Rock Is Red #23 - Ethan 103

A punk band  coming out of Indian Country is certainly no novelty anymore and the guys form ETHAN 103 ain't not novelty act either. Their in-you-face punk sound packs all of the punch that made bands like BAD RELIGION and THE MISFITS the big deals that they were but ETHAN 103 brings something else tot he table other than the typical white boy errancy that has marked much of the genre. These guys use the straight-forward approach of punk to address issues of American Indian survival and resistance against oppression as they had on their 2011 single 500. What would punk be without an eye-catching, raucous live set? Well these guys have made their presence known throughout much of the Southwest. They even got our attention at a show in Albuquerque not too long ago and front man MASTER WAYNE has enough stage presence and charisma to put the band on the map. Their new single PUNK ROCK FASHION POLICE is a jab at the hypocrisy of  punk scene that puts posing above being genuine. Given the fact that we feel these guys are the real thing, their observations are definitely worth listening to and taking as gospel. 

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:
http://www.rockwired.com/rockisred/rockisred23.mp3

Rock Is Red #22 - Susan Aglukark

In speaking with Inuk singer songwriter SUSAN AGLUKARK, it is surprising to learn that her resolve as an artist and a musician was never truly solidified in her mind until after the release of her fourth album THIS CHILD. The 1995 album went three times platinum in Canada and earned her two JUNO AWARDS yet AGLUKARK maintains that her role as singer songwriter felt undefined until the follow up album UNSUNG HERO.  "On that album is a song called STAND UP written around 1997 or 1998." says AGLUKARK. "I remember having this moment of realization . I was the artist the EMI RECORDS had signed. I'm the center of this thing. I am the focus. I have to lead this. If I'm the writing the songs I'm directing he story and with  that knowledge came this profound peace. I needed to stop writing hit songs and just answer the call of the song. I fell inn love with being a conduit using the music as a tool to share the culture. That was when I knew that I had to commit to this musical career. That was when I knew."  And commit she has! AGLUKARK's musical career has been beautifully cataloged on nine albums over the span of twenty-five years. Her sound marries Inuk folk music traditions with contemporary pop and country flourishes. Now she is in the midst of putting together a brand new album with songs that speak to and for her Inuk culture, the wrongs of the past and the frailty of the human condition. While these themes are nothing new to AGLUKARK's music, she maintains that there will be a few surprises.  As she progresses in her life as both a musician and a spokesperson for numerous non-profit organizations working with Aboriginal and Inuit youth AGLUKARK has never lost sight of the importance of her music and it's message.  "Sometimes we (as Native people) feel like we begin when the government says we begin. Our identity comes from an institutional organization and they say this is what you are and this is what you do. When I got into this career it was all too easy to let everyone else make choices and decisions for me. That was how I had been conditioned . The more I engaged art and the more I wrote, the more I was empowered and realized that I had  the opportunity through music, singing and songwriting to share my views and my culture. This is mine but I had to come to that place first. At the core of all of the problems with our youth is this identity crisis." 

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:

http://www.rockwired.com/rockisred/rockisred22.mp3

Rockwired Radio Profiles #653 - One Less Reason

History has proven that a lot of time some of the best rock music is fueled by a single. solitary vision and not so much compromise. Early on in his career CRIS BROWN saw the detriments of working as a group and seeing the music suffer due to line up changes and whatever the hell else that gets thrown in front of a band these days. In 2003 he began recording as ONE LESS REASON. Setting his music apart from most active rock fare is BROWN's approach to telling an engaging story through song with his assured delivery, musicality and know-how when it comes to working the recording console. For five albums now ONE LESS REASON has garnered some impressive sales with all five albums in their impressive catalog and BROWN is on the verge of releasing ONE LESS REASON's sixth album THE MEMORIES UNINVITED and to paraphrase BROWN -"...if this were to be my last album I would be so happy with it!"  While we hope to hear more from ONE LESS REASON in the future we must agree that THE MEMORIES UNINVITED is definitely something to feel proud of. It's meaningful approach to hard rock never comes off heavy-handed and BROWN cleverly shows the world that he's got something. Check out the single WHERE WERE YOU?.

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:

http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles653.mp3

Rockwired Radio Profiles #652 - 18th & Addison

KAIT DIBENEDETTO and TOM KUNZMAN are a dynamic duo in every sense of the term. DIBENEDETTO first experienced fame through MTV's TOTAL REQUEST LIVE with her band JUST KAIT and has maintained her chops as the guitarist for the band WHAT'S EATING GILBERT. KUNZMAN was formerly in the band A CRIMINAL RISK. 18TH & ADDISON was born out of two guitarists wanting to get their yah-yahs out creatively and results of their decision to join forces was the 2015 EP LITTLE PARASITES. Now they have released their brand new album MAKESHIFT MONSTER. "We're so excited!" exclaims DIBENEDETTO. "It's funny because we were super proud of the EP that we released a couple of years ago but we've had all of these songs that we've written since that release. These songs have been brewing in our brains and have kind of been sitting for a while so it's great to finally bring those songs to life on this album and record them and finally make something of them. That is super-exciting for us.  We got a lot off of our chest with this album. It's a step up from what we used to do."

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:

http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles652.mp3

Rockwired Radio Profiles #651 - The KC Sisters

Having shared their dynamic, harmony driven vocal and instrumental excitement in hundreds of performances throughout their home state of Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York, the multi-talented fivesome THE KC SISTERS are putting a fresh new spin on the term "Sister Act." Harkening back to the heyday of family groups, with a rootsy, Americana sound that incorporates folk, country, gospel, R&B and jazz, the Casey siblings are now emerging as recording artists with the release of their debut EP featuring the original vocal ballad DADDY CAME HOME the inspirational TOUCH THE SKY, and the lively, multiple violin driven instrumental HOW THE IRISH WON THE WEST. What sets The KC Sisters apart from any other group of musical siblings or indie bands is their musical diversity, transcendent ease with three and four part harmonies, and the fact that each sister is a multi-talented vocalist and musician skilled in a variety of instruments. DEANNA (19) and NOELLE (17), who wrote DADDY COME HOME with their father, the group’s producer and arranger CHRIS CASEY, play violin, piano, drums, guitar and bass. Their younger sisters are 15 year old TASHA (violin, drums, piano, bass) and 12 year old ELISE (violin, cello, bass, piano, drums) and KATHLEEN (violin, bass, drums, piano). Their shows include multi-harmonized vocals, instrumentals, country fiddling, a cappella hymns, pop, jazz, standards and country music. 

 

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:
http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles651.mp3

Rockwired Radio Profiles #650 - Sweet Sweet

We've never been the type of people to put a great deal of stock in what ROLLING STONE has to say about anything but in a recent issue they cited that the folk sounds of bands such as MUMFORD AND SONS and THE LUMINEERS went the way of OBAMA's first term as President. Trust us, the movement - if we can call it that - is still very much alive. If you don't believe us just look at the majority of acts that fins their way onto THE VOICE or AMERICA'S GOT TALENT but if you're looking for something a little more refined or even elegant, look no further than the aptly titled folk duo SWEET SWEET out of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina whose whimsical spirit and musicality are on full display on their brand new EP IN TANDEM. JEREMY DUNHAM (guitars and vocals) emerges as a truly distinctive and formidable vocal talent and KERRIN GIFFORD's virtuosity with the cello gives DUNHAM the pitch perfect accompaniment. The first single TO THE STARS  has the potential to take this duo to some fantastic heights. 

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:

http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles650.mp3

Rockwired Radio Profiles #649 - Moxy & The Influence

High energy Rock and Roll, best when played at full volume. With ages ranging from just 13 to 21, MOXY AND THE INFLUENCE are four young Southern California rockers who bring it with power and drive to every performance. Their female-fronted sound is a modern mix of all that was great in the 80’s hard rock scene, and all that continues to move audiences today. Performing mostly original material, now and then they feature a cover with their own energy and style. Bursting onto the Southern California rock scene in late 2013, this young band surprised audiences with hit-worthy original rock songs combined with a high-energy stage performance complete with headbanging and crowd interaction. Catchy lyrics infused with a message of individualism span generations. Currently the band's musical smarts and charm can be heard loud and clear on their latest EP THE BEST REVENGE and their cracking new single STOMP YOU DOWN.

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:
http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles649.mp3