CD Reviews on projects by Indie Rock Artists
Dave Vargo’s fourth album, “Ghost Towns,” showcases his roots rock style, blending Americana with catchy melodies. Notable tracks include the reflective “Anything at All” and the hopeful “New Life.” While Vargo excels with inventive guitar work and storytelling, he sometimes falls into overly poppy territory, maintaining an engaging yet complex outlook on life’s challenges.
Joshua Josué is a bilingual singer-songwriter blending Latin soul, R&B, and pop. His latest album creatively completes unfinished songs by rock legends Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly, balancing authenticity with inventive arrangements. This project honors Chicano rock heritage while showcasing Joshua’s unique voice, making it a conversation across generations.
Coastland Fair, formed by Tola Lamont and Kurt Michael, merges coastal soul with Americana, crafting songs blending folk, roots rock, and indie pop. Lamont’s emotive vocals and Michael’s vintage guitar tones create a unique sound rich in storytelling. Their music invites listeners on a heartfelt journey through life’s experiences.
Pavlov’s Dog, formed in the 1970s, blends rock, classical, and folk music, achieving cult status. Their latest album, Wonderlust, showcases renewed creativity and skill, featuring member collaborations and David Surkamp’s unique vocals. With engaging tracks and profound themes, the band continues to evolve, proving their lasting relevance in progressive rock.
Gerry Casey interviews Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes, who rose to fame as Cold Chisel’s frontman in the 1970s and has since achieved unprecedented success as a solo artist with 19 number one albums. A bestselling author and ARIA Hall of Fame inductee, he continues to captivate audiences with his powerful performances.
ALO, a California rock band with over 30 years of history, comprises Dan Lebowitz, Steve Adams, Zach Gill, and drummer Ezra Lipp. Their new album “Frames” features diverse songwriting from all members, showcasing their strong friendship and musical synergy. The record blends emotion and humor, marking a significant evolution for the band.
The Yellowjackets’ 27th album, “Fasten Up,” showcases the band’s genre-defying style through a mix of compositions from its current quartet. With members contributing their unique sounds, the album blends soul-jazz, traditional fusion, and electronic elements, resulting in varied tracks that highlight their evolution over four decades.
Massy Ferguson’s seventh album, “You Can’t Tell Me I’m Not What I Used to Be,” showcases a departure from their traditional sound, blending lush instrumentation with layers and textures. Produced by Damien Jurado, the album features both familiar heartland rock and riskier psychedelic elements, resulting in an uneven but adventurous collection of songs.
“Back On Track” marks Pure Prairie League’s return after nearly two decades, showcasing a blend of their classic and contemporary sound across twelve tracks. Featuring founding member John David Call and primarily original songs by current members, the album celebrates their musical roots while appealing to both old fans and new listeners alike.
Lucinda Williams, the three-time Grammy winner, will release “Sings The Beatles From Abbey Road” on December 6. This album, part of her Lu’s Jukebox series, features covers of Beatles songs recorded at Abbey Road Studios. It showcases her powerful vocals and unique interpretations, cementing her enduring creativity at 71 years old.
Johnny Delaware’s album “Para Llevar” reflects his diverse experiences recorded across multiple locations, blending roots rock and psychedelic sounds. With introspective lyrics capturing his personal journey, Delaware explores themes of love, resilience, and self-discovery. The album, rich in poetic imagery, reveals the complexities of finding oneself amidst physical and emotional landscapes.
SWEET is a celebrated British rock band with over fifty years of influence across continents. Andy Scott is pivotal in preserving the band’s musical legacy and ensuring high-quality performances. The current lineup includes Paul Manzi, Bruce Bisland, Lee Small, and Scott, continuing to deliver the iconic high-energy sound of SWEET.
Jake Shimabukuro and Mick Fleetwood’s “Blues Experience” album showcases their collaboration, interpreting classic blues songs with an innovative touch. The album features notable tracks and contributions from renowned musicians, highlighting Shimabukuro’s ukulele prowess. Recognized globally, Jake has played with top artists and received prestigious accolades, making this album a notable release.
A live set from the Gregg Allman Band at Uncle Sam’s in Boston, recorded on July 1st, 1983, has been released seven years after Gregg Allman’s passing. This inaugural release includes nine tracks, featuring Allman Brothers Band classics and solo pieces. Key contributors include former Allman Brothers members Dan and David Toler.
Emily Duff’s “The Obvious Invisible,” produced by John Jackson, reconnects her with 70’s psychedelic folk rock. Featuring a diverse ensemble, the album’s tracks explore themes of love, resilience, and self-reflection. Highlights include “Dangerous,” “She Never Loved Me,” and “Amazing Light,” each showcasing Duff’s unique lyrical and musical talents across twelve stripped-down songs.
Alan Walker, previously of The Brilliant Mistakes, releases his second solo album, A Little Too Late. His music draws influences from Joe Jackson, 70s pop, and bands like Squeeze. Walker wrote and performed nine songs, featuring various notable musicians. The album is characterized by rich harmonies, varied instrumentation, and an overall uplifting feel.
Snake Oil King is Widespread Panic’s first album in nine years, featuring six eloquent songs showcasing the band’s musical talents. The album highlights the unique contributions of each member, blending styles and genres. With emotionally evocative lyrics and melodies, it captivates audiences both within and beyond the jam band community.
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you Gerry Casey’s Interview with Pete Williamson of Mammal Like some scarecrow prophet, vocalist Ezekiel Ox spits out his passionate diatribe with a wild-eyed maniacal zeal, fusing rapid-fire rhetoric and soaring melody, while guitarist Pete Williamson lays down the sort of riffage that’ll have any punter’s fist unconsciously forming […]
Little Feat Sam’s Place Hot Tomato Productions / MRI Little Feat’s 55 years have encompassed a colorful mélange of seven configurations, 13 members including nine singers, and six of them principal lead singers. Their music has traversed a spectrum from garage rock and roll to the blues, country, impressionistic jazz, and swamp-drenched and New Orleans-styled […]
Bex Marshall Fortuna As the presenter of a radio show I often felt I’ve got the best job in the world. The volume of music I receive and the quality of it constantly surprises and amazes me. That was most definitely the case when I received Fortuna the new album by London based blues artist Bex Marshall. Fortuna […]
Making a Scene Brings you Gerry Casey’s Interview with Rev. Jonni Hodson of Silveroller Silveroller have been a band that’s caught my attention for quite a while now . So when the opportunity came along to interview the band I jumped at the chance. This band possesses and energy that grabs your attention. In this […]
Eddie Roberts & The Lucky Strokes Self-titled Color Red Guitarist Eddie Roberts steps away from his The New Mastersounds and other jazz-funk related projects that typically appear on the label Color Red, to step into southern rock with a new group of musicians who are debuting on the label. Dubbed The Lucky Strokes, the band […]
Uncle Lucius Like It’s the Last One Left Boo Clap/Thirty Tigers The Austin, TX band Uncle Lucius returns after a five-year hiatus with Like It’s the Last One Left. Essentially this is the story of a fan base that just wouldn’t let this band fade away. Yet, there were other fortuitous factors at play as […]
Bloodkin Out of State Plates World Will Turn This reissued, remastered, remixed, and appended Bloodkin’s Out of State Plates revisits the band’s 1999 effort, their third album and the first produced by the near legendary David Barbe. Barbe is the main culprit here as well, as he gained permission from co-founder Eric Carter and the […]
Chest Fever Music from Big Pink Blind Owl Let’s get the prerequisite qualifier down first; this writer has made an exception and is covering a cover band. It’s only happened three times before, and for the same reason – love and respect for the music of The Band. Two of these were with Jim Weider-led […]
Ross Pederson Identity Self-released Drummer and producer Ross Pederson’s Identity is a digital release. When viewing his credits, the album title is certainly apropos as it would be difficult to peg just where he fits musically. He’s collaborated with Snarky Puppy, supported Patti Austin, is the regular drummer for Manhattan Transfer, and is currently working […]
The Mike Jacoby Electric Trio The Long Haul Self-released Singer-songwriter Mike Jacoby has moved away from his multi-instrumental solo act that’s sustained him through his last three albums, in favor of a trio. This is not a ‘power trio’ in the context of a blues-rock act; but simply a way to generate musician interaction, thereby […]
Brandon Seabrook and Epic Proportions brutalovechamp Pyroclastic Venture in at your own peril. Only truly adventurous and open-minded musical listeners could appreciate, not necessarily understand or even endorse but willing to take the bumpy ride offered by guitarist and banjoist Brandon Seabrook, one whose music lives on the edges. His is a mashup of punk, jazz, […]
Jeff Beck Tribute Atco Released just in time for this week’s star-studded Royal Albert Hall concerts in honor of Jeff Beck, this Tribute EP serves as a tiny, tasty appetizer of what the late, groundbreaking guitarist was capable of. Everyone knows the name Jeff Beck for a reason. Organized by Eric Clapton, the shows […]
Dorian and Nayanna Holley DNA Ropeadope Sometimes it’s just refreshing to hear an album of familiar tunes, rendered by unfamiliar artists who put their own special stamp on the tunes. This is the case for the father-daughter team of Dorian and Nayanna Holley. Dorian was a backup singer for Michael Jackson and was the musical […]
The Bomboras Songs from Beyond MuSick Songs from Beyond marks the return, after a 25-year hiatus of the neo-surf band, The Bomboras. This long-awaited comeback album finds this five-member outfit rocking harder than ever. Of course, the original surf bands made their mark in the ‘60s. Are you old enough to remember those radio hits […]
Steve Smith and Vital Information Time Flies + A Prayer For the Generations Wounded Bird Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer Steve Smith, formerly of Journey, and recognized in many quarters as one of the all-time best drummers, has been leading his jazz group, Vital Information, for forty years now so this represents a […]
Blood, Sweat, & Tears What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears? – Original Soundtrack Omnivore Now that we think about the question posed in the album title, it’s one that many of us have pondered, or in most cases, probably forgot about in the intervening years. Yet, those who lived through the brief […]
Mike Miz Only Human Blackbird The singer/songwriter/guitarist Mike Mizwinski, better known as Mike Miz, took a major step by moving to Nashville three years ago. Miz has a strong following in his native Northeastern Pennsylvania as a jam band icon, from early band Morning Pride to his various Miz band lineups to Phish and Grateful […]
JP Ruggieri Gradually Descend Into Chaos Self-released For those who follow The Wood Brothers or the excellent album from singer/songwriter Jarrod Dickenson, guitarist and fellow singer/songwriter JP Ruggieri may be a familiar name. To the rest of the you, this may serve as an introduction although Gradually Descend Into Chaos is his second full-length album. […]
Emanual Casablanca Blood on my Hands Kings County Blues Blood on my Hands, the debut album from Brooklyn-based blues-rocker Emanual Casablanca has quickly garnered my admiration. Casablanca’s all-in approach to music produces deep and personal songs. That’s what makes his blues honest and real. This album contains sixteen tracks of all-original material featuring an amazing arsenal of guests which include Eric Gales, Albert […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an interview with Stephen Jacques A rising star in the Alt-Rock scene, frontman Stephen Jacques & legendary indie producers Alan Weatherhead and John Morand, collaborate on this prolific body of work. A manifestation of material Stephen gathered throughout his career as engineer, custom builder, and actor. Over 300 Radio […]
The Lone Bellow Love Songs for Losers Dualtone After delivering four highly acclaimed albums with reputable, decorated producers, the harmonious trio, The Lone Bellow have self-produced their fifth album, Love Songs for Losers. Recorded in the possibly haunted former home of Roy Orbison, this album weaves in some pain with the unbridled joy that characterized […]
