Browsing Tag

Blues Rock

Shake, Rattle and Roll with GaryHalacan’s Latest Nostalgia Slice, Hip Dip

Posted on 14 July 2023

GaryHalacan took rock n roll right back to its roots with their latest jive-worthy single, Hip Dip; there are scat vocal melodies, frenetic blues keys hammering and adrenalizing fretboard work by the smorgasbord.

As the nostalgic tones shake, rattle and roll, reminding us the genre existed way before the emergence of the Rolling Stones, the party-rocking atmosphere of the single is maintained throughout the release which proves the only thing GaryHalacan takes seriously is keeping the vibes high and the riffs soaring.

GaryHalacan is the music project of the Ohio-hailing engineering professor Paul Paslay. After growing up on a steady diet of classic rock, Paslay spent his high school and college days in choirs and multi-instrumentalists in bands. During the early 00s, the muse found him, and he started to write original music, influenced by everyone from the Beatles to DEVO to Spinal Tap. For Hip Dip, Paslay collaborated with musicians from across the globe, including musicians from France, Peru and Argentina to create a sure-fire serotonin spiller.

The official music video for Hip Dip is available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

BlueMelt grunged up classic rock in his latest single, Fading

Posted on 27 June 2023

‘Fading (Surrounded by Stars)’ is the latest riff-charged rock reinvention from the London-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Vito Tardia’s one-man project, BlueMelt. After honing his talent in progressive rock and power metal bands, Tardia moved to the front of the stage with his monolithic talent and found his rightful place.

His bluesy rock guitar work against his grungy vocals, which carry a touch of Alice in Chains in their evocative dynamism, created a bold fusion that reinvented the rock revival wheel. Since making his debut as a solo artist in 2020, Tardia has received strong support from local, international and independent press. Seemingly, we’re not the only ones taken with his utilisation of his technical ability in his emotion-driven hits that tease you with nostalgia before tantalising you with innovation.

Stream Fading on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Palace became heirs to the rock n roll dynasty in ‘Looking at You’

Posted on 24 June 2023

Just as royal blood ran in the veins of Prince and Queen, The Palace is just as imposingly majestic in their debut album, Rainbow Shades, which hit all major streaming platforms on June 9th.

The standout single, Looking at You, is a rapturous riot of Broadway-esque blues rock, with the shimmering Organ keys aiding the transcendence of the experience around the bluesy piano glissandos and the reverent rock electric guitar solos.

Star quality emanates from the natural charisma of the frontman, who utilises his soulfully profound dynamic vocal range to bring this stellar slice of rock n roll to visceral life. If your rock playlists are lacking serotonin, give them a potent fix by making Looking at You a staple.

To launch their debut LP, The Palace performed on the main stage at Indy Pride Festival, following a series of performances to capacity crowds throughout independent venues in Indianapolis.

Stream Looking at You on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Blomqvist & Mattjus borrowed a few tones from Dogs D’Amour for their acoustic rock triumph, Dangerous Curves

Posted on 10 June 2023

Any fans of bluesy rock in the same vein as Dogs D’Amour, Pretty Boy Floyd, and The Quireboys won’t want to hesitate to get the acoustic rock LP, Right on Time, from the devilishly reverent duo, Blomqvist & Mattjus, in rotation.

Track 6, Dangerous Curves, is the perfect introduction to the duo’s redefinition of the iconic rock tones that built the sonic landscape in the 70s, 80s and 90s. With vocals that could give Massive Wagons a run for their money and catchy choruses that would be best enjoyed while driving with the top down, this infectiously low-down and dirty acoustic anthem is far too irresistible for a solitary play. The celebration of sensuality veers just close enough to 80s sleaze to scintillate it with salaciousness, but the sense of bluesy soul quickly perturbed any sense of vulgarity.

Right on Time was officially released on May 23; get stuck into it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

THE PALE HORSES rolled with the punches in their soulfully heavy progressive blues single, Shallow Dive

Posted on 28 April 2023

THE PALE HORSES raucously reimagined blues with their latest feat of heavy progressive blues, Shallow Dive. The shimmering tones spilling from the Hammond organ remain definitively bluesy, as do the harmonised backing vocals, but everything else in the innovated hit came straight from the Toronto-hailing artist’s very own heavy rock n roll drawing board.

Even if you can take or leave blues and heavy progressive rock, there’s enough exhilarant substance in the release to affirm THE PALE HORSES are one of the most original acts on any scene. The jazz-inspired drums and vocal lines from Dane Hartsell transform this ode to 70s vintage tones into a riot of rock renovation, which may make traditionalists itch, but anyone who appreciates experimentalism will want to bask in the heat of this scorching sonically salacious release.

Shallow Dive is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Stephen The Storyteller pulled a wild sonic card in his punk n roll hit, Missin On.

Posted on 11 April 2023

If you fused the roguish appeal of the Cramps with proto-punk scuzz and bluesy rock n roll riffs, the amalgam would be as raucously gritty as the standout single, Missin On, from Stephen the Storyteller’s album, Supragenre.

With his whiskey-soaked vocal lines pouring into the frenetically progressive pace of the authentic by-design hit, you’ll be shakin’ like Elvis by the time the chorus kicks around. He’s the complete antithesis of artists of the modern era who create around the confines of stereotype and genre; reminiscences aside, Stephen The Storyteller pulled a wild sonic card with this release that stays true to the organic nature of expression. The Doylestown artist, poet, and producer, may keep his sound design experimentally old school, but with his music videos, he’s embraced the future and allowed AI to take the metaphorical lead.

The AI-created music video for Missin On premiered on April 1; watch it on YouTube, and check out more of his content on his official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Reverend James Elmore Jenkins keeps the devil at bay in his blues rock jam, Diapsalmata Blues

Posted on 16 March 2023

Few artists do bluesy rock n roll as reverently as Tennessee-born, South Carolina-residing artist Reverend James Elmore Jenkins, as proven by the unadulterated groove-driven swagger in his latest single, Diapsalmata Blues.

His red-hot vintage overdriven tones make The Black Keys sound like cultural appropriation while he’s blazing through the raunch-laced jam riffs that any blues rock fan will want spread across their speakers. If you can tear your attention away from the audible smoky beguile, you’ll hear the minister’s intent to push sermonic gospel through his root-wrapped hits. I may be of the impious inclination, but the uplifting soul entwined with worldly well-intentioned wisdom in Diapsalmata Blues did more than hit the wholesome spot. For your own sake, hit play.

Diapsalmata Blues will be available to stream from March 16th. Hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Beau James Wilding’s latest single, The Dove, spread its wings through artfully gritty folk-rock beguile

Posted on 10 March 2023

For his latest Waitsy roughneck folk-rock release, The Dove, the enigmatically captivating singer-songwriter Beau James Wilding collaborated with the violinist, David Stone, to create a gripping trip through unadulterated emotion.

With the folky strings bringing a touch of The Levellers to the single, the bluesy acoustic guitar tones and the devilishly innovative percussion, The Dove spread its wings through a fair amount of artful beguile while Wilding vocally riffed from his almost sermonic soul. The lyricality of the gritty release, which only lets the light in through the high timbres of Stone’s strings, is enough to make Nick Cave’s discography sound like Gospel.

Usually, Cali-hailing artists spill sun into their soundscapes; it is beyond refreshing to hear an artist resisting the atmosphere and perusing his affinity for dark Bukowski-ESQUE poetry.

The Dove is due for official release on March 10th. Hear it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ariel Skye is a silver-screen sonic dream in her latest bluesy single, Bang Bang

Posted on 26 February 2023

With a prelude of Tarantino-Esque Gretsch-y guitar tones to bring in Ariel Skye’s gravelly demure timbre, the intro to her latest nostalgia-entrenched single, Bang Bang, is nothing short of beguiling.

Finding the middle ground between Angel Olsen and April March, Bang Bang is a sultry feat of bluesy mesmerism from the up-and-coming artist, who has made light work out of carving out a niche in the industry with her evocatively sharp distinction.

Ariel Skye may have only started her music writing venture in 2019, but the Blockbuster-worthy cinematic storytelling never alludes to how recently she has started to perfect her craft. Since making her debut, she has collaborated with some impressive names in the industry, including Jim Stephens and Shaun Martin. She has also toured across Philadelphia, New York and LA with her vulnerably enticing lyricality. We’re sure the best is yet to come for Skye.

Bang Bang is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The prodigal sons of rock n roll Midnight Miles kicked up dust in their latest liberating hit, Coming On

Posted on 19 January 2023
Midnight Miles

Purveyors of road trip rock n roll, Midnight Miles kicked up plenty of dust in their latest single, Coming On. With vintage tones and crooning blues rock vocals that give The Black Keys a run for their money around the socially conscious lyrics that make no bones about documenting the depths we’ve descended to, getting caught up in this reverently electrifying feat of rock n roll is compulsory.

While the driving backbeat takes control of your rhythmic pulses, the vocals affirm that you’re not alone in thinking that everyone’s gone mad. Everyone’s down with the sickness, but there are few as sonically maniacal as these Montreal-hailing prodigal sons.

The fervidly hot guitar solos that definitively earn the Midnight Miles guitarist a spot in guitar hero history is the perfect remedy. It’s impossible to feel disillusioned while getting caught up in their liberating turbulence. The next time I need a shot of riff-driven serotonin, I know where I’m turning. No review of Coming On could be rave enough.

Coming On will officially release on January 19th. Check it out via Midnight Miles’ website.

Follow the artist on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast