Psych Down Under, The Grease Arrestor - Volume 2

Rick - Guitar, Vocals - Ryan - Guitar, Bass, Vocals

Sam - Guitar, Bass, Vocals - Liz - Organ, Percussion, Vocals

Josh - Drums, Percussion, Vocals

Three guitarists, two Bassists, two Percussionists, five Vocalist, one Organist and one Drummer = The Aussie Psych five-piece, The Grease Arrestor.

The Grease Arrestor describe their second album, 'Volume Two' as a pastiche of different ideas and influences, including the 60s golden era and elements of 90s movements, blended with their signature jangle freak-outs, drone, jivin' rhythms, gazey fuzz tones and fuzz groove combination with 12 string guitars and 60s organ wails.

"Volume Two" is available as a free/name your price download below. All proceeds will go towards a vinyl pressing of the album, a worthy cause.

Tell all the people that you know, Couch By Couchwest 2015 Submissions are open!

In it's 5th year, the original on line Music Festival Couch By Couchwest!  The event where the only hipster is you and the beers are cheaper, the only port-o-potty you need is a bed pan if you so desire, No badges, lanyards, bracelets, parking fees, ticket lines, babysitters, dogsitters, expensive beer prices, or crappy hotel rooms…just the sweet comfort of your own couch. Where to all the slackers meet? #CxCW. 

As for myself, I start preping in February by reducing my number of showers incrementaly until I'm down to zero in one week, I visit La-Z-Boy's website dreaming of venue upgrades. I'll do kitchen experiments to create the perfect snacks, browse Taco and Burrito recipes. and check all my electronic gizmos for proper operation so that when the folks at Couch By Couchwest invade my venue I'm ready as Reddi-wip.

Here’s how it works, artists and bands from all over the globe record a video performance for them from their living rooms, kitchens, porches, bathrooms, you name it…pretty much anywhere but a stage…and the CxCW crew post them during the week of the festival (March 15th to 21st, 2015). 

So now it's your part, spread the word, tell all your musician friends, about it and coax them to participate. All talent welcome, any genre just send them to the submissions page. 

And tell your friends friends, your siblings, your folks, your distant relatives, there are contests, prizes and rewards, it's a fulll frontal participation event for everyone. 

Rising from the ashes, Broken Romeo's 1991 Album Mother Mercury

Rising from the ashes, Broken Romeo found a preserved master copy of their 1991 album Mother Mercury. Previously only available on cassette tape. They've remastered it and released a new digital version of the analog original. The youngster were rockin' it hard and still do! Searing guitars, pounding beats, teenage angst. 90's Rock and Roll baby! Dig in, dig it! Name your price.

Listen to 2/3 Goat Single Jenny from upcoming NEW Album Let It Rise

Photo By JareJaffery Photography

Neil Nunziato (Drums) Jason Liles (Bass) Annalyse McCoy (Lead Singer, Mandolin, Guitar) Ryan Dunn (Lead Singer, Guitar) Ryan Guerra (Fiddle) 

New York’s 2/3 Goat will release their 2nd album Let It Rise later this year produced by Scott Sharrard guitar player and music director for Gregg Allman. You can Pre-order and sample a few songs via their Pledgemusic page. They've shared a new single "Jenny" the story of Jenny Wiley. Wiley was taken prisoner by Native Americans and escaped. 
Based out of NYC 2/3 Goat is an up and coming powerhouse of  Alt-Country Rock and Roll 

Julian Fulton - Reverie EP

A prolific songwriter Julian Fulton, is always working on something. whether with his band The Zombie Gospel or solo he's likely to pop up anywhere in the Jersey area, guitar slung and restless. His acclaimed EP Heart & Arms drew high praise from The Deli Magazine and Speak Into My Good Eye, You Don't Know Jersey named him one to watch if 2015 and with good reason, impressive technical skill of many genres and intelligent songwriting this young man stands tall in the tradition of  Jersey musicians.
His latest release is a collection of home-recorded demos rarely heard unless you're a Zombie Gospel groupie, including "Paris, Idaho" from Speak Into My Good Eye's 24-Hour Songwriting Challenge.

