Scott Gagner - I Don't Get Out Much (Anymore) Video Premiere

  

We adored Scott Gagner's last album, Hummingbird Heart. So much so that it was in the I Don't Hear A Single Top 20 Albums Of The Year. So we are delighted to bring you an exclusive with first showing of the lead single from his fifth album, BloodMoon. I Don't Get Out Much (Anymore) is a great indication of what to expect from what is an outstanding album. The video offers a stylized twist on the numbing routine of being stuck at home during last year's lockdown.

The song itself was written and recorded in a single day during the summer of 2020, at the height of the pandemic. Scott only had the title and a few rough lyrics before heading to Flowers Studio in Minneapolis The studio — founded by Polara frontman Ed Ackerson — who had only recently passed away. Scott was apparently the first artist to book the studio in months

 

(Viewers can change the video to full screen by clicking on the You Tube bar).

Engineer Kristopher Johnson (Two Harbors) began getting drum sounds while Scott finished writing the song. Ed’s Interscope-funded arsenal of vintage Roland and ARP keyboards quickly became the backbone of the song. 

These were augmented by grand piano, Fender P-bass, electric sitar and gong (which was eventually reversed, providing a hypnotic "vacuum sound" heard at the top of the track). After a good vocal take, the song was wrapped by 6pm. 

BloodMoon, the 13 Track Album is released on 2 November and can be pre-ordered on Apple Music here or Amazon here. Pre-Orders will get instant access to the song "Rise." CD's are also available by emailing info@scottgagner.com. You can find out more about Scott at his website here or on Facebook here. 

I Don't Hear A Single offers this Premiere due to our admiration of Scott Gagner's work. There is no monetary payment or quid pro quo. 

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The Brothers Steve - #1 (Including Video Premiere)

Here's a first for IDHAS, an exclusive premiere of The Brother Steve's new video. Before all of that though, I'd like to tell you a bit about the upcoming album, released on 27 July. I can tell you that it's the best thing that I've heard this year.

Now that's a statement that you'll hear from many all the time. However, I'd qualify this by stating that I should know what I'm talking about with all these years on the clock. I like to think that I know what I'm talking and this is just the shot in the arm that Power Pop needs.

I have to say that this year has been a real bore, Power Pop wise, so much so that I've stepped away slightly. I've grown tired of Beatles Suits, Rickenbackers and I Love You Do, Yes I Do lyrics. I just felt that the genre needed a shot in the arm or it would be forever conversations about Big Star, Badfinger and Raspberries.

#1 is the shot in the arm that Guitar Pop needed so badly. People, familiar to me, will know how I drone on endlessly about how Tsar's self titled debut album deserves to be in the 10 Best Power Pop albums of all time, well The Brother's Steve features three of those Tsar fellows and this album is every bit as good.

Without further ado. here is the Premiere of the band's second video, Angeline, this will appear worldwide on Monday, but you have the opportunity to get ahead of the game.

Tsar stalwarts Jeff Whalen, Jeff Solomon and Steve Coulter are joined by Os Tyler and Dylan Champion in the Los Angeles five piece. In stating that the album is as good as that Tsar debut, it must be said that it's not the same.

There is a much different tempo here. the band are in much less of a hurry to get to the licks. #1 has far more in common with The Monkees and great late 60's Pop. The album is built on the wonderful vocal harmonies and singalong choruses.

We Got The Hits feels like something from a Hanna Barbara cartoon, those pesky kids etc and throughout there is more than a hint of Bubblegum Pop. That sound with doses of UK Glam Rock offers up a real poptastic experience.

Having three vocalists in the band certainly helps with the variety and of course those top notch harmonies. The lead double A Side released on the Big Stir label demonstrates that versatility. The "all join in" Angeline is backed by the far more sedate strum of Carolanne. You can buy that digital single here.

Carry Me's Jangle is like a popped up Teenage Fanclub, whilst C'mon Pappy has far more of a Southern Rock feel. My personal favourite is Beat Generation Poet Turned Assassin which has a fine call and response chorus and is a real toe tapper.

Good Deal Of Love is real SoCal twang and Sunlight ends the album with something far slower than what has gone before, again playing to the strength of those harmonies, getting you ready to start the album all over again.


There is excitement enough at the return of Jeff Whalen and the guys, so much so that the band would be forgiven if they phoned something in. This album is far far better than you could expect. It's Sunshine Pop of the very highest order.

You can find out more about The Brothers Steve and pre-order the album here. There will be more on the band with an IDHAS interview coinciding with the album release.


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