REVIEW: Golden by Iron Point

Iron Point takes us to the Golden State with their new single, ‘Golden’. 

Right away, I fell in love with this song and it only gets better. 'Golden’ starts off with some maracas and then we are given this groovy bass intro that hooks you right in. Without a doubt, any rock song that starts off with maracas is going to be a great rock song right off the bat. The maracas paired with the bass give the song a very 70’s, classic rock sound with a California beach vibe. However, Iron Point is able to put their own modern day edge spin on it. 

Line after line, these lyrics are coming in hot and with a punch, but then they smooth out as we go into the chorus. It’s a perfect contrast that fits in with that “groovy edge”. There are also some great one liners in this song, some playful and some aggressive. 

Throughout the song there is a huge build up to a musical explosion at the end, very dynamic. Featured vocalist, Charise Anderson, comes in with her freestyled vocals and they’re everything from beautiful to powerful. That very moment in the song is pure gold. 

Song after song, Iron Point has been absolutely killing it and ‘Golden’ is just another extraordinary tune. I’ll be adding this to my summer playlist as it’s the perfect song to listen to during the golden hours of any summer night. 

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Interview: Stitched Up Heart at Upheaval Fest

2020 was devastating for the entire music industry: bands, venues, guitar techs, event staff, everything. Especially for a band that released their monstrous sophomore album on March 13, 2020: Stitched Up Heart.  

Their second album release The Darkness came out exactly right before California Governor (Gavin Newsom) shut the state down; Stitched Up Heart was put on pause. But during that rollercoaster year, they reserved & kept that album release energy for 4 hard hitting dates, and finished it at Upheaval Fest in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

During our pre set interview, Alecia "Mixi" Demner discussed how she at first thought before these dates if she would remember how it felt to be on stage again, but those doubts were very quickly washed away, just like the memory of 2020. 

When Stitched Up Heart took to the stage, no dust had settled on their shoulders and they had fans roaring the entire time. If you only heard their music through a playlist online, and never saw a band photograph, you would automatically assume they were a five piece band, when in fact they are just the traditional four; their sound is just larger than life. 

I was very curious how well from they would transition from studio recording to live presence, as I ironically have never seen them before since we’re both in Southern California. 

Mixi is the complete musician & front woman, her stature is commanding on stage, while her voice knows how to hit your soul. Guitarist Merritt Goodwin, is an absolute shredder and his riffs sound just as good live as they do on record. For Bassist Randy Mathias his sound actually comes out more live than from studio work, which I love that as it compliments with Goodwin and adds another layer of heaviness to the band. For drummer James Decker, he absolutely rips and his style reminds me very much of original Korn drummer David Silveria.

It is said that no band ever has a perfect set, well for Stitched Up Heart at Upheaval fest, it was pretty damn perfect.

Check out Mixi and I’s pre set interview below and as we have fun discussing monster flavors, 2020, her collaboration with Sully from Godsmack and more. 

Interview: Blacktop Mojo at Upheaval Fest

Already a week into their first U.S. tour of 2021 and fresh off their first festival this year at Rock Fest in Wisconsin, the gentlemen in Blacktop Mojo were still all jacked up on Mountain Dew and blessed everyone with the Mojo magic at Upheaval Fest in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Blacktop Mojo finished off the second stage, The Lookout Stage, for Saturday evening and had fans swaggering & two stepping the entire time. BTM ( Blacktop Mojo ) is absolutely a band to experience. While on record they sound amazing with their southern rock tone and make you want to move to Texas, its on stage where the Mojo truly shines. 

Guitarists Chuck Wepfer & Ryan Keifer dueled off and exchanged like the ending of Crossroads where Ralph Macchio battles Steve Vai, but they do this for each song, leaving fans in awe and throwing their horns up. Bassist Catt Murtis never stops moving on stage, he keeps the groove going the entire time and “slappida” bass just as good or even better than Geddy Lee. Now the secret weapon perhaps in BTM, is their dummer Nathan Gillis. He sets the tone, mood & energy for each song & riff. And finally, their frontman Matt James is THE essential piece to the Mojo magic. As soon as he stepped out in blue leopard print jeans with snake skin boots, the crowd already had the Mojo. He thundered on top of “ The Hill “ like a Texas viking  and the fans never put their hands down 

Checkout my special pre set interview with frontman Matt James below, as we discussed all things Mojo: being on the road again, how they stayed sane in 2020, new album coming up and more. 

For day two of Michigans first annual Upheaval Festival, Blacktop Mojo brought the Texas heat and shit kickers.

And be sure to preorder Album 4 now as it drops on August 13, 2021. 

Album Review: A look back at Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia

"Being nostalgic for the future means that someone holds an optimistic view of what's to come."

Dua Lipa blessed us with Future Nostalgia, an album that captures your attention with its beautiful album cover and disco vibes. It’s outside beauty can be found even in the pop sound and catchy lyrics of songs such as ‘Love Again’ that gives me Abba’s vibes, ‘Don’t Start Now’, ‘Levitate’ and ‘Future Nostalgia’, the song that introduces you to the album.

You want a timeless song, I wanna change the game
Like modern architecture, John Lautner coming your way
I know you like this beat 'cause Jeff been doing the damn thing
You wanna turn it up loud, future nostalgia is the name- ‘Future nostalgia’

Reading the analysis of the album and it’s art work , it’s easy to find Dua’s inspirations. The cover artwork takes you back to the 50s - 60s where the Googie was popular and trends focused on cars. The album’s sound is influenced by the music Dua used to listen to when she was younger. The album features a song called ‘Boys will Be Boys’ that talks about today’s reality: being harassed by men on the street on a daily basis.

It's second nature to walk home before the sun goes down
And put your keys between your knuckles when there's boys around
Isn't it funny how we laugh it off to hide our fear
When there's nothin' funny here.

Dua Lipa shares her experience talking about the song:
“For me, the growing pains of what it’s like to be a girl, was walking home from school and putting keys through my knuckles … So much of the human experience for women revolves around men; how they make us feel, whether that is good or bad. Girls have to go through so much. You cover up yourself to avoid confrontation from men, avoid sexual harassment, people throwing words or catcalling. We change our ways to fit somebody else’s lifestyle. It’s really sad.”

This can be considered sadly the most relatable song off the album but it’s also the most powerful because Dua sheds a light on something us women and girls have to go through. Something that still brings shame and blame on the victims and doesn’t punish the predators.

Interview: Assume Nothing At Upheaval Fest

When we did our special The Breakdown episode highlighting Assume Nothing, it was my first time ever hearing of them and instantly knew they were a banger. 

Before our interview at Upheaval Fest in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I was able to catch their set as one of the first bands to kick off the day on the second stage known as the The Lookout Stage, or as we quickly came to name it “The Hill” stage as it was it was positioned atop a very unforgiving hill looking down upon the main stage. 

Regardless of “The Hill”,  local and new fans swarmed the stage to welcome this hometown metal core act and for not playing a show since October of 2019, Assume Nothing laid claim to that stage and let the crowd know they were back. 

Lead singer Riley had monstrous passion in his voice that commanded anyone in the immediate area to fixate upon him. Guitarists Riley & Dave ( also Known as “ I am Dave “) equally had shred moments with their Fender Strats that were upgraded to Fishman pickups for just the bridge use, and honestly when a metal core band has two guitarist, it usually muddies up the sound in the mixing board, but the audio engineers for stage 2 absolutely nailed their sound. Nick their bassist was also able to cut through the mix and pretty sure he has whiplash from all the head banging he was doing on stage. Finally for their dummer Cody, who at first when looking at him you would not suspect him of being in a metal core, but as soon as he gets behind the kit, all assumptions are stripped away and you see why he deserves to be there. 

Assume Nothing are the Wage War of Michigan, and will be blowing up in the coming year.

Check out our full after set interview below. 

INTERVIEW + PERFORMANCE: The Things

Are you yearning to find a brand new rock n’ roll band to sink your teeth into? Well, I have just the band for you.

Recently, a friend of mine introduced me to The Things. A Los Angeles-based Rock N’ Roll band who’ve made their grand debut on May 21st with Vicarious Catharsis. If you know me, you know that I’m always eager to listen to bands that I’ve never heard of and plunge headfirst into their discography. That’s exactly what I did. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. 

Vicarious Catharsis from beginning to end is a 1970s euphoric masterpiece. The Things aren’t the type of band to stick to one genre. They have such an eclectic range that can satisfy the ears of any listener. Their sound is all across the board. It’s 1970s psychedelic rock with hints of blues and funk. Each musician in The Things possesses a unique talent and their artistry truly speaks for itself. Listening to Vicarious Catharsis needs to be done with absolutely no distractions. I suggest that you grab a pair of headphones and allow the music to take you wherever it wants to. Vicarious Catharsis is 60 minutes of musical ecstasy. 

Sitting down and chatting with The Things felt like reuniting with long-lost friends. It was loads of fun to pick their brains and get to know the musicians behind the music. In our interview, we discussed Vicarious Catharsis and how it was produced in their custom-built, analog studio, The Skipper Room. Not only do they record their music at The Skipper Room, but they all live there together. The Things have such a close-knit bond, and their passion for what they do is tangible. They live out their day-to-day lives authentically themselves, and they have endless stories that will have you smiling from ear to ear.

If you're dying to know more about these guys, check out the full-length interview above!

P.S. At the end of the interview, get ready to rock out to their stellar performance of She's Got My Number.

I hope that by the end of this, you're in love with The Things almost as much as I am.

Interview: The Weird Sisters Release “Lost in the Chronic”

All the best things in life are weird. This has been a personal philosophy of mine since I can remember, and is absolutely one that will stick with me forever. 

Because at its core, what “weird” actually boils down to is unapologetic authenticity. What’s weird? 

Freakshows. Carnivals. Bad B-Movies. Surrealism. 

But at the core of their being, what makes these things “weird” is their unwillingness to bend to social and cultural conformity. They simply are. And that’s weird. And it’s f*cking awesome. 

The Weird Sisters alums Gabi and Izaac certainly embody this essence of “weird”, and not just because they borrow the moniker for their band name. From posting the long lost items found in their couch cushions (one such item was a KNIFE) to teasing new singles with videos of dancing crawdads, the spirit of weirdness encompasses The Weird Sisters.

I interviewed the pair over the phone to talk about the genesis of their band as well as their most recent single “Lost in the Chronic.”

Borne from a reference to Harry Potter after meeting at a Twilight Zone infused spaghetti dinner (yeah, you read that right) The Weird Sisters have been providing Nashville with jammy psychedelic grooves for the past four years. 

Weird Sisters is comprised of former orchestral conductor Gabrielle Lewis (vocals, synth, keys, saxophone), Izaac Short (lead vocals, guitar, synth) and Jeff Brown (drums and percussion). 

The differences in their influences and backgrounds really help to give The Weird Sisters a unique sound. 

“I was conducting three orchestras at the time,” said Lewis of the time of the bands conception, 

“It was awesome. But then we [Izaac and I] started jamming and the rest is history.”

Part of what allows the band so much creative freedom has been their drive to DIY everything. Up until this last single, all mixing and mastering was done by the band themselves. This gave The Weird Sisters full creative control, and the agency to create absolute bangers like “Texas Toast.”

This time though, they teamed up with the legendary Grammy award winning producer and engineer Vance Powell ( The White Stripes, Phish, Arctic Monkeys, Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown). 

“We’ve known Vance for going on three years, he’s the tightest dude you could ever know,” Izaac said. 

“We had been working on this track just like in our basement for awhile now, and really didn’t know where to go with it. We just hit up Vance one day and we were like hey man, you wanna take a crack at it?” 

“Lost in the Chronic” is heavy laden with the surreal-funk that The Weird Sisters specialize in. It was recorded at Sputnik Sound in Berry Hill, TN. It has a slightly different, perhaps more polished sound than some of their earlier recordings, but still authentic to The Weird Sisters sound. 

“We would be happy to work with anyone if we felt that they could really add something to our sound,” said Izaac. 

“But we just hadn’t felt like that yet about anybody else,” added Gabi. 

“Vance just happened to be the dude.” 

The Weird Sisters are fueled by creative individuality, uniqueness, and good vibes. Their focus is to be true to themselves, but most importantly they want to make music that makes people feel good and brings them together. 

“We’re always second guessing ourselves, thinking, what’s the most authentic version of this moment now? We’re trying to capture that. That’s been a big focus throughout this entire project. That and the whole idea of music bringing people together, you know?” - Izaac Short 

You can stream “Lost in the Chronic” now and check out more music by The Weird Sisters on YouTube and Spotify.

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Review: Dorothy's "What's Coming To Me"

It’s been three years since Dorothy released her album, 28 Days In The Valley, and since that release listeners and fans of Dorothy have wondered, “When are we going to hear new music from Dorothy?” Well, our questions have now been answered, as Dorothy has finally released a new single, “What’s Coming To Me”.

Upon first listen, it feels like you are stepping inside some sort of chamber, not knowing what to expect upon stepping inside for the first time ever. My feeling is that it’s going to be something great.

If there’s one thing you gotta give Dorothy credit for - it’s the power and drive she puts on display through her songs as a rock queen. She really shines through on this song.

Her vocal delivery, lyrics, and overall power are what make this song as wondrous and magnificent as it is. There has always been something special about Dorothy and her music. It feels like with each new chapter she starts in her music career, it’s nothing short of amazing. 

Her debut album was absolutely incredible and really showed off the fiery, don’t give a shit - rocker kind of sound that we all know and love. Her second album shows off a bluesy rock sound that was mesmerizing and had a lot of unforgettable tracks.

Whatever she has in store for her next album is already proving to be very promising. The sound in this first single is almost reminiscent of Stevie Nicks in a sense. in that it gives off a very witchy sort of vibe. Honestly, it could even be a song featured on “American Horror Story: Coven”.

Dorothy is a powerhouse through and through. We’ll all be awaiting this new album all while listening to “What’s Coming To Me” on repeat.

Oh, and she’s right - This life doesn't come free.

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The Breakdown E20: Upheaval Festival Preview

Interview: Erin Coburn

Evie sat down with Kentucky native and multi-talented instrumentalist, producer, singer and songwriter Erin Coburn for a brief chat about recording, producing, gigging, collaborating, and much more. Tune in to hear her stories about getting certified in audio engineering, playing livestream shows, dream musical collabs and which three vinyls she would bring to a deserted island.

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Album Review: Beartooth's Below Is Your Summer Rock Anthem

Beartooth have returned and they’re making a big statement with their new album Below. They’re here to bring the moshpits to 2021. 

It’s been about three years since the release of their album Disease, and I was 50/50 in liking it. It had a few heavy hitters on it such as “Bad Listener” and “Used and Abused”, but that was the extent of it’s heaviness. The whole album felt very emo in lyrics and music writing, I felt sad or in a breakup that wasn’t there. It was a good album, and I know it connected with others who were going though hard times, but for me it was just too melancholy. 

“Below” is definitely a 180 to that sound. This album is full octane of breakdowns and riffs. Even the slowest song on the album “ The Answer” throws in a two step breakdown, but it works incredibly well. 

Kicking off with the album tilted track “Below”, a thunderous chant of drums leads in while Caleb is screaming “I feel the rage, something starting to grow” , and guitars drop in with the opening riff. This energy does not stop for the entire album.  Songs such as “Devastation”, “Hell Of It”, and “ Dominate” will be mosh pit openers when played live. 

And for those who love the more slow paced, radio friendly touch of Caleb, “The Past Is Dead”, “The Answer”, and “The Skin” cater to you, but as I mentioned before, those even have breakdowns as well. 

The album ends beautifully and unexpectedly with “The Last Riff”, which is exactly what it is. The track is an instrumental song, no lyrics whatsoever but is actually one of my favorites on the album. 

“Below” is your summer rock anthem, with each song being a radio banger.  

Cedric Burnside Delivers Hill Country Blues in the 21st Century with New Album 'I Be Trying'

As someone who’s just recently started delving into all the incredible artists, albums, and songs the blues has to offer, it’s pretty exciting to have a new release to dive headfirst into. Just last week, Cedric Burnside came through with his latest record, I Be Trying. 

I Be Trying is his second full-length album as a solo artist, and you couldn’t ask for a better follow up to his 2018 release, Benton County Relic. The album itself is contradictory in a way, drawing on the hill country blues sound of his grandfather, the legendary R.L. Burnside, but still managing to feel fresh and unique. Cedric Burnside does his own thing and proves that he is his own artist, and what an incredible one he is at that. I find that even after 10+ spins all the way through, I can’t stop listening – that’s how amazing this record is!

Vocally, he is incredible, delivering rich tones on the deeper “Bird Without A Feather” (a cover of his grandfather’s tune), and beautiful falsetto on the chorus of “Love You Forever”. His vocals are strong, soulful, and emotive, making this record all the more enjoyable to listen to. 

He’s a remarkable storyteller - I Be Trying explores dark and unhappy themes as well as themes of love in an auditory mosaic of the human experience. Burnside’s strong vocals and stripped down use of instrumentation keep the listener engaged and on the edge of their seat for the next note and word.

There’s no distraction from over-production or overelaborate arrangements. There’s a beautiful simplicity to this record, with nothing more than a guitar, drums, bass, and vocals (with background vocals from Burnside’s daughter Portrika on the title track!) used to create the majority of this unique musical experience, and the talent he has joining him to put this whole thing together is impressive, with Zac Cockrell (Alabama Shakes) on bass, Luther Dickinson providing some licks on guitar, and Reed Watson doing some of the drumming. 

Each track feels raw and authentic, with the instrumentation and Burnside’s voice lending themselves to the differing themes of each track so perfectly, and with something so raw and stripped down, there’s nothing to hide mistakes or prop up any weaknesses. There has to be some talent there, and Burnside does not disappoint on a single track. You can’t fake it when it comes to the blues, and that’s what’s so great about it. It’s a raw genre, and if you’re lacking in talent or authenticity, the listener is going to know it. Cedric Burnside is nothing if not authentic, and his talent shines on this record. 

Whether you’re a long-time listener and lover of blues music, or you’re a newcomer like me, you’re going to fall in love with this record, I promise. 

You can catch Cedric Burnside all over the country the rest of this year solo, with the North Mississippi Allstars for several dates this fall, and with Greta Van Fleet for two dates this August, which is where you’ll find me singing along to every word. Until those shows roll around, you can find me spinning this record non-stop, which is exactly what you should be doing!

CHECK OUT TOUR DATES

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Interview With Nashville's Fuzz Rock Band, Year of October

Chloe caught up with Year of October, a fuzzy rock soul out band of Nashville, TN.

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Two Artists Who Inspired Us With Their Coming Out Story

This month, we were able to celebrate Pride thanks to incredible people who paved the way like Marsha P. Johnson, a trans woman who fought all her life to create a safe place for lgbtqia+ people. She was the founder of STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) along with friend Sylvia Rivera. She was one of the founders of Gay Liberation Front too. Marsha inspired countless people and in return inspire others.

This article is focused on poc lgbtqia+ artists who inspired us with their coming out story, advocated for their rights ,and are proud of their sexuality.

KEHLANI

Let’s start with something strong: World renowned singer, Kehlani.

“Wanna know what’s new about me? I finally know I’m a lesbian,” she came out in an instagram live this April. You may know her from her collaborations with Zedd, and Ty Dolla Sign or from her stunning release, “Gangsta” . She recently released a new song on 18 of May, “Back Together” about the will to not go back with the ex. The song is catchy and empowering, marking multiple times in the chorus her point that she knows she deserves better and doesn’t want to continue the relationship.

“Damn, I love who we are when we ain't back together
I love who we are when we ain't back together”“Need you to know we ain't gettin' back together
But that doesn't mean that we can't come together
I finally want better, so whatever, we made up
'Cause I love who we are when we ain't back together”

The singer spoke about her sexuality and related privilege sharing: “I think a lot of artists who we talk about and say, “Oh, they had to come out or they had to do this”, a lot of them can’t hide it. A lot of it is very much in how they present. It’s tougher for them. It’s tougher for trans artists. It’s tougher for Black gay men. It’s tougher for Black masculine gay women.

I didn’t even really have to come out in my private life. I don’t walk down the street and have people look at me and go, “Oh, I bet she’s queer. Or I bet that she’s into women,' or anything like that because of the way I present. That’s all privilege.

I think that there are quite a few artists who were truly at the forefront but weren’t able to make the strides that I was able to make being 100% myself because of the way they present, and the biases and the phobias of the American public and the world. I’ve been lucky, super lucky.”

Bronze Avery

Bronze Avery is an openly gay singer that loves to be fluid about his music from pop to dance-pop, talking about about his life in his music with a desire to be more authentic.

Asked by Gay Times how his coming out affected his career he answered:
“It changed everything. I wasn’t out for a lot of the beginning of my music, and I don’t think a lot of people were able to connect with me. There’s a certain level of authenticity, and everyone has their own timings as to when it’s right for them, but for me, it personally changed everything. I felt so much more confident in myself. I thought people were understanding my perspective more, and I was able to see that my audience are people just like me, which is amazing. I was out at a club in LA, just the other night, and someone said to me: “You make such good music for people like us!” I was like, ‘Wow, I didn’t realise this was something that could maybe change a lot of different perspectives.’ I was just making music and telling my truth, and I didn’t realise it was impacting other people at all.”

He also shared that artists are not obliged to tell their views on topics but when they’re sure about doing it “it can really change everything.”

The Breakdown Episode 19: Beartooth's New Album, Below

Welcome to another episode of the Breakdown, our weekly talk for everything in the rock world. Beartooth has a new album!! So, we did a special episode with a track by track breakdown of each song on Below.