Adobe and Teardrops

The Basics: Roger Clyne

2012-03-04T09:59:00.001-08:00

Hey, there, sportsfans. Now that I'll no longer by taking classes (woot!) and having real person hours (awww) I'm going to change the update schedule starting NEXT week. Mondays will be added. But to tide you over through the weekend, I figured on Sundays I'd start on a new column called The Basics. I already started this a ways back when in my article about Cowboy Mouth. But I haven't really had a chance to continue it. Suffice to say, The Basics will be about artists who don't necessarily have anything new out, but I think you should know about them anyway.

In a way, this column also traces my musical chronology. I'm going to start with the bands that have informed my musical taste (and, thus, what you read on this blog.) After Cowboy Mouth, my next stop on the alt-country path was Roger Clyne and his various projects.

In my Cowboy Mouth article, I complained that I was too young to enjoy nineties college rock. But there was at least one advantage to being a teenager in the aughts: the proliferation of Internet radio. Yahoo! used to have a service that was pretty great, and then I migrated to Pandora. Both services pointed me to Roger Clyne's first band, the Refreshments.

You have heard The Refreshments. If you listened to the radio in the nineties, then you heard "Banditos," an infectious rocker about holding up a Circle K. If you have any taste in comedy at all, then you watch King of the Hill, whose theme song is courtesy of the band's second album, The Bottle and Fresh Horses. They became popular shortly after fellow Tempe, AZ's The Gin Blossoms' success. The Refreshments had a decidedly more twangy sound to them. On "Tributary Otis" you can hear the label exec's attempt to shoehorn them into the Gin Blossoms' sound. I'm not surprised that this was the last Refreshments album.

Roger Clyne by Rachel C on Grooveshark

This band basically characterized my entire high school experience. Roger Clyne's good-natured cynicism was perfect for A) a teenager who B) came of age during the surreal ironies of post-9/11. Sure, things sucked and life is hard, but if you shrug your shoulders and look for the good times, you might see it through. But then there are those dark moments, like "Nada" or "Birds Sing", where you have to give in to your despair. The fact that songs like that could co-exist with "Wanted" or "Banditos" helped me avoid a lot of teen angst. In my senior year of high school, some friends of mine and I choreographed a line dance to "Wanted." We had props. It was awesome. And we got gym credit for it.

Roger Clyne -- in both The Refreshments and his subsequent band, The Peacemakers -- combines deft wordplay with eminently catchy riffs. The music might be palatable, but the his lyrics are just as powerful as they are humorous. "Switchblade" always sends chills up my spine, at least. In my opinion, The Peacemakers have peaked with their 2004 release, Americano! I closed with the lead song off the album to show Roger's growth as a singer-songwriter: while it treats the same subject matter as "Banditos," it shows a clear progression since his first hit.

And for funsies, here's a video of The Peacemakers and Cowboy Mouth performing together at a concert I would have given my right arm to be at.

Roxie Watson -- Of Milestones and Moon Pie

2012-03-01T21:00:00.000-08:00

Real talk: I started this blog because I knew this album would be coming out and I wanted everyone in the universe to know about it. (So, like, all 20-40 of you regular visitors.) I wondered how I could spread the word about Roxie Watson, and then I realized any idiot could start a blog. And here we are.

I've talked about Roxie Watson a few times before. More specifically, I wrote about Sonia Tetlow, who plays banjo on the album. All five members of this "alterna-grass" band pull songwriting duty.

Roxie Watson is essentially a supergroup of veterans from the Atlanta women's rock scene -- they recently opened for the Indigo Girls and Amy Ray. The experience they've had accompanying each other -- in addition to their natural chemistry -- is clear on all of their songs. The quintet sings and plays as if they're of one mind.

The album itself emphasizes hope and strength in the face of all odds. Goodness knows we could all use that extra strength right now. However, Roxie Watson never comes off as strident or earnest. It's as if you had some of your old friends hanging out on your porch -- an affect I know the band was trying for and ultimately succeeded them. We've got songs about coal mining, break ups, love, and Georgia's ridiculous blue laws. (Though I gotta say, it's hard to top Pennsylvania when it comes to arbitrary rules about the sale of alcohol.)

But this album. Lie on the bed. Hit play. Close your eyes. Think of the good times you've had and the better times you're about to have. That's what Roxie Watson wants you to do. This album is the perfect medicine for a wounded heart.

Sunday Beer
Hide Hide Hide
Home Again

Roxie Watson -- Official, Facebook, CDBaby

Great Wild Heartache -- Comanche Girl EP

2012-02-28T21:00:00.000-08:00

Hey, folks. This week is basically hellacious so here's a quick update with some news tidbits!

First, Great Wild Heartache, whom I reviewed a few days ago, just realized another EP! It's a few live tracks and it's essentially a rebuttal of what I wrote in my earlier review. The music is still fantastic, and it proves that they have more than two tricks up their sleeve. I can't wait for them to put out a full-length album. Plop down $7 for some good ol' Okie country.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://greatwildheartache.bandcamp.com/album/comanche-girl-ep"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Comanche Girl EP by Great Wild Heartache&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

ALSO: Exciting CD releases! When I have a minute, I'll make this a permanent sidebar on the blog.

MONDAY (2/27) -- The Attic Stairs (Bandcamp) -- You'll hear more about these folks soon!
YESTERDAY (2/28) -- Amy Ray, Lung of Love (Stream here)
YESTERDAY (2/28) -- Roxie Watson, Of Milestones and Moonpie (CD Baby, iTunes)
3/24(?) -- Arliss Nancy, Simple Machines
4/10 -- The Alabama Shakes, Boys and Girls
4/10 -- Tim Barry, 40 Miler
5/15 -- Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires, There Is a Bomb in Gilead

Matt Woods -- The Matt Woods Manifesto

2012-02-25T21:00:00.000-08:00

I can't say I'm really late on this one. Manifesto came out back in June, but since I wasn't blogging then, I can tell you about how great it is now.

The thing I've most enjoyed about blogging so far is getting introduced to so much new music all at once. The thing I've least enjoyed is that I keep getting introduced to so much new music all at once. I've found that it's easy to find music that catches your ear, but it takes a little more time for that music to settle into your heart. There are a couple of folks featured on here who I'm fairly certain I haven't listened to since posting about them (I won't say who.) That doesn't mean they're bad -- if I thought they sucked they wouldn't be on here -- it's just that there's a lot of music to sift through, and that's never a bad thing. However, Matt Woods Manifesto holds a coveted place at the top of my CD pile.

This album was my introduction to Matt Woods, but it seems to me that the title is apt. All but one song on Manifesto knocks it out of the park (which I'll get to in a minute.) I recently revisited the CD and decided I had to commit every word to memory. No lyric is wasted, no note is misplaced. The crowning achievement of the album, to me, is "Johnny Ray Dupree." There's no shortage of songs about jealous lovers who do rash things, but anyone who can make that lover into a tragic hero instead of a testosterone-soaked asshole deserves the highest praises. Kudos to you, Mr. Woods.

And that's why I'm not so in love with "Friday Night," which is a fairly standard "let's get fucked up" song. When a song like that is bookended by complex songs like "Johnny Ray" and the serene "Port St. Lucie," it can't help but come off as somewhat shallow. However, it's a great song by itself, so that should give you an indication of how amazing the rest of the album is.

Hie thee to Spotify, then hie thee to his official website, where you can get a bonus CD with your purchase.

Ghosts of the Gospel
Port St. Lucie
Johnny Ray Dupree
Company Town

Matt Woods Official, Facebook, Spotify

Great Wild Heartache -- Allison EP

2012-02-23T21:00:00.000-08:00

I learned about Great Wild Heartache via John Moreland's Facebook page, so I knew they must be good people.

Like John Moreland, Great Wild Heartache's greatest strength is their ability to toss off brilliant lyrical twist after brilliant lyrical twist like it ain't no thang. Though there are only four songs on the EP, they each leave a big mark. The first two songs, "Mind's Achin'" and "Solar Flare" are reminiscent of driving '90s rock hits like "It's a Shame About Ray." As if you needed another reason to hit that ol' play button. "Sunlight" is a meditation about hitting low points, but finding a way to push on through. "Bronco Babe," the last track, is a meditation about, well, Bronco babes.

