Singer-songwriter Sarah Arslanian is once again bringing her songs of heartache and hope to fruition with her latest release 'Darling'. Performing as Ladytown since 2003, she has performed throughout the Unites States and her songs have been played internationally. Sarah has released 2 albums to much acclaim: 'Ladytown' (2003), produced by Bernie Larsen (David Lindley, Lucinda Williams, Melissa Ethridge) and 'Thirty-Nine Nineteen' (2006), produced by Aram Arslanian (Lisa Marie Presley, Rilo Kiley, Watson Twins).
Sarah has recorded and collaborated on numerous projects, working with such notables as Mark Fosson (Bum Steers) as well as providing vocals as a member of the Bright Mountain Choir for the indie rock phenomenon The Mountain Goats. Often compared to Emmylou Harris and Alison Krauss, Ladytown’s haunting songs weave her influences throughout, yet they are uniquely her own.
In the song "Bombs", Sarah’s honey tinged voice gently carries us wave-like on a journey that explores a desire for escape and the contradicting need for complacency. "Bye–Bye Baby" is a driving alternative country song that highlights her vocal range and brings a live feel to album. This high energy song should be played at top volume. "Coins", while not a duet, is a conversation between two lovers long torn apart. While one holds on to the memory of it the other has moved on without looking back, both having two very different recollections of just what the relationship meant. Ladytown’s pop-song "Let’s Run Away" is an unexpected and wonderful gem. The sheer joy of falling in love is expressed with such sweetness and excitement that it harkens back to the innocence of a 1960’s feel-good hit.
Having lived and performed in the Los Angeles area for many years, Sarah now calls the Pacific Northwest her home. She continues to write and record, while also making a name for herself in the Portland music scene. She will be touring in support of 'Darling' in 2011.
www.ladytownmusic.com
www.myspace.com/ladytown
The Lamplights
The Lamplights are an Australian trio who believe that great music is great music, no matter what the genre. This is reflected in their performances – it is evident that the three share a firm belief that quality songs form the foundation of quality performances. With a wide repertoire, the trio's sound is best described as an organic blend of funk and folk, served with a side of blues, sprinkled liberally with jazz and dished up with a whole lot of heart.
Staying true to their roots, there’s an honest feel to The Lamplights’ music that stems from their connection to the community. They continue to perform regularly at Gold Coast markets, mixing with the locals, making new friends, playing songs especially for the kids and gaining fulfilment from close community spirit - this is a big part of what they do and why they do it. The Lamplights' audiences leave performances feeling like they have participated in something emotional and special.
The Lamplights are aware that it’s when they’re having a good time on stage that the audience really engages and they endeavour to play music for the sheer joy of it rather than to simply perform for the benefit of others. Ironically, it’s this humble and heartfelt sentiment that attracts the crowds. The obvious pleasure the trio get from making their music draws people in just like the soft glow of a lamplight on a cold, damp night.
www.thelamplights.com
www.myspace.com/LamplightsMusic
Lars Cleveman
”This may well be the most important Swedish record of 2009” - (Jonas Almqvist, The Leather Nun)
Lars Cleveman, one of the most renowned opera singers – in Sweden as well as internationally – also boasts a long legacy as a rock artist, as a solo performer and as one of the founding members of the absurdistic, nihilistic post-punk band Dom Dummaste (The Dum Dum Boys).
On ”Voices In My Head”, Cleveman's third solo album as a rock artist, he is backed by The Plastic Pals, a New York-rock/power pop band from Stockholm. On a couple of tracks Cleveman once again collaborates with his long-time partner from Dom Dummaste, Martin Rössel. The album is produced by Björn Öqvist (Pennebaker/Spaceage Baby Jane) and is released by Polythene Records (distribution: Plugged).
www.plugged.se
http://polythenerecords.se/
www.myspace.com/polythenerecords
Last Man Standing
Where did it all go so wrong for Max Vanderwolf? When did he lose his faith in love and goodwill? Why did he give it away so callously or cas-ually? And what did he trade it in for? Some songs? Some words? Some memories of a vaguely good time that will haunt him for his remaining years?
Considering the 10 stunning tracks on "False Starts & Broken Promises" by his band Last Man Standing it may have been a fair trade. The songs are memorable, the lyrics powerful, and it sounds like he's stumbled down a colorful if crooked path.
Vanderwolf felt this darkness grow inside of him. And after several attempts at recording a new album, the New York-based songwriter gave up and slipped in and out of various forms of self-abuse. Various demo tapes circulated through the music community and they became well-known amongst the community of underground song-writers.
Thrusting himself back into a world of despair and obsessed with artistic endeavour Vanderwolf finds himself in rehab. In an attempt to maintain normalcy, he joins a rehab book club where he is immediately discovered by guitarist and former-pill popper, Chris Cordoba who has himself experienced the verisimilitudes of the music business:
"His demo tapes were widely known to the few in the know that knew. They were the stuff of legend – well, sub-legend--or probably sub-sub legend. After a discussion on that weeks reading, Evelyn Waugh, I think it was, I asked him point blank: Can I produce your next recording? He agreed immediately without knowing a thing about me. We dropped out of rehab that week and started on the record."
Soon the band was playing gigs to enthusiastic audiences. A regular fixture at The Lost Vagueness burlesque parties in London, the band was invited to perform at the Paradiso in Holland for the ‘’London Calling Festival’’, support slots with the Polyphonic Spree, Mercury Rev and Circulus, a weekly residency at Madame Jojo's and festivals including V Festival, Lovebox Festival, Secret Garden Festival and Electric Picnic Festival in Dublin.
"Now I'm in deep again," says Vanderwolf. "And I'm losing my mind - everything must go. Sacrifice it all. Damn the torpedoes. March, soldier. I can almost taste victory. Or is that nerve gas?"
Recorded against great odds, under great constraints and with great ambition, "False Starts & Broken Promises", is the soundtrack to someone's downfall - hopefully not Vanderwolf's.
"False Starts & Broken Promises" available here.
www.myspace.com/lastmanstandinggroup
www.wildflowerrecords.com
The Loose Acoustic Trio
The Loose Acoustic Trio is an American original. Since the turn of the 21st century, they have deftly blended Folk, Cajun, Old-Time Country, Blues, Jug Band, and Ragtime music to create an appealing sound they call “Good Time Music.” The lyrics of the songs range from simply sublime to sublimely ridiculous, each wrapped up in an infectious rhythm that’s guaranteed to make you smile.
The combination of accordion, 6-string banjo, bedpandolin (a mandolin forged from a metal bedpan), upright string bass and three part vocal harmonies, sets them apart from any other musical group on the face of planet Earth. It’s a traditional roots style with a contemporary twist.
Their new CD, “Sorrow Be Gone”, contains 14 original songs, plus the hillbilly version of Peter Townshend’s “Pinball Wizard”. Available on Big Book Records, where you will also find the incomparable, I See Hawks In LA.
Laurie Jones
"The missing link between Dusty Springfield and the Rolling Stones"
With the release of her new self-titled album, Laurie Jones cements her status as a full-service singer-songwriter. Jones's third album is refreshingly genuine and musically to the point. Front and center is her remarkable voice and efficient songwriting ability.
"This new record comes from the music I really love", explains Jones. "I allowed my gospel and country influences to face off with my rock demons". In doing so Jones has created a work of "transgenre rock 'n' roll". As stated in a recent review, "Jones delivers what is arguably the best effort of her still-budding career".
Whether backed by her touring band or going solo, Laurie Jones crafts songs with strong melody and lyrics that are frank and relevant. The new single "Overrated" is a commentary of the waning condition of the music industry, as Jones finds herself straddling the grandeur of pop celebrity and the gutter of staying alive. Regardless, Laurie Jones soars way above the musical fray with style and power to spare.
www.myspace.com/lauriejonesband
The Lennerockers
Influenced musically by the rock’n’roll revival in the early eighties when Matchbox, Shakin’ Stevens and the Stray Cats dominated the European charts, the 5 school friends teamed up in February 1984 to form the band called The Lennerockers. The brothers Michael Ele Koch (banjo + vocals) and Stefan Koch (piano), as well as Frank Butgereit (guitar), Michael Schott (drums) and Dieter Korth (upright bass), who all grew up in Hohenlimburg an der Lenne, were able to book the first appearance at the local riding club after just 3 weeks in the rehearsal room or children’s room.
The rock’n’roll standards were soon supplemented by the first compositions of their own and the influences of other kinds of music such as country, blues, boogie and skiffle, made the stage programme ever more versatile. With strong logistical and financial support from parents and grandparents, it was possible to release the first LP in 1986 and an old beverages store was reconstructed as an official rehearsal room.
The bookings quickly went beyond the local, regional and national field and concerts were scheduled throughout Europe. The Lennerockers have been the livelihood of the 5 musicians since 1992 and in retrospect the assuredly risky step to turn professional has proved to be the absolutely right decision.
Over 2,200 concerts in 20 countries and the sale of more than 50,000 sound recordings are already a ballpark figure. Over the years The Lennerockers have shared stages with many international stars such as Fats Domino, Wanda Jackson, Tanya Tucker, Mark Chesnutt etc. A world record was even set in 2003 resulting in an entry in the Guinness Book of Records (German edition, page 258). The concert at the highest altitude in music history took place at a flying altitude of 11948.16 metres in a Boeing 757-300 that had been chartered especially for The Lennerockers.
The Lennerockers amaze their fans time and again with highlights such as fan trips to Malta, Bulgaria or Majorca, Mediterranean cruises or concerts at 502 metres below ground (Merkers potash and salt mine).
Thanks to the new album on AGR Television Records things are moving towards the future rapidly and at full steam. In addition to brand new recordings, the international line dance hit of the same name is also the title song of the new album "High Class Lady – Best of the Lennerockers". Covered by many country and rock’n’roll bands, the Lennerockers’ own composition "High Class Lady" is a floor-filler in English jive clubs and, choreographed as "My New Life", is established as a line dance hit from Canada to Singapore.
The current line-up of the Lennerockers have been touring for nearly 30 years, and consists of Michael Ele Koch (banjo and vocals), Stefan Koch (piano), Frank Butgereit (guitar), Dirk Mankel (drums) and Chuck Shoker (upright bass). The suitcases are already packed and the instruments loaded. Even after travelling more than 1 million miles on European highways, they’re off to the next festival stage full of joy in performing.
www.agr-music.com
www.lennerockers.de
Levon Helm
On September 17, 2008, the legendary Levon Helm took his beloved Midnight Ramble on the road to one of America’s treasured venues, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. Accompanied by such luminaries as Buddy Miller, John Hiatt, Sheryl Crow, George Receli, Sam Bush and Billy Bob Thornton, the Levon Helm Band created an unforgettable night of stage magic.
Available on June 6th, 2011, “Ramble At The Ryman” – Live CD & DVD (each sold separately) captures the joy, essence and reverence of Helm’s live shows. This collection features the Levon Helm Band in a veritable tour through the American songbook, performing classics from Helm’s tenure with The Band, as well as song’s from his Grammy winning release “Dirt Farmer” and selections from artists such as Chuck Berry, the Carter Family and more.
