While in high school discovering and developing my own personal music taste, I gravitated towards music that was guitar driven. A lot of hair metal and classic rock was blasting through my headphones. With the love of this music, I slowly started discovering and finding some of the greatest guitar gods in the music world. Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Paul Gilbert of Mr. Big, Joe Satriani of Joe Satriani, and eventually found myself hearing the name Yngwie Malmsteen. It wasn’t just Yngwie’s music that caused my jaw to hit the floor, I even found guitar instructional videos made by Yngwie. Seeing this man so casual talk about scales and warm up exercises, then seeing his fingers waltz across the guitar neck with ease blew my mind as I couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing. That was a couple decades ago, and it is only now in 2023 that I am having the chance to see this legend live. Coming to the House of Blues Anaheim, and bringing with him other legends od the music industry with the likes of Glenn Hughes, Gilby Clarke, and Steve Ramone.
Opening the night was a Chicago native known as Steve Ramone. Steve handles guitar duties, vocal duties, and showmanship duties as he was dancing and smiling all over the stage. Steve couldn’t be contained behind his mic, and would constantly boogey up to his band members to jam with them through out the set. Steve blends his melodic vocals with a up beat musical track, and spitfire guitar solos, to bring songs that just make you bop out in the crowd. He recently released his debut album Chasing Daylight, and most of his songs played this night were from this album. Sadly, I was not able to get the setlist, but the album is available on Spotify and would highly recommend giving it a listen.
Up next is a man who isn’t actually part of this tour. He was added on for a special one night event at the Anaheim, CA stop of the tour. That being former Guns N Roses member, Gilby Clarke. Now most people know him from GnR, but I was first introduced to him through the reality singing competition show Rock Star: Supernova. Though that band was short lived, I never forgot the name and was always hopeful to see him live. I felt incredibly fortunate that he was added to this tour for the night, as Gilby shows he’s more than just a talented guitar player by pulling double duty on vocals as well. Though singing kept Gilby locked behind the mic for most of the song, he would not miss any opportunity to come to the front of the stage to rip a tasty guitar solo in every song. Backed by EJ Curse on bass who was almost single handedly holding down the showmanship of the band while Gilby was stuck behind the mic. Curse was playing it up to the crowd, bashing the bass against his head, and locking eyes with every person in the crowd to get them hyped up. Gilby Clarke played a solid set of original hard rock songs that I sadly did not get the names of either. But Gilby Clarke continues to prove to me that he is an unappreciated guitar master that tends to fly under people’s radars.
Up next was a musician that I feel embodies the phrase “The Man. The Myth. The Legend.” That being the legendary Glenn Hughes. I was fortunate enough to meet him at NAMM 2020, before the pandemic hit, but only knew his name in passing. This was my first true experience, and I was not prepared for the sheer talent this man possesses. We were in for a treat as Glenn’s set consisted of some of Deep Purple’s biggest hits that he helped write when he was in the band. Opening the night with “Stormbringer,” Glenn was all style with his velvet suit adorned with flowers on the legs, and had his bass mixed right up front as he plucked away on it. The funk vibes that he can pull out of his bass and blend them into the rock style of Deep Purple just pulls you into the music and makes you want to groove. Glenn isn’t just a master of the bass, his powerful vocal lines would have blown my toupee off, if I didn’t have real hair. He also could not be kept in one place. Getting right up to the foot of the stage to perform for the fans, and booging around the stage whenever not stuck behind the microphone. Glenn Hughes only played a eight song set, but they turned the House of Blues into a jam session as every song went on for about 10 minutes each, which songs like “Might Just Take Your Life,” “Sail Away,” “Mistreated,” “Getting’ Tighter,” “You Keep on Moving,” “Highway Star,” and ending with “Burn.” You always hear about singers having the voice of a generation, and Robert Plant is normally a person that people hold to that regard. I would like to throw Glenn Hughes in for the running along side Robert Plant. The energy, the emotion, and the raw power behind Glenn’s voice could move a man to tears hearing it live.
As we patiently waited Yngwie Malmsteen to hit the stage, the back line of the stage was lined with a wall of amps! Stacks of amps, heads, and cabinets towered over the stage. Yngwie was going to make sure you heard every note he was going to hit. Opening the night with “Rising Force,” Yngwie still looks as good as he did all those years ago. Dressed in tight black leather pants, and a frilly loose black button down shirt, opened at the top, with cross jewelry dangling all over his body. The man has a look, and he continues to make it work for him. Yngwie is also a man of few words, instead letting his fingers do the talking for him. As he plays each song, his fingers look like they are waltzing across the fret board with ease. The man makes shred and speed metal look flawless and like it’s the easiest thing in the word to do. Most guitarist performing shred style licks are locked into place on stage as they concentrate on what they must play. Not Yngwie. He is so well rehearsed and in sync with his instrument that he is running across the stage, throwing his guitar around his neck, and posing constantly for the audience to take in his greatness. Not only is Yngwie stealing the show as a phenomenal guitarist, he is doing so playing a two hour set consisting of 22 songs including his classics like “Soldier,” “Like an Angel (For April),” “Relentless Fury,” “Wolves at the Door,” “(Si Vis Pacem) Parabellum,” “Badinerie,” “Seventh Sign,” “Toccata,” “Evil Eye,” “Trilogy (Vengeance),” “Blue,” “Fugue – Noise,” “You Don’t Remember, I’ll Never Forget,” and ending with a two song encore that included an Acoustic Guitar Solo and finally “Black Star.” Yngwie Malmsteen is a work horse of a musician, crafting mind blowing solo’s and still managing to be entertaining as a performer. I finally get to see why he is placed on such a high pedestal.
I walked into the House of Blues Anaheim ready for a night of classic rock and metal with legends, and I am so glad I had the chance to do so. Glenn Hughes and Yngwie Malmsteen live up to their rock god status and continue to blow peoples minds. Gilby Clarke was also such a pleasant surprise to finally get the chance to see as well. Classic Rock creating a plethora of rockstars, but this night wasn’t a night of rockstars. This was a night of rock gods who helped define what rock is throughout the 70s & 80s. It is a blessing to see them still touring and being able to put on amazing shows night after night
The Rolling Stones are old. The Rolling Stones are ageless. People say they should hang it up and retire. People say they’ve never sounded better live. What some people fail to realize is that The Rolling Stones aren’t just rock stars. They are working musicians. They make music. And now they’ve just made their first album of new music in 18 years.
The first single from the soon to be released Hackney Diamonds is “Angry.” While it doesn’t quite come across as punchy as the title might suggest, perhaps because Mick is wondering why someone is angry with him, rather than being angry himself à la “Street Fighting Man.” It’s a minor issue, because the song rocks. Mick is in great voice with Keith and Ronnie’s guitar work driving the tune forward.
Speaking of driving, that’s the concept (or part of it) for the video. A red Mercedes convertible cruises down the Sunset Strip. Hanging out of the back seat, air guitaring and singing along is actress Sydney Sweeney of Euphoria and White Lotus fame. The vehicle passes Rolling Stones billboard after billboard with each one coming alive with concert footage of the Stones in various stages of their careers.
The video was directed by François Rousselet and was inspired by photographer Robert Landau’s 2016 bookRock ‘n’ Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip. Back in the day, an album release meant a billboard on Sunset and the Stones definitely had their share. The video is an entire Stones takeover of the strip featuring 109 billboards, with each one coming alive through footage of the Stones in various stages of their careers. The graphics have a feel of each era as well and the Stones of that time period sing and play “Angry.” We don’t just see Mick, Keith, and Ronnie. We also get welcome glimpses of Mick Taylor and Bill Wyman, along with an entire board featuring the late Charlie Watts.
The hard work that director Rousselet put in on the back end, finding clips of just the right moments of the band looking like they are playing or singing the right lyrics, suspends the disbelief that this song wasn’t performed in past concerts. “Hey look! It’s Keith from Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones!” It’s seamless enough to reinforce many of the current reviews of the song calling it the Stones best work in 40 years. It’s hard to believe that only takes us back to 1983, while some of the footage is from the early ‘70s. Is it a classic? Perhaps not. Is it a tune worth listening to? Absolutely. And combined with the video, it proves once again that The Rolling Stones have found another way to defy time and age.
- Daniel Gray
I woke up this morning and the first thing I did, after letting the dogs out and feeding them of course, was put on Stephen Marley’s new album Old Soul. I couldn’t wait to hear it, but just like with all my favorite artists, I am always nervous with any new album release. If it hits, it is pure satisfaction, but if it isn’t up to par, it can be so disappointing, such a letdown. Ragga, being one of my favorite music artists, has been doing this a long time. He’s the best producer in reggae, his music writing is great, he is a lyrical genius, a poet and storyteller, and his voice is beautiful. The voice has always been there but again, with this acoustic album you can really hear it and feel it, the way he changes tempo, the change of pitch, the clarity, the feeling and emotion, it is all there in your eardrum. So I dove into this with very high expectations. I am very picky when it comes to music, I am a huge Bob Marley fan, and there are some songs of his I don’t care for. Stephen is one artist that I can say I love almost everything he has done. An acoustic album can be tricky, hard to hide any flaws, you have to make it perfect or near perfect. But his idea for this acoustic album was genius, something we don’t get to hear very often in this day and age (to go along with his current acoustic tour). This album is full of emotion, hope, compassion, sympathy, empathy, love, family, history to go along with some amazing collaborations. I didn’t even have to get through this album a second time to know that I loved it. A few songs in my wife came downstairs to get coffee and stops and listens and says “you know you aren’t Jamaican?” Family joke because my family and friends know my love for anything Marley and reggae and Jamaica. I say it’s Stephens new album. She listens for just a few seconds and comments on how great his voice sounds, she has always liked his voice, but she said wow it sounds so good. That crystal-clear but raspy voice.
The album starts off with “Don’t You Believe,” and within the first 20 or so seconds I knew this album was going to be great. This features his son Jeremiah on drums, the drums come in and hit you, such a nice feel. Nice guitar strumming by Ranoy Gordon throughout, Stephen letting us know don’t listen to everything they tell you, don’t be fooled. I like the subtle piano by Llamar Brown in the background. The second track is “Cool As A Breeze.” A heartfelt song about a love one that he knows is there with him and when his work is done, they will be together laughing and having fun. Is it about his father, is it about his son, or is it both? That is for us to guess. A great acoustic guitar solo in this song, it’s a song that everyone can relate to and love. He takes his voice up a notch towards the end, you really feel his emotions.
Track 3 is “Cast The First Stone” featuring his younger brother Damian Marley. These two work so well together in everything they have ever done. I really need an album, or at least and EP, from them. Stephen starts off the song with some thought-provoking lyrics over a nice chill guitar and then hits us with is typical Ragga scatting (I love when he does this in a song). Then Damian comes in with his verse along with some powerful Nyabinghi drumming. Zilla’s flow is so nice in this and while somewhat subtle, very powerful. The drums just adding to the vibes, and then some beautiful flute by Megela Herrera over the drumming. Great little guitar solo in this song as well and we get to hear Llamar Brown on piano. I just keep coming back to how great the writing and lyrics are in each song, no different with Damian’s lyrics. We slide over to a ska inspired more upbeat tune “Thanks We Get (Do Fi Dem)” with the great Buju Banton. I just wrote in my album review for Buju’s new album Born For Greatness and I’ll say it again, these two work so well together, they may be brothers from another mother, they need to do an album together, it would be pure FIRE! This is a remake of Lee “Scratch” Perry and Junior Byles song from 1974, and hits us with a breezy flow, makes me want get up and dance while at the beach. The flow between Ragga’s sweet voice and Buju’s raspy banton is a thing of beauty. This song just makes me smile.
Moving to “Don’t Let Me Down,” an up-tempo love song, he’s in love for the first time, a love that lasts forever. I love the string work on this, a nice fast strumming flowing right along with Stephen’s voice. This is a remake of The Beatles song, but stripped down and acoustic, that really works so well. Stephen is never afraid to try something different or experiment with different genres of music, you just need to look at Revelations II: The Fruit of Life album. Mixing different genres and having various and mixed artists on his tracks. With track 6 he brings us some wonderful Jazz with a Ray Charles remake of “Georgia On My Mind.” This song is absolutely fabulous, he keeps a nice aspect of Ray Charles, especially with his singing and voice, but brings a nice reggae flow to this classic. And Chad Bernstein (trombone) and Javaughn Bond (bass) sound so amazing on this, with a nice guitar strum throughout. This is what makes Stephen so amazing, he is not just a reggae artist, he can take his love of music into so many places. “Let The Children Play” is next up, an anthem or freedom march, an up-lifting song, we must find a way, let that be today, everyone should be free to live life. This song could be a Bob Marley song, the flow, drumbeat, lyrics, it reminds me of “Time Will Tell.”
We go to the previously released and title track “Old Soul.” This song is a masterpiece, an amazing composition, you feel this song in your heart, soul and spirit! It is Ragga revealing himself up-close and personal. Bob Marley wrote “Redemption Song” towards the end of his life’s journey, it is a song about his career, his life, an amazing song that will carry on forever, his life story. “Old Soul” is a song that Stephen’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with cherish forever. It is that song that sums it all up, just like “Redemption Song.” What better way to follow up a song that really can’t be followed up but with a song with another brother, Ziggy Marley on “There’s A Reward.” The musical history between the two brothers is well know and been active for forty-plus years, and this may be one of the best songs they have done together. I feel as though Bob was in the studio with them. It is a simple yet complex song, This song gives homage to the late, great Joe Higgs, the man that mentored Marley, Tosh and Wailer when they were just starting off.
“This Time” is the next song, it was co-written by Buju Banton and has a nice sweet flow with some wonderful sax play by Juan Torrros. I love the way Stephen changes up his voice, pitch and tempo in this song. Some beautiful strumming from the guitar in this as well, but it is the sax and the voice that pull you in, I would say one of the better songs on this album, but they are all so amazing. A Frank Sinatra remake is next up with “These Foolish Things (Reminds Me Of You).” I can almost see Stephen in a suit in the 30’s or 40’s singing this in a smoke filled club, well maybe not, but he really does nice work on this, again showing his range of music and ability. The music arrangement is great and I like the change of “A cigarette that bears a lipstick's traces” to “A spliff tail that bears a lipstick’s traces.” We knew we had to have one Bob Marley remake, so he hits us with “I Shot The Sheriff” with Eric Clapton on guitar. We’ve all heard this song many times, Bob, Eric Clapton and redone by so many others. This is a fantastic version, the song that came out when Stephen was just a year old, but a song that still holds true today with the slow pace of social change when it comes to racism and racial inequality. Eric Clapton’s work on the guitar is so nice in this thew flow is so beautiful but it is the way Ragga slows it down from the original and his take on the lyrics that makes this such an amazing version.
The next track is a nice love ballad with Slightly Stoopid's Kyle McDonald, “Standing In Love.” What I like about this and any of his collaborations is the way he incorporates the guests style on the song, while it’s still a Stephen Marley style, he subtly brings in the guest style. This song is a perfect example. I would love to hear them do this song together on stage during a reggae festival, it would have the crowd holding each other, dancing, swaying, and signing along. These two voices work so well together, there is something about their singing styles that have a similarity but not. Just flows well together. “Winding Roads” is the last track (it actually ends with “Old Soul” the single version), a song that was recorded with a full band and features Jack Johnson and Grateful Dead’s founding member Bob Weir. It is my least favorite track on the album, I have never been a Dead fan and you really feel the Dead style in this. But it is actually an amazingly composed song, the music is so tight and the vocals are spot on with Stephen, Jack and Bob. I can see many reggae and non-reggae fans liking this song.
My worry was put to rest pretty much right at the beginning, I could tell it was going to be a good album. This is a not only a good solid album, this is a masterpiece, this is not just for reggae fans, this is for any fan of good music, Stephen gave us all a gift for our ears, hearts and minds. I really am not a good enough writer to explain the many feelings and emotions I get from this album. I will say that this is an album I will keep listening to now, next week, next year and 20 years from now. This is as near perfect as a music artist can get.
One Love- Todd
Hunnypot has been a big fan of The Dollyrots since the beginning, so we are excited about their new album coming out. They dropped a music video for their song “Night Owl”. You can see it here.
The Dollyrots are set to release their new album Night Owls on October 13. The song “Night Owl” has already been deemed The Coolest Song In The World on Sirius XM’s Underground Garage, garnering a featured spot with heavy rotation.
This is what the bassist and singer Kelly Ogden says about the music video:
“We cut the “Night Owl” video in Los Angeles. The streets of the city are the place where we spent so many reckless nights running from rock show to rock show, cutting our teeth in the music scene. We’re a different kind of Night Owl now, making music & allowing creativity to happen after we put the kids to sleep".
The Dollyrots are Kelly Ogden (bass and vocals), Luis Cabeza (guitar and vocals), and Simon Hancock as their current touring drummer.
Tour Dates:
10/11 • Milkboy • Philadelphia, PA
10/12 • Metro Gallery • Baltimore, MD
10/13 • Album Release Party at Heaven Can Wait • New York, NY
10/14 • Cafe Nine • New Haven, CT
11/1 • Jack Rabbits • Jacksonville, FL
11/2 • The Earl • Atlanta, GA
11/3 • The Cobra • Nashville, TN
11/4 • The Bark • Tallahassee, FL
11/5 • Crowbar • Tampa, FL
I have been a Sizzla fan for quite a while and was surprised I missed his latest album release, The I-Grade. The 47 year old Miguel Collins has over 60 albums to his name, so I guess when you are constantly releasing albums one or two could be missed. I came across an album review, and it was not too good, then I came across a couple more reviews that were not too positive. So I had to check it out, he did release Run Tingz in April of this year, again with not much fanfare, even though I liked it. While his message of social-political matters, his belief in the Bobo Ashanti brand of Rastafarianism, oppression of the black man mixed in with some love songs, his music style has changed over the past few years, with the release of his 2020 album Million Times, he started mixing his dancehall and reggae vibe with R&B. And with these last few albums you get more of an R&B and hip-hop vibe. So the negative reviews stem from this change, these reviewers don’t like the mixing and mingling he is doing with dancehall, reggae, R&B and hip-hop. I like it! Maybe because I was an R&B and hip-hop fan before discovering and eventually loving reggae. I think when you can constantly put out great albums (multiple albums a year) there is no other way to go but to change things up and try new things. And I think Sizzla does a great job at it. I thought Run Tingz was a good album, but I think he hit it with I-Grade. Feels more complete and flows better.
We start off with “New Year,” a nice slower groove with a good thick bass. We move to “Illusion” a more R&B beat, with him singing and then going into his signature loud raspy “yelling.” Track 3 is “Gyal Dem Nuff,” a more upbeat song with a really nice bass (sounds like an acoustic bass) and piano, a good jazz feel. The title track, “The I-Grade,” is next, this is about smoking the high grade and praising Salassie, very slow beat, laid back until Sizzla hits us with some fast lyrics that helps get the song going. Track 5 is “Clean” with a nice fast flow from Sizzla, really love the guitar in this. We flow to “Touch Di Road,” a song that really has a current hip-hop beat and flow at first from Sizzla, but then he hits us with a nice chorus line. It is a nice mix of two styles in this joint. The more I dive into this album the more I appreciate what he is doing.
“Change Your Dirty Ways” is up next, the flow from Sizzla takes me back to earlier Sizzla, but has a good bassline reminiscence of 90’s hip-hop. This may be the best track on the album, mixing an early vibe of Sizzla’s lyrics and hip-hop from the days I loved it the most. Track 8 is “Prettiest Girl,” a nice “love” song, hey girl, you’re the prettiest thing in the world. We get into a song about the system and how we need to burn it down, “Burning Burning.” Another one of my favorites for the lyrics and the grooving bass and Sizzla hits on all his lyrical styles throughout. Track 10, “From My Heart” hits us with a sax, another love song, I love the back and forth of Sizzla’s voice and the sax, works so well, a good R&B groove. We move onto “Thanks and Praises,” another song that takes me back to earlier Sizzla lyrical style, but with an R&B beat. I think this works so well, another one of my favorites. Track 12 is “Never Let You Go.” A great bassline and thumping bass in this slow chill tune, with Sizzla singing until the chorus when he comes in strong with that strong Sizzla voice! We finish off with “Now Dem Know,” a great song to finish off with. A strong hip-hop beat and sound, really nice snare drum throughout. Strong lyrics, Sizzla is letting dem know. This is not your typical Sizzla album, he is moving into the R&B and hip-hop world, but I think he makes it work well, his flow with the beats, bass and rhythms, check it out. You won’t get your typical Sizzla dancehall/reggae vibe, but you get much more to like.
One Love- Todd
#495 was epic! Music Supervisor Olivia Schlichting co-hosted, Olivia is with LA's SuperMusicVision led by Emmy/Grammy-nominated Thomas Golubic. Kicking off the night was radio chart-topper, Recording Artist and Songwriter Farrah Mechael. Next, Denmark/Sweden's Tremolo Beer Gut returned to the Hunnypot stage for the 3rd time with their instrumental garage rock/spy surf fusion right off their US West Coast tour. Closing with a bang was the bold, dynamic gender-fluid artist FIASCH, who's been dominating LA's music scene. 5 more Hunnypot Live events left before our historic 500th finale.
#WhereMusicLoversGoToPlay
Olivia Schlichting is part of the Los Angeles-based music supervision team SuperMusicVision, which has a long list of credits under Emmy and Grammy-nominated music supervisor Thomas Golubi?. Olivia has a BA degree in Narrative Media & Culture and an AS degree in Screenwriting.
Her credits include Better Call Saul, PokerFace, Mayfair Witches, Your Honor, Space Force, and more. She also serves as the Organizing Committee Liaison for the Guild of Music Supervisors, and a strong supporter of the unionization of Music Supervisors.
To find out more info on unionizing: https://linktr.ee/
Farrah Mechael is a professional recording artist who sings passionately from her heart and soul. "Music is in [her] blood; singing is programmed into [her] DNA."
Farrah Mechael’s discography credits top producers and songwriters. Her recent single "Burning" topped nationwide radio charts at #1 for independent artists and placed #21 on Top 40 radio charts among the likes of pop artist peers like Beyonce and Lady Gaga. Farrah has multiple records that have organically charted on iTunes Top 40 all over the world, including countries such as Greece and Bahrain. She has performed her music as the opening act for worldwide artists, such as Ariana Grande, Marshmello, and Shawn Mendes, at national tours and events like iHeartRadio’s Wango Tango. She was BudLight sponsored in 2019 for a Chris Brown & Tory Lanez opening show. She embarked on a successful 16-city US tour for her EP "Farrah Please." Her powerhouse voice is the highlight of her performances, which draw in and solidify consistent, dedicated fans.
In LA, she has performed at venues such as Banc of California Stadium, The Roxy, The Ivy, LA Fashion Week, Vicky's (now closed due to Covid), and more. Additionally, Farrah has performed at Little Caesar's Arena in Detroit, the Gramcery Theater in New York, the Fillmore in New Jersey, House of Blues San Diego, Cornerstone in San Francisco, the Detroit Opera House, Comerica Park, among multiple other hot spots.
Being born in Boston, raised in Detroit, and living in Los Angeles, Farrah Mechael is trained in multiple genres. She began singing opera, which led to jazz, gospel, pop, urban, and eventually her own cultural, worldwide, and original sound. Farrah Mechael makes her music to spread freedom and self expression, releasing fans from the stress of reality with her vocals.
The Tremolo Beer Gut are from Denmark/Sweden and there touring the US west coast from Seattle to San Diego. A 98% instrumental garage rock/spy surf combo. 5 LPs and a bunch of 45's on the rap sheet. Low maintenance/High performance 4 piece
Formed in a different millennium by Yebo and Sune Wagner from The Raveonettes – later joined by Per Sunding from Eggstone and The Great Nalna (when Sune moved to the states) and Jengo.
Nalna and Yebo has also played with Jon Spencer and Matt Vert - Ray’s Heavy Trash combo, Yebo also with Junior Senior, PowerSolo and Thee Attacks.
All in all a well seasoned and very spicy combo with a lot of garage rock pedigree and a guaranteed hot live show at your party/show/mother’s house.
Meet FLASCH! This gender-fluid non-binary artist is taking the Los Angeles music scene by storm with their dynamic and bold energy. Originally from a small town in Minnesota, FLASCH fearlessly follows their dreams and pushes boundaries with their unique perspective. Get ready for a wild ride with the rising star of the non-binary music scene!
Tove Lo’s rescheduling of the Dirt Femme Tour back in February was a major blow to fighting the seasonal dreariness that Minnesota (and elsewhere) Winter typically brings about. SAD is no joke, and with the original show scheduled to be right around everyone’s favorite capitalistic reminder of true love, it was disheartening to have an artist - like Tove Lo, who is nothing if not completely true to herself - have to reschedule to later in the year. What was one to do without dancing in the coldest month of the year? The wait was worth it however - the Swede’s gregarious brand of electropop now perfectly lined up with (this may be exclusive to just me) wanting to be done with seasonal allergies and trying desperately to hang on to the last shreds of summer, the leaves starting to change and bringing with it another cycle of endless winter.
