Toys R Us & Pressed Rat and Warthog may have closed down their shops but Hunnypot Live! is still ringing up point of sale musical moments. . . I assure you Hunnypot Live! #394 was opened with a genre busting set by Hot Tub Johnnie. Alana Davis Artist Page left the warm Jamaican waters for our backyard bubbler and talked about her journey that took her to her brand new record release. Then she dumped convention for our guest DJ's and jumped on stage with a full band to do it live. . . JEMS jammed 3 part harmonies that felt like they were born from canyon country, Gabe Kubanda gave us a stripped and "Warped" acoustic power pop set, BINX buzzed in and brought her own musical honey to our 'Pot, Them Evils practically raised rock n roll demons and DJ Vron Irwin brought the beats for our famous dance party. 06/25/2018
Alana Davis was born into a musical family.
Her father was the acclaimed jazz pianist Walter Davis Jr. who! played with Charlie Parker, Art Blakey,and Dizzy Gillespie and whose albums Davis Cup and In walked Thelonius are considered jazz classics. Her mother Anna Scho?eld was noted jazz vocalist whose 1963 Atlantic Records release "Anamari" was produced by the legendary Nesuhi Ertegun and featured jazz greats Art Farmer, Grady Tate, Jim Hall and Clark Terry. Her family's West Village apartment was the nexus for many of the jazz greats of the early 60s.
Alana attended the famed LaGuardia School of Performing Arts in New York City on a Scholarship. This led to her ?nding her voice and eventually a deal with Elektra Records. Her debut album Blame it on me contained the hits "32 ?avors" and "Crazy" and was nominated for a Grammy award!
One of the songs "Murder" was sampled on Jay Z's song "Murder" on his Vol. 3 The Life and Times of S. Carter album. Alana was the only female artist on the H.O.R.D.E tour of 1998 and also part of the iconic Lilith Fair tour with Sarah McLachlan and others.
Her two subsequent critically acclaimed follow up albums Fortune Cookies and Surrender Dorothy saw Alana continuing to tour and landing her spots on all the major TV outlets.
Following these albums Alana took time off from the music industry to start a family but Continued to do one off shows in the Caribbean and United States every now and then.
She also toured as guest vocalist with Thievery Corporation. Alana has recently completed her new album Love Again and has begun a series of shows to support the release on Cleopatra Records.
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JEMS is a trio made up of Singer/Songwriters Emily Colombier, Jessica Rotter and Sarah Margaret Huff. Through collaborations on their own projects, they discovered how beautifully their voices blended and decided to share their music with the world. Sarah Margaret Huff’s bright soaring timbre is combined with Emily Colombier’s soulful earthy quality and met in the middle by Jessica Rotter’s colorful blend of the two. Through rich three-part harmonies, JEMS weaves stories, sounds, and raw emotion with a shimmering fervor. Listeners of all kinds can’t seem to resist the songwriting prowess and vocal alchemy of JEMS.
“Sun-soaked singer-songwriter vibes with just a bit of boho” - LA Magazine
“You can’t look away in the best way possible… It’s the only thing that matters in the world right now” -Liz Wood, KUCI
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Gabe is one of those rarities in the music industry – self-made, entrepreneurial, stays out of the red tape and lets the music and his actions speak for himself. Since leaving his former band of 7 years, being a featured castmember on Season 2 of VH1 Classic’s: Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp, creating the Epic Proportions Tour, and taking other bands with him on the road, he’s performed over 600 concerts, played for our nations military, is an industry panelist at major music conferences, has performed on Vans Warped Tour, Summerfest, SXSW, CMJ Festival, NAMM and many more.
The sophomore followup to his first EP “Let’s See What Happens…”, Flow Fail Prevail features 15 songs, including interludes, remixes, and a one-of-a-kind track featuring vocals from his fans, friends and bands. Look for Gabe and his Epic Proportions Tour in your city!
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BINX recently performed at the NAMM Grand Finale and Grammy Showcase Party 2018 in Los Angeles and she is currently an intern at Music Connection Magazine and signed with Lip Sync Music in early 2018.
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Southern California rock band Them Evils have started off fast and are accelerating rapidly. The band is endorsed by no less an icon than Zakk Wylde, who had them open for Zakk Sabbath in 2017. They have also toured with the likes of The Pretty Reckless and Alter Bridge; they have hit the stage at some of the biggest Rock festivals in the US – including Louder Than Life, High Elevation and Aftershock. With the upcoming release of scorching new single "Got Me Rockin'" on March 23rd and an EP of new material in May – recorded and produced by Kato Khandwala (The Pretty Reckless, Blondie, Drowning Pool, Pierce the Veil), the band is prepped to have a breakout year in 2018.
Them Evils' late-night joyride through Rock N' Roll's seedy underbelly was born in the shadows of neon vice and nocturnal living in Las Vegas, when Jordan and Jake met in High School. They started writing and playing together and knew that they had a chemistry that was undeniable. In 2013 they made the move to Southern California to pursue their music professionally – with nothing to fall back on other than their drive and belief in their music and each other. They connected with David through a friend that worked at a bar with Jordan and who knew they were looking for a permanent drummer. Delaney auditioned for Griffin and Massanari, and all 3 knew it was a good fit immediately. The nasty energy befitting their name grew from there.
Inspired by equal parts of rock giants like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Queens of The Stone Age, among others, the band pays tribute to their roots while carving out their own unique sound. Them Evils music is at times throwback without being too derivative and is thoroughly modern. "We pretty much made our own scene," Griffin says. "We started out doing straight up rock and roll, and that's what we're still doing... That said, we're always evolving.”
The band has released Two EPs: their debut self-titled EP (2016) and "Rollin' Stoned and Livin' Free" (2016). They made inroads @ Active Rock Radio in 2017 with "She's Got Nothin", which peaked at #22 on the BDS Rock Indicator chart.
They were born for the stage and have been road warriors for the past 4 years - constantly touring clubs, as well as with the aforementioned The Pretty Reckless, Alter Bridge, Zakk Sabbath and 10 Years, among others. To support the new "Got Me Rockin'" single and to set up the May EP release, the band are set to embark on a west coast run with Red Sun Rising followed by their own headlining tour this spring. They will play Welcome to Rockville, Carolina Rebellion and Rock on The Range – with more tour dates being booked for the summer.
Jordan Griffin - Guitars/Vocals
Jake Massanari - Bass
David Delaney II - Drums
Hey Party People, Hot Tub Johnnie has played this one in his set many times and it's a BOP. Check out Rejjie Snow - Charlie Brown feat. Anna Of The North. Rejjie is a master with cool groovy party anthems and Charlie Brown is exactly that. "Charlie Brown" is a cover of the Republic of Loose's "Steady Song". Ireland Pride all around!
You know Cardi B, now it's time to get to know Lardi B (Jenn Whitlock) from Dallas Texas. Lardi B delivers a party anthem ready for summer get-downs across the country. Hunnypot Approved!
Nigerian rapper/singer Princess Vitarah is a Hunnypot obsession and we're thrilled to feature her new single/video "Do You Eat A$$" as an official Hunnypot Video pick. Vitarah has no fear and we love her for it. Now get our there and eat some ass.
On June 2nd, Love Stallion fans of all ages gathered at the Walnut Room in Denver, CO for a rock and roll extravaganza celebrating their latest release, Unforgettable Ride. While some in attendance were clearly new to the scene, the majority in attendance were long time followers of these glam rockers extraordinaire and came out in droves to support the band they have grown to know and love over the years. To say Saturday night's festivities was a party would probably be an understatement. Love Stallion clearly brought their "A" Game on Saturday night for what turned out to be a truly amazing rock and roll extravaganza!
Opening the show (and with a bang I might add) were high energy punk rockers, the Hot Apostles. Their classic style combining Roqui 's fast moving bass lines, Eryn's melodic lead vocals and Tay's catchy guitar riffs was a sight to be seen. The Hot Apostles ran through a tight set featuring pop guitar, rockabilly and even some bluesy guitar along with some fun vocal interplay. The band's stage mojo proved irresistible, and by the end of the set, the crowd was pressed up against the barricade screaming for more.
Next up was The Jacob Cade Project. Energy levels skyrocketed as Cade brought a completely new level of energy to a now packed house, showcasing his electrifying stage presence and guitar virtuosity. An experienced musician beyond his years, Cade featured original favorites "Green Light Go!", "What's Your Problem?" and "Ball and Chain". The Project used every square inch of the stage to engage the crowd with high flying guitar solos and captivating lyrics. This reviewer did not see a mid-solo Amp Jump this set, but The Jacob Cade Project's next gig is just around the corner...
Now, on to the main attraction.... Love Stallion. From their opening rumble introducing the newest all-sequin red hot Freddy Mercury jumpsuit, Love Stallion came to entertain with full throttle glam rock (and lots of hip thrusting). Dead-hawks, head-to-toe leather, thumping bass lines and face melting guitar solos showed off this bands rock n roll credentials.Between the non-phallic rhinestone mic stand, matching sets of full size Sexy Disco Legs and smokey man-liner eyes, Love Stallion's glam cred remains uncontested. With the band's stage presence enhanced by Full Color Productions, banter was at an all-time-high with R-rated jokes and stories to keep the crowd's mind limber.
The nearly sold out venue's crowd had tripled by Love Stallion's arrival and all 154 of them seemed packed at the front. The energy started high and continued growing throughout the set. High energy songs like "Trans-Am", "Hide Me Away" and "Tinker Toys" were punctuated with power ballads "Slow Release" and "Valentine". Midway through, stunning special guest - Rachell King brought new feminine energy and her vocals shone brightly during the duet of "High Times". At the end of the set, Eryn and Tay of Hot Apostles plus Jacob Cade came on stage for an all-hands cover of Motley Crue's "Kickstart My Heart". Great way to finish off an incredible set. Well done!
Bottom line - Love Stallion is bringing the sex back to sex, drugs and rock & roll with original full throttle glam rock. If you haven't seen this spectacle yet, I would definitely mark your calendars and catch them the next chance you get. They are definitely worth the price of admission!
For more information on Love Stallion, click HERE.
Photos by Susan Wolcott
If anyone ever asked Hunnypot Live! to denuclearize our shows, we'd tell them to go stuff a Korean cucumber.
Show #393 initiated with a meltdown musical set from Hot Tub Johnnie. Matt Lilley splashed in the heavy musical waters and gave us a primer for everything that happened in his life since hearing Steely Dan. Then he worked his saxophones and performed live with his isoDOPE band Jazz Butchers.
ZaZa Maree radiated a pop music dose of fun, Malik & The Loved Ones worked our molecules to an excited state with conscience rap n' roll music, Nk-Riot brought nearly weaponized sick beats and visuals and Hot Tub closed the night with a dance party set that has a half-life of at least 20,000 years. 06/11/2018
Recap: J. Gray
Photos: J. Gray / R. Taalbi
Matt Lilley created MCL Music Services in 2009 to provide Music Clearance, Licensing, and Supervision services to the Film, Television, and Advertising communities. Previously the Director of Music Clearance in the Feature Film division at Paramount Pictures from 1996 - 2008, Matt was responsible for much of the clearance negotiating and licensing in many of Paramount’s most successful films and soundtracks over that span of time.
In late 2008, Matt was named Vice President of Music Clearance and Licensing at Lionsgate Entertainment (in charge of the Film, Television, and Marketing divisions of the company) which he transitioned into maintaining as his first client under the umbrella of MCL Music Services.
Over the past several years MCL Music Services has expanded its services and now works in Music Supervision in the independent film and documentary world and Catalogue Administration.
An avid fan of jazz music, Matt is a lifelong saxophone player, performing with The Jazz Butchers and his jazz quartet in the greater Los Angeles area.
Matt holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix (2003) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Industry Studies from California State University, Northridge (1997).
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The original Jazz Butchers have evolved into the current musical line-up featuring Matt Lilley on Sax, Dave Curry Bass, Gustavo Ramirez on keys and Jim Matthews on drums. In addition to these musicians are Leddie Garcia on Percussion, Composer/arranger Ron Blake on Trumpet and Flugelhorn, and Big Band arranger/composer Brent Fischer who's band contributed string and horn parts to several of the album titles.
The Jazz Butchers performs primarily in the greater Los Angeles/Southern Cal area. Compositions are all original with elements of modern, alternative, and "straight ahead" jazz, and fusing these with Latin, Blues, Funk and other elements making the experience unpredictable and spontaneous.
The songs are upbeat and Inspiring, having a unique local sound reminiscent of the experimental days in Los Angeles circa 1970 -1980. The music on this album is inspired and attributed to people and places that developed the albums character.
They play originals, plus Weather Report,, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver, Lee Morgan, Dexter Gordon, and more!
Growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, ZaZa took musical influence from the local music scene as well as some of her favorite musicians, including Pink, Avril Lavigne, and Madonna's early work. She has played music her entire life, starting with violin and piano at age 3 and picking up guitar at age 11. She began writing songs on guitar and piano at age 12 after learning to cover Taylor Swift’s entire collection of released music at the time. ZaZa continued to cover songs from all different genres and artists, and landed acoustic performances around Las Vegas showcasing these songs as well as her original music.
