Cherokee Death Cats - Do to Me [Review] September 06, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “These cats are slinking along that line between true punk, and rock and roll. And These cats do it very well.Sultry vocals and intriguing lyrics, along with a European vibe, morph together into an evocative single worth your time and ears.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Stereo Match - Paralyze The Dead [Music Video Review] August 30, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Alternative Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “While solid musically, ‘Paralyze The Dead’ truly shines brightest as a music video. The imagery and the emotions of the lyrics are brought out in spectacular version by the story. Being true to yourself is perhaps the biggest key to personal happiness, and something we all need reminded of from time to time. Stereo Match does this is in an entertaining and provocative manner that left a smile on my face.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
The Criticals - Good Lookin [Review] August 30, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music, Alternative Rating: 5 out of 5 “Rock and Roll the way it should be! With defiant cockiness that jumps up and downa nd demands to be heard.With obvious influence from multiple greats such as Jack White, The Ramones, The Beetles, etc. this one feels like the next iteration of an evolution. Musical Darwinism!” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Skunk Funk - Cirque Du Skank [Music Video review] August 27, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Alternative, Funk, Indie Rock Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “This is my kind of circus! A little weird ... a lot talented. Part funk, part rock, this is a sideshow worth seeing and hearing.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Brothers Page - Back To You [review] August 26, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music, Alternative, Folk, EDM, Indie Rock Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “Intricate harmonies combined with a perfect pace and tempo make this a fun song fall into the groove. Folk Rock EDM is not a thing as of yet, but Brothers Page has a hand in all three genres here. Motivational without being cheesy ‘Back To You’ is a song that gets you moving while putting a smile in your face.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Bad Flamingo - Fire [Music Video Review] August 08, 2019 by Kreadiv Kesh in Indie Rock, Alternative, Music Videos Rating: 3.5 out of 5 “Fire” lights a match with its catchy chorus and smooth guitar strings, I can see why it makes great show placement. ” — Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)
THE JON JOHNS - EVERYBODY WANTS MY BABY [Review] August 07, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “The attitude slaps you immediately with the blues riffs up front and predominate. I imagine this is what a collaborative between the Beatles and ZZ Top would have sounded like. ” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
SYORA - Anchorite [Music Video Review] August 06, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “SYORA brings a vintage hard rock sound with ‘Anchorite,’ and it is the kind of sound you don’t much hear anymore unless you go looking and that is a shame. Interestingly enough, the video showcases a man looking for something he thinks he can never find again. Both the song and the video are captivating in that something bad is going to happen kind of way. The foreboding sense of doom is captivating and the true rock sound is the perfect vehicle for such a beast. ” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Hero The Band - Back to Myself [Music video Review] August 01, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “This is a great sing/video combination as the imagery truly brings out the sensations captured lyrically. Life is full of ups, downs, and the unexpected. ‘Back To Myself’ carries many surprises itself. Riding a bit of 90s nostalgia in sound and structure, the single and video are entertaining in fresh new ways.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Kevin Bowe & The Okemah Prophets - Deaf Ears [Review] July 30, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Straight-up rock with a hard-edged guitar melody and the steady drum beat to lead us down a path that feels like one that Springsteen, Dylan, and Neil Young have forged through the undergrowth.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Circus Electric - Looking For Love [Music Video Review] July 19, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Charged with a rock sound that conjures visions of the 70s and tricked-out custom vans with carpeted walls, ‘Looking For Love’ rolls out like a soundtrack for Tinder. Swipe right and give this one from Circus Electric a go, because sometimes we all get a little lonely. ” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
TAELA - Bang [Music Video Review] July 09, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Lyric Video, Singer/Songwriter, Commercial, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “I hear many musical influences here, Elle King, Amy Winehouse, Adele ... but TAELA stands out as a talent no matter which influence seeps in at the the moment. ’Bang’ has that commercial sound that often finds audiences across multi genres and demographics. I can see this one becoming a track played loud and proud in many, many places this summer.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Ava Heatley - Shitty Tattoo [Review] July 05, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Reminds me of a power ballad of the 90s, from artists like Joan Osborne. Lyrically ‘Shitty Tattoo’ sings out as the rallying cry of generation that has hit the wall between hope, energy and homesick nostalgia, but this song is well-written enough to pull emotion from anyone who has ever made a bad decision or three. ” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Fake & The Soul Aesthetic - Brown Sugah Chocolate [Review] July 04, 2019 by Kreadiv Kesh in Alternative, Rock Rating: 4 out of 5 “Yesssssss to the energy. We want to sometimes loose ourselves within the instruments and melodic sounds of an artist. Fake & The Soul Aesthetic releases that kind of energy with their new single “Brown Sugah Chocolate. ” — Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)
Raised on TV - Soul on Fire [Review] June 28, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “There is some great irony that this tune, about the fantasy of escaping the world by throwing your phone out the window, carries a retro rock sound from the 80s, which is perhaps the last decade when society wasn’t fixated on their phones. Great old school rock melody and vocals.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Zero - Aim Steady [Review] June 25, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music, Alternative, Hip-Hop Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “It is damn hard to line a genre up in the sights of this one, but one thing is for certain, Zero has delivered a high caliber explosion with ‘Aim Steady.’ High octane guitar, with a sick flow accentuating lyrics with an edge. This song has it all like a musical Super Hero who doesn’t even need to pack a gun in order to be a true bad ass. ” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
DAVIS - Alright [Review] June 20, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Alternative “This is a single with chill summer vibes. I have no idea the chemical state of DAVIS while writing this one, but if you’ve ever had a poolside conversation with someone amid a huge cloud of green smoke, then listening to this song will feel a whole lot like that conversation. Enjoy and remember ... everything will be ‘Alright.’” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Northern National - Half-Hearted Love [Review] June 16, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music, Alternative, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “There is nothing halfway about ‘Half-Hearted Love.’ In giving us a song that speaks to going through the emotions and searching for meaning in on okay, but unfulfilling relationship. Northern National imparts emotion into a catchy performance that only gets better with each listen. This is a song with the legs to carry us through when we find ourselves stuck in just such a relationship.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Staircase Wit - Hands Down [Review] June 11, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music, Alternative, Singer/Songwriter Rating: 4 out of 5 “A tender ode to love. Love is often a songwriter’s vein of gold to mine through the ups and downs. This single brings out the emotions of both sides.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
ARI - Legacy [Music Video Review] June 07, 2019 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Alternative, Rock Rating: 4 out of 5 “The beauty is this track feels just like what the title says ... a ‘Legacy.’ Ari has a background performing as a frontman and actor, and this, his first solo music, showcases those talents with bold bravado vocally. I suspect we are about to hear a lot more out of ARI and already the single “Legacy” was tabbed by Rolls Royce to play a part in the luxury carmaker’s marketing for their signature model, Ghost. Given the classic rock sounds Ari is sending forth, I can’t wait to hear more off the new album.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)