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Topic: The secret to massive success as a song writer that NO ONE will tell you...REVEALED!
Kevin and Lou reveal a little known secret that most songwriters NEVER talk about.

You can read more here:
Reference Steven Pressfield:
Birthday Shout Outs: Carl Perkins, Phillip Wright (vocals, drums, Paper Lace), Mark Kelly (keyboards, Marillion), Gerard Way  (vocals, My Chemical Romance), Albert Hammond Jr (guitar, The Strokes)  Featured Loudini Artists: Robert DiMaio,  Lance Lopez,  Convoy

In 1970, while attending Boston University, Montgomery formed the James Montgomery Band. His inimitable (oh yeah, he majored in English) harmonica playing combined with his incredibly energetic live shows led to the band's quick ascension on the New England music scene. Within two years, the James Montgomery band was among the hottest acts in Boston along with J. Geils and Aerosmith, and they were quickly signed to a multi-album deal with Capricorn Records.

Since that time, James has recorded six albums. His first, "First Time Out" has been remastered and re-released by MRG/Capricorn. Other include "James Montgomery Band" on Island Records which was number nine on Billboard's national playlist, "Duck Fever" with members of the David Letterman Band, "Live Trax," with the Uptown Horns (the Rolling Stones' horn section), and his release on Tone-Cool, "The Oven Is On."

Montgomery has toured with many major artists, including Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, the Allman Brothers, Steve Miller and others. He has jammed on stage with B.B.King, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Jr. Wells, James Cotton, Charlie Daniels, Bonnie Raitt, Greg Allman, Laverne Baker, Patti LaBelle, and Peter Wolf among others, including an impromptu session with Mick Jagger at New York's "Trax".

Over the years Montgomery's band has been a springboard for many musicians. Members of his band have included Billy Squire, Wayne Kramer (MC-5), Jeff Golub (Rod Stewart), Jim McCarty (Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels), Nunzio Signore Bo Diddley), Jeff Pevar (Ray Charles Orchestra, Crosby, Stills & Nash), Bobby Chouinard (drummer with Ted Nugent, Squire and Robert Gordon), Jeff Levine (Joe Cocker), Aerosmith's Tom Gambel, and many others.

South Florida Duo The Von Have ‘Nothing To Fear’

South Florida-based hard rock duo The Von have an unlikely band bio. One member Luis hails from Venezuela. The other member Marek comes all the way from Czech Republic. Together, they play glorious metal music that fuses their diverse cultural backgrounds. For a cheat sheet on their sound, think Muse, HIM, Queens Of The Stone Age– all smashed together.

The band is just about ready to launch their latest single ‘Nothing to Fear’ from their upcoming album Ei8ht. In anticipation of the new track, we asked The Von a handful of hard-hitting, super intense,brain-stumping interview questions. These were their answers…

How did you guys meet?

We met though a mutual friend at a Slayer show down in Miami about 5 years ago. Our friend was part of the local crew, and a few beers later we were discussing each other’s musical tastes. Eventually, we ended up agreeing on getting together to jam sometime.

What are you main musical influences?

Luis: I grew up in a tropical country listening to my parents’ music– flamenco , easy listening, and Latin artists like Roberto Carlos and Julio Iglesias. At the age of 6, my brother brought home Queen’s Play The Game. That was it. I discovered rock n’ roll. My early influences definetly are the bands I listened to as a kid. Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Sepultura. Later I developed a taste for electronica , and started appreciating salsa and Cuban music more.

Marek: Since my childhood I have been listening to The Beatles, Queen and many local artists in the Czech Republic including some folk music writers. I also developed a deep passion for classical music and opera at an early age. I grew up in a time of Cold War fears. The Communist Political Party oppressed the country and tried to block its citizens from western music influences. As I became a teenager, I developed a strong resistance against the regime, which brought me to bands like Pink Floyd, The Doors, and Jimmy Hendrix. Later on I discovered the metal genre, and I dove into music of bands such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, Judas Priest and Dream Theater. In my late teenage years, I fell deeply in love with instrumental music of Joe Satriani and Steve Wai.

How have your different backgrounds effected your sound?

It created a magnificent sonic synergy of two different cultures.

What were some of your previous bands?

Marek: I’ve played in many bands since the age of 15. My most successful band was Nemesis, which had released its first album “Temptation” in 1994. I also worked on the production of a few metal bands and electronic acts. By the late 1990s, I stared my own independent recording label in the Czech Republic.

Luis: I have had only one other band, Diestra, that my brother Ricardo and I formed. Diestra was Latin rock/pop band. We put out 2 albums and 2 EPs. Diestra started out in Atlanta in 98 , by 2001 we had won an award made by Univision, went to the 2nd edition of the Latin Grammys and things evolved making us move to south Florida in 2002. We even shot a McDonalds commercial. All was going very well. By 2006, we had recorded our 2nd album. Shortly after that, my brother died in a car crash and things just obviously could not go on. I tried to bring back Diestra as a 3-piece– me as the singer for a few shows– but it just wasn’t the same. Diestra albums are still being distrubuted in Spain I believe.

Luis, what would you say are the top 3 places to visit in Venezuela?

