Cryin’ Out Loud Releases New “Moonshine Lover” Music Video Honoring Multi-Generational Songwriting Legacy

NORWALK, Conn. — Blues-rock band Cryin’ Out Loud is set to release a new music video for “Moonshine Lover,” a song that carries a rare multi-generational story at its core. The track appears on lead vocalist Brandon Stallard’s 2024 blues album, Play Loud & Smoke Often, and marks the third time the song has been recorded — but the first time as a father-and-son collaboration.

Growing up, Brandon remembers watching his father, Fredericksburg, Va-resident Scott Stallard, live the life of a working musician, juggling late-night gigs, recording sessions and songwriting commitments to support the family. He admired the way his father approached music as both a craft and a profession, often disappearing for long hours into studios only to return with new songs, new stories and the quiet pride of someone doing what he loved. “From a young age, I wanted to be like him,” Brandon said. “I saw firsthand the dedication it takes to make music your life.”

The elder Stallard performed full time until 1991, when he realized another life-long dream of becoming a police officer, serving an eighteen year career with the Manassas City Police Department (MPCD). After retiring in 2012, Stallard returned to his life of playing music, and could not be happier to see his son following in his musical footsteps, and is deeply proud of his success.

Cryin' Out Loud and Moonshine Lover Video Crew

Cryin' Out Loud's album, Play Loud & Smoke Often, was produced by Grammy Award winner Paul Nelson and recorded at Husson University recording studio. The band’s debut release had been highly anticipated, drawing inspiration from The Band, The Allman Brothers Band, Little Feat and blues icons across generations. The album features a collection of brand-new originals along with standout guest performances from saxophonist Erik Lawrence, guitarist Paul Nelson of The Paul Nelson Band, and celebrated keyboardist Brooks Milgate of Ana Popovic’s touring group. With its wide range of influences and fresh compositions, the band says the album “has something for everyone.”

Cryin’ Out Loud is a professional blues-rock band based in Bar Harbor, Maine, featuring Brandon Stallard on vocals and guitar, Ben Chute on guitar, Jim Fratini on bass and Matthew Henley on piano. Together, the group combines deep blues roots with modern energy, creating the dynamic sound that has earned them a loyal regional following and growing attention beyond New England.

Scene from Moonshine Lover Video by Cryin' Out Loud

“Moonshine Lover” was originally written decades earlier by Scott Stallard, who recorded it twice before. When Brandon chose to reinterpret the song for his album, he brought it into the modern era by composing a new second verse. The updated version is now officially credited to both father and son. 

“I first wrote “Moonshine Lover” in 1970. Brandon must have been five or six years old. I recorded it with Bob Dawson at Bias Studios in Falls Church, Virginia; that was in 1978, I re-recorded it in Nashville with producer Jim Cartwright a few years later," said Scott. “To hear my son Brandon performing a new version of the song after all these years just makes me feel so proud — as a father, a musician, and a songwriter.'

To honor his father’s role in the song’s history, Brandon invited his father to perform the drums on the 2023 studio recording. The connection continued into the new video, filmed in 2025 at Factory Underground Studio in Norwalk and co-directed by John Shyloski and Marc Alan. The video is set for release to YouTube on Thanksgiving, November 27, 2025. 

“The video was a really emotional experience for both of us,” Brandon said. “It’s something we’ll have forever — something that documents what this song means to our family.”

“Shooting the music video was a lot of fun, but it was quite surreal - not something I’ve ever done before. I’m so thankful to have been a part of it, working with my son and his band; so to have it come out on Thanksgiving really means a lot,” said Scott Stallard. "I get choked up just thinking about it."

The film blends vivid, full-color performance shots with black-and-white behind-the-scenes moments of the band and Scott Stallard interacting, sharing stories, taking shots of whiskey and enjoying cigars after the cameras stopped rolling. The contrast of styles reflects the song’s past and present, highlighting the bond between generations of musicians.

The video also features a guest appearance by Nick Casinelli, owner of Connecticut Cigar Company in Stamford, Conn., where Cryin’ Out Loud has performed multiple times. Casinelli performs on the saxophone. 

Introducing CT-Based Northfield: A 90's Indie Rock Band Twenty-Five Years in the Making

As if sprung from a musical time capsule, Northfield delivers an authentic indie 90's garage rock sound with "It's Too Easy."

Northfield’s not going to change the world, but we might make Tuesday night a whole lot better. Come in with low expectations and you just might have a new favorite band...”

— Jesse Perkins

Connecticut-based Northfield is the musical equivalent of your favorite old flannel: a little frayed, a lot worn and questionably stylish, but surprisingly comfortable and you probably have had it since the 90s. Fronted by songwriter and self-admitted music nerd Jesse Perkins, the band stumbles along somewhere between indie rock and alt-country, often forgetting which was the goal to begin with.

Northfield has just released its debut single "It's Too Easy," recorded in early 2024. It's a song that doesn't merely evoke the sound of the 90's - it was in fact written in the 1990's by Perkins. As if sprung from a musical time capsule, fans of bands from that era, like Dinosaur Jr, Wilco, and Pavement, will find Northfield to be a slice of the 1990s, perfectly preserved in its sonic freshness.

"It's Too Easy" will be the first single released from Northfield's upcoming album titled "Lost and Found." The title "Lost and Found" refers as much to Perkins himself, as to the songs that he unearthed from his early days of writing, recording, and performing. After being away from music for the past twenty years, Perkins re-discovered that early passion for music and formed Northfield in 2024.

"This album could have, and maybe should have come out 25 years ago, but here it is now - better late than never!" said Perkins.

After recording the basic tracks in his basement studio, dubbed Good Enough Records, Perkins, a native of Northwest Connecticut, who spent time in Boston before returning to his old stomping ground, sought out old friend and co-producer Mike Goldberg to finish and mix the album. Goldberg added brash guitar solos and subtle keyboards to Perkin's songs. Together, they recruited bassist Randy Kane, a player Perkins had known from the Connecticut music scene, and Kane's cousin Ethan Sawyer on the drums.

With the Northfield lineup completed, "we concocted a rag-tag cacophony that’s equal parts fuzzy and jangly on the surface, while being both earnest and reckless underneath. Northfield’s not going to change the world, but we might make Tuesday night a whole lot better. Come in with low expectations and you just might have a new favorite band!" said Perkins.

Despite his flair for nonchalance, bordering on 90's indie-rock self-effacement, while he may have felt lost from music over the past 25 years, he certainly wasn't wasting time. The singer was in fact teaching high school, and by all accounts he was incredibly passionate inside the classroom as he is now behind a microphone.

One of his students from that era, Tom Burger, who followed Perkins advice to pursue music along with athletics, went on to manage the band Hall and Oates, working with the prestigious Los Angeles, CA-based Wolfson Entertainment. Burger, who now runs his own Nashville, TN-based TAB Management, credits Perkins as an influence in his career, and considers Northfield one of his favorite new bands. He was also instrumental in introducing Northfield to Pilot Light Records, which is now managing Northfield's distribution, promotion, and publicity.

"Northfield delivers a live set that is full of grungy alt-country heart, energy, and hometown pride - tight grooves, scuzzy 90's vibes, soulful melodies, and a feel-good atmosphere that brings the whole crowd together," said Burger.

With the release of "It's Too Easy" on Pilot Light Records, now streaming around the world on sites like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and Amazon Music, Northfield has also released a music video produced by Connor Rog of Kicker Pictures, Inc. The music video, now on YouTube, is a montage of original 8mm footage, set against footage of the band captured earlier this year. The music video has an experimental feel, perfectly capturing the spirit of the band, and the era of music it represents.

"It's Too Easy" is the first of several singles to be released over the next few months, with the complete album due in early November, 2025. The band plans to release a music video for every single, following a "unique cascading waterfall strategy," according to Marc Alan of Pilot Light Records.

New from Pilot Light Records: Michael Dillenger "Revenant"

Michael Dillenger "Revenant" Out Now

Michael Dillinger believes in Words and Music. In elementary school, Michael happened

upon a book at the back of the classroom called Magic Casements. The book was a

collection of vintage poetry published in the first half of the 20th century with classic pieces

by Poe, Kipling, Whitman, and many others. This book sparked something in him that was

unexpected and soothing. There was something fascinating about the men and women in

that book. There was something real in their words.

His earliest rock n roll memory is of a used cassette tape by the Traveling Wilburys that

belonged to his father. He wore that tape out on his portable tape player. That obsession

led him to the music of each of the icons that made up that super group especially Tom

Petty. The attitude, the look, and of course the songs drew him to what was to become his

lifelong artistic path. There was something real in his music.

Every lover of music has that person who showed them what was “cool”. It could be an

older sibling, an uncle, a neighbor, or classmate. For Michael it was a friend of his

mother’s, Charles Demarco. Charles turned Michael on to The Who, Pink Floyd, Motley

Crue, and all sorts of Rock icons. Somehow, he knew that these things would bring

Michael comfort and camaraderie with the knowledge that there were others out there

taking words and music and returning something powerful.

Michael’s debut solo release “Revenant” is a statement. Not only a personal statement as

it is the first time he has stepped away from the protection of a band, but it also a

philosophical statement. In literature a Revenant is a person that has returned from a real

or perceived death. Tommy’s father in the Who’s classic rock opera was a revenant. The

entire zombie genre is based on the concept of the revenant. Clint Eastwood’s High Plains

Drifter was a revenant.

Who is Michael Dillinger’s Revenant?

According to Michael, “I am! I must prove myself. I must show that I can make it in this world and will not rest until I do!”

I wrote the song about the way I look at the world and the people in it. How others are

awake and some still sleep.”

Michael Dillinger’s solo debut single, “The Revenant”, hits all download and streaming

outlets on Nov. 1st.

Michael Dillenger's "Revenant" Now Streaming on All Major Outlets.