Loving, the indie alt rock group, has been a familiar favorite of mine for years now. Their unique rock n’ roll mixed with melancholy style was a delight to listen to live. As is usually the case, arriving early comes with its perks. Upon arrival I was allowed to watch both Loving and their opener, Sam Burton, rehearse their sets, giving an exclusive peek behind the curtain. Both groups had a style that needed to be uniquely tuned in, including the precise reverb of the acoustics. To which the HQ’s technicians were happy to fine tune. The energy of the venue was - new age rock which included a bar, “llama” vending machine, and of course a disco ball.
Opening the show was Sam Burton, joined by Haylie Hostetter as backup vocals, Noel Friesen on keys, Pierce on drums, and a special appearance by Loving’s own Jessie Henderson on Bass. The ragtag group of musicians performed covers along with originals by Sam Burton. The group kept the vibes calm and rhythmic sticking with the theme of the night. A few songs of which were led by Hostetter, which gave a new presence to the audience as well as performers. Burton’s style is a mix of alternative and underground folk, which soothed the crowd as they patiently awaited the main act.
When Loving entered the stage, you could feel the ambition in the room. With a floor and bar filled with amped fans, the group was ready to rock. Although the band only has two albums currently released, this didn’t stop them from keeping a rotation of emotions throughout their set. The band even gave those at the show, a glimpse into an unreleased song titled “Uncanny Valley”. Their ambient instrumentals juxtaposed with existential lyrics is why I love Loving. Their mellow and almost nostalgic backing track seems to always show intentions of a relaxing, blissful song, yet upon further investigation, this could not be further from the truth. Looking into songs like “Nihilist Kite Flyer” and “If I Am Only My Thoughts” (both off the album of the same name), one can begin to understand that the group’s music is far from cheerful. It in fact packs a unique punch of that of an existential crisis.
As the closing of the show grew nearer, fans demanded more. They would not leave empty handed. Loving returned to stage to perform one of their most popular tracks “Visions”, which to be completely candid, I had to put the camera down to fully appreciate the beauty of this song, which I was magical to see performed live. Yet, Loving wasn’t finished, and neither were the fans. The group concluded the show by bringing Sam Burton back to stage to perform one last song. Loving along with Sam Burton and friends, are groups to look out for as their new releases seem to continue to spread their influence and their unique, one-of-a-kind sound. I can tell you without a doubt, they deserve a listen.
It has been said that taking care of business will get you far in life. Many disciplined artists truly understand that. Jeanetta Blue, businesswoman also know as Jaee The Artist, was born April 23, 1996 in St. Louis, Missouri. As a child, she was back and forth from LA to STL. Jaee mentions "The music business in my experience is 90% business and 10% music. All I can say is teamwork really will make the dream work. My dreams are now reality. I tap into energy with my work. My music will either leave you inspired or make you want to set boundaries in your current situation. Either result is a win."
Jaee creates music from the heart. Who better to explain the way a woman thinks and behaves than another woman? Jaee The Artist connects with women from life and first hand experience as a woman. She uses this to heal past traumas buried deep in the emotions of women and helps the fellas better understand their role in the experience. The goal is for the fellas to feel comfortable loving, understanding and connecting with a woman. Whether it's his mom, aunt, niece, cousin, sister, daughter, wife, friend or partner. Jaee The Artist is deeply rooted in her feminine energy, but balances out with her masculine energy.
Hunnypot is proud to be JAEE THE ARTIST's official sync representative both Masters & Publishing, ask us about LICENSING!
We publish all of our top secret documents here.
Hunnypot Live #468 warrants kudos. Photos and full show audio available here!
Katy McIlvaine is a Los Angeles-based music supervisor with over 10 years of industry experience. Katy supervises under her company Alphabet Supe and is the owner of Dawn Patrol Music, a sync licensing catalog.
Katy’s career in music started at mOcean where she worked on trailers. She then transitioned to TV as a creative coordinator for Warner Bros. Television, working on shows such as The Big Bang Theory, The Middle, Mike and Molly, and Longmire. She also worked as a music coordinator at Format Entertainment on shows such as Empire, Marvel's Agent Carter, Quantico, and Power.
In 2020 Katy started Dawn Patrol Music, a catalog of independent artists, so that she could work more directly with musicians who are trying to navigate the sync world. Her supervision credits include Sister of the Groom starring Alicia Silverstone; Trust starring Victoria Justice; the indie feature Accommodations; and most recently, Peace in The Valley, premiering at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.
Arizona-based indie rockers Ring Finger No Pinky provide a sound that punches you in the face and challenges society with angry riffs and smart lyrics. Fronted by lead singer Griffin Brown and drummer David Erickson, the pair bring a much-needed energy to jump start the post COVID world.
While channeling revolutionary bands of the past, the rockers add their own unique edge and viewpoint. The Ring Finger No Pinky (RFNP) sound is inspired by The Stooges, Nirvana, Parquet Courts, the Oh Sees, Death Grips, and King Krule. But they are RFNP. You decide.
Although relatively new to the scene, their passion is infectious. They sold out their first shows including playing a coveted Phoenix New Year’s Eve party to a sold-out crowd at Crescent Ballroom. Their energy has led them to play gigs with Bastardane, Playboy Manbaby and more. 2022 also marked their debut at SXSW, where they made a splash playing multiple shows on 6th Street.
The band is preparing to release their debut EP in late 2022. Get ready to join in the sonic anarchy with Ring Finger No Pinky.
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Genre-defying recording artist, composer and producer Doll Machine has been electrifying stages with her unique and culture-challenging performances.
With roots in electronic, hip hop, pop, jazz, and punk, doll machine brings forth a new level of artistic authenticity and self expression. She’s co-written with Grammy-nominated Telepopmusik, house legend DJ Robbie Rivera and is currently working on a collaboration with Grammy-winning artist, Really Doe. She’s also the co-founder and creative director of monthly Japantown residency Multi-Player.
Catch doll machine at her next show and look for her upcoming feature in SPIN Magazine this August
Article written by Brandon “B-Mac” McCarthy; Photos by Matt “Rabit” Martinez
It has been over 3 years since my last visit to Avatar Country. When the pandemic shut the whole world down, access into one of my favorite places to worship heavy metal was locked up as well. In case you guys do not know what the hell I am talking about, it is about my love for the Swedish metal outfit that brought a dark, whimsical sense of humor and honor to the popular genre. The songs, outlandish costumes, and the leader singers warpaint made me want to become a citizen of Avatar country. A couple of years ago, Avatar released their eighth studio album, Hunter Gatherer, and it brought ordered chaos into an already chaotic world. It was a bummer that touring was not happening around that time, but now they are back with a vengeance. On the hunt with fellow metal outfits like Light the Torch and the Callous Daoboys (who we unfortunately missed). Last stop on the tour was Santa Ana’s own Observatory. So, Rabit, Rockaholic, Amanda (aka Harley A. Gentleman), and I headed over there to join the hunt.
After the Callous Daoboys did there thing, the venue really started to light up as Light the Torch took to the stage. Led by the ever-popular metalcore frontman Howard Jones, Light the Torch burned very brightly with their set. Jones is still a ferocious monster on the microphone that made him a household name in the metal community when he was fronting Killswitch Engage. Bassist Ryan Wombacher not only hammered down some sweet, melodic bass riffs, he conquered the mic as he sang backing vocals as well as an occasional lead or two. Lead guitarist Francesco Artusato brought alternative metal swagger to the guitar, performing compelling riffs that bolstered Light the Torch’s presence at the Observatory. Drummer Alex Rüdinger of Whitechapel is the newest member, and he gels in nicely as he brings some thrash quality behind the kit. For nearly 45 minutes, Light the Torch guided our path to a righteous trail of killer tunes like “More Than Dreaming,” “Calm Before the Storm,” “Let Me Fall Apart,” “The Bitter End,” “Death of Me,” “Living With a Ghost,” “Becoming the Martyr,” “The Safety of Disbelief,” “Wilting in the Light,” and “Die Alone.” Really hoped they would play a couple of tunes from when they were known as Devil You Know, but still, Light the Torch was exciting to see per usual.
