The Tummies and The Rockyts

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The Tummies “9:30 Girl”

This Nashville, Tennessee group has a great dynamic with the dual vocals of Judd Fuller and Dana Radford, and a Beatlesque streak a mile wide. Fans of The Rooks and Grip Weeds will adore this band. The original songs all wear the influence on their sleeves but don’t sound like a slavish imitation at all.

The jangling Rickenbackers and harmonies of “Sweet Little Mistreater” will carry you away to Merseybeat heaven and it sticks fast. The catchy “Little Blue Heart” and “Puppet” continue the party, and the title track is a slow ballad daydreaming about a girl you see on your commute. It effectively shifts moods on the acoustic “Collector” but it’s the groovy dance tunes like “Stuff Like That” is what these Tummies do best. Overall, the songwriting and musicianship are perfect without a note of filler. Highly Recommended.

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The Rockyts “Come On And Dance”

The Rockyts are a young Ottawa band who are modernizing the ’60s British Invasion sound for a new generation. Their high energy performances include original tunes that have a Merseybeat formula and several classic covers. 

The opener “All of the Time” certainly has the goods, with some similarities to the Fab Four’s “Anytime At All,” it’s pure catchy fun. The originals recall several other bands, notably The Dave Clark Five, The Animals, and Manfred Mann. Most of the songs are fast tempo and around 2 minutes in length. “Run, Run, Run” and “Have Love Will Travel” have more of a garage rock style. The Knickerbockers “Lies” and  The Easybeats “She’s So Fine” are also a perfect fit for this trio.  They stray from the formula a little with the instrumental “Espresso,” and it’s a good showcase for each band member. While this is a terrific debut, I would love to hear more originals songs. But these guys are young and hopefully, we’ll hear more very soon.

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Bubble and The Amplifier Heads

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Bubble “Other Broken Dreams”

NYC power pop group featuring songwriter Dave Foster (guitar/vocals), Russ Alderson (bass/vocals), and Tommy DeVito (drums). In their current incarnation, with Rembert Block (vocals/perc), Mike Fornatale (lead guitar/vocals), and Charly Roth (keyboards) they have recorded their first album in a decade. Opening with “Be Careful” it’s a theme for the COVID age, with a jaunty XTC-inspired rhythm.

The jangling ballad “You Don’t Have To Say It” boasts a great piano bridge as the chorus rises in triumph and the catchy “Mail Order Submarine” is full of wonderful percussive effects and Beatlesque guitars. The songwriting is superb on “Don’t It Make You Wanna Cry,” a bittersweet tune about the loss of a music venue and that last show, and the folk acoustic “There is Hope” provides some encouragement for the soul. The album’s second half doesn’t score as high, but still provides good listening with the highlights “Make It Through” and “Never Gonna Let You Go.”  Mostly it’s great music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

The Amplifier Heads

The Amplifier Heads “Music For Abandoned Amusement Parks”

Boston based musician Sal Baglio moves from those sunny singles of summer with a sobering autumn album that is very much like getting lost in an amusement park after dark. The opening “Funhouse Mirrors” starts the album theme with some hopeful anticipation, but the slow guitar instrumental “The Lonesome Carousel” changes the mood quickly, next “September Song” describes the back-to-school routine.

Musically, Baglio keeps these melodies finely developed, with just enough hooks to keep you coming back for more. Stylistically akin to Tom Petty “Candy Apple Girl” and “Ghost Song” are highlights that focus on nostalgic memories. The title track recalls Andy Partridge, with its swirling baseline and the energetic guitar riffs in “Freaks” tell a former carny’s story. At times it feels like Sal ran out of ideas towards the end of the album, as short musical interludes seem to take over. But overall the songs are effective — and ultimately worth checking out.

Bandcamp | Kook Kat Musik

Friday Night singles: Brent Windler, Vanilla, Dave Sheinin, Richard Turgeon, Neil Nathan

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Enjoy the gentle strums and multi-part harmonies of Brent Wilder. Looking forward to this LP soon, but get the FREE download in the meantime.

The irrepressible Jayson Jarmon of Vanilla is back and he’s “So Happy” featuring the vocals of Kara Jane. Both bouncy and passive/aggressive.

Dave Sheinin gives us a timely look at trying to find “bits of bliss” among the daily stress and anxiety.

The prolific Richard Turgeon pens a genuine love letter to his instrument.

A celebratory ode by Neil Nathan, inspired by the sounds of the Traveling Wilburys, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne. Featured on the season finale of Quarantine The Show, a fundraiser for the SAG/AFTRA Covid Relief Fund.

Happy Birthday to John Lennon!

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John Lennon’s 80th Birthday would have been on October 9th, 2020. To celebrate, a number of artists have released tributes in his honor.

John Lennon Tribute

Various Artists “Jem Records Celebrates John Lennon”

Each band is given a pair of tunes, and this first-class tribute starts with the premiere Beatlesque band The Weeklings. They add a Bo Diddley styled rhythm to this unique arrangement of The Beatles “The Word” and flesh out the bare-bones Lennon demo “What’s The New Mary Jane?” NYC-based The Midnight Callers deliver some sweet harmonies on the acoustic “Child of Nature” and bluesy lead guitar on “Jealous Guy.”

The Grip Weeds are faithful to the spirit of “You Can’t Do That” and “Strawberry Fields Forever” and the depth of sound and crisp production are impressive.  The Anderson Council’s Peter Horvath channels Lennon well on “I Found Out” with its swirling psychedelic reverb. Johnathan Pushkar and The Gold Needles also deliver the goods. Richard Barone’s speeds up the tempo in the lone mashup of  “Revolution” and “Power To The People.” It all works and is Highly Recommended.

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Timmy Sean puts a modern spin on several classics with his new EP – It’s a FREE download. Enjoy!

Reno Bo has done Beatles tributes before, but this one is new! It’s a FREE download. Enjoy!

John Lennon

John Lennon “Gimme Some Truth”

This latest ‘greatest hits’ collection is likely the best sounding mix you’ve ever heard and really does do justice to John’s compositions. Remixed by Paul Hicks (who did Imagine – The Ultimate Collection), all 36 tracks were selected by Yoko and son Sean to tell John’s post-Beatles story and illustrate his many moods. All gift-wrapped in numerous deluxe packages (the big one has a commemorative book, stickers, postcards, and extensive liner notes.)

Lennon’s searing indictment of self-serving politicians and “narrow-minded hypocritics” is even more relevant today than it was over forty years ago. The selection of songs includes his most popular work giving them new life for generations to come. Highly Recommended.

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Jared Lekites and Ryan Hamilton & the Harlequin Ghosts

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Jared Lekites

Jared Lekites “Looking For Diamonds X”

Jared Lekites is a singer/songwriter based in Oklahoma City with a style that’s part Paul McCartney and part James Taylor. This was Jared’s 2010 debut, but with plenty of time during the COVID-19 lockdown, he reworks and re-recorded many tracks here plus a bunch more. “Love That Lasts” opens with gentle harmonies comparable to Brian Wilson’s balladry and the title track boasts a great opening riff and a catchy verse that carries you along with a “bop-bop” backing rhythm in the chorus.

The variety of musical textures and instrumentation is impressive on “Electric Car Ballet” and “Let Your Hair Down (Once In A While).” In addition, the full-length version of the album includes the singles Jared recently finished gem “Freebird” and some great covers; McCartney’s “Temporary Secretary” and The Beach Boys underrated “I’d Love Just Once To See You.” Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik


Ryan Hamilton and the Harlequin Ghosts

Ryan Hamilton and the Harlequin Ghosts “Nowhere to Go but Everywhere”

Ryan Hamilton and the Harlequin Ghosts continue to write hook-filled melodies that made their Wicked Cool Records debut a top ten album last year. The gentle opener “Only A Dream” sets the bittersweet tone with crisp vocals that foreshadows the theme ahead. Ryan has a real love of music’s past and “Oh No” featuring Key Hanley demonstrates this by naming a bevy of his favorite album titles. Similarly “Jesus & John Lennon” name-checks some more, with a mild country-pop rhythm.

The album finally shows some bounce with “Out of My League,” a fun tune about getting that pretty girl, and the follow-up “Let’s Go Slow” is a mid-tempo tune about that first date. Next, “Can I Get an Amen” seems to recall Bon Jovi’s “Dead or Alive” in the melody. While there is no filler, the band feels like its playing safe here. After the upbeat “Newcastle Charm” it may lull you to sleep with the next few tunes. And while the last tracks “We Gave It Hell” and “Pick Yourself Up” complete the love-lost song cycle, the lyrics feel rote and predictable. Still, it’s a good collection of songs that deserves to be heard.

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