Category Archives: Earworm of the Week

Need a Friday jam? You can borrow mine.

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Short weeks are the WORST. Why do they always seem to drag on forever and leave you feeling like you were put through the wringer?

Well, if you had that kind of week, too, let me give ya something to put a little pep back in that step.

The gents in Fort Frances dropped a new, catchy little ditty out today called “Fantasy of Youth.” I’ve had on repeat for most of the day today, and it was just what I needed.

This is my new Friday jam. 

 

David McMillin

David and me

And man, if you don’t know David, their lead singer, you should. He’s a gem of a human. Actually, the entire band are wonderful, joyful people, but I’ve known David the longest… I was lucky enough to see David on his first tour EVER 15-ish years ago and watching him develop as an artist has been a true joy. He’s a prolific songwriter and thoughtful being, and that always makes for a helluva combination.

He’s also a magical, word-wielding wizard. Check out what he wrote about the song…

 

“I guess this song is somewhat of an ode to my 16-year-old self. That guy was great. He strummed amateur rhythm guitar in a cover band called Trial and Error and cruised a maroon Buick Century with a cassette deck and a Discman adapter. Playing in that band felt like being a member of The Rolling Stones, and driving that car felt like owning a Rolls Royce.

Reclaiming that time is an impossibility. But I still think it’s good to try to peer through that unspoiled lens of non-adulthood — the one that frames the promise of the whole world at your front door and puts a smile on your face because you don’t need to bother looking at the news, waiting for emails or thinking about how to divvy up your next paycheck.

When you listen to this song, I hope it helps you erase whatever you’re thinking about — your bank account balance or your shitty boss or your concerns about whether the world is going to be able to make it through the wild waves of the modern age —and puts you back in the driver’s seat of your life. And I hope it feels as comfortable as the upholstery on the bench seat of that Buick.”

– David McMillin, Fort Frances

Yup. Exactly that.

Cheers to the weekend.

Catch them on tour or follow Fort Frances on the socials: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

 

New Future Thieves acoustic video *insert heart eyes*

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You guys. YOU GUYS. 

I know I develop music crushes just about every day, but I only fall hard for a handful…one or two artists every few years that stick with me and becomes part of my musical autobiography.

Future Thieves is one of those special bands. One that won my heart the instant I first heard them. I love them. I mean LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them.

These Nashville rockers are getting ready to release a new album this year – they used  PledgeMusic to fund it last year and raised 164% of their goal, so that should tell you the passion their fans have for them. Ahead of the album release, they just dropped this acoustic take of their new song, “Dark Spin” via Project 615.

HOLY MOLY. All the heart eyes, you guys. It’s SO good.

Go watch it. Give it some like action. Share it on the socials. If you love it like I do, you can still use the PledgeMusic page to pre-order a digital or signed copy of the new album.

A Song for Your Wild Heart

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In April, I went to see Jamestown Revival here in Charlotte. I’ve been a fan for a few years and had already seen them once in Greensboro earlier this year. I wasn’t expecting that I’d leave that night anything less that googly-eyed over their set.

Then the opener happened. I pretty much forgot about Jamestown Revival.

That opener was Ghost of Paul Revere, and these Mainers completely stole the show. Hilarious banter. Energetic performance despite a somewhat empty-ish “before the headliner” room. Fantastic harmonies. And these songs, you guys.

You know how every once in awhile you hear a song for the first time and it just instantly grabs you by your ears? Well, that’s what happened when I heard them play “Wild Child” that night. I was enthralled.

So imagine my disappointment when I found out it was new and it wasn’t to be had ANYWHERE.

Well, finally, six months after that show, the song has been soft released – Spotify stream only for right now, but the new record is only 10 days away. You guys MUST hear this song. I swear I’ve already played it like 100 times.

You can blame me for the earworm later.

Check the band out on tour now and see this song, plus this bad ass cover of “Baba O’ Riley.”

 

MORE GHOST OF PAUL REVERE: Pre-Order Monarch on iTunes | Buy music on Amazon | Watch the AudioTree Session | Listen on Spotify

Earworm of the Week: Deaf Havana – “Everybody’s Dancing and I Want to Die”

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I do love the poppy sing-along, kids.

And this week’s Earworm is just that. Unfortunately, I’m late, late, late on this bus.

Say hello to Deaf Havana, a sextet from the East coast of England that have apparently been making music together since 2005 – where have I been?  With lots of guitars and loads of windows-down, open lungs, get stuck-in-your-head lyrics, it’s pretty easy to see why they have almost 135,000 likes on Facebook.  (Don’t let the super polished sound fool you, these kids look the rock n’ roll part with leather jackets and loads of tats…love it!)

Their latest album (there are several, so I have some catching up to do), Old Souls, was released in the U.S. this week on Razor & Tie.  Their PR Juggernauts are pushing the singles “Mildred, Lost a Friend” and “Boston Square” (which is free on Amazon right now and was released as the iTunes Single of the Week in Canada this week), but I am crushing on “Everybody’s Dancing and I Want to Die.”  So, without further adieu… your new Earworm.


P.S.  They’re currently on a limited North American tour.  Of course, they aren’t coming to Charlotte…or anywhere near it, for that matter.  But, if you live in a major U.S. city, you might be able to catch them!

More Deaf Havana: Web | Facebook | Twitter | Old Souls on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify

Earworm of the Week: “Thunder Clatter,” Wild Cub

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Okay, we won’t talk about the fact that I’ve been MIA for a couple of weeks.  Work is tough, I’ve been busy and dealing with family stuff…and honestly, the last thing I’ve felt like doing at night is cracking open the laptop to write. (Trust me, my presence on Twitter has been about 10% of my normal activity…it’s not just the old blog getting ignored.)

But, I can’t leave your ears naked for another week…

It’s no secret that I love a song with some good handclapping.  A couple of weeks ago, I was poking around Spotify and stumbled onto Nashville’s Wild Cub and their totally addictive song “Thunder Clatter.” It’s a year old, which KILLS me that I’m just finding out about these guys now, but…I’m making up for lost time because I have playing this song INCESSANTLY. It’s an instant mood boost!

 

Wild Cub’s album, Youth, was recently taken down from online stores ahead of a re-release in January on Mom + Pop records.  However, you can still grab “Thunder Clatter” as a single on iTunes or Amazon.  And…if you’re one for remixes, you can pick up the Twin Shadow remix of the song for free by visiting the band’s website.

More Wild Cub:  Web | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud