The Meltdown 2.80

New music from Emery, mewithoutYou, Fireflight, Ethan Luck, Lexi Elisha, and more.

Velvet Blue Music Adds Soda Shop

Velvet Blue Music has announced the addition of NYC based Soda Shop to the label. The band will release a new single, Keep Swimming, on August 4th and the band's self-titled full-length debut will hit shelves and digital outlets on September 8th. You can read their bio below.

"The NYC based Soda Shop began as the duo of Drew Driver and Maria Usbeck. “I had some demos and a band name, but I couldn’t find the right person to sing on them.” Drew recalls. “Fate led me to Maria. We met at a crowded Summer Air France DJ show and talked about music I was making.  I invited her to listen to the demos and things immediately clicked!”  Both NY transplants, Drew from Ohio and Maria from Ecuador, the two bonded over a shared experience of starting over in an exciting, transient city.  When they discovered they lived a brisk ten minute walk from one another, their friendship solidified . They began writing songs immediately.  Though neither of them is new to music–Maria fronted the buzz band Selebrities, while Drew had been moonlighting as the guitar player for The Drums–they were impassioned by the sounds they were creating together.

——– 

Soda Shop released a single which quickly appeared on UK’s BBC 6 and Sweden’s P3 Pop. Recently they began playing live shows, enlisting bassist Ed Chittenden and drummer Derek Lucci.  They also began recording their first full length record at their home studio. An obsession with nostalgia-induced perfection is evident on the result: 8 tracks that push the limits of simplicity and minimalism.  Mixed by Jorge Elbrecht (Ariel Pink), the record worships clean guitar tones, driving bass lines and uptempo beats, a la early Smiths records.

 ———

Maria’s voice adds an airy-ness to the melodies, furthering a early 4AD vibe.  She sounds confident and playful which magnifies the breezy fluidity of the music and belies the melancholy feelings just underneath.  Her honest delivery of such lines as “Please tell me you don’t love her” in “Fence” or “She seems to be the one who’s there, I’m not, I’m not, I’m not around” in “Longing” immediately make you feel for her.  You want her to succeed in her love, but you also feel the desperation of knowing it will never work out.  Luckily, the only thing that rivals Maria’s relatable love-sick struggles is the undeniable catchiness of the songs themselves.  The only truly depressing thing about Soda Shop’s new record is when it ends."

Slow And Steady Announce Broken Circle Debut

Broken Circles is thrilled to announce the debut full-length album from Slow And Steady. In Time We Belong will be out officially August 14, 2015. Stay tuned for more details, song premieres and vinyl pre-orders!

In Time We Belong - Track Listing

—————————————————————————————–

1. Watching Life Go By
2. 35mm
3. Horizon
4. Out Of Touch
5. Disinterested
6. I’ve Never Left You
7. The Kind Of Warmth That Freezes You To Death
8. Pendulum
9. From This Side Of Time
10. Lost At Sea

You can listen to the song 35 MM below.

Soft Lions Sign with Velvet Blue Music

When I spoke with Jeff Cloud in February, he said he had big news in the works for Velvet Blue Music in 2015. Well the first of those announcements was made late last week when the label announced the signing of Soft Lions.

Their label debut, Spellbreaker, will be out on July 7th. (Available on cd, mp3, and vinyl). Below is the band's bio and their video for the song Soft As Lions.

“Every Soft Lions song is basically born out of my diary”, states Megan Liscomb, the shy, rainbow-haired singer / guitarist of the San Diego trio Soft Lions.  Liscomb’s songs evoke heartfelt memories, distilling in them a wide range of emotional states and colors.  To make the music come to life she sought out Lex Pratt to help with vocal duties.  Pratt replaces the traditional bass player with her percussive, psychedelic style on keys.  Jon Bonser serves as the backbone on drums.

The band crafts songs that are a blur of decades, mixing the sound of 60’s San Francisco pop with noisy garage-guitar driven tracks, lending the songs a definitive west coast vibe.  Liscomb’s songwriting is angular and interesting without losing any of the big sing-along melodies you want to hear.  Soft Lions have cut their teeth like any new band should : by playing a bunch of local shows and sharing the stage with numerous national acts.  They also made an appearance at this years’s SXSW festival.

On their new EP Spellbreaker, Soft Lions dive into dark, confessional material.  The high spirited title track as well as ‘Waitress’ showcase the band’s gritty rock potential.  The EP concludes with the ultra-tender ‘Phantom,’ a ballad about coming to grips with one’s past.  When Liscomb’s wounds are healed so are ours.  The overall sound of Spellbreaker draws on a broad range of inspirations, including retro surf licks, Sonic Youth records, and the vintage film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, creating a moody, groovy atmosphere.  The 4 tracks function as a narrative that looks back on the loss of adolescence and realizes how the end of destructive relationships can lead to the beginning of a new, happier life.  In just 16 minutes, Soft Lions prove they are deserving of attention.  We hope you’ll agree !

The Meltdown 2.79

Billy Power, host of Urban Achiever joins the show to talk about podcasting and music. Plus new music from Children 18:3 and KB.

The Meltdown 2.78

It's our 5th Anniversary show!!! It's an extended party edition of the Meltdown!

The Meltdown 2.77

New music from Josh Garrels, Britt Nicole, Sufjan Stevens, and The Frozen Ocean.

The Meltdown 2.76

New music from Sareem Poems, Eshon Burgundy, White Lighter, Mat Kearney, and more.

The Meltdown 2.75

New music from LA Symphony, Social Club, We Are the City, and Wild Earth.

The Meltdown 2.74

New music from Mat Kearney, LA Symphony, Kevin Max, Eshon Burgundy, and more.

Thumper Punk Records to Release Angel City Cafe Benefit Compilation

Thumper Punk Records is pleased to announce the release of the “Angel City Cafe Benefit Compilation,” an album featuring 30 live recordings of fifteen TPR bands to raise money to support the great Christian music venue Angel City Cafe, in Bellflower, California (https://www.facebook.com/angelcitycafe1).  The release celebrates the 20th anniversary of Angel City Cafe, and its outreach ministry to the homeless and underprivileged. Angel City Cafe remains one of the few places where Christian artists share both their craft and their Message. It also provides jobs, and the occasional meal and shelter, for the local homeless.  It has roots in the community. It matters.  

Participating bands (donating two songs each) include The WAY, The Lonely Revolts, False Idle, Christ’s Sake, Saint Hooligan, Peter118, The Poor Geezers, Ambassadors of Shalom, ABSOLVED, The Hoax, Platoon 1107, A Broken Line, uniSEF, True Liberty and Living Fire.  Thumper Punk Records will be hosting its annual TPR Night at Angel City Cafe again this year on July 11, 2015.

All profits from this album go to Angel City Cafe.  Available for purchase in CD format from the Thumper Punk Records webstore (http://thumperpunkrecords.storenvy.com/collections/35134-all-products/products/12505005-angel-city-cafe-benefit-compilation), and digital versions are available now at the Thumper Punk bandcamp page (https://thumperpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/angel-city-cafe-benefit-compilation).

The Meltdown 2.73

New music from White Lighter, Eshon Burgundy, Rapture, and Sollunar.

Dwell Joins Blood and Ink Records

                                                DWELL JOINS BLOOD & INK RECORDS

                                      FFO: TURMOIL, BURIED ALIVE, REIGN SUPREME

DWELL officially formed in 2014 in Kernersville, NC, featuring its current lineup of Jacob (vocals), Isaac (Drums), Ian (Guitar), Ryan (Bass) and Jeremy (Guitar). But their history is much deeper… Ian and Isaac are twin brothers and they are longtime friends with Jeremy, Jacob and Ryan; playing together in a handful of local hardcore bands.

 

DWELL quickly grabbed the attention of Blood & Ink Records with their intense, chaotic live show and unique take on '90s style metallic hardcore. Their debut, self-titled EP, mastered by Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me) and with guest vocals by Joe Musten (Advent, Beloved), is made up of five heavy-hitting songs that you won't want to pass up. DWELL are sure to make waves in the coming year.

 

DWELL will release their debut selt-titled EP on March 10th via

Blood & Ink Records. Pre-orders are now available from the label's website.  Limited edition tapes of the EP will be available along with CD/Digital and shirt combos.

Stream "Voyage", the first song from the Dwell EP. Dwell will be released onMarch 10th via Blood & Ink Records.

The Meltdown 2.70

Music news from Lexi Elisha, Pacific Gold, Doug Burr, Strengthen What Remains, and more. 

Heart Like War signs with MMLJ Records

MMLJ Records is thrilled to announce the signing of Los Angeles based Christian pop-punk band Heart Like War.  The high energy, passionate, playful three-piece is currently working on a new full length album and acoustic EP, which will be released later this year.  While having their own unique sound, Heart Like War has received favorable comparisons to MxPx, Allister, Major League, and The Ataris.

In describing their name, lead singer David Camarena says:  “We are living in a Spiritual War. Every day is a battleground, our hearts go to war to fight the good fight, make choices, decisions, which precede our actions. Some wear their hearts on their sleeves, some choose to hide it under their words of violence; but in the end, we will all be found out, the winners from the losers. We all suffer, win or lose; let your heart decide. You must save yourself before you can save anyone else, and this is the success to victory.”

Heart Like War features David Camarena (Guitar & Vocals), Andrew Camarena (Drums), David Robledo (Bass).  In 2015, Heart Like War will be returning to play JoshuaFest, as well as playing stages, nightclubs and youth events throughout the west coast.  Heart Like War’s album Party Propaganda Machine and debut The Battle Begins EP are available for free through the Heart Like War website.

Website:   www.heartlikewar.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/heartlikewar

The Meltdown 2.68

Music news from Zao, Stavesacre, Norma Jean, Copeland, and more!

The Meltdown 2.67

Mxpx frontman Mike Herrera joins the Meltdown to talk podcasting, music, and more!