Friday, September 30, 2016

Loudini Interviews Jim Levatte

Born and raised in small town Ontario Canada, Jim had taken to music at an early age. While all his friends played hockey, Jim decided music was his passion,and a guitar replaced his hockey stick. Smiths Falls was a railroad, and manufacturing town , so one had only to step outside, absorb their surroundings , and songs would literally write themselves. Jim wrote his first song at 9 years of age, and has since released 6 studio albums. His band was a staple on the local club scene for years, and due to a car accident in 2013, which forced Jim to walk away from his home construction business, his band has recently reformed.  " I truly believed my touring days were behind me".  With a half dozen shows under their belt, the band has regained its old form. Jim now spends most of his time in his studio, sifting through old tape. " I have over 50 hours of demo tape , with literally thousands of song ideas on them"'. The first single "This Aint My Day", has already garnered a buzz, and is getting a lot of industry attention. Stay tuned.



Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Loudini Interviews Morgan's Road

What lies ahead after tragedy is the stuff that builds character: introspection, growth, and change. While living in the shadow of darkness, the few who put the soulful work in can find some light. Americana quartet Morgan’s Road came together from a senseless act of violence that claimed a former bandmate and good friend. Five years later, the four-piece shines on with a pastoral collection of story-telling folk tunes. In advance of its sophomore album, Morgan’s Road issues the singles “Olde Cumberland” and “Better Than.” 

The band has been christened in honor of the group’s fallen comrade Chris Deaver’s daughter, Morgan. “There is so much meaning in the name for us. The name came to me in the middle of the night some time after Deaver’s passing as I thought about Morgan’s journey ahead without having her father in her life. It salutes the legacy of the great man who taught me how to be in a band and how to treat others, and it salutes Morgan and her path,” says frontman, Ben Woodruff. “The message the band name sends is that tragedy may pull you down, or set you back, but the only way forward is through carrying on,” says lead guitarist Skot Bradley.




Morgan’s Road exhibits an expansive musical range, traversing modern rock, funk, indie, Southern rock soul, Americana, folk, and blues. The band features frontman/ primary songwriter/acoustic guitarist Ben Woodruff, drummer/vocalist Tyler Perry, lead guitarist Skot Bradley, and alternating bassists Matt Chmielecki and Brook Sutton. 

Onstage, Morgan’s Road uplifts audiences with positive energy, accomplished musicianship, and sincerity. The four-piece group has built a robust profile through tirelessly gigging regionally and nationally. The group has played to crowds that range from hundreds to 25,000 at clubs, venerated venues and festivals. With Morgan’s Road, or in other musical configurations, the musicians have the shared stage with such icons as Bob Weir & RatDog, moe., Umphrey’s McGee, John Scofield, Steve Winwood, Hootie & the Blowfish, Sister Hazel, Kellie Pickler, Colt Ford, Lee Brice, The Marshall Tucker Band, Devon Allman, Atlas Road Crew, and the Blue Dogs.

Morgan’s Road came onto the scene five years ago. At the time, the band was the Kingstreet Band, and reeling from the death of its bassist Chris Deaver. Deaver was a father and a husband murdered while working at a pawnshop in Florence, South Carolina. Hundreds in the Florence community mourned his tragic passing. His energy and larger than life personality also shaped Kingstreet Band’s core musicians, Ben Woodruff and Tyler Perry. 
“Everyone who knew Chris Deaver loved him,” shares Tyler Perry. “We got started because of him. Before I met Deaver, I was scared to play in public. He pushed me out of my comfort zone, and helped me start my career in music alongside Ben.”

This fresh collection of Morgan’s Road songs exudes a mature and graceful rootsy vibe, evoking the alt-country gold mined by Ryan Adams. It’s a move away from the balmy party vibe of the band’s previous album due to maturity and life changes, most notably Woodruff’s move to Nashville where he brought guitarist Skot Bradley into the fold (Currently, members of Morgan’s Road reside in South Carolina and Nashville).

The new material is directly inspired by classic Nashville’s esteemed heritage of emotionally authentic storytelling, concise songwriting, and heartfelt hooks. As of this writing, the album is taking shape from fevered writing sessions. 
The upcoming singles will be “Olde Cumberland” and “Better Than” written by Woodruff. On “Olde Cumberland,” the narrator is out searching in vain for traces of a beloved ghost—that richly distinctive Nashville sound that once defined Music City. The song’s metaphorical approach conjures a search for the Nashville of yore—before Music City went bubblegum—while also hinting at a search for a lost love. “Better Than” ties into Morgan’s Road’s brave journey. It’s about putting the world on your shoulders to remain authentic and finding truth and redemption in the least expected of places.

Pondering the path leading to Morgan’s Road, Tyler Perry says: “The most meaningful thing for us has been overcoming adversity to offer something positive and healing. Deaver was the person who got me into playing, and I know he would be happy we are spreading joy.”

sknight@morgansroad.com

Thursday, September 22, 2016

A Look Back at the iconic and trendsetting debut from The Pretenders: Pretenders

Pretenders were formed in 1978 with singer Chrissie Hynde on vocals, Pete Farndon on bass, James Honeyman-Scott on guitar and Martin Chambers on drums. They released two LP’s, Pretenders – which charted at #1 in the UK and #9 in the States - and Pretenders II, and one EP, Extended Play. The band enjoyed worldwide chart success with singles including Stop Your Sobbing, Kid, Brass In Pocket, Talk of The Town and I Go To Sleep. The band was constantly on the road and enjoyed heavy MTV rotation.

In 1982 they were dealt a difficult year: a parting of ways with Pete Farndon being swiftly followed by the death of James Honeyman-Scott. Pete’s death came a year later.

Subsequently the band’s line-up remained fluid and the band went on to release the albums Learning to Crawl, Get Close and Packed! between 1984 and 1990.




After a 4-year hiatus came the band’s next release Last of the Independents, followed in 1995 by Isle of View, a live acoustic album recorded over two nights in London with the Duke String Quartet.

1999 saw the release of Viva El Amor, the last album to be released on longtime label Warner Records, and their next album Loose Screw was released on Artemis Records in 2002.

Neil Young inducted the Pretenders into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, and their next release, Break Up The Concrete, came in 2008.

The band have toured the world and performed in front of over 4 million people. Pretenders continue to play together.

Featured Loudini Artists:

Deb Callahan

Philadelphia’s blues and soul drenched vocalist and songwriter Deb Callahan grew up in the Boston area but has been a mainstay on the mid-Atlantic music scene since the late 90’s.  During this time she has gained a reputation for writing creative blues, soul and roots influenced original music and using her powerful, expressive voice to deliver an exciting live show. Her 2002 debut CD “If the Blues Had Wings” was featured as the hot debut in the October/November 2004 issue of Blues Revue Magazine.  Blues Revue referred to her as the next Bonnie Raitt and raved “Philly’s Deb Callahan has the pipes, the songs and the raw talent to graduate to the next level”.

Deb released her 5th CD “Sweet Soul” Sept 1, 2015 on Blue Pearl Records. The CD, produced by renowned producer and drummer Tony Braunagel, was recorded at Ultratone Studios in Los Angeles, CA. Deb and guitar player Allen James  traveled to Los Angeles in February 2015 to record the tracks with an all star studio line-up including Johnny Lee Schell, engineering and slide guitar, Mike Finnigan on keyboards, Reggie McBride on bass, Braunagel on drums and James on guitar. This group of LA musicians have recorded and toured with performers such as Etta James, Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal so it was a truly wonderful experience to play with and learn from each one.

It’s been almost 5 years since Deb’s last CD, “Tell It Like It Is” was released. Shortly after this release, Deb became a mom to her now 4 year old son Elijah. The experience of being a new mom has had a direct impact on her writing and focus in her life. The songs from “Sweet Soul” were written during an overall sweet and rich phase of life. Deb worked with James and Chris Arms (who produced Deb’s last 3 CD’s) to write the original material and with producer Braunagel to find some gems written by others that fit the vibe as well. The mood of this blues, soul, roots CD is upbeat, rockin, funky and fun and explores the theme of love and family with an honest and at times humorous view into both its joys and challenges. This includes the experience of loving a child or partner, the connection and sweetness you feel when you slow down and just be present with ones you love, the pain and difficulty of letting go of a family member, the ups and downs of living with someone, the inner tension about balancing family and career, the energy it takes to keep things running to do a lot of different things in life.

“Sweet Soul” has been receiving some wonderful national and international airplay on blues and triple A radio stations as well as great press and reviews. A few accomplishments include charting at #24 in the Living Blues Magazine Chart in Sept 2015, been in the top 50 National chart from Sept 14, 2015 till the present (March 6, 2016) for Roots Music Report’s Top 50 Blues Album Chart, been in the top 5 chart position from Sept 14, 2015 till the present (March 6, 2016) for the Roots Music Report Top Blues for the state of PA, has been featured in Big City Blues Magazine – Oct 2015 issue on “Soul Diva’s” with Bettye Lavette and many others, top 10 for 2015 list for reviewer Mark Gallo in Blues Bytes, nominated for Best Soul – R & B Album 2015 in Blues 411 2015 “Jimi Award Nominee”.

Press Quotes for Sweet Soul


Monster Truck

The term Rock n' Roll gets thrown around pretty haphazardly. One can go as far as stating it’s been bastardized to the point of being unrecognizable, ironically shouted on stages worldwide, and classified dead or MIA by the very musicians that once upheld its standard. 
Enter Monster Truck. There's something comforting about a band name that delivers exactly what you expect to hear. Born in 2009 from the ashes of various Canadian Indie bands, Monster Truck began as a sonic affront to the very industry its members were bred from. After feeling more like cogs in the music industry machine, Jon Harvey (bass & lead vocals), Jeremy Widerman (guitar & vocals), Brandon Bliss (organ & vocals) and Steve Kiely (drums & vocals) broke free to forge their own path, answering only to themselves. “It was admittedly a bit selfish from the get-go as we only were looking to please ourselves,” laughs Widerman. Their unabashed approach to making and performing music became infectious. “We just wanted to mix all of our favorite hard rock, punk and classic rock favourites into something raw and basic,” states Widerman, almost as if to suggest that no one had done it to his liking yet. The band was doing something right. A ground swell of regional fans quickly began rushing to any local venue to see the band perform live. Rock n' Roll is clearly not dead.Offers began to pile up for Hamilton, Ontario’s prodigious sons, and the band soon realized they had to make a decision to jump in hip deep and take the record label and tour offers more seriously. “The decision was probably easier than I'd like to admit,” adds Widerman, suggesting they were probably all kidding themselves thinking they weren't willing to make sacrifices once again in an attempt to make music for a living. What started as a fun and albeit ‘selfish’ musical side-project, quickly gained momentum and took on a life of its own. Monster Truck self-released a self-titled EP produced by Gus Van Go & Werner F (The Stills, Preistess, Hollerado) in 2010 and followed up with The Brown EP (2011) produced by Eric Ratz (Billy Talent, Cancer Bats, Three Days Grace) on Indie powerhouse Dine Alone Records. The Brown EP aggressively showcased the band’s ability to keep a firm grasp in the classic roots that enabled them, while staying contemporary and true to their vast influences. Singles “Seven Seas Blues” and “Righteous Smoke” became runaway hits reaching Top 10 on Canadian Rock radio and true to their notorious maxim “Don’t F*ck With The Truck”, the band hit the road with a vengeance. Tours included a 2011 cross-Canada sold-out run with The Sheepdogs. Additional tours followed in 2012 when Monster Truck was handpicked to open for Slash on his North American tour, as well as sold-out dates in support of legends Deep Purple.
After an unexpected, yet highly successful year of relentless touring, Monster Truck returned home hell bent to record a full-length album. Over the course of 2 months, the guys put together 12 original songs showcasing not only their determination to continue churning out heart-pounding rock tracks, but that also highlighted another dimension to the band’s songwriting and performance. The result is their debut full-length LP aptly titled Furiosity.

Produced once again by JUNO-nominated Eric Ratz at Vespa Studios in Toronto and Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC, Furiosity showcases Monster Truck’s ability to seamlessly integrate influences from grunge and punk era greats that they love so dearly with alt-sounding vintage rock. The resulting album remains anchored in grooves, yet propulsive and volcanic, fueled by frontman Jon Harvey’s colossal vocal delivery. 

The album impressingly runs the gamut from crushing first single "Sweet Mountain River" which features a highly infectious chorus juxtaposed against a killer riff, to tracks like “The Lion” and its definitive old-school, boogie-rock vibe. “While the bulk of songs were written and executed in fairly quick fashion, tailoring the pace and fine tuning the transitions took longer than usual,” says Widerman of the writing process. “We really wanted the songs to take the listener on an exciting journey.” Gems like “Old Train” featuring epic gang vocals were in fact kept under wraps from the producer and the label until the band reworked them to their liking while “Power of the People” -- a Rage Against The Machine inspired track -- is a commentary on a society in turmoil and an anthem for those who wish to band together and make a difference. 

The band intentionally challenged themselves with “For The Sun”, spending more than a year playing the song live in order to perfect it. Slower-paced and with thought to ensuring every moment was well-crafted and building in intensity, Widerman spent 2 days in the studio just recording the intro and solos leaving other members of the band to wonder whether he would ever be satisfied with the end result. Finally, last minute addition “My Love Is True” shows a more soulful side of Monster Truck, and is another shining example of how even a down tempo song can shake you to your core. 

The constant show regiment and recording process is sharpening the band’s delivery and there's no doubt that anyone still interested in original and authentic rock music will be compelled to pay attention. Monster Truck will continue doing what they do best, steamrolling from town to town leaving legions of fans in their wake. 


Alex Vans
Alex Vans had a really, really terrible idea for a business. He got a bunch of dudes, gave them instruments, and made them play stoner rock guitar riffs under smooth vocal pop hooks.  He then had the shitty idea to record those sounds onto obsolete physical records and drive around the country in a van trying to sell the records in beer soaked taverns in front of surly bartenders. It was a truly horrible idea.  And predictably, he failed miserably.  If the definition of insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, then you can count Alex Vans as among the truly mad.  A mad-genius perhaps?  No.  But the new EP does kick ass.

Why? Because Alex and his new band, Bad Business, got back up, licked their wounds, and made a fundamental change.  They realized that if you want to make the kind of top 40 music that lets you retire at 35, you can't write from your heart.  You gotta stick to the formula.  You have to follow the data.  “You think Meghan Trainor makes all that sweet, sweet coin because she’s singing about her feelings?” Vans remarked in a recent interview. “No, she’s got a team of analysts in Korea crunching algorithms faster than Hillary Clinton cashes checks from Goldman Sachs.” In that defiant spirit, they ditched their flannel shirts and skinny jeans in favor of power suits and suspenders.  They dropped their guitars and picked up their expo markers and whiteboards.  Then they realized how not fun that is, grabbed their guitars again, ditched the formula, and cranked out the most righteously rocking EP of 2016.  “Buy American: Vol. 1” is the result of this truly revolutionary paradigm shift.  

Sure, it's all a bit tongue-in-cheek, but that doesn't cheapen the bite of songs like "Velocirapture (Clever Girl Version)," which barrels ahead with all the speed and ferocity of a of a T-Rex chasing down Jeff Goldblum, and "Break My Spell," where Vans screams his frustration in a raw, ragged howl.  Recorded over the course of a year in D.C. and Brooklyn, the self-produced Buy American: Vol. 1 nods to stoner-rock influences like Queens of the Stone Age and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Andy Valenti, Mike Douaire, Erik Estrada, John Daise, and Adam Ashforth all pitched in, creating an EP of pure, punchy rock & roll that never takes itself too seriously. Rest assured: fans of past Alex Vans albums like DJ Booth will still find plenty of familiar appeal here, from Vans' melodic instincts to his work as an explosive lead guitarist. If those past albums were failed businesses, though, then Buy American is something new: bright, bold, and ready for the boardroom.





Sunday, September 18, 2016

Loudini interviews John Ford Coley

JOHN FORD COLEY, singer, musician, actor and author, continues to play for a worldwide audience. Most famous for his work as half of the grammy-nominated duo “England Dan and John Ford Coley”, where he's received double platinum and gold records, John also did teen films and a few TV roles in the 1980s, has written songs for films, and continues to produce other artists.

Of late, John Ford Coley continues an active touring schedule. He has produced two new country acts in Nashville and most recently played on the bill with such acts as Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Poco, Ambrosia, and Alice Cooper, as well as with Terry Sylvester (formerly of the Hollies).

John Ford Coley is most famous for hit songs such as: “Love Is The Answer”. “Gone Too Far”, “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight”, “Nights Are Forever”, “We’ll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again”. “Come Back To Me”, “Soldier In The Rain”, “Sad To Belong”, “Simone”, “Westward Wind”, “Part of Me, Part of You.” In 2003, the “Nights are Forever” song appeared in the feature film “Dickie Roberts Former Child Star”. Another hit appeared in the film “Long Kiss Goodnight” with Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson.





Famous hit makers that John's performed alongside include: Elton John, Heart, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, Carole King, Bread, Loggins and Messina, Led Zepplin, Carly Simon, Bill Cosby, Dave Mason, Steve Miller Band, Randy Bachman, Jesse Colin Young, Air Supply, and Gordon Lightfoot, to name a few.

As part of the Nashville songwriting community, John has written new songs such as, “Free Spirits”, a duet “Til The Light Turns Green”, and “She's Got Another Think Coming” that he performs in songwriter rounds throughout the south. He mixes in the new material with the hits that he's written, performing and/or writing with songwriting talents such as Byron Hill, Paul Overstreet, Gary Cotton, and Georgia Middleman, as well as others.

John’s television exposure crosses all demographic boundaries. He's hosted “The Midnight Special” and co-hosted “The Mike Douglas Show”. He's appeared on “The Tonight Show”, “Merv Griffin”, “David Soul and Friends”, “Dinah”, “American Bandstand”, “Hollywood Squares” (A Special Rock Edition), “Make Me Laugh”, “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert”, “Prime Time Country”, and the “Trinity Broadcasting Network.”

Some of John’s television and movie theme songs written or performed include: “Just Tell Me You Love Me”, “Dr. Pepper”, “Major League, Back To The Minors”, “James At 16”, “Joe Panther”, and “Maxwell House Coffee” with Paul Newman in Japan.

John Ford Coley's experiences stem from a broad background. Although John performed throughout high school and college as a classical and rock pianist, he chose to major in English Literature in his university studies.

In the mid-1980s, John entered acting. In “Dream A Little Dream”, Coley performed as the boyfriend of actress Susan Blakely. In this role he enjoyed pushing teen Corie Feldman down some stairs and spiking Feldman's girlfriend's wine to keep her from sneaking out. Previously, in his first acting role in “Scenes From The Gold Mine”, Coley played a drummer alongside Eagles Timothy B. Schmidt. The film also featured Joe Pantoliano (The Sopranos). In another film “Aces and Eights”, John played in a deadly 1800s poker game against Steve Railsback and Doug McClure. Most rewarding though was an episode of “America’s Most Wanted”. Here, John played a drug dealer who was killed by his partner. In this re-enactment, the capture of John’s character’s real-life killer was among the fastest captured in the show's history.