After a 30-minute intermission for a set change, the venue goes dark, the siren goes off, and there was Avatar. Huddled in a semi-circle to address their subjects, Avatar got things going that way with both “Colossus” and “Let it Burn.” Then, they dispersed to their regular stations for “Silence in the Age of Apes” as horns started to go up. Frontman and chosen leader of Avatar Country, Johannes Eckerström, was a sort for sore eyes. Brandishing different costumes while steering the ship through stormy weather, Johannes was both a rage machine and melodic jester. The guitar duo of Jonas “Kungen” Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström were like tornadoes, gusting up powerful riffs and devilish solos that satisfied every citizen of Avatar Country. John Alfredsson continues to be thunderous on the drums, striking each cymbal and snare with great strength & determination. Notably absent from this show was bassist Henrik Sandelin, who had to leave the tour due an undisclosed family emergency to the best of my knowledge. Either way, they had his bass licks playing on track and it still sounded sweet. All through the night, Avatar rampaged through Santa Ana and slayed the fans with their tasty songs. From “Bloody Angel” to “Child,” “The Eagle Has Landed,” “Paint Me Red,” “A Secret Door,” “For the Swarm,” “Torn Apart,” “Puppet Show,” “Tsar Bomba,” “A Statue of the King,” and one my personal favorites “The King Welcomes You to Avatar Country,” the set got it all. After a quick breather, Avatar wrapped up the night with a three-song encore that included “Going Hunting,” “Smells Like a Freakshow,” and the iconic “Hail the Apocalypse,” and that made the fans go nuts and mosh in the end.
It is always fun when I enter Avatar Country. It is definitely a place that sets me free, and they take good care of me. I was a little bummed about missing Callous Daoboys, but I have no doubt they killed it and we will see them down the road. As for Light the Torch, it was a revival for my heavy metal soul for I have not been to too many shows this year. Therefore, when Rabit and I do go, we make it an evening worth remembering, just like that night. To Avatar and Light the Torch, I salute you. Horns up!!!
It was complete Palladimodium when the triple-bill of Hatebreed, Black Label Society, and Anthrax stormed The Hollywood Palladium on July 29. Forgive the pun, but the sold out Friday night show was everything any metal lover could have wanted. And more.
The festivities started right around 7pm when Hatebreed took the stage. They are not your typical opener. The Connecticut-based band has been pounding out their brand of metal for over 25 years. Jamey Jasta on vocals led the way augmented by the twin attack of Frank Novinec and Wayne Lozinak on guitars and backing vocals. The powerful rhythm section of Chris Beattie on bass and Matt Byrne on drums had hearts thumping inside each audience members’ chest. If you missed them here, they’ll be back in southern California as headliners at the House of Blues in Anaheim this November.
Next up: Black Label Society. While there have been more than a few Society members, this current line up has been together for long enough to be tight, powerful, and loud in the most metal way possible.
BLS is of course led by the one and only Zakk Wylde. The bearded wonder handles lead vocals and lead guitar in Black Label Society and his mic stand also serves as a pulpit. And by stepping up on a riser for each solo, Father Zakk brings the religion of metal to the masses. He’s a sight to behold with bare arms, full kilt (he was wearing shorts underneath), and combat boots. Standing on a platform makes the already imposing guitarist even more impressive as he swings his “Wylde” blond hair to and fro. The Thunder God Thor has his hammer and Zakk Wylde has his axe. And he wields it like no other. Or since Wylde switches out guitars for almost every song, should it be “wields them?”
Although Wylde is without a doubt the “mane” focus of BLS, the contributions of Dario Lorina on guitar, John Deservio on bass, and Jeff Fabb on drums can’t be understated. This is a strong, riff-based band that brings the heaviness. But Zakk is a man of many talents and as we all know, he’s a multi-instrumentalist, so it was great to see him behind the piano for “In This River”, his tribute to Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul from Pantera. But this being BLS, the piano that had just provided such moving music became another platform for Zakk to stand upon during an epic behind the head duel with Dario during “Fire It Up.” BLS ended the evening with “Stillborn” although their great set was anything but.
Somehow, it doesn’t feel like forty years since Anthrax exploded on the scene. Maybe because the thrash metal stalwarts don’t seem at all jaded. Their energy, passion, and humor were all on display. Their set didn’t start until the crowd was fully understood who was about to hit the stage courtesy of a video that featured celebrities paying tribute to the band with a montage of quick cuts at the end with each one saying “Anthrax!”
Then the video screen hit the floor and Anthrax was let loose on the Palladium. The moshing began and if you didn’t know what type of music was being played, lead singer Joey Belladonna was more than happy to tell you that you were in for a night of Thrash Metal. This band has fully embraced the genre title and revels in it.
Frank Bello was an uncaged smiling, head banging, jumping bass player who was everywhere on the stage looking like he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. On drums of course is Charlie Benante, one of the best metal drummers anywhere. Which is why he, along with Zakk Wylde, will be part of what’s being called a Pantera tribute coming soon. On lead guitar is Jon Donais, an excellent player who is slightly less animated than Ian or Bello, which is not a knock at all. Those two aren’t at 11, they’re more like 12.
Although Belladonna is the lead singer, the case could be made that Scott Ian is the face of Anthrax. While his trademark tuff of chin hair is now a whitish-gray, that is truly the only sign of age. From the shorts and F-you socks to the middle finger skull ring on his pick hand, Ian may be an elder statesman of Thrash, but he refuses to grow up. And that’s a good thing.
This being a 40-year anniversary celebration, all of the big numbers were played. That being said, the band still had the ability to add something unexpected to the evening. On the penultimate song, Chuck D came out for vocals on “Bring The Noise.” The crowd went crazy and did exactly what the song called for. When the show finally ended, it was obvious that The Hollywood Palladium audience had been pummeled for almost five hours by some of the best that metal has to offer.
As someone who grew up on underground hip hop, UndergroundHipHopBlog.com has always held a special place in my heart. Throughout my college days, I frequented the website in search of underground hip hop that was too raw for the radio waves. Rejecting the cotton-candy poppy style of auto-tuned hip hop that dominated the early 2010s, I scrolled into online wormholes to dig up thought-provoking, politically-charged, socially-aware counterculture hip hop. Through this site, I was introduced to a wide array of music ranging from La Coka Nostra to Blue Scholars. The website was a one stop shop that showcased the golden age of hip hop with an emphasis on lyricism. I was more than stoked when I heard that UndergroundHipHopBlog.com was celebrating their 10-year anniversary at Catch One in Los Angeles with Immortal Technique as the headliner. There’s no artist out there that embodies the spirit of underground hip hop more than Immortal Technique. I knew this one was one I had to catch. Let’s hop into the event.
First off, I need to tip my hat to the venue Catch One. The seemingly endlessly modular venue is no stranger to hosting UndergroundHipHopBlog.com’s events. I had the opportunity to cover their Night Of The Living Dead event at this venue back in 2019. Click HERE for a link to that review featuring Necro and Madchild. One reason I really like this venue is the stage setting is a bit lower to the ground in contrast to other venues with the same capacity This lowered stage works well for this style of gritty music pulling the action closer to the crowd.
