Daniel Ellsworth - After All [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Daniel Ellsworth’s new track, “After All’ hot me like a psychedelic Elton John. Sure, Elton had his days of altered state and had some out there songs but Ellsworth hasn’t created anything derivative here in his vibe. Was more of a feeling for me with hints of Elton John and Grateful Dead as a loose connector to the sound.

The video is also trippy by Ellsworth and his band the Great Lakes also infuse emotion and a strong sense of build in the track so besides the talent I was pulled in and took the full ride.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Flowtone - Eats Me Alive [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Flowtone unleashes a slow build on ‘Eats Me Alive,’ a vibe-heavy Indie Rock track.

If Coldplay and the Chili Peppers merged for one night, the result might sound something like this. We all have those things that eat at us from the inside out and this track not only delivers that emotion lyrically, but also in the overall tone.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Thorslund - Hours to Go [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Thorslund is back with that hard charging rock sound that is at home no matter the decade. Get pumped for the weekend with ‘Hours To Go.’

The band was founded by the Thorslund brothers and takes the vintage rock sounds of the 70’s and 80s and brings them to today with fun, energetic lyrics to get you off your phone and back out in the world because this is music to move by. Be it strutting down the Sunset Strip or mashing that gas pedal and hitting the open road. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Billy Raffoul -Drive You Home [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Is hard to love someone from a far especially when they have battles and addictions you can’t save them from. “Drive You Home” is about always being there for someone to pick up the pieces as they self -destruct. Billy Raffoul careful string of the guitar gives a soft and emotional track.”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

Dax - Life [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Dax delivers some powerful and related songs. His latest single “Life” is about the unpredictable aspects of life. It’s about being lost but realizing your faith and founding yourself. The song has a upbeat tempo which doesn’t make it depressed but inspiring. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

Thorslund - Firecracker Man [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“True Rock and Roll ain’t’ dead, but it is real damn hard to find.

The glory days of Whisky a Go-Go and the other iconic venues along the Sunset Strip might be behind us, but Thorslund keeps the Hollywood tradition of spawning hard rock with an edge alive and well.

Thorslund does a damn good job of living up to the reputation of LA rockers.

’Firecracker Man’ is a hard charging rock song that works today and would have put them in elite status back in ‘85. Let’s hope they usher in a new era and find the broader audience they deserve so while appeasing the Rock Gods happy with their in your face sound.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

San Salinas - Hold On [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“When a passion is truly in your blood you never can quite it. Be it a person or a creative endeavor. Matt Gibson of San Salinas thought he was done with music, but after a life of hardships and addictions, he cleaned up and rediscovered the dormant passion.

’Hold On’ is a soaring rock tribute to that reawakening!”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Cold Weather Captains - Line of Fire [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Coming with a funky little bass line, before the track hits that Rock and Roll edge with intricate guitars play and classic vocal delivery, Cold Weather Captains delivers a nice energetic Alt Rock track .

’Line Of Fire’ has the backbone to serve as a motivational hype track, or to simply be a nice jam you can groove to while motoring down a dark stretch of highway.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock blogger

Cloud House - Photographs [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Written after the death of lead singer, Conor’s mother, ‘Photographs’ is part nostalgia and part motivational inspiration. Delivering a classic Indie Rock sound, Cloud House puts their energy and emotions into this track which serves as the Glasgow bands lead single on a brand new EP.

The vocal and musical talent allows the band to feel emotive and powerful and this track is but one that promises to deliver a punch straight to your gut. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Dax - Dax-To Be A Man (Ft. Darius Rucker) [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Dax is a versatile talent that can come with a hard-edged Hip-Hop flow or a theatrical horror core track and then here on this track, Dax deliver offers an earnest ballad along with Darius Rucker.

’To Be a Man’ is an ode to the emotions and pressures of being a man. Not just any man but a responsible hard-working man trying to do his best despite the pitfalls and stresses that we face.

Dax and Rucker’s voices blend and play off each other well on the track and the emotions carry the day on this honest and vulnerable look at a side of being a man that often is overlooked. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Little Quirks - Storm Like Me [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Little Quirks is an all-girl trio of two sisters and their cousin from Australia. ‘Storm Like Me’ is a folksy Pop track and the first single from their new album due out early next year.

The song is an ode to being true to yourself even when you are wrong. We all say and do stuff we wished we hadn’t but there is a power in owning our mistakes and trying to do better next time, rather than turning and running from them or make asinine excuses. This sound proudly proclaims, HERE I AM ... flaws and all. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The Sweet Kill - Undead [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Delivered in a deep baritone reminiscent of Nick Cave, The Sweet Kill gives us a track perfect for the season. ‘Undead’ isn’t purely a Halloween track, but it does fit the mood and vibe of this time of year.

The press release details include this description ... THE SWEET KILL is a one-man Post-Punk, Dark & Gothic artist. Driven by cold synths, atmospheric guitar and melodic bass, multi-instrumentalist and velvety crooning baritone, Pete Mills conducts a Darkwave masterpiece of romantic sorrow echoing the laments of The Cure and Joy Division.

The track is a dark romantic ode to an immortal being in love with a mortal facing peril and the is left with no choice bu tto convert his love so they can be together for eternity.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The Stemmas - Eyes Wide Open [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The Stemmas are an emerging, Indie musical collective started by guitarist and executive producer, Jerry Conrad, and lead vocalist Tommy White but expanded to an impressive group of accomplished artists and collaborators.

’Eyes Wide Open’ is a timeless rock song of boredoma nd questioning and taking a chance to find what answers might be out there in the world. This is Rock and Rolls as it should be, but is seldom heard these days int he glossy world of manufactured corporate music. The right kind of grit and IDGAF attitude, with the video to match.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

britta raci - embarrassing [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“There are many dimensions to a breakup, and just as many songs detailing the emotional toll, however few if any take a look at the embarrassment aspect of heartbreak. Reliving and rehashing all the things you said to them when blinded by love, and of course the public shame of having to explain to others what went wrong. Britta Raci covers that and then some in her Pop leaning Alt Rock track called ‘Embarrassing.’ The writing is solid and the emotions tangible, thanks to a passionate and emotive delivery.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

EĐĐIE - Freak on Fire [Music Review]

Rating: 3 out of 5

“This high-energy track has a classic Alternative Rock vibe that can be called a selp hype track. By that I mean anyone who needs a confidence boost or shot of adrenaline to get through their workout or simply motivate them to take on the day.

An anthem to the hustlers and go-getters, ‘Freak On Fire,’ is a musically supercharged track. The vocals at times do not match the musical energy though the juxtaposition does add a a touch of intrigue as well. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Fletcher Moudy - Let Your Hand Slip [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The one night stand is often romanticized and for good reason. The thrill of carnal excitement, and the potential of where it could go are boundless. ‘Let Your Hand Slip’ captures those emotions and feeling and the hard vocal edge of Fletcher Moudy sell it well here. The arrangement is a bit erratic, just like a heartbeat in such situations, and the resulting song sweeps you in just as if lust were leading you along.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

king dem0 - coma [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“The world can be an overwhelming place and that is exactly what king dem0’s track ‘coma’ is all about.

The song somewhat reminded me of Beck with a British accent, though with more of a vocal groove and flair to that side of the the production. The arrangement and musical side is a bit funky and blurs the lines of genre which adds to the track’s almost chaotic vibe which is the perfect way to express the intent of the song.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Easy Bear - In My Head [Music Review]

Rating: 3 out of 5

“Easy Bear brings the 90’s vibes on this track. Reminding me a bit of Cake, or The Presidents of the United States of America the high-energy offering of ‘In My Head’ comes with a chorus that is impossible not to join in and sing along.

I did find myself wanting more as the song was over far earlier than I’d have liked.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Movie Night - Haunted [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“I am a sucker for a good story song. And a story song with a gut-wrenching twist of the knife ... YES PLEASE!

Butter the popcorn and settle in because Movie Night latest track, ‘Haunted’ is ready to carve up your emotions with this Pop Rock anthem to closure and that impromptu final meeting with your ex to try and wrap thigs up in a nice little box to stoae away. Of course life doesn’t work like that, and neither does this excellent song.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Casino Havana- All For Nothing [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This song is a burst of energy from the introduction of the electric guitar at the beginning of the song. Casino Havana delivers a pure rock and roll smash. Well versed lyrics and storytelling over banging drums and violent guitar strums. The lead vocalist carries the song with his intense, aggressive vocals while still giving your vocalist deliverance that blesses the ears with its melodies. If you put all the elements of rock into a pot and created a song, this would be it. Great song. Even greater listen.”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]