Tove Lo swung by the Palace Theater in St. Pau this past Tuesday, bringing with her support from the equally gregarious and unapologetically sincere Upsahl. (Taylor) Upsahl and co are maybe the most logical choice to open for Tove Lo - her stage persona and effortlessness when it comes to translating who she is an artist to who she is performing live tears down that barrier between who an artist is when creating and who an artist is when bringing their music to life. Opening with "People I Don’t Like", the energy level was set as high as it could from the opening guitar strums pretty much through until the show would end several hours later. Upsahl kept get energy going with a variety of songs from her back catalogue, playing a few off of her ‘21 release Lady Jesus, but mostly keeping to whatever seemed to strike her fancy in the moment, with a touching callout to Tove Lo with the song Upsahl said was written for Tove called "Toast".
Afterwards, it was time for the main event - a cluster of strobes began to fire staccato lights to obscured guitarists and keyboardists as eventually Tove Lo took to the stage, clad in what would be just one of many eccentric outfits that a Tove concert simply wouldn’t be without. The singer-songwriter lead with "Pineapple Slice" (off her 2022 release and tour-named Dirt Femme), and the crowd more or less lost its mind. There’s really something to be said for just how dedicated her fanbase is - somehow simultaneously chill and out of this world excited for Tove. She played a ton of songs off of Dirt Femme that night, keeping the energy at max as she worked her way through her hits and back catalog and what seemed like an endless wardrobe of outfits. Her four part encore was closed out with the song that everyone was waiting for - the Hippie Sabotage remix of "Habits", and suffice to say that there was pretty much no more dancing to be had in the crowd after it was all said and done.
Greetings friends and fellow music lovers. We support the unions and are patiently waiting for all parties to come to terms so we can get back to work. That said, I believe it's now a good time for listening to new music and discovering new talent, Hope you agree.
During my tenure in the music industry many groundbreaking, enduring artists have added me to their team to directly manage their publishing and Licensing affairs. I have the fondest memories and contributed to career-changing moments working with Pete Townshend "Let My Love Open The Door", Kings of Leon "Molly's Chamber", Snow Patrol "Chasing Cars", Nick Cave "Red Right Hand", Ginger Baker (Masters of Reality), Spice Girls "Wannabe", Newcleus "Jam On It" Far East Movement "Like A G6", Fischerspooner "Emerge", The Dollyrots "Because I'm Awesome", Meat Beat Manifesto "Prime Audio Soup", The Cramps "New Kind of Kick", Talib Kweli "Get By", Blackstar "Definition", The Coup "My Favorite Mutiny", The BellRays "Revolution Get Down", Johnette Napollitano (Concrete Blonde) "Joey", and Bo Diddley "Before You Accuse Me" to name just a few you may have heard of.
In the spirit of these innovators, I'm proud to present my newest compilation of current Hunnypot artists I fully support.
As always I'm crossing genres and showcasing the coolest and best. All songs are available for Synchronization Licensing, Please, Dig in!
-John Anderson aka Hot Tub Johnnie
1. THEM VIBES - POWER
2. THE BELLRAYS - EVERY CHANCE I GET
3. ALEX RAHAL - SOMETIMES
4. DOLL MACHINE - WHO KNOWS
5. SKY CRIES MARY - ORPHAN
6. THE LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS - PUNK ROCK RETIREMENT PLAN
7. THE DARTS - SPY GIRL
8. JAEE THE ARTIST - NOBODY
9. BIGTREESTEVE - COCOA BUTTER
10. J.D. WILKES - HOBOES ARE MY HEROES
11. DROPDEADJEDD - NIGHTSTALKERS
12. BRONSON WISCONSIN - LIKE A STORM
13. JOSH MACK - BIT BY THE WEREWOLF
14. FINATTICZ - THAT AIN'T MY BITCH
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
"Fresh out of the studio, Them Vibes newest record is a kaleidoscopic bang of color and sound. It’s deep yet cheeky. Free but structurally mature. Funked up and rocked far out. They call their record Sonic Chameleonic, and it is exactly that: one organic musical force sonically color-defying with every track. Available on all streaming platforms, and 140 gram vinyl."
“The EP is a brief but stimulating five track bite of groove, likely to lift spirits and provide reprieve during current perilous times.” - MACIE BENNETT — American Songwriter
Location: Riverside, California
The BellRays are a force of nature hailing from Riverside, California. If music is food for the soul, then The BellRays are Thanksgiving and they know how to cook. The BellRays strip down to the meat of what music means to them and serving up all sides. Growing up in SoCal, they thrived on radio channels that broadcast more than one kind of music. It was a party. ‘Punk Funk Rock Soul’ is their party, the songs are your must meet new friends.
Catch them opening for Social Distortion in the U.S and Canada 2023
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Restless-Alex Rahal (of Them Vibes) brings a debut record-erupting into existence. Enlisting the explosive musical talents of Bobby Holland, Them Vibes, and Rude Music, Rahal co-produced Restless with Holland and his musical brother in arms, and co-founder of Them Vibes, Larry (Brother Love) Florman. The result is a record that reminds the listener of McCartney’s 'Ram,' Neil’s 'After the Gold Rush,' and Petty’s 'Wildflowers,' to name a few, where space and sonic exploration, expertly executed by a royal flush of musicians, allow the honesty of Rahal’s songs to be in full bloom.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Genre-defying recording artist, composer and producer Doll Machine electrifies stages with her unique and culture-challenging performances. 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.
Location: Seattle, Washington
Sky Cries Mary is an American psych rock/cosmic music group from Seattle, Washington, formed in the late 1980s by Roderick Wolgamott and Ben Ireland. Ben and Roderick created the current incarnation of Sky Cries Mary, drafting super-producer Jack Endino (Skin Yard), Curt Eckman (The Walkabouts), Kevin Whitworth (Love Battery), and Debra Reese.
The new Sky Cries Mary EP, EVERYTHING GOES SOMEWHERE, their 13th album release is available now.
Location: Paducah, Kentucky
A roots rock juggernaut from Nashville, Tennessee, the Legendary Shack Shakers are a hot-rodded combo combining blues, rockabilly, country, and rock & roll into one manic assemblage boasting all the gloriously explosive instability of an M-80. Led by firebrand frontman Colonel J.D. Wilkes on lead vocals and harmonica, the band has an irreverent streak in their lyrics and high-spirited attack, but they play with skill, commitment, and a genuine love of the music they're bending to their approach.
Location: Tacoma, Washington
THE DARTS formed in 2016 with the goal of making great all-girl garage-rock noise, see the world, and have a fab slumber party every night. We threw on some vintage black slips, threw off our shoes, and set out on the ad- venture.
“Gets even the most apathetic nerds moshing. Crank it!” – Rolling Stone (FR)
“The Darts ‘Take What I Need.’ Very cool.” – Stephen King, author
“One of my new favorite bands.” – Dave Vanian, The Damned
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Jaee creates music from the heart. Who better to explain the way a woman thinks and behaves then 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. Rather 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.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Big Tree is not just a name for Steve. Standing six foot four inches, he towers physically with chiseled features and a gentle nature. His looks have given him the opportunity to walk for the critically acclaimed Argentinian clothing brand “Gaucho” in the world-famous New York Fashion Week 2022.
These impressive accomplishments underscore Steve's work ethic. At only 21 years of age Steve is just getting started - He quite literally "Can’t Go Slow."
Location: Paducah, Kentucky
It’s likely you have seen either one of his bands — The Legendary Shack Shakers or the Dirt Daubers — over the past two decades, J.D. Wilkes slings out a crazed, bug-eyed combination of rockabilly, hillbilly and country blues, somewhere near your hometown. Also known as Col. J.D. Wilkes, his hopped-up, caffeinated frontman status of those acts was a vehicle for his somewhat warped, generally manic and always intense aesthetic of Southern Gothic madness. - Hal Horowitz (American Songwriter)
Location: Los Angeles, California
Florida boy raised in Polk County who went VIRAL on his #HitTheQuanChallenge, currently living in Los Angeles for music, modeling, and acting. Dream Chasing is what he always dreamt of and dreams become a reality for DropDeadJedd with original beats and unique vocals.
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Bronson Wisconsin is a touring and recording 4 piece indie rock n' roll outfit. Their live show is a unique combination of party, drama, stories, and guitar solos that will leave you wanting so much more. Their recordings will keep you with these feelings long after the live experience.
Bronson's original music and his heartfelt ultra jam cover of "You've Lost The Loving Feeling" will blow you away.
Location: Middletown, Ohio
A Nashville-based musician, Josh Mack paints from a broad musical palette. The Middletown, Ohio native’s sound combines the rich storytelling of folk, the raw emotion and grit of blues, and a rock & roll edge. These influences are top-coated with a layer of psychedelic haze to create an atmospheric, multi-layered listening experience that has drawn comparisons to famed contemporaries like The Black Keys and Queens of the Stone Age.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Killa F, G5yve, and YC Lopez, members of the hip hop group, FiNaTTiCz. The quartet recorded "Don't Drop That", with producer YC Lopez on the beat. The song became referenced by fans as "The Thun Thun Song" and therefore was released under the official title "Don't Drop That Thun Thun" and became a worldwide hit in 2012.
Walking into Everything is Terrible! and their live show, Kidz Klub, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I was going in blind and in a sense it added a layer of excitement. Experiencing Everything is Terrible for the first time, was its own unique adventure of wait what the hell is going on but in a good way. The show opens with a giant bear stepping onto the stage, who introduces us to our main character, a newborn baby who we will watch grow up and suffer through the stages of life in a dark humorous way. One of those stages being him trying to get away from his evil father who tells him what to do and is a giant floating head that is shown on the screen behind the puppets.
In between each act are videos of Kidz Klub, which is a giant movie compilation of various funny clips from VHS tapes aimed at kids but with some adult humor mixed in plays.
Seeing the clips reminded me of my early childhood and if you were born before the 2000s, this is definitely the show for you to entertain your inner child. It’s also an excellent show to see if you’re a big fan of the Muppets or even just puppets in general. The puppets on stage were designed so well that to me while they were on stage, they felt as if they were alive. In one of the other acts, the main character meets an alien and hopes to go on a space adventure and escape everyday life. It doesn’t work out but he keeps on trying to find other ways. One of those being a wizard, who brings more dark humor to the story.
There’s also this relatable moment where the protagonist gets excited to have his own place, only to realize he has to work a 9 to 5 job for the rest of his life to afford it. After that, this thing that has been mentioned multiple times throughout the show finally comes into play. Since there was so much suspense around the thing they kept mentioning, I was honestly hoping for things to be more dramatic with more depth to it than they were but it was still a fun show to watch. I loved how they switched from him being a puppet on stage to having him show up on the screen in a psychedelic trippy way before he appears riding on a dragon up on stage. Which in my opinion was the coolest-looking puppet out of everything. The stage lights made the dragon look as if they were glowing and in that moment fans came up on stage to give Everything is Terrible VHS tapes and the show just in a way comes to an ending that doesn’t really feel like an ending.
I realize the stage performances are really just meant to advertise the film, but I feel like if they wanted to, the story could have been a stand-alone piece with more depth to it than what it was. Although overall most of the audience was made up of long-time fans who seemed to really enjoy the show. So if that’s you, I’m positive you will enjoy the show. The show was shorter than I expected and may have felt like it came to an abrupt end but I’m still glad I got the chance to see it. I can tell a lot of work went into making it possible and I’m looking forward to what Everything is Terrible! does next.
It was an explosive night, counting down to 500 we reached our 494th episode! Thanks to our special co-host Kii Arens, renowned American pop-artist, graphic designer, photographer, director, and musician.
Kicking off the live performance segment was ryn, who delivered a captivating unplugged set of her powerful pop originals, followed by the high-energy alternative rock of Hunnypot favorite, Fencer for their last show of their residency with us. The stage heated up even more with industrial rapper Mz. Neon and the genre-blending sounds of Tricky Youth, combining Power Electronics, Dark Hip-Hop, and Neo-Nü Metal.
#WhereMusicLoversGoToPlay
One of the most credible and influential in Los Angeles - the award-winning Kii Arens, is a critical driver in the creation of modern pop culture. A contemporary American pop-artist, graphic designer, photographer, director, and musician. His personal work has been in art galleries all over the world. Kii credits Saturday mornings in the '70s spent watching Sid & Marty Krofft as some of his main inspirations. Never formally trained, this St. Paul native grew up with a fascination for album covers, vintage logos, and has created over 500 pieces for artists such as Dolly Parton, The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Radiohead, Paul McCartney, Kacey Musgraves, Bernie Sanders, Beck, DEVO, Diana Ross, Lana Del Rey, The Doors, PIXIES, Glen Campbell, Tame Impala, The Replacements, Hollywood Bowl, Coachella, and Desert Trip, widely considered the most successful festival ever to take place.
His recently directed music video for Elton John was featured prominently on the 2020 Oscars, '(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again' has served well as the visual accompaniment for the heavily nominated and award-winning song. Other videos include DEVO, Queens of The Stone Age, PIXIES, Glen Campbell and more.
ryn, short for Camryn, has been killing the game as an independent 21-year-old indie pop artist. Bringing the energy to the stage since she started performing at 15, her music has indie rock vibes that keep everyone in the room dancing. Being a dancer her whole life, there's never a dull moment when she's onstage. Rocking her trademark power suits, she says she's never felt more herself, more sexy or confident than when she's sporting her suits. She keeps it real on and off the stage with lyrics that speak truth and honesty, connecting to the deepest parts of herself and her fans.
Her socials have been growing steadily with an engaging, supportive fan base as they've been eating up teasers of her new singles. Watch out, with her drive, dedication and passion, this girl will be on billboards in no time!
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Fencer, the self-defined garage opera band, is leading a new era of rock music with their own undeniably, dynamic sound. The Los Angeles-based trio comprises vocalist and guitarist Field Cate, bassist Scott Sauve, and drummer Cameron Sauve. Only two years after their inception, they became fan-favorite openers for notable acts such as Badflower, The Wrecks, and Dead Poet Society.
Tackling the stigma surrounding mental health and its struggles, Field’s emotive and frenetic vulnerability resonates with listeners to further solidify the band’s electric presence. The trio have racked up an impressive 2 million listens across all streaming platforms, despite having not even released their debut album. Field’s synesthesia (seeing music in color), Scott’s vigorous bass lines, and Cameron’s expertise in self-producing flow together to create an eccentric style that is certain to become rock’s newest novelty.
Mz Neon is a genre-bending musician and multimedia artist residing in Los Angeles by way of NYC. She is actively touring and releasing music while cultivating an ever-evolving mixed media, art and advocacy platform. A biracial trans woman with a punk pedigree, Mz Neon unpacks issues of gender, sexuality, spirituality & philosophy; with a provocative glamour that stares down the blond bombshell archetype, then dropkicks it.
Somewhere at the intersection of Power Electronics, Dark Hip-Hop, and Neo-Nü Metal resides musician and performance artist TRICKY YOUTH. Just as difficult as it is to place Tricky Youth in one place on the map sonically, it is geographically as well - he grew up in Brooklyn, New York; he currently resides in Los Angeles; he calls the American Midwest his “spiritual home”. If you were to ask him, Tricky would call himself a “citizen of the American underground”, a place that isn’t so much one location but many, and a wide network of communities that he has existed in since he was a teenager. “The basement show, the warehouse rave, the generator show under the bridge, the art show in some abandoned building with a stage built in it and 20 people living there,” Youth says. “That’s where I got my upbringing, around brilliant artists in the worlds of punk, noise, and hip-hop, freely expressing themselves as outside of capitalism as they could and forming communities that sought to live by an ethos that rejected the dominant culture. I carry that through the art I make today."
