Solo Artist of the Week: Iwan Rheon

http://www.facebook.com/iwanrheon

If you're like me, you know Iwan Rheon as Simon from the hit British show Misfits. (Haven't heard of it? You need to hop on over to Hulu right now and get filled in. Or, if you're opposed to watching shows online, Logo will start airing it July 19 at 10 PM ET. Nice little plug, eh?)

If we're being completely honest, if it hadn't been for the commercial for Misfits I saw on Logo this morning, I'd probably keep this boy all to myself. But that isn't fair to do, so I guess I'll share. (See, I can be nice.) Anyway, I've been turned on to Mr. Rheon's talents for some time now. You see, aside from being a part of such an awesome show, the Welsh actor has also been a part of the cast in the London cast of Spring Awakening (which for anyone wondering is one of my favorites) and-- obviously or I wouldn't be writing about him-- he has a musical career.

His first solo EP was recorded and released in 2010 with help from Kevin Bacon. Okay, not the Kevin Bacon you're thinking of, but it sure did grab your attention, didn't it? It's a four track slice of heaven that features him and an acoustic guitar. His second was recorded and released just last year, so as you can see, though he's been off acting, he's also kept up with this music business.

Now, I know what you're thinking. Vicci, you've told us about him, but what does he sound like?!

Well, my dear, dear readers, he sounds like a man with a wonderfully ear appeasing folk voice accompanied by acoustic guitar. He fits in nicely with the likes of the British Folk Movement that we've seen as of late. You know, that one that includes Mumford & Sons and Bobby Long. This is the type of music that you have playing on a lazy afternoon when you curl up on the couch with a good read and a nice warm cuppa. (cup·pa/ˈkəpə/: Noun: A cup of tea) 


Or on a rainy day.


Or on a nice, sunny Sunday drive.


Or while studying.


Packing for a trip.


Really, you could probably just listen to him whenever the hell you felt like it really. It's so calming and
I really can't imagine anyone being able to listen to his music without just getting lost in it.


Is it completely different from anything we've ever heard? No. It isn't. But there's always room on my 
iPod for a nice and good folk song that wants nothing from me except my undivided attention.


That being said, Iwan is currently working on a full length album to get on out there so we have more to
add to our "Just About Anything" playlist, and we'll be waiting ever so patiently because god dammit,
we love you Barry. Er, I mean Iwan.


(Don't get that reference? Well obviously you need to watch Misfits.)


Go Download: You can pick up both his 'Tongue Tied- EP' and 'Changing Times- EP' on iTunes. 
(Egad! I actually had download links for you guys!)

Folk Family Revival

http://www.facebook.com/folkfamilyrevival

Oh goodness, it has been a LONG past two weeks. Spring Break kicked my butt, and I'm pretty sure I came away from it more tired than when I went in, and then this past weekend I spend in Dallas going against hordes of teens to see One Direction. So I am SO sorry that BTNLT has been kind of dead. But you can thank our good friend Jeremy Burchard (You know, the one from Moonlight Social that always manages to keep popping up in my posts?) for my "revival!" (Am I funny yet?)

Based out of Magnolia, TX, Folk Family Revival sounds like you'd imagine they would from their name. At least, that's what you could say if it wouldn't be such a dastardly understatement. You see, sure, they fit the bill as folk. You can get that just by looking at a picture of them. But it is some of the cleanest, best sounding folk I have found in a long time. This is the type of band that you would see opening for Mumford & Sons, The Head and the Heart, Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers and Ray LaMontagne and while you may have gone in never having heard them, you'd leave knowing that you'd look them up as soon as you got home.

The band consists of three brothers and their friend (who they met after sticking up for him during a fight that went down at church. I just find that absolutely adorable) but according to their bio on Facebook, they consider themselves a "band made up of four brothers." Lead vocalist Mason Lankford brings a voice that has the perfect amount of country tinge to it, giving their folk that slight edge that many folk bands are missing. His brothers Barrett and Lincoln both take up bass and drums respectively, and push along the music wonderfully. (In fact, as I type this, their song "Mountains" is playing and I legitimately feel like I need to be stomping my foot on the wooden floor of a country bar.) Of course, I am NOT leaving Caleb Pace, honorary Lankford brother, out of the mix. Without his electric guitar, lap-steel and mandolin skills, this band wouldn't have as much energy. And I mean, what's a folk band without a little mandolin, right?

With all that being said, their debut release 'Unfolding' was released last July, so I am quite late to this family, which I am very sad about actually. But note, though I am late, I am here to stay.

Are you ready to "Join The Family?" Because you should be.

Go Download: I am absolutely in love with the song "Dream All Night" so if you can only afford ONE song, that should be the one you get. But if you can afford the $9.99, you NEED to buy their album from iTunes.



This song comes in a CLOSE second as my favorite.