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Alt.Rocker Gary Edward Allen Reaches Out To His Inner Child on “First Day of School Part 1”

Bluesy, twangy and reflective, Gary Edward Allen’s “First Day of School Part 1” – available now – is an ode to one’s inner child and the immutable person within us.

“I like the idea of being true to yourself and knowing that the core of you is just as true at seven as it at 27 or 54 or however old you are,” Allen says.

If I could run away …. but not to follow
I’m so easily led astray …
Once I passed a note to the child I once was…

The lyrics are sparse, with the music – introspective, brooding, and then sunny – conveying most of the feeling and message. Allen originally wrote the song for a band he was in called Ottaway Broder Allen, and it was written as an homage to childhood and reincarnation. It’s a song about feeling like you’ve been here before, as well as about true love – with a bit of an apocalyptic twist.

“I remember when my old band recorded it, I explained, ‘Yeah, it’s about living many lives, constantly searching for your soulmate, finding them, and then the Rapture comes and you look at your soulmate and say, ‘Ok, we’ve been searching for each other for many lifetimes, we finally found each other, and now we need to get the f*ck out of dodge before the Rapture comes.’”

That was back in 2014, and Allen’s bandmates looked at him like he was more than a little bit crazy. However, now in 2024 on the heels of a pandemic, “First Day of School Part 1” seems pretty darn prescient.

For the song’s “new and improved” version, Allen recorded the track with Tim Bovaconti and AJ Ottaway, and the song is split into three separate sections. The wholly instrumental “First Day of School Part 2” was released on YouTube a little less than a year ago, and Part 3 might also eventually be in the works. “Stay tuned,” Allen says mischievously.

“I didn’t deliberately record it out of order, but after I did the rough tracks for the entire thing, I was very much in a lead guitar frame of mind, so that [Part 2] got finished first,” he explains.

Gary Edward Allen started playing guitar at seven years old before falling in love with it as a teenager after listening to Queen and KISS. After a brief stint in a music class, he taught himself different guitar playing styles using his love of different music genres. By his early 20s, he gradually overcame his performance shyness by playing live in Ottawa at various clubs.

After moving to Vancouver in the mid ’90s, Allen took a hiatus from performing live, but never stopped playing the guitar and singing. When Allen entered his 40s, he decided to return to performing music after meeting indie artist Robb Hill. Not long afterwards, he would record his first songs with producer Doug Fury before meeting AJ Ottaway and Jake Broder and recording their debut album Ottaway Broder Allen. This would lead to a local tour in Vancouver as well as a second album, Invictus, that was made and released in 2015.

Sometime after Allen moved from Vancouver to Toronto and met his partner Tara (also from Ottawa, but as fate would have it, they didn’t meet while in the city), the band called it quits. By 2017, Allen would become a solo artist that collaborated with his former bandmate AJ mixing new songs and recording with producer Tim Bovaconti.

Survivalist Extraordinaire Les Stroud Drops Earth-Shattering Single ‘Ancients Call’

Les Stroud, the renowned Rock musician from Huntsville, Ontario, is proud to announce the release of his newest single, “Ancients Call,” – available now.

This impactful and moving song breaks through musical limits, encouraging listeners to rekindle their bond with the earth and the knowledge of their ancestors. Ancients Call is more than a mere track; it’s a deep dive into Stroud’s spiritual and emotional exploration, inspired by earth ceremonies around the world.

Drawing inspiration from the survival expert’s adventures while filming the series Beyond Survival, Ancients Call mirrors his immersion into numerous earth ceremonies, from Ayahuasca and San Pedro rituals to ceremonies honouring the elements and Incan high priests.

“These ancients are there, always, watching and waiting and available to us to communicate with, to learn from, and to seek out wisdom,” explains Stroud. “They know where we are going because we are already there. There is no time in their existence as there is no time in ours. We are not linear. I did, as I always seem to do, want to finish off lyrically in a positive place. In a place with hope. ‘But the earth can heal and so can I”.

Ancients Call highlights the collaborative genius of Bryan Potvin and Ian Auger, crafting a complex soundscape from Stroud’s African chant-inspired melody. Enhanced by heavy guitars and dynamic compositions, Kelly Adams adds ethereal vocals as Mother Earth and producer Mike Clink elevates the intensity, drawing from his famed work with Guns N’ Roses.

This latest single serves as a bridge between Stroud’s musical pursuits and his survivalist passions. “I absolutely love that this whole musical extravaganza, as bombastic and big as it is, is, to me, reminiscent of every prog rock band I have ever loved; Rush, Yes, King Crimson and of course Peter Gabriel,” he proclaims.

Known for his survival skills and engaging TV persona, Les Stroud has solidified himself as a versatile musician. His significant works, “Mother Earth” and “Bittern Lake,” re-released and remastered under the expertise of legendary producer Mike Clink, feature collaborations with renowned artists such as Slash and Steve Vai, showcasing Stroud’s diverse musical range.

His captivating live shows connect music with wilderness tales, reflecting his passion, versatility, and environmental commitment, solidifying his musical innovation. It’s more than just music; it’s an experience that inspires and awakens the adventurer in us all.

RUTH MOODY, The Wailin’ Jennys Co-Founder Releases “Already Free” From Upcoming Wanderer Album

Today, Ruth Moody is releasing the second single from Wanderer, her first new album in over a decade. Moody’s clear soprano soars on “Already Free,“ a song Moody says is “for anyone who is ready to let go of the weight they are carrying and be free.

“I wrote the lyrics during the pandemic This was me, saying ‘I’m not coping well, I’m losing my grip’ and finding strength in that admission. It’s a song about that moment of reckoning, that acceptance of vulnerability and surrender that ultimately helps us to find our resilience. “

Wanderer is the long-awaited solo album from the Canadian singer-songwriter, known as a founding and current member of Billboard-charting and JUNO-award winning folk trio, The Wailin’ Jennys. Recorded at Sound Emporium in Nashville, the self-penned 10-song album was co-produced by Moody and Dan Knobler (Allison Russell, Lake Street Dive) and mixed by Tucker Martine (Madison Cunningham, First Aid Kit) and will be released May 17 on Moody’s Blue Muse Records via True North Records.

Open-tuned guitars (inspired by Moody’s heroes, Joni Mitchell and Laura Marling), provide the backdrop for soaring pedal steel and the otherworldly vocals and the intricate harmonies we’ve come to expect from Moody. She brought together her favorite musicians for the recordings, enhanced by the rich echo-chamber reverb of the legendary Nashville studio. Musicians including her partner, Sam Howard, who plays upright bass and provides backing vocals, her older brother Richard Moody (“He’s played on every record I’ve ever made”), Jennys’ touring member Anthony da Costa, (guitars), Jason Burger (drums), Kai Welch (Keyboards); Russ Pahl (pedal steel), Adrian Dolan (string arrangements) and duet partner Joey Landreth on “The Spell of the Lilac Bloom.”

The result is a transcendent collection of ten deeply powerful and personal songs that reflect Moody’s inner world and wanderings. Wanderer explores the emotional journey of motherhood, the joy and pain of life, the mysterious and complicated dance of love, and ultimately the longing we all feel for home, wherever that might be.

RUTH MOODY BAND TOUR: 
May 21 Annapolis, MD – Ram’s Head
May 22 Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
May 23 Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
May 25 New York, NY – Joe’s Pub
May 26 State College, PA – State Theatre
May 28 Evanston, IL – SPACE
May 29 Milwaukee, WI – Vivarium
May 30 Cincinnati, OH – Ludlow Garage May 31 Nashville, TN – TBA
Jul 11-14 Winnipeg, MB – Winnipeg Folk Festival
*More dates to be announced soon

Hard Rock Titans THE SPACE BETWEEN Unleash Powerful New Single ‘Crooked & Hollow’

The Canadian hard rock powerhouse hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, The Space Between, known for its articulate riffs, powerful melodies, and aggressive rhythms is excited to announce the release of their newest single, “Crooked & Hollow” – available now.

Crooked & Hollow delves into the introspective journey of lead vocalist and lyricist Maryn Pegan, exploring themes of self-perception and grappling with personal demons. “The title ‘Crooked & Hollow’ sparked images of looking into a mirror and not recognizing oneself,” says Pegan.

This song serves as a cathartic outlet for angst and anger, fueled by Pegan’s personal battles with self-confidence, a struggle that resonates with many young people.

“I wanted the chorus to just explode with desperate exclamations using the word “I”; using “I” in conjunction with negative words, such as “can’t” and “don’t,” Pegan reflects. “It really was quite a powerful thing for me in the end, as all of those negative feelings feel much smaller when you can use them to create a work like this that you’re proud of.”

During an informal jam session, guitarist James Shaheen and drummer Tom Sergi established the instrumental foundation, showcasing the band’s spontaneous creativity.

“I don’t even think we were trying to write at the time when we came up with this tune,” Shaheen recalls. “Sometimes Tom and I will just jam for a few minutes when the rest of the band is getting set up, and this song just came out of one of those practice jams. I played that opening riff and Tom just jumped in.”

The track draws from a diverse range of musical influences, paying tribute to rock icons like Queen of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme and Dream Theater’s drummer, backing vocalist and co-founder Mike Portnoy. Sergi’s drum intro echoes Portnoy’s unique fills, setting a commanding tone for the piece. Additionally, the song honours Sergi’s favourite parts from The Rev, Unholy Confessions (Avenged Sevenfold), especially evident in its climactic drum section.

Since the band’s beginning in 2022, The Space Between has bravely blended genres and challenged industry norms. “Crooked & Hollow” is proof of their changing sound and strong dedication to authenticity.

Jon Mullane’s Ode To Summer Nabs Top Honour In California Music Video & Film Awards

Son of a beach! Canadian recording artist Jon Mullane scored big in the recent California Music Video & Film Awards, winning Best Male Solo Artist for the clip to his feel-good surfside anthem, “The Sun In The Summertime.”

Viewers named Mullane’s video the best in its category for its retro portrayal of life by the sand, deeming it a standout amid the awards’ salute to California-influenced music and performers.

Directed by Martin Noel, “The Sun In The Summertime” is a collage of mid-century Golden State iconography, including cool guitars, classic cars and nostalgic movie footage that plays out on vintage TV screens. (Of course, actor Harvey Lembeck gets in some face time in his role as Eric Von Zipper from the “Beach Party” movies.) Through it all, Mullane appears as a six-string troubadour singing the praises of coastal culture.

Co-written by Jim Gelcer and Mullane, “The Sun In The Summertime” comes from the latter’s 2023 EP, the appropriately named California. The infectious pop-rock number was the sole new track on the record, which otherwise compiled tunes Mullane had released individually during the pandemic. The EP was devised as the Halifax-born artist’s salute to his years as a Los Angeles resident; now a Nova Scotian once more, he currently resides in the seaside town of Mahone Bay. The music video for the song was actually shot on Bayswater Beach in Nova Scotia in early June 2023, in the midst of wildfires that were anything but “a good time.”

“I’ve always aspired to write a summertime anthem since I was in my teens,” Mullane says. “It was a time where we always had a song of the summer on the radio that became a part of the fabric of our lives and life experiences, creating vivid images of surf, sand and drivin’ around. Living in L.A. brought out that feeling.”

Beyond the EP, Mullane’s recording catalog includes five full-length albums and several radio singles that have hit the Billboard Top 40 in Canada. He reached #32 on the U.S. Hot AC Billboard Chart with his song “My New American Girl.” Many other songs from his repertoire have been featured in TV programs, commercials and sporting events, including NBC’s use of his “Make Your Move” to promote the Beijing Olympics.

Pursuant to its awards win, the video for “The Sun In The Summertime” will be shown in Summer 2024 on the TasteTV television series Music California and on the program Short Films On, both of which are carried on PBS-affiliated public television stations across the U.S. Too bad the title The Endless Summer was already taken, because this one’s going to have legs as long as the mercury’s high.

Toronto’s Stratford-Bound Harriet Chung Releases Heartfelt Anthem of Love “Hold Me Tight”

In the realm of music, there are songs that transcend mere melodies and lyrics, touching the very soul with their heartfelt resonance. “Hold Me Tight,” the latest release from the talented artist Harriet Chung, stands as a shining example of such a song—a poignant anthem of love and security that captivates listeners with its emotional depth and sincerity.

Crafted by the skilled songwriter George Chiang and brought to life through Chung’s soul-stirring vocals, “Hold Me Tight” is more than just a musical composition; it’s a journey through the intricacies of human emotion, wrapped in the soothing embrace of harmonious melodies and heartfelt lyrics.

At its core, “Hold Me Tight” speaks to the universal longing for love and reassurance in the face of life’s uncertainties. Set against a backdrop of tender guitar melodies and sweeping piano, the song opens with a sense of vulnerability and apprehension, as the protagonist grapples with feelings of fear and insecurity. Yet, amidst the chaos of life’s relentless pace, there is solace to be found in the comforting presence of a loved one.

As the chorus unfolds, Chung’s vocals soar with emotion, mirroring the protagonist’s sense of relief and empowerment when enveloped in their partner’s embrace.

With each repetition of the refrain, listeners are drawn deeper into the warmth and security of love’s embrace, reminded of its transformative power to conquer even the darkest of fears.

‘When you hold me tight
Everything’s all right
You’re my shining star
My beacon in the night
When you hold me tight
I can face anything
You’re my rock
My safe haven
My everything (…)’

Throughout the song, Chung’s vocals exude sincerity and warmth, inviting listeners to empathize with the raw emotions laid bare in each verse. From the tender vulnerability of the opening lines to the resounding declaration of devotion in the final chorus, the single is a testament to the enduring strength of love to light the way through life’s trials and tribulations.

Accompanied by Warren Robert (arrangement and instruments) and Rique Franks (backup vocals), Chung’s performance is elevated to new heights, each instrument adding its own layer of depth and richness to the composition.

As “Hold Me Tight” makes its debut, it promises to leave an indelible mark on the hearts of listeners around the world. With its timeless message of love and resilience, it serves as a reminder that, no matter the challenges we face, we can always find strength and solace in the arms of those we hold dear.

In the midst of her burgeoning music career, Harriet Chung continues to captivate audiences with her unparalleled talent and passion for storytelling through song. With each new release, she reaffirms her status as a rising star in the world of music, leaving an indelible imprint on the hearts of all who have the privilege of listening.

Harriet and George Chiang will be featured performers at the prestigious Stratford Festival for the world premiere of “Salesman in China.” With rehearsals starting on June 5, previews beginning on August 3, and the grand opening slated for August 23, the production runs until October 26, allowing time between the 2 to 4 weekly shows for other creative pursuits.

“Hold Me Tight” is out now, and get more information on the Stratford Festival here.

Master Composer Lou McMahon Spreads Her Wings On May 15 At Berlin’s Neue Stage Friedrichshain

And lo, the chrysalis was opened: Visionary Irish composer Lou McMahon is headed to Germany for a high-profile concert that will mark the next stage in the life of her groundbreaking 2023 album, Butterfly Wars.

Thanks to funding from Culture Ireland and her country’s Department of Foreign Affairs, the artist and her Lou McMahon Ensemble+ will be traveling to Deutschland as part of the cultural-exchange program An Irish Season in Germany. Violist Ed Creedon, Violinist Phoebe White, Violinist Elena Kyoko, and Cellist Callum Owen will take the stage with McMahon when they perform Butterfly Wars LIVE May 15 at Berlin’s Neue Stage Friedrichshain. Presented as part of Zeitgeist Irland 24—“a celebration of the richness and diversity of contemporary Irish culture”—the show will see the Ensemble+ joined by the Zest Dance Studio Berlin, the Berlin Drum Experience and the Gut Reaction Theatre Company for a multidisciplinary, transnational amplification of the record’s innovative sounds and thought-provoking themes.

The performance represents a bold step into physical reality for Butterfly Wars, a six-track concept record that blends contemporary classical melodies, baroque-teen storytelling and video-game music and methodologies to explore themes of artificial intelligence and the human experience. A hybrid audio journey and gameplay narrative, Butterfly Wars invites listeners to embark on an epic adventure alongside the enigmatic character X-Lú as she navigates gothic realms, battles terrifying species and grapples with profound questions about her identity. Each track follows the structure of video-game music, incorporating elements like game-over-screen stems, emotional shifts and character leitmotifs that are designed to loop and trigger, making for a quirky sonic experience.

While she’s in Germany, McMahon will also be performing live in the studio of Radio Hagen 107.7 at a date to be determined. And later this fall, the Ensemble+ will perform Butterfly Wars LIVE at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, as part of the Metronome series.

The five instrumentals on Butterfly Wars were composed and arranged around the skills of the Ensemble+, which McMahon assembled from members of the prestigious National String Foundation and RTÉ Orchestras and with support from the Arts Council of Ireland and The Glens Arts Centre in Manorhamilton, Leitrim) Also appearing on the album are Joe England (drums) and Bernard O’ Neil (double bass). McMahon herself plays piano and sings on the track “Mysteria,” a solemn processional that makes the absolute most out of its stately two-chord pattern.

“If you like the Bridgerton soundtrack and string ensembles like The Vitamin String Quartet or Kronos Quartet, you might like Butterfly Wars,” McMahon undersells.

The experts are far more effusive. The renowned Bernard Clarke of RTÉ Lyric FM, Ireland’s national broadcaster, has described McMahon’s work as “immersive and rapturous.” She’s also won three Communicator Awards for a music video she made in collaboration with film and TV composer Shie Rozow. Currently, McMahon is writing an instrumental piece especially for Hollywood’s most in-demand trombonist, Alex Iles, who can be heard on John Williams’ original Star Wars theme.

In addition to her classical compositions for piano, strings and voice, McMahon’s repertoire as a singer-songwriter includes folk-rock numbers she’s recorded with the likes of Terry Woods of The Pogues—work that’s landed her in the Ultimate Guide to Irish Folk. And she loves contributing audio reports to Luke Clancy’s Culture File on RTÉ, researching and interviewing celebrity guests. She even created the musical score for the show.

The German premiere of Butterfly Wars LIVE is the latest item on McMahon’s rapidly expanding international résumé, which has already included exposure on radio and TV not only in her native Ireland, but also in Slovakia and the United States. Watch for further updates as the performing campaign continues; these are some Wars any nation would be happy to see invading their borders.

TNA Impact Wrestler And Scrounge-Rock Queen GOLDY LOCKS Finds Her Purpose In “Just Say Yes” Single

When you need a pep talk in how to get the most out of life, you always want to turn to a woman who grows food out of her own poop.

Okay, hear us out. Yes, it’s true that Goldy Locks, lead singer and mastermind of Nashville’s house-shaking Goldy lockS Band (yes, that’s how she spells it), recently appeared on a 2023 of TLC’s Extreme Cheapskates to explain how she uses her own feces as garden compost. She also mentioned that she collects stray socks from the laundromat to use as sanitary napkins and cuts down on her bar tab by finishing strangers’ discards. But before you dismiss her as some sort of crackpot, you owe it to yourself to take a listen to her band’s new single, “Just Say Yes,” a simply undeniable instant anthem that could convert just about anyone to her philosophy that the glass is always half full (especially when it isn’t yours).

No mere novelty record from a freegan lifestyle guru, the song soars on a can-do spirit and a musical oomph that make it as invigorating a statement of intent as “I Will Survive.” Strings saw away melodramatically, guitar power chords crash and churn, and Locks spews optimism in a voice that sure doesn’t sound like it’s been weakened by second-hand bourbon. Far from it:

I’ll stop at nothing ’til I reach the top
I’ll keep on moving and I’ll never stop
I’ll start a motion where the money’s free
I’ll make it happen where we all agree
Just say yes
Don’t put me to the test, oh baby
Don’t say no
Just how far can we go
If you would just say yes
Don’t make me have to guess
Just stop making a mess of my life
And just tell me yes

Now, who could resist an entreaty that direct? Locks says she wrote the song specifically “to empower people to say ‘yes’ to quitting their deadbeat jobs,” and also as “a female empowerment song showing that women can ALSO be the boss.” But its appeal is as universal as the unexpected joy of finding a perfectly good sofa somebody left out on the curb.

Even the hoot-and-a-half of a music video Locks and her band have whipped up finds liberty in liberation: The vacuum cleaners and other household totems they wield as props were all rescued from the trash, and the kitsch-Americana costumes they’re wearing come from either thrift/secondhand stores or the nearest dumpster.

That’s pretty appropriate for a woman who was discovered while rifling through the refuse at Prince’s Paisley Park complex. (Clarification: She was discovered by the police.) What followed was a circuitous path to show-biz prominence: first as a seamstress to boy bands, then a pop chanteuse in her own right (she opened for Pink and others), and then, perhaps most famously, as a commentator/manager/wrestler for TNA Impact Wrestling. For years, she’s preached better living through frugality from a variety of media platforms, including her own TLC show, Call in the Cheapskates, and a podcast, Goldy’s Closet (a sub-cast of ex-WWE writer Vince Russo’s The Brand).

But there’s nothing cheap about the bang-for-your-buck reputation she’s simultaneously carved out as leader and frontwoman of The Goldy lockS Band, whose 100+-song repertoire of originals and covers has made the lineup of Locks, Johnny Oro and Rod Saylor a top draw throughout their region—and an in-demand opener for everyone from Saliva, Sevendust and Nickelback to Stevie Nicks, The Bret Michaels Band and Maroon 5. On record, their mastery of rock, pop and beyond has shifted over 65,000 CDs and EPs since 2008, plus more than 2,500 DVDs. Their 2019 collaboration with Smith & Hay x King Tech on a cover of Pearl Jam’s “Black” was the first single from an album that hit Number Two in Billboard—on the Jazz chart, yet!

And when it comes to charitable causes, this bunch are anything but stingy. Their 2021 single/video “All to You” aided suicide-prevention efforts, “Black” did the same for child abuse, and previous hit “Today I Won’t Be Afraid” has helped raise thousands of dollars for organizations like the YWCA and Soles4Souls, which helps get new shoes and clothing to people in crisis situations. Now that’s the kind of recycling anybody can get behind.

Asked to offer a thumbnail sketch of the Type-A personality that’s taken her so far down so many avenues, Locks describes herself as “driven, professional, a neat freak and an occasional hot mess.” Maybe so, but what a fabulous disaster it is. Now we can all “Just Say Yes” to the mess.

Musician Advice From Ann Landers

Taylor Swift’s ‘THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT’ Becomes Spotify’s Most-Streamed Album in One Week

Records smashed. History made. It’s been just five days since Taylor Swift unveiled her 11th studio album, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT, and the reception from Swifties worldwide has been rapturous.

On April 22, 2024, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT became Spotify’s most-streamed album in a single week. And as of today, the album has surpassed 1 billion streams since release, the first in Spotify history.

Did we mention it’s been just five days since its release?

Adding to the medal count, on April 19, 2024, the album became the first in Spotify history to reach over 300 million streams in a single day. Also on April 19, its debut single, “Fortnight (feat. Post Malone),” became the most-streamed song in a single day in Spotify history.

Rounding out the records, Taylor became the most-streamed artist in a single day in Spotify history with THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT, breaking her previous record achieved with the October 27, 2023 release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version). On April 18, 2024, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT became the most pre-saved album Countdown Page in Spotify history.

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That Eric Alper
6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week, a 16-time JUNO Award winner overseeing PR campaigns, and have also been truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

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