“Ramble At The Ryman” came on the heels of “Dirt Farmer’s” stunning debut which won a Grammy in 2008 for Best Traditional Folk Album and landed Helm a spot in Rolling Stone’s ‘The 100 Greatest Singers Of All Time’. In 2009, Helm released “Electric Dirt” which marked his highest debut in Soundscan era at #36 and spent six consecutive weeks at #1 on the Americana Radio Chart. Helm won his second consecutive Grammy for “Electric Dirt” in the inaugural category of Best Americana Album in 2010.
The June 6th release of “Ramble At The Ryman” coincides with the commemoration of Levon Helm Day on May 20th. Established in the House of Representatives by the Honorable Maurice D. Hinchey in May 2006, Mr. Hinchey declared “It is because of this great man, and the great music he produces that the Village of Woodstock, New York, has declared May 20th as Levon Helm Day. It continues to be an honor and a great pleasure for so many of us in New York and across America to bear witness to the incredible career and life of this very strong, extremely talented and generous man. I look forward to many more Midnight Rambles.”
The Levon Helm Band continues to play to sold out crowds at his weekly ‘Midnight Ramble’ concerts in his hometown of Woodstock, NY. Since 2004, a who’s who of artists and fans from around the world gather to share the stage and join in a celebration of this musical icon.
www.levonhelm.com
www.vanguardrecords.com/publicity
Lightning Red
As a 3 year old, he'd sit directly in front of the saxophone sections of Count Basie, Jimmy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and all the other big bands playing the military base circuit that weaved through Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Before finishing grade school, Lightning Red became a bandleader. After befriending Luther Allison and soaking up the sounds of Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Mike Bloomfield, BB and Albert King in and around Chicago, Lightning Red began touring the Midwest and Canada.
In 1976 Austin became his home and touring base. While performing at the Armadillo World Headquarters during the latter 70s, Omar and the Howlers, WC Clark and "little" Charlie Sexton were brought onstage and introduced their music to the community. Lightning Red soaked up the music of The Fabulous Thunderbirds (Jimmie Vaughan, Kim Wilson) at Antone's and met a struggling "Little" Stevie Ray Vaughan.
He has toured Scandinavia and Great Britain repeatedly, with two consecutive appearances at The Great R&B Festival in Colne, England.
Special guest performer at the Whangarei Jazz and Blues Festival, Lightning Red’s concert appearances also includes Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand as well as Sydney and Perth, Australia.
His most recent concerts have been in an acoustic duo format with singer extraordinaire LZ Love, as well as Texas performances with his hot electric band to support the rave new CD ‘The Groovemaster’.
Europe beckons and International reviews and airplay should take Lightning Red around the world once again.
www.lightningred.com
www.myspace.com/lightningred
Li'l Ronnie & The Grand Dukes
Li'l Ronnie & The Grand Dukes are, to quote one reviewer, "...the real deal..., superb talents, well versed in traditional blues". While Ronnie & the band are well schooled in all styles of blues, they also use elements of 50's r&b, soul, vintage rock & roll & jazz in their unique blend of American roots music.
They are led by harpist, singer/songwriter and Hohner Harmonica endorsee Ronnie Owens. Ronnie has been performing since 1963 and has been fronting his own bands for over 25 years. He has played with and opened shows for some of the biggest names in the blues world, John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, Taj Mahal, Gatemouth Brown, Carey Bell, Anson Funderburgh, Sam Mayers, Big Bill Morganfield, Mark Hummel's renowned 'Blues Harmonica Blow Out' and many, many others.
Ronnie and his band, The Grand Dukes, are a critically acclaimed touring band and play anywhere from funky little blues bars, where the music was invented, to major blues festivals, including a swinging, jumpin' night as headline artist at New York's prestigious Lincoln Center. They have earned the reputation as an exciting must see band.
Ronnie and the band have recorded 3 critically acclaimed and internationally distributed CD’s. Their latest CD, ‘do what’cha do’, produced by renowned blues guitarist Anson Funderburgh, is a hit with Blues & Americana radio worldwide. The CD reached #5 on XM Radio’s 'Bluesville' and reached #15 on ‘Living Blues’ worldwide radio charts, where it stayed for 2 months!
www.lilronnie.com
www.myspace.com/lilronnieandthegranddukes
Lisa O’Kane
When Joni Mitchell sang, "I've looked at life from both sides now," she could have been singing about Lisa O'Kane. A mountain girl all grown up and thriving in the city, a dedicated single mom with an exploding international recording career, a world-class vocalist and a singer/songwriter of uncommon depth and integrity, O'Kane shares Mitchell's knack for squeezing every drop of emotion out of every song she writes and anything she sings. After two critically acclaimed releases, three triumphant tours of Europe and five U.K. tours, the Los Angeles-based artist will launch her new CD ‘IT DON’T HURT’ on New Light 
Entertainment/Universal. The project, which will captivate audiences at home as well as abroad, delivers songs that illuminate the many sides of a multi-dimensional artist whose time has come.
"I'm excited about this record," O'Kane says. "I've really grown as a songwriter and as an artist. This album is very personal … it reflects the many changes in my life over the past two years. I feel so blessed to be with New Light Entertainment as I start the next chapter of my musical journey.”
With every song on ‘IT DON’T HURT’, Lisa effortlessly reconciles those disparate influences and carves out her own stylistic corner of the Americana genre in the process. Roots-driven, self-penned songs like rollicking album-opener "Ain't Done Nothin'" (featuring some hot fretwork from Telecaster deity Albert Lee) and the bluesy "Pay For My Sins" sound right at home next to the full-on, soaring balladry of songs like "Give Me This Night" and "Remember This." Every track was carefully chosen to reflect the events going on in O'Kane's life.
“It took me months and hundreds of songs to finally pare down to these 11 songs, three of which are mine.”
One album highlight, "Give Me This Night," was an unsolicited pitch from an unexpected source. "The songwriters are Ken Hirsch and Rosie Casey. Ken has had cuts from Ray Charles, Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, people like that," O'Kane says "I Googled him and I'm thinking, 'He's got cuts with all these famous people. Why is he pitching this song to me?' So I called him up, and he said, 'It's because I think you can do the job.”
O'Kane's recent signing with New Light Entertainment will put major distribution muscle behind ‘IT DON’T HURT’ through Universal Music Group and allow the artist to do what she does best – write, perform and record great songs. The creative team she assembled for the new album speaks volumes about O'Kane's musical sensibilities and her growing profile as an artist. Veteran keyboardist Skip Edwards (Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Jim Lauderdale), Yoakam/Lucinda Williams bassist Taras Prodaniuk, Emmy Award-winning composer Ernest Troost, former Linda Ronstadt sidekick/Bryndle member Kenny Edwards, and the aformentioned Lee are just a few of the characters bringing Lisa’s real-life musical tales to life. Kenny Edwards, whose "Misery and Happiness" provides another of the album's high points, will be teaming up with O'Kane on tour. From the start, Lisa O'Kane has built her career the old-fashioned way, all by herself, one song, one gig, one radio station, one inspiration at a time. And it shows. Every song on ‘IT DON’T HURT’ reflects another side of the artist, another piece of her soul.
www.lisaokane.com
www.myspace.com/lisaokane
Little Green
It may seem unlikely that one of the most interesting bands in the genre often referred to as Americana, resides in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. This is, however, a fact, and their stunning new album “Innocent Again” is here to prove it.
Thanks to bouts of touring and that reliable phenomenon called ‘word of mouth’, Little Green are starting to make waves in their home country, as well as on the international scene.
“Innocent Again”, their 3rd album, is arguably their best so far. With its inventive variations on country, folk, southern rock and jingle-jangle guitars, it will most likely be the album that takes this already highly-respected band to the next level. Little Green always had good songs. This time around, everything else has fallen into place as well. Everything has improved a notch or two or three - Arrangements, performance, recording, mixing, and mastering.
On “Innocent Again”, Little Green leave the folky tendencies of their last album behind, and go for a fuller, more electric sound, with some surprises thrown in for good measure. Basic recordings were made in Sven Karlssons and Hasse Carlssons Studio Lydde in the spring of 2010. Additional recordings were done in the States and Thomas Pontén’s home studio.
The album is full of highlights. To begin with, it features two duets, “This Is Our Life” (featuring Lisa Pedersen), and “I Can Talk Again” (featuring Keith Miles). “Innocent Again” features background vocals by Kimmie Rhodes, whose songs have been recorded by several major artists, including Emmylou Harris and Mark Knopfler. A songwriter’s songwriter who enjoys a lot of respect from her peers. Ted Russell Kamp, with whom Little Green will do their fourth tour in August, adds backing vocals to a couple of tracks. The subtly Dave Matthews-inspired “Upside Down” describes a poor person’s upbringing, from a Swedish point of view. “Don’t Tell Me It’s Over”, an old song that was re-worked for Little Green, now features a southern rock groove that let the rhythm section stretch out a little. The majestic closer, “The Band Played On” is reminiscent of The Jayhawks and Ryan Adams, with a touch of swedish folklore.
The nucleus of Little Green was born in 2004, when Thomas met singer-guitarist Andreas Johannesson. ”We actually bumped into each other due to the fact that our children were the same age”, remembers Thomas. It soon transpired that both of them were making home recordings of songs, but had started to feel the urge to perform the material live. Their musical tastes were similar, but not identical, making for a great blend of styles rooted in rootsy american music. Andreas’ laid back personality, great ear and smoothly raspy singing style blended well with Thomas driven personality, and more intense style of playing. In 2006, they started performing as a duo, mixing original songs with material by Tom Waits, Carly Simon and others. Deciding to apply for the Swedish Country Championship, they made it to the finals in the alternative country genre. They were joined by additional members on bass, and pedal steel. For the following year’s championships they added banjo and fiddle to their sound.
”Hardcore bluegrass musicians mocked us because we had a drum kit, but for us the styles and instrumentation are not as important as the songwriting, which is the core of the band”, says Thomas. ”Several of my older songs have been re-worked to suit the Little Green sound, whatever that is”.
For a while, their music was labelled Acousticana. But things were about to change. Undeterred by the hostile reception Dylan got in the mid-sixties, the band decided to ”go electric” in the spring of 2008, when agreeing to do their first tour with fellow Americana artist Ted Russell Kamp. Kamp has released several well-received solo albums, as well as being the bass player, and sometime songwriter, for Shooter Jennings. ”I dusted off my electric guitar, and influences by Little Feat and The Band, and Californian singer-songwriter and country-rock influences slowly started creeping in”, remembers Thomas. Open-minded listeners may also be able to detect another, more unexpected ingredient: British new wave pop. ”I was always a sucker for three minute pop songs, as recorded by Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson and XTC in the late 70’s and early 80’s. This to-the-point approach surely suits their lead singer. ”Andreas rarely feels like jamming”, Thomas smiles.
Karl Wassholm was the third member to join Little Green. His fellow bandmembers describe him as a very musical guy with diverse musical influences: he’s a Bright Eyes-fan with metal roots which makes for a sensitive player who can turn into a powerhouse bassplayer, when needed. Jonas Holmberg comes from the south of Sweden, and is the most recent member to join Little Green. Having spent most of his adult life on the road, he has toured with major Swedish ”dance bands”, worked as a truck driver and now studies to become a pilot.
What makes Little Green different from American bands is the Scandinavian vibe that complements their knowledge of the Great West, It can be traced in the melancholic and reflective lyrics and subtly Swedish folk harmonies. ”European DJ’s tend to like the Scandinavian vibe. Hopefully it’s the best of both worlds”, says Thomas. ”We are influenced by everything we hear, and we certainly don’t pretend to be an American band”. Americans tend to love them, though, and Little Green have done three tours co-headlining with Ted Russell Kamp, as well as being his backing musicians. Just like The Band (and, later, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) did with Bob Dylan. Needless to say, they look forward to touring together in Sweden again in August.
Until then, listen to “Innocent Again” by Little Green!
www.littlegreen.se
www.myspace.com/littlegreenswe
Liz Tormes
One of the most promising singer-songwriters performing in NYC's East Village right now, Liz Tormes began her music career playing rhythm guitar in the infamous Alphabet City Opry where she was recruited for her sense of time. Since then, she has written an impressive body of work and has performed at Mercury Lounge, The Knitting Factory, Sin-e, and The Living Room. Liz is a guest vocalist on the song "Two Steps", which she co-wrote, on the Columbia Records debut release from Ollabelle and her song "Happy" can be heard in Amos Kollecks's feature film "Bridget".
Growing up in Nashville, Liz spent her time listening to The Smiths and Echo & The Bunnymen while riding to the Grand Ole Opry with Bill Monroe and spending summer days at the house of Johnny Cash. The combination of those early influences and a musical diet of nothing but murder ballads & old time music while teaching herself to play guitar, appears to have had a lasting impact on Liz Tormes' music and lyrics. While the moody songs on her upcoming CD, Limelight, may retain echoes of the stark, honest realism of early roots music, the arrangements and instrumentation move boldly beyond that genre to incorporate quirky keyboard melodies amid washes of sparkly guitar which run beneath her sweetly haunting voice. The result is a dark, acoustic pop record filled with eerily familiar melancholy songs that seem to wander in the window as if from a distant radio and have been drawing comparisons to Sam Phillips, Neko Case and Nina Nastasia. Teddy Thompson & Ollabelle's Amy Helm appear as guest vocalists.
Liz has recently finished recording her first full length album, Limelight, which will be released later this year. Early interest from Ken Coomer (of Wilco & Uncle Tupelo fame) resulted in an EP of demos last year, but the upcoming album will be Liz's first national release.
Lo Kivikas
Lo Kivikas is a Stockholm, Sweden based singer/songwriter. She performs either solo accompanying herself on guitar or with her band delivering a tasteful mix of rock, country and folk music that has garnered international critical acclaim.
Her debut release, "Master of Your Mind" has been topping playlists in both the U.S. and Europe. For more details and to hear tracks from "Master of Your Mind" please visit Lo's myspace-page.
"Lo’s songwriting is kind of like if Fiona Apple got therapy and decided she liked what she saw in the mirror in the morning."
- Chistopher Coolidge - (Internet programmer, Guerilla Radio)
"Lo Kivikas is probably Stockholm’s best kept musical secret. With the passion of Patti Smith and the depth of Marianne Faithful , she arouses that "conscious punk" that resides inside of every human being."
- Darrin Mazzilli - (songwriter/music publisher - Angel Tongue Music)
Loco Zydeco
Loco Zydeco is a high energy, Canadian Zydeco band, based in Toronto, Ontario. Winning over enthusiastic fans with their original blend of contemporary and traditional Zydeco, they have created their own unique take on Louisiana's most exciting musical export, while their electrifying performances have solidified their reputation as one of Canada’s most entertaining Zydeco bands.
For the un-initiated, Zydeco is a lively and danceable accordion-based music, originating in south west Louisiana and east Texas. Characterized by the accordion and rubboard and backed mainly by guitar, bass and drums, Zydeco evolved by blending traditional Creole songs and melodies first with the blues, and later, with various forms of popular music such as r&b, soul, funk and even reggae. Loco Zydeco firmly embraces the roots and traditions of Zydeco music, while constantly looking for fresh new ways to leave their stamp on this exciting genre.
In September 2003, Loco Zydeco independently released their debut CD, “Yeah, You Right, Eh!” and in the fall of 2006, Kitchener, ON-based flamingcheese records released their 2nd album, “This Great White North, Eh!” which was called one of the most stimulating albums that has appeared in Zydeco. Both discs still enjoy airplay on commercial, community and public radio stations across Canada, the U.S. and as far away as The Seychelles.
Their third and newest album, “Time To Turn The Key,” was completed in August 2008 and was released in Canada by Flaming Cheese Records
late 2008, where it is starting to receive high rotation on radio stations and has already been included on top 20 playlists. Reviews in Canada and, so far, from two major Blues publications in the United States have been excellent, with “Time To Turn The Key” being called one of the best CD's, Zydeco based or otherwise, heard in quite a while.
Release in the US and Europe is slated for Spring 2009.
www.locozydeco.com
www.flamingcheese.ca
The Long Ryders
"Native Sons” by the Long Ryders is, and was, not a mere classic, but an out-and-out groundbreaking album. Recorded in early summer 1984 by the great Henry Lewy (Joni Mitchell's main man in the studio, also producer of the Flying Burrito Bros and Gene Clark) by the time it was released it was the number one alternative/college radio album in the United States and the number two indie chart entry in England... Kept out of first place only by the Smiths' “Meat Is Murder”.
“Native Sons” is the first place straight country & western met a punk rock sensibility on the American musicial stage, and it proved so influential both Chris Robinson (Black Crowes) and Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) have named it publicly as a wildly thought-provoking release for young hip (then) punks to have heard. Kurt Cobain had a copy (his favorite song was the 12-string dominated closer ‘I Had A Dream’) and so did Justin Currie of Del Amitri in Scotland. Elvis Costello was such a fan he signed the Long Ryders to his Demon label so “Native Sons” could be issued in the UK.
Starting off with the wild ryde through a musical tip of the Stetson to Jerry Lee Lewis that the banging drums and James Burton-guitar of ‘Final Wild Son’ provided to the ending McGuinn-like chimes of ‘I Had A Dream’ this was a record like no others; Everly Brothers-harmonies with mandolin, banjo and Rickenbackers, Dylanesque pleas for equality alongside aching heart romantic balladry, a sense of purpose and a page turning... “Native Sons” opened as many doors as it shut. With the late, great Gene Clark on board to sing on the Byrds-like ‘Ivory Tower’ this was a sound which announced the future was here and the past was going to be part of it. “Native Sons” is now reissued with both extra tracks and the entire “10-5-60” EP included for the first time. Here it is!
Released by Prima Records on May 24th, 2011.
www.sidgriffin.com
www.myspace.com/thelongryders
The Los Dos Bros
March 6, 2008, Dallas, TX, day two of Holiday and the Adventure Pop Collective‘s first U.S. tour (supporting Atlantic Records’ Louis XIV), HATAPCO’s new drummer goes AWOL in the middle of the night, quitting the tour without a word or note of explanation. The trio quickly became a duo facing a choice: quit the tour and go home, or continue without a drummer. The decision to continue took about four seconds, and their second decision took about four more seconds… to officially change their band name, once and for all, to The Los Dos Bros.
Despite outcries from The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne, and from press reps, writers, radio personalities and booking agents around the world begging the band’s two front men, Derric Oliver (vocals, guitar, tuba, trumpet, piano) and Louis Caverly (vocals, fiddle, piano), to keep their 6-word, 35-letter, tongue-twister of a bleeping band name, those requests fell on deaf ears (damn musicians and their hearing!).
But fear not, friends! “Adventure Pop” is still the sound, and “Holiday” still their mindset; yet, after years of musicians in and out of their band, Oliver and Caverly felt that The Los Dos Bros (which they’ve used for production credits on their three studio albums) best reflects their long-standing musical collaboration.
The duo is set to release two new albums, Songs for Feeling Strong (EP), and Greek Gods in the West (CD + DVD ‘Live from the Henry Miller Library, Big Sur, CA’). Both were recorded in June, 2007 (as HATAPCO with drummer, Michael Taylor Hahn) at Al Jardine’s (Beach Boys) Red Barn Studios in Big Sur, CA.
“We wanted our next albums to reflect the spirit of the band’s time on the road,” explains Oliver, “so we threw a party for some of our closest friends and recorded the basic tracks.” Both albums were produced by The Los Dos Bros and mixed by Mark Needham (The Killers, Chris Isaak, Green Day, Fleetwood Mac).
Lowlands
Lowlands are a band formed by British singer-songwriter Edward Abbiati, and currently based in Pavia, Italy. Hard to pigeonhole their eclectic sound, Lowlands have been compared to such diverse groups as Wilco, Whiskeytown, Soul Asylum and Green On Red. “Roots on the inside and Grunge on the outside”, a French reviewer once wrote. A powerful and eclectic mix of violin, electric & acoustic guitars, piano, accordion, pounding drums and bass.
Lowlands broke onto the European roots-rock scene in 2008 with their debut album “The Last Call”, which had been written in London and recorded in Italy. Gathering strong reviews from around the world, the record was a Top 10 seller on the Miles Of Music Portal and made the International Top 50 Roots Music Report, as well as being tipped on the Euro Americana Charts on various occasions.
During the subsequent two years Lowlands have toured extensively at home and abroad, playing clubs, small theatres and festivals. In 2009 the band released “EP Vol.1”, comprising of five tracks, including an astonishing cover of the Gourds song that gave the band its name. Reactions were once again very positive.
Their latest album, “Gypsy Child”, has just been released, and the record updates the band’s sound, reflecting the powerful exuberance of their live shows. With loving help from friends such as Mike Brenner (Marah, Magnolia Electric Co, Badly Drawn Boy) on lap steel, Joey Huffman (Soul Asylum) on B3, Richard Hunter on harmonica and Chris Cacavas (Green On Red, Giant Sand, Steve Wynn) singing, playing and mixing his heart out, Lowlands have made their most honest and ambitious record to date. The record boasts two fine duets in the subtle and beautiful “Blow Blue Wind Blow” with the wonderful Amanda Shires (also on fiddle), and the seismic “Gotta Be” with the brilliant Tim Rogers (You Am I), who also co-wrote the lyrics to the song. Lowlands will tour the record in Europe throughout 2011.
Lloyd Jones
Like the troubadours of old who spread the news from town to town, the solo artist carries the traditions of his culture in his head and his hands. Country bluesman Lloyd Jones is at once a vital link to the glorious past and a modern interpreter of the "Chaucers" of the blues like Robert Johnson, Blind Willie McTell and Mississippi John Hurt on his appropriately titled 'Highway Bound'. A virtuoso fingerpicker who plays and sings as easily as breathing in and out, he has produced a magnificent work of musical integrity and spiritual sustenance.
Jones leads off his generous 16-song set with one of his three original compositions. "Travelin' On" immediately stakes his claim as an effortlessly driving rhythm machine to accompany his deceptively casual vocals that betray decades of soaking up the blues and living life. "Careless Love," the WC Handy classic blues ballad, is dynamically rendered as a vigorous shuffle. It is sung with such conviction as to be read as autobiographical while Jones seamlessly intertwines walking bass lines and chordal harmony. "When I'm Gone" by Elizabeth Cotton takes a side trip from the Deep South to the southeast Piedmont area with a wistful vocal complemented by the gently rolling patterns that Ms Libby perfected. A brisk shuffle provides sensuous propulsion on John Brim's winking "Ice Cream Man" with compadre Charlie Musselwhite adding sweet, fluid harp fills under and around the double entendre lyrics.
"Broke Down Engine" uncannily captures the idiosyncratic style of Blind Willie McTell with a stunning, virtuosic display of quicksilver licks answering every vocal phrase. Robert Johnson's "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" is creatively re-imagined on an amplified Danelectro as a funky, hypnotic Hill Country stomp rather than a medium shuffle. "Southbound Train", however, is taken as an achingly slow blues as opposed to the snappy shuffle of the Big Bill Broonzy original. Jones' insistently swinging shuffle, "No More Crying" is a virtual compendium of country blues licks performed with consummate grace. The Mississippi John Hurt standard "Don't Want Me, Baby" likewise reveals his mastery of the tricky syncopated ragtime style along with his naturally warm, unforced and inviting vocal manner.
Broonzy's oft-covered "Key To The Highway" with two fleet single-note solos, rocks as hard as the famed Clapton/Allman version without the benefit of amplification or a rhythm section. "You Better", co-written with J. Scroggins, is a show-stopper with dynamic changes of tempo and a lyric admonishing a lady to, "...make a little time for me." Jones again picks up his Danelectro for a crackling version of Elmore James' "Cry for Me, Baby", skillfully weaving the tough signature riff and an aggressive solo into the charging boogie rhythm. A toe-tapping and melancholy ragtime version of W.C. Handy's "Make Me a Pallet on the Floor" provides a welcome respite with Jones' ragged vocal adding poignancy. Maintaining the more intimate tone, Jones utilizes Leadbelly's classic "Goodnight Irene" to cast a dark, late night spell. Staying in the alternating bass groove, he shares his lust for a sweet young thing in Sonny Boy Williamson's "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" that contains the kind of remarkable independence between fingers and voice that can only come from long hours of perfecting one's craft.
http://lloydjonesmusic.com
www.underworldindierecords.com
Luke Jackson
In the Spring of 2006, a seven-year email correspondence culminated in the meeting of Luke Jackson and Magnus Börjeson. Luke had long been a devoted fan of two of the Swedish musician’s former bands: Beagle and Favorita, and the two songwriters finally met in Paris where Magnus was mid-tour playing in The Cardigans. By the end of the weekend they were like old friends and Luke had accepted an invitation to Sweden for the upcoming Midsummer long weekend holiday. These celebrations were taking place in the countryside outside Malmö at the Aerosol Grey Machine - the stunning all-analogue recording studio of Christoffer Lundquist, producer and multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire, former member of Roxette and founding member of Brainpool, another of Luke’s favourite bands.
The Midsummer weekend was a magical time filled with wonderful people, beautiful weather, great music, fantastic food and free-flowing booze of the highest quality. As Luke boarded his flight back to London in a Schnapps-induced fog, he considered the invitation to “come back and record any time”. It had been six years since the release of his self-produced second album “Momentum”, and Luke knew that the songs currently springing from his right hemisphere were the best he’d ever written.
“Why not make an album with my favourite musicians on the planet?” he mused.
And so Luke returned to Sweden in January 2008 and set to work in the studio with Magnus on bass and Christoffer’s Brainpool bandmate Jens Jansson on drums. The four musicians worked quickly and spontaneously to capture half a dozen songs, including “Come Tomorrow” which Luke had begun writing the day before leaving for Sweden. Luke returned to London buzzing with excitement. Not one to manifest small, he sent the rough mixes of the songs to renowned London-based string arranger Robert Kirby (Nick Drake, Elvis Costello, John Cale etc). To Luke’s delight and surprise, Kirby loved the songs and offered to write orchestrations for the album and accompany Luke to Sweden to conduct the necessary recording sessions with nine players from Malmö’s Opera Orchestra.
Luke had managed to bring together two of his most beloved musical worlds: the pop sensibilities of his friends in Sweden, and the distinctive eloquence of Robert Kirby’s string arrangements. It is the collision of these two worlds which makes “...And Then Some” so compelling. Densely layered guitars and vocal harmonies fuse with sweeping string lines, none of which ever draw the ear too far from what lies at the heart of Luke’s music...gorgeous, expressive, unpretentious songs born of the trials and tribulations of a life lived to the fullest.
"...And Then Some" also comes in an audiophile LP edition, half-speed mastered by the legendary Stan Ricker (Joe’s Garage, Brothers In Arms, and the mobile fidelity edition of Dark Side Of The Moon), pressed on 180-gram vinyl in a beautiful gatefold sleeve.
There is also a 45rpm 7” featuring "Come Tomorrow" b/w "A Little Voice" which comes with a hidden download and a DVD featuring the video for "Come Tomorrow" and studio footage of the sessions for "A Little Voice".
Check out Luke’s recording sessions videoblog at :
www.reverbnation.com/lukejackson
Luke Powers
Luke Powers was born in Chattanooga, TN. He is the second son of Barbara and John Powers. Luke attended the McCallie School graduating as valedictorian and was co-captain of the wrestling team. He received a Morehead Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unlike other scholars who went into fields such as medicine and law, he chose the more lucrative field of Folklore.
Luke then received a fellowship to attend Vanderbilt University, where he studied his hero William Blake, and began a band called "The Four Zoas" in Blake's honor (although there were rarely four members).
At a Zoas' gig Luke met Brian Ahern, legendary producer of Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash and George Jones (among others). Ahern like Luke's songs and introduced him to Tommy Spurlock, producer/musician/steel-guitar wizard. Tommy had produced Rick Danko, David Olney and Chip Taylor — and played with groups including The Band, Leon Russell, Highway 101, The Derailers, Jim Lauderdale, The Deadstring Brothers, just to name a few.
But he had never worked with a university professor.
Even though they were an odd couple, Luke and Tommy hit it off immediately, Their first project was a set of Luke's songs sung by Sandy Madaris called 'Way Back Home' (2002). Mike Westerfield of Sisyphus Tracks noted its “well-written songs with decidedly anti-Nashville attitude”.
The “anti-Nashville” attitude wasn't totally deliberate. Luke had tried to write commercial music like his friend Marcus Hummon (writer of hits for the Dixie Chicks, Alabama, Rascal Flatts, and others). But somehow the “three chords and the truth” (to use the words of legendary songwriter Harlan Howard) evaded him.
First, he tended to use more than three chords. Tommy would object: “I'm not playing any more Beatles' chords!” And the truth, as Luke saw it, was never a capital “T” Truth.
Luke helped Tommy with the project 'Burrito Deluxe' (2004): Luke wrote songs with Mark Collie and Earl Bud Lee ("Friends In Low Places") and had the pleasure of working with the legendary Sneaky Pete Kleinow, steel guitar genius and co-founder of The Flying Burrito Brothers.
In 2005 Spurlock got riled up. He wanted to produce a protest album — Against the U.S. war in Iraq, George W. Bush and the decaying state of the nation in general: Americana music of an America gone horribly wrong. Luke had already written a number of protest songs for the cause and came up with the name: “Kakistocracy” (meaning government by the least honest or competent). The so-titled CD, released on Austin Records, featured an all-star band dubbed The Spicewood Seven featuring Luke and Tommy and including Jamie Oldaker (Eric Clapton, Leon Russell), Rosie Flores, Elana James (Hot Club of Cow Town), Brennen Leigh and Garth Hudson (of The Band).
Luke had gotten to know Garth Hudson through Tommy, and the college professor and the home-grown musicologist/musical genius became friends. They could talk about anything from the original Harmonicats to the numerous Jump Blues bands of the 1950s. Luke conjured Garth into recording on some his songs which became the ground work for 'Picture Book' (2007), Luke's debut CD on Phoebe Claire Records.
Garth brought a timeless Band-like swirl of sound to songs like “Knoxville Girl” and “Tommy's Going Home to Texas.” The latter song, written about Spurlock's decision to move from Nashville to Austin (and saying goodbye to a dream), brought a tear to Garth's eye during the late night/early morning session.
Luke admits, “It's the highest praise I could ever imagine”.
'Picture Book' brought Luke from complete to relative obscurity. One song “I Saw John Kennedy Today” re-imagines the assassination with an unlikely twist: Kennedy's double gets killed in Dallas, allowing the freewheeling ex-president to roam the country in a pickup truck. The song received world-wide airplay and over 20,000 mp3 downloads.
The song was covered by Ralston Bowles (produced by Gurf Morlix) and won Best Song in Michigan's “Jammie” Awards in February 2009.
“Cover Song (for Sgt Pepper),” based on the iconic Beatles' album, also proved a popular track on 'Picture Book'. Spencer Leigh of the BBC played the tune to commemorate the anniversary of the 'Pepper' LP.
Luke remarks with pride: “It's the only song I know written about an album cover—not the music itself”.
In late 2008 Luke decided to follow up his “personal” album with a more abstract concept with his CD 'Texasee', also released on Phoebe Claire Records. He told Tommy Spurlock that he wanted to make a record that crossed Hank Williams with American modernist poet Wallace Stevens.
“Wallace who?” Spurlock demanded.
'Texasee' evokes a mythic American landscape littered with the remains of love and violence—with a little Sam Peckinpah, the Coen Brothers and Cormac McCarthy thrown in for good measure. Since Spurlock had now relocated to Austin and Luke was in Nashville, the name was more than simple geography. The cross-country collaboration brought in Tommy's compadre Bradley Hartman, engineer for Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson. Brad in turn brought vocalist Suzi Ragsdale (Guy Clark, Darrell Scott and daughter of Country Legend Ray Stevens) into the mix. Suzi did more than sing back-ups; she transformed the songs she sang on. Luke says, “She's the soul of the record”.
Also contributing were John Davis and Luke's brother Sam, both members of the power pop group Superdrag.
The album received high praise. Baron Lane of Twang Nation named it #5 in his top ten list for Americana albums released in the U.S. in 2008, and the album debuted at #15 on the FAR Americana Chart for November 2008.
http://texasee.com
www.phoebeclaire.com
www.myspace.com/lukepowers
Ladytown
Lamplights
Lars Cleveman
Last Man Standing
L.A. Trio
Laurie Jones
Lennerockers
Levon Helm
Lightning Red
Li'l Ronnie
Lisa O’Kane
Little Green
Liz Tormes
Lo Kivikas
Loco Zydeco
Long Ryders
Los Dos Bros
Lowlands
Lloyd Jones
Luke Jackson
Luke Powers
