Hey All, I just wrapped up a podcast with the former tour manager of The Ramones. He said some things for the first time including how The Sex Pistols really ruined it for The Ramones. The band wanted radio play and MTV rotation, but the mainstream media ignored The Ramones because they associated the band with the Sex Pistols who they didn’t like because of their bizarre behavior.

Monte A. Melnick, The Ramones Tour Manager thinks the legendary punk band never achieved mainstream success because of The Sex Pistols. Monte A. Melnick told Dean Cramer in a podcast that The Ramones kept on changing producers because they wanted to get the hit. The band worked with the famous Phil Spector but couldn’t get on the radio. “I think The Sex Pistols poisoned the whole atmosphere in the states” says Monte A. Melnick.

From Phoebe Bridgers to Girl In Red, the 90’s is coming back in a big way. Kenyon France takes us back to the late 90’s with his grungy rock track I Want You.

The new track follows Holding Back Your Love and Let It Hurt. The mid tempo rock track could find its way on Spotify’s Rock This and New Noise. The singer songwriter grew up in North Dakota, moved to Arizona and plays in the band Verry Cherry.

“I grew up heavily influenced by Aerosmith, AC/DC and Def Leppard. So, when we were laying down this track for “I Want You”, I wanted to pull elements of their music that have inspired me especially the iconic Steven Tyler scream. So, we went for that catchy hard rock/ glam rock sound with anthemic gang vocals, driving guitar riffs and slamming drums. I love the contagious energy of this song” says Kenyon.

Look out for Camp Crush and the 80’s influenced synth track Shadows. Think The Cure, New Order, Berlin and the National. Fronted by forever sweethearts, Chris Spicer & Jen Deale the duo makes you feel like you’re at the High School prom.

The Portland duo says “For all of us, there are things that maybe we thought we had conquered in our lives, that can always creep back in, living in the shadows.”

They’ve garnered support for music blogs such as Stage Right Secrets, OPB Music, AudioFemme, Happy Mag, Vortex Music, and Atwood Magazine.

After several released, they began collaborating with Grammy Award-winning  producer Rian Lewis (Doja Cat, Gorillaz, Chromeo, Louis the Child, D.R.A.M.). Now, The duo is set to release their 4th EP Always?, in July of 2022 along with an exclusive pictorial zine that highlights their dramatic fashion in a series of lush photographs and artwork.

Yoshi Flower returns with a cover of Lil Peep’s Star Shopping. Staying true to the original, still, Yoshi brings his own signature tone.

Yoshi says, “When I was lost in my addiction, I constantly listened to Peep. I related to how he spoke of using drugs as a way to feel okay; but he also showed the dangers and the comedowns. When he passed, I was”

This cover makes me remember how Lil Peep helped breakthrough a unique blend of emo, rap and rock – a strange combination that worked. Peep was unique and colored outside the lines, but isn’t that true artist?

Check out the track going nowhere by Berlue, an indie/alternative artist based out of Nashville, TN. You’ll like if you love indie rock from the late 90’s. The track deals with depression and comes off a six song EP that will be released late this summer called A Flooding Within You.

Tell me about how your song came about.

“‘going nowhere’ is about failure and feeling like I haven’t been able to live up to the dreams I had when I was a kid. I was taking a lunch break while recording my other songs and while strumming on the guitar I was struck with the chorus melody and lyrics. The rest of it came together really quickly but I tweaked it for months before the energy felt just right.”

Artists that have a big influence on me include Snow Patrol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, early Coldplay, and newer artists like beabadoobee & Soccer Mommy.

It seems like you quickly found yourself on Spotify Editorial Playlists like Fresh Finds

I have no idea how my music was selected for Fresh Finds and Fresh Finds Rock but it has been a huge honor to have been selected for those amazing playlists. Spotify even made me the cover of Fresh Finds Rock for a while and it’s been amazing to be on playlists that I have been listening to for years.

What’s your favorite platform to connect with fans?

I find that it’s easier to have more personal and meaningful engagement with people on instagram but TikTok is definitely easier to get my music in front of more people.