Tag: premiere

LISTEN: Flashback, “When The Blues Come Around My Cabin Door”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Flashback
Song: “When The Blues Come Around My Cabin Door”
Album: Blues Around My Cabin
Release Date: March 27, 2020
Label: Pinecastle Records

From the Artist: “‘When The Blues Come around My Cabin Door’ was written by Don Rigsby and Billy Droze. Don brought in to the group and we loved the bluesy feel and the flow of the lyrics. I really like the production and the different instrumentation including Don’s ‘mandocaster’ breaks and back up. We all agreed that the title of the project should come from this song.” — Curt Chapman, Flashback

“I’ll just add that my brothers in Flashback were great as always and I love writing with Billy Droze because he brings a fresh perspective and new ideas to the table every time.” — Don Rigsby, Flashback

Photo courtesy of Pinecastle Records

LISTEN: The Mammals, “Radio Signal”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: The Mammals
Hometown: Woodstock, New York
Song: “Radio Signal”
Album: Nonet
Release Date: March 27, 2020 (single); May 22 (album)
Label: Humble Abode Music / Soundly

In Their Words: “The day of the 2017 Charlottesville riot I got a text from our friend, Vern, reading: ‘PLEASE for the song that kills fascists.’ ‘Radio Signal’ was written in the next 10 minutes. Where is the hope in our twisted culture? Bob Dylan says it’s in the wind. Daniel Quinn described a sacred ‘blaze of life’ that connects all things. Pete Seeger showed us the power of many people making small contributions: the ‘tea-spoon brigade.’ Each verse of ‘Radio Signal’ is a nod to one of those three great teachers, melodically informed by the beautiful old folk song, ‘Shenandoah,’ and transformed into the anthemic rock song we share with you today. ‘And I roll, and I roll, down the backroads of my soul. Lookin’ for light like a radio signal…'” — Mike Merenda, The Mammals

Photo credit: Tom Eberhardt-Smith

WATCH: Wild Rivers, “Kinda Feels Alright”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Wild Rivers
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Song: “Kinda Feels Alright”
Album: Songs To Break Up To EP
Release Date: May 1, 2020
Label: Nettwerk

In Their Words: “‘Kinda Feels Alright’ holds an important place on the Songs To Break Up To EP, exploring the positive side of a breakup. It’s also a big part of the personal story of the record. It’s about beginning to accept a breakup and feel alright. Sonically, it feels like a bridge between a classic Wild Rivers song and the new territory we explore with the rest of the EP.” — Khalid Yassein, Wild Rivers

Photo credit: Stefan Kohli

LISTEN: Webb Wilder, “Night Without Love”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Webb Wilder
Hometown: Born and raised in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, based in Nashville since 1982
Song: “Night Without Love”
Album: Night Without Love
Release Date: April 10, 2020
Label: Landslide Records

From the Artist: “‘Night Without Love’ is an old song by RS Field whom I have known for about 50 years! The song itself is easily 40 years old, although it has never been recorded and released until now. I’ve always known about it and I’ve always liked it. I guess I’m just a sucker for a good line and ‘face like an Idol from the Yucatán’ pretty much cinched it for me when I first heard it all those years ago. I used to be in a band called the Drapes. We played this song live, although Bruce Tinnin sang it instead of me.” — Webb Wilder

Photo credit: David McClister

WATCH: Saro Lynch-Thomason & Sam Gleaves, “1920”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Saro Lynch-Thomason & Sam Gleaves
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Song: “1920”
Album: I Have Known Women
Release Date: May 1, 2020
Label: Strictly Country Records

In Their Words: “This song was written to keep us mindful of the strong herstory of resisting oppression in the U.S. and to celebrate the centennial of the ratification of the 19th amendment. As this song states, ‘So much has changed. So much remains.’ There is much more work to be done before all U.S. residents are welcomed to participate in the democratic process. We hope that this song will serve as a reminder of the many generations of inspiring women who have brought us to this point in time, and inspire those in the present to keep fighting for justice and representation.” — Saro-Lynch Thomason and Sam Gleaves

Photo credit: Ben Bateson

LISTEN: 100 mile house, “Grateful”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: 100 mile house
Hometown: Edmonton, Canada
Song: “Grateful”
Album: Love and Leave You
Release Date: March 27, 2020
Label: Fallen Tree Records

