Alice Cooper - "I'm Alice"

Photo by Jenny Risher

At the risk of losing all of my indie cred, I'm a huge Alice Cooper fan. My best friend since high school is quite possibly his biggest fan. He finally convinced me to go to a show in 2000, and I've been hooked ever since. I definitely prefer his earlier garage rock/proto-punk albums like Love it to Death and Killer to his 80's metal era, which is why I'm thrilled about his new single. "I'm Alice" sounds like a career spanning track. It throws back to his earliest days, includes some 80's metal riffs, and even seems to acknowledge his forgotten punk/New Wave era heard on albums like Flush the Fashion. Plus, "I'm Alice" is his most theatrical song he's done in decades, to the point that it sounds like it could have been written for an Alice Cooper jukebox musical. It's as if it was written specifically for the stage show, and has me more excited for a new Alice Cooper album than I ever thought I could be.

Alice Cooper says of his upcoming album:

“For ‘Road,’ I wanted the band to be involved in the foundation of all the songs. I only see these guys when we’re on the road. So, I wanted them to be as tight as they are for the show but on all new material. When you have a band this good, I believe in showing it off, and this is my way of doing so.”

You can watch the video for "I'm Alice" below. Road is due out August 23 on earMUSIC, and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Alice Cooper, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

8/5 - Syracuse, NY - JMA Wireless Dome 

8/8 - Columbus, OH - Ohio Stadium

8/10 - Madison, WI - Overture Center for the Arts

8/11 - Fargo, ND - Fargodome

8/13 - Omaha, NE - Charles Schwab Field Omaha

8/16 - Tulsa, OK - Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium

8/18 - El Paso, TX - Sun Bowl Stadium

8/24 - Dallas, TX - Dos Equis Pavilion

8/26 - Tampa, FL - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

8/27 - West Palm Beach, FL - iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

8/29 - Raleigh, NC -   Coastal Credit Union Music Park @ Walnut Creek

8/30 - Virginia Beach, VA - Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre

9/1 - Tinley Park, IL -  Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

9/2 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena

9/5 - Clarkston, MI -  Pine Knob Amphitheatre

9/6 - Toronto ON - Budweiser Stage

9/8 - Scranton, PA -    The Pavilion @ Montage Mountain

9/9 - Wantagh, NY - Northwell Health Theatre @ Jones Beach

9/10 - Hartford, CT - XFINITY Theatre

9/12 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena

9/13 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend

9/15 - Bonner, Springs KS -  Azura Amphitheatre

9/16 - Greenwood Village, CO - Fiddler’s Green

9/19 - Ridgefield, WA - RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheatre

9/20 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre

9/22 - Concord, CA - Pavilion

9/23 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center

9/24 - Phoenix, AZ - Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Buffalo Nichols - "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond"

Photo by Samer Ghani

I first became a Buffalo Nichols fan after seeing him open for Drive-By Truckers. Not many people could keep DBT fans entertained with just a guitar, but Nichols pulled it off. His 2021 self-titled album solidified my fandom, and now he's back with new music. "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond" continues his classic blues sound, but adds in a little experimentation. If it was just a straightforward blues song, it would be a spectacular blues song. But Nichols adds in samples of Charley Patton's version of the song, making a timeless classic as modern as it could be. This is a truly unique take on modern blues that still sounds like the most classic version of the genre as possible. Is there another artist that could have pulled this off?

Buffalo Nichols says of his new song:

“A traditional song made modern. Which aspects of ‘the Blues’ are essential? Is it a melody? A certain vocabulary? Delivery? Instrumentation? Is this still a blues song? And most importantly: who gets to decide? I tried to reimagine the blues with this song as if it were allowed to grow and progress uninterrupted, uncolonized and ungentrified."

You can watch the video for "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond" below. The Fatalist is due out September 15 on Fat Possum Records. For more on Buffalo Nichols, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

06/09 - Flagstaff, AZ - Flagstaff Blues Fest

06/10 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress

06/11 - Phoenix, AZ - Rebel Lounge

06/15 - Philadelphia, PA - Milkboy

06/16 - Philadelphia, PA - WXPN Free at Noon

06/16 - Monkton, MD - The Loft at Manor Mill

06/17 - Bowie, MD - Juneteenth Jubilee

06/17 - Columbia, MD - Columbia Fest for the Arts

06/18 - Berryville, VA - Barns of Rose Hill

06/19 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe

06/23 - Des Moines, IA - Des Moines Arts Festival

06/24 - Madison, WI - Memorial Union Terrace at Univ of Wisconsin

06/29 - Hamilton, OH - Riversedge Amphitheater

06/30 - Memphis, TN - Overton Park

07/06-08 - Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Folk Fest

07/20 - San Francisco, CA - SF Jazz Summer Fest

07/21-22 - Marquette, MI - Hiawatha Music Festival

07/27-30 - Calgary, AB - Calgary Folk Fest

08/10 - Fort Collins, CO - Bohemian Foundation

08/12 - Cheyenne, WY - Cheyenne Arts Celebration

08/18 - Roxbury, NY - Roxbury ARts Center

08/19 - Portsmouth, NH - The Music Hall - Live Under the Arch Series

08/24-27 - Tønder, DK - Tønder Festival

08/28 - London, UK - Rough Trade East

09/06 - Bloomington, IN - The Bishop

09/07 - Newport, KY - Southgate House

09/08 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar

09/09 - Bowling Green. OH - Black Swamp Arts Festival

09/14 - Denver, CO - Levitt Pavilion

09/15-17 - Telluride Blues & Brews

09/20 - Elkton, MD - Elkton Music Hall

09/21 - Southampton, PA - Stone Turtle House Concert

09/22 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge

09/23 - New Haven, CT - Cafe Nine

09/24 - North Adams, MA - Freshgrass

10/05 - Madison, WI - High Noon

10/06 - Chicago, IL - Sleeping Village

10/07 - Minneapolis, MN - Turf Club

10/12 - Grand Rapids, MI - Midtown

10/13 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern

10/14 - Jackson, MI - Jackson Symphony Orchestra

10/15 - Columbus, OH - Rumba Cafe - WCBE Happy Hour

10/18 - Buffalo, NY - Buffalo Iron Works

10/19 - Rochester, NY - Abilene Bar & Lounge

10/20 - Providence, RI - Askew

10/21 - Portland, ME - One Longfellow

10/22 - Waterbury Center, VT - Zenbarn

11/10 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall

11/13 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern

11/14 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios

11/15 - Eugene, OR - Hult Center

11/16 - Grass Valley, CA - Grass Valley Center for the Arts

11/17 - Livermore, CA - Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center

11/18 - Los Angeles, CA - Gold Diggers

11/29 - Charlotte, NC - Snug Harbor

11/30 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle

12/01 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl

12/02 - Nashville, TN - Blue Room

12/03 - Memphis, TN - B-Side / Folk All Y'all

12/05 - Little Rock, AR - White Water Tavern

12/06 - Dallas, TX - Sundown at Granada

12/07 - San Antonio, TX - Sam’s Burger Joint

12/08 - Austin, TX - Antone’s

12/09 - Houston, TX - Continental Club

12/15 - Waverly, AL - Standard Deluxe

12/16 - Macon, GA - Society Garden

Computerwife - "Lexapro"

Photo by Lizzie Klein

I'm not quite sure what I expected from Computerwife as an artist, but this definitely wasn't it. Computerwife is the musical project of New York City's Addie Warncke, and according to the press release for "Lexapro" some of her inspirations include Coney Island, My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. After listening to "Lexapro," Warncke is leaning into the My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth influences. The single is this slow, fuzzed out, and sludgy as hell song that just kind of plods around. Even the vocal effects used feel sound like something Sonic Youth played around with in the 80's. It's kind of a mess of a song, but in a truly fabulous way. 

You can listen to "Lexapro" below. Computerwife's self-titled debut album is due out August 4 on Danger Collective Records. For more on Computerwife, check out the artist on Instagram and Twitter.

Nicki Bluhm Covers Sonny & Cher

Photo by Noa Azoulay

While recording Avondale Drive in 2020, Nicki Bluhm and producer Jesse Noah Wilson decided to record some early Cher songs. They only chose songs from before 1973, and the first from the upcoming release is a cover of Sonny & Cher's "The Beat Goes On." The cover keeps all of the vintage groove of the original while adding in a tad of menace. It's a fun version of the song with a little indie rock fuzz over the original's sheen. This is the kind of cover that lets you hear just how much fun the recording process was. The joy in Bluhm's voice as she belts out her lines is clearly audible.

Nicki Bluhm says of her upcoming collection of Cher covers:

“I’ve always been one of many admirers of Cher; her sense of fashion and boldness, the many roles she played and won me over with, her deep and sultry voice and most importantly her endless  joie de vivre.  We had so much fun with these songs, looking back into a history that seemed more romantic and carefree.  It was a refreshing way to honor a living legend and some of those who helped her shine along the way.”

You can watch the video for Nicki Bluhm's cover of "The Beat Goes On" below. The Beat Goes On, Nicki Bluhm Sings Cher will be released as digital singles every month until December. For more on Nicki Bluhm, check out the artist's website.

Julia Jacklin Covers Rowland S. Howard

Photo by Derek Henderson

I have to admit that I'm not at all familiar with Rowland S. Howard or his song "Shivers." Released as a single for Howard and Nick Cave's band The Boys Next Door, fellow Julia Jacklin recorded a version for a tribute to Australian producer Tony Cohen. Jacklin's version stays quite faithful to the original, just maybe not quite as dark. (At least as not dark as a song can be when the opening line is "I've been contemplating suicide.") It's still a sparse song that is kind of like a post-punk singer/songwriter track, but Jacklin's vocals seem to elevate the song. Is it even possible for any song not to benefit from her voice? It's a powerful song made even more compelling by Jacklin.

Julia Jacklin says of the song:

“It’s been covered a lot, but it’s a special one for me. It was one of the first songs I ever learnt to play. Many Sydney bars, venues and open mic nights have heard me sing this song. Howard wrote it at 16 and I’ve always loved how much the lyrics capture that type of unbridled, dramatic teenage infatuation. The kind that physically hurts but also makes you laugh at yourself.”

You can listen to Julia Jacklin's version of "Shivers" below. The song is available as a single via Polyvinyl. For more on Julia Jacklin, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the song.

7/14 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground* 

7/15 - Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Bluesfest  

7/16 - Buffalo, NY - Asbury Hall* 

7/17 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop* 

7/21 - Indianapolis, IN - Hifi Annex +

7/22 - Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Fest 

7/23 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Ballroom + 

7/25 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown +

7/26 - Kansas City, MO - Record Bar +

7/27 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway +

7/31 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel =

8/1 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle =

8/3 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar =

8/4 - Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studios =

8/5 - Holyoke, MA - Holyoke Arts Center =

8/6 - Montreal, QC - Osheaga Music Festival

9/6 - Ogden, UT - Ogden Twilight with Noah Cyrus 

9/16 - Cincinnati, OH - Homecoming Festival 

* Black Belt Eagle Scout

+ Macie Stewart 

= Kara Jackson

Deer Tick - "If I Try to Leave"

Photo by CJ Harvey

We can all name bands we loved, but then changed to a more mainstream sound and just lost us. It's not because we're giant music snobs (well... maybe a little) but that they changed everything about what we loved about them to try to become huge stars. While the singles from Deer Tick's upcoming album have definitely been more mainstream than they usually sound, they have not compromised a single thing to get there. The latest single, "If I Try to Leave," shows more of Deer Tick's natural progression than a complete left turn to try to get some arena rock money. Everything that has made us fans since War Elephant and Born on Flag Day through Negativity and Mayonnaise is there. If anything, "If I Try to Leave" incorporates all of Deer Tick's sounds into one cohesive, brilliant single. It has country, their huge alt-rock sound, traces of indie rock... everything Deer Tick has built towards is audible in "If I Try to Leave."

John McCauley (vocals/guitar) says if the new single:

“The overall theme of this song is family and how I’ve come to rely on it. I need my family as a grounding force in my life. My survival depends on it, and I like it that way.” 

You can watch the video for "If I Try to Leave" below. Emotional Contracts is due out June 16 on ATO Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Deer Tick, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

6/14 - Portsmouth NH @ Cisco Brewers

6/15 - Matunuck, RI @ Ocean Mist (SOLD OUT)

6/16 - Matunuck, RI @ Ocean Mist (SOLD OUT)

6/17 - Matunuck, RI @ Ocean Mist (SOLD OUT)

6/19 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird

6/21 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom

6/22 - Indianapolis, IN @ HI-FI Annex

6/23 - Milwaukee WI @ Summerfest

6/24 - Maquoketa, IA @ Codfish Hollow (SOLD OUT)

6/25 - Wisconsin Dells, WI @ Showboat Saloon (SOLD OUT)

6/27 - Ft Collins @ Washington's

6/29 - Stanford, CA @ Frost Amphitheatre*

6/30 - Quincy, CA @ High Sierra Music Festival

7/1 - Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater*

7/2/23 - Canby, OR @ Clackamas County Fairgrounds*

7/4 - Bonner, MT @ KettleHouse Amp*

7/5 - Seattle, WA @ Woodland Park Zoo*

7/6 - Spokane, WA @ Martin Woldson Theatre*

7/8 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden*

7/9 - Dillon, CO @ Lake Dillon Amphitheatre*

7/11 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre*

7/12 - San Diego, CA @ Humphrey's*

7/14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre*

7/15 - Paso Robles, CA @ Vina Robles Amphitheatre*

7/16 - Las Vegas, NV @ Wynn Las Vegas*

8/03 - Baltimore, MD @ WTMD First Thursday Festival

8/04 - Fairfield, CT @ The Warehouse at FTC

8/05 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes

10/12 - Charleston, SC @ Music Farm

10/13 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West

10/15 - Nashville, TN @ Basement East

10/17 - Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theatre

10/19 - New Orleans, LA @ Chickie Wah Wah

10/20 - Houston, TX @ The Heights Theater

10/21 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk

10/22 - Ft Worth, TX @ Tulips

11/8 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line

11/9 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall

11/10 - Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch

11/11 - Toronto, ON @ The Opera House

11/12 - Homer NY @ Homer Center for the Arts

11/14 - Washington DC @ 9:30 Club

11/15 - Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw

11/17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer

11/18 - Boston, MA @ House of Blues

11/24 - Providence, RI @ Columbus Theatre

11/25 - Providence, RI @ Columbus Theatre

* Supporting Jason Isbell