All four songs start off by repeating a catch hook until all of the players join in and build off of it. It's certainly effective but, personally, I don't know if I'd want to listen to a whole album of songs that use this single technique. Hopefully, as Great Wild Heartache gains its sea legs, they'll become even more confident about taking risks in their songwriting. As Allison shows, they have a lot to be proud of already.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://greatwildheartache.bandcamp.com/album/allison-ep"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Allison EP by Great Wild Heartache&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

FREE MUSIC: Sorry OK Yes

2012-02-22T12:28:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased to announce that I have the entire week off for Presidents' Day. (One of the few benefits of NYC public schools?) In honor of Georgie and Abe, let's celebrate American cultural imperialism!

Sorry Ok Yes, hailing from Milan, packs a two-fisted punch. In his e-mail to me, the lead singer, Davide Materazzi compared his band to The Pack AD. There's a lot of similarities -- the two-man garage-blues approach, the fuzzy guitars, and the 500% investment in their music. But I'd also direct fans of The Black Keys to this duo: danceable beats, catchy guitar hooks, and an overpowering sexuality that I don't see present in the Pack's music.

To Sorry Ok Yes's credit, they avoid coming off as repugnantly macho. There's nothing I hate more than cock rock, and you'll never hear it on this blog. Really, Sorry Ok Yes's is youth music at its best: they're singing about young peoples' problems while embracing an infections joie de vivre. I hope they come back to the States soon.

Oh, and you can download all of their music for free, because they just don't give a damn about record labels.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://sorryokyes.bandcamp.com/track/so"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;SO! by SORRY OK YES&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

FREE MUSIC: Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires

2012-02-19T09:01:00.000-08:00

For those of you who missed the memo, the Alabama Shakes not only finally got themselves a real website, they're also about to launch a major tour. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires will be supporting them. I'm always one to check out the opening band (I mean, I'm paying for the show, right?) and now I'm stoked for the concert. $20 for two bands that I know I will thoroughly enjoy is a great bargain if you ask me.

So when I went to look at The Glory Fires' website, I had some initial reservations. It's in that hipster faux-web design neophyte style. As I read the band bio (in Courier Sans) I read a rather tortured apology for being Southern, followed by the words "NYU," and "English degree." Because if there's nothing worse than a navel-gazing English major, it's an English major from NYU (almost certainly a hipster) consumed by white guilt.

And then I listened to the music, and my dumb preconceptions were thoroughly shattered.

Because the other thing to note about Lee Bains is that he's an alumn of the Dexateens, a rowdy Southern rock bar band. The three songs currently available from the band's forthcoming EP, There is a Bomb in Gilead, vary greatly in style. "Righteous, Ragged Songs" is a blistering declaration of intent. As the press release promises, it's Southern rock with a little something new. "Everything You Took" and "Centreville" are similarly upbeat. I can't think of a better opener for The Alabama Shakes -- something old, something new, and enough energy to power Los Angeles for a year.

April 12th can't come soon enough.

Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires Official, Facebook
The Dexateens on Spotify

The Blessed Broke

2012-02-16T23:30:00.000-08:00

As a proud New Yorker, I can say that The Blessed Broke is enough to make me want to move to Kansas City.

The first word that comes to mind here is earthy. While you can find singer Brian Frame's live, solo efforts on the YouTube channel (see link below) I'm more attracted to the full band sound. The electric guitar and drums serve to offset the cryptic lyrics. However, Frame's vocals -- accompanied or not -- lend a warmth that prevents his otherwise cryptic lyrics from dipping into the macabre. And macabre's not a place I find too interesting (unless your name is Black Francis and you're writing music before 1993.)

The music's greatest strength is that it succeeds in creating a particular atmosphere without being a downer at all. It was this resistance to predictability that drew me in to The Blessed Broke in the first place. I hope you agree!

The Blessed Broke Official, Facebook, YouTube Channel

The Washover Fans

2012-02-15T11:37:00.000-08:00

Here's how I generally select music for this blog: usually while I'm doing something else. (True story!) If it "pops" out at me from the general background noise of the Internets, then there's something about it that makes it worth my attention.

This is true of the Seattle-based The Washover Fans. The band sounds as if they are of one mind. The confidence, sensitivity, and instrumentation in "Yours" reminds me of The Low Anthem. All three vocalists are soulful and believable enough that they brought tears to my eyes the first time I heard them -- and I was having a great day. If you like your music on the awesome side then you should give them a listen.

Yours
A Ways

For two more songs by the Washover Fans, check out Americana Rock Mix.

The Washover Fans Official, Facebook, iTunes, CDBaby

Ani DiFranco -- Which Side Are You On?

2012-02-12T16:58:00.000-08:00

I'm not a huge Ani DiFranco fan. I don't know why; probably because the places she goes are too dark for me, even when I'm at my darkest. But I streamed a few tracks from her latest release, Which Side Are You On? on Paste Magazine's mPlayer and I was hooked. I couldn't stop listening to the album for the first few days after I bought it. Oddly enough, it dropped out of my rotation fairly quickly, but now that I'm listening to it while I write this entry, I'm realizing that this is quite an unjust omission.

I'm just going to start with the obvious and note the superb guitar-playing. If you're somebody who dismisses Ani and other Lilith Fair-era musicians, then you're making a grave mistake. The backup musicians complement Ani's skill: the sweeping drumbeats and odd syncopation give the songs a unique strength that could only come from Ani DiFranco's pen.

What strikes me most about this album is how mellow it is. With the exception, of course, of "Which Side Are You On?" As far as I'm concerned, it's the political rallying call we've been waiting for since Sleater-Kinney's One Beat. The drumline is pure New Orleans, which, as far as I'm concerned, she pack an extra bite in a post-Katrina world. Ani's edge is still very much visible and has become more pointed with time. It's as if she's learned when to release the claws and when to be peace

The Mother Corn Shuckers

2012-02-09T21:00:00.000-08:00

If you like bluegrass, that's awesome. If you don't you're about to love it.

Your emissaries of bluegrass.

The Mother Corn Shuckers hail from San Luis Obispo, but as far as I'm concerned they could have walked out of Appalachia. (Except for those songs about the sea -- not so topical to a coal miner.) The band brings a genuine passion and drive to each song on this album, whether it's the rollicking "Coffee" or "Corn Liquor," or the contemplative "Rossin' Up My Bow." Whoever takes lead vocals on "Bottom of the Sea" is a dead ringer for John Mellencamp, and in my book, that's pretty great.

So throw down with some good time-y music. And have yourself a superlative weekend.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://mothercornshuckers.bandcamp.com/track/bottom-of-the-sea"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Bottom of the Sea by The Mother Corn Shuckers&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://mothercornshuckers.bandcamp.com/track/rossin-up-my-bow"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Rossin Up My Bow by The Mother Corn Shuckers&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://mothercornshuckers.bandcamp.com/track/coffee"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Coffee by The Mother Corn Shuckers&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Buy The Mother Corn Shuckers

The Mother Corn Shuckers Official, Facebook

FREE MUSIC: The Walla Recovery

2012-02-08T15:12:00.000-08:00

So I made a playlist but I forgot to tell you about it. It's way more raucous than this music, so you should have a listen if that's what you're in the mood for.

So let's get one thing straight here: I was raised Jewish. I just want to make that clear, because The Walla Recovery seems to be a Christian band. If this is something that takes some effort to get past (like it does for me) then you should put in that effort.

Their music is as gentle and pleasant as their band photo. Their combination of acoustic guitars, heartfelt lyrics, and soaring cello strikes a chord, regardless of your religious persuasion. My favorites are the lead-off tracks: "She Said" and "Spread Your Wings." I guess I just have a thing for yearning vocals and a driving beat.

Interestingly, it's difficult to tell whether or not many of these songs are about a romantic relationship or something more spiritual. That's a theme that's at the core of Sufi poetry. Oh, stop gasping. Music like The Walla Recovery's should serve to remind us that the desire for a relationship with God/gods/Buddha/etc. is one of the most powerful bonds that we, as humans, should have. But we don't. What's up with that?

And if you really can't get past the Jesus-stuff. Here's what John Moreland has to say about Christian rock bands.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://johnmoreland.bandcamp.com/track/christian-rock"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Christian Rock by John Moreland &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; The Dust Bowl Souls&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

The Walla Recovery Official, Facebook

The Pack A.D. -- Unpersons

2012-02-04T21:05:00.000-08:00

Concluding our week of drrrty blues is the best thing to come out of British Columbia since Stargate. (I set the bar really high. I'm serious.) The Pack A.D. is not especially bawdy in terms of its lyrics, but all of those distorted guitars and vocals start to get underneath your fingernails.

The Pack A.D. is reminiscent of Sleater-Kinney and the Black Keys. The Sleater-Kinney comparison is not because they have lady parts (though, as sexist as this is, I would argue that only female rockers can express the raw ferocity of the riot grrl movement.) The Pack A.D's music is raw and almost dangerously chaotic in a way that I've only heard on Sleater-Kinney's last album, The Woods. The blues influences (less prominent on Unpersons) clearly invoke The Black Keys.

Like the Black Keys' most recent album, Unpersons is more accessible and dance-able than the band's previous work. Unlike El Camaro, Unpersons manages to retain the integral core of what The Pack A.D. is all about. On its own terms, most of the songs on Unpersons ditch the blues influence for straight-up punk -- as you can see in "8".

If for some reason you don't already have Spotify, The Pack A.D. should be enough of a reason to download it. Their entire catalog is on there, and you don't want to miss out on it.

Seasick

Positronic

The Pack A.D.’s official site, Spotify, Facebook.
Buy Unpersons on vinyl, CD, or digital, iTunes, Amazon.

Lucille Bogan

2012-02-02T23:30:00.000-08:00

Lucille Bogan is the reason that this week is drrrrrrty blues week here on Adobe and Teardrops. (Is it pretentious to start going with A&T?) And believe me, Ms. Bogan deserves all of those extra r's.The ever-trusty Cracked.com unearthed Lucille in their 2009 article "7 Songs From Your Grandpa's Day That Would Make Eminem Blush". As talented as Cracked's writers are, for this article you just need to read the lyrics to believe it.

I'm not really sure where to start -- with one of her more coy songs, or if I should just hit you in the face with how shocking this stuff is. Stuff from the 1930s.

If you want to start in easy, read on to Barbecue Bess.

If you want to start with the crass, SCROLL DOWN to "'Til the Cows Come Home"! (NSFW)

Clearly, Bogan wrote songs for their shock value. Wikipedia is pretty skimpy on the details, so I don't know how famous she actually was, but she was well-known enough to get recorded and to tour around the country.

Barbecue Bess

"Barbecue Bess" seems to be her tamest song, in which we are lead to compare barbecue and sex. (The refrain is, "I'm talkin' about barbecue/That's the only thing I sell.") For funzies, here's a Japanese group performing the song. They pretty much nail it, though. (And I believe she's explaining the meaning of "barbecue" to the audience -- it's hard to tell with that weird grinding sound.)

'Til the Cows Come Home

The Cracked article features "Shave 'Em Dry" -- probably because she says "fuck" so many times.

But if they had done their research, "'Til the Cows Come Home" would have given them comedy gold. Oh, and here's a picture of Ms. Bogan so you can imagine her singing this.

If you suck my pussy
I'll suck your dick
I'll do it to you honey
'Til I make you shit
Ooh, baby, do it all night long.

And then there's my favorite song. I would like to declare it the international anthem of lesbians everywhere: "BD Woman's Blues."

I'm not so great at this kind of thing, but if someone can tell me what key that's in I'm going to learn me it on guitar.

Molly Gene One Whoaman Band -- Folk, Blues, and Booze

2012-02-01T17:35:00.000-08:00

It seems like the last couple of posts have veered to a more acoustic kick lately. It's time to get out of that rut (though there certainly isn't anything wrong with acoustic guitars.) This week, we're gonna focus on some drrrrrty women's blues. And today we're gonna start with Molly Gene.

And her stylish boots.

I'm not reviewing the album here, because I haven't listened to it (though her previous album is available on Spotify.) I listened to "Country Lover" and "Smells Like Low Tide" and I thought, "What. Is. This?"

Really, it's what would happen if riot grrl and the Delta blues conceived of a bastard child after a whisky-sodden night. (I'll tell you more about one of their legitimate children on Friday.) "Kings and Queens" is much less raucous and, in my opinion, exhibits Molly Gene's range as a writer and a singer. Enjoy!

Country Lover

Smells Like Low Tide

Kings and Queens

Molly Gene One Whoaman Band’s Official Site, Molly Gene One Whoaman Band on Facebook, Molly Gene One Whoaman Band on Spotify, Buy Folk, Blues and Booze

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After some amazing advice from Von (Americana Rock Mix) I've tried to keep my posts short and sweet. Do you think I've been able to do that without giving Ms. Gene short shrift? Let a blogger know!

CONCERT REVIEW: Cowboy Mouth -- BB King's, New York

2012-01-29T11:04:00.000-08:00

So here's something that's going to make all of us feel old: as of this August, I'll have been a fan of Cowboy Mouth for exactly as long as I've been alive.

I think if I were to talk about how much this band has affected my life (definitely for the better) it would turn into a memoir. I tried to address it here, but it was pretty rambly. The short version is that I am who I am today because of them.

Cowboy Mouth was the first rock concert I ever went to, and I've been thoroughly spoiled every since. How many concerts do you go to where the drummer/lead singer climbs up onto somebody's table while they're eating (why would you eat dinner during a rock concert? Or sit at a table? These are things Cowboy Mouth has taught me not to understand) and harangue the audience into dropping their guard and not being afraid to act like total goofballs?

This little spiel is especially important in the Northeast, and particularly in New York City. None of the cool kids want to dance at concerts these days.

These are the two big takeaways I've learned from Cowboy Mouth concerts over the years:

Standing with your arms crossed over your chest and nodding your head to the music is not an acceptable way to appreciate rock music. (HIPSTERS.)
You don't need to be drunk to have yourself a great fucking time. Don't forget that I've been going to these things since I was 12. And that's why I never get drunk at concerts.

BB King's is a good home for Cowboy Mouth, and Fred and the gang seemed please that we were all old hats when it came to the Cowboy Mouth experience.

Fred LeBlanc on vocals and drums -- the human dynamo.

There's not much I can say about a Cowboy Mouth concert that hasn't been said before. The band combines their songs of hardship and woe with powerful life-affirming messages, call-and-response, sing-alongs, ritualistic practices like hugging the stranger next to you at the beginning of the concert, and throwing red spoons at the stage during a certain line of "Everybody Loves Jill" (though that last one is more of a fan tradition.) In other words, I think we should all be glad that frontman Fred LeBlanc chose to write music instead of stumping for a megachurch; his gift is too powerful to be used for the forces of evil.

And after 22 years of playing 300+ shows per year, it's always refreshing to see that Fred and Griff (the remaining founding members of the band) still have it. To my gratitude, they opened the concert with a medley of the crowd-pleasers from their newer material: "Kelly Ripa" and "Glad to Be Alive" stand out to me here. "Kelly Ripa" is probably the most insipid song known to this side of Top 40 radio, and I was relieved that I didn't have to listen to the whole thing. Once they breezed through the newer stuff (as if to remind us that it exists) the band settled down to the material in their catalog -- new and old -- that was worth our attention.

Really, the only thing they could have done to make it my dream set-list would be to add "Tears Toward Heaven." I know you guys are gonna read this, and you know I've been requesting it for the last ten years. Just do it already.

Bassist Cassandra Faulconer and rhythm guitarist Matt Jones

As always, I left the concert feeling great. It seemed like nothing could bring down. And, as always, I'm suffering my 24-hour withdrawal. But for that one-and-a-half-hours on Friday night, I got in touch with my twelve-year-old self again. I was like, "How's it going?" and she was like, "I'm glad you're not too cool to hang out with me!" and then I was like "That's never gonna happen. Just wait until Adventure Time comes out."

I took a really blurry picture of lead guitarist John Thomas Griffith. Just for you.

So really, you should keep an eye out for this band. I made a little playlist in the older Cowboy Mouth entry so you can get a feel for their music. I will champion this band no matter what, and I've been doing that since I was 12. I named this blog after one of John Thomas Griffith's songs. Cowboy Mouth might not be edgy, or dirty, or rough, or mean, or tired, but how many of those bands do we really need? (Lots, because that's who I mostly talk about here.) Life is serious, but that doesn't mean we have to be. So keep an eye on those tour dates -- I promise they'll be near you at some point sometime (as long as you're in the continental US) -- and go to one of their concerts. If you don't feel happy and re-energized I will refund your ticket. (No! Really!) And then I'll suggest you seek counseling.

Cowboy Mouth Official ...and you know where to find the rest.

(New readers! Please help me get to 50 "likes" on Facebook by March! Thanks for stopping by!)

FREE MUSIC: Thee Shambels

2012-01-26T22:00:00.000-08:00

I don't really get Southern gothic stuff. There are a few reasons for this: 1) I'm not a Southerner, 2) I may be a little cynical (I mean, I'm from New York City forcryinoutloud), but I'm not morbid, and 3) I had a lame ex who was really into Murder by Death.

And then Thee Shambels, a Brooklyn-based, self-described "folk noir" band landed on my doorstep.

Pictured: Doorstep.

What I'm saying is that their music is really awesome -- awesome enough for me to get past my silly prejudices, and spellbinding enough for me to talk about them here.

And you can get four songs for FREE until midnight of the 31st. All for the price of your e-mail address.

"Baby's Bones" is a fairly typical ballad about burying a lost loved one in Ye Olde Pioneer Times. "The Girl at the Bottom of the World" is a whimsical tune. I mistook it for a love song at first, but I should have known better. "The Road To Hell" actually is a love song (I think?) but the narrator's trouble with the law dooms it to fail. "Jenny Come Back" is my favorite of the bunch -- just because one should always be armed with compelling reasons to abandon the West Coast for the Best Coast (that's this one.)

So what was it about this EP that really grabbed me? For one, I think it's the stylistic diversity among the songs. None of the four sound exactly alike, and that keeps Thee Shambels from becoming too heavy-handed. Also, singer Neville Elder's voice. It sounds like Bourbon and cigars and class. It's enough to make me wish I was a 40-year-old Englishman.

So drink up that Kool-Aid. And if you have any more "folk noir" to suggest that, like Thee Shambels, is not overburdened by gimmicks, send 'em on to me.

Thee Shambels Official, On Facebook

FREE MUSIC: The Creak

2012-01-24T23:30:00.000-08:00

Even if you don't like bluegrass (who are you?), it's hard to resist The Creak's charm. I mean, look at them. They're so dapper!

The San Francisco-based quintet plays as if they're of one mind. Their humorous lyrics remind me of early Roger Clyne/The Refreshments: beneath those sharp one-liners is some deep pathos. But don't worry about that. They're nice guys. They'll see all those hard times through. Fans of Greenland is Melting should definitely take note of The Creak. Like Greenland is Melting, The Creak incorporates punk elements into their songcraft...and they have a song about zombies.

That being said, the five of them clearly take their songcraft and musicianship seriously. When I listen to their songs, I find it hard to believe that they're not of one mind. Give 'em a listen.

This Weekend

No Vacancy

Download Fool's Gold Here (It's FREE!)

The Creak Official, Bandcamp

Concert Review: Jo Wymer -- Parkside Lounge, New York

2012-01-21T23:30:00.000-08:00

I've seen too many criminally under-attended concerts in New York and Philadelphia. It's enough to make me want to move to New Orleans, where people actually appreciate music for music's sake.

But then I wouldn't get to see Jo Wymer play live.

Steve Romanowsky (guitar), Gene Boccia (bass), David Halpern (drums), Jo Wymer (vox)

The band played to a small room of about fifteen people -- four of whom had just played a show at the bar down the street. I wish I had found out their names, because if their music is as fun and awesome as they are, then they deserve to be up here. It didn't help that the Parkside Lounge -- the self-proclaimed champagne of dive bars -- treated its back room as an actual lounge. My first concerts were Cowboy Mouth shows, so the concept of sitting down at rock concerts is pretty alien to me.

But that's not to say they didn't play their hearts out and that we didn't have a great time. I should've known better than to hope I could capture the Steve Romanowsky's serene joy and the Gene Boccia's grins with my little camera. (You can kind of see it in the shot above.)

As a group, the four musicians were extremely tight and, when it came down to playing solos, gracious to each other. (Jo left the stage during the Marc Ribler's skillful solos.) However, they seemed most energetic when performing covers: a smoking version of "Moulin Rouge" and a heartwrenching rendition of "Stormy Mondays." It seemed to me that they were willing to be more spontaneous and playful with these songs than Jo's original material. I expect that as the band continues to play live, they'll build even more confidence while playing Jo's work. And then they'll really be an unstoppable force.

Don't worry if you missed the concert. They'll be playing at The Alphabet Lounge on March 10. And hopefully there won't be any of that weird table service stuff.

Jo Wymer Official, Facebook, G+, Buy Living With Scars (which you can do on basically every platform except Spotify)

Please "like" my Facebook page and help me get to 50 likes by March!

(Edit: Added everyone's names proper-like, corrected concert date.)

FREE MUSIC: Soviet Bear and Foul Weathered Friend

2012-01-19T15:49:00.000-08:00

An early entry and more free music! This 5-track split, Fool's Gold is brought to you by Tim Browne (Soviet Bear) of the Fort Collins, CO-based punk band Elway, and Steve-O (Foul Weathered Friends) of The Holy Mess, from my adopted hometown of Philadephia. It's available for free from Death to False Hope Records.

Though the two are veteran punkers, Fool's Gold shows their acoustic sides. Alternately contemplative, peaceful, and solemn, both songwriters allow themselves to break free of the two-minute anthem format and stretch out. But that doesn't mean that either of them have broken free of punk altogether. As Mike Ostrov observes on Ninebullets, this collection inhabits a peripheral zone between punk, rock, and your average singer-songwriter-type introspection. And it ain't half-bad.

Download Fool's Gold

Awake With a Winged Heart (Soviet Bear)

Therapy (Foul Weathered Friend)

Elway on Facebook, Spotify

The Holy Mess on Facebook, Bandcamp, Spotify

(Press that "Like" button on the right and help me get to 50 "likes" by March!)

FREE MUSIC: Empty Orchestra

2012-01-18T14:40:00.000-08:00

In case you haven't noticed, SOPA and PIPA are dangerously close to becoming a reality. Here's Bryan Childs of Ninebullets' explanation as to why stopping SOPA is important. If you haven't had a chance to sign a petition or five yet, now's the time.

And now, on to some free music. Which you probably wouldn't be able to obtain if SOPA/PIPA are enacted.

The first thing that'll grab you whenyou listen to Empty Orchestra is Stephen Wisniewski's killer openinglyrics. I had a hard time picking the songs to feature in this entry– all of them are great, and you can download it here – but Ihope these songs are testament to Wisniewski 's skill.

According to their website, EmptyOrchestra is a musical collective from Flint, Michigan. Though manyof the background players change throughout this album, the brilliantmusicianship is constant throughout the album. Wisniewski's vocals –alternately desolate and hopeful – anchor the songs so that eachone sounds as if it's produced by one, cohesive unit.

In terms of subject matter, many of thesongs focus on displacement and isolation – except for the defiant“You Should See The Other Guy.” Not exactly cheerful, but if youcan't identify with that emotion that it's either been a long timesince you were young, or you haven't pushed yourself far enough yet.So give these songs a listen – stream, download (it's FREE,remember?), whatever – and give these folks a home in your heart,and maybe they can find a place to rest on the road.

Ballad of Bulls Run

No Such Place

Empire State Building

Download One More Time, Altogether Now for FREE

Empty Orchestra -- Official, Facebook, Spotify

Don't forget to be a champ and "like" my page! (Button conveniently located to your right!) Help me get to 50+ readers by March!

State Champion -- Deep Shit

2012-01-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

First things first. Housekeeping notes: I realized that my Sonia Tetlow post marked the one-month anniversary of this blog! Things have been going great so far and I'd like to thank you all for reading. However, I'm really serious about turning this blog into A Thing and in order to do that, I need to be able to brag to artists and record labels that lots of people from lots of places read this blog. So, if you're new: welcome! If you're not, welcome back! Regardless, please like me on Facebook. I'd love to get to fifty "likes" by March.

For those of you keeping score at home, this album was featured in my top 3 of 2011 post. I'm excited to tell you more about it now.

But I dunno. Maybe you should just listen to the songs first? Because they're fucking amazing? OK? OK.

Bottom of the Bleak
Old Green Room
Red Dog and Black Brick

This album is honestly the best six dollars I have ever spent (I got the digital download.) Everything about this album is breathtaking. Everything. The lyrics are astonishing, the music is emotionally charged, and Ryan Davis's vocals (leastways I'm pretty sure that's who's singing) are simultaneously desperate and hopeful. When I first downloaded Deep Shit, I listened to the entire album on loop for three hours and didn't get tired of it. Even now, I have to listen to some songs a couple of times in a row. Mostly because I don't want the song to end. Ever.

It's excruciatingly difficult to pick any one lyric to showcase their lyrical prowess. I always hear or discover something new when I listen to these songs. So for now I'll just give you the first verse of "Old Green Room." (Any mistakes are mine.)

Mamma lost a friend over something like God
What his last name is and what he wears on the job
Daddy lost a friend over something like a crime
Or something like nothing, but a dark spot on the mind
And my baby
Sister lost a friend over something like an invitation
That's why I tell her to hold on to the good one's that you're making
Brother lost a friend over something like just kinda fade away you know
But I guess it gets harder and harder changing colors day after day
And I think I been feeling blue
I been feeling pink and yellow, green and golden, too
I'd take a submarine, aeroplane, thousand red balloons
Just to get me back to feeling black in that old green room

What does it mean? I have no idea. And that's what appeals to me...State Champion's music, in case you haven't figured it out, is irresistibly mysterious. And maybe if I just listen to it one more time, I'll finally get it.

Also, their fans are really fucking entertaining but you're not gonna get any of those jokes until you buy the album, so do it.

Though they're based in Louisville and Chicago, State Champion will be making its way to the Northeast in late March/early April. I hope we're all prepared.

State Champion -- Official, Facebook, Buy Deep Shit on Amazon

Don't forget to get me to 50 "likes" by the time State Champion gets here!

Jo Wymer -- Living With Scars

2012-01-12T15:55:00.000-08:00

I first heard Jo Wymer's music around the same time I first listened to The Alabama Shakes, but it's not for nothing that the two are so close in my mind. Jo Wymer's voice is every inch as clear, soulful, and beautiful as Brittany Howard's, and both ladies know how to play guitar.

But where the Shakes sing songs of Christian redemption, Wymer's subject matter is about the journey she's been through, and how she's just not going to take anybody's shit anymore. Really, it's a rare vocalist who can pour his or her heart and soul into every note, and Wymer is that singer. However, I think where Wymer really displays her singing and songwriting talent is her capacity to explore different emotions. This is not just an album about defiance, injury, healing, love, or lust. It's about being human, and that means living through a number of different experiences.

Fortunately for me (and I suspect most of you,) Jo Wymer is based in New Jersey. She plays there frequently and is starting to break into Philly and NYC. She's playing at The Parkside Lounge in Manhattan next Friday, January 20th, from 9 to 10 PM. Admission is only $3 (THREE), so I'll see you there!

Dirty Secrets
Come On Baby
I Can Tell

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Exciting news tidbit number one: John Moreland has a tumblr. Not only is it a tumblr, it is a tumblr with a new song every week. And if you haven't liked the Adobe and Teardrops page on Facebook, get your patootie over there to get the link!

Exciting tidbit number two: As you can see, I've figured out how to embed a real mp3 player onto the blog. Smell ya later, Grooveshark. (Except for those Mixtape Mondays.)
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Jo Wymer Official, Facebook, G+, Buy Living With Scars (which you can do on basically every platform except Spotify)

Concert Review: Theo Katzman and Charlene Kaye -- Mercury Lounge, New York

2012-01-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

The headliner for this afternoon concert was a band called Shoot the Freak. I wasn't too impressed and, unlike the majority pre-teen audience, I had homework to do. But what that band (a competent attempt at trashy 70s glam rock), Theo Katzman, and Charlene Kaye all have in common is that they're Darren Criss's college buds. I don't particularly care about Darren Criss -- in fact, I don't even really know who he is. But none of the three performers would let us forget about their connection to him, so it seemed worth mention here. It would be unfair to say that Theo and Charlene are riding on their friend's coattails, but they're certainly milking it for all it's worth to their younger fans. Some friends of mine were in town from Germany and were super stoked to see them, so off I went for my first concert of 2012.

Theo Katzman: Preteen dreamboat.

Theo Katzman, who opened the concert, brought a whole lot of charm and energy to the stage. His backing band was amazing (more on that later.) Katzman's lyrics are sincere and heartfelt, his stage persona is goofy, and his music is completely palatable. I don't have much to say about his music: it's pretty basic suburban dude rock music. File under easy listening, Ben Folds. But while he won't exactly reframe the way you think about music, Katzman is adorable and relentlessly optimistic.

In that sense, the concert taught me a thing or two. Your music doesn't have to be groundbreaking or angry to make it "real." Not a bad lesson for my first concert of 2012. I definitely recommend seeing Theo Katzman live -- he's having a great time and you'd have to be an ogre not to leave one of his shows without a smile on your face. Also, his bassist, Tomek Miernowski is a powerhouse. As you can see in the above picture, he was completely thrilled to play a power-pop bassline. Someone needs to give the man his own rock band. Unfortunately (for me) his strengths tend to lie more heavily in some really interesting jazz improvisations.

For some of Katzman's unrelenting optimism, treat yo'self to this:

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://theokatzman.bandcamp.com/track/i-feel-love-all-the-time"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;I Feel Love (All The Time) by Theo Katzman&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Charlene Kaye also taught me a thing or two. The first time I saw her was at the Tinderbox Music Festival in Brooklyn. And, to be honest, I thought she was incredibly disappointing. Just another woman with like a million keyboards. Maybe it was the fact that there were actually people at this concert (why weren't you at Tinderbox, exactly?), or the superior backing band (Theo played bass and Tomek switched to guitar) but I was blown away this time. So there's something to be said for second chances.

It's hard to describe Kaye's music. Like Katzman, it's inoffensive. But what really distinguishes Charlene Kaye is the imagination behind her songs, and the worlds she creates in her songs -- for example, a particularly poignant love song on her upcoming album (mixed and produced by Tomek) about a lonely narrator searching for her soulmate...which eventually presents itself as an alien (really.) Only one other song stood out to me, and if you've already listened to the Monday Mixtape then you've already heard it. That being said, it's all pretty great and I'm glad I got to see her perform in a more optimal setting.

But for your convenience, I'll stream it here:

Mad Tom of Bedlam by Charlene Kaye on Grooveshark

Theo Katzman: Official, Bandcamp, Facebook
Charlene Kaye: Official, Bandcamp, Facebook

Sonia Tetlow -- inRetro

2012-01-07T21:54:00.000-08:00

The tagline for this blog is "music like your life depends on it." As I pointed out in my first post, the only music worth paying attention to is made by people who live to create it -- regardless of genre. But sometimes, our lives depend on the music other people create. And that's my relationship to Sonia Tetlow's work.

She released a retrospective on December 21 (on 12:21, heh heh) and it's FREE and you should really download it. Right. Now. (PS - I can see which links you go to from this page, and if you don't at least click on this one you'll legitimately hurt my feelings.) In addition to music that costs ZERO DOLLARS you can also download a beautiful artist's statement which is highly recommended reading, music nerd or not.

