KK’s Pick Six 12.16

KK Law
Middays, 10am – 2pm, WTYU.rocks (Starting Jan. 2025)

You know, the boss never puts bad songs on the list—just a lot of them. And while every track deserves its moment, I’m working with a six-pack budget here, so a sixer for me it is. Some weeks are easier to pare it down, but not this time. Trimming this list down was tough, but these are the songs that hit me hardest. I hope they hit you the same way. Let me know what you think—and hey, if you’ve got your own six-pack of tracks we should check out, drop them in the comments! Let’s keep the music discovery rolling.

Stolen Prayer – “Move On You”
First note of the riff – SOLD! Love the guitar tone, and the singer kicks ass. Gives an older guy like me a youthful track to rock out to without feeling like I’m reliving my youth (nobody wants that). If this flavor of rock and roll is ever going to storm back into the mainstream, this gang out of Kentucky and song shows how it’ll happen—throwback feel, but way too fresh to be a carbon copy. Love the band name too. Big guitars, gritty vocals—This ROCKS!

Robin McAuley – “‘Til I Die”
Frontiers Records might hit us with a lot of releases, but credit where it’s due—they’re keeping legends alive in my playlists. I hadn’t kept Robin McAuley on my radar since his MSG (McAuley Schenker Group) days until his Black Swan project reminded me how great his voice still sounds. “‘Til I Die” keeps that streak going—classic McAuley, polished and powerful. If you’ve let Robin drift from your mind like I did, here’s your reminder to bring him back.

Mother Mersy – “Armageddon’
Fitting to place this one after Robin’s tune. If you’re into the polished rock vibe and killer vocals that bring bands like UFO and Whitesnake to mind, here’s your track. Mother Mersy nails that thunderous, blues-tinged rock sound that’s equal parts grit and groove. Love that flange sound at the beginning. It’s heavy, soulful, and smooth all at once—modern enough to stay fresh, timeless enough to feel familiar.

The Darkness – “I Hate Myself”
I’ll admit—I’ve been quick to dismiss The Darkness, even though I dug their first album. But thanks to the boss for getting them back on my homework list, I’m here to tell you: if you’re a fan of The Darkness, this one’s a no-brainer—you already love it. If you haven’t heard it yet, it’s The Darkness in their lane, going 110mph with no signs of slowing down. This track hooked me fast. It’s catchy as hell, straight-up rock and roll, and Justin Hawkins’ vocals? Reminded me of Freddie Mercury’s playful magic on “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” Apologies for the gap, guys—I’ll be making up for lost time. Look out for Dreams On Toast when it drops in March.

The Lovebombers – “Shadow Next to Me”
You’ll find I flip-flop on the melodic rock stuff sometimes, but when it hits, it hits. This one’s a homerun—polished production, mature sound, great lyrics. The opening grabbed me right away, and the rest didn’t let go. Not the first tune I’ve liked from these Aussies, and it won’t be the last. Crank this one up—it’s perfect for that Friday night energy.

Those Damn Crows – “Still”
“Sittin’ through the yesteryears” is one of those lyrics that grabs me right by the gut. This song has that emotional pull throughout—a mix of prayer and melody that lands just right. The wife and I like to hang on the beach until the sun sets, and this track’s already locked into the playlist for that moment. Emotional, atmospheric, and straight-up beautiful. Those Damn Crows keep proving they’re one of the best modern rock bands around. If you don’t already know them, do yourself a favor and give them a spin.