In between the extensive road duty, John lives in the Nashville area with his family of wife, kids, and quarter horse, where he's penned a book on his years in the music industry, and is writing another book about his spiritual journey back from a cult to Christianity.

Friday, September 16, 2016

When Musician's Steal From Each Other


Title: When Musician's Steal From Each Other!
Topic: In light of the recent law suit brought against Led Zeppelin,  Lou and Katie thought that they would talk about some of the other high profile cases of plagiarism in rock history. Featured Loudini Artists: Lushcamp,  Highway4, and the Honeyriders













Lushcamp
Brooklyn, NY-based indie rock outfit Lushcamp makes alternative rock music that ignites the senses and captures the bittersweet flow of memories. The band’s debut album, Lushcamp features catchy guitar hooks and vivid lyrics that capture bandleader, guitarist and singer Paul Matarelli’s personal adventures. The album’s 10 tunes are a study of the dark and light in people and the colorful dimensions of vulnerable, flawed anti-heroes and the choices they make that shape their journey.
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?

I’ve been into rock music for as long as I can remember, but I was first introduced to the indie genre around 12 years ago.  Back then I was catching incredible bands like Band of Horses at smaller venues in NYC for like $20 bucks – magical times.

How long have you been creating and sharing your music with the public?

I’ve been creating music for about 16 years now.  When I frist moved to New York from Chicago I was playing out at bunch of legendary venues like The Bitter End and CBGB’s (before they closed).  But I released a solo EP back in 2012, and just released the full Lushcamp album in June.

Who or what influences your playing and/or writing? Also, what motivates you to keep going?

The biggest influence on this record is The National.  There are a lot of other influences you’ll probably recognize but The National is one that tends to stand out the most.  I try to create music that will give a nod of recognition to bands that influenced me, but at the same time trying to keep the sound unique to us.  As far as motivation to keep going, that just comes from within.  Creating new music has an energy like nothing else.  When you are in the process of writing a song and everything is clicking, the feeling is damn near indescribable.

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?

With this record I was trying to find a balance between hard, guitar driven tracks and mellower tracks to chill out to.  The idea behind the record is exploring the duality of light and dark in people, and what drives the choices we make.  So it makes sense to have highs and lows throughout the album.  You can check out the video to our first single “Love You More”.
What was the last song you listened to?

I was listening to a playlist of songs by The Chainsmokers, at the gym today, I think the last track I heard was “Roses”

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s? 

Though I do love the sound of Vinyl, everything I listen to is on MP3.  Living in NYC I am always on the go, so everything has to be portable.

How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?

I use Spotify as a user every day and I love it.  But as a musician, I released my album on iTunes and Bandcamp.  It’s tough enough to sell your album as it is, so when people see it is available on Spotify, it becomes and even tougher sell.  I think I will eventually put the album up on Spotify, but that will be further down the road.

Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what are one or two of the biggest challenges you face when trying to attract listeners to your music?

You hit the nail on the head, there is so much new music out there that people are inundated.  The digital era is great because it allows you to release an album without the permission of the record label gatekeepers of old.  But if you want that album to be heard, you have a new gatekeeper to impress, and that is the music curators of music blogs and websites like Middle Tennessee Music!

Do you gig, tour or perform? Do you ever live stream? Where can music lovers see you live?

Since this album was a studio project, I haven’t performed or toured.  But that is going to change in the near future.  I am in the process of putting together a band so we can do just that.  Check out our website at www.lushcampmusic.com for updates on news and upcoming shows.

Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more of your music?

You can stream the full album from our website here: http://www.lushcampmusic.com/music

The best places to connect online are:

facebook.com/lushcamp
twitter.com/lushcamp
instagram.com/lushcamp
soundcloud.com/lushcamp
lushcamp.bandcamp.com

Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?

Thanks so much for having me here!  I’m a big fan of your site so this is a real honor.  Let me give a shout out to Brooklyn! We recorded the record there and its where I live so that’s fitting.
Middle Tennessee Music! https://t.co/fae8mFLrTG



Highway 4
Highway 4 is an award-winning rock band from Pittsburgh with a Foo Fighters meets Halestorm sound, riff-centered writing, and a classic vibe and energy like that of the 1970's stadium rock.

"With an ear open to the great influences of the past, performed with the intensity of today, and a clear vision of the future, Rock N Roll is in good hands with Highway 4." -Tim Daugherty, Program Director, WONE-FM 97.5, Akron, OH

The "Classic Rock" sound has come full circle, this time, with more power and grit to back it up.  This award-winning rock band from Pittsburgh is quickly rising to popularity and resurfacing the rock music scene as we know it.  Eclectic influences of the 1970's era forged with the "muscle" of the 21st century have been the backbone to developing the unique & reminiscent sound in their alternative rock genre. Highway 4 formed in 2010 with members Kelly Brown (VOX, Torrence, CA), Mike Angert (Guitar, Chicora, PA), and Tylar Parker (Bass, Chicora, PA) with the intent to make waves and break molds in mainstream rock music.
Armed with their most recent release (Matter Of Time 2016) and their first full-length album, Up In Arms (2014), Highway 4 possesses an unmatchable energy and unforgettable sound and style that is redefining rock music. The two year gap in between the music allowed Highway 4 to serve their fans on the road playing over 300 shows, undergo many valuable changes, and evolve with the maturing writing style. New EP Record, Matter Of Time opens a door into the past while marrying the present with songs that boast powerful hooks and classic staying potential.

"We didn't want to write music that would be forgotten. There's just something about complete transparency, raw-talent, and human imperfection in the recording process that gives an album the ability to root itself in the present but last through the decades." -Kelly Brown, VOX, Hwy4

MATTER OF TIME has those qualities and Highway 4 fans are going to feel a renewed sense of passion for music when this EP Record gets into their hands. 

In February 2012, they competed in the 105.9FM X Winter Rock Showcase at the Hard Rock Cafe (Pittsburgh, PA)  and placed 2nd overall out of 110 unsigned bands. In March of the same year, they took 1st in the Next Big Thing Tour at Mr. Small's Theatre (Millvale, PA) out of 40 indie rock bands. In July 2013, they won the first ever fan-voted Grassy Award from 97.7FM's The Rock Station for "One of These Days."  To date, they have made multiple radio appearances, successfully crowdfunded their 2016 EP Matter Of Time, shared the stage with The Clarks, Zepparella, Truth & Salvage Company, Hot Action Cop, Shane Alexander, LA Guns' Tracii Guns, BulletBoys, Killer Bee, Blackberry Smoke, and Great White, and are currently organizing a tour in support of their EP.

The Honeyriders
The Honeyriders are *of* Pittsburgh, yes, but where are they from? Best we can tell, three Americans, a Mexican and a Brit all met in the witness protection program, and this marvelous musical endeavor (whose influences run the table from reggae and ska to twangy pop to good ol' gravelly rock with some bebop thrown in for good measure) is their plan for 'hiding in plain sight'. Go see them before their case officer finds out what they're doing.

Monday, September 12, 2016

Loudini interviews Sixtwoseven

Imagine the Foo Fighters and Muse stuffed in an underground studio during the "nuclear holocaust" with nothing but Weezer and Radiohead albums to session - yeah, I'd like to be fly on that wall too! Now you can, thanks to this site. Seattle area indie alt-rock powerhouse quartet SixTwoSeven is pleased you have found our home on the Web. We want you to know we are committed to providing our fans and audiences charismatic rock music that we all can relate to, that also encourages feelings and introspective thought on this world we all live in together. Thanks again for you support and know that more great things are coming! Happy 2016





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Loudini Interviews Aaron Little

Born in Mississauga Ontario, Aaron began playing guitar at the age of 6 after his mother thought he watched too much TV. She took him to a brand new music school in the neighbourhood where he was given a choice to play piano or guitar. After deliberating for nearly 10 whole seconds he said "I don't want something easy!". And it was downhill from there..

Aaron started gigging while attending Humber College on his way to receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance and, since graduating in 2005, has performed in over 2,000 shows, recorded on 2 albums, several television appearances, music videos and national radio play with Canadian rock band
See Spot Run. 

In the last few years he has shared the stage with such acts as 'Bon Jovi', 'Our Lady Peace', 'Big Wreck's Ian Thornley, 'Marianas Trench', 'Three Days Grace', 'Default', and 'Stone Temple Pilots'




See Spot Run is currently touring in support of their latest single "Let It Go" while continuing to work in studio to complete a new album.

Aaron is currently finishing up his first solo album, performing live with See Spot Run, and party rock band Orangeman.

Check out the Shows page for his next upcoming performance.

Loudini Interviews INDIEGOE

The conceptual solo project from Josh Collopy (formerly of Rio Rio). Indigoe blends elements of 80's pop, contemporary electronica, & indie guitar rock
.
https://www.instagram.com/runjrc/















Loudini Interviews Hagar Levy

Israeli-born Hagar Levy moved to Antwerp, Belgium at the age of 1, where she spent the first 15 years of her life. From the outside looking in, music in general - and mostly the piano - has always been her tool to find release as well as an authentic identity and voice. Music IS her quest as person.

Hagar's lyrics, melodies and harmonies are deeply influenced by Rock & R' n' B singer-songwriters such as Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Pj Harvey, Erykah Badu, Sade & Jill Scott. 

Her debut album - recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by longtime engineer and friend Jonathan Jacobi - is due for worldwide release in 2016. Preceded by the singles 'Hectic' and 'Highway', the album features 8 tracks; 7 of which written by Hagar and a rousing cover version to the 70’s soul classic “Reasons” by Minnie Riperton.






She is planning to tour Europe in support in 2016.

Loudini Interviews Alice Underground

Alice Underground is a time traveling caravan to an anachronistic era set in a locale that’s both familiar and fantastical. For the five members of the LA-based group, however, this has been a journey by happenstance. What was a one-off show now has the quintet chasing mythical characters and architecting a swamp cabaret aesthetic.

Five years after its fateful first show, the LA-based quintet now issues a stunning debut, Cambria Sessions. An album bathed in the blue hues of broken dreams, noir romance, and Golden Age Of Hollywood opulence.

Alice Underground whisks listeners and concertgoers away to an elegant underbelly teeming with deviant jazz, punk rock vigor, vaudevillian theatrics, and sensual emotionality. The group’s oeuvre varies between originals that feel like they were plucked from an American Songbook from a Tim Burton-themed time capsule, and jazz standards reimagined to showcase Alice Underground’s gift for conjuring longing and lasciviousness. The group counts as influences David Bowie, Ella Fitzgerald, Trent Reznor, and Billie Holiday. Fittingly, Alice Underground has been described as “gypsy jazz with a proto-punk edge.”






The quintet’s dark seductiveness, gothic glamour, and mythological imagery of the character Alice as a conceptual muse have endeared it to fanatics of steampunk, fantasy, and cosplay. Live highlights for the band include appearing at Los Angeles County Museum Of Art’s New Year’s event Golden Stag, hosted at the famous Los Angeles Park Plaza Hotel, and performing at the closing ceremonies for the Anime Expo in Los Angeles. There the group played originals, and backed cult artist Yoko Takahashi, singer of the theme song for the popular animated Japanese television series Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Alice Underground is Tash Cox vocals, bass, piano; Sasha Travis, vocals; Scott Landes, guitar, piano; Gordon Bash, standup bass, piano, guitar, vocals; and Steve Kefalas, drums, percussion. The band members boast eclectic and impressive resumes. Lead vocalist Tash Cox formerly sang with The Beta Machine, which included members of A Perfect Circle and Eagles of Death Metal. Tash has also sung in many operas, Neely Bruce’s, “Circular 14: The Apotheosis of Aristides” being her favorite. Scott Landes has played with Collide, Android Lust, I, Parasite, and ¡BASH!, among others. Steve Kefalas has also been a member of Android Lust, I, Parasite, and ¡BASH!. Gordon Bash is an active jazz and rock musician, that has appeared on America’s Got Talent playing with William Close. He heads up the punk/rockabilly band ¡BASH!, and is also the bassist for the popular ska band Save Ferris. Sasha Travis is a singer, producer, director, and all-around artist. She has directed and produced for the Labyrinth Masquerade Ball, and Golden Stag events, written and directed for the Astra Dance Theater, and been a long time co-collaborator at Sypher Arts Studio.

The Cambria Sessions is threaded with a wildly fishtailing story of two girls moving to Hollywood to make their dreams come true. Detailing the narrative are the intertwined voices of Tash and Sasha. The story is rife with surrealism and mythology, with subtle allusions to Joseph Campbell. In the end, the protagonists flee Hollywood for the safe haven of Cambria, the beautiful wine country expanse in Northern California.

The album’s lead off single is the slinky “Superman.” The dizzying track swings mightily with whimsically zigzagging melodic passages and a seductive urgency oozing from voices of Tash and Sasha. The song intimates a love triangle. One of the girls is far too preoccupied with a male lover whose bravado has gotten him into a dicey situation. “It’s about how in love, we either put someone else on a pedestal, or we struggle with being put on a pedestal,” Tash explains. “I don’t need a superman—I just want to love as a human being.” The video for “Superman” is a collaboration with fashion photographer turned director Jean Renard It’s a feast for the senses boasting a cross section of LA’s finest dancers, eye-popping visual technology, and steamy film noir imaging.

Other standouts on the Cambria Sessions include a nostalgic and impressionistic version of the jazz standard “Fly Me To The Moon” and, the sultry and dark, “LA Is Burning.” Traditionally, the evergreen “Fly Me To The Moon” is a swinging track that soars with optimism. Alice Underground’s rendition is reflective and romantic, evoking the moment right before dreams slip away. Gordon says: “We went for that ‘hero with her hair flying in the wind’ feel. It’s right before the girls escape for Cambria. It’s very Thelma & Louise.” The city smolders, and the torch ballad “LA Is Burning” wafts in from the rubble. “There is a lot of pain in that one,” Scott shares. Tasha adds: “It evokes that sentiment of feeling alone in a faraway place, engulfed by loneliness.”

The odyssey to Alice Underground began in the goth/industrial/metal scene. Outside of Alice Underground, Tash, Scott, and Gordon play with the group Mankind Is Obsolete. While on tour with the group Android Lust, they befriended the New York-based band’s drummer, Steve. When Steve relocated to Los Angeles, he joined the trio. Sasha came into the fold when Tash heard her softly singing during an arts and crafts project. The two instantly had a deep connection. “We are both from Texas, we are preacher’s kids, our names rhyme, and we’re both Scorpios,” Sasha explains. “We were meant to be soul sisters.”

Alice Underground also has an extended family of thinkers, artists, and dancers. Shawn Strider, the creative director of the Labyrinth Masquerade Ball and producer of the Golden Stag events, helped forge the concept of Alice Underground and continues to contribute lyrics and story ideas. Others in the close circle include saxophonist Joe Berry (M83, Taylor Swift, Save Ferris), cellist Eru Matsumoto (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Demi Lovato), and hotshot Nashville guitarist Jordan Roepke (Restless Road).

Every myth has a valuable story within the narrative, and in exploring the fantastical realm of Alice Underground, the band members have been artistically and personally transformed. “There have been so many amazing moments with this band that truly feels like family,” Tash marvels. “It’s changed my life—these people brought music back in my life,” Sasha confides. Gordon adds: “I love what we have done. We’ve created something indefinable.” Steve concludes: “We got thrown into the fire with these jazz shows, and I’m so proud we found a voice and means of artistic expression within a genre many of us didn’t know before. “

Loudini Interviews Mark Fern of The Honeyriders

The Honeyriders are *of* Pittsburgh, yes, but where are they from? Best we can tell, three Americans, a Mexican and a Brit all met in the witness protection program, and this marvelous musical endeavor (whose influences run the table from reggae and ska to twangy pop to good ol' gravelly rock with some bebop thrown in for good measure) is their plan for 'hiding in plain sight'. Go see them before their case officer finds out what they're doing.





Loudini Interviews LUSH CAMP

Brooklyn, NY-based indie rock outfit Lushcamp makes alternative rock music that ignites the senses and captures the bittersweet flow of memories. The band’s debut album, Lushcamp features catchy guitar hooks and vivid lyrics that capture bandleader, guitarist and singer Paul Matarelli’s personal adventures. The album’s 10 tunes are a study of the dark and light in people and the colorful dimensions of vulnerable, flawed anti-heroes and the choices they make that shape their journey.

Matarelli’s knack for playing a multitude of instruments, including guitar, bass, drums and piano helps him write songs with genuine texture. He moved to New York City in the early 2000s for its vibrant music scene and has never stopped exploring it. He has played open mics and small gigs in the city’s most historic venues, including The Bitter End, Kenny’s Castaways and the legendary CBGB’s. His Midwestern roots and love for ear-pleasing melodies and harmonies have always endeared him to classic rock bands like The Who, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles.   While guitar gods such as Eddie Van Halen and Jimmy Page continue to influence his songwriting, modern rock acts like The National, Jack White and The Shins have elevated his performance and playing technique. Matarelli released a solo EP Someday in 2013 and has co-written music for film and television. In addition to being a digital marketing expert and senior media sales executive for over a decade, Matarelli can add author to his resume. In 2012, he published the novel All Roads Lead West about a man who changes course in order to follow his true passion. 






Matarelli’s drive to constantly evolve his sound and to write songs that reflect his own scars and truths led him to composer and producer Eran Westood. While recording a demo at his studio, the duo cultivated the first creative seeds for Lushcamp. Several years later, writing his novel re-whetted Matarelli’s appetite for making fresh music that comes from his soul and sparked the official start of the Lushcamp project. Westwood and Matarelli wrote and co-produced all material on the band’s self-titled debut. 

Fronted by Matarelli and produced by Westwood, Lushcamp will be playing venues in New York City in support of their first release throughout 2016.




Loudini Interviews Eddy Mann

Eddy Mann's a... musician, songwriter, worship leader, teacher, speaker, coach, husband, and father... whether you know him as one or more of these people, you know his heart; you know his love for life.

Though his past has been playful and colorful at times, it also has been constant in its vision. It's always been a vision of hope, peace and understanding through the eyes of a loving heart.

Eddy's led worship for over fifteen years. As a musician and songwriter it was twenty years ago that he made the decision to offer his creative gifts to God. Since then he's released seven CD's and written countless songs for the church and world at large. On any weekend you can find him in a coffeehouse, in concert, at a conference, and/or leading worship.




His greatest earthly joy is his family... his wife Susan, daughters Ashley and Maddy, beagle Molly, g-kids Joey, Layla and Lexi and his sponsored children Emerita and Adjoint.

