Duo band The Blue Stones and opener JJ Wilde brought a memorable performance at the Thunderbird Cafe in Pittsburgh. The energy being brought to the crowd was nothing short of spectacular. The love is shown to both band to the audience and vice versa was appropriate for such an occasion on Valentine’s Day date.
JJ Wilde who has been active on the scene for over a few years brought nothing but an emotional performance. The set may have only been nine songs, but it was long enough to take me on an unforgettable journey through the eyes and vocals of a young woman trying to figure out life. The intensity in her singing clearly showed the honesty behind the lyrics. I’ve seen this promising individual three times now. She proves time and time again that she is capable of maintaining her authenticity. She is a down to earth individual who isn’t afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve. All of her written work and songs demonstrate this vulnerable asset well. Her songs touch upon the basis of mental health, the highs, and lows that come with life, and so much more. During “Funeral For A Lover”, she momentarily spoke of the meaning behind the song. Essentially, it shares the message of talking about mental health openly. That the stigma surrounding one struggling with wellness within should cease. As an individual who suffers from depression and anxiety, it hit home. To have an artist acknowledge the topic and bring awareness is a beautiful thing. If you have yet to check out JJ Wilde, I highly suggest you doing so. She’s an artist who deserves nothing but success.
JJ had the set bar high for the night, so The Blue Stones had to follow up with something indelible. Without a second thought, the duo had done just that. Though only compromised of two people, their execution was filled with momentum, which flourished and carried throughout. For a few brief pauses, Tarek and Justin thanked the fans and audience who came to support them. That made this concert so much more personal. Seeing smaller artists reminds you that every purchase made supports them to keep living their dreams.
Tell us a little about your punk rock/heavy metal experience playing in bands.
I grew up in the punk/hardcore/metal scence outside Philadelphia in the late 90’s. Went to see bands like Dillinger Escape Plan, Converge, Lamb of God (when they were Burn the Priest), Snapcase, Lifetime, Boysetsfire, Propagandhi, NOFX, Botch, and tons more. I played guitar in a few different bands from punk to hardcore to metal, but none of which actually toured or did anything special. But playing in bands is where I got my start of being a creative entrepreneur.
Why would you say it is that the initial market of metal/punk fans would get your brand of humor?
There’s an incorrect assumption out there that the health and wellness demographic is not interested in weird, tongue-in-cheek entertainment. In an industry that normally uses “aspirational” fitness models and airbrushed celebrities, we’re using our brand to support weirdos and entertainment that generally get ignored by traditional wellness brands. People would be surprised that there’s a huge portion of the alternative/punk/metal culture that actually cares about health and the environment, and that tends to be who instantly connects with our brand mission and humor.
Your “sell your soul” to Liquid Death campaign is irreverent, genius, and hilarious. Where did the idea spawn from and how has the response been?
At the end of the day, every brand has to use marketing. You need people to sign up for your newsletter, or join your membership club, or be a bigger part of your brand. We just always look for funnier ways to do it. Most marketing and advertising is toxic waste because it is created in boardrooms and takes itself way too seriously. We try to be very clear that we do not take ourselves seriously. Our goal is actually entertain people and be one of the cool fun things they interact with that day. We often start our ideation with “What would be the dumbest thing we could do for this?” And that is essentially where Sell Your Soul came from. What is a soul really? It’s fun to think about and play around with. We now have almost 40,000 people who have sold their souls to Liquid Death.
How did you snag Pittsburgh boy Joe Manganiello to sell his soul?
Joe is actually one of our favorite humans on the planet. He is a long-time lover of heavy metal and Dungeons and Dragons. He was thrilled when he discovered Liquid Death and loves our sarcastic, rock’n’roll approach to wellness and sustainability. We couldn’t have asked for a better brand ambassador, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work together.
What other artists are you developing relationships with?
We’ve been getting social media love from all kinds of artists from metal to EDM to hip hop. Artists like Gojira, High on Fire, Gwar, Gatecreeper, Red City Radio, Rob Zombie, Dirtyphonics, Best Coast, 6Black, Nuclear Blast Records, Relapse Records, and more.
Speaking of art…who is responsible for the design of the can?
One of our early partners in the brand is Will Carsola, the co-creator of the Adult Swim cartoon “Mr Pickles”. Will is our main creative partner in the Liquid Death and he created a lot of our brand assets like the skull on the can (and the funny copy on the side) and our recent animated commercial. I was a huge fan of the show, and I actually just DMed him on Instagram, told him I’m a big fan and have a project in the works that I thought he’d be interested. Luckily, he actually responded and dug the concept for the brand. He’s been amazing to work with and we have so much other fun Liquid Death stuff in the works for the future.
Is your company pursuing getting involved with concert venues to sell Liquid Death?
We’ve partnered with a few music festivals and events so far, and it’s something we’ll definitely keep doing. Our next appearance will be at FEST in Gainesville, FL early Nov and Adult Swim Festival in Los Angeles in mid-November.
Do you envision that in the near future we will stop using plastic for water packaging?
I think that’s the direction we’re headed. Since we launched in May, our presence and #DeathtoPlastic campaign has put increased pressure on the water bottle industry to think more sustainably about its packaging. In just a few short months, we’ve already seen our work lead to big brands like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola announce the plan to put some of their existing water brands in cans.
Your company is obviously environmentally conscious. Besides infinite recycling and the money donated, how else are you active regarding the environment?
We’re proud to work closely with the Thirst Project and 5 Gyres, donating $0.05 from every can sold to helping people access safe drinking water in communities around the world where it’s not immediately available, and cleaning up plastic garbage out of the ocean. We’re continuing to look for new ways that we can do our part in helping the environment.
To what do you attribute your success at finding investors and becoming such a fast growing incubated company?
Having a 10 year career in advertising definitely helped hone my skills of how to sell “crazy” creative ideas in boardrooms to business people who are not creative. But the biggest thing I’ve learned as an entreprenuer, is you have to care more about what you’re building than anyone else. You have to have insane passion for your idea/product in order to be better at building it than everyone competing against you. Liquid Death was essentially the perfect combo of my passion for alternative culture, music, art, comedy, and health, along with my passion and experience for pushing the boundaries of marketing and advertising to make it suck less. And I spent so much time dialing everything in. Investors, VCs, and incubators will always respond to well to passion and people with very clear visions for what they want to build.
Has there been any discussion about diversifying the product into other products or beverages?
We do have a Liquid Death merch store on our site, but right now our main focus is still getting Liquid Death in more retail locations across the country. We’ve only scratched the surface with our water and we’ll keep growing it more before we start thinking about other versions.
Can you tell us some of the biggest musical influences in your life?
So many to list, but how about I list some of the most influential albums of my life?
Slayer – Seasons in the Abyss
Lamb of God – Ashes of the Wake
NOFX – White Trash, Two Heebs, and Bean
Propagandhi – How to Clean Everything
Bad Religion – Suffer
Screeching Weasel – Boogada
Boysetsfire – The Day the Sun Went Out
Jay Z – Reasonable Doubt
Eminem – The Eminem Show
Jimmy Eat World – Clarity
Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
Sturgil Simpson – Metamodern Sounds of Country Music
Any current bands that you are really into right now?
Gatecreeper, Power Trip, Sturgil Simpson, Dave Hause, Baroness, Teenage Bottlerocket, Gojira, Miguel
How often do you perceive you will have events or offer new merch for “Country Club” members?
Not sure. We like to keep things special, which means not trying to do too much.
How would you explain what a creative is and how did you get into it?
A creative is really just someone who enjoys finding unique ways to solve problems. Writing a song is essentially a problem you have to figure out. Or building a brand or writing a film or making a piece of art. The most important part is enjoying the very long creative process of solving whatever thing it is you are trying to crack. That is 99% of being creative. The shiny end result is maybe 1%. I eventually found the kinds of problems that I was best at creatively solving, which was design and branding and marketing. I sucked at figuring out how to write hit songs.
CHECK OUT LIQUID DEATH HERE AND MURDER YOUR THIRST AND MAYBE EVEN SELL YOUR SOUL…
Atlanta, GA based, Alternative Rock band SPURGE has released the official music video for “57,” off of their newest EP, Crown. Produced and directed by Daniel Medina, “57” was inspired by the internationally experienced isolation during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns and features stylized imagery of the individual band members’ lives as they continue through an uncertain “new normal.”
“’57’ is a song about whether or not we have any control over our fate. Inspired by COVID keeping the band stuck in their homes for about a year, it comes from a feeling of slowly losing our grips and becoming somewhat numb. For about 6 months prior to writing the song, our bassist (Jen Hodges) kept seeing the number 57 everywhere. Initially, freaked out by the repetition, she thought it was an omen of bad things to come; ultimately, she decided to write a song about it in order to work out her apparent superstitions and flip her mind into viewing it as a good omen.” – SPURGE
The band’s most recent EP, Crown, was mixed by Dom Gryzbon and includes solos by Phil Vasta, Nick Landt, Charles Von Kanel and Greg Hendler. An album release party is being organized for a Fall 2021 date in Atlanta, GA.
Spurge started in Nashville 2013 when Jen (bass) started writing instrumental music for her own amusement. She felt she had found her voice sonically during the creation of “The Untitled EP” and decided to play a few local live shows. She recruited the drummer in her previous band, a local metal guitarist and a jazz college student. They were received warmly in the scene. In 2015 Jen got a promotion and moved to Atlanta. She had to rebuild the band. She kept the same formula. Gospel drummer, metal guitarist, and jazz guitarist, This current iteration has played with Thank You Scientist, and Tony McAlpine. When COVID hit, the group recorded their latest, Crown. They are planning a secret show this fall in Atlanta to celebrate the release of Crown. They are also releasing a video for the EP’s first single, “57,” this fall. The current line up is Jen on bass (Berklee grad, gigging musician.) Charles on guitar (gigging musician, gear head and tech wizard.) Marlon on drums (musical family, marching band, gospel, R&B.) Ben on lead guitar (gigging musician, shreddy Krueger.)
Chicago based, Progressive Instrumental Rock band COYOTE MAN has released a psychedelic inspired visualizer for their new single, “Reaches of the Universe.” Created by Chuck Clybourne from Sacred Ape Designs utilizing the EP cover art by Craig Horky, “Reaches of the Universe” is the trio’s savage, guitar driven first track off of their newly released EP, Relics.
“‘Reaches of the Universe” is our heaviest track to date. We jammed parts of it just for fun but never really sat down and incorporated them into songs. During COVID last year, we had an opportunity to dissect whatever riffs and drum fills we had and decided to go back to our roots with heavier tones.” – COYOTE MAN
Track List: 1. Reaches of the Universe 2. Foreseeable 3. Past Visions of the Future
Columbus, OH based Alternative Rock band TO KILL A MONSTER has released the official lyric video for their new single, “Barely Breathing.” Created by Mike Colletti of MC Lyric Videos with single art by Dan Smotz of Goulash Media, “Barely Breathing” layers a heavy, rolling rock beat and crunchy guitar with soaring vocals by front-man and lone founding member Joey Lawson.
“‘Barely Breathing’ is a story about the loss of a loved one when they’re all you have left. Either in love or life or anything the listener might be going through.” – TO KILL A MONSTER
To Kill A Monster, formed in 2005, is an upbeat punk/rock/alternative band from Columbus, Ohio. This band has aged like a fine wine across the last 16 years. As a high energy, hard hitting band with melodic verses and catchy choruses, TKAM is never afraid to throw in a breakdown or dance beat just for fun. Along with a few stops on the Vans Warped Tour in 2013 and 2015, To Kill A Monster has had the privilege of sharing the stage with acts such as Asking Alexandria, 21 Pilots, Starset, The Devil Wears Prada, Switchfoot and many more. After a short hiatus, the band re-emerged better than ever with a whole new lineup. Joining original singer Joey Lawson is Corey Melton (drums), Josh Spence (bass), James Barron (guitar), and Scott Borealis (guitar). New music is on the way and To Kill A Monster couldn’t be more proud of what’s coming.
Kansas City, MO singer / songwriter IVORY BLUE has released the official music video for their newest single, “Family Tables.” Directed by Mikal Shapiro, “Family Tables” showcases the enigmatic chansonnier’s inimitable vocal style and lyrical strength alongside minimal but moving visuals, thus invoking a deeply emotional as well as an addictively repeatable listening experience. “Family Tables” will be available to purchase / stream on September 7, 2021.
“What is it like if people give you the chance to shine? Sometimes we are underestimated and treated unfairly, but the people that give us the chance, will have the opportunity to see how far we can really fly!” – IVORY BLUE
IVORY BLUE lived a nomadic existence until settling in Kansas City MO and becoming part of the local musical community. After winning a nationwide talent contest in 2017 Ivory Blue started having success with some national and international radio play which continues today.
As a multi-instrumentalist, Ivory began refining their performance style, using digital looping pedals to stack harmonies and guitar parts live on stage, giving their solo shows the feel of a full band. In 2011, Ivory settled in Kansas City, MO and quickly began attracting an intense regional following for their strong vocals and incisive, deeply personal lyrics.
By 2013, IVORY BLUE was playing regularly in and around Kansas City and the first EP ‘Ready Get Set’ was released. in 2015. While the EP helped spread the word and got much attention from regional radio and TV stations, a big break would come in 2017.
Ivory entered NeXt2Rock, a nationwide talent search with over 1800 artists/bands who applied to find fresh and promising rock artists.
The top 5 national bands battled it off for the win in Los Angeles CA at the legendary Viper Room, with judges Scott Borchetta (BMLG), John Varvatos (fashion designer), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols Guitarist and Host of “Jonesy’s Jukebox”), Desmond Child (Musician, producer), Chris Lord-Alge (producer), Ivory Blue won over the judges and became the grand prize winner!
Ivory won the contest and a one-year record deal with BMLG who re-released the song “Ready Get Set” from the 2015 EP. Ivory’s 2018 re-release of ‘Ready Get Set’ undauntedly received National and International airplay within weeks.
In February 2020 and after studying the craft of recording and self-producing, this amazing singer-songwriter with soaring vocals, passionate love for everyone struggling through life, released ‘Elite Dreamland’. There are no words to describe the incredible artistry behind this song; a single that hits your heart about understanding how it feels to be misunderstood in a world of people that seem to know what they are doing.
IVORY BLUE produces all the tracks with the exception of Drums and Bass. Ivory is currently working with Lester Estelle (Drummer for Kelly Clarkson), Craig Kew (Bass) KC, Kurt Festge (Mastering | Citizen Kane & Vilent Femmes) NC. and Nick Poortman (LA based Los Angeles based Producer, Engineer, Mixer, and Songwriter) Nick has worked alongside producers including Justin Gray, Gil Norton, Big Tank, and Greg Haver on sessions throughout the USA, UK, Europe, and New Zealand.
On August 18th 2021 Ivory Blue signed a publishing deal with Sound Ballistics Music & Publishing out of Atlanta GA.
Ivory Blue released their music video for “FAMILY TABLES’ on August 21st, 2021 and will release the single on Sept 7th. They are currently finishing the first full length CD/Album Compound Love to be released in 2021 as well as the Red Light EP for 2022.
Who knows what is next for IVORY BLUE, but so far every step has been accounted for to reach that vision that continues to push them to success.
New Jersey based Singer / Songwriter SYDNEY SHERWOOD flexes her lyrical prowess with her newest single, “Cycle of Silence,” which sees the gifted chanteuse teamed with fellow American Idol alumni KASON LESTER. A deeply reflective and relatable track, the song comes to life through the pairing of the two distinctive young vocalists on this stunning duet.
“‘Cycle of Silence’ is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever recorded. I had the idea for it back in the winter and wrote it with my talented friends, Joe Makoviecki and Brian Craddock. It’s about two people who are in a constant state of miscommunication, who wish that they could fix things, but aren’t really willing to hear each other out. I brought it to my good friend Kason Lester, who I met on American Idol and asked him to help me bring the duet to life and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out! ” – SYDNEY SHERWOOD
“Sydney is rock’s answer to pop’s P!NK or country’s Carrie Underwood, she exudes all the power and confidence and sings with no-nonsense authority, all while remaining firmly situated in heavy alternative rock. Sydney Sherwood cannot be merely compared to female singers of her generation and writes and performs with a conviction that fans of 3 Doors Down or Daughtry would instantly recognize.” – Joe Makoviecki (Singer, songwriter of Jackson Pines)
Sydney Sherwood is an 18-year-old singer/songwriter from New Jersey. Sydney began singing and playing guitar as a way to express her emotions after her brother was diagnosed with cancer.
Since her brother’s diagnosis, being a childhood cancer advocate has become a big part of Sydney’s life. She has performed and spoken at many childhood cancer events over the past twelve years and continues to be a voice for all children with cancer, as well as their siblings.
Sydney began writing her own music when she was 13, and on March 3, 2019, she released her first EP, Beauty from Ashes. Her release show was held at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey. In 2019, Sydney also received a golden ticket to Hollywood from American Idol celebrity judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie.
Over the course of the pandemic, Sydney has been writing and recording her new album, Headspace, which will be released February 27, 2021.
Sydney’s goal is to touch the lives of others through the music that she writes, as she takes inspiration directly from her life experiences.
West Chicago Metal Industrial project DERISION CULT, led by multi-instrumentalist Dave McAnally is set to release their newest studio album, Charlatans Inc., on September 14, 2021. Charlatans Inc. is a visceral take on media manipulation and provocation in America. With citizens producing more data about themselves, and media and big tech getting better and better at extracting and refining that data, with all of us plugged into an over-stimulated digital world, buyers need be beware.
“I was driven to use this album as a platform to say something about the role consumerism played in provoking outrage and anxiety in the last year. The media doesn’t want you to think, they want you to feel. But as long as we can identify those things when we see them, we become immune and find real peace and harmony.
This is not a political album. It’s about media and the importance to filter signals and understand when you’re being marketed to. More than ever, your beliefs, your politics and your passions are all up for sale. Buyers beware.”
Track List: 1. The Great Reset 2. Call a Man God 3. Amplify 4. Worlds Collide 5. This is Control 6. Charlatans 7. View from the Cross 8. I・VI・MMXXI
Derision Cult is a project by Chicago solo artist Dave McAnally. Dave is an Iowa native and a multi-instrumentalist involved in a number of projects across a range of genres. He’s been featured on releases by Metropolis Records as well as his own imprint South Street Dungeon.
Fort Worth, TX based, heavy rock / metal band LOCKJAW has released the tense, official music video for their newest single, “Silence the Fear.” With the video directed by Jeremy Peterson, “Silence the Fear” was produced by Chris Collier, with whom the band is completing their upcoming, as yet unnamed album.
“We are extremely grateful to be playing music together and sharing our passion with the world. Heavy music has pushed all of us through our lives, as a soundtrack and we are so honored to share our vision with our fans, families and friends. As we release Silence the Fear we are currently in the studio with Producer, Chris Collier working on our new record, (yet to be titled). In conjunction with our new album announcement, we are excited to share our next single in the fall of 2021 “Living in my Head”, while the first single releases tackle subjects of fear, anxiety and many other symptoms of the world we are challenged with, we are optimistic we as a species will come together as humans and not be defined by the past year of struggle. We love heavy music, the fans of heavy music and are honored to share this with you all! Enjoy the moment, “Silence the Fear” – LOCKJAW
Click HERE to Purchase / Stream “Silence the Fear”
Lockjaw is a band based in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX. The group recently came out with a brand new release announcement for their upcoming single: Silence The Fear. This is going to be the first of many tracks, which the group is planning on releasing throughout the year. This particular song feels like a compelling new chapter for the band, highlighting its commitment to creating music that blurs the lines between a wide range of influences. From the depth and energy of alternative rock down the impactful edge of heavy metal, there are no rules. The group has a rather long history, fueled by the friendship of the band members, who got together to form this band while in high school in the late 90s. The music scene was quite different back then, but just like today, Lockjaw was never interested in chasing trends. These talented musicians had the vision to make their own music and truly give it their all. Lockjaw started making music in 1998, and it didn’t take long for the group to be able to record and release a handful of EPs throughout the local scene. The band’s music earned a solid reputation, and Lockjaw soon grew to the ranks of excellent local bands, on stage and in the studio.
The group is on the verge of making their return with some brand new music, as they are gearing up to release some exciting new material. Lockjaw’s most recent studio single is titled “Silence The Fear,” and it is going to be available on August 6th, 2021. On the occasion of this and other recordings, The band hit the studio with famed producer Chris Collier, already well-known for his work with seminal bands such as Korn, as well as Lynch Mob, Prong, and KMX, only to mention a few. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say that these songs depict the band at its best. Instead of releasing a whole record at once, Lockjaw is set to be releasing a handful of singles throughout the years, allowing their releases to seamlessly spread over time and giving the audience a nice constant stream of content. The band’s upcoming music is ultimately a perfect example of the band’s attitude and charismatic approach to songwriting and performance, going for an immediate and earthy sound that favors the human connection between the musicians, rather than hiding their work under an excessive layer of studio trickery. If you are a fan of artists such as Metallica, Lamb Of God, Amon Amarth, Opeth, MachineHead, and Slipknot, this one is definitely going to be right up your alley. Production-wise, the band’s new music is just as exciting and crisp as you might expect from such high standards of recording and production. For instance, “Silence The Fear’s” mix is balanced and very detail-oriented, making for a lively, edgy, and stark sonic approach. In other words, there are many subtle nuances in this release, which really add to the richness of the track when summed up together. At first glance, you’ll notice the roaring walls of guitar and the energetic rhythm section, but if you dive deeper, there is a lot more to uncover. The dynamic spectrum of the song is also very balanced, with a tight yet deep low end that really growls, holding it all together while adding some aggressive edge to the sound.
Find out more about Lockjaw, and do not miss out on the band’s upcoming music, which is going to be available throughout the web’s premier digital streaming platforms.
Carolinas based heavy rock band THE LA MAYBE–fronted by lead singer Alvi Robinson, made famous when he was nearly selected to front the legendary band AC/DC in 2016–have released the official music video for “When I’m Gone,” off of their debut album, Dirty Damn Tricks.
“In 2015 a close friend of the band committed suicide. While we can’t ever fully erase the pain of such an event, we wrote “When I’m Gone” as a form of therapy and to hopefully inspire others with a message of hope.
This video is our most ambitious effort yet. Filmed over two months, across 5 beautiful locations around the Southeastern United States…we shot through pouring rain, searing heat, and breathtaking scenery.
It was our goal to have the visuals capture and reflect the emotional nature of the song and its meaning. Most of all, it’s a tribute to our friend and we hope it can help others through their own dark moments.” – DALLAS DWIGHT
The L.A. Maybe is a 6-piece rock n’ roll band hailing from the southern heat of the Carolinas. If you’re a fan of Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, or Van Halen…you will feel right at home adding LAM to your record collection.
Lead vocalist Alvi Robinson (who was one of only four singers to audition to replace Brian Johnson in AC/DC in 2016) lays down gritty, passionate vocals while the rest of the band back him up with slithering riffs, huge catchy hooks, and ripping guitar solos.
LAM firmly plants its feet at the very forefront of the New Wave of Classic Rock movement and you’re sure to have at least one of their choruses stuck in your head at any given moment.
Drawing influence from nearly every style of music, The L.A. Maybe put on an electrifying live show and stand for everything you love about rock music, old and new.
Harrisburg, PA based Heavy Rock band ETERNAL FREQUENCY has released the official music video for their cover of the 1990 NINE INCH NAILS critical and fan favorite Industrial Rock classic, “Head Like a Hole.” A faithful rendition of the 1990 hit single, the band balances the inherent rage of the original with front-woman Emelle Elizabeth’s soaring vocals, resulting in a refreshed anti-anthem that continues to ring relevant in today’s society.
“We’ve always known we had a pretty singer, now our singer has become the Pretty Hate Machine (haha). In all seriousness, it definitely takes some balls to cover a Nine Inch Nails song, but we think that we did it justice and we hope our fans agree. We try to pride ourselves on creating sonically stimulating material with layers and depth. That is exactly why it felt necessary to showcase our interpretation of some of Trent Reznor’s finest work to date.”” – ETERNAL FREQUENCY
Eternal Frequency is a five piece, female fronted hard rock band based out of Central Pennsylvania. Blending influences of Metalcore, Hard rock, and Active Rock, Eternal Frequency brings a new energy that is also dominated by vocalist, songwriter, and frontwoman Emelle. In just under three years as a band they have released several studio singles as well as music videos including “Temptations”, “Parasite”, “What Are We Waiting For”, and their version of Queen’s “The Show Must Go On” (all proceeds going to NIVA – National Independent Venue Association) to the masses and have been reaping nothing but positive energy and reviews from their supporters. They have accrued a massively strong following in the Pennsylvania area and have garnered attention in multiple regional markets.
They are currently managed by John Phillips of 900 Management (Body Count, Another Day Dawns, and TM for Snoop Dogg, Public Enemy, and formerly Breaking Benjamin) and record with multi Grammy nominated producers Grant McFarland and Carson Slovak of Atrium Audio (From Ashes to New, August Burns Red).
The band has shared the stage with established artists such as Of Mice & Men, Adelitas Way, Smile Empty Soul, Vixen, and Sponge. They also took home the award for Best New Artist at the 2019 Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame Awards and had the pleasure to honor Halestorm (Inductees) with their rendition of “Familiar Taste of Poison” at the 2020 CPMA’s. In addition EF was nominated for Best Hard Rock Band and Song of the Year.
Nashville-based, southern rockers THEM DIRTY ROSES has announced upcoming dates for their August 2021 tour run. Launching August 5 at Arts Avenue in Chattanooga, TN, the tour runs through the South and Midwest, wrapping up September 25 at Southern Wilds Festival in Lawrenceville, GA.
Tour Dates: 08/06 @ Arts Ave – Chattanooga, TN 08/07 @ Festival on the Lane – Alexandria, WY 08/13 @ Red Bicycle Hall – Madison, IN 08/14 @ Illinois State Fair – Springfield, IL 08/20 @ Pickin’ on the Pinyon Festival – Glade Park, CO 08/21 @ Tico Time River Resort – Aztec, NM 08/26 @ Buck’s Bar & Grill – Waterloo, NE 08/27 @ Big’s Bar – Sioux Falls, SD 08/28 @ Northwoods Jam Festival – Henriette, MN 09/02 @ The Gem Theater – Calhoun, GA 09/04 @ Red Neck Raft Out Fest – Afton, OK 09/09 @ The Stache at the Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI 09/10 @ Joe’s on Weed St – Chicago, IL 09/11 @ The Grenada Theater – Mt. Vernon, IL 09/17 @ Sidetracks Music Hall – Huntsville, AL 09/18 @ Locust Alley – Natchez, MS 09/24 @ Roberson House – Monroe, GA 09/25 @ Southern Wild’s Festival = Lawrenceville, GA
Click HERE for Additional Dates & Ticketing Information.
Born and raised in the Bama clay, these boys are as southern as they come. Taught how to bend a string and break a heart by Skynyrd and Hank, brothers James and Frank Ford along with their hometown friends Andrew Davis and Ben Crain formed the southern rock band known as Them Dirty Roses. Piling into an RV with their belongings, their instruments, and all the whiskey they could carry (in the cooler), they made their way from Gadsden, AL to Nashville, TN. All living all under one roof, Them Dirty Roses are a living example of the quintessential rock and roll American Dream. Their live show calls for a shot of whiskey and a 2 for 1 special — BUT what that really means is you better be ready to throw back 12 for 6 and shake it with Them Dirty Roses.
Vocals + Guitar / James Ford Guitar / Andrew Davis Bass / Ben Crain Drums / Frank Ford
JEFFREY NOTHING, former vocalist of industrial metal band MUSHROOMHEAD, has released the official music video for his newest single, “The Outage.” Directed by Ian D. Sniesak and edited and shot by Jon Conner of A Hole in the Head Productions, with assisted videography by Thomas Church and Aj Taranto, the dark music saga features former members of MOTOGRATER and SKIN alongside the legendary front-man as well as former MUSHROOMHEAD guitarist, Thomas Church.
“We all come with an expiration date. From our first breath, till our last, we are a miracle in motion; full of emotion, fears, and an air of invincibility. How we treat our fellow man and our life matters. Other than love, you sincerely can’t take it with you. Above is a place I pray to one day be, not a circle I put myself in as I traverse this lifetime. Freedom means everything. All complexes aside, we have no owners. Dream big and share your soul… I, for one, will be listening. So many trash their bodies and minds and feel they just get to wake up from whatever mistake they just made no matter what. It is so heartbreaking to watch a generation be wiped out because they truly believe they are invincible. We are not. Risking oneself for that ever-elusive first high destroys far more than the singular self. Parents never want to outlive their children. You are not that invincible person who will beat any challenge, just because. Stop for one second and be that miracle baby again. Not the almost adult who crushed everyone’s dreams, all because you wanted to escape a temporary nightmare. Death is the end, not a new beginning. Ever.” – Jeffrey Nothing
“Life is full of hardships, challenges, tribulations… It can be difficult in the moments of pain to see through to the other side, that there’s a way to come out victorious. It can be easy to compromise or give in to something that offers a moment of relief; a temporary solution to a problem that might turn into a permanent consequence. It can be easy to think that you will remain in control but more often than not what we think we control ends up controlling us. Pain and trauma are the real gateway drugs and until we learn to face the pain and overcome we will continue the cycle of abuse, be it substance or other. If we don’t, addiction ends up being in control. It destroys what’s beautiful, and then dances and parades what remains around for all the world to see. It can be easy to become ensnared in the prisons of our mind. If we take a close look at ourselves in the midst of our addiction, it can seem as if we are suffocating, wrapped in the fake plastic of the lies we believe that have now led us to the predicament we are in.
Acknowledging there is a problem is the first step. Then we must fight, for our freedom and for our lives, one day at a time.” – Ian D Sniesak (Vocals)
Jeffrey Nothing is the co-founder and former haunting voice behind Cleveland’s MUSHROOMHEAD. His distinct vocals had driven Mushroomhead’s frightening and extreme performance style, garnered them an enormously devoted cult following, and helped them to sell millions of albums worldwide. Nothing has teamed up with fellow former MUSHROOMHEAD guitarist Thomas Church following their departure from the band in March of 2018. The group also features former MOTOGRATER and THE BROWNING drummer Noah “Shark” Robertson, vocalist Ian D. Sniesak, and bassist Steven Adams.
Las Vegas, NV based dark Rock/Pop/Industrial artist rue vox has released the official music video for her new single, “90s Villain.” Featuring BUTCHER BABIES’SHENRY FLURY and HEIDI SHEPHERD as well as CHRIS KAEL of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and directed by SHANE and DEED of SonStudios, the visceral music video follows the songstress through a series of brutal murders of seduced victims until her own murder at the denouement of the saga.
“90s Villain shows how our character defects can find a way to take us out in the end. I wrote this song to kind of call myself out in how I’ve been a terrible girlfriend in my past. In the video I’m a serial killer who ends up getting murdered by her would-be-victim. It symbolizes how the worst parts of us have to die, sometimes involuntarily, in order for us to truly live.” – rue vox
“rue vox is a beast of a talent behind the microphone and her creativity doesn’t stop there. She came to me with the inspiration for her music video to be a female slasher and the epitome of a 90s Villain. We took our love of giallo films to the next level and delivered a pulp-esque style short film. We shot on Red camera with appearances by Butcher Babies and 5FDP’s Chris Kael, and all slated in the dingiest, grimiest motel on the Las Vegas Strip as each victim plays the odds with a seductress.
And so the slaughterhouse began.” – Shane O’Neal
Click HERE to Purchase / Stream “90s Villain” Online!!
The stunning passion in her vocals, and sensationally dynamic sound, is the natural result of rue vox always having had a strong connection to music & a true desire to entertain. Growing up in music, she learned the roots of classical styles at first, and it wouldn’t be long after that she started winning competitions as a teenager, as Rue began to discover & refine the pure power & potential of her remarkable vocal range. Making a pivotal decision to move from Detroit to Las Vegas and pursue her dreams of stepping into the spotlight – Rue confidently started the most exciting chapter of her story to-date. Bursting onto the scene like a supernova, with breathtaking vocals & a brilliant hybrid sound of her own that explores the wild depths of Rock/Pop/Industrial – Rue’s undeniably edgy style instantly got the buzz surrounding her music going strong. Able to deliver the most delicate of melodies with precision & heart, to the most extreme hard-hitting moments designed to take her vocals to the limits & beyond – Rue’s astounding voice is every bit as captivating as it is charismatic. Launching her official debut in 2020 with the release of two incredible covers & currently working on brand-new originals with the A-list assistance of producers Brian Steele Medina (Gemini Syndrome) and Nikka Bling (In This Moment, Five Finger Death Punch) – rue vox is ready to seize the momentum and surge straight to the tops of charts & playlists worldwide, where she truly belongs. – SBS
Las Vegas, NV based dark Rock/Pop/Industrial artist rue vox has released the official music video for her new single, “90s Villain.” Featuring BUTCHER BABIES’SHENRY FLURY and HEIDI SHEPHERD as well as CHRIS KAEL of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and directed by SHANE and DEED of SonStudios, the visceral music video follows the songstress through a series of brutal murders of seduced victims until her own murder at the denouement of the saga.
“90s Villain shows how our character defects can find a way to take us out in the end. I wrote this song to kind of call myself out in how I’ve been a terrible girlfriend in my past. In the video I’m a serial killer who ends up getting murdered by her would-be-victim. It symbolizes how the worst parts of us have to die, sometimes involuntarily, in order for us to truly live.” – rue vox
“rue vox is a beast of a talent behind the microphone and her creativity doesn’t stop there. She came to me with the inspiration for her music video to be a female slasher and the epitome of a 90s Villain. We took our love of giallo films to the next level and delivered a pulp-esque style short film. We shot on Red camera with appearances by Butcher Babies and 5FDP’s Chris Kael, and all slated in the dingiest, grimiest motel on the Las Vegas Strip as each victim plays the odds with a seductress.
And so the slaughterhouse began.” – Shane O’Neal
Click HERE to Purchase / Stream “90s Villain” Online!!
The stunning passion in her vocals, and sensationally dynamic sound, is the natural result of rue vox always having had a strong connection to music & a true desire to entertain. Growing up in music, she learned the roots of classical styles at first, and it wouldn’t be long after that she started winning competitions as a teenager, as Rue began to discover & refine the pure power & potential of her remarkable vocal range. Making a pivotal decision to move from Detroit to Las Vegas and pursue her dreams of stepping into the spotlight – Rue confidently started the most exciting chapter of her story to-date. Bursting onto the scene like a supernova, with breathtaking vocals & a brilliant hybrid sound of her own that explores the wild depths of Rock/Pop/Industrial – Rue’s undeniably edgy style instantly got the buzz surrounding her music going strong. Able to deliver the most delicate of melodies with precision & heart, to the most extreme hard-hitting moments designed to take her vocals to the limits & beyond – Rue’s astounding voice is every bit as captivating as it is charismatic. Launching her official debut in 2020 with the release of two incredible covers & currently working on brand-new originals with the A-list assistance of producers Brian Steele Medina (Gemini Syndrome) and Nikka Bling (In This Moment, Five Finger Death Punch) – rue vox is ready to seize the momentum and surge straight to the tops of charts & playlists worldwide, where she truly belongs. – SBS
Mobile, AL based Heavy Rockers LOVE THE HATE has released their brutal new single, “Solid Ground.” With a dark, modern music video directed and filmed by Thomas Crane of KillDevil Films (Saliva, Todd La Torre [Queensryche], Eve to Adam), “Solid Ground” has quickly dominated local and international radio, bringing the quintet’s unique brand of dark, heavy riffs and infectious melodies to an audience starved for honest rock music.
The band’s 6/22/2021 released music video for “Solid Ground” was filmed in an historic Mobile mansion known as the “Outlaw Mansion,” which inexplicably burned down shortly after. Often referred to as “Alabama’s Most Haunted House,” the sprawling property was once an opulent mansion–one of Alabama’s finest examples of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture–owned by the Outlaw family since 1925. Former Mobile Mayor Arthur Outlaw lived there until the mid-1980s.
“It played a big role in making the video so cool because it has all of the historical aspects of the house — the handcraftmanship on the house alone is remarkable. My dad was a frame carpenter, so I noticed everything like that. It was amazing for me to stand at the staircase of the house when we were shooting the video and be surrounded by that.” – Frank Killian – Love The Hate.
Click HERE for Additional Dates & Ticketing Information.
Love The Hate is a modern rock band based out of Mobile, Alabama. Influences include such bands as Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin, 10 Years, and Deftones.
Doc St. Andrie – Vocals Frank Killian – Guitar Leon Craft – Bass Marshall Mears – Guitar Troy Dearmon – Drums
Mobile, AL based Heavy Rock band LOVE THE HATE has released the dark, modern official music video for their upcoming, brutal new single, “Solid Ground.” Directed and filmed by Thomas Crane of KillDevil Films (Saliva, Todd La Torre [Queensryche], Eve to Adam), “Solid Ground” features Kristi Craft and Billy Culbertson. The single will be available to purchase / stream on July 6, 2021.
“‘Solid Ground’ deals with the familiar feelings of heartbreak, loneliness, and uncertainty in moving on in the wake of a toxic relationship.” – Love The Hate
Click HERE for Additional Dates & Ticketing Information.
Love The Hate is a modern rock band based out of Mobile, Alabama. Influences include such bands as Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin, 10 Years, and Deftones.
Doc St. Andrie – Vocals Frank Killian – Guitar Leon Craft – Bass Marshall Mears – Guitar Troy Dearmon – Drums
Mississippi based, Southern Blues / Rock Band MAGNOLIA BAYOU has released the official music video for their new, heavy rock single, “Train Don’t Stop”. Recorded at Natchez Sound Studio, produced by Burne Sharp, and mixed by Jacquire King/Nashville, “Train Don’t Stop” premiered on ROCK & BLUES MUSE.
“A couple of years ago, we had some issues with band personnel. We promptly had a meeting to rectify the issues. During that meeting, our manager made the statement “This train don’t stop for anyone or anything.” Being floored by that statement, singer Drew Fulton jotted it down in his notes for potential use in a future song. Fast forward to 2020 and a worldwide pandemic took the world by storm. The lyric “This Train Don’t Stop” just kept knocking on our door. This song is the 2021 anthem for the people who have just had enough. Despite the odds, we won’t stop.” – MAGNOLIA BAYOU
“’Train Don’t Stop’ proves that rock and roll is still very much alive, at least in the hands of Magnolia Bayou. When these four plug in and play, you can’t help but believe in them. If you live for loud, passionate blues/rock, you’re going to want to get behind this band and this song. Do yourself a solid and get onboard right now!” – ROCK & BLUES MUSE
Track List: 1. Dig Deep 2. Sleepin’ In The Dog House 3. Sugarspell 4. Preachin’ Blues 5. Hands In The Dirt 6. From The Other Side 7. The Robber 8. Hurricane 9. Tupelo 10. Sweet Magnolia 11. Thieves
Forged in the heart of a Mississippi swamp, Magnolia Bayou’s sound is appropriately reminiscent of the golden age of Rock N Roll, and it is simultaneously flavored with a heavy, southern swagger that is distinctively theirs. Their bluesy aura can be traced back to the group’s origins, where they submerged and steeped themselves in their home state’s profound musical wealth; covering the likes of Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Son House and so many more.
Like their musical forefathers, the band spent three years blazing their way through juke joints along the Mississippi Blues trail, before independently recording their debut album in 2018. After its release, they spent the last three years extensively touring the surrounding south, traveling as far as the midwest and the pacific northeast. In that time, they’ve supported many acts such as Whiskey Myers, Wet Willie, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Fantastic Negrito, Tyler Childers, Ian Moore, Aaron Lewis, Bishop Gunn, Black Stone Cherry and most recently Buckcherry. They are set to open for Nightranger at the annual HWY 30 music fest in Filer Idaho on June 24th, of 2021.
In May of 2019, Magnolia Bayou set out to record their follow up album, Strange Place, at Natchez Sound Studio with Bishop Gunn’s very own Burne Sharp at the helm. The record is now available everywhere.
