• Dropkick Murphys
• Tres Mts.
• Boston Legends
• Heart
• Hurtsmile
• Candlebox
• Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
• American Idol Live
• Hurt
• Puscifer

Best Albums:

• Tres Mts. – Three Mountains
• Hurtsmile – Hurtsmile
• Bohren and der Club of Gore – Beileid
• Feersum Ennjin – Feersum Ennjin
• Mike Patton – From The Film and Inspired By the Book The Solitude of Prime Numbers
• Puscifer – Conditions of My Parole
• honeyhoney – Billy Jack
• The Low Anthem – Smart Flesh
• Chickenfoot – Chickenfoot III
• The Decemberists – The King Is Dead

The Year in Photos:

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First up is Scott Weiland with two cuts from his holiday album, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Weiland, out of his element and overly ambitious, will sure make you feel like it’s the morning after the office holiday party… hangovers and dry-heaves for everyone!

“Winter Wonderland” http://youtu.be/EojN6r2VSR4
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” http://youtu.be/lb9w1dmNtsc

Lady Gaga released A Very Gaga Holiday, which includes the tracks “White Christmas,” “Orange Colored Sky,” “Yoü And I” and “The Edge Of Glory.” Notice that only one track is an actual holiday song? Looks like the label execs are hoping for some green under their tree.  http://soundcloud.com/igamusic/sets/lady-gaga-a-very-gaga-holiday

What holiday music list would be complete without mentioning Justin Bieber’s album Under the Mistletoe.  Mentioning it is one thing, but if you’re actually brave enough to listen to it check out “Mistletoe” here: http://youtu.be/LUjn3RpkcKY

Just when you thought that pop stars can’t  sing holiday music well, JoJo comes along to reaffirm the fact with her rendition of “The Christmas Song.” http://youtu.be/9n97oJJ8nqo

Of course, rock bands are guilty of holiday butchering too, as VersaEmerge demonstrates in their video for  “Santa Baby.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQRW1aspsRw

American Idol’s Haley Reinhart & Casey Abrams put together an interesting version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”  Not sure if it quite works with the guy singing in a higher register. http://music.yahoo.com/videos/–223421950

Jack Johnson decided to release a compilation holiday album via his Brushfire Records imprint, titled This Warm December  Check out “In The Morning” and other videos here: http://thiswarmdecember.com/

OneRepublic entered the fray with “Christmas Without You.” http://soundcloud.com/igamusic/onerepublic-christmas-without

All Time Low basically decided to emulate what Corey Taylor did last year by creating the anti-holiday “Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass.” http://blog.music.aol.com/2011/12/08/all-time-low-merry-christmas-video/

If you’re into country, you may like Tim McGraw’s “Christmas All Over the World.”  But isn’t there a rule against using the word “cactus” in a Christmas song? http://www.theboot.com/2011/12/08/tim-mcgraw-christmas-all-over-the-world/

Super-talented singer/song-writer/producer Richard Marx released “Christmas Spirit” this year… I guess they can’t all be hits. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuSKRxjZwtk

The Hit Men, original recording and performing members of The Four Seasons, Tommy James & The Shondells, The Critters, went back into thee studio to record “A Four Seasons Christmas.” If Berry Gordy Jr. was dead he’d be rolling in his grave. http://soundcloud.com/the-musebox/the-hit-men-a-four-seasons

Believe it or not, we actually like well crafted holiday music, and this year’s batch of tunes isn’t all bad.  Check out some of the songs we liked this year:

Michael Bublé – Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_0feq3s_9I

Robert Davi – “Mistletoe & Holly” (100% of the proceeds go towards the Salvation Army)
http://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Holly/dp/B006H2UBLS

Dave Foley – “Let It Snow”
http://youtu.be/Muwq03_hEmQ

Honeyhoney – “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
http://open.spotify.com/user/1211211275/playlist/67X27NNSiHXREWe2uHjpO9

Eleven Hundred Springs – “Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You” -
http://soundcloud.com/kirtlandrecords/christmas-is-the-time-to-say-i

Shannon Corey  – “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/11266227

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Release Date: October 24, 2011
Record Label: Lost Highway Records

Review:
Los Angeles-based duo honeyhoney, Suzanne Santo and Ben Jaffe, are set to release their new album, Billy Jack on October 24 through honeyhoney Records/Lost Highway. This album is a great showcase for how Santo and Jaffe have progressed together as both musicians and writers.

On Billy Jack, honeyhoney focused their efforts in a bit of a different direction than their prevous effort, First Rodeo. The album opens with the old-time country-western tinged “Angel Of Death.” That traditional country sound provides the undercurrent for the rest of the album flow.

Strong country influenced songs also include “I Don’t Mind”, a romping foot-stomper, and “Old School Friends” with its great writing and harmonies. I’m always amazed bands are able to spin old-school style with a modern twist to make something that sounds fresh and current.

While certainly having stronger country ties than their previous album, there still remains a great variety of sounds ranging from rootsy ballads, like “Don’t Know How,” to rock and blues influenced pieces like the albums closer “Thin Line.”

Two things are immediately clear on Billy Jack. First is how much Suzanne Santo has grown as a vocalist. She already had great tone, and now the emotion she infuses into her vocals really creates some compelling phrasing. Her voice at times sounds like fiery cross between Norah Jones, Serena Ryder and Susan Tedeschi. Second is how well Santo and Jaffe have become writing and performing partners. You can hear their character shine in the music, and that makes it all the more sweet to hear.

Track Listing:

1. Angel Of Death
2. Glad I’ve Done What I Did
3. Ohio
4. Don’t Know How (Slow Mover)
5. Turn That Finger Around
6. I Don’t Mind
7. Old School Friends
8. Let’s Get Wrecked
9. LA River
10. All On You
11. Thin Line

Purchase:

Links:

www.honeyhoneyband.com

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Produced primarily by Raymond Richards (Local Natives), Billy Jack finds the musicians Suzanne Santo and Ben Jaffe threading sweet melodies from start to finish. Their first single, “Turn That Finger Around,” is a steady-grooving story detailing hard times with a memorable hook and some Southern twang.  A slow burn seethes beneath the gospel-flavored tale of romantic doubt, “Don’t Know How (Slow Mover),” while strings baste the mourning ballad “Angel of Death,” and “Thin Line” explores dissatisfaction, good times and loss through the blues.   From the dark smolder of “Glad I Done What I Did” and stark piano of “LA River,” to the euphoric romp of “Let’s Get Wrecked” – honeyhoney’s music embraces the sound of what it means to be alive.

To support the release of Billy Jack, the pair is currently out on the road with their full band on a 41-date nationwide “Ten Buck Tour.” The co-headlining trek with indie folk singer-songwriter Joshua James began on September 21 — with all tickets priced at $10 or less (service charge and walk-ups not included).

HONEYHONEY 2011 “TEN BUCK TOUR” DATES

October 18 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
October 19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Café Live
October 20 – Cleveland, OH – The Grog Shop
October 22 – Indianapolis, IN – Radio Radio
October 23 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Blind Pig
October 25 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
October 26 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
October 27 – Madison, WI – The Frequency
October 29 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Café
October 31 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
November 2 – Denver, CO – Soiled Dove
November 3 – Aspen, CO – The Belly-Up
November 4 – Salt Lake City, UT – State Theatre
November 6 – Seattle, WA – Nectar Lounge
November 7 – Portland, OR – Backspace
November 8 – Eugene, OR – John Henry’s
November 10 – San Francisco, CA – Hotel Utah
November 11 – Santa Barbara, CA – Soho
November 13 – Los Angeles, CA – The Troubadour

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The last time Rocco DeLuca and the Burden played at the Paradise (back in 2007), they were just coming of the success of the single “Colorful” from the I Trust You To Kill Me album.  Five men took the stage and captivated the crowd for an hour and a half.  This time around would be a bit different.

Photo by Kristen Pierson

The Paradise is an interesting club.  The large pillar in the middle of the room (right in front of the stage) gives new meaning to the term “obstructed view.”  It’s an intimate setting, yet still a good sized room.

Honeyhoney opened the show.  Prior to this show I was only familiar with the “Little Toy Gun” song and the video they made with Kiefer Sutherland.  They immediately impressed me with their onstage rapport and their ability to set the crowd at ease and draw them in.

More impressive was their performance.  Ben Jaffe can be a madman on guitar and Suzanne Santo’s vocal performance was beautiful and flawless.  She also plays a mean fiddle and banjo.  My friends who joined us at the show immediately loved them and purchased a CD right after their set.

Photo by Kristen Pierson

Rocco DeLuca and drummer Ryan Carmen walked onto the stage.  The crowd cheered.  Surprisingly, it would only be the two of them on stage this night, and many of us wondered what was in store.

The performance was something to behold.  DeLuca and Carmen tuned into to each other, and every nuance of the music… playing for the crowd, but not to it.  They were consumed by it, and the audience was enraptured.  The only time DeLuca directly addressed the crowd was to thank them.

The crowd reaction was great.  Roars and cheers during Rocco’s vocal and Dobro outburst.  However, some were rather chatty during the song “Nightingale” from the new album Mercy.  The chatty ones will never know what they missed.  A funny moment occurred when someone yelled out “How Many Times” and DeLuca momentarily broke from his musical meditation and stifled a laugh… it was the next song on the set list.

This is the third time I’ve seen Rocco DeLuca and the Burden perform live, and each time has been a wonderfully unique experience.  DeLuca is an artist who strikes me as one who is comfortable with what he does, but never content with the way it’s done.

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Currently the video for the band’s single, “Little Toy Gun” is in rotation on FUSE and VH1. The track is receiving much support across the board at Hot AC, AAA and Alternative radio. “Little Toy Gun” is the first single off the band’s debut full length cd, First Rodeo. A second single, “Black Crows” will impact Triple A in March.

Tour Dates with Gavin DeGraw:

4/15- Chicago, IL- Park West
4/16- Decatur, IL- Milliken University
4/17- Columbus, OH- The Newport
4/19- Manchester, NH- Southern New Hampshire University
4/20- New York, NY- Highline Ballroom
4/21- Harrisburg, PA- Whitaker Center
4/22- Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
4/24- Boston, MA- Paradise
4/25- Reading, PA – Alvernia University
4/26- Alexandria, VA- The Birchmere Music Hall
4/28- Richmond, VA- The National
4/29- Knoxville, TN- Square Room
5/3- Charlotte, NC- The Neighborhood Theatre
5/4- Nashville, TN- Exit/In
5/5- Atlanta, GA – The Loft
5/7- Jacksonville, FL- Jack Rabbits
5/8- Tampa, FL- The State Theatre

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The group recently lent their time and lead singer Suzanne Santo’s soulful vocals to a Tobacco Free CA commercial with a rendition of “Brahm’s Lullaby”. (To view the tv spot click here: http://tobaccofreeca.com/ads_tv.html and watch “Grim Reapers”.) It wasn’t long after the commercial started airing that inquiries began flooding the bands email and MySpace wondering if it was indeed Santo’s voice coming from the television. Since the song has received so much attention the band has made it available via a free download until it goes on sale on iTunes February 3rd. You can download the track by visiting the band’s website: www.honeyhoneymusic.com

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