Tag Archives: California

Song Review- Hyper Minds “Sink or Swim” 

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Four casually dressed men standing in front of a gate an heavily graffitied wall.

Band photo by Angel Alcala

This being a new band to me (thank you Mike at Earshot Media!) I was wondering what to expect and ended up being pretty impressed.  The track comes in on a little jangly high-hat offset by a booming, distorted bass and then jumps off into a fast, infectious groove driven onward by a very prevalent drum line.  The vocals are delivered at a breakneck pace but still manage to deliver a comprehensible message (which is not always true of the lighting vocal attack of some bands).  There is a nice little step-down bridge piece around 1:25 which works nicely to offset the speed of the rest of the track but gives up nothing in volume.   This was a really fun song to listen to and put a little jump in my step for awhile.  I will be standing by for their full album to drop which is coming but the release date is currently unknown (to me anyway).  They also have three other singles out there  (“Nailbiter,” “M.I.T.M,” and “Nacho”) that you can check out when you have the time.  

Hyper Minds are currently signed to DC-Jam Records distributed by Virgin Music Group.

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are: Roland (guitar, vocals), Robert (lead guitar), Juan (bass) and Omar (drums).

Check the video here: 

Streaming link:

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/hypermindsband

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂 

Song Review- Time Spent Driving “She’s the One” from the upcoming album Lost Leaves

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Four men around a small fire pit in a rural setting.

Band photo by Rob Cattivera, album art by Jon Cattivera (Sleepless Media)

I first picked up on this Santa Cruz, CA band back in 2016, just a little bit after the release of their album Passed & Presence.  A song on that album, “Weight of the Water” really struck me at the time.  It has this slightly haunting melody line woven through a slow-tempo rhythm section that is kind of of yearning and pleading all at the same time.  It stayed with me after I listened to it and still does today. 

This new single, which is out in advance of the full album release August 21st on Thirty Something Records, opens up at full power with an atmospheric guitar and hard-hitting drums. It has an infectious groove running along throughout accompanied by a clear and strong vocal line.  It stretches out to five minutes in a good way, aided by a subdued and moody bridge midway through the track.  I really enjoyed listening to it and will be checking out the full album very soon. 

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are: Derek Pabich (guitar), Kem Gallione (drums), Jon Cattivera (vocals, guitar, keys) and Steven Borella (bass).

Streaming link:

https://found.ee/TSD-shestheone

Pre-save / pre-order 

https://found.ee/tsd_lost_leaves

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

Website link https://timespentdriving.com/

https://www.instagram.com/timespentdriving

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂 

Song Review- Mad Tab “Stock Itch” from the upcoming album Alas! The Bomb Voyage…

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Four men standing around a classic convertible automobile. The background is dark with low lighting in the foreground.

It was very cool to hear about this single which just dropped Friday courtesy of Innanuttshell Reekordingz.  I had jumped on their prior release (reviewed here) which was a great intro to the band for me and this new track did not disappoint as a follow-up.  

This song cuts in on a nice rhythm bass line which stays fairly prominent throughout and gives a nice, smooth reggae groove to the first forty seconds of music.  It then flashes over into a faster, punk-edged section that packs a nice guitar punch and a hammering drum line.   Those two styles trade back and forth in good order accompanied by a strong vocal that delivers a message that is very relatable to me – as Gram Tab stated in the press release from Earshot Media: 

“‘Stock Itch’ metaphorically draws comparisons between our natural, given rights and the ways we abandon those rights for the convenience of unnatural materialism and codependency,”

I found it to be a very good track – it kind of takes you along on an alternating wave of grooviness and edginess – a nice combo! 

That full album is due out this fall so save up for a purchase if you are feeling the groove.

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are: Dave Tab, Gram Tab, Scott Beattie and Rob Wheeler

Check the video here: 

Streaming here:

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/mad__tab

Prior review links 

Song Review- Mad Tab – “Awake” from the upcoming album Alas! The Bomb Voyage…

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂 

Song Review- Katie Knipp – “Santa Cruz Blues” off the upcoming album Live at Theater 5150

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A woman, seated on a reversed chair, looks out toward the viewed.

Katie Knipp is definitely one of my favorite artists and I very unfortunately did not have the opportunity to go to the live event at Theater 5150 where this was recorded.  I did have a couple family members attend though and they were highly impressed with the session and gave it rave reviews.  I have been patiently (well…sort of anyway) waiting for this release and the news that the pre-sale was on had me quickly getting my order placed.  That purchase allowed me to get this one track early and ever since then I have been listening away.  

If you have read my prior reviews (see links below) you already know that “Santa Cruz Blues” is a favorite of mine and originally was on her 2018 album Take It With You.   There is a very tragic and real story behind the song (which you can read about in the bio on her webpage) and you can feel that personal impact in the edginess of the music and the passion in the vocal track.  The opening harmonica is loud and boisterous, cutting sharply through the other instruments each time it rings out.   Even with a dynamic rhythm section and the vibrant accompaniment of the rest of her band that one instrument has always framed the tone of this song for me.  Knipp’s voice, which as always is its own compelling and unique instrument, adds a layer of tension to the soundscape.  This is a strong, energetic live performance of “Santa Cruz Blues” and a great early release to listen to and get psyched up for the remainder of the album.  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are: Katie Knipp (vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica), Neil Campisano (drums), Pancho Tomaselli (bass), Chris Martinez (lead guitar) and Steve Utstein (Wurlitzer, Hammond B3). 

Pre-order here – several options and some cool packages! 

https://katieknipp.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-theater-5150

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://katieknipp.com/home

Playlist links 

https://bandcamp.com/jackmesenbourg/playlist/11292025

Prior review links 

Release Alert! Katie Knipp – Dance Me
Song Review- Katie Knipp “Go” (Electro-Funk Remix) 
Song Review- Katie Knipp “Outlaw Doc” from the album Me

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂 

Album Review- Dead Rock West – Honey and Salt

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A black and white photo of a man and a woman standing in the near foreground of the image. Behind them there are scattered bushes along with a hill in the background.

Band photo by Masen Larsen

Just how in the heck did we get to the point where I am writing about this album from 2007?  Well, a few days ago I was on one of my regular tours through Bandcamp, partially scanning items in my feed and also just jumping around looking for new music.  At some point I happened to slam into the 2018  Live at McCabe’s release from this band and it lit up a reminder to me that it had been a long time since I listened to Honey and Salt.  I do not have an exact recollection of when I first heard that LP but I do know it came at a time when I was listening to a lot of very loud and ferocious punk.  That is what made this album stick out so much at the time, both in my musical experience and still now in my memory.  The music on that release is not anywhere near the hard, heavy or noisy spectrum.  It is a unique listening experience; part pop punk, part rock, part rockabilly with pieces of lounge singing and country mixed in.  It might sound like a lot but Dead Rock West blend it all together seamlessly and deliver a truly unique album.  It also takes you through a range of feelings along the way with some moody moments, some upbeat kickers, a couple introspective numbers…a varied and enjoyable ride.  

There are twelve total tracks and my favorites are “Highway One,” “Rocket from the Crypt,”  “Desert Rose” and “Telephone.”  

If you want to step up your listening journey after checking out Honey and Salt that live album mentioned above is excellent as is their 2015 Everly Brothers covers collection It’s Everly Time. There are also a few new singles out on their website along with mention of an upcoming album.  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Dead Rock West are Cindy Wasserman and Frank Lee Drennen.  They play with a collection of very talented musicians but I could not get a definitive list of the other talent on Honey and Salt. I do believe that it included:  David Carpenter (bass), Phil Parlapiano (organ, mandolin) and Bryan Head (drums).  

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.deadrockwest.com

https://deadrockwest.bandcamp.com

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂 

Song Review- Chaser – “Three Little Birds” 

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Four casually dressed men sitting on some tiered bench seating. They seem to be happy.

It goes without saying, and I have said it before anyway, that not every attempt to take a song from one distinct genre and mold it into a song for a different genre is successful.  Fortunately this is a case where it all worked out very well for the redux of this classic Bob Marley song.  

It starts off with a nice stylistic change, converting the well-known synth melody line to guitar and hitting a tone that sets the music in that alternative / punk space right away.  The bass provides some very cool buzz to that intro chorus.  Right as the first verse kicks in this track takes on a jumpy groove driven by a spirited drum section.  The vocals  are delivered with a pep that definitely brings some extra energy to the performance.   The band stays on that path for most of the song although there is a nice slip down into a brief reggae moment right after the two minute mark.   This song in its original classic version by Marley always left me with a “just chill out, it’s cool, you are going to be ok” feeling.  It always brightened up my mood.  Chaser’s version does a really great job of amping up that message to “Yes! You are totally going to be ok – we all got this!”  I enjoyed the heck out of listening and will be looking forward to the release of their two track EP Gonna Be Alright on May 29th.

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are: Jesse Stopnitzky (bass, vocals), Bill Hockmuth (guitar), Davey Guy (drums) and Mike LeDonne (vocals)

Streaming link:

https://chaser.hearnow.com/three-little-birds

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/chaserpunk

https://chaser.bandcamp.com/music

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂 

Song Review- Plague Vendor- “Unc”

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Four casually dressed men stand in front of a barbed wire fence and are looking toward the viewer. On the other side of the fence is a backed in van with the rear door open.

Any day that there is some new Plague Vendor music out is a good one around here so we definitely had a whole happy moment when this song dropped April 24th.  

Loud and brash right from the start, “Unc” manages to offset that energy with some pointed lyrics that interject a few moments of humor along the way to lighten the mood.   The rhythm section here is hard and choppy and this one careens along for 1:39 feeling like a fast car gunning for the nearest cliff.   It is a fun ride in my opinion and a new album from these guys is hopefully out there somewhere…close.  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this: Brandon Blaine (vocals), Luke Perine (drums, percussion), Henri Cash (guitar), Michael Perez (bass) 

You can check this one now on your usual steaming platforms.

And if you have 45 minutes to watch come concert video…check out this great set from 2025!

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/plaguevendor

https://plaguevendor.com/

https://plaguelyfe.bandcamp.com/track/rumble

Prior review links 

Song Review- Plague Vendor “Run”

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂  

Song Review- Gottlieb – “I Started Carrying a Knife Today” from the upcoming album The Far Fallen Fruit

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Four casually dressed men stand under a bridge.

Band photo by Alex Webster

Although I had heard a few bits and pieces of info about this band prior to getting the chance to preview this single (thanks to Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media) I had not given their music much extended listening time.  The one prior release I had spun a few times was “Sidewalk” (2024) and that was a pretty dense song, both in tone and message…good but heavy.  

Gottlieb is known as a political band but this new track definitely is a personal one with a deep message centered quite literally on the song title.   Although the music starts off with a little bit of a peppy bounce it is quickly covered by some tense, tight guitar playing and a thundering rhythm section.  Accompanied by an urgent and angry vocal this song is tempestuous as hell, a 2:27 minute release of coiled energy.   

The full album is set for a May 1st drop via Quite Panic.

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Streaming link:

https://orcd.co/istartedcarryingaknifetoday

Pre-order some limited edition vinyl right here:

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/gottlieb_punk/

https://gottlieblosangeles.bandcamp.com/

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂

Song Review- Pleasure Pill – “Feel Alive” from the upcoming EP Alive 

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Five men sit on a cement stairs boarded by a black brick wall.

Before you jump on checking out this new song from Pleasure Pill…if you want to hear something pretty darn good from their back catalog check out “I’d Rather Be” which came out in 2024.  

This new single, out in advance of the April 24th full EP release on Quiet Panic, definitely rolls out on a very comfortable, easy-going groove that leads into a dreamy-style vocal line.  Pulled along by a strong multiple-guitar wall of sound and drums that come out on top at just the right moments this song has a nice kind of buzzy energy.  If you have a few extra study moments you can spend some time following the bass line as it weaves around the sonic structure here, adding a nice, pulsing foundation.  This track grew on me the more I listened and is a great peek at what is to come on Alive in a couple weeks.  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

You can check out the video for this now right here: 

Streaming link:

https://orcd.co/pleasurepill-feelalive

Pre-order the limited edition vinyl here:

PLEASURE PILL

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/pleasurepillusa/

https://www.instagram.com/pleasurepillusa

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂  

Song Review- Mad Tab – “Awake” from the upcoming album Alas! The Bomb Voyage…

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Four men standing against a graffitied brick wall look slightly downward toward the viewer. They appear a little defiant and edgy.

Band photo by Roxy Wheeler

Well, I had not heard of this band before getting the heads up from Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media and am quite happy that I got the chance to listen to it early (it is out now via Norwood Fisher’s InnaNuttshell Reekordingz).  Along the road to learning more I also was able to read a very interesting bio on this group who go all the way back to 2006 and a gig at a bowling alley.  I am sure they can tell their own story much better than me but suffice it to say that there has been a colorful history and it is very cool to see them now ready to put this new single (and soon the full album) out into the world.   They have a few other songs out there if you want to check out some historical sounds.

Coming in on a slightly muted, melodic bass groove that has kind of a comforting feel to it this track quickly picks up a nice, heavy drum line and a lively tempo.  The choruses have some nice group vocals and the guitar sound is loud and poignant.   An interesting and unexpected element on this tune is added by some keys that add a unique foundation to the sound.   I really enjoyed listening to this and am looking forward to the album release.  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are: Dave Tab, Gram Tab, Scott Beattie and Rob Wheeler 

You can stream this here now: 

https://orcd.co/MadTabAwake?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

Check the high energy video out here: 

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://beacons.ai/madtabmusic

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