The beer pours with a very dark coloration, and a solid tannish head. This beer has a considerable amount of sweetness, which is moderated by the inclusion of malt elements. The sugar and toasty elements provide additional variation, as does coffee and smoke notes. This considerable array of flavors ensures that an individual will have a considerably different constellation of elements each time that they open up a bottle of the Happy Ending. SweetWater has made one of the most fulfilling and inviting imperial stouts that we have reviewed, all while giving those who buy a bottle a powerful wallop.
There are hints of prunes and dark fruits, which dissipate quickly and provide imbibers with a good alcohol bite. The 9.0% ABV of this effort is hidden well with the bold flavors and complex array of interactions that are present in the Happy Ending. Make sure to visit the Sweetwater website for more information about the company’s year-round and seasonal efforts.
Rating: 8.8/10
SweetWater Happy Ending 2014 / Imperial Stout / 9.0 ABV / www.sweetwaterbrew.com
Trailhead Brewery
Trailhead Brewery has four taps available and ample sitting and standing space. The beers available during our visit include a Hippy Pale Ale, Coffee Stout, 15 Feet Wheat, and a Belgian Strong.
The Belgian Strong pours with a hazy golden yellow, with nothing in the way of a head. The beer blends a nice amount of sweetness with a little bit of an alcohol bite at the conclusion. The beer warms up nicely, with a small amount of malt at the end.
Trailhead’s Hoppy Pale Ale has a tremendously alluring nose, and pours with a darker golden color. The beer possesses a lacing that creeps down the brewery’s mason jar.
The Coffee Stout is decidedly dark and pours with no head. The coffee element is bitter and allows for the sweetness to be moderated.
The brewery’s offerings are all very cheap, meaning that a couple will be able to have an unforgettable night for around $25. Visit the brewery’s Twitter at twitter.com/trailheadbrews for more information about their facilities and hours. Trailhead is located at 1674 Merriman Road in Akron, Ohio.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Abita Spring IPA Review
The latest Abita seasonal is a Spring IPA, a very approachable india pale ale that pours with a hazy, yellowish-amber coloration. The lacing in this beer is very thick and persistent; subsequent sips will yield great lacing down the glass. The hop bite provided by the Spring IPA is due to the inclusion of Centennial and Amarillo hops, while there is a decent amount of sweetness that concludes each quaff of the beer.
While there is a considerable hop presence in this beer, I feel that Abita has made an effort that is tremendously alluring for fans of the style while being approachable for those individuals that may not be too tremendously familiar with the style. There is a vigor and complexity to this beer that will have individuals coming back for more; the ABV (6.2%) ensures that there is a small but not exclusionary alcohol presence to this beer.
Make sure to visit your local independent beer store; one should be able to locate the Abita Spring IPA in a six-pack format. Visit the Abita website for more information about their year-round and seasonal efforts, along with the brewery’s various merchandise and food pairings.
Rating: 8.2/10
Abita Spring IPA Review / 6.2% ABV / Abita Brewing / www.abita.com
DownTown Mystic Self-Titled CD Review
In The Cold has a seventies pop-rock sound that will immediately draw listeners in and keep them focused through the first section of the band’s latest release. The front-forward aspect of the vocals are reminiscent of John Denver and Jackson Browne, while the instrumentation is influenced by acts as wide as America, The Eagles, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Way To Know has DownTown Mystic assume the role of hard-rocking stadium act, with subtle KISS and Cinderella elements linked to a lush instrumentation. The interplay between the instrumental and vocal sides here is fantastic, with each side pushing the other to greater heights. The production of this track (And all of the songs on this self-titled release) ensures that DownTown Mystic will have a few radio-ready hits before the disc spins to an end. Lost & Found kicks the energy into high gear, with a Sammy Hagar meets Warren Zevon styling keeping things interesting. The track ties together the sixties, seventies, and eighties while having a quality that the current generation of music listeners can appreciate.
The album comes with three bonus tracks – Tomorrow’s Clown, Read The Signs, and a radio edit of No Exceptions. Make sure to purchase a copy of DownTown Mystic’s latest from their CDBaby and bookmark the Sha-La website for further information about DownTown Mystic, live tour dates, and snippets of the band’s music.
Top Tracks: In The Cold, Way To Know, Lost & Found
Rating: 8.3/10
DownTown Mystic Self-Titled CD Review / 2013 Sha-La Music / www.shala.com / www.shala.com/dm2013lyrics.pdf / www.cdbaby.com/cd/downtownmystic3
Undercover Rabbis Empires CD Review
An Empire Has Fallen is the opening track on Empires, and it comes forth with some sludgy and dark metal. The act is able to create a narrative using only instruments, and the resulting composition is enough to keep listeners amped up through a six-minute block. The production allows each element of the band to shine, even as the resulting contributions combine into something much more expansive. Undercover Rabbis are able to tie together Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Venom, and even Black Sabbath. Bold guitar work that tattoos itself upon listeners can be heard during Moving Mountains, which grinds and shuffles through another five minutes. Ruins represents the middle of Empires, and the track’s length (nearly twelve minutes) allows Undercover Rabbis ample opportunity to create an epic track that will resound long after the album closes. The track captures a wide array of influences as the act is able to twist and turn the composition into something considerably different than when it began.
Turbulence of the Sun has the band craft a newer, more tribal (imagine Sepultura or early Godsmack) touch, which has a psychedelic, chaotic darkness draped over that. Light on the Horizon is the final track on Empires, and it represents a perfect blend of the styles that the band had broached up until this ultimate cut, while pushing through some compelling and otherwise distinct elements not heard anywhere else on the album.
The Empires release can be purchased from Undercover Rabbi’s Bandcamp, while individuals that want to find out more about the band can visit their ReverbNation for additional news and song uploads.
Top Tracks: An Empire Has Fallen, Turbulence on the Sun
Rating: 8.0/10
Undercover Rabbis Empires CD Review / 2014 Self / 5 Tracks / undercoverrabbis.bandcamp.com/ / www.reverbnation.com/undercoverrabbis
PENTAGRAM confirms three Texas appearances for July
Pentagram, will be performing select shows in Texas this July. The band will be appearing in Houston on July 3rd at Fitzgerald’s, July 4th in Austin at The Mohawk, and Dallas on July 5th at The Gas Monkey.
For more details and to keep track of future updates, visit facebook.com/pentagramusa.
In other news, premium subscription channel SHOWTIME just is airing the Bobby Liebling documentary “Last Days Here”. Showings can be found HERE.
Pentagram’s most recent album, Last Rites, was released via Metal Blade Records on April 14, 2011 and their first ever official DVD (also out on Metal Blade), When the Screams Come, on August 30, 2011. Both releases were met by rave reviews from fans and critics alike and saw the band playing sets at infamous SXSW festival in Austin TX as well as tours across the US and dates in Europe.
“No one has done doom better, for longer, than Bobby Liebling.” SPIN Magazine
“an unsung American counterpart to Black Sabbath” San Francisco Weekly
“Bobby Liebling’s vocals proved to be haunting yet comforting at the same time. The man has lost a lot to demons that kept him from achieving rock stardom decades ago, but his voice remains as powerful as it was then.” LA Weekly
PENTAGRAM
05/11 Santa Ana, CA TBA Psycho de Mayo
07/03 Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s
07/04 Austin, TX The Mohawk
07/05 Dallas, TX Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill
www.facebook.com/pentagramusa
www.metalblade.com/pentagram
Monday, April 28, 2014
Summit Unchained Series / Batch 15: Fest Bier
Summit’s latest effort in the Unchained Series is a German-influenced offering from brewer Nate Siats. The beer pours with an amber coloration and a small amount of slightly off-white head. This effort has a malty, slightly biting initial mouthfeel. This set of flavors opens up to a sweeter overall flavoring. Rather than beat imbibers with the sweet side, a significant grain and hop side freshens up palettes.
The beer’s ABV is perfect, ensuring that an individual can put away a few Fest Biers before their session ceases. This beer would be perfectly married to sausage, pizza, and even more typical bar food – this is a very approachable, everyman type of beer. If you want to expand your horizons while still having a beer in a familiar style, Summit’s Fest Bier should be a no brainer. The beer is able to have a cohesive flavor from beginning to end, ensuring that one will want to come back time and time again.
The Fest Bier is available in 6-packs, and will be available for a limited time. Visit the Summit website for more information about the brewery’s year-round and seasonal efforts.
Rating: 8.5/10
Summit Unchained Series / Batch 15: Fest Bier / 5.5% ABV / www.summitbrewing.com/
SKATERS ANNOUNCE MAY TOUR DATES IN SUPPORT OF DEBUT ALBUM, MANHATTAN
Having spent the past few months on both a U.K. and U.S. headlining tour, New York City’s very own SKATERS have announced that they will hit the road for a series of radio concerts and headlining shows.
SKATERS have been touring in support of their debut album Manhattan, which was released by Warner Bros. Records on February 25th.
Manhattan has already attracted glowing reviews:
“Josh Hubbard provides layered guitar chords that are more waves of sound than riffs, adding to the feeling of isolation. Meanwhile, Michael Ian Cummings’ detached voice adds another element of frost, further referencing the band’s post-punk influences.”
– Electronic Musician Magazine
“A band with the garage revivalist instincts and lo-fi cool to finally bring guitars back into fashion.” — NME (UK)
Click here to watch the video for their song “Miss Teen Massachusetts.”
SKATERS upcoming tour dates are as follows:
4/29 NYC “It’s An Invasion” Art Show - The National Arts Club – see details below
5/14 Columbus, OH The Basement w/ CD102.5 presenting the low dough show
5/15 Nashville, TN The Basement – 2nd of 3 bands. Local punk show
5/16 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn
5/17 St. Petersburg, FL 97X BBQ
5/20 Austin, TX Stubb¹s
5/21 Dallas, TX Dada
5/24 Tucson, AZ KFMA Day at Kino Sports Complex
5/26 Los Angeles Chris Douridas’ School Night @ Bardot
5/28 Santa Barbara, CA Velvet Jones
5/29 Santa Ana, CA Constellation Room
5/30 Chula Vista, CA 91X San Diego XFEST
ABOUT “IT’S AN INVASION”
Grand Gallery – It’s an Invasion – April 28 – May 10
Opening Reception: Tuesday, April 29, 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
To invade is to overwhelm, to take by storm. Bacteria invade a human cell, an emotion overwhelms, the chemicals in a rocket can’t take the pressure so they explode through air – it’s an invasion. It’s An Invasion, a group show curated by Kelsey Bennett, Joshua Hubbard, and Lele Saveri will include works by young artists who live and create in New York. The works in the show will reflect disturbance and agitation: a city, a person, an object, a belief, a relationship, or a feeling. It’s An Invasion is an ode to the idea that after introducing one thing to another, those two things will never be the same. The show will pay homage to New York City’s creative melting pot by including works by artists who have migrated here from places around the world. The New York-based band SKATERS will perform at the opening night reception.
TESLA announces Simplicity for June Release
TESLA have announced an all new LP titled SIMPLICITY due out June 10th, 2014 via Tesla Electric Company Recording’s arrangement with Entertainment One Music and Distribution.
SIMPLICITY will be the band’s seventh studio full length LP and fifteenth release overall. The new effort will be the followup to FOREVER MORE, which was released in October 2008 and featured the single “I Wanna Live.”
TESLA locked themselves away for weeks writing the new material that would become SIMPLICITY with long time A&R man Tom Zutaut. Fourteen solid tracks later the band sank their teeth in while recording began at bassist Brian Wheat’s very own J Street Recorders. Legendary engineer Michael Wagener (Metallica, Skid Row, Motley Crue) was then tapped to put the final touches in place.
Fresh off the MONSTERS OF ROCK CRUISE, the band has quite the itinerary of tour dates throughout the rest of 2014. Click here for all tour dates.
Formed in 1981, TESLA have firmly carved out their own space in rock and roll history. The band saw great success with their own rendition of the 1971 classic “Signs” and their own hit single “Love Song” from the The Great Radio Controversy, released in 1989.
TESLA is: Frank Hannon – Brian Wheat – Jeff Keith – Troy Luccketta – Dave Rude
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Owls Release Late Spring / Early Summer Tour Dates
This May, the band will play its first live show in 12 years in its hometown, and now, the band have added an additional string of shows, hitting California in June and the East Coast in July.
Owls
Two
(Polyvinyl)
Street Date: March 25, 2014
Buy it here
2. I’m Surprised…
3. The Lion…
4. Why Oh Why…
5. This Must Be How…
6. Ancient Stars Seed…
7. It Collects Itself…
8. I’ll Never Be…
9. Oh No, Don’t…
10. A Drop Of Blood…
OWLS LINKS:
also play its first live show in 12 years in its hometown, and now, the band have added an additional string of shows, hitting California in June and the East Coast in July.
TOUR DATES:
06/27 Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room *
06/28 Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy Theatre *
06/29 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of The Hill *
07/11 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
07/12 Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Small’s Theatre
07/13 Washington DC – Black Cat
07/14 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
07/15 Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair* = w/ Into It. Over It.
