Monday, November 14, 2022

"Lighter Blue” by Jasper Wilderness – A Song Feature

 

     There is always a risk when releasing a 6-minute single during a time of short attention-span music appreciation. The risk is managed when the single is divided into multiple portions that are easily distinguishable and are launched by fundamentally different attention-grabbing prefaces. That describes "Lighter Blue” by Jasper Wilderness.
 
     The start of “Lighter Blue” features impassioned vocals with intelligent lyrics pondering difficult times. A Peavy Power Slide lap steel guitar is powerful in its ability to magnify the emotion. Then, at 2:19, a kick drum is the focal instrument of a crescendo into the second portion of the single from Jasper Wilderness. If there was any chance of a listener starting to fade away, the kick drum reverses the listener’s direction. This second section is more encouraging. The final portion has a piano-paved on-ramp that begins at 3:41. The lap steel guitar resumes its role, but the piano during this final portion establishes a more positive vibe. 
 
      Jasper Wilderness is an Alt Rock band based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The five members are Gabriel Phillips (lead vocals), Samuel Bowling (bass), Jacob Brallier (dobro, mandolin), Justin Scott (keys), and Jeremy Pelotte (drums). Many of their pictures show a sixth person, since Samuel’s brother Nick Bowling (guitar) has played with the band. They self-describe their sound as “Rock and Roll but with a mandolin and other instruments that you haven't yet heard of, made in a living room with two ugly sofas and five decently cool dudes.”
 
     While explaining “Lighter Blue,” Phillips wrote;
  “You can’t chase the moon when skies turn to Lighter Blue”
Wrote these lyrics at the end of a tough season. It’s interesting how in dark days, sometimes some small things actually are pretty black and white. If you’re lost in the night, you at least have the moon to hold onto.
Even in those years when I was yearning for dawn, once the sun began to rise and I saw some serious breakthrough in my life, new fears arose and I struggled with self-doubt. Hope this song encourages some people walking through a similar time. It’ll all be okay, it’ll all be okay, love. Don’t lose sight.
 
     "Lighter Blue” by Jasper Wilderness
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasperwilderness/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasperwilderness/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jasperwilderness
 
     “Alibi” is more hook-heavy and riff-driven slice of traditional Rock.

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

The Coronas Are Touring!

      The champions of endearing vocals and enduring crescendos are finally able to demonstrate why The Coronas have mounted a passionate fanbase in their home country. The Irish band recognizes the power of a live performance, and their shows reflect that awareness, as well as an appreciation of the concert attendees. As part of the release of their previous album during the pandemic, The Coronas got creative and conducted a socially-distanced tour of Ireland in an album-themed ice cream truck. The album, “True Love Waits,” was able to reach No. 1, despite releases from Taylor Swift and fellow-countrymen Fontaines D.C.
 
     A more conventional touring approach is available with the recent release of the album “Time Stopped” on the band’s imprint SoFarSoGood Records. The Coronas are touring in North America before heading to Australia, then Dubai, and finally back to Ireland. Among the stops is a visit to The Independent in San Francisco on November 18. The full tour and relevant ticket information can be viewed at the Facebook page CLICK HERE. 
 
     “’Time Stopped’ was written to be played live,” says lead singer Danny O’Reilly. “We’re ridiculously excited to be on the road again and to play these new songs to full capacity rooms around the world. It’s going to be emotional.” The high energy that The Coronas bring to each live show is apparent from the performance of “Don’t You Say You’re In Love” at Trinity College in Dublin. The video is embedded below.

     Our favorite songs from the album are those that include extended crescendos, which is a trademark of The Coronas. The horns-augmented “Karma” has a stepped build that is more than a minute long. “At Least We’ll Always Have LA” and the title track, “Time Stopped” are also recommended. 

 

Monday, November 7, 2022

A Pair of Anthems – The Hvnter and Welshly Arms

     Cinema-ready powerhouse singles are typically aided by chorus-like backing vocals. That is true for “You Can’t Stop The Fire” by The Hvnter and every release from Welshly Arms.

“You Can’t Stop The Fire” by The Hvnter

     The Hvnter is the performance name of Karl Anderson, who is from Portland, Maine. While talking about his single, Anderson explained:

  I wrote this song just as the pandemic was settling in. Everything felt uncertain and a bit scary. “You Can’t Stop The Fire” became an anthem for me. It’s a song about pushing back against the things that hold you back. We all come from different places and have experienced life in different ways. Most of us have experienced that situation/person that tried to hold us down…and sometimes we even do that to ourselves. “You Can’t Stop The Fire” is about being an unstoppable force and rolling over whatever life throws at you.



Lyrics of “You Can’t Stop The Fire” by The Hvnter

I paid my dues I quit the talk

Laced up my boots and I learned to walk

I've been your fool I've been your prop

But I cut you loose and climbed to the top

 

Nobody gonna hold me down

Nobody gonna hold me down

You got your soul chained to your throne

But I own the streets and I walk alone

 

And I'm telling you

You can't stop the fire

No

No you can't stop the fire

No No

 

I've seen the edge I've felt the flame

I've rolled the dice and I've played the game

I've been a king I've been slave

I've slipped a noose and I've jumped the grave

 

Nobody gonna hold me down

Nobody gonna hold me down

I don't need no gold don't need no fame

I wanna watch your smiles be put to shame

 

And I'm telling you

You can't stop the fire

No

No you can't stop the fire

No No

 

You can't stop the fire

No

You can't stop the fire

No

No you can't stop the fire

No No

 

You can't stop the fire

No

No you can't stop the fire

No No

You can't stop the fire

No

No you can't stop the fire

No you can't stop it

No No


“Proud” by Welshly Arms

     The members of Welshly Arms are Sam Getz (guitar, vocals), Jimmy Weaver (bass), Mikey Gould (drums), and Bri and Jon Bryant (backing vocals). The band is based in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

     “Proud” is the latest single from Welshly Arms from their forthcoming 2023 Q1 album. This track is all about prevailing through the darkest of days. “Won’t apologize for the wisdom, Won’t run away from my mission to survive,” as front man Sam sings. Welshly Arms recently started an 18-date US headlining tour. 


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/welshlyarmsband
Website: http://www.welshlyarms.com/
 
Lyrics of “Proud” by Welshly Arms
I don't need to have a premonition, don't need permission
It's my condition not to hide
Won't apologize for the wisdom
Won't run away from my mission to survive
Won't let my head hang low
Won't let the monster grow
No time to be humble
The world is a jungle
 
Cuz I've been nobody and I know what's it like to drown
(PROUD PROUD PROUD)
And I been punch drunk, but I woke up sober now
(PROUD PROUD PROUD)
I never avoid it
I see it, destroy it
Hell yes, I've fallen, but I never hit bottom
I'm feeling so damn proud
(PROUD PROUD, PROUD PROUD PROUD)
 
I was born a walking demolition, head on collision
Still hear the ringing in my ears
Every hard lesson I learned it, that's why it's worth it
Damn right, I earned it
Won't let my head hang low
Won't let the monster grow
No time to be humble
The world is a jungle
 
Cuz I've been nobody and I know what's it like to drown
(PROUD PROUD PROUD)
And I been punch drunk, but I woke up sober now
(PROUD PROUD PROUD)
I never avoid it
I see it, destroy it
Hell yes, I've fallen, but I never hit bottom
I'm feeling so damn proud
(PROUD PROUD, PROUD PROUD PROUD)
(PROUD PROUD, PROUD PROUD PROUD)
 
I'm feeling
(No time to be humble, the world is a jungle)
I'm feeling
(No time to be humble)
Oh, I'm feeling PROUD
 
Cuz I've been nobody and I know what's it like to drown
(PROUD PROUD PROUD)
And I been punch drunk, but I woke up sober now
(PROUD PROUD PROUD)
I never avoid it
I see it, destroy it
Hell yes, I've fallen, but I never hit the bottom
I'm feeling...
 
I never avoid it
I see it, destroy it
Oh... I'm feeling PROUD
(PROUD PROUD, PROUD PROUD PROUD)
I'm feeling, I'm feeling, I'm feeling
(PROUD PROUD, PROUD PROUD PROUD)
I'm feeling, I'm feeling, I'm feeling
(PROUD PROUD, PROUD PROUD PROUD)
Hell yes, I've fallen, but I never hit bottom
There ain't no doubt I'm proud