“Echoes of The Rolling Stones, Hendrix & early Aerosmith that come roaring out of your speaker… Strange Place is a transcendent blast of Rock & Roll with Southern Swagger and by any measure, Magnolia Bayou is one of the most crucial bands blowing up in the USA right now” – Rock & Blues Muse
New Jersey based Singer / Songwriter SYDNEY SHERWOOD recently teamed with guitarist Ron Haney to release a touching, acoustic version and music video for her single, “Creep.” Featured as a submission to the 2021 Cover NationSing It Forward contest, garnering the talented artist a prestigious Mentorship Session with Canadian American singer / songwriter GRANDSON. Filmed by Mike Gillette and produced by Erik Romero, “Creep” is off of Sydney’s new, sophomore EP, Headspace.
“With the ‘Creep’ video, we had a three hour window to complete it, so when we got into the studio we were super focused and finished in only two takes! I love how it turned out and I’m thankful because putting this video together led me to being chosen as one of the eight semi-finalists for the Sing It Forward Challenge which benefitted NAMI. When I did my session with Grandson, we got to watch my video and he gave me some great advice for future performances and it was awesome to get to speak with someone who has a lot of knowledge and is so sure of himself and his artistry. Grandson is someone I really admire in the industry and I’m glad I was able to have my mentorship session with him because we love to write about real life situations (our battles with mental health, life experiences, etc.) so we really clicked and got along great. It was such a cool experience and I’m grateful I got to be a part of something that merged two of my biggest passions: being a musician and being an advocate for mental health.” – SYDNEY SHERWOOD
“I thought [the mentorship session] was awesome, [Sydney] brought so much soul to the project and I’m sure I’ll be seeing [her] rock stages for a long long time!” – GRANDSON
Track List: 1. Wolves 2. Let Me Down 3. Creep 4. Born to Roll 5. Horizon’s Edge 6. All The Aces
“Sydney is rock’s answer to pop’s P!NK or country’s Carrie Underwood, she exudes all the power and confidence and sings with no-nonsense authority, all while remaining firmly situated in heavy alternative rock. Sydney Sherwood cannot be merely compared to female singers of her generation and writes and performs with a conviction that fans of 3 Doors Down or Daughtry would instantly recognize.” – Joe Makoviecki (Singer, songwriter of Jackson Pines)
Sydney Sherwood is an 18-year-old singer/songwriter from New Jersey. Sydney began singing and playing guitar as a way to express her emotions after her brother was diagnosed with cancer.
Since her brother’s diagnosis, being a childhood cancer advocate has become a big part of Sydney’s life. She has performed and spoken at many childhood cancer events over the past twelve years and continues to be a voice for all children with cancer, as well as their siblings.
Sydney began writing her own music when she was 13, and on March 3, 2019, she released her first EP, Beauty from Ashes. Her release show was held at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey. In 2019, Sydney also received a golden ticket to Hollywood from American Idol celebrity judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie.
Over the course of the pandemic, Sydney has been writing and recording her new album, Headspace, which will be released February 27, 2021.
Sydney’s goal is to touch the lives of others through the music that she writes, as she takes inspiration directly from her life experiences.
Hard Rock solo project IMMERSER has released the official music video for “Transmute.” Produced and Engineered by KANE CHURKO at the Hideout Studio in Las Vegas Nevada, “Transmute” is the debut single written and performed by John Logan Parsons III.
“Transmutation is the psychic ability to transmute one substance into another”. – IMMERSER
Immerser is a dynamic, hard rock, solo project featuring the powerful music of John Logan Parsons III. The goal of the Immerser project is to bring meaning to a melody. As an artist John L Parsons III isn’t afraid to explore the deepest parts of the subconscious. Immerser songs deal with some of life’s darkest places, yet there is always an energetic undercurrent of optimism, spirituality, and love running throughout. The result is a passionate mix of alternative, pop, grunge, and metal. Immerser is music that a listener can connect with and find deeper meaning in. With the recent enlistment of world renowned producer Kane Churko who has worked with some of today’s biggest artists including – In This Moment, Gemini Syndrome and Violent Idols, Immerser is certainly a musical force to be reckoned with. Immerse yourself and transmute!
Carolinas based heavy rock band THE LA MAYBE–fronted by lead singer Alvi Robinson, made famous when he was nearly selected to front the legendary band AC/DC in 2016–have released the official lyric video for their uplifting, anthemic new single, “Peace of Mind.” Designed by Dallas, the band chose a lyric video for “Peace of Mind” to focus on the lyrics and message of the song.
“‘Peace of Mind’ is a song about struggling with addiction. Battling your inner demons can be hard, but we all just want to come out the other side with a little peace of mind. More than anything, this song is a message of hope. We hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it!” – DALLAS DWIGHT
Advance Praise for Dirty Damn Tricks:
“Dirty Damn Tricks rules from beginning to end, so be sure to listen straight through so you don’t miss crucial deep cuts like “Fake” and “Up Next To You.” The L.A. Maybe could be the most important band in the USA right now just because they get rock and roll so right. The band’s grasp on what needs to happen to keep rock music moving forward while keeping its spirit alive is intuitive and on target. You have GOT to hear this record.” – Rock & Blues Muse
“The quality of the song writing on offer here is impressive for a new band with a debut album, and there really isn’t a weak track on “Dirty Damn Tricks”. “Oh Sugar” is a song that has the lot, dripping in swagger it is the perfect summer rock song. “Piece of Mind” is bluesier and slower yet not quite a ballad, “Sweet” comes complete with a vocal that could cut through most things whilst “Up Next To You” rounds it all off in style.” – Get Ready to Rock
“A screaming voice, powerful riffs, bold lyrics – that’s classic rock. If you loved the long haired guys of the 1970’s and 1980’s, you should definitely dare a listen to Dirty Damn Tricks. The album comes with a high potential for you that you will enjoy these tunes. I definitely had a lot of fun!” – Flyctory
“To sum up, if you like the aforementioned AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses or even Van Halen, you will love this album. It perfectly showcases the incredible versatility of these fine musicians as they draw on a number of musical styles whilst retaining their own definitive sound. I have no doubt listening to this that these guys will put on an incredible live show and I’ll certainly be first in line for a ticket!” – Rockasaurus
Track List: 1. Mr. Danger 2. Sucker Punch 3. Oh Sugar 4. She’s Reckless 5. Peace of Mind 6. 6. When I’m Gone 7. Take Me Away 8. Sweet 9. Fake 10. Up Next To You
The L.A. Maybe is a 6-piece rock n’ roll band hailing from the southern heat of the Carolinas. If you’re a fan of Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, or Van Halen…you will feel right at home adding LAM to your record collection.
Lead vocalist Alvi Robinson (who was one of only four singers to audition to replace Brian Johnson in AC/DC in 2016) lays down gritty, passionate vocals while the rest of the band back him up with slithering riffs, huge catchy hooks, and ripping guitar solos.
LAM firmly plants its feet at the very forefront of the New Wave of Classic Rock movement and you’re sure to have at least one of their choruses stuck in your head at any given moment.
Drawing influence from nearly every style of music, The L.A. Maybe put on an electrifying live show and stand for everything you love about rock music, old and new.
KIND VILLAIN, founded by award-winning artist and performer Ev V Frederick (F19 BAND) have released the official music video for their a cover of the KHALID track “8TEEN,” off of the R&B / Pop artist’s 2017 EP, American Teen. The track was produced and mixed by Paul Trust (Morgan Wallen / Starset), with the video directed by Linda Lopez of Cover Nation, and features the band performing at at a local arcade where some of the band played games as kids.
“Being a huge Khalid fan, ‘8TEEN’ to me is a fun, insightful song about the joys of being young. I wonder if Khalid had ever imagined this song being a next-generation pop-rock anthem. I hope you enjoy Kind Villain’s interpretation of Khalid’s 8teen.”
Kind Villain is a high-energy young rock and pop-rock project founded by award-winning artist and performer Ev V Frederick, hailed for their live performances, and unique artistry as well as dynamic character. Ev is a seasoned veteran of the music scene known for his performances locally in the F19 Band and Green Holiday the tribute band to Green Day. His ability to perform, create, and find unique and diverse members, allow the project to achieve an unprecedented style and sound.
Ev was discovered by William Ray of Panacea Records, the company that first found and developed country superstar Morgan Wallen. William and Panacea Records have signed and developed artists for over 25 years, resulting in multiple major label deals. Kind Villain is produced by Panacea co-owner Paul Trust. Paul is a well-respected songwriter and has built a stellar reputation with his skills as a producer. From country star Morgan Wallen to sci-fi rock band Starset, Paul Trust has done it all.
April 27, 2021 – On May 2nd, Emily Lazar of September Mourning (the first female rock/ metal front person to create and sell an NFT ), Jesse Meester (Actor, Entrepreneur with 1.8 million social media followers) and Griffin Carlson (Digital and NFT artist under the moniker romanticappeal) will be revealing their combined efforts to create a unique NFT collection, “Thinking of You”. All three artists met through the NFT community and decided to combine their similar aesthetics and different strengths to create art and benefit two charities they are passionate about. Equal profit share from the sale of this NFT collection will be donated to both The World Wildlife Federation and The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention.
NFTs are unique, limited edition digital pieces of art that the creator signs & authenticates. You can own each one forever like you would a vinyl record or sell it as the NFT appreciates in value on an NFT exchange like Foundation. The artists and in this case the charity as well, gets a residual portion of the sale so you are always supporting them both monetarily and promotionally. Think of the space as a collectible marketplace for the digital world.
Emily, Jesse and Griffin are dropping four pieces in their NFT collection. Each piece is one of a kind and combines photography, digital art, animation and music to create a story and mood.
“As a touring musician and fellow pandemic survivor, I wanted to evoke the different emotions that occur in a relationship between two people when they are apart.” – Emily Lazar
The four unique pieces can be seen on the curated NFT platform, Foundation, under the Collection, “Thinking of You”. “We are excited that, together, our supporters can help make the art their own, share their newly acquired collectible, help spread awareness and give back to some amazing causes.” – Jesse Meester
For 60 years, The World Wildlife Foundation’s mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth. Founded in 1987, The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention, is the largest private funder of suicide prevention research. dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide.
Four unique one of one NFT’s that combine photography, digital art, animation and music. Each piece represents an emotional context between two people and the thoughts they have when they are apart.
NFTs are unique, limited edition digital pieces of art that the creator signs & authenticates. You can own each one forever like you would a vinyl record or as the NFT appreciates in value, if you would like, you can sell it to anyone, anywhere such as an NFT exchange like Foundation…. Therefore profiting from the increase in value. The artist gets a residual portion of the sale so you are always supporting them both monetarily and promotionally. Think of the space as a collectible marketplace for the digital world.
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What’s unique & visionary about these NFT’s?
“Combining talents always brings a unique perspective and creationism to art.” – Griffin Carlson
Jesse Meester is an established actor and influencer, who brings familiarity and beauty through his photographs. Griffin Carlson approaches this digital art through a vintage lens of romanticism and applies his gifts in animation to create a mood. Emily Lazar is an established touring musician and model who lends her physical aesthetic and musical composition to the pieces. Together, this trio creates not only a beautiful visual collection but a collection that stirs the senses and provokes a storyline unique to the creations. Another special component occurs from the sale of each piece. Equal profit share from the sale of this NFT collection will be donated to two charities these artists feel passionately about: The World Wildlife Federation and The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention.
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Why these NFT’s?
“These are four one of a kind assets and our first foray as a trio into a burgeoning new segment of the art world. Our art speaks uniquely to super fans, collectors and NFT investors. The charitable contributions we will be making because of this brand new way of collecting and selling art is super exciting. I have always wanted to be philanthropic in a space like this and am so proud to be associated with such incredible causes.” – Emily Lazar
MATT DANIELS (formerly of SHALLOW SIDE) has announced the launch of his revolutionary new fitness center, ROYALTY HEALTH & FITNESS. Originating as a mobile personal training/health company, ROYALTY HEALTH & FITNESS will be opening May 1, 2021 at 820 East Nerge Rd in Roselle, IL.
“We were strictly a mobile company before, offering only diet & fitness programs via an app that we still have. However, with our new brick and mortar location we will be offering personal training, music lessons, and an open gym with state of the art machines and a concert venue level sound system that makes you feel like you are front row of a sold out rock concert.” – MATT DANIELS
MATT’S STORY:
My name is Matt Daniels. I am a touring musician, health & fitness trainer. I lifted and exercised all of my life, I was an athlete and a musician, very active but never dieted. I never had the body I dreamed I could have. After years of working out, touring and playing shows it had eventually taken a toll on my body physically…I was 24 years old coming off tour and sick, with back pain and completely exhausted I went to the doctor. They believed I had meningitis, and the doctor’s performed a spinal tap. A test I never had thought would change the course of my life so drastically.
April of 2017, my spinal cord was punctured and I was sent home with no meningitis. Not knowing what was wrong, for about two weeks I couldn’t lift my head off a pillow, in so much pain I couldn’t walk, talk or eat. After being rushed to the hospital, I had undergone a procedure to close the wound in my spinal cord, where my brain and spinal fluid had been leaking out.
After that day touring wasn’t the same, I was weaker, in constant lower back pain and felt useless. My diet was horrific, and so was my fitness regimen. I was 215lbs before the accident, and about a month or 2 after I was weighing 170lbs soaking wet from malnutrition.
Instead of sitting back allowing myself to be a victim of circumstance, I started studying nutrition, physical therapy and strength and conditioning mercilessly. I focused on training myself, I became my own science project. My gains and results… trophies of my knowledge.
After 2 years of counting macros on tour and on the road, exercising every day and focusing on bettering myself I can actually touch my toes again, and I have dedicated myself to trying to go IFBB pro.
The point of my program isn’t some get ripped quick scheme, it is an in depth and deeply guided program that follows you every step of the way. Whether you have a gym to exercise in, or at home. Whether you travel on the road for work, or stay at home. When you join our team, we will not give up on you. You become family. Through nutrition, fitness and motivation counseling, we push you to be the best that you can be.
The story runs deep with Deconstruct. An aggressive, in your face, heavy rock/modern metal band comprised of the brutal, grungy groove oriented guitar riffs of Joe Fraulob (ex-Danzig), the powerful, deep, head-spinning bass lines of Bobby Real (ex-Dedvolt), the bone crushing drums of Tom Frost (ex-Luxt) and vocalist MC Droze’s intense growling and often melodic vocals. Yeah, this band has got it going on … A solid timeline of success, expanded musicianship and continually evolving into a “Post Apocalyptic” Metal genre!
Deconstruct is currently seeking a new front-man to fill the void after original singer Droze moved to another state. MC Droze will be missed and his latest contribution to the soon to be released LP Ashen Empire is nothing short of incredible. “We wish him the best with all his endeavors,” says Fraulob. The full-length album has been recorded, engineered and produced by Joe Fraulob, and mixed by top renowned industry pro, Juan Urteaga of Trident Studios (Testament, Machine Head). Management has been secured under Frankie James (Culture Rock). Professional videos have also been produced by Andy Pilkington of Very Metal Art (see video for “Machine” below) and award winning film-maker Josh Pierson and are ready to be released once the timing is right!
The Deconstruct foundation can be traced to guitarist Joe Fraulob’s 2001 courtship with Columbia Records, when his prior band, Side-Swipe, was targeted by the A&R team of John Weakland (Union Underground) and the legendary John Kalodner (Aerosmith). Once the label threw Side-Swipe into the mix of different producers and spent upwards of $30,000 on demos, the band knew they were on to something big. Ultimately, Columbia felt the demos that Fraulob produced at his own studio were the best, which gave Fraulob and the band the confidence to trust their instincts musically, and to fight for their own path. This gave way to the birth of Deconstruct with Fraulob writing for his new project to include an uncompromising vision for a new sound – dark and heavy yet melodic and dynamic – ready for the radio, but powerful enough to crush skulls in a live setting. Fraulob recorded the first Deconstruct demo at his own studio the Pus Cavern where Fraulob had spent the last decade developing his engineering chops recording Sacramento heavyweights such as The Deftones and began to send this demo out to industry pros. After hearing the demo, David Draiman and Dan Donegan of Disturbed personally chose Deconstruct as opener for their Music As A Weapon 2 tour where Deconstruct’s first show was opening for Disturbed, Chevelle, and Taproot in front of an audience of 5000. Immediately, the band’s prowess as a live act was recognized, and Bill Graham Presents placed the band on several amphitheater shows (Iron Maiden, Dio, and Motorhead at Sleep Train Amphitheater; and Def Leppard at Irvine Meadows). While building their reputation as one of the West Coast’s most hard hitting live acts, Deconstruct began making headway in the world of Rock Radio. The band’s debut EP “Sign Of Things To Come” received play nationwide, enabling Deconstruct to expand their touring base. The work paid off, resulting in more high profile shows with a diverse array of acts including Nickelback, Puddle of Mudd, Drowning Pool, Death Angel, Helmet, and Hed PE. The band’s second EP, a sampler of tracks from their forthcoming album, received radio play on over 100 stations. The single “Time Kills” was added to heavy rotation on commercial station WOBX (98X) in North Carolina. Deconstruct also became the only unsigned band to ever receive play on KRXQ in Sacramento’s “Smash or Trash” receiving a 100% listener “Smash” rating. Deconstruct was definitely on the rise and was then chosen by multi-platinum act Korn as main stage openers for the Korn, Chevelle, and Breaking Benjamin concert at Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA. After 2 successful U.S. tours promoting the first Deconstruct album The Human Condition, Fraulob joined the legendary multi-platinum act Danzig as touring lead guitarist for an incredible 2 year run after which Deconstruct took a hiatus. In 2017 Fraulob joined the legendary Bay Area Metal group Trauma and ended up producing and recording their 2019 album As The World Dies. Recording and touring with Trauma inspired Fraulob to reboot Deconstruct to record a new album then to follow up with more main-stage appearances. The crushing new album, Ashen Empire, features long-time Deconstruct members Fraulob, drummer Tom Frost, and vocalist MC Droze, with additional appearances by drummers Darren Minter (Heathen) and Kris Gustofson (Trauma), and bassist Greg Christian (Testament).
Which brings us to the present, 2021 sees Deconstruct with the strongest, hardest hitting, most talented line-up yet. With Fraulob at the helm with his brutal guitar mastery, the thundering super bassist Bobby Real and one of the best drummers in NorCal, Tom Frost, on board, Deconstruct is firing on all cylinders. All three bring their extensive experience to the table to create a sound that is current but unique, extremely heavy yet mesmerizingly melodic and memorable. There’s no doubt success will once again be risen out of the ashes!! A pro studio and practice room has been built, a new album recorded and mastered, extensive press ready to go out and Deconstruct is tour ready!
However, with the loss of their singer MC Droze, this greatness can’t continue until that void is replaced, so Deconstruct is now placing a call to action to all professional “qualified & stage seasoned” vocalists to front this dynamically structured band. Qualified applicants respond at the email below to arrange an audition.
UK Based Rock artist LOZ CAMPBELL has released the official music video for her newest, bluesy, “What Are You Doing It For?”. Filmed by Fly Girl Films, “What Are You Doing It For?” was recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Tom Gittins (Monochrome Productions).
“’What Are You Doing It For’ is an old school plug in and play approach to a new wave of classic rock sound. Throughout the song Loz asks what are you doing it for? ‘Is it for the fame/money.’ Written about experiences of different people we have met in the industry.” – LOZ CAMPBELL
Live Show Dates: 07/04 @ Cleethorpes Rocks – England 08/21 @ The Hive – Rotherham, England 08/28 @ Facebar (Crazy Cowboy Festival) – Reading, England 09/04 @ Yorkshire Truck Festival – Sheffield, England 09/11 @ Seaside Jamboree – Prestatyn , Wales 09/17 @ Eiger Studios – Leeds, England 09/25 @ Victoria Vaults – York, England 10/02 @ Legends Live Lounge – Oldham, England 11/06 @ Leo’s Red Lion – Gravesend, England 11/26 @ The Key Club – Leeds, England 12/18 @ The Hive – Rotherham, England
Loz Campbell is known for travelling around the country & shocking crowds with her “growling” guitar & angelic but fierce voice. With strong links to PJ Harvey & Garbage the band have gone from strength to strength with the success of their latest single launching them onto iconic stages such as the 100 Club London & joining Mungo Jerry for a date on his tour. Loz Campbell has recently joined forces with Earache Records & was featured on the NEW WAVE OF ROCK N ROLL compilation album.
Denver based, Dark Rock artist SHARONE has released the official music video for the fourth and final single, “Diamond,” off of her upcoming LP, Morbid Illusion, due out May 28, 2021 via Devil Inside Records. Directed by Kyle Lamar, and SHARONE herself, “Diamond” features Johnny Romero on drums, Zach Barrera on bass, and Spencer Simpson and Travis Owen on guitar.
“When I wrote ‘Diamond’, I was trying to remain hopeful in a hopeless situation. I learned that the effort you put forth in those types of instances can cause serious damage to your soul and your mind. Sometimes when we feel lost we try to convince ourselves that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. ‘Diamond’ is about realizing that light doesn’t exist.” – SHARONE
Sharone erupted onto the Denver music scene as a solo artist in 2014 playing local DIY venues; since then she has gone on to play venues such as Marquis Theater, Bluebird Theater, and Gothic Theater, playing festivals, and opening for bands such as One-Eyed-Doll, The Birthday Massacre, Fuel, Saving Abel, Davey Suicide, Tantric, Hell’s Belles, Stitched Up Heart, and Puddle Of Mudd. The atmospheric and melodramatic music of Evanescence and the psychedelic blues of Black Sabbath inspired Sharone to start performing her music live with a full rock band backing her. Despite sustaining a dark and melancholy tone on recordings, the gothic artist’s live shows are nothing short of energetic, full of heavy piano riffs, pulsing rhythms, and enthralling theatrics. From emerging from a coffin to jumping off of monitors and captivating contortions, Sharone captures the interest of each audience member through her piercing stage chemistry with her live musicians, and her ever-growing theatrics. In the spring of 2017, the singer left her mark on the Denver music scene with the release of her first rock album ‘Storm’. Following the release, dove deeper into her writing, and came back stronger than ever with the reincarnation of her dark sound: ‘Enchiridion of Nightmares’ (2018).
“Like a series of dark fairy tales, Enchiridion of Nightmares the new album from dark [rocker] Sharone, captivates, seduces, and haunts. Each of its notes, let alone songs, comes with a shadow to [her] beauty, melancholy to [her] light, and intimacy to [her] grandeur with it all colluding in an adventure which just steals the imagination from everyday reality. There is a rich cinematic and theatre-esque feel to Enchiridion of Nightmares which equally adds to its captivation; indeed its songs entwine an influence of horror movies, vintage and modern, into their personal nightmares. With just as richly layered and dramatic sounds to its exploration, the album is a persistent unveiling of new twists and shadows listen by listen. On our first meeting intrigue soaked the pleasure, through a couple more captivation, each subsequent listen leading to the inescapable bewitchment these words spring from.” –The Ringmaster Review
Sharone followed up the release with three exhilarating summer and fall tours, reaching audiences across the western, central, and eastern United States, and spent the remainder of 2019 recording her third studio album ‘Reflection’, which was released December 7th, 2019.
“[Sharone] showed that she was adept at harnessing the chaos on her previous couple of albums and she’s really turning the gothic-art-pop-rock up on her latest long-player. It’s packed with dark fairytales and swooping riffs as well as more theatrical invention that you’d find at the Royal Shakespeare Company.” – The Crack Magazine
In summary absolute female power, which reminds of Evanescence and Tarja Turunen. This talented singer makes you curious about her live performances!” – Stormbringer.at
Sharone really pushes out the emotions and passion she has for music with this album. It is full of fantastic piano chords and guitar riffs that really show off her band’s talent as a whole. I am excited to see what she releases in the future and will keep an eye out for it. In the Spring of 2020, Sharone signed with Devil Inside Records, and began working on her fourth studio album. The first single “Can We Pretend” was released July 24th, and has been the young rocker’s most successful release to date.
This unique rock artist is destined for success in the metal and goth rock realm. Look out for more new music from Sharone coming very soon.
Montreal, Québec – Slaves on Dope’sJason Rockman and Kevin Jardine, along with Bill Kelliher of Mastodon, are back with their project The Kings of Quarantine, this time with a powerful rendition of Public Enemy’s “She Watch Channel Zero.” The new video features musicians Billy Gould & Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Mix Master Mike (Beastie Boys), SA (311), MC Serch (3rd Bass), Derrick Green (Sepultura), Sen Dog (Cypress Hill), Toby Morse (H2O) and a special appearance from legendary pop-artist Ron English (Popaganda)!
The Kings of Quarantine came together in 2020 after a discussion between Jason and Bill about possibly collaborating on a cover song. “She Watch Channel Zero” is the third installment in a series of covers that will be released throughout 2021 in an effort to bring some joy and entertainment to music lovers worldwide. “We hope to not only put a smile on people’s faces, but also help the touring staff that have been severely affected by the pandemic”, says Jason Rockman. One hundred percent of the profits will be donated to Roadie Relief, a fundraising effort to aid qualifying Roadies who have submitted an application for financial help.
The Kings of Quarantine have no plans of slowing down, with more star-studded covers to be released in the near future!
Almost everyone you know has seen a concert that has moved them. Those productions can take over 100+ traveling crew members to set up by the time doors open.
Before and during the show they sweat and hustle to get everything ready. After the show they spend more hours erasing evidence that they were ever there at all. Many of these key players work an average of 20 hour days, then move on to the next city to make it happen all over again.
Many of these crew members, “roadies,” have been doing this as a career for decades. Some of these roadies, while experts in this field, have never had any other job experience. Since the world pandemic, well over a hundred thousand of these people are left with no income and no financial assistance.
There are no concerts or live events for the foreseeable future. At the beginning of 2020, job opportunity ceased to exist and 2021 remains uncertain. Many are unable to claim unemployment as their expert level trade skills are not recognized and they do not qualify. This on-going problem is leaving 100s of roadies without a secure livelihood.
The government has fallen short. Contacting congressmen and women, senators, and governors to raise the issue has been met with no resolution. Their replies are a formal brush-off and roadies are left hitting a dead end.
The goal with this gofundme is to offer some relief to some of the dedicated people in the roadie community. Just like you, they have families, mortgages, car payments, and day care. Commonly these workers lean on their savings between tour cycles, but those funds have run thin or run out. Please donate if you can, every little helps.
Chicago based, Progressive Instrumental Rock band COYOTE MAN has released a fresh visualizer for their new /single, “Time Crystals.” Directed and edited by Chuck Clybourne (Sacred Ape Designs), “Time Crystals” features enigmatic, “dark age comic” art, reflecting the mystifying theme of the stunning single, designed by Craig Horky and is the band’s 4th single.
“Time Crystals” was a cool topic we came across, about a new matter recently discovered. We cannot even begin to fathom what it truly is but we found the title interesting and romanticized the idea of being able to transcend time. As if you were able travel to different moments of your life. Like a place you can visit. But like always, we leave it up to the listener to create their own meaning.” – COYOTE MAN
VIOLENT IDOLS blazes into 2021 for REVENGE with the official music video for their blistering sequel to 2020’s Idolatry, that featured AEW Jon Moxley’s theme song, “UNSCRIPTED VIOLENCE,” as well as collaborations with hard rock heavy weights such as Andy James (Five Finger Death Punch), Aaron Nordstrom (Gemini Syndrome), and K.A.Z (VAMPS). The single was produced and mixed by KANE CHURKO at The Hideout Recording Studio in Henderson NV with the video directed by Steffen Orozco, “REVENGE” showcases the raw intensity that the band has become known for while blending industrial and electronic elements into a style that has become uniquely their own. “REVENGE” sounds exactly like you want it to, exploring the dark side of humanity within a track that is both powerful and heavy while confidently flirting with commerciality via the sonic wizardry that Churko is well-known for.
”This band has always been about looking the monster inside right in the eye and staring it down. REVENGE is no exception. With social media we all always seem so caught up in only showing our best selves. But that’s not all we are. You really only know somebody after you’ve seen the worst side of them. Yourself included. When you confront the depths of your own darkness, you begin to lift that veil.”
“It’s easy to say you’d turn the other cheek while sitting in an ivory tower. But when the blood of someone you love ends up on the hands of your enemy, what do you do? A lot of people don’t like to ask themselves that question. They don’t want to know what the monster inside of them looks like.”
2021 is poised to be a tremendous year for VIOLENT IDOLS as they ready their second EP and continue their pattern of collaborating with some of rock music’s biggest names. VIOLENT IDOLS have managed to rack up millions of streams in their first year as an unsigned independent band. Proving that music doesn’t have to be “safe” to sell, there seems to be no shortage of excitement over the bands artistic output thus far. The lyrics of “REVENGE” ask “Where does it stop? Where does it end?”. However, it’s clear with this release that REVENGE is just the beginning of huge things for this mysterious and enigmatic Las Vegas band.
Glasgow, UK based Rock band MASON HILL has released the official music video for their blistering metal single, “D.N.A.” Directed and produced by David Barras and Scott McKay for Strangeboat Productions, “D.N.A.” is the third single off the band’s chart dominating debut album, Against The Wall.
“D.N.A.” is also dominating German and French charts, sitting comfortably on Rock Antenne FM’s‘ top 20 and hitting top 10 in the Heavy 1 French radio chart.
“A blistering and hook filled bit of gleaming modern metal, it manages to perfectly mesh heaviness with melody that shows a maturity way beyond most of their peers.
With a superb production, this just doesn’t pop out of the speakers, it practically roars, the Highland passion in full flow and Celtic fire blazing.” – Metal Planet Magazine
Released on March 5th, Against The Wall achieved the UK national album chart at number 19, taking a coveted top 20 album position, and reached over 750,000 streams on Spotify. The long awaited album, which received critical acclaim from both media and fans alike, also hit number 1 in the UK rock album chart. It is the first time a rock band has debuted with their album in the UK Top 20 since Greta Van Fleet in 2018 and also the first time a British rock act as debuted with their album in the UK Top 20 and # 1 in the UK rock album chart since Royal Blood and Lonely The Brave back in 2014!
It is an incredible achievement for new British rock band, starting from an almost zero sales base and during a pandemic when there has been no traditional retail, no live shows or touring opportunities. The innovative marketing campaign run by both 7Hz Productions (ADA) and the band involved a six month fan building initiative utilizing the band’s social platforms, streaming performances, virtual ‘in store’ launch events, dark ad audience building and strategic media take over promotions. Coupled with very positive press reviews, online reviews, regional radio support, and four Planet Rock playlist additions, the band’s new album has connected musically with rock fans resulting in a surge of sales.
The band is set to release their next digital single, a cover of the 2005 Foo Fighters hit “The Best Of You,” all platforms on April 23, 2021.
Click to Order ‘Against the Wall’ Vinyl – Red & Blue Vinyl Sold Out
Advance Praise for Against The Wall:
“The music really does the talking. Powered by enough energy to light up the national grid!” – Metal Hammer UK (8/10)
“Energetic, classy young hard rocker’s debut. It’s been worth the wait. An exciting young talent, the songs are well constructed, melodic and powerful” – Classic Rock (7/10)
“Music supercharged by adversity. The long awaited, cathartic full length debut” – Kerrang – (3/5)
Track Last: 1. Reborn 2. No Regret 3. Against the Wall 4. Broken Son 5. D.N.A. 6. Who We Are 7. Find My Way 8. Hold On 9. Out Of Reach 10. We Pray 11. Where I Belong 12. Reborn (Reprise)
Click to Order ‘Against the Wall’ Vinyl – Red & Blue Vinyl Sold Out
MASON HILL has also announced UK tour dates. The 17 date UK & Irish tour will head out in early September with support from Hollowstar and Empyre. Despite never having headlined a club tour before, the band has sold 1,800 tour tickets in just 2 weeks!
“Our fans have been so supportive and to have a top 20 national album on our first release is mind blowing. We are extremely humbled at the reception Against The Wall has received and needless to say, it has been an extremely bright light for us during this long Covid tunnel. It has made us even more hungry to get back out and play live again. Everyone is itching to crank up the volume and blast out the new material” – (Scott Taylor – Vocals)
Tour Dates: 09/02 @ Tunnels – Aberdeen, Scotland 09/03 @ Garage – Glasgow, Scotland 09/04 @ Macarts – Galashiels, Scotland 09/09 @ Grand Social – Dublin, Ireland 09/10 @ Voodoo – Belfast, Ireland 09/14 @ Junction 2 – Cambridge, England 09/15 @ Corporation – Sheffield, England 09/16 @ Fleece – Bristol, England 09/17 @ Patterns – Brighton, England 09/18 @ Leos – Gravesend, England (Sold Out) 09/20 @ Globe – Cardiff, Wales 09/21 @ Joiners – Southampton, England 09/22 @ Nightrain – Bradford, England 09/23 @ Waterloo Music Bar – Blackpool 09/24 @ Underworld – London, England 09/25 @ Rebellion – Manchester, England 09/26 @ KK’s Steel Mill – Wolverhampton, England
To trace the Mason Hill story to its origin, Scott Taylor and James Bird met at school in Glasgow. At the age of 14, Bird was already an accomplished, award-winning, gifted guitar prodigy, who’d shared a stage with Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society man Zakk Wylde, a personal hero, toured across the UK, and secured endorsements from leading music brands. The teenage Taylor already harboured dreams of fronting a rock ’n’ roll band, and the pair’s friendship and shared aspirations led them to form a band. In 2013 the pair formed Mason Hill, adding drummer Craig McFetridge, bassist Matthew Ward, and guitarist Marc Montgomery in due course. Five diverse, colourful characters, the members of the group were instantly bonded by a shared, singular vision for their band: Taylor relinquished long-held plans to become an Olympic swimmer in order to focus on music, while Ward withdrew from a degree course at the University of Glasgow, where he’d been studying microbiology/virology. For these ambitious young men, Mason Hill was and is priority number one.
Mason Hill are Scott Taylor (Lead Vocals), James Bird (Lead Guitar), Marc Montgomery (Guitar), Matthew Ward (Bass) and Craig McFetridge (Drums)
THE STORY SO FAR Mason Hill has spent their formative years “learning their craft” on stages up and down the UK. This included high profile shows supporting the likes of Graham Bonnet (Rainbow), Snakecharmer (feat. ex-Whitesnake, Thunder & Wishbone Ash members), Toseland, Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Ted Nugent, The Dead Daisies) and Stone Broken.
“this is the best new heavy rock act currently performing in the UK.” (Fabrications HQ)
“a prodigious talent that belies their fledgling years.” (Planet Rock)
In December 2015 the band released their debut E.P, the self titled Mason Hill, featuring four tracks which highlighted exactly why this band are turning heads – outstanding songs that demonstrated a maturity far beyond their years. Recorded at The Foundry Music Lab with Sandy Jones (Wet Wet Wet) in the producer’s chair, the EP has been critically acclaimed amongst the music press and fans alike.
2016 brought several breakthroughs in the band’s career, firstly the invitation to perform on The Rising Stage at Ramblin’ Man Fair, headlined by Whitesnake and Black Stone Cherry, winning the UK wide Highway To Hell battle of the bands competition that earned them opening the main stage slot at Hard Rock Hell, alongside the likes of Ugly Kid Joe, Ratt, and Glenn Hughes, appearing at Winterstorm Festival, alongside the likes of Ricky Warwick, Last in Line (ex-Dio) and Inglorious to selling out their first ever headline show at the famous Cathouse Rock Club in Glasgow with one month left to spare – a feat only achieved in recent times by Anthrax and Black Stone Cherry.
The career progression continued into early 2017 when the band was special guest to Inglorious in London at their sold out second album launch show, appeared triumphantly at Download on The Boardie Takeover Stage, opened for Airbourne at their sold out show in Edinburgh. and returned to their hometown for their second headline show at G2; again this sold out with demand so great that it was upgraded to the 750 capacity The Garage where the likes of Magnum, Tesla, and Symphony X have performed – packing the place to the rafters
The first promo video “’Now You See Me” was released in 2017, which to date has more than a quarter of a million views.
The year ended with support for GUN at Glasgow Barrowlands in December plus an appearance at Planet Rockstock:
“Fresh-faced Glasgow boys Mason Hill were nothing short of a triumph. Completely packing out the room, they served up a rock and roll storm from the offset with anthems like ‘Now You See Me’ before showing off another side of their art with powerful closer ‘Where I Belong’ that delved into rock ballad territory. In fact, the Planet Rockstock faithful were so won over we’ve been inundated with requests for Mason Hill to be bumped up the bill in 2018” (Planet Rock)
The band spent a lot of time developing material for their album and the first show of 2018 was at Glasgow’s King Tuts which sold out in three days, ten weeks in advance of show!
Ladies and gentlemen – Mason Hill are back with fire in their belly. This group of high achievers carry the pressure of early success but as they take to the stage to the intro tape, it is obvious they have class and confidence…” (Down The Front Media)
“There are few up and coming acts in Scotland that have made a notable impression as swiftly as Glasgow rockers Mason Hill. They have grown in popularity and garnered an insane following like nothing else” (SMS, Scotland)
“Mason Hill never disappoint, in fact they always take it to the next level every time you see them” (Jace Media)
This was followed by an appearance at TRNSMT on the same day as Queen, and Steelhouse Festival in Wales alongside such as Black Star Riders, Glenn Hughes and, Myles Kennedy.
The latter part of 2018 saw Mason Hill going out on tour supporting The Dan Reed Network at shows across the UK and a return to Planet Rockstock, by popular demand after their performance in 2017, this time on the main stage.
In a further development Mason Hill agreed to part ways with Frontiers Records.
A further sold out King Tuts show followed in 2019 and a sub headline slot at Planet Rock’s Winters End in February 2020. Since then live activity has been curtailed by the covid 19 pandemic, in common with every other band. However the band has not been idle and the focus has been on the debut album, recorded at Riverside Studios near Glasgow and vocals in New York, and mixed by Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro).
In 2020 the band signed a management contract with Jaba Music and a record deal with 7Hz Productions, and the album release date is planned for 5 March 2021. Three singles have so far been released to date from the album to critical acclaim.
2021 promises to be a big year for Mason Hill, despite on going restrictions.
Carolinas based heavy rock band THE LA MAYBE–fronted by lead singer Alvi Robinson, made famous when he was nearly selected to front the legendary band AC/DC in 2016–have released the official music video for “Oh Sugar.” Directed by Ridge Beck, “Oh Sugar” is the electrifying third track off of the band’s debut LP, Dirty Damn Tricks, and the kind of rock n’ roll tune that comes together when you combine the down and dirty riffs of AC/DC with an earworm pop hook that is sure to be embedded in your brain for months to come.
“For ‘Oh Sugar’ we knew we wanted to capture the fun vibes that the song portrayed and to do that, we didn’t have to look any further than our hometown. A bar / arcade (or “barcade”, if you will) right in our hometown of Rock Hill, SC – Player 1 Up – was the perfect location. Filled with classic arcade games, many representing the bands that influence our own music, the venue is saturated with rich colors that really made this video pop. Over two riotous days of shooting, we put together what you see in the final video!” – DALLAS DWIGHT
Dirty Damn Tricks is the blistering debut album that comes together when you combine the singalong choruses of AC/DC with the punchy riffs of Motley Crüe, sprinkle in some Southern Carolina heat, and bring it all into the 21st Century. These tracks are an anthem for those who fly the flag of the New Wave of Classic Rock. It’s an ode to living fast and loose. But most of all, it’s a call to arms for rock n’ roll fans everywhere to stand up, get loud, and to never let the music die without a hell of a fight.
Track List: 1. Mr. Danger 2. Sucker Punch 3. Oh Sugar 4. She’s Reckless 5. Peace of Mind 6. 6. When I’m Gone 7. Take Me Away 8. Sweet 9. Fake 10. Up Next To You
The L.A. Maybe is a 6-piece rock n’ roll band hailing from the southern heat of the Carolinas. If you’re a fan of Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, or Van Halen…you will feel right at home adding LAM to your record collection.
Lead vocalist Alvi Robinson (who was one of only four singers to audition to replace Brian Johnson in AC/DC in 2016) lays down gritty, passionate vocals while the rest of the band back him up with slithering riffs, huge catchy hooks, and ripping guitar solos.
LAM firmly plants its feet at the very forefront of the New Wave of Classic Rock movement and you’re sure to have at least one of their choruses stuck in your head at any given moment.
Drawing influence from nearly every style of music, The L.A. Maybe put on an electrifying live show and stand for everything you love about rock music, old and new.
