Michael Gross and The Statuettes - Sunset Beach. OUT TODAY

Michael Gross & The Statuettes are an Indie Rock/Pop band from Salt Lake City that formed in 2008. Michael Gross is formerly a member of the band The Brobecks , which received regional and national recognition from various music web sites, blogs, and magazines around the country as an up and coming "buzz band".  In 2007 Michael left The Brobecks, and recorded a solo album in 2008 entitled “Tales From a Country Home”. Shortly after, Michael decided to form a band around this new project. The Statuettes were born. The current lineup consists of Michael Gross (vocals, guitar), Jimmy Kelly (guitar), Ben Johnson (bass/keys), and Andy Patterson (drums). 

The band has independently released three E.P.’s entitled  “Dust & Daylight EP” (2009), “Impulse & Exports EP” (2010), and "Imaginary Signs EP" (2011). Their debut full-length album entitled "Telepath" was released in 2010 by Jon Siebels of Eve 6, some of which are available for free download on the bands bandcamp page. (Link at the bottom of the page).

 When I received this album the band told me that they had been compared to Radiohead and Weezer and you can certainly hear those two artists in the songs, however, if you are not a Radiohead fan, don't let that put you off, Michael and The Statuettes are so much better and everyone likes Weezer right?

The album breathes into life with the melancholic "We're just shadows" which could have easily sat on Radioheads "The Bends", this is followed by the upbeat "Don't let me down" which has to be my favourite track on the album with its ultra catchy chorus and strong melody, if I was making a mix tape, for the car, this would definately have to be on it. That said, there are no weak tracks or fillers on this album, so I would suggest you just take the complete album with you.


 

The album closes with another great song, "Black is black" which is a song with a big sound and a fantastic production, this song is right in your face, actually, this one could be my favourite, in fact they could all be my favourites!

This is a well balanced album of uptempo songs and more laid back numbers, all of which are extremely well penned songs, melodic and with abundant hooks, delivered with total conviction and passion, this is a really great album and has certainly encouraged me to look into the bands back catalogue, which, I am really looking forward to hearing.

Michael and The Statuettes are:

Michael Gross - Vocals, Guitar, Jimmy Kelly - Guitar and Ben Johnson - Bass

Catch Michael Gross and The Statuettes live for FREE at one of the following gigs:

August 17th - St. George, UT @ Jazzy's

August 18th- Las Vegas, NV @ Freakin' Frog

August 19th- Long Beach, CA @ The Blue Cafe

August 20th- Los Angeles, CA @ Silverlake Lounge

Contact, befriend, like and love the band here: Facebook 

Listen to the new album and download others for free here: Bandcamp

Official Website: http://michaelgrossmusic.com/

Brandy Butler & the Fonxionaires - Don't Want Nothin' OUT NOW

Earlier in the year I raved about a splendid soul outfit from France called "Mr Day" who blew me away with their take on soul music, now I have been hit again by Brandy Butler and The Fonxionaires, this is really magnificent!

I first heard the powerful vocals of Ms Brandy Butler, on this occasion backed by the most excellent "The Fonxionaires," on the Retroman Blog Retrosonic Podcast, which was crammed full of great mod and soul music, and I immediately got in touch with Steve over there to ask him for some details as I really wanted to share this little soul nugget with the world. This is 'A' class Soul, Motown, Stax and a little Northern Soul, if you like any of those genres, you are going to love this, this hasn't been off the stereo since it arrived and it has got me delving into more of the output of both Brandy and The Fonxionaires as I am sure it will you.

‘There’s a soul revival a-comin’ and standing at the forefront of the storm is the Switzerland based band Brandy Butler and The Fonxionaires. Playing originally composed sweet and rough old school 60’s soul and then adding the sultry powerful vocals of Miss Brandy Butler (the Black American soul mama), you won’t be able to help yourself from Hip Shakin, booty swinging , and soul struttin’!

The Fonxionaires make hits. Numerous contemporary bands play soul music, recordings inspired by the classic singles of the Motown, Stax, Atlantic, and thousands of other regional U.S. record labels that forged the timeless R&B sounds of the 60s and 70s. But The Fonxionaires do something more. They take those sounds and ingeniously craft them into insistent, ingratiating music that light up the listener’s spirits like a long-lost friend entering a room.

It's been 12 years a-coming, but history has been made. The Fonxionaires have built a throne of soul, and collaborating with Ms. Brandy Butler, she'll be holding court like a Queen at its center. While their contemporaries may flirt with these highs, Brandy Butler and The Fonxionaires groove at dazzling stratospheric heights across 14 fantastic songs on this, their debut long-player: " Don't Want Nothin' "

Contact, befriend, like and love Brandy Butler and The Fonxionaires here: FACEBOOK 

Contact, befriend, like and love Brandy Butler here: FACEBOOK

Downloads available via iTunes  Amazon

Physical copies available via mail order at: http://www.copasetic.de/

Los Espeluzznantes - Sonidos Escalofriantes

 

And so the week begins again, the weekend is a distant memory, the hangover is gone and work beckons, but try as you might you can't shake the cobwebs from your head and can't bring yourself to wake up.  I have a cure!  Los Espeluzznantes are the cure.  If these guys with their dirty garage sixties infused vibes can't kick you into gear, then I suggest you take the rest of the week off.

Hailing from Almeria in Spain, their sound is crude and primitive, fuzz and farfisas jammed with the gloomy and raspy voice of Fatchivo referring to the most troubled of the Series B horror movies.
Think, The Mummies declared, The Gruesomes, Gravedigger V, The Fuzztones, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Trashmen, to The Staggers, The Headless Hearsemen and Manganzoides and you have some idea of where this band are coming from.....and possible where they are going!

 Sonidos Escalofriantes, or Spooky Sounds as it translates, is entirely sung in Spanish, but this doesn't really pose any problems whatsoever, if you can scream, you can sing along......providing you can scream in key of course!

Los Espeluzznantes are: 

Baron Fatchivo - Guitar
Mr. Cosmico - Organ
El Piña - Bass
Monica Vampira- Drums

This is an amazing album, it is everything Garage/Horror Garage music should be, raw, powerful, energetic, a bit scary and very, very loud.  Treat yourself to a wake up call!

Contact, befriend, like and love Los Espeluzznantes here: FACEBOOK

Buy the album here: Veneno Records

The Begging Sea (Ex Sherwood)

A few years back I discovered a great band called Sherwood who sadly broke up this year after several EP's and three full length albums, it was a real shame to see this band, influenced by The Beatles and Beach Boys amongst others, break up, but then that is the way things go I guess.

The good news though is that frontman Nate Henry has a new project going called The Begging Sea and is currently raising funds through "Kickstarter" in order to put a new album out.  I think that this is the only way many bands are able to put music out these days as funding from record labels is very hard to come by.

 

Take a look at Nate's great video to raise funds for the project.

 

 

So far The Begging Sea have managed to obtain pledges to the value of nearly 10,000 dollars but need to raise 15,000 to get the project under way with just under a month to go.  There are different deals for different pledges, you can have a meal with Nate, have a song written and recorded for you or someone else (cool gift idea!) or even a dog day with you and your dog and Nate and his very talented dog and much much more!

 

 

 Go take a look at the Kickstarter page here: The Begging Sea Kickstart

Contact, befriend, like and love The Begging Sea here: FACEBOOK

The 1840's - Pushing Squares Down Back to Size

This Tel Aviv 3 piece power pop outfit, led by prominent songwriter Avishai Efrat, sure know how to craft a fine tune or seven as they display here on this 7 track mini album.



The 1840's are: Avishai Efrat Vocals & Guitars, Abiathar Oren Bass & Vocals and Adam Blumethal
Drums.

This is a great debut from the band with some really driving, well crafted songs, my favourite track is the album opener "Rainbow" which has a great catchy chorus, my only disappointment with these guys is that they didn't go the whole way and release a full album, but I guess that just gives us something to look forward to!


I wasn't able to find out too much information about these guys as their bio is very short and reading their facebook to try and gleen some more info was a bit tough as the majority of the posts are in hebrew, but I am sure they would love to see some posts there from all over.

Listen to and buy the mini album at a "Name Your Price" cost here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, like and love The 1840's here: Facebook

Atomic Jones - Previous Adventures in Lo-Fi FREE 20 TRACK DOWNLOAD!

Not to be confused with the Tom Jones tribute band of the same name, this is the Atomic Jones featuring Paul Bertolino, Brent Ratkovich, Nathan Alfaro and Mitch Norwick which could only mean one thing, this is classic power pop with all the trimmings and more and what is more it is totally free and in these times of austerity measures, something for nothing is great and something that is free and great is even better!



This album was recorded on a 4 track and one surprising feature here is the quality of the recordings, but don't take my word for it, download it and enjoy it!!!!

Also check out Paul's other albums on Bandcamp, they are all brilliant and mostly free!!!!!!  Cheers Paul.

Download the album FREE here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, like and love Paul Bertolino here: Facebook

The Sitting Tenants - From The Ground Up. Out 13th August.

 

Another sparkling gem found on the bandcamp site that I just had to share is The Sitting Tenants, a band firmly rooted in the sound of the sixties but stretching their sound to encompass a bit of power pop and soul along their musical journey, I love the drive of these songs, stomping beats and some classic rhythm and blues harmonica as well as some dirty feedback!

 The Sitting Tenants are a band built from musicians with a love of classic power-pop, new wave, psych & soul. Signed to the very discerning Modernist label 208 Records, the band have a powerful small venue live show with some great tunes. This is the true spirit of pub-rock; original tunes with classic influences, well played. Thats live music!!

The Sitting Tenants are: Rob Dady - guitar, vocals, harmonica, Pat Luszcz - bass, vocals, feedback
Luke Bibby - drums and John Sawyer - guitar, vocals .

Rob Dady was the frontman and leader of the mod band "Roundabout" for ten years, touring all over Europe and releasing 2 albums before founding the "208 Records Label" and forming the current band.
The "208 Records" concentrates on bands influenced by the Mod & Psychedelic era, from power-pop to ska, from folk to soul to the mists of English Psychedelia.
Rob told me, "The aim of all my musical activity is to provide a platform for crafted bands & songwriters playing their own music influenced by classic bands from The Action to The Zombies & all in between!!" and listening to the bands on the label, not only do I suggest checking out The Sitting Tenants but check out the other artists that he has signed.

Contact, befriend, like and love The Sitting Tenants here: Facebook 

Stream and buy the album here: Bandcamp 

Check out the other artists on the 208 Records label here: 208 Records