Brett Scallions and Fuel return to Birmingham

Posted on Friday March 07, 2014 By Tre Brannum

Brett Scallions returns to Fuel after a four year leave. And now, Fuel returns to Birmingham with a new line-up, new tour, and new album Puppet Strings. We spoke with Brett about the making of the record, his time with and away from Fuel, and his favorite beer. Check out the track in our podcast section. Featuring the track, Time For Me to Stop. See them at Iron Horse on March 25th, 2014. Get your tickets here.

Ron Pope Comes to The Bottletree on March 10

Posted on Tuesday February 25, 2014 By Tre Brannum

Ron is a busy man. Over the course of 10 years, he has released 10 albums and over 300 songs. His latest release, Calling Off the Dogs, shows just how much Ron has grown as an artist.

The album, built around the life cycle of a relationship, covers a wide range of genres and dynamics. From the album's opening track, "Lick My Wounds", Pope lets the listener know that they are in for a wild ride. Just like the ups and downs of young love, this record touches nearly every emotion.

Pope kicked off the first leg of his latest tour in Europe, where his audience has exploded. Ironically due, in part, by most musician's worst nightmares: Spotify, Bandcamp, Soundcloud. These streaming services have been a catalyst in spreading Ron's music to the masses. His article on the subject, "An Independent Artists's Take on Spotify", (published by The Huffington post), gives another argument to an issue that seems to plague signed and indie artists alike.

Pope stops in to play an intimate Birmingham, AL date at Bottletree on March 10th with Von Grey. Tickets are available at Bottletree's website. Check out our chat with Ron in our podcast section.

Lucero makes their Iron City debut, March 5th

Posted on Friday February 21, 2014 By TB

Lucero brings their brand of bar room, Alt-country to Birmingham, March 5th. Supporting the Dropkick Murphys "St. Patrick's Day Tour", the band makes their Iron City debut. Tix are available at Iron City's website.

We spoke with guitarist and co-founder, Brian Venable, about the band's unique sound, ties to their hometown of Memphis Tennessee, and their latest EP Texas and Tennessee. Featuring the title track from their full length album, "Women and Work". Listen to the chat in our podcast section.

St. Paul & The Broken Bones unleash "Half the City"

Posted on Monday February 17, 2014 By Tre Brannum

After a long build up, the much anticipated full length record from Birmingham's St. Paul and The Broken Bones is finally here. Half the City drops today, and lives up to all the hype.

Much like the story of the band, the album creeps in on the listener with it's opening track, "I'm Torn Up". The decision to open an album with this much build up is curious, as it seems to be a song better suited as a late record track. But in a way, it works to show just what the band is all about. The mood quickly changes with the following track, "Don't Mean a Thing". With it's Chicago-style horn line, the track displays the power that the band has brought to it's live shows. Dynamics are key to soul music, and the "Bones" work them well.

The band started, humbly, while in the Les Nuby's studio putting together songs for their first EP "Greetings from St. Paul & the Broken Bones". Since the release, the band has won over fans with their throwback style of old Motown Soul, brought to you by a young Paul Janeway. The success of their EP, and growing audiences at their live shows, caught even the band off guard. The band signed with Single Lock Records late 2012, and began working on Half the City in January of 2013. With the record being completed for months, the band worked to fine tune their stage show. By the end of 2013, they unleashed the fruits of their labors during their sold out, hometown show at Workplay. The show was packed with family, friends, and the curious bystander that have heard the band's praises, but had never witnessed them in person. Simply put, many jaws had to be swept off the floor that night. Paul and his band of Broken Bones, poured out a show with so much energy, that the audience was caught between a state of awe, and a need to dance to the music.

Half the City includes re-recorded versions three of the four tracks from their debut EP. Where the tracks don't stray far from their original recordings, the track "Sugar Dyed"seemed to show how much the band has matured from their days at Ol' Elegante Studios.

Recorded by Alabama Shake's Ben Tanner, the production is such that it seems as if this is an old record from 1960's Detroit in HD. The analog vibe is there, but with crystal clear sounds coming from the all important horn section. Add the powerful low end of bassist Jesse Phillips, with Paul's soulful screams, and you have the musical equivalent of having your cake, and eating it too.

It's nice to see a band actually live up the anticipation of mass media and fans. Most fall flat and never recover from a hype machine that wasn't even of their building. Pick up Half the City at any one of the many stops along the band's 2014 tour, or anywhere you buy music. Listen to our chat with Paul, from back in January 2013, during the making of the album, by clicking here.

Dark Star Orchestra Brings "The Dead" Back to Life

Posted on Tuesday February 11, 2014 By Tre Brannum