Arizona femme punks The Venomous Pinks are debuting the new documentary, We Must Prevail: The Making of Vita Mors, which chronicles the creation of their latest album Vita Mors, out now on SBÄM Records.
The film was directed and edited by Alexander Thomas and filmed in Santa Ana, CA, at Maple Sounds Studios, with cameos by Brenna Red (The Last Gang), Linh Le (Bad Cop/Bad Cop), Cameron Webb (Alkaline Trio, Motorhead), Dan Palmer (Death By Stereo, Zebrahead), and Stefan Beham (SBÄM Records).
The Pinks had a busy 2023, touring relentlessly with the likes of T.S.O.L., Dead Kennedys, The Queers, Less Than Jake, The Toasters, and appearing on festival stages at Punk Rock Bowling and more. 2024 promises more of the same, as the band has already announced its first shows of the year, including an appearance at Camp Punksylvania in July.
Stream We Must Prevail: The Making of Vita Mors here:
“[The Venomous Pinks] might singlehandedly make you believe in the power of feminism, whoa-oh gang vocals, and punk pride to change the world. The songs can wax as melodic as the GoGo’s or roar as persuasively polemical as Bad Religion.”- Offshelf
Upcoming The Venomous Pinks Shows
3/22 – Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory w/ Mac Sabbath, DI
4/6 – Honolulu, HI @ Nextdoor
4/7 – Paia, HI @ Paia Bay Coffee and Bar
July 5-7 @ Camp Punksylvania – Gilbert, PA
“Mesa, AZ’s own The Venomous Pinks have more than earned their place amid punk’s most weird and riotous acts. This bare-bones punk jam blends heft, heart, and pop-punk vibes into a bona fide earworm.”- Phoenix New Times
Vita Mors is out now via SBÄM Records
Vita Mors was recorded, engineered and produced by Grammy winner Cameron Webb, who also worked with iconic bands like Motorhead, Social Distortion, Pennywise, NOFX, Alkaline Trio and many more. The Venomous Pinks set out to be the next big thing on that list.
If members of Bikini Kill and TSOL musically collided in a Russ Myer movie, the soundtrack scoring the scene would be orchestrated by The Venomous Pinks.
The Venomous Pinks | Photography: Ben Trivett
Hailing from Mesa, Arizona the three-piece trio creates an unapologetically, uniquely addictive, in-your-face punk sound, that instantly makes the soul hurt so good, you can’t help but yearn for more.
Limited Edition Pressing of 500 copies, Across Two Unique Color Variants
Cincinnati, OH pop-punks Settle Your Scores and Mutant League Records will release the band’s beloved 2016 LP ‘The Wilderness’ on 12″ vinyl for the first time ever, in a limited edition pressing of 500 copies, across two unique color variants.
Originally released on January 23, 2016, “The Wilderness” features 12 tracks that showcase Settle Your Scores’ signature sound: catchy melodies amidst breakdowns and hard-hitting guitar riffs. The album was well-received by fans and critics alike and has since become a fan-favorite in the pop-punk community.
“The Wilderness” on vinyl is available for pre-order now.
Just Because You Shot Jesse James, Don’t Make You Jesse James
Poster Boys for Bad Luck
Life: A Fate Worse Than Death
Behind the Scene/Nothing Without You
Worst Intentions (You Had ‘Em)
Cashing Your Reality Check
If Loose Lips Sink Ships, Then You’re the Titanic
Friend or Faux?
Anti-Social Butterfly
There’s No ‘I’ In Family
Underachiever of the Year
How to Screw Up Your Future and Disappoint Your Loved Ones
“What is it about the Midwest that generates pop-punk prodigies? Cincinnati’s Settle Your Scores are a perfect representation of the phenomenon with their catchy riffs and added metalcore flair.”– Alternative Press
“A sunshine-stained slab of old-school pop-punk goodness. ‘Retrofit’ finds the band paying a reinvigorated homage to the roots of pop-punk…bright, breezy and buoyant in all of the most wonderful ways. It shows off another side to the band’s influences whilst also allowing their slick and insatiable songwriting to shine loud and clear.”– Rock Sound
So Cal all-female rock trio The Aquadolls will be on the road with Incubus and Sublime With Rome from July 24 through September 3rd. See dates below.
