Whiskey N' Rye: Sick Soul Summertime

There's a part of my brain that judges rock music by how many cars I could tolerate on the road while a certain song is playing. Aerosmith songs made after 1987 for instance, I can tolerate in a full-blown traffic jam (usually with the window rolled down so I can hear the traffic, instead). Certain Black Sabbath songs I can listen to in very light traffic, so I can weave in and out of the cars. Billy Joel? The car needs to be parked. In a garage. While I'm in another part of the house digging out my AC/DC albums.

This morning, while I was out driving from place to place, the latest single from Whiskey N' Rye, Sick Soul Summertime, popped up and after listening to it, I have come to a verdict:

One car. From the second the song starts, you want to flip off the vehicle next to you, floor the gas, and take in the big open skies as you move in one direction - forward.

Go ahead. Listen for yourselves:

 

Whiskey N' Rye is a rising roots-rock band out of Seattle “who seems to be on the fast track to stardom” (Indie Band Guru).  The band formed in 2013 and quickly became known for its explosive live show, touring nationally at some of the best clubs and festivals around (House of Blues, Crocodile, Harlows, Tractor Tavern, Secret Society, etc.). The debut album - a fusion of blues, rock, and Americana - has been picked up by over 200 radio stations across the country, as well as widely popular television shows and networks (The Real World, Kardashians, NASCAR, Discovery). Buzz now surrounds the band, whose online following has swelled to over 35,000 people.  Independent Music News has described their sound as “honest American rock music with soul.  The band is stellar and the songs are phenomenal.”

 

I had a chance to listen to their upcoming album, also titled Sick Soul Summertime - currently available for pre-order through the official Whiskey N' Rye site - and I can say that this is one of the few new bands that "gets" rock music. From the album's eponymous track to their cover of AC/DC's You Shook Me All Night Long, to the soulful Saving Grace, Whiskey N' Rye shows that they drink deeply from the well of rock and their musicianship shows off a diversity that music has been sorely needed - as they have the tempo going at a million miles a second and then switch to a tender ballad, or a style that would bring a tear to any southern rock fan's eye.

 

Whiskey N' Rye's members are as follows:

 

Philip Lindholm: Guitar, Singer/Songwriter, Producer
Carson Dent: Drums
Marco Longo: Keyboards
Greg Pascale: Lead Guitar
Alex Atwood: Bass

 

Whiskey N' Rye is a touring band, and their live shows are jam packed (the footage in the video for Sick Soul Summertime was taken from live performances). If you want to know more about the band, or find out when they will be playing in your area, you can catch them on Facebook, Twitter, or get updates directly from their own site, and watch their latest videos on YouTube.

 

I need their new album in my collection. You do, too. One listen will tell you this is going to be marked by music historians as a classic album that the rock landscape has needed for a VERY long time!

 

Get Sick Soul Summertime now!

 

Do you need more? Here are some great reviews of Whiskey N' Rye if you don't want to take my word for it:

 

"Whiskey N' Rye are here to bring a healthy dose of good ol American rock and roll." - Chris Marsh, Cross Radar

"...Seattle-based rock band Whiskey N' Rye are yet another success story bursting to be told. They're eponymous debut album is a soulful effort that is a pleasure to listen to and, like any proud product of the northwest, never forgets its roots...Rock on guys! You can officially count me as a passenger on the 6 a.m. Whiskey N Rye train."- Digi Indie

"Emerging with an allure that has not been seen since the early ages of rock, Seattle band Whiskey N' Rye has unleashed their self-titled album Whiskey N' Rye. As one of the most powerful releases of 2014, the album is an inventive production that bridges the elements of classic rock styles with contemporary American insight and artistic brilliance" - Glitter and Stilettos

"You'll have a hard time not tapping your feet as the album progresses through transitional stages of heavy blues explosion, and rock sensibility, without losing that pop sound at times.The sum of the parts work well, and if you were to take away one element, you would still have a strong alternative record, but when you tie in all the pieces, you get something outstanding, and that's what makes this a must have...If you see their names on the marquee, you better get a ticket, because this will most likely translate well into a live performance."- Sell Out Records

"There is no best way to describe the music of Whiskey N' Rye as they have such a unique and fresh sound that fuses elements of country and rock with some blues and alternative, making it impossible to pin down in one confined musical sphere...I really don't know if this album could be any better." - Rick Jamm, Jamsphere

"You are all phenomenal!!! I'm going to love playing your music!!" -DJ Skys, Indie Showcase Radio

"I love what Whiskey N' Rye is doing style wise. AMAZING stuff!" - Taxi

 

Matt Byron: Next Time I'll Know

A good portion of my younger years were spent listening to artists like Death In June,
Foetus, Bauhaus, and others. This was not just a phase - it continues to this day, and I keep seeking out new artists that have a similar quality.

