We recently had the distinct honor to check out the new single, “Wanted”, from Phoenix, Arizona, indie Folk/Americana singer-songwriter, Izzy Mahoubi. You can listen to “Wanted” Here
Blending influences from The Beatles and Fiona Apple, Izzy creates her own soulful folk sound with elements of classic rock. She writes her lyrics like she’s talking to a friend- disclosing deepest insecurities and unafraid to share blunt, sometimes comedic, details.
At just 20, Izzy has spent the last few years opening for artists around America such as Adam Melchor, Em Beihold, LAUNDRY DAY, Mt Joy, and more. “Wanted” by Izzy Mahoubi is an indie folk song about unrequited love for the worst person you’ve ever met! Drawing inspiration from Joni Mitchell and Mt. Joy, “Wanted” is a backyard picking, summer song, for the girls. Izzy writes about a man child who, “likes his women the way he likes his light beer-low commitment” with the self awareness that, “there’s something about not being wanted by someone”. Written and recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, the Lumineers-esk song features gang vocals from her best friends creating an anthem for friends to sing with/at each other.
When writing songs, it is paramount to tell the truth . The truth is real , relatable and honest. Izzy Mahoubi, brings all of this front and center on “Wanted” and it is a thing of beauty.
Izzy Mahoubi, has so many layers and dimensions to her music that make her a one of a kind artist with a voice that needs to be heard.
“Wanted”is one song you need to listen to immediately.
All music compositions start the same , a blank undefined thought that finds life and melody , that is then shared with the world . Boston and phoenix melodic noise rock duo , CanyonsAnd Locusts, deliver to the universe and beyond, their striking concept record The GoalGigolo today, (Friday, February 21) , about a ’70s-era anti-hero who can’t seem to escape his own past misfortunes.
You can listen to , “The GoalGigolo” on Bandcamp Here
At the core of the beautiful noise and fuzz that is feverishly front and center on “The Goal Gigolo” , from Canyons And Locust , is the cinematic and musical greatness that makes , “The Goal Gigolo , shine.
“The Goal Gigolo” draws together several storytelling narrators underneath the duo’s unhinged wall of fuzzed-out rock and roll. It fully realizes an unfurling narrative from vocalist, guitarist, and bassist Justin Keane and drummer Amy Young that began in November with the release of the gritty, confrontational, and catchier-than-an-attitude lead single “Anna Save A Life” and last month’s anthemic, ebullient, and riff-fueled “Day of the Canyon.”
The Goal Gigolo, tabbed by WBUR, Boston’s NPR, as one of the most-anticipated New England records of the winter, and after a deep listen, we completely agree. There is no reason, why “The Goal Gigolo” should be on a gazillion different “Best Albums” of 2025.
From the opening note on “Have To Fire That Goal Gigolo” , it is crystal clear that Canyons And Locusts have harnessed musical nirvana.
“Broadly speaking, The Goal Gigolo is the story of a guy who makes his living solving others’ emotional problems while trying not to get entangled with them romantically,” says Keane. “It’s set in the 1970s, so I guess we weren’t calling those people life coaches yet.”
And like most moments of inspiration, the seeds of the story first came to Keane in a dream.
“It sounds made up, but scout’s honor truth here – I had a really vivid dream about a guy named The Goal Gigolo, and the dream was very much sepia-toned and ‘70s feeling, so much so that when I woke up I slapped the details into ChatGPT for fun and asked it to come up with an imaginary show pitch. Then a couple of hours later I was like… wait… an ALBUM!”
Courtesy of the band
The cinematic saga of The Goal Gigolo, like some kind of distant cousin to Robert Altman’s film The Long Goodbye, plays out like the latest hit Netflix drama we all binge-watch over a weekend and talk about with coworkers on Slack or Teams come Monday morning.
Every song on “The GoalGigolo”, from Canyons And Locusts are energetic sonically perfect gems that feature the thunderous and powerful drumming of Amy Young and the one of kind and authentic voice and fuzzed out guitar genius of Justin Keane.
The well woven story in “The Goal Gigolo” had us literally hanging on every word . Besides the lead single, “Anna Save A life” and the follow up , “Day Of The Canyon “ , we found ourselves gravitating towards other stellar tracks such as , “Trapped In Trigger, “Here Come The Buzzards “, and “Take Me Back Lee’s
“It was Justin’s dream, but easy for me to connect with – the songs tell the stories,” Young adds. “It’s a journey, and watching journeys unfold is fascinating. It’s a movie that I see in my mind based on Justin’s words. I got to help add a soundtrack to this guy’s goings-on. What’s not awesome about that?”
Picking a favorite track, on an album like , “The Goal Gigolo “, is next to impossible, however the one track that really stood out to us was…. “Motorwall Oil” , this is Canyons And Locusts, at their absolute best . ( The drum and guitar sounds they were able to create are absolutely otherworldly) Everything about this track is spectacularly magnificent. The one thing that really stood out to us on “Motorwall Oil” , how both Young and Keane were almost cosmically connected.
“I listen to what he’s telling me,” Young says. “We’ve known each other and played together for a long time, so generally, I know where his core is at – the nature of where he’s coming from. If not, we’ll talk about it, and then it’s about thinking about how to bring that to life sonically — but also not overthinking it because we leave a lot for the moment when we just play each song and let that give it a lot of its life. And that is really exciting. It starts with him bringing something to me, and then it becomes a glorious conversation.”
“The Goal Gigolo “ , was Produced by Justin Keane and Ethan Dussault. Recorded and mixed by Ethan Dussault at New Alliance Studio in 2023, 2024. Mastered by NickZampiello at New Alliance East, 2024
We recently had the fantastic opportunity to check out the earth shaking new single “DayOf The Canyon “ from the Boston and Phoenix melodic noise-rock duo, Canyons And Locusts You can listen to “Day Of The Canyon” on Spotify Here, Apple Music Here
It is the second offering from the band’s forthcoming discordant anti-hero concept album, The Goal Gigolo, which boils to the surface on February 21 and was tabbed by WBUR, Boston’s NPR, as one of the most-anticipated New England records of the winter. The album draws together several storytelling narrators underneath the duo’s unhinged wall of fuzzed-out rock and roll, and carries an unfurling narrative that began in November with the release of the gritty, confrontational, and catchier-than-an-attitude lead single “Anna Save A Life.”
There is such a commanding presence on “Day Of The Canyon “ from Canyons And Locusts. The sonic and melodic elements on the track complement each other perfectly.
Courtesy Of The Band
At its magnetic core, stripped of all the meaning and clues buried beneath lyrics and the Canyons and Locusts sound, “Day of the Canyon” is a declaration. It finds vocalist, guitarist, and bassistJustin Keane and drummerAmy Young locked into an adrenalized harmony, crafting their chaotic cacophony of sound – and ultimately, a storytelling vision – that extends far beyond the imagined capacities of two musicians currently situated on opposite sides of the country, leaning on a shared chemistry that belies their physical 2,700-mile separation.
“This is a song of arrival,” says Keane. “That’s the capstone lyric: ‘We have arrived’. Stepping off the plane and into the sun. Take your pictures and flash your bulbs. Game on.”Young agrees, adding: “It truly does come down to those three words. We are comfortable in our skin as a band in a very exciting way. We’ve kept the power from past lessons, shed the rest, and are here for all of what is now and what’s next.”
“Day Of The Canyon” from Canyons And Locusts is a musical triumph that shines the spotlight on impressive musicianship and music at it’s absolute best , find your favorite listening spot and get lost in the musical brilliance of “Days Of The Canyon”
We recently had the absolute honor to check out the new single “Anna Save A Life” from Boston and Phoenix melodic noise-rock duo, Canyons and Locusts. You can listen to the glorious new single “Anna Save A Life” Here
From the moment we heard the first note on “Anna Save A Life”, from Canyons and Locusts, we knew we were listening to pure melodic greatness. Everything about this song is drop dead perfect.
