Saltwater is the lead-off and title track to Noaa Rienecker & The Nowhere Family Band’s debut EP (July 2019) and is definitely the rockiest of the folk songs on the collection. That’s not to say that the remaining tracks don’t have their charms, because they do. These stories properly highlight the diversity of Rienecker’s palate, with Saltwater showing that given the right song, he and the band can rock pretty hard-at least as hard as folk singers ever do. Noaa Rienecker is also the frontman for…
Read MoreTaking on social issues in a quiet and thoughtful way isn’t new for one of Vodka’s favorite duos, Flagship Romance. They have covered many difficult questions in ways that are not in your face but gently reinforced. It’s a skill not many performers can pull out of their portfolios. Enter, Julie Wants To Go To War, a story of gender identity, desires, hopes, dreams, and tragedy, which sadly paints a not too flattering picture of our country’s battle to properly acknowledge and accept those in…
Read MoreFox and Bones return in the heat of the Summer with an anthem worthy of rolling the windows down, turning the volume up, and raising a fist in the air. The new track, Running Free (August 2019) begins: “I’ve got a fever for the wild and restless. I’ve got a feeling there are things unseen. Cheers to the years we’ve been tried and tested. Here’s to the fears that inspire dreams.” All the while, the guitars jam, and the drums kick. There’s a great feeling of positivism, of taking on the challenges we…
Read MoreAlexa Dirks (a.k.a. Begonia) makes pop music that seamlessly blends with electronica and old soul for a sound that is full, rich, and totally balanced. It is music meant for the dance floor but can be the stuff that helps you clean your house if you like. Hanging On A Line (seen/heard here) is from her debut fourth-coming (September 2019) long-player, Fear. Fear is preceded only by a double handful of singles and her first EP, 2017′s Lady In Mind, that has been met with great critical…
Read MoreVodka has been casually following Iamthemorning for a while now, without actually posting a video from these great artists. That’s on me! But that changes here, with Ghost Of A Story from the soon-to-be-released long-player, The Bell, scheduled August 2, 2019. Combining classical elements with alternative rock sensibilities and folkish storytelling, Iamthemorning excels! Iamthemorning is essentially a duo comprised of Marjana Semkina’s beautiful voice and guitar work, and the wonderful keyboards of Gleb Kolyadin. Hailing from Saint Petersburg, Russia, the two flesh out their often macabre stories with great…
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