Luis: Venezuela is a country of immense natural diversity. From snow to dessert to jungle. I would strongly suggest the Amazon and Angel Falls, the amazing beaches, Los Toques National Park, and the Andes Mountains.

Marek, your turn. What are the top 3 places in the Czech Republic?

Prague has its historical charm and beauty. Karlštějn was built by Charles IV as a magnificent building for storing and protecting Crown Jewels and relics. Moravian Karst is a geologic phenomenon that is in a naturally protected region of the Czech Republic.

What do you do when you’re not making music?

Luis: I’m an accomplished beer snob, graphic designer / web creative, and father of a 3 year old daughter

Marek: Yoga, scuba diving, flying airplanes, and meditation.

What’s the plan after the single release?

Touring and album release.

The Toronto singer/songwriter/guitarist, Anthony Gomes, has been creating virtuosic, burning blues since his recorded debut in 1998. 12 releases and numerous awards and ecstatic accolades later, the aptly-named, riff-laden Electric Field Holler crackles with his bare wires passion.

The heavy hitting “Turn It Up!” has Gomes rightly boasting “…got Mississippi lightning in my soul, I was raised on the thunder of rock ‘n’ roll…gonna play the music till the day I die, just like B.B. King and Buddy Guy,” his voice and guitar roaring. “Back Door Scratchin’” uses clever tom cat imagery “You found someone new, don’t want me no more. You put me out, baby, can’t get past your door… I’m back door scratchin’, howlin’ all night. I’m back door scratchin’ till the morning light.” The mighty chugging “Whiskey Train” has Gomes growling “It’s gonna take a whole lot of whiskey to drink away the pain. I gotta get half-way down the label, or go insane,” his guitar smoking like a 20-ton locomotive.

Sky Catching Fire Band Interview

www.loudinirockandrollcircus.com

The Loudini Rock and Roll Circus Interview Edition
Hosted by Lou Lombardi aka Loudini

The Sky Catching Fire started as home recordings of Laguna Beach street performer Thomas Monroe, who used to literally sing for his supper when he was out of work. Drummer Steve Ybarra liked what he heard, and the duo began playing shows around Orange County in 2015. Teaming up with Orange County Music League, The Sky Catching Fire has built a reputation for energetic live shows, captivating onlookers with punky rhythms, erratic vocal stylings, and punctuated by Thomas Monroe’s original poetry and socially conscious message. BLUE EP will be the duo’s first offering, and they will be touring in 2016.

New EP coming February 5th, 2016
Online Publicity Contact:
Cyber PR®
contact@cyberpr.com
Booking:
https://www.facebook.com/OCMLevents/

The Best Ways to Discover New Bands

Loudini Rock and Roll Circus Music Cast

Hosted by Lou Lombardi aka Loudini & Kevin O'Connor

Topic: The Best Ways to Discover New Bands

Reference: Facebook Post  From The 405  Gnoosic.com Rhapsody

BIrthday Shout Outs Diana Ross, Richard Tandy (Keyboards, ELO) Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Fran Sheehan (Bassist, Boston),  and  James Jonas Iha (Guitarist, Smashing Pumpkins)

Music by Loudini Artists The Union, Year of October, and Martin Barre

The Union was formed by guitarist Luke Morley and vocalist/guitarist Peter Shoulder after Luke’s twenty-year career with Thunder came to an end in 2009. Peter Shoulder was the vocalist, songwriter and musical rudder of Winterville. In 2006 he won The W.C Handy Blues Foundation award, presented to him in Memphis for co-writing the American Blues Song of the Year, ‘Think of Me’. The song was performed by blues legend Little Milton. At the time of winning there were only two other British artists to have received that particular award, the others being Eric Clapton and Peter Green. 

The Union’s eponymous debut album was released in August 2010 to acclaim from  both fans and the critics, and saw the band end the year on a high  when they were voted ‘Best New Band’ at the Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards, where they celebrated in style by performing live to a hall packed with rock royalty.

2011 saw the band tour with Whitesnake and the recently reformed Thin Lizzy on their respective UK tours, as well as a successful first foray into Europe as the special guests of Belgian rockers Triggerfinger, 

Second album ‘Siren’s Song’ was released in October 2011 to coincide with the band’s second headlining UK tour of the year. 

Such was The Union’s burgeoning pulling power that the band were invited to go straight back out on the road in March 2012 on a co-headline UK & Ireland tour with The Answer. Shortly afterwards ‘Siren’s Song’ was nominated for ‘Album Of The Year’ at Classic Rock Magazine’s 2012 ‘Roll of Honour’.

Summer 2012 saw the band playing various festival dates across Europe, most notably Download in the UK, Azkena in Northern Spain and Bospop in Holland and in July 2012 Luke and Pete also found time to join Childline Rocks’ fundraising Harley Davidson ride through the spectacular scenery of British Columbia and the north-western States of the USA. This was the second such trip the boys had undertaken in just under a year and both enjoyed the process so much that it inspired new material that would come to be recorded later in the year.

The songwriting process had continued at a considerable pace throughout the year and recording sessions for what would become The Union’s third album began on October 1st at the band’s second home, Walton Castle in North Somerset.

