Midnight Cinema light up the Bottom of the Hill with their stellar set

 

This past Sunday, we made it down to San Francisco to catch Midnight Cinema as they performed at The Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco. I have been waiting to catch them live and was so glad because all that waiting, was well worth it. They played to a packed crowd as they recently released their debut album, Lightning in a Bottle last month.

It was great to see the crowd sing along to favorites like Hurricane, Back to the Butterflies, and Lightning in a Bottle. Another highlight is when they performed a dare I say…… cover… of Angel’s on the Moon, the big hit from their previous band Thriving Ivory. I must tell you that I was not expecting them to play that song and it really took me to a very special place and time and brought me the bittersweet memories of my daughter whom I lost many years ago. It was a song that I used to play that helped me get out from under the dark place I was in and return to the light of the world and the living. So it was so refreshing to hear it performed live once again and this time, be completely in the present and such a better place in my life. It was an absolute gift. Check out photos by our Rockin Ryan of their set:

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The set list for the night:

• Back to the Butterflies
• Hurricane
• Burn Me Now
• Perfect Stranger
• Angels on the Moon
• Lightning in a Bottle
• Edge of the Earth

I hope you had a chance to pick up the new album since it is filled with passionate songs, emotionally driven lyrics, wrapped in catchy choruses and infectious melodies. It has been one of my favorite since first getting it last month.  The album once again highlights the art of their music that truly connects a listener to their emotions through song.  Pick up Lighting in a Bottle  by visiting: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lightning-in-a-bottle/id906066537.

“We really feel like we’ve come a long way over the past couple of years. We’ve had a lot of time to sit and think about the kind of music we want to make and who we are as musicians. In the end, we’re still the same guys who just want to write good songs that revolve around themes that people can relate to. The difference now is that we have the freedom to explore different sounds while still remaining true to ourselves. I think Midnight Cinema is modern, thematic, and catchy in a way that has staying power. We’re excited for everyone to hear the music and hope that they discover something special for themselves,” notes Midnight Cinema vocalist Clayton Stroope.

Make sure to visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their latest news. I will leave you with several videos from their set.

~ Marisol

Information & Links:

• Facebook:   www.facebook.com/MidnightCinemaMusic
• Website:     http://www.midnightcinemamusic.com/
• Itunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/midnight-cinema/id666544721
  
• Twitter:    www.twitter.com/MidCinMusic

BullyWest proves that nothing can stop their need to Rock!

BullyWest, an indie rock band from Oakland may have had to weather a few bumps in the road, but these determined rockers prove that nothing can stand in their way and their need to ROCK! With a sound that blends grunge/rock/alternative/blues/americana and classic rock into their own unique style, they will truly capture your attention. We had the chance to see BullyWest perform at The Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, last Saturday night and they blew us a way. I was bummed to have not heard of them before because it would have insured Music Junkie Press’ presence at their performances!

The band has had to endure through the recent challenge of having thousands of dollars of their gear stolen at a recent show. This in no way, will stop them from forging ahead. Their fans and friends quickly stepped up with support and they held a benefit concert with Iron Heart, Six Gun Saints and other bands performing at Red Hat. They raised some money but still have an upward climb to replace their gear. They have created a GoFundMe campaign and you can check it out here and see how you can help: http://www.gofundme.com/di3a3g.  We had the opportunity to talk with members of the band after their bad ass set at the Phoenix and are pleased to share that with you here:

Their set was really spectacular and had me already thinking about their next show. Manny on guitar and vocals is really mesmerizing, he has a soulful voice that brings back flashbacks of early Chris Cornell. He brings out this great emotion through his songs. Shane on bass is a madman and has a great stage presence, he lays down his bass lines as he is bouncing around his area. Bernt on drums delivered a solid heavy set and you can feel his energy. These guys are great and I can’t wait to catch them again. Check out the photos by our Rockin Ryan of their set:

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Make sure to visit their social media sites, support them on their GoFundMe or share the links, and be sure to stay up to date on their latest news. I will leave you with several videos from their set at the Phoenix.

~ Marisol

Information & Links:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BullyWestband
• GoFundMe: http://www.gofundme.com/di3a3g
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bullywest

Jesse Denaro announces US fall tour dates with Animal Flag

Jesse Denaro has announced a US Fall Tour in support of his new album, Dear Love. The tour will also feature Animal Flag. Singer/Songwriter Jesse has done a wonderful job at creating an album full of emotionally driven lyrics, songs that connect the listener and engages them on his musical journey.  It is quite a superb journey to be a passenger on as you will experience the ups and downs of life, love and loss. I can only imagine how wonderful it will be to experience the music live. Jesse posted the following about the tour:

Hey Guys!

