We try to cover as much soul as possible here at If It's Too Loud..., and as much as we love the genre a lot of it ends up sounding quite similar. That is not the case with the latest from Ghost Funk Orchestra. "Why?" has the classic Parliament/Funkadelic funk vibe to it, which shouldn't be surprising since funk is right in their name. It's this laid back 70's sounding soul and funk song, with some 60's period space age groove to it. While the vocals are pure soul, there is something unique to their cadence that is not what soul typically sounds like. Considering classic soul has existed for six decades or so, it's refreshing to hear an artist make such a unique version of the genre.
You can watch the video for "Why?" below. A New Kind of Love is due out October 28 on Karma Chief/Colemine Records, and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Ghost Funk Orchestra, check out the artist's Facebook and Instagram.
We've been all in on the current neo-soul movement, particularly releases from Colemine Records. The latest single from the label is from Alanna Royale. "Fall In Love Again" is exactly what we expect from Colemine. It's classic soul with just a modern touch to it. Sure, it's a throwback, but not completely. Soul just has that timeless quality to it naturally that "Fall In Love Again" could have been recorded any time in the past fifty years, except for the smoother, modern production. The showcase in the song is Royale's vocals, and for good reason. Her voice is just suited to this style of music, and her backing band complements her perfectly. The song has been designed to her voice impeccably.
You can listen to "Fall In Love Again" below. The single is available now via Colemine Records. You can get a digital copy here. For more on Alanna Royale, check out the artist's website.
If the previous singles from Durand Jones & The Indications revealed the neo-soul titans dabbling in disco, "The Way That I Do" leaps headfirst into the genre. "The Way That I Do" is a straight up disco jam. The song may be laced in old school soul, but it's fully a dance song that sounds like it could be from the late 1970's. It features Aaron Frazer's falsetto over some of the smoothest music (including strings) we've heard in decades. I think we're all well past the whole "Disco Sucks" thing, and if you're not, you're going to miss out on songs as fantastic as this one.
In a press release, Aaron Frazer says of the song:
“Whether on tour or spinning records, over the years we realized how much we love making people dance. When the first notes hit or the needle drops and the whole crowd lights up, that's a feeling we held onto all through 2020. And that's what we're bringing on 'The Way That I Do.' It's a run-to-the-dancefloor song for that special person who gets you shook, makes you wanna do more and be your best self. But it's also for everyone who's missed just getting together and movin' their ass! See y'all soon!”
You can watch the video for "The Way That I Do" below. Private Space is due out July 30 on Dead Oceans in association with Colemine Records. You can pre-order/pre-save a copy here. For more on Durand Jones & The Indications, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.
Sat. Sep. 4 - Hershey, PA @ Harrisburg University At The Englewood Sun. Sep. 5 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit Hall Tue. Sept. 7 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club w/ 79.5 Wed. Sep. 8 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer w/ 79.5 Fri. Sept. 10 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel w/ 79.5 Sat. Sept. 11 - Washington DC @ 9:30 Club w/ 79.5 Mon. Sept. 13 - Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre w/ 79.5 Tue. Sept. 14 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line w/ 79.5 Thu. Sept. 16 - Denver, CO @ Gothic Theater w/ 79.5 Fri. Sept. 17 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Commonwealth Room w/ 79.5 Mon. Sept. 20 - San Diego, CA @ Soma w/ 79.5 Mon. Sep. 21 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium w/ 79.5 Wed. Sept. 22 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium w/ 79.5 Thu. Sep. 23 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl w/ My Morning Jacket Fri. Sept. 24 - Dana Point, CA @ Ohana Fest Sat. Sep. 25 - Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley w/ My Morning Jacket Tue. Sep. 28 - Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield w/ My Morning Jacket Wed. Sep. 29 - Spokane, WA @ Spokane Pavilion at Riverfront w/ My Morning Jacket Fri. Oct. 1 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater w/ My Morning Jacket Sat. Oct. 2 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater w/ My Morning Jacket Sun. Oct. 3 - Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Ampitheater w/ My Morning Jacket Fri. Oct. 8 - Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Music Festival Thu. Oct. 28 - Sun. Oct. 31 - Live Oak, FL @ Suwanee Hulaween Sun. May 22, 2022 - Monterey, CA @ California Roots Festival
Durand Jones & The Indications have become our favorite neo-soul band and with good reason. Their songs are just consistently great. Even as they slightly play with their sound, the results are fantastic. Their latest single, "Love Will Work It Out," drops the disco we heard in "Witchoo" and brings back more of the classic soul. This time around, classic soul is more along the lines of 70's soul. The groove in "Love Will Work It Out" is front and center, even in front of both Durand Jones and Aaron Frazer. This is the kind of song that would make Barry White and Isaac Hayes proud.
