Vix20 is Gary Mills and CJ, two music industry veterans who grew so disillusioned with the state of every element of the music industry that they both walked away vowing not to return…fast forward a few years, now rejuvenated, though no less prickly about the Modern Age, they return, to quote the band themselves, “we’re hard rockers turned to the dark side of pop”. As evidenced in their single, Digital Age, their passion for power-pop (don’t say ‘punk-pop’ to them, it suggests too much jumping around) and dexterity with words combines to become insanely catchy 3-minute thunderbolts. Completing the Vix line up is long time conspirators Rich Norris and Kill, with a busy year ahead the next single is planned for April and the band will appear at the International pop overthrow festival in May at the legendary Liverpool venue The Cavern.
LINKS:
https://www.vix20.com
https://www.instagram.com/vixtwenty
https://www.facebook.com/vixtwentymusic
https://twitter.com/Vixtwenty
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuPABFfRP8fWPKkp6mA9Kkw
https://open.spotify.com/artist/01fEKKUsAN1pp9jguVrTQG?si=0cMw1OI6R6mM2iO_42M6sw
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Folk Devils – Forever
Folk Devils, the London group that took their name from a well-known academic text on media scapegoating*, have returned with their first new music in 33 years. The band blazed a trail across the UK’s independent music scene of the mid-80s with their unique brand of post-punk energy, known for their acclaimed indie-chart singles “Hank Turns Blue”, “Beautiful Monster”, three John Peel sessions, plus live dates opening for Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Fall, The Gun Club, Screaming Blue Messiahs, and others.
The 3-track “Forever” EP lands on 10” (Clear Red Vinyl)^ and Digital on September 18, 2020, via Optic Nerve Recordings and features two new compositions, the title track “Forever” and “My Slum Soul”, plus an incendiary new version of an old live favorite “Ink Runs Dry”.
Recorded at London’s famous Konk Studios in North London and mixed and co-produced by Grammy Award-winning engineer Rik Simpson, the re-born Folk Devils drew inspiration for new recordings from the release of their 2016 career retrospective “Beautiful Monsters (Singles & Demo Recordings 1984-86)” and the excellent reactions at subsequent live shows around the UK with kindred spirits Membranes, Inca Babies, The Wolfhounds, and The Cravats.
Founder members, guitarist Kris Jozajtis and bassist Mark Whiteley, reformed the group by recruiting members of a short-lived 1987 version of Folk Devils; guitarist Nick Clift and drummer John Hamilton.
Together with singer Dave Hodgson they soon discovered they had created a well-oiled twin-guitar juggernaut that brimmed with the same restless, twisted blues that characterized the first and second iterations of the band from 1983-87 when they were fronted by the highly underrated and now sadly-departed singer/songwriter Ian Lowery.
Hodgson, a fellow transplant from the North-East, had known Lowery in the early 80s prior to Folk Devils when the two were in their respective post-punk bands Ski Patrol and Parting Shots.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/FolkDevilsUK
https://twitter.com/Folk_Devils_UK
https://www.instagram.com/folk_devils_uk
https://folkdevils.bandcamp.com -
Phish Live @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI.
“Ruby Waves” from Phish’s 7/14/2019 show at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI.
Download the entire show now or stream via LivePhish+ at livephi.sh/ph190714.
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K Michelle DuBois – Waves Break
K Michelle DuBois’ new video for her single titled ‘Waves Break’ is, well, I’ll just come out and say it; creatively exhilarating! Yes, totally. I absolutely love this video! And it totally fits the song as well, which is a quasi mix of retro pop-rock and fusion beats but with a totally modern twist combining Andy Summers-style guitars with Miami infused synth and, soaring overhead, is Ms. DuBois’ beautiful vocals which have that perfect sexy blend of rasp and rapture. Put this video on repeat and let it define your day.
About K Michelle DuBois & ‘Waves Break’
Atlanta-based indie-pop artist K Michelle DuBois presents an upbeat and fun summer single ‘Waves Break’. This is the first taste of her forthcoming album, which will be released later this year.“We fully went for a surfy new-wave vibe with layers of percussion. Waves Break began with a fascination with fearlessness in people (especially females) who love surfing, skateboarding or any sport where they get beat up and dive right back in,” says K Michelle Dubois.
“The lyrics evolved to be metaphorical as well as staying on topic while blending in double-meaning wordplay – ‘I keep you close to my chest’ and ‘you know where the shark’s prey’. The instrumentation of Waves Break has an early Duran Duran, Bowie, Gang of Four vibes.”
This new single follows up her third solo release ‘Harness’, as well as the singles ‘Wild Weed’, ‘Orchid’ and ‘Love and Only Love’. DuBois also recently collaborated with Wales-based post-punk dreampop artist Lights That Change on the single ‘Untold’.
While most of DuBois’ solo output intertwines classic power-pop with 90s college rock, ‘Harness’ boasts a heftier sonic tone than her previous album ‘Astral Heart’ (2016) with its bouncy rhythms, jangly guitars and sing-song charm.
Based in Atlanta, GA, Dubois’ counts Blondie’s ‘Autoamerican’ and Divinyls among her influences, along with Stevie Nicks, Roxy Music, Flaming Lips, Grandaddy, and Fever Ray. DuBois’s live band includes Chandler Rentz (drums), Jim Prible (bass), André Griffin (keys) and Dan Dixon (guitar), who also recorded, produced and mastered this album at RCDC studio in Atlanta.
K Michelle DuBois got into music very young, building harmonies to pass the time during the family’s frequent road trips. DuBois began writing her own material as a teenager in Nashville after receiving a bass guitar for Christmas. She crafted her early songs on bass, a Yamaha synthesizer and a drum machine in her parents’ four-track studio, but a flood of creative possibilities came upon discovering open-tuning on acoustic guitar, thereafter solidifying her commitment to songwriting.
After forming her first band Ultrababyfat and releasing ‘Silver Tones Smile’ (1998), the group’s infectious pop-punk sound garnered national attention, leading to opening slots for numerous noteworthy acts Pavement and PJ Harvey, and a 2001 stint on The Warped Tour as one of the few female-led bands showcased in the festival’s lineup.
After the band disbanded in 2005, DuBois formed Luigi to explore her more progressive, art-rock leanings. After seven years together and ample critical acclaim, she re-emerged as a solo artist under the tempered guidance of producer Ben Price at Studilaroche, releasing her debut album ‘Lux Capone’ in 2012. DuBois also contributes vocals for Atlanta-based dream-gaze collective Parsons Rocket Project.
LINKS:
http://www.kmichelledubois.com
https://www.facebook.com/KMichelleDuBoisMusic
https://www.twitter.com/kmichelledubois
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoQgGNlVSlwQhtWDpAAu44w
https://www.instagram.com/kshelldubois
https://squareup.com/store/kmd-projects
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2M8M9NxuEmOAaqlbEHN5LW?si=T_ffSKKLTJugWZUaS4bMLA
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/k-michelle-dubois/536605594