Chicago artist Angel Marcloid makes twisty, unpredictable electronic music under the name Fire-Toolz. Her music often involves growled death-metal vocals over shimmering synth-twinkles; it exists outside of all categories. After her 2024 album Breeze, Fire-Toolz signed to Warp Records, a natural home for such a futuristic producer. Her new album Lavender Networks comes out later…
One of those artists everybody heard without knowing their names, Rick Vito mighty be most known for his spell with FLEETWOOD MAC and working on this band’s “Behind The Mask” as well as playing a distinctive solo on Bob Seger’s … Continue reading →
The Maine have revealed another slice of their upcoming album ‘Joy Next Door’, and it is, yet again, absolutely beautiful.
Titled ‘Palms’, it finds the band flexing their pop muscles in the most gorgeously addictive and atmospherically bold manner. A stunning blend of jangly chords and sky-high melodies, all steeped in the glow of a disco ball, it’s the sort of track that makes you cry whilst you’re dancing to it, simply because it makes you realise so much about yourself that you didn’t know was there. A reminder of just how far the band’s sonic repertoire stretches, it adds another layer of feeling to a record that is shaping up to be very lovely indeed.
Vocalist John O’Callaghan had this to say about the track, explaining, ‘”Palms’ was written at zero hour. And while the demo took all but 30 minutes while I was at home, we didn’t get it to final form for another couple months after. It may have been a function of thinking too much, but I’m glad we clawed our way through to get it to where you hear it now because it brings a little levity and balance to Joy Next Door. Plus, my four-year-old loves to hear her Dada say the F word. I hope you dig it, too (the song, not just the swear word.)”
‘Joy Next Door’ will be released on April 10 via Photo Finish Records.
Drummer Pat Kirch had this to say about the record as a whole, stating, “Every album of ours has a color that represents it, and Joy Next Door is the green era. The green grass on the album art feels like it matches perfectly with the organic instrumentation and imperfections left intact on the album.”
Here is the previous taster, ‘Quiet Part Loud’:
The band will be heading out on the road in support of the record on both sides of the Atlantic. Here are all of the tour dates.
MARCH
24 – LAS VEGAS Brooklyn Bowl 25 – PHOENIX The Van Buren 27 – SAN DIEGO The Observatory North Park 28 – LOS ANGELES The Novo 29. -SAN FRANCISCO Regency Ballroom 31 – SEATTLE The Showbox
APRIL
01 – PORTLAND Roseland Theater 03 – DENVER Ogden Theatre 09 – MINNEAPOLIS First Avenue 10 – CHICAGO The Salt Shed – The Shed 11 – DETROIT The Masonic – Jack White Theatre 12 – COLUMBUS Kemba Live! 14 – PITTSBURGH Stage AE 15 – TORONTO History 17 – PHILADELPHIA Franklin Music Hall 18 – BOSTON House of Blues Boston – Music Hall 19 – WASHINGTON 9:30 Club 21 – BROOKLYN Brooklyn Paramount 23 – CHARLOTTE The Fillmore Charlotte 24 – NASHVILLE Marathon Music Works 25 – ATLANTA The Masquerade – Heaven 26 – LAKE BUENA VISTA House of Blues 28 – ST. PETERSBURG Jannus Live 30 – HOUSTON House of Blues Houston – Music Hall
MAY
01 – AUSTIN Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater 02 – DALLAS The Bomb Factory
SEPTEMBER
17 – COLOGNE Live Music Hall 18 – AMSTERDAM Paradiso 19 – BERLIN SO36 20 – LUXEMBOURG CITY den Atelier 23 – GLASGOW SWG3 TV Studio 24 – BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute 25 – LONDON Roundhouse 26 – MANCHESTER Academy
Triumph and tragedy are inevitably never far away from one another. The 6th November 2024 will always be remembered as a dark, dark day in the blues-rock world when Catfish’s wonderfully gifted frontman Matt Long lost his 18-month battle with bowel cancer at just 29 years young.
But both throughout Long’s valiant struggle and in the aftermath of his untimely death has been the most glorious outpouring of love, respect, and magnanimity shown by the blues community. From benefit concerts, raising funds for private treatment, and being a pillar of support for Long’s family, it was truly special seeing so many musicians rally round Matt, as he courageously tried to overcome the grave injustice of being dealt life’s cruelest hand.
This 16-track double album came about following an idea from a musician friend, Dudley Ross, who asked Matt’s hero Joe Bonamassa if he’d mind playing on one of Matt’s songs. When the genre’s torchbearer accepted the offer, the project ascended at pace, as Fiona approached the artists who knew, admired, and had supported Long throughout his ordeal. The likes of Elles Bailey, The Cinelli Brothers, When Rivers Meet, Brave Rival, Blue Nation, Sean Webster, Dom Martin, and Chantel McGregor soon penned their name to this poignant project.
What’s particularly uplifting about this LP is that Long himself is very much present, with his original vocals and guitar parts appearing on several tracks. Opening with the hard-hitting, blues-rock swagger of “Broken Man”, there’s real joy hearing Matt’s earthy, growling pipes alongside Bonamassa’s classy contribution. While Catfish were known for being a rockin’ powerhouse blues band, this album also explores Matt’s other musical craving — hard rock and metal. This heavier edge was heard with his side hustle Matt Long and The Revenant Ones, which comes alive in the very next track “Have My Say.” Delivered with high-octane aplomb by the Zac Schulze Gang, it rocks over and under the floorboards.
There’s a shift in mood when Bailey joins forces with the Cinelli Bros on the feel-good swing of “Better Days.” Bouncy and catchy, it’s a lovely, sunshine-filled arrangement.
The album’s empyrean moment “Archangel” is a beautiful piece of music written by Long about the passing of his grandmother. Matt’s friend Alice Armstrong (who also designed this album’s sleeve) soars on this heart-wrenching number with raw emotion and breathtaking control. The kind that can turn the most hardened face into a blubbery mess.
Elsewhere, the ever-resilient Walter Trout lends his guitar prowess to the slow, moving blues of “All I Ask Of You,” with Long’s original vocal another powerful reminder of how deep he dug into his soul. Brave Rival makes an appearance on “Up In Smoke.” Lindsey Bonnick’s voice is truly magnificent on this dark yet pulsating anthem, almost matched by the on-fire, riff-driven guitar of Ed Clarke.
As you listen to this record, two things really gaze in the stars. Matt Long was an incredibly versatile talent, able to switch masterfully between the blues-rooted sound of Catfish to heavy rock, bordering on metal at times.
Secondly, it illustrates the genuine affection and respect this community had for the man, reinforcing the healing power of music, and even more deeply, the blues.
Gone far too soon, but Matt’s name and this recording deserve to live long in the memory.
Portrayal Of Guilt have just released two more new singles, Object Of Pain and Death From Above.
This double-whammy comes a couple of weeks on from Ecstasy and Human Terror – all four of which are taken from the band’s forthcoming album …Beginning Of The End, which is due out on April 24 via Run For Cover.
Per a press release, the full record “embraces both the groove and avant-garde, revisiting the raw, teeth-gnashing intensity of their previous work”.
Check out Object Of Pain and Death From Above below:
(This is Daniel Barkasi’s review of a new album by the Scottish band Hellripper that’s set for release on March 27th by Century Media Records.) The story of Hellripper is quite a humble one, and the project’s meteoric rise in the metal scene has been exciting to witness. The brainchild of sole songwriter and multi-instrumentalist […]
The Parkway Drive singer emotionally addressed the recent court case surrounding a past associate's involvement in a sexual assault on a minor. Continue reading…
Sea.Hear.Now, the music and surf festival, returns to Asbury Park, New Jersey this September. Mumford & Sons and the Strokes will headline across the fest’s two nights, with additional performances from the Offspring, Chaka Khan, the War On Drugs, Goo Goo Dolls, Fontaines D.C., Moby, Shaggy, Pixies, Kim Fordon, Ziggy Marley, the All-American Rejects, Men At Work, and more. There’ll also be a surfing contest throughout the weekend.
