Grace Potter & the Nocturnals: Don't sleep on this gal

This rocking diva can belt her face off and doesn't need a cool british accent to make you like her. A true musician, this classic rock lover has been a festival favorite for years and is finally getting mainstream love thanks to a few new band members, the right chemistry and a few new sparkly dresses. Get it girl.

Girls Generation: KPOP bout ta drop

How many fierce girls make a sassy Korean pop band? Nine in this case. And I'm in love.

"Girl's Generation make you feel da heat"

SOUL ON THE RISE: KING

If you spend five minutes on KING's website www.weareking.com you'll learn all there is to know about these 3 talented musical majesties. And if you're anything like me, you'll click the link entitled "See Our Music" and be moved to tears.

After releasing only 3 songs earlier this year, KING has become the most talked about and praised soul revival bands in a looong time. Let's just say Prince is a fan and Prince tours with 4 of the most amazing back-up divas out there (if that's even what you wanna call them) Not to mention, he's Prince.

These women, composed of 2 sisters and an epic friend, have found their sound by listening to the inner and outer voices they were blessed with! Their success has undoubtably come from their ability to trust themselves and proceed without question.

Mark my words, soul is back on the rise.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/weareKING?v=app_178091127385

Twitter: http://twitter.com/wearekingmusic

LATEST LOVE: Quadron

If you're like me you fall in love with one record at a time and blast your new obsession over and over until you find a new one. My new honey is a pair of Danish kids called Quadron. I have to comment on the sweet yet soulful vocals of Coco Hannibal. She reminds me immediately of another one of my dear favorites: Amel Larrieux with a sprinkle of Adele. Her sound rests unexpectedly on top of some quirky and unexpected chords created by partner Robin Hannibal. And how can you not love the incorporation of a brass section?

I'm in love with all of it. A new spin on soul gets me. Y'all know it does.

YES DIVA.

Check out this video from SXSW

Also, check out this amazing review and more videos from THE COUCH SESSIONS
http://www.thecouchsessions.com/2010/06/review-quadron-at-liv-nightclub-dc/

THANK YOU STEPHANIE!

DIRTY PILLOWS: New skool garage rock with an old skool twist

Back to Cali and the first thing I treated myself to was a fine show by the best band that has happened to garage rock melodies since The Strokes. Dirty Pillows.

When guitarist/lead singer Alex "Millhows" Villanueva, a polite but painfully awkward guy, gathers his shy self, folds it up, and packs it away neatly into a proper vintage suitcase (that one can only assume he owns); musical magic seems to stream from his face. With the right set (The Blank's silver streamers and red lights help) he morphs into a mad man and manages to master a talent that is both vulnerable and bad-ass. 



This magic can only be accomplished with the help of rock star rhythm kid Jeff Jagged. Here is a true old skool drummer with a love for times past and a complete understanding of the progression of rock and roll (and every other genre you can think of). 
Together they give in to their inner 1960's rockstar with true style and a new dirty flavor. 


Come see for yourself.
TONIGHT Live @ The Blank Club
Wednesday, July 13
Doors 9pm
Free!
LOCAL LEGENDS
*DIRTY PILLOWS TOWN CRIER

1960's Fashion: London

This video takes you on a trip to London's most fashionable shops in the 1960's. Yum.

"To people who can put LIVING before a living..."

 "A Look at Life: IN GEAR" narrated by Michael Ingram

THE KILLS LOVE ETTA

Alison Mosshart of THE KILLS likes my girl. I already loved you Alison. Now it's deep.

http://www.trackinthebox.co.uk/the-kills-takeover-etta-james-i-just-want-to-make-love-to-you

"Track in the Box" is a music newsletter meant to help you find music without having to 'trawl through the multitude of music blogs' (...) 

Recently they have highlighted a timeless track chosen by rock duo, The Kills.

This is one of my favorite songs called "I Just Want to Make Love to You" off of Etta James's most successful album "At Last"

Now I see where Alison gets all her fantastic grit and stage presence.  

It's SO comforting to know that rock goddesses take cues from SOUL. 

Etta delivers these lyrics with a passion that can only be admired and imitated, never reproduced. She takes absolute control of this number and I continue to die for it every time. Ms. Mosshart agrees:

"What a voice! What a song. This one never gets old, it's too good sounding." (Alison)

Well mama, you already had me at 'Alphabet Pony' but now we must be soul sistahs.

Check out THE KILLS latest album titled Blood Pressures and see them live see them live see them live.

Till you do here's 'Satellite'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hniPVDz12bc

Let's do it 60's STYLE

Do not apologize fo ya Beehive. Check out some Faith Brown, lovin' the look of this video.

http://bit.ly/kVGCKc

Death From Above Murdered my SOUL

I have been known to step out of the SOUL box with this blog because, well, I tend to find soul in just about everything. But THIS BAND, yes, I know many of you knew already but be nice to a sistah who just found out....THIS BAND. PERIOD.

Once again I have to credit the musical genius that I call boo, Shane Hagerty (rockNroll OBSESSED) for getting me into this magnificent man rock duo.

I know how to werk a sweaty Coachella crowd but was a little leary about gettin in the mix and havin to throw my bows to block the fool that would probably murder me at this show. Maybe it was the sunset that calmed the storm. Or maybe it was the fact that everyone was at a STAND STILL. Once the boys started killing us with their raw, brutal and surprisingly sweet rock tunes, we couldn't move, we couldn't breathe, we could only stand mouth agape. Somehow these sexy-disgusting men meshed crushing drums and base with sensitive lyrics. Imagine a screaming marriage proposal supported by the sick, psychotic, crashing BRILLIANCE of sound, "WE'LL GET MARRIED AND START A FAMILY!!!!" Holy shit I'm in love.

I've mentioned before that every band/artist I write about influences my own musical journey so...Steely Nash and the Cuts are striving to be a duo these days. It all came to me during this show. Was I really living before this show? Nah. But now I am.

Thank you DEATH FROM A-FRIGGIN-BOVE 1979

http://deathfromabove1979.com/

Game changers.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLA

COACHELLA Part One: MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS

"I know EXACTLY what I want and who I want to be!" sang Marina as she glided across the Mojave stage this past Friday night rocking an ironed out 80's Madonna bob and a single pink glitter glove to perfection. And she did. She dazzled us with her indie pop fabulousness reminding her audience that Beyonce ain't the only diva who can work a fan.

Everything she did was magical. "Hellooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!" she yelled to her sound crew as she sat down to an inaudible piano. Just as we were about to dismiss her as a bit of a cheeky brit brat, she lovingly introduced her sound man and demanded an applause. This girl is a pro. A glittery, fantastic pro.

She reminds us of top 40 American pop princesses with her style, beauty and diva costume changes, but one listen to this doll's deeply round and husky vocal tone and we are introduced to indie gold.

Marina makes no apologies for who she is and inspires her audience with lyrics like "It's better to be hated, than loved, loved, loved for what you're not"

LOVE.

Check out her bubble gum comic book pop vid for "Oh No" here:

Fantasia: Motown in the new Millenium

CORNBREAD AND COLLARD GREENS! Fantasia is back and she ain't afraid to bring some old school soul with her. YES GIRL!

Last week I saw her on American Idol and threw my shoe at the TV (a sign of overwhelming R.E.S.P.E.C.T according to my girl Nicole Julian) Damn she good! But not only is she a commanding force on stage and a brilliant vocalist with her sassy growl and her Ella Fitzgerald riffs, she takes risks!!! Who else could take a song about comfort food and make you BELIEVE.  "We're gonna take it back old school IDOL!" She demands! You can see this performance here or on her website:

http://www.fantasiaofficial.com/us/home

For me that's what soul does. Simple lyrics. Epic delivery. Thank you Tasia.

Look for her upcoming album appropriately titled "Back To Me" comin soon! Till then get your cornbread on ;)

Gearing up for Coachella: Where the soul at?

Black Keys, Cee Lo Green, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu. Done. Plus all the acts I've yet to discover. After 6 years of Coachella I never underestimate the power of the festival, the people and the music.

One of my favorite memories was catching Gnarles Barkley play their FIRST show EVER! I just walked upon this spectacle of what looked like the Wizard of OZ with instruments. Cee Lo was the lion (in the desert sun, that boy is committed!) and Danger Mouse rocked steady as the Tin Man. Believe me when I tell you that NO ONE knew the words to "Crazy" yet, the smash hit of the summer, EXCEPT my boy Shane and I simply because it leaked on myspace (remember myspace?) the same weekend we moved into a new apartment.

We couldn't get enough of "St. Elsewhere" and played it on repeat the entire weekend. We looked like freaks screaming "Craaaaaaaaazaaayy!" But we knew they'd know soon enough. Here's hoping for more unforgettable Coachella moments this year.

Y'all know by now I don't stick strictly to soul although it is my first love...

Other acts I'm dying for are: Scissor Sisters, Marina and the Diamonds, CSS and The Kills. I also cannot wait to see the Strokes reunite. We've been chasing Julian around for the past year and it looks like he's brought a little solo love to the new album. We'll see!!! Pack up ya sunscreen, let's get it in.

MAHALIA JACKSON: My Angel

Let me tell you a story...

When I shop for records, often it's a grab it all and go situation. I pick up anything and everything in the soul section (don't get me STAAAH-TED). Sometimes it takes me awhile to listen to it all so I have a few lurking around that have never been played. This was the case with Mahalia Jackson.

Mahalia Jackson was a spiritual singer who brought rock n' roll to church y'all. I first saw her on PBS while flipping through channels. There she was: eyes closed and pouring her soul into a simple hum that stopped me dead in my tracks. Who was this woman!?! I missed the part where they said her name...

A few weeks later, I went over to my record collection and picked up a record I had never played before and suddenly I heard a familiar hum. Instantly it hit me like a wave of joy that this was the inspirational angel whose simple hum guided me through recent trials and whose voice was now in my hands.  Needless to say, it now gets a lot of play. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l49N8U3d0Bw

JESSIE J: Part ONE

I don't normally curse but holy shit. She wrote this for Rhianna. It didn't work out I guess. Don't worry...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAd3ogzmnl4

TRIBUTE TO ETTA

I just had to cover this one.

"ALL I COULD DO WAS CRY" by Etta James
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yIVKeIhs5c&feature=player_embedded

And yes, I love me some granny sweaters.

<3 Steely Nash

The Velvelettes

It's no secret I wanna bring back old school soul like nobody's business. Inevitably there will be a sprinkle of now. Soul music comes from somewhere between your heart and your gut. And c'mon y'all, you GOT to strut!

The Velvelettes 1963-66

Marina and the Diamonds: MY NEW OBSESSION PART ONE

So I wanna thank Coachella for introducing me and so many others to great underground acts. This gal and her people, well, this is what she says about her name/band: MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS..

"I never envisaged a character, pop project, band or solo artist. I saw a simple group made up of many people who had the same hearts. A space for people with similar ideals who could not fit in to life's pre-made mould. I was terribly awkward for a long time! I really craved to be part of one thing because I never felt too connected to anybody and now I feel I have that all around me."


I LIKE EM' I like em' a lot. Here's her video for "I am not a Robot" I can't tell if I love the song or the make-up more...glitter lips? DONE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_oMD6-6q5Y

Etta James PART ONE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ETTA!!!

Miss Etta, I hope you know by now that you're it. You're everything. Happy 73rd mama.

Steely Nash and the Cuts IN THE KITCHEN

Sorry for the brief hiatus, we (STEELY NASH AND THE CUTS) were in the kitchen cookin' up some original SOUL for y'all!

No more hiding behind other peoples music! It's about the time..

All of these words, these notes, these sounds have just been pouring out of me thanks to all of the soul inspiration I've been into for the last, well, forever. When the time is right you just gotta jump on it I suppose.

Follow the link to preview a free sample of our debut EP: "Paper Doll"

http://soundcloud.com/savage-productions/steely-nash-and-the-cuts-paper-doll?utm_source=soundcloud

Hope you like it, we sure do!

LITTLE DRAGON: PART ONE What 2011 sounds like.

When I heard the Gorillaz latest album PLASTIC BEACH I died.

When I woke up I was in Coachella heaven and there was LITTLE DRAGON. I was mystified. http://www.little-dragon.se/

"If someone took me aside ten years ago and said that 'this is what music will sound like in 2011', I would totally believe them." -Shane "SHAG" Hagerty

Little Dragon blew our minds off at the FAIRMONT, yes, the Hotel/Chinese Restaurant in San Jose, CA (!) as they kicked off their 2011 MACHINE DREAMS Tour last night.

Every move she makes kills me.

And brings me back to life.

More...

Don't care if you thought you already knew: PART ONE: Here is TINA