L.A. collective The Wild West are looking for a 'Better Way'

February 28, 2021 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, Folk, singer-songwriter

There are very few positives that can be gleaned from the Covid-19 pandemic but one small ray of light has been how artists have embraced technology and worked together to spread a little positivity. A case in point is The Wild West and their ‘Better Way’ single which is out now via the Blackbird Record Label The Wild West features a host of Los Angeles based singer-songwriters who will be familiar to many via their solo work namely Manda Mosher, Tawny Ellis, Heather Anne Lomax, Amilia K. Spicer, Pi Jacobs and Deb Morrison. A pretty impressive collective I’m sure you’ll agree and needless to say the harmonies are suitably glorious. Please read on to check out the video for ‘Better Way’ and learn much more about how The Wild West came to be:

The RGM Inbox: February 2021

February 27, 2021 by David Vousden in Alternative Rock, Dream Pop, Folk, singer-songwriter

Welcome again to the RGM Inbox, an occasional feature where we shine a light on an eclectic selection of music that turned up in the RGM office by way of that interweb thingy. We’re open to a little bit of everything here at RGM so you’ll never be absolutely sure what might turn up but this time around the cool sounds include a folky singer-songwriter duo branching out on their own, dream-pop from California and a reminder that to be able to travel is amazing.

Song Premiere: Jesse Brewster 'Southern'

February 26, 2021 by David Vousden in Americana, Roots

Jesse Brewster is a man on a mission. The San Francisco based singer/songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist has spent two decades sharpening his skills and will release his fifth solo album ‘The Lonely Pines’ on March 5th, 2021. 'The Lonely Pines' perfectly captures a sound that mixes elements of Americana, country and folk. Never one to let the grass grow under his feet Brewster balances his solo career with multiple side projects including an R&B-influenced record, a hard rock trio, and a rock opera that is being developed for Broadway. He also teaches music, tours regularly and occasionally, I believe, finds time to sleep. RGM is pleased to premiere ‘Southern’ a track from ‘The Lonely Pines’ that finds Brewster at his most mournful employing a deep, rich vocal to reflect on the state of things over a bed of acoustic guitars and plaintive harmonica. Please read on to check out ‘Southern’ and to learn more about Jesse Brewster and ‘The Lonely Pines’.

Charity release - Everybody Cares: An Elliott Smith Compilation out today

February 15, 2021 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Alternative Rock, Alt-Folk, Compilation, singer-songwriter

Fans of the late Elliott Smith will find much to enjoy via a new compilation released today 15th February 2021. It's called Everybody Cares: An Elliott Smith Compilation which has been put together by Francis Lung (ex-WU LYF), La Blogotheque and My Favorite Elliott Smith Song (a fan podcast). The compilation of Smith covers is available via Bandcamp with 100% of the proceeds going towards LGBTQ+ right charities (AKT, The Audre Lorde Project and GIRES). More info about the compilation follows:

The RGM Inbox: Alternative Valentine's Day Edition

February 12, 2021 by David Vousden in singer-songwriter, Alternative Rock, Punk, Pop

With February 14th upon us, it seemed like the ideal time for RGM to shine a light on Valentine’s Day. The modern Valentine’s Day originated in 1797 but didn’t really catch on as gifts and cards were generally handmade and very expensive to post. Valentine’s Day gained a huge boost in popularity in the UK in 1840 with the advent of the Penny Black stamp allowing cheaper postage and Valentine’s Day as we know it today was truly born. This RGM feature shines a melancholy light on a day that isn’t always all hearts and flowers.

Morgan Wade gets 'Reckless' March 19th, 2021

February 10, 2021 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, News, singer-songwriter, Video

Virginia native Morgan Wade has been making waves recently via a string of excellent sessions on youtube with OurVinyl and SomerSessions that highlight a fantastic voice singing hard-hitting songs of failed relationships, addiction, mental health and just all-around finding your way in the world. Wade has hooked up with Sadler Vaden, long-time guitarist for Jason Isbell as well as an acclaimed solo artist, to produce and Paul Ebersold to engineer ‘Reckless’ her debut album set for release via Thirty Tigers on March 19th. Capturing the essence of an artist like Wade, who works so well in an acoustic setting belting out tunes with emotion and conviction, can be a difficult job but the initial signs are good as evidenced by ‘Wilder Days’ and Don’t Cry’. Please read on to learn a little more about Morgan Wade and hear tracks from the album.

RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #20

February 08, 2021 by Rich Barnard in Acoustic, Classic Rock, Folk, News, Pop, Rock, singer-songwriter, Video, Alternative Rock

Okay Canada, go easy on me. I somehow find myself in February 2021 trying to pick five chunks of hot new music for this feature, having amassed a ruthlessly edited shortlist of around 35. How did this happen, Canada? I can only account for the disappearance of an entire January by weeping before a hand-drawn graph of an alarming home-learning curve. You’ve made me choose, Canada, and it’s been hard. Nevertheless, here I am again, your most loyal of servants, educating the RGM readership on the subject of your latest and loveliest musical works of wonder.

David Gray announces 'Skellig' due February 19th 2021

February 05, 2021 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Folk, Pop, singer-songwriter

David Gray has been a very busy man of late. The singer released the ‘Gold In A Brass Age’ album in 2019 and a 20th-anniversary reissue of his seminal ‘White Ladder album followed in 2020. Now on February 19th 2021, he’ll release his latest album ‘Skellig’ recorded at Edwyn Collins' Helmsdale Studios in Scotland. The album will be available digitally initially with physical CD/LP to follow in May. ‘Skellig’ was Inspired by a small group of islands off the coast of Ireland. The islands were a place of pilgrimage and home to a group of monks in 600AD who were seeking to be closer to God through exile from the world. Whatever your religious leanings the theme of isolation should be familiar to many of us in these difficult times. Please read on for more about David Gray and the videos for latest single ‘Heart and Soul’ and the title track which highlights the vocal interplay between David and his band.

The Hard Place #6

January 25, 2021 by Rich Barnard in AOR, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, Metal, News, Rock, Prog Rock

If you like to hibernate over the winter then it’s likely that these words are reaching you as you continue to languish in an eiderdown-enrobed soft place. You’re cosy, you’re warm and you may well be under the impression that there is precious little to get out of bed for anyway. The Hard Place is here to tell you the f**k otherwise. The Hard place is a bucket of cold water hurled over your snoozings. The Hard Place is here, now, to drag you out of that pathetic torpor into a world where leaping from drum risers is de rigeur and staying up all night to a soundtrack of deafening guitars is a raison d’être. So, stop snivelling and get yourself dressed, preferably in something black and butt-squeezingly tight. Good. Now, ready yourself to rock.

The RGM inbox January 2021

January 11, 2021 by David Vousden in Acoustic, Folk, singer-songwriter, New Single, News, Pop, Video

Welcome to another year at Red Guitar Music. In so many ways 2020 was a year we’d all like to forget while 2021 has, unfortunately, delivered more of the same thus far, but we remain hopeful for better things later this year. Luckily, there’s always good music to take our minds off the day to day drudgery of living with a pandemic and January has already unearthed a few small gems.

RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #19

December 14, 2020 by Rich Barnard in Acoustic, Alt-Folk, Americana, Country, Folk, Indie, New Single, News, Pop, Roots, singer-songwriter, Video

As it’s the season for giving, we’ve put together a special bumper edition of The Maple Leaf Roundup, bringing you not five but ten - yes, ten! - new tracks from our copaines Canadiens. Think of it as an early Christmas gift - a mellifluous mixtape of must-hears you might not have otherwise met.

Christmas Music @RGM Take Two

December 11, 2020 by David Vousden in Americana, Christmas, Xmas, Country, Pop, singer-songwriter

After our first collection of Christmas tunes were so well received we’re back with more. This time up we’ve got a lovely slice of festive fun from Olivia Lane and Shannon Labrie is back after impressing all at RGM with her ‘Building’ album earlier this year. We also have a contribution from newcomer Wallis who wasn’t even born when Eric Brace and Last Train Home originally sang about the characters featured in their seasonal offering. It’s enough to make you feel really old…

New Editions of Love and Gram Parsons biographies due February 2021

December 09, 2020 by David Vousden in Alt-Country, Americana, Autobiography, Classic Rock, Country, Country Rock, News, Biography

On February 18th, 2021 Extradition / Cadiz Publishing will issue two classic rock biographies in paperback. The titles are a new revised edition of Pegasus Epitaph - The Story of the legendary rock group Love’ by Michael Stuart Ware and ‘Hickory Wind’ by Ben Fong-Torres, which is considered to be the definitive Gram Parsons biography and will include a new epilogue by the author. I’m sure Love and Gram Parsons won’t need any introduction to RGM readers but full details of both books follow:

Amigo The Devil returns with 'Another Man's Grave' single from upcoming album

December 08, 2020 by David Vousden in Americana, New Single, News, singer-songwriter, Rock, Roots

When the force of nature that is Amigo The Devil toured the UK in early 2020 in support of his fantastic 'Everything Is Fine' album, the world was a far different place. Looking back Amigo The Devil’s dark gothic tales were a perfect match for the upcoming pandemic, but at the time the RGM crew were merely staggered by his ability to mesmerize a crowd. We were witnessing something very, very special and ATD was most certainly the real deal. Nearly a year later and ATD is back with a terrific new single ‘Another Man’s Grave’ from his upcoming Beau Bedford (The Texas Gentlemen / Paul Cauthen) produced album ‘Born Against’ set for April 16th, 2021 release via Liars Club. More about the album including the single follows:

DBA to release 'Halcyon Hymns' CD/DVD February 5th 2021

December 04, 2020 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Melodic Rock, New Single, Prog Rock

Downes Braide Association aka DBA will release their fourth studio album on February 5th 2021 as a CD/DVD set with a 2LP white vinyl pressing to follow on March 26th. DBA features Geoff Downes (The Buggles/Asia/YES) and Chris Braide who has spent the majority of his career in the USA writing and producing music for film scores, advertising campaigns and working closely with a host of big-name artists including Sia, Lana Del Rey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Paloma Faith, Britney Spears and Marc Almond. If the first single from the album ‘Love Among The Ruins’ is any indication of quality then ‘Halcyon Hymns’ will be high on my list of albums to investigate in 2021. A slightly odd spoken word introduction opens out into a wonderfully melodic song blessed with intricate overlapping vocals and some gloriously expansive guitar breaks. Much more about DBA and the lyric video for ‘Love Among The Ruins’ follows:

Christmas Music @RGM

December 03, 2020 by David Vousden in Hard Rock, Metal, Xmas, Seasonal, Festive

I think we’d all agree that 2020 sucked in so many different ways. So with December now upon us and Christmas just around the corner, it’s time for some festive cheer. Nothing screams Christmas more than the Christmas song. Love ‘em or loath ‘em the Xmas ditty is guaranteed to bring seasonal cheer and a little positivity, so sit back and relax with your Eggnog or Babycham (do they still make Babycham?) as RGM takes you where other websites fear to tread with a selection of the best seasonal music for Christmas 2020.

The Hard Place #5

December 02, 2020 by David Vousden in AOR, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, Metal, News, Prog Rock, Rock, Video

We all knew this winter was going to be hard. But nobody could have foreseen just how hard. Here, at the never-beating, black granite heart of The Hard Place, we’d like to think we can make it just that little bit harder. Just for you. “How hard?” you ask, expectant and not a little apprehensive. And the answer is “None. None more hard.” Walk with us now, barefoot, through the broken-bottle-strewn wasteland of rock’s best new releases.

The RGM Inbox November 2020

November 20, 2020 by David Vousden in News, Pop, Soul, Rock, Americana, Country Rock, Southern Rock

It’s time for another dive into the RGM Inbox where a host of gems are ready for discovery. We like to feature a wide range of music at RGM and November has seen a host of interesting releases in a wide range of genres. The advice is always to give things a go, step outside of your comfort zone and discover something a little different. This month we’ve new music from Phil Gould a founding member of Level 42, pop-rock from Andy Keels that harks back to the ‘80s an era that Liverpool band Candy Opera originated from before they took a thirty-year career break. Last but not least we catch up with Zac Brown Band founding member John Driskell Hopkins and a taster from his ‘Lonesome High’ album due in February 2021.

Kandle is licensed to kill on new 007 inspired single/video

November 18, 2020 by David Vousden in New Single, News, Pop, Video

Vancouver based singer-songwriter Kandle and London, UK producer Michael Rendall share a love of James Bond and those fantastically timeless theme songs that are such an integral part of the Bond experience. With an invite to actually record the theme song for a James Bond film about as likely as the latest film in the franchise getting released anytime soon they embarked on a journey to create their own, and the result is ‘Lock & Load’. They’ve also put together a video that perfectly captures the feel of an opening 007 credit sequence. Please read on to check out the video (essential for all James Bond 007 fans) while Kandle tells us a little more about the creative process.

The Hard Place #4

November 09, 2020 by Rich Barnard in AOR, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, Metal, News, Rock, Prog

It’s dark. You blink your eyes to try and take in some light but you realise that there is only black. You can barely move, surrounded by rock on all sides. Your heart races but then suddenly you realise you’ve been here before. Yes, you have come again to The Hard Place; you’re not sure how it happened but here you are. Here, and only here, will you satisfy your (understandably secret) desire to discover the very finest new things in the big-haired realm of melodic rock. Relax now, and let us show you the way…