Media Monarchy plays Dierks Bentley, Morgan Wallen, Los Lobos and more on #PumpUpThaVolume for June 25, 2025. ♬
Violent Femmes – “Old Mother Reagan” // “No Killing” (Vinyl)
‘The Blind Leading The Naked’
Slash/Warner Bros. – 1986
*Violent Femmes – “Old Mother Reagan” // “No Killing” (Vinyl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IWexpK3Yc0 // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JomIWFTO8e0 // https://www.discogs.com/release/950276-Violent-Femmes-The-Blind-Leading-The-Naked // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blind_Leading_the_Naked // The opening one-two punch from the Milwaukee madmen’s third record feels about right for right now. “‘The Blind Leading the Naked’ is the third album by Violent Femmes. It was produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and released in 1986. The title is a play on the figure of speech “the blind leading the blind.” ‘The Blind Leading the Naked’ was the band’s first album to reach the Billboard 200 chart, peaking at number 84, and its only one to chart in Britain. The band said Leo Kottke and Fred Frith were both persuaded to appear on the album after approaching them at their concerts. “I just went along and asked him if he’d like to come down and try something out in the studio,” Ritchie said of Frith.” Bought somewhere in Portland, price tag probably removed so I don’t have that context clue. Such a singular sound from a singular band!*
*****
Dierks Bentley – “Well Well Whiskey”
‘Broken Branches’
UMG Recordings – June 13, 2025
*Dierks Bentley – “Well Well Whiskey” https://soundcloud.com/dierks-bentley/well-well-whiskey // https://dierksbentley.komi.io // From ‘Broken Branches,’ the just-released album by Dierks Bentley, available now via UMG Recordings.*
Randall King – “Cheatin’ On My Honky Tonk” (w/Braxton Keith)
Digital Single
Warner Music Nashville – June 13, 2025
*Randall King – “Cheatin’ On My Honky Tonk” (w/Braxton Keith) https://soundcloud.com/randallkingmusic/cheatin-on-my-honky-tonk-feat // https://randallking.komi.io // Here’s the new digital single by Randall King, available now via Warner Music Nashville.*
Morgan Wallen – “What I Want” (w/Tate McRae)
‘I’m The Problem’
Big Loud Records / Mercury Records / Republic Records – May 16, 2025
*Morgan Wallen – “What I Want” (w/Tate McRae) https://soundcloud.com/morgan-wallen/what-i-want // https://morganwallen.lnk.to/imtheproblemalbum // Here’s another track from ‘I’m The Problem,’ the chart-topping album by Morgan Wallen, available now via Big Loud Records / Mercury Records / Republic Records.*
*****
Los Lobos – “Three Hundred Pounds of Joy” (Howlin’ Wolf Cover)
‘Antone’s: 50 Years of The Blues’
Antone’s Records – August 22, 2025
*Los Lobos – “Three Hundred Pounds of Joy” (Howlin’ Wolf Cover) https://antonesrecords.bandcamp.com/track/los-lobos-three-hundred-pounds-of-joy // http://newwst.com/threehundredEM // This newly recorded cover by Los Lobos of Howlin’ Wolf’s classic (penned by Willie Dixon) will appear on the upcoming box set, ‘Antone’s: 50 Years of The Blues’. Due on August 22nd via Antone’s Records.*
Mackenzie Roark and the Hotpants – “Cigarettes and TV Dinners”
‘Ghost of Rock and Roll’
Vocal Rest Records – June 6, 2025
*Mackenzie Roark and the Hotpants – “Cigarettes and TV Dinners” https://mackenzieroarkandthehotpants.bandcamp.com/track/cigarettes-and-tv-dinners // https://mackenzieroark.com // Here’s another track from ‘Ghost of Rock and Roll,’ the just-released album by Mackenzie Roark and the Hotpants, available now via Vocal Rest Records.*
The Kody Norris Show – “Mississippi Squirrel Revival” (Ray Stevens Cover)
‘Highfalutin Hillbilly’
Rebel Records – June 6, 2025
*The Kody Norris Show – “Mississippi Squirrel Revival” (Ray Stevens Cover) https://thekodynorrisshow.bandcamp.com/track/mississippi-squirrel-revival // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_Squirrel_Revival // From ‘Highfalutin Hillbilly,’ the just-released album by The Kody Norris Show, available now via Rebel Records.*
Video: QUAKER PUFF WHEAT & RICE SHOT FROM GUNS (Audio)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGpS6LHeBC0
*****
Patrick Sweany – “My Time Ain’t Long”
‘Baby, It’s Late’
Nine Mile Records – August 1, 2025
*Patrick Sweany – “My Time Ain’t Long” https://patricksweany.bandcamp.com/track/my-time-aint-long // http://www.patricksweany.com // The lead single to preview ‘Baby, It’s Late,’ the upcoming album by Nashville-based bluesman, Patrick Sweany. Due on August 1st via Nine Mile Records.*
Roy Head – “Undercover Agent For The Blues” (Tony Joe White Cover)
‘Last Time Around’
Wild Honey Records – April 11, 2025
*Roy Head – “Undercover Agent For The Blues” (Tony Joe White Cover) https://royheadtx.bandcamp.com/track/undercover-agent-for-the-blues // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Head // This cover of Tony Joe White (‘Closer To The Truth’ – 1995) is included on ‘Last Time Around,’ the just-released posthumous album by Texas blues, country and rockabilly star, Roy Head. Available now via Wild Honey Records.*
*****
Mona Lunsford – “I’m Getting Restless”
‘Barnyard Beehive’
Numero Group – 2025
*Mona Lunsford – “I’m Getting Restless” https://youtu.be/RjCmOCRbMiA // https://www.discogs.com/release/33109209-Various-Barnyard-Beehive // https://www.discogs.com/release/14087961-Mona-Lunsford-Im-Getting-Restless-Youre-No-Warden // This song by country singer-songwriter Mona Lunsford was originally the A-side of a super rare 45 released on Van-Deck Records in 1968, here featured on the various artists compilation album, ‘Barnyard Beehive’. Available now via Numero Group.*
Loretta Lynn – “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven”
‘Hillbillies In Hell: The Endless Sleep (1958-1973)’
The Omni Recording Corporation / The Iron Mountain Analogue Research Facility – April 12, 2025
*Loretta Lynn – “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven” https://youtu.be/izxdftxWgw8 // https://www.discogs.com/release/33068052-Various-Hillbillies-In-Hell-The-Endless-Sleep-1958-1973 // This song, written by Loretta Lynn first appeared on her 1965 album, ‘Hymns’. Here featured on the various artists compilation album, ‘Hillbillies In Hell: The Endless Sleep (1958-1973),’ available now via The Omni Recording Corporation / The Iron Mountain Analogue Research Facility.*
Moe Bandy – “Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life”
‘Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life’
Columbia – 1976
*Moe Bandy – “Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life” https://youtu.be/NpEfwBaBvWA // https://www.discogs.com/release/8868456-Moe-Bandy-Hank-Williams-You-Wrote-My-Life // Here’s the title track of the 1976 Columbia album by Moe Bandy – the man with the A1 selection in the Monarchy jukebox!*