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It warms my heart to see artists on the rise support each other and this duo is no different. Just in time for the new year, Montega Rebel and Zeus Rebel Waters came together to drop the visual for their track “Bankroll” motivating us to get to the bag all 2022.
 
Money makes the world go round but making it with your team is even better. The video shows the pair surrounded by friends on a party bus kicking back having a great time. We meet Montega in the aftermath of his divorce as he answers a call from Zeus convincing him to come party and enjoy what we find to be a stripper filled night out. Catchy and relatable, "Bankroll" features Zeus delivering his signature raspy cadence and hard bars complimenting Montega’s infectious flow on the home grown St. Louis boss anthem.
 
We all know success is defined by who you are closest to and these two trailblazers are surely paving their way to the top and bringing their friends along with them!
 
Check their video for "Bankroll" out now on YouTube! 
 
-Essence Leak
 

Hunnypot is proud to be Zeus Rebel Waters official sync representative, both Master & Publishing, ask us about LICENSING!

 

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Published in Video Picks

Those who have had the pleasure of witnessing Rora Wilde live know her soulful tone runs deep. She’s naturally noticeable with crystalline vocals, deep in color and rich in emotion. Her new single Out of Hand featuring Dark encapsulates the dramatic flare of Rora’s live-show personality.

The accompanying music video delivers the same vulnerable intensity. Sly texts, impling deception lead to a marathon of tit-for-tat talking back and dramatic PDA. The emotions run higher than the drone’s eye view of the city that sets the scene for our two lovers. Rora and Dark’s duet mirrors the lovers' quarrel, each running each other off the page and into the middle of the street. The unapologetic blame game culminates in a blowoff/cliff hanger. Rora’s voice gets the chance to shine in the hook lamenting a mentality that leads to disposable relationships. This is not a forever couple, perhaps they had a moment similar to the Dodger hit on the game playing in the background, but just like our beloved hometeam, they can’t quite cinch the score.


This is surely only indicative in the lyrical relationship, because the pairing have an unexpectedly succinct sound.The harmonies amidst the trap beat tickling the production give this thematically pop vox song into a contemporary breakup angst jam. For any one who is hoping that earnest songwriting reins victorious in the 2020s, Rora Wilde might just be the woman to prove it.

--Robyn Dee

 

Hunnypot is proud to be Rora Wilde's official sync representative controlling both Master & Publishing, ask us about LICENSING! 

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Published in Video Picks

Years removed from peak popularity, Our Lady Peace (OLP) is tenaciously looking to the future with an ambitious overhauled sound and a January 2022 release of their tenth studio album, Spiritual Machines 2.  Technically the album was released in October making OLP the first Canadian artist in history to release an album in the form of a non-fungible token or NFT (an interesting but entirely separate side story).  Hailing from Toronto, OLP has sold over 5 million albums and produced several major alternative radio hits from 1995-2002. The heavy rocker “Starseed” off their 1995 debut album, Naveed, was a top 10 Mainstream hit and radio favorite “Superman’s Dead” from the 1997 platinum album, Clumsy, helped propel the band to their height of commercial success.  Perhaps as a warmup for an upcoming busy 2022, OLP recently scheduled a few shows in L.A. (where band leader/songwriter Raine Maida now resides) and in my hometown of San Diego.  I was excited to see OLP for the first time, especially at an intimate premier live music venue like the Belly Up

Local San Diego quartet The Thieves About got the Belly Up festivities off to a rockin’ start with their impressive brand of high-energy melodic rock that, at first listen, has you singing along by the second chorus.  Blending the upbeat spirit of the 80’s with edgy 90’s-inspired dual guitars was an entertaining combination – upbeat, melodic, with some balls!  San Diego area music fans – keep an eye on The Thieves About and support local bands!

Our Lady Peace opened their show with a heavy synth ambience and the pulsating dance beats of “The Message”, a new hypnotic song off their upcoming album.  The “message” would soon be clear with the reveal of other new songs that the band was clearly all in with a more electronic pop/dance groove approach. Starting an enjoyable barrage of mega hits, “Superman’s Dead” was the second song followed by the memorable and kick-ass “One Man Army”, followed by the sing along anthem “Innocent”.  The audience was getting their money’s worth!  OLP then threw a nice curveball offering a compelling cover of “Seasons (Waiting on You)” by Future Islands.  Guitarist Steve Mazur started with low volume synth sounds true to the original, but soon transitioned to distorted power chords to amplify and drive the song’s engrossing chord progressions to a crescendo. A truly splendid version of a brilliant song.  Unfortunately, it’s not a track on the upcoming album, but it’s worth a search on YouTube. 

