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Joe May Blends Brazilian Roots and ’70s Pop on New Album ‘Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks’

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Brazilian-born, North Carolina-based songwriter and producer Joe May unveils his latest studio project, Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks, a genre-fluid ode to life’s messy contradictions. Out today, the album merges the sunlit harmonies of ’70s West Coast pop, Brazilian rhythms, and sly wit into a danceable yet introspective journey. Anchored by live brass arrangements from Aretha Franklin/O’Jays collaborator Brad Wilcox and recorded on analog gear at May’s home studio, Alta Mira, the LP is a testament to collaboration, vulnerability, and finding joy in impermanence.

“You can be silly AND methodical,” May says. “This project was about letting others in, working everything out as we went, and finding joy even in the goofiest corners of music.”

Collaborative energy pulses throughout the album’s eight tracks. May not only wrote, performed, produced, and mixed the record but also drew from the talents of his newly curated band and guest contributors. The horn arrangements, handled by Brad Wilcox, a veteran known for work with Aretha Franklin and The Temptations, adding layers of grandeur. “When I heard Brad’s horn arrangements for the first time, I knew it had to be him,” shares May. “The shock, to me, came when he actually responded to my email. He’s been a great mentor throughout this process.”

The album reflects May’s unique cultural influences, blending the rhythmic buzz of his Brazilian roots with his lifelong affection for pop rock. “I spent my youngest years back in Rio, watching concerts from my dad’s shoulders,” he recalls. Inspired by greats like Tim Maia and Steely Dan, MASH channels warm brass counterpoint, jazzy grooves, and masterful production inspired by both Brazilian and American traditions.

Much of the album was crafted in Joe May’s home studio, Alta Mira, which he built around classic analog gear. “I built the studio around many of my favorite pieces of classic American and British analog audio gear. If I want it to sound like my favorite classic records, I should use the same tools as them, right?” he explains. The studio has since become a hub for regional artists, further deepening his ties to the local music community in Charlotte.

Standout tracks on MASH include its buoyant first single, “Ignoring the Feeling,” which balances introspection with optimism. Accompanied by a retro-inspired music video, the track quickly amassed thousands of plays on Spotify. Also on the album is “Vitamin D in the Shade,” a lush, Beatles-esque ballad that captures May’s most vulnerable songwriting. “I was just scared when I wrote that,” says May. “There’s no satire in it – just me trying to find some sense of grounding.”

“Halfway to the Edge,” a crunchy, funk-driven journey, anchors the project. Cleverly penned lyrics weave a tale of disconnection, hope, and mischief in a way that is quintessentially Joe May. Cheeky turns of phrase, like “struggling to stay ahead, now that I’ve seen you’re behind,” showcase May’s knack for injecting humor without losing emotional complexity.

May will celebrate the release of MASH alongside his dazzling nine-piece ensemble, Joe May’s Month of Mondays, with a pair of performances this weekend in North Carolina. On Friday, May 16th, May, will take the stage at Charlotte, NC’s Visulite Theatre with support from Charleston, SC’s The Psycodelics. On Saturday, May 17th, May, and regional jam powerhouse Duck will visit Raleigh, NC’s Pour House.

Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks is now streaming on all major platforms. In addition, the project is available for purchase on 140g vinyl via Raleigh, NC’s Pour House Pressing. Limited copies remain! Order your album now. For more information on Joe, upcoming performances, and more, please visit his official website.

Joe May – Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks

You Still Do

Halfway to the Edge

Vitamin D in the Shade

Ignoring the Feeling

Union Pacific Getaway Car

Honeycomb Sun

Pictures in the Photobooth with a Stranger

Catch My Groove

Darren Waller and JRod Release Reflective New Single “Streets Get Cold”

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Former NFL star and recording artist Darren Waller teams up with rising vocalist JRod for a new single, “Streets Get Cold,” a reflective track that dives into the emotional aftermath of a breakup. The song blends moody melodies and honest lyrics, capturing that tug-of-war between going back to someone or facing the discomfort of growth and moving on. The music video shows the highs and lows of a relationship and the tough choice to finally move on when it’s over.

Waller explains, “There’s that window after a breakup where you’re torn-part of you wants to go back, almost like a withdrawal, and part of you knows you need to sit with the discomfort of loneliness, grief and self-reflection to move forward and grow.

“Streets Get Cold” captures that push and pull. JRod and I tapped into the pride, ego, and fear that show up in those moments. We often try to suppress where we’re really at emotionally in these situations, so this one’s about letting yourself feel it all – no masks, no filters.”

The single is part of Waller and JRod’s upcoming collaborative EP, Cadillac Problems, dropping this spring. Its release coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month, a cause close to Waller’s heart. As someone who’s been open about his recovery from addiction and ongoing journey with mental health, Waller continues to use music as a tool for healing and connection.

Since stepping away from football in 2024, Waller has gone all-in on music, a passion he discovered the same year he entered the NFL. In the past year, he’s dropped multiple EPs, earning attention for his genre-blending sound and emotionally honest storytelling.

Pop Visionary G Flip Launches New Era with Retro-Inspired Single “Disco Cowgirl”

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Ushering in their next era, acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist G Flip has returned with their anxiously awaited new single “Disco Cowgirl.”

“‘Disco Cowgirl’ is the first taste of a new era,” shares G Flip. “It’s the first stop on a larger ride that I can’t wait to share with the world.” On “Disco Cowgirl,” G Flip takes a bold, stylistic leap, embracing slick, 1980s-inspired production. Reverb-drenched drums and shimmering synthesizers build to an anthemic chorus as G reflects on the intensity of a connection that burned bright and faded fast. The song captures the ache of fleeting love and its emotional aftermath, wrapped in the warm glow of retro-pop nostalgia. Co-written and co-produced by G Flip and longtime collaborator Aidan Hogg, “Disco Cowgirl” was brought to life in G’s Los Angeles studio. G played the majority of the instruments on the track – affirming their reputation as a hands-on, multi-talented force in pop music.

Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor Releases Debut Solo Album ‘Story The Crow Told Me’

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Old Crow Medicine Show frontman Ketch Secor recently released his debut solo album Story The Crow Told Me on Equal Housing Records via Firebird Music. Recorded at his own Hartland Studios and co-written/produced with Jody Stevens (Luke Bryan, Jake Owens), Story The Crow Told Me is a coming-of-age saga about a dreamer who carved his path to the top, one song at a time. The album is sharply written and wildly creative, featuring cameos from Molly Tuttle, Marty Stuart and even Old Crow alums Critter Fuqua and Willie Watson, as well as poignant samples from Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash.

Along with the announcement, Secor has also released the debut single “Dickerson Road,” a tribute to East Nashville’s boulevard of broken dreams featuring guitar from The Cadillac Three’s Jaren Johnston. The official video was featured this morning at Rolling Stone, who said “Featuring strung-out, skronk-blues guitar from the Cadillac Three’s Jaren Johnston, the track evokes the gritty, hustling, danger-around-the-corner vibe of Dickerson Pike, a gasoline alley of car lots, tire shops, and seedy motels.”

About the new single, Secor explains: “The Grand Ole Opry has stars and the Hall of Fame has plaques, and in the year 2000 there was one premier destination for Nashville’s castoffs, rejects, n’er-do-wells, petty thieves, lowlifes, losers and users; so like a barfly to a bottle I went to where I felt I belonged, straight up Dickerson Road. Nowadays you can only catch a fleeting glimpse of the misfit glory that once teemed down this boulevard of broken dreams, but once in awhile I’ll see some stray dog licking at some grease trap and know they’re still clawing their way to the top of trash pile down on The Dick.”

Now a Nashville resident for 25 years, Secor reflects on a quarter century spent in Music City and beyond with an album that is equal parts coming-of-age story, road-warrior autobiography, and love letter to the city that watched him grow into a man. Story The Crow Told Me details a Kerouac-worthy journey through the misfit wilderness of life, love, longing, and leaving home, filled to the brim with spoken-word vocal performances, punky tempos, bluegrass harmonies, honking harmonica, and fiddle. With these 12 songs, Secor showcases the full range of his musical talents – playing nearly a dozen instruments across the album and co-writing every track. Skilled in reinterpreting the sounds of the past for today’s audience, Secor sets the past 25 years of his music-making life to a new soundtrack.

“There are a lot of things happening at this point in my life that are causing me to be more retrospective,” he explains. “I’ve been in the game a long time. I do enjoy looking forward, but old-timey music is about simultaneously looking forward and backward at the same time. That’s why it’s a regressive art. You go back with it, but that’s where the strength is. The challenge is to carry the substance of the past into the present.”

Ketch Secor is a wheel-spinning multitasker whose recent projects include TEDx Talks, online variety shows, documentaries like Ken Burns’ Country Music (where he served as a consultant and interviewee) and Louder Than Guns (which he co-produced with Doug Pray and David Greene), a children’s book, a stage musical, and even the launch of a primary school in Nashville. His two-time GRAMMY-winning band Old Crow Medicine Show just celebrated their 25-year anniversary with the GRAMMY-nominated album Jubilee and the first-ever vinyl release of their debut album O.C.M.S., remastered by producer David Rawlings.

Story The Crow Told Me Tracklist
1. Busker’s Spell
2. Talkin’ Doc Blues
3. Ghost Train
4. Dickerson Road
5. Old Man River
6. Catch Me If You Can
7. Highland Rim (feat. Marty Stuart)
8. Junkin’
9. On The Wall
10. Thanks Again
11. Holes In The Wall
12. What Nashville Was

Old Crow Medicine Show tour dates:
August 23 – Little Rock, AR @ The Hall
August 28 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed (Supporting Turnpike Troubadours)
August 30 – Union Hall, VA @ The Coves Amphitheater
August 31 – Paintsville, KY @ Alley Fest Music Festival
September 12-13 – Saanen, Switzerland @ Gstaad Festival
September 26 – Chesterfield, MO @ The Factory (Supporting Turnpike Troubadours)
October 9 – Kalispell, MT @ Wachholz College Center
October 10 – Bozeman, MT @ The ELM
October 11 – Billings, MT @ The Pub Station
October 12 – Rapid City, SD @ The Monument
October 23 – Charlottesville, VA @ Ting Pavilion
October 24 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
December 30 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
December 31 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium

Country Star Scotty McCreery Teams with Hootie & The Blowfish on Summer Anthem “Bottle Rockets”

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Scotty McCreery, is ready to kick-off the summer with the release of his breezy new single, “Bottle Rockets,” featuring the iconic Hootie & The Blowfish, out now. The track, co-written by McCreery, Brent Anderson, Derek George, Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Frank Rogers, Bobby Hamrick, Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim Sonefeld and produced by Rogers, takes us back to the carefree teenage days of summer.

North Carolina native McCreery called on his South Carolina neighbors, Hootie & The Blowfish, who recorded a new version of their mega-hit “Hold My Hand” for the track, to join him in reflecting on the simpler times.

“This song takes me back to those summers of having fun with no responsibilities with good times and good tunes. For me growing up in the Carolinas, Hootie & the Blowfish were just massive and such a huge part of great summers growing up. That’s what this song ‘Bottle Rockets’ is about.” -Scotty McCreery

Next week, McCreery will be headed overseas to the United Kingdom for five headlining shows in Belfast, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester and London with Caylee Hammack as his opening act. Fans will then be able to see him stateside in Nashville, TN where he will be on-stage at the Grand Ole Opry on June 4th and performing during CMA Music Festival in Nissan Stadium on June 5th. McCreery will tour at fairs and festivals throughout the summer. This Fall, he will be co-headlining the Two for the Road Tour alongside Dustin Lynch. The tour is set to kick-off on November 6th in Saginaw, MI.

Outlaw Country Artist Alex Williams Reimagines ’80s Metal on New Album ‘Space Brain’

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Alex Williams has released his third studio album Space Brain via Lightning Rod Records. Inspired by his longtime love for ’80s metal, the new album finds Williams reinterpreting hits from Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Cinderella, Motorhead and more as a collection of backwoods ballads, campfire sing-alongs and roadhouse roots-rockers. Along with the announcement, Williams shares his rendition of Ratt’s “Round and Round”, a smoky, Southern rock revamp that maintains the late-night indulgence of the original.

“‘Round and Round’ is one of my favorite songs of all time and has been since the first time I heard it,” says Williams. “I have to say as far as this one goes, I had worked up an alternate version of it first, prior to making the decision to do a full album of covers. As a result, it felt more natural to lay the song down when it came time to record.”

Produced by GRAMMY-winning producer and longtime collaborator Ben Fowler (Charley Crockett, Lynyrd Skynyrd) in Nashville, Space Brain doesn’t push Williams away from his country pedigree but instead expands his interpretation of that sound altogether. Working with modern-day guitar heroes like Rob McNelley (Bob Seger, Wynonna Judd), Dan Dugmore (Linda Ronstadt, ZZ Top) and Mike Payne (Luke Bryan), Williams masterfully reconstructed each song, aiming to emphasize storytelling over sheer sonic power. Heavy metal and country music may seem like strange bedfellows, but there’s a real reverence for the material here, with Williams breathing new life with his signature husky voice.

The end result is a record that positions Williams not only as a vocalist with arena-sized swagger, but as a formidable interpreter, too. While country music has a long history of honoring its pioneers through countless artists within the genre, Space Brain is something different: a country and roots-influenced album that nods to a different genre altogether. Few artists would venture this far outside the realm of American roots music, but Williams has never minded taking an unconventional path.

“I didn’t record these songs to make a statement, or to tell people I’m different,” he says. “This album is just an extension of my story. I grew up on ’80s hair metal, and that music is still in my DNA. I’m always trying to make albums that represent where I’m at and what I’m feeling, but I’ve never had any sort of game plan. I didn’t set out to become an outlaw country artist. I’m just doing whatever feels right in the current moment… and right now, this ’80s metal album just feels right.”

Space Brain also features Williams’ and Cody Jinks’ previously released gritty take on Ozzy Osbourne’s “Flying High Again”. The album follows his 2022 LP Waging Peace, which received widespread acclaim from Forbes, No Depression, The Bluegrass Situation and Holler who hailed the release as “smartly arranged, intricate and inventive.”

Space Brain:
1. Nobody’s Fool (feat. Tom Keifer) [Cinderella]
2. Ace of Spades [Motorhead]
3. Flying High Again (feat. Cody Jinks) [Ozzy Osbourne]
4. Gettin’ Better [Tesla]
5. Look What The Cat Dragged In [Poison]
6. Youth Gone Wild [Skid Row]
7. You’ve Got Another Thing Coming [Judas Priest]
8. Wild Side [Motley Crue]
9. Round and Round [Ratt]
10. Night Train [Guns N’ Roses]

Alex Williams Tour Dates:
8/23 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands Tavern
8/29 – Waterloo, NE – Buck’s Bar and Grill
9/5 – Urbana, IL – The Canopy Club
9/6 – Brooklyn, WI – Main Street Music
9/20 – Dunn, NC – Bird’s Nest Listening Room
10/9 – Whitleyville, TN – North Springs Music Festival

Post-Punk Legends Modern English Share Twin Tribes Remix of “Not Fake”

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Legendary British new wave/post-punk band Modern English is excited to present the Twin Tribes remix of “Not Fake,” a track lifted from the band’s latest album, 1 2 3 4, produced by Mario J. McNulty (David Bowie, Lou Reed, Nine Inch Nails).

Transforming the swirling and atmospheric indie of the original to a deeply dark and moving electronic offering, the “Not Fake” Remix from the Texas-based, Mexican-American darkwave duo is the first of several remix offerings from Modern English set to release across 2025 that will be provided by Hugo Burnham (founding member of Gang of Four), Kontravoid, MS. BOAN, InHalt, Actors, Nuovo Testamento and Sundowners dB.

“It was such a privilege to have worked on this remix for a band of Modern English’s caliber, who continue to create meaningful music that connects with people all over the world,” Twin Tribes said. “Rooted in nature and honesty, this track speaks to the deep need for realness in a world full of illusion.”

1 2 3 4 is Modern English’s first album of new material in eight years, a collection that retains the intrinsic spirit of the band’s early post-punk days and a sterling sonic example of what Modern English have always done best.

The album encompasses seething songs with a punk bite (“Long in The Tooth,” “Plastic”), keyboard-forward melodic rockers (“Not Fake,” “Crazy Lovers”) and simmering, darkwave-meets-post-punk gems (“Exploding,” “Out to Lunch”).

With a touch of subtle themes lifted from After the Snow (1982) and Ricochet Days (1984) that include the environment, aging, failed relationships, love, politics and more, 1 2 3 4 finds the legendary band delving into nostalgia but, as always, exploring new creative territory.

Punk Thrash Mayhem: CHUB Drop Wild New Single “Microwave Dave”

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Fiery South Coast punks CHUB are an unstoppable force. Fresh off tearing up the new band stage at Bloodstock Festival, the riotous quartet returns with their infectious new single, “Microwave Dave,” a feral, beer-soaked anthem that’s already become a live favourite.

Born out of long-standing friendships, fueled by beer bongs and circle pits, and inspired by the chaos of a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater soundtrack, CHUB emerged in 2019 from the unlikely setting of Eastbourne- a quiet seaside town now home to one of the UK’s most raucous new bands. Featuring Ben (vocals), Kyle (drums), Greg (guitar, vocals), and Zakk (bass, vocals), the band has spent the last few years refining their blistering sound, culminating in a high-energy mix of punk, thrash, and metal mayhem.

After making their festival debut at Rebellion and selling out shows across Brighton’s thriving music scene, CHUB cemented their reputation with a string of hard-hitting singles: “QUIT,” “Beer Bong Song,” and “Carolina Reaper,” all of which amplified their growing profile. A recent tour across the South of England only expanded their rabid fanbase, but it was their riotous set at Bloodstock Festival that proved CHUB is a band on the rise.

Now, with the release of “Microwave Dave,” CHUB delivers a full-throttle tribute to one of their local Wetherspoons regulars, though his backstory might be more dreamt-up than real!

With more singles, videos, and a national tour mapped out for 2025, CHUB’s rowdy ascent is just beginning. “Microwave Dave” is out now.

Tour Dates:

05/10 – Glasgow, The Audio Lounge
05/12 – Liverpool, EBGBS
05/13 – Manchester, Aatma
05/14 – York, The Fulford Arms
05/15 – Birmingham, Scruffy Murphys
05/16 – London, The New Cross Inn
05/18 – Brighton, The Green Door Store

Hardcore Innovators Botch Release Live Album ‘061524’ and Concert Film

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Hardcore innovators Botch has released their new live album 061524 via Sargent House. Recorded at Seattle’s Showbox on June 15, 2024—22 years to the day after their original farewell show at the same venue—the album captures a band reawakened, sharper and heavier than ever. Accompanying the album will be a full-length concert film of the June 15th, 2024, Showbox show. Watch a song from it for “To Our Friends in the Great White North (Live).”

The album is a blistering document of a vital force reconnecting with the music, with each other, and with a new generation of fans. From sweaty rehearsal rooms in Seattle to tear-jerking fan interactions, 061524 is the sound of a band reclaiming their legacy with performances that are more polished, chaotic and immediate than ever before. Fan favourites like “To Our Friends in the Great White North” and “Transitions from Persona to Object” hit with new urgency, while tracks the band never imagined playing live, like “Afghamistam” and “Oma,” are pulled off with surgical precision and raw energy.

Botch’s chaotic, math-laced sound helped shape a generation of heavy music before their abrupt 2002 breakup. A surprise 2022 collaboration between guitarist David Knudson and vocalist Dave Verellen led to the band’s first new song in over 20 years, “One Twenty Two,” and quickly snowballed into a full reunion with bassist Brian Cook and drummer Tim Latona. Secret shows and a sold-out tour followed, culminating in their return to the Showbox—captured in front of a packed, exhilarated hometown crowd.

061524 Track Listing:

1. Intro
2. To Our Friends in the Great White North
3. Mondrian Was a Liar
4. John Woo
5. Spaim
6. Japam
7. Framce
8. Oma
9. Thank God for Worker Bees
10. One Twenty Two
11. Vietmam
12. Transitions from Persona to Object
13. Hutton’s Great Heat Engine
14. Afghamistam
15. C. Thomas Howell as the “Soul Man”
16. St. Matthew / Hives

10 Rock Singers Who Got Better With Time

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Rock ’n’ roll is full of voices that shook the world, but some singers don’t just arrive fully formed — they evolve. With age comes grit, nuance, and a deeper understanding of their instrument. These ten rock singers, listed alphabetically, found their power not just in youth, but in growth, proving that time can sharpen a voice as much as it can weather it.

Axl Rose

Once known for his piercing shrieks on Appetite for Destruction, Axl’s voice has matured into something heavier and bluesier. His lower register carries more weight, adding character to Guns N’ Roses’ live shows and reminding us that attitude isn’t bound by range alone.

Bono

U2’s frontman started as a fiery shouter on Boy, but over time he learned restraint. His phrasing became more deliberate, his falsetto more controlled, and his live delivery more about emotional connection than sheer volume. Age gave him intimacy as much as power.

Bruce Springsteen

Springsteen’s gravel has grown richer with decades on the road. His early rawness on Born to Run now sits alongside a weathered storyteller’s voice. Each line sounds lived-in, and his vocals have become as much about wisdom as energy.

Debbie Harry

Harry’s icy cool vocals with Blondie evolved into something warmer and more dynamic as she aged. Her voice gained a textured confidence, showing that charisma isn’t just youthful detachment — it’s also resilience and adaptability.

Eddie Vedder

Vedder’s early baritone in Pearl Jam was a storm of angst, but with time it deepened into something more resonant. His solo work and later Pearl Jam albums show a singer who embraces subtlety, storytelling, and that unmistakable growl.

Iggy Pop

The Godfather of Punk turned his ragged howl into a gravel-rich croon. Iggy’s older voice trades chaos for menace, adding depth to his iconic stage presence. He’s proof that rawness doesn’t fade — it simply shifts shape.

Mick Jagger

Jagger’s swaggering voice has become more disciplined over the years. He may not hit every note with youthful sharpness, but he’s learned how to use phrasing, timing, and breath control to keep The Rolling Stones sounding timeless.

Patti Smith

Smith’s voice began as a raw, unpolished force of punk poetry, all urgency and fire. With time, it grew steadier, more resonant, carrying the weight of experience. Today, her delivery feels both vulnerable and commanding, a perfect match for her words.

Robert Plant

Plant transformed from the golden-haired shrieker of Led Zeppelin into a master of folk, blues, and Americana phrasing. His voice mellowed but grew infinitely more expressive, proving that aging doesn’t mean fading — it means evolving.

Stevie Nicks

Nicks’ husky tone has always been distinct, but with time it deepened into a richer, smokier sound. She leans into her vocal identity with more nuance now, creating performances that feel like lived-in stories sung with mystical authority.

These singers remind us that rock vocals aren’t frozen in time. They evolve, adapt, and sometimes gain more impact with every passing decade. For fans, it means the music never stops growing — and the voices behind it only become more compelling.