Hot on the heels of the video for the song "No Pity on the Highway" and the release of their full-length self-titled album, Radio Exile has a new video ready to go for the song "Soulfire". Overseen by the same director that worked with the band on their earlier clip, Adam Gendler, "Soulfire" was filmed at Roxy & Dukes, and Ricky Syers Art Works (to capture the vaudeville setting the band was looking for)
Comprised of members Chandler Mogel (Lead and Backing Vocals), Charlie Calv (Piano, Keyboards), Jimmy Leahey (Guitars, Backing Vocals), Kenny Aaronson (Bass), and Dave Anthony (Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals), the members of Radio Exile have previously worked with the crème de la crème of the rock world - Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Hall and Oates, Allison Krauss, Billy Idol, John Waite, members of Pink Floyd, Styx, Journey, Van Halen, the Rolling Stones, and Black Sabbath.
Chandler: "With 'Soulfire,' we decided to pull from everyone's imagination. It's a combination of almost everyone's input, but running a common Vaudevillian theme. 'Soulfire' is a feel-good, straight ahead rocker and it lends itself to going in a lot of directions conceptually, so we wanted to do something different with it."
Charlie: "It's a typical love story, maybe with a little twist. Boy meets girl, boy gets heart ripped out, and then they live happily ever after. All done with an interesting cast of live entertainers, and not so live entertainers. Oh, and wait until you see the killer band!"
Soon, the "Soulfire" video will help spread the word further about this great new band, which has already received coverage and/or rave reviews by the likes of BraveWords (Canada), Classic Rock Revisited (US), Rocktopia (UK), and MelodicRock (Australia).
'Radio Exile' Tracklisting:
High Road, High Price
Soulfire
No Pity on the Highway
Feels Like Home
Higher Than the Sun
Hang On
Starting Over
Down In a Hole
A Cross on Stone
Road to Exile
You’ve got to hand it to Charlie Calv. Every project he comes up with has a remarkable similarity. That is – he delivers classic melodic rock records with a strong 80s background and that US East Coast musical touch, except no record ever sounds like anything else around at the time and nothing else, period. Shotgun Symphony and Skin Tag for example are both stand out bands with an original, left of center sound.
And so it is again with Radio Exile, featuring some of the most mature compositions of Charlie’s career to date.
Vocalist Chandler Mogul is someone who’s fronted some projects I love, but others I couldn’t stand. Thankfully in Charlie he has a great partner and his voice fits in perfectly.
You’ve got action from track one on this album – the no nonsense High Road, High Price and choppy No Pity On The Highway – bit for me the class of this album jumped a mile upon the arrival of the semi-acoustic earthy Feels Like Home. It’s a real gem.
The treats don’t stop there, as the guys channel Queen 1975 with the layered-pomp-harmony of Higher Than The Sun and still delivers with the moody melodic class of Hang On and the organ/synth soulfulness of Starting Over.
A Cross The Stone has to be one of the most soulful AOR songs in recent memories. Super slick, super smooth.
Road To Exile closes the album with a return to the choppy riff driven opening, delivering another memorable chorus.
Better once it gets going and once there, an unstoppable tour de melodic force. A terrific debut album from the guys, with a major production and some very memorable songs.
CHARLIE CALV AND CHANDLER MOGEL TALKRADIO EXILE DEBUT ALBUM, LYRICS, LED ZEP, LIFE & LAUGHTER
Decibel Geek podcast Staff Writer Adam Cox recently interviewed Charlie Calv and Chandler Mogel for a talk about their band Radio Exile's self-titled debut album, lyrics and influences, plans for the band, ideal touring packages and why we need a good laugh.
'I think we touch many different elements, a little soul, a little gospel, maybe a tiny hint of country, but all based in hard rock.'
On the Radio Exile lyrics: 'I've always written about things that are very real to me, as in real life, real situations - I find those things can best translate to the listener as well - as we all go through stuff. David Coverdale and Ronnie James Dio are two I have always favored.'
On the band's plans and doing it their own way: 'We plan on releasing another video, possibly a third and then we would at least like to do some shows, unfortunately due to everyone's touring schedules it makes it hard for us to do any proper touring so maybe some select dates.'
On bands they would like to tour with, including bands no longer around: 'My all time favorite is Led Zeppelin, so to tour or work with any of those guys would be amazing.'
On musical anecdotes: 'It's the only business where you can work your ass off and be truly good at what you do and it just does not matter'it's all about luck and timing. Like my old friend and former Shotgun Symphony bandmate Ed would say, at least we had a lot of laughs'.and that we all have.'
The Decibel Geek podcast, started in 2011, is a weekly hard rock and heavy metal music and discussion show. Covering rock and metal bands from the late 60's to today, the show features rotating themes including Year in Review, Radio Sucks Radio Show (music-based), Interviews, Fresh Blood (upcoming bands) and many more.
AOR Heaven proudly announce two releases for October 23! Both RADIO EXILE and CHAMPLIN, WILLIAMS, FRIESTEDT will certainly please all fans of AOR music.
Product: Champlin, Williams, Friestedt CWF
Label: AOR Heaven
Release date: 23.10.2015
TOTO singer Joseph Williams teams up with former Chicago singer Bill Champlin and Swedish guitarist/producer Peter Friestedt for a new remarkable AOR release following the success with the ”Live In Concert” DVD that made it all the way to the top on the Swedish Chart!
In 2012 Champlin/Willams/Friestedt played a sold out Scandinavian tour and during this time the first recordings of the "CWF" album took place. The new album also includes contributions from Steve Porcaro of TOTO, Randy Goodrum (TOTO, Chicago), Will Champlin and Tamara Champlin.
Champlin says: "I’ve been involved with a project that includes me, Peter Friestedt a great guitarist and producer from Sweden, and Joseph Williams, the singer of TOTO! I was pretty knocked out by the stuff. I’d almost forgotten how good it was when we did it. There are great songs and even better performances on this album, and I know you’ll love it It’s rare for me to be involved with a project and be surprised by how good it is. This one will knock you out.”
Joseph Williams is the lead vocalist with Grammy winning US band TOTO. He has been busy as a composer of film and drama scores, as a session vocalist, backing singer and can be heard in Disney’s animated feature film “The Lion King” as singing voice of the adult Simba (“Hakuna Matata” and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”).
Guitarist, producer & recording artist Peter Friestedt has released two critically acclaimed albums “LA Project” (2002) and “LA Project II” (2008) that got top reviews. Peter has been a busy sessionplayer playin on records with David Foster and Fergie Frederiksen and touring Europe and Japan with Joseph Williams with who he also released the "Williams/Friestedt" album that was a top 40 hit in Scandinavia!
Bill Champlin was the lead singer of the legendary band Chicago for more than 25 years, and is a founding member of the band Sons of Champlin. Champlin has written Grammy award winning songs for Earth Wind & Fire and George Benson, and worked with countless artists including Elton John, The Doobie Brothers and Steve Lukather of TOTO.
Tracklist: Runaway, Aria, Still Around, All that I want, Carry On, Nightfly, Hearts At War, After the Love Has Gone, RIvers Of Fear, Evermore
In the post era of the FM dominated airwaves comes a new generation of classic rock, RADIO EXILE.
On rare occasions, some magical-artistic vibe goes out calling up a unique set of musicians to create groundbreaking music. When truly great musicians come together, the resulting brotherhood/sisterhood embraces their diversity, enabling them to collaborate so as to push through otherwise insurmountable boundaries. Collaboratively, they each pour the very best of what makes them cutting edge individually, into one dynamic presentation. For the rest of us, we are compelled to listen over and over.
