Cat’s Cradle Back Room

Singer/songwriter, bandleader, and human being Samantha Bowers was born in the small town of Derby, Connecticut. Sam first began writing songs at age 12 while taking piano lessons and listening to Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Freddie Mercury playing on the family stereo. By 16, Sam developed a love of jazz and began to study the great female vocalists of the century (mainly Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Sarah Vaughn) as she started to perform original compositions in local Connecticut and New Jersey venues. She would go on to write and release 3 LP records by the age of 18. In 2013 at age 19, Sam packed up and moved to New York to pursue music and songwriting. In 2016, The Friends were born from a collection of talented musicians and friends. Sammy Rae & The Friends would play shows around the NY Metro area as Sam kept composing and sharpening her craft, culminating in the July 2018 release of the self-produced EP ‘The Good Life’, premiered to a sold-out crowd at C’Mon Everybody in Brooklyn. The release marked a fresh start for the seasoned vocalist showcasing her skills as a composer, arranger, lyricist, and bandleader on her fourth release. Since the release of their May single ‘Saw It Coming’, The Friends have enjoyed 6 sold-out shows in New York at well-known venues such as Knitting Factory, Bowery Electric, DROM, and Rockwood Music Hall. The lyrics focus on themes of coming-of-age, defiance, and self-expression. Her genre blending performances are high-energy, honest and quirky, influenced by the great performances of her childhood classic rock heroes. In short, The Friends are the band. A rotating cast with some core all-the-time members. Their full band performances feature 9 pieces: a rhythm section, a horn section, keyboards, and two back up singers, all lead by Rae through high-energy vocals and an assortment of instruments. On a grander scale, The Friends is the community of followers, artists and creatives who help in the creation of the songs and the world. Merchandise item ‘The Official Friends Membership Card’ offers a goodie bag at every show, drink deals, discounted admission and invite-only after-parties. We don’t have fans, we have Friends. Appearances by SR&TF are fully conceptualized and contained shows with opening and closing themes offering the invitation ‘I Wanna Be Friends With Ya’, sung interludes, choreography, and the occasional costume change or skit. The community of the band is tangible and the energy is contagious. Performances are safe spaces for our audiences to make Friends, dress boldly and dance how they like. Described as ‘a celebration, a revival, and an inclusive community all in a rock and roll performance.’ The mission statement of Sammy Rae & The Friends is made clear in the final remarks sung at every show: ‘Go put a smile on somebody’s face, go tell somebody they’ve got a place in this world, go tell somebody you wanna be Friends with them.’ Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube

Dylan LeBlanc is engaging and soft-spoken in person, yet his striking new album Renegade reflects the power of his live show – one that he simply describes as rock ‘n’ roll. While the album was recorded in just 10 days and tracked in three, the intensity of the project marks the culmination of more than a decade on the road. “I like the idea of a renegade – branching off from society or from the structure of the way our world is designed,” he says of Renegade, his first album for ATO Records. “It felt right to call it that. I wanted to write about the crueler, nasty aspects of the world and life.” LeBlanc’s observations are woven through Renegade, though he’s more interested in telling the story than judging the characters for their decisions. The title track, he says, is “about troubled cocky young men charming young women who were intrigued by that way of life, only for it to end in tragedy. I saw this countless times growing up.” Later he writes about his personal efforts to become a stronger person in “Born Again,” after a childhood of being bullied for his long hair and an adolescence marked by insecurity, fear, and anger. LeBlanc considers the new album a departure from his past work, but only because there’s more of an edge to these sessions, recorded with Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb in Nashville’s Studio A. This time around, LeBlanc primarily stayed plugged in for the sessions, giving Renegade a Tom Petty feel, charged with a streak of ’80s rock. “I never really played electric guitar live in the studio like that,” he says. “I’m so used to the rhythmic, acoustic thing. It was just like playing in a show.” Since 2016, LeBlanc has toured with Alabama rock group The Pollies as his backing band. He’s known most of the band members since childhood, growing up together in Muscle Shoals, and considers them his closest friends. Because they’ve been playing songs on Renegade live, it was only logical that the Pollies backed up LeBlanc in the studio, too. “They bring out a comfort in me to let loose, let myself go a little bit more, and get more immersed in the music,” LeBlanc says. “It’s such a telekinetic thing, because we’ve known each other for so long and we’ve played together a lot. It’s a band of guys that I know musically really well. They let me express myself creatively in a way that I probably wouldn’t be comfortable enough to do before.” These expressions are sometimes borne out of conversations with strangers, such as the woman in “Domino” who shared her stories of prostitution with him, or the man he met in New Orleans who inspired “Bang Bang Bang,” whose life was dramatically altered by gun violence. On a more personal note, “Damned” finds LeBlanc trying to wrap his head around religion, while “I See It in Your Eyes” and “Lone Rider” capture the complications of relationships. One of the album’s quieter moments, “Sand and Stone” is an effort to live in the present moment. As Renegade draws to a close, “Magenta” evokes the slave history of a farm in Louisiana, while “Honor Among Thieves” makes a powerful statement about ancestry, immigration laws, and land rights. LeBlanc’s previous album, 2016’s Cautionary Tale, offered a satisfyingly mellow vibe in line with the ’70s musicians who influenced him. However, once he started touring with the Pollies, the sonic textures began to shift. Yet, one of the strongest ties between the albums is LeBlanc’s blossoming confidence as a singer. The range and depth he showed as a vocalist on Cautionary Tale run throughout the 10 songs on Renegade. Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

When it comes to playing rock & roll, The Jacks simply don’t have a choice. “It’s what we listen to, it’s what we play,” bassist Scott Stone says, “and when you stick four guys like us in a garage with instruments, it’s just the kind of music we are going to make.” You can hear a primal energy coursing through vocalist-guitarist Jonny Stanback’s gritty howl on “Walk Away,” the lead single from their debut self-titled EP and the rest of the guys match his excitement with driving riffs and infectious melodies. It’s an electric charge that surges through each of the record’s five tracks, guiding Stanback, Stone, lead guitarist Thomas Hunter and drummer Josh Roossin when they play together. “We’re trying to push the boundaries of the rock & roll genre by incorporating modern elements, but still keeping the core structure of a four-piece band,” Stanback says. “We are creating a sound you’ve never heard before, but feels familiar.” The way they see it, playing rock at a time when pop and hip-hop are dominating the charts is an act of defiance. If any band is poised to help bring authenticity back to rock & roll, it’s The Jacks. The quartet has been making a steady ascent since forming in Los Angeles in the summer of 2016, selling out gigs at legendary hometown venues like the Troubadour, Roxy and Viper Room, supporting legends like the Doors’ Robby Krieger (who told them personally that he liked their music) and playing major rock festivals like Aftershock and Sonic Temple. At one gig, they ran into John Fogerty who told them, “It’s cool to see some rock & roll again.” Now the group has recorded their first EP with producer Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Faith No More) at Los Angeles’ famed Sunset Sound Recorders. But even though they’ve been playing together for only a couple of years, rock has been The Jacks’ lifeblood for as long as they can remember. As Wallace declares, “The Jacks deliver up lean, rugged rock & roll with songs that feel like instant classics that make you want to move, with earworm hooks and melodies that will have you kinda upset when you find yourself unintentionally and inappropriately humming their songs at work, in church, in court, or at wakes. If the Strokes, Cage the Elephant, and the Stones had an equally talented, but more handsome baby, it would be named The Jacks!” Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud | Spotify | YouTube

Indigo De Souza is a multifaceted artist and band based in Asheville, North Carolina. The band is fronted by Indigo as lead singer and guitarist, and backed by Owen Stone (bass), Ethan Baechtold (guitar), and ​Jake Lenderman (drums)​. Encouraged and supported by her mother, Kimberly Oberhammer, Indigo began writing music when she was 9 years old and quickly began to embody her art, taking to the stage at age 11. Since then, she’s been writing heart-wrenching lyrics descriptive and expressive of her own internal landscape’s interaction with the power of interpersonal relationships- from caregivers to romantic interests. This is all highlighted in the band’s first full album, ​I Love My Mom, ​recorded by Colin Miller in 2018. Both the music and her artful lines captivate listeners and provide solidarity in the pain and beauty felt in the world, providing an intimate and powerful listening experience. After her performance in early 2019, Audiotree Live described the 22 year old as a, “punky indie pop songwriter whose eloquent, passionate persona sits at the forefront of her snarky tunes. She transfixes you with unabashed, meaningful stories put to effortlessly catchy hooks and explosive instrumentation.” Outside of the indie pop band, Indigo also fronts a neo-soul project, Icky Bricketts, with Ethan Baechtold. Ethan and Indigo have co-written these songs and lovingly refer to the project as their “brain-child”. Icky Bricketts began as a recording project, but has recently grown to include a dynamic and energizing live band. The extensive differences between these two projects illuminate the vast talent of the members of this group, as well as the versatility of Indigo’s writing. Indigo De Souza and Icky Bricketts plan to release new music in the near future. Links: Facebook | Instagram

Katie Pruitt is a Nashville transplant from the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Pruitt tackles human topics such as religion, mental health, and contemporary love songs with a modern twist. Her passionate delivery and powerful message are the reason her name has graced the bills of festivals such as Americana, 420 Fest, Pilgrimage, and sold out shows across the US and internationally. After the 2018 release of her live Ourvinyl EP, Pruitt was named NPR’s Slingshot Artist for 2019 and was also featured on All Song’s Considered for her song “Grace Has A Gun.” Not long after that she was chosen as the Luck Reunion Artist on the Rise for SXSW 2019. Pruitt has no plans of slowing down and when she isn’t on the road you can find her in the studio writing and recording her debut record. Links: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud

This is a seated show. Renowned for his eloquent Americana style, engaging live shows, and off-the-cuff clever observations, John Craigie carries on the legacy of classic singer-songwriters, while blazing a trail of his own. Recently, that trail twisted and turned into new territory for the Portland, OR performer who The Stranger appropriately dubbed, “the lovechild of John Prine and Mitch Hedberg.” His music speaks loud to both audiences and fellow artists. Todd Snider notably hand-delivered a gift on-stage, and Chuck Norris has sent fan mail. His fifth full-length album, No Rain, No Rose boasted two collaborations with Gregory Alan Isakov, namely “Highway Blood” and “I Am California.” Both quickly cracked 1 million Spotify streams and counting, as his knack for a captivating narrative and rustic aural palettes powered the 13-track offering together. “It’s about transparency,” he explains. “The storytelling enables listeners to relate. Really good music doesn’t make you feel good; it makes you feel like you’re not alone.” As No Rain, No Rose landed, he caught the attention of none other than Jack Johnson. Through a serendipitous series of events, Craigie’s 2016 live effort Capricorn in Retrograde… Just Kidding… Live in Portland landed in Johnson’s car stereo during a California coastal road trip. Shortly after, Jack reached out and Craigie soon found himself onstage for 12 shows during Johnson’s 2017 summer tour including performances at The Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California and The Gorge in Washington state. Along the way, he earned acclaim from SF Weekly, Seattle Times, AXS, and more. Festival appearances also include Oregon Country Fair, Kate Wolf Music Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, Burning Man, and many others. When Craigie plays, it’s one of those special shows that can make you laugh and cry in the same song. It’s a musical journey that can’t be denied. Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bandcamp | SoundCloud | Spotify | YouTube | Apple Music

The Mystic Braves embody a century of boundary-pushing Southern California creativity-from the birth of Hollywood in the early 1900s to the lysergic mania of the psychedelic ’60s to the pure-pop bliss of the ’80s Paisley Underground to the new wave of streetwise garage rock that’s right now blasting at top volume from some East LA nightclub. Mystic Braves deliver that legacy in their records: last year’s The Great Unknown pares down their previous peregrinations-shelving the exotic instrumentation of 2015’s Days of Yesteryear and the fuzztone feedback of 2014’s Desert Island and 2013’s debut Mystic Braves-for classic, unforgettable songwriting. It’s not that the Braves have abandoned the weird, but rather the weird is now but another color in a prismatic palette. The Great Unknown finds bassist Tony Malacara and drummer Cameron Gartung pulling tempos like taffy and adding expansive backing vocals, while rhythm guitarist Shane Stotsenberg and organist Ignacio Gonzalez fill in mesmerising sonic filigree. With his searing guitar and dreamy, yearning voice, bandleader Julian Ducatenzeiler steers the ship right and true. They deliver that legacy in their lifestyle, too. The band members spent their early days living and playing together in a two-bedroom Echo Park house that was also headquarters to Lolipop Records-the family label founded in 2013 that’s since become one of the prime movers of the international psych-rock scene. And while being embraced by LA’s music cognoscenti, Mystic Braves went global via the fashion world when iconoclastic Yves Saint Laurent designer Hedi Slimane hand-picked them to soundtrack the luxury brand’s spring collection in Paris in 2015. They bring that legacy to the stage, as well. After playing countless shows across the U.S. & Europe over the years and performing at festivals like Desert Daze, Burgerama and Austin Psych Fest-alongside acts such as the Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Zombies-they’ve developed their live act into a energized outburst of sing-along-able tunes, tight instrumental interplay and all-around good, gooey vibes. Like their sound in general, their shows take well-studied composure right to the edge of barely controlled chaos. Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music

Watching her onstage, that brown bob of hers whirling like a cyclone as she unleashes her brash and husky riot of a voice, it’s hard to imagine Mattiel Brown was ever anything but a natural-born performer, a tried-and-true self-empowered presence. “Honestly though I never even believed I could do this,” Mattiel, one of rock’s most thrilling young talents, says. Still, dig deep and she’ll admit to those times when she’d let herself dream: of one day stepping onstage, gripping that microphone and showcasing her skills. Then, she imagined, could at last let it all go, unleash that deep-seeded passion of hers for melody and rhythm and intricate storytelling and channel her pent-up ferocity into something real and palpable and powerful. “But,” adds the singer, whose youth was shaped by an eclectic range of music – from folk to punk and hip-hop – and who for years only sang by herself in private, “I remember thinking all along, “Yeah, I would love to do that but it’s out of my wheelhouse, right?” Mattiel pauses and smiles as if to say she now knows she was capable of becoming a masterful frontwoman all along. “I guess I just really had to break out of my skin.” It’s a damn good thing she did: following encouragement from Jack White during a chance encounter in Nashville with her chief musical inspiration and eventual touring partner, Mattiel made the crucial decision to jumpstart her musical journey by writing and recording with Jonah Swilley and Randy Michael – two contributors who’s songwriting is rooted in gospel, rock n’ soul, hip-hop and new wave. Less than five years later Mattiel stands as one of the most singular and buzzed-about acts in rock music. She is no longer a teenager afraid to sing in front of strangers, but rather performing for rapt audiences across the globe in the wake of her acclaimed eponymous 2017 debut LP, released via Burger Records; wowing viewers with their fiery TV shows like last year on “Later… With Jools Holland” and more recently “Last Call With Carson Daly”. And now, she’s gearing up to release her highly anticipated second album, Satis Factory. “It’s all still wild to me,” Mattiel admits with a laugh of her whirlwind past two years. “It’s so incredible knowing I’ve invested my time in something that has really started to work.” Swilley chuckles when hearing of the singer’s typically humble take on the present day. Having become Mattiel’s most trusted musical ally and bandmate since they first began writing together in 2014, he’s seen her evolution firsthand. “I believed in her from the get-go,” Swilley says. “Because when you hear her sing” – a blend of Grace Slick and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins with the ferocity of a punk-rock head-Thrasher – “you instantly know it’s for real.” Mattiel, for her part, is hardly one to sing her own praises. But having seen their debut album (released on iconic indie Heavenly in the UK and Europe) be so embraced by such well- respected outlets like the BBC’s Radio 6Music , even she can let herself admit her collaborators may have been right all along. “Randy and Jonah were so confident about how well my debut would be received,” she recalls. “They were like, ‘The real music fans are going to get this.’ And they were right. Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bandcamp

About Charles Latham: “Latham’s music is passionate with biting wit.”–NPR “Reminiscent of the glorious sloppiness of Neil Young & Crazy Horse.” – Folk Radio UK “One of the sharpest songwriters to emerge of late on the antifolk sphere…Charles Latham could be your new hero.”–INDY Week Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram