“Everyone knows that you can sing…” For The White Buffalo – aka singer / songwriter / guitarist Jake Smith, Oregon-born, Southern California-raised – it was time to take the less travelled path; to assemble notions for studio album Number 8, the follow-up to ‘On The Widow’s Walk’ (Snakefarm, 2020), and embark on a voyage of discovery. Out with the old, the organic, the expected, the tried; in with the new – new producer, new studio, new location, no distractions, no looking back… Enter ‘Year Of The Dark Horse’… “You think we’re a country band? A folk band? Americana? Rock? What the fuck are you gonna say now?!” laughs Jake. “With this album, I wanted something outside of what I’ve ever done. I wanted to open up. Do something dangerous. I’m hard to put into a singular genre as it is, but now I really wanted to take away any kind of preconception or pigeon-holing. “And don’t ask me, cos I don’t know what it is! It’s a genre-bending thing – there’s elements and influences from ELO, Daniel Lanois, Tom Waits, The Boss, circus, pirate music, yacht rock, and I’m driving and pushing some of these numbers in a way I’ve never done before. “At the top of the pandemic, I put the acoustic guitar on its stand, got a synthesizer and began writing on it, not really knowing how to play keys, just exploring the different sounds and landscapes. In the not knowing, it allowed me to expand my vocal melodies and compositions in ways the guitar had possibly limited.”  When Jake, flanked by regular touring / recording compadres, bassist / keyboard player / guitarist Christopher Hoffee and drummer Matt Lynott, crossed the threshold of East Nashville’s Neon Cross Studio, a converted Southern Baptist Church, he wasn’t chapter an’ verse prepared, as usual. The time before recording had been a crazy one, so there were a bunch of loose ends to be tied (“I’m a perpetual procrastinator” – Jake), plus only three of the 12 songs had been completely written. Jake had maps in his head, but most were mere bones of compositions with only a few key lyrics penned. This allowed producer / studio owner Jay Joyce – plus trusted assistant, Jason Hall – the wiggle room to really get involved, to guide and explore new frontiers.  He’s a Grammy Award-winning Producer of the Year (2018), has 4 CMA and 5 ACM Awards, and when it comes to making music, the Ohio native is never one to take the obvious route – perfect for an album featuring a dozen musical vignettes, individual yet constant in flow; an album loosely based around the shifting of the seasons and the shifting of a relationship; an album showing off the complete scope of Jake’s song-writing craft, from the stripped back to the fully loaded… ‘Year Of The Dark Horse’, coming soon via Snakefarm: normal rules do not apply.

Few things ever grow tall without roots. For the members of Through The Roots, it tooka decade of inspired songwriting and heavy touring to develop the band’s uniquesound: a modern blend of roots reggae, hip-hop, rock, and electronic pop. It’s a soundthat nods to the band’s diverse influences while also reaching far beyond them, and itbegan humbly enough, with the guys hosting their own backyard shows in collegetowns across Southern California. Word spread. Crowds grew. Through The Rootsbought a renovated school bus and hit the road hard, graduating from college fratparties to larger clubs, building their audience, show by energetic show. Throughout itall, the band kept writing and exploring new sounds, working their way towards a trulyunique sound that blended tradition with technology. 

The year is 2002. Vocalist Jesse Wagner and organist Roger Rivas, each fresh out of their own bands, cometogether to form dirty reggae quintet the Aggrolites. With a sound that is equal parts Kingston and Motown, the bandturns the heads of discerning music listeners everywhere, not to mention a slew of legends both old-school (PhyllisDillon, Derrick Morgan) and newer (Tim Armstrong) who recruit them for collaborations. Over the next decade, theLos Angeles band tours hard and records constantly, releasing five full-lengths while spending close to 250 days ayear on the road. For a time, it seemed like the Aggrolites were everywhere, and that’s because they truly were.(Their van’s odometer can prove it.)Then, unexpectedly: Silence. The Aggrolites entera prolonged hibernation following a particularly grueling tour for2011’s Rugged Road, and suddenly, the scene was without its leading purveyors of dirty reggae.“I guess it just comes down to getting burned out,” frontman Wagner recalls. “We lost motivation to record. We got tothat point where we had to take care of our own personal lives. Everybody just needed time for themselves.”Of course, you can’t keep a good band down. Even though the Aggrolites were technically on hiatus, it didn’t stopthem from playing a handful of gigs each year, nor did it stop members from exploring other creative endeavors.(Rivas started his own recording studio and multiple new bands; Wagner began playing with Vic Ruggiero from theSlackers; bassist Jeff Roffredo formed aband called Wild Roses with former Dropkick Murphys guitarist Marc Orrell.)And with fan support still unwavering, the band reconvened in late 2015 to lay down three songs, “Aggro ReggaeParty,” “Help Man” and “Western Taipan,” which reminded them that, hey, they’re still pretty damn good at this.“I think we were so preoccupied with our lives at that time that we were just doing things out of force to keep the bandalive,” Wagner says. “But luckily and thankfully we did, because we never gave up.”Thatone-off recording session was the spark that eventually created REGGAE NOW!, the Aggrolites’ sixth full-lengthand first for new label Pirates Press Records. Written and recorded throughout 2018, the album finds Wagner and hisbandmates—Rivas, Roffredo, drummer Alex McKenzie and new guitarist Ricky Chacon—reestablishing theirsignature sound, re-recording those three songs from 2015 as well as adding on 11 more originals that snap, crackleand pop just as much as your favorite Aggro songs from back in the day.“We wanted to keep it real,” Wagner says. Even though we were proud of [2009 album] IV, we know we went outsidethe box a little on that one. This time around, we decided to keep it natural: Simple, two-chord reggae. It’s feel-goodmusic. We know whatpeople like out of us. Let’s just be us.”While it took nearly a decade to get the Aggrolites back into a cohesive creative headspace, it took a fraction of thetime to actually lay down music—the band knocked out all the basic rhythm tracks for REGGAE NOW! in one day inearly 2018.“We like to keep it old school and record organically, like the Funk Brothers of Motown or The Hippy Boys of 1960’sJamaica,“ Wagner reveals. “There’s that whole atmosphere and energy—get in a room and let that energy flow. Wefelt like teenagers again in a garage band. That came out in this record.”Wagner repeatedly emphasizes the band’s drive to create “feel-good music,” and the album is a testament to thosegood vibrations: “Love Me Tonight” is a gorgeous love song with silky smooth vocal harmonies; the funky “Jack Pot”could be the soundtrack to your next night out at the club or the walkout music for your next prize fight; “Why YouRat” will make you groove and laugh at the same time as Wagner clowns on a “ratboy” security guard who made hislife difficult at his old apartment complex.“Our lyrics have always been light-hearted and making people smile and dance, with that vintage retro feeling inmind,” he says. “That’s what the Aggrolites are about. The great thing about skinhead reggae is as beautiful as themusic sounds, it’s also the most punch-you-in-the-face music ever, too.”“Their tunes perfectly echo the human chemistry you can hear in those early Jamaican productions,” says Britishreggae icon Don Letts. “The band’s old-school analog sound totally captures the spirit of the music I grew up on.”“The Aggrolites have stretched out, and gotten it even more right, at exactly the right time,” agrees Lynval Golding,vocalist/guitarist for Two-Tone legends the Specials. “This is the album.”Functioning as free agents for the first time in nearly two decades, the Aggrolites created REGGAE NOW! without adeadline in mind. Once they felt like the album was complete, they didn’t have to look far for a partner: Bay Area labelPirates Press Records was at the top of their list. ​“I’ve known [Pirates Press Records owner] Skippy since I was 17,” says Wagner. “Over the years, seeing how muchhe’s progressed and knowing what kind of respect everybody has for him... He’s one of those people we trusted toknow what to do with the Aggrolite name and image.”With REGGAE NOW! ready to drop, the Aggrolites will hit the road this summer for their first full U.S. tour in six years.Wagner says the band is excited to get back in the groove.“We’re passionate about reggae, we’re passionate about our band, and I don’t think we’re ever gonna stop,” heconcludes. “Everybody clicks right now. That’s why we’re calling it REGGAE NOW!—because this is us now.”

“The World’s Greatest Tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers!” So say Katie Daryl, Mark Cuban and Ryan Seacrest of AXS-TV as they selected the PettyBreakers to perform on their hit TV show in 2014. The PettyBreakers is the nation’s premier “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers” tribute act.  Based out of Southern California, this band accurately recreates the sights, sounds and concert experience of a Tom Petty concert. All the classics… American Girl…Break Down… Free Fallin’… Mary Jane’s Last Dance…Refugee… Runnin’ Down a Dream… and so many more... perfectly reproduced. Playing to packed houses all over the U.S., the band is comprised of excellent musicians who have performed and recorded with international artists. The PettyBreakers honor the music of this legendary American icon. 

Step into the world of country music legend Willie Nelson with ZB Savoy's "Songs of Willie Nelson" live tribute show. Celebrating the remarkable career and enduring legacy of the "Red Headed Stranger," this performance is a journey through the heart and soul of American music. At 91 years old, Willie Nelson stands as an unparalleled figure in the music industry. With over 2500 songs to his name, more than 250 albums, and a multitude of awards including 12 Grammys and 11 CMAs, Nelson's influence is felt far and wide. He's not just an artist; he's an American icon. ZB Savoy's tribute show is more than just a concert, it's an immersive experience that delves into the rich history and profound impact of Willie Nelson's music. With a blend of entertainment and education, the evening is designed to honor Nelson's legacy while providing insight into the cultural and musical context of his most cherished songs. Led by ZB Savoy himself the band assembled for this tribute is a powerhouse of talent. Featuring Bobby Furgo on piano and fiddle, known for his work with Leonard Cohen and Dolly Parton, Danny Campbell on drums, who has played with icons like Bob Weir and Phyllis Diller, and bassist Patrick McClory, who's toured with acts such as the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash and The Red Headed Strangers, the ensemble promises an unforgettable performance. From timeless classics to hidden gems, "Songs of Willie Nelson" brings together the essence of Nelson's music in a captivating live experience. Don't miss your chance to immerse yourself in the sounds and stories of a true country music legend. Join us for a night of music, memories, and reverence for the one and only Willie Nelson. 

Monette Marino Keita’s music is a blend of Funk, Rock & Jazz genres infused with African, Latin, Caribbean rhythms & melodies; her own unique blend of high-energy World Music will have you dancing and jumping the entire show! Her CD “Coup d’Eclat is available in all digital platforms. Monette was inducted into San Diego’s Music Hall of Fame in 2023. She has been performing locally & around the world for over 30 years. She teaches West African Percussion at Mo’Rhythm School of Percussion, through her iOS App MoRhythm-Africa and on her YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/morhythm.