When Charlie Calv decided to send out the vibe, he probably didn’t anticipate collective perfection, but that is what he got. When Charlie and Chandler Mogel wrote the music and lyrics for these songs, they could not have anticipated the individual masterpiece each would become. But that is what they got. Take two brilliant writers and musicians, collaborating with some of the best individual players in the world and you understand why this music is so strong. RADIO EXILE is one of the very best hard rock projects to come along in many years.
Individually, the musicians that come together to form RE, perform on stage or in the studio with the greatest artists of our time. This list includes Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Hall and Oates, Allison Krauss, Billy Idol, John Waite, members of Pink Floyd, Styx, Journey, Van Halen, the Rolling Stones, and Black Sabbath. This talent pool has been tapped, used, and appreciated over the years. Now, together as one, five brilliantly successful, creative worlds collide in a panoramic musical explosion.
The lineup is notable with Charlie on keyboards and Chandler on lead vocals. Jimmy Leahey contributes his soulful guitar playing, and all are constructed on the rhythm foundations crafted by bassist Kenny Aaronson and percussion specialist Dave Anthony. Their impressive resumes list their many accomplishments, but only hint at what RE truly represents. What makes this project so epic is that these five distinguished artists draw us in to experience their passion and love for music right along with them. From the hard-hitting, bombastic percussion of “High Road, High Price,” to the gospel infused “A Cross on Stone” - featuring the voices of Jessie Wagner (Kid Rock and Lenny Kravitz), Joe Cerisano (TSO and Silver Condor) and Amy Harnell (Tony Harnell and The Mercury Train) - these tracks are sure to stand the test of time.
Enlisting Grammy-nominated engineer/producer Steve DeAcutis (Vanilla Fudge, Cyndi Lauper, Corey Glover, etc) and veteran producer/A&R man Steve Lunt (Britney Spears, ‘NSync , Joan Jett ,etc), the latter who first honed his skills alongside the legendary Mutt Lange as vocalist of the chart topping British band City Boy, the guys checked into the SPA (Sound Spa Recording) and an immediate synergy took hold. The finishing touches were then added by top mastering engineer Alan Douches (Fleetwood Mac, Yes, Train, Pete Townsend, etc.) at his West West Side Music facility.
Reuniting some old friends, and making some new, RADIO EXILE is a fantastic blend of hard rock that will not disappoint the existing fans of any of these musicians. In fact, RADIO EXILE is sure to gain a new generation of fans who will be hungry for more. When the sure hand of destiny channels the melodic heart, we celebrate the creation. RADIO EXILE is exactly that and more. Just listen.
Tracklist: 1. High Road, High Price, 2. Soulfire, 3. No Pity On The Highway, 4. Feels Like Home, 5. Higher Than The Sun, 6. Hang On, 7. Starting Over, 8. Down In A Hole, 9. A Cross On Stone, 10. Road To Exile
Chandler Mogel Announces RADIO EXILE Project Featuring Heavy Hitters to Release in October:
Chandler has just completed what may be his most ambitious CD to date, Radio Exile. Consisting of the all-star line-up of guitarist Jimmy Leahey (Dennis DeYoung, John Waite, Allison Krauss), legendary bassist Kenny Aaronson (Bob Dylan, Bill Idol, HSAS, ect.), drummer Dave Anthony (Dennis DeYoung, Glen Burtnik, Joan Osborne) and songwriting partner and keyboardist Charlie Calv (Shotgun Symphony, Bronx Casket Co.).
The CD will be released in October (details coming shortly) and was produced by Stephen DeAcutis (Vanilla Fudge, Corey Glover, Cyndi Lauper) and former City Boy vocalist and veteran A&R man Steve Lunt (Britney Spears, NSync, Jefferson Starship).
There are 10 tracks in total including the first single No Pity on the Highway, Higher Than The Sun and the epic A Cross On Stone featuring Joe Cerisano (Trans Siberian Orchestra, Silver Condor), Jessie Wagner (Lenny Kravitz, Kid Rock) and Amy Harnell (Tony Harnell and the Mercury Train). Be sure to check out the bands website (www.radioexile.net) for up to date details on this release.
