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Carter Vail Unleashes Indie Pop Firestorm With New Single ‘Stunner’

Eric Alper
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Carter Vail Unleashes Indie Pop Firestorm With New Single ‘Stunner’

LA-based artist Carter Vail releases his new single “Stunner” out now via RCA Records . “Stunner” is the latest single from Carter Vail, following the release of “Baked Alaska” and the critically praised 100 Cowboys.

The new track is a raw and electrifying indie anthem that dives into the turbulent aftermath of a passionate but destructive relationship. With sharp, cinematic storytelling and a driving, hook-filled chorus, it channels both fiery heartbreak and longing. Blending the best of indie rock and modern alt-pop, “Stunner” hits with a raw, unfiltered edge.

On the single, Carter shares: “‘Stunner’ is about a love story, but one that leaves you feeling like roadkill. Less Jim & Pam, more Jigsaw and his victims. The best kind of love there is. I wrote and recorded it in my house, and it’s my favorite.”

Carter Vail is the kind of artist who radiates positivity, no matter the circumstance. Known for his infectious blend of pop-rock since 2018, his music is as uplifting as it is introspective. Whether you’re tuning into his vibrant anthems or enjoying his witty, relatable videos on TikTok and Instagram, it’s clear he’s carved out a unique space where humor, heart, and relentless optimism shine through.

On his sophomore LP 100 Cowboys, Vail continues to deliver his signature turbocharged, alt-pop sound-but with a deeper emotional edge. Inspired by a difficult breakup, the album features his most raw and personal lyrics yet, earning him recognition from Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, NPR, and The New York Times. With songs that are both cathartic and compelling, 100 Cowboys charts a journey of heartbreak and healing, wrapped in his unmistakable charm and buoyant energy. It’s a record that blends the anthemic with the intimate, reflecting the complexities of love and loss through Carter’s playful yet poignant lens.

In 2024, his viral hit “Dirt Man” garnered over 30 million views and saw him touring alongside Yung Gravy on the “Grits & Gravy” tour and selling out his own headlining shows across N. America, Europe and the United Kingdom.

With upcoming headline shows in Los Angeles and San Francisco, alongside major festival appearances at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza this summer, 2025 is already shaping up to be a massive year for Vail.

10 Heavy Metal Albums for People Who Don’t Like Heavy Metal

Eric Alper
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10 Heavy Metal Albums for People Who Don’t Like Heavy Metal

So you think you don’t like heavy metal? That’s cool. But maybe you’ve just never been properly introduced. Like olives, or jazz, or that one cousin you avoided until they showed up with concert tickets. Here are 10 metal albums even non-metalheads might just fall in love with. No screaming required. (Okay, maybe just a little.)

1. Metallica – Metallica (a.k.a. The Black Album)
This is Metallica’s greatest magic trick: taking speed metal and turning it into stadium anthems. “Enter Sandman” sounds like it was born to blare out of a sports arena. It’s big, bold, and—dare I say—catchy. Even your dad probably owns this album and doesn’t know it. A perfect gateway for the metal-curious.

2. AC/DC – Back in Black
Technically hard rock, but close enough to wear the leather jacket. This album is 100% riffs, rhythm, and fun. “You Shook Me All Night Long” is practically karaoke canon at this point. It’s loud, but it grooves. If metal had a house party, AC/DC would be on aux.

3. Iron Maiden – The Number of the Beast
Don’t be scared by the title—this is like horror movies with a great soundtrack. Galloping guitars, soaring vocals, and lyrics that sound like they were cribbed from an epic fantasy novel. If you like Shakespeare, Dungeons & Dragons, or both, this is your jam.

4. Ghost – Impera
Imagine a metal band dressed like spooky cardinals but sounding like 1980s stadium pop-rock got haunted by Queen. Ghost is heavy metal for people who like melody, drama, and costumes. “Call Me Little Sunshine” could’ve been on Stranger Things—and that’s a compliment.

5. Black Sabbath – Paranoid
This is the birthplace of heavy metal. But it’s also surprisingly bluesy and laid-back in parts. “Paranoid” and “Iron Man” are riffs you already know, even if you didn’t realize they were metal. Ozzy’s voice is more “mad scientist” than “screaming banshee.” Trust him.

6. System of a Down – Toxicity
Yes, things get weird here—but in a fun way. This is metal for fans of political satire, performance art, and rapid tempo changes. One minute you’re moshing, the next you’re in a Middle Eastern folk song. It shouldn’t work. It totally does. Plus, it’s never boring.

7. Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory
If you grew up in the 2000s, this album was everywhere—and with good reason. It blends nu-metal with rap and emo in a way that feels like teenage angst bottled into perfect little packages. Screams? Yes. Hooks? Also yes. For many, this was the gateway drug.

8. Mastodon – Crack the Skye
This is metal for people who love prog rock, sci-fi, and long headphone sessions. It’s heavy, yes, but also weirdly calming in parts. The title track alone is a journey—think Pink Floyd with battle axes. You don’t just listen to this album, you explore it.

9. Evanescence – Fallen
Amy Lee’s vocals are operatic, emotional, and cinematic. This is the metal album for people who love movie soundtracks and dramatic flair. “Bring Me to Life” was inescapable in the early 2000s for a reason—it’s catchy, emotional, and totally non-threatening.

10. Rammstein – Mutter
German industrial metal? Hear me out. This album is all about rhythm and energy—you don’t even need to understand the lyrics to get into it. It’s dark, theatrical, and feels like something Darth Vader would play while working out. Plus, “Sonne” absolutely slaps.

Heavy metal isn’t all screaming and guitar solos (though we love that, too). It’s emotion, drama, energy, and—believe it or not—melody. If you find the right entry point, it’s just music with extra weight. Like a weighted blanket… but louder.

Go on. Dip your toes in. The amps are warm.

‘Zerox Machine’ by Matthew Worley Captures the DIY Spirit of British Punk and Fanzine Culture

Eric Alper
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‘Zerox Machine’ by Matthew Worley Captures the DIY Spirit of British Punk and Fanzine Culture
Zerox Machine is an immersive journey through the vibrant history of British punk and its associated fanzines from 1976 to 1988. Drawing on an extensive range of previously unpublished materials sourced from private collections across the United Kingdom, Matthew Worley describes and analyzes this transformative era, providing an intimate glimpse into the hopes and anxieties that shaped a generation. Far more than a showcase of covers, Zerox Machine examines the fanzines themselves, offering a rich tapestry of firsthand accounts, personal stories, and subcultural reflections. With meticulous research and insightful analysis, this book captures the spirit and essence of British youth culture, shedding new light on a pivotal movement in music history and offering a unique alternative history of Britain in the 1970s and ’80s.

Proppa and Waka Flocka Flame Ignite Dancefloors with Explosive Rework of “Grove St. Party”

Eric Alper
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Proppa and Waka Flocka Flame Ignite Dancefloors with Explosive Rework of “Grove St. Party”

In response to overwhelming demand from listeners worldwide, buzzing Chicago artist, producer, and DJ Proppa officially unveils “Grove St. Party” with multiplatinum hip-hop icon and trap innovator Waka Flocka Flame-out now via Major Recordings/Warner Records.

Proppa’s visionary rework of Waka’s classic “Grove St. Party” has already surged at festivals and on stages around the world since the producer first introduced it live this year. The culture has wholeheartedly and fervently embraced it. His mix notably received support from the likes of John Summit, Dom Dolla, Marshmello, Mau P, Cloonee, Odd Mob, Sidepiece, and many more. Moreover, it has moved audiences everywhere from ULTRA Miami and China’s VAC Vision & Colour to EDC Orlando. None other than Apple C.E.O. Tim Cook even experienced it at the Everything Always’ Super Bowl LIX Bourbon Street pop-up!

Online, live performance videos of various DJs dropping the track in their sets have stirred up a flurry of activity as well, tallying over 175K-plus cumulative “likes.” Prior to release, an unofficial Soundcloud rip also went crazy and gathered north of 290K plays and 15K “likes.”

Turning up the heat, Proppa artfully produced a dancefloor-ready track around Waka’s instantly recognizable hook. Laced with a thumping bassline, neon synths, and a club-shaking beat drop, “Grove St. Party” has the power to ignite any celebration this summer. Ultimately, it fuses two eras of sonic disruption on one undeniable and unshakable genre-busting banger.

“Grove St. Party” maintains Proppa’s incredible momentum in 2025, amplifying his influence across electronic music. Earlier this year, he linked with ABSNTH on “Bananas” in addition to joining forces with “DJ Susan and Lachi on “Top Spot.”

Taking flight out of the Windy City, Chicago-based Proppa continues a long history of electronic music innovation harbored by his hometown. He initially incited the adoration of a fervent fanbase by delivering viral remixes for “Work” by A$AP Ferg and “Always On Time” by Ja Rule and Ashanti. However, his trendsetting rework of Waka Flocka Flame’s “Grove St. Party” put him on the map. He garnered co-signs from John Summit, Dom Dolla, Everything Always, Marshmello, Mau P, and more as the track exploded worldwide. After amassing millions of streams views and earning acclaim from the likes of EDM.com, he attracted Major Recordings/Warner Records to his corner.

Kendall Street Company Cracks a Cold One with Country-Pop Banger “Some Kind of Party (In Here)”

Eric Alper
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Kendall Street Company Cracks a Cold One with Country-Pop Banger “Some Kind of Party (In Here)”

Kendall Street Company is proud to release radio and television’s pop-country number-one hit of the summer, “Some Kind of Party (In Here).” Inspired by artists like Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé, the band explores their love for country music with their next two singles. A full album is expected in the fall. This song is about enjoying life’s simple pleasures like cold beer, pickup trucks, disc golf, and fishing.

Here’s what guitarist Ben Laderberg has to say: “It’s quite obvious we love Phish, The Grateful Dead, The Beatles. But what the general public doesn’t know is that we also have a healthy respect for the schmaltzy theater production of the modern pop-country greats. So as we were listening to the radio in Charleston, South Carolina, we thought, ‘They’re only playing three chords, it’s catchy, and a lot of people love it… so why can’t we dip our toes in this massive enterprise?’ On stage these country-pop artists are basically cosplaying and having fun with their gaudy outfits and silly lyrics about beer and pickup trucks. How different is that from the jam-band world that has nurtured us for the past ten years? Instead of tie-dye, Birkenstocks, and incense, it is cowboy hats, blue jeans, and bolo ties. Fans, regardless of genre, want to get in the zone and escape from their daily routines for the night. We hope our fans who are into all of our songs about ephemeral love, sea creatures, foodstuffs, Daddios, and outer space can see this pop-country phase as part of our general philosophy of exploration and play rather than a total departure from who we are.

“As for the specific origins of the chorus, I was installing a bidet at my neighbor’s house when their five-year-old walked in and exclaimed, ‘Wow, it’s some kind of party in here!’ It quickly entered my scatterbrained notes app to be scavenged for another day. Fast-forward to St. Augustine, Florida, last year for a show at JJ Grey’s Blackwater Sol Revue. The band had some off time at the beach and brought a mini Yamaha guitar to work on the tune. It basically started as a list of country tropes, and the full story developed into what it is now.”

Kendall Street Company has also released the official music video for their latest single, “Some Kind of Party (In Here),” and, true to the name, it’s a wild ride.

To capture the energy of the song, the band threw an actual party — and invited fans to be part of the experience. Tickets were sold through the band’s website for a secret-location show, with one key instruction: come dressed in cowboy attire. What followed was an unforgettable night of music, dancing, hot dogs, and beer-fueled fun, all captured through the lens of Richmond videographer Aspen DeRosa.

Fans who showed up were treated to two high-octane sets from Kendall Street Company, cartwheel competitions, Miley Cyrus-style lip-syncing, and an all-around good time that perfectly mirrors the upbeat, infectious vibe of the new single.

“It felt like everyone in that room knew they were part of something special,” said the band. “We wanted to throw a party — and film it — and it turned into one of the most fun nights we’ve ever had.”

‘The Stone Pony’ by Nick Corasaniti Tells the Story of Asbury Park’s Legendary Rock Club

Eric Alper
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‘The Stone Pony’ by Nick Corasaniti Tells the Story of Asbury Park’s Legendary Rock Club

A captivating oral history of the iconic music venue the Stone Pony and of the rise, fall, and rebirth of Asbury Park, New Jersey is out now by Nick Corsaniti—featuring interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, Southside Johnny, members of the E Street Band and Asbury Jukes, the Ramones, the Jonas Brothers, Jack Antonoff, and other legendary musicians.

In 1970, Asbury Park, New Jersey, was ripped apart by race riots that left the once-proud beach town an hour away from Manhattan smoldering, suffering and left for dead.

Four years later, a few miles down the coast in Seaside Heights, two bouncers, Jack Roig and Butch Pielka, tired of the daily grind, dreamt of owning their own place. Under-prepared and minimally funded, the two bought the first bar they considered, in a city where no one wanted to be, without setting one foot in the place. They named it the Stone Pony, and turned it into a rock club that Bruce Springsteen would soon call home and a dying town would call its beating heart.

But the bar had to fight to survive. Despite its success in launching and attracting rockers like Stevie Van Zandt, “Southside” Johnny Lyon, and Springsteen, the Stone Pony—like everything in Asbury Park for the past half century—could only weather the drags of a depressed city for so long.

How did the Stone Pony beat the odds to survive? How did it become an international rock pilgrimage site, not just for fans of Springsteen, but for punk rockers, jam bands, pop, indie, alternative and many other musicians as well? And how did it continue to inspire and influence a hall-of-fame list of New Jersey and national rock stars? The story of the Stone Pony—thrillingly charted in this detailed oral history—is the chronicle of a proud and unique cultural mecca blooming in a down-but-not-yet-out tough town. As Nick Corasaniti reveals, the stories of Asbury Park and the Stone Pony are that of modern America itself—a place of battered hopes, big dreams, and dogged resilience.

Toad The Wet Sprocket Expand ‘Good Intentions’ Tour With KT Tunstall and Vertical Horizon

Eric Alper
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Toad The Wet Sprocket Expand ‘Good Intentions’ Tour With KT Tunstall and Vertical Horizon

Toad The Wet Sprocket will extend their upcoming Good Intentions 2025 U.S. headlining tour into the fall with additional dates in September and October with KT Tunstall and Vertical Horizon. Limited VIP packages and new Good Intentions merchandise are available at Toad The Wet Sprocket Online.

In July and August, the band is joined by KT Tunstall and Sixpence None The Richer and the recent addition, The Jayhawks, who take the place of Semisonic.

As in years past, Toad The Wet Sprocket will partner with a nonprofit organization with shared values to bring awareness to fans and give back. This year, Toad The Wet Sprocket will spotlight the National Parks Foundation to support and protect our natural treasures.

Toad The Wet Sprocket have been stalwarts on the road, propelled to mainstream success for 30+ years by their loyal and dedicated fan base. The multi-platinum-selling band has been uplifting audiences with their melodic alt-rock guitars, introspective lyrics, and signature vocal harmonies. Throughout their career, Toad The Wet Sprocket have remained staunchly independent in their artistic integrity. “We were young and it was us against the record company,” recalls guitarist Todd Nichols of their early days. “We had a bit of punk-rock ethos.”

This commitment to stay true to themselves and DIY mentality also spilled over into the enduring relationship with their fans. Amassing a mailing list of 70,000 at the start of their career, the band forged deep connections with a devout and loyal core of fans, who they’ve continued to grow with. “It’s like a reunion of sorts,” reflects bassist Dean Dinning. “It’s almost like having family in the audience every night.”

“As an artist, it feels good to know we can still make music that’s resonating,” adds singer Glen Phillips. “When we play ‘The Moment’ or ‘Transient Whales’ at our shows now, there’s a huge percentage of the audience who know every word of those songs, too.”

In addition to the 2025 Good Intentions headlining tour, Toad The Wet Sprocket are putting the finishing touches on an acoustic greatest-hits album, set for release later this year.

Toad The Wet Sprocket, the beloved alternative rock band from Santa Barbara, California, first captured audiences in the late 1980s with their heartfelt lyrics and melodic sound. Rising to prominence with albums like fear (1991) and Dulcinea (1994), they became known for hits such as “Walk on the Ocean,” “All I Want,” and “Good Intentions.” Their ability to blend introspective songwriting with catchy, folk-influenced rock has cemented them as a lasting presence in the music world.

TOAD THE WET SPROCKET – GOOD INTENTIONS 2025 TOUR
JUL 17 / SAN DIEGO, CA @ Balboa Theatre
JUL 18 / TULARE, CA @ Adventist Health Amphitheater
JUL 19 / BERKELEY, CA @ The UC Theatre
JUL 20 / ROCKLIN, CA @ Amphitheatre at Quarry Park
JUL 23 / EUGENE, OR @ Cuthbert Amphitheater
JUL 24 / BELLINGHAM, WA @ Mount Baker Theatre
JUL 25 / SEATTLE, WA @ Moore Theatre
JUL 26 / SANDPOINT, ID @ Festival at Sandpoint
JUL 28 / SALT LAKE CITY, UT @ Red Butte Garden
JUL 30 / DENVER, CO @ Denver Botanic Gardens SOLD OUT
AUG 1 / OMAHA, NE @ Astro Amphitheater
AUG 2 / KANSAS CITY, MO @ Grinders KC
AUG 3 / CHESTERFIELD, MO @ The Factory
AUG 5 / HUBER HEIGHTS, OH @ Rose Music Center at the Heights
AUG 7 / CHICAGO, IL @ The Salt Shed
AUG 8 / INDIANAPOLIS, IN @ Rock the Ruins
AUG 9 / INTERLOCHEN, MI @ Kresge Auditorium
AUG 10 / PAW PAW, MI @ Warner Vineyards
AUG 13 / TYSONS, VA @ Capital One Hall
AUG 14 / NEW HAVEN, CT @ Westville Music Bowl
AUG 15 / LEWISTON, NY @ ArtPark
AUG 16 / MEDFORD, MA @ Chevalier Theatre
AUG 18 / DEERFIELD, MA @ Tree House Brewing Company
AUG 19 / READING, PA @ Santander Performing Arts Center
AUG 21 / CARY, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre
AUG 22 / ATLANTA, GA @ Atlanta Symphony Hall
AUG 23 / CHARLOTTE, NC @ The Amp Ballantyne
AUG 30 / LAS VEGAS, NV @ Fremont Street
SEPT 6 / HONOLULU, HI @ Hawaii Theatre
SEPT 11 / CERRITOS, CA @ Cerritos Center for the Arts
SEPT 12 / THOUSAND OAKS, CA @ Fred Kavli Theater
SEPT 13 / MESA, AZ @ Mesa Arts Center
SEPT 15 / OKLAHOMA CITY, OK @ The Jones Assembly
SEPT 16 / AUSTIN, TX @ The Paramount Theatre
SEPT 19 / DALLAS, TX @ Longhorn Ballroom
SEPT 20 / HOUSTON, TX @ House of Blues
SEPT 23 / LEXINGTON, KY @ Lexington Opera House
SEPT 24 / NASHVILLE, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
SEPT 26 / ROCKFORD, IL @ Coronado Arts Center
SEPT 27 / BURNSVILLE, MN @ Ames Center
SEPT 28 / WAUKEE, IA @ Vibrant Music Hall
SEPT 29 / MILWAUKEE, WI @ The Pabst Theatre
OCT 1 / MUNHALL, PA @ Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
OCT 2 / BALTIMORE, MD @ The Lyric Baltimore
OCT 3 / ALBANY, NY @ Palace Theatre
OCT 5 / CONCORD, NH @ Chubb Theatre
OCT 6 / PORTLAND, ME @ State Theatre
OCT 10 / NEW YORK, NY @ Palladium Times Square
OCT 11 / TRENTON, NJ @ CURE Insurance Arena

‘World War Trio’ Gets 10-Year Colored-Vinyl Reissue from Prog Rockers Consider the Source

Eric Alper
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‘World War Trio’ Gets 10-Year Colored-Vinyl Reissue from Prog Rockers Consider the Source

When instrumental prog trio Consider the Source settled into Brooklyn’s Bunker Studios in 2014, they thought they were recording a double album. At the time, CDs were the most common audio format, and the band had just worked through a large back catalogue of unfinished and unreleased songs with their new drummer, Jeff Mann. But as the recording went on and song times began adding up, the band realized they had a triple-CD release on their hands! They decided to share the largest composition first, a lofty six-part prog-rock epic, “Put Another Rock in That Bag,” as an EP in 2014, followed by the remainder of the tracks as a double CD the following year. They also ventured into their first vinyl release at the time, with a special four-disc set of the entire collection. Now, ten years later, the band is re-releasing this vinyl set, including the original song notes from the band, pictures from the studio, and an updated anniversary-edition colored-vinyl set.

In many ways, this album encapsulates the band’s sound, with enough songs to give a taste of all they have to offer. Original band members John Ferrara (bass) and Gabriel Marin (guitar) shine throughout, whether the songs are blazing odd-time fusion pieces or heartfelt ballads. There’s also an acoustic track on each disc, featuring some less-suspecting instruments such as Dombra, Dutar, Banjo Bass, and Doumbek, adding even more variety to the mix. Whether you’ve been a fan of the band since the beginning or are just now diving in, this release is guaranteed to be a prize piece of your record collection.

Presales are available now at https://www.hellomerch.com/products/world-war-trio-vinyl-reissue.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1
Aquarians
This Dubious Honor
Many Words of Disapproval
One Hundred Thousand Fools
Up to But Not to Exceed…Whoa

Disc 2
You Are Obsolete
Brother Nature
Absence of a Prominent Tooth
Ninjanuity
A Monument to Compromise
40% Gentlemen, 60% Scholar

Disc 3
So Say We All
I’ll Fight for the Imp
More Than You’ll Never Know

Disc 4
White People Problems
Tsim Sha Tsui
You Are Disappearing
Put Another Rock in That Bag

TOUR DATES:

5.24  StrangeCreek Campout – Greenfield, MA
6.27  Beardfest – Hammonton, NJ
7.26  Strange Brew Pub – Norwich, CT
8.15  Yasgur Road Reunion Music Festival – Bethel, NY

‘Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival’ Brings Bluegrass Vocals to CCR Classics

Eric Alper
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‘Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival’ Brings Bluegrass Vocals to CCR Classics

The Pickin’ On Series, known for its bluegrass interpretations of prominent artists and a beloved tradition at CMH Records for over 30 years and 300 albums, presents its latest installment: Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bluegrass Revival. This album, set for digital and CD release on June 20, marks the first time bluegrass quartet Iron Horse put their fresh and unique bluegrass spin on the timeless songs of Creedence Clearwater Revival, one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. The Pickin’ On Series previously gave CCR the bluegrass treatment with the instrumental album Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival: A Tribute (1999), and a bonus track reissue, Born on the Bayou: The Bluegrass Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival (2001); this new Iron Horse recording is the first to feature vocals and their own arrangements.

Since 2003, Iron Horse–Ricky Rogers (bass, vocals), Tony Robertson (mandolin, vocals), Vance Henry (guitar, vocals) and Anthony Richardson (banjo, vocals)–has been the main recording artist for Pickin’ On, lending their incredible musicianship, precise picking, rich harmonies and endlessly creative arrangements, delivering clever twists on these classics.

On Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bluegrass Rising, Iron Horse take on swampy classics like “Proud Mary” and “Bad Moon Rising, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and “Looking Out My Back Door,” among others, honoring the rootsy spirit that defines CCR’s unforgettable catalog. This newest addition to their discography is sure to delight listeners of all kinds, and maybe lend a new appreciation for the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Their blend of rock, blues and country continues to resonate with a worldwide audience well after disbanding in 1972, continuing to electrify new fans today.

The first single “Bad Moon Rising” is out today, May 23 on all major digital platforms, offering a preview of the full album dropping June 20.

“Well, here you go, the CCR project that people have been asking about for many years now,” shares Iron Horse’s Tony Robertson. “While this music may have come from a different time period, it’s like it may have just been created yesterday. The songs make me feel like I’m part of the bigger cosmic family. It was such a great experience doing this project because all the songs are so familiar and almost personal in that you can feel the vibe of reality coming from each track. ‘Bad Moon Rising,’ ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain,’ and ‘Long As I Can See The Light’ are classic and timeless tunes, perfect to translate into Bluegrass. It’s almost like they were written to be played by a bluegrass band.”

Though Pickin’ On started modestly in 1993 with the release of Pickin’ On the Movies, tributes to The Beatles and Eagles soon followed, and by 1997 the Pickin’ On Series was on fire. It continues to thrive with one hand in traditional bluegrass and the other in popular music, ready for the next chance to create innovative bluegrass music. Now over 30 years in and 300 albums deep, the Pickin’ On Series is one of the most beloved traditions at CMH.

Recent Pickin’ On releases, Pickin’ On The Doors, Pickin’ On Pearl Jam and Pickin’ On Nirvana, were well-received and garnered press from Rolling Stone, Brooklyn Vegan, and Uproxx, among others. Pickin’ On Modest Mouse and Fade to Bluegrass: The Bluegrass Tribute to Metallica both charted on Billboard’s Top Bluegrass Albums chart. The series has also been given extensive retrospective write-ups by Los Angeles Times and No Depression and songs from Pickin’ On have been featured in the television series Revolution and HBO’s True Blood. Other artists that have been given the Pickin’ On treatment include Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, the Allman Brothers Band, Coldplay, The Black Keys, Jack White, The Killers and many more.

Track listing for Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival:
Bad Moon Rising
Up Around the Bend
Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Looking Out My Back Door
Hey Tonight
Traveling Band
Lodi
Who Will Stop the Rain
Down on the Corner
Proud Mary
Long As I Can See the Light
Someday Never Comes

Willie, Waylon and the Boys’ by Brian Fairbanks Traces the Outlaw Spirit in Country Music

Eric Alper
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Willie, Waylon and the Boys’ by Brian Fairbanks Traces the Outlaw Spirit in Country Music

The tragic and inspiring story of the leaders of Outlaw country and their influence on today’s Alt-County and Americana superstars, tracing a path from Waylon Jennings’ survival on the Day the Music Died through to the Highwaymen and on to the current creative and commercial explosion of Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Zach Bryan, Jason Isbell, and the Highwomen.

On February 2, 1959, Waylon Jennings, bassist for his best friend, the rock star Buddy Holly, gave up his seat on a charter flight. Jennings joked that he hoped the plane, leaving without him, would crash. When it did, killing all aboard, on “the Day the Music Died,” he was devastated and never fully recovered.

Jennings switched to playing country, creating the Outlaw movement and later forming the Highwaymen supergroup, the first in country music, with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. The foursome battled addiction, record companies, ex-wives, violent fans, and the I.R.S. and D.E.A., en route to unprecedented mainstream success. Today, their acolytes Kacey Musgraves, Ryan Bingham, Sturgill Simpson, and Taylor Swift outsell all challengers, and country is the most popular of all genres.

In this fascinating new book, Brian Fairbanks draws a line from Buddy Holly through the Outlaw stars of the 60s and 70s, all the way to the country headliners and more diverse, up-and-coming Nashville rebels of today, bringing the reader deep into the worlds of not only Cash, Nelson, Kristofferson, and Jennings but artists like Chris Stapleton, Simpson, Bingham, and Isbell, stadium-filling masters whose stories have not been told in book form, as well as new, diverse artists like the Highwomen, Brittney Spencer, and Allison Russell. Thought-provoking and meticulously researched, Willie, Waylon, and the Boys ultimately shows how a twenty-one-year-old bass-playing plane crash survivor helped changed the course of American music.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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