July 2021 | MendoWerks

Apple TV+ Launches ‘Watch The Sound With Mark Ronson’ Today (Review)

30Jul

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Music, Reviews

Apple TV+ Launches ‘Watch The Sound With Mark Ronson’ Today (Review)

First things first: it would be impossible for me to be impartial when it comes to all things Mark Ronson. I fell deeply in love with his early production work for Nikka Costa. I played tracks from his first solo album "Here Comes The Fuzz" on the air at 97X/WOXY-FM in my past life as an alt-radio programmer. I put on my headphones religiously to stream his weekly East Village Radio show "Authentic Shit" in the mid-aughts. I have spent far too much money on collecting vinyl of his albums and remixes. All of that to say, when I got the press release for his new Apple TV+ docuseries called "Watch The Sound With Mark Ronson," I couldn't wait to watch. I was fortunate to be able to watch the full series early and am happy to say it doesn't disappoint. Mark is undoubtedly a ver...

PVRIS release explosive new single “Monster”

30Jul

By SimonNo Comments

Events, Music, Reviews

PVRIS release explosive new single “Monster”

Alt-pop heavyweights PVRIS have returned with a new single and tour. The synth-driven 'Monster' is another big step on their journey after the release of the Use Me album last year. The new album is seen as part of the bands' evolution as frontwoman Lynn Gunn stepped forward as leader and architect of the project. She wrote, played all the instruments, and sang on all 11 songs. JT Daly aka K. Flay produced the project. PVRIS' nearly month-long US tour kicked off August 6 in Detroit and runs through a sold-out September 2 date at the Fonda Theater in LA. Royal and the Serpent will be opening up on most of these shows. 'Monster’ is a song about reckoning with outside opinions and expectations put upon oneself. It can be easy to take on the weight of negative situations/opinions...

Grammy-Nominated Blues Artist Kenny Neal Inks New Management Deal

29Jul

By SimonNo Comments

Music

Grammy-Nominated Blues Artist Kenny Neal Inks New Management Deal

Talented blues rocker Kenny Neal has signed a new management deal ahead of a planned album release in 2022. The Professional Group LLC is headed up by Terry Harvey who feels Kenny's talents are unique. As a second-generation southern Louisiana bluesman, Kenny was in his first band (with his father) by age 13 and landed a job playing with Buddy Guy by age 17. Since then he's gone on to release a number of albums and has earned multiple Grammy nominations and other awards. 'Kenny is a unique talent, whose accomplishments are incomparable. We are thrilled to have him as a client.'- Terry Harvey Kenny recently connected with Stevie Wonder, Bobby Rush, and Marlon Jackson on Tito Jackson's new single 'Love One Another'. Work continues on his next album, more information is expected so...

L.A. Rockers Dead Sara Announce First Tour In Three Years

28Jul

By SimonNo Comments

Events, Music

L.A. Rockers Dead Sara Announce First Tour In Three Years

Making their highly anticipated return to the road, Dead Sara has rolled out a number of new tour dates. Set to kick off September 17 at Summerfest in Milwaukee, the tour will wrap a few weeks later with a homecoming gig at The Roxy in Los Angeles. Tickets are on sale now and you can get the scoop through their website. Some VIP upgrades are still available, you can link to their fan site The Deadicated for more information or to check on availability. Dead Sara has been hard at work on new material over the last 18 months and you can expect more new music soon. Their most recent single 'Hands Up' was released in November of 2020. Tour Dates 9/17 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest (w/ The Struts)9/18 – Minneapolis, MN @ Amsterdam Music Hall9/20 – Kansas City, MO @ recordbar9...

Disney’s “Jungle Cruise” a Ride Worth Taking (Review)

27Jul

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Film, Reviews

Disney’s “Jungle Cruise” a Ride Worth Taking (Review)

After the wild success of five movies based on the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride that collectively earned over $4.5 billion at the global box office, it shouldn't be surprising that Disney would adapt more of their famous theme park attractions for the big screen. When I first heard that they were going to make a movie out of the Jungle Cruise ride that began in Disneyland back in 1955, I was extraordinarily skeptical. It wasn't until I saw the first trailer that I started to get intrigued at what they had done. It all starts with director Jaume Collet-Serra, who has previously made several horror and suspense films like "House Of Wax" and "The Shallows." He's managed to take what could have been a rather boring idea and infused it with the kind of wild adventure spirit that har...

Talented Singer/Songwriter McKayla Prew Preps Album With “Gone” Release

26Jul

By mendowerksNo Comments

Music

Talented Singer/Songwriter McKayla Prew Preps Album With “Gone” Release

Michigan-based singer/songwriter McKayla Prew is gearing up for the release of her new album by letting fans hear a taste of what's to come. 'Gone' is the third single from the project after both of the initial releases connected with fans. The subject matter of this new track is quite personal. According to Prew, 'Gone is written about two of my close friends who passed away in a tragic accident. I got inspired to write this song from their mom's social media page dedicated to their passing.' According to Buzz-Music, Prew got off on the right foot at a young age by learning six different instruments while experiencing extensive vocal training. For album release updates, be sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvwgP6UKkAg

Sundance Hit ‘How It Ends’ Brings The Apocalypse Home (Review)

23Jul

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Film, Reviews

Sundance Hit ‘How It Ends’ Brings The Apocalypse Home (Review)

When the end credits began to roll on its brisk 82-minute running time, I said to my partner how much I enjoyed "How It Ends" and that it reminded me of the glory days of American independent film in the 90s. He laughed and noted that the whole time he was thinking about Richard Linklater's 1990 classic, "Slacker." There is a shared cinematic universe between the two - both features offer a meandering "day in the life" scenario giving the viewer a series of characters who float in and out of the film and give us a handful of perfect moments. While "Slacker" showed us a random day in late 1980s Austin, Texas, this literal doomsday comedy has us on the streets of Los Angeles in the 24 hours before a giant meteor makes contact with Earth and kills us all. Zoe Lister-Jones and her h...

Gary Clark Jr. Extends Summer Tour Into Fall

22Jul

By SimonNo Comments

Events, Music

Gary Clark Jr. Extends Summer Tour Into Fall

After Gary Clark Clark Jr.'s initial tour announcement, much of America was left without a nearby concert. That all changed with news of another round of tour dates that extends his summer tour itinerary into the fall months. The tour opener in Clark's hometown of Austin, Texas sold out so a second date was added. Additional dates include shows from Maine to Louisiana. Tickets are on sale now and more info can be found here. g sights on 2022, keep your eye out for a European Gun's 'n Roses tour with Clark as the opener. In case you're wondering what's next, work continues on the follow-up to 2019's This Land. An album that would go on to win three Grammy Awards including Best Rock Song for the title track. For more updates, follow Gary on Twitter and Instagram. https://w...

Blues-rocker Billie Williams Drops New Single “Thief In The Night”

21Jul

By mendowerksNo Comments

Music

Blues-rocker Billie Williams Drops New Single “Thief In The Night”

New York Blues Hall of Famer Billie Williams has been singing with bands entertaining audiences since she was just 16 years old. www.billiewilliamsmusic.com According to a recent press release she's back with a new single that 'channels raw emotions of love and tells of feelings about a suitor's subtle yet persistent attempts to woo her'. 'Thief In The Night' is packed with searing lead guitar, dirty organ fills with a dynamic rhythm section that evokes classic rock vibes with a modern sensibility. It's really quite refreshing to hear new blues music being created as a counterbalance to today's pop music (lack of) variety. Williams', a native of Boston, MA, performance with an earlier project was described by the Boston Globe as 'riveting, she sang of joy and heartache with...

“Fear Street” Trilogy Brings The Thrills (Review)

20Jul

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Film, Reviews

“Fear Street” Trilogy Brings The Thrills (Review)

R.L. Stine's original "Fear Street" book series was a step up from his "Goosebumps" books that offered age-appropriate scares for young readers. Director Leigh Janiak has taken things a lot further, accelerating the "Fear Street" series into full-blown R-rated territory with a captivating trilogy that recently launched on Netflix. Originally conceived as a theatrical play for Fox before Disney's acquisition, these would have certainly been fun to watch on the big screen with an audience, but play excellently at home as a fun summer escape. All three films are centered around the legend of Sarah Fier, a young woman in 1666 who was accused of being a witch and died after a man in her village named Solomon Goode (Ashley Zukerman) made a deal with the devil to provide his family w...