Rockwired Radio Profiles #604 - Luke Underhill

I remember a time when people felt that rock n roll and earnest songwriting was going to be a thing of the past. They said that during the height of the boy band era and they are saying it now in the JUSTIN BIEBER/NICKI MINAJ era. But when we see a fresh faced twenty year old take his songwriting queue from the likes of BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN we have to wonder if there is any validity to all of this doomsaying. Earlier this year, said "fresh face twenty year old" LUKE UNDERHILL released his album ATLAS - a punchy little pop-rock album that hits all of the right targets for mainstream radio airplay yet pulls at the heart strings without coming across all sentimental. Now UNDERHILL has released an interesting follow up - an eight-song EP of acoustic renderings of songs from the ATLAS album titled ATLAS - UNPLUGGED. The songwriting truly shines in  these stripped down acoustic performances. LUKE UNDERHILL is a name to remember the next time the subject of the future of songwriting comes up.

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:
http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles604.mp3

Rockwired Radio Profiles #603 - Nick Peay

The days of music telling a story as compelling as any that you see on TV are long gone but that hasn't stopped singer songwriter NICK PEAY from using the EP format to brings about songs that paint a vivid picture in ones mind of the struggle of addiction. Surprisingly, PEAY relates to us that he himself has never struggled with addiction which is strange given the intimacy in the lyrics of his latest EP SOBERING. While the struggle of putting down and laying off the sauce makes for a stirring listen the music and the lyrics both thankfully steer clear of sensationalism or righteousness and instead treat the subject of addiction with the humanity that such a subject deserves. At the very least the track PUT THE BOTTLE DOWN could be the new theme for INTERVENTION. Isn't it about time that show retired FIVE STEPS by THE DAVENPORTS?

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:
http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles603.mp3

Rockwired Radio Profiles #602 - Red Velvet Crush

Before the establishment of the band RED VELVET CRUSH, front woman JILLIAN RISCOE had made a little bit of noise as a solo artist but the idea of being a part of a band was more enticing to the young singer songwriter hailing from Kansas City, Missouri. Teaming up with guitarist and songwriting partner DANIEL MENDALA, RED VELVET CRUSH was formed and has since stunned listeners and live audiences with their potent mixture of pop smarts and guitar driven tunes that could easily find their way onto most modern rock radio formats. The proof of this can be heard on the band's 2013 EP SMOKE AND MIRRORS. Now RED VELVET CRUSH are gearing up for what they are dubbing their "coming of age" album. The plan is to work with producer JOSH GLEAVE out of Nashville and the band has started a KICKSTARTER to raise funds for this ambitious endeavor. The campaign expires October 15, 2015 and if an endorsement from ROCKWIRED means anything, we must say that this band and it's front woman are most definitely worth it. 

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:

http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles602.mp3

Rockwired Radio Profiles #601 - Ships Have Sailed

It isn't often that we do double duty here at ROCKWIRED RADIO PROFILES but in the case of SHIPS HAVE SAILED releasing a remix album on the heals of their flawlessly produced alternative pop album MOOD SWINGS, we needed to make a exception. Released in March of this year, MOODSWINGS is that breezy, feel good release that you find yourself listening to all Summer long. Right now it makes us a little sorry for that fact that we are just getting around to these guys on the very day that Autumn has begun. The singles DRIVE (not too dissimilar from THE CARS' classic pop ballad of the same name) and the punchy SUMMERTIME stand out by a mile on a CD that knows how to boast clever hooks and melodies that get stuck with you for weeks. Now, SHIPS HAVE SAILED have released their aptly titled RE:MIX EP where four songs from the band's already  effervescent catalog become even more effervescent in the hands of some ace dee-jays. The band's penchant for pop song craft is undeniable.

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:
http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles601.mp3

Rock Is Red #14 - Jana Mashonee

There is this perception out there that independent artists don't make any money and that they never will unless they get themselves signed to a major label. For years now Lumbee recording artist JANA MASHONEE has taken matters into her own hands without major label interference and has managed to secure a couple of GRAMMY nominations and a couple NAMMY award wins. Her musical ambitions know no bounds as she is all to happy to have us know in her uplifting new single ROCKET LAUNCH. Accompanied by a playful, sexy new video MASHONEE is making a splash like she's never made before and it's got us more than excited for some of the new tunes that are on the horizon. Evidently, being the captain of your own ship is the only way to go in this new musical climate. 

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:
http://www.rockwired.com/rockisred/rockisred14.mp3

Rock Is Red #13 - Wolf Saga

The pristine and precise synth sound that typified 1980's new wave  was a sound that has never left me. As a child of the REAGAN-era, the music that I listened to was the antithesis of the 60's/70's styled sensibilities of my parents generation so I find it funny how a kid who is half my age is out there and making music that exemplifies all that I loved about the music of my "growing up". WOLF SAGA is a project helmed by Anishinaabe  musician and songwriter JOHNNY SAGA who has just released his newest EP AUBURN NIGHTS and the radiant four song collection definitely deserves it's place on the shelf between MGMT's "CONGRATULATIONS" and THE STROKES' "ROOM ON FIRE". Grounding WOLF SAGA's iridescent electronica is an undeniable punk sensibility which comes through loud and clear on the tracks ALL IN and WALLS. In my interview with JOHNNY SAGA he states that he will be heading back to the studio to work on new material whcih is a good thing. He's got me wanting to hear more. 

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:

http://www.rockwired.com/rockisred/rockisred13.mp3

Rockwired Radio Profiles #600 - ShaManic

It is the 600th edition of ROCKWIRED RADIO PROFILES and what do we do? We break away from tradition and profile a hip hop artist. SHAMANIC is a young man with a story to tell and that story is vividly illustrated through rapid fire rhyme and unrelenting beats on his debut LP THE ARTIST. White guys in rap are nothing to shake a stick at in this post-MARSHALL MATHERS musical climate but what should get people talking is SHAMANIC's long and winding road of survival. Haunted by a life marred by mental illness and a horrifying tenure in a mental hospital SHAMANIC has takes a few at his demons on this mesmerizing debut with such tracks as the penetrating first single MINDLESS, BA DA DA DA (the albums one moment of levity) and the chilling MR. ANDERSON. There is no artist out there that is comparable at the moment so in the meantime you're going to have to file this one somewhere in between MARSHALL MATHERS and the most intense WILLIAM FRIEDKIN movie that you can think of.   

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:
http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles600.mp3