Listening to Wild Sweet Orange is a bit like looking back at your childhood, and out toward your future at the same time. Their music evokes at once a certain aching nostalgia and an uplifting hopefulness – all within the walls of a visceral, emotion-driven rock band. This is music that makes you feel something, music that makes you want to listen.

The band will be releasing an EP called ‘The Whale’ on their own label, Nervous Blood, on November 6, 2007. Canvasback Music (Columbia Records) will be releasing WSO’s full-length record next year.

Download: “Wrestle with God” MP3 from ‘The Whale’ EP

There’s an innocence here that is sometimes heart-wrenching and apparent, and sometimes buried beneath layers of gritty guitars, precise, urgent drums, and the vocals and lyrics of someone way beyond the years of 23-year-old frontman Preston Lovinggood.

Lovinggood, along with Garret Kelly, Chip Kilpatrick, Matt Parsons and Taylor Shaw are from Birmingham, AL and they’ve got the southern charm to prove it. They half-jokingly call their music “fun for the whole family” and they’re right. There’s a little bit of something for everybody in there, as long as you’re willing to let go…just a little bit.

Wild Sweet Orange 2007 tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Wild Sweet Orange Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

November 1 – Birdy’s – Indianapolis, IN*+
November 2 – Schubas Tavern – Chicago, IL*+
November 3 – 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN*+
November 4 – The Back Porch – Spearfish, SD*
November 6 – The Bouquet – Boise, ID*
November 7 – Roseland Grill – Portland, OR*
November 8 – John Henry’s Eugene, OR*
November 9 – University of Washington – Seattle, WA*
November 12 – Cafe Du Nord – San Francisco, CA*
November 13 – Spaceland – Los Angeles, CA*
November 15 – Stubbs – Austin, TX*
November 16 – Club Dada – Dallas, TX*
November 17 – Sharpies – Shreveport, LA*
December 22 – Workplay Theater – Birmingham, AL

* w/ the Whigs
+ w/ the Broken West

Photo Credit: Don Van Cleave

For more music and information, please visit:

Wild Sweet Orange on Myspace

Nicole Atkins is set to release her full-length album ‘Neptune City’ on October 30th, 2007 on Columbia Records. Produced by Tore Johansson (Cardigans, Franz Ferdinand, New Order), ‘Neptune City’ is at times vaudevillian, at others psychedelic; a little bit country, with a cabaret flair – all under a cloud of pop-noir. Her blend of melancholy lyrics over dreamy, theatrical compositions evokes comparisons to Rufus Wainwright, Jenny Lewis, and even Roy Orbison.

Before releasing her ‘Bleeding Diamonds’ EP, Nicole Atkins had become a fixture in New York’s anti-folk scene, spending many nights sleeping in her old Dodge Ram Charger on Avenue A. Since then, the New Jersey native has toured with Chris Isaak, the Long Blondes and the Raveonettes, and was featured along with her band and her song “Party’s Over” in a recent American Express commercial (mp3 link below).

Needless to say, Nicole Atkins has come a long way – ‘Neptune City’, however, is a tribute to her past. “This record is the history of my town; it’s the history of my family and friends in this town,” she explains. “From the time I was a kid I started collecting these sad little tragically beautiful personal stories from the people in my life, and my own as well. That sense of history really appeals to me as an artist.”

Download the MP3 of “Party’s Over” from ‘Neptune City’

Stream “The Way It Is”

Watch the video for “The Way It Is”

Catch Nicole Atkins & The Sea on tour with The Raveonettes throughout October 2007!

Nicole Atkins & the Sea with The Raveonettes tour dates:

Dates could change! Go to the bands’ official websites for the latest tour dates and information.

October 10 – Southpaw – Brooklyn, NY
October 11 – Maxwell’s – Hoboken NJ
October 12 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
October 13 – Mohawk Place – Buffalo, NY
October 16 – Magic Stick – Detroit, MI
October 17 – The Basement – Columbus, OH
October 18 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
October 19 – Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL
October 20 – Mad Planet – Milwaukee, WI
October 21 – 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN

For more Nicole Atkins, visit:

Nicole Atkins Official Website
Nicole Atkins on Myspace

Nowhere is her exuberant outlook expressed better than when she sings. She might be just a teen, but her musical ability shows experience, passion and wisdom coming from a place far beyond the date on her birth certificate. With a multi-octave voice already drawing comparisons to legendary ladies like Patti Labelle and Whitney Houston, Tiffany blends classic R&B and pop vocalizing with a self-reliant attitude and a bubbly teenage energy. Tiffany Evans marks Tiffany Evan’s long-awaited Columbia Records debut.

Featuring songs and production from Grammy winner Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey), explosive beatmakers The Clutch and DJ Smurf, and a guest spot from platinum-selling songstress Ciara, Tiffany Evans “reflects who I really am,” says Tiffany. “It’s from my heart.” One listen to Tiffany Evans and it’s clear that now is Tiffany’s time to shine.

Tiffany Evans Official Website
Tiffany Evans on Myspace

Tiffany Evans – “Promise Ring” on amazon.com.

Pre-order Jacqueline, get signed artwork + exclusive footage here!

The Coral’s fourth studio album follows a well documented period of soul searching within the band. Still younger than many contemporaries with half their recorded output, the band have returned to public attention galvanised by their experiences and critics have responded to this rejuvenated band with unbridled enthusiasm, with Q proclaiming James Skelly “one of the finest writers, and voices, in British music today.” “Jacqueline” proves that The Coral have not lost their ear for an immediate pop tune and ‘Roots and Echoes’, as with all Coral albums, sees a band on a continual quest to re-imagine their music through their wide influences, whether 60’s soul and Merseybeat, 50’s skiffle and do-wop or 70’s psychedelic imaginings.

The Coral play this year’s V festival, performing in Chelmsford on 18th August and Stafford on 19th August 2007. Following this they re-join the Arctic Monkeys as specials guests on their American tour. Long time fans of The Coral, Arctic Monkeys invited the band to support them in Europe earlier this year and at their recent Lancashire County Cricket Ground shows. The band then embark on a Full UK tour in the Autumn

The Coral tour dates are as follows:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to The Coral’s Official Website for the latest news and information.

The Coral/Arctic Monkeys

September 2007

05 New York, NY – Central Park Summerstage
06 Providence, RI – Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
08 Toronto, ON – Virgin Festival – Lake Ontario Stage
09 Montreal, QC – Osheaga Festival
11 Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
12 Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom
13 Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theatre
16 Dallas, TX – Palladium Ballroom
17 Houston, TX – Verizon Wireless Theater
18 New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
21 Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
22 Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
23 San Diego, CA – Street Scene Festival
25 Los Angeles, CA – Palladium
27 San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
28 Eugene, OR – McDonald Theater
29 Seattle, WA – WAMU Theater
30 Vancouver, BC – PNE Forum

October 2007:

The Coral Headline tour:

Monday 8th Nottingham, Rock City 0870 310 0000
Tuesday 9th Bristol, Academy 0870 771 2000
Thursday 11th London, Roundhouse 0870 389 1846
Friday 12th Manchester, Academy 1 0161 832 1111
Saturday 13th Leeds University 0113 244 4600
Sunday 14th Birmingham, Academy 0870 771 2000
Wednesday 17th Southampton, Guildhall 0238 063 2601
Thursday 18th Sheffield, Octagon 0114 222 8777
Saturday 20th Glasgow, ABC1 0870 169 0100
Sunday 21st Oxford, Academy 0870 771 2000

With special guests The Metros

UK tickets – 24hr cc hotline 0871 220 0260 or buy online at Gigs and Tours. Tickets: £16.00 except London £17.50

“…they are easily one of the most important bands of the last decade.” (Time Out)

“James Skelly is one of the finest writers, and voices, in British music today.” (Q Magazine, 4/5)

“Jacqueline’s chorus seems to arrive from heaven.” (The Fly)

The Coral – “Who’s Gonna Find Me” single review

The Coral Official Website
The Coral on Myspace

It seems easier than ever before for less talented acts to get record deals. Don’t get me wrong when I bring up talent. There are quite a few new bands cropping up that I really like, but that’s just a small percentage of what’s actually being released each month.

The reason this thought even crossed my mind is because I’ve been listening to the recently released Jeff Buckley CD ‘So Real: Songs from Jeff Buckley’. Now Jeff Buckley had talent. His voice, songwriting and musicianship were superb. He could probably get more out of his 4 track recorder than some engineers can produce in a flash studio.

His voice does to me what not many people today are able to do. He gives me shivers up and down my spine. His father was singer Tim Buckley and his voice does the same thing to me. The musician-like term for this is ‘feel’. I can ‘feel’ Jeff Buckley’s music.

Jeff Buckley’s mother Mary Guibert and Columbia Records have together released ‘So Real: Songs from Jeff Buckley’. The release comes at the 10th anniversary of Jeff Buckley’s tragic death at the age of 30 in Memphis, Tennessee on May 29th, 1997. When listening to the CD, it’s hard to believe that he had only made one full album to his “exacting standards” – which was his 1994 studio debut ‘Grace’.

There are some songs off of ‘So Real: Songs from Jeff Buckley’ that stand out for me though. “Last Goodbye”, “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over”, “Forget Her”, “Dream Brother”, “So Real”, “Mojo Pin”, “Je N’en Connais Pas La Fin”, “Grace” and especially, his version of “Hallelujah” (written by Leonard Cohen). Remember those shivers I was talking about? “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley is up there as one of my all time favorite songs – and I was happy to see it in amongst the fourteen tracks on the album, which includes originals, covers and live performances.

Of course, I know that there are some massive Jeff Buckley fans out there who love EVERYTHING that he did. Nothing wrong with that! Actually, I love the whole album and if you have any interest in Jeff Buckley and his music, then I highly recommend going out and purchasing this gem of a CD. The CD cover photo is gorgeous and the booklet is informative. A perfect addition to anyone’s music collection – especially if you’re just discovering Jeff Buckley and his music.

Watch Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah video (From YouTube: Live on a french TV show called Nulle Part Ailleurs shot in 1996 on channel 4):

Track Listing:

1. Last Goodbye (Grace)
2. Lover, You Should’ve Come Over (Grace)
3. Forget Her (Grace Legacy Edition)
4. Eternal Life (Road Version) (Grace Legacy Edition)
5. Dream Brother (Alternate Take) (Grace Legacy Edition)
6. The Sky Is A Landfill (Sketches)
7. Everybody Here Wants You (Sketches)
8. So Real (Live and Acoustic in Japan – previously only available as a Promo single)
9. Mojo Pin (Live at Sin-e)
10. Vancouver (Sketches)
11. Je N’en Connais Pas La Fin (Live at Sin-e)
12. Grace (Grace)
13. Hallelujah (Grace)
14. I Know It’s Over (Previously unreleased Smith’s cover from Sony Studios Radio session 1995)

More information: Jeff Buckley

By: Jenny May

It’s very interesting to see that Sony BMG has jumped on to the Music Blog Wagon. Here at BandWeblogs.com we’ve known how important band blogs are and have been promoting bands and musicians’ blogs since January 2005!

But I’m not here to toot my own horn. As far as I’m concerned, Sony BMG – you’re preachin’ to the choir. Band Weblogs started out as a Band Blog and Music Blog directory and now Guest Music Bloggers have been contributing their band press, music reviews, band stories and music links for greater exposure.

The more free places on the internet that bands and musicians can go to get exposure the better and as I’ve mentioned recently, band blogs are great marketing tools. The bands that do create a blog at Vox hoping to get discovered by a Sony A&R rep should realize that there will be many more benefits to writing in the blog than just for those particular record labels. The band blogs at Vox are available to anyone who might want to read them which means that they’re also great marketing tools for other possibilities and discoveries.

I’ve created a blog and profile for my band The Babylon Cowboys at Vox which you can find here: http://thebabyloncowboys.vox.com/. I’ll be updating the blog with our music and various random thoughts. You never know!

The A&R reps, who also have their own Vox blogs, will be looking for bands that have great music, positive comments, good ratings, lots of friends – basically a lot of buzz and I’m sure that Sony BMG, Columbia Records or RCA Records will be announcing their first Vox blog signing soon.

Chairman and CEO of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, UK & Ireland, Ged Doherty even has a blog at Vox. He’s written some interesting blog entries there if you want to read what Ged has to say about the new Sony BMG blog initiative, his experiences with bands and his various thoughts.

Ged Doherty Sony BMG Blog

Bands can sign up for a Vox blog here:

Columbia Demos
RCA Demos

For more information about Sony go to Sony BMG Music UK

Once you have created your Vox blog and have some songs and entries up, why not come back here to Band Weblogs and tell us all about it!

Register for free and be a Guest Music Blogger at BandWeblogs.com!
Submit band press, reviews, music news, band stories and more.

By: Jenny May