Single Review - I Never Said It's Be Easy - Jessica Lynn

 

If you’ve ever met Jessica, or if you follow her on social media you’ll know that she is a bundle of positive energy, but behind the smiles there is a singer who has always worked hard and takes nothing for granted.  Go a little deeper behind and you’ll see the struggles that she has had, including a recent sinus problem resulting in an operation and a difficult recovery.  She powers through this, just as she powered through the medical issues that she and husband/guitarist Steve had with their rescue dog Audrey.  Jessica’s new song I Never Said It’d Be Easy is about this kind of journey, the journey of making the most of everything to create your own happy ending.

Whilst the track starts with a powerful guitar solo, the vocal is quite calm, quite measured, setting the scene for us – “soak it in, it’s a good day to be alive”, with lyrics alluding to a song coming up that will help us feel better... then the chorus absolutely kicks!  Jessica takes it up several notches

“I never said it’d be easy”

The contrast between the gentle verse building up to the rocking chorus cleverly adds to the feel of the struggle for that happy life, the struggle that many of us keep hidden.

Be in doubt, this song is not a lament or a plea for sympathy.  This is a story of self-empowerment and personal fight.  Its clearly personal, its clearly heartfelt – and its clearly in the mould of Jessica’s previous hits such as Roadhouse and Crazy Idea – and in fact this was co-written with the collaborators of Crazy Idea!

 

Shaking off those struggles as she always does, Jessica is carving out the happy life, along with her family and band as she embarks on another extended tour of the US and Europe.

 

The final words about I Never Said It’d Be Easy are from Jessica

A song about positivity and hope for a wonderful future is something I feel very proud to sing while I embark on one of my busiest years yet.

 

I Never Said It’d Be Easy, the new song from Jessica Lynn, is available to download and stream from Friday 28 June

 

You can find Jessica on Facebook, on Instagram and on the road.  Follow her on Spotify too.

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Single Review - Jump - First Time Flyers

Ahead of their UK headline tour, First Time Flyers are releasing their new single Jump.  Inspired by a band member’s real life love story, the title refers to the way that you have to sometimes make the choice to jump into a relationship - as Poppy Fardell puts it

It’s about fearlessly jumping into love heart first

Gaining a reputation not just for their on-stage energy and off-stage chemistry, First Time Flyers also embrace different takes on the country genre with this new song giving a nod to the modern country sound and also – dare we say it – the Beyonce style of country music, but with their own twist to it.

Musically this track can be described as “bouncy” with the tempo and delivery matching the title.  The vocals are smooth, the instrumentation drives the song without being overpowering and the production is spot on.  Without question a well put together song, with a summer feel but that slight edge to the lyrics –

They say don’t jump cos we’re only going to fall

I’m going to jump, I’m going to fall

We are encouraged to ignore the doubters with their advice, and to take that jump – even if we fall.  It’s an empowering message while still being an anthem to love!

You’ll be able to hear Jump, and the rest of the band’s catalogue when they take to the road later this year with Jump On Tour Part One.

Happening in September 2024 the band are playing three shows in Birmingham, London and Manchester

 

Jump, the new single from First Time Flyers is available to download and stream from Friday 28 March.

Find the band on Facebook, Instagram and follow them on Spotify

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Single Review - Boy On The Train - Morganway

 

Described by the band as having Primal Scream and Rolling Stones vibes, Boy On The Train, the new single from Morganway, does indeed have those influences – at first at least!  Once the violin kicks in you know its Morganway - but with a difference.  It’s Morganway because of the energy in every line, the difference is in the vocal with Callum opening and  SJ sharing the lead this time.

It has always been hard to pin the band down to any one genre – we coined the expression “Rowdy folk” for them previously – but it is safe to say that by blending Country, Americana, Rock, and Folk they have developed their own sound, best described as “Morganway”.

The song starts with guitar, which is joined by violin, then drums – then just an explosion of energy as, well, everything joins in!

The song originated from Callum strumming a guitar at night on tour and developed into the finished article – fittingly a story of family and the separation and connection caused by touring, the inspiration being Callum’s family on their way to join the band on tour.  It’s a perfect time to release the song too, as the band have just come off a tour with Belle and Sebastian and will be playing across festivals this summer including the main stage at The Long Road Festival in August.

Boy On The Train is destined to be a crowd pleaser, and you can already hear the sing-along that will be happening as the audience join in with the incredibly catchy chorus.

Get yourself ready for the Morganway performances at this year’s festivals…

She’s got the ticket, and the Boy On The Train

Boy On The Train, the new single from Morganway is available to download and stream from Friday 28 June.

You can find Morganway on Facebook and Instagram and follow them on Spotify

Morganway are represented by Zimagined Artist Management

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Gig Review - Alyssa Bonagura - Hare and Hounds Birmingham

 

Birmingham has always had a thriving music scene, birthplace to (among others) UB40, Duran Duran, Ozzy Osborne and host to many touring acts, recently including The Shires at Town hall supported by a certain Alyssa Bonagura.  

Kings Heath’s Hare and Hounds - itself an iconic venue – was the venue for the first date of Nashville Unicorn Alyssa Bonagura on her first ever headline tour.  We call her a Unicorn because she's a Nashville native, growing up on a tour bus as the only child of travelling musicians with Baille & The Boys.  Despite her American upbringing, Alyssa has a real fondness for the UK, having performed here many times and graduating from Liverpool Institute Of Performing Arts.

Opening for her Birmingham show were close friends and Brum natives Gasoline and Matches.  Equally accomplished as an acoustic duo and a full band, tonight saw just Sally and Steve on stage entertaining the crowd with personal stories, and songs from their ever-growing catalogue.  Both could relate the story of when they first saw Alyssa when she was playing as part of duo The Sisterhood and how their friendship grew, including hosting her as part of their popular “Nashville Sounds In The Round” literally across the road in the intimate Kitchen Garden Café.  Its not a Gasoline and Matches set unless they finish with their popular drinking game/song “Never Have I Ever” which was joined in with gusto – despite it being a school night for most!

 

Alyssa took to the stage with a cry of “Are You Ready To Rock?” and for the next hour or so showed us what can be achieved with just two guitars and excellent songwriting.  Three guitars – she took delight in playing a beautiful blue guitar that was just “£80 in Denmark street”

 

Alyssa was accompanied on stage by Steve Shirley who plays lead guitar and boyfriend!  Together for two years, Welsh born Steve brings his own Birmingham connection having graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Physics – “Shout out to all UoB physicists” was possibly the most niche shout out ever!

 

Its very clear how much Alyssa loves being on stage – and it doesn’t matter how big the stage.  She’s performed all over the world but seems incredibly at home in any venue. Talking about how much she enjoys hearing stories of how her fans relate to her stories she described her audiences as “We start as

strangers but leave as friends”.  The whole set could be best described as upbeat acoustic with songs drawn from across many years.  “This could be my Eras Tour” she said before inviting the audience to suggest what they sing next – which did mean a little bit of discussion over how songs start and showed that Steve isn’t just a guitarist/boyfriend but a great support to her on stage. Writing “happier songs” over the past two years, even Alyssa’s more heartfelt songs still have an element of energy to them, and we were all thrilled to light up our phones in memory of friend and collaborator Roman in a lovely tribute.

 

I caught up with Alyssa after the show, and after she’d taken time with every audience member – signing merch, posing for selfies – and asked her, after a lifetime touring, how different this – her first headline tour – feels

 

It’s a dream come true.  I’ve been wanting to do this since I was a little kid and its crazy when people buy tickets to your show and your able to pack out a venue.  Tonight was sold out.

It’s a total dream come true

 

In the words of her song Road Less Travelled

 

I ain't gonna chase money or fame

I'm just gonna do what makes me smile

 

You can catch Alyssa on her UK tour for the rest of June as well as find her on Facebook & Instagram and follow her on Spotify

Silverball Country attended the show as guests of Alyssa Bonagura and Gasoline and Matches 

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