In a press release, the band says of the new song:
“For months into the pandemic and the racial/political chaos that ensued, we found it hard to write. The biggest creative dry spell we'd experienced in a decade. The constant barrage of horrible news felt overwhelming, and songs just seemed inadequate in response to police murdering people in broad daylight. Songs felt inadequate in the face of a virus that decimated communities and kept us apart from our loved ones. We marched, protested, cried, wiped down our groceries, stopped wiping down our groceries, unplugged, breathed, replugged, reengaged. And when music finally flowed, the first song we wrote together was ‘Love Will Work It Out.’ Because conflict and confrontation require bravery, AND so does keeping the faith in the goodness of one another. It's a big part of what so many people are fighting for- the benefit of the doubt, the ability to be seen as whole, the space to love and trust. It’s been a tough year, but we’ve come out the other side steady and hopeful.”
You can watch the video for "Love Will Work It Out" below. Private Space is due out July 30 on Dead Oceans in association with Colemine Records. You can pre-order the album here. For more on Durand Jones & The Indications, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.
Sat. Sep. 4 - Hershey, PA @ Harrisburg University At The Englewood Tue. Sept. 7 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club w/ 79.5 Wed. Sep. 8 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer w/ 79.5 Fri. Sept. 10 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel w/ 79.5 Sat. Sept. 11 - Washington DC @ 9:30 Club w/ 79.5 Mon. Sept. 13 - Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre w/ 79.5 Tue. Sept. 14 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line w/ 79.5 Thu. Sept. 16 - Denver, CO @ Gothic Theater w/ 79.5 Fri. Sept. 17 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Commonwealth Room w/ 79.5 Mon. Sept. 20 - San Diego, CA @ Soma w/ 79.5 Mon. Sep. 21 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium w/ 79.5 Wed. Sept. 22 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium w/ 79.5 Thu. Sep. 23 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl w/ My Morning Jacket Fri. Sept. 24 - Dana Point, CA @ Ohana Fest Sat. Sep. 25 - Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley w/ My Morning Jacket Tue. Sep. 28 - Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield w/ My Morning Jacket Wed. Sep. 29 - Spokane, WA @ Spokane Pavilion at Riverfront w/ My Morning Jacket Fri. Oct. 1 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater w/ My Morning Jacket Sat. Oct. 2 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater w/ My Morning Jacket Sun. Oct. 3 - Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Ampitheater w/ My Morning Jacket Fri. Oct. 8 - Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Music Festival Thu. Oct. 28 - Sun. Oct. 31 - Live Oak, FL @ Suwanee Hulaween Sun. May 22, 2022 - Monterey, CA @ California Roots Festival
Durand Jones & The Indications have been our favorite purveyors of classic soul for a few years now, but on their latest single they've decided to update their sound a bit. However, they've updated by going disco. "Witchoo" is an incredibly fun disco/soul jam that sees Durand Jones and drummer Aaron Frazer (who released the also great solo album Introducing... earlier this year) trading off vocals. "Witchoo" is a party just waiting to happen. It's melding such great retro genres together, and even including a little hip hop feel with the trading of lines and gang vocals for the chorus.
You can watch the video for "Witchoo" below. Private Space is due out July 30 on Dead Oceans in association with Colemine Records. You can pre-order/pre-save the album here. For more on Durand Jones & The Indications, check out the artist's website. Current tour dates are below the video.
Tue. Sept. 7 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club Wed. Sep. 8 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer Fri. Sept. 10 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel Sat. Sept. 11 - Washington DC @ 9:30 Club Mon. Sept. 13 - Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre Tue. Sept. 14 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Thu. Sept. 16 - Denver, CO @ Gothic Theater Fri. Sept. 17 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Commonwealth Room Mon. Sept. 20 - San Diego, CA @ Soma Wed. Sept. 22 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium Fri. Sept. 24 - Dana Point, CA @ Ohana Fest
Boston's GA-20 have had a ridiculously busy year. They're currently sitting on four album's worth of material, and they're just starting to let it out. "No No" is the first single, and it's great. Like... really great. I spent far too long trying to figure out who was the original artist, because it just sounds and feels like classic blues. However, it feels like a modern take on classic blues. It's just amped enough to sound modern and fresh but not so amped up it crosses into JSBX territory. We've been fully on the GA-20 bandwagon for a while now, and "No No" is going to keep us firmly onboard. If you haven't connected with GA-20 yet, this one is sure to suck you in.
You can listen to "No No" below. The song is currently available as a single via Karma Chief Records/Colemine Records here. For more on GA-20, check out the artist's website.
One truly great thing about Boston's GA-20's recent string of classic blues covers is that it gives me a reason to delve into a musical past I'm embarrassingly unfamiliar with. The latest cover is Otis Rush's "Sit Down Baby." Otis Rush is one of those classic blues artists I think I've heard of before, but I'm really not positive. Once you hear GA-20's take on "Sit Down Baby" you're going to need to check out the original, which is guaranteed to send you down an Otis Rush rabbit hole for the rest of the day. GA-20 do a completely faithful version of the original, but they can't match Rush's vocals. Picture a silky smooth 50's crooner doing blues, and that's Rush. Once again, GA-20 is here to give us a fantastic musical history lesson.
You can listen to GA-20's version of "Sit Down Baby" below. The song will be available as a single via Colemine Records/Karma Chief Records on November 17. For more on GA-20, check out the artist's website.
I'm completely unfamiliar with Mel London, but if GA-20 are going to cover him I should probably correct that. As part of their upcoming live EP, the Boston band have released a video for their cover of "Cut You Loose." It's a blues song with a groove that you can't help but to move to. It's a classic blues sound with a vintage rock base, but updated just enough to sound modern and fresh. The song, and especially the video (which was recorded live at State Park in Cambridge, MA), are going to make your aching for live music that much worse. You can watch the video for GA-20's take on "Cut You Loose" below. GA-20 Live Vol. 1 will be out September 18 on Karma Chief/Colemine Records. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on GA-20, check out their website.
The latest single from Dayton, Ohio's M Ross Perkins is being called indie pop, but that's only if The Beach Boys would be considered indie pop. "Wrong Wrong Wrong" has a very distinct 60's pop vibe, back when rock and pop occupied the same universe. While "Wrong Wrong Wrong" has more than a few elements of Americana and indie rock, this is an almost pure 60's style California inspired pop song. It's a modern, darker take on classic psychedelia. You can listen to "Wrong Wrong Wrong" below. The song is currently available as a single via Colemine Records/Karma Chief Records on M Ross Perkins's Bandcamp. For more on M Ross Perkins, check out the artist's website.
This summer is undeniably horrible, but one thing we can look forward to every week is Colemine Records's Brighter Days Ahead singles series. Thanks to this series we've discovered some great neo-soul bands we had never heard of, like Dojo Cuts, The Harlem Gospel Travelers, and Thee Sinseers. Last week's single was from a band we do know: Boston's GA-20. Since GA-20 throw back to traditional blues, it's quite fitting that they're covering Jimmy Reed's classic "I Ain't Got You." How faithful is GA-20's version? Jimmy Reed's original is two minutes, sixteen seconds. GA-20's is two minutes, seventeen seconds. This isn't so much a cover as a loving tribute. It's the kind of cover that will make you immediately go check out the original and then fall into a Jimmy Reed wormhole for an afternoon. And, yes, I'm speaking from personal experience. You can listen to GA-20's version of "I Ain't Got You" below. The song is available as part of Colemine Records's Brighter Days Ahead series with Karma Chief Records. You can get your copy here. For more on GA-20, check out their website.
The latest single from Colemine Records's Brighter Days Ahead singles series was a Juneteenth release from The Harlem Gospel Travelers. The Harlem Gospel Travelers were assembled by Eli "Paperboy" Reed when they were his students in a gospel class. Listening to "Fight On!" you won't believe they're young enough to be students of Reed's. This band sounds like they've been together for years, if not decades. "Fight On!" isn't purely an old school soul or gospel song. It sounds more modern while keeping the spirit of classic soul alive. The song is obviously highly political. Bandmember Thomas Gatling explains: “During slavery, songs were a form of communication for black people. These songs became known as hymns, or as our seasoned saints call them, the songs that brought us over. 'Fight On' was inspired by a hymn called 'Hold On (Just A Little While Longer),' a song used to encourage black people to not give up. Through that song, God gave me 'Fight On.' It was written to amplify the voices that for so long have fallen on deaf ears and to encourage and uplift people to continue the fight for equality and against white supremacy. Be empowered, my people. We are not thugs, we are innovators. We are intelligent and our feelings, hopes, dreams, and lives matter. Fight on, and everything's gonna be alright." You can watch the video for "Fight On!" below. The song is available now via Colemine Records as part of their Brighter Days Ahead series. You can get a copy now via Bandcamp.
Dojo Cuts may very well be the first soul band from Australia we've ever brought you. "Here We Are" is their first single on Colemine Records, as part of their "Brighter Days Ahead" singles series. It's the kind of music most people will claim isn't made any more, but if you pay any attention to Colemine Records, you'll know true soul is still alive. "Here We Are" sounds like it could be straight from the 60's. It's a perfect, powerful soul song that we don't get nearly enough of nowadays. You can listen to "Here We Are" below. The song is available via Colemine Records as part of their "Brighter Days Ahead" series. You can get a copy via Bandcamp. For more on Dojo Cuts, check them out on Facebook.
Listening to "What's His Name," the latest single from The Sinseers, you would never expect that they just formed in East Los Angeles in 2019. This simply can't be a band just a little over a year old, especially from California. "What's His Name" sounds like a soul/R&B song recorded fifty years ago that was just rediscovered. Even the recording sounds vintage. This is old school/vintage soul that has just been perfectly executed. Usually the singer is what sets a neo-soul song apart from others, and while Joey Quinones is delivering exceptional vocals, The Sinseers's exquisite use of horns and backing vocals truly makes this song a gem. You can listen to "What's His Name" below. The single is available now on Colemine Records as part of their weekly "Brighter Days Ahead" singles series. You can get a copy now via Bandcamp. For more on The Sinseers, check them out on Instagram.
GA-20 are a Boston based band made up of Pat Faherty and Matthew Stubbs (of Charlie Musselwhite's band and Matthew Stubbs and The Antiguas). The project is a modern version of traditional blues, R&B, and early rock 'n' roll. Their new single, "Lonely Soul," is all of that. It's very heavy on blues and soul, but they also throw in early rock 'n' roll, making "Lonely Soul" very reminiscent of bands like ? and The Mysterians and The Box Tops. From the opening scream, you know this song is going to be a lot more rock 'n' roll than most neo-soul songs out there today. You can listen to "Lonely Soul" below. Lonely Soul the album will be released October 18 on Karma Chief Records/Colemine Records. You can pre-order the album here. For more on GA-20, check out their website. Current tour dates are below the song.
Sep 06 - Strange Brew Tavern - Manchester, NH Sep 07 - Tree House Brewing Company - Charlton, MA Sep 25 - ONCE Ballroom - Somerville, MA
The latest single from Michael Nau is a very pleasant listen. It's the kind of song you can just put on in the background and go about your workday, half paying attention to it. But if you really take time and pay attention to it, listening becomes such a rewarding experience. With "No Quit," the first thing you'll notice is the guitar. It's fuzzy without being noisy. Nau's vocals have the same quality, like the song is being filtered through a haze. "No Quit" is definitely a soul song, but unlike most soul music, the vocals aren't being held on a pedestal and highlighted. It's chilled out soul vocals. "No Quit" is heavy on a psychedelic feel, but a relaxed psychedelic feel and not a tripped out, acid heavy feel. Like I said, this would be an easy song to just put on in the background, but when you actually pay attention to it, it's filled with such a reward. You can listen to "No Quit" below. The single is available now on Karma Chief Records/Colemine records. For more on Michael Nau, check him out on Facebook. Current tour dates are below the song.
Durand Jones & The Indications just nail the whole neo-soul thing. Their latest single, "Morning in America," sounds like it could have been released in the 60's. The only truly modern aspect is the hip hop drum beat and a fuzzed out indie rock guitar solo to end the song. Despite it's calm and chill vibe, "Morning in America" is an overtly political song. It's written by drummer Aaron Frazer, the band says about the song: "The lyrics speak to how many of us feel every day in this time of political and environmental uncertainty— flitting between anger, despair, anxiety but ever returning to a sliver of hope that there’s still a path forward. We so often divide ourselves by our differences. Acknowledging those differences is crucial; listening to those different from us is crucial. But viewed solely through that lens, we are fragmented and few. When we look at the country along economic lines, however, a different picture emerges. Suddenly people of all of colors, in every part of this country, can find themselves on the same side, united by a shared struggle to simply survive in the richest nation to ever exist.
This song was inspired by The Poor People's Campaign, a movement started by Martin Luther King Jr. shortly before his assassination. It functions today as a nonpartisan organization that promotes intersectionality and inter-movement unity as a tool of addressing systemic injustices."
You can watch the video for "Morning in America" below. American Love Call, the new album from Durand Jones & The Indications, will be out March 1 on Dead Oceans/Colemine Records. The album can be pr-ordered here. For more on Durand Jones & The Indication, check out their website. Current tour dates are below the video.
Fri. Jan. 25 - Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso-Noord Sun. Jan. 27 - Cologne, DE @ Artheater Mon. Jan. 28 - Berlin, DE @ Lido Mon. March 18 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall Tue. March 19 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada Thu. March 21 - Santa Fe, NM @ Tumbleroots Fri. March 22 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom Sat. March 23 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah — SOLD OUT Mon. March 25 - Tustin, CA @ Marty’s On Newport — SOLD OUT Tue. March 26 - Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom — SOLD OUT Wed. March 27 - Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom — SOLD OUT Thu. March 28 - Santa Barbara, CA @ SOhO Restaurant & Music Club Fri. March 29 - Oakland, CA @ The New Parish — SOLD OUT Sat. March 30 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent — SOLD OUT Mon. April 1 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom Tue. April 2 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos Thu. April 4 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room Fri. April 5 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater Sat. April 6 - Kansas City, MO @ recordBar Sun. April 7 - Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room Tue. April 9 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry Wed. April 10 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon Thu. April 11 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall Fri. April 12 - Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar Sat. April 13 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle Sun. April 14 - North Charleston, SC @ High Water Festival Tue. April 16 - Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel Wed. April 17 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg Fri. April 19 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church Sat. April 20 - Uncasville, CT @ Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun Resort Sun. April 21 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall Mon. April 22 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar Wed. April 24 - Cincinnati, OH @ The Woodward Theater Fri. April 26 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement East Sat. April 27 - Oxford, MS @ Double Decker Arts Festival Sun. April 28 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West Sat. May 11 - Bloomington, IN @ Indiana University w/ Neko Case Sun. Sep. 15 - Telluride, CO @ Blues & Brews Festival
There is currently this great resurgence of true old school R&B, and I'm personally thrilled by it. The latest to be handed the torch is Durand Jones & The Indication. On their new single, "Smile," Jones' voice definitely earns comparisons to Leon Bridges. However, the music just has this ever so slight edge to it. It's not a hard or aggressive feel, but more of just a funkier feel. It's combining classic R&B with a dancier feel, but still with live instruments. The sound of the backing band reminds me a lot of The Roots. The whole feel of the track might be caused by the recording process: They recorded directly to tape in a basement in their hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. That's pretty much how this style of music should be recorded. Durand Jones & The Indications self-titled debut will be out on Colemine Records on July 1. You can listen to "Smile" below. For more on Durand Jones & The Indicators, check them out on Facebook.
