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John McDonough’s New Concept EP “We’ll Answer The Call” Tells the Amazing True Story of Joe Rantz

John McDonough’s new concept EP, ‘We’ll Answer The Call,’ tells the story of Joe Rantz, the Washington Husky rowing team, and their epic bid to win the Gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.

Ever hear of Joe Rantz? His remarkable story has inspired a book, a movie to be directed by George Clooney, and now a riveting concept EP by John McDonough. Joe Rantz was part of the 1936 University of Washington eight-oared crew team who won the Olympic Gold Medal. The EP will be released on June 17, 2022.

Through 5 songs, ‘We’ll Answer The Call”, tells a tale of survival and self-determination. When Rantz was just four years old, he lost his mother to throat cancer. Later as a young teen, due to growing tension with his step-mother, Rantz lived alone in a half-finished cabin in the woods all the while attending school.

I am so obsessed with this story I flew to Seattle to see the Husky Clipper. The Husky Clipper is the original and restored eight man boat that was used to win gold in Berlin, and is now hanging in the University of Washington boathouse. It’s a beautiful boat and a true piece of art. It was a very moving experience for me to see it, and the last song on the EP is sung from the point of view of this boat.” – John McDonough

About John McDonough

John McDonough is a singer/songwriter from Chicago, Illinois whose shows span six decades of hits combined with unique and moving originals. John’s acoustic guitar work, passionate vocals, and personal lyrics result in a modern singer/songwriter sound rarely heard. Before relocating to Chicago in 2020, John had spent 25 years performing in and around Austin, TX. He played to the rowdy crowds of 6th street, the dinner crowds of the suburbs, and everything in-between. Ten years ago John retired from psychotherapy to focus solely on music, and in that time has released five CD’s of original music, played over 500 gigs, performed in eleven major music festivals, several times appeared and performed on local and national radio, and embarked on successful tours throughout the United States. ‘Dream’s and Imagination,’ ‘Surrounding Colors,’ and ‘Can You See Me Now,’ released between 2014 to 2019, all received great reviews and airplay throughout Europe and the United States, with all three releases spending six consecutive months on the Americana Music Association Record Chart.

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In 2021, John released an acoustic CD titled ‘Second Chances.’ ‘Second Chances’ consists of fresh, acoustic arrangements of his favorite songs from previous releases, and was nominated for Album Of The Year by The Josie Awards and Blues And Roots Magazine. John has drawn comparisons to Elton John, Harry Chapin, and Van Morrison for his vocal abilities while his emotional story telling has been compared to the songwriting styles of Damien Rice and James Blunt. John is very excited to release his new concept EP, ‘We’ll Answer The Call,’ June 17th, 2022. This EP tells the story of Joe Rantz, the Washington Husky rowing team, and their epic bid to win gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. He is also very excited to get back into Roxie, his small RV, and tour the United States.

For more information, please visit John McDonough’s website.

Artist Spotlight

Trashy Annie Drops a Grit-Soaked Masterpiece with “Let It Kill You”

Trashy Annie

“Let It Kill You,” a 12-track rock journey by Austin’s own Trashy Annie, is now out. It captures everything bold, gritty, and unapologetically honest about modern rock. Award-winning songwriter Annie Davis leads the band. They thrive on the beautiful clash of outlaw-country storytelling and explosive hard rock energy. This new record is their most daring work yet.

“Let It Kill You” is 38 minutes and 18 seconds long, taking listeners on an emotional rollercoaster from heartbreak to redemption and chaos to clarity. It’s the sound of a band that won’t play it safe; instead, they choose to live and die by the fire of their art.

The album starts with loud guitars and vocals that cut through the noise, making it clear right away that Trashy Annie is a force in rock music. “Save Me” mixes the raw power of electric riffs with the vulnerability of soul-baring lyrics. “Some Strange” has a dark, bluesy swagger that oozes danger and desire. Then there’s “Sugar,” a sexy song that stands out because of its catchy hooks and Annie’s fierce, intoxicating voice.

Each song sounds like a page from Annie’s diary, written without fear, emotion, or editing. The band’s blend of country grit, classic rock chaos, and a modern edge makes “Let It Kill You” impossible to ignore. Trashy Annie was born during the pandemic and made in fire. She stands for the spirit of rebirth and rebellion. “Let It Kill You” is a way of life. It’s about going after your passion so hard that it could kill you, but doing it anyway because that’s what makes life real.

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Artist Spotlight

Roxy Rawson Finds Light in the Shadows with “I Found a Place in the Woods”

Roxy Rawson

Music is very sacred because it can convey both pain and peace simultaneously. Roxy Rawson‘s new single, “I Found a Place in the Woods,” does just that. This haunting, ethereal masterpiece by well-known composer Jherek Bischoff is out now on November 7th. It’s an emotional landscape made up of solitude, strength, and quiet rebirth. Roxy Rawson transforms folklore into a deeply personal story about her own journey through divorce and starting anew, inspired by the fairy tale “The Three Ravens.” The song takes you to a magical place where loss and healing meet, where grief slowly gives way to hope under the cover of old trees.

Bischoff’s production is both rich and delicate. It layers Rawson’s angelic voice over haunting strings and textures that seem to breathe with life. The song has an organic stillness to it, like being in the woods after a storm, when all you can hear is the rustling of leaves and the sound of your own heartbeat. Roxy’s voice is both weak and strong, like sunlight coming through branches after a long night. Every lyric feels like it was meant to be, and every pause makes you think. It’s the sound of finding yourself again in nature’s quiet embrace, a moment of giving up that turns into a song of survival.

Rawson doesn’t just give you a melody with “I Found a Place in the Woods.” She provides a safe place for you to go. It’s the kind of song that sticks with you long after it ends, like a memory of finding peace in the middle of chaos. This song is one of Roxy Rawson’s most personal and mighty works to date. It’s perfect for fans of ethereal storytelling, cinematic folk, and emotional honesty. It reminds us that beauty can flourish even in the face of loss, and that sometimes healing begins with simply finding a quiet place to be.

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