Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Jared Putnam of The March Divide ponders dying in Arizona, doesn’t actually die in Arizona. New EP “Don’t Let Me Die In Arizona” out Aug. 4th.

Latest produced by Mike Major (At The Drive In, Coheed & Cambria) represents San Antonio-based artist’s fifth EP, alongside three LPs since 2013.

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Jared Putnam of The March Divide as photographed by John Glover

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Hear “Tired Voice” from the “Don’t Let Me Die In Arizona” EP at The Big Takeover or the links below!




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The March Divide – In The Press

“Impressively hooky.” — American Songwriter

Big Star-informed, strummy acoustic reverie.” — BLURT

“Completely clever.” — Performer

“Bittersweet beauty.” — Impose

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The March Divide has released three albums and four EPs of original material since 2013. Listen to the singles here.

Jared Putnam, The March Divide’s sole permanent member, is a non-stop workhorse. His upcoming EP “Don’t Let Me Die In Arizona” (August 4th, 2017) represents the fifth EP of original material, along with three full-length albums, that he has issued since 2013.

“I really wanted to deliver something more pop than rock,” Putnam says about “Tired Voice,” the first single from the new batch of songs, now streaming via The Big Takeover. “Lyrically, this song is about the one step forward, two steps back feeling that comes with every music career, over time.”

Thankfully, the new EP is not posthumously titled “I Died In Arizona,” but it came close.

“I was in Arizona for a week and I got sicker than I’ve ever been in my life on that trip.” Putnam also happened to be listening to the final mixes of these new songs at the time. “For the rest of my life, I’m always going to associate these songs with how sick I was that week. I actually remember listening to the mixes and saying out loud, ‘please, don’t let me die in Arizona.’”

Today, Putnam is safely back home in San Antonio, Texas. “Don’t Let Me Die In Arizona” arrives on August 4th, 2017. Jared Putnam of The March Divide is available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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The March Divide – Live

8/04/2017: San Antonio, TX @ The Point Park & Eats
8/05/2017: Fort Stockton, TX @ The Garage
8/06/2017: El Paso, TX @ Westside 3rd Tavern
8/09/2017: Amarillo, TX @ The 806
8/10/2017: Dallas, TX @ Adair’s Saloon
8/11/2017: Wichita Falls, TX @ Gypsy Uncorked
8/12/2017: Tulsa, OK @ Red Brick Bar
9/15/2017: Galveston, TX @ MOD Coffeehouse
9/28/2017: New Orleans, LA @ Checkpoint Charlie’s

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The March Divide
“Don’t Let Me Die In Arizona” EP
August 4th, 2017
  

Track Listing:

01. Tired Voice (SOUNDCLOUD | MP3)
02. I’m Not Sorry
03. Cherry Bomb
04. Someone Else’s Problem
05. Make Me Trip

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The March Divide Links


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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion


Monday, June 26, 2017

Mark Bryan preps third solo album, Helps to bring Charleston, South Carolina’s new music scene into national spotlight.

Two-time Grammy-winning guitarist for Hootie and The Blowfish to release “Songs of the Fortnight” collection Aug. 11th.

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Mark Bryan as photographed by Jonathan Boncek.

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Hear “If You Saw Her” from the upcoming Mark Bryan album “Songs of the Fortnight”



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Charleston! Mark Bryan plays a record release show at The Windjammer on Thurs., Aug. 10th ahead of the two-night Hootie stand on Fri., Aug 11th and Sat. Aug 12th at Volvo Car Stadium!

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Ask anyone in the Charleston, South Carolina music community about Mark Bryan, and they'll say, “Oh, everyone around Charleston knows Mark!” In actuality, everyone around the world probably knows a little bit about Bryan, whether they know they know or not.

As the guitarist for the two-time Grammy winning, nearly 20-million album selling band Hootie and The Blowfish, Bryan’s guitar playing was ubiquitous in 1995, contributing to the biggest album sales of any release that year, and leading to what is now ranked as one of the biggest selling albums in music history.

Of course, success at that level brings with it all sorts of pre-conceptions, so when first hearing the tunes on Bryan’s upcoming third album Songs of The Fortnight, (August 11th, Chucktown Music Group), listeners will be surprised at the down-to-Earth songwriting that plays as just-earnest enough to be relatable and believable, while also sounding like Southern hospitality.

After Hootie went on hiatus almost a decade ago, Bryan became passionate about producing other artists. As he began to amass dozens of production credits, he also started to record and release songs on the fly – first his own, and then those of other artists he was working with.

This led to the launch of the “Song of the Fortnight” blog, where Bryan posted a new song of his own, or an artist he was playing with or producing, every two weeks, for three years. Eventually, there was enough material for an album, which comprises the 11 songs on Songs of the Fortnight.

The album features ten Bryan originals, and an opening cut that is another nod to Bryan’s ease at throwing the spotlight; a barn-burning cover of Scruffy The Cat’s college radio favorite “Mybabyshe’sallright” (featuring frequent REM collaborator Peter Holsapple on harmonica.)

In fact, Songs of the Fortnight functions as somewhat of a capper – the “Song of the Fortnight” blog could have continued indefinitely if Bryan hadn’t received an offer to work for the College of Charleston, but the opportunity was right in line with his interest and continuing passion for elevating the local music community.

Furthering his community efforts, Bryan also teamed up with the esteemed local venue, the Charleston Music Hall to launch a television show “Live at the Charleston Music Hall,” which recently won a regional Emmy Award for Arts and Entertainment in the Southeast, and he is also heavily involved in Carolina Studios, a non-profit recording studio that allows children in low-income areas to have a songwriting and recording experience free-of-charge. Bryan also brings his unique perspective on the industry to his work managing the emerging Charleston-based rock band Stop Light Observations.

“Charleston is an amazing city in the middle of a remarkable renaissance,” Bryan says of his adopted hometown. “I’m lucky to be part of its growth.”

Mark Bryan’s third album Songs of the Fortnight arrives August 11th via the artist’s own Chucktown Music Group. Bryan is available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Mark Bryan
Songs of the Fortnight
(Chucktown Music Group)
August 11th, 2017
  

Track Listing:

01. Mybabyshe’sallright
02. If You Saw Her  (SOUNDCLOUD | MP3)
03. Almost Loved Me
04. A Little Bit of Everything
05. The Great Beyond
06. Forgetting About Me
07. Whole Lotta Lovin’ (feat. Hank Futch)
08. Sweet Love (feat. Kathy Dempf)
09. Only Love Can Satisfy
10. A Song For Maryland
11. Maybe Then (Acoustic)

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Mark Bryan Links


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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion


Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Tree Machines launches summer tour dates on first day of summer, Shares “Weights and Stones” lyric video from upcoming “Up For Air” debut LP.

Band’s two-year labor of love set for Sept. 1st release. See “vintage L.A.” video for “Waiting On The Sun.” RIYL: The King of Limbs, alt-J, Glass Animals.

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Tree Machines (L-R): Douglas Wooldridge, Patrick Aubry. Photo by Kasia Nawrocka.

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Tree Machines – In The Press

“Anthemic.” (The Wild) | “Gleaming placidity.” (BlackBook) | “Some LA soul that indie pop needs.” (Popdust) | “Viciously human.” (Atwood) | “Emotionally staggering.” (Diffuser) | “Best new rock song of the year.” (BULLETT) | “Beautifully brutal.” (Innocent Words) | “I’ve been unable to stop listening.” (Gold Flake Paint) | “Hope and illumination.” (The Vinyl District) | “Heart-quickening sentimentality.” (MAGNET) | “Best thing I’ve heard all week.” (Daytrotter)

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Tree Machines – On Tour

06/21/2017: Norman, OK @ The Red Brick Bar
06/22/2017: Fayetteville, AR @ Smoke And Barrel
06/25/2017: Milwaukee, WI @ Bremen Cafe
06/26/2017: Davenport, IA @ The Raccoon Motel
06/28/2017: Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
06/29/2017: Lincoln, NE @ Duffy's
07/01/2017: Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
07/02/2017: Denver, CO @ Hermans Hideaway

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“The clip looks like vintage L.A., you know, from the ‘80s like ‘The Terminator.’” (PureVolume)






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See the lyric video for “Weights and Stones” via Verbicide or listen via the links below!