Up first, DJ Survive handled the ones and twos all night. Opening the night, he played records that took me way back. Dropping gems from the likes of Non Phixion and Jedi Mind Tricks, UGHHBlog’s resident DJ warmed up the room as fans piled in. Shout out to Pawz One and CThree who hosted the main stage all night in between sets and even gave us a few songs of their own. The small stage in “The Lounge” was active for a good part of the night featuring acts like NVY JONEZ LKR, Indigenous Cat, Organized Krime, AG Cora, Tony Da Kidd, and Gruesome Twosome. The main stage in “The Disco Room” was graced by DJ Survive, Zero Of El Vuh, XP The Marxman, Vel Nine, and finally Immortal Technique. Of all the openers, Vel Nine was the standout performer of the night. The California native shined as she delivered deft bars over sinister boom bap beats. Headlining the night was the one and only Immortal Technique. Assisted by Swave Sevah and others from back home, the Harlem rapper played songs off his Revolutionary Vol. 1 and Revolutionary Vol. 2 like “Harlem Streets” and “Point Of No Return”. He also hit us with a few a cappella verses displaying his verbal prowess. I’ve seen Immortal Technique three times over the years and it’s a fair assessment to say he’s only getting better with time.
Shout out UndergroundHipHopBlog.com for pulling this one off. It’s been 10 years in the game and this team is still on the forefront of showcasing that true raw hip hop. I’ll admit, over the years, my personal taste of music has strayed away from the purities of conscious underground hip hop but UndergroundHipHopBlog.com has always held it down. Shout out to them on 10 years and I wish them another awesome 10 years. Peep them at www.undergroundhiphopblog.com
Growing up, riding in my dad’s truck in Bay Area of California, his favorite radio station to listen to was the Boneyard! There they would play all the greats from the 70s and 80s hard rock and metal genre. It’s really what cultivated my love for what we call Classis Rock now. My mom loved playing the lighter side of rock music from the 70s & 80s, and it gave me a very well-rounded appreciation for this type of music. My mom’s favorite band from her childhood was Styx. She would play them often growing up, and because of this, I developed my own love for this band. So much so, that my mom and I have seen them live together over 10 times now. And when Styx was coming to the FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA, it was time to add another tally mark to how many times we see them together. This time they were doing a co-headlining tour with REO Speedwagon, and having Loverboy be the opening band. We walked into the venue that night to see everyone pulling out their tight leather pants, and best cheetah print tops. This night, we walked back into the 80s.
Opening the night was the Calgary natives, Loverboy. Growing up I never really heard of this band by name. I sadly believe you could talk to a lot of millennials, and they wouldn’t know the band Loverboy by name. Which is a real shame. But I can guarantee that everyone has heard the song “Working for the Weekend.” It is an 80s staple that has been in the cultural zeitgeist since it was released. So, if Loverboy could put on a show that lived up to the legacy of this song, I knew we were in for a fantastic show. Lead singer Mike Reno still has the pipes to sing in a big Amphitheatre and hit the back of the venue. The power he pulls out in his vocals is something most other singers past 60 can’t always do. Guitarist Paul Dean and keyboardist Doug Johnson brought the melodies that got all the dancers out of their seats. Bassist Ken Sinnaeve was still moving and grooving around the stage like he’s never left his 20’s. Striking poses for every lady in the crowd. Drummer Matt Frenette was having the time of his life behind the kit, and he effortlessly blasted away through the songs like “Notorious,” “Queen of the Broken Hearts,” “Lovin’ Every Minute of it,” “Turn me Loose,” and of course “Working for the Weekend.” Loverboy proved to me that they are a name that deserves to be more recognizable when it comes to 80s classic bands.
