Sweetheart Pub

The Best Americana, Country and Folk Music Publicity

You are here: Home / Archives for Uncategorized

Uncategorized

Americana Highways Reviews Kellen of Troy’s New LP

Kellen of Troy Photo by Libby Danforth

Kellen of Troy’s Posthumous Release is full of tongue-in-cheek eclecticism and variety. Front man Kellen Wenrich, formerly the fiddle player in Apache Relay, launched this, his solo debut, on Friday February 16.

“Rule Your Heart” features immediately catchy rhythms and violin over wry lyrics like “all alone on the American throne without you as my first lady.”   “So You Found Yourself A Rockstar” is a throwback to the California of the Beach Boys, with pop rhythms and collective backing vocals.

“Great Heartbreaker” will be the centerpiece of this album for Americana fans with its country guitar and banjo, while Kellen sings “she’s a great heartbreaker” and the lyrics become more emotionally direct. And then there is the title track, which is placed at number nine in the set list, and continues to exhibit Kellen’s more sorrowful offerings: “in lieu of any flowers try to give your love away.” The song “it’s so much worse” “When You Don’t Hear Good-bye” again expresses more genuine anguish with its slower tempo and piano melodies. Overall the songs on the album wax satirical, effectively shaking you up from any thought of dwelling dramatically on lost love.

Kellen of Troy’s album maintains a lively juxtaposition of the flippant and frivolous way we handle life’s deeper challenges.

READ MORE

Glide Magazine Premieres Sir Canyon’s New Song

Ventura Skies is an unexpected return from a songwriter who just a few years ago thought he might never make another album again. But a romantic breakup and the death of his father to cancer coaxed music out of Noah Lamberth as he dealt with the loss & hurt. “The best way to deal with the pain is to verbalize it. But for me that comes out in song. It’s kind of like therapy. The songs started pouring out of me.”

The music was a natural extension from his California Country-styled band, Hank Floyd. That was the group that Lamberth had founded in the early-2000s. Though the act opened up for such artists like Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, and Tim McGraw, they missed the commercial brass ring. (One major label in Nashville said they were too ahead of their time and wouldn’t know how to market them.)

Hank Floyd was a proving ground and a working lab to write songs and sing on the road. But when it ended, Lamberth thought that might be it for music. Working on several documentaries and traveling the country shooting TV shows, Lamberth seemed content to pursue a new calling via a new medium. But as he wrote songs on the road or from his home in Los Angeles, he began to share them with his music friends. One particular colleague, musician and producer Andy Davis, was excited about the new inspiration and convinced Lamberth to record an album. The sound had evolved some and Noah and Andy jokingly called the style a fusion of Mexican/surf/country. But these new songs were no joke, and they captured the yearning desire of an artist inspired with a second chance.

READ MORE

Cowboys & Indians Premieres New Music From Charlie Overbey

If you like honky-tonk country music from artists like Johnny Cash, then this new track from multitalented country rock ’n’ roller Charlie Overbey is for you. Driven by a pedal steel, bluesy guitar riffs, and lyrics about the passing of outlaw great Waylon Jennings, the song “Outlaws” is country folk rock that packs a gritty emotional punch.

“‘Outlaws’ is derived from my thoughts and haunting realizations about losing so many of the great talents and artists of our time,” Overbey says. “It’s a song about dreaming big and creating magic. It’s a song of hope. It’s a song about keeping our late musical heroes close to the heart and having faith in new artists to carry the torch for generations to come. It’s about those of us who refuse to buy into the concept of being part of the herd, and the spirit of ‘Waylon’s Way’ taking the wheel, so to speak.”

READ MORE

Wide Open Country Premieres New Song from Leslie Tom

You’d be hard-pressed to find a traditional country singer who hasn’t been influenced by Hank Williams, but few modern traditionalists have taken the lyrics and legacy of Williams’ to heart as deeply as Leslie Tom. Tom has been a disciple of Williams since she was a child. She says the singer has shaped nearly every aspect of her career…

PopMatters Premieres New Song From Kellen of Troy

Kellen of Troy Photo by Libby Danforth

Kellen Wenrich was five-years-old when he first picked up the violin as his instrument of choice. Since those early formative moments, he’s found international acclaim as an integral part of Apache Relay. Though that band has since dissolved, Wenrich’s musical journey continues with a project of his own, Kellen of Troy. His debut full-length, Posthumous Release, is coming out on 16 February. Prior, however, his newest, vibrant folk-rock is first finding a home at PopMatters in the form of the album’s titular single…

READ MORE

No Depression Announces Sir Canyon’s New Album

LA-based songwriter Sir Canyon (Noah Lamberth), who previously played pedal steel with Katy Perry and shared stages with Willie, Dierks, Brad Paisley, and more, is gearing up for the release of his new project, Ventura Skies, on March 2nd.

Ventura Skies is an unexpected return from a songwriter who just a few years ago thought he might never make another album again, but a romantic breakup and the death of his father to cancer coaxed music out of Lamberth as he dealt with loss & hurt.“The best way to deal with the pain is to verbalize it. But for me that comes out in song. It’s kind of like therapy. The songs started pouring out of me.”

READ MORE