Grunge/alternative rock legends Pearl Jam are touring this year in support of their new album, Dark Matter, released April 19th. This world tour commences May 4th in Vancouver, BC, and draws to its conclusion November 23rd in Sydney, AU. Support varies by date/location. Tickets are available at pearljam.com!
5/4 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena*
5/6 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena*
5/10 – Portland, OR – Moda Center*
5/13 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center*
5/16 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena*
5/18 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena*
5/21 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum*
5/22 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum*
5/25 – Napa Valley, CA – BottleRock Festival 2024^
5/28 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena*
5/30 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena*
6/22 – Dublin, IE – Marlay Park
6/25 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Co-Op Arena+
6/29 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium+%
7/2 – Berlin, DE – Waldbühne+
7/3 – Berlin, DE – Waldbühne+
7/6 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi+
7/8 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi+
7/11 – Madrid, ES – Mad Cool Festival 2024^
7/13 – Lisbon, PT – NOS Alive Festival 2024^
8/22 – Missoula, MT – Washington-Grizzly Stadium&
8/26 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center&
8/29 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field&
8/31 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field&
9/3 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden&
9/4 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden&
9/7 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center&
9/9 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center&
9/12 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena&
9/15 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park&
9/17 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park&
11/8 – Auckland, AU – Go Media Stadium Mt. Smart#
11/10 – Auckland, AU – Go Media Stadium Mt. Smart# (Second show added!)
11/13 – Gold Coast, AU – Heritage Bank Stadium#
11/16 – Melbourne, AU – Marvel Stadium#
11/18 – Melbourne, AU – Marvel Stadium# (Second show added!)
11/21 – Sydney, AU – ENGIE Stadium#
11/23 – Sydney, AU – ENGIE Stadium# (Second show added!)
Shadows Calling is a female-fronted alternative rock band hailing from Cork, Ireland. They released their debut EP, Spirit Shifter, in early 2023. Now, the five-piece outfit is back with These Scars, a four track EP that dropped March 22, 2024.
Shadows Calling boasts a group of musicians who delve into the many aspects of the rock and metal genres, paired with singer Jen Vaughan’s powerful vocals. The band utilizes a vast array of sounds and melodies on These Scars, which clocks in at 17 minutes and balances the fast-paced and upbeat with the slow, dark, and moody.
The EP kicks off with “Dead Long Enough,” a heavy opener with tasty guitar parts that will make listeners want to bang their heads and sing along. The song is a 2:47 driving piece that would be at home on any modern rock playlist. Shadows Calling switches gears with the title track, “These Scars,” which has a deliciously gritty groove that brings to mind such classic metal acts as Metallica and Black Sabbath. Jen toys with the rougher edge of her voice throughout, showcasing a range that is expertly manipulated to match the tone set by the music.
“The Lost” is another nod to the vintage, melodic with a hint of funk, and Jen’s vocals positively soar. I can’t put my finger on exactly why, but this is my favorite of the four songs. The EP closes with “Ships,” and here again the band ventures into different territory. This epic track takes the listener on a journey. The music itself runs through a hard rock start, a nasty heavy metal breakdown at its heart. Listeners are then granted by a brief interlude of nothing but bass and the ethereal facet of Jen’s singing before the song ends on a guitar fade out.
Shadows Calling has packed a punch with These Scars, making a statement that they will not be ignored with four catchy, captivating tracks that will grab you and not let go. For any fan of hard rock, metal, and/or grunge, this EP is a must-hear!
Be sure to follow Shadows Calling on their socials so that you don’t miss any updates or new music! The band has had quite a year, and I believe they have a promising future ahead.
Serpent Rising is a new heavy metal/rock project hailing from eastern Pennsylvania, comprised of members from various local acts. So far, the band has shared three singles, and they have a fourth on the horizon.
I was lucky enough to be given the chance to talk to lyricist/frontman Bradon Marshall! We dove into the members’ musical histories, their shared influences, what’s coming next for Serpent Rising, and much more!
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Mostly Music: Tell me about how Serpent Rising formed, and what’s the story behind the name?
Bradon Marshall: So the band was formed by two members (Josh & Clint) of an old punk band called Cold Blood Creep after they disbanded due to issues with their singer. Then, they found Seth, the guitarist, after seeing him cover a Lamb of God song. Finally, they met me about 3 months ago, before I left the group Two Dollar Horse. I stepped down as lyricist and frontman for TDH, and am filling the same role for Serpent Rising.
As far as the name goes, we bounced around on a bunch of names prior to Serpent Rising, but none of them felt right. Once the name Serpent Rising was put on the whiteboard, we knew it was the one. It sounded cool, rolled off the tongue, and represented our heavier tone, from the words to the drop tuned instruments.
A simpler way we all look at it is, as Josh put it – before this band, we were all kinda lost in music. Once we were all together, it felt collectively like we rose above the water and started treading.
MM: Did you all have a mutual direction at the beginning, or were you working from different musical backgrounds/influences?
BM: We definitely have different musical backgrounds, I think each member is all over the place; but we totally have our favorites.
Clint, the drummer, is old school. He really likes Motorhead. Josh, the bassist, really loves Dream Theater. So clearly, there’s a beautiful disconnect between all of us, where we as a team can pull from different styles to create.
MM: Who are the band’s major shared influences?
BM: I think if you listen closely, you can hear the best of different rock/metal subgenres come into play. Some honorable influences are as follows: Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Megadeth, Periphery, Korn, Sleep Token, Lamb of God, and Acid Bath.
MM: That list definitely runs the gamut of subgenres! So, what is your writing/recording process? How do y’all bring it all together?
BM: Our writing process is currently pretty streamlined and fit so that each member can add their defining piece of the puzzle separately. The main songwriters are Josh and Seth. We are all pretty comfortable with audio engineering from a studio standpoint.
They [Josh and Seth] are really good at creating hook-based riffs with emotional transitions. Basically, they create the whole instrumental portion of the song on their own, then they send it to me to add my lyricist touch. Once the song is pretty much 100%, we bring Clint up to speed.
MM: On that same topic, what is the story behind the latest single, “Asphyxiation”?
BM: Another great question! “Asphyxiation” has done really well; better than any of us expected for the start up of the project. The song has its highs and lows instrumentally as well as lyrically.
In our mind, it tells an abstract and sad love story paired with the words, which is why when Josh and I laid out the script for the music video, we wanted it to not be too on the nose.
I can’t speak for the band as a whole or anyone that pulls a meaning from the words, but personally, I have dealt with a lot of difficulty with love and put my faith in a lot of things and people that have burned me. Or it is as simple as just not being able to see eye to eye repeatedly, to the point where it creates a jaded “not where you belong” type of feeling when it comes to actually getting close to anyone. Almost suffocating, in a sense, hence the title.
MM: As a lyricist, from where do you draw most of your inspiration? And what made you start writing? Did you begin in a different medium (poetry, perhaps)?
BM: I think I draw most of my inspiration from things I’m too afraid to say not in front of a microphone, as funny as that sounds. It’s always personal for me, but I try and keep the words abstract. Someday, we could dissect the lyrics of a song to fully understand the meaning I put behind it.
I’ve been writing poetry for most of my life, and I have always looked at it as just poetry on top of music, but once I started playing instruments, I had a place to put the words & it opened up a whole world for me.
MM: Y’all have released 3 singles thus far. When can we expect an album or EP? Or does the band prefer to upload tracks to a streaming service and not actually put them into a collection like that? I know several bands are going that route with the decline of the demand for physical copies of records.
BM: As far as releases go, yes, there are currently 3 out of the 13 songs we have lined up for possible release. But I wouldn’t expect an album. It just doesn’t work like singles do. Albums are great, in our opinion, but there is a decline in desire for them and with us trying to also do music videos and cinema content for the majority of the songs, singles make it much easier to do so piece by piece!
Two of the three songs currently have music videos and an unreleased (as far as streaming services are concerned) track called “MUD” has only a video on YouTube.
MM: I am from the generation that set a lot of store by music videos, so I’m really enjoying this resurgence of artists who like to express their music visually as well. So, what are the band’s plans for 2024?
BM: As far as our plans for 2024, we’ve booked shows to fill out most of the year, and we’ll be focusing on recording songs to be released and content for music videos and things of that nature. Our plan is to be a little more than just a band that makes and releases music. We’re still planning out ideas for our next big music video adventure! Everything we do, we want to keep DIY. It seems to keep the creativity natural and we are cohesive together more than we’d be with an outside party.
A collaboration or two with another local artist/musician would be cool, though!
MM: What would be your dream collaboration?
BM: It would be really cool to work with an off-genre band to create a mixture of sounds that weave well together but not to be expected!
MM: Taking that a step further, what would be your dream tour lineup (that includes Serpent Rising, of course)?
BM: I always loved the idea of keeping it close to home. There are a ton of great bands locally. Just to name a few that I’d love to travel and share music with – The Stone Eye, Hannibal, People Food, Ben Grinder Group, Ephraim, Die Tired, The Spyders of HBG.
That’s just a few, there’s many more! The music is there, you just gotta look for it!
MM: I love when bands promote other locals! It helps me spread the word as well. Still on the topic of live shows, what’s your favorite thing about performing?
BM: I think collectively our favorite thing about performing so far since we’ve started is after a show we get to come off stage and talk to people who heard us for the first time, maybe have a drink with them, and just talk about the music and various other things. Short of the connection we get with them on stage, there’s nothing else comparable!
MM: Last but not least, is there any message you have for your listeners (and my readers)?
BM: If we could say something to those who listen and anyone who reads this, it would be to always try to create something each day, even if it’s just a little happiness, check out our new single “MUD,” releasing March 30th, and come say hi to us & have a beer or six at our up and coming shows!!!
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Serpent Rising is truly just getting started. If you are a fan of the heavier styles of music, I would highly recommend looking them up right now! Make sure you follow the band on their socials so you never miss any news in regard to upcoming releases or live shows. You can listen to their latest single, “Asphyxiation,” below, and don’t forget that “MUD” drops on March 30th!
Naked Sunday is a hard rock band from The Midlands. The quartet formed in 2012, but their lineup wasn’t settled until 2018. They have since released two albums – Signs of Insanity (2020) and Home (2022) – and one EP, 2021’s Skeleton Keys. More recently, Naked Sunday’s track “Lilith” was featured in John Williams’ film Tales of the Creeping Death.
I was fortunate enough to have the chance to talk to bassist Corty Lou about the band’s inception, influences, the latest singles – “Vilified” and “Shine” – and more!
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So tell me, how did Naked Sunday form? And how did y’all decide on the band name?
Corty Lou: Naked Sunday formed around 2012 but became the established lineup it is today in 2018, after much hard work and the release of our first album, Signs of Insanity. The name was based on the Stone Temple Pilots song “Naked Sunday” – we enjoyed how the two words just fitted well together, and of course, it leaves a lot to interpretation.
Who are Naked Sunday’s biggest influences?
CL: As for myself, it would be Motley Crue/Sixx AM, [vocalist/guitarist] Martin’s would be Guns N Roses, [lead guitarist] Alex loves UFO, and [drummer] Liam loves the Foo Fighters, but collectively we all love Queen. We don’t like to make the same record, and much like Queen, we set out to be different from everyone else (especially on our local scene).
Do you remember the moment you realized you wanted to play music for a living? Was there a specific band/artist that made you think “I have to do that”?
CL: I think the second I heard Queen and picked up a guitar, I wanted to perform and make music. It was an instant callin. The first time I could play a few chords, I was writing my own songs, and that love of music and creating is still with me.
What is the writing/recording process for the band?
CL: As a band, we do all write together. Sometimes Martin will come in with some chords and lyrics and it’s almost a full written song, but the band put their stamp on it, myself and Alex usually write riffs and then at rehearsal, Liam will piece them together and we will structure the song as we see fit. A lot of the time we will work a song, such as a new one we are working on at the moment called “LEGION,” by road testing them, and doing demos so we all have structures to work to, or that we can edit and say this may work better. We also share Whatsapp videos of riffs, etc., so Martin can start writing lyrics, or Liam has a heads up so he can develop the feel of the track on the drums.
I want to talk about the latest singles, “Vilified” and “Shine.” Can you share the story behind each of those tracks?
CL: They sit like a brother and sister track to us. “Vilified” is definitely Martin’s baby lyrically. It is about others trying to turn people against you because you have passion or drive. Martin faces a lot of criticism because he is driven and gets great results. It’s a middle finger to the high school bully, the rogue workmate that isn’t a mate, the people in the pub who laugh behind your back but are friendly to your face – it’s a song for the working man.
“Shine” is a different kettle of fish. It is about wanting someone to succeed, totally the opposite of “Vilified.” It’s about rooting for the one you love, wanting them to be the best possible person they can be and the best gift to the world they can be. It’s a delicate number with some of Alex’s best guitar work, and we have to give credit to Miguel Seco, who produced these songs. Without his help and love, especially with “Shine,” we feel he got the best out of us (our fifth Sunday member).
With your full library in mind, do you have a song you connect with more than the others?
CL: I think “Home” for us is something we all connect with. It was the title track to our second album and featured on Fireworks rock and metal magazines CD. It, for us, is just something that we all get lost in, and the audience loves singing the ending. It is a song about our sleepy home town of Stafford – you want to leave, but inside your head there is no place like home.
What is your favorite song to play live?
CL: “Lilith” is one that I think we all dig. It started out as a song I wrote on bass at a rehearsal at Neon Sound Studios in Burntwood. (Martin has a connection of writing a UK 16 Chart song here with Mike Newey the owner.) We even went back to the studio to record it. It’s a brooding dark builder with a very metal ending and the start of us moving into heavier territory. Liam helped with the structure of this, and it just is an absolute blast to play live. The song also features in the film Tales of the Creeping Death by John Williams.
That’s really cool, that you guys had a song in a film! How did that feel, when you learned it was to be used?
CL: So the director John Williams heard “Lilith” and used it in this incredible werewolf scene. The werewolf was designed by Gary Pollard. The film features legendary English actor Ricky Tomlinson. For us it was a dream come true, being massive horror fans. I remember Martin taking the call and jumping around being super excited, then we learned they also added “Unbreakable.” A very surreal and beautiful moment.
Last but not least, what are the band’s plans for the rest of 2023 and into 2024?
We have one final gig of the year left at The Dog House Stafford. It’s our normal Christmas Bash with our good friends Lungdren and Guns for Girls. Then it’s getting the mix back for our single “Web Around My Grave,” which again is a heavy number, followed by a new photoshoot and then recording the final track of our EP Rise, which is a beautiful Tom Petty style song. Then it’s back to gigging straight away around the UK, spreading our wings and following up album number 3. We also have a video to film with the talented Mr Nick J. Townsend of WEAK13, who filmed “Vilified.”
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Things are moving fast for Naked Sunday! You can keep up with all their news, gig announcements, and music by following their socials, and be sure to give “Vilified” and “Shine” a listen on your favorite streaming service!
Mostly Music 