MÅNESKIN TAKE OVER THE WORLD

Måneskin (moonlight in Danish) is an Italian rock band that attended XFACTOR 2017 and paved their way to success with their debut song ‘Chosen’ and the famous cover ‘Beggin’.’

The band members are Damiano David (singer), Victoria De Angelis (bassist), Thomas Raggi (guitarist) and Ethan Torchio (drummer). They’re all in their 20s.

Måneskin came out with hits like ‘Torna a casa’ (Come back home in English) and ‘Zitti e buoni’ in the following years. ‘Zitti e buoni ‘(Be quiet and behave) is also the song they played at Sanremo and Eurovision, and won them both with. After Eurovison their success increased and their reach spanned many countries such as the US who promoted them in Times Square.

EUROVISION

Måneskin attended the Eurovision competition with their hit song ‘Zitti e Buoni’ in Rotterdam, Netherlands. They competed against all European countries plus some outside of it.

They not only won Eurovison but people’ hearts with their music, and kisses between the male members; a powerful and risky move considering some countries are against LGBT + rights. The public loved their audacity and praised them for continuing to represent the community.

TIMES SQUARE

Maneskin appeared on Spotify Times Square’s Billboard on July 2, 2021 with a new picture of them with a white star on a red wallpaper behind them. This happened almost two weeks before the ‘I wanna be your slave music’ video (an important video for the fans) premiered, .

The band proudly announced this achievement on the social medias writing: “find us in Times Square” and changed all their icons replacing their old profile pictures with the ones from this photoshoot.

I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE

‘I wanna be your slave’ is one of their most played songs. The music video has garnered 21 Billion views on YouTube. The video highlights the sexual message of the song and shows the band members in a way never seen before with iconic outfits and production. The video is full of kinks and symbols such as Victoria licking the apple, the Original Sin.

Fan thoughts:

“I’m just in love with it. They show kinks with other taboos and this is fantastic, I have no other words for it.”

“The video is coherent with the song lyrics. As the guys said, it represent all kinds of pleasure and it’s obvious not everyone likes them.”

“I love that Måneskin is not afraid of LGBT + criticism.”

“How many stereotypes do you wanna break in one video? Måneskin: Yes”

LUPA CAPITOLINA

On July 27th 2021, Måneskin were awarded the “Lupa Capitolina” the symbol of Rome at the Capitol by the Rome Mayor, Virginia Raggi. This means that Måneskin represents the city of Rome, the capital of Italy. This occasion was announced a new Italian date in Rome at the Circus Maximus on July 09 2022.

The band is also now the 14th most streamed worldwide artist/band on Spotify with more than 50 billion of monthly listeners.

This is just the beginning of the international journey Måneskin are going to take. They’ve also shared that in the future they’re going to write more english songs. This is a great news for the international fans who will be able to fully understand Måneskin lyrics, but it’s important to highlight how the Italian songs made people want to learn the band native language.

Foo Fighters & Radkey Light Up Cincinnati on First Tour Stop

The return of live music had Cincinnati buzzing, as Foo Fighters and Radkey brought the fire to the Queen City last Wednesday night for a sold-out show at the brand new ICON Music Center in the heart of downtown. The event, which sold all 8,000 tickets in merely ten minutes, was the first stop on the band’s 26th anniversary tour, and the energetic crowd in the home state of Dave Grohl himself certainly gave the band a warm welcome back to the stage.

I was lucky enough to win a pair of tickets through a local record store’s raffle (thank you, Shake It Records!) and getting to attend the show (and see Foo Fighters live for the first time) was nothing short of fantastic. 

Hailing from Missouri, openers Radkey are a garage-punk trio consisting of brothers Dee, Isaiah, and Solomon Radke, who grew up homeschooled and cut their teeth on their father’s vast collection of rock, metal, and punk records. Fast-forward to 2021, after being featured in Grohl’s newest documentary, What Drives Us, the band jumped at the opportunity to open for Foo Fighters and be the very first artist to play Cincinnati’s newest venue. Listening to their set, which was chock-full of original songs such as the groovy “Dark Black Makeup” and energetic “Seize”, it’s no wonder the Missouri natives were chosen to open the show. The excitement and energy on stage was palpable, as the brothers gave it their all and put on an electrifying performance, with vocalist/guitarist Dee and bassist Isaiah at one point even playing back-to-back and on their knees during a solo. I was thoroughly impressed by their skill and floored by their stage presence, as was the rest of the crowd, for when the band left the stage after a phenomenal set, people in every direction instantly began Googling their name to find out more. It’s no secret Radkey gained plenty of new fans that night, and surely with each show, their fanbase will grow exponentially. 

