CONCERT REVIEW: Aaron Carter @ LA's The Mint

Aaron Carter photo by Jessica Klausing

Aaron Carter was the “flyest kid on the block” in the early 2000s with his teen party anthem, “Aaron’s Party (Come Get It).” He wooed teenage girls worldwide with “I Want Candy” and rapped about winning a basketball game against Shaquille O’ Neal in “That’s How I Beat Shaq.” Flash forward to 2019, Carter is back with new music and a more mature image. He proved at Los Angeles’ The Mint that Aaron’s Party never stopped!

Check out the concert REVIEW.

Aaron Carter is offering Pizza Party Soundchecks and after show Meet n’ Greets for his 2019 tour!

Aaron Carter at soundcheck. Photo by Jessica Klausing.

I’m a sucker for artist VIP packages so I decided to try them both out. The pizza party sound check was literally announced a few days before Aaron’s Los Angeles show. I had already bought my ticket and the meet n’ greet pass, but I thought, ‘hey, it’s my childhood idol plus pizza. What could possibly go wrong?’

My night started with a text instructing me to be at the venue at 6:30PM sharp. Upon arrival at 6PM, I received another text informing me that soundcheck had been bumped to 7:15PM instead. No biggie. I killed time at a neighboring café until it was time for check in. A few of us had gathered in front of The Mint’s main doors eagerly awaiting check in and…no one was there.

Confused, I decided to text back the number for advice and…no reply. To make matters worse, it started to rain. Go figure. Thankfully, The Mint had a canopy big enough for all of us to fit under. I was a bit frustrated and cold but determined to not let this little mishap rain on my parade, so to speak. At about 7:35PM, Aaron’s entourage arrived to finally let us into the venue.

Inside The Mint venue. Photo by Jessica Klausing.

We were told that Aaron was running late and would be here in 10 minutes. I did find it a bit odd that no one checked us in or gave us a wristband. That’s usually the protocol at meet n’ greet type functions. Aaron’s entourage was busy setting up the merch table but assured us that we were fine without a wristband. The venue staff did at least come by to stamp our hands.

The last time I saw our soundcheck pizza. sigh I didn’t even get to gaze upon it’s cheesy magnificence. Photo by Jessica Klausing.

The venue manager even handed me the pizza for some reason. He took off before I could ask any questions. I looked around for guidance but everyone was just as puzzled. We decided to put the pizza at the bar. Big mistake. That was the last time I saw that pizza. We didn’t even get a slice. As soon as soundcheck started, the venue took the pizza away. First rule of pizza party soundcheck –never turn your back on pizza!

Aaron Carter sets up for soundcheck. Photo by Jessica Klausing.

Aaron Carter had arrived around 7:45PM. He was proudly sporting his black LøVë sweatshirt with a blinged out diamond studded LøVë necklace around his neck. Everyone had quickly gathered at the stage for the soundcheck performance. Aaron smiled kindly and waved to all of us.

“Why aren’t you two wearing your LøVë sweatshirts?” He asked me and another fan.

Aaron Carter’s merch booth. Photo by Jessica Klausing.

We looked around and noticed we were the only fans not wearing the shirts. The peer pressure was on so we decided to check out the merch booth. Unfortunately, the booth was only taking cash and we brought credit cards instead. The black LøVë sweatshirts are cute and looked quite comfy. I made a mental note to order mine after the show.

The sweatshirts are $45 dollars. You can order one HERE.

Aaron performed brief 30 second snippets of “Fool’s Gold,” “Bad 2 Good,” and “Dearly Departed.” I enjoyed watching Aaron but the screeching speakers made the audio unbearable at times. Soundcheck had to be rushed in order for the venue to open their doors on time at 8PM.  

Despite the hustle and bustle, Aaron still managed to make some time for his fans. He didn’t have too much time to chat but he at least made sure we all got a selfie with him before he had to leave.

Me and AC after soundcheck. I didn’t have time to put the camera on flash mode.

I don’t want to knock the pizza party soundcheck experience for other fans. I do believe the staff could have been more organized, but I also take into consideration that the LA show was only the second stop of the tour. The soundcheck party is a brand new perk which has some kinks that I hope will be worked out for future shows.

Keep in mind:

-The experience is very quick. Ours lasted less than 15 minutes. Be camera ready.
-Aaron’s time is greatly limited at soundcheck. He does try to spend as much time as he can with fans but just be prepared.
-Eat that pizza as soon as you get it!

I will say the after show meet n’ greet was a great experience! The actual meet n’ greets are a much more relaxed experience than soundcheck. You line up at the merch booth after the show. A venue staff member will escort you backstage for your photo with Aaron. Aaron is such a sweetheart who really cares about his fans. I managed to chat with him a bit after my picture. He genuinely does appreciate all of the support. Thanks for a great show, Aaron!

Backstage with Aaron Carter.

CONCERT REVIEW: Leon Bridges @ LA's Greek Theatre

By Jessica Klausing

The Los Angeles stars shined bright for Leon Bridges on his Good Thing tour stop at the Greek Theatre. Bridges brings to life a carefree nostalgic vibe with his 60’s inspired R&B grooves, soothing soulful voice, elegant ‘classic man’ apparel, and romanticized storytelling. The sold out crowd were in for quite a treat.

Check out the CONCERT REVIEW

Leon Bridges offers exclusive Meet n’ Greet packages for his tour stops. They are truly one of a kind. I have had the opportunity to participate in several VIP experiences for different artists and I must say Leon’s is by far my favorite! Here is my review of the VIP experience.

VIP check in. Photo by Jessica Klausing.

My instructions were to arrive for check in at 4:00P on the dot. The VIP tent and check in stations were set up in the employee parking lot behind the Greek Theatre. I had an easy check in even though a staff member almost forgot to give me my meet n’ greet pass. After that I made sure to double check to ensure all items were in my swag bag.

The VIP bag came with a signed Good Thing tour poster, 4 postcards of Leon, and a Good Thing album vinyl record cover. Super cool! They had a special merch booth set up for VIP members. I took a few minutes to browse the various tour t-shirts and posters until the lounge opened.

The VIP tent lounge. Photo by Jessica Klausing.

About thirty minutes or so after check in, we were allowed to enter our VIP lounge to chill until it was time for soundcheck and meet n’ greet. At first glance the tent does not look that great but it’s much more cooler inside.

Inside the VIP lounge. Photo by Jessica Klausing.

Once inside this place was transformed into a swanky little nightclub. There were two bars on opposite ends, a retro vinyl record listening station, a guitar playing station, and cozy inflatable couches to lounge on. Definitely quite the little set up!

VIP listening booth. Photo by Jessica Klausing.

The listening booth was my favorite lounge perk! I loved how they turned the equipment cases into a book shelf decked out in retro posters, music books, and a generous record collection to sample. Leon’s crew can be my personal interior designers any day! The record collection had everything from Billie Holiday to The Temptations. It was pretty cool getting to listen to many of Leon’s musical inspirations behind his own retro-soul brand.

VIP record collections. Photo by Jessica Klausing.

The next cool lounge perk was the guitar station. We were told this was actually one of Leon’s guitars. Kudos to Leon for allowing a bunch of strangers to pick up and play his guitar. Next to the guitar was a music stand with the sheet music for Leon’s song, “River” if you wanted to learn how to play it.

Around 5PM, we were called to line up at the front gate for Leon’s soundcheck. We were invited in to watch the last two songs of the soundtrack. The crew strictly informed us that we were not allowed to take pictures or videos of the soundtrack. Unfortunately, I have no photos to share but just getting to see and hear Leon perform his songs up close was something so magical that not even a recording could capture.

My rockstar pose on the Greek Theatre stage.

After soundtrack we were lead to line up backstage. I figured that we were going to get to meet Leon and get our photos taken with him onstage. Super cool! However, this was not the case. We were given the opportunity to pose individually onstage. Still cool! The Greek Theatre is one of my favorite outdoor amphitheaters. From the audience’s point of view, it’s quite a breathtaking sight to see the endless sea of green trees behind the stage. Getting to see from the artist’s point of view was a unique experience. I prefer to see the artist and the trees but I’m sure it’s more breathtaking at night.

Meeting Leon Bridges.

After the stage photos, we were told that Leon had his crew set up the meet n’ greets in his dressing room backstage! I thought it was really nice of Leon to invite his fans backstage with him. We got a little mini tour of the backstage area on the way to the dressing rooms. I didn’t get any backstage photos because I was not sure if it was allowed. I will say the backstage is not as glamorous as you think. It was quite barren with white cement walls. It reminded me more of a high school gym locker room to be honest.

Leon awaited us against the Good Thing tour backdrop in the dressing room. As we waited in line, several of us fans chatted excitedly about the first time we heard Leon’s music. The most beautiful thing about these VIP meet n’ greet experiences is being able to share the love of music with other like-minded fans.

Leon is such a gentleman! He was very sweet and gave lots of hugs. I liked how this experience did not feel rushed. It was truly genuine. We knew we were on a limited time frame but not once did an usher try to ‘hurry us’ through our photo with Leon. Thank you CID Entertainment! I wish more VIP experience companies would follow your lead.

I’m not sure if all of Leon’s VIP experiences are set up exactly that this LA one in particular, but if you get the chance, I would highly recommend it.

INTERVIEW with Guitarist Sean Hurwitz

Sean Hurwitz performs at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Photo by Candace Hogan.

Israeli-born guitarist Sean Hurwitz has played amongst the big leagues in the music world. He’s toured with Enrique Iglesias and Smash Mouth, and played with Gin Blossoms, Anna Nalick, Chris Wallace, Judith Hill, just to name a few. When he’s not on the road, he’s hard at work recording, writing, and producing for music and film. Technical mastery and keen precision to detail make up his trademark skills on and off stage.

Sean took time to chat with us about his guitar gear, collaborating with other artists, and how he spends his time off tour.

INTERVIEW

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SONG REVIEW: Ch3ls - "Crying Wolf"

By Jessica Klausing

Ch3ls releases her new single, “Crying Wolf,” a seamless blend of country, blues, and hard rock with a tinge of pop appeal, thrown in for good measure.  She’s a spitfire powder-keg of talent ready to explode into the atmosphere.

The delicate opening guitar lulls you into a false sense of security as Ch3ls sweetly sings, “Oh you know/I used to care/ but how much can a girl take?”

Her sugary sweet delivery comes as a surprise when you realize that she’s calling out a guy who did her wrong: “Don’t you know…You did it to yourself/so go lay down in that bed you made,” she croons casually before the tempo picks up and we’re thrown into a whirlwind of booming hand claps and somber backing vocals.

Ch3ls’ howls are justified when she reveals evidence of this man’s behavior: “A wolf in sheep’s clothes/ That huffin’ and bluffin’ is bullshit/I’m sick of your lying and whining, you crying wolf!” The electric guitar solo that ensues will have your heart pumping on an adrenaline fueled high. Before long you’ll find yourself howling along with Ch3ls’ fierce wolf pack. It’s well worth the listen.

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INTERVIEW with Mackenzie Nicole

Mackenzie Nicole photo courtesy of Strange Music, Inc.

Mackenzie Nicole defies the pop standards with her classically trained chops and urban rock influence. Her musical experimentation led to her debut single, “Actin Like You Know” which caught the attention of Travis O’Guin, the co-founder and C.E.O of juggernaut Strange Music, Inc. Her recording history predates the single as she made her debut on platinum certified rap icon Tech N9ne’s K.O.D.

We chat about life as a pop artist on a rap label, her musical influences, and being a young woman in the music industry.

INTERVIEW

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SONG REVIEW: Rob Drabkin - "It's A Beautiful Day"

By Wanda Whitley

Rob Drabkin.

Without even one glance out of a window, this latest single from artist Rob Drabkin lets you know what the weather is. 

“It’s a Beautiful Day” is so positive and uplifting, you may not even need that morning Cup of Joe to get you going. The guitar is very pretty, and Rob’s lyrics are just so smooth and soothing. As the song pleasantly soars you into the chorus, you want to get up and take that deep breath – breathe in all of the joy of this beautiful day. And you can just feel the sun on your face as you listen and take in this day that Rob has created and shares with you, feeling more than okay as you sing along with this anthem of celebrating today.

Although his musical talents make it easy to believe he’s always been a full-time musician, Rob attended Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, where he graduated with a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with the intention of becoming a doctor. His focus quickly changed after a family trip to New York to reconnect with his father’s old musician friends. After that moment, Rob knew he wanted to pursue a career in the music industry. His song, “Someday” has already a spot on major Spotify playlists and in just one month, the single accumulated over two million plays from listeners around the world. I think we can agree that Rob made a great choice in a career change.

Clap your hands, move to the beat, and enjoy the vibrant horn arrangement - just drink in the fun of this celebration of life!  And like a day that is as truly beautiful as this musical creation, as Rob tells us in his song - “whatever you do, don’t let it go, don’t let it get away!”  No worries, Mr. Drabkin, we promise we will hit replay on this one! 

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KNOW YOUR PROS: Vanessa "V" Fune - CEO of Tribe Unity

Vanessa "V“ Fune is our featured music industry professional of September 2018.

She's an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, an entertainment guru and the founder of Tribe Unity. The company responsible for the production behind Hollywood Music in Media Awards, TBOZ unplugged, City Gala reaching all aspects of the entertainment industry from Film, Music to being a world changing influencer.

V created Tribe Unity with the sole purpose to change the world through people’s passions.

“Life is just too short to not live your passion. Everybody has a passion within them that I believe was instilled into them by the universe as their purpose. Even if your purpose is to play video games, if it makes you happy then that happiness puts out this positive vibration that spreads to others,” explains V.

Check out V's story HERE.

Looking to live your passions and align with a Tribe who supports you?

Join the Tribe Club to receive Bi-weekly coaching with industry professionals, exclusive invites to Social and Celebrity Events, and more.

www.Trupassions.com

www.wearetribeunity.com

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SONG REVIEW: Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir - "Stop Shakin"

By Wanda Whitley

Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir.

Let me begin by addressing the one disappointment I found with Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir’s new single “Stop Shakin."  It is not fair, just not fair!  How can you tell us to stop shakin’ to such a lively beat? 

Let me tell you, I am just loving how this song gets you movin’ and groovin.'  And even though this song has some angst, it is a happy song, a song of hopeful reconciliation – a song of “ok, enough is enough – can’t you see I can’t take it anymore?” 

Blake's wife, Tiffany Brown and and his longtime friends Jason Legler, Adam Blake and Trent Nelson make up The American Dust Choir, creating a blend of indie rock and Americana. Blake’s music is rooted in acoustic sounds, and characterized by his seemingly simple, yet complex melodies and heartfelt lyrics.

This is actually a sweet love song, too. And what is that I hear? An echo of Fleetwood Mac in the music and vocals! "Stop Shakin" is the lead single off the band's debut full length album, Long Way Home. It should shake up the charts, for sure! 

At first, I thought the bass is what I love the best, then – those guitars! And wait a minute, the keyboards, too!  All in all, such a complete package of vocal and instrumental beauty.  Did I mention I love this song?  I cannot wait to hear more from you, Blake Brown!

Follow Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir:
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SONG REVIEW: Tim Lancaster - "Half-Life"

By Wanda Whitley

Tim Lancaster photo by Guy Roberts.

Listening to Tim Lancaster’s latest single, "Half-Life" has left me in joyful wonderment.

Tim Lancaster is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and singer. His music spans the spectrum of pop-rock-psychedelic-punk to modern jazz. "Half-Life" is the second single off his debut album, Conspiracy. With Conspiracy, Tim created a genre-bending collection of tracks that utilize a carefully selected range of instruments, effects and production techniques. He even built a pedal board from scratch, imagining exactly how he wanted the fuzz to sound and how the distortion should roar.

There is so much to love about "Half-Life." The music itself is spooky-cool, an eerie, melodic sound that is all at once futuristic, yet it transports you to the past. With keyboards that pay homage to The Doors, some electric guitar riffs that whisper a little bit of Jimi Hendrix, drum beats reminiscent of the space-age beat of Billy Thorpe’s "Children of the Sun," to Tim’s smooth vocals and performance channeling a bit of Alice Cooper – this song is a trip to the past, present, and future.  

Yet with this pleasant transportation, "Half-Life" is truly Tim’s song and Tim’s song only. Such an eclectically-ethereal treat. This song is far-out for sure.  Far-out in a good way, man.  We are definitely feeling your presence with "Half-Life," Tim, and we are all the better for it!

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SONG REVIEW: Kodacrome - "Think Of The Children"

By Wanda Whitley

Kodacrome.

I am so energized right now people! 

If you haven’t heard it already, rush right now and listen to Kodacrome’s single "Think of the Children." I promise you an awakening and a rush, a transportation into an electro pop dream, with beautiful vocals that are breathy and sexy, yet what a pristine sound! The techno-beat gets your feet moving, your head grooving, and your body shaking in a rapturous dance.

Kodacrome is comprised of Elissa LeCoque and Ryan Casey. The pair create fragmented pop with a warm electronic pulse, featuring swells and lead lines which ring from synths and throats, alike. Elissa and Ryan share a deep love for melodic composition and it certainty shows within their music.

I particularly love the horns and keyboards playing along with the beat, a joyous addition to the composition. This is the type of song that keeps playing in your head long after it ends, the kind of music you tell the D.J. to “play it again”!  

A line in the lyrics tells us to “Stretch your arms out…” Indeed. Listeners will most definitely stretch their arms out in an embrace for this one. Think of all of us, Kodacrome, and keep up your excellent and eclectic work!

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VoyageLA interview with Jessica Klausing

Jessica Klausing photo by SAW Photography.

Words cannot express my sincerest gratitude. Thank you VoyageLA for taking the time to chat with me about my music blog. I am deeply humbled by all of the support! Thank you to all of the readers, contributors, music artists, and music professionals that have helped On The Flipside Music become what it is today. 

Check out the full INTERVIEW.

Contributed by VoyageLA Staff

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Klausing.

Jessica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?

I have had a passion for music and writing from an early age. I did not officially combine the two until my sophomore year at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, GA. I was skimming through some magazines at this local music store where I used to take guitar lessons and just thought, “I want to write about music. This is what I want to do with my life.” I went home and contacted every music magazine on that magazine stand. I had one that offered me a guest writer slot.

My job was to write about the different guitar recording techniques used in professional studios. For the record, I did not know anything about recording or mixing music whatsoever! My work was cut out for me, but I was determined. I spent countless hours at the campus library (we had a really bad internet connection at home!) researching anything I could find about recording guitars. I interviewed guitar players and visited actual recording studios. A few months later my first music article was published in Recording Magazine, and that opened the door to more publication offers for me.

I initially created my music blog for a class project. I was so focused on writing for print publications that I never considered blogging. The idea came about from some friends overseas – they wanted to read my music articles but could not find those magazines. I posted my articles on that blog to share with them. I love talking about music and sharing it with others. I’m always eager to hear music recommendations from others too! The blog was an easy way to connect and share with a broader audience.

In 2013, I moved to Los Angeles to fully immerse myself in the music industry. I worked night shift full time at a television company just to be able to do unpaid internships for various record labels and PR companies during the day. It was rough! I was exhausted and frustrated but refused to give up. I thought about my music blog and remembered why I moved here in the first place. I started to put the focus back on my blog – my passion. I am blessed today to be able to work with some of the most incredible people in the music industry.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

It has been more like a rollercoaster. There are days when I go through writer’s block and struggle to find the desire to write or post anything. I’m my own competitive rival. I always challenge and put pressure on myself to write better than my last article. Writing can be a daunting chore but after finishing an article, I’m inspired to want to write more.

I would say the biggest obstacle is marketing. There are so many amazing music blogs out there that it can be quite challenging to stay relevant on social media. I run and manage my blog and the social media accounts all by myself, so that can be overwhelming when I’m working on multiple projects.

I don’t have a set social media schedule. I just post whenever I feel inspired. It’s a good idea to unplug from the digital world every now and then! A little break helps the creative process. Overall, I do think it’s important to just post for you. Don’t try to do what everyone else is doing just for the followers. Share what makes you happy.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about On The Flipside Music – what should we know?

I use my blog to help promote upcoming Los Angeles music artists and professionals.

Living in Los Angeles has opened my eyes and ears to so much musical talent! I’m a big supporter of live music. Records will always be special, but to me, the magic happens on stage.

There is no greater pleasure than watching an artist bare his or her soul to the world. I love getting out discovering new music. I strive to introduce the newer music as well as re-introduce some old favorites too. Music never goes out of style. If it’s something that I love listening to then I just gotta share it with others.

On The Flipside Music has evolved so much over the years. What started as a simple college class project has become a working collaboration. I not only write about and interview artists, but I also help book gigs, promote, and manage artists.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
 

Resilience. The road to success is filled with many unexpected twists and turns. I have had many obstacles try to knock me down and keep me there. It still happens. The key is to have the confidence within yourself to always persevere.

SONG REVIEW: Jake Aldridge - "The Underdog"

By Wanda Whitley

Listening to Jake Aldridge’s latest single, "The Underdog," I was pleasantly haunted and inspired. The music is incredible. It’s melodic and ethereal beat puts me in mind of emerging out of the mists of a moor. Which is fitting, as his song about an underdog is all about coming from the bottom and rising to the top, and not giving up. 

Like a swirling mist that may obscure those in our lives (or even our own selves), that we might say never have a chance, "The Underdog" breaks through the clouds and comes into the light on the winning side. Jake’s moving lyrics convey in every way the struggle of the underdog, and how hard the battle is, and how lonely it can be. 

Listeners can relate to feeling like they never fit in, and having to “fight demons for your freedom," as Jake raps smoothly and sincerely the plight of the underdog. Yet in this plight, what encouragement! Jake tells us we “gotta get up” and “stop wasting our potential," and even though at the bottom, with a long way to go, we can “live in hope for tomorrow."  What an inspiration this song is, as Jake reiterates to the listener in his lyrics that the underdog  doesn’t need a mirror to know who he is, and he offers to “let me show you," opening himself up to reveal who he is to us, keeping it real. 

Jake is showing us his heart and sharing his soul to us in this song. A very moving part of this song is his tribute to his father, who he reveals he “lost at an early age, but his love remains."  He also refers to being the son of a king. And my favorite line in the song is “a gift from God, the underdog with no collar” – how humble the underdog is to recognize where his gift comes from, and what imagery that there is nothing holding this underdog back! 

I will conclude this review with the beginning of this song, which is a montage of introductions of Jake Aldridge.  One of the announcers introduces Jake with the underdog’s proclamation: “Don’t get discouraged, no matter what is going on in your life." This is the key to "The Underdog" coming out on the winning side – never give up.  Bravo, Jake, for this brilliant song – you are definitely on the winning side with this work.

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SONG REVIEW: Yona Marie - "My Soulful Baby"

By Wanda Whitley

Yona Marie.

Okay, folks.  First, I cannot tell you how relaxed and chill I am right now.  Listening to Yona Marie’s new single, "My Soulful Baby" has de-stressed me (can I say to the max)? 

In 2010, R&B artist Rachel Marie Moore AKA Yona Marie first gained mainstream popularity by releasing 'The Luv Exposure' featuring artists, producers, and singers from all over the world. The lead single was featured on a Majormix release which included Chris Brown, Ace Hood, and Tyga.

Marie followed up with the release of "High," a 90's styled instrumental garnering over 100,000 listeners and 20,000 downloads. In 2014, Marie released her full length album, "Reminiscent" which eventually led her to collaborate with EDM producer Eli in 2016 to create the viral track, "Just Wanna Love You" which hit over half a millions plays between Spotify, Youtube, and Soundcloud.

Marie's soothing, soulful voice is such a balm to the soul.  And what a song!  With hints of Diana Ross’s voice, and such sensuality flowing from her heart-felt words that I am put into the mind of hearing a female version of some of Barry White’s work, Yona Marie is indeed a multi-talented artist. 

The musical arrangement is very cool and smooth - the keyboards and groovy guitars and the beat just carries "My Soulful Baby" onto the dance floor for a romantic slow dance.  The music to this song, along with the lyrics, takes me back to another time – a time when this world cared a little more and loved a little more. Thanks, Yona Marie, for helping bring us back to this time with your beautiful love song.

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Static and Surrender @ Hollywood's Hotel Cafe

Static and Surrender are on tour throughout California in honor of their debut album release. Their energetic riffs and rhythms are on par with the alternative superstar acts such as Lifehouse and Matchbox Twenty. Jeff Campbell (lead vocals, guitar) backed by John Schuman (drums), Adam Schuman (guitar, vocals), and Lauren Stockner (bass player) – all stars in their own right – delivered a passionate performance at Hollywood’s Hotel Café.

READ MORE

Check out Static and Surrender’s debut album. If you get the chance to see them live, do it! Very few artists have that special knack to sound better live than in the studio. Static and Surrender is definitely one of those bands that kick it up a notch in the live shows.

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Interview with Matthew Phillips

Matthew Phillips photo by Noah Gilman.

Up-and-coming singer-songwriter Matthew Phillips has been making waves through San Diego’s music scene with over 100,000 followers on Instagram and receiving endorsements from Fender Electric Guitars, Taylor Acoustic Guitars, GHS Strings, and Voss Water, just to name a few.

We got to chat with Matthew about his journey becoming a solo artist, independent artist struggles, and his mad videography skills!

INTERVIEW.

Be sure to follow Matthew Phillips:
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THROWBACK: M2M

M2M.

M2M defined the bubblegum pop genre in the Y2K era.

The Norwegian pop duo comprised of childhood friends Marion Raven and Marit Larsen. Their debut album, Shades of Purple (2000) sold over 1.5 million units worldwide with the single, “Don’t Say You Love Me,” receiving critical and commercial success. Raven and Larsen wrote the lyrics and played instruments on their songs which set them apart from most pop artists.

Check out our Top 5 M2M song picks.

READ MORE.

 M2M:
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Marion Raven:
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Marit Larsen:
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KNOW YOUR PROS: Heather Hudson - CEO & Owner of REVOLT WINE CO

Heather Hudson photo by Sydney Prather.

Heather Hudson is our featured industry professional for July 2018!

Heather and Steve Hudson own and manage the wine label, REVOLT WINE CO, a brand that focuses solely on the connection between music and wine.

The Hudsons' brand has gained attention in the music and wine world by having partnered with many artists such as The Offspring, Atlas Genius, Pepper, Less Than Jake, Yellowcard, Cartel, and The Spill Canvas. The company also partnered with The Vans Warped Tour VIP party, was an active participant in the Wine Riot Chicago, and sponsored the Skateboard Marathon in San Diego, along with Rock Vs. Cancer event at The Gibson Showroom in Beverly Hills.

READ MORE.

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Coby Brown @ Hollywood's Hotel Cafe

Coby Brown performs at Hotel Cafe. Photo by Jessica Klausing.

Coby Brown treated fans to a beautiful, laid-back set in the intimate Second Stage Room at Hollywood’s Hotel Café on Thursday.

Brown is no stranger to the Hollywood music scene. He’s a composer and songwriter who’s had his work featured in numerous films and TV shows; most recently he completed the score for the biopic, “The Man Who Knew Infinity.” 

Brown is an acoustic folk artist, but more importantly, he’s a keen observer able to capture the singer-songwriter genre in the personal stories the lyrics tell, and the sensitive, emotional accompaniment of his band.

READ MORE.

Coby Brown Social Media:
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Food + Travel

"Come On You Wanna Let Me" tiki drink photo by Jessica Klausing

"If music be the food of love, play on," - William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night.

I am excited to announce FOOD + TRAVEL to our music blog roster. Check out our reviews/recommendations of food, drink, travel, and other random musings with a musical flair. 

Here is a sample of some of our reviews so far:

-Summertime is here! Why not cool off with a delicious tiki drink and some Beach Boys playing in the background? We stopped by Hollywood's Harvard and Stone to check out their seasonal tiki drink menu. READ MORE.

-For a limited time - Hollywood's Ever Bar is serving up 2018 Oscars inspired cocktails. We tried the "Get Out" based off of Jordan Peele's Best Original Screenplay Winner of 2018. READ MORE.

-Fellow Star Wars nerds! Warp speed on over to Hollywood's Scum and Villainy Cantina for some Sci-Fi themed drinks and fun galore! We tried out the famous "Wretched Blue Milk." READ MORE.

-Happy National Wine Day! Join us as we crack open a bottle of Red Decadence Chocolate Wine and listen to steampunk artist, Jordan Reyne. READ MORE.

-We LOVE brunch in LA! We visited WKNDR in Los Feliz to try their famous Japanese Air Pancakes. READ MORE.

Monks Of Doom @ LA's Cafe NELA

Monks Of Doom photo by Jessica Klausing

Monks Of Doom are back on tour. Yes, you read this correctly.

The surrealist progressive rockers are back in support of their newest album, The Bronte Pin. This album is the first of new material released in 25 years. The long wait, though highly frustrating, was indeed worth it. Victor Krummenacher (vocals, bass, and guitar), David Immerglück (vocals, guitar, bass, and mandolin), Greg Lisher (guitar), and Chris Pederson (drums, percussion) pulled listeners into a post-rock world of cryptic hysteria and psychedelic instrumentals at LA’s Café NELA.

Check out our REVIEW.

Victor Krummenacher took some time to chat with us about the new MOD album. Check out our INTERVIEW.