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NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!!! FOR FiVE YEARS ROCKWiRED HAS PROViDED EXCELLENT MUSiCAL REPORTAGE AND WOULD APPRECiATE ANYTHiNG THAT YOU CAN GiVE!!! ADVERTISEMENTS OTHER ARTICLES: ![]() BUFFY SAiNTE MARiE LiTA FORD LiViNG COLOUR ![]() PEARL ADAY ![]() EVERCLEAR ![]() THE CRiNGE ![]() ABSiNTHE JUNK ![]() KATiE KERKHOVER |
JULY 29,
2010
ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES
PRESENTS:
JULY
29,
2010 - It’s safe
to say that I found the perfect summertime album in
‘WASH U CLEAN’- the third album from singer-songwriter BETH
THORNLEY. The
album’s slinky and seductive opening title track gets you going with
that
equally slinky and seductive baritone sax riff. The song slams into
fifth gear
with its raucous percussion and THORNLEY’s fractured and mysterious
lyrics. And
that sexy purr voice of hers only helps matters. I would be lying if I
said
that this title track – brimming with hit potential – set the tone for
the pop
perfection that is to follow but the truth is – who the hell knows what
THORNLEY is going to do next? Things get crazy again – not to mention a
little
puzzling – with the bubbly beach blanket bop of ‘YOU’RE SO PONY’ but
these two
oh-so-fun moments are cushioned by some of the warmest, fuzziest,
quirkiest pop
balladry this side of FIEST as evidenced by the epic scope of ‘STILL
CAN HIDE’
and the wistful drum roll of ‘EVERYONE FALLS’. SiNGER-SONGWRiTER BETH THORNLEY AND HER MESMERiZiNG NEW CD 'WASH U CLEAN' ![]() TO
LiSTEN TO THE SHOW CLiCK HERE
JULY 28, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES
PRESENTS:
JULY
28,
2010 - Love and
life gone wrong has always made for some engaging rock
n roll. Songwriter RYAN MARSHALL LAWHON has amassed such a collection
of darkly poetic musings on his band WHITE APPLE TREE's stunning debut
CD VELVET MUSTACHE. The San Diego-based electropop band boasts a cold,
echo-y electronic sound that runs contrary to their sunny, Southern
California surroundings yet the yearning introspection of LAWHON's
lyrics - cushioned by the lush, plush computerized soundscape and stark
percussion - are all too typical of So Cal rock. Believe me, this is no
condemnation. This is a revelation! Despite the dark mood established
by such tracks as BROKEN BONES, the ecclesiastic SNOWFLAKES and the
wistful YOUTH, the future is bright for this enigmatic trio and their
equally enigmatic frontman.THE DELECTABLE POP ROCK FiNESSE OF NEVERWONDER AND THEiR LATEST 15-SONG OPUS 'LET iT OUT' ![]() TO
LiSTEN TO THE SHOW CLiCK HERE
JULY 26, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES PRESENTS: THE DELECTABLE POP ROCK FiNESSE OF NEVERWONDER AND THEiR LATEST 15-SONG OPUS 'LET iT OUT' JULY 26,
2010 - In late
2005, NEVERWONDER reminded me of why I chose this
business
with the release of their raucous self-titled debut. They were just the
sort of
rock darlings that you knew had something special with their rock n
groove
approach. Then-lead singer JOY PEARSON’s gravelly purr could match PAT
BENATAR
snarl for snarl any day of the week. Working around JOY was the raw
power chord
assault of ax-man FLINT MAVIS and that ever-so-reliable and undeniably
funky-ass rhythm section provided by the brothers RAMOS – VINCENT on
bass and
DRE on drums. Response
to the band in JULY 23, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES PRESENTS: THE ACOUSTiC ALTERNATiVE ROCK OF LiTHiUM SEVEN AND THEiR ELEGANT DEBUT E.P. SOMETHiNG ELSE iS WAiTiNG JULY 23,
2010 - In most rock biographies, the protagonist picks up the guitar at
an early age and dreams of moving beyond the confines of his suburban
surroundings. I the case of the brothers GORMLEY - SOREN and SHAWN, the
story unfolded much later. Neither of the founding members of LITHIUM
SEVEN picked up a guitar until they were in their late twenties. At a
time whne most rock n roll dreams begin to fade, the GORMLEYs were just
getting started on working out musical arrangements to the verse that
SOREN had crafted from the poetry the he used to write in his college
days. In time, SOREN and SHAWN solidified their sound and teamed up
with multi-instrumentalist JIM ARMSTRONG and drummer JON CARROLL. The
results of this mixture of talent can be head on LITHIUM SEVEN's debut
EP - the prophetically titled 'SOMETHING ELSE IS WAITING which
showcases the band's wide opened melodies and elegantly crafted lyrics.JULY 22, 2010 ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES PRESENTS: THE ACOUSTiC ALTERNATiVE ROCK OF LiTHiUM SEVEN AND THEiR ELEGANT DEBUT E.P. SOMETHiNG ELSE iS WAiTiNG JULY 22,
2010 - here are some things that just can't be categorized. After one
listen to the dynamic self-titled debut CD from the Jersey-based band
ELEVATOR ART, so many different rhythms and textures are going to come
to mind but not one rhythm or texture dominates for very
long. Yes, this is a band that can change styles at a moments notice so
you might not want to get too comfortable. It would be wiser to look
alive because the sheer kinetic energy generated by this young quintet
is gonna cause some movement on the part of the listener.
There is no contrivance when it comes to the flexibility in
ELEVATOR ART's sound. It stems from the the fluid musicality of each of
its members allowing each of them to switch musical roles (i.e. guitar
player, bass player , keyboardist) and not let things gets too boring.
Classifying a band this good is a moot point to you're best to turn it
up and let the good times roll.JULY 21, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES PRESENTS: SEATTLE-BASED SiNGER SONGWRiTER BRiAN LEE AND HiS CAPTiVATiNG ALBUM 'MOTH' JULY 21,
2010 - There are
precious few singer-songwriters out there who can make
desparation sound engaging as opposed to sounding, well, desparate.
There are even fewer that can make desparation sound enjoyable. With
that in mind, you're going to have to file the Seattle-based
singer-songwriter BRIAN LEE under the latter category. Back in 2008,
LEE released his acclaimed EP 'QUADRILOGY' - a four song exploration of
love, loss and chaos in the 21st Century. Now, LEE has released his
first LP - the curiously titled 'MOTH' - and this time around, the
singer-songwriter explores a broader range of emotions and experiences.
LEE's confessional-styled lyrics are highlighted by his RON
SEXSMITH-meets-BOB DYLAN delivery which floats ethereally over such
tracks as 'LADY IN BLACK', 'DEVIL HUNTING' and 'BOYS DON'T CRY'. JULY 20, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES PRESENTS: SiNGER-SONGWRiTER JOHN ENGHAUSER AND HiS AWARD-WiNNiNG DEBUT CD 'LOST iN THE PAGES' JULY 20,
2010 - For
multi-instrumental singer-songwriter JOHN ENGHAUSER, the stars were in
perfect alignment when he was in the studio recording what would become
his latest release, LOST IN THE PAGES. Album number four marks a shift
in ENGHAUSER’s adult oriented pop sensibility which can be attributed
to the songwriter’s need to document a turbulent break up through song
and the spot-on production of co-producer JOERG STOEFFEL. As a
songwriter, ENGHAUSER can’t be touched. LOST IN THE PAGES is a varied
set of fourteen songs that are all beef and no carrots. The standout
tracks include the acoustic funk of COGNITION INC., the wistful
strum-a-long SO MANY PEOPLE, TOWER – an epic electronic ballad that
recalls early GENESIS and the southern rock bravado of BURNING LADDER.
Reaction to this fine collection of pop rock gems has been immediate
and intense as ENGHAUSER has recently walked away with a LOS ANGELES
MUSIC AWARD (LAMA) for BEST HOT A/C ALBUM. Picking a winner is a tricky
thing in music but it’s a safe bet that LOST IN THE PAGES will not be
lost in the shuffle.JULY 19, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES PRESENTS: BRUTUS FAUST (A.K.A CONTROVERSiAL PHOTOGRAPHiC ARTiST ANDRES SERRANO) AND THE ALBUM 'VENGEANCE iS MiNE' JULY 19,
2010 - It was only a matter of time before things started to get a
little artsy here at ROCKWIRED. Back in my art school days in Santa Fe,
New Mexico, I remember being introduced to the photographic art of one
ANDRES SERRANO, thanks to my roommate who happened to be a
photography major. The one piece that stood out for me just so hapened
to be SERRANO's most famous and controversial photograph entitled 'PISS
CHRIST' in which a small plastic crucifix is submerged in a glass of
Mr. SERRANO's very own urine. Year after being introduced to his
stuning and provocative portfolio, ANDRES SERRANO has now embraced a
whole new artistic medium - music. Under the moniker of
BRUTUS FAUST, SERRANO goes through the past darkly on his debut CD
'VENGEANCE IS MINE' with quirky - even demonic - renditions of music
from that most exciting and tumultuous period in pop music - the1960's.
With backing form the eclectic NYC based rock collective BLOW UP
HOLLYWOOD and producer STEVE MESSINA, SERRANO's whiskey and cigarette
charred vocals menacingly growl the lyrics of all too familiar
compositions such as CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL's 'BAD MOON RISING',
THE TEMPTATIONS' 'IT WAS JUST MY IMAGINATION' and KETTY LESTER's
plaitive soul ballad classic 'LOVE LETTERS' . Not everything in
'VENGEANCE IS MINE' is a love letter to the pop music atmosphere that
surrounded SERRANO forty years ago. Of the original material n the
album, 'GOO GOO GAGA is a reggaefied howler that darkly illustrates
what hard economic times do tot he soul.JULY 16, 2010 ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES PRESENTS: SOUL ROCK DiVA TOMEKA WiLLiAMS AND HER ELECTRiFYiNG DEBUT CD THE BLACK HOOD JULY 16,
2010 - Washington-based
soul rock songstress TOMEKA WILLIAMS
delivers the sort of debut album that sets her apart from the rest of
those
divas that have followed the BEYONCE business model to a tee.
Her
SIR MIX-A-LOT produced
debut CD ‘THE BLACK
HOOD’ eschews the frills and the
benign pop psychological heartache that has come to typify much of the
current
pop set and embraces a rock sensibility that is all piss, vinegar and
passion. The
stand out track ‘HO’ (I’m hoping this is going to be the first single)
ain’t
sexual politics as usual. Armed with an irresistible groove and a
guitar riff
similar to BLACK SABBATH’s ‘IRON MAN’, WILLIAMS exposes the disparity
in a
relationship that isn’t going anywhere and proudly proclaims ‘I can’t
have game if I don’t play!’ ‘WHAT
SHE GAVE’ tells the story of a young woman’s loss innocence and trying
to carry
on despite having grown disillusioned by love. ‘HEROES’ is more than a
mere
song “for the troops”. On the plaintive ballad, she portrays the troops
as the complex
men and women that they are and not the G.I. JOE action figures that
you may
hear about in KID ROCK and TOBY KEITH songs. In
the gospel charged chorus, she pleads the
current president to bring these heroes home.
JULY 14, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES PRESENTS: THE SOULFUL ELECTRONiC SOUND OF RHETT FRAZiER iNC. AND THEiR DEBUT ALBUM ESCAPE FROM DEE-TROYT JULY 15,
2010 - Please
don’t confuse the story of RHETT FRAZIER INC
with the
story of JAKE and ELWOOD of THE BLUES BROTHERS! In the 1980 film
starring JOHN
BELUSHI and DAN ACKROYD, the brothers BLUES are on “a mission from God”
to save
the orphanage they both grew up in. In the case of RHETT FRAZIER INC,
singer
RHETT FRAZIER and drummer/producer DONNY GRUENDLER are on a mission to
combine
MOTOWN and STAX soul with electronic sound bites and “out there” guitar
effects. The results of the duo’s four year mission to create and
perfect such
a sound has resulted in their debut CD ‘ESCAPE FROM DEE-TROYT’. While
giving
soul music a futuristic finish is as old an idea as EURYTHMICS’ seminal
LP
‘SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS)’ back in 1982, there are two
ingredients that
ESCAPE FROM DEE-TROYT possesses in abundance that the sharply dressed
LENNOX/STEWART partnership lacked – balls and reckless abandon.
JULY 14, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES PRESENTS: NASHViLLE-BASED ROCKER KATiE KERKHOVER AND HER LATEST ALBUM BLiSTER JULY 14,
2010 - Who doesn’t love the story of a small town girl with a
dream
who runs off to the big city in a bold move to make said dream come
true? In
the previous decade, the template for power chord driven pop with a
touch of
girl power was set with the likes of PINK, PARAMORE and AVRIL LAVIGNE.
Now,
Nashville-based siren KATIE KERKHOVER is a willing and able
torch-bearer with
the release of her CD ‘BLISTER’. Born and reared in a small town in JULY 13, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES
PRESENTS:
SAN DiEGO-BASED HEADBANGERS CANOBLiSS AND THEiR LATEST CD MAN iS THE ENEMY JULY 13,
2010 - Rock n roll
is all about survival and that seems especially true
when it comes to the San Diego-based metal band CANOBLISS. Since the
band's inception in the early aughts, they have endured a number of
line up changes according to the band's more recent additions - the
brothers RUSSO, MARK and JON. One would think that a revolving door of
players would be a kiss of death but for CANOBLISS, it clearly
demonstrates that the music is all that matters. Besides,
what's the fun in calling it quits? Now the band has released the album
'MAN IS THE ENEMY' and one listen to the album's intoxicating
recklessness is enough to make one understand why these So-Cal
headbangers stuck it out as long as they have despite the rocky
road. TO
LiSTEN TO THE SHOW CLiCK HERE
JULY 12, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES
PRESENTS:
PORTLAND-BASED ROCKERS MiRiAM'S WELL AND THEiR LATEST CD iNDiANS AND CLOWNS JULY 12,
2010 - ROCKWIRED
began its affair with the city of Portland two years ago when it seemed
as though every other band
featured on our website and show (at that time) came from the most
populated area of the Beaver State. Now, that love for that
oh-so-musical domicile has been rekindled with a band by the name of
MIRIAM'S WELL and their brand new release 'INDIANS AND CLOWNS'. The
sounds that have emanated from the City of Portland have been of the
alt-folk variety but the sound of MIRIAM'S WELL is marked by a late
seventies/early seventies rock radio sensibility. In a time where an
economic recession, a war and an ecological catastrophe are front page
news, MIRIAM'S WELL's embrace of a more idealistic sound and
sensibility couldn't have come at a better time. TO
LiSTEN TO THE SHOW CLiCK HERE
JULY 9, 2010 ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES
PRESENTS:
SEATTLE-BASED AMERiCANA BAND HANDFUL OF LUViN' AND THEiR LATEST ALBUM LiFE iN BETWEEN TO
LiSTEN TO THE SHOW CLiCK HERE
JULY 8, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES
PRESENTS:
GRAMMY-WiNNiNG BLUES GUiTARiST JOSE ALVAREZ AND HiS ALBUM DiGGiN' iN FEATURiNG LOS BLANCOS JULY 8,
2010 - When I
interviewed MARK NANNI of LOS BLANCOS two years
ago, I heard a deeply engaging story about a band that could bring
people together through music despite economic hardships (little did I
know how prevalent the economic hardships in this country would
become). It was a great interview and a wonderful story but I got the
feeling that I was only hearing part of the story. LOS BLANCOS actually
began with a guitarist from Mexico City by the name of JOSE ALVAREZ who
made his way up north as far as Syracuse and led a bunch of white guys
into becoming one of the most sought after live blues bands in Upstate
New York and the surrounding states. After a couple of years
of being a local hero, ALVAREZ walked away from LOS BLANCOS, earned a
pilot's license and joined Zydeco luminary TERRANCE SIMIEN and his band
THE ZYDECO EXPERIENCE. The gig earned him a GRAMMy AWARD. Now Alvarez
and LOS BLANCOS have reunited for the album DIGGIN' IN and the results
are astonishing!TO
LiSTEN TO THE SHOW CLiCK HERE
JULY 7, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES PRESENTS: JOSH RiFKiN AND HiS LATEST ALBUM THE GUEST HOUSE TO
LiSTEN TO THE SHOW CLiCK HERE
JULY 6, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES PRESENTS: ME , THREE AND THE ALBUM THE SPACE RACE JULY 6,
2010 - Tuscaloosa, Alabama is an unlikely domicile for an artist in the
business of creating ambient electronic music but it's home to
composer-songwriter ALAN CHESNUTT who is now 3 albums deep into a
musical project that he has dubbed ME, THREE. His latest offering - THE
SPACE RACE - is a thin slice of synth heaven that runs the gamut of
pulsating dance rhythms (as evidenced by the album's instrumental title
track) and eerie ballads (namely the haunting track THE HOURS where
CHESNUTT's vocals are double tracked, giving the listener the distinct
impression that what they are hearing is in fact two separate and
distinct vocalists). ROCKWIRED couldn't think of a better way to
launch
the very first edition of our brand new profile series than with ME
THREE and the album THE SPACE RACE. TO
LiSTEN TO THE SHOW CLiCK HERE
JUNE 28, 2010 ![]() ROCKWiRED RADiO PRESENTS: CHiLD PSYCHOLOGIST AND SONGWRiTER DR. MAC AND THE LATEST VOLUME OF HiS AWARD WiNNING CHILDREN'S RECORDING READY TO ROCK KiDS TO
LiSTEN TO THE SHOW CLiCK HERE
JUNE 25, 2010 ![]() ![]() THiS WEEK ROCKWiRED RADiO PRESENTS: ASTRUM LUX LUCiS OF ONE WORLD (R)EVOLUTiON AND GRETA SALPETER OF GOLD MOTEL 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 LUSHIf you listen to TRIBELLA’s debut LP THIRTEEN and try to peg their sound, you will do so in vain. The 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' TO
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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 TO
LiSTEN TO THE SHOW CLiCK HERE
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 LUSHI 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 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 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 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 TO
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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 When I spoke with RYAN LAFFERTY of 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. TO LiSTEN
TO THE SHOW CLiCK HERE
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 LUSHIFor 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. TO
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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 LUSHIt’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 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 LUSHThe working class port town of 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! TO
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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 LUSHIt’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 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 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. 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 LUSHThe 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 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 LUSHI 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 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 LUSHWe 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. TO LiSTEN TO THE SHOW CLiCK HERE
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 LUSHThe 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 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 LUSHA 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 |