CD Reviews on projects by Indie Rock Artists
Zen Baseballbat BETTER WAYS TO LOVE & OFFEND Zen Baseballbat are the Gleavey twins, Jordan Donaldson, Mike Wilkinson, Jogga, Anoushka Gleavey, Jane Anderson, Colin Mackay based in Liverpool, England. They released their third album “Rations” last year and this one was already great. Now they are going one step further with the new plant. Do you […]
Los Lobos Native Sons New West Besides their 2019 Christmas album, Llego Navidad, it’s been six years since we heard from the iconic band Los Lobos who return now with Native Sons. They are indeed native sons of Los Angeles, hence the album title and an album that pays homage to L.A.’s musical heritage and […]
The Brothers March 10, 2020/Madison Square Garden/New York, NY Peach The Brothers is like having the Allman Brothers greatest hits performed live in one handy 4-CD package. Given that only one member of the original lineup, Jaimoe, is still alive, this is the second incarnation of The Allman Brothers Band (2001-2014) plus some guests who […]
Jackson Browne Downhill From Everywhere Inside Recordings This is Jackson Browne’s first album in six years and like many veteran musicians, he’s finding the studio conducive to songwriting. In other words, his songs often take new directions, once he begins to collaborate with bandmates, most of whom have cemented their chemistry with the iconic songwriter […]
Autumn Dawn Leader I, Autumnus Autumn Dawn Leader (and that’s her real name!), singer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist was born in the USA and moved to the East Midlands of the UK in 2004. She took her first musical steps at the age of four when she performed in concerts with her mother. At 16 she […]
Various Artists A Sweet Relief Tribute to Joey Spampinato True North This is an amazing group of artists all generously donating their proceeds from these recordings to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund to support NRBQ founding member/bassist/songwriter Joey Spampinato with his current health issues. Joey’s wife Kami Lyle and producer Sheldon Gomberg rallied a group […]
Szczeciński Zespół Dupa MaMo to Pinokio “The songs were recorded during several sessions in 2020 and 2021 between lockdowns. The idea for the song title was inspired by The Guillotines “BoJo The Clown”. They have their Clown, we have our Pinocchio.” The Polish band Szczeciński Zespół Dupa ,translated as “The Szczecin Asshole Ensemble or Ass Band […]
Cathedral Birds 4 Songs About Love, Loss and Wild River Swimming Cathedral Birds are the songwriting duo Brandon Petty and Rick Baines based in Sheffield, UK, who decided after twenty years of friendship with numerous visits to gigs and festivals it is now time to make your own music. That was in 2019 and in […]
Mothman and The Thunderbirds “Into The Hollow” Mothman and The Thunderbirds is the solo project from Alex Parkinson and“ Into the Hollow ”is the debut album. And what a one! The band name was inspired by a binge-watch session of the program Ancient Aliens and Alex thought, this name is just as dumb but also awesome […]
Ralf Dee Candy Box Ralf Dee is a German singer / songwriter who has released an EP, three albums and four singles since 2009 and has played numerous gigs since then. The first German-language album Glück gehabt was released in 2017 and since then he has only been writing German songs. The last single Regen, […]
Jesus Hooligan The Gospel of Swamp Stomp Jesus Hooligan is Stephen Brunton, former singer of the hardcore punk band Gout / Lager Louts. After he could no longer sing live due to illness, he made the best of it and started making his own music. And with everything that you can use to make music […]
Van Morrison Latest Record Project: Volume 1 BMG Perhaps no artist was more upset about the pandemic lockdown, at least to the point of railing against it in song, as the ever prolific Van Morrison. And yes, he used the time to generate a ton of new material, indicating that this tongue-in-cheek entitled Latest Record […]
Dan Farrell “Stories” Dan Farrell is a London based singer / songwriter with a great love for the music of The Beatles, Tom Petty, Rolling Stones and Genesis, to name just a few. His music is melodic rock that gets you hooked very quickly. The main focus is his guitar and he plays it left […]
The Golden Mantis Yesterday News Today I would like to introduce to the new album of The Golden Mantis The Band: The Golden Mantis are Silvia Subosco and Roger Münzenmayer from Mannheim in Germany. As early as the mid-80s, both played in the band The Valentines, one of the most innovative local bands of the time. […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Jonathon Reid of Beauwater! Like the infamous North Atlantic fog from which the group was born, Beauwater exists in the grey. Not quite one thing, but no more the other, their brand of Blues laden Rock walks the boundaries between both genres, tip-toeing between themes and […]
Menahan Street Band The Exciting Sounds of Menahan Street Band Daptone Menahan Street Band, an all-star Brooklyn collective featuring members of Budos Band, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and Charles Bradley’s backing band, deliver their first album in nearly a decade. The Exciting Sounds of Menahan Street Band has already had three singles, the opening […]
The John Miechi Projekt “High Vibrations” The John Michie Collective is a multi-instrumentalist and multimedia artist from the North of England. John is also a producer, mixing engineer, mastering engineer, photographer, graphic designer and record label owner, a really versatile artist. Featured on BBC Sounds, BBC Introducing North East, Amazing Radio UK / US, reviewed […]
Steve Inglis Singles Self Release Today I would like to introduce you to the singer / songwriter Steve Inglis. Steve lives in Scotland, more precisely in Edinburgh, and taught himself to play bass guitar at the age of 14. His first band was influenced by blues and soon formed a large audience. The local Hells […]
Pylon Poets Lucid Hallucinations Independent The Band: Pylon Poets are an Alternative Rock band from Torquay, Devon, UK. Dan Hughes – Vocals, Guitars, Synths Sam McIver – Drums, Backing Vocals Nathan Hughes – Bass, Backing Vocals With two previous UK tours and an array of festival appearances, the band has shared festival stages with […]
Charles Boulevard “Rendez-Vous!” The Band: Pavel Holada Songwriter, Composer, Lead Singer, Guitarist, Producer, Sound Engineer, Member of ASCAP. Dermot Condron songwriter, composer, guitarist. Berny PB. Drummer, percussionist, composer, singer. Pavel and Berny are from Prague, Czech Republic and Dermot is from Dublin, Ireland. With over 30 years of experience in the music business, these guys […]
Randall Bramblett Pine Needle Fire New West Records Born in Jessup, Georgia in 1948, Randall Bramblett attended the University of North Carolina where he studied religion. He abandoned his theological studies to pursue a career in music as he was inspired by the songwriting of Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Carole King. Bramblett began working […]
By Adam Signore The Jim Weeks Band This Jim Weeks Band introduction comes to you via one pandemic, one national tragedy and one heart attack and very late to the planned writing, but no less important. Almost the gritty fodder for a rock song. In my typical style we are going to dig a little […]
The Silverbeets Halcyon Days Independent Release Today I have the honor to make a review about the brand new album from „The Silverbeets” The Band: Farnz Cordeaux – rhythm guitar, vocals, keys Nigel Hope – bass Ernie Oppenheimer – keys, synth Konrad Park – drums Kevin Barker – trombone Billy O’Brien – drums The Silverbeets […]
The Shrubs Equation Of Love Today I have the honor to present the new song from the fantastic band “The Shrubs” called “Equation Of Love”. The Shrubs are: Charlie, Lead Vocals, Guitar… Ithaca NY, Spike, Vocals, Drums… Cortland NY, RJ, Bass, Vocals…San Diego CA Spike and RJ started to make music in the basement of Spike’s mothers house, […]
Budos Band Long in the Tooth Daptone The Budos Band’s sixth studio album Long In The Tooth, on their longstanding label, Daptone Records, marks the 15th anniversary of the band’s eponymous 2005 full-length debut. The album was recorded in just five days at Diamond Mine Studios in Queens, NY. After one listen, you might expect a full orchestra behind […]
Para Lia Gone with the Flow “All The Colours, Step By Step, Are Blending With Her Spider Web” Lyrics from “My Muse” Today I have the honor to present you the new album from Para Lia, “Gone With The Flow” Para Lia is a band based in Cottbus, Germany, founded in 2018 and the members […]
Drive-by Truckers The New OK ATO One of America’s most important rock bands, Drive-by Truckers (DBTs), delivered an inspired, ferocious, and angry at times performance in Philadelphia the day after the 2016 Election. Their performance was as one would have expected. Yet, the collective vibe both onstage in the audience was collective release from the shocking numbness still […]
John Warwick Mur Mur Fountain “I’m Down in the Basement In my Imaginary World I can’t Live in Your one Too Much Violence Everywhere” John Warwick Today I have the honor of reviewing John Warwick’s second album “Mur Mur Fountain” John is a brilliant singer songwriter from Poplar, London and he has already showed with […]
Eleesha Prothero Electric Princess The world of music can be compared to a massive gold mine. There are lots of riches to found if you are lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. Now I know that Facebook gets a lot of negative press and maybe on occasion the criticism […]
Willie Nile Uncovered Paradiddle Records Willie Nile was born Robert Noonan in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1948. He attended the University of Buffalo; and afterwards relocated to Greenwich Village to pursue a music career. Nile frequented New York’s punk rock club CBGB’s were he was influenced by the music of the Ramones, the Patti Smith Group, […]
Allman-Betts Band Bless Your Heart BMG Last year’s debut from the Allman-Betts Band, Down to the River, marked the first time the seven-piece ensemble played together, let alone record together. But even that is not entirely accurate as keyboardist John Ginty joined the band for the tour, after the recording was done. So, if that […]
Savoy Brown Ain’t Done Yet Quarto Valley Records The British blues band Savoy Brown was formed by Kim Simmonds in 1965. Their U.K. debut was 1967’s “Shake Down” featuring originals mixed with extended length covers of songs by Willie Dixon; B.B. King; Albert King, and John Lee Hooker. Savoy Brown began to achieve success in […]
Thundermother Heatwave Let’s get straight to the point, this album delivers in spade’s with song after song of red hot high voltage rock n’roll. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard songs of this quality. In fact if I’m being honest, it’s the Bon Scott era of AC/DC since I heard something this good. With songs […]
