The Bongo Boy Rock n’ Roll TV Show Series – Episode 7 Season 14 – Rock the Country

You could make a solid argument for the fact that The Bongo Boy Rock n’ Roll TV Show not only rocks the country, as this episode’s title suggests, but rocks many countries, such is their global reach. In addition to showcasing carefully selected and purposefully curated video performances featuring the great and good of American music, this established and renowned TV show also highlights rising stars and emerging bands from around the globe. It is a genuinely exceptional presentation that effortlessly navigates both genre and geography.

This episode premiered on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, on Ch. 29 in Portland, Oregon, and is supported by heavy rotation on a total of 72+ terrestrial TV channels.

And kicking things off this time is the suitably titled Round The Globe, a slice of Nashville-flavored groove, music that speaks to an earlier time just as country music helped birth rock ‘n’ roll. Unashamedly nostalgic, “Let’s Pull Over” echoes music made on the crest of that evolutionary wave, part country twang, part rockabilly rhythm, full of innocent charm and infectious accessibility. Music fashions may change, but this is certainly a reminder that some strains of rock and roll music found their perfect form very early on and don’t need to be improved upon… make that, can’t be improved upon.

Bongo Boy Records’ own Monique Grimme features here twice, “Poison Ivy” being the first of two recent collaborations with Sapphire Star Studios. This first offering reminds us of both the physical battle we often have with the natural world and can be seen to have deeper connotations, running on some gorgeous sonic ripples and waves of sound that gently and effortlessly move the song forward.

Her second featured song also uses metaphorical imagery from the natural world. “Cut By A Rose” is again a song powered by chiming and charming understatement, a sophisticated and poised pop ballad, another timeless reminder, the message this time that it is all too easy to be beguiled by beauty and not see the dangers it hides. Fans of the 80s-era Fleetwood Mac will find plenty to love in both of these singles.

A change of pace comes courtesy of Malaysian multi-genre artist Lyia Meta and “We Are Lords,” a sharp slice of modern symphonic metal, which may be a surprising sound for those familiar with her work in blues and jazz-pop. However, this is proof that a good artist can create music at any point on the musical map that takes their fancy, and Lyia Meta is a great artist. Her voice is so commanding and compelling, so resonant and, here at least, raw; I’m surprised we don’t find her in such heavy realms more often.

“Justify,” Debbie White‘s contribution to this episode, is an excellent slice of folk-pop —a song built on simple acoustics but with some important lessons found in the lyrics; a timeless sound, the sort that echoes everyone from 1960s folk troubadours through to modern indie-roots players.

Fiction Syxx returns us to the harder rocking end of the spectrum with “Bleed For The Truth,” a song of redemption and enlightenment, one man’s quest to become the better version of themself, replete with classic rock groove and old-school metal riffs…it’s big, and it’s clever.

Anyone who knows their rock history will know the name Tom Kiefer, and anyone who hears “All Amped Up” will recognize his gorgeously growling vocal from those fantastic Cinderella songs back in the day. Whilst the band is officially on hiatus due to ongoing problems with the frontman’s vocal cords, he still has the chops. “All Amped Up” is exactly what he is. Give this a second spin and tell me I’m wrong.

Another incredible array of songs, another fantastic set of videos, another perfect audio-visual sampler. It’s what The Bongo Boy Rock n’ Roll TV show does, and they do it better than anyone else.

To submit your music video, email bongoboyrecords@aol.com Ref. BongoBoyTV with the URL to your music video