to call the cops.” Arranged and produced by Van Zandt, with production assistance by GRAMMY® Award-winner Geoff Sanoff (Bruce Springsteen, Stephen Colbert). Summer of Sorcery Live! At The Beacon Theatre kicks off with a very special introduction from counterculture icon Wavy Gravy and from there traverses across Little Steven’s genre-smashing body of work, from Summer of Sorcery and 2017’s acclaimed solo return, Soulfire through classic songs and fan favorites from the songwriter, guitarist and band leader’s illustrious career, including an incendiary three-song salvo celebrating his work with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (“Little Girl So Fine,” “Trapped Again,” and “Love On The Wrong Side Of Town”). Further highlights include spectacular covers of The Youngbloods’ “On Sir Francis Drake,” The Dovells’ “Bristol Stomp,” The Animals’ “Club-A-Go-Go,” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Tucson Train.” Summer of Sorcery arrived in May 2019 and was immediately greeted by worldwide critical applause with Rolling Stone exclaiming, “it largely dispenses with protest songs and revels in the rock, soul and R&B of his Sixties youth,” adding it’s “the most eclectic record he’s ever made.” Van Zandt and his collaborators “pull out all the continued on next page August 2021 • Rock and Blues International 81

“Summer Of Sorcery Live! At The Beacon Theatre” continued from previous page stops to make this sonic smorgasbord explode out of the speakers with passion and clout,” wrote American Songwriter. “Few artists have the artistic vision to pull off a thunderous production like this which is impressive in its scope and sheer booming audio audacity.” “A happy return for the Jersey Shore prince,” declared MOJO, while Classic Rock raved, “(Van Zandt’s) tangible labour of love defiantly captures old-school New York’s cross-pollinating melting pot with rich infusions of Latin (‘Party Mambo!’), blues (‘I Visit The Blues’), blaxploitation (‘Vortex’), classic rock ‘n’ roll (‘Superfly Terraplane’), Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (‘Soul Power Twistin’’) and still making a social point on ‘Education,’” adding, “This unashamed celebration of endangered music and city life also makes a great party soundtrack.” “It’s all but impossible not to be impressed by the scope of Little Steven’s vision,” wrote All Music, “and the skill with which he and his collaborators bring it to fruition…Imagine Asbury Park, New Jersey encompassing an entire musical planet and you’ll have an idea of what Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul are doing on Summer of Sorcery, and if you dig rockin’ soul, this should be right up your alley.” Van Zandt recently announced the publication of his first ever memoir, Unrequited Infatuations, due September 28 from Hachette Books; pre-orders are available now here at https://found.ee/ UnrequitedInfatuations. An epic tale of self-discovery, Unrequited Infatuations chronicles the twists and turns of Van Zandt’s always surprising life, from a bedroom in suburban New Jersey in the early ‘60s to the world’s largest stages in not only entertainment but activism as well. More than just the testimony of a globe-trotting nomad, more than the story of a groundbreaking activist, more than the odyssey of a spiritual seeker, and more than a master class in rock ‘n’ roll (not to mention a dozen other crafts), Van Zandt’s extraordinary odyssey shows how rock and soul has the power to change the world. 2021 has already seen the release of another live collection, Macca To Mecca!, a spectacular tribute to the Beatles available now via Wicked Cool/UMe on CD/DVD. The 14-track album/concert film – which includes a riveting performance of “I Saw Her Standing There,” recorded at London’s famed Roundhouse and featuring a special appearance by Paul McCartney – captures Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul’s extraordinary surprise set at Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club during the band’s sold out 2017 European tour. The intimate lunchtime gig was a salute to the kind of shows the Beatles used to play in their early days when they would perform for local secretaries, clerks and shopkeepers during their half hour lunch break. Van Zandt decided to bring that unique idea back 50 plus years later for a rollicking, jam-packed daytime set filled that honored the band with rocking renditions of “Magical Mystery Tour,” “Good Morning, Good Morning,” “Got To Get You Into My Life,” and “All You Need Is Love,” alongside iconic songs famously performed by the nascent Fab Four, including “Boys” (originally by The Shirelles), “Slow Down” (by Larry Williams) and “Soldier Of Love” (first recorded by Arthur Alexander). STREAM/PURCHASE MACCA TO MECCA! @ https:// littlesteven.lnk.to/MaccaToMeccaPR SUMMER OF SORCERY LIVE! AT THE BEACON THEATRE TRACKLISTINGS BLU-RAY 1. Intro: Wavy Gravy 2. Communion 3. Camouflage of Righteousness