Slave To Sound Vol 5 The Muggs If proof was needed that honest, loud,driving rock n roll is still cutting it. You need look no further than the latest offering from Detroit rockers The Muggs. “Slave To Sound Vol 5”is a collection of songs designed to get your toes tapping and hands clapping. What’s called in […]
Laura Cox Burning Bright “Burning Bright”the latest album by French blues rock sensation Laura Cox. Right from the opening track Fire Fire the pace is relentless, song after song of explosive high voltage rock n’ roll. The most difficult tasks for me, is to pick a favourite track, as the standard set is so high. But […]
The Harmed Brothers Across The Waves Fluff & Gravy Records The Americana and indie rock Harmed Brothers are Missouri native Ray Vietti and Los Angeles multi-instrumentalist Alex Salcido. The two songwriters quickly became kindred spirits through their songs of love and loss, binge drinking and redemption. The banjo/guitar duo released their independently produced debut “All […]
When Rivers Meet The Innocence Of Youth The thing about Aaron and Grace Bond is their genuine warmth and friendliness that hits you right from the moment you meet them. The purpose of our interview was to discuss the eagerly anticipated new EP release,The Innocence Of Youth. Both are keen to tell me how excited they are […]
Ex Norwegian Something Unreal: The Best Of Think Like A Key Records The other day I received the 20 September 2019 signed vinyl album by Ex Norwegian called Something Unreal: The Best Of on the Think Like A Key Records label. Ex Norwegian consists of Roger Houdaille playing most of the instruments on this album […]
Alan Davey Four Track Mind Purple Pyramid Records/Cleopatra Records Four Track Mind is a four-CD compilation of home studio recordings from the brilliantly creative and exhaustively produced Alan Davey, an English bassist, singer, keyboardist, and songwriter, best known as the former bassist with Hawkwind scheduled for release May 22, 2020, on the Purple Pyramid Records […]
Wild Ride Wheels on Fire This morning I want to take you through a journey with a band which truly the most international of bands, Wild Ride features a Polish-born guitarist, a half Maori drummer, and just one home country player on bass. A trio of committed rockers, the band pulls no punches and demands attention. This journey […]
Willie Nile New York At Night River House Records Willie Nile was born Robert Noonan in Buffalo, New York in 1948. He attended the University of Buffalo and later moved to New York’s Greenwich Village to begin his recording career. He frequented the nightclub CBGB’s were he was first inspired by the Ramones. He released […]
Signal 13 Destination Unknown I am proud to present as my review, the EP Destination Unknown by Baltimore, Maryland based progressive rock band Signal 13 which was released on April 17, 2020. This five-piece band led by front-woman, Vicky Starr and joined by guitarists Johnathan Lassiter and Chris Starr, bassist Patrick Jenkins, and drummer Johnny Sexx. This album with amazing vocals and a classic rock sound […]
Nektar Live From the Wildey Theatre Nektar’s album Live From The Wildey Theatre was filmed on March 7, 2020, on their Up Close And Intimate Tour of North America. This show performed in Edwardsville, Illinois focuses on new and classic Nektar tracks spanning their 50 Year career as a band. The psychedelic progressive rock band Nektar comprises of Randy […]
Pokey LaFarge Rock Bottom Rhapsody New West Yes, this writer may be a little late to Pokey LaFarge but am attracted to his old school 1950s R&B as done by white artists from the period, mixed in with some bluesy and rockabilly riffs here and there. Echoes of the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, and others […]
The Southbound Snake Charmers To The Bone You know in life ,if you get the basics right then I believe everything else falls into place. I believe the same is true for music. So when I listen to the music of “The Southbound Snake Charmers “I get that same feeling, the basics are right here. In musical terms […]
Mark Erelli Blindsided Self-released Singer-songwriter Mark Erelli has done all his solo work in the past two decades in his home state of Massachusetts but has managed to make plenty of friends along the way as a sideman for Nashville-based artists. His last year’s “By Degrees” had Sheryl Crow and Rosanne Cash joining him and […]
Clare Free Where Are You Now As a lover of music there is no greater joy for me,than the discovery of new music. It’s best described for me like uncovering a new treasure unknown to me until now. I love that feeling, it’s something that happens to me on quite a regular basis. Such is the abundance […]
Mojo Nixon The Mojo Manifesto 10-CD/DVD Box Set Manifesto Count on the unconventional Mojo Nixon to do the outlandish. The now Sirius/XM radio host of “Outlaw Country” and NASCAR decides to essentially cap his recording career with not just a single or double alum set but instead package all ten of his albums plus a […]
Rose Tattoo Outlaws There is a lot of chatter in the world of high voltage rock n roll right now that AC/DC have a new album completed, and a possible world tour in the offing. Now around 1978 there was another rocking Aussie band by the name of “Rose Tattoo”in fact for a while they […]
Sadler Vaden Anybody Out There? Dirty Mag/Thirty Tigers Guitarist/singer-songwriter Sadler Vaden is best known as the lead guitarist for Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit, but fans will also recognize him for his time with Drivin’ N Cryin prior to joining Isbell’s band. Anybody Out There? Is his second full-length album, a follow-up to his 2016 self-titled […]
