YabYum Sneak Peek - New Dawns Await Tucson's Sun Bones

By Matt Marn
Published by YabYum Music and Arts


Every song is different. Ask Tucson group Sun Bones, and they will tell you all four members had a big role in writing different parts of the songs on their debut album, Sentinel Peak.

"It's really different from song to song, from person to person," said Sam Golden, vocalist and lead guitarist for Sun Bones. "It feels very comfortable writing for our group. We've been together for so long, we can play to our strengths and vocal harmonies. We can read each other's body language, and even just listening to each other. We know each other and the songs so well, it's easy to go off the beaten path of how we do our songs... It keeps us on our toes."

Golden said once the group writes a new song, it is only the beginning - they also continually change older songs to play them in new ways.

"I would not want to be in a band that plays the same songs gig after gig," he said. "It's constantly evolving... I hope to give the fans a fun new experience every time they see us."

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

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!