Watch for new music coming soon. In the meantime, the band’s latest single titled “Help (I’m Falling 4U and I Can’t Get Up)” is out now.
Stream the single here, and stream the video here.
Frontwoman Melissa Brooks says, “This song tells the story of falling for someone and starting to obsess over them. It’s about imagining all of the things we could do together, both romantic and twisted, showing the darker sides of having a crush and longing for more to come from it.
Produced by Fat Mike of NOFX and Jon Graber, this song is a sultry slow jam compiled of surfy guitar with a heavy kick drum, hitting our heart strings with every chord.”
“Help (I’m Falling 4U and I Can’t Get Up)” follows on the heels of the trio’s recently national co-headline tour with Republic Records’ Sitting On Stacy, and their recent appearance at Ventura, CA’s Surf Rodeo.
Already a festival favorite, having performed for the masses at Lollapalooza, Ohana Fest, and Beachlife Festival, The Aquadolls will again grace the stage at Austin City Limits Festival this October.
The 3-piece has just finished recording a new LP that is scheduled to be released soon on Enci Records.
Incubus / Sublime With Rome / The Aquadolls Tour Dates
Sunday, July 24 West Palm Beach, FL iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Tuesday, July 26 Jacksonville, FL Daily’s Place
Wednesday, July 27 Atlanta, GA Lakewood Amphitheatre
Friday, July 29 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
Saturday, July 30 Doswell, VA AfterHours Concerts at The Meadow Event Park
Sunday, July 31 Wantagh, NY Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Tuesday, Aug 02 Syracuse, NY St. Joseph’s Heath Amphitheater at Lakeview
Wednesday, Aug 03 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
Friday, Aug 05 Camden, NJ Waterfront Music Pavilion
Saturday, Aug 06 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Sunday, Aug 07 Bangor, ME Maine Savings Amphitheater
Tuesday, Aug 09 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
Wednesday, Aug 10 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre
Friday, Aug 12 Bonner Springs, KS Azura Amphitheater
Saturday, Aug 13 Maryland Heights, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis
Sunday, Aug 14 Tinley Park, IL Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago
Tuesday, Aug 16 Rogers, AR Walmart AMP
Wednesday, Aug 17 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion
Friday, Aug 19 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Saturday, Aug 20 Austin, TX Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Monday, Aug 22 Phoenix, AZ Ak-Chin Pavilion
Wednesday, Aug 24 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
Friday, Aug 26 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
Saturday, Aug 27 Irvine, CA FivePoint Amphitheatre
Sunday Aug 28 Chula Vista, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tuesday, Aug 30 Reno, NV Grand Sierra Resort and Casino (Grand Theatre)
Thursday, Sept 01 Ridgefield, WA RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
Saturday, Sept 03 Bend, OR Hayden Homes Amphitheater
About The Aquadolls
The Aquadolls was formed in La Mirada, CA in January 2012 by lead singer and songwriter Melissa Brooks, who began recording bedroom demos of her songs. She eventually released the album We Are Free in early 2013, followed by the LP Stoked on You in December 2014. After a brief break from releases, the stars aligned in July 2018, and the new era of The Aquadolls commenced with Jacqueline Proctor on drums and Keilah Nina on bass. The band grew as a powerful threesome leading up to the release of The Aquadolls’ highly anticipated second album, The Dream and the Deception, recorded and self-produced by Brooks and self-released October 28, 2018, on Aqua Babe Records.
Following their sophomore album, the trio self-released the single “Suck on This” in summer 2019, followed by their 2020 viral cover of Lash’s “Take Me Away” (a track made famous via its inclusion in the 2003 Lindsay Lohan-starring Disney film ‘Freaky Friday’).
After signing with Enci Records and releasing a trio of singles (including the track “Cry Baby” which hit the top 10 Alternative Specialty Charts), The Aquadolls, whose sound mixes indie, punk, surf rock, and vintage bubblegum girl-group swagger, went on to garner praise from the likes of Spin, Paste, Alternative Press, New Noise Magazine and many more.
The Aquadolls Acclaim
“Coming from the suburbs of Los Angeles, the Aquadolls are punk pioneers in the broadest sense. They ooze eclecticism, stacking elements of indie– and surf-rock on top of a distinctly pop-punk foundation. While their sound might not exist at a comfortable spot for genre purists, fans of sonic experimentation will surely find their versatility entrancing.”- Alternative Press
“… exudes an undeniable attitude…”-New Noise Magazine
“The Aquadolls exude a positively energetic, and powerfully confident vibe. A mix of influences and life experiences between this trio, makes for their inspiringly eclectic, powerful punk rock n roll music.”-Wall Of Sound
“If there was a missing link between 60s girl groups, California surf-pop, 90s skater rock and Taylor Swift’s assertive pop-sassiness it might be this lo-fi band helmed by singer-guitarist Melissa Brooks from Southern California.”– New Zealand Herald
“In line with other historical all-female bands such as Bikini Kill.”-The BC Heights
“If you were looking for a new mood-booster, this is it.”– Riff Magazine
“The Aquadolls are a So-Cal trio primed to blast off. Featuring surf-rock vibes alongside pop-punk vocals, these witty women excel at blending genres and garnering attention they rightfully deserve.”– Idobi Radio
“…fuzzy surf-psych-grunge pop from Southern California with an ebullient sing-a-long vibe.things are on the up-and-up for this cool crew.”– *Oh My Rockness*
“The Southern California band effortlessly pours out infectious shoegazey bops, earnest headbangers, cosmic surf-punk ballads, and electrified power-pop anthems. Despite the sheer range of styles and genres reflected in their music, there’s a real cohesion to The Aquadolls’ addicting combination of sharp edges and even keel. No matter what vibe a given song has, it’s clear The Aquadolls are putting everything they have into the music they’re making.”– Hard Noise
“This is a rock band composed of womxn unafraid to unhinge their music from easy listening, a powerfulness laced with irony and sarcasm and sweltering feeling in all of their songs.”– Lithium Magazine
“The group has continued to push themselves creatively in new directions with each release.”– All The Alt Things
“The Aquadolls have managed to piece together an anthem-in-waiting. Powered by woozy chords and a hazy soundscape set atop delicate but resonating vocals, ‘Disappearing Girl’ feels as though it’s been delivered to us fresh from (a) distant dream. Fingers crossed that world domination is part of their plan.”– Blunt Mag
“A shimmering piece of indie rock, “Disappearing Girl” is built on fizzling layers of percussions as The Aquadolls toy with the raw elements garage and chest-swelling air of dream rock.”– Aupium
“A punk rock power ballad doesn’t sound like it could be possible, but The Aquadolls somehow pull off the impossible.”– If It’s Too Loud
“…energetic and infectious. They’re better than caffeine.”– Illinois Entertainer
For Fans of Elliott Smith, Father John Misty, Sufjan Stevens
“With his cello playing bringing the required atmosphere, “Kinds Of Light” is the new single from Seattle-based Jeremiah Moon. A stylistic meeting place between Elliott Smith and Sufjan Stevens, there’s both sophistication and songcraft here.”– Songwriting Magazine
Seattle-based singer/songwriter/classically-trained cellist and illustrator Jeremiah Moon has released a companion music video for his latest single “Kinds Of Light,” off his forthcoming debut EP ‘Sputnik‘ to be released via Enci Records (The Joy Formidable, Beach Goons, Fences). After making its premiere yesterday on Week In Pop, the gorgeous clip is now streaming here.
“…serene, sacred and solemn.. carefully crafted mix of restrained rhythms and chamber pop string progressions deliver a subtle baroque arrangement that conjures a sense of cabin essence, setting the tone for a reflective work on the meaningfulness of others that reaches outward from the confines of home.”– Week In Pop
Jeremiah says, “(Kinds of Light) is about opposing selves, the way relationships with other people compel us to reckon with our own identity, the way our stories gradually become histories, and the things we choose – or don’t choose – to carry with us. The underlying thread, like all 5 songs on the EP, is connection between people – the ways that we try to understand each other, and the ways we change each others’ orbits.”
The tracks that make up the ‘Sputnik‘ EP were recorded with friend and producer Adam Black in a remote cabin in Florence, OR. He says, “We laid down the main tracks during this time and pieced together the rest of the EP and arrangements over the next couple of years.”
Moon’s music bears the mark of the musicians that inspired it, channeling the energy of a diverse list of influences that range from Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Thom Yorke, Blake Mills, Sufjan Stevens, Claude Debussy, and Nick Cave, to Mahler, Dvorak, Stravinsky, Ravel, and the poetry of Christian Wiman, all while simultaneously carving its own path.
Jeremiah Moon
The son of a classically trained violinist mother, Moon would start taking cello lessons at age 7, playing music (solo, chamber music, and orchestra) all through high school.
After graduating, Moon studied cello performance at Boston University. He recalls, “I started writing my first songs when I was home on summer vacations.”
In 2013, Jeremiah moved to Seattle and started accompanying guitarists for live shows and recording sessions, as well as working on his illustration skills and building a portfolio of his work. He says, “I started seriously working on songwriting in 2018 after being challenged by a friend to take myself more seriously as an artist. The 5 songs on my EP were a direct result of the momentum from this burst of inspiration.”
Transviolet’s new “Drugs In California” video depicts a dystopian world where the feeling of fame has been synthesized, and you can take a diamond pill to feel adored. But like the real thing, this glamorous drug comes with horrifying side effects.
About the Video
“Director Kyle Vorbach, Cinematographer Skyler Bocciolatt and I wanted to create a dystopian world where the feeling of fame had been synthesized, and you could take a diamond pill to feel adored. But like the real thing, this glamorous drug comes with horrifying side effects.
The high of performing has been something I’ve been craving desperately during this pandemic. It’s weird to put out music and not know if you’ll ever get to play it live. Being on stage is a place where I feel completely liberated, completely myself. Feeling heard, loved and connected is what inspired me to start making music in the first place. I think it can be really beautiful to receive that from others, but I’m also grateful I’ve had this time away, where I had to face some demons, and learn how to give those things to myself.
I’m really proud of this video, and that we were able to get creative and pull it off safely. Kyle directed the video remotely from New York, and at times would be giving directions via zoom! He also did all the editing and CGI which is absolutely mind blowing. Skyler shot it so beautifully, and stylist Savanna Chonis really nailed the grotesquely glamorous vibe. It all came together better than I could have ever imagined.” Sarah McTaggart (Transviolet)
Watch the “Drugs in California” Music Video
About the Song
“Drugs in California is a song about a toxic relationship. Specifically, it’s about a toxic relationship between fame and adoration. I’d always felt sort of ambivalent to fame. it always just seemed like an inconvenient side effect to making music that I might have to endure one day if things went really well. I felt like I could prepare myself for it. I’ve had small tastes of fame now, but it’s nothing like I anticipated.
It’s weird because I wouldn’t think of myself as famous, but the truth is, to some people, I am famous. I won’t lie to you, it feels amazing to have people connect with my work so deeply- to feel so seen, understood, and appreciated- to be adored. However, that feeling can be really addictive, even destructive. it’s made me question myself- who I am, my intentions, my integrity; at times it’s made me feel isolated and disconnected from people. it’s fucked with my head more than anything else I’ve ever experienced. should I want this? should I not want this? I still don’t know.”-Sarah McTaggart (Transviolet)
Transviolet
“Dark and moody pop song that landed them somewhere between XYLO and Lana Del Rey.”- Complex
“‘Aid and Abet’ is about the internal struggles of breaking habits and addictive behaviour. Knowing that you have to push through and might feel worse, temporarily, before getting better. For the video, we worked with our talented friend, Bobby Pook (Sumo Crucial Media). We’ve worked with him on previous videos and unsurprisingly, he astounded us all with the final result.
For those disturbed by a particular scene in the video, please keep watching until the end. Whatever you’re going through, there is always someone out there available to listen and help.
The websites listed at the end of the video are a few examples with links to international helplines. Asking for help is never a burden. You do not have to face this alone.”- Isa Holliday (Slow Crush)
Watch the New Music Video for “Aid and Abet”
SLOW CRUSH To Reissue Out-Of-Print ‘Aurora’ LP
The band’s successful 2018 debut full-length “Aurora”, was released to much acclaim, selling 4000 physical copies, going into its 4th press. The album’s track “Glow” has racked up nearly 500,000 streams alone.
On March 19, Quiet Panic will re-issue the out-of-print LP, with pre-orders launching today.
Slow Crush is a compelling and abrasive shoegaze band out of Belgium, dealing with the aesthetics of contrasting sounds. The vulnerable soft floating voice of Manchester, UK’s Isa Holliday underneath layers of grungy shoegaze soaked noisepop, has resonated with fans and music critics alike.
Slow Crush has been touring consistently throughout North America and Europe with over 180 shows played in 2019-2020, consistently selling-out shows on both continents, at venues such as LA’s The Echo, Brooklyn’s Saint Vitus and more.
Milwaukee-based art-pop artist Valerie Lighthart is debuting a new self-directed music video for her latest single “Love & Money,” which includes a featured spot from queer Latinx pop artist Solana. The video was directed by Lighthart herself and also features a cameo by drag-queen Melee Mcqueen.
The “Love & Money” official music video, which premiered yesterday on Black Book, is now streaming here:
“Love & Money” is a pop-romp created to celebrate femininity and reclaim the ideals women and femme-identifying folks are vilified for -vanity, yearning for love, and self-interest. Valerie has created a safe space wherein femmes could express those traits euphorically, harkening back to the circles that witches danced around naked in the early American wilderness. Worshiping evil ideals, loving themselves wildly, and exuding power.
“I yearned to create a gilded realm to escape inside. I sought and found safe spaces to unpack the difficult feelings I had about womanhood, femininity, sexuality, and autonomy. As a young teenager, a dance class I took with my older sister helped me begin to unravel the complicated web of internalized misogyny I learned. It taught me to connect to my body in a new way and learn to embrace my thoughts and desires in a group of supportive femmes. We would spin in circles, laughing and talking. We showered love on each other, and the tone of acceptance, body positivity, and optimism was freeing. Through this joyful space, I grew the stability of identity to unpack my ideas on femininity, and analyze the shame that had it in a stranglehold. Women and femmes don’t have a monopoly on shame, but I felt empowered to think about what I knew best: feminine performance in relation to a hyper-sexed and shame-based culture,” says Valerie.
Having designed the set and coordinated the costumes to harken back to the restrictive and debauched 18th century, Valerie’s music video opens up the stage to include femme folks who’s artistic flair, drive, force, and ownership of their autonomy she deeply admires.
“Whilst celebrating this ambition in “Love & Money“, I also explore why these materialistic and capitalist desires are even important, by creating this over-the-top alter-ego. I think it’s fun to ask questions from a first-person perspective, and through this song, I was able to do a bit of soul searching and exploration of the femme experience in our society, the roles we’re encouraged to assume, and the spectrum of desires and goals we have and why we have them. Ultimately this project is about shining light on multi-dimensionality as an intrinsic part of femme nature,“ says Solana.
About Valerie Lighthart:
“Surging eccentrically out of Milwaukee, WI is the glorious curiosity that goes by the name of Valerie Lighthart. At just 22 years of age, the cultural polymath has already dabbled in filmmaking, poetry, acting, modeling– and of course… her true raison d’être, making music. But with her new single, it might be said that she has also crossed over into feminist philosophy.” – Black Book
Imbibed with the different flavors of visual and sonic characterization, Valerie Lighthart is a pop songstress that tempers fun melodies with a sense of something a few shades darker -punctuations of melancholy and unique stories centered around folklore, empowerment, travel, or personal trials. In some tracks, she embraces her personal identity and in some she subverts it altogether, creating an entirely new character in which to enact her ideas. Yearning to create a larger-than-life feeling of mythology within her new work, she is diving fully into chamber pop-inspired dance songs and floating through soundscapes of ambient and longing folk croons.
Valerie Lighthart | Photography Ryan Yatso
“Love & Money” is the introduction to the “By Moonlight” series, a careful cultivation of the opposing worlds of pop and folk to tell a story about the historical positionings of women. Different elements held within the trio of EPs intend to empower, awaken, question, and introspect. Her vehicle is the shining moon, eternal in her orbit, the fluttering tulle skirts of femme goddesses shaking the leaves from the trees, the monsters braying past the moonbeams in the darkness, and the murky waters of outcry and confusion. The lyrics are feminist, subversive, analytical, romantic, and lofty. The “By Moonlight” series is a trio of EPs, each in a different sub-genre, intended to analyze a different facet of femme existence: empowerment, transformation, performativism, sexuality, oppression, and rage
The project, set to release in installments over the next year, is a collaboration with N43 Records, a Midwest-based independent label empowering diverse voices.
Osaka Japan rock band SCANDAL regretfully announces the postponement of its highly-anticipated 2020 “Kiss From The Darkness” North American WORLD TOUR, due to COVD-19.
The tour which was originally set to kick off on September 17 in Anaheim, CA has been rescheduled for FALL 2021. The updated 5-city run of dates includes a NEW show at Sony Hall in NYC on Saturday, November 13. See canceled and updated dates below.
While fans may have to wait a while longer to see the band, SCANDAL is excited to announce details for their FIRST-EVERWORLDWIDE LIVESTREAM CONCERT! The SCANDAL WORLD TOUR 2020 “Kiss From The Darkness” WORLDWIDE Livestream will take place live from Japan on Friday, August 21, 2020 (the band’s 14th anniversary) at 7:00PM JST (3:00AM PDT/6AM EDT, 11 :00AM UK). Tickets are $30.
For fans outside of Japan who are unable to stream the show live, the full set will be archived for 48 hours after.
In a statement to fans, the band says,
“We are very saddened by the fact that our World Tour that was supposed to take place this year has been postponed. However, we are very excited about our first worldwide livestream concert! Our tour was going to visit more than 30 cities in the world, so we are working very hard to put all of our energy and passion into this one night, so that we can bring you the very best of SCANDAL!! Even though the concept of a livestream concert is very new to us, seeing and hearing all of your positive comments, like “Everyone is in the first row!” or “Venue capacities are unlimited!” is so uplifting. We can’t wait to make some great memories with our fans from all over the world on August 21st!”
Canceled 2020 Tour Dates:
Sep. 17 Anaheim, CA- HOB
Sep. 19 Dallas, TX – Canton Hall
Sep 21 Atlanta, GA -The Masquerade
Sep. 23 Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth
New 2021 Tour Dates
11/11 (Thu): Queen Elizabeth Hall / TorontoBuy Tickets
11/13 (Sat): Sony Hall / New York (New additional show!)Buy Tickets
SCANDAL is an all-female Japanese rock band from Osaka, Japan. Formed in Summer 2006 by four high school friends, they played live street performances until they were noticed and signed to the indie label Kitty Records. Although all four members have provided lead vocals, their primary roles are Haruna on vocals and rhythm guitar, Mami on lead guitar, Tomomi on bass guitar, and Rina on drums. In 2008, they released three singles and a mini-album while simultaneously touring the United States, France, and Hong Kong. That October, Scandal released their major debut single, “Doll”, on Epic Records Japan.
With massive support radio and media support (Billboard, CNN, ABC, etc), and an energized international fanbase behind them, the band went on to perform the theme songs for several anime series, including “Shōjo S” and “Harukaze” for Bleach, “Shunkan Sentimental” for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, “Pride” for “Star Driver” and “A.M.D.K.J.” for “GeGeGe no Kitarō”.
In 2019, the band founded their own label named “her” and has continued to release a steady stream of chart-topping singles and albums, while bringing their music to venues all across the globe. The band’s 9th studio album ‘Kiss From The Darkness’ was released in February 2020. The album peaked at number five on the Oricon weekly charts, extending Scandal’s streak of having all nine of their albums reach the top 5 of the charts upon release.
The band’s latest digital single “Spice” dropped earlier this month in collaboration with Xflag for their animated film “Xpice”, which was released on the official Xflag Anime YouTube channel the same day.
Legendary NYC musician (Birdland, The Rattlers, etc) and acclaimed author (I Slept with Joey Ramone) Mickey Leigh is debuting “Two Kinds of Law” a powerful and timely new single with his band Mutated Music.
The track (inspired by a line in Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood and a quote from a Martin Luther King Jr. speech) and its newly-released music video are now streaming everywhere.
Written & Produced by Mickey Leigh Performed by Mickey Leigh’s Mutated Music: Vox/Guitar – Mickey Leigh • Drums – Pat Carpenter • Bass/Vox – Westley Crawford
Of the new single, Mickey tells Spin, “Music is magical in so many ways. Rock n roll is one form of it that, magically, can be purely fun, but, at the same time can be a way to spread a message. And, aside from having a lot of fun with it, me and my fellow Mutated musicians think both are equally important – as long as it’s an important message.
“The concept that there are “two kinds of law – one for the rich, and one for the poor,” is not exactly one that came about recently. I first heard those words many decades ago, in a book and film called “In Cold Blood”, and, though said in different words, in a speech by Martin Luther King Jr. I just, recently, felt compelled to write a song about it. Very compelled.
“The importance of “equality” and “justice for all” has come to the forefront of our lives like never before. and, it’s a message that needs to be repeated …repeatedly. There aren’t many ways to repeat a message repeatedly without boring people to tears, aside from immersing it in a catchy chorus and irresistible rhythm.”
With the release of a slew of singles with his band Mutated Music, Mickey Leigh is taking steps. A longtime figure in the influential downtown New York City music scene, Mickey is no longer content with being in the shadows. He’s stepping into the spotlight with punk-pop-country-jazz and blues-infused tracks that tell stories of colorful rock and roll lives. “These are ‘The Stories That Never Got Told’, so they never got old,” states one of the key tracks. Of the heroine in “Little Cristine,” Mickey says “No. She ain’t no ten. She’s a number one.” His modernized, “mutated” reworking of the classic civil rights/social-awakening song “If I Had A Hammer” boldly blares the powerful message calling for “justice, freedom and love between our brothers and our sisters” which is perfect for these troubled, frenetic and divisive times.
As he explained in his 2009 autobiographical family memoir I Slept With Joey Ramone, Mickey is inspired by his love of the music of the ’60s. His life-long fever for rock & roll has never dampened, remains pure, and continues to fuel his drive to create great music. Mickey Leigh’s Mutated Music is brimming with tracks that have been called: “…instantly memorable, lyrically compelling, deceptively simple, hard-ass, life-loving songs full of emotional depth that deliver a punch far more intense than anyone could or would have expected…written with passion, played with precision, produced with perfection.” Mickey has been credited with “…the power-pop instincts of a Tom Petty and the street smarts of a Jim Carroll…not to mention a bit of The Who, Dylan, Springsteen and…Elvis.”
Starting his first group at age 10 in 1965, hitting the stage of CBGB in 1977 with Birdland, the band he formed with literary legend/music journalist Lester Bangs, Mickey is accustomed to having a front-row seat at musical revolutions. Replacing Lester on vocals, Birdland morphed into the prototype pop/punk band The Rattlers. His next band, STOP, saw 5 songs from their 1996 album ‘Never’ in rotation on BBC Radio. Mickey has continually been the recipient of favorable media coverage, credited with being “…one of those people who influenced successful bands but remained relatively unheralded himself.”
