227 maple ave e vienna, va 22180 thebros@jamminjava.com
Private Event
As one of the most versatile and accommodating spaces in the Washington DC area, Jammin' Java Music Club and Cafe is perfect for any private function you have in the works - day or night. Named the DC area's classiest music club by the Washington Post and Washington DC's best live music venue by America Online's CityGuide, our award-winning design creates an atmosphere that is intimate, comfortable and stylish - and our live music capabilities can add a special edge to an otherwise standard occasion.
Plan your next party with Jammin' Java and we guarantee you'll walk away feeling like a rock star.
Private Event
As one of the most versatile and accommodating spaces in the Washington DC area, Jammin' Java Music Club and Cafe is perfect for any private function you have in the works - day or night. Named the DC area's classiest music club by the Washington Post and Washington DC's best live music venue by America Online's CityGuide, our award-winning design creates an atmosphere that is intimate, comfortable and stylish - and our live music capabilities can add a special edge to an otherwise standard occasion.
Plan your next party with Jammin' Java and we guarantee you'll walk away feeling like a rock star.
Private Event
As one of the most versatile and accommodating spaces in the Washington DC area, Jammin' Java Music Club and Cafe is perfect for any private function you have in the works - day or night. Named the DC area's classiest music club by the Washington Post and Washington DC's best live music venue by America Online's CityGuide, our award-winning design creates an atmosphere that is intimate, comfortable and stylish - and our live music capabilities can add a special edge to an otherwise standard occasion.
Plan your next party with Jammin' Java and we guarantee you'll walk away feeling like a rock star.
Berrett and Harrison
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
Drawing inspiration from screwing up (a lot), Taylor Berrett has been writing and performing songs for five years. His music can best be described as blues-influenced acoustic folk-pop that floats from sarcasm to sincerity, but he will also take "good" or "bad" as acceptable descriptions, based on individual opinion. In addition to songwriting, Taylor actively pursues guitar playing. His recently-obsessive study of jazz and blues instrumentation occasionally hops over into his songwriting before it is shooed back into its corner. Taylor has shared the stage with groups that include Switchfoot, REO Speedwagon, Derek James, and Shane Hines and the Trance. He loves ping-pong and hates speaking in the third person. I hope you enjoy my music.
Matthew enjoys what he does. And if he doesn't enjoy what he is doing, he doesn't do it. But he enjoys lots of things so that's usually not a problem. One of the things he greatly enjoys is music, music of all sorts, music that makes him want to dance, think, be happy, sad, delectable, undeniable, maniacal, really smiley. He expresses his own music through various percussion instruments (including the drum set, which he started playing around... let's say 6 years ago?? 2003? The international year of freshwater? European disability year?), the piano, and any melodic musical instrument, electric or acoustic, that has keys on it. He and Taylor have started to become obsessed with foosball. The favorite game used to be ping-pong but now it is foosball. It is no longer ping-pong. Just thought I would let you know that. Matthew says: "I hope you enjoy listening."
My Favorite Highway’s Finale - Show #4
LATE SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
My Favorite Highway’s Finale - Show #3
EARLY SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
My Favorite Highway’s Finale - Show #2
LATE SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
My Favorite Highway’s Finale - Show #1
EARLY SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
After six long years the members of My Favorite Highway have decided to end their run with MFH to pursue other musical endeavors. Join the Vienna, Virginia natives for their last performance as My Favorite Highway. This is an event you will not want to miss.
Private Event
As one of the most versatile and accommodating spaces in the Washington DC area, Jammin' Java Music Club and Cafe is perfect for any private function you have in the works - day or night. Named the DC area's classiest music club by the Washington Post and Washington DC's best live music venue by America Online's CityGuide, our award-winning design creates an atmosphere that is intimate, comfortable and stylish - and our live music capabilities can add a special edge to an otherwise standard occasion.
Plan your next party with Jammin' Java and we guarantee you'll walk away feeling like a rock star.
TFDI Tour Feat. Tony Lucca + Jay Nash + Matt Duke
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
"When I first started out, I didn't know what style I was," says Matt Duke, a South Jersey-born, Philly-based, 24-year-old singer-songwriter. "I still don't and probably never will." Matt stands out in an industry that loves to categorize. His second full-length album and first for Ryko, Kingdom Underground, came out in 2008 and rocked a fairly big sound. However, Matt tours primarily as a solo acoustic singer-songwriter, so his fans have come to expect a slightly quieter fare from him, which is how the Acoustic Kingdom Underground EP came about.
"It's a nice complement to the album," says Matt. "I'm used to going out and touring solo acoustic and the fans often say, ‘We like the record but we like what your shows sound like too,' so this is for them. Regarding his Philly-and-beyond fanbase, Matt says: "I have seen blue-hairs, 14- to 18-year-old girls and college kids at my shows. And Myspace has helped exponentially." Some websites have lumped him in with other artists such as John Mayer and Jason Mraz, which is okay with him.
Matt looks super-young - almost teenage - in photographs, but the sound of his voice and the gravity of his lyrical content make you believe he is an old soul who has been through a lot. "That's exactly the image I am hoping to project," says Matt, who incorporates pop, folk, jazz and rock into his repertoire. His stadium-ready Vedderesque voice may have mass appeal, but for now you are more likely to see him in a coffeehouse setting, following in the footsteps of some of his heroes, such as Ani DiFranco and Conor Oberst.
The Acoustic EP features six tracks that were largely inspired by Matt's literary experiences. Although he dropped out of college after "15 minutes," he has used many great novels as a jumping-off point for many of his finest tunes.
Jay Nash, Californian native and rock troubadour, has been blessed with the kind of excruciatingly rustic voice so rarely heard on record. Coupled with that is his unnervingly candid approach to song-writing - the man is a burgeoning talent set for realisation with his latest studio release The Things You Think You Need.
Its certainly refreshing to find an artist that refuses to simply dwell on the hard times, instead choosing to bask in the good and the great that life has to offer. At times almost jovial, Nashs charisma and buoyant attitude is infectious to the last with a sound capable of softening the sternest of hearts.
From the resplendent urgency of Hard Lesson to the elegiac Barcelona, The Things You Think You Need has the potential to surpass anything thats gone before. The writing/recording process for this, his fourth studio album, saw Nashs creative spark ignite like wild-fire as he wrestled with the concept of producing an album laden with variety and character.
By drawing inspiration from his own life experiences, both past and present, Nashs inspirational and evocative lyrical imagery possesses the ability to shatter those deep-rooted inadequacies and musters a feeling of liberation and new-found confidence. Theres no sign of an agenda here - Nashs spirited folk revival offers salvation for the masses.
Too many of todays artists find it easy to trade on a manufactured kinship - creating an unsettling, short-term bond with audiences that theyre all too willing to discard on a whim. Jay Nash is a different animal altogether and his desire to connect with people is evident as he produces that very first subtle, Americana-style chord.
Theres no bravado, no ill-placed audacity. Nash, its plain to see, is one of us - one of the good guys. A trailblazer for passion and hard graft - a man who knows no limitation.
Tony Lucca is an innately gifted singer/songwriter with a resume any musician would find gratifying. He's written and self-produced five studio albums, three EPs, several live recordings and a popular DVD. He's won the L.A. Music Award for Best Male Singer/Songwriter. His music has been featured in film and television (including Friday Night Lights, Brothers & Sisters, Shark, Felicity and Kevin Costner's "Open Range"). Lucca has been seen on E! Entertainment, A&E Biography and performed numerous times on NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly. He's performed with notable artists including pop icons *NSYNC, Marc Anthony and Joss Stone, as well as indie favorites Josh Kelley, Jason Mraz and Bob Schneider. He's galvanized an international following and has sold out premier venues coast-to-coast, including Joe's Pub in New York and the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles.
Lucca, however, isn't just any musician. He's an earnest, diligent artist who consistently strives to grow and create music that he and his listeners can find both meaningful and entertaining. He's been in bands since he was 10, recording in the studio since 13, then started touring and performing for fans around the same time he got his first drivers license. It wasn't until the Michigan-native turned 18 and moved to Los Angeles that he realized his true potential as a legitimate artist. After familiarizing himself with the landscape, Lucca began writing and recording music with some of the most talented artists and players around. Tony's work has spanned a wide range of genres and musical styles: from a jazz-infused pop sound (reminiscent of Steely Dan's Aja period) to a very woodsy, Laurel Canyon style (influenced by Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne), all while maintaining a consistency of texture and tone entirely his own. His lyrics and vocal quality are instantly identifiable, even to those who have heard his music once or twice.
Lucca's latest offering is a robust collection of rock-n-roll rhythms, soulful vocals and thought-provoking lyrics that keep you listening start to finish. Come Around Again is as fresh and emotive as it is classic and familiar. From the titillating opening track, "Foxy Jane" to the sweeping and inspired "Maybe We," Lucca shows the depth and breadth of his creative musings. In "Close Enough," he displays an astute sense of awareness of the goings-on in today's social and political climates. "Father Time" and "Pretty Things" reflect Lucca's appreciation for a well-told story of heartbreak in the same vein as Jackson Browne or the Black Crowes. Finally, he closes the record with a simple, haunted rendition of the late Chris Whitley's "Wild Country," taking aim at what can only be assumed to be his relationship with the recording industry as he bemoans the "compromises I can't comprehend."
The Kennedys
EARLY SHOW!
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
"Unafraid to mix philosophy, spirituality, love and artistry with a folk-rock back beat is what makes this duo a positive force on all things human." -Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
Inspiration is where you find it - and where it finds you. Open to every moment, the much-traveled married duo of Pete and Maura Kennedy have spun their personal experiences, musical influences and philosophical beliefs into nine previous albums of winsome original songs, frequently seasoned with exquisitely-performed cover tunes, that blend acoustic-based folk, rock, country, pop and secular gospel into an inclusively delightful sound that's all their own.
After celebrating some of their favorite "road music" by other songwriters on their previous CD, Songs of the Open Road, Pete and Maura have recorded Better Dreams, their first CD of all-original material in seven years, inspired by a pair of seminars they conducted on "using dreams to unlock your creativity." "We found that we were writing really interesting songs in and around the workshop sessions," they explain. "All of these songs have something to do with the dreamtime," where "we have a different kind of freedom there."
Richard Shindell
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
An expatriate New Yorker now living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Richard Shindell is a meticulous craftsman of song whose six studio albums and one live recording have been revered by critics and fans alike. Innovative, original and occasionally spiritual, Shindell's songs weave tales that interchangeably champion the downtrodden, exalt the disaffected or wax empathetic to those lost to society's fringes. From his first record, Sparrow's Point (1992) to the newest album Vuelta (2004), Shindell has demonstrated a penchant for songwriting at once passionate and profound. His songs are often slowly and painstakingly crafted until honed to perfection. Conversely, he is also capable of writing tunes that are simply clever and amusing.
Shindell's songwriting is truly eclectic, ranging from lighthearted ballads and adulterous love songs, to dirges and diatribes that skillfully skewer politics, prejudice, war and religion. He has a unique ability to morph into the soul of the many and varied personalities he casts as narrators in certain songs--songs that are veritable novellas framed in haunting acoustic melodies, sometimes including cryptic, revelations through the eyes of a woman.
Born in New Jersey, Mr. Shindell grew up in Port Washington, Long Island, where he began to take guitar lessons. He spent the last of his teenage years in Baltimore, then attended Hobart College in upstate New York, where he continued to pursue his musical interests. During an earlier stint at Moravian College, he teamed with John Gorka in the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band.
Upon graduation, Shindell moved into a Zen Buddhist monastery for a while, leaving to explore Europe, and ending up the proverbial struggling musician in Paris, where he would often play for coins in the underground Metro train stations.
Leaving the city of light, Shindell found himself in New York, where he took a hiatus from music. Fascinated by philosophy and religion, he enrolled in Union Theological Seminary. Between classes, he began to write and finished what he calls his first "keeper song," a melodic if cryptic ode to the Virgin Mary composed on the mountain dulcimer called "On A Sea Of Fleur de Lis."
Fortunately, it didn't take much to convince the New Jersey-based independent record label, Shanachie, that Mr. Shindell was a songwriter worth signing. Shindell produced three records under the Shanachie label, including Sparrow's Point (1992), Blue Divide (1994) and Reunion Hill (1997), which won the AFIM "Best Contemporary Folk Album" the following year in 1998.
With each successive record, Shindell toured relentlessly, and built a solid following of loyal fans. In 1997, he was invited to join Joan Baez on tour and opened the eyes and ears of a new segment of folk music enthusiasts to his talents as a songwriter and performer.
In 1998, Shindell formed the acoustic trio, Cry Cry Cry, with Dar Williams and Lucy Kaplansky. Along with a little help from their friends, Cry Cry Cry produced an eponymously titled album (Razor & Tie Records) comprised largely of cover songs of lesser-known artists. The trio toured from 1998 until 2000, leaving audiences spellbound with their unique three-part harmonies.
In 2000, Shindell released Somewhere Near Patterson (Signature Sounds), which quickly became his most successful release to date. Produced by Larry Campbell, longtime member of the Bob Dylan Band, its release was followed by a comprehensive tour that played to sold-out shows across the country and established Shindell as one of the premier performing songwriters in popular music. Somewhere Near Patterson was followed by Courier, the live reprise of many of Shindell's best-loved songs.
Also in 2000, Shindell and his family moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he recorded Vuelta (Koch Records, 2004). For this project he joined up with Puente Celeste, a distinctly Argentine group of virtuouso musicians.
Now, Shindell returns north with an astonishing collection of covers called South of Delia. To say that South of Delia is a record of covers, however, would not do justice to the spirit of this project. It is a deeply personal choice of songs that Shindell offers up here - that of an expatriate looking back at the country he moved away from. With guest appearances by Lucy Kaplansky, Viktor Krauss, Richard Thompson, Tony Trischka, Eliza Gilkyson and others, South of Delia offers up new interpretations of songs such as Acadian Driftwood (Robbie Robertson), Seor (Bob Dylan), and Deportee (Woody Guthrie). Shindell also thoroughly rehabilitates Springsteen;s often misunderstood Born in the USA.
Brooke Fraser
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
Brooke Fraser is a singer-songwriter-person. She makes the kind of music that sounds like a pop marshmallow has dropped into a folk hot chocolate and become a warm, spicy chocolatey broth. She has two albums ‘What to Do With Daylight' (2003) and ‘Albertine' (2006 - NZ, 2007 - Aus, 2008 - USA) which both debuted at #1 in her home country and between them have reached 13 x platinum sales and achieved seven #1 airplay singles. 2008 sees the release of ‘Albertine' in North America and Brooke touring extensively with her band of merry men (+ one woman) from June through September.
An Evening with Charlie Hunter
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
"A terrific guitarist" -Downbeat
"A homespun marvel" -New York Times
"...a man who [has] built his badass reputation by conquering hairy bass lines and heady post-bop melodies simultaneously on custom eight-string instruments... Hunter is still a musical beast." -Guitar Player
"...Hunter - well known for playing a seven-string instrument - rips through the air with superrock fuzz and fusion mettle." -Rolling Stone
Charlie Hunter's latest recording effort, Gentlemen, I Neglected To Inform You You Will Not Be Getting Paid, features the jaw- dropping guitarist alongside drummer Eric Kalb (Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, John Scofield) and a new horn section including trombonist Curtis Fowlkes (Jazz Passengers, Lounge Lizards, Bill Frisell), trombonist Alan Ferber (Don Byron, Kenny Wheeler) and trumpeter Eric Biondo (Antibalas, TV On The Radio). Gentlemen, I Neglected To Inform You You Will Not Be Getting Paid marks Hunter's second full-length release on his independent label Spire Artist Media, and will be available physically in retail outlets nationwide and online at www.charliehunter.com and digitally everywhere through reapandsow music starting Tuesday, January 12, 2010. Hunter will celebrate the release of Gentlemen with a four-week Tuesday night residency at Rose Live Music in Brooklyn, NY beginning January 5, 2010. Interviews and photos are available upon request.
Hunter follows up his latest trio album, Baboon Strength, with an ambitious effort recorded live direct to two-inch analog tape. No mixing, no overdubs, just straight-ahead powerhouse playing captured by the finest recording equipment dating back to the '50s. This is familiar territory for Hunter as all of his recordings are recorded live. He comments, "We wanted to do an old sounding record, it's fun to do it all analog. Artists are into mixing, and that's fine, but I'm so on the raw side of things, I get the sounds I like and go. You need to know how to play if you do it this way. I could never do it digitally, I play live with a lot of improv, so I go with my strengths. Why not go all in!"
Deep River
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Deep River is Rachel Beauregard, Bryan Dawley and Luke Brindley.
Deep River
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Deep River is Rachel Beauregard, Bryan Dawley and Luke Brindley.
Shane Hines CD Release
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
ERIC STEPANIAN offers songs that are accessible enough to be instantly appealing, but original enough to be genuinely unique. A deft blend of catchy melodies, instrumental virtuosity, and tasty harmonies-all combined with thoughtful and expressive lyrics-is displayed on the 2005 AUTUMN SHE LEAVES and 2008's WAIT OUT THE RAIN (THE LP).
In October 2008, ESPN featured Stepanian's "Criminal" on Baseball Tonight's "Web Gems Defensive Plays of the Year".
In addition to playing sellout shows, Stepanian has opened for Maroon 5, Jason Mraz, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, and Rusted Root.
In March 2010, Eric recorded his debut solo album in Kingston, NY with Grammy Award Winning Producer Malcolm Burn (Bob Dylan, Emmy Lou Harris, John Mellencamp, Daniel Lanois). Eric and Malcolm worked feverishly throughout the month enlisting the talent of Ethan Eubanks (Teddy Thompson, Crash Test Dummies) on drums, Craig Ross (Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin) on guitars and Jon Graboff (Ryan Adams, Norah Jones) on pedal steel. In addition to singing backing vocals, Malcolm plays a variety of instruments on the record, including bass, piano, organ, harmonica and guitar.
Blending aggressive arrangements with hook-filled melodies, SHANE HINES AND THE TRANCE have found a way to get inside listeners’ heads. Laced with elements of British rock, The Glory Journal is an album that surprises, sometimes shocks, and moves you to new places.
Songs like "Way Up" and "We Can Never Be" have you singing every word and clenching your fist while wondering how the band got so close to your own little world. Impassioned wrath with metaphorical and lyrical nakedness are unveiled with What a Beautiful Day. You're enveloped in exquisite torment that gives way with searing honesty, and a brave insistence of freedom from the past. All the while your head will bob, and you'll crave the driving sound that's enmeshed with a voice that is as compelling as it is addicting.
Shane Hines (lead vocals, lead guitar, song writer) and Brian "Mr. Thumbs" Keating (bass, vocals) met while touring with other bands, gelled and have masterfully created The Glory Journal, which was recorded entirely through online donations from fans and supporters. The Glory Journal is already gaining momentum . "Way Up" was a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and online blogs such as The Daily Vault and Top 40-Charts have been saluting the SHANE HINES AND THE TRANCE’s successful excursion.
With a resume that reads like any of your favorite major label breakout bands, including key placements on MTV shows such as "The Hills" and "The Real World,” D.C. area-based SHANE HINES AND THE TRANCE are moving at a pace that will undoubtedly land them on your iPod before your best friend can call to tell you they heard of the band first.
Private Event
As one of the most versatile and accommodating spaces in the Washington DC area, Jammin' Java Music Club and Cafe is perfect for any private function you have in the works - day or night. Named the DC area's classiest music club by the Washington Post and Washington DC's best live music venue by America Online's CityGuide, our award-winning design creates an atmosphere that is intimate, comfortable and stylish - and our live music capabilities can add a special edge to an otherwise standard occasion.
Plan your next party with Jammin' Java and we guarantee you'll walk away feeling like a rock star.
Late Show with Dan Navarro + Eric Brace & Peter Cooper (Full Sets!)
LATE SHOW!
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Eric Brace & Peter Cooper MySpace
Dan Navarro is better known as one half of the acoustic duo Lowen & Navarro, who, for the past 20 years, have barnstormed the country on the heels of their 11 albums. L&N still continues to record and tour, though on a diminished schedule since Eric's 2004 diagnosis with ALS, aka Lou Gehrig's Disease. So, for the past three years Dan has been stepping out on his own and playing greater and greater numbers of solo shows all over the country.
The distinguishing marks are the same for Dan solo as they have been with Eric Lowen all these years -- songs of insight and experience, delivered straight up with honesty, passion and grace. His songs (written with Eric Lowen, with other collaborators and on his own) have been recorded by artists as diverse as Pat Benatar (the Top Five smash "We Belong"), The Bangles, Dionne Warwick, Dave Edmunds, and many more.
In addition to his activity as an artist, Dan also lends his voice to movies, TV shows and commercials, both in English and in Spanish. Some of his better credits have included Happy Feet, Ice Age 2, Prison Break, Family Guy, American Dad and commercials for McDonald's, Ford, Nationwide Insurance, Nissan, Shakey's and countless others.
Acoustic In-The-Round with Eric Brace + Dan Navarro + Peter Cooper
EARLY SHOW!
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
"Peter Cooper looks at the world with an artist's eye and a human heart and soul. His songs are the work of an original, creative imagination, alive with humor and heartbreak and irony and intelligence, with truth and beauty in the details. Deep stuff. And they get better every time you listen to them." -Kris Kristofferson
Dan Navarro is better known as one half of the acoustic duo Lowen & Navarro, who, for the past 20 years, have barnstormed the country on the heels of their 11 albums. L&N still continues to record and tour, though on a diminished schedule since Eric's 2004 diagnosis with ALS, aka Lou Gehrig's Disease. So, for the past three years Dan has been stepping out on his own and playing greater and greater numbers of solo shows all over the country.
The distinguishing marks are the same for Dan solo as they have been with Eric Lowen all these years -- songs of insight and experience, delivered straight up with honesty, passion and grace. His songs (written with Eric Lowen, with other collaborators and on his own) have been recorded by artists as diverse as Pat Benatar (the Top Five smash "We Belong"), The Bangles, Dionne Warwick, Dave Edmunds, and many more.
In addition to his activity as an artist, Dan also lends his voice to movies, TV shows and commercials, both in English and in Spanish. Some of his better credits have included Happy Feet, Ice Age 2, Prison Break, Family Guy, American Dad and commercials for McDonald's, Ford, Nationwide Insurance, Nissan, Shakey's and countless others.
Since 1997, Eric Brace has been the frontman and songwriter for the acclaimed roots-rock band Last Train Home. With eight CDs and one live concert DVD to its credit, LTH is one of the most prolific and admired bands in the "Americana" world.
At the core of the band's sound are Eric's evocative songs and his warm voice. "Brace's tenor, when combined with his lyrics which evoke endless late nights on the prairies without ever specifically referring to them, is one of the treasures of the whole Americana genre," says roots-rock great Sid Griffin (Long Ryders, Coal Porters) in a review in the peerless British music magazine MOJO.
The Washington Post proclaims that "Brace hasn't let years of grueling road work compromise his songcraft," while the British audiophile magazine Hi-Fi Plus lauds Eric's "great grasp of melody and song structure."
With his latest release, "You Don't Have to Like Them Both," Eric steps away from the comfortable surroundings of Last Train Home, and puts his own name on the cover of the CD. It's a co-bill, a duo recording with Nashville songwriter Peter Cooper (whose debut "Mission Door" is a Red Beet release). Eric and Peter have been friends since Eric's move to Nashville in 2004, a friendship that was solidified in Peter's living room listening to Tom T. Hall, Willis Alan Ramsey, the Seldom Scene, Charley Pride while pouring screw top red wine. Pretty soon they were playing guitars and singing songs together-first in that same living room, then on tour: Europe, Alaska, and the Lower 48 too. Then came the recording sessions for "You Don't Have to Like Them Both," where some of the greatest musicians in Nashville lent their skills to songs of Eric's and Peter's, as well as covers by Jim Lauderdale, Todd Snider, Kris Kristofferson and others.
The collaboration with Peter Cooper is the second of Eric's non-LTH projects, the first being the 2006 release "The Skylighters." That's Eric, plus bluegrass legends Mike Auldridge (dobro, pedal steel) and Jimmy Gaudreau (mandolin, guitar), along with the LTH rhythm section of Jim Gray and Martin Lynds. That record is a lively mix of bluegrass, country, western swing and more.
Besides keeping LTH rolling down the track, Eric's got several other collaborations and solo projects in the works. One currently on the front burner is a musical (or song cycle or concept album or whatever you want to call it) about the California Gold Rush. It's a collaboration with Washington DC songwriter Karl Straub (whose songs "Tonight," "It Doesn't Matter," "They Dance Real Close There," and "Soul Parking" have been recorded by LTH).
This whole musical path started when Eric played in a Boston-area bluegrass band, the Mystic Valley Mountaneers, while in college. Back in Washington DC in the '80s he formed the guitar-pop/indie-rock band B-Time with his brother Alan Brace.
A more roots oriented band, the Beggars, followed in the early '90s, again with Alan, LTH steel player Dave Van Allen, singer Alice Despard, ex-Neighbor guitarist John Moremen, and others. Eric also spent several years playing bass with Kevin Johnson & the Linemen. During that same period, Eric ran the Washington-area label Top Records, releasing a dozen albums by DC bands Carnival of Souls, the New Keys, Sleep of Reason, Not Even, and more.
From 1992 to 2002, Eric was a columnist for The Washington Post, covering first the local arts scene, then the area's nightlife and live music world.
In 1997, the self-titled "Last Train Home" CD was released, and it was just a matter of time before word got out to the point where Eric could take LTH on the road full-time. That happened in 2002, the same year that LTH won the Washington Area Music Association's Wammie award for "Artist of the Year." Since then, the band has appeared on the CBS's "Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson," the syndicated public radio program "Mountain Stage," and on stage opening for the likes of Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton.
Living in Nashville has led to recognition of Eric's strengths as a songwriter, and he has collaborated with some of Nashville's finest writers, such as Jim Lauderdale, Walter Egan, Amelia White. He recently formed the Red Beet Records label, releasing two compilation CDs of music from East Nashville, as well as Peter Cooper's "Mission Door" and Fayssoux's "Early."
Danielle Ate the Sandwich
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Danielle "Ate the Sandwich" Anderson is a solid young (23) songwriter with a wicked sense of humor. Dubbed "Joni Mitchell meets Sarah Silverman," Danielle tours nationally, has licensed songs to various tv shows and significantly understands and works new media on a generational level. Denver's Westword described Danielle as, "cripplingly enchanting with lyrics telling the story of a generation uncertainly coming of age in an age of uncertainty." And as the postings of 25,000 loyal subscribers to Danielle's You Tube channel attest, she has rapidly developed a sizable young fanbase who feel Danielle has something to say about what it means to be a young person in 2010.
Danielle's third disc Two Bedroom Apartment continues in the strong songwriting tradition which propelled her Things People Do disc to the top of numerous 2009 year end "Best Of" lists. The brand new disc, now available via retail and the web, features a few home improvements by Danielle with savvy production work and tasty inclusion of just a few more instruments to compliment her uke, guitar and uncanny ethereal vocals. Songs on Two Bedroom Apartment address topics including: love, military recruitment on campus, food, death, Canada and the Apollo moon mission.
Tyler Hilton
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
"Music is in my blood," says singer and songwriter Josiah Leming. "It's the only thing I want to do. I'd rather die in a ditch somewhere than not be able to make music. There are no other options for me. Music is my way of getting things out. It has saved my life many times."
Such intense statements may sound like the drama of being a teenager, which Leming is, but spend any time with this thoughtful 19-year-old and it quickly becomes clear that it's true. Josiah Leming plays music as if his life depended on it, because for him, it does. Born and raised in the hard-luck rural town of Morristown, TN, Leming left home at 17 to make it as a musician, leaving behind eight siblings (six of whom are adopted), an out-of-work stepfather, and a mother battling serious illness. As Leming traveled around the Southeast playing open-mic nights in any club or coffeehouse that would have him, he slept in his car and took odd jobs to pay for food and gas, all the while dreaming about the album he would one day make.
Now he has finally gotten his chance. Leming has begun recording his debut album for Warner Bros. Records, with whom he signed a recording and publishing deal not long after appearing on Season 7 of American Idol. His brief, yet memorable time on the show spurred fans to turn up in droves online to demand his reinstatement. They sent him messages of support and encouragement. Many posted clips of themselves performing Leming's original songs on YouTube.
"No matter what I've gone through, I have the same feelings every kid has," Leming says. "And I think I can put those feelings in such a way that they connect with people and help them get through their hard times. If my music can give others something they can express their emotions through, that's the whole point."
"I try to use imagery that really sticks with people, but at the same time, every song I write is about something I've been through," Leming says. "So it's impossible for me to write a song that doesn't tell a story. I can't write about things I don't feel. That's just faking it and I want the music to be real. I can't control what anyone thinks of it, but I can promise that it's going to come from my heart."
Before Tyler Hilton wrote the songs that appear on his new album The Storms We Share he had never written anything but love songs. "It's not that I was uninterested in things other than love, but it was love that made me want to write songs," the 26-year-old singer, songwriter, and guitarist says. Which would have been fine except that Hilton had been working on a new album for three years and had already scrapped hundreds of songs that he didn't consider good enough. Uninspired, he was having a hard time motivating himself to keep going.
"I started coming up with these lyrics that were little pep talks to myself, like ‘Come on, you can do this. You just have to clear your head and keep going,'" Hilton says. "So several of the tracks on this album, like ‘Keep On,' ‘Somehow,' and ‘This World Will Turn Your Way,' are these encouraging, hopeful tunes, which I'd never usually write, but that's what was coming out of me at the time."