As soon as Foo Fighters walked on stage, the crowd went wild. Pure joy and gratitude shone through the facial expressions of all six band members, as they took several moments to just take it all in: the fans, the joy, the excitement, the experience. Opening with fan-favorite “Times Like These”, the band launched into a killer set, complete with jumbo screens, flashing lights, visual effects to boot and a raw, powerful presence that captivated the audience. Dave Grohl memorably asked the crowd, loudly, “Are you ready for some rock & roll?!?!” and proceeded to tell us we were in for a two and a half hour rock show, stating, “You know we have, like, a hundred and seventy-five fuckin’ songs, right?” 

All night long, the band put on a stellar performance, playing their biggest hits from every era, as well as plenty of lesser-known tunes. In addition, for mostly newer songs off of 2020’s Medicine At Midnight, a panel of three talented female backup vocalists joined the band on stage, including Grohl’s teenage daughter Violet, adding a fantastic edge and dazzle to the already-epic show. Later in the night, the band launched into performing some covers, off their newest release under the alter ego Dee Gees, titled, hilariously, Hail Satin, where they tackle disco with a colorful flair. Seemingly everyone in the crowd was up and moving listening to songs like “You Should Be Dancing” and “Night Fever”. Doubling down on the covers, self-proclaimed “biggest Queen fan in the world” Taylor Hawkins even sang a lovely rendition of “Somebody To Love” to a crowd of all ages, who were clearly thrilled to hear such a musical treat. 

After a long and entertaining night, the band closed the show with the classic smash-hit and crowd-pleaser “Everlong”. As the final notes rang out, I stood in awe of the spectacle I just witnessed. With my heart beating, ears ringing, and body sweating, I left the show feeling light, free, and full of good energy. Saying Foo Fighters puts on an amazing show is simply an understatement. Their performance was nothing short of phenomenal, and getting to experience it first-hand was truly a dream come true. 

In conclusion, if you ever get the chance to see Foo Fighters live, take it. You will undoubtedly have the time of your life. 

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Review: The Plot In You Releases “Face Me”

For years fans, myself included, have pondered this one question: will The Plot In You release new music?  And finally after a silent hiatus, we are graced with a new single from their 6th studio album Swan Song slated to be released on September 17, 2021. 

From their first album in 2011, First Born, to their last release in 2018, DISPOSE, The Plot In You have beautifully evolved into what I call an “aggressive delicacy”. Yes their metal/post core ways are a phase they won’t return to, but frontman Landon Tewers hasn’t completely forgotten it, he just matured & composed it into something more.

For their new single “Face Me”, it feels like a nice continuation from DISPOSE in 2018, but with more of that “aggressive delicacy” as I mentioned before. Landon has a way of singing that almost puts you in his mind while the words are coming out. You feel everything he feels. 

Production wise, this song is an A++ as Landon Tewers himself worked on composing it; home studios are becoming the way of the future as artists are taking the time to sculpt their sound. 

Even though on guitars it sounds mostly like power cords at just the chorus and breakdown, it adds to the importance & power behind Landon’s lyrics. 

Landon has stated online he has been working two & half years on this next iteration of The Plot In You, and I am beyond excited to see this masterpiece. 

Review: Ida Mae Cover Every Base With New Record Click Click Domino

Ida Mae dropped their sophomore album, Click Click Domino, this past Friday and to say I’m obsessed would be an understatement. I haven’t been able to turn this record off – it’s a masterpiece from front to back. 

Every track sounds wildly different than the one that came before it, yet the album still feels like a cohesive unit – it still feels like Ida Mae. It’s almost impossible for me to choose a favorite track; that’s how good this record is. Once I think I’ve picked one, I listen to the entire record again and pick up on something in a song that I hadn’t noticed before, and my whole perspective changes. 

Born out of the backseat of a car whilst traveling the road with the likes of Greta Van Fleet and Marcus King, among others, Click Click Domino delivers one of my all-time favorite musical techniques: the blending of the old and the new. Ida Mae mix sounds from vintage American instruments (some instruments being over 100 years old) with modern sounds you might find in today’s rock and pop music in such a brilliant way that you’ll wonder why all musicians don’t do this same thing. 