The Black Market Merchants - Volume 1

When I heard The Black Market Merchants debut self-titled EP back in '13 I was hooked big time on this experimental blues bending band. I asked when we could expect more, but they we're in the middle of a regroup and shuffle and didn't know what the future would hold. Well, the future is here and since the album is titled Volume 1 my hope is we can expect more.
Founder Nick Jenkins (Guitars, additional vocals) added an amazing new vocalist, Savannah Sturgeon whose vocals are haunting and powerful who unfortunately, is retiring from the band to pursue her career, Jonah Bobo (Additional guitars) fills the spaces brilliantly while Ralgy Cepeda (Bass, additional vocals) and Andres Valbuena (Drums, percussion) add the brooding beats. Miles Blue Spruce on Saxophone, keyboards brings a jazzy improvisational sound into the mix. It was definitely worth the wait as Volume 1 fulfills the vision that was hinted at on the debut.

Muddy Roots Music Festival 2015 Line-UP

Purchase your weekend pass which includes free camping here:

2015 MUDDY ROOTS TN TICKETS

Dr. Ralph Stanley, Bobby Bare, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Peter Rowan, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, LC Ulmer, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Southern Culture On The Skids, Legendary Shack Shakers,
Dom Flemons, Dale Watson, The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit, Chuck Mead, The Tillers, Possessed By Paul James, Joseph Huber, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, The Howlin Brothers, Woody Pines, JP Harris & The Tough Choices, Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss, Munly Munly, The Dad Horse Experience, Hillbilly Casino,
JD Wilkes, Left Lane Cruiser, Whiskey Shivers, Denver Broncos UK, Margo & The Price Tags, East Cameron Folkcore, Cale Tyson, Hooten Hallers, Matt Woods, Sarah Gayle Meech, Dylan Walshe, Harlis Sweetwater, James Hunnicutt, Urban Pioneers, AJ Gaither, The Calamity Cubes!, Barnyard Stompers, The Freeborn Brothers, Dead Soldiers, The Hardin Draw, The Glade City Rounders, Bradford Lee Folk,
Mikey Classic & His Lonesome Spur, The Big Nasty, Joshua Morningstar, Yes Ma’am, Hopeless Jack & The Handsome Devil, My God, The Heat, Los Duggans, Butcher Knives, Cannibal Ramblers, Clem McGillicutty and the Burnouts, County Graves, Dead Eye Zack, Everymen, GravelRoad, Jeff Shepherd and The Jailhouse Poets, Lone Wolf OMB, Lost Dog Street Band, Lou Shields, MC1, Snake Blood Remedy, Shawn James and The Shapeshifters, Swamp Rats, Ten Foot Polecats, The Dead South, The Tosspints, White Trash Blues Revival

The Grip Weeds How I Won The War will be released on April 7th via Jem Recordings.

Marty Scott, managing director of the legendary Jem Records, LLC, has announced the signing of New Jersey Psych-Pop Rockers The Grip Weeds. Their new album, How I Won The War will be released on April 7th via Jem Recordings.

How John Lennon Helped The Grip Weeds Win Their War
In 1967 John Lennon starred in a cult film called How I Won The War. In 1988, a band from New Jersey derived their name from Lennon's character in the film, Musketeer Gripweed.  In 2015,  The Grip Weeds devised an album that delivered on the promise of the lackluster film's lofty title.


In truth, How I Won The War, the sixth Grip Weeds studio album of new material, features more  emotional depth and a greater plot than the film of the same name. Like any great piece of art, the themes explored by The Grip Weeds in this 'concept' album are universal, yet there is plenty of room for the listener to insert themselves into the proceedings.


Featuring vocal harmonies that would make CSNY jealous and muscular musicality on par with The Who, How I Won The War is the edgiest Grip Weeds album to date. There is no shortage of visceral stompers ("Rise Up", "Follow Me Blind"), but How I Won The War is no one trick pony. "Other Side Of Your Heart" is an acoustic-driven slice of modern psychedelia that early-era Pink Floyd fans are sure to enjoy. "Life Saver" is pure power pop with an introspective bent, while "Rainbow Quartz" and "Over And Over" take wistful looks back to budding relationships and salad days. The pounding groove of "Force Of Nature" alone will remind Mods young and old what attracted them to rock and roll in the first place. Fittingly, the album closes with a stomping yet entrancing take on The Beatles' "The Inner Light".


The past few years have been busy for The Grip Weeds. After releasing their magnum opus double album Strange Change Machine in 2010, a holiday album Under The Influence Of Christmas in 2011, concert set Speed Of Live and companion DVD Live Vibes in 2012 and rarities collection Inner Grooves in 2013, the band found themselves at a crossroads.

"All bands go through their rough periods and The Grip Weeds are no exception," said lead guitarist Kristin Pinell. "Being in a band with my husband and brother-in-law is a double-edged sword. The familial bond helps us endure some situations that usually kill other bands off. Conversely, it's tougher to leave arguments in the studio when your bandmates are also your family." The tensions within the band on a personal level triggered the ideas explored musically on How I Won The War.

"Our new bassist Dave DeSantis really pulled us to another level," said vocalist/ guitarist Rick Reil. "Kurt and I were at each other's throats during the early stages of this album, but Dave's musicality and easy demeanor inspired us to get down to what's really important to us- our music."

TRACKLISTING:

1 How I Won The War
2 Rise Up
3 Follow Me Blind
4 Life Saver
5 Other Side Of Your Heart
6 See Yourself
7 Vanish
8 Sounder (instrumental)
9 Force Of Nature
10 Crossfire (instrumental)
11 Heaven And Earth
12 Over And Over
13 Rainbow Quartz
14 Truce (instrumental)
15 Lead Me To It
16 Aka Victory
17 The Inner Light


How I Won The War will be available on CD, standard & high-resolution digital download and vinyl from Amazon.com, iTunes, major digital download destinations and music outlets from April 7th (vinyl release date is June 9th), but as always Grip Weeds fans get it first! You will have exclusive early access via email to pick up How I Won The War beginning March 24th– a full two weeks before the official release date! All formats above will be available to fans (vinyl will be a pre-order) along with a Deluxe Package exclusively from The Grip Weeds Online Store, which will include many extras– more details to come.
The first live show to support How I Won The War will be on April 10th at The Record Collector in Bordentown, NJ- see below for ticket info. More shows to come, but this one will be special!

Dinosaur Eyelids - Bypass to Nowhere

Evan Staats-vocals Scott Staats-bass Patrick McKnight-guitar Mark Leone-drums

What exit are you from is a common question in New Jersey, Dinosaur Eyelids are from exit nine in the heart of New Jersey, 'New Brunswick' our creative center, the beats start here and fuel the rest of the state. House favorites at The Court Tavern, the band has a reputation for roof dropping live performances. Thier latest release “Bypass to Nowhere” is a powerful collection of great rock tunes presented with the right amount of rawness and heartfelt conviction.  It is the fourth release from this 100% DIY band. The album closes with a real standout for me, the eight minute Jazz/Rock fused 'World on Fire' it shows off the breadth and scope of this band.
Upcoming Shows:
Friday, March 20th at XO Lounge, Philadelphia PA
Saturday, April 18th at the Fifth Estate, Brooklyn NY

Full live set from Buddie's in Sayreville NJ featuring songs from "Bypass to Nowhere"

Storyteller Robert Chaney's Debut Album, Cracked Picture Frames

Robert Chaney offers us a stunning debut that should have him propelling up the ladder of talked about singer/songwriters. A storyteller with a storyteller's vocal inflections and a porch pickers style, Robert has a comfortable familiarity as a base to introduce himself to us as a unique talent.
Definitely a musician on the rise, pay attention folks.
Cracked Picture Frames is available 2/15 on iTunes, Amazon, etc

Though he is still a relative newcomer, the past two years have seen Robert Chaney become one of the most talked-about performers on the London singer-songwriter scene. And Baylen Leonard of one of my favorite radio shows The Front Porch on Amazing Radio has taken notice saying, "Robert Chaney has taken the story song in a whole different direction." 

Cracked Picture Frames, the bristling full-length debut of American-born, London-based songwriter Robert Chaney, opens with Black Eyed Susan - a scene of domestic violence sung from the point of view of an ashamed abuser - and sets off ticking through a further nine songs; chronicling assaults, traffic accidents (two, in fact), and all kinds of heartbreak.

"The record almost didn't happen," recalls Robert. "After moving from Florida to London, I didn't know anyone. I thought I was going to have to get into the open mic grind. So I went to one and showed up late and they put me on last." But it was on the strength of this performance that Robert was approached by producer Ken Brake (The Clientele, Louis Philippe), and the two started working in Ken's London studio, recording dozens of songs over a number of months. Most of the songs on the final record are first or second takes.

The negative space afforded by the spartan guitar-and-voice arrangements serves to bring the lyrical content into hyperfocus, and it is here the 33-year-old truly differentiates himself from his peers. “There was this great DVD rental place around the corner from me on Brick Lane,” Robert explains, “I started to get into old foreign films, art stuff. I started to think like a director or screenwriter. How to maintain tension, how to write from a character.” He pauses for a moment, and is then quick to add, “It’s not all exercises in storytelling, though. There’s a lot of personal stuff on there.”

"Though your leaving's not what I would choose / It's clear the converse serves no use / To keep you locked away for selfish reasons," Robert sings on The Morning After, the words hanging solemn between folds of arrhythmic guitar strums, "And though you show you're fond in part / I do believe to own your heart / Is something just like trying to own the seasons."

It's this tension between love song and story song that provides much of the motivating force behind the album. The Cyclist is equal parts tragic romance and cliffhanging thriller, as a couple deal with the aftermath of a hit-and-run car accident. The Ballad of Edward and Lisa, written about a former co-worker of Robert's, offers a sly critique of organized religion as the song masquerades as an old-fashioned blood-soaked murder ballad.

http://www.robertchaney.net
https://www.facebook.com/robertchaneymusic
https://twitter.com/robertjchaney

William Gruff - Prepare to Meet The Dead

Following their great full length release 'Binghamton' and the deep video for the single At The Bottom Of The Ocean, plus a single in the fall, the wandering, rambling William Gruff have circled the gypsy wagons, tossed gallons of kerosene and set a match to the bonfire and invite us all to dance like whirling dervishes on this little EP entitled Prepare to Meet The Dead  a small collection of gypsy tunes recorded live in studio in front of a small audience at SubCat recording studio.

This is part of their ongoing SubRosa series to promote the indie music scene in Syracuse NY. William Gruff were fortunate enough to take part in this and walked away with strong takes of a few tunes to be recorded and released as live tracks.

Band member Vince Federici mixed and mastered them to give them a little shine before release.

All Sensory Void - Secret Truth of the Universe

I've been delightfully following along the last few years as All Sensory Void, the solo project of The Nico Blues member Eric Goldberg released his exuberant conceptual albums at a prolific pace. Relax Man . . . You're Actually Just Energy Condensed to a Slow Vibration, Psychedelic Syd and the Recklessly Abandoned, and Everywhere You Go… There You Are. 
Expansive and engrossing, All Sensory Void's sound nibbles at all the nooks and cranny's of your cranium with probing tentacles. 
A talented self-taught multi-instrumentalist, Eric has worn every hat required to get his abundant creativity to fruition, and now to take his experimental psychedelic endeavor to the next level his latest release Secret Truth of the Universe will be the last as a solo artist as All Sensory Void will go full band with Members: Eric Goldberg: Guitar/Vocals -  Brian DePhillis: Drums/Samples Danny Goldberg: Bass/Vocals 
Also available on cassette via Goldberg’s own Sniffling Indie Kids

Henry's Rifle - Barroom Weather

The alter-ego of Albany songsmith John Alfred Pipino, Henry’s Rifle is pure fire ‘n’ brimstone country-blues. With a battered six-string banjo, a scorched holler and a pair of boots stomping on an old suitcase, Henry’s Rifle conjures up heaven, hell and all the American ghosts haunting the barrooms and plow fields in between. This is real roots music in all its raucous, heartbreaking glory.

Barroom Weather
Recorded and mixed by Jason Bonafide.
Mastered by Matthew Hendershot at Well Rounded Hoodlum.
Artwork and layout by John and Jill Pipino.

Henry's Rifle is John Alfred Pipino: vocals, six-string banjo, guitars, harmonica, stompbox
featuring:
Jason Bonafide: guitars, dobro, banjo, mandolin, lap steel, vocals
Mark McKenna: drums, percussion, vocals
Derek Melsheimer: bass guitar, vocals

Chris Jordan: baritone sax, alto sax, washboard, accordion, vocals
Dan Wilson: clarinet, vocals
Eric Halder: trumpet, trombone, classical guitar
Jeff Ayers: violin
Sarah Clark: Wurlitzer
Sean Fortune: upright bass

Perhaps Contraption Announce NEW Album

The wickedly wild, spontaneously explosible, Perhaps Contraption will be attending the 5th annual HONK!TX in Austin, 26th - 29th March and have a new album in the works for release later in the year.
You can also hear the album from start to finish, live album preview on Friday 17th April at the Courtyard Theatre in London. This has limited availability so please book from this link as tickets will sell out fast!

Newsletter subscribers get early access to new material before public release. Various videos are on the way and a new single will arrive later in February.
For those unfamiliar with this amazing conglomerate of musical hooligans...

We have made the decision to make our entire digital back catalogue available as a pay-what-you-can download.  Please take it, explore it, share it. It was made to belong in your ears and brains.

If you can afford anything in exchange, thank you! It will help this thing keep moving forward.

But if you can't afford anything we still love you!

You can pay it forward in other ways. Maybe by coming to see us live / playing us to a friend / talking about us online or in the real world / connecting us to a contact who might help us progress / buying our music at some point in the future...etc.

See the new video from any of the band’s point of view – just click when the boxes pop up and choose your own journey

Perhaps Contraption - Perambulations from The Ungewinster on Vimeo.

Flip it to the B-Side little hurricane Gold Fever B​-​Sides

San Diego, CA.'s purveyors of rockin' dirty blues, little hurricane new EP of previously unreleased songs, Weak Spot and Eye of the Storm, a full version of Hold Me Back as well as some live tracks from the recent Gold Fever album.  You can pay as much or as little as you would like for the EP, they just hope you enjoy the songs! 

The dynamic duo will be heading to Europe in April. 

UPCOMING TOUR DATES: 

APRIL 25th- Escenario, Santandar, Spain

APRIL 26th- Boite Live, Madrid, Spain

APRIL 27th- Anzokia, Bilboa, Spain

APRIL 28th- La Ley Seca, Zaragoza, Spain

APRIL 29th- RockSound, Barcelona, Spain

APRIL 30th- Loco Club, Valencia, Spain

Additional dates TBA 

LISTEN> The Sundowners Single Medicine + Tour Dates

The Sundowners self-titled debut will release 9th February 2015 via Skeleton Key Records and will tour the UK in support of the release, kicking off 10th February at - Leeds Oporto.

Recorded almost entirely live in Parr Street studios, Liverpool, over a 2 week period in the summer of 2014, the album was produced by James Skelly, Ian Skelly & Richard Turvey and reflects Fiona and Niamh's mutual love of psyche and west coast harmonies.

The 11-tracks of psyche-folk, harmony-heavy, well-crafted pop gems were in part inspired by the diverse and eclectic range of music the band listened to during recording - Goat, Tame Impala, Can, Neu!, Portishead, Air, Gillian Welch, Velvet Underground, Fairport Convention.

Now a formidable live act, the Wirral 5-piece benefit from an almost telepathic on-stage understanding born out of both Fiona & Niamh’s long-term friendship and the addition of Fiona’s brother, Alfie, on guitar.

The last 12-months have seen the band release a brace of limited edition singles, tour constantly playing alongside the likes of Cats Eyes & Kasabian and appear at both the All Tomorrow’s Parties and Glastonbury Festivals, where they played in the packed BBC Introducing tent.

Members: Lead Guitar - Alfie Skelly Vocals/Rythm Guitar - Niamh Rowe Vocals/Rythm Guitar - Fiona Skelly Bass Guitar - Tim Cunningham Drums - Jim Sharrock

A Trippy Self-Portait Charles Howl 'Going Down with a Hi'

London Brit-psych group &  Charles Howl release a new video for their single 'Going Down with a Hi' out on 02/23/2015 on Ample Play Records
Debut album 'Sir Vices' out 03/16/2015 Pre-order "Sir Vices" 

Comprising of 2 members of The Proper Ornaments, Charles Howl are some of the last children of the ‘80s, and with a britpop upbringing, it is no wonder they have produced an album that sounds like My Bloody Valentine channeling The Stone Roses, while maintaining a contemporary charm.  ‘Going Down With A Hi’ is a great introduction to some of their sound.