westcoastmusic

The Meanstreet Riders "High On The Hog"

The MeanStreet Riders rock music group was formed from a group of songwriters that both ride motorcycles and write music about their love of the open road its culture and the freedom it brings.

The Riders were formed in the fall of 2008 when they were riding their motorcycles through the southern United States on their way through the Ga/Tenn mountains to ride one of the most challenging and dangerous roads in the world Highway 129 " Deals Gap" or as its also known “The Dragon”. The “ Dragon " is a 11 mile stretch of road with 318 curves on the Tennesee /North Carolina border on US highway 129 and is considered a motorcycle legend for riders around the world.

The Mean Street Riders debut cd album was release to retail Sept 13, 2011 and stretches across a wide gamete of Americana and speaks to a culture that sees life, liberty and freedom being challenged more and more everyday in this ever growing rapidly changing world. From the title track "High on the Hog" which is about camaraderie, deep rooted friendship and not being caught up in the status quo to the ballad "Rolling On" which was based on the travels of Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper on their ride filming the movie "Easy Rider" and deals with also getting away from the day to day pressures and the pursuit to simply be free and ride with the wind in your hair like they did so long ago. The song "I've had a good ride" is based on a return to Sturgis Rally, the Badlands and riding through the South Dakota hills. In addition to the reunion with old friends theme the songs chorus also references real life teachings and not believing everything you hear or read with the line "don't read all the writing on the wall". It also invites you to take life "all in" and enjoy the good times but also take an inner look at the end of the day or your life and ask yourself have you "Had a Good Ride". The song "Where I Was born" is rich in riders harmonies and is the story about a father sharing a ride with his two sons' across rural America.

The rest of the LP is nestled deep in Americana rock, with country overtones and arrangements about family, friends, relationships, roads, trips, towns and how the American dream about freedom and how the pursuit of it seems to be continually challenged and shaped by the media, corporations and government bureaucracy.

The incredible growth of the motorcycle community in the past few years is the result of millions of people in the world wanting their freedom back and hitting the road to discover some great times good friends and maybe…. themselves again. The MeanStreet Riders not only speak to those people but people in all walks of life in more than just words and invite them to go somewhere they haven’t been before and discover this great country and world before it might be too late.

Remember Life’s too short for traffic so Rock N Roll on the open Road

A Little River Band Christmas

Little River Band just released a new Christmas Album of 12 songs produced by Wayne Nelson and Rich Herring.

Interview with Steve Perry at Melodicrock.com!

Exclusive interview with Steve Perry, the legendary voice of Journey by Andrew McNeice at MelodicRock.com

Janni Littlepage "Strange Angels"

A delicate, beautiful and refreshing talent, Janni Littlepage’s music has been described as romantic, eloquent and richly cinematic. In genres spanning bridges from folk to country to pop and back again, Janni’s resonant voice holds qualities reminiscent of Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, and Joni Mitchell.

“Strange Angels”, her new album and special edition CD, was co-produced with Robinson Eikenberry. It is a masterfully pristine production with a myriad of layers, aural textures and hues. The songs are beautifully written and emotionally transportive, as is the breadth and beauty of Janni’s voice, and the subtle strength and skill of her players.

The album features the musical virtuosity of the late and beloved Kenny Edwards, extraordinary singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (Linda Rondstadt, Bryndle, Karla Bonoff). Edwards’ distinctive supporting vocals and superb musical talent on guitars, electric bass and mandolin grace
every track, along with collaboration by other gifted musicians.

Accompanying this new release is an artful and luminous music video of the album’s evocative title song “Strange Angels” by wunderkind filmmaker-director Jack Giles Harrison.

Thanks to Peter Holmstedt at HEMIFRAN

Williams/Friestedt released in Japan...

The Williams/Friestedt record was released in Japan during the TOTO tour by VIVID SOUND! It features 3 new bonus tracks, 4 karaoke tracks and new paper sleve artwork and liner notes by Toshikazu kanasawa.

Allan Thomas "Deep Water"

Making good on his promise of releasing at least one album of original material each decade Allan Thomas offers up ‘Deep Water’ his fifth. Recorded with the generous help of twenty-one stellar musicians playing at top form. You'll find songs ranging in territory from ‘The Longest Ride’ – a rock-jazz tribute to fallen surfer Andy Irons - featuring David Crosby & Graham Nash - to ‘The Downturn’ - a tongue-in-cheek take on the current state of economic mayhem. The record also features several character-driven compositions, among them ‘Other Than That’ - a vocal and drums only litany on the worst aspects of some people we all know, set to a late ’50′s beat-poet jazz groove, and the wizened and weary weed smuggler confessional of the searing rock-blues 'Monkey Business'. The many facets of romance are not forgotten here, with a reflective look into just how deep love can take you on the 'Deep Water' title track, plus the flat-out jubilant and jazzy 'The Gift', and a ballad that endeavors to sum it all up in 'It All Comes Down To Love'.

Besides the usual stellar cast of AT backing musicians - including Michael Ruff, Bryan Kessler, Ken Emerson and Kirk Smart - the record also features members of the Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young, James Taylor, Van Morrison, CSN and Yellowjackets bands. The album contains 12 songs that span time from as recent as the summer of 2011 - to the ode to a vegetable garden 'Homegrown', written in 1976.

Hat Check Girl "Six Bucks Sky"

Hat Check Girl, the collaboration between veteran songwriters Annie Gallup and Peter Gallway, is pleased to announce the release of their second recording, Six Bucks Shy. The album’s 13 new songs, mostly Gallup/Gallway/Marotta cowrites, showcase the band’s literate songwriting, spooky ambiance, and hypnotic delivery. Annie sings and plays electric guitar and lap steel. Peter is featured on vocals, electric guitars, baritone guitar, bass, and keyboards. Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel, Indigo Girls, Suzanne Vega) plays drums and percussion.

A lifetime’s dedication to her art has made Annie Gallup an icon among people who take songwriting seriously. She has performed throughout North America since 1994, including appearances at Winnipeg, Ottawa, Summerfolk and Stan Rogers Folk Festivals and Vancouver Island Music Fest in Canada, as well as concert venues coast to coast, including New York’s fabled Bottom Line. Annie has led songwriting workshops from Whitehorse in the Yukon to the Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville, North Carolina. She was heard on NPR’s All Things Considered in an interview with Noah Adams. Her eighth album, Weather (2010) is a collection of songs arranged for voice and string quartet.

Peter Gallway emerged from the Greenwich Village scene of the 60’s and had released three albums on Warner/Reprise by the time he was twenty-five. He subsequently put out a dozen more recordings on various independent labels. As a producer he’s been involved in over fifty albums and special projects including the Grammy nominated Bleecker Street: Greenwich Village in the ‘60s (Chrissie Hynde, Jonatha Brooke), and Time and Love: The Music of Laura Nyro (Suzanne Vega, Jane Siberry), as well as, recordings for singer-songwriters Laura Nyro, Cliff Eberhardt, and Louise Taylor. Peter’s extensive touring has taken him throughout the U.S., Canada, and Japan. In 2009 he released Manhattan Nocturne, a collection of songs arranged for jazz ensemble that chronicle coming of age in Greenwich Village.

Hat Check Girl was selected to showcase on mainstage at the 2010 Ontario Council of Folk Festivals and the 2009 Farwest Folk Alliance conferences. They are currently booking tours for 2012 to support the release of Six Bucks Shy.

Thanks to Peter Holmstedt at HEMIFRAN

Bill LaBounty "Time Starts Now" The definitive Anthology 75/11

Rhino Records will release Bill LaBounty "Time Starts Now - The Definitice Anthology 75/11" on October 31st.

• The most complete retrospective of Bill LaBounty’s carrier as a solo artist

• 70 remastered tracks on 4CDs Includes 18 previously unreleased demos & songs from the album “Promised Love”, never released on CD

• Featuring : James Taylor, Larry Carlton, Jeff Porcaro, Willie Weeks, Steve Lukather, Lenny Castro, Robbie Dupree, Patti Austin, Jennifer Warnes, Steve Gadd...

• Also features a 16 pages booklet with liner notes by Bill LaBounty

 

Week-end Millionnaire "L'intégrale & More..."

Rhino Records will release Week-end Millionnaire "L'intégrale & More" on October 31st.

• The most complete retrospective of Week-end Millionnaire’s carrier, plus unreleased songs and singles.

• 53 remastered tracks on 3CDs Includes 12 previously unreleased demos & songs from 1977 to 1992.

• Also features a 16 pages booklet with liner notes by Week-end Millionnaire

Week-end Millionnaire was one of the rare French band featuring Jean Michel Navarre, Alain Thomas et Nicolas Gorodetzky playing a music inspired by American bands such as America, Eagles, CSN&Y, Poco and Beach Boys. Great harmony vocals and Californian melodies to rediscover now with that 3cd set collector available at Amazon.fr

Crosby & Nash In Concert Dvd

Filmed at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, CT during their 2011 tour, Crosby-Nash: In Concert captures the legendary duo performing hits from their beloved catalog. This is the first DVD release on Crosby & Nash's label, Blue Castle Records, and is a must-have for fans who want to experience two of America's greatest musicians in their element: performing live in concert.