Within this blend of the old and the new, Ida Mae embrace a wide variety of sounds, perhaps the thing I love most about them, with some songs embodying a folkier, bordering on bluegrass feel with their use of banjo and mandolin (see “Road to Avalon” and “Raining for You”), some songs embracing their blues roots (see “Mountain Lion Blues”), and other songs taking the listener in the direction of hard hitting rock ‘n’ roll (see “Long Gone and Heartworn” and “Click Click Domino”). 

Speaking of Greta Van Fleet and Marcus King, Ida Mae have some talented guitar-playing friends that joined them on Click Click Domino, with Marcus King joining them for two tracks (“Click Click Domino” and “Deep River”) and Jake Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet joining them on one (“Long Gone and Heartworn”). These three tracks are highlights for me, and not just because they’re arguably the three most hard-hitting rock songs on the record, but because they accomplish what so many musical collaborations haven’t. 

History has shown us that getting too much talent in a room or on a stage can often be detrimental to the final product, but that is absolutely NOT the case here. Listening to these tracks, there’s a clear balance of skill and ideas, and you can hear the influence of the guest players without it being overpowering. Marcus King and Jake Kiszka don’t upstage, but instead play as though they’re equal members of Ida Mae, and all together, the end result sounds as if they’ve been making music together for decades. 

As much as I love to rock, the ballads of Click Click Domino stand out to me especially, as this is where Chris Turpin delivers some of his most beautiful, Jeff Buckley-esque vocals (particularly on “Calico Coming Down” and “Line on the Page”). This is also where I feel that Turpin and Stephanie Jean’s harmonies especially shine, as their vocals seem to be more in the forefront where there’s less room for error. It’s proof to me that these two were meant to make music together. 

On first listen, you might miss it, but Click Click Domino is far more than just a pioneer record when it comes to instrumentation, it’s also very impressive lyrically. Click Click Domino is cinematic, romantic, heartbreaking, invigorating, thought-provoking, and many more adjectives that I’m sure you’d prefer not to have to read. 

The album itself functions, I think, as an opportunity to step back from the stress of our technology-filled world and the uncertainty of the past year and a half, a break from the disconnection that can occur as the result of social media, and allows the listener to explore the album’s themes through a unique part-vintage, part-modern lens and to reconnect on a deeper level with their emotions, something that we so often neglect to do. While the instrumentation is complex and unique, there’s still a simplicity to these songs that’s quite alluring, and I find myself continuously going back for taste after taste.

With the Covid-19 pandemic and the current political climate, Click Click Domino comes at a unique time, and as a result, songs that may have meant one thing to their authors when they were written can now take on a multitude of meanings. As time goes on and as the world changes, so will these songs, resulting in a record that’s going to continue to be relevant in the years to come and will stand the test of time. 

Go on, give it a listen and see what you think. No doubt you’ll find some songs that you just can’t get out of your head, and you may even add a couple to your “Favorite Songs of All-Time List.” I know I have. As for me, if you forced me to answer, my current favorites are “Long Gone and Heartworn” and “Has My Midnight Begun,” but if you asked me that same question tomorrow, my answer just might change – the sign of a truly great record.

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Red And The Rebels Release Rockin' Self Titled Debut Album

Austin-based band, Red and the Rebels have released their self-titled debut album and they’re already showing signs of a very promising career in the world of music. If there’s anything that this band is proving so far, it’s that they’re gonna take the rock world by storm. 

Each song displays elements of a 70’s rock ‘n’ roll sound and the first track, “Blue” gives a mental image of driving down the California coast. Not only that, there are also hints of Americana and Folk in some of the songs as well (such as “6th & Main”), which makes the songs especially memorable.

The folk and Americana sound brings in the kind of vibe that just makes you want to relive the 70’s, go to a rock concert and maybe pull a Stevie Nicks and twirl around a little bit. I wonder if you can actually do that at a Red & The Rebels show? Hmm, most likely.

Throughout the album, lead singer Deidre Rodriguez displays some strong vocals. Her sound is very reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks and also a little bit of Kate Bush. Some of her strongest vocal moments come from “6th & Main”, “Woman (Of The World)”, “Lilith’s Fair” and “Golden Hour”.

She’s nothing short of a rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse and is displaying the beauty of the music through her remarkable sound. She has that soul and power that makes us all remember why we love rock ‘n’ roll the way that we do. 

