Madison Records 2020 Year of Music

Say what you will about 2020, it’s definitely been an interesting year. In our opinion, music is one of the best ways to deal with the stress of the world. Whether you’re listening to music, jamming out at home or with friends or creating new works in the studio, music is the salve we’re all looking for in times of trouble.

This year has been a productive one for the artists of Madison Records. While the concert venues may have been shuttered and opportunities for public performances were scrapped, our artists showed ingenuity and a passion for their work by releasing new singles, creating amazing videos and finding creative ways to support the community.

Here are the highlights of 2020 from Madison Records:

Like Machines
The new year started out with a big release in January from Like Machines, “Hear Freedom Ring.” This EP is made up of all the songs released in 2019, along with a brand new single for 2020. “We spent a lot of time writing, recording and creating new music in 2019, and we were excited to put it all together to share with our fans for 2020,” says Andrew Evans, guitar/vocals.

This release was quickly followed with a new single, “Destitute,” in April. Later in the year the band excited fans with the song “Take it Away,” released in July with a video following in August. The first song with the band’s new producer, Bob Marlette, it takes Like Machines to a new level, showcasing how the band has grown in their sound from working together.

Tony Lewis
Coming off a big tour in 2019, Tony Lewis gave fans a treat with his “Acoustic Sessions” EP released in May. The track commentaries gave fans an inside look at the creative mind of this great artist. In October we were devastated at Tony Lewis’s untimely and unexpected passing. We’ll all miss this great talent and appreciate the opportunity to work with him at Madison Records. The posthumous release of “More Than I Dared” in November is just one way of keeping his talent alive for his fans.

Forrest Isn’t Dead
This alt-pop trio joined up with Madison Records in 2019, and April brought the first release with our studio, “The Light,” accompanied by a video released in May. Their second single, “Here We Are,” came out in December. Both of these songs show the emotional depth of this young band, and we look forward to hearing much more from them in 2021!

Kurantine (featuring Chris Jericho)
What better time to start a new cover band than while at home during quarantine? That proved to be all the inspiration needed for Chris Jericho. He teamed up with drummer Kent Slucher (tours with Luke Bryan) and guitarists Joe McGuinness and PJ Farley (Trixter) to form a KISS cover band dedicated solely to the hits of the 80s. They released “No No No” in May and “Heart of Chrome” in June.

The Wheelblocks (featuring Chris Jericho)
When two bands just aren’t enough, Jericho delighted fans in 2020 with the creation of a third band, Wheelblocks. Teaming up with well-known talent of Nita Strauss, guitar (currently touring with Alice Cooper), Phil Demmel, guitar (Machine Head), Johnny Christ, bass (Avenged Sevenfold) and Josh V, drummer (Three 6 Mafia), the band created a cover of Iron Maiden’s “Aces High,” remotely during quarantine.

Chelsea Shag
Two new songs from Chelsea helped brighten our music lists in 2020. “Time to Get Strange” debuted in May and “Rooftop” came out in October. Chelsea’s emotional lyrics mixed with unique melodies make her a one-of-a-kind artist that Madison Records is proud to represent.

Zale
With the re-release of “Common Ground” in June, Zale found a way to use her music to help out others. All proceeds from this release were donated to charity.

Pyle Tribe
July was an exciting month for Madison Records, as we got to announce the release of our work with Pyle Tribe, a band that finds Chris Pyle performing with his father Artimus Pyle of legendary southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. “Playing with my dad, who was in one of the biggest bands in the world, has been a joy,” Chris says. The band released Ser’viver, a tribute to Hall of Fame drummer Artimus Pyle that contains songs from the movie Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash