Have Yourself A Merry Steel Panther [Concert Review]

2020 has devastated the music community. Tours, concerts, and festivals all put on a standstill until a magical cure for Covid-19 happens. Artists flooded to social media with Patreon accounts, music lessons and livestreams ( free or paid ), but the void of live music is a huge hole to fill.

Despite many states and countries reverting back to a lockdown to “flatten the curve”, Steel Panther decided to give a huge middle finger to Covid-19 with a sold out holiday show in Rock La, Destin Florida. 

Florida is already known for being the first state to continue to stay open while the rest of the world goes into unemployment. Open bars, restaurants, gyms, and now concerts for musicians. 

Is it safe though ?

This was a standing room show with some VIP tables, no temperature checks, no “ please wear a mask “ sign and people flooding the pit together ( except me ).  It almost felt normal, and even Steel Panther was rocking without any protection, but when do they ever. 

I have been shows already in Nashville & Austin, but some were outdoors & table only, while others were indoor tabletop but I still felt safe with sanitary precautions the venues took. 

Even while throwing my horns up durning Steel Panther, I made sure to keep a distance in back from other fans and touched no surfaces in the venue. 

Steel Panther put on an amazing show, as they usually do, and did not hold back on the jokes for 2020, but I don’t believe sold out standing room shows are ready yet. And the lack of safety Steel Panther showed for themselves makes me wonder if they believe in Covid-19.

Upon returning home I have taken a Covid-19 test and the result came back negative, but for other patrons of that show, I don’t believe that will happen. 

From Tragedy to The Best Night Ever: Greta Van Fleet New Orleans Show One Year Later....

December 20th, 2019 - I saw Greta Van Fleet for the second time ever. Only this time I got on a plane, traveled to New Orleans, and spent the first two days having the time of my life.  When it’s the day of a concert, I spend every second of my day anticipating the night that was awaiting me. The morning of the Greta Van Fleet show had me feeling rather sad. Why? Well, here’s my story of the day turning from tragedy to the best night ever. 

On December 18th, two days before the concert, I was up and ready to head to the airport to embark on a 45 minute flight from my hometown, Houston to New Orleans. Usually, that is a five hour drive, so I forget why we decided we wanted to fly instead. This was my second time traveling to New Orleans for a concert that year. Back in May, just six days before my 22nd birthday, my nana and I traveled to New Orleans by car to go see Paul McCartney in concert. Man, was that an amazing early birthday or what? I certainly had a blast that night. If you ever get the chance, go to New Orleans for a concert.

Anyways, back to this story… Right when I was leaving to go to the airport, I approached my 14 year old Tabby cat, Alex, who proceeded to meow at me as I walked up to him. Like he always did. I picked him up, gave him a kiss on the head and said, “Bye” and that I’ll see him soon. Little did I know, that was the last time I would ever see him. 

Fast forward to two days later: December 20th, the morning of the concert. It was 7:00 AM and I woke up maybe 20 minutes before and I couldn’t find myself going back to sleep. I was tossing and turning at that point. My stepdad then called my mom and he dropped the bomb on us. Alex died in his sleep that morning. 

“Alex died?!” I remember hearing my mom shout out. Hearing that itself caused me to jolt up. I was in a state of shock, to say the least. Not long after, my mom went to go embark on her solo journey while I got ready for the show. It didn’t take long for me to actually start crying after she left. I cried and cried and cried for what felt like a long time. It came close to putting a damper on my typical happy concert mood completely. I was also going home the very next day so I was especially dreading coming home to no Alex.

After an hour, I gave myself a pep talk. I told myself that no matter the circumstances, I was going to have fun no matter what. So I spent the next several hours getting ready, eating food, and playing music. While my sadness didn’t go away completely, I still managed to get myself pumped up.

Several hours later, my friend Sage and her mom picked me up from my hotel and we went to the venue. We arrived two hours and thirty minutes before the doors opened. When we entered the venue, I was amazed. Despite getting there two hours and thirty minutes before the doors opened, we still managed to get in the second or third row on the floor. 

After the opening act, Aaron Lee Tasjan played his set; I found myself anticipating more and more, the moment I would get to see the four men who changed everything for me up close. Finally, the lights dimmed and I swore that my heart was in my throat. Seeing Josh walk out and throw roses into the crowd had me feeling completely speechless. I was at such a loss for words that I couldn’t even focus on catching a rose. As a matter of fact, Sage and her mom caught one at the same time and it broke. Her mom later gave me a petal, which I still have in my concert ticket scrapbook. (Shoutout to Talitha.)

As the show went on, I found my mood escalating; I was absolutely ecstatic and so, so happy. That happiness was something I didn’t think I could have felt twelve hours prior. Nothing could make me sad in that moment. All I could focus on were the four incredible men in front of me. I had managed to capture a clip of Josh looking and smiling at me during ‘You’re The One’, to which I made an embarrassing gasp sound in response. Experiencing that exact moment added further happiness. It was almost as if he knew I needed it.

When the show ended, I participated in a group photo with some of the most incredible people. All of whom contributed to adding more happiness. Rex, Lisa, Sarah, Sage, Talitha, everyone - Thank you so much for adding that much needed happiness. 

I think about that night a lot and honestly, I’m glad that I went and had a fantastic time. Greta Van Fleet gave me the happiness I needed that night and I will forever be grateful for that. You can turn a sad, tragic day into the best night of your life.

How BANDED Stole Christmas | A Takeover + Performance Series

“Holiday who-be what-ee?”

BANDED is stealing Christmas this year with artist takeovers, performances, and special surprises starting December 13th through Christmas Eve on Instagram. Tune in as artists takeover our account, go live for special performances, and debut unreleased music. PLUS, we’ll have some giveaways sprinkled in throughout the two weeks.

Grab some milk + cookies and let’s get holly jolly or whatever.

TUNE IN HERE

Interview with Ty Chase

Ty Chase is an artist, musician, and creative based out of TN. I got the chance to talk with him about the challenges of making music during a pandemic, the importance of community in a music scene, what keeps his spirits up in times like these.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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Stream his new single “Wake Up” everywhere now.

Interview with Echo Pilot

This week, I sat down with Echo Pilot to talk about new music, the Nashville music scene, and what the challenges and benefits of making music in 2020.

This week, Chloe sat down with Echo Pilot to talk about new music, the Nashville music scene, and what the challenges and benefits of making music in 2020.St...

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Stream ‘Harry Houdini’ everywhere now!

Kick Back And Enjoy Some “Southern Noise”

Some nights after a long day, especially during 2020, you just want to relax on your porch and sip on some bourbon, and for a moment forget about your stresses. Southern artist, Cody Weaver, captures that essence with his debut EP Souther Noise and come Friday night, you're going to find yourself sliding in your undies like Tom Cruise with music blasting. 

November 30, 2020 I had the absolute pleasure to discuss his debut EP one week before its release on December 4 on a special Instagram Live interview. Cody, his wife and his band in attendance for this interview all contributed to the final product of Southern Noise.

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Tracks such as ‘Cope’ and ‘Souther Noise’ bring the party atmosphere of red solo cup, while ‘Not This Time’ and ‘Before I Met You’ showcase the ballads Cody has in his soul. 

Cody’s debut EP, brings a splash of Lynyrd Skynrd, some bitters of Randy Rhoads guitar, and a perfect ice cube of ballads to create a prefect old fashioned southern rock album.

6 Perspectives on Greta Van Fleet's New Release, 'Age of Machine'

Greta Van Fleet is back with not only a new song but a release date for their second album. After two years, the Peaceful Army will be gifted a new album, The Battle At Gardens Gate, on April 16, 2021. Just yesterday, the band released the second single off of the upcoming album, ‘Age of Machine’. Both releases showcase incredible growth from their ‘Highway Tune’ days yet emit two different journeys.

Many of us here at BANDED connected over Greta Van Fleet, so to take the peaceful route, we’ve each shared a short review for ‘Age of Machine’. Enjoy….

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ANGEL:

I am utterly convinced that everything Greta Van Fleet touches turns to gold. ‘Age of Machine’ is Greta Van Fleet authentically at their finest. As I listened, I meditated on the words that flowed from Josh’s lips. I was mesmerized by Jake's haunting guitar riff, Daniel’s heart-pounding drum beats, and the hearty bass brought to us by Sam. Greta Van Fleet isn’t holding anything back in this new era. Let me tell you, this new song is further proof of that. The profound lyrics in this song combined with the heavy rock n’ roll sound will have your head banging in an instant and your mind racing. The Battle At Gardens Gate is going to be a timeless record, unlike anything Greta Van Fleet has ever produced. ‘Highway Tune’ feels like a distant memory compared to where the band is now. These four incredibly talented guys from Frankenmuth, Michigan are reintroducing themselves to the world. They are digging from a deeper place in this new record, and it’s coming from depths of their being. Without a doubt, I believe wholeheartedly that they were born for this.

BAYLEE:

When I first listened to the opening riffs, I felt like I was listening to an entirely different version of ‘Brave New World’ for a second and then I heard Josh’s wails and I thought, “Okay. Here we go.”

As ‘Age of Machine’ progressed, I started thinking that it felt more like a sequel to Brave New World and I began to really enjoy it. The chorus, Jake’s guitar solo, everything about it. Between ‘Age of Machine’ and ‘My Way, Soon’ - I think Age of Machine really takes the cake and it makes me feel especially excited for what’s to come on the new album.

CHLOE:

Age of Machine makes a grand appearance as the obvious sequel and foil to Age of Man. As Greta moves symbolically from one era to another, so too do they remind us of the successions of eras within mankind’s existence. We move with them from the ‘Age of Man’ through to the ‘Age of Machine’. There’s an almost primordial power within it that recollects something inherent and organic. Something within ones self that’s gone long ignored.

For me, ‘Age of Machine"‘ put me in a mindscape filled with other people and spirits, something that many of us have missed wretchedly since the beginning of coronavirus. Connection. It makes a dignified entrance as the beginning of a new era for Greta Van Fleet.

EVIE:

Age of Machine is a transcendental train ride through a dark, barren tunnel. The train is rickety and you almost fear for your safety as the song hauntingly fades in, then grabs you and pulls you down a trippy, spiraling rabbit hole. For the next six minutes and fifty-three seconds, you are in a timeless space. Anything can happen here. Perhaps even your worst nightmares can be revealed here; the meditational length of the song and the clever hypnosis cast upon the listener through the instrumentals take you on a one-way journey through space, time, hell, and heaven all at once. Stories of those who have returned from this journey reveal sensations of shaking, convulsing, overwhelming emotions, body possession, and feeling...oh god, the feeling…remarking “Nothing can prepare you for it” and “You will never be the same”. The voyagers elaborated, stating they heard and felt the energies of musician spirits such as Rush and Muse, through their journey down the tunnel. One can only confirm these claims if they, too, buy a one-way ticket to ‘Age of Machine’ and back. So, what lies beyond the garden's gate, and why must we battle for it? If you decide to take the journey...well, see you on the other side.

ISABEL:

With callbacks to their first LP Anthem of the Peaceful Army - to 'Age of Man' name wise and 'Brave New World' sound-wise - Greta Van Fleet make their fans go from 'What is this promo campaign?' to the edge of their seats in days. The song itself dives into some darker and mysterious sounds with some surprising vocals in the beginning. Lyrically, the song explores themes of a technic driven present and hope for healing in the future. After hearing this song on repeat, I'm very interested in how the two songs Greta Van Fleet already released play in the whole picture of the new album - which sounds will bind the songs together and how the songs will balance the lyrics about made experiences, curiosity and darker themes.

REBECCA:

Sun down. Stars out. Smoke rising. Silhouettes on stage. ‘Age of Machine’ instantly envelopes me with the same feelings experienced at a live Greta Van Fleet show. Similar yet different to ‘Age of Man’, ‘Age of Machine’ is a slow burn and I’m transported to a time that I can only imagine is reminiscent of live rock n roll shows in the 60’s and 70’s. It feels like they’re picking up exactly where the rise of rock had once left off. As the chorus builds in the warmth of backing voices against Josh’s, suddenly, I feel whole. I’m surrounded by the music and the community that gets what this band and this music is all about.

