Press Releases Archives - Page 114 of 153

May 20, 2021

NICK PERRI & THE UNDERGROUND THIEVES: Team Up With Gibson And Sweetwater Sound To Give Away 100,000 Free Digital Copies Of Their Debut Album ‘SUN VIA’—Band Shares New Single And Video

DATE: MAY 20, 2020

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/SRO PR

NICK PERRI & THE UNDERGROUND THIEVES:
TEAM UP WITH GIBSON AND SWEETWATER SOUND
TO GIVE AWAY 100,000 FREE DIGITAL COPIES
OF THEIR DEBUT ALBUM ‘SUN VIA’ HERE

WATCH AND SHARE VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE
“I WANT YOU”
VIA AMERICAN SONGWRITER.COM HERE

CO-HEADLINE TOUR WITH RICK NIELSEN OF CHEAP TRICK
TO KICK-OFF JUNE 3-22
PLUS, DATES WITH BLACKBERRY SMOKE

AND A JULY HEADLINE RESIDENCY
AT THE ARDMORE MUSIC HALL
IN THEIR PHILADELPHIA HOMETOWN

NICK PERRI & THE UNDERGROUND THIEVES are following the success of their debut single “Feeling Good” (which peaked at #45 on U.S. rock radio chart) with today’s release of the second single and video, “I Want You.” Coming off a round of tour dates with Blackberry Smoke (April 27-May 2), the buzzed-about Philadelphia-based soulful rock band noted for their powerhouse live shows have also announced a co-headline tour June 3-22 with Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick plus dates with Blackberry Smoke (6/25-7/1) and a month-long headline residency at The Ardmore Music Hall in their hometown in July (8,15,22.29).

NICK has also teamed up with Gibson and Sweetwater Sound to give away 100,000 free digital copies of his debut LP SUN VIA. The album giveaway is being hosted on NICK’s website and includes a download of album artwork. Says NICK: “The ultimate goal is for people to hear and enjoy the music…always. I’m very grateful to be teaming up with Gibson and Sweetwater to do this and share the album experience with as many people as possible. Although there are different moods and narratives throughout the record, I believe the takeaway message is one of hope, love, and good vibes. So yeah, let’s share it!”

Watch and share the new performance video and interview with Nick Perri and Mitch Gallagher of Sweetwater Sound for Tones & Techniques, out today, here. Nick plays through some riffs off his new album SUN VIA and takes viewers on a deep dive into all the trusted gear he uses on tour and in the studio.

Listen to the new single “I Want You” from their current debut album SUN VIA here and watch the new video premiering today, via AmericanSongwriter.com here.

The “I Want You” video was filmed in one continuous take (like the clip for “Feeling Good”) and co-directed (with Ari Halbkram and Derek Brad) by singer, songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire NICK PERRI. “I’ve always been a fan of that style of filming. I dig the foresight and preparation it takes, and it makes the shoot a performance in its own right,” he says. “Everything has to hit on cue. It’s challenging sure, but super fun. And…way less work in post.”

The video was filmed in Philadelphia and underlines their love for the city. Explains NICK: “Well I grew here so it’s hard to imagine life without the influence of the city, but after living in California for quite a number of years, it’s so incredible to be back. It was an obvious choice for me and the team, and the entire video is shot on the grounds of the Philadelphia Art Museum made world famous by Rocky. Philadelphia is a beautiful, and tough, city. It’s rich in history, but people keep it real. It’s a place that keeps you humble, and honest. And then there are the cheesesteaks.”

“I Want You,” written with NICK’s bandmates Anthony Montesano and Michael Montesano, has a big sound with driving acoustic guitars, merged with electric guitars and keyboards. “To be honest,” shares NICK, it’s my favorite song on the LP and probably my favorite that I’ve ever written. It was one of those that just came to me in a very organic and natural way. My bandmates Michael and Anthony helped me fine tune it and from the moment it was complete it’s just always given me a certain warm feeling. And to me that’s what all my favorite music does–it encapsulates us with feelings and memories and hopefully, joy.” **Read the full Q&A below. **

A person playing a guitar

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Photo credit: Austin Nelson

Q&A with NICK PERRI

For the “I Want You” video, you opted for one continuous take like your video for “Feeling Good.” This particular style definitely keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat and engaged. As the artist and co-director (with Ari Halbkram and Derek Brad), can you give your thoughts about this?

NICK PERRI: I’ve always been a fan of that style of filming. I dig the foresight and preparation it takes, and it makes the shoot a performance in its own right. Everything has to hit on cue. It’s challenging sure, but super fun. And…way less work in post.

The video was shot in your Philadelphia hometown. Which locations did you use and tell us about your love for Philly?

NICK: Well, I grew up here so it’s hard to imagine life without the influence of the city, but after living in California for quite a number of years, it’s so incredible to be back. It was an obvious choice for me and the team, and the entire video is shot on the grounds of the Philadelphia Art Museum made world famous by Rocky. Philadelphia is a beautiful, and tough, city. It’s rich in history, but people keep it real. It’s a place that keeps you humble, and honest. And then there are the cheesesteaks.

“I Want You” marks the second single and video from your debut full-length album Sun Via with The Underground Thieves. The song has a really cool big sound with those driving acoustic guitars, merged with electric guitars and keyboards. What inspired the song (which you wrote with Anthony Montesano and Michael Montesano) sonically and lyrically?

