rock music

New Music Friday With Steve Vai, Blutengel, and Clint Lowery

January 13, 2023 — Leave a comment

Steve Vai: “She Saved My Life Tonight”

From Steve Vai’s new album Vai/Gash, set to be released January 27, 2023. This is a collection of songs recorded in the 90s by Vai and Johnny “Gash” Sombretto, but it is only now seeing the light of day.

Blutengel: “Tief”

From Blutengel’s upcoming album Un:Sterblich – Our Souls Will Never Die, available everywhere May 12, 2023.

Clint Lowery: “Devil Leather”

The first single from Clint’s latest EP Ghostwriter, which is set to be released February 17, 2023.

Scotty Austin: The King of Rock Tour 2023

January 13, 2023 — Leave a comment

Scotty Austin, formerly of Saving Abel, is taking The King of Rock Tour across the U.S. for much of 2023. He will be playing with several different bands, hitting festivals, jumping on a date of the Revival Tour with Rehab, and even doing a TV show recording in March!

For more info, visit scottyaustinofficial.com. Tickets available through the venues’ sites. I will update this list if/when more dates are announced.

  • 1/26 – Ft. Walton Beach, FL – The Sound Cafe
  • 1/28 – Clearwater, FL – OCC Roadhouse
  • 2/2 – Owensboro, KY – Milligan’s Bar
  • 2/9 – Seattle, WA – Funhouse
  • 2/10 – Hayden, ID – Razzles
  • 2/11 – Lava Hot Springs, ID – Blue Moon Bar & Grill w/White Trash Romeo
  • 2/12 – Salt Lake City, UT – Liquid Joe’s
  • 2/17 – Angola, IN – Eclectic Room w/Saints Among Us
  • 3/1-3/12 – Tour w/Flaw and Shallow Side
  • 3/30 – TV show recording
  • 4/1 – Sturgis, SD – Kickstands
  • 4/14 – Columbus, MS – Muddy Waters w/Rehab
  • 4/15 – Memphis, TN – Rockhouse Live w/Voxx
  • 4/22 – Fort Smith, AR – The Majestic w/Pump 5
  • 4/23 – San Angelo, TX – The Deadhorse w/Pump 5
  • 4/28 – Warrensburg, MO – Bodies w/Pump 5
  • 4/29 – Omaha, NE – Dream on the Green w/Pump 5
  • 5/4 – Chicago, IL – The Cubby Bear w/Citrus Orange
  • 5/5 – Genoa City, WI – 2 Brothers Bar w/Citrus Orange
  • 5/6 – Battle Creek, MI – Music Factory w/Citrus Orange
  • 5/7 – Kaukauna, WI – Maloney’s w/Citrus Orange
  • 5/10 – Buffalo, NY – Stamps the Bar w/Wild Planes
  • 5/11 – Teaneck, NJ – Debonair Music Hall w/Look Back Luna
  • 5/12 – Hallam, PA – Tourist Inn w/Look Back Luna
  • 5/13 – Hanover, PA – Rock on the Hill Festival w/Trapt, Sponge, & Flaw
  • 5/18 – Lawton, OK – Red Dirt Reloaded
  • 5/19 – San Antonio, TX – Fitzgerald’s
  • 5/25 – Baxter Springs, KS – Bricks & Brews w/Saints Among Us
  • 5/26 – Holladay, TN – Keeper of the Flame w/Saints Among Us
  • 5/27 – St. Louis, MO – The Attic Music Bar w/Saints Among Us
  • 5/28 – Madison, WI – BratFest
  • 6/8 – Unity, WI – Monster Hall Music Fest
  • 6/10 – Cave in Rock, IL – Hogrock
  • 6/14-7/6 – Revival Tour w/Rehab and Framing the Red
  • 7/7, 7/8 – Branson, MO – Branson Star Theater w/Saint Tragedy
  • 7/13 – Bloomington, IL – Nightshop w/The Lion Within (New date!)
  • 7/14 – Kaukauna, WI – Farm Stock Biker Bash w/The Lion Within
  • 7/15 – Lake City, MI – Tiki Craft Festival w/The Lion Within
  • 7/22 – Springville, IN – ABATE of Indiana w/Bobaflex
  • 7/23 – Hazel Green, WI – Sandy Hook Tavern w/Perfectly Still
  • 8/2, 8/6 – Sturgis, SD – Kickstands Campground, Sturgis Bike Rally
  • 8/12 – Minneapolis, MN – The Cabooze w/Embers Rise
  • 8/21-9/1 – Carnival Valor Cruise w/Big Smo and more
  • 9/15 – Stroudsburg, PA – Sherman Theater
  • 9/16 – Oakmont, PA – Oaks Theater
  • 9/23 – Mansfield, TX – Fat Daddy’s w/Dark Below
  • 9/28 – Orangevale, CA – The Boardwalk
  • 9/29 – San Francisco, CA – Bricks & Mortar Music Hall
  • 10/6 – Chickasha, OK – Legends Pub w/Gravel Switch
  • 10/7 – Kansas City, KS – Vivo w/Gravel Switch
  • 10/13 – Natchez, MS – Locust Alley w/Gravel Switch
  • 10/14 – Columbus, MS – Rocktoberfest w/Shallow Side
  • 10/19 – Westland, MI – Token Lounge w/Saints Among Us
  • 10/21 – Appleton, WI – BreastFest
  • 11/4 – Hallam, PA – Tourist Inn w/Wild Planes
  • 11/11 – Holladay, TN – Keeper of the Flame w/Below 7
  • 12/1 – Columbia, SC – The Venue w/Bear Within Us
  • 12/16 – Frenchtown, NJ – Artie’s Bar & Grill

New Music Alert! Dope: “Misery” (ft. Drama Club)

January 11, 2023 — Leave a comment

Mac Saturn: Until The Money Runs Out Tour, North America 2023 (Updated 1/10/23)

January 10, 2023 — Leave a comment

Update: Mac Saturn has added a few dates to their Until The Money Runs Out Tour! Check them out below.

Tickets: macsaturn.com

  • 1/24 – Covington, KY – Madison Live!
  • 1/25 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
  • 1/27 – Washington DC – Songbyrd Music House
  • 1/28 – Hartford, CT – Webster Theater
  • 1/29 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
  • 1/31 – Portland, ME – Portland House of Music and Events (HOME)
  • 2/1 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
  • 2/2 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
  • 2/4 – New York, NY – Racket NYC
  • 2/5 – Albany, NY – Empire Live
  • 2/7 – Montreal, QC – L’Escogriffe Bar Spectacle
  • 2/8 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
  • 2/9 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
  • 2/16 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi
  • 2/17 – Sauget, IL – Pop’s Nightclub and Concert Venue
  • 2/18 – Lawrence, KS – Bottleneck
  • 2/19 – Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall
  • 2/21 – Dallas, TX – HOB Dallas, Cambridge Room
  • 2/22 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Houston
  • 2/23 – Austin, TX – 3TEN Austin City Limits Live
  • 2/25 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues New Orleans
  • 2/27 – Nashville, TN – The End
  • 2/28 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage
  • 3/2 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
  • 3/3 – Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend
  • 3/4 – Wilmington, NC – Bourgie Nights (New date!)
  • 3/14 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
  • 3/15 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
  • 3/17 – Wichita, KS – Barleycorn’s
  • 3/18 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
  • 3/19 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad (New date!)
  • 3/20 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
  • 3/22 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
  • 3/23 – San Francisco, CA – Brick & Mortar Music Hall
  • 3/25 – Seattle, WA – Funhouse
  • 3/26 – Vancouver, BC – The Cobalt Cabaret
  • 3/27 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Mission Theater
  • 3/31 – Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig
  • 4/1 – Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig (2nd night added!)

Interview: Rod Rawlins of Severed Sun

January 9, 2023 — Leave a comment

Severed Sun is a metal band from central Florida. They have two EPs out so far: Strength Judged By Power (2017) and Catacombs (2021). Their love of all things heavy bleeds into their music, and the passion they have for what they do is evident in both recordings and the moment the foursome steps foot on a stage.

I recently had the chance to speak with front man Rod Rawlins about the band’s history, influences, and plans for 2023.

**

MM: First and foremost, what made you want to pursue a career in music?

RR: Well first, thank you for taking time to do the interview. For me personally, I grew up listening to rock music, being introduced by my father and uncle to bands like Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath, etc. Later on in life, some friends of mine and myself were riding in a car and I was singing to, I believe, Metallica and they asked if I had ever thought about singing in a band. That lit a spark uner my ass to get into a band they were putting together.

MM: Your voice does stand out, and it certainly fits the style of music y’all do. Have you ever had any type of lessons? Or are you just one of those lucky people?

RR: Well, the answer to that is yes, but not until the last couple years did I get serious vocal lessons from Natalie Hagan. I wanted to expand my vocal range and get back some of my high end that I seemed to lose or just got lazy with. I did try lessons a long time ago but only had a few because of conflicts with my work schedule. 

MM: Who are your major influences? (Both for you personally, and those of the entire band.)

RR: We have a lot of the same influences, such as Black Sabbath,Metallica,Pantera, Dream Theater, Testament, Death,Megadeth, Metal Church – the list goes on and on.

MM: Just for fun, is there any band/artist you listen to that you think would surprise people?

RR: Believe it or not, I don’t listen much anymore, but Little River Band. My dad loved them and when I hear it on a station, I have to jam it out.

MM: Who would you most like to collaborate with?

RR: Zakk Wylde, because he is a great human and awesome musician.

MM: How was Severed Sun formed, and where did the name come from?

RR: Originally there were different members in the band and they needed a singer and they met me and so I joined. But I believe it was the guitarist, Kevin, and thier drummer at the time that came up with the name. They were 4 friends from high school that put the band together initially.

Severed Sun, logo and current lineup

MM: Y’all released Catacombs in 2021. Can you tell me a little about the writing and recording process for that EP? And where do you draw your inspiration for songs, generally speaking?

RR: Our inspiration comes from feeling when we are jamming at practice, usually during warm up. The guys will jam totally from the hip and if something feels right we grab it and write. Recording was a blast! We spent, I think, 2 or 3 weekends at the studio. Everything just fell into place and the  Catacombs EP was born.

MM: What is your favorite song from the EP?

RR: I really like “Poverty” a lot. And “Fuktard,” because it’s a fun song to play.

MM: Speaking of playing, what can one expect from a Severed Sun live show? I imagine the fact that y’all enjoy jamming together translates to the stage.

RR: Severed Sun is 4 guys who love playing and it shows on the stage. We have no gimmicks or cliches, it’s just the music, the crowd, and the band. We try to give it all every show!!

MM: What’s next for the band?

RR: Another studio session is coming up in 2023, and we’re going to build another tour since our last one got cancelled due to Covid. We hope to meet a lot more new people and, hopefully, fans.

**

It sounds like Severed Sun is ready to blaze a path of hard-hitting songs and shows this year! To ensure that you don’t miss out, and to get your hands on music from Severed Sun, follow them on their socials and visit severedsun.com, metalscraprecords.com, and totalmetalshop.com.