Natural falsetto, a house fire, and trippy dreams. Johnny Ruiz (Johnny Ruiz & The Escapers)

"When a young man’s in love, sometimes it’s hard to let go. The dream of what “could have been” and the good memories that seem to mask the bad ones. Knowing you’re to blame but without the ability to accept it. Asking her to stick around when you know she shouldn’t. Johnny wrote “Oralia” in the grips of this pain and loss. “I can’t believe the time would come when I would watch you leave!” He was going through it but haven’t we all? Sometimes the only medicine is making music.... “Oralia” is a mid-tempo, Latin soul tune that will instantly help your head nod and also remind you of that love that got away. Johnny’s falsetto hugs the track while the Escaper’s mighty horns and rhythm section lock in to create what is set to be one of the underground soul scenes hottest 45’s of 2023! The flip “Believe Me” is an ode to The Escapers love of doo-wop and street harmony. Originally sung with The Skyliners, this song is destined for late night cruises on California concrete." Excerpt from https://shopdaptonerecords.com/products/johnny-ruiz-the-escapers-oralia-45

Johnny Ruiz & The Escapers:

Bandcamp: https://parksiderecordings.bandcamp.com

Instagram: @the_escapers702

Website: https://linktr.ee/THEESCAPERS?fbclid=PAAabnO_IJEz82dLCfmnW60FxJ4vUF8HXs7iPUZsI21bvp53eOp5OOMdVkfFg

Merch: https://shopdaptonerecords.com/products/johnny-ruiz-the-escapers-oralia-45

The Vineyard:

Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast

Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevineyardpodcast

Starting on the East coast, bringing a dog on tour, and a healthy mix of ballads and upbeat songs. Molly Burch

Molly Burch’s “Daydreamer”- https://www.omnianmusicgroup.com/products/daydreamer

"Molly Burch was exposed to the arts at an early age. Growing up in Los Angeles with a writer/producer father and a casting director mother, Burch's childhood was filled with old Hollywood musicals and the sounds of Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. After finding her voice in adolescence, Burch packed up for the University of North Carolina in Asheville to study Jazz Vocal Performance. “I was always really interested in singing before songwriting. I didn’t have the confidence to write,” Molly says, “Initially it was more about finding the right songs to complement my voice.” And that voice is the first thing you’ll notice on Burch's debut album, Please Be Mine. It’s smoky, with an incredible range, effortlessly evocative of her early influences. It was in Asheville where Burch would meet guitarist Dailey Toliver, who plays on her debut, and who inspired much of its music. Searching for a bigger pond, Burch moved to Austin, Texas in an effort to stand on her own two feet. There, Burch began to write her own music in earnest, with the lovelorn Everly Brothers and Sam Cooke as her songwriting guides. Joined by Toliver in Austin a year later, the two connected with Dan Duszynski of Cross Record, and they recorded all the songs on Please Be Mine at his idyllic studio in Dripping Springs, Texas. Motivated by the hourly rate, Burch and her band recorded all the basic tracks and vocals live in one room and in one day, with minimal overdubs for keys and back-up vocals happening a day later. A difficult task for any talented musician, it becomes more mind-blowing when you hear her belt it on tracks like “Downhearted” and “I Love You Still.” We're all lucky Molly started writing music simply to complement her voice, as we've discovered a great new American songwriter in the process. Captured Tracks is proud to present this debut album of ten beautiful, wistful love songs of loss, loneliness and reconnecting." Excerpt from http://www.mollyburchmusic.com/bio

Molly Burch:

Bandcamp: https://mollyburch.bandcamp.com

Instagram: @mollyjburch

Website: http://www.mollyburchmusic.com

Merch: https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/molly-burch

The Vineyard:

Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast

Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevineyardpodcast

The camera work of Malcolm & The Middle, email protocol, and walking in to see what’s up for a bit. David Ruiz (SadGirl, The Paranoyds)

"The Paranoyds have the kind of connection people only dream of: as non-biological sisters who have known each other longer than they haven't and speak a language that no one else can understand. With a bond that began in preschool, Laila Hashemi (keys/vocals) and Lexi Funston (guitar/vocals) were always inseparable, so when they met Staz Lindes (bass/vocals) in ninth grade, it felt like they had known her all along. After all, they were a “package deal.” In high school, they began making music together in a friend’s laundry room and their relationship just blossomed from there. When it came time to add in a drummer, David Ruiz, who joined the band in 2015, fit in like he had been there all along. It's that special bond that has solidified their relationship as bandmates who connect seamlessly to one another’s energy on stage—and best friends. And it's the one thing that has remained a constant throughout the past two years." Excerpt from https://theparanoyds.com/#About