NICK: To be honest, it’s my favorite song on the LP and probably my favorite that I’ve ever written. It was one of those that just came to me in a very organic and natural way. My bandmates Michael and Anthony helped me fine tune it and from the moment it was complete it’s just always given me a certain warm feeling. And to me that’s what all my favorite music does–it encapsulates us with feelings and memories and hopefully, joy.

Can you talk about your relationship with Gibson, whom will be supporting the “I Want You” video through their social channels?

NICK: My first nice guitar was a Gibson SG, just like my first guitar hero Angus Young. From then on, Gibson has been ‘my brand.’ After all these years to be working so closely with the company and have them behind my artistic endeavors, is just so wonderful and I am extremely grateful.

You’re coming off a round of tour dates with your friends in Blackberry Smoke and a June co-headline tour with Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick—which must be such a relief for you since artists have been hemmed in by the pandemic. You and your band are a true rock group that thrives on playing live. Tell us your thoughts about being back on the road in the era of Covid?

NICK: Well of course it’s exciting, but I think it’s deeper than that on our end as artists, and the other end as fans. I think what we all miss most is that shared experience, a communion, if you will. It’s how we connect as people to each other. That’s the biggest missing piece since Covid has come around. Needless to say, we’re ready to break down that wall and revel in live music, big time.

Rick Nielsen is one of the true rock & roll greats. Did his guitar work and the songs of Cheap Trick inspire you and how so?

NICK: YESSS! Big time. Rick is a songwriting and guitar playing genius, and I don’t say that lightly. He is a true living legend who continues to inspire, and it’s going to be tremendous fun to link up with him this summer. I regularly spin Heaven Tonight, Dream Police, and Live At Budokan on vinyl. The songwriting and attitude are just next level. Pure American rock and roll!

Your itinerary also lists four shows, a weekly residency, throughout July at the Ardmore Music Hall in Philly. Can you talk about why you’re doing this?

NICK: Philadelphia is our hometown, and we haven’t done a public show since 2019 with The Struts. That was just before NYE and Covid. We wanted to do something bigger than just a one-off show, and I grew up doing a Thursday night residency down on South Street in the early 2000’s, so it just felt fitting. All four shows will be a little different and we have some special stuff planned, so we are greatly looking forward to those events. Also, The Ardmore Music Hall is an incredible live venue–the room sounds amazing, the stage is great, and the staff take wonderful care of the artists.

Looking ahead, are you thinking about your next album? Were you able to write songs through lockdown?

NICK: I have written a number of new songs that I really dig, but on the flip side it’s hard to fully comprehend album two when album one is still so fresh, and took such a long time to make. I have a feeling deep down that my next LP will be very special, but I hesitate to put a time stamp on it. I still want more time to explore the sounds and songs floating in the nearby ether.

Here are the current tour dates:

DATE		LOCATION	VENUE
*Coheadlining w/ Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick*
THU	6/3	Davenport, IA	Adler Theater
FRI	6/4	Hamilton, OH	RiversEdge Amphitheater
SAT	6/5	Roanoke, VA	Berglund Center
SUN	6/6	Huntersville, NC	Historic Rural Hill
*TUE	6/8	Macon, GA	Grant’s Lounge
FRI	6/11	Schaumburg, IL	Boomers Stadium
SAT	6/12	Mt. Carrol, IL	Rhythm Section Amphitheater
SUN	6/13	Kansas City, MO	Knuckleheads
TUES	6/15	Nashville, TN	Basement East
THU	6/17	Leesburg, VA	Tally Ho Theatre
SAT	6/19	Bethel, PA	Pat Garrett Amphitheater
SUN	6/20	Annapolis, MD	Ram’s Head On Stage
TUE	6/22	Belle Vernon, PA	Vinoski Winery
*Supporting Blackberry Smoke*
FRI	6/25	Sunbury, PA	Spyglass Ridge Winery
SUN	6/27	Middletown, NY	Orange County Fair Speedway
TUE	6/29	Lafayette, NY	Apple Valley Park
THU	7/1	Lewiston, NY	Artpark
*Headline residency at The Ardmore Music Hall*
THU	7/8	Philadelphia, PA	Ardmore Music Hall
THU	7/15	Philadelphia, PA	Ardmore Music Hall
THU	7/22	Philadelphia, PA	Ardmore Music Hall
THU	7/29	Philadelphia, PA	Ardmore Music Hall
*one-off headline show w/out Nielsen

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

For press inquiries about NICK PERRI & THE UNDERGROUND THIEVES, contact:
Mitch Schneider, SRO PR: mschneider@sropr.com

For Gibson, contact:

PRIME PR GROUP, INC.
Libby Coffey
+1 626-676-4993
LCoffey@primeprgroup.com

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May 13, 2021

JACOB & THE DAZEY CHAIN Releases New Single Rallying “THE KIDS”

DT: MAY 13, 2021

FM: LYNDIE WENNER, SRO PR

JACOB & THE DAZEY CHAIN
RELEASES NEW SINGLE
RALLYING “THE KIDS”
LISTEN HERE TO THIS EMERGING ROCK ARTIST’S
INSPIRED MESSAGE TO YOUTH & GRADUATING STUDENTS
WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO HERE

Description: Macintosh HD:Users:lyndiewenner:Desktop:The Kids Single Art.Jpeg .jpg

“I believe good art challenges people to think, but at the same time
I don’t feel musicians should tell people how to think.” -JRT

“THE KIDS,” the new single written, arranged and produced by artist/guitarist Jacob Reese Thornton of Jacob & The Dazey Chain, has been released today, May 13th, (listen here). The South Florida rock artist performs all instruments on this track except drums, which were laid down by session ace, Lee Levin (whose credits include Barry Gibb, Kelly Clarkson and more).

““The Kids” is a reflection of the world my generation is inheriting–-cynicism and a sense of peril,” says Jacob. “It feels like what I’ve read about the late 1960’s. Music had a huge cultural impact then. It was not disposable and it mattered.” Jacob goes on to say, “At the time I wrote this song, two things were going on really. The anger that came with this country’s last four years of political divide, and the awful school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School here in South Florida–20 minutes from my own high school. It left the entire South Florida community reeling. None of us really felt safe after that, and unfortunately these mass shootings continue. Our grandparents had to worry about a nuclear event and had fallout shelters in their high schools. My generation has to worry about the bullied kid with assault weapons shooting up the school. I thought the students who spoke out after that were very brave–‘no more thoughts and prayers.’” Watch the lyric video for “The Kids” here.

Jacob & The Dazey Chain will release a new single every other month leading up to the release of his forthcoming EP this Fall on his Gratuitous Noise label, which will be available on all streaming platforms. The EP features Rami Jaffee from the Foo Fighters and Bill Reynolds from Band of Horses on two of the tracks (“Traces” and the yet to be announced title track). A limited run of vinyl for this EP will also be made available.

Jacob & The Dazey Chain released the debut single “Traces” this past January receiving nods by Classic Rock Magazine (“Tracks Of The Week”) and garnering spins by industry tastemaker Rodney Bingenheimer on SiriusXM’s Underground Garage and NPR’s KOSU Radio/The Spy FM “New Music Weekly” playlist on Apple Music. Listen to “Traces” here and watch the lyric video here.

Jacob Reese Thornton
Photo: © Gratuitous Noise, LLC

Bio Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter

Press Contact: SRO PR
Lyndie Wenner, lwenner@sropr.com

May 13, 2021

Punk/Alt-Rock Trio KNIFES Announce Second EP, Reveal Lyric Video For Debut Single “Scammers”

DT: MAY 13, 2021

FM: KELLY WALSH, ANDREA FAULK / SRO PR

PUNK/ALT-ROCK TRIO
KNIFES
ANNOUNCE SECOND EP
‘REGRESSION TO THE MEAN’
OUT JUNE 11

SHARE LYRIC VIDEO FOR DEBUT SINGLE
“SCAMMERS”
OUT TOMORROW (MAY 13)
WATCH HERE

BAND FORMED OF TOUR/BACKLINE TECHS FOR TOP ARENA ROCK ACTS

Lineup (l-r): Warren Johnson, Ben Young, Brian Diaz
Photo Credit: Brian Diaz

Prior to the halt of live music due to the pandemic, punk/alt-rock trio KNIFES was formed after members BEN YOUNG (vocals, guitars), BRIAN DIAZ (bass) and WARREN JOHNSON (drums) met while working on tours for some of the world’s biggest rock bands including Linkin Park, Fall Out Boy, Guns N’ Roses, Slipknot, Deftones and Stone Temple Pilots. After YOUNG was asked to fill in for Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson on a series of dates, he started working on his own material and the rest is history. The band are back with their next installment of virulent riffs and contagious melodies on their second EP, REGRESSION TO THE MEAN, scheduled for release on June 11.

Today, Thursday, May 12, KNIFES are premiering the lyric video for the EP’s debut single, “Scammers”—an aggressive ode to ignoring your intuition with instantly catchy riffs and beguiling vocals. The track will be available for streaming on all digital platforms on May 14. Watch the video streaming below and pre-save “Scammers” now at this link: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/knifes1/scammers

“You know that feeling when everything in you is telling you to run away in fear, but you don’t?” questions YOUNG. “That’s what ‘Scammers’ is about, but from the perspective of a gentlemanly serial killer that is full of charm, à la Ted Bundy.”

KNIFES – “Scammers” Lyric Video

REGRESSION TO THE MEAN was self-produced by KNIFES at various locations around Los Angeles and was mixed by Ethan Mates (Linkin Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Korn). The EP stays loyal to the 90s alt-rock influences that KNIFES are known for, continuing to subvert catchy pop melodies with time signature changes and monumental guitar riffs while showcasing a natural evolution into more transgressive themes and new approaches to songwriting. It consists of four original songs and a cover of the P.F. Sloan protest song “Eve of Destruction,” popularized by Barry McGuire.

“Serial killers, cocaine and car crashes,” exclaims YOUNG. “These are the themes that found their way onto Knifes’ second EP, ‘Regression To The Mean.’ It is a feral house cat pretending to play nice so it can come indoors. Don’t let your guard down.”

REGRESSION TO THE MEAN is not a quarantine album though—KNIFES had been working on recording these songs long before being confined to their homes. “We were supposed to be onstage tuning guitars with Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and Weezer last summer,” laments bassist Brian Diaz, “but then we suddenly found ourselves with extra time on our hands to finish these songs.”

REGRESSION TO THE MEAN Track Listing:

1. 1. 1. 1. “Scammers”
        
        “Shorter Way”
        
        “Sparky Wire”
        
        “Point of Impact”
        
        “Eve of Destruction”

For more information on KNIFES, please visit:
INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY

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

May 11, 2021

Atlanta Rockers PISTOLS AT DAWN Release Debut EP; “Now Is The Time” Music Video Hits 100k+ Views

DT: MAY 11, 2021

FM: KELLY WALSH, SRO PR

ATLANTA ROCKERS
PISTOLS AT DAWN
BAND’S DEBUT EP
‘NOCTURNAL YOUTH’
OUT NOW

“NOW IS THE TIME” MUSIC VIDEO
HITS 100K COMBINED VIEWS IN THREE DAYS

WATCH HERE

Atlanta-based active rockers PISTOLS AT DAWN self-released their debut EP NOCTURNAL YOUTH last Friday, May 7 which coincided with the band revealing the music video for its third single “Now Is The Time.” In just three days, the video has garnered over 100k combined views—watch it streaming below or on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/BUpk_VMQiK4.

“Now Is The Time” follows recent video singles “Crown” (premiered April 9 via Ghost Cult Magazine) and “Voices” (premiered March 5), all of which were directed by Michael Mueller/M3 Creative.

NOCTURNAL YOUTH was recorded with producer Jeff Tomei (Smashing Pumpkins, Matchbox 20) and mastered by engineer Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More) and features four powerful and distinctive tracks which Outburn Magazine applaud for their “instantly catchy sing-along anthems and headbang inducing melodies.” Stream/download NOCTURNAL YOUTH now at http://smarturl.it/StreamNocturnalYouth.

PISTOLS AT DAWN – “Now Is The Time” Official Music Video

PISTOLS AT DAWN was originally formed in 2015 but disintegrated after the tragic passing of guitarist Mike Buffa in 2018. The band reformed in 2019 with founding members, drummer Adam Jaffe, guitarist Devin White and bassist Billy Sullivan while adding Tommy Richardson on guitars and VH1 Rockstar Supernova finalist Chris Pierson on vocals. Taking inspiration from universal hard rock acts such as Godsmack, Breaking Benjamin and Disturbed, the quintet headed to Cock The Walk studio in their hometown of Atlanta with Tomei in early 2020 to record three new singles that displayed their heart-pumping, radio-ready sound which they released later that year. Read more about the band’s history and upcoming plans in their chat with hometown daily paper, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, HERE.

Photo Credit: Michael Mueller/M3 Creative

Find more information on PISTOLS OF DAWN online here:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

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

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

May 6, 2021

PAPA ROACH Kick off Mental Health Month Awareness Month with “Help (Aelonia Remix)” Lyric Video

DT: MAY 6, 2021
FM: KELLY WALSH, MITCH SCHNEIDER / SRO PR

PAPA ROACH KICK OFF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH WITH
NEW LYRIC VIDEO FOR “HELP (AELONIA REMIX)”
WATCH NOW

PART OF THE SECOND GREATEST HITS ALBUM
OUT NOW VIA BETTER NOISE MUSIC

As multi-platinum rock band PAPA ROACH continue to celebrate the release of their second greatest hits compilation, GREATEST HITS VOL. 2: THE BETTER NOISE YEARS—out now via BETTER NOISE MUSIC—the band have shared a lyric video for “Help (Aelonia Remix),” to celebrate the importance of May as Mental Health Awareness Month. The visual brings attention to the song’s vulnerable message, showing the importance of knowing when you need to help and having the strength to ask for it. WATCH HERE.

PAPA ROACH have continued to maintain their legacy as one of the leading music groups of the 21st century as they recently landed their eighth overall #1 single with “The Ending (Remastered 2020)” on the Mainstream Rock radio charts. With over 2.1 million views its music video features footage from the upcoming BETTER NOISE FILMS horror-thriller movie THE RETALIATORS which will showcase the acting debut of lead vocalist JACOBY SHADDIX’s. The song is also included on the film’s upcoming original soundtrack.

GREATEST HITS VOL. 2: THE BETTER NOISE YEARS commemorates PAPA ROACH’s continued success as a top-selling recording and touring act during their 2010-2020 tenure signed to Better Noise Music, Billboard’s #1 rock label of 2020. The compilation consists of 21 tracks including 13 Top 10 singles, previously unreleased remixes and acoustic recordings recorded Live at YouTube Studios in NYC. The album also includes a guest appearance from Asking Alexandria vocalist Danny Worsnop for a new version of “Broken As Me.” Watch the official music video HERE.

CONNECT WITH PAPA ROACH
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Website

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

Better Noise Music
Jimmy Harney – jimmy@betternoise.com

May 6, 2021

TOMMY EMMANUEL Tomorrow (5/7) Releases New EP ‘Accomplice Series Volume 1 With Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley’ + Shares New Single & Video

DT: MAY 6, 2021

FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK/LYNDIE WENNER
SRO PR (LOS ANGELES, NASHVILLE, LAS VEGAS)

TOMMY EMMANUEL
TOMORROW (MAY 7) RELEASES NEW EP
‘ACCOMPLICE SERIES VOLUME 1 WITH ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY’
ON CGP SOUNDS

SHARES NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO
“COPPER KETTLE” FROM THE EP
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
AND READ A Q&A BELOW

TOMMY, ROB & TREY TO PERFORM AT THE SOLD-OUT GRAND OLE OPRY
SATURDAY, MAY 8
AND SET LIVESTREAM FOR SUNDAY, MAY 9
TO EMANATE FROM 3RD AND LINDSLEY IN NASHVILLE

Acclaimed and Grammy®-nominated acoustic guitarist, singer and songwriter TOMMY EMMANUEL—one of five people ever named a CPG (Certified Guitar Player) by his idol, music icon Chet Atkins—today (May 6) shares the video for “Copper Kettle.” It’s the third single + video from the EP ACCOMPLICE SERIES VOLUME 1 WITH ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY, out tomorrow May 7 on CGP SOUNDS. Watch the Zach Pigg-directed video here with TOMMY and powerhouse Grammy®-nominated acoustic duo Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley in the studio in Nashville when they recorded the EP. Pre-save and pre-add the EP here.

The “Copper Kettle” video was premiered yesterday at Bluegrass Today which praised the EP: “It features these three virtuoso instrumentalists in a spontaneous, freewheeling recording…” “Copper Kettle” follows the album’s first two videos, “Flatt Did It” and “Raz-Ma-Taz Polka,” premiered at The Bluegrass Situation and Glide Magazine, respectively.

ACCOMPLICE SERIES VOLUME 1 WITH ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY was born out of the deep admiration the musicians have for each other, also underlined by shows they’ve played together intermittently for nearly five years, the first of which was May 5, 2016 at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco.

Creative sparks fly on the EP, which radiates good vibrations with white-hot picking virtuosity on acoustic guitars and Dobro—it’s all a welcome sanctuary from these upside-down times. There are three cover songs—the Chet Atkins/Doc Watson song “Flatt Did It,” Buck Owens’ “Raz-Ma-Taz Polka” and the standard “Copper Kettle”—plus a rendering of the Emmanuel composition, “It’s Never Too Late,” originally released in 2015.

To support the EP, TOMMY, ROB & TREY have announced they’ll perform together at the sold-out Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, May 8. The performance will be broadcast worldwide on www.wsmradio.com at 7 PM CDT that same night.

They’ve also announced a ticketed livestream event via nugs.tv for Sunday, May 9 at 8 PM CDT to emanate from 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville. Purchase tickets here.

Q&A WITH
TOMMY EMMANUEL
AND ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY

TOMMY EMMANUEL:

—Congratulations on the recording of the EP. It emanates good vibrations and an easy charm…with a whole lotta virtuosity… quite a welcome sanctuary from these upside-down times. Sounds like it was a lot of fun to record. What are your feelings about the sessions?

The sessions were very spontaneous and, in fact, I suggested “Flatt Did It” and “Copper Kettle” as pieces on the day we recorded them. That’s how it came about. It was very spontaneous.

—What led to this collaboration with Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley and what are your thoughts about their playing? There’s a lot of creative sparks here.

I have been a fan of Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley for a long time. I love working with them. There’s a lot of creativity around us, and those guys are willing to just fly it. I need people like that to just bounce off and have a creative time with.

—There are songs by Chet Atkins, Buck Owens, one by Atkins + Doc Watson, and the final one on the EP is an older one of your songs that was recently recorded for ‘The Best of Tommy Songs’ album. Why were these particular songs chosen?

They were chosen because we didn’t have a lot of time. That’s what really helped this project come together. We could record the whole thing in just one day. I also felt “Flatt Did It” was a wonderful piece that is simple, and it’s one of Chet’s tunes. It’s a tribute to Lester Flatt of course. And the “Raz-Ma-Taz Polka” was fun and a part of my childhood. We had four songs to do and each one had to be different and special.

—Of the four songs, two are you with Rob and Trey; there’s one with you and Rob; and another with you and Trey. Can you talk about why two of the songs were done as a trio and the other two as a duo?

The reason I recorded two songs as a trio is to feature both the guys and for us to do that. And then I wanted a song each with Rob and Trey. There would have been nothing for Rob to do in “Raz-Ma-Taz Polka.” It’s just me and Trey. And then in “It’s Never Too Late,” Rob and I have everything covered in that song so there would have been nothing for Trey to do. That’s how that came about.

—The first track and video from the EP is “Flatt Did it.” Can you talk about recording this one?

As I said before, “Flatt Did It” is a tribute to Lester Flatt and some of his classic kind of licks. We had the film crew in there for the day and they just rolled the cameras. We actually just played and ignored them almost.

ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY:

—Congratulations on the recording of the EP. It emanates good vibrations and an easy charm…with a whole lotta virtuosity…quite a welcome sanctuary from these upside down times. Sounds like it was a lot of fun to record. What are your feelings about the sessions?

Rob: Well, it’s always great to work with Tommy. He’s such a great artist, and such a great person. There are always a lot of sparks flying when we play together, and all three of us are into lots of different musical genres, so that’s always fun to explore different musical territories when we get together.

Trey: Getting to pick with Tommy and Rob any time is always a blast! Working in the studio with Tommy was so much fun, which I think is evident throughout this EP. The great vibe in the studio that day is prominent in the recordings. It was really just the three of us hanging out and playing tunes…what could be more fun?

—What led to your collaboration with Tommy and what are your feelings about his playing?

Rob: When Trey and I first started working together, I just thought it would be a great combination to tour with Tommy. I mentioned this to our booking agent, and he told me that a good friend of his had just started managing Tommy and he would reach out to him. A few days later we had some offers to open some shows with Tommy on the West Coast, and they fit in perfectly to our schedule that was already in place out there. Our first show was in San Francisco, and it was just an amazing night! We’ve been friends ever since, and we have done a lot of shows together. Tommy is the “whole package.” Obviously, he’s a brilliant technician, yet he always puts so much emotion and feeling into it. His love for the guitar comes out of that instrument and really has a profound effect on people–myself included.

Trey: Rob and I have worked with Tommy several times through the years, which is always amazing. I mean, Tommy is definitely one of my biggest guitar heroes and to be able to call him a friend has been such an incredible thing. Getting to record this EP with Tommy is one of the proudest moments of my musical career for sure. Tommy is the best. His playing is the high-water mark that all of us guitar players strive for. To work with such a legendary and important musician is just insanely cool. And he’s the nicest dude on the planet.

—Two of the songs here were recorded as a trio, and the other two as a duo. There’s a lot of creative sparks here. Can you talk about your experience of playing with Tommy?

Rob: I remember the first night we played with Tommy I had mentioned that I loved the title cut on his new album at the time called, “It’s Never Too Late.” He asked if I wanted to play it on stage that night and I said “sure!” What a moment, it felt so great to play that one on stage. His rhythm is impeccable, and I just felt like I was riding on a really great groove that I could not fall out of! We’ve played that same song live many times since then, so it’s great to document it on this record. Such a beautiful piece.

Trey: The song that Tommy and I play together is a Buck Owens Polka tune. The first show that Rob and I played with Tommy was in San Francisco, and Tommy had just played in Bakersfield, so the conversation immediately went to Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. Tommy played a bunch of those polka tunes during his soundcheck. So, when Rob and I played on the Tommy Emmanuel/David Grisman tour a year or so later, Tommy and I jammed on “Raz-Ma-Taz Polka” after one of the shows and ended up playing it on the show the next day. We’ve played that one a ton since then, so it’s cool to have it on tape! I love playing it with Tommy…and the energy is always through the roof. I’d like to think Buck (up there in heaven) digs it too…

—The first track and video from the EP is “Flatt Did it.” Can you talk about recording this one?

Rob: This song comes from an album that Chet Atkins did with Doc Watson. I love to hear Tommy and Trey play together. There’s a great respect between the two of them. They are both so brilliant. It’s great to hear them feeding off each other. And this song is just the perfect vehicle for a Dobro, so I’m enjoying the whole thing!

Trey: Yeah, this one was Tommy’s idea, and it’s a tune from the Doc Watson and Chet Atkins duo record. Rob and I both have a bluegrass background, and this song was written with the great bluegrass icon Lester Flatt in mind. (Hence the title.) It really was a natural fit and recording it with Tommy was so much fun!

Full Track List for Accomplice EP #1:

1. Copper Kettle (featuring Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley)

2. Raz-Ma-Taz Polka (featuring Trey Hensley)

3. Flatt Did It (featuring Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley)

4. It’s Never Too Late (featuring Rob Ickes)

L-R: Trey Hensley, Tommy Emmanuel, and Rob Ickes
Photo Credit: Brian Penix

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

L-R: Trey Hensley, Rob Ickes
Photo Credit: Chad Jenkins

ABOUT ROB ICKES AND TREY HENSLEY

Take a 15-time IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year and a Tennessee-born guitar prodigy called “Nashville’s hottest young player” by Acoustic Guitar magazine, and you have Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, a powerhouse acoustic duo that has electrified the acoustic music scene around the world. Known for their white-hot picking and world class musicianship, as well as their soulful stone country vocals, the GRAMMY® nominated duo cleverly and uniquely melds bluegrass, country, blues, rock, jamgrass, and string band music of all kinds to create a signature blend of music that defies restrictions of genre. NPR has called Ickes and Hensley “two musical phenoms”; Vintage Guitar raved they’re an “acoustic firestorm” who “are changing the rules”; Acoustic Guitar describes their sound as “steel-string bluegrass with all the intensity of rock ‘n’ roll” and No Depression observed they’re “two of the finest musicians playing today.” Ickes and Hensley have shared the stage or collaborated with Tommy Emmanuel, Taj Mahal, Vince Gill, David Grisman, Jorma Kaukonen, Marty Stuart, and Steve Wariner—all admirers of the duo. Ickes, former founding member of bluegrass “supergroup” Blue Highway and highly sought-after Dobro master, has graced the recordings and concerts of artists such as Earl Scruggs, Merle Haggard, Alison Krauss, Tony Rice and more. Hensley, who earned his first IBMA Guitar Player of the Year nomination in 2020, made his Grand Ole Opry debut at the age of 11 (thanks to an invite from Marty Stuart with Earl Scruggs) and has appeared on stage with the likes of Johnny Cash, Peter Frampton and Old Crow Medicine Show. All three of the albums released by Ickes and Hensley have received widespread acclaim, including their debut Before The Sun Goes Down, which garnered a GRAMMY® nomination, and the combo’s most recent release World Full of Blues, which features collaborations with Vince Gill and Taj Mahal.

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

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

For more information on ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY, 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

May 3, 2021

POP EVIL Celebrate Sixth Overall #1 Rock Track “BREATHE AGAIN”; ‘Versatile’ Due May 21 via Entertainment One (eONE)

DT: MAY 3, 2021

FM: KELLY WALSH, SRO PR

POP EVIL
CELEBRATE SIXTH OVERALL #1 ROCK TRACK
“BREATHE AGAIN”

SINGLE IS FEATURED ON BAND’S UPCOMING ALBUM
‘VERSATILE’
DUE MAY 21 VIA ENTERTAINMENT ONE

PRE-ORDER HERE

(Photo credit: Ashley Osborn)
Pictured, from left: Matt DiRito, Hayley Cramer, Leigh Kakaty, Dave Grahs, Nick Fuelling

Hard rock titans POP EVIL have set a career milestone as “Breathe Again” becomes the sixth #1 rock single in their overall history joining previous #1 hits “Waking Lions,” “Footsteps,” “Deal with the Devil,” “Trenches” and the gold-certified “Torn to Pieces.” The track is featured on the band’s upcoming May 21 album VERSATILE via Entertainment One (eOne) alongside previously shared singles “Let The Chaos Reign,” “Work” and “Set Me Free.”

If rock is dead, then POP EVIL is definitive proof of the afterlife. The Michigan-formed blue-collar band—which consists of vocalist Leigh Kakaty alongside lead guitarist Nick Fuelling, rhythm guitarist Dave Grahs, bassist Matt DiRito and drummer Hayley Cramer—have created an unpredictable album, as its name suggests, which presents their most ambitious rebirth yet. VERSATILE highlights the group’s distinctive sound by zeroing in on their juxtaposition of cinematic melodies, heavy grooves, fist-pumping anthems and timeless power ballads while building on their foundation of showmanship, raw relatability, and timeless hard rock hooks.

VERSATILE is available for pre-order now via the official POP EVIL merch store and all orders will include an autographed postcard from the band: https://www.popevil-versatile.com/. CD’s will be exclusively sold via Target, which will offer a two-disc deluxe edition version of VERSATILE. The special bonus disc will include the track listing from their 2020 #1’s LP. This consisted of all of their previous #1 singles listed above that were pressed on 180-gram opaque gold vinyl.

VERSATILE Cover Artwork by Pedro Correa

POP EVIL’s success story extends beyond the charts, the 1 million units of “total activity” across their catalog, and the 600+ million streams of their songs on major platforms–it’s the diverse group of fans the band has captivated with their relatable storytelling and undeniable catchiness on tour after tour with the who’s who of the modern rock genre.

The band will return to stages this fall and can be seen at the below dates:

Fri. 8/6 – Mt. Pleasant, MI @ Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort & **SOLD OUT**
Sat. 8/7 – Louisville, KY @ Great Lawn at Waterfront Park & **SOLD OUT**
Wed. 8/11 – Camdenton, MO @ Ozarks Amphitheater &
Sat. 8/14 – Sioux City, IA @ Battery Park at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sioux City
Sat. 9/11 – Mansfield, OH @ Inkcarceration Festival at The Ohio State Reformatory
Sun. 9/12 – Danville, VA @ Blue Ridge Amphitheater
Fri. 9/24 – Orlando, FL @ Monster Energy Rebel Rock at Central Florida Fairgrounds
Fri. 10/8 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock at Discovery Park
& w/Shinedown

For more information on POP EVIL, please visit:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

About eOne

Entertainment One Ltd. (eOne) is a talent-driven independent studio that specializes in the development, acquisition, production, financing, distribution and sales of entertainment content. As part of global play and entertainment company Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS), eOne’s expertise spans across film, television and music production and sales; family programming, merchandising and licensing; digital content; and live entertainment. Through its extensive reach and scale, and a deep commitment to high-quality entertainment, eOne unlocks the power and value of creativity.

eOne brings to market both original and existing content, sourcing IP from Hasbro’s portfolio of 1500+ brands, and through a diversified network of creative partners and eOne companies including: international feature film distribution company Sierra/Affinity; Amblin Partners with DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, and Reliance Entertainment; Makeready with Brad Weston; unscripted television production companies Renegade 83, Daisybeck, Blackfin and Whizz Kid Entertainment; live entertainment leaders Round Room Live; world-class music companies Audio Network, Dualtone Music Group and Last Gang; and award-winning emerging content and technology studio Secret Location.

###

For press opportunities or advance album review requests, please contact:

SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com

eOne
Bill Meis –BMeis@entonegroup.com
Alec Cakebread – alec@ngage.com

April 30, 2021

KATE CLARK Today Releases Video for “Last Names”— Listen To This Nashville-Based/Austin-Raised Singer/Songwriter’s Emotional Family Story In Her New Single

DT: APRIL 30, 2021

FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/LYNDIE WENNER
SRO PR (NASHVILLE, LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS)

KATE CLARK
TODAY RELEASES “LAST NAMES”
LISTEN TO THIS NASHVILLE-BASED/AUSTIN-RAISED SINGER/SONGWRITER’S
EMOTIONAL FAMILY STORY IN HER NEW SINGLE HERE
AND WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

Nashville-based/Austin-raised singer/songwriter KATE CLARK turns the challenges of the past into cathartic music that is bright, bold, and soulful. The emerging country artist movingly illustrates this with her new and third single “Last Names,” in which she examines the fractured relationship she had with her late father. Listen here to the song, released today (April 30) via all streaming platforms, and watch the video, directed by Logan Christopher for Stormlight Pictures, here. An early supporter of the video is CMT: http://www.cmt.com/cmt-music-videos. A Q&A with KATE about the song is below.

In “Last Names,” co-written by KATE and Devin Malone and Katie Malone, she vividly sets the scene of when her father left the family and its after-effects:

“Mamma I know, I know why now
You cried on the back porch when the lights went out
Then I couldn’t see, I can see why now
There’s pictures all around in this dusty house
And daddy isn’t in any frames
Some of us get last names
that don’t mean a thing”

Growing up, KATE’s life seemed to unfold like a country song. Her father drank a lot, ultimately leaving the family when Kate was young. Raised by a single mom in Austin, she bonded with her absentee dad during his brief visits to town, when the two would ride around the Texas hill country in his truck. Sometimes, they’d talk. Other times, they’d just listen to music. Songs by George Strait, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings became the unofficial soundtrack to those father/daughter joyrides. Decades later, Kate still remembers how that music made her feel.

“Country music was something I shared with my dad,” she explains. “It was our thing. It made us both feel like we were part of some bigger picture, when there wasn’t anything else we could be a part of. My dad consumed country music like it was water—the water he needed to survive and to help dilute the demons behind the alcohol. We both connected with it, and that helped us connect with each other.”

Because “Last Names” is “so personal,” KATE says “I really wanted to keep the video simple. I wanted the lyrics to carry the weight of the story, not so much the visuals. I had been wanting to shoot with Logan Christopher for over five years, and I just knew, and trusted he could achieve the complex simplicity I was dreaming of.”

As KATE explains, “The video was shot in a charming house located in East Nashville. The house was full of country charm and felt like it belonged on a piece of property where your only neighbors are the horses, cows, and songbirds. The vibe and aesthetic is very soft and reflective. The sun was pouring in through the windows as I got lost reminiscing through old family photos spread out over the couch and coffee table. The video wouldn’t be complete without a shot of me in a rocking chair on the front porch. I had a moment on set after the director asked me to take a seat in the rocking chair and the music started playing where I just about lost it. I flashed back to seeing my mother in an old rocking chair that sat on our back porch crying. I couldn’t help but feel a full circle moment. The emotions that arise when you really understand and accept your past are incredible. An overwhelming sense of peace was the last thing I expected to receive. I’m forever grateful for this shoot.”

“Last Names” follows KATE’s first two singles: the debut “No Halo” (2/26/21) and “Wonderwall” (3/26/21), her distinctive cover of Oasis’ classic 1995 hit. All three songs were produced by David Lyndon Huff, who did the same honors for the Doobie Brothers’ multi-artist tribute album Southbound, that featured Zac Brown Band and Vince Gill, and who’s the younger brother of renowned Nashville producer Dann Huff.

“Last Names” shows that KATE CLARK is an artist gifted with an expressive, elastic voice matched with her sharp yet vulnerable sense of songwriting. This is her own brand of hook-filled country music, rooted in rich storytelling and the stories themselves may be sourced from her own life, but they’re applicable to anyone who, like Kate, has worked to turn obstacles into opportunities.

KATE plans to keep the excitement building throughout 2021; the singer and songwriter will release a series of singles via her label Kate Clark Music distributed by BMD (Brooklyn Music Distribution), a song per month, alternating between original tracks and striking reinterpretations of songs that have inspired her.

Q&A with KATE CLARK ABOUT ‘LAST NAMES”

The story painted with the lyrics in this song is very real and timeless, as are the emotions one feels listening to this song. Was this a part of your own life and if so, what can you tell us about that experience?

“Last Names” is first and foremost the sincerest “thank you” I think I’ll ever say in my lifetime. Thank you, mom! My mom, like so many other young mothers, thought she had love figured out and jumped headfirst into her vision of the American dream. Love, white picket fence, start a family. Unfortunately, it was anything but. My father served in the Vietnam war and came back a different person. He turned to alcohol to cope. Alcohol– breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Literally. “Last Names” begins with my father driving me (2 months old), my brother (3 years old) and my mom to Virginia and dropping us off at my mother’s family farmhouse. Story goes, he didn’t even say goodbye and drove off. Leaving us to figure life out on our own.

What message of hope do you want to send out to single moms or dads who are left to raise children on their own?

I hope all single mothers and fathers know that they’re heroes! Keep fighting, keep trying. Stay strong. Your little ones see you and know more than you think, and love you more than you think–good days, bad days. Your family portrait may not resemble “The Perfect Family” but what is perfect anyways? Family is love.

A pivotal lyric in the song is: “Some of us get last names/That don’t mean a thing.” Can you talk about this viewpoint?

I wasn’t given a last name that meant anything to me. (Let me say, I loved my dad like something fierce, but that is a story for another song.) This one-way love gave me no one to look up to. No legacy. Just a jagged, unfinished foundation to most, but to me, a clean slate. A chance to make my name mean anything I want it to mean. This is solely because of my mother’s strength and unforgettable courage.

You co-wrote this song with two writers (Devin and Katie Malone). With the song having such a personal and intimate nature, how did this song unfold for the three of you?

I wrote “Last Names” with Katie and Devin Malone. Devin and Katie have a way of making our writes feel like a safe place, and I knew I needed to write this one with them. I walked in with the idea “Some of us get last names\that don’t mean a thing.” I wanted it to be an homage to my mom and they were on board. They really helped me craft the story from my family’s real-life experiences. I’m pretty sure we all cried during this write, Okay, Devin didn’t cry, or did he?”

###

Kate Clark
Photo credit: Josh Kranich

Bio here
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For press inquiries, contact SRO PR:

Mitch Schneider, mschneider@sropr.com
Lyndie Wenner, lwenner@sropr.com

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