Icon Fetch

It’s one of the strangest stories of any #1 hit. “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” was credited to a fictitious band called Steam, but it was actually recorded by vocalist Gary DeCarlo and some studio musicians. But, because of some bizarre circumstances, he wasn’t able to take credit or benefit from this massive hit single. The band never garnered enough “steam” – pardon the pun – to muster up ano...

Lisa Mills hails from Mississippi, and there must be something down there in the water, as she’s put together one of the finest, most honest records of last year. I’m Changing, is a mix of blues, rock, soul, Gospel and even a sprinkle of country. Add to it Lisa’s gritty vocals, and you’ve got the makings of a killer record. Yet, this isn’t a totally new project, as many of the tracks were started...

David Lanz has been putting out music for over 30 years, so you’d think there wouldn’t be any “firsts” left for the award-winning pianist. Yet, his new record, Forever Christmas, is his first-ever album to feature a songwriting partner from start to finish, and his first record prominently featuring a vocalist. The songwriting partner & vocalist is also the love of his life, Norwegian born Kristin...

Director Eric Von Haessler has just put out Scarred But Smarter – the Life n Times of Drivin n’ Cryin, an in-depth look at this legendary Georgia band. Through extensive interviews with bandmates & managers past and present, as well as people, like Peter Buck of REM, Ed Rowland of Collective Soul, and Darius Rucker, we get a clear picture of true rock n’ roll survivors. Von Haessler talks about ha...

TV Eyes was a short lived supergroup featuring Jason Falkner & Roger Manning Jr, who spent time in the power pop band Jellyfish, and drummer Brian Reitzell, who was in the equally melodic Redd Kross. The trio teamed up in the early 2000’s for a debut record that combined elements of early New Wave & Punk, with touches of their previous bands. The result was an album that should’ve turned heads. Bu...

Some call it Power Pop, others call it melodic rock – either way, Dwight Twilley has been crafting like-minded tunes for over 40 years now. His first hit was the Top 20 smash “I’m On Fire” in 1975. Then, he was back in the Top 20 with “Girls” in 1984. Twilley had a knack for writing radio-ready songs and probably should’ve been a much bigger star, had it not been for record label blundering. Eithe...

Duke Robillard was one of the founding members of Roomful of Blues in the late Sixties. Then, he replaced Jimmie Vaughan in the Fabulous Thunderbirds in 1989. But, his solo career has been arguably more adventurous than either of those two bands. Duke’s love is delving into the various facets of classic American music. His latest offering, Calling All Blues, is a summation of the different styles...

PF Sloan wrote an impressive list of songs in the mid Sixties, including Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction,” Johnny Rivers’ “Secret Agent Man,” as well as hits for the Mamas & the Papas, Grassroots, Herman’s Hermits, the Turtles and others. He met Elvis & the Beatles, and hung out with Dylan & Stephen Stills. But, like a lot of staff songwriters, he was employed by a record label run by ruthless...

Despite his famous last name, Devon Allman has forged a path uniquely his own, beginning with his band, Honeytribe in 1999, then more recently, the Royal Southern Brotherhood, and his solo career. Now, hot on the heels of 2013’s Turquoise comes Allman’s finest work to date, Ragged & Dirty, an album that straddles Chicago blues with his Southern roots. We talk his improving guitar work, touring ove...

Ruthann Friedman wrote “Windy,” which became a #1 smash for the Association in 1967. With it, she became only the third woman to write a number one hit on the Billboard charts. This led to Constant Companion, considered by many to be a great lost folk classic, released in 1970. But, that album never took off and Friedman chose to settle down and raise a family instead. Now, some 40 years later – s...

Davina & the Vagabonds inject a fresh approach to a very classic style of music, a mix of blues & New Orleans-style jazz. The Minneapolis band has just released a brand new record called Sunshine (read our review) , and we mean record, it is available on vinyl as well as CD & mp3. We talk with leader Davina Sowers about her love of vintage music and how it gets infused in her songs. She also tells...

Singer / songwriter Seth Walker has perfected his own unique blend of blues, soul & folk over his last few records. His eighth album, Sky Still Blue, continues in that vein, proving that people can actually still put together an entire record of good tunes. He talks about moving to New Orleans, turning up the volume on the guitars on this album, writing songs with country legend Gary Nicholson.

He played a major role in shaping one of the biggest selling albums of all-time, Rumours. Ken Caillat co-produced the classic Fleetwood Mac album with Richard Dashut. We know the stories of how the band members were breaking up, but what about creating the songs? Caillat gathers his recollections of the year spent in the studio in Making Rumours – the Inside Story of the Classic Fleetwood Mac Albu...

Tommy James of the Shondells was our very first interview on Icon Fetch. Now, 209 shows later, he returns with an extensive talk about the stories behind some of his biggest hits: The unbelievable tale of his rise to fame with “Hanky Panky,” the party classic “Mony Mony,” the bubblegum confection of “I Think We’re Alone Now,” the psychedelic “Crimson & Clover,” the anti-war “Sweet Cherry Wine,” an...

In the mid Sixties, the charts were dominated by bands from the British Invasion – the Beatles, Herman’s Hermits, the Rolling Stones. Yet, a few artists from America were still able to break through – the Beach Boys & Motown artists for example. Then, there was Gary Lewis & the Playboys, who became the first American band to have their first seven singles hit the Top 10. In fact, in May of 1965 –...

In the mid Sixties, Mitch Ryder was rarity – a white guy who successfully captured the essence of R&B but who could rock as well. He was also one of the few American artists who gave those four lads from over the big pond a run for their money on the charts. “Jenny Take a Ride,” “Devil With the Blue Dress,” and “Sock it to Me Baby” were just three examples of this unique sound. Now, Mitch is back...

He’s been called the Godfather of British blues – John Mayall – and he’s been at it more than 50 years. His Bluesbreakers band acted as a launching pad for some of the greatest musicians of all time – Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor all spent time honing their chops in his band. Mayall, who has never stopped touring and assembling stellar bands, is back with his first new studio record...

The Jersey Boys was first a successful Broadway musical and now a Clint-Eastwood-directed motion picture, based on the life and music of the Four Seasons. Almost all of the band’s hits were co-written by Seasons’ member Bob Gaudio, who had a big hand in bringing this story to the stage and screen, as well as assembling the accompanying soundtrack. Icon Fetch talks with the New Jersey native about...

In the Mid 1960’s there was no bigger band in the Dayton area than Sonny Flaharty and the Mark V. Whether playing to rabid crowds at the Diamond Club or packing the house at Wamplers Ballerarina, the band was the top in town. They were best known for their song “Hey Conductor” – that piece of fuzzed out psychedelia made it to #1 in the Dayton area. It got picked up for national distribution and wa...

Drivin’ n Cryin’ have released some fantastic albums over the years, including 1991’s Fly Me Courageous. But, in 2012, the band abandoned the format in favor of recording shorter EP’s (most only 4 or 5 songs each). Songs For the Turntable is the fourth and latest installment of this series. Icon Fetch talks to singer Kevn Kinney of the band about this latest project, which brings everything full c...

Singer Annika Chambers has taken an interesting road to the blues. She served eight years in the US Army, rising to the rank of Sergeant and having two deployments to Iraq and Kosovo. While on base, she entered a talent contest, singing lead on a song. After she finished, she was approached by a guitarist that introduced her to the blues – and she’s been an avid fan ever since. Now, back in her ho...

Lone Justice were mid-Eighties pioneers. Blending elements of country, punk & rock, the band, led by fiery vocalist Maria McKee, gained a reputation for their incendiary live shows. Although praised by critics, the band never received commercial success, and broke up in 1989. Yet, over the following years, the group has been cited as a major influence by many bands. Now comes This is Lone Justice:...

The Swimming Pool Q’s came out of Atlanta, Georgia in the late Seventies, emerging from the same fertile ground that would birth the B-52s and R.E.M., among many others. After one independent release, the band were signed to A&M Records for a pair of critically-acclaimed albums – 1984’s The Swimming Pool Q’s and 1986’s Blue Tomorrow. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the band is proud to fi...

Canadian singer/songwriter Luke McMaster recorded a hit duet with pianist Jim Brickman earlier in 2013 called “Good Morning Beautiful.” Now the song has been retooled just in time for the holidays as “Merry Christmas Beautiful,” which McMaster is supporting by touring with Brickman, doing a series of holiday shows. He’s also just issued “NYC,” a collaboration with DJ Titus 1 and featuring vocals b...

Platinum-selling pianist David Lanz returns to Icon Fetch with his first new album of original material in five years called Movements of the Heart (amazon link). Inspired by a new love in his life, the record features some of the most passionate music Lanz has ever laid to tape. We discuss how immersing himself in music of the past, specifically the Beatles, had an impact on his current compositi...