Inspired by the turn of the century in America, when food was cooked on the open flame, this new bourbon from Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon is aged twice to create savory smoky notes and an exceptionally smooth finish. Bib & Tucker Double Char is first aged for six years in the rolling hills of Tennessee in new white American oak, followed by a minimum of five months in a second heavily charred and smoked new barrel. This unique fire-forged double char aging method creates the rich and deep flavor of Bib & Tucker Double Char.
Bib & Tucker Double Char Tasting Notes:
Nose: A touch of smoke with immediate notes of toasted oak and dulce de leche, background notes of cinnamon and clove
Palate: Vanilla and sugar maple surrounded with white smoke, hints of sweet corn and toasted cinnamon
Finish: Medium to long finish with oak, white smoke and vanilla
Color: Deep rich mahogany with copper undertones
The lineup of Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon includes:
The Classic Six: 6-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey – SRP: $54.99; 92 proof/46% ABV
Bib & Tucker crafts award-winning small batch bourbons that are aged to perfection for a minimum of 6 years. The name, bottle and small batch approach were inspired by the turn of the century in America, a time of unprecedented progress and adventure when all bourbon was small batch. Aged in the rolling hills of Tennessee, Bib & Tucker does not cut corners and uses no additives, artificial flavors or artificial colors. In a time when other brands are taking their age statements away, Bib & Tucker proudly puts the age statement on the front of every bottle. Bib & Tucker 6-Year-Old was awarded 93 Points from Whisky Advocate, ranking #14 out of the Top 20 Whiskies in 2021. The bourbons are best enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in whiskey-forward cocktails.
Eddy Lee Ryder’s new EP, Blue Hour, will be released September 15, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Last time I wrote about this artist, it was with the news that her song Smoke and Mirrors was used in the hardcore slasher horror movie Terrifier 2. In today’s music news, Eddy Lee Ryder recently announced that her new EP, Blue Hour will be released on September 15, 2023. The announcement comes on the heels of her latest single, Holy S**t I Think I Love You, which the soulful rock belter calls her favorite song she has ever written. (Eddy Lee Ryder, 2023)
Singer, songwriter, and free spirit Eddy Lee Ryder creates haunting songs that tell dramatic stories through a slightly warped lens. Eddy’s unconventional, theatrical approach to songwriting explodes and sparkles with ‘70s good-time rock riffs, spiced with complex poetry. Proclaimed “demented pop,” her music is propelled by her charismatic voice and lyrics inspired by an intense bizarre world. Lonesome as she is wild, Ryder paints languid, sadly beautiful portraits of love and life on the margins with the moody and satirical depth of Father John Misty and the country-influenced textures of Roy Orbison or Glen Cambel but with a captivating voice all on her own.
Night of the Caregiver will be released August 15, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
ITN Studios has obtained the North American rights to the horror film Night of the Caregiver, directed by Joe Cornet and produced by Alexander Nevsky from a script by Craig Hamann. Stuart Alson negotiated the deal on behalf of ITN Studios along with BD Films Paul Hertzberg on behalf of the filmmakers. (October Coast, 2023)
Starring Eileen Dietz (The Exorcist), Natalie Denise Sperl (Mank), Eric Roberts (Dark Knight), and Cornet, it will get a theatrical and Video On Demand release on August 15 before rolling on digital and DVD platforms this fall.
The plot: Hospice nurse Julia Rowe is hired to be caregiver for Lillian Gresham, who lives in an isolated house in a remote area. Although she is terminally ill, the elderly Lillian is a cordial and sweet lady. However, as the night goes on, Julia suspects something demonic is also dwelling in the house causing she and Lillian to be in grave danger.
Alexander Nevsky produced the movie via his company Hollywood Storm. Joe Cornet, Eric Brenner, and Douglas “Fini” Finical served as executive producers. Sean Murray wrote the music.
“It is my pleasure to announce the release of my new horror film Night of the Caregiver, through ITN Distribution. I believe audiences will be thrilled by the film’s strange and bizarre story, think THE EXORCIST combined with the terrifying elements of a Dario Argento film!” – Joe Cornet.
Eileen Dietz in Night of the Caregiver. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Lonesome Ace Stringband’s upcoming Try To Make It Fly follows the trio’s legendary live show energy into a new era of Americana-leaning lyricism. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Lonesome Ace Stringband brings grit, skill, and abandon to Americana music, bridging old-time, bluegrass and folk traditions into a seamless hybrid of original material that is at once fresh and timeless. Instrumentation alone sets this Toronto-based trio’s sound apart: consisting simply of fiddle (John Showman), clawhammer banjo (Chris Coole), and upright bass (Max Heineman). Call Lonesome Ace Stringband whatever genre you want – they are just unorthodox enough to be brilliant. The spine-tingling harmonies and interchanging lead vocals only bring more magic to the equation. They have become festival favorites at Rockygrass, Celtic Connections, Winnipeg Folk Festival, MerleFest, and regularly tour the USA, UK, Germany and, of course, Canada. With more than a decade of group music-making under their belts, they are releasing their fifth album, a feisty and mighty collection of all-original material titled Try To Make It Fly on October 13, 2023. (IV-PR, 2023)
The release of their brand new album Try To Make It Fly marks not only their reinvigorated, live-on-stage sound but also a venture into more Americana-leaning songwriting. “We have a unique take on all of the traditional material we do and wanted to keep pushing our sound to new places,” says Showman—not unlike the paths taken by legendary predecessors like John Hartford or The Band. While Lonesome Ace Stringband’s finely tuned musicianship and command of the old-time and bluegrass music catalog has garnered new listeners and premier festival slots, the trio finds comfort in reaching out to a new, song-hungry audience. “It felt like a place where we could be ourselves as writers and craft music that would fit the genre regardless of what we found ourselves writing about lyrically.” Add that to the trio’s already dynamic concoction of fiddle, banjo, and bass, and the results reveal a bright future for the ever-evolving Lonesome Ace Stringband.
Folk Radio UK premiered the album-opening track, Sweeter Sound, which features the band’s inspired, layered harmonies. The song opens with Showman’s somber fiddle pull before Coole joins in on banjo, igniting the rollicking journey to “make a sweeter sound.” According to Malone, “The opening line of the chorus, ‘Try to make it better than the way we found,’ is something of a mantra for the band. Perseverance and belief in what you love to do and trying despite evidence of success is the essence of its message.”
Fans can stream or purchase Sweeter Sound, check out Lonesome Ace Stringband’s previously-released, BBQ-flavored single Smoke on the Shoulder music video and pre-order or pre-saveTry To MakeIt Fly ahead of its October release.
Try To Make It Fly track list: Sweeter Sound Praying For Rain You’ll Be There First Frost/Blue Grouse Midnight Band Come With Me Tonight Simply Going Sideways Crossing The Junction/Deer River Smoke On The Shoulder The Echo Country Mile Lonesome Ace Number 1
Catch Lonesome Ace Stringband on tour: August 26 – Sorrento, BC – Nimble Fingers Bluegrass & Old Time Workshop and Festival September 2 – Pilesgrove, NJ – Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival September 15-16 – Flagstaff, AZ – Pickin’ In The Pines Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival September 19 – Nashville, TN – AMERICANAFEST October 18 – Cambridge, MA – Club Passim October 19 – Exeter, NH – The Wood Barn October 20 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Caffe Lena October 21 – Brownfield, ME – Stone Mountain Arts Center October 22 – Greenfield, MA – Hawks & Reed October 23 – New York, NY – City Vineyard at Pier 26 October 25 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java October 26 – Oberlin, OH – Music at Riverdog October 28 – Manitowoc, WI – Sabbatical Brewing Co. October 29 – Holland, MI – Park Theatre October 30 – Ann Arbour, MI – The Ark November 1 – Toronto, ON – The Tranzac Club November 22 – Edmonton, AB – Northern Bluegrass Circle Music Society November 23 – Saskatoon, SK – The Bassment November 24 – Red Deer, AB – The Velvet Olive November 25 – Calgary, AB – Foothills Bluegrass Circle Music Society November 27 – Missoula, MT – Longstaff House November 29 – Sisters, OR – The Belfry December 1 – Portland, OR – McMenamins White Eagle Saloon & Hotel December 2 – Seattle, WA – Ballard Homestead December 3 – Victoria, BC – Victoria Event Centre December 4 – Vancouver, BC – The Anza Club December 5 – Oliver, BC – The Oliver Theatre
Listening Party’s new album Been A Long Time Comin’ will be out August 25, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
After years of performing live, Wisconsin-based folk-rock duo Listening Party—Jacob Wood and Weston Mueller—found themselves staring down a pandemic, down a band member, and contemplating whether to keep on track or give it up altogether. Fortunately for the group’s rabid and quickly growing fanbase, Wood’s and Mueller’s passion won out and the pair entered the recording studio with a catalog full of new stories to tell. Their latest album Been A Long Time Comin’ highlights Listening Party’s perseverance to carry on through the Covid-19 pandemic and mutually parting ways with a longtime bandmate and friend. Due out on August 25, the new album, their fourth full-length and first output in four years, is the product of this new journey. (IV-PR, 2023)
Recorded at Axis Studios, a converted 19th-century chapel that sits atop a hill in Hartland, Wisconsin, with studio owner Vinny Millevolte, Been A Long Time Comin’ takes the group’s folk, rock, and Americana influences to new horizons, the non-traditional recording space inspiring each new song in a way Listening Party had not experienced before. At the heart of the album, storytelling and melody reign supreme, while the songs seek to examine stories rooted firmly in the joys and perils of everyday life. The band seeks to capture “the bombastic attitude and instrumentation of Midwestern Folk/Americana.” The songs are accented and driven by a “howling” harmonica and a church piano. At their core, the band and album remain true to the “intimacy” of storytelling and melody.
Listening Party recently shared their first single from Been a Long Time Comin,’ the slow burning “Same Ol’ Problems.” The tune begins as a somber piano and guitar duet which crescendos to Mueller’s introductory lyrics: “Digging my grave before I’m gray, feels like I’m wasting my life away.” Written about moving on from a friend whose addiction has taken hold and changed them, fundamentally, the band says the song highlights the “hope of recovery balanced against the despair of relapse,” or put more simply in the song’s ultimate line, “It’s always the same ol’ problems.” Throughout, layers of new instruments build to emphasize Mueller’s reflective lyrics. The song closes in a self-described “upbeat cacophony of sound” driving through the final repetition of “the same ol’ problem” and arriving at the finish line feeling complete yet contemplative.
Fans can hear “Same Ol’ Problems” at this link and pre-order or pre-saveBeen a Long Time Comin’ ahead of its August release.
Been a Long Time Comin’ track list: It Ain’t So Bad Same Ol’ Problems All The Way Down Wastin’ Time Took a Walk Buck Moon 3 Eggs (Wisconsin Weather) Reckless Comin’ to Your Town Good Intentions Bad Luck
Catch Listening Party on tour: August 3 – Milwaukee, WI – Back Room at Colectivo* August 4 – Appleton, WI – Relay For Life Fundraiser August 5 – Appleton, WI – Mile of Music August 6 – Appleton, WI – Mile of Music August 7 – Milwaukee, WI – State Fair August 9 – Kenosha, WI – Bristol Woodstock August. 12 – Milwaukee WI – State Fair August 13 – Malone, WI – Ziegler Winery August 17 – Greenleaf, WI – Ledgestone Winery^ August 18 – Green Bay, WI – Badger State Brewery August 19 – Grafton, WI – Sahale Ale Works August 25 – Milwaukee, WI – Anodyne Coffee Co. August 26 – Germantown, WI – Old Germantown August 27 – Elkhart Lake, WI – Tiki Bar at Elkhart Lake September 2 – Mauston, WI – The Rock September 3 – Madison, WI – Twisted Grounds September 4- Kenosha, WI – Petrifying Springs Biergarten September 8 – Joliet, IL – Joliet Area Historical Museum September 9 – Menasha, WI – Heckrodt Wetland Reserve September 14 – Milwaukee, WI – Explorium Brewpub September 15 – Franksville, WI – Franksville Beer Garden September 17 – Valders, WI – Camp Sinawa
*Supporting The Brevet ^Supporting Them Coulee Boys
Listening Party. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Til Death Do Us Part opens in theaters August 4, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
From the creator of Final Destination and Directed by Emmy® Award Winner Timothy Woodward Jr., Til Death Do Us Part portrays the grim reality that not every romance story ends with happily ever after. After running away on her wedding day, a bride-to-be must fight for survival against her former fiancé and his seven deadly groomsmen. In the ultimate horror showdown, the groomsmen soon discover that she has no intention of going back to the life she left behind. Releases Exclusively in Theaters Nationwide on August 4. (EG-PR, 2023)
Starring: Cam Gigandet, Jason Patric, Natalie Burn, and Orlando Jones. Directed by: Emmy® Award Winner Timothy Woodward Jr.
Key cities the film is opening in include New York, Los Angeles, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Columbus, Durham, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Nashville, Ontario (Canada), Louisville, Miami, Oklahoma City, Portland (OR), San Diego, Tampa, Tucson, Wichita, Westbrook (CT) and many more.
Brimming with stylish violence and blood-soaked action, Til Death Do Us Part seamlessly blends the slick, kinetic thrills of John Wick with the dark, twisted revenge tale of Kill Bill.
Co-written by Chad Law and Shane Dax Taylor, Til Death Do Us Part also stars Ser’Darius Blain, D.Y. Sao, Neb Chupin, and Pancho Moler. The film is produced by Jeffrey Reddick, Woodward Jr./Status Media and Entertainment and Burn/Born To Burn Films. Reddick and Woodward Jr. previously collaborated on the popular horror films The Final Wish &The Call, both starring genre legend Lin Shaye. The film’s Executive Producers include Matthew Helderman and Luke Taylor, with Thomas Mann and Neb Chupin acting as Co-Executive Producers.
‘Wholesome Horror Anthology: Scary Stories That Aren’t What They Seem’ is the new collection of horror stories by Lori Kauldrin. Photo: Naomi Shulman, used with permission.
We all love to read horror but sometimes the idea of a long overdrawn story can seem daunting. Thankfully there are anthologies. The stories are short and you get several in one collection, all with their own shiver inducing storyline. “Wholesome Horror Anthology: Scary Stories That Aren’t What They Seem” by Lori Kauldrin is a collection of horror short stories that have one thing in common – all is not what it seems. If you like stories with a plot twist, this anthology is just for you.
Naomi Shulman (writing as Lori Kauldrin) is the author/ghostwriter of over 160 books for children and adults. Lori Kauldrin’s list is comprised of psychological thrillers with emotional depth that grab readers’ hearts and refuse to let go. The stories may be fiction – but they tell the truth. Her new book is “Wholesome Horror Anthology: Scary Stories That Aren’t What They Seem” is comprised of seven stories that are at times heart-rending and at times bittersweet, yet these are the stories of the in-between – the place between knowing and unknowing. It is available on Amazon, which includes a large print edition. (Naomi Shulman, 2023)
“Wholesome Horror Anthology: Scary Stories That Aren’t What They Seem” – A young child pens an eerie goodbye. A shy ten-year-old finally makes a friend – a child who shares his obsession with solving an unthinkable crime that was solved long before his birth. A college student with a fractured soul seeks the truth behind her death. As their terrible narratives unfold, a growing sense of unease gives way to a familiar twist: nothing is as it seems. Their horror remains until its completion, at which time they release the reader into the proper emotional sphere – be it grief, loneliness, or aching nostalgia. But tread carefully, for once you reach the ending, there is no going back to the illusion.
Stories in this collection include The Crime Scene in my Bathroom, The House Where I Grew Up, Broken Love, First Train: I Thought I Could, How Did I Die?, Second Train: Together We Can, and Goodbye Mommy. They are all easy to read and pull the reader into the haunting settings. You can easily read it in one sitting, or enjoy it one story at a time. While the language is easy to understand, the writing style is often poetic: “Jealousy burned like the flames of hell inside my empty heart” from How Did I Die?The HouseWhere I Grew Up, First Train: I Thought I Could, and Second Train: Together We Can are written in long prose and showcase the author’s strength in poetry writing. Goodbye Mommy is meant to be a goodbye note, so it is creatively made to look handwritten and the paper looks crumbled. I do not want to give away any spoilers, you will have to read it for yourself to find out why. Overall, “Wholesome Horror Anthology” is a must read for horror fans who love a good plot twist, because sometimes illusions are the scariest when you do not see them coming.
Evocative and enchanting, Stella Prince releases her 8th single, Two Faced, with Steve Fishell on August 4, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Born and raised in Woodstock, NY, Stella Prince is the only child of creative parents. She was immersed in music from an early age thanks to her parents’ extensive all-genre CD collection and her frequent attendance at concerts where she first encountered artists like Levon Helm, Amy Helm, Pete Seeger, Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary), Tracy Bonham, and Natalie Merchant. Growing up, Stella was also heavily influenced by pop and oldies music; she has always known that she wanted to be a performer for as long as she can remember. In 2021, she began to release music and play live, travel to Nashville and Los Angeles, gain representation in the music industry, and book her own performances. Stella released four singles in 2021: “The Rain Might Fall,” “Scared,” “Before You Leave,” and “Alone for the Holidays.” Stella is thrilled to continue to release music into 2023 with her 8th single, “Two Faced,” featuring Steve Fishell on steel guitar. It will be independently released on August 4. (Dreamspider Publicity, 2023)
Authentic and from-the-heart, Stella Prince’s melodies delve deep into your spirit with her evocative and relatable songs. Her poetic lyrics, in tandem with the atmospheric sounds of her vocals, acoustic guitar, and musical compositions, appeal to a diverse, multi-generational audience. Stella Prince’s musical influences span decades—from country and folk music’s renowned voices of Judy Garland, Karen Carpenter, Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris, and Dolly Parton; to the pop icon Taylor Swift. Think Country Press says, “Imagine the perfect mixture of Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, and Judy Collins all packed into one young musician.” Fans can pre-save “Two Faced” ahead of the release.
For this newest single, Stella had the pleasure of working with Steve Fishell, a Nashville-based pedal steel guitarist, Grammy-winning record producer, and educator. Emotionally moving from the start, accentuated by Fishell’s pedal steel, with the harrowing opening lines, “You got her right where you wanted… Lonely enough so she’d take the bait… Blinded by words that were only an empty promise… Desperation paves way for mistakes.” The heart of the song is in the chorus: ‘There’s all kinds of empty… but the hardest one to take… is lies that seem tempting… Loneliness is two faced.’ Self produced, “Two Faced” was recorded at the legendary Sound Stage Studios on Music Row in Nashville with Sound Engineer Kameron Luchterhand.
“My big goal is for someone to play my song and think, ‘That’s exactly how I feel…’ I want my songs to resonate with everyone, every generation, every issue: loneliness, fear, all of that.” – Stella Prince
Waking Nightmare will be out on Video On Demand on August 18, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In today’s movie news, here is a horror movie that is coming to Video On Demand next month: Waking Nightmare.
Pitch Perfect’s Shelley Regner, The Last American Virgin’s Diane Franklin, An American Werewolf in London’s David Naughton, and The Lost Boys’ Jamison Newlander star in Waking Nightmare, a spine-chilling rollercoaster of fear hitting Video On Demand on August 18 from Terror Films. (October Coast, 2023)
Waking Nightmare – Jordan suffered manic episodes after the loss of her friend. Her mother has a family doctor prescribe her Ambien to help with her sleepwalking. As time goes on, Jordan has issues remembering what happened. Yan Birch, Stephen Wu, and Every Heart co-star.
“We wanted to create a unique experience for horror fans by blending horror comedy and drama with the toxic uncertainty of films like Miike’s Audition. What drew me to the project was Brian’s concept of an unwitting killer who is just an average girl struggling to find normalcy in a mad world.” – Stephen Craig
“Bending the forms of reality is something that has always intrigued me. I was honored to work with my brother in cinema Stephen Craig on Waking Nightmare. Creating the world that the characters lived in, sane and insane in something that bends the visual scape of the genre. People are affected by sleepwalking. The unknown of where you’ll wake up, is truly a Waking Nightmare.” – Brian Farmer
‘The Day I Sold My Corvette’ by Santrell T. Carson. Photo: Amazon
Today’s book highlight is all about business. If you are interesting in books about business, money/motivational management, and biographies about business professionals, this one is for you: “The Day I Sold My Corvette” by Santrell T. Carson. This thought-provoking and enlightening book challenges your perceptions of wealth and money. If you find yourself living paycheck-to-paycheck, struggling financially, or constantly craving material possessions, this is a must read book.
Santrell T. Carson is a creative designer, an artist, an observer, a businessman, a son, a brother, a landlord, an entrepreneur, an author, and after all these years, still an engineer. He has worked most of his life, starting at 12 when he started his first paper route. At 19, he became a conductor for the railroad and eventually became the first African American to go through the ranks to become an engineer in his district. This was when Santrell decided that employment was only the first step to success, and the real goal was to become financially independent. Even though he enjoyed his childhood, it was not as he would have liked to imagine it. While growing up in a poverty-stricken area, he was set on a mission to change the path of those who came after him. Creating generational wealth was not the first goal as he toiled with life’s obstacles. His new book, “The Day I Sold My Corvette,” is about more than just selling a car, it is about selling a lifestyle that keeps you in financial bondage. The author challenges readers to re-evaluate their spending habits and focus on acquiring assets instead of liabilities. (Santrell T. Carson, 2023)
“The Day I Sold my Corvette” is a compelling and insightful read that will inspire you to take control of your finances and make positive changes in your life. Whether you are a young adult just starting your financial journey or someone looking to shift their mindset about wealth, this book offers practical advice and a refreshing perspective on money. Through his personal story, the author shares his financial education journey and how he broke the cycle of poverty by taking risks and building assets. He sheds light on the common misconceptions about wealth and exposes the true meaning of financial freedom.
SA Examiner 