PARKER BARROW
Parker Barrow, the blues-infused Southern rock band led by Megan Kane (vocals) and Dylan Turner (drums), supported by the formidable Alex Bender (guitar) and Michael Beckhart (bassist), is a powerhouse group, boasting a distinctive musical style. Forged from an immediate connection, the band finds inspiration in the infamous duo of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Kane and Turner aim to infuse their music with the iconic energy of a dynamic duo, portraying a narrative where, instead of evading the law, they are a dynamic pair in pursuit of their rock ‘n’ roll dreams.
Unleashing their full creative force, the band poured everything into their inaugural 10-track album, Jukebox Gypsies, released on August 11, 2023. This collection of songs chronicles the couple’s four-year journey, from a serendipitous meeting to navigating life on the road in an RV, capturing both the highs and lows. Each song serves as a reflection of their emotions and experiences, discovering a harmonious balance amid the chaos. “One of the best parts of releasing this album was getting to hear that people are connecting with our music and hearing people talk about our music the way we talk about some of our favorite bands,” Kane and Turner gushed. “It’s been an awesome ride with this record and we’re still enjoying the wave till we reach the shore and can paddle back out for round two!”
Drawing significant inspiration from The Black Crowes, The Allman Brothers Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Whiskey Myers, Parker Barrow seamlessly incorporates blues into each arrangement. The band’s true brilliance emerges in their live performances, marked by lively flights and a showcase of their grounded charisma. Turner and Kane, bound by a shared vision, genuine passion, and a love for life on the road, hold their relationship in high esteem through music and faith. As kindred spirits, they eagerly anticipate continuing to create and perform together in this next chapter of life. Whether in intimate acoustic sets or impactful full-band shows, it’s clear that the couple is precisely where they should be.
Starting 2024 with a bang, the band is set to unveil the official music video for their track “Back to Birmingham” from Jukebox Gyspies on Friday, February 16. “From the moment we penned it, we sensed that this song deserved more,” Turner explains. “It was the initial song we crafted together after a few weeks on the road back in 2019. We approached it from Megan’s perspective, drawing from my own experiences of being away from home during that period. During the recording, I unexpectedly lost my grandmother. Then, just a week before shooting the music video, while performing at a dive bar in Missouri, we received the news that Megan’s grandmother had lost her battle to breast cancer. Suddenly, a song written four years ago came to life, a bit too literally, in just a matter of months.”
Dr. G, Stephen McKnight, Tony Mancuso, and Mike Truehart of Rambunctious Productions all played a pivotal role in making this song, story, and cinematic video come to life. “Fast forward 4 years, it’s crazy how one song, even after sitting on the shelf for a while, can come back around and mean so much more now than it even did back then,” Kane and Turner reflect. “So, the vision for the music video honestly wrote itself, as a dedication and a memorial to those we had lost while out on the road trying to make our dreams come true. It was truly a way for us to heal, which isn’t that what music is all about anyway?”
Jukebox Gypsies, a record with high praise, catapulted Parker Barrow throughout the year 2023. Rock & Blues Muse journalist Mike O’Cull applauded the album saying, “Parker Barrow absolutely swings for the fences on their 10-track debut album Jukebox Gypsies… this much-anticipated record over-delivers on all levels and should do much to jump Parker Barrow up to the highest realms of the roots rock scene. The band combines power-hungry beats, nail-tough guitars, all-pro vocals, and an impossible-to-ignore emotional fire into new rock music that comes across as genuine and true.”
The lead single from the album, “Count Your Dollars” (June 14, 2023), exemplifies the group’s energy. Bursting onto the scene with vigor, the track is a classic Southern rock hit featuring Kane’s powerful vocals and the band’s rock expertise, setting the tone for the entire record. The second single, “Desire,” (July 12, 2023), unfolds seamlessly with electric guitar and Kane’s raspy vocals, providing a subjective and passionate take on life.
Jukebox Gypsies marks a significant milestone in Parker Barrow’s musical journey and there’s nothing but greatness in store for their future.
PETE’S DIARY
Pete’s Diary is an independent Chicago trio with more than 800k social media followers. Their Keep On Rock-in’ debut album releasing June 14, 2024 was written, recorded, and produced in Los Angeles with Keith Nel-son, founding lead guitarist of Buckcherry. It was mixed in Vancouver by Mike Fraser of AC/DC notoriety.Fans of AC/DC, GNR, early Van Halen, and Velvet Revolver will find more than one track to love on this rec-ord that features a guest guitar solo by Tracii Guns and ends with a Gary Moore inspired ballad.The band’s name evolved from Peter Dankelson’s medical diary and motivational speaking. Often referred to as “Angus Jr.,” Dankelson taught himself to play guitar despite hearing loss, disabilities on his fretting hand, and more than 30 reconstructive surgeries to overcome Goldenhar Syndrome. His autobiography, How I Learned to Rock My Life, is an Amazon bestseller.Dankelson is joined by Mac McRae who doubles on lead vocals and bass and Ryan “Rocky” Johnson on drums. Their energy is infectious, drawing increasing crowds wherever they play.