Some Prospects for 2016!

Happy New Year to All!

Something a little different for the first post of 2016! We reached out to various bands over the last week or two and asked them: What they are looking forward to in in 2016?

This is what we got back:

Black Satellite shared that they are currently working on their our second EP, "Infinite Illusion". They plan on releasing it late in February or early March. "We can't wait for everyone to hear it." Stay tuned for their EP and our review!

Black Satellite

Jane Lee Hooker -  The big news with them is of course that they have signed with Ruf Records, which will entail a new record this year. Also tied to that I imagine are the recent gigs they added to their schedule. They got two shows at BB Kings in the coming weeks, and then another handful in upstate NY, PA and one over in Delaware! Then, I see they are hit Las Vegas in September for the Big Blues Bender! Last year JLH were busy. It appears they will more than continue that on into 2016!

Jane Lee Hooker

Mother got back to me with the announcement that they are currently heavily focused on writing some new tunes at the moment, but will be back to playing NYC in the spring. So I am looking forward to that. For those who in meantime want to check out some of their current stuff there is a sampling on Facebook. and no doubt we need to finally get them onto WildWestRadio. . . And it appears they too are also heading out to Pennsylvania in February hitting some venues around Harrisburg.

Mother

Ten Ton Mojo is right out of the gate, heading down to the Stone Pony in Asbury Park NJ for the Light of Day Winterfest Festival on January 15th, and then on January they are with Killcode and others at the Shop in Brooklyn. And that I am sure  is only the beginning. . .stay tuned for more.

Ten Ton Mojo

Which brings us to KILLCODE. So you already know they are heading to Brooklyn on January 30th for a gig at the Shop. On top of that they have recently released a new tune, the Answer, and that is what you should be checking out. More to follow no doubt.


Queen V. . . I have been a fan of hers since late 2003, when I got that Radical Records collection of NYC Bands. I remember plugging that into my CD player on my way up to the Chance in Poughkeepsie to see Bent Brother (aka Twisted Sister). It was one of their holiday shows they do now and again. Who was warming up. . . Queen V, who had just wrapped up a tour with Billy Idol. Good Girl Gone Bad still rocks. Her new EP Bridges will be coming out on February 12th! To follow that up she will be at the Rockwood Music Hall on Thursday, February 18th and promises more shows to come!

Queen V

Now we arrive at Maniac Rise. They quickly got back to me with this: "Maniac Rise will conquer the world!!" I am looking forward to it!

Maniac Rise

The next two entail a jump across the pond over to the UK. One a fairly recent entry into the scene, and the other a bit longer. . .

The Gang, which have been at it I guess since 2013, and just announced a January 2016 Tour, of course of the UK. Regardless, anyone who is in the area, I do encourage them to check them out! If you aren't in the UK, they still got a recent collection of tunes up at

Lastly, there is Mr. Bernie Torme, who with two recent CD releases, two successful Pledge Music campaigns, and numerous gigs throughout the UK happening, I ask What's Next?

Again a Happy New Year to all! The above just scratches the surface of what is coming. As DLR said so long ago. . .:"Don't be staring at your stereo, fool. . ."

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A Shout Out to Two Bands and a Friend and Musician. . .

I just wanted to give a nod to two bands that I have been following over the years. Both recently had some success. I am talking bout KillCode and Jane Lee Hooker and their recent signings with a record label or agency.

I first  saw Jane Lee Hooker back in 2011. They are basically playing a lot of classic blues in a very loud fashion. they have been at it for four years now. They just released their first album back in September, which was very cool. The record is good but their shows throughout this time have just been amazing. They just have the musicianship of the band at large, the dual guitars of Hightop and T-Bone, and Dana Danger on vocals, who is simply one of the most expressive singers I have seen or heard. Plus all those blues classics to work with. . .




So it was very cool to hear that they have signed with Ruf Records and that they will record their first album for the label in 2016. Further Ruf will be working with them on additional tours both in and outside the US. All very cool!

Killcode has likewise has signed with Coallier Entertainment. Unlike Jane Lee Hooker though, Killcode is a serious metal / rock act with a dash of southern hospitality. I remember seeing them in like 2009, and playing their first EP for my son, a serious metal head. It must have been as the Haunt in Yonkers was winding down. Again they do know how to command a stage. And Killcode, like JLH, features some amazing guitar work coming from Chaz and DC Gonzales. And they too have a solid frontman and singer in Tom Morrisey.



A bit about Coallier Entertainment. I have run into them a few times over the years. My fav of these was when they brought Thin Lizzy to the US in like 2003 or 2004. This was back when John Sykes was still in the band along with Scott Gorham. I grabbed my son, Phil, and we checked out the boys up at the Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie. I still remember Scott Gorham smiling at the fact that there was a kid and his dad rocking out to Lizzy. At least that was my read of it. . . That was a cool night and Phil and I both enjoyed. And it was very sweet that Lizzy popped up again the next week in Yonkers in some venue I never heard of before or after. It was down in the Irish part of town. Both were very good nights.

Coalier of course has routinely worked with Dee Snider, Twisted Sister, and the related group. . . Bent Brother. They have even signed Guy McCoy Torme (GMT), though they have yet to get that act over to the US. They work with a lot of established acts, which makes this more interesting in that KillCode is a newer act or band for them. Further, we know Killcode here in NYC, but audiences elsewhere not really, not yet. So Coalier has some work to do, and I cannot think of a better act for Coalier to work with, considering their focus on rock and metal.

I went back and forth about posting this. I just rarely see acts get signed by any labels today. Before this I kind of knew that the Sex Slaves were signed with Radical Records, and of course there have been a handful of acts that have come from NYC who I did not know about until they were signed. It just seems very rare these days that bands sign with a label and it perhaps is not celebrated like it was. I recall venues and others posting full-page ads in the Aquarian when Twister Sister was signed way back in the day. It is an achievement to sign a contract relating to one's artistic achievements and future works. It should be recognized.

Lastly, I just wanted to wish Karen Curios a Happy Birthday. I believe it is today. Great singer and songwriter, who if you have the chance to see, you should check out. Interestingly, she posted yesterday that she has finally arrived at the conclusion that her latest album "doesn't suck at all. . ." To which I respond, it is about time. A bit poppy - perhaps, sucky - no. I do not believe she has signed with a label, but still I will happily go see her perform any day anytime. I do wish I could get an mp3 of her current band, the Glorious Revolution doing her tune, the Rising Sun.

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