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Nashville's Tom Galloway Releases Debut Solo Album August 17, 2018 12:59
Nashville singer/songwriter Tom Galloway has been a staple in the southeastern music scene over the past decade. While many know Galloway as the frontman of rock bands Mama's Love and Maradeen, his latest work portrays a fresh yet diverse look into the artist's catalog. Cross Currents represents Galloway's first full-length solo release, featuring previously released tracks such as "Old Black Dog," "Our Due Time," and "Red Whiskey & Wine." Combining the sounds of americana, alt-country, and southern rock, Cross Currents provides a tasteful blend of nostalgic, conspicuous tracks that make for an excellent listen from start to finish. Find out for yourself and stream the album in full below.
Born in Georgia, raised in Texas, and currently a songwriter in Nashville, Galloway combines roots of folk, bluegrass, classic country and rock, to form a unique blend of expression and storytelling. Developing his craft for years, strong hooks and captivating lyrics have been the mission. Galloway has been the frontman and principal songwriter for the rock bands Mama's Love and Maradeen, touring extensively across the country.
We recently had a chance to catch up with Galloway, who provided some extensive background info on the new release and latest step in his already decorated career:
"I wrote most of these songs at our family cabin up in North Georgia between my move from Athens to Nashville. It's hard not to be affected by the feel of the Appalachian country writing up there alone. It's definitely my favorite place to write. The sound of the nearby river was always running low in the background and that was the initial inspiration for the album title. I was also reflecting on the current that was pulling me to Nashville during that transitional time.
The album also has aspects of loss and redemption and the cross relationship between dark and light. "Poorhouse of Sin," probably the darkest tune, is followed by "Lean Into the Light" which is probably the most positive song, yet they're both beautiful to me in different ways. The crossing of genres too became interesting as the album progressed because I set out to make a singer/songwriter Americana album, but there are a lot of different sounds going on with some interesting sections and driving rhythms.
It's hard for me to define the genre, but we really tried to give the album its own sonic atmosphere. There are sections that are thick with layers but also exposed sections, and I guess it's all based on serving and building each song. The songs are diverse, but I do think we were able to maintain a cohesive characteristic to the album, which is good.
One of my favorite parts of the record is the very last minute, because every band member and guest musician trade licks over a climactic swing as the record fades out.We thought a lot about the track order as well because we wanted a lot of the songs to kind of flow into each other, for the whole album to hold up together as one piece...so I'm serious when I say you need to spark up that doobie, put on some headphones, and let it roll from start to finish."
Stream Tom Galloway's Cross Currents in its entirety here:
The Road To CukoRakko: The Reunion of Mama's Love September 15, 2016 12:25
Thomas: The band formed back in 2007 in Athens, Ga. Most of us were in school there at the time. I had been playing with William Boyd (keyboards) since high school, as well as Patrick Atwater, the original bassist. So, there was already some chemistry going. Boyd looped in his cousin Ben Torbert who became the original drummer. Then we hooked up with Taylor Knox, the original guitarist, who had played with some of us in another project called The Shady Boys. We went through a few names while playing together and eventually became Mama's Love. Pretty soon after, we recorded our first studio album Willow Street Sessions, and we played around Athens and the southeast from 2007-2009 with that initial lineup.
Knox left the band towards the end of '09 to pursue another career so we were searching for a new guitarist. We had played with Whit's band, Perfect Colour, out of Raleigh, and he was friends with Knox and all of us. I think Whit was in a position to make moves to Athens, and he was interested in making it work. So, he came on board in 2009. We also changed things up with Bo Nicholson as our new bassist around that time of transition. Patrick went on to study Jazz bass in Colorado. Soon after, we went to Southern Tracks Studio in Atlanta and recorded the self-titled EP with Tom Tapley. We toured in support of that for a while, and eventually followed that up with a full length LP with John Keane in 2011 called, The Great Divide.
We toured around the southeast pretty heavily during that time. I guess soon after The Great Divide, different factors cause the band to dissolve. I was still living in Athens, and after some soul searching, I had the opportunity to get another really talented group of players together to keep the music going. We recorded the single, "Beyond the Divide" with Keane and we actually have a shelved album "Stone Farm Redemption" that I hope will see the light of day at some point. That lineup toured heavily between 2012-2014 and we still occasionally play a few shows from time to time
Listen to "Wake Up Woes" by Mama's Love here:
Thomas: One of my favorites was going out west for the first time. Seeing and feeling the landscape change as you get further out. We got to open up for Mickey Hart (The Grateful Dead) and Keller Williams. Actually, that was in Driggs, Idaho, and some Jackson Hole shows. We did some Colorado and Texas dates too.
CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival Reveals Final Lineup For Fall Fest August 15, 2016 11:53
Photo by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen
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CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival is pleased to reveal it's phase three artist announcement and final artist lineup for the 2016 Fall Fest at Horse Pens 40 on October 6th - 9th. The phase three artist announcement includes a very special reunion performance from Mama's Love (Athens, GA), Dank & Friends (Atlanta, GA), Winston Ramble (Birmingham, AL), Bird Dog Jubilee (Atlanta, GA), and Seeds? (Huntsville, AL). A variety of single-day and weekend passes to the festival can be purchased by clicking here. CukoRakko is a one-of-a-kind, family-friendly event located at one of the South's best kept secrets, Horse Pens 40. Kids ages 10 and under are admitted for free. Stay tuned for details on Live & Listen's official pre-party at Horse Pens 40 on Thursday, October 6th.
CukoRakko's Fall Fest will be held at Horse Pens 40 in Steele, AL from Thursday, October 6th - Sunday, October 9th. The lineup this fall will feature as diverse and exciting of a lineup as we have seen from the festival, including the likes of The Heavy Pets, Funk You, Col. Bruce Hampton & Madrid Express feat. Carter Herring, Backup Planet, Winston Ramble, Dank & Friends, The Captain Midnight Band (x2), Maradeen, Mama's Love, The Stolen Faces, Jason Bailey Band, Boy Named Banjo, Royal & Toulouse, Bird Dog Jubilee, Seeds?, and Harkestra's Grateful Gospel Jamboree.
Click Here: Purchase your CukoRakko tickets today!
In preparation for the October festivities, we have included video or audio footage from each of this year's performers below. This lineup features a variety of amazing talent from across the Southeast, including many of the regions top up-and-coming acts. Stay tuned for future coverage and exclusive content, including our annual interview series, "The Road To CukoRakko," which will be released in early October.
The Heavy Pets
"Dewpoint" - Live at The Georgia Theatre
"Keep Me Running" - Live at The Georgia Theatre
Funk You
"Lets Dance" - Live at Terminal West
Col. Bruce Hampton & Madrid Express w/ Carter Herring
Entire set from Echo Mountain Studios
Backup Planet
Official music video for "The Road"
Winston Ramble
"Free State of Mind" - Live at Muscle Shoals Studio
Dank
Official music video for "Get Up"
The Captain Midnight Band
"Common Law Hussy"
Maradeen
Official Music Video - "She Treat Me Like a Real Man"
Mama's Love
Listen to "Catch a Feelin'" here:
Listen to "Wake Up Woes" here:
The Stolen Faces (Grateful Dead Tribute)
Official Music Video - "U.S. Blues"
Boy Named Banjo
Listen to "Blue Hole Bridge" here:
Jason Bailey Band
"Adventures of Shannon Ceili"
Royal & Toulouse
Official music video - "One Direction"
Bird Dog Jubilee
Covering Twiddle's "Lost In The Cold"
Seeds?
Live at Lowe Mill in Huntsville, AL
Harkestra's Grateful Gospel Jamboree
Live from CukoRakko SpringFest 2015