DAVY KNOWLES To Release New Album ‘What Happens Next’on October 22nd

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 31, 2021
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Photo by Timothy M Schmidt

On his aptly-titled Provogue Records’ debut, ‘What Happens Next,’ out October 22nd, roots singer-songwriter and guitarist DAVY KNOWLES boldly steps forward with timeless and cohesive songwriting; sleek modern production; and a lyrical, play-for-the-song guitar approach informed from soul, folk, rock, and blues. The 12-song album is just as influenced by The Black Keys, Fantastic Negrito, Gary Clark Jr., as it is Muddy Waters, Junior Kimbrough, and R.L. Burnside. It is a cohesive body of work rather than a collection of disparate songs.

“When it came time to record this album, it was all about supporting the songs as opposed to ‘how quickly I can get to the guitar solo’,” the Isle of Man-born, Chicago-based artist says laughing. “I’m not a purist, and the way for roots music to stay relevant is to adapt and progress.”

Watch the video for Light of the Moon here:

Produced by Eric Corne (John Mayall, Joe Walsh, Joe Bonamassa), ‘What Happens Next’ something of a departure from Knowles’s fired-up and reverent take on blues and Americana, featuring poetic songwriting and soulfully emotive vocals that steal the show. The 12-song body of work offers forth a peaks-and-valleys album experience winding through brawny riffs, jazzy blues balladry, and vintage soul before concluding with one of Knowles’s most personal songs released to date. Throughout it all, his guitar playing is brilliantly understated, his rhythm work is deft and dynamic. The album bursts open with, “Light Of The Moon,” a swaggering riff-rocker replete with vibey 1960s organ flourishes, hooky minor-tinged refrains, and impassioned soul-drenched vocals. Here, Davy’s lead breaks drip sustain, vibrato, and sublime bluesy melodicism.

Knowles first burst onto the scene at the age of 20 with his band Back Door Slam, garnering rave reviews, making national US television appearances (Jimmy Kimmel Live, Good Morning America), earning extensive triple-A radio airplay, and achieving two Top 5 Billboard Blues charting albums. Since then he has been solo, and he independently released two more studio albums, 2014’s The Outsider and 2016’s Three Miles From Avalon, which also hit the Top 5 on the Billboard Blues chart. He’s earned plum endorsements from D’Addario strings, PRS guitars, Bludotone amps, and Celestion speakers, became the first musician in history to play live directly to the International Space Station from Mission Control in Houston, and held his own sharing the stage with such heavyweight artists as The Who, Jeff Beck, Gov’t Mule, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, Joe Bonamassa, Sonny Landreth, Peter Frampton, Joe Satriani, and Sammy Hagar, among many others.

Despite the songs on ‘What Happens Next’ featuring concise lead guitar playing, fans of Knowles’s fleet-fingered lead style fear not for the blues-rock fire still burns inside him. Knowles says: “This album taught me about restraint in terms of guitar playing. I had to reign it in to let the songs breathe, but I am looking forward to reimagining them and stretching out when we play live.”

Track list

  1. Light of the Moon
  2. Heartbreak or Nothing
  3. Roll Me
  4. Get Lucky
  5. Devil & the Deep Blue Sea
  6. One & the Same
  7. Solid Ground
  8. River
  9. Side Show
  10. Hell to Pay
  11. Wake Me Up When the Nightmare is Over
  12. If I Ever Meet My Maker

STEVE HACKETT Launches ‘Fox’s Tango’; Second Single From ‘Surrender of Silence’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 31, 2021
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Photo by Tina Korhonen

Legendary guitarist STEVE HACKETT, releases his new studio rock album Surrender of Silence on 10th September 2021, via Inside Out Music. The album features 11 new songs as Steve has been working hard through Lockdown and, for the first time, has completed two studio albums for release within the same year! 

Today sees the launch of the album’s second single, and you can watch the video for ‘Fox’s Tango’ here:

Steve comments: “A protest song at life’s inequalities – in other words, the poor versus the rich. With current conflicts, if we can’t learn to share the land, we’ll find ourselves sharing the graveyards. A song for an unbalanced world. Fox’s Tango has my playing at its angriest. I really let rip here!”

Watch the video for the first single ‘Wingbeats’ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8qOFpMaRLo

Surrender of Silence is released on 10th September 2021 as a Limited Edition CD+Blu-ray Mediabook in hardcover slipcase, Standard CD Jewel case, Gatefold 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet and Digital Album via Inside Out Music.

