Quality Not Quantity - A Little Bit Of This and That.

We are informed that - Seven-piece, New Orleans rock hybrids The Revivalists announced their upcoming studio offering, Men Amongst Mountains set for release on July 17th 2015 via Wind-up Records. The band, known for their enigmatic live shows, continue to tour across the country this summer, with a slew of upcoming dates and festival appearances, including two album release shows in NYC on July 15th and 16th at Bowery Ballroom and The Music Hall of Williamsburg.

We say The Revivalists are aptly so called, there is a depth to their music that is so rich. Funky and Soulful and yet Alt Rocking, a crazy mixture that simply put, works. More HERE.


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MAYE has teamed up with Simon Field on a release, reworking Night Bus by Lucy Rose, resulting in an amazingly warm production with tastes of deep house and indie dance adding a very current feel still honouring the original. Can we tell you more? No, nothing like a little minimalism, that's all they told us, so that's enough. Excellent track though.


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Their bio tells us - San Francisco based blues/indie rock trio Fritz Montana formed in early 2013 with the goal to create music that keeps your feet dancing and your head banging. Growing up as products of the Bay Area’s suburbs, three ambitious and passionate young men met on a whim and haven’t looked back since. With their minds set on proving that rock and roll isn’t dead.

All I will say is this band are natural blues rockers, engaging from the first riff, rock and roll has another pair of safe hands to bang your heads to.

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The story goes - It’s not often you come across an artist that truly grabs you and takes hold. Emerging from the chaos of New York, Julietta shines through as a dramatic and heartfelt siren, like a warrior suited for battle. It's no wonder her music is able to tell such a captivating story; lyrics seamlessly turn to visuals as her voice articulates the narrative. A universally relative theme of love and loss is a huge part of Julietta’s context, and is something she wears on her sleeve. 

As I read the above words I wondered which direction this song would follow. Well in fairness, I was happily surprised, if you set the bar high you have a long way to fall, this one just soared away leaving some 'Goosebumps' as promised.

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Finally we are informed - Brisbane 4-piece rock outfit The Bacchanales have been very busy for the past year, growing a dedicated fan base on the streets of Brisbane with their heavy and groove-laden 90-style rock. Since the release of their debut EP in 2014 they have been lucky enough to play with Holy Holy, Bad Dreems, Harts and The Belligerents, and now they are ready to release the first single 'Sandcastles' from their forthcoming sophomore EP.

What a band! The single is an edit from a nine minute track on the E.P. and it is gorgeous. It has been available for a week or so. I'm to old to get excited about forthcoming releases, what is this band trying to do to me, excitement at my age!

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2015 - Out Of Our Inbox - June - One

Closet Straights we are told are - a young, scrappy team of talented multi-instrumentalists from Melbourne, Australia. The quintet were born out of troubadour front man Alex Lashlie's desire to have his ethereal compositions fleshed out for a live environment.

Individually, each member of Closet Straights brings their own inspirations and inclinations that reach from the far out regions of jangle-pop to the vast plains of true-country ramblers. As a unit however, these differences cum together to create a melting pot of true fusion.

They first worked together in late 2013 and have now arrived at a point where their music has been described as 'heavy pop'. Well heavy, jangly, or whatever else, their recent single release 'Zadie' is a fine song to kick off this edition. It has that ethereal feel around it, I like the word ethereal, so only award it when justified, yep - ethereal heavy pop will do nicely. Bandcamp HERE.

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So what do we know about Bunnygrunt? Well first of all we know that whoever wrote their promo has a superb way with words, we read - They started off twee but spent so much time on the road that they learned how to rock. The missing link between Teenage Fanclub and Teenage Wasteland, like a bat out of hell baby, Bunnygrunt was born to run. They’ve been tearing it up for years now—legends of the underground teaching the indie kids how to rock and the rockers how to weep. Fueled by the kindest dog in St. Louis, the immortal Rusty, Bunnygrunt’s spent their lives stuck in the middle of a nowhere that used to be a somewhere (the gateway to the west that’s now seen as a hateway to the rest), and you can hear it in every note of their beer-soaked, hopefully desperate and hopelessly hopeful, music.

And just like the union men who built the schools and the fire stations of St. Louis all those years ago, Bunnygrunt does their work and moves on. No glory necessary, no need to thank them.

What can we add to that, other than listen, no even better, turn in up unsociably loud and share with your neighbours. Bunnygrunt Volume 4 is released July 17th 2015 and it's a corker!

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Fox And Fowl are a Brisbane based indie pop trio. They have a really catchy song 'Spark' that we are able to share, one with a little storyline as follows - A song with a surprising meaning, singer and keyboard player Lachlan explains that 'Spark' is based on the worldwide uproar surrounding Brazil's preparation prior to hosting the FIFA World Cup last year.

"We wanted to highlight the fact that the Brazilian government and FIFA were spending millions of dollars on Cup, while millions of Brazilians were living below the poverty line and struggling with their every day life. The country was "just a spark away" from igniting in uproar and riots," he says. 

'Spark' is the next step in an exciting new direction for Fox & Fowl with politically charged undercurrents and a fresh new sound emanating from the trio. Whatever the story this song hooked me in straight away, so enjoy!

The band have some live dates:

Friday June 5 | Brighton Up Bar, Sydney - w/Polish Club and Special Guests

Saturday June 6 | Grace Darling Hotel, Melbourne - w/The Sand Dollars, DIET. and Louis Spoils

Saturday June 27 | Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane - FREE SHOW w/Denpasar.

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Sometimes just the background to a band that we receive sets the tone and expectation very high, so when I read the following about The Cheap Thrills, I was hoping for something exciting.

The Cheap Thrills' release their new single 'Rusty' on July 13th, encapsulating the band's energy and youth with an added Psych/Pop vibe. 

Aged just eighteen and nineteen, the band have already headlined 02 Academy shows, have been selected as winners of the coveted Liverpool Sound City Youth Award 2012 and played the Calling Out stage of Kendal Calling in the same year. Since then, The Cheap Thrills have played successful gigs in London, as well as supporting Cast, The Rifles, The Moons, The Jezabels, Wave Machines, Skaters and Superfood.

Regulars on BBC Introducing Merseyside, the band have also been featured in The Guardian's 'Breaking Bands Column'.

No anti-climax with this band, the featured song has a level of maturity that surprises, they have that 'natural energy level' that carries on after the song has ended.

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We have been hearing quite a lot about Sasha McVeigh this year and share the excitement around her album release 'I Stand Alone' due out imminently on June 8th. Just some of the notable points regarding Sasha are:

·  Tipped as one to watch by Taste of Country. UK country singer who has been embraced by the US country scene.
·  Performing alongside some of the biggest names on the circuit in America (inc. Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton and Keith Urban)
·  Recently played to a packed crowd at C2C at the O2. Sold out main stage performance at Hay Festival, screened by BBC Worldwide.
·  Chosen as Best of the Best by Mark Forrest & BBC Introducing.
·  Been booked for six main stage slots at country music festivals this summer in the US.
·  Opened the ACM awards kick-off concert in Las Vegas with Hunter Hayes.
·  Announced by anti-bullying designers Amour Propre as their new ambassador.

Not bad eh? so enjoy the video for 'Someone To Break My Heart' if the video appeals, the album's a must!

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There has been some real 'buzz' around May, who is based in Melbourne, Australia. Yesterday was the release day of her new single 'I Could Have Been Someone' (written by May), her second release for 2015.

The press release quite rightly describes May's singing and musical accompaniment - With orchestral blends of contemporary soul and dark pop, May pairs hauntingly beautiful melodies with evocative vocals to create a distinct and powerful sound.

This is one of those songs that casts it's shadow across a range of musical styles and genres and yet flows along with grace and beauty. You can gather from that, I like it. It's on iTunes HERE.

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With a rather crammed 'Inbox' check back soon for more new gems, and follow us on Twitter for all the latest Beehive Candy updates!

Bob Dylan and George Harrison - Studio Sessions 1970

Reloaded 02/June/2015 - This is another recording, that from what I can work out seems to have been circulated in different forms for many years. Since we originally ran this feature I came across some additional material with two extra songs, so I have added that version as well, as part two below. In addition to the original comments below, other sources have stated that this was very much a Bob Dylan session and George Harrison was an invited support player. Before the days of The Travelling Wilburys perhaps the various egos still jostled for superiority. Whatever the case it makes for a good listen. 

Bob Dylan and George Harrison are remembered for working together in The Traveling Wilburys in the late 1980's, and of course, Bob Dylan's guest appearance at George's 'Concert For Bangladesh' in 1971.

This session is from May 1970, when both artists were busy on solo projects.

Indeed Bob Dylan released two albums in 1970, 'Self Portrait' and 'New Morning', the latter proving far more popular with his critics.

George Harrison was of course working on 'All Things Must Pass' his legendary 'triple' album.

Bob Dylan co-wrote 'I'd Have You Anytime' with George Harrison, which appeared as the opening track on 'All Things Must Pass' (which also included a cover of Dylan's 'If Not For You').

These sessions may well have prompted or been a part of those developments, whatever the case, it is clear as you listen, that they were very comfortable with each other, and enjoying themselves.

This then is Bob Dylan and George Harrison's Studio Sessions at Columbia Studios B, New York, NY, on the 1st May 1970.

Setlist:

01 Ghost Riders In The Sky
02 Cupid
03 All I Have To Do Is Dream
04 Gates Of Eden
(05 I Threw It All Away - sorry - missing from this copy)
06 I Don't Believe You
07 Matchbox (Carl Perkins)
08 True Love
09 Telephone Line
10 Honey Just Allow Me One More Chance
11 Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
12 Song To Woody
13 Mama You Been On My Mind
14 Don't Think Twice (Instrumental)
15 Yesterday
16 Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
17 Da Doo Ron Ron
18 One Too Many Mornings I
19 One Too Many Mornings II

Afternoon Studio Session:

Bob Dylan (guitar/piano/vocals),
George Harrison (guitar/vocals),
Charlie Daniels (Bass),
Alvin Rogers (Drums),
Al Kooper (guitar/piano),
Ron Cornelius (guitar)

Part Two:

This is a shorter set with some different songs that Beehive Candy came across after our we first ran this feature.

01 Song to Woody (Dylan)
02 Mama You've Been On My Mind (Dylan)
03 Yesterday (Lennon/McCartney)
04 Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (Dylan)
05 Da Doo Ron Ron (Spector/Barry/Greenwich)
06 One Too Many Mornings (Dylan)
07 Everytime Somebody Comes To Town (Harrison)
08 I'd Have You Anytime (Dylan/Harrison)

Sound quality: extremely good (studio mix).

Reloaded - 02/June/2015 - download link in comments.

John Lennon - Alternative Mind Games and Shaved Fish

Reloaded 01/June/2015 - When I was much, much younger, I remember being asked on a number of occasions, who my favourite Beatle was? The years pass by and I guess the same question goes around with the latest charting boy bands today, probably the age group asking is much younger and the lifespan of the bands are possibly shorter. The reality was I never had a favourite, I just wished they had stayed together longer, there had to be a couple of more exceptional albums in them at least, surely? However my opinion is that John Lennon bared his soul and his grievances far more than any other member and that lead to some stunning solo material. Hearing again how they were formed into songs remains fascinating for me, by the number of visits this recording gets on Beehive Candy, I am clearly not alone.

As you probably know, The Beatles and their component parts, are probably the most bootlegged band in the world.

One constant theme seems to be 'alternative' album versions and this is no exception.

There are in circulation, alternative versions of John Lennon's 'Mind Games' and 'Shaved Fish' this copy is an amalgamation of some of the first and most of the second.

This version originates from Auckland, New Zealand, of all places, on 'Apple Ghost' Records, and appeared as a bootleg CD back in 1991.

It is a real mixture of songs in development and from different mixes and sources.

Track listing is as follows:

Mind Games

1. Mind Games (rough vocal - early mix).
2. Tight A$ (guitar & vocals demo)
3. Aisumasen (I'm Sorry) - (rough mix)
4. Bring On The Lucie (alternative mix)
5. Out Of The Blue (rough mix & alternative vocal)
6. Only People (rough mix)

Shaved Fish

7. Give Peace A Chance (acoustic demo)
8. Cold Turkey (alternative vocals - early mix from an acetate)
9. Instant Karma (film clip version - double tracked vocals)
10. Power To The People (alternative version)
11. Mother (live one to one concert - matinee show - different version to album)
12. Woman Is The Nigger Of The World (acoustic demo)
13. Imagine (live one to one concert - matinee show - different version to album)
14. Whatever Gets You Through The Night (alternative version)
15. Mind Games (Make Love Not War) - (early prototype version)
16. #9 Dream (acoustic demo)
17. Happy Xmas War is Over (acoustic demo version)
18. Give Peace A Chance ( live one to one concert - full version featuring guest vocalists Stevie Wonder and Melanie Safka).

Sound quality is extremely good (many stereo mixes - and close to original source)

Reloaded - 01/June/2015 - download link in comments.

John Lennon site HERE (well maintained website).