With all that shit going on in the world, it is soothing to find bands that will get your hopes up again. The Alternates, a band from L.A. just made my day, a little brighter.
Sounding like a band, really in love with what they are doing, and with a vocalist, that reminds me of Mr Vedder, when he was at his best, they have great things ahead.
Their EP Spiders and Webs, released on Luxury Wafers. is a complete compilation of sweet music. Indie-Rock at the tip of super greatness. I see only greater music coming up ahead from these guys. Currently touring the US, we at Kentuckyseven can only write them down on our wish-list for an European visit.
Take a listen at the great sounds of The Alternates:
A month and a half to go. Then Way Out West will finally kick off in Slottsskogen, Gothenburg, Sweden. This will be the festival to look up this summer.
The starting XI is – as always – great with big-stuff-headliners mixed with folk-rock-gems. And the signing of Swedish Godfather Joakim Thåström – his only gig of 2011 – makes us @ Kentuckyseven go hmpfh.
Check out this great b-side-take of his 2005-song ’Fan Fan Fan’ recorded 03.00, alone in the studio. Pretty stunning.
This new LA-band blew my mind a couple of weeks ago. I first heard them thanks to their vid-maker Jimmy, who sent me one of their songs; I Was A Child. Intense, brutal and beautiful all at once
I don´t know shit about Burial at Sea. But I know what I hear, and I definately know what I like. This is some important piece of music. Here´s the song Heartless Lover.
Picture Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen, somewhere there among those voices and sounds are Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons, this magnificent Rhode Island band. Mr Joseph Fletcher has a voice that convinced me from the first line. And the Western-shirts worn in the videos I’ve seen, testifies of the authenticity of the band.
Listening to the album White Lighter, I notice how I move from dreary rainy Swedish june-days to a dusty and rural American countryside. The country that gave birth to this genre. The genre that keeps changing, for the better.
Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons are a great part of taking the great Americana and Country music to the next level.
Simon Raymonde from Bella Union and Cosmos Music Group opened our eyes for Cashier No. 9. The band from Belfast have become a Kentuckyseven-darling and we´re hooked on their sound, their cook-up of Northern Ireland and California. We´re hooked on their brilliance.
In the words of Simon Raymonde:
”When I heard the music, it was like finding that missing jigsaw piece. Taking cue from the 60s greats, like The Zombies, The Kinks and The Beatles, waltzing through the 70s with all the west coast Beach Boys flavours , all delivered with that swagger that has been missing from UK music since early Verve, early Stone Roses, early Oasis, and yet the most important ingredient is of course the songwriting of Danny Ford, singer and guitarist.”
Check out Guillemots forthcoming single ’I must be a lover’. The song will be released July 3rd on Geffen Records from their record ’Walk the river’ reviewed on Kentuckyseven – here.
Listen to this great rocksong from the fresh Vetiver album The Errant Charm, out next week via Sub Pop. It´s a really sweet record, a perfect soundtrack of a warm summer evening. An elusive, wandering tale.
Ride ride ride is an old-school shuffle, a boogie-woogie for the already lost. Ancient, easy-going stuff. And man it rocks. Don´t miss Vetiver in Gothenburg, June 21, on Woody West Limited Edition.
Remember Ben Harper? The man that gave us classic 90´s-albums as ’Will To Live’ and ’Fight For Your Mind’ not to mention the kick-ass ’Live From Mars’ from 2001. He´s back with a new album; ’Give Till It´s Gone’.
Kentuckyseven loves this guy. He just released a great new single with that free-flyin-Tom Petty-Bob Dylan-whole-hearted-American sound that we can´t resist.
This is a tune that grows on you. Great lyrics, and a certain vibe that makes me wanna get behind the wheels and head into the dark, dark night. Check it out.
”I am most in my element when my hands are on the keys”, now that is what made me want to listen. Sunday Lane, a 20 year old artist from Tulsa OK, now living in L.A.
Classically trained, and with a voice that would fit in any genre given to her, she creates music. Music about social injustices, young love, and growing up. And the way she does it. The expression. Beautiful in every note.
If you happen to be in Pasadena CA on june 18, be sure to check her act out.
Meanwhile, check out this great video of Won’t Go Back Down…
Way Out West keeps two feet in front of everyone else this summer. Superstars Prince and Kanye West are joined by our swedish godfather Joakim Thåström, the everlasting Fleet Foxes, instru-gods Explosions In The Sky, fking awesome Yuck, hot Edward Sharpe, oldgold The Jayhawks, folky-vibe Timber Timbre, beautiful Warpaint, and my personal favband The Avett Brothers.
And we still got our hopes up bout The Head And The Heart…
Latest booking is very interesting, iamamiwhoami. Check out this vid:
