MUCCA PAZZA was born in a steel mill parking lot along the Chicago river. Combining marching band traditions and street theater experience with rock band sensibilities, Mucca Pazza quickly found a home for its 30-odd members in the thriving Chicago underground music scene. Their eccentric, frenetic visual presence, and genre-bending original compositions earned them critical praise and a loyal local following. Before long, with their live show’s reputation preceding them, Mucca Pazza began to branch out nationally, appearing onLate Night with Conan O’Brien, WFMU, and the Kentucky Derby, as well as supporting major national acts and performing at numerous national music festivals like Lollapalooza, Lincoln Center’s Out of Doors and the Montreal Jazz Fest. Having worked with choreographers, filmmakers and theatrical groups, as well as performing in art museums around the country, Mucca Pazza is as comfortable in the fine arts and performance art world as the local rock club, or parking lot.

Comprised of 13 original compositions and clocking in at 43 minutes, the music on L.Y.A. runs the gamut from lush, cinema-ready orchestrations (“Rise Of The Elementals”, “Road To Joy”) to frenetic, exclamations (“All Out Of Bubblegum”, “Holiday On Ice”) to serpentine dance numbers (“Subtle Frenzy”).

A musical force from the moss-draped Old South, The Train Wrecks are a hard-working band of songwriters and performers who love nothing more than good songs and a good show. They deliver a dynamic, original blend of Americana- ranging from outlaw alt-country and bluegrass to rootsy rock and beyond, all with a distinctive Southern swagger.  Their new album — We Roll On — is available on limited edition vinyl now.

With riffs that easily translate between the languages of classic, modern, and alternative rock, White Lighter features a team of people that have collaborated before, but not quite in this way.

Steve Dail’s bass and guitar compositions are both brute and melodic, with rhythm and song combining effortlessly, while Mark Salomon has once again crafted a lyrical and vocal character that strikes where it matters. Andy Prickett guitar lines are present throughout, swinging things wider than can be predicted, and beats provided by David Brotherton and Trey Many feel pocketed and heavy with bodily force.

Production overseen by Jason Martin, a mix by J.R. McNeely, and mastering by T.W. Walsh make this a listen that is as much of an experience as the words and music are themselves. Vinyl purchasers will be treated to a visual experience as well, provided by Ryan Clark.

Sauna was recorded between June 27th, 2013 and August 13th, 2014 at the UNKNOWN in Anacortes, Washington by Phil Elverum with singers Geneviève Castrée, Allyson Foster, Ashley Eriksson and Paul Benson, and flute by Evin Opp. Mastered by Timothy Stollenwerk.

All of the song titles are single words and some of the songs are very long. This is music meant to weigh heavy on you like a lot of cold water at night, and also the sword glimmering at the bottom of the lake at night.  Pre-order now!

In the 1970’s in Chile, recording anything was complicated. The state-owned IRT label was administered by the military. Domestic releases gave way to an invasion of foreign music. At most, a Chilean group like Santa y su Gente (Santa and his People) could hope for one appearance on television, or a very low-key event—this was the reality of the music world after the coup. Few groups had the good fortune to overcome the prevailing censorship: this was the case with Santa y su Gente (Santa and his People). Santiago Salas was a percussionist stepped in jazz. It was he who assembled a band with musicians of the caliber of Lautaro Rosas and Mario Lecaros. The latter was a powerful musician, who would appear in other jazz fusion projects in those difficult years, and then leave Chile together to do an impressive job abroad with his group Comet. The one and only album by Santa y su Gente, “Urgente,” was released by RCA/IRT/Alba in 1974. This album is very rare, and therefore not well known apart from the collections of a few dj’s. But it contains all you can ask for—a scintillating brew of Latin Afro-jazz fusion, with something powerful to say and beats galore. Highly recommended! Comes with a bi-lingual insert which explores the story of Santa y su Gente in the context of the rich Chilean rock music scene.  Available from Lion Productions.

John Calvin Abney will be touring with the Damn Quails starting January 2, and promoting his new LP – Better Luck (available January 25).  You can catch the first single from the LP now.  Better Luck was recorded in 9 days at Tiny Telephone, San Francisco, California, from April 28 – May 6, 2014.  Watch as additional tour dates are announed at johncalvinabney.com.