Icon Fetch

Drivin’ n Cryin’ have released some fantastic albums over the years, including 1991’s Fly Me Courageous. But, in 2012, the band abandoned the format in favor of recording shorter EP’s (most only 4 or 5 songs each). Songs For the Turntable is the fourth and latest installment of this series. Icon Fetch talks to singer Kevn Kinney of the band about this latest project, which brings everything full circle, returning to the band’s signature sound. He also talks about a brand new song called “Where’s My Country.”

Singer Annika Chambers has taken an interesting road to the blues. She served eight years in the US Army, rising to the rank of Sergeant and having two deployments to Iraq and Kosovo. While on base, she entered a talent contest, singing lead on a song. After she finished, she was approached by a guitarist that introduced her to the blues – and she’s been an avid fan ever since. Now, back in her hometown of Houston Texas, she’s teamed up with a stellar lineup of local musicians, dubbed appropriately the “Houston All Stars” for her debut album, Making My Mark.

Lone Justice were mid-Eighties pioneers. Blending elements of country, punk & rock, the band, led by fiery vocalist Maria McKee, gained a reputation for their incendiary live shows. Although praised by critics, the band never received commercial success, and broke up in 1989. Yet, over the following years, the group has been cited as a major influence by many bands. Now comes This is Lone Justice: The Vaught Tapes, 1983, a collection of 12 early recordings the band made before signing with a major label. Icon Fetch talks with original Lone Justice bassist Marvin Etzioni, who has kept these tapes in his garage for years. He tells us the story of how he joined the band and the circumstances that led to these fantastic recordings, made available for the first time.

The Swimming Pool Q’s came out of Atlanta, Georgia in the late Seventies, emerging from the same fertile ground that would birth the B-52s and R.E.M., among many others. After one independent release, the band were signed to A&M Records for a pair of critically-acclaimed albums – 1984’s The Swimming Pool Q’s and 1986’s Blue Tomorrow.

After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the band is proud to finally make these seminal albums available on CD for the first time. In addition, they’ve unearthed an additional disc of rarities, and even a DVD, featuring live footage, videos and interviews. If that weren’t enough, the band has some brand new material out as well. Icon Fetch talks with vocalist / guitarist Jeff Calder from the band about the long process of gaining the rights to this material. In addition, he tells some great stories about touring with the Police and Lou Reed, and how they got turned down by a record executive that told them they needed more “furniture” in their song.

Canadian singer/songwriter Luke McMaster recorded a hit duet with pianist Jim Brickman earlier in 2013 called “Good Morning Beautiful.” Now the song has been retooled just in time for the holidays as “Merry Christmas Beautiful,” which McMaster is supporting by touring with Brickman, doing a series of holiday shows. He’s also just issued “NYC,” a collaboration with DJ Titus 1 and featuring vocals by Bek Phillips, which shows off a completely different side to his music. Icon Fetch talks with the busy songwriter about his soul album, All Roads; his love of recent Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductees Hall & Oates; and taking his music in a more dance-oriented direction.

Platinum-selling pianist David Lanz returns to Icon Fetch with his first new album of original material in five years called Movements of the Heart (amazon link). Inspired by a new love in his life, the record features some of the most passionate music Lanz has ever laid to tape. We discuss how immersing himself in music of the past, specifically the Beatles, had an impact on his current compositions, and how he tuned his piano differently, and the positive effect that had on his songs.

Tommy Keene has been a regular guest on our show, but his new album is something different – Excitement at Your Feet is eleven songs that Tommy didn’t write, giving him a chance to show off some of his influences. And he digs pretty deep – most people won’t recognize the covers he does of the Who and Stones. We talk to Keene about the inspiration behind the record, choosing the songs (including a rare one from the Bee Gees), and how soon we could expect a new studio album.

Photographer Lisa Johnson has just put out 108 Rock Star Guitars from Glitterati Publishing. While there have been many photo books centering on guitars, her book is something completely different: for one, these aren’t just any six stringed instruments, but the favorite axes of some of the legendary guitarists in all of rock. Johnson traveled all around the globe for a chance to snap these hallowed instruments. But, the most unique aspect of her book is the way she captures them – instead of the whole instrument, she might zoom in on only a portion of the guitar – maybe a well-worn pickguard, or a banged-up neck. it’s known as macrophotography. The result of these high definition prints is that you feel like you can reach out and touch these rare pieces – a real treat for any avid guitar fan.

Long before Richard Barone embarked on a successful solo career, he fronted the Hoboken band the Bongos. The group enjoyed critical acclaim, college radio success, and even got some videos played on early MTV. But by 1986, the band was falling apart. They recorded a final album in the Bahamas, but it remained unreleased, and Barone went solo. Now, after over 25 years, Phantom Train finally gets a proper release. Full of the chiming guitars and haunting melodies that were characteristics of the band’s best moments. We talk to Barone about why 2013 was the right time to release these tracks, how these songs figured into his next project, Cool Blue Halo, and the recent reunion of the Bongos.

Jessy J has been named the Hottest Rising Star in Smooth Jazz, scored several #1 singles in the genre, and had a chance to collaborate with some of the biggest names in the business. Her latest CD is called Second Chances. Icon Fetch talks with the sexy multi-instrumentalist about the number “2” re-occurring in the songs on her album, what made her choose the saxophone all those years ago, and a recent recording session she had with legendary rockers Aerosmith.