Category: #SKOPELIFE

It is safe to say that real emcees are not only coming from the USA anymore. Skope TV got the chance to talk with an emcee from Ontario, Canada by the name of Blow Flyy. Blow Flyy has been making music for over 10 years now and he has created some hot singles such as…

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Half of the legendary Hall & Oates brain trust has hit the road promoting his new blues and early rock laden disc, Mississippi Mile.   The band is extremely tight and provides great vocal harmonies.   John mentioned that they’ve been working together for a while, and had experience playing on the CD.   The…

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A week in Cuba to some can be an enjoyable vacation, an enlightening experience seeing how a country survives under a dictatorship,   while enjoying the culture and the whole experience of what such a place has to offer. For Bronx based producer, the trip was something much more than that, it was a musical…

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The eight years I have now written for Skope has afforded me the opportunity to access a myriad of musical styles and the artists within them. I spoke to Eminem collaborator, Proof a few years before he was gunned down in a Detroit nightclub; I got to speak to the usually elusive Evan Dando after…

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The first leg of their second tour supporting their new release Showroom Of Compassion is being sold out.   The Cake lineup was John McCrea on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and vibraslap, Vince DiFiore on trumpet, keyboard, harmony vocals, and percussion, Xan McCurdy on lead guitar, and backing vocals, Gabe Nelson on bass guitar and…

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The other “Little Ole Band From Texas’’ arrived with it’s: Ugly Side: An Acoustic Evening With Blue October, to promote the new album of the same name. The stage was set up to simulate a living room complete with couch, tables, lamps etc., reminiscent of the Martin Mull and His Living Furniture tour of old.…

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It’s always fortuitous when the name of a band allows for a hyperbole-laden headline that borders on yellow journalism. Kind of like the one above. But in all seriousness, the UK indie pop outfit Scams are set to release their new four-track EP in England and Germany to much awaited fanfare. Thanks again to Skype,…

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The wall of amplifiers hinted at what was in store for us. If you know anything about the bands Sleigh Bells and CSS you know that they both operate at a higher volume than most and bring a signature energetic showmanship.

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This Hip-Hop group from Switzerland have managed to make some serious headway in the US with their music. Tracks such as Biko, The Fan and Alternatives have been widely received by some of the fiercest of critics. Their last project saw the duo, made up of Polemikk and PA-Double, team up with one of the…

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If you are looking for a fresh face on the pop/dance scene we have found your guy. Adam Tyler is a young, ambitious, and talented all around musician. We got to chat with Adam via phone on April 8 and he really opened up. Adam is busy preparing to release his debut album ‘Shattered Ice’…

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Sometimes, it’s just right there in front of you. It’s that thing that is so apparent; it becomes lost in its own obviousness. And often it only takes one chance event or one simple decision to reveal providence. In the case of Barbara and Ethan Gruska, it began as a little innocent mischief that siblings…

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Bob strutted his stuff and his all night smile for almost two and a half hours, only slowing down to pick up a guitar or sit down at the piano.   I don’t have to list everything they played, for the most part, pick up a Greatest Hits CD and there they are!

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Last Friday night we had the chance to talk with the only drummer that Jay-Z calls on when he has a live show. Jay-Z even called Tony Royster JR when he performed in front of President Obama for the inauguration. Tony was more than gracious to open up to Skope about everything from learning to…

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Featuring on our new Skope column, Linear Regression is The Aztext. This is where we dissect an artists sound, a producers style and give folks a bit more insight into where concepts come from and how lyrics are born. The Aztext are a Vermont residing duo, who have been doing their thing on the indie…

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It is sweet, sweet irony that while the name of my latest assignment may be Accidental Tribe; I’m not sure I’ve written about another band with more purpose than this fearsome foursome from New York. And while theirs is a story steeped in decades past, time has changed the hedonistic man-boys of the CBGB’s golden…

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As the west coast braced for what was projected to be massive tsunami waves on Friday, Skope TV got on the phone with a rising emcee from Oakland, CA. Emaximus caught Skope’s attnetion with his two hits, “Freeze Frame” and “Dial My Phone.” He was even gracious enough to offer all Skope readers an MP3…

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Say Hi is the brain child of Eric Elbogen. As the single official member of Say Hi Elbogen is a one man music making machine. On his records he plays the instruments, sings and then puts it all together.

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Conor Oberst has come a long way from the early cassette recordings of a sensitive boy with a wavering voice and a knack for poetic storytelling. He has grown up both emotionally and musically and has also become quite the confident stage performer.

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Skope TV was fired up on Friday night as we got a call from a rising star in R&B/Urban music. Coming from the Bronx, NY is Vin Keatin and his new EP, ‘Certified.’ With songs like “Baby Making Music” and “I Wanna” it will not be long until music fans all over the world are…

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Last Friday night Skope TV got a call from a rising star in music by the name of Eye’z. Eye’z has been making music all her life and has been pursuing a career in music at a ferocious pace. Eye’z hard work is starting to pay off as she plays two big gigs in LA…

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On Friday night, Skope TV got a visit from a real emcee & his DJ. On this cold night in New England we got to sit down with Rumel and Odi. These guys have been making music for many years now and that culminated to their debut album ‘Digita.’ These guys do their own thing…

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The Carnival Of Madness tour once again brought 7D in front of the metal masses, many who had the opportunity to experience one of the hardest working bands in the biz, get down to business.  

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I’ve decided that there are basically three types of music lovers/concert goers during the Christmas season.   The ones that have seen TSO previously (were impressed and likely recommend and attend again), ones that make it a yearly tradition, and then there are those who are totally oblivious to having a seasonal great time!  

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Jonny started playing guitar at the ripe old age of 12, played sax in junior high, and recorded his first album Smokin’ at age 14.   Talk about putting in the proverbial 110% into his work!   His 2006 release Turn Around enabled him to earn his first Grammy for Best Gospel Album.  

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When artists like Lil Wayne, Enrique Iglesias, and Pitbull just to name a few need a music video done they call on David Rousseau. Skope TV got on the phone with David live from Miami, FL this weekend to talk about this. Join us as David talks about getting his start, what equipment he prefers,…

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Last Friday night Skope TV got a call from Michael Hobby who is the lead singer of A Thousand Horses. This five piece are a bunch of friends that are coming out of Nashville, TN with an exciting rock sound that is keeping fans loyal and attracting new ones with every show they play. Last…

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Friday’s night show at The Earl was a trip — think “Fear and Loathing”. As we were transported back in time to 1973 with the reverb soaked psychedelic rock of The Black Angels and Black Mountain we were witness to the some of the strangest cast of characters and outrageous antics that good East Atlanta…

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  The Skope audience is in for a treat as we got a legend to come on Skope TV last Friday, October 8. We are talking about the legendary Ron Joseph. Ron Joseph is creating major buzz with his new single, “3 O’Clock In The Mornin” and performances all over the west coast. Ron is…

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Hey all you Music Lovers! We’re back at the club with a very special group of folks here tonight. We’re all putting on our highbrow suits, our slinky little black dresses, and our stilettos because we have jazz artists in the house. I’ll take you to meet them in a bit but before that I…

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Yeasayer performed to a packed crowd at Masquerade in Atlanta last Saturday. They delivered their unique mash up of psychedelic rock and Middle Eastern sounds.

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Indie rockers Menomena are playing the Variety Playhouse this Friday. The Portland, Oregon trio comprised of Brent Knopf, Justin Harris and Danny Seim released their first EP called Rose back in 2001. Since then they’ve released four full length albums and a couple EPs.

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Last Sunday was folk night at The Earl where the feminine charm of Laura Veirs, The Watson Twins and L. Alex Guy of Led by Sea came together to lend the night a particular girl power character. These women of indie folk rock offered up the specific beauty of their craft — fragile vocals, heartfelt…

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There was an east coast / west coast connection last week when Skope TV got on the line with Kafani. Kafani aka “Da Ice King” made a grip when he put out the hit “Fast” in 2007. After a few years of touring & guest appearances Kafani is back with new music & videos that…

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On Friday August 20th Skope TV got on the phone with an exciting band that started in Detrout while in high school but now resides in Hermosa Beach, CA. The band we are talking about is Trenchtown and they mix punk, rock, reggae, and dub in a way that is addictive. If you have any…

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This tour features Shinedown, Sevendust, Puddle of Mudd, Chevelle, and 10 Years.   The groups are of the heavier variety that can also at times expose their softer sides.   The temperature was a Carnival of Madness, a sweltering 89 degrees at show time, with humidity to match for the six-hour marathon.   Remember those…

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Hello, Music Up Close Readers! It’s been a busy summer, and we’ve had all sorts of things happening here at the club. I’ve been in the midst of a virtual book tour for the second book in The Bowdancer Saga called The Wayfarer’s Road. You can grab a copy at www.breathlesspress.com or a kindle version…

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Last Friday night Skope TV got a call from a fresh & exciting voice to hit the R&B/Pop scene. Coming out of the Bay area is Xymphoni. Xymphoni has been singing since a young girl but she is taking her career to a whole new level with the release of her album, ‘Driven.’ Join us…

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Well, howdy, folks. I’m back from a much needed break while renovations continue here at the clue. I did a little traveling, ate some good food, saw some folks I hadn’t seen in years, and took some great nature photos for my new book trailers coming out this month and next. While I was exploring…

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A lot of bands debate on whether or not to hire their own sound guy or just do the sound setup themselves. If were talking quality venues – most professionals will in fact bring their own sound guy on tour with them. This keeps thing consistent show to show.

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Hello, Music Up Close readers, we are finally back up and operating once more. The construction to our virtual club is finally finished, and I’m ready to get this place hopping again. And what a way to reopen our doors and show our wider focus than with a full slate of world music artists!

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