The Mezcaltones Release Single ‘Wouldn’t Last A Day’

August 31, 2023

With the sun in their faces, the wind in their hair, and their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks, those genre defying, Alt-country, Tex Mex, Surf Rock Cowpunks, The Mezcaltones, present ‘Wouldn’t Last a Day’ – part three of their “Modern Romance Trilogy”.

A swampy guitar riff opens up this spaghetti western themed domestic hiccup. While our antagonists take verbal swipes at each other the rhythm section holds steady as the guitar slides between the flying plates, pots n pans… and barbs.

Co-written with talented songstress Dani Young, ‘Wouldn’t Last a Day’ not only describes “Domestic Bliss” in three and a half minutes but also rounds out the Mezcaltones “Modern Romance Trilogy” with a modicum of acceptance, understanding and hope.

A duet from The Mezcaltones in an up tempo country rock format. Plenty of riffy guitars and some great call and answer male/female vocals – just think Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood doing Jackson. A foot tapper and a mood maker all in one.

The Mezcaltones are a Sydney six-piece band whose aim was to put together a repertoire of obscure alt country/surf twang songs. They were found mostly on cult Mexican movie soundtracks and then matched with dance, cabaret and outrageous showmanship to form a unique and original show. Ten years and four albums later the Mezcaltones are one of Sydney’s premiere live acts. With an impressive collection of original songs, the Mezcaltones are not only able to play venues that are traditionally for original bands only but are also able to put on three set shows at some of the more mainstream venues.

The Mezcaltones love playing festivals having performed at Groundwater CMF; Sydney Blues & Roots Festival; Dashville Skyline Festival; Blue Mountains Music Festival to name a few. They have also performed at seven Tamworth Music Festivals including this year where they performed ten shows in eight days. The shows were a huge success and the band were booked for 2024 before they’d even left town. The Mezcaltones have also been booked for the 2024 Broadbeach Blues and Roots Festival in QLD.

Some of the Mezcaltones regular Sydney gigs include The Marrickville Bowling Club, The Union Hotel, Shady Pines Saloon, Narrabeen Sands, Collaroy Beach Club, Club Cronulla and The Orient Hotel.

Stream the single:

Out September 1 Foghorn/MGM

Connect with The Mezcaltones:

Reviews for Jack Nolan’s Album ‘Jindabyne’

August 27, 2023

Jack Nolan Released and Launched his New Album ‘Jindabyne’ earlier this month and
now the Reviews are in – here are a selection of some standouts and the links.
Recorded to tape in Nashville and with players like this theres no wonder folks are raving about it.
Producer guitarist Justin Weaver (The Chicks/Wynonna Judd), drummer Jimmy Paxson (Lindsey Buckingham/The Chicks/Ben Harper) and bassist Chris Autry (Josh Turner/Lee Anne Womack).

“As I’m listening through Jindabyne, I’m taken aback. It’s such a solid, mature, full-bodied album of unflinchingly well-written songs. He’s not fucking around.”
Coyote Music

“Perhaps the delay worked in Jindabyne’s favor as it’s rare to hear such a coherent and complete collection. It’s Jack Nolan’s finest moment yet.”
Curious For Music

[About the last track ‘All The Ships In The Ocean’
“This one is also reflective of the recent pandemic…At one point he asks the question, “What’s a nation?/Does anyone know?” When the world gets all weird, some of the questions that, at one time would have had easy answers, start to get overly complicated.”
Skope Magazine

““Jindabyne” has a quiet grandeur, with Jack Nolan’s robust and assured voice telling tales from lives lived most fully.”
Beach Sloth

“As a true purveyor of Americana, Jack stays true to the staples of roots music while also taking the genre to a fresher perspective with his Aussie twist. Named after the New South Wales town of the same name, “JINDABYNE” feels familiar, yet nostalgic, as it truly bridges two distant sides of the world, as if there was no ocean between them!”
Ghost Echoes

The Album
Jack Nolan’s JINDABYNE, released August 4

The same band assembled again to record, with no backing tracks, all but live to tape – and why wouldn’t you

The album’s title is lifted from the ever so sweet ‘Solo Sailor’ that lets us in on a journey. Other highlights include, the up-tempo ‘She Knew’ where nothing’s perfect, but she knew he loved her, and her knowing that will have to do for now, and the timeless finger picker, ‘All The Ships In The Ocean’.

Two years of stolen liberties has only hardened Jack’s resolve, to remain forever suspicious of rule makers and even more dedicated to his ongoing contribution to art, to song writing. JINDABYNE is a record for this year, where we are all staggering on after two years of madness, and we have all arrived back to that place we had drifted too far from, the simple things, love and reality, family, and community.

Based in Sydney, Australia, singer songwriter Jack Nolan has been performing and releasing music and albums since the mid 1990’s. Along with a six-album solo catalogue Jack also fronted The Kelly Gang, with Rick Grossman, bassist for The Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus along with Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and guitar player Martin Rotsey. Their 2004 album Looking for the Sun is still considered a hidden gem, with an incredible line-up of musicians that delivered passionate and energetic live shows of the time.

Within Nolan’s music, mysterious and shimmering chords unite his sound. Once quaintly described as ‘Darlinghurst Country’ his sound unites elements of folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll and ambient atmospheres fusing Nolan’s passion for intensely charged electric guitar and finger-picked acoustic guitar.

Of recent years, the critically acclaimed 2018 album ‘Our Waverley Star’ was followed by the equally impressive 2020 outing ‘Gabriel’. It was these two outings that cemented Nolan’s love of recording in Nashville, with guitarist/producer Justin Weaver (Dixie Chicks/Wynonna Judd). What started with a one-off phone call, developed into an alliance that Nolan describes as “arriving in town, in the northern winter, when everyone’s off the road, with my swag of songs to greet all the boys again to collaborate”.

Performing in & around the traps Jack’s Australian band includes Travis New (Andrew Farris/Imogen Clark) on guitar, Tim Samson (Christine Anu/Andrew Farris) on bass and long time drummer & Hamish Stuart (Don Walker/Ian Moss et al).

Jindabyne album is OUT NOW
Quay Records

Stream

Connect with Jack Nolan

The Sheyana Band Release Single ‘Remarkable Man’

August 19, 2023

The new uptempo cracking’ single Remarkable Man lifted from The Sheyana Bands EP Ricochet.

The band went into the studio to record a Johnny Cash style country & western ditty, but sound engineer, Russell Pilling, suggested changing the original Americana feel to a tougher AC/DC – Aussie Rock feel. Bingo!! It was like a brand new song and the track fitted like a glove into their new EP ‘Ricochet’.

Sheyana explains: “When I close my eyes, this is how the imagery of the song plays in my mind; show yourself friend or foe! Remarkable Man lines up with both barrels, bullets of pleasure and pain – shining bright, cutting deep, demanding to be loved and loathed. Cover your trusting heart! Do you have the superpowers to survive the impact?”

The track has become a band and fan favourite.

A full throttle country rock number from Sheyana, a very worthy single to follow up to Big Hearts. The song begins with the full band straight in, its up-tempo, catchy and full of riffs and hooks from the very competent guitar section, foot tapping all the way to the end.

The Sheyana Band’s recent EP, ‘Ricochet’, came together during covid lockdown in Tasmania. Making the best of a bad situation and with time for reflection, Sheyana and the band focused on songwriting, and the music emerged out of conflicting times.

Influenced by the classics and drawing inspiration from their deep Tassie roots, The Sheyana Band are like a fine wine. A ripe fruity musical banquet, fusing stylistic flavours from Australian Rhythm & Soul, American Funk & Blues, English Pop/Rock & Punk with a dash of Southern Country/Folk.

London born, Tasmanian based singer, songwriter and guitarist, Sheyana, has been hooked on music since early childhood. The soulful Celtic/Sri Lankan storyteller brings flavour to the table with her stellar band, featuring Wayne Rand on lead guitars/vocals, Dan Jeffrey on bass & Leigh Hill on drums/vocals.

Following the release earlier this year of their EP, the band embarked on a series of sold out single & album launches across Tasmania. The EP is getting national airplay, charting on Australian Blues and Roots Chart, and received some great national and international album reviews.

The first single & music clip Big Hearts was premiered by Australian music group Scenstr. Internationally, YESFM Sri Lanka recently premiered the track and came in Top 20 on the Yes Home Grown Charts. The band are releasing a second single from the EP, ‘Remarkable Man’ and planning to tour East Coast Australia in 2024, along with some live shows in Sri Lanka.

The Sheyana Band had a top ten hit in Sri Lanka in 2015 with their single ‘Keep the Change’. Sheyana scored a blues award with the OzSong International Song Writing Competition in 2011 for her song ‘Two Birds’, which also made it to the finals in the Fresh Air ABC National Song writing Competition. The Sheyana Band are a favourite act at major Tassie events: Skyfields, Forth Valley Blues Festival, Party In The Paddock, Fruits of the Roots, Festival of King Island, Junction Arts Festival and Riverbend Blues.

The band have supported Deborah Conway, Hoodoo Gurus, Neil Finn, Meg Mac, Mojo Juju, Gang of Youths, Diesel, The Angels, Kevin Borich, Ian Moss, Bill Chambers and Fanny Lumsden. Nationally they won “The Chris Wilson Award” for Emerging Act of Year” with their album Big Love in 2018.

Stream/Download Remarkable Man (Foghorn/MGM) August 18

Connect with The Sheyana Band

Jack Nolan Releases Album ‘Jindabyne’

August 4, 2023

Jack Nolan’s JINDABYNE, released this month was so frustratingly delayed by that virus. This is an album that waited in the wings while lockdowns and rules ran their course. “March 2020 the world was turned on its axis and we all went into lockdown –suddenly there were no certainties in life; this created a sense of urgency in me, so I made a conscious decision not to waste the time and went to work writing JINDABYNE. As soon as I could post lockdown, I was booked and took off back to the US.”

The same band assembled again to record, with no backing tracks, all but live to tape – and why wouldn’t you with personnel like producer guitarist Justin Weaver (The Chicks/Wynonna Judd), drummer Jimmy Paxson (Lindsey Buckingham/The Chicks/Ben Harper) and bassist Chris Autry (Josh Turner/Lee Anne Womack).

Jindabyne album is OUT NOW
Quay Records

Stream:

Connect with Jack:

Jane Walker Releases Single ‘Lazy’ plus live show in Sydney

July 24, 2023

Jane Walkers New single Lazy is out NOW and added to our Spotify Playlist and will have a live launch at Low302 in Surry Hills, Sydney on Aug 11.

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of singer-songwriter Jane Walker. Backed by acclaimed musicians Jess Ciampa and Mike Quigley, this night celebrates the launch of her mesmerizing new single “Lazy” (out August 4) and will feature some special surprise guests. Elements of pop and jazz weave together for an intimate and uplifting musical experience.

Doors 7pm – Dinner and drinks available all night.

TIX for the show

https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/747da26d-e3ee-4065-b476-5ccd77f0cdc8?utm_source=Low302&utm_medium=Website

Two years ago, Jane Walker was in the grips of a particularly debilitating writer’s block. It was a tumultuous time for the Sydney singer/songwriter, a recent marriage, a serious accident, a change of management and the death of her father. Yet, diamonds are forged under pressure and after basically chaining herself to her piano, new songs began coming thick and fast.

The new songs, which blend sophisticated pop and soul with light jazz touches, come with classy contributions from cross genre specialists like the rhythm section of Hamish Stuart and James Haselwood, Stu Hunter on keyboards, and co-producer/mixer Neal Sutherland.

Having already written with Chris Difford of Squeeze and Adam Levy (Norah Jones) and worked with the likes of The Cruel Sea’s James Cruickshank, producers Steve James and Barbara Griffin, and Indigenous group Street Warriors and Bobby Flynn on her debut, Walk Gently, Walker says that “working with such talented musicians lifts my level and stimulates me as an artist and gives me that freedom to go for it.”

“[In London I recognised] my identity as Australian and my connection is to the land here, and I wanted to come back home,” says Walker who, while in London, had one of her songs included on an album alongside tracks by Massive Attack and Radiohead.

“More and more I try to live in the present moment, and find when I’m there, nature rushes in…this influences my songwriting and musical choices.” And as she discovered, when that happens amazing things occur, and it’s clear that Jane Walker is anything but lazy.

“Rather than sit in resentment and blame others, I can write a song.”

A very smooth soul single featuring beautiful Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond organ, laid back drums and bass and a silky smooth vocal that all come together in the best possible way.

Stream:

New Single ‘Lazy’ Out August 4 on MGM

Connect with Jane Walker:

Jack Nolan’s Latest Single ‘Solo Sailor’ from Upcoming ‘Jindabyne’ Album

July 7, 2023

Added to our playlist –

Just ahead of the Album launch and release next month Jack Nolan will be Ross M Fear’s studio guest on Alive 90.5 fm Australian Spectrum Show 9pm Tuesday 11 July 203 featuring a steal preview of his latest album “Jindabyne”.

The new single is Solo Sailor – see below for details including the Live Album Launch

‘JINDABYNE Album Launch’

Book here – Tickets
Thursday 3 August, 2023
From 7pm
First 50 ticket sales will receive a copy of the LP on arrival.
Clovelly Bowling & Recreation Club
1 Ocean Street Clovelly, NSW 2031

Documenting the loss of a distant complicated man, ‘Solo Sailor’ is a soft farewell capturing a send off, a silent understanding reached, of melancholy and a life lived by the water. With an acoustic guitar augmented beautifully with a simple electric line and understated backing band, this is an ocean journey where the writer asks all fellow mariners to give the man right of way as he makes his way home. In true singer songwriter style ‘Solo Sailor’ is surely an acoustic playlist contender.

A deep cut ballad from the new Jack Nolan album: Jindabyne (released 4 August). Solo Sailor features distinctive slide and picked guitar, lush backing vocals, ambient drum backing and more than enough ducking and weaving through the textures of the song arrangement and lyrics to hold your interest.

ALBUM LAUNCH

https://mailchi.mp/7640346d77c5/out-today-gabriel-9343961?e=8f08982cee

Based in Sydney, Australia, singer songwriter Jack Nolan has been performing and releasing music and albums since the mid 1990’s. Along with a six-album solo catalogue Jack also fronted The Kelly Gang, with Rick Grossman, bassist for The Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus along with Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and guitar player Martin Rotsey. Their 2004 album ‘Looking for the Sun’ is still considered a hidden gem, with an incredible line-up of musicians that delivered passionate and energetic live shows of the time.

Of recent years, the critically acclaimed 2018 album ‘Our Waverley Star’ was followed by the equally impressive 2020 outing ‘Gabriel’ – both long players being ethereal story books and rich song collections. It was these two outings that cemented Nolan’s love of the working town Nashville, an association with guitarist/producer Justin Weaver (Dixie Chicks/Wynonna Judd) that started with a one-off phone call and developed into an alliance that Nolan describes as “arriving in town, in the northern winter, when everyone’s off the road, with my swag of songs to greet all the boys again to collaborate”.

Performing in & around the traps, Jack’s Australian band includes Travis New (Andrew Farris/Imogen Clark) on guitar, Tim Samson (Christne Anu/Andrew Farris) on bass and long time drummer & Hamish Stuart (Don Walker/Ian Moss et al).

Stream Solo Sailor

Connect with Jack

13-Year-Old Guitar Prodigy JayBird Byrne Releases Single ‘Pups At Work’

July 7, 2023

Following her debut on ABC TV last month on the 100 Instruments Countdown featuring in the Electric Guitar section with her own interview and live performance Jaybird Byrne now releases the single ‘Pups At Work’ a guitar instrumental drawing on her extreme talent and the many high pedigree influences she draws on.

JayBird Byrne, a 12-year-old guitarist, has been captivating audiences with her extraordinary talent since she started playing the guitar at the age of 8.

A recent shoutout from another young Australian guitar prodigy Taj Farrant has helped to boost her profile even further.

Drawing inspiration from legendary guitar virtuosos like Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani, JayBird has developed a unique style that showcases her admiration for these influential figures.

Her debut single, titled ‘Convergence’, received widespread acclaim, earning her the prestigious First Prize with Honours at the International Youth Music Competition in the Modern & Contemporary Category. The judges praised her composition, describing it as “impressive work at such a young age”. They also commented on the excellent balance of instrumentation and texture, and highlighted her remarkable precision and mastery of the guitar.

Despite her tender age, JayBird delivers performances with an intensity and spirit that surpass her years. In 2022, she secured the coveted title of ‘Best Guitarist’ at the RockFEST competition, leaving the judges astounded. They hailed her performance as “fantastic” and an absolute showstopper, acknowledging her incredible energy and mind-blowing level of ability.

JayBird Byrne is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, and her musical journey is poised to captivate audiences worldwide.

Song Description

JayBird – ‘Pups at Work is all of my dog training experiences expressed as an instrumental rock guitar song. The song’s progressive rock feel represents the training and unpredictability of the ‘pups at work’. According to my pup, it is: Dog training, but on my human’s guitar.’

This up-tempo electric guitar instrumental with full band backing comes right out of the box from the start and never lets up. Think Joe Satriani meets Hendrix but then add that JayBird is 12 years old, and you get the ‘wow’ factor. This girl is one to watch.

Download or stream:

Connect with JayBird:

Vanleer & Co. Release Single ‘I Still Think Of You’

June 30, 2023

“I Still Think Of You” is a song that pulls at the heart strings of anyone having any kind of dysfunctional relationship. Whether it is with a spouse, a child, a sibling or even a long term friendship. “I Still Think Of You” was inspired by one of my children and the events surrounding the life choices they were making. This composition is my expression of my love and perhaps they will hear it and come to realise how much I have loved them all along.

The second single from Vanleer & Co features full Americana style band backing and lush female backing vocals. Duncan Toombs on guitar, Kayne Butler on drums, Andrew Beck on bass and engineer. The song is mid-tempo and along with the sentiment in the lyric has some catchy and tasteful electric guitar which lifts the tune perfectly.

William is a singer/songwriter based on the beautiful Central Coast of NSW. Originally from rural NSW, he was born the son of a coal miner who also played in a country band. His passion for music began early with his father teaching him to play guitar.

Since then he has performed for a variety of charity events held by the NSWRFS and Land Care organisations, as well as countless open mics along with band support roles in and around the Central Coast.

Download or Stream

Connect with William Vanleer

Peter Sterling Releases Mystic Voyager Album

June 1, 2023

PETER STERLING

Mystic Voyager

Soundslikecafe are proud to add Nightwind to our playlist lifted from Peter’s new album just out today – just one of the many outstanding pieces – read all about it and listen below.

Calling his 16^thalbum “my most ambitious and creative work to date,” Peter Sterling’s Mystic Voyager is a remarkable, genre-transcendent collection that finds the veteran award-winning harpist delving deeply into his longstanding passions for ethereal new age, contemporary instrumental/smooth jazz and global fusion music, its nine compositions serving as a reflection of his multi-faceted life journey, multitude of world travels and the inspirational people he has met along the way.

Driven by the longtime Sedona, AZ resident and spiritual sojourner’s largest recording ensemble ever, the serene yet soulful, gently grooving collection’s unique title speaks to the many mystical, otherworldly experiences that have guided his impactful, ever-beautifying life and career since he first felt the presence of angels answering a prayer on how to fulfill his life’s purpose some thirty years ago. Mystic Voyagerincludes contributions from #1 Billboard charting guitarist Steve Oliver, Grammy winning pianist Darlene Koldenhoven, Grammy nominated Renaissance flute player David Young, vocalists Chianne, Seay and Nina Starsong and Richard Hardy (flute and sax).

Mystic Voyagerincludes the previously released single “The Long Cold Winter,” a haunting, lyrical, accordion laced and largely improvisational piece whose powerful and distinct Eastern European feel sparked Peter’s visual imagination, leading him to collaborate with Sara Pozin, a 20something, award winning Slovenian animator to create a video tribute to the brave people of Ukraine as they continue to struggle and survive the 2022 Russian invasion. The video featuring Pozin’s compelling minimalist, foreboding artwork has won multiple awards at prominent international film festivals.

Success came quickly for Peter, when the music label “World Disc” released his first album Harp Magic which was nominated in 1994 for NAIRD’s (now A2IM) Best String Album Award. In 2004 Sterling’s album Hap Dreams sat at the top of New Age Radio’s Top 100 for 8 weeks and garnered an Album of the Year nomination. In 2005 peter signed on with renowned new age music label Real Music to release his Shadow,Mist and Light cd. Peter’s self released 2008 effort The Sands of Time earned a nomination for a Hollywood Music Award for Best New Age Album. His 2012 release Patterns of Reflection soared to #1 on the ZMR 100 International Radio chart, also grabbing a nomination for Album of the Year. The very next year his album Twilight Serenade ascended to the #1 position on the ZMR Chart, while the track entitled “Isle of Light” earned a Bronze medal in the Global Music Awards for 2016. And his 2017 CD Sacred Visions went to #3 on the ZMR and won a Silver Global Music Award. In 2021 Peters album Sanctuary of Light won the Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best New Age Albums as well as the COVR Silver Visionary Music Award. In 2022 Peters album The Winding Way won Gold in the COVR Visionary Music Awards for Best New Age Album.

A favorite on Internet radio such as Pandora, Sirius, XM Satellite, and Soundscapes Radio as well as United and American airlines, Peter’s angelic music will continue to reach the masses, heal lives, balance brains, open hearts, and connect people to their innate spiritual essence.

Listen

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Jessie-May K Releases Album ‘Rising Sun’

May 25, 2023

Jessie’s first full length album is a triumph over childhood hardship – she explains below

Since escaping, recovering and healing from some childhood traumas, I’m finally experiencing a life where I’m free to live & not just survive. My whole world has opened up! The sun has finally shone through, I can explore people and places freely and breathe life in! Something I never had the chance to do as a child.

The first 18 years of my life were focused on surviving constant anxiety. It bubbled in my chest and body, it was like I hadn’t a second to take a breath. After escaping this situation, my brain and body shut down for a year like never before. My mental health had never been worse. The physicality of my depression & trauma hit me like a tonne of bricks. My mind and body were completely and rightfully exhausted.

I’ve grown the most, tried the most and felt the most free than ever in my life. I’ve met friends who have shown me levels of kindness and support I’d never experienced before and who help me remember life is worth living. I’m at a stage in my life where I’m younger now, a phoenix, regenerated, a Rising Sun. I’m still eclectic as a creator, but with this album I feel like I’ve really found my sound and one that expresses who I am inside.

There are so many people I couldn’t have made this album without! Artists I’ve collaborated with such as Brandon Macmillan, Jordan Ellery and the extraordinarily talented Dave Hunt. My wonderful sound engineers who do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to these projects: Andrew Beck, Olivia RA, Murray Dilger & Russell Pilling and my Vocal Coach Joanne McMahon.

Jessie-May K is a young Singer, Songwriter, Director, Actor & Artist. Most successful as an internet personality, Jessie has released four singles and a collection of episodic works that accompanied their 5 track EP Zone Out (2020).

Originally trained in Musical Theatre, Jessie transferred to music when they were 16, teaching themselves guitar from YouTube to elevate their musical career, as they had been writing songs with lyrics and melody since they were 5 years old.

Jessie is passionate about social justice and activism, often releasing music about movements that are important to them, raising awareness and sharing donation links in the hopes it will make a difference. Jessie is Neurodivergent and was born with ASD, ADHD, OCD and developed PTSD as a result of their early hardships and extreme childhood trauma. Jessie believes that the world thrives on diversity and that benign individuality is something to be celebrated and not feared.