Katy Ashe
Katy Ashe has kept herself busy during the quarantine. The singer-songwriter is also a full-time music teacher and mom. On top of all those duties, she spent the past eight weeks writing, recording and producing her latest album aptly named, Mother’s Isolation.
Ashe is the lead singer of Last Daze and her recording credits include collaborations with Shooter Jennings, Trigger Pig and more. With Last Daze, Ashe’s powerful voice supercharges the band’s country rock sound. Her latest work as a solo artist, however, leans more towards an electronic-synth sound that lends a hint to her appreciation for Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson.
“It’s definitely a different direction but something I’ve always wanted to explore,” Ashe said. “I produced, recorded and mixed the whole album myself. … like Trent [Reznor].”
Ashe’s lyrics reveal just how timely this release is. “Do Better” speaks of recent atrocities on the news with a plea from her that we all must do better. The new album is not due out until July 17, but Ashe has made four songs available for streaming and purchase on Bandcamp.
Road Soda Pop
LateShift frontman Scotty Somerville is attached to yet another project. In addition to The LateShift, and creating graphic art such as what you’ve seen with Hartley’s Encore, he’s playing music for a new band named Road Soda Pop.
Road Soda Pop includes Somerville, Mike Davies and Jacob Lester of The LateShift. It also includes Steven Clyde, a familiar face associated with The Star-Spangled Washboard Band, Johnny Rabb and the Jailhouse Rockers, The Lustre Kings and Ramblin Jug Stompers.
“This project is unique in that our setlist continuously rotates leadership and lead vocals which creates a really fun and captivating environment,” Somerville said. “It has the flexibility to cater to venues and crowds of all shapes and sizes.”
Road Soda Pop’s song-list includes tunes from Billy Joel, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Oasis, Tom Petty, Steve Miller Band, Neil Diamond, Pearl Jam, Van Morrison, The Grateful Dead, Maroon 5 and more. It’s certain to entertain.
The quartet dropped two covers, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising” and Billy Joel’s “Only the Good Die Young,” under the release Friend Requests, Vol. 1. Somerville said the troupe plans to release more songs later in the year and play some live shows just “as soon as the world allows us to.”
You can listen to both cuts on Spotify and visit the band’s website at roadsodapop.com.
Off The Record Trio
Off The Record is that cool kid in school you didn’t know was smart until she graduated with honors.
The trio’s high-energy live act is plugged into Joanna Palladino’s no-quit engine. The lead singer is always dancing, stomping and gyrating to a go-go beat with the stamina that would put Steven Tyler to shame. All the while, guitarist Geo Doody and percussionist Bob Resnick fuel the party with vintage 60s tunes and a smattering of contemporary music modified to fit that by-gone era. When the music stops, Palladino educates the crowd on the origins of each song.
The trio teased fans with a taste of its upcoming album Time Capsule on RadioRadioX last month, and it sounds about what you’d expect to hear. From the moment you hear Resnick’s drumbeat on “You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover,” you’re moving. It’s an old-school rock sound that makes you want to either get up and dance or go jump in a deuce coupe and race.
The band hasn’t shared a release date as of yet but it has hinted that it hopes to host a release party as soon as restrictions are lifted. Visit offtherecordtrio.com for the band’s latest updates.
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzzbteQ7Dew&feature=youtu.be” width=”560″ height=”315″]
More music
For more local music, check out my Spotify playlist “Rolling Out the 518.”
