The Blue Danes Release Highly Anticipated Debut Album "Invisible And Untouchable"

Cedar Falls-based alt-rock band, The Blue Danes have released their debut album "Invisible and Untouchable" on Chicago label Loki Valhalla Productions. This haunting lyrical masterpiece includes the highly anticipated release of the popular single 'Beautiful and Sad' which has earned over 24,000 YouTube views.

Formed after the breakup of the local alt-rock band Toast, ex-bassist Shaun Courbat and ex-guitarist Frank Hansen partnered with veteran drummer Skip Lowe to form The Blue Danes. Their name stems from an ironic blend of lead singer/songwriter Frank Hansen's melancholy melodies with his red and blue-blooded Danish upbringing. The Blue Danes' sound has been compared to The National, Tindersticks, Velvet Underground, and the Moody Blues.

Produced by GRAMMY® nominated producer Tom Tatman (Stone Sour), Invisible and Untouchable is a lyrical and composition masterpiece that will give you goosebumps.

Listen to "Invisible and Untouchable" on Soundcloud, ReverbNation, and Spotify.

For more information visit www.thebluedanes.com or email frank@thebluedanes.com

http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=190841

Obsidian - Throw It Back with Their Latest, 'XV'

The men who make up Obsidian have pasts made up of a variety of sounds, but they came together to form a band that took a page out of the past, tossed in a raw element and resulted in an eclectic mass of rock. Their album, XV, was recorded in one take, song after song with no breaks, no effects minus a bit on guitar, just a few men and their instruments taking on their craft with precision.

Cole and Reggie came up together in the Orange County scene back in the 80's and after they connected with Brad, their sound transformed from what was popular at the time, New Wave, to a more substance filled rock. Meeting in the halls of their high school, their love of music was undeniable - no matter the genre, and Cole notes, "Since we got together the first time we have been jamming and experimenting ever since." That experimentation has led them to their latest, XV, an album that Cole knows is standing out from the current releases, "I don't believe anyone is doing this except maybe Jack White, who is looking at the old blues bands and their simplicity to form an eclectic prequel to relive what was good about back then."

With their raw take on rock, Obsidian has kept busy playing around Orange County in San Clemente, Dana Point and Costa Mesa, but they are currently planning on branching out and hitting the festival circuit come the summer - as well as leaving California.

Those interested in hearing more from Obsidian, or booking them for a festival this summer, can check them out online or get in touch with the info provided below.

About:
Obsidian is a rock band from Southern California whose 70's style brings a new, but familiar sound to today's world.

Links:
Official Site: https://obsidian.hearnow.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ObsidianXV/
ReverbNations: https://www.reverbnation.com/obsidianxv
CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/obsidian6
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/obsidian/id4007269

http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=190786

Electropop Artist, Nearly a Nation, Keeps Momentum Going With Songs of Protest and Hope on New Album

Columbus, Ohio-based electropop singer/songwriter/producer Nick Long, also known as Nearly a Nation, is releasing his new album "Conquest" on April 14th, featuring inspiring stories and extraordinary sounds after a year of hard work and dedication. NaN's music talent and sense of national consciousness is sure to make this album stand out and shine within the electronic music scene.

Conquest is the second album of what NaN alludes to as a seven-part series, one he plans to finish over the course of the next five to six years. Despite tackling such heavy topics as mass surveillance on the track "Strange Days" and government corruption on "Tornado," one still has the sense NaN remains optimistic with tracks like "Pioneers" and "You and I Will Be Alright." Long's ability to juxtapose critiques of our current world with hope for the future gives meaning to his moniker, Nearly a Nation.

"Conquest" Track Listing:
1. Strange Days
2. Pioneers
3. Tornado
4. I Wanna Feel Everything
5. Improvise
6. All We Want
7. You and I Will Be Alright
8. Weightless
9. Nothing Comes Close to You
10. The Beginning All Over Again

When expressing his ideologies in his music, NaN does the writing, recording and mixing all by himself as a one person band. In addition, he also designed a number of the tonal/instrumental sounds himself for Conquest. His debut self-released album Outburst proved his musical ability by winning him Best Song Dance/Electronica for January 2016 from The Akademia, which described his single 'Radiate' as "demonstrating unusual vocal talent and musical imagination... [and it] may very well be the power pop vehicle to lift Nearly a Nation to the global stage."

Other Press Quotes:

"The kind of talent that belongs on the big stage."
Top40-Charts.com

"I'd like to help [him] get to the next level."
Shaun Robinson, Program Director of KEDG Radio

"Incredibly poignant."
Indie Anthems

Find out more here:
http://www.nearlyanation.bandcamp.com/album/conquest
http://www.nearlyanation.com
http://www.facebook.com/nearlyanation

http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=190698

Robert Kramer Releases New Single In Honor Of Billy Joels' "Piano Man" Induction By The National Recording Preservation Board

Dimension One Records announces the official release of "Just Another Piano Man," the new single by Robert Kramer, from the upcoming album Shadow Logic. The song was penned by Kramer as a tip-of-the-hat to Billy Joel's iconic hit, "Piano Man;" an homage to the song being recently inducted into the Library of Congress.

"Just Another Piano Man," echoes Kramer’s personal sentiment of working the piano-bar circuit as a struggling musician. The Library’s National Recording Board (NRPB) chooses 25 recordings that are deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant," every year, and graciously, Kramer’s enticing piece has made the cut for 2016.

"Every musician who has ever experienced what its like to be a "Piano Man" owes a vote of thanks to Billy Joel for that song," comments Kramer, who knows first-hand the challenges and often thankless job of playing for inattentive bar patrons.

"Playing in a piano bar can be frustrating; it teaches you humility, endurance and patience," he quips. "But it can also be incredibly rewarding as well...it gives you the chance to make a difference up-close and personal. It made me a better musician and performer, not to mention getting repeated requests for that song in one night," Kramer laughs. "Every musician who’s been a piano man has their own story to tell about it; "Just Another Piano Man" was mine."

Kramer, who also writes music for film and television, has worked the piano bar circuit in between recording and producing a number of albums and music videos. The energetic and passionate tune shares the frustration and pitfalls of being a piano man on the lounge circuit; a theme many musicians can relate to. The track gracefully shows Kramer’s skills as a musician, lyricist and songwriter; the ultimate triple threat.

The lyrics of the piece contain a name-dropping litany of artists Kramer has received requests for night after night. "They're all there, from Sinatra to Gaga, and everything in between...I've even had requests for opera," Kramer states.

He nervously adds, "I just hope Billy approves..." It’s pretty certain that Joel will....

http://www.robertkramermusic.com

http://www.jango.com/music/Robert+Kramer

http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=190678

Indie Music Channel Awards Honors Les Fradkin With Fourteen Rock, Instrumental and Classical Nominations

The 5th Annual Indie Music Channel Awards - Hollywood has nominated Les Fradkin for Fourteen awards in their annual red carpet event taking place in Los Angeles, April 24th, 2016, at the Clive Davis Theatre inside the legendary Grammy Museum. The nominations are taken from the successful RRO Entertainment album releases, "Mr. Midi Guitar" and "Rehearsals For Retirement" by Les Fradkin.

Fradkin's categories of nomination are:
• Best Rock Song - performance song title, "Sabre Dance"
• Best Rock Producer - performance song title, "Lift Off" and "God Bless California (Oooh L.A.)"
• Best Instrumental Artist - performance song title, "Sabre Dance"
• Best Instrumental Recording - recording title, "Sabre Dance"
• Best Instrumental Song - performance song title, "Lift Off"
• Best Male Classical Artist - performance song title, "Sabre Dance"
• Best Classical Recording - recording title, "Ode To Joy"
• Best Classical Producer - performance song title(s) "Lift Off", "Ode To Joy" and "Sabre Dance"
• Best Classical Video Under $5K - performance song title "Canon In D"
• Best Special Videos Under $5K - performance song title "Canon In D"
• Album Of The Year - "Mr. Midi Guitar"

This is Fradkin's fourth time being nominated by the Indie Music Channel Awards. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, Fradkin received several nominations for in the Classical Genre, taking home the Best Classical Recording accolade in 2014 for "Canon In D".

Les Fradkin is a 21st Century "New Media" Artist and Composer / Innovator/ Guitarist. An Original Cast member of "Beatlemania", Virtuoso Guitarist and a Pioneer of MIDI Guitar.

Les is a successful songwriter/composer from the 1970's, lead guitarist, and one of the original members of the hit Broadway show "Beatlemania". He was a Guitar Synthesizer and Tapeless Recording pioneer of the 1980's, a neoclassical guitar trendsetter in the 1990's and is now a 21st Century innovator as a virtuoso MIDI Guitarist with the Starr Labs Ztar. A classically trained musician as well as being a rock guitarist, he has found success as a recording artist, composer and producer with MGM Sunflower, ESP-Disk, Bell, Arista, RCA, and Laurie Records. Les has written the well known hit "La Chansons Des Souvenirs" ("Song Of A Thousand Voices") for the famous French songstress Mireille Mathieu on the Philips label and this tune has also been recorded in a hit version on RCA Victor (now Sony/BMG) by the Latin Pop icon Roberto Jordan ("Donde"). He was originally discovered and signed by John Hammond Sr. at Columbia back in 1969.

He has played Mellotron, 12 and 6-string Guitar, Bass and Piano on dozens of Top 40 hit records throughout the early 1970's , and 1980's, scoring many US and UK chart placings throughout his career. His current instrumental music, is a mixture of various influences and signposts from Classic Rock,, Baroque and Progressive music. Current release: "Mr. Midi Guitar".

http://www.lesfradkin.com

http://www.reverbnation.com/lesfradkin

http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=190669

Ooberfuse Signs With MusicDish*China For Artist Development And Touring

MusicDish*China announced the addition of British electro-pop duo Ooberfuse to its roster. Launched in 2010, MusicDish*China is one of the few Western-based companies focused on developing and touring international acts in China, ranging from Jazz (French singer Clotilde), electro (Canadian DJ duo Eagle I Stallian) and R&B (Australian singer Shameem) to indie rock (Canada's Lyric Dubee) and more.

MusicDish*China will be developing the Ooberfuse's presence on Chinese social and mobile media, digitally releasing a custom-edition debut EP and booking their inaugural 2016 China tour. "With hundreds of gigs around the globe under their belt, Ooberfuse is the perfect band to introduce to the world's largest music market," noted MusicDish founder Eric de Fontenay.

The duo is equally at home performing to an audience of 2 million in Madrid, to hundreds in one of Rio de Janeiro’s notorious favelas, or in front of the House of Lords in the UK. In addition to touring the UK, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Canada, Philippines and Iraq, they have graced the stage of some of Britain’s most prestigious venues – including the O2 in Greenwich, Leicester Square Theatre, Bush Hall and Trafalgar Square.

Since the start of the year, MusicDish*China has released albums in China for Canadian-Portuguese rock band Menage and California-based DJ Sun Junkie as well as organizing Clotilde's fourth Asia tour in May, including performance at Korea's Jazz in Seoul festival and Beijing's Dream Festival.

Learn more about MusicDish*China:
http://china.musicdish.com
http://www.twitter.com/MusicDish_China
http://www.facebook.com/groups/musicdishchina/
http://www.weibo.com/musicdishchina
wechat: @musicdish

Learn more about Ooberfuse:
http://www.ooberfuse.com
http://www.facebook.com/ooberfuse
http://www.soundcloud.com/ooberfuse
http://www.youtube.com/ooberfuseband
Twitter : @ooberfuse

http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=190400