SKOPE NEWS FOR MAY 2, 2017

The Dustbowl Revival’s self-titled album coming on Signature Sounds

Over the past few years, the Dustbowl Revival has been making a name for itself with a vibrant mix of vintage Americana sounds. Critics have proclaimed that this eclectic eight-piece “would have sounded utterly at home within the hallowed confines of Preservation Hall in New Orleans’ French Quarter” (Los Angeles Times) and their “upbeat, old-school, All-American sonic safaris exemplify everything shows should be: hot, spontaneous, engaging and, best of all, a pleasure to hear” (L.A. Weekly). Rob Sheffield, in Rolling Stone, hailed them as a great band “whose Americana swing was so fun I went back to see them again the next day.”

Their new eponymous album, due out on Signature Sounds on June 16, 2017, however, finds the Los Angeles-based ensemble evolving and refining its music. Their always-joyous sound now reveals a more soulful, funky side that exudes deeper emotions and taps a more modern vibe.

PERFECT BLUE SKY Premier ‘Give You My Love’ Music Video

Multinational Psychedelic Classic Rock band PERFECT BLUE SKY (SWE/AUS) have released a music video for ‘Give You My Love’, the title track from the fothcoming digital single, out on May 12th, 2017 and the new album ‘The Eye Of Tilos’, out on May 19th, 2017 via Right Recordings and distributed by Nova via Universal Music Operations. The video is directed by Damian Wood & Lewis Webber and filmed at Brick Lane in London, UK.

Icelandic Rockers Kaleo Announce “The Kaleo Express” Fall Tour

Icelandic alt-rockers Kaleo announce today their headlining fall tour “The Kaleo Express,” which will kick off at The House of Blues in Anaheim, CA on August 25. The band will perform in major cities nationwide including The Wiltern in Los Angeles on August 26, The Paramount Theater in Denver, CO on September 22, The Moody Theater in Austin, TX on September 29 and the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York on October 21. “The Kaleo Express” then heads to Europe which includes stops in London, Glasgow, Berlin, Prague and the band’s first performance in Russia, where their album has been certified Gold. AT&T presale tickets are available starting 5/2 – 5/4 at 10:00 am and general on-sale begins May 5th at 10:00 am.

Polar States (Liverpool) – Debut EP “Electric”

Championed by BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, up and coming Indie four-piece Polar States from Liverpool have exploded locally and nationally, selling out the Liverpool o2 Academy twice and completing a 10 date UK tour in support of their previous single Elizabeth, which was added to the BBC Radio 1 ‘Best Of Introducing’ playlist and the Topshop playlist.

Pemberton Music Festival

Huka Entertainment is pleased to announce the 2017 artist lineup for the fourth installment of Pemberton Music Festival, which will take place on Thursday, July 13 through Sunday, July 16 in Pemberton, BC, the most beautiful place on Earth:

The Afghan Whigs Announce North American Tour

The Afghan Whigs In Spades, the group’s spellbinding new album, will be available this Friday (May 5th) on CD / 180 gram-LP / CS / DL worldwide from Sub Pop. Led by the singles “Demon In Profile,” “Oriole,” and “Arabian Heights” along with standouts “Copernicus,” and “Toy Automatic,” it is the follow-up to the band’s internationally acclaimed Do to the Beast. In Spades was recorded in New Orleans, Los Angeles, Memphis and Joshua Tree and written and produced by Greg Dulli.

This morning the band has announced a new 28-city tour of North America for this fall which will begin on September 6th in Orlando, FL. Har Mar Superstar will support on all shows. Tickets for all shows will go on sale this Friday morning. The tour will include three Canadian shows (Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver) and the band will be playing several markets they haven’t visited in years (Richmond, Birmingham, Kansas City, Houston).

Al Massrieen, “Modern Music” Out Today on Habibi Funk Records

On April 30th, pop legend ALISON MOYET released “Reassuring Pinches”, the first single to be taken from her stunning forthcoming album Other, set for release on June 16th via Cooking Vinyl.

GoldFlakePaint premiere Febueder’s transformative ‘Shapeshifter’

Ahead of the May 12 release of their new EP From an Album, English alternative pop trio Febueder return with the transformative second single ‘Shapeshifter’.

Born out of discussions on the plight of transgender youth, ‘Shapeshifter’ explores the idea of transmogrification – that someone can transform in a surprising or magical manner, rather than conform to a construct or idea of the norm. The song deconstructs this shift, sonically pushing Febueder’s sound beyond what fans have come to expect. Kieran Godfrey’s controlled vocal delivery anchors the track over a restrained bed of wistful instrumentation for what is one of the band’s most unique and exciting offerings to date.

Alan Getto Shares New Single “Into The Briars”

Inspired by paradoxical elements of life and examining his own transition into his current lifestyle, Getto finds a perfect balance between various dualities through his artistic expression. Having recently located to an unfinished farmhouse in Western Pennsylvania from Brooklyn, Versus presents Getto’s personal confrontation with his own ambivalence. The album intentionally plays with cliché oppositions such as nature vs. the city, good vs. the bad and male vs. female. One can’t exist without the other, and for anything to exist, there must be a degree of conflict: “the versus.”

Michael McDonald’s first new album in almost a decade, “Wide Open”

Five-time Grammy Award winning vocalist and acclaimed singer/songwriter Michael McDonald’s new release Wide Open, his first album of new music in nearly a decade, is coming September 15 via BMG. The record features special guests including Warren Haynes, Robben Ford, Marcus Miller and Branford Marsalis.

In addition to his work writing/recording the new album, McDonald most recently collaborated with bassist Thundercat and Kenny Loggins on the track “Show You The Way,” which he performed with Thundercat at Coachella in April. The Los Angeles Times hailed McDonald’s surprise appearance as one of the “10 best performances” at the festival, praising “McDonald’s silky keys over Thundercat’s undulating bass,” while The Guardian called it “a perfect moment in a set that contained slick highs” and Billboard noted, “Who thought that in 2017 65-year old Doobie Brothers singer Michael McDonald would bring down the house at Coachella?”

De’Wayne Jackson x FADER

Flourishes of alt rock stacked against an r&b backbone, and a whisper of emotional aesthetics De’Wayne Jackson’s debut EP, “Don’t Be Afraid” is a surreal soundscape and experiment from an artist whose musical upbringing is as eclectic as his sound suggests.

Today, he releases the first track and video from the EP, entitled “Truth Is” via The Fader.

Christian Sands “REACH” on Mack Avenue Records

With his debut Mack Avenue Records recording, REACH, singularly talented pianist and five-time Grammy® Award nominee Christian Sands is stretching into exciting progressive territory as he breaks new ground traversing from the straight-ahead zone into fresh-sounding music influenced by a range of styles, from Afro-Cuban rhythms to hip-hop beats to dirty blues with an edge.

Eliot Lipp shares euphoric new track “Reflection” with KALTBLUT

Austin-based musician Eliot Lipp preps the release of Skywave; an album Lipp has been working on for the past several months. With influences from sci-fi soundtracks and 70s and 80s funk, he channels a collection of weird, high-definition, melodic beats. In these nine songs Lipp feels he “might have everything I want to say in one moment.” Recreating key musical moments in a current and relatable way was the goal in producing Skywave and giving himself permission to take some risks as well.

Eric Church on Tour

When Eric Church’s 2017 Holdin’ My Own Tour launched in January, the 62-stop tour encompassing 40+ states and provinces in less than five months promised to give fans everything in Church’s arsenal. With “the attitude of rock ‘n’ roll, transgression and a little sin,” (The Courant) Church has been delivering on that vow with over 35 songs and three hours of music spanning his five-album discography each and every night. As he prepares for its last dozen stops in May, Church is looking to the future still, adding 8 remaining plays to his 2017 calendar, leaving only 10 opportunities coast-to-coast to see Church live after his Holdin’ My Own Tour wraps May 26-27 in Nashville, Tennessee with the first of eight going on sale May 12 at 10 a.m.

K.I.D – “Boy” Ft. Cupcakke

Alternative duo K.I.D has released a remix of their track “Boy” featuring Cupcakke — listen HERE.

“Boy,” a song the band describes as a “suburban love anthem about blue balls” can be heard on their new EP, Poster Child, out now. The EP was produced by Mike Crossey (The 1975, Artic Monkeys, Florence + the Machine).

Charming Liars release video for Elton John cover of I’m Still Standing

Los Angeles alternative band Charming Liars have released a brand new video for their reimagined version of Elton John’s classic “I’m Still Standing”. Charming Liars successfully put a modern alternative twist on the iconic classic, delivering some intricate hooks and melodies to the defiance and insecurity of the song. They’ll also be donating half of the proceeds from the song to MusiCares®, a charity of The Recording Academy® dedicated to providing a wide range of health and human services programs including emergency financial assistance, addiction recovery resources, and wellness initiatives to members of the music community. This partnership is especially meaningful, since Elton John was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year in 2000, at its signature fundraising gala held during GRAMMY® Week two nights prior to Annual GRAMMY Awards®.

New Brother Ali video “Never Learn”

Brother Ali just dropped another video from his new album All The Beauty In This Whole Life, out this Friday May 5th on Rhymesayers. The Kron directed clip for “Never Learn” was shot in New Mexico at Dar Al Islam, an American Muslim worship center (which was also the filming location for 2Pac’s posthumous “I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto” video).

MOTIONLESS IN WHITE REVEAL NEW TRACK “RATS”

Roadrunner recording group Motionless In White have premiered “Rats,” the latest track to be released from their anticipated label debut album, GRAVEYARD SHIFT. The song, which made its premiere via BBC Radio 1’s ‘Rock Show With Daniel P Carter,’ is streaming now at www.motionlessinwhite.net and on the band’s official YouTube Channel.

Lifehouse Signs with Webster Public Relations

Webster Public Relations announces the signing of Rock band Lifehouse to its’ roster for publicity representation. “In their almost two decades together, Lifehouse has set the bar high with a successful catalog of music that has kept fans entertained for years,” said Kirt Webster. “I’m excited for what lies ahead in the future and to be a part of the Lifehouse story.”

The band is comprised of Jason Wade (lead vocals, guitar), Bryce Soderberg (bass, vocals) and Rick Woolstenhulme, Jr. (drums, percussion). Wade formed the group as Blyss in the late 90s in Los Angeles, releasing a 1999 EP entitled Diff’s Lucky Day. The next year, the band changed their moniker to Lifehouse, releasing the debut full-length album No Name Face. Thanks to the instantaneous success of the lead single “Hanging By A Moment” was the Billboard number one song of the year on the Hot 100 chart in 2001, also becoming a worldwide hit in places such as Brazil and New Zealand. No Name Face was certified Double Platinum in the United States, and featured the follow-up hit “Breathing.”

Henry Fong Releases “Young Hearts” Featuring Nyla and Stylo G

Henry Fong brings the vibes on the feel-good song “Young Hearts,” recently premiered on LargeUp. Featuring the vocal stylings of Nyla and dancehall toaster Stylo G, Henry Fong creates an effortlessly catchy summer jam.

Announcing Sophomore Slump Fest 2017

FBT Booking has announced the lineup for this year’s Sophomore Slump Fest, taking place on August 5th at The Blind Tiger in Greensboro, NC. The day long festival will feature 16 bands including To Speak of Wolves (Solid State Records), Keep Flying, a special reunion set from Kid Liberty, and one surprise headliner that will be announced on May 28th.

Walter Martin’s New Album ‘My Kinda Music’ Debuts on Stereogum

This Friday, Walter Martin (lyricist, co-writer, and multi-instrumentalist of The Walkmen) will release his third solo album My Kinda Music via Ile Flottante Music. As the second installment of his Juvenile Series, it follows 2014’s award winning and critically acclaimed album We’re All Young Together. Set to a rollicking musical backdrop, My Kinda Music tells vivid stories of music-making, family history, and self-discovery. Today, Stereogum is debuting a special preview of the full album and stated “The album is pure fun, solely because the material is so real. It’s clear Martin is doing this because he finds total enjoyment in it.”

Debut single from Suffer The Children

Suffer The Children is a collaboration in the truest sense, with a sound as diverse as their backgrounds. They hail from London UK, Toronto ON, and Vancouver BC. Inspired by Phil Collins and today’s alt R&B, the sound is a mix of moody electronica, modern trap and 80’s alternative pop. At the production helm for this single is Grammy Award-winning producer Chin Injeti, who recruited his partner DJ Khalil to provide additional touches to the track. Between them, they’ve worked with many of today’s most influential artists including Drake, Eminem, Aloe Blacc, Raury, Joey Badass, The Clipse, Kanye West, Dr. Dre, and Jay-Z. Rian Peters, and Shallom Johnson round out the group, bringing a sense of artistry and poetics into every track.

Brian McOmber (ex-Dirty Projectors) scores ‘It Comes At Night’

It Comes at Night is an upcoming horror film directed and written by award-winning filmmaker Trey Edward Shults (Krisha) and starring Joel Edgerton (Loving). The original score was composed by Brian McOmber, the former drummer of Dirty Projectors (who played on albums such as Bitte Orca and Rise Above, among others). Following a premiere at the Overlook Film Festival outside of Portland, and already seeing a wave of buzzy reviews, the film is set for release in theaters on June 9th via A24. Today a new trailer being released today along with the details to the soundtrack. The soundtrack is also set for release June 9th on Milan Records, with the vinyl edition to follow in the summer.

AD x Sorry Jaynari – “Out The Hood”

You can take the boy out the hood but…AD and Jaynari insist that you can’t take the hood out the boy. Last Friday, rapper/producer duo AD and Sorry Jaynari shared their Last of the ’80s album, a vital resurrection of the spirit and sound of late-’80s/early-’90s-era gangsta rap with features from Wiz Khalifa, Tory Lanez, OT Genasis, Kid Ink, Eric Bellinger, G Perico, and Kool John. With the album release, AD and Sorry Jaynari are celebrating their past and present with the reflective “Out The Hood” visual, premiered by XXL. “Out The Hood” finds AD expressing the duality between his newfound success and his inner monologue: “Still scheming on the low/still posted on the corner trying to get it for the low/still hit my baby mama on a dry night /aye, getting used to the limelight.”

Wheeler Walker Jr. Podcast Trailer No. 1 Music Podcast On iTunes

If fan response to the trailer for unapologetically profane podcast from country outlier Wheeler Walker Jr. is any indication, the podcast itself is destined to attract an equally ardent audience when it debuts May 2.

The format is decidedly un-PC. Walker describes it as “where I f*ckin’ rant and rave and act like a f*ckin’ madman.”

The fans get it and clearly want more of the brash trash-talker. The trailer alone managed to make its way to the No. 1 music podcast on the iTunes store, and No. 30 for ALL podcasts. The first two episodes of the flagrantly provocative podcast will feature interviews with Morgane and Chris Stapleton and Bill Burr, respectively, with more guests to be announced the coming weeks.

OBELYSKKH: H. P. Lovecraft-Inspired The Providence LP By German Sludge Quartet

The Providence, the fourth LP by German doom/sludge quartet OBELYSKKH, is out now in Europe and approaching US release through Exile On Mainstream. Echoes And Dust is now hosting a stream of the entire album.

The title of the new OBELYSKKH excursion might remind one of H. P. Lovecraft’s iconic poem, and you’d not be wrong, as these classic words provided inspiration for lyrical content and the artwork for The Providence. But that’s only one dimension. The other is illustrated almost perfectly by French revolutionist Victor Hugo: “Above all, you can believe in Providence in either of two ways, either as thirst believes in the orange, or as the ass believes in the whip.” The band lived by this message, beating the record out of themselves, fighting an uphill battle.

Vermont-based J Bengoy, entitled “So Good (I Could Die)”

J Bengoy came together late in the summer of 2016 in Burlington, VT. They practiced quietly in a third-floor bedroom for a few months while bonding over a mutual love of seltzer. In early 2017, they moved operations to Burlington’s South End arts district, where they didn’t have to be so quiet.

Yogi & Juicy J release “Money On My Mind”

OWSLA / Aftermath producer Yogi has teamed up with Juicy J and Alexander Lewis for his latest song “Money On My Mind,” out today as a free download. The Three 6 Mafia legend keeps his priorities straight and raps about focusing on his money over Yogi’s masterful production. Check it out below and share if you love it.

Yogi has been a prolific producer since his breakout hit “Burial” feat. Pusha T, and has since worked with A$AP Ferg, AlunaGeorge, Rita Ora, Dizzee Rascal, Tinie Tempah, D.R.A.M., Kid Ink, Jeremih, Tinashe and more while also putting out his own releases under the Yogi brand.

The Porchistas share a raucous new track “Mischief Night”

The track premiered on All Things Go who called it, “a groovy single that plucks historic strings. Hints of punk and rude boy crude dominate the waves as nefarious lines highlight charming vocals.”

“JOHNNY GRUESOME” THEME SONG SCORED BY ROBBY TAKAC

The soundtrack for the upcoming Red Hill Movies LLC horror thriller Johnny Gruesome, featuring a score composed by Armand John Petri and Joe Rozler, will include an original theme song performed by Robby Takac, co-founder of the bestselling rock act the Goo Goo Dolls. He, Petri, and Rozler co-wrote “Dyin’ Tonight,” which was recorded at Takac’s Buffalo, New York studio, GCR Audio.

Johnny Gruesome was written and directed by Gregory Lamberon (Slime City, Killer Rack), based on his award-winning novel, also called Johnny Gruesome.

Johnny Gruesome tells the story of a murdered high school student who returns from the grave as a vengeful monster. Petri and Rozler signed on to compose the score following their work in the same capacity on Killer Rack, and enlisted Takac to collaborate on “Dyin’ Tonight.”

BLACK LIPS SHARE “OCCIDENTAL FRONT”

Atlanta flower-punk pioneers Black Lips have shared a new song “Occidental Front” from their first album in three years, Satan’s graffiti or God’s art?. The song stars music and art legend Yoko Ono, who lends her singular vocal talents to the recording. The Sean Lennon-produced album is set for release this Friday, May 5 on VICE Records, and features a new lineup with founding members Cole Alexander and Jared Swilley joined by former guitarist Jack Hines (who played in the group from 2002-2004) and recent additions Oakley Munson on drums and Zumi Rosow on saxophone.

Gold Dime (Andrya Ambro of Talk Normal) announces debut record ‘Nerves’

Gold Dime is a calling to relentless grit — jolting listeners awake before turning meditative under a hypnotic drone. Raw but composed, Gold Dime alternates between an aggression and intimacy, both so sincere, you can’t turn away. It’s transfixing. Live, Andrya Ambro anchors Gold Dime on drums and lead vocals. Every beat is a beckoning to actively listen; and her confident voice no less a beckoning. Performing live as a trio since 2014, opening for the likes of Lower Dens, U.S. Girls and Xiu Xiu, Gold Dime is at last ready to release their hard-won debut album, Nerves on Fire Talk Records.

NY IN 64 Premieres “50 Lbs. Of Ash” Through New Noise Magazine

New Jersey-based instrumental hardcore outfit NY IN 64 has released the first single from their impending second album, The Gentle Indifference Of The Night, which is nearing release later this month through Magic Bullet Records. The first example of the record’s lush riffs and tones is on display with “50 Lbs Of Ash,” which sees its debut through New Noise Magazine.

Song Premiere: NY In 64 – “50 Lbs of Ash”

Anevo Drops “Can’t Stop” on Dim Mak

Sweden’s Anevo makes his Dim Mak debut with his exhilarating single “Can’t Stop,” premiered by Magnetic Magazine. Mixing the passionate vocals of Heather Sommer with with chill trap beats and moving vocal chops, Anevo delivers an endlessly-playable tune.

Land of Talk share “Heartcore”

Produced and mixed by John Agnello (Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth) and Jace Lasek (Besnard Lakes), and featuring Sharon Van Etten, Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Sal Maida (Roxy Music/Sparks), and The Besnard Lakes, Life After Youth is a collection of songs that sees Powell in the finest voice of her career, and reuniting with original Land of Talk drummer Bucky Wheaton. If Life After Youth recreates the same conditions and recruits much of the same personnel that produced Land of Talk’s scrappy debut EP, the end result is dramatically different than anything the band has attempted before.

Twinsmith Announce New Album ‘Stay Cool’

Produced by friend and Omaha neighbor Graham Ulicny (Reptar, The Faint), this limitation on personnel would remain the only thing strict during the process. By removing distractions and relying on their own prowess, as well as peeling back the sound to create shorter, more direct songs, Twinsmith found that this laid back approach allowed them to focus on the same goals and to create something entirely for themselves. “The main goal was to make something a bit more personal to us,” Smith says. “The last album was kind of in-your-face pop music and that’s why we made this so short and sweet; we wanted listeners to hear the small, distinct sounds we were working on. Because there were only a few people involved, we could make our decisions more directly. We wanted to make something we could use to relate to a bigger mass and bring people back.”

BRUNO MARS SCORES SEVENTH BILLBOARD HOT 100 NO. 1 WITH “THAT’S WHAT I LIKE”

Global superstar Bruno Mars has scored his seventh Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 with his latest worldwide smash, “That’s What I Like.” The triumph comes exactly seven years after Bruno scored his first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 with “Nothin’ On You.” What’s more, Mars is one of the few artists to have written and produced each of his No. 1 hits and has had a No. 1 song on the Hot 100 from each of his first three studio albums. With seven Hot 100 No. 1s, Mars is now tied with Elvis Presley, Phil Collins, and Frankie Valli for the most chart-toppers among male soloists, and is also ranked #1 amongst male artists with the most Hot 100 No.1s for this decade; extending his lead over Justin Bieber, Drake, Eminem, and The Weeknd. The superstar is the fastest male soloist to reach his first five No. 1s since Elvis Presley.
“I’m extremely honored to get the gold this week!” Mars says of the achievement, “It’s amazing to see an R&B song at the top of the charts – such a great moment! I love everybody right now! CHEERS BILLBOARD!”

The I.L.Y’s (Death Grips) share new track

The I.L.Y’s (Zach Hill and Andy Morin of Death Grips) are excited to share more details about their upcoming third album Bodyguard. The album, which features guitar work from Tristan Tozer (Yah Mos, Drug Apts) will released digitally on May 16, which will be followed by a vinyl and CD release on Castle Face Records on June 16.

STARSET RELEASES SCI-FI MUSIC VIDEO FOR “TELEPATHIC”

Starset releases a new sci-fi music video for “Telepathic”, directed by the band’s founder and vocalist Dustin Bates for The Starset Society. Watch the video on YouTube HERE. The song is off the band’s new release Vessels out now via Razor & Tie.

The four piece rock band released their sophomore album Vessels this past January, which debuted at #11 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart. The album, produced by Rob Graves (Halestorm, Red) and mixed by Ben Grosse (Breaking Benjamin, Filter), has received rave reviews from outlets such as Kerrang! Magazine, Loudwire, and New Noise Magazine.

Sir Sly Announce North American Summer Tour

SIR SLY announce today that they will hit the road this summer for a North American headline tour in support of their single “High” available now via Interscope Records. The West Coast rock trio will kick off their headline tour on June 29 in Los Angeles at the El Rey and hit major cities including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Atlanta.

New Video: Kobra and The Lotus “You Don’t Know”

You’ve already heard the aural masterpiece that is the song “You Don’t Know”. Now it’s time to see the stunning visual masterpiece for yourself with the video for “You Don’t Know”.

Big & Rich Premieres New Video for “California” Exclusively on HitsMeUp

Larger-than-life duo Big & Rich unveiled their new video for their latest single “California” on HitsMeUp, a digital platform for fans to interact and engage with artists.

“California” is already generating buzz and moving up the charts! The “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” singers are also stepping up their promotional efforts with a hilarious infomercial inviting fans to listen and download the single. In true Big & Rich style, they joke that fans can purchase “California” right now on iTunes for 5 easy payments of $0.252!