This fall I am embarking on my first ever full US tour! I am going out with my best friend Animal Flag and we are supporting both of our new albums (“Dear, Love” & his upcoming self titled EP coming this Fall). Touring takes a lot of time, preparation and money, so if you have a spare dollar or two head over to iTunes, band camp or whatever and pick up “Dear, Love” or any older releases from Matt. All the support is appreciated!
We hope to see you at these shows. Share this post, tag a friend who lives in the area, bring a friend to a show, tell your parents or pets or whatever. Let’s make this awesome.
The shows that say ‘TBA’ we are still looking for shows, so please feel free to help us book those dates. WE WANT TO PLAY SHOWS IN YOUR HOUSE OR VENUE OR WHATEVER FOR YOUR FRIENDS.
Details on each show will be released closer to the start of tour.

Love,
Jesse

The tour poster includes many LA dates and we are hoping that a Northern California one will be added soon. Check the dates and see if they will be coming to a venue near you.

You can pick up Jesse’s new album, Dear Love on  iTunes.  You can check out one of my favorite tracks, Young & Naive here:

 

Jesse‘s music is magical and his honest emotions shine through his passionate vocals with such a vulnerability yet a sense of comforting. It is an album that you will fall in love with, regardless of what your main love of music may be. His sound transcends the blurred lines of genres and creates a clarity through song.  I will leave you with my absolute favorite track which I must have played a dozen times this morning! The Grand La Monz:

 

Make sure to pick up Dear Love on  iTunes and also visit his social media sites and stay up to date on his latest news.

~ Marisol

Information & Links:

• Website:  http://jessedenaromusic.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessedenaroofficial
• Twitter:  https://twitter.com/jessedenaro
• Bandcamp:  http://jessedenaromusic.bandcamp.com/
• Twitter: https://www.youtube.com/JesseDenaroMusic
• iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id876490128

 

Ani DiFranco set to release new album Allergic to Water on October 14th via her own Righteous Babe Records

Great news to share! Ani DiFranco is set to release a new album, Allergic To Water on October 14th through her own label, Righteous Babe Records. The album was tracked by herself at her New Orleans home, often while her family slept and creates a hushed vibe to the album. Ani explained more about the album during a statement on her site:

“Mostly I worked alone in headphones, in the wee hours, while my family slept. It was empowering but terrifying to have the buck stop with me again in terms of the mixes. The recordings are documents of my current touring band (recorded by Mike in our old victorian house in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans and also by Andy Taub at a nearby church in the Treme) just laying down the songs.

“Many also feature a couple of very choice special guests. My killer band these days consists of bassist and composer Todd Sickafoose, who not only brings an always wonderful and unexpected counterpoint to my guitar with his bass playing, but is also my secret weapon in terms of production- overdubbing atmospherics and embellishments that add depth and color to the stories I tell.

“My drummer is Terence Higgins, a New Orleans native, who brings that deeply funky pocket that makes me smile so wide, yet all-the-while listening through to the whole picture and really making music with his instrument, not just rhythms. Though most of Terence’s musical incarnations have him playing drum kit, this record really features his hand-percussion prowess- like the congas on “see see see see”, the Mardi Gras Indian style tambourine on “genie” – he nailed it every time.”

We are so excited for the album and can’t wait for it. You can check out the first song Woe Be Gone here:

Once again, Ani treats us with her sweet beautiful music and you can’t help but fall in love with this amazingly talented singer/songwriter/poet. We had the opportunity to catch her performance earlier this year in Napa and it was one of the most magical nights. You can read all about it here:  Ani DiFranco mesmerizes Napa.  Check out a slideshow of photos from that night by our Rockin Ryan:

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We will continue to keep you updated and make sure to also visit the social media sites for more news. I hope you take the time out of your busy schedule and put on some Ani DiFranco, one thing is for sure, you will feel alive and vibrant as you soak in her energy and feel her music enter your soul. I would encourage you to head over to www.righteousbabe.com and pick up some music today. Also, Not A Pretty Girl is available as a newly re-mastered Vinyl and is a MUST HAVE or make sure you have her latest of her 20 albums, ¿Which Side are You On?,

~ Enjoy, Marisol

Information & Links:

• Website: www.righteousbabe.com/blogs/ani-difranco-news
• Ani DiFranco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anidifranco
• Ani DiFranco Twitter: www.twitter.com/anidifranco
• Ani DiFranco Music: www.righteousbabe.com/collections/ani-difranco

Midnight Cinema release music video for Edge of The Earth

We are very excited to announce the release date of Midnight Cinema‘s debut album, Lightning in a Bottle as August 26th. The album is the follow up to their 2013 self-titled EP release from Midnight Cinema. The EP was critically acclaimed and was received extremely well by longtime fans – fans that had been following them since their days in Thriving Ivory. They have released a music video for their song, Edge of the Earth which is on the upcoming album. Check out the video here:

The song is absolutely amazing and once again highlights the art of their music with  emotionally driven songs that truly connect a listener to their emotions. It is touching inspirational song that can easily be described as that reassuring hug from a friend, or the comforting hand reaching out to you and guiding you and lifting you up. About the video, “It was amazing how many friends stepped up and wanted to help us with this project, sometimes offering to work for free. We shot the video with Michael here in the Bay Area, which has a plethora of amazing backdrops.  We would be driving around and say, ‘I know this spot here,’ and just head over and shoot.  In the end, we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”

The album Lighting in a Bottle can be pre-ordered by visiting: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lightning-in-a-bottle/id906066537. LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE is the product of the band taking full control of their music. They produced it from front to back, something they’d never done before. This is one album that I am truly looking forward to.

“We really feel like we’ve come a long way over the past couple of years. We’ve had a lot of time to sit and think about the kind of music we want to make and who we are as musicians. In the end, we’re still the same guys who just want to write good songs that revolve around themes that people can relate to. The difference now is that we have the freedom to explore different sounds while still remaining true to ourselves. I think Midnight Cinema is modern, thematic, and catchy in a way that has staying power. We’re excited for everyone to hear the music and hope that they discover something special for themselves,” notes Midnight Cinema vocalist Clayton Stroope.

“Working in the studio is something that we’ve always loved doing. We’ve learned so much over the years; working alongside some amazing artists and producers.  We thought that making our own record was something that we would like to try. I even got a chance to mix most of the songs on the album, which was a massive challenge. The same mix of a song would sound different to me on any given day. You end up listening to it so many times, it’s easy to lose perspective. I think I was able to get it right, I’m just glad the feedback so far has been really positive,” adds Cribley.

If you are located in the Bay Area, I hope you join us as Midnight Cinema will be performing on September 7th at The Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco with Barcelona and The Young Wild. For more information and further event details, visit MidnightCinemamusic.com. We will make sure to bring you complete coverage and an interview with the band as well.

~ Marisol

Information & Links:

• Facebook:   www.facebook.com/MidnightCinemaMusic
• Website:     http://www.midnightcinemamusic.com/
• Itunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/midnight-cinema/id666544721
  
• Twitter:    www.twitter.com/MidCinMusic

Butcher Knives are bringing to life multi-cultured and multi-dimensional gypsybilly music!

Photo Credit: Ana Cissa Pinto

Butcher Knives boasts members from four different countries, speak five languages and along with their passports and work visas in hand, they are here to bring a fresh new style of music to the forefront; gypsybilly. Their band is rich in culture which transfers through to their music and with their varying styles, they bring such dimension to their sound. It is like a melting pot of punk, blues, flamenco, rockabilly, bluegrass, folk and so much more.

Take a listen to their song, Misery which is not only catchy but you will find yourself returning to play it again after.

 

The song reminds me of a blend of Squirrel Nut Zippers meets Barenaked Ladies but fueled with the individuality that is Butcher Knives. Need more Butcher Knives? How about checking out the cinematic video for their song Tell Me Why:

They really capture a freshness with their sound and in a time where a lot of music tends to blend into genres and start sounding too familiar, along comes a band as unique as Butcher Knives to turn the tables upside down and have everyone take notice. This band is definitely deserving of your attention. You can pick up their new album, Misery by visiting iTunes here.

Butcher Knives is:

• Nacho Segura (Colombia): Vocals/Percussion
• Nikko Matiz (Colombia): Vocals/Guitar
• Melissa Elledge (New Orleans): Accordion
• Tal Galfsky (Israel): Keyboards/Sampler
• Ethan Cohen (New York City): Banjo/Guita/Vocals
• Yoni Benshlomo (Israel): Bass/Vocals
• Mohamed Smires (Morocco): Drums/Vocals

 

Make sure to visit their social media sites and stay up to date on their latest news. We will see if we can bring you an interview and find out more about Butcher Knives.

~ Marisol

Information & Links:

• Website: http://www.butcherknivesmusic.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/butcherknives
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ButcherKnivesNY
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/butcherknives
• iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/misery/id820490690

The Tragic Thrills deliver a stellar set on their stop in San Francisco

 

Last week was a very hard week dealing with a death in our family and the overwhelming flood of emotions that were felt after the loss of my aunt and helping my mother adjust to life without her. So with a hard week at hand, it was nice to get a break from the seriousness of life and venture out and cover The Tragic Thrills as they made their stop in San Francisco at the Bottom of the Hill.

The music of The Tragic Thrills was the perfect soundtrack for my night. The uplifting folk pop rock from them provided a solid set where these five young men shined in the spotlight with their musicianship. With the great fusion of superb songwriting, powerful lyrics and penchant for fun in song, The Tragic Thrills are sure to please fans of any music genre. There is no need to place a label or genre title to them, they are purely great music and very well deserving of your attention. We had the opportunity to talk with the band before their set and are pleased to bring that interview to you here:

Their songs are catchy and inviting and had the crowd singing along blissfully. They started off with my personal and crowd favorites Tears and then right into Crazy. All their songs were spectacular and another highlight was to see them perform Creeps and Strangers live. They really do an excellent job of bringing their folk storytelling songs to life in a vibrant rock/pop fashion that is infectious and fun.   In addition, they even performed a fantastic Bee Gees cover of To Love Somebody.

The Tragic Thrills have announced that they have signed to Washington Square, the label imprint formed by Razor & Tie. The band will be re-releasing their debut self-titled album on September 30th. They are currently on tour and I strongly encourage you to get out to a show. Whatever you are going through in your life, ups/downs the musich of The Tragic Thrills is their perfect soundtrack for your life. Check out photos by our Rockin Ryan of their set:

 

Check the tour dates below as The Tragic Thrills and Air Traffic Controller will be touring across the country. You definitely want to get yourself to a show and feed your soul with music that not only is emotionally driven but will awaken your senses and energize you.

 

 

 

Mark your calendars for September 30th for their album release and make sure to visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their latest news.

~ Marisol

Information & Links:

• Website: http://thetragicthrills.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetragicthrills
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TragicThrills

The Tragic Thrills sign to Washington Square and catch them out on tour with Air Traffic Controller

The Tragic Thrills have announced that they have signed to Washington Square, the label imprint formed by Razor & Tie. The band will be re-releasing their debut self-titled album on September 30th. Tonight we will be catching The Tragic Thrills as they make their stop in San Francisco for their show at the Bottom of the Hill. San Francisco is ready for a night of great alternative rock as The Tragic Thrills are sure to capture the crowd with their emotionally driven pop/rock songs that will have everyone agreeing that we need more Northern California shows from them.

The music of The Tragic Thrills can be described as a blend of folk/rock/alternative/pop. With the great fusion of superb songwriting, powerful lyrics and penchant for fun in song, The Tragic Thrills are sure to please fans of any music genre. There is no need to place a label or genre title to them, they are purely great music and very well deserving of your attention.

Check the tour dates below as The Tragic Thrills and Air Traffic Controller will be touring across the country. You definitely want to get yourself to a show.

• August 6 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
• August 7 – Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg
• August 8 – Phoenix, AZ – Electric Ballroom
• August 9 – Las Vegas, NV – Container Park
• August 10 – Salt Lake City, UT – Loading Dock
• August 11 – Denver, CO – Lost Lake
• August 13 – El Paso, TX – Lowbrow Palace
• August 14 – Austin, TX – Holy Mountain
• August 15 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live Studio
• August 16 – Dallas, TX – Prophet Bar
• August 17 – Little Rock, AR – Rev Room
• August 19 – St. Louis, MO – The Demo
• August 20 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
• August 21 – Pittsburgh, PA – Hard Rock
• August 22 – Arlington, VA – IOTA
• August 23 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
• August 24 – Philadelphia, PA – Ortlieb’s Lounge
• August 26 – Boston, MA – Great Scott
• August 27 – Kenilworth, NJ – 10^th Street Live

 

 

We hope to see many of you at tonight’s show and we will be bringing you an interview with the band as well. Stay tuned for The Tragic Thrills coverage. .  Make sure to visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their latest news.

~ Marisol

Information & Links:

• Website: http://thetragicthrills.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetragicthrills
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TragicThrills
• Air Traffic Controller Website: http://www.airtrafficcontrollermusic.com/
• Air Traffic Controller Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atcmusic
• Air Traffic Controller Twitter: https://twitter.com/atcmusic

Goodnight, Texas release Uncle John Farquhar and set out on tour

Photo Credit: Matthew Washburn, Washburn Imagery

This is a busy week for folk band, Goodnight, Texas. They have released their new album, Uncle John Farquhar that features 11 wonderful songs that take you on a musical journey into the Civil War and Reconstruction era. The tales bring to light memories of a long forgotten generation through the inviting music.

You can pick up the album on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/UJFiTunes, Amazon: http://smarturl.it/UJFAmzn or order a physical copy at the #GNTX General Store:http://bit.ly/GTGeneralStore.

 

TRACK LISTING:
1. Hayride
2. Button Your Collar
3. A Bank Robber’s Nursery Rhyme
4. I Just Can’t Stop Leaving Town
5. The Horse (In Which A Girl Was All But Killed)
6. Cold Riders
7. Moonshiners
8. Many Miles From Blacksburg
9. Dearest Sarah
10. Ballad Of A Fair Young Lady
11. Uncle John Farquhar
12. Hello, Nebraska!
13. Knock ‘Em Stiff

You can catch Goodnight, Texas as they set out on tour in support of their album, tour dates listed below. They kick off the tour right here in San Francisco on August 7th at a really cool venue, The Chapel. I was hoping to make it out but I have my Aunt’s rosary. Hope I can catch them when they get back from their tour. Make sure to visit their social media sites and stay up to date on their latest news.

~ Marisol

Information & Links:

• Website: http://www.hiwearegoodnighttexashowareyou.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodnighttexas
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GoodnightTexasMusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Goodnight_Texas

 

Girls and Boys open for Goo Goo Dolls at Sonoma Mountain Village

 

Last night we ventured out to the new music venue at Sonoma Mountain Village for the inaugural concert which featured Goo Goo Dolls. It was an awesome night. Check out coverage of the Goo Goo Dolls here:  Goo Goo Dolls at Sonoma Mountain Village 

Let me tell you about the opening band. The Goo Goo Dolls are currently out on tour with Daughtry and the Plain White T’s. This show was off of their regular tour dates and we were unsure if there was going to be an opening band. We were excited when we saw another drum set on the stage giving us the assurance of an opening act. What I really love is seeing a completely new band with out knowing anything about them. I wish more people would get excited about warm up bands. You never know if you are about to find yourself a new favorite band. Well that happened last night for us.

The band happened to be a local band from Santa Rosa, Girls & Boys and they blew the crowd away. Their music is a blend of alternative, Americana Rock and sweet blues thrown in the mix for good measure. We loved them and the crowd did too. I am really looking forward to finding out more about this band and hoping to catch them at their next show.

Band Members: 

• Brianna Lee – Vocals, Guitar
• Josh Barrett – Bass
• Mark Tarlton – Drummer
• Nick Simmons – Guitar

Brianna’s vocals were mesmerizing and she could take you from powerful song into a subtle gentleness, very versatile and truly has her own unique style. Mark was keeping the beat and was excellent at creating a powerful large sound which can be hard to do from an opening band’s kit. Nick shredded on his guitar and he would dish out these great blues licks that just got the crowd pumped. Josh, oh Josh, he was awesome and I have to say a true highlight. His energy on that bass was fierce and unstoppable, he has a great stage presence and is a cameraman’s dream. Collectively these four delighted the crowd and won over the entire audience. Check out a slideshow of photos from their set by our Rockin Ryan here:

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Girls & Boys currently have their debut album out, the feel of the sun which we picked up at the show and listened to on the way home. Some of our favorites on it so far are Wanna, Stranger, Winter Moon and Splinter in My Heart,  yet it is a solid album from start to finish so it is hard to pick faves!  You can pick up their album by heading over to their website here.  They also have a couple upcoming shows that I hope you make it out to:

Aug. 01	6 p.m.	The Cliffs (acoustic)	Pismo Beach, CA
Aug. 02	3 p.m.	Hawkes Winery	Healdsburg, CA
Aug. 07	10 p.m.	Luna Red (acoustic)	San Luis Obispo, CA
Aug. 15	6 p.m.	The Cliffs (acoustic)	Pismo Beach, CA
Aug. 22	6 p.m.	The Cliffs (acoustic)	Pismo Beach, CA
Aug. 24	1 p.m.	The Cliffs (acoustic)	Pismo Beach, CA
Aug. 30	noon	Viansa Winery	Sonoma, CA

 

Make sure to visit their social media sites and stay up to date on their latest news. We will see if we can bring you an interview soon with these talented musicians.

~ Marisol

Information & Links: 

• Website: http://girlsandboysmusic.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/girlsandboysmakemusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/girlsandboys00