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

4. Party Mambo! 5. Love Again 6. Education 7. On Sir Francis Drake 8. I Visit The Blues 9. Gravity 10. Los Desaparecidos 11. Little Girl So Fine 12. Trapped Again 13. Love On The Wrong Side Of Town 14. A World Of Our Own 15. Suddenly You 16. Vortex 17. I Am A Patriot 18. Superfly Terraplane 19. Bitter Fruit 20. Forever 21. Summer of Sorcery 22. Tucson Train 23. Freeze Frame (with Peter Wolf) 24. Sun City (with Peter Wolf) 25. Soul Power Twist 26. Out Of The Darkness BONUS CONTENT 1. Bristol Stomp 2. Club A-Go-Go 3. Groovin’ Is Easy (with Nick Gravenites) 4. (Ain’t Nothin’ But A) Houseparty (with Peter Wolf) 5. Ride The Night Away (with Jimmy Barnes) 6. Moon Tears (with Nils Lofgren) 7. Sun City (with Jimmy Barnes, Peter Garrett, Sam Fender, Courtney Hadwin, Jake Clemons, Garland Jeffreys, and Bruce Springsteen) 3CD CD1 1. Intro: Wavy Gravy 2. Communion 3. Camouflage of Righteousness 4. Party Mambo! 5. Love Again 6. Education 7. On Sir Francis Drake 8. I Visit The Blues 9. Gravity 10. Los Desaparecidos 11. Little Girl So Fine 12. Trapped Again 13. Love On The Wrong Side Of Town 14. A World Of Our Own CD2 1. Suddenly You 2. Vortex 3. I Am A Patriot 4. Superfly Terraplane 5. Bitter Fruit 6. Forever 7. Summer of Sorcery 8. Tucson Train 9. Freeze Frame (with Peter Wolf) 10. Sun City (with Peter Wolf) 11. Soul Power Twist 12. Out Of The Darkness CD3 1. Bristol Stomp 2. Club A-Go-Go 3. Groovin’ Is Easy (with Nick Gravenites) 4. (Ain’t Nothin’ But A) Houseparty (with Peter Wolf) 5. Ride The Night Away (with Jimmy Barnes) 6. Moon Tears (with Nils Lofgren) 7. Sun City (with Jimmy Barnes, Peter Garrett, Sam Fender, continued on next page

“Summer Of Sorcery Live! At The Beacon Theatre” continued from previous page Courtney Hadwin, Jake Clemons, Garland Jeffreys, and Bruce Springsteen) 5LP LP1 1. Intro: Wavy Gravy (Side A) 2. Communion (Side A) 3. Camouflage of Righteousness (Side A) 4. Party Mambo! (Side A) 5. Love Again (Side B) 6. Education (Side B) LP2 1. On Sir Francis Drake (Side A) 2. I Visit The Blues (Side A) 3. Gravity (Side A) 4. Los Desaparecidos (Side A) 5. Little Girl So Fine (Side B) 6. Trapped Again (Side B) 7. Love On The Wrong Side Of Town (Side B) LP3 1. A World Of Our Own (Side A) 2. Suddenly You (Side A) 3. Vortex (Side A)

4. I Am A Patriot (Side A) 5. Superfly Terraplane (Side B) 6. Bitter Fruit (Side B) 7. Forever (Side B) LP4 1. Summer of Sorcery (Side A) 2. Tucson Train (Side A) 3. Freeze Frame (with Peter Wolf) (Side A) 4. Sun City (with Peter Wolf) (Side B) 5. Soul Power Twist (Side B) 6. Out Of The Darkness (Side B) LP5 1. Bristol Stomp (Side A) 2. Club A-Go-Go (Side A) 3. Groovin’ Is Easy (with Nick Gravenites) (Side A) 4. (Ain’t Nothin’ But A) Houseparty (with Peter Wolf) (Side A) 5. Ride The Night Away (with Jimmy Barnes) (Side B) 6. Moon Tears (with Nils Lofgren) (Side B) 7. Sun City (with Jimmy Barnes, Peter Garrett, Sam Fender, Courtney Hadwin, Jake Clemons, Garland Jeffreys, and Bruce Springsteen) (Side B) CONNECT WITH LITTLE STEVEN LITTLESTEVEN.COM FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/LittleStevenVanZandt TWITTER https://twitter.com/StevieVanZandt YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCTGzkRWcqJj5QuYhKoPCA6A

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The Biker, The Blues, And An Afternoon Dive Bar Some years back the world famous blues singer Trudy Lynn told me that the blues is a feeling and she’s right. Albert Cummings sings a song with these lyrics “the blues makes me feel so good. Both of them right on the money. Growing up I listened to blues artists on the radio such as Willie Dixon performing his “Spoonful” and John Lee Hooker’s really cool delivery of “The Healer”. Back in the late 20s and early 30s it was the female blues singers that packed the speak easy joints. They would sing about life experiences, sometimes through mythical humor and sometimes bringing real life situations into the mainstream that shall we say may not have been proper for the church going crowd. As time moved forward female blues singers like Ruth Brown who famously released “If I can’t sell it I am just going to sit on it” opened the door for even more female blues acts such the Sapphire Sisters who released “Too Much Butt”. On the blues rock side of the genre in the late sixties Eric Clapton and Cream were introducing white audiences in America to blues from our own country. Their over the top presence led the way for other super groups like ZZ Top that killed audiences with their thumping, driving get it done blues rock tracks. Plus the trio were also releasing cool slow blues numbers such as “Blue Jean Blues” and “I’m A Fool For Your Stockings”. So today when you are out and up on two wheels from time to time you might stop in a strip joint or a blues bar or a dive bar and they have great blues selections on the juke and you feel at home. If you find yourself digging the place and the vibes then you are a fortunate soul. Buckle up this month as we are going deep - here’s the latest…… I had just finished a routine registration and license check by a state trooper and was on my way. I received a verbal warning as my inspection sticker was on my primary case and not above or below the license plate. The folks that were trucking along with me on this part of the journey waited for me. We started our engines and took to the highway in groups of two heading east. In a short while the routine traffic stop was out of my mind but my thirst alarm was going off big time. Time to do some billboard watching for a possible location and I had another idea too. Maybe the folks that I was traveling with would know where to wet my whistle, which they did but they also wanted to keep moving but not me. I was ready for a good, cold glass of ale. So we parted company as they pointed out a place I might like so I pulled in, parked and went in. Now sometimes you know right away when continued on next page

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

Continued - The Biker, The Blues, And An Afternoon Dive Bar you enter a place if it’s probably going to be a good experience and this was one of them. Maybe it was the long legs in the Daisy Dukes that was stretching over the pool table that caught my eye. When she turned around she had a million dollar smile, maybe her Dad was an orthodontist, but no matter I smiled back. Courtesy you know. Turned out that she was on the day shift and tending bar too. She wiped her hands with a bar towel and asked me if I preferred cold beer in a frosty mug or a pilsner glass? I opted for the pilsner glass. As the saying goes, “if money can’t buy happiness explain motorcycles and beer!” She drew a beer and went back to shooting pool and I began tackling a really nice glass of ale. On one of her trips to help others from behind the bar she stopped and said that Clay Melton out of Houston would be playing that night. She told me that this guy lights up the room and he always attracts nice crowds. She told me that he is twenty seven years old with another new EP coming out and that one of the tunes on the release was “Jesus Just Left Chicago”. I had not heard that song in quite some time and what I remembered about it was that ZZ Top had recorded it. She went back to the pool table and I accessed my cell phone and went to You Tube and sure enough Clay Melton’s rendition of the song was there. She was right it was kick ass to be sure. It was then

that a man and a woman came in and sat down to my left. He was the furthest away with her sitting next to me. The bar maid didn’t even ask them what they wanted and drew two beers and brought them over. She took the liberty to tell them that I was passing through and she was hoping that everybody would stick around for Clay’s show. We exchanged hellos. The man drank

his brew rather quickly and said goodbye to the gal. After a few sips more the gal next to me asked me what the words were under the tat of the screaming eagle on my left arm. I said Harley Davidson. She said she had one too and stood up. She was wearing tight fitting white denim jeans and commenced to loosen the button and lower her zipper. She peeled the material back and under her navel but down a bit further was a tat of a roadrunner with a cherry in its mouth. She volunteered that she got it a couple of years back and I just replied with, “really?” So we started chatting and a few beers later I felt like I had known her my whole life. It was about this time that two men were having a, shall we say, lively conversation of the placement of the cue ball after a scratch situation. A guy who had been sitting at the far end continued on next page August 2021 • Rock and Blues International 85

Continued - The Biker, The Blues, And An Afternoon Dive Bar of the bar got up and walked over to the pool table. He said something to them and they calmed down but one of them thumped his cue stick onto the table as he sat it down. I believe he was invited to leave and complied, if that wasn’t what caused him to leave he was just ready to go then I guess. About five beers into it I decided to take out the ole trusty dusty cell phone and find a motel. I wasn’t ready to retire but I also knew I wouldn’t be going too far if I stayed in the bar for much longer. I looked around and spotted the juke and decided that I would like to hear The Doobie Brothers “Black Water”. For reason Dr. John came to mind and I couldn’t help myself and punched in “Such A Night (Live)”. If you have a few or more cold beers Dr. John’s up tempo “Such A Night” is always a crowd pleaser. I added a touch of En Vogue with “Give Him something He Can Feel”. Bar keep more beer please. I called the motel of choice got a bit curious about my bike and opened the front door and yep it was still right there and my things were intact. I remember another tune came to mind as I turned to go back to the bar, Cream’s version of “Stormy Monday” as performed at the Royal Albert Hall. Eight minutes and ten seconds of pure blues bliss. Yep it came up when I searched for it. I was digging my afternoon severely. Happy Hour started and their happy hour contained bar food too. Wings, cold beer, fine ladies, and great blues what else could a man possibly want? A fine cigar maybe. There as a man in the place, pretty big guy with his dog, shooting darts by himself. He began to sing “Stormy Monday” when the song came up and man he was good. Miles of smiles were developing that afternoon. Turned out that he was the cook but for years the barmaid told us he toured with a rock group playing lead guitar. I wondered if I should approach him and ask about his travels but before I could complete the continued on next page

Rock and Blues International • August 2021

Continued - The Biker, The Blues, And An Afternoon Dive Bar thought the barmaid told us that since his Mother passed he’s a different guy, stays to himself, rare to hear him sing The musician’s road is a strange place and while they can give their all to audiences in city after city there is just something about coming back home and being with family and friends. If they are away and someone close passes that can get their mind to thinking about cutting grass for a living, anything, just stay closer to home. I remembered one time being with Milton “The Gentleman” Hopkins and his wife at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis. Milton, who is normally a rather quiet soul told me a road story from his eight years on the bus with B.B. King and the guys in the band. I mention this because he volunteered that although he liked being home every night if that man were to call him he would go back out on the road in a second. He had shared that glimpse of the road before B.B. would pass a couple of years later. I went back over to the juke and selected Albert Collins performing “But I Was Cool”. The place was up for grabs as the song progressed. If you haven’t heard it, it’s guaranteed to bring you a smile. If you like good blues this place is the place for it. Crossroads Saloon in Big Springs Texas. All across America there are cool blues bars if you know where to find them this one has it working big time. Texas itself takes about thirteen hours to cross from its east border to its west border and the place is packed with good down home people and good blues. On this day I would leave Crossroads and go to the motel. A bit of getting situated, taking a shower, and heading back out into the night. When I returned the Clay Melton band was setting up and the place was beginning to get a bit crowded. I went outside and the view from their terrace hit the spot. A young lady stopped by the table and asked what I would like to drink. Seemed like a scotch night so I began with a bit of Glenmorangie with a water back. Their outdoor speakers were on and the music was pure blues rock. Whoever was punching the numbers knew their blues. Robin Trower was on and the track was “Fine Day” and it was “So good being alive on a fine day“. So here I was somewhere in Texas just west of Abilene, good scotch, good music, good food, and not a care in the world. For anyone that wants to get away, go ahead set yourself free. If only for a weekend or over a holiday or until the money runs out. You owe to yourself and those around you, call it a musical sabbatical, come on it’ summertime. You know you want to, you really know you do, you know I am right. Set yourself free. Nobody dies and asks the man upstairs for another eight hours to work but my guess is there may have been some that told Him they missed some of life’s experiences due to working almost all the time. In the words of Steppenwolf “I like to dream yes, yes, right between my sound machine, On a cloud of sound I drift in the night, Any place it goes is right, Goes far, flies near, to the stars away from here. Well, you don’t know what we can find - Why don’t you come with me little girl On a magic carpet ride.”

To Be Continued August 2021 • Rock and Blues International 87