“Anna Save A Life” , is the first dose of new music from the Boston and Phoenix melodic noise-rock duo since March’s The Red Angel EP, a record dedicated to late Red on Red Records founder Justine Covault that earned mentions in Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, and elsewhere. And it’s the attention-grabbing inaugural blast from vocalist, guitarist, and bassistJustin Keane and drummerAmy Young’s forthcoming concept album, The Goal Gigolo, surfacing sometime in the early stages of 2025.
Courtesy Of The Band
To understand the unfolding world of The Goal Gigolo, a discordant, anti-hero record that draws together several storytelling narrators underneath Canyons and Locusts’ unhinged wall of fuzzed-out rock and roll, one must first embrace Anna. Even if our central eponymous character doesn’t quite understand who she may be or how she plays into this universe.
“Anna Save A Life” is a song from the vantage of a guy looking at the pit,” Keane says. “The line at the beginning of the song – ‘neon lights and empty nights, my disgrace’ – is the rosetta stone for this one. This album is the story of a pretty flawed protagonist, himself The Goal Gigolo, who’s made some bad decisions and has gotten himself into trouble trying to help people in his new location. He’s got to go through some shit to get back on his feet again, and he’s looking at that pit he’s about to jump into, but at that same time he’s got enough gallows humor to imagine writing a letter to someone named Anna who might very well save someone’s life – a life, not necessarily his.”
Produced by Keane and Ethan Dussault, and recorded and mixed by Dussault at New Alliance Studio in Somerville, MA, with mastering by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East earlier this year, “Anna Save A Life” is a tale of desperation. It’s also the first Canyons and Locusts track to feature bass guitar, adding a low-end thunder to the band’s chaotic cacophony of sound.
There is beautiful fiber of kinetic energy that flows effortlessly throughout “Anna Save A Life” It’s a familiar and relatable feeling that lives within all of us and Canyons and Locusts beautifully and loudly bring it to life .
We started The Whole Kameese back in 2020 as a way to keep busy during the pandemic. We are so lucky to have worked with so many wonderful artists, promoters and other music professionals. We were also so blessed to be able to share so much amazing music . We have made the difficult decision to put the blog on the back burner. At this time we need to focus on other important matters. We do not know how long we will be away but, we will return. We thank all of you for your support
We recently had the phenomenal opportunity to check out the latest single “Nothing Yet” from Phoenix, Arizona alt-rock band Vinyl Station . You can listen to “Nothing Yet” Here
“Nothing Yet” is Vinyl Station’s fourth and final single leading up to their April 2024 Answer Slow EP, and it is absolutely beautiful.
Listening to “Nothing Yet” from Vinyl Station,is the equivalent of watching a cinematic masterpiece on the silver screen. Vinyl Station has artfully crafted a song with “Nothing yet” that is brimming with so many emotions, our music loving soul was moved beyond words .
“Nothing Yet” epitomizes Vinyl Station’s singular talent for transitioning from robust, larger-than-life power to pin-drop intimacy, engrossing the listener in its passage from its intense outer shell to an ultimately tender core. Lead singer Matthew Thornton’s delivery is captivating, at once movingly passionate and effortlessly engaging. Patrick Andrew’s rich bass lines and Roy Cameron’s full-bodied drumming gird up Sturgis Water’s lead guitar, which ranges from being absolutely immense at volume to subtly poignant in softer moments. Vinyl Station has that rare combination of four distinct musical identities operating in perfect creative harmony, and “Nothing Yet” puts that synergy on captivating display.
“Nothing yet” is honest , authentic and one of the most beautiful melodies you will ever hear out of your speakers. Do yourself a favor and get lost in the beauty of “Nothing Yet”
Full disclosure we here at The Whole Kameese LOVE Music, truth be told it’s our spirit animal. But sometimes we come across a collection of music that is Beyond LOVE it’s so good, that it’s next level. “The Red Angel“ from Boston and Phoenix melodic noise-rock duo , Canyons and Locusts definitely fits that description.
The EP is dedicated to the late Justine Covault, a tireless supporter of the band and whose Red on Red Records released their previous album. You can listen to “The Red Angel” on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Canyons and Locusts
We have been slowly falling deeper and deeper in love with the electrifying music from “The Red Angel”, due in part to a quartet of singles dating back to last fall. The six song EP, is only 13 minutes in length but the number of emotions you feel during the EP is truly endless. “The Red Angel” is the kind of EP, that is absolutely everything and then some. Melodically and sonically perfect in every possible way .
From the opening of “To Art Bell” all the way through to “Wave Out Sunkiss “ the listener is taken on a breathtakingly awesome musical journey that you won’t soon forget . The songs are loud , catchy and perfect .
“Soo All The Way” is a such a memorable and catchy gem , that we have caught ourselves on numerous occasions busting out the chorus in the most unexpected places. ( Your Welcome aisle 12 at MarketBasket) Honestly, from top to bottom “The Red Angel” doesn’t disappoint.
We found ourselves going back to all six tracks again and again, music this good shouldn’t be left unplayed. We really fell a connection with the track “Donna Summer “ the longest song on the EP comes across so heartfelt it’s hard not get emotional .
But underneath the tense, barnstorming surface is a tender core, one that finds vocalist and guitaristJustin Keane and drummerAmy Young bound by common interests – a feverish approach to crafting gritty, weathered rock and roll; a genuine trust in the other’s ability to understand the Canyons and Locusts core sonic identity; and a mutual love and appreciation for Justine Covault, the late Red on Red Records founder who passed away last summer, less than a year after her label released their debut album, Roll The Dice, in 2022.
“If we were making any statement with this record, it would be to just make loud, heartfelt noise in service to and in honor of your feelings, the people in your corner, and the things and people you love and who love you back,” says Keane.
And Young agrees, adding: “I think both in honor of Justine and aligning with our personal approaches to life, it’s just about doing what you want – things that don’t hurt anyone, don’t trample on anything, and are just pure acts of making the music you want with the people you want to and hoping that people can feel what it means to us…or even just get a line stuck in their head and come back for more.”
Its title a not-so-subtle nod to Covault’s colorful hair color and personal brand, The Red Angel is a cathartic release of pent-up tension, a fiery and impassioned record that redefines notions of “noise-rock” and ignores convention
Life is too short . Music is love. Fall in Love With “The Red Angel” from Canyons and Locusts.
New EP ‘The Red Angel’ is dedicated to Justine Covault and set for March release
We recently fell head over heels for the new single “Love Goes Down The Drain from Boston and Phoenix based melodic , noise rock duo Canyons And Locusts.
You can listen to “Love Goes Down The Drain” on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here.
Canyons And Locusts greet the holiday of love , with one big shrug and one even bigger punch. “Love Goes Down The Drain “ delivers quite the sonic punch, clocking in at a 1:44 runtime, it’s gritty and to the point, and unlike a thoughtless Valentine’s Day gift, doesn’t overstay its welcome. vocalist and guitaristJustin Keane and drummerAmy Young offer up a solidarity shrug to all who just roll with love’s freewheeling punches.
“Honestly, it’s pretty simple and the first two lines of the song say it all – ‘sometimes it’s out of reach, that’s why love goes down the drain’. Sometimes shit just falls apart and you can’t find the center anymore and that’s when things – relationships, friendships, fandoms, anything – get flushed down the toilet,” admits Keane.
“Underneath the title, there’s the message that sometimes it’s out of our control and at the end of the day, that’s okay if you did everything you could,”Keane adds. “I hate hearing people feeling badly on Valentine’s Day and while I don’t begrudge the holiday or a great love song, I also kinda… eh. Sometimes it’s out of reach… that’s ok. You’re ok.”
Canyons And Locusts have a genuine and authentic sound that is a beautifully woven gift of musical energy that will warm your music loving soul. “Love Goes Down The Drain “ is the latest melodic, noise rock masterpieces that is museum worthy.
We recently had the amazing opportunity to check out the latest single “Soo All The Way” from Boston+Phoenix noise rock band Canyons And Locusts .