The new album entitled ‘The World Is Yours’ was completed at the end of November and is set for release on February 11th 2013 through Payola Music. A ten date UK tour begins two days later on February 13th and 2013 promises to be yet another busy year………

- See more at: http://www.theuniononline.com/official/index.php/biography#sthash.u4t2xXBS.dpuf

Year of October is a Rock band based in Nashville, TN. Founded in 2010 while members Phlecia and Josh were attending the University of Kentucky. Year of October started out as an acoustic singer/songwriter group, but soon made the transition to a full band which completed their truly unique sound. 

Their new album Golden Days will be released this October. You can download the single "Gone" now on Bandcamp.

Contact Info

Phone: Josh (859)230-7689

Email: the_yearofoctober@yahoo.com

Twitter: @yearofoctober

Facebook: facebook.com/yearofoctober

Instagram: @yearofoctober

ReverbNation: reverbnation.com/yearofoctober

Year of October is a Rock band based in Nashville, TN. Founded in 2010 while members Phlecia and Josh were attending the University of Kentucky. Year of October started out as an acoustic singer/songwriter group, but soon made the transition to a full band which completed their truly unique sound. 

Their dedication and love for their craft shines through in their first album “Stories” released in early 2012. With influences from The Black Keys and Led Zeppelin to Norah Jones they are led by bluesy vocals, strong lyrics, and roaring guitars that create a sound reminiscent of the 70s but making it all new.

The band has played several shows in cities spanning both the Bluegrass and Volunteer states and is currently working on their second record due out the spring/summer of 2014. Listen to “Stories” at yearofoctober.bandcamp.com, and on several other sites such as Spotify, iTunes, and Noisetrade. Contact Year of October by e-mail at the_yearofoctober@yahoo.com or by phone at (859)230-7689. 

Influences

The Beatles, Norah Jones, Radiohead, Ryan Adams, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, the Black Keys, Wilco, Led Zeppelin, and many others

http://www.yearofoctober.com/

Martin Barre has been the guitarist of Jethro Tull for 43 years, his sound and playing having been a major factor in their success. Album sales have exceeded 60 million units and they continue to be played worldwide, representing an important part of classic rock history.

Martin’s guitar playing has earned him a high level of respect and recognition; he was voted 25th best solo ever in the USA and 20th best solo ever in the UK for his playing on 'Aqualung'. His playing on the album ‘Crest of a Knave’ earned him a Grammy award in 1988.

As well as numerous Jethro Tull albums, Martin has worked with many other artists including Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Gary Moore, Jo Bonamassa and Chris Thompson and has shared a stage with such legends as Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.

As Jethro Tull are taking a long break from touring, Martin has put together a band to play the "classic" music from the Tull catalogue. His band is a total commitment to give the Tull fans and a broader audience the chance to hear tracks not performed for many years. The band includes top musicians from a similar background.

http://www.martinbarre.com/

What Makes Some One Fall in Love with a Band?

Loudini Rock and Roll Circus Music Cast
Hosted by Lou Lombardi aka "Loudini" & Kevin O'Connor
Topic: What Makes Some One Fall in Love with a Band?
This week Lou and Kevin discuss why people  love their favorite bands and you will be surprised by what you learn!
Birthday Shout outs: Paul Atkinson (The Zombies), Ruth Pointer (The Pointer Sisters), Ricky Wilson (The B52’s),  Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big and David Lee Roth)
Music by Loudini artists….The Paul Nelson Band, Bad Cop, and Trevor Sewell
Appearances by Pittsburgh Kevin

Paul Nelson has toured with countless worldwide acts and performed live and or on recordings along side a list of today's top artists such as Johnny Winter, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Ben Harper, Leslie West, Robben Ford, Joe Perry, Mark Knofler, Brian Setzer, Dr. John, Slash, Vince Gill, Warren Haynes, Sonny Landreth, Los Lobos, Kim Wilson, Elvin Bishop, Kenny Wayne Sheperd, Reb Beach, Steve Morse, John Popper, Debbie Davies, Joe Louis Walker, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, John Medeski, Joe Walsh, Larry Carlton, Steve Vai, Earl Slick, Hubert Sumlin, Rick Derringer, Harvey Brooks, Bill Evans, James Cotton, Magic Slim, Coco Montoya, Reese Wynans, Edgar Winter, Ray Davis, George Lynch, James Cotton, Anthony Jackson, Dickey Betts, Junior Brown, Pat Travers, Jimmy Vivino and La Bamba of Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Paul Schaefer's CBS Orchestra to name a few. 

Nelson has been featured in every major guitar magazine and news publication from Guitar World to Rolling Stone and is credited as being a composer/performer for music heard on international and national television broadcasts such as NBC, TNN, UPN, for the WWF. He has conducted his successful "Master Class" Clinics and written guitar columns all over the world.

Paul has had the distinction of appearing as both guitarist and songwriter on Rock/Blues legend Johnny Winter's Grammy-nominated Virgin/EMI release "I'm A Bluesman" as well as producer/performer on his releases "Roots" and the Grammy winning "Step Back" on Megaforce/Sony. He performed as a musical guest with Johnny Winter on the Late Night with David Letterman Show to promote the "Roots" Album and on Jimmy Kimmel on ABC TV to promote the Step Back CD and Johnny Winter's "Down and Dirty Movie", which he also appeared in and was the Executive Producer.