One memorable moment was the performance of “The Clumsy” (off their 1997 platinum album of the same name). Without prompting, the audience roared the familiar pre-chorus lyrics so loud Raine yielded the mic to the joyous crowd and let them sing, “I’ll be waving my hand/Watching you drown/Watching you scream/Quiet or loud”.  Raine seemed touched, acknowledging the effort, “Thanks, I really needed that.” 

A surprise standout was the infectious new tune “Stop Making Stupid People Famous” (video released in July featuring Pussy Riot).  Raine explained the song addresses how our ridiculous modern culture that adores fake and untalented people can be traced back to the beginning of reality television.  The bouncy groove incorporates a slick but subtle guitar hook over a thumping bass/drum dance beat that reminded me a bit of David Bowie’s "China Girl".

OLP delivered an entertaining well-balanced performance showcasing three new songs, a skillfully executed cover tune, and satisfied fan’s craving for the big hits.  While the classic hits inspired a nostalgic look back in time, it’s clear Our Lady Peace is a band focused on crafting a new future. Get ready for the impending launch of a reinvented Our Lady Peace when their new album Spiritual Machines 2 is unleashed late January 2022.

Be well and keep rockin’ - Greg Vitalich

 

Published in Hunnypot Does

After laying relatively low for the last couple of years, Rick Ross is back with another full-length album, Richer Than I Ever Been. This is his 11th full length studio album since he first broke out on the scene in 2006 with "Hustlin’" off of Port of Miami. Over the past 15 years, Rick Ross has formulated a recipe for music that he uses time and time again because of really only one reason I can think of – it works. While this project doesn’t kick down many creative walls, it’s the same formula of the finest production, soulful melodies, R&B features, masculine bravado, visual tales of the rich life, and an obnoxious over-the-top use of adlibs that we all expect from a Rick Ross project. Clocking in at 42:09, Rick Ross delivers 12 tracks reminding us of who the biggest boss in the game is. Let’s jump into a few of my highlights.

The first joint on this project is "Little Havana" (feat. Willie Falcon & The Dream). I always feel like listening to a Rick Ross album scratches the same itch as watching one of The Godfather movies. This track was no different. Willie Falcon, former South Florida cocaine drug kingpin is the first voice you hear on the album. He spends the first 45 seconds of the song introducing himself as the undisputed king of the cocaine industry in South Florida’s from the 1970s through 1990s and praises Rick Ross for keeping his name and legacy and life alive in his music. Assisted by The Dream, Rick Ross mashes braggadocio raps and feel-good tunes that is reminiscent of Ashton Martin Music and Diced Pineapples.

"Wiggle-wiggle-wiggle-wiggle". Another highlight for me was the song, yep you guessed it – "Wiggle". When I first heard this hook, I thought oh wow – this album is about to take a cringey left turn. I was quickly proven wrong as Rick Ross swagged his way through the beat flexing his net worth, mansion on the beach, and the sea of women who overcrowd his crib. Expecting a second Ross verse, I was surprised to hear DreamDoll follow up with what could be my favorite feature off the whole project. I’ll admit, this song sent me on a detour away from Richer Than I Ever Been down the Dreamdoll wormhole on Youtube. I know she pulls her own weight in the scene already, but this feature is going to do numbers for her career – just watch. 

A few of the other standout tracks for me are "Made It Out Alive" (feat. Blxst), "Outlaws" (feat. Jazmine Sullivan & 21 Savage), and "Hella Smoke" (feat. Wiz Khalifa). Assisted by this star-studded line up of features, Rick Ross packages a great project of bangers for your trunk as you cruise your local freeway. He may not be the best rapper by any means, but he rides a beat in ways the most technical lyricist can’t and takes us on an inspirational journey as he claws his way to the top. If you’re looking for a feel-good, motivational album to jam out to; this is the one.

Published in Hunnypot Does

Hunnypot Live #452 was the last one for 2021. Yule see us again in January.

Lauren Brinker co-hosted with stories of ghosts from her recent past in the music business and redemption through her current endeavors and projects.

Myke Anthony returned to Hunnypot, fronting his own group, and performed amped up Rock 'n' B/pop bangers.

Love Stallion finally made it to Hunnypot Live and bucked up thoroughbred glam rock music.

Hot Tub Johnnie kept it festive with the party hits all night.

Recap/Photos: J. Gray  12/13/2021

 

Lauren Brinker 

LAUREN BRINKER (MUSIC SUPERVISOR, SMOKETREE MUSIC)

Lauren Brinker is a native of Hollywood, CA. She’s a singer, budding songwriter, chorister, and general lover of all things music. Lauren began singing as a young child in the LA Children’s Chorus. She was lucky to attend L. A. County High School for the Arts, where she was immersed in music every day of the school week. From high school she went on to study opera and vocal pedagogy at UC Santa Cruz, where she stayed to do their master’s program. Since then, she’s taught music to kids, worked for regional opera companies, dabbled in session singing, conducted a community musical and worked as a ringer for Catholic churches up and down California.

Currently, Lauren heads-off her own music clearance company, Smoketree Music. She’s also a proud member of Nevenka East European Folk Ensemble, a non-profit women’s folk chorus that was founded in 1976. Lauren’s husband, Ray Brinker, is a renowned jazz drummer. She’s grateful to have a life and career that is music centered.

WEBSITE  FACEBOOK  INSTAGRAM



myke anthony 

MYKE ANTHONY

LA based, Michael Anthony Marigliano, p.k.a. Myke Anthony. is an American musician, singer, songwriter, rapper and record producer. He has released two albums (Broken Love & These Days), one EP, and one mixtape. Myke's newest single "Rockstar" is a must hear.

WEBSITE  FACEBOOK  INSTAGRAM  SPOTIFY


Love Stallion2020

LOVE STALLION

Love Stallion is an original Denver-based glam rock band, bringing back the glory of Hollywood's Sunset Strip rock & roll of the 80s. Get ready for a high-energy performance, spandex & leather, and their very own signature "Sexy Disco Legs".
 
After releasing their 1st studio LP "Unforgettable Ride" on June 2nd, 2018, produced by Emmy Award Winner and Certified Gold Record producer, Steve Avedis, Love Stallion went on to play with fellow glam rockers Steel Panther at The Fillmore Auditorium Denver in January 2019. After a string of shows promoting their album, they performed at the world famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre in July 2019. Following, they played at the famous Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles, and played their covid comeback show at Levitt Pavilion in June 2021 as direct support for Steel Panther.
 
Love Stallion released their sophomore album "Hot To Trot" at Denver's Oriental Theater on Nov 12th, 2021 and kicked off their national tour.
 
Aaron Hart - lead vocals, guitar
Tay Hamilton - lead guitar, vocals
Sabrina Winter - bass guitar, vocals
Frankie Bones - drums, vocals
 
 
Published in Hunnypot Live

This was a cool show because I had just got into Hot Mulligan at the beginning of November. A buddy of mine showed me them and then saw they were coming to Dallas. So of course, I put in to snap some photos. This show was a nice blend of Midwest emo music, and I was pumped. Having seen Super American before, I was excited to see them again. Let’s jump in. It had been a minute since I shot a show from the crowd with no photo pit. It was gonna be an interesting night!

Starting out the show was Super American. Last time I saw them, it was probably early 2019 and since then, they had put out more music that I was excited to hear live. They took the stage and started off with “free bird”, and no not that “Free Bird”. They really got the crowd moving. I really enjoy the realness they bring to the stage. Straight forward with some grit. They went on to play some more great songs like “RIP JEFF”, “Clear Skin, Sound Mind”, and closed with their most popular, “How Big is Your Brain?”. It’s always a joy getting to see them live. Great set!

Next up was Sincere Engineer and they were a first for me. Lead by frontlady Deanna Belos, Sincere Engineer is a punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois. I really enjoyed all of their songs, I found myself head bobbing to them without realizing. Deanna really grabs your attention. They played some of their hits like “Hurricane of Misery", “Corn Dog Sonnet No. 7”, and closed with one of their best songs, “Overbite”. Very much enjoyed their set and I’m sure I’ll be seeing them again when they roll back through.