Allagash Golden Brett Review
Golden Brett pours with a very titular coloration, while a small white head that creates some long-lasting lacing. The beer is a perfect introduction into the wild ale style. The golden beer (Belgian-styled) base is the perfect breeding ground for the brettanomyces yeast. With the initial sip, one will be able to taste white wine and citrus (particularly lime) elements, which rapidly shift to notes of pear, grape skins, and green apple. The sour notes that come through after the initial quaff provide a good amount of tartness, yielding ground for a small amount of sweetness that will refresh imbiber’s palettes and allow their next sip to be a fresh experience.
The beer’s 7.2% ABV provides a nice head-space and ensures that two or three bottles should conclude a memorable session. The beer is effervescent and light on the tongue while still being formidable enough to provide a nice bit of warmth. Golden Brett would be great paired with fish or chicken, and would work equally well in a nut or cheese pairing. Golden Brett is available in 12.7 bottles with corks and a cage – open the bottle over a trash can or sink as it may be lively.
Make sure to visit the Allagash website for further information about the brewery, their draft-only efforts (previously true about the Golden Brett), and for countless recipes that utilize or create dishes that will shine with one of the brewery’s efforts.
Rating: 9.0/10
Golden Brett Beer Review / 7.2% ABV / Allagash Brewing Company / www.allagash.com
AMEBIX Guitarist Posts Debut Solo Track "I Go Dark" Online
Stig C Miller, guitarist for legendary UK punk band AMEBIX, has posted a rough mix of a new solo track on his youtube page.
Composed in April 2014 and self-recorded in his home in Bristol UK, “I Go Dark” is the first new music we have heard from Stig since the reunited Amebix gave us the incredible “Sonic Mass” LP in September 2011.
Stig is currently working on an EP worth of material which he plans to release in the future, and while his signature sound is still present, don’t expect it to sound exactly like Amebix. Stig comments while speaking with Blackout PR: “The idea was to write some songs that were actually driven along by the sound of an acoustic guitar and add interesting sounds to it. As Amebix a certain thing is expected, so it’s nice to go another way and do something on my own.”
Lyrically, Stig says “The inspiration would be my life up until this point, my development as a person. It’s about having to hide certain aspects of yourself in order to survive. People might relate to it as everyone has pain, and pain changes a person for the better if dealt with in a positive manner.”
No word yet on when the EP will be completed and released. More info will be published as it becomes available.
You can listen to the song here: youtu.be/8WRAq0iVqPY
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Slinger Interview
Hey,Dave. Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers at NeuFutur?
Hello – SLINGER is my nickname and the name of my defunct 80s LA rock band. I did the song writing, arraigning, recording and most of the instruments on the tracks before presenting to the band for live performances. However, I went into a self inflicted exile for over a decade due to the death our drummer and my best friend Donnie Reed. Recently sparked again when an artist Annie Stela was shooting a music video on some desert land of mine. Listened to one of the old songs and thought, you know- this would be a good way to honor Donnie releasing some of this material he liked. So I purchased another old TEAC 3340S reel to reel machine just in time to save the tapes from disintegrating and transferred the songs to digital, built a website and here we are. Actually very pleased and surprised that we are getting a fairly good “buzz” off the material considering it’s Lo-Fi in today’s Hi-Fi world.
Which genres and performers most influenced you during the creation the tracks on your album, Beat the Odds?
Man, I’ll have to think back on that. Naturally- Led Zepplin. early Pink Floyd, Sabbath, Cream, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, etc. My other guitarist Jeff Dostis would say Neil Young influences but I would go into spasms when he’d say it. Nothing on Neil but I just don’t hear it. I listened to that music when starting out but was unable to play any of it, the ear and feel was not developed yet and I’ve got some physical defects. In fact, instead of learning their chops, I was slopping through my own and playing against what they would play (looking for holes to drop something in). Had an old Sears Silvertone guitar and case with a built in amp back then. Went through several Strats (which for some reason, I never felt like we were one) to the Gibson Les Pauls. Dabbled in keyboards on some of the songs, unfortunately unschooled in everything- had to play by trial and error. Not one to play the same song twice with a different name, I try to make every song unique and take the listener down a different road. Some songs may have a “kissin’ cousin” but that’s about as close as it gets. I find this to be a blessing and a curse and I don’t think there collective “sound” for SLINGER other than the Lo-Fi recordings I guess.
Briefly describe for us the process of grouping the tracks on Beat the Odds. How does it compare to a theme album, and how do you move from initial thought to recording the track?