Nelson, who studied with Steve Vai in his Berklee days, jazz fusion great Steve Khan and Mike Stern has created a tour de force with his latest all-instrumental rock/fusion solo release, entitled LOOK. - "A very diverse package that takes the listener on a sophisticated journey through the musical mind of Paul Nelson. His latest CD exudes boundless energy, and displays ferocious solo sections at the same time showing us his control over an emotional side of playing all the while holding it together with a tasteful melodic sense which comes through on each cut".

Firmly planted outside of any political spectrum, loud, unabashed and fluent in DIY principles, Bad Cop formed in 2009 and immediately caught interest of one of America's oldest punk labels--ROIR, home to Bad Brains and releases from MC5, Beastie Boys, Television and others.  Frontman Adam Moult and co left the buckle of the Bible Belt for the Big Apple and inked a record deal just four months after starting the band.  

Since the debut LP, Harvest the Beast (ROIR, 2010), Bad Cop has run the gamut of American rock 'n' roll, from seemingly endless lineup changes, to becoming a CMJ and SXSW favorite alongside indie breakouts like Foxygen and Local Natives. The group even toured as direct support to break-out acts like Cage the Elephant, meanwhile establishing a successful indie label--Jeffery Drag Records--amidst a music industry in decline. 

It's now been over a year since Bad Cop's critically acclaimed The Light On EP. Since then, Nashville's former hellions were invited by Converse to record at their Rubber Tracks studio in Brooklyn. With the help of engineer Hector Castillo (Lou Reed, David Bowie, Bjork, Roger Waters), the band recorded and self-produced a handful of tracks during a short stay in NYC.  They later paired with Converse again to produce a video for their pivotal track "Wish You Well" with critically lauded director Tim Nackashi (TV on the Radio, Neon Indian, The Faint).

The resulting product, the Wish You Well … and Goodbye EP, shows a new side of Bad Cop. The band who were once no stranger to the wilder times of rock n roll have managed to channel that rambunctious energy into three seamlessly-crafted songs. They haven't lost their edge; they've just harnessed it. In a lot of ways, the band has grown up, but they haven't grown out of making great music. More is on the way as they plot to release another EP as well as their long-awaited second LP, but for now, they begin with Wish You Well … and Goodbye.

Winner of 9 major awards in the U.S.A  and 4 times nominated in the British Blues Awards. The past three years have seen Sewell continue to go from strength to strength particularly in America where his debut album ‘Calling Your Name’ spent a staggering 7 weeks at number one on the American Blues Scene Chart. His second album Independence went on to win multiple awards and firmly establish him as a real force to be reckoned with. An unplugged album recorded live at the Legendary Capitol Records Studios in Hollywood followed and in its first week of release became a pick of the month in the prestigious IBBA chart in the U.K. Sewell was in fact one of the most played artists as reported by the IBBA across the whole of 2014. He has recently become the voice of the audio book Dangerous Gambles by acclaimed American Author J.H Sanderson which also features Sewell’s music . Sewell’s music has not only been recorded recently by several American artists but is also featured  on numerous major compilations alongside legendary artists such as Robert Johnson, B.B King and Howlin’ Wolf.

Interview with James Montgomery

When blues legend James Montgomery plays the harmonica, he "brings it on home". Whether it's recording with Kid Rock, sitting in with Gregg Allman, or fronting his hot band of thirty years, Montgomery plays with authority. While growing up in Detroit he learned first-hand from the masters - James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, and Jr. Wells - at the legendary "Chessmate." Over the years, he's carried on in the tradition and continues to be a vital presence in Blues as one of the most dynamic performers on the scene..

In 1970, while attending Boston University, Montgomery formed the James Montgomery Band. His inimitable (oh yeah, he majored in English) harmonica playing combined with his incredibly energetic live shows led to the band's quick ascension on the New England music scene. Within two years, the James Montgomery band was among the hottest acts in Boston along with J. Geils and Aerosmith, and they were quickly signed to a multi-album deal with Capricorn Records.

Since that time, James has recorded six albums. His first, "First Time Out" has been remastered and re-released by MRG/Capricorn. Other include "James Montgomery Band" on Island Records which was number nine on Billboard's national playlist, "Duck Fever" with members of the David Letterman Band, "Live Trax," with the Uptown Horns (the Rolling Stones' horn section), and his release on Tone-Cool, "The Oven Is On."

Montgomery has toured with many major artists, including Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, the Allman Brothers, Steve Miller and others. He has jammed on stage with B.B.King, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Jr. Wells, James Cotton, Charlie Daniels, Bonnie Raitt, Greg Allman, Laverne Baker, Patti LaBelle, and Peter Wolf among others, including an impromptu session with Mick Jagger at New York's "Trax".

Over the years Montgomery's band has been a springboard for many musicians. Members of his band have included Billy Squire, Wayne Kramer (MC-5), Jeff Golub (Rod Stewart), Jim McCarty (Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels), Nunzio Signore Bo Diddley), Jeff Pevar (Ray Charles Orchestra, Crosby, Stills & Nash), Bobby Chouinard (drummer with Ted Nugent, Squire and Robert Gordon), Jeff Levine (Joe Cocker), Aerosmith's Tom Gambel, and many others.

