Sound Cloud Sunday June 24, 2018 (Episode #19) On Laurel Canyon Radio
Sound Cloud Sunday June 24, 2018 (Episode #19) Laurel Canyon Radio
This week’s episode of Sound Cloud Sunday attempts to feature new indie and unsigned music that was just released in the last month or so. And although like Lucy in the chocolate factory it is always our best intention to feature every imaginable great indie artist coming down the line, we too would probably find ourselves gorging ourselves on music and attempti
ng to literally clutch every great indie release from the overflowing trough of talent to our breast to the point of absurdity. So let’s leave it to say that some great music has passed over the creative transom this month and we’re happy to share some of it with you, inclusiveness on all of it be damned. With the birthday of Nick Drake passing us this week and a reminder of that creative man’s short time on earth and his ultimate gifts acknowledged posthumously, we are reminded that an artists greatness is found in its own time and we here at Laurel Canyon Radio merely serve as stokers of the star maker machinery behind the popular song. Enjoy our selections this week and keep an open ear!
The Weight Band – Big Legged Sadie
Hometown: Woodstock NY
Album: “World Gone Mad” self-released but signed to Curve Music
Review Snippet: Featuring members of The Band, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson and Levon Helm’s band, The Woodstock based Weight Band is not a tribute to The Band but rather a continuation of where The Band and members left off. Members include Jim Weider, Marty Grebb, Brian Mitchell, Albert Rogers and Michael Bram… Songs written by The Band, Levon Helm… and Colin Linden.
Website: http://theweightband.com/
Ryan Martin – Death Of Love
Hometown: New York City via Los Gatos, California
Album: “Gimme Some Light” (out next week) on High Moon Records
Review Snippet: “A song defined by heartache, Martin takes a page from the playbook of classic country and folk tunes to make its sense of yearning pop and stick with his audience long after first listen”
Next Time In LA: The Love Song Bar in LA on July 16, the State Social House in West Hollywood on July 17.
Website: https://www.ryanmartinmusic.net/
Pearl – Days Gone By
Hometown: Los Angeles
Album: From the sophomore album “Heartbreak and Canyon Revelry” released last week on Station House Recordings.
Review Snippet: Pearl has joined forces once again with the venerable Jim Wilson, long time bassist for Daniel Lanois, Emmylou Harris, and the leader of his own successful groups, Motor Sister and Mother Superior.
This new collaboration sinks it’s teeth into the California Country sound, with contributions from renowned guitarist Philip Sayce, the legendary Jay Dee Maness on pedal steel, Fred Mandel (Alice Cooper, Elton John, Queen) on keyboards, and was produced by Jay Ruston.
Next Time in LA: July 29 at the Whiskey A-Go-Go in West Hollywood and August 3 at the Novo by Microsoft
Website: http://thepearlband.com
Cordovas – This Town’s A Drag
Hometown: East Nashville, TN
Album: “The Santa Fe Channel” produced by Milk Carton Kids’ Kenneth Pattengale will be released August 10.
Review Snippet: Everyone in the East Nashville band Cordovas is a lead vocalist. The country-rock group is committed to the sound of brotherhood — a few voices sharing a feeling. Nowhere is that clearer than on the tender ballad “I’m The One Who Needs You Tonight,” off the band’s upcoming record That Santa Fe Channel.
Website: http://site.cordovasband.com/
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBTSsOXLOEI
Faultlines – Atlas
Hometown: Los Angeles
Album: “Bittersweet Revival” is their debut album (self-released last month). Faultlines appears live in studio on next week’s edition of Sound Cloud Sunday live on Laurel Canyon Radio!
Review Snippet: This talented trio have a gift of telling stories through a guitar, a piano and voices that each bring something so unique and so beautiful while being able to harmonize in a way that just mesmerizes me.
Next Time in LA: Downtown Disney on June 27, Pour Vous on July 3 and Ocean Prime in Beverly Hills on July 11 and 25.
Website: http://www.faultlinesofficial.com/
The Dales – Still The Love
Hometown: Los Angeles
Album: Their debut album “Marie” was released June 8 on Big Picnic Records
Review Snippet: The echoes of that tragedy ring through Marie and resonate in the bittersweet sentiment and alluring melodies that provide its wistful embrace. Yet, Marie is more than simply a requiem to eternal love. It’s a set of songs that still resonate with unfettered optimism while finding an upward glance even in the face of unbearable loss. From the resolute refrains of opening track “Pillars of Sand” to the final resolve of the stunning title track, these melodies soar with conviction, resolve, drive and determination. Indeed, the evocative harmonies that grace such songs as “Liberty Square,” “Still the Love” and “Hiding in the Light.” Moreover, with the allure and emotional grasp bestowed on tracks like “I’ll Get By” and “Whistlin’ Jack,” The Dales create a sound with an infectious energy and intuitive intent that all but ensures its instant attraction.
Next Time In LA: June 30 at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach and then supporting Marc Broussard at the Teragram Ballroom (September 28) the Belly Up in Solana Beach (September 29).
.Website: http://www.thedalesband.com
Oakland – Burning Sun
Hometown: Somewhere in Sweden???
Album: Self-titled album “Once In Awhile” released June 1.
Review Snippet: Hard to find much info on this band.
Website: http://oaklandmusic.se
The Mulligan Brothers – The Deal
Hometown: Mobile, AL
Album: Their third album “Songs for The Living And Otherwise” is available on their website.
Review Snippet: The Mulligan Brothers – a locally based musical foursome – gently weave heartfelt tales of love and loss into a complex yet comforting quilt of bluegrass instrumentals, the combination of which will leave you nostalgic for something (or someone) that you can’t quite put your finger on. With a remarkable universality, the band’s self-titled debut album features songs that you could as easily imagine spilling from the mouth of a storied, laugh-lined old man as his teenage grandson grieving his first heartbreak. The Mulligan Brothers sing and play about where they’ve been in a way that makes us all realize we’ve been there, too.
Web Site: https://www.themulliganbrothers
Mala Ruckus – Run
Hometown: Prague, Czech Republic
Album: “People Mountain People Sea”
Review Snippet: Mala Ruckus is an indie alternative rock band formed in China and currently residing in Prague.
The band’s sound comes from an eclectic range of influences, due in part to the varied backgrounds of the individual members.
Folk, rock and alternative music are blended with melodious group harmonies and sincere lyrics.
Website: https://www.malaruckus.com
Jeffrey Foucault – Blown
Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin
Album: From the album “Blood Brothers” released June 22 on Blue Blade Records.
Review Snippet: The fourth single from the new album Blood Brothers, ‘Blown’ – a duet with my friend the fantastic songwriter and singer Tift Meritt – premieres this week on Wednesday, June 6th, at American Songwriter, and will be available on the various streaming services,
Website: https://jeffreyfoucault.com
Lauren Housley – My Sleeping Heart
Hometown: Manchester, UK
Album: This is a new single, just released last week. No album yet.
Review Snippet: “As convincing as they come”
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pg/laurenhousleymusic/
Matt Epp – Runaway
Hometown: Winnipeg, Canada
Album: From his 5th album “Shadowlands” just released independently
Review Snippet: “…the main thing is that Matt Epp is simply one of the best of a generation of fine songwriters emerging in this country over the last decade or so, and carrying forward the torch of Canadian songwriting that goes back to Lightfoot, Mitchell, Young, Cohen and Cockburn. It’s what we’re really good at.
Website: http://www.mattepp.com/
The National Reserve – Big Bright Light
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Album: From the album “Motel La Grande” on Ramseur Records (their debut album)
Review Snippet:
“It’s a familiar sound, rooted in past masters and comfortable tropes, but the National Reserve have a strong command of what makes classic American rock so appealing, and they deliver the goods more often than not.” The Brooklyn boys are back with some of the best-written tunes coming out today. It’s piano-driven rock that could have been released thirty years ago as easily as today and shows that the band has no plans of slowing down. Brilliant.”
Website: https://www.thenationalreserve.com/
Rob Cheatham – Moonshine Madonna
Hometown: Charlottesville, VA
Album: From the album “Villians and Ghosts” available on Bandcamp.
Review Snippet: The latest album from Rob Cheatham, ‘Villains and Ghosts’ is an assured, alternative country offering, with strong songs and a sense of melancholy that runs through the work like a rich vein. Self-described as a singer-songwriter from Charlottesville, Virginia he has played in bands including The Nice Jenkins, Gunchux and The Borrowed Beams of Light before embarking on his solo journey. This is a band project though, with a powerful but understated sound. Influences include Springsteen, Adams and Isbell but that fine list doesn’t tell the whole story. Music must come from somewhere and although the influences are visible this is not derivative at all. The songs have their own presence and character.
Website: https://robcheatham1.bandcamp.com/
Chuck Westmoreland – Prisoners
Hometown: Portland, OR
Album: From his second album “Long Winter Rodeo” on Black And Gold Records.
Review Snippet: Chuck Westmoreland has announced the release of his sophomore LP Long Winter Rodeo, a collection of country-tinged character sketches displaying a songwriting prowess that recalls the introspective storytelling of Taylor Goldsmith and the brutal honesty of John Moreland.
Website: http://www.chuckwestmoreland.com/