SadGirl:

Bandcamp: https://wearesadgirl.bandcamp.com

Instagram: @wearesadgirl

Website: https://wearesadgirl.com

Merch: https://wearesadgirl.bigcartel.com

The Paranoyds:

Bandcamp: https://theparanoyds.bandcamp.com/album/i-like-it-here

Instagram: @theparanoyds

Website: https://theparanoyds.com

Merch: https://thirdmanrecords.com/products/talk-talk-talk

The Vineyard:

Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast

Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevineyardpodcast

Following whatever you’re into, flipping the mind into different perspectives, and the individual spirit. Adam Halliwell (Mildlife)

"Mildlife was formed in Melbourne by four school friends: keyboardist/vocalist Kevin McDowell, guitarist Adam Halliwell, bassist Tom Shanahan, and drummer James Donald. Taking their initial cues from '70s rock, they went on to encompass a much broader spectrum of influences, bringing them all together in an anything-goes kind of way. They set up their own studio and self-produced all their work, recording live in the room. Constant revision, experimentation, and perfectionism in the arrangement of disparately composed parts meant that it could sometimes take them years to finish a single piece. Shanahan and McDowell are also graphic designers who created the band's logo and all their artwork. Their debut album, Phase, was released in 2018 by Research Records to critical acclaim. It was recorded by engineer Jim Rindfleisch, an old friend of the band, who went on to join them as their drummer following Donald's departure. The success of the album led to a deal with influential British indie label Heavenly, home to Doves and Saint Etienne. In May 2020, Mildlife released the single "Rare Air," a lush, super-smooth groove. Their second album, Automatic, followed in September of that year." Excerpt from https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mildlife-mn0003707987#biography

Mildlife:

Bandcamp https://mildlife.bandcamp.com :

Instagram: @mildlife_

Website: https://www.mildlife.com.au

Merch: https://heavenlyrecordings.com/artist/mildlife/

Adam Halliwell:

Instagram: @adamhalliwell_

Freedom Lapse Album: https://elationsfreshhold.bandcamp.com/album/freedom-lapse

The Vineyard:

Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast

Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevineyardpodcast

Having more contact with nature, cracking the code, and making peace with something you don't like. Juan Zaballa (Tall Juan)

Paloma- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0HAWAXOCWY

"Tall Juan is as tall (about 6 feet 3 inches) as he is named Juan, and in his brief career, he has lovingly commanded the art of pastiche. On his 2017 debut Olden Goldies, Juan Zaballa introduced himself in 15 short songs as a rockabilly crooner raised on the Ramones—Iggy Pop doing an Elvis bit, maybe vice versa. The Buenos Aires-born singer made his way to Far Rockaway, Queens, where he honed his goofy brand of punk alongside former roommate Mac DeMarco and songwriter Juan Wauters (from whom “tall” distinguishes Zaballa)." Excerpt from https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/...

Tall Juan:

Bandcamp: https://talljuan.bandcamp.com

Instagram: @talljuan

Merch: https://talljuan.bandcamp.com/merch

The Vineyard:

Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast

Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevineyardpodcast

The tone of The Sopranos Season 1, cowboy woohoos, and drinking absinthe from Spain. Jacob Rubeck (Surf Curse)

"Surf Curse owes its existence to the indomitable spirit of rock and roll, or maybe it’s just the enduring power of friendship. Some would argue they’re the same thing. But they’ll remain timeless as long as kids aren’t willing to feel like outcasts in silence. In other words, forever. So it’s no surprise that Surf Curse, a band that has dedicated itself to expressing the heartbreaks and alienation and small triumphs of growing up, has managed to thrive in DIY spaces, grubby clubs and wherever teenagers and lapsed teenagers can be found online—from their humble origins on Myspace to their rise through Tumblr to Bandcamp and now the 2021 equivalent of MTV—their eight-year old song is a viral smash on TikTok." Excerpt from https://www.governorsballmusicfestiva...

Surf Curse:

Bandcamp: https://surfcurse.bandcamp.com

Instagram: @surfcurse

Merch: https://surf-curse-ai.myshopify.com

Gap Girls:

Bandcamp: https://gapgirls.bandcamp.com

The Vineyard:

Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast

Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevineyardpodcast

Paint fumes, the technical side of the tour, and the aesthetic of Trader Joes. Pablo Sotelo (Inner Wave)

“Inner Wave is an alternative indie-pop band from Los Angeles, California. They are known for their blend of psychedelic and synthwave sounds weaving in indie rock elements, jazz chords, Latin beats, and smooth vocals" Excerpt from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_Wave

Inner Wave:

Bandcamp: https://innerwave.bandcamp.com

Instagram: @innerwave

Website: https://innerwave.xyz

Merch: https://innerwave.xyz/collections/all

The Vineyard:

Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast

Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevineyardpodcast

Real social networks, the hired gun lifestyle, and getting conned by a dentist. Noah Bond (Cut Worms, John Andrews & The Yawns, Bonny Doon, Widowspeak, Martin Courtney, Anna St. Louis)

“My focus as a drummer is simple - to serve the song. I pride myself on providing thoughtful and creative drumming that never distracts from the artist’s original vision." Excerpt from https://noahbonddrums.com

Noah Bond:

Instagram: @primordialsounds

Website: https://noahbonddrums.com

Cut Worms:

Bandcamp: https://cutworms.bandcamp.com/album/cut-worms

Instagram: @cutworms

Website: https://www.cut-worms.com

Merch: https://cutworms.merchtable.com/

John Andrews & The Yawns:

Bandcamp: https://johnandrewsyawns.bandcamp.com/album/love-for-the-underdog

Instagram: @johnjandrews

Merch: https://woodsist.com/product/john-andrews-the-yawns-underdog/

Bonny Doon:

Bandcamp: https://bonnydoon.bandcamp.com/music

Instagram: @bonny__doon

Website: https://bonnydoontheband.com

Merch: https://kf-merch.com/collections/bonny-doon?ffm=FFM_a0ada228293ed56ce6d74e0da0a3691c

Widowspeak:

Bandcamp: https://widowspeak.bandcamp.com

Instagram: @widowspeaking

Website: https://www.widowspeakforever.com

Merch: https://www.merchbar.com/rock-alternative/widowspeak

Martin Courtney:

Bandcamp: https://martincourtney.bandcamp.com

Instagram: @martincourtney

Website: https://martincourtneyiv.com

Merch: https://martincourtney.bandcamp.com/merch

Anna St. Louis:

Bandcamp: https://annastlouis.bandcamp.com

Instagram: @annastlouis

Website: https://linktr.ee/annastlouis?fbclid=PAAaYRalZPzyPd9cGRON-r08AXORdbYFWoJODe5EebtAS2I5H1w7wFLhYQ324

Merch: https://annastlouis.bigcartel.com

The Vineyard:

Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast

Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevineyardpodcast

A library of Taco Bell sauce packets, Nebraska seafood, and driving a stickshift. Josh Menashe (Frankie and The Witch Fingers)

“Bubbling up from the psychedelic tar pits of L.A., Frankie and the Witch Fingers have been a constant source of primordial groove for the better part of the last decade. Formed and incubated in Bloomington, IN before moving west to scrap with Los Angeles’ garage rock rabble, the band evolved from cavern-clawed echo merchants to architects of prog-infected psych epics that evoke a shift in reality." Excerpt from https://frankieandthewitchfingers.com

Frankie and The Witch Fingers:

BandCamp: https://frankieandthewitchfingers.ban…

Instagram: @frankieandthewitchfingers

Website: https://frankieandthewitchfingers.com

The Vineyard:

Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast

Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevineyardpodcast

Chasing off scorpions, evolving into something else, and studying time. Danny Lee Blackwell (Night Beats, Abraxas)

“Night Beats is the brain-child of Native Texan Danny Lee Blackwell. The soundtrack of a generation, the band’s R&B inspired Western Psychedelic sound is a reckoning, a shoot-out at dawn, the ear-splitting peel-out that leaves nothing but a cloud of red dust in its wake. Through the years Night Beats has garnered a reputation as one of the finest purveyors of contemporary rock’n’roll around. They’ve clocked up critical acclaim, toured around the world and shared the stage with the likes of Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees, The Black Angels, Roky Erickson and The Jesus and Mary Chain, among many others.” Excerpt from https://thenightbeats.us/pages/info

Night Beats:

Bandcamp: https://nightbeats.bandcamp.com/music

Instagram: @thenightsbeats

Website: https://thenightbeats.us

Merch: https://nightbeats.bandcamp.com/merch

Abraxas:

Bandcamp: https://abraxasintl.bandcamp.com/album/monte-carlo

Instagram: @abraxasintl

Merch: https://abraxasintl.bandcamp.com/merch

Records: https://suicide-squeeze.myshopify.com/products/abraxas-monte-carlo

The Vineyard:

Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast

Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevineyardpodcast