Stav G - Fruition - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Stav G - My Sheltered Room.

Background - Stav​ ​G​ ​​is announcing her new single “My​ ​Sheltered​ ​Room​” due out in early January. The recent NYC​ ​​transplant offers a scathing attack on the machinations of war and an open desire for dialogue and coexistence amongst people. All this is delivered with her signature mix of venom and melody.

Growing up in a musical environment, Stav ​G​ ​​knew from a young age she wanted to bea voice teacher. She focussed on music during her High School years and continued her education at the Rimon College of Contemporary Music. 

After studying voice pedagogy and performing in multiple ensembles, Stav​ ​​went on to study at the Complete Vocal Institute in Denmark, where she graduated as a certified CVT teacher. In the meantime she also became the songwriter and leader of the indie-rock band Malinka​, as well as the indie-pop duo Stav​ ​&​ ​Roni​ ​​both of whom toured widely.

The upcoming debut album was produced by Stav​ alongside with Avi​ ​Elbaz​, who also recorded, mixed, and mastered the tracks, as well as recorded some drum, guitar, and keyboard sections. This is STAV’​s first solo album, and features all of her own original lyrics. “My​ ​Sheltered​ ​Room”​ is due out in January 2018. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

There are some refined rock hooks running through 'My Sheltered Room' which mixes refrains and flowing music as a backdrop for Stav G's determined vocals that are reminiscent of Grace Slick circa her Jefferson Airplane days, and if anything even more potent and determined. A highly impressive song!

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Fruition - Northern Town.

Background - Fruition have just released "Northern Town", the second single off their forthcoming album Watching It All Fall Apart, out February 2nd via LoHi Records. On Watching It All Fall Apart, Fruition transform pain and heartache into something truly glorious. With their songwriting sharper and more nuanced than ever before—and their sonic palette more daringly expansive—the band’s full-hearted intensity ultimately gives the album a transcendent power.

Fruition teamed up with producer Tucker Martine, (My Morning Jacket, The Decemberists, Modest Mouse) to adorn their folk-rooted sound with delicately crafted elements of psychedelia and soul. “Tucker helped us push ourselves to create something that glistens in subtle little ways that you might not even pick up on at first,” says Kellen Asebroek. “We got to play around with all this analog gear and these weird old keyboards we wouldn’t ordinarily use, like a bunch of kids in a toy store where everything is free.”

Watching It All Fall Apart finds the three singer-songwriters Jay Cobb Anderson, Kellen Asebroek and Mimi Naja fully embracing their rock-and-roll sensibilities bringing a gritty vitality to each track while still showcasing their sublime harmonies they first discovered during an impromptu busking session in 2008.

Fruition has now evolved from a rootsy, string-centric outfit to a full-fledged rock act, having taken the stage at such major festivals as Bonnaroo and Telluride Bluegrass (a set that inspired Rolling Stone to praise their “raucous originals filled with heartfelt lyrics and stadium-worthy energy”). Following the release of 2016’s Labor of Love, Fruition again made the rounds at festivals across the U.S., prompting Rolling Stone to feature the band on its “8 Best Things We Saw” at DelFest 2016. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Tour Dates:
 01/24 - Sandpoint, ID @ Heartwood Center
01/25 - Missoula, MT @ Top Hat
01/26 - Billings, MT @ Pub Station
01/27 - Bozeman, MT @ Eagles Ballroom
01/30 - Salt Lake City, UT @ State Room
02/02 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
02/03 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
02/07 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada
02/08 - St. Louis, MO @ Atomic Cowboy Pavillion
02/09 - Chicago, IL @ Martyrs
02/10 - Columbus, OH @ Woodlands Tavern
02/14 - Lexington, KY @ The Burl
02/15 - Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
02/18 - Nashville, TN @ 3rd and Lindsley
02/21 - Fayetteville, AR @ George's Majestic Lounge
02/22 - Wichita, KS @ Barleycorn's
02/24 - Steamboat Springs, CO @ WinterWonderGrass Festival
02/25 - Steamboat Springs, CO @ WinterWonderGrass Festival
03/17 - West Dover, VT @ Shamrock Weekend Mt Snow
04/06 - Olympic Valley, CA @ WinterWondergrass Tahoe
04/07 - Olympic Valley, CA @ WinterWondergrass Tahoe
04/12 - Las Vegas, NV @ Bender Jamboree
04/13 - Las Vegas, NV @ Bender Jamboree
06/01 - Taos, NM @ Music On the Mothership
06/28 - Rothbury, MI @Electric Forest

'Northern Town' is one very impressive song. The vocals and harmonies are gorgeous, the musicianship equally fine and the arrangement is just right. Alt rock with some Americana vibes and a huge dose of timeless beauty.


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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Echo.

Background - Widely acclaimed California-based band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has released their new single “Echo” which is the latest offering from the veteran rockers that features a striking, heavy-hitting guitar riff with a tantalizing hook and a booming chorus. “Echo” is now available as an instant download when pre-ordering Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s forthcoming 7th studio album Wrong Creatures, out next Friday, January 12.

Recorded in Los Angeles, Wrong Creatures takes a journey throughout rock's history, taking unlikely twists and turns, both peppered with historic influences but also having one foot firmly in the present. Remarkably, drummer Leah Shapiro was recovering from a brain tumor she suffered a few years ago while the album was created. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has been crafting perfectly honed, bluesy, psychedelic garage-rock since 1998. Ultimately, the band are survivors during an era where rock'n'roll can often be overshadowed by garish pop and domineering hip-hop - they have learned how to cut out all the noise and concentrate on what matters.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has also announced a North American tour which will kick off on January 15th and bring the band to major cities across the country including Los Angeles, Washington DC, Boston, Brooklyn, and more – full tour routing is below and tickets are on sale now here. The band has partnered with Plus 1 for the tour in which $1 from each ticket will be donated to War Child, a worldwide organization that supports programs aiding women & children dislocated and impacted by war, political unrest, terrorism and poverty.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are Peter Hayes (vocal, guitar, harmonica), Robert Levon Been (vocal, bass, guitar), and Leah Shapiro (vocal, drums). WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

North American Tour Dates:
January 15 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
January 16 Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Bure                        
January 18 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
January 19 Austin, TX @ Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater
January 20 Houston, TX @ House of Blues
January 21 New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues                                             
January 23 Tampa, FL @ The Ritz Ybor
January 24 Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution Live                                     
January 26 Orlando, FL @ The Beacham
January 27 Charlotte, NC @ The Underground                                           
January 29 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
January 30 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
January 31 Boston, MA @ Royale                     
February 2 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel   
February 5 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
February 6 Toronto, ON @ Rebel
February 7 Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
February 9 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
February 10 Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
February 11 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
February 12 St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall
February 13 Kansas City, MO @ The Truman  
February 15 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
February 16 Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall     
February 18 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
February 19 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
February 20 Seattle, WA @ The Show Box   
February 22 Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
February 23 Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
February 24 Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre

With an expansive guitar sound and vocals that are immersed in a wall of hook laden music, 'Echo' suggests twenty years on, BRMC still have plenty of creativity and style.


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Shelley Segal - VHS Collection - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Shelley Segal - Somebody Like You.

Background - LA-based, Australian songwriter Shelley Segal has announced her latest single Somebody Like You, a rock-infused, in-your-face song about a relationship interrupted.

Somebody Like You is a heavy track, and not just in sound; it details the trauma of being told by family that your relationship must end for the sake of religion – in short, it’s the perfect song to release in the midst of the polarising and supremely topical same sex marriage debate. Electric guitars wail and drums propel the song forward with a strength that Shelley has harnessed herself, as the chorus soars to the heights of her vocal range. 

Somebody Like You soundtracks a confusing, difficult time in Shelley’s life, as she explains, “When I was 18 years old my family told me I needed to break up with my partner because he wasn't Jewish - in line with our religious traditions. I chose to fight for the relationship with my then-partner, leaving home and moving in with him and his family.

Shelley has been living and working in Los Angeles for over a year now, and is currently Stateside touring Somebody Like You. Since making the move overseas Shelley has achieved a lot; spending her time writing with different artists, performing non-stop, and opening her own publishing company which saw her score a sync with the Emmy-award winning web series Venice. 

Shelley loves her new city, but is looking forward to her brief visit home to celebrate Somebody Like You with a few shows. She enthuses, “These new songs have a rockier edge than I've had before and I'm excited to share that energy onstage. Coming home will be bittersweet as it makes me a bit homesick but it will be special to be at home and play these new songs to my fans and friends. As usual audiences can expect lots of stories. Maybe even a bit of the shiny sheen of shameless LA pop will make it back over the pacific with me, we'll see.” WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The subdued musical arrangement contrasts beautifully with Shelley Segal's vocals as 'Somebody Like You' unfolds. The power is upped and a more forceful rock backdrop emerges, and as the vocals are immersed within, some additional edge is given to the song.

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VHS Collection - Sign.

Background - VHS Collection share their latest single "Sign", which has been featured on Spotify's New Music Friday Playlist upon it's release. The band is currently gearing up the release their debut LP, which is due for release in 2018. Stay tuned for more new music and info coming soon.

VHS Collection is a rock band from New York City that has gained a reputation for high energy live performances and a unique blend of rock, electronic, and disco influences. 

VHS Collection’s songs have been streamed over 25 million times on Spotify and the band has seen festival performances at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Bunbury Festival, and Okeechobee Festival in the last year.  VHS also sold out a headline show at Bowery Ballroom in February and Music Hall of Williamsburg in June, as well as LA's Troubadour, in addition to sold out club dates throughout the mid-west and throughout the west coast.  The band has released two EP’s to date and will release its first full length record late this fall.   

VHS has remained independent and is self-managed. They they are able to reach a growing audience via Spotify and other social media outlets without a label, and have also built a live following by word of mouth.  The band sold out Bowery Ballroom and NYC’s 700 cap Music Hall of Williamsburg in the last 6 months and also played several major West Coast headline dates, including LA’s famous Troubadour. FACEBOOK.

Electronic vocal harmonies open up 'Sign', before the beats kick in. It's then a flowing mixture of refined vocals and a rhythmic backdrop, both elements creating atmosphere and melodic vibes.

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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - King of Bones.

Background - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are currently putting the finishing touches to their forthcoming eighth studio album, the follow-up to 2013's Specter At The Feast, entitled  Wrong Creatures which will be released on January 12th 2018.

The band have already treated fans to three instant grat tracks, first single “Little Thing Gone Wild”  a dirty, sexy, rollicking ride of big licks and heavy bass – which was the inspiration for the LP's title, drawing on a lyrical passage. “Lord you hear me loud into my soul speaker, why won’t you let me out, you’ve got the wrong creature’.  Next up came the Cave-esque murder balladry of “Haunt” , followed by ‘Question of Faith’. On 20th November the band made a fourth track available – ‘King Of Bones’.

BRMC - Robert Levon Been — Bass, Guitar, Piano, Vocals, Peter Hayes— Guitar, Bass, Harmonica, Vocals and Leah Shapiro — Drums, Backing Vocals, Percussion, started to formulate the album in the summer of 2015. Shapiro was six months clear of  life-saving brain surgery for Chiari Malformation, a rare disorder the restricts the flow of spinal fluid between the brain & spine . The trio had come off a tour and began sketching out new songs in their private lockout space appropriately nicknamed ‘The Bunker’ in North Hollywood. “It’s a crazy making machine, it can chew you up good, I mean we literally toured ‘till the wheels came off and Leah’s brain literally started leaking out of her head” says Been. “I know I’ve battled on and off with mental depression, and Pete’s head never came with any proper instructions.”

Nick Launay, famed for his work with Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire and most significantly here Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, came in to produce the album, and became a fundamental part of the BRMC machine, providing the band with a sounding board. “I find myself writing about death a lot,” says Hayes. “I find myself having a discussion with death, which sounds dark. For me, it's dark humor.”

Adds Been “We are truly an island – come hell or high water, so it’s usually best to dress accordingly. Though I’m not sure what the proper attire is when drowning in fire. But leather usually goes with everything.” WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

I know that Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are more than likely to be given plenty of attention elsewhere however 'King Of Bones' is just to good not to include on Beehive Candy. It's dark, moody and heavy rock & roll with all of the potency this band can deliver. With four songs already shared, I wonder just what else the band are holding back on.


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