Twiddle:
Every Last Leaf , the fifth full-length studio album from Vermont quartet Twiddle, is a bold exploration of the cyclical nature of life. Propelled by constant evolution in its 18 years touring, the band —Mihali Savoulidis [vocals, guitar], Ryan Dempsey [keys, organ, synth], Brook Jordan [drums], and Zdenek Gubb [bass], welcomes a musical rebirth, leaning heavily on enigmatically stoic songwriting in lieu of the affably saccharine. Longtime listeners can expect an elevated presentation of Twiddle’s trademark sound, delicately orbiting the worlds of funk, jazz, rock, reggae, and bluegrass.

“Every Last Leaf is a metaphor for life,” Mihali explains. “When a leaf falls to the ground, something will grow from it. Everything is part of this grand circle. In the music, we’re exploring all of life’s sides—from the sad and angry to the proud and happy.”

Known for jaw-dropping live performances, the group has repeatedly sold out some of the most legendary venues in the world, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Capitol Theatre. Plus, they’ve ignited festivals such as Bonnaroo and Electric Forest in addition to launching and headlining their own annual extravaganza Tumble Down Festival. Along the way, they have built a powerful catalog highlighted by the 2017 double-disc epic Plump (Chapters 1 & 2). Thus far, they’ve also gathered over 100 million streams and counting. Throughout 2021, Twiddle wrote and recorded Every Last Leaf. For the first time, they teamed up with producer Clint Bierman behind-the-board, recording in Sugar Shack, Mihali’s home studio, and Clint’s own spot. 

“It was a blast,” smiles Mihali. “Having a good time was important to all of us. It was more relaxed with a lot less pressure. We’d never worked with a producer before. We tried it out with Clint, vibed with him, and went with it. We expanded the sound and added a lot of layers. There are also three- and four-part vocal harmonies, which we’ve never really done in the past. It was a different process.”

In the end, Twiddle have creatively found their way on Every Last Leaf.

“When you listen to this, I hope you experience the beauty we did,” he leaves off. “If you feel anything at all, mission accomplished. There are a lot of moments on this album that tie up the elements of life. It’s real.”

Dogs In A Pile:
The sandy shores of Asbury Park, New Jersey are hallowed ground in the northeast; the rolling waves have ushered generations of venerated musicians to worldwide acclaim. Dogs in a Pile, an eclectic quintet, has emerged as the heir apparent to the town’s rich musical legacy. Merging funk, jazz, and rock and roll with psychedelia, the quintet presents a completely original vibe built on kaleidoscopic soundscapes eerily reminiscent of the days of yesteryear.

The Dogs employ a unified approach to performance and songwriting, crafting aural mosaics through adept instrumentation and humble precocity. As avid storytellers, they draw inspiration from personal experiences, balancing life’s foibles with ever-present youthful sanguinity.

Dogs began when Philadelphia University of the Arts guitar gun-slinger Jimmy Law began playing with young Joe Babick (drums), a student at the Count Basie Theater program in Red Bank, NJ.  Lightning struck when they were introduced to Berklee School of Music student and bass player Sam Lucid, who immediately suggested fellow Berklee student and keyboard player Jeremy Kaplan. The addition of fellow Berklee student Brian Murray (guitar) in 2019 made for the quintessential final piece in the Dogs’ puzzle.

A string of successful local shows drove the development of a massive northeast fan base, affectionately known as the Dog Pound. The band’s astronomical growth culminated in an epic, sold-out performance at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park during the summer of 2021. Armed with a fresh batch of new material, Dogs in a Pile is taking its perpetually evolving testament to the Great American Songbook on tour in 2022, visiting plenty of new cities and spreading good music and good energy to good people along the way.