SAD DADDY RELEASES HILARIOUSLY HEARTWARMING VIDEO FOR "CHARLIE PICKLE"

SAD DADDY’S NEW VIDEO “CHARLIE PICKLE” PREMIERES VIA TWANGVILLE

 NEW LP WAY UP IN THE HILLS DUE OUT JANUARY 28TH

Photo: Annemarie Sundell

WATCH: “CHARLIE PICKLE”

 Arkansas/Texas four-piece roots powerhouse Sad Daddy has unveiled their hilariously heartwarming new video for “Charlie Pickle,” the lead single from their forthcoming LP, Way Up In The Hills, due out on January 28th. “It’s about an old-timer who just doesn’t care what other people think and is frequently spurred to dance,” says Twangville in the video’s premiere. “It always reminded the band how friends and fans dance at shows. Fiddler Rebecca Patek came up with the idea of having friends send clips of themselves dancing, and as luck would have it Halloween was upon them. The clips were edited together to create the video for Charlie Pickle...If this doesn’t leave you with a smile, you need some serious therapy.”

LISTEN: “CHARLIE PICKLE”

Since 2010, Sad Daddy has traveled down many a road--together and separately--at times focusing on their solo projects and then reuniting for a band project. The four members, Brian Martin, Joe Sundell, Rebecca Patek, and Melissa Carper, all conspired and united in the sudden spare time of 2020 to create their third album, Way Up in the Hills. 

They all met up at Brian’s cabin in Greers Ferry, Arkansas, and over a couple of bottles of chocolate milk and a few jugs of whiskey they collaborated, writing and arranging songs specifically for the new album. A first for Sad Daddy, they took the brand-new bones of each other’s ideas and worked on them as a band to construct and finish the songs. The collective decided on a down-home, back-to-the-country theme—a reflection on the state of the world and the desire to go back to simpler ways and self-sufficiency, goin’ way up in the hills and letting the chaos settle. 

Engineer Jordan Trotter brought his equipment into the cabin and the band recorded 14 original tunes live and in a circle. The feeling of being at a lakeside "home" studio in the serene Arkansas woods was distilled into sound and a genuine relaxed and good time vibe purveys the recordings. Sad Daddy explored using unique sounds, recording stomps on the cabin’s porch, hamboning, using the natural sounds of insects buzzing and bacon sizzling, mouth didgeridoo, handclaps, double clawhammer banjo, and more, along with the foursome’s strong vocals and harmonies. 

 With a long and dedicated history of making their audiences happy, Sad Daddy is emerging rejuvenated with Way Up in the Hills. With a more down-home and old-timey feel than their previous albums, they all stretched themselves a bit to create a common theme and new songs together. Unique to Sad Daddy, all of the members sing lead and write original tunes--the convergence of influences and interpretation of feeling into sound is a stylistic blend of the very best elements of American Roots Music. From the sounds of early blues, jazz, and jug bands to early country, folk, old-time, bluegrass, soul, and funk, they combine many influences, creating an indefinable genre of their own.  

NASHVILLE DUO HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN RELEASE THIRD SINGLE “WHISTLING TREE” TODAY

“…a distinctly queer story of forbidden love… [‘Whistling Tree’] anchored on the image of their secret meeting place in a nearby forest, the singer urges her lover to stay strong.” – Country Queer

Photo by Caroline Voisine

“WHISTLING TREE” VIDEO ||  SPOTIFY 

NASHVILLE, TENN. - Nashville duo Haunted Like Human - Cody Clark (multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter) and Dale Chapman (lead singer, lyricist) – release their new single “Whistling Tree” today.

The third single from the forthcoming Tall Tales & Fables, is a stormy, ominous song full of the joy and danger of forbidden love.

“It’s one of the most personal songs I’ve ever written, and it took a year,” says Dale Chapman. “The inspiration really came from a good friend of mine who attempted suicide in high school because her parents were making her life a nightmare trying to keep her away from her girlfriend. As I really came into my own identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, this story felt more and more important to tell. The image of the tree is a place of life and death, love and hate, all wrapped into one.”

Tall Tales & Fables, available October 15, delves deeper into inspired songwriting, sparse arrangements, and, naturally, the frisson-inducing harmonies that marked their previous two releases. Glide Magazine noted of their songwriting recipe “…take a cup of orchestrated folk, sprinkle in some angelic harmonies, and pour in full-bodied production and you get the earthy joy of this Nashville duo.”

Despite the album’s title, these songs are honest, above all else. Real, tender, messy honesty.

BUZZ

“The stirring acoustic number [“Stay”] puts mental health at the forefront, as they ride ravaged waters with grace and ease, alongside a peaceful melody of guitar and strings complementing their haunting, yet serene harmonies.” -AudioFemme

“… the cinematic “Ghost Towns,” combines a Damien Rice-like heartfelt basket of musical nuances atop an atmospheric gleam.” – Glide Magazine

 “…chilling yet angelic… [“Ghost Towns”] resembles the wisdom a grey sparrow might sing you after it lands on a fence from a long flight north. It offers the song as wisdom as the creature catches its breath before moving on again. ‘How do I set you free when the lost don’t want to be found?’ it might whistle. ‘There’s nothing left here for you now.’” –American Songwriter

ABOUT HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN:

Hoping to find collaborators who were serious about music, Clark drove from Oregon to Nashville in 2017. Within a couple days, he met Chapman at a coffee shop. She deduced that he was a lost tourist and struck up a conversation, leading to a cowriting session. Next thing they knew, Clark had relocated to Nashville and they were making their first album, Ghost Stories.  On the heels of that, they offered up their Folklore EP, featuring standout single “Feels Like Fire.” While that EP sought to channel the minimalist, intimate spirit of their live shows, Tall Tales & Fables is the next step in their maturation. Polished but not shiny, the album benefits from Mitch Dane’s production. Together with skilled string players, the album developed its own life while staying true to Clark and Chapman’s partnership, one built on literal and metaphorical voices.

U.S. TOUR DATES

OCT 1 / THE PLAINS, OH @ Pleasant Folk Café
OCT 9 / HUNTSVILLE, AL @ Yellowhammer Brewing
OCT 14 / NASHVILLE, TN @ The 5 Spot (Album Release Show)
OCT 16 / PAINTSVILLE, KY @ Alley On Main
OCT 23 / GREENVILLE, SC @ The Velo Fellow
OCT 29 / MOBILE, AL @ The People’s Room
NOV 5 / HOLLAND, MI @ The Park Theatre

“STAY” OUT NOW || SPOTIFY || LISTEN
“GHOST TOWNS” ||  SPOTIFY || LISTEN
“WHISTLING TREE” VIDEO ||  SPOTIFY

KEEP UP WITH HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN
WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || TWITTER || INSTAGRAM || YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY

OUT TODAY: ALISA AMADOR’S DEBUT MINI-ALBUM NARRATIVES

OUT TODAY:

ALISA AMADOR’S DEBUT MINI-ALBUM NARRATIVES

“Alisa Amador is a pitch-perfect rendition of my wildest dreams” - NPR

“These are Alisa Amador’s fight songs” - The Boston Globe

“Alisa Amador sings with the ease of someone who has been performing for the entirety of her life” - American Songwriter 

"...her latest effort is a document of the breadth of human experience, examining the narratives that encompass us amidst powerful indie folk arrangements” - Under The Radar

"Alisa Amador’s Narratives does what an EP is meant to do. It gives a taste of Amador’s sweet vocals and melodies, leaving the listener wanting more.” - PopMatters

"Not only can you sense her own musical drive and talent, you can almost feel how she puts her soul into her multi-genre art…Alisa Amador is a prime example of the amazing music Boston churns out” - WERS

“…knocks together the worlds of Lake Street Dive and Fiona Apple into a tell-it like it is a morning anthem. With skatty jazz bravado and an engaging vocal presentation, Amador is a chill addition to the ’70s influenced singer-songwriter sect”- Glide Magazine

"Her songcraft is deeply personal, examining her intersecting identities, but there’s something universally relevant about the way she approaches these themes, her warm and wise voice skipping from genre to genre like stones across a glassy lake.” - Audiofemme

“…a breath of fresh air” - Sound Of Boston

“Amador’s crystalline vocal delivery set against soul-soothing grooves and playful lyrics will make your heart skip a beat.” - East Of 8th

LISTEN: NARRATIVES 

Today, Boston-based artist Alisa Amador has released Narratives, her critically-acclaimed debut mini-album. This six-song snapshot in time is a deep look at a person stumbling through life in two languages — English and Spanish — and in many states of mind about it all. 

Album opener “Timing,” a familiar tale of romantic uncertainty, accompanied by an irresistible horn section, was featured on Spotify’s "Fresh Finds,” "Fresh Finds: Indie,” and "Stay in Bed" playlists, as well as Apple Music’s "Now That's What I Call Today's Top Hits.” “Slow Down,” a Queen-tinged self-care anthem, was written a healing exercise meant to give a name to the chaos of navigating strained work relationships and an endless to-do list, while Beatles-esque standout “Burnt And Broken,” highlighted at The Bluegrass Situation, calls out rape culture and toxic masculinity. 

Intentionally sparse in its arrangement, “Burnt and Broken” examines myriad systems of oppression. “Violence stems from fear, and fear grows from a lack of understanding,” Amador says. “An absence of a conversation around these violences causes such pain.” 

“Alone,” a three-and-a-half-minute dissertation on the importance of committing to self-love with abandon, is followed by “Nada Que Ver,” a love song entirely in Spanish, which she says is “the language closest to my heart, and the language of some of my most vulnerable writing. This song is me bargaining with love. Stating clearly what I want and naming my qualms.”  Album closer “Together,” is a song about systemic violence which Under The Radar called “a heartwarming tribute to friendship and camaraderie. Amador begins stark and solitary, accompanied only by the steady chime of her guitar as she acknowledges the pain that all too often defines life’s experiences.

WATCH: “TIMING” 

WATCH: “SLOW DOWN”

WATCH: “NADA QUE VER”

“The word ‘narratives’ encompasses not only the existing cultural messages that hurt people individually and collectively,” Amador says, “but also the revolutionary power of writing ourselves new narratives; rejecting a culture of fear; and catalyzing a culture of honesty, bravery, and self-love in the process.” 

When listening to Amador’s music, her time spent immersed in Latin folk and jazz is undoubtedly present in her own songs, written in both English and Spanish. But there is also pop, funk, soul, and something uniquely her own. Her specialty is sparking connection across both listeners and musical styles. Working with producer Daniel Radin (The Novel Ideas, Future Teens), Narratives concentrates on the journey of Amador’s live set, taking listeners through songs that may elicit a laugh, bring introspection, offer a cathartic cry, or encourage a sing-along. 

The genre-bending effort is as empowering as it is heart-wrenching. These songs explore themes of romance and heartbreak, of chaos and healing, exposing systems of oppression and shining a light on the intricacies of the human condition. They might break your heart open, but by the end, it will be mended, uplifted, and stronger—a ‘Life and Love Survival Kit' in the form of a bilingual EP. Click HERE to order Narratives.

TOUR DATES

9/19 - P.M. Sundays  - Richmond, VT

9/22 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

9/23 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

10/7 - Fruitlands Museum - Harvard, MA

10/15 - Somerville Theatre - Somerville, MA*

10/22 - The Foundry - West Stockbridge, MA

11/1 - City Winery New York - New York, NY

11/8 - City Winery New York - New York, NY

11/19 - Rockwood Music Hall - New York, NY

* w/ Billy Wylder

ELEANOR BUCKLAND’S SECOND SINGLE “STATIC” PREMIERES ON UNDER THE RADAR TODAY! THE LULA WILES SINGER/GUITARIST MAKES SOLO DEBUT WITH YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW DUE OCTOBER 29th ON SOUNDLY MUSIC

ELEANOR BUCKLAND’S SECOND SINGLE “STATIC” PREMIERES ON

UNDER THE RADAR TODAY! 

THE LULA WILES SINGER/GUITARIST MAKES SOLO DEBUT WITH

YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW DUE OCTOBER 29th ON SOUNDLY MUSIC

Photo Credit: Laura Partain

“STATIC” LISTEN || PRE-SAVE

 Eleanor Buckland continues to push outside musical boundaries on her second single “Static” available on 8/20.

Fighting against her own anxiety and inspired by the fearlessness she witnessed in others, Eleanor went to the studio with a unique goal in mind. “In the studio, we wanted this song to have reckless momentum as is often the case with anxiety,” Eleanor explains. “So, we let the electric guitar and Wurlitzer drive that intensity of sound.”

Under The Radar  enthused in their premiere, “Restless driving rhythms and smoky guitar licks make their way to the forefront on, “Static,” introducing an anxious and insistent side to Buckland’s music…celestial harmonies add a stark beauty to the track, all while Buckland finds herself searching for hope and meaning, but drowned out by the noise of anxiety.” 

Eleanor Buckland first made her mark in the Boston-based folk-rock trio Lula Wiles that has become an acoustic music scene favorite with their three critically hailed albums. During this time, however, Buckland was also working on another musical project – her own album. You Don’t Have To Know (due October 29 on Soundly Music) spotlights a different side of Buckland’s musical interests as it sets her deeply personal songs against inventive indie rock arrangements.  

Last month, she debuted with the single “Don’t Look Down” that premiered on BTR Today: “…a catchy indie number that somehow perfectly juxtaposes feelings of desperation and gloom with optimism and hopefulness. With energetic indie beats paired with Buckland’s soothing delicate vocals, ‘Don’t Look Down’ creates a balance between dark and light energies that makes you feel cleansed within.”

On You Don’t Have To Know, Buckland takes listeners on an emotional journey as her songs address love complicated and love lost, explore struggles with depression and insecurity, and grapple with feelings of uncertainty and helplessness. Or as Buckland succinctly describes the album: “It’s about me trying to figure out who I am and who I was at that time.”

ABOUT ELEANOR BUCKLAND

Born and raised in Maine, Buckland comes from a family full of musicians. Her grandmother, Betty Buckland, was prominent in the New England bluegrass scene, while her father, Andy Buckland, played electric guitar in Boston area bands. It’s not surprising then that someone who grew up playing bluegrass fiddle music as well as a healthy dose of Michelle Branch and Sheryl Crow would wind up with varied musical tastes – something Buckland clearly demonstrates on her solo debut.  

“DON’T LOOK DOWN” (OUT NOW) YOUTUBE || STREAM

“STATIC” LISTEN || PRE-SAVE

Photo Credit: Laura Partain

KEEP UP WITH ELEANOR BUCKLAND

WEBSITE || INSTAGRAM || TWITTER || SPOTIFY || YOUTUBE

NASHVILLE DUO HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN RELEASE “CINEMATIC” (-GLIDE MAGAZINE) SINGLE “GHOST TOWNS” ON 8/20 “CHILLING YET ANGELIC” – AMERICAN SONGWRITER

NASHVILLE DUO HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN RELEASE “CINEMATIC” (-GLIDE MAGAZINE)

SINGLE “GHOST TOWNS” ON 8/20 

“CHILLING YET ANGELIC” – AMERICAN SONGWRITER

Photo Credit: Caroline Voisine

“GHOST TOWNS” ||  SPOTIFY

 Nashville duo Haunted Like Human - Cody Clark (multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter) and Dale Chapman (lead singer, lyricist) – release their new single “Ghost Towns” today. 

The second single from the forthcoming Tall Tales & Fables, considers what happens to a place that needs to be left behind.

“… the cinematic “Ghost Towns,” combines a Damien Rice-like heartfelt basket of musical nuances atop an atmospheric gleam.” – Glide Magazine

“[‘Ghost Towns’] resembles the wisdom a grey sparrow might sing you after it lands on a fence from a long flight north. It offers the song as wisdom as the creature catches its breath before moving on again. ‘How do I set you free when the lost don’t want to be found?’ it might whistle. ‘There’s nothing left here for you now.’” – American Songwriter

 Tall Tales & Fables available October 15, delves deeper into inspired songwriting, sparse arrangements, and, naturally, the frisson-inducing harmonies that marked their previous two releases. Despite the album’s title, these songs are honest, above all else. Real, tender, messy honesty.

“We put a ton of emphasis on storytelling in each of our songs. We tell our own stories, we tell other people’s stories, we tell stories that we’ve seen from touring,” says Cody Clark.

The first single “Stay,” released last month, is a “stirring acoustic number puts mental health at the forefront, as they ride ravaged waters with grace and ease, alongside a peaceful melody of guitar and strings complementing their haunting, yet serene harmonies.” -AudioFemme

ABOUT HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN:

Hoping to find collaborators who were serious about music, Clark drove from Oregon to Nashville in 2017. Within a couple days, he met Chapman at a coffee shop. She deduced that he was a lost tourist and struck up a conversation, leading to a cowriting session. Next thing they knew, Clark had relocated to Nashville and they were making their first album, Ghost Stories.  On the heels of that, they offered up their Folklore EP, featuring standout single “Feels Like Fire.” While that EP sought to channel the minimalist, intimate spirit of their live shows, Tall Tales & Fables is the next step in their maturation. Polished but not shiny, the album benefits from Mitch Dane’s production. Together with skilled string players, the album developed its own life while staying true to Clark and Chapman’s partnership, one built on literal and metaphorical voices.

Tall Tales & Fables will be self-released on October 15, 2021.

“STAY” OUT NOW || SPOTIFY || LISTEN

“GHOST TOWNS” ||  SPOTIFY || LISTEN

KEEP UP WITH HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN

WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || TWITTER || INSTAGRAM || YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY

SEAN ROWE RELEASES NEW SINGLE “LITTLE DEATH”

SEAN ROWE RELEASES NEW SINGLE 

“LITTLE DEATH”  

NEW LP  THE DARKNESS DRESSED IN COLORED LIGHTS 

OUT ON OCTOBER 8TH VIA FLUFF & GRAVY RECORDS 

Photo credit: Joe Navas

LISTEN // WATCH: “LITTLE DEATH”   

Today, internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Sean Rowe has released “Little Death,” the latest from his forthcoming LP The Darkness Dressed In Colored Lights, due out on October 8th via Fluff & Gravy Records. “The dissolving of a relationship can be an internal kind of Mad Max, apocalyptic struggle with your brain who seems to be at odds with you. I do think it’s a universally interesting and scary time and worth writing about,” says Rowe, and adds that “Little Death” is about “that strange elation that comes at the end of a long journey with another soul. I originally wrote the song on guitar but while working out the parts in the studio, Ben Lester came up with that signature piano line which stood out to me like the piano in werewolves of London,” he adds. “Not that it sounds like that part but just in the way that you can’t imagine that song without Zevon’s piano line in it!”  

“Little Death” follows lead single “To Make It Real,” which, as Holler said, “looks at the aftermath of heartbreak, when the reality of a relationship's end sets in.” “Lyrically — this is for me — a kind of recurring theme that I find in many of my songs,” Rowe explained. “Which is to say that I’m alluding to the duality that I feel is in all of us. All the hidden parts and all the guts that spill out when we’re faced with tragedy, adversity, or a broken heart.”  

LISTEN: “TO MAKE IT REAL” 

The Darkness Dressed In Colored Lights was forged in the fires of self-discovery and acceptance and is the result of work Rowe’s been doing to build a fitter, happier version of himself. He credits therapy and a guided ayahuasca retreat with helping him to reach this understanding. Over the course of an intense weekend, he had experiences that stripped away his anger and defenses and brought him to a place of intense beauty and peace--he realized we create the heaven and the hell that swirls in our heads, and we have to choose in which of those dimensions we want to reside. This album is ripe with both. 

Through its 11 gut-punching tracks, Rowe tackles everything from losing oneself in the despair of heartache to rising from the ashes—the paradox between what once was and what now is, and sometimes being lost in the in-between. His powerful baritone spans the gamut of emotions - and on this record, he makes it clear that at some point it’s hard not to feel them all at once. Every song cuts right to the quick. 

Rowe has also spent years in the woods exploring, foraging, and obsessively learning all that he could about the natural world around him. Through his web series, Can I Eat This?, he’s found a means of indulging two of his great passions: music and nature. In each of the episodes of Can I Eat This?, Sean goes on a foraging mission for all manner of wild foods and uses the harvest to prepare some tasty creation. To check out Can I Eat This? visit Sean's YouTube Channel   

The Darkness Dressed in Colored Lights will be released on CD and double-vinyl, as well as available on all streaming services on October 8th.  Click HERE to pre-order. 

TOUR DATES: 

8/12: Syracuse, NY | The 443 Social Club 

9/22 - 9/25: Nashville, TN | AMERICANAFEST (Official Showcase) 

9/30: Portsmouth, NH | The Press Room 

10/1: Portland, ME | Sun Tiki Studios 

10/2: Cambridge, MA | Club Passim 

10.20: Vienna, VA | Jammin Java 

10/24: Norfolk, VA | North Shore Point House Concerts 

11/3 & 11/4: Brooklyn, NY | Union Pool 

11/5: Kennett Square, PA | Kennett Flash 

11/6: Rochester, NY | Abilene 

11/19: Northampton, MA | The Parlor Room 

11/20: Egremont, MA | Egremont Barn 

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? "BALANCE AN REVERENCE FOR MUSICAL TRADITION WITH AN IRREVERENT SENSE OF HUMOR" (-XPN) ON SOPHOMORE ALBUM HARD FEELINGS OUT TODAY

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? "BALANCE AN REVERENCE FOR MUSICAL TRADITION WITH AN IRREVERENT SENSE OF HUMOR" (-XPN) ON SOPHOMORE ALBUM HARD FEELINGS OUT TODAY  

"Deep subjects, brought into manageable perspective by merciless satire." - At The Barrier

Photo Credit: Jesse Gennett

“HARD FEELINGS” VIDEO || WATCH

HARD FEELINGS ALBUM ||  SPOTIFY OR PURCHASE

 Philadelphia-based duo Andrew Fullerton (vocals, guitar) and Matt Orlando (vocals, banjo) - behind the quirky, punchy nügrass band Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves? – find their full voice on the sophomore album Hard Feelings out today!

The album continues their subversive and often humorous approach to heavy subjects. “This record is about the difficult conversations we have with ourselves, our partners, and our friends and family,” says Fullerton. “And also how do we have these conversations with empathy.”

“It’s just the two of us when we tour, so Andrew and I have these very deep, existential conversations about our lives, love, nihilism, music, and all these different things,” adds Orlando. “The songs were born from those conversations”

Recently, the duo released the video for the title track “Hard Feelings” about a weary, time-tested relationship with accompanying video directed by Big Howl (Nicole Atkins “Brokedown Luck” & “Mind Eraser”, Netflix’s Worn Stories). For the video, the Big Howl art department built the Andrew and Matt dummies from a YouTube tutorial and most of the dolls were sourced from co-director Paul Triggiani’s mom’s personal doll collection.  

“The Big Howl guys really understand the bizarre tenderness I try to convey in my songwriting,” says Andrew Fullerton. “Usually I send them the song and they say ‘how weird do you want to get’ and I just say ‘I trust you.’ You can tell from the story that the woman and her dummies go back away and their relationship has it’s up and downs as well.”

The sophomore album Hard Feelings is out now.

BUZZ

“Indie-folk duo Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves balance a reverence for musical tradition with an irreverent sense of humor, and both of those worlds collide in their new music video for ‘Hard Feelings.’” – TheKey.xpn.org 

“There’s a definite energy to the band Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves, and the touch of banjo slowly building its way in to anchor [“Little In Love”] is a sweet touch. Enjoy the Americana sentiments of what’s sometimes known as the “6w” band. And really — who isn’t a little in love with everyone?” - Americana Highways 

“…indicative of that easy folk approach, with a light, country tone that’s easy on the ears… a beautiful and wistful fiddle. You may be pursuing what you love, but there are residual effects of that, some of which are not always so positive on others.” – V13 

“Listening to Hard Feelings is a little like experiencing a whirlwind.  The songs are all great fun, there’s a lot of energy and (deliberately) little subtlety…this is an album that you can hear over and over and find new quirks in the lyrics each time.” – At The Barrier

HARD FEELINGS ALBUM ||  SPOTIFY OR PURCHASE

“QUITTIN'” SINGLE  || SPOTIFY OR YOUTUBE

“LITTLE IN LOVE'” SINGLE || SPOTIFY OR YOUTUBE 

KEEP UP WITH WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOVES

WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM || YOUTUBE || BANDCAMP || SPOTIFY

AJ LEE AND BLUE SUMMIT UNVEIL LATEST SINGLE “WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND” VIA BLUEGRASS TODAY

AJ LEE AND BLUE SUMMIT UNVEIL 

LATEST SINGLE “WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND”  

VIA BLUEGRASS TODAY 

NEW LP I’LL COME BACK OUT ON AUGUST 20TH 

Photo: Hannah Ballinger

LISTEN: “WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND”   

Today, award-winning Bay Area-based roots powerhouse AJ Lee and Blue Summit (“AJLBS”) released “When You Change Your Mind,” the new single from their forthcoming LP I’ll Come Back, due out August 20th. Of the band, Bluegrass Today said that “it is hard to argue with their success. Lee is part of the same class of [Youth In Bluegrass] artists that produced Molly Tuttle. In fact, AJ was a member of Molly’s family band for many years, performing as The Tuttles with AJ Lee when they were teens. Now heading up her own group, Lee is out front on lead vocals and mandolin, supported by Molly’s younger brother, Sullivan Tuttle, and Jesse Fichman on guitar, Jan Purat on fiddle, and Chad Bowen on bass,” they added. “Like many young performers, when Lee started her group in 2015 they began to experiment and push against the boundaries of what they had grown up playing, but in the end the grass calls them home.” 

Lee said the song is about drinking and thinking about “how you’ll never be deserving of someone who loves you because you’ll only hurt them in the end. You’ve also got your own issues and it’s too much trouble to explain yourself to someone else.” While AJLBS enjoys stretching their creative muscles, Lee reveals that they always come back to their favorite genre—bluegrass.  

“When You Change Your Mind” follows the release of “Lemons and Tangerines,” and “Magdalene,” of which Country Queer noted, “This band is good in the bluegrass way…they use their skill not to show off, but to build songs that are sturdy as houses, with plenty of room for guests, and ready for any weather.”  

LISTEN: “LEMONS AND TANGERINES”  

LISTEN: “MAGDALENE” 

Unlike their first record, which featured experimentation with session musicians and electric instruments, I’ll Come Back is a pure reflection of the live sound of the group, hearkening back to their acoustic roots. Each band member performs at their peak, and the variety of songs on the record caters to their broad fanbase. Certain tracks (“Put Your Head Down” and “Faithful”) fall more in the classic bluegrass realm of songwriting, while others (“Lemons and Tangerines” and “I’ll Come Back”) fall into that hard-to-define realm of acoustic Americana that blends mesmerizing lyricism and acoustic mastery.  

Although falling loosely under the bluegrass label, AJLBS generally plays sans banjo, using their configuration effectively to create unique space and texture in the arrangements not as commonly found in the music of their peers. Drawing from influences such as country, soul, swing, rock, and jam music, the band uses the lens of bluegrass as a vessel through which to express and explore the thread that binds and unifies all great music.  

TOUR DATES  

AUG 7 - The Independent @ 8:00pm - San Francisco, CA [ALBUM RELEASE SHOW]* 

AUG 13 - Caffe Lena @ 8:00pm - Saratoga Springs, NY 

AUG 14 - Podunk Bluegrass Festival 2021 @ 12:20pm - Goshen, CT 

AUG 15 - Hardeman Orchards @ 7:30pm - Red Hook, NY 

AUG 16 - Truro Vineyards @ 8:00pm - North Truro, MA 

AUG 18 - Watermelon Wednesdays @ 3:00pm - Williamsburg, MA 

AUG 18 Watermelon Wednesdays @ 7:30pm - Williamsburg, MA *SOLD OUT* 

AUG 19 - Music Hall @ 6:00pm - Portsmouth, NH 

AUG 19 - Music Hall @ 8:00pm - Portsmouth, NH 

AUG 20 - Mauch Chunk Opera House @ 8:00pm - Jim Thorpe, PA  

AUG 21 - Della Mae's Fam Fest @ 2:00pm - Round Hill, VA 

AUG 22 - Stages Music Arts @ 7:00pm - Cockeysville, MD 

AUG 26 - Casa Flamenca, Inc. @ 7:30pm - Albuquerque, NM 

AUG 27 - Wildwood Sounds @ 7:00pm - Del Norte, CO 

AUG 28 - Taos Center for the Arts @ 7:30pm - Taos, NM 

AUG 29 - Number Thirty Eight @ 8:00pm - Denver, CO 

AUG 30 - MainStage Brewing Company @ 6:00pm - Lyons, CO 

AUG 31 - Sherbino Theater @ 7:00pm - Ridgway, CO 

SEP 1 - Dolores River Brewery @ 7:00pm - Dolores, CO 

SEP 3 -  Four Corners Folk Festival 2021 @ 7:00pm - Pagosa Springs, CO 

SEP 10 - Sierra Meadows @ 7:30pm - Ahwahnee, CA 

SEP 11 - Black Oak Concert Series @ 7:00pm - Tuolumne, CA 

SEP 18 - Whale Rock Music Festival @ 7:00pm - Templeton, CA 

SEP 19  - Lodi Grape Festival Grounds @ 6:00pm - Lodi, CA 

SEP 24 - FreshGrass Festival 2021 @ 11:00am - North Adams, MA 

SEP 22-25 - AMERICANAFEST -  Nashville, TN 

OCT 1 - Sisters Folk Festival 2021 @ 12:00pm - Sisters, OR 

OCT 8 - McCabe’s Guitar Shop @ 8:00pm - Santa Monica, CA 

OCT 9 - Paramount Ranch @ 3:00pm - Agoura Hills, CA 

OCT 30 - Felton Music Hall @ 8:30pm - Felton, CA 

NOV 20 - Hopmonk Tavern @ 8:00pm - Novato, CA^ 

* w/ The Sam Chase Trio & The Coffis Brothers 

^w/ The Coffis Brothers 

CONNECT WITH AJ LEE AND BLUE SUMMIT:   

WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM || TWITTER || YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY    

ROSS COOPER RELEASES CHASING OLD HIGHS DELUXE EDITION ON OCTOBER 1, 2021 FEATURING TWO NEW SONGS

ROSS COOPER RELEASES CHASING OLD HIGHS DELUXE EDITION

ON OCTOBER 1, 2021 FEATURING TWO NEW SONGS

 U.S. TOUR DATES CONFIRMED FOR SUMMER/FALL

“CHASING OLD HIGHS” ACOUSTIC VIDEO  WATCH || STREAM

Nashville-based, Texas-raised Americana artist Ross Cooper will release a deluxe edition of his album Chasing Old Highs on October 1, 2021. The album includes two new songs “Cowboy Things” and the single “Indian Summer,” due August 27, 2021. He will celebrate both releases on the road this summer/fall with tour dates throughout the U.S.

“Cowboy Things” was written by Phillip Lammonds and marks the first time Cooper has cut a song he’s not penned. “This song blew me away the first time I heard it,” he recalls. “It’s been a really long time since a song has stopped me in my tracks like this one did.”

 The song tells the story of a cowboy pulling on his boots for the last time. “The language and vocabulary in the song are perfect. The finger picking. The melody. Everything. It’s a song that I wish I would’ve written and can’t believe hasn’t been cut. I’m so proud to get to play this one, and I’m thankful Phillip wrote it.”

 The new single “Indian Summer,” a co-write with Gable Bradley, is about losing a love that you knew you couldn’t keep in the first place.  Although new to the album, it was written a couple years ago. “It’s one of those songs that’s always stayed in the back of my head. I’ve caught myself singing it at random and knew it was time to bring it to life,” says Cooper.

Chasing Old Highs was originally released in February 2021. Upon release, the title track was featured on the Spotify Emerging Americana playlist and Ross was a featured DJ on Gimme Country. He has received praise for his songwriting including many of the album singles:

“Cooper’s voice is defiant and haunting as he praises the resilience of his neighbors, who never met a devil they couldn’t tame. ‘It feels like home in a hell,’ the former bronc rider sings of his gritty stomping grounds, ‘but we’re still here, south of the angels.’”

– Rolling Stone Country Music Pick for “South of the Angels”

 “Ross Cooper is putting his faith in the universe and trying to put his worries out of his mind on his new song ‘Freewheelin’ Feelin’”. – The Boot

 “…with a dose of promise and positivity…[“Hello Sunshine”] inspired by the feeling of waking up on a good day…” – American Songwriter

 “…from the perspective of a rodeo champion, one who can’t keep up with the physical demands of the sport. He recorded a special acoustic version with his dog Jack sitting by his side – well, at least through the first verse. Pups buck to their own time, too.”

 – Holler Country “Artist of the Week” 

ABOUT ROSS COOPER: Ross Cooper grew up surrounded by the melancholy of Lubbock, Texas, floating between his love of horses and song. Watching and listening, he developed an alternative western songwriting style rooted in the craft of the great Lone Star writers Robert Earl Keen and Townes Van Zandt, tempered by a Springsteen-style spirit of the lost road – and anchored by a musical soundtrack sparkling like the big, bright stars at night. Never has that sound been more apparent than on his album Chasing Old Highs.

U.S. TOUR DATES

AUG 13 / FORT WORTH, TX @ Live at Billy Bob’s

AUG 14 / POST, TX @ Post Stampede Rodeo
AUG 27 / NEW BRAUNFELS, TX @ Gruene Hall

AUG 28 / LUBBOCK, TX @ Blue Light Lubbock
NOV 5 / FORT COLLINS, CO @ Sundance Steakhouse & Saloon

NOV 6 / KEARNEY, NE @ Joe’s Honky Tonk

NOV 11 / GREAT FALLS, MT @ The Newberry

NOV 12 / MILLS, WY @ Beacon Club

CHASING OLD HIGHS DELXUE EDITION

RELEASE DATE:  OCTOBER 1, 2021

SINGLE “INDIAN SUMMER”

RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 27, 2021

 KEEP UP WITH ROSS COOPER

WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM || TWITTER || SPOTIFY

NASHVILLE DUO HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN RELEASE FIRST SINGLE “STAY” ON 7/23 ALBUM TALL TALES & FABLES COMING OCTOBER 15, 2021

NASHVILLE DUO HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN RELEASE FIRST SINGLE “STAY” ON 7/23 

ALBUM TALL TALES & FABLES COMING OCTOBER 15, 2021

Photo Credit: Caroline Voisine

“STAY” LISTEN

NASHVILLE, TENN. - On their new record Tall Tales & Fables (out October 15), Nashville duo Haunted Like Human - Cody Clark (multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter) and Dale Chapman (lead singer, lyricist) - delve deeper into inspired songwriting, sparse arrangements, and, naturally, the frisson-inducing harmonies that marked their previous two releases. Despite the album’s title, these songs are honest, above all else. Real, tender, messy honesty.

Today, they premiere the first single “Stay,” that deploys vocal counterpoint to heighten the friction at the heart of the song.

“The stirring acoustic number puts mental health at the forefront, as they ride ravaged waters with grace and ease, alongside a peaceful melody of guitar and strings complementing their haunting, yet serene harmonies.” -AudioFemme

“These are some of my favorite harmonies that we’ve written,” says Chapman. The song deals with a relationship fractured by mental illness, and the harmonies tell both sides of the story. “It’s about looking your demons in the eye, laying all your cards on the table, and reckoning with the damage that’s been done. In the bridge, it’s all stripped down to two people pleading for the other to not give up on them, which I think is so uncomfortably honest and powerful,” Chapman says. Clark and Chapman sing against each other, an iteration of the tension created by the rushed murmur of Chapman’s delivery and refined strings.

“We put a ton of emphasis on storytelling in each of our songs. We tell our own stories, we tell other people’s stories, we tell stories that we’ve seen from touring,” says Cody Clark.  

Limned with nostalgia, soaked in Southern gothic lore, the duo meticulously assembles songs to preserve the spirit of the stories they tell.

With a background in poetry and prose, Dale Chapman’s granular focus on language is simpatico with Clark’s background in classical guitar.

ABOUT HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN:

Hoping to find collaborators who were serious about music, Clark drove from Oregon to Nashville in 2017. Within a couple days, he met Chapman at a coffee shop. She deduced that he was a lost tourist and struck up a conversation, leading to a cowriting session. Next thing they knew, Clark had relocated to Nashville and they were making their first album, Ghost Stories.  On the heels of that, they offered up their Folklore EP, featuring standout single “Feels Like Fire.” While that EP sought to channel the minimalist, intimate spirit of their live shows, Tall Tales & Fables is the next step in their maturation. Polished but not shiny, the album benefits from Mitch Dane’s production. Together with skilled string players, the album developed its own life while staying true to Clark and Chapman’s partnership, one built on literal and metaphorical voices.

 Tall Tales & Fables will be self-released on October 15, 2021.

“STAY” AVAILABLE 7/23

LISTEN

KEEP UP WITH HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN

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SEAN ROWE UNVEILS NEW SINGLE “TO MAKE IT REAL” VIA HOLLER.

 SEAN ROWE UNVEILS NEW SINGLE “TO MAKE IT REAL” 

VIA HOLLER. 

NEW LP  THE DARKNESS DRESSED IN COLORED LIGHTS 

OUT ON OCTOBER 8TH VIA FLUFF & GRAVY RECORDS 

Photo credit: Joe Navas

LISTEN: “TO MAKE IT REAL”   

Today, with the release of lead single “To Make It Real,” internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Sean Rowe announces his forthcoming LP The Darkness Dressed In Colored Lights, set for release on October 8th via Fluff & Gravy Records. “'To Make It Real' looks at the aftermath of heartbreak, when the reality of a relationship's end sets in,” said Holler. in the premiere. 

“The song begins with a more traditional folk-rock sound. ‘All this sky/ All this music floating by/ One day it will be the last time/ You won't get it again,’ Rowe sings on the second verse before 'To Make It Real' shifts its soundscape and sets off into more vibrant alt-rock.” 

“Sonically, I was very much influenced by Radiohead’s In Rainbows with the feel of this track and the direction of the instrumentation,” Rowe explains. “Lyrically — this is for me — a kind of recurring theme that I find in many of my songs. Which is to say that I’m alluding to the duality that I feel is in all of us. All the hidden parts and all the guts that spill out when we’re faced with tragedy, adversity, or a broken heart.” 

~ 

Rowe, an artist and nomad at heart, has made himself into the perfect repository for spun yarns of every variety — hysterical, terrifying, heartbreaking, mystifying, and ridiculous — and on this record, he makes it clear that at some point it’s hard not to feel them all at once.  

While “To Make It Real” was forged from the despair that comes from losing yourself to heartache, album track “Little Death” recognizes that both in spite of and because of such events, it’s possible to find yourself again. Here, Rowe brushes off the dirt and looks ahead to the freedom of only being accountable to oneself.  

“The heaven and hell that swirls around in our head — to a large extent, we make both,” Rowe says. “So, in realizing that, you begin to realize that you have the ability to decide which one you’re gonna make.” He credits therapy and a guided ayahuasca retreat with helping him to reach this understanding.      

The Darkness Dressed in Colored Lights was produced by Rowe’s friend and longtime collaborator Troy Pohl, whom he has known since he was in his early twenties while Pohl was still a teen. The two grew into their professionalism together and here, they make the most of their combined ambition and experience.   

The studio Hive in Eau Claire, Wisconsin was chosen so that they could work with the Grammy-winning engineer, Brian Joseph (Bon Iver) and for its proximity to a group of musicians that Sean came to admire while listening to Anna Tivel’s remarkable album, The Question, in his manager’s basement studio. That group includes drummer/percussionist, and producer Shane Leonard, along with Jeremy Boetcher on bass, and Ben Lester on keys and pedal steel. Courtney Hartman was flown from Colorado to provide background vocals and guitar. Chris Carey provided additional bass, while John DeHaven, Jeff Nania, and Joel Yannuzzi made up the album’s brass section.   

The Darkness Dressed in Colored Lights will be released on CD and double-vinyl, as well as available on all streaming services on October 8th.  Click HERE to pre-order. 

TRACKLIST  

WHAT ARE WE NOW 

TO MAKE IT REAL 

LITTLE DEATH 

I WON’T RUN 

HONEY IN THE MORNING 

MARRIED TO THE LORD 

GABRIEL 

SQUID TATTOO 

TORNADO HEAD 

RABBIT HOLE 

TOAST 

CONNECT WITH SEAN ROWE:   

WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK || TWITTER ||  YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY   

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? PREMIERE VIDEO FOR “HARD FEELINGS” ON WXPN’S THE KEY

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? PREMIERE VIDEO FOR

“HARD FEELINGS” ON WXPN’S THE KEY 

“Indie-folk duo Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves balance a reverence for musical tradition with an irreverent sense of humor, and both of those worlds collide in their new music video for ‘Hard Feelings.’” – TheKey.xpn.org

Photo Credit: Jesse Gennett

“HARD FEELINGS” VIDEO || WATCH 

PHILADELPHIA, PA –  Philadelphia-based duo Andrew Fullerton (vocals, guitar) and Matt Orlando (vocals, banjo) - behind the quirky, punchy nügrass band Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves? – find their full voice on the sophomore album Hard Feelings available 8/13/21.

Today, they release the video for the title track “Hard Feelings” about a weary, time-tested relationship with accompanying video directed by Big Howl (Nicole Atkins “Brokedown Luck” & “Mind Eraser”, Netflix’s Worn Stories). For the video, the Big Howl art department built the Andrew and Matt dummies from a YouTube tutorial and most of the dolls were sourced from co-director Paul Triggiani’s mom’s personal doll collection. 

“The Big Howl guys really understand the bizarre tenderness I try to convey in my songwriting,” says Andrew Fullerton. “Usually I send them the song and they say ‘how weird do you want to get’ and I just say ‘I trust you.’ You can tell from the story that the woman and her dummies go back away and their relationship has it’s up and downs as well.” 

The video comes on the heels of “Little In Love,” the second single released on 7/9.

“There’s a definite energy to the band Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves, and the touch of banjo slowly building its way in to anchor [“Little In Love”] is a sweet touch. Enjoy the Americana sentiments of what’s sometimes known as the “6w” band. And really — who isn’t a little in love with everyone?” - Americana Highways

“…indicative of that easy folk approach, with a light, country tone that’s easy on the ears… a beautiful and wistful fiddle. You may be pursuing what you love, but there are residual effects of that, some of which are not always so positive on others.” – V13

The forthcoming album continues their subversive and often humorous approach to heavy subjects. “This record is about the difficult conversations we have with ourselves, our partners, and our friends and family” says Fullerton, “And also how do we have these conversations with empathy.”

“It’s just the two of us when we tour, so Andrew and I have these very deep, existential conversations about our lives, love, nihilism, music, and all these different things,” adds Orlando. “The songs were born from those conversations”

HARD FEELINGS || PRE-SAVE LINK

RELEASE DATE:  AUGUST 13, 2021

SINGLE  “QUITTIN'” || SPOTIFY || YOUTUBE

SINGLE “LITTLE IN LOVE'” || SPOTIFY || YOUTUBE

KEEP UP WITH WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOVES

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WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? RELEASE SINGLE “LITTLE IN LOVE” TODAY NEW ALBUM HARD FEELINGS OUT 8/13/21

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? RELEASE SINGLE

“LITTLE IN LOVE” TODAY

NEW ALBUM HARD FEELINGS OUT 8/13/21

 “There’s a definite energy to the band Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves, and the touch of banjo slowly building its way in to anchor [“Little In Love”] is a sweet touch.” - Americana Highways

Photo Credit: Jesse Gennett

SINGLE “LITTLE IN LOVE'” OUT NOW || LISTEN 

Philadelphia-based duo Andrew Fullerton (vocals, guitar) and Matt Orlando (vocals, banjo) - behind the quirky, punchy nügrass band Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves? – find their full voice on the sophomore album Hard Feelings available 8/13/21.

Today, they release the second single “Little In Love” where Fullerton negotiates with a friend about checking into rehab.

“There’s a definite energy to the band Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves, and the touch of banjo slowly building its way in to anchor [“Little In Love”] is a sweet touch. Enjoy the Americana sentiments of what’s sometimes known as the “6w” band. And really — who isn’t a little in love with everyone?” - Americana Highways

The forthcoming album continues their subversive and often humorous approach to heavy subjects. “This record is about the difficult conversations we have with ourselves, our partners, and our friends and family” says Fullerton, “And also how do we have these conversations with empathy.”

“It’s just the two of us when we tour, so Andrew and I have these very deep, existential conversations about our lives, love, nihilism, music, and all these different things,” adds Orlando. “The songs were born from those conversations”

“…indicative of that easy folk approach, with a light, country tone that’s easy on the ears… a beautiful and wistful fiddle. You may be pursuing what you love, but there are residual effects of that, some of which are not always so positive on others.” – V13 

About Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves?

Philadelphia’s Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves? was born from a football injury and a Christmas gift.

In 2016, Matt Orlando, a drummer by trade, was hurt in a casual flag football game, rendering him unable to play his drums. He picked up a banjo to pass the time during his convalescence. Meanwhile, his friend and longtime collaborator Andrew Fullerton had recently been gifted a mandolin, which he was figuring out quickly.

The pair’s casual front porch jam sessions combined traditional folk and bluegrass tunes with stripped down versions of songs from Fullerton’s long-running alt country outfit The Tressels. To test their mettle (and dedication) they booked a show under the most ridiculous name they could think of.

“We didn’t think we’d make it this far” Orlando states honestly.

The 6W (as they shorthand themselves) released their debut record Greatest Hits in 2019. The record was called an “intense, emotional brand of indie-folk-bluegrass” by Americana Highways and the band was regularly labeled as “defiant” for their refusal to adhere to Folk and Bluegrass traditions. Their live show is a combination of intimate storytelling and self-deprecating humor ala Loudon Wainwright III or the Milk Carton Kids, which has endeared them to audiences as far apart as a South Philly anarchist punk house to the prestigious Folk Alliance International. 

HARD FEELINGS || PRE-SAVE LINK

RELEASE DATE:  AUGUST 13, 2021

“QUITTIN'” SINGLE OUT NOW || SPOTIFY OR YOUTUBE

 KEEP UP WITH WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOVES

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MISS TESS RELEASES NEW SINGLE “REAL CHANGE”

MISS TESS RELEASES NEW SINGLE  “REAL CHANGE”

PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT SOCIAL JUSTICE NONPROFIT

GIDEON’S ARMY 

Captivating - Billboard

 Rooted in a retro groove that’s equal parts blues, mid-century rock & roll and Booker T-worthy R&B - Rolling Stone Country

 Old-time warmth, 21st-century sass. It’s a potent recipe for that few artists successfully pull off — and Miss Tess is one of them - No Depression 

 A voice that recalls artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Patsy Cline and Lindi Ortega - The Boot

 Soulful - Wide Open Country

LISTEN: “REAL CHANGE”

 Today, Nashville chanteuse Miss Tess released her brand new single, “Real Change.” The song was written with Maya de Vitry a month or two after the death of George Floyd. “The world was on fire,” recalls Miss. Tess. “Of all the sadness and loss already experienced through the onset of a global pandemic, I thought maybe it all happened for a reason. Most of our working systems came to a standstill for the first time in recent history, and the world had time to listen, watch, and react.”  

While the conversations are not new, people of all shapes and colors were and are willing to fight for accountability. “A lot of us have had the luxury of not knowing for a very long time. It’s much harder not to notice now, but it seems like you still never really understand until it happens to you or someone you love,” Miss Tess explains. “Our power and money-hungry machines are always waiting in the wings to push their agendas and keep us divided with their tools of racism, misogyny, and exploitation. ‘Divide and conquer’ as the old saying goes. The people must remember how much power they have. My goal is not to preach from some high pulpit but rather to spread a humble message of hope and unity. As we emerge from this dark pandemic cocoon may we continue practicing the power of love and awareness toward our fellow humans,” she continues. “The world will never be perfect, but we have to keep trying, and insisting that real change is possible."  

“Real Change” was co-produced by Miss Tess and Thomas Bryan Eaton (guitar), and also features Lindsay Lou and Rachael Davis (background vocals), John Pahmer (piano, organ), Rhees Williams (bass), and Dan Holmes (drums). Miss Tess will donate 100% of the song’s proceeds to Nashville racial justice nonprofit Gideon’s Army*, a community-based, grassroots organization that uses restorative justice programs to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline through social activism by children, families, and the community. Click HERE to purchase “Real Change” or make a donation.

WATCH: “REAL CHANGE”

  When most people think of defiant music, they think of punk rock or outlaw country. But defying genres while transcending eras and resisting clichés is hard to pin down when it comes to artistry unless you're talking about Miss Tess, who does all of that and more. Swinging for the fences and from the branches of jazz, country, blues, and old school rock and roll, she employs all of her influences and talents while cleverly taking standard perspectives and ideas - like the definition of a love song - to task. From soulful swagger to jazz, blues, a little old school country, and even a touch of psychedelia, Miss Tess shows both the pluck and poise to fold a multitude of styles into her own. In early 2020, Miss Tess released her acclaimed LP The Moon Is An Ashtray, co-produced with Andrija Tockic and lauded by Billboard, Rolling Stone Country, No Depression. Wide Open Country, The Boot, and more. 

*ABOUT GIDEON’S ARMY: Gideon’s Army is a community-based, grassroots organization that works to design programs based on contemporary interpretations of the theory of restorative justice. As a locally-based organization with a long-term goal for state-wide expansion, Gideon’s Army is currently the only local organization in Nashville that focuses solely on dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline through social activism by children in the prison pipeline, their families, and their community. Utilizing research-based best practices combined with community outreach, Gideon’s Army builds its restorative justice programs based upon this information and uses program results to guide its policy work. Through intensive volunteer and community training as well as dialogue, we as a community lead and work together throughout the entire process. The organization uniquely emphasizes youth empowerment and community member leadership as well as direct interfacing with families, the juvenile courts, and the public school system. Gideon’s Army facilitators, mentors, and other volunteers are members of the North Nashville community who train fellow youth, educators, and others in continuing the process of educating. This training structure creates a positive cyclical pipeline based in restorative juice to combat the destructive effects of the school-to-prison pipeline.

TOUR DATES:

July 3 -  The Brick Church Social @ Farm Fresh Eggs - Nashville, TN*

July 8 - Purple Fiddle - Thomas, WV 

July 10 - Red Wing Roots Music Festival - Mount Solon, VA

July 15 - Colony - Woodstock. NY**

July 16 - Rose Hall - Cortland, NY**

July 17 - Abilene Bar & Lounge - Rochester, NY**

July 18 - Argyle Brewing Company - Cambridge, NY**

July 21 - The Barn - Egremont, MA**^

July 22 - Sunny’s - Brooklyn, NY**

July 23 - Americana In The Archway - Brooklyn, NY**

July 24 - Augusta Block Party Honky Tonk Dance - Elkins, WV

July 30 - The Burl - Lexington, KY^^

August 14 - East Nashville Tomato Art Fest - Nashville, TN

*w/ Thomas Bryan Eaton & Hobson's Choice, Kristina Murray, & Joshua Rilko

**duo w/ Thomas Bryan Eaton

^w/ Lydia Luce

^^w/ John R. Miller

CONNECT WITH MISS TESS

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | BANDCAMP | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY

OUT TODAY VIA GIFTSHOP RECORDS: LEFT VESSEL’S DEBUT LP ONE (AND DRIFTLESS)

OUT TODAY  

VIA GIFTSHOP RECORDS: 

LEFT VESSEL’S DEBUT LP ONE (AND DRIFTLESS)   

Rustic, rural, and beautiful indie folk - PopMatters  

Calming and thoughtful...embodies the sound and spirit of nature throughout - The Source Weekly  

Songs with layers of sound that force you to pay attention - Glide Magazine 

Delicate folk tunes…an enhanced audio experience - Americana-UK 

Bright, orchestral folk…a perfect refresher on these summer days - Mother Church Pew 

Wonderful - We Love That Sound 

An engaging sound that at once feels authentically human and raw, and also like a pure imitator of the sounds of nature - Two Story Melody  

A record truly at one with its environment - Fair Shakes and Just Desserts 

Photo: Elisa Terrazas Campbell

LISTEN: ONE (AND DRIFTLESS)  

Today, Oregon-based sound artist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Nick Byron Campbell, who records and performs under the moniker Left Vessel, has released his debut LP One (and Driftless), mixed by Cory Hanson (of Los Angeles-based band Wand), via GiftShop Records. 

“This album is an attempt to cut away layers, sonically and thematically, to get to a simple core, playing and singing about basic things that have become really important to me in recent years,” says Campbell of the record, which bears overarching themes of respect for nature and the interconnectedness of all things. 

[Text Wrapping Break]Campbell, whose music has been featured in films like Marcel Sarmiento's Faceless and television shows like “This Is Us,” thought: "What if you could make music with a tree? Not cutting it down and turning it into an instrument, but actually with a living tree, in a way that was beautiful musically but allowed that tree to go on living its life once you were done performing with it?” During his residency as the Crystal Creek Citizen-Artist in Houston, Minnesota, Campbell had the chance to explore Minnesota's Driftless Area in search of willing wooden participants.   

“The residency provided me with a period of time at a cabin in the woods where I could focus, write and work,” Campbell recalls. “But as part of the program, I also engaged with the local community during my time there, and that itself was really inspiring. The song ‘Society,’ in fact, came about during a tour through a nearby historical society - a older and very kind local man slowly walked me through this beautiful, and incredibly full, museum, and I gathered most of the sounds heard in that song (drums, pump organ, various other unique sounds) on my field recorder while we walked around, and then turned it all into a song,” he adds. “The people there were wonderful.” 

The album features several tracks recorded with trees, complete with ambient sounds of the forest in the background—chirping birds, fluttering wings, and feet keeping time on crunchy, fallen leaves. Campbell used his own unique instrumental creation he dubbed "the arbow." The arbow (a play on the Spanish word “arbol,” for tree) is a live tree that is strung, bowed or plucked, and amplified—all in a way that doesn't damage the tree. The core idea is to find a way of making “non-extractive” music: music that doesn't hurt our world but works with it. This video illustrates Campbell’s process: https://vimeo.com/366830629/bff361fd5b  

The tracks encompass ideas of love and loss, the intricacies of relationships in tracks like “Your Winter,” and even visions had on a shamanic journey, the inspiration for “This Year Be.” 

 WATCH: “THIS YEAR BE” 

WATCH “YOUR WINTER” 

One (and Driftless) works in two parts: the first half illustrates relationships with nature, reflecting on how we as humans are so essentially tied to nature, but behave as if we aren’t. The second half explores relationships with other people, similarly reflecting on how deeply tied we are to one another, a timely message in this era of environmental stress and social strife. 

Left Vessel’s swirling brand of indie-folk, though experimental in its creation, is imminently accessible due in large part to Campbell’s adeptness with winding, catchy hooks. Taken as a whole, One (and Driftless) is a collection of songs about transformation: ecological, societal, personal, and romantic. 

CONNECT WITH LEFT VESSEL:

WEBSITE || TIKTOK || INSTAGRAM || BANDCAMP || YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY   

OUT TODAY: NEVER A MOMENT ALONE NEW LP FROM EMILY DAVIS AND THE MURDER POLICE

  OUT TODAY:  

NEVER A MOMENT ALONE  

NEW LP FROM EMILY DAVIS AND THE MURDER POLICE  

Davis cues up discussions around climate change, systemic racism, and income inequality, specifically, between thumping layers of drums and their sky-tearing lead vocal - American Songwriter   

The band deftly melds the seemingly disparate worlds of folk and punk and flexes their own chameleon-like ability to adapt to pretty much anything, proving exactly how it made sense that they were able to open for bands like Bad Religion and Leftover Crack and then share a stage with Neko Case. - Glide Magazine 

 With every song, you realize that this band has hit on a winning formula - Americana Highways  

Relentless hardcore tempo, but using folk-oriented instrumentation - Rebel Noise 

Like a runaway train after a wild west shootout, EDMP shows us a different side of the Texas music scene, and we’re here for every minute of it - East of 8th  

Emily Davis & The Murder Police have something special, the magic that only comes from truly loving what you do and having fun with it. It makes every track sound a little louder, every lyric hit a little harder. It makes you fall in love with them and the music they make - Yack! Magazine  

With groovy and scintillating drum beats, thumping bass notes/rhythm, high-spirited guitar rhythm, and soothing but somewhat provoking high pitch vocals, Emily Davis and The Murder Police still manages to drop a somber social and political message - Hello Radio 

Photo credit: Fernie Ceniceros 

  STREAM NEVER A MOMENT ALONE 

SPOTIFY // BANDCAMP    

Today, El Paso’s favorite alt-punk band Emily Davis and The Murder Police released their new LP Never A Moment Alone. “Never A Moment Alone is varied thematically, but one of the central premises is the lack of foresight humans continue to display with regard to climate change and our lack of preparedness for other crises,” front person Davis explains. “We prioritize the wrong things and we aren't taking seriously the biggest threats to our wellbeing and existence.”  

That theme is more explicitly stated in album tracks “Why Weren't They Stunned” and “Apartment Homes,” a nihilistic yet sonically upbeat and cheerful song that’s basically a big "what-if"—what will the world look like if we don't alter our habits? Will we all have to share apartment homes and eat from the same plate?   

WATCH: “WHY WEREN’T THEY STUNNED?” 

Through dry humor, clever lyrics, and high-energy musicianship, the band tackles the world and society's penchant for head-scratching behavior with clever lyrics and dry humor as they offer commentary on excessive patriotism expressed in our culture's worship of the flag in songs like "God Hates Flags, a quarantine love song in “Eden Is The Worst,” and substance abuse as escapism in “Artificial Happiness.”  

With “Semicolon,” Davis, who lives with ADHD and Bipolar II, relays a candid take on mental health. “I wanted it to be relatable to anyone who might struggle with their mental health in one way or another,” they explain of the track, its title inspired by Project Semicolon whose the tag line, is “You don't have to end your sentence.” Davis also sees a semicolon as fixed between two separate entities—and for the person with bipolar disorder, those entities are mania and depression.  

WATCH: “SEMICOLON” 

Davis, a former member of Cigarettes After Sex and desert-punk shredder, has a powerful voice reminiscent of legends (and personal influences) like Dolores O'Riordan, Jenny Lewis, and Neko Case, and The Murder Police—Jorge Torres (electric guitar, backing vocals), Jose Macias (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Tomas Tinajero (drums, backing vocals)—back Davis up like a freight train of energy.   

EDMP has found success across the nation through their poignant music, lyrical vulnerability, and creatively engaging social media presence. Davis has had a fascinatingly unique journey to the national stage. Their YouTube channel, featuring numerous punk rock covers (of, most notably, Bad Religion) has drawn serious attention—accumulating nearly seven million views. Davis has clearly proven their talent deserves to be noticed, and noticed they were, leading to the band’s most significant outing to date—an opening slot on legendary punk band Bad Religion’s 2019 fall tour to packed venues across the country. 

The band has some significant accomplishments under their belt, even beyond their 2019 run with Bad Religion. In 2017, Davis toured solo with Bad Religion frontman Greg Graffin, supporting his at-the-time recently released solo record, Millport. In 2019 alone, the band opened for Leftover Crack, The Toasters, Authority Zero, and alt-rock cult superstars Cold War Kids.   

With Never A Moment Alone, the EDMP’s second full-length effort, Davis has deftly continued to curate a brilliantly unique blend of 90’s-inspired alt-rock, folk, and punk that will expand your horizons while it tests your speakers. Never A Moment Alone is available for purchase on their website, and at Bandcamp, iTunes, and Amazon. 

EDMP will celebrate the album’s release tonight in El Paso, Texas with a live show at Love Buzz. The band will also perform live at Launchpad in Albuquerque, New Mexico on July 23rd, and in Santa Fe, New Mexico at Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery on July 24th. Be sure to follow EDMP at the links below for more upcoming tour announcements. 

CONNECT WITH EMILY DAVIS AND THE MURDER POLICE:   

WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM || TWITTER || BANDCAMP || YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY 

DEBUT ALBUM FROM LOS ANGELES SINGER/SONGWRITER JOE BOURDET MEADOW ROCK OUT NOW

DEBUT ALBUM FROM LOS ANGELES

SINGER/SONGWRITER JOE BOURDET

MEADOW ROCK OUT NOW 

“Beyond the stirring melodies and lyrics of Bourdet’s songs, what imbues Meadow Rock with its resonant, layered vibe is that every note on the album (in true 1970s classic rock style) was played on a genuine instrument… Meadow Rock embodies that untamed and creative spirit.” – Golden State

Photo Credit: Sara Ross Samko

MEADOW ROCK ALBUM || LISTEN

“EL CAPITAN” VIDEO || WATCH

Los Angeles singer/songwriter Joe Bourdet “writes in dreamscape throwback 70s folk styles, and splendid high-end electric guitar solos abound…of nostalgia.” (- Americana Highways ) on his debut album Meadow Rock (out now).

The nine-song set inspired by our natural surroundings of California – including the mountain ranges throughout.  

 “El Capitan” is about the Yosemite Valley and the Sierras, where “the protagonist senses deeper metaphysical vibrations amid memories of past visits with loved ones.” “Amongst The Pines” was written on an evening drive up Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains. “The arrangement is somewhat in tribute to a Gordon Lightfoot or Ozark Mountain Daredevils style production,” explains Joe. The accompanying video is comprised of footage shot by Joe and Dave Baine (who plays mandolin on the track) on a 9-day backpacking trip in the High Sierra trails. 

And  “Lost Along The Way” co-written with Alana Amram is a semi-autobiographical song is “loosely based on breaking down in my Datsun 240z on the Pacific Coast Highway very late night near El Capitan State Beach,” explains Joe.

BUZZ FOR MEADOW ROCK

 “Amongst The Pines” leans heavily into its serene nature setting, placing the listener in the untarnished natural beauty of its titular pines. Fittingly, the instrumentation is similarly pastoral, carrying rich acoustic tones as Bourdet’s vocals recall vintage Americana and singer/songwriter heroes. Though the record is a studio creation it instead feels refreshingly authentic, as if you’ve joined Bourdet and company around the campfire as they tribute peaceful alpine passages.” – Under The Radar

 “Over spacious drums and a 60s folk-inspired sound… backing harmonies add an ethereal touch reminiscent of Peter, Paul and Mary or the Mamas & the Papas. It’s a dreamy soundscape of a song that embraces the beauty of life’s surprising turns. Sometimes you get lost and it’s best to lean into it.” – Holler Country

 “Giving a nod to 70s folk-rock and singer-songwriters of that era, Bourdet puts his own signature spin on the music explaining that the sound is more “Topanga Canyon” than the widely known sound of LA’s Laurel Canyon.” – Turnstyled Junkpiled

“…an homage to the soft, singer-songwriter pop-rock of the mid-to-late ‘70s close your eyes and dream of the simpler life before technology invaded every corner of our lives on the nine well-crafted tracks” – The Big Takeover

“Joe Bourdet provides some high-end lead guitar tone that is endearing alongside his mellow vocal style on this debut [Meadow Rock]…. For young ears, this music may be too sublime. To older nostalgive ears its singer-songwriter heaven with poignancy, good takes, tight musicianship & melodies – more homegrown & organic in nature.” – Americana Highways

“…an album dripping with soft acoustic guitars, divine slide and pedal steel, and vocal harmonies to die for.” – At The Barrier

ABOUT JOE BOURDET

Highway 49 is called the golden chain highway and connects numerous tiny hamlets as it weaves through the river canyons of the California gold country. This is the area where Joe Bourdet spent his youth, and it provided the formative images which inspired the music of his debut album Meadow Rock.

Having had the good fortune to be born into a musical family, his uncle, Mike Bonnington, and San Francisco jazz musician Jack Minger set the example that music life, though it “ain’t no good life”, in fact was possible. Since picking up guitar in high school, Bourdet’s musical world has grown into a host of technical and artistic areas. He repairs, restores, modifies, and occasionally even builds his instruments and recording equipment. He operates his own home studio which he describes as a “project studio PLUS”. Having also accrued a handful of sometimes white-knuckle experiences as an audio engineer in music and film productions, Bourdet was able to engineer, mix, and produce his own debut album. Even if, as he is quick to point out, he did so with more than a little help from his friends, and indeed also from some of the top professional technicians in music.

Musically, Bourdet plays various guitar styles, including slide, and occasionally bass. He sings with a neutral singer-songwriter flare, and considers himself merely an “enthusiast” as a keyboardist. In addition to writing or co-writing most of the compositions on his debut, he also built the song arrangements up via careful overdubbing. It’s a process he likens to an obsessive Steely Dan style discipline, with the exception that tempo drifts and imperfect/ naturalistic sounds were generally embraced.  

MEADOW ROCK || OUT NOW

KEEP UP WITH JOE BOURDET

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LEFT VESSEL RELEASES NEW SINGLE “THIS YEAR BE” INSPIRED BY SHAMANIC JOURNEY VIA MOTHER CHURCH PEW DEBUT LP ONE (AND DRIFTLESS) OUT ON JUNE 25TH VIA GIFTSHOP RECORDS

LEFT VESSEL RELEASES NEW SINGLE  

“THIS YEAR BE” INSPIRED BY SHAMANIC JOURNEY 

VIA MOTHER CHURCH PEW 

DEBUT LP ONE (AND DRIFTLESS) OUT ON JUNE 25TH  

VIA GIFTSHOP RECORDS 

Photo: Elisa Terrazas Campbell

LISTEN // WATCH: “THIS YEAR BE”   

Oregon-based sound artist Nick Byron Campbell, who records and performs under the moniker Left Vessel, has released his latest single, “This Year Be.” The song appears on his forthcoming debut LP One (and Driftless) mixed by Cory Hanson (of Los Angeles-based band Wand) and out on June 25th via GiftShop Records. “I have an aunt who’s a shaman. For a while we were training together and she was showing me the art of shamanic journeying,” Campbell recalls. “In my journeys with her, I took the form of a fox that would disappear down into a hole in a creek bed by my grandma’s old house in Ohio, where I grew up. Inside that hole was another world. This song came out of those journeys,” he adds. “The faint vocal hook that trails out at the end of the song was my shamanic song that was given to me during one of the journeys.”  

“Envision the idyllic summer day, full of bright sunshine tempered by a cool breeze. There’s always a feel of optimism on those days, coupled with an innate connection to nature, and an almost inexplicable urgency to make the most of the world around us,” said Mother Church Pew in the song’s premiere. “With a dreamy folk haze, those summer sensations are synthesized into song on ‘This Year Be’…Campbell’s delicate-yet-expressive vocals are set beautifully to an acoustic melody full of playful banjo and building strings. The song is a bright, orchestral folk jam that’s a perfect refresher on these summer days.” 

“This Year Be” follows the release of album track “Your Winter,” inspired by life transformations and deep connection with others who are on a completely different trajectory. 

LISTEN // WATCH “YOUR WINTER”  

Campbell, a multi-talented composer, artist, and indie-folk maestro has previously helmed the bands Wages, Sincere Gifts, and Arizona, and his music has been featured in films and television shows. When constructing Left Vessel’s debut LP One (and Driftless) Campbell thought: "What if you could make music with a tree? Not cutting it down and turning it into an instrument, but actually with a living tree, in a way that was beautiful musically but allowed that tree to go on living its life once you were done performing with it?” He set out to do just that and traveled to Minnesota's Driftless Area in search of willing wooden participants.  

One (and Driftless) features several tracks recorded with trees, complete with ambient sounds of the forest in the background—chirping birds, fluttering wings, and feet keeping time on crunchy, fallen leaves. Campbell used his own unique instrumental creation he dubbed "the arbow." The arbow (a play on the Spanish word “arbol,” for tree) is a live tree that is strung, bowed or plucked, and amplified—all in a way that doesn't damage the tree. The core idea is to find a way of making “non-extractive” music: music that doesn't hurt our world but works with it. This video illustrates Campbell’s process: https://vimeo.com/366830629/bff361fd5b 

Left Vessel’s swirling brand of indie-folk, though experimental in its creation, is imminently accessible due in large part to Campbell’s adeptness with winding, catchy hooks. Taken as a whole, One (and Driftless) is a collection of songs about transformation: ecological, societal, personal, and romantic. 

CONNECT WITH LEFT VESSEL:   

WEBSITE || TIKTOK || INSTAGRAM || BANDCAMP || YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY    

ETHAN GOLD RELEASES ALBUM EARTH CITY 1: THE LONGING TODAY!

ETHAN GOLD RELEASES ALBUM

EARTH CITY 1: THE LONGING

TODAY!

Photo Credit: Lori Lusk

EARTH CITY 1: THE LONGING  || STREAM/SHARE 

LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles-based artist/producer/composer Ethan Gold Earth City 1: The Longing, the first in a trilogy of albums about the alienation of our hyper-connected modern world, today.

The idea for the trilogy came to Ethan after a life changing experience. While working on a film score in New York, Ethan suffered a head injury in a freak accident. Following the accident, Ethan lost his ability to speak and do complex tasks like sound engineering – all of which he had to relearn. Last year, he spoke about the experience with GQ Magazine (South Africa) for an article about the power of meditation and mindfulness that has guided him through his recovery and to today.

He has released several singles from the album including the a-side/b-side: “Alexandria & Me” about the thrill of chasing ghosts of pre-gentrification downtown L.A. through a haunted hotel while hearing echoes of ancient Egypt and it’s counterpart, “In New York” which reaches out with romance and nostalgia to a vanished lover, or the splendor and struggle of life in New York City itself. “Pretty Girls” is about the allure and trap of perceived beauty. And “Bright & Lonely City” captures the isolation and attraction of city life, the video ads a narrative with people from all walks of life and different cities around the world searching for connection.

BUZZ

·       “A beautiful cinematic piece that captures the depths of life from all around the world.” - BTR Today (of “Bright & Lonely City” video)

·       “New York City likely has been the subject of more tributes than any other city on Earth. Ethan Gold adds his voice to the chorus with “In New York.” The gentle piano ballad is carried by gravelly vocals from Gold, extolling the highs, lows, and endless possibilities of the titular city.” – Under The Radar

·       “…a colorful montage that brings Gold’s heartfelt words to the big and small screen.” Glide Magazine

·       “Pretty Girls has quite a simplistic sound to it, but this only serves to make the song sound even more catchy – it’s poppy, yet never sounds too mainstream… a 60s pop feel to the track..” - York Calling 

·      “The stark contrast between the two singles [“Alexandria & Me” and “In New York”] only speaks to the ability of Gold to convey a wide range of emotions in his music.” – Chorus.fm

ABOUT ETHAN GOLD:

Ethan Gold first stepped into public consciousness when he produced and arranged Elvis Perkins’ blog-hyped stunner Ash Wednesday. While moonlighting as bass player and resident musician in his brother Ari’s celebrity-driven folk party band the Honey Brothers, and also scoring his twin’s debut film Adventures of Power, Ethan continued honing his intensely sensitive music, eventually self-releasing his debut art rock album Songs From A Toxic Apartment to underground acclaim (“Emotions delivered with an unfiltered, glaring legibility”- Pitchfork) (Essential new releases -The Sunday Times UK). Other recent film scores produced during the recovery from his head injury include The Song of Sway Lake featuring John Grant and the Staves singing Gold’s music and 2019s Don’t Let Go.

Earth City 1: The Longing OUT NOW

“Pretty Girls” VIDEO || WATCH

“Bright & Lonely City” VIDEO || WATCH

KEEP UP WITH ETHAN GOLD

Website || Instagram || Facebook || Twitter || Spotify || YouTube

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? RETURN WITH SOPHOMORE ALBUM HARD FEELINGS OUT 8/13/21 FIRST SINGLE “QUITTIN'” OUT TODAY

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? RETURN WITH SOPHOMORE ALBUM

HARD FEELINGS OUT 8/13/21

FIRST SINGLE “QUITTIN'” OUT TODAY

“Humour and heavy subjects… combined with an easy folk sound and glowing harmonies, the group has really found their footing on their latest record Hard Feelings.” - V13 

Photo Credit: Jesse Gennett

Since forming Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves?, the duo of Andrew Fullerton (Vocals, Guitar) and Matt Orlando (Vocals, Banjo) have stood out from the pack thanks to their subversive and often humorous approach to heavy subjects. Paired with an easy folk sound and sparkling harmonies, Fullerton and Orlando find their full voice on their new album Hard Feelings available 8/13/21.

“This record is about the difficult conversations we have with ourselves, our partners, and our friends and family” says Fullerton, “And also how do we have these conversations with empathy”

The lead single (out today) “Quittin’” is about the cost of following your dreams and the effect it has on your partner.

“…indicative of that easy folk approach, with a light, country tone that’s easy on the ears… a beautiful and wistful fiddle. You may be pursuing what you love, but there are residual effects of that, some of which are not always so positive on others.” – V13

Says Fullerton of the track: “We went out to LA to do a show and I remember calling my wife saying how beautiful it was there, and she had a particularly rough night at work and was just not feeling it. Our spouses are left holding the bag a lot when we go on tour so this song was my attempt at a please-forgive-me type country song”

The sentiment is reinforced by Orlando’s high & lonesome vocal harmony and a plaintive fiddle part played by Amy Alvey of Golden Shoals, who recorded remotely from her home in Nashville.

Elsewhere on the record Fullerton negotiates with a friend about checking into rehab on “Little in Love”, intervenes on family politics on “Death Wish”, analyzes a road-weary relationship on the title track “Hard Feelings” and dissects his own masculinity on “Fancy Boy” 

“It’s just the two of us when we tour, so Andrew and I have these very deep, existential conversations about our lives, love, nihilism, music, and all these different things,” says Orlando. “The songs were born from those conversations”

Singer/Songwriter John Gleason of the band Roadside Graves says about the record:
“Hard Feelings swings distinctly between foot stomps and laments, weariness and regrets, rejoice and forgiveness. The songs are earnest reflections of how well we can digest, process, and forgive past transgressions against us. Yea, time may heal, but recollection surely helps. Especially if we are eager to prevent the familiar cycle from repeating before realizing too late we were just more of the same. The circle can be broken. But, it’s not easy. We have music to help us on our way.”

About Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves?

Philadelphia’s Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves? was born from a football injury and a Christmas gift.

In 2016, Matt Orlando, a drummer by trade, was hurt in a casual flag football game, rendering him unable to play his drums. He picked up a banjo to pass the time during his convalescence. Meanwhile, his friend and longtime collaborator Andrew Fullerton had recently been gifted a mandolin, which he was figuring out quickly.

The pair’s casual front porch jam sessions combined traditional folk and bluegrass tunes with stripped down versions of songs from Fullerton’s long-running alt country outfit The Tressels. To test their mettle (and dedication) they booked a show under the most ridiculous name they could think of.

“We didn’t think we’d make it this far” Orlando states honestly.

The 6W (as they shorthand themselves) released their debut record Greatest Hits in 2019. The record was called an “intense, emotional brand of indie-folk-bluegrass” by Americana Highways and the band was regularly labeled as “defiant” for their refusal to adhere to Folk and Bluegrass traditions. Their live show is a combination of intimate storytelling and self-deprecating humor ala Loudon Wainwright III or the Milk Carton Kids, which has endeared them to audiences as far apart as a South Philly anarchist punk house to the prestigious Folk Alliance International.

HARD FEELINGS || PRE-SAVE LINK

RELEASE DATE:  AUGUST 13, 2021

“QUITTIN'” SINGLE OUT NOW || SPOTIFY OR YOUTUBE

KEEP UP WITH WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOVES

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