Category: FEATURES

Feature stories and artist interviews

STOLI & BRUCE COHEN TAKE IT BACK TO ‘TWO BC’

My guest today is well known as one half of the famous band, The Reds. Well as we are going to see today there is alot more to Bruce Cohen. Bruce was gracious enough to take time away from a beautiful day in Miami, FL to talk all about his new album, ‘Two BC.’ It…

WARNER TO RELEASE KIMBRA THIS WEEK / VIDEO

Warner Bros. Records is pleased to announce that it will release Settle Down — the debut U.S. EP from 21-year-old international newcomer Kimbra — on October 18th, 2011. You can purchase the EP beginning October 18th.

THE FAIRCHILDS OFFER MP3 “UNBREAKABLE” OFF DEBUT

Singer/songwriter Cyril Niccolai is a true renaissance man. In addition to his many other pursuits including medicine and law (which he studied in university), cooking and still and video photography, he has come up with his debut project as a musician.

EIGHTFOLD RELEASE “INTENT” MP3 OFF SELF-TITLED NEW ALBUM

For the past year, Steve Errato (on guitar and bass) and Mike Davis-Penta (on drums and vocals) have been smashing out hard, gritty, alternative rock in their Connecticut studio. Steve recorded and produced over 15 original tracks before handing their self-titled, 6 song EP “Eightfold” over to friend and Grammy award-winning producer Warren Russel-Smith at…

LIVE GIRLS, GIRLS LIVE…NOT THE SAME THING

Christopher Owens, Girls leading lad, beams conviction with his thin, yellow, locks posing as a wall in front of his face, and heavily resembling the late and great Kurt Cobain, unconfident and all. Although the band is not really known for its good looks, their tunes will give you all the impression you need, and…

BURNS & POE MAKE A STATEMENT WITH “I NEED A JOB” VIDEO

Burns & Poe signed with Blue Steel Records in 2009 and have been on the road performing at shows from coast to coast. Since Keith Burns and Michelle Poe came together in 2006, they’ve secured a variety of sponsors including Taylor Guitars, Peavey Guitars, Dan Post Boots, Silpada Designs and Crow’s Nest Trading Company.

ED HALE SPENDS THIRD WEEK IN A ROW IN THE TOP 40 AC CHARTS

Rubbing elbows with Coldplay, Adele, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. It’s a serious accomplishment, especially for an independent artist like Ed Hale, whose “New Orleans Dreams” just rose from #33 to #30 on the AC Top 40 charts. The third week in a row in the top 40, the song debuted at #93 in its…

EX NORWEGIAN RELEASES “JET LAG” VIDEO

Switch on indie rock quintet, Ex Norwegian’s latest video, “Jet Lag” and it’s like stepping into a time machine back to 1991. The look of the video, which features live concert footage mixed in with scenes shot in front-man Roger Houdaille’s apartment, would be right at home on 120 minutes, back in the heyday of…

SANDMAN VIPER COMMAND OFFER “STRAWBERRY QUICK” MP3

With the onslaught of success that Canada’s independent music scene has witnessed over the past decade, it should come as no surprise that indie-rock’s next best thing happens to hail from the same northern lands – Ontario, to be exact. Sandman Viper Command may only average out at the tender age of 21, but they…

ERYN WOODS NEW VIDEO “GANGSTA, GEEKS, & FREAKS”

  Atlanta based Electro/Pop artist Eryn Woods has released the second video off of her sophomore album “Holl.E.Woods” entitiled “Gangsta, Geeks, & Freaks”. “Gangsta, Geeks & Freaks” is the national anthem of “Holl. E. Woods”, praising the outcasts that the world shuns. “The world judges people that are out of the norm, but in reality…

JIMMY RAE CLOSELY ANALYZES THIS DOWNCAST THEORY

Jersey’s own Downcast Theory is electrifying audiences with their high energy and ferocious sets.   If you’re a fan of good heavy metal/hard rock music then you gotta take a listen to Downcast Theory.   These guys have had the pleasure of opening up for some pretty big acts such as: Drowning Pool, Cold, Nonpoint,…

MIDNIGHT MOB NEW VIDEO “ALL FOR NOTHING”

Composed of Blackey (Vox), Mikey Catastrophe (Drums), Mickey Squeeze (Lead guitar), Spydyr (Guitar), and Carly (Bass), Midnight Mob’s sound can be described as classic rock made for today. The band notes Social Distortion, Motorhead and T-Rex, and Danzig among their musical influences.

ISSUE 4 – OCTOBER 2011

  Okay it sounds corny, but at least someone took the time to chime in on our comment line: “You guys keep doing it! Is there no end to the ammunition you are packing?” Hmmm, let’s think about that one: no, there isn’t! Just in case you’re wondering, last month’s “featured picture” features our own…

PUFFY AMI YUMI AND THE OUTBACK

Puffy Ami Yumi is a Japanese pop-rock duo consisting of Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura. In Japan, they are known simply as PUFFY, but outside of Japan, their first names are added to the band name to avoid conflict with Sean Combs /Puffy. US audiences may recognize their music, if not their name, as they…

JADA BREAKS OUT WITH “THIS PARTY’S ON FIRE”

  Jada, Boston’s popular female vocal group, releases a new song and music video for their latest single, This Party’s On Fire, available now on iTunes. Jada’s new single follows on the heels of their two Universal Motown releases — “American Cowboy”, produced by Akon and RedOne (Lady Gaga), and “Break Up Song”, produced by…

NSFW: NEW VIDEO BY GUINEVERE

Pop singer, Guinevere, premiered the official music video for her debut single, “Crazy Crazy”, who says the futuristic video is reminiscent of Lady Gaga. Fans can NSFW explicit version of the video.

MISFITS OFFER MP3 “TWILIGHT OF THE DEAD”

Today punk rock legends the Misfits release The Devil’s Rain, the band’s first album in nearly a decade!   It was produced by Ed Stasium, who’s credits include the Ramones’ Road to Ruin and Too Tough to Die, as well as the Misfits’ 1999 release Famous Monsters.   Celebrating the occasion, they’ve release a free…

BUTCHER THE BAR NEW VIDEO “ALPHA STREET WEST”

Manchester UK artist Butcher The Bar (aka Joel Nicholson) has debuted a brand new, gravity-defying video for “Alpha Street West,” taken from his newest Morr Music release, For Each A Future Tethered. The video comes just in time for a European tour with select dates supporting Death Cab For Cutie. Ben Gibbard first discovered Nicholson’s…

STOLI & PAULO LARA BELIEVE IN A BETTER WORLD THRU MUSIC

There is no doubt that these are tough times. I could run a whole column just on the problems of today. But when I get down I always get so excited to work for Skope where I can use music as my escape. Music is the safest anti-depressant out there, you just need the right…

GINGER HEBERT REPORTS FROM MUSICFESTNW

Being from Austin Texas, a city who plays host to over 10 huge music festivals each year, I didn’t know what to expect my first year here in the Northwest. Portland’s largest music festival, MusicfestNW, has come and gone, and I am pleasantly surprised.   Supposedly, the third largest indoor music festival in the country,…

LOVES IT! OFFERS MP3 “MY SO CALLED LIFE”

With raw vocals, meaningful lyrics, and bubbly 50’s R&B progressions, it’s easy to fall in love with Loves It!’s new single “My So Called Life.” Jenny Parrotts’ spunky vocal is supported by Vaughn Walters supplying “Oooos” that recall many familiar AM radio hits.

BUS STOP DREAMS RELEASES TWO VIDEOS “THE BIG ONE” & “THE KISS”

Here is the new two-track debut single from Swedish band Bus Stop Dreams, “The Kiss”. The first song, “The Kiss”, a beautiful piano singer/songwriter tune and the second song “The Big One”, a soft rock piece with alt-countryish vibes. You can listen directly here (Bandcamp page): http://music.busstopdreams.com.

ELIZAVETA NEW VIDEO “DREAMER”

“I love pop music and how it gives me an opportunity to tell a story in four minutes or less. However, my true passion lies in being able to combine elements and eras you wouldn’t normally expect to hear together, like jazz-pop verses and unapologetically operatic choruses, for example. When I succeed, it is not…

JOSEPH KEITH RELEASES DEBUT ‘A LIGHTER SIDE’ / VIDEO

Joseph Keith is a soft to harder rock 17 year old with a talent for instantly likable melodies and rifts. Fan base includes not only the expected teenagers but all ages. His debut album “A Lighter Side” does not have a weak song on it. It is available on iTunes.

DJ JOUNCE IS A MUSICAL JACK OF ALL TRADES

To make it in music today you really have to work hard and then work harder. This passion has got to be something you must do and you must be in it for the long haul. My guest today is the epitome of this. DJ Jounce is a musician, songwriter, music producer, DJ, MC and…

JUVILEY RELEASES VIDEO FROM HIS VIDEO GAME/ALBUM

Juviley will be releasing his third album, Our Choices Rhyme, via video game format. As the player advances to a new level, they are able to download a new track to the record, an animated gif created by Juviley’s excellent programming team, as well as secret notes, and the album booklet.

SKOPE / FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH FLYAWAY

Five Finger Death Punch will be headlining the Share the Welt tour this Fall with All That Remains, Hatebreed, and Rev Theory. To celebrate they are giving one lucky fan a chance to win a flyaway to a tour date of their choosing! Five Finger Death Punch’s new album American Capitalist drops on October 11th.

J.J. CROWNE DISHES OUT PLENTY TO J RAE

Get ready to be intrigued by the man who calls himself J.J. Crowne aka The Eclectic One or “Musical Chameleon”.   This one-man show from South Florida is ready to take the bull by the horns with his debut album ‘Songs Of Innocence And Experience’.   From talk of his major contributions to the music…

ROCKING INTO THE 22nd CENTURY

  22nd Century is a hard rock trio. They are Zippy Pinhead, drummer, Vocalist and guitarist Tim Plommer and Duane Chaos. The band has had rapid success racking up a #1 hit single on the Somojo UK Indy Charts (“509”) as well as honorable mention in Billboard Magazines 2009 Global song writing contest and have…

D-TRAIN IS LOYAL TO HIS COUNTRY & PASSION FOR MUSIC

Anyone trying to break into the music business knows how much hard work & dedication it takes. My guest today knows that as well as anyone as he not only is an upcoming emcee he also serves in the US Army. I got familiar with D-Train after hearing his single “Life Is Hard.” Not only…

RADIO MOSCOW’S NEW SONG “LITTLE EYES” MP3

THE GREAT ESCAPE OF LESLIE MAGNAFUZZ is the Californian-based band’s third album for the highly regarded Alive Naturalsound Records. It’s also a genuinely thrilling follow up to their previous releases, brimming with toe curling Hendrixified guitar soloing and the marijuana and acid laced caterwauling of Blue Cheer, not to mention some seriously impressive blues guitar…