M.O.E.T. are back and are set to play a show at The Bank Club in San Jose, CA on November 12th. I had told you about this young band from the South Bay that have been creating genre-breaking music. Their alternative blend sound carries influences of funk, indie, rock and so much more. Check out their recently released video which they dedicate to the fans who have been supporting them from the beginning:
You might have heard from reading headlines like, Gene Simmons announces Rock Is Dead, or a dozen other people who are talking about the dwindling passion for rock n roll. I don’t buy it, I don’t believe it and with bands like Bad Jones, the flame of Rock N Roll will never be extinguished. Formerly known as Soul Pie, this Bay Area band are truly doing their part in bringing a strong resurgence into Rock infused with their blues and funk.
We caught Bad Jones performing last Saturday at The Phoenix Theater in Petaluma and their were incredible! Searing vocals, stellar blues riffs, hard and edgy melodic rock that will rewaken all your senses. Their energy is fierce as they really bring their powerful sound to the forefront. I love that they have keyboards which really brings such depth to their music, something that is often missing these days. It is infectious as you can feel their music traveling through your body and pulsing through your veins. Check out some of the photos by our Rockin Ryan of their set:
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Bad Jones is :
Jesse Ray Smith – vocals/guitar
Tommy Odetto – guitar
Tim Baker – bass
John Varn – keyboards
Teddy James Cox – Drums
Now that I have you hot and bothered for their rock n roll fix, make sure to catch them at their upcoming shows. This is one hard ass working band and they are always busy playing shows around the Bay Area or opening for big acts in the area. Be sure to visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their latest news and upcoming shows. We will leave you with a couple videos from their set at the Phoenix. Also you can pick up their self titled EP on their website here: http://www.thebadjones.com/media.
It is always welcoming to see a young create their own unique sound. In today’s music scene, there seems to be a demand to fit into a specific genre or sub-genre checkbox.That is not the case with Moet. This alternative rock style band from the South Bay are createing their own style of music. Time and time again, I see musicians who play to fit a genre instead of play what they enjoy. I think musically you can hear it in the music. With Moet, you can hear the truth in their music and that they enjoy exactly what they are playing. They have a sound that blends influences of funk, indie, alternative and rock.
Moet recently released their music video for their song Perfect Night. You can check it out here:
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 with Moet.
TAUK are premiering their new song Friction which is off their soon to be released LP Collisions. TAUK has a very unique style that fuses together funk, melodic instrumental, blues, grooves and progressive rock. They successfully capture the listener through their instrumental music and create such depth and layers that blend fluidly. Their new single, Friction is the perfect example of that creative process. Check it out here:
Their new album, Collisions is set to release on July 22nd and was produced by legendary Grammy-Winner Robert Carranza (Mars Volta, Jack Johnson). Pre-Order of the 10-track LP,Collisions, available beginning today for just $10, here: http://tauk.bandcamp.com/. The band will celebrate their new album at their hometown Album Release Show at TheKnitting Factory in Brooklyn, NY on July 19th. Tickets are still available, here: http://tktwb.tw/1mqgXiW and all advance ticket purchases come with a physical copy of the new album, available for pickup at the show.
TAUK are currently out on tour and you can catch them at the following dates:
July 9 – Baltimore, MD @ The 8×10 w/ Cory Henry of Snarky Puppy & Jordan August Band (residency)
July 11 – Saugerties, NY @ Hudson Valley Project
July 12 – Berryville, VA @ Pasture Palooza Music & Arts Festival
July 16 – Baltimore, MD @ The 8×10 w/ ELM & Operation Friendship (residency)
July 19 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Knitting Factory (CD RELEASE SHOW)
July 23 – Baltimore, MD @ The 8×10 w/Freedom Enterprise (residency)
July 24 – Charlotte, NC @ White Water Center
July 25-26 – Floyd, VA @ Floyd Fest
July 30 – Baltimore, MD @ The 8×10 w/ Big Something & Soohan (residency)
July 31 – Wilmington, DE @ World Café Live w/Big Something
Aug 1 – Philadelphia, PA @ Grape Room w/Big Something
Aug 2 – Washington, DC @ The Hamilton w/Big Something
Aug 7 – Plains, PA @ River Street Jazz Café
Aug 8 – Bedford, PA @ Wills Mountain Festival
Aug 9 – Luray, VA @ Doah Fest
Aug 12 – Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry w/DJ Williams Projekt
Aug 13 – Roanoke, VA @ Martin’s
Aug 14 – Abingdon, VA @ Abingdon Music Experience
Aug 21 – Bartow, WV @ Camp Barefoot
Aug 22 – Southampton, NY @ Taps
Aug 29 – Ferguson, NC @ Mantrabash
Aug 30 – Charleston, SC @ The Pour House w/ZOOGMA
Sept 4-5 – Arrington, VA @ LOCKN’
Sept 6 – Hancock, NY @ Catskill Chill Music Festival
Sept 12 – Rock Camp, WV @ Pink Moon Festival
Oct 17 – Ozark, AR @ Harvest Festival
Oct 24 – Apache Pass, TX @ Art Outside
Nov 13-16 – Live Oak, FL @ Bear Creek Music Festival
Make sure to get your pre-order in for Collisions and also visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their latest news.
Let me introduce you to Traedonya. Traedonya was raised in New York City and she surrounded herself with all kinds of music from Hip Hop, Funk and Rock. She truly is a lover of a variety of music and with those influences has created her own unique sound. Traedonya has been dubbed the ‘The Bride of New Funk Hipopera” and she surely lives up to that title with her fusion of hip hop, jazz, and her vocal range.
Traedonya has launched her pre-orders for her new EP, “High Fructose Corn Syrup” through a PledgeMusic campaign. Traedonya says, “I don’t believe in genres, I believe in the song married with the music. As I am in life, I wish not to be placed in a box with my music. I am excited to be working with Pledge Music on my solo debut project. After having the meeting with them, I felt this was a perfect marriage. This is the 2014 music industry!
As part of the campaign there will be various merchandise and perks for fans to get involved. Pledge Music gives her fans and those who are interested in the artist to go thru the whole journey with TRAEDONYA! This will allow all pledgers to become patrons of the arts in modern society. In ancient Rome, this was how artists were allowed to bring their passion and vision to life.
As part of the campaign TRAEDONYA! will launch her personal brand with her own line of Hip Opera Gloves featuring her new logo. We were seeking a product that would be a fit for TRAEDONYA! and felt that gloves were a perfect because over the years she always wore them. It was a natural extension who she truly is. The gloves are tasteful yet current in fashion Prohibition’s Ambassador At Large A.K Smith-Ford. Prohibition has partnered with http://thefuturehasnomemory.com to assist in the roll out of the Gloves.
The Campaign just isn’t about TRAEDONYA!. An integral part of this campaign will be the St. Judes Childrens Hospital. The mission of St Judes research is to advance cures and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay for care. This has made me very happy to be able to assist this great institution says TRAEDONYA!.
Check out the video for the song Family Affair here:
We will keep you updated as to the release date of the EP and will also try and get an interview with Traedonya so we can all get to know more about this sensational new artist!
Today our Bottle Rock Napa Featured Band is Tea Leaf Green. Get ready for a band that is going to bring up the level of energy and fun to this year’s Bottle Rock Napa. Tea Leaf Green can be described as Rock (when rock was just rock and not a range of genres, cores, levels!) or Indie Rock. “At the center, our commitment to this music and our passion for making it and performing it has remained rock steady,” explains Josh Clark. “Like countless bands creating phenomenal music today, we work on the edges of the mainstream where we can be heard, looking in on the tragedy that radio seems to have forgotten where to find the gold..”
Tea Leaf Green has an amazing sound that can range from modern rock, classic rock to jam. What you are treated to is a variety of instruments that come together and create the perfect summer fun music that invigorates your spirit. Here is our quick feature:
Song to Check out:The Sideshow – from the Tea Leaf Green Coyote Hearing Sessions
Check them out and make sure to visit their social media sites for the latest news. Also mark your calendars for the weekend of May 30- June 1st for the Bottle Rock Napa. You can get more details about the festival and pick up your tickets at Three-Day, VIP, and Platinum passes now. You can check out below all the bands that have been announced and there are still more to come. Stay tuned for a new band featured each day for Bottle Rock Napa.
Today our Bottle Rock Napa Featured Band is Grass Child. Grass Child are one of the local favorites that have been added to this year’s lineup. They bring a fresh new sound of rock/ska/funk/groove/blues to life. What is amazing about this band is their versatility in combining a wide range of influences into their own personal sound that demands to be heard. You will always come away from a Grass Child show with a smile on your face and a warm heart.
Grass Child have recently re-released their album Marinade. You can pick up your copy by checking out the available places here. Pick your copy and enjoy my favorites like “Frying”, “The Dream” “Marmalade”, “Down Here” and “Let Yourself Go” so we can all be singing along at Bottle Rock Napa 2014. Here is our quick feature:
Song to Check out: Down Here off their album Marinade
Check them out and make sure to visit their social media sites for the latest news. Also mark your calendars for the weekend of May 30- June 1st for the Bottle Rock Napa. You can get more details about the festival and pick up your tickets at Three-Day, VIP, and Platinum passes now. You can check out below all the bands that have been announced and there are still more to come. Stay tuned for a new band featured each day for Bottle Rock Napa.
Unbridled, unleashed and almost uncontrolled enthusiastic talent -that is Eric Zayne and his electronica-influenced, soul and blues-infused, pop-inflected and sometimes just plain over the top creative funk/pop/rock.
I first saw him live at a pre-Grammy Party in LA and knew this was a talent going places fast. We talked afterwards about his gig at Sundance and his upcoming gigs and recordings. Eric and his band can turn on a dime from infectious alt. pop to ballads with a twist. He is always trailblazing, always out of the box and into your pleasure centers. Put on your headphones, clear out the dance floor, forget everything you think you know about rock and pop. Whether he is live onstage or erupting from a EP, Eric Zayne’s music mainlines a pure dose of the most unique sound coming out of the LA rock scene today directly into your brain.
Patrick O’Heffernan, Host of Music Friday interviewed Eric on his show 2/28/14.
* * * * * * *
Patrick. Eric, you have been very busy lately. You played at the 10/20 run last weekend in San Diego. You played the Sunset Sessions last week in LA. You are recording a new EP – which you are calling the mixtape, we will talk about that for sure – and you are getting ready for South by Southwest. Did you give up sleeping for the first quarter of 2014?
Eric. It certainly feels that way. It is funny you mentioned it because I was thinking when 2014 came in, the train just went faster than any other ride I have ever been on. I don’t know what kind of planetary alignment happened when 2014 kicked in but it hasn’t stopped. It has been just one wonderful opportunity after the next and I want to be ready for all of them. In a way definitely, I’m giving up some sleep.
Patrick. I am curious about this 10/20 concert in San Diego. You were singing in the middle of a foot race? Were you running or playing music or both?
Eric. That would be an interesting gig if I had to run a marathon with my instruments and my band. No, we were on the running trail of the marathon. We had our own stage overlooking the ocean. We had a pretty loud PA system so we would play to encourage the runners to keep going. But many of them actually stopped or turned around and ran back to grab a CD, which may have made the them late to the finish line, but it made me pretty excited.
Patrick. I can see them running, stopping turning around, dancing, grabbing a CD and then running…pretty funny.
Eric. Yes. And we were like “don’t stop, go, go, go!”
Patrick. Let’s talk a bit about your music. The song that first turned me on to your music is Neptune. I know that song is about desire, about wanting something else, maybe something you can’t have. The video that you made with that was very powerful. Did you design it?
Eric. My manager, Steven Cohen, and I always come up with the ideas together. I have been using the same director for all my videos, Collin Duffy. This time we decided to do something very simple, because all the other videos are explosive and huge. So we said let’s do something very simple that stays in one spot and is visually captivating and has the sexual tension of the song. Also, my music is very inclusive of all cultures. I have no judgment of any cultures. I grew up in a multi-cultural family and I grew up all over the world from Africa to Canada etc., so I want my music and my audience to always feel welcome in my heart. So we decided to bring in couples from all kinds of cultures that sometimes may be judged by the outside world, and we decided to bring them in. You can be safe here because Neptune is the idea that you are reaching for something for the unattainable, that there is something inside that is a desire and we are all have it. I wanted everyone to feel that common ground.
Patrick. In the video that you include gay and straight, black and white and mixed couples. Were you making a social or political statement?
Eric. It is embedded in the fabric of my music. I don’t consciously want to be a political activist, but I know that music has a power that breaks through boundaries and I think it is the responsibility of an artist to melt the dividing lines between us in a way and reunite us.
Patrick. Your most recent hit, Maneater, which has an epic video of a giant woman destroying my hometown of Los Angeles. Was there a man eater in your life.
Eric. Oh yeah., There have been a few.
Patrick. What is your response to criticism that Maneater, in its images and especially in the lyrics, reinforce a medieval stereotype of women as inherently evil and predatory?
Eric. It is interesting how people can judge a song that is just a perception of a particular slice in reality of a very specific moment in time that has actually happened to a person. It is not a judgment on all women and it is not pointing to my personal belief on how women are. In my opinion, women are majestic – advanced way beyond males. It points to a situation that people can get into in a relationship when they are just eaten up by the other person because that person’s power is so much stronger; but they love it. The fact that I called it Maneater and sang about a woman is because I am man.
Patrick. There is a photo of you on your Instagram page of you in Las Vegas. Did you play a show there?
Eric. No. I was just taking a break. But someday I will play a show in Las Vegas.
Patrick. Are the guys you play with your permanent band?
Eric. Yes. They are absolutely people I want to keep together. Once in a while I will play an acoustic gig, but my vision of a live show is from people I have looked up to like Prince and others. My live gigs are always a very powerful experience as you have seen, so we are staying together.
Patrick. Where were you born.
Eric. I was born in Montreal Canada. When I was 11 days old I was taken back to my parents’ home in the Congo. I was about 10 years old when I left. A civil war started and the embassy called my dad and said there is one seat left on the last plane out of the country and it leaves in an hour. My dad an my brothers were collecting weapons and fortifying the house. There were already bullets flying from mercenaries and looters. An army truck came and grabbed me up and put me on the plane. The family scattered to survive. My family and I were reunited about 8 – 10 years later.
Patrick. I suspected that was why you left. One of my listeners wants to know, are there genres anymore? You play a lot of different kinds of music. How do you see genres?
Eric. One of the hardest things for me as an artist is to understand what genres are. I see music as colors in a way and a painting can’t have just one color. Genres were created by record companies and stores to know where to place their music. But as an artist I may hear a banjo in a classical piece and someone will say you can’t mix these two genres and I say but that is how I heard it in my head. So I think, music came before the theory of music and once the theory came along people want to label it this or that, but music creativity doesn’t have labels.
Patrick. You are producing a new EP which you are calling a mixtape. You have assembled a surprising mix of people on it. You have Matisyahu– and orthodox Jewish rapper Amber Riley, an African-American singer/tv star from Glee, Rozzi Crane, and emerging rock singer recently signed by Maroon 5’s Adam Levine; and King Blaise, a rapper from Cameroon. How did you think of that group and how did you pull it off?
Eric. We are calling this a mixtape –the title is Autobiograme – because they will be free online releases. We are not aiming for a commercial piece of work that could necessarily get radio play, but something to show your personality and diversity and collaboration. I didn’t have a plan – I knew I would meet people as I went along. I knew from my background that a diverse group would come.
Take Mitisyau – I was studying kabala and my rabbi told me I had to meet this guy and one day he called me and said Matisyahu was coming and we met and hit it off and we wrote a song in 2 hours. The song is called Freedom Fighter; it’s about standing up for your rights and creating the life you want. Amber Riley came from when I did a show at My First Friday – a place where new artists perform for a supportive crowd. She was there and we connected. I knew who she was and what she did and we created a beautiful gospel song together. My manager knew Rozzi Crane and thought we would be a great fit and played her music for me. When I heard her voice I said yes we would be great together. We did a remix of Prince’s Erotic City – a very cool indie electric version you are going to like.
Patrick. And the ep/mixtape Autobiograme will be out the week of March 10.
Eric. Yes. I have been trying to get it finished. I have been so busy.
Patrick. Even though you are so busy you still have time for One Voice. What is that all about.
Eric. In my growing up in Africa I saw what war can do to people’s lives. I always had this idea of going back when I was successful and doing an inspirational tour, replacing guns with guitar. I got interviewed by One Voice and found that that is exactly what they do. They teach kids how to connect with their inner voice, their inner peace, using music, – it is an unbelievable organization. Check it out at One Voice.com
Patrick. We are out of time and there are so many other songs and topics to talk about. We will have you back on when the mixtape is ready. And thank you for being with us today
Let me introduce you to Traedonya. Traedonya was raised in New York City and she surrounded herself with all kinds of music from Hip Hop, Funk and Rock. She truly is a lover of a variety of music and with those influences has created her own unique sound. Traedonya has been dubbed the ‘The Bride of New Funk Hipopera” and she surely lives up to that title with her fusion of hip hop, jazz, and her vocal range.
“Another Lie” was produced by Large Professor and has been described as an anthem song for females. The story of the song is something that I am sure lots of ladies have experienced. The song not only features Traedonya‘s lyrical acumen but the jazzy vibe and instrumentals will have you reminiscing of classic R&B/Jazz. It is refreshing to see a new generation add their own influences and create an entire new subgenre. That is what Traedonya has done and I look forward to hearing more.
“Another Lie” is the first song of her new EP, “High Fructose Corn Syrup” which is set to release in July. You can take a listen right here and you will be singing it in no time:
We will keep you updated as to the release date of the EP and will also try and get an interview with Traedonya so we can all get to know more about this sensational new artist!
The great thing about Music is that there are so many different genres out there to enjoy at any time. I love not being pegged into a music genre hole and just listening to one thing. I listen to all types of music and enjoy each one of them. So today I want to introduce you to enjoy a Funky Rock and Blues fusion cocktail that is AmAEvolutioN. They have such an incredible sound that just blends so many types of music and just comes together beautifully. You will hear some Rock, R & B, Soul, Funk and Blues all meshed together that just has me captivated! Being a native from the Bay Area, I applaud Berkeley native Nadiya Lewis on her commanding presence on her vocals. She just sings right to your soul and you can just feel her emotions! Then you can really enjoy the guitarist Sergio de Paula Lima as he lays down some great guitar work complimenting the cool bass lines of Musashi “Moose” Lethridge and topping it off with the smooth drums of John Adams! They have been compared to the likes of Living Colour, The Roots and I think you can add in there Stevie Salas ColorCode!
Their sound is something that you are going to enjoy and if you are in the Bay Area, they are going to be playing in Santa Clara, CA this October 12th! They will be playing at Neto’s in Santa Clara and tickets are only $10. This is all brought to you by DreamSkape Entertainment and it will be an all ages show. So mark your calendars and get out to buy these tickets. I am rearranging my schedule so I can be sure to catch this energetic Rock Blues show that is AmAEvolutioN!!! Come join me! Need to hear more head over to their ReverbNation page and take a listen, you will be happy you did. One of my absolute favorites is “Tell Me”. Enjoy this great acoustic version of “Tell Me” right here: http://youtu.be/SMlH0uj4vlw
Music Junkie Press 