The Web ROCKWiRED

Maybe it's just my age but the musical sophistication  of kindergarteners is alarming. My parents never would've heard me singing anything like the nasty nothings you hear embedded in the lyrics of KE$HA or GAGA but then again, the only really risque thing on the airwaves when I was five was AFTERNOON DELIGHT.  I grew up with SESAME STREET and through that, I learned the alphabet,  how to count and share. Despite not having children of my own, I wonder if kids these have that same kind of positive reinforcement through song.  In walks DON MACMANNIS Ph.D. - better known as DR. MAC - who for the past few years has released a series of children's music recordings entitled READY TO ROCK KIDS.  This award winning series of recordings (TEACHER'S CHOICE AWARD, iPARENTING MEDIA AWARD and THE NATIONAL PARENTING CENTER'S SEAL OF APPROVAL) is now on it's third volume and DR. MAC still manages to find  tuneful ways to positively impact the lives and choices of that four to nine-year-old demographic.  

JUNE 25, 2010
The show is going to kick off with a thirty minute block of music . At the moment, ROCKWIRED is working on a show that primarily features music and oh-so-brief interview snippets. the mix of music that comes ROCKWIRED's way is both edgy and eclectic and we can't think of a reason to not showcase it. The second segment will profile Austin-based singer-songwriter  ASTRUM LUX LUCIS of ONE WORLD (R)EVOLUTION who has released a catalog of her musical history entitled TRANSITIONS. In speaking with ASTRUM she talked about her own transformation from a hair metal babe to the baddest VEGAN RAWKER you've ever heard. The summertime is still early and we'e found the perfect CD for those long drives to the beach. The CD is SUMMER HOUSE and the band is GOLD MOTEL featuring lead vocalist  GRETA SALPETER.

JUNE 21, 2010
SAViNG THE DRAMA FOR MAMA
SARAH GLYNN OF TRiBELLA TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT THE BAND'S DEBUT LP THiRTEEN
COMiNG TOGETHER AS A BAND AND THE THEiR LACK OF DRAMA   
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
If you listen to TRIBELLA’s debut LP THIRTEEN and try to peg their sound, you will do so in vain. The Austin -based trio’s 10-song release runs the gamut of eighties new wave, progressive rock and indie sounds that are reminiscent of the likes of LIZ PHAIR or the BREEDERS. The band’s story is a simple one. The members SARAH GLYNN (vocals and guitars) RAE GOLDRING (bass) and DENA GERBRECHT (drums) were young women with superb musical pedigrees who happened to bump into each other in the live music capital of the world. After a couple of rehearsals, these lovely ladies realized that they had something – a chemistry that could not be denied. That very chemistry has brought TRIBELLA a very long way in a very short amount of time having firmly established themselves as notable fixtures in the Austin music scene and having toured the better part of the United States.   (READ MORE)

JUNE 18, 2010
Today's show may seem a little light but the fact of the matter is the exclusive interview with the Albuquerque-based synthpop band LEIAHDORUS is sandwiched between two segments that are filled with great music.  It 's been a treat to become acquainted with a band that is quite literally in my own backyard (Albuquerque that is!) and their latest release ODE TO THE BUILDERS is a most engaging listening experience filled with electronic loops, delectable synth riffs, warm acoustic flourishes and a great deal of  urgent poetry.  The band was just recently awarded a NEW MEXICO MUSIC AWARD for BEST ALTERNATIVE SONG for the track 'THEY HAVE EYES'

JUNE 11, 2010
Two weeks was a little too much time to take a break in between podcasts. Needless to say I'm happy to be back with a great new edition of ROCKWiRED RADiO that features music and interviews from artists that I'm proud to call my friends. KATiE KERKHOVER released her recklessly catchy debut CD BLiSTER months ago and when I interviewed her and guitarist TiM CRAVEN at the time of the albums release, I got a sense that BLiSTER was merely the tip of the iceberg for this dynamic duo. LUKAS ROSSi entered my life two years ago when I was a struggling music journalist living in Los Angeles. At the time,  it had been two years since LUKAS was a contestant on the music contest reality show ROCKSTAR:SUPERNOVA and had won the chance to front a supergroup that featured TOMMY LEE, JAMES NEWSTED and GiLBY CLARKE.  Since the break up of the band that road has been rocky but ROSSi has stayed the course and is on the verge of releasing his solo debut 'HOLLYWOOD'. Kansas City-based JiLLiAN RiSCOE came across ROCKWiRED's radar at the end of last year with the release of her CD 'ELEVEN:ELEVEN' That release  earned her a ROCKWiRED READER'SPOLL AWARD nomination for BEST FEMALE ARTIST at the top of the year.  Currently, she is ending an extensive tour of BORDER's outlets and has picked up a nice little sponsorship deal with DAiSY ROCK GUiTARS.

JUNE 9, 2010
A RAW HONEST PLACE
BOB PRESSNER TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT HiS LATEST RELEASE HONOR AMONG THiEVES
THE MOMENT THAT CHANGED HiS LiFE FOREVER
AND GOiNG DEEPER THAN MERE PEACE AND LOVE  
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
I can’t recall coming across such a non-linear biography as singer-songwriter BOB PRESSNER’s. His first foray into songwriting was encouraged by the legendary beat poet ALLEN GINSBERG while a young PRESSNER was a student at the NAROPA INSTITUTE in Colorado. From there, PRESSNER set his sights on the Big Apple where he made a name for himself as a reliable performer at numerous New York music clubs.  Somewhere down the line the security of a “real job” came calling. In PRESSNER’s case, the “real job” was as a commodities trader. Music was put on the proverbial back burner until one fateful day in 1993 when PRESSNER walked toward his car which was parked in the garage of the World Trade Center when all of a sudden, a bomb went off. It was a very strange experience and I almost wish that all people and all politicians got a chance to feel what that is like. You could literally feel that whoever these people were, they hated us more than they loved their own life or their own children. It was an amazing feeling at the pit of your stomach. That woke me up a little bit to the world. I’m working on a song about that right now. You need to be loving but you need to see things as they are and you need to fight evil in this world also. Freedom and life are not guarantees. For a guy who grew up in the hippie-era believing in just the peace and love thing, that moment changed me forever and I confront a lot of artists about that as well. There is more to it than peace and love unfortunately. You can’t just love everybody and think that everything is going to be beautiful. It doesn’t work that way.   (READ MORE)

JUNE 2, 2010
HANGiN' ON
LEVi PLATERO OF THE PLATEROS TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT THE BAND'S LATEST RELEASE HANG ON
BREAKiNG OUT OF NEW MEXiCO
AND GROWiNG UP AS A MUSiCiAN 
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
The Tohajiilee Navajo Reservation ain’t exactly ground zero when it comes to the latest thing in music but for eighteen year old singer and guitar slinger LEVI PLATERO, it is home ad the source of inspiration behind the music that he performed with his band THE PLATEROS. Tohajiilee may be a curious launching ground for a rock band but when one takes a gander at how far THE PLATEROS have come in a reasonable amount of time, one is left wondering what is in the water. I’ve interviewed some personalities in my time n I’ve also interviewed some low-key individuals. LEVI PLATERO has got to be one of the most unassuming front men that I’ve ever come across. Even though our interview was conducted over the phone, I could sense that my interviewee was nervously looking to the ground as he quietly recounted the genesis of his band and the projected course of his musical evolution. Hell, I was the one that had to point out the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that his band received when they took part in the NATIVE MUSIC ROCK tour across the country. The band earned invaluable touring experience while sharing the stage with the likes of DEREK MILLER, KEITH SECOLA, MICKI FREE and MARTHA REDBONE on a nightly basis. If that wasn’t enough, LEVI and his band have stormed the Millenium Stage at the KENNEDY CENTER – not the sort of gig you see listed on any New Mexico band’s MYSPACE page. Young LEVI’s modesty is indeed puzzling but maybe that just stems from putting the music first.   (READ MORE)

MAY 28, 2010
This week, ROCKWIRED RADIO shines it’s ever loving light on singer songwriter and electrifying guitarist CRAIG MAHER who has just released his debut CD PROPEL. The incomparable ANNA MADORSKY returns to ROCKWIRED with the release (re-release actually) of her CD TALK IS CHEAP – a stunning catalog of songs that artfully analyze the miscommunications that happen in life. ROCKWIRED RADIO is also welcoming the San Diego based metal band CANOBLISS to the show as well as the Land of Entrapment. The band is currently touring the Southwest in promotion of their latest CD MAN IS THE ENEMY and the second stop is going to be right here in Albuquerque.

