Category: new releases

Boston based bluegrass band Mile Twelve returns with new album

Mile Twelve’s new album Close Enough to Hear will be out February 3, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Mile Twelve, Boston’s modern string band, is back in motion. From the first manic downbeat of their virtuosic new record, Close Enough to Hear, you will discover a band that is ready to explode from a restless pandemic-induced hiatus. You will hear the same warmth and innovation that earned the band IBMA’s 2019 Album of the Year nomination and 2020 New Artist of the Year Award, which has gained them an international reputation as one of the most dynamic bands in contemporary acoustic music. Heard as a whole, Close Enough to Hear displays the vast creative potential of the bluegrass quintet—banjo (BB Bowness), mandolin (Korey Brodsky), fiddle (Ella Jordan), acoustic guitar (Evan Murphy), and upright bass (Nate Sabat)—in the hands of world-class musicians. (Mile Twelve, 2023)

Fans of Mile Twelve will notice the presence of two new members on Close Enough to Hear: fiddler and vocalist Ella Jordan and mandolinist Korey Brodsky. Take note of the new dimension they add to the band and their ability to lock in with founding members Evan Murphy, Catherine Bowness, and Nate Sabat. These are not session players; this album captures the formation of a new coherent unit.

Both of the bands’ previous full-length albums, as well as their guest star-packed EP, were recorded in Nashville but the new challenges of traveling and dodging positive Covid tests kept the band closer to home. They chose Sam Kassirer’s legendary Great North Sounds in the woods of Parsonsfield, Maine, a studio that has played host to a murderer’s row of Americana acts and has become a fixture of the New England recording scene. Leading up to the making of their new album, Mile Twelve—a flourishing act whose output has helped push the envelope of New England’s progressive bluegrass and string-band scene—learned a whole new level of perseverance, patience, and performance.

Fans can watch the music video for “Close Enough to Hear” and pre-order or pre-save Close Enough to Hear ahead of its February 3 release.

This is a band looking forward—simultaneously shoring up their bluegrass foundations (in the transfixing acapella opening of “If Only,” for example) while also pushing their musical boundaries and driving into new territory. You will detect flavors of jazz (“Red Grapes on the Vine”), acoustic pop (“Take Me As I Am”), and trance music (“Light of Angels”). Heard as a whole, Close Enough to Hear displays the vast potential of acoustic string band music in the hands of capable players.

Close Enough to Hear track list:
Romulus
Johnny Oklahoma
Close Enough To Hear
Red Grapes on the Vine
Light of Angels
Hopping Around Telluride
Waiting
Anywhere Town
Take Me As I Am
If Only

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Upcoming book release: ‘Something Major: The New Playbook for Women at Work’ by Randi Braun

Randi Braun’s ‘Something Major: The New Playbook for Women at Work’ will be released March 1, 2023. Photo: Amazon

Randi Braun is an expert at empowering women who have demanding jobs and bold ambitions. As a certified executive coach and the CEO of the women’s leadership firm Something Major, she helps women thrive. In her women’s leadership book “Something Major: The New Playbook for Women at Work,” Braun infuses conversations with life-changing ideas, advancing women leaders one wildly entertaining story at a time. A sought-after thought leader and speaker, Braun’s insights have been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, and Parents Magazine, and others. Braun has coached women around the globe and partnered with more than 50 organizations across diverse sectors, including the Fortune 500, healthcare, start-ups, Big Law, public relations, entertainment, trade associations, government, non-profits, and others. The book will be released March 1, 2023 and is available for pre-order from Amazon. (Randi Braun, 2023)

“Something Major: The New Playbook for Women at Work” – The book gives Braun’s highly sought-after expertise a more accessible reach, and addresses the real reason why women are not happy at work, and how they can positively turn things around. It includes the true stories of women leaders. Relatable and fresh, it is backed by research and filled with actionable takeaways, as well as dashes of humor.

“Every woman wants to believe she is on the precipice of something major, and this book gives you the tools to get yourself there. Randi Braun has created a fun and practical way forward for women who are looking to channel their inner badass, crack the leadership code and soar!” – Jen Mormile, Chief Business Officer of Condé Nast

“The ideas in my book are meaty, but trust me, it is also a very entertaining read. I include tactical tools so women can make career moves that matter, while also increasing their confidence and overall fulfillment. But I do it conversationally. It’s like we’re sitting down, chatting over coffee and unraveling life-changing strategies together.” – Randi Braun

Braun notes that millions of women have left the workforce, and progress creating meaningful diversity at the highest levels of leadership and on corporate boards is moving too slowly. “The gender pay gap is increasing, and so are women’s levels of burnout. Our system is broken and our old playbook is outdated. That’s why I have written a new playbook to help women thrive— not just survive—as our workplace cultures evolve, even if they’re not evolving quickly enough.”

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Upcoming album release: This Road – The Runaway Grooms

The Runaway Grooms will release This Road on February 10, 2023. Photo: Google

For many years, Colorado has been the birthplace for a myriad of unique musical gems and The Runaway Grooms are no exception. The Runaway Grooms’ classic sound is a refreshing take on contemporary jam band music as it celebrates the authenticity and wholesomeness of traditional American roots music through tonality, lyricism, and instrumentation. After finishing their 6th national tour, The Runaway Grooms are now creating a buzz in many different musical communities around the country, sharing bills with nationally renowned and Grammy nominated artists like Umphrey’s McGee, Robben Ford, Leftover Salmon, Twiddle, Trombone Shorty, North Mississippi Allstars, and many more. Their newest album, This Road, is a blending of their previous two albums, marking the band’s return to an American roots rock style of songwriting, while simultaneously sending listeners on extended instrumental journeys through rich and colorful sonic landscapes. (The Runaway Grooms, 2023)

On February 10, the Grooms—guitarist and vocalist Adam Tobin, keyboardist Cody Scott, bassist and vocalist Zach Gillam, drummer Justin Bisset, and guitarist and vocalist Zac Cialek—are releasing their third studio album, This Road, into the world and onto stages nationwide. Recorded on the road at Paloma Sound Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, with former Ardent Studio engineer Jeremy Horn, the Grooms’ third LP marks the band’s return to more of an American roots rock songwriting style, all while keeping one foot in the tight-knit jam band circle from which they emerged. Equally inspired by jazz-fusion exploration from the likes of Steely Dan, Atlanta Rhythm Section, and Yes, and the guitar-driven prowess of Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Grateful Dead, This Road dives in and out of grooves and moods, turning on a dime, but always focusing on what the band sees as the most important aspect; the song. In addition to telling stories and gleaning wisdom from life, love, and struggle, This Road captures an array of emotions and moods drawn from the dramatic narrative of living on the road in a touring band.

JamBase premiered the first track from This Road, the piano-driven rocker “Jenny.” Written by Tobin as a letter from his late grandmother to his mother, “Jenny” is a story about love, life, family, and the passing of time. Recorded live in the studio to capture the organic energy found in The Runaway Grooms’ live show, “Jenny” winds higher and higher, punctuated by Cialek’s piercing lap steel guitar and Scott’s change from rhythmic piano to swirling B3 organ. The up and down dynamics of the song’s instrumentation flows beautifully with its lyrical content, exactly as the band intended, and is capped off by an all-engulfing slide guitar solo before the song effortlessly fades into the album’s next track. Westword included the track in their new music column this week, calling it “six minutes of classic-rock bliss that’s equal parts The Band and the Allman Brothers.”

Fans of the aforementioned bands and more modern contemporaries like Goose or Billy Strings should check out “Jenny” today and stay up to date on all things ahead of their February 10 release. 

This Road track list:
Jenny
Mister Ford
Here I Come Again
This Road
Heartwork

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New horror movie release: Those Who Call

Those Who Call is a new horror movie available now for streaming. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Uncork’d Entertainment has acquired Anubys Lopez’ backwoods horror film Those Who Call and premiered on digital January10, 2023. It is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Google Movies, and You Tube. (Those Who Call, 2023)

Those Who Call – The film, starring Angie Sandoval, Yetlanezi Rodriguez, Reese Fast, Kevin Kinkade, and Addison Cousins, tells of two sisters who go on a road trip to Colorado. On their way there, their car breaks down in an abandoned old town. Soon they realize things are not what they seem, and they are not alone in the forest. They find themselves being hunted by a sadistic pagan cult and must do everything in their power to survive.