Following them was Prince Daddy & The Hyena. Another band that I had never heard of prior to the show. It was quite the band name, so I was interested to see how they sounded. Little did I know that they 100% rocked. They started the set with “***HIDDEN TRACK***” and I really enjoyed how unique it was. They also put on such a wild show. Their lead singer Kory Gregory was uber talented. Loved his vocals the whole time. They played some of their most famous songs like “Thrashville 1/3”, “I Forgot To Take My Meds Today”, and their most popular, “Really?”. They closed it out with “I Lost My Life” and it was 10/10.

And without further ado, Hot Mulligan takes the stage. I was able to sneak my way up to the front row and have a solid spot to take some photos. They opened the set with “Dead Dogs” and I was hype. I really enjoy Tades Sanville's vocals. Very Midwest emo and I was there for it. I was super excited to hear “*Equip Sunglasses*” and the moment that drumbeat came in, I knew it immediately. I honestly think it was my favorite song of the night. Tades was a mover and jumping all around the stage. He brought all the energy to the stage. The sold out show was packed from front to back with fans and I know why now. They went on to play a ton of bangers the rest of the night and encored with “Pop Shuvit” and “You Have Shwag”. Overall a night to definitely remember.

 

Published in Hunnypot Does

On Saturday night of Thanksgiving weekend, the Pete Tonti Band faithful packed the iconic Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ in anticipation of dancing away all the Thanksgiving dinner calories. They got exactly what they asked for as the band delivered the goods in fine form (and then some). With Tonti's blend of Rock, Bluegrass, Psychedelic, Jam, and Funk - everyone was getting down and rockin' out.

The origins of the PTB started in 2019 with Pete Tonti himself and drummer  Jon Crow. They have been playing together for ten years now locally here in NJ until Jon went into the Marine Corps in 2015 (much appreciate your service to our country Jon).  While he was in the Marines, Pete began playing around the Asbury Park music scene. He linked up with Kevin Cooper (the band's keyboard player), and they started a cover band called Silky Crazy Nights with local legend Sandy Mack. For the most part, they covered classic rock tunes and jam bands. When Jon got out of the Marines,  he told Pete, "let's get a band together and start playing your original material". Pete reached out to Kevin, asked him to play keys in the band, and then brought on Nigel Whitely from another local band, UFOTOFO, on bass.  The rest (as they say) is history.

As we all know in the music industry, playing in a band and getting everyone on the same page of the dream is never easy. So as with many other bands, PTB had a few lineup changes as they began to play. In March of 2020, (when the Covid pandemic hit and the band along with all musicians couldn't play gigs), Nigel left the band and was replaced by Bob Scholz on bass.  They also brought in a second guitar player,  Brian Abrecht (another local musician that was friends with the band and had been attending their shows right from the beginning). This lineup played through June of 2021, during this time the band released their debut single, "Feeling Upside Down". In June, Bob was replaced by Nick Iannelli on bass from his own band, Lemon Juice, and this is now the final and current lineup.

Right after the band had come together in this final lineup, guitarist Brian Abrecht had an unfortunate accident at Peach Fest as was terribly injured. The Asbury Music scene and the band came together with an outpouring of support for Brian and his family. They put together shows, fundraisers, artists donated work, and the family was giving the community constant updates on his recovery. It has been a long road of healing for Brian, but the band kept writing new music and playing without him, patiently waiting for his return. Brian has made almost a full recovery, he has a lot of work ahead, but to see my good friend return to the stage and live his dream is such an inspiration and I am beyond stoked he is back in action.

I learned a term in art school - Gestalt, which means the whole is perceived more than the sum of its parts. I only bring that up because I feel the current lineup (in this form)  is why they are gaining so much traction and have developed such a large fan base locally in the Asbury Music Scene. Each band member brings their own unique style which compliments everyone else's style within the band.   Pete has magnificent writing skills.  His leadership qualities shine through, orchestrating the band in and out of jams and transitions into the next tune.  In addition to melting faces with his guitar, he has an amazing stage presence and is a rockstar in the making. Jon can often be found beating his drum kit into submission, soft when needed, but bringing that dancy beat everyone needs to get down. Kevin on the keys has this upbeat, melodic, old and gritty organ vibe that really ties the band together. Nick's funky bass lines, eclectic style of play and instruments, along with a voice that can really hit the high notes, he can definitely get the party started. Brian on guitar keeps everything all glued together, he has great licks and smooth style. His influences of the jam band scene are easily recognized in his playing and his progression is incredible. All together, you get a psychedelic rock jam band that brings the house down.

For the encore of their show, they brought up a long-time friend and local guitar phenom Josh Rivera, to cover Umphrey's Mcgee's classic "All in Time". Josh has played with the band a few times stepping in for Brian while he was recovering from his injury. I have known Josh since he was a kid, always shredding his guitar. His progression over the years has astounded me. Josh's style is so versatile, he can play rhythm like none other, and has hard aggressive guitar solos. Josh rips and whatever band he lands in permanently will be lucky they have him in the lineup.

The Pete Tonti Band is emerging as one of the best to come out of the Asbury scene in a long time. They are currently putting together big plans to move forward as a band, getting into the festival scene and looking to do opening slots for larger national touring acts coming into NJ, and hopefully being on the road ASAP. These guys don't mess around, you can see right from the first tune of the show, they are polished, and poised to make big things happen in the future. I don't doubt PTB will be a staple in the jam band scene for years to come. All of my favorite bands started their careers playing small gigs, getting a local following, and then one day, BOOM, you cant get a ticket to the show because the band has exploded and they are selling out shows everywhere. I think that the Pete Tonti band is on their way to making it out of Asbury and making it big real soon. Check out their Facebook and Instagram pages below, for all the info you need on PTB, where they are playing locally here in NJ, and where they are headed in the future. But don't wait too long, or you won't be able to get a ticket when they sell out shows in your town before you know it!

https://www.facebook.com/petetontiband/?ref=page_internal

Instagram - @petetontiband

The Pete Tonti Band

11/27/21 - The Wonder Bar

Asbury Park, NJ

Setlist

Set 1: Everytime, Man With A Mop, Happy Hour Hero*, Try To Stand, I Will Survive^, Hyrule Castle Theme% > Trance Jam > Time Fade reprise, Hang Up Your Hang Ups+

Set 2: Lemonade, Too Rolling Stoned•, Blind Dove, Fog and Fire, When You’re Something, Tuesdays Are Rough, Feeling Upside Down, All In Time#

*moe. cover ^Gloria Gaynor cover %from “Legend Of Zelda” +Herbie Hancock cover •Robin Trower cover # Umphrey’s McGee cover (w/Josh Rivera (gtr))

Published in Hunnypot Does

Grant Owens, from We Found New Music, guest hosted with us, shared his love of music discovery and promotion, and shot us up with an anti-"bodied" playlist to tell his tale.

Poe The Passenger enlarged and warmed our telltale hearts with energetic powered pop rock to cure what ails you.

Mr. Max took us beyond the capacity limits with a 3 piece triple dose of punk, pop, and rock.

Hot Tub Johnnie administered doses of party music before, during and after our bi-weekly musical clinic.

Recap: J. Gray
Photos: J. Gray
11/29/2021

 

Grant Owens WFNM

GRANT OWENS (WE FOUND NEW MUSIC, CO-HOST/DJ SET)

Innovative and resourceful music industry professional with extensive experience in talent discovery and development. Introduced artists such as Billie Eilish, LAUV, Yungblud, Arlo Parks, and Kim Petras through his popular Industry focused weekly showcase and artist discovery platform, We Found New Music.

Grant has been an official SXSW showcase Presenter since 2015 due to his oracle -like track record in artistic discovery, and vast network of industry professionals.

FACEBOOK  WFNM WEBSITE  TWITTER  INSTAGRAM


poe the passenger 

POE THE PASSENGER

Energy-fueled, Alt Rock trio Poe the Passenger is an indie force set on stimulating their community with togetherness, honesty and sustainability. The consistent theme running through their music is the aspect of loving yourself for being authentically you and spreading love to others despite our current turmoil. Their music is a constant reminder to listeners around the world that we are all in this together. Their fans voted them to #1 on The World Famous KROQ Locals Only in Los Angeles, proving their dedication to the band. Their Instagram engagement is consistently high, around 24%, and their reach is over 7,000. Likewise, their Spotify audience has grown 138% in a matter of months to about 10,000 monthly listeners. A considerable base of these listeners reside in LA, and they have 1,600 trackers on Bandsintown providing a reliable audience for local shows.

With Andrew Goodfriend of TKO added to their team and over 100 live shows completed to date, Poe the Passenger is ready to bring their infectious, raw, and energetic live show to the masses. They instantly convert attendees to fans, and they have been honing their live set during the pandemic into a visually captivating and sonically stunning event for 2021 & 2022. Fans are hoping to see them on opening tours with Palaye Royale, Nothing But Thieves, The Hunna & other Alt Rock groups.

WEBSITE  FACEBOOK  INSTAGRAM  SPOTIFY  TWITTER



mr max2021

MR. MAX

Mr. Max is a Los Angeles-based Indie/Punk band founded by frontman/guitarist Max Cohen. Growing up in Los Angeles' South Bay, Max was heavily influenced by the punk rock music native to that area. Mr. Max combines these early influences with more modern sounds from the surf, psych, garage rock and indie rock worlds to create something new and original.

Mr. Max has grown into a 3-piece band with Marisa Testa on drums and Arion Salazar (Third Eye Blind) on bass and has been putting on high-energy shows in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.

Mr. Max recently released their new single "I Hate My Life" along with a wild music video featuring animation by Youtuber Harvey Seasalt- The song was featured on 2 Spotify official playlists- "New Noise and Noisy," Three Official Apple Music Playlists and received praise from Allison Hagendorf- Global Head of Rock at Spotify.

Facebook  Instagram  Spotify

Published in Hunnypot Live

Let’s face it, 2021 needs a giant kick in the ass and Black Label Society’s 11th Album, Doom Crew Inc., might just be what we all need.  For those looking for an injection of passion and visceral riffs to revitalize your soul, stop look no further. This is the shot you need.

Recorded in Father Zakk’s own studio, Black Vatican, the first thing that impresses me is this album has massive depth. The depth comes from the double tracked rhythm guitars added to the legendary Zakk Wylde’s riffs and the blending of guitar solos. Add to that some impressive vocal range, and you have a recipe for a solid album.  From the jump, "Set You Free" eases in with a soft acoustic intro that is then slapped down with a crunching riff. On the 10th trip down this opus this is still my favorite track. Dario Lorina trades solo parts on the piece with Wylde and just that little nuance really expands it to a higher level.  Sliding into "Destroy, Conquer",  you clearly hear the Ozzy influence in the vocals, less riff driven and focusing on a variety of tempo changes that continue driving from beginning to end it showcases the musical complexity of the band on this album. 

The third track, "You Made Me Want to Live",  sets up the rest of the album as a real showcase for Zakk’s vocals each song taking it in a completely new direction.  He moves from an Ozzy to an almost Jim Morrison inspired bluesy intro which slams into another heavy riff driven chorus and evolves back and forth between the blues and heavy riffs.  This is another good example of the sharing of solos between Wylde and Lorina.  Do I want to say my favorite song on this album is the ballad… hell no, but DAMN, it’s close.  "Forever and a Day" is just that damn good, Lorina’s somber piano mixed with the haunting guitar and Zakk’s voice has a vibrato that belongs in a damn church choir.  Pretty near perfect and you can Zakk pouring his soul into the track on so many levels.  "End of Days" brings us back to a blues riff world but the melodic vocals threading the fire of the guitars.  The lower end bass on this track served up “J.D.” DeServio is especially satisfying.  The entire album rocks your core, it’s that inner sway that only a driving bass can give you.  

