Curated by DONNA BALANCIA
The California Rocker Video Playlist selects a diverse mix of the hottest songs for the Dog Days of Summer. Check out our picks for the best-rockin’ tunes from the new and the known.
The tracks selected run the range from compelling group New Dialogue’s “Loose Ends” and funny but vengeful Conor Maynard’s “Not Over You” to the newest tune of Garth Brooks’ progeny, Allie Colleen with “Work In Progress.” Also on the playlist are the ever-anticipated Mon Laferte, Louise Goffin, Maxi Priest, The Safes, The Atom Age and Refused.
Check out the California Rocker Hot Songs for the Dog Days Video Playlist here.
Lower Dens – I Drive
Lower Dens do right by their home city of Baltimore, and if all music that comes from there is this good, it’s worth a visit to the city. It’s the third album from the Baltimore band and captures a dreamy, synth beat that is danceable and moody at the same time. Catch the band at The Hollywood Palladium on Sept. 22 with Of Monsters and Men. The Competition is the new album worth checking out.
The video was directed by Jason Nocito, produced by: Ways and Means and executive produced by Lana Kim and Jett Steiger.
Louise Goffin – My Love Supreme
Louise Goffin has created a beautiful song, which she co-wrote with Joe Gelini, Dustin Dale Gaspard and Rob Daly. “My Love Supreme” was recorded with Dave Way, Dillon O’Brian, Dean Parks, Bob Glaub, Michael Jerome Moore and David Ralicke at Waystation, Los Angeles, California, June 3, 2019. The video was filmed by Sean Berger. Archival footage is from 1973 of house on Appian Way (Laurel Canyon) filmed by Sherry Kondor.
The HawtThorns – Shaking
“Shaking” by The HawtThorns was written by KP Hawthorn and Steve Berns. The video was directed by Adrienne Isom, the director of photography is Sean Martin and the video was edited by Isom and Martin.
The band is comprised of KP Hawthorn – Lead Vox/Acoustic Guitar; Johnny Hawthorn – Backing Vox/Electric Guitars; Eliot Lorango – Bass Guitar; Matt Lucich – Drums; Sasha Smith – Keys and Jim Scott – Omnichord. Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Eric Corne
Rebecca Angel- Summer Song
Words and music by Rebecca Angel, produced by Jason Miles, mixed by Jimmy Bralower, mastered by Mike Fosenkemper @ TurtleTone Mastering. The band: Rebecca Angel (voice), Jason Miles (vibes, wurlitzer, percussion), Reggie Washington (bass), Jonah Prendergast (acoustic and electric guitar), Gottfried Stoger (soprano saxophone), Jimmy Bralower (drum programming)
Mon Laferte – Canción De Mierda
With simple lyrics Mon Laferte captures the imagination and emotion of the people – alternative songs in Spanish that convey a story everyone understands.
In this one, she proves she conveys the pain of what appears to be another failed relationship, and we can all be glad we’re not the unwise person who broke it off. Mon Laferte is at The Hollywood Palladium on Aug. 16.
The Safes – It’s True
Going from the beautiful to the bizarre, The Safes take it a step further in the video for “It’s True,” directed by Baby Pony Food. “It’s True” is from The Safes’ Winning Combination album, on Action Weekend Records and Bickerton Records.
Boys Of Fall – No Good For Me
InVogue Records has launched pre-orders for the expanded “Gold Edition” release of Boys Of Fall’s breakout Better Moments LP. Better Moments Gold Edition features new songs and b-side versions of a couple of fan favorites. The guys are touring back East with stops at Gold Sounds in Brooklyn NY on Sept. 22 and Amityville’s Revolution Bar and Music hall on Sept. 21.
An acoustic version of the track “No Good For Me” appears on the record and a video for the new rendition is now streaming here:
Allie Colleen – Work in Progress
The behind the scenes video was produced by Patryk Larney and her debut single was co-written with hit songwriter Marcus Hummon and well known studio engineer Greg Beick. The new music is available for streaming and download on all online digital platforms here.
“I am absolutely blown away by the support and love that “Work in Progress” has received,” Allie Colleen said. “I can’t thank everyone enough and cannot wait to see what the future holds for all of us “works in progress.”
Silver Pools – A Kiss for the Swimmer
Inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, Cat Power and the song “Sexus Plexus Nexus” by the inimitable Pierre Kwenders, “A Kiss for the Swimmer” blows a kiss goodbye to friends or lovers who seem so giving and warm but become manipulative and abusive once they have gained your trust.
The song started with a backwards and slowed down sample of a synth part from our first album, Memoirs of an Oblong Sphere. For the recording of “A Kiss for the Swimmer” we ran Miranda’s vocals through a mid-1930’s bubble machine, mic’d Adrienne’s bass amp with a fleece mitten and I strummed my trusty electric mandolin while our drum machine played along.
LosPetitFellas – Salvate Tu
Videoclip dirigido por Hugo Rubiano. Producido por Karen Rincón.
Miguel Gonzales, Braian Moreno, Manuel Jose Chávez, Ricardo Mejia, Carolina, Tara y Cindy como Marco. Participación especial de LosPetitFellas, echando aguante, como Marco.
The SLP – The Youngest Gary
Recorded and produced by Serge at his Leicester studio The Sergery The S.L.P. is an 11-track trip across hip-hop influence, richly melodic moments, psychedelic-funk, new-wave and euphoric scenes.
“Moving forward, I’d like to collaborate more and open that door more. Serge says of the project. “The S.L.P. project will become this sort of place I can go and just do whatever. It’s so important to have that.” Continuing he said, “My life in the band and my boys, that’s part of me that will be there forever, but then there’s something else I have to get that out or I won’t be able to move forward.”
The Atom Age – Never Looking
Second single off the upcoming album Cry ‘Til You Die out 8.23.19, the video is directed and edited by Karl Pfeiffer. Since 2009, Oakland’s The Atom Age have been scattering slivers of imploded tubes all across the Bay Area. A rocket propelled ode to the unhinged power of ‘60s punk and R and B, the Age are more Sonics than Hives, and more Link Wray than Jack White. Coming to life out of the Bay’s punk scene, they’re a powder keg of a live band. But in the past, capturing this energy on record has proven a challenge. Only now, thanks to the sympatico production work of Dave Schiffman (The Bronx, Pup, Jimmy Eat World) has the mutant fission of their live shows truly been captured on record.
New Dialogue – Loose Ends
Teach Me How To Feel (released last May) was produced by Charlie Park (lovleytheband, Dreamers), Christian Medice (lovelytheband, P!nk), and Larzz Principato (Dua Lipa, Halsey) and features focus track and single “Pilgrims” and the previously released tracks “Fake Smile“, “Neon Ocean” and “Are You Like Me“. New Dialogue’s music has been featured on streaming playlists such as Spotify’s The New Alt and New Noise, the cover of Filtr’s Today We Rock, on Amazon Music’s Alt Scene and Fresh Noise, and on Apple Music’s Breaking Alternative playlists. The band’s debut track, “Fake Smile”, landed a massive sync on MTV’s Siesta Key. Fans can purchase and stream Teach Me How To Feel HERE.
Maxi Priest feat. Shaggy – I’m Alright
International superstar Maxi Priest’s new album It All Comes Back To Love is now set to release on September 20th, 2019 via S-Curve Records. Pre-orders will be available on August 23rd. Fans can stream and purchase the first single, “I’m Alright (feat. Shaggy)”, here, as well as the new remix, I’m Alright (feat. Shaggy) [Dancehall Mix], here.
It All Comes Back To Love was produced entirely by Shaggy, and features special guests including Anthony Hamilton, Estelle, Bounty Killer, Inner Circle, and more. Next week, Maxi Priest will stop by SiriusXM for a full band performance and interview in the fishbowl with The Joint’s Pat McKay, and a “Talks at Google” event at the tech giant’s NYC headquarters.
Lxandra – Swimming Pools
Lxandra is a fresh-faced 23-year-old living in Berlin with a record deal under her belt. Her passion for singing started from a young age, and her visit to Finnish producer Perttu Kurttila in Berlin in early 2015 was a turning point in her life. “We wrote a few songs together, including my first single ‘Flicker’. After that, I knew it was something I wanted to do forever”,
The imaginative video embodies the idea that happiness can come from within rather than from materialistic desires. About the single, Lxandra says: “‘Swimming Pools’ is about being happy with what you have and showing a middle finger to the expectations from society and the world that runs on money. About remembering who you are and where you come from and always holding on to that.”
Tiffany Young – Magnetic Moon
Pop phenomena, Tiffany Young, announces the release of her disco-inspired music video for “Magnetic Moon.” High fashion Korean designer, K I M H Ē K I M, jumped on board to assist in bringing Tiffany’s vision to fruition; with his classic diva/disco-inspired looks throughout the video. The single dropped on 8/02 at 12:00AM EST globally on all platforms, and Tiffany will be performing it live for the first time during her Open Hearts Eve concert in Seoul on 8/03. Billboard stated “the lo-fi disco-infused pop track was put out through an enchanting music video full of glitz, glam and moonlight.”
Following this release, Tiffany will be heading out on her eighteen-date “Magnetic Moon” North American Tour. Kicking off on October 25th in San Francisco, the tour will weave through even more cities, and hit even larger venues, since her last tour earlier this year. Ending in her home state of California, Tiffany will close out this tour on November 21st playing The Fonda Theatre. Last month, Tiffany hinted at new music, telling Entertainment Tonight “I’m happy to let you guys know that new music is coming sooner than you think.”
Conor Maynard – Not Over You
Conor Maynard tells it like it is in the new video “Not Over You,” it’s a love-hate song, done with pop style flare.
“Not Over You” offers a cheeky take on the precarious balance between unrelenting love and bitterness following a break-up. Conor’s opening lyrics immediately set the tone: “I heard you’re sleeping with somebody new / I hope he leaves you, I hope he cheats on you / ‘Cos I’ll be right there to hold you when you cry.” That witty wordplay is set to the kind of urgently exuberant sunshine pop.
Brasstracks Feat. Charles Gaines – Snowdaze
Brasstracks recently signed to EQT/Capitol Records and went into historic Studio B at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, CA to record live versions of the songs from Before We Go, the GRAMMY® Award winning New York City-based duo’s acclaimed early 2019 EP. The sessions, which feature some of their favorite musicians, are captured on the new EP— Before We Go: Live From Capitol Studios — out today. Download / stream the EP HERE.
Refused – Blood Red
“Blood Red,” the first single off their upcoming album War Music, which will be released globally via Spinefarm/Search and Destroy on October 18. The album is available for pre-order HERE.
Blending the musical and political passions that have helped the band rise to near legendary status since their founding in 1991, the accompanying music video showcases the band’s roots in early ’90s Umeå, Sweden juxtaposed against the present day, making it clear that the dynamism that brought the band to international prominence shows no sign of slowing down in 2019. Everything “Blood Red” can be found HERE.