New music: Otis Taylor, John Oates, The Gold Needles, Bad Company tribute

Don't let the year slip by without grabbing a listen of some of the most exciting music titles of 2025.

Artist: Otis Taylor
Title: Otis Taylor and the Electrics (Octave Records)

You might like if you enjoy: The Doors, Otis Taylor

Tell me more: Otis Taylor is one of the most unique and authentic voices recording blues and roots music today. The winner of five DownBeat awards, Living Blues, W.C. Handy and other honors, the prolific Colorado-based singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist has just released the outstanding Otis Taylor and the Electrics. Taylor — who sings and plays guitar, acoustic and electric banjo and harmonica on the 8-track disc — is known for his signature trance blues style that extends far beyond 12-bar blues patterns to masterfully blend blues, rock, African rhythms, improvisation and daring lyrics; those far-flung elements reach their zenith on his new album. Compelling stories and unsettling subjects are addressed across the track listing, with the musical moodscapes enhancing the power of each song. Among my favorite tracks on the album are the blues rocker "Three Stripes on a Cadillac," banjo and mandolin-fueled "Ran So Hard the Sun Went Down," the harmonica-anchored "They Don't Want Me" and "Twelve String Mile," the latter a hypnotic original about a black man getting ready to be lynched. 

The album was produced by Taylor, with Joe Kessler as associate producer and Jessica Carson serving as executive producer. It was recorded and mixed by Paul McGowan and mastered by David Glasser. The album was recorded using Octave Records' state-of-the-art Pyramid Pure DSD system. Otis Taylor and the Electrics features Octave’s premium gold disc formulation, and the disc is playable on any SACD, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray player. It also has a high-resolution DSD layer that is accessible by using any SACD player or a PS Audio SACD transport. In addition, the master DSD and PCM files are available for purchase and download, including DSD 512, DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64, and DSDDirect Mastered 352.8 kHz/24-bit, 176.2 kHz/24-bit, 88.2 kHz/24-bit, and 44.1 kHz/24-bit PCM. (SRP: $29.) Information: otistaylor.com.

Artist: John Oates
Title: Oates (TBA)

You might like if you enjoy: Hall & Oates, Al Green, Lawrence, Devon Gilfillian

Tell me more: John Oates returned in 2025 with Oates, an extraordinary new album that marked his return to the soulful R&B-meets-pop sounds that helped rocket the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo Daryl Hall and John Oates to fame in the 1970s and '80s. Make no mistake; the tracks on Oates are every bit as expertly crafted and memorable as Hall & Oates' most beloved material. Among the stellar cuts on the 13-track disc are the breezy opener "Enough Is Enough" (featuring guest vocalists Clyde and Gracie Lawrence of the New York soul pop band Lawrence), the old school smooth soul gem "Real Thing Going On," the heartfelt "Mending" where he shares songwriting credit and lead vocals with soul singer Devon Gilfillian, Hall & Oates-flavored "A Ways Away," the intoxicating soul track "Pushin' a Rock," and an uptempo dance-minded run through Marc Cohn's 1991 hit "Walking In Memphis." Information: johnoates.com.

Artist: The Gold Needles
Title: Mood Elevator (Big Stir Records)

You might like if you enjoy: The Cars, The Byrds, The Kinks, Psychic Rain

Tell me more: Tapping into top-tier classic rock and power pop stylings, the Gold Needles' newly-issued Mood Elevator is definitely worth adding to your music library. The members of the gifted English quintet (Simon Dowson, lead vocals, guitar; Dave Burbage, lead guitar; Mark English, keyboards; Carl Slaughter, bass; Will Jones, drums) have found a commanding way to take their influences and make them into their own across a terrific 10-track disc. Among the absolutely great cuts on the album are the swirling rocker "Eleven Eleven," 1960s-mining ear candy "Pale Blue Silver Eyes," tuneful "Keep On Telling Me Why," power pop juggernaut "I'll Take My Chances," aptly-titled "Turns To Gold," evocative "Crescent Moon" and propulsive genre-blending album closer "Mood Elevator." Information: bigstirrecords.com.

Artists: Bad Company, HARDY, The Pretty Reckless, Slash, more
Title: Can't Get Enough: A Tribute to Bad Company (Bad Company Tribute)

You might like if you enjoy: Bad Company, Free, Def Leppard, Paul Rodgers

Tell me more: Bad Company's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Nov. 8, 2025 was wonderful for sure, but adding excitement to that occasion was the release of Can't Get Enough: A Tribute to Bad Company. The 10-track audio collection marks the first-ever tribute album to Bad Company; the title features contemporary and legendary artists from rock, country and Americana genres joining forces on original interpretations of the British rock supergroup's most beloved songs. An added bonus is how both Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke appear on several of the fresh cuts. The tribute features early standouts including HARDY's winning post-grunge take on "Ready For Love," Hailstorm's hard rocking "Shooting Star" featuring Rodgers, a terrific take on "Feel Like Makin' Love" courtesy of guitar great Slash along with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, a delightfully haunting "Run With The Pack" featuring Blackberry Smoke, Rodgers and drummer Brann Dailor. The diversity and ambition of the title continues across its last half via acclaimed country & soul artist Charley Crockett's soulful take on "Bad Company," Los Angeles outfit Dirty Honey's blues-rock treatment of "Rock Steady," and a terrific collaboration between Def Leppard members Joe Elliott (lead vocals) and Phil Collen (lead guitar) with Rodgers and Kirke on the poignant "Seagull." The collection closes out powerfully with The Pretty Reckless' fiery blues-rock drenched version of "All Right Now," a song originally recorded by Rodgers' early band Free in 1970. Information: BadCompany.com.

Robert Kinsler

 

Yamaha announces 2023 performance lineup at The NAMM Show

With the 2023 NAMM Show rapidly approaching we are starting to get more information on some of the high-profile events coming to the event...Robert Kinsler

Yamaha Announces 2023 Performance Lineup at The NAMM Show

Artist lineup includes TobyMac, Lawrence, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Jamison Ross

Photo by: Sam Burriss

BUENA PARK, CALIF. APR 6, 2023 - Today, Yamaha announces the 2023 performance lineup that will light up the in-booth performances and the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage at The NAMM Show during the evenings. This two-night concert series for all attendees will evoke the musical passion guests have convened to celebrate. Performances kick off on Thursday, April 13, at 6 p.m. with a Night of Worship for all to experience Grammy award-winning live worship music. On Friday, April 14, at 6 p.m., the Yamaha All-Star Concert on the Grand will honor its NAMM tradition by providing awe-inspiring musical performances. 

 

Throughout the three-day show, attendees can stop by the Yamaha Booth and check out performances from Dan Rouse, Grace Kelly, Jake Eddy and Jordan Tice, Jimmy Keegan, Chris Johnson, Matteo Mancuso, Charles Ruggiero, and a few more special guests. 

 

And on Thursday and Friday evenings, attendees can head over to the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage to experience thrilling performances. Check out artist TobyMac on April 13 and on April 14, legendary Greg Phillinganes will emcee the night as artists Lawrence, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Jamison Ross take the stage. Award-winning producer and director Chris Gero and the Yamaha Entertainment Group team produce the concert series. 

 

"We’re so excited to be playing at the Yamaha All-Star Concert,” says Clyde Lawrence from Lawrence. “We’ve only been to NAMM once before, back in 2016 when we were just starting to tour, and we played an acoustic set. To be able to return and play a full band set on the Grand Plaza Stage is going to be an amazing full-circle moment. We’re also all big fans of Yamaha, and I personally grew up playing Yamaha pianos. We can’t wait for NAMM!"

 

The performance lineup for Thursday, April 13, includes the following:

 

• TobyMac: With more than 16 million units in career sales and a whopping seven GRAMMY Awards, TobyMac's career continues the fast track. His RIAA Certified Gold studio album, ***THIS IS NOT A TEST***, garnered a GRAMMY and Billboard Music Award nomination while debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200. Each of his six studio solo projects has achieved Gold certification, a first for any artist on his label, Capitol Christian Music Group. 

 

The performance lineup for Friday, April 14, includes the following:

• Lawrence: Clyde Lawrence and Gracie Lawrence have been writing songs and listening to countless Stevie Wonder, Randy Newman, and Aretha Franklin records in their family's New York City apartment since they were little. After years of playing together, they officially created Lawrence, an eight-piece soul-pop band of musician friends from childhood and college.
• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's efforts to promote and revitalize swing music have taken shape as much more than a simple tribute. Taking inspiration from the creators of this uniquely American art form, the band's original horn-infused music and legendary high-energy show introduce the genre to a new and younger generation while remaining cognizant and respectful of the music's rich legacy.
• Jamison Ross: Jamison Ross is a GRAMMY-nominated Soul artist whose music emanates from the intersection of R&B, gospel, and blues supported by modern production – contemporary soul. Jamison's most recent project is his first Affective Music release and is influenced by some of history's greatest Soul singers, including Marvin Gaye, Rance Allen and Al Green.

 

"Yamaha All-Star Concerts are always a NAMM highlight, but this year - more than ever - we're bringing the party to the plaza. Our stylistically diverse lineup promises to lift the audience with enormous energy and fun. Truly, there is something for everyone at this year's All-Star Concert on the Grand." says Chris Gero, vice president and chief artist relations executive, Yamaha Artist Relations Group.

 

The music on the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage will be creatively mixed and curated by the company's award-winning commercial audio gear, including the Rivage digital console line. Every note will be articulately amplified through NEXO speaker systems. NEXO is a Yamaha company.

 

To experience Yamaha at The NAMM Show, visit the Yamaha booth #300DE in the Anaheim Convention Center from April 13-15, 2023. For more information, please visit: usa.yamaha.com/namm. 

 

About Yamaha

 

Yamaha Corporation of America is the largest subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation, the world-leading music and sound company based in Hamamatsu, Japan. The Yamaha team is committed to helping everyone progress, express and connect through music and sound. We offer innovative, finely crafted, award-winning products for your entire musical journey including pianos, brass instruments, woodwinds, strings, electronic keyboards, guitars, drums, professional and home audio equipment. 

Coachella Weekend 2 recap: Billie Eilish, Danny Elfman, Phoebe Bridgers, Japanese Breakfast, more!

An art installation at Coachella.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Review by Robert Kinsler

Maria Zardoya of The Marias.
Photo credit: Beth Sarah / Getty Images
For Coachella

Weekend 2 of Coachella 2022 (April 22-24, 2022) offered up so many great performances, it's impossible so soon after the event to proclaim any single performance — or even any day — the best of the event. 

One thing that is clear is how this year's running of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival clearly thrust women into the limelight. In addition to Billie Eilish's incredible headlining set on the Coachella Stage on Saturday night, the parade of top-tier women extended from early-in-the-day emerging acts such as Holly Humberstone, Nilüfer Yanya, The Regrettes, Yola and Giselle Woo & the Night Owls to bona fide favorites Phoebe Bridgers, Japanese Breakfast, The Marias, Beach Bunny and Maggie Rogers. Weekend 2 Coachellagoers even got Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams as a guest during Eilish's turn. 

Here is a recap of my favorite performances I caught at Weekend 2.

Friday, April 22, 2022

The HU performing on the Outdoor Theatre Stage.
Photo: Robert Kinsler

The HU — Mongolian hard rock outfit The HU lived up to their well-deserved buzz with a 40-minute set of electrifying cuts that fused head banging rhythms wrapped in in guttural singing and propelled by undeniable grooves. Founded in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, The HU is unlike any group this writer has ever seen and the use of instruments from their native land like the Morin Khuur (horse head fiddle), Tovshuur (Mongolian guitar), Tumar Khuur (jaw harp) and strong presence made for an unforgettable outing on the Outdoor Theatre Stage. "Wolf Totem" was among the otherworldly tracks the band performed with absolute perfection.

Phoebe Bridgers at Coachella.
Photo credit: Getty Images for Coachella

Phoebe Bridgers — Standing out on a three-day bill featuring more than 150 artists isn't easy, but Los Angeles singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers did that with her bewitching hour-long set Friday night. Launching her showcase with the lovely "Motion Sickness," Bridgers performed a set that showcased her amazing songcraft and ability to use her musical talents — and those of her amazing band members — to create a soundscape that is fully her own. It didn't hurt that the video projection screen would feature a colorful animated book that would flip pages between the songs and twinkling night sky adding additional atmospheric magic to the setting. Her nuanced and artful performance reached a dramatic close with the explosive finale of "I Know The End."

Other Friday highlights included area favorites Giselle Woo & the Night Owls, English rockers Spiritualized, the soul-meets-pop New York-based Lawrence (featuring siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence), rising Los Angeles band The Marias, French singer-DJ Madeon and headliner Harry Styles — the latter who was joined by Lizzo for a version of "I Will Survive." 

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Beach Bunny performing on the Outdoor Theatre stage.
Photo credit: Jacob Mulka / Getty Images for Coachella

Beach Bunny - an early Saturday standout, the Lili Trifilio-led Chicago outfit Beach Bunny offered up a winning mix of melodic punk and power pop on the Outdoor Theatre Stage on Saturday afternoon. Although the quartet was reduced to a trio (the band's guitarist Matt Henkels was not in the lineup for some reason), the group's second-ever appearance at Coachellafest was a success with Trifilio handling all the guitar duties with enough power to help propel their great 45-minute set.

Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast at Coachella.
Photo credit: Julian Bajsel / Getty Images for Coachella

Japanese Breakfast — The moniker for singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Michelle Zauner, Japanese Breakfast was clearly a wonderful discovery for many at the festival. Japanese Breakfast delivered a fully original and joyful set inside a packed Mojave Tent on Saturday afternoon. The diversity of the material included the lovely "Glider" (written for a video game), melodic sortie "Savage Good Boys" and set-ending experimental art rocker "Diving Woman." The yearning "The Body Is a Blade" from her latest album "Jubilee" was one of the most affecting songs this writer heard during the fest.

Danny Elfman at Coachella.
Photo credit: Rachael Polack / Getty
Images for Coachella

Danny Elfman — On Oct. 31, 1995, Danny Elfman said goodbye to his beloved Oingo Boingo via a 3-hour, 40-minute finale at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles (read my review of that legendary concert HERE). With that well-publicized finale, Elfman dove full time into his burgeoning career as a composer and has since written a slew of acclaimed film scores. Fast forward 27 years to Elfman's appearances at Coachella 2022 and the artist has truly come full circle. On Saturday night, Elfman and an amazing band along with an orchestra and choir performed a handful of Boingo classics as well as selections from some of his most beloved film scores along with new material from his 2021 solo album "Big Mess." This was a dazzling and satisfying run through Elfman's singularly rich sonic universe. Standouts included an amped take on the "Simpsons" theme, a medley of songs from "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and gorgeous symphonic run through "Ice Dance / The Grand Finale" (from "Edward Scissorhands"); it was marvelous to hear Elfman and company run through inspired versions of Boingo classics like "Just Another Day," "Only a Lad" and "Dead Man's Party." The new material was compelling too, especially the decidedly dark "Happy."

Billie Eilish performing on the Coachella Stage.
Photo credit: Andy Boyle / Getty Images for Coachella

Hayley Williams, left, with Billie Eilish in Indio, CA.
Photo credit: Andy Boyle / Getty Images for Coachella

Billie Eilish — Although Weekend 2 attendees didn't get the celebrated Damon Albarn (who appeared at Weekend 1) as a guest during the "Bad Guy" singer's highly anticipated set on Saturday night, they did get to enjoy a guest making her first-ever appearance at the famed festival. "Oh, look! An empty seat. Who is that for?" Eilish asked. She then introduced Paramore's Hayley Williams; they joined forces along with Eilish's brother FINNEAS (the latter who handled acoustic guitar duties) for a powerful take on Paramore's 2007 rocker "Misery Business." Make no mistake; 20-year-old Eilish is already a bona fide star. In addition to her unique vocal and musical style, she is a compelling songstress more focused on nuanced songcraft than glitzy bombast. Sure, her set included dance-minded cuts like "NDA" and "My Strange Addiction," but the gorgeous "idontwannabeyouanymore," "Lovely" and "Getting Older" revealed a greater force at play than the majority of her contemporary hitmakers. 

Other Saturday highlights included rising British rock quartet Yard Act, Disclosure and wonderful R&B singer Amber Mark.

Sunday, April 24, 2022

FINNEAS performing on the Outdoor Theatre on Sunday, April 24, 2022.
Photo credit: Rachael Polack / Getty Images for Coachella

FINNEAS — FINNEAS repeated the power of his previous week's solo set with his appearance on the final day of Coachella. Standouts of his 45-minute set on the Outdoor Theatre stage included the soulful piano-anchored "I Lost a Friend," R&B-meets-rock foray "The 90s" and heart-wrenching "Break My Heart Again." He closed out his set with the soaring Americana mining "Till Forever Falls Apart" and breezy acoustic nugget "Let's Fall in Love for the Night."

Maggie Rogers — Appearing on the Coachella Stage, singer Maggie Rogers' emotive "Light On" and soulful follow-up "Falling Water" really showcased her uplifting approach and soaring vocals. She ended her 45-minute appearance with the driving dance track "That's Where I Am." 

For more coverage of Weekend #2 of the festival, read writer George A. Paul's coverage via Rock Cellar Magazine HERE.