Tag: blues

The Devil Makes Three – Drunken Hearted Man

     Vodka has never included a video from The Devil Makes Three before, most notably because the band makes very few videos that aren’t just audio-only tracks or full studio performances. But the new release from this band nearly demanded that we find a video somewhere so that we could add a review for the band’s new long-player, Chains Are Broken (August 2018). The Devil Makes Three is essentially a three-piece outfit, steeped in the folk storytelling tradition, but not at all beholden to a single style or genre’…

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Smooth Hound Smith – Stopgap Woman Blues

     From time to time, Vodka likes to look back to artists that we have liked and check in on them. Well, Smooth Hound Smith still has the country rock, country blues thing going and is still phenomenal to listen to and watch. It’s amazing the sound that two people can put together. This track features Zack Smith’s gravelly blues-influenced vocals. Previous Smooth Hound Smith tracks posted on Vodka have mostly featured the wonderful “smooth” of Caitlin Doyle’s pipes. Smooth Hound Smith first entered Vodka’s radar over 4 years…

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Sara Niemietz – Monroe

     Vodka readers may remember Sara Niemietz from our review of Taxi Outside from her wonderful EP Fountain and Vine about a year ago. Enter Sara’s first full-length LP, Travel Light (July 2017) which includes 10 pop, jazz, lounge tracks-polished musical gemstones really, featuring Sara’s powerful and beautiful vocals.  There is so much to love about this music. Travel Light kicks off with what we would call a straight-up pop song, New Things. Don’t Walk Me Home follows up with a bluesy tune in the vein of Taxi Outside. Monroe is…

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Spark & Whisper – Grandma’s Song

     Spark & Whisper is a folk band with nods to rock, blues, bluegrass, and country thrown in for good measure. Grandma’s Song (seen/heard) here, is from the band’s 2011 self-titled long-player, but the group released Monument (September 2016) just a few months back, and it is excellent! The collection of eleven tracks on Monument is written by bandmates Velvy Appleton (vocals, guitars, and electric bass) and  Anita Sandwina (vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, and banjolele). Fleshing out the band’s sound are Paul Eastburn (upright bass), Scott Johnson (drums), Robert…

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Drake White – Livin’ The Dream

     Remember Drake White from back at the end of 2015 and the video/review for It Feels Good? Well, Drake White has now released his first long-player (should be out by the time you read this) entitled Spark (August 2016) and it deserves to be heard! Vodka isn’t usually a country fan, mostly because the twang sends us reeling like fingernails on a chalkboard, But Drake White’s version of country is full of country goodness and tradition without that annoying twang! Check Drake White out on his website and follow…

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