The Adventurers Club

Merry Christmas from People on Vacation

Here's a Christmas card from People on Vacation.

People on Vacation is made up of Jaret Reddick (Bowling for Soup) and Ryan Hamilton (Smile Smile).

This year People on Vacation released their first full length album, The Summer and the Fall, and a Holiday Record, Holiday Vacation.

For fans of Letters to Cleo, Kay Hanley appears on "Something about Christmas" from Holiday Vacation.

 

People on Vacation - Holiday Vacation

 

Ryan Hamilton and Jaret Reddick - People on Vacation

 

Merry Christmas from People on Vacation

 

Merry Christmas from People on Vacation

 

Here's "Because It's Christmas" from Holiday Vacation

'til Kay Hanley sends us a Christmas Card

Keep the Adventure Alive,

@Adventuretom

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Merry Christmas from The Dollyrots

The Dilettantes - Kay Hanley - Michelle Lewis

Yesterday, Kay Hanley tweeted a link to a new EP from The Dilettantes. Hearts and Flowers is a project from Kay and Michelle Lewis.

Little did I know that this was something the two of them had done a while back.

Dilettantes - Kay Hanley - Michelle Lewis

Still, it was new to me and I was blown away by how good it is. My first thought was, "Wow, this should have been the new Bangles record."

No offense to Susanna, Debbi and Vicki, but the new Bangles record desperately needs a radio-friendly single and this EP from Kay and Michelle is overflowing with hooks.

California Sun is another one of those songs that would be a hit if radio still had a heart. Like Palmdale's Here Comes the Summer, you will immediately find yourself singing along, and it gets bonus points for mentioning Pet Sounds.

The rest of the EP is just as good.

The following is a taste of the EP at a live performance from Kay and Michelle.

The Dilettantes sing "Bullets in the Gun"

 

If you love harmonies, Hearts and Flowers has them. Brian Wilson would be proud.

Samples are on the Dilettantes MySpace, but trust me and Buy "Hearts and Flowers" Now. 

'til Kay surprises us with more amazing music

Keep the Adventure Alive,

@Adventuretom

Fishin' for Woos - Another Gem from Bowling for Soup

One of the best live bands ever, puts out another great record.

If you've never seen Bowling for Soup in concert, add that to your bucket list. No one puts on a show quite like BFS. They're one of the most audience friendly bands you'll ever see and no show is ever the same.

With such a great live show you have to wonder how they are on record. The good news is, they are just as amazing!

Fishin' for Woos - Bowling for Soup

Just a few highlights from the new record:

1) I've Never Done Anything Like This - Great duet with Kay Hanley from Letters to Cleo. This will remind you of all those great times in college you tried so hard to forget.

2) Turbulence - A serious song from a not-so-serious band. This reminds us that the four guys are real, just like we are. Put it on when you've had a tough day, I bet it picks you up. Also the first single. Look for the video sometime in the June timeframe.

3) Guard My Heart - The lost BFS song, newly recorded. Written by Erik. In a perfect world this would be the second top ten hit on this record. Let's hope someone in radio gives it a shot at some point.

4) Here's Your Freakin' Song - Classic BFS sing along silliness. About that girl that always wanted you to write a song about HER. She gets her wish, kind of. This one has one of those rambling dialogues by Jaret that always reminds me of their live show. Fun stuff.

5) S-S-S-Saturday and Friends, Chicks, Guitars -  Great pop-punk. The two promo songs that preceded the record release. Reminiscent of songs such as "Almost" and "Girl all the Bad Guys Want". Both are good intro points if you are trying to get a new listener into BFS, or this record.

Another solid record, with not a bad song in the bunch. Run and buy it now so when you see the four boys from Denton Texas in concert, you will know all the freakin'  words!

'til BFS comes back to the Carolinas (Come on Erik lives here!)

 Keep the Adventure Alive,

@Adventuretom

 

 

Palmdale - Kay Hanley Sings and it's Unplugged!

There's no video for the new Palmdale EP yet, but here's an awesome performance by Kay and Linus of the title track - How to Be Mean.

I have to admit watching a performance like this I'm pretty jealous. Who gets cool and up close acoustic performances like this?

Why can't we be that lucky?

Anyway, go download the new Palmdale record from iTunes or Amazon.

Do it now, thank us later.

'til Kay and Linus play in our backyard (it could happen!)

Keep the Adventure Alive, 

Adventuretom

Palmdale - How to Be Mean

As a huge Kay Hanley fan I have been eagerly awaiting new music from Palmdale. Palmdale is a collaboration between Kay and Linus of Hollywood.

These two make great music together, and in case you missed it head on over to iTunes (or Amazon) and pick up their first collection of tunes, Get Wasted.

But, that's old news. If you love Kay and Letters to Cleo, you should already own those songs.

Today we are here because the new EP, How to Be Mean has finally been released.

How to Be Mean is a collection of pure Kay Hanley, which means it's a delightful collection of edgy power pop as only Kay can sing it.

If you want a quick sample, the title track is free for a limited time. I'll wait here, while you go download it.

Got it? Good.

Now that you've listened to one of the six new songs I'm here to tell you that the other five are just as infectious. 

I usually drift toward the uptempo rockers, but I have to admit I love the ballad, "Things I Think About on Planes". Kay's Beautiful vocals take you along on an amazing ride, and I swear I could feel the bump of the aircraft's wheels as the song ended :)

But, if you are an uptempo kind of rocker, fret not, there's plenty of Palmdale Power Pop on this record.

Kicking off with the single ready, "Meet the Future Downlow", the record has five straight songs that will have you turning up the iPod and jamming full blast as you drive through town. If you aren't singing along by the time "Can't Wait to See You" finishes, I suspect you are already dead.

As usual, we love anything Kay does, but you will too.

Head over to iTunes and buy it now. You can thank me later.

'til Linus and Kay stop teasing us and release twelve songs at once

Keep the Adventure Alive,

Adventuretom

 

Palmdale - Happiness Has a Half Life

While eagerly awaiting the new Palmdale EP I should post the video for "Happiness Has a Half Life" from Get Wasted.

This is my favorite song from the first Palmdale EP and I have no idea why I didn't post it earlier.

Head on over to iTunes and buy Get Wasted, and then when How to Be Mean comes out, buy that one too!

You'll thank me.

 

'til Kay and Linus tour down south (and east). I can dream, can't I?

Keep the Adventure alive,

Adventuretom

Palmdale has a video - Now go buy the record - iTunes is that way ----->

 A very short while back I pointed out that Kay Hanley has a new record, a very cool project called Palmdale.

Well, now Palmdale has a video for Here Comes the Summer.

Not only is it a great song, but it's a great video, and yes, that's Bill Nye the Science Guy with a great cameo.

So, if you are visiting the blog because you are looking for Runaways info, you need to go to iTunes now and buy Palmdale. It's only $4.99 and the best five bucks you will ever spend.

Plus, if you are a Runaways fan did you know that:

1) Linus Dotson of Palmdale has worked with Bowling for Soup. He produced their new album.

2) Bowling for Soup toured with The Dollyrots this year.

3) The Dollyrots are on Blackheart Records

4) Joan Jett owns Blackheart Records

5) Joan Jett was a Runaway

How's that for a Runaways/Palmdale connection?

See! Buy Palmdale now, you will thank me.

'til the Red Sox win the World Series. Wait! I'm a Braves fan! Go Braves :)

Keep the Adventure Alive,

AT

Kay Hanley goes to Palmdale

If you're a Letters to Cleo fan, you already know who Kay Hanley is, but I run into a lot of people that don't know her music.

They may have seen the film Josie and the Pussycats without realizing the voice behind all the great music was in fact, Kay Hanley.

They may have heard the theme to the kids show Tigger and Pooh, and not realized that Kay Hanley was also the vocalist for that tune.

You may have even taken your kids to see Miley Cyrus and noticed that really awesome blonde on background vocals. Yep, Kay Hanley.

What you may not know is Kay has a new band and a new record. She has teamed up with Linus Dotson to form Palmdale, and they have released their first EP, Get Wasted.

The five songs are pure power pop, highlighted by the great track Here Comes the Summer and my favorite cut, Happiness Has a Half Life. The truth is the entire record rocks and the only problem with it is, the thing is too short!

Let's hope Kay and Linus record more music, because they make a great team.

Check it out on iTunes and download it today. Look for the video for Here Comes the Summer coming soon.

If you aren't following Kay Hanley on Twitter, you should. Trust me and look her up, you won't regret it.

'til Kay comes to Charlotte and brings her guitar. We can dream can't we?

Keep the Adventure alive,

AT