Took a few months of hiatus but have no fear I am still
alive. It’s been a tough year for most all of us. The music community has been
affected tremendously with the absence of live music but on the Brightside the
online streams and recording has not skipped a beat. Some may argue we’ve had a
dramatic increase in new music and projects hit the street during this pandemic
and over here in bandcamp, you’ll find no shortage. Getting right into it and
by no means am I catching up from where I left off, I present another round if
esteemed picks from yours truly.
PSYCHLONA – VENUS SKYTRIP
Venus Skytrip is a jam packed space rock adventure swirling
with ferocious fuzz and melted by molten waves of heavy psych. The lads have
managed to combine high octane desert grooves with relentless swagger and
progressive crunch. Wow!
ALGIERS
– THERE IS NO YEAR
Had this on my radar earlier in the year and finally pulled
the plug on the vinyl after relistening and really letting it sink in. This is
coined as “angry soul” I think I saw somewhere. Well its certainly angsty and
it has a loud soulful croon. Its also a rock band at heart that manages to
create a sound that should appeal to punk rockers, rappers, proggers, metal
heads, and jazzers all in one. Take a listen and tell me this isn’t cool as
shit.
THE ALLERGIES – SAY THE WORD
Another straight up groover I recently discovered and have
had on repeat at home for weeks. Brings new meaning to the phrase ‘allergy
season’ and puts a much more positive spin on that. The Allergies are a soulful
blend of Hip/Hop, R&B, Soul, Rock and Blues that should be the party time,
back yarding, grilling soundtrack of the summer. This wastes no time in getting
your heads bobbing and chilling out to the deep cutting groove. So-so good.
THE TEXAS
GENTLEMAN – FLOOR IT!
This album has grown into one of my top albums of the year
with its cosmic country jammage and yacht rock meets southern soul. So much
going on both witty, fun and invigorating. The vinyl gatefold even comes in the
form of a boardcame and cutout pieces including inside with the 2LP circular
pieces of wax. You might be surprised how much you like this one. It certainly
won’t win everyone over, but those who are open to a good time, this hits the
spot.
L.A.
WITCH – PLAY WITH FIRE
I remember discovering these 3 gals as they were on tour
with All Them Witches several years ago. I arrived to the venue early and solo
as typical at the Red Room in Stateline,
NV Tahoe. The place was empty and
there were 3 girls setting up a merch booth who ended up being the band L.A.
Witch. We chatted a bit about music, Ripple Music whom I had been scouting for
routinely, being on tour with the amazing All Them Witches and whatever else an
avid fan can think to chat about. They were clearly young at the time and their
set impressed the hell out of me with its hazy garage tones and psych-oriented
surf vibes. A perfect pairing leading into the headliner. Oh and the Red Room
is a tiny little Casino bar known for its intimate charm.
HAIL THE VOID – HAIL THE VOID
Stellar outing of distorted doom, bluesy solos, melodic
groove, and accessible edge. Hail the Void are the 21st Century answer to what
it would sound like if Type O Negative tainted a Sabbath set.
ANDREA & MUD – BAD NEWS DARLIN’
A raucous mix of mariachi, rockabilly and honky tonk, the
duo from Atlanta Georgia put enough umph in their
twang to kick start a mosh pit in the low tide of the steamy shores of the
south. You might wanna wax that handlebar mustache for this one.
VALKYRIE – FEAR
The Adams brothers are back
with another majestic slab of progressive dirge. Fear not, ‘Fear’ maintains the
bands epic execution of harmonious doom with jagged hook and earthy groove
THE FEDERALES – HONKYTONKS & HANGOVERS
Heavy on the honky tonk swilling with a crisp northern twang
and thumping to a soulful bounce.
BAD MAGICK – SUPERSTITION EP
Straight up proto-punk rock with fiery groove and raw tone.
Nonstop ferocious energy and infectious solos throughout paying homage to the
classics while highlighting the current hard rock revolution South
America has assembled. This debut EP is straight fire.
ACID MOON AND THE PREGNANT SUN – SPEAKIN’ OF THE DEVIL
This is a groovy one. Drum and bass work is superb with a
psych flair. The album ranges from Eagles to Rolling Stones, to a more modern
Gin Lady type of classic rock, psych, cosmic americana hippy rock.
WACO
BROTHERS – RESIST!
Another hunk of honky punk rock and beatnik blues. Equal
parts rockabilly and punk veering towards traditional country. Heavy on bass
and smooth on twang
-The Huntsman
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