Regarding the Johnny Winter Band featuring James Montgomery, the Nashville Tennessean writes "If ever the time came to use two "legendary" tags in one story, it is to describe both Winter and Montgomery. They are blues masters of the first and highest degree" The James Montgomery/Johnn Winter combination has worked out beyond anyone's hopes. Since Johnny asked James to join his band along with Scott Spray and Wayne June his shows have been remarkable. Johnny is having his best time playing in many years. He puts his heart and soul into each performance, most of which sell out. The audiences have all been pleased. The highlight in the US, a packed house at Chicago's House of Blues attended by Johnny's old buddy Pinetop Perkins. Look for James and Johnny to go to the House of Blues in LA in January as part of a West Coast tour, and to Istanbul Turkey in the summer as part of a European tour that ends in Norway

CROWDFUNDING … How YOU can Keep Rock Alive and Well!

Crowdfunding is a buzz word that we are all hearing these days. What is it? How does it work? How can you use it to support your favorite music! Pittsburgh Kevin stops by. And back by popular demand, Things James Brown Says!

Birthday shout outs to Steve Harris (Iron Maiden, Bass), Leonard Chess (Chess Records, Founder), James Taylor, Mike Gibbins (Badfinger, Drummer), Marlon Jackson (Jackson 5), Graham Coxon (Blur, Guitar/Vocals)
Music by Loudini Artists, Marcus King, Sean Pinchin, and Betty Doom

Young  songwriter Marcus King’s debut album, Soul Insight, out now via Evil Teen Records, displays his stunning command of rock, blues, psychedelia, funk, soul and improvisation — all with a distinctly Southern musical accent. It also brings the 19-year-old a step closer to his musical destiny.

“I guess I knew I was born to play guitar when I was seven,” King says.  “That’s when I got my first electric guitar, and while all the other kids were outside playing, I’d be inside on that guitar. When I got in trouble in school, my daddy said I could choose between a spanking and getting my guitar taken away for a week. I took the spanking.”

Soul Insight is the explosive result of that dedication, magnified by another dozen years and more than a thousand nights playing in clubs — initially alongside his father, bluesman Marvin King — since the age of 11, just two years before Marcus formed his own group and stepped into the role of leader.

King’s talents and trajectory have already led his band across the country, and he’s opening shows for the Foo Fighters, Johnny Winter and, of course, Gov’t Mule and its leader, Warren Haynes. King emerged from his native Greenville, South Carolina, and its sister city Asheville, North Carolina, where Haynes was born. King hit Haynes’ radar thanks to the reputation the young artist has earned with his incendiary live performances. In December 2014, King and his band were invited to perform as part of Haynes’ annual Christmas Jam benefit, which occurs in Asheville’s U.S. Cellular Center Arena, the prestigious club the Orange Peel and other rooms around the musician-and-artist-heavy mountain city. A few months before that, the Marcus King Band had recorded Soul Insight at the Compound Studio, just south of Los Angeles in Signal Hill, California.

“Recording the album was a really organic experience,” says King, who also produced Soul Insight. “Whether I wrote the song or, in the case of the instrumentals, we developed them together as a band, we’d played them long enough so we were really comfortable with the material. And we lived at the studio while we were recording, so it was really laid back and comfortable. That let me relax and play my best.”

How good is King’s best? Good enough that Haynes picked up the album for his Evil Teen label and has signed on to produce its follow-up.

The proof of King’s developing virtuosity and vision is in the tracks. Soul Insight opens with “Always,” a riff-driven rocker about a spurned lover that brings King’s big burnished tone to the fore. “Boone” displays King’s acoustic side and reveals his talents as an arranger, opening with his singing slide resonator guitar and voice, and building to an explosive crescendo that echoes the influence of his own guitar heroes, including Haynes and his Allman Brothers Band foil Derek Trucks, and Jimi Hendrix. Soul Insight’s first single and album’s closing song, “I Won’t Be Here,” also echoes the Allman’s in King’s gorgeous, arcing vocal melody and the blend of King’s acoustic and electric guitars as he sings about the bittersweet experience of moving past an old romance into a new relationship.

“Warren and Derek were big influences on me,” King relates, citing the 2003 Allman Brothers’ album Hittin’ the Note and Trucks’ Grammy-winning Already Free as particularly inspiring. “That’s the level I aspire to with my own music,” King adds.

The instrumental “Fraudulent Waffle” channels those aspirations in a daring five-minute journey into the elegant, expansive jam world that was the Allmans’ forte and remains a hallmark of Gov’t Mule. King double tracks his instrument to emulate the Allmans’ signature twin guitar harmonies and then launches into a solo that embraces elements of jazz and blues before an exploratory duet with the album’s organist Alex Abercrombie.

Of course, King’s singing is every bit as potent as the sweet and surly voices of his guitars — a mix of his main Gibson SG, a Les Paul Deluxe and an ES-345 plugged into a pair of Fender Super Reverb amps run in stereo and teased by only one effect: a Tube Screamer overdrive pedal. King’s warm, soaring tenor reflects a variety of soul and blues greats he considers fuel for his songwriting and performing that includes Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Ray Lamontagne and Haynes.

But King’s first musical well was his father, a guitarist and singer whose Marvin King & the Blues Revival remains a staple of the Carolina music scene.

“My father is still my biggest musical hero,” King says. “I’d see him coming home in the early morning hours after gigs when I was a little kid, and I thought my dad had the coolest job ever. I wanted to carry on the lineage. His father played fiddle and guitar, and his grandfather played fiddle. So when he took me to play my first gigs with him when I was about 11, it already felt completely natural.”

“Natural” and “organic” are words King uses often. He puts a premium on writing songs that share his perspective on the world and in letting arrangements come to life in rehearsals and on the stage, evolving as the group plays them.

King says he’s already recorded more than two-dozen varied demos for Soul Insight’s follow-up. “The band’s current line-up is really perfect for me,” King explains. “With a trumpet and trombone we can have a really interesting instrumental color along with the guitar. Having an organ lets me get into the zone of classic jazz and blues. And with a percussionist and a drummer, we can do more elaborate rhythms and explore Latin music. So I have all I need to really take the music anywhere.

“Off stage, I’m a very introverted person,” he continues.  “Making music is how I speak my mind and let people see the way I view the world — as a big, rich and colorful place with so much in it and so much to offer. And with Soul Insight, I think me and my band have come out kickin’, showing everybody who wants to listen what I’m all about.”

Band Members

Marcus King- Guitar/Vocals
Jack Ryan- Drums
Stephen Campbell- Bass
Justin "JJ" Johnson - Trumpet/Trombone
Matt Jennings- Organ/Keyboards

Monkey Brain was recorded with JUNO Award-winning producer Rob Szabo, who also co-wrote the album.

Like it’s predecessor Rustbucket, the songs were recorded quickly with many takes done live off the floor with Pinchin playing and singing the tunes in one complete pass. Old school. Damn right. “Here’s a guy who’s been playing onstage 180 shows a year for the last 8 years and it shows. He can PLAY. Sean is the real deal”, says producer Szabo.

Welcome to Betty Doom's home. Betty Doom is a rock fusion band from Los Angeles California, formed in 2014. Members include guitarists Jeremy Rowe and Marcus Gonzales, bassist Jacques Rifkind, Tim Rossetti on drums, and Hippy on vocals. Album coming soon.
Band Members
Tim Rossetti
Jeremy Rowe
Jacques Rifkind
Marcus Gonzales
Hippy

http://www.reverbnation.com/rpk/bettydoom

Interview with the Year of October

Their new album Golden Days will be released this October. You can download the single "Gone" now on Bandcamp.

Contact Info

Phone: Josh (859)230-7689

Email: the_yearofoctober@yahoo.com

Twitter: @yearofoctober

Facebook: facebook.com/yearofoctober

Instagram: @yearofoctober

ReverbNation: reverbnation.com/yearofoctober

Year of October is a Rock band based in Nashville, TN. Founded in 2010 while members Phlecia and Josh were attending the University of Kentucky. Year of October started out as an acoustic singer/songwriter group, but soon made the transition to a full band which completed their truly unique sound. 

Their dedication and love for their craft shines through in their first album “Stories” released in early 2012. With influences from The Black Keys and Led Zeppelin to Norah Jones they are led by bluesy vocals, strong lyrics, and roaring guitars that create a sound reminiscent of the 70s but making it all new.

The band has played several shows in cities spanning both the Bluegrass and Volunteer states and is currently working on their second record due out the spring/summer of 2014. Listen to “Stories” at yearofoctober.bandcamp.com, and on several other sites such as Spotify, iTunes, and Noisetrade. Contact Year of October by e-mail at the_yearofoctober@yahoo.com or by phone at (859)230-7689. 

Influences

The Beatles, Norah Jones, Radiohead, Ryan Adams, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, the Black Keys, Wilco, Led Zeppelin, and many others

http://www.yearofoctober.com/

The Top Remakes of All Time

It can be a lot of fun to listen to a band reinvent a great song. It can also be VERY painful! This week Kevin and Lou discuss your pics for some of the worst and best song remakes of all time. Thank you Billy Menk, TJ Byrnes, Steve Dardarian, Michael Chilzer, Bob Giacomett, and Jared Evans for weighing in. Pittsburgh Kevin stops in and the debut of “Things James Brown Says”.

Birthday shout outs to Alan Clark (Dire Straits Keyboardist),  Andy Gibb, Craig and Charlie Reed (The Proclaimers), Teena Marie and John Frusciante (Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Guitarist). Music by Loudini artists Brigette Rios Purdy, Ben Poole, and Van Wilks

Singer/Songwriter

Brigitte was born and raised in Los Angeles. From an early age, her family cultivated her artistry by immersing her in the rich sounds of blues and gospel. Her father was a blues guitarist and would often showcase her talents at family gatherings. At the tender age of 5, she was hand picked by the choir director to perform her first solo. At the age of 13, her mother heard an announcement on the radio for auditions at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Brigitte competed against hundreds of young hopefuls for a chance to enter the Dorothy Chandler Conservatory. She was selected and subsequently trained by the best in the business.

Brigitte began performing at the Ahmanson Theater and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. She has been blessed to share the stage with talents such as Dionne Warwick, Marilyn McCoo, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and Tierra, among many others. She also enjoyed working with Hal Davis of Motown Records. Among her many vocal gigs, Brigitte was a background vocalist for Paul Rodgers on the Jimi Hendrix/Muddy Waters Tour. She was given the incredible opportunity to tour the globe with The U.S.A. Girls, entertaining the troops overseas for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Brigitte is forever grateful for the opportunities she has been given. She loves people and loves to give of her time and talents. Believing strongly in the power of mentoring, she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in the Humanities and enjoys giving back to her community.

Brigitte uses her sultry, powerful and emotive range to captivate an audience. She can go from a gentle purr to a sonic boom within seconds, while pouring her heart into every note. Her incredible versatility ranges from Classical to Blues, Funk, Rock, Jazz and Soul, each delivered with her unique and passionate style.

F***ing amazing! I loved his playing…I really loved his playing!” – JEFF BECK

“A Really great player!” – GARY MOORE

“This is a young man to look out for as he is no doubt a rising talent and should be supported when he comes to a local venue.” – ‘BLUES MATTERS’ MAGAZINE

“Unbelievable! It’s very refreshing to hear someone in today’s time who reminds me of the guys who inspired me when I was young. He’ll be a household name someday for sure…Amazing!” – RICHIE KOTZEN

“Great tracks, great guitar and vocal live…one great special player!” – BERNIE TORME (Ozzy Osbourne, Ian Gillan/Deep Purple)

When you hear comments such as the above from some of the worlds’ greatest guitar players and one of the leading UK roots magazines you just know they have heard something very special. Twenty-five year old Ben Poole is currently being described as the most exciting young blues guitarist to come out of the UK for a long, long time.

“Ben really brings the fire with his licks. He’s got neck-snapping vibrato where he catches a bunch of strings at once and grinds the shit out of them. By the way he hits the guitar, we can only assume it’s been saying rude things about his mother! Ben impressed with his tone, touch and stage presence. Ben Poole: the next Joe Bonamassa?” -‘Total Guitar’ magazine

“A fleet fingered and talented newcomer to the British blues scene. His playing may be ferocious but he rarely sacrifices precision for it. His phrasing belies his years. Definitely one to watch.” -‘Guitarist’ Magazine

“Very good. A really fresh sound and style!” -Paul Jones (BBC Radio 2)

“Blues Extravaganza! The guitar sounds were impeccable, the timing was beyond reproach and there was evidence of dynamic awareness throughout…This was no “lazy” blues offering – Ben managed to sneak in everything from country licks to Satriani-style legato widdling, yet this was never to the detriment of the overall musicality of the performance. Nice!” -Guthrie Govan

When you think Texas blues-rock, you think Van Wilks’. There are few names that have lasted and flourished within the Texas music scene like Wilks. Fads come and go, but Van Wilks is here to stay, as evidenced by his latest release, 21st Century Blues.

Like the steam engine on the cover, 21st Century Blues, his first studio album in 10 years, is a powerful beast that keeps on rolling from start to finish. Recorded at studios in Austin and France, 21st Century Blues is the real deal. This diverse collection of songs highlights Wilks’ impressive guitar styling with his striking lyricism to create a contemporary blues-rock masterpiece.

As Wilks says, “This is not a typical “blues” record. This is “MY BLUES” and even though the songs jump from one feel to another the common thread that holds it all together is my guitar. It’s just that ‘Low Down, Wound Up, Rockin’ Texas Blues.’”

The lead track, “Strange Girl,” lets you know from the onset what kind of album 21st Century Blues will be. With its fiery guitar work and cutting lyrics, “Strange Girl” bridges the gap between the blues-rock of yesteryear and contemporary rock, leaving the listener wanting more. Van Wilks does not leave us waiting, as the following track, “Drive By Lover, ” co-written with long time friend and ZZ Top member, Billy F. Gibbons, delivers an inexplicably Texas fueled performance dripping in blues guitar goodness.

As described by Wilks, the path to having “Drive By Lover” on the album was long and winding. “We played around with the idea for years in late night hours at my house on Elizabeth St. in South Austin. It was forgotten until Billy asked me if I could revive it or even remember it! I sent him a few vignettes from a barely working cassette and a few hours later he played me the track from a LA studio. ‘Whip up some words, Dusty’s ready to give it a go’, he said. So I put the pen to the paper and the, long in the making, tune ends up on ZZ’s ‘La Futura.’ Billy came out to the studio and we “messed it up” just right for my take on our tune.”

Just as you feel you have 21st Century Blues figured out, tracks like “Just Walk Away” and “There’s A Sin In There Somewhere” emerge to reassemble the listeners’ image of Van Wilks. “Just Walk Away” is a slow ballad that creates an atmosphere that draws the listener in and allows them to connect with Wilks on a level that transcends music. After listening to “Just Walk Away,” one would think Dan Auerbach took a page from Van Wilks’ book, as the comparison is only a natural one.

