Author Archives: Real Gone

Stretford End – new video & free download

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Hollywood based alternative rockers Stretford End have a new single available for FREE DOWNLOAD!  ‘The Fates’ can downloaded here.

The video can be seen by clicking below.

 

Here’s what Magic Tree Promotions has to say about Stretford End and their new single:

The much-anticipated Stretford End music video for “The Fates” has officially been released. Highly conceptual and ambitious for an independent band, the video features characters who fight a losing battle against drugs, violence, and sexual assault. The gritty visuals and low-lit locations complement the musical and lyrical theme of the song; that each of us is faced with choices that shape the direction of our lives and ultimately lead to our individual fates.

The single “The Fates”, officially released last month, solidifies Stretford End’s increasingly strong position in the rock music community. It combines soaring vocals, rigorous percussion, and hard-hitting guitar riffs.

Formed in 2009, Stretford End has enjoyed a meteoric rise among the Rock community in a surprisingly short period of time. Hailing from Berkeley, CA, they’re popularity is founded by their infamously powerful live performances.

Garvy J: new track available for streaming/download

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Boston musician Garvy J is currently working on a new album, which promises to be a hybrid of styles.  Before the release of the album, a new track, ‘War Is Over…Again’,  is available for streaming directly from his BandCamp page.

 

Here’s what the promotions people at Planetary Group have to say about Garvy and his upcoming release:

From his successful start in The Elevator Drops to noted studio and live musician, the Boston based artist Garvy J. has started to lay the seeds for his debut solo effort. Garvy J. and the Secret Pockets of Hope and Resistance have recently released the single, War is Over…Again, backed with Break You (C’est dans la tete). Being involved in music for over 15 years, he was able to draw on an extensive list of influences to create the album What if it All Works Out (2011).

The mixture of ambient, experimental pop, and alternative rock gave Garvy J. the ability to produce a “hybrid of genres.” The title song reads as a combination of rhythmic, ambient, and melodic hooks, and holds as a, “sort of positive meme reinforcement mantra,” says Garvy J, “a marker for the rest of the record to follow in many ways.”

Garvy J.’s work as the guitarist for The Elevator Drops proved successful throughout the ‘90s. They were known for their glam rock looks, equipped with full make-up, and their British-influenced sound, which garnered a wide following. Once named the new wave of new wave, The Elevator Drops were able to please both pop and alternative music fans. Their unpredictable performances brought out crowds and landed them as opening acts for bands such as Pulp, Garbage, Blur, and Echo and the Bunnymen. Their albums following the acclaimed Pop Bus (1996) had waning success, and eventually the three members began working on their separate projects. Garvy J. moved on to work as a studio and live musician for touring artists, such as Adam Green, Del Marquis, and Matt Sharp (The Rentals).

Beginning in his Los Angeles loft, the birth of his solo debut followed Garvy J. across the country and into the U.K. while touring with The Rentals. His initial recording methods were anything but usual. Garvy J.’s approach to self-recording went a step further when he built his own recording computer out of old parts he found at the town dump. He proceeded to record the majority of the album out of his friend’s basement studio in Newtown, Massachusetts.

Producing every song on the album by himself, Garvy J. was able to get production insight from Thom Flowers, Greg Brown, Joan Wasser, Tracy Bonham, Mick Flowers, and Scott Fitts. Although he played almost all instruments during the recording process, he gets help from Tommy Tulip, Scott Dakota, Tony Savarino, and Mike Piehl to round out the full Garvy J. and the Secret Pockets of Hope and Resistance sound. Still holding on to his love for visual and performance art, Garvy J.’s upcoming project will definitely be more than just a concert. 

 

Click here to visit Garvy J’s BandCamp page and stream/download the new track.

Y LUV: Upcoming tour dates

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The LA indie-rock/pop four piece Y Luv have a couple of live dates upcoming.

You can catch the band in support of their 2011 EP ‘How Chill Can You Let Go’ at the following venues:

21.7.11 Silverlake Lounge Los Angeles, CA
29.7.11 Open Borders Thousand Oaks, CA
13.8.11 W Hotel (Outside Lands After Party) San Francisco, CA

Read a review of ‘How Chill Can You Let Go’ here.

Hotel Diablo release debut song

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Hard rock band Hotel Diablo have released their first track via their official website.

The band, which features Rick Stitch (Ladyjack/ex-Adler’s Appetite), Mike Duda (W.A.S.P.), Alex Grossi (Quiet Riot) and Mike Dupke (W.A.S.P.) are in the studio working on a full length album, with ex-Guns n’ Roses man Gilby Clarke in the producer’s chair.

To listen to ‘Set It Off’, visit the band at www.thehoteldiablo.com, or click on the box below.

SUPERMARIONATION – On The Fly EP

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Taking their name from Gerry Anderson’s puppetry technique, Supermarionation are a three-piece band from Edinburgh.  Their debut EP ‘On The Fly’ features five tracks, capturing the range of styles (usually bouncy and punkish or fairly broody) within the band’s musical cannon.

The opening number, ‘Those Home Girls’ features a fantastic bassline which sprawls out under busy drumming and occasionally brilliant guitar leads.  Vocalist Steve spits lyrics with vigour, though his slightly flat tone and mushy DIY production make them hard to decipher at times.  ‘The Ashes of Love’ takes a similar energy and delivers it in a straight up fuzzy rock fashion; the infectious, slightly distorted guitar lead being the driving force throughout.  It’s at this kind of upbeat material Supermarionation excel; their liveliness and relative naivety lends enough charm to carry things off.  It’s the EP’s shining star, sounding like stoner legends Fu Manchu tackling the chorus riff from Gillan’s ‘Running White Face, City Boy’.  There’s not much of a refrain, but the riff is chunky enough win you over.  ‘The Rising Tide’ is much slower, with a sneering edge which is reminiscent of Therapy? at their slowest.  Drummer Dave occasionally lapses into a quirky pattern which sounds not unlike Fyfe Ewing, albeit without the hard snare work.  Sadly, vocalist Steve’s slightly flat style lacks the required anger, but even so, the end result is pleasing enough.

Sprawling out over five minutes, ‘Lonesome Symphony’ recycles a few sixties inspired riffs and delivers them in a fairly uninspired way.  The main riff sounds like one which should have been great, but struggles to keep things interesting.  A few key changes do little to keep up momentum, but on the plus side, Dave’s solid drum style holds things together nicely.  Had this been delivered much louder, fuzzier and heavier – a la Orange Goblin or Kyuss – Supermarionation may have had enough balls to make it work.  While there’s a mood here which hints at the Kyuss number ‘Gloria Lewis’, it severely lacks the power it really deserved, being delivered instead with a rather lightweight sound.

‘Nothing Means Nothing’ finishes the EP with another much needed burst of garage rock.  Dave’s drumming bristles with energy, propelling the groove forward at a mighty pace, helped no end by his hi-hat technique.  Against the drums, the guitars bring a mid 90s indie punk quality, over which Steve’s vocals yell – though as before, never in the most appealing way.  Musically, this is certainly the best track ‘On The Fly’ has to offer, capturing Supermarionation in a mood which recalls the sound of the shortlived 90’s non-phenomenon, The New Wave of New Wave.  If, for whatever reason, you’re of an age whereby you find yourself looking back at the likes of These Animal Men or S*M*A*S*H with rose-tinted glasses, then this could be for you.

There are times throughout ‘On The Fly’ where Steve’s vocal style could be seen as hampering the band’s overall sound, but in contrast, some of his retro lead guitar work adds a bit of sparkle.   Generally speaking, on this debut, Supermarionation have some great ideas, but their song writing needs a little tightening up.

March 2011