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Bryce Leatherwood Tips His Hat To Tradition With “In Lieu Of Flowers” On Self-Titled Debut Album

Eric Alper
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Bryce Leatherwood Tips His Hat To Tradition With “In Lieu Of Flowers” On Self-Titled Debut Album

For Mercury Nashville singer/songwriter Bryce Leatherwood, his love of country music began with listening to the likes of George Jones, Merle Haggard and Conway Twitty in his grandfather’s truck. That love and a passion for performing took him from local stages playing for beer in college to being crowned season 22 champion of “The Voice” just over two years ago.

But in many ways that crown was just the beginning of his journey. What followed has been years of firsts. His first time in a writers room, first time on the Grand Ole Opry stage, his first headlining tour and now another first…the release of his self-titled, debut album available today with Saving Country Music observing “his voice is definitely a stellar vehicle for delivering country music.”

“I’ve been chasing this dream ever since the eighth grade when my daddy handed over his much loved Conway Twitty Greatest Hits CD,” shared Leatherwood. “To finally have my very own album out in the world, I am just over the moon and so excited for fans to hear it. I hope people listen to it and walk away feeling like country music is alive and well!”

The Woodstock, Georgia native is carrying the influences and country-music foundations built while bumping along in that old pickup on his granddad’s farm with him for the debut LP American Songwriter praises as, “a true 21st-century country music album with flares that pay homage to the past.” A mix of originals and expertly crafted outside cuts, Leatherwood lets his resonate vocal loose over 12 diverse tunes – centered on his rock solid country roots, but ranging from the pure-emotion of classic balladry to an expanding genre’s bleeding edge. Taking a hands-on approach with producer Will Bundy (Riley Green, Ella Langley), Leatherwood threads the needle between the timeless and trendy with surefooted ease.

The album, which Country Now notes “introduces Leatherwood in his most authentic form,” features previously released tracks like the rollicking sweep-you-off-your-feet Saturday-night anthem “Neon Does,” “The One My Daddy Found” inspired by the decades-long love shared by his parents, “Where the Bar Is” which pops a country-rock top on a quick-hitting tale of late nights and open tabs, “The Finger” a tongue-in-cheek fan favorite sing-along to getting shafted by love and “Shenandoah” penned by Leatherwood with Jeffrey East and Josh Kelley about love and total romantic devotion.

Unreleased tracks on the debut LP include “In Lieu of Flowers” proclaiming his eternal honky tonk allegiance – requesting Joe Diffie and a longneck toast when his time finally comes, the transformative jam “Something Bout A Girl” tracks the making of a man – with the help of a woman’s touch, while the feel-good “God Made” mixes twangy Telecaster with tasteful beats for a tale of physical perfection, the bluesy vocal stunner “What If She Does” imagines losing it all and “Cheap Cologne” traces the other side of the story – an aching done-me-wrong anthem nodding to Leatherwood’s classic favorites.

Leatherwood has marked release week with a flurry of activity including a stop at NBC’s “Today with Jenna & Friends” on Wednesday, May 14, to give fans a preview of the album with a performance of “In Lieu of Flowers.” He also received a surprise message on the show from Blake Shelton with his former Voice Coach sharing, “Man, it still seems like literally yesterday that I watched you win ‘The Voice,’ and I’m still just as proud of you today,” Shelton said. “Go get em’ brother.”

Leatherwood will return to “The Voice” stage for the NBC hit’s finale on May 20, joining a star-studded line-up that will include performances from Alicia Keys, Blake Shelton, Chance the Rapper, Sheryl Crow, Joe Jonas, Kelly Clarkson and more.

And the country crooner is showing no signs of slowing down. Leatherwood will celebrate the new album with a return to the Grand Ole Opry on May 24 and the Good Molecules Reverb Stage at CMA Fest next month. Fans can also find him at festivals across the US this summer with more touring news to be announced soon.

Youth Code Unleash “I’m Sorry” And Return With Brutal New EP ‘Yours, With Malice’

Eric Alper
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Youth Code Unleash “I’m Sorry” And Return With Brutal New EP ‘Yours, With Malice’

American EBM virtuosos Youth Code have returned with their first musical output in four years: Yours, With Malice, has been officially released on Sumerian Records.

Nothing hits harder than life, as they say, and the series of bloody-knuckle bouts to get to the release of Yours, With Malice led to some deep introspection by Youth Code regarding who they are, what they’ve accomplished and their next steps. These last few years of self-reflection found Youth Code stewing in a simmering cauldron of bile and vitriol as Yours, With Malice is clearly their most intricate, well-crafted and blood-thirsty release to date.

Yours, With Malice roars and tramples like an armor-plated, weaponized bulldozer, pulverizing skulls into fine powder, while bubbling sub-bass, bone-snapping snare hits, sizzling hi-hats and rib-rattling kicks bounce off of the floors like spent shells. Sanford Parker’s powerful mix gives the effort a strong shove in the right direction- the subtle but careful ear for melody that connects all the songs, grounds them, and keeps the listener chained to the “repeat” button. Today, the EP closer “I’m Sorry” arrives to celebrate release date.

While some of the sounds and references on Yours… come from classic 90s influences such as Nine Inch Nails’ classic Broken/Fixed duality, the untouchable middle period Ministry era that spawned The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste, in addition to a plethora of others like Front 242, Cabaret Voltaire, and Portion Control, the core attack has not changed much for the Los Angeles-based duo.

What has changed is Youth Code’s attention to detail and their hyper focus on execution in songwriting, two things that can only come from the wellspring of knowledge found in a band that has been at it for more than a decade. The group began in 2012 as a project between partners Ryan George and Sara Taylor, inspired by the classic sounds of New Order, Depeche Mode and the hardcore punk that soundtracked so much of their youth. What emerged was a demo cassette that led to a 7″ release on Angry Love, the first band unrelated to the legendary Psychic TV to be released on that label. A self-titled album followed, then 2014’s A Place to Stand EP, and 2016’s Commitment to Complications LP, all while touring with a diverse groups like Chelsea Wolfe, HEALTH, Skinny Puppy, and more, in addition to arena shows with My Chemical Romance and main stage appearances with Nine Inch Nails. Heaps of press accolades followed before the pandemic hit, and now, in 2025, Youth Code return with their magnum opus.

The Last Revel Ride The Storm With “Solid Gone” And Announce ‘Gone For Good’

Eric Alper
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The Last Revel Ride The Storm With “Solid Gone” And Announce ‘Gone For Good’

“The boat is off the shore and you can’t see land anymore—we’re in it now,” says The Last Revel banjoist, Ryan Acker, of the band’s current trajectory. “This is a step in our careers that feels like there’s no going back. There’s a level of commitment now that, just a couple of years ago, we didn’t fathom we could take on.” And their upcoming album reflects that sentiment in a surefooted and career defining way. Produced by Trampled by Turtles’ Dave Simonett, the ten-track LP dubbed Gone for Good shines with The Last Revel’s commitment to never give up, signed in blood by Acker and his musical brothers, guitarist Lee Henke and fiddler Vinnie Donatelle. A multilayered ode to the life of an artist, life on the road, and what it means to be a human being in uncertain times, Gone for Good finds the Americana/indie-folk outfit exploring the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of what it means to pursue your dreams in real time, and doing so with their hard-won and road-honed delivery.

Released today, “Solid Gone” is the first single from Gone for Good—due out July 18th via Thirty Tigers. A quick-paced clawhammer banjo and fiddle melody lead into a heady study on loss, or potential loss as the song’s inspiration hints. “In early 2023, my wife and former band got in a car accident while on tour driving through some nasty winter weather in eastern Montana,” recalls Acker. Miraculously, everyone was ok with no major injuries, but Acker and his wife were rattled by the experience. “We’ve both always known that the life of a touring musician comes with a certain amount of risk, but an extremely close call like this conjured up some heavy emotions to face.” Spending a good part of their relationship like “ships in the night,” each partner on their respective tours, Acker couldn’t help but think about if she’d never made it home from Montana that day.

“‘Solid Gone’ came from grappling with the harsh reality that just because you found your soulmate does not mean that you are guaranteed another chance to see them,” says Acker. “To hell and back we’d ride as if it was another sacred gift,” sings Henke leading the band into a final refrain. With the arrangement, the main banjo and fiddle melody don’t intuitively line up with the chords and rhythm section until you get to the release of the chorus; intentionally so. “I wanted the music and instrumentation to reflect this ‘ships in the night’ feeling,” Acker says, tying together both music and lyrics into a package well representing Gone for Good’s new era of The Last Revel; the prize for perseverance.

Yesterday, MAGNET Magazine premiered the track, writing, “‘Solid Gone’ is a standout track from Gone For Good…the album veers from intimate to epic as it charts the unpredictability and beauty of life as a traveling artist and an inhabitant of a world where the hits keep coming.”

Fans can stream or purchase “Solid Gone” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save Gone for Good ahead of its July 18th release on Thirty Tigers right here. The Last Revel return to the road on May 21st at Richmond Music Hall in Richmond, Virginia. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at thelastrevel.com/tour.

Gone for Good Tracklist:
Solid Gone
Static
Go On
Jealousy
Wait Up
Simple Wheel
Holy Moly
Tall Grass
Until Death
Porcelain

Catch The Last Revel On Tour:
May 21 – Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House – Richmond, VA
May 22 – Rex Theater – Galax, VA
May 23 – Lime Kiln Theater – Lexington, VA ^
May 24-25 – DelFest – Cumberland, MD
May 28 – Bourgie Nights – Wilmington, NC
May 29 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
May 30 – Nightfall Concert Series – Chattanooga, TN
May 31 – Cold Mountain Music Festival – Canton, NC
June 1 – Charleston Pour House – Charleston SC *
June 21 – Abayance Bay Marina – Rexford, MT
June 26 – The Racoon Motel – Davenport, IA #
June 27 – Blue Ox Music Festival – Eau Claire, WI
June 29 – Thesis Beer Project – Rochester, MN &
July 17 – Lander Presents: Summer Concert Series – Lander, WY
July 19 – Pine Creek Lodge – Livingston, MT
July 25 – FloydFest – Floyd, VA
Aug. 2 – Red Lodge Summer Fest – Red Lodge, MT
Aug. 3 – Bluegrass and Beer Festival – Keystone, CO
Aug. 7 – Cedar Lounge – Superior, WI
Aug. 8 – Ledgestone Vineyards – Greenleaf, WI
Aug. 9 – Whey Pit at Seven Acre Dairy – Belleville, WI
Aug. 29-31 – Rhythm & Roots Festival – Charlestown, RI
Sept. 10-13 – Bender Jamboree – Las Vegas, NV
Sept. 18 – Red Room at Cafe 939 – Boston, MA
Sept. 19 – 118 North – Wayne, PA
Sept. 20-21 – Annapolis Baygrass Festival – Annapolis, MD
Sept. 20 – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY
Sept. 24 – Shitty Barn – Spring Green, WI
Sept. 25 – Garcia’s – Chicago, IL
Oct. 8 – Gothic Theater – Englewood, CO +
Oct. 9 – Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, CO +
Oct. 10 – Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT +
Oct. 11 – Shrine Social Club – Boise, ID +
Oct. 15 – The Crocodile – Seattle, WA +
Oct. 16 – Aladdin Theater – Portland, OR +
Oct. 18 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA +
Oct. 19 – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA +
Oct. 20 – Music Box – San Diego, CA +
Oct. 22 – Meow Wolf – Sante Fe, NM +
Oct. 24 – Parish – Austin, TX +
Oct. 25 – The Kessler Theater – Dallas, TX +
Nov. 6 – The Burl – Lexington, KY +
Nov. 7 – HI-FI – Indianapolis, IN +
Nov. 8 – The Basement East – Nashville, TN +
^ = With The Infamous Stringdusters
* = With The Mud Minnows
# =  With Lena Marie Schiffer
& = With Clay Fulton & The Lost 40
+ = With Oliver Hazard

Country-Soul Firebrand Tami Neilson Drops “Borrow My Boots” Ahead of New Album ‘Neon Cowgirl’

Eric Alper
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Country-Soul Firebrand Tami Neilson Drops “Borrow My Boots” Ahead of New Album ‘Neon Cowgirl’

Canadian native and New Zealand musical royalty Tami Neilson has released the second single from her upcoming album release Neon Cowgirl. “Borrow My Boots” is an exuberant, high-octane track celebrating female empowerment and giving a sister a leg up. It’s written by Tami and Nashville powerhouses Ashley McBryde and Shelly Fairchild who are both featured on the track alongside guitar prodigy Grace Bowers. To accompany the release, Tami has shared a fun, behind-the-scenes video of her Grand Ole Opry debut, including video clips from her performance in the official video for “Borrow My Boots.” The Grand Ole Opry has released a video performance of the four of them tearing it up live performing the song at Tami’s Opry debut.

“After getting to perform on an absolute dream show with an all-star lineup singing the music of Patsy Cline at the Ryman, I woke up the next morning to a DM from one of my favourite country stars, Ashley McBryde. She’d been on the line up and after seeing me perform, she had immediately dug into my catalogue of music and wrote to me to lift me up and encourage me, saying she was a fan. A few weeks later, she tagged me in a post of her getting ready for the red carpet of the CMAs, playing “Careless Woman” as her hype song! A couple months after that, she asked for permission to create a t-shirt with my photo on it and a line from that song, “I Wanna Be Her When I Grow Up” so she could wear it around town as she hosted CMA Fest and champion my music.

So, when I had a song idea about women supporting and empowering each other, she was the first person who came to mind. I asked if she would do a long-distance writing session and she invited powerhouse songwriter and artist Shelly Fairchild to join us and “Borrow My Boots” was born, and recorded on the album the next week. I met Grace Bowers back when she was 15 and had just moved to Nashville and I asked her to play her first paid gigs with me at Americanafest – we had to hide her backstage because she wasn’t old enough to be in the venues. She’s rocketing to stardom now and after playing with everyone from Dolly and Slash, to rocking the Grammys, I didn’t know if she’d have time for a little guitar solo on my album. Not only did she contribute a blistering solo, she changed her flights in the middle of a tour to join me, Ashley and Shelly to perform this song at my debut on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.

NEON COWGIRL will be released on July 11 on Outside Music, with Tami and her band joining Willie Nelson, and then Willie and Bob Dylan, on this year’s Outlaw Festival tour. She will also be playing Willie’s Fourth of July Picnic, and will return to the Grand Ole Opry stage in June. Also in June, Tami will hit Europe for shows in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Her huge, glorious voice and powerful live performances have won the admiration and support of some of country music’s biggest names and fans worldwide. Check this space for tour dates: https://www.tamineilson.com/tour

TOUR DATES 

*Outlaw Music Festival Tour 2025

THU 19 JUN – Paris, France @ New Morning

FRI 20 JUN – Sint-Niklaas, Belgium @ De Casino

FRI 20 JUN – SAT 21 JUN – Grollo, Netherlands @ Holland International Blues Festival 2025  WED 25 JUN – Franklin, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheater*

THU 26 JUNE – Nashville, TN @ Grand Ole Opry

FRI 27 JUN – Memphis, TN @ Radians Amphitheater @ Memphis Botanic Garden *

SAT 28 JUN – Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater *

SUN 29 JUN – Ridgedale, MO @ Thunder Ridge Nature Arena *

TUE 1 JUL – Oklahoma City, OK @ Lucky Star Amphitheater *

FRI 4 JUL – Austin, TX @ Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic

SAT 5 JUL – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion *

SUN 6 JUL – Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion *

Missy Raines And Allegheny Release “Love And Trouble” Featuring “Burnin’” And “Anywhere The Wind Blows”

Eric Alper
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Missy Raines And Allegheny Release “Love And Trouble” Featuring “Burnin’” And “Anywhere The Wind Blows”

Missy Raines & Allegheny announce the release of their new album Love & Trouble out today on Compass Records. Working again with producer Alison Brown, the new album showcases a band at the peak of its powers on an inspired set which includes re-workings of traditional songs, contemporary covers and Missy Raines’ originals.

Following on the heels of 2024’s Highlander, the new project firmly establishes Missy Raines & Allegheny as one of the most vibrant bands on the bluegrass scene. Talking about the new project,  Missy says: “We had lots of shows under our belt and there was an overwhelming feeling of connection you can only get from a lot of time on stage together. I knew I wanted to try and capture the magic again and I think we did.”

Love & Trouble opens with a driving trio of banjo, fiddle and mandolin on “Yanceyville Jail,” which Missy wrote about a true event. She recalls: “At a bluegrass festival in the 70’s, I was in the audience when the promoter, Carlton Haney, came out on stage to address the crowd. In his very thick North Carolina accent, Carlton said, ‘Now I know that you folks are looking forward to hearing Jimmy Martin tonight.  But you’re not gonna hear Jimmy sing tonight cause Jimmy’s gonna spend the night in the Yanceyville jail.’ I was a kid but I was old enough to know this wasn’t a good day in the life of a storied entertainer.  So I decided to write a song to tell a version of what might have been going through Jimmy Martin’s head that day.”

From the traditionally-influenced opener, the album segues into “Claude Allen,” a veritable traditional Appalachian ballad that the band discovered on a search through the Library of Congress archives. With Missy on lead vocals, each of the players shines in their ability to instrumentally color this tale of love gone wrong. Fiddler/vocalist Ellie Hakanson is featured on the Hazel Dickens classic “Scraps from Your Table,” a crowd pleaser from the band’s live shows and an homage to Dickens’ 100th birthday this year. And, mandolinist Tristan Scroggins steps into the vocal spotlight on “Future on Ice,” a classic country song recorded by Jimmy Martin more than 50 years ago about drowning the sorrows of unrequited love, featuring special guest Deanie Richardson (Sister Sadie) on fiddle.

The album’s first single, “Anywhere the Wind Blows,” was culled from the repertoire of The Good Ole Persons and penned by Kathy Kallick. Kallick and Laurie Lewis join Missy and Ellie on lead vocal and harmony duties on this driving re-arrangement. Missy comments: “Laurie and Kathy were among the first women to front their own bands and write songs and have influenced generations of musicians including both Ellie and me.”

Love & Trouble closes on the Earl Klugh instrumental “Vonetta,” a staple of the band’s live performances, which gives banjoist Eli Gilbert, guitarist Ben Garnett and the rest of the members a chance to showcase their instrumental versatility on an arrangement that reflects the influences of new acoustic pioneers Tony Rice and David Grisman.

Taken as a whole, Love & Trouble is a strong musical statement from a band at the top of its game. Missy Raines & Allegheny show the possibilities for traditional bluegrass in a contemporary context, expanding the genre’s roots even as they cultivate them. And the result is an ear-opening pleasure.

Love & Trouble is available today via Compass Records.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES:

16 May – Purple Fiddle – Thomas, WV – Tickets

17 May – Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts – Foxburg, PA – Tickets

22 May – Station Inn – Nashville, TN – Tickets

23 May – Red Clay Music Foundry – Duluth, GA – Tickets

24 May – Randy Wood Guitars – Bloomingdale, GA – Tickets

20 Jun – Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival – Cashmere, WA – Tickets

21 Jun – Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival – Cashmere, WA – Tickets

5 Jul – Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center – Robbinsville, NC – Tickets

11 Jul – High Mountain Hay Fever Festival – Westcliffe, CO – Tickets

12 Jul – High Mountain Hay Fever Festival – Westcliffe, CO – Tickets

18 Jul – Shady Grove Bluegrass Festival – Sundre, Canada – Tickets

19 Jul – Shady Grove Bluegrass Festival – Sundre, Canada – Tickets

24 July – Brewminatti, Prosser WA – Tickets

25 Jul – Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival – Stevenson, WA – Tickets

26 Jul – Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival – Stevenson, WA – Tickets

1 Nov – Sultana Downrigging Festival – Chestertown, MD – Tickets

Rudy Love and The Encore Release “Burnin’” and Announce Vinyl-First Album 11 via Buy Before You Stream

Eric Alper
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Rudy Love and The Encore Release “Burnin’” and Announce Vinyl-First Album 11 via Buy Before You Stream

Today, Rudy Love & The Encore has announced the upcoming release of their highly anticipated album 11, available exclusively on vinyl starting June 11th as part of the Buy Before You Stream initiative. This groundbreaking model redefines the artist-fan connection, giving fans the chance to own a tangible piece of music history ahead of its digital release on July 11th. The album’s lead single, “Burnin’” is out now, offering a powerful glimpse into the band’s soulful fusion of R&B, funk, and heartfelt storytelling.

Buy Before You Stream, created by Midtopia, empowers independent artists by enabling them to sell vinyl editions of their albums directly to fans before they hit streaming platforms. This direct-to-fan approach strengthens the artist-audience connection and bypasses industry middlemen—ensuring that 100% of the profits go straight to the artists and helping them reclaim ownership of their work.

Frontman Rudy Love Jr. carries forward a rich musical legacy as the son of Rudy Love Sr.—a revered soul singer, session musician, and songwriter whose work has been sampled and recorded by icons ranging from Jay-Z to Little Richard to Eric Clapton. Love Jr.’s grandfather, who originally wrote “Good Morning Little School Girl,” later covered by Clapton, is just one example of how the Love family’s contributions to American music have been widespread yet often under-credited. 11 is both a personal and artistic reckoning with that legacy—and a declaration of independence.

For Rudy, the launch of 11 as part of the initiative is both a career milestone and a deeply personal moment. “I’ll never forget the first time I saw my family’s music on sale, and we didn’t even have a copy ourselves,” he says. “It was a wake-up call about how the system works.”

“That kind of thing stays with you,” he adds. “It makes you realize how important it is to have control over your work, to own it, and to make sure you’re compensated fairly.”

11 is a bold statement about perseverance, legacy, and reclaiming creative control. The title represents both death and rebirth, a theme that threads through the album and mirrors Rudy’s own journey as an artist. “11 is about acknowledging what’s been lost but also embracing what’s to come,” he reflects. “It’s about rebirth, renewal, and moving forward.” “Burnin’,” the album’s lead single, sets the tone as a fiery anthem of resilience in the face of an industry that has often sidelined independent voices.

Rudy’s embrace of vinyl also reflects a deeper belief in music as something tangible and lasting. He recalls discovering artists as a kid by digging through records and reading liner notes. “It was such a personal, meaningful experience that’s so different from how we find music today,” he says. “When fans buy vinyl, they’re getting something real—it’s part of our history, part of our story.”

Rudy Love & The Encore is an American soul and R&B band led by Rudy Love Jr., the son of the legendary Rudy Love Sr. The band honors the Love family legacy while creating fresh, soulful music that speaks to themes of resilience, love, and social change. Their debut album 11 marks a defining moment in their musical journey and is part of the Buy Before You Stream initiative, a platform that empowers independent artists to directly engage with their fans and reclaim ownership of their music.

Midtopia seeks to establish sustainable and equitable opportunities for independent artists and music workers via concepts for contributive partnerships and alternative business models that harness the connected, collaborative power of interdependence. This alternative to current music industry models is based on a philosophy of “do it ourselves” invoking greater cohesion to strengthen and build equity among artists and music workers, regardless of geographical location or current industry status. Like an intricate network of roots beneath a tree, this multidisciplinary collaboration will enhance these concepts giving artists and workers the ability to cultivate more sustainable growth, strengthen independence, fortify community, and propagate truly unique creative identities. Learn more at midtopia.com.

Buy Before You Stream is a community-driven initiative that allows fans to purchase exclusive vinyl editions of albums directly from the artist before they hit streaming platforms. 100% of the profits go directly to the artists, ensuring they maintain control over their work and generate meaningful income. The initiative fosters direct artist-to-fan relationships, supports local record stores, and promotes sustainability in the music industry.

Third Man Pressing is a meticulously designed boutique vinyl record production facility with a unique customer experience that includes a viewing window for our visitors to witness the beauty and importance of the record making process. Third Man Pressing is an investment in Third Man Records’ hometown, a neighborhood within a city rich with musical history, creating a space that is as inspiring as it is prolific.

The release of 11 is part of a broader movement that includes Talia Keys’ From The Ashes, which was the first album released under the Buy Before You Stream initiative earlier this year. With these releases, the initiative is creating an ecosystem where artists can not only reconnect with their fans but also build sustainable careers free from the instability of the digital streaming model.

“Buy Before You Stream is about restoring the power that’s been lost over the years,” says Rudy. “It’s about returning to a time when artists could have ownership, create physical connections with their fans, and thrive in a way that wasn’t dictated by algorithms and middlemen.”

As Rudy Love & The Encore continues to push forward with 11, the album will be available for direct purchase through the Buy Before You Stream platform, with the digital release scheduled for July 11th. The initiative provides a real alternative for independent artists to foster meaningful relationships with their fans, build a sustainable income model, and maintain creative independence.

For more information about Buy Before You Stream, upcoming releases, and to purchase 11 by Rudy Love & The Encore, visit Buy Before You Stream.

Rocket Release “One Million” and Announce Debut US Headline Tour

Eric Alper
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Rocket Release “One Million” and Announce Debut US Headline Tour

Los Angeles, CA’s Rocket have shared “One Million,” their first new single since announcing their signing to Transgressive Records / Canvasback and reissuing their debut EP Versions of You. The track opens with wailing guitar leads before breaking into the harmony laden verse and soaring chorus.

“‘One Million’ is about wanting someone to meet you halfway but not knowing if they ever will,” share the band. “It’s the feeling of doing everything you can, going above and beyond for someone, knowing that you would wait a million years for them just to notice how important they are to you. It’s the hoping that maybe you are as important to them as well. It’s learning to be okay with the fact that you might always love them more.”

Alongside the new single, Rocket have announced a debut US headline tour, kicking off this October. Tickets are on sale Friday, May 16 @ 10am local time HERE. The band will join Mannequin Pussy for a run of EU dates this month before embarking on their own stretch of UK headline shows in June. Rocket will return to the UK in August for shows with The Smashing Pumpkins.

Rocket’s 2023 EP was praised immensely and landed the band their first cover story at NME. The forward momentum put the band on the road for most of 2024, opening for iconic bands like The Pixies’ Frank Black, Ride, Sunny Day Real Estate, Silversun Pickups, and peers including Julie, Bar Italia, Hotline TNT & more. The band appeared on festival stages around the world, including Pitchfork London & Paris, Bumbershoot, Best Friends Forever, and many more.

Earlier this year the band shared “Take Your Aim” alongside a Consequence ‘Origins’ feature. The blistering new track was written shortly after the release of their EP, and will appear on the tracklist of the newly reissued EP, available on vinyl & CD for the first time via Transgressive Records / Canvasback.

Comprised of Alithea Tuttle (Bass, Vocals), Baron Rinzler (Guitar), Cooper Ladomade (Drums) and Desi Scaglione (Guitar), the members of Rocket have all know each other for a very long time, some since as early as preschool, with the full group coalescing in high school. “We spend pretty much every day together, so being in a band wasn’t even a question,” they explain. In early 2021, the group scraped together what money they had and rented the cheapest lockout space they could find, rehearsing religiously for months until their first show.

Inspired by the success of that first performance, the band convened in Cooper’s parents back house, and using a 1970’s Yamaha PM-1000 recording console that was donated to their elementary school, recorded their first EP. Despite their youth, there’s a confidence and strength of vision across these songs that is rare to find in a debut.

EU DATES
May 26th – Paris, FR @ Trabendo *
May 28th – Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje *
May 29th – Amsterdam, NL @ Tolhuistuin *
May 31st – Berlin, DE @ Columbia Theater *
June 2nd – Rotterdam, NL @ V11
June 4th – Hasselt, BE @ Club AFF
June 5th – Brussels, BE @ Witloof Bar
June 9th – Brighton, UK @ Green Door Store
June 10th – London, UK @ Windmill
June 11th – Birmingham, UK @ Hare and Hounds
June 12th – Glasgow, UK @ McChuills
June 14th – Manchester, UK @ Outbreak Festival
August 8th – Gothenburg, Sweden @ Way Out West Festival
August 10th – London, UK @ Gunnersbury Park ^
August 12th – Halifax, UK @ The Piece Hall ^
August 13th – Scarborough, UK @ Scarborough Open Air Theatre ^
August 14th – Colchester, UK @ Colchester Castle Park ^
August 16th – Wales, UK @ Greenman Festival

* w/ Mannequin Pussy
^ w/ Smashing Pumpkins

US DATES
Oct 27th – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge
Oct 30th – Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves
Oct 31st – Austin, TX @ Mohawk (Indoors)
Nov 3rd – Nashville, TN @ drkmttr
Nov 4th – Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5
Nov 6th – Washington, DC @ DC9
Nov 7th – Philadelphia, PA @ Warehouse on Watts
Nov 8th – New York, NY @ Baby’s All Right
Nov 11th – Toronto, ON @ The Garrison
Nov 13th – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
Nov 14th – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern
Nov 15th – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
Nov 18th – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
Nov 19th – Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall
Nov 21st – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
Nov 22nd – Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy

Tickets Available HERE

Pixel Grip Announce New Album Percepticide and Share Explosive Single “Reason to Stay”

Eric Alper
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Pixel Grip Announce New Album Percepticide and Share Explosive Single “Reason to Stay”

Underground electronic trio Pixel Grip announces their eagerly awaited independent third album, Percepticide: The Death of Reality, set for release on June 12th. Alongside the announcement, Pixel Grip shares a gripping new single and visualizer, “Reason to Stay”. Serving as the fourth release and focus track from the album, it’s a raw, abrasive offering, pulsing with distortion and resilience, anchored by a pounding bassline where vocalist Rita Lukea leans fully into the chaos–confronting betrayal head-on.

Speaking on “Reason to Stay”, Rita Lukea shares, “The focus track of the album embodies aggression. With a pounding, abrasive bassline and a chorus that’s shouted at you: “What’s the point of giving less than 100%? You pushed me to the limit what the fuck you expect?” Rita introduces the idea that resilience can be ugly and wrathful, and when faced with the option to leave, she chooses to stay – “Just to hear you scream”.

Coinciding with the news, Pixel Grip has announced they will embark on their North American headline tour this Fall, which will kick off in St. Louis on September 23rd. The 26-date Percepticide tour will see Pixel Grip trek across the US and Canada before it wraps with a hometown show at Metro in Chicago on November 14th (full dates below). Artist pre-sale begins on Wednesday, venue pre-sale begins on Thursday, and general ticket sales begin this Friday, May 9th at 12PM local time. For more information and ticket purchasing visit https://pixelgripmusic.com/tourdates.

“Reason to Stay” follows the previously released pulse-pounding singles, “Split”, “Stamina” and “Bet You Do”. Continuing to push boundaries, Pixel Grip—comprised of Rita Lukea (vocals), Jonathon Freund (synth), and Tyler Ommen (drums) is a genre-defying force. Blending darkwave, electronic, and avant-pop influences, the trio consistently expands their sound while maintaining their signature raw energy and star power.

Written over a three-year hiatus between Los Angeles and Chicago, Percepticide: The Death of Reality is the sound of fragmentation, catharsis, empowerment, and rebirth. It’s a raw exploration of personal and collective struggles. Born from a period where each member confronted their own demons of betrayal, addiction, neglect, and emotional fracture—the album captures a band navigating the collapse and reconstruction of perception, identity, connection, and reality(ies), resulting in a sonic palette that reflects destruction and rebirth.

Pixel Grip shares, “The album title itself is a portmanteau of “percipere” (to perceive) and “-cide” (to kill), signifying “the killing of perception.” Percepticide: The Death of Reality is more than just an album—it’s a visceral experience, a statement, and a call to redefine how we see the world.”

Rita adds, “‘Percepticide’ is a cognitive distortion and a symptom of trauma – beliefs you hold to be true are shattered – as you question everyone and everything around you. My dream is that expressing my rage can help someone else feel empowered and at the very least, less alone. You’re never stuck, and you’re never alone.”

Known for their seductive, avant-garde aesthetic and electrifying live performances, Pixel Grip has cultivated a cult following through relentless touring and an unapologetic exploration of themes rooted in desire, power, and liberation, amassing over 7M streams to date. In 2024, they toured as direct support for HEALTH and DEHD, followed by a sold-out North American headline run, including a standout performance at Chicago’s RIOT Fest. Their underground anthems “ALPHAPUSSY” and “Demon Chaser” have caught the eye of high fashion houses and have been featured on fashion runways for VERSACE and Alexandre Vauthier.

Now, with their third album and headline tour on the horizon, Percepticide: The Death of Reality marks a bold new chapter in Pixel Grip’s evolution—furthering their sonic and artistic vision into thrilling, uncharted territory.

Tour Dates:
9/23 – St. Louis, MO @ OFF Broadway
9/25 – Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Co.
9/26 – Austin, TX @ Levitation Fest
9/27 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
9/29 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
9/30 – Durham, NC @ Motorco
10/1 – Philadelphia, PA @ Ukie Club
10/3 – Washington, DC @ DC9
10/4 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
10/5 – Boston, MA @ Middle East
10/7 – Montreal, QC @ Foufones
10/8 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
10/9 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
10/21 – Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club
10/22 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge
10/24 – Denver, CO @ Ophelia’s
10/25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ State Room
10/27 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
10/28 – Las Vegas, NV @ Swan Dive
10/29 – San Diego, CA @ Quartyard
10/31 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
11/1 – San Francisco, CA @ Substance Fest
11/4 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
11/5 – Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl
11/6 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
11/14 Chicago, IL @ Metro

Durand Jones and The Indications Announce Fall Tour and Release New Single “Flower Moon”

Eric Alper
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Durand Jones and The Indications Announce Fall Tour and Release New Single “Flower Moon”

Durand Jones & The Indications — the trio of Durand Jones, Aaron Frazer, and Blake Rhein — announce a fall North American tour and release “Flower Moon,” the second single/video from their forthcoming album, Flowers out June 27th on Dead Oceans. On the heels of a successful European headline run which included shows supporting Lenny Kravitz, the band’s expansive tour includes some of their largest shows yet, with stops in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto, and more. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 25th at 10am local time. A full list of dates is below.

Following lead single “Been So Long,” praised by Rated R&B as a “petal-soft tune [that] rides with the smoothness of an early ’70s soul jam,” “Flower Moon” guides listeners to an end-of-night dancefloor with Frazer’s trademark falsetto on full display. Reflecting on the track, Jones says: “It felt right to release ‘Flower Moon’ with this record. Spring is here and the flowers are blooming everywhere. We really wanted to catch that essence of the song and bring it to life for the listener. Also the Flower Moon is happening in a few weeks, so everything just seemed aligned to bring this song to our fans. It’s a feel-good tune to enjoy with friends or a loved one.” The song’s accompanying video was directed by Alec Basse.

On Flowers, The Indications’ fourth album and first since 2021’s “disco and funk infused” (Billboard) Private Space, the group leaned into a particular desire to return to their roots in a Bloomington basement, a space where they first found camaraderie in gritty funk and Southern soul that would inspire their self-titled debut. Just as they did on that 2016 release, The Indications prioritized close-knit collaboration while creating Flowers. Much of the self-produced album was written together at Rhein’s Chicago home studio, and many tracks are based on one-take demos — proof that vibes were particularly high, each member pulling from their refined tool kits with ease.

Reflecting a strong sense of the band’s maturation and conviction, the 11 songs that make up Flowers are grown and sexy, fit for cruising, and delight in the softer side of soul and disco. “All of these songs touch on such mature topics, things that we never got to sing about before,” says Jones. “We are all in our 30s, have all been through ups and downs in our personal lives and professional lives, and flowers are a sign of maturity, growth, spring, productivity.” Frazer adds: “We took the spirit of play that started the project, and added in the wisdom and lessons we’ve acquired through the years.”

Tour Dates:
Jul 4, 2025 – Jul 6, 2025 Down The Rabbit Hole Ewijk, Netherlands
Jul 4, 2025 Love Supreme Jazz Festival East Sussex, UK
Jul 6, 2025 Werchter Festival Park Werchter, Belgium
Sep 11, 2025 The Van Buren Phoenix, AZ *
Sep 12, 2025 Orpheum Theater Flagstaff, AZ *
Sep 15, 2025 Aztec Theatre San Antonio, TX *
Sep 16, 2025 Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater Austin, TX *
Sep 18, 2025 Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA *
Sep 19, 2025 Brooklyn Bowl Nashville Nashville, TN *
Sep 21, 2025 9:30 Club Washington, D.C. *
Sep 23, 2025 Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA *
Sep 26, 2025 Citizens House of Blues Boston Boston, MA *
Sep 27, 2025 Webster Hall New York, NY *
Sep 30, 2025 HI-FI Annex (HI-FI Indy) Indianapolis, IN *
Oct 1, 2025 The Salt Shed Chicago, IL *
Oct 3, 2025 Gothic Theatre Englewood, CO *
Oct 4, 2025 Washington’s Fort Collins, CO *
Oct 5, 2025 The Depot Salt Lake City, UT *
Oct 7, 2025 Fox Theater Oakland, CA *
Oct 10, 2025 Greek Theatre Los Angeles, CA *
Oct 11, 2025 Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV *
Oct 23, 2025 The Sound at Del Mar Del Mar, CA *
Oct 24, 2025 Channel 24 Sacramento, CA *
Oct 27, 2025 Crystal Ballroom Portland, OR *
Oct 28, 2025 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC *
Oct 29, 2025 Showbox SoDo Seattle, WA *
Oct 31, 2025 Knitting Factory Boise, ID *
Nov 1, 2025 The ELM Bozeman, MT *
Nov 3, 2025 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN *
Nov 4, 2025 Turner Hall Ballroom Milwaukee, WI *
Nov 5, 2025 Saint Andrew’s Hall Detroit, MI *
Nov 7, 2025 The Concert Hall Toronto, ON *
Nov 8, 2025 Beanfield Theater Montreal, Canada *
Nov 9, 2025 Higher Ground Ballroom South Burlington, VT *
Nov 11, 2025 Newport Music Hall Columbus, OH *
Nov 12, 2025 The Orange Peel Asheville, NC *
Nov 14, 2025 Tipitina’s New Orleans, LA *
Nov 15, 2025 The Heights Theater Houston, TX *
Nov 16, 2025 House of Blues Dallas Dallas, TX *
* w/ The Psycodelics

Goldie Unleashes Rufige Kru Single “Goldikus” Ahead Of New Album ‘Alpha Omega’

Eric Alper
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Goldie Unleashes Rufige Kru Single “Goldikus” Ahead Of New Album ‘Alpha Omega’

Rufige Kru – Goldie’s alter ego with SubMotive – have released brand new single  “Goldikus,” out now via London Records.

Taken from forthcoming album Alpha Omega, the track features guest vocals from revered UK music legend Cleveland Watkiss MBE, sampled from a recording of Goldie’s 1993 set at legendary London club, The Blue Note.

Speaking about the new track, Goldie says: “Going back through some of the cassettes — as I do — going back to the caveats of what those DATs were about… I thought, “Some of these cassettes look pretty good.” I remember hearing Cleveland on a session I was DJing at — at the Blue Note — I heard the crowd and Cleveland says : “Make some noise for the Goldikus!” I thought, wouldn’t it be great to sample yourself? I love what [New album] ‘Alpha Omega’ does — it’s like one of those Nolan movies, where it just keeps coming back on itself.

The rawness of Goldikus — having Cleveland’s voice sampled off a cassette tape with me DJing at Blue Note, having a little bit of the crowd in the background, a real, rootsy b-line, and a real simple, effective, classic break that has been repurposed and replayed with Betts and Blease. Betts particularly smashed this one, and I love that.

If the music can do anything, I think my purpose is for it to feel nostalgic and take you back to that moment. A lot of the older heads who’ve heard Goldikus before have said, “Man, it takes me back to Blue Note.” Well… that’s job done. That’s what it’s supposed to do.”

“Goldikus” gives a taste of what’s to come on his forthcoming Rufige Kru album: an unfiltered, underground roller with breaks and a bassline that are made for the dance floor.

New album Alpha Omega consists of twelve groundbreaking new tracks which bring together Goldie’s unerring dancefloor suss and the impeccable technical prowess of SubMotive (real name James Davidson). It is Rufige Kru’s deepest outing so far – a reminder of exactly why drum and bass remains the most exhilarating, groundbreaking and electrifying music on the planet.

The album will also include “Still The Same,” the single produced collaboratively by Goldie and SubMotive which features a guest appearance from the peerless grime MC and UK rap artist CASISDEAD, after years of requests by his fans to rap over a DnB track. In fact, it is rare for CASISDEAD to feature on tracks with other artists – such is the significance of this collaboration and it is his first new material since his critically acclaimed 2023 album ‘Famous Last Words’ and being awarded Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act at the 2024 BRIT Awards.

Of the new album, Goldie says: “It’s a reinvention. We’ve gone back to the source and extrapolated from there. I wanted to create something that absolutely represents what this music is all about … and where it’s going next.”

Goldie will be on tour throughout the year, including two dates at London’s Ronnie Scott’s and another show at Village Underground in April. Then in May, Goldie will feature as Artist in Residence at Detroit’s Movement Festival 2025, before bringing his live show to UK festivals this summer. See a full list of Goldie’s live dates below.

One of the most revered names in breakbeat science, Rufige Kru rewired the dancefloor for the first time back in 1992 with the hardcore classic, “Darkrider.” Back then, Goldie’s musical partner was hip hop fanatic Linford Jones. “He had a fantastic record collection,” remembers Goldie. “I had a field day going through his records and pulling out breaks.” Engineer Mark Rutherford—who also worked with Peter Gabriel and Mark McLaren—was another early collaborator. The partnership yielded pivotal hardcore moments like “Ghosts Of My Life” and “Terminator” (still considered one of the key moments in the evolution of drum’n’bass).

It’s a testament to the alchemy itself, that no matter who Goldie has worked with—or taken under his wing—the Rufige sound remains consistently forward-thinking and innovative. Though Goldie’s groundbreaking debut album, Timeless and its 1998 follow-up Saturnz Return broke through into mainstream success, he continued the sonic explorations of Rufige Kru with two had found a new music partner, Heist/Strider main man Jim Muir.

And then, of course, there was the first all-time drum’n’bass classic of the new millennium: Rufige Kru’s 2001 masterpiece “Beachdrifta.” Recorded with Danny Goldstein, it was a record that—like “Ghosts” or “Terminator” before it—just turned everything upside down. So much so that, in 2017, when Goldie played two memorable nights at Ronnie Scott’s, the live rendition transformed the venerable jazz club into a 4am rave. “Sometimes you catch lightning in a bottle,” recalls Goldie. “That was one of those times.”

Now he’s done it again with the new record. Turning drum’n’bass inside out, reframing the breakbeat, setting the agenda all over again. “I’ve travelled with James (SubMotive) through every angle of this game and now he’s a formidable partner in the Rufige Kru echelon…boss levelz.”

“I’ve gone back to my roots,” concludes Goldie. “That’s a beautiful thing for me. I’ve spent a lot of time honing my craft, developing these concepts, assembling all these moments. But that sense of possibility –what kept me going in the early days—is still there. I’m still as excited by this music and where it can go as I was all those years ago. The only limit is my imagination.”

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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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