This is one of those albums where each song gets better and better. It also is one of those albums that makes you only want more and more of the music from the band. Whatever this band may do, they’re gonna do it very well.

Ladies and Gentlemen, be on the lookout for Red & The Rebels because they’re going to be selling out stadiums one day.

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Interview: Heartsick at Upheaval Fest

Something that Upheaval Fest, in Grand Rapids Michigan did that I wish other festivals would follow suit, was tap into the local rock & metal scene and showcase them. One of the featured hometown bands for this two day festival was Heartsick, and they brought out the Michigan hardcore.

Just before their set, I had the pleasure to speak with frontman Alfonso Civile and went into great length on the Michigan metal scene, specifically on local producer Josh Schroeder as he has a huge hand in the sound for this band.

Now even though Heartsick was completely new to me prior to coming to Upheaval, they are complete veterans in the Michigan scene and brought a fan base that rivaled the main stage acts. 

When Alfonso came to the stage, the hometown crowd was already in a frenzy, just waiting for that first guttural yell to happen and start the mosh pit. Even coming up & down the hill 5 times, Alfonso mentioned in our interview, his intensity on stage did not falter as he crowd surfed during songs and even even came inside the pit. I am also 100% sure Heartsick did the first wall of death for 2021, and it was a beautiful sight to see.

Their sound from studio recordings to live performance was even better than I was anticipating it to be. Amazing clean vocals, a monstrous guttural yells, disgusting breakdowns, and a stage presence like they were the headlining act, make Heartsick a band to experience. 

Checkout our interview below for all things Heartsick and be sure to stream their new E.P. Cinco on all platforms now. They also will be doing a fall U.S. you with CombiChrist, check for dates near you. 

The Mavericks Return to the Touring Circuit: Review of Their En Español World Tour Kickoff

The Mavericks are back on the road and man, do they put on a show! This past Friday, The Mavericks kicked off their En Español World Tour in Shipshewana, Indiana and the show was absolutely electrifying!  Not only was this the kickoff of The Mavericks’ first tour since the beginning of the pandemic, it was also my very first time seeing them live. What a hell of a way to experience the magic of this band live for the very first time!

The band was met with thunderous applause as they took the stage, with the audience on their feet in a standing ovation before the first note was even played. I suspect this show was also the first taste of live music much of the audience had experienced in over a year, or perhaps the crowd already knew that this show was going to deserve several standing ovations. I myself was seated several rows back, and I found my eyes wandering often from the action on stage to the action in the crowd. Couples were dancing, friends were smiling and singing along at the tops of their lungs, solo concert goers were on their feet and making friends. Every direction you looked you’d find someone completely immersed in the music, expressing themselves in their own unique way. It was an incredible sight to see, especially after so long without live music. I saw people of all ages singing along, dancing – having the time of their lives - and I even saw a couple a few rows up get engaged (to that couple, if this article finds its way to you, congratulations!)! 

Every song was met with feverish applause, and for good reason. The Mavericks recently celebrated their 30th anniversary, but every song played sounded so fresh, no matter when it was originally released. If I didn’t already know the songs and you told me they had been released last week, I’d believe you. Each song was tight and spot-on, and no matter how many times they may have played these songs live over their 30-year career, not a single member of this band seems to be bored with them, and for good reason – these songs are still as incredible today as they were when they were first recorded, be that 30, 20, 10 years ago, or even songs from just last year. They have and will continue to stand the test of time, and the audience in Shipshewana knew it. 

Of course, an important factor to be considered in this enthusiasm from the audience is how absolutely mind-blowing Raúl Malo’s voice is. He sounded every bit as good live as he does on any of The Mavericks’ studio recordings, and it looks like it comes so effortlessly to him. Vocally, his may be the greatest live performance I’ve seen by any band; he’s that incredible. He was born to sing, and his passion for doing so was evident in his performance. 

As incredible as Raúl Malo’s voice is, he by no means makes the show all about him. Every player on stage was given several of their own opportunities to shine throughout the show, and it’s clear that The Mavericks only tour with the best of the best. With every solo taken, it became more and more evident to me that the show would not have been the same if one of those players wasn’t there. 

Speaking of the other players, a very obvious audience favorite was accordionist Percy Cardona, and this kickoff of the En Español tour was also his first tour date playing with The Mavericks (though he has played with them for various other events and video performances). I couldn’t help but feel proud out in the audience as the people around me cheered for him because I know him from all his work with another one of my favorite bands, The Last Bandoleros. No matter what band he’s with, he plays with every ounce of his being and always wins the audience over. It was so much fun getting to see him do his thing!

