Marc Daniels – “Redheads”

YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe8Ww9APm1I

Breaking into the country-rock music scene in 2016, Marc Daniels debuted artistry as well as, his musical and emotional depth that he infuses into his songs. Marc Daniels started his music career in the rural surroundings of Spokane, WA where he grew up in a family of very talented singers and musicians. Understanding the importance and value of music, Marc was enrolled in piano lessons in elementary school which he proceeded to take through high school. Marc drew much of his inspiration from bands ranging in various rock and country genres such as Def Leppard, Pink Floyd, Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks.

Prison Escapee - “Au Revoir” and “Locket”

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/prisonescapee/?ref=nf&hc_ref=NEWSFEED

Prison Escapee, the moniker of singer/songwriter/musician Erik David Hidde, has made a substantial impact in the brief time it has been an active project and has garnered considerable critical plaudits from all the right quarters. Hidde is a Los Angeles transplant who, after two years running is own label Housewarming Records, opted to relocate from the environs of the Big Apple in favor of Southern California’s sunny climate. The geographical switch has done nothing for the songwriting mood on his latest singles “Au Revoir” and “Locket”. The melancholy electronic rock that has been this project’s mainstay since it first began recording remains its predominant emotional stance, but it retains immense quality despite its relatively downcast mood. Both of his new singles, “Au Revoir” and “Locket”, challenge listeners in all the best ways and make an impression lingering long after the final notes fade.

Impuritees - 'Nothing Matters'

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/impuritees/

The misspelling of Impuritees band name adds a unique emphasis to the sound of the word and makes the band stand out. They stand out in a way which makes people look at their band name twice. This name could also be a way of introducing the listeners to what the band is basing their songs on; the parts of life that make things less vanilla. The title of their album introduces people to this idea and brings the listener to the first song of the album.

Bleeder releases LP

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Bleedertheband/

Bleeder’s nine song debut is the natural consequence of a writer who felt the need to further express themselves. Shelby Smoak’s travels from a diagnosis of hemophilia and HIV to an artist capable of summarizing all of this in book and song form gives stark evidence of the value of those endeavors. Shelby’s personal account of his life, Bleeder: A Memoir, first saw publication in 2013 and garnered nationwide attention for its artistry and vulnerability. The resulting attention surely spurred Smoak on to consider the project’s further possibility and this nine song release resulted. He’s surrounded himself with top flight musical talent to help brings his ambitions to fruition, but the primary motivating force behind these songs is Smoak – his voice, guitar, and words. This is one of the year’s most important releases for a variety of reasons, but chief among them is the vulnerability display therein.

doubleVee drops new single

PRIMARY URL: https://www.doublevee.net/

Hailing from the somewhat unlikely locale of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Allan Vest and his wife Barb Vest have produced one of the most challenging and intelligent offerings on the indie scene this year with the album The Moonlit Fables of Jack the Rider. The lead off single from the album “Frucus Minus (The Flycatcher)” doesn’t, by any means, reveal the full breadth of their potential – it does, however, give listeners a vivid idea of their capabilities, engages audiences both physically and mentally, and proves to be an entertaining musical ride. Allan Vest certainly enjoyed ample time to polish his skills for this moment thanks to his nine year tenure as lead singer and chief songwriter for the indie/orchestral pop outfit Starlight Mints, but there’s an intimacy with this performance that’s much different from his earlier work. “Frucus Minus (The Flycatcher)” has enough of the individual, odd, and familiar to make it an all-around compelling cut.

The Johnny Mac Band – Ace

URL: https://www.longislandagogo.com/organizers/johnny-mac-band/

Long Island’s The Johnny Mac Band has begun laying the groundwork for their second studio release, Ace, by releasing a debut single. They have chosen the title track as a representative cut from what promises to be a big moment in this band’s history – despite the fact that the band boasts four extraordinarily talented veterans of the East Coast scene, The Johnny Mac Band haven’t been together that long and play with the sort of energy and creativity that one might expect from young performers rather than such grizzled hands. The music has kept them young – more accurately, the blues have preserved them and their performance of “Ace” moves with the sort of slinky command that one might associate with iconic performers in the form. It’s just four guys from the Long Island area, however, playing the blues like they are the first band to ever tackle the form.

Going further with my thoughts…

Jupiter in Velvet - In2 the Arms of Love

URL: https://www.jupiterinvelvet.com/home

Ten songs almost seem redundant here. Jupiter in Velvet’s latest album, In2 the Arms of Love, will curry favor from its intended audience within the first few songs. The newest full length studio recording has tremendous spark and more than enough rock-fueled power to make longtime fans smile and make tons of new converts. His songwriting and performances has a lot of raucous attitude, but the lyrics and subject matters promote a strongly personal and upbeat edge reminiscent of iconic artists like The Beatles, Bowie, a dash of Marc Bolan, Prince, and even a little Jimi Hendrix dropped in for good measure. It never sounds imitative however. Jupiter, instead, refocuses those influences through the prism of his own philosophy and it emerges as something uniquely his own with more than a fair amount of charisma sparking from the musical arrangements.