Jubilee Riots is a new name for an established Canadian band, once known as Enter the Haggis. With their new moniker comes a rejuvenated sound on their latest record, Penny Black. For the new album, the band asked fans to write to them and share their stories as topics for potential songs. Letters came from around the globe – and the result is something any fan of the band will be proud of. We talk with vocalist and songwriter Trevor Lewington about some of the amazing stories that were turned into songs, and why the band chose to change their name.
Dickey Lee has had a long and varied career in the music business, starting out recording for Sun Records in Memphis in the late Fifties, he rubbed shoulders with Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and others. But, he wasn’t able to find success until a few years later when he struck gold with teenage death songs like “Patches” and “Laurie (Strange Things Happen),” then George Jones recorded his “She Thinks I Still Care” and Lee became an in-demand songwriter in Nashville. Since then, he’s written other successes on both the pop and country charts like Austin Roberts’ “Rocky” and Tracy Byrd’s “Keeper of the Stars.” We talk to this multi-faceted artist about befriending Elvis, the stories behind his biggest hits, and how he feels about current country music.
Georgia bluesman Tinsley Ellis has carved out a name for himself in the last 25-30 years as a searing guitarist and expressive vocalist. His live shows have hit all 50 states, and he still plays around 150 gigs a year. His latest offering, Tough Love, is arguably his finest to date (read our review here), veering from shuffling blues, soulful ballads and psychedelic rock. We talk with Ellis about several “firsts” on his new record, running his own label, and his unique writing process.
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.
It’s one of the strangest stories of any #1 hit. “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” was credited to a fictitious band called Steam, but it was actually recorded by vocalist Gary DeCarlo and some studio musicians. But, because of some bizarre circumstances, he wasn’t able to take credit or benefit from this massive hit single. The band never garnered enough “steam” – pardon the pun – to muster up another hit, and disappeared. Well, the original Steam may be gone, but Gary DeCarlo is still around, and he’s released a new version of “Kiss Him Goodbye,” along with a brand new album called Long Time Comin’. DeCarlo sets the record straight on the stories behind the hit single.g
Lisa Mills hails from Mississippi, and there must be something down there in the water, as she’s put together one of the finest, most honest records of last year. I’m Changing, is a mix of blues, rock, soul, Gospel and even a sprinkle of country. Add to it Lisa’s gritty vocals, and you’ve got the makings of a killer record. Yet, this isn’t a totally new project, as many of the tracks were started back in 2005. Mills talks about the long, strange journey that led to this new album.
David Lanz has been putting out music for over 30 years, so you’d think there wouldn’t be any “firsts” left for the award-winning pianist. Yet, his new record, Forever Christmas, is his first-ever album to feature a songwriting partner from start to finish, and his first record prominently featuring a vocalist. The songwriting partner & vocalist is also the love of his life, Norwegian born Kristin Amarie. Lanz talks about constructing the album during last year’s brutal winter, the fabulous artwork that adorns the CD, and plans he has for the new year.
Director Eric Von Haessler has just put out Scarred But Smarter – the Life n Times of Drivin n’ Cryin, an in-depth look at this legendary Georgia band. Through extensive interviews with bandmates & managers past and present, as well as people, like Peter Buck of REM, Ed Rowland of Collective Soul, and Darius Rucker, we get a clear picture of true rock n’ roll survivors. Von Haessler talks about having the band in the studio on his radio show and how it opened his eyes, and set him on a journey to direct this documentary.
TV Eyes was a short lived supergroup featuring Jason Falkner & Roger Manning Jr, who spent time in the power pop band Jellyfish, and drummer Brian Reitzell, who was in the equally melodic Redd Kross. The trio teamed up in the early 2000’s for a debut record that combined elements of early New Wave & Punk, with touches of their previous bands. The result was an album that should’ve turned heads. But, the band was never able to secure an American record label, so the record only came out in Japan. Now, long out of print and fetching top dollar on Ebay, Omnivore Recordings finally sets things right with the release of TV Eyes – not only including the original, nine song record, but also featuring four bonus tracks from an even more rare Japanese EP, Softcore, featuring remixes. We talk to Jason Falkner about the inspiration behind the project, plus what it was like to record with one of his big influences, Paul McCartney.
Some call it Power Pop, others call it melodic rock – either way, Dwight Twilley has been crafting like-minded tunes for over 40 years now. His first hit was the Top 20 smash “I’m On Fire” in 1975. Then, he was back in the Top 20 with “Girls” in 1984. Twilley had a knack for writing radio-ready songs and probably should’ve been a much bigger star, had it not been for record label blundering. Either way, he’s never stopped and is back with a brand new record called “Always.”
