The New Mastersounds
Sideways Media
The New Mastersounds

The New Mastersounds are a four-piece band based in Leeds, England, whose modern take on vintage soul-jazz, funk and rock draws influences from Jimmies McGriff, Smith, and Hendrix, as well as their most closely-associated mentors, The Meters. Try to imagine Grant Green and Lou Donaldson having a fight in a Hammond Organ shop while James Brown holds the coats, and you have some idea of what to expect from this band.

Their first single, One Note Brown, was released on Blow It Hard Records in 2000 and was passionately championed by acclaimed Northern Soul and funk DJ Keb Darge. To date, the band has released four studio records: 102%, This Is What We Do, Be Yourself, Keb Darge Presents... as well as The New Mastersounds Re::Mixed, and Live At La Cova. Also of note: their single, "Your Love Is Mine" featuring Corinne Bailey Rae, was used in the 2007 Warner Brothers movie Feast of Love.

Having toured throughout Europe, Japan and the USA, the NMS have earned global recognition as a key band in the 'New Funk' scene. But purists beware: their unique blend of funk, rock, soul and dance music is hard to sum up and doesn't fit neatly into any one genre.

Headed soon to a city near you, The New Mastersounds deliver gritty grooves and deep rhythms in clubs, theater venues and festivals alike. Their live shows will get you up dancing and hold you there intoxicated by the funk until last call- when you'll stagger home, sweaty and exhausted, on a wave of euphoria.

Led by guitarist and producer Eddie Roberts, The New Mastersounds feature Joe Tatton on Hammond, Pete Shand on bass and Simon Allen on drums.

Read More >

Cut City
Silver Side Productions
Cut City

Cut City formed in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2002 around the local Deleted Art label, sort of the Swedish counter-part to U.S. art-punk imprints like Three One G and Tapes Records. In May 2005 they issued a 4-song EP on the California-based Gold Standard Labs label, home to such acts as The Locust, Year Future, GoGoGo Airheart and many more. Drawing comparisons to groups such as Echo & The Bunnnymen and Joy Division as well as newer bands like Interpol and Editors they at the same time echo the past as much as the future. (Photo:  Robert Samsonowitz / RBRT CREATIVE)

Read More >

Chains of Love
Silver Side Productions
Chains of Love

All Hailing from Vancouver, BC, Chains Of Love had serendipitous beginnings. The members of Chains of Love were actually all close friends before forming in December of 2010 but all belonging to different projects varied within the garage rock scene. Despite the variation of sound between projects, there was always a common factor, "Little Red Sounds Studios."

Felix Fung being the owner/operator of the studio is usually behind recording most if not all garage/punk bands in Vancouver, Little Red Sounds became somewhat of a haven for young musicians in the city and Clint Lofkrantz being one of them. After many years of working simultaneously with each other, guitarist Clint Lofkrantz brought up the idea of starting a "Girl Group", that radiated Spector sounds, featured motown basslines, and was heavy in percussion. He presented this to Felix and together they sorted the players as such: Steve Ferrrera, who is hands down the busiest drummer on the west coast tapping out at 5 bands; Henry Beckwith on piano reminding us of how beautiful a piano should sound; Rebecca Marie Law Gray who's harmonies and guitar complete almost every song; and lastly Nathalia Pizarro to front what would become Chains Of Love with her unique sense in style and eccentric voice.

With the talent in place, Chains started by referencing certain artists such as Gail Harris, Ike & Tina, The Ronnettes, and The Shangri-la's by using their lo-fi recording styles as a blueprint for what they wanted to hear in music today. Chains of love has effectively bridged the gap between the nostalgic pop sounds of the 60's with a modern and elegant twist.

Read More >

Freedom Hawk
Small Stone Records
Freedom Hawk

Emanating from the barrier dunes of Virginia, Freedom Hawk’s heavy riffs, rolling groove, and soulful guitar melodies to produce a sound that is distinctly their own. The trio’s brand of heavy rock capitalizes on the best of the heavy ‘70s, but presents a fuzzy take that’s modern and based around quality songwriting rather than style-over-substance retro posturing.

