The Go Ahead - Hot Dreams - Rosie Carney & Henry Jamison

The Go Ahead - On My Side.

Background - Seven year Bay Area music scene stalwart The Go Ahead has evolved a lot from the early, funk-jam-band side project featuring a motley crew of best friends. Since their start, they have matured into a sound that mashes the glossy distortion you’d hear at The Bronze nightclub in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, while tossing out angsty harmonies that would pleasantly float around the dock of Dawson’s Creek. And in that time, they have steadily gained a following.

While there are a few eye-and-ear catching features to their sound and live shows (lead singer Kyna Wise’s gritty exuberance, for starters) The Go Ahead isn’t the vision of a singular individual with backup pieces. Rather, the band employs a more decidedly egalitarian mode of music making. Every member has equal ownership of the band: No one is the designated writer or composer, so they all, in turns, pull their creative weight and lend their unique perspective to the music. The result is work that can range from brooding, to grungy, pop-y and everything in between, all in a 45 minute set.

In Harms Way (released last week) is a collection of songs dealing mostly with the joys and anxieties of solitude, loss, and humanity. This is in stark contrast to their 2014 release Cycles which was a very specific map of the lifecycle of a bittersweet romantic relationship.

This last year has been one of heartbreak and frustrations for The Go Ahead. They lost their very close childhood friend, Jon Harms, suddenly due to exceptional complications while in hospital. The EP has been named In Harms Way to honor his life. Despite all the hurdles—mourning their friend, major surgeries, relocations—The Go Ahead has evaded the normal cycle of entropy that has ended countless other bands. They stick together like glue with one goal in mind: To make music together. For them, there is no other option. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The second of six tracks on the new 'In Harms Way' EP (which has just been released) is 'On My Side'. It is a good indicator of the bands musical feel, there is a consistent level of energy throughout the EP, which features well constructed songs that are artfully developed, and where each band members input results in a catchy feel, with plenty of attention for detail.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hot Dreams - Another Night.

Background - London quartet Hot Dreams are building to be one to watch after just two tracks - their debut single ‘Plungepool’ and the follow-up ‘Will You Dive’. Radio 1’s Annie Mac highlighted the band as one of her New Names while further airplay has included support from BBC London Introducing and Radio X.

Now Hot Dreams move towards the release of their debut EP by sharing its first track ‘Another Night’. The track’s majestic moody opening verse brims with emotional yearning before it erupts into flight with a soaring, anthemic chorus that deserves to grace larger stages. Produced by Ian Dowling (Everything Everything, Black Honey), ‘Another Night’ blurs the boundaries between the atmospheric intensity of post-punk and the enticing immediacy of pop.

Lyrically it’s a track which reflects the unexpected changes that come as friendships mature into adulthood. Work, life and relationships are just some of the reasons why people can sometimes find that their connections with old friends slowly slip away - and it’s an often unspoken phenomenon that seems to be particularly prevalent in big cities.

“’Another Night’ is a love song to a friend,” says drummer and lyricist Cameron Fyall. “It’s about the acceptance that friends are like any other serious relationship that experiences ups and downs. If the good times mean enough to you then it’s worth holding onto.”

Hot Dreams formed in 2016 over a shared interest in artists such as Foals, Pumarosa, Timber Timbre, and Porches. They’re completed by Kai Fennell (vocals, guitar), Aaron Clarke (bass) and Alex Bloomfield (guitar, keys). FACEBOOK.

There is a brooding atmospheric feel right from the opening moments of 'Another Night'. When the chorus eventually arrives, the track ups the emotional charge considerably and the hooks are everywhere.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rosie Carney & Henry Jamison - Hot Scary Summer (Villagers Cover).

Background - Framed by centuries' old churches, pubs, and a perpetually grey sky, "visionary" (Ladygunn) Vermont singer-songwriter Henry Jamison and Irish folk singer Rosie Carney channeled the stark, historical energy of Dublin into a live cover of Villagers' "Hot Scary Summer" while on their European tour this fall. Henry's electric, Jeff Buckley-esque chords and haunting falsetto blend with Rosie's pure, mature-beyond-her-twenty-years voice to create a cutting emotional depth that builds on lyrical themes of a relationship in it twilight.

Henry just released his synth-tinged folk debut 'The Wilds,' which has accrued more than 40M Spotify spins and scored 4 stars as The Observer’s album of the week - and he's getting ready for tours with Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker, Darlingside, and Caroline Rose in 2018.

Rosie recently released new single 'Winter', produced with her frequent collaborator Orri McBrearty in her hometown of Donegal. The song is just another part of her exciting year so far, having played shows supporting Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Saint Sister and Haux, co-headlining dates with Henry Jamison in the UK and Ireland, alongside festival slots at Latitude, Seven Layers, and the Bon Iver, National, and Cillian Murphy curated Sounds From A Safe Harbour. Henry Jamison WEBSITE, Rosie Carney WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Well we featured Henry Jamison a couple of times last year and as far as Rosie Carney goes, this is her fifth appearance on Beehive Candy (including the song 'Winter' that appeared last month). 'Hot Scary Summer' is a fabulous duet, that gently develops with natural live vibes, and passion. In a word, glorious!


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twin Jackal - The Prids - Taylor Mac

Twin Jackal - Cruel.

Background - Twin Jackal are a band on the move! The South London based rock band are to release ‘Cruel’, their follow up single to ‘Humility’. Both songs are from their forthcoming debut EP ‘Optimo Animo’ which has all the hallmarks of a future classic.

We are pleased to unveil ‘Cruel’ a forceful contemporary rock punch that’s both adrenaline-powered and lyrically eloquent. Producer Chris Coulter (Arcane Roots, Jamie Lenman, Arctic Lake) recorded and produced the song in Decimal Studios, his riverside studio in late 2016.

Twin Jackal formed through a love of underground, experimental rock and post-hardcore bands such as Arcane Roots and Marmozets, along with the starrier likes of Biffy Clyro and Million Dead. With the anger of hardcore or metal, the fuzz of stoner rock and always searching for the true emotion of pop and indie rock, they have truly found their own unique sound: a mind-boggling mix of math rock rhythms, unpredictable guitars and soulful vocals sewn together into a fierce wall of sound. FACEBOOK, WEBSITE.

'Cruel' is an impressive and full bodied rocker that just gets on with being what it is. Unpretentious and energised, the band just cut to the chase and deliver up a persuasive rock & roll piece.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Prids - Elizabeth Ann.

Background - Portland, OR-based, noise pop band, The Prids, share their new single and video, "Elizabeth Ann." The Prids new LP, Do I Look Like I'm In Love?, is due out January 12th, 2018 via This-a-Way Records. The fact that there’s even a new Prids record is a miracle. In March of 2015 bassist-vocalist Mistina La Fave suffered a brain hemorrhage the night before the band was scheduled to enter the studio. The recovery was physically and mentally taxing, and La Fave is lucky to be alive, let alone playing and performing again. The Prids’ 22 years have been marked with death, sickness, divorce, and a near-fatal van crash that cut a tour short and left members bloody and broken—but they survive through the friendship and bond of founding members La Fave and guitarist-vocalist David Frederickson. While those events have invariably made their way into the band’s narrative, the two simply chalk it up to life.

They met in La Fave’s small hometown of Saint Joseph, Missouri, in 1995, not long after Frederickson had moved there from Southern California. They started a relationship (they divorced in 2001, not long after they married), formed The Prids, and moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, before settling in Portland, Oregon, in 1999. In that time they’ve released four full-lengths and a trail of EPs, toured all over the world, while gaining the respect of bands throughout Portland for their tenacity and longevity (The Prids are one of the longest-running active bands in the city). They continue to make music for the right reasons—with or without a label, for themselves. A few years ago they brought in drummer Gordon Nickel and multi-instrumentalist Tim Yates, their sturdiest lineup to date. These four individuals are what make Do I Look Like I’m In Love? such a special record.

Throughout it all The Prids have remained completely DIY (the band even launched its own label/artist collective This-a-Way Records in 1996). Their videos and album art are as brilliantly conceived as the music itself. And in 2017 the Prids are playing with the same ardor they did 20 years ago. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and this band is the embodiment of that. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We first featured The Prids in late September and can now follow up with their new single 'Elizabeth Ann'. Fast paced and dynamic this is an impressive indie rock song, where the melody is light and yet fuels some fine hooks along the way.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Taylor Mac - Never Wanted You.

Background - Russian Winter Records is excited to announce the release of Never Wanted You, the debut single from Kansas City based singer, Taylor Mac. The 23 year old has a smooth, powerful voice, with a strikingly pure vibrato.

The single was just named Number 157 of the NBT Music Radio Top 300 Singles of 2017 and here's what Emerging Indie Bands said about the single:

"The listener finds themselves drawn, like iron to magnet, as the stunning vocal wraps around the room. The unhurried song is layered with inflection, melody and harmonies which belie the sparse framework creating an immersive composition and finds the audience wanting to hear more." BANDCAMP.

There is something of a timeless feel to 'Never Wanted You' in the sense that if you told me it was from the late sixties I would not argue. It's not of course, however a classic pop feel permeates through this song, and that surely cannot be a bad thing!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cole Phoenix - Have You Ever Seen the Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? - stop.drop.rewind

Cole Phoenix - Back Back To Me.

Background - Cole Phoenix is a singer, songwriter, scriptwriter, novelist, writer, producer, actress and director born in Brisbane, Australia. She creates music that encompasses elements of pop, soul, electronic and rock music

Cole Phoenix has worked in feature films such as The Ruins alongside Shawn Ashmore and Jena Malone and Bright Flame, currently in development which Cole wrote, produced and stars in.

Nominated for Best New Top 40 Artist of the Year in 2015 at the New Music Awards alongside Sam Smith, Iggy Azalea, Meghan Trainor and Charli XCX. “Back Back To Me” is a contemporary party song with cheek, mixed with old school sass and brass. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Back Back To Me' is a rich combination of styles that includes soulful musical grooves and refined pop vocals. Powerful, upbeat and melodic, this is a catchy, engaging song.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have You Ever Seen the Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? - Bambi Act.

Background - Finnish 3-piece Have You Ever Seen The Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? reveal new single Bambi Act, out last Friday via VILD.

Ekku Lintunen likens his songwriting to crafting surreal movies. Starting with a picture in his mind, he throws out lyrical phrases to create this image for the listener. Enough is held back though that there are more questions than answers. Like all great films, the listener interprets as they do.

Never is this more apparent than on Bambi Act, a dark vaudevillian modern fairy-tale – Lintunen offers his interpretation: "A man falls for another man. Man goes for a sex change operation, and now as a woman, charms her beloved; soon, we can hear their wedding bells. Happiness proves to be false, and she's ultimately rejected. Shocked by this dreadful event, unhappy incidents occur, and through wrong choices she ends up on the street turning tricks with her decaying body. What's your interpretation?..."

The trio have carved out a unique sound for themselves, opting to use keyboards instead of guitars. This is after Lintunen and drummer Janne-Petteri Pitkälä, on seeing the film Drive, instantly decided to form an 80s synth-pop band as a side project to the garage-rock act they were in at the time. When Susse Stemma-Sihvola came in on vocals, bringing her scuzzed out bass tones with her, it ended up being garage-rock with a twist. FACEBOOK.

Less than a month since we first featured Have You Ever Seen The Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? we now have 'Bambi Act' a sub two minute blast of fabulous garage rock. Last month we said of the forthcoming album "This is a high octane collection of music, the band are energetic throughout, mixing up some fabulous pop to punk or glam to grunge styles, with catchy upbeat and potent material every time". I reckon this song pretty much confirms all of that!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

stop.drop.rewind - I Was A Portrait.

Background - stop.drop.rewind is a progressive/powerpop band from Valparaiso, IN. ​Formed in 2008, members Kris Loh​n,​ DJ Crenson​, ​Andy Sutton​ and ​Josh Andrews ​have since released four EPs: "Part of the Whole" (2012), "Smoke Signals (2014), “Polarity” (2016), and "SDR Saves Christmas" (2016).

They have performed in 12 states, and opened for The Misfits, Secondhand Serenade, Ronnie Winter, Hawthorne Heights, Amber Pacific, Real Friends, The Spill Canvas, among many others. 

2016's EP “Polarity” was acclaimed by local media personalities and publications such as Tom Lounges (X-Rock, WLPR), John King (WVLP), the Broken Record Press, and landed them a spot on Pandora. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Opening with some chunky riffs 'I Was A Portrait' is a feisty rocker. The vocals are notable, giving the bands sound some clear distinction. The music is fabulously tight power rock, collectively this is one very stylish rock & roll song.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Walter Martin - Newspoke - Jimmy Sweet

Walter Martin - I Can Run Now From The Hellhounds But I Can't Hide.

Background - Walter Martin (co-writer/multi-instrumentalist of The Walkmen) will release his new album Reminisce Bar & Grill on February 16th via Ile Flottante Music. His fourth solo record since The Walkmen's hiatus in 2013, Reminisce Bar & Grill was announced earlier this month with a surprise appearance on NPR Music's Tiny Desk in which he performed two of his new songs with a full band and a barbershop quartet.

Reminisce Bar & Grill is one that might throw fans of his two award winning kids' records (2014's We're All Young Together and 2017's My Kinda Music) for a loop. Listeners will still recognize the same affable narrator and quirky musical style as his previous solo work, but here the subject matter is shifted dramatically. With frankness and poignancy, Martin, now a 43-year-old married man with two young children, squarely tackles the subject of adulthood - specifically, his own.

"I think this is my mid-life crisis album," said Walter. "These days my friends and I all seem to be thinking the same dark thoughts - 'What the hell am I doing? What the hell's going on? I'm lost. I'm running out of time and I'm doing everything wrong. And I'm probably dying.' This is definitely an insane period," he continues, "but most of the time I kind of love it."

While Martin approaches these subject matters with candor and sincerity, he clearly also enjoys mining them for humor. "I wanted this album to be an entertaining discussion of marriage, fatherhood, work, fear, and weakness," he explained. "I'm definitely influenced by Woody Allen movies. No matter how serious or romantic or dark his story may be, there's always a strong undercurrent of comedy."

Reminisce Bar & Grill was recorded at various studios in Brooklyn and at Richard Swift's National Freedom Studio in Cottage Grove Oregon. The songs were mixed by D. James Goodwin (Bob Weir, Craig Finn), Richard Swift (The Shins, Foxygen) and Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses). A nimble multi-instrumentalist, Martin handled guitar, piano, organ, bass and percussion duties, but he also relied on the services of a coterie of crafty players and singers: Brian Kantor (Fruit Bats) on drums, Josh Kaufman (Craig Finn, Josh Ritter) on guitar, and Jamie Krents (French Kicks) on bass. The soaring harmony vocals woven throughout the album are delivered by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah singer Alec Ounsworth. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Musically 'I Can Run Now From The Hellhounds But I Can't Hide' is a rhythmic vibrant affair. The vocals add a little gravitas to the song, overall however this is a hook laden and very pleasing tease for next years album release.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newspoke - Judas Tree.

Background - Anonymous New York City-based indie artist Newspoke has shared the video for "Judas Tree." It's a dark, tongue-in-cheek story of someone descending hell with visuals to match.

This is the lead single off Faces, Newspoke's forthcoming debut album due out February, 2017. Newspoke explores the contrast of lightness and darkness in Faces. 

The record was born out of failed relationships, life-threatening illness, and new beginnings. It's both dark and comedic. Standout tracks on the record include, "I Apologize For Dying On Your Shoes," "Normal," and "Heather."

Faces was mixed and mastered by Larry Crane (Elliott Smith, Sleater-Kinney, The Decemberists) in Portland, OR. It will be available on all digital distribution platforms February, 2017. FACEBOOK.

'Judas Tree' may start gently, however don't be fooled. The passion and energy soon builds, with gritty determined vocals and an increasingly layered musical arrangement, heart and soul is there in abundance.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jimmy Sweet - You Say You Don't Love Me.

Background - You Say You Don’t Love Me is the debut single from Los Angeles singer / songwriter Jimmy Sweet, released earlier this month. The track is a melancholy take of the song by 70's British punk sensation Buzzcocks.

Jimmy Sweet is a singer / songwriter, but not in the typical sense. Yes, he writes love songs, but Sweet uses sweeping strings and a gospel choir to get his message through. "I have a place in my heart for the over dramatic" - Jimmy Sweet

A staple on the LA music scene for years, Jimmy also plays in a hugely popular cover band The Goodtimes Boys with members of Fleet Foxes, Hot Hot Heat, The Heavy and The Growlers. 

Jimmy Sweet got his start playing with Rolan Bolan (son of glam rock icon Marc Bolan of T.Rex) and legendary San Francisco garage rock band The Richmond Sluts. Jimmy Sweet and his band will be releasing a host of original material throughout 2018. FACEBOOK.

If you like your music to build into a sweeping, melodic mixture of vocals, harmonies, and orchestral flavours then 'You Say You Don't Love Me' ticks all those boxes, and does it with style.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------