It isn’t out of the ordinary to hear my peers describe their music taste as “anything but country.” That disdain for country branches into a lot of Americana and folk as well-- in fact, sometimes it feels as if millennial city folks hear a brassy guitar and shiver. Perhaps it stems from a fear of ‘hick-ness,’ and whatever lack of smarts and unfiltered honesty that are attributed to it. Or, maybe it’s because banjo and vocal twang are just not on-trend in a world where pop and hip-hop dominate the charts. Whatever the case, I know immediate disdain reverberated through my whole being the first time I looked up ‘folk-americana’ artist Langhorne Slim. That is, until I gave Lost at Last Vol. 1 single “Life is Confusing” a listen, and decided he was worth a chance.
It’s Langhorne Slim’s brilliant songwriting that sets him apart, and this poeticism spills out vibrantly on stage. He babbles in short, eccentric (or, perhaps, drunken) monologues between songs, but not aimlessly -- artfully tying together quaint anecdotes with short one-liners which, after a moment of translation, settle like bits of a hipster gospel. The transitions between telling us about “shvitzing” at San Francisco’s Kabuki Spa to sermons about coming together with love and passion that should “pour out into the street” are executed gracefully, and after thirty minutes of group singing and laughing and IPA-drinking the audience is entirely at ease. It’s brilliant, really, and exactly the calm that’s needed in the heart of San Francisco’s Tenderloin district.
This same emotional transparency comes off in his vocal delivery. While displaying the ease expected of a prolific touring artist (NPR even described him as a “hard-touring workhorse”) his performance is less carefully choreographed than his pop-rock counterparts. Rather, he is a deliberate storyteller, his tale-telling monologues slipping into song effortlessly. At times, he even stands to the side of his microphone so as to sing with no technical filtering, or ventures into the audience for a chorus or two. The resulting warmth is that of a family gathering--the juxtaposition between mother and adult son next to a pair of young, adorable newlyweds in the crowd not seeming at all unusual.
It’s only in this atmosphere that an artist can reach such a moment of teary-eyed intimacy in a song about his childhood “best friend,” his grandfather. Singing “as the earth stood still, Sid began to move...Oh tell me where do the great ones go when they’re gone” Slim commands the audience to be silent for a moment, bringing tears to the eyes of many patrons. This moment was by far a highlight, and not even an expected one--Langhorne Slim’s cinematic storytelling manages to change a listener’s emotions at a moment’s notice. Great American Music Hall’s carefully curated intimacy accented the delicacies of these moments, with it’s small, un-barricaded stage only hovering a few feet above the crowd. Thus, even as a staunchly Americana-adversed critic, Langhorne Slim managed to strike in me an emotional chord.
Veronica Irwin (Hunnypot Editor at Large)
Twitter: @vronirwin / Instagram: @veronicairwin
Photo courtesy of Facebook
If Hunnypot Live! were a meme we’d be the cats that replace the Curling rocks. Last night the air outside the air was like an ice rink but inside we turned up the heat. Hot Tub got the night cooking with a music set of party songs. Shelly Peiken got in to the tub for the first time and brought us a playlist of her major musical accomplishments and influences, stories of her journey as a songwriter, author and an elevator friend to Carly Simon. Jenna Nation brought the whole Hunnypot country together for a pop music summit, V Torres rocked guitar centric gothic cowboy gypsy set, The Habits power popped us with their musical trio, Alexa Villa got dark and vicious, Frak drilled down the mantle with his rapper flow and Nordstorm & Patrik dropped a DJ set of dance heaven. Recap by J. Gray / Photos by J. Gray / J. Born / L. Phillips 02/19/2018
Shelly Peiken is a multi-platinum Grammy nominated songwriter who is best known for her #1 hits "What a Girl Wants" and "Come On Over Baby". She earned a Grammy nomination for the song "Bitch" recorded by Meredith Brooks. She’s had hundreds of songs placed on albums, and in TV and film.
Shelly's book Confessions of a Serial Songwriter chronicles her journey from a young girl falling under the spell of magical songs to writing hits of her own. It’s about growing up, the creative process, the highs and the lows, the conflicts that arise between motherhood and career success, the divas the egos and the back stabbers, but also the lovely people she's found along the way. It’s about the challenge of getting older and staying relevant in a rapidly changing and youth driven world.
Her Serial Songwriter Facebook page has become a forum for all things songwriting and ideas about navigating a changing music business as a creative person and parent.
Shelly is a contributor to The Huffington Post. She is well known in the music industry as mentor, panelist, consultant and guest speaker and a fierce advocate of creators' rights as a founding member of SONA (Songwriters Of North America).
Shelly is a New Yorker at heart who enjoys her life in Los Angeles with her husband, composer Adam Gorgoni, their daughter, Layla and her 2 cats.
Website Twitter Facebook Instagram
JENNA Nation is an R&B/Pop singing sensation who is quickly gaining momentum on the international music scene.
Born in Ottawa, Canada, JENNA Nation was introduced to music at an early age through her musical family. She began her career with extensive training and success with classical music/opera, jazz and then with R&B/soul while studying and graduating Summa Cum Laude with her Vocal Performance Degree from the famed Berklee College of Music.
An outstanding vocalist with a charismatic stage presence, JENNA Nation progressed to hit some significant milestones early in her career. Since she began singing, JENNA Nation has performed at the Official JUNO’s After Party in Calgary as well as for the Prime Minister of Canada and as part of the Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill. In addition, she has appeared at several famed festivals including the Newport Folk Festival, Boston Outside of the Box Festival and the Toronto, Ottawa, and Beaches International Jazz Festivals just to name a few. Other highlights include performing at the world’s largest urban music festival New Skool Rules in Holland where she was selected as Best Artist. JENNA Nation has also been a finalist for several international songwriting competitions.
JENNA Nation boasts a soulful and even jazzy vibe to her music. Long-time influences include Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland and Stevie Wonder - a notable name with whom she aspires to collaborate. JENNA Nation has worked with a number of Grammy and JUNO-nominated producers and songwriters including Boi-1da, Tommy Brown, Victoria Monet, Travis Sayles, Kinetics and One Love, Ryan "Ghost" Bowser, Elev3n, Druski, and Young Wolf Hatchlings among others.
JENNA Nation’s fourth album, You Don’t Know (released November 2017) has already received numerous accolades. The album was named Canada's Best R&B Album of 2017, one of the Top 10 Best Records of the Year and #9 Best Album of 2017. JENNA Nation has also been featured in numerous news outlets across Canada, including Music Canada, iHeart Radio, Canadian Beats, Sirius XM, State of Hip-Hop, CP24, Musique Plus Video Channel, FYI Music News, and the Global Morning Show. Forever, JENNA Nation’s latest radio single and video features Toronto rapper Fame Holiday and started 2018 by entering the Radio Indie Alliance Top 40 Chart at #8 as well as #10 on the 365 Radio Network. The video has generated over 10,000 views on YouTube and charted in the Top Ten on the Worldwide Indie Charts. Her album is currently playing on 500+ stations worldwide.
Website Twitter Facebook Instagram
V Torres is the epitome of the modern day songwriter. With two studio albums under her belt, Torres is prepared to release her latest project: Real Life Love.
Hailing from the beach cities of Southern California, V Torres has spent her entire life in or around music and sports. While in high school, indie-rock and hip-hop became her passion and basketball gave her the drive to persevere through adversity. Torres went on to attend Loyola Marymount University majoring in accounting and minoring in theatre arts. Upon graduation, Torres moonlighted as a corporate finance accountant to fund her musical career.
To date, she has spent the majority of her career writing and performing with the band Gorgeous Got a Gun, and released their self-titled debut album in 2009, followed by Welcome Home in 2011 and single release I Remember You in 2016. During this time, Torres’ music video for song Violent Games was featured on the blue ray release for the feature film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Since then, V Torres has performed throughout the country while collaborating and recording with various artists and producers including Joe McGrath (AFI, Alkaline Trio) and most recently Jonny Perdue and Steve Stout of Lost Beach.
Backed by a newfound love of yoga and a desire to share her truth, Torres infused a fresh energy and sound into her latest project, five song EP Real Life Love. Leveraging life’s highs & lows, this project is inspired by the sense of urgency she has never lost throughout the years. Like any singer-songwriter, V Torres’ music has matured while continuing to effectively convey her experiences and emotions. Real Life Love was released in all digital stores on 11/11/17.
Spotify Website Facebook Instagram
The Habits met each other in the blue-collar town of San Pedro, just far enough away from the glamour of the Hollywood glow to be isolated. Comprised of singer/guitarist Wolf Bradley, pianist Chance Famighetti, and drummer Andrew Macatrao, The Habits ground their music in bite size melodies that are impossible to get out of your head. Their music is accompanied by slightly melancholic lyrics that tell a story of love, loss, and everything in between. Their alt/pop sound is unique to them but stems from incongruous avenues of inspiration. From Maroon 5 to Cage the Elephant, The Habits’ music makes you wanna dance and hits you hard in the feels. The three of them have grown up together in Southern California and are more like brothers than band members. Playing pretty much every bar, club, basement, and alleyway in LA, they’ve honed in on their live show skills, giving their audience a lively and fun show experience.
Website Twitter Facebook Instagram
"Singer-keyboardist Alexa Villa projects a natural confidence, an admirable all-in swagger that leaves the listener convinced of her commitment to every word she sings." -Music Connection Magazine
Alexa's latest EP entitled, "ACT I" is something to be noticed. She describes her music as "grunge pop with a little blues feel and a whole 'lotta attitude." Soaring vocals, surprising chord choices and captivating stories within her lyrics are sure to leave you wanting more. But it doesn't end there. Her live performance and style match her quirky and eclectic personality.
Alexa has played Warped Tour and opened for acts like The Darkness, Drake Bell, Mark Ballas and BC Jean of Alexander Jean and Ryan Cabrera to name a few. Alexa also models in LA Fashion week, and for several fashion companies. She has been on set for SpikeTV and various music videos for artists like Chris Brown and Nikki Minaj among others.
Her influences range from Led Zeppelin, to Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga, Dorothy, Halsey, Deep Purple, The Neighborhood, Heart, Blondie, the Pretty Reckless, Nirvana, Awolnation, and the list goes on.
From age 7, Alexa has been classically trained playing piano, performing original songs at talent shows and landing lead roles in theater class. She grew up in San Diego playing clubs with her parents' band and her brothers band before developing her own unique style.
"I want to create an escape and plant a visual in your head. I want to make you feel something new and I want it to encourage you to do the things you've always wanted to. Music is not just sound, its an entire world. It's who I am."
Spotify Website Twitter Facebook Instagram
Frak is a rapper from the Bay Area. A songwriter, battle rapper, producer, and music video director, Frak's art is intersectional between all these mediums. Having performed along such artists as Kendrick Lamar, Earth Wind & Fire, Anderson Paak, Shad, Travis Scott, Mistah Fab and Watsky, this is an artist unlike any other. Frak’s newest album, Limewire '03 which dropped this month, has a cohesive feel, as it mostly sampled early 2000's R&B, slowed down, reversed, and transformed into head-bopping bangers. The album attempts to sketch the millennial condition, and how our technology addiction can manifest itself in the nooks and crannies of our days, months and lives.
Soundcloud Website Twitter Facebook Instagram
Sweden based Hunnypot super-fans are back in the US and will kick our Dance Party with special guest vocalist Gustav Zetterberg! Come out and say Hallå!
Oscar Nordström - Facebook
Partik Karlsson - Facebook
Based out of Southern California, Thrift is characterized by noisy garage rock tones mixed with pulsating rhythms and powerhouse vocals. The band aims to captivate audiences and listeners with their easily distinguishable sound. Anna Carmela (bass and vocals) refers to their style as "dirty disco," or, in other words, garage rock-meets-pop.
“The term “dirty disco” came from my producer, Brent Setterington, and I think it fits so well with Thrift because it describes both sides of the influences – the distorted, dark tones as well as the danceable grooves.” Anna said. Thrift seeks to grip audiences and listeners alike with the in-your-face production style, lead vocal intensity, wailing bass and guitar hooks, and fierce live performances.
Their brand new song, “Bombshell” was written by Anna, and she said “The song about being in an abusive relationship, but I wanted to touch on the primal side of that. In my situation, I began losing my own sense of self and almost enjoyed being treated so poorly, so a lot of the lyrics reflect that theme.”
Next opportunity to see them live is with us! Don’t miss their performance at Hunnypot Live at The MINT April 16th!
Bombshell Live version is here!
- Minami Seo
Perfectly imperfect - that’s one way to describe LA based punk act, The Regrettes. Lead by outspoken frontwoman, Lydia Night, and comprised of Genessa Gariano on guitar, Sage Nicole on bass and drummer Maxx Morando, the group have left the LA rock scene floored, managing to capture the hearts of jaded rock critics while opening for acts like Kate Nash, Jack Off Jill, Bleached, Pins, Deep Vally and more. With nothing but demos available online, the group are already beginning to generate hype, from outlets like NPR, and with NYLON already heralding them them as a “punk act you should be listening to”.
From the opening moments on a track by The Regrettes, we’re greeted with a wall of guitars, infectious melodies and a wistful nostalgia that continues right until the final notes. Taking cues from acts like Hinds and Hole, there’s a wistful sense of youth and vulnerability that lies at the heart of each song.
A song by The Regrettes is, essentially, a diary entry into Lydia’s life. “My music is a spectrum of every emotion that I have felt in the last year, and you can hear that when you hear the songs. Everything that is happening in my life influences me. It’s everything from boys, to friends, to being pissed off at people, to being really sad. Just everything.”
-Minami Seo
Today's video pick comes from New York City's art scene, Fischerspooner with "TopBrazil" from their first album in a decade tilted 'Sir'. The video for "TopBrazil" is one big hot, steamy,fabulous bathhouse scene. The album' takes the listener behind-the-scenes of Fischerspooner's personal lives and sexual endeavors. Sir, is Fischerspooner's forthcoming album which was produced entirely by Michael Stipe (R.E.M.). Their song "Emerge" released on the 2001 album "#1" was a song that could be heard anywhere at anytime in Manhattan as Micheal Stipe, remises on those early days on the 00's. Fischerspooner later joined the "Grandma's Boy" soundtrack with their song "Never Win" courtesy of John Anderson who signed them to their first publishing deal, the song went on to reach #17 on the U.S. Dance charts.
-Morgan DeShields-McClure
Hunnypot favorite MICHETE drops by the Jetspace Magazine YouTube show This is The Beat, "your home for the hottest up and coming musicians and performers in Seattle's queer music scene". Michete is always a fascinating interview and she crushes it live performing the songs "Stupid Girl" and "Yum Yum Big Slurp" off the Cool Tricks 3 album available now.
For Brandyn Burnett and Molly Moore, making music as Cosmos & Creature means infinitely drawing form their eclectic fascinations. Driven by a shared passion for timeless melody and sonic innovation, the L.A.-based duo bring a certain wide-eyed wonder to each of their songs. “Our name came from thinking about how big the universe is and how small we are, and how somehow it all works together,” says Burnett. “So much of our music is about seeing yourself in the grand scheme of things, and exploring the biggest emotions but in a very close and human way.”
In all of their output, Cosmos & Creature show a refined sense of songcraft shaped by their backgrounds as solo artists.A New York native who started writing songs when she was seven, Moore had A #1 Hit on the iTunes dance chart with “Peace of My Heart” (A track from her 2015 debut Shadow of the Sun), and also lists Lea Michele’s 2017 single “Letting go” among her songwriting credits. Previously signed to Warner Bros. Records, Burnett’s songwriting achievements include Hedley’s Triple-Platinum “Kiss you inside out”, which nabbed a Juno Award nomination for single of the year.
Arriving last September, “Young” earned massive attention for Cosmos & Creature, promoting the duo to gain more than 36 million collective streams on Spotify. Made with Step Goodman and Aaron Accetta of Dirty Canvas Music, the Intensely Catchy Yet Wistful Track ended up sparking their signing to PRMD Music. Cosmos & Creature also recently headed out on their first tour, delivering a kinetic live show whose raw vitality they carefully infused into their upcoming debut EP.Hands-on in every aspect of their music, Cosmos & Creature continually turn their most intimate expression into songs with major emotional power.
-Minami Seo
C & C have played our Hunnypot party a couple times now, their fab. We love em'! - Hot Tub Johnnie
“In a time where many bands from his generation are starting to fall short of expectations during their live performances, Howard Jones seems to be getting better with age. If you get a chance to Howard Jones on tour in support of his “Solo – The Songs and The Stories Tour”, do so – you will not be disappointed!”
The early eighties were a magical time for music. The New Wave revolution was just beginning to take off, and bands like Depeche Mode, Pets Shop Boys, and New Order were just beginning to make a name for themselves here in the states. Whether you were in the UK or here in the US, electronic music was making a name for itself and many of these artists (and many others for that matter) were rocketing up the charts in record fashion. It was evident that a musical shift was taking place - from blues and rock to a new sound that incorporated the best aspects of punk, disco, ska, electronic, and mod. In the wink of an eye, the New Wave movement was born and began to flourish around the world with the help of an upstart satellite television channel called MTV.
Fast forward a few years, and a little-known English musician by the name of Howard Jones arrived on scene. His humble beginnings in 1983 quickly morphed into a very distinct style of music that blended his amazing talent as a pianist / keyboardist with genius storytelling. 35 years later, his amazing music has touched the lives of millions of fans all over the world. On Sunday, February 4th, Howard Jones took the stage at the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts in Whittier, CA for an intimate night of music and conversation that captivated a near-capacity crowd from start to finish.
Opening the show for Howard Jones was New York singer / songwriter Rachael Sage. Her 6-song set-list was jam packed with some amazing songs such as “Spark”, “I’ve Been Waiting”, and my favorite of the evening “Haunted by Objects”. Rachael’s ability to connect with the crowd was noticeable, as many in the front rows were smiling intently and singing along to songs that were fresh, catchy, and energizing. In addition, Rachael’s voice was simply breathtaking and echoed joyfully throughout the Shannon Center. It was perfect place to showcase her amazing talent.
After a brief intermission, lights at the Shannon center dimmed as Howard Jones took the stage in support of his “Solo – The Songs and The Stories Tour”. Armed only with his trusted Roland Piano, he opened the show with “You Know I Love You, Don’t You?”, opening track off his 1986 release, One to One. This song has a nice up-tempo beat and was a wonderful way to start Sunday’s show. Next up was “Specialty”, a B-side off the 1986 Dream into Action album. I have never heard Howard play this track live and hearing it ‘unplugged’ was a real treat. He had no trouble bringing this track to life with his amazing vocal range and brilliant piano skills.
Over the next hour and a half, fans were treated to an incredible set list that again encompassed Howard’s entire catalog. From fan favorites such as “New Song” and “Everlasting Love” to more obscure classics like “Soon You’ll Go”, there was something for every HOJO fan. One of my favorite moments Sunday evening was an incredible cover of the Beach Boys classic, “God Only Knows”. Howard absolutely nailed this truly iconic song paying homage to one of his major influences, Brian Wilson.
The 12-song set came to an end with two Howard Jones classics, “No One is to Blame”, and encore “Things Can Only Get Better”. Although these songs are some of his most famous, they are staples of an amazing time in musical history that seem to transcend time and space. Great songs to end what many considered one of his best performances of the tour so far.
As a lifetime Howard Jones fan, I could not have been more pleased with his performance on Sunday evening. His voice was crisp, his piano playing was on point, and his wit was as sharp as ever. What impressed me the most was adding the storytelling element to his performance. To me, this took it to a whole new level and allowed fans a unique and intimate perspective into each song Howard played on Sunday evening.
Overall, I think this was one of my all-time favorites HOJO shows (and I’ve seen him perform live well over 20 times since the 80’s). No one, and I mean no one, in that venue walked away disappointed from this performance. In a time where many bands from his generation are starting to fall short of expectations during their live performances, Howard Jones seems to be getting better with age. If you get a chance to Howard Jones on tour in support of his “Solo – The Songs and The Stories Tour”, do so – you will not be disappointed! Until next time…
Stay Frosty and Rock On!
For more information on Howard Jones current tour (and to buy tickets), click HERE
Setlist
You Know I Love You, Don't You?
Specialty
The Prisoner
Hide and Seek
Stay with Me
New Song
God Only Knows (Beach Boys cover)
Everlasting Love / Twist and Shout
Soon You'll Go
Life in One Day
No One Is to Blame
Encore
Things Can Only Get Better
Red Velvet attracts the whole world with "variegated, sophisticated music and performances" from the biggest Korean entertainment company “S.M.Entertainment”.
The group name came from, a High-impacted and Fascinated color “RED” and femininely, mild atmosphere “VELVET”.
Members are Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, who come via S.M.Entertainment’s trainee team "SM ROOKIES”. Joy who was the first girl to graduate the S.M.Rookie training system. The last member is Yeri who joined 2015.
In their brand new song “Bad Boy”, they changed from dark and cool women different from previous cute, colorful songs.The melody is based on R&B mixed with Hip-Hop, that is different from popular typical K-POP melodies.
In addition, don’t miss in this video their dance starts from the same pose as the last pose from the last single/video “Peek-a-Boo” released in November 2017.
-Minami Seo
Hunnypot video pick is Cuban Doll's "Bankrupt" she has gained notoriety on Instagram and Twitter with follows from Drake and Cardi B and upwards of 500K followers. Cuban Doll, real name Aaliyah Keef 19 years old from Dallas, Texas released her demo titled "Aaliyah Keef" featuring single "Exposya". July 2017 Cuban Doll reached 30,000 views for her video her song "Rat B*tch". Within a years time Cuban Doll went from a social media personality to having professional official music videos similar to Carbi B and Asian Doll.
-Morgan DeShields-McClure