Fans of Kurt Baker are getting their first taste of his forthcoming album this week.
Baker premiered his new single, ‘Anchors Up‘ and its video Tuesday. The song and its video are the first from Baker’s upcoming album, Rock ‘N’ Roll. The album’s release date is under consideration.
The musical arrangement featured in ‘Anchors Up’ is a catchy, up-beat pop rock style composition. According to Baker himself, he made the song with inspiration from the likes of The Kinks and Green Day in mind.
“‘Anchors Up’ started around an idea I had while living in Spain during the lockdown confinement,” Baker said. “Being confined to your house was not a great experience, but I remember I used to take my guitar and play it next to my window, to get some sunlight. I guess the rays of sunshine brought a happy upbeat melody to my mind, definitely with the flavor of something Green Day might have recorded on their ‘Warning’ album, or maybe even the Kinks, which coincidently, I think Green Day was listening to a lot when they recorded ‘Warning’.
Baker added, the lyrics changed over time due to input from Wicked Cool Records founder Little Steven.
“When I sent it to Little Steven to listen to he told me straight up that the song was way too “happy” sounding! I’m very fortunate to have the ability to work with somebody like Steven, who knows his music, and his feedback and critique of my ideas are so extremely valuable,” Baker said. “The song took another direction, once I sat down with my best buddy Geoff Palmer to work on the lyrics. Now the track has this sort of ‘Sloop John B’ vibe to it. Almost a bit of a maritime thing going.. Anchors, drunk captains… You know, I’m from Maine so I’ve been on a boat, and I’ve been around a lot of drunk captains and captainesses, or so they say they are! I’m very very excited for ‘Anchors Up’ to be the lead kick-off single for my new album ‘Rock N Roll Club’. Dig it!”
The video for ‘Anchors Up’ follows Baker as he makes his way down a coastal road, meeting up with friends along the way as the song plays over and Baker sings along. The video ends as the group reaches the beach, the sun setting in the distance.
In other news, Kurt Baker has a series of tour dates coming up starting June 1 in Portland, ME. The current dates are noted below:
Upcoming shows:
6/17 – Portland, ME @ Bunker Brewery
7/1 – Madison, WI @ Mickey’s
9/29 – Boston, MA TBA Album Release Party
9/30 – New York, NY TBA Album Release Party
10/21 – 11/1 JAPANESE TOUR MORE INFO SOON
11/24 – Portland, ME @ Geno’s Rock Club
Baker premiered another, standalone single last month in the form of ‘Secrets‘ Friday. The standalone single is a fun, catchy composition that is driven equally through its guitar line, keyboard composition and infectious beat.
The poppy, up-tempo composition’s arrangement works well with its lyrical theme, which comes across as a love song of sorts. This is inferred as the song’s subject urges his/her love interest to share his/her secrets just between them. The playful approach to the declaration that no one is listening makes that especially the case.
Baker talked about the song’s musical approach in a prepared statement.
“‘Secrets’ is a song that was influenced by classic Motown-James Jamerson basslines, mixed with a bit of Big Star high-volume guitar…,” Baker said. “I love writing and recording catchy pop songs, and the KB Band does it really well, so here’s another great example of us, doing what we do, and playing what we play. Rock on and enjoy the tune!”
More information on Kurt Baker’s new single is available along with all of his latest news at:
Singer Jessie Wagner is taking on one of Solomon Burke’s biggest hits for her latest single.
Wagner premiered her cover of Burke’s hit 1962 single, ‘Cry To Me’ Friday. Originally written by Bert Berns, it has gone on to be performed and recorded countless times by well-known artists, such as Kelly Clarkson, Sir Tom Jones, and Marc Broussard just to name a few familiar performers who have taken on the song.
Wagner’s take on the timeless soul song stays true to its source material, making only the slightest change from the original song, with the use of a saxophone line as its base in place of the guitar line used as the arrangement’s base in the original composition. Another subtle change made in Wagner’s rendition is that it steps up the song’s tempo ever so slightly. The marimba used as an added accent in the original is also omitted in the update from Wagner. Other than those few subtle changes, the song largely sticks to the original, with the soul in Wagner’s voice just as rich as that in Burke’s performance of the song. Even the art used for her take of the song pays tribute to the art used for the original single, showing just how much respect Wagner has for the original composition.
According to Wagner herself, her love for ‘Cry To Me’ was the result of having watched the classic romantic drama Dirty Dancing many years ago.
“Ever since I saw Patrick Swayze gently sway Jennifer Grey in his beautifully sculpted arms to Solomon Burke’s “Cry To Me,” I was immediately obsessed with this sensual song,” Wagner said. “It continues to be one of my favorites, and I am ecstatic to release my take on this sexy classic.”
More information on Jesse Wagner’s new album is available along with all of her latest news at:
Power pop act Joy Buzzer premiered its latest single this weekend.
The band debuted its new single, ‘I Wanna Scream‘ Friday. Its premiere came more than a month after the band debuted its then latest single, ‘Judy Judy Judy.’ The band’s new single is, as with its predecessor, another fun, upbeat composition that is full of pop and even some pop punk influences that collectively are sure to keep listeners engaged.
According to information in the news release announcing the new single’s premiere, the song’s lyrical theme touches on the story of a young man who is essentially being stalked by an admirer and doesn’t know how to handle the “advanced” attention.
In other news, Joy Buzzer has a live show planned for May 12 in New York City. More information on that concert is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Punk rock outfit The Dollyrots kicked off the weekend with the premiere of its latest single and video.
The band unveiled its new single, ‘Still Holding On‘ and the song’s companion lyric video Friday. The song’s musical arrangement is a catchy, upbeat composition that will appeal easily to any pop punk fan just as much as the band’s established audiences.
Lyrically, the song is a social commentary of sorts, according to vocalist/bassist Kelly Ogden.
“It’s a song about counting on the people you love to get you through the strangeness of modern life,” Ogden said. “The lyric video features an AI generated version of me, a digital reminder of how off-kilter the Future is becoming.”
The video in question features Ogden on screen as the song’s lyrics are presented all around her as she simply stands in classic rock position, bass in front of her as if she was on stage performing.
Courtesy: Wicked Cool Records
In other news, The Dollyrots has announced a new slate of live dates starting June 21 in Austin, TX. The tour is scheduled to run through Nov. 3 in Nashville, TN. Tickets are available here. The tour’s schedule is noted below:
The DOLLYROTS Tour dates:
w/ DON’T PANIC
6/21 • The Ballroom • Austin, TX
6/22 • Paper Tiger • San Antonio, TX
6/23 • Three Links • Dallas, TX
6/24 • The End • Houston, TX
7/21 • TBA • Denver, CO
w/ DOG PARTY
7/22 • The Shakedown • Bellingham, WA
7/23 • The Funhouse • Seattle, WA
7/24 • Star Theater • Portland, OR
7/26 • Old Ironsides • Sacramento, CA
7/27 • Bottom Of The Hill • San Francisco, CA
7/28 • Knitting Factory • Los Angeles, CA
7/29 • The Parish at HOB • Anaheim, CA
7/30 • The Casbah • San Diego, CA
w/ TSUNAMI BOMB
8/31 • Sonia • Boston, MA
9/1 • Camp Punksylvania • Scranton, PA
9/2 • DC9 • Washington, DC
9/3 • Amityville Music Hall • Amityville, NY
11/2 • The Earl • Atlanta, GA
11/3 • The Cobra • Nashville, TN
More information on The Dollyrots’ new single,video, and tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Rock band The Bayonets is giving audiences another preview of its new album this week with the debut of the record’s new single and lyric video.
The band debuted its new single, ‘Post Apocalypso‘ Wednesday, along with its companion lyric video. The song and its video are the second from the band’s forthcoming album, Argentina. Details regarding the album’s release date were not announcing the news release announcing the new single and video’s premiere.
The musical arrangement featured in the band’s new single is a light, Latin-tinged work right down to its beat. It is such a fun, infectious composition that is comparable — to a point — to Fastball’s classic hit single, ‘The Way.’ What is so interesting is how the light, infectious sound and approach taken to the band’s new single so clearly contrasts the cynicism in the song’s lyrical theme.
According to statements from band member Brian Ray, the song’s lyrical theme centers on the all too familiar topic of relationships, but in a unique way that perhaps includes some commentary.
“Our new song, ‘Post Apocalypso,’ is about romance in a world gone mad,” Ray said. He continued, noting the song’s musical content was influenced by the likes of The Drifters’ ‘Save The Last Dance For Me’ and Frank and Nancy Sinatra’s ‘Something Stupid.’
“Oliver and I had a track on the back burner which we had never finished, and I had the idea that we might be able to do something cool with it.” Ray said of the arrangement. “We’re really happy about the way it turned out.”
The vocals for the new single were performed by Ray and fellow band member Lucrecia Lopez Sanz. Larry Taylor (Tom Waits, Canned Heat) handled bass duties on the upright bass. Adam McDougall (Chris Robinson) worked the keyboard line in the song. Oliver Leiber kept time on the drums while Ray also handled the guitar line.
More information on The Bayonets’ new lyric video and single is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Independent singer-songwriter-musician Ryan Hamilton is scheduled to release his latest album, Haunted By The Holy Ghost Friday through Wicked Cool Records. Coming a little more than a year after his most recent solo recording, 1221, the 10-song presentation is an enjoyable new offering from Hamilton. That is thanks to both its musical and lyrical content. The three singles the record has already produced – ‘A$$hole’ ‘Paper Planes, and ‘On The Edge’ – do well to make that clear. ‘Paper Planes’ is easily one of the most standout of the songs that shows the strength of the album’s overall content. It will be discussed shortly. While not a single, ‘Sad Bastard Song’ – the record’s penultimate entry, is another notable entry here. It will be discussed a little later. ‘Yeah, Whatever,’ which comes a little earlier in the record, is another notable addition to the album in terms of its musical and lyrical content. When it is considered along with the other songs noted here and with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole makes Haunted By The Holy Ghost a welcome addition to this year’s field of top new independent albums.
Haunted By The Holy Ghost, the latest album from Ryan Hamilton, is a record that audiences established and otherwise will agree was well worth the wait, having been delayed by nearly a month due to production problems getting it out on certain platforms. The 10-song record entertains from beginning to end of its 43-minute run time. The trio of singles that the record has already produced makes that clear. ‘Paper Planes,’ is one of that trio, makes clear how much this album has to offer. The three-and-a-half-minute song immediately grabs listeners with its light musical arrangement. There is something about the combination of the instrumentation and Hamilton’s vocals here that lends the whole to comparison to certain works from the late, great Tom Petty. That is meant in the most complimentary fashion possible. Audiences who take the time to take in the song will hear that through the combination of the steady time keeping and classic rock influenced guitar and keyboard arrangement. The poppy vibe is so subtle, and in being so subtle, makes the whole so infectious and fun.
The positive mood that the song’s arrangement sets pairs well with the song’s equally positive lyrical theme, which comes across as being a key, familiar statement encouraging listeners to face the emotions they feel in difficult situations in a healthy way, and just let them go. Yes, it is easier said than done, but when done, it really does help, and Hamilton’s encouragement here certainly delivers the message in a way that will resonate loudly with listeners. The inferred theme is presented in the song’s lead verse and chorus as Hamilton sings, “When you’ve just about had enough/Trying hard not to interrupt/You feel it coming and you’re gonna explode/Kick ‘em to the next area code/You tell yourself to just calm down/You got flipped/Turned upside down/When all you wanna do is bitch and moan/I think I need a moment/And a microphone/Fold your worries into paper planes/And watch them fly away/Send them singing into the sky/And try to save some face/Write a letter with your complaints/Be explicit and profane/Fold it up into a paper plane/And watch it fly away.” He continues in the song’s second verse, “When you’re feeling turned inside out/Trying hard not to twist and shout/You feel it coming and you’re gonna explode/Kick ‘em to the next area code/You tell yourself to stop, think/But all you’ve ever known is tongue-in-cheek/When all you wanna do is bitch and moan/Give me a moment/And a microphone.” From there, Hamilton reprises the song’s chorus, reminding audiences to let those negative thoughts and emotions just fly away. The whole is such a welcome positive message that everyone can use time and again, and when it is paired with the song’s equally positive musical arrangement, the whole makes ‘Paper Planes’ a key example of what makes Haunted By The Holy Ghost such an enjoyable new offering from Ryan Hamilton.
‘Paper Planes’ is just one of the songs that makes Hamilton’s new album so engaging and entertaining. ‘Sad Bastard Song’ is yet another notable addition to the record. The country-western vibe established in this song is such a stark contrast to so much of the album’s content. From the beginning to the end of this, the album’s penultimate entry, the pairing of the song’s instrumentation and Hamilton’s vocals lends itself collectively to works from the likes of Neil Young while also maintaining that vintage sound that used to fill the old honky tonks of the south so many decades ago. It is an intriguing juxtaposition in the pairing, but it works surprisingly well here.
The somber mood set through the song’s arrangement does well to pair with its lyrical counterpart. That is because it really is one of those songs…at least until it reaches its amped up take of ‘All My Exes Live in Texas’ as part of the whole. That brief cover would make Hank III proud with its outlaw country vibe. The main body of the song however, finds the song’s subject lost in his own misery as Hamilton sings, “Here’s another sad bastard song/For losers out there like me/I don’t wanna grow up/I know my s**** f***ed up/I’m gonna get stoned and watch TV/I raise a glass to the unemployed/Because they’re doing the best they can/They do whatever it takes/I love the …/I gave some whiskey to a homeless man/Take your money and your brand new cars/Take your TV and your movie stars/And go, go, go/I’ll be out here in my beat up truck/Drinking beer/And f****** s*** up/Let’s go, go, go/Go, go.” If that is not an old school style country honky tonk drinking song – complete with steel pedal – then it is anyone’s guess what is. He continues in the song’s second verse, “Here’s another sad bastard first/For the losers out there like moi/Color you impressed/Yeah, I just spoke French/I think you owe me an apology/You can judge me anytime you like/But lemme tell you/When you rest your head/I’ll be under my sheets/Just your Mrs. and me/She loves to slum it here in my bed/Take your liquor and expensive wine/Your trophy wife was a waste of time/Just go, go, go/I’ll be out here in the woods because/That’s just the kind of s*** a country boy does/Just go, go, go/Go, go. From there he repeats, “drink” multiple times over before eventually noting he needs a drink and sleep. Again, here is a full-on vintage country western song whose lyrics and music alike make for another fully engaging and interesting work. It is yet another key example of what makes Haunted By The Holy Ghost so interesting and certainly not the last example, either. ‘Yeah, Whatever’ is yet another example of how much the album has to offer.
‘Yeah, Whatever’ comes only a little ahead of ‘Sad Bastard Song,’ serving as the record’s eighth entry. The song here presents an arrangement that boasts its own unique identity separate from those of the album’s singles and the other songs examined here. In the case of this song, the arrangement throws back to the pop rock sounds of the early to mid-1990s. The first comparison that might come to some listeners’ minds here is to works from the likes of Gin Blossoms and to a slightly lesser extent, Vertical Horizons. The staccato notes in the guitar line and the layered vocals, which create a nice harmony, pairs with the arrangement’s rhythm section to really bring out that vintage pop rock sound. It’s hard to call music from the 90s vintage, but that was two decades ago. Getting back on the topic at hand, the arrangement overall is interesting especially considering the fact that the song’s lyrical theme comes across as centering on the all too familiar topic of a broken relationship.
The inference about the lyrical theme here comes as Hamilton sings in the song’s lead verse and chorus, almost cynically, “You sit all alone with your color TV/Your head starts to glisten in spite of the freeze/We don’t have to stay friends/Let’s pretend to be enemies/ Yeah, whatever makes you happy/Whatever makes you beautiful/Whatever leaves you satisfied/’Cause I’m out of time/For now.” There is a small portion of that opening verse that is tough to decipher sans lyrics, but the rest of the verse makes clear the thoughts and emotions that the person here is thinking and feeling. He continues in the song’s second verse, “You’re paranoid/As you look me up and down/I’m soaked in gasoline…/You sit by the phone with your tongue hanging out/You cradle the flies/In the back of your mouth.” There is a little bit here that is difficult to decipher, too, but overall that sense of cynicism and anger is just as much on display. It continues in similar fashion in the song’s third and final verse, too. The end result is a song that is just as accessible as any of the other songs featured in the album. When it is considered along with the other songs examined here and alongside the album’s other two singles and the rest of its entries, the whole of the record makes Haunted By The Holy Ghost another welcome new offering from Ryan Hamilton that is also among the best of this year’s new independent albums.
Haunted By The Holy Ghost, the latest album from Ryan Hamilton, is a welcome new offering from the veteran singer-songwriter that was well worth the wait. It proves so engaging and entertaining through its musical and lyrical content alike, as its current trio of singles shows. When ‘Paper Planes,’ one of those singles, is considered along with the other two songs examined here and with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole makes the album overall a fully engaging and entertaining work that is among the best of this year’s new independent albums.
Haunted By The Holy Ghost is scheduled for release Friday through Wicked Cool Records. More information on the album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Veteran musician Ricky Byrd opened the weekend with the premiere of his latest single.
Byrd, who is most well-known for his work with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, premiered his new single, ‘Alien‘ Friday. Its release came a month after Byrd debuted his then latest single, ‘Glandemic Blues.’
The classic rock leanings expressed through ‘Glandemic Blues’ are just as presented in Alien, but the arrangement in this latest single gives the song its own identity separate from its counterpart. The song’s opening bars present a 4/4/ style beat and sound that was familiar to so much music in the 1950s, and that quickly gives way to more of a Beatles-esque 1960s style and sound.
The arrangement overall is infectious in its own right in regards to its musical arrangement. The song’s lyrical theme adds to the overall interest with its commentary about the fate of mankind.
Byrd said himself, the theme and song overall came about as the result of a dream that he had.
“I had a dream I was at a sit down with a group of Aliens (yeah [Wicked Cool Records Founder Steven] Van Zandt was there too as mediator : ) , and I was trying to buy the human race some more time. Woke up and wrote the tune!”
Along with working with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Ricky Byrd has also spent time on the road with other equally well-known acts, such as Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Smokey Robinson, Steve Miller, Elvis Costello, Graham Nash, Sam Moore, Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh, Alice Cooper, Steven Van Zandt, Mavis Staples, Ian Hunter, and Brian Wilson.
Additionally, he has composed and recorded songs with the likes of The Who front man Roger Daltry.
More information on Byrd’s new single is available along with all of his latest news at:
Indie rock artist Kurt Baker debuted his latest single this week.
Baker kicked off the weekend with the premiere of his new single, ‘Secrets‘ Friday. The standalone single is a fun, catchy composition that is driven equally through its guitar line, keyboard composition and infectious beat.
The poppy, up-tempo composition’s arrangement works well with its lyrical theme, which comes across as a love song of sorts. This is inferred as the song’s subject urges his/her love interest to share his/her secrets just between them. The playful approach to the declaration that no one is listening makes that especially the case.
Baker talked about the song’s musical approach in a prepared statement.
