What happened in 2016? I feel it is noteworthy to mention that the music world lost Lemmy from Motorhead at the very end of 2015, that kicked off the sad start to 2016… the world lost Erik Petersen from Mischief Brew, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen and Prince… that made for a sad year in music. Pat the Bunny retired, that’s notable to me, that ended the run of a great artist. You might want to check out his band Ramshackle Glory’s last album, One Last Job, it’s a fantastic end to a great band, folk punk at it’s finest!
What else happened recently that doesn’t include the words Trump or dystopia? I’ve been listening to a wide variety of great music, stuff you might want to check out and support.
Bill Mallonee is releasing Forest Full of Wolves this year. The early mixes are up on his BandCamp site, check them out! There are also support opportunities on his BandCamp page, merch for sale, and over 75 albums spanning over 25 years. I have grown up heavily relying on Mallonee’s music, his folk/Americana storytelling has been a staple of mine for decades now. It’s worth mentioning that his last release, The Rags of Absence, was a stunner. Support the music that supports you!
October Bird of Death! Yeah, this is good stuff! Chicago punk rock with members (former & current) of Headnoise, Ballydowse and The Blamed. October Bird of Death’s Death Made It’s Offer – Get it!
When people talk about KRS-One they use the word ‘legend’ – I think there is good reason for that! His latest album, The World is Mind, is him doing what he does best. The guy is a lyrical genius, interested in spreading knowledge, and using music as a vehicle for education and change. It doesn’t get better than this.
The Wakes released VENCEREMOS late last year. I heard a clip from their 2013 release, The Red and the Green, a couple of months back and promptly snapped up their catalog. The Wakes are a four piece band from Scotland, a mix of folk, punk and rock n roll music. Their lyrics focus on social and political issues past and present. These guys are one of my favorite new finds, it’s good stuff!
Eric and Jeff Clayton are back with a great project! They are releasing Bowie covers, one song each month, for a year. The June cover, “Rock N Roll With Me,” also has some pretty cool guests including Sam West and Nathan Van Hala from Saviour Machine, and also Allan Aguirre from Scaterd Few/Spy Glass Blue. While you’re checking out their BandCamp page, also check out Jeff Clayton’s album The Void. The Void was made a couple of years ago, but released in April this year, it is Jeff Clayton’s tribute to the most important band in heavy metal, Black Sabbath.
Moon Bandits – Property Damage: A Love Story One of my favorite anarchist folk/punk bands! This album is a must have!
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