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- Written by Bluebird
From RoastingHouse Records/Universal.
Press Release:
We're happy to announce the release of the Swedish rockband GIRI's second album "FIDGET" (March 12, 2012)
The first single "Lost And Found" has already got rotation on radiostations in Europe. "FIDGET" is a twelve track album and the songs are written, produced and mastered by GIRI.
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- Written by Bluebird
Black Country Communion has taken off and created an intense set of albums in just a few short years. Afterglow was reviewed by Deb Hebert, the writer for The Week in Joe, as well as our own webmaster, Brian Shea. We had a lot of discussion of this band both on the website and with our readers. I listened to the record right along in pre-release and had these comments and reactions to the record:
Read more: Afterglow by Black Country Communion, Review and Commentary by Bluebird
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- Written by Bluebird
This website was built on classic rock. We quickly learned, however, that you can't speak about any classic rock in depth until you understand the history of blues and folk music. Jazz and soul overlaps with these genres too and don't even get me started on the roots of funk. As blurred as the boundaries can be amongst these styles of music, each has a core sound that many experts can identify. I am not an expert on any form. I am a here to listen and learn, I write as I go. 
The best way to learn a new language is to immerse yourself in it, and that is my mission. This summer, I packed up my family and we spent our vacation time at the Newport's Folk and Jazz festivals. Upon return from this trip, I received this album, All Out Of Peaches, from The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra. Given that it was a product of New Folk Records, (2011) at first glance, I thought I'd be equipped to tackle this review. But after listening to the opening title track, it was like nothing I'd heard to date.
Photo Credit: Zach Nichols
Read more: The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra: All Out of Peaches
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- Written by Brian Shea
"Afterglow - Emerging As A True Classic"
A Review of Afterglow, Black Country Communion
by Brian Shea
Does anyone remember the sounds of the early 70's? BCC sure does, and creates a true homage to the great classic rock albums of the past, and to the huge powerful acts that filled arenas. I can hear so many influences in the songs, including Deep Purple, The Who, Bad Company, Rush, and, ok, maybe a little Led Zeppelin (hard blues rock with incredible pounding drums from Bonham).
At first listen, I was really blown away. So much so that I thought it could end up being one of those Classic Classics, the one's we look back and go WOW! Albums such as Appetite for Destruction, Ten, Temple of the Dog, Machine Head, Who's Next, Moving Pictures, or VH 1. You get the picture. (sure, throw in a Zep album or two if you like).
That was my first impression.
Read more: Black Country Communion: Afterglow, Review by Brian Shea
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- Written by Bluebird
Review by Bluebird
Release Date: October 2, 2012 
Label: Last Gang Records
Lindi Ortega made the trip from Toronto to Nashville, TN, with a Hank Williams influence and a great producer, Colin Linden. This record uses gentle depth in the production that expands the soul. With Mexican/Irish roots, Ortega's voice is soft and clear, with just enough twang to be called country. I'm trying to decide if she's got some blue-eyed soul in her. Full of breath and warmth, her vocals are precise.
Inspired by an interest in the blues on early country music, the musicianship is clearly a throwback to that time. You can hear the instruments so clearly, it is a joy to follow each song through crescendo to end. This is her second album, after her JUNO award nominated record, Little Red Boots, and the material she deals with in Cigarettes and Truck Stops, yields straight on blues topics; struggle, travel, life, death and, of course, the cross roads and the after-life. Much like the courage of Patti Griffin, she boldly announces who she is to her audience. She has been acclaimed to sound like Emmylou Harris, but certainly is bringing her own style into the genre.
"Cigarettes and Truckstops" the title track had a sweet vintage sound, maybe a reminder that Patsy Cline is still out there somewhere, while "Don't Want To Hear It" had a soul mover rollick much like Bonnie Raitt or blues singer, Beth Hart. "Demons Don't Get Me Down" is straight on piano bar, dusty country, juke joint music. "Murder of Crows" is a deep cut of blues with the opening guitar and Ortega takes you on a ride. She brings mystique into the record with this storytelling ballad. "Heaven Has No Vacancy" is piercing. "Every Mile Of The Ride" is airy and open, a wonderful way to end this classic record.
Cigarettes and Truckstops is recommended not only for country music collectors, but music fans in general, who want a record that pulls from the roots into modern times.
~A Press Note from Lindi Ortega's Biography:
Cigarettes & Truck Stops was largely inspired by Ortega's move to Nashville from her hometown, Toronto, which brought her closer to the origins of many of her influences, including Hank Williams. By reading a biography of Williams, Ortega discovered his mentor Rufus "Tee-Tot" Payne, the street performer who taught Williams to play guitar. This sparked Ortega's interest in the influence of blues on early country—a fascination that comes through strongly on the record. Ortega brought on praised producer and T-Bone Burnett musician, Colin Linden (O Brother Where Art Thou, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Cockburn) for the project when she found that he shared her interest in blues and the roots of country music.
LINDI ORTEGA TOUR DATES
*Social Distortion tour
October
11 /// Chicago, IL /// Vic Theatre*
October
16 /// Detroit, MI /// Royal Oak Music Theatre*
October
18 /// Cleveland, OH /// House Of Blues*
October
20 /// Toronto, ON /// The Sound Academy*
October
23 /// Montreal, QC /// Metropolis*
October
26 /// New York, NY /// Roseland Ballroom*
October
30 /// Boston, MA /// House Of Blues*
November
1 /// Sayreville, NJ /// Starland Ballroom*
November
3 /// Philadelphia, PA /// The Electric Factory*
November
6 /// Washington, DC /// 9:30 Club*
November
9 /// Charlotte, NC /// The Fillmore Charlotte*
November
10 /// Myrtle Beach, SC /// House Of Blues*
November
11 /// Atlanta, GA /// Tabernacle*
November
13 /// Chattanooga, TN /// Track 29*
November
14 /// New Orleans, LA /// House Of Blues*
November
16 /// San Antonio, TX /// Backstage
Live*
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- Written by Bluebird
Excerpts From the Press Biography:
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- Written by S.A. Hussey
"It's the wind over the ocean. It's the secrets in the sand.
It's all trying to tell me something.
So I'm listening."
"Life is Calling"
~ Lyrics by Beth Hart
Beth Hart came into the world on January 24th and grew up in Los Angeles, California. At the tender age of 4, she was playing piano and at age 18, won 13 episodes in a row on Star Search, where she went on to win the show's final competition. Years later, she is performing and making blues records with guitarist Joe Bonamassa and appearing worldwide in legendary line-ups, including Jeff Beck.
