While LUPA self categorizes as electronic rock music similar to Paramore this particular track is definitely not indicative of that. This female fronted act out of the UK is bringing us a dance track that sounds like an early 80s R&B groove you might expect from an act like Shalimar or The S.O.S. Band. I almost couldn't help but compare the song to Lisa Stansfield's 1989 classic "All Around The World." If you are looking for a modern comparison you could easily see The Weeknd fronting for this music.
Basically the lyrics on this song are similar to what you might hear from both of those artists; wistfully romantic. At points in the verse their lead singer Livvy M almost sounds like a young Janet Jackson and definitely a far cry from Hayley Williams, not a bad thing at a time when just about every female fronted band wants to make that comparison and outright mimics. No, what you are getting here is far more inventive than that. For example about two minutes in there is something of a chip music breakdown that is very original and club friendly. As this track comes in little over three minutes its a perfect fit for radio not to mention television (the group's music was recently featured on Fox's Lethal Weapon.)
By Brooke Trout
My my my, that was much better than I expected. I anticipated some aging hard rockers and a light crowd at the Pepsi Center. I mean I haven’t heard much from either of these bands in years and then I heard David was regrouping from his first few shows after a touch of pneumonia. To say the least, I was expecting a sleeper. Well let me be the first to tell you I was very, very wrong. This show was high energy and packed to the gills with hardcore fans. Neither band skipped a beat and both came out raging. This was going to be fun!
Let me start by giving Three Days Grace a little love. They came out swingin' and got the crowd all roweled up! Adam’s vocals were spot on during every song, and love it when a singers voice live is just as strong and clear as it is on their albums. He nailed every familiar tune, and I was singing along the entire set. I will give one little bit of minor criticism to Adam. Dude, stop with the ninja kicks off the drum stage into some kind of 'kung-fu chop'. It’s super cheesy and takes way to long for you to climb up there to get it all set up. If you want to jump off something, make it spontaneous and run, jump, and fly off that fucker! Other than that Three Days Grace crushed it and got the crowd nice and heated for the main event.
Alright Alright Alright, now on to the main event. Disturbed came out of hibernation like a bat outa hell! These guys haven’t toured in a number of years and then went big with a full-scale arena tour. I thought for sure it would be a bust, but I’ll say again I was mistaken and pleasantly surprised. The Pepsi Center was near-capacity and ready for a butt load of fiery hard rock. David's ridiculously strong voice surely didn’t reflect that of a man that just had bout with pneumonia. In fact quite the opposite. He sounded just like he did 15 years ago, especially after the first few songs when his vocals really warmed up. What an amazing instrument to be born with.
As far as the other three members. Wow! John Moyer still has the juice! He beat that bass up nice and brought a ton of energy and presence to the stage. His headbangin' coupled with those crazy wild locks helped his intensify his grungy metal esk persona. I also love his acoustic bass, that thing is sick. Dan Donegan shredded on lead guitar and really connected with fans close to the stage (which I think is awesome). There’s so many rock stars out there that can’t be bothered to have fun with the people that paid big bucks to come see them. I hate that and I was glad to see Dan and the rest of the band really engaging with their fans. Drummer and vocalist Mike Wengren is a solid musician that also deserves a standing O. I don’t know how anyone can keep their shit together playing a huge drum set with both hands, two bass drums with both feet, and then singing along with one of hard rocks biggest voices with out screwing a beat up or singing off key. He is Amazing!
Wrapping up, I’ve got to give these guys a high five for being good roll models to their fans especially their younger ones. I like that David stopped and made a strong speech about helping friends struggling with addiction and depression and not just saying it lightly. "Slap some fuckin' sense into your friends and loved ones" he said passionately, "Drag them into rehab kicking and screaming if you have to. Do whatever it takes to help them get help". Just a great message to everyone in this age of opioids and suicide. Great job fellas! I will be listening to Disturbed a little louder from now on. Cheers too many more years to come!
Photos: by Susie Wolcott, Review: by Alex Mackison
Don Grierson passed away January 22nd. Don was a legend and fixture in the music industry and a friend of all of us here at Hunnypot. We celebrate with Don and talk about his life, love of songs and history in the music industry from episode #357 in January of 2017.
Listen here: Don Grierson on Hunnypot Live #357
Originally a Disc Jockey in Australia, Don Grierson, a legendary, internationally acclaimed A&R executive, has worked with many of the most notable artists in modern music history. As a promotion person for Capitol Records he was involved with The Beatles and the launch of Apple Records, receiving the only Golden Apple Award ever given by The Beatles. Don also worked in International, Marketing and Advertising for Capitol. He then became a founding member and VP, A&R, for EMI America Records, signing and working with acts such as Sheena Easton, Kim Carnes, Kate Bush, Sir Cliff Richard, J. Geils Band, and Kenny Rogers.
This was followed by a very successful period as VP, Head of A&R at Capitol where he signed and/or helped guide a number of hit-making artists, including Anne Murray, Tina Turner, Heart, Joe Cocker, Steve Vai, Megadeth, The Motels, Bob Seger, Duran Duran, Thomas Dolby, Billy Squier, and others. Later he became Sr. VP, Head of A&R at Sony/Epic Records in New York, signing and working with such acts as Celine Dion, Cheap Trick, Bad English, Gloria Estefan, Cyndi Lauper, The Jacksons and Living Colour.
Don later became Co-Owner/Co-President of Drive Entertainment, an independent catalog oriented label and now currently operates his own music industrty consultant company, is a Music Supervisor for Independent films as well as an Executive Producer/A&R.
He is on the Advisory Boards of MusicBizPro, India; ArtistIntersect.com; is a voting member of The Grammys; an instructor at Musicians Institute, Hollywood, California and co-author (with Dan Kimpel) of the published book "It All Begins With The Music".
Get ready to let lose with Powersolo's new single "Tornado". This song will get you to reveal your weirdest wildest dance moves because the rhythm is so fun, funky, and fresh. The video depicts Powersolo on the streets dancing and acting a fool while there are graffiti rainbow walls behind him giving the video a very artsy retro feel. He has unique dance moves that make him born to entertain. He brings a style to music that takes us back in time , yet he simultaneously keeps the song modern making it a song that a person at any age could enjoy and dance too!
One thing is for sure, this song is the perfect song for a dance party, and we can't wait to get down with Powersolo 3/4/19 when the play our Hunnypot Live at The Mint event!
The railthin brothers aka Kim "Kix" Jeppesen and Bo "The Atomic Child" Jeppesen have been the essence of PowerSolo since 1998.
They have released albums in Europe and in America and have toured the same territories over the last five years. They have headlined as well as supported acts like The Hives, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Junior Senior, Bob Log III, André Williams, T-Model Ford, New Bomb Turks. They have also opened for and formed the backing band of Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray (Speedball Baby) rockabilly outfit, Heavy Trash on tours around the world during the last three years.
Their music has appeared in films, TV and commercials: True Blood, Coke Zero, Carlsberg, Full Throttle, Ford Falcon UTE, Renault New Clio, Chupa Chup Lollipops, CNCF The French Railways, Knorr, Jay Jays Clothing.
Hunnypot Approved!
You've heard the Buzz, Hunnypot will Feed you the absolute truth when it comes to fantastic entertainment. We collude with the best industry players and music makers and we'd testify without any embellishment, to any body of government. Show #408 ignited with a Hot Tub DJ set filled with bangers and mashups. Shelita Burke sat down to talk about her humanitarian platinum hit songs and got on stage to help us get in touch with ourselves or to penetrate others. Grand Canyon returned like an echo to Hunnypot for a really rockin, rootsy set of American music Blame Candy also got down in the hot tub and were as sweet as can be. They hit the stage afterwards to perform a guitartastic, bombastic, glitter and heels rock n' roll revue. Binx made an African Bee-Line back to Hunnypot for another amazing bug eyed pop and dance extravaganza. Jude Rose performed a tender explosion of sweet melodies and subdued tones and the night finished with a world famous Hunnypot Dance Party. 01/21/2019
Shelita Burke is a Pop-Electronic artist and writer based in Los Angeles and Paris, France. She is known for her engaging, collaborative, and spontaneous live performance style. Originally from Seattle, Shelita independently toured the world with over 150 shows across Europe, Asia, and Africa as well as a myriad of performances throughout the U.S. Her ability to connect with audiences and engage her expansive network of over 175,000 twitter superfans has resulted in a devoted global audience and prompting media interest from NPR, The Village Voice, Billboard, MTV, and many music industry taste makers.
