In this Saturday edition of the New Music Spotlight, I've got music from Ayron Jones, Zebra and the Bandit, Hawksley Workman, Meghan Patrick, and Bleeker.
It's a lot of rock with a hit of indie and a sprinkling of country.
Let's do this!
Artist: Ayron Jones
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Genre: Rock
Related: Pop Evil, Corey Taylor, Nonpoint
Song: Boys From The Puget Sound
Notes: If you're looking for a new, straight up, tenacious rock sound, Ayron Jones may be precisely what you're looking for. The Seattle-based musician released his second single off the upcoming album, Take Me Away.
Jones describes the song saying " Boys From The Puget Sound is like when you and your black rock band walk into a small town club and then get told you don't belong there, until you turn your amps up to 'I DON'T GIVE A F#$%" and shatter the walls of preconceived notion. Consider it an anthem for the Pacific Northwest and a meeting place for American Pride. Can you hear me?"
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Boys From The Puget Sound
Ayron Jones - Boys From The Puget Sound (Lyric Video)
Artist: Zebra and the Bandit
Current Location: Toronto
Genre: Rock / Reggae
Related: illScarlett, Sizer, The Steve Summers Band
Song: Find Myself Again / Live Before You Die
Notes: My first exposure to Zebra and the Bandit was at Steve Fest 2017. Since that night I've been keeping my eye on this band. They continue to progress and make a name for themselves in the Toronto music scene.
The video's cops/prisoners narrative works. And I have to say it; the band looks good in stripes.
This hardworking band is already started on their next video, and they're looking for fans to participate. Check out this Facebook post for details.
Find Myself Again / Live Before You Die (Official Music Video)
Artist: Hawksley Workman
Hometown: Huntsville
Genre: Indie
Related: Matthew Good, Moist, Gord Downie
Song: Dwindling Beauty (let's fake our deaths together)
Notes: I've been a fan of Hawksley Workman's music since 2003's Lover/Fighter. This week, the award-winning singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist premiered a new single titled Dwindling Beauty (let's fake our deaths together). Dwindling Beauty is the third single from his upcoming album, Less Rage More Tears which is set to be released on October 23rd.
Written during the winter of 2019, this song feels like it's perfect for the times. The song takes Workman back to a darker, thoughtful place.
" One day we'll get tired of the grudge, we've held our hates so close for so long, it's hard to know where it ends, and our real selves begin." - Hawksley Workman
Like many artists, Workman has used the pandemic as an opportunity pivot staying in touch with fans by creating an online streaming show called Hawksley Night in Canada. The first episode aired in May and was a resounding success.
The next live stream of Hawksley Night in Canada is September 25 at 5:00 pm PT/ 8:00 pm ET.
Tickets are $12.00 and available to purchase here: https://hawksleyworkman.com/hawksley-night-in-canada/
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify
Dwindling Beauty (let's fake our deaths together) [Official Video]
Artist: Meghan Patrick
Hometown: Bowmanville, ON
Genre: Country
Related: Miranda Lambert, Madeline Merlo, Jess Moskaluke
Song: My First Car
Notes: It's here! My First Car is officially Meghan Patrick's first American release, congrats Meghan. This trip down memory lane has a rocking country beat and Patrick's classic country vocals. Following up her last release, Girls Like Me, we're sensing a bit of a car theme.
In case you haven't heard, Meghan's first car was a pickup truck.
My First Car (Visualizer)
Artist: Bleeker
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Genre: Alternative Rock
Related: Rafferty, Royal Tusk, Dead Posey
Song: Problems
Notes: Problems was released as a single in March just as COVID-19 started to make an impact on day-to-day life. Suddenly their summer tour plans with AWOLNATION, Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness, and The Beaches were cancelled. Popularity for the track off their upcoming album Self-Made got the band thinking about making a video.
Social distancing made recording the video in "the usual" way impossible, so the band came up with an alternative solution. Recorded entirely by the band, this treatment takes us into the lives of brothers Taylor and Cole Perkins, Mike Van Dyk and Chris Dimas at home.
Toss in a little quarantine humour, and you're good to go. The song delivers a sweet melody, a great message, beautiful harmonies, and the video is adorable; when it finished, I immediately hit replay.
Problems (Official Music Video)
Do you know a band with a new song that you think should be in our New Music Spotlight? Please send us an email (contact@thereviewsarein.com) and let us know.