Press Releases Archives

June 27, 2022

New Zealand Alternative Rock Trio CAPITAL THEATRE Reveal “Fait Accompli” Music Video; Debut Album ‘A Hero’s Journey’ Out Now

DT: JUNE 27, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH, MITCH SCHNEIDER, LYNDIE WENNER / SRO PR

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NEW ZEALAND ALTERNATIVE/ROCK TRIO
CAPITAL THEATRE
RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM
‘A HERO’S JOURNEY’
STREAM HERE

BAND REVEAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR RADIO SINGLE
“FAIT ACCOMPLI”
SHARE Q&A ON MAKING OF THE VIDEO & SONG’S MEANING

Pictured, from left: Roy Oliver (guitar, vocals), Adam Stevenson (vocals, piano, guitar), Paul Reid (drums, vocals)
Credit: Robert M. Knight

Auckland, New Zealand-based trio CAPITAL THEATRE have delivered a distinctive take on alternative rock with their debut full-length album A HERO’S JOURNEY released last Friday, June 24. Recorded with Grammy Award-winning legendary producer Mike Clink (Guns N’ Roses, Steve Vai), its 10 tracks display the group’s melodic and edgy guitar/keyboard-driven sound while lyrically drawing inspiration from Joseph Campbell’s comparative mythological book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Guest string arrangements were added by composer David Campbell (The Rolling Stones, Beck) to add a multi-dimensional feel as the album follows along the archetypal hero’s journey throughout life.

Concurrent with the release of A HERO’S JOURNEY, the band have revealed a spellbinding music video for their radio single, “Fait Accompli,” directed by Brian Cox (The Used, Bring Me The Horizon) which can be seen streaming below or via YouTube HERE. “Fait Accompli” marks the first track on the album and represents the idea of the hero’s entrance into one’s own journey, aka life, without any choice but to advance. The video was filmed in Los Angeles earlier this month while the band was in town to record material for their next album, once again with Clink at recording helms. Read more about the song’s deeply personal connection to the band and how the video came together in a Q&A with vocalist/guitarist/pianist Adam Stevenson below.

CAPITAL THEATRE have captivated audiences worldwide with their gripping music videos including the evocative clip for their previous single “Delicately Poised” which celebrates self-identity and was filmed in a historic underground adult entertainment club in Barcelona with a vibrant collective of artists, dancers and performers presenting their authentic selves. Released March 1, it has since garnered over 15 million views and over 945k streams. Watch/listen here: https://ffm.to/delicatelypoised.

Formed in 2019, CAPITAL THEATRE band members (and longtime friends) Stevenson, Paul Reid (drums, vocals) and Roy Oliver (guitar, vocals), had just began to hone in their live routine with appearances at local Auckland clubs with A-list guest musicians including Jane’s Addiction bassist Chris Chaney and Bon Jovi lead guitarist Phil X before the global pandemic hit and put a halt to live music. During their recent visit to the States, they were able to return to the stages for a series of radio showcase gigs including a stop at The Gathering Festival (Lovely The Band, The Unlikely Candidates, Lit) in Ohio. They will next be seen on a headlining tour in support of A HERO’S JOURNEY across New Zealand from July 15 through August 6.

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Q&A with CAPITAL THEATRE

– ‘Fait Accompli’ is a phrase meaning something that’s happened and is irreversible therefore leaving no choice but to accept it. This is quite a powerful statement. What inspired you to write song and feature it as the first track on your debut album?

“The stars really aligned with this track. Because our album ‘A Hero’s Journey’ is based off the hero’s journey archetype popularized by Joseph Campbell, we needed a bold and defining song to open the journey, and we honed in on birth as the subject. But for our singer, Adam, the birth of his first daughter Esmè was an emergency event, six and a half weeks early. In many other similar cases either mother or child, or both, do not pull through.

So, with that very real experience as the nucleus to the song, the added notion of birth being a Fait Accompli was a very stimulating proposition. It is probably the most obvious and universally experienced Fait Accompli example, in our opinion. We wanted the song to sound like an ordeal which I think, with its stirring instrumental bridge and epic chorus, we achieve this in spades.”

– Throughout the song’s lyrics, there’s several references to something being created:

‘Climbing up a ladder to see the Milky Way / I peel off the lid and stare into the space I’ve made’ and ‘Its growing inside / Got a beating heart / There’s nowhere to hide / From the very start.’ What is being created? What will –or has– the creation impacted?

“Life is being created, the life, the unborn baby, is experiencing a Fait Accompli, their destiny is set, beyond their control, as a parent we bear great responsibility for deciding to create life.”

– You filmed the song’s music video while you were in Los Angeles with director Brian Cox. Why did you choose to film it there? What is the concept behind the video and how does it correlate with the song’s meaning?

“We love working with different creative people from around the world. Julie Gomez from Kalapa Studios in Barcelona was amazing with her concept and directing of the ‘Delicately Poised’ video, which gave us trust to keep exploring new creative partnerships. Filming in LA with Brian gave us great access to an amazing location, and while the video is not overly narrative driven, it meets the energy of the song and creates a unified piece of work. Brian has a brilliant portfolio of great work and to be honest, while in the past we’ve been very hands on with how our videos are produced, this time we kind of took a back seat, but there are some really stunning creative techniques, choreography (not from us) and a bit of ritual thrown in for good measure.”

– In previous videos, photo shoots and live shows, you’ve put on face makeup similar to that of clowns. For “Fait Accompli” you’ve left that off. What is the significance behind this? How does it tie into the overall theme of the album and/or band itself?

“Firstly, we must point out that our band name is ‘Capital Theatre,’ so you will always see elements of theatrical embellishment in our visuals. The clown is a character that was firstly developed for our music video for ‘People’ where we needed a character step change to show the band performance in a satirical way. I personally loved the character and used it for general entertainment and content creation during our NZ lockdowns. He’s a good friend of mine. We really enjoyed using it for ‘Delicately Poised’ especially given the song and videos themes of identity being explored. ‘Fait Accompli’ is a return to three mates playing a solid rock tune, no clown required.”

For more information on CAPITAL THEATRE, please visit:
WEBSITE | FB | IG

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For press inquiries, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com
Mitch Schneider – mschneider@sropr.com
Lyndie Wenner – Lwenner@sropr.com

June 24, 2022

OZZY OSBOURNE Confirms September 9 As Release Date For New Album ‘Patient Number 9’ (Epic); Debuts Todd McFarlane Video For Title Track

DATE: JUNE 24, 2022

FROM: MARCEE RONDAN/MITCH SCHNEIDER

OZZY OSBOURNE
CONFIRMS SEPTEMBER 9
AS RELEASE DATE FOR NEW ALBUM
‘PATIENT NUMBER 9’ (EPIC)

FIRST SINGLE, THE ALBUM’S TITLE TRACK,
FEATURES LEGENDARY GUITARIST JEFF BECK,
ACCOMPANIED BY
TODD McFARLANE-DIRECTED VIDEO

ALBUM GUEST STARS INCLUDE
ZAKK WYLDE, ERIC CLAPTON, MIKE MCCREADY (PEARL JAM),
CHAD SMITH (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), THE LATE TAYLOR HAWKINS (FOO FIGHTERS), ROBERT TRUJILLO (METALLICA),DUFF MCKAGAN (GUNS N’ ROSES), CHRIS CHANEY (JANE’S ADDICTION)
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, ON AN OZZY SOLO ALBUM,
OZZY’S BLACK SABBATH CO-FOUNDER TONY IOMMI

LISTEN TO THE FIRST SINGLE HERE
AND WATCH THE NEW VIDEO DIRECTED BY
GRAMMY-WINNER TODD McFARLANE HERE

PRE-ORDER PATIENT NUMBER 9 HERE
ADDITIONAL PRE-ORDERS INCLUDE A LIMITED-EDITION SPECIAL PACKAGE WITH A MCFARLANE-DESIGNED COMIC BOOK AND A LIMITED-EDITION COMIC WITH FOIL COVER IN A SPECIAL DELUXE BOX AVAILABLE HERE

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OZZY is back.

Mark September 9 on your calendar as the release date for PATIENT NUMBER 9, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy®-winning singer and songwriter OZZY OSBOURNE’s new album and the first since his critically acclaimed, worldwide, chart-topping 2020 ORDINARY MAN release.

The album’s self-titled first single and video have today (Friday, June 24) been released worldwide. Listen to “Patient Number 9” here and watch the video Grammy winner and multiple Grammy nominee Todd McFarlane-directed here.

“Having worked with Ozzy in the past, I jumped at another opportunity to do so again…especially on the music side this time,” Todd McFarlane says. “In the harsh business called the music industry, any creative person who’s sustained a multi-decades career has shown the skill, talent and tenacity that will always garner my admiration. Ozzy has shown many of us creative folks that it’s indeed possible to make a living doing what you love for nearly an entire lifetime. Go, Ozzy!”

Produced by Andrew Watt (who handled the same duties on ORDINARY MAN) and set for release on Epic, the new album marks OSBOURNE’s 13^th solo studio album. It’s heavy, it’s hard-hitting, it’s historic–it’s everything you’d want from an OZZY OSBOURNE record and maybe more.

“Patient Number 9” was written by OZZY, Watt, Robert Trujillo, Chad Smith and Ali Tamposi and features a riveting solo from legendary guitarist Jeff Beck (one of the notable guest stars on the album, additional details below). The video marks the first collaboration from the project with Emmy-and Grammy-winning director/producer Todd McFarlane. It is highlighted by McFarlane’s signature illustrations interspersed with live OZZY vignettes in the role of “Patient Number 9,” which the revolutionary creative force in the world of comics and toys also filmed. In addition, this is the first-ever video to incorporate OZZY’s artwork: his hand-drawn demons were animated and can be seen during the Jeff Beck solo in the song.

Working with producer Watt for the second time, OZZY welcomed a dynamic A-list supporting cast. The record boasts guitarists Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, and longstanding righthand man and six-string beast Zakk Wylde who plays on the majority of the tracks. For the bulk of the album, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers held down drums, while the late Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters made an appearance. Old friend and one-time OZZY band member Robert Trujillo of Metallica plays bass on most of the album’s tracks, with Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses and Chris Chaney of Jane’s Addiction supplying bass on a few songs. For the first time ever, Black Sabbath co-founder, guitarist, and riff-lord Tony Iommi appears on an OZZY solo album.

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An exclusive version of PATIENT NUMBER 9 with a limited-edition special McFarlane-designed comic book will be available for preorder; a limited-edition comic with foil cover is also available with a special deluxe box. Both can be pre-ordered here. Pre-order PATIENT NUMBER 9 here.

OZZY OSBOURNE
ON
‘PATIENT NUMBER 9’

Q: This is your first album to be released after the pandemic. What was going through your mind during the early days of the pandemic and are any of those feelings reflected in these songs?

OZZY: “Well, I was vaccinated and boosted and I still caught Covid in the end. My last album (Ordinary Man) was released just a few weeks before the pandemic started, and I was just about getting ready to go into the studio to work on this new one when the world shut down. It’s no secret that the last four years have been very difficult for me but making this album took my mind off of my problems.”

Q: The album features some players with whom have history. What was it like to be reunited with Tony Iommi musically?

OZZY: “It was really great working with Tony. He’s the riff master. No one can touch him in that respect. I only wish we had these songs for Black Sabbath’s 13 album.”

Q: Zakk contributes a lot on this album–how was the decision made to have him play since he didn’t play on the last album?

OZZY: “Zakk is part of my family and always will be. The album needed that weight that his playing provides. He just came in and really sorted things out.”

Q: Tell us about the first single, “Patient Number 9,” which features Jeff Beck. What do you feel he has contributed to the song?

OZZY: “The song is about a mental institution. Having someone like Jeff Beck play on my album is just incredible, a total honor. There’s no other guitar player that plays like him and his solo on ‘Patient Number 9’ is just jaw-dropping.”

PATIENT NUMBER 9 track listing:

Patient Number 9 (feat. Jeff Beck)
Immortal (feat. Mike McCready)
Parasite (feat. Zakk Wylde)
Mr. Darkness (feat. Zakk Wylde)
One of Those Days (feat. Eric Clapton)
A Thousand Shades (feat. Jeff Beck)
No Escape From Now (feat. Tony Iommi)
Nothing Feels Right (feat. Zakk Wylde)
Evil Shuffle (feat. Zakk Wylde)
Degradation Rules (feat. Tony Iommi)
Dead and Gone
God Only Knows
Darkside Blues

About OZZY OSBOURNE:

He’s sold over 100 million records, is one of a handful of artists who has had top ten albums in last six decades, received induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame^® as a co-founder of Black Sabbath, won three GRAMMY^® Awards, earned the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors, set a Guinness World Record, and claimed real estate on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Birmingham Walk of Stars. He’s played for royalty (even the Queen of England) and dignitaries around the world, interacted with presidents and performed to millions of devoted fans on five continents. Earlier this year, Ozzy’s CrytoBatz NFT launched as one the biggest Celebrity NFT project ever created, it’s currently ranked in the top 100 biggest NFT projects ever and is valued at over $40 Million. That’s the stuff you already know (we hope), but what really matters is OZZY OSBOURNE is the real “Iron Man” and is still kicking ass and “going fucking crazy!” to this day.

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Spotify
YouTube

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June 24, 2022

TOMMY EMMANUEL With Mike Dawes Acoustically Rework “Smells Like Teen Spirit” With Newly Released Single + Video

DT: JUNE 24, 2022

FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK/LYNDIE WENNER

SRO PR (LOS ANGELES, NASHVILLE, LAS VEGAS)

TOMMY EMMANUEL
ANNOUNCES NEW FIVE-SONG EP
‘ACCOMPLICE SERIES VOL. 3’ WITH MIKE DAWES
OUT SEPTEMBER 23 ON CGP SOUNDS
UNVEILS SINGLE + VIDEO
“SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT”

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

LISTEN TO THE SONG HERE

TOMMY EMMANUEL AND MIKE DAWES WILL TOUR TOGETHER
STARTING DECEMBER 6

A picture containing text, music, guitar

Description automatically generated ACCOMPLICE SERIES VOL. 3 Cover Art

Sparks fly on “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” the new all-instrumental single and video from acoustic guitarist extraordinaire TOMMY EMMANUEL and British acoustic guitar virtuoso Mike Dawes. They first joined forces last year to record and release their interpretation of Goyte’s 2011 hit “Somebody That I Used To Know” (described by Guitar Player as “spellbinding”) and now their combined prowess takes flight again on their cover of Nirvana’s classic, released today (June 24). It’s one of the highlights on the upcoming five-song EP from TOMMY EMMANUEL with Mike Dawes, ACCOMPLICE SERIES VOL. 3 due out September 23 on CGP SOUNDS. Watch the video here and listen to the song here. The video was premiered yesterday (June 23) by Guitar World which noted that “the acoustic virtuoso duo combine powers to rework the era-defining grunge anthem, with spectacular results.” Pre-order the EP here.

EMMANUEL and Mike Dawes also light up the EP with their stirring all-instrumental reworkings of “Slow Dancing In a Burning Room” (John Mayer), “Fields of Gold” (Sting) and “Be My Mistake” (The 1975), alongside “Somebody That I Used To Know” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” the video for which was directed and edited by Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard for Neighborhoods Apart. The live audio was recorded by Dylan Allredge, while the audio was mixed and mastered by Marc DeSisto. It was filmed in an empty warehouse in Franklin, KY.

“I’ve always loved Nirvana’s original recording and music video of this song, but I never dreamed I’d play it as an instrumental one day,” says EMMANUEL. “Having Mike on tour with me gave me a window into other possibilities as a player, performer, and arranger. So, we set about to make it live for us. I let my imagination run wild and Mike created a strong foundation that gave us the freedom to soar with our hearts open when we play it!”

Mike Dawes says that “It has been so much fun playing this arrangement live with Tommy, and a thrill to bring some of my own guitar heritage to the table for this project. Some of my parts are heavily inspired by my old guitar teacher, the great Stuart Ryan, who had an arrangement of his own. Much like the late, great Eric Roche. To have Tommy Emmanuel play on top of the rhythm is an exceptional circumstance and the one-take recording we did in LA turned out so great! I hope that this timeless trans-generational piece sets up this ‘Accomplice Series’ EP in the appropriate way. A mix of shredding and percussive grunge!”

TOMMY EMMANUEL and his special guest Mike Dawes, who have toured together in the past including this past January’s run, will do so again in the U.S. starting in December 2022. The dates follow below and most shows are on sale now.

Full Track Listing for Accomplice EP #3:

1. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover)
2. Slow Dancing In a Burning Room (John Mayer cover)
3. Fields of Gold (Sting cover)
4. Somebody I Used to Know (Gotye cover)
5. Be My Mistake (1975 cover)

DATE		LOCATION	VENUE
6-Dec	TUE	Boise, ID	Egyptian Theatre
7-Dec	WED	Salem, OR	Elsinore Theatre
9-Dec	FRI	Bend, OR	Tower Theatre
10-Dec	SAT	Grants Pass, OR	Rogue Theatre
11-Dec	SUN	Chico, CA	Laxson Auditorium
13-Dec	TUE	Santa Cruz, CA	Rio Theatre
14-Dec	WED	San Juan Capistrano, CA	Coach House
15-Dec	THU	San Juan Capistrano, CA	Coach House
16-Dec	FRI	Malibu, CA	Smothers Theatre

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Description automatically generated with medium confidence Artist: Tommy Emmanuel:
Photo Credit: Alysse Gafkjen

ABOUT TOMMY EMMANUEL:

TOMMY EMMANUEL has achieved enough musical milestones to satisfy several lifetimes. At the age of six, he was touring regional Australia with his family band. By 30, he was a rock n’ roll lead guitarist burning up stadiums in Europe. At 44, he became one of five people ever named a CPG (Certified Guitar Player) by his idol, music icon Chet Atkins. Today, he plays hundreds of sold-out shows every year from Nashville to Sydney to London. He’s piled up numerous accolades, including two Grammy Award nominations, two ARIA Awards from the Australian Recording Industry Association (the Aussie equivalent of the Recording Academy); repeated honors in the Guitar Player magazine reader’s poll including a cover story for their August 2017 issue; a cover feature for Vintage Guitar’s July 2020 issue; and was Music Radar’s reader’s poll #1 winner of the Ten Best Acoustic Guitarists in The World (December 2019). A noted fingerstyle guitarist, EMMANUEL frequently threads three different parts simultaneously into his material, operating as a one-man band who handles the melody, the supporting chords and the bass all at once. His talents, which translate in any language, carry him to the far corners of the globe, but EMMANUEL never plays the same show twice, and he improvises big chunks of every date. That leaves him open to those technical imperfections, though they also provide some of the humanity to an other-worldly talent. On May 8, 2020, he released a newly recorded career-spanning double album, THE BEST OF TOMMYSONGS, via CGP Sounds/Cruzen Street Records). Watch the album trailer here which focuses on TOMMY’s unique ability to tell stories without words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SOQEMWYAQ4&feature=youtu.be

For more information on TOMMY EMMANUEL, visit:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

SRO PR Assets + Press Releases:
http://sropr.com/portfolio/tommyemmanuel/

A person playing a guitar

Description automatically generated with medium confidence Mike Dawes
Photo Credit: Adam King Photography

ABOUT MIKE DAWES:

Mike Dawes is an award-winning solo guitarist known for composing, arranging, and performing multiple parts simultaneously on one instrument. He is regarded as one of the world’s most creative modern fingerstyle guitarists with a repertoire spanning solo viral video hits and mainstream chart success with artists including Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues. The British guitarist was named “Best Acoustic Guitarist in the World” by Total Guitar Magazine and MusicRadar twice in their end-of-year reader’s poll. Popular YouTube personality Rick Beato recently interviewed Dawes in a video titled “World’s Greatest Acoustic Guitarist?”, with Dawes regularly appearing online sharing tips and tricks regarding his unique playing style. All three of Dawes’ solo albums have spawned viral video hits with millions of views including his popular arrangements of Metallica’s “One” and Van Halen’s “Jump.” His original songs “The Impossible” and “Boogie Shred” are frequently covered by aspiring fingerstyle performers. Dawes has been featured on multiple Justin Hayward live releases, including Spirits…Live, which debuted at #2 on the US Billboard Charts. As a keen educator, Dawes has frequently worked as a columnist for the biggest guitar magazines in the world, including Guitar World and Acoustic Guitar.

For more information on MIKE DAWES, visit:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

For press inquiries regarding TOMMY EMMANUEL, contact:

SRO PR
(Los Angeles, Nashville, Las Vegas)
Mitch Schneider // mschneider@sropr.com
Andrea Faulk // afaulk@sropr.com
Lyndie Wenner // lwenner@sropr.com

June 24, 2022

NOTHING MORE Launch ‘SPIRITS’ Pre-Order, Reveal Title Track “Spirits” Lyric Video; Tickets On Sale Today for Fall U.S. Tour with In This Moment

DT: JUNE 24, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH, MITCH SCHNEIDER / SRO PR

THREE-TIME GRAMMY-NOMINATED ROCK GROUP
NOTHING MORE
REVEAL PRE-ORDER DETAILS ON NEW ALBUM
‘SPIRITS’
DUE OCTOBER 14 VIA BETTER NOISE MUSIC
PRE-ORDER NOW

SHARE THIRD SINGLE,
ALBUM TITLE TRACK
“SPIRITS”
WATCH LYRIC VIDEO

FALL TOUR WITH IN THIS MOMENT
TICKETS ON SALE TODAY, JUNE 24 @ 10 A.M. (LOCAL TIME)

SPIRITS Cover Art (Download)

“Fueled by ripping riffs, heavy beats, and Jonny Hawkins’ powerful pipes.” – LOUDWIRE

Multi-Grammy-nominated, San Antonio-based rock outfit NOTHING MORE have today revealed details on their highly awaited new studio album. Out worldwide on October 14 via Better Noise Music, SPIRITS’ 13 tracks consist of the band’s most focused, adventurous, and intense music, uniting introspective philosophical lyrics with unapologetically massive anthems. Pre-order SPIRITS now at https://nothingmore.ffm.to/spirits. Coinciding with the news, NOTHING MORE are excited to share the album’s title track “SPIRITS,” which was released today (June 24), across all digital platforms along with its lyric video. Stream/download “Spirits” now and watch the lyric video HERE.

“Isn’t it interesting that we give the same name to something holy and something wholly intoxicating?” asks NOTHING MORE frontman JONNY HAWKINS. “The song ‘SPIRITS’ describes that very conundrum. When you drink liquor, it has been said that you are welcoming that pneuma (spirit) into your body. Most of us have seen and experienced how alcohol (or rather ‘al-ghawl,’ which means demon/spirit) can make us feel. It’s almost as if we turn into someone else when too much of the spirit has been consumed. Sometimes it’s eye opening and can lead to wondrous life-changing conversations or bonds that would never normally happen…and sometimes it can lead to the exact opposite. It may turn us into Dr. Hyde’s Jekyll and cause us to do or say horrific things we would never normally do sober. Spirits are both a little bit heavenly and a little bit sick.”

Earlier this week NOTHING MORE announced a fall tour with heavy rockers In This Moment. It will stretch from August 26 to October 22 and include stops at several of the largest rock festivals including Blue Ridge Rock Festival, Louder Than Life, Rocklahoma and Aftershock. “The fire, passion and momentum we feel from our first tour back is insane!” exclaims HAWKINS. “It only makes sense to bring that same fire to the fall with a one-of-a-kind tour with In This Moment.” Tickets go on sale today at 10:00 A.M. local time at https://nothingmore.net. See full dates listed below.

NOTHING MORE were recently seen on tour across the U.S. on a co-headlining run with Asking Alexandria, who had to drop-off mid-tour due to health problems. The band relentlessly continued to lead the remaining dates with their exciting live show which saw the return of their infamous “Scorpion Tail”—a 400-pound, 14-foot MIDI controller constructed out of salvaged metal scraps by bassist Daniel Oliver that brings Hawkins’ electrifying stage presence to life musically. “It’s not only a wild theatrical display, it allows Jonny to manipulate the band’s sound using a series of levers through a musical instrument digital interface,” noted MUSIC MADNESS MAGAZINE (6/1/22). “It’s a big part of the show as the crowd went wild whenever Jonny took to the air.” There’s been no shortage of praise for NOTHING MORE’s fervent performances. “If any rock concert in recent memory is sure to leave a lasting impression in my mind, it will certainly be the day Nothing More graced The Wellmont with their energetic, unapologetic, and absolutely electric performance,” proclaimed Asbury Park Vibes (5/31/22) journalist/photographer Anthony Vito Cosentino. “This is the kind of rock band you need to see with your own eyes to believe, and once you’ve experienced their eclectic performance for yourself, you will have a higher standard for rock concerts as a whole.”

NOTHING MORE gave fans the first preview of SPIRITS with two singles–their in-your-face rock anthem “TURN IT UP LIKE (Stand in the Fire)” and their most recent Top 20 Billboard Active Rock radio single “TIRED OF WINNING” which is currently at #11. SPIRITS was co-written and produced by the band—Hawkins (vocals), Oliver (bass), Mark Vollelunga (guitar) and Ben Anderson (drums)—and their longtime manager Will Hoffman. It documents the tumultuous time the world experienced over the past two years capturing the desperation and isolation of lockdown, the spiral of substance abuse, the pain of broken relationships and survival in self-reliance while summarizing the overall story and mission of NOTHING MORE: Reflect, Provoke, Inspire.

SPIRITS Track Listing
1. TURN IT UP LIKE (Stand In The Fire)
2. TIRED OF WINNING
3. SHIPS IN THE NIGHT
4. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT LOVE MEANS
5. DON’T LOOK BACK
6. THE OTHER F WORD
7. FACE IT
8. BEST TIMES
9. DÉJÀ VU
10. DREAM WITH ME
11. NEVERLAND
12. VALHALLA (Too Young To See)
13. SPIRITS

A group of men sitting on stools Description automatically generated DOWNLOAD BAND PHOTO (Credit: Jody Domingue)

NOTHING MORE 2022 TOUR DATES
8/26 Evansville, IN @ Old National Events Plaza #
8/27 St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant #
8/28 Clive, IA @ Horizon Events Center #
8/30 Albuquerque, NM @ The Sunshine Theater *
9/1 Lubbock, TX @ Lonestar Events Center #
9/2 Dallas, TX @ Southside Ballroom #
9/3 Pryor, OK @ Rocklahoma
9/6 Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle #
9/8 Alton, VA @ Blue Ridge Rock Festival
9/9 Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore #
9/10 Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues #
9/12 Knoxville, TN @ The Concourse *
9/13 Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore #
9/14 Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE – Outdoor Stage #
9/15 Wallingford, CT @ Oakdale Theatre #
9/17 Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway #
9/18 Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore #
9/20 Columbus, OH @ Kemba Live #
9/21 Cleveland, OH @ The Agora #
9/22 Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life Festival
9/27 Maplewood, MN @ Myth Live #
9/28 Grand Forks, ND @ Alerus Center #
9/30 Great Falls, MT @ Centene Stadium #
10/1 Spokane, WA @ The Podium #
10/3 Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre #
10/4 Portland, OR @ Arlene Schinitzer Concert Hall #
10/5 Reno, NV @ Grand Theatre #
10/7 Garden City, ID @ Revolution Concert House and Event Center #
10/8 Central Point, OR @ Bi-Mart Amphitheater #
10/11 San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park #
10/12 Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern #
10/14 Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues #
10/15 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex #
10/16 Billings, MT @ Pub Station *
10/18 Omaha, NE @ The Admiral #
10/19 Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre #
10/21 Chicago, IL @ Radius #
10/22 Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom #

# with In This Moment
* NOTHING MORE headlining

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ABOUT NOTHING MORE

Rock audiences count NOTHING MORE among the most cherished acts, the kind of band who straddle the line between populism and intimacy with every performance. The San Antonio, Texas-born quartet builds unapologetically massive anthems from catchy hooks. Crowd-pleasers clear a path for heady, confessional, thought-provoking emotionalism. Fresh rewards reveal themselves with repeat listens, welcoming like-minded seekers with rich melodicism, like the best of Deftones or Tool.

Those who saw the band on tour with hard rock heavyweights like Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch, Breaking Benjamin, Papa Roach, and Disturbed will attest to what The Guardian observed: “There’s a sophistication to NOTHING MORE’s angst that raises them above the tumult-tossed pit.”

Kerrang! named NOTHING MORE one of 22 Artists Shaping the Future of Rock, alongside Nine Inch Nails, Twenty One Pilots, and Bring Me The Horizon. And frontman Jonny Hawkins, who met guitarist Mark Vollelunga before they were old enough to drive, appeared with Billie Joe Armstrong, Dave Grohl, and Hayley Williams in the English tastemaker’s Top 50 Greatest Rockstars in the World.

Hawkins and Vollelunga started the band in 2003 and were quickly joined by bassist Daniel Oliver and later by drummer Ben Anderson. The band’s blend of explosive bombast and nuanced storytelling resulted in a half dozen Top 10 singles at Mainstream Rock Radio, including the No. 1 hit “Go to War” and the Sirius XM Octane song of the decade and Active Rock chart-topper “This is the Time (Ballast).” The Stories We Tell Ourselves earned a head-turning three Grammy nominations. They’re set to follow it up with a new album in 2022, which is filled with their most philosophical and primal music to date. The first offering, “TURN IT UP LIKE,” released in March 2022, is a fitting first taste of what’s to come.

NOTHING MORE appeals to fans of Linkin Park, Incubus, Rage Against The Machine, and all crucial acts that stoke relatable passion with authenticity and integrity. Memorize the arena-ready hooks. Get mesmerized by the intimate, communal live show. Dig deeper down the rabbit hole into the work of philosophers and artists like Eckhart Tolle, Carl Jung, and Alan Watts, who inspire the band. There’s a place for every type of rock fan with NOTHING MORE. Built to last, here to stay.

ABOUT BETTER NOISE MUSIC

BETTER NOISE MUSIC is the premiere independent music label under BETTER NOISE ENTERTAINMENT, a content creation and marketing company that produces music, books, films, documentaries, TV shows, theatrical productions, and tours. Better Noise Music (formerly Eleven Seven Music), founded in 2006 by music industry veteran and independent pioneer Allen Kovac, focuses on artist development and has grown into a music industry independent powerhouse, with a roster including Five Finger Death Punch, Asking Alexandria, Bad Wolves, Dirty Heads, Nothing More, The HU, AWOLNATION, All Good Things, From Ashes To New, Cory Marks, and Fire From The Gods. Partnering with FUGA, AMPED and Membran, the company operates a global marketing and distribution platform with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Paris, Toronto and Sydney.

In 2021, Better Noise Music dominated Billboard’s Year End charts in the rock space, landing at #1 on the Mainstream Rock Imprint, Hard Rock Songs Imprint, Hard Rock Songs Label charts and ranked as one of the top Mainstream Rock Label for the year.

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FOR PRESS INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:

SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com
Mitch Schneider – mschneider@sropr.com

BETTER NOISE MUSIC
Eliana Nunez – eliana@betternoise.com

June 23, 2022

AWOLNATION Launch Track-By-Track Conversation Series on New Album ‘MY ECHO, MY SHADOW, MY COVERS AND ME’ Featuring Aaron Bruno & Music Personality Allison Hagendorf

DT: JUNE 23, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH, MITCH SCHNEIDER / SRO PR

AWOLNATION
GO BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF NEW COVERS & COLLABORATIONS ALBUM
‘MY ECHO, MY SHADOW, MY COVERS AND ME’

LAUNCH TRACK-BY-TRACK WEEKLY INTERVIEW SERIES
FEATURING AARON BRUNO & MUSIC PERSONALITY
ALLISON HAGENDORF

WATCH THE DEBUT CLIP ON FIRST TRACK
“BEDS ARE BURNING (FEAT. TIM MCILRATH OF RISE AGAINST)”
HERE

DOWNLOAD ARTWORK

Diamond-selling alternative act AWOLNATION released their highly anticipated covers and collaborations album MY ECHO, MY SHADOW, MY COVERS AND ME via Better Noise Music on May 6. The 11-track record is a collection of masterfully crafted and carefully curated covers with the goal to illustrate the healing power of music and to celebrate the collaborative spirit of the artistic community. Each track features at least one acclaimed musical artist with whom AWOLNATION’s founder AARON BRUNO has a personal connection including Beck, Jewel, Portugal. The Man, Taylor Hanson of Hanson, Brandon Boyd of Incubus and more.

BRUNO recently sat down with TV/radio personality and music journalist Allison Hagendorf for a series of taped conversations on how each track came together and his experience working with each of the album’s collaborators. Watch an introductory clip on how BRUNO developed the album’s concept HERE. The track-by-track series launches today, June 23, with a discussion surrounding the album’s first single, a cover of Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning” featuring Tim McIlrath of Rise Against. AWOLNATION will continue to air conversations—in the order of the track listing (as seen below)—every Tuesday and Thursday via their official YouTube channel, subscribe HERE.

AWOLNATION released “Beds Are Burning (featuring Tim McIlrath of Rise Against)” on February 25 along with a CGI-animated video directed and edited by Jason Michael Hall (CG Assets). It has since received over 316k plays and 1.7 million Spotify streams. “Ever since I was much younger, I would sing along to this song,” shared BRUNO. “The singer may have the coolest dance moves in music video history. I think this song speaks for itself in terms of the message and meaning of the song. I was excited that Tim from Rise Against performed on this one in particular given the power and influence his lyrics and music have had for so many years.” Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst also commented on the track stating, “A tough new light on our old song! The whistle near the end is a deft touch…congrats AWOLNATION and Tim on doing a brilliant job!” Watch the music video for “Beds Are Burning (featuring Tim McIlrath of Rise Against)” here: https://youtu.be/gCwnoQFDCq8.

‘MY ECHO, MY SHADOW, MY COVERS AND ME’ Track Listing:

Beds Are Burning (featuring Tim McIlrath of Rise Against)
Eye In The Sky (featuring Beck)
Take A Chance on Me (featuring Jewel)
Maniac (featuring Conor Mason of Nothing But Thieves)
Just A Friend (featuring Hyro The Hero)
Material Girl (featuring Taylor Hanson of Hanson)
Wind of Change (featuring Brandon Boyd of Incubus & Portugal. The Man)
Waiting Room (featuring Grouplove)
Drive (On digital only)
Flagpole Sitta (featuring Elohim)
Alone Again (featuring Midland)

MY ECHO, MY SHADOW, MY COVERS AND ME is available to stream and download across all platforms and variants HERE.

AWOLNATION recently celebrated the 10^th anniversary of their platinum debut album MEGALITHIC SYMPHONY which boasted the chart-topping, record-breaking, diamond-certified hit “Sail” and the launch of their debut Better Noise Music release and fourth overall album ANGEL MINERS & THE LIGHTNING RIDERS in 2020. The band are currently working on a new album with original music and have announced their headlining “Falling Forward” U.S. tour with special guests Badflower and opening act The Mysterines. It kicks off in Salt Lake City, UT on October 6 and stretches across the Midwest and East Coast before wrapping back to the West Coast ending November 18 in Seattle, WA. Tickets are on sale now at https://www.awolnationmusic.com/.

AWOLNATION Upcoming Tour Dates
October 06 – Salt Lake City, Utah – The Complex
October 7 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
October 8 – Omaha, Nebraska – Barnato
October 10 – Minneapolis, Minnesota – Fillmore
October 11 – Kansas City, Missouri – Uptown Theater
October 13 – Chicago, Illinois – The Riviera Theatre
October 14 – Columbus, Ohio – KEMBA Live! Indoor Pavilion
October 15 – St. Louis, Missouri – The Pageant
October 16 – Newport, Kentucky – Ovation
October 18 – Detroit, Michigan – The Fillmore Detroit
October 19 – Cleveland, Ohio – Agora
October 21 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Stage AE
October 22 – New York, New York – The Rooftop at Pier 17
October 23 – Boston, Massachusetts – House of Blues
October 25 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Fillmore
October 26 – Silver Spring, Maryland – Fillmore
October 28 – Atlanta, Georgia – Tabernacle
October 29 – Charlotte, North Carolina – The Fillmore Charlotte
October 31 – Nashville, Tennessee – Brooklyn Bowl
November 2 – Tulsa, Oklahoma – Cain’s Ballroom
November 4 – Houston, Texas – Bayou Music Center
November 5 – Dallas, Texas – Southside Ballroom
November 6 – Austin, Texas – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
November 8 – Albuquerque, New Mexico – Revel
November 9 – Tempe, Arizona – Marquee Theatre
November 11 – Los Angeles, California – Hollywood Palladium
November 12 – Las Vegas, Nevada – Brooklyn Bowl
November 13 – Oakland, California – Fox Theater
November 16 – Portland, Oregon – Roseland Theater
November 18 – Seattle, Washington – Moore Theater

A person sitting on a rock Description automatically generated with low confidence Credit: Kari Rowe

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ABOUT BETTER NOISE MUSIC
BETTER NOISE MUSIC is the premiere independent music label under BETTER NOISE ENTERTAINMENT, a content creation and marketing company that produces music, books, films, documentaries, TV shows, theatrical productions, and tours. Better Noise Music (formerly Eleven Seven Music), founded in 2006 by music industry veteran and independent pioneer Allen Kovac, focuses on artist development and has grown into a music industry independent powerhouse, with a roster including Five Finger Death Punch, Asking Alexandria, Bad Wolves, Dirty Heads, Nothing More, The HU, AWOLNATION, All Good Things, From Ashes To New, Cory Marks, and Fire From The Gods. Partnering with FUGA, AMPED and Membran, the company operates a global marketing and distribution platform with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Paris, Toronto and Sydney.

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For press inquiries, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com
Mitch Schneider – mschneider@sropr.com

Better Noise Music
Eliana Nunez – eliana@betternoise.com

June 23, 2022

COLD KINGDOM Land First-Ever Top 40 Active Rock Radio Single with “Criminal” (feat. Danny Case); Announce Summer Tour & Festival Dates

DT: JUNE 22, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH, SRO PR

COLD KINGDOM
SCORE FIRST-EVER TOP 40 ACTIVE ROCK RADIO CHART LISTING
WITH CRUSHING SINGLE
“CRIMINAL (FEAT. DANNY CASE)”

BAND ANNOUNCE SUMMER TOUR DATES
INCLUDING SHOWS WITH SHINEDOWN, BUCKCHERRY & PUDDLE OF MUDD

Minneapolis-based hard rock outfit COLD KINGDOM are excited to share news that the first single, “Criminal (featuring Danny Case)” from their forthcoming album, cracked the Top 40 Active Rock Radio Mediabase charts at #38 last week. It’s the band’s highest-ranking placement to date. The crushing track, released digitally on February 25, features guest vocalist Danny Case of From Ashes To New alongside COLD KINGDOM’s powerhouse frontwoman Elissa-Marie Ogaard to deliver what Outburn Magazine (2/23) describes as “a lethal combination of fury and sentiment.” Listen to “Criminal” across all digital platforms (https://onerpm.link/criminal) and watch its energized music video seen streaming above.

COLD KINGDOM’s as-yet-untitled third studio album is due this summer via oneRPM. The quartet shared an additional sampling of new music with their May 13 single and music video “Agony” which Loudwire featured in their “Weekly Wire” Spotify playlist. Stream and/or watch “Agony” now here: https://onerpm.link/agony.

On the live front, the band kicked off the summer with a performance at Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, FL and will continue to bring their vibrant live show on a series of dates across the Midwest this July and August including opening slots for some of rock’s top acts including Shinedown, Buckcherry, Bret Michaels, Candlebox and Puddle of Mudd. A full list of upcoming dates is as follows:

7/2 Janesville, WI – The Back Bar
7/3 Neillsville, WI – Silver Dome Ballroom
7/9 Omaha, NE – Slowdown
7/14 Madison, WI – The Sylee (with SHINEDOWN)
7/21 Minneapolis, MN – The Skyway (with BUCKCHERRY)
7/23 Walker, MN – Moondance Jam (with BRET MICAHELS, CANDLEBOX)
8/5-6 Appleton, WI – Mile of Music Fest
8/13 Fridley, MN – Route 47
8/19 La Crosse, WI – The Cavalier Theater
11/11 Fort Dodge, IA – Fort Frenzy (with PUDDLE OF MUDD)

A group of people posing for a photo Description automatically generated with medium confidence Lineup (l-r): Evan Ogaard (Guitar), Elissa-Marie Ogaard (Vocals), Jason Michael (Bass), Chris Morley (Drums)
Credit: Brad Gunnarson

For more information on COLD KINGDOM, please visit:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY

PRESS ASSETS: www.sropr.com/portfolio/cold-kingdom

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For press inquiries, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com

June 23, 2022

Minneapolis’ Singer-Songwriter Pamela McNeill shares New Single & High Voltage Video “Hollywood Rain ” LISTEN HERE

DATE: JUNE 23, 2022

FROM: LYNDIE WENNER/MITCH SCHNEIDER, SRO PR

PAMELA McNEILL:
MINNEAPOLIS-BASED SINGER/SONGWRITER AND PERFORMER
TODAY SHARES NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO, “HOLLYWOOD RAIN”

FROM UPCOMING ALBUM ‘NEON LIGHTNING’
LISTEN TO “HOLLYWOOD RAIN” (HERE),

OUT TOMORROW AT ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS
VIEW THE HIGH VOLTAGE VIDEO
“HOLLYWOOD RAIN” HERE

Image Credit: Rik Cannon

“Her voice has a certain quality about it that you just like her immediately. Her songwriting, on her own, strives for new territory–it’s not the same clichés over and over–it’s actually very beautiful language.”
–Jim Peterik- Grammy Award winning songwriter of ‘Eye of the Tiger’ and founding member of the band Survivor

Singer, songwriter, pianist and performer PAMELA McNEILL today (June 23) has shared the video for her new single “Hollywood Rain” on indie label Farm To Label Records. Watch the lush, Hollywood-style stage production video, which was premiered June 22 at Vents Magazine. “Hollywood Rain” will be released tomorrow via all streaming platforms here. The song will appear alongside seven other tracks on the raised-on-classic-rock artist’s forthcoming album NEON LIGHTNING due out August 5, marking her seventh album.

“Hollywood Rain” was written by McNEILL and inspired by her longtime musical influences from Tom Petty to Pink to Sir Elton John; with its “80’s tribute anthem” sound, the track shimmers with youthful innocence and a lush Elton-esque production. “It’s epic and it’s joyful,” says McNEILL. “It’s kind of looking back. It’s just powerful.” The single was arranged and produced by longtime friend and bandmate, Minneapolis producer and guitarist, Matthew Kirkwold (Quietdrive, AM Taxi). McNEILL’s vocals and piano work light up the song, with John Richardson (Gin Blossoms) on drums, Adam Ollendorff (Kacey Musgraves, Will Hoge, Katy Perry) on acoustic and steel guitars and Adam Keafer (Kacey Musgraves, Matthew Perryman, Brooks and Dunn) on bass.

“This is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written,” elaborates McNEILL. “Because of how it makes me feel—it’s my ‘Elton John’ song! Tommy Barbarella wrote the string arrangements for this song. I’d asked for ‘Elton John’ strings and he delivered that in spades! Tommy worked with Prince so he’s truly amazing!” She continues: “10 months into the pandemic–I was sitting at home playing ‘Pearl’ (our white baby grand)–and I was so depressed. Not being able to go anywhere. No gigs. It was very hard for me. A strong feeling hit me–‘I miss the Madonna Days.’ The 80’s. The colors. The way it seemed we all got along better (whether real or imagined). Then, thinking about how different life feels now. I wanted this song to be a joyful celebration of those times.”

The video for “Hollywood Rain”–directed by Rik Cannon and edited by Michael Luebber, both of Redline Creative Group–was filmed at Vū Technologies in Nashville. MCNEILL shares: “the vision I had in my head was big and cinematic and very colorful–like the skies in the “Oklahoma” (musical) movie–which we used for reference. I also wanted it to be a performance video. We immediately searched for a BIG soundstage.”

McNEILL, who more than casually flirted with Nashville’s songwriting community, traveled there often through the years leading up to NEON LIGHTNING. A few of her favorite co-writing sessions were with ACM, CMA and Grammy-winning artist Pam Tillis and Grammy-winning songwriter Bobby E. Boyd. Artists who have recorded her songs are Buffy Lawson: “Rainy Night in Memphis” soley written by MCNEILL (from Lawson’s 2012 album “I’m Leaving You for Me” on Wrinkled Records), Yanni: “Love is All” (from his 1997 Tribute album, Virgin Records), plus “The Promise” and “Almost a Whisper” (from his 2003 Ethnicity album, Virgin Records). She also co-wrote, with Jim Peterik, “Coin of the Realm, recorded by Pride of Lions (from their 2012 Immortal album on Frontiers Records).

Photo Credit: Jessica Hegland Photography

PAMELA McNEILL’s vocals and keyboard skills extend from Minneapolis to London to Nashville and back. She’s played iconic venues and stages from London’s Royal Albert Hall to Nashville’s Bluebird Café and she’s released six previous albums. https://www.pamelamcneill.com/music

Connect with PAMELA McNEILL
BIO
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM

For press inquiries, please contact:

Lyndie Wenner, SRO PR
lwenner@sropr.com
615-512-8360 (direct to cell)
615-973-4160 (office)

June 22, 2022

Oakland-based singer-songwriter HELLCAT BLOOM Releases First Single Video “Malibu” From Her Debut EP Semi-Sweet Out August 19

DATE: JUNE 22, 2022

FROM: MARCEE RONDAN

HELLCAT BLOOM
TO RELEASE ‘SEMI-SWEET’
SEVEN-SONG EP
AUGUST 19 ON pOprOck
TRACK INCLUDED ON BANDCAMP’S
JUNETEENTH (JUNE 17) FUNDRAISER

A picture containing text, person, person

Description automatically generated Photo credit: Arrica Rose

HELLCAT BLOOM, the pseudonym of Oakland-based singer-songwriter Alex Avritch, is set to release her seven-song debut EP SEMI-SWEET August 19 on pOprOck Records. The EP was previewed by the single and video for the laid-back, nostalgic heartbreak of the first track “Malibu.” Watch the “Malibu” video here and listen to the song here.

A group of people with their mouths open

Description automatically generated with medium confidence Still from “Malibu” music video

The “Malibu” single was recently included in Bandcamp’s third annual Juneteenth (June 17) fundraiser (whereby they donated 100% of their share of sales to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to support their ongoing efforts to promote racial justice through litigation, advocacy, and public education). Beyond Bandcamp’s donation, HELLCAT BLOOM also donated a portion of the proceeds earned that day via her Bandcamp page.

HELLCAT BLOOM TALKS ABOUT HER FIRST SINGLE

“MALIBU”

There are many songs with “Malibu” in the title, what was the inspiration for your song?

I like to think there are so many songs named after the city because Malibu holds a certain magical quality that breeds endless inspiration. Especially for someone who grew up in the valley. It was the backdrop of so many formative moments growing up. More specifically, the moments I fell in love.

As for what inspired my particular Malibu, it’s heartbreak. It’s about how you never think something or someone so precious to you can let you down or break your heart, and how deeply it hurts when they do. This person, much like Malibu, had an irresistible quality about them that was intoxicating. So much so that it was easy to look past the cracks in the facade. This song is all about taking off the rose-colored glasses and realizing it was time to say goodbye to this “place” I had called home for so long.

The artsy, multi-colored clip invokes the beach theme in a less obvious fashion. What was the creative reason behind this?

Though the song is lyrically built around a Malibu beach backdrop, we really wanted the visuals to embody the emotions behind the motif. Much like waves, love and loss can feel both turbulent and absolutely still. The video will switch from a wash of overlapping, psychedelic patterns to ethereal hues in the matter of seconds. This uncertainty of what’s to come next, while remaining at the forefront of heartache, is what Malibu is all about.

You’re shown in split, multi-screen and swirling images throughout the clip–what inspired this?

A lot of the visuals for this video were inspired by the retro use of split screen to capture simultaneous states of being as well as psychedelic imagery to convey the vivid spaces one finds themself in while going through various stages of heartbreak. In a single moment, you’re sifting through the pieces of sadness, anger, relief etc. That feeling of fragmentation was an extremely important piece of the story.

SEMI-SWEET’s seven songs were written alongside collaborator Arrica Rose; it was recorded at Comp-ny in Los Angeles (Be Hussey engineering) and O2 and The Tree House in Oakland (Arrica Rose engineering). It was mixed and mastered by Dan Garcia at Radio Hill Santa Monica. HELLCAT BLOOM features Alex Avritch on vocals and songwriting duties; producer/co-writer Arrica Rose rhythm guitars, backing vocals, synths, and loops; Marc Thomas on lead guitars; Mark W. Lynn on bass; and Ryan Brown on drums and percussion.

The tracks on HELLCAT BLOOM’s elegantly crafted debut EP pull in elements from 60s girl groups, 90s indie-rock, and modern-day electropop, all wrapped up in a sheen of analog warmth. While the sound is ambitious and confident in its scope, it draws listeners close with the intimacy of lo-fi bedroom folk. Always at the forefront are nuanced lyrics that express the complicated emotions of a passionate love affair as it comes apart at the seams, captured in clever retorts and evocative scenes. Eclectic yet cohesive, melancholy yet carefree, bitter and sweet, the EP is an expression of worlds and sounds gently colliding—from the indie rock anthem “Love Is Strange,” to the sultry, noir slow burner, “Valley Eyes.” The EP is anchored by HELLCAT BLOOM’s lilting vocals that belie the lyrics’ harsh honesty. As every breakup contains both roses and thorns, even the darkest songs are dressed up sweetly in ethereal synths and hypnotic loops, paired with live drums and dreamy guitars.

HELLCAT BLOOM’s creative output revels in the dichotomy that’s true of most romantic relationships, art, and life itself. “I like to say we’re all multi-faceted human beings, and we aren’t just one thing, within a single moment, day, or year,” HELLCAT BLOOM says. “This music is a little bit old school, a little bit new, a nod to this, a nod to that. It’s almost like it’s built from all these perfect fragments of myself and Arrica that came together in this salty but sweet goodness that is the project.”

In the end, HELLCAT BLOOM knew when the project was fully realized, not because of a particular sonic moment or song, but because of the beautiful-but-complex whole. Always, with every lyric, every note, she’s aiming not just to entice listeners, but to move them. If it sounds like HELLCAT BLOOM is asking herself the big questions about art and life, she is. Not only because of her need to express herself through her music, but because of her desire to grow into an artist who can, in turn, be an inspiration for the next generation “It’s important to me in all facets of my life to carve a path for other creators of color, who want to be in the tech space, in the makeup space, in music,” she says. “While finding my own way, I want to make sure I’m doing my part to bring up as many seats at the table as I possibly can.”

Canadian Producer AVIRA Reimagines LIVE’S 1994 Hit “Lightning Crashes”; Released Today

DT: JUNE 17, 2022

FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK

CANADIAN PRODUCER AVIRA
REIMAGINES LIVE’S 1994 HIT ‘LIGHTNING CRASHES’
LISTEN HERE

In the past few years, AVIRA has built quite the reputation when it comes to remixing classic songs. Having already put his hand to The Alan Parsons Project’s “Sirius” (with Armin van Buuren) as well as timeless dance tracks such as “Communication” (by Armin van Buuren), “Silence” (by Delerium), “Strange World” by (M.I.K.E. Push) and “Saltwater” (by Chicane), the Canadian DJ and producer has now joined forces with multi-platinum rock band LIVE for an incredible reimagining of their self-written 1994 smash hit “Lightning Crashes.” The song has been released today (June 17) by Armada Music.

Listen to LIVE x AVIRA – Lightning Crashes

Marking the multi-platinum band’s biggest single (#1 at Modern Rock radio for ten consecutive weeks) and one of the most aclaimed songs of the modern rock era, “Lightning Crashes” has now been pushed into an electronic dimension. With subtle chord plucks, droning bass, freshly recorded vocals–by LIVE’s lead singer Ed Kowalczyk–and lyrics that narrate the circle of life, this brilliant take on the globally beloved rock classic will resonate with listeners across genres and stylistic preference.

“When I was growing up in Toronto, I always felt like dance music had a bad reputation,” AVIRA reminisces (*see a full Q&A below with both artists*). “I knew that only small circles were into it, but almost everyone listened to rock, hip-hop and Top 40. ‘Lightning Crashes’ is one of those records that is universally understood as a masterpiece, and I immediately saw the opportunity to bring that legendary rock radio sound to the dance space, hopefully opening the eyes of many to dance music!”

“I had been getting inspired and actually talked about working or wanting to do some experimenting in the EDM/trance space when this email and scratch demo from AVIRA came in.” Ed Kowalczyk says. “I was excited to hear it because of the synchronicity of how it unfolded for me personally, and my excitement only grew after I popped it up on the speakers! My initial thought was how protective AVIRA’s version was of the original; I could tell he really cared about the song and wasn’t just throwing a beat to it. My second thought was for the minimalistic but super-powerful counter melodies he composed that felt like emotional and spiritual exclamation points on my lyrics. As good as the original version is for its raw energy and rock-and-roll vitality, AVIRA’s production and its sophisticated, modern and soulful depth immediately felt like the next chapter for the song to me.”

“Ed’s performance on this new recording sent chills down my spine,”AVIRA adds. “I wanted to make this feel like an epic homage to LIVE’s original and show a new generation of listeners what dance music can be all about. I’m forever grateful that Ed was involved in making my dreams come true.”

A couple of men posing for the camera Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Ed Kowalcyzk + AVIRA Q&A – ‘Lightning Crashes’

ED:

•As the writer and singer of “Lightning Crashes,” certainly one of the biggest songs of the alternative rock era, what were your initial thoughts when you heard that AVIRA created an electro remix of the song?

I had been getting inspired and actually talked about working or wanting to do some experimenting in the EDM/trance space when this email and scratch demo from AVIRA came in. I was excited to hear it because of the synchronicity of how it unfolded for me personally, and my excitement only grew after I popped it up on the speakers! My initial thought was how protective AVIRA’s version was of the original; I could tell he really cared about the song and wasn’t just throwing a beat to it. My second thought was for the minimalistic but super-powerful counter melodies he composed that felt like emotional and spiritual exclamation points on my lyrics. As good as the original version is for its raw energy and rock-and-roll vitality, AVIRA’s production and its sophisticated, modern and soulful depth immediately felt like the next chapter for the song to me.

•What inspired you to actually go into the studio and re-record the song for this new version?

When I first heard AVIRA’s demo, he used the original vocal as a scratch to give me the idea of his direction. It was understood that I would need to record a new lead vocal as the old one wouldn’t work for technical reasons. It had been four years since I had been in a recording booth to sing anything let alone recreate my most famous vocal performance of a song that I wrote almost thirty years ago! I had to step up!

•Can you tell us what it was like to re-record the song for another musical genre and any challenges this may have posed for you?

What struck me immediately as I got up to the mic to sing this new version, was how natural it felt to sing it, even at a totally different tempo. I’m gonna say it; it was just easy…so wonderfully easy. The vocal flowed out of me like no time had passed at all since I first uttered the lyrics to myself over an acoustic guitar all those years ago. I had so much fun singing it again but did I get it right? Would it hold up to the original that so many people have heard and loved all this time? After one of the takes, I got my answer when I overheard our producer, Ken Lewis, lean into his colleague Brent Kolatalo and whisper “I love my job.”

•What are your thoughts about the finished version of the track?

The finished version of the track is just totally beautiful on every level. Everyone who worked on this are high caliber pros who care deeply about music. I was honored to be a part of it.

•“Lighting Crashes” is definitely one of LIVE’s signature songs and certainly a highlight of the band’s LIVE show. Why do you think this song initially resonated with audiences and why does it still have power when you sing it onstage?

“Lightning Crashes” achieves that alchemy of lyric and melody that allows a particular idea to find resonance at a deeper level than usual. To me, the lyric confronts what the melody, in turn, accepts and celebrates. In other words, it has it all.

AVIRA:

•What is it about the song “Lighting Crashes” that inspired you to do an electronic remix of it?

When I was growing up in Toronto, I always felt like dance music had a bad reputation I knew that only small circles were into it, but almost everyone listened to rock, hip-hop and Top 40. “Lightning Crashes” is one of those records that is universally understood as a masterpiece, and I immediately saw the opportunity to bring that legendary rock radio sound to the dance space, hopefully opening the eyes of many to dance music!

•How did you react when you learned that ED liked the remix so much that he wanted to record new vocals for it?

I was honestly blown away by Ed’s response. Having the approval and involvement of someone like Ed gives me hope that I’m not crazy, that maybe the gap between rock and dance can be bridged in 2022.

•Can you talk about how you feel ED’s new vocals kick this remix up to a whole other level?

Ed’s performance on this new recording sent chills down my spine. I wanted to make this feel like an epic homage to LIVE’s original and show a new generation of listeners what dance music can be all about. I’m forever grateful that Ed was involved in making my dreams come true.

•Was there a particular challenge in taking an alternative-rock song like “Lighting Crashes” into a completely different genre?

I think the pressure I put on myself to pay huge respect to LIVE and entice new listeners was my biggest hurdle. I didn’t allow myself to second guess what I’m doing, instead focusing on doing what came naturally.

•Growing up, did you have a particular connection to “Lighting Crashes” and have you seen LIVE perform it in concert?

Being a 90’s kid, I’d always rummage through my brother and sister’s tapes and CDs. One day I came across Throwing Copper and to be honest it was the crazy artwork that made me pop it in! For what seemed like forever I was obsessed with it. I grew up in Egypt, where rock wasn’t really too popular, so it was quickly forgotten. Fast forward to now, one of my best friends (A&R executive Tanner Wilfong, who grew up in PA) mentioned the song to me and we both had a meltdown talking about our memories with it. Since that moment, we’ve been obsessed and that’s how this whole thing started.

About +LIVE+

+LIVE+, the multi-platinum band from Pennsylvania–Ed Kowalczyk (vocals, guitar), Chad Taylor (guitar, backing vocals), Patrick Dahlheimer (bass) and Chad Gracey (drums, percussion)–have sold over 22 million albums worldwide and earned two number one albums (‘Throwing Copper’, ‘Secret Samadhi’). Their catalog is filled with such gems as “Lightning Crashes,” “I Alone,” “All Over You,” and “Lakini’s Juice,” which live on today as classics on rock radio. Throwing Copper—which the band celebrated in 2019 with a new deluxe 25^th anniversary edition via Radioactive/Geffen/Ume along with a global tour across major festivals, amphitheaters and arenas–produced the band’s biggest single, ‘Lightning Crashes,’ which was #1 at Modern Rock radio for ten consecutive weeks. ‘Throwing Copper’ reached #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and eventually surpassed sales of 10 million albums sold, with Rolling Stone honoring the album with placement on their list, “1994: The 40 Best Records From Mainstream Alternative’s Greatest Year.” Secret Samadhi (1997) immediately shot to #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and eventually went double platinum. The release of the platinum-selling “The Distance to Here” (1999) turned +LIVE+ into an international powerhouse and moved the band from arenas into stadiums. +LIVE+ has been and remains today a global concert juggernaut. The band released an acclaimed five-song EP in 2018–LOCAL 717, their first new music in over a decade–and will be recording new music soon.

For more information on +LIVE+, visit:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

For press inquiries, contact:

SRO PR
Mitch Schneider // mschneider@sropr.com
Andrea Faulk // afaulk@sropr.com

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June 16, 2022

Active Rockers PISTOLS AT DAWN Announce Debut Album ‘ASCENSION’ out 8/19 via Megaforce/MRI, Release “The Truth” Music Video

DT: JUNE 16, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH / SRO PR

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ATLANTA-BASED ACTIVE ROCK GROUP
PISTOLS AT DAWN
ANNOUNCE DEBUT STUDIO ALBUM
‘ASCENSION’
DUE AUGUST 19
VIA MEGAFORCE/MRI ENTERTAINMENT

BAND REVEAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR THOUGHT-PROVOKING
DEBUT RADIO SINGLE
“THE TRUTH”
AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS TOMORROW, JUNE 17

WATCH HERE | PRE-SAVE HERE

Credit: Michael Mueller/ M3 Creative
l-r: Cris Hodges (vocals), Adam Jaffe (drums), Billy Sullivan (bass), Devin White (guitar)
[not pictured: Tommy Richardson (guitar)]

Atlanta, GA-based group PISTOLS AT DAWN deliver hard-hitting hooks, magnetic melodies and intricate instrumentation with old school arena-size ambition on their debut studio album ASCENSION due August 19 via Megaforce/MRI Entertainment. After independently amassing over 6 million streams across streaming and video platforms via previously released singles from their debut 2021 EP NOCTURNAL YOUTH, PISTOLS AT DAWN returned to the studio to work with Grammy Award-winning producer and engineer Sylvia Massy (Tool, System Of A Down, Johnny Cash) on the new release. “Pistols at Dawn is bright, modern, driving aggression with a halo of vintage darkness,” says MASSY. “Angular guitars and other-worldly vocals crown the super-human strength of these tracks, yet lyrically they describe a fragile earth-bound mortality. Pistols at Dawn are poised to roar into a post-isolation world.”

PISTOLS AT DAWN have today (6/16) debuted the riveting music video for the album’s first single “The Truth,” which introduces new vocalist CRIS HODGES who also fronts In The End: The Premiere Linkin Park Experience and has written music for several blockbuster movies including ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and ‘Baywatch.’ Watch “The Truth” music video streaming below or HERE. “The Truth” nods to nineties alternative with a distinct and dynamic twist. It’s scheduled for release this Friday, June 17 across all digital platforms; pre-save it at ffm.to/padthetruth.

“‘The Truth’ revolves the around the constant noise we have in our head pushing and pulling our emotions so much that we sometimes lose total control and explode,” explains drummer ADAM JAFFE. “We have to be careful to maintain our thoughts and emotions, or ‘The Truth’ is that they could ‘tear us apart.’ The inspiration behind the music video was to show the constant emotional pinball game our minds play on us privately, coupled with the explosive reality of what can happen if we are truly triggered into chaos.”

JAFFE further remarks on adding HODGES to the lineup: “Cris Hodges joining PAD can only be equated to what it must have felt like when Taylor Hakwins joined Foo Fighters or Grohl joined Nirvana. From our very first hour-long conversation to our very first rehearsal and video shoot, it just felt like it was and is meant to be. Cris is an elite front man with vocal abilities sent from the gods. Our guitarist Devin said it best, ‘it feels like home now.’”

PISTOLS AT DAWN – “The Truth” Official Music Video

PISTOLS AT DAWN—ADAM JAFFE [drums], DEVIN WHITE [guitar], BILLY SULLIVAN [bass], TOMMY RICHARDSON [guitar] and CRIS HODGES [vocals]–were originally formed in 2015 but disintegrated after the tragic passing of guitarist Mike Buffa in 2018. They reformed in 2019 before releasing NOCTURNAL YOUTH in 2021 which was recorded with Jeff Tomei (Smashing Pumpkins, Matchbox 20). With live music at a halt due to the global pandemic, the band engaged fans worldwide with an immersive online campaign for the EP’s singles “Cold” “Voices,” “Crown,” and “Now Is The Time” which exploded with over 2 million Spotify streams and 6 million video streams combined.

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ASCENSION Track Listing
1. Under The Surface
2. Fly
3. Keep Me Guessing
4. For You
5. The Truth
6. Gravity
7. Get Away
8. Dictator

Find PISTOLS AT DAWN online:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

PR ASSETS: http://sropr.com/portfolio/pistols-at-dawn/

###

For press opportunities, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com

For radio inquiries, please contact:
CO5
Ken Pittman – ken@co5music.com
Todd Sievers – todd@co5music.com

For all other inquiries, please contact:
TLG Entertainment
Denny Sanders – denny@tlgent.com

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