Author: Shannon Shumaker

Del Paxton Gulfer Split EP

Review by Shannon Shumaker Buffalo, NY’s Del Paxton and Montreal, Canada’s Gulfer are just the right kind of combination for a split EP. The four songs on this EP are well executed and well planned – both bands fit one another’s sound perfectly, complementing each other without sounding too similar or too different, and the result is a mellow, moody EP that is worth listening many times over. Del Paxton kick off this split EP, and their two songs feel like rainy spring afternoons, which is perfect for this time of the year. Both “Paline” and “Bad Batch” are mellow…

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Young Guns Interview

With their new album Ones And Zeros dropping this summer, the UK’s Young Guns are on top of the world – and they plan to travel all over it this year. On top of the upcoming release of the album, of which the band is immensely proud of, they plan on touring constantly for the remainder of 2015, hoping to reach every every corner of the globe before the end of the year. Their big plans in the US start with supporting Breaking Benjamin on their upcoming tour, as well as hitting plenty of festival dates. You can check out the full tour routing…

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Seasons Change Please Dont Leave

Review by Shannon Shumaker Seasons Change’s new album, Please Don’t Leave is not only the perfect album to get you ready for summer, but it’s full of emotionally charged and relatable tracks that are sure to hit home with many listeners. Kicking off fast and strong, Please Don’t Leave is full of smart guitar hooks, gorgeous vocal harmonies and lyrics that are hard hitting, but delivered with clean, melodic vocals. Within a few songs, it’s apparent that Please Don’t Leave is a total feel good album, and track after track Seasons Change prove that again and again. “Clueless” brings the…

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Meet Me In Orbit Traveller

Review by Shannon Shumaker Meet Me In Orbit’s Traveller EP is the perfect mix of moody and relaxing. “Last Time” opens the EP with warm synth sounds and airy vocals that lull you into relaxation, but the lyrics are what really bring the song together. While the overall feeling of “Last Time” is a dreamy synth pop lullaby, the lyrics hold quite a bit of weight, making it both haunting and relaxing at the same time. The following song, “We Are Grown” is a bit more upbeat and synth driven than the first track, and within the first few seconds,…

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Songhoy Blues Music In

Review by Shannon Shumaker Songhoy Blues’ Music In Exile is a musical masterpiece. Drawing from a wide variety of influences, from folk, to rock-n-roll as well as the group’s heritage and tradition, Music In Exile is a melting pot of sounds, and the result is remarkable. Right away, the guitar work on Music In Exile is one of the strongest parts of the album. Seconds into the first track, you can hear the Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin influences in the incredible guitar work. On top of that, the vocals are gorgeous and soulful, meshing perfectly with the sweeping notes…

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sick talk tour the marquis theatre 32515 1

Photos & Review: Sick Talk Tour Featuring: Orgy, 9ELECTRIC, Death Valley High & Dr. Death & Mr. Vile The Marquis Theatre, Denver, CO. 3/25/15 Photos and Review by: Shannon Shumaker The first night of any tour is bound to have a few problems as the bands finish smoothing over any kinks in their performances and get ready for weeks on the road. You can’t necessarily expect a band’s performance or an entire tour to be flawless right off the bat, but the first date of Orgy’s Sick Talk Tour in Denver definitely had its ups and downs. When the night began early for a…

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Laura Marling Short Movie

Review by Shannon Shumaker The masterful songwriting and storytelling in Laura Marling’s new full-length, Short Movie is beyond compare. From strong, the eerie opening of “Warrior” to the bright, beautiful string arrangement on “Feel Your Love,” Short Movie is a journey, and one you don’t want to miss. The album opens with a deep, beautiful acoustic guitar part and haunting vocals. The guitar work is intricate, but still simple enough that it doesn’t take away from Marling’s vocals, and simply adds more to the strong storytelling on “Warrior.” Lyrically, the song serves as a great opener, hitting hard with the…

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bayside summit music hall 32115 1

Photos & Review: Bayside Featuring: Bayside, Senses Fail, Man Overboard & Seaway Summit Music Hall, Denver, CO. 3/21/15 Photos and Review by: Shannon Shumaker Full Photo Gallery HERE Having heard quite a few good things about Bayside’s fifteen year anniversary tour already, I was definitely excited for the band’s show in Denver on a nice Saturday night. The show proved to be interesting, with a lineup of bands that all sound completely different from one another. On top of that, Man Overboard’s vocalist Nik Bruzzese unfortunately had to fly home for a family emergency, leaving the band short-staffed and (apparently) with something fun up…

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Unifier Gutted

Review by Shannon Shumaker It’s not very often that an EP can manage to tell a story in merely five songs, but Unifier’s Gutted EP does just that. With an overall theme of reinvention, the album feels like a journey, and in just five songs, that’s a feat that not many can accomplish. The first song on this journey is “Fall.” The overall feeling of the song is warm and mellow, which meshes amazingly with some gorgeous vocal harmonies throughout the song. The way that the vocals blend with the music is remarkable – instead of outshining the pretty, sweeping…

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sleep when i die tour the black sheep 31615 1

Photos & Review: Sleep When I Die Tour Featuring: New Found Glory, Turnstile, This Wild Life & Turnover The Black Sheep, Colorado Springs, CO. 3/16/15 Photos and Review by: Shannon Shumaker Every time I’ve seen New Found Glory, I’ve always been amazed and surprised at the bands that they choose as support on their tours, but the lineup for their “Sleep When I Die” tour absolutely takes the cake. From acoustic to hardcore to pop-punk, the lineup covered all of the bases, and the best part was that the crowd seemed to support each band on the bill, regardless of their genre. Maybe it…

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