Renaissance Celebrates Fifty Years
Posted inFeatured Music Reviews

Renaissance Celebrates Fifty Years

Annie Haslam captures a moment of magic for posterity

by Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman

Renaissance is experiencing its own renaissance. The storied band has reached a milestone of five decades as a recording and touring unit. Joining Renaissance on stage as a guest musician was Jim McCarty original founding member and longstanding drummer with The Yardbirds. The Saturday, October 12, 2019 concert was recorded as a live performance presentation on BluRay, DVD and CD to be released next year.

Renaissance in 2019 are Annie Haslam on vocals, musical director Rave Tesar on keyboards, Mark Lambert on guitar, Geoffrey Langley also on keyboards, Frank Pagano on drums, and Leo Traversa on bass. Renaissance was accompanied on stage by the Renaissance Chamber Orchestra, ten musicians handpicked by the band for their individual musicianship.

November 1, 2019Posted inFeatured, Music, ReviewsNo Comments
A live concert photo of Whitney and Molly from Thunderpussy. Whitney leans on Molly and plays guitar and Molly sings into a vintage looking mic.
Posted inFeatured Music Reviews

Concert Review: Thunderpussy at Metro Gallery

A live concert photo of Whitney and Molly from Thunderpussy. Whitney leans on Molly and plays guitar and Molly sings into a vintage looking mic.
Whitney and Molly
of Thunderpussy
If there was just one word that I had to choose to describe Thunderpussy, it would be captivating.

I had the chance to see Thunderpussy on Sunday, August 11th, at Metro Gallery here in good ole’ Baltimore. It was the Seattle based band’s first show in Baltimore. The show was opened by Baltimore’s own, Thunder Club. Thunder Club was very quick to acknowledge that there was no relation between them and Thunderpussy, but instead, was just a happy accident. Thunder Club opened the show with an incredible set of indie rock that was energetic, fun and incredibly good. I’m a little ashamed to admit that I hadn’t heard of Thunder Club before that since they are from the area, but will be sure to listen to now. Isn’t that what live music is for?! Their new EP, Summer Vice, is the perfect album for summer days, and I’m sure will stay in my rotation for a while. 

August 13, 2019Posted inFeatured, Music, ReviewsNo Comments
Strangers on a Plane “Wings” Review by Jovial Njinyi
Posted inFeatured Music Reviews

Strangers on a Plane “Wings” Review by Jovial Njinyi

Strangers on a Plane – Wings

Released: 2018

Rate: 8.8/10

Review by Jovial Njinyi

Wings by Strangers on a Plane, is a really interesting album that boasts sounds of cool indie pop. You can listen to them now on Spotify. Strangers on a Plane have developed a sound similar to a mix between Billie Eilish and Lana del Rey.

The songs on the album are definitely more on the soft soothing side. Track 10, “Wings”, that shares its title with the album, has a slightly more upbeat tempo than the other songs, with a lot more complex instrumental composition and base in the background. But of all the songs, track 5, “Look At Me”, is my personal favorite — considering it was the song that drew me to review the album in the first place.

February 22, 2019Posted inFeatured, Music, ReviewsNo Comments
Concert Review: Emarosa at Baltimore Soundstage
Posted inFeatured Music News Reviews

Concert Review: Emarosa at Baltimore Soundstage

On Tuesday, November 27th 2018, five bands rolled up to the Baltimore Soundstage in Baltimore, MD to liven up a welcoming crowd. Arlington, the Faim, Devour the Day, Emarosa, and Hands Like Houses made for an interesting line-up for sure.

I’ve found that Soundstage always has amazing opening bands, and Arlington was no exception. In fact, I’m listening to them as I write. Anyways, the show started off with Arlington, a three-member band from southern California. The first thing that I noticed besides their incredibly full sound and high energy performance was that the lead singer, Tyler Benko, sounded like Alex Turner from the Artic Monkeys. Then I realized that this band had the sound that I wish the latest Artic Monkeys album had. Amazing. Arlington was definitely one of the best performances that I’d ever seen. They even played a cover of “Reptilia” by the Stokes, which the bassist Channing Peake took on the vocals. It was Peake’s birthday, and “Reptilia” is one of his favorite songs. I also have to give credit to drummer Grant Whitson. I honestly wish they could have played longer, as I would have loved to hear so much more! Arlington’s sound, stage presence, mastery of instruments, crowd reaction, and style were all around incredible, and I definitely recommend checking them out.

December 9, 2018Posted inFeatured, Music, News, ReviewsNo Comments
Posted inMusic Reviews

The Things They Do for Ringo

The All-Starr Band trumps its winning hand of Aces in Atlantic City

Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman

Ringo Starr on tour? It must be summertime! That’s right, Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band are on tour, but the USA only scored two exclusive dates: June 1st & June 2nd at The Borgata in Atlantic City. The full-scale 2018 All-Starr Band tour appeared at dates in Europe this summer before the current incarnation will return to launch an extended tour of the USA in the Fall.

The 13th All-Starr Band line-up is featuring its first change in five years. Joining the veteran ASB as a first-time performer is Graham Gouldman, bassist with 10cc. 10cc routinely tours across Europe and the United Kingdom, but American audiences should recall the two major hits 10cc had in the 1970s.

Participating in the 2018 installment of the All-Starr Band are guitarist Colin Hay from Men At Work rejoining the ASB from two previous tours in the past, guitarist Steve Lukather from Toto,  keyboardist Greg Rollie from Santana, and drummer Gregg Bisonette from Spinal Tap as well as multi-instrumentalist Warren Ham. The Euro tour showcased two guest performances: Joan Baez in Paris and Klaus Voormann in Hamburg.

June 6, 2018Posted inMusic, ReviewsNo Comments
Posted inMusic News Reviews

Review: Seaway – Vacation

Artist: Seaway
Album: Vacation
Release Date: 09/15/17
RIYL: State Champs, Neck Deep, Real Friends
Rating: 8/10

Seaway has done it again, man. I was really impressed with Colour Blind, and Vacation has a sound that I can really appreciate, especially when my taste for pop punk is declining. Vacation is a powerful pop punk album marked by Seaway’s signature upbeat, in-your-face style that makes you want to happily stomp on air. Certain aspects of the album remind me of Weezer and Blink-182, which is wicked awesome. Seaway also has a way of taking topics such as potential hostile and emotional situations, and twisting them into really rad songs with funny lyrics and music that vicariously relieves aggression through heavy rhythm guitar and drums. Vacation carries the air of a tropical vacation at a luxury hotel on a beach.

April 18, 2018Posted inMusic, News, ReviewsNo Comments
Posted inMusic News Reviews

Review: Born Animal – Celebration Revolution

Artist: Born Animal
Album: Celebration Revolution EP
Release Date: 12/1/17
RIYL: Cage the Elephant, Harvey Danger, R.E.M.
Rating: 7.5/10

Based out of Nashville, Tennessee, Born Animal is a rock band consisting of Ryan Stowe, Stephen Luther, Sean Rosettie, and Evan Miranda. Their second EP, Celebration Revolution, has the energy of a celebration and a revolution. So. Much. Umph. Let me tell you. What’s awesome about this album is that everything is clear—you can distinguish each instrument and Stowe’s prominent voice. Two rocking songs that I highly recommend you listen to are “I Think I Think Too Much” and “Do You Want My Blood?” Celebration Revolution’s lyrics are ones that every person can connect to.

April 12, 2018Posted inMusic, News, ReviewsNo Comments