Ever since their formation in 2011, Hard Soul has been relentlessly gigging and recording new music, including 2012's "Love Eats the Young" and 2013's "Seize the Year". So it was almost appropriate that Hard Soul frontman Johnny Salka began to write the songs that would eventually appear on the first full-length album "Heart of Plaster", out April 8th, 2014, while the band was on their last touring cycle of 2013. The 10 track-effort, produced by Salka and Steven Goldman at Four Legs Records, paints a picture of life out on the road, the heartbreak & sacrifice of leaving everything behind, and the search for a place to call home, all set to a mighty back-beat with heartfelt lyrics soaring over a classic-rock inspired soundscape. The songs on "Heart of Plaster", including the first single "Just Be Love", bring to mind a combination of The Beatles, Thin Lizzy and Oasis, infused with a modern flare for a new generation of rock n roll.

Hard Soul - Episode 219

CRUMBS Cafe is an Upstate New York radio show where we have local musicians stop by the CRUMBS Cafe studio for an interview and a couple of songs. Often we get the chance to record rare, acoustic versions of your favorite local songs. These weekly shows give musicians the outlet to chat a bit about whom they are, what their songs are all about, or even the local music scene in general. These episodes can also be heard on Exit 97.7 WEXT every Friday night at 11:00pm and blogged about on the Times Union website.

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Acoustic

Local roots music warriors Yankee Holler have their own take on Americana. They're mainstays at area cafes and bars and now have fine full-length CD called "Calm Can Kill."

The band consists of Matt Aumand (guitars), M.T. Dickerson (vocals, guitars), Axl McElrod (bass) and John Meliski (drums), and the album kicks off strongly with "Sugar Don't Stop." It has a pretty thick-sounding snare drum and retro wah-wah guitar, and an earnest vocal delivery. The guitar work here has a fiery Southern rock sound, which sadly isn't heard much anymore.

The clever barroom ode "Bourbon in Reverse" takes the day-after damage control point of view, wanting things back the way they were, while the relentless "Yellow Moon" recalls better days with a deadly backbeat.

Really, this is good old Southern rock played by good old Yankee boys; the only real difference between the two is a long cold winter. Yankee Holler recalls the days when music was the most important thing, and for them (and many of us), it still is.

Yankee Holler - Episode 224

In a world where music is a strong link to communication, one man will change the world with the power of music. This is, PW. His music has always been a strong factor in his life. He plays a wide variety of music from covers to originals; he tries to bring fun times and great music whenever he plays.

PW - Episode 223

Marc Delgado writes, plays guitar and sings in alt-rock/folk/americana group Wounded Knee. When not writing and recording with the band, he performs as a solo/acoustic act. He lives in Woodstock, NY with his wife and his dog. Marc Delgado's songs are eclectic, unexpected, deal with characters trying to make sense of the American Landscape.

Hard Soul - Episode 219

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