“If you enjoyed The Lodge, Winchester, and The Heretics, Those Who Call should be on your must-see list. Headlined by two very strong actresses, Those Who Call has so much going for it. We look forward to audiences discovering it in January, when we release.” – Keith Leopard, President Uncork’d Entertainment

Uncork’d Entertainment was founded in July, 2012 by Keith Leopard, a Home Entertainment industry veteran with more than 23 years of experience in purchasing, acquisitions, merchandising, marketing, and analysis of major studio and independent supplier to the home entertainment market. The Company focuses on distribution in six areas: Digital Media, Physical Home Entertainment, Aggregation, Theatrical and Television, Foreign Sales, and has secured relationships across all platforms to ensure your film reaches the widest audience possible. Keith and his team are committed to maximizing revenue, controlling costs, and assuring their Content Partners the highest quality of service, a commitment to market and merchandise their film and a rewarding experience by partnering with Uncork’d Entertainment.

New book release: ‘The Journey Within’ by Daniel Shaba

‘The Journey Within’ is the new book by Daniel Shaba. Photo: Daniel Shaba

Daniel Shaba is a poet and self-help author passionate about personal growth and self-discovery. His debut self-help book, “A Way to Find Self-Belief and Unlock Your Potential,” offered tools for building self-confidence and achieving goals. In “The Journey Within,” his latest poetry book, he invites readers on a journey of self-discovery and inner peace, encouraging them to explore their values and embrace life’s challenges and triumphs. His poetry, with a background in psychology and personal development, offers insights and inspiration for living a fulfilling and meaningful life, speaking to the heart and soul of its readers and offering hope and guidance on the path to personal growth and inner peace. (Daniel Shaba, 2023)

“The Journey Within” is a poetic masterpiece that takes you on a journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and inner peace. This book explores the challenges and triumphs of overcoming adversity, achieving your goals, and finding your place in the world. With chapters on positive thinking, emotional intelligence, self-confidence, and self-expression, this book offers tools and strategies for living a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Through the power of words and self-expression, this book encourages you to stand up for what you believe in and inspire change in your community. With a focus on gratitude, positivity, forgiveness, and mindfulness, this book encourages you to embrace life’s journey and find joy in the present moment.

From discovering your inner strength and finding your purpose, to building healthy relationships and exploring new possibilities, The Journey Within is a guide for personal growth and self-discovery. Through self-care, self-compassion, and self-love, this book offers tools and strategies for living a life of inner peace and contentment.

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New album release: 8th Wonder – The National Parks

The National Park’s new album 8th Wonder will be out March 3, 2023. Photo: Amazon

Utah-based indie-pop group The National Parks wants their music to spark memories of listeners’ own outdoor adventures. Brady Parks (vocals, guitar), Sydney Macfarlane (vocals, keys), Cam Brannelly (drums), and Megan Parks (violin)—breathe in inspiration from the world around them and exhale cinematic indie folk-pop powered by soaring harmonies, organic orchestration, and luminous electronics. “I’m spiritually connected when I’m in nature and when I’m listening to music,” says the band’s violinist Megan Parks. “We hope you hear the connection between nature and music, too.” On March 3, The National Parks will expand their vision yet again on their fifth full-length album, 8th Wonder. (The National Parks, 2023)

Bonus Points: The National Parks snuck all of the Natural Wonders of the World into the lyrics of “8th Wonder.” Can you pick out all seven of them? Fans can hear “8th Wonder” now and pre-order or pre-save 8th Wonder ahead of its March 3 release.

In addition to the album announcement, The National Parks have also announced the Spring leg of their 2023 8th Wonder Tour. Stops include The Troubador in Los Angeles and Antone’s in Austin. A full list of tour dates can be found below or online.

At the top of 2022, The National Parks hopped on Zoom for a “New Year’s Resolutions meeting,” which galvanized their next step and the vision for the album became completely clear. The band discussed their ambitions for the year ahead and ultimately decided they wanted to focus more on their core identity for the next LP. That connection with the natural world became the thematic center of the writing process. “We’ve stepped into what The National Parks is,” Sydney elaborates. “We basically said, ‘This is who we are and who we have always been.’ We decided to show who we are without trying to prove anything. I think it’s our best work.”

“Angels,” the album’s first single and opening track, sets the tone for what is to come. The layered, evocative song centers on breaking free of expectation and searching for adventure on the open road—a sentiment that threads through the rest of the album.

In the end, The National Parks welcome everyone into a much bigger and more wonderful musical world. “When you hear this, we hope you feel like you stepped outside,” Brady Parks leaves off. “We hope you discover the spirit of the unknown and the adventure of life with all its ups and downs. This album is about embracing it all and living life to the fullest.”

8th Wonder Tour Spring 2023 Dates:
Friday, March 17 – Salt Lake City, UT – Union Events Center
Friday, April 21 – Rexburg, ID – Romance Theater
Saturday, April 22 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall
Tuesday, April 25 – Portland, OR – Mission Theater
Wednesday, April 26 – Seattle, WA The Crocodile’s Madame Lou’s
Friday, April 28 – Berkeley, CA Cornerstone
Saturday, April 29 – Santa Cruz, CA The Atrium
Thursday, May 4 – San Diego, CA Voodoo
Friday, May 5 – Los Angles, CA Troubadour
Tuesday, May 9 – Houston, TX The Bronze Peacock at House of Blues – Houston
Wednesday, May 10 – Austin, TX – Antone’s
Thursday, May 11 – Dallas, TX – Kessler
Friday, May 12 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street OKC
Saturday, May 13 – Denver, CO – Bluebird

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New book release: ‘Shadow Link’ by James Trait

‘Shadow Link’ is the new science fiction novel by James Trait. Photo: Amazon

My name is James Trait and I live in upstate New York. I grew up loving science fiction and the adventures the characters had together. It helped me to escape the craziness of life and to see that there will always be better times ahead. My science fiction reflects both the adventure and the family elements I loved growing up. “Shadow Link” is my new book. (James Trait, 2023)

“Shadow Link” – Two men, two universes, endless connections. When a group of scientists discovers a device on an alien planet capable of travel into entirely new universes, the hope is to find the solution to their problems. But they soon discover one cannot gain an advantage without wreaking havoc for their counterparts. It is up to John Roman and his two teams, to determine just how to use this technology before it destroys the very people they wish to protect.

Reading age: 10-18 years, Grade level 5-12

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New book release: ‘The Union’ by Leah Vernon

‘The Union’ by Leah Vernon is a dystopian novel that explores the power of friendship in a future society. Photo: Amazon

Leah Vernon is an author, body-positive activist, and the first international plus-size Hijabi model. During her double master’s program, she started a blog about being a fat Black Muslim in Detroit experiencing everything from eating disorders to anti-Blackness. She has been featured in ads from Target to Old Navy and even made it to the New York Times and HuffPost. She currently resides in New York City. Her new book “The Union” is a daring dystopian novel that explores the power of friendship in a future society built on violence and division. (Amazon, 2023)

“The Union” – A thousand years in the future, a Black elite class reigns. The lower classes toil in the fields or scrape by in blighted cities, serving their rulers in a cruel, divided world. Among the Elites is eighteen-year-old Avi Jore, born to a powerful father and destined to rule. But as she comes of age, Avi cannot help but notice the injustices in her world―the treatment of enslaved workers, the oppression of the lower classes. Her disillusionment grows when she meets Saige Wilde, a mixed-race enslaved girl whose only goal is escaping beyond the borders of their brutal nation. When Saige saves Avi from an assassination attempt, their paths become intertwined in ways they never imagined. As Saige plots her path to freedom, Avi tries to enact change from the inside but it is a complicated endeavor, fraught with danger and malice. Together, their efforts could spark a revolution―and underscore the staggering power of friendship.

Publisher Note: This title was previously self-published as “Impure.” This edition of “The Union” includes substantial editorial revisions.

New horror movie release: Twisted

Twisted is available in digital and On Demand. Photo: Google

New horror movie release: Twisted – Available on digital and On Demand.

Twisted – A young woman seeks independence from her protective mother, only to be questioning her own sanity when newfound friends die, and her mother suggests Hannah is the cause of their death. (Twisted, 2023)

Written and directed by Vibeke Muasya
Starring Vibeke Muasya, Vibeke Muasya, Nikolaj Scherfig

Book review: ‘Communicate with Courage’ by Michelle D. Gladieux

‘Communicate with Courage’ is the new book by communication coach Michelle D. Gladieux. Photo: Amazon

Michelle Gladieux is an author and President of Gladieux Consulting, a Midwest-based team known for top-notch design and presentation of seminars in communication and leadership topics around the U.S. She provides executive coaching and facilitates strategic planning for clients in diverse industries, in governments, at non-profits, and in academia. She has 18 years of collegiate teaching experience at three universities in her home state of Indiana, accepting her first adjunct faculty position at age 23. She has worked as a Human Resources and Training Director in the cold storage, robotics, and construction industries and enjoys visiting conferences as a keynote speaker and workshop presenter. In her new book “Communicate with Courage: Taking Risks to Overcome the Four Hidden Challenges,” she teaches readers how to become fearless and peerless communicators by confronting the psychological blocks holding them back. (Michelle Gladieux, 2023)

“Communicate with Courage” – Being a good communicator is one of the best ways to make a difference in the world, but it takes courage to open up to others and invite others to open up to you. In the Preface, Michelle D. Gladieux explains that the purpose of the book is to help with communication skills not only in the workplace, but in daily interactions with family in friends right now and in the future. As a lifelong communication coach, she has discovered four obstacles that can keep you from becoming the best communicator you can be 1) Hiding—Fear of exposing your supposed weaknesses, 2) Defining—Putting too much stock into assumptions and being quick to judge, 3) Rationalizing—Using “being realistic” to shield yourself from taking chances, engaging in conflict, or doing other  but potentially rewarding actions, and 4) Settling—Stopping at “good enough” instead of aiming for something better in your interactions. Overcoming these challenges requires taking risks—to reveal yourself, question your beliefs, take a leap of faith, or move out of your comfort zone. This book is divided into ten chapters, including one for each of these hidden challenges as well as Risks Not Worth Taking, and The Most Important Conversations to Have. Each chapter includes a real-world practice called a Pro Move and an exercise, both designed to help you overcome hang-ups and take more joy in communicating.

Being an effective communicator is an important skill yet one of the hardest to improve. It requires knowing your strengths and weaknesses, constant practice, and most of all, a genuine desire to grow. According to the author, becoming a brave communicator is “achieved by looking at potential payoffs rather than focusing on what can go wrong, and pushing past mediocre.” This is a small and easy to read book, mostly because the language is simple and down to earth. With the suggested Pro Moves and exercises, readers can practice their communication skills and put them to work in their lives. The subject matter makes this a reference guide worth circling back to re-read portions that might need refreshing over time. Highlights include Chapter 8 Risks Not Worth Taking where even though she encourages taking risks, she emphasizes that you should not risk your sanity by “engaging with manipulative or unethical people” and Chapter 7 Hidden Challenge #4: Settling for ‘Good Enough’ where she states the importance of outsmarting the urge to settle; in this case, raising your hand and letting people know what you have to say, diplomatically of course – voicing your opinion and experiences. “Communicate with Courage” is an effective guide to improving communications skills to become a braver and more effective communicator. It is recommended for readers who enjoy books on business management and personal enrichment focusing on communication and social skills.

“…there’s something waiting on the other side of courageous risk-taking for you, something good, illuminating, and life-giving. Whatever it is, it won’t come fully into view until you deviate from the safe route as a communicator.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.