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The bug that drew the Lawrence, Kansas-bred band Tree Machines – vocalist and lyricist Doug Wooldridge, his bandmate Patrick Aubry, and their producer, engineer, and drummer, Mike Giffin – to Los Angeles two years ago is about to yield its most impressive result to date. Up For Air, the album the band has labored over since moving into a house in the tiny L.A. neighborhood of Canoga Park and turning the garage into a tracking room, is now scheduled for release on September 1st.

The celebrate the completion of Up For Air and give the new songs a chance to breathe, Tree Machines will launch a week of tour dates on the first day of summer (June 21st), including an appearance at The Raccoon Motel in Davenport, Iowa presented by former Daytrotter-founder Sean Moeller, currently of Moeller Nights, who previously hosted the band after being one of the first industry tastemakers to discover Tree Machines upon the release of its hard-to-ignore, first-ever single “Fucking Off Today” in 2015.

A full Up For Air album track listing is forthcoming (the album is currently being mastered by Greg Calbi [Born To Run, Graceland] at Sterling Sound), but, for now, two singles from the album, “Waiting On The Sun” and “Weights and Stones” are already available.

“In our old band, Doug and I had always talked about an electronic component to our songs,” explains Aubry of “Weights and Stones.” “We were listening to Radiohead’s The King of Limbs, Alt-J’s debut, and Glass Animals. Needless to say, after forming Tree Machines, and as we were working on “Weights and Stones,” we were enjoying taking it to an electronic, clubby type of sound. And then we heard Lewis Del Mar’s song ‘Loud(y),’ and it really opened our eyes. I think of ‘Weights and Stones’ as our official ‘hello.’”

A music video for the “Waiting On The Sun” single is also out now.

“The shoot began after a couple drinks at a dive bar near the Paradise Motel,” Wooldridge says about the sequences that prompted PureVolume to reference the “vintage L.A.” of “The Terminator” in its coverage of the clip. “We had just wrapped up a few establishing shots when some patrons of the motel left the room we were parked in front of and left the door wide open. We spent 30 minutes filming inside a room we hadn't paid for hoping that the couple that had left weren't gonna drop back in!” he says.

See Tree Machines on tour from June 21st through July 2nd. Up For Air, the band’s debut album, is scheduled for release on September 1st, 2017. Members of Tree Machines are available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Tree Machines Links


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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion



Thursday, June 8, 2017

Married Bakersfield-based duo Fawns of Love follows-up “perfectly woozy” debut album with “Falling/Standing” 7-inch, out July 7th.

Hear “Falling” now via Overblown, hear “Standing” now via Spill.  Band to play release show at The Echo in Los Angeles on July 8th.

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Fawns of Love (L-R): Joseph Andreotti, Jenny Andreotti. Photo credit: Joseph Andreotti.

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Hear two new songs by Fawns of Love now via Overblown and Spill or the links below!

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Fawns of Love: “Falling”




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Fawns of Love: “Standing”




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Los Angeles! See Fawns of Love live at The Echo on July 8th, 2017! 

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Fawns of Love – In The Press

“Drifts along dreamily.” — MAGNET

“The soft gauze of Cocteau Twins and Slowdive. Perfectly woozy.” — FLOOD

“This is not quite dreampop, rather hauntpop.” — Overblown (UK)

“Captures turmoil through impenetrable sonic textures and emotionally thick lyrics.” — Atwood Magazine

“There is obsessive joy in the Fawns of Love’s take on shoegaze.” — The Big Takeover

“Dream pop perfection. ” — When The Sun Hits

“Could become your favorite band.” — The Blog That Celebrates Itself

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Married Bakersfield, California-based dreampop duo Fawns of Love returns hot on the heels of early 2017’s debut album Who Cares About Tomorrow with a new double-A side 7-inch and cassette “Falling / Standing,” to be released in that most physical of forms on July 7th, 2017. As the debut Fawns of Love album was released, and students headed to the beach for spring break, their teachers headed to the recording studio. At least that’s what the Andreottis did.

