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:

ChiPs – Frequent Flyer(Official Video)

July 21, 2023

The Mezcaltones Release Single ‘I Wanna Do It With You’

July 21, 2023

‘I Wanna Do It With You’ is the second single from the fourth and latest album ‘Agave Soiree’.

On the back of the first single from ‘Agave Soirée’ (‘If l Could Make You See’), The Mezcaltones present part two of their “Modern Romance Trilogy” entitled ‘I Wanna Do It With You’. This song is a “progressive country” track and poses the question… What if Otis Redding was a member of the Allman Brothers? The spark behind ‘I Wanna Do It With You’ is the ostinato theme, set up by the lead guitar and met with a syncopated guitar rhythm to make the opening statement. Col and Dan’s vocals appear as one as they blanket the verses to be countered with a call and response guitar solo played in double stop harmony. This lyrically optimistic and light hearted jaunt is a delight to the ears and a smile to the soul.

The Mezcaltones are…

Neralita
Rhythm and slide guitar. She has and uses a handmade resonator for slide and a Gretsch for the Bigsby stuff but her guitar of choice is the Slimline telly played through a VOX AC15…

Mimi
Mimi is a graduate of the Sydney School of Theatre and has acted on stage and screen. A triple threat… she also sings and dances plus displays her skills with different apparatus including, hula hoop, ribbons, flags and anything else she can get her hands on.

Lucre
Bass guitar and one hell of a one half of the engine room. Light on his feet with fingers to match.

Don Juan
Drummer and the other half of the engine room. Dan is not only an exceptional drummer but is the primary backing vocals and harmony person. Bangin’ out the lows and belting out the highs.

Shango
Lead Guitar. A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and someone with a deeply developed sense of sound textures making for an immersive musical experience.

Col Padre
Frontman. Raspy, experienced singer with an innate sense of humour which is reflected in his lyrics and delivery.

Song Description

Gotta love an up-tempo single that starts with the chorus. The Mezcaltones have scored bigtime with this catchy, upbeat, hooky tune. Plenty of guitar riffs, ooh aah backing vocals and snappy drums and bass on this full throttle Texmex track.

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:

Connect with The Mezcaltones:

ChIPS release single ‘Frequent Flyer’

July 15, 2023

“Frequent Flyer” is an atmospheric and emotive pop song created by young people from the Chronic Illness Peer Support (ChIPS) service. The track powerfully conveys the experience of being a young person living with a chronic health condition and learning to cope with frequent stays in hospital.

ChIPS members were empowered to write, compose and record the song in collaboration with musicians/producers Luke Escombe and Benny Thatcher from “We Wrote That”. Luke and Benny are themselves “frequent flyers” living with chronic health conditions. Using music and song writing as a means of expression has been a powerful outlet for not only ChIPS members but also the musicians involved.

VIDEO

Luke Escombe: ““Frequent Flyer” was a true collaboration that evolved over many zoom discussions and writing sessions. It’s ended up being an expression of not just the individual tastes and talents of the group but of the underlying emotions we all feel about having a lifestyle that involves being in and out of hospital. It shows how powerful music can be in communicating ideas that are often too difficult or painful to put into words”.

The song was launched on 16 May at the NSW Health and Arts Framework Forum in front of NSW Health staff including Deputy Secretary Deborah Willcox. It was received with a standing ovation and the young people involved were invited to speak on their experience of using creative expression to amplify and elevate their voices.

ChIPS would like to acknowledge the support of Accessible Arts and Health Infrastructure NSW in this project.

Song Description

An indie tune put together by the ChIPS team from the Childrens Hospital and producer Luke Escombe. Some great sounds plus collaborative vocals from all the participants. Frequent Flyer is the term used for their frequent hospital visits. An important and special song which will help raise awareness.

About ChIPS

ChIPS is a peer support program that runs across Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network for young people aged 12-25 years who are living with a chronic illness or condition that affects their day-to-day lives. The aim of the program is to connect young people with shared experiences and provide them with opportunities for developing leadership and life skills through workshops, advocacy, creative projects, program planning and public speaking.

Since 2021, members of ChIPS have been collaborating with artists Luke Escombe and Benny Thatcher, of arts-in-health initiative “We Wrote That”, to write and record original songs that speak to the experience of being a young person living with a chronic health condition.

ChIPS – Frequent Flyer is out NOW July 14th through Foghorn/MGM

Download or stream:

“We Wrote That” – Website with previous releases and making of blog
https://wewrotethat.com.au/

Connect with Luke Escombe:

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

Kaiyah Mercedes’ Latest Single ‘Hide With Me’ Added to SoundsLike Cafe Playlist

July 1, 2023

‘Hide With Me’ is Kaiyah Mercedes’ first single following the release of her debut album ‘Hindsight’ in October of 2022. Kaiyah shows growth and maturity in this indie-pop, queer coming of age story.

The 17 year old LGBTQI+ Melbourne-based singer/songwriter was inspired to write the song from the positive queer teenage stories in the ground-breaking television show ”Heartstopper”, which also proliferates new music from unsigned artists. The themes of this song explore sexuality and self-identity, and finding love along the way.

A departure from their previous indie-folk incarnation and influenced by artists including Gracie Abrams, Orla Gartland, and L.i.E, Kaiyah seamlessly shifts gears in “Hide With Me” with the help of Melbourne-based producer Seetali Mack (Kevin Silvester). The two driven artists have come together to create a wondrous track that makes you feel both nostalgic for the past and hopeful for the future. Opening with a slow and soothing melody that captures innocence and apprehension, the energy builds through hopeful and upbeat rhythms and lyrics that speak to the resilience and optimism of youth.

At just 17 years old, Kaiyah has already gained recognition for her powerful and introspective debut album “Hindsight” which received national and international radio play across Europe, the USA, Canada, and the UK; track 7 spent three weeks on the AMRAP Top 10 Metro Charts; and the album has over 215,000 streams on Spotify alone.

Mixed by Garrett Kato (Julia Stone, Ziggy Alberts, Tones and I) and mastered by Sam Berdah from The Wall Studio, ‘Hide With Me’ has already reached the 10th spot on the AMRAP Metro Charts in its first week.

Stream

Connect with Kaiyah

SoundsLike Cafe