Guitarist / vocalist T.R. Morton, bassist Mark Cave and drummer Lenny Hines made their debut on Small Stone with 2011’s Holding On. The follow-up, and their fourth album overall, is Into Your Mind, which brings a new dynamic to their buttery fuzz with all the stomp and swagger one could ask for after Holding On, but with a more pointed delivery, assured and farther ranging than their last time out, grown more into their style than ever before.

Songs like “Journey Home”, “Lost in Space” and “The Line” push the boundaries of what Freedom Hawk have previously accomplished sonically, bringing in elements of laid back psychedelia and space rock to the band’s otherwise terrestrial song-craft. Veterans already of Roadburn in the Netherlands, Freedom Hawk return to Europe in support of Into Your Mind, playing Germany’s Freak Valley Festival prior to the release with more live dates to follow as they continue to expand their reach both in terms of music and fan-base around the world.

For fans of: Clutch, Fu Manchu, Crobot, Black Sabbath, Grand Funk, Greenleaf, Lord Fowl, Gozu, Lo-Pan, ASG, and all things that Rawk

Read More >

The Socks
Small Stone Records
The Socks

Some dudes just sound like they were born to do it, and listening to the classic heavy rock groove of The Socks, there can be no doubt it’s what they’re made for. They’re naturals. The double-guitar French foursome formed in Lyon in 2009 and started surprising audiences almost immediately, eventually settling down to pump out their debut EP the following year.

2010’s Side A was five songs well concentrated from a band still feeling out where they wanted to go. You had your Sabbath, your Zeppelin, and The Socks supported the release by playing with an array of national and international acts, busting out energetic, intense gigs while continuing to develop their style. The next two years drove the band to write darker songs, hit harder, become thicker, more powerful, more calculating and less frenetic.

The resulting 2012 EP, Bedrock, soon caught Small Stone Records’ eye, with strong instrumental performances from Jess (drums), Vincent (bass), Nico (guitar/keys/vocals) and Julien (vocals/guitar), the latter also serving as the frontman and delivering a guttural but memorable vocal performance throughout the tracks, psychedelic in some places and elsewhere delving into a neo-grunge moodiness that was a change from the first release. During Fall 2012, The Socks completed their first European tour, drawing on experience garnered from festivals and gigs alongside Karma to Burn, Red Fang, Truckfighters, Horisont, Mars Red Sky, Black Rainbows and many others with whom they share some elements while still maintaining a personality of their own.

Simply put, they were a hit. Small Stone picked up the band and is set to issue their first full-length in 2014, as the band continue to thrust themselves into Europe’s next generation of heavy rock and roll alongside acts like Abrahma, Deville, Asteroid, Isaak, Black Rainbows and Mother of God. Look for The Socks to continue their momentum into 2014 and beyond, in the studio and on the road, and expect nothing less than some of the finest riffs the continent has to offer. That’s how it goes when you deal with naturals.

The Socks are:
Julien: Lead Guitar & Vocals
Jess: Drums & Percussions
Nico: Guitar, Keyboards & Vocals
Vincent: Bass

Read More >

Sun Gods In Exile
Small Stone Records
Sun Gods In Exile

Saddle up the horses and take your guns to town boys because the Sun Gods in Exile are back. After a three year silence Portland's God's of Southern Fried Biker Boogie Rock have cowboy-ed up and returned to shake the dried clay from your boots and put a little swagger in your step. Ten thunderous tracks titled "Thanks for the Silver" that add just a little more southern than fried this time around and take aim with their six shooters hitting the target every single time.

Formed in early 2008 by four guys that worship at the altar of vintage rock, Sun Gods In Exile is more than the sum of their respected pasts. After a brief stint in Boston's Cortez, Portland, Maine guitarist Anthony D'Agostino hooked up with old friend bassist JL, late of Ocean, to get back to basics and to play the kind of old school rock and roll that they both love. Augmented by the rock steady addition of Johnny Kennedy on drums and centered around the southern-fried vocals (and guitar) of Adam Hitchcock the boys of SGIE quickly became a club favorite all along the eastern seaboard, garnering opening slots with many including Roadsaw, Hackman, Mess With The Bull, The Brought Low and many others. Hearing what Tony & Co. had we here at Small Stone quickly signed Sun Gods In Exile and sent them into Mad Oak Studios to record their debut album “Black Light, White Lines.” 2010 saw the band making their debut at SXSW as well as trips up and down the coasts and a first foray across the pond. After three years and countless devastating live shows the band returned to Portland to re-group and write what would become "Thanks for the Silver." In the process, SGIE added a fifth full time member, Christopher Neal, on the keys as well as swapping JL for his brother Mark on bass.

"Thanks for the Silver" shows the Sun Gods in Exile truly coming into their own. Adam and the boys haven't just traded in their beer and muscle cars for whiskey and horses. "Thanks for the Silver" presents a band self-assured and self-aware with all the strength and swing of the first album and yet more mature at the same time. Christoper's adddition on organ, harmonica and slide guitar add flourishs only hinted at on "Black Light, White Lines" without detracting from the power that Mark and JK are pounding out. And Tony D hasn't given up a lick of ground when it comes to riffs and solos. Check it out and we hope you'll agree and say "Thanks for the Silver."

For fans of: Black Crowes, Allman Brothers, Blackfoot, The Brought Low, Infernal Overdrive, James Gang, AC~DC, Alice Cooper, Gideon Smith & The Dixie Dammned, Shame Club, The Cult, Dixie Witch, Roadsaw, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Molly Hatchet.

Read More >

Sydney Wayser
SONGS Music Publishing
Sydney Wayser

French-American multi-instrumentalist and stunning vocalist Sydney Wayser has emerged with her sophomore album The Colorful, a more lighthearted follow-up to 2007's The Silent Parade. It presents a collection of songs decorated with the playfulness of toy instruments while maintaining 22-year-old Wayser's sense of intimate and serene elegance. Praised by NPR for her "natural gift for melody and musicianship," The Colorful demonstrates a developed maturity that showcases this gift clearly and delicately. Now based in New York, Wayser grew up in LA, spending her summers in Paris. She quickly gleaned much of French culture from her songwriter father, leading her to musical influences that include Edith Piaf, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Jacques Brel, among many others. This European sensibility is evident on both The Silent Parade and The Colorful, each filled with tunes that could easily provide a soundtrack to a Godard film or a playful scene from Jeunet's Amélie. The Colorful, as a whole, feels like a sonic representation of this transition through the earth up towards the light. With an unwavering sense of charm and wit, melody and phrasing, Wayser's latest offering is an irresistible invitation to follow her into the light; an invitation not to be denied.

Read More >

Clementine and The Galaxy
SONGS Music Publishing
Clementine and The Galaxy

The longing in Julie Hardy’s voice is palpable. It’s a gorgeous voice, filled with warmth and pain, seemingly in contrast with the icy synths and computerized sounds that lurk behind her heartache.  But within Clementine & The Galaxy, these two worlds meld together just fine. A retro/futuristic spin on pop, the Brooklyn duo craft evocative electro sounds with a human heart. Hardy may sing “I’ve been programmed not to miss you,” but it’s her soulfulness that propels the whooshing synths and cinematic flourishes of her bandmate/partner Mike MacAllister.

Think the grand drama of St. Vincent, a sprinkle of Bowie’s stardust. Electro-pop gems with a mod sci-fi motif.

Clementine & The Galaxy officially debuted in 2011 with the release of the single “Crying My Whole Heart Out.” Word spread quickly. The duo garnered a feature in Interview (“a pop duo with their hands on synthesizers and heads in the cloud”) and praise fromTime Out New York (“Spacey, playfully proggy art pop in the Bowie lineage”). Since then, they’ve released a self-titled EP, a well-received cover of Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box" and a popular remix of Big Data's “Dangerous,” among several others. 

This year, Clementine & The Galaxy will unveil their second EP,Midnight Machine, released by Jillionaire of Major Lazer's Feel Up Records.

Read More >

Data Romance
SQE Music
Data Romance

Ajay Bhattacharyya and Amy Kirkpatrick, both 25, first came together two years ago in their hometown of Victoria on Canada's Vancouver Island. Kirkpatrick had moved to Vancouver proper, where she started using her training to do lights for the city's biggest clubs. Bhattacharyya, meanwhile, had come to the city to study sound design for film.

From the circuit-bending tonalities mirroring Nine Inch Nails to the feminine aspect evoking the mystical eroticism of Lykke Li, The Data Romance E.P. provides the first taster of what to expect from the band's full-length album, due out in 2012.

Read More >

Stocklyn
Stocklyn
Stocklyn

My name is William Boreing, Front man for Stocklyn. We are a Texas band, we play Rock'n Roll and we mean it.

We've all been playing around lubbock since we could convince bar owners to let us in with X's on our hands. Making our living playing our instruments and entertaining Lubbock as best we could. We have all toured with various State wide and National level bands. But at some point I grew a bit weary of the side man role. I still loved playing guitar and I tried to mean every note I played, put my heart into it. But there was always an itch.

So I started (or rather kept) writing for myself. I've always been hugely influenced by Led Zeppelin, Wolfmother, AC/DC, Aerosmith and several other of the greats. But While playing lead for Red & the Vityls, I had an opportunity to really immerse myself into Texas music... not Texas country but Texas music I found that the music I wrote for myself, the music I loved had a home and people who loved and welcomed it.

So I got with my best friends. A small crew but guys that would die for each other. And I decided we would make music for us. By our rules and within our means.

We never went without. Once we started doing it all ourselves a ton of people kicked in in a BIG way! After contacting several local venues to track in their rooms after 3am when the doors lock, or on their closed days I was contacted by Don Caldwell. Talk about a lifesaver! The guy said he believed in the project and wanted to help in anyway he could including letting me use his studio at night when everyone else left free of charge. We had already decided that we wouldn't sacrifice quality for easy at any stage and without this leg up I don't think we could have accomplished that.

With the help of Justin Thomas Williams, Ryan Garza, Seth Ramirez, Justin Lentz, a whole slew of quality people from the Blue Light we did it.
We never gave up on the dream of the highest quality. We didn't have enough money to rent a lot of things we needed for as long as we would have needed, so if we needed a Marshall sound and couldn't get it we Built a Marshall. If we really needed a u87 and couldn't get it we built a mic. Me and Justin Locked ourselves away for countless hours fueled by a desire to "do it right" and with a "why not us" attitude about trying to be great.
When it was done we were Melanee, we had 6 tracks we were really proud of, and even a couple in studio videos!

From there we burned CDs ourselves, made a stamp to have our name on em (having spent every resource on the product already) and started playing shows. Opening for anyone who would have us and playing for anyone who would listen. We've always had the attitude of "do it right" so every show was our last and if both we and the crowd weren't drenched in sweat when it was said and done I chalked it as a failure.

But the response was incredible! I can't say enough about the Texas scene, the Lubbock scene especially, and the Blue Light and Office specifically,
The project was always about making music for us, making music with my friends, and doing the thing as well as we could.

As luck would have it our little record found it's way to sleepwalker studios via Jeremy Boreing where, upon overhearing it played, it caught the ear of David Hodges ans Steve Solomon who run the joint.

David got in touch with me and I started saving, painting fences, selling all my earthly belongings and putting in sweat to have enough money to get my butt to California and sign a record deal.

We retracked the record with me playing almost every instrument, still keeping as many of my friends and original parts as we could. It really mattered to me that it be the best it could without loosing itself and it's roots in great music by great friends.

More recently we were picked up by Scott Weiland & the Wildabouts' camp and given the opportunity to tour the US with 'em. LA to NY to FL, Corpus Christi to Boston and everywhere in between, myself Blake Vera and Seth Ramirez, playing homemade Rock'n roll as hard as we can, and never loosing the get sweaty mentality. We are so grateful to be doing what we love, and getting to share it with so many. The response has been amazing!

"They're an audacious guitar driven strut. It's loud, sweaty, near the edge of excess, and on the cusp of chaos; it's the way rock and roll was meant to be played."
-Thomas D. Mooney, New Slang

Read More >