New song premieres from Tokyo’s The Goood Things and UK artists Kids on Bridges and Dirty Jane. New albums from shoegaze pioneers Lunar Twin, The G-O-D featuring legendary drummer Simon Wolstencroft. New videos from rock group Electus as well as The Stevenson Ranch Davidians plus the latest issue of The MixTape featuring the latest music from indie artists around the globe.
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The Mootekkis Release Against the Ropes (The Week in #Indie Segment)
Tokyo’s The Mootekkis are one of those bands that deliver the musical goods every time. And I mean every time. And this time is no exception with the uber-catchy ‘poptastically’ decadent track that is ‘Against the Ropes’, from their new album ‘Pucker Up‘ (check out our review HERE).
The video above gives the quirky story of love lost, found, and lost again on the epic streets of Tokyo while the band plays on. The video harks back to the glory days of MTV and solidifies the band’s stature as one of those #indie bands that truly get it. Look, and sound like a million bucks and, guess what, you’re a million bucks.
‘Pucker Up’, from The Mootekkis is out now. Get your copy HERE.
The Mootekkis
This booze-loving Tokyo-based 5-piece – Australian, American and 3 Japanese – garage rock’n’roll band was formed midway through 2008 by Jude (guitar) and Mike (vox) and two years later were featured on the front cover of Japanzine after winning the magazine’s nation-wide battle of the bands with their 2010 EP track “Hey…What You Want?”.More recently a number of their tracks from 2014 debut album “Heckling the Dawn” have been used for the Skateboarding Japan podcast while their tune “The Whiskey” is the theme music for drinkers and skaters delight podcast Got Faded Japan.
Prior to this, in August 2012 they embarked on a 10-day tour of New York where they played Manhattan hot spots Bowery Electric and Piano’s as well as New Haven’s Elm Bar and a handful of basement and loft parties in Brooklyn – before this trip 2 members had never been outside Japan.
Brooklyn’s Ishmael Osekre, an organizer of the festival Aputumpu, had this to say after seeing The Mootekkis at a Bushwick loft party: “This was pure rock’n’roll in a way that most people around here haven’t seen for a long time…it was just amazing.”
The Mootekkis have had the good fortune of having a lot of good people behind them. In 2013 they crowdfunded their debut album and in 2014 they finished in the top 10 of Tokyo’s 126 bands trying to earn a spot at Summer Sonic thanks to immense local and foreign support.
They’re truly humbled and wholly committed to giving rock’n’roll lovers something new with decades of respect for what has come before.
The Mootekkis are:
Mike (vocals)
Jude (rhythm/lead)
Koji (rhythm/lead)
Yo’cchan (bass)
Takahiro (drums)LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/themootekkis
https://twitter.com/themootekkis
https://themootekkis.bandcamp.com -
Kenny Roby and 6 String Drag Premiere Brasstown (The Week in #Indie Segment)
Alt-Country has always been a guilty pleasure of mine, being a guitarist myself. So when I see such a blast from the past as Kenny Roby and 6 String Drag, I get goosebumps. The band originally formed in 1993 and, essentially, disappeared sometime in the late ’90s. But, as of 2014, they are back! With one reissue already under their belt in the form of their album ‘High Hat’, they keep the reenergized momentum going with another upcoming release, this time with unreleased material in the form of ‘The Jag Sessions: Rare & Unreleased 1996-1998’.
The sessions really capture the raw energy of the band and that controlled gritty feeling with dirty slide guitars, raspy brass, and a country swagger only found in the purest of traditionalists. This will be released in only 500 copies of special vinyl so be warned, quantities are limited.
The album will be available from RSD-participating record stores on April 13 as an official Record Store Day release. The 12″ red vinyl edition of ‘The Jag Sessions’ also comes with a download card featuring two bonus tracks not included on vinyl.
About 6 String Drag
Schoolkids Records has announced the new 6 String Drag album ‘The Jag Sessions: Rare & Unreleased 1996-1998’, which will be released especially for Record Store Day. This will be issued on limited edition 12” red vinyl with just 500 copies to be made available.In the mid to late ‘90s, Kenny Roby and 6 String Drag stood out as pioneers of the nascent alt-country movement. After a leaving a mark on this, as well as the Americana / No Depression scene, the Carolinas quartet essentially broke up.
The band’s second record ‘High Hat’ was produced by Steve Earle and Ray Kennedy and was released in 1997 on Earle’s Warner Brothers imprint label E-Squared Record. This album remains an undisputed classic of its era.
In early 2014, 6 String Drag reformed with the ‘High Hat’ line-up and recorded their 2015 comeback record ‘Roots Rock & Roll’ too much fan excitement and critical acclaim.
In January 2018, the band reissued a 20th-anniversary reissue of ‘High Hat’ on CD, vinyl and digitally, following up with their fourth full-length studio record ‘Top of The World’ in March 2018. This album features 6 String Drag founding members and frontmen Kenny Roby and Rob Keller, along with new members Dan Davis and Luis Rodriguez. Both releases are available through Schoolkids Records through Redeye Worldwide Distribution.
‘The Jag Sessions’ album is a collection of unreleased rarities and record quality demos recorded by Byron McCay at Jag Studios in Raleigh, NC between 1996 and 1998. Previously, these recordings have only been circulated among fans and digitally as low flying CD releases for sale at shows.
This album represents the first time any versions of this collection and the songs found here are available on vinyl. Some of the collection are songs originally recorded for Columbia Records in 1996 for a demo deal with this label, but that ultimately never came to fruition. The songs from 1998 were recorded as pro demos and were intended for release as a new EP following ‘High Hat’.
Outside of the four 6 String Drag albums, Kenny Roby has released four critically acclaimed solo LPs – ‘Mercury’s Blues’ (1999), ‘Rather Not Know’ (2003), ‘The Mercy Filter’ (2006), and ‘Memories & Birds’ (2013), in addition to various compilations.
“The world’s a better place with 6 String Drag in it”
– Steve Earle“So thrilled to have 6 String Drag back again. They’re as great as ever. Like reconnecting with a long lost friend”
— Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers)“A raw, raucous take on alt-Americana, a sound hard to put your finger on but one that wraps comfortably around your ears while it rocks your ass off”
— No Depression“In their original run in the ’90s, 6 String Drag was regarded as a better-than-average alt-country act; with Roots Rock ‘n’ Roll and now Top of the World, they’ve shown that they’re more than that in their second act, and this is mature, heartfelt, and resonant rock & roll that’s also plenty of fun”
— AllMusic (4 Stars)“A pair of deeply satisfying albums – including Top of the World, released on Schoolkids Records – that sound as though the band never went anywhere”
— Rolling Stone Country“Rootsy, authentic and heartfelt tunes with great harmonies and just enough of an Americana vibe to draw in those who claim not to dig rock. Vocal reminiscent of early Elvis Costello, and more jangle than twang”
— The MusoscribeLINKS:
http://www.6stringdrag.com
https://6stringdrag.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/6stringdrag
https://twitter.com/6stringdrag
https://soundcloud.com/kenny-roby
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4WvOP47oMCIksgyMLpiGNB?si=aMLIWwNXSFWZWNa9xlkqUQ
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/6-string-drag/924629764 -
Jammerzine’s The Week in #Indie for 6/21/2021
Exclusive interviews with Information Society and Broken Robots. Plus, premieres and new music from Ragsy, Sleeveens, Space Summit, Art Mulcahy, Boyracer, Realma, Serj Tankian, Youthstar & Miscellaneous, and Rumble.
About Information Society
Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with the absolute legends of synth-pop, electronic, MTV Generation, and, above all, original music, in the form of Information Society. Today we talk to Paul Robb, co-founder of INSOC, and their new album titled ‘ODDFellows’. What makes ODDFellows special is, and you will get the information about this in the interview, that this is a spatial collaboration with THX. Yes, that THX. The ones that make everything sound cool and rich. This is, in fact, the first collaboration between THX and a musical artist. And this is one of the many reasons INSOC is considered pioneers in the music industry. Not just to be the first, but to be willing to take the risk.
And, in regards to ‘ODDFellows’, we get plenty of risks. As stated in the interview, there are times where this is a different band and there are times where classic INSOC is there at the forefront. And, to be that original after all of these years is what makes them last. Because it’s fun.
‘ODDFellows’ releases on August 6th (Hakatak International (digital); and Negative Gain Records (CD/vinyl); release date: TBA).
Check out our interview with INSOC’s Kurt Harland Larson HERE.
LINKS:
https://informationsociety.us
https://www.facebook.com/informationsociety
https://twitter.com/insoc
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqBYUnU_4yqqJpkUTpVASAAAbout Broken Robots
Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with one of my new favorites in the Chicago scene. I’m talking about Broken Robots.
Broken Robots are a band that, not only has an absolutely stellar and original EP coming out this Friday titled ‘The Escape Artist’, they are a band that is earning their way and putting their life into every song. What I mean by that is their talents as musicians and songwriters count on chronicling their life and experiences. And this comes out in such a beautiful and creative way that their music demands a listen. Not hear. A listen.
In this interview, we talk about some of those experiences and how they have shaped the musicians, and people, that they have become as well as their music has evolved into what it is. A masterpiece.
LINKS:
https://www.brokenrobotsmusic.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2qW0U3n41UhoFz8qreecrL
https://www.facebook.com/brokenrobotsmusic
https://www.instagram.com/brokenrobotsmusic
https://soundcloud.com/brokenrobotsmusic
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpDgqhNzITMDekXtfRxoeVwAbout Ragsy
Ragsy is releasing his new track titled ‘Safe From harm’ on June 18th. Highlighted by a smooth swagger and road-weary styled vocals, Ragsy gives an earnest performance about the basic needs and wants of having someone you love. Done in a musically subtle, at times, way and with a massive old school hook, the music becomes a stage for the weatherly massive vocal that is Ragsy.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/Ragsy
https://twitter.com/ragsy78
https://www.instagram.com/ragsy78
https://www.youtube.com/c/GaryRAGSYRyland/videos
https://www.ragsymusic.comAbout Sleeveens
Sleeveens is set to drop their new single titled ‘The Draw’ on August 8th. Featuring a musical and orchestral ensemble, the track delves into individual darkness and personal epiphany. Beautiful.
LINK:
https://sleeveens.hearnow.comAbout Space Summit
Space Summit has premiered their new and debut track titled ‘I’m Electric’. A new collaboration resulting from Marty’s ‘The Sessioneer Series‘, between former The Church guitarist Marty Willson-Piper and musician Jed Bonniwell, ‘I’m Electric’ takes the musicianship and songwriting of both and turns them into a stellar new beginning. ‘I’m Electric’ is, to me, the perfect intro-single for a new project. Sonically, it’s as varied as it is original creatively, while also being just plain fun to listen to.
Also featuring Dare Mason on keyboards, who also produced, as well as Olivia Willson-Piper on strings, Eddie John on drums, Anekdoten’s Niklas Barker on Mellotron, and Phoebe Tsen on harmony and backing vocals, Space Summit is clearly an album made by a musical family and presented to the world. Listen. Love. Live.
Check out our other features with Marty Willson-Piper HERE.
LINKS:
https://spacesummitband.com
https://www.facebook.com/spacesummit
https://www.instagram.com/spacesummitbandAbout Art Mulcahy
Art Mulcahy has released his new video for the track titled ‘Together We Survive’. We need a song like this at this time in our future history. What will people say about this time we live in now. This time of division and isolation? Art uses his music to chronicle and hopefully heal that issue we have at the moment. And he does it with his original style and orchestration. This is a song for everyone.
LINKS:
https://www.instagram.com/nativesouthrecords
https://www.facebook.com/NativeSouthRecords
https://www.nativesouthrecords.com
https://artmulcahy.com
https://www.therealjonsmith.comAbout Boyracer
Boyracer has premiered their new video for the track titled ‘Spoils’, from their upcoming album titled ‘Assuaged’, releasing next month. Perfect for the summer and rife with post-punk indie sentiment and underground goodness, this track gives me smiles in more ways than one. Having been a lifelong fan of the vintage underground scenes, this reminds me instantly of those glory days of 120 Minutes on MTV with the modern touch and swing of what is called Boyracer.
LINK:
https://boyracer.bandcamp.comAbout Realma
Realma has just released her new animated video for the track titled ‘Wandering’. Almost as if it were made for a Broadway show, ‘Wandering’ gives a cinematic and orchestral world for her angelic vocal to swim in. Add to this a noir-style graphic and visually enticing scope for the song relinquishes the soul and gives your mind a new style. This is art.
LINKS:
https://realma-music.com/wandering
https://www.facebook.com/witchy.realma
https://www.instagram.com/realma_musicAbout Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian has today released a 24-minute modern classical composition titled Disarming Time: A Modern Piano Concerto on his Serjical Strike Records label along with a self-produced video Serj made utilizing a lot of his own pictures and videos as a visual complement to the epic track.
The multifaceted artist releases Disarming Time: A Modern Piano Concerto on the heels of his critically-acclaimed rock EP, Elasticity, that was released in March of this year via BMG/Alchemy Recordings.
LINKS:
https://serjtankian.com
https://facebook.com/SerjTankian
https://twitter.com/serjtankian
https://instagram.com/serjtankian
https://youtube.com/serjtankianAbout Youthstar & Miscellaneous
Youthstar and Miscellaneous have teamed up for their new video titled ‘2 Shots No Chaser’. Full of energy and loaded with verbal ammunition, ‘2 Shots No Chaser’ is all hook no filler, and full of a verbal unloading and musical party-mode with a party anthem just in time for a post-COVID summer.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/mcyouthstar
https://twitter.com/jayyouthstar
https://www.instagram.com/mcyouthstar
https://www.facebook.com/ChillBumpSound
https://twitter.com/ChillBumpMusic
https://www.instagram.com/chillbumpofficialAbout Rumble
Rumble has released their new album titled ‘Round’ on Chinese Man Records. When we first reviewed the previous single ‘U Can’t Hide’ featuring Blackout Ja, we got a sneak peek at the things to come. In addition to collaborations with Blackout Ja, Rumble also features Too Many T’s, Rhyme Time, Mariama, and more. And, with all that, we hear Rumble in all their glory. That massive mix of EDM, Hip Hop, Dance, and straight-up in-your-face mic malice, ‘Round’ is a solid set of tracks that will stay in your playlist.
Check out our other features with Rumble HERE.
LINKS:
https://CMR.lnk.to/Round
https://cmr.lnk.to/UCantHide
https://www.facebook.com/RumbleChineseManRecords
https://www.instagram.com/rumble_cmr
https://www.youtube.com/c/Rumble-CMRClick HERE to watch Season 7 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
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