Tag Archives: rock and roll

PHOTOS: Aaron Lee Tasjan at The Blue Room

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Aaron Lee Tasjan at The Blue Room (Nashville, TN)

Aaron Lee Tasjan is a performer’s performer; one whose love of art and experimentation combines in tremendous fashion with a distinct reverence for the rock and roll traditions which came before him. With a knack for storytelling and a sharp wit to match, he invites each member of his audience to make a personal connection with his music.

That’s what we had a chance to experience last Thursday at The Blue Room, and we were more than happy to take the ride!

Tasjan’s performance was in celebration of his new album, Stellar Evolution. Released on April 12, the full-length offering explores and shatters sonic boundaries, while offering personal takes on sobriety (“The Drugs Did Me”), the queer adolescent experience (“Horror Of It All”), and the state of American political culture (“I Love America Better Than You”).

Set highlights — aside from the aforementioned fan favorites — included special guest appearances by renowned guitarist, songwriter, and producer Butch Walker; indie rock standout Molly Martin (who opened the evening), and interdisciplinary musician and producer Lafemmebear on an exciting rendition of Lucinda Williams’ “Drunken Angel.” Walker and Lafemmebear stayed onstage to add their respective flavors to Tasjan’s 2021 song, “Up All Night.”

Of the new tunes, “Pants” brought funky, feel-good vibes to accompany a message empowering the audience to feel comfortable within their own skin. The beachy, romantic “Ocean Drive” brought a sense of serenity into the room, as it captured the essence of feeling at home with the one you love.

Tasjan even gave us a preview of what is to come post-Stellar Evolution by performing two new songs. “The Real” felt like a love letter to those in attendance; one which gave Tasjan a chance to showcase his guitar chops, with an emotive solo reminiscent of Richie Sambora at his most soulful. Immediately thereafter, “Punk Rock Joy” was a high-energy banger which made a statement — no matter what the world, society, or a government takes away from us, it can’t have what’s inside our hearts.

LISTEN: Is the Grass Greener on the ‘Normal’ Side?

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The creative journey holds a multitude of rigorous tests for those brave enough to stay the course. At one point or another, we all think of what would be like, if only we could be “normal.”

But… it’s fair to wonder if the grass would, in fact, be greener behind the white picket fence.

In other words: would “normal” actually be any better?

Matt Sahadi explores this alternate reality on his latest single, “Am I Living What I Always Dreamed Of?” An energetic alt-rock anthem hallmarked by thunderous drums and signature harmonica solos, the single paints a vivid image of a man who settled for a life away from his dreams.

“This ballad comes from a personal frustration with my own reality of having to work, day-in and day-out, while pushing forward on my dreams as an artist. I constantly wonder what life would be like if I wasn’t pursuing this path anymore,” Sahadi said. “This song is the ballad of that alternate reality; a life of working to barely get by, while being haunted by the thoughts of what I gave up and where I went wrong. I felt I needed to add a broken-family element to the story, with the idea of paying alimony to a separated spouse and no longer seeing a son anymore. All of this (is) to paint a picture that I believe many can strongly relate to — whether its verbatim someone’s life, or there a little bit of them to this character, I share those same emotions.”

“Am I Living What I Always Dreamed Of?” is just the beginning of a new journey for Sahadi; it’s the first single from his forthcoming EP, slated for release this July. The release will be supported by live performances across the U.S., with details soon to come.

In the meantime, this will get you excited for what’s ahead — and it may even make you ponder your own existential questions.

LISTEN: Black Suit Devil Addresses Mental Health on ‘Passage’

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Conversations about mental health came to the societal forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic.

That period also proved prolific for songwriter Andy Du Rego who, under his Black Suit Devil project, is preparing to release the 8-song album, The Eternal Sleep, on June 28.

“I had a burst of creativity, due to everything going on in the world and my personal life,” Du Rego said. “The songs flowed out of me easily, as I had a lot inside that I wanted to say. After recording the bed tracks, I didn’t revisit the songs for quite some time, as I worked on my own mental and physical health.”

The album was recorded over several years, in three different locations — Brantford, Ontario; Hastings, Ontario; and San Pancho, Mexico — as life’s moments inspired Du Rego to move multiple times.

Through life’s changes, he always came back to the music with new inspiration.

“I record all of my own music in my home studio by myself, which allows me to record at my convenience, and when I feel inspired,” Du Rego said. “The recording process picked back up months later with a six-week drum session in Brantford, before moving to Hastings, where the bulk of the record was recorded, on and off, in a two-year period. After leaving Hastings, I headed to San Pancho with my recording gear for the winter, where I recorded all the vocals for the album.”

The first taste of the new record — “Passage” — is a raw ballad with a classic rock flair. Du Rego’s gravelly vocals illustrate the anguish of a man enveloped in his own mental health struggles, crafted in an effort to show solidarity among all those fighting similar battles.

“’Passage’ is a song about the struggles of depression, mental health issues, and addiction; a song bringing awareness to the increasing rate of suicide in our communities that does not get talked about often,” Du Rego said. “I wanted to let people know that you are not alone in this fight. That many people from all walks of life — myself included — experience mental health issues and struggle with these on a daily basis. I wanted to send a message to look after each other and really communicate with one another, to see how the people in your circles are doing.”

Along with the rest of the record, “Passage” was mixed by 2-time Juno Award winner Kevin Dietz (The Glorious Sons , JJ Wilde), and mastered by Noah Mintz (Broken Social Scene, Billy Talent). Listen below!

RECAP: Sugadaisy w/ Mills at The Basement

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To see Sugadaisy live is to step into a dynamic live music experience hallmarked by an intriguing blend of influences. You’ll lose yourself in the band’s jam and psych-rock sensibilities, presented with rock and roll swagger. Simultaneously, you’ll also find tenderness in the Americana undertones present in different moments throughout their catalog. Without question, this quintet from Bowling Green, KY brings a fresh, multi-faceted musical perspective to the table that fans of bands like Dr. Dog and Goose will surely gravitate toward (assuming they haven’t already).

It’s no wonder, then, that they performed to a packed house in Nashville on Saturday night, loading up The Basement with fans who came from near and far to hang on every moment.

The band’s 50-minute set was a thrilling precursor to a big month ahead, as they head out on the road as special guests on St. Paul and the Broken Bones’ Angels in Science Fiction tour, with dates from Alabama to Vermont (and a good chunk of states in between).

Supporting Sugadaisy was Mills, a fellow Kentucky native who just returned from a five-year stint on the West Coast. Mills’ acoustic set showcased his own versatility; his infectious brand of acoustic pop delivered a raw honesty that endeared him to new fans, while the existing ones in attendance came ready to sing along.

PHOTOS: Absolute Silence, Keep The Eleven, and YEARB4 at The End

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This past Thursday, Nashville’s Rock Block certainly lived up to its name.

On this particular night, we had a stellar trio of homegrown bands to thank for that, as a steadily packed house at The End had the opportunity to enjoy the sounds of Absolute Silence, Keep The Eleven, and YEARB4.

Absolute Silence led things off, fresh from a cowboy-themed music video shoot. Their expansive set touched on a variety of styles, with elements of garage rock, punk, Americana, and even a little bit of pop blended brilliantly together into their set. (Plus, there was this epic drum solo, which we still haven’t gotten over.)

Keep The Eleven was up next. The Chicagoland natives kept the momentum going, bringing a dynamic, high-energy performance to the stage that showcased their unbridled creative spirit. From start to finish, this garage rock power trio didn’t relent, opening up their diverse catalog and building connections with an audience who hung on their every note and lyric.

Speaking of audience connection, it was clear to anyone in attendance that YEARB4 has mastered the art. The band’s collective stage presence — led by confident and charismatic frontman Lucas Blair — is the perfect complement to their swaggering brand of modern rock, and made clear why this band has enjoyed success from coast to coast.

Plus, they gave us a Creed cover, and I’m a sucker for a good Creed Bomb, anytime…

LISTEN: On ‘Saving Grace,’ Alex Jordan Ain’t Too Proud to Beg

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Alex Jordan Saving Grace

Photo credit: Lauren Bettino

A love lost will lead a man to go to great lengths for redemption.

We see this story play out in the music video for “Saving Grace,” new single from Austin-based musical superhero Alex Jordan. Directed by award-winning duo Neilson Hubbard & Joshua Britt (John Prine, Jason Isbell), the video depicts a man trying to win back the love of his life by any means possible… while she consistently makes him aware that it’s too little, too late..

Despite the theme of heartbreak, the track itself is a timeless, lively slice of Americana. Produced by four-time GRAMMY-winner Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and mastered by seven-time GRAMMY-winner Jim Scott (The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Sting), “Saving Grace” features a glorious horn arrangement and Jordan’s powerful vocals. These elements — combined with lush keyboard, organ, and guitar layers — provide a bright tone to the affair, befitting the comedic elements contained within the video.

“Only a few weeks before we solidified plans to make the record, I recall sitting in my bedroom on a cool night and jamming aimlessly on my Taylor until a verse appeared,” Jordan said. “I worked out the remaining parts of the song over the next few nights. I spent perhaps the most time on this song with lyrical edits, working with Kevin Russell (Shinyribs), who served as my lyrical spirit guide for much of the record. Closing the record out with the strong horn section and wailing vocals felt incredibly satisfying. I knew from the first take that this record was going to be a blast to make.” 

As it turns out, “Saving Grace” is just as enjoyable a listen! And, in even more exciting news, it’s included on Jordan’s forthcoming full-length album, Queen Kerosene, scheduled to release on all streaming platforms on Friday, March 8.

Get ready for the big day with “Saving Grace” below!

UMC20: 20 Distinct Flavors (Dec. 13, 2022)

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Hold it right there! This holiday season, we’re asking our community to support Underground Music Collective’s Underground Rising initiative! By making a tax-deductible donation to UMC via The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville, you ensure that we can keep sharing songs and stories from independent creatives everywhere, for years to come. Click here to get started!

Anyway, onto this week’s UMC20…

Listen to UMC20
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