Her latest songs are a departure from her earlier acoustic releases and transports the rising star into the pop world as a result of her collaboration with hit producer Marcus “Bellringer” Bell. The response has been infectious, with the most resent single “Penetrate” rising to #14 on Billboard’s Next Big Sound, a viral response amongst streaming services, and social media impressions reaching over 40 million people. Added attention was generated from her first single “Belong” which achieved over 2.7 million Spotify plays. Her forthcoming EP is planned for release later this year.
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In an era of computer-made, beat-driven music, Grand Canyon is the antithesis of modern pop music. However, focusing on classic sounds and arrangements and drawing on the inspiration of 70s musicianship and timeless songwriting, it is the kind of music that will be wafting through the canyons for a long time.
The Los Angeles based rock and roll band, fronted by Casey Shea (guitar/vocals) and Amy Wilcox (vocals), and driven by Joe Guese (guitar), Darice Bailey (keys, vocals), Jon Cornell (bass), and Fitz Harris (drums) has self-recorded a debut album that is out now on Bodan Kuma Recordings.
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BLAME CANDYShield your eyes, mortals - Blame Candy has landed. The extraterrestrial, FUTUREGLAMROCK quartet has descended upon Planet Earth with a guitar-heavy rock and roll mythos guaranteed to twist human nature on its head and thrust it into the outskirts of the stratosphere. Whether they’re dazzling concert-goers with lightning-speed instrumental virtuosity, gyrating in flawless synchronicity, or subverting social norms with gender-bending sartorial irreverence, Blame Candy leaves a glittery trail of destruction wherever they roam.
The band’s bedrock is built upon its dynamic and flamboyant live performance, which ringmaster Chris Greatti describes as a “reckless and animalistic release of primal energy. Dressed to impress!” The rambunctious opener “Sweet Tooth” muses on addiction to “rock and roll symphonies” amidst winding, neoclassical guitar flurries, while the choreographed “Pathetic” dutifully illustrates the bands knack for earworm melodies and penchant for onstage theatrics. Citing classic influences like Van Halen, Queen and Prince, as well as modern kinfolk Radiohead and Tame Impala, Blame Candy’s entity is undoubtedly eccentric and eclectic, and its live show is a must-see hard rock phenomenon unlike any before. In Greatti’s words, “Blame Candy’s music is music for the 2020’s and beyond. The future of rock and roll is staring you in the face in matching red vestments. Take my hand and join us.”
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Meet BINX, South Africa's beautiful "African Bee" with a sting ready to swell up pop music.
The New Yorker quotes "with a voice like Gaga's, she's partial to yellow-and-black clothes and arena choruses." This Avant-Garde pop musician/model is based in Los Angeles where she has performed at the US Open, The New York Marathon (two years in a row) Webster Hall, Soho House (NY) and The South African Traditional Music Awards. She has had a No.1 song in South Africa and is helping to save the bees with her latest album, "Buzzed."
BINX recently performed at the NAMM Grand Finale and Grammy Showcase Party 2018 in Los Angeles. She signed with Lip Sync Music in early 2018.
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JUDE ROSEJude Rose is a singer and music producer based out of Chicago. His music is a unique brand of R&B that pulls you in and lingers in your consciousness even moments after its end. The 27-year old multi-instrumentalist produced a record layered with dark, moody sounds, pulsating synth, heartfelt melodies, and lyrics about personal experiences. In that regard, his artistry is comparable to recording artists such as Joji and Blackbear. With a sensual essence and captivating stage presence, Jude Rose has already begun to garner the attention of major record labels.
The emotional scars of the young songwriter’s past have provided a vivid backdrop for his sentimental subject matter and his introspective lyrical content. That notion is the very foundation that Rose used to create his upcoming single, Lose . “ Someone that I love had depression and anxiety. It got really bad to the point where she had thoughts of hurting herself or committing suicide. I was anxious and I didn’t know how to process it, ” said Jude Rose. “So (Lose) was just me being able to process it. The song is my promise to her. I will lose my mind and my touch before I ever lose her.”
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It’s always exciting getting to hear new bands hit the market because there are always new ways to create a new sound. I think what Pocket Hole did here was create something very unique. Having not heard them before I would say they drew inspirations from all over the rolling-rock spectrum. If I had to make an immediate comparison based off my first impression of their music, I would say they sound very similar to the band Turnover. The way they play with the down beat and give the listener a feeling of relaxation makes their Marine Layer EP a fantastic piece of work.
Pocket Hole really gets your attention in the first track, “Werewolf”. Drummer Ian Brazill does a great job leading the listener into the meat and potatoes of this incredible song. What makes it so fun is its undefined structure and exciting beat breaks. When you think you’re going into the chorus, they break it down one more time and hit you with a pre-chorus which ultimately turns into a jam session. I tend to enjoy this type of writing because you never know what you’re going to get at the beginning of each song and when you think you do, you’re wrong – but pleasantly surprised.
I also think the EP would have also came out differently if they didn’t have the sound of those keys being played. Pocket Hole made a great decision bringing Kelly Dinh into the mix. She adds a whole new layer to their sound and accents the other instruments incredibly well. You can also tell that Ryan Nolen took a lot of time creating these songs. The emotion you hear in each song shows a lot of care for his work. In the title track, “Marine Layer”, his voice is very well balanced with the rest of the instruments and it creates this sort of dream state feeling. I think I enjoyed this track the most but don’t let that take away from the excellence and musicianship found throughout this EP.
Sometimes it is hard to take all of your thoughts and ideas and put it into 6 songs, but Pocket Hole did it, and they did it wonderfully. If you need some tunes to jam out to in the car on a long drive, definitively give these guys a listen. I will say that I am very pleased with this release and look forward to seeing more come out of Pocket Hole in the future.
As always, rock on my friends! Hunnypot Approved! Overall Rating: 9.3 out of 10
Artist, Pocket Hole, Album: Marine Layer, Release Date: August 15th, 2018, Label: Independent
Chuck Wright and Company are bringing you one unbelievable night of rock and roll as they unleash the "Power of Music" at Ultimate NAMM Night on Saturday January 26th. Get ready to have your mind blown as over 80 legendary artists hit the stage at The Hilton Anaheim California Ballroom for what will surely be a show for the ages. This one is shaping up to be an instant classic, with many more surprises in store for those lucky enough to attend. That said, why would you want to be any where else next Saturday night? Hunnypot Approved!
2019 ULTIMATE NAMM NIGHT TO FEATURE 80 TOP PERFORMERS IN THE “POWER OF MUSIC”
(Anaheim, California) Ultimate Jam Night, the long-running community oriented show in residency at the Whisky A Go Go presents its second annual show at NAMM entitled “Ultimate NAMM Night – The Power of Music” on Saturday January 26, 2019 at the Hilton Anaheim California Ballroom. The show is sponsored by DW drums, Ampeg, Mezzabara, Morley, Axis, Wedgie, Gear Secure, Coffin Case, CAD, Rock N Roll Industries, Al Bane for Leather, D’Addario, Fender, and Royal Entertainment. Ultimate Namm Night 2019 is presented by RCF.
The show will feature performances by an All-Star artist list that includes Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan, Tony Franklin, Doug Aldrich, Phil X, Stu Hamm, Charlie Benate, Rikki Rockett and many more. Also included in will be full band performances by Flotsam & Jetsam, Sweet, and Marco Mendoza’s El Trio. Additional performers will be added right up until showtime.
Over 80 performers will present a show that is dedicated to portraying the power of music and its diverse reach. The event will showcase many different genres of music including Latin, Funk, Rock, and Metal and portray the mission of Ultimate Jam Night – bringing people together through the power of music.
As is its custom the show is offered free-of-charge with tickets available at select times during the NAMM convention, details of which can be found on facebook.com/ultimatejamnight.
Founded in 2015 by Quiet Riot’s Chuck Wright, Ultimate Jam Night is community-oriented event that features live unrehearsed performances by some of music’s greatest talent, charitable-giving, comedic interludes, walk-around characters, and other entertainers. It is presented each week free-of-charge at the famed Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, California. For more information please visit facebook.com/ultimatejamnight or ultimatejamnight.com.
Do you like Punk, Funk, Rock & Soul music? Have we got the live show for you!
The BellRays take the stage for the first time at The Concert Lounge in Riverside, CA on Saturday March 9th.
You want more? The BellRays will also be celebrating the release of their new record, Punk Funk Rock Soul Vol. 2 (Hunnypot Records).
You still want more?!?! Hunnypot's very own, Hot Tub Johnny, will be spinning tunes between sets for the night.
The BellRays play for their lives each and every time. Carpool with us out for the show or get there on your own and hang with us.
Get tickets HERE
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. 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 with their songs and friends.
“We take our ear where our heart lives in simple song-writing, making ourselves and hopefully all who hear it feel good,” explains singer Lisa Kekaula. “We are proud of its simplicity and love how the new songs sound like old friends. This release is a collection of songs that illustrates why we do what we do. We are not 20 year-olds and that’s okay. We are proud of our mileage and journey and PUNK FUNK ROCK SOUL validates our comfort in what music means to us. Viability,
trend and meaning are up to the eye of the beholder. For the record…we like to rock.”
Masked enigmatic country crooner Orville Peck has announced he will release his debut album 'Pony' on March 22nd via Sub Pop, with the exception of Canada where it will be released on Royal Mountain Records. New single & video "Dead of Night", from the record, is streaming online now. Orville will also play a London residency this Feb & March with three live shows announced.
Pony’s lead single “Dead of Night” is a torch song about two hustlers traveling through Nevada desert. Their whirlwind romance takes us on a dusty trail of memories - racing down canyon highways, hitchhiking through casino towns and ultimately, ending in tragedy. Orville recalls the adventures of his young love, as he watches the boys silently pass him on the strip, haunted by the happy memories of his past.
The “Dead of Night” video follows Orville and his posse of companions - a washed up gambler, a Cubano boxer, a Senegalese cowgirl, and a Wild West club kid (played by Hopper Penn, Alex Cammen, Magné Ndiaye and Dez Sam, respectively). “Dead of Night” was directed by Michael Maxxis, and shot on location in Nevada at the legendary Chicken Ranch brothel (the real-life inspiration for The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas), and features many of the ladies who work there.
Hunnypot Approved!
City Girls and Cardi B have shared their new music video for “Twerk.” As you can image, there is a whole bunch of twerking involved. This video takes twerking culture to another level. City girls and Cardi B use their beautiful "assets" to give this song the ultimate twerking video. City girls and Cardi B are covered in body paint, and basically twerk everywhere on yatchts, at the beach, on cars and the video makes sure to zoom in on all the fun.
In November, City Girls member Yung Miami recruited 25 twerking young women to be “flewed out” to Miami to answer the “Twerk challenge” and be crowned the twerking champion.The “Twerk” video lets us see a great many young ladies trying to win that challenge, and boy is it heavenly.
We know one thing is for sure this song will get you on your feet and moving your hips. So, if you are looking for the best new dance song, "Twerk" is the perfect one to get any party started this year.
“Twerk” appears on City Girls’ most recent studio album G I R L C O D E, which was released in November 2018. In December, Cardi shared her music video for “Money.”
