Reality Alley, by Kevin Stevenson

Reality Alley

by Kevin Stevenson

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Saddle up to the bar with this brand new & shiny coaster shaped hi-def CD from creative genius and legendary rock n' roller Kevin Stevenson of The Shods.

Includes unlimited streaming of Reality Alley via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
CD Bundle includes:
Kevin Stevenson - Reality Alley CD
The Dogmatics - Drop That Needle CD
Diablogato - Old Ghosts CD
Random Dogmatics or Diablogato Sticker (while supplies last)!

Includes unlimited streaming of Reality Alley via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Add this brand new CD Bundle on your "Back To School" shopping list!! CD Bundle includes:
Kevin Stevenson - Reality Alley CD
Hambone Skinny - Come Getcha' Some CD
Mad Mojo Jett - Get Your Mind Straight CD
Rum Bar Records Magnet for your school locker!!

Includes unlimited streaming of Reality Alley via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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Streaming + Download

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Full Digital Discography

267

releases

Get all 267 Rum Bar Records releases available on Bandcamp and save 80%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of After School Special: Pop-Punk Revolution Reunion, Enchanted Lovers, Fiesta Time, Lost Highway, The Best of Cruzados, Songs From They Came To Rock, She Hulk, The Dotted Line, and 259 more. , and , .

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1.	Saturday Morning Coming Down 02:56	buy track
2.	Lowell Night 03:34	buy track
3.	Brand New Day 03:19	buy track
4.	Stevie's The Message 05:36	buy track
5.	Wrong This Time 04:58	buy track
6.	Torr Skoog 03:19	buy track
7.	I Guess You Had Enough 03:09	buy track
8.	50 Bucks 05:15	buy track
9.	Death Jackets 03:14	buy track
10.	Jack Daniels 03:40	buy track
11.	Drug City, USA 03:19	buy track
12.	We Know Everyone 03:28	buy track
13.	It Was You 02:57	buy track
14.	Children Of The Oaks 02:43	buy track
15.	13 03:38	buy track

about

"It's an absolute treat for all of us that Reality Alley is now out into the world and reaching ears across the globe. When the likes of Boston Groupie News and Greg Lonesome are dishing out rave reviews, you know you're getting into something special. Whether you are a longtime Shods fan or simply crave music with heart and guts, this is an album well worth your attention." - Lord Rutledge

"With the Shods long gone and Kevin Stevenson living in Greece, an album by Kevin seemed unlikely but Reality Alley shows that talent will find a way. There are 15 songs on the album and they are all solid efforts. The songs are packed with observations both personal and social. Kevin has a lot to say. The music is horn heavy, like Memphis style. Kevin’s guitar flavors everything , not with solos (but there are some good ones) but his chord work. His voice of course is very distinctive." - Boston Groupie News

"This album defies expectations on several levels. That Rum Bar is there to scoop it up and get it attentions is another plus. You should just get to this album and hear the whole thing." - Paul Blowfish

""Reality Alley" is a welcome return for one of the North East's best songwriters. Here's hoping this is the first of many more new albums. I know I'll be listening." - Greg Lonesome, Rock N Roll Manifesto

"The longer I keep joking that Rum Bar Records will eventually work with every great artist from the Boston garage/punk scene, the less it seems like a joke and the more it seems like an inevitability! The latest feather in Malibu Lou's cap is the addition of Kevin Stevenson to the Rum Bar family. Longtime leader of Lowell-based greats The Shods, Stevenson will be releasing his first-ever solo album, Reality Alley, on Rum Bar this fall. Stevenson, one of the finest songwriters of his generation and one of the world's greatest ambassadors of the "Boston sound," has not released new music in quite some time. The worldwide rock and roll community is blessed to have him back in the game!" - Faster And Louder

"A couple of top notch albums released on the label, none more relevant than this. Kevin Stevenson has always been a rough gem. The Shods albums were always excellent, a little Punk, but very varied. Torr Skoog is ace New Wave." - I Don't Hear A Single

"Given the diverse musical offerings of any given Shods album, it seems almost unnecessary to say that Reality Alley covers a lot of ground. But seriously: it covers a lot of ground! This album is informed by sounds ranging from rock to punk to pop to reggae to rhythm & blues to folk to jazz. There's even a nod to Grandmaster Flash! If you had told me this album was recorded for a major label in the '70s, I wouldn't have doubted it! All this stellar musicianship works because it serves an exceptional set of songs. Over the course of 15 tracks (not one of them a dud), Stevenson reminds us all of who he is: a gifted storyteller, a masterful and deeply human songwriter, and an immensely likeable, one-of-a-kind character. You hear that voice, and you immediately know whom you're listening to. "Lowell Night," a vivid portrait of the town's local color, has the feel of a pub ballad of yore. "Torr Skoog" is intensely personal and absolutely heartbreaking. Songs like "50 Bucks" and "Death Jackets" wrap super-dark lyrical content into vibrant and alluring musical packages. Tracks such as "We Know Everyone," "Jack Daniels," and "Drug City USA" highlight Stevenson's flair for huge, indelible choruses. With its hummable melody and invigorating energy, "Brand New Day" immediately feels like a song I've known my whole life." - Faster And Louder

Kevin Stevenson is a song writer, musician, and band leader from Lowell, Massachusetts, USA. Kevin is known for founding and performing with countless bands over the past 35 years including fronting legendary and influential Boston/Lowell MA Pub Punk Rockers The Shods. "Reality Alley" is Kevin's first solo album ever.

I lived in the neighborhood known as Exarchia, in Athens, Greece, for about a year. That neighborhood was famous for the fact that the anarchists overthrew the dictator in 1974. When I lived there, I noticed that all of the artists had this amazing passion for their art, and I knew that I had to record my album there. I wanted to capture some of that passion. Lucky me, the first studio that I walked into I met George Priniotakis, who ended up being the best producer that I have ever worked with. He played some of his work for me, and I was blown away. Between Wonka sound in Lowell, MA for overdubs, and Arttracks Studios in Athens, I finished an amazing sounding album. Hope that you all dig it! -- Kevin Stevenson

credits

released September 2, 2022

Kevin Stevenson - Vocals, Guitars, Bass Guitar, Incidental Organ
Manolis Giannikos - Drums
Edward Newton - Piano and Organ
Yannis Karagiannakis - Trumpet
Kostas Staikos - Saxophone
Aggelos Tzamatias - Trombone
Jenny Riddle - Backing Vocals
with Anastasia Zannis, Lauran O'Neal, Neon Kaos, George Priniotakis, Kevin Stevenson
Eddy Dyer - Theremin
Bob Nash and Clyde Jabar - Percussion

All songs written by Kevin Stevenson
Lyrics to "Stevie's The Message"* by Grandmaster Flash* and Kevin Stevenson

Produced by George Priniotakis and Kevin Stevenson with help from Dave Westner, Westnerstone Sound Services, Plymouth MA
Recorded at Arttracks Studios, Athens Greece and Wonka Studios, Lowell MA
Engineered by Sir Bob Nash (USA) and Clyde Jabbar (Greece)
Mastered by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East, Somerville MA
*Courtesy of Sugar Hill Records

Cover photo by Joel Meus
Album art, layout & design by Glenn Robinson

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Rum Bar Records Boston, Massachusetts

"Write this down: Rum Bar Records is turning into one of the absolute best labels for real rock & roll these days."
-- the legendary Bill Kelly, Bill Kelly's Blackhole Bandstand SiriusXm ch21 LSUG

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