Turn that frown upside down and download me!

I first encountered Sonia Tetlow as the bassist for Cowboy Mouth (roughly 2004 to 2007, I believe.) I was just getting into riot grrl at the time, and the combination of some serious sister power with my favorite band was a godsend (I was similarly excited about Sonia's predecessor, Mary Lasseigne.) But it turned out that Sonia had an extensive catalog, which I eagerly devoured.

Anti

Her first album, Spit, isn't like anything I've heard before or since. A lot of folks out there compare her to Patti Smith, but I feel like she stands in a class of her own. She came out swinging and hasn't stopped since. Spit is represented on this album by "Anti" and "Beggar, Queen, and Thief." Her second album, Swerve is another manifesto of raw energy and carefully exercised talent.

That being said, her music from this period is not easy listening. There are some songs, like "Green," that still scare me a little. The intensity of emotion presented in these songs is startling. So you might not like all of her songs at first, but I promise that if you keep listening you will.

Green

Since my discovery of Sonia's music coincided with my later teenage years, it shouldn't be surprising that I was facing some rather tumultuous times. And that's what I mean by depending on music for survival. It's pretty obvious from the music that Sonia has been/was going through a lot, and the booklet (read it. Really.) attests to that. Without digressing into the personal too much, I was going through my own series of trials. I heard "Open" on a bootleg of an acoustic concert with Cowboy Mouth guitarist John Thomas Griffith and then-guitarist Vance DeGeneres (yes, her brother.) Music really does have the power to save, and the second that song was over I knew it was time to accept myself and come out to myself.

Open

I've taken Sonia (or her music, at least) with me to college, on airplanes, to lonely mountain roads in Japan. When I need to listen to something that helps keep me sane, it's her work that I turn to.

The two photos on the album cover were taken ten years apart, and I think the differences in the photos are indicative in the changes in her music. To conclude, here's a track from her current project, the "alterna-grass" supergroup Roxie Watson.

Oh Magnolia

If you slogged through this far, you should really download this CD. All you need is a Google account. And then you'd better read that album booklet. It's as eloquent a testimony to music as I've ever read. Even though we're a week into the new year, I bet that reading it will give you the resolve to chase your own dream, just as Sonia has. So here's to 2012, a year of fulfillment and serenity. Thanks, Sonia.

(And special thanks to Bryce for the tech support!)

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Stay updated on this blog and get a link to your very own Monday Mixtape on Facebook!

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Hoo, boy. There are a lot of links to dump on you here...

Sonia Tetlow - Facebook (unofficial), Myspace (inactive), CDBaby;

STB (Sonia's first two albums) - CDBaby

Herman Put Down the Gun on Myspace, CDBaby

Roxie Watson - Official, Facebook, CDBaby

Musical Tarot Cards

2012-01-06T14:49:00.000-08:00

Hey, gangbusters,

(That's you.)

I'm still trying to figure out how to set a few things up for my next entry, but I still want to stay on schedule. So I'm going to go ahead and steal from today's Ninebullets post and go for some musical tarot cards. I hope they're in my favor...but given the subject matter of most of my music, I'm not too optimistic.

1. "Science Fiction/Double Feature (Reprise)" -- Rocky Horror Picture Show

Who needs lyrics, anyway? I guess 2012 will be a life-changing (and sexually liberating?) adventure!
Science Fiction Double Feature by Various Artists on Grooveshark

2. "This Town Tonight" -- John Moreland

Screw frustrated ambitions. You have to live like you mean it. And as grad school and my grueling student teaching schedule amps up again, I'm glad I have John Moreland to tell me that.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://johnmoreland.bandcamp.com/track/this-town-tonight"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;This Town Tonight by John Moreland &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; The Dust Bowl Souls&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3. "Angel in My View" -- Rachael Sage

I'll forgive the bastardized spelling of a great name. Duly noted: tell my lady I love her.

4. "See Willy Fly By" -- Graham Parker With the Waco Brothers

Okay, 2012. Teach me I need to keep believing in the impossible.

See Willy Fly By by Graham Parker with The Waco Brothers on Grooveshark

5. "God Makes the Rain" -- Cowboy Mouth

And a friendly reminder to avoid negative people and influences.

God Makes the Rain by Cowboy Mouth on Grooveshark

Hey! That wasn't so bad! Maybe 2012 will beat the odds as well.

How's your year looking?

The Gum Creek Killers -- Coat of Arms EP

2012-01-04T14:26:00.001-08:00

Hey! Did you pick up your Monday Mixtape yet? Also, free music below!

Just in case John Moreland and Shane Sweeney weren't accessible enough for you, here are the Gum Creek Killers.

The band is from Birmingham, AL and is fronted by Duquette Johnston. And if that isn't a southern name, I don't know what is.

My first impression of their EP, Coat of Arms, is that it's highly-polished Americana. After reading this article, I learned that the band is a supergroup of local indie musicians. This influence is most evident in the third song, "Los Angeles," written by singer Janet Simpson-Templin, the "indiest" of the bunch. And that's fine -- after such powerful pieces as "The Shot" and "Tonight," we can all use a break. At the end of the day, what makes Gum Creek Killers really stand out from the pack is their truly passionate, heartfelt vocals.

Gum Creek Killers brings just the right amount of indie sensitivity to alt-country. Their songs are certainly radio-friendly. And I sure wouldn't complain if they write more songs like "Tonight." I dare you to download their FREE EP and not hum that song the day after you listen to it.

Show me some love on Facebook!

Gum Creek Killers official site, Facebook

The Kominas -- Kominas

2011-12-29T20:25:00.000-08:00

Happy new year, everyone! Let's ring it in with some free music! Like my Facebook page so you can stay posted on this blog and get random tidbits. I'll also be creating a new "mixtape" every Monday (get it? Mixtape Monday?) to tide you over until the Wednesday update.

Also, check out the free Greenland is Melting/Jon Gaunt split -- especially if you like your music a little blue and grassy. ALSO:

Have you downloaded the new (FREE) Kominas album yet? Whyever not?

If you don't know who the Kominas are, then you're probably like most people. I first heard them two years ago when they came to perform at my college. They were a real breath of fresh air after three years of crappy hipster basement bands like Vampire Weekend, Beach Houses, and Neon Indians, who all skyrocketed to fame weeks after playing my school. Too bad the same isn't true of the Kominas. They're brash, they're loud, they play punk rock, and -- what seems to be a cardinal sin among cool kid bands these days -- they have fun and want to make sure you're having fun, too. In the past three years they've played my alma mater something like six times -- they even opened for Major Lazer. (Guess which band I stayed for.)

My background about the Kominas themselves is somewhat sketchy -- even though I've seen them play live a number of times now, I haven't scoured the Internet to learn every little detail about them. Frankly, that helps me appreciate the music more. However, if there's something I've gotten wrong, I welcome your corrections!

Here's what I know: the name is Urda for "scoundrel." They are basically the founders of a punk movement called taqwacore, which focuses on the issues Southeast Asians/Muslims face in a post-9/11 world. The band was featured prominently in the 2010 documentary Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam.

The new album represents a huge departure from their previous work. Their first album, Wild Nights in Guantanamo Bay (2008) featured the band's caustic sarcasm with songs like "Suicide Bomb the Gap," "Rumi Was a Homo (But Wahhaj is a Fag)," and "Sharia Law in the U.S.A." Basically, the album was designed to strike fear into the hearts of conservative Americans everywhere. In case they needed a boost.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://thekominas.bandcamp.com/track/sharia-law-in-the-u-s-a"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Sharia Law in the U.S.A. by The Kominas&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
Their second album, the 2010 Escape to Blackout Beach was darker and more rap and sample-based. I have to admit that I don't listen to it often. However, like the first album, the band seamlessly incorporated Middle Eastern hooks into Western genres.

Their most recent effort, released on Christmas 2011, is a straight-up rock record. Unless "Disco Uncle" has some sort of subtext that I'm not picking up on, few of the songs have overtly political themes, and all of the songs are in English. I (like another reviewer) attribute this change to the addition of Sunny Ali and the Kid to the mix. The duo's mixture of what I can only call psychobilly and more traditional Middle Eastern music is most evident in "No One's Gonna Honor Kill My Baby (But Me)" which is about as Southern gothic as any song is gonna get. As I said before, it's very different from what I was expecting, and my ears need some more time to get used to it, but it's completely enjoyable and I can't wait to dance to these songs live.

Kominas Review by Rachel C on Grooveshark

So go download it. It's free.

Get more adobe and more teardrops on the Facebook page! Keep an eye out for Mixtape Mondays!

The Kominas official site, Facebook
Sunny Ali and the Kid on Myspace, Bandcamp, and Facebook

Christmas Eve Present

2011-12-24T14:05:00.000-08:00

I am excited about everything pertaining to The Hunger Games movie. And now The Civil Wars (and I guess Taylor Swift) have song on its soundtrack.

Consider this your "plus one" present before Christmas. That's my family's tradition.

(Give me a Christmas present by "liking" my Facebook page! See the link to the right of this post!)

My Favorite Albums of 2011

2011-12-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

This is my last post of 2011 -- I'll be visiting the little lady through New Year's. Thanks so much for reading! I've got some really exciting stuff for you in the next few weeks! Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and happy new year!

This is a list and short descriptions of each album -- I'll do more complete reviews in the coming weeks; the calendar caught up with me!

The list is basically in chronological order. My criteria was "could I stop listening to it within one day after I bought it? No? OK, then."

1) John Moreland & The Dustbowl Souls -- Everything the Hard Way

I already told you about this album. If for some ungodly reason you haven't done this already, listen to it now:

&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://johnmoreland.bandcamp.com/album/everything-the-hard-way"&amp;gt;Everything The Hard Way by John Moreland &amp;amp;amp; The Dust Bowl Souls&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

2) State Champion -- Deep Shit

I actually listened to this album continuously for the three days after I bought it, and I'm still not sick of it yet. Everything about it is breathtaking. You can stream some of the songs here.

State Champion Official, Facebook

3) Shane Sweeney -- The Finding Time

The first solo album by Two Cow Garage's louder half. Plainspoken, introspective, and powerful. Stream the whole thing here.

Shane Sweeney on Facebook
Buy The Finding Time here! A mere $7.00 for a digital copy!

BONUS: Shane singing "I'll Be Home This Christmas"

Thanks again, y'all. If you love the music on this blog show me some love and stay posted on my Facebook page.

Gary Clark, Jr.

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Here's another Christmas/Hanukkah present:

I meant the EP, but you can interpret that any way you like.

I have a feeling Gary Clark, Jr. is going to be huge by this time next year -- the Black Keys certainly found a market for blues rock. Some critics are calling the Austin, TX guitarist the second coming of the blues. You can decide that for yourself. But damn if the man doesn't have swagger and the voice of an angel. As you can see from the sample of songs below, he's clearly mastered a number of genres. I for one can't wait for the full album to come out.

Gary Clark Jr. Review by Rachel C on Grooveshark

Gary Clark Jr. Official, Facebook, Google Plus, Spotify

"Like" my Facebook to keep up with updates AND UNLOCK SECRET CONTENT, and send me music (see address to the right) and suggestions.

John Moreland and the Dustbowl Souls -- Everything the Hard Way

2011-12-18T08:06:00.001-08:00

Welcome, new readers! It's been a little over a week since I started this blog and I've already had 100 hits (not including spam bots.) Thanks for your time!

Since posting updates to my Facebook and G+ statuses is not the most effective way of reminding people there's a new post -- especially if you're not on my friend list -- I went ahead and created a Facebook page. I'd love to chat with whoever's out there reading this! It would be awesome to create a community around people who love music.

Which is why I'm giving you a Christmas present one week early! There was something John Moreland that caught my eye. It wasn't Ninebullets' gushing review. Maybe it was...this...

I've never seen an album cover that more eloquently captures an artist's tone than someone giving the finger to the rising sun.

Like a lot of the artists who will be featured on this blog, Moreland's main themes are about self-doubt, alienation, determination in spite of the odds, and the occasional moment where life is actually pretty great.

But where Moreland distinguishes himself are his whip-smart lyrics combined with solid, down-to-earth rock'n'roll. The entire album is a powerful personal manifesto.

As the reviewer on Ninebullets noted, it's really hard to pick out some lyrics to illustrate Moreland's talent. So you might as well just go ahead and listen to the album. And you might as well buy it, since it's only five bucks, and it's the best five bucks you're going to spend in a long time. I've listened to Everything the Hard Way at least once a day since I bought it last week.

I can't embed the songs here, but my favorites are "Hounds of Youth," "Holy Ghost Haunted," "Christian Rock," and "This Town Tonight."

In "Holy Ghost Haunted," an anthem of dustbowl pride, Moreland sings

I raise a toast

To the East Coast

Maybe someday I'll see you out there

But now I'm in love with nowhere

I, for one, hope you make it out here soon.

John Moreland on Bandcamp, Official, Facebook

And another side project?) on Spotify: John Moreland and the Black Gold Band

Cultural Hegemony and Rock'n'Roll

2011-12-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

Apparently, Hampton Stevens forgot to take his crazy pills on Monday. He published this rant about the bifurcation caused by "red-state" and "blue-state" culture (because apparently somebody still uses those identifiers) as manifested by...

...the Rock'n'Roll Hall Of Fame Selection Committee?

His main complaint is that supposed "blue state" favorites like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, and Laura Nyro (who?) will be inducted, when "red state" favorites like Rush, KISS, and Kansas are snubbed! KISS is third for all-time platinum records sold, so they totally deserve a spot.

As with most of their more inexplicable selections, the hall rationalized the Nyro choice by describing her as a huge influence on other artists. That would make great sense if the museum were called the Rock and Roll Hall of Most Influential People. Since, however, it’s a hall of fame, it seems like being at least marginally famous would be one prerequisite for getting in.

Jesus, people! Fame is in the name of the place so only famous people should be in it. Because it doesn't need to honor people who are like, talented and stuff.

Semantic arguments are always the most fruitful arguments.

The guy sounds like an angry 13-year-old, but maybe his rage at the supposed cultural elitism in the rock'n'roll (because nobody really cares about the Hall of Fame, anyway) might not be totally misplaced. As he is quick to admit himself, rock'n'roll is all about cultural appropriation.

So let's talk about "red state" rock for a little bit, because there's no question that the music featured here has a special twang to it. Quick -- what are the first three folk/rock/Americana singers you can think of?

Was Bob Dylan one of them? He's a member of the Tribe and he's from Minnesota. Neil Young is from Canada. So are/were most of the members of The Band. Not much "red state" cred there.

As for the contemporary scene, the most popular Americana groups/artists I can think of are Dawes, The Low Anthem, and The Decemberists. None of them are from below the Mason-Dixon line.

And, then again, neither am I.

Other than Tom Petty (and let me know if I'm leaving anyone out) and Kings of Leon, I can't think of a southern rock artist that gets consistent play on mainstream radio.

Is there something more palatable about bands from urban areas imitating a country song, when artists like Two Cow Garage and Tim Barry can't get a break? (Though I'm pretty sure Tim Barry doesn't particularly want one.) Why is Americana only acceptable on urban terms? Does the alienation and loneliness so commonly expressed in the genre sound different when it's vocalized by people trapped in the anonyme of the city, rather than the desperation of the rural town?

Or, in the spirit of rock'n'roll, do critics only latch onto it when a more polished form bubbles up from "low-brow" (ie, Southern) musicians to the city slickers who adapt it to their own sensibilities?

Lemme know what you think in the comments section!

The Basics: Cowboy Mouth

2011-12-14T09:55:00.000-08:00

You might as well listen to this while you read:

Light It On Fire by Cowboy Mouth on Grooveshark

There are times I wish I went to college in the '90s. For one thing, finding a job would have been a lot easier. And I would've gotten away with wearing overalls and cargo pants and making it look awesome.

But the other reason is that I would have had bands like Cowboy Mouth coming through my campus, instead of synthesizer-laden shoegazers like Neon Indian and Future Islands and everyone else who's hot with the kids these days.

In case you couldn't tell by now (you did hit play, didn't you?) Cowboy Mouth is all about their live show -- almost as much as they are about New Orleans. Lead by lead singer and drummer Fred LeBlanc, the band has been a powerhouse for the last twenty (count 'em) years. (Here's a video of Fred doing his thing.*)

But I didn't see them live for several years after discovering them. Do you remember that episode of Pete and Pete? The one where Pete hears his favorite song for the first time? You should watch it if you haven't, because there's always time for Pete and Pete. That's how I felt when I first heard "Light it on Fire." I could not stop listening to this album. It really annoyed all of my cabinmates, since I was at summer camp. They were my first favorite band -- at least one that I genuinely liked. (I only got those Creed CDs because I thought I was supposed to have a favorite band. Really.)

Everything I listen to has at least a six-degree separation from Cowboy Mouth. That's thanks in part to the advent of Pandora (one of the advantages of going to high school in the '00s.) What really grabbed me about the band was their particular brand of Southern rock that managed to not be derivative -- a rock'n'roll that has been tempered by country, funk, cajun, zydeco, and rock-a-billy but still manages to be accessible. That is in no small part to inaugural members Fred LeBlanc's (drums and vocals), John Thomas Griffith's (lead guitar and vocals), and Paul Sanchez's (rhythm guitar and vocals) collective songwriting experience in the New Orleans music scene.

As you can see from the live clip above and from "Jenny Says," the majority of the band's songs are about heartbreak and setback...just like anyone else. But their more overt message is a relentless, almost religious optimism. No matter what kind of bullshit you have to deal with, life is a gift, and we have to live it to the fullest.

Unsurprisingly, the band's sound has changed over the years. The first song on this playlist was the inspiration for this blog's name. Paul Sanchez's songwriting talent is featured here in "Little Blue One" and "Great Wide Open World." There's a sensitivity and cleverness to his lyrics that I've certainly missed since his departure shortly after Hurricane Katrina. But that stage of the band's history ended on a high note with Voodoo Shoppe. "Voodoo Shoppe" represents, to me, the pinnacle of Cowboy Mouth's style: Sanchez's lyrical style, combined with JTG's deft guitar licks, and Fred's vocals (supported by the legendary John Boutte) eloquently justify the band's two-decade existence.

You can see from the video above, with the band's current line-up (Fred, JTG, Matt Jones on guitar, and Cassandra Faulconer on bass) are doing just fine, and Paul's doing great in his solo efforts. I've been to about 25 Cowboy Mouth concerts, and here's hoping to 25 more. Because nothing makes me dance and scream like a 12-year-old than the band that first lit a fire in my musical belly.

Cowboy Mouth by Rachel C on Grooveshark

*Holy shit, those kids are adorable.

Who was your first favorite band?

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Cowboy Mouth Official ...you know where to find the rest.

As always, leave comments. Send music and/or suggestsions to ubia61 @ gmail.com [sorry that there's no link. I've already been visited by three Russian spambots, and I'd rather not get spam.]

The Black Keys -- El Camino

2011-12-11T15:20:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing you can count on from Nonesuch Records, it's great package design. Between the letterpress-printed CD jackets for The Low Anthem's Smart Flesh (which, as far as I'm concerned, is a minor work of art), or the heat-activated ink on the Brothers disk. El Camino came with a full-color, eight-page booklet of photographs of El Caminos and a sticker on the shrinkwrap that reads "Play Loud."

That's really the best prescription for this CD. I listened to it on my CD player (why yes, I still have a walkman) the first couple of times I listened to it. It definitely has a different character on my computer speakers.

That being said, I was pretty underwhelmed by the lead-off track and single, "Lonely Boy." For me, the album doesn't pick up until the third track, "Little Black Submarines," even though I feel the melody follows "Staircase to Heaven" a little too closely.

So what didn't I like? The first three tracks feel a little too mechanical to me. While that's a testament to Patrick Carney's skill as a drummer, I bought the album expecting more of the blues rock from Brothers. Instead, I hold in my hands a very competent dance album. But that's probably Danger Mouse's influence. Thanks...I guess.

However, the band is still true to form, which is why I highlighted the other three songs on this playlist. They each have a more human element than the first three tracks. And although I find "Little Black Submarines" a little grating now, it was the track that convinced me that I should check the album out. You can expect some excellent, hook-laden songs and lyrics about lust and heartbreak that are mysteriously pregnant with meaning. The additionally background vocals help the band sound more full.

All in all, I don't know if this album represents a huge step forward for the band, but it's certainly not a step backward.

Black Keys Review by Rachel C on Grooveshark

So what do you guys think of the songs? I'd love it if you tell me in the comments section! I want to know I'm not writing into a void!

As always, send me music and suggestions if you have them. Send this blog to your family and friends so we can build a community of people who love awesome music.
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Black Keys Official, Black Keys on Spotify (El Camino is not yet available)

Concert Review: The Alabama Shakes -- Brooklyn Bowl, New York

2011-12-09T09:01:00.000-08:00

I decided not to deal with El Camino right now. To be honest, "Lonely Boy" didn't really grab me, and it's completely unfair to evaluate a CD after seeing The Alabama Shakes do their thing.

The band made a splash at SXSW and CMJ, but they basically came out of nowhere. (Well, obviously, they came from Alabama.) If you listen to this interview, things just magically fell into place for them.

As it should have. The Shakes' blend of blues, soul, rockabilly and gospel is as powerful as any music out there. The music takes you from the lowest point you've ever been at all the way to sublime enlightenment (see "Hold On" below.)

As for their concert...well, don't ever miss an opportunity to see them ever again. At one point, the band had to pause to figure out some technical detail. When lead singer Brittany Howard returned to the mic, she excused herself because she had "started to think about what I was doing" before launching into another scorcher. And that's clearly how the band approaches their performances: they're simply captured in the pure joy of performance. This joy, of course, was transferred to the audience. Any band that gets as many people dancing in Williamsburg (where unadulterated joy goes to die) is obviously doing something right.

But don't take my word for it:

And here's a comically horrible video of their song "Hold On," which will undoubtedly get some radio play or I'll eat my hat. I didn't realize holding the camera vertically would make everything sideways so...tilt your head. I'm sure some nice person has already put their vastly superior video on YouTube.

That being said, if this video (and the song) doesn't make you believe in the redemptive power of rock'n'roll, then you are too far gone for anyone's help, you sinner.

Will rock'n'roll save your soul?

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The Alabama Shakes on Facebook

The Alabama Shakes on Bandcamp (only $4 for their EP!)

Question:

2011-12-07T20:13:00.000-08:00

What do these bands have in common?

Cowboy Mouth -- "How Do You Tell Someone?"

Roxie Watson -- "Jolene"

Two Cow Garage - What Dying Is For from Cory Hearns.

Xylos -- "In The Bedroom"

In terms of genre, some more than others. In terms of performance style, not a whole lot.

But all four groups are extremely good at what they do.

And, in their own ways, it's obviously that all of these people would explode if they didn't perform music in front of other people on a stage on a regular basis. It's like their lives depend on it.

And that's what makes the best art: people who deeply believe in what they're doing and pour their souls into it. God knows we need more of that attitude in every aspect of our lives these days: there's just no room for half-assing anymore.

Most of the music featured here will have some kind of Americana influence to it -- Xylos is obviously the outlier here. But I'm open to listen to whatever: the music just has to be real.

The title comes from "Man on the Run," a Cowboy Mouth song and the name of my college radio show.

This blog will update every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday (to accommodate my upcoming class schedule.) Hopefully I'll be able to stick to it! But there's only one way to find out.

Are you a band or artists that fits the above description? Do you know a band that does? Let me know!

Thanks for coming! Next up: The Black Keys and El Camino.

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Cowboy Mouth: Official, Facebook, Spotify

Roxie Watson: Official, Facebook

Two-Cow Garage: Official, Facebook, Spotify

Xylos: Official, Facebook, Spotify