A new album, The Consequence, the follow up to 2014's Dig Love, is currently wrapping up sessions at this writing. It once again touches on the theme of a peaceful and loving existence, while delving into the the consequences of our actions. Musically it continues down the path that Dig Love charted staying close to the americana, roots rock, and singer-songwriter traditions. Look for a fall 2016 release date.
http://eddymann.com/
#Blues  #bluesrock  #musicpromotion #makingmoneywithmusic
#music business #indie music #loudini #loulombardi #loudinirockandrollcircus
#bestwaytomakemusic  #howtomakemoneywritingsongs #getpaidtowritemusic

Loudini Interviews Don DiLego

Since the release of his previous album, “Photographs of 1971,” Don DiLego has produced and released two EPs as Beautiful Small Machines with his long-time musical partner Bree Sharp (which included a guest appearance by Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon), penned a soundtrack to the feature film “Ranchero”, and helped co-write many of the songs that would appear on Jesse Malin’s “Love it To Life” album. During that same “interim” period, he also played on the Light of Day Tour in Europe, which traveled to over 10 countries sharing the stage with Malin, Marah, Willie Nile, and for a brief fleeting moment, even Bruce Springsteen.

At the beginning of 2010, Don joined Jesse Malin & the  St. Mark’s Social  and set out on the road with Gaslight Anthem and later Gogol Bordello to begin support of the new album. But soon the inspiration of new songs would begin to pour in, and after returning home, it was back to the writing process again at his wooded escape, Velvet Elk Studios. The “Western & Atlantic EP” was born of a week of isolation in a Portland recording studio called The Secret Society, with Don enlisting Colin Killilea (Yost/Pocketknife) and Marwan Kanafani (City Breathing) as multi-instrumentalists, Gregg Williams (Dandy Warhols, Sheryl Crow) on drums, and longtime songwriting partner and bassist Erik Olsen. The result is a what-you-hear-is what-you-get sort of affair, with everything being tracked live in a room…a highlight of which was an unlikely one-take cover of The Replacements “Here Comes a Regular.” Mixing was done in Charlottesville’s White Star Sound and at the Velvet Elk Studios. But what started out as one album, became two, and upon the release of the Atlantic & Western EP, Don is right back at work finishing the full-length “Magnificent Ram A”. Whereas “Western” is more along the lines of the eclectic soundscape that Don has become known for, “Magnificent Ram A” is it’s alienated older cousin. And so it goes.





Don has released three…check that…now four solo albums, the last of which was the well-received Photographs of 1971 (Velvet Elk Records), until his recent 2012 release of The Western & Atlantic EP on Velvet Elk Records. His first two albums, “The Lonestar Hitchhiker (Universal/Kingcuts)” and “The Lonestar Companion (Velvet Elk Records)” were also well-lauded for their retro-twang storytelling. He is currently producing the latest album from Jesse Malin and is also finishing up work on his own follow up, Magnificent Ram A.




Loudini Interviews Alex Vans

Alex Vans had a really, really terrible idea for a business. He got a bunch of dudes, gave them instruments, and made them play stoner rock guitar riffs under smooth vocal pop hooks. He then had the shitty idea to record those sounds onto obsolete physical records and drive around the country in a van trying to sell the records in beer soaked taverns in front of surly bartenders. It was a truly horrible idea. And predictably, he failed miserably. If the definition of insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, then you can count Alex Vans as among the truly mad. A mad-genius perhaps? No. But the new EP does kick ass.









Why? Because Alex and his new band, Bad Business, got back up, licked their wounds, and made a fundamental change. They realized that if you want to make the kind of top 40 music that lets you retire at 35, you can't write from your heart. You gotta stick to the formula. You have to follow the data. “You think Meghan Trainor makes all that sweet, sweet coin because she’s singing about her feelings?” Vans remarked in a recent interview. “No, she’s got a team of analysts in Korea crunching algorithms faster than Hillary Clinton cashes checks from Goldman Sachs.” In that defiant spirit, they ditched their flannel shirts and skinny jeans in favor of power suits and suspenders. They dropped their guitars and picked up their expo markers and whiteboards. Then they realized how not fun that is, grabbed their guitars again, ditched the formula, and cranked out the most righteously rocking EP of 2016. “Buy American: Vol. 1” is the result of this truly revolutionary paradigm shift.


Saturday, September 3, 2016

Led Zeppelin IV (Zoso)

Lou and Katie discuss Led Zeppelin's masterpiece Led Zeppelin IV and reveal some little know facts about it's making




















Featured Loudini Artists:
Gene The Werewolf

Gene the Werewolf has never paid attention to trends. Nor has the Pittsburgh-based quintet been part of a scene or the hipster's band of choice. They are iconoclasts by virtue of their music, rock 'n' roll survivors in thrall to the genre's power and
energy. And they're damn good at it, even if they are a dying breed. "It's strange to feel like you are one of the last of your own kind," says Gene, the band's dynamic frontman and lead singer. Thus, "The Loner," Gene the Werewolf's third studio album.

The band, formed in 2007, is comprised of 5 native Pittsburghers. With self-released albums "Light Me
Up" and "Wicked Love" under their belts, as well as 2012's worldwide release of
"Rock 'n' Roll Animal" on Frontiers Records, the band is ready to deliver their knockout blow with "The Loner". In a perfect world it's music that should be blasting on car radios from Asbury Park to Hermosa Beach, on jukeboxes in dives and biker bars. Posters of the hirsute Gene and his band mates--guitarist Drew Donegan, bassist Tim Schultz, drummer Nick Revak and keyboard player Aaron Mediate--should be on the walls of kids from Seattle to South Beach. Put
Gene the Werewolf on stage at the Whisky A Go-Go on the Sunset Strip or The Troubadour in West Hollywood in 1989, and they'd kill. But times have changed.These guys don't have access to a time machine. The next best thing is an album like
"The Loner" that takes you to those halcyon days when rock 'n' roll was hip and cool and fearless. If you yearn for rock music that echoes Motley Crue, Alice Cooper and Guns 'N Roses, with dashes of Whitesnake and Winger in the mix, "The Loner" deserves your attention.

The album features 10 tracks of uniformly excellent quality. In a musical climate dominated by drip-feeding content, single-by-single, the band still takes great pride in making a conventional album. "We wrote and demoed close to 25 songs for the album, so there was a lot of variety and unique ideas being kicked around," Gene
says. Those ideas were fleshed out at Red Medicine Studios in Pittsburgh, where producer Sean McDonald has become one of Western Pennsylvania's most respected musical alchemists. Having worked with The Clarks, Jim Donovan
(formerly of Rusted Root) and many other of the best musicians in Pittsburgh,
McDonald helped the band reach its full potential. "It seems a cliche to say this, but Sean really was a sixth member of the band." Donegan says. "He worked as a songwriter, engineer and producer, elevating our craft to levels we didn't think were possible."

There are no duds on "The Loner." The first song, "The Walking Dead," is Gene's take
on a zombie apocalypse and features two dazzling guitar solos by Pittsburgh native Reb Beach, who currently performs with Whitesnake and Winger. The final track, "The Best I Can" showcases the honky-tonk piano of Randy Baumann of WDVE-FM and slide guitar by The Clarks' guitar maestro, Rob James. Sandwiched in between
are eight songs that will satisfy the most discriminating rock 'n' roll fan. And then there's Gene himself, who is merely the best rock 'n' roll singer too many people have never heard. He sings, he wails, he screams, he hits notes that haven't been
reached since Vince Neil was a pup. In a perfect world, he'd be a star, as would the band. But we all know the musical world is a fragile, fragmented and damaged place where stars are manufactured, not earned. Not that Gene the Werewolf cares about stardom. Give them a stage, let them play. That's all they want to do.


Gene - Vocals / Guitars / Piano
Nick - Drums
Drew - Guitar / Vocals
Aaron - Keyboards
Tim - Bass / Vocals

Norwood



I wish I could start this off with a “I was raised in a very musical family.” Or even a “Music was the last thing on my family’s mind” kind of place. But, like most people, my family was somewhere in the middle. My dad went to school for musicology when he was younger, but he wasn’t looking to be a musician, he doesn’t want to write his own music. We’ve talked about it, it doesn’t interest him. My mom could carry a tune, but again, not looking to be up on the stage performing. I don’t have a romantic legacy to fall back on, nor do I have the charm of someone who comes from absolutely no background whatsoever. All I have are my guts and a good sense of rhythm.
I grew up in Long Island, New York and spent most of my childhood during the 90s. My parents moved us to a neighborhood they most certainly could not afford when I was three and we did our best to pretend that we belonged there for as long as we could. It left a bad taste in my mouth, but I didn’t have much of a choice. My sister was a handful, so I was left to my own devices most of the time. I found that keeping quiet kept me out of hot water. And it went on like that for a long while. The middle. Not rich, but not starving. Always almost, though. Nothing to rightfully complain about, but not much to really celebrate. It was maddening. Still is.
Music was something outside of everything. And the bands I clung to were the bands that couldn’t be clearly defined. Sublime was my first “I have to buy everything they put out” band. They were punk, but not. They were ska, but not. They were even kinda pop sometimes, but definitely not. And that’s now a mantra I live by: “I am not a genre.” When “Sublime Acoustic: Bradley Nowell and friends” came out, it became one of my favorite albums. Just a guy and his guitar, but it was beautiful. That album made me want to pick up a guitar and play music. That led into all kinds of bands: Ska bands, Singer-Songwriters, Classic rock, R&B, whatever They Might Be Giants would be called. All of it got listened to.
I went into theater for college, and it made me a better artist, but it’s not for me. I thought, “Hey I like theater and music, so why not do musical theater? It’s perfect!” But it wasn’t. And one day, over in Wisconsin, I was introduced to The Mountain Goats.
I hadn’t realized that you could write songs like that. Bradley Nowell is the reason I picked up a guitar; John Darnielle is the reason I started writing songs. So I wrote a whole bunch of stuff, shared it online a little bit, but never actually put it up anywhere, that was back in 2010. 2 years later, I had written enough to play a full honest-to-god set. I started making my way around the smaller cafĂ© venues and also began connecting with people who, luckily for me, seemed to immediately get what I was going for.
Nastasia Green was the first to join me. She’s also a musical theater misfit who realized she doesn’t like musical theater. She’s one of my best friends and has been singing with me ever since. Sometimes you meet people, and you get a feeling that you’re meant to make music with them. Nastasia and I are meant to sing together. I worked with Keith Michael Pinault at a shitty server job on the upper west side of manhattan. I was looking around for a bassist one day and he told me he kind of played. I think he used the word “amateur”, but I wouldn’t. And he’s only been getting better and better with each new song or show. He always seems to know what kind of song I’m writing before I do. I met Hajnal Pivnick through a mutual friend and knew I wanted her to play with me on the first note. I’m a rag-tag kind of musician. I pride myself on being rough around the edges. Hajnal brings a sort of grace and sturdiness of core to the music and it takes every song to a whole different level. I met Max Maples through Hannah of Hannah Vs. The Many and also through Hajnal. He’s added so much backbone to my music and I can’t thank him enough for his willingness to jump in and swim.
I would say that my music is for the middle children of culture. The people who are constantly being told what’s cool and how they should think. These songs are for the people who take life on a person-by-person basis instead of lumping people into easily marketable groups, cliques, races, social classes, genders, whatever. This music is for anybody who feels pinned down by a thousand voices coming from all directions telling them they aren’t good enough for any of a million bullshit reasons. Fuck that.

Rachel B

Rachel B, originally from Traverse City, Michigan, studied Classical Voice at Interlochen Arts Academy, but always wanted to bend the notes and break the rules with her original music. She nurtured her sound at Berklee College of Music before dashing from academics to performance. After moving to Los Angeles, she began writing for TV & Film, while honing her artistry and performing on stages all over Southern California. When on a tour in 2014, Rachel fell in love with the city and people in Pittsburgh, PA. She relocated shortly after and decided to take her career into her own hands as a full-time Independent artist. After one year in Pittsburgh, Rachel B organically met friends that happened to be musicians and quickly turned into a band with ridiculous chemistry, creating Rachel B & The Boys.

You can find Rachel B performing on stages all over the country, showcasing her debut album “I’m The Boss.” The Click show reviewed the album as having “A sense of empowerment yet vulnerability which unapologetically convey the feelings and struggles of being any individual in today’s society.” Home business writes, “Renowned singer-songwriter Rachel B just launched her uplifting debut album, titled I’m The Boss, to help awaken the spirit in others to rise up and be a true leader in the business sphere.”

Rachel B draws much of her inspiration from the classics, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Minnie Riperton and Bill Withers. She combines these classic stylings with contemporary sounds and irresistible feel-good pop songs, to create a truly unique sound. Whether she’s singing about being a boss, or tickling the ivories on a charming love song, this natural born soulstress will captivate you with her memorable hooks, leaving you with feelings of empowerment and delight.

Beyond the stage, Rachel B has had her songs placed on ABC shows such as General Hospital and in various independent films. She was selected as the recipient of the prestigious Johnny Mercer Songwriting Award and Berklee’s Women’s Composer Award. Her magnetic stage presence led the young starlet to perform at venues across the country including Chicago Symphony Hall, Berklee Performance Center, South Park Amphitheater, and Flood City Music Festival.

Be sure to check Rachel B & The Boys out live at a show near you and let the songs tell the rest of the story