Aside from music, ZaZa spent her childhood in cheerleading, gymnastics, dance, and acting, and later in horseback riding and aerial acrobatics. She appeared in both national and international commercials as a child, representing national brands including Longines watches, and has recently been featured on RAI network in Italy.
A competitive tennis player from the age of 8, ZaZa spent ages 9 through 14 traveling for tournaments on the national junior circuit while still developing her creative skills in music, dance, acrobatics, and acting.
A natural performer from a young age, ZaZa always had a love for performing whenever the opportunity to be on stage arose, usually talent shows or dance recitals.
She began her ascent into the music industry in 2011 at age 14, when she headlined the House of Blues Las Vegas with her then duo partner. The duo landed dozens of gigs after that night, performing for more House of Blues venues, clubs, and radio stations across the West Coast.
ZaZa began her solo career in 2013, when she released her first EP #Forever with her production team at Neon Pink Records. Immediately following this release, Dance Moms star Asia Monet Ray joined Neon Pink Records to further develop her music career. ZaZa and her team wrote and produced a number of songs for Asia and were used in Lifetime Network’s Dance Moms spin off Raising Asia.
ZaZa released her next single 'Go Back' in 2016, after taking a break from releasing music and performing to attend college and work on other projects. Her new single was followed by features and another track, ‘Just Fine’ a few months later. ‘Just Fine’ proved to be ZaZa’s most successful single up to that time, reaching 1 million views on combined platforms and attracting hundreds of remixers to the track’s official remix contest. Her next single ‘With You’ proved to be equally as popular, attracting new fans and creating a social media buzz.
As of 2018, ZaZa has headlined shows across the US, and opened for acts such as Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Afrojack, and Trina and she has collaborated with brands like Into The AM and Vertigo Music App.
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Malik & The Loved Ones is a seven piece Hip-Hop/Jazz/Funk/Soul group based out of Los Angeles, California. Started by Writer/Vocalist Malik LovesYall in 2017, The Loved Ones serve as an instrumental part in the manifestation of his vision; to use story-telling, live sound & performance to inspire Authenticity, Community & Self-discovery within both themselves, & the people they meet. Consisting of Saxophonist Iris Pechenik, Drummer Jon Kane, Trumpeter Nick Coggiola, Bassist Will Taggart, Keyboardist Joe Fournier & Guitarist Luke Jurow – The Loved Ones provide a rich and sonically boisterous backdrop to LovesYall’s powerful storytelling & magnetic presence. Together,
Malik & The Loved Ones remind us to Get Up, Get Free, & Do What Makes You Happy…hoping that their music inspires you to do the same.
NKRIOT is an electronic music pioneer and inventor and a founder of the music genre known as “goji.” Hailing from Boyle Heights, California, NKRIOT champions a unique, kinetic sound based around an ever-evolving custom rig of hardware known as the RIOTLAB.
When performing live, the artist known as NKRIOT (real name, Kristopher Escajeda) wears his signature hand-made mask. This mask is not merely a prop; it’s a working electronic instrument that allows the artist to interface with the original music he’s performing live, for example by allowing him to process his own vocals in real-time while singing. None of the music performed during live NKRIOT’s shows is pre-recorded, not even the original productions composed by Escajeda himself. Instead, more akin to a live band or live musician, NKRIOT performs his compositions with instruments, using electronic effects controllers, an electric guitar, drum pads, synthesizers and other elements to create a wholly new experience. No two NKRIOT shows are exactly the same.
NKRIOT’s first full-length studio album, Riot, spawned the single, “Reality Pages,” an idiosyncratic track that caught the attention of corporate brands like LinkedIn and Jarritos and caused them to sign Escajeda as a brand ambassador, tapping into his authenticity and street cred. The follow-up album, Virtual Climax Recordings, is due for release in May 2018 with the first single being, “Shogun 8.0.” available online now.
Starting with a sold-out 8-city tour of Europe and Scandinavia, Johnny Marr brought his nearly month-long Call The Comet mini-tour to an end on Tuesday night in LA (a second, and final night, was added late). Only Toronto, New York City and San Francisco were visited during these exclusive North American albums launch shows. What's great about them is that when Johnny Marr comes to town, there is a palpable sense of excitement and clarity that comes along with him. The assumption is you're going to get a pre-soundcheck autograph session, the Smiths faithful, head-turning VIP sightings, a solid set of memorable hits along with hip-shakin' new music….and Johnny Marr delivered.
A plan to arrive early paid off as there were only a dozen or so fans had posted up on the sidewalk outside the Teragram. With their spots saved another 15-20 had corralled around the back of the venue, waiting for Johnny to arrive. When the line out front became a bit deserted, I found myself curiously drawn to the gated parking area. Not surprising, I found Marr out back wearing mirrored aviator sunglasses, brandishing a Sharpie, and signing any and all memorabilia (even a motorcycle helmet) put before him. Gladly taking selfies and chatting loosely with the polite crowd, Johnny seemed relaxed, unrushed and happy to greet all of his fans. It was a refreshing Rockstar moment I had not seen for some time.
Entering the venue and gathering my spot a couple steps from the stage, the show started promptly as billed. With no opener on this night, the house lights dimmed and the band walked onstage to a bathing blue light. Returning on this tour are long time collaborators James Doviak on guitar and keyboards, and ex-Mutineers rhythm section Iwan Gronow on bass and Jack Mitchell on drums. A couple of chord strikes, a tap on the foot pedals for a bit of coerced feedback, and off they launch into "The Tracer", the first release from Johnny’s latest release, Call The Comet. The feel and lush landscapes of Marr's new music seemed to blend seamlessly into his overall body of work. Other new cuts played Tuesday included "Hi Hello", "Walk Into The Sea", and my personal favorite "Actor Attractor". Marr’s new songs infused perfectly with the half dozen Smiths classics played in his 19-song setlist . These included classics such as "Bigmouth Strikes Again", "Headmaster Ritual", and the flowing and hypnotic "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me".
At different points throughout the evening, I took time to close my eyes and found myself immediately transported back to the 80’s. It was a simpler time and place back then and music like that of The Smiths (in their heyday I might add) laid the groundwork for what I now consider the soundtrack of my life. Johnny Marr’s guitar and vocals took me to this place on Tuesday, and it’s a place I rarely get back to. Simply put, Marr’s latest songs are new, fresh and timeless.
After the main set and a brief intermission, Marr and Co. returned to a wildly rousing encore. First up was a classics Smiths hit, "How Soon is Now", followed up by "New Town Velocity" from the 2013’s The Messenger. And if that wasn’t enough, Marr blasted the Teragram with "Rise", the first track from yet fully released masterpiece, Call The Comet. Having teased and the satiated the crowd all night, the band finished them off with a plucky and aptly -timed song entitled, "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby". Even the upstairs VIP area (which typically more subdued at shows like this), rose up with elation of hearing the unmistakable strains of Marr’s familiar, irresistible chords.
With another triumphant show over and his message delivered, Johnny Marr thanked his adoring fans for coming and waved as he headed off the Teragram stage. As the lights came up, the sweaty and smiling faces spilled out into the cool downtown LA night, rejoicing in what turned out for many to be a show for the ages. It definitely was for me. Until next time,
To learn more about Johnny Marr and his upcoming release, Call The Comet, on New Voodoo Records, Click HERE
Set List:
Encore:
Hunnypot's favorite Princess Of Pop Tove Lo releases her new single/video to "bitches" and she's joined by Charli XCX, Icona Pop, Elliphant & ALMA. The video is hilarious especially if you're considering relationship therapy. Thanks Tove Lo, Hunnypot Approved!
Philadelphia rapper Tierra Whack will blow your mind with her just released 15-minute visual album Whack World. Tierra's 1 minute song format takes us on a journey that leaves you hungry for more. Hunnypot Approved!
This week’s video pick comes from HONNE with their track Me & You ◑ and it’s giving us all the feel-good summer vibes and is sure to kick start your summer feeling; even if you’re more of a June Gloom person, you definitely won’t be able to get this tune out of your head once you’ve heard it.
The British duo outdoes themselves this track they made in collaboration with the always smooth Tom Misch and feauturing him on the guitars. The smooth synths, hooky guitar and funky bass come alive with the lively dance moves of South Korean dance company ¡NTRO Dance Company, who landed the gig after the duo saw them dancing to another track of their earlier this year.
The track comes off their single Me & You ◑ / I Just Wanna Go Back ◐, all gearing up towards their next album Love Me, Love Me Not, which is out on August 24th. They’re currently on world tour this album, be sure to catch them live on Sept. 20th, 2018 at the Novo by Microsoft in Los Angeles.
-Adolfo Zepeda