The uplifting theme of those songs eventually served as the inspiration for the album's title. "I was looking for a phrase that communicated how we all have something in common," Hilton says. "I was spending a lot of time in the South and in Canada and whenever there was a storm, you could be standing in line at the grocery store next to a stranger and they'd inevitably remark about the crazy weather. That's when it hit me: Everyone shares one common thing - weathering the storms together. And that became a metaphor about recognizing that we all need to be encouraged to weather the storms. Sometimes you need to remind yourself that dreams can happen, but they may take time so can't give up, which basically describes the last four years of my life. That's what ‘This World Will Turn Your Way' is about. I wrote it last and it thematically sums up the whole album in that I took everything I learned and put it into that one song."
The Storms We Share is a vividly drawn, emotionally resonant snapshot from these years, which Hilton spent trying to make a follow-up to his 2004 major-label debut The Tracks of Tyler Hilton. That album, which spawned the Top 40 singles "When It Comes" and "How Love Should Be," introduced the then-21-year-old Palm Springs, Calif., native to the public via Warner Bros. Records' now-defunct label Maverick Records. After the label folded, Warner Bros. executives told Hilton they loved his music, believed in him as an artist, and wanted him to stay with the label. "They basically said, ‘We want you to make a record that really represents who you are now,' Hilton says. "So essentially I had limitless options, which can be too much of a good thing. I would try things that I had always wanted to do, but they didn't sound as exciting as I thought they would. It was frustrating." After a few false starts and some time living in Nashville, Hilton moved back to Los Angeles where he was introduced to producer Matt Serletic (Matchbox Twenty, Collective Soul) who suggested the two get together for a writing session.
"Matt listened to what I had so far and said, ‘I really dig it, but I think you've got more in you.' And I was like, ‘Oh crap,'" Hilton recalls with a laugh. "But I was intrigued to see what he thought I could improve. The songs we came up with together were so good that I knew I had to put them on my album." Out of those sessions, the pair wound up recording "This World Will Turn Your Way" and "Keep On," as well as "Sunset Boulevard" (a meditation on an artist's idealism versus the reality of the music business), and "So Young" and "16th Summer" (about longing for the simpler days of one's youth).
But it wouldn't be a proper Tyler Hilton album without his thoughtful love songs and "Faithful," "I'd Rather Be Lonely," and "Say It Like A Lie" (featuring vocals from one of Hilton's favorite artists Rachael Yamagata) fit the bill. Those tracks were produced by noted studio vet John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer), a personal hero of Hilton's ("he's done so many records that I love, I really look up to him"). Alagia also produced another highlight, "Ain't A Thing," which Hilton co-wrote with his friends Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley of Grammy-winning country band Lady Antebellum, whom Hilton used to live with in Nashville. "We wrote that years ago and it was about us pretending to be cool, like, ‘You ain't a thing without me.' I'm sure if you looked at the three of us writing that song at home, in our basketball shorts and t-shirts, you would have thought, ‘Those are some pretty lame dudes,'" Hilton says with a laugh.
The Storms We Share was recorded live in the studio, giving it a rich, bright sound that is well-suited to its pop Americana vibe. "I wanted to make a great pop record, which is a big step for me to even say because ‘pop' felt like a dirty word for so long," Hilton says. "I also wanted to make an modern Americana record. I come from country, folk, and blues music; that's what my family plays and that's the music I grew up on. So we've got pedal steel guitar, banjos, and mandolins, but it's definitely a pop record."
Like he said, there was a time when Hilton wouldn't be caught dead playing pop music. The son of an electrical contractor and a teacher, Hilton grew up in a musical family in the California desert. "My dad's side are all musicians and my mom's side too. My grandmother was a wonderful piano player. Her father had his own radio show, so I grew up around lots of music," Hilton says. Growing up in Palm Springs, there wasn't much to do, so he naturally took to playing guitar and singing at a young age. "The amount of time I had to work on music was immense," Hilton says. "Especially in the summer because you don't go outside. It's like being snowed in with heat."
A huge fan of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Robert Johnson, and Muddy Waters, Hilton spent several years performing at open mic nights and clubs, and playing blues and jazz covers for tips in coffeehouses and restaurants. "I did pretty well with the older clientele because they loved that stuff," Hilton says. "It wasn't until I signed with Maverick that young people even came to my shows. I'd always be so shocked when a kid came up to me and said he liked my music, because usually it was: 'Oh my parents heard you at the Crab Shack and they loved your rendition of ‘Wonderful World' and I'd be like, 'Thank you.' And that's when I got out of Palm Springs."
Hilton moved to Los Angeles and released a self-titled independent album in 2000. He also indulged his other passion, acting, by appearing in The CW's One Tree Hill and the indie cult favorite Charlie Bartlett, and playing Elvis Presley in the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. (Hilton's songs have been included on the Grammy Award-winning Walk the Line soundtrack and on all three of One Tree Hill's popular soundtracks.) Hilton signed with Maverick Records and released The Tracks Of Tyler Hilton in September 2004. "I wrote all those songs when I was still in high school," he says, "and I was very impressed that the songs I wrote while I was doing homework ended up being released on a major label. That was really exciting to me. I could have written those kinds of songs again, but I wanted to do better. And I think my new album is better."
Indeed The Storms We Share is huge leap in the evolution of this young artist whose goal was to release a record that simply made people smile. "There is so much to be bummed about; I totally understand that," Hilton says. "I've felt it and I get it, but I wanted to move beyond it. I would love to give people a tool to wade through all the bad times and make them feel really happy. Maybe that's naïve to say, but I would love it if people listened to the songs and were inspired to do things that they didn't think they could do. That would be my ideal."
Halloween Party with The Speaks
LATE SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
A young, talented, and charismatic five-piece band from the Washington, DC area are dominating the mid-atlantic area music scene and are completely redefining the global image of rock music today. Much like Jimi Hendrix, Living Color, Sevendust and Hootie and the Blowfish (admit it, when you first heard their music, you thought Hootie was a white dude!) have all changed the face of rock - and Eminem and The Beastie Boys have changed the face of rap - TheSpeaks are opening people minds and broaden people's horizons with their driving, emotion-filled music in a unique, unprecedented package. In a changing new world where music seems to be erasing any existing racial boundaries, TheSpeaks - with several members who are American-born, but of Asian heritage - are poised to further prove that music is, indeed, the one true universal language.
