Monthly Archives: July 2015

Gentlemen Hall becomes @TribeSociety with “Pain Told Love” (featuring @Kiesza)

TRIBE SOCIETY featuring KIESZA, “Pain Told Love”

With nary a blip on the radar, I learned a while back that the promising Boston band Gentlemen Hall had become Tribe Society minus singer/guitarist Cobi Mike, who had left to pursue solo work.  And right after Cobi Mike’s “Walking Through The Fire” arrived on my chart off to a great start, then the new EP by Tribe Society (still signed to Island Records as a quintet) called Lucid Dreams dropped.  The EP is a definite about face from the sunny often danceable pop/rock of Gentlemen Hall, but with new direction comes great promise.  Think of Tribe Society along the lines of Imagine Dragons meets Smashing Pumpkins.  The lyrics here have a lot of depth and the craft of the previous band is unmistakable, with an almost progressive rock kind of backdrop.  “Pain Told Love” is my favourite from the EP thus far and shows my fellow Canadian Kiesza’s talents are not restricted to EDM pop either.  Watch for Tribe Society in concert currently supporting gigs by X-Ambassadors, and pick up Lucid Dreams on iTunes.

2015’s Summer song is “Summertime” by @TrevorGuthrie

TREVOR GUTHRIE, “Summertime”

One of the first (and most read) blog posts I wrote back in 2009 was about the whereabouts of ex-soulDecision singer/songwriter Trevor Guthrie.  Well of course eventually Trevor made his way to new, if unanticipated heights in 2013 as featured in Armin van Buuren’s dance classic “This Is What It Feels Like”, which became a massive radio hit in Trevor’s native Canada too.  “Soundwave” followed last year as Trevor once again embraced dance music, and this year it’s “Summertime”, which I first heard when Trevor performed during Canadian Music Week.  It’s a no brainer – honest-to-goodness feel good music for your summer partying pleasure.  That it’s sung by Trevor in his friendly and engaging style makes it even better.  “Summertime” is 2015’s summer song! 🙂 Watch the lyric video above.

R&B/Pop Crooner? Why it’s @NathanSykes of @TheWanted with “Kiss Me Quick”

NATHAN SYKES, “Kiss Me Quick”

I’ve often felt that The Wanted was *NSync to One Direction’s Backstreet Boys in the vocal boy band department.  But The Wanted’s music always had that touch of soul and seemed more diverse than One Direction’s songs.  So I’m pleased that Nathan Sykes has kind of come out of nowhere with a slick R&B/pop crooner style on “Kiss Me Quick”.  While he might recall Rick Astley with such a big voice coming out of a lean body, he’s got older audiences in the bag with his Michael Bublé charm.  Excellent production galvanizes the song to make it one of the surprises of 2015 that will endure throughout summer.  It’s very radio friendly – don’t say I didn’t warn you! 🙂

Crucial cover: “Say Something” by @AGreatBigWorld as interpreted by @CarlosDNobrega

CARLOS NOBREGA, “Say Something”

Readers of this blog will know that I’m not big on cover versions.  There has to be something special that stands out about them or I move on.  And there’s a proliferation of viral covers online.  Since its release, the Grammy-winning performance of “Say Something” by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera has been often performed.  And it’s been a while since we’ve heard from Portugal’s always busy singer and actor Carlos Nóbrega – in fact it was with his winning rendition of Sia’s “Breathe Me” (below).  So “Say Something” gets treated quite properly here.  Carlos’ genuinely sincere and affecting interpretation shows in the subtler moments of the song, while giving it power at the appropriate times.  While he’s been busy with other projects in the interim, it’s great to hear a really strong resonance in his voice, which only makes me want to hear new music from him more.  And he promises that new songs are on the way.  “Say Something” is also a great opportunity to introduce new listeners to Carlos’ many talents.  The 2015 ride is only beginning!  “Say Something” is a free download right here.