The Loudini Rock and Roll Circus

The Top 5 Hard Rock and Metal Songs To Play A Your Funeral

This week The Loudini Hard Rock and Metal Circus takes a walk on the dark side as Loudini, Keith and Lily pick the top 5 Hard Rock and Metal Songs to play at YOUR funeral... not that we are expecting you to be departing this world anytime soon...so relax. It's just a "fun" topic. Or is it???   Featured Loudini Artists:   We Start Wars   Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown  Sons of Texas

 

We Start Wars
"The Animal Inside", the first song from WE START WARS, the new all-female group led by Nita Strauss, the Los Angeles-based guitar shredder for the ALICE COOPER band, can be streamed below.

Strauss said of the band's name: "A phrase I heard years ago has always stuck with me: 'Some of the greatest wars in history were fought over a beautiful woman.'

"I've always been fascinated by the idea of the female warrior, someone who fights her own battles and doesn't take shit from anyone, and equally fascinated with the concept that a woman's love or defending her honor would be worth so much that people would actually put their own lives and the lives of others at risk over it. The most famous story everyone thinks of first is, of course, 'The face that launched a thousand ships,' Helen of Troy. But there was also Cleopatra and Marc Antony, Attila the Hun's invasion of Rome, Richard the Lionheart rescuing his sister Joan of England during the crusades, General Wu Sangui's betrayal, which led to the downfall of the Ming Dynasty in the 1600s, and the Celts uprising against the Roman Empire in AD 60. The list goes on and on.

"So that's the story behind the name — WE START WARS represents not only the battles that women face in daily life, but also the battles that have followed them throughout history.”

Strauss previously stated about her decision to launch WE START WARS: "I've been wanting to be in this exact band since I started playing guitar, and after over a year of putting this together and auditioning musicians, finally ended up with an amazingly talented, hard-working and driven group of girls. I truly couldn't be more proud of how these songs are coming out."

WE START WARS will make its live debut on May 25 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

The band's lineup is as follows:

Nita Strauss (ALICE COOPER) - Guitar
Alicia Vigil (VIGIL OF WAR) - Bass
Seana (a.k.a. Shauna Lisse) - Vocals
Nicole Papastavrou - Guitar
Katt Scarlett (FEMME FATALE) - Keyboards
Lindsay Martin - Drums

Strauss told Ultimate Classic Rock about her new project: "I started writing music, and it turned into something that sounded like it needed to be a band. It didn't sound like something that was indulgent enough to just be like, 'This is the Nita show.' They sounded like band songs. I'm a band person. I might come across like kind of a show-off onstage and stuff, but I like collaborating with people. So I threw together a great group of girls. I thought it needed a great female lineup, and I think I've almost got it the way that I want it now."

Strauss recently released a brand new solo single titled "Pandemonium". Written, recorded and produced by Nita, the song features the axewoman on all guitar and bass, alongside her boyfriend and manager Josh Villalta on drums and Katt Scarlett on keyboards.

Strauss is a longtime Ibanez signature series endorsee who made her name with THE IRON MAIDENS, FEMME FATALE and LA Kiss.

Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown
Hometown
Nashville

Record Label
Spinefarm / Snakefarm Records

About
You can get our brand new self-titled album here!
https://spinefarmrecords.lnk.to/tbshakedown

Watch the lyric video for "Heartland" here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=menivpp5zzM

Biography
Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown is a rock & roll band from Nashville, TN. Loud & Proud.

Gender

Current Location
Nashville

General Manager
Bryan@ueginc.com // Alex@ueginc.com // Union Entertainment Group

Booking agent
United Talent Agency & International Talent Booking
categories

Sons of Texas
There is nothing subtle about Texas. There is a reason why we use the term “Texas-sized” to describe anything in life that’s exaggeratedly large, from posteriors, to bong hits, to jugs of beer. This boldness, naturally, extends to the Lone Star’s musical exports, loud n’ proud legendary artists like ZZ Top, Pantera, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, among many others. Now, firmly in that cocksure lineage, is a mighty bluesy metal band from McAllen, Texas aptly named, Sons Of Texas.

The young quintet’s debut, Baptized In The Rio Grande—produced by the iconic Josh Wilbur (Lamb Of God, Crowbar, Chiodos, Hatebreed)—is a Texas-sized portion of power metal grooves, dazzling guitar solos, strip joint/tailgate sing-along choruses, and soulfully charred vocal melodies. It took Wilbur 20 seconds of a YouTube clip to recognize this young band truly inherited the gonads of its Lone Star forefathers and sign on to work with the quintet.

“We’re proud of being a Texas hard rock band, that’s everything to us,” affirmsrhythm guitarist Jon Olivarez. “Texas is the biggest state, has a great history of football teams, and an astounding music legacy.”

Sons Of Texas was spawned in McAllen, Texas, a valley town without the music legacy of Austin or Arlington. The scene vibes “music for music’s sake” with metalcore bands, blues-rock bands, and straight up rock n’ roll bands swapping members and sharing bills. Sons Of Texas solidified in 2013 around a lineup of local all stars. The group is Mark Morales, vocals, Mike Villarreal, drums, Nick Villarreal, bass, Jon Olivarez, rhythm guitar, and Jes De Hoyos, lead guitar.

Despite being just in their mid 20s, never having recorded an album, and having only existed for about a year, the guys play with seasoned authenticity and fiery brilliance. The guitar duo of Jon Olivarez and Jes De Hoyos boastthat classic rhythm and lead division of labor of Metallica’s Hetfield and Hammett, Testament’s Alex Sklonick and Eric Peterson, and Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine and Marty Friedman. Sons Of Texas has that rare gift of having a rhythm section of brothers—Nick and Mike Villarreal—so the grooves are telepathic and deeply in the pocket. And vocalist Mark Morales has a blood raw expressiveness evoking Phil Anselmo, Chris Cornell, and Zakk Wylde.

Baptized In The Rio Grande is an album for raising hell and enduring hard times. The record spans good old bad boy anthems like “Texas Trim” and “Baptized In The Rio Grande,” the stately ballad territory of the haunting “September,” and the dead end job-frustration of “Pull It And Fire.” The standout “Blameshift” showcases the guys have modern rock radio potential without sacrificing heft for hooks.

The past year has been a blessing for the Sons Of Texas. Inking a record deal and working with a producer of Wilbur’s caliber doesn’t happen for bands in the Rio Grande region of McAllen, Texas. Olivarez explains: “People always told us to move to Austin, but we stuck with our hometown and made something of ourselves. We take a lot of pride in being one of the first Valley bands to get these opportunities. “

Current Location
Mcallen, Tx

General Manager
Larry Mazer

Press contact
Claire Reynolds - creynolds@razorandtie.com

Booking agent
Anthony Paolercio @ United Talent Agency

Molly Kruse... The Luckiest Woman in Music Today!

Molly Elizabeth Kruse was born on 8/8/88 in Berkeley, CA, the luckiest day of the century according to Chinese tradition.

"I was the first baby born at Alta Bates Hospital at 5:58 in the morning, so a bunch of newscasters featured my parents and me on TV when I was about 15 minutes old! We still have the tape buried somewhere, I think,” she laughs.

Encouraged by her parents to work tirelessly on her voice, she began vocal lessons at age 12, leading to competing in vocal competitions, lead roles in musicals, and singing in school choir. This led to a degree in Theatre and Sociology at Indiana University. Molly moved to LA in 2012, getting her start in short films, commercials, and TV roles, but decided to dedicate herself completely to music.

Her first break came in early 2014 when she met renowned film orchestrator, Randy Kerber, which led to a meeting with Glen Ballard, the 6-time Grammy winner who produced Alanis Morisette, Aerosmith, Katy Perry and many more. Both quickly became early mentors and champions. Famous touring and studio musicians pepper Molly's album, including Jan Ozveren (Shakira, Charlie Puth), Rod Castro (Hans Zimmer, Raphael Saadiq), Benji Lysaght (Beck, Father John Misty), and Lemar Guillary (Outkast, Jennifer Hudson), among many others.

Is Rock Dead? If so... Who or What Killed It?

In this episode... Keith, Lily and Loudini lay it on the line and attempt to eat the elephant in the room by tackling the question head on... Is Rock Dead? Featured Loudini Artists:    Dark Entries   Thundermother   Reign of Z  

 

Dark Entries
https://www.facebook.com/DarkEntriesDarknessTribute/
Genre
80s,Gothic-Rock,New-Wave,Post-Punk

Band Members
☢ Drums: Francesco Fiorino
☠ Bass: Antonello Pallotta
☾ Guitar: Lorenzo Colonna
☥ Voice,Synth,Guitar: Donato Lacalamità (Darkamura)

Hometown
Bari

About
A Tribute Band to the Great Masterpieces
of the 80's New-Wave & Gothic-Rock

Thundermother
http://www.thundermother.com/
THUNDERMOTHER OFFICIAL FACEBOOK

These hard rock chicks will blow your head off!
The quintet have toured throughout Europe, gaining fanssuch as In Flames, Zakk Wylde, Danko Jones, Opeth, Motörhead, Airbourne and many more.

They have conquered the whole of Sweden with their AC/DC influenced sound. Next step - THE WORLD!

Previous gigs include Close-Up Boat, Metaltown, Sweden Rock Festival, support act for Danko Jones and Michael Monroe to name but a few.
See you soon in a town close to you!
Crashing in at No 2 in the hard rock charts
these girls are set for No 1 soon!

Prepare to be amazed!

http://www.youtube.com/user/thundermotherrocks

http://instagram.com/thundermother

https://twitter.com/thundermother

IT'S ROCK N ROLL AND THAT'S HOW WE LIKE IT!

 

"There are three great bands in the world: Bullet, Airbourne and THUNDERMOTHER.”
-Joel o´Keffe in AIRBOURNE.

"You guys are great. Love the twin guitar attack and your singer can belt it out without whisky and cigars assisting."
-Danko Jones

"When they release their debut & sell platinum, you will feel proud because you were there in the beginning."
-Johan Jacobsson, CLOSE-UP MAGAZINE.

"Good music is always good music. Pay attention to the new Rock Queens of Sweden,Thundermother. Great stuff!"
-In Flames

"I suggest you get this album. Ever since I got this record my wife of 28 years cannot keep her hands off me!!"
-Zakk Wylde

"its sounds great!! Awesome energy & good old AC/DC vibe!! yeah!!!"
- Pontus Snibb: BONAFIDE

"Cool band and a furious singer!"
-Chris Laney

"This is really good"
-Clutch

"I'm a fan"
-Fredrik Åkesson, OPETH

"Wow, the action!!"
-Turbonegro

”Fuck they really play loud!”
-Ralf Gyllenhammar, MUSTASCH

Biography

Thundermother started the summer 2010 in Växjö when the guitarist and southern swede Filippa Nässil wanted to play Rock'N'Roll. So with dreams and visions along with the song "Shoot to Kill" humming in her head she started Thundermother. She moved to Stockholm to pursue her dream.
She found her first partner in crime Giorgia Carteri in Stockholm who also followed her own dreams of playing music, coming all the way from Italy, though nowadays she's identified as one of the southern stockholm fellas.
After numerous ordeals with other musicians they have finally found the right group of people with right motives and Rock'N'Roll in their heart. Tilda Stenqvist on drums from Karlstad, Linda Ström from the Smålander woods and Clare Cunningham born and raised on Ireland, nowadays living in Stockholm.
They're having fun and it's noticeable on-stage. Pure enjoyment and Rock'N'Roll deep from their bones. Hardrock-girls from around the world now united to do one sole thing, to play together and travel on the roads.

Thundermother has been playing the Close-Up boat with Turbonegro and Candlemass, they were the opening act for Danko Jones on his Swedish Tour, they were the openers for Metaltown on the Blood Stage in the presence of thousands of people before Clutch and Graveyard, they had played with bands like Bonafide, The Scams & many many others. Thundermother did it themselves the hard way. Without a record they filled pubs and clubs to the brim and played at Sweden Rock Festival and will continue to tour! ROCK N ROLL IS ALIVE!

Personal Information
Past gigs:
2015
Nov 13 Rockklassikerbåten, SWE... See More

Booking agent
Loud Noise – Worldwide
wietze@codexagency.nl
Danger Music & Media – Sweden..
Reign of Z
Genre
Hard Rock/Alt-Metal

Band Members
Zosia West-Vocals
Steven Lords-Guitar
Zach Cunningham-Guitar
Stephen Berg-Bass
Amanda Blackwell-Drums

Hometown
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Record Label
Unsigned

Affiliation
None

About
Reign of Z is high-octane metal from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Biography
Reign of Z is a culmination of years of experience and a drive to move forward. With all the members having extensive time put into their craft, they were able to craft a sonic identity that will ensure their place in music for years to come and make Reign of Z a household name.

Gender
Plural (mixed)

Current Location
Pittsburgh, PA

 

What 5 Hard Rock or Metal Bands Would You Induct In To Your Fantasy Hall Of Fame?

Imagine you have your own hall of fame where only the COOLEST hard rock and metal bands get in... who would YOU induct in 2018? Lily, Keith and Loudini discuss their picks... but what are yours??? Featured Loudini Artists: Riot V Graveyard Cellar Darling
We will also be paying tribute to Gunnery Sgt. turned actor R. Lee Ermy

 

 

Riot V
Welcome to RIOT V (5)
The continuation of the legendary band RIOT!

Founding member guitarist Mark Reale hired bassist Don Van Stavern to join the band in 1984 during the end of the Born in America tour. The renewed formation featuring Mark, Don, Rhett Forrester and Sandy Slavin, then based in LA, played and label shopped to no avail so upon Rhett and Sandy’s departure Mark and Don headed to New York to regroup, write music and search for musicians!

With the Eighties developing into a metal-fest, a new-look new-sound RIOT bounced back transforming from an edgy hard rock band into a power metal assault and released the widely-acclaimed release ‘THUNDERSTEEL’ (Sony) and RIOT was reborn!

‘THUNDERSTEEL was followed by with the jaw-dropping conceptual album ‘THE PRIVILEGE OF POWER’ (Sony) featuring an elite list of guest performers (Rainbow’s Joe Lynn Turner, Tower of Power horns and Saturday Night Live band leader G.E Smith. Mark and Don’s idea was to capture the intensity of “FIRE DOWN UNDER” but on steroids! Ace drummer Bobby Jarzombek (Halford, Sebastian Bach, Fates Warning), vocalist Tony Moore and newly added axe man Mike Flyntz rounded out this power fury line up!
This line up went on to record on more album together “IMMORTAL SOUL” right before long time guitarist Mark Reale’s unfortunate passing.

Taking a couple years off regrouping and soul searching, Don Van Stavern and long time RIOT partner Mike Flyntz decide to “UNLEASH” chapter V (5) on the masses! Joining this dynamic duo are vocalist extraordinaire Todd Michael Hall, madman skin basher Franky Gilchriest and guitar whiz kid and former Mike Flyntz guitar student Nick “The Stick” Lee.

RIOT V (5) releases “UNLEASH THE FIRE” which entered the Hard Rock 100 Billboard charts at 75 and Rolling Stone Magazine gives it a 4 out of 5 and most media including Burrn! Rock Hard and Aardshock calling it album of the year!

The band hits the ground running with a full head of steam and appear at all the prestigious Festivals world wide and headline sold out shows in Germany, Greece, Spain and Italy including Keep It True, Metal Assault, Headbangers Open Air (Germany), Skulls of Metal Festival (Spain), Blast from the Past Festival (Belgium) and melted faces at Sweden Rock Festival (Sweden), Rock Fest Barcelona (Spain), Loud Park (Japan), , Fall of Summer (Paris), Metal Apocalypse, Bang Your Head with Twisted Sister/ Anthrax, Metal Days with Megadeth/ Volbeat, two appearances on board 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise ship Festival and top it off with appearances with with Judas Priest, Motley Crue and Def Leppard, Journey to name a few! RIOT V’s amazing stage show and thunderous performance have most promoters praising the band in there top 3 picks of most fests!

RIOT are consistently on radio and metal charts worldwide and part of New York City’s Top 20 Most Influential Metal Bands, 100 Best Metal Albums of All Time, 100 Best Metal Bands of All Time and numerous mentions on VH1’s That Metal Show with Eddie Trunk and staff sighting RIOT as one of the innovators of Metal music in America and beyond, RIOT V truly are Metal Warriors and will keep marching and fighting the good fight to bring you the music you’ve come to know, love and expect from RIOT V (5).....Shine On!

Awards
The History of Heavy Metal Hall of Fame 2018 inducts Don Van Stavern and Mike Flyntz

Current Location
New York City - San Antonio - Michigan

General Manager
DVS AFFAIRS Management

Booking agent
European
DRAGON PRODUCTIONS
Jörg Düsedau
www.dragon-productions.eu

USA
AFM ENTERTAINMENT
Len Schmitzer
www.afmentertainment.com

Graveyard
Genre
classic heavy rock, blues, and psychedelia

Band Members
Joakim Nilsson – Guitar & Vocals
Jonathan Ramm – Guitar
Truls Mörck – Bass
Oskar Bergenheim - Drums

Hometown
Gothenburg, Sweden

Record Label
Nuclear Blast (World), Stranded/Universal (Swe)

Are you a retailer interested in buying titles from this band?

For North + South America, Asia, Rest of World, contact
wholesale [at] nuclearblastusa [dot] com

For EU:
wholesale [at] nuclearblast [dot] de

About
New album PEACE out on May 25th, 2018 via Nuclear Blast Records. Order here: http://nuclearblast.com/graveyard-peace

Press contact
mail@nuclearblastusa.com (US) / info@nuclearblast.de (EU)

Booking agent
Sweden: Richard.Ardermark@livenation.se / Europe: TobbeLorentz@theagencygroup.com / USA: carminesesto@theagencygroup.com

Cellar Darling
Cellar Darling formed in the summer of 2016 out of the split of Switzerland’s most successful metal act to date, the chart-topping Eluveitie. The trio consisting of Anna Murphy (vocals, hurdy-gurdy), Merlin Sutter (drums) and Ivo Henzi (guitars & bass) therefore already looks back on a decade of touring the world, in 45+ countries on 6 continents. The winners of the 2014 Swiss Music Award as ‘best live act’ have experienced much together, forming a bond that can overcome any adversity.

After the split with their former band in June 2016, Anna, Ivo and Merlin quickly realised their musical journey was far from over and instantly began working on their own songs. What quickly developed was a unique and fresh combination of grand and heavy riffs, powerful drumming and a unique voice, with the signature folky, earthy tones of the hurdy gurdy, confidently fusing heavy alternative rock with strong fokly influences and poetic lyrical tales, creating what you may very well call a New Wave Of Folk Rock.

After a summer of intense songwriting sessions, Cellar Darling self-released their first single, 'Challenge' along with a bonus track ‘Fire, Wind & Earth’, in September 2016, to overwhelmingly positive reactions from around the world. Signing to Nuclear Blast Records in January 2017 was swiftly followed by 3 subsequent single releases, all met with a staggering support from the ever growing fanbase. Cellar Darling’s debut album ‘This Is The Sound’ was released on June 30th 2017.

Lyrically, Cellar Darling are storytellers. They want to carry you away into their world of music, awaking the spirit of the stories our parents told us before going to sleep, painting pictures with melodies, metaphors and poetry. Melodize the adventures of the human spirit, with all its mysteries and emotions.

The upcoming album promises to awaken your imagination and stretch your musical tastes.

General Manager
Kate Piatkowska & Merlin Sutter // info@booyaventures.com

Press contact
Anne Swallow // anne@nuclearblast.de

Booking agent
World (excluding North America): Sharon Richardson // K2 agency // SharonRichardson@k2ours.com
Rest of the world: info@booyaventures.com

Angela Soffe World Traveler and Mom of 3 turns Lemons into Lemonade with New Album

Angela Soffe is an Americana singer, songwriter, and musician. She is the lead singer and songwriter of the award-winning Angela Soffe Band based in the Pacific Northwest. Her latest album, 'Second Wind' is the result of a darkness-into-light narrative, and marks a brave return to music. Raised by American parents in Southeast Asia, the artist weaves a glowing musical tapestry inspired by the flavors of her past. The weighty topics of her new album are exquisitely offset by soothing musicality, an amalgam of folk, pop, and bluegrass with touches of new age and classical music. Throughout the album, Angela’s voice exudes a sweet emotional grace at the intersection of defiance, wonderment, longing, and vulnerability. Highlights on this soulful journey of an album include “Rocks,” “Freedom,” and “Second Wind.”

Nita Strauss. " Anyone who say's that rock is dead just hasn't been paying attention "!

Los Angeles born guitarist Nita Strauss has become a force to be reckoned with in the music world, dazzling audiences across the US, UK, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia and Africa, and sharing the stage with a diverse range of artists including rock legend Alice Cooper, R&B star Jermaine Jackson, early MTV darlings Femme Fatale, video game supergroup Critical Hit and popular tribute band The Iron Maidens. Her skill, exuberant stage presence and love for all things about her instrument have earned her a stellar reputation and endorsements from many top companies.

Nita has been featured in many worldwide print magazines and on dozens of albums, trailers, and soundtracks, including Heroes Of The Storm (Blizzard) and Grammy-nominated Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (Konami/ Platinum Games); and is the author of the Premier Guitar column “Drop Dead Shred”. Nita was also the official in-house guitarist for the LA KISS, the arena football team owned by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS. She is one of the most sought after clinicians in the industry and has done extensive clinic tours across multiple continents. Her consistent touring schedule has shown her to play in front of over a million audience members per year consistently for the past several years.

In 2017 Nita launched her original band, We Start Wars, and classic metal cover band The Starbreakers. She is also touring with Alice Cooper and working on instrumental solo material.

5 Perfect Rock Albums

There are a lot of great albums out there, but not many that could be considered "perfect". This week Keith, Lily and Lou talk about the 5 Perfect Hard Rock and Metal Albums
Featured Loudini Artists: Dark Entries Snake Head Ritual Meka Nism

 

Dark Entries
https://www.facebook.com/DarkEntriesDarknessTribute/
Genre
80s,Gothic-Rock,New-Wave,Post-Punk

Band Members
☢ Drums: Francesco Fiorino
☠ Bass: Antonello Pallotta
☾ Guitar: Lorenzo Colonna
☥ Voice,Synth,Guitar: Donato Lacalamità (Darkamura)

Hometown
Bari

About
A Tribute Band to the Great Masterpieces
of the 80's New-Wave & Gothic-Rock

Snake Head Ritual
Snake Head Ritual are hard rock rust belt perseverance embodied. This is a band that has weathered adversity and triumphed more than once, and it shows in their particular brand of riff distilled rock and roll. Their music is perfectly aged in the oak barrels of revered tradition like Zeppelin, Sabbath and Thin Lizzy, buried deep in the oxidized regional midwestern soil of The Stooges, Cactus and early Grand Funk Railroad. Like their predecessors though, SHR realized that there was no room for pretenders or copycats, and while the path may be lighted by their forebears, Snake Head Ritual are anything but orthodox pentatonic followers.

The first thing one notes about the music of SHR is the passion and individuality of both the songs and of the songwriters, who do not cling to their influences like children frightened to let go of the side of the pool. Rather, Snake Head Ritual use their influences only as a momentary springboard for jumping into the deep end, confident in their own skills. The only option is to swim.

With two remarkable full length albums under their belt since their formation in 2012 and a recently revamped lineup, SHR are honing their already extensive setlist for maximum live impact. Having done several years of legwork to build a fervent and loyal following, both regionally and internationally, Snake Head Ritual have the swagger and the songs to dominate any stage or studio they come in contact with.

Snake Head Ritual is:
Kevin “Chez” - lead vocals
Bill McCullough - guitar
Josh LaForge - drums
Nick Contreras - guitar
Mahlon Orrin - bass, backing vocals
categories

Meka Nism
Meka Nism is a metal band that is comprised of exquisitely talented musicians that seamlessly work in unison to create some of the most elaborate, unique and eclectic music on the planet. Members include, Meka (vocalist), Bobby Keller (lead guitar), Jarret Robinson (bass), Jay Adkisson (keys), and Christopher Lane (drums).

Meka Nism was formed back in 2006 and originated as Meka Nism and Her Rusty Tears. Meka was the former guitar player for Orlando punk legends Dirty Barby and Angel Autopsy, who enchanted audiences for years. Florida based Hidden Records quickly noticed her as being a unique talent and put her on their independent label. In 2006, “Mad to Love” was the first album recorded by Meka Nism and her Rusty Tears. The album was recognized as an exceptional artistic achievement of great beauty and passion. "Break," the second track from the album was the WINNER of the Songwriter's Showcase of America's (SSA) Best Experimental Song of the Year – 2006. Meka was also SSA's Solo Artist of the Month - January 2007. Explosive with enthusiasm, Meka made a scorching impact on the Central Florida music scene. She has a strong, loyal fan base, not only in Florida, but around the United States, in areas like Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and many more.

In 2010, with the return of Meka from touring in Japan with over 150 shows, the movement to solidify the group as “Meka Nism” began and in March of 2013, the debut EP “The Dance at the End of the World” was released as the band’s first collaborative collection of songs as a unit. The theme behind the EP was based off of a world that was destroyed, desolate and in dismay. It was meant to uplift spirits to a higher potential out of negative situations and to bring them to light. The idea of playing their music as the world came to an end was the ultimate triumph, which was based on 2012’s prediction of the world coming to an end. The band also released their first music video for the single “Bring the Sun Back” in October of 2013. Meka Nism’s debut EP “Dance at the End of the World” was proof that new sounds, new excitement and new frontiers have not only been explored but have been claimed as their own unique voice in the music industry.

After touring and playing numerous amounts of shows in Florida and in the South East, opening for Mastodon at the Kink Festival, and a headlining House of Blues show, Meka Nism began the journey to start “The Shift”. The EP was successfully funded by a Kickstarter campaign back in 2014. Brett Hestla, former bass player for Creed and vocals for Dark New Day, was chosen as the producer and recording began back in October of 2014. “The Shift” was released on May 1st with a massive CD Release show at the House of Blues in Orlando, Florida.

2015 was a big year for the band in that they toured for a month with platinum award winning band, Trapt, all across the mid-west and east coast. Earlier in the year, playing the Texas Showdown Festival in El Paso, Texas, opening for the likes of The Offspring, Limp Biscuit, Upon a Burning Body, and more. Followed by a tour across Texas with Otep.
​
In 2016, Meka Nism got the opportunity to tour with the Swedish power-house and one of metal's biggest up and coming bands, Avatar. The two bands wrecked havoc across the east coast and mid-west before ending in Minot, North Dakota. Upon returning home, Meka Nism was named Orlando's #1 Metal Band according to the Orlando Weekly and was chosen to headline the local stage at the 3rd Annual Kink Festival opening for Evanescence, Hellyeah, and InFlames.

Nothing has seemed to slow down. 2017 has proven to be a big year for the band so far. They were given the slot to open the main stage at WJRR's Earthday Birthday 24 with the likes of Alter Bridge, Sevendust, Nonpoint, and more. The name of the new EP, "The War Inside", was unveiled and the plans of recording it in Germany with world renowned producer and engineer, Lasse Lammert, were announced as well.

Awards
2016 Orlando Weekly Best of (#1 Metal Band in Orlando)

2015 Orlando Weekly Best of (#2 Metal Band in Orlando)... See More

Current Location
Orlando, Florida

Press contact
mekanismrocks@gmail.com

Booking agent
mekanismrocks@gmail.com

Photographer and Painter, Carolee Rainey has a Ricky Lee Jones Epiphany and Returns to Music with a Passion

New York-based songstress Carolee Rainey has just released her incredible new single, “Empower” off her forthcoming album, ‘Feel Fearless!’ Fusing elements of legends like Rickie Lee Jones and Stevie Nicks “Empower” is an excellent first taste of what’s to come for Rainey, who explains:
“One day when I was working out on the treadmill I started writing this song I call ‘Empower’ because the TV on the treadmill was interviewing this lady who was talking about empowerment becoming a real movement and she totally inspired me. Now, I want to pay it forward and inspire all of you to take a deep breath just like I did and tackle some unfinished dream inside your soul fearlessly. I really want to hear what you come up with. Please share with me.“

You heard the woman! Turn up your speakers, take a deep breath, and prepare to be inspired. We can’t wait to see Carolee releases next! Keep up with Carolee on Facebook, Instagram and SoundCloud!

Long ago in an earlier lifetime of performing, I did a lot of busking, playing bars, hotels and cruise ships. There were publishing deals, almost record deals, voice overs in movies and a job as A&R for Atlantic Nashville out of LA. It was a wild and rambling time.

Eventually the tides changed, and I found myself immersed in a different life of painting and photography. I believe the solitude of being a painter and the exploration of a unique style of painting offered me a different perspective to songwriting. Not sure if it's an innate sense of restlessness or if the winds were just revving up again, but eventually I put the paintbrush aside in search of a different kind of canvas and palette.

At a particularly low point when I was sure the tide would never come in again, a friend took me to a concert. The me walking into that concert became transformed and re-ignited during those life-changing 90 minutes.

Diversions LA says in their February 2018 review, Carolee Rainey Tells Listeners to Feel Fearless. "Evoking comparisons with Stevie Nicks the songs on her potent debut mini-album reflect inspirational and empowering messages lyrically. The music is solid, strongly singable, and will delightfully lodge in listeners internal musical repertoire for a long time."

Rainey says she was inspired while attending a Rickie Lee Jones concert. She found Jones’ performance transformative, and immediately began to write her own songs. “It was the next stop on the train for me,” she says.

Philosophically, Rainey says she views life as a journey. She asks that listeners tune in to her songs because “they’ve got life, wisdom and lightness even if they can get lonely and dark.”

Tight backing musicians create magnetic listenable support to Rainey, including Doug Yowell, Richard Hammond, Thad DeBrock, Everett Bradley and Clifford Carter on acoustic piano and keys. The EP was produced by Grammy and Emmy award winning producer Robert L. Smith at Defy Recordings and Avatar Studios. in their February 2018 review, Carolee Rainey Tells Listeners to Feel Fearless. "Evoking comparisons with Stevie Nicks the songs on her potent debut mini-album reflect inspirational and empowering messages lyrically. The music is solid, strongly singable, and will delightfully lodge in listeners internal musical repertoire for a long time."

Rainey says she was inspired while attending a Rickie Lee Jones concert. She found Jones’ performance transformative, and immediately began to write her own songs. “It was the next stop on the train for me,” she says.

Philosophically, Rainey says she views life as a journey. She asks that listeners tune in to her songs because “they’ve got life, wisdom and lightness even if they can get lonely and dark.”

Tight backing musicians create magnetic listenable support to Rainey, including Doug Yowell, Richard Hammond, Thad DeBrock, Everett Bradley and Clifford Carter on acoustic piano and keys. The EP was produced by Grammy and Emmy award winning producer Robert L. Smith at Defy Recordings and Avatar Studios.

Megadeth vs Metallica

It's the heavy metal throw down of the ages... Metallica vs. Megadeth. Who will take home the heavy metal crown and who will go home and hang up their spikes in shame. You DO NOT want to miss this week's Loudini Hard Rock & Metal Circus!  Featured Loudini Artists:   We Start Wars   Valor and Vengeance   Light The Torch  

Big Dad Ritch of Texas Hippie Coalition, on Barbecue Sauce and Red Dirt Metal

Big Dad Ritch came to prominence in 2004 when he co-founded the red dirt metal band Texas Hippie Coalition with John Exall. After being influenced by bands like Molly Hatchet, Pantera, and ZZ Top,[1] Big Dad Ritch and Texas Hippie Coalition became the founders of the red dirt metal genre.[2]
Big Dad Ritch, in over a dozen years with Texas Hippie Coalition, has released five full-length albums: Pride of Texas (2008), Rollin' (2010), Peacemaker (2012), Ride On (October 2014),[3] and Dark Side of Black (April 2016).