Energetic is the first thing that comes to mind upon hearing the opening track “Real Time” from Steve Ryans latest album “Boundless Moments”. Hearing an actual band is a refreshing change of pace for this writer, usually Singer/Songwriter types heavily rely on electronic arrangements to convey their lyrics and vocal abilities. Steve’s band is more…
Inverting a quote from a 19th -century poet, Georgia native Steve Ryan is a “dreamer of music, and maker of dreams.” Picking up the piano as a child, then guitar & singing as a teen, he now draws on inspiration that enters his brain while dreaming or in full consciousness. Boundless Moments is his second…
Brandi Carlile will kick off her 2013 summer headline tour on June 13 at Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, NH. She’ll perform at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO on July 13 and the Filene Center at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA on July 24. The west coast leg of the “Hard Way…
For fear of being too cliché, lets just agree to agree that fortuitousness often goes to those who see moments and seize them. Such was the case when songwriter Steve Ryan was stood up at a studio by an artist he was to be working with. Left with a block of studio time and an…
Tal National are from Niamey, the capital city of Niger. Their music is joyously hypnotic, a highly unique contribution to West African guitar music. With its lightening fast rhythms and rotating cast of vocalists can be heard the history of Niger as a cultural crossroads along ancient trade routes. Collected within the former French colony…
Hello world on this beautiful Tuesday morning. It would not be right to not mention that Ray Manzarek, founding member of The Doors, died at 74. We not only mourn Ray but we also celebrate the music & legacy that he has left behind. That is always what I found so amazing with music is…
The spirit of rock ‘n roll is exhumed, drenched in heavy blues riffs, and smeared with earthy grit by Brooklyn’s Graveyard Lovers, a band “unmatched for both quality and energy.” (CMJ.com) Comprised of Zach Reynolds (guitar,vocals), Tricia Purvis (Drums), and Orion Wainer (Bass), the three intertwine their deepest, darkest melodies and passionate…
The songs Mike Kinsella writes as Owen have always had rock solid lyrical foundations. And on new album, L’Ami du Peuple, the same can be said for the music. Emphasis on the rock. Anyone vaguely familiar with Kinsella’s musical lineage (Cap’n Jazz, American Football, Owls) knows he’s far from a one-note musician. And now, he…
The Black Lillies are proud to premiere their new video for single “The Fall” on Entertainment Weekly. CMT’s The Pure Network will spotlight the bands new album “Runaway Freeway Blues” – which debuted in the Top 40 Billboard Country Chart and Top 20 Heatseekers chart – by adding “The Fall” to rotation beginning today, May…
Fidelis is an up and coming songwriter and singer with a flair for hooks with soul. Part neo-soul, pop, piano and even country blues, Fidelis’ single demonstrates that you don’t have to follow the rules to create something articulate and memorable. Skope: Tell us a little about your single “I Could Do Better”. Is it…
Country music has recently managed to cross-over into the mainstream scene with great ease. Acts like Taylor Swift, Jessica Simpson and Garth Brooks have proven this to be true. An independent artist from Michigan is paving a similar path for herself. Allie Fox was a hidden gem just waiting to be found. At the age…
The Hussy’s “Pagan Hiss” comes out on Southpaw Records. The Hussy describe themselves as “a psych punk duo from the politically charged cheese rectum that is Madison, Wisconsin.” The new album has already seen praise from the likes of Pitchfork, Spin, Ad Hoc, Impose, Get Bent, Raven Sings the Blues, and others. “Blame” MP3:…
Jazz / Soul Blues singer Michael Egleton is riding high from his hit single ‘That’s Alright’ that is in rotation on radio stations across the country. He is set to perform at the international event – Sweet Auburn Festival in Atlanta, GA on Sunday May 12, 2013 at 3:00pm. Gracing the historic Sweet Auburn stage…
HIM’s North American tour (which was due to kick off in Los Angeles on May 3rd at the House Of Blues) has been cancelled due to unforeseen medical circumstances. HIM’s lead vocalist Ville Valo has been diagnosed with severe asthma with presumptive pneumonia. Tickets for all dates will be refunded at the…
Trinidad-born trumpeter Etienne Charles’ fourth full-length release, Creole Soul, is due July 23 on Culture Shock Music. An exploration of Charles’ musical roots featuring sounds from the French, Spanish and English speaking Caribbean as well as North America, Creole Soul highlights myriad inspirations from Haitian creole chants and blues to bebop and R&B while drawing…
Rife with Punk and Rock leanings, The Diemakers have released their new EP, Detroit Recordings with acclaimed engineer, Jim Diamond (White Stripes, The Sights). As of late the band has been in a state of flux with the addition of Sharon Harris, wife of founding member, Dominic Harris. Her presence brings a Punk vibe to…
Ireland’s David J Caron, who has already garnered half-a-million combined YouTube views, has released a double-album consisting of 28 tracks. One minute into the track, “It Gathers,” the pace changes greatly, as this ass-whoopin’ guitar riff takes the forefront. The speaker is striving to divine some meaning in the skies: “Look up thru the night…
The Wild Feathers have announced the release of their self-titled debut album, due out August 6, 2013 on Warner Bros Records. Their single “The Ceiling” is quickly climbing the AAA radio chart and building strong relationships with an audience across the country. Watch the video for the track here: http://youtu.be/tPkGcKckjao. The Wild Feathers are a…
Individualism is key to the up and coming personality that is Damon Daye. The Connecticut native recently released an eloquently executed visual to a song of his called ‘Move That Body.’ Welcomed by the mass media positively, the video went on to secure placements at various online channels and some major sites including here at…
Boston-based band Dropkick Murphys are happy to announce a benefit concert in Boston this Sunday at House of Blues. This will be a special daytime matinee show, so that entire families can take part in the event. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m., and the first band will start at 1 p.m. The bill on…
Robert Plant Presents the Sensational Space Shifters has announced its first North American tour dates. This dynamic and powerful new incarnation of Plant’s musical vision has been touring the world, most recently in Australia and New Zealand. The Brisbane Times said “What’s going on is further proof that Plant is far more imaginative, playful and…
The first annual 8123 Tour connects four seasoned rock bands that go way back for a special tour extravaganza. Kicking off on June 4th at House of Blues in Anaheim, CA and hitting many major markets across North America through July 26th, A Rocket to the Moon will reunite with good pals The Maine,…
I do not have to tell anyone reading this that today is truly a sad day here in Boston, MA & globally. To have our city and it’s people attacked so cowardly it is hard to digest. The Back Bay holds a special place for Skope as that is where we started not only Skope,…
Full-blown eclectic is an apt descriptor for Elisa Lovelie’s new EP, Undertow. Genres, styles and instrumentation run the musical gamut through the five tracks, in what she calls “folk rock.” Leaning heavily on classical vocal training, poignant lyrical matter and a steady rock foundation, the album plays out in mash-up style with Blues guitar, Latin…
Welcome to another amazing month of music from the incredible musicians that make up the Sonicbids.com community. We have chose a select group of amazing musicians that will be speaking directly to the Skope readers. As always we encourage readers to dig deeper and check out their EPK’s. …
Howard Salmon and Deborah Martin-Lemmon crossed paths in the military choir. Both having deep country music roots, they proceeded to collaborate. And we now have the album Old Habits Are Hard to Break, which includes contributions from several country music vets (fiddler Scott Joss, drummer Keith Edwards, bassist Bruce Turgon, and guitarist Ben Haggard, among…
STURGILL SIMPSON is going to change the “haven’t” to “have” in the magazine quote above with the release of his debut album–HIGH TOP MOUNTAIN–out June 11 on his own label, via Thirty Tigers Distribution. Comprised of 12 tracks, 10 of which are composed by Sturgill alone, range from furious honky-tonk to pre-outlaw country-rocking to spellbinding…
If you’ve been paying attention, sounds that in the past would have been considered linked to extreme metal have become more and more mainstream as the last couple decades have passed. That kind of influence has splashed across all types of musical genres. Here it’s added to Southern Rock. The result is something that has…
Glasgow-based blues musician Dave Arcari will be releasing his fifth studio album, Whisky In My Blood, worldwide March 25th. On it, the slide guitarist & songwriter turns in 14 tracks that owe as much to trash country, punk and rockabilly as they do pre-war Delta blues. Arcari is joined by his backing band The Hellsinki…
Legendary American blues-rockers The Fabulous Thunderbirds have released their first new full-length studio recording in nearly a decade, via renowned blues label Severn Records. Fittingly titled On The Verge, the album is now available online and in stores everywhere today. The band, anchored by the big voice of original front man Kim Wilson, usher in…
Jeff Cannon’s latest release is the hallmark of an ever-evolving artist. This third phase of his musical career shows us a contemplative songwriter simply seeking answers to 13 questions. Appropriately, the 13-tracks of the album deal with issues of commonality that run through us all: Isolation, otherness, regret, and institution to name a few. The…
Paying homage to their own NYC neighborhood and family tree The Bowery Riots are a 3 piece Rock N Roll band who take their name from turn of the century gang The Bowery Boys and the 1849 Astor Riot.
The roots/rock trio Mission South teams up with Relix Magazine to release “Peaches,” the first single off their upcoming sophomore EP Migration Vol. 2 – due out April 9th, 2013. This will be the second installment in their acclaimed 3-part Migration EP series. With a sound reminiscent of Dr. Dog and Ben Harper, Mission South…
Wolfgang Vault has teamed up with Groovebug to launch their latest iPad app, Concert Vault for iPad. The app brings the world’s greatest collection of exclusive live concert audio and video from the ’50s to the present day, all available for high quality streaming on your iPad. Concert Vault’s roster currently has more than 3,500…
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of bluesy hard rockers Burning Rain’s third studio album, EPIC OBSESSION, on May 21st in North America. Burning Rain was founded by current Whitesnake axeman Doug Aldrich together with singer Keith St. John (ex-Montrose). The line-up for the new album is rounded out by Sean McNabb…
The roots/rock trio Mission South announces today they will release their sophomore 6-track EP Migration Vol. 2 on April 9th, 2013. This will be the second installment in their acclaimed 3-part Migration EP series. With a sound reminiscent of Dr. Dog and Ben Harper, Mission South goes beyond their blues-rock roots by adding a mixture…
Influences run the gamut from nuanced subtlety to worn-on-the-sleeve emulation. For SoCal by way of NOLA singer/songwriter Dan Kern, he is unabashed about his early exposure to mainstream radio and the affectation it had on his personal musical tastes. As evidenced on his new full-length, 1977, the 10-tracks contain facets of radio Pop sentimentality, Southern…
For the forefathers of Country Music, getting their music to fans meant long road trips usually packed in some old sedan along with gear from one dive bar to the next honky tonk. Point is… it was a labor of love that often involved sacrifice. And though afforded many more creature comforts, the story of…
Yes, Nashville is still the epicenter of Country Music. However, in recent years if the city has taught me anything it’s that Nashville has morphed into a “singer/songwriter” town. The diversity of acts and music coming out of it is perhaps more varied than ever. For example, take the duo of Eliot Houser and Kris…
Sled Island Music & Arts Festival is fast gaining a reputation as one of the must-see festivals in North America. Known for it’s diverse, fun, and forward-thinking lineup, the festival continues to grow each year, proving to be not only an exciting but essential part of Calgary’s growing and dynamic cultural landscape. http://shop.sledisland.com/collections/frontpage Today, the…