‘Age of Machine’ truly sets the tone for the rest of 'The Battle At Gardens Gate’. I look forward to hearing how the album ebbs and flows.

Listen to ‘Age of Machine’ on our Rock My Soul playlist HERE.

Rock My Soul ft. JJ Wilde

JJ WILDE

“When someone asked JJ Wilde to choose between music and a relationship, there’s only ever been one answer: music. Music has  permeated every part of JJ Wilde’s life since childhood, and it’s something she’s held closely: an unwavering connection she’s fought to foster.”

Canadian rocker, JJ Wilde isn’t a stranger to the Rock My Soul series. In fact, her tracks have graced your presence for 3 installments. You’ll probably recognize her song ‘The Rush’ first released on her 2019 EP, Wild Eyes, Steady Hands.

This time around, Wilde is our featured artist and it’s honestly about damn time. Her powerful voice paired with a blues rock sound keeps us coming back for more. Released just a few weeks ago, ‘Mercy’ takes the top spot on the playlist and puts all of the emotion from personal experience into a powerful and gritty song that sends chills through your spine.

“‘Mercy’ is a story of revenge. It is about a man who tries to steal something from a woman. Her sense of self, safety, control. He tries, but he does not succeed. We have all wanted revenge at one moment in our lives, whether it’s just a thought, or we actually go through with it. In this case, it is taken to the extreme, and she is pushed to the absolute limits. This story/song, like many of my songs, comes from personal experience. A story that has taken me over two years to share. This is the story of Mercy.

This song took me two years to write and get out of my head. Like many of my songs, it stems from personal experience, although for a long time I wished it didn’t. It’s a fantasy I created to deal with what happened.”

Sink into ‘Mercy’ and get ready to crank it up…

ARTISTS FEATURED: JJ Wilde, Andrew Hagar, Greta Van Fleet, Black Honey, BRKN LOVE, Micky James, Ida Mae + Marcus King, No Fit State, The Teskey Brothers, Radkey, + More!

All I Got Was Band Merch: WD-HAN

The COVID Tour has unfortunately made it’s way into the final month of 2020. How quickly will concerts return in 2021? An answer we’re completely unsure of.

The ‘All I Got Was Band Merch’ series documents how COVID-19 is affecting both artists AND fans. This week, we’re catching up with our friends in WD-HAN whom you may have heard on Rock My Soul.

Lead singer Spencer Barnes, guitarist Cal Henry, and percussionist Lea Barnes have been a band since 2008 and they’re certainly not letting 2020 change that. During quarantine and social distancing, the band has been busy at work with a big release out this month. Hear more about it all below…

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How have you been making this time useful? (As a band and individually)

We started the year with a game to put out one single a month for the entire year. So a lot of this time has now been put to songwriting, learning all about recording at home and starting to put that to use. We put out an acoustic version of our song ‘Red Sun’ which was recorded all at home. With our latest release, you’ll see a little more complexity including electric guitars, synths, percussions and vocal harmonies. All recorded, mixed and mastered by us. On December 18th, we’re releasing The 2020 Album. It’s a full collection of songs we have released over the last year and as a special bonus we are including a new song, 'Places'!

Plus our Tik Tok career has really taken off. ;)

Has songwriting been easier or harder, without seeing your other band mates?

It’s definitely had its challenges. But we’ve worked out a very good system, we all have Logic so it’s easy for one of us to record a part at home and share to add to the project. Spencer has become our recording/mixing/mastering guru and takes all the parts being sent to him in stride. It helps that he and Lea (drummer) are married so get to live and work together too.

What do you miss most from the “normal” world, before COVID-19?

Playing LIVE! We miss venues, shows, seeing fans/friends/family at the shows. Traveling for shows. All of it. Also going to the movies… we’d love to pay for some overpriced popcorn right about now.

During your free time, are there any bands/artists you have newly discovered or any old albums that you love, that you’ve been playing a bit more recently?

Funny you ask this! We recently went through an old iPod lying around and found some songs that we hadn’t heard since high school. These were a few:

Weighty Ghost by Wintersleep

Cars by Lady Danville

Love, Love, Love by As Tall As Lions

‘Belief’ Live from the Special Edition of Continuum (John Mayer)

Have you picked up any new hobbies during this time?

Does eating count? Lol. 

How has your daily routine changed since COVID-19?

It’s actually gotten a little more organized. A little more focused on the work that’s most important. We’ve realized now more than ever how vital it is to have art and music in the world. How much it can lift people’s spirits. So that’s what we’re pushing more than anything else. 

PRE-SAVE

Pre-Save The 2020 Album here.

Interview with Titans of Siren

Quarantine got you feeling...stuck? There’s a little band from Springfield, IL that you need to hear about.

Matt LaMarca and Kirk Gower make up Titans of Siren, and their punchy raw energy embodies the spirit of breaking free. I sat down with them this week to chat about their new single, How Not to Leave Town, their musical influences, and what it’s like to make music when you’re separated by five and a half hours.

Stream “How Not to Leave Town” on Dec 4 on Spotify!

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Album Review: Plastic Hearts by Miley Cyrus

The last time I was excited about an upcoming Miley Cyrus album, I had to be either 10 or 11 years old. So, it’s been QUITE a while. 

However, hearing “Midnight Sky”, as well as her cover of “Zombie” by The Cranberries and the mashup of “Midnight Sky” and “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks, had me thinking that “Plastic Hearts” could be very promising. With that, I felt the same excitement and anticipation I used to feel back when I was a kid and a mega Miley fan. 

When listening to the first song, “WTF Do I Know”, I already felt like I was in for a damn good rollercoaster ride. It has an excellent rock ‘n’ roll sound to it. I mean… can we talk about the bass in the beginning AND the guitar solo appearing later in the song? It’s certainly a solid start.

As the album progresses, you really start to feel an 80’s vibe come through. In my opinion, that is what makes the album stand out. Every song screams, “Miley!” It continuously proves again and again that this genre truly fits Miley’s vocals. 

One (actually, two) of the most iconic moments on this album are her collaborations with both Joan Jett AND Billy Idol - two of the biggest 80’s rock ‘n’ roll icons ever. “Night Crawling”, which features Billy Idol, has that 80’s synth pop sound to it. Hearing that? I felt like I time traveled back to the 80’s. 

“Bad Karma”, which features Joan Jett, really gives off The Runaways - which was Joan’s first band before forming Joan Jett And The Blackhearts - vibes to me. This collaboration is one of the biggest highlights on the album. Who knew we needed an iconic collaboration between Miley and Joan?

Overall, this album is most certainly Miley’s best work yet. Everything about this album is incredible from the music, to the lyrics and the features. I think it’s safe to say that Miley has a great future as a rock artist. Man, does she sing rock well.

Overall, my favorite songs on Plastic Hearts are (in no particular order) “Hate Me”, “Gimme What I Want”, Angels Like You, Bad Karma, Never Be Me and Golden G String. These songs were Miley’s strongest moments on the album, both vocally and lyrically. Needless to say, she did a fantastic job finding her sound.

Here’s to Miley singing more rock ‘n’ roll oriented music in the future.

Interview with Ashes

This week I sat down with Ashes, and we talked influences, records, and the accessibility of making organic music like surf. Brothers Braden and Brett Reddell take us through what it’s like to be a modern surf rock band, how to pay homage to an artist while still adding your own spin, and give us a sneak peak into what you can expect from Ashes. Stream Surf Carnival 2, now on Spotify!

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Andrew Hagar Builds Suspense with "Cold Knife Karma"

A great song takes you on a journey. It transports you to a time, a place, or even a feeling. In just it’s first few seconds, Andrew Hagar’s “Cold Knife Karma” sweeps you in. Now It’s up to you to decide which side of the story you’re on…

“Cold Knife Karma” is Hagar’s second release following “Judgement Day”, both serving up a gritty americana rock sound. In these two releases, it seems evident that Hagar is truly finding his own sound. 

With a steady beating drum and suspense-inducing guitar riff, “Cold Knife Karma” is a reminder that everything comes back around. “I’m sure everyone has somebody in mind when they listen,” Hagar shared in a recent interview.

As the song trails on, let yourself sink into the alluring guitar solo, only to be built back up into the chase. This consistent feeling of being pursued makes this song a perfect contender for a soundtrack. If this is a primer for what’s to come from Hagar, then count us in for the long haul. If this is a primer for what’s to come from Hagar, then count us in for the long haul. 

“You can’t run from a cold hard fact,” ‘cause in the words of Sammy Hagar, “It’s gonna get ya ass!” Listen to “Cold Knife Karma” below and stay tuned for more releases from Andrew Hagar in the future.

BUY "COLD KNIFE KARMA”

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Listen to Wolf Van Halen's Heartfelt Tribute to His Dad

Shot from music video.

Not even two seconds in and my eyes are swelled up with tears. Home videos spanning Wolf Van Halen’s life with his father take over the screen. Intimate father + son moments between Wolf and Eddie Van Halen help tell the story of love and loss.

“Distance” is Wolf’s first solo release under the name Mammoth WVH, an ode to family history, and wow, what a start. Wolf not only wrote the song but plays all instruments and takes vocal lead. A true testament to the talent amongst the Van Halen Family.

Wolf wrote the song as his Father was battling cancer and imagining what life would be like without him…

“As my pop continued to struggle with various health issues, I was imagining what my life would be like without him and how terribly I’d miss him. While the song is incredibly personal, I think anyone can relate to the idea of having a profound loss in their life. I never intended ‘Distance’ to be the very first piece of music people would hear from me, but I also thought my father would be here to celebrate its release. This is for him. I love and miss you, Pop.”

— WVH

Although incredibly emotional, I find “Distance” comforting in all aspects - lyrically, vocally, and in it’s composition. Wolf truly created a beautiful piece of work to tribute to his father. Eddie would be SO proud. Our hurt for the loss of Eddie Van Halen cannot be compared to the pain that Wolf is feeling, but we’re all still grieving and “Distance” certainly brings us all some solace.

“The song is one thing but it’s very important to watch the video", Wolf shared with Howard Stern. Watch the video + purchase the song at the links below. Proceeds from “Distance” will be donated to Eddie’s favorite charity, Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation.

Stay tuned at the very end. If you aren’t already in tears, the last few seconds will hit you hard.

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BUY “Distance”

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The Pretty Reckless Releases the Hauntingly Beautiful, "25"

"On November 11, The Pretty Reckless announced the release date for their upcoming, much anticipated album release, Death By Rock And Roll, which will be released on February 12, 2021. On the same day, they announced that they will be releasing a new song called “25”, which is also on the album.

After the release of their Tim Burton-esque song, “Broomsticks”, I began wondering when more information would be revealed regarding the release of their new album, so once I saw this announcement, I got excited.

The Pretty Reckless have quite a few incredible collaborations on this album: from Soundgarden’s Matt Cameron and Kim Thayil to Tom Morello. Hearing that they all took part in collaborating with The Pretty Reckless on this album - you know it’s bound to be a good one.

Without further ado, let’s get on with the review.

In this autobiographical song, Taylor reflects on turning 25. As the music starts, it’s very reminiscent of Evanescence.

“25” has a hauntingly beautiful sound to it that reels you in quickly. Then Taylor’s vocals come in. Already a rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse, but to hear her voice in this song? Goosebumps.

Halfway through the song, the lyrics really start to grow more and more chilling. While Death By Rock And Roll  won’t be released for another few months, I will say that I feel that this song is already standing out a little bit more than the album’s title track.

Overall, “25” is beautiful on its own. Taylor’s vocals, the lyrics, and the production, make the final product exquisite. A standout so far.

Listening to this song has made me look forward to the release of this album even more and honestly, I think it will most certainly be worth the three month wait. If you’re looking for a good song to listen to on a cloudy day, or any day for that matter, just go listen to “25”.

You can pre-save Death By Rock And Roll now. Here.