Mark Stone and the Dirty Country Band: Self titled EP (Review)

Today I have Mark Stone and the Dirty Country Band, a band based in Texas USA. A country/rock band, describing their music as “A Honky Tonk Bar Brawl Between the Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Alice in Chains Would Sound Like. Turning Southern Rock to 11 one gig at a time.” 

This is their self titled EP

 Whiskey Talkin'
I would say more of the rock with some blues guitar than a country song, unlike what I think of as a classic rock song it's not as fast and upbeat. With the blues style guitars it gives another feel about the song, and the actual riffs are amazing. There's also a familiarity to them, something that after a long time and listening to a lot of sounds I found the familiarity in Bon Jovi. It's not the whole song I found the similarity just the catchy guitar riffs. There's a great vocal range though out the song, more than I was expecting to be honest. In the rare times I've listened to this style of music I'd found the vocals can often be lacking, but Mark's voice is really good, making the lyrics clear and stand out against the music its self. Lyrics is this a story of a man in love with the alcohol or not? I find it hard to tell. Over all I enjoyed the song, it wasn't something I got bored of as I had it on repeat but I wouldn't have called it country by any means.

Hardest Way
Shorter than the previous song Hardest Way it also slower, keeping it simple with the same small beat repeating it's self almost all the way through the song, apart from the end when the tempo speeds slightly. The more times I've listened to it the more it's grown on me, at first I kept expecting it to speed us as it hit a chorus but it didn't. The guitars have more a blues feel than previously giving a different feel than Whiskey Takin'. Mark's strong voice standing out, but it's not the type of song I'd find myself singing along too. It's more a song to listen to that to get involved with. Lyric wise I'm still loving them, the message of learning from mistakes the hardest way is a good one but I don't think they come across that well. As a song it just doesn't make a great impression on me.

Enjoy The Rise
Has more of a soft country feel, I found myself tapping my foot to the beat and swaying side to side. I like the softer, catchy feel of the song, I think it works with the touch of blues and strong vocals. I prefer the music here, I think the slightly softer stuff works for them and as much as I love rock it doesn't always come off. Lyrics this time I did like, an actual story of love and having someone to enjoy the rise of life with.

Rhonda
The music is back to more of a rock sounding but the lyrics have a country feel, and honestly I don't like it. The guitar riffs I still love, there's an obvious skill there and Mark's vocals never fail to be good. It's the lyrics mostly 'Rhonda you make my mind wander in the barn or the cornfield or a hayloft For two, the silo or anywhere when I'm with you' I just find them... cheesy? For people who've been in music for such a long time I'd expect better. All together musicly it's pretty good but the lyrics let it down. 

It's All Good
From what started as a very rock sounding EP with gone to the opposite and hit the country side. A happy, upbeat song and very different from previous tracks. I mean confuses my knowledge on country music isn't amazing but I find myself tapping my foot to it and getting into the beat. I feel that Mark's vocals fit the heavier songs better, his voice can be a little rough for a song like this. Lyrics again I find simple, and I didn't enjoy them. Also I think if you've ever watched Dukes Of Hazzard this could have been the theme tune! Musically this band is good but lyrics just don't match that. 

Drink All The Pain Away
I'm actually laughing at this song, am I meant to? I don't know, it's just hard to take this song seriously. There's a sadness to the lyrics but not the to the music, I do find that in country style music that the lyrics and music don't always fit. I feel like I'm repeating myself saying about the music, but with the added harmonica it's good. Again I feel like Mark's vocals don't fit the song as well as previously, and the lyrics I just laughed. 'My mama got hid my a train in the rain' to me that seems daft but as I said I don't now this gene well. A laugh yes, but a good song? I'm not sure. 

Altogether I'm not the sure how it really works, there's such a mix of things going on. Either be one or the other not all at once. 

Listen here

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Varna Interview!

After the fantastic realise of their song My Heart I got hold of a busy Varna for a quick chat.

For those who haven’t listened to you before, how would you describe your music? And why should they listen to you?

Tiana: Our sound is hard rock with commercial pop influence. If you love rock music with melody, you can't go wrong with VARNA!

Rob: Organic hard rock the way it should be without all the Logic 9's! That is also my reason why you should give us a try! Wouldn't be nice to be guaranteed a show where you CAN'T half-ass headbang.... even if you tried?!

Rossen: VARNA is the type of music that is missing from today's music scene. Hard rock heavy riffs, catchy, and relatable!

Who personally inspired you?

Tiana: When you're a musician there are moments in your life when another musician or band comes along and changes the whole game for you. Two people have done that for me. Mariah Carey and Daniel Johns of Silverchair.

Rob: This past three months I have been HUGELY influenced on musical structures from DARKEST HOUR and BORN OF OSIRIS. A lot of changes that are necessary and a lot of unique chords to keep you surprised.

Rossen: Musically, there are too many. Mostly, all the bands that I listened to since high school.

What has your highlight of the band so far?

Tiana: We have so many extreme moments in this band. Some of my favorites are listening to 'This Time, It's Personal' in the studio for the first time after we mixed it, going to NAMM and SXSW in Austin, TX and playing a showcase for Hollywood Records where the crowd went insane for our band. Above all else, for me, it has been the reaction of the fans to our music. We get letters, emails and comments from people all over the world about how our music has helped them. I still can't believe it. 

Rossen: There are many, but I guess going to SXSW in Texas last year as a band trip.

Rob: To be honest, I couldn't be happier doing EVERYTHING with Varna: writing new music, practicing old music, saving up and starving together so we can record, stressing each other out over responsibilities, and even simply grabbing dinner together afterwards. Every time I'm with these two, Life is great...

Your all time low of the band?

Tiana: Spending thousands of dollars on a demo and hearing it come out like crap or whenever we would have a band member leave the band. The work, time and money that has to come into play to find another musician will knock your band morale down a few notches because it sets you back months behind.

Rossen: Yeah, when you go through so many band member changes, and you think that you can never find the right people. Pretty much right before we decided to change our name from Living Eulogy to VARNA.

Rob: All time low of the band has probably been when I didn't have a fulltime job and I felt like I was holding the band back financially. I of course found one later (at Guitar Center) because we have so much more lined up to finish this time around.

How did you come together as a band?

Tiana: Rossen and I met in 2009, when he was an electrician and he was installing a fan in my apartment. We started the band in 2010 as Living Eulogy. We found Rob at Musician's Institute in 2011 and we have been a trio as VARNA ever since.

Rob: I know we have our story of Rossen being Batman saving the day with his tools, but now to me it feels like it destiny.

Who’s your favourite band at the moment?

Tiana: My favorite band is still older Silverchair. There are current bands that I love but I tend to like certain songs and albums from artists as opposed to everything a band has ever done.

Rossen: Slayer.

Rob: Killswitch Engage, Slipknot, or Darkest Hour during the day, Orchestra and depressing dark piano for the nights.

The song you’re most proud of?

Tiana: 'My Heart' because of all the evolution it went through and I had stand my ground to get it recorded one last time. I even paid for it all myself at first to get it done. 'Running Away' has taken on new life as a personal anthem for people. It goes back and forth for me!

Rossen: Our song Running Away.

Rob: Right now the songs I'm most proud of are the new ones we haven't released/shown anyone yet. How exciting is that for you guys to hear?!

Do you think Unsigned music in general needs more attention?

Tiana: I think unsigned bands that have talent and drive need more attention. Think of it this way, your favorite musician who is on TOP 40 radio was at one time, an unsigned musician. If no one took the time to listen to them and fight for them they would never be a signed artist. That is what people are forgetting. 

Rossen: No, but I think that great talent doesn't have enough credit and recognition. There are so many bands that are just wasted because of the lack of recognition and support.

Rob: Not all of it. The public and some very undeserving musicians created a horrible image that most local bands are 7 out of 10 at their best. NOT TRUE IN ANY WAY. Please find this opinion for yourself and go out and give some people a try. You'll never know who you'll become addicted to!

How would you describe your live shows?

Tiana: Monsters of Energy. Our live shows are where it's at. We bring everything we have and we guarantee that you will walk away entertained.

Rossen: Energetic, fun, the crowd will never be bored.

Rob: I feel like our LIVE shows are more energetic and pumped up and everything our album couldn't provide. We are WAY more crazy and louder and pumped up on stage and encourage everyone to come out and see to call me out!

When did you first start getting into music? Has it always been a big part of your life?

Tiana: My earliest memories of life I have are of me singing and the way I felt when I heard music. It consumed me and I have always been psychotically obsessed with it 24/7/365. I used to be made fun of all the time in school because I would sing and all I would do was talk about music and bands to anyone who would listen.

Rob: I used to get detention everyday from 2nd grade up to 8th for banging on desks with pencils..... The habit got  only worse so as you can imagine, HELL YES i've always loved it and never will stop. It carries everything with emotion. It's like trying to watch a evil character do his monologue with no godly music in the background.. *blows raspberries*

Rossen: Music always has been in my life. I would play my little Casio Keyboard when I was 8 or 9 years old, without going to piano classes, and I would always come up with songs of my own. I never really liked playing other people's stuff until this day. If I learn a song and don't play it, I forget it immediately.

If you could dinner with any music legend (Dead or alive) Who would it be?

Tiana: Dave Grohl, Daniel Johns or Mariah Carey. I can't pick one! It's the Libra in me.

Rossen: Avril Lavigne!

Rob: Right now I'd have to choose dinner with Howard Benson. Tiana said she'll buy for everyone :)

You’re stuck on a desert island, you can one person, one book, and what album; what do you pick?

Rossen: My wife, Instead of the book I will bring a guitar, Linkin Park: Hybrid Theory

Rob: I would sever my head with neck and put Tiana's head on there with Rossen as my 1 individual guest.  I play drums while she still sings simultaneously. We'd jam till death.

Tiana: Wow. Anything I say, will not trump Rob's answer.

This is like my signature question: What would you do in Zombie Apocalypse?

Tiana: You know my favorite show is The Walking Dead, right? I would find a motor home, raid Wal-Mart for all the food and supplies I could and get underground! 

Rob: Choose between becoming the world's next biggest killing machine or crack down on my intelligence and utilize ALL my cunning to stay alive; either get more physical and less thinking more running, or vice versa. What a badass question.

Rossen: Prepare for war!!!

Check out Varna on Facebook here

Listen to My Heart here

Varna: My Heart (Review)

Today I have a band from the lovely Los Angeles, this is 3 piece Pop-Rockers Varna.
This is My Heart a single from their debut release This Time It's Personal EP.

When I think of the typical Pop-Rock bands I think of bands like Taking Hayley, Stakeout, Keep The Change but Varna have diffidently put their own twist on it.
More rock than pop, the guitar's sound is fast played with amazing skill I can hear every drop and key change. Drums I never lose, I can always hear them they're no competing for attention but working beautifully along with the song. Again the skill level and production is fantastic. So far in just music terms this song is amazing, but then you add Tiana's vocals and it blow it out of the water. She's has an amazingly powerful voice, so loud, clear and with obvious emotion, I'd love to be able to sing along side her as the song plays but I could never compete with her range. Lyrics are just that little too deep to be what I think of as pop, but that still have that hook that has me singing along before I've heard the whole song through the first time. It talks of heartbreak it a very real sense, never having been in love I have no idea what heartbreak is like but this song made it seem real.

I absolutely loved My Heart, and if Varna ever fancy touring England I'll be there as this sounds like it would one hell of a live track!

Listen to My Heart here

Check out Varna's Facebook here 

Taking Hayley Farewell Tour (London date)

It really does sadden me to say that Taking Hayley's Farewell tour has been and gone, and that they are no longer a band. I was lucky enough to get tickets to see them in London on 19th for one last goodbye.

Set No Sail were first the bill for the night. Being the first band on for the night is never that easy, they aren't that many people and were all their for the headliners but this didn't stop Set No Sail from putting on what I think was the first support act of the night. Their songs was fast and catchy, the vocals loud and clear they made you pay attention to them and I was not disappointed. After the gig it's self they were giving away free copies of their EP Take It Easy and sitting at home listening to them again they're diffidently a band worth checking out.
Check out Set No Sail's Facebook here

Twisters I hadn't heard of before so not knowing what to expect I was ready for anything I got a lively pop_rock band. They had a great energy about them and got the now bigger crowd up and moving about with their own light hearted songs and fantastic cover of Taio Cruz's Dynamite. They're a band I'd happily listen to again and be happy to see again.
Check out Twisters Facebook here

White Clouds And Gunfire third on the bill and first female fronted band of the night. They put on a great show, despite singer Evey having a bad throat. They weren't short of energy jumping all over the place and really owning the stage, the crowd was loving it those who knew the word singing along and those who didn't clapping along like it didn't matter. The songs were full on powerful rock songs, and that really showed in their performance.
Check out White Clouds And Gunfire's Facebook here

Remember December now I have to say for the main supports I think these guys fell a little short...  A pop-punk band with a twist but they didn't make the impact I was expecting, and I doubt I was the only one who thought this, the whole was very quiet compared to how'd they'd been earlier. They weren't bad in the fact they had some good songs they just didn't have the energy and ownership on the stage, they weren't demanding my attention and I had trouble giving it.
Check out Remember December's Facebook here

The lights came down and Taking Hayley hit the stage for one last party in London, and they delivered!
Going straight into their third single Better Luck Next Time the whole crowd went mad, through out Butterflies, Tonight (We Come Alive) and Here I Stand everyone was just having the time of their lives dancing, singing and clapping along. Alistair having abandoned his guitar for the night in favour of focusing on his vocals jumped around the stage like a 5 year old on a sugar rush! Andy of The Oceans Eyes fame played guitar in Alistair's place.Up All Night the band's second single had everyone on their feet, we really saw Levi Keeling (Guitar and backing vocals) come into his own, he had everyone clapping along within seconds.  For the fans who'd been there since the beginning  they played Don't Let Go the bands very first song that earned a few tears from the fans. Holding On a slightly heavier song got everyone going and even the start of a mosh pit that carried on into the next song, a cover of Earthquake. The rock version of Earthquake set the place on fire, Tom Paton (Bass) even went wondering through the crowd and was standing the bar at the other end of the room by the end of the song! From Now Until Forever started the tears, an emotional song about being friends and what they achieved as a band. Before Crying Eyes Ali started off by giving a little speech, saying all his thank yous and how much it meant to him that we'd all come out to say goodbye to the band. Crying Eyes played with just Ali, Andy and Jay (Drums) on stage the whole crowd was tearing up at the emotional song, so much so that by the end Ali was crying himself. After rejoining the stage Levi, Tom and Jay gave their speeches each thanking their friends, family and fans for helping their dreams come true. To finish the night they played their first single Circles, everyone went mad and was singing along to the last song and then with one last crash of Jay's drums it was over.

RIP Taking Hayley, you shall be sorely missed.

Blameshift: Secrets (Review)

Long Island, New York is where female fronted alternative rocks Blameshift are from. They've been busy the past few years building up quite a fan base and earning the title 'The hardest working band in the biz'

This is their single Secrets off their album of the same name.
 I know I've said this before but hey I'll say it again. Every female fronted band these days gets compared to Paramore, The Pretty Reckless, We The In Crowd and so on but always try not to that. Blameshift are their own band not just a copy of another.
Secrets starts slowly, showing off Jenny's voice from the get go. She has a unique voice that's both powerful when the song hits the drop of the chorus and soft in slow beginning of the song. There's a build before the chorus, its starts getting faster the guitar coming more into it that BAM the hook hits. Something I love about Blameshift is that you've got the variety of Tim on backing vocals so you get a nice mix between him and Jenny. If I wasn't typing this why listening to this song you can bet I'd be up jumping about and head banging. It's very well produced, when the guitars switch from the slower into to the fast, catchy riffs that is the the rest of the song they lose nothing of their quality. From about the second time I heard Secrets I've been singing along, it's one of those songs that makes you want to sing the chorus at top of your lungs.
I wouldn't go a far as to say the lyrics make it a dark song, it's a real powerful rock song of love and secrets.
Blameshift have created one powerful, catchy, fast paced rock song that I won't be forgetting in a hurry, they've currently made an impact and they're a band that make themselves heard.

If this is the single off Secrets then listening to the album is diffidently next on my agenda!

Listen to Secrets here

Check out Blameshift's Facebook here

Bitter Kids: Monster House (Review)

Canada today with 5 piece Post-Hardcore band Bitter Kids. Monster House is the first song off their forthcoming EP with the same name, that's due for release next month.

This is their song Monster House.
Can you love a song before you've even heard the first lyric? Yep, or at lest I can with this song. If I made a list of everything I think you need to make a great song I could trick every one off listening to Monster House. The guitars that start the song start slow but build into something more powerful with a piano in the background with adds a depth to song. The vocals when they come in are strong and clear, they've also got good emotion and feeling behind them. Adding to the verity of the song there's also some unclean vocals, which in themselves were great. They don't overpower the clean vocals as that can happen so easily but work along side them. Probably my favourite thing about this song (Though it is hard to pick one) are the lyrics, they paint such a vivid picture of this Monster House, of this life. "Maybe I'm not build to last in a scary place like this. The walls are thin, the oxygen is thick with fear from the furnace" And to put it simply I'm just absolutely in love with them as they convey everything I want, that emotion and feeling of almost hopelessness as you're stuck in this pace. Instrumentally it's highly well produced and with the changing tempo I get such a feel for the song.
I honestly can't fault Monster House in the slightest, in fact if I could compare them to another band I'd have to say Sleeping With Sirens, (old style SWS from their album Let's Cheer To This) they've got the same mix of vocal style but I'd say Bitter Kids out do Sleeping With Sirens on the lyric front.
Bitter Kids are a band I mark for going far in the future, so keep your eye out of them!

Listen to Monster House here

Check out Bitter Kids Facebook here

The Second Trip: Last Year (Review)

First review of the year and I'm with the relatively new band The Second Trip. Gears started turning for the band in late 2012 before becoming a full band in 2013. Later that year they released their first 8 track EP before following it up with a 14 track album! They're a 4 piece Alt-Rock band from Wolverhampton.

This is their album Last Year.
Listening to it altogether it's a good album, all very classic Rock, Punk songs,  it's well produced with some great catchy songs.
Below The Bridge being the first of the stand out tracks It has really good lyrics, though they do get a bit repetitive towards the end. Starting slow with an acoustic before speeding up so I'm tapping my fingers, my foot always something to the beat, as it is one of catchy songs.
Start The Car was the first single from Last Year and I can see why. It's fast, catchy and it's the first time I'm singing along. Blink 182 is an obvious influence, there's a pick of punk in the rock that sounds like young Blink.
Pocket ft Demi Parkes is my favourite song off the album. Starting slowly and acoustic with just Demi's voice it's something different and almost beautiful, in the middle it's speeded up with an electrical guitar and just Zac's vocals before slowing back into him and Demi's. Lyrics are obviously important to this band, as already they is meaning behind them and they tell stories. Were many times starting out stay away from that at first The Second Trip drove right in, and for them it works.
I love the guitar riffs in Evergreen, they're the fastest, well executed and very well produced. In fact the only issue I have with the song, (this actually stands for a few other songs I haven't mentioned such as Last Year, Hey)  is Zac's vocals, it's not that he can't sing it's more lack of range. He can sound the same from one song to the next, I just want to hear some verity, some power.
Better Times surprised me, there's more power to it and I could definitely see it being a single. The guitar solo was brilliant and with the piano just before the chorus makes it one of the best songs on the album.
Just Like You is again surprising it's one of the only all acoustic song on the album. A change of pace is always good on an album, otherwise an album can get repetitive. The lyrics to Just Like You are some of my favourite on the album, "My body feels like it's about to break, and I don't know what I'm spouse to do"
The Second Trip (Song) In an interlude, just a minute and half of guitar,drum and bass. It's a good piece of music, these guys show talent and this only being their second big release I can see them going far.
Wasting Time doesn't leave much of an impression on me, I'm not drawn into the song and find myself getting distracted rather than listening to the whole song. It's a bad song as such, what I said before about it being well produced and musically good still stands it's just I don't think this song quite fits together.
In My Head does actually get into my head and I find myself singing it later in the day as lyrically it's one of the best. There's more emotion in this song than the previous songs, and it's something that works for The Second Trip so maybe it's something they'll continue in the future.
Open My Eyes is in the style of Taking Hayley's Crying Eyes, Stakeout's The Outcome Of Saying Goodbye and A Day To Remember's If It Mean's A Lot To You. In the way it's start's slow and acoustic and crashing into all electric and drums at the end. It's actually one of my favourite styles of song it has both beauty and power. Open My Eyes comes as a nice breath of fresh air, it has the emotion of In My Head plus the power of Evergreen. It's a great song, the lyrics again brilliant and really mean something.I'd say this is the most stand out track on Last Year. 
More Than Just Friends is a quick catchy song that I can imagine being played live and having a whole crowd jumping to it. It's one of those songs that can get you on your feet. I feel Zac's vocals has improved in the last few songs, especially in this song as there's a better rage.
Everything's Gonna Be Okay, country was the first thing I thought when I heard this song for the first time. It's quite relaxed, something you could happily clap your hands along to, the lyrics tell a story and reassure us that's everything going to be okay. It's just a nice, simple song to end the album.

All together Last Year is a good album, especially for such a young band. It has some great stand out tracks and shows a lot of potential. If you like Blink 182 I'd definitely advise giving these guys a listen, it's worth it.

Listen to Last Year here

Check out The Second Trip on Facebook here