You can listen to “Soo All The Way” on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here
Those of you who are regular readers of The Whole Kameese know that we say what we mean and mean what we say . The new single “Soo All The Way” from Canyons And Locusts is an absolutely phenomenal new song that, should be required listening for all music lovers.
Soo All The Way,” the punchy new single from Canyons and Locusts, is crashing the streams today , Friday, January 19.
And that extra “o” in the title’s “Soo” is certainly deliberate, as it’s a shoutout from the Boston and Phoenix noise-rock duo to Sault Ste. Marie, the international border cities of Michigan and Ontario – dubbed the “Soo” – that have a special place in the heart of Canyons and Locusts’guitarist and vocalistJustin Keane. His fuzzed-out guitar riffage and gritty vocal howl pairs perfectly with drummerAmy Young’s thunderous and propulsive beat, allowing the duo to showcase what they do best in a robust 131-second runtime.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Canyons and Locusts
“For my work, I am part of a mentoring group based out of Sault Ste. Marie – and through that group I’ve met some of the coolest and nicest people in my life,”Keane says. “One of the things they mention is that while the winters can be pretty long – and rough, but also beautiful – the summers are so lovely and the time when many folks take to their cabins and camps and cottages for vacation. So, thematically… it’s just about that cycle of going inward in the winter and outward in the summer – going ‘Soo All The Way.’”
The Boston-based Keane feels a special kinship with Sault Ste. Marie, as New England’s seasons have the same type of extremities. And the dual elements and dichotomy of environments is certainly a key element in the music of Canyons and Locusts, as not only do the duo merge noisy, unhinged guitar-rock with a melodic and calculated spirit, but Keane’s Boston weather is usually at odds with the desert landscape of Young’s home out in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Generally, Justin will let me know when he has a batch of songs in the works and what he’s thinking about for a song,” Young notes. “Even though he’s writing the songs, I often feel like the records can pertain to the general ongoing conversations we have, in mood and tone. It’s never not relatable and it’s always a guide.” Adds Keane: “This was a song with a winter riff/verse and a summer chorus. Amy has this way of just getting things I haven’t been able to crystallize yet and it’s just perfect and moves the song where it’s meant to go.”
This theme of duality is reflected in the “Soo All The Way” artwork, designed by Young, which features fallen snow across cacti and agave plants as city buildings and majestic mountains loom in the distance. The physical separation between the two Canyons and Locusts players does not hinder their creative chemistry, however.
“There are so many times that we can get what the other person means without a long explanation,” Young admits. “Sometimes it’s a word or a reference to something and then it informs how we move forward. In this case, I immediately felt the vibe of Sweet’s ‘Love Is Like Oxygen’, and telling Justin that gave me an idea of where I wanted to go with the beat. It just clicked into place. Living far away from anyone you want to create and hang out with isn’t always ideal but it’s not uncommon these days. We have the technology, you know. For Canyons and Locusts, this, in some ways, allows us to maximize our creative time – and we do. We can schedule blocks of time to do shows or record. We never complain about any of it, as we’re just driven to move full steam ahead.”
Co-produced by Keane alongside Ethan Dussault and recorded at New Alliance Audio in Somerville, “Soo All The Way” is the third single from Canyons and Locusts’ forthcoming EP, The Red Angel, set for release on March 15. The EP is dedicated to, and named after, the late Red on Red Records founder and Boston music scene champion Justine Covault, who personally signed the band a few years back and released through Red on Red their 2022 album Roll The Dice. The band were in the midst of recording this batch of new songs last summer when Covault unexpectedly passed away; left without a label home, Keane and Young decided to self-release the EP in her honor.
We are so excited for the forthcoming EP, “The Red Angel” Canyons And Locusts bring a real energy with their music that is both genuine and authentic. They say music is the highest form of expression… With “Soo All The Way” – Canyons And Locusts have created an absolute gem.
New single from the Boston + Phoenix noise-rock band raises a glass to the late radio host and simpler times today (Friday, December 8)
We love music here at The Whole Kameese it is quite literally what keeps us going … When we heard “To Art Bell,” from Boston and Phoenix duo Canyons And Locusts it felt like a musical awakening. To hear music and melodies orchestrated like they are presented on “To Art Bell” was absolute magic .
You can listen to “To Art Bell” on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here.
, “To Art Bell” is a noisy, fuzzed-out ruckus of a tune, and the latest from the band’s forthcoming 2024 EP The Red Angel,dedicated to the late radio host and raising a glass to simpler times,.
Clocking in at an economical 134 seconds, “To Art Bell” is a melodic statement of musical thunder
The upcoming EP is dedicated to the late Justine Covault, a staunch supporter of the duo whose label Red on Red Records previously released last year’s Roll The Dice album.
Canyons and Locusts were in the midst of recording the tracks on The Red Angel over the summer when Covault unexpectedly passed away. Left without a label home, Justin Keane (vocals and guitar) and Amy Young (drums and backing vocals) trudged forward, unleashing their new music with the guidance and enthusiasm Covault passed along before leaving us.
Picking up where October’s furious “Buck Dharma’s Eyes” left off, “To Art Bell” is a hazy fever of gritty alt-rock and Midwestern college rock that clocks in at just over two minutes in runtime. And it’s not lost on the band that this chaotic and noisy tune is inspired, in part, by a radio host whose timbre and cadence helped put listeners at ease.
“Somewhere in the late ‘90s when we were all scared of Y2K and the end of the world and there was just that energy – especially in NYC where Amy and I both lived at the time – I discovered Art Bell’s show and would usually listen to that late at night and on into the early AM,” saysKeane. “It was this glorious mishmash of chupacabra and Bigfoot and reverse speech and exorcism and not anything like what we think of as ‘conspiracy theory’ today. And his voice was just perfect for the middle of the night.”
Young adds: “I got turned on to Art Bell back in my 20s when I was doing a lot of subcultural exploration and it was among the interesting landscapes to wander. What’s interesting to me is Justin and I having these same thoughts and it being something we never talked about.”
We are absolutely enthralled with the musical brilliance of “To Art Bell” We can not wait for more music from Canyons And Locusts
We recently got to check out the epic new single “Here Comes Your Ghost “ from Phoenix based band Vinyl Station.
You can listen to “Here Comes Your Ghost” on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here
Vinyl Station has this real special almost otherworldly energy about them , and it is certainly present in their latest single “Here Comes Your Ghost “ which, is out today, (December 8th ) via H1 Massive.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the band
For some, the “Ghost” in question could be the band’s past, as a handful of fan-favorite tunes comprise the quartet’s forthcoming EP Answer Slow, set for unveiling in Spring 2024. But it could also be something a bit more pure: A return to the sensation of hearing something truly great, the feeling we once had when we first heard the seminal bands and records that shaped us into the people we became.
Vinyl Station, with its arena-ready, cerebral indie rock that harkens back to the songwriting ambition and grandeur of the likes of U2, Coldplay, The National, Band of Horses, and other luminaries, is ready to take that next step into our hearts and playlists. That “Here Comes Your Ghost” leads the band’s reemergence, complete with a fresh and polished re-recording by its newly-minted lineup – songwriter, singer and guitaristMatthew Thornton; drummerRoy Cameron; guitaristSturgis Waters; and bassistPatrick Andrew – is a bit of a coincidence, given its title. But it’s no less impactful as a result.
“I am really excited about sharing these songs with the world, and putting something out which represents the band in its current form,” says singer, songwriter, and guitarist Matthew Thornton. “These are the first recordings with the current members of Vinyl Station, and I think the recording of the Answer Slow EP and the album to follow has been an incredibly rewarding creative endeavor.”
Adds Cameron: “I think the EP turned out great despite us having to piece the recording together over several months due to scheduling conflicts. In this regard, the recording process was different than usual for a creative band but not uncommon these days.”
“Here Comes Your Ghost” from Vinyl Station is a solid well written rock song that you can’t help but want to hear again and again . Definitely a song you need to hear … trust us your ears will thank you .
The Whole Kameese 