Rock My Soul ft. KISS KISS BANG [Interview + Playlist]

Things change, time passes, new years begin, and the music still keeps on comin’. In 2020, BANDED hopes to bring you the BEST of Rock N’ Roll today. The fourth edition of Rock My Soul and the FIRST edition of the decade features one of our absolute favorites, KISS KISS BANG.

Bringing the fire in the studio and on the stage is Trevor Smith, Andrew Hopper, Clayton Crowder, and Malcolm Warren. After coming across their latest EP ‘Hearts on Fire’ when searching for bands to feature on this playlist, they instantly stole my heart and took over my Spotify streams. And after seeing them live three times now, it’s safe to say if you’re looking for a true rock experience - GO SEE THEM LIVE. It’s high energy, wild, rockin’, + with a little dash of KY twang.

The band made the bold decision to cover the Eagles’ ‘Hotel California’, releasing it today - and I’m really f’ing glad they did. Get to know this uniquely wild crew and give their take on the classic a listen on this edition of Rock My Soul…

KISS KISS BANG

A classic rock n’ roll quintet born and bred in the heart of western Kentucky form a powerhouse of a raw and electric modern slam band with monstrous guitars and Eagles-style vocals that carry near constant three part harmonies. Accompanied by a thundering rhythm section of groove running bass and wild n’ out, heavy hitting drum beats that act as a constant heartbeat to the already tight and locked in Bowling Green showmen, Kiss Kiss Bang have been one of the top tier, heavyweights of the local music scene for only a few years. A complete renovation from the ground up in 2018 changed not only the sound of the band, but the soul itself. Sharing stages with multiple national acts over the last couple of years have helped the young bloods get a little more long in the tooth and more the wiser at just what it takes to not only get to the top, but f**king stay there!

Alright - introduce yourselves to the world… 

We’re currently a 4 piece Rock n Roll band from Bowling Green, KY. If you ain’t heard, we’re the band that your dad would jam, but bad ass enough that you’d jam it too. 

How did the name Kiss Kiss Bang come to be? 

There’s a lot of speculation, there’s a Robert Downey Jr movie with a similar name. HOWEVER, Kiss Kiss Bang was a song title from a band called The American Bang. Plain and simple, Kiss Kiss Bang fits our rock n roll attitude. And besides, it’s a 3 step process 

What was the band’s most memorable moment of 2019?

The most memorable moment for us in 2019 was getting to hop in a van, and make the trek up to New York City. None of us had been. So it was definitely mind warping for your small town heathens, but we had a blast. Music got us there, it single handedly took us there. Just a big feather in our cap. Such an amazing experience. 

Do you guys have any pre-show rituals?

We may have a couple of us here and there that might do stretches or scream obnoxiously loud. But no famous pre show rituals. But our pals Philip Morris and Jim Beam are always there to kill any edge that any of us may have. So 1 big f*k’n hunnit to those guys. 

What inspired you to cover ‘Hotel California’? 

This was a tricky one. Cover one of our favorite songs and get buried at the stake? Or find a different song? It was an easy choice for us. Nobody touches Hotel California. Quite frankly, after diving into the song and really learning it, i don’t think anybody would blame a musician for not touching that song. It’s in depth guitar solos,  precise bass lines, and difficult harmonies not only make this song one of the “holy grails” of jams, but it also makes this song pretty tricky to play. Whether you love it or hate it, it’s one of our favorites, and we had a ball recording it, and it goes over so damn good live. So dig it

What can we look forward to in 2020

NEW MUSIC!  We’re working on writing new material at the moment. And from one cat to another, each song that we write just seems to get better and better. Intelligent songwriting while also having catchy hooks (guitar riffs, vocal riffs, bass riffs) is the big theme for us right now. We want to write music that kicks your ass and takes your lunch money. So be lookin for new jams come 2020!

ARTISTS FEATURED: Kiss Kiss Bang, BRKN LOVE, Lipz, Junkyard Drive, Black Coffee (now South of Eden), Rival Sons, The Lazys, Florence Black, Blame Candy, Shiraz Lane, Testarossa, Goodbye June, Blackbird Sons, Shy Harry, Wildstreet, Joshua & The Holy Rollers, The New Roses, Watermox, Brand of Julez, Electric Mary, Melted Vinyl, Lovely World, Wake the Sun, The Textiles, WD-HAN, The Heroine, Rhines, Death Mama, Toy Called God, Dirty Honey, Big Wreck, Black Heart Saints, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, Pröwess, Revival Black, The Cruel Knives, Mark C. Daniel, The Cold Stares, Joyous Wolf, Dead Posey, Sweet Fever, Daylight Sinners, The Stir, STONE HORSES

Rock My Soul ft. Brand of Julez [Interview + Playlist]

If you’re thinking we’ve reached a rock n’ roll shortage, think again. This round of ‘Rock My Soul’ boasts 19 new tracks featuring Dirty Honey, Black Heart Saints, Watermox, Goodbye June, Big Wreck, The Cruel Knives, Dead Posey + more! Oh, and some Sammy Hagar may or may not have slipped into the mix. Sorry not sorry! Listen below or check it out directly on Spotify here.

Before we present our featured artist, we’re excited to share that Rock My Soul has teamed up with Reverbnation to help give more DIY artists the spotlight they deserve. Join Reverbnation and submit your music now.

For our third edition, we’d like to introduce you to a band that knows how to deliver - Brand of Julez. As you scroll down to check out the playlist, learn more about the band and check out their latest video for “Take It All Away”.

BRAND OF JULEZ

When you think of the South Bronx, you don’t think of modern, melodic rock anthems, passionately aggressive vocals, heavy guitars, ripping solos, driving bass lines or pounding drum fills. Lucky for you - that’s exactly what you’ll get with Brand of Julez.

Like any talented brothers would do, Julez(vocals/guitar) and Brandon Zamora(bass/backing vocals) started their own band at the ripe ages of 16 and 13. Since those founding days of working to find their sound and fellow bandmates, Brand of Julez (catch that clever name play), has found their strength both on and off the stage. 

After some years of in and out bandmates, Nick Kashmanian(guitar) and Frankie D’esposito (drums) joined the Zamora brothers solidifying Brand of Julez as a force to be reckoned with both in the music space [and hair space]. Seriously, their hair...it’s incredible.

If you want to experience one helluva rock show, go see Brand of Julez live. ALL KILLER, NO FILLER. Their passion and hold-nothing-back mentality has rewarded them opportunities to share the stage with artists like Ace Frehley, Alice Cooper, Vince Neil, Tesla, Drowning Pool, Adrenaline Mod, Burn Halo, Orianthi, Full Devil Jacket, and now Michael Graves (of The Misfits). Check out our photos from their Knoxville performance here.

Right now, the guys are on tour...almost everyday from now until the end of November. Impressive, to say the least as a DIY band putting everything into their performances and building up the band’s presence when off stage. While driving to their next stop, Julez took the time to give us details on what we can expect from them in the near future and a little insight on our favorite track, a heavy yet rhythmic political anthem, “Take It All Away”…

Q: What was the inspiration behind Take It All Away? 

At a time where there is so much divide in our country, I wanted to throw myself into the mix and let people know together, we are stronger. Lies don’t ever work and thinking that the wool is being pulled over our eyes is foolish. There is a voice screaming to be heard from the new generation and that’s what Take It All Away is about. Musically, I was jamming to one of my favorite Alter Bridge songs which require funky guitar tunings sometimes and that opened the door to playing around with new ideas. Thanks ,AB! Haha

Q: Any new music coming soon? 

 Yes! We will be releasing our new EP in Spring 2020.

Q: Anything else you want to share?

Make sure to check out our new music video for “Take It All Away” and check out our debut album “Forward” on all digital streaming sites! We are also currently on tour til the end of November, so if we’re coming to your town, come rock with us!

CATCH BRAND OF JULEZ ON THE ROAD…

October

21st - Spokane, WA @ The Pin 

22nd - Seattle, WA @ Funhouse 

23rd - Portland, OR @ Paris Theater 

24th - Medford, OR @ Howiee’s on Front 

25th - Sacramento, CA @ Holy Diver 

26th - Fresno, CA @ Fulton 55 

27th - Las Vegas, CA @ The Dive Bar 

28th - West Hollywood, CA @ Whisky A Go Go 

29th - San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick 

30th - Bullhead City, AZ @ Lazy Harry’s Bar & Grill 

31st - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre 

November

2nd - Houston, TX @ Scout Bar 

3rd - Laredo, TX @ Electric Lounge 

4th - San Antonio, TX @ Bond’s 007 Bar 

8th - Brownsville, TX @ W1N Grill and Bar 

13th - Huntsville, AL @ SideTracks Music Hall 

15th - Tampa, FL @ Pegasus Lounge 

16th - Winter Park, FL @ The Haven Lounge 

17th - Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits 

18th - Greenville, SC @ The Radio Room 

21st - Baltimore, MD @ Sparta Inn 

22nd - Mercersburg, PA @ The Mercersburg Mansion House 

23rd - Altoona, PA @ McGarvey’s Bar 

Rock My Soul ft. Shiraz Lane

If you’re craving guitar and lots of it, you’ve come to the right place. Rock My Soul is here for it’s second month! In case you missed the intro, its a monthly playlist featuring new releases with a classic rock sound. With 30 days in the month of September, we present to you 30 song editions featuring the just released Greta Van Fleet track ‘Always There’, PLUS Children of the Sün, BRKN LOVE, Dirty Honey, Bonafide, The Standstills, Tequila Mockingbyrd, and more! Listen below or check it out directly on Spotify here.

September’s artist highlight is Shiraz Lane all the way from Finland! Scroll down to learn more about the band and to listen to their brand new track (and my latest obsession), ‘Do You’.

SHIRAZ LANE

“The uncompromised modern-day heirs of Peace, Love, and Rock N’ Roll were founded in 2011 in Vantaa, Finland. Shiraz LAne resonates through their double-edged guitar sound. Percussive ground pounding, and supersonic melodies.”

Hailing all the way from Finland, Shiraz Lane features Hannes Kett on Lead Vocals, Jani Laine on Lead Guitar, Miki Kalske on Rhythm Guitar, Joel Alex on Bass, and Ana Willman on Drums. The band originally started in 2011 but after a few years of searching the current lineup came together and found the harmony they had been looking for. The 5-piece finds Inspiration from Guns N' Roses, The Darkness, Skid Row, Aerosmith, Michael Jackson, funk, metal, and the list goes on. Those inspirations seep through their work. Just when you know how the song is going to play out, they add in an element that surprises yet delights.

Shiraz Lane has just released ‘Do You’, the first single off of their upcoming EP. “This groovy first single is molded of love and lust and will stick in your head for days,” shared the band. It’s upbeat, gives you the butterflies, and hits you with a stellar guitar solo. Listen to it below and look up our other favorite Shiraz Lane songs: ‘Tidal Wave’, ‘The Crown’, and ‘People Like Us.’

"Do You" is the first single taken from Shiraz Lane's upcoming EP. Name and release date TBA.

Rock My Soul ft. Joshua & The Holy Rollers

Introducing.. Rock My Soul, a new monthly playlist featuring new releases with a classic rock and blues sound. Kicking things off, listen to everyone from Greta Van Fleet to Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones, Rival Sons, Joyous Wolf, Kiss Kiss Bang, and more! Listen below or check it out directly on Spotify here.

With each monthly edition, we’ll highlight one band on the playlist. For the first feature, we are honored to share with you Joshua & The Holy Rollers. Keep scrolling to learn more about the band and to listen to their latest track, ‘Talks Like Alabama’.

JOSHUA & THE HOLY ROLLERS

“Halfway lullaby, halfway banger”, Joshua & The Holy Rollers is a 4-piece band based in Los Angeles.

Typically, the words incendiary and humble wouldn’t be seen together let alone in the same sentence, but Joshua & The Holy Rollers are doing the damn thing. Comprised of Mac Hanson, Logan Baudean, Alex Moore and Joey Larosa, the four come together to form a sweet southern symphony of guitar riffs, honest lyrics, and a whole lotta love for Coors Banquet Beer.

Don’t latch on to the idea that Joshua & The Holy Rollers are a little bit of this and a little bit of that - because it’s not like that. There is no stark switch. The music ebbs and flows like the blood pulsing through your veins - it’s smooth but when it crescendos, man, your heart starts pounding. Your body starts moving. And suddenly you find yourself wanting to whip your hair around and jump in with your air guitar.  

If you’ve ever caught me listening to JTHR in the car or at home, well, it looks something sort of, almost exactly like their video for ‘Talks Like Alabama’. It’s also a great representation of what you can expect when you see them live. Watch it below.

While they don’t have dates set in stone just yet, the guys of JTHR say new music is coming. Until then, do yourself a favor and catch them on the road at one of the dates below or you’ll find yourself singing, ‘I didn’t make the right choice, I should’ve listened to ya.”

CATCH JOSHUA & THE HOLY ROLLERS ON THE ROAD…

August 1 - Appleton, WI - Chadwick’s (Mile of Music) - 9:30 PM

August 2 - Appleton, WI - McFleshman’s (Mile of Music) - 9:50 PM

August 3 - Appleton, WI - Jones Park (Mile of Music) - 10:10 PM

August 4 - Appleton, WI - Spat’s (Mile of Music) - 7:10 PM

August 6 - Appleton, WI - Stone Arch Brewery Taproom - 7:00 PM

August 7 - Yorkville, IL - The Law Office Pub & Music Hall - 7:30 PM

August 13 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo - 8:00 PM

August 17 - Los Angeles, CA - Little Joy (Echo Park Rising) - 7:30 PM

New Pop Punk Essentials ft. Long Gone

Ready to fall deep into Pop Punk heaven? This new edition of New Pop Punk Essentials features songs from Long Gone, Knavery, Friday Giants, Bellevue, Magnolia Park, Honey Creek, Neckdeep, and many more.

Get to know the featured band Long Gone below and if you’re in Chicago, check out their show on August 14th. Details here.

LONG GONE

Long Gone is a four-piece pop punk band from Chicago, Illinois. The band just released their EP, ‘Something Better’ produced by Seth Henderson of Always Be Genius. For that signature pop punk sound you fell in love with, give Long Gone a listen.

(Photo: Kaitlyn Johnston Photography)

New Pop Punk Essentials ft. Kayak Jones

“You swear it’s getting better every day”

True for the name of Kayak Jones’ new album and a standing statement for Gavin’s New Pop Punk Essentials. This edition boasts a strong 64 songs featuring You vs Yesterday, Big Smile, Bellevue, WVNDER, bloom., and SO many more.

Listen to the new edition and meet the guys of Kayak Jones below.

Kayak Jones

Kayak Jones is a four-piece band from Dubuque, IA that stands at the end of an emotional crisis. Their delicate balance of emo, pop-punk, and guts-out radio grinds out its confessions the same way you might at critical junctures: with grit teeth, white knuckles, and double the heart. 

New Pop Punk Essentials ft. Weigh The Anchor

Gavin’s back with another edition of New Pop Punk Essentials featuring Weigh the Anchor. Plus Big Smile, Scarlet Street, You vs Yesterday, FELICITY, and more. This weeks update even includes Silverstein and New Found Glory. Turn it up and meet Weigh the Anchor below.

WEIGH THE ANCHOR

A 5 piece pop-punk band out of Oakville, ON.

Formed in 2016, Weigh The Anchor has been hard at work, trying to make a dent in the local music scene. Bringing you the upbeat feel and bounce of pop punk riffs, along with some punchy/heavy breakdowns and melodic vocals. We aim to combine the feel of the music that we grew up with, and love so much, with a creative and modern sound.

International Women's Day [PLAYLIST]

As most of you know, March 8th is International Women’s Day. On this day, we celebrate women. These are the women who create to inspire us. These women become the women who inspire us to create. We realize the impact of equality. No one is in competition with each other. We are equal, not identical.

Here are some awesome tunes to showcase some of the many amazing women in music.

New Pop Punk Essentials

Forget what you’ve heard - Pop Punks not dead.

Banded PR is proud to announce that we’ve partnered up with Gavin Bonar’s New Pop Punk Essentials! Updated on a weekly basis, the playlist features a strong 3+ hours of new 'pop punk' from names you know and names you should know.

Each month, we’ll be highlighting one band you’ll hear on the playlist - so stay tuned!

Love, Lust, And Rock N Roll [PLAYLIST]

Another year, another Valentine’s Day. Instead of celebrating with some soft + mushy music - we present to you, “love, lust, and rock n roll”! Featuring some of our favorites including Joshua and the Holy Rollers, Greta Van Fleet, Goodbye June, Hannah Wicklund, and more.