The Beatles — “Penny Lane”
rock music
5 Bands/Artists You Should Be Following (#19)
1. Plastic Tears
Glam rock from Finland. For fans of Poison, KISS, Hanoi Rocks, etc. Plastic Tears recently released their latest album, Angels With Attitude, and the positive press has been rolling in. The guys are currently booking shows to promote the album. Check out “Miss Stumbling Legs” and “Secret Society.”
Facebook – Instagram – Bandcamp
2. Mechanical Vampires
Dark pop/electronic/alternative from New Jersey. For fans of Crywolf, 30 Seconds to Mars, PVRIS, etc. Mechanical Vampires is currently working on new music. In the meantime, listen to “Gemini” and “Forget About Me.”
Facebook – Instagram – YouTube
3. Modern Echo
Progressive/hard rock from Wisconsin. For fans of Nothing More, A Perfect Circle, Gemini Syndrome, etc. Modern Echo has just reached their goal on their Indiegogo campaign. They are using the funds to finish the upcoming album, In Division. Here are “Break in the Sky” and their cover of Soundgarden’s “Fell on Black Days,” a tribute to Chris Cornell.
Facebook – Instagram – YouTube
4. Seven Year Witch
Rock & roll from South Carolina. For fans of Jack White, Silvertide, Beitthemeans, etc. Seven Year Witch will be touring relentlessly this summer and fall, opening for such acts as Buckcherry and Gin Blossoms. Check out the live performances of “Rags to Riches” and “Salty.”
Facebook – Instagram – Bandcamp
5. Morning Robots
Alternative/indie rock from France. For fans of The Black Keys, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, etc. Morning Robots’ debut EP, Nothing Like Tile For a Tango, was released in June. Here is the latest single, “Meet Me Later.”
Playlist Challenge, Day 455
Paul McCartney — “The World Tonight”
Playlist Challenge, Day 454
Linkin Park — “Papercut”
5 Bands/Artists You Should Be Following (#18)
1. Meka Nism
Metal from Florida. For fans of Arch Enemy, Within Temptation, Nightwish, etc. Meka Nism just released their latest EP, The War Inside, in May and are now booking shows. Check out the title track and “Bring the Sun Back.”
Facebook – Instagram – YouTube
2. Love The Hate
Rock from Mobile, Alabama. For fans of 10 Years, Tantric, Chevelle, etc. Love The Hate recently opened for From Ashes to New and Bad Wolves at a hometown show. Their latest album, Burn, is available for purchase through various digital outlets. Get a taste of Burn on ReverbNation, and listen to “Bleed the Weak” now!
Facebook – Instagram – YouTube
3. A Light in the Darkness
Progressive metal from Texas. For fans of Lamb of God, Soilwork, early Trivium, etc. A Light in the Darkness currently has two EPs available — Conspire and Athens to Piraeus — on digital platforms such as iTunes and BandCamp. Here is “Ransom,” from Conspire.
Facebook – Instagram – YouTube
4. Skynd
Electronic/industrial/dubstep duo that formed in Australia. For fans of Sköld, Die Antwoord, Skrillex, etc. Skynd premiered their video for “Gary Heidnik” recently, which features Korn front man Jonathan Davis. This is my new favorite band. Thus far, their songs and videos have been delving into the minds of murderers, and I love it! Please check out both of their singles, “Elisa Lam” and “Gary Heidnik.”
Facebook – Instagram – YouTube – Twitter
5. Hank the Businessman
Folk/progressive rock from Pennsylvania. For fans of Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Jason Mraz, etc. Hank the Businessman released the Mountain EP in June. Here are my two favorite songs, “One” and “Tangled.”
Let’s Talk Covers (The 69 Cats Edition)
The 69 Cats: “People Are Strange” (The Doors cover)
The 69 Cats: “Runaway” (Del Shannon cover)
The 69 Cats: “Werewolves of London” (Warren Zevon cover)
Bands You Should Know: Ward
I found Ward on Instagram, after he left a gracious comment on one of my posts. He then reached out and asked if I would consider his music for this blog.
Based in Los Angeles, Ward is the vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for a band of the same name. The first song I listened to was “Stand Me,” and I was visited with a Coldplay vibe, mixed with a little Brendon Urie.
Then, I checked out “Crush.” More rock-oriented, this track put me in mind of The Killers and Queens of the Stone Age.
A third song, “Soothe the Soul,” had a touch of The Police.
This is the brilliance of Ward. The music ranges from alternative to rock, from post-punk to new wave to pop, from Panic! at the Disco to Depeche Mode to The Smiths. This expansive dose of creativity is paired with a powerful, passionate voice and beautifully honest lyrics in a combination that isn’t quite like anything out there currently.
Ward is diverse and eclectic. You never know exactly what you’re going to get with each new song, but you can rest assured it will be interesting ear candy that belongs on your playlist. “Crush” is my favorite track that I’ve heard so far. And this year, Ward is donating 100% of the sales of “Crush” to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Visit Ward’s official site, or connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, and/or YouTube.
For added fun, listen to Ward’s take on a Rolling Stones classic, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”
5 Bands/Artists You Should Be Following (#17)
1. Devil in Disguise
Hard rock/metal band from Las Vegas, Nevada. For fans of Avatar, Avenged Sevenfold, early Stonesour, etc. Devil in Disguise released their debut album, Welcome to Hell, earlier this month. Check out the first single — “Sick Of You.” And I have it from a very reliable source that the next single and video will be out soon!
2. Dark Summer
Hard rock from Florida. For fans of Three Days Grace, I Prevail, Crown the Empire, etc. Dark Summer has a show at House of Blues in Orlando on August 25th. Their latest album, Full Circle, is available now. Dark Summer has also been entered in the neXt2rock contest, hosted by 95.9 Rock in Melbourne. Visit their Facebook for more info. Here are “Push” and their cover of Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do.”
3. Black Water Rising
Rock/metal from New York. For fans of Black Label Society, Theory of a Deadman, Shaman’s Harvest, etc. Black Water Rising has a few shows on the horizon. Their newest album, Electrified, was released in late 2017 and is available in both digital and physical formats. Listen to “Brother Go On” and “Dance With the Devil.”
Facebook – Instagram – YouTube
4. A Few Memories
Electronic/industrial music from Paraguay. For fans of Orgy, Dope Stars Inc., Mindless Self Indulgence, etc. You can check out A Few Memories’ full discography via bandcamp. Below are two songs from their latest EP, Llamando a Venus: “Espejismo de Escape” and “Mundo Enfermizo.”
5. Silent Echoes
Hard rock from Florida. For fans of Beartooth, The Amity Affliction, solo Ben Bruce, etc. Silent Echoes have some upcoming shows, which you can find on their Facebook. Their debut EP, Getting Through, is available on digital platforms such as iTunes. The new album, Lullabies, is coming soon! Hear the title track now!
Playlist Challenge, Day 446
Rauchenstein — “Out Of Control”
Playlist Challenge, Day 445
Opiate For The Masses — “Heaven”
Mostly Music 