YabYum Music and Arts Sneak Peek - Banana Gun

Photo by Trystan Trenberth

Banana Gun channels live energy onstage, in album

By Matt Marn
Published by YabYum Music and Arts

Kevin Loyd - vocalist, guitarist and banjo extraordinaire for Phoenix rock group Banana Gun, firmly believes songwriting can happen in a variety of different ways. But if you ask Loyd and the rest of the Banana Gun crew, there is only one way for them to record a truly great album... live.

"We are still perfecting our studio recordings," Loyd said. "But playing live, that's easy for me. There's no wrong way or right way to record an album, we just did what worked for us. I love the experience of this last record."

Banana Gun's bassist, Ross Troost, said the group had talked about doing things a little differently when they went into the studio to record their latest album, Love.Instinct.

"We wanted to bring more of the live element, do as much of the songs as possible live," Troost said. "We are a high-energy, grind-it-out band. I'd love to say we stepped up our game with this record, but we really just played to our strengths - playing live. We talked to the record label about doing this record live, and they told us, 'if there's a band out there that can do this, it's you.'"

Follow the link to YabYum Music and Arts for the full article!

YabYum Artist Spotlight Sneak Peek: Ryne Norman - This Tempered Tongue

By Matt Marn

Published by YabYum Music and Arts

For Phoenix guitarist and songwriter Ryne Norman, every new opportunity is a chance for something great. Every new fan, each potential collaboration with another local artist means so much to him, he gives everything he has to each new adventure – and to every word he writes.

“Internally, I am really challenged,” Norman said. “I am challenged to make sure the crowd is engaged, following me… Challenged to make sure I’m more than just another songwriter up there. There’s something about when people come to hear what you have to say, when people want to hear your music. It’s about the experience. I want this to be an experience.”

For Norman, the biggest part of that experience is the lyrics he works on so hard to make sure each word is perfect. Norman said he spends so much time on each line of every song, it can take weeks to write a second verse. But while finishing the piles of half-done songs can be a challenge, it is that much more worthwhile when he does.

“Knowing I have slaved so hard over every word to know it is truly finished is something to be proud of,” he said. “To me, lyrics are the most important part, what I take the most pride in; I want people to be able to connect with me.”

Read the rest of Ryne Norman's spotlight article at

YabYum Music and Arts!!

Gus Campbell, local rocker, earns fans at 15 - YabYum Sneak Peek

Photos by Trystan Trenberth

Young guitarist Gus Campbell rocks crowds across Phoenix, shoots live music video

By Matt Marn - Published by YabYum Music and Arts

The crowd is packed into Last Exit Live - more so than it has probably been in a long time. Phones and cameras are out - no one wants to forget what is about to happen.

Gus Campbell is about to take the stage, and shoot his first live music video.

From original tunes and instrumentals to blues and rock favorites, Campbell takes command of the stage with great presence and expertise. The crowd is cheering for him through the entire set.

Read the rest of this article at YabYum Music and Arts!

New Adventures for Old Hours - YabYum Sneak Peek

By Matt Marn
Published by YabYum Music and Arts

Nathaniel Walberer and Anna Carlson want to not only tell a story, but also connect with everyone who listens to their music. And with the vast range of attitudes Old Hours display over the course of their album, Even in the Sun, every one of those listeners are sure to find something that will resonate.

Walberer (acoustic guitar, drums/percussion, vocals) and Carlson (vocals) say we are all on a constant emotional cycle, and odds are, at least one song on the album will truly hit home.

"Somber, sad, angry, hopeful... You may like all of our songs, but we hope you connect with them - grab something to like and feel connected to, wherever you are in life," Walberer said.

Go to YabYum Music and Arts to see the rest of the article, and read all about Old Hours!!

Moovalya stays true to high-energy roots with new EP - YabYum article sneak peek

Here is a sneak peek of my latest article, reviewing Phoenix punk-rock group Moovalya. It is published by YabYum Music and Arts. Take a look, then head over to their page to read the whole thing!!

Posted by YabYum Music and Arts

By Matt Marn

Phoenix punk rock group Moovalya is proud of its new EP, Sixer. With these songs, the performers are pushing themselves musically, and staying true to their high-energy live shows – not to mention their love for the music.

Ben Jones, guitar and vocals for Moovalya, said the group got great feedback from their last album, which also was a great showcase of the power and energy they show during their shows. He said they used that same energy they give to the crowd live to record Sixer.

“It’s what we love, what got us into it,” Jones said.

Jones said in their EP Sixer, the group wanted to push the boundaries of the music as far as they could with their instrumental talent.

“This is really pushing it for us,” he said. “We’ve accomplished so much – we’re happy with what we’ve done.”

Visit YabYum Music and Arts to read the rest!!

The Hollow’s debut EP shows real emotion, great songwriting - Article sneak peek

Here is a sneak peek of my new published article, reviewing acoustic guitar duo The Hollow and their new EP release, "Let Me Never Be Complete." Check out the entire article over at AmpKicker.com at the link below:

Published at AmpKicker.com

The debut EP from The Hollow, the Phoenix-based duo of Shane Hunt and Jon Watkins, could prove to possess a very appropriate title. The album, Let Me Never Be Complete, may well leave you wanting to hear more… and even setting the album on repeat for many spins to come.
 
The duo began their partnership as simply one guitarist joining another to help provide lyrics for an incomplete original song. The bond has since grown to a number of shows, a brand-new EP, and more fun than either of the two expected...

Read more at the link to AmpKicker.com!

Captain Squeegee rocks Marquee Theatre, ready for more

By Matt Marn

Published by Yab Yum Music & Arts, 5-10-14

Fans who packed The Marquee Theatre in Tempe caught a great double feature, cheering on the funk-master George Clinton as well as local openers Captain Squeegee from Mesa. The two groups had styles all their own, but each left the crowd cheering for more.

Danny Torgersen, lead vocalist and trumpet for Captain Squeegee, led the group through their phenomenal set, including tracks from their newest album, To The Bardos! The crowd was thrilled during their whole set, but once Torgersen put down the microphone to return to his trumpet to hit the band’s last note, the venue seemed to lose control altogether.

When he went out into the crowd after Captain Squeegee wrapped up their performance, Torgersen was instantly met by fans ready with hugs, high-fives, and congratulations.

Torgersen has played The Marquee Theatre many times before with Captain Squeegee, often booking an evening and recruiting other local groups to open for them. But not tonight – tonight the venue called him about opening for Clinton.

“This George Clinton show has got to be the biggest show in the last 4 years for me,” he said. “It went great; it’s always nice when people dig it as much as they did. Clinton personally reviewed our material and confirmed his slot. That’s huge! I mean, George Clinton invented funk. I kept fantasizing about him letting some of our horns onstage for the finale.”

Torgersen was thrilled to be lined up to open for Clinton. He said that like Clinton’s group, Captain Squeegee is very unique, and finding groups to play alongside can prove tricky.

“I don’t really try to describe Captain Squeegee as a certain kind of band,” Torgersen said. “I just let other people describe it. I don’t really care what genre we are – just making sure what’s in my head matches the band’s interests.”

Torgersen said Captain Squeegee has been evolving as a group the last several years, including their roster. Not one current member of Captain Squeegee is an original member of the band.

“It’s kind of like how the Olympic torch is carried,” he said. “You don’t know the first few people, but the fire is burning, so you may as well run with it. It’s been called a dynasty, a legacy of sorts.”
Torgersen is excited how everything has started to fall into place over the last few years. And the biggest part of their success is their fans.

“We’re trying to develop a cult following – one hundred true fans are worth more than a million likes on Facebook,” he said. “True fans are who really matter. As a band, we really try to hang out with our fans. A lot of people gripe – they just want fans to materialize. Maybe they’re not big fans yet, but when they hang out with me, and I drive all the way across town to drop off tickets for them, and then they see me onstage… It really clicks. It makes all the difference.”

Torgersen said Captain Squeegee’s new album is by far their best yet.

“We’re really happy with it,” he said. “The fans really helped us there – our fundraiser for the album raised over ten thousand dollars. Things are great – we’ve got to pump out a couple more records like that. We’ll never sound mainstream totally, but we’re starting to penetrate into mainstream music. It’s only going to get more accessible… but still maintain the weird.”

As a group, Torgersen said Captain Squeegee has an undeniable bond, especially after this tour.
“All I can say to the fans would have to be… I can’t wait to give you more. If you think Squeegee has taken it to another planet, there are other galaxies. We’re going to see some shit. We’re not stopping.”