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Do you remember the first Paul McCartney solo L.P. “McCartney”? It
wasn’t too hot, Paul played all the instruments and it just didn’t work
out. It seemed like a good demo, but not sounding ready to be released
to the public. Now, move ahead a few years Michael Quest is about 13
years old and is learning to play guitar, writing music and singing
his songs. He gets into various bands over the years all the time
learning more and more about what makes a good song.

After having band members come and go over the years Michael decided
in 1984 to do live shows by himself. He would be able to do the songs
just the way he wanted them done without having other members trying
to change them. The Michael Quest solo career had started. With just a
guitar, drum machine and vocal chords, Michael slowly built a
reputation for good shows and popular songs. Besides his own songs
Michael added songs by the Beatles, Stevie Ray Vaughn, the Eagles, Tom
Petty, and many more artists. Michael found changing styles of music
from Blues, Rock, Country and even Surf music added to his audience.
Along with these he would insert his original songs too.

Around 2003 Michael decides to make a cd of his own music. Not
only would he write all the songs, Michael would play all the
instruments or program them by way of a sequencer or computer. A drum
machine would be no problem, as a teen he watched his brother play the
drums and knew exactly what a drummer could do, “with two hands and
two feet”. Of coarse the past two decades of using a drum machine live
would not hurt either. All Michael Quest needed was someone to record
the songs. Other than that his cd “24-7-365″ named after one of his
most popular songs, would be an all solo effort.

Lucky for all of us Michael Quest has returned with another cd in
2008 called 168 Blues.
This podcast has one song “Caught in the Valley” from the first cd,
but the spotlight is on the new songs. Right from the start Michael
gets you rolling with the title track “168 Blues”. A good blues song
that tells it like it is. If you can’t figure out the meaning of the
song just listen to the podcast. Michael explains the song as well as
other songs on his remarkable cd. Besides two nice instrumentals (check
out “Smoother” very nice guitar), Michael does a beautiful duet on “I
Just Did” with a very talented female vocalist.
While all these songs I mention are not on the podcast they’re are
enough to get you going. The highlight of the podcast must be Michael’s
reinterpretation of his classic “24-7-365″. This time he puts down the
acoustic guitar and plays more electric. I also felt the song was
tighter and a little slicker, more like a hit you might hear on the
radio. Speaking of radio, if you like this music, please call your local
radio stations and request Michael Quest. If they don’t have his cd be
sure to have them Google Michael Quest and go to his MySpace page.

It’s been a very long time since Paul McCartney’s first attempt at
playing all the instruments on his “McCartney” L.P. Paul learned it
was better for him to have a band (Wings) behind him. Michael Quest
has grown to be a man and learned he does not need a band behind him.
He can play the instruments himself and make it sound like a band.
Like you, I love Paul McCartney, I spent a small fortune for our
family to go see him. I’m not trying to insult Paul, but there are
other people out there that can do some things that even Paul can not
do. Michael Quest is one of those musicians God has blessed with the
ability to do more than just play a great guitar.

Check out Michael Quest MySpace page and get his cd’s from CD Baby Website.
First check out the podcast below and hear what Michael Quest has to
say and what this very gifted musician’s music sounds like.

Michael Quest MySpace page

CD Baby Website to buy Michael Quest – 168 Blues (2008)

CD Baby Website to buy Michael Quest – 24-7-365 (2003)

Michael Quest cd’s are also available iTunes and other outlets.

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Blood Red Sun is a powerful band out of New York City with a sense of
direction. They wish to bring social awareness back to music. Blood
Red Sun has financed their first cd and what a cd it is. Great
recordings, performance, songs and deep lyrics. This is like U2 use to
be but with more power in their rock and even deeper lyrics. One of
the first times I heard this band I got mad “why is this U2 song mixed
in with these new artist”? Looked at the iPod “oh this is not U2 but
Blood Red Sun”. At this point I started taking Blood Red Sun
seriously. This is a band I know I’ll be playing months down the line
and thoroughly enjoying. Some of these songs may take a little getting
into but it’s well worth the time. You will be rewarded many times
over.

Play list of songs:
1. It Gets You No Ware
2. Pray For Rain
3. So It Goes
4. Enemy
5. Love Letter
6. All At Once

It’s interesting they were reading the book “No One Gets Out Alive”
about The Doors. From that they got into the bands from classic rock
period. Like The Doors, Blood Red Sun has very interesting lyrics.
They really make you think about what the song is about, how does this
relate to me and what should I do about this now. Many of the songs
are a call to action.

This is some of the lyrics from Blood Red Sun’s “All At Once”
My patience has worn thin into a void
Diminish wait around it’s all the same
The television flashes a loaded gun
Says believe believe it at once
And now I’ve got a brand new reason …to feel

The radio waves they have been cut off
And believe believe it all at once
Now I’ve got a brand new reason to feel

Jason explained that the new artist of today, are being cut off from
the radio waves.
They’re being forced in to an under ground music scene. Much like the
artist of the late 60’s or the Grunge bands that were cut off of radio
play. The good news is what emerges from this will be a far better
music than what the corporate record companies are putting out now.

“Bands like the Clash were really talking about something in their
lyrics. It was reflective of the time in which they lived. They made
it very cool to be aware, awake and educated. We make every effort to
do the same thing.” Blood Red Sun“We’re carrying the torch of some very basic human elements that artists
have been talking about since the beginning of time. The trouble is,
as soon as artists bring these ideas to the world — they’re
forgotten. A new generation of artists needs to do the same thing in a
more current context.” Blood Red Sun

Blood Red Sun is:
Jason – Vocals & Gtr
Justin – Gtr. Keyboards
Matt – Bass
Jessica – Percussion

Check out Blood Red Sun MySpace page
CD Baby Website – to buy the cd
More information on Blood Red Sun
See videos of Blood Red Sun

Jimmi’s cd Rockin’ & Jumpin starts off with a rockin’ and jumpin’, no
not the song Rockin’ & Jumpin, it is rockin’ and jumpin. “Dance My
Blues Away” is the first song with an introduction of a uplifting
piano playing, a sax crying, and what sounds like hands clapping.
You can’t help getting in involved too.

The third song “Don’t You Wanna Be
Mine, Girl?” picks up the beat and keeps you rockin. The lyrics are a
bit repetitive but who cares. It’s about the music and you’re in the
groove with them. About a minute into the song a cool sax solo kicks
in. This really gives you a great feel of a by gone day when music did
not have to be telling you some great message. It just gives you a
great beat and lets you dance away the night. Further along we hear
“I’m Goin’ Crazy for You, Baby” a good clapping rockin’ song as well is
“You Keep Me Satisfied”. All these songs barely break two minutes just
like the old days when they had to be short to get air play. What
record from those days could not have a song about a car? In comes
“Cadillac Coupe de Ville” about cursing in this hot, cool car. What
could be better than this. Maybe getting your own copy of Jimmi
Accardi’s Rockin’ and Jumpin or any of his other fine cd’s,
like “Rockabilly Blues” and “Rhythm and Blues” if you want
to get back to the style of music that started this whole rock n’ roll
thing. Check out some of these links for Jimmi Accardi’s cd.

Wile you listen the show on Jimmi Accardi check out:
Jimmi Accardi Website
Jimmi Accardi MySpace page
Go to CD Baby Website to buy the cd
Jimmi Accardi – Rockin’ & Jumpin
Jimmi Accardi – Rockabilly Blues
Jimmi Accardi – Rhythm and Blues

Also see Jimmi at:
Molehill Music The Laughing Dogs (one of Jimmi’s early bands)
Seven of the cd’s were produced by Eddie Kramer
Oh why didn’t I ask him about that. : (

Jimmi’s radio show focuses on the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Thanks Jimmi

The Rock And Rollover Show
Don’t forget to check out Peter King’s Rock And Rollover Show where he puts three new songs in with songs from past episodes. This is a great way to really get to know these independent bands, hearing a song one time is not enough. You have to roll it over and over with The Rock And Rollover Show.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Jimmi Accardi is a man who is passionate about making his music sound
authentic to its time period. No digital recorders no transistor amps,
no big studios. Jimmi loves the rock music of the fifties and early
sixties. You can tell from the first song on his cd Rockin’ & Jumpin’
you’re going to be dancing your blues away.

It’s not that it just rocks out, and it does, but it sounds like it really is from the fifties.
When I first came across Jimmi’s MySpace page I was confused, was it from the
song playing (Dance My Blues Away) new or old. Was it receded in the
fifties or now, was it a cover or a new song. Now that is the sign of
a man who has taken the time to study how the great records of our
forefathers (Elvis, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holy) made there great records.
Back in a time when music was about the music and not about how good
someone looked. I could go on and on about why you need to get this cd
but words are useless. You need to hear the song, then you will
know what I mean.

Wile you listen the show on Jimmi Accardi check out:
Jimmi Accardi Website
Jimmi Accardi MySpace page
Go to CD Baby Website to buy the cd
Jimmi Accardi – Rockin’ & Jumpin
Jimmi Accardi – Rockabilly Blues
Jimmi Accardi – Rhythm and Blues Also see Jimmi at:
Molehill Music
The Laughing Dogs (one of Jimmi’s early bands)
Seven of the cd’s were produced by Eddie Kramer
Oh why didn’t I ask him about that. : (Jimmi’s radio show focuses on the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Below are two audio files:
The first one (the podcast) has the highlights from the interview and
all the music.
The second file is the whole interview. Jimmi is very down to earth
and quite interesting.
Below each player it gives the Time/Hide Player/ Play in Popup /Download
Click on “Play in Popup” then you can go to other pages/websites and
the show will keep playing. Enjoy.

To the listeners of A1 Artist Spotlight .Com

A1 Artist Spotlight .Com is going through some changes.
The website is going to be scaled back.
The spotlight show will only have a post on Thursday and Friday for now.
Tuesday’s show will have a post and three or four songs from past
spotlight artist.

I will now be doing phone interviews with the artists.
So each spotlight show will start with the artist talking and then the music.
The songs will still be played back to back without any interruption between them.
The shows will probably go up to 30 minutes and give you far more
insight into the artists and their music.

Thank you for all your loyal support.
I hope this will to be an even better show for you.

A1 Mark