Sitting several rows back, it was fascinating to me to watch audience reactions and responses to songs. I couldn’t help but notice that the Willie Nelson cover, “Angel Too Close to the Ground,” was an audience favorite (and a favorite of mine too!). Malo’s voice was especially beautiful on this ballad, and this song functioned for me as a chance to slow down, stop the dancing, and let the music in the room wash over me, something I’ve been missing so greatly since the pandemic began. The Mavericks did an excellent job of incorporating ballads like this into the show, keeping the show balanced without losing all of its energy. You’ve got to take a break from dancing sometimes!

On the other side of the sonic spectrum of audience favorites were two songs saved for the encore, “Come Unto Me,” and “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down.” I don’t think there was a single person still in their seats for these two songs. The way they were performed almost commanded getting up on your feet and dancing, and that’s what everyone I could see was doing. During these two songs especially, it was such a delight to look around and see everyone dancing and enjoying the show in their own way. There was so much joy in the room that I hope the band could see as clearly as I did, and after so long without shows, the energy in that room during these two songs was nothing short of magical. 

As for me, I was especially entranced by the songs from En Español, and one of my favorites from the album was held for the encore. After what seemed like hours of enthusiastic applause, Raúl Malo and trumpetist Lorenzo Molina returned to the stage play what may very well have been my favorite segment of the whole show. To pay tribute to the country of Cuba and show support for Cuban freedom, the pair performed the Cuban classic, “Guantanamera.” The simplicity of just one voice, one guitar, and one trumpet made this moment especially beautiful, and the pair had the room’s full attention. Then, Malo and his guitar began “La Sitiera” off The Mavericks’ latest record, En Español. I can’t speak for the rest of the audience, but I found this moment, with just Malo’s voice and his guitar, to be hypnotizing. It was raw – there was no room for error – and when the rest of the band kicked in, I was in musical heaven. This song is one of my favorites off of En Español, and hearing it live was such a treat. 

I could write a paragraph about every song they played, but I’ll leave it that. If I haven’t convinced you how good this band is and how incredible this show was, there’s simply no hope for you. All jokes aside, take a look at their audio stream of the show on their Facebook page and you’ll see what I mean. The Mavericks aren’t just an amazing band in the studio, they’re an insanely talented live band too, and after 30 years going at it, that’s quite the accomplishment.

Not only are they delivering studio quality sounds live, they’re having tons of fun doing it. It’s easy to see as much when you watch Jerry Dale McFadden hopping and dancing around his keyboards, or guitarist Eddie Perez walking over and egging on the front few rows on his side of the stage, or Percy Cardona, trumpetists Lorenzo Molina and Julio Diaz, and saxophonist Max Abrams line dancing when they aren’t playing. Every musician on that stage is passionate about the show they’re playing. They’re having just as much fun as the audience, and their happiness is contagious!

Take it from me, the En Español World Tour is not something you want to miss out on. Whether you’ve seen The Mavericks live before or not, go get your tickets while there’s still some available. I promise you, you’re not going to regret it! View tour dates here.

Listen to the audio from the show!

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Interview: Joyous Wolf at Upheaval Fest

Just finishing up a huge tour with Dirty Honey on the California Dreaming Tour and their second festival this year, Joyous Wolf brings the California heat to West Michigan for Upheaval Fest.

Fresh off their set, frontman Nick Reese & dummer Robert Sodaro and I had a fun throwback interview discussing our hometown area of Southern California, tour date areas they enjoyed, and more. 

If you have never had the chance to experience Joyous Wolf live, they need to be added to your 2021 bucket-list now. Singer Nick Reese not only vocally sounds amazing live and has a matured voice beyond his years, he has John Travolta Saturday Night Fever dance moves. During our interview he even stated it’s rare that he has a catwalk to preform on, and he took for advantage of that. If you were just walking into the festival grounds hearing Joyous Wolf playing, you would swear it was Slash on guitar shredding away as guitarist Blake Allard ripped on his maple top Gibson Les Paul. It was also refreshing to be able to hear bass riffs as well from Greg Braccio as sometimes that gets lost in the mix board for main stage acts early on, and drummer Robert Sodaro was like the Animal from The Muppets, he was possessed and had the festival Voodoo magic taking control of him. 