The powerhouse drumming of Jeff Fabb drives "Ruins" from the intro.  Since joining the band in 2014, Fabb has elevated the depths of the concussive power of BLS.  The balance of that thunderous beats never overpowers the vocals but is enough to rock you soul. "Forsaken" kicks in with thick dueling guitars of Wylde and Dario Lorina who really is a major spotlight on this album. Going back to the depth, the guitar harmonies of BLS, really vacillate between Priest and Allman Brothers vibes depending on the song it’s not one note one level, there is a complexity on Doom Crew Inc. that shows an evolution of the band.  If the vocal range hadn’t impressed you thus far, "Love Reign Down",  takes the vocal range to a Joe Cocker level, the music and melody juxtaposed to the thrashing hair and kilt would be stunning to see live.  While "Love Reign Down" would make a good wedding song, the foreboding riff of "Gospel of Lies" would set the perfect ominous tone for a funeral.  The evocative vocals mixed with the staccato guitar drives the track through multiple time changes while DeServio’s heavy bluesy bottom end really anchors this track.  

"Shelter Me" starts out like more of a heroic anthem, and then delves into the grinding rocker with some thick licks, and nice vocal harmonies.  The dueling solos again give this track a thicker more complicated feeling.  The Allman Brothers southern guitar twang is mixed with a visceral riff in the intro of "Gather all my Sins", this song is really a showcase for the guitar harmonies and visceral shredding.  If you want to listen to one track to showcase that Wylde is churning out some of the best riffs in Metal, this is the track. Another ballad, the apt titled "Farewell Ballad" is a great showcase of Zakk’s vocals, showing that his signature growl has a softer side.  The smooth vocals are mixed with Lorina’s delicate piano and put a cap on a incredibly satisfying album.

It's clear that Black Label Society's Doom Crew, Inc. is a salute to their "first to bleed, last to leave" crew and the band's legions of fans who will be more than pleased with this outing. Be sure to grab a copy when this one drops on November 26th, It's a winner! 

 

Published in Hunnypot Does

I don't know about you, but I'm super excited to see Igor and the Red Elvises' live at the world famous Maui Sugar Mill Saloon in Tarzana on December 4th.   Often billed as Siberian Surf Rock,  the Red Elvises blend influences of rock and roll, surf rock, rockabilly, comedy, and polka into high energy sets that rock from start to finish.  These cats are currently touring the globe supporting their 25th Anniversary Tour, and when the dust finally settles will have played 150+ shows in 2021.  Wow!

As you are sipping down a cold one and enjoying the Red Elvises' show next month, be on the lookout for their drummer extraordinaire, Tatá Batera.  She joined Igor & Company as their touring drummer in February 2021, and takes the band to a whole new level when she steps behind that drum kit.   A truly unique talent, Batera effortlessly blends sounds from a diverse palette of influences (including surf rock, jazz fusion, and traditional Brazilian rhythms) that captures your heart and holds onto your soul throughout her incredible performances behind the skins.  On top of her insane drumming skills, Tatá also has an amazing voice and sings lead on over a third of the Red Elvises' catalog.  

 

In addition, here are a few Tatá Batera fun facts worth noting:

     * She performs regularly with Justin Chart, the acclaimed artist who composed music in the film Full Metal Jacket (1987) and whose hit single “Los Angeles the Song” earned him the Artisan Appreciate Award in 2014 from Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

     * She completed certificate of drum performance at the California College of Music in 2020, studying with renowned drummer Craig Pilo (performed with Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons; named “Best Jazz Artist of 2007” by Los Angeles Music Awards)

 

And if you want to get further into the weeds with Tatá Batera's drumming, check out these highlights from Igor and the Red Elvises' 2021 performance at Musikfest (See Video Below):

     * At 11:15, hear Tatá play the iconic “Wipeout” drum solo.  It's an example of exemplary surf rock playing showcasing her ability to use phrasing and accents to bring to life a simple sixteenth note groove

     * At 22:25, she incorporates tribal African rhythmic influences to the drum intro of the dance-worthy “I Wanna See You Belly Dance”

     * At 32:30, be dazzled during “My Darling Lorraine”, a  groove-based gypsy jazz beat with a wild rockabilly finish to the song

     * At 47:15, she channels John Bonham in a rousing cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll”

     * At 55:40,  experience a show-stopping drum solo showcasing jazz fusion influences, complex polyrhythms and tempo changes 

 

Bottom line, Igor and the Red Elvises' upcoming show at the Maui Sugar Mill is gonna be a blast, and hope you'll join them for what will surely be one incredible live performance!

Published in Hunnypot Does
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