MAY 20, 2010
A SOUND AS BiG AS SKY COUNTRY
RYAN LAFFERTY OF MONTANA 1948
TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT THE BAND'S FORTHCOMiNG RELEASE PiCKET FENCE
GETTiNG TOO BiG FOR SAN FRANCiSCO
AND FiNDiNG THEiR SOUND  
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
When I spoke with RYAN LAFFERTY of MONTANASan Francisco and was confidant with the release of the band’s forthcoming CD ‘PICKET FENCE’. In 2009, MONTANA 1948 released their debut EP ‘TINY DRAWINGS’ to regional acclaim and thanks to its frantic single ‘LIE THROUGH YOUR TEETH’, the band enjoyed airplay in both Boston and Los Angeles. Now, in anticipation of their debut LP the band has released a three-song teaser and if these three songs are any indication, ‘PICKET FENCE’ will – without a doubt – be one of the more engaging recordings of the remainder of the year and beyond. Pop music is full of three-minute examinations of relationships under the microscope but the one that element that sets MONTANA 1948 from the usual pop psychological heartache fair is their sharp and literate approach to song craft.  (READ MORE)

MAY 21, 2010
It's all guys today at ROCKWIRED RADIO. It's almost the flipside of  our premiere show which was all women but they were women who rocked!  The bands on this show rock as well  and hail from completely different locales. The band SPROCKETS hails from Las Vegas (though formed in Idaho) and have been promoting their latest CD MEDICATED EMPTY for well over a year. When I interviewed them for ROCKWIRED.COM a year ago, I knew it would n't be the last I'd see of thee guys. It's great to have them back for our first group of podcasts. The Edmonton, Alberta-based SOCIAL CODE was a band that ended up on my lap at the begining of the year but do to scheduling conflicts, that interview never materialized. Now, I've cornered lead singer TRAVIS NESBITT and the results are enertaining as is the music on their latest CD ROCK N ROLL. New to me is the San Diego-based WHITE APPLE TREE whose edgy electronic sound from their debut CD VELVET MUSTACHE won me over instantly.

MAY 20, 2010
FiNAL SONG
ERiC CHRiSTENSEN TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT MEMORiALiZiNG THE LiFE AND MUSiC OF HiS SON
WiTH THE CD DAViD CHRiSTENSEN TRiBUTE, VOLUME ONE
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
IFor years, many of the interviews that I’ve conducted profiled bands and artists at the start of their careers. As an observer, I always get the sense that the sky is the limit for these artists even though they may not have much appreciation for the delicate position that they are in. For many, the musical journey is only beginning but in the case of DAVID CHRISTENSEN, the journey ended in February of 2009 when the twenty-six year-old singer-songwriter committed suicide. Music was the only stabilizing for in DAVID CHRISTENSEN’s all-too-short life. He made his presence known as a singer, bassist and guitarist for such outfits as GREEN JENKINS, STAND UP STRAIGHT, PROJECT 88 and TINY SNEAKERS while experimenting with his own songwriting on a four-track machine. CHRISTENSEN sadly never recorded a solo album but his life and music are memorialized on the CD ‘DAVID CHRISTENSEN TRIBUTE, VOLUME ONE’ where the late songwriter’s music is given a voice by contributing artists such as DEVIN BELLE, TAYLOR HENRY, BEN OLSON and RACHEL WILLIAMS. The album’s production was based off of demos found by DAVID’s grieving father ERIC CHRISTENSEN who proceeded with overseeing the production of the tribute CD and allotting a portion of the proceeds to the AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION.     (READ MORE)

MAY 14, 2010
It's taken us three shows but it feels like ROCKWIRED RADIO has finally found it's groove. Our latest show kicks things off with the transistorized soul sound of the duo RHETT FRAZIER INC. who have dropped their debut CD ESCAPE FROM DEE-TROYT on an unsuspecting public. This week we continue our exploration of the music of New Mexico by shining a light on the edgy sound of the Santa Fe-based roots rock band THE STRANGE and their debut CD BANNED. Rounding out our show with his STEELY DAN-meets- JOHN MAYER approach to songcraft is singer songwriter JOHN ENGHAUSER for is Los Angeles Music Award-winning CD LOST IN THE PAGES.

MAY 13, 2010
FOUR MAN REVOLUTiON
CHRiS PRENTER OF DARKLiGHT CORPORATiON
TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT THE BAND'S SELF-TiTLED DEBUT
GETTiNG THE MUSiC OUT THERE
AND TAKiNG THEiR SOUND TO THE STATES
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
It’s weird to think that this moment in time is the calm before for the storm for the New Zealand-based band DARKLIGHT CORPORATION given the hard and heavy sound of their self-titled debut CD. In my years as a music journalist, I’ve forged a tight relationship with Australia but New Zealand is a whole new frontier for me and DARKLIGHT CORPORATION is a most interesting welcoming party. Comprised of FABIO SANTOS on vocals, CHRIS PRENTER on guitars, ELLIOT CHAO on bass and DEAN BECK on drums, the band boasts a seamless mixture of heavy guitars and electronica textures. It is a sound that has taken the band a long way in a short amount of time. With a little help on the promo side from ISAAC PROMOTIONS and UNIVERSAL MUSIC NEW ZEALAND, the band’s raucous debut is capturing the attention of all of the right media outlets and radio stations. It’s only a matter of time before their metal blitzkrieg takes American rock radio by storm.     (READ MORE)

MAY 12, 2010
THiS iS THE LiFE
SWADE G TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT HiS DEBUT JOiNT GHETTO LiFE
WORKiNG WiTH RAPPER KOOL AiD
AND HARD EARNED PERSEVERENCE 
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
The working class port town of Long Beach, California is often overshadowed by the grime of Los Angeles and glare of Tinseltown, but in the early nineties, Long Beach – along with the neighboring Compton – was ground zero for the G-funk sound that came to typify West Coast hip-hop and boasted such progenitors as SNOOP DOGG and WARREN G.  Back when this hypnotic sound was intoxicating listeners and angering a few concerned citizens, a young man by the name of WADE KIBBY was getting an invaluable musical education by working in the studio with the likes of SNOOP DOGG producer E WHITE and WARREN G producer CHUCK TAYLOR. Music was always in the cards for KIBBY having grown up in a musical family (his older brother is DIRTY WALT KIBBY of the legendary ska/funk band FISHBONE). After years of working behind the console and numerous false starts at getting in front of the mic, KIBBY adopted the moniker SWADE G, paired up with Compton-based rapper KOOL AID and released the debut joint ‘GHETTO LIFE’ – catalog of killer beats and catchy melodies that set the back drop for SWADE’s hip-hop treatises on staying focused (‘MONEY THEN A NUT’), getting ahead (‘HOW TIME FLIES’) and staying strong despite rough economic times (the title track ‘GHETTO LIFE’). (READ MORE)

MAY 11, 2010
What can we say? We survived our first ever podcast and ROCKWIRED is ready to move forward. Today's show will kick off with the edgy sounds of San Francisco based rocker BRAY and his ROCKWIRED READER'S POLL AWARD nominated album @MPHIBIAN.  CRISTEN GREY AND THE MOVING DUNES was the first New Mexico-based band that ROCKWIRED had ever interviewed since moving it's base of operations to the Land of Entrapment. Recently, the band and their album '10,000 THINGS' have been nominated for two (2) NEW MEXICO MUSIC AWARDS (for BEST ALBUM and BEST SONG 'ROCK BOTTOM'). With our new radio show,we intend to shine a light on the music scene here in New Mexico and we couldn't have found a better band to start with.  ROCKWIRED READER'S POLL AWARD winner GLENN PATRIK is riding high on the critical acclaim of his latest CD NUTHIN' BUT A THANG. Todays show gave us a chance to catch up with this electrifying guitar-slinger.  Oh yeah and today, Mr. PATRIK turns 54!

MAY 11, 2010
FOREiGN TONGUE
MANUEL BRUCE TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT HiS LATEST CD MANUEL iS BACK WiTH FRiENDS...
HiS LOVE OF LATiN AMERiCAN MUSiC
AND RECORDiNG WiTH OLD FRiENDS
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
It’s all too easy to grow cynical when thinking about the music industry. You always hear about it being in jeopardy or that it neglects the needs of its artists and about the difficulty in making a decent living at it. Let’s face it, if it wasn’t about pushing units, it wouldn’t be a business. The standard for success involves staying within the lines of a specific genre and appealing to a demographic. With that being said, ‘MANUEL IS BACK WITH FRIENDS’  - the fifth album by singer-songwriter MANUEL BRUCE - does neither of those things but what it does do is celebrate the one thing that gets overlooked in the business of music – the music. ‘MANUEL…’ is a rollercoaster ride through the music of North and South America with a heavy emphasis on the latter. BRUCE’s (pronounced BROO-SAY) latinophilia has been the focus of much of his work up to this point with a heavy concentration on Andean traditional music but his latest offering expands his exotic musical palette into the realm of blues, roots and fifties pop with some rather stimulating company such as longtime guitarist ALEJANDRO DIAZ, saxophonist JIM ABBEY, guitarist LINDY RAINES, ROBERT CROUCH and blues pianist PROFESSOR PAUL. (READ MORE)

MAY 10, 2010
i SiNG THE BODY ECLECTiC
LiSA BELL TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT HER LATEST EP DANCiNG ON THE MOON
THE SCiENCE BEHiND THE A424 TUNiNG
AND THE HEALiNG POWER OF MUSiC
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
Albums that boast an eclectic mix of music are nothing new to me but in the case of LISA BELL’s latest release ‘DANCING ON THE MOON’, I must say that the Colorado-based singer-songwriter gives eclecticism a whole new meaning. Her glorious sound is hard to put a finger on. Is it jazz? Adult-Contemporary? Roots music with jazz chords? After one meditative listen, a word like “genre” goes out the window and you find yourself getting lost in the lush, plush soundscape brought to you by an A424 tuning that the music of ‘DANCING ON THE MOON’ is set to. The title track is built around a playful jazzy bounce as refreshing as a glass of chardonnay at a pool party on a breezy summer night. BELL’s rich voice melts like butter over the arrangement. The meditative yet assertive ‘NO TIME’ is a most curious kiss off; a country ballad with jazz chords. Or is it a jazz ballad with a twang? MOVE ON is a tale of finding the strength to move forward yet not quite being able to forget the past. The upbeat number is accentuated by a plucky acoustic guitar and maracas.    (READ MORE)

MAY 10, 2010
WEiRDLY ROMANTiC
CHRiS OF iTALiAN JAPANESE TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT THEiR DEBUT CD THE LUSH ROMANTiC WEiRDNESS
THE TWO YEARS iT TOOK TO RECORD iT
AND LOOKiNG AHEAD TO THE FUTURE
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
The Laguna Beach-based band ITALIAN JAPANESE have a primal, ambient sound that will hopefully mark the next phase of music that we can expect to hear from the Pacific Coast. Their debut CD ‘THE LUSH ROMANTIC WEIRDNESS’ was over two years in the making and the end result is intoxicating. An unassuming echo-y guitar opens up ‘LE PONY’ before a driving electro rock rhythm is established recalling ‘1979’ by the SMASHING PUMPKINS . Lead singer ALLEN’s whispery vocals float ethereally above the progress being made by the band. It’s the perfect ode to summer romance and I’m only guessing that the track would’ve made great backing for the long canceled FOX series THE O.C. ‘MINUS’ is a brighter number with the same driving rhythm as ‘LE PONY’ but is undoubtedly more assertive. Two-thirds of the way through, the percussion grows incessant and the vocals, more hurried as if counting down the remaining seconds of a relationship before it collapses. ‘JEREMIAH’ opens deceptively with distorted noise only for it to fade to the background behind a plaintively strummed acoustic guitar and ALLEN’s distant coo. Gradually, a fuzzy electric guitar comes in and a sense of abandon and recklessness are created when a slow and steady tribal beat sends the elegant track into high orbit.    (READ MORE)

MAY 10, 2010
PAST THE BORDER
CHRiS KOLODZiEJ OF THE REMAINDERMEN TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT THEiR LATEST EP BORDER STATES
THE MATURATiON OF THEiR SOUND
AND ALL OF THE SURPRiSES ALONG THE WAY
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
I have learned not to underestimate the power of the EP. Clearly the Chicago-based THE REMAINDERMEN understand the power of one all too well with the release of their curiously delectable BORDER STATES. Despite the brevity (seven songs) the ideas and the execution of sound is both expansive and edgy. It’s almost hard to believe that the band – formerly known as TRIO IN STEREO – got their start as a basement party band at Indiana State University six years earlier. Now with a name change and an embrace of a pop sensibility (though they haven’t entirely shed their instrumental roots) THE REMAINDERMEN have proven themselves to be the indie band to pay attention to for the remainder of the year and beyond. BORDER STATES is a sonic journey that opens with the processional march of ‘O’IMMACULATE!’ A heavy drum sound with an eerie bass line opens the track. Eventually an electronic keyboard whistle chimes in followed by a spider-y guitar riff. The echo-y vocals of PJ MCMAHON comes to the fore establishing the moody opener as a pop moment rather than an incessant jam. Two-thirds of the way through – when you get a sense that no more progress is to be made – the tempo picks up and the song begins to rock out. Another moment for this CD is ‘TIDES IN’ – an ENO-esque piece punctuated by call and response vocals. Once again this is a song that builds itself up to an ecclesiastic crescendo and the listener is in flight before they know it.    (READ MORE)

MAY 8, 2010
BAND OF BROTHERS
ANTONiO CASASANTA OF DUC'N iT EASY TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT THEiR DEBUT EP OCTOBER
BEiNG FRiENDS FOR BEiNG MUSiCiANS
AND SHOWiNG OFF A MELLOWER SOUND
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
We are almost at the halfway point of the first year of the new decade and musically, it seems as if subtlety is lacking. The airwaves these days are inundated by the manic electro-pyrotechnics of LADY GAGA or KE$HA or by the middle of road consensus hard rock sounds of NICKELBACK and the like. It’s hard to figure out where the easy-going and decidedly unpretentious sound of DUC’N IT EASY falls within the current pop firmament but one thing is for sure – their debut CD ‘OCTOBER’ is just the ticket for music lovers who don’t want to bang their head s or tear up the dance floor. While they are billed as a jam band, DUC’N IT EASY boasts a sense of songcraft that would make a random listener pause and take notice. FALLING FROM GRACE is a gentle toe-tapping acoustic romp with a JIM CROCE-styled swing. The wistful ballad OCTOBER couldn’t depict the story of lovers in love more beautifully, especially when the song kicks into fifth gear two thirds of the way through with power chords and heavier percussion. WHISKEY AND PEANUTS is the most playful track on the EP. Its plaintiveness recalls the fratboy-meets-guitar strum-a-long approach that endeared HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH to millions.   (READ MORE)

APRiL 30, 2010
It's been well over a year since ROCKWIRED ended its association with the AMERICAN RADIO NETWORK and production of the weekly online radio show ROCKWIRED LIVE had ceased after four years. In the year following , ROCKWIRED.COM had carriedon as an online music magazine but despite some fascinating interviews and the new friendships that have been forged, I missed doing a radio show. What has amazed me the most about getting this new show - ROCKWIRED RADIO -  off the ground is how quickly it all came together. It wasn't hard to get a hold of people that wanted to be part of this experience. This debut show kicks off with the Los Angeles-based pop rock band NEVERWONDER who have just released their latest opus LET IT OUT and features an exclusive interview with the band's frontwoman MEGAN BOBO (an ex-AMERICAN IDOL contestant). Another soul rocker by the name of is also profiled regarding the release of her TOMEKA WILLIAMSSIR MIX-A-LOT produced album THE BLACK HOOD and alt-pop singer songwriter BETH THORNLEY for her latest release WASH U CLEAN. Wecouldn't have found a better group of artists to kick off our debut show.
APRiL 28, 2010
AWAKE NOW
DUSTiN SMiTH OF SONiC REBELLiON TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT THEiR DEBUT CD HEADS WE WiN...TAiLS YOU LOSE
SHAKiNG UP A SEDATE ROCK SCENE
AND ROCKiNG WiTH A VENGEANCE
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
The emo phenomenon’s passionless stance seemed to result from a weariness from the chaos and instability that came to represent the last decade. Marked by a cold, electronic sound and jet black hair covering up generously applied eyeliner, emo ushered in new romantic era in music for kids too young to know who SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHESS were while others simply could’ve done without all of the whining. Towards the end of the decade, I noticed a group of bands who seemed to be reacting to the more passive emo sound by giving rock music a pair of balls again – and they were all from New York. One was the band ZO2 who ended up with their own mockumentary series on the IFC CHANNEL and the band FIXER who brought a DAVID LEE ROTH swagger to the forefront on their debut release. Now, another band from the Big Apple called SONIC REBELLION has released their debut CD ‘HEADS WE WIN…TAILS YOU LOSE’ and like the other two acts I just mentioned are more interested in cranking it up and letting audiences go nuts. Just when I thought that the only dependable good time rock n roll came from Australia, SONIC REBELLION has proved me wrong. With vocalist ANDY SMITH’s whiskey-charred growl, LEFTY’s meaty guitar riffs, and the thunderous rhythm section comprised of bassist DUSTIN SMITH and drummer SEAN POKRESS, ‘HEADS…’ is one of those moments where you cross your fingers and hope that a change is coming to rock music. The album kicks off with a bang and strut number called ‘AWAKE NOW’ which is punctuated by AC/DC-styled riffs and ANDY SMITH’s bluesy sounding war whoop which doesn’t sound too dissimilar from BRIAN JOHNSON’s. Halfway through the track, things break down into a head banging celebration. The title alone seems to be signaling the end of the passivity that has invaded much of what folks have been dubbing “alternative” music. ‘SONG ABOUT REVENGE’ is a high octane rocker that would’ve served SAMMY HAGAR just as proudly though the line ‘I’m the baddest motherfucker you know!’ looks and sounds better on ANDY SMITH. ‘MAD AS HELL’ is just the sort of ballsy, blues-based call to arms that the US of A could use in these desperate, economically deprived times.   (READ MORE)

APRiL 21, 2010
iT'S FULL OF STARS
MiCHAEL MOPPERT OF SONARPiLOT TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT THE DOUBLE CD MOTHERSHiP
RETURNiNG TO MUSiC AFTER TWENTY YEARS
AND THE ADVANTAGES AND DiSADVANTAGES
OF MUSiC MAKiNG iN THE DiGiTAL AGE
iNTERViEWED BY BRiAN LUSH
A double CD release may seem a bit much for a debut from a new artist but for SONARPILOT, ‘MOTHERSHIP’ is more than a debut. It is a return to music making after spending the better part of twenty years in the corporate world as the CEO of a software company in Switzerland. The sense of otherworldliness that SONARPILOT’s ambient sound portrays almost serves as an aural documentation of one mans exploration in that disconcerting world of electronic music. The appropriately named DESERT SONG perfectly conjures up the desolation one can feel in the desert (believe me I live in one) with it’s distant yet insistent electronic bounce that builds gradually throughout the twelve minute piece into a thin slice of electronica heaven. VOODOO LOGIC is a curious addition to largely celestial themed recording. It is centered around an arrhythmic clap enveloped by an echo-y middle-eastern motif. If celestial bodies are the images that SONARPILOT’s music conjures up the best, then PLANET POP is MOTHERSHIP’s crowning jewel. As with many of the double albums tracks, things get off to an atmospheric and ominous start,  but eventually settles on an irresistible groove a third of the way through . PLANET POP is indeed a planet in motion! With CELTIC LOUNGE, things take a sexier turn as the track sounds like the perfect background music for a make out scene in a big budget sci-fi flick or a nude scene at the very least. It wouldn’t be too hard to imagine SONARPILOT finding an outlet in film scoring seeing as how MOTHERSHIP is probably the most moody, rhythmic and atmospheric collection that I can think of since 1984 (FOR THE LOVE OF BIG BROTHER) by EURYTHMICS.  (READ MORE)