New music from Quiet Hounds is definitely on my Christmas wish list. So I was pretty happy when the fine folks at IndieATL rolled out a video from the Swans and Embers event this afternoon. The Hounds played several new songs at the show in October, and “Good Bones” was at the top of my list. Although nothing could capture the magic of this night, the video is amazing and gives you a good sense of the atmosphere.
This band just inspires me. Merry Christmas to me! Thanks, IndieATL!
The very first time I heard Saints of Valory, I knew it was love. Every single time I hear them, it happens all over again. This merry band of international rock stars has a pretty big chunk of my heart – a bigger piece than French fries and possibly Sharpies (this is a BIG statement, people…have you seen my Sharpie collection?).
A little over a year into my Saints of Valory crush, in 2012, they put out this song called, “Kids,” and I knew, in my gut, that I was hearing a mega-hit. Fast forward 18 months, the guys are now on Atlantic Records, and “Kids” is rolling out as their new single. They just debuted the video. It’s gorgeous. (Disclaimer: I am completely biased, but I pretty much guarantee you this song will be STUCK in your head.)
More Saints of Valory: Web | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Buy the Possibilities EP on iTunes or Amazon
The first time I ever heard Flagship, I knew in my gut they were going places. Drake Margolnick’s voice is intoxicating and what stole my heart initially, but I have fallen in love with the way this band vacillates between starkness and richly layered epics that will keep your head swirling.
Three years, some solo stuff from Drake, a few lineup changes, and a bunch of new songs later, my gut is about to be proven right. My favorite Charlotte-based band drops their debut, self-titled album on October 8 on Bright Antenna. The fellas have been previewing a bunch of songs on their YouTube channel, and all I have to day is day-um. Mark my words, folks: this band is going to blow up in a big way.
Today, American Songwriter premiered their lyric video for “Break the Sky,” the first single that you can get if you pre-order the album on iTunes. It’s an older song that the band’s been doing for awhile, but they stepped it up for the record. And the video is pretty darn cool. Check it out. Then go study up on Flagship before the whole world is talking about them.
More Flagship: Web | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Blackbush EP on iTunes |Download Are You Calling for free
When it comes to music from my favorite artists, I have a real hard time keeping a secret. Luckily, I got permission to spill the beans on this one.
Tara Keith and Christopher Jak are Southbound Honey
Christopher Jak, aka the man who has penned my favorite line of any song ever in the history of the world, has been making new music. And it’s lovely. And he’s not alone.
Meet Southbound Honey, a sweet collaboration between C Jak and rising country star Tara Keith. Originally hailing from Canada, this gal has got a serious set of pipes, and earned a spot on Canadian Idol at age 16. In 2012, she was selected to play at the Grammys Social Media Rock Star Summit.
I haven’t gotten the full story about how C Jak and Tara teamed up, but what I can tell you is that they are making some pretty sweet music together. Or maybe the opposite of sweet… I got to preview five of the new tracks today, and you’ll have to just trust me for now that they are crushing, dripping with longing, lonely, jealousy and regret. With the exception of one, each of the songs centers on some sort of troubled relationship – a strained marriage falling apart around a kitchen counter, a gal discovering her man a’ cheating, a one-night stand that changed both parties – all the elements needed for modern country hits. And hell, as if I need to say it, Jak and Tara sound really great together.
After 10 years of harmlessly stalking Jak and his music, I have an enormous respect for his deft lyrical skills, and long-time fans will definitely find “Jak” in these songs – some more than others. Two in particular are stunning and ring with his signature poetic frankness.
So the sad part for ya’ll reading this is that there’s pretty much no details to give, no music to share, no websites to link to, no promo photos to post (well, maybe there’s something if you look here – gotta love Instagram). They made their debut back in June at the Fort Collins Music Experiment and just recently played the city’s New West Fest, garnering some attention from industry types, but the project is still relatively new. Jak’s pretty mum on stuff, but I know when he pops his head up to tell me about things that they’re getting serious.
So hang tight a little longer, and get ready to get a little stuck on Southbound Honey. I promise, you’ll be the first to hear more as soon as I do.
More Southbound Honey: Twitter
Decided to start a new segment here on jrzygyrl.com, in hopes of re-inspiring myself to write more often. Meet the Earworm of the Week – a piece where I’ll give you a new song that will get so stuck in your head that you’ll end up playing it compulsively.
So…the debut Earworm, “Cardiac Arrest” by The Bad Suns out of Los Angeles. Recently signed to Vagrant Records, this guitar-driven four piece just wrapped up recording their debut EP, expected out sometime this year. It’s hard to find much about them online, as is typical with the scrubbing o’ the web that goes on once a band gets signed, but here’s what I know:
The Bad Suns (Chris Bowman – lead vocals/guitar, Ray Libby – guitar, Gavin Bennett – bass, Miles Morris – Drums) formed sometime in 2012 in Woodland Hills, CA. The fellas are super young – Bowman is only 18! – which makes the next bit totally ballsy. They sent a demo of their song “Transpose” into make-or-break-you LA radio station KROQ, where it got picked up on the Locals Only show and generated some big buzz. Just last month, they shared the bill with the new Brit hotshots, The 1975, giving them some even bigger exposure as that band has taken off here in the States.
Their first single, “Cardiac Arrest” is insanely catchy and has some big chops – the lyrics are a little green, but at 18 years old, what do you expect? With the right team around them, I have a feeling this band is going to make a huge splash. Without further adieu… your new Earworm.
Pickup “Cardiac Arrest” on Bandcamp for $1.
(Credit where credit is due: Thanks to Sara, The Gallery’s manager, for turning me onto this band!)
More The Band Suns: Tumblr | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp | Soundcloud | Red Bull Music Interview
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