So when Matt Byron's Sleep and Dream of Monsters popped up on my radar, it quickly rose to the top of my playlist.

 

The industrial beat, combined with the electronic rock music and vocals have had this track on heavy rotation at home, at work, and everywhere else.

 

Matt Byron just released a 4 track EP, Next Time I'll Know, available on Amazon, Google Play, and JunoDownload.

 

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know I like new artists. You all should get this album (it's under $5, so it's not going to break your coffee budget). Even if you can't pick it up, let your friends know about it, because the odds are pretty good that they'll enjoy Matt Byron's music.

My favorite track off of the EP right now is Tylenol & Gasoline, which strikes en excellent balance between digital composition and some great analog synth sounds. Your first inclination will be to dance (and you should), and it has a catchy sound that will grab you like Human League songs did (back in the day), but with lyrics that are well thought out, smart, and will have you appreciating Matt Byron - not just for his composition talents, but for adding lyrical depth and dimension you rarely see these days.

 

Remember: Artists have a lot to offer, but they cannot afford to keep producing new and amazing tracks without people buying their music. Considering Matt is not beholden to a major label, managers, and all the bureaucracy involved in all of that, you can feel good that the majority of what your spending is actually reaching the artist.

 

So do it! Go get a copy of Next Time I'll Know now! You won't regret it!

I had the chance to interview Matt Byron, and he answered a few questions for me:

Tersichore: What moved you to music instead of, say, financial statistics?

Matt Byron: Funny you ask that specific question. I grew up playing in bands but after (I dropped out) of college, I spent a few years working at a couple management consulting and financial analysis firms. I had to learn the hard way that music is really all there is, or ever was for me. Sounds dark, but it's a good thing.

T: How long have you been doing this?

MB: Drums, about 28 years. The rest--(singing, keys, programming) for about a year and a half.

T: I really liked the video to Sleep and Dream of Monsters – do you also produce your own videos?

MB: No, I had to enlist help on that one. Video was done by Rich, the owner of Tru Studios in London. They have done some of my mastering and we ended throwing together an idea for a video.

T: I'm not going to ask about your influences (because everyone asks that), but who are you listening to when you're not making music?

MB: Definitely a weird selection lately. Nirvana, TV on The Radio, NIN, The Chromatics, Amy Winehouse, Jawbreaker, Portishead, and Petit Noir. Led Zeppelin...Fleetwood Mac--Oh, and The Good Fellas Soundtrack.

T: Plans for the future?

MB: Trying to get a live set and full band organized so I can get this show on the road, literally.

T: If you wanted to impress something on your listeners (or the readers of this article) what would it be?

MB: Gotta keep your head up because you never know what the future holds. Also, don't take advice from musicians.

T: Other than your YouTube channel, where else can fans find you?

MB: Soundcloud rocks. Just sayin'.
https://soundcloud.com/matt-byron-2
https://open.spotify.com/album/7cCtjJze0wvbFTJUXbixYE

Blaise Delfino: Commencement

Blaise Delfino is a recording artist hailing from Bethlehem, PA (so forgive my bias, because this is coming from my old stomping grounds) who recently released a new EP, Commencement. Kicking off this new release is the video for the song, You Should've Told Me.

 

In a world where the music industry is bombarding us with vapid lyrics and semi-catchy hooks, Blaise Delfino is giving us depth and dimension. Yes, I love music, but I'm also in it for the lyrics. Give me songs that tell a good story, and you will instantly have a fan. With or without the video, You Should've Told Me tells a tale of a relationship of two divergent personalities - or maybe differing goals and timelines. It's a very human story - it's not an artists putting up the front of "I'm such a badass" or "I'm a superhuman lover." The song shows flaws and the things we all have experienced in romantic relationships at one time or another. In fact, the entirety of Commencement is very human and very relatable.

 

The music is great - acoustic guitar and lilting vocals with a Pop/R&B groove with a smart rap flow. It's like - well, I can't really make accurate comparisons. If I say it's like G. Love, then I'm selling this album short. Likewise if I use later Debbie Harry tracks. Commencement is it's own thing, and I like it, and I want to hear more!

 

This isn't just me telling you what I like to hear. This is me telling you that you need to listen to this! So it! Download Commencement right from Blaise Delfino's site. It's free! And you may call up a memory or five, and playing it over and over just like I have.

 

Will Wood and The Tapeworms: Everything Is A Lot

Will Wood & The Tapeworms have just released their amazing debut album, Everything Is A Lot - avialable on iTunes and CDBaby.


 

After listening to a few tracks, I can say I'm hooked. The music stylings have hints of early Mr. Bungle, and even pieces by John Zorn. I could easily see this group scoring the soundtrack for The Forbidden Zone 2. If you like eclectic music that spans punk, jazz, rock-a-billy, klezmer, and has a its own disorders to add onto the heap of talent, then you definitely need to check these guys out! 

Sapphyria: Adventurers, Monster Slayers, The Next Pop Music Sensation

The Sisters of the Sapphire are female fantasy characters created by fantasy/sci-fi writer Robert Livingston. They are modern day warriors against the supernatural - demon hunters, vampire slayers, zombie killers. However, society has an odd reaction when someone asks, "What do you do for a living?" and your initial response is, "Well, I just banished a 5,000 year-old soul-eating demon from this plane of existence and destroyed a vampire clan before noon. How's your Monday going?"

Hence The Sisters travel under the guise of a sensational pop music group.

Enter: Sapphyria. In the tradition of The Archies and Dethklok, Sapphyria is a fictional group, yet they make real music. Take a listen to their single, Dandelion:

 

Sapphyria is growing, and would like to create more music - and they can only do so if you visit their site, Sapphyria.net. By becoming a fan, you will help make this myth a reality, with bonuses such as helping to select band members (open to the first 1000 subscribing fans), cool behind-the-scenes info, access to the latest tracks, and much more!

 

So head on over and help the Sisters of the Sapphire get their band off the ground by becoming a fan of Sapphyria today!

 

 

 

Brody & TalentDisplay: Get Out My Face

 

Brody and TalentDisplay bring you the visuals for their song "Get Out My Face" produced by Laze & Royal, directed by Jose Espinoza. The song Get Out My Face will be available on Brody's upcoming project titled Taste Of Fame.

 

"Get Out My Face" is an upbeat, fun summer track commands having a good time or to stay away. You get the feel that both artists, Brody along with TalentDisplay have had a good time making this song and video. It's a great listen for the summer, especially in sunny California.

 

Make sure to follow TalentDisplay & Brody on their social media outlets at:

Twitter: @Brody720  Facebook: BrodyMusic
Twitter: @TalentDisplay IG: @TalentDisplay Facebook: TalentDisplay1

1FM - Burning Bridges

Philadelphia Alternative/Rock band 1FM have a new EP, Burning Bridges, which will be released on May 19th (it's currently available for pre-order through iTunes). The trio (Tim Laigaie, Nick Passio, and Joe Altomari) are veteran musicians who came together after 2011 to do what they love - creating great music. Not beholden to labels, stifling contracts, or pressure from managers and others, 1FM have knocked out a lot of great songs, and have chosen the best of those to be on their upcoming album.


From the band:

"We are so proud to share what we have made. This is what is inside of us. We hope everyone will see what we see. With some help from out other friends and family, we cannot wait to continue making and releasing music. Tell your friends, because this is only the beginning of...whatever the next chapter is."

Having spent a few years show hopping in the Philly area, and spending my fair share of time in the Trocadero, I can say that 1FM has a sound that the music scene has needed for a long time - and they are definitely a band to keep an eye on, because I will put money down that you'll be hearing them in the near future.

If you want to find out more about 1FM, you can check out their official site, or get the latest news about upcoming shows, videos, and more directly from 1FM on Facebook or Twitter.

1FM's upcoming EP, Burning Bridges, will be released on May 19th, and you can pre-order it on iTunes - which you should do...like NOW!

Irma Seleman: Don't Be Messin'

 
Irma Seleman has a hot new single, Don't Be Messin' :

 

This song has the groove and lyrics to give classics like Paula Abdul's Cold Hearted and Mary J Blige's No More Drama a run for their money.

 

A recent graduate from Berklee College of Music, Irma Seleman range runs from pop/rock and R&B all the way to disco, gospel, jazz, and so much more! Recently, Irma was featured in WWS Magazine and was announced as the RAW Boston Artist of the Day. She has performed in numerous venues in the US, including the Utica Music Festival in NY.

 

 

Among her influences, Irma Seleman lists such noteworthy greats as Etta James, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, and jazz immortals like Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald.

 

You can follow Irma Seleman on Facebook and Instagram, and keep up with her latest releases on YouTube, ReverbNation, and SoundCloud - as well as on her own official site.

 

Don't Be Messin' is available on iTunes, and if you enjoy songs that will make your body move and lyrics that you can't help but want to sing along with, then you should get her music now!

 

About Irma Seleman:

 

 

The funky songbird from the East, Irma puts together grooves, melodies, and harmonies that reflects
her journey in live, love and music. With the ability of arranging and producing music organically and electronically, Irma brought her traditional Malaysian root sound into the music of Soul and R&B and make it her own distinct blend. Finding her ground in the “Big Apple” NYC after touring in the US, Europe and South East Asia, Irma is constantly spreading her wings reaching out to new souls with one mission; bringing people together through music.

 

Born in Penang, Malaysia, Irma Seleman was raised up in a small town in Bangi, Selangor, MY. An active sports woman who sings malay traditional music throughout her middle school life. As a daughter of a musician, her dad gave a lot of exposure in every kind of music from traditional, to contemporary.

 

 

In 2008, Irma enrolled in the Berklee Transfer Program in a BIN school, International College of Music (ICOM) and did the foundation in Music and first year of Degree in Music for 2 and a half years. She has achieved so much while she was in ICOM. She was known as the risk taker and would try every kind of music from pop, malay traditional, funk, R&B, Hip Hop, Rock, Disco and many more. She was the background vocalist in a huge national show, KL Foundation. She was also the lead vocalist for the ICOM Celebration Series Tribute to The Eagles, Michael Jackson, U2,
Queen and ABBA.!Besides being the lead vocalist, she was also the vocal arranger and vocal leader for most of the tributes.

Out of ICOM, in Malaysia, Irma was featured in many of the TV shows such as Mentor (Talent Show) which she worked as a background vocalist for the show. She was also featured in an interview in Hitz.TV as the artist of the month. She also performed at the Michael Buble Crazy Love Tour’s pocket stage before the show went on. She was also featured at the Indie Youth Festival and Borneo Jazz Festival Preview. Other than that she sang in private functions, wedding, pub and jazz club.

In 2011, she started to promote her original music out and performed it in a lot of Indie venues and music or Jazz festival before she further her education in Music in Berklee College of Music. In Fall 2011, she enrolled in the Berklee College of Music and was awarded with a scholarship from Berklee. Being part of the Berklee Reverence Gospel Choir has also strengthen her knowledge in the Black music. She is also the music arranger in a huge show produced by Berklee,Singer Showcase. She was recently featured in the WWS Magazine and was announced as the RAWBoston Artist of The Day. She has performed in numerous venues in the US and one of it was Utica Music Festival New York.

 

 

Her recent appearance in Marie Claire January Issue (Malaysia) was her breakthrough. Irma was also featured in Malaysian Airlines Music on Demand on Jazz section and she just finished her Euro Tour supported by Berklee and Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory. She was featured in the Close Encounters festival and Cultural Festival by the US Embassy in Helsinki that took place in Helsinki,
Tampere, Finland and St. Petersburg, Russia. Influenced by Funk and R&B musicians such as Stevie
Wonder, Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige, Heather Headley, Rachelle Farrell, Etta James. Also by the bigtime neo-soul Erykah Badu, Jill Scott. Not to forget the Jazz queens like Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald.

Irma has written a bunch of songs that can be found in her Reverbnation page and also her new upcoming EP produced recently.

Tengger Cavalry: Blood Sacrifice Shaman

It's not often that something completely new comes across my radar - and less frequently than that do I have a chance to review it. Tengger Cavalry recently announced their new album, Blood Sacrifice Shaman, and it will be available May 18th via Metal Hell Records.

Tengger Cavalry infuse heavy metal with traditional Mongolian folk and primal Shamanistic tradition, including chanting and the Shaman bell.

A symphony of diverse ethnic musicality and exploration, Blood Sacrifice Shaman is the next step in the evolution of the first Mongolian metal band. This is the album which takes the band full circle, as it includes as a bonus track Tengger Cavalry's very first song, recorded in 2009, representing the original hybrid philosophy behind the band.

The brainchild of composer, guitarist and vocalist Nature Ganganbaigal, Tengger Cavalry are now in their fifth year, having previously released an album per year. A band who have opened for Turisas as well as playing Beijing and New York's Strawberry Music Festival, Tengger Cavalry are a truly unique and exciting prospect in the world of international metal.

For the latest news from Tengger Cavlry, you can follow the band on Facebook as well as Twitter.

Now I will write as a fan, and not a reviewer...

I want you to listen to the tracks available here on Bandcamp.

Now, I want you to get in a car, get on a horse, get on a bike, run through the woods - it doesn't matter. I just want you to go forward, as fast as you will allow yourself to go. When you are done listening I want you to stop and feel your pulse, take in the world around you and where you have been. Then I want you to listen to the tracks again and again until you want nothing but rest. I love this music and what my imagination paints while listening to it.



Educational background provided by the band:

Tengger is the name of the sky god of Mongolian grassland. Created in 2009 by the bandleader Nature Ganganbaigal in China, Tengger Cavalry blends overtone throat singing, Mongolian horse-head fiddle and other nomadic music tradition of North-Asia with heavy metal music, creating an unique music genre – Mongolian folk metal.

After the release of four studio albums in Europe and United States, Tengger Cavalry has become known as one of the most unique, innovative and exciting metal bands in Asia.

Queen City Heist - Tangerine Dream

Sometimes I get in the mood for Rock n' Roll. Not nu-metal, not punk, not shoegaze - but something with solid guitars, a driving beat, and vocals that make me want to get in a fast car, roll down the windows, crank the volume, and take off to who knows where. The kind of rock I would consider timeless.

Enter: Queen City Heist


Queen City Heist's new song, Tangerine Dream, has all of that - taking cues from soul and funk - and mixing them together to make a sound I've not heard since I picked up a Little Caesar (don't look that up - you'll put a date on it, and some of my tats are older than you).

If that song doesn't get you pumped, you're probably dead. I actually had to stop listening to the song to write this, because it's impossible to listen to Queen City Heist without being filled with kinetic energy to do something - fight, dance, drive really fast, have lots of loud sex, clean the house (you're a wild one), anything! It's impossible to stay still!

Want more? Of course you do! The first taste is always free!

You can follow Queen City heist on Facebook, Instagram, and keep up with the latest news over on the official Queen City Heist site and Twitter. Queen City Heist's Tangerine Dream is available on iTunes, which you should all be downloading and listening to (don't make me come over there) right now! 

Seldom Seen: Up In The Lights

New York pop/hip-hop artist Seldom Seen is back with a new single, Up In The Lights.


Heard on the radio and in dance clubs all over the world, Seldom Seen skyrocketed with hits like 2007's Stilettos, Sweat Tonight (Shake It Baby) - which gained him a sponsorship from Germany's K1X fitness clothing line, and Bring It On, which was the featured track for the game Narc on the XBox. You may have also caught Seldom Seen's It Might Be Worth It on Blue Mountain State on Spike TV.

Seldom Seen combines infectious beats with witty lyrics that combine universal themes while being culturally relevant and holding up a funhouse mirror to society. It's impossible not to dance to this, and the tune will stay with you and make you want it to keep going.

Seldom Seen's Up In The Lights is available on iTunes, and if you're not already hearing it in clubs and on the radio, tell them to start playing it. You can follow Seldom Seen on Twitter for the latest news and show dates, and check out even more songs and videos on his YouTube channel.

Sonic Radiation - Ionized

For those familiar with Sonic Radiation, you know he's been putting out new and innovative electronic music since 2003. The Dallas-based artist never forgets his roots - drawing from classic industrial groups like Front Line Assembly and Front 242, and being able to use that to forge new territory, seeing where the state of the genre is now, and what it could (and should) be.

Sonic Radiation's music can be found on Amazon and iTunes, and having heard the new track, Ionized, I can say that I'm a convert. This is the type of music I want to be played at clubs, and this particular track has many intricate layers - the type of music I would listen to for dancing, contemplating the sky at night, or even as a background soundtrack for playing Tempest 2000.

If you want to learn more about Sonic Radiation, and listen to more of his music or see some of the awesome videos, you should head on over to the official Sonic Radiation site, now, and prepare to nuke your mind.