Well, I actually call it a pseudo theme collection of songs. I’m working on the story line but essentially the way the songs are grouped now- it’s starts off with a small town by who’s brother dies in the city (Take Me Away). He leaves home to find out what happened and he winds up in the city (On The Other Side). He meets a girl and falls in love in the next couple of songs. This start to go wrong in the instrumental (Boy And The Tiger) they try to stay “friends (It’s Alright, It’s Okay). Then it goes down hill and the break up starts in the next few songs. The all encompassing end to the songs and title of the collection- Beat The Odds (means a lot to me in more ways than one). Usually would start with maybe a verse of a line that I like and built from there. Guitar would usually be next, learn to program a drum machine, drop the bass in, vocals and leads. Also would mix it up and start with a different instrument and build up a song that way also. I think this helps to keep your mind open and experimenting. I’ve got some pretty strange tunes in the catalog “You’re In Danger” is a weird one.
What is your recording setup (hardware and software)? What devices/programs would you ultimately like to utilize in the future?
Oh geez, the analogs were done on everything from old Fostex multi-track cassette recorders to Teac machines. A rack full of reverbs and effects, Shure SM 57 and 58 mics (I still can’t find where I put those at) a coupe BC Rich guitars, Strats, Les Pauls, Kramer bass, Marshalls amps and some other stomp box effects. It was a fun time to lock yourself in a room and experiment for hours and days. In trying to move into the new digital world, I did everything backwards. Purchased some high end computer recording gear but got overwhelmed and frustrated with the learning curve. Where was my analog knobs patches and gear? Found the “friendliest” digital device for me to use was the TEC DP-02 and DP-24’s but I found the Audacity recorder to be the quickest way to get up to speed (go figure- a free program). I’m not dumping the pro gear yet, just need to be able to spend some time on it and get familiar with the process. Once writing again, I think the future material will be in Hi-Fi using current gear. I don’t know though, it seems like a lot of people like that warmth and feeling of the old days (sort of like an old tube amp).
Music (and the process of recording music) has changed considerably over the last twenty years. What trends have you noticed as someone intimately associated with the music industry?
Well, when showing some of the material and getting feed back on moving forward- I’ve heard several times that music is cyclical and we just might be rolling back around to the 80s right now. So maybe hibernation wasn’t so bad of an idea (but I can kick myself in the teeth for some other mistakes I made- like selling just about all the gear I had). Some of that equipment is like gold now, I could never replace it. The only thing I kept was my 80’ limited edition, candy apple red Les Paul standard (my baby Lil’Red) and a Marshall half stack. Again, I was anti-music during my hiatus and could not even listen to a song on the radio so I don’t know too much about what happened while I was gone. I am however, amazed at the clarity of what’s out there now as I backtrack and fill in the musical blanks. Radio is a bit disappointing for me though, it seems all corporate owned and they have to stylize it for the advertisers and tell the people what to listen to, how loud you can play it. Seems like they are basically leading us by the nose ring through different fads and flavors of the day. Check out Flacid-Rock.com for a different approach on some good tunes.
How has your style evolved and changed over the time since you first picked up an instrument?
Yeah, I think so. The early material was more Rock N Roll and I made an observation the other day- those were the “happy” songs, love songs, I want to be with you songs… Towards the end they became hard rock, bluesy undertows and they became sad / angry / mysterious and weird. I have one more collection of songs to put out there from the Lo-Fi days. I am very excited about three of the songs in that collection we dubbed- The Southern Set.” Some of the songs will be like- half analog and half digital. Overdubing and putting in some of the missing instruments as we speak. Drummer Bill Hartel is helping me with the project and providing the new “push” that I need and my old friend and guitar player Jeff Dostis is going to be featured on a brand new song (who I found after all these years by doing a Google search and right away I knew that was his guitar). To many things are strangely falling into place and I truly believe Donnie is behind it.
What has provided more of your fans – Facebook / Instragram / Twitter or traditional word of mouth? How have fans changed from yesterday to today?
Hmmmmm I think it’s crazy how the music industry got the crap kicked out of in while I was gone. Used to be you needed a label and a lot of touring. Now many musicians and artist are putting out killer tracks and self promoting it. When I came out of hibernation, again- I was doing it all wrong. Thought- gotta get a label and get back out there touring. Spoke to a film director (again while shooting a movie on the desert property) and he was in a signed band in the past and had typical band problems with the label (not supporting the act, not paying up, etc.). That talk with him changed my thinking and maybe if you can get the songs to the people, they can decide if they like it or not and help get your footing. Slowing building up this audience of support from people who have the ears to listen past the recordings and can see that there is something going on here. Most of the songs are true stories and come from the heart and because of that, I think there is a certain feeling from the instruments and the songs. I think, playing to the best of the abilities at that time and growing during the process is fun to listen to. Now-a-days you come out of the box smoking hot or they won’t play your material. You need a look a certain way, sound a certain way, fit a genre and be marketable the whole corporate machine has to be behind you. I think, our fan base may be old school, word of mouth. Someone will listen to a song and hit the “like” button or “follow” the project, then another and another. We truly want to give something back to those early listeners so we’ve been giving away free SLINGER stickers periodically just to say thanks and we appreciate you.
How can listeners contact you and find snippets of your music?
I guess this is the best site for now www.slingermusic.com/#!slinger–music—page—songs/c214y learning how do all this stuff- websites, FaceBook, self promotion is a pain in the butt. I hear it’s good to know though and familiarize yourself with how it works. I hate it and would much rather be working on songs. Hopefully there will be some help soon and we can turn it over to someone who likes doing it.
What are your plans for the rest of 2014?
Keep promoting the “Beat The Odds” collection, keep hammering away at the establishment. Depending on what the public likes- get a few of those tracks back in the studio for a re-recording. You can vote for your favorite songs on the website. We want to see ff that “feel” is still there in a Hi-Fi recording. If not, then may have to stay in the Lo-Fi world but under better conditions. We’re also working on releasing a new collection- here, I’ll announce the title: “The Hybrids” a collection of Hi/Lo-Fi material. I’m dying to get those “Southern Songs” out there for you guys to listen to. I plan on working more with Bill Hartel and Jeff Dostis on some old and new material. I also found a great outlet for testing the songs at MusesMuse.com. If there is enough interest, would love to get back on the road again. About 98% of the “Beat The Odds” material has never hit the stage I’m itching to pull the trigger on it live.
Do you have any final thoughts for our readers at NeuFutur?
As a matter of fact, I do. I made a big mistake turning my back on music. Reminds me of something a friend said long ago. “No matter how pissed off you get at learning your craft, you may walk away and say the hell with it. It’s okay to step away. Just keep coming back, don’t ever leave and not pick it up again.” Read an article on Elizabeth Cotton in a music magazine that also inspired. She did not play for years and years but when she did, it was remarkable- KUDOS to her. So go ahead and make that leap. If you believe in your material, don’t over analyze it to the point where your feet are frozen and you never get it out there. Take a chance- try to BEAT THE ODDS…
:0)
SLINGER
Tommy Roumanas Interview
1) Hello, Tommy. Can you briefly introduce yourself?
My name is Tommy Roumanas and I am a singer/songwriter and musician signed as a solo artist to Pacific Records in Canada.
2) Which genres and performers most influenced you during the creation of this album?
My main influences are Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan to name a few. Being born and raised
on what is called “classic rock” these days, I think that’s where my interests lie. I love
Springsteen’s and Dylan’s way of writing stories and conveying emotion, with Bruce being able
to rock the crowd and Bob being able to humble them, I wanted to find my own median. I do not
want to write like them; rather I want to write like me with influences by them.
3) Briefly describe for us the process of initially writing She Keeps Me (Rockin’) and committing it to a recording. How did the process differ from Hard Rain?
Writing “She Keeps Me (Rockin’)” was fun. The song started out as an acoustic tune, much
slower in tempo. One day I woke up and just rocked it out. It sounded great so I went with it.
When the song was finished I brought it to my label mate Lynne Taylor Donovan to have a listen
to and she loved it. When I played the song I could hear the harmonies write themselves, so we
decided to take it to the studio. Differing from Hard Rain, I got the privilege to have Lynne Taylor
Donovan not only sit in on and be part of the production but she also sang on the track. It was
awesome to see her work and listen to her sing.
4) How has your style evolved and changed over the time since you first started?
Since the first song I wrote for Lynne Taylor Donovan “Sugar Lake”, my style has been evolving
constantly. With my first release “Hard Rain” I had the opportunity to work with many
talented performers and producers that taught me so much. All these people including my
producer Bobby Gablehouse of Big Audio Productions have helped me along the way to create
my new single ”She Keeps Me (Rockin’)”. The real challenge is to create and modify while still maintaining a way to be recognizable. In the end its gonna be whatever my soul bleeds at that moment.
5) What are your most memorable experiences as a performer, either live or in the studio?
My favorite memory playing live would have to be Canada Day 2013. Downtown in my
hometown I played a few songs by the lake at sunset. As I played, a little girl, couldn’t have been
more than 4 years old, got up and started dancing across the courtyard. As she did her mother
started dancing with her and a few of her little friends joined in. It was cool to see a mother and
child just dancing to some rock and roll music.
In the studio I would have to say the part where me and my producer sit down for a session and
all we do is go over the track, jam a little, listen to music and try to create something new from
whatever else is out there and whatever else I have done. When you get in the studio and the
creativity starts flowing, it really is the best feeling in the world.
6) What are your plans for the rest of 2014?
For the rest of 2014 I will be working on my social media presence, my live presence and writing
like a mad man. There is always something more to learn. I am in the process of talking about
my next single after She Keeps Me ”Rockin”. I have it written and now am in the process of
talking about dates to be back in the studio. This will be later in 2014.
7) What has provided more of your fans – Facebook / Instragram / Twitter or traditional word of mouth?
So far, Facebook has really been the best way for me to reach fans. Twitter is secondary as of yet. Still learning the whole hashtag thing! But I will be focusing more on this in the upcoming months so it will be a great way of keeping in touch with me.
8) How can listeners contact you and find your music?
Contact me at my website through comments, on my Facebook page through messages,
or twitter as well. I am open for comments and questions and love to hear from anyone,
especially when they dig the music! My songs are on all the sites but most people get them from iTunes or CDBaby.
www.tommyroumanas.com
facebook.com/tommyroumanas
twitter.com/tommyroumanas
9) Do you have any thoughts for our readers at NeuFutur?
This has already been such an amazing ride and it has not even begun to peak. Keep an ear out
for me because I will be back and I aim to please.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Painted Palms Announce US Tour
6/6 LA, CA @ Natural History Museum ^
6/7 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
6/8 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
6/10 Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s
6/11 Austin, TX @ Holy Mountain
6/12 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada $
6/13 Kansas City, MO @ Czar Bar
6/14 St Louis, MO @ 2720 Cherokee
6/16 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
6/17 Washington, DC @ Black Cat Backstage *
6/18 Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle *
6/19 Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands *
6/21 Montreal, QC @ Il Motore *%
6/23 Toronto, ON @ The Garrison *
6/24 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick *
6/25 Indianapolis, IN @ Do317 Lounge *
6/26 Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe *
6/27 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle *
6/28 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
7/1 Seattle, WA @ Barboza
7/2 Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
7/3 Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar
% = w/ Crystal Stilts
* = w/ Saint Pepsi
$ = w/ Ishi
^ = w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra, De Lux
Bio:
Whether living four states away or four blocks away, Reese Donohue and Christopher Prudhomme have always used the Internet — at first out of necessity, later out of preference — to collaborate on their songwriting.
Although the cousins grew up together in Lafayette, Louisiana, Donohue eventually moved to San Francisco, while Prudhomme stayed near New Orleans.
The newfound distance between them forced the pair to start sending song ideas back and forth via e-mail, a virtual exchange that quickly spawned Painted Palms’ first release, Canopy, which was discovered by of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes.
Tours with of Montreal, Braids and STRFKR soon followed before Prudhomme moved out west to San Francisco, where Donohue still lived.
Yet, despite being in the same place for the first time in years, the duo continued writing songs apart from one another — completing individual ideas in isolation and piecing them together through the computer.
And so, the songs that would eventually form their debut full-length Forever, came together as if the musicians were still separated by 2000 miles: Donohue sending a short, looping beat and Prudhomme replying with a vocal melody before continuing to bounce the track back and forth between them until it was complete, this time focusing on creating songs with classic pop structures.
As if crafted by tailors so skilled you can never find the seams, the songs on Forever provide no hint of their patchwork beginnings. Instead, the album is permeated with blissfully buoyant tracks like “Here It Comes” and “Forever,” which glide smoothly on a foundation of instantly memorable melodies.
Elsewhere, touches of Painted Palms’ most prominent influences — ’60s psych pop paired with modern electronic production — are clearly evident, as on the dark and driving hooks that propel lead single “Spinning Signs.”
Don’t be fooled, though. Underneath the sunny sonic exterior, the lyrics on Forever exist in a different place, with much of the focus centered on how it feels to be caught between the external world and one’s own thoughts.
“Thinking about myself too much I can see that / I don’t know what to be,” sings Prudhomme on Forever’s title cut.
And in that moment a hint of irony is apparent, for as much as the members of Painted Palms want to get out of their own heads, they’re awfully good at writing songs that will immediately get stuck in yours.
Forever
[Polyvinyl Records]
Street Date: January 14, 2013
Track List:
1. Too High
3. Hypnotic
4. Forever
5. Soft Hammer
6. Carousel
7. Not Really There
8. Hope That You See It Now
10. Sleepwalking
11. Empty Gun
12. Angels
Official: www.paintedpalms.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/paintedpalms
Twitter: www.twitter.com/paintedpalms
Label: www.polyvinylrecords.com
Tiësto Releases Fifth Album "A Town Called Paradise" June 16
TIËSTO is going to unlock his fifth full-length album and first for Casablanca Records and Republic Records, A Town Called Paradise, on June 16, 2014 in stores and through all digital retailers. It promises to be the electronic dance music event of the summer.
The world-renowned dance legend already has unveiled two tracks from the set. The first single “Red Lights”hit #6 on the official UK Singles Chart, becoming his first-ever Top 10 track in the UK, and it accumulated over 12.6 million views on YouTube/VEVO. To date, it has sold 500,000 copies worldwide. Most recently, he dropped the album’s second intoxicating single “Wasted”featuring Matthew Koma, which he recently debuted during his headline set at Ultra Music Festival. Right out of the gate, it’s already a strong contender for “song of the summer” with its shimmering, unforgettable chorus and buoyant bounce perfect for days on the beach or by the pool and nights in the club. You can check out the infectious track’s video on VEVO now. Watch it here exclusively on RollingStone.com.
TIËSTO also invited some of dance music’s most notable names to collaborate with him on A Town Called Paradise. He joins forces with the likes of Hardwell, Sultan & Ned Shepard, Firebeatz, MOTi, Kaaze , and Dzeko & Torres on the production side. The vocal cameos also shine brightly. In addition to Koma, he tapped the talents of Icona Pop, Ladyhawke, Zac Barnett [American Authors], and Krewella.
TIËSTO is one of the most recognizable forces in the genre. He’s received the adoration of millions worldwide, garnered Grammy Award nominations, opened the 2004 Olympic Games, been named “The Greatest DJ of All Time” by Mixmag and the “#1” DJ by Rolling Stone, partnered with Guess and AKG for his own brands, headlined festivals worldwide including Ultra Music Festival, and Electric Daisy Carnival, launched the “Club Life” channel on Sirius XM, and hosted a storied 20-month residency at Hakkasan Las Vegas Restaurant and Nightclub and Wet Republic pool party at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino.
Tracklisting:
1. Tiësto – Red Lights
2. Tiësto – Footprints feat. Cruickshank
3. Tiësto – Light Years Away feat. DBX
4. Tiësto – A Town Called Paradise feat. Zac Barnett from American Authors
5. Tiësto & Hardwell – Written In Reverse feat. Matthew Koma
6. Tiësto – Echoes feat. Andreas Moe
7. Tiësto & Firebeatz – Last Train feat. Ladyhawke
8. Tiësto – Wasted feat. Matthew Koma
9. Tiësto – Let’s Go feat. Icona Pop
10. Tiësto – The Feeling feat. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool
11. Tiësto – Shimmer feat. Christian Burns
12. Tiesto & Kaaze – Rocky
13. Tiësto and Sultan & Shepard – Close To Me feat. Quilla
14. Tiësto – Set Yourself Free feat. Krewella
Beverly Girl Feather and Dust CD Review
Feather and Dust is the new release from Beverly Girl, an act that looks back into the nineties to craft an inimitable style that works in 2014. On this album, the band creates 8 tracks that are fun, intricate, and will keep listeners tuning in for more.
Move On is a frenetic track that immediately kicks the momentum into high gear. The smoky vocals lie nicely over the track, while the overall composition takes equal influence from Yaz, Debbie Gibson, and Bananarama. Wind is the final cut from Feather and Dust, providing a smart end to a strong album. Beverly Girl is able to link this composition to the rest of the songs on Feather and Dust, but provides fans with some idea about what tack Beverly Girl will ultimately take on future recordings.
The lead single from Feather and Dust can be found at the band’s Soundcloud (soundcloud.com/beverly-girl ), while Beverly Girl’s Facebook has information about their live dates, videos, and will have information regarding where you can purchase the album after its release date on May 22nd.
Top Tracks: In The Street, Go With What You Got
Rating: 8.2/10
Beverly Girl Feather and Dust CD Review / 2014 Self / 8 Tracks / beverlygirl.com/ / www.facebook.com/beverlygirl