New Music: The dB'S, Skeeter Davis & NRBQ, Fastball

New albums featuring under-the-radar heroes The dB'S, Skeeter Davis & NRBQ, and Fastball are featured in my column this week.

Artist: The dB'S

Title: Stands for deciBels (Propeller Sound Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: The dB's, Big Star, R.E.M., early Cheap Trick

Tell me more: Groundbreaking American rock outfit the dB's' 1981 debut album Stands for deciBels has just been reissued digitally as well as on audio CD and vinyl by Propeller Sound Recordings; the newly remastered album had never previously been released on vinyl in the U.S. 

The dB's / Photo by Stefan Wallgren

A true sonic bridge between power pop pioneers Big Star and college rock heroes R.E.M., the dB'S' glorious 12-track Stands for deciBels busts out of the gate with the driving "Black and White," a song that somehow blends jangly guitar rock, garage rock and new wave stylings in an artfully new way. Subsequent cuts on the disc include the hypnotic "Dynamite," psychedelic-minded "She's Not Worried," style-defying "Espionage" and "Cycles per Second," driving rocker "Bad Reputation" and exuberant "I'm In Love." The CD and digital editions of Stands for deciBels closes with the sumptuous "Judy," a single not included on the original release but available on a late '80s I.R.S. Records reissue. The dB'S (Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Gene Holder and Will Rigby) are set to embark on their first national tour since 2012 on the heels of their studio album issued that year (Falling Off the Sky) when they perform at the Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina on Sept. 7, 2024. Information: propellersoundrecordings.com and thedbs.com.

Artist: Skeeter Davis & NRBQ

Title: She Sings, They Play (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: NRBQ, Skeeter Davis, She & Him, Emmylou Harris, the Davis Sisters

Tell me more: One of the more interesting and bold collaborations of the 1980s, Skeeter Davis & NRBQ's 1985 album She Sings, They Play has been released as an expanded reissue by Omnivore Recordings. A true fusion between the talents of acclaimed singer Davis and genre mash up-minded American rock outfit NRBQ, the album (released via vinyl, on CD and digitally) thrills across its entire gloriously-expanded run. Delights abound on the outstanding title,  including the traditional country nugget "Everybody Wants A Cowboy," heartfelt ballad "I Can't Stop Loving You Now" featuring Buddy Emmons' wonderful pedal steel guitar work, the lively duet "Ain't Nice To Talk Like That," the previously-unissued retro rocker "I Want You Bad," a rootsy heartfelt cover of "Someday My Prince Will Come," the Baroque ballad "How Many Tears" and previously-unreleased rockabilly cut "I Gotta Know." Also included on the disc are tracks recorded live at The Bottom Line in New York City on Oct. 18, 1985 — the date of the album's initial release — that are included on the audio CD and digital versions of She Sings, They Play; "Gonna Get Along Without You Now," "Things To You" and a bewitching take on Davis' own 1962 hit "The End Of The World" are particularly strong. The packaging contains updated artwork, photos from the recording sessions and liner notes from John DeAngelis. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Artist: Fastball

Title: Sonic Ranch (Sunset Blvd Records)

You might like if you enjoy: dada, Fastball, Goo Goo Dolls, Oasis

Tell me more: One of the most talented American rock bands to emerge at the dawn of the 1990s, Austin, Texas-based Fastball is back with a new album that recalls the trio's best work. Produced by David Garza (Fiona Apple, Rhett Miller), the new album titled Sonic Ranch (released on June 21) features a slew of memorable and diverse originals. The explosive first single "Rather Be Me Than You" is an infectious and hard-charging cut that is equal parts testosterone and melody. The aptly-titled "Daydream" is a sweeping mid tempo track recalling early Oasis. Fastball's talent at crafting top-tier ear candy is highlighted by the luxurious "Hummingbird" and buoyant "Let Love Back In Your Heart." The fast-paced "Get You Off My Mind" blends the band's signature melodic rock sound with a New Wave flourish that really works, while the countrified folk nugget "Grey Sky Blue" and Spaghetti Western-tinged "America" collectively showcase the ambitious range of Fastball. Other standouts include the harmonies-draped "On And On" and enchanting "The Island Of Me." Sonic Ranch marks a wonderful return for Tony Scalzo, Miles Zuniga and Joey Shuffield. Information: fastballtheband.com. 

Robert Kinsler

Fastball's seventh album, 'The Help Machine,' produced by Steve Berlin, out October 18

It's definitely an exciting day when you hear that Fastball has another album on the way. Click here to read my review of the band's 2017 album 'Step Into The Light' release. Read on for news as it relates to the talented trio's forthcoming album 'The Help Machine' ...

AUSTIN, Texas — “In the past, we’d make a record and then everybody would go their separate ways for awhile,” says Fastball's Miles Zuniga. "But now, we're feeling so excited about the music that it’s ‘How soon can we make another record?’ We’re feeling a sense of urgency about the music that’s really refreshing.” 

Fastball’s new album The Help Machine follows on the heels of their acclaimed 2017 release Step Into Light. The 11-song set, on the Austin, Texas trio’s own 33 1/3 label and due out October 18, 2019, once again demonstrates the distinctive songwriting, expressive vocals and inventive melodic sensibilities of Zuniga and his bandmate Tony Scalzo. With drummer Joey Shuffield completing the longstanding lineup, the band’s time-tested creative rapport is as potent as ever on such tunes as Scalzo’s “White Collar,” “All Gone Fuzzy,” and “The Girl You Pretended To Be,” and the Zuniga compositions “Friend or Foe,” “Holding the Devil’s Hand,” and the album's enigmatic title track. 

The Help Machine’s original compositions gain added sonic resonance from the production of Los Lobos member and versatile Grammy-winner Steve Berlin, whose studio resume includes work with the likes of Alejandro Escovedo, Faith No More, Rickie Lee Jones, and the Tragically Hip.

“Steve became an integral part of the team,” Shuffield asserts. “He’s a really positive guy, he’s got a great ear, and he helped us come up with some great sounds. His personality fit right in to what we were doing, and he understood where each of us was coming from. He just about drove us into the ground; it would be one or two in the morning and he’d say, ‘All right, what do you guys want to do next?’”

“Steve was the perfect guy to produce this album,” adds Zuniga. “We worked really fast. We did it in ten days, and we didn’t really need the last three.”

Recording at Austin’s Treefort Studios with engineer Jim Vollentine, who’d worked on Fastball’s 2004 release Keep Your Wig On, the band and Berlin maintained an organic creative atmosphere that allowed the band members to break out of their respective comfort zones. Scalzo didn’t even play his usual instrument, bass, on the sessions, instead tackling new challenges on keyboards and guitar. The group brought in old friend Bruce Hughes (formerly of Cracker and Poi Dog Pondering) to handle the album’s bass parts. Other guest players include Austin legend Charlie Sexton, who adds guitar on “The Girl You Pretended To Be"; Wye Oak member Andy Steck, who plays multiple instruments on a pair of tracks; and Band of Heathens members Gordy Quist and John Chipman.

“We had a great time in the studio, and the whole thing was a very creative experience,” Scalzo notes. “When Fastball started out, we were almost like two different bands, and Miles and I tended to be careful to keep our hands off of each other’s songs. But now, we just view them all as Fastball songs, and we generally feel free to mess with them. It works better that way.”

With nearly a quarter-century of music-making under their collective belt, the members of Fastball continue to extend and expand the band’s widely loved body of work, which encompasses such memorable albums as their 1996 debut Make Your Mama Proud, their 1998 platinum breakthrough All the Pain Money Can Buy (which spawned the Grammy-nominated Top Five hit “The Way”), 2000’s The Harsh Light of Day, 2004’s Keep Your Wig On, 2009’s Little White Lies and 2017’'s Step Into Light.

"When I look at our catalog, there’s not a bad record in there," Shuffield opines, adding, “We’ve been through our ups and downs, but I think we’ve really found our groove over the last few years. We spent a lot of time on a major label, so initially the transition back to being an indie band was a little bumpy. But now it feels comfortable being responsible for everything ourselves, because that way we’re more likely to get it right. We’re all so into the music now, and I think you can hear that on the last couple of albums.”

“It’s only natural,” Scalzo adds, “that you get better at what you do as you get older and more experienced. But you can't always figure that out when you’re in your 20s. Now that we’re on our own label, the pressure’s all on us, and that’s fine. All I ever really wanted was a consistent creative outlet, and we've got that now.” 

The ongoing resonance of Fastball’s music is reflected in the personally charged passion of Fastball’s ardent fan base. Shuffield: “We’re always meeting people who tell us how we helped them get through college, and we have whole families that come to the shows now. At nearly every show, we’ll meet people who’ve flown in from other states, or other countries, to see us play. That kind of thing really warms the heart, and makes us feel like we're doing something right.”  

“We’d love to have another massive hit single,” Zuniga reflects, “but you can’t really plan that. We’re living in a different world now, and all we can do is just make the best music we can. When you're young, you’re insecure and trying to get attention for yourself. But when you get a little more mature, you start to care more about what's right for the music. When I was in my 20s, I was always trying to impress people. But now all I care about is making great music, and I think that the whole band feels that way. 

“We’re all grown-ups with kids now, so there's more of a sense of urgency now,” Zuniga concludes. “We’re all still here, everyone’s healthy, and we all still feel like if we’re going to do something, we should do it now. I don’t want to wake up ten years from now and wonder what I did with my time.  We’ve still got things we want to do, and I think that our attitude now is ‘Let’s get this stuff done, there's no time to waste.’”  

Tony Scalzo - vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards

Joey Shuffield - drums

Miles Zuniga - vocals, guitar

Tour dates:

Fri., Aug. 9  CHAMBLEE, GA Changlee City Park DUO SHOW

Sat., Aug. 31  PORT LAVACA, TX  Flip Flop Festival

Fri., Sept. 13  NEW YORK, NY Le Poisson Rouge

Fri., Sept. 20  LAWRENCEBURG, IN Lawrenceburg Event Center  DUO SHOW
Fri., Jan. 24  FORT LAUDERDALE, FL Abdo NRR -– Broward Center DUO SHOW

Fastball web site: http://www.fastballtheband.com 

Pre-sale link: https://shop.bandwear.com/thehelpmachine 

Sights and Sounds: Chuck Berry, Fastball

Here is a roundup of several highly-anticipated news items in the world of music, and I can't think of a better way to start Wednesday than watching the feel-good video for "Big Boys"...and it is more than exciting to see that Fastball is set to return with a new album too!

NPR Music is premiering the first-ever Chuck Berry video for the great, infectious rocker "Big Boys." Watch the video here: http://n.pr/2qRfD2w

Chuck Berry's songs codified the sound, rhythm and language of rock and roll, influenced the The Beatles and Rolling Stones, and earned him induction into the inaugural class of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. But they were never the subject of a music video - until now. Today, NPR Music has premiered the first-ever official video for a Chuck Berry song, "Big Boys," the lead single from the forthcoming album CHUCK, due out June 9 on Dualtone Records, an Entertainment One Company. CHUCK is the final studio album and first new music in nearly four decades from the founding rock and roll legend, who passed away in March at the age of 90. Directed by Matt Bizer and Curtis Wayne Millard (Old Crow Medicine Show, Shovels & Rope), the video revisits the culture of hot cars and sock hops that Berry helped create, with choreography that blends swing and hip-hop. Watch here: http://n.pr/2qRfD2w

Comprised of ten new recordings, eight of which were written by Berry, CHUCK is his first new album since 1979's Rock It. It was recorded and produced by Berry in various studios around St. Louis and features his longtime hometown backing group - including his children Charles Berry Jr. (guitar) and Ingrid Berry (vocals, harmonica), plus Jimmy Marsala (Berry's bassist for forty years), Robert Lohr (piano), and Keith Robinson (drums) - which supported him for nearly two decades on over two hundred residency shows at the famed Blueberry Hill club. In addition to Gary Clark Jr., the album includes guest performances from Tom Morello, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Chuck's grandson Charles Berry III. Acclaimed author and historian Douglas Brinkley contributes liner notes.

Following the release of first singles "Big Boys" and "Wonderful Woman," early praise began pouring in for 'CHUCK.' The New Yorker says that 'CHUCK' shows that "after all those years of duck-walking, crisscrossing the United States on tour, and giving his disciples and imitators hell, the man still had it." Rolling Stone said the album finds Berry "raging against the dying of the light, but in a vulnerable and tender way his earlier music had not prepared us for," while The Guardian raved that 'CHUCK' "proves the late rock'n'roller was brimming with energy until the very end." Uncut remarked that "Berry has as much to say about life and death as Cash and Bowie and Cohen did on their final albums."

'CHUCK' Track List:
Wonderful Woman
Big Boys
You Go To My Head
3/4 Time (Enchiladas)
Darlin'
Lady B. Goode
She Still Loves You
Jamaica Moon
Dutchman
Eyes Of Man

FASTBALL SWINGS INTO ACTION 

 WITH NEW ALBUM 

 

"STEP INTO LIGHT" 

Out This Friday, May 19th via  33 1/3 Records 

 

Full Album Premieres on BILLBOARD

FASTBALL Joins EVERCLEAR and VERTICAL HORIZON 

on North American Tour  

 

“Not only is the studio chemistry between band members Tony Scalzo (vocals, bass, guitar), Joey Shuffield (drums), and Miles Zuniga (vocals, guitar) unwavering, 

but their sheer love for making music seems to be at an all-time high.”—Consequence of Sound 

 

 

This Friday, May 19, 2017, Alt Rockers Fastball will release their 6th album, Step Into Light. In advance of the street date the band will share the entire album exclusively via billboard.com.  

 

Recently, Fastball visited Sirius XM Studios for an interview and performance on the Howard Stern Wrap Up Show where they discussed the unexpected reincarnation of their late ‘90s hit “Out of My Head” on Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello’s #1 smash Hit “Bad Things.” The band also performed one of Howard’s favorite Beatles songs “The Two Of Us.”  Highlights can be found here:

 

For fans that order early, the single,“I Will Never Let You Down” will be offered as an instant grat track with preorder. The album will be available through the bands own 33 1/3 label and is the first FASTBALL album to get a vinyl LP release. 

 

With nearly 20 years of musical explorations and milestones under its belt, FASTBALL remains one of the most consistent and continuously celebrated rock bands on the road today.  The  group recorded the new album Step Into Light in their hometown of Austin, Texas, with the three bandmates co-producing with longtime friend Chris "Frenchie" Smith. 

 

The resulting collection extends FASTBALL’s widely-loved body of work, which encompasses such acclaimed albums as their 1996 debut Make Your Mama Proud, their 1998 platinum breakthrough All the Pain Money Can Buy (which spawned the Grammy-nominated Top Five hit "The Way"), 2000's The Harsh Light of Day, 2004's Keep Your Wig On and 2009's Little White Lies.  

 

The trio is now on an extensive North American tour with fellow 90’s hitmakers; Vertical Horizon and Everclear.  All three groups on the tour will be donating $1 per ticket sold at each show to Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, an organization that provides financial assistance to career musicians, venue workers, production staff, crew members, and their families suffering from injury, illness or disability.

 

View “I Will Never Let You Down" here. 

View “We’re on Our Way” here.

Stream entire Album on Billboard.com

 

“We’re On Our Way” is the propulsive opening track on Step Into Light, kicked off by a buzzy riff and some trading harmonies from Miles Zuniga and Tony Scalzo, matched to Joey Shuffield‘s steady drumbeat. It’s a loud, attention-grabbing introduction to the band’s first album in eight years.” — Rock Cellar Magazine

 

 

As seen on “ Good Day Austin,” “Today in Nashville” and more…

 

So Much For The Afterglow 20th Anniversary Tour

 

5/16 – Calgary, AB @ Marquee Beer Market & Stage

5/17 – Saskatoon, SK @ O’Brians Event Centre

5/18 – Regina, SK @ Casino Regina

5/19 – Deadwood, SD @ Deadwood Mountain Grand Event Center

5/20 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall

5/21– Grand Junction, CO @ Two Rivers Convention Center 

5/23 – The Colony, TX @ Lava Cantina

5/25 – Des Moines, IA @ Brenton Skating Plaza

5/26 – Welch, MN @ Treasure Island Resort & Casino

5/27 - Lincoln, NE @ Vega - ** (Fastball only)

5/28 – Kansas City, MO @ CrossroadsKC

5/30 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre and Ballroom

6/1 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE

6/2 – Arlington Heights, IL @ HOME Bar

6/3 – South Bend, IN @ Four Winds Field

6/4 – Columbus, OH @ Express Live (Fastball only)

6/6 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza

6/7 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues

6/8 – Portland, ME @ Aura

6/9 – Hampton Beach, NH @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom         

6/10 – Fairfax, VA @ Celebrate Fairfax! Festival

6/11 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall

6/13 – Thunder Bay, ON @ Rockhouse 

6/15 – Winnipeg, MB @ Club Regent Event Centre

6/16 – Duluth, MN @ Grandma’s Marathon, Canal Park

6/18 – Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion                                           

6/22 – West Siloam Springs, OK @ Cherokee Casino West Siloam Springs 

6/23 – New Braunfels, TX @ River Road Ice House

6/24 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues

6/25 – Midland, TX @ Wagner Noel PAC                                         

6/27 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee

6/28 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco Theatre                                

6/29 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues 

7/20 – Atlanta, GA @ City Winery**

7/22 – Lexington, KY @ Willie’s Locally Known**

7/28 – Marietta, OH @ The Adelphia Music Hall At The Gallery**

7/30 – Pawling, NY @ Daryl’s House

 

**FASTBALL ONLY

 

For ticket info check: http://www.fastballtheband.com/shows/ 

 

More Dates To Be Announced. 

 

Follow Fastball at http://www.fastballtheband.com