“‘Secrets’ is a song that was influenced by classic Motown-James Jamerson basslines, mixed with a bit of Big Star high-volume guitar…,” Baker said. “I love writing and recording catchy pop songs, and the KB Band does it really well, so here’s another great example of us, doing what we do, and playing what we play. Rock on and enjoy the tune!”
More information on Kurt Baker’s new single is available along with all of his latest news at:
Soraia is taking on a song from fellow rock act The Hellacopters for its latest single.
The band premiered its cover of The Hellacopters’ ‘Baby Borderline‘ Thursday. The song is the band’s latest single and comes a week after the band premiered the video for its then latest single, ‘Jokers, Thieves and Liars.’
Soraia’s take on ‘Baby Borderline’ stays largely true to its source material, just with some minor tweaks. The DIY garage rock style sound and approach is on full display here just as much as in the original song.
Anders Lindstrom, of The Hellacopters, even praised Soraia’s take on the song, saying “They really so our song justice.”
Courtesy: Wicked Cool Records
In other news, Soraia launched its “Bloom Spring Tour” Thursday in Wayne, PA. The tour, which is in support of the band’s latest album, Bloom, is scheduled to run through
May 6 in Albany, NY. The Idiot Kids is scheduled to serve as support for the tour, which also features performances scheduled in cities, such as New Haven, CT; Cleveland, OH and Hamtramck, MI.
The tour’s schedule is noted below:
Bloom Spring Tour
w/ special guests The Idiot Kids
Thursday, March 9 // Wayne, PA // 118 North – W/S/G The Idiot Kids
Friday, March 10 // New Haven, CT // Cafe Nine – W/S/G The Idiot Kids
Saturday, March 11 // Somerville, MA // The Jungle – W/S/G The Idiot Kids
Sunday, March 12 // Troy, NY // Hangar on the Hudson – W/S/G The Idiot Kids
Wednesday, March 15 // Buffalo, NY // Mohawk Place – W/S/G The Idiot Kids
Thursday, March 16 // Hamtramck, MI // Small’s – W/S/G The Idiot Kids
Friday, March 17 // Cleveland, OH // Hatfield’s Goode Grub – W/S/G The Idiot Kids
Saturday, March 18 // Chicago, IL // Liar’s Club – W/S/G The Idiot Kids
*Friday, March 24 // New York City, NY // Berlin Under A – w/Palmyra Delran and One Way Out
*Friday, April 7 // WDHA Presents Soraia // Teaneck, NJ // Debonair Music Hall
*Saturday, May 6 // Albany, NY // Empire Underground
More information on Soraia’s new video and tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Independent singer-songwriter-musician Ryan Hamilton’s latest album, Haunted By The Holy Ghost has been delayed.
The album was originally scheduled for release Friday through Wicked Cool Records, but according to a news release distributed Thursday, the album’s release date has been pushed back to April 28.
Hamilton offered an explanation for the delay in the release.
“Due to a manufacturing issue, my new album has been delayed until April 28th,” Hamilton said. “This is, of course, disheartening, & the repercussions of having to delay after a year of work and planning are much more complicated than you may imagine. I’m trying to stay positive. But this album delay follows a very big, international tour that I was supposed to support, getting canceled. 2023 is supposed to be my BIG year. Biggest tour ever. Now cancelled. Biggest album ever. Now delayed. It has been incredibly difficult, mentally, emotionally, & the struggle is very real.”
He added, “As a result, I’m going through some things personally, & I feel a little lost. But my hope is that all the wonderful people who believe in me, & my music, will rally behind me. As I need you more than ever. I’ve always felt like the underdog. I want to feel like the underdog can win. I deserve a win. #musicbusiness #thestruggleisreal #mentalhealth #supportindependent“
In lieu of the album’s release, a new single is expected for release Friday. The song will be the album’s fourth single behind ‘A$$hole,‘ ‘Paper Planes‘ and ‘On The Edge.’
More information on Ryan Hamilton’s new album and single is available along with all of his latest news at:
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