Sara Niemietz Superman Self-released Singer-songwriter Sara Niemietz has had widely eclectic musical tastes since childhood. So, it should not be surprising to see her deliver one of the most purposely diverse, genre agnostic we’ve heard with Superman. Partnering with top-notch co-producer, co-writer, and guitarist Linda Taylor, the duo brings us fourteen tunes. Niemietz, though a […]
Steve Yanek Long Overdue Primitive The title suggests recognition that’s been a while in coming. The credits reveal impressive names, beckoning us to listen. Singer-songwriter Steve Yanek has talented friends in producer Jeff Pevar of the Crosby Stills and Nash touring band on acoustic, electric, and resonator guitar, lap steel, bass, and backing vocals, along […]
Steve Forbert Moving Through America Blue Rose Admittedly this writer was smitten with singer-songwriter Steve Forbert’s 1978 debut, Alive on Arrival and its 1979 follow-up Jackrabbit Slim. He’s made close to twenty records since with a few worthy gems such as 1997’s Here’s Your Pizza and 2012’s Over With You, continually maintaining his signature folk-rock […]
Specky Cult Jumping on our own bandwagon Long awaited and finally here! The debut album from “Specky Cult”. Specky Cult is Andy McGrevy Rob Glover and Carol Stephen. Coming from the north east of England, they bring a breath of fresh air to the music scene with ultra-cool sound and lyrics that are as endearing as they are original. Funny, […]
The Boxmasters Help…I’m Alive Help…I’m Alive, the twelfth and latest release from The Boxmasters, ushers in a dozen new original songs from J.D. Andrew and Bud Thornton. With each of their recordings, I’ve always been delighted to listen to the guys navigate through their spectrum of influences. This album most definitely carries on that tradition. An infectious hook, powered by a […]
Frank Joshua “Sense Life” Frank Joshua, singer/songwriter from London has just released his debut album “Sense Life”. An album that gets under your skin and is as rich and diverse in themes as life itself. 10 songs that don’t leave out any feeling and that take us emotionally into the singer’s emotional world. Frank says […]
Ceramic Animal Sweet Unknown Easy Eye Sound Hailing from eastern Pennsylvania and the Bucks County town, Doylestown, cited by USA Today as having one of the “best small-town cultural scenes,” we bring the fourth album from the band Ceramic Animal. The band has been able to build a devoted fan base through their three previous […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an interview with Steve Noonan Steve Noonan, a former recording engineer for Prince, is a blend of influences from post-modern British bands to 70’s songwriters. The end results are clear vocals entwined in pleasingly connected sections, all surrounded by his 12-string guitar’s lush open chords. His 2009 self-titled EP release established […]
John Evans Heart of Reason John Evans, singer/songwriter and producer, based in North Wales, just released his new album “Heart of Reason” in February 2022. John started with a debut album after finishing school and art college together with two of his school friends Alan and Linda Thompson. “Magic Man EP” was released in 2010. […]
Wyatt Pauley & Jam Tako Burn it to the Filter After releasing their first EP “From Tokyo To Florida” in 2021 Wyatt Pauley and JAM TAKO delight us again with a collaboration and with “Burn it to the Filter” Wyatt Pauley comes out of Florida and is what you can call a multi-talent. Producer, songwriter, […]
Massy Ferguson Joe’s Meat & Grocery North & Left Joe’s Meat & Grocery is the sixth album for the Seattle-based alt-country rockers Massy Ferguson (MF), known for their jangling, no-holds barred guitar driven attack and their invigorated fusing of country-rock and amped-up Americana. You would expect a heavy, driving sound. After all, they take their […]
North Mississippi Allstars Set Sail New West The North Mississippi Allstars (NMA), helmed by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, sons of famed musician and producer James Luther Dickinson, have long operated as a small loose collective, with slight changes to the lineup over their 25-year plus history. Highly decorated with four Grammy nominations, Set Sail […]
You must be logged in to post a comment.