These southern California boys have a big sound for being a rock-n-roll four piece band, and they’re taking 2021 by the Covid horns and letting you know who they are. 

Checkout our full interview below and be on the lookout for their new single “Fearless” dropping 7/30.

REVIEW: Golden by Iron Point

Iron Point takes us to the Golden State with their new single, ‘Golden’. 

Right away, I fell in love with this song and it only gets better. 'Golden’ starts off with some maracas and then we are given this groovy bass intro that hooks you right in. Without a doubt, any rock song that starts off with maracas is going to be a great rock song right off the bat. The maracas paired with the bass give the song a very 70’s, classic rock sound with a California beach vibe. However, Iron Point is able to put their own modern day edge spin on it. 

Line after line, these lyrics are coming in hot and with a punch, but then they smooth out as we go into the chorus. It’s a perfect contrast that fits in with that “groovy edge”. There are also some great one liners in this song, some playful and some aggressive. 

Throughout the song there is a huge build up to a musical explosion at the end, very dynamic. Featured vocalist, Charise Anderson, comes in with her freestyled vocals and they’re everything from beautiful to powerful. That very moment in the song is pure gold. 

Song after song, Iron Point has been absolutely killing it and ‘Golden’ is just another extraordinary tune. I’ll be adding this to my summer playlist as it’s the perfect song to listen to during the golden hours of any summer night. 

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Interview: Stitched Up Heart at Upheaval Fest

2020 was devastating for the entire music industry: bands, venues, guitar techs, event staff, everything. Especially for a band that released their monstrous sophomore album on March 13, 2020: Stitched Up Heart.  

Their second album release The Darkness came out exactly right before California Governor (Gavin Newsom) shut the state down; Stitched Up Heart was put on pause. But during that rollercoaster year, they reserved & kept that album release energy for 4 hard hitting dates, and finished it at Upheaval Fest in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

During our pre set interview, Alecia "Mixi" Demner discussed how she at first thought before these dates if she would remember how it felt to be on stage again, but those doubts were very quickly washed away, just like the memory of 2020. 

When Stitched Up Heart took to the stage, no dust had settled on their shoulders and they had fans roaring the entire time. If you only heard their music through a playlist online, and never saw a band photograph, you would automatically assume they were a five piece band, when in fact they are just the traditional four; their sound is just larger than life. 

I was very curious how well from they would transition from studio recording to live presence, as I ironically have never seen them before since we’re both in Southern California. 

Mixi is the complete musician & front woman, her stature is commanding on stage, while her voice knows how to hit your soul. Guitarist Merritt Goodwin, is an absolute shredder and his riffs sound just as good live as they do on record. For Bassist Randy Mathias his sound actually comes out more live than from studio work, which I love that as it compliments with Goodwin and adds another layer of heaviness to the band. For drummer James Decker, he absolutely rips and his style reminds me very much of original Korn drummer David Silveria.

It is said that no band ever has a perfect set, well for Stitched Up Heart at Upheaval fest, it was pretty damn perfect.

Check out Mixi and I’s pre set interview below and as we have fun discussing monster flavors, 2020, her collaboration with Sully from Godsmack and more. 

Interview: Blacktop Mojo at Upheaval Fest

Already a week into their first U.S. tour of 2021 and fresh off their first festival this year at Rock Fest in Wisconsin, the gentlemen in Blacktop Mojo were still all jacked up on Mountain Dew and blessed everyone with the Mojo magic at Upheaval Fest in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Blacktop Mojo finished off the second stage, The Lookout Stage, for Saturday evening and had fans swaggering & two stepping the entire time. BTM ( Blacktop Mojo ) is absolutely a band to experience. While on record they sound amazing with their southern rock tone and make you want to move to Texas, its on stage where the Mojo truly shines. 

Guitarists Chuck Wepfer & Ryan Keifer dueled off and exchanged like the ending of Crossroads where Ralph Macchio battles Steve Vai, but they do this for each song, leaving fans in awe and throwing their horns up. Bassist Catt Murtis never stops moving on stage, he keeps the groove going the entire time and “slappida” bass just as good or even better than Geddy Lee. Now the secret weapon perhaps in BTM, is their dummer Nathan Gillis. He sets the tone, mood & energy for each song & riff. And finally, their frontman Matt James is THE essential piece to the Mojo magic. As soon as he stepped out in blue leopard print jeans with snake skin boots, the crowd already had the Mojo. He thundered on top of “ The Hill “ like a Texas viking  and the fans never put their hands down 

Checkout my special pre set interview with frontman Matt James below, as we discussed all things Mojo: being on the road again, how they stayed sane in 2020, new album coming up and more. 

For day two of Michigans first annual Upheaval Festival, Blacktop Mojo brought the Texas heat and shit kickers.

And be sure to preorder Album 4 now as it drops on August 13, 2021. 

Album Review: A look back at Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia

"Being nostalgic for the future means that someone holds an optimistic view of what's to come."

Dua Lipa blessed us with Future Nostalgia, an album that captures your attention with its beautiful album cover and disco vibes. It’s outside beauty can be found even in the pop sound and catchy lyrics of songs such as ‘Love Again’ that gives me Abba’s vibes, ‘Don’t Start Now’, ‘Levitate’ and ‘Future Nostalgia’, the song that introduces you to the album.

You want a timeless song, I wanna change the game
Like modern architecture, John Lautner coming your way
I know you like this beat 'cause Jeff been doing the damn thing
You wanna turn it up loud, future nostalgia is the name- ‘Future nostalgia’

Reading the analysis of the album and it’s art work , it’s easy to find Dua’s inspirations. The cover artwork takes you back to the 50s - 60s where the Googie was popular and trends focused on cars. The album’s sound is influenced by the music Dua used to listen to when she was younger. The album features a song called ‘Boys will Be Boys’ that talks about today’s reality: being harassed by men on the street on a daily basis.

It's second nature to walk home before the sun goes down
And put your keys between your knuckles when there's boys around
Isn't it funny how we laugh it off to hide our fear
When there's nothin' funny here.

Dua Lipa shares her experience talking about the song:
“For me, the growing pains of what it’s like to be a girl, was walking home from school and putting keys through my knuckles … So much of the human experience for women revolves around men; how they make us feel, whether that is good or bad. Girls have to go through so much. You cover up yourself to avoid confrontation from men, avoid sexual harassment, people throwing words or catcalling. We change our ways to fit somebody else’s lifestyle. It’s really sad.”

This can be considered sadly the most relatable song off the album but it’s also the most powerful because Dua sheds a light on something us women and girls have to go through. Something that still brings shame and blame on the victims and doesn’t punish the predators.

Interview: Assume Nothing At Upheaval Fest

When we did our special The Breakdown episode highlighting Assume Nothing, it was my first time ever hearing of them and instantly knew they were a banger. 

Before our interview at Upheaval Fest in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I was able to catch their set as one of the first bands to kick off the day on the second stage known as the The Lookout Stage, or as we quickly came to name it “The Hill” stage as it was it was positioned atop a very unforgiving hill looking down upon the main stage. 

Regardless of “The Hill”,  local and new fans swarmed the stage to welcome this hometown metal core act and for not playing a show since October of 2019, Assume Nothing laid claim to that stage and let the crowd know they were back. 

Lead singer Riley had monstrous passion in his voice that commanded anyone in the immediate area to fixate upon him. Guitarists Riley & Dave ( also Known as “ I am Dave “) equally had shred moments with their Fender Strats that were upgraded to Fishman pickups for just the bridge use, and honestly when a metal core band has two guitarist, it usually muddies up the sound in the mixing board, but the audio engineers for stage 2 absolutely nailed their sound. Nick their bassist was also able to cut through the mix and pretty sure he has whiplash from all the head banging he was doing on stage. Finally for their dummer Cody, who at first when looking at him you would not suspect him of being in a metal core, but as soon as he gets behind the kit, all assumptions are stripped away and you see why he deserves to be there. 

Assume Nothing are the Wage War of Michigan, and will be blowing up in the coming year.

Check out our full after set interview below. 

INTERVIEW + PERFORMANCE: The Things

Are you yearning to find a brand new rock n’ roll band to sink your teeth into? Well, I have just the band for you.

Recently, a friend of mine introduced me to The Things. A Los Angeles-based Rock N’ Roll band who’ve made their grand debut on May 21st with Vicarious Catharsis. If you know me, you know that I’m always eager to listen to bands that I’ve never heard of and plunge headfirst into their discography. That’s exactly what I did. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. 

Vicarious Catharsis from beginning to end is a 1970s euphoric masterpiece. The Things aren’t the type of band to stick to one genre. They have such an eclectic range that can satisfy the ears of any listener. Their sound is all across the board. It’s 1970s psychedelic rock with hints of blues and funk. Each musician in The Things possesses a unique talent and their artistry truly speaks for itself. Listening to Vicarious Catharsis needs to be done with absolutely no distractions. I suggest that you grab a pair of headphones and allow the music to take you wherever it wants to. Vicarious Catharsis is 60 minutes of musical ecstasy. 

Sitting down and chatting with The Things felt like reuniting with long-lost friends. It was loads of fun to pick their brains and get to know the musicians behind the music. In our interview, we discussed Vicarious Catharsis and how it was produced in their custom-built, analog studio, The Skipper Room. Not only do they record their music at The Skipper Room, but they all live there together. The Things have such a close-knit bond, and their passion for what they do is tangible. They live out their day-to-day lives authentically themselves, and they have endless stories that will have you smiling from ear to ear.

If you're dying to know more about these guys, check out the full-length interview above!

P.S. At the end of the interview, get ready to rock out to their stellar performance of She's Got My Number.

I hope that by the end of this, you're in love with The Things almost as much as I am.

Interview: The Weird Sisters Release “Lost in the Chronic”

All the best things in life are weird. This has been a personal philosophy of mine since I can remember, and is absolutely one that will stick with me forever. 

Because at its core, what “weird” actually boils down to is unapologetic authenticity. What’s weird? 

Freakshows. Carnivals. Bad B-Movies. Surrealism. 

But at the core of their being, what makes these things “weird” is their unwillingness to bend to social and cultural conformity. They simply are. And that’s weird. And it’s f*cking awesome. 

The Weird Sisters alums Gabi and Izaac certainly embody this essence of “weird”, and not just because they borrow the moniker for their band name. From posting the long lost items found in their couch cushions (one such item was a KNIFE) to teasing new singles with videos of dancing crawdads, the spirit of weirdness encompasses The Weird Sisters.

I interviewed the pair over the phone to talk about the genesis of their band as well as their most recent single “Lost in the Chronic.”

Borne from a reference to Harry Potter after meeting at a Twilight Zone infused spaghetti dinner (yeah, you read that right) The Weird Sisters have been providing Nashville with jammy psychedelic grooves for the past four years. 

Weird Sisters is comprised of former orchestral conductor Gabrielle Lewis (vocals, synth, keys, saxophone), Izaac Short (lead vocals, guitar, synth) and Jeff Brown (drums and percussion). 

The differences in their influences and backgrounds really help to give The Weird Sisters a unique sound. 

“I was conducting three orchestras at the time,” said Lewis of the time of the bands conception, 

“It was awesome. But then we [Izaac and I] started jamming and the rest is history.”

Part of what allows the band so much creative freedom has been their drive to DIY everything. Up until this last single, all mixing and mastering was done by the band themselves. This gave The Weird Sisters full creative control, and the agency to create absolute bangers like “Texas Toast.”

This time though, they teamed up with the legendary Grammy award winning producer and engineer Vance Powell ( The White Stripes, Phish, Arctic Monkeys, Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown). 

“We’ve known Vance for going on three years, he’s the tightest dude you could ever know,” Izaac said. 

“We had been working on this track just like in our basement for awhile now, and really didn’t know where to go with it. We just hit up Vance one day and we were like hey man, you wanna take a crack at it?” 

“Lost in the Chronic” is heavy laden with the surreal-funk that The Weird Sisters specialize in. It was recorded at Sputnik Sound in Berry Hill, TN. It has a slightly different, perhaps more polished sound than some of their earlier recordings, but still authentic to The Weird Sisters sound. 

“We would be happy to work with anyone if we felt that they could really add something to our sound,” said Izaac. 

“But we just hadn’t felt like that yet about anybody else,” added Gabi. 

“Vance just happened to be the dude.” 

The Weird Sisters are fueled by creative individuality, uniqueness, and good vibes. Their focus is to be true to themselves, but most importantly they want to make music that makes people feel good and brings them together. 

“We’re always second guessing ourselves, thinking, what’s the most authentic version of this moment now? We’re trying to capture that. That’s been a big focus throughout this entire project. That and the whole idea of music bringing people together, you know?” - Izaac Short 

You can stream “Lost in the Chronic” now and check out more music by The Weird Sisters on YouTube and Spotify.

FOLLOW THE WEIRD SISTERS

INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE