Hard Rock Daddy presents Music Discovery Monday – 3/14/16.
Each week, the HRD team shares songs that fly below radio’s radar, ranging from lesser-known artists to deeper cuts from both up-and-coming and established artists.
In addition to exposing the Hard Rock Daddy audience to new music that isn’t getting the attention that it deserves from radio, Music Discovery Monday also features a segment called “Hard Rock Music Time Machine,” which showcases older songs (from the ’70s to today) that hard rock music fans may have missed at the time of release.
In addition to appearing on the embedded YouTube playlists beneath each section, all songs featured on Music Discovery Monday can be listened to by clicking on the hyper-linked song titles.
This week, Music Discovery Monday features an exclusive interview with Ryan Hudson of Love and a .38, who discusses the inspiration behind the band’s, “Oh My God.”
ADAM WALDMAN – (Publisher, Hard Rock Daddy)
LOVE AND A .38 – “Oh My God”
If you are a fan of classic, bluesy hard rock with a southern flare, you’ll be thanking me for introducing you to Love and a .38, a Los Angeles-based, DIY band who plays music from the heart with no regard for genres or sub-genres. The four members of the band (who hail from various parts of the country) have taken an “it’s all rock and roll to me approach” to their music. They’ve come together through varied and shared experiences, triumphs and failures.
If you’re like me, by the time that you finish listening to this killer tune, you’ll be saying “Oh My God”… “how the hell is this band still unsigned!?” Is it because they don’t fit neatly into some ill-conceived radio format? If that’s the reason, it says a lot about the state of the music industry, especially when it comes to rock. The fact that kick-ass rock and roll bands like this don’t have a natural radio fit clearly illustrates that radio (at least in the U.S.) has some major gaps that need to be filled. Make sure to check these guys out and find out what radio is missing out on!
In a Hard Rock Daddy exclusive, frontman Ryan Hudson shares the inspiration for “Oh My God”…
“I started writing ‘Oh My God,’ I really didn’t have anything in particular in mind that I wanted to do. It really was one of those song ideas that just came to me. I still remember that I was actually taking a shower when the chorus struck me out of nowhere. (laughs) So I hopped out, toweled off, picked up my old beat-up Epiphone SG and hammered out the main riff. I had been listening to a lot of country at the time, and I think that definitely shows throughout the song. But we are who we are… so even when we ‘go country’ it still turns out pretty rock-n-roll!
After I brought the song in to the guys, and it started to take shape a little bit, I knew that I really wanted it to be something that people could move to. I had visions in my head of getting the whole crowd just dancing their asses off when we play it live. I’ve always loved a good stomp beat, and was thrilled that I was able to finally write a song that could incorporate one. Nothing flashy, nothing too complicated, just sludgy rock-n-roll that can get people up outta their seats.
The lyrics actually came very naturally on this one. Once I had the melody, the lyrics to the chorus came almost immediately…serendipity, I suppose. As soon as I sang it back to myself, I knew that I wanted to keep heading in that direction. It was brash, fun and just a tad arrogant. There was just something really fun about screaming ‘Oh My God’ into a microphone over and over again.
Looking back on it… I think that the song came together so naturally because it was something that I really needed to get out of me. Being a rock musician these days is definitely an uphill battle (for a wide host of reasons). The deck is pretty stacked against bands like us, so this song was sort of me swinging back. You’re not gonna survive in this world unless you stand up and push back sometimes, ya know? That night, when the song came to me, I think that it was just my sub-conscious’s way of telling me that it was time to do a little shovin’.”
CRAZY LIXX – “All Looks, No Hooks”
“All Looks, No Hooks” seems like a song that should have been written around the time of the demise of hair metal. However, the song is actually this Swedish glam band’s clever take on the auditions that took place after losing both guitarists in August of 2015. Finding one new guitarist is challenging enough; so you can imagine how hard it is to replace both at the same time. The song and the video for “All Looks, No Hooks” is actually used as the introduction to the new guitar duo of Chrisse Olsen and Jens Lundgren. Throughout the video, you get to see a comedic re-enactment of the audition process, which undoubtedly had numerous moments of frustration. Fortunately for Crazy Lixx, they have found two guitarists that have plenty of hooks. In fact, the whole song is a cavalcade of melodic hooks that features the best of what ‘80s hard rock had to offer. WARNING: You’ll be singing this infectious melody in your head all day long!
JON LOVELESS – HRD Music Scout
ROMANTIC REBEL – “Too Far”
The lead single from a forthcoming album increases the air of optimism about this Chicago band. Vocalist KT Paige should continue to ascend in the ranks of female rock vocalists…at this point, very legitimately in the discussion about being the best in the business today. The production from Johnny K is solid here as well.
FURYON – “Left It With The Gods”
“Left It With The Gods” is an album track from Furyon’s standout album, Lost Salvation. This is simply a solid piece of work from this Brighton, UK outfit.
ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout
A PERFECT DAY – “In The Name Of God”
While Italian power metal band Labyrinth is on hiatus, members Andrea Cantarelli (guitar) and Alessandro Bissa (drums) prepare to release their second album with A Perfect Day. They welcome new lead singer Marco Baruffetti, and promise some amazing new melodic metal with The Deafening Silence (due out March 18th).
RIZON – “Feel The Heat”
Swiss melodic metal band Rizon roll their songs out with thunderous drive, utilizing two lead singers (male and female) and five musicians. The riffs come heavy and the rhythm section gallops, with plenty of groove and atmosphere, and some great harmonies.
CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH – HRD Music Scout
HELION PRIME – “Life Finds A Way”
Sacramento California is home to Hellion Prime, who dwell in the niche of Scientific/Sci-Fi based power metal. You may recognize name if you’re a fan of Vin Deisel’s ‘Chronicles of Riddick’ films. Heather Michelle’s vocals and Jason Ashcraft’s guitar work headline this track from their self-titled debut.
THE BLACK MASQUERADE – “Burning Lullabies”
Formerly known as Cord of 3, this Kentucky band serves up passionate alternative hard rock & metal. “Burning Lullabies” is a relationship rebound/recovery-themed track with good drive and emotion (from their recent Freak Show EP).
SUBMISSIONS
To be considered for Music Discovery Monday, please e-mail a link to the song being submitted on YouTube and an artist bio to – submissions@MusicDiscoveryMonday.com
HARD ROCK MUSIC TIME MACHINE
ADAM WALDMAN
AC/DC – “Rock ‘n’ Roll Dream” (2008)
The odds were certainly stacked against AC/DC when they had to find a new singer after Bon Scott’s passing. Not only did the band overcome the odds, they actually ended up with a singer in Brian Johnson that helped take them to an entirely different level. His first album with the band (Back In Black) is an all-time heavy metal classic. Through the years, with Johnson at the helm, the band has been one of the steadiest forces in hard rock and heavy metal.
Based on the reports that came out this week, it looks like this is probably the end of the road for Johnson, who risks going deaf by performing live. Will AC/DC soldier on as they did after losing Bon Scott? It’s hard to imagine that happening, but the possibility certainly exists. However, things won’t ever be the same if the band continues on without Johnson.
While the most heralded Johnson moments date back to his early albums with the band, one of the more underrated albums of the past decade or so had to be 2008’s Black Ice (at least when it comes to singles). The only song that really became well-known is the lead single, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train.” Like many AC/DC song titles, “rock and roll” is a recurring theme. On the Black Ice album alone, the phrase appears three times. It isn’t well-known, but “Rock ‘n’ Roll Dream” is a personal favorite, and one whose message takes on a whole new meaning with the likely retirement of Johnson. Listening to the lyrics now, it seems like a bit of foreshadowing.
WINGER – “Madalaine” (1988)
This past week was the anniversary of the launch of the MTV classic cartoon, Beavis and Butt-head. Seeing the anniversary announcement got me to thinking about the impact that the show had on pop culture, and one band in particular…Winger. Beavis and Butt-head were the “cool” kids who wore AC/DC and Metallica t-shirts. Stewart, the nerdy kid who wanted to be friends with the main characters, on the other hand, always wore a Winger t-shirt. There’s a saying that there is no such thing as bad publicity, but I think that Kip Winger would argue that isn’t always the case. Having his name branded on the nerdy character’s chest definitely painted the band in an unfairly negative light.
The band’s eponymous debut album featured four hits and a pretty rocking cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.” Although Winger himself had the hair that caused the band to be classified as a “hair band,” the reality is that they were much more accomplished musicians than they ever got credit for, largely due to their portrayal on Beavis and Butt-head. While they had an element of glam, they also had a progressive background. “Madalaine” is the song that first put the band on my radar in 1988. The song still holds up well when you listen to it today…as long as you do so with an open mind.
JON LOVELESS
MAMA’S BOYS – “Needle In The Groove” (1985)
This song was actually a single for the group twice, an original version in 1982, and the re-recorded version featured here. Northern Ireland trio (originally) of McManus brothers that never quite reached the heights that their talents deserved. Guitarist Pat and bassist/vocalist John eventually turned to their Celtic musical roots with a new band (Celtus) following the death of drummer Tommy McManus (after a prolonged fight with leukemia). Pat then followed that with a solo effort that would become The Pat McManus Band.
FOZZY – “Enemy” (2005)
Another song that reminds me how time flies. More than eleven years have passed since Fozzy truly transitioned from a side project performing covers to a more serious band performing original material. The lead single from their third album highlighted the band’s true potential, with a catchy track accompanied by a memorable (and somewhat controversial) video.
ROB DELL’AQUILA
CIVIL WAR – “Saint Patrick’s Day” (2013)
In 2013, monster vocalist Nils Patrik Johansson (Astral Doors, Wuthering Heights, Lion’s Share) teamed up with ex-Sabaton members to form Civil War. It may seem odd to have a Swedish power metal band belting out a song that celebrates an Irish holiday, but what a song! Not too much metal makes people want to get up and dance. This might be an exception.
LABYRINTH – “Falling Rain” (1998)
Labyrinth is an Italian power metal band that’s gone through many lineup changes and, while still active, has not released an album since 2010. This soaring (at times haunting) composition from their second album will tell you all that you need to know about why their fans wait patiently for their return.
CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH
SWEET SAVAGE – “Queen’s Vengeance” (2011)
UK’s Sweet Savage is a straight forward, hard-n-heavy traditional metal band. Their sound is gritty, thick and low-tech. Phil Edgar (lead guitar) and Marty McCloskey (drums) have been aboard since 2010, and their playing is terrific. Bassist Ray Haller’s vocals are similar to Robin McAuley.
POWER PROJECT – “Mind Control” (2005)
Power Project was an under-the-radar band, fitting the definition of “supergroup.” Comprised of vocalist Carl Sentence (ex-Krokus), guitarist Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot), drummer Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio) and bassist Jeff Pilson (Dokken), they delivered just one album in 2005 called Dinosaurs. The lead song, “Mind Control,” is crammed full of great musicianship and accentuated by tremendous vocal harmonies. Unfortunately, it was a one-time collaboration.
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