Run 2 Cover-Lovesick

KBB Records
2015

Based in Phoenix, Arizona and made up of brothers Christian and Brandon Iverson (lead vocals and bass & drums and vocals respectively) and Colin Shaw (guitar and vocals), Run 2 Cover is a extremely talented modern pop rock/pop-punk trio that was first formed in 2010 and began life as a heavy metal outfit. "Lovesick" is the full-length debut from this 3-piece teenage band and this radio-friendly release was produced by Matt Good (From First To Last, Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows) at Good Sound Studios. Having played alongside the likes of Escape The Fate, Eyes Set To Kill, IM5, and Alien Ant Farm, Run 2 Cover has already amassed a loyal following and with each new date added that list seems to be growing at steady pace! Just going by this band's catchy debut here it's plain as day as far as why that's the case and with a crap-load of live shows on the horizon (see below) this up-and-coming pop rock and roll band should easily win the hearts of our teenage daughters before they even know what hit them! The way I look at it things could be worse. At least were not talking about another One Direction or anything! And then there's the fact that A) This band plays their own instruments so it's not like this is a pro-tools type of pop album and B) There are legitimate rock hooks to be found on an album like "Lovesick"! Sure, there is a lot of bubblegum pop going on here and you are going to have to wade through it. No one in good conscious can deny that. But, every once in awhile this young trio starts to reminisce about the "good old days" and when that happens...well, let's just say there's some powerful stuff going on! While true blue metal fans will likely want to pass on this I will say that there is plenty to like about Run 2 Cover if you are into the more guitar-driven side of pop rock and/or pop-punk. Seeing as my tastes generally range from Slayer to the Go-Go's I actually enjoyed this album as a nice change of pace kind of option. If you are the same way (meaning your collection is like mine with Iron Maiden's "Number of the Beast" sitting comfortably next to the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever!) then why not give this one a spin? You can find out more Run 2 Cover on the band's Facebook page or over on the group's official web site. 

As promised I've included the band's upcoming tour schedule. 


Burn Halo, Heartist, Courage My Love, Run 2 Cover
9/5/15 – Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
9/6/2015 – Las Vegas, NV @ LVCS
9/9/2015 – San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick
9/11/2015 – Albuquerque, NM @ The Jam Spot
9/12/2015 – El Paso, TX @ Mesa Music Hall

One Eyed Doll, Stitched Up Heart, Run 2 Cover
9/18/2015 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
9/19/2015 – Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
9/22/2015 – Missoula, MT @ Stage 112
9/23/2015 – Billings, MT @ Pub Station
9/25/2015 – Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
9/26/2015 – Danville, IL @ Vintage Villains (Danville Comic Con)
9/27/2015 – Lansing, MI @ The Loft *
9/29/2015 – Westland, MI @ The Token Lounge
9/30/2015 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Ballroom
10/1/2015 – Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground
10/2/2015 – Ottawa, ON @ Mavericks
10/3/2015 – Clifton Park, NY @ Trickshots
10/4/2015 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
10/5/2015 – Trenton, NY @ Championships Bar *
10/6/2015 – Akron, OH @ Empire Concert Club *
10/7/2015 – Newport, KY @ Thompson House
10/8/2015 – South Bend, IN @ Cheers Pub
10/9/2015 – Louisville, KY @ Expo Five
10/10/2015 – St. Louis, MO @ Firebird
10/11/2015 – Springfield, MO @ Outland Ballroom
10/14/2015 – New Orleans, LA @ Southport Hall
10/16/2015 – Fort Worth, TX @ The Rail Club
10/17/2015 – Austin, TX @ Dirty Dog Bar
10/18/2015 – Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
10/19/2015 – Corpus Christi, TX @ House Of Rock *
10/20/2015 – McAllen, TX @ The Thirsty Monkey *
10/21/2015 – San Antonio, TX @ Fitzgerald’s
10/22/2015 – Lubbock, TX @ Jake’s Backroom
10/23/2015 – Tulsa, OK @ The Vanguard
10/24/2015 – Merriam, KS @ Aftershock
10/25/2015 – Wichita, KS @ The Elbow Room
10/27/2015 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Sunshine Studios Live
10/28/2015 – Englewood, CO @ Moe’s
10/29/2015 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Area 51
10/30/2015 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Dive Bar

* = Stitched Up Heart, Run 2 Cover

Lunar Electric-Lunar Electric

Electric Maiden Recordings
2015

Originally known as Resin Gypsy, with guitarist/vocalist Dre DiMura and drummer Kaleen Reading serving as the connecting factor between both projects, Lunar Electric is a L.A.-based rock and roll power trio whose sound could best be described as equal parts classic rock and alternative rock. On the group's debut release, "Lunar Electric", we find DiMura and Reading paired up with bassist Geena Spigarelli and this self-titled EP features three songs from Resin Gypsy's old catalog along with the brand new number and lead single, "Crossfire Child". A video for "Crossfire Child" can be found below and of the four tracks featured on the group's first release it is arguably the strongest cut of the lot! This 17-minute EP opens with a radio-edit of "Bread & Circuses" and while it's a fine enough number in it's own right things get better on "Moonlight". Featuring a interesting mix of Cream and (early) Soundgarden, "Moonlight" is as sassy as it is swaggered with the number slowing building in intensity and intrigue. From there we have "Sleepwalker" and as the last number left-over from the band's Resin Gypsy days it is every bit as bluesy and gritty as "Moonlight" is. The EP "Lunar Electric" actually ends where we began this short review. Naturally I'm talking about the feisty "Crossfire Child" which is arguably this EP's heaviest and most well-rounded number. If there's a default defect to be found on "Lunar Electric" it's this EP's most glaring red flag. And that would be the lack of distinction between tracks one through three. Given time to properly evolve a power trio like Lunar Electric should  shake loose it's ties to the past and move on to the greener pastures of full-fledged originality and creativity. As it stands now this L.A. band shows promise. Maybe with a bit more time under their wings and a clearer objective we'll find that Lunar Electric are the real deal. Dre DiMura and company have the potential and the skill-set is there so I can see this happening eventually. The key word being eventually. For now "Lunar Electric" should be enjoyed for what it is. It's heavy rock and roll with a alternative mindset for those who are into that kind of thing. And now as promised here is the official video for "Crossfire Child". Enjoy!

Shakra-Powerplay

AFM Records
2013

Kind of crazy that these guys have been around for 20 years or so and this is the first I've ever heard the name. Seeing as there albums are all rather highly rated you'd think they would have turned up on my radar. Especially seeing as they play straight-ahead hard rock/heavy metal that is very old-school and yet modern. More on that in a bit though. Here I like to think I have a pretty good grasp on the various scenes and here is this is this band from Switzerland churning out album after album of solid rock and I'm left in the dark. Well, what to do about it then? For starters I'll sit through this album and see what all the fuse is about. And so I did. I stepped away from this review and listened to Shakra's "Powerplay" on my headphones in a secluded location (otherwise my basement computer area) and my impression? Well, I'm not going to kick myself repeatedly for missing out on this band. They are good enough to get the job done, but just like Gold (who I reviewed yesterday) they just fade into the background for me. If they were a bit more catchy that might be something, but as it stood I listened to it and thought "Am I missing something?". Sometimes it's harder rock/almost metal ("Life Is Now", "Higher", "Dear Enemy") and other times more like power rock ("Stevie", "Dream Of Mankind"). With variety like that and even AOR-like material (the ballad "Wonderful Life") you'd expect some sort of shape-up between songs. I even went back through the songs again to see if it was better a second time through. Same result. A good enough album, but not sure what all the fuss was/is about unless this album really pales compared to their older ones?