Political punk-rock never really goes out of style, because there’s never any shortage of topical matter. The latest to jump into the fray are the new L.A. quartet SP’s, who show ample piss and vinegar on “Rise/Fall,” the title track to their debut EP. READ MORE…
“Standing in the Shadows” is a testament to Grand Canyon’s aim to focus on classic sounds and pull from the music catalog of the 70s. The track would definitely fit better on Spotify’s Fleetwood Mac Radio than most modern playlists. It evokes a sense of nostalgia, the babies of the 90s and new millennium never really had, though probably heard growing up from their parent. In the chorus, vocalists Casey Shea and Amy Wilcox harmonize: “Baby come with me. Everything’s gonna be alright. Baby come with me. Let’s run away tonight.” It’s nearly four minutes of lovely, fun campfire rock.
Saving Country Music first strongly praised Charles Wesley Godwin while he was with his previous band Union Sound Treaty as an artist we could expect to hear from in the years to come. With the old band disbanded, he’s now branching out as a solo artist.
If the early indications are true, this West Virginia native could slide right in there with artists like Tyler Childers and Colter Wall as one of the most authentic voices of the current era. Goodwin’s first single called “Coal Country” is just a taste of what we may get from what could be a very important artist in 2019.
“Love is all you need”. Besides the obvious Beatles connotation, it’s a sentiment that has been attempted to be expressed in countless ways. The trouble is in trying to sum up a love so potent in mere words, or in the same chords that make up every song under the sun. Neither can really do it justice. True love is beautiful and baffling. It can weather the fiercest storms and only gets stronger with time while all others crumble and fade. This track from Florida’s Michael McArthur doesn’t capture that indescribable feeling, but it comes closer than almost any song I can think of. ‘Elaine’, taken from his debut album Ever Green, Ever Rain out 25th January, reminds me what it’s like to fall deeply and completely in love. That warm glow that outshines all else, that feeling that you could almost just close your eyes and float away.
SP’s is comprised of lead vocalist Steve Albertson, guitarist Steve LaBate, bassist James Holland, and drummer Allen Kronenberger — with all of them meeting in the summer of 2016 getting beer at Dangerbird Records party. Over the ensuing months, they solidified their relationship and even spontaneously writing songs at their rehearsal space, and have shared bills with everyone from Hospitality and Belle & Sebastian to Richie Ramone, Single Mothers, Pile and the Murder Junkies. READ MORE…
Ben Lee is an Australian singer-songwriter who started making music when he was 14. He has released several albums, including one with Josh Radnor. He currently works as the composer for Camping. By phone he discussed working with Tom Robbins on the musical “B Is for Beer,” creativity as a sort of rebellion and the differences between writing songs and composing….READ MORE