Sound Cloud Sunday – September 23, 2018 (Episode 25)
Sound Cloud Sunday September 23, 2018 (Episode 25)
Another Sunday another day of indie music flooding the inbox. If you have a band you think would sound good on Laurel Canyon, drop us a line at webmaster@laurelcanyonradio.com and we’ll take a listen! In the meantime, you listen to another Sound Cloud Sunday new indie music (and new Cody Jinks, too!)
The Brother Brothers – Frankie
Hometown: Austin via Peoria, IL
Album: Their debut album, “Some People I Know” will be released in October.
Review Snippet: Their sound is striking and undeniably captivating. Often leaning towards the darker, moody elements of Appalachian folk, and bluegrass traditions, their songs are laden with near perfect sibling harmonies or unison singing, compelling writing, and imaginative arrangements. They tour as an acoustic duo: David on cello and guitar, and Adam on the 5-string fiddle. With individual storied music careers under their belts, the brothers have finally teamed up to bring their experiences together.
Next Time In LA: October 11 at the Smothers Theatre in Malibu (opening for I’m With Her).
Website: http://www.thebrotherbrothersmusic.com/
A Different Thread – On A Whim
Hometown: Staffordshire, UK and North Carolina
Album: Their debut album “On A Whim” was released last week on Horus Records.
Review Snippet: Due to the origins of its members – Robert Jackson from Staffordshire and Alicia Best from North Carolina – the band’s style lands somewhere between other recent ‘call-back’ musicians, like North East England’s Megson, and Nashville’s Caitlin Canty. If you’ll permit a brief diversion into the discussion of genre labels, then it’s worth mentioning that the band have labelled their music (perhaps somewhat unfortunately as it sounds rather colonial) as “British-Americana”. In reality, the songs on On A Whim tend to skew heavily in one direction or another (either British folk ballads or Alison Krauss-esque Country) with some added stylistic elements from across the Atlantic. This is by no means a bad thing; the aesthetic alterations make A Different Thread’s brand of nostalgic song-writing feel fresh and exciting, but it doesn’t feel like their self-ascribed label is all that accurate of a descriptor for the band.
Website: https://adifferentthread.bandcamp.com/album/on-a-whim
I’m Kingfisher – What Good Would Love Do Me Now
Hometown: Sweden
Album: Their/his sixth album “Transit” was released in April on Fading Trails Recordings.
Review Snippet: I’m Kingfisher is the moniker under which Swedish songwriter Thomas Jonsson crafts enveloping folk-pop. The ways in which he puts his own stamp on the genre are especially evident on his newest single, “What Good Would Loving Do Me Now?” The song, which appears on I’m Kingfisher’s forthcoming fourth album, Transit (due April 13 via Fading Trails Recordings), is a sonic marvel on which Jonsson ruminates on intimate flashbulb memories.
“What Good Would Loving Do Me Now?” starts off wary, with an insistent electronic hum nudging forward hesitant acoustic guitar riffs and his pastoral, soulful voice. But as the tune unfurls, it accumulates evocative textures with plenty of heft: chiming keyboards that resemble a ringing phone, shimmering digital dust showers, and female backing vocals. These elements coalesce and build in intensity, which helps the song crescendo to a wistful, sighing conclusion. “What Good Would Loving Do Me Now?” feels like a fresh take on familiar sounds.
Website: http://www.imkingfisher.com/
Cody Jinks – Must Be The Whiskey
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Album: His new album (number 7) “Lifers” is on Rounder Records, but he’s still indie to us.
Review Snippet: Super album.Jinks performs a flavorful variety written by himself and singer-songwriters of his choosing. Maybe some sounds a little of what has inspired him here and there, it’s music that crosses the aisles. He is finally signed with a label (with Rounder Records), and I think his music will stay true and it’s good to the last drop.
Jinks provides a soulful sound that isn’t on the radio.
If you ever get a chance to see him (or the other writers from this album )play live, they don’t dissapoint!
Website: https://codyjinks.com/
Carolina Story – Rich Man
Hometown: Los Angeles
Album: Their debut album “Lay Down Your Head” was released on Black River Americana in July.
Review Snippet: Right out of Laurel Canyon.
Next Time in LA: October 5 at Tent City After Dark at Sunken Gardens in Atascadero.
Web Site: http://www.carolinastory.com/
Mountain Man – Ring Ting Tin Toon
Hometown: Bennington, VT
Album: Their second album “Magic Ship” was released on Nonesuch on Friday.
Next Time In LA: November 9 at Masonic Lodge.
Review Snippet: Mountain Man is an American singing trio of women described as “nestled in the tradition of American folk“[4] with a traditional Appalachian folk sound. They have earned acclaim from a number of music critics.[5][6][7] They often sing a cappella, with a “sparse, haunting, hymnal beauty”[5] sometimes accompanied by soft acoustic guitar, but with their voices “virtually unadorned”, according to Guardiancritic Paul Lester.[6] The group toured with the vocalist Feist in 2011,[2] and New York Times music reviewer Ben Ratliff described their performance as “creating shifting harmonies” which “worked perfectly”.[
Website: http://www.wearemountainman.com/
Joan Shelley with Doug Paisley – Pretty Little Miss
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Album: From the Bandcamp released EP “Rivers And Vessels”.
Review Snippet: The more intriguing parts of Joan Shelley are more keyed into the album’s bittersweet mood, evocative of Fairport Convention and Linda Thompson’s somber turns.
Website: http://www.joanshelley.net/
Dawn And Hawkes – Ordinary Day
Hometown: Austin
Album: Their second album was self-released on July 6. They were contestants on “The Voice”.
Review Snippet: “Impeccable vocal harmonies and instrumentation”
– Acoustic Guitar
“Transcendent alternative-folk – you will find yourself craving more from this amazing, dynamic duo”
– Huffington Post
“Songs of introspective bliss, this singer-songwriter team genuinely helps the listener feel the spirit of life”
– Performer Magazine
“lovely, lilting and clearly heartfelt”
– Elmore Magazine
Website: https://www.dawnandhawkes.com/
The Band of Heathens – Look What They’ve Done To My Song, Ma
Hometown: Austin
Album: Their seventh album, “A Message From The People Revisited” was self-released last week. It’s all covers!
Review Snippet: The Band of Heathens’ interpretation of Ray Charles’ original 1972 landmark recording is out now. Listen to ‘A Message From The People
“If Ray’s looking down, he’d be proud of this effort. The Band of Heathens caught the spirit of the album and it’s a spirit we could use more of in these times
Website: https://www.bandofheathens.com/
Folk Soul Revival – Buck Up
Hometown: Virginia
Album: Their fourth album, self-titled, was self-released in August.
Review Snippet: A modern band rooted in old-school southern sounds, Folk Soul Revival whips up its own version of amplified Americana on the band’s self-titled fourth record.
The name says it all. Folk Soul Revival, like the band that created it, is an album that celebrates the sounds, stories, and small-town values of an earlier era, modernizing their approach with sharp songwriting and electrifying instrumental work. There’s country twang, bluegrass bounce, hillbilly hell-raising, chicken-pickin’ guitar, and roadhouse roots-rock, all sandwiched into a tracklist that mixes heartbreak, honesty, and humor in equal doses. Recorded in Nashville and road-tested on stages across the country, this is Folk Soul Revival’s finest work — an album that nods to the glory days of the past while still pushing the band forward.
Website: http://www.folksoulrevival.com/
John Wort Hannam – Only Love
Hometown: Fort Cloud, Alberta
Album: From his 7th album “Acres of Elbow Room” self-released in September.
Review Snippet: the Alberta musician is releasing his seventh full-length recording Acres Of Elbow Room and has a few feathers in that lucky hat for his first six offerings. Feathers that include a JUNO nomination, a Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Album of the Year, a CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award, a Kerrville Texas New Folk win, and numerous Western Canadian Music Award and Canadian Folk Music Award nominations.
Recent years have seen a great deal of change in John’s life – becoming a Dad, turning 50, a move to the “big city” of Lethbridge, a long, deep bout of depression, and episodes of losing his singing voice. But John has emerged a better songwriter, a better singer, and a better player. On Acres Of Elbow Room, John has further refined his lyrical style and has landed squarely on his niche in the folk-roots world. He’s spent years learning the craft of songwriting and is taking those tools to write some of his most personal songs. He has, quite literally, found his voice.
Website: https://www.johnworthannam.com/
Liz Cooper And The Stampede – Dalai Lama
Hometown: Nashville
Album: From her first full length album “Window Flowers” released August 10 on Sleepyhead Records.
Next Time in LA: November 13 at the Observatory in Santa Ana and the Belasco Theatre on November 14 both opening for Phosphorescent.
Review Snippet: Liz Cooper & The Stampede are a three-piece American rock band NPR describes their music as “a seamless balance of muted rhythmic sounds and propulsive drive that feels so good”.
Website: https://lizcooperandthestampede.com/
Tom Freund – Runaround
Hometown: Venice, CA
Album: From his album “East of Lincoln” out September 7 on Surf Road Records.
Next Time in LA: October 2 at the Hi Hat, October 14 at the Federal Bar in North Hollywood with Lisa Loeb.
Review Snippet: “If you want to hear what California feels like, Tom Freund’s new album is a good place to start…” – Acoustic Guitar
Website: http://tomfreund.com/
David Nail and The Well Ravens – Come Back Around
Hometown: Kennett, MO
Album: The debut album from David Nail’s band was released September 14 on One-Five Sounds. .
Review Snippet: Inspired not only by his country roots, but also the guitar-heavy stomp of Oasis, the reverb-heavy wash of Ryan Adams, the rhythmic punch of the Black Keys, and the anthemic swell of Kings of Leon, Nail and the Well Ravens co-wrote a collection of songs that placed a contemporary spin on older sounds. The result is David Nail’s most sonically adventurous work to date, as well as his first release as an independent artist. He’s a country crooner one moment, an indie rocker the next, and a diversely compelling frontman throughout. Most importantly, he’s an artist following his muse, making music without rules or regulations.
Website: https://davidnail.com
