Singer Tiffany had phenomenal success at an unbelievably young age. Her debut album went quadruple platinum when she was only 15 years old. That record yielded back to back number one hits with the Tommy James’ cover “I Think We’re Alone Now,” and “Could’ve Been.” Other hits followed, including the Beatles reworking “I Saw Him Standing There” and “All This Time.” But, the shelf life of a teen idol is usually short-lived. As she became an adult, she ventured into different territory – dance and country music.
Now, she’s back with A Million Miles, her first new album in five years. She talks about learning the art of songwriting in Nashville, co-producing an album for the first time, and she reminisces about her early days in the music business.
Spain’s debut album came out in 1995. Blue Moods of Spain was so different, with it’s quiet mood and slowed-down tempos, that it spawned a new genre, slo-core. Now, the band is back after a short hiatus with Sargent Place, their most focused album to date. We talk with leader Josh Haden about recording the album with producer Gus Seyffert, who also worked with the Black Keys. He also talks about tracks from the new album, including “You and I,” which features the final recorded performance from his dad, jazz bassist Charlie Haden, before he passed away. We also touch on the band’s debut album and how it compares to this most recent release.
The V-Roys hailed from Knoxville, Tennessee, with a sound that blended gritty rock n’ roll with bar room country and a keen melodic sense. The band put out two albums on Steve Earle’s E-Squared label in the 1990s before breaking up near the end of the decade. Since then, the members have gone their separate ways, yet their legend has continued to grow. They were named “Best Knoxville Band Ever” in a 2009 poll conducted by Metro Pulse magazine. Since both of their discs are currently out of print, to satisfy demand, they’ve released Sooner or Later, compiling the best tracks from their two albums, plus extra unreleased material. Icon Fetch talks with singer/guitarist Scott Miller about the new best of, plans for a New Year’s Eve reunion of the original members, and about playing Farm Aid with Neil Young. Miller also touches on his new solo material.
Their album was dead in the water, but the Spin Doctors kept plugging away…and it paid off.
They’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of Pocketful of Kryptonite, their debut album, with a deluxe 2-CD set from Legacy Recordings, featuring a remastered version of the original CD, plus an entire disc of rare early recordings from the band that has never been released commercially. Icon Fetch sits down with Doc’s guitarist Eric Schenkman, who takes us through the early days, how they got signed to a major label, and what influence John Popper of Blues Traveler had on the band.
–For 30 years, he’s created radio ready music that never gets played on the radio–
Melodic rock, power pop, or just plain good music – whatever you call it, Tommy Keene has been making it for the last 30 years. Hot on the heels of 2010’s 2-CD anthology, we sit down again with Keene to talk about his brand-new studio album Behind the Parade. Unique to this project, he recorded most of the instruments himself at his home studio. Yet, the signature Tommy Keene sound, with chiming guitars, memorable hooks, and big drums (courtesy of session-ace Rob Brill), are all intact. We also touch on the crazy video he made for the first single, “Deep Six Saturday.”
Can a band take 16 years off and return like they never left? Yes
Urge Overkill scored an alternative smash in 1993 with “Sister Havana,” from the album Saturation. Then, director Quentin Tarantino used their version of the Neil Diamond nugget “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” for his surprise hit movie Pulp Fiction a year later. After their next LP, Exit the Dragon, failed to match their previous record’s dizzying heights, the band broke up. Now, they’re back with their first new record in 16 years, Rock n’ Roll Submarine. Icon Fetch talks with co-leaders Eddie “King” Roeser and Nash Kato about picking up right where they left off, playing a star-studded roast to Tarantino, and some of the cool features of their Rock n’ Roll Submarine.
Singer / guitarist Glen Phillips led Toad the Wet Sprocket through five albums throughout the Nineties. Starting out on the underground college radio scene, the band would eventually score hit singles like “All I Want,” “Walk on the Ocean,” and “Good Intentions.” After the band called it quits at the end of the decade, Phillips would embark on a solo career that would see him tackle many different styles. Icon Fetch talks to the Toad frontman about the reunion of his old band, the strange Top 40 success they had, and re-recording their old hits to reclaim their catalog.
Big Head Todd & the Monsters had a smash album in 1993 featuring the radio hits “Broken-Hearted Savior” and “Bittersweet.” Since then, they’ve released several albums and developed a reputation as a great live band. Their latest project, credited to the Big Head Blues Club is 100 Years of Robert Johnson, a tribute to the influential bluesman who would’ve hit the century mark this year. The band has enlisted the help of some of the finest blues legends still alive: B.B. King, Hubert Sumlin, Charlie Musselwhite, Honeyboy Edwards, and Ruthie Foster, to accompany them on reworkings of ten of Johnson’s greatest compositions. Icon Fetch talks with leader Todd Park Mohr about the inspiration behind the tribute, working with the classic blues players, and the story behind the band’s initial success.
Geoff Tate has led Queensryche through 11 albums that have combined metal with thought-provoking lyrics. The band is celebrating the 20th anniversary edition of their landmark album Empire. Tate talks with us about the direction they decided to take after the previous album, Operation: Mindcrime, and how their smash single “Silent Lucidity” almost didn’t make the album. He also talks about the band’s surreal performance on the 1992 Grammy Awards. Click below to listen to the Geoff Tate Queensryche interview on Icon Fetch.
The Gin Blossoms had one of the biggest albums of the Nineties in New Miserable Experience, which yielded the hits “Hey Jealousy,” and “Found Out About You.” The band has just put the finishing touches on their fourth full-length, No Chocolate Cake, which is full of the jangly, melodic pop that helped them sell over five million records to date. Icon Fetch talks with guitarist and founding member Jesse Valenzuela about the recording process, how Badfinger helped influence one of the songs, and how he’ll NEVER play “Mustang Sally,” no matter how many requests he gets for it. Click below for the Jesse Valenzuela Gin Blossoms interview.
