It’s an age-old story: band gets together, band makes amazing music, industry folks want in on the excitement, and things begin to change–not always in a positive way. Such is the journey of rock duo Blacktop Queen, who burst onto the Los Angeles scene a few years ago. ”So we release the music, we’re rolling,…
“Growing up, I listened to my dad jamming in the living room with so many incredible musicians. Stevie Nicks would hang out, Herbie Hancock, my dad’s bandmates from Blood, Sweat & Tears and there was loads of jazz,” recalls California pop singer Shana Halligan. Even as a young girl, Halligan was surrounded by music, so it was no surprise…
As a thaw set in over Knoxville with balmy weather reaching over 50 degrees, there was a fresh energy in the air for the final day of The Rhythm N’ Blooms Music Festival. A quick look at my schedule revealed it was going to be an eclectic day as I had circles around acts with…
“My dad was in this rock band in the 80s. I was brought up around music, and I think at a really, really young age I connected with it. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized what I was feeling when I was younger was this feeling of ‘Oh, you’re passionate about this…
Saturday brought a mix of anticipation and layers (and layers) of clothes as Rhythm N’ Blooms once again was ready to rock the chill off Knoxville’s Old City. It was such a busy day, we needed to just jump right into the music. At every festival, a few acts emerge from their sets leaving a…
Nestled in Knoxville’s Old City, the annual Rhythm N’ Blooms Music Festival calls one of the Scruffy City’s scruffiest and diverse neighborhoods home. Boasting a diverse lineup mixed with local favorites and national touring acts, it’s a can’t-miss event. I was so excited to get the party started, I left Nashville without putting my suitcase…
Internationally-acclaimed multi-platinum rock band The Verve Pipe has been making music for the last 25 years; known for cranking out stellar songs, they’re widely known for their massive 1997 hit “The Freshmen,” which made those of us who were freshmen around that time swoon whenever we heard it—and, it still has that same emotional effect…
Following the release of their latest album Bark Your Head Off, Dog, Philadelphia indie-rock band Hop Along debuted the album’s first music video for their atypical break up song, “How Simple.” Despite being a song about the fears and life lessons associated with growing up, the video showcases frontwoman Frances Quinlan dancing about unapologetically–perfectly complementing such an…
After spending months in the studio working on new material, R&B singer/songwriter Allen Stone is finally giving us a taste of what he’s been creating. In his newest soul-filled single, “Brown Eyed Lover,” Stone tells the struggle of being a touring musician while also being in a serious, committed relationship. Despite its external appearance, the…
Nashville indie-rocker Brandy Zdan is causing a ruckus with the release of “I Want Your Trouble,” the first single from her upcoming album, Secretear. Zdan reveals the song was inspired by a text message she received from her now-husband, Aaron Haynes. He wrote, “I WANT YOUR TROUBLE.” Both Zdan and Haynes knew they held the…
Philadelphia rockers Vacationer are drawing listeners in with their groovy 1960s-inspired, synth-driven single, “Magnetism.” The first release since their sophomore album Relief back in 2014, it’s safe to say Vacationer made it well worth the wait. Lead singer and bassist Ken Vasoli reveals the song came about easily and quickly, rejuvenating his joy for making…
Simplicity can be hard to come by these days, especially when it comes to live shows. Artists fill rooms with artificial fog and multicolored strobe lights, putting on some of the most elaborate live performances you will ever see. Yet when Max Gomez played Nashville’s High Watt on April 3rd, it was like a breath…
Mo Lowda & The Humble may not have been prepared for the intensity of a Nashville crowd when the trio took the stage at The Basement: “This is the first time we’ve played Nashville on a weekend,” frontman Jordan Caiola noted early on. “This is the largest Nashville crowd we’ve had,” he reflected as the audience…
Frequently I try to use million-dollar words to bring the concert experience to life. However, this time I’m going to keep it simple—Fruition’s recent concert at Nashville’s 3rd and Lindsley Music Club was downright fun. Please don’t get me wrong, the band brought plenty of musical fire and lyrical flare, but blended in a dose…
No stranger to live performances, singer/songwriter Max Gomez set out on his spring tour at the beginning of March. Starting and ending in his home state of New Mexico and including a visit to our beloved Music City, Gomez admits he feels more confident than ever in his ability to put on a live performance…
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