Bad Flamingo - Frying Pan [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Despite the masks, the mysterious duo, Bad Flamingo are not strangers to our regular listeners. We have featured a number of tracks from this Indie Rock/Americana pair of talents. Quite often the track have a spaghetti western meets Rock seductress vibe and description certainly fits their latest offering, ‘Frying Pan.’

The lyrical nuance is matched byt he vibe and spot on performance to give this one the perfect balance of grit and seduction.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Tom Mackell - Where the Wild Things Go [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Tom Mackell is a songwriter with a country sound though not that Mainstream pablum that comes out of corporate Nashville. Mackell fits in the Alt Country/Americana scene that is ripe with good music. ‘Where The Wild Things Go’ has sort of a Flatland Cavalry vibe for fans looking for a comparison.

This is an emotive, strongly written track performed with an emotive style that pulls the listener along for the full ride.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Remy Reilly - Dirty Work [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Nothing is quite as dark and gritty as love, or at least love gone awry. Remy Reilly does the ‘Dirty Work’ of unraveling not only the emotions, but the aftermath and toll on self worth when a relationship goes wrong.

The track has an Indie Pop songwriter vibe that almost hits the Americana/Folk realm in tone and style. The talent of the vocals, and an arrangement that dials in and sets the vibe, meshes so perfectly to form a complete well-rendreddsong that hits as hard with subsequent listens as it does the first.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Dave Murphy - Josephine [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Few things stir the emotions like a lonely night in a dive bar. Dave Murphy captures that brand of isolation with his Americana track ‘Josephine.’

Utilizing the dynamics of last call to rely the end of a relationship, Murphy perfectly captures the raw emotion of both and how the sand slips through the hourglass even faster at the end as the final grains settle down.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Eric Hagen - Accuse Me [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Eric Hagen gives off Nathaniel Rateliff vibes on the track ‘Accuse Me.’ The track has a Bluesy Soul vibe, with some Americana thrown in for good measure. The song feels like a sit at home drinking while pondering how it all went wrong vibes. But rather than wallowing in despair, the lyrics take on a bit of righteous indignation to create an IDGAF brand of attitude.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ingrid Avison - Time Travelling Cowboy [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Ingrid Avison unleashes her debut single, ‘Time Travelling Cowboy.’ The emotive delivery highlight Avison’s songwriting and vocal talent.

With a slight tremble at times that sells the words well, Avison has that classic Americana vibe that feels like a kinder softer Lucinda Williams mixed with some of the strong emotion of a Brandi Carlile.

I did at times crave a stronger sense of build and escalation from the arrangement.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Party Nails - Same Old Song [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“PArty Nails conjured memories of vintage Sheryl Crow for me on this track. Warm glowing vocals tell the story of looking for your former self out among the treesa nd coming to grips with who you are in the here and now.

The track rides the line between Indie Rock and more of a Songwriter/Americana vibe. The emion is nostalgic and poignant enough to hold the listener from the first listen, but there is certainly the depth to keep them coming back time and time again.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jake Dillon - Winner [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Raw and emotional, Jake Dillon delivers this track alongside talented vocalists Giavanna. This track has an Indie Rock Singer/Songwriter vibe, but is also right at home in the the world of Americana. Well-written and delivered by both parties with an emotive force, ‘Winner’ is indeed exactly that.

Stripped down and spare in the best of ways, this is a song to both feel and listen to over and over again.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

John Calvin - Saint Innocent [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“John Calvin has just enough gravel and grit in his vocals to keep things interesting without that being all you can hear. ‘Saint Innocent’ is a heartfelt and well-written Americana track and the emotions are tangible in a way few songs manage to pull off.

This is a song to feel as much as hear and I am eager to experience more offerings from this talented artist. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kait Madison - House of Love [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kait Madison unleashes a soulful bit of Gospel inspired Americana on her uplifting track ‘House of Love.’

The energy and passion are evident in her every word and she has just enough rasp to her vice to make the performance that much more interesting.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kenny Sharp - Coming Back To You [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kenny Sharp’s latest track ‘Coming Back To You’ was recently featured in the latest season of Love Island and I suspect you’ll be hearing the song in a lot of other places as well. Sharp has that vocal sound that is hard to defne to a single genre. A little blues, some roots rock, Americana, Pop. It’s all in there on this track, and the writing has clever word play as well as deeper meaning to ponder on subsequent listens.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lily Kershaw - Call Whoever This Makes You Think Of (Except Your Narcissist Ex) [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“LA singer-songwriter Lily Kershaw offers a poignant reminder to connect with the important people in our lives on her new single, ‘Call Whoever This Makes You Think Of (Except Your Narcissist Ex).’

The vocal style is reminiscent of Brandi Carlile and the two talented artists share an impressive range as wella s emotive delivery that hooks the heart.

Kershaw’s upcoming album, Pain & More, will be released September 13th. and promises to be dripping in the emotions of humanity. ‘I’ve been struggling for so long,’ says Kershaw, who wrote and recorded it over two years. ‘This record is like a new cycle of my life.’”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Goldie - The Angel And The Saint [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Goldie channels the spirit of freedom and perseverance on ‘The Angel and The Saint.’ The track has a FLorence and the Machine vibe for sure but you can’t discount the influence Goldie’s idols Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton had on creating her sound. There is an edge and attitude and empowerment to this track and the imagery of the video is pretty dang enjoyable as well.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Greyson Chance - Haymaker [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Greyson Chance straddles the line between Rock, Pop, and Folk on this track. The Oklahoma native can be compared to acts sucha s Mumford or the Lumineers, but ‘Haymaker’ also feels in line emotionally with Americana in the vein of Jason Isbell, or even a more traditional Country sound such as Tyler Childers.

Emotionally raw and vulnerable, the track is masterfully written and performed. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lily Meola - Gasoline [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“I often struggle to connect to vocals delivered in a high register but not this time. Lily Meola has a very emotive delivery that works for her higher, softer tone.

’Gasoline’ is the latest release from Meola who has captured the attention and mentorship of Willie Nelson. The track leans slightly to a Pop Folk sort of sound that feels alive and vibrant.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Mallow Hill - Thinkin' Bout My Baby [Music Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track introduces the world to Mallow Hill as it is the band’s debut single. ‘Thinkin’ Bout My Baby’ drips with sultry Blues and the vocal tone has a bit of Winehouse over the top of a Gary Clark Jr. musical vibe.

’Thinkin’ Bout My Baby’ is about the personal growth and realization of habits formed from toxic relationships and how we all tend to slip on a pair of familiar shoes even though the damn things tend to hurt our feet. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Alana Cruz - Telescope [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Alana Cruz has a sound that could be Country, could be Pop, could be an emotional singer/songwriter expressing their vulnerability and the good thing is great music transcends those type of labels and simply speaks to people’s hearts.

’Telescope’ is that kind of song.

At times I heard Natalie Maines of the Chicks, Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mack and Brandi Carlile but in the end this is simply the talented Cruz, belting out her truths as she expresses what unrequited love and the yearning brand of hope that comes along with it truly feels like.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Claire London - Black Leather [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Claire London blends the Blues with Pop sensibilities to give us this track. ‘Black Leather’ offers enough of that sultry edge to tease and enough dirt and grit to truly make it all interesting.

The track is loosely based on London’s first meeting her eventual husband but at its heart it is about personal confidence and simply getting about your business because you are truly feeling it.

That self assured groove comes through and carries the track on its back for a nice ride.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Annie Bacon & her Oshen - Mist [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“I was hooked from the opening line. Annie Bacon & her Oshen delivers an emotional track that feels gritty and real.

There is more than a hint of Stevie Nicks to the tone, though the writing and overall vibe reminded more of Jason Isbell meets Lucinda Williams. Whatever you want to call it, this is songwriting glory performed by a talented and committed artist that ensures you feel every last word. Music as it should be!”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Bad Flamingo - Numb [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“No artist or band delivers dark, folksy blues the way Bad Flamingo can. The raspy tone and air of alluring mystery permeates most of their work and this intriguing duo keeps cranking out the engaging tracks utilizing that branded sound.

’Numb’ paints a picture and transports the listener to a dimly lit backstreet, a dusty dirt path, a concrete wasteland as a vagabond traveler drops the decree of the despondent, the independent, the restless. This track is a vibe and so is Bad Flamingo.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger