HARDWICKE CIRCUS – Album Review: “Fly the Flag”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews21 Comments
Album artwork created by Humphrey Ocean

I’ve previously commented many times on this blog about the enormous amount of musical talent coming out of the UK, and today I have yet another shining example of this in the form of Hardwicke Circus, an insanely good five-piece from Carlisle, England. Though they’ve been around since 2015, I only learned about them last week when their PR rep reached out to me about them and their recently-released album Fly the Flag. I liked it at first listen, and as I customarily do for all artists and bands I’m writing about for the first time, I listened to as much of their back music catalog as I could get my hands on. I love all of it, and am now a committed fan! Hardwicke Circus is a brilliant band, and I strongly urge my readers to take the time to check out at least some of their music.

They’re also clever and funny, and their bio so colorful and amusing, I’m just going to quote from it rather than try and paraphrase. “Just in case you’re wondering, Hardwicke Circus is from Carlisle, and “Where the fuck is Carlisle!” greets us gig after gig. You only end up in Carlisle by accident. It’s on the boundary of England but not Scotland, on the edge of the Lake District but not the countryside: we don’t fit. This storm centre of English drunkenness is home to an arms depot and an economy reliant on biscuits & the Blues, with a business icon in Eddie Stobart whose sole purpose is to take things away from Carlisle via the city’s best known roundabout, allegedly named after this gang of travelling brothers. Carlisle does not suffer fools; we export them.

Hardwicke Circus was formed by brothers Jonny and Tommy Foster, who had a passion for making music from an early age. They developed a reputation on their street for making a racket but they were not to be deterred. Throughout their school years they surrounded themselves with the best musicians Carlisle had to offer, more than once poaching them from other school bands. When their friends began the university treadmill, Hardwicke Circus jumped in a van, hit the road and didn’t look back. They earned their stripes in Hells Angels pubs, clubs, theaters and prisons, soaking up long journeys to the rebel rousing music of Dylan, Springsteen, Philadelphia soul, Motown, the Stray Cats, The Clash and more.“

Their dynamic live shows and skillful songwriting so impressed renowned music veteran Dave Robinson, he came out of retirement to become their manager. Robinson’s professional resume is both extensive and impressive. He started out as road manager for Jimi Hendrix, also handling major tours in the U.S. for Eric Burden & The Animals, the Young Rascals and Vanilla Fudge. He then returned to London and managed Brinsley Schwarz, Graham Parker, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Ian Dury and Elvis Costello. He also built a recording studio above the legendary Hope & Anchor pub in Islington, and with Jake Riviera, started his label Stiff Records, signing such acts as The Damned, Motorhead, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Tracey Ullman, the Plasmatics, Jona Lewie, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Kirsty MacColl, The Box Tops, The Adverts, Lene Lovich, Shane MacGowan and the Pogues, Madness and more. Robinson was also installed by Chris Blackwell as president of Island Records where he oversaw the careers of U2, Robert Palmer, Steve Winwood, Grace Jones, Aswad and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. He personally compiled and marketed Bob Marley’s Legend, the biggest selling reggae album in the world. The list of his accomplishments goes on, but I’ll stop here, as this review is supposed to be about Hardwicke Circus!

The band became a six-piece early on, but now consists of five members: Jonny Foster (lead vocals, guitar), Tom Foster (drums, backing vocals), Joe Hurst (bass, backing vocals), Lewis Bewley-Taylor (keyboards) and Jack Pearce (saxophones). They released their debut single “Please Don’t Try This At Home” in 2017, then followed a month later with a four-song EP Hot Moves. After playing hundreds of gigs in pubs and parties throughout Britain and even some European countries, the band secured a coveted spot at the 2020 SXSW. We all know what happened next, and it was curtains for both SXSW and the 165 gigs they had scheduled after that festival.

Forced to regroup, Hardwicke Circus switched gears and focused their attention and energy on recording their first album. They rented a farmhouse in Yorkshire, where they wrote and recorded their debut album The Borderland, an outstanding work that pays homage to the land they love, as well as touching on then-current topics like the pandemic on the wonderful track “Lockdown”, and racial inequality and social injustice on “Hands Up Don’t Shoot”. One of the highlights on the album is their rousing anthem “Walking On Broken Glass”.

In November 2021, Hardwicke Circus played a series of gigs at 15 prisons throughout England. Inspired by Johnny Cash’s legendary 1968 album Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, the guys decided to memorialize those gigs with their 13-track album At Her Majesty’s Pleasure, released in May 2022. (In the UK, prisons are known as HMPs, which stands for His or Her Majesty’s Prisons, depending on the gender of the reigning monarch, followed by the location or city in which they’re located.)

On June 9th, they dropped their third album Fly the Flag, a delightful romp featuring 12 head-bopping bangers fashioned from an eclectic mix of influences, including rock’n’roll, punk, Motown, Philadelphia soul, ska, blues and even Gypsy folk. The album opens strong with the buoyant “Every Day I Find the Luck“, an uplifting track with an exuberant, toe-tapping groove, colorful instrumentation and soaring choruses as Jonny and company sing of keeping positive and always aiming high: “Is this what I’m looking for? I can tell that I’m getting close, closer to the prize at the end of the rope. / Show me a sign, is it all I’ve got? I’ve given it my best shot. Every day I find the luck. If only I could reach it.”

The wonderful “Bang My Head (To the Rhythm of Life)” reminds me of some of the great 70s songs by Sound of Philadelphia acts like the O’Jays, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, T.S.O.P., McFadden & Whitehead and the Trammps, grabbing us by the hips and compelling us to move! And “True Love & Near Misses” is downright fabulous, with an infectious, fast-paced groove and achingly beautiful hook, highlighted by Lewis Bewley-Taylor’s gorgeous keyboards and Jack Pearce’s exuberant saxophone. And I cannot emphasize enough how much I adore Jonny Foster’s raspy but beautiful, heavily-accented vocals that occupy a sweet spot between Joe Strummer and Eddie Money here.

The anthemic “Can You Hear Me Now?” has an early Springsteen folk-rock vibe, with Jack’s soulful sax seemingly paying homage to the great Clarence Clemons. “Rejection Is Better Than Regret” – one of the my favorites on an album full of them – is a delightful take on the old adage ‘it’s better to have love and lost than to have never loved at all’: “Rejection is better than regret my love. I guess that’s why you’re my ex. You’re so sweet and lovely though, but I don’t like the way you look with him.” I love the fun, retro 70s vibe that calls to mind songs by ABBA, The Sweet and Bay City Rollers.

The guys slow things down on the introspective and melancholy “Battlefield“, a song about a love affair that now lies in ruins: “I live on a battlefield, where love has turned to rust./ You feel abandoned, who’s to blame. Courage is not what you keep, it’s what you give away.” Musical highlight for me are the expressive percussion, bold piano keys, moody sax, soulful organ, and what sounds like a vibraphone. With it’s lively, piano-driven groove, “A Johnny Come Lately” has a catchy ABBA vibe, nicely augmented with Jack’s rousing sax and Tom’s spirited drums. The album’s title comes from the lyrics “I’m flying the flag for you.”

“The Colour In Everything” has a strong Motown vibe, and in fact features a piano riff that sounds a bit like the one in the Four Tops’ classic “I Can’t Help Myself”. Also, what I’m guessing is Jack’s baritone sax gives the such a distinctive Motown sound. The colorful, synth-dominant “Our Town” is a brutally honest homage to the contradictions of the band’s home town, with cheeky lyrics like “Runny noses and ripped wedding gowns, that’s romance in our town. A compliment is a good putdown with a smile in our town.” The song starts off with a pleasing melody, but gradually transitions to a full-blown rocker with edgy guitars, heavy organ riff, aggressive percussion and bold sax, abruptly ending with rapped verses in the final 20 seconds.

The terrific songs just keep on coming. The rousing ska-infused gem “Night Train To London“, with its exuberant Gypsy folk vibe, fortified by Jack’s wailing sax, is pure delight. The guys let loose on the high-energy banger “It’s Not Over Till It’s Over“, unleashing a torrent of driving riffs, stomping rhythms, colorful keyboards, soaring choruses, and more of those great saxophone flourishes. Saving the best for last, the guys channel late 50s rock’n’roll with the wonderfully bluesy “No More Doggin’“. Holy shit, these guys can play just about anything! The combination of bluesy guitars and bass, sultry sax, and that phenomenal honky tonk piano create a dramatic and colorful backdrop for Jonny’s raw vocals oozing with unabashed swagger.

I’m not sure what more I can say about Fly the Flag, other than to keep gushing about how wonderful it is. Just about everything I can think of – the songwriting and lyrics, arrangements, instrumentation, vocals and production values – are perfection, and it’s easily one of the best albums of 2023 so far. Every song is first-rate, with no filler tracks or ones I would even consider skipping over. I love this album and love this band.

Here’s the album on YouTube:

Those fortunate enough to be in the UK can catch Hardwicke Circus at one of their upcoming shows:

Connect with Hardwicke Circus: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Find their music on Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud / YouTube

CHRIS MARDULA – Single Review: “Angels & Demons”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews10 Comments

This past April, I featured British singer-songwriter Chris Mardula, an earnest and talented guy from Durham County in Northeast England, in an Artist Spotlight. To briefly summarize, his music style is strongly influenced by elements of folk, indie rock and blues. A seasoned musician, he’s played in several bands over the years, but often feeling frustrated by uneven levels of commitment by other members, he decided to go it alone as a solo artist. In November 2022, Chris began releasing singles at the rate of one per month, and has now dropped his 8th single “Angels & Demons“. 

A hauntingly beautiful piano ballad, “Angels & Demons” is a very personal song for Chris, and was inspired by the recent passing of his father. The song touches on memories from his childhood, when he was too young to understand his father’s struggles with depression and alcoholism brought on by his own tough upbringing. His father (Chris’s grandfather) was a Polish World War II veteran who’d escaped from a concentration camp and fled to England to start a new life. Witnessing unimaginable things, like having his family wiped out during the war, left him with emotional scars that were sadly passed down to Chris’s father. In the song, Chris uses angels and demons as metaphors to help him understand his father’s actions more clearly: “We need to understand why people are the way they are, as everyone is fighting battles we don’t know about or understand, unless we are in their shoes. Everyone has good and bad in them, and sometimes we need to face things head-on and try and deal with them to stop going down the wrong path. Everyone does things with good intentions and usually for self preservation.”

For the recording of the song, Chris played the somber piano riff and edgy, mournful guitar riff that arrives halfway through the track, while Ben Young, who produced the track, played the haunting string arrangements. Chris’s heartfelt vocals are filled with emotion as he wistfully sings “When you’re lost in the mayhem. When you’re lost in your mind. We’ve all got angels and demons. We’ve all got to face them sometimes.” It’s a lovely, deeply moving song.

The heartwarming video includes stock footage that helps convey the sentiments expressed in the lyrics, interspersed with old family photos featuring Chris’s dad in the second half.

Connect with Chris: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Find his music on Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music / Soundcloud / YouTube

Top 30 Songs for June 25-July 1, 2023

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's13 Comments

Too many bands have faced the sudden and tragic loss of an integral member, and one of the more heartbreaking in recent memory was the death last year of Taylor Hawkins, the beloved longtime drummer of American rock band Foo Fighters. Picking up the pieces and soldiering on after such a loss is always difficult, and sometimes impossible, as Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl knows all too well from his Nirvana experience. He and Foo Fighters bandmates channeled their grief to create one of the best albums of their nearly 30-year career in the form of But Here We Are, which they describe as “10 songs that run the emotional gamut from rage and sorrow to serenity and acceptance, and myriad points in between.” The album’s blistering, heart-wrenching lead single “Rescued” takes over the #1 spot on my latest Weekly Top 30.

The song is about trying to cope with, then move on from, a sudden, unexpected event, expressed in the opening lyrics “It came in a flash, it came outta nowhere. It happened so fast, and then it was over.” Later in the song, Grohl acknowledges the overwhelming numbness and grief he and his bandmates experienced after Hawkins’ death, wondering if they’ll ever truly feel ‘alive’ again: “We’re all free to some degree to dance under the lights.I’m just waitin’ to be rescued, bring me back to life.” For the recording of “Rescued”, along with the entire album But Here We Are, Dave Grohl played drums, but a few months ago, legendary drummer Josh Freese officially joined Foo Fighters as their new drummer.

(Freese has an impressive resume, being a noted session drummer who’s appeared on over 400 records and worked with a literal who’s who of artists and bands. He’s been an active member of the Vandals since 1989 and Devo since 1996, also previously serving as a member of Guns N’ Roses from 1997-2000 and alt-rock band A Perfect Circle from 1999-2012. The very busy guy also served as touring drummer for Nine Inch Nails from 2005-2008, Weezer from 2009-2011, and Sublime with Rome from 2011-2017, as well as Sting in 2005 and 2016, Paramore in 2011, the Replacements in 2013 and The Offspring in 2021.) Wikipedia

And here’s their electrifying performance of “Rescued” at the Glastonbury Festival on June 23rd:

Other than for a new #1 song, the top 10 remains the same, with a bit of musical chairs among the top five tracks. Two new songs make their debut this week, both of which I featured in a recent Fresh New Tracks post: “Bones” by British indie rock band HEALER, entering at #29, and “Walk Through the Fire” by Virginia-based singer-songwriter The Frontier (aka Jake Mimikos), at #30. A long-time favorite act of mine, The Frontier has had several songs appear on my Top 30, three of them going all the way to #1.

  1. RESCUED – Foo Fighters (2)
  2. NOT STRONG ENOUGH – boygenius (1)
  3. GO DOWN RIVER – The Heavy Heavy (5)
  4. EAT YOUR YOUNG – Hozier (3)
  5. KID – The Revivalists (4)
  6. DUMMY – Portugal. The Man (6)
  7. ESSENCE – Refeci & Shimmer Johnson (7)
  8. RESCUE ME – Dirty Heads (8)
  9. LEAVING – Au Gres (9)
  10. 1982 – Morgendust (10)
  11. THOSE EYES – New West (12)
  12. WHY – Future Theory (13)
  13. IN MY HEAD – Mike Shinoda & Kailee Morgue (14)
  14. HELLO – GROUPLOVE (16)
  15. PINEAPPLE SUNRISE – Beach Weather (17)
  16. MARRY ANOTHER MAN – Wise John (19)
  17. PAID OFF – Oli Barton & the Movement (12)
  18. EMPTY NEST – Silversun Pickups (20)
  19. WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE – Joy Oladokun & Noah Kahan (22)
  20. CHEMICAL – Post Malone (23)
  21. STUCK – 30 Seconds to Mars (24)
  22. NEW GOLD – Gorillaz, Tame Impala & Bootie Brown (18)
  23. SUPERGLUE – Michigander (26)
  24. PUPPET SHOW – Beck Black (27)
  25. THE WAY – Manchester Orchestra (15)
  26. PSYCHOS – Jenny Lewis (28)
  27. THE NARCISSIST – Blur (30)
  28. SPELLBINDING – The Smashing Pumpkins (29)
  29. BONES – HEALER (N)
  30. WALK THROUGH THE FIRE – The Frontier (N)

BRIAN LAMBERT – Single Review: “I Don’t Believe In You”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews13 Comments

One of the most prolific singer-songwriters around today is Brian Lambert, a thoughtful, engaging and funny guy based in Denton, Texas. He’s been writing and recording music for many years, and says he’s “reinvented himself more times than he can count.” He even tried his hand at country music for a while, but came to the realization that it just wasn’t for him. When Covid put a halt to playing gigs, Brian switched gears and began writing indie rock songs inspired by some of his favorite acts like Spoon, Gang of Youths, Soul Asylum and the Replacements.

In early 2021, he challenged himself to writing, recording and producing a new song every week for a year, an ambitious feat he went on to accomplish! Since then, he’s continued his prodigious output, writing and recording songs both as a solo artist and in collaboration with a host of other musicians he’s met on Twitter, including Marc Schuster, a singer-songwriter, musician and all-around renaissance man from the Philadelphia area, with whom he teamed up with to create a separate music act The Star Crumbles, who released a fantastic debut album The Ghost of Dancing Slow last September. (I previously reviewed that album, as well as two of Brian’s singles, “Kids” and “It’s Good”.)

Another pair of artists he’s worked with are Jr Moz Collective, the music project of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mike Mosley, and Paul Prater, another renaissance man who, in addition to being a musician, is also a magician, entertainer, mind reader, attorney and author. Earlier this year, Jr Moz Collective, Paul Prater and Brian collaborated on a song “I Don’t Believe In You“, which was released in April. Mike Mosley wrote the music and lyrics, played guitar, bass and synths and sang lead vocals, Paul played drums, and Brian played lead synths and sang backing vocals.

Brian loved the song so much – which he says brought him to tears – he decided to re-record it with him singing lead vocals, also re-dubbing his lead synth part. The result is a more impactful and dramatic track, in large part due to Brian’s emphatic vocals filled with unbridled passion. He calls it a “fiery garage rock anthem that pairs well with the heat of summer and discontent, perfectly capturing the dissatisfaction with the status quo. Earnest like Isbell, dirty guitars of QOTSA, quirkiness of Beck and swagger of Bowie.” After hearing the song, I have to concede that’s a pretty accurate description!

Opening with a strong thumping drumbeat, the song is soon joined by a gnarly guitar riff, deep bass groove and retro 80s-sounding synths as Brian begins to sing the biting lyrics. The edgy and colorful instrumentals create a powerful, almost cinematic backdrop for his raw, emotionally-charged vocals delivered with a forceful passion that leave me covered in goosebumps. It’s possibly Brian’s most dramatic single yet.

The lyrics call out those who spout religious dogma, lies and hate, urging us to question what we hear or read, and fight back against those wanting to poison and divide us: “Do you believe anything you hear if it comes from the mouth of hate? Do you believe anything they say if it allows you to feel that way? / And I don’t believe in you, you ought to know that I never did / And I’m not gonna sit back and keep my thoughts to my self/ There’s nothing stopping me from stopping you.”

The beautiful lyric video was made with AI-created images, generated from the original watercolor painting by Brian’s father William Edward Lambert that was used for the single cover art.

Those purchasing the track on Bandcamp get a bonus song “Follow Me In”, which was written by fellow musician David Ray Thomas.

Connect with Brian:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Find his music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music / YouTube

CAITLIN LAVAGNA – Single Review: “We Lost Track”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews11 Comments

My favorite Welsh songstress Caitlin Lavagna is back with a marvelous new single “We Lost Track“, and I couldn’t be happier! I adore her powerful, vibrant vocal style and honest, relatable lyrics drawn from personal struggles and heartache. Released today, “We Lost Track” is her third single, following last year’s “Night Bus” – a fantastic song that spent 20 weeks on my Top 30, peaking at #2 – and her 2021 debut single “How Not To Start A Fight”, which also spent several weeks on my Top 30. (You can read my reviews of both songs by clicking on the ‘Related’ links at the end of this post.) 

Born and raised in the picturesque South Wales Rhondda Valley, with strong Gibraltarian roots, the multi-talented and lovely singer-songwriter, musician and actress has had a life-long love for music and the arts, with a special passion for percussion and drums, as well as singing and dancing. Her music and vocal styles are heavily influenced by some of her favorite artists like Sting, Biffy Clyro, Stevie Nicks, Florence Welch, P!nk and Adele. In addition to writing and recording music as a solo artist, Caitlin has also performed in numerous stage musicals, and while in college, was part of the indie folk duo Only The Reign, who released two self-recorded albums.

About her latest single, Caitlin explains: “This is my first ballad and I’m so proud of it. I wanted the song to represent losing something “perfect”. It’s a reflective song about how I gave too much of myself to someone, not realising I was worth more than how I was treated. It’s about friendship, love and pain. I hope people connect to the song whilst enjoying its subtle but rhythmic shifts and euphoric string arrangements. I have challenged myself and I think the track is beautiful. I am so excited to see the work of myself and my friends (some of whom I met touring the UK with ‘Fisherman’s Friends the Musical’) come to life. They’re incredible musicians and close friends who have absolutely nailed it.”

For the recording of “We Lost Track”, Caitlin sang vocals and played drums, Hannah Cumming and Hazel Simmons played strings, Charlotte Ware played saxophone, Joseph Rodwell, who also produced and mixed the track, played keyboards, and Georgina White and Jennifer Glatzhofer sang backing vocals. The track was recorded at New Cut Studios in Bristol, and mastered by Nick at Old Cottage Audio.

It’s a beautiful, flawlessly-crafted song, with colorful piano keys and melancholy strings, accompanied by gentle bass and Caitlin’s restrained drums and percussion, all of which rise to a dramatic crescendo in the choruses. I particularly love the enchanting rhythmic downshift in the bridge when she sings “I didn’t want to believe it’s true. Now there’s no one left To say ‘I love you’ to“. But the real highlight for me are Caitlin’s heart-wrenching vocals that elicit chills when she passionately wails with raw, heart-wrenching emotion “Ooo – Ooo – Ooo I want you back Ooo – Ooo – Ooo It makes me look bad Ooo – Ooo – Ooo We lost track Ooo – Ooo – Ooo Don’t look at me like that“. 

Ooo - Ooo - Ooo
I want you back 
Ooo - Ooo - Ooo
It makes me look bad 
Ooo - Ooo - Ooo
We lost track 
Ooo - Ooo - Ooo
Don’t look at me like that 

I bought you those bed sheets 
I bought you that light 
I laid next to you almost every night 
I wore what you wanted 
I gave you my time 
You were so cruel at the end of the line
You were so cruel I thought you’d be kind 

I told you’re perfect 
I told you you’re cool 
You even let me redecorate your room 
You wrote songs with lyrics that made you look smart 
You weren’t that clever when it came to my heart 
You weren’t that clever when it came to my heart 

Ooo - Ooo - Ooo
I want you back 
Ooo - Ooo - Ooo
It makes me look bad 
Ooo - Ooo - Ooo
We lost track 
Ooo - Ooo - Ooo
Don’t look at me like that 

Gave you a piece of me 
I regret that
Gave so much more to you 
Than I got back
Told you secrets through panic attacks
My friends told me I could do better than you 
I didn’t want to believe it’s true 
Now there’s no one left 
To say ‘I love you’ to

Ooo - Ooo - Ooo
I want you back 
Ooo - Ooo - Ooo
We lost track 

I bought you that jumper
You gave it away 
Had tears in my eyes 
When you laughed in my face 
You changed your number 
So I changed my tone 
Thank you for nothing 
I’m fine on my own.

Here’s the song on Spotify:

Connect with Caitlin:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Find her music on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

EclecticMusicLover named one of 100 Best Indie Music Blogs

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Commentary44 Comments

I received an email today from Anuj Agarwal, the founder of the website FeedSpot – the internet’s largest curated database of bloggers and podcasts – informing me that my blog EclecticMusicLover has been named one of the 100 Best Indie Music Blogs on the site. I’m not only thrilled and honored that my little blog is included in their most recent list of indie music blogs from around the world, but that it also ranks #48.

Many of the named blogs are located in the U.S. and UK, but multiple European countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Venezuela and South Africa are also represented. Here’s the link to the full list: https://blog.feedspot.com/indie_music_blogs/

It’s gratifying that all my time and efforts spent writing about little-known indie artists and bands over the past seven-plus years has finally earned me a bit of recognition!

Artist Spotlight on Florida’s Orange Creek Riders

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Artist Spotlight7 Comments

Orange Creek Riders are a terrific indie rock band from central Florida I learned about several months ago when I heard one of their songs played on fellow blogger and musician Marc Schuster’s weekly Tweetcore Radio Hour. The band is also very supportive of other musicians and bands – something I find admirable in musicians – and since I really like both them and their music, I decided it was about time I featured them on my blog.

Formed in 2013 and based in and around Orlando, the band is comprised of singer-songwriter and guitarist Darren Soto, harmonica player Darren Vierday, bassist Jeff Jordan and drummer Jeff Sudbury. Their pleasing style of music is influenced by an eclectic mix of genres, including alternative rock, folk, Americana, new wave, punk and ska.

(Soto also happens to be a United States Congressman, representing Florida’s 9th district. Currently serving his third term in Congress, he previously served four years in the Florida Senate and five in the Florida House of Representatives. He’s also a progressive Democrat, a good thing in my book, as it’s encouraging to know there are still reasonable politicians left in Florida, not to mention that I abhor the monster the present-day GOP has become. Anyway, how he’s managed to juggle making music with the demands of his political career, not to mention his family, is mind-boggling to me!)

The first few years after forming, Orange Creek Riders played local venues and festivals, such as Orlando Fringe Festival, Planned Parenthood’s Rock and Roe Concert, Delandapalooza, as well as various political events. earning them the title of “Best Congressional Folk Band” by Orlando Weekly. In October 2018, they released their debut album Oranges and Grapefruit, a respectable work featuring lighthearted folk/Americana style songs inspired by Central Florida’s citrus grove and cattle ranch heritage. Some of the tracks include “Orange Kings”, “Sweet Clementine” and “Giddy Up My Love”.

They followed a year later with their second album Back to the Grove, offering up songs of a similar theme, once again sprinkled here and there with songs about the oft-covered minefield of love and relationships. Like Oranges and Grapefruit, it was also produced by Jason Woods. One of my favorites from this album is “Goldilocks”, a bouncy love song highlighted by Jordan’s gnarly bass groove and Vierday’s spirited harmonica. Soto has an earnest and pleasing vocal style that generally sits in the low tenor range.

Their third album. Rockin’ Horse, consisting of previously unreleased songs written by both the band and Soto, was released toward the end of the pandemic in late 2020. The self-produced album features a mix of musical styles, including the lovely folk/punk “Already Gone”, the moody, Americana-inspired “A Moment in Time”, the epic Neil Young-esque title track “Rockin’ Horse”, highlighted by some amazing guitar runs, and the introspective and haunting “Return of the Rider”.

Since 2021, Orange Creek Riders have released a series of singles arranged in groups, sort of like EPs, but released as individual singles. At this point in their career, they seemed to be expanding their sound beyond folk-Americana toward a more pop-oriented sound, though it was still steeped in folk, alt-rock and punk elements. One of my favorites among their next batch of five songs – “Guardian Angel”, “Bonfire on the Beach”, “Shadows in the Light”, “Overjoyed” and “Not My Girl” – is the latter tune, a languid and melancholy kiss-off song that still comes off as pleasing. Soto wistfully croons “If I should fall to pieces a thousand on the floor, know that you’re not my girl anymore.”

Their next batch of three songs, released between September 2021 and January 2022, included “Ferris Wheel”, “Daydreamer” and “Drifting On Away”. My personal favorite is “Ferris Wheel”, which reminds me of songs from the 2000s by such acts as Plain White T’s and Owl City.

In 2022, they dropped a series of three breezy singles celebrating Florida’s sunny environment (though “Sunnyside” speaks of trying to break free of the gloom of depression and finding joy again after the pandemic). The first of them, “Big Wave”, is probably my favorite of all their songs thus far. An exuberant tune extolling the joys of surfing, it has a delightful Beach Boys/Jan and Dean vibe, but with a definite punk sensibility. I love the song’s lively, head-bopping groove, terrific guitar noodling and Soto’s wonderful vocals. The song has become their most popular to date, garnering over 376,000 streams on Spotify.

More recently, they’ve been releasing what they’re calling the “Key Singles”, featuring a more retro, synth-heavy darkwave sound that’s a strong departure from their previous songs. The first in the series was “Oblivion”, a deeply impactful song released last December about the brutality of the war in Ukraine. Soto’s high-pitched vocals are quite arresting as he wails “When the sky has fallen, and the leaves they are never green. In a world that’s broken, and blown apart. We can wait for an oblivion. We must take or it’s hell to come.”

This was followed in March with “The Key”, a haunting but catchy synthpop song in the vein of some of the great songs by The Cure and New Order. I especially love the strong, driving beat, piercing synths and chiming guitars. Their latest single “On A Train”, released on June 14th, was inspired by the 2022 film Bullet Train, starring Brad Pitt as an assassin who battles fellow killers while riding a bullet train. The song is an exciting, synth and guitar-driven gem that evokes the drama and peril of the movie’s subject matter.

So there you have it, a nice selection of tracks that give my readers a decent taste of Orange Creek Rider’s impressive music catalog. I look forward to hearing what they have in store!

Connect with Orange Creek Riders:  Facebook / Twitter

Find their music on Spotify / Apple Music / Reverbnation / YouTube

Top 30 Songs for June 18-24, 2023

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's16 Comments

The wonderful “Not Strong Enough” by supergroup boygenius enjoys a second week at #1 on my latest Top 30 chart, while “Rescued” by the Foo Fighters moves into second place. The exuberant “1982” by Dutch rock band Morgendust enters the top 10 in its 11th week on the chart.

There were at at least seven songs I wanted to add this week, but unfortunately had to limit them to only three, as I didn’t want to drop any other songs off. Two of them – “Psychos”, by American singer-songwriter, musician, and teen movie actress Jenny Lewis, and “Spellbinding” by Chicago alt-rock band The Smashing Pumpkins – took a while to grow on me. I’ve never been a huge fan of The Smashing Pumpkins, mainly because of front man Billy Corgan’s nasally and shrill vocal style I often found grating, though I have liked some of their songs. “Spellbinding” is from their monumental 33-track album Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts, released on May 5th. The third debut, entering at #30, is “The Narcissist” by legendary Brit-pop band Blur, their first new music in eight years, since their 2015 album The Magic Whip. The song is from their forthcoming ninth album The Ballad of Darren, scheduled for release on July 21.

I must say that it’s heartening for an old man like me to see artists over 50, including Dave Grohl, Billy Corgan, Damon Albarn, Bootie Brown, Dave Gahan & Martin Gore of Depeche Mode, the Leto brothers, and the guys of Morgendust, still putting out great music.

  1. NOT STRONG ENOUGH – boygenius (1)
  2. RESCUED – Foo Fighters (4)
  3. EAT YOUR YOUNG – Hozier (2)
  4. KID – The Revivalists (3)
  5. GO DOWN RIVER – The Heavy Heavy (6)
  6. DUMMY – Portugal. The Man (5)
  7. ESSENCE – Refeci & Shimmer Johnson (8)
  8. RESCUE ME – Dirty Heads (9)
  9. LEAVING – Au Gres (10)
  10. 1982 – Morgendust (12)
  11. PAID OFF – Oli Barton & the Movement (7)
  12. THOSE EYES – New West (15)
  13. WHY – Future Theory (17)
  14. IN MY HEAD – Mike Shinoda & Kailee Morgue (16)
  15. THE WAY – Manchester Orchestra (14)
  16. HELLO – GROUPLOVE (19)
  17. PINEAPPLE SUNRISE – Beach Weather (20)
  18. NEW GOLD – Gorillaz, Tame Impala & Bootie Brown (13)
  19. MARRY ANOTHER MAN – Wise John (22)
  20. EMPTY NEST – Silversun Pickups (21)
  21. THE PERFECT PAIR – beabadoobee (11)
  22. WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE – Joy Oladokun & Noah Kahan (23)
  23. CHEMICAL – Post Malone (24)
  24. STUCK – 30 Seconds to Mars (28)
  25. GHOSTS AGAIN – Depeche Mode (18)
  26. SUPERGLUE – Michigander (27)
  27. PUPPET SHOW – Beck Black (29)
  28. PSYCHOS – Jenny Lewis (N)
  29. SPELLBINDING – The Smashing Pumpkins (N)
  30. THE NARCISSIST – Blur (N)

JONNY ASH – Single Review: “Call The Hive”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews9 Comments

Hailing from the North Wales city of Wrexham are Jonny Ash, an energetic and talented four-piece who make an expansive, hard-driving and melodic style of indie rock. Comprised of brothers Callum (lead vocals, guitar) and Dan Gaughran (bass), Peter Roberts (lead guitar) and recent addition Lewis on drums, their dynamic sound is strongly influenced by some of their favorite acts like The Stone Roses, Thin Lizzy, Oasis, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. In fact, Callum’s vocals are reminiscent of Liam Gallagher’s at times.

Formed in 2021, they’ve released several outstanding singles, one of which, “Disco” (a song sounding nothing like typical disco, but with the same BPM as disco music) I reviewed in February 2022, as well as a fantastic EP Did You Get Involved? this past January. Now they’re back with their latest single “Call The Hive“, released today via Bryn Rock Records.

The song opens with a gnarly jagged riff accompanied by a throbbing bass groove, which is soon joined by sharp percussion and emphatic drumbeats as Callum coolly croons the lyrics filled with bee references: “I’ve been seeing too much out there lately. All the swarms they are gathering daily. Have I been stung by you only vaguely. Call the hive.” The music explodes in the choruses with a barrage of terrific bluesy guitars, heavy bass and tumultuous drums, Callum’s vocals growing more impassioned as he wails “Why did the bee never tell the fly, the honey tastes better than the shit outside?” It’s a brazen, deeply satisfying banger of a tune, and I can’t get enough of it!

As for the song’s meaning, Callum told me “It’s kind of open to interpretation, as there’s no particular thing it’s meant to be about“. That said, he liked my take, which is that it seems to be about a woman who plays games to get what she wants. The singer basically tells her to stop using him, and to instead ‘call the hive’ to try and get what she needs: “She screams there’s no buzz, there’s no nectar. But she needs it just to resurrect her. Sweet just like the shot of honey bees in the summer. Call the hive. So am I the bee or am I the keeper?/

Listen for yourself and come up with your own interpretation.

Connect with Jonny Ash:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Find their music on Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud / YouTube

BENJAMYN & BRÍ – Single Review: “Illuminate”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews3 Comments

Today I’m pleased to showcase the enchanting collaborative single “Illuminate“, by Irish singer-songwriter and electronic music producer BENJAMYN (aka Ben Hogan) and Irish singer-songwriter Brí (aka Briana Horan). I’ve previously featured Brí twice on this blog, whereas BENJAMYN is new to me.

For a bit of background on the two artists, both of whom are based in Dublin, BENJAMYN is a multi-instrumentalist who’s been performing since he was a child, experimenting with musical genres ranging from indie rock and acoustic folk to funk and hip-hop to create his own distinctive blend of indie, dance, and electronica. His songs have received coverage from radio stations, blogs and playlists across Ireland and beyond, and he’s played numerous shows around Dublin since launching his music project in 2018. This past February he released his marvelous debut album FLOW to both critical and fan acclaim.

Brí is a lovely and talented singer-songwriter with the voice of an angel, creating hauntingly beautiful and emotionally compelling indie pop with folk and electronic overtones. In the summer of 2019, she began dropping a series of singles that culminated in the release of her excellent debut album Hide, in October 2021. Her music has garnered radio airplay and received high praise from numerous music writers, me included (I wrote about two of her singles, “More Than” and “Time”, which you can read by clicking on the ‘Related’ links at the end of this post.) She’s performed at Beatvyne’s Music X Tech Experience, Whelan’s Ones to Watch, The Ruby Sessions, and headlined The Sound House in Dublin and Spirit Store in Dundalk.

Released through BlueTide Music, “Illuminate” was co-written and recorded virtually by BENJAMYN and Brí, produced by BENJAMYN (who also created the striking artwork for the single), mixed by Michael Heffernan and mastered by Peter Montgomery. About their first collaboration together, Brí commented “I heard the early beginnings of Ben’s beat on Instagram. I was so compelled to write a song to it that I messaged him straight away; luckily he was up for a co-write. Both of us were going through our own ‘uphill battle’ at the time. ‘Illuminate’ fueled us to overcome those struggles and we hope it does the same for you.” BENJAMYN added “I was buzzing to work with Brí on this track. It all came about so naturally after she heard an earlier version of the beat, and when we spoke I knew she would be perfect for it. Once we started writing the song together it really came into its own. I think we both felt the same vibe from the beginning, and I leveraged our ideas with the production as best I could. I can’t wait for people to hear it and feel like they’re lighting up.”

The song is gorgeous, featuring an intricate mix of shimmery and skittering percussive synths layered over a deep, pulsating synth bass beat, creating a captivating atmospheric soundscape that conveys feelings of enlightenment, of emerging from darkness into the glorious light.

The lyrics speak to addressing our challenges head-on, learning to overcome them, or at least accept them and not allow them to defeat us, in order to live a brighter existence. I like how Brí sings the first two verses, with BENJAMYN joining her at the end of the second verse “Shedding my skin, it’s paper thin, body twitching, I’m itching. Problem, it’s time to fix it. I’m reaching in, I’m healing all of my feelings. Feeling good, good. Pick myself up off the floor, I can do what I want.“, then singing the third verse: “I’m fighting on an uphill battle, but my wounds are only small and shallow. I move with greater purpose filling me, my shine is light a starlight shimmering. If I could take the world into this fight, and turn all of the darkness into light. Then maybe they would stop prohibiting, and we could all begin envisioning a brighter way.” He’s a fine singer too, and his warm vocals complement Brí’s lilting ethereal vocals quite nicely.

Here’s the song on Youtube:

And on Soundcloud:

Connect with BENJAMYN:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Find his music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

 Connect with Brí:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Find her music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Soundcloud / Apple Music