Up next was the first of the two co-headliners, and the band my mom made me fall in love with, Styx! I have seen a lot of shows, I have seen a lot of bands, and I have heard a lot of singers on album verse live. I honestly believe that Styx is one of the best bands that continually sounds just as good live as they do albums. And they have been putting out music Since 1972. Not very many bands can claim they still sound like they did 50 years ago. Guitarist, and one of the vocalists, Tommy Shaw (to quote my mom) 'is still just as dreamy now as he was when Styx first started'. And he hasn’t lost an edge on his guitar playing, singing, or wearing some skintight white pants to drive all the moms crazy. Keyboardist, and second vocalist, Lawrence Gowan is the most spirited on stage. Dancing around the guys throughout the show and standing on his rotating keyboard while belting out the songs. Guitarist, and third vocalist, James “JY” Young blends his guitar playing with Tommy so perfectly, to create some of the catchiest melodies to ever come out of the 70s & 80s. Bassist Ricky Phillips syncs up with drummer Todd Sucherman to create the backline that allows the audience to groove. Though he does not perform with them full time, I am always so happy when original bassist Chuck Panozzo comes out for a couple songs. Styx just put out a new album last year, and they blended their setlist perfectly with new songs and the classic’s that everyone knows. Playing songs like “The Fight of our Lives,” “Grand Illusion,” “Crash of the Crown,” “Light Up,” “Rockin’ the Paradise,” “Too Much Time on My Hands,” “Khedive,” “Come Sail Away,” “Mr. Roboto,” and finishing their set with “Renegade.” Styx always puts on a performance that I feel could match their shows from their younger years.
Closing out this co-headlining night was REO Speedwagon, hitting the stage with “Music Man,” and ready to get the audience moving. Vocalist Kevin Cronin still has the pipes to belt out the REO classics, and a smile on his face the whole show like he never lost his childhood wonder. It was really refreshing to see, as his smile lit up every person in the audience who he made eye contact with. Guitarist Dave Amato and bassist Bruce Hall were just as playful on stage, working both sides of the crowd, and standing back-to-back to each other for a classic rock pose. Drummer Bryan Hitt was not someone who wanted to get forgotten in the back. Having his drum set setup with a huge opening so the fans can see him and how well he plays. All the while, founding member and keyboardist Neal Doughty danced his fingers across the keys. REO Speedwagon may not be known for the most powerful arena rock anthem songs, but they do have some of the biggest power ballads to come across the classic rock music scene. Playing songs like “Take it on the Run,” “Keep Pushin’,” “Tough Guys,” “Can’t Fight this Feeling,” “Don’t Let Him Go,” “Back on the Road Again,” “Ridin’ the Storm Out,” and “Keep on Loving You,” “Roll with the Changes.” There were many times that the fans shined their phone lights out in the crowd to many of these songs.
For any fans of classic rock, this was the show to be at. Throughout the night, each band had classic hits that got the entire crowd singing along. The lead singers could have just sat on stage their entire set, and the audience would have taken care of the vocal duties for each song. It would have been a weird show to experience. But that’s just how beloved these bands and these fans are. That after 50 years, people are still packing an Amphitheatre and singing their hearts out to these songs that Loverboy, Styx, and REO Speedwagon wrote.
Where to start… The moment I heard it was a sold-out show at Trees in Dallas, Texas, I knew it was about to be a wild night. Erra joined by Alpha Wolf and Invent Animate, was surely going to be a hell of a night. Unfortunately, Thornhill was unable to perform as they were dealing with trying to get their gear to the US from Australia. They were extremely missed that night. I know I was looking forward to seeing them again. Outside of that, I knew the night was going to be a quite the experience.
Starting out the show were the dudes in Invent Animate. Having seen them just 3 months prior at the same venue, I had an idea of what I was getting myself into again, but boy did they top that last performance. I loved the fact that they were not only more polished, but they brought the energy that night. I love it when an opener can really set the tone for what is about to happen. They started out their set with “monarch”, an Invent Animate classic, and then transitioned into “Cloud Cascade”. The crowd surfing did not take long to commence as those two songs go extremely hard. The crowd did not let up through the five-song set. They went on to play another hit, “The Sun Sleeps”, and ultimately ended with “As It Never Was” to close out the performance. 10/10 will see again.
Next up were the heavy hitting Aussies in Alpha Wolf. A band that I did not here of until three months prior when they came through Dallas with Invent Animate and Polaris. Another band that I just had no idea were so talented. Getting their start in 2013, 2022 has been one hell of a year for the guys in Alpha Wolf. They are what you call metal core at its finest. Not one point in their set, did they let you stop moving. They got their set started with “Ultra-Violet Violence”. At this point, the crowd had really begun to settle in and it as getting harder and harder to move around. Again, it was a sold-out show, so it was really getting packed and hot as hell in there. Alpha Wolf continued to play banger after banger until the end of their set came and they played “Akudama”. Really never a bad time when Alpha Wolf Comes to town.
Lastly, the kings themselves in Erra took the stage. This was my first time seeing them live and all I had heard were fantastic things about their stage presence. At this point Trees was packed in like sardines. There were only a few places that allowed you to stand and thankfully, I had found a great spot. The band walked out on stage and JT, the lead vocalist, took the stage. From there, the crowd went wild. Immediately jumping into their hit song “Gungrave”, Erra was off to the races. It had been since May at So What! Fest that I got this type of heavy energy on stage, and I was there for it. JT has a way with his vocals that really captivate and draw you in. The lighting a production was also really fun to watch as they played. That’s another really fun part about headliners, you never know what cool things they will have set up on stage. The 13-song set was heavy as can be but we all knew it had to come to an end. They encored with their most popular song, “Snowblood”, and called it a night.
It was a sweaty packed night in Dallas, Texas but well worth it. Catch them on this tour, you won’t regret it.
Rock is far from dead and we're here to prove it with this thunderous Hunnypot Live! Don Robertson co-hosted the night with us and brought some hard, grungy, rock n roll bands to be interviewed and perform.
7/25/22, Podcast Audio (AVAILABLE NOW)
Don Robertson began his career in Seattle as a show promoter turned artist manager. Over the years he has managed several artists on major and independent labels and spent time as President of Century Media/Another Century Records and SVP A&R at RED Music with a focus on Alternative, Rock and Metal.
Wavy Trees is: Zack “Moondog” Smith (Lead Vocals/Guitar/ Piano), Jason Espirito (Guitar), Brian Duke: (Bass/Guitar) and Jack Gallner (Drums)
If Wayne’s World and Bill & Ted’s Excellent adventure collided in an alternate reality House party, Los Angeles based Wavy Trees would be the band playing in the back yard. The cosmic bartender at this gathering would be mixing swaggering hard rock riffs with the attitude and energy of garage-punk, dumping it into a shaker and pouring out a potent cocktail of we-could-give-a-fuck fun. With the release of debut track “I Wanna Go Out” they are declaring themselves to the world with the perfect anthem for the pent-up frustration that so many are feeling after being in pandemic lockdown for more than a year.
According to the band’s Zack “Moondog” Smith (Lead Vocals/Guitar/ Piano): “We all met by complete fate! I met Brian (Duke – Bass) at a house party in North Hollywood & immediately asked myself “Why am I not in a band with this guy?” But it turned out Brian was already in a band with Jason (Espirito – Guitar) so the timing was off. Fast forward a year or so later I met Jack (Gallner – Drums) at El Tejano restaurant in NOHO & we hit it off talking about all the music we were jamming to at the time & ended up writing songs in his bedroom within the first couple weeks of meeting. From the moment I met Jack I knew we were meant to be in a band together as well, it was fate!”
He continues” as we started our initial recording sessions in June of 2019 at NRG Studios, we had a bass player flake on us & I immediately thought of Brian. He was in a life insurance meeting at a Starbucks but bailed to come join us for the session & killed it! After that 1st session he told me that Jason would be perfect for the project on guitar… I was secretly hoping that would come up because Brian & Jay are a dynamic duo that were born to play together. A week later we went to a rehearsal space on my birthday & that was the day the Wavy Trees was officially “born” as a band.
The band is produced by the legendary Jay Baumgardner (Seether, Bush, Papa Roach, Lacuna Coil, Otherwise)
Wavy Trees are recording new material now with Baumgardner, with more singles and an EP to be released later this year.
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Sun Puddle is a rock trio from Seattle, Washington that have a penchant for writing angry, compelling songs about society’s outsiders and a flair for catchy pop akin to the Beatles.
