Kelly Walsh, Author at SRO PR

May 12, 2022

Hard Rock outfit COLD KINGDOM Tackle Menacing Affect of Social Media with New Song “AGONY”

DT: MAY 13, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH, SRO PR

HARD ROCK OUTFIT
COLD KINGDOM
REVEAL NEW SINGLE
“AGONY”
OUT NOW ACROSS DIGITAL PLATFORMS

LISTEN HERE

BAND ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL SUMMER FESTIVAL DATES & SHOWS

Minneapolis-based hard rock outfit COLD KINGDOM are excited to share the second track “Agony” from their forthcoming third album due this summer via oneRPM. The fierce and rhythmically intense new single minces no words as it tackles the harmful effects of social media. “Agony” is out today across digital platforms at this link: https://onerpm.link/agony. An official music video for the track will premiere next Friday, May 20.

“‘Agony’ is an energetic and aggressive song that digs into how vile people can be on social media,” collectively shares COLD KINGDOM who are: Elissa-Marie Ogaard (vocals), Evan Ogaard (guitar), Jason Michael (bass) and Chris Morley (drums).“It’s far too often that people publicly project their negative opinions and judgements on one another, whether asked to or not, whether warranted or not. It’s so easy to hide behind a screen and present a one-sided narrative that shines a light on themselves while completely disrespecting someone else or their views.”

COLD KINGDOM launched their new album with the pulverizing debut single “Criminal” featuring Danny Case of From Ashes to New which Outburn Magazine described as “a lethal combination of fury and sentiment.” Watch the music video HERE. The track is currently at #49 on Billboard’s Active Rock radio charts.

The quartet have brought their energy-filled shows to stages across the U.S. alongside acts including Shinedown, Chevelle, Papa Roach, Buckcherry, Saving Abel, Puddle of Mudd and Nonpoint, in addition to festival appearances at Northern Invasion, RockFest, Summerfest and more. COLD KINGDOM will next appear performing the opening night of Welcome To Rockville on May 18 in Daytona Beach, FL and have a series of shows throughout the summer including festival stops at Moondance Jam (Bret Michaels, Candlebox) and Mile of Music Festival. Full dates are as follows:

5/18 Daytona Beach, Fl – Welcome To Rockville
5/21 Akron, OH – The Vortex
7/9 Omaha, NE – Slowdown
7/23 Walker, MN – Moondance Jam
8/5 Appleton, WI – Mile of Music Festival

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

Find COLD KINGDOM online at:
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

May 12, 2022

THE BLACK MOODS Drop Sultry Music Video For Blues-Drenched Rock Track “The Cure”; Announce Summer Tour Dates

DT: MAY 11, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH, SRO PR

PHOENIX, AZ ROCK & ROLL TRIO
THE BLACK MOODS
REVEAL SULTRY MUSIC VIDEO FOR NEW TRACK
“THE CURE”
OUT THIS FRIDAY, MAY 13

WATCH HERE

NEW ALBUM ‘INTO THE NIGHT’ DUE JUNE 3
PRE-SAVE HERE

BAND ANNOUNCE SUMMER TOUR DATES

Phoenix, AZ rock & roll trio THE BLACK MOODS heat things up with a sultry music video for their latest track, “The Cure,” taken from their upcoming June 3 album INTO THE NIGHT via Wit Hustle/The Orchard /Steelhorse Entertainment. “The Cure” is a “sultry slowburner” that highlights the band’s “raw, riff-heavy, blues-drenched rock” style according to Metal Edge Magazine who premiered its video earlier this week. Watch “The Cure” music video–directed by Jim Louvau & Tony Aguilera (Jerry Cantrell, Killer Be Killed)– streaming above or on YouTube HERE in advance of its release across digital platforms this Friday, May 13.

“To me, ‘The Cure’ is the bluesiest song we have,” says vocalist/guitarist Josh Kennedy. “It came together very naturally and has ALL the sex appeal in it. It’s a love song about something being so good, but so bad for you at the same time. She’s Bella Donna.”

THE BLACK MOODS have previously shared three tracks from INTO THE NIGHT: “She Gets Out,” “Hollywood” and their current radio single, the hedonistic anthem “Saturday Night,” which is currently in the Top 50 Billboard rock charts. The album was recorded with Grammy Award-nominated producer Johnny “K” Karkazis (3 Doors Down, Disturbed), who the band previously enlisted on their critically acclaimed 2020 sophomore effort SUNSHINE. INTO THE NIGHT is an album that’s felt as much as heard, rooted in the stomp of drummer Chico Diaz‘s kick drum, the pulse of Jordan Hoffman‘s bass, and the larger-than-life presence of Josh Kennedy. Pre-save INTO THE NIGHT now at: https://orcd.co/tbmintothenight.

The blazing rock trio will ignite stages across the midwest this summer as they head out on a run of dates alongside Royal Bliss in addition to a handful of headlining shows and a stop in Mexico to take part in Roger Clyne’s Circus Mexicus festival. Full dates are listed below. THE BLACK MOODS were recently seen performing as the halftime entertainment for their hometown NBA team Phoenix Suns winning semi-finals game on May 10 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ to over 16,000 attendees. This followed their performance at Cannaval Festival in late April and a sold-out show at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, AZ earlier this year.

THE BLACK MOODS Tour Dates:

5/25 Council Bluffs, IA @ Big Kels*
5/26 Cedar Rapids, IA @ Chrome Horse Saloon*
5/27 Keokuk, IA @ L-Treyns*
5/28 Madison, WI @ Bratfest
6/9-10 Puerto Penasco, MX – Circus Mexicus
6/18 Tucson, AZ – The Rock
6/24-25 Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ – Weekend In The Pines
7/23 Wisconsin Dells, WI – Crystal Grand Music Theatre (w/Scott Stapp)
*with Royal Bliss

A picture containing text, crosswalk, vector graphics Description automatically generated l-r: Chico Diaz, Josh Kennedy, Jordan Hoffman
Credit: Jim Louvau

Find THE BLACK MOODS online:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

SRO PR Assets + Releases: http://sropr.com/portfolio/the-black-moods/

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

May 10, 2022

OSAKA POPSTAR Reveal Animated Music Video for “Lost & Found” Starring Fred Armisen

DT: MAY 10, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH, SRO PR

ANIME-PUNK ROCK COLLECTIVE
OSAKA POPSTAR
REVEAL ANIMATED MUSIC VIDEO FOR CATCHY NEW SINGLE,
“LOST & FOUND”
STARRING FRED ARMISEN

WATCH HERE

NEW RECORD ‘EAR CANDY’ OUT NOW VIA MISFITS RECORDS

Background pattern Description automatically generated Cover Artwork by Josh Howard (Dead@17)

Following last Friday’s (May 6) release of their new album EAR CANDY via Misfits Records in collaboration with Demented Punk, anime-meets-NY punk rock collective OSAKA POPSTAR are excited to reveal the animated video for its rocking and infectiously sweet original single “Lost & Found.”

Out today (May 10), the “Lost & Found” music video was written, produced and directed by OSAKA POPSTAR’s frontman and longtime Misfits and Ramones collaborator John Cafiero. The cartoonized video stars actor/comedian/musician Fred Armisen (Portlandia, SNL, Documentary Now) as the main character, a lost and lonely soul seeking out an unattainable love, all while paying homage to Saturday morning breakfast cereals, the Partridge Family, the Archies and the Monkees—all of which are artists OSAKA POPSTAR cover throughout EAR CANDY. Watch it streaming below or via YouTube HERE.

Find an exclusive Q&A with Cafiero below outlining the process of creating the video.

EAR CANDY is fronted and produced by Cafiero (vocals), with Dean Rispler (The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black) on guitar and bass, Jon Wurster (Superchunk, The Mountain Goats, Bob Mould) on drums and features guest backing vocals from indie rocker Colleen Green. It is available now across all digital platforms and on CD and Limited-Edition candy swirl ‘bite’ vinyl (as seen in the above cover art and included featured in the “Lost & Found” video). Its CD and vinyl versions also include a download card with MP3’s and a digital full-color 32-page variant first issue of the upcoming “Sweetie Candy Vigilante” comic book exclusive to this release. Get your copy now at https://store.osakapopstar.com.

OSAKA POPSTAR recently unveiled a deluxe expanded and remastered edition of their debut album, OSAKA POPSTAR AND THE AMERICAN LEGENDS OF PUNK, which features a backing lineup of punk rock legends Jerry Only (The Misfits), Marky Ramone (Ramones), Dez Cadena (Black Flag) and Ivan Julian (Richard Hell & The Voidoids) along with a special guest appearance from the late outsider music icon Daniel Johnston. The band followed up its release with a collaboration with Grammy Award-winning artist “Weird Al” Yankovic for Record Store Day Black Friday 2021 to release a “blistering, accordion-tinged cover” (Rolling Stone) exclusive 12-inch split, BEAT ON THE BRAT which immediately sold out and was listed as one of the Top 5 and Top 10 Record Store Day releases across several notable media outlets including iHeart Radio News.

Find more on OSAKA POPSTAR online at:
https://osakapopstar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/OsakaPopstar/
https://twitter.com/osakapopstar
https://www.instagram.com/osakapopstar/

Q&A WITH OSAKA POPSTAR’s JOHN CAFIERO

—Congrats on creating the “Lost & Found” animated video, which you wrote, produced and directed. What inspired you to take this approach and why do you feel it’s the best visual to represent the song?

“Thanks. I’m a bit of an art junkie, and over time, have amassed an extensive roster of surreal characters in the Osaka Popstar universe. I like to weave them into the fabric of what we do, and animation is an excellent outlet for that. In fact, to date, every Osaka Popstar music video has been fully animated. The irony here being that initially, I was planning to do this particular video in live action, but the more time passed, it eventually evolved into a fully animated video.

Although I have a background producing and directing live action, I’m a former animator as well, and I’ve always loved the medium. There are no limits, no boundaries, and anything can happen beyond the confines of reality. I love making the impossible possible and spinning things into surreality tends to be a lot of fun.

I think the video distills the core of the song into terms everyone can relate to, but in a fun and entertaining way, while simultaneously capturing the vibe of not only the song itself, but Osaka Popstar generally—and the new record. I’m thrilled with how it turned out, and I hope others enjoy it as much as I do when they see it. So far, the reaction from those who’ve seen it has been amazing, and the guys in the band were blown away by it.”

—In creating the video, were there any challenges and how did you handle them?

“Some of the challenges were ensuring my key concepts would be realized within the storyline, and also ensuring we captured not only the likenesses, but the essence of everyone that was transported into animated form. Not to mention, wrapping it all by the record’s release date, while living up to my high standards and expectations. I’m genuinely passionate about everything I do, and I believe that’s the key to making it all gel in the end. The process is fun, but it’s hard work and involves a lot of hours and extreme attention to detail. I tend to be relentless in ensuring the end result lives up to its full potential, and I think we accomplished that with this video, in a fairly quick turnaround time too.”

—The video stars the animated Fred Armisen. Can you tell us about how you know Fred and what inspired you to ask him to use his likeness in the video?

“Fred and I have mutual friends and met briefly at the first Misfits reunion show in 2016. On the flight home, we ran into each other at the gate in the airport. As fate would have it, our seats were assigned right next to each other on the flight, and we’ve kept in touch ever since. I’ve always liked his work, and we have a lot of common interests. His favorite bands are my favorite bands, (bands who would turn out to become an integral part of my life and career), and we’ve both been huge John Waters fans from an age many would consider too young to have seen his films. John jokingly once told me he could have been arrested for me seeing Pink Flamingos when I did!

The basic premise of the video was inspired by real life events! I was waiting in my car parked outside of a supermarket in NYC, and a guy in a business suit passing by, stopped at the picture glass window of the storefront and, while gesturing to someone inside, started doing all these absolutely crazy and ridiculous dances—and I’m talking full throttle! I had no idea what he was up to, but I was mesmerized by it. It turned out that he was trying to get the attention of a girl working the checkout line. Making it more bizarre is that he was well dressed and very reserved looking; someone you’d never expect to behave that way. He was so over the top, it was absolutely absurd and surreal, like a scene from a movie. As I was watching it, I thought… this is my music video… and I immediately had Fred in mind to play the main character. Starting with that basic premise, I embellished on it, and developed it into what you see.

While Fred has done a lot of incredible work, and given a lot of amazing performances, it was his role in an episode of the IFC series ‘Documentary Now’ called the Globesman, that would impress on me that he was the perfect person to play this character.

Fred and I ran into each other when I was in the process of mixing Ear Candy. I played him a rough mix of the song and told him the concept I had in mind. At the time I was considering shooting this as a live action music video. He dug it, and immediately agreed. When I later switched gears and decided to do the video fully animated, I still wanted Fred to star in the role. I explained and asked if he remained interested. He was, and the rest is history.”

—Are you able to tell us what Fred has said about the video after he saw it?

“Fred said that he loved the video and thought the song was great. I was thrilled. Fred was the first person to see it.”

—Can you give us a few sentences about the storyline of the video?

“A lost and lonely soul wanders through a world of faceless people and things, but the one constant dynamic he sees everywhere he goes are the vibrant ads for his favorite red licorice. He falls for the poster girl who appears in the ad campaign, thinking she’s beyond his reach, if not beyond reality… Until he wanders past the storefront window of a supermarket and spots her working the register inside. He sets out to win her over in his own, goofy, but charming way. All the while Osaka Popstar appears in animated form, popping up in the most unlikely of places, providing the soundtrack to the story—which features cameos from the Osaka Popstar Devil Dogs, the Kawaii Black Metal Trio, Sweetie Candy Vigilante and more, including homages to Saturday morning breakfast cereals, the Partridge Family, the Archies and the Monkees. The latter three bands all having a kinship with Osaka Popstar in that they reach beyond the confines of the average band, existing in a universe of their own, while simultaneously existing in ours.”

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For publicity inquiries or advance review requests, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com

May 9, 2022

REDLIGHT KING Announce New Album Due This Fall via AFM RECORDS; Reveal Music Video for Debut Track “In Our Blood”

DT: MONDAY, MAY 9, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH, SRO PR

REDLIGHT KING
SIGN TO AFM RECORDS;
ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR FALL ALBUM
‘IN OUR BLOOD’

REVEAL UPLIFTING MUSIC VIDEO FOR TITLE TRACK
“IN OUR BLOOD”

SINGLE OUT NOW; WATCH IT HERE

BAND TO APPEAR ON SEVERAL SUMMER ROCK FESTIVALS
(Welcome To Rockville, Blue Ridge Rock Festival, Louder Than Life)

A band playing on stage Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Canadian-American rock outfit REDLIGHT KING are excited to share news of their signing to German rock/metal label AFM RECORDS who will release the band’s fourth full-length album IN OUR BLOOD later this fall. The album was written and produced by frontman Mark “Kaz” Kasprzyk at his studio, The Wheelhouse, in Los Angeles, CA with long-time collaborator and guitarist Julian Tomarin, who also co-wrote a few tracks, and drummer Randy Cooke. REDLIGHT KING released its debut single, the uplifting anthemic title track “In Our Blood,” last Friday, May 6 across all digital platforms following the premiere of its energetic music video via Loudwire on May 5. Watch “In Our Blood” streaming below or here: https://bfan.link/in-our-blood.

Senior A&R Director of AFM Nils Wasko commented on the signing, “I am thrilled that REDLIGHT KING has chosen AFM. My team and I couldn’t be more excited to work with Kaz, Julian, Brian and Mark to delight people with their authentic music and leave a footprint on the world.”

“’In Our Blood’ is not about religion or politics or money,” explains Kaz about the new single. “It’s about heart. It’s about family. It’s about never giving up. The song was first imagined by our guitarist Julian, who laid down the riff and a killer melody in the hook. It continued to build with a vengeance, so we kicked it into high gear with a four on the floor beat and a traditional rock n’ roll approach to scoring the lyrics.”

Kaz continues, “For me, ‘In Our Blood’ captures the human spirit and gives a sense of hope that we can break through the generational cycles of classism set in place to divide us. When I sing the song I think of my family, I think about my grandfather fighting in WW2, the things they went through, the sacrifices they made and that my parents made as well. I think of my bandmates and the audience we play for. We are all trying to make the best of this journey. We all bleed the same color and we’re all in this together.”

REDLIGHT KING will make their way across the rock festival circuit with appearances at Welcome To Rockville (5/19-22) in Daytona Beach, FL, Blue Ridge Rock Festival (9/8-11) in Dansville, VA and Louder Than Life (9/23-26) in Louisville, KY along with additional dates to be announced in the coming weeks. The band have developed a worldwide fanbase since their formation in 2009, performing over 1,000 shows with some of the biggest names in rock and being seen on festival stages in North America, UK and Europe as well as late-night TV appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

ABOUT REDLIGHT KING:

Formed in Hamilton, ON by Kaz, REDLIGHT KING made waves in 2011 with the release of their debut album SOMETHING FOR THE PAIN on Hollywood Records which included the #3 Billboard Mainstream Rock single “Bullet In My Hand” and a reimagined version of Neil Young’s “Old Man” of which Young approved the band to use a sample from his original song. Their second album, IRONS IN THE FIRE, followed in 2013 and featured the single “Born To Rise” which is heard in the end title credits for the Lionsgate sports drama blockbuster Draft Day. Additional music from the band has been featured in movies and tv shows such as The Avengers, Iron Man 3, The Italian Job, FOX’s ‘Malcolm In The Middle’ and CBS’ ‘Person of Interest’ in addition to being licensed across sports networks including ESPN, Nascar, NFL, CFL, NHL, NBA and MLB.

For their third album MOONSHINE, REDLIGHT KING went back to basics and recorded a very analog traditional rock sound with songwriter and producer Jimmy Messer (Foreigner, AWOLNATION) who released it on via his independent label, Parts & Labor Records.

A group of men on stairs Description automatically generated with low confidence lineup (l-r): Mark “Kaz” Kasprzyk, Brian Weaver, Julian Tomarin, Mark Goodwin
Credit: David Harris

Find REDLIGHT KING online at:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
PR ASSETS: www.sropr.com/portfolio/redlight-king

###

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

May 6, 2022

AWOLNATION Premiere Music Video for Cover of ABBA’s “Take A Chance On Me” Featuring JEWEL

DT: MAY 6, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH, MITCH SCHNEIDER / SRO PR

AWOLNATION CELEBRATES HEALING POWER OF MUSIC WITH NEW COVERS AND COLLABORATIONS ALBUM,
‘MY ECHO, MY SHADOW, MY COVERS AND ME,’
OUT NOW

INCLUDES COLLABORATIONS WITH JEWEL, PORTUGAL. THE MAN, BECK, BRANDON BOYD OF INCUBUS, TAYLOR HANSON, GROUPLOVE, AND MORE

BAND PREMIERES NEW MUSIC VIDEO WITH JEWEL FOR COVER OF ABBA’S “TAKE A CHANCE ON ME”
WATCH MUSIC VIDEO

DOWNLOAD ARTWORK /AARON BRUNO (AWOLNATION) PHOTOS (Credit: Kari Rowe)

TICKETS ON SALE STARTING TODAY AT 10AM LOCAL TIME
FOR HEADLINING “FALLING FORWARD” US TOUR
OCTOBER 6 – NOVEMBER 18
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS BADFLOWER
AND OPENING ACT THE MYSTERINES

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 6, 2022 – Today, diamond-selling alternative act AWOLNATION officially released their highly anticipated covers and collaborations album My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers and Me, via Better Noise Music. The album’s epic track listing was revealed earlier this winter and includes collaborations with Beck, Jewel, Portugal. The Man, Taylor Hanson of Hanson, Brandon Boyd of Incubus and more. The project is a collection of masterfully crafted and carefully curated covers, with each track featuring at least one acclaimed musical artist with whom AWOLNATION’s founder Aaron Bruno has a personal connection. See full track listing below. The aim of the project is to illustrate the healing power of music and to celebrate the collaborative spirit of the artistic community. My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers and Me is now available to stream and download across platforms HERE.

AWOLNATION earlier this week announced dates for their headlining “Falling Forward” U.S. tour featuring special guests Badflower and additional support from UK-based alternative act The Mysterines. Tickets are on sale to the public today starting at 10am (local time) at https://www.awolnationmusic.com/. A full list of upcoming shows can be found below.

Aaron Bruno said the following of wanting to create this project in reaction to the mixed emotions that came with 2020’s lockdown, in conversations with with TV/radio personality and music journalist Allison Hagendorf: “I know a lot of artists and everybody deals with fear differently, and my way of dealing with it was to never stop moving. And so that’s why I just started making a covers album instead of feeling too defeated by everything getting shut down. I thought, ‘Well at least if I stay busy and stay active, I’ll feel productive.’ It also allowed me to be prepared to make original music as well because the last thing I wanted to do is release Angel Miners, which is the fourth AWOL record and then just make the fifth one right away. It didn’t feel appropriate. I didn’t feel emotionally capable because I just said everything I wanted to say on that album, so this was a great palate cleanser for me.” Fans can find more of their conversation on AWOLNATION’s social media platforms and YouTube.

See below additional commentary from Aaron Bruno on each track from the album.

To celebrate today’s album launch, the band also premiered an official music video for one of the tracks, an epic cover of ABBA’s classic “Take A Chance On Me,” featuring Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Jewel. Animated by award-winning film writer, director and editor Eliot Charof, the whimsical video is playing now here: https://awolnation.ffm.to/memsmcm

Jewel said of the collaboration, “ABBA is legendary! Their songs are hook machines, and recutting this song with Bruno was so fun. Aaron did all the heavy lifting, so all I had to do was sing.”

The first official offering from the project, a powerful reimagining of Scorpion’s “Wind of Change,” featuring Portugal. The Man and Brandon Boyd of Incubus, has earned millions of streams since its release in January. John Gourley, frontman of Portugal. The Man said of the collaboration, This song marks a very significant point in my childhood. My dad pulled me to the TV in 1989 to watch the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was the first time I truly became aware of the world around me. We wrote a song about that experience called ‘1989’ Like many others, ‘Wind Of Change’ sticks to that memory for me.”

Boyd added, “This track has been drifting around in my headspace since I first heard it as a kid in the 1990s. It never occurred to me that it would be a great song to cover until Aaron suggested it for his project. The deal was doubly sweetened when he told me John from Portugal. The Man would be joining us as well. I’m thrilled to be part of it!”

In their exclusive reveal of the album’s title and release date, Billboard spoke with Bruno about his core mission for this collection of songs and collaborations: to illustrate the healing benefits music brings and the power of connection within the artist community. Bruno explores mental health through a personal conversation with fellow musician Elohim in collaboration with The Jed Foundation (JED), a leading mental health nonprofit. The conversation, to be held this month, is part of Bruno’s ongoing commitment to raising awareness for mental health through the album’s release. Bruno is also making a generous donation to JED’s mental health awareness efforts.

Since then, the band has released two additional tracks from the project. “Beds are Burning (Featuring Tim McIlrath of Rise Against)” gives a futuristic, raw, and gritty twist to the 1987 Midnight Oil classic. McIlrath said of the collaboration, “When I met Aaron years ago at one of our shows at the Coliseum in L.A., he disclosed his past time spent in hardcore bands, and we bonded over that. I’ve always been a fan of his, both as a person and his music, so it was an easy decision to guest on his version of Midnight Oil’s ‘Beds Are Burning.’ It didn’t hurt that I also love the song and all it stands for. I’m really impressed with the ways in which he made it his own because it’s not an easy song to reimagine.”

Originally recorded by Midnight Oil, drummer Rob Hirst gave their stamp of approval, 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!”

And then last month saw the release of an infectious cover of Madonna’s classic “Material Girl,” along with Taylor Hanson of pop music sensation Hanson. Taylor Hanson added, “My first introduction to the project was simply the idea of working on an unexpected cover song, and a project that would have many different collaborators as a part of it, and that had my interest. The song ‘Material Girl’ was surprising on several levels, because it’s a song I would never expect either AWOLNATION or HANSON to cover. I loved the challenge of covering the song and staying true to the composition, while giving an authentic interpretation that I was proud of. I think the combination of the track Aaron built and the vocal arrangement I was able to contribute is a dynamic combination.”

To follow the covers project, AWOLNATION is currently working on a new album with original music, after most recently celebrating the 10th anniversary celebration of the group’s platinum debut album Megalithic Symphony, which spawned the rare DIAMOND-certified “Sail”, and releasing their 2020 album ANGEL MINERS & THE LIGHTNING RIDERS. Featuring the hit single “The Best” and collaborations with Rivers Cuomo of Weezer and Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, ANGEL MINERS was the band’s first album after signing to Better Noise Music and was praised by both critics and fans upon release.

MY ECHO, MY SHADOW, MY COVERS AND ME Tracklisting

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)

AWOLNATION frontman and founder Aaron Bruno on the album tracks and his collaborators.

“Beds Are Burning (featuring Tim McIlrath of Rise Against)” – “Ever since I was much younger, I would sing along to this song. 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.”
“Eye in the Sky (featuring Beck)” – “This song from 40 years ago feels very relevant to today. More and more with new technologies, we are being watched at all times it feels like. Beck is definitely a major influence for me as an artist and songwriter, so the fact that he joined me on the song is very special to me. His album Sea Change helped me through a serious breakup haha, and I covered one of his songs from that album called Guess I’m Doing Fine in 2020 and that’s actually how we met.”
“Take A Chance On Me (featuring Jewel)” – “ABBA and Jewel. What more can I say? The importance and impact of ABBA’s music can’t be overstated and now they’ve released new music for the first time in four decades, and got a Grammy nomination! I still can’t believe Jewel agreed to perform on this song with me. She took a chance on me!”
“Maniac (featuring Conor Mason of Nothing But Thieves)” – “While this is a massive pop song that almost everyone in the world probably knows, the chords are actually extremely complicated and unique. I met Conor from Nothing But Thieves on tour some years back. He has such a commanding and sensitive voice, I knew this song was perfect for him to join me on.”
“Just a Friend (featuring Hyro The Hero)” – “I did this song before the devastating passing of Mr. Biz Markie, and of course was left with sadness upon learning the news. This was one of the early smash hits of hip-hop before it busted wide open into the mainstream as we know it today. I used to sneak into my older brother’s room to listen to this record all the time. My buddy Hyro The Hero agreed to do his best tribute on this cover. RIP Biz Markie.”
“Material Girl (featuring Taylor Hanson of Hanson)” – “Taylor Hanson is a very very good singer. And an amazingly kind person. I asked him to try Material Girl, and he was definitely thrown off by it at first, haha, but I am so happy I convinced him to do it!”
“Wind of Change (featuring Brandon Boyd of Incubus & Portugal The Man)” – “I’ve known Brandon for a while and he’s been good to me over the years of being in this industry. The guys from Portugal the Man feel like brothers from a hardcore band we would be in in another lifetime. This is such a massive song that I thought I’d swing for the fences.”
“Waiting Room (featuring Grouplove)” – “Covering Fugazi is blasphemy, I know… But I just had to do it, and Grouplove was crazy enough to join me. It was either this, or Minor Threat “Straight Edge.”
“Drive” – “I recorded this song a while ago, long before the recent passing of Ric Ocasek, but it’s now a nice way to honor him and what an amazing songwriter, artist and producer he was as well. It’s a song that has always just crushed me when it came on, and it’s one that I’ve had in my head for a long time that I would cover some day. It has a little bit of an 80’s/90’s hip hop beat in it as well, which is fun and that’s an era of hip hop I grew up on and love. So it’s really just me putting my own little spin on a song I always loved, and also paying respect to Ric, Benjamin Orr and The Cars.”
“Flagpole Sitta (featuring Elohim)” – “This song directly tackles mental health and it was Elohim’s idea originally. She is very knowledgeable and passionate about mental health awareness and advocacy, and she is one of my best friends.”
“Alone Again (featuring Midland)” – “This is one of the saddest songs ever written. Years ago the guys in Midland and I were couch surfing in LA together. We were all completely broke and damaged goods in our creative pursuits. It seemed fitting to finish the album with this song back together. A song about ending up alone … naturally”

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

###

ABOUT AWOLNATION

Since its formation by multi-talented musician and songwriter Aaron Bruno in 2010, AWOLNATION has redefined alternative music. With multiple radio hits at the alternative format, including 8 Top Fives and 2 Number Ones, the act has inarguably already made a permanent mark, not just in their genre, but across modern music. Most notably, the chart-topping, record-breaking, diamond-certified track “Sail” created a reference soundscape for a myriad of hits in the last decade. That song launched a career that already spans four albums. Megalithic Symphony, the platinum debut LP that also produced the gold certified “Not Your Fault” and two other Top 10 US singles. Sophomore album Run arrived in 2015, and the follow-up, Here Come The Runts, came in 2018. Then entering a creative partnership with current label Better Noise music, the band’s fourth full-length album, ANGEL MINERS & THE LIGHTNING RIDERS, featuring the hit single “The Best,” was released on April 24, 2020, and features collaborations with Rivers Cuomo of Weezer and Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. In their positive review of the project, AllMusic calls it, “an energetic, fun, and compulsively listenable set that distills the best of what AWOLNATION can do: making pop-savvy, dance-friendly, alternative rock anthems that are not bound to traditional genre conventions.”

That boundary breaking of genres continued in Bruno’s creative calling, even more so as the world shut down in 2020. While quarantining, Bruno had the idea to celebrate music unapologetically with a team of talented friends – new and old. The result is the upcoming album My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers and Me, a collection of unexpected yet passionately crafted covers and collaborations. Launched with the first single in January 2022, a powerful rendition of “Winds of Change,” featuring Portugal the Man and Brandon Boyd of Incubus, the project offers a sonic experience that takes listeners inward on a retrospective journey and outward on a collective celebration. The homage paid to each song’s original artist is just as fun to dive into as the mutual respect heard in every note from both AWOLNATION and guests.

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.

###

MEDIA CONTACT
SRO
Kelly Walsh | kwalsh@sropr.com
Mitch Schneider | mschneider@sropr.com

Better Noise Music | Eliana Nunez | eliana@betternoise.com

May 2, 2022

AWOLNATION Announce “Falling Forward” U.S. Tour (10/6-11/18) with Special Guests Badflower and The Mysterines

DT: MAY 2, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH, MITCH SCHNEIDER/SRO PR

AWOLNATION
ANNOUNCE “FALLING FORWARD” U.S. TOUR
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS BADFLOWER
AND OPENING ACT THE MYSTERINES
OCTOBER 6–NOVEMBER 18

TICKETS ON-SALE FRIDAY, MAY 6 AT 10AM (LOCAL)
FAN PRE-SALE STARTING TUESDAY, MAY 3 @ 10AM (LOCAL)

NEW COVERS AND COLLABORATIONS ALBUM,
‘MY ECHO, MY SHADOW, MY COVERS AND ME,’
OUT FRIDAY;PRE-SAVE HERE

Catch diamond-selling alternative outfit AWOLNATION on a headlining tour this fall across the U.S. with special guests Badflower and support from British alternative rockers The Mysterines. The “Falling Forward” tour kicks off October 6 in Salt Lake City, UT and includes stops in NYC, LA and Austin before wrapping November 18 in Seattle, WA. A full list of dates is below.

Tickets will go on sale to the public Friday, May 6 at 10am local time at this location: https://www.awolnationmusic.com/. A fan club exclusive presale will run starting at 10am local time on Tuesday, May 3 to Thursday, May 5.

The on-sale date coincides with the release of AWOLNATION’s new covers and compilations album, MY ECHO, MY SHADOW, MY COVERS AND ME, via Better Noise Music. Featuring collaborations with Beck, Jewel, Portugal. The Man, Taylor Hanson of Hanson, Brandon Boyd of Incubus and more, the album was conceived by AWOLNATION mastermind Aaron Bruno as a way of escaping the reality of 2020 and to act as “a palate cleanser for releasing new, original music,” according to Bruno in a recent interview with Billboard.

Three cover tracks have been shared in advance of its release along with corresponding music videos including Scorpions’ “Wind of Change” featuring Portugal.The Man and Brandon Boyd of Incubus; Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning” featuring Tim McIlrath of Rise Against; and Madonna’s “Material Girl” featuring Taylor Hanson of Hanson.

Pre-order/pre-save MY ECHO, MY SHADOW, MY COVERS AND ME now at https://ffm.bio/awolnation.

AARON BRUNO (AWOLNATION) PHOTOS
(Credit: Kari Rowe)

AWOLNATION “Falling Forward” Tour Dates:
Thursday, October 6 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex – Rockwell
Friday, October 7 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
Saturday, October 8 – Omaha, NE @ Barnato
Monday, October 10 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore
Tuesday, October 11 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
Thursday, October 13 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
Friday, October 14 – Columbus, OH @ KEMBA Live! Indoor Pavilion
Saturday, October 15 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
Sunday, October 16 – Newport, KY @ PromoWest Pavilion at OVATION
Tuesday, October 18 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
Wednesday, October 19 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater
Friday, October 21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
Saturday, October 22 – New York, NY @ The Rooftop at Pier 17
Sunday, October 23 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
Tuesday, October 25 – Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore
Wednesday, October 26 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
Friday, October 28 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
Saturday, October 29 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
Monday, October 31 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl Nashville
Wednesday, November 2 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
Friday, November 4 – Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
Saturday, November 5 – Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom
Sunday, November 6 – Austin, TX Stubb’s @ Waller Creek Amphitheater
Tuesday, November 8 – Albuquerque, NM @ Revel
Wednesday, November 9 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
Friday, November 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
Saturday, November 12 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas
Sunday, November 13 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
Wednesday, November 16 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
Friday, November 18 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre

###

ABOUT AWOLNATION

ABOUT BETTER NOISE MUSIC

###

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

April 29, 2022

Grammy-nominated Rock Act NOTHING MORE Release New Rock Radio Single + Music Video “Tired Of Winning”

DT: APRIL 29, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH, MITCH SCHNEIDER/ SRO PR

GRAMMY-NOMINATED ROCK ACT NOTHING MORE RELEASE “TIRED OF WINNING,” FIRST OFFICIAL RADIO SINGLE FROM THEIR UPCOMING STUDIO ALBUM
LISTEN NOW | WATCH MUSIC VIDEO

Follows Release of Last Month’s “TURN IT UP LIKE”
LISTEN NOW & WATCH MUSIC VIDEO

DOWNLOAD COVER ART DOWNLOAD BAND PHOTO (Credit: Jody Domingue)

Track Comes ahead of NOTHING MORE’s Co-Headlining U.S. Tour with Asking Alexandria Next Month – GET TICKETS

“One of the most energetic live acts on the rock circuit” – BILLBOARD

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 29, 2022 – Today, Multi-GRAMMY-nominated rock act NOTHING MORE released their new single “TIRED OF WINNING” via Better Noise Music, which serves as the first official radio single from their long-awaited new studio album. The song is a high-energy rock anthem unapologetically confronting the state of humanity with lyrics like “ So will we steer this ship straight through the void / Or turn on ourselves and die out/ Are you tired of winning? / Cuz it’s already over.” “TIRED OF WINNING” is now available to download or stream across platforms HERE. The official music video for the track also premiered today, giving fans thought-provoking, sci-fi inspired visuals that amplify the poignant lyrics. WATCH HERE.

For more background on “TIRED OF WINNING,” the band’s frontman Jonny Hawkins gives context behind the song’s origin in the below Q&A.

Last month, the band gave fans the first official preview of the new album by dropping a new song and music video titled “TURN IT UP LIKE (Stand in the Fire).” Co-written by all four band members, the song is a sonic rejection of the divisive, digitally-drowned state of the world with lyrics like: “All my friends are dead / They all got fucked by the internet / All my friends are dead / Our brain’s bein’ bugged by the media.” Billboard gave an exclusive look at the music video, including some statements from Hawkins. He said, “Something we’ve always pushed for as a band is to question everything. And I think we’ve just gone through a period where it had been unfashionable to question things. Because if you did, you were the pariah, you were the outcast, the other. For the last few years, I’ve felt like an animal in a cage, just pacing, and my teeth are showing more. I had nowhere to vent that rage and that frustration until we put it into this song. I think a lot of people feel this way. You saw it spill over into riots and protests. There’s all this stuff just pent up inside people. Thankfully, we’re going back out on the road soon, so I’ll have somewhere to put it.”

The forthcoming album is the highly anticipated follow-up to the band’s 2017 album The Stories We Tell Ourselves, which earned them three GRAMMY nominations, including Best Rock Album, and Best Rock Song and Best Rock Recording for the single “Go To War.”

Fans will be able to hear the new music live on the band’s recently announced co-headlining U.S. tour this spring, with Better Noise Music label mates Asking Alexandria, with support from Atreyu and Eva Under Fire . The tour is set to kick off in Kansas City, MO on May 13 and end in Houston, TX on June 19, with other stops planned in Nashville, Denver, Atlanta, New Orleans, and more – see full list of dates below. Tickets, VIP Meet & Greets and additional information are available at: http://nothingmore.net/

JONNY HAWKINS on “TIRED OF WINNING”

Q: “TIRED OF WINNING” is a compelling song with lyrics that underline the very precarious position that humankind is in right now: “So will we steer this ship straight through the void/ Or turn on ourselves and die out?” What inspired the song and how it mocks the phrase “winning”?

A: We find ourselves in the same position humanity has found itself over and over again… at the end of a series of self made problems. When we wake up to this, we realize that we are our own worst enemy, yet we focus so much of our energy on externalizing our problems. This song is a bird’s eye view of human nature.

Q: Vocally, the performance is stadium-size and intimate all at once, putting across the urgency of the song’s lyrics. What was going through your mind as you sang with this level of intensity? How will you translate this message into your live performance?

A: This may sound a bit lofty, but when I sing this song I feel as if the entire universe is coursing through my veins. I get goosebumps because I feel in line with something I can’t quite describe… like an old familiar spirit shows up.

Q: The song ends with the lines: “Are we going to live this life?” How do you feel we as a people got it all wrong–and where do you think we might all be headed?

A: I think we all tend to lose the meaning in life by hyper focusing on it and romanticizing it. It’s a paradox… It’s like trying to grasp water in your hand; the tighter you hold, the less you have. The more weight you put on the “meaning” of your life, the less you feel connected to it. The purpose of life might be as simple as life itself… nothing more, nothing less.

Q: Musically, the song is very intense with unique sounds + a jarring rhythm that underline the chaos of this moment we are living in. Can you talk about the recording of the song and how you wanted it to sonically capture the song’s theme?

A: We wanted it to sound like aliens had a baby with a 90’s rock band. That baby grew up, dropped out of college and made our music video.

NOTHING MORE Spring U.S. Tour Dates (with Asking Alexandria):

May 13 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
May 14 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
May 15 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
May 17 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
May 18 – New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore New Orleans
May 20 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company
May 21 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville*
May 23 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE*
May 24 – Rochester, NY – Main Street Armory*
May 25 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
May 27 – Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater
May 28 – Wallingford, CT – The Dome at Oakdale
May 29 – Reading, PA – Theatre at Santander Arena*
May 31 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center
June 1 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
June 3 – Chicago, IL – The Riviera*
June 4 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room @ Old National Centre
June 5 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theater*
June 7 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit
June 8 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
June 9 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
June 12 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
June 13 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
June 15 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
June 16 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
June 18 – San Antoni, TX – Tech Port Center + Arena
June 19 – Houston, TX – House of Blues

###

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.

CONNECT WITH NOTHING MORE
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok

ABOUT BETTER NOISE MUSIC

April 26, 2022

Top 10 Places to See Live Music in Phoenix, AZ

In October of 2021, I became one of many California transplants to join the California pandemic exodus, ending up a six-hour drive southeast to the hot, dry and vast desert valleys of Phoenix, AZ. Having spent over 11 years living in the entertainment capital of the West coast, I was a bit worried I wouldn’t have as much to do, but to the contrary—over the past seven months I’ve gone to more events and shows than I had previously in L.A. As I continue to explore my new city, I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite places–obvious and not so obvious–to see live music in the budding city so far.

Top 10 Places to See Live Music in Phoenix, AZ

1. The Van Buren (https://www.thevanburenphx.com) is my hands-down favorite venue in town to catch a show. With a spacious outdoor bar/lounge and theatre-style open floor plan, there’s no ‘bad view’ in the house and even for packed shows, it’s pretty easy to slide your way to the front. They also have one of the coolest backstage ‘green rooms’ that I’ve experienced, including an entire wall of books for artists to peruse.
2. Boondocks (Tempe) (https://tempe.boondocksaz.com/) is a brand new sports bar/venue that is bringing live entertainment back to Tempe. With an assortment of cover bands, like Gail & The Night Owls, and up-and coming acts, you can grab some standard fare bar food and watch a Suns game then stay for the music. Did I mention they have a reverse happy hour during the week too?
3. Old Town Tavern (https://www.oldtowntavernaz.com) is a local’s favorite bar in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. Located adjacent to the Scottsdale Civic Center Park, the small two-level bar with open air seating and an outdoor patio has live acoustic music every night of the week from an array of local musicians ranging from classic rock and blues to country and singer-songwriter. A few Gin Blossoms members have been known to drop in for a surprise set on occasion.
4. Tempe Marketplace (https://tempemarketplace.com/concerts/) is an open-air shopping center with over 100 retail stores and restaurants with an outdoor stage area in the center. They often host free shows throughout the year featuring national and local acts. Most recently Escape the Fate and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus took part in their Rock It Up Spring Concert series.
5. Frasher’s Tavern (https://www.frasherstavern.com/) is not only the best place to get a steak in Scottsdale, but also hosts intimate acoustic shows on occasions. SRO clients, The Black Moods, have performed here for the release of their “Sunshine” wine which the restaurant paired with a set dinner menu and a signed bottle.
6. Rebel Lounge (https://therebellounge.com/) is one of my favorite places to see a rock/punk show in Phoenix. If you’re looking for a sweaty, headbanging and mosh-friendly venue, look no further.
7. Coach House (https://www.coachhousescottsdale.com/) is the oldest dive bar in Scottsdale. It’s adorned with colored lightbulbs (wrapped around the inside and outside of the open-air building), wrapping paper and tinsel. Open only at night, it’s impossible to miss.
8. Yucca Tap Room (http://www.yuccatap.com/) is the oldest venue in Tempe and located in the middle of a strip mall plaza that looks vacated minus a few random businesses and a weed shop. An intimate venue with a spacious dance floor with a full arcade attached and a Tiki speakeasy! Play some Iron Maiden or Rush pinball before catching a touring or local act and make sure to head to the bar for an extensive craft beer selection.
9. Chars Live Music (https://charslive.com) is the revamped and rebranded venue formerly known Char’s Has The Blues, an r&b, jazz and soul nightclub. A great spot for a date night, they have amazing specialty cocktails served in a dark-lit ambience. They’ve expanded genres so you can also catch a DJ or drag show now.
10. Rusty Spur Saloon (https://rustyspursaloon.com) is a country western dive bar, if you couldn’t tell by the name. It’s randomly popular with celebrities and has served everyone from John Wayne and Clint Eastwood to Jennifer Aniston and even Post Malone. They have music seven days a week and with an 80-person capacity it quickly fills up on the weekends.

April 26, 2022

SRO Promotes Kelly Walsh to VP, Announces Launch of Phoenix, AZ Office

DT: APRIL 26, 2022
FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER, MARCEE RONDAN / SRO PR

KELLY WALSH
PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT
AT SCHNEIDER RONDAN ORGANIZATION
(SRO PR)

MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT & EVENT PR FIRM ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF PHOENIX, AZ OFFICE

Photo Credit: Zack Whitford;
Jewelry by SRO client, Heart Of Bone

KELLY WALSH, Account Executive and Tour Publicist at SCHNEIDER RONDAN ORGANIZATION (SRO PR), has been promoted to Vice President effective immediately, it was announced today by the company’s Founder/Partner Mitch Schneider and Partner Marcee Rondan. SRO PR has also revealed the opening of a Phoenix, AZ office; this expansion adds a fourth city to SRO’s footprint which includes their Los Angeles headquarters and Las Vegas and Nashville offices. The Phoenix expansion will be overseen by WALSH, who relocated to Scottsdale, AZ in late 2021 following her previous 12-year residence in Los Angeles.

WALSH’s current roster at SRO includes Nothing More, The HU, The Verve Pipe, The Jack Kerouac Estate, Butcher Babies, The Black Moods, Redlight King, Osaka Popstar, Capital Theatre, Pistols At Dawn, The Nocturnal Affair, J.D. Huggins, Cold Kingdom, The Sweet Things, Velvet Chains and Dimestore Dolls.

“We feel the promotion of Kelly to Vice President is another important moment in the history of the company,” says Mitch Schneider. “From the beginning, as an Account Executive and Tour Publicist, she brought a level of expertise in PR, social media and marketing that was instantly impressive. It is why she has resonated with our artists and the media. Add in her excellent and wide-ranging taste in music—which has enhanced the company’s edge–and you have a really winning combination.”

“Kelly has worked diligently while at SRO and that dedication has earned her this promotion,” says Rondan. “Her move to Phoenix–and working in and exploring opportunities in that market–will afford us additional prospects in continuing to grow the company.”

WALSH began at SRO PR in 2018 as National and Tour Publicist before advancing to the position of Account Executive a year later in 2019. Over the past four years, WALSH has brought her forward-thinking and strategic publicity and marketing skills to campaigns for an array of diverse clients including Godsmack, Papa Roach, Pop Evil, Tash Sultana, Wardruna, In Hearts Wake, Hilltop Hoods, Brad Arnold (3 Doors Down), Gilby Clarke, Ice Nine Kills, Amigo The Devil, Hyro The Hero, Manda Mosher and Jason Charles Miller and many more. She has also coordinated PR for events including Mike Tyson’s KIND Festival and continues to work alongside Rondan and Schneider on the annual Above Ground benefit concerts led by Dave Navarro and Billy Morrison. WALSH has also lent her knowledge and skills to campaigns for varied companies such as Australian lifestyle & jewelry brand Heart of Bone, rock’n’roll and celebrity clothing brand Junker Designs, The Dead Daisies’ limited horror series Welcome to Daisyland (via ScreamboxTV) and, alongside Schneider on the non-profit live music advocacy organization NITO and D2C music sales app SINGLE MUSIC.

WALSH was born and raised in Medina, NY and moved to Los Angeles in 2009 to pursue a career in the music industry after spending a year abroad in London, UK studying Shakespeare and Creative Literature. For nearly the next decade, she developed her career in music and entertainment publicity with in-house positions at labels including Century Media/SONY and Prosthetic Records along with working independently and with various boutique PR and management firms on national campaigns for a diverse range of artists including Marty Friedman, Arch Enemy, Animals As Leader, Skeletonwitch, Body Count and Scale The Summit, events such as Chris Hardwick‘s Id10t Music Festival And Comic Con-ival and ALT 98.7’s Big Adventure Festival, and on campaigns for artist-exclusive craft beer collaborations including Pennywise’s “Pennywiser” IPA (Lost Coast Brewery) and Prosthetic Record’s “Blood Junkie” IPA (Three Weavers Brewing Company).

About SRO:

SRO PR maintains offices in Los Angeles, Nashville, Las Vegas and now Phoenix headed by Marcee Rondan, Lyndie Wenner, Mitch Schneider and Kelly Walsh, respectively. With its iconic and cutting-edge artist roster–and its representation of internationally heralded music festivals, tours, events and companies–the company has the eyes and ears of America’s exuberant music fans. It has been hailed as a “bonafide taste maker” (L.A. Weekly, 2010) and by Music Connection (2019) as “one of the world’s premier public relations firms… [the] roster is eclectic and encompassing. It includes various styles and genres, superstars, musical legends, festivals, award shows and emerging artists. That diversity enables…[the company]…to obtain coverage in multiple outlets and mediums, from underground to mainstream.” The company began as MSO in 1995 and rebranded as SRO, reflecting Rondan’s promotion to partner, in 2019. It marked its 25^th year in 2020.

CONNECT WITH SRO
Website | FB | IG | Twitter

(Walsh pictured above at Coachella (April 15, 2022) with SRO clients THE HU alongside their producer Dashka and their entertainment lawyer Eric German and his wife Laura.)

Contact Info:
Kelly Walsh
kwalsh@sropr.com
585-765-5162

April 13, 2022

Anime-Punk Rock Collective OSAKA POPSTAR Announce ‘EAR CANDY’ Due May 6 Via MISFITS RECORDS

DT: APRIL 13, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH, SRO PR

ANIME-PUNK ROCK COLLECTIVE
OSAKA POPSTAR
ANNOUNCE NEW RELEASE
‘EAR CANDY’
DUE MAY 6 VIA MISFITS RECORDS

EXPANDED & REMASTERED DELUXE EDITION OF DEBUT ALBUM
‘OSAKA POPSTAR AND THE AMERICAN LEGENDS OF PUNK’
NOW AVAILABLE FOR FIRST-TIME ON VINYL

Cover Artwork by Josh Howard (Dead@17)

Pop culture and punk rock fans rejoice! The anime-meets-NY punk rock collective OSAKA POPSTAR have returned with a second serving of “deeply infectious pop punk” (AMP) on their upcoming May 6 release, EAR CANDY via Misfits Records in association with Demented Punk. Fronted and produced by longtime Misfits and Ramones collaborator John Cafiero (vocals), OSAKA POPSTAR is backed by a revolving line-up of noteworthy punk musicians who deliver crunchy riffs and power pop melodies. EAR CANDY highlights the band’s sweet new original single “Lost And Found” and also brings new energy to classic confectionery singles including The Archies’ “Sugar, Sugar,” The Partridge Family’s “I Think I Love You,” and The Monkees’ “All Of Your Toys.”

EAR CANDY was recorded with Dean Rispler (The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black) on guitar and bass and Jon Wurster (Superchunk, The Mountain Goats, Bob Mould) on drums and features guest backing vocals from indie rocker Colleen Green. It will be made available digitally as well as on CD and Limited-Edition candy swirl ‘bite’ vinyl, which can be seen included in the cover artwork (pictured above) illustrated by Josh Howard (Dead@17 comics). The vinyl and CD versions will also include a download card with MP3s plus a digital full-color 32-page variant first issue of the upcoming “Sweetie Candy Vigilante” comic book available exclusively with the EAR CANDY release.

Pre-order EAR CANDY on CD +/or LP now at: store.osakapopstar.com

It also includes a previously unreleased studio version of OSAKA POPSTAR’s cover of Ramones’ “Beat On The Brat”—which is currently in rotation on SiriusXM’s ‘Faction Punk’ station—and was recorded with Cafiero on vocals, Rispler on guitars, Sal Maida (Sparks) on bass and Dennis Diken (The Smithereens) on drums.

The band teamed up with Grammy Award-winning artist “Weird Al” Yankovic for Record Store Day Black Friday 2021 to release a “blistering, accordion-tinged cover” (Rolling Stone) exclusive 12-inch split, BEAT ON THE BRAT which immediately sold out and was listed as one of the Top 5 and Top 10 Record Store Day releases across several notable media outlets including iHeart Radio News. It included a studio version of “Beat On The Brat” recorded with “Weird Al” on vocals and accordion backed by Osaka Popstar in addition to two previously unreleased live tracks (“Beat On The Brat” and “I Wanna Be Sedated”) performed by “Weird Al” and his band on the “Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill Advised Vanity Tour.” Its flip side includes Osaka Popstar’s own studio version of “Beat On The Brat,” featured on the aforementioned expanded release, along with three other live versions exclusively released on vinyl performed by the band. “How could I not contribute to this project,” says “Weird Al.” “I love punk music…I selected ‘Beat on the Brat’ by the Ramones, because I truly believe it’s the most upbeat, danceable song about child abuse ever written.”

Grab a copy of OSAKA POPSTAR AND THE AMERICAN LEGENDS OF PUNK (EXPANDED EDITION) on CD or 180-gram vinyl here: https://store.osakapopstar.com.

Get an in-depth look at the world of OSAKA POPSTAR with a special animated trailer for their expanded release below starring their ‘Crunchy Crossbones’ mascot voiced by Roger L. Jackson, best known as the voice of Mojo Jojo (“Powderpuff Girls”) and Ghostface (“Scream”).

Find all things OSAKA POPSTAR online at:
https://osakapopstar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/OsakaPopstar/
https://twitter.com/osakapopstar
https://www.instagram.com/osakapopstar/

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For publicity inquiries or advance review requests, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com

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