Now, I know what some of you are thinking. Why should I give money to her just because you say so?

Well, let me give you 5 reasons why…

1. She makes music like this:

2. She takes pics like this:

2b. She looks good in a mustache:

photo source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWh_enByvio

3. She has hair to die for. (I think she must drink Unicorn blood.):

photo source: http://blog.schwabelstudio.com/2012/05/02/holly-conlan/

4. Her twitter name beats everyone else’s:

5. BECAUSE HELPING  INDEPENDENT ARTISTS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS IS RAD.

Ok, all jokes and SHOUTY CAPS aside, Amber and I really dig her music. A lot. We wouldn’t be tweeting and RTing and facebooking and blogging if we didn’t believe in her and her music. So please, join us in supporting Holly. You can give as little as $1. ONE DOLLAR. I mean, think about it– you could make coffee at home one day instead of going to Starbucks and give that money to Holly. Hell, if you have a Keruig at home, email me and I will send you a free K-Cup if you donate one Starbucks coffee’s worth. I have 5 flavors INCLUDING a cider.

I can feel you on the other side of the screen thinking “YES! YES, I WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS!” So, here’s the link to her Kickstarter:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1251303459/help-holly-conlan-release-a-new-record

And if you do donate, please let us know in the comments. So I can virtually hug you…and to find out where to send your K-Cup. Duh.

For those of you still on the fence– here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming on the new album:

LOVE.

Amber: okay
soooooo
initial thoughts?
LiLi: i won’t lie
i was pretty impressed
with the sound quality
Amber: yes
LiLi: overall
Amber: it is by and far the best produced
LiLi: it was super clean and tight
LMFAO
twhs
Amber: HAHAHAHAHAHA
YESSSSSSS
i thought it flowed really well
LiLi: that is the one thing i would ask him
how he came up with the order
cause it works
the only
teeny tiny thing
is the last track
it’s like BOOM
I AM HERE
but girrrlllll
that song
OWNS ME
Amber: see? i liked that cause it was like ending on a high note
ME TOO
it’s my fave
LiLi: WE SHOULD TOTALLY START A BLOG ABOUT THIS GUY
Amber: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
YES!!!!
i just like the songs that i can picture being a LOT of fun at a show
and bless her soul is one of those songs
where i can just see us all getting crazy
LiLi: YUUUUSSSSSS
Amber: i’m like
we are SOOOOOOO going to do a little hoe down at the next show
i need to know if he will bring a banjo on tour now
LiLi: SERIOUSLY
sorry
i’m all capsy today
Amber: IT’S FINE
LiLi: LOL

LiLi: is it weird
that I now want Sam to do a full country album now?
and I hate country
Amber: nope
not at all
i feel like he is close to already being there
LiLi: I wasn’t ever really sold on the idea
before
Amber: i hear you
LiLi: probably because I hate country
Amber: um, yes
LiLi: but after the album
this
Amber: i feel like he is finding his groove
and settling into a genre
LiLi: I’m like, uhhh…MOAR BANJO
Amber: which is OKAY
banjo is like cowbell
you could always use more
LiLi: duh
banjo is like jagerbombs
can you ever really have TOO much?
Amber: yes
yes you can
LiLi: oh
my bad
Amber: i have found and exceeded that limit
(twice)
damn you
LiLi: pfft
Amber: i blame you for that
LiLi: by blame you mean thank, right?
just trying to pump up your tolerance
you’re welcome
Amber: hahahahahahaha
i will say
a couple beers now
pfft
feels like nothing
LiLi: see…you’re welcome
but srsly
this is the best he’s ever sounded
Amber: absolutley
LiLi: which can come off shitty
Amber: maybe BUT
LiLi: and I don’t mean to detract from his others
Amber: i think this ep is the closest i have ever come to feeling like i am listening to him live
LiLi: YES
Amber: it gives me that same feeling
LiLi: nail on head
girllll…I had some feelings going on
(down there)
Amber: BWAHAHAHAHA
LiLi: what?
I meant my soul
you perv
Amber: sure you did
LiLi: so?
get mad about it
you know you did too
Amber: maybe….
LiLi: hokay
Amber: i mean
in my soul
obviously
LiLi: clearly
we ARE ShackofSoul
buh-dum-dum
i’m here all week people
tip your waiters and waitresses
Amber: exactly
soooo
maybe we should talk about the other songs
we both love bless her soul
LiLi: obvs
my second fave
Amber: i’m having a hard time picking a 2nd fave
LiLi: Is science prevents me
I die over what he did with that song
Amber: gah
that is true
that was my fave part about this ep
we’ve heard all these songs
BUT
it was like we were hearing them all brand new
LiLi: seriously
Amber: you know
it’s to the point now
where i no longer have a favorite sam song
LiLi: nerd.
Amber: i know
i am lame like that
LiLi: lol
i’m yoking
Amber: i am one of those annoying people that are like
BUT I LOVE THEM ALLL
LiLi: which is joking but with a soft j…
Amber: like gif
LiLi: so you know I’m kidding
RELEVANT NERD HUMOR
ily
Amber: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
LiLi: let’s start a blog and gchat all day
oh, wait
Amber: obviously
LiLi: but here’s where I confess
I don’t have a fave anymore either
it used to be scared
but now, I’m like fuck scared
ok
Not really
Amber: i feel like everytime sam has something new
i am like yes
this is my new fave
cause, as i said above
i am lame
LiLi: but I’m no longer going to that song first
pfft
Then we are lame together
Amber: i fully expect when sam comes out with something new
hopefully SOONER then in 2 years
i will be like, THIS is my new fave
Amber: damn
seriously though
when is the us tour?
i need the dates now sam
LiLi: or at least tell us of a winter/spring 14 england tour so i can start saving me pennies
Amber: exactly
okay
can i write a review on itunes for sam
titled
“great at making music, not so great at jenga”
LiLi: LOL
yes
Amber: i just want to write something ridiculous and funny
you should write one that says that it is “clean and super tight”
i mean “super clean and tight”
LiLi: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
this EP is just like i like my women– super clean and tight

Alright guys, now that you’ve had a few days to think about it, tell us what you think! Do you agree/disagree with our thoughts? What is your fave song? Take it to the comments my friends!

Ryan Keen is one of those guys who catches your attention. First off, he’s English, so he immediately caught my attention. (I mean, let’s be honest here people.) And when I heard his music the first time, knowing Sam was opening for him, all I could think was THIS IS PERFECT! It’s a great compliment and I am excited to see all the new fans hear Sam just in time for the new album.

And I mean, how can you NOT love a guy who makes a video staring him in claymation?

Also, am I the only one looking for Goliath in this video? It’s like he’s a hot Davy in a plaid shirt playing guitar. Don’t try and tell me I am wrong. (If you have no idea what I am talking about, then clearly you never watched PBS in the ’80s on a Sunday morning, so I’ll educate you with this link: http://www.daveyandgoliath.org/.

And in this next video, you can see that day where someone said, “Hey Ryan, the drums guy is sick” and Ryan was like “Pfft… I do my OWN drums bitches!”

How could you not want to go and see this guy? If you don’t have your tickets yet, get on it. Go to the show early, see Sam and then be sure and stay for Ryan cause he’s clearly going to be well worth it!

Find Ryan online in all the typical places: WEBSITE // TWITTER // FACEBOOK // YOUTUBE And of course, go and get his newest ep Back to the Ocean.

Going to the show? Let us know which ones so we can sit over here stateside and be INSANELY jealous of you.

I mean, how amazing is this?

They are just sitting in a circle playing some guitar AND KILLING IT!

And I mean, I have mad respect for anyone who wears a bow ties. Cause you know, bow ties are cool. (Can I put in a request now for the bowtie for the OKC show? Please and thank you.)

The Lone Bellow is gonna be big time y’all. Jump on this bandwagon before it becomes a thing. You’ll be glad you did. And duh, be sure you are going to a Marcus show they will be opening at. Get yo’ tickets now!!

And check out The Lone Bellow in all the typical places: TWITTER • FACEBOOK • YOUTUBE • INSTAGRAM Also, get their album so you can be prepped to sing ALL the songs.

P.S. If you are going to the OKC or Dallas show, give us a holler in the comments. We may or may not be making some plans to get together if we have some interested folks. And if you’re not, tell us what show you are going to, cause we wanna know. We are nosy like that.

Have you entered our contest yet? You could win FREE music from The Lone Bellow (or one of several over bands)! Check out the details in our post. You MUST enter by March 15 to win, so get a move on it.

LiLi, being the amazing person she is, made a really cool cover photo for our Facebook page with the tour information.

I was like, damn, how awesome would it be if ALL the Marcus and Sam fans had that as their cover photo. We should share it with people and see if they’ll change it. And THEN we thought, HEY, let’s give a little something, something away to those who do it too!

Lo and behold, may we present…

The  ”SHARE THE TOURS, WIN AN ALBUM” Contest!

Here are the details on how to enter:

1. Take the sweet and stylish cover photo LiLi made above, and right-click to download it.

2. Logon to FB and upload the photo to your account, making sure to set it as your cover photo. (Here are instructions if you need them: https://www.facebook.com/help/190613671010922/)

3. Send a link to your profile (or a screenshot if you are a private account) to our new email contact@shackofsoul.com with the subject line “Sharing the tours on my FB page!” (One entry per person on this, please!)

4. Send that email to us BEFORE March 15th at 11:59 p.m. CST.

5. We’ll do a Random.org of all the entries and announce the winner on March 16th on our Twitter account. If you have a Twitter account, include your handle in the email you send and we’ll make sure the tweet has you mentioned.

6. If we draw your name, we will want to double check and make sure your cover photo is STILL the tour one. If not, we’ll draw another name. So be sure to leave that photo up there for at least the duration of the contest, although we think you should leave it up there till the end of April.

So what will you win?? That’s the best part! It’s YOUR choice!

The prize is your choice of MP3 album from any of the groups on tour with Marcus and Sam this Spring. You can choose from Sean Rowe, Ruston Kelly, The Lone Bellow, Ryan Keen, or if you are missing one still, Marcus Foster or Sam Bradley! This is an awesome way to complete that music collection!

So get out there and let all of Facebook know the best two tours happening this year! And if you haven’t gotten your tickets yet (or you need the links to share with your friends who see the FB update), check out our tour pages for Marcus Foster and Sam Bradley.

source: sean rowe’s facebook page

When I was about 12 years old, I found my dad’s old vinyl collection in the garage. A huge metal footlocker that had a couple of hundred albums from his youth– everything from Buck Owens, to Motown, to Uriah Heep. I devoured them all throughout my own youth, but I’ll never forget the first time I put on that Four Tops album in middle school.  Or in high school when I finally decided to give Creedence Clearwater Revival a spin. And then in college, when I left my dad’s collection behind because NOFX and Propaghandi gave me no choice. The point to all that being that I can remember discovering these groups/sounds/voices like it was yesterday, because they hit me immediately. When love at first sound happens, you don’t forget it. And people, that is EXACTLY what happened to me this weekend with Sean Rowe.

I had just opened all his links and was getting ready to start this post, when I clicked on his single “Downwind”. As soon as his voice hit my ears I legit stopped what I was doing and just stared at my laptop. I was like, “Holy crap, it’s like Matt Berninger and The Tornadoes had a musical baby– with a fantastic beard.” (side note: but for reals y’all, you know I take my facial hair seriously, and this guy’s beard is LEGIT.)

Listen for yourself:

space

And then take a listen to Mr. Rowe covering one of my favorite Tom Waits’ songs, “Chocolate Jesus”:

space

Uh, does it get any better??

Yes. Yes it does. Please love that 1) he video records songs in his hotel rooms and calls them “Hotel Song #____” and posts them on his YouTube channel AND 2) he has a pretty kick ass tumblr. People, you know how we love the tumblr.

Now after all this, can you believe that I won’t even get to see him on this tour with Marcus??? Amber broke the news to me after I sent her an ALL CAPS SHOUTY text that I was knee deep in Sean Rowe musical crush-iness. Um, those of you that get to see him this March?? I hate you. And by hate, I mean I’m just jealous. Please catch him on tour with Marcus and let me live through you. Send me pictures and videos and locks of his beard.

Kidding.

(kinda.)

Find out more about Sean here:

Official Site // Facebook // Twitter // YouTube // Tumblr

And go buy his latest, The Salesman and the Shark here:

Amazon // iTunes

People, srsly, I’m DYING over this man’s voice. JOIN ME.

The Sam Trifecta my dear friends, is the blazer, hoodie AND the beanie are all worn AT THE SAME TIME.

HELLO.

Until it happened today, we didn’t know that we NEEDED this combo in our lives. We are forever changed. And we are calling dibs…

photo via @newlookfashion’s instagram

LiLi: are you there?

Amber: yes i am!

LiLi: I did not get to see that pic of sam until just now

BEANIE

Amber: I KNOW

plus hoodie!

GAH

LiLi: BEAN. EE.

well played mr. bradley

well played

Amber: i think he has finally hit that perfect outfit place

not too formal, not too casual

LiLi: agreed

where is my SoS Stamp of Approval?

Amber: HAHAHAHAHAHA

we should blog on that

it would be random and awesome

LiLi: uh, yeah

we talk about his clothes more than anything else

Amber: Dear Sam, The blazer/hoodie/beanie combo? WE APPROVE. Hugs, Us

LiLi: Dear Sam,

That blazer, hoodie, beanie combo?

NAILED IT.

Please to be wearing that forever. (Even in Summer.)

Shanks

Amber: especially in Dallas

or anywhere else we may potentially be

LiLi: ok. only wear it around us

Amber: you’re right

stop sharing it with others

LiLi: Ok. Dear Sam,

That blazer, hoodie, beanie trifecta?

We are calling it.

It’s ours.

Please to be only wearing it at shows we’ll be at.

Amber: LMAO!!!

YESSSSSSSSSSSS

co-signed

Now– who else is a fan of The Trifecta??

Merry Chrismakkuhwanzafestivus Everyone!
♥

]]> http://shackofsoul.com/2012/12/26/happy-holidays-everyone/feed/ 0 TxLiLi http://shackofsoul.com/2012/12/13/12-days-of-sam-day-3-drinking-sam/ http://shackofsoul.com/2012/12/13/12-days-of-sam-day-3-drinking-sam/#comments Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:06:53 +0000 Amber http://shackofsoul.com/?p=4469 ]]> You know, I THOUGHT about doing the other graffiti pic we have, but I didn’t want LiLi to call me a dream stealer again, so I went with drinking Sam.

So is that the 5th or 6th whiskey a fan has bought you since the set started?

Cause really, what is more fun then Sam drinking? (The answer: nothing.)

Also, since we’ve all bore witness to the mass hysteria that is fans trying to buy Sam a shot of whiskey at this shows, I will forever be reminded of this tweet during Sam’s Twitter Q & A whenever I see himwith a whiskey.

Less whiskey, more boobs. Apparently.

Photo of Sam Courtesy of Sam Himself

Tweet Screenshot Courtesy of  littlebitnaive

Amber. How could you?

So, I’ll take her graffiti pic stealing and raise her a beanie pic…cause she LOVES beanies. Not as much as white v-necks, but there were none of those in the stack, so you all get Beanie Sam:

Don’t cry Sam. I like beanies too.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post because it’s Amber’s turn again and I’m sure she will take the other graffiti pic. ::insert side-eye here::

Photo courtesy of Mr. Bradley