Leaning heavily on early Nirvana, Melvins, and Sonic Youth, the band plays urgent, intense music sparked by introspective, sometime caustic, lyrics. Sun Puddle’s uniqueness lies in their hook-laden songs that transcend the aggressiveness of their apathetic yet powerful presence.
Sun Puddle are Trever Rose (singer/guitarist), Leo Quale (bass player), Evan Hartung (drummer)
Return To Dust is barebones rock that is youthfully charged. The band tackles the struggles of growing up; feeling out of place, ostracized, struggling with societal pressures and anxieties. The band members' individual traumatic history has become the main themes of their lyrical content.
Amidst all the sadness, and the bad which always shines brightest, the silver lining is growth. Friendship, knowledge, and your individual experiences have all led you to this place in life, and no one can define this, or tell you that it is right or wrong.
Lyrically, the band only knows as much as you do, merely putting our shared experiences into impactful, attitude riddled diddies. We hope to inspire people who are just like us, struggling in their journey through life. Your path is clear and totally defined by you each and every day.
Joining Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Poison, and Joan Jett on their 2022 Stadium Tour, the rock group Classless Act held a more intimate show for their fans at the Marquis Theater in Denver on July 22nd. The incredible thing about this show was that the band offered free admission to those who had proof of tickets from the Stadium Tour 2022 and allowed new and old fans to come see their headlining performance in the mile-high city. Opening for Classless Act was Television Generation, a local indie-rock group with an intense presence, as well as Dirty Kings, a classic-rock group with killer fast-paced melodies and hypnotic guitar solos. Collectively, each band brought a one-of-a-kind sound to the Marquis showcasing their individual sound and flair in authentic rock n’ roll fashion.
Television Generation went on first and demonstrated their unique style with grunge-y lyrics and indie instrumentals; the band gave the audience the energetic push in preparation for the next opener, Dirty Kings. With a uniquely different sound, these cats made the theater come to life with their authentic 'in your face' attitude that riled up the crowd in anticipation of the nights headliner, Classless Act. While both bands were pretty raw, each played their guts out with sets that put smiles on the faces of an ever growing crowd. I dug their sounds and would absolutely see them again - I'd suggest you do the same! Following their set, members of both bands joined the crowd as the stage was prepped for liftoff!
Classless Act finally hit the stage and lit up the now packed house with two originals, “This Is For You” and “Give It To Me”, both having that familiar rock spirit along with stunning vocals by lead singer and frontman extraordinaire Derek Day. The band then performed some covers including one of my personal favorites, Queen's "Under Pressure". Wow. Classless Act then then returned to their own songs off of their album Welcome To The Show, including bangers “Storm Before the Calm”, “Made in Hell”, and “Circle”, which showcased the astounding shredding of guitarists Dane Pieper and Griffin Tucker along with the funky baselines courtesy of Franco Gravante. The band wrapped up their set with "Classless Act", which fully encompassed the bands signature sound. Once again, the killer tune had the masses jamming along, headbanging, and sloshing beers thanks in part to Chuck McKissock's stellar booming cadence. This dude rips!
As the dust settled, Classless Act thanked Denver for their loving environment and quickly walked off stage. Was that all? The now fully charged audience demanded more, an encore - not one, not two, but, and I quote, 'THREE MORE SONGS!' in relentless enthusiastic chants. Derek Day and company finally returned to stage, but were completely out of prepared material. Yet, fans didn’t walk away empty handed, as the band gave fans a glimpse into new material - soon to be released. Classless Act once again fired up the crowd, giving fans a unique 'band practice'; presenting in raw form new and unreleased work in 'improv' fashion. As lights flickered back on, fans left the show with a one-of-a-kind experience and the oh so familiar ringing ears to prove it. Bottom line, Classless Act put one hell of a rock n’ roll experience for their fans in Denver and one I doubt they won't soon forget. Catching this band in their relative infancy was incredible, and I foresee big things for the band in the not so distant future. In my opinion, they're the real deal!