Bourbon & Beyond Festival Spotlight: THE RECORD COMPANY

The Record Company will be one of the upcoming acts at this year’s Bourbon and Beyond. The festival now has a new home. It is still in Louisville, Kentucky of course, but will call a new festival grounds home. This year, Bourbon and Beyond will take place at the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Expo. The previous location, Champions Park, had a terrible flood last year and day 2 of Bourbon and Beyond was cancelled. However, to make up for that, Bourbon and Beyond is now a 3-day festival. This means an additional day of bands, bourbon and best friends! How awesome is that? This will be The Record Company’s debut at the Bourbon and Beyond Festival. If you have never had the opportunity to check this band out, prepare yourself to be amazed! With that said, let’s discuss The Record Company. Continue reading

Louder Than Life Festival Spotlight: CROWN LANDS [Videos]

Welcome back to our ongoing series of LOUDER THAN LIFE 2019 artist profiles, our weekly guide through the lineup of acts who’ll take the stage at Louisville, Kentucky’s Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Expo Center September 27-29 in what’s sure to be one of the biggest concert events of the year. This week, we’re taking a closer look at Canadian psych-blues outfit CROWN LANDS.

One of the bands jump-starting LOUDER THAN LIFE on Friday is CROWN LANDS, a duo hailing from Oshawa, Ontario. For the past four years, Cody Bowles (drums/vocals) and Kevin Comeau (guitars/keyboards/pedals) have been expertly crafting hard-stomping rock that finds the sweet spot between WOLFMOTHER, THE WHITE STRIPES, and RUSH while belying the seeming limitations of their streamlined blueprint. Songs like “Being Right” and “Mountain” retain a touch of garage rawness while still sounding like widescreen epics, and hepped-up jumpers like “Misery” and “Mantra” have a fair bit of glitter encrusted on their shitkicker boots. Continue reading

Bourbon & Beyond Festival Spotlight: SAMANTHA FISH [Official Videos]

Samantha Fish will be one of the many tremendous acts at this year’s Bourbon and Beyond Festival. Bourbon and Beyond has a new home. It is still in Louisville, Kentucky of course, but will call a new festival grounds home. This year, Bourbon and Beyond will take place at the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Expo. The previous location, Champions Park, had a terrible flood last year and day 2 of Bourbon and Beyond was cancelled. However, to make up for that, Bourbon and Beyond is now a 3 day festival. This means an additional day of bands, bourbon and best friends! How awesome is that? This will be Samantha Fish’s debut for Bourbon and Beyond. All I can say is be prepared to be wowed with her masterfully skilled guitar playing and showmanship. With that being said, let’s talk a little bit about Samantha Fish. Continue reading

BLACK PISTOL FIRE: “One Time We Kind Of Opened For Nas” [Video Interview]

Black Pistol Fire is a high-octane rock duo based out of Austin, Texas by way of Toronto, Canada; composed of Kevin McKeown on guitar/lead vocals and Eric Owen on drums.  Drawing inspiration from blues, R&B and rock greats such as Led Zeppelin, Chuck Berry, Nirvana, Buddy Holly and Muddy WatersBlack Pistol Fire’s gritty and dynamic performances are fueled by undeniable musicianship.  Dubbed the“next big thing” by Huffington Post after SXSW 2013, BPF has developed a reputation for their untamed live performances. Black Pistol Fire has shared the stage with acts like Gary Clark Jr.WeezerHeartWolfmotherThe StrutsBlack Rebel Motorcycle ClubZZ Ward, and Band of Skulls.  Their signature sound has been featured throughout television and entertainment.  Their single, “Show Pony” was featured in the Ted 2 official trailer, “Hard Luck” was featured in Toyota’s Super Bowl 50 ad, and they performed their song “Blue Eye Commotion” in a national T-Mobile TV ad.  Their music can also be heard in numerous TV shows including Sons of Anarchy, Castle, and About a Boy. If you thought 68′ or The White Stripes was a powerful duo, you haven’t seen anything yet. Black Pisol Fire’s music doesn’t just speak to you; it screams at you, and its even better heard live. 

Continue reading

Sonic Temple Spotlight: BLACK PISTOL FIRE

Photo Courtesy of Black Pistol Fire Official Website

Sleep on these guys at your own risk, because what they did to BMI on Friday afternoon was unholy… leaving a trail of scorched earth and melted minds.”
– Consequence of Sound, Lollapalooza 2015

Black Pistol Fire is a high-octane rock duo based out of Austin, Texas by way of Toronto, Canada; composed of Kevin McKeown on guitar/lead vocals and Eric Owen on drums.  Drawing inspiration from blues, R&B and rock greats such as Led Zeppelin, Chuck Berry, Nirvana, Buddy Holly and Muddy Waters, BPF’s gritty and dynamic performances are fueled by undeniable musicianship.  Dubbed the “next big thing” by Huffington Post after SXSW 2013, BPF has developed a reputation for their untamed live performances. Continue reading

State Of The Art: Hawaii’s KINGS OF SPADE [Official Videos]

*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state. This month’s state is Hawaii.*

Today we are leaving mainland U.S.A to talk about one of Hawaii’s best kept secrets Kings Of Spade! The band founded back in 2008 in  Honolulu, Hawaii. They were previously named X Factor but later changed their name to Kings Of Spade. The band was built around the bluesy vocal prowess of KC and the rest of the band is equally as impressive creating a psychedelic rock sound that will have you re-living the heyday of rock n roll. Kings Of Spade is filled out with Jesse Savio on guitar, Matt Kato on drums, Tim Corker and on bass, auxiliary members include  Ken Lykes  on the keys and DJ Packo. The band has played the mainland on several occasions including SXSW. I personally became familiar with the band after speaking with former Headbangers Ball host Riki Rachtman when he mentioned how impressed he was with the band during a conversation at Carolina Rebellion in 2017. The band since has became even more well known to fans even outside of the island state of Hawaii. On December 8th they were tapped to be the opening band for Guns N Roses first ever performance in Hawaii. So prior to Guns N Roses kicking off their 3 hour set Kings Of Spade got the packed crowd at Aloha stadium pumped up.  Continue reading

State Of The Art: 20 WATT TOMBSTONE [Album Stream]

 

20 Watt Tombstone is a ballbastic duo playing deafening rock to their fans. Coming from Wausau, Wisconsin 20 Watt Tombstone combines metal, country, Hip Pop and Jim Bean intravenously into their music. They have been nominated twice for the people’s choice WAMI in 2013 and winning in 2014. 20 Watt Tombstone is combined of Grand Master Oh to the Zee handling drums and yellin’ and Reverend Meantooth riffing on guitar and hollerin’. Continue reading

Aftershock 2018 Spotlight: DOROTHY [Video Stream]

*This is part of our “Aftershock Festival 2018 Spotlight” where we branch out and focus on some of the up-and-coming bands that fans can see at this year’s Aftershock Festival on October 13th & 14th.  This week, we’re checking out DOROTHY.*

Los Angeles-based Dorothy brings bluesy rock with a sixties and seventies feel to the stage at this year’s Aftershock Festival. With a voice that’s equal parts Grace Slick and modern-day Janis Joplin, namesake and lead vocalist Dorothy Martin sings sleazy dive bar anthems that ooze with sex appeal and rebellious freedom. The band – which also includes Owen Barry (guitar), Leroy Wulfmeier (guitar), Eliot Lorango (bass), and Jason Ganberg (drums) have just released their sophomore album ’28 Days in the Valley’ earlier this year as a follow-up to their successful 2016 debut ‘ROCKISDEAD.’ Check out their highly entertaining music video for “Dark Nights,” directed by industry veteran Chris Marrs Piliero (The Black Keys, Ariana Grande). It’s a great track and equally kickass video that shows the band’s comedic side and even features a surprise appearance from Napoleon Dyanamite’s Pedro. Continue reading

World’s Loudest Month Spotlight: TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN

*This is part of the “World’s Loudest Month” segment where we branch out and focus on bands that fans can see at the year’s biggest music festivals during the month of May 2018!  This week, we introduce Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, a blues-rock quartet from “Music City” Nashville, TN who will be seeing a lot of stage time this Summer at Rock on the Range, Rockville, and more!*

I’m a firm believer that no matter your music preference, whether it be metal, rap, pop, or techno, everyone loves the blues in some form or another.  It’s also my belief that this, paired with the know-how and musical ability to create incredible music compositions, has played a major role in the rising success of Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown.  The band is the epitome of soulful, genuine songs of rhythmic blues-infused rock and roll and have proven themselves so much as to be privileged enough to share the stage with music giants like ZZ Top, Eric Clapton, AC/DC, and Guns N’ Roses Continue reading

Brilliant Rock & Soul Masters, Broken Stems, Reemerge With “Rest Assured”

When bands talk to us, we always listen. You never know when something spectacular quickly becomes your next favorite band. If you don’t dig it, pass it along to another staff member. We all have diverse tastes and open minds for just about every form of Rock, Hard Rock and Metal. It is what we do and why there are never hit pieces here. We love and respect all of the fine musicians that we cross paths with. Such is the case when I received an email asking about coverage for a new Rock and Blues outfit from San Diego, CA. One listen to their brand new single: “Rest Assured” (see below) was all it took. Man, oh man! No need to pass this along. It gladly stays firmly in my stable. Before checking out their hot new single below, please let me introduce you to Broken Stems.

Continue reading