​by Sharon Gissy

Originally from Milwaukee, colorful singer-songwriter and jet-setter Brett Newski has traveled the world with his particular brand of anxiety-rich, playful indie-rock. Among his many DIY projects, Newski recorded some of his touring misfortunes through Europe in a 13-episode Youtube series called Crusty Adventures, available for streaming here.

Brett Newski's newest EP, Hi-Fi DIY, was just released on February 19th. It was recorded in his hometown of Milwaukee and produced by Violent Femmes co-founder Victor DeLorenzo. The EP features Newski's poppy guitar-driven melodies and humorous lyrics. "Meet me for coffee by the library, we'll trade Bukowski monologues" he croons in the catchy "This Will Destroy Me." He is touring in support of the EP and North American dates are available here. 

Looking ahead to the future, the ever-ambitious Newski will be working on his new LP Land Sea Air Garage, which will be out in late 2016, and he wants to plan another world tour to coincide with that record. Drawn to strange venues, he also wants to plan a "Weirdest Venues In The World" tour for 2017, with gigs in unconventional spaces such as boats, attics, and funeral homes. As if that wasn't enough, the prolific Newski is also working on ​The Worst Of Brett Newski, a collection of 100 mini-songs written about the road while on the road.

​by Sharon Gissy

Mining a vein of dark alt-country territory similar to that of more well-known artists such as Wilco and Gillian Welch, Bob Woodruff just released his newest LP, The Year We Tried To Kill The Pain, ​on February 26. The album is available for streaming here.

Listening to the record, it is easily apparent how Woodruff has garnered critical acclaim even if his music hasn't been as successful to the mainstream public. His grizzled and soulful voice and personal lyrics highlighting heartbreak and hard luck hearken back to classical country, while modern rock instrumentation and production, and steady rhythms, pull him into a more contemporary blend of rock, R & B, and country. 

Some of the praise lavished upon "the best country singer you've never heard of" (Houston Chronicle) includes the Chicago Reader calling Bob "a lyricist of enormous wit and depth," Rolling Stone declaring "Woodruff's songs have a classic resonance," and Third Coast Music calling Woodruff "as real as a purple bruise on a junkie's arm."

Though Bob Woodruff has been crafting his particular brand of lonely and lovelorn Americana since the mid-90s, this record may be a perfect chance for him to connect with new fans, with catchy melodies centering around universal themes of loss and redemption. Some gems from this recording include one of his most popular songs, the bittersweet titular The Year We Tried To Kill The Pain, a haunting stripped-down demo called The Sweetest Mystery, and the album closer, a live version of If I Was Your Man in Sweden, showcasing a genuine fan response to the haunting intimacy of Bob's voice, lyrics, and guitar. Hopefully these gifts will be discovered by even more fans in this new offering.
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by Sharon Gissy

New Orleans based singer and songwriter Colin Lake recently announced tour dates for 2016. In 2015 he released his record One Thing That's For Sure to widespread acclaim, including "Best Of 2015" from Offbeat magazine. The record features notable southern guest rockers such as Luther Dickenson (North Mississippi All Stars) and actress/singer Topsy Chapman (12 Years A Slave). 

Lake has distinguished himself from many other musicians in the Big Easy for his mastery of the slide guitar, powerful blues-influenced vocals, and original songwriting, which shifts from hard-rocking roots-based jams to instrumentals to passionate love songs. Fans of roots, blues, and soul will appreciate Lake's record and captivating live show. 

Colin Lake tour dates are available on his website here.

You can watch Colin Lake's video premiere for "The World Alive" here at Innocent Words: http://innocentwords.com/innocent-words-presents-iw10-with-colin-lake/



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