Tag Archives: Bands

Exclusive Artist Review: West Of House – “Drown The Wind” Album

Posted in Acoustic, Album, Alternative, Careers, Emo, Hard Rock, Indie, Music Review, Press Release, Rock by

We’ve reviewed and featured West Of House before and these guys do not disappoint. With 2021 in full force nearing the end of summer, the alt-rockers have put out a subsequent album release that surprised just about everyone that knows them, and intrigued a plethora of new listeners as well. And that release is their newest album ‘Drown The Wind’, which is easily their best effort to date that really brings their signature sound right to the forefront.

Comprised of 11 anthemic and atmospheric songs, ‘Drown The Wind’ is an alt-rock album that encompasses the band’s artistic merit while combining crucial elements from 90s industry heavyweights like REM, Coldplay and Oasis. Anchor single “Entwined” is an excellent example of this and really delivers the production and performance parallels that set the tone for the rest of the album. The song begins with some dynamically executed time signatures, showcasing the band’s driving rhythm section and dueling guitars that bring out the brilliance of the well-written vocal melodies. It’s a very multi layered mix that shines a light on each band member where you can easily hear each of their individual contributions into one precise unit. Another anchor track on this record is “Fall Down”, featuring a glistening mandolin intro that is anthemic, melodic and insatiably versatile. This melody-driven track really showcases the high-range vocals that once again really encapsulate into melody choices that are very next-level. The song is hauntingly ominous, ambient and really adds a layer of magic to the album that puts the band at the top of their game. This is a song that sustains a standout all on its own and will easily be one that people will be talking about.

One more track that needs mentioning is “Where To Begin”, another atmospheric tune with visceral synth parts that implement alongside the chord progressions and add a layer of detail that is crucial and effective. This one is a little more rhythmic and has climactic measures that really serve up a wholesomeness not heard often with independent artists. This track also embraces melodic structures like the previous song, but also diligently blends more atmospheric guitar swells and smooth bass lines. This will easily be a favorite on the album right alongside the sensibility we heard with “Fall Down”. Overall, West Of House have really set the bar higher for themselves and continue to manifest magically with every release. You can hear the evolution of their own signature sound but still get a dose of nostalgia from great callbacks to the 90s alt-rock sound that we’ve come to know and love over many years. ‘Drown The Wind’ from start to finish is brilliantly crafted, melodically visceral and really explores the depths of combining originality and familiarity. You can get your copy of the album now on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and several other digital music streaming platforms.

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Exclusive Artist Interview: Nightbird Casino

Posted in Alternative, Careers, Emo, Indie, Music Review, Press Release, Rock by

Rogue Valley, Oregon-based quintet Nightbird Casino emerged onto the scene as a duo and in the last six months have manifested into the fully functional unit they are today. Known for their ambient and cohesive indie signature sound and inspired by prominent 90s artists like Hum, Interpol, Silverchair and Radiohead, the band formed in 2017 and quickly began hitting the ground running, putting out a handful of prominent releases since their inception into the market and proving that their artistic merit is more than deserving of your undivided attention.

Now in 2021, with their highly anticipated upcoming LP ‘Russian Carpet’ slated to release in two days on September 5th, we got a chance to sit down with the members of Nightbird Casino for a comprehensive interview where we got to discuss the past, present and future of the band.

•How long have you guys been active under your artist/band name?

Nightbird Casino has been around in some fashion since mid-2017. The band was started by myself (James Moore, lead vocals/guitar/piano) and Don Shepherd (guitar/piano/backing vocals). We met in a tribute band and branched off to start writing our own original music. It took until 2020 for us to get serious and actually write a full album. It wasn’t until early 2021 that we recruited our other three members (Oliver Orion – drums / Amanda Moore – ondes martenot/keyboards / Patrick Manville – bass) and really took off.

•What music scene/city do you currently represent?

Currently we live in Medford, which is in southern Oregon – but there’s not much of a music scene here at all. We’re originally from LA, so ultimately I’d say we have much more of an LA vibe than a rural Oregon vibe.

•The pandemic has really thrown a wrench into the live music experience and for artists altogether. How has it affected you and your career (if at all)?

It’s been a mixed bag for us. On the downside, we haven’t been able to tour, which has been frustrating of course. It’s pretty difficult to build an audience without playing any shows. On the plus side, it’s allowed us an enormous amount of time to write and record. I doubt we would’ve finished two full LPs, a live album, an EP, and four singles in just over a year if it weren’t for the pandemic.

•What are some of your music influences?

There are five of us in this band and we all draw from different influences. Some of those might include some more indie/alternative rock artists: Interpol, Radiohead, The National, King Krule, Modest Mouse … a lot of early 90s grunge i.e. Nirvana, Bush; The Beach Boys are a big influence, lots of classical music too.

•What kind of concepts do you tend to write about as an artist? Shine some light on that.

I don’t have a particular subject matter I plan out when writing lyrics, but I think most of our songs have themes of alienation and anxiety running through them. I tend to use intimate personal stories and dreams as metaphors for more big picture concepts about what’s happening in the world. Frequently I’ll find out what I was writing about after the song is finished… lyrics are usually the last part I finish. I’ll write down words and phrases and stream of consciousness ideas and then I look at it all and think ok, what is this about? What was my subconscious trying to say through these lyrics? There’s also a pretty prominenttheme of psychedelia and the psychedelic experience that comes up again and again.

•If you could put together a dream show or tour, what bands/artists would be on the bill?

Oh gosh, that’s a hard question. We’d love to tour with Radiohead or Modest Mouse, I think our style of music would make sense with those bands.

•When is your next release coming out?

Our 2nd LP, Russian Carpet, will be released on September 5, 2021. (on all streaming services everywhere, physical copies available to purchase via our website nightbirdcasino.com).

•What’s in store for you in 2021? Give us the goods.

So much. Our second LP Russian Carpet will be released in a few days as I mentioned. We also have a live album / video series that’ll be released in some fashion later this year. Also, with a full band in place and some covid restrictions easing, we’re finally able to start playing shows and touring. We’re currently planning a west coast tour as we speak. Also also, we’re in the beginning stages of LP3 – we’ve just started putting together some ideas for new songs and we’ll be recording that in – hopefully – early 2022 with Matt Talbot of HUM.

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Exclusive Artist Review: Petrella – “Songs Of Many Colors” Album

Posted in Album, Blues, Careers, Country, Indie, Music Review, Pop, Press Release, R&B, Soul by

Affectionately known as the First Lady of Country Music, California’s Petrella emerged onto the scene in 1988 with her distinctive Country/Soul signature sound and since then has garnered an unwavering fan base and musical presence. Having worked and performed alongside a multitude of prominent artists and producers over the years, Petrella has put out a solid number of releases since the inception of her career and has manifested into a style that makes her a standout of her calibre; and she makes this especially apparent with the recent release of her newest album “Songs Of Many Colors”.

Comprised of 11 anthemic tracks, Petrella delves deep into her authentic Country/Soul stylization with an amazing range of powerful vocal projections and catchy blues-driven melodies. Her charismatic old school flavors diligently parallel with today’s more modern Country sensibility, delivering a fresh sound that is authentically visceral and wholesomely innovative all while serving up those classic Country & Soul elements that put the genre on the map in a way we know and love today. Opening track “Bring It Here Baby” is an excellent example of this, showcasing Petrella’s addictive charisma and vocal presence with her signature rasp and flavorful melody choices. Another notable song on the album is the western inspired “Waltz For Love”, showcasing another crucial angle of Petrella’s vocal approach that really brings out her artistic merit and musicianship factors. This song, along with others on the album, piece together the many parts of Petrella’s songwriting talents right along with her strong performance value, giving every listener a front row seat to her many years of musical ability throughout each track’s duration.

If you are just discovering Petrella now, then “Songs Of Many Colors” will make you an instant fan. Meanwhile her current fans and fans over the years will absolutely love this record, reminding them that her innovative and catchy sound continues to evolve, manifest and draw in new listeners with every release. The album is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and several other digital music streaming platforms.

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Exclusive Artist Review: Morningside Lane – “Temperamental” Single

Posted in Alternative, Careers, Dance, Electronic, Indie, Music Review, Pop, Press Release, Rock, Single by

New Jersey quintet Morningside Lane has been hitting the ground running with their distinctive futuristic Rock signature sound and hit the market by storm with their 2015 debut EP ‘Mellow Drama’. Flash forward 6 years with a handful of catchy singles later and MS has proven that their hard work ethics and manifestation of their style has paved the way to a thriving career for the band – catching the ears of endless Rock fans of many calibers and eras. Now, with the recent release of their smash single “Temperamental”, the five-piece powerhouse has once again raised the bar for themselves and continue to diligently innovate their craft with new and improved musical angles.

Brilliantly crossing over a distinctive approach from bands like Walk The Moon and Franz Ferdinand, Morningside Lane serves up a flavorful pot of catchy goodness with many multi layered elements that truly bring out their sound. The funky guitars and 80s style synth lead perfectly embraces yesterday’s Pop music charm with today’s more inventive aura, delivering a catchy yet futuristic melody that parallels the specific vocals quite effectively. The subtle verses are very well balanced, leaving the perfect amount of room to introduce the dynamically placed vocal melody that sets the tone throughout the song’s duration in a way that is memorable and impressionable. It’s not your average catchy Rock song, it’s a diligently-written single with unwavering staying power that will tickle the fancies of both long time fans of the band and those just discovering them now.

And that’s the major defining factor of this song – staying power. The power to stay with you even long after it’s over. The five-piece unit not only delivers a solid and tightly knit performance, but really goes out of their way to showcase their innovative style and bring every element from each member to the forefront. From smooth bass lines, rhythmic drums, twangy guitars and next-level vocal hooks, Morningside Lane shines brightly as a whole from start to finish while still being able to highlight each band member’s distinctive contributions. “Temperamental” is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and several other digital music streaming platforms. You’ll be more than glad you gave title a listen.

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•Official Website: https://www.morningsidelane.com

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Exclusive Artist Review: 21 And 9 – “So…” EP

Posted in Album, Alternative, Careers, EP, Grunge, Hard Rock, Indie, Music Review, Press Release, Rock by

You just don’t hear bands like this anymore. Emerging from the musical landscapes of Ontario in Canada, Alt-Rockers 21 And 9 blasted onto the market two years ago with their dynamic Alt/Rock style accompanied with nostalgic 90s elements of Grunge and Indie – and began hitting the ground running pretty much immediately. And with two years of writing and recording under their belts, the quartet have officially released their highly anticipated debut EP “So…”.

Comprised of six versatile and multifaceted tracks, 21 And 9 truly make an unforgettable impression with this record and any fan of the 90s will absolutely adore it. Combining a sound that is reminiscent to 90s nostalgic heavyweights like Oasis, Gin Blossoms, Weezer and Live, 21 And 9 serves up an EP that has intelligently crafted vocal melodies, powerful harmonies, a driving rhythm section and tastefully blended duel guitar leads. Opening track “All Figured Out” brings this manifestation of their sound right to the forefront with a buildup intro that diligently merges into a climactic chorus and a slamming breakdown that cruises all the way to the end of the song. This song beautifully demonstrates how all opening tracks should present themselves – powerful, wholesome and well executed. Title track “So” continues to showcase the band’s distinctive style but shines a light on more crucial musical angles that makes 21 And 9 the versatile unit that they are. This straightforward Alt-Rock number is well put together and focuses more on the strong vocal melody factors, as well as effective vocal harmonies throughout the song’s duration. It’s the EP’s anchor single and easily stands out as one.

Another notable track on this record is the anthemic “In This Song”, a powerful song with rhythmic drum rudiments and ambient guitar work. The blends of clean and gain-driven guitars mesh perfectly and brilliantly parallel the vocals from beginning to end. This track will likely become a favorite for anyone that listens for the first time, but overall, it’s very hard to pick a favorite since all six tracks are absolute standouts. But nevertheless, “So…” is a far-above-average debut record for a band that has only been together for two years. 21 And 9 definitely will be going places, and this record will definitely entice you to keep tabs on their career and subsequent releases. “So…” is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and several other digital music streaming platforms. You’ll be more than glad you gave it a listen. For this debut record, the band has partnered with apparel company Tenfed (www.tenfed.com) and will be donating ten meals for every record sold to those in need – so it helps a great cause too. All the more reason to grab a copy today!

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