RUSH! redux

Italian pop-rock sensation Måneskin has released an extended version of their latest album, re-titled RUSH! (Are U Coming?) which features five bonus tracks and one of them is another collab with the Captain Cuts boys - it's short & (bitter)sweet and catchy as hell!

Media Watch: news notes

A few things to report on...

Unfortunately, it was announced last week that National Treasure: Edge of History has been cancelled by Disney+ as confirmed by Variety:

https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/national-treasure-edge-of-history-canceled-disney-1235591191/

This adds the show to the "one and done" list of Trevor's television work, which also includes the limited-run series Zero Hour and the action drama Agent X.  But it is gratifying to know that Trevor's contract included a release of the score's major themes and cues via a soundtrack album.

Speaking of albums, Outlanders (the duo of singer Tarja Turunen and musician-producer Torsten Stenzel) has announced they will be releasing a full-length album of their project on June 23rd, which will contain the previous eight singles released over a three-year period, including the lead single "Closer To The Sky" featuring Trevor on guitar.  So anyone who desired to have that track in physical media form is now in luck!

And lastly, Captain Cuts is busy as usual, but I was excited to see that Ryan and Ben co-wrote a song with Italian pop-rock sensations Måneskin for their international debut album Rush! released earlier this year.

The Man of a Thousand Credits: special guest

One of a continuing series in regards to the myriad variety of Trevor’s discography.

It appears Ryan finally pulled his dad into the Captain Cuts cinematic universe (as the saying goes these days)...last month a new single debuted by Canadian pop princess Carly Rae Jepsen, produced and co-written by Ryan and Ben Berger (Ryan McMahon has departed, though no official announcement was made that I'm aware of) and "Talking To Yourself" features a very brief guitar solo from Our Trev.

It's a catchy tune, as are all of Captain Cuts' productions.  The now duo has been very busy of late, both with production for other artists and a few for themselves, and also working in that part of The Jacaranda Room where GROUPLOVE's Never Trust A Happy Song was recorded, as this recent photoset on Instagram courtesy of princedcf illustrates: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjrGu9itAby/

a loving tribute, part two

Yesterday the lineup for the Alan White tribute show on October 2nd at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle was announced - Trevor and Ryan will be there!  Along with a host of other musicians from Yes, the White band, and elsewhere as well as a few musical legends of the Pacific Northwest, which is also in tribute to Alan's homebase of many decades.  Proceeds from the show will go to benefit the non-profit WhyHunger organization and tickets are available through STGPresents and all affiliated outlets.

...but you can't take the band out of the drummer

Spotted on Twitter: new dad Ryan as well as original bassist Sean Gadd joined former bandmates GROUPLOVE at their show at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles last night as they performed their debut album Never Trust A Happy Song in honor of the tenth anniversary of its' release.

https://twitter.com/ibakeforaliving/status/1461972594467516422

ETA: this photo/video set on Instagram has nice moments.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWgb2KmPI02/

welcome to the New Girl

Some might have been aware of Kyly posting on her Instagram page back in May that she and Ryan were expecting, and yesterday became the proud parents of beautiful Rio (and I'm sure she'll be dancing on the sand by her toddler years).  Congrats to Kyly & Ryan, Trevor & Shelley, and Jayne & Myles.  We know she'll be raised with love and music and all good things.

the latest earworm

Dropped today from those happenin' lads in Captain Cuts, a new track featuring pop vocalist AJ Mitchell.  Not quite a sunny banger like we've become accustomed to, but still quite catchy even cast as a song of longing for a missed connection.

(virtual) Party Time

Today is the day for some Springtime clearing of the cobwebs, courtesy of Captain Cuts' brand-new collab with Norwegian EDM artist Matoma and vocalist Georgia Ku, a House-style slice of happiness titled "Beside You."

it's "So Close" (to that heart-shaped trophy)!

Congrats to Ryan, Ben, and Ryan for their iHeart Radio Music Awards nomination announced today! 

recent roundup

What is on the mind of, say, 90% of all Americans these days?  No, it's not any of the things you'd think...

It's Game of Thrones.

To wit, Ryan posted an Instagram story on the Captain Cuts page last night featuring a little father-son bonding time over S08 E05 (which has been described by one recapper as Just one long 80-minute 'AAAAHHH!!!') and there so many questions I imagine fellow fans would love to discuss with the Maestro.  But I totally get why Trevor is into this show, it's so political, and he loves politics as a discipline.

(I'm assuming Charlie is not on Team Dany.)

Moving along, if you're not subscribed to Marq Vas' YouTube channel, what are you even doing with your life?  Just teasing, but if you are into enjoying/learning more about South African music, and specifically rock/pop of the 1970s, Marq has been generous in sharing a bit of his vast collection with us over the years.  The other day he highlighted an obscure greatest hits release, uploading a track (originally from Rock Rabbitt, the album in which Trevor does not appear) on his channel.  For you completists out there, as far as I know this one is pretty rare indeed even as its' track listing is really nothing to get excited about.

View this post on Instagram

Rabbitt!!! Latest addition to my Southern African music YouTube channel! Rabbitt – “Getting Thru To You”. From the “Greatest Hits “ album. Released on the Wham! label, WH 001, 197?. Track listing: Side 1: Charlie Hold On To Love Hard Ride Getting Thru’ To You Morning Light Side 2: Locomotive Breath Dingleys Bookshop Sugar Pie Working For The People I Was Eleven Line up: Duncan Faure – Vocals, Guitar Trevor Rabin – Lead Guitar Neil Cloud – Drums Ronnie Robot – Bass Publisher: Silversongs #rabbitt #rabbit #gettingthrutoyou #gettingthroughtoyou #southafrica #southafricanmusic #vinyl #vinyls #vinylcollector #vinylcollection #records #record #recordcollector #recordcollection #wham #vinyljunkie #trevorrabin #duncanfaure

A post shared by Marq Vas (@marqvas) on May 10, 2019 at 11:36am PDT

update: Captain Cuts on the job

The last few weeks have been busy for those crazy kids...their third mixtape EMOWORLD was released last month, and a new song produced for Canadian pop princess Carly Rae Jepsen was debuted yesterday.  Today brings another multi-tiered collaboration, this time with Swedish production crew NOTD, DJ Felix Jaehn and singer Georgia Ku. It would be nice to see the guys produce maybe an EP-length project with Georgia, as her voice is a perfect fit for their relentlessly upbeat dance-pop aesthetic.

late summer banger

Next up in the Captain Cuts oeuvre is a collaboration with Los Angeles-based DJ Zookëper and singer/songwriter Georgia Ku on the House/EDM single "Do You Think About Me?" released earlier this month - perfect for those sweaty dancefloor workouts.

getting emo at ASCAP

Coming up on May 8th is Ryan's appearance at the ASCAP "I Create Music" Expo, a yearly gathering of industry professionals offering seminars, panel discussions, performances and a chance for interaction and networking with fellow songwriters, performers and producers.  As we know, Trevor previously took part in the "We Create Music" panel at the 2011 expo.

‘Emo’s Impact on Pop’ panel features #RyanRabin (@captaincuts/ @grouplove), @johnfeldy (@goldfingermusic & major producer), @carrotlettuce (#Emmy award-winning producer) and moderated by @emonitela co-founder @partywizard. Don’t miss this live podcast taping at #ASCAPEXPO presented by @rideorcryco on Tuesday 5/8 at 9:30AM. Link in bio for tix.

A post shared by ASCAP (@ascap) on Apr 26, 2018 at 1:21pm PDT

pain is pleasure

With thanks to my dear Cee. :)

Captain Cuts had the opportunity to collaborate with County superstar Keith Urban on his new album Graffiti U...but there's nothing particularly Country about their track "Love The Way It Hurts (So Good)" - it bears the hallmarks of the hook-laden pop sparkle which the guys have bestowed upon all their various collaborations.  The album was released today so you too can hurt so good to hear it.

Got the chance to write this song with one of the most talented and generous guys we’ve ever met. Thanks for letting us be a part of your new album @keithurban !!!

A post shared by Captain Cuts (@captaincuts) on Apr 26, 2018 at 10:24pm PDT

Media Watch: of the group but not in the Group

Published today on the Noise11 site is an article regarding Ryan's continuing absence from GROUPLOVE, which may potentially indicate more than just a change of heart regarding touring.

http://www.noise11.com/news/grouplove-are-still-trying-to-work-it-out-with-ryan-rubin-20180228

“Before this big Imagine Dragons we did last Fall in The States he strangely wrote us this email saying ‘I don’t want to go on this tour,” Grouplove singer Christian Zucconi tells Noise11.com. “I’m not saying I don’t want to be in the band anymore but I don’t want to go on the tour’, (he wrote). It’s a weird thing to say and express because to be in the band you need to go on tour.”

