Rick Shaffer - Rockwired Radio Profiles #661

Back in 2011, guitarist RICK SHAFFER perked our ears at ROCKWIRED with the release of his solo album HIDDEN CHARMS and it's reliance on the very fuzzy, distorted guitar sounds that made LINK WRAY legendary, the swagger that made THE STONES the big deal that they've been for fifty some odd years now and SHAFFER's purring vocals that recall STOOGES-era IGGY POP and VELVET UNDERGROUND-era LOU REED. Trust us when we say that no charms were hidden on that album. It was all audible and the perfect antidote to much of the over-production that had come to typify a lot of rock music that year. Hell, over-production still typifies much of the rock n roll that's out there now and thank God SHAFFER is back with a brand new album OUTSIDE OF TIME. SHAFFER's gritty rock n roll approach gets put to good use on material that speaks to life and lows (mostly lows) such as the stomping first single GOING DOWN SLOW accompanied by a mesmerizing music video. 

 

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http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles661.mp3

Angus Crowne & The Family Jewels - Rockwired Radio Profiles #660

Anyone who can pen a song damning the "man bun" is all right with us and ANGUS CROWNE and his band THE FAMILY JEWELS serves up such vitriol on his band's self-titled debut album. Aside from attacking a hairstyle that makes men look like "...a girl named Chloe" ANGUS and his band take on the trials and tribulations that go along with wanting to be who you are in a world that seems to overlook individuality or the need for self-expression as demonstrated on the tracks PAYCHECK, LOUNGE DOG, PUKING and a delightful take on HOAGY CARMICHAEL'S HEART AND SOUL. A man of many talents, CROWNE came to music following a multi-faceted creative career that included work as an author, screenwriter, playwright, theatrical producer, concert producer (BOY GEORGE, QUEEN), ran two prominent Los Angeles clubs, founder of the vaudeville inspired SEEDLING ACTING COMPANY in Rhode Island and performing in over 500 theatrical shows across the country. With his band THE FAMILY JEWELS, CROWNE has created sound that marries the melodic, amiable sounds of the ukelele with punk music. “Blend those two together and it emerges naturally as rockabilly with a little country in it,” Angus says. “It’s a new genre – mine. My music is ultimately about honesty and truth. And if I get to piss a few people off along the way, then my work here is done! The album is about where I am in my life right now. It’s about getting older, wiser, but at times feeling frustrated and bitter.”

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http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles560.mp3

Crooked Eye Tommy - Rockwired Radio Profiles #659

BUTTERFLIES & SNAKES - the debut album from CROOKED EYE TOMMY is garnering some favorable press as well as  nominations for the  DOC'S BLUES AWARD for BEST BAND and from the 2016 INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE for BEST SELF-PRODUCED CD. Sure the accolades are as blues-based as the sound but there is something more to  CROOKED EYE TOMMY than blues rooted rock n roll. It's brotherly love. Siblings TOMMY and PADDY MARSH were entranced by the sounds of RAY CHARLES and MUDDY WATERS as kids in the San Joaquin Valley. Artists such as these provided the foundation and the building blocks for the musical path that the brothers MARSH travel both separately and together. BUTTERFLIES & SNAKES is a culmination of years in music and going through all of the life's ups and downs - the very shit you just can't make up and CROOKED EYE TOMMY has the musicality and the know-how to make these tales of love and life transcend mere genre. 

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:
http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles659.mp3

Todd Apfel | Rockwired Radio Profiles #658

Any story arc having to do with chasing the rock n roll dream usually ends in glory, tragedy or simply fading into obscurity and if fame and fortune weren't the things the hero of the story was able to walk away with then at least he or she had a bunch of memories they could share with whoever is kind enough to listen. TODD APFEL got on that road to rock n roll glory as the lead of a band that had toured much of the Midwest. His band had even shared the stage with CHEAP TRICK. While APFEL experienced the highs of performing in front of large crowds and rubbing elbows with folks more famous it wasn't long before the grind of a life on the road caught up with him and his band mates and the rock n roll life was ditched in favor or Corporate America. Upon retirement from the corporate world, APFEL settled in the small town of VINING with a populations of 50. While this sounds like the denouement of some rock n roll tale, it is actually where the story gets interesting. It is the small town setting where APFEL has found the very thing that has eluded him for years - inspiration. We first became acquainted with him on his debut EP REFLECTIONS and now his music takes a more biographical turn with the aptly titled EP ONE HORSE TOWN.

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http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles658.mp3

Shallow Side | Rockwired Radio Profiles #657

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http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles657.mp3

Rockwired Radio Profiles #657 - Shallow Side

For years SHALLOW SIDE has been a favorite here at ROCKWIRED with a tough-as-nails sound that has never had a problem going over well on any active rock radio format. They've managed to make a name for themselves on a sound that one can bang their head to while walking away a with a melody that can be hummed at the office cubicle or on the road but their new single REBEL is something else. Yes this one won't have any problems getting the airplay needed to take it and the band to where they need to go but something is different in the execution and delivery. After speaking with the band's front man ERIC BOATRIGHT, it's clear that the notion of rebellion and shaking things up is where the band is at with this new single and their upcoming album. And if anything needs shaking up these days, isn't it rock n roll - which everyone from GENE SIMMONS or that other schmuck from KISS is writing off as "dead". With much of the rock n roll audience firmly entrenched in playlists from  twenty years ago SHALLOW SIDE is taking a proactive stance in proving to the masses that rock n roll is still a force to be reckoned with. And so is SHALLOW SIDE.

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http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles657.mp3

Rock Is Red #24 - Dee Erin Band

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http://www.rockwired.com/rockisred/rockisred24.mp3