Don Gator is famous fashion model, Dennis Hirdt’s, alter ego. Armed with a concept album, tongue planted firmly in cheek, he defines his unique songwriting style and sound as ‘spyrock’.
Category: FEATURES
Feature stories and artist interviews
GOT FUNK? FITZ’ AND THE TANTRUMS DO
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•Their first performance was at Hollywoods Hotel Cafe and from their they have toured with Maroon 5, shared the stage with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings and performed on KCRW’s “Morning Become Eclectic”. Labeled a ‘Soul Man’ in a local recent review, Fitz and his Tantrums are much more than a soul flavored…
STELLAR CORPSES RELEASE THEIR SINGLE AND VIDEO “VAMPIRE KISSâ€
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•Santa Cruz, CA punk rockers Stellar Corpses announce the release of their debut video “Vampire Kiss” (along with single) today from their soon to be released album Dead Stars Drive In (Santa Carla Records).
SKOPE / JANE’S ADDICTION SIGNED GUITAR GIVEAWAY
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•After eight years since their last studio album, Alternative Rock pioneers, Jane’s Addiction return with their new album, The Great Escape Artist, in stores now! In celebration of the release, Jane’s Addiction has teamed up with Skope Magazine to give away a Paul Reed Smith SE Custom 24 guitar signed by Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro,…
CARTER TANTON OFFERS MP3 FEAT MARISSA NADLER
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•Carter has been supporting his forthcoming album Freeclouds with a coast to coast full band tour with The War On Drugs and an in-studio appearance on KEXP this week. He’ll continue to work his way through the Midwest this month, ending the tour in NYC before heading overseas for a European tour.
IS CHANCE NEW SINGLE “VERA WANG” OFFENSIVE?!
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•Chance has now released the final version of his latest single “Vera Wang”. For those scouring the internet, a previous version was released in the summer, not to be confused with this version of the track.
RIMAR VIDEO FOR “HIGHER GROUND”
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•On Monday 7th November Bella Union will release ‘Higher Ground’ the new EP from Rimar — a very talented young man based in Brooklyn by way of Columbus who crafts song that are ultra slick in production, delving into a host of musical influences from J Dilla-esque beats to 70’s funk all forged with a…
KRASHKARMA GET BLOODY DISGUSTING WITH “TAKE THE MONEYâ€
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•On a dark Halloween night in Las Vegas, hard rockers, KRASHKARMA, took to the streets to cause a little mayhem of their own. The band has just released their first video from their new album Straight to the Blood, which is like watching a breaking news story unravel.
“PARAMOUNT SESSIONS” PREVIEW FEAT ADAM LAMBERT & STEVE COOKE
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•Grammy-nominated singer Adam Lambert (American Idol) and Hollywood award winning singer Steve Cooke powerfully and soulfully interpret ten rock ballads each on this exclusive double deluxe collection “Paramount Sessions” with Madonna and Seal’s backing band.
BROWN SHOE NEW VIDEO “LATE NIGHTS”
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•You already heard the song, now feast your eyes on the mesmerizing new video for “Late Nights,” the first video in relation to Brown Shoe’s recently released fourth LP The Gift Horse. With directorial credit going to the Baggaley brothers’ cousin Brent Lasala, “Late Nights” takes an introspective dive into the band’s subconscious, digging out…
LEEZA & STOLI INVITE YOU TO A “PARTY AT THE GROCERY STORE”
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•Being in New England it just gets me excited when I feel that first chill air in the morning. I love summer but you all need to come up to New England and experience the fall. My guest today is another reason I am feeling good today. My girl Leeza put out her single, “Party…
MAKE DO AND MEND PREMIERE ANIMATED VIDEO FOR “TRANSPARENT SEAS”
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•New England post-hardcore quartet Make Do And Mend is excited to unveil the video for the single “Transparent Seas” exclusively at the band’s YouTube page.
ARETHA: REIGNS AS THE QUEEN OF SOUL
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•Dispelling any rumors that Aretha Franklin is in bad health the 69 year old came on stage Friday night looking noticeably thinner, incredibly beautiful and her voice sounding as strong and powerful and as rich as ever. She was accompanied by The Aretha Franklin Orchestra which she said on entering the stage “plays the…
FERESHTA’S HEALING POWER
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•When Fereshta was just a baby, she and her parents fled Afghanistan to Pakistan in the hope of making their way to America and out of war torn areas. A Baptist church in NY sponsored them and soon they were starting a new life in Virginia. Now, as a Indie Rock Artist and Activist, Fereshta…
THE HOPE IN “HARVEST BLOOM”
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•Harvest Bloom was formed from various rock and worship bands. They are Anji Kalita Cornette on lead vocals, Patrick Cornette on guitars, Greg Burkhammer on drums, Molly McGettrick on keys and backing vocals and Craig Sibal on bass.
ROSS AND THE WRONGENS NEW VIDEO
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•You haven’t truly had a hangover till you’ve woken up surrounded by people in animal heads and a band playing a ballad about alcoholism. UK pop quintet, Ross and the Wrongens latest video, “I’m Through With You,” shot by James Burt from Jam Jam Pictures, in a friend’s flat in Brixton while on tour,…
MODENA BREAKS OUT WITH “SECOND TIME AROUND” VIDEO FROM EP
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•As four guys dressed in various levels of rocker attire, from the most basic jeans and T’s to the full-on lead guitarist rockstar wardrobe, walk into the studio they exchange the same familiar barbs and ribbing that they have for the last 5 years.
SCOTTY ALAN NEW VIDEO “AIN’T MUCH”
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•Scotty Alan used to be a punk rocker. This underlying edge and adeptness at delivering emotional immediacy in as few as 84 seconds resides at the core of his remarkable new album Wreck and the Mess.
JAVAID STREAMS 3 TRACKS FROM NEW ALBUM ‘SUPERSONIC HEART SONGS’
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•“I want people to feel empathetic to the inner workings of the heart, and also to have a good time and smile in the face of sadness when things don’t always go the right way,” Javaid says. That passion, that confidence, that boldness in the face of love and adversity is all captured…
STOLI & BRUCE COHEN TAKE IT BACK TO ‘TWO BC’
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•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
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•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
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•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
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•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
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•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
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•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
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•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
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•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…
JUSTINE DORSEY BREAKS OUT WITH “BREAKUP SONG”
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•Justine Dorsey Justine Dorsey has recently been nominated by the 20th annual LA Music Awards for Singer/Songwriter of the Year; the youngest ever nominated in this category!
SANDMAN VIPER COMMAND OFFER “STRAWBERRY QUICK” MP3
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•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”
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•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
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•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”
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•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
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•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
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•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”
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•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…
NIGEL MUSTAFA OFFER “BILLY BOY” MP3 OFF ‘HAPPY FRIENDSHIP’
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•Nigel Mustafa is a Seattle-based reggae/rock band whose goal is simple… to entertain the pants off of everyone within earshot. Nigel has been serving up high-energy shows in the northwest and beyond for more than a decade with flavors of Sublime, The Police and dashes of Ween and yes, ABBA.
NSFW: NEW VIDEO BY GUINEVERE
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•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”
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•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”
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•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
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•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…