ROLLING STONE premieres JOHN THE CONQUEROR’s “Waking Up To You”

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“I’m a blues man; all I got are stories,” admits John The Conqueror‘s singer-songwriter Pierre Moore. And not unlike many blues greats before him, the stories that fill out the Philly-based trio’s second full-length studio effort, The Good Life, are based on Moore’s own personal experiences that span from his Mississippi youth to his current life – much of it spent on the road.
“When I started this album,” Moore said, “I completely devoted myself to becoming a better writer.” And after witnessing these 11 impassioned, often explosive tracks, Moore’s decision to focus on his art paid off with well-crafted songs of truth, clarity and power. All of the compositions were penned by Moore except for their swaggering take on Randy Newman’s “Let’s Burn Down The Cornfield.” Building on the soulful blues-rock foundation of their acclaimed 2012 self-titled debut, The Good Life moves forward with both Moore’s own life experiences turned to song, and the tight-but-loose rhythms of drummer Michael Gardner & bassist Ryan Lynn as well as Moore’s own snaky, sinewy guitar leads.
While John The Conqueror follows the path laid down for decades by like-minded bluesmen who ‘told it like it was,’ on The Good Life Moore and co. have also updated the blues idiom for a new generation – melding hard truths with hard-ass blues-rock. – ROLLING STONE

ROLLING STONE PREMIERES JOHN THE CONQUEROR’S NEW SONG “WAKING UP TO YOU” / NEW ALBUM “THE GOOD LIFE” FEB. 25TH!

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ROLLING STONE PREMIERES JOHN THE CONQUEROR’S NEW SONG “WAKING UP TO YOU” / NEW ALBUM “THE GOOD LIFE” FEB. 25TH!‏

RJ FROMETA on 20 January, 2014 at 17:05
“I’m a blues man; all I got are stories,” admits John The Conqueror‘s singer-songwriter Pierre Moore. And not unlike many blues greats before him, the stories that fill out the Philly-based trio’s second full-length studio effort, The Good Life, are based on Moore’s own personal experiences that span from his Mississippi youth to his current life – much of it spent on the road.
“When I started this album,” Moore said, “I completely devoted myself to becoming a better writer.” And after witnessing these 11 impassioned, often explosive tracks, Moore’s decision to focus on his art paid off with well-crafted songs of truth, clarity and power. All of the compositions were penned by Moore except for their swaggering take on Randy Newman’s “Let’s Burn Down The Cornfield.” Building on the soulful blues-rock foundation of their acclaimed 2012 self-titled debut, The Good Life moves forward with both Moore’s own life experiences turned to song, and the tight-but-loose rhythms of drummer Michael Gardner & bassist Ryan Lynn as well as Moore’s own snaky, sinewy guitar leads.
While John The Conqueror follows the path laid down for decades by like-minded bluesmen who ‘told it like it was,’ on The Good Life Moore and co. have also updated the blues idiom for a new generation – melding hard truths with hard-ass blues-rock.
John The Conqueror’s The Good Life will be available on CD, digital formats and limited edition vinyl on February 25th through Alive Naturalsound Records.

THE GOOD LIFE TRACK LISTING:
01 Get ‘Em
02 Mississippi Drinkin’
03 Waking Up To You
04 What Am I Gonna Do
05 Golden Rule
06 Burn Down The Cornfield
07 Road To Bayport
08 You Don’t Know
09 John Doe
10 Daddy’s Little Girl
11 She Said
SOURCE: VENTS MAGAZINE

BEACHWOOD SPARKS interview with The AQUARIUM DRUNKARD

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As El Nino rolled into Southern California in the summer of 1997 it pushed two friends, Brent Rademaker and Chris Gunst, to escape Los Angeles. Frequent trips to Joshua Tree were coupled with crashes at Gunst’s parents home to float in their pool and stare at the desert’s night skies. In the midst of this extreme climate change, a mixtape of ‘West Coast country rock’ was being passed around amongst friends inspiring Rademaker to transform his indie rock group, Further, into a new psychedelic country and western outfit – Beachwood Sparks. Loose jam sessions took place, and as the summer slid into autumn the group adopted a vibe that was reminiscent of Crazy Horse – part soulful country, part reckless rock ‘n’ roll, all with a tinge of mid-90′s Glasgow indie rock.

As the jam sessions gave away to recording in a cramped shed, they laid to tape Desert Skies – their recently released ‘lost’ first album. What sets this album apart from their 2000 Sub Pop debut, is that it presents a perfect portrait of the group in its infancy, finding their feet in light of the dissolution and influence of their previous incarnation. Recorded prior to the full spit and shine of the lush Laurel Canyon aesthetic they would soon become known for, cuts like “Canyon Ride” and “Desert Skies” pack an extra, unexpected, punch.

READ THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW with BRENT RADEMAKER on the AQUARIUM DRUNKARD SITE

BLUES ROCK REVIEW of LEFT LANE CRUISER “Rock Them Back To Hell”

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Welcome to the left lane. Left Lane Cruiser is comprised of Freddie “Joe” Evans IV on slide guitar and vocals, alongside Brenn Beck on anything and everything he can get his hands on; this includes all things percussion and harmonica. This duo packs more sound into one room than your high school marching band ever could. They bring the delta blues to new light, with classic motifs construed and reconstructed into one hard-hitting “rock’n’roll noise,” as they call it.

LLC jump start the engine with opening track “Zombie Blocked,” an endearing sentiment to an apocalypse-crazed society of late. Boasting the sweetest buildup this side of the Mississippi, Beck kills it, making use of cowbells, tin pans, and anything else you might find in your mother’s pantry. “Electrify” features Beck honkin’ on bobo, along with a singing slide solo by Evans. “Juice To Get Loose” turns down the distortion, for a quick break between the madness. “Jukebox” features a signature riff, with a catchy progression and vocals that take you by the neck. This is followed up by “Coley,” taking it down once again for a bit of a ballad. Of course, it’s about a woman.

Left Lane Cruiser certainly knows how to get your attention. At first listen, you may think this must be a four piece, a true testament to what these two have created. They’ve given life to a perfect niche within the blues rock community. Their rugged, raucous, wild-eyed rock’n’roll, complete with slide guitar, garbage cans and distorted microphone, take you on a Midwestern steamboat ride to hell and back.

The Review: 8.5/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– Zombie Blocked
– Electrify
– Juice To Get Loose
– Overtaken
– Jukebox
– Coley

The Big Hit

– Jukebox

SOURCE: BLUES ROCK REVIEW