Browsing Tag

Blues Rock

Keith Rayburn – Shine On: Guitar Strings as Gospel

Posted on 19 September 2024

For his latest eagerly anticipated release, Shine On, Keith Rayburn rendered funk-laden rock into smoky, Motown-esque soul intersected with bluesy grooves to offer conjurings of catharsis so intense the single borders on sonically sacred.

Each progression plunges the listener deeper into a hazy, irresistibly immersive soundscape that echoes the nostalgic aura of The Doors as his guitars speak gospel in chorus with the lyrics which attest to how dimming your light is never the answer when the illumination of resilience is an option.

Rayburn is well on his way to riffing his way into the rock pantheon with his peerlessly cultivated sonic signature that will scribe its way through your synapses long after the outro of the sublimity-soaked sanctuary of a single which is easily one of the most sincere feel-good releases you’ll hear all year.

With tens of thousands of monthly Spotify listeners from around the globe behind him and his versatile musicianship, Rayburn is well on his way to reaching the acclaim his superlative song crafting deserves. Make his ear for a melody your new aural remedy.

Shine On arrived on the airwaves on September 4th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ross Flora – Santa Ana Wind: A Whiskey-Soaked Country Blues Rock Ode to a Femme Fatale

Posted on 16 September 2024

If you’re looking for a track that anchors itself in the quintessence of bluesy country rock, look no further than Ross Flora’s latest single, ‘Santa Ana Wind’, which speaks rhythmic volumes of the singer-songwriter’s seasoned artistry as a fret veteran.

With the sublimity of the single manifesting through the gravelly timbre of whiskey-soaked vocal lines that caustically cut across the winding, sustained guitar notes, it is destined to become a sonic sanctuary for anyone who feels at home in the Nashville sound.

Ross Flora, with a guitar in hand, Flora becomes a conduit of hypnotism, weaving an alchemic spell that prompts you to ponder just when his visage will grace the halls of rock n’ roll fame. His cultivated ability to wrap an aura of seductive soul around his virtuosity is a testament to his rightful place in the annals of music legends.

Raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Ross’s origin story was written early after exposure to a tapestry of R&B and Bluegrass influences. From harmonising in church pews under his father’s tutelage to shredding Van Halen tracks in his youth, his path has always been marked by intrepid sonic exploration, which continued when he put down roots in Nashville and amassed a legion of fans with his unique ability to paint panoramic portraits through sound and soul.

With ‘Santa Ana Wind’, Ross Flora ensnares the listener in a narrative wrought from his rural roots and life’s meanderings, underscored by his literary acumen and deep respect for his musical forebears like Gregg Allman and Chris Cornell.  It’s impossible to reach the last note without finding equal amounts of room in your heart and on your music radar for Ross Flora.

Santa Ana Wind was officially released on September 6th; stream it on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Steven Gravino unleashed the unbridled soul of rock n roll with ‘Beyond the Point of Control’

Posted on 29 August 2024

With a track that rhythmically rolls through the lo-fi garage and indie glamour of proto-punk, Steven Gravino’s single, Beyond the Point of Control, is so more than just a retro-fuelled throwback. Here, the gritty rock licks allow Gravino to explore previously untrodden terrains, conjuring a soundscape where it is easy to envision Josh Homme crooning over bluesy rock jams.

Brash in all the right spots and soothingly melodic where it matters most, the release deserves reverence as an instant rock n roll classic. Steven Gravino, an accomplished musician with a vast repertoire of 42 songs, brings a depth of experience that is palpable in every chord and chorus in Beyond the Point of Control.

Having self-recorded, played all instruments, and delivered lead vocals and harmonies, Gravino’s DIY ethic shines as luminously as his talent which has seen him hit the stage more than 1,200 times, testifying to his enduring passion for and commitment to music.

Stream the official music video for Beyond the Point of Control on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Danielle Dennis glammed up blues rock with her latest hit, Fool’s Gold

Posted on 10 August 2024

With her latest single, Fool’s Gold, the rising-through-the-industry-ranks rock phenomenon, Danielle Dennis, proved that when it comes to emotional labour for those with an aversion to accountability, a woman’s work is never done.

If the indomitably raw edge of Hannah Wicklund met the creative conjurings of Stevie Nicks, the meeting point would be the affecting high-octane alchemy in Dennis’ scintillating sonic signature which ensures the singer-songwriter’s ink goes beyond skin deep and permeates the soul.

The San Francisco-born, New Orleans-based artist and producer unequivocally evinced that all of the best people would have been burnt at the stake for Witchcraft in the days of Salem; what she manifested in Fool’s Gold is almost beyond the realms of tangible comprehension.

If you can’t get enough of Fool’s Gold, pin her to your radar and await her forthcoming debut EP which will span all her influences through an amalgamation of gritty blues rock, synth-heavy pop, organic folk, and vibey trip-hop.

Fool’s Gold will be available to stream on all major platforms, including SoundCloud, on August 9th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Subterranean Deadbeats debauched Melbourne’s Garage Rock Scene with ‘Hang Me Out’

Posted on 8 July 2024
Spewing Voodoo by Subterranean Deadbeats

Subterranean Deadbeats AKA Melbourne’s answer to the Rolling Stones, with their latest single, Hang Me Out, captured the defiant swagger of 70s garage rock while also tapping into the raw, unfiltered energy of their bluesy, swamp-infused, and wickedly pornographic sound.

Frontman Chris Taranto, alongside his bandmates, has swiftly carved out a niche with their rhythmic revolt to the superficial banality that is choking the music industry; with their scorching guitars and Taranto’s versatile vocal delivery that oscillates between a piercing drawl and a melancholic lament, they’ve delivered what the rock scene has been crying out for.  After filtering through a debauched kaleidoscope of psychedelic grit and haze, their music seeps into the listener’s bones like a sonic contagion that refuses to be cleansed.

With two fingers up to polished pop and TikTok trends, the prodigal pack of renegades is instigating a garage rock insurrection.  Hang Me Out is an audacious call to arms, a dirty, delicious slice of rock that dares you to remain unmoved. With guitar solos that reach the heights of glorious filth and harmonies sweet enough to temper the raucous backbone of their tracks, Subterranean Deadbeats aren’t merely reviving the soul of rock and roll—they are imbuing it with sacrilegious vitality.

For anyone yearning for the days when music was a revolutionary act, not just background noise, Hang Me Out proves that the spirit of rock isn’t just alive; it’s kicking, screaming, and ready to convert the uninitiated. Listen, but be warned: the Subterranean Deadbeats might just make a believer out of you.

Stream and download Hang Me Out on Bandcamp now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Witness the resurrection of old-school soul in Shaun Finn’s plea for salvation, Mrs. Doctor

Posted on 18 May 2024

There’s no aural cocktail for the soul as alchemically potent as the opening soul rock salvo, Mrs. Doctor, from Shaun Finn’s debut EP, Oak & King.

The conduit for the soul of old-school soul and blues used euphonic melodic cadences to filter raw and confronting lyricism through, ensuring the vintage timbres of the track hit with maximum dualistic impact. The urgency within the pleas for medicinal salvation matches the sincerity of the delivery, which is sure to strike a chord of empathy with anyone who isn’t a long way down the sociopathic spectrum.

Just when you thought that Shaun Finn couldn’t possibly impress anymore, the smoky laidback arcane air slips away to make room for one of the most paralysing blues-rock guitar solos carved on this side of the millennium.

The Vancouver-based artist’s ability to reach out directly to you while immersing yourself in his emotional expression is one thing. The talent exhibited in this vignette of a soul searching for a cure is another. Why his name isn’t in lights across international stadiums is honestly beyond me.

Stream Shaun Finn’s debut EP, Oak & King on Spotify or stream the official music video on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JD Kucharik rekindled the soul of blues rock with ‘Leavin After Midnight’

Posted on 30 April 2024

JD Kucharik deserves to be placed on the same pedestal as Santana after releasing his INCEPTION EP, featuring the standout single, Leavin After Midnight, which delivers a sound rich in vintage blues rock reverence.

Hit play and encounter a deft evocation of classic blues rock soul that JD Kucharik has meticulously honed over decades. The release is the epitome of aural alchemy; the otherworldly presence comes as a result of the arcane electricity of its instrumental arrangement with Kucharik’s commandingly charismatic vocal presence. The narrative woven through the tune—a story of a fugitive seeking transient solace—adds a compelling lyrical depth to the rich instrumental backdrop.

With a career spanning over 50 years, Kucharik’s roots in blues and rock are evident as he plays the B3 Hammond, piano, guitar, or drums. His approach to music remains steadfastly organic, eschewing auto-tune and computer-driven edits for real-time, hard-earned sound craftsmanship. His dedication to traditional recording methods ensures that each release, whether from his extensive archives or fresh from the studio, resonates with authenticity and passion.

Leavin After Midnight was released as part of JD Kucharik’s EP, INCEPTION, on April 20; stream the release on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The overdriven alchemy in Three Mile Island’s Ride Your Luck unleashes sonic spirits.

Posted on 23 April 2024

With elements of dreamy indie and classic rock n roll as the cornerstones of their sonic signature in their latest seminal single, Ride Your Luck, the West Midland’s prodigal sons of innovation, Three Mile Island, found plenty of room between the stylistic pillars of influence to inject their own over-driven, time-defying, alchemy.

The haunting chorus, which incidentally replicates what Black Sabbath’s single Changes does to the soul, fused with vocals that are as locked and loaded with visceral dynamite as Chris Cornell’s, Rolling Stones-reminiscent lead guitar work and an underpinning aura of Primal Scream’s iconic release, Give Out But Don’t Give Up, culminates in a single that doesn’t only allow you to imagine what is possible when the intersections of rock are explored, it grips you with a soulful intensity that leaves an inexplicable mark.

If this is the future of rock, the genre is about to make one hell of a mainstream comeback.

Stream Ride Your Luck on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Be a (Bar)Fly on the Wall with Jude & The Strangers’ Standout Single Beggar’s Tavern

Posted on 10 April 2024
vhttps://youtu.be/lkQ5-JY2qsQ?si=_iyY6k5qhmczSu_v

Some tracks ensnare you with hooks, others dig to the depths of your soul; Beggar’s Tavern by Jude & The Strangers dug into the trenches of the latter camp.

Imagine sinking beers with Bukowski, drinking in the sanctifying feeling of listening to Journey, experiencing the panoramically artistic gravitas of Father John Misty, and getting your blues rock licks as a courtesy of the Black Keys simultaneously, then you’ll get an idea of what this era-spanning Tour De Force delivers.

With all the infectious charisma of Jim Jones himself, singer-songwriter Aiden Jude doesn’t just command attention, he drenches his work in kinetic emotion. With a sonic iteration of a borstal breakout to conclude the single, it’s safe to say we’re beyond desperate to hear the rest of the Beggar’s Tavern LP which will arrive in May 2023. The New Jersey music scene won’t know what has hit it after the launch.

Beggar’s Tavern is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Backwoods Creek delivered the ultimate Southern soul-rock anthem ‘Alright’

Posted on 15 March 2024

Sensing cynicism in the universal waters, Backwoods Creek prescribed a potent dose of optimism with their latest single, ‘Alright’. The refreshing take on bluesy soul-swathed Southern rock played fast and loose with the genre constraints while keeping the instrumental arrangement tight enough to unravel as every rock-inclined muso’s wet dream.

Part lyrical mantra, part musical Tour De Force, the UK-based quintet exhibited ‘Alright’ as a masterclass in balancing raw, overdriven guitars and whiskey-soaked vocals with an undercurrent of hope and redemption. It’s a track that carries the dynamic energy of power pop while remaining true to its bluesy rock and roll roots.

The virtuosic cohesion of the instrumentals showcases their skill and chemistry, honed through years of friendship and collaboration, and you don’t have to buy tickets to their live shows (even though you really should) to witness their infectious energy performance energy; the band’s electrifying aura is perfectly captured in this track.

No one can deny that while life is on a downward trajectory hearing everything will be alright prises ennui out of your perception. This life-affirming hit goes beyond reassurance –  it’s transformative.

Alright will hit the airwaves on March 15; check out the release via the official Backwoods Creek website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast