Matt's EMPRA Files

The internet is such a great platform to discover awesome music from all around the world. During my browsing today I came across this brand new kickass rock n roll band from Los Angeles called Sonny Boy Thorn.

Sonny Boy Thorn have this unique take on classic rock which is really fresh and exciting! 

The band stems from two Los Angeles musos Christopher Thorn (Blind Melon/ established record producer) and Davie Dennis (Voxhaul Broadcast). 

Christopher Thorn produced the smash hit Sail for AWOLNATION and went on tour with them on guitar. During the tour he started to crave a new project and Sonny Boy Thron was born! 

He clearly made the right choice because Sonyn Boy Thorn have such a great sound.  

You can check out their tunes here: http://sonnyboythorn.com/music/ 

Dividers are one of my favorite Australian bands and they recently released a brand new single… And it does not let down!

This latest tune ‘Best Laid Plans’ is classic Dividers. Tight as hell, catchy, puncy and all so magically riffy. 

Check out the AWESOME new song: https://soundcloud.com/thisisdividers/best-laid-plans 

Dividers are one of the only bands I have ever seen who can be practically legless off stage, and then go on and nail some of the most brilliantly tricky riffs! Has to be seen to be beleived!  

These legends have always been super cool to us when we play in Sydney and we’ve had some really fun nights with the guys. Keep your eyes peeled as you very well may be able to see EMPRA playing on the same bill as these dudes again very soon! 

Before then though make sure you go and support the single launch tour as it will be especially rad! And go buy the single on iTunes!

https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/best-laid-plans-single/id999965265 

Wasted Wanderers are this fantastic blues rock band from Adelaide and they are releasing their brilliant debut EP Goddamn Anything this weekend.

This band is the brainchild of Dusty Lee Stephenson, this rad dude who has played on many bills with EMPRA over the years and is always so warming and welcoming when we are in town. 

Dusty has played in tones of bands over the journey, and they have always been something special.. but this band is by far my favourite!

It suits him perfectly.. great songwriting, powerful vocals, soulful, bluesy and really rocking at the same time. To put it best, this EP is TITS!

You can check out a stream of the EP prior to its release here: http://ripitup.com.au/music/premiere-wasted-wanderers-debut-ep-goddamn-anything/#.VYEj6WC73R1

And if you are in Adelaide this weekend make sure you get along and check this show out. Wish I could be there myself!

Alright!! One of the coolest Fuzz Rock, shoegazey, rocking bands around Pretty City have just dropped three brand new singles in one hit! And they seriously rock!!

I’ve always been a big fan of these guys since EMPRA and them shared a stage together waaaaaay back. And we’ve done a heap of shows together ever since. 

These new songs are in my opinion the best stuff they’ve done, which is pretty bloody impressive if you ask me. 

All three tunes are quite different from each other, but work so well together as well. Seriously just check them out!

https://soundcloud.com/pretty-city/melt

https://soundcloud.com/pretty-city/running-around

https://soundcloud.com/pretty-city/second-hand-clothes

They are about to hit the road to support these singles, so check out the dates below and make sure you get along and support them if they are playing in your area. Great bunch of dudes and such a cool sounding band.

Local Melbourne dudes Ablaze have been playing around the traps for a short while now and they always put on a kickass energetic show. So it was no suprise to me their new single ‘The Hard Way’ was such a killer tune.

The new single has a real ballsy rock n roll sound with very powerful production and great vocal harmonies that really sets the song apart. In parts it has a bit of an Alice in Chains feel about it. Super cool! 

Make sure you check out the clip below, and if you like what you hear go support them by buying the track at iTunes. Come on!! It costs you half a coffee!! 

Wow! This cool punk rock band called Sorority Noise who hail from Connecticut in the USA have just released a brand new tune called ’Art School Wannabe’

I’m hearing a bit of Weezer vibe crossed with an awesome party punk rock of the early 2000s sound. If this song is anything to go by then their forthcoming album Joy, Departed which is due out June 16 is going to be fucking killer!

Check out the tune here! 

If you like what you hear, make sure you support them by buying some shit over at their Bandcamp page. 

Hopefully we can cross paths with these guys when we get over to the USA later this year, or of course if they head over to Australia.

Yesterday we recorded the first of a weekly episode called EMPRA Jam. It is a snippet or a section of a song that we will record and upload every Monday. Our first episode was a preview of one of our new songs called ‘Rebecca’.

When we stopped singing however, the camera was still rolling. Check out the highlights of behind the scenes action.