“We recorded ‘Falling’ and ‘Standing’ in our apartment during our spring break from teaching,” Joseph explains. “We used a vintage reel-to-reel, Korg MS-20 synthesizer, Korg SQ-1, and Electro-Harmonix analog guitar pedals alongside Logic. A Warren Ellis signature Eastwood Tenor Guitar was used as was a Fender Jaguar bass guitar.”

Taking notes, kids? These specifics will be on the quiz!

Quiz: How long have the Andreottis been making music?

Answer: Married for 13 years, and performing together for 16, the duo has variously recorded and toured throughout that time under the names Funeral Club and Peppermint Kisses, releasing records with RCRD LBL, Plastiq Musiq, and several others along the way. In 2013, they began a break when Jenny enrolled in a history graduate program, but by 2017, it was time to begin being a band again, including choosing a new name.

Quiz: How did Fawns of Love choose the name Fawns of Love?

“One of our favorite records is Hounds of Love by Kate Bush,” Joseph says. “We wanted a name that would pay homage to that record.”

Diving back into creating, the Andreottis decided to do something new with their latest musical inspiration, bringing their love of not only Ms. Bush, but also My Bloody Valentine, Blur, Pulp, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Chills, along with the aforementioned Cocteau Twins and Slowdive to the new project.

And Sparks. In Jenny’s case, lots of Sparks.

“To prepare for this album, I listened to every era of Sparks every chance I got,” she says. “What did I learn? That there is only one Sparks, so I better find a voice that works for me. I must say I am pleased with the results.”

Indeed, Fawns of Love takes all of these legendary sounds, which some immediately think of as cold or aloof, and makes them pop with overtones of The Smiths, New Order, and the undeniable warmth that comes from the Andreotti’s many years of making music together.

Look out for the “Falling / Standing” 7-inch and cassette by Fawns of Love on July 7th. The duo’s debut album Who Cares About Tomorrow is out now. Jenny and Joseph Andreotti are available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Fawns of Love
“Falling/Standing” 7-Inch / Cassette
(S/R)
July 7th, 2017


Track Listing:

Falling (SOUNDCLOUD | MP3)
Standing (SOUNDCLOUD | MP3)

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Fawns of Love
Who Cares About Tomorrow
(S/R)
Out Now


 Track Listing:

01. Silly Boy (SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | MP3)
02. That’s What We Do (SOUNDCLOUD | MP3 | SPOTIFY | VIDEO)
03. His Face
04. How We Live Now
05. Names, Names, Names
06. Miranda
07. Girls
08. Scattered Pieces

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Fawns of Love Links


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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion


Friday, June 2, 2017

Lexington, Kentucky-based ten-person ensemble Big Fresh releases new “Fall Preview” EP, launches week-long tour today.

Guest vocalists include Robert Schneider of Apples In Stereo on “Paralyzed,” Michelle Hollis on tribute track “Like Swayze”.

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Big Fresh (clockwise fr. upper left): Faith Diamond, Matthew Clarke, Brian Conners Manke, John FergusonNick Coleman, Kim Smith, Ben Phelan, Dave Farris, Ben Fulton. Photo credit: Chad Stockfleth.

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Hear “Paralyzed” (feat. Robert Schneider) at Brooklyn Vegan and see the video at Impose or the links below!




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Big Fresh – In The Press

“Tuneful, quirky pop.” — Brooklyn Vegan

“Big Fresh throws the listener one curveball after another.” — PopMatters

“Proud purveyors of exotically down-home art pop.” — Ace Weekly (Lexington)

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Big Fresh – On Tour

6/02/17: Huntington, WV @ The Press Club (w/ ATTEMPT, Letters)
6/03/17: Washington, DC @ Seventh Stanine Festival (w/ ATTEMPT)
6/04/17: Baltimore, MD @ EMP Collective (w/ Hanna Olivegren, ATTEMPT)
6/05/17: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge (w/ Matt Duncan, ATTEMPT)
6/07/17: Pittsburgh, PA @ Howler’s (w/ Delicious Pastries, ATTEMPT)
6/08/17: Cleveland, OH @ Happy Dog (w/ ATTEMPT)
6/09/18: Columbus, OH @ SpaceBar (w/ Val Glenn, ATTEMPT)

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Chattanooga’s Nooga.com says the latest Big Fresh single “Like Swayze” is “bathed in a cosmic AM rock luminescence.” Check it out!

“We got tired of hearing ourselves singing lead on every track,” explains John Ferguson of Lexington, Kentucky-based ensemble Big Fresh. “So we invited a few of our talented friends to join us.”

Big Fresh, one of Lexington’s most venerable pop music institutions, is proud to announce the release of “Fall Preview,” one of two EPs that the ten-member band has scheduled for 2017 on its own Desperate Spirits label. “Fall Preview” represents the first Big Fresh release in six years, following up the band’s third full-length, 2011’s Moneychasers, and is available today digitally and on collectible limited vinyl.

One of  the “talented friends” appearing on “Fall Preview” is Robert Schneider, co-founder of the Elephant 6 Recording Co., and Ferguson’s bandmate in The Apples In Stereo. Schneider sings lead on the first “Fall Preview” single “Paralyzed,” recently premiered via Brooklyn Vegan, with an accompanying music video now streaming via Impose. The latest single from the EP is “Like Swayze” (yes, that Swayze), which features lead vocals from Lexington-based Hip-Hop and Soul singer, Michelle Hollis.

Ferguson explains, “‘Like Swazye’ started out as an instrumental slow jam and morphed into an outlet for my obsession with ​​Patrick Swayze’s films. From ‘Point Break’ to ‘The Outsiders,’ from ‘Dirty Dancing’ to ‘Road House,’ ​​Patrick Swayze is, for me, the ultimate action star. He’s the thinking man’s action star. He’s not afraid to own the dance floor with the hottest women in the room, or to rip a motherfucker’s throat out. Our song, ​​‘Like Swayze’ is an homage to the vulnerability and strength presented in the collected works of ​​Patrick Swayze.”

Drawing from musical touchstones near and far, “Fall Preview” synthesizes the breezy harmonies of The Free Design, the lush arrangements of David Axelrod, and the gleeful deconstructionism of XTC.

In addition to the contributions from Schneider and Hollis, “Fall Preview” features vocals in Mandarin by Bianbian, lead singer of the Beijing pop band Candy Monster, on its opening cut “Tongku,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Beans” features the stylings of Hair Police founder, Trevor Tremaine, and “Yes Yes Yes” is voiced by former Big Fresh singer, Kate Pope.

Big Fresh hits the road (all ten band members!) today for dates in the Northeast and Midwest (see above for itinerary), and the second EP in this series, “Sweeps,” will follow closely behind in the fall. “Sweeps” will also feature guest vocalists, this time including Ken Stringfellow of The Posies, Per Sunding of Eggstone, and Karen Hover of Sound of Ceres.

The “Fall Preview” EP by Big Fresh arrives today digitally and on collectible limited vinyl. John Ferguson of Big Fresh is available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Big Fresh
“Fall Preview” EP
Out Now
(Desperate Spirits)


Track Listing:

01. Tongku (feat. Bianbian)
02. Paralyzed (feat. Robert Schneider) (SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | MP3 | YOUTUBE)
03. Rock ‘n’ Roll Beans (feat. Trevor Tremaine)
04. Yes Yes Yes (feat. Kate Pope)
05. Like Swayze (feat. Michelle Hollis) (SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | MP3)

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Big Fresh Links


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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion