New Music: The Rolling Stones, The Fixx, The Legion of Decency

Terrific releases from The Rolling Stones, The Fixx and The Legion of Decency make for a pretty stellar crop of music library essential titles to add to any music lover's collection. 

Artist: The Rolling Stones

Title: Licked Live In NYC (Mercury Studios)

You might like if you enjoy: The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards 

Tell me more: Originally released in 2003 as an HBO special and as part of the Four Flicks package, The Rolling Stones' outstanding Licked Live In NYC has been fully restored and remastered with bonus material that shines a light on the legendary band's 40th Anniversary Tour; the legendary tour included 117 shows and was noteworthy for including the group's first-ever concert in Hong Kong. This title captures the Stones' Madison Square Garden show staged in January 2003; standout versions performed by the band include a fiery "Start Me Up," the melodic Mick Jagger track "Don't Stop," lively "Happy" featuring Keith Richards on lead vocals, magic "Gimme Shelter" (with Lisa Fischer trading vocals with Jagger), rowdy "You Got Me Rocking" and "Honky Tonk Woman" (the latter with guest Sheryl Crow) and fiery "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" and "Brown Sugar." The DVD+2CD version (reviewed in this column) looks and sounds terrific; it includes previously-unreleased performances of "Start Me Up," "Tumbling Dice," "Gimme Shelter" and "Sympathy For The Devil," along with three bonus performances from Amsterdam and rehearsal footage. Licked Live In NYC is also available via SD Blu-ray+2CD (wit includes the additional 51-minute documentary "Tip Of The Tongue"), as a standalone 2CD and 3LP. Information: rollingstones.com.  

Artist: The Fixx

Title: Every Five Seconds (BFD)

You might like if you enjoy: Simple Minds, U2, David Bowie

Tell me more: Before the release of Every Five Seconds on June 3, it had been a full decade since The Fixx had issued a new studio album (2012's wonderful Beautiful Friction). The great news for fans of top-tier alternative rock is that the quintet's latest effort builds on a marvelous discography stretching back to their 1982 debut Shuttered Room. Lead singer Cy Curnin's voice is still a wonder, and it is amazing that the band's long-time lineup is fully intact (lead guitarist Jamie West-Oram, bassist Dan K. Brown, keyboardist Rupert Greenall, drummer Adam Woods). The top-tier material includes the topical rocker "A Life Survived," funk-tinged "Closer," thought-provoking sortie "Wake Up," luxurious "Suspended In Make Believe," dazzling "Spell" and the ambitious styles-defying "Lonely As A Lighthouse" — the latter showcasing West-Oram's amazing fret work. Information: TheFixx.com.

Artist: The Legion of Decency

Title: Deep Lines Among The Shallows (Legion Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: Dawes, Old 97's, Rhett Miller

Tell me more: Deep Lines Among The Shallows is the wonderful full-length album from Inland Empire-based The Legion of Decency. An album of immense depth, warmth and undeniable beauty, singer-songwriter-guitarist Michael Tamony's rich Americana guided soundscape is bolstered by a talented cast of players and singers who bring the mix of literate and poetic originals fully to life. Compelling songs on Side A include the poignant opener "Sometimes," the genuinely affecting "Grandma's Sound," rollicking "We Are Giant" and immersive title track. The countrified "I Do," lovely "Julietta," and reflective closer "Shine a Light" are among the wonderful cuts on Side B of the album. Information: TheLegionOfDecency.com.  

Robert Kinsler

New Music: Tower of Power, Neil Young, Farrington, Brigitte DeMeyer, Natalie D-Napoleon

The far-flung genres of soul, funk, Americana, super-charged melodic rock, country blues and folk rock are among the styles celebrated across a slew of fantastic new titles.

Artist: Tower of Power

Title: 50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater - Oakland, CA (Artistry Music)

You might like if you enjoy: Tower of Power, WAR, James Brown

Tell me more: Prior to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, I was fortunate to be able to catch a rousing full-length concert featuring legendary Oakland-spawned powerhouse Tower of Power. That memorable concert and its zestful spirit was no fluke; the newly-issued 50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater - Oakland, CA has been released via a must-have 2-CD/1-DVD package (other configurations include a 3-LP set and digital audio release) that captures the group's groundbreaking energy and timeless sound via a 22-track event staged in the band's hometown in 2018. From the opening soul sortie "Stroke" and infectious sing-along "Ain't Nothing Stopping Us Now" to the fast flying "Soul With a Capital S," Motown-flavored "You're So Wonderful, So Marvelous" and dance floor-minded "Drop It In The Slot," the collective is on fire. Lead vocalist Marcus Scott is an especially gifted singer, bringing emotional firepower and star power to the up-tempo tracks as well as lovely ballads (notably "Just When We Start Makin' It," "Don't Change Horses" and "You're Still A Young Man"). The group — anchored by its amazing five-man horn section (bandleader Emillo Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Tom Politzer, Adolfo Acosta and Sal Cracchiolo) — continues to move forward even while steeped in their classic fusion of soul and funk as evidenced by the grooving new cut "Stop," a breathtaking "On the Serious Side" and fiery "What Is Hip?" The special 50th celebration concert includes guest band alumni Chester Thompson (Hammond B3, clarinet)  Lenny Pickett (tenor sax), Francis "Rocco" Prestia (bass), Bruce Conte (guitar) and Ray Greene (trombone). Information: TowerOfPower.com.

Artist: Neil Young

Title: Young Shakespeare (Reprise)

You might like if you enjoy: Neil Young's "Harvest" and "After The Gold Rush" albums

Tell me more: Neil Young's Young Shakespeare is an amazing recording of the artist's concert at The Shakespeare Theater in Stratford, Connecticut on Jan. 22, 1971. Filmed on 16mm and recorded just two months after the release of his iconic album After The Gold Rush, the 45-minute title features the earliest live performance footage known to exist of Young. But not only is the footage and recording historical, it's astonishing; the restoration of the film and remastering of the analog audio tapes are an absolute wonder. Young is at ease throughout the acoustic concert even while his performance of a dozen of his most beloved early originals resonate with a tangible power. It's amazing to think that Young — only 26 at the time — had already penned "Ohio," "Cowgirl in the Sand," "Helpless," "Down By the River," "Heart of Gold" and "The Needle and the Damage Done." Accompanied only by his own guitar or piano, this is an essential addition to the music library of fans of the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. Young Shakespeare is available via several configurations, including audio CD and vinyl LP versions, as well as a deluxe box set edition that includes vinyl, audio CD and the DVD. Information: NeilYoungArchives.com.

Artist: Farrington

Title: Saturday in Nowhereland (Farrington)

You might like if you enjoy: ELO, The Lickerish Quartet, Badfinger, Cheap Trick, Pugwash

Tell me more: When you listen to Farrington's new album Saturday in Nowhereland prepare to be wowed. The songs often turn on a dime, blending tuneful melodic rock, psychedelic stylings, power pop and other sonic genres masterfully. The bewitching title track, delightfully dark "The Loner," Cheap Trick-flavored "Damsel In Distress" and ambitious "Assassins" are early-LP standouts. Saturday in Nowhereland continues its winning momentum with the melodic rocker "Emily Lovelight," gorgeous "Turning It Up Too Loud Again," boundless "A Day At The Beach," euphonic "Anatomic" and sumptuous "The Switchblade Symphony." In addition to the top-tier talents of singer-guitarist-keyboardist Farrington (James Patrick Phelan), drummer Marcos de la Cruz and bassist Henry Clift, a who's who of musical guests appears on the disc; Jon Auer (The Posies, Big Star), Eric Dover (Jellyfish, Imperial Drag), John Easedale (Dramarama), Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. (The Lickerish Quartet, Beck) and Bryan Shaddix (The Tickets) are a few of the notables who contribute to the magic. Information: FarringtonMusic.com.

Artist: Brigitte DeMeyer

Title: Seeker (BDM Music)

You might like if you enjoy: Larkin Poe, Southern Avenue

Tell me more: That sweet corner of the musical universe where country blues, Memphis soul and American folk meet is explored with genuine grace and style on singer-songwriter Brigitte DeMeyer's elegant Seeker. Working with her co-writer/producer Jano Rix, Nashville-based DeMeyer's new album provides a joyful sonic tour of the South courtesy of the gentle "All The Blue," New Orleans-mining "Louisiana," soulful "Calamity Gone" and magnificent "Roots and Wings and Bones." Other delights on Seeker include the bluesy "Cat Man Do" and "Salt Of The Earth," acoustic "Already In" and lovely "Seeker" — all bolstered by DeMeyer's superb soprano. Information: BrigitteDeMeyer.com.

Artist: Natalie D-Napoleon

Title: You Wanted To Be The Shore But Instead You Were The Sea (Natalie D-Napoleon)

You might like if you enjoy: Rosanne Cash, Kathleen Edwards

Tell me more: Singer-songwriter Natalie D-Napoleon has returned with her first full-length set of songs in eight years, the probing You Wanted To Be The Shore But Instead You Were The Sea. The songs are delivered powerfully with nuanced musicianship, strong arrangements and real life-rooted lyrical heft to match. D-Napoleon, a native of Australia who now calls California home, worked with producer Jim Connolly and a cast of talented players to complete the album using a single microphone at Deane Chapel in the hills behind Santa Barbara, CA. The result is an authentic and intimate album that could have been recorded in Laurel Canyon a half century ago but simultaneously sounds resonant in 2021. And true to the pioneering folk rock pioneers who emerged in California in the late '60s and early '70s, D-Napoleon's lyrics hit their mark; on You Wanted To Be The Shore But Instead You Were The Sea she renders detailed experiences of women. One of my favorites is the wistful "Wildflowers," D-Napoleon's signature vocals sharing the spotlight with Doug Pettibone's sublime mandolin playing. Other standouts include the exuberant "No Longer Mine" with its anthemic build in tune with the message of independence from a flawed relationship, and the driving "Mother Of Exiles" which celebrates America's history of immigration. Information: nataliednapoleon.net.

Robert Kinsler

New music: Matthew Sweet, Pete Yorn, the Lickerish Quartet

 Several of the first great discs of 2021 are highlighted in my column this week.

Artist: Matthew Sweet

Title: Catspaw (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: Tommy Keene, The Smithereens, Big Star

Tell me more: It's hard to believe, but Matthew Sweet's new album Catspaw is the power pop icon's fifteenth album. The good news is that the singer-songwriter/guitar great's newly-released disc bristles and soars like it's a hard-charging debut. In addition to his distinctive vocals and amazing songcraft, Sweet's edgy electric guitar work (frequently recalling Neil Young's freewheeling approach) takes center stage while Ric Menck's solid drumming holds down the rhythmic foundation throughout the dozen-track collection. Listening to the infectious "Give A Little," inspired "Challenge The Gods," tender "Hold On Tight," electrifying "At A Loss" and ambitious closer "Parade Of Lights" is to be reminded of how Sweet has an uncanny gift at fusing rock 'n'' roll instincts with showering melody and impressive musical chops to boot. Produced, recorded and mixed by Sweet at his home studio in Omaha, Nebraska, the artist handles rhythm and lead guitars, bass, piano and all lead and backing vocals on the masterwork. The lyrics here hit home as well, tackling the quest for life's meaning with artful candor. Information: MatthewSweet.com.

Artist: Pete Yorn

Title: Pete Yorn Sings The Classics (Shelly Music)

You might like if you enjoy: Crowded House, the Jayhawks, Pete Yorn

Tell me more: Singer-songwriter great Pete Yorn's wide range of influences are celebrated on his new aptly-titled Pete Yorn Sings The Classics, a 10-song set where the Los Angeles-based artist reworks well-known material into his own signature style. Among the bona fide delights on the disc are his shimmering take on The Stone Roses' "Ten Storey Love Song," a joyful version of Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay," yearning musical reading of the Tracey Ullman 1983 hit "They Don't Know," rootsy version of Simon and Garfunkel's "I Am A Rock" and a magic rendition of Roxy Music's "More Than This." Yorn closes out the disc with an evocative version of the Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer classic "Moon River." To be sure, every cut on the album is fantastic and this listener would welcome a sequel! Of the selections Yorn says: "...these songs all have one thing in common...they all stopped me in my tracks upon first discovery, simply because I loved the way they made me feel. They compelled me to listen repetitively...almost compulsively over and over again." Information: PeteYorn.com.

Artist: The Lickerish Quartet

Title: Threesome Vol. 2 (Stranger Danger Records and Tapes)

You might like if you enjoy: Jellyfish, Queen, Dada, Tears for Fears, XTC

Tell me more: The Lickerish Quartet has followed up their terrific debut EP Threesome Vol. 1 (released in May 2020) with the worthy follow-up Threesome Vol. 2. The new four-track EP again showcases a troupe able to perfectly fuse melodic power pop, art rock and intelligent lyrics with glorious results. Ex-Jellyfish members Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Beck, Imperial Drag), Tim Smith (Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, the Finn Brothers) and Eric Dover (Imperial Drag, Slash's Snakepit) craft songs that enthrall with a single listen. The melodic opener "Do You Feel Better?," exhilarating "Sovereignty Blues," sweeping "The Dream That Took Me Over" and breakneck sortie "Snollyguster Goon" collectively make for a perfect listen. Information: TheLickerishQuartet.com.

Robert Kinsler

The Lickerish Quartet follows up 'Masterpiece' debut EP with 'Threesome Vol. 2,' set for release on January 8, 2021

Check out The Lickerish Quartet's hard-charging new single. It is great!

The Lickerish Quartet's first single and video, "Snollygoster Goon," out today, Friday, Nov. 20, 2020!

 

The Lickerish Quartet, left to right: Tim Smith, Eric Dover,
and Roger Joseph Manning Jr.

 

 

November 20, 2020 -- THE LICKERISH QUARTET—ex-Jellyfish members Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Beck, Air, Cheap Trick, Imperial Drag), Tim Smith (Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Finn Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Umajets) and Eric Dover (Imperial Drag, Slash’s Snakepit, Alice Cooper, Sextus)—is standing by their promise to their fans to release more new music before the end of 2020. 

 

Today they’re excited to announce their highly anticipated THREESOME VOL. 2 EP, which will be released January 8, 2021 via Stranger Danger Records and Tapes. Pre-orders will be available starting Friday, December 4 here. The first single and video, “Snollygoster Goon,” can be seen now on the band’s official YouTube page and streamed on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon.

 

In addition to the new music, THE LICKERISH QUARTET is offering unprecedented access to the band thanks to a plethora of exciting “Experiences,” which will be available for purchase on their official website. These exclusive offers include: “Perform / Record On Your Song,” “Co-Write a Song With Us,” “Video Chat,” “Music Lesson,” and many others. 

 

It’s the follow-up to their debut EP, THREESOME VOL. 1, lauded by critics as “a masterpiece” which was released May 15, 2020 via The Lickerish Quartet/Label Logic, as distributed by Ingrooves and can be purchased and streamed on all digital outlets.

 

With song titles like “Snolllygoster Goon,” “The Dream That Took Me Over,” “Sovereignty Blues,” and “Do You Feel Better?” Manning, Smith, and Dover’s undeniable chemistry can once again be found throughout THREESOME VOL. 2. The songs formed from the same sessions that begun in 2017 offer a slinky and feisty landscape of temptation, freedom of thought, hope and dreams, and a shout out to all who game the systems. An edgy second round of soaring vocals, angular guitars, and pulsing drums, enveloped by timeless keyboard arrangements requires multiple listens to appreciate fully. Manning, Dover and Smith ruminate on these new songs:

 

“Do You Feel Better?” as told by Tim Smith:

A romp along the primrose path of temptations, internal and external, real or imagined, the tiny demons we dance with throughout our lives.
A pulsing bass and hypnotic guitar rhythm plays like the backing band to a striptease you’ve sneaked into, and don’t know where to sit, but all are welcome!
Some things are more dangerous than others, of course, but this song is sort of a combination of letting your guard down, because of preconceived notions of what’s right or wrong, and justification  of actions you think you understand to have under control. Who knows?
Experiences do give us perspective, and this song tries to play between the id and superego--a Screwtape letter demon, and an Angel of Mercy.
 

“Sovereignty Blues” as told by Roger Joseph Manning Jr.:

 

“Fears fire’s all they’re fanning, but I won’t light up their fuse.” A tale as old as humanity. Group control over another through the tried and true tactic of fear. And always partnered with a fatal dose of “divide and conquer.” But who’s actually pulling the levers and pushing the buttons of the propaganda machine behind the Wizard of Oz’ curtain of crowd control, so to speak? Irrelevant. Ultimately, the perennial question for any person, provided they value sovereignty above all else, is: am I going to choose love over fear, peace over chaos, and God over the ego in any given moment? Everything can be taken from a man but one thing (to quote Viktor Frankl): “The last of the human freedoms, to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” And with that in mind, grab a torch, march to your own drum, and sing along!

 

“The Dream That Took Me Over” as told by Eric Dover:

 

You are driving without a destination lured by the wanderlust of your own making.  You turn up the stereo volume and continue along, moonlight reflecting off the chrome of your vehicle.

We invite you to put the top down and take a ride into the inner dialectic of our conflicted protagonist as we answer the question: Is there equilibrium in the chaos or does science hold the key? 

 

“Snollygoster Goon” as told by Eric Dover:

 

A frenetic forensic foray into classic old as civilization themes involving

greed, graft and corruption as applied to any political sphere.

The music is Adderall based in theory to reflect the absolute

breakneck speed at which the corruption flourishes. The snake oil salesman kissing babies, the saccharine unimaginative public image.

 

The first single from THREESOME VOL. 1, “Lighthouse Spaceship,” has had nearly 50,000 plays on Spotify since its release in March. Lyric videos for “Lighthouse Spaceship” and “Fadoodle,” as well as an acoustic performance video for “There Is a Magic Number,” can be seen on the band’s official YouTube page.

 

Rave reviews emerged about THREESOME VOL. 1 since before its release. Popmatters.com hailed, “Fans of both Jellyfish and Imperial Drag will rejoice at the Quartet's sound. There are doses of XTC/Queen/ELO-style harmonic structures, flirtations with progressive and psychedelic rock, and tasteful but deeply impressive musicianship.” While the Minneapolis Star-Tribune declared, “If you love the harmonies of Queen, the songwriting of Brian Wilson and the lushness of Borns, (‘Lighthouse Spaceship’) is a must-add to your playlist.” The Day (CT) proclaimed, “This mini-masterpiece offers the same joy-crafted recipe fans loved about the '90s-era band (Jellyfish): Four sugar-packed tunes of Queenisms, lick-the-spoon Wings frosting, wry Fountains of Waynery, and a quick waterside through Brian Wilson's acid-period brain.” And MusicPlayers.com concluded, ““…these tracks are dreamy good! The songs cover a variety of classic pop styles from a time when you didn’t have to clarify that pop was actually a form of rock music, with a heavy dose of ‘70s vibe and incredible vocal harmonies draped over jangly electric guitars, folky acoustics, vintage keyboards, and bass grooves that can only be called… exceptional.”

 

Proclaims Tim Smith, “THREESOME VOL. 2 finds our threesome in fine form, with four new songs to get you through COVID times and beyond!”

 

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New Music: The Lickerish Quartet, Steve Earle & The Dukes, The Claudettes, Sara Evans, Waylon Jennings

Whether you are sheltering in place or getting back out to work or play, there are some truly fantastic new releases worth discovering including the debut from The Lickerish Quartet, as well as the latest albums from Steve Earle & The Dukes, The Claudettes, and Sara Evans. There is also an essential new Waylon Jennings release out via DVD and digital.

The Lickerish Quartet - Tim Smith, Eric Dover and Roger Joseph Manning Jr.

Artist: The Lickerish Quartet
Title: Threesome Vol. 1 (The Lickerish Quartet/Label Logic)
You might like if you enjoy: Jellyfish, Jason Falkner, Imperial Drag, dada
Tell me more: While groundbreaking '90s psychedelic pop outfit Jellyfish appears unlikely to ever reform, the next-best-thing is the new musical project christened the Lickerish Quartet featuring Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Tim Smith and Eric Dover — all of whom were members of Jellyfish. The band's debut release Threesome Vol. 1 fully delivers on the anticipation that has surrounded the Lickerish Quartet from the earliest moments when the trio's formation was announced in early March 2020. "Bluebird's Blues" recalls the magic of Jellyfish to be sure, an original track as intoxicating and melodic as it is inventive  — shimmering harmonies and stunning pop craft as bright as the sun. The bouncy and buoyant "Fadoodle" is pure fun, a power pop shot that celebrates rekindling romantic lust with unabashed joy.  "There is a Magic Number" is a relatively quiet affair; but listen closely to the lovely luster constructed via nuanced layers of vocal harmonies and involving instrumental flourishes that embolden the cut. The ace offering on the EP is the ambitious "Lighthouse Spaceship," a 6½ minute dose of greatness borne out of the friendly ghosts of XTC, Queen, Electric Light Orchestra and "Pet Sounds"-era Beach Boys. The digital version of the album is available now, while the audio CD format is set for release on June 26, 2020. Information: TheLickerishQuartet.com.

Artist: Steve Earle & The Dukes
Title: Ghosts of West Virginia (New West)
You might like if you enjoy: Phil Ochs, Johnny Cash, John Mellencamp
Tell me more: Ambitious, forceful and resplendent in ways that will excite discerning listeners of all stripes, Steve Earle & The Dukes' new LP Ghosts of West Virginia is an important and compelling tour de force. The album features six songs from the play "Coal Country" (a collaboration that Earle worked on with playwrights Jessical Blank and Erik Jensen) as well as four additional tracks. Opening on March 3, 2020  at The Public Theater in New York City, "Coal Country" was postponed after only two weeks due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Steve Earle / Photo By Jacob Blickenstaff 

But it will take more than a global pandemic to diminish the power of Ghosts of West Virginia. The a capella opener "Heaven Ain't Goin' Nowhere," old-time sing-along "Union, God and Country" that addresses the multi-generational role that mining plays in coal country, and Appalachia-drenched "Devil Put the Coal into the Ground" transport the listener into a world that few outsiders know or appreciate. The Springsteen-styled "John Henry was a Steel Drivin' Man" and probing "Time Is Never On Our Side" delve further into the realities that have reduced the value of human life in coal mines. The rage from the lives lost consumes "It's About Blood," a searing rocker that finds Earle sounding off the names of every victim who died in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion in 2010 as the Dukes play powerfully in accompaniment. The gorgeous country ballad "If I Could See Your Face Again" (sung by actress Mary Bacon) imagines a miner's widow lamenting she won't see her husband again: "If I could touch you one more time / Just to Hold your Head in Mine / I'd never let you go again / I promise" — a particularly melancholic and mournful track. Other songs like the potent mandolin-adorned "Black Lung," Southern rocker "Fastest Man Alive" and sparse "The Mine" bring further power and poetic grace to the purposeful "Ghosts of West Virginia." Information: SteveEarle.com.

Artist: The Claudettes
Title: High Times in the Dark (Forty Below Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Alabama Shakes, Southern Avenue

Tell me more: The Claudettes' sound is at once magically familiar and decidedly new, with the quartet's sound somehow weaving roots rock, New Orleans rhythm and blues, and Memphis rock 'n' soul together with a post-punk attitude blended together into a sonic brew the band has rightfully dubbed "garage cabaret." On the troupe's brilliant new album High Times in the Dark, Johnny Iguana's astounding piano playing and singer Berit Ulseth's marvelous voice vy for attention in all the right ways, while there is still room to showcase the top-tier work of Michael Caskey (drums) and Zach Verdoorn (bass, guitar). The rip roaring "24/5," lush "I Swear to God, I Will," edgy rocker "Declined" and moody "I Don't Do That Stuff Anymore" showcase the wide-ranging approach of the talented outfit. The songs are powerful, with sweeping arrangements equaled by the involving lyrics exploring the vast reaches of the modern world. The lavish "You Drummers Keep Breaking My Heart" addresses the challenges of keeping the seat behind the kit filled, while the album-closing track "The Sun Will Fool You" is a sobering account of an unfeeling lover who has everyone fooled — this selection that finds Ulseth's soprano at its most vulnerable while Iguana offers lone accompaniment with plaintive playing on his keyboard. Information: theclaudettes.com.

Artist: Sara Evans
Title: Copy That (Born To Fly Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Sara Evans, Old Crow Medicine Show, Little Big Town
Tell me more: Country singer Sara Evans uses her signature vocals in the service of revisiting more than a dozen classic hits on her aptly-named Copy That. Revisiting iconic selections forged over the past six decades and representing several genres, the exuberant Celtic pop romp "Come On Eileen" (a 1982 hit for Dexy's Midnight Runners) and Chicago's "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" feel mostly faithful while the reworked takes on the Pretenders' "Don't Get Me Wrong" and Carole King's "It's Too Late" are much more interesting. Other surefire choices include Evans' lavish version of John Mayer's "All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye," a lush reading of the Wallflowers' "6th Avenue Heartache" and a rousing modern take on The Knack's "My Sharona." Evans also has a couple of interesting collaborations, including the spirited "Whenever I Call You 'Friend' " with Little Big Town's Phillip Sweet and yearning "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" with Old Crow Medicine Show. Information: SaraEvans.com.

Artist: Waylon Jennings
Title: The Outlaw Performance (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: Waylon Jennings, Shooter Jennings, Johnny Cash
Tell me more: Fans of the late outlaw country legend Waylon Jennings are in luck. The newly-released The Outlaw Performance (available on DVD or via digital) features a special 1978 concert featuring Jennings playing in front of a sold-out crowd in Nashville, TN. The presentation features Jennings and his band in concert, with the concert footage combined with Jennings' own words adding depth to the performance. Highlights find him recalling his connection with country music and music friends in his life; he talks about key songs, why he learned how to play lead guitar, and his admiration and connection with Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly and George Jones. After kicking things off with the uptempo opener "Are You Ready for the Country?" (written by Neil Young), Jennings delivers one great track after another including the rowdy "Lonesome, On'ry and Mean" (enhanced by his sharp lead guitar work), a cover of Robert Lee McDill's tender ballad "Amanda," Merle Haggard's "Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down" the confessional "You Asked Me To" and the audience favorite "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys." He closes out the set with his 1973 classic "Honky Tonk Heroes" and his 1975 number one hit "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way." Bonus features on the release include "Friends Remember The Outlaw" with archival interviews with George Jones, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Jennings' long-time drummer Richie Albright. The full concert without the narration is also included. Information: eagle-rock.com.

Robert Kinsler

The Lickerish Quartet release lyric video for “Fadoodle” from debut EP, ‘Threesome Vol. 1,’ due out May 15

The Lickerish Quartet has a new single (“Fadoodle”) and accompanying lyric video from their forthcoming debut due May 15, 2020. What a great song! Robert Kinsler

THE LICKERISH QUARTET

(ROGER JOSEPH MANNING JR., TIM SMITH, ERIC DOVER, FORMERLY OF JELLYFISH)

RELEASE LYRIC VIDEO FOR “FADOODLE”

FROM DEBUT EP, ‘THREESOME VOL. 1,’ DUE OUT MAY 15

PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE NOW

April 15, 2020 -- THE LICKERISH QUARTET--Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Beck, Air, Cheap Trick, Imperial Drag), Tim Smith (Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Finn Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Umajets) and Eric Dover (Imperial Drag, Slash’s Snakepit, Alice Cooper, Sextus)—have released the second video from their highly anticipated debut EP, THREESOME VOL. 1 EP, which is set for release on May 15 via The Lickerish Quartet/Label Logic, as distributed by Ingrooves. Pre-orders are now available here. The first single, “Lighthouse Spaceship,” was recently released on the band’s official YouTube page.

Today, the lyric video for “Fadoodle”—created by Todd Productions, Inc.--premiered exclusively on the band’s Facebook page. It can also be viewed now on the band’s official YouTube page. 

The Lickerish Quartet

“Fadoodle” is a Dover-driven look at how to rekindle the fires of a long-entrenched relationship. “Well, I’m always looking for new ways to say dirty things,” Dover observes with a laugh. “I found a big list of naughty words from back in the day for what people used to denote fornication. It’s fascinating, because this has the distinction of being a pop song that has the world’s oldest slang yet is released in the 21st Century.” Adds Manning, “This one has that eighth-note driving thing that was a big part of the glitter sound of the early punk wave, so it’s got that kind of energy right out of the gate. Thankfully, once we had Eric’s lyric in place, it was just a free-for-all in having fun with the vocal interplay.” 

From the mischievous harmonic invitation of “Fadoodle” to the folk-tinged uplift of “Bluebird’s Blues” to the twangy lamentation of “There Is a Magic Number” to the cosmic muscle of the EP’s first single, “Lighthouse Spaceship,” THREESOME VOL. 1 confirms the communal strengths of a trio of songwriters who have clearly retained an intuitive sense of knowing exactly how to elevate the sum of each other’s musical chops. 

Early rave reviews are starting to emerge about THREESOME VOL. 1. Popmatters.com hailed, “Fans of both Jellyfish and Imperial Drag will rejoice at the Quartet's sound. There are doses of XTC/Queen/ELO-style harmonic structures, flirtations with progressive and psychedelic rock, and tasteful but deeply impressive musicianship.” While the Minneapolis Star-Tribune declared, “If you love the harmonies of Queen, the songwriting of Brian Wilson and the lushness of Borns, (‘Lighthouse Spaceship’) is a must-add to your playlist.”

While THE LICKERISH QUARTET don’t anticipate playing any live dates together anytime soon, they can confirm there are two more four-song EPs waiting in the wings, if demand warrants their release. Acknowledges Manning, “Realizing original ideas of my own is the most gratifying thing about making music, and the natural progression of what the three of us are doing together is you want to share it with people.” Declares Dover, “I’m always going to have time for doing music with these two people, even if we don’t live near each other. And if we only do two songs instead of 12, then we only do two. I’m cool with that.” Concludes Smith, “There’s a level of trust between collaborators who all share the same general goal. Only that can keep it interesting and push it even further to where it can go. At the end of the day, as long as all three of us are excited and inspired with what we come up with, we’ll figure out a way to do more of it.” 

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