SONG REVIEW: Aidan James - "What My Friends Talk About"

April 11, 2018 by Jessica Klausing

Written by Jessica Klausing

Aidan James shakes up the pop scene with his Hawaiian inspired melodies.

At age 9, James uploaded a Youtube video cover of Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister” while playing a ukulele. The video went viral with over 20 million views inspiring the young Hawaii native to venture into a music career. In the last couple of years he has released an EP, “Live Again,” and a full-length album, “Echoes.” He has toured with many notable acts such as Train, Jack Johnson, Lisa Loeb, and Michael Bolton. Currently, 16 year old, James has been hard at work to release his new full-length album sometime later this year.

In his new single, “What My Friends Talk About,” James uses his ukulele to the bridge the melody gap between contemporary pop and R&B. Think sound wise similar to Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours.” The ukulele fades as the song progresses into an eclectic fusion of finger-snaps, hand claps, and percussion.

James’ warm vocals evoke a sweet innocence as he admits, “And you know I can’t remember anything before I saw your face.” His versatile talent and individuality shines through on this track. I can’t wait to hear what Aidan James has in store on his new album.

Purchase Aidan James’ MUSIC

Follow Aidan James:

Umphrey's McGee @ LA's Wiltern

April 09, 2018 by Jessica Klausing

Jam band Umphrey's McGee made a legendary comeback to Los Angeles this past weekend!

Amidst the hypnotic psychedelic light show and LED visuals, Umphrey’s McGee seamlessly weaves progressive rock, jazz, disco, funk, metal, and electronic genres into a cohesive dance mix. Each band member has a keen musical ear and an uncanny talent to communicate with each other on stage.

Check out the concert REVIEW.

Special thanks to Paul Citone for allowing me to use his amazing concert photographs!

KNOW YOUR PROS: Jack Austin - Fashion Stylist

March 07, 2018 by Jessica Klausing

Jack Austin is our featured industry professional for March 2018.

Austin hails from Melbourne, Australia but studied fashion in Los Angeles at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. He currently works as the Head Stylist at Astudillo Photography working alongside celebrity photographer Rudy Astudillo of TV Guide. Austin has worked with many Hollywood starlets and has had his work published in lookbooks and magazines worldwide.

Valentines Day Song: The Brothers Johnson - "Strawberry Letter 23"

February 14, 2018 by Jessica Klausing

The Brothers Johnson's "Strawberry Letter 23" is our Valentines Day 2018 song pick.

Check out our RECAP.

"Strawberry Letter 23" is a psychedelic transcendence into bliss. The lyrics paint a vivid, colorful imagery about the innocence of love. The heavenly harmonies swirl magically with the funky bass beats and hypnotic chimes. However, the real show stopper is Lee Ritenour's extensive trippy progressive rock layered guitar solo towards the end.

Animal Hope and Wellness Charity Event - A Dog's Night

February 13, 2018 by Jessica Klausing

Written by Jessica Klausing

Last month the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation hosted A Dog’s Night at North Hollywood’s Federal Bar. Guests enjoyed a night of vegan appetizers, drinks, and live entertainment. Hosted by Kemble and Jen Walters, guests could participate in a silent auction to help raise money for the foundation. Auction items varied from gift cards to exclusive television set tours. All ticket and auction proceeds went directly to the foundation’s animal rehabilitation services.

DONATE

The Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation (AHWF) helps rescue abused and neglected animals, providing full rehabilitation services, and working to help find them new homes. The foundation has recently been focused on rescuing dogs from the Asian Dog Meat Trade.

Founder and CEO Marc Ching has made countless trips overseas to videotape and document evidence of the brutalities and torture of live dogs before they are slaughtered for human consumption.

Ching has saved thousands of dogs, even going as far as risking his own life to smuggle them out of the slaughterhouses. By raising awareness, Ching and the AHWF team expose these barbaric rituals in order to enact change and force the government to create laws to protect these animals. Ching continues to fight for these dogs and to help the dog farm owners find new occupations.

AHWF has a few upcoming fundraiser EVENTS in March.

VOLUNTEERS are always more than welcome to stop by the foundation's headquarters in Sherman Oaks, California to help with the dogs.

Looking to ADOPT? Look no further than an AHWF rescue pup! Please READ the adoption process on the website.

Petty Cash entertained guests with a powerhouse performance of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Johnny Cash covers. Setlist highlights included “Ring of Fire,” “Runnin Down a Dream,” and “I Won’t Back Down.”

Surprise musical guests joined onstage were Noodles (The Offspring), Kevin Martin (Candlebox), Mark Schulman (PINK), Brett Scallions (Fuel), Abby Gennet (Slunt), and Sean and Juliette Beavan (8MM).

Juliette Beavan photo by Jessica Klausing

SONG REVIEW: Justin Levinson - "I'll Make It In Hollywood"

January 30, 2018 by Jessica Klausing

Written by Jessica Klausing

Los Angeles based singer-songwriter Justin Levinson’s new single “I’ll Make It In Hollywood” promises he’ll do just that. Coupling the ambition to ‘make it big’ in the entertainment industry with doo-wop harmonies and touches of 60’s pop and soul, Levinson embodies the spirit of the struggling underdog: “I’ve been so tired lately/LA can wear you down sometimes/Working for survival while you try to keep your dreams alive.”

“I’ll Make It In Hollywood” is an endearing ballad that instantly soothes a soul, lifts a mood, and inspires a weary mind. The song strikes an inspirational chord of determination to overcome life’s obstacles and see a dream fulfilled. This track follows up his 2017 release, Yes Man.

Check out my interview with Justin Levinson HERE.

Purchase Justin’s music HERE.

Follow Justin Levinson:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

ALBUM REVIEW: Brick Briscoe - Songs To Yell To

January 24, 2018 by Jessica Klausing

Written by Jessica Klausing

Brick Briscoe returns with his ninth studio album release, Songs To Yell To. The album is a restless continuation of Briscoe’s knack for brash post-punk songs about sexuality and identity, citing influences from The Ramones, Buzzcocks, and the 70’s era CBGB club scene.

From the opening chords of the opener, “Give Me a Lift,” you’re pulled into a punk-fueled road trip that twists and turns, driven by Sal Maida’s bass and Frank Funaro’s rollicking drums. Of course, Briscoe is along for the ride with some tongue-in-cheek jabs like, “this haircut cost me 50 bucks and when they write about me, they’re gonna laugh. It’s their choice.”

Fan favorite “Jack the Ripper” returns stripped down, accompanied by a melancholic bass riff that permeates the track with a very different feel than the hard shredder version featured in the What Happened to Me (2000-2014) compilation album.

“Everybody Sings,” has a distinctly low-fi vibe similar to the likes of Guided By Voices. The melodious, punk rock trailblazer “5 Sick 7” follows with Joey Ramone stylized drumming.

No Brick Briscoe album is complete without snarky yet strangely relatable wisdom. Briscoe offers life advice in “I’m Not Impressed By This Life Very Much” with the lyric, “At 20, you suck/at 30, you suck/ at 40, you’re fucked.” Relationships are questioned in “The Great Maybe,” with, “Being with you never made any sense/though sometimes I like the way you dress/if I drink enough maybe I could reinvent you.”

Briscoe seems to acknowledge his offhanded remarks in “Constant Banging” with, “Nice ass/ those were the first words out of my mouth/ I say things I’m not proud of but I can’t help it.”

As Songs To Yell To winds down, it does so gently, with the reflective “Boys Keep Swinging.” An acoustic guitar accompanied by television noise playing in the background, while Briscoe reminisces about life being simpler as a young boy.

If you want to hear an album that captures the spirit of punk perfectly then Songs To Yell To would be a great choice. Brick Briscoe embraces the best elements of abrasive language and delivers it with guitar-driven fury.

Check out Brick’s radio show called “The Song Show.” Join Brick as he discusses various music topics with surprise musical guests. Listen HERE.

Purchase Brick's music HERE.

Recommended Tracks: “Jack the Ripper,” “Everybody Sings,” “5 Sick 7,” and “I’m Not Impressed By This Life Very Much.”

EP REVIEW: Xs & ARROWs - From Here

December 27, 2017 by Jessica Klausing

Written by Jessica Klausing

Xs & ARROWs bring an acoustic charm to an EP filled with the infectious warmth of the desert sun. Courtney Lavender (vocals and guitar), Susan Peterson (bass), and Pam Bluestein (drums) guide listeners through a soul-searching journey, appropriately titled, From Here. The EP features soothing melodies with heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics.

The opener, “Missing,” kicks off the EP with a luscious laid back pop melody ready to lull you into summertime bliss. Vibrant and catchy, it’s a perfect listen for a sunset drive on a scenic route. The song is about the inner struggle of trying to let go of a complicated relationship. Lavender reflects this thought with “I never wanted you to be the only thing I see,” against a wailing electric guitar.

“Fire from Gold” is a tender ballad with lyrics almost suggestive of Native American folklore. Delicate finger-picking and percussion intertwine while the honey smooth vocals evoke comfort and positivity. Lavender sings, “No rush coyote/no rhyme coyote/no fear coyote/We are only blessed/There’s no devil in this hole.” Extremely calming and reassuring, it’s the kind of track that will put a smile on your face and fill your heart with hope.

“Par Ici” follows with a Cranberries-esque vibe that’s filled to the brim with angst. Sharp guitar work rips through the pummeling drums while harsher vocals wail out, “the walls all came down on me/They spit and they shout at me.”

The closer, “Questions” is a piano centered meditation on relatable frustration and unresolved feelings. Glen Hansard lends his vocals to this heart- wrenching track. The accompaniment is simple which leaves all the attention on Hansard and Lavender’s passionate vocal delivery.

From Here is a self-reflective and passionate collection of tracks that touches on the Irish storytelling spirit. Warm harmonies and mellow guitar glide smoothly throughout the EP. Lavender uses her soft vocals to convey in heartbreak, drama, and emotion into all four songs creating a beautiful listen.

From Here is available on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, and Spotify.

All sale proceeds go to the Peter McVerry Trust, helping the homeless in Dublin.

Recommended Tracks: “Missing” and “Fire from Gold”

Kendrick Lamar's DAMN Collector's Edition

December 21, 2017 by Jessica Klausing

Written by Brody Duggson

When Kendrick Lamar confirmed that DAMN can be played in reverse, I immediately threw “Blood” into Audacity and reversed the soundwave. What came out of my wireless headphones made no sense.

Then I realized Lamar meant “reverse order” not backwards.

In early December of 2017, Lamar released a collector’s edition of his seminal opus, and hopefully soon-to-be winner of the Grammy award for Album of the Year, DAMN. The edition contains all the songs from DAMN, with no new production, in an order opposite of the original.

Instead of starting with “Blood” and ending with “Duckworth,” the collector’s edition begins with “Duckworth” and concludes with “Blood.”

It may sound like a distinction without a difference, but before it dropped in mid-April, conspiracies swirled that Lamar/DAMN had more to offer.

DAMN was introduced to the world on Good Friday. One theory said Lamar will release another great album on Easter Sunday.

A second conspiracy, this one piggybacking on a tweet by TDE producer Soundwav—“But what if I told you... that's not the official version…”—claimed more new material was forthcoming.

A tinfoil-hat-wearing fan theorized that Lamar’s next album would be titled "NATION." This appellation was inspired by acrostics made from some of the last letters of DAMN’s tracks.

By the way, those phrases were “Earth Led 2 Death” and “Death 4 Leader.”

Many “KenFolk” immediately recognized that the last line of DAMN’s finale, “Duckworth,” is the first line of DAMN’s opener, “Blood.” Some concluded that those songs were connected, and the tracks in between, are Lamar struggling with a slew of contradictory ideas.

Releasing his masterpiece with a reverse track order may seem a bit underwhelming, but it does satisfy those who believed there was always more to DAMN than originally assumed.

Our cynical side says the collector’s edition is nothing more than a money grab. After all, the power to listen to DAMN in reverse order is inside of all us. Well, inside our media players.

There’s reason to applaud Lamar’s efforts. By releasing his album with a different track order, he forces listeners to accept DAMN as a single work of art and not a collection of interchangeable singles.

There was a time when listening to an album out of its original order meant putting on side B before side A.

Nowadays, it’s a piece of cake to listen to albums out of order. It’s just as easy to listen to them randomly, as part of a playlist with a bazillion other songs, or piecemeal—just download the songs you like.

Taylor Swift Builds 'Reputation' At Jingle Balls

December 19, 2017 by Jessica Klausing

Written by Brody Duggson

Taylor Swift photo courtesy of HollywoodLife.com

On Dec. 1, Taylor Swift returned to the stage for the first time in ten months. She was the headlining act at the KIIS FM’s iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2017 in Los Angeles.

Eight days later, she fulfilled the same role at a similar event in New York City, although that iHeartRadio ball was produced by Z100. Then, the next night, she participated in the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball in London.

The three mini-concerts foreshadow the superstar’s upcoming concert trek. “Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour” kicks off May 8, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The singer will then visit Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Atlanta as well as several other cities in North America.

As of now, her final U.S. date is Oct. 8 in Arlington, Texas. She’ll finish her tour with five stops in Australia and New Zealand.

Swift is hitting the road to support her sixth studio album, Reputation. The album dropped on Nov. 10 and sold two million copies during its first week of release.

All three Jingle Ball performances were punctuated by the singer’s high energy, a cadre of backup dancers, and fashion-forward outfits.

There are absolutely no traces of the singer’s country roots. She’s the world’s biggest pop star and a full-on force of nature who’s in the prime of her career.

Swift’s setlist included “Shake It Off,” “I Don't Want to Live Forever," “Ready For It,” and "Look What You Made Me Do."

Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift perform "End Game." Photo courtesy of Variety.com

The highlight of her L.A. appearance was her duet with pal Ed Sheeran. It was the first time the superstars had ever performed “End Game” live. Swift and Sheeran must have enjoyed their performance because they repeated it in The City That Never Sleeps.

Actress Katie Holmes, and her daughter Siri Cruise, introduced Swift prior to her Big Apple shindig.

Another visitor of note was Joe Alwyn, Swift’s current boyfriend. In London, attendees saw them steal a kiss during Sheeran’s performance. In Metropolis, after the ball, the couple was seen holding hands.

Mother Nature got in on the act in London. We’ll have Taylor Swift explain:

“Guys, it snowed today! That is all I’ve been talking about today is the fact that it snowed today on the morning of Jingle Bell Ball. It’s so perfect!”

While Swift’s music, performances, and life reveal consistent maturity, the previous quote reminds us that she’s still a down-to-Earth girl From Reading, Pennsylvania.

Regardless of how many diva-like and artistic elements she adds to her repertoire, the performer can always charm our socks off.