Big Med Playlist for The Big One | Incline District – Ohio
I’m adding Incline District’s tune ‘Ohio’ to the Big Med Playlist for The Big One. It’s a song that kind of sneaks up on you – opening almost quietly and building in tension and volume and you find yourself swaying to a solid bass line and a tight band pulling you into a tough-as-nails ending.
Incline District is out of Cincinnati (OH). History note: That city’s transit system once featured inclined railways – inclines – which carried streetcars up steep hills. The guitar player is the vocalist in Incline District but the drummer and the bass player sing. The drummer and the guitar player are neighbors who found each other because they both took the trash out at the same time each week. The guitar player met the bass player while watching horses race in Lexington.
“We originally took the name Incline District to entice our first drummer who lived in the Incline District into joining our band. We switched drummers in 2008 but never changed the name because well it basically helped us book shows in Cincinnati. Since we are from Cincinnati and love playing shows we decided to keep the name. Not our best moment but in the long scheme of things we are okay with what happened.”
Incline District are currently recording their second album. They have released one album titled “Incline District’s First Album of Songs,” and one short EP called “More Songs About Waiting and Nothing.”
The band:
JW Mitchell – Guitar
Frederik Kire – Bass
Asher Kirkman – Drums
Dallas Mitchell – Guitar
Luna Moore – keyboard
Big Med Playlist for The Big One | Moonlight Social – Neither Are You
Helluva day here at Big Med. Brick Fields in the morning and Moonlight Social in the afternoon. Amazing musicians all around. I’m adding the rock-country end-of-relationship-chronicled guitar-backed harmonies of Moonlight Social’s ‘Neither Are You’ to the Big Med Playlist for The Big One.
Every song I’ve heard by Moonlight Social is worthy of addition to the Playlist for The Big One however ‘Neither Are You’ is the one that has really stuck. This tune is pretty damned close to perfect. Great vocals, great lyrics, great harmonies, great guitar – pretty much explains why I haven’t heard it on the radio. Add this one to your personal playlist and get out ahead of the wave that’s sure to envelope this band.
Out of Austin (TX) Midnight Social was founded in early 2011. The band played a SXSW showcase after being selected by 9-time Grammy-winning frontman Ray Benson and won a Grammy-sponsored showcase after being selected by the board of governors for the Texas Chapter of The Recording Academy. The band was named winners of the 2011 Austin Chronicle Sound Wars after beating out nearly 100 other Austin bands.
Jeremy Burchard and Jennica Scott are the tandem behind Midnight Social. The duo met as peers in The University of Texas Longhorn Band — Scott as a member of the trumpet section, and Burchard as a member of the drumline. What started as a spontaneous jam session and a few cover recordings in Burchard’s tiny apartment bedroom quickly developed into a full-time musical collaboration. Scott’s rich vocals and harmonious country sensibilities married with Burchard’s eclectic guitar style and expansive rock roots create the signature sound of Moonlight Social.
They released their debut self-produced EP in May 2011. The band is due to release their debut album in 2012 with Blue October bassist and producer Matt Noveskey (IAmDynamite, Language Room, Courrier).
You can follow Moonlight Social online at http://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/
You can buy their music at iTunes
Big Med Playlist for the Big One | Brick Fields – Amazing Grace
We’ve received some incredible submissions to be considered for the Big Med Playlist for the Big One and this one belongs near the top of the stack. Wow. This is, without a doubt, the most extraordinarily cool version of ‘Amazing Grace’ I have ever had the privilege of laying my ears on. Brick Fields is the real blues-meets-gospel deal. All of the music they produce is likely to cause a fair bit of involuntary grooving.
Every tune I’ve heard would make a worthy addition to the Playlist for the Big One however I am completely addicted to Brick Fields’ ‘Amazing Grace.’ It’s a seven-minute ethereal ride into a gospel-blues twilight zone. Close your eyes and listen to Rachel Brick channelling a smokin’ raw Adele inspired by Janis Joplin in a juke joint somewhere in time.
Rachel Brick traveled in the 90s singing improv jam at festivals and opening for some well known artists like Goverment Mule, and Merl Saunders. She toured with Melvin Seals, Jude Gold, Gloria Jones, Peter Harris, Elgin Seals, and Joel Smith as JGB (The Jerry Garcia Band). Larry Fields has worked with some of the top Christian artists in Nashville.
“We play blues with our band and have a popular gospel Sunday brunch as well as lead worship at a local church. So we play the smoky beer joints on Saturday night and play in the churches on Sunday. It’s a unique experience. On top of running our own music business, I also homeschool my three young girls. It is a full schedule,” Rachel writes in her note to Big Med.
Brick Fields released ‘Gospel Blue’ in 2011 and the roots, jazz, folk album ‘Shambhala’ in January 2012. They are currently working on a gospel album and a video.
You can find out more about Brick Fields at www.BrickFieldsMusic.com
Playlist for The Big One | Rebekah Delgado – Sing You Through The Storm
Photograph by Chris Rigg. November 2011
I’ve been listening to Rebekah Delgado all afternoon. “We all break sometimes, yes we do, we all break sometimes, but we get through, we all break sometimes…” I love this song and I’m adding ‘Sing You Through The Storm’ to the Big Med Playlist for The Big One.
Rebekah writes and sings songs of hope, darkness and cheeky humour. Sing You Through The Storm is perfect for the emergency services – an anthem of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel; of success out of adversity.
It’s a song that sticks with you rather unexpectedly. It’s not particularly hooky or poppy but it sticks with you just the same. This song runs deep and resonates. Give a listen to the rest of Rebekah Delgado’s music catalogue and you’ll find yourself signing up for updates on her website and wondering when she’ll make it onto a stage on this side of the Big Pond.
Rebekah Delgado is a solo musician from London, United Kingdom. After previously fronting two successful bands who enjoyed national press and radio success in the UK, Spain and Italy and toured the US, Rebekah embarked on a solo career in 2010 when her previous band, The Last Army (BBC6, BBC London record of the week) broke up. When playing live Rebekah is often accompanied by a variety of other musicians, including musical saw, violin, harmonium, cello and drums.
Rebekah’s solo material is a departure from her previous bands’ foundations, being influenced more by her Spanish roots and Arabic leanings as well as artists such as Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, Patti Smith, Serge Gainsbourg, Pulp, Jacques Brel, Kris Kristofferson, Carla Bruni, Johnny Cash and Sonic Youth. Rebekah’s musical maelstrom veers from the melancholic and contrite, to the uplifting and spirited, to risqué pop.
Following a recent successful three night residency at Kevin Spacey’s notorious Boom Boom Club in the Old Vic Tunnels, Rebekah has started to refine a cabaret-style performance complete with a filthy-noise-making masked choir. Rebekah is equally at home playing in front of typical gig-going audiences and playing for the more refined cabaret crowd.
Instrumentation:
Tom McDonough – Violin, Harmonium
Sara Passmore – Musical Saw
Daniel Otto-Kellett – Cello
Jason-Jon Lacey – Drums, Backing Vocals
Rebekah Delgado – Vocals, Guitar
AIRPLAY:
Palabras Para Julia – Unreleased – Played on Dandelion Radio throughout July 2011
Ménage A Moi – To be released in June 2012 – Played on BBC 6 Music on 9th December 2011
FORTHCOMING RELEASES:
Sing You Through The Storm EP – March 2012
Menage A Moi EP – June 2012
Don’t Sleep (album) – October 2012
Follow Rebekah online
Upcoming dates:
| Date | Time | Venue | City | |
| Feb 28, 2012 Tuesday | TBA | The Monarch | London |  |
| Mar 8, 2012 Thursday | TBA | King and Queen Hotel | London, England | |
| Mar 23, 2012 Friday | TBA | The Lexington | London | |
| Apr 6, 2012 Friday | TBA | Barfly | London |
Big Med Playlist for The Big One | Woodside Station – You Are Everything (feat Morgen La Civita)
We’re in a sweet groove this evening on The Big Med Playlist for The Big One. This add is ‘You Are Everything’ from Woodside Station featuring the lyrics/guitar/vocals of John Alberici and the lyrics/vocals of Morgen La Civita.
It’s a beautiful albeit haunting song that seems equally well-suited for listening while working a city shift or watching the sunset in the country.
Woodside Station is made up of accomplished guitarist, vocalist and songwriter John Alberici and singer/songwriter Morgen La Civita. Their band name is a reflection of their city upbringings, and their music style stays true to those roots. With an earthy blend of their blues, folk and soul backgrounds, Woodside Station emerges a breath of fresh air on the acoustic scene.
Introspective lyrics, tight harmonies, funky grooves and a wicked sense of humor make Woodside Station a “must see” live act to catch.
Follow Woodside Station online http://www.reverbnation.com/woodsidestation
Big Med Playlist for The Big One | Karina Nistal – Symptoms
Mmmmmm. What a voice. This is a silky add to the Big Med Playlist for The Big One. Karina Nistal – Symptoms.
I don’t know if it’s soul or jazz or a fusion of both but Houston-born Nistal absolutely nails this song. Close your eyes, sit back, and listen to this song play out.
Singer/songwriter Karina Nistal is known to align herself with diverse and solid collaborations to showcase her extensive range. Her work consists of emotive jazz vocals on downtempo tracks, rapping in Spanish for the worldly sounds of reggaeton, or fusing soulful Latin vocals with lively dance music.
Music captivated the native Houstonian at an early age. Karina indulged in old school hip hop, rhythm & blues, soul and jazz. It was Karina’s mixed Hispanic heritage (Mexican and Cuban) that spotlighted Latin styles-traditional mariachi folk music and the Afro-Cuban beats of salsa.
Her sophomore album, Nistalgia (independent) was released in October of 2010. This album showcases a more soulful side of Karina along with some of her best songwriting. Nistalgia includes songs with her band ranging from Latin, Hip Hop, Reggae, Bossanova, and a few hot Dance remixes.
Follow her online http://www.karinanistal.com
Big Med Playlist for The Big One | Frank Bell – Red
This is a stunning add to the Big Med Playlist for The Big One. Frank Bell – Red – Live at Tainted Blue Studios.
Damn. This man can sing, write, and plays a beautiful guitar. Really, like WTF, why are we receiving near-real-time updates on the status of the Kardashians when the news we really need is where & when Frank Bell will be playing next.
The production of this video is stunning. It’s simple and clean and the centerpiece is Frank Bell, his voice, and his guitar.
Originally a classically-trained cellist, Frank later expanded his instrumental arsenal as a way to further express himself as an artist. As an outlet, Frank began posting videos of his songs on YouTube, which brought him international attention and 800,000 video views (in four days) after being featured on their homepage. Shortly after, he flew to Canada to record his debut EP ‘On Passion and Reason’, a folky, neo-soul acoustic rock album which would later be released independently worldwide with famed Producer Bill Bell (Tom Cochrane, Jason Mraz, and more).
In 2010 Frank was named the HATCH GROUNDBREAKING Musician (HATCHexperience.com), where he recorded a song with Matt Morris (Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera) on an original track aboard the John Lennon Tour Bus. Recent appearances on MTV, at the Sundance Film Festival, a Times Square NYE Concert, IdeaJam moderated by Ashton Kutcher, and Sold-out shows in Europe, continue to grow Frank’s awareness and fan base.
Frank is also in tune with global needs. March of 2010, Frank could be seen on CNN, ABC World News with Dianne Sawyer, and other international news outlets, for a “We are the World” collaboration he participated in to aid Haiti relief efforts. In March of 2011 Frank led multiple ventures for Japan Tsunami Relief. He continues to work closely with non-profits and other charitable organizations as his career progresses, believing fully in social responsibilities and helping to raise awareness of what’s going on in the world.
Since August of 2010, Frank found himself back and forth Bozeman, MT, where he teamed up with Producer, Deej Hofer to begin recording the highly anticipated full length LP “Everything Falls Into Place”, which was released October 11, 2011.
Follow Frank online http://www.frankbell.net
Playlist for The Big One | The Lillies – Madeline Burning Time
This morning I’m adding The Lillies’ ‘Madeline Burning Time’ to the Big Med Playlist for The Big One. It’s a quiet melancholic tune that feels right for a bitterly cold Sunday morning. The lyrics are biting and the chorus is an unexpected twist. Shades of the hopelessness of Trainspotting. There’s a stark beauty to ‘Madeline Burning Time.’
The Lillies call the High Desert of Hesperia, California home. Founded by Roberto Perada and Matthew Humphrey, The Lillies will be releasing their next CD in Spring 2012.
Roberto Pereda – Guitar & Vocal
Matthew Humphrey – Guitar
Raul Magaña III – Bass
Mark Simpson – Drums
Follow The Lillies on Facebook
Upcoming dates:
| Date | Time | Venue | City | |
| Jan 19, 2012 Thursday | 3:00 PM | Phone in Interview with Matthew Sydneys blogtalkradio.com/indieflordia | , FL | |
| Feb 4, 2012 Saturday | 11:00 PM | Trip Bar- Santa Monica, CA | Santa Monica, CA | |
| Feb 18, 2012 Saturday | 10:00 PM | The Marquis Lounge | San Bernardino, CA | |
| Feb 21, 2012 Tuesday | 10:00 PM | The Mile High Club At Busbys | Los Angeles, CA | |
| Jul 7, 2012 Saturday |
9:00 PM | The Rellik Tavern | Benicia, CA | |
| Jul 12, 2012 Thursday |
10:00 PM | The Cabin, Elmira, CA | Elmira, CA |
Playlist for The Big One | Verlee For Ransom – So Says The Doctor
Adding Seattle-based band Verlee for Ransom’s ‘So Says The Doctor’ to the Big Med Playlist for The Big One.
Look, I’m not quite sure how to describe this tune. It’s challenging and intense – and the musicians putting it out there are a bunch of wunderkids who for the most part haven’t cracked the age of 20 yet. Damn.
It’s Kate Bush meets Bjork and steps out as Keira Verlee – the 17-year-old femme fatale at the center of this unique musical storm. There’s elements of everything in here so I’ll skip the label process and go with Square Peg that really doesn’t need or want to be slotted into a convenient-to-file basket.
Verlee for Ransom:
Keira Verlee – Lead Vocals, Guitar & Piano
Kyle Morrison – Guitar, Cello
Rio Chanae – keyboards, Backup Vocals
Kaye Gill – Bass
Nathan Keiffer
Happy Like Monkey That Climb – Full Length CD (Released May 20, 2011)
Links
http://www.verlee4ransom.com
Playlist for The Big One | Gerry Wall – Poor Man’s Train
I’m adding Gerry Wall’s ‘Poor Man’s Train’ to the Big Med Playlist for The Big One. It’s a rolling and quite satisfying piece of Canadiana wrapped in (weirdly) a Southwestern US-rock-blues feel and is spot-on perfect for listening to while hauling Prio 1 butt across the rural winter Quebec landscape.
Gerry Wall’s route to the stage has been anything but ‘normal.’ He is a singer/songwriter with an undergrad degree in English Literature and a Ph.D. in Economics. He grew up in Saskatoon where he delivered a weekly newspaper to make a few extra dollars.
“One of my deliveries was to the Anderson household where the parents of Joni Mitchell lived. Joni was by that point already a bit of a legend. She opened the door one morning on collection day, surprising me. Although purely fortuitous, I believe that the fact she couldn’t pay me, didn’t know when her parents would be back and didn’t invite me in to get warm, somehow still inspired me to a musical career. Well . . . she did smile at me – both warming and inspirational.”
Taking his cue from Joni, and hearing a band of Prairie boys called The Mozart Group (who looked like they came from any place but the prairies) perform soaring falsetto harmonies and laying down a cavernous Motown groove, got Gerry hooked on a kind of music with no limits and no pretension. This has led him to his unique roots sound – one might call it Canadiana with an emphasis on the lyrical.
Since 2000, Gerry has released five albums – with “World” just released in December of 2010. ex Patriots’ Day (2007) has received extensive airplay on Canada’s CBC and elsewhere. Tobermory (2000), Returning Fire (2004) and Winter Grass (2006) are filled with deceptively honest songwriting. Stand-out tracks include “Fire in Saint Peter’s” and “Your Fabulous Life” on the 2004 album, while the title track of the third album “Winter Grass” and “Poor Man’s Train” continue to receive critical acclaim.
Instrumentation:
Ana Miura – Guitar and Vocals.
Nigel Troop – Bass Guitar; Vocals
Andy Sommerfeld – the drums
Jerome Jeffrey – Guitars/ Vocals
Online: http://www.gerrywall.com