Manchester’s alt-rock outfit The Perps return with their most emotionally charged release to date, ‘Rocket in My Head‘, out now via Golden Robot Records.
A departure from their more raucous tones, ‘Rocket in My Head‘ is a moody, melancholic anthem, wrapped in shimmering guitar lines and aching vocal melodies. At its core, the track is a poetic and mournful exploration of unbreakable, dysfunctional love and the grief of losing it. “This song is almost a reflective sonnet,” the band says. “It is undoubtedly our proudest work to date.”
Marking a pivotal moment in The Perps’ evolution, ‘Rocket in My Head’ combines heartfelt storytelling with a cinematic, slow-burn arrangement, cementing the band as one of the most compelling voices in modern indie rock.
The Perps are: Seb Smith, Tom Burns, Arik Ross, Alex Visinoni.
Australian alternative rock band Awaken I Am has officially released their highly anticipated new album, The Only Way Out Is Through, today through SBG Records. Alongside the album, the band has also dropped their new single, “Somebody Else”, now available on all major streaming platforms.
Marking their first release under SBG Records, The Only Way Out Is Throughintroduces a bold new era for Awaken I Am — one filled with raw emotion, dynamic soundscapes, and a renewed sense of purpose. The band’s signature blend of atmospheric alt-rock and emotionally charged lyrics continues to evolve, offering fans their most introspective work to date.
The band states, “Somebody Else” came from a really raw place — it’s about realizing you’ve been holding onto someone who never really saw you, and the pain of letting go. It’s a song for anyone who’s felt like they were stuck in a cycle, chasing a love that was never really theirs. Writing this helped me process that, and I hope it can help someone else feel less alone.”
With a growing global fanbase and a reputation for delivering heartfelt, immersive performances, Awaken I Am is gearing up for a big year ahead!
Stay tuned for updates and tour announcements by following Awaken I Am on social media and streaming platforms.
Awaken I Am is an alternative rock band from Australia, fronted by producer and vocalist Jimmy Alexander.
The band’s journey has been marked by resilience and evolution. In 2018, as they wrapped their first U.S. tour, tragedy struck back home in Brisbane. Guitarist Connor Verner-Oakley, just 22, lost his life in a devastating incident involving an intentional reckless driver. In the wake of this unimaginable loss, Awaken I Am channeled their grief into creativity, diving into the writing and recording process. The resulting songs became a cathartic tribute to their fallen bandmate—honoring his memory while confronting the pain of his absence.
As the world faced lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, the band continued forging ahead, writing what would become their most personal and powerful work to date. Produced by Jimmy Alexander (Rain City Drive), their full-length album, The Only Way Out Is Through, released today, June 27, 2025.
The band’s sound, shaped by tragedy, growth, and perseverance, continues to evolve. Their recent singles have showcased this transformation—starting with “Relic,” followed by “Turn To Stone,” which earned a spot in SiriusXM Octane’s rotation in February. “Vacant” released on Friday, April 25th, offering yet another glimpse into the raw emotional landscape the band explores with every release.
Awaken I Am stands as a testament to turning pain into power, always moving forward—through loss, through change, and through sound.
Southern California rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck return with “Keep Myself Clean,” the final track to be released ahead of their forthcoming studio album Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes, due out August 22nd via Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records. Produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Rival Sons), the single is available now on all major streaming platforms.
“Keep Myself Clean” is a grimy, slow-burning rocker that finds the band digging into their heaviest themes yet. With gritty guitar tones, a swampy groove, and a vocal delivery packed with hard-earned truth, the song delivers a raw warning against the destructive pull of fast living.
“‘Keep Myself Clean’ came together in Savannah from a few different ideas, with Dave Cobb’s brilliance shaping an entirely new concept,” says guitarist Henry James. “It was raw, menacing, and powerful—Dave even plays a few guitar tracks on it. We rolled tape with that energy still fresh in our fingers.”
“Lyrically, it’s a cautionary tale inspired by life in the fast lane,” he continues. “It warns of the risks of chasing the next party or fix, and how that path can lead people we know down some dark roads. That chaos matched the vibe in the room when we cut the track. We’re honoured to share it with the world.”
The release follows a powerful string of singles from Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes, including the haunting “Dark Angel,” the swaggering “Better Of Me,” the electrifying “Highway,” the reflective “Ashes in the Snow,” the smouldering “Long Gone” (co-written with John Oates), and the high-octane “Sittin’ Pretty.” Each song has revealed another layer of the band’s range, grit, and storytelling prowess.
Recorded in Savannah, Georgia with the band living communally throughout the process, Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes captures the kinetic energy of a group locked in and creating in real time. Cobb’s production adds urgency and edge to the band’s signature blend of rock, soul, and Southern roots music.
“This record really represents who we are right now, both musically and personally,” says frontman Robert Jon Burrison. “We stepped away from our day-to-day and just focused on the songs, and you can feel that in every track.”
Mixed by Greg Gordon (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson), the album will be available on CD, digital platforms, and limited-edition coloured vinyl, accompanied by special merchandise bundles that include an exclusive shirt and bandana.
Since forming in 2011, Robert Jon & The Wreck—featuring Robert Jon Burrison (vocals, guitar), Henry James (lead guitar, vocals), Andrew Espantman (drums, vocals), Warren Murrel (bass), and Jake Abernathie (keys)—have built a devoted international following with their explosive live shows and emotionally resonant songwriting. Their work continues to push Southern rock forward while staying deeply connected to its roots.
The band is currently in the midst of their Summer European tour, with upcoming shows in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, including stops at Hookrock Festival and Melkweg in Amsterdam. Following the European run, they’ll return stateside for a packed schedule of U.S. dates, including performances at Fargo Blues Festival, Stone Pier, Madison Ribberfest, and a featured slot at the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival in September. For tickets and full tour information, visit www.robertjonandthewreck.com.
CD & Digital Track List 1. Sittin’ Pretty 2. Ashes In The Snow 3. Highway 4. Old Man 5. Dark Angel 6. Long Gone 7. Better Of Me 8. I Wanna Give It 9. Heartbreak & Last Goodbye 10. Keep Myself Clean
LP Track List Side A 1. Sittin’ Pretty 2. Ashes In The Snow 3. Highway 4. Old Man 5. Dark Angel
Side B 1. Long Gone 2. Better Of Me 3. I Wanna Give It 4. Heartbreak & Last Goodbyes 5. Keep Myself Clean
TOUR DATES:
Summer Europe and U.S. June 27 – Torgau, DE – Kulturbastion Torgau Open Air June 28 – Hanover, DE – Blues Garage June 30 – Koln, DE – Die Kantine July 1 – Wurzburg, DE – Posthalle July 2 – Marburg, DE – KFZ Marburg E.V. July 3 – Weert, NL – De Bosuil July 4 – Diepenbeek, BE – Hookrock Festival July 5 – Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg
Summer U.S. August 1 – Fargo, ND – Fargo Blues Festival August 2 – Lake View, IA – Stone Pier Summer Concert Series August 3 – Hobart, IN – The Hobart Art Theater August 5 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom August 6 – Homer, NY – Center For The Arts of Homer August 7 – Ridgefield, CT – Ballard Park August 8 – Athens, NY – Athens Riverside Park August 9 – Salisbury, MA – Blue Ocean Music Hall August 10 – St. Johnsbury, VT – Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series August 12 – Waldoboro, ME – Waldo Theatre August 13 – New York, NY – Sony Hall August 14 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall August 15 – South Park Township, PA – Summer Concert Series August 16 – Madison, IN – Madison Ribberfest September 13 – Telluride, CO – Telluride Blues and Brews Festival
Spring 2026 February 23-27 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Rock Legends Blues Festival April 10-12 – Miramar Beach, FL – Soundwave Beach Weekend
Goth grand master Justin Warfield’s new single is a wish come true.
He explains, “As a longtime fan of The KVB, they were at the top of the list of artists I would want to collaborate with. Be it a remix, a feature, or even a tour, they’re just super creative and I really respect their consistency, their vision, and their integrity.”
Veterans of the UK’s audio-visual electronic post-punk scene, the duo of Nicholas Wood and Kat Day have been working together since 2011 (Wood alone carried the flag for a year prior to that), releasing some nine albums (plus EPs and more) in the years since then.