Pre-order now here: https://stevehackett.lnk.to/SurrenderOfSilence 

Hot on the heels of his classical-acoustic travelogue Under A Mediterranean Sky, which was released in January and hit Number 2 in the UK Classical Album Chart, Surrender of Silence is a further exploration of Hackett’s love of world music, discovering different sounds, moods and textures to deliver a rock album of extraordinary variety, power and beauty.

As with Under A Mediterranean Sky, Surrender of Silence was also recorded during Lockdown and, again, Hackett has called upon some of his musical friends from across the world to contribute. Hackett’s regular touring band of Roger King (keyboards, programming and orchestral arrangements), Rob Townsend (sax, clarinet), Jonas Reingold (bass), Nad Sylvan (vocals) and Craig Blundell (drums) are supplemented by Phil Ehart and Nick D’Virgilio (drums), the vocal talents of Amanda Lehmann, Durga and Lorelei McBroom, Christine Townsend (violin, viola), Malik Mansurov (tar) and Sodirkhon Ubaidulloev (dutar).

This new album is full-on electric…

“Lockdown cobwebs are blown away in one fell-swoop here!” says Steve Hackett. “With the monster rhythm section of Jonas, Craig, Nick and Phil along with Rob’s soaring sax and bass clarinet, Nad, Amanda and myself on vocals, Roger’s darkly powerful organ and my guitar, we plunge full-pelt into that wild release of energy.”

Our journey takes us from the classical orchestrations of Russia (Natalia) to the plains of Africa (Wingbeats) to mysterious Eastern shores (Shanghai To Samarkand), all via the ocean’s depths (Relaxation Music for Sharks (featuring feeding frenzy)). The Devil’s Cathedral pools the talents of Hackett’s entire touring band and features King’s atmospheric Gothic organ and a powerhouse rhythm display from Blundell and Reingold.

Hackett’s vocals have never been bettered and his duet with Amanda Lehmann adds emotion to Scorched Earth a lament for the environmental horrors facing our planet. Throughout Hackett’s guitars add a rich tapestry of colour with soaring solos and intricate weaving melodies.

“It’s a ‘no holds barred’ album,” adds Hackett, “riding that wave, unleashing those demons, dreams and nightmares, all crashing together over the shore.

“I enjoyed the power of this album allowing my guitar to scream in joy and rage… and once again flying across those oceans to distant lands. It’s terrific to connect creatively with musicians from far flung places, particularly when we’ve all been unable to meet. We all have a voice in our cacophony of sound and we cry out together in the Surrender of Silence!”

Steve Hackett “Surrender of Silence” track listing:

1. The Obliterati (02:17)
2. Natalia (06:17)
3. Relaxation Music For Sharks (Featuring Feeding Frenzy) (04:36)
4. Wingbeats (05:20)
5. The Devil’s Cathedral (06:31)
6. Held In The Shadows (06:20)
7. Shanghai To Samarkand (08:27)
8. Fox’s Tango (04:21)
9. Day Of The Dead (06:25)
10. Scorched Earth (06:03)
11. Esperanza (01:04)

Steve Hackett shares writing credits with both Jo Hackett and Roger King on several tracks. All tracks were recorded by Roger King and produced by Steve Hackett with Roger King at Siren.

Jeff Rouse’s THE GEMINI AFFAIR Release Cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Digging In The Dirt”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 31, 2021
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Jeff Rouse’s Dark, Post-Punk Project THE GEMINI AFFAIR release their second single July 20th, a cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Digging In The Dirt” from The Gemini Affair’s upcoming EP release To….

“I’ve always liked the way that Peter Gabriel looked into the dark side of himself in the song and the juxtaposition of how the lyrics and song felt against each other. I had it on a playlist and was listening to it on the way to the studio. So when we found ourselves with a little extra time, we gave it a try and it turned out fantastic. It just felt right in the context of the other songs we had recorded for the EP,” said Jeff Rouse.