One of Wilks’ favorite tracks, “There’s A Sin In There Somewhere” is a 6-minute tour de force that is truly a tale of two songs. The track begins with the crackle of a vinyl record, paying homage to the greats that came before him. Soon, a slick, 1929 Dobro lick emerges, accompanied by the stomp of Wilks foot, his robust voice, and the continued crackle of vinyl. Once you begin to settle into the song, a roaring electric guitar vaults you from your seat, bringing the song into the 21st Century. Wilks flexes the guitar muscle he is known for, filling the song with incredible solos. Overall, “There’s A Sin In There Somewhere,” reminds you why Van Wilks’ music is built to last.

Born in Galveston, TX, Van Wilks began playing guitar at a young age as a youthful refuge while his family constantly moved around Texas. Influenced heavily by the British Invasion, Wilks began to hone in on his sound early on. He moved to Austin in the early 70s, a time when guitar was defined by volume and power. Combining previous influences and his own style, Wilks brought his guitar muscle and class to the people of Austin through his popular band, Fools. Wilks’ distinct and unique ability caught the attention of many notable industry names, including ZZ Top manager, Bill Ham. In 1979, he signed with Mercury records and released his first record, Bombay Tears, in 1980.

Since his first release, Van Wilks has built an illustrious career that includes six solo albums, one live album, and multiple globe-spanning tours with acts such as ZZ Top, Heart, Van Halen, Journey, Aerosmith, and countless other. His career has led him on a scorched earth path from Texas to Moscow, the Virgin Islands to India, and everywhere in between. Along with that, Van Wilks was featured on ZZ Top’s Live at Montreux Jazz Festival DVD.

Throughout the years, Wilks has acquired an impressive trophy collection, winning multiple Austin Music Awards, being voted best electric and acoustic guitarist in the Austin Chronicle Readers Poll, and being inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame. In addition to that, Wilks guitar prowess has been featured on albums such as the Geezinslaw Brothers’ The Eclectic Horseman (w/ Willie Nelson), The Texas Christmas Collection (Duet w/ Eric Johnson), Texas Guitarslingers Volume I, Double Trouble’s Been A Long Time, and KLBJ-FM’s Local Licks.

Van Wilks credentials highlight his successful and storied past. 21st Century Blues lets us know that Van Wilks will continue to be a trendsetter that is here to stay.

Interview with Joe Louis Walker

Joe Louis Walker, a Blues Hall of Fame inductee and four-time Blues Music Award winner celebrates a career that exceeds a half a century. His new album Everybody Wants A Piececements his legacy as a prolific torchbearer for the blues.  Looking back on his rich history, Walker shares, “I’d like to be known for the credibility of a lifetime of being true to my music and the blues. Sometimes I feel I’ve learned more from my failures, than from my success . But that’s made me stronger and more adventurous. And helped me create my own style . I’d like to think that when someone puts on one of my records they would know from the first notes, ‘That’s Joe Louis Walker.'”

Always an artist deeply expressive lyrically, Walker continues to write and sing about themes that are universal.  On “Black & Blue” he talks about a love affair that’s falling apart, but there’s an effort to keep it going.  He offers, “The lyric ‘Let’s find a quiet place, A place out of town…We Need to talk this thru, Be honest & True’ says it all in trying to save the relationship.”  He cites the title track as a composition that might not have a deep meaning, but in presenting the thought, “Everybody wants a piece of your love,” offers a double entendre that speaks for itself.  With a deep history and background in gospel, Walker looks towards Wade in the Water” as an instant all time favorite.  He reveals, “The inspirational lyric ‘The water is deep, the water is cold, it chills my body, BUT NOT MY SOUL” is expressing my belief that the spiritual will carry you through when the physical can’t.”

This time out  Joe has brought on Paul Nelson to produce his album which was recorded at his famed Chop Shop studio on the east coast. Nelson is a Grammy winning guitarist/producer who was rock/blues legend Johnny Winter’s guitarist, and who also appears as guest guitarist on two tracks on Everybody Wants A Piece.

A true powerhouse guitar virtuoso, unique singer and prolific songwriter, he has toured extensively throughout his career, performed at the world’s most renowned music festivals, and earned a legion of dedicated fans.  Walker’s 1986 debut album Cold Is the Night on HighTone announced his arrival in stunning fashion, and his subsequent output has only served to further establish Walker as one of the leading bluesmen on the scene.

Born on December 25, 1949 in San Francisco, at age 14, he took up the guitar. Just two years later, he was a known quantity on the Bay Area music scene, playing blues with an occasional foray into psychedelic rock. For a while, he roomed with Mike Bloomfield, who introduced him to Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead. Walker even made a brief pilgrimage to Chicago to check out the blues scene there.  In 1975, burned out on blues, Walker turned to God, singing for the next decade with a gospel group, the Spiritual Corinthians. When the Corinthians played the 1985 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Walker was inspired to embrace his blues roots again. He assembled the Boss Talkers, and throughout the 1990s merged many of his gospel, jazz, soul, funk and rock influences with his trademark blues sensibilities on recordings released by Polydor/Polygram. These albums feature Walker’s collaborations with a diverse group of first-rate artists including Branford Marsalis, James Cotton, Tower of Power, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, Ike Turner and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown.  Walker has steadily released recordings since the turn of the millennium, and recently signed to Provogue / Mascot Label Group.









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