Muscle Memory by Motel Glory

I feel like shit – now that’s a good opening line for a song. I’m in full of appreciation for scuzzing up some great classic American rock-n-roll. Motel Glory has delivered\straight up basement bad-ass badness. Featured on our #72 podcast at www.hlycrp.com.

Song We Like: Run Free by Fertile Hump

Sometime a song just knocks you over. This is it. Maybe the best song I’ve heard all year. Just a killer female vocal, organ, hand claps, rocking and dancing. Fuck – I don’t know who the fuck you are – but you deserve a statue in the underground music hall of fame. That dank subterranean hall – with those large multi-legged insects, dead bodies, and the barrels of centuries old poison liquor. Come over to America. Featured on our #72 podcast at www.hlycrp.com.

Song We Like: Hammer of Thor by French Ketamine

Not from France, but from the Galway underground – this is great Velvet Underground inspired garage rock. This is the kinda stuff Sister Ray would groove on. Riff and choppy guitars are the sounds that my soul craves. Rolling up to a pop chorus. I don’t mind and I don’t really care. Well we all don’t care, but few can write a song as catchy as this. Featured on our #72 podcast at www.hlycrp.com.

Song We Like: Black Rainbow by Crooked Ghost

We have totally fallen in love with Crooked Ghost. They have this amazingly rich atmospheric sound, that is both reminiscent of the 80s and better than the 80s. Plus the singing is drop-dead gorgeous. And another plus – they have my favorite bass player. Featured on our #72 podcast at www.hlycrp.com.

Band Management: Blog 42: Hear it on the radio…

I am managing “Band A” for a year – to see how far I can promote this band within the music industry. On Monday evening I got a message from a friend that WNCW had announced they were going to play “Band A” during that hour. “Band A” is a little out of WNCW’s genre focus – but the band can write songs and WNCW plays songs. I’d sent the station a CD in the summer and they’d already played one song in August.
So I was driving with Cinnamon Kennedy down i40, at 8:30pm on Monday, still some light in the western sky. I felty uncomfortably nervous. I had never heard “Band A” on the radio. We listened to WNCW play all these Americana and blues and folk songs and they sounded so rich and full on the car stereo. Finally, I heard the opening chords to “Band A’s” song. It wasn’t a song I would have chosen. It wasn’t a song I’d been promoting. It was a slower song about one brother leaving town and the other brother being left with all the family ghosts. And it sounded true and real.
Everything stopped and goosebumps rose up on my arms. A massive smile fixed on my face – and I had this surge of endorphins. I want everyone who makes music to have this blast of positive emotion.
This how it happened: I wrote an email to WNCW and Joseph Kendrick responded. Then I sent in a CD and Renee Denton with “Local Color” played “Band A.” That was it. I know radio is really intimidating – but people who are involved in radio love music…
The evening was great. “Band A” played at Static Age-Records with Klazo – one of their best shows. Scott Sturdy jumped on stage to play some bass, and Sophie Hull made sure the sound was great and the smoke machine was cranking.
In other news – Holy Crap Records has released a single from “Band A” and a single from The Styrofoam Turtles. Whereas I am not naming “Band A” I am all about promoting The Styrofoam Turtles. They are having an album release party at The Mothlight tonight, 9pm, with Tongues of Fire and Sane Voids. This is the best of the best of underground music – and these bands put on wild live shows. Also, the Styrofoam Turtles write GREAT songs!
(Photo of “Band A” by Scott Sturdy.)

Song We Like: Wayward Saint of Day Drunks by Cloud City Caskets

This is a complicated band – in the best way. The ingredients they throw together in this song make up the meatiest stew. Some straight-up American rock punk in the verse and some straight-up metal chorus. With the exception of Motorhead and Metallica very very few bands have successfully had one foot in the punk world and one foot in the metal world. These guys are wicked fast and their live shows are a brawl. Pay attention. Featured on our #71 podcast at www.hlycrp.com.

Song We Like: Everything is Broke by The Living Deads

Straight up rock-n-roll. Straight up rockabilly. Just give me that driving, galloping beat, some stand up bass – and the most romantic lament of all time: Everything is Broke – But Our Love. These guys are total bad-ass. If you got 5 minutes go see their music video. Featured on our #71 podcast at www.hlycrp.com.

Song We Like: Nasty Woman by Fox Face

Let’s be clear – this is my favorite anti-Trump, anti-patriarchy song. Just go ahead and try to grab it. Watch out this pussy will bite you back. There are a lot of scared old men hiding in their crumbling kingdoms right now. These men have to turn and run – their day is done! Plus – I love this drummer. Featured on our #71 podcast at www.hlycrp.com.

Song We Like: Couch Surfer by Meeting House

Classic fuzzed-out blues guitar, funky rhythm, and, god almighty, a voice like a hurricane. Don’t be couch surfing at the Meeting House – cause they will be calling you out. These wild blues rockers know their etiquette and their mommas raised them well!. Featured on our #71 podcast at www.hlycrp.com.