Song of the Day Spotlight - The Record Company "Life to Fix"

First off, I just like these guys, personally. They're three genuinely nice and, well... genuine folks. The Record Company came in, played live and chatted with me on the air a couple of times when I was with The Point. They're for real - true - authentic in who they are and what they're doing. Felt a real connection with Chris, Alex and Mark. That's Chris Vos, singer, harmonica and guitar player, Alex Stiff, bassist and producer, and Mark Cazorla, drummer and percussionist.

If I can get real for a second? I'm a horrible purist - I'm not one. I like blends, mixes, hybrids, melanges - purist expressions kind of bore me. Can't take too much pure reggae, or pure bluegrass, for example... or pure blues. Sorry. I need music to transcend its genre, if that makes sense. Hope it doesn't sound too musically arrogant. Can't help it - I just need something more.

The Record Company are the closest thing to pure blues rock that has moved me in a long time - because they do infuse the genre with something more, something extra - something original and purely them. I'm not exactly sure what that is - and that's okay. It just works.

Sometimes what elevates a deceptively simple band (what, a three piece?) is a bass player with a strong sense of melody, whose bass lines act as a sort of rhythmic lead. Mike Mills of R.E.M. is one example, often carrying the melody of the song while Peter Buck plays a rhythm part.

His production work on their recordings speaks to Alex's great ears - but it's Alex's bass playing that helps set The Record Company apart from so many of their peers. Kind of amazing something so solid, such glue holding it all together, can still be so damn fluid!

Don't mean to diminish Mark's contributions, either. A melodic bassist can't ride the melody if his percussionist doesn't give him a foundation he trusts and can rely on - Mark is solid. Yet he, too, plays with a sense of melody, as so many of the great drummers have, giving each piece in his kit its own voice. There's a certain funkiness within his precise timekeeping, too - not ostentatious but not, well... boring.

With this kind of foundation, Chris can then let fly - he knows the other two have his back. He can conjure up images, situations, free himself to sing about it all, knowing his brother bandmates are there to bring him in for a safe landing in the end. Doesn't hurt that he's got great pipes and can wail on both the guitar and harmonica, and knows how to work a crowd until they're sitting in the palm of his hand. His easy charisma draws you in, a humble shaman, not out to merely charm you but to rock your soul...

Their new tune "Life to Fix" - just out - encapsulates their dynamic beautifully, opening with Alex laying down the bass, Mark coming in on drums, and then Chris taking off on vocals and guitar. Not only does it highlight the band's strengths, it gives fans even more reason to look forward to the new album - sounds like they're both stepping it up, and staying true to themselves. And that sounds very, very good!

Actually, it sounds a lot like this:

The new album, All Of This Life, comes out June 22nd on Concord. It had been fun before talking with the band about how made their breakthrough album, Give It Back to You, in Alex's living room. In a new article in Jambase, Chris says, “After that first album, everything just got amplified.Our lives got crazier and bigger and more complicated in the best possible ways, and our sound and our songwriting just naturally grew alongside that. We’re the same people we always were, but The Record Company isn’t just three guys in a living room anymore.” (https://www.jambase.com/article/record-company-announces-new-album-shares-single-confirms-2018-fall-tour)

They may not be in the living room anymore, but they haven't lost their touch, their authenticity, or their ability to craft a kick-ass blues rock tune! Looking forward to hearing the rest of All This Life - here's hoping "Life to Fix" is a sign of great things to come.

Shining A Light On... Jon Anderson and Roine Stolt "Invention of Knowledge"

This is the first in my new Glow-in-the-Dark Radio series "Shining A Light On..." where I get into new releases you might not hear on traditional radio. As the music director of a very cool Adult Album Alternative radio station, The Point (http://pointfm.com), I receive a ton of new releases all the time. Only a fraction of those end up garnering airplay, even on a station as adventurous as ours.

This occasional column will cover those worth mentioning and checking out - even if they're not destined for radio airplay. I'll include videos where available and links to Amazon or other outlets for purchasing - as I'm in Vermont, which doesn't allow it, these are not affiliate links and I earn no money from them. Just so you know.

Wanted to begin with an album that came out at the end of June, Jon Anderson (Yes) and Roine Stolt (Flower Kings) have teamed up to create a new album in the tradition of Jon's older work - Yes music. And Invention of Knowledge in some ways does sound like a new Yes album, or perhaps a newly discovered lost Yes album released some time around Relayer in the mid 1970's. The Yes album it is drawing the most comparisons to, thanks to the instrumentation and lyrical content is Tales from Topographic Oceans, though that is such a singular and unique work it is perhaps folly to draw too close a comparison.

I'd rather not dance too much about architecture, so take a listen to this official release of "Knowing" and see what you think...

If that suits you, pick up the whole album and enjoy some of the finest Yes music made in years! One note... If Chris Squire were still alive, I wouldn't call this Yes music, but only out of respect for Squire. With him gone, it's really Jon who carries this torch now, and in some ways he's always been the spiritual center of Yes, which is where this album resides.

You can find Jon Anderson/Roine Stolt Invention of Knowledge now at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Invention-Knowledge-Anderson-Stolt/dp/B01EWEG7DS

Great Review of The Adventures of Alibi Jones #1 - The Comic - Today!

As I celebrate the release of the new Alibi Jones audio book today, along comes a review of the comic book from the folks over at Geeks of Doom - they loved it! How awesome is that!

"There is a lot to like in this issue. Action and intrigue, coupled with fantastic artwork make for a fantastic read. The Adventures Of Alibi Jones‘ first issue was great... Mike Luoma has introduced this great character in bold fashion."

You can read the full review here:
http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2011/12/28/comic-review-the-adventures-of-alibi-jones/

"Think Frank Miller’s HOLY TERROR without all of that bat-shit annoying Frank Miller-ness and you’ll get the drift of this one..."

"This is a fun book which empowers women while it entertains and inspires hope."

Sometimes you get a review that makes your MONTH. This review of Ben Ferrari and my Souverain #1 by Ambush Bug over at Ain't It Cool News did that for me. Souverain #1 is Earthbound Comics' book for December:

"Collecting five short stories featuring the female vigilante Souverain, this issue is a great introduction to the character created by Ben Ferrari and written by Ferrari and Mike Luoma. Set in the conflict of the Middle East in Iraq, Souverain serves as a masked force for justice, operating by going AWOL from her military unit in order to fight crimes that happen on foreign soil. Part revenge fantasy/part bold superhero adventure, this is a character that one most likely wouldn’t see in a mainstream comic. Ben Ferrari writes and draws the first tale, a bit of an origin story for our heroine. Mike Luoma steps in to write two hard-biting, hot button-pressing  prose tales. Think Frank Miller’s HOLY TERROR without all of that bat-shit annoying Frank Miller-ness and you’ll get the drift of this one. This book successfully mixes real world issues with superheroism, while remaining respectful to the men and women fighting overseas and pointing a finger at atrocities performed around the world. This is a fun book which empowers women while it entertains and inspires hope. - Ambush Bug"  http://www.aintitcool.com/node/52200#11

I corrected "prose" because that's not quite right - I did write a brand new prose piece, "The Kid", for the book, but he second "story" - the interconnected "One Nation - Under God - Liberty and Justice for All" is a good old fashioned comic book story with art by Ben and letters by Matt Grant and myself.

Get a digital download for 99 cents here: http://comics.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=96675
Order a print copy here: http://indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6337

Another cool review here: http://www.blogthispal.com/2011/11/life-during-wartime-review-of-souverain.html
(Thanks, Gordon!)

Black and Blue From the New 52

This is not a complaining, bitching and moaning blog post. Got no problem with the New 52. I approve of the idea, the sort of risk-taking relaunch DC approached but failed to follow through on before – they almost did it a few times. Kudos to them for finally following through. It’s working. Sales are up. Digital sales are finally beginning to uptick. The timing on that couldn't be better with the excitement for new tablets and the market exploding right in front of us. Those new toys are going to need content. Could be time for a new comics renaissance. The future looks bright.

But right now? OW! OUCH! CUT IT OUT!

I’m getting black and blued by the New 52!

Call it "sucking all the air out of the room" or "dominating the market" or whatever you’d like, DC’s New 52 initiative has grabbed hold of the comic world’s collective consciousness and ferociously refuses to let go. Even now, Google "New 52" and you’ll discover article after article, blog post after blog post on "The New 52 – Two Months In!" and the like. The coverage is intense and exhaustive, from the highest trafficked websites down to the smallest comic book bloggers.

Hell, s’pose this is even more coverage... hurm.

This is all great for DC. As a fan of their iconic characters, gifted artists and talented writers, I’m happy for them. But their market saturation and domination makes the life of an independent comic creator an awful tough slog right now – it’s not easy for the little guy to fight against Supes, Batman and the rest of the Justice League!

My new book The Adventures of Alibi Jones #1 came out last month from small indie publisher Earthbound Comics. It’s a pretty sharp 40 page black and white comic with fantastic art and pretty good writing and lettering, if I do say so myself. It’s gotten a couple of great reviews. Just a couple, though. Because Alibi Jones is no match for Superman – it’s been almost impossible to garner coverage and reviews for my little indie book in the wake of the New 52.

Comic book blogs and websites aren’t doing anything wrong. They’re covering and writing about what the comic book buying public are spending their hard-earned cash on. I get Gary Scott Beatty’s Indie Comics Magazine’s emails. Today’s triggered this post, as I read, "DC had 51% of the comics unit share in October. That was a whopping 21 points over Marvel. My diamond brand manager said indie books are still struggling, some canceled, going up against books like Action Comics #1, #2 and #3."

I knew it wasn’t just me. Hard for all us little guys to go up against the Superheroes at full strength. Bad time to try getting an indie book noticed. 

So this post is a bit of a plea. If you’re a web site reviewer, reporter, writer or blogger, please consider reviewing or covering an indy book or two this week. If you’re a comic book reader, please consider buying an indie comic book this week. You can find them at sites like IndyPlanet.com and DriveThruComics.com, to name just a couple.

Of course I’d love you to check out my new book The Adventures of Alibi Jones #1... more at http://AlibiJones.com. If you review or cover comics and want a pdf of the book, please email me at mike (dot) luoma (at) gmail (dot) com.

It’s hard out here for an indie comic trying to promote. Show your favorite indie creators a little love if you can this week. The future is looking bright, but right now we’re all a little black and blue from the New 52.

Hear A Brand New Audio Short Story on Today's Podcast - "Alibi Jones In Over His Head"!

Hear the audio version of the new story I have in the anthology Earthbound Comics Presents - Alibi Jones In Over His Head - on the new Glow-in-the-Dark Radio Podcast!



There's a brand new Alibi Jones audio short story this episode - no prior knowledge required. Dive right in and enjoy Alibi Jones In Over His Head - the audio version of a comic book short story. You'll find the comic, with art by Juan Carlos Quattordio, in the newly released anthology Earthbound Comics Presents #1.

Alibi Jones has a new mediation assignment, an early contact with the aquatic alien race known as the Kee'Klick, underwater on their world Kee'ere. There are some difficulties...

The comic book short is getting some rave reviews! Aint It Cool News said Alibi Jones In Over His Head "...is a gentle, humorous tale that brings to mind the lighter works of sci-fi legends such as Henry Kuttner or Ray Bradbury" http://www.aintitcool.com/node/51101#9. Blog This, Pal said the story is " Definitely one of the highlights... very funny (for all the right - and wrong - reasons)... And the last panel joke - killer" http://www.blogthispal.com/2011/08/i-know-cool-people-neverending-saga.html.

Get a digital copy of Earthbound Comics Presents #1 at Drive Thru: http://comics.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=93771 Or in print from Indy Planet: http://indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5827 More info at http://earthboundcomics.com.

Hope you enjoy the story! There's some background material after the story, as I read reviews and talk about the Alibi Jones Timeline, what stories happen when. There's also a promo before the story for Podioracket Presents: Glimpses: http://www.podiobooks.com/title/podioracket-presents-glimpses/

Finally, In commemoration of the 9/11 anniversary, I read a poem I wrote ten years ago after the attacks - We Are Gray.

By the way, I have recently been a guest on other casts - The Seekrit Projekt: http://www.theseekritprojekt.com/?p=130 & Zone 4: http://comicrelated.com/news/13189/zone-4-episode-128

More info: http://glowinthedarkradio.com

Getting Reviewed!

Woo-Hoo! They're starting to talk about my new books!

Spacebound #1 just got reviewed by George Marston at Newsarama:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/best-shots-comic-reviews-101018.html
(about 2/3rds down the page)

I wished they'd been kinder to Matt - thought his Mastorism deserved better! Have to admit, I did like this part:

Writer Mike Luoma has a strong grasp of how a story should be told, and conveys his ideas clearly through the dialogue and plotting.

And he was kind to Meisha:

The art on this story, by Meisha, is top notch. Great storytelling, clear panel construction, and expressive inking...

AND Decapitated Dan reviewed Good Samaritan: Unto Dust #1 over at From The Tomb:
http://fromthetomb.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/good-samaritan-unto-dust-1/

He wasn't as kind to my writing (though in my defense, Good Samaritan was written before Alibi... just sayin'):

...I enjoyed the story a good deal as it went out, but I found it to be a little too sporadic. In one instance we were at point A, then on the next page we jumped to point C. I missed the middle ground in there. The dialogue was good, but again a little choppy. I found the action to be the highlight here though. I find the characters intriguing enough to come back and with a good cliffhanger ending I plan on it.

If you do reviews and want to review either comic book please let me know-
Email: glowinthedarkradio@gmail.com

Loving The New Avett Brothers Album

Finally. A new album penetrates. Soulful honesty, honest artistry, songs of yearning and loss, and being lost, and trying to find - "I and Love and You". They've moved to a big label, with a big-time producer at the helm, but the emotions and the production remain raw as Rick Rubin brings out the best from the Avett Brothers throughout, polishing their sound without rounding off its edges - in fact, he gives them an extra edge, a sharpness, an almost brittle quality that sounds more live and crisp than their previous studio efforts. I don't want to analyze it too much. Rather just sit back and listen again...