Rock And Blues International by Rock and Blues International

JANUARY 2022

Rock And Blues International Kathy Lyon

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

BLUES FESTIVAL LIST Cat Stevens/Yusuf Paul McCartney The Model T’s Duran Duran John 5 Korn and more!

Rock And Blues International January 2022

Hello Rock And Blues International readers. I hope everybody had a great December. I am happy that we’ve all made it through last year. It was probably the worse year of my life among others. We haven’t made it out of the woods yet, there’s still variants of the Coronavirus out there and it’s likely that new ones will be popping up for a while to come. I know that we’ve all been told that we need to get vaccinated. I have been fully vaccinated, but that was my decision. For those of you that don’t want to, I wish you the best of luck and I know you have your reasons and I respect them. This is all still an experimental treatment and it will be years before we fully understand the ramifications of the vaccine. Let’s pray that they are positive. In the meantime, live music is bad and personally I believe that good music is the cure for most ailments. I know, that’s debatable. It’s just another one of my silly beliefs. There’s going to be a lot of live music hitting the road this year, so get out and enjoy it while you can. Hopefully we never get back to the point where it goes on hiatus again. Personally, I had a rough time with that. 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 January issue of Rock And Blues International. In this issue you can read stories about Kathy Lyon, Sherita Perez, The Model T’s, The Buckley’s, Harumo Imai, Altameda, Benee, Jhay Cortez, Samael, Kat Von D., Head Honchos, Duran Duran, Jamestown Revival, Matt Pike Queen Kwong, Korn, John 5, Paul McCartney & Wings, Cat Stevens/Yusuf 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”. 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” January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

Contents

VOL. 2 NO. 6

JANUARY 2021

ISSUE NO. 18

KATHY LYON We Spent Three Days With Jazz Vocalist Extraordinaire, Ms Kathy Lyon

18 THE MODEL T’S

Edoardo Fassio talks about The Italian Blues Band The Model T’s

THE BUCKLEY’S The Buckley’s Deliver Sequin-studded Video For “Boogie Woogie Santa Clause’

24 KAT VON D

Kat Von D Announces Nationwide Headline Spring 2022 Tour

52 52

DURAN DURAN Duran Duran Announce Details Of First Official NFT Drop

Rock and Blues International • January 2022

Contents

VOL. 2 NO. 6

JANUARY 2021

ISSUE NO. 18

JAMESTOWN REVIVAL Jamestown Revival Share Reflective And Tender Look Into Upcoming Young Man LP

76 JOHN 5

John 5 & The Creatures Announce “The Sinner 2022” North American Tour

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 14 18 19 20 24 26 28

Kathy Lyon Sherita Perez Blues Fesstival List The Model T’s (English) The Model T’s (Italian Ryan Culwell The Buckley’s Harumo Imai Altameda

30 34 38 40 41 42 46 48 50 51 52

Benee Jhay Cortez Samael Claudia Crabuzza Libérica Kissin’ Dynamite Kat Von D Head Honchos Lily Donat Pretty Awkward Duran Duran

56 58 60 64 70 74 76 78 80 82

Jamestown Revival Matt Pike Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio Queen Kwong Lyzzie Larosa a.k.a. babychaos Korn John 5 & The Creatures Paul McCartney & Wings Yusuf / Cat Stevens The Biker

January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

Kathy Lyon 6

Rock and Blues International • January 2022

Imagine being able to tag along with a well-respected veteran jazz vocalist and her business manager for three business days in a major city. Recently, we received such an opportunity and the artist we would be with was Kathy Lyon. Kathy had just left the beautiful mountains surrounding Ruidoso New Mexico where she was reviewing the final touches on her upcoming release. Nestled in those mountains is a rather unique recording studio, Montrose Records West, with producer Richard Cagle at the helm. Richard is the professional that launched such performers as Carolyn Wonderland, Annika Chambers, and most recently Julia Cozby to name a few. Kathy had been invited to Rich’s studio by her good friend and guitar stylist Richard Chorne’. Chorne’ had invited Kathy into the studio to perform the lead vocals on his personal new, upcoming release being recorded at Montrose. Kathy has been traveling a seemingly endless road that leads to venues, radio stations, and recording studios over the years. A self proclaimed road warrior it’s hard to keep this woman in one spot for too long. But being at Montrose to record with Rich Chorne’ was only fifty percent of the reason she was there. The balance of the time would be invested into recording her original new jazz and blues tracks with Richard Cagle. Both objectives were met with Kathy’s upcoming release being scheduled for submission to radio around the globe in early January 2022. Her last album, which is now being featured on terrestrial stations and digital outlets “Nothin’ But Love” is doing quite well. In fact the Smooth Jazz Dot Com Global Network with affiliates around the world reports “Nothin’ But Love” at #28 and one of its tracks “Candy” at #23. After completing her studio time in Ruidoso Kathy would travel to Houston Texas where she was scheduled to record a

Three Days With Jazz Vocalist Extraordinaire Ms. Kathy Lyon one-hour interview with Tom Tranchilla at KPFT Radio. Houston is where Rock And Blues International joins the entourage beginning

at Songbrush Studio with Kathy’s radio interview. Kathy Lyon is quite humble regarding her God given continued on next page January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

Ms. Kathy Lyon continued from previous page talent, but when this lady of jazz accompanies the piano wow she has it all. A perfect example of this level of natural ability would soon reveal itself as Kathy’s second appointment the following day would be with the noted composer and arranger Paul

English. Mr. English is the go to guy in greater Houston when it comes to professional performing arts support. On this day it was Paul’s affiliation with Steinway & Sons that opened the door for this private meeting as they catered to both the instrument

needs and a practice room in which to get to know each other. So as you might imagine when Paul English tickles the ivories and the vocalist joins in you know that his reaction is going to be telling and telling it was on this day. He was smiling on the first song but when Kathy moved into scatting he really lit up. The woman not only has a marvelous voice but her musical instincts are impeccable to say the least. Mr. English acknowledged this observation and on this date in time Kathy and Paul agreed that Paul would structure Kathy’s charts and work on arrangements both for and with Kathy. One only needs to listen her delivery to fully appreciate what a writer’s words can only partially convey. If you haven’t heard “Nothin’ But Love” it’s on Spotify, Pandora, and can be heard on a regular basis on terrestrial stations both domestically and abroad. Inside that rehearsal room that day in Houston Kathy was just not delivering lyrics rather she was feeling them and her musical emotions were a true joy to experience. Combined with Paul’s impromptu embellishments the music was extremely enjoyable. To digress momentarily; the same reaction to Kathy’s delivery happened to the famous jazz sax man Houston Person on a jazz cruise two years ago. Kathy presented Houston with a demo recording, the man listened to it later that night and the next day suggested that Kathy should be with him in Manhattan performing there while also recording with him in the studio. Kathy was elated to say the least and immediately agreed to do exactly what Houston had suggested. He assembled a world class group of top rated jazz musicians for these events and “Nothin’ But Love” was born in the studio. It was interesting to learn that Kathy not only toured with her late husband for years but that experience also included shows that the USO had continued on next page

Rock and Blues International • January 2022

Ms. Kathy Lyon continued from previous page arranged in other countries for our troops. Kathy’s musical history actually starts with her family back when she was a child and just naturally continued well into years on the road. While some artists complain about constantly being on the go Kathy speaks of the being on the road with fondness. It is this writer’s belief that being on the road going to the next gig will always be her favorite place to be other than with her family of course. Kathy has performed on jazz cruises and in America’s major cities such as New York’s Manhattan for example and all the way down through Florida.

The beautiful view from Montrose Records West - Ruidoso, New Mexico

Her passion for jazz led her to become quite active within the Jazz Society scene bolstering communications and putting the spotlight on artists and venues. At this time Kathy

Jazz Great Houston Person & Kathy in Manhattan, New York

also began to support a 501c3 named Jazz For Justice. In fact her continued enthusiasm combined with her vocal abilities opened doors to such noted music festivals as The East Coast Jazz Festival, Roswell Jazz Festival, Pensacola Jazz Festival, and Panama City’s Jazz By The Bay event. Her performances generated comments such as “great voice”, “marvelous personality and presence”. While typically many artists receive comments regarding sounding like others Kathy on the other hand receives comments that apply to a pleasant, fresh sound that she brings to life within each show. Also while in Houston Kathy dined with another recognizable Performer, Ms. Evelyn Rubio. The ladies enjoyed dining at Houston’s premiere listening room and restaurant “McGonigel’s Mucky Duck”. The conversation flowed around the topics of instrumentation and the disciplines required when both in the recording studio and in person on stage. The two of them traded CDs and their time at the “The Duck” was both entertaining and educational. This was Kathy’s first time visiting The Mucky Duck but it is doubtful it will be her last. Traveling with the self-proclaimed road warrior Kathy Lyon was Business Manager/booker

continued on next page January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

Rock and Blues International • January 2022

Ms. Kathy Lyon Michael Carrasco of Memphis. Michael was instrumental in formalizing the business relationship with Montrose Records. Plus he would form a business relationship in person with Paul English. Something sadly missing in today’s modern independent artist representation; in person conversations with potential collaborators in music. On this multi-project trip Michael would assist Kathy professionally on the business side inking with Montrose Records, firming the opportunities with Paul English and solidifying the business relationship with John in Houston PR. There is little doubt in this writer’s mind that Kathy is not busy reinventing herself like so many do but rather adding to her impressive resume with futuristic projects that will continue to entertain both audio and show audiences alike both in the states and abroad. Finally, and this is breaking news, as of this writing it appears that Kathy Lyon Music will enter into a creative project with Relaxing Blues Production Company. RBP is well known for its ability to create story telling music videos from the songwriter’s lyrics. The proof is in the pudding as they say and you can see their unique Vocal professionals Kathy Lyon & Evelyn Rubio at The Mucky Duck

approach on You Tube. Not only do they create these unique videos they also have a fan base on You Tube that exceeds 325,000 subscribers. Within the construct of the business arrangement Relaxing Blues will both create the video and then mass distribute it on their highly successful You Tube channel. You can learn more as the ink dries on Kathy Lyon Music dot com. If you are a jazz afficionado there is little risk that you will fully appreciate and enjoy the artistry of Kathy Lyon. While this article points out the artist’s focus on business and the future it should be noted that this drive, this passion, is fueled by the adoration of those that attend her performances. Individuals that let her know that she brought enjoyment into their lives and encourage her to continue on which as you can see is clearly in the cards. To learn even more and friend Kathy on Facebook access www.kathylyonmusic.com January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

Cannabis Songwriter/Artist Headlines Dispensaries Too Cool - Meet Sherita Perez - New Release! Some roads lead to stardom, some roads lead to success but not happiness. If you are lucky some roads intersect and you have arrived both monetarily and creatively. Sherita Perez has been paying some heavy dues but finally the momentum is coming her way. She’s found a home. A comfortable home inside legal cannabis dispensaries entertaining guests that walk in the front door and look around. Yes you could say she is happy but then again not satisfied, not satisfied because the doors to new dispensaries are slow to open and so her rise to entertain more guests waits in line for each new opportunity. Sherita is a perky, bright, creative soul that captures the essence of the legal vibe in song. She’s been a songwriter for years now and good one at that and on top of that she’s performed with a virtual who’s who in music on stages from the United States to New Zealand. It was while she was in New Zealand that she felt the urge to pen her cannabis songs. She returned to the states and relocated from Texas gulf coast to northern California where the gardens grow their favorite cash crop, marijuana. She fit in like a hand inside a comfortable glove and has not looked back since the move. The singer/songwriter has even been on the famous Texas radio station KOOP with Willie Nelson, who as we all know is known to enjoy his ganja now and then. While in Texas Sherita actually recorded at the world famous SugarHill Studios with the renowned recording engineer at the helm, Josh Applebee. Her newest release “Emerald EP” was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Sean Cole at Reel World Studios in Eureka Ca. Sherita lays down the vocals and rhythm guitar on the three song EP while Braedin Lewis presents lead guitar and mandolin expertise. Beyond the new EP Sherita is an activist in the cause of legalization and supports her cause with the utmost of passion. A complex soul tortured by the workings of today’s modern music industry but none the less enthusiastically positive in regard to the vocation being her career. Sherita presents the consume’ performance for listening rooms, music festivals, and private events. Envision this upbeat creative soul at your local brewery sampling the goods right along with you and having fun all the way throughout the gig. If you haven’t heard “Weed And Wine” this is a track that will bring a smile to your face. While you are there try the other two songs too; Cannabis Cowboy and Hide The Evidence. Emerald EP is available on subscription radio and you can find it on Band Camp. Want to learn more or perhaps drop Sherita a line? www.sheritaperez.com 12

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12 Rock 14 Rockand andBlues BluesInternational International •• August December January2021 2022 2021

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New Additions New Blues Festival Long Beach, California Woodystock Blues Festival Camp David, Arizona Blues From The Top Winter Park, Colorado

Rock And Blues International January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

The Model T is back on our streets By Edoardo Fassio

Still Gettin’ Down marks the return to the recording studio of Model T Boogie, one of the longest-running and most knowledgeable electric blues ensembles in Italy. Chicago blues, to be precise. The geolocation is not entered at random; four of the current members boast direct connections with the music scene of the Illinois metropolis. Drummer Massimo Bertagna lived there when he was on Maurice John Vaughn’s payroll; as for guitarists, Nick Becattini has long been Son Seals’ trustworthy man, Dario Lombardo has shared more than twenty years of shows and friendship with Phil Guy. The relationship was revealed on the occasion of the first visit to the shores of Lake Michigan by the band founded by harmonica player Giancarlo Crea. It was 1987, and the group had the chance to perform, as part of the Chicago Blues Festival, on a stage located on the South Side, in the section of 43rd Street renamed Muddy Waters Drive, no less. Those were golden times. The band, named after the Ford automobile that started mass motorization, accompanied the likes of Eddie C. Campbell, Johnny Copeland and Deitra Farr on tour and, in the pre-digital era, released two LPs. The current release is a virtual follow-up to the second, which featured a Phil Guy cameo and took its title from his original song, Born to Get Down. The Model T was a rigorous prototype. It was based on the energy efficiency of the guitars / harmonica axis, which defined the genre in the mid-twentieth century, seducing an audience that went from local to global. It gained fans, popularizers, students and imitators, becoming, as Fabrizio Berti warmly recalls in his liner notes, “a training ground for many young musicians who gravitated to ringside”. In a third of a century a lot has changed, the group suffering the losses of Guy himself and of the bassist Massimo Pavin, replaced by Alice Costa, very young but already in great demand in the blues, funk and rock fields. The dedication to the cause has not changed, though: the style is recaught in its vital parts via classics think of “Western Union Man” or “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” - and revamped in new compositions such as the instrumental shuffle “Model T’s Boogie” or, with similar, amused selfreference, the opening theme “Hey, Model T”, straight off the book of the Bo-Diddley-beat. It is the Turin-born Lombardo who provides the title-track; also in its lyrics, the true link with the previous season. Strange but true, in times of plug-in and full electric propulsion the Model T is back on our streets. 18 Rock and Blues International • January 2022

La Model T è tornata sulle nostre strade By Edoardo Fassio Still Gettin’ Down segna il ritorno in sala di incisione di Model T Boogie, una tra le più longeve e competenti formazioni di blues elettrico in Italia. Di Chicago blues, per essere precisi. La geolocalizzazione non è buttata a caso; quattro degli attuali componenti vantano diretti legami con la scena musicale della metropoli dell’Illinois. Il batterista Massimo Bertagna vi ha abitato quando era nel libro paga di Maurice John Vaughn; quanto ai chitarristi, Nick Becattini è stato a lungo uomo di fiducia di Son Seals, Dario Lombardo ha condiviso più di vent’anni di vita e di concerti con Phil Guy. Il rapporto di complementarietà si manifestò in occasione della prima visita sulle rive del lago Michigan della band fondata dall’armonicista Giancarlo Crea. Era il 1987, e il gruppo ebbe la ventura di esibirsi, nell’ambito del Chicago Blues Festival, su un palco situato nel South Side, nel tratto della 43esima Strada ribattezzato Muddy Waters Drive, nientemeno. Tempi d’oro. La band accompagnò in tour boss del calibro di Eddie C. Campbell, Johnny Copeland e Deitra Farr e, in era pre-digitale, pubblicò due long-playing. Del secondo, realizzato con la partecipazione di Phil Guy e che prende il titolo dal brano originale Born To Get Down, l’attuale uscita è il virtuale seguito. La Model T era un prototipo rigoroso. Aveva preso il nome dal veicolo della Ford che avviò la motorizzazione di massa e si basata sull’efficienza energetica dell’asse chitarre/armonica che definì il genere a metà del Novecento e sedusse un pubblico che da locale divenne mondiale. Avrà estimatori, divulgatori, allievi e imitatori, diventando, come ricorda con affetto Fabrizio Berti nelle note di copertina, “una palestra formativa per tanti giovani musicisti che gravitavano a bordo ring”. In un terzo di secolo molto è cambiato, e il gruppo ha sofferto le perdite dello stesso Guy e del bassista Massimo Pavin, rimpiazzato in organico da Alice Costa, giovanissima ma già assai richiesta in ambito blues, funk e rock. Non è mutata invece la dedizione alla causa: lo stile è riagguantato nelle parti sensibili in classici - “Western Union Man” o “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” - e rivitalizzato in nuove composizioni come lo shuffle strumentale “Model T’s Boogie” o, con simile, divertita autoreferenzialità, la sigla di apertura “Hey, Model T”, sulle linee del Bo-Diddley-beat. È il torinese Lombardo a fornire la title-track, anche nel testo anello di congiunzione con la passata stagione. Strano ma vero, in tempi di propulsione full electric o plug-in la Model T è tornata sulle nostre strade. January 2022 • Rock and Blues International 19

intuitive performances from his all-star bandmates, including Juan Solorzano (Devon Gilfillian, Becca Mancari), Kris Donegan (Rhett Walker, Brett Eldredge) and Will Kimbrough (Rodney Crowell, Todd Snider) along with spare, unfussy production from Hubbard. Guest vocalists also include Natalie Schlabs, Betsy Phillips, and Caroline Spence. The intimacy is palpable from the outset, but heavy as it may seem at times, Run Like A Bull is at its core a deeply optimistic record. For all the brooding guitars and gut-punch delivery, it’s ultimately a testament to the power of human connection and resilience that find hope and gratitude in quiet moments and subtle gestures.

Credit: Neilson Hubbard

Ryan Culwell Releases Aching New Single “Colorado Blues”

New Album Run Like A Bull Out January 28 On Missing Piece Records Listen to “Colorado Blues” HERE at https://missingpiece.ffm.to/coloradoblues Pre-save/pre-order Run Like A Bull HERE at https://missingpiece.ffm.to/runlikeabull Nashville-based singer/songwriter Ryan Culwell has released his new single “Colorado Blues,” the opening track off his forthcoming new album Run Like A Bull (out January 28th on Missing Piece Records). It sents the tone of the record right from the outset, a tightrope walk and an emotional tug-of-war from a protagonist who oscillates between regret for his mistakes and gratitude for the man they’ve made him. The track debuted on Apple Music’s Record Bin Radio with Kelly McCartney, who stated “I am a big fan of everything Ryan does, so mark your calendars for that [album].” “Colorado Blues” follows the release of the slow-burning track “Let’s Go Crazy,” which The Boot called “expertly-penned.” Lead single “All I Got” is also out now at https://youtu.be/AJrHvBi2f7M, a grizzled song that finds satisfaction in burning out rather than fading away. Recorded with longtime friend and collaborator Neilson Hubbard (Mary Gauthier, Kim Richey), Run Like A Bull is raw and magnetic, channeling Neil Young and Billy Joe Shaver as it searches for a middle ground between release and restraint, impulse and inhibition, recklessness and responsibility. Culwell faces down his own worst instincts, grappling with weighty, existential notions the way Flannery O’Connor might, conjuring up images of alternating beauty and brutality. In stark contrast to his approach to his previous album The Last American, which was recorded piecemeal over the course of more than a year of deliberate layering and experimentation, Culwell cut the entirety of Run Like A Bull in just four days. He relied on honest, 20 Rock and Blues International • January 2022

Earlier this year, Ryan Culwell and Aubrie Sellers released a cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Head Like A Hole,” which Rolling Stone called a “somber, haunted duet.” Run Like A Bull follows Culwell’s critically acclaimed 2018 LP The Last American, which was embraced by BrooklynVegan, The Boot, NPR’s Weekend Edition and many more. Wide Open Country called the album a “poignant masterpiece” and Rolling Stone said, “It took three years for this Texas-born singer-songwriter to follow up his bleak but marvelous LP Flatlands — and this 180 from that 2015 release’s spare sound was worth the wait.” Track List: 01) Colorado Blues 02) All I Got 03) Dead Man 04) Let’s Go Crazy 05) Wild Sometimes 06) What You Waiting For 07) This Town 08) Keep Your Head Up 09) It Won’t Stop 10) Certain Light 11) Don’t Let Go

Ryan Culwell: Website @ https://ryanculwell.com Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/RyanCulwell/ Twitter @ https://twitter.com/ryanculwell

January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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Rock and Blues International • October 2021

Rock And Blues International Employment Opportunities Available!

Rock And Blues International Is Looking For A Sales Manager and ad salespeople! Please Email Your Resume To rockandbluesinternational@gmail.com

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We wanted to give Christmas a whole new sound with this song and make it feel both nostalgic and fresh at the same time. It’s been a tough year for everyone and as we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now, our goal is to get people feeling good and having a boogie with us to celebrate this wonderful time of year!” said Sarah Buckley. Bringing the Glam Rock energy to the dance floor in this vibrant music video clip, The Buckleys delivered a stand-out performance with all the energy and fun you would expect from the rising stars who are accomplished musicians, songwriters, and vocalists. Shot in their hometown of Byron Bay, Australia during the recent lockdown, the clip saw the band working remotely with a team of producers and directors due to the travel restrictions.

Still from “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus”

Australian Trio

Petrol Records Chairman Chris ‘CM’ Murphy had originally flagged the idea of a Christmas release with Linda Kury, VP, Commercial Partnerships & Label Relations, UMG before his sudden passing earlier this year. Chris had wanted to show the many facets of the band and their ability to blend their sound from Americana country to pop and now a rock n roll Christmas classic. Chris always believed there was nothing this band couldn’t do! “Chris Murphy discovered a generational talent in The Buckleys, and they continue to shine and share their talents with all of us for the holidays. I am looking forward to next year and beyond as they continue to blossom and bring their music to Australia and the entire world,” said Linda Kury.

deliver sequinstudded video for “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus” The Buckleys “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus” https://youtu.be/ySUzjjGQLr8 The holiday season is just around the corner and Byron Bay, Australia siblings, The Buckleys have today released their Studio 54inspired take on the Christmas classic, “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus.” Australia’s premier C&W media outlet Countrytown declared it their “festive Song of the Day” today, adding “The Buckleys bring their feel-good, dancing and up-tempo beats to help celebrate a rockin’ holiday.” Wanting to end the year on a high note, the band recreated a Christmas classic with their own unique Rock n Roll twist. Originally released in 1948 by Mabel Scott and most famously performed by Patti Page in 1950, “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus” finds The Buckleys keeping the Christmas classic’s up tempo, fun, dance vibes and feelgood beat and updates it to their brand of “hippy country” that propelled them up the charts. “We are so excited to release our fresh new spin of a 1940s holiday classic! Ten years ago, we used to perform a Rockabilly Christmas Special as a young family band and this was one of the songs we used to play. To now be releasing it as our first official Holiday single, infused with Rockabilly, Swing, even hints of Surf Rock guitar and a 1940s style brass section from Nashville, is a dream come true. 24 Rock and Blues International • January 2022

So, as the holiday season fast approaches and Australia celebrates its newfound freedom, get ready to turn up the speakers and get your Boogie on with The Buckleys!

Website @ https://www.thebuckleys.net Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/ Buckleysfamilyband/ Twitter @ https://twitter.com/The_Buckleys YouTube @ https:// eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/ Merch Store @ https://thebuckleys.store

November 2021 • Rock and Blues International

WOW! HARUMO IMAI Talk About Killing It On Funk Soul R&B And Blues Look out now! Some musicians play their instruments and some are one with their instruments. This woman is the latter, she gets it done. You only have to listen to one of her sax performances to realize that this woman’s heart, where her most personal vulnerabilities reside, escape that most private internal world and enters ours through her delivery. The melodic release itself is indeed captivating but if you listen closely even the empty spaces between the notes illuminate the very essence of this talented, gifted artist. Harumo Imai’s journey with music is definitely not the typical clinical add on to basic rudimentary musical education. Not at all, in fact while she has the formal credentials her performances are deeply rooted in soul filled personal feelings and these expressions are moving through time and space as one. We’ve all heard the musicians that can deliver the notes but yet something is missing, you just know that something is lacking as you listen. Then again with a soul rooted musician that special something is immediately resident and you know it when you hear it. You know it because you feel it. This is the Harumo Imai experience. Furthermore Harumo teams with three exceptional performers and together they are known as “Tokyo Groove Jyoshi”. Talk about getting it done on stage just go to You Tube and look up “Foxy” as these ladies are smokin’ to the max. Their new “Hot Summer” CD is out and available just about everywhere and well worth the listen. You Tube also presents their tribute to the greats such as Tower of Power as they light up “What Is Hip”. Additionally their renditions of MoTown numbers are Photo by Astuto “AMAZONICA” Onozawa fantastic and entertaining audiences all across Japan. Harumo also performs with such notables as Skip Martin (Kool And The Gang) as well as Ralph Rolle (Nile Rogers & Chic) plus a number of additional world class incredible professionals. Check this out - at sixteen years old Harumo began playing the sax in clubs in her home town of Shiga Japan and then soon afterward she began performing nearby in Kyoto. Since those early days Harumo has visited the United States and participated in a musical program which was held in Nashville in 2016 hosted by none of other than bass player extraordinaire Victor Wooten. Harumo Imai is definitely someone to keep an eye on and you can bet your bottom dollar that whomever she is performing with or recording with will be top shelf. This woman has got it working big time…. Official website - www.harumoimai.com Facebook - www.facebook.com/harumo.imai Instagram - www.instagram.com/harumoimai 26

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January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

Fresh Folk playlist. FLOOD Magazine premiered the track saying “‘Dead Man’s Suit’ lives in this eerie idea of impermanence much in the same way the band’s vocalist Troy Snaterse now lives in the titular suit, reflecting upon mortality while his backing band provides subtle instrumentation in the form of dampened piano and swelling strings.”

New Music From Canada

Credit: Colin Medley

Altameda Release New Song “Wheel Of Love” via Missing Piece Records/ Pheromone Recordings Watch the “Wheel Of Love” Official Music Video at https://youtu.be/cct9qAmqoak Stream “Wheel Of Love” @ https:// missingpiece.ffm.to/wheeloflove Toronto-based rock band Altameda released a new song “Wheel Of Love” via Missing Piece Records/Pheromone Recordings. The song was recorded in Toronto by Thomas D’Arcy (Neko Case, The Sheepdogs) and mixed in Portland, OR by Tucker Martine (My Morning Jacket, Whitney, R.E.M.). “After initial plans to record our album in 2020 fell through due to the pandemic, we were left with a large window to continue the writing process,” says Altameda’s Troy Snaterse. “The feeling of isolation, and uncertainty at this time left me longing for some kind of safety net. This led me to conceptualize the idea of a ‘Wheel Of Love’ as a touchstone for anyone who feels alone, or in pain. It is something that will spin and roll on forever,” he continues. “We set out to evoke this feeling, sonically. Blending subtle instrumentation, with a soaring string arrangement to create a sense of hopefulness

Altameda formed in Edmonton along the North Saskatchewan River before moving east to Toronto. What originally started as a recording session for singer-songwriter Troy Snaterse quickly became a group effort. Compelled by a mix of genres and shared experiences, the band holds a respect for tradition, while having the sophistication to shake it off. Over the course of two records — Dirty Rain (2016) and Time Hasn’t Changed You (2019) — Altameda has evolved into a band with a bold, and unrelenting sound. “Dead Man’s Suit” marks a new chapter for the band, showing immense growth, both musically and personally. Altameda is Troy Snaterse (guitar, vocals) and Erik M. Grice (drums). Exclaim called their debut album Dirty Rain (2016) “the perfect soundtrack to the onset of summer” while Rolling Stone Germany reviewed Time Hasn’t Changed You (2019) saying “[Altameda] celebrates country bliss, folk emphasis and pub-rock enthusiasm.” In summer 2022, Altameda will embark on a US tour supporting The Zombies. The band will also make an appearance at the revered SXSW festival in Austin, TX. Tour dates and specific details will be announced next year along with more new music.

and warmth.” That sense of warmth is conveyed in the video through candid moments with friends and a house filled with plants and tchotchkes. The video brims with a sense of familiarity; simultaneously looking back at small moments that add up to something substantial and a nod to memories waiting to be made. In September, Altameda shared “Dead Man’s Suit” which was added to Spotify’s

Rock and Blues International • January 2022

Altameda Online Website @ http://altameda.net Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/Altameda Twitter @ https://twitter.com/altameda780 YouTube @ https://ymlpsend3.net/ 4128eeemjywadaewmbmadamuyapajbbsy/click.php

December 2021 • Rock and Blues International

New Music From New Zealand

BENEE 30

Rock and Blues International • January 2022

BENEE DROPS VIDEO FOR LATEST SINGLE “DOESN’T MATTER” 2022 WORLD TOUR ON SALE NOW

Watch Here At https://youtu.be/oJadkTa6cgg New Zealand’s platinum sensation BENEE unveils the official video for her latest single “Doesn’t Matter”. Codirected by BENEE and New Zealand actress and director Aidee Walker, the cinematic visual co-stars BENEE, her guitarist Tiare Kelly, and her pup TUI. The lulling production underscores pensive moments, as the lyrics detail her struggles with mental health and OCD diagnosis. The video brings these feelings to life in artful and eloquent fashion, standing out as BENEE’s most confessional statement yet. BENEE says, “‘Doesn’t Matter’ is about how hard it can be to explain your feelings and emotions to people. Sometimes friends just being there for you is such a help. I’m so excited about this video; it was my first shot at co-directing with Aidee Walker. I came up with the concept, and she helped me bring it to life. I wanted the look of an old French indie film with a twist....and I love how it turned out.” BENEE recently announced her first foray out into the world since the

pandemic struck with her 2022 headline world tour. The North American leg kicks off on May 31st in Montreal and makes stops in Chicago, Boston,

Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and more—see the full list of dates below and at beneemusic.com. The 21-year-old artist broke through with

“Supalonely” ( https://youtu.be/Rb6Scz5YOs ), her global hit with 4 billion streams, and like many artists has had to wait for a chance to tour outside of her home country again. Next year’s tour will be BENEE’s first time playing shows in North America since 2019. BENEE’s dreamy alt-pop mixes her deeply heartfelt reflections on life in suburban Auckland, New Zealand with offbeat and often whimsical lyrical encounters with zombies and snails, all produced with a technicolor ear for cooked beats and unpredictable hooks. 2020’s debut album Hey u x ( https://benee.lnk.to/ HeyuxPR ) is a vibrant musical world with guests ranging from Grimes and Lily Allen to Gus Dapperton and Muroki (another New Zealand teen BENEE has since signed to her own label, Olive). It was listed as one of Billboard’s “25 Best continued on next page

CONNECT WITH BENEE ONLINE: INSTAGRAM @ https://www.instagram.com/beneemusic/ TWITTER @ https://twitter.com/BENEEMUSIC TIKTOK @ https://www.tiktok.com/@beneemusic?lang=en FACEBOOK @ https://www.facebook.com/BENEE/ WEBSITE @ https://beneemusic.com January 2022

• Rock and Blues International

BENEE continued from previous page Pop Albums of 2020,” noting that BENEE “contemplates the woes of Gen Z with a keen ear for choruses and arrangements that oscillate between indie rock and hyperpop.” Stereogum praised its “quirky but impeccably produced pop music” and Vogue called it “13 tracks of heavenly indie-alt-pop.”

last. BENEE is the dreamy voice of a disaffected generation, breaking through in 2020 with “Supalonely,” her irresistible, nearly four billion streaming alt-pop banger that practically defined the pandemic experience. Twenty-oneyear-old Stella Bennett mixes her deeply heartfelt reflections on life in suburban Auckland, New Zealand with offbeat and often whimsical lyrical encounters with zombies and

A forthcoming EP release leads into plans for 2022 with the thing that excites BENEE the most—a hefty touring schedule that will bring her live show to adoring fans around the world at 32 Rock and Blues International • January 2022

snails, all produced with a technicolor ear for cooked beats and unpredictable hooks. A fervent online following have been drawn to BENEE’s two intriguing EP releases, FIRE ON MARZZ and STELLA & STEVE, before her guestpacked, yet highly personal, Hey u x album was released at the tail end of 2020. The album is a vibrant musical world with guests ranging from Grimes and Lily Allen to Gus Dapperton and Muroki (another New Zealand teen BENEE has since signed to her own label, Olive). It was listed as one of Billboard’s “25 Best Pop Albums of 2020,” noting that BENEE “contemplates the woes of Gen Z with a keen ear for choruses and arrangements that oscillate between indie rock and hyperpop.” Stereogum praised its “quirky but impeccably produced pop music” and Vogue called it “13 tracks of heavenly indie-alt-pop.” Platinum Awards piled up around the globe, and she performed “Supalonely” — live from New Zealand — on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Ellen, and Late Night with Seth Meyers and recorded a heartfelt live version of album opener “Happen To Me” for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. A year on, BENEE returns with new music in the form of “Doesn’t Matter,” another deeply revealing track that reflects the singer’s journey through the emotional clatter of 2021.The song sees Bennett pondering what it would be like to feel truly carefree. “Doesn’t Matter” is the first track to turn up from the pile of music BENEE has been quietly chipping away at through 2021. It has been a tough year, she notes, a time that has seen her feeling at her lowest and having to learn to cope with her anxiety, diagnosed this year as OCD. A forthcoming BENEE EP release leads into plans for 2022 with the thing that excites Bennett most, a hefty touring schedule. Expect the world to be ready and waiting for her.

January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

New Music From Puerto Rico

Jhay Cortez courtesy of House of Haze Music

Jhay Cortez Announces 2022 US ‘Timelezz Tour’ Dates TIMELEZZ ALBUM AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE NOW Timelezz https://jhayco.lnk.to/Timelezz!PR Following the release of his critically acclaimed and RIAAcertified platinum sophomore album Timelezz in September, Jhay Cortez has been on a run of stellar performances in support of the project. Now, after massive success with the first leg of his Timelezz tour and the album being named in the Rolling Stone & NY Times Best Albums of 2021 lists, he announces his 2022 US tour dates kicking off in April, which will see stops in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago and more. Tickets for the upcoming tour go on sale Friday, December 10th at 1:00 PM EST on AXS.com, Eventbrite.com, Seetickets.us, and Ticketmaster.com. In addition to the US tour announcement, Jhay is ready to embark on his European tour where he will visit multiple cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Zurich, and London through December. During the past weeks Jhay has been around the globe, including a record-breaking series of three sold-out nights at the iconic Coliseo de Puerto Rico in October and a promo tour 40 Rock and Blues International •• November 34 January 2022 2020

around Spain and Mexico where he closed the Coca Cola Flow Fest. He delivered an electrifying performance that got the audience of over 100k people dancing to the beat of Latin trap and reggaeton at the Mexico City festival, which has become one of the most important events for urban music in Latin America. During the Spain promo, Jhay visited Barcelona and Madrid attending some of the most important tv shows in the country like ‘La Resistencia’. It was also recently announced that Jhay will take the stage for headlining performances at Lollapalooza Argentina and Asuncionico in Paraguay next year. Timelezz was released to widespread acclaim and extraordinary support, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Latin Charts upon its release and spending weeks on the Billboard charts. Also, Timelezz peaked at #9 on the iTunes US Top Albums All Genres chart and hit #1 on the Latin chart with three songs from the project also landing at the top three spots on iTunes’ Top 25 San continued on next page

Timelezz album artwork Jhay Cortez Timelezz Universal Music Latino September 3rd, 2021 1. DILEMA 2. TOKYO 3. ESTA DEJA 4. LEY SECA ft. Anuel AA 5. LOS ROMPEDISCOTEKA 6. EN MI CUARTO ft. Skrillex 7. MI VICIO 8. DALE COMO ES 9. NOS MATAMOS 10. ROPA INTERIOR ft. Kendo Kaponi 11. LOS BANDOLEROS ft. Arcangel 12. ME EXTRAÑA 13. DILE (HOMENAJE) 14. CHRISTIAN DIOR 15. LOS BO ft. Myke Towers 16. KOBE EN LA 2.0 17. ETERNAMENTE ft. Buscabulla

Jhay Cortez continued from previous page Juan. The project sees Jhay building on the foundation he set with his debut album Famouz in 2019 and bringing new collaborators into the fold like Anuel AA on the standout track “Ley Seca” ( https://youtu.be/tXHhgLkBml4 ), alongside the likes of Buscabulla, Arcangel, Kendo Kaponi, Skrillex, & Myke Towers. Timelezz features previously released chart-topping singles like the now RIAA-certified Double Platinum “Christian Dior” ( https://youtu.be/Bv1jALmLfQQ ) ,”Los Bo” ( https://youtu.be/ g_GKoivutyU ) with Myke Towerz, “En Mi Cuarto” ( https:// youtu.be/oEnbhSTwxxQ ) with Skrillex, and “Kobe En LA” ( https://youtu.be/e4JAAIJMH9Y ), which are all certified Gold, along with the recently shared track “Nos Matamos” 9 https:// youtu.be/4aiLhaZjK-E ) and his 2020 single “Kobe En LA 2.0” ( https://youtu.be/Ul_PUbNBDF8 ). Timelezz saw 14 of the tracks charting around the globe on Spotify in its first week. The song “Ley Seca” debuted on Spotify’s Top 200 Global Chart (currently #108) and following the premiere of the video on Youtube, the song was trending around the world as the most watched video in Chile, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Puerto Rico and in the top five most watched videos in Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Spain, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru. Puerto Rican-born artist Jhay Cortez, is the leader of a new generation of Latin artists, with over 32 million monthly Spotify listeners and over 6 billion combined streams. Cortez has been producing and composing songs since he was 14 years old, bouncing between his hometown of Rio Pedro in his birth-country and New Jersey. It was at this age that he first discovered his love of the new wave of urban music that was on the rise - the sounds of reggaeton and the songs of Don Omar. Two years later, at 16, Jhay’s work as composer and producer on the album Invencible by Tito el Bambino paid off, scoring the upstart his first GRAMMY. Shortly after, his solo career took off, propelled by a string of solo singles, “Donde No

Se Vea” (Where You Can’t See It), followed by “Se Supone” (I Suppose) and “Estan Pa’ Mi” (They Are There for Me). His critically-acclaimed production work resulted in his second GRAMMY in 2018 for “Best Urban Album” for his work on J Balvin’s album Vibras and a slew of Song of the Year awards from ASCAP with “I Like It” featuring Cardi B and J Balvin, “Criminal” and “No Es Justo” (It’s Not Fair). Cortez scored success after success on a solo level and through collaborations with global superstars J Balvin and Bad Bunny. New singles resulted in a number of accolades including a Top 100 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100, and one of the 25 most listened to songs globally on Spotify. He then released his debut album Famouz, which has been on the top 10 of Hot Latin Albums on Billboard for 70+ weeks. Now, following an industrious 2020 which saw the release of mega-hit “Dakiti” with Bad Bunny, and the aforementioned “Kobe En LA”, which has accumulated more than 25 million combined streams and 13 million views on YouTube since it’s release in November, Jhay Cortez tees up another phase of his culture-defining career with upcoming sophomore album Timelezz. Upcoming Live Dates 4/1 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield 4/6 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo 4/9 - Las Vegas, NV @ DLVEC Downtown 4/13 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall 4/14 - Austin, TX @ ACL Live at The Moody Theater 4/15 - Dallas, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre 4/29 - Mashantucket, CT @ Foxwoods Casino 5/5 - Philadelphia, PA @ Franklyn Music Hall 5/6 - New York, NY @ Terminal 5 5/13 - Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom 5/28 - Atlanta, GA @ Coca Cola Roxy 5/29 - Chicago, IL @ Grant Park Connect with Jhay Cortez: YouTube @ https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp Twitter @ https://twitter.com/jhaycortezFacebook @ https://www.facebook.com/jhaycortezmusic January 2022

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December 2020 • Rock and Blues International

New Metal From Switzerland

SAMAEL on “Helter Skelter”: “To the question ‘what is the first Metal song ever recorded‘, we’ve decided to answer “Helter Skelter” from The Beatles! To commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the first release of “Helter Skelter” and consequently the birth of Heavy Metal, we present you with a video of our own version of the song. The video exposes the dark side of technology and spirituality with numerous references to the time frame in which the song was originally released. Musicwise, we’ve tried to stay true to the original version of the track but we’ve approached it like it is our own composition. The song appears on our latest album, Hegemony.”

Photo Credit: Johi Vergères

Swiss Industrial Black Metal Pioneers SAMAEL Release Official Music Video for Beatles Cover “Helter Skelter” Watch/Listen here at https://youtu.be/oIrPGdqi—8 Grab your copy of Hegemony now at https://www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/samael Switzerland’s industrial black metal force SAMAEL are back with a brand new music video for their cover version of The Beatles “Helter Skelter”. On the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the release of “Helter Skelter”, SAMAEL celebrates the legacy of the

band and the birth of heavy metal. The song originally appeared on their latest album, Hegemony. On “Helter Skelter” the industrial formation travels way back to the end of the 60s, examining the dark sides of

SAMAEL online: Website @ https://www.samael.info/ Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/OfficialSamael Napalm Records @ https://label.napalmrecords.com/samael 38

technology and spirituality, including numerous references to the song’s original time frame. With whispering screams, metallic drums, shredding guitar play and targeted string inserts, SAMAEL create a majestic yet intimidating, cuttingly clear soundscape that presents the legendary The Beatles composition in a whole new light while still staying true to its roots.

Rock and Blues International • January 2022

Hegemony track listing: 1. Hegemony 2. Samael 3. Angel of Wrath 4. Rite of Renewal 5. Red Planet 6. Black Supremacy 7. Murder or Suicide 8. This World 9. Against All Enemies 10. Land of the Living 11. Dictate of Transparency 12. Helter Skelter 13. Storm of Fire (Bonus Track) SAMAEL are: Vorph - Guitars, Vocals Xy - Keyboards and Programming Drop - Guitars Zorrac - Bass

January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

New Music From Italy

CLAUDIA CRABUZZA World Music/Traditional | World Music/Contemporary Lluna i Pols (La Nit de Sant Pasqual) is the original song written by Claudia Crabuzza with the music of Fabio Sanna for the documentary directed by Marco Antonio Pani ‘La Nit de Sant Pasqual’ that tells the night of the bombing of Alghero, the May 17, 1943. The song is written in Algherese, a dialect of Catalan language and draws attention to the life of the streets of old Alghero, barefoot on the ‘ginquetes’ (the old stones of the pavement of the historic center) of children playing waiting for the war to end , the mothers who hide the worry, the bombs of the fishermen who are confused with those of the planes. The last bomb will let the moon and dust into a kitchen, dispelling the voices of the children. The bombs also opened new squares in old Alghero, for the children who will one day play there. Life goes on. In April 2016 he released ‘Com un soldat’, his first solo album, with the catalan label Microscopi. Julián Saldarriaga and Dani Ferrer from Love of Lesbian have worked on the album, with the collaboration of Roger Marin. The album has won the most important award for the author’s song, ‘La Targa Tenco’ for best album in dialect and minority languages. She is currently working on the translation of Violeta Parra’s songs and autobiography and a new album dedicated to the works of the Sardinian Nobel Laureate Grazia Deledda. 40 Rock and Blues International • January 2022

New Music From Spain “El Cant dels Ocells”, which he also covers with flamenco sounds together with the singer Magalí Sare. Then it was when his desire to continue experimenting in that direction arises. Also during that time he met the legendary pianist Chano Dominguez, a huge master in flamenco-jazz and with whom he is working regularly nowadays. Chano is one of the musicians who inspired him the most and makes him grow his passion for this genre, which his mentor Javier Colina had already awakened when he was a student at the Taller de Músics in Barcelona.

LIBÉRICA, MANEL FORTIÀ (Feat. Antonio Lizana) Release new album ‘ARRELS’

Arrels is the first album of Libérica, this new project led by the Catalan double bass player Manel Fortià, who after a season living in New York and having played with great jazz icons such as Dave Liebman, Eliot Zigmund, Ari Hoenig, Chris Cheek ... decides to return to his homeland and delve into the traditional Catalan repertoire having in mind the musical effervescence of the jazz mecca, where its multiculturalism has always been creating new musical styles as the result of the fusion between themselves. With this philosophy, Libérica seeks common ground between traditional Catalan songs and flamenco, using jazz as a connection nexus. It is necessary to renew and update the folklore because it enlarge his life. That is why the Fira Mediterrania of Manresa opted for this project last October, programming it as one of the festival’s highlights. It is an album that revisits great

standards of traditional Catalan songbook such as “La Dama d’Aragó”, “El Cant Dels Ocells” or “Els Tres Tambors” in the key of flamenco and jazz. There is a beautiful mix of the original catalan lyrics and some traditional flamenco “cantes” that speaks about same themes using different words. The voices of the Catalan singer Pere Martínez and the Cádiz-born Antonio Lizana represent these two coexisting worlds within the Iberian Peninsula that join in Libérica in a organic and free way thanks to jazz, which has become an integrating music and a universal language during these last decades. The choice of Manel Fortià for the traditional repertoire on the Arrels album is the result of the nostalgia he lived in the last years that he was in the United States. He needed to search his musical roots and he began to incorporate into his repertoire some Catalan hymns such as

The Libérica group, apart from having the stellar collaboration of the Cádiz-born saxophonist and cantaor Antonio Lizana, an exceptional musician with a long international career who has established himself as a benchmark in his style, it also has two of the new values ??of flamenco-jazz made in Catalonia such as the singer Pere Martinez and the pianist Max Villavecchia from the revelation group “Los Aurora”. In addition, it has the international collaboration of one of the rising stars in European modern jazz, the French drummer Raphael Pannier (Miguel Zenón, Aaron Goldberg…), who lives between Paris and New York. “In a society where we are increasingly faced with more norms that trap and control us, music is one of the few spaces where we can still be free. This is one of the reasons why Libérica was born, to help us connect with our roots from the air and make us travel through them to discover new paths and find common grounds between them” (M. Fortià). * Libérica is a co-production of Manel Fortià, La Marfà Creation Center and the Auditori de Girona. Technical credits Recorded at El Local Estudi de Vilablareix (Girona) by Marc Piña, Gerard Porqueres, Marc Casanovas and Oriol Vinyoles. Mixed and mastered by Gerard Porqueres at Heartwork Studios (Barcelona).

January 2022 • Rock and Blues International 41

For Good” and “Scars”, on the other hand, deal with real feelings like loneliness, homesickness and sadness, which are also part of life.” Hannes Braun adds: “With Ecstasy, we already didn’t make any compromises and just wanted to compose music that speaks from us. Not The End Of The Road seamlessly picks up exactly here.”

Photo Credit: Holger Fichtner & Patrick Schneiderwind

German Chart-Toppers KISSIN’ DYNAMITE Release New Single “Yoko Ono” + Official Music Video! Watch here at https://youtu.be/86plxyIrSk0 New Album, Not The End Of The Road, out January 21, 2022 via Napalm Records | Pre-Order now at at https://www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/kissindynamite

With Not The End Of The Road, KISSIN’ DYNAMITE set another milestone in their successful discography: In guitar-driven power metal fashion, the tune of the intro and title track “Not The End Of The Road” prepares the listener for a thrilling road trip and new anthems straight from the heart of the KISSIN’ DYNAMITE universe. Crusher “What Goes Up” takes its listener into the truly spectacular soundscapes that make stadiums shake and convinces with Aerosmith-like guitar attacks and an anthemic hook. But KISSIN’ DYNAMITE are also not afraid to show their mellower side, as heard on delightfully tranquil tracks like “Good Life” and “Gone For Good” - not only showcasing the almost calm touches pervading the melodies, but also presenting the softer side of Braun’s vocal repertoire. While tracks like “No One Dies A Virgin” and “Yoko Ono” symbolize catchy party hymns, standouts “Coming Home” and “Defeat It” underline their origins of stadium rock without being pigeonholed. “Voodoo Spell” manifests the variety of the band and their different influences - starting with strong dark rock elements, the song becomes an opus that easily competes with the biggest stadium giants. The album’s closer, “Scars”, proves once again that KISSIN’ DYNAMITE can reach the depths and showcase lyrical vulnerability - an impressive ending that screams to be played live.

German heavy metal outfit KISSIN’ DYNAMITE kicks off another race to heat the anticipation for their new studio album, Not The End Of The Road, out January 21 via Napalm Records. After releasing the bursting highvoltage first single and title track “Not The End Of The Road“, followed by igniting “What Goes Up” and charity awareness single “Good Life“, the chart-topping five-piece serves another smashing surprise with the enthralling new song “Yoko Ono”, alongside an exciting music video.

more than just a name for themselves in the scene: With six studio albums and various chart entries (#7 on the GER album charts with their full-length Ecstasy in 2018), the band established their trademark style - characterized by modern sound, massive anthems and catchy hooks paired with an 80s stadium rock attitude and eccentric look. Now, the five piece is ready to release their Napalm Records debut, Not The End Of The Road, and usher in heavy metal in 2022!

Not The End Of The Road track listing: 1. Not the End of the Road 2. What Goes Up 3. Only the Dead 4. Good Life 5, Yoko Ono 6. Coming Home 7. All for a Halleluja 8. No One Dies a Virgin 9. Gone for Good 10. Defeat It 11. Voodoo Spell 12. Scars

On their homage to “Yoko Ono”, KISSIN’ DYNAMITE surprise with massively catchy tunes added to their trademark sound. The new single is certainly a standout track in the band’s history and will be stuck in listeners heads forever - 80s stadium rock abounds!

The new studio album was produced, recorded and mixed by vocalist Hannes Braun (Südland Music) himself, who has also worked with bands like Santiano, The Kelly Family and Beyond The Black. Mastering was completed by Grammy Award winning producer Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, known for his work with bands like Volbeat and many more.

KISSIN’ DYNAMITE are: Hannes Braun – vocals Ande Braun – guitar Jim Müller – guitar Steffen Haile – bass Sebastian Berg – drums

KISSIN’ DYNAMITE on the new song: “We all know of Yoko Ono and her double-edged story. Our song is exactly about people like Yoko Ono, who like a spider catch you in their web at first, to eventually use and abuse you. In the video for this song, we tried to outline, or better yet, re-arrange Yoko’s art ? Enjoy Folks!” Founded in 2007, German heavy metal formation KISSIN’ DYNAMITE have made

Ande Braun on the new album: “Not The End Of The Road is an album that accurately describes our experiences as a band since Ecstasy in 2018. First and foremost, we highlight with songs like “Not The End Of The Road”, “What Goes Up”, “Yoko Ono” and “Only The Dead”: We’re up for it, we’re pulling together and we want to reach the rock Olympus! Titles like “Coming Home”, “Gone

Connect with KISSIN’ DYNAMITE: HOMEPAGE @ https://www.kissin-dynamite.de/en/ FACEBOOK @ https://www.facebook.com/Kissindynamiterocks TWITTER @ https://twitter.com/Kissindynamites NAPALM RECORDS @ https://label.napalmrecords.com/kissin-dynamite 42

Rock and Blues International • January 2022

January 2022

• Rock and Blues International

Photo credit: Miles Kalchik

Rock and Blues International

• January 2022

October 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Kat Von D Announces Nationwide Headline Spring 2022 Tour With Special Guest Prayers HER FIRST NATIONWIDE HEADLINE TOUR FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL RUN OF WEST COAST DEBUT TICKETS AND VIP EXPERIENCE ON SALE AT Katvond.com 52 46

Rock and Blues International •• November January 2022 2020

Kat Von D continued from previous page Gifted multi-hyphenate Kat Von D and her band announce their first nationwide headline ‘Love Made Me Do It’ Tour. The spring 2022 multi-city tour is set to start in Pittsburgh on February 28th, with stops in 21 cities including NY, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, and Houston, ending in Santa Ana on April 2nd. Tickets are on general sale Friday, December 10, at 10:00am EST and can be purchased at Katvond.com. Following her US tour, Kat will bring her headline show to the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London on May 2nd, followed by a run of European shows. Joining Kat for three months and across two continents will be her full band; Gregg Foreman AKA Mr. Pharmacist (synth 1/Cat Power, The Gossip), Sammi Doll (synth 2/IAMX) and Brynn Route (contortionist), while opening the shows will be electronic rock outfit Prayers. The upcoming tour will feature the opportunity to meet and hang out with Kat Von D and her band through Meet & Greet and VIP upgrade packages. For more information on tour dates, tickets and upgrade packages, visit Katvond.com. Translating the essence of Kat’s music and the album’s underlying themes of love, loss and loneliness for the live stage will be renowned visual artist Linda Strawberry, known for her work as Smashing Pumpkins’ Creative Director - who also directed the music video for Kat’s second single ‘I Am Nothing’ ( https://youtu.be/BjlUz0ubU-k ). The on-stage production, designed to be visually dramatic and musically thrilling sees Kat Von D and her band opening the show by commanding the stage with a stark, shadowy black and white colour scheme before returning from an interlude draped in vibrant red, exploding into brilliant color, while in the second half of the show Contortionist Brynn Route keeps the attention high with an hypnotic performance of her acrobatic pole movements. The visuals beautifully pair with the synthwave driven, darkwave laced music to transform each performance into gothic cyberpunk worlds in which fans can lose themselves in during the concert. Since beginning an electrifying new chapter in her career with the release of her debut album, ‘Love Made Me Do It’, last August, Kat has poured her soul into this long-awaited project, and after completing a West Coast tour last Autumn, the talented artist has released a series of remixes for the album’s single ‘Exorcism’, culminating with the release of the remix EP ‘Exorcisms’, with its Deluxe version including additional reworks and a haunting piano version released last week, on the same day of her global live stream event ‘The Love Made Me Do It Experience!’, in partnership with Moment House . Stream ‘Exorcisms’ Deluxe Remix EP here at https:// katvond.lnk.to/ExorcismsDeluxe In addition to the synth-laced lead single, ‘Exorcism’ ( https://youtu.be/DlwXpPUAFhM ), other darkwave bops released include ‘I Am Nothing’ ( https://katvond.lnk.to/

IAmNothing ), ‘Enough’ ( https://katvond.lnk.to/enough ), and ‘Fear You’ ( https://katvond.lnk.to/fearyou ). The LP features collaborations with Dave Grohl, Linda Perry, Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio), Peter Murphy (Bauhaus), Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails), Ladyhawke and Charo. Long before the history-making tattoos, ubiquitous television shows, best-selling books, and influential beauty empire, Kat Von D sat down at a piano for nearly two hours a day and played. In essence, music became her first creative language and most trusted outlet. Classical training and a deep appreciation for music of all genres essentially underscored her life. She studied voice under Ken Tamplin six days per week, strengthening her vocals. In 2012, she began writing with GRAMMY® Award-nominated legend Linda Perry. Following this experience, Kat continued to write on her own, sitting at the piano and summoning songs from raw emotion. During 2014, she retreated to London to record the original mix of what would become her full-length debut album ‘Love Made Me Do It’ (KVD/Kartel Music Group) before cementing it with her band—Gregg Foreman AKA Mr. Pharmacist (synth 1), Sammi Doll (synth 2), and Brynn Route (contortionist). They moved into a bungalow cottage on her property, lived together, and finished the record. Capping off the process, Dan Haigh of Gunship handled mixing. A pastiche of shapeshifting analog synths, post-punk dreamscapes, gothic hues, and shy pop magnetism, these eleven songs echo the eternal will of the perennially brokenhearted to love until death. It’s highlighted by standouts such as the first single ‘Exorcism’, ‘Protected’ featuring Peter Murphy of Bauhaus and produced and cowritten with Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle), and ‘The Calling’ capped off by never-before-heard recordings from original scream queen Vampira. Kat Von D debut Album ‘Love Made Me Do It’ is available on all Platforms - Stream it here at https:// katvond.lnk.to/lovemademedoit Tour dates and tickets links are: 2/28 Pittsburgh, PA, Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall 3/2 Philadelphia, PA, Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia 3/3 New York, NY, Gramercy Theatre 3/4 Baltimore, MD, Baltimore Soundstage 3/5 Charlotte, NC, The Underground 3/7 Savannah, GA, District Live 3/9 Atlanta, GA, The Masquerade 3/10 Nashville, TN, The Basement East 3/12 Detroit, MI, Saint Andrew’s Hall 3/15 Indianapolis, IN, The Vogue 3/16 Chicago, IL, Park West 3/17 Cincinnati, OH, Bogart’s 3/19 Dallas, TX, The Echo Lounge & Music Hall 3/20 Houston, TX, The Ballroom at Warehouse Live 3/21 San Antonio, TX, Paper Tiger 3/24 Omaha, NE, Slowdown 3/25 Oklahoma City, OK, Beer City Music Hall 3/27 Denver, CO, Bluebird Theater 3/30 Santa Cruz, CA, The Catalyst Atrium 3/31 Berkeley, CA, Cornerstone 4/2 Santa Ana, CA, The Observatory

FOLLOW KAT VON D WEBSITE @ https://katvond.com SPOTIFY @ https://open.spotify.com/artist/0eLQCmRxdnxAK9rchhAFlU APPLE MUSIC @ https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/kat-von-d/1564286242 FACEBOOK @ https://www.facebook.com/katvond TWITTER @ https://twitter.com/thekatvond YOUTUBE @ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU2ACt2gy77iJAZq46Uzqkw January 2022

• Rock and Blues International

The well-experienced, roadtested, and respected Head Honchos are fronted by the father/son guitar team of Rocco Calipari Sr. and Rocco Calipari Jr. — both bad-ass axe-slingers on a mission to keep the blues alive, who each make magical Blues music with their blazing, dual guitar leads. Mike Boyle on bass and Will Wyatt on drums comprise the Valparaiso, Indiana-based quartet first-rate rhythm section. FUN FACT: Rocco Sr. is also well-known throughout the blues world his stint as longtime guitarist of Chicago blues stalwarts, Howard And The White Boys.

PHOTO BY GEORGE BUTLER

Head Honchos Win Blue Steel Blues Society IBC (International Blues Challenge), On Road To Memphis This Month Blues-Rock Bosses Head Honchos recently won the Blue Steel Blues Society IBC (International Blues Challenge), and will represent BSBS at

the 2022 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN from January 18 through January 22 (venues and set times to be announced).

*Read Guitarist Rocco Calipari Sr.’s recent interview In The Chicago Tribune: https:// www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/posttribune/ct-ptb-ent-harley-davidson-st0521-202105132kfciwshfvawxd2xicyn2abumy*Read Guitarist Rocco Calipari Jr.’s Feature Story in the December 2021 issue of Lazie Indie Magazine: https:// simplebooklet.com/ lazieindiemagazineedition19#page=51 Head Honchos Blues Alliance (Grooveyard Records) “A blistering, searing, scorching guitar spectacular that will leave your ears reeling for hours, even days if you’re wearing headphones or ear-buds. The band’s vocals are also far above average, both lead and backup/harmony. Blues Alliance is a shot of guitar adrenaline that’ll wake you up in the morning – or the middle of the night! BLUES BLAST “Blues Alliance is a solid album and an important reminder that subtle blues treasures often come from unheralded bands.Led by the father-son guitar duo of Rocco Calipari Sr. and Rocco Calipari Jr., the four-piece outfit stays true to their debut’s formula without sounding formulaic. It’s guitar lover’s feast.” BLUES ROCK REVIEW

Subscribe to Head Honchos’ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMydJKBjEDFiNHlYb7XTuRw theheadhonchosband.com facebook.com/HeadHonchosBand grooveyardrecords.com 48 Rock and Blues International • November 2021

“Blues Alliance is the consummate blues rock experience for 2020. With all the bad stuff that’s gone on this year, this album refreshes my blues- lovin’, little rock ‘n roll heart. With the Detroitschooled musical acumen of Rocco Calipari Sr. leading the way, Blues Alliance reveals the common cause to be “Blues for a New Century!.” AMERICAN BLUES SCENE

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“Most Important Man” is a song about the addictive kind of dark love. The lyrics are meant to encapsulate the experience of being fully enmeshed in a romantic relationship with a narcissist, and finding yourself a willing participant in dysfunction, while also feeling stuck. Lily wrote this song in an effort to release the mental obsession with willing light into shadowed places and making the impossible true. Stefan Mac produced the track, and the goal was to make the production to be dark without dipping too deep into sadness. Because the lyrics are heavy, it was important to Lily that the production contain compelling, rhythmic elements to keep the listener somewhat elevated throughout the story that is “Most Important Man.”

Photo Cred: Alex Lang

Lily Donat is a Los Angeles native and long-time songwriter. At age 11, Lily learned to play acoustic guitar and began composing songs instantly. She has always found healing through writing and singing music about her real life. Laden with symbols, images of nature, personal narrative, themes of darkness and hope, her songs are the pages of her diary she’s willing to share. Inspired by pain, growth, nostalgia, love, heartbreak, and all things human, Lily likes to write the messy truth.

Lily Donat Shares “Most Important Man” Single LISTEN & SHARE: Lily Donat - “Most Important Man” Soundcloud @ https://tellallyourfriendspr.us10.list-manage.com/track/ click?u=63f1674ecdb2a4574b77e600b&id=ae9241061b&e=28146e6e7b Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/track/ 7kan9AdhZwcfEM2dckAuAs?si=30f254cedb1547ee October 2022 2021 50 Rock Rockand andBlues BluesInternational International •• January

Pretty Awkward share the music video for their brand new single entitled “Bad Habit.” On the track, vocalist Austin Held said, “We couldn’t be more stoked to share our newest track, ‘Bad Habit,’ with the world! We are extremely excited for this track because it’s the first Pretty Awkward song that is a fully in-house production. We wrote ‘BAD HABIT’ earlier this year (2021) and fell in love with the theme and idea instantly. We had the pleasure of bringing back mixing & mastering extraordinaire, Charlie Park to helm the post production process and it turned out better than we imagined. We had such a great time putting this one together and cannot wait to play it live in front of live audiences.” He continued, speaking on the music video, “We are stoked to share the music video for our latest release ‘Bad Habit’ with the world! We spent a couple of rainy days goofing off in Seattle filming its unique story. I hope everyone has as much fun watching it as we did shooting it!” Pretty Awkward will release their debut LP next year via Another Century/The Orchard/Sony Records. In the meantime, they recently released a new single entitled “HANG OUT,” alongside two live sessions of the track.

PRETTY AWKWARD Share “Bad Habit” Music Video

The world keeps getting weirder. Our devices connect and disconnect us more than ever. Our emotions turn into ones and zeroes on-screen. Our lives remain chronicled by cameras everywhere. We take one step forward and one step backward as a society daily in terms of technological, social, and interpersonal advancement. All of that in mind, Pretty Awkward doesn’t just serve as the moniker for the Seattle, WA alternative quartet formed by Austin Held [lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano], Nicholas Wiggins [bass, piano, backing vocals], Jake Jones [lead guitar, backing vocals], and Damien Ward [drums]; it could also be a two-word global “State of the Union” address.

WATCH & SHARE: PRETTY AWKWARD - “HANG OUT” (Stripped Red Room Session) YouTube @ https://youtu.be/LhLcZ5S0iGE

Thankfully, as weird as the world seems, the group’s magnetic melodies, lush instrumentation, and hypnotic hooks never go out of style.

WATCH & SHARE: PRETTY AWKWARD - “HANG OUT” (Live In Studio) YouTube @ https://youtu.be/7cLv511sb1g

That style and sound propelled Pretty Awkward to the front of the Seattle music scene. After a couple sold out headline shows Sony A&R Don Robertson discovered the band and offered them a deal to join Another Century/ The Orchard/Sony Records roster.

Look Out For Debut LP Early 2022 LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: PRETTY AWKWARD - “Bad Habit” Stream @ https://orcd.co/badhabit YouTube @ https://youtu.be/pXVKpjqtG2c

LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: PRETTY AWKWARD - “HANG OUT” YouTube @ https://youtu.be/Q-ldGnsC8SM Stream @ https://orcd.co/hangout

PRETTY AWKWARD LINKS Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/ PRETTYAWKWARDBAND Twitter @ https://twitter.com/ PrettyAwkward Website @ https://www.prettyawkwardband.com January 2022

• Rock and Blues International 51

Multi-platinum, award-winning British music icons, Duran Duran, announced the launch of their latest endeavor: 100 unique NFTs, created by an Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) named Huxley, with whom the band collaborated on the music video for their debut single, INVISIBLE, from their recently released studio album, FUTURE PAST. The exclusive INVISIBLE Collection will become available on Thursday, December 16th at 1 pm EST / 6 pm GMT on the OpenSea platform. The 100 (1 of 1) stunning NFTs was released by CUB3 in conjunction with LA based Gabba Gallery, priced at .2 Ethereum.

Duran Duran Announce Details Of First Official NFT Drop DURAN DURAN ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF FIRST OFFICIAL NFT DROP 100 UNIQUE NFTs CREATED FROM THE BAND’S EXTRAORDINARY COLLABORATION WITH A.I. ARTIST, HUXLEY FOR THEIR ‘INVISIBLE’ MUSIC VIDEO OFFICIAL WEBSITE @ https://duranduran.warnereprise.com TWITTER @ https://twitter.com/duranduran FACEBOOK @ https://www.facebook.com/duranduran YOUTUBE @ https://highrisepr.us14.list-manage.com/track/click 52

Rock and Blues International

• January 2022

The official film for Duran Duran’s ‘INVISIBLE’, which made headlines around the world, was the first collaboration of its kind, between artists in different planes of existence. In a ground-breaking, world first, Huxley – a unique dreamer with its own A.I brain - took the concepts that are rooted in human language and iconic symbolism and translated them into provocative and daring imagery, creating a new form of visual discourse that is quite remarkable. The result was a haunting and memorable music video, from which the NFT collection has been curated. Watch the original music video here at https://www.facebook.com/8744372732/ videos/292277232609234 Huxley’s A.I. ‘mind’ was developed by Nested Minds Networks, based on what we know about how the cognitive and emotional processes of human beings work. Huxley creates and dreams much as a person does, and using an established technique called ‘active inference,’ which was originally created by Karl Friston (one of the most influential neuroscientists in history), the members of Duran Duran were able to explore the complex dreamscapes that Huxley imagined from the lyrics and emotional tone of the song. Los Angeles based Gabba Gallery, in conjunction with CUB3, will launch the unique collaboration on OpenSea. Gabba founder and curator Jason Ostro is an innovator in the NFT space, having produced many successful projects, including several photography collections. On Wednesday 15 December, at 6 pm GMT, 1 pm EST, Duran Duran co-founder and keyboardist, Nick Rhodes, will take to Twitter Spaces to discuss the project for an hour. BUY/STREAM ‘FUTURE PAST’ NOW AT https://duranduran.lnk.to/ FuturePastPR INVISIBLE ALL OF YOU GIVE IT ALL UP (Feat. Tove Lo) ANNIVERSARY FUTURE PAST BEAUTIFUL LIES TONIGHT UNITED WING NOTHING LESS HAMMERHEAD (Feat. Ivorian Doll) MORE JOY! (Feat. CHAI) FALLING (Feat. Mike Garson)

December 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Rock and Blues International • November 2021

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Rock And Blues International

February April 2021 2021 •• Rock Rock and and Blues Blues International International

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Jamestown Revival Share Reflective And Tender Look Into Upcoming Young Man LP Jamestown Revival Share Reflective New Single “Working on Love” Before the fiddle plays a thoughtful refrain, and before the steel guitar and soft back beat sneak in for the second verse, the close harmony of Jamestown Revival’s new song “Working On Love” encompasses everything that makes bandmates Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance so beloved in today’s roots music scene. Everything else is just lagniappe. “Working On Love,” the final track on Jamestown Revival’s upcoming album Young Man, deals in the continuing pursuit of loving better, one where the music is only bettered by the sentiment of its message. “The love we have in our lives for partners, family, and friends isn’t something that we can just set and forget,” say Clay and Chance. “Working on love is like plowing the field, watering the soil, and pruning the tree. To love unconditionally is a lifelong journey.” Fans can hear “Working On Love” now at https://orcd.co/youngman. “Working On Love” is the third song to be released from Young Man. Produced and mixed by Robert Ellis and Josh Block and bolstered by a thriving community of friends and musicians in Texas, Young Man is Jamestown Revival’s first project without electric guitars, with the emphasis instead on skillful songwriting, flawless harmony, and intricate fingerpicking. Showcasing most of the genres that collectively 56 Rock and Blues International • January 2022

make up “Americana” music—folk, jazz, bluegrass, roots rock—sometimes all in one song, this upcoming album represents a distilled and pure Jamestown Revival at their finest. Young Man is due out January 14th and can be preordered or pre-saved now right here at https:// jamestownrevival.ck.page/7cf5cd2a87. Fans can hear previously released singles “These Days” and “Young Man” at https://orcd.co/youngman. In 2020, Jamestown Revival released A Field Guide To Loneliness, an intimate collection of songs that finds Clay and Chance reflecting on recent times whereby human contact was limited more than ever. A Field Guide To Loneliness follows Jamestown Revival’s 2019 critically acclaimed release, San Isabel. Recorded in a remote cabin in the majestic and calming landscape of central Colorado, the band embraced a minimalist approach in the recording of San Isabel. Finding inspiration in ‘60s and early 70’s folk and pop, the original songs on San Isabel show reverence for early John Denver and Bob Dylan, as well as Simon & Garfunkel and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. continued on next page

Jamestown Revival continued from previous page Young Man Tracklist: 1. Coyote 2. Young Man 3. Moving Man 4. Northbound 5. These Days 6. One Step Forward 7. Slow It Down 8. Way It Was 9. Old Man Looking Back 10. Working On Love About San Isabel, Rolling Stone praised, “...bright harmonies and loping guitar patterns..splits the difference between modern-day Americana and old-school folk.” And Paste Magazine complimented, “The record is abundant with imagery - one minute they’re evoking the expansive west on ‘Round Prairie Road’ and ‘Mountain Preamble’ and the next they’re crooning a thoughtful ballad on ‘This Too Shall Pass.’” Additionally, Jamestown Revival just announced a slew of new East Coast tour dates including Webster Hall in New York City, Somerville Theatre in Boston, DC’s 9:30 Club, and Atlanta’s Terminal West. A full list of new dates, as well as previously announced tour stops, can be found below. Tickets can be purchased at jamestownrevival.com. New Jamestown Revival Tour Dates: Mar. 4 - New Orleans, LA. - House of Blues** Mar. 5 - Atlanta, GA. - Terminal West** Mar. 6 - Savannah, GA. - District Live** Mar. 8 - Raleigh, NC. - Tin Roof^ Mar. 9 - Charlotte, NC. - The Underground^ Mar. 10 - Harrisburg, PA. - Midtown Arts Center^ Mar. 11 - Richmond, VA. - The Broadberry^ Mar. 12 - Washington, D.C. - 9:30 Club Mar. 13 - Philadelphia, PA. - Underground Arts^ Mar. 15 - Fairfield, CT. - The Warehouse at FTC^ Mar. 16 - Boston, MA. - Somerville Theatre^^ Mar. 17 - New York City, NY. - Webster Hall^^ Mar. 18 - Woodstock NY. - Levon Helm Studios^ Mar. 19 - Holyoke, NY. - Gateway City Arts^ Previously Announced 2022 Dates:

Jan. 14 - New Braunfels, TX. - Gruene Hall^ Jan. 16 - Tucson, AZ. - Rialto Theatre* Jan. 17 - Solana Beach, CA. - Belly Up* Jan. 18 - Solana Beach, CA. - Belly Up* Jan. 19 - Santa Cruz, CA. - Catalyst* Jan. 20 - San Francisco, CA. - The Fillmore* Jan. 21 - Los Angeles, CA. - Fonda Theatre* Jan. 22 - Sacramento, CA. - Ace of Spades* Jan. 23 - San Luis Obispo, CA. - Fremont Theatre* Jan. 25 - Salt Lake City, UT. - Commonwealth* Jan. 26 - Steamboat Springs, CO. - Strings Music Pavilion** Jan. 27 - Denver, CO. - Ogden Theatre* Jan. 28 - Telluride, CO. - Club Red* Jan. 29 - Ft. Collins, CO. - Aggie Theatre** Jan. 30 - Aspen, CO. - Belly Up^ Feb. 8 - Kansas City, MO. - Knuckleheads Saloon^ Feb. 9 - St. Louis, MO. - Delmar Hall^ Feb. 10 - Chicago, IL. - Thalia Hall^ Feb. 11 - Minneapolis, MN. - Fine Line^ Feb. 12 - Milwaukee, WI. - The Rave/Eagles Club - Rave II^ Feb. 14 - Pittsburgh, PA. - Mr. Smalls^ Feb. 15 - Detroit, MI. - St. Andrews Hall^ Feb. 16 - Lexington, KY. - The Burl^ Feb. 17 - Indianapolis, IN. - The Vogue^ Feb. 18 - Columbus, OH. - Columbus Athenaeum^ Feb. 19 - Nashville, TN. - Brooklyn Bowl^ With Special Guests: * Mipso & Robert Ellis ** Mipso ^ Robert Ellis ^^ TBD & Robert Ellis January 2022

• Rock and Blues International

A video for the song premieres via Decibel, who adds, “Matt Pike is a trailblazing visionary possessed by a mindset which, from the outside looking in, appears to be steeped in pure desperation. Perhaps this is why the Sleep/High on Fire shredder is still so creatively sharp in a moment when so many of his peers and devotees are stuck in “echo” phases while Pike continues to plant flags in new sonic and aesthetic territories.” When asked for comment on the clip, Pike cryptically replies, “Four friends enter the woods, for a getaway, little did they know they would never return! Dogmen, Sasquach, Reptilians, or alien slut mum?!?! Where have they gone??”

These guys! L to R: Jon Reid, Matt Pike, Chad “Chief” Hartgrave (photo: Juan Carlos Caceres)

High on Fire’s Matt Pike to Release Debut Solo LP, ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’, February 18, 2022

credit: Robin Parsons

Iconic Heavy Metal Guitarist, Frontman Unleashes Diverse, Skyscraping Album Constructed during COVID-19 Pandemic And Debuts New Video “Alien Slut Mum” Feast your eyes on “Alien Slut Mum” at https://youtu.be/rzs9uILM_as From rewriting the hard rock rulebook with his Grammy award-winning trio, High on Fire, to reverse engineering doom metal with his genre-defining trio Sleep, Matt Pike has channeled his natural talents and chiseled a steely path straight to the heart of modern-day metal’s molten core. On February 18, Pike will release his debut solo LP, ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’, via MNRK Heavy. Pre-orders are live at PikeVstheAutomaton.com. Born out of the challenges brought on by a worldwide pandemic, birthed under hellish red-orange skies bred from rampaging west coast wildfires, and built amidst the yearlong political riots and rallies in Portland, OR, Pike’s solo debut, ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’, is both a musical and emotional release. The record was written by Pike with drummer Jon Reid, features contributions from a slew of family and friends, and was recorded with longtime conspirator Billy Anderson, the producer who brought the best out of Pike previously on touchstone titles such as ‘Surrounded by Thieves’ and ‘Sleep’s Holy

Mountain’. “I was just going bonkers during the pandemic. It was like really, truly miserable. And then all the riots here in Portland and all the political shit. I was trapped in my garage, which was the only place I could go and jam and do anything,” confesses Pike. “I was trapped in there ‘cause I couldn’t go jam with High on Fire, I couldn’t do this, I couldn’t do that, no one could fly. I was going crazy. My friend Jon Reid, who was the original drummer for Lord Dying, had moved to Portland and was babysitting my dog, Crom, and he was drumming for my wife’s band, so he had his drums already set up at my place. I finally said, “Dude, do you want to come over and just start jamming? So, I just started this thing with my friend Jon. I was like, “Dude, fuck it. Let’s start a side band and we’ll just demo this and act like we’re starting it as teenagers, you know?” ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’ is advanced by the bizarrely titled track “Alien Slut Mum”.

Rock and Blues International • January 2022

“Necessity is the mother of invention” is a well-known proverb that has proven itself true time and time again. When the need for something becomes imperative, you are forced to find ways of getting or achieving it. In this true story, the need for Pike was to create and play music with others at a time when that lifelong love was seemingly out of reach. Guest musicians on ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’ include Alyssa Maucere-Pike (Lord Dying / Grigax), Chad “Chief” Hartgrave, Brent Hinds (Mastodon), Steve McPeeks (West End Motel), Josh Greene (El Cerdo), Todd Burdette (Tragedy), and High on Fire’s Jeff Matz, who lays down Turkish electric saz on the album’s towering closing track “Leaving the Wars of Woe”. The album title, ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’, wasn’t an ego thing for me,” says Pike. “Billy and Jon said, “Dude, you should use your name in this. This is your solo project.” I said, “I don’t want to do that”. The Automaton, in Greek mythology, is the big robot that’s the guardian of the Gods, basically. It’s a soulless, big machine named Talos. The big machine that’s working against mankind at this moment. In ‘Jason and the Argonauts’, Jason and the Argonauts have to battle this big machine guy that protects the island. Basically, what the album title is saying, metaphorically, is ‘Pike against the World.’” “I made a psychedelic rock record that Sleep and High on Fire fans would like,” Pike continues when asked for a CliffsNotes description of ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’. “And maybe if you’re not a Sleep or High on Fire fan, you might like it too. I definitely think it’s interesting; it has D-Beat punk, two-step. It’s got everything and it still works together, it doesn’t sound odd. It’s just an off-the-wall psychedelic rock record.” Matt Pike is an American musician known for his work as guitarist, vocalist and front man for Grammy Award-winning metal band High on Fire, and guitarist and founding member of the influential doom metal trio Sleep. Universally recognized as one of the most potent acts in music today, Pike’s High on Fire creates dynamic metal that merges primal fury and aggression, hesher bombast and hall of fame heaviness. Described as “a supersonic exercise in conquest by volume,” High on Fire has rewritten the hard rock rule book since its formation in 1998, forging a style and sound that is at once critically celebrated, extremely influential, and utterly unique. Follow Matt Pike on Instagram @MattPike1972.

August 2021 • Rock and Blues International

from an organ trio – a pinch of late ’60s, some elements of more modern funk, and a riveting, magnetic swagger that won’t let go.” Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio—or as it is sometimes referred to, DLO3—specialize in the lost art of “feel good music.” The ingredients of this intoxicating cocktail include a big helping of the 1960s organ jazz stylings of Jimmy Smith and Baby Face Willette; a pinch of the snappy soul strut of Booker T. & The M.G.’s, The Meters, and sprinkles Motown, Stax Records, blues, and cosmic Jimi Hendrix-style guitar. It’s a souljazz concoction that goes straight to your heart and head, making your body break out in a sweat.

Photo Credit: Frank Willey

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio Announce New Album ‘Cold As Weiss’ out 2/11/22 via Colemine Records Listen to the First Single “Pull Your Pants Up” at https://youtu.be/kid0g0ViB0c The Seattle-based soul-jazz groovemachine Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio announced their new album Cold As Weiss, will be out February 11, 2022 via Colemine Records. Cold As Weiss is the band’s first release featuring new drummer Dan Weiss, also of the powerhouse soul and funk collective The Sextones. A natural fit for the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio’s groove-oriented rhythms, Dan’s smoldering drumming locks in the trio’s explosive chemistry. DLO3’s lineup is completed by organist Delvon Lamarr and guitarist Jimmy James. The album announcement comes with the first single “Pull Your Pants Up.” “On every DLO3 tour, at some point, we have to tell Jimmy James to pull his pants up,” says

Lamarr. “After being blinded by his backside over and over and over again, we decided to write a song about it!” Cold As Weiss follows the band’s 2021 sophomore studio album I Told You So, which debuted atop multiple Billboard Charts: #1 on the Contemporary Jazz Album chart, #3 on the Jazz Album chart, #4 on the Tastemaker Album chart, and #12 on the Heatseeker Album chart. I Told You So was praised by NPR, Under the Radar, All Music, American Songwriter, Popmatters, KEXP, Live For Live Music, Jazziz, Jambase, and Glide Magazine, who said “the unrelenting, intoxicating grooves of The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio are everything one would want

Website @ https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/ delvon_lamarr_organ_trio Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/dlo3music/ Twitter @ https://twitter.com/dlo3music 60 Rock and Blues International • January 2022

The band features organist Delvon Lamarr, a self-taught virtuosic musician, with perfect pitch who taught himself jazz and has effortlessly been able to play a multitude of instruments. On guitar is the dynamo Jimmy James, who eases through Steve Cropperstyle chanking guitar, volcanic acid-rock freak-out lead playing, and slinky Grant Green style jazz. From Reno, Nevada is drummer Dan Weiss whose smoldering pocket-groove drumming locks in the trio’s explosive chemistry. Founded by Larmarr’s wife and manager Amy Novo, the trio started from humble beginnings in 2015, but since then has released two Billboard charting albums and toured the world to sold out venues. Now, with permanent drummer Dan Weiss behind to kit, DLO3 is proud to present Cold As Weiss, their third studio album to date that finds them tighter than ever, and continuing to push funky instrumental music to a new generation of fans. Cold As Weiss Tracklist: 1. Pull Your Pants Up 2. Don’t Worry ‘Bout What I Do 3. I Wanna Be Where You Are 4. Big TT’s Blues 5. Get Da Steppin’ 6. Uncertainty 7. Keep On Keepin’ On 8. Slip ‘N’ Slide 9. This Is Who I Is

November 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Rock and Blues International • June 2021

June 20211 • Rock and Blues International

Queen Kwong in the studio with producer Joe Cardamone

In The Studio: Queen Kwong readies new album for 2022 feat. members of The Cure, Swans, and more Wrapping up the recording to the follow up to 2019’s Oh Well Featuring Roger O’Donnell (The Cure), Kristof Hahn (Swans), Laura-Mary Carter (Blood Red Shoes) and More! Produced by Joe Cardamone (The Icarus Line) Mixed By Tchad Blake (Arctic Monkeys, Fiona Apple) “It’s not a fun record… but, at times, it’s a funny one,” admits Carré Kwong Callaway a.k.a. QUEEN KWONG about the new album she is putting the final touches on which is slated for release in Spring 2022. Signed to Los Angeles-based indie record label Sonic Ritual (home to Gypsum, Joe Cardamone, and Ultimate Fakebook), Carré has assembled a notable cadre of

contributing musician friends including The Cure’s Roger O’Donnell (keyboards), Swans’ Kristof Hahn (lap steel) and Blood Red Shoes’ Laura-Mary Carter (backing vocals) who appear on assorted tracks on the upcoming LP. Producing the record is The Icarus Line’s Joe Cardamone with Tchad Blake (Arctic Monkeys, Elvis Costello, Fiona Apple) mixing it.

Website @ https://www.queenkwong.com Twitter @ https://twitter.com/QueenKwong Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/QueenKwong Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/artist/7eVMHPJuAw7Basmy5KYGk8 64

Rock and Blues International • January 2022

As with every Queen Kwong release, all music for the upcoming album was entirely improvised and recorded on the spot—nothing was prewritten lyrically or musically. A primal scream of freestyled lyrics that contain the anger, fury, frustration and sadness that was dealt to her in a quick succession of events that started with a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in 2018, the dissolution of her marriage to Wes Borland two months later that left her exiled with nothing but a suitcase and two guitars. “I was homeless for nearly a year, just living on friends’ sofas, and I’m still in the process of rebuilding my life,” she says, “but it’s reassuring that we can survive things that feel unsurvivable.” Unleashing this pent-up energy for the album has been purgative for her. Queen Kwong has been making music since 2005 when she was discovered by Trent Reznor who invited her to open Nine Inch Nails’ With Teeth tour (2005), and again in 2009 and 2018. She has released two albums (Get a Witness in 2015 and Love Me to Death in 2018) and two Eps (2013’s Bad Lieutenant and 2019’s Oh Well). More details on the cathartic new album will be announced shortly.

January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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Maybe You Should Run Your Next Tour Schedule In Wood & Wire’s Tony Kamel Announces Rock And Blues International! Solo Release email: Back Down Home rockandbluesinternational@gmail.com or call today 281-650-1953 For Fast Service

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Lyzzie Larosa a.k.a. babychaos Photo by Jeremy Saffer 70 Rock and Blues International • January 2022

Listen Here: “Playgod” at https://youtu.be/ tjA9zKcxzCk She is somewhere between a Bratz Doll, a cult leader and a rockstar. 20 year old vocalist and alt-model Lyzzie Larosa, known online and by her fans as babychaos, has released her fourth original single “PLAYGOD”. Inspired by rap, metal and industrial music, the track’s lyrics revolve around the concept of a crashing god complex and sexuallycharged, female self-empowerment. babychaos implements various religious references, such as sitting on a Catholic priest’s church chair, holding black rosary beads and wearing a crown of thorns on the single art. Lyzzie wrote the lyrics during a time of questioning her confidence and path in life, and her producer/significant other, Dali Lavey produced, mixed and mastered the track. Lyzzie explains “The term PLAYGOD is a double entendre, meaning we can “role play” and pretend to be God ourselves, or “play/trick” God to think we’re washed away of all our wrongdoing as long as we pretend to be holier than thou.” She further states “the usage of religion isn’t for the idea of being shocking, I’ve always loved the beauty and regality of things like cathedrals and the royal gem tones often used inside of them.” Order “PLAYGOD” Today Here: https://share.amuse.io/track/babychaosplaygod babychaos is currently working on her first EP alongside Dorian Dolore previously of bands Stitched Up Heart and Psyclon Nine. She is also preparing for her debut concert scheduled for 2022.

photo by Daniel Nyman

Musician & Alt-Model Lyzzie Larosa a.k.a. babychaos Releases Monstrous New Track “Playgod” babychaos online: Instagram: www.instagram.com/itsbabychaos (111K+ followers!) Twitter: babychaos (@itsbabychaos) / Twitter TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdjxBo6L/ YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/BABYCHAOSOFFICIAL333 More Music from babychaos: Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5sW5suu6saLZkj0anZtZyg?si=NNB1epAhS56OvsMnz9RWGQ&nd=1 Burn - Single by babychaos at https://music.apple.com/us/album/burn-single/1562271480 Flesh - Single by babychaos at https://music.apple.com/us/album/flesh-single/1553729396 Spinning - Single by babychaos at https://music.apple.com/us/album/spinning-single/1571124963 Biteback - Single by XANDER CROWLEY & babychaos at https://music.apple.com/us/album/biteback-single/1563149990 Not Saying That I’m Sorry (feat. babychaos) - Single by Crystal Joilena at https://music.apple.com/us/album/not-saying-that-im-sorry-feat-babychaos-single/1579560106 January 2022 • Rock and Blues International 71

Rock and Blues International • January 2022

March 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Korn Requiem Loma Vista Recordings February 4, 2022

Photo credit: Tim Saccenti

Korn Announces 2022 Tour Dates - ‘Requiem’ due Feb. 4 Requiem - PRE-ORDER/SAVE: https://lnk.kornofficial.com/Requiem Following the announcement of their upcoming studio album Requiem, due February 4th via Loma Vista Recordings, Korn announces a March 2022 tour produced by Live Nation. Accompanied by very special guests Chevelle and Code Orange, the 19-date arena tour begins on March 4th in Springfield, MO with stops in Greensboro, Providence and Albany before wrapping up in Wichita, KS on April 1st. Tickets for the upcoming tour go on sale Friday, December 17th at 9AM local time on Ticketmaster.com. Citi is the official presale credit card of the Korn 2022 Tour. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Tuesday, December 14th at 12PM local time until Thursday, December 16th at 10PM local time through Citi Entertainment. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com. Korn is also performing four nights with System Of A Down, Helmet and Russian Circles in early 2022 beginning on January 31st in Phoenix followed by a stop in San Diego on February 1st and two soldout shows in Los Angeles on February 4th and 5th at Banc Of California stadium. Local and venue pre-sales begin Thursday, December 16th from 10AM to 10PM local. Tickets on general sale Friday, December 17th 10AM local time. Korn’s 2022 Tour announcement arrives on the heels of the lead single from Requiem, “Start The Healing” ( https://youtu.be/ Aupnj1KpjCg ),which landed with a music video directed by Tim Saccenti (Flying Lotus, Run The Jewels, Depeche Mode). Korn changed the world with the release of their self-titled debut album. It was a record that would pioneer a genre, while the band’s enduring success points to a larger cultural moment. The FADER notes, “There was an unexpected opening in the pop landscape and Korn articulated a generational coming-of-angst for a claustrophobic, selfsurveilled consciousness. Korn became the soundtrack for a generation’s arrival as a snarling, thrashing, systemically-restrained freak show.” Since forming, Korn has sold 40 million albums worldwide, collected two Grammys, toured the world countless times, and set many records in the process that will likely never be surpassed. Vocalist Jonathan Davis, guitarists James “Munky” Shaffer and Brian “Head” Welch, bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu, and drummer Ray Luzier, have continued to push the limits of the rock, alternative and metal genres, while remaining a pillar of influence for legions of fans and

Rock and Blues International

• January 2022

1. Forgotten 2. Let the Dark Do the Rest 3. Start The Healing 4. Lost in the Grandeur 5. Disconnect 6. Hopeless and Beaten 7. Penance to Sorrow 8. My Confession 9. Worst Is On Its Way

generations of artists around the globe. The level of Korn’s reach transcends accolades and platinum certifications. They are “a genuine movement in a way bands cannot be now,” attests The Ringer. They represent a new archetype and radical innovation, their ability to transcend genre makes barriers seem irrelevant. Upcoming Live Dates ^ = w/ System of a Down, Helmet, Russian Circles * = w/ Chevelle and Code Orange 1/31 - Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center^ 2/1 - San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena^ 2/4 - Los Angeles, CA @ Banc of California Stadium^ 2/5 - Los Angeles, CA @ Banc of California Stadium^ 3/4 - Springfield, MO @ JQH Arena* 3/5 - Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center* 3/7 - Fort Wayne, IN @ Allen County War Memorial Coliseum* 3/8 - Evansville, IN @ Ford Center* 3/10 - Knoxville, TN @ University of Tennessee Thompson-Boling Arena* 3/11 - Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum Complex* 3/13 - Huntington, WV @ Mountain Health Arena* 3/15 - Hershey, PA @ Giant Center* 3/16 - Providence, RI @ Dunkin Donuts Center* 3/19 - Manchester, NH @ SNHU Arena* 3/20 - Albany, NY @ Times Union Center* 3/22 - Rochester, NY @ Blue Cross Arena* 3/23 - Saginaw, MI @ Dow Event Center* 3/25 - Moline, IL @ TaxSlayer Center* 3/26 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center* 3/28 - Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena* 3/29 - Madison, WI @ The Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center* 3/31 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom Center* 4/1 - Wichita, KS @ INTRUST Bank Arena* Connect with Korn: Twitter @ https://twitter.com/Korn Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/korn Website?? @ https://kornofficial.com

January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

John 5 shot by Matt Wilson

John 5 & The Creatures Announce The SINNER 2022 North American Tour JOHN 5 & THE CREATURES To Hit The Road Across North America In Spring 2022 With THE SINNER TOUR With Support From The Haxans* Incendiary guitarist & solo artist JOHN 5, who was recently voted as #7 on Ultimate Guitar’s Best Metal Guitarists In The World list, has announced today that he will be hitting the road, along with his band, THE CREATURES, in the Spring of 2022 for The SINNER North American Tour. Performing hits from his expansive solo career including songs from his recently released, critically acclaimed studio album SINNER (via Big Machine Records). The SINNER Tour goes on general sale on Friday, December 17th at 10am EST from John-5.com. The North American run, announced today, will see JOHN 5 & THE CREATURES hit 27 stops across the country on The SINNER Tour. The tour kicks off in Roseville, CA on April 21st and will culminate in a very special 3-night run at Iridium in New York on July 9th, 10th and 11th. It also 76 Rock and Blues International • January 2022

includes two shows supporting Fozzy in Houston (4/29) and San Antonio (4/30) a performance at world-renowned festival Welcome To Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL (5/21). JOHN 5 will also be welcoming new creature to the band. The SINNER Tour will be the first time fans get to see new drummer Alex Mercado perform live as part of THE CREATURES. Speaking on todays tour announcement, JOHN 5 shares: “I’m so excited to hit the road and see old friends and new friends alike. I’ve been so thrilled by the reaction to the release of SINNER, I can’t wait to get on stage and truly bring the songs to life for the first time with my fans. Having The Haxans join us on this tour is going to be so fun. Their brilliant continued on next page

Scorpions, Rod Stewart, Halestorm, and Alice Cooper. JOHN owes his love of the guitar to the long-running variety TV show Hee Haw, which he’d watch with his father at the young age of seven. KISS and Jimi Hendrix came after. His band Dirty Trixx won a Battle of the Bands in middle school. Vampirella came next, in high school, when he adopted his now-signature theatrical makeup look. At 18, he moved to Los Angeles to become a session player, performing with Lita Ford, Randy Castillo, K.D. Lang, 2wo (Two) with Rob Halford, David Lee Roth and Marilyn Manson, who gave him the “John 5” moniker.

continued from previous page “monster party” energy will be a perfect opener for my crazy stage show. This tour is going to be a lot of fun. Don’t miss it!” Joining JOHN 5 & THE CREATURES on tour as special guests on most dates will be spooktacular duo THE HAXANS, featuring John’s fellow Rob Zombie bandmate Piggy D and Ash Costello of New Year’s Day. Be sure to snap up your tickets and special meet & greet packages from www.John-5.com when general on-sale hits on Friday, December 17th at 10am EST. JOHN 5 dropped his new solo album, SINNER back in October, the album was highlighted by the release of singles “Que Pasa” ( https://youtu.be/OgShnys4008 ) featuring Dave Mustaine and “Land of The Misfit Toys” ( https://youtu.be/ kWVTbOraI5E ) which was accompanied by a cinematic music video set in 1980, that tells the tale of a young John Lowery who stumbles into a haunted house and becomes possessed by an entity. This entity gradually turns him into the guitar shredding, face-painted icon we all now know as JOHN 5. SINNER is ten tracks of pure JOHN 5, summoned with the same mix of vibrant energy and passionate emotion beloved by fans of his work as guitarist for Rob Zombie, David Lee Roth and many more. The album was produced and mixed by Barry Pointer at Riott House Studio in North Hollywood. Drums were engineered by ex-Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke at Redrum Recording in Los Angeles. To date, the album has clocked up over 500,000 streams and 502,000 YouTube views to date. Find the album on streaming services here.

After a chance encounter with the legendary Les Paul, JOHN began work on his first-ever solo album, Vertigo in 2004, laying the groundwork for several records to come. Rob Zombie recruited John initially to perform as a live guitarist only on the 2006 Ozzfest tour. But the chemistry between them proved so electric that they began work on 2006’s Educated Horses. As guitarist and co-writer, he appeared on all subsequent Rob Zombie albums and scored 2013’s The Lords of Salem. JOHN 5’s fifth record with Rob Zombie, The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy, became the hard rock icon’s first No. 1 album. The debut single from L.A. RATS, “I’ve Been Everywhere” ( https://youtu.be/ UWq__BpssYE ) saw John and Zombie paired with Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe) and Tommy Clueftos (Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie) and cracked Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Top 40. Now comes SINNER, the sum total of all that’s come before, a perfect snapshot of where JOHN 5 has been and where he’s headed. JOHN 5 The SINNER Tour N American Dates 2022

But the man whose passport reads “John William Lowery” is more than a postmodern guitar hero. An eclectic showman and horror-obsessed pop culture maverick, JOHN 5’s tastes and talent are as vast and diverse as his renowned collection of guitars and as robust as his expansive discography.

Thu 21 Apr Fri 22 Apr Sat 23 Apr Sun 24 Apr Tue 26 Apr Thu 28 Apr Fri 29 Apr Sat 30 Apr Wed 04 May Thu 05 May Fri 06 May Sat 07 May Sun 08 May Wed 11 May Thu 12 May Fri 13 May Sat 14 May Sun 15 May Wed 18 May Fri 20 May Sat 21 May Wed 06 Jul Thu 07 Jul Fri 08 Jul Sat 09 Jul Sun 10 Jul Mon 11 Jul

While his solo band and work with Zombie generally keep him otherwise engaged in recent years, he’s continuously called upon to cowrite, collaborate, and lay down leads for rock and pop music’s biggest names. It’s a huge list that includes

Find JOHN 5 Online Website @ www.john5.com Twitter @ https://twitter.com/john5guitarist Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/John5official

When Guitar World convened their State of Guitar in 2021 all-star summit, JOHN 5 appeared on the magazine’s cover, right alongside Metallica’s Kirk Hammett and Tool’s Adam Jones. Without a doubt, his reputation as a guitarslinging troubadour and top-notch shredder is well-earned, recognized by friends, peers, and collaborators like Slash, Paul Gilbert, and Steve Vai over the years.

Roseville, CA Garden Grove, CA Las Vegas, NV San Diego, CA Albuquerque, NM Austin, TX Houston, TX San Antonio, TX Belvidere, IL Joliet, IL Flint, MI Pittsburgh, PA Sellersville, PA Poughkeepsie, NY New Bedford, MA Derry, NH Hartford, CT Annapolis, MD Winston-Salem, NC Atlanta, GA Daytona Beach, FL Montreal, QC Ottawa, ON Toronto, ON New York, NY New York, NY New York, NY

Goldfield Trading Post Garden Grove Amphitheater Vamp’d Brick By Brick Sunshine Theater Come And Take It Live Warehouse Live The Rock Box Apollo Theater The Forge Machine Shop Jergel’s Sellersville Theater The Chance The Vault Tupelo Music Hall Webster Underground Ram’s Head Onstage The Ram Kat Vinyl Welcome To Rockville Foufounes Electriques Brass Monkey Lee’s Palace Iridium Iridium Iridium

January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

“Mumbo,” a reggae-tinged reimagining of Mickey & Sylvia’s “Love Is Strange,” or the plaintive and heart wrenching ballad “Dear Friend.”

Paul McCartney and Wings Wild Life 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Vinyl Release To Be Released February 4 Marking the 50th anniversary of the December 7, 1971 release of Paul McCartney and Wings’ Wild Life, UMe announces the February 4, 2022 reissue of Wings’ debut LP as a limited edition half-speed mastered vinyl pressing Following the eclectic charm and intimacy of 1970’s solo McCartney and 1971’s homespun lo-fi indie-pop progenitor RAM credited to Paul and Linda McCartney, Wild Life found Paul once again redefining his post-Beatles creative identity, this time beginning his tenure as a founding member of Wings. A rollicking left turn from its predecessors, Wild Life was recorded in barely more than a week, with more than half of the songs captured in a single take. The end result would be eight songs running the gamut from joyous freewheeling jams to protochamber pop to spare introspective musings — all bristling with a raw, jagged energy akin to the grungiest of garage bands—whether on the careening blues-rock rave-up of opener 78

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Cracking the top 10 and going gold in the US, Wild Life faced an admittedly uphill battle as the debut of Paul’s first post-Beatles band. In a recent reassessment, Billboard noted that modern-day Wild Life listeners “can throw out all this cultural baggage and just enjoy the tunes… by not reaching for any obvious Beatles tropes, Wings achieved something fresh and inviting…” And in fact, Wild Life would prove to be the first spark of the Wings phenomenon that would develop and flourish into one of the defining sounds of ’70s rock n roll. The streak of #1 albums from Red Rose Speedway, Band On The Run, Venus And Mars, At The Speed Of Sound through the 3LP live opus Wings Over America, and the sold-out shows that provided the blueprint for the ’70s arena rock experience—can all be traced back to the big bang of those first eight months during which Wings would form, release Wild Life in December 1971 and play their first-ever live shows in February 1972.

September 2021 • Rock and Blues International

seemingly opposing views and how, when united, they can flourish to their mutual advantage. The movie’s success and cult status has in part been bolstered by its whimsical and poignant soundtrack, in which all songs are performed by Cat Stevens. Originally not wanting to release the soundtrack in fear of it being perceived as a “greatest hits” album in the early days of his career, film director Hal Ashby had to do some convincing. Having listened to songs from landmark albums Mona Bone Jakon and Tea For The Tillerman whilst editing “Harold and Maude,” Ashby knew from the start that he wanted exclusively Stevens’ songs to sonically narrate his film, and after a significant campaign, Ashby won Stevens over and thus, the soundtrack was brought to life. Speaking about the experience, Yusuf/Cat Stevens remembers:

Yusuf/Cat Stevens’ “Harold And Maude” (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 50th Anniversary Edition To Be Released February 11 MADE UP EXCLUSIVELY OF SONGS BY CAT STEVENS Fifty years since its release, the original motion picture soundtrack for Hal Ashby’s 1971 classic cult film “Harold and Maude,” made up exclusively of songs by Cat Stevens, will be released on February 11th, 2022 in new 180g 1LP / 1CD / Digital release formats via A&M/Cat-O-Log/UMe. The new edition of the soundtrack will combine Cat Stevens’ nine original songs, as well as dialogue from the film, for the first time. 80

Rock and Blues International

Hal Ashby’s 1971 film about the unlikely friendship-turned-love story of suicidal teenager Harold Chasen (played by Bud Cort) and 79-year-old free spirit Maude (played by Ruth Gordon) is now widely praised as a bona fide cult classic. Filled with dark humor and existential drama, the film represents the potentially glorious benefits that can arise from a balanced partnership between conservative pragmatism and colorful freespirited idealism. It reveals the deep lying synergy that exists between

• January 2022

“‘Harold and Maude’ was a total experience. My manager said he had a book called ‘Harold and Maude,’ Colin Higgins wrote it and Paramount were making a film of it and they wanted to use some of my music. I said, ‘Okay, I’ll read the book.’ I couldn’t put it down. I was laughing so much, right into the night. This odd character, Harold, experimenting with death, experimenting with his own concept of non-existence so he wouldn’t have to suffer his mother barking at him all the time. It was great,and satisfied my own particular love of the out-of-the-ordinary. I eventually went over to San Francisco where they were making the film and I met Hal Ashby, the director and my music was flowing everywhere, in the rushes. Hal Ashby looked like a guru, very kind of bedraggled beard and nicotinestained moustache and zappy eyes, but he was a soft character, a very soft character. He was almost like Jimi Hendrix in that respect. A gentle soul. So we had to make a deal and we did make a deal, but I said, ‘But you’re not putting out a soundtrack,’ and the reason for that was it would have sounded like a collection of greatest hits from Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the Tillerman. I said, ‘I don’t want to do a Greatest Hits yet.’ So I never allowed them to put out the soundtrack, but I did write two songs for that. I did the demo in San Francisco and I always meant to continued on next page

do them properly but no, Hal puts them straight into the film and that was it, locked away. I’m saying, ‘no, no, no, it’s not finished!’ but I love those recordings now because they’re so raw.” Seven songs from the two 1970 Island/A&M Cat Stevens albums were included on the soundtrack: “On The Road To Find Out,” “I Wish, I Wish,” “Miles From Nowhere,” “Tea for the Tillerman,” “I Think I See The Light,” “Trouble,” and “Where Do The Children Play?” Two non-album tracks were also added into the mix: “Don’t Be Shy,” and what became the movie’s unofficial theme, “If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out.” These songs would go unreleased until the 1984 Footsteps In The Dark collection, and were later included in the 2001 On The Road To Find Out box set. The Harold and Maude official soundtrack album was first issued in 2007 by Cameron Crowe’s independent label, Vinyl Films. Produced only on LP in super limited quantities, on several different vinyl colors, those records are

highly collectible today and trade for hundreds of dollars on Discogs and other fan sites. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the film’s release, the latest edition of the soundtrack will combine Cat Stevens’ nine original songs, as well as additional dialogue and instrumental music from the film for the first time. Previously unheard audio masters have been discovered in the Island Records/A&M archive for “Don’t Be Shy” and “If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out,” and all audio has been remastered at world renowned Abbey Road Studios. This edition will also feature enhanced packaging including liner notes, lyrics, transcription of movie dialogue, and photos from the Paramount Pictures production. Tracklist Side 1 1. Don’t Be Shy 2. Dialogue 1 (I Go To Funerals) 3. On The Road To Find Out

4. I Wish, I Wish 5. Tchaikovsky’s Concerto No.1 in B 6. Dialogue 2 (How Many Suicides) 7. Marching Band / Dialogue 3 (Harold Meets Maude) 8. Miles From Nowhere 9. Tea For The Tillerman Side 2 1. I Think I See The Light 2. Dialogue 4 (Sunflower) 3. Where Do The Children Play? 4. If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out (Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort vocal) 5. Strauss’ Blue Danube 6. Dialogue 5 (Somersaults) 7. If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out 8. Dialogue 6 (Harold Loves Maude) 9. Trouble 10. If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out (ending)

January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

The Biker, The Blues And The Cool Ass International Blues Challenge In Memphis USA

Nothing, absolutely nothing, compares to the level of coolness that the annual International Blues Challenge generates in Memphis Tennessee USA. The IBC is sponsored by The Blues Foundation which is a 501c3 comprised of over one hundred “chapters” blues societies as they call them. These blues societies are located in cities all around the world and the vast majority of them fund and send their best blues bands and soloists to this event every year. Envision top rated blues bands and soloists from around the globe performing in four days of red hot get down blues on the world famous Beale Street later this month. It is almost too cool for words. Literally KPFT’s Blues Hound, Memphis Great thousands of blues lovers, fans, are Tall City Festival Talent Buyers Ron Barbara Blue, & Kpft’s Baby Girl 82

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continued on next page

Reeger, Tina Fields, Lisa Grissom

The Biker, The Blues And The Cool Ass International Blues Challenge In Memphis USA

on Beale Street night after night while the challenge is in full force. The city actually shuts off traffic onto the street each night, that’s how packed it is, and by the way I’ve never seen a problem at the IBCs. It’s just cool all the way around. Among those attending are world class radio show hosts, venue talent buyers, booking agencies, record labels, hundreds of blues band, and thousands of righteous blues lovers from all around the world. Blues lovers pay one fee and get a wrist band that gains entrance into any one of the many participating blues clubs on Beale Street including BB King’s, Rum Boogie, Hard Rock Café, and many more. I’ve been going to the IBCs every chance I get and only missed a few since I started going. One of my favorite memories includes meeting up with Steve “Harp Ace” Krase at a little place right next to Rum Boogies. Steve was scouting for up and coming talent. Steve, a first class blues harpist himself continually performs in both the U.S. and Europe. He knows what to look for in stage presence, originality, and that certain blues feeling that an audience can feel coming at them from the stage. We belted a shot or two, maybe three, and took in the act on stage. Just about then blues rock vocalist sensation Sari Schorr came in and stood with us by the bar. Sari and Steve knew each other but this would be my introduction to the extremely gifted blues rock artist. She told us where she had been already and Steve told her where he had been and what shows he had taken in so far. They talked about who else might be continued on next page January 2022 • Rock and Blues International

The Biker, The Blues And The Cool Ass International Blues Challenge In Memphis USA Interesting to go and see and off they went to brave the cold outside. Me, I stayed where I had a bar stool, a good view of the stage, and could see everyone coming and going out the door. Finally, I decided to cross the street and take in an act that I had read about just the month before. I went in, the place was packed, and the music was cooking big time. At the end of the four song set I opened the door and as the cold night air hit my face my eyes watered and I walked right into the great blues singer Annika Chambers. Annika was on the Montrose Record label at the time and there she was saying hello to those who passed by and would hand them a post card size announcement about her new album. It was freezing ass cold and this woman was relentless, she was going to greet as many people as she could even in freezing temperatures. I locked my arm around hers and said come on with me just for a moment and I took her inside BB King’s. As she warmed up we exchanged notes on what was going down and then she excused herself. The woman was going back out on Beale to meet people. When I look back on that night I realize it was the defining moment of a major break out blues artist. It wasn’t that many years later that Annika Chambers would win the coveted Blues Music Award in that very same city. Today she tours the world and performs to sell out crowds. All I can say is that when the passion to share your gift is inside and something pushes you along even in ice cold weather that’s a sure sign of impending stardom. My next stop was the famous Rum Boogies and as one might expect it was jammed tight. The music was cooking big time and as I finally edged my way to the bar I found a seat. I was setting right next to the waitress’s order area and another gifted blues singer came up to the bar to place an order. I would come to learn that her name was Niecie. She hailed from the Detroit market and was visiting with my good friends James and Colleen Nagel of KPFT radio fame. Soon Niecie would be visiting Houston and I would see her again at the radio station. Niecie records with Johnny Neel (Allman Brothers Band) in Nashville and she is almost always being booked in both listening rooms and music festivals. At about this time I walked, maybe stumbled is a better word, down the street to a club with a large main stage. One of the blues society members that was visiting Memphis too told me that rumor had it that Shari Schorr and Steve Krase were going to perform together after the evening’s judging was over. Too cool! I was in. So here we are zero dark thirty sometime after midnight and this place is filling up fast just from word of mouth alone. As I looked around the room I noticed a lot of band members John In Houston, Niecie, Baby Girl, James Nagel at 84

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KPFT Radio Houston

The Biker, The Blues And The Cool Ass International Blues Challenge In Memphis USA and instruments. Hmmm what was up? Well if you are a musician you just performed in the number one spot in the world for blues and sleep is not on the agenda. That’s what was up. For the next two hours this place was smoking big time. I mean to tell you that each call out for so and so who plays this instrument or that one to come to the stage was over the top fantastic. I hadn’t heard of most of these people but artists and musicians know each other around the world alike and the word was out. A hint of the sun coming up lit up the night sky as I left the building and headed for the hotel. Not a bad first night at all. One of the crowning jewels on Beale Street sits close to the famous Orpheum Theatre. It’s the Hard Rock Café (see photo at right). It’s a two level listening room slash restaurant that is completely uptown in taste and quality. In fact if you go to Memphis in May for the Blues Music Awards this is the place that the artists know to go to the day after the awards. This where they let their hair down and the shows are once again over the top. The photo on the right does not capture the bar area which is just behind the tables in the near portion of the Hard Rock Cafe Memphis Tennessee - Photo by Hinedak Group photo on the bottom floor. As each star arrives you can look out on Beale and see them exit their ride and enter the door. I’ve seen the great harp player Bob Corritore, the fantastic traditional blues singer Trudy Lynn and many more from this choice perch. In May the temperature is much warmer and the bikes are plentiful. Sometimes they are parked all along the entire street for blocks. Again, the evenings are trouble free and the vibe is centered on all forms of blues; blues rock, slow blues, traditional blues, and more. Someone once told me that if you love the blues and go to Memphis either on the week of the IBCs or BMAs you will go back. That’s true. I have been back year after year since 2014. The other interesting point is that you will tell others about it year after year too. Some people write articles about it that go around the world. Some tout it on the radio, some on television, but most of all they tell their close friends because this place is cool to the max. Where else can you see world class international blues talent all in one place? Plus the price is low, the hotels close by, and everyone knows about Memphis style ribs. The last thing to note is that for most U.S. residents you don’t have to hassle with a flight there. Memphis is almost centrally located in the middle of the country. So you can drive there and not get hassled by long lines, delays, and other such vacation ruining memories. Stay downtown and either walk or ride the trolley back and forth to the hotel. No worries regarding drinking and driving and of course you can always Uber if you want to do that too. I’m going - come on make a reservation you know you want to - I mean you know you really want to go so what the hell just do it. When is the last time you got away and really enjoyed yourself? Over at your in laws? Come on - you know you want to go….. January 2022 • Rock and Blues International