In Their Words: “‘Grateful’ was probably the hardest song to complete from the new album, from any of our albums in fact. For years I wanted to be able to write about some of the darker corners of life and love — a parent suffering from addiction; not being able to have children — but to find a way to be grateful for them. Hope and courage can’t exist without these moments, so I wanted to shine a light on them.” — Peter Stone, 100 mile house

Photo credit: Jessica Fern Facette

WATCH: Grace Pettis, “Landon”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Grace Pettis
Hometown: Mentone, Alabama; current residence is Austin, Texas
Song: “Landon”
Release Date: March 20, 2020
Label: MPress Records

In Their Words: I spent about ten years writing ‘Landon.’ It was a tough sentiment to get just right. Landon and I became best friends in a high school in a small town in Alabama. He came out right after graduation and I was one of a few trusted people. My job, in that moment, was to listen. Instead, I responded with a canned answer — one that was drilled into me by a devout Christian upbringing. I knew, deep down, that I was wrong. It took me years (I’m embarrassed by how many years) to confront my conscience and admit that to myself.

“In a lot of ways, my faith journey as a liberal Catholic was jump-started by these questions. It was scary. It was liberating. I felt closer to God than I ever had. By the time I’d figured out how to write the song and how to face up to it, we’d both come to a new place of understanding ourselves in the world. ‘Landon’ is an apology. When I play ‘Landon’ at shows, I like to dedicate it to anybody in the audience who’s owed an apology; one that’s many years coming. And then I dedicate it to anybody in the audience who owes somebody else an apology; one that’s many years in the making.” — Grace Pettis

Photo credit: Nicola Gell Photography

LISTEN: Hownd, “Somethin'”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Hownd
Hometown: Byfield, Massachusetts
Song: “Somethin'”
Album: Just to Feel
Release Date: March 20, 2020
Label: Lazare Music Inc.

In Their Words: “‘Somethin” is a reflection of faith and trust in a greater good, whatever darkness may be chasing after you. I wrote this song years ago in Boston, beginning to truly explore the acoustic guitar while also wrestling with philosophies of life, purpose, and religion. Written during a time of transition and unknown, I came to find real comfort in not knowing what’s out there. Regardless of the struggle to find ‘truth,’ the faith of knowing something bigger is out there watching over me is clear as crystal, watching over everyone, I believe.” — Hownd

Photo credit: Julia Cannon

LISTEN: Fireside Collective, “Bring It on Home”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Fireside Collective
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Song: “Bring It On Home”
Album: Elements
Release Date: March 20, 2020
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “We love all genres, especially funk. Getting to show that side of our band is always fun and a nice break from bluegrass, which we also love. Carson and Jesse worked a lot on getting the bass line as groovy as possible and I think they succeeded in making this one extra funky!” — Tommy Maher, dobro

“‘Bring It On Home’ is a great example of what can be done with bluegrass instruments outside of the bluegrass groove. The song begins with a unison riff before branching out into a funky groove with tight harmonies and tasty fills and solos to match. While it doesn’t land in the bluegrass groove, this song is a great example of where the genre is heading.” — Alex Genova, banjo

Photo credit: Heather Hambor

WATCH: High Fidelity, “The South Bound Train”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: High Fidelity
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “The South Bound Train”
Album: Banjo Player’s Blues
Release Date: June 12, 2020
Label: Rebel Records

In Their Words: “Everything about ‘The South Bound Train’ just screamed High Fidelity to me, including the fact that it had been all but forgotten in the bluegrass collective consciousness. Jim & Jesse wrote and recorded it during their classic early ’60s era, but it was never released until the 1990s. It was such a strong song, especially with their arrangement, I thought, ‘We can’t not record this!’ Their version is led predominately by the banjo, and given High Fidelity’s love for the banjo, we wanted to put our spin on the song utilizing twin banjos. We have a history for pushing our own limits in this band, and I love the intensity of Jeremy and Kurt [Stephenson] singing and playing banjo at the same time on such an up-tempo number!” — Corrina Rose Logston, High Fidelity

“We had a blast making the video for this one, too. Corrina and I scouted the locations for the shoot with the help of a CSX employee that we met track-side in Northern Davidson County, Tennessee. He pointed us in the direction of an area with high volume and high speed rail-traffic, and that is where we went, finding the two locations that are seen in the video. It was very interesting being poised to shoot not knowing when a train was coming, but it all worked out great. We hope everyone else enjoys the video and the song as much as we did making it!” — Jeremy Stephens, High Fidelity

Photo credit: Amy Richmond