Back in October I had theorized that it seemed Ryan wanted to focus on Captain Cuts' artistic development for the time being as they have been signed to Sony and released several singles, including their collaboration with New York-based EDM duo The Knocks, "House Party."  It's possible that Ryan might take more of what is traditionally characterized as a Brian Wilson-type role for GROUPLOVE and continue to write and produce on future albums but not tour.  As he had stated in past interviews, before the formation of the band Ryan had already decided on a production career rather than a performing one.  So this kind of direction doesn't really surprise me if in fact it is what Ryan desires to pursue in the future.

Captain Cuts recently celebrated yet another hit collaboration with alt-rock band Walk The Moon - last month their song "One Foot" from the album What If Nothing reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.  And GROUPLOVE has filled Ryan's seat behind the kit with former Dashboard Confessional drummer Benjamin Homola.

measuring up

I came across a priceless shot of Ryan by photographer Anna Lee, from a promotional shoot for Captain Cuts earlier this year.  To provide a bit of context, the handprints of YesWest are immortalized as part of the Hollywood RockWalk, located at the Guitar Center superstore on Sunset Blvd. and the induction party was held on May 24, 1994 (as part of the promotion for Talk, one presumes).

So it seems Captain Cuts, who are signed with Epic Records, are ramping up their own recording career - with the recent releases of "Love Like We Used To" and "Cocaina" - and with Ryan taking time off from GROUPLOVE right now it may mean a debut album is in the works.

(It's just about a perfect fit, wouldn't you say?)

photo by Anna Lee

A special day

A very Happy Birthday to the other half of the firm of Rabin & Rabin...who is hopefully celebrating in "Club Ryan" style.  Love to the group!

They grow up so fast...

...and make you proud.

This video (from last year) is a great example of Ryan's sense of humor and it never fails to crack me up no matter how many times I watch it (the answers are serious, but the images are not).

https://www.facebook.com/GROUPLOVE/videos/1403831339630241/

Don't forget to remember!

GROUPLOVE is a busy band this summer - touring in support of Big Mess and Little Mess, as well as playing various festivals - and yesterday they released a new single, so their #1 fan was quick to alert the masses.

REMEMBER THAT NIGHT!!!
Grouplove's new song...you gotta listen... For my ears their strongest single to date.... https://t.co/CTKIptra3H

— Trevor Rabin (@Rabin_News) August 18, 2017

Featuring a fierce vocal by Hannah Hooper and a really interesting percussion-driven dynamic arrangement, this song definitely places the band much more on the indie pop side of their particular aesthetic.

And now...a message from Dad

As several readers have already pointed out to me today, the timing on this is amusing, though entirely coincidental.

Hi Everyone,
check out Captain Cuts (Ryan's) new single "Cocaina"
crazzzy.
see you all soon!!!!!!!!!

— Trevor Rabin (@Rabin_News) August 5, 2017

Proud Papa sez: "That's crazy with a triple Zed!"  A summertime banger, this track does have a fun Tropicalia vibe to it.

even more Mess

I received an email a few weeks back which reminded me I had missed something...
Are you going to review Little Mess?  I think it's pretty cool!

Ah yes I totally forgot to comment about the release of GROUPLOVE's new EP Little Mess, which was originally a Record Store Day exclusive and then released to digital distribution on May 5th.

RECORD STORE DAY IS SATURDAY #littlemess 10" VINYL 🔥🔥🔥

A post shared by GROUPLOVE (@grouplove) on Apr 20, 2017 at 3:13pm PDT

The title is, naturally, a reference to these tracks having been recorded during the sessions for Big Mess in Seattle with producer/engineer Phil Ek.  The overall character of the first three tracks: "Tell Me A Story," "Torso" and "MRI" is somewhat more subdued when compared to the songs which did make it onto the album, although I think "Torso" was a strong contender, it hearkens back - in my estimation - to the sonic palette of Spreading Rumours.  Even with a slower tempo "MRI" is probably the heaviest song they've recorded in quite a while, and it frames Hannah's lead vocal quite nicely.

Also included is a live version of "Enlighten Me" which features backing vocals from a very enthusiastic audience.  The live arrangement has a really great dynamic, starting out with just Christian's vocal and acoustic guitar and then ramping up to a full band blowout for the ending.

"Adios Amigos" reminds me of "Beans On Pizza" in terms of its' playful attitude but it's got that gung-ho go go go infectious spirit which is pure GROUPLOVE for sure.