Michael J Media Update World With Clients, Accolades

Nashville based rootsy rock band The Coal Men are heading into the studio this month to work on their third album, the follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2007 release, Beauty Is a Moment.  The band will then set off on tour throughout the Southeast, Northeast and Midwest. 

There can be no doubt that Jimmie’s Chicken Shack is one of the hardest working bands in the business, having been on the road continuously since 1995.  JCS will release their latest album, Fail On Cue, on April 15 and will hit the road in support of it.  Fail On Cue is Jimmie’s Chicken Shack’s eighth album, marking the band’s triumphant return to Fowl Records, the mid-Atlantic indie label that championed their first four albums. 

Client Happenings

In anticipation of the release of Josh Preston’s new album Exit Sounds on May 13, Josh has recorded an EP entitled The Complex Wooden Heart containing acoustic versions of two tracks featured on Exit Sounds as well as two re-recorded tracks from his debut, Between Memory and Mortality.  This new EP can be downloaded from Josh’s myspace page.

 

St. Louis rock band Ludo continues to tour in support of their Island Records debut, You’re Awful, I Love You including an upcoming run starting in June with Spill Canvas.  The album’s first single, “Love Me Dead,” has enjoyed a ton or radio play in the Midwest and on the west coast, as well as video spins on MTVu and a debut last week on TRL. 

 

TAXI, the world’s leading independent A&R Company, has another huge success story on its hands.  Member Dean Krippaehne landed a publishing deal through TAXI, and one of his tracks was cut by Universal recording artist Stefanie Heinzmann.  What’s more, the song, “Do Your Thing,” has debuted at #8 on Billboard’s European Top 100, including #1 in Switzerland.  To read more about Dean’s success, read his post on TAXI’s website here. 

 

New York City based singer and songwriter Anya Singleton is in postproduction on her brand new album due out later this spring.  Singleton is working with producer Rob Arthur, who has worked with or toured with Peter Frampton, Five For Fighting, Billy Joel and Keri Noble.  Arthur’s unique perspective as a musician adds an unexpected and fresh vibe to Singleton’s roots rock with and edge.

 

Columbus, Ohio-based rock band Red Wanting Blue is gearing up for the release of their first studio album since 2004.  The new album is called These Magnificent Miles and will street in late May.  It’s the band’s most polished material yet and they will set off on a nationwide tour to support it.

 

Contemporary acoustic ensemble The Greencards continue to tour nationwide in support of 2007’s Viridian, and just secured a spot performing at Bonnaroo on June 15.  The Greencards were nominated for a Grammy recently for Best Country Instrumental.

 

Chicago based Sarah VonderHaar will be releasing her debut album, Are You Listening Now? on April 22, with a CD release party planned for April 11 at US Beer Company and an appearance on the WGN (nationally syndicated) morning show on April 23.  Then, VonderHaar will perform an all-ages show at The Clearwater Theater in West Dundee, IL.  The album was produced by Marshall Altman (Marc Broussard, Kate Voegele).

 

It’s been a few years between albums, but fans of rocking four-piece Cleveland-based band Three Miles Out will be pleased to know that the boys are back.  Nobody is TMO’s third album, and with thirteen new songs that can best be described as blistering, hard-edged pop, it’s clear that these guys have delivered their best set of music yet.  Nobody is set for worldwide release on April 29, and will be available digitally on iTunes and other online retail outlets. 

 

Sun Country Airlines began featuring Minnesota-based artists and musicians for their in-flight music offerings, including singer/songwriter Tim Mahoney, and seven others.  The eight artists from different genres will be rotated through Sun Country’s boarding music for the listening pleasure of all passengers.  Additionally, Mahoney and the other artists will be featured in an upcoming issue of Sun Country’s In-flight magazine, Escape.

 

Hartford based Bronze Radio Return’s self-titled debut EP, released last month, is already drawing rave reviews.  Planet Weekly says, “The sound defies a genre sticker to stick on them. It’s rock, kind of bluesy, it’s rootsy, it’s just damn good music.”  The band is currently on tour up and down the east coast supporting the EP.

 

Nashville based Jenn Franklin is currently working on her first full-length album with producer Jim Reilly and with former Wilco drummer Ken Coomer and bassist/cello player Charlie Chadwick (Shelby Lynne, Steve Earle).  The album is slated for release in the summer of 2008.  Franklin will be performing a home town show on April 21 at 12^th & Porter, a free show that will a live video taping of some of the new tracks.

 

 

A&M/Octone recording artists Dropping Daylight are back on the road, currently with Sick Puppies through the middle of April.  Anyone who has witnessed Dropping Daylight’s explosive live show has become enamored with them almost immediately, and they have continued to tour in support of their 2006 debut, Brace Yourself. 

 

 

Chris Knight continues to tour in the South, including more dates in Texas in April.  In addition, Knight will play two shows with the legendary John Prine later this month, April 25 in Concord, New Hampshire; and April 26 in Burlington, Vermont.

 

 

Fuzz.com has introduced a revolutionary platform for artists to market and digitally promote their music.  As a result, one of their artists, Breaking Laces, released its new live album, Live at Seaside Studios, exclusively using the Fuzz ”Mixtape.”  The Laces’ album in Mixtape format, which is a digital rendering of a cassette tape, is available exclusively on Fuzz.com. The album features songs that the Laces have never before released including brand new tracks, live versions, and rare tunes requested by the band’s illustrious street team. 

 

 

Chicago based acoustic pop band Down The Line has earned a reputation for intense, energetic performances that feature unparalleled live vocals—a reputation that has secured them a place on tour with legendary acts including Peter Frampton, America, Ben Folds, Pat Benatar, Colin Hay, and others.  Down The Line is currently touring in support of their new live album, Home Alive, including CD release shows in Kalamazoo, Michigan on April 5 and New York City on April 24.

 

 

Badfish, a Tribute To Sublime, continues to draw incredibly well, and even sold out a recent run of shows in California.  Badfish will be holding its annual Garden Grove Festival this year on Saturday August 2 at the Stony Pony Outdoor summer stage in Asbury Park, New Jersey.  There will be 2-3 stages and several bands for the third annual all-day event that is becoming a Badfish fan favorite.

 

New York City based rock band God or Julie, chosen as BMI’s band of the month for February, continues to tour with Chevelle and Finger Eleven through most of April.  The band’s debut album, This Road Before, was released on February 19. 

 

Nashville based rock band The Loft has sifted through the recordings of over 100 shows and released a live album, Best of Live & Rarities.  The collection contains some fan favorites that The Loft has not yet released from some of their fabled shows in Bowling Green and Nashville. The Loft continues to tour regionally, including a hometown show at Exit/In on April 5 and showcase in New York City on May 2.

 

Nashville singer/songwriter Carey Ott has been busy writing and recording, but will hit the stage again this month, performing a residency at The Basement.  The residency will take place on four Wednesdays, from April 16 through May 7.  Mike Grimes, owner and operator of The Basement, will be filling out the lineup each week with other local favorites and bands to watch.

 

New York City based rocker Alex Nackman released his new album, Still Life Moves, on March 4 and is on the road for some nationwide tour dates, including stops in April in Charlotte, Atlanta, and Philadelphia.  Nackman and his band will be live on Good Day Atlanta on April 7 as well.

 

Online men’s magazine Bullz-Eye.com is currently running preview of the Major League Baseball 2008 Season.  In addition, Bullz-Eye.com continues to provide awesome entertainment coverage including music, sports and models. 

 

Birmingham based high-energy blue-collar rock band Caddle continues to tour regionally, and will branch out into the Southeast and Midwest in the coming month including stops in Live Oak, Florida; Greenville, South Carolina; Camden, South Carolina; Muncie, Indiana; and Waterford, Michigan.

 

Denver singer/songwriter Jason Vigil has been working on new material for a forthcoming EP due out later this spring, and has also confirmed tour dates in May that will take him to New Mexico, Arizona and California.  

 

The Lovell Sisters feature the tight harmonies of three sisters with an innovative fusion of country, folk, and contemporary acoustic music. The Lovell Sisters are currently hard at work on their second project and touring regionally, including a show on April 11 at the Douglass Theatre in Macon, Georgia.

 

Legendary country rock band Poco is celebrating its 40^th year in 2008, and is gearing up for summer tour dates along with fellow legends Pure Prairie League. 

 

Chicago based alternative rock band Painkiller Hotel showcased at SXSW last month and continues to tour regionally in support of their debut, Black Roses. 

 

Singer/songwriter Mike Farley recently collaborated with Jason Vigil and Zack Nichols on a song called “This Game.”  The theme is baseball, or more specifically, longing for the glory days when the game was just a game, and steroids were not grabbing all of the headlines.  Farley recorded the song with producer Josh Preston at Me And the Machine Studios and will release the single digitally (on iTunes and other sources) on Tuesday, April 1 to loosely coincide with the start of the major league baseball season.