Tag: Fernando Perdomo

Mid July singles, freebies, and more: Johnathan Pushkar, Wesley David, Neal Mehta, Fernando Perdomo, Vitsa Blue, The Amplifier Heads

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Nashville singer-songwriter Johnathan Pushkar was inspired by the new Thor movie to make a song about everyone’s favorite Asgardian hero. While it doesn’t mesh well with the Guns N’ Roses music the movie used, it’s a pretty cool song on its own (and who doesn’t love Legos?) Old Town Crier does a damn good job with its new EP “You,”especially that guitar break in the title track. Also, check out “Coal River Mountain.” Wesley David is a recent discovery, and count me impressed with his songwriting ability – check out “I’ll Be Damned!” Another potential star Neal Mehta has a rich harmony and dense instrumentation on “Lonely Cloud.” Guitarist extraordinaire Fernando Perdomo has “greatest hits” of sorts with Jangle, and if you aren’t familiar with him — this is a perfect primer. Everything here is great, I love “Girl With A Record Collection” and “This Can Be You.” If you want a dose of Ramones-like rock, then you can’t do better than Vista Blue. Stay Gold is a FREEBIE made for blasting out the car stereo with the windows down on “Friday Night.” Finally, Sal Baglio of The Amplifier Heads wrote the single “Space Cadette” for the Nashville show They Came To Rock. Woo! Enjoy the summer!






The Successful Failures and Fernando Perdomo

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Successful failures

Successful Failures “Pack Up Your Shadows”

As one of New Jersey’s most accomplished bands, The Successful Failures are not afraid to color outside the lines. Mick Chorba (guitar, vocals), Ron Bechamps (bass, mandolin, vocals), Rob Martin (drums), and Pete Smith (guitar) start off with a series of Bluegrass-Country influenced songs that I’d expect more from Wilco or The Jayhawks. However, “Honeycomb” and “On Down The Line” are great catchy tunes, and Bechamps mandolin is front-and-center here.

“Murder ‘Neath the Silver Moon” is a great transitional story song, it reminded me of The Black Crowes, and that twang is joined by a strong lead guitar. “This Girl” continues the streak, with layers of rhythm guitars and a great chorus, it’s definitely a rocking “hit.” The band cuts loose on “More of The Same” with its Chuck Berry-like riffs, then slowing to a bluesy crawl mid-way through before it comes back roaring to life. Mick then comes back to the country-based bar songs, “Whiskey” and “Something Good.” No weak tunes are to be found here. The band seems to be excellent no matter what genre they play. Grab a shot of your favorite libation and listen up. It’s highly recommended.

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Fernando Perdomo

Fernando Perdomo “The Leo August Album”

Fernando has been very busy lately, doing some great collaborations this year with Justin Paul Sanders and Dave Kerzner (to name a few.) This is a concept album about a musician named Leo August who is on his death bed at the end of his battle with a deadly disease. The somber story is told through Fernando’s acoustic fingerpicking and first-person lyric.

There is a deep feeling of regret and sadness throughout, like classic Lee Hazlewood or Leonard Cohen. The melodies are very bittersweet. An early standout is “Release” is a song about Leo pleading to his fellow musicians to get their music out before it’s too late. The double meaning is all too clear, as Leo seeks a release from regrets. The psychedelic “Float Away” creates a dreamy soundscape, and “Fade Out” has the best message here; “I wanna live, till I die. I wanna get to say goodbye.” While this album has an effective narrative and mood, it seems stretched out to cover the 10 songs here. Still, it’s an effective downbeat album, and if you are feeling depressed, it will feel like Fernando is playing directly to you. Check it out.

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Monday Night Singles: Richard Turgeon, Ken Sharp, Ballard, Shake Some Action, and Butch Young

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Yes, Keanu is a popular meme now with his John Wick movies and Richard Turgeon is riding that popularity with his new single “Keanu Reeves.” And a FREEBIE too!

Ken Sharp‘s newest single “Rock & Roll Supershow” is a love letter to Glam Rock with the help of Fernando Perdomo. For fans of T-Rex, Slade, and Sweet this is a “must-buy.”

While I expected something funny from Ballard, “I’ll Drop My Trousers To The Ground” is the bleakest, darkest, and most depressing song I’ve heard all year. You’ve been warned.

Shake Some Action has a new release coming very soon, and here is one of several good singles: “Stanger In The House” has this awesome echoing surf guitar. Check it out.

Nick Lowe

I have to say that Big Stir Records is doing a tremendous job. They have monthly singles out (currently at #32) and the artists keep getting better.
My favorite of the new bunch is Butch Young‘s “Captain Serious” b/w “Beautiful Dreamer”, the first new music from him in three years since Mercury Man. I don’t have a sample to post, but trust me this is good! Visit The Big Stir Digital Singles Page to hear it.

Fernando Perdomo and Cullen Omori

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Fernando Perdomo

Fernando Perdomo “Zebra Crossing”

Recorded at the legendary Abbey Road studios, Fernando Perdomo continues his quest to make music that moves the soul. Fernando’s profound opening tracks “I’m Here” and “Sometimes I Feel Like I’m Nothing At All” recall emotional themes similar to Brian Wilson and John Lennon. Most of the music is thoughtful balladry, with the exception of the bouncy “Find Love (Hold On)” performed with friends; Dr. Danny,  Ken Sharp and  Megan Zeankowski.

The standout track here is the ode to the audiophile “We Were Raised With Headphones On,” with its jazzy guitar interlude. The stream-of-consciousness guitar instrumental of “Not Meant To Be” is another slice of magic, reminding me of Mike Keneally. The lyrical sentiment on “Sunday” is musings on lost youth and the abstract definition of “Home” reaches a grand scale. Also impressive is the epic instrumental title track and a passionate cover of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Highly Recommended.

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Cullen Omori

Cullen Omori “The Diet”

Cullen Omori (Smith Westerns) channels his rock influences (George Harrison, Marc Bolan) through a much more modern pop lens full of glossy embellishments and crisp melodies that stick fast to your brain under the guidance of power pop producer Taylor Locke.

On the opener “Four Years” chiming guitar, rich self-effacing lyrics is an acknowledgment to his partner that “you do so many things, and I love you for it… but I usually forget it.” It’s a standout single that sets the tone of the album perfectly. The failures of modern life are told through subversive stories like “Borderline Friends” and “All By Yourself.” Some catchy highlights include the danceable “Happiness Reigns” with its shimmering guitar rhythm.

The riff-heavy “Quiet Girl” and plodding “Black Rainbow” recalls mid-period Oasis, but another standout is “Millennial Geishas” with its big flowing chorus and layered instrumentation. No filler here it channels Cullen’s self-loathing into a listenable indie rock statement that many will identify with. Highly Recommended.

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Earwig and Fernando Perdomo

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Earwig

Earwig “Pause For The Jets”

Earwig consists of guitarist and vocalist Lizard McGee, vocalist James McGee-Moore, bassist Costa Hondroulis, and drummer Nick Nocera. The Columbus, Ohio quartet sets the table with rocking, fuzz heavy “Wisdom Teeth;” that’s part Jane’s Addiction and part Bob Mould. The big riffs introduce “Lovers Chords,” a anthemic punk pop gem, all wrapped with layers of synth. Earwig then gets darker with its distorted chords, a great example “Bring Yrself 2 Me” is almost an indie pop version of Alice In Chains, and revisits this wicked guitar work on the instrumental “High Wasps.”

Another great pop gem is the duet with Lydia Loveless “Wasted On You,” a relationship post-mortem about star-crossed lovers. “Shine” is a downright mainstream pop ballad with a sweeping chorus and McGee provides a memorable performance that almost demands you take out your cigarette lighter and sway. Other tracks don’t have the same impact, but the variety of style, and quality musicianship here is worth the price of admission.

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Fernando Perdomo

Fernando Perdomo “Voyeurs”

Review by Mike Olinger: Miami-based Fernando Perdomo elicits a wistful kind of nostalgia with his bittersweet, tremolo drenched folk rock. One part Elvis Costello and two parts ELO, his sound is both melodically familiar and musically challenging. His newest self-produced opus, Voyeurs, is 17 song odyssey that was created through a series of live Facebook streams which allowed fans to watch the music come to life in real time. Their instant feedback influenced every artistic decision that was made, resulting in a collaboration of sorts between the mastermind and his musical voyeurs.

“Home” is one of the many primo cuts where Perdomo’s virtuosic grasp of tasteful arrangements equals his melancholy songwriting. His artful approach to recording rivals’ contemporaries like Richard Swift who mine a similar pop radio (circa. 1970’s) vein, but in the final stretch of the LP Perdomo forgoes this classic rock leaning for moody, jazz-inspired tangents that feel suited for fall weather and wouldn’t feel at all out of place alongside the bouncy instrumentals from the Rushmore soundtrack.

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About Mike Olinger: I am mad about music. Especially music with vision, uniqueness and soul. My record collection consists of over 1,000 minted vinyl which no one can touch except me and my cat.