WARFIELD, meanwhile, is the first true solo project by She Wants Revenge frontman Justin, releasing the much-acclaimed Deathrock Devotionals Vol 1 EP earlier this year, five songs including the video hits “All The Fun (Kiss Kiss Kiss)” and “Jet Plane,” plus a taster for the upcoming volume two, “Fades.”
Even as the applause flowed in, however, Justin was looking to get a fresh take on some of the songs, and The KVB were never far from his thoughts.
“I reached out and found out they were also fond of the work I’d done in the past.” The closing track on volume one, “Get Away/Far Away,” he says, “immediately came to mind as a fitting song for them to put their spin on, so while it wasn’t even a single, once they said they were down, I knew it had to be.”
The result really is the best of both worlds, The KVB’s characteristic ruthlessly percolating electronics beneath, behind and all around Warfield’s icy vocal.
“Their take is just an absolute banger. I love what they retained, as well as how they flipped it into something uniquely theirs.”
Intriguingly, the two parties had never met at the time the remix was cut – in fact, their first encounter came less than a week ago, when The KVB dropped by She Wants Revenge’s performance at the Forever Now celebration of alternative culture in Milton Keynes, UK.
“It’s always wild when a relationship, be it creative or otherwise, starts online and then you meet afterwards. In this case, them being lovely people only made the collaboration that much sweeter.
“I cannot wait for people to hear it, as I’m sure fans of mine who aren’t familiar will fall in love with them, and for those who are, they will be over the moon to see the names side-by-side and hear the results.”
“Get Away/Far Away (The KVB Remix)” is released on all platforms today.
Eric Gales is set to release his new album, a powerful and moving homage to his late brother Manuel Gales, on ‘A Tribute To LJK‘. The album will be released digitally on 29 August and physically on 24 October via Provogue and features appearances by Buddy Guy,Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Joe Bonamassa, Roosevelt Collier and Josh Smith.
To celebrate, he has revealed the first single, “Somebody”, featuring Buddy Guy and Roosevelt Collier. You can watch the video HERE
There comes a time when every musician must look their past squarely in the eye. And while Gales’ latest release, Tribute To LJK, is a thrillingly modern record for the here and now, it’s also a nod to his bloodline and the roots of his family tree. “This record has been a long time coming,” he says of the speaker-rattling release co-produced by Bonamassa and Josh Smith. “I wanted it to be the ultimate tribute to my late brother, Little Jimmy King, to keep his memory alive and make sure people remember who he was and still is. All of these songs, except one, are his originals. I wanted to deliver his tunes to the world through my eyes. And I wanted it to be badass – and that’s exactly how it turned out.”
Talking about the first single, “Somebody,” he says, “It’s just a really dope song, man, and I thought it was a great way to end the record. Buddy Guy is a legend, and that idea was actually mentioned by my wife, LaDonna. She said, ‘I think you should see if Buddy is available. We don’t know how much time any of us has, so while you have the opportunity, you should give it a shot’. So we went for it, and he said yeah. He knew my brother, and they played together, so I think it was easy for him to agree to do this song – and the rest is history. Me and Buddy actually did our parts at separate times, but you wouldn’t know it: it seems like we’re in the same room at the same time. And that was the intention, to bridge the gap between semi-old and middle-aged, if you will. That’s an anthological sort of tune, in how it starts off acoustically, blows up big, then comes back down again.”
The blues is an ecosystem, and it’s a measure of the respect commanded by both Eric – and his fabled older brother, real name Manuel, who sadly passed away in 2002 – that these ten explosive covers are delivered by an all-star cast with deep ties to the project. “Buddy Guy and Little Jimmy played together, so he guests on the track ‘Somebody’,” explains Gales. “Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram has gone on record to say my brother was a big influence, so he’s on ‘Rockin’ Horse Ride’.”
To understand why Tribute To LJK might be the proudest moment of Gales’ meteoric career, you have to follow the thread back to the late 1970s and a hectic family home in Memphis, Tennessee. “I’m the youngest of five siblings, so I grew up with all my brothers, and everybody played guitar,” he recalls. “Manuel was ten years older, and it was great to have him to look up to. I was so proud when he started his own band and began his career; he was off to the races. And then, after all his years of grinding away at his craft, to hear that he was touring with Albert King’s band in the late-’80s was awesome.”
And while Manuel made his mark in the world – graduating from King’s lineup to front his own ’90s outfit, Little Jimmy King & the Memphis Soul Survivors – Eric and his sibling Eugene signed to Elektra Records for 1991’s debut album, The Eric Gales Band. “I had a deal at 15, and the record came out when I was 16,” he recalls. “Even at that age, I already felt this was what I was gonna do in life.”
In 2002, Manuel died of a heart attack aged just 37 (“It hit me hard, man. It’s still not easy that he’s no longer here”). As for Eric, he recalls a string of “wrong turns” that led to his 2009 incarceration at Shelby County Correction Center for possession of drugs and a handgun. “It was my own decisions that led to that,” he admits.
Gales’ trajectory since those dark days has been dizzying. Revisit the past decade, and you’ll find him working at superhuman pace with an acclaimed run of Provogue releases that include 2017’s Middle Of The Road (featuring Gary Clark Jr and Lauryn Hill), 2019’s Billboard #1 The Bookends, 2022’s Grammy-nominated, chart-topping Crown and the soundtrack of director Ryan Coogler’s 2025 smash-hit horror movie, Sinners.
If you weren’t already familiar with the jaw-dropping life’s work of Little Jimmy King, Eric Gales’ new album lays it all out there for the world to hear. The album opens with a poignant spoken-word introduction by Danuel Gales (Manuel’s twin brother). Bridging past and present while igniting these masterful songs with his unmistakable delivery, A Tribute to LJK is even more than the sum of its parts – and while the music plays, Manuel Gales lives again. “I foresaw a great record,” considers Eric, “but I didn’t foresee it turning out as amazing as this. My brother is there throughout this whole record – and I can’t wait for it to start turning people’s heads…”
Track Listing 1. You Shouldn’t Have Left Me 2. Rockin’ Horse Rise ft. Christone “Kingsfish” Ingram 3. Guitar Man 4. Don’t Wanna Go Home ft. Joe Bonamassa 5. Something Inside of Me 6. Baby Baby 7. It Takes A Whole Lotta Money ft. Joe Bonamassa & Josh Smith 8, Worried Man 9. Blues Been Good To Me 10. Somebody ft. Buddy Guy and Roosevelt Collier
Legendary rock pianist/keyboardist and longtime Guns N’ Roses member Dizzy F’n Reed has just dropped his brand-new single, “Falling Down 2gether,” out today via 50q records. The track is the second single off his upcoming full length solo album Rock ‘N’ Roll Chose Me, which will see its physical vinyl release on August 22, 2025, with the digital full-length album release following on September 5, 2025.
Dizzy Reed and Pittsburgh based 50q records are proud to present his second solo album Rock ‘N’ Roll Chose Me, a personal and socially reflective 10-song album exploring themes of letting go, mental health struggles, the American Dream, and the unifying power of music, all viewed through a lens of perseverance, connection, and the human cost of chasing meaning in a divided society.
Written and produced by Dizzy Reed, the album is a gritty, emotionally charged journey. It was co-produced by Jason Achilles Mezilis, with lyrics co-written by Nadja, Del James, and Reed himself. The album was mixed by Evan Rodaniche and mastered by Gentry Studer.
Currently on tour with Guns N’ Roses, Dizzy Reed continues to balance his legacy as a rock icon with his ever-evolving role as a songwriter, storyteller, and solo artist.
For fans of hard rock with heart and authenticity, Rock ‘N’ Roll Chose Meis the next chapter in Dizzy Reed’s musical journey.
Dizzy Reed is a US-born musician and composer who is best known as the keyboardist and backing vocalist for the rock band Guns N’ Roses. A touring musician since the age of 12, Dizzy joined Guns N’ Roses in 1990, helping transform the band’s sound with his blues, funk and classic rock stylings on the keyboards, most notably on the Use Your Illusion I & II albums. He was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012 as a member of G N’ R, and fronts side project Hookers and Blow on lead vocals and keys.
About 50q records:
Founded in Pittsburgh, 50q records is built on a deep appreciation for the iconic sounds of the past, reimagined and amplified for today’s sonic landscape. 50q records partners with bands and musicians who carry that timeless sound in their DNA, helping shape music that nods to the past while pushing forward with purpose.
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video