by Sharon Gissy

On May 27th, Jonathan Jackson + Enation released their new video for "Revolution of the Heart," the first single off their new album Anthems for the Apocalypse, due out on their own label Hilasterion Records on July 14th. You can watch the video here through CMT.

Jonathan Jackson said of the song "it is the most anti-political, political song I've ever written" and "The deeper longing that I'm 'marching for' personally is a revolution of the heart." 

The band's 2014 release Radio Cinematic was praised by Rolling Stone, which said it is "filled with electric guitars, chest-beating vocals and swirling synths..." while Billboard said of the release "...it is contemporary, anthemic rock--Jackson proudly wears the influence of U2, Peter Gabriel, and Coldplay on his sleeve..." 

Known as one of the most creative independent bands in the music industry today, Jonathan Jackson + Enation will embark on a tour kicking off August 11th in Huntsville, AL and rolling through Chicago on August 13th at Lincoln Hall. A full list of tour dates is posted below.
​
August 11, 2017 @ Furniture Factory Bar and Grill – Huntsville, AL
August 12, 2017 @ Diamond Pub Concert Hall – Louisville, KY
August 13, 2017 @ Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
August 18, 2017 @ Knuckleheads - Kansas City, MO
August 20, 2017 @ The Hi-Fi - Indianapolis, IN
September 30, 2017 @ Mercy Lounge - Nashville, TN

by Sharon Gissy

This year Riot Fest will offer an exclusive sneak peek of Don't Break Down, a Jawbreaker documentary 10 years in the making. The clip will take place in Chicago during the period where they were excited to record their popular album 24 Hour Revenge Therapy with Steve Albini. 

Don't Break Down tracks the journey of the beloved pop-punk band from inner band struggle, health issues, and the aftermath of signing to a major label to ceasing the band and reuniting in 2007 in a San Francisco recording studio. The documentary features interviews with Billie Joe Armstrong, Steve Albini, Jessica Hopper, Graham Elliot, Chris Shiflett, Josh Caterer and more. Jawbreaker is slated to perform at Riot Fest 2017, scheduled to take place September 15-17 in Chicago's Douglas Park. 

Link to trailer
Don’t Break Down was produced by Rocket Fuel Films and The September Club. Other credits are below: 
Directors - Tim Irwin & Keith Schieron (Film - We Jam Econo) 
Producer - Keith Schieron (Film - We Jam Econo) 
Co-Producer - Dan Didier (Band - The Promise Ring, Maritime) 
Editor - Erin Elders (Band - Maps and Atlases, Wedding Dress) 
Story Supervisor - Barry Poltermann (Film - American Movie, Collapse, The Pool, Raiders!) 
More information on the documentary 

by Sharon Gissy

San Diego punk band The Zeros, fronted by Javier Escovedo, will play a series of dates in Texas surrounding Escovedo's solo band appearance at this year's SXSW Music Fest. 
Escovedo first formed The Zeros in 1976 while attending Chula Vista High School and became popular on the Hollywood circuit, releasing the single "Wimp" b/w "Don't Push Me Around" on Bomp! Records in 1977. After many lineup changes and moving to San Francisco, the band eventually broke up in 1981.
In 1982 Javier formed the critically acclaimed band The True Believers with his brother Alejandro and Jon Dee Graham, and after gaining a reputation for their live show they were dropped when their contract with Rounder Records was snatched up my EMI and then lost in a major label shakeup. The band quit in 1987.
Over the next two decades Escovedo would live in New York, Austin, and Los Angeles and work with a variety of acts, re-form the Zeros in the mid-2000s touring Europe and the States, and release his first solo album "City Lights" in 2012. His second solo album, "Kicked Out Of Eden," was released in 2016 on Saustex Records. The album, which was released on cassette by Burger Records, perfectly combines his love of glam, '60s garage pop, and melodic punk, and was featured on several year-end best lists.

The following are live dates for Javier Escovedo:
Thursday March 16th - The Saxon Pub - Austin, TX (official SXSW showcase)
The Zeros 
Tuesday March 14th - The White Horse - Austin, TX 
w/ Hickoids, Jon Langford & The Far Forlorn, Count Vaseline, Corrine Rose, The Guillotines
Wednesday March 15th - Under The Volcano - Houston, TX 
w/ Western Star
Friday March 17th - Hitones - San Antonio, TX 
w/ Joecephus & The George Jonestown Massacre, GDX
Saturday March 18th - “The New Texas Love-In” ABGB - Austin, TX 
w/ Pong, Pocket FishRmen, Poor Dumb Bastards, Ian Quiet Band

 by Sharon Gissy

Revel Management Group has announced the opening of a new music venue this April located at 22 West Cass Street in Joliet. The Forge will present music from all genres and for all age demographics and will feature state-of-the-art sound and lighting as well as a full menu. The venue's basic setup will include a general admission main floor as well as a balcony with limited reserve seating.

"We are looking forward to bringing the best in musical talent to our venue and servicing the south suburbs with quality entertainment," says FM Entertainment Director Frank Mastalerz. The Forge's mission will be to feature local and regional as well as national acts, serving as a home to Chicagoland's thriving music scene as well as those beyond. The Forge will also be hiring for all positions and interested parties are encouraged to email resumes to [email protected]. 

The Forge 
22 W Cass Street 
Joliet, IL, 60432 
WebSite:
http://theforgelive.com/
 
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/theforgelive/

 
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TheForgeLive

 
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/Forge_Live/

 
SnapChat:
Forge Live
Press contact: Frank Mastalerz [email protected] - 708-370-6920

by Sharon Gissy

Texas alternative rock band the Unlikely Candidates are releasing their six-song EP Bed of Liars today. Their single "Ringer" is currently enjoying play at top 35 of alternative radio. The EP will be available for download on all major music streaming sites today. 

Also beginning today, the popular band will kick off their "The People's Choice" tour in Tulsa, OK, which will include a stop at Chicago's Beat Kitchen on March 9th. The band's catchy sound has been described by Vanyaland as "...a better, cooler Kings of Leon" and by Perez Hilton as "...Mumford and Sons with a bit more fun!"

More Unlikely Candidates tour dates are listed below.

​The Unlikely Candidates Tour Dates (More TBA):
February 17 @ The Vanguard - Tulsa, OK
February 18 @ Bottleneck - Lawrence, KS
February 23 @ Sam’s Burger Joint – San Antonio, TX
February 24 @ Stubb’s Jr - Austin, TX
March 01 @ George’s Majestic Lounge - Fayetteville, AR
March 8 @ Bootleg - St. Louis, MO
March 9 @ Beat Kitchen – Chicago, IL
March 16-19 @ SXSW - Austin, TX
March 23 @ Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO
March 24 @ Moxi Theatre - Greeley, CO
March 25 @ Lost Lake - Denver, CO
March 30 @ Dada - Dallas, TX
April 01 @ House Of Rock – Corpus Christi, TX
April 05 @ High Watt – Nashville, TN
April 07 @ Vinyl - Atlanta, GA
April 08 @ The Rabbit Hole – Charlotte, NC
April 14 @ Gasa Gasa - New Orleans, LA
 
Other Tour Dates:
March 11 @ Energy Square Parking Lot – Dallas, TX (With Jimmy Eat World, Rooney)
April 15 @ Buzzfest / Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – Houston, TX
May 14 @ Merriweather Post Pavilion - Columbia, MD (DC101 Kerfuffle)

by Sharon Gissy

Baltimore country punk rockers Western Star are gearing up for their biggest year of touring yet. Formed while working together on the Jeffers cattle ranch in East Texas, the band made waves with their debut album Fireball, released on Saustex Records. Fireball blends punk, country and rock n' roll in a high-energy output of driving rhythms, guitar, and passionate screaming produced by Ken Bethea of the Old 97's. The album can be listened to on Soundcloud here, and you can check out a music video to their title track here. 

After a lineup change and a limited range of touring in 2016, Western Star is back with a powerful DIY tour through March with Baltimore rockabilly legend Rodney "Pie-Man" Henry of the Glenmont Popes, stopping in Chicago at Reggies on March 9th. The group combines their East Coast edge with true southern roots, continuing to help with construction projects on the Jeffers family ranch in Tyler, Texas, and rehearsing there in a little white house. 

by Sharon Gissy

Alabama rock group the Dexateens are on a three-show tour in support of their latest record Teenage Hallelujah on Cornelius Chapel Records which includes a stop at Chicago's Hideout on February 24th. The band is set to record a follow-up record at Dial Back Sound, which is owned by Dexateen/Drive By Trucker Matt Patton.

Since 1998, the Dexateens have released eight critically acclaimed records, all showing a garage and indie-rock influence steeped in the sounds of country, soul, and blues. The current lineup includes Elliott McPherson on guitar, singing, songwriting, and bass guitar by the Drive-By Truckers' Matt Patton, Brian Gosdin on drums, and Brad Armstrong (13Ghosts) and Taylor Hollingsworth (Conor Oberst, Mystic Valley Band, Dead Fingers) on lead guitar.

The Dexateens plan to release their new full-length Struggler on Cornelius Chapel this summer, and to continue to tour in support of both releases. Their live rock show is not to be missed, and can be caught at 10:00 p.m. at Chicago's Hideout on February 24th.

 by Sharon Gissy

​Chilean singer-songwriter Yael Meyer will release new music this year and play SXSW as well as select dates throughout the U.S. in 2017. This comes as a welcome announcement after she has garnered praise for her fusion of electronica, pop, and folk music. Some of the critical acclaim for her record Warrior Heart, released on her own label KLI Records, included NPR's Felix Contreras and Jasmine Garsd listing it among "musical treasures we've uncovered," Rolling Stone Argentina naming her "one of the five female Chilean musicians to know," and her native Chilean El Mercurio naming her one of the 100 most influential young leaders.

Yael Meyer broke out on the strength of several singles and videos. Entertainment Weekly premiered the video for bouncy electropop track "Human Divine," which you can watch here. Haunting song "The Hunt," with its video shot in the Andes, premiered on the CW show Reign and can be watched here. 

Meyer's new music should be arriving later this year, and she is working again with producer Bill Lefler (Dashboard Confessional, Ingrid Michaelson), who she worked with on Warrior Heart. She says "This album is much more raw, much more guitar heavy, with bigger distortions and disruptive sounds, while still maintaining the quality that I have always wanted to generate with music which is to take people through different emotions and hopefully inspire some interesting visuals in their minds."

  by Sharon Gissy
​
Texas alternative rock band The Unlikely Candidates will release their newest EP, Bed Of Liars, on February 17th, 2017. However, the whole six-song EP is currently available to stream on their website or on Soundcloud; you can listen to it here.

The Unlikely Candidates have built an impressive rock resume for themselves with their catchy tunes, signing to Another Century Records in 2016 and hitting alternative rock radio with two hit singles, "Your Love Could Start A War" and "Ringer". They've also been mentioned in The New York Times as one of a dozen bands to watch and in Esquire as one of the bands you need to hear at SXSW. The band has played Bonnaroo, Firefly, and Riot Fest and have toured with St. Lucia, Nothing But Thieves, and Weathers.

The band is beginning its "People's Choice" tour February 17th in Tulsa, OK, and will be playing SXSW as well as playing the Beat Kitchen in Chicago on March 9th. A full list of tour dates appears below. 

The Unlikely Candidates Tour Dates (More TBA):
February 17 @ The Vanguard - Tulsa, OK
February 18 @ Bottleneck - Lawrence, KS
February 23 @ Sam’s Burger Joint – San Antonio, TX
February 24 @ Stubb’s Jr - Austin, TX
March 01 @ George’s Majestic Lounge - Fayetteville, AR
March 02 @ Dada - Dallas, TX
March 8 @ Bootleg - St. Louis, MO
March 9 @ Beat Kitchen – Chicago, IL
March 14 @ SXSW - Austin, TX
March 23 @ Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO
March 24 @ Moxi Theatre - Greeley, CO
March 25 @ Lost Lake - Denver, CO
April 01 @ House Of Rock – Corpus Christi, TX
April 07 @ Vinyl - Atlanta, GA
April 14 @ Gasa Gasa - New Orleans, LA
 
Other Tour Dates:
February 10 @ The Fillmore – Detroit, MI (89X Show)
April 15 @ Buzzfest / Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – Houston, TX

by Sharon Gissy

Continuing a narrative of love and loss she has created over two 7"s and two albums, Scout Paré-Phillips is set to release her latest album, Door Left Open, on Dais Records March 10th. 

Scout wrote the songs for the new record after enduring heartbreak while on tour for her previous album Heed The Call. Her classically trained, operatic vocals rise out of crescendos of guitar, autoharp, cello, and keyboards, as well as acoustic and electronic percussion by longtime musical collaborator Emil Bognar-Nasdor (Dawn of Humans, Rosenkopf). 

Scout's solo career stemmed from her work as a trained opera singer as well as her stint as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in the Baltimore-based post-punk and country act the Sterling Sisters. Her contributions to that group showcased the strains of dark Americana that would surface in her solo work, which is reminiscent of a modern-day Leonard Cohen or Joni Mitchell in its use of autoharp and baritone guitar along with poetic lyrics.