THIS TIME AROUND: Another late blog, but a couple things to cover. Alaska's Portugal. The Man grabs its third blog #1 song as "What, Me Worry?" inches into the top spot. That breaks an 11-week string of blog chart toppers by indie-based artists, going back to December 5 when ScreenAge's "Like Fine Wine" replaced Adele's "Easy on Me" at the top. "Like Fine Wine" held for two weeks, when it was replaced by Anna Lavigne, who scored seven consecutive weeks at the top; first with "Dance the Last Goodbye" for four weeks, then "This Time" for three. That, in turn was followed by Tim Izzard's "Empty My Head" for three, then finally Einstein's Dad's "Here to Home" last week.
Portugal. The Man, whose first hit in the blog era was 2010's "People Say", has already had its current song, not yet from an album, reach the top spot, on Billboard's Triple-A chart. Of course, since it's pretty much an indie-rock song, it's nowhere to be found on the Hot 100, where "Feel It Still" reached #4. "What Me Worry?" just edges out "Here to Home" for the top, but close by is LP's "Angels". Next week, any one of these songs could capture the top spot, but there is heavyweight competition in the top ten as Mitski's "The Only Heartbreaker" also a former Triple-A #1 (12-4), and The Black Keys' "Wild Child" , the current Triple-A number one (10-6), have a shot in a couple weeks or so.
I GUESS SHE PASSED THE AUDITION: Last week, I reported that Emily MacMahon joined legendary Jersey cover band The Nerds for a powerhouse rockin' version of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, last month. I'm not sure if this is related, but I learned last week, that the former ScreenAge frontwoman was chosen to be the lead singer of a new cover band called August Rage. The band, in which Emily will also play keyboards and guitar, will also include Stephen DeAcutis on guitar, John Hummel on drums and Joe Howell on bass, and will play their first gig in Garwood NJ's Crossroads club on April 30. A promotional video below is a montage of some of the songs that band is covering by artists as varied as Led Zeppelin, Joan Osborne, Grand Funk Railroad, and Sass Jordan:
The band is set to play a series of venues this year and is available for bookings as well. As you can tell from the video, Emily's voice is so powerful, even more so than when she fronted ScreenAge. And, being a cover band, in which most club and bar owners prefer as the songs they play breed familiarity and a connection with its patrons, the band should attract a strong following, as August Rage plans on playing the NJ-NY-CT Tri-State area over the next several months.
Of course, as a blogger, I do have some questions. While New Jersey has a solid history of well-known cover bands going back over the past half-century, and Ms. MacMahon's live performances with ScreenAge has played many a cover to go with their originals, will August Rage allow for a few original compositions as well? We've seen, thanks to ScreenAge's music, that Emily is as awesome a songwriter as she is a singer. Usually, artists playing covers will thrown in an original or two. Emily, in just a few short years, has attracted much notice, and her fronting this band will just add another accomplishment to her growing resume.
The other concern is how it will affect Colorjoy, her new project with ScreenAge's drummer Sam Novotny. Earlier this year, the duo announced they were recording a new album, Golden Age, due this summer. It's been a month since we heard anything on this; it's possible that the album was already recorded and Colorjoy will be a studio-only project. Then again, we're talking about Emily, obviously a "Jill of all trades". Remember, between ScreenAge albums, she wrote and recorded that awesome solo song "Only Us" that topped my blog early last year. There have been many artists who can write, perform solo, do gigs as a cover band and master the studio with new material all as one. Just ask Tom Corea who pretty much has worked on multiple studio projects and yet is out on the road with various bands.
As a blogger, I will keep tabs on Emily's journey, though all its twists and turns. It's turning into some cool adventure. And the best of luck to August Rage.
NEW STUFF: Eight new songs added this week, including the long-awaited (for me, anyway) song from Curtis Harding, "I Won't Let You Down". The Saginaw, Michigan singer of many styles has the Top Debut this week, coming in at #53. Harding had back-to-back top five blog songs in 2018 with "Need Your Love" (#2) and "It's Not Over" (#4). Apparently, he snuck in a new release in 2021, If Words Were Flowers when I wasn't looking, but WEQX in Manchester VT added the song, thus so do I. The wait was worth it, as he carries on in his catchy, soulful, bluesy style, perhaps in the vein of Robert Cray. Worthy of another top five song in my opinion.
A few other strong debuts as well: Cannons had done well here (three straight top 15's) as well as on the alternative airplay charts the last couple of years. In fact, "Bad Dream" is one of those songs that is still top 10 on that chart in its 48th week. They've had a couple of single releases since, and I am going with "Hurricane". This is a mid-tempo, sometimes haunting song, with Michelle Joy's vocals in fine form. Should be another blog hit for them, and if I were alternative radio, I'd quit playing "Bad Dream" and play this one. I just don't understand radio mentality, I guess.
One song that radio will play (although for some reason, NOT alternative) is the new Harry Styles single, "As It Was". In fact, it debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, replacing Glass Animals' "Heat Waves" after that song's five week run. In fact, "As It Was" is the first song released in 2022 to reach the top of the big chart. Styles had a #6 blog hit with "Watermelon Sugar", which also topped the Hot 100. Definitely pop, but in its 80's incarnation, as it has sort of a "Take On Me" vibe to it. It's nice that the song has a good initial reception, and it has a good chance to make a nice journey up my playlist as well.
Tim Izzard follows up his recent #1 "Empty My Head" with "Glam Rock Star (A Tribute)", which is exactly what the title purports to be. Also from his EP 21st Century Expose', the song is a tribute to all of those stars from the 1970's, the prime era of glam. His Bowie-esque voice is as strong as ever, and this is an awesome nod to that genre, which successfully bridged the gap between the acid rock/singer-songwriter era and punk and New Wave. Izzard gives glam its due here with lyrics saluting the likes of T.Rex, Suzi Quatro, Mott the Hoople, Sweet and many, many others. The song itself reminds me of Joan Jett's "I Love Rock and Roll", perfect as Jett (along with her seminal group The Runaways) are among the many artists that were influenced by glam. The song has topped a few British indie playlists and should make it five in a row here on my blog.
Philadelphia's Joy Again, still trying to move up with the years old "Looking Out for You" (it's been at #17 for three weeks but still bulleting), enter with the newer "What Lovers Do". Unlike the rocking, jangly "Looking", this is a slow-down, rather haunting, string-filled ballad, a rather dreamy one at that. Interesting song that is different from the last song that may click also.
Also entering is The Band CAMINO, following up "1 Last Cigarette" with "I Think I Like You", King Tappa's latest, "Nookie", and Canada's Arcade Fire, with "The Lightning I, II". All three are unique enough to garner several listens.
SOUNDWAVE CHATTER: Hegazy, who this year already had a top 5 blog song in "Oil and Water", and "Maybe If We Try" garnering Impact honors in the top 20 this week, will drop a third song, "Do You Want Me Now" on April 29......Deb Browning has four songs moving up the list this week, including her duet with Six Piece Suits, "Take Me By the Hand" at #13, in the studio to cut a new solo track, "3 More Minutes".....in the wake of Einstein's Dad's #1 blog song last week "Here to Home", Mario Licata recommended to me another instrumental by the Soundblend-based band, "Back to You", which is a tribute to George Harrison. Look for a debut next week.....Matt Weiss may be noted these days for his EDM-based singles, but he is still a member of Offguard, which this week celebrates its fifth anniversary; the band is still going strong.....If you think that Ireland and U.S. Country music don't mix, think again, as on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, April 19 and 20, Downda Road Radio on the Emerald Isle will host a country music special. Along with established artists like Jimmie Allen and Morgan Wallen, Christina Taylor is featured as well. Taylor's latest single, "Somebody Will" moves up to #44 in its third week on my playlist.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
April 10, 2022 (week ending April 16)
|
This Week |
Last
Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks
on List |
|
1 |
2 |
NUMBER ONE:  (Single Only) |
7 |
|
2 |
1 |
11 |
|
|
3 |
5 |
11 |
|
|
4 |
12 |
6 |
|
|
5 |
8 |
8 |
|
|
6 |
10 |
5 |
|
|
7 |
6 |
11 |
|
|
8 |
7 |
8 |
|
|
9 |
3 |
10 |
|
|
10 |
4 |
10 |
|
|
11 |
13 |
6 |
|
|
12 |
19 |
4 |
|
|
13 |
18 |
4 |
|
|
14 |
11 |
9 |
|
|
15 |
20 |
4 |
|
|
16 |
15 |
6 |
|
|
17 |
17 |
6 |
|
|
18 |
9 |
10 |
|
|
19 |
25 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  (Single Only) |
4 |
|
20 |
14 |
18 |
|
|
21 |
16 |
17 |
|
|
22 |
21 |
13 |
|
|
23 |
26 |
6 |
|
|
24 |
28 |
5 |
|
|
25 |
23 |
9 |
|
|
26 |
24 |
7 |
|
|
27 |
22 |
11 |
|
|
28 |
33 |
4 |
|
|
29 |
27 |
9 |
|
|
30 |
35 |
5 |
|
|
31 |
40 |
3 |
|
|
32 |
38 |
7 |
|
|
33 |
29 |
15 |
|
|
34 |
32 |
25 |
|
|
35 |
42 |
5 |
|
|
36 |
30 |
21 |
|
|
37 |
31 |
17 |
|
|
38 |
54 |
5 |
|
|
39 |
65 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  Album: Roses for the Ride |
2 |
|
40 |
44 |
8 |
|
|
41 |
46 |
31 |
|
|
42 |
41 |
10 |
|
|
43 |
56 |
14 |
|
|
44 |
58 |
3 |
|
|
45 |
34 |
18 |
|
|
46 |
36 |
23 |
|
|
47 |
55 |
5 |
|
|
48 |
37 |
7 |
|
|
49 |
43 |
10 |
|
|
50 |
47 |
7 |
|
|
51 |
70 |
2 |
|
|
52 |
53 |
8 |
|
|
53 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  Album: If Words Were Flowers |
1 |
|
54 |
62 |
5 |
|
|
55 |
39 |
11 |
|
|
56 |
52 |
6 |
|
|
57 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
58 |
45 |
18 |
|
|
59 |
69 |
3 |
|
|
60 |
63 |
4 |
|
|
61 |
75 |
2 |
|
|
62 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
63 |
78 |
2 |
|
|
64 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
65 |
48 |
19 |
|
|
66 |
51 |
9 |
|
|
67 |
74 |
3 |
|
|
68 |
73 |
3 |
|
|
69 |
79 |
3 |
|
|
70 |
50 |
17 |
|
|
71 |
59 |
7 |
|
|
72 |
61 |
8 |
|
|
73 |
57 |
26 |
|
|
74 |
82 |
2 |
|
|
75 |
64 |
5 |
|
|
76 |
87 |
2 |
|
|
77 |
49 |
9 |
|
|
78 |
81 |
3 |
|
|
79 |
93 |
2 |
|
|
80 |
60 |
17 |
|
|
81 |
91 |
2 |
|
|
82 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
83 |
67 |
19 |
|
|
84 |
80 |
4 |
|
|
85 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
86 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
87 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
88 |
71 |
26 |
|
|
89 |
66 |
17 |
|
|
90 |
72 |
23 |
|
|
91 |
77 |
18 |
|
|
92 |
76 |
9 |
|
|
93 |
90 |
5 |
|
|
94 |
68 |
36 |
|
|
95 |
86 |
4 |
|
|
96 |
85 |
15 |
|
|
97 |
83 |
25 |
|
|
98 |
95 |
43 |
|
|
99 |
84 |
8 |
|
|
100 |
88 |
Courtney Barnett - Write A Listing of Things to Look Forward To |
15 |
|
|
Songs with the greatest increase in
favorite points over the prior week. ●
Songs with
25 or more plays on iTunes/iPods ▲ Songs with 50 or more plays.
Thank you again Rob for all your enthusiasm and support for us all, xx
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