“Digging in the Dirt” buy/stream link

With strong praise from Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan, Buckcherry’s Josh Todd and radio stations like KJR 950 AM and KISW 99.9 FM, The Gemini Affair have a new six-song EP To… cut, mixed and mastered for fans, and set for release from G4L Records. Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready debuted the EP’s first single, “You’re Perfect,” on his boutique vinyl record label Hockeytalkter, and on the Sirius XM Radio Pearl Jam Channel. All songs and upcoming EP To… are being released digitally by G4L Records.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:

From MIKE MCCREADY, PEARL JAM
“The members of Seattle’s The Gemini Affair are not only incredible musicians, but they are dear friends of mine. I’ve been fortunate to share the stage with Jeff Rouse & Keith Ash countless times, and I’m stoked to release a single with them! The songs “You’re Perfect” and “A Whisper To A Moan” exhibit a modern take on their classic rock influences! Enjoy the songs and look for them live sometime down the road!”
~ MIKE MCCREADY, Pearl Jam

From DUFF MCKAGAN, GUNS N ROSES/ LOADED
“Jeff worked very hard to find his sound on this brilliant record. The confluence of his post-punk heroes ‘The Cure” and ‘ Killing Joke’, mixed with the straight-up rock n roll motherfucker that he is, makes for the really godamn epic ‘Gemini.”
~ DUFF McKAGAN, Guns N Roses/ Loaded

From JOSH TODD, BUCKCHERRY
“I love the melodies and the EP’s interesting take on the concept kept me totally engaged!”
~ JOSH TODD, Buckcherry

The Gemini Affair are a Seattle based band founded by Jeff Rouse. Members include:

Jeff Rouse: Vocals, Guitar (Member of Duff McKagan’s Loaded (Bass, Backup Vocals), Alien Crime Syndicate, Fozzy, Vendetta Red). He has also shared the stage with Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), Corey Taylor (Slipknot/ Stone Sour), Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, QOTSA, Mad Season), Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart) and many more at major festivals and shows worldwide.
Keith Ash: Bass (Star Anna, Guessing Game)
Donn Gunn: Drums (Death Cab for Cutie, Peter Frampton, Soundgarden, King Crimson)
Ryan Waters: Guitar (Sade, Heart, Liv Warfield)
Davey French: Guitar (Everclear)

MÖTLEY CRÜE Continue 40th Anniversary / ‘Dr Feelgood’ Digital Remaster Out September 3rd, Pre-Order Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 31, 2021
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . 1 Comment
(Photo by Paul Brown)

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the final single released from MÖTLEY CRÜE’s legendary album Dr. Feelgood. In celebration – both of that anniversary and the band’s year-long recognition of their 40th anniversary in music – today they announce the digital remaster of this decadent and unapologetically fun album, to be released worldwide on September 3. Available now for pre-order across digital platforms, the refreshed sonic experience features hits such as “Dr. Feelgood,” “‘Kickstart My Heart,” “Without You,” “Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.),” and “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away).” To date, Dr. Feelgood is the band’s best selling album with sales of over 6 million copies worldwide, highly regarded by music critics and fans as some of the band’s best work ever. The band originally released their fifth studio album Dr. Feelgood in September 1989 and hit #1 on the Billboard 200 Chart, along with 7 other Top 10 Charting positions worldwide. This rerelease will join the already released digital remasters of Girls, Girls, Girls and Theatre of Pain.

Relive the history of this groundbreaking album via the title track’s iconic video HERE. This song was the band’s first Top Ten hit, climbing as high as #6  and charting for 16 weeks, the longest of any Mötley Crüe single to date, and the first single to achieve Gold status.

Dr. Feelgood Track listing:

  1. T.n.T. (Terror ‘n Tinseltown)
  2. Dr. Feelgood
  3. Slice of Your Pie
  4. Rattlesnake Shake
  5. Kickstart My Heart
  6. Without You
  7. Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)
  8. Sticky Sweet
  9. She Goes Down
  10. Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
  11. Time for Change

Hits from the album are included on the recently launched Mötley Crüe 101 Spotify Playlist, which gives new and existing fans a comprehensive compilation to the band’s iconic musical legacy, taking them a celebratory sonic journey for this special anniversary. LISTEN NOW.

GYPSY PISTOLEROS To Unleash New Video ‘Gonna die with a Gun in my Hand’ Alongside New Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 31, 2021
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GYPSY PISTOLEROS unleash their highly anticipated and already critically acclaimed new, full album ‘The Mescalito Vampires’ released on Special Limited Edition Double 10″ (Dusk n Dawn) Moon coloured Vinyl’s & gatefold sleeve (Includes 2 extra tracks) via Heavy Rocka Recordings on 14th August!

Gypsy Pistoleros are best described as being the ideal house band for the fictitious Titty Twister bar of Rodriguez’s From Dusk till Dawn.  Between the nods to Morricone’s tense, tumbleweed atmospheres and the Gypsy Kings’ manic Mediterranean energy, a New York Dolls raw glam spark, and a surplus of prime G ‘n’ R attitude, the Pistoleros‘ sonic style is captured to the full with the release of an album they have always threatened!

Released on CD Digipak and special limited edition Double 10″ coloured Vinyl Is this Latin Rocks Appetite for Destruction? The Mescalito Vampires was recorded in Black Tree Recording Studios, Tardebigge, Worcestershire with guitarist Mark Westwood engineering & producing (The Beat, Dogs D’Amour, Chumbawamba, Arena, Hazel O’Connor, Dreadzone). 

The swashbuckling renegade flamenco rock rumba punk ‘n’ roll pioneers release the album they always promised to make, this album sees Gypsy Pistoleros fully embracing their fiery flamenco/rumba passion & crossover punk rock ‘n’ roll leanings!

The Mescalito Vampires Track List:
Lost in a Town called Nowhere
Viva la Revolution, Viva Zapata
Mescalito Vampires (Welcome to the Hotel de la Muerta)
Soho Daze, just another Friday Night
Roses, Gallows and the Wild Preachers Daughter
The Forsaken
The name’s Django
Cisco Kid
Wild is the Wind
Alone again or
Sangre on the Roses
Gonna die with a Gun in my Hand

Pre-order HERE.

“The Pistoleros are a band who live up to their own hype, as they tick all of the boxes they attribute to themselves, and then some, with some of the most infectious, sleaziest, dirtiest, rock ‘n’ roll vibes around, all mixed with enough dust to bury a spaghetti western set several times over.” – UBER ROCK

Shots fired as all hell breaks loose ahead of the Gypsy Pistoleros second single for Heavy Rocka Recordings!! 

Gonna die with a Gun in my Hand – the song inspired by iconic Assasin Rubi Malone from WET – Playstation/XBox Grindhouse shoot em up game, that featured this Pistoleros song has its debut on the upcoming album. This was to be the theme tune for never released PS/XBox Grindhouse/Shoot em up game sequel WET 2. The video & theme song was to be used for Playstation 3 and XBox Game WET2, which was sadly never released.

Taken from The Mescalto Vampires, Gypsy Pistoleros have unleashed a new video for Gonna Die With a Gun in my Hand, which will be launched on HRH TV channel on 14th August, alongside the highly anticipated album release.

Gypsy Pistoleros Live in Session BBC Radio (Recording & filmed) Headlining BBC Music Introducing Stage at Lakefest on Friday 13th August, prior to this double-whammy of releases!

Find out more here

Playing Alongside Echo & The Bunnymen, Razorlight, Tom Jones, Ash, Vengaboys, The Magic Numbers, Seasick Steve, Stereo MCs & T’pau – to name a few!

IMONOLITH Release Bjork Cover Of ‘Army Of Me’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 31, 2021
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L-R: Kai Huppunen (Guitars), Brian Waddell (Guitars), Jon Howard (Vocals), Scott Whalen (Bass), Ryan Van Poederooyen (Drums) – Photo by Erich Saide

All-star modern metallers IMONOLITH return with a bass-heavy, self-released cover of Björk‘s ‘Army Of Me’.

Says drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen: “Imonolith are excited to release our version of the classic Björk hit, ‘Army of Me’. I had an idea of how to cover the song back in 2011 and demoed it with a past project but never released it. I brought up this version to everyone in Imonolith, they dug it, so we re-recorded it with a few new twists. It’s basically a heavier version of the original song with some big modern day production. Jon did an incredible job paying respect to Björk’s vocal melodies. Musically, the chorus and a few other parts of the song get injected with some new energised patterns. We’re stoked on how it turned out and can’t wait for everyone to hear what we did with this classic song.”

Stream/purchase ‘Army Of Me’ here: https://linktr.ee/imonolith

Imonolith features drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen (Devin Townsend Project), guitarist Brian ‘Beav’ Wadell (Devin Townsend Project), Jon Howard (Threat Signal), guitarist Kai Huppunen (Methods of Mayhem, Noise Therapy) and Scott Whalen (Econoline Crush). The collective of heavy-hitting players at the top of their game, released their debut album State of Being, in 2020. The album features special guest appearances from Jens Kidman (Meshuggah) and famed Swedish vocalist Johannes Eckerström and is made up of 10 hook-laden, riff-heavy tracks that centre around the theme of how people deal with various stages of life.

Even with their big album touring plans cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the band showed no sign of slowing, and recorded a series of play-through sessions. Watch them here: https://www.youtube.com/imonolith

With tour plans firming up for later in the year and 2022, you’ll be hearing a lot more from this ferocious new act very soon.