"I came across The Speaks unexpectedly and I was blown away by the band's music. They have the unique ability to make all their songs sound like an anthem that every listener can connect to -they sound like what rock music should sound like." -Greg Roche (Music Director and on air personality, DC101)
"A handful of kick-ass tracks from DC's own kick-ass (and 2007 On Tap band of the month) The Speaks. Starts from the soaring 'Carpe Diem' and continues from there. 'Regret' is a highlight, as is 'Fallen Angel.' We all knew these guys were talented. Here, they just go and prove it." -Robert Fulton (Managing Editor, OnTap Magazine)
"If you haven't heard of The Speaks, we hope you're not calling yourself a true Indie rocker. This five-pice band of DC youths have been redefining the alternative rock sound and garnering lots of attention while doing it. Known for explosive live shows, rock anthem ballads, and raw, intense lyrics, The Speaks are the type of band you'll like if you miss how the Foo Fighters used to sound." -Music X-Press Magazine
"In the age of shoe gazers and too cool of the room alt. bands, its refreshing to see a band that brings the songs you hear recorded to a higher level in performance. The Speaks are the true sense of a what a band is supposed to be... different characters all assembled by a common music thread and that thread has one hell of a groove. DC 101 loves the Speaks!" -Joe Bevilacqua (Program Director DC 101)
"TheSpeaks give us commanding rock with a grunge edge. 'Solitary' has all the power of Pearl Jam, but without the whining." -Washington Post
"Multiple explosions of sound and raspy vocals are a winning combination for TheSpeaks. You'll be hitting replay on this one." -Washington Post
"The band's anthemic tunes and sheer energy have earned them a rabid fanbase that packs the house wherever they go. It's been a long time since I've seen a rock band draw as well as TheSpeaks - they're definitely headed for bigger things." -Jeferey Jones (OnTap Magazine)
"On our site we get to hear many great independent bands. TheSpeaks are by far one of the best. They have an exciting, infectious and progressive sound. In fact, our staff has unofficially voted them most likely to succeed." -Jonathan Boutelle (House of Gigs)
The Summer Set
EARLY SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
OVEMENT ON DREAMS. STAND UNDER NONE. "I think the suns comin' out", says 22 year old Dylan Smith. He is positive his positivity will bring him something positive. "The two things I base my life around and continue to stay passionate about are music and "the secret". I know that thinking about what you want will bring you.....what you want. I know what I want and I know i'm going to get what I want. Once I figured that out there wasn't much to be unhappy about. I'm not even kidding when i say....i'm always happy, and people really seem to notice that. Some literally tell me that I make them feel better just being around...there's really not much better of a compliment than that. With my music I take that feeling and turn it into a sound. I know i could write "break up" songs, or "the worlds got me down" songs but I honestly don't think about those things. I ONLY think happy thoughts.....and i can promise you, it works." Dylan has been pursuing music at a serious level since age 14. "My first instrument was a Fender strat my dad got me for christmas when i was 9. I didn't really know anything about music at that point so the guitar didn't interest me much. I'm totally serious when i say this.....the band "HANSON" gets full credit for getting me into music. I grew up with an older sister, and I just remember all her friends coming over and going crazy over these dudes. Zac Hanson (the drummer) seemed to get the most girls so naturally...i chose to play drums. From that moment on, all I wanted to do was play music and tour. I played in a bunch of bands growing up (the semester, sideline heroes...) and then joined "Four Letter Lie". We were signed by the time I was 18 and did nothing but tour. I love drums but I always wanted to interact with the crowd more. While touring I started to freestyle, I'm a funny dude so making people laugh wasn't ever a problem. I could go on forever just rhymin about whatever was in front of me. People started tellin me to record some tracks and the rest is history."
MOD SUN released his first cd (a full-length) titled, "I'll Buy Myself", on January 31st 2009. It featured 11 songs, all of which were original beats made by MOD SUN himself. The songs were written and recorded over a 8 month span from May to December 2008. Every song was recorded in his bedroom and produced by him and only him. He did it all by himself...hence the name of the record.
"I downloaded some programs, bought a keyboard, bought a mic, and started to go at it. That was about four years ago now. Along the way i didn't "create" my sound, I found my sound." MOD SUN released his first free mixtape titled "Let Ya Teeth Show" in July 2009. It features 11 brilliant new songs including the heavily loved track, "No Girlfriend". It's got party-anthems, dreams-come-true songs, get high tracks, and really just captures that "the suns out!" vibe.
MOD SUN recently released his second free mixtape "How To Make A MOD SUN". It includes 17 new original songs and remixes. H2MAMS paints the picture of his thoughts about growing up and teaches you the steps it took to get to where he currently stands today. Very well-written with get wordplay and punchlines, but doesn't rely on either of those to get his point across. "I care about the first 3 letters of the word 'artist'. I take my word very seriously."
Since 2006, Stereo Skyline have released an EP, been a mainstay at The Bamboozle festivals and been touted as on of Alternative Press' "100 Bands You Need to Know in 2010." The Long Island, N.Y. natives, who are not even old enough to drink, have also shared the stage with the likes of Hanson, Cartel, All Time Low and Boys Like Girls, and been a part of the Take Action Tour and Bamboozle Roadshow. Now, after four years of mounting accomplishments, Stereo Skyline is ready to release their highly anticipated debut album, Stuck On Repeat, on July 20, 2010.
Formed while its members were still in high school, the high-energy pop/rock four-piece experienced several changes before settling with its current lineup. "We were just having fun," lead singer Kevin Bard explains "We weren't very serious about it, but when we decided we wanted to do it for a living, people who didn't want to left, and whoever was serious stayed."
The band released their self-titled EP in 2008, but Stereo Skyline says they've completely changed as a band. "I feel like we've all grown up and matured naturally," bassist Brian Maddox says. "We feel like this is who we are, this is what we write and this is what we want to be doing. I think it takes a little bit of time to find that, but we've all really come into our own with it."
"I think as we've gotten more mature with writing music, we've realized that a good song is a good song," Bard adds. "It doesn't have to be something crazy different. Good pop is one of the rarest things you can find, and I think that's what we're all aiming for."
To enhance the band's pop instincts, the group worked with a variety of songwriters and producers on Stuck On Repeat, including S*A*M and Sluggo, Metro Station's Blake Healy and Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger. Recorded in both New York City and Los Angeles, the album is a compilation of collaborations, which as the title denotes, get stuck on repeat in your head.
The album title is also a lyric from the band's first single, "Tongue Tied" (co-written by Healy), which is about a guy who's apprehensive about talking to a girl he sees from afar. "The scenario has probably happened to every single person in the world," Bard says. "They see somebody and are like [gasp], but they don't actually go over but they wish they did." The band also gets a little help on the single from their friend Cassadee Pope, lead singer of Hey Monday. Although audiences won't hear her sing, the 20-year-old does lend her voice to a part of "Tongue Tied" that involves a phone call between a guy and a girl.
One of the best examples of Stereo Skyline's innate pop sensibility is their song "Heartbeat," which was released on their self-titled EP and re-recorded for Stuck On Repeat. The song was written by Bard when he was just 15 years old, at an age when he humbly says the band "didn't know how to make pop music, or any music rather." However, the infectious single remains Stereo Skyline's most recognizable song and fan favorite.
Although Stereo Skyline is poised for greatness, the band has modest goals. "We want to take over the world," drummer Rob Michaelsen teases. "Actually, a personal goal of mine is to hear myself on the radio, so hopefully some of these songs can make that happen for us." Maddox, however, has a more philosophical perspective on everything that has led to this moment, and all that's in store. "I think people are going to be very impressed with this record, and to see what our songs have transformed into," he says. "It was a long road to get us to this point, to release our first record, but I think it was necessary, and now we're actually ready for it."
Parachute
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
Hot Chelle Rae announce themselves as a force to be reckoned with on their debut album Lovesick Electric. How can you argue with bold, swaggering vocals, monster sing-along choruses, crunching rock guitar, and a propulsive rhythm section that just won't quit?
"We wanted the music to sound larger than life," says guitarist Nash Overstreet of the group's epic dance-rock sound. "We wanted it to sound explosive and new and fun and be better than anything out there," adds frontman Ryan Keith Follese. Indeed, stomping, blistering jams like "I Like to Dance," "Never Have I Ever," "Say (Half Past Nine)," and "Bushes," will sound equally fierce whether they're blasting from a car stereo or emanating from an arena stage.
As one reviewer has already raved about the Nashville newcomers: "Hot Chelle Rae are honest to goodness rock and roll at its finest - ripe and arrogant, sweating with tangible promise that hangs in the air at their live shows. Posh arrangements featuring refreshingly tasteful guitar, sly lyrics, and a 22-year-old lead singer dripping with charisma, leave you knowing that these guys will end up somewhere-everywhere."
High praise, but not surprising considering that all four band members were raised with music in their DNA. Ryan, his brother/drummer Jamie, and Overstreet are the sons of A- list Nashville songwriters with multiple number one hits between them, while bassist Ian Keaggy's dad is a world renowned Grammy-nominated guitarist.
"Growing up around music didn't hurt, but I was never pushed to do it," Overstreet says. "I just can't remember a time when I didn't want to play or write music." Follese says his father actually encouraged him not to go into the music business. "But I don't know what else I can do," he says. "Music is the only thing I truly have a passion for."
And so the guys claimed their destiny by forming Hot Chelle Rae, which they named after one of the group's most devoted female fans. The band began to take shape in early 2005 when a mutual friend recommended that Overstreet and Follese meet. Follese was doing what he calls "the singer-songwriter thing" and was looking for a guitar player. But their first meeting didn't go too smoothly. "We definitely didn't like each other," Follese says. "We dressed differently. I was clean-cut and Nash wasn't. We looked like polar opposites, and it was just, like, no." But the two managed to overcome their initial impressions and form their first band, which they called Miracle Drug. When their first show in August 2006 went well, they decided to try writing songs together and "we just clicked right away," Follese says.
They brought in Nash's childhood friend Ian Keaggy - a guitarist who didn't even play bass until he joined the band. "Ian came to one of our shows where we had a hired gun on bass and he said, ‘If that guy can play bass, I can play bass,'" Follese recalls. "And that was that. He makes up the most creative stuff. We've written so many songs that have started with his bass riffs." Ryan's brother Jamie joined up soon after. "At first we weren't sure because he was young, but we had a couple rehearsals with him and he knew every song because he'd been playing them for ages," Follese says. "Anything Nash and I wrote, even if we hadn't recorded it, he knew it. He's a human metronome. He just stepped in and sat down and was like, ‘I know these songs.'"
At this point, Hot Chelle Rae had already been taken under the wing of entertainment exec John Hamlin, who signed them up for management. Hamlin then teamed up with music industry vet Don Ienner who guided them toward a deal with Jive Records. After signing with the label in October 2008, the guys began to gear up to make their first album, sorting through dozens of songs they had already written. "My dad told me early on that writing hit songs is just like your batting average," Follese says. "He reminded me that Barry Bonds hits 70 homeruns a year, but he doesn't hit a homerun every time - it's maybe one out of ten. So if you want to write hit songs, you're going to have to write 50 songs for your first record,' which is what we did. We threw out loads of songs."
To help them narrow it down, the band took advice from two of their producers, Eric Valentine and Butch Walker, both of whom know a little something about serving up hit albums. Valentine, who produced five tracks including "Say" and "I Like to Dance," has worked with All-American Rejects and Good Charlotte, while artist/producer Butch Walker, who produced two tracks, "The Distance" and "Bushes," has worked with Katy Perry, Avril Lavigne, and Pink. "I don't know if there's a guy on earth more driven to make something sound the best that it can sound than Eric," Follese says. "He is obsessive and only produces songs that he truly connects with, which is really cool." "And Butch Walker is someone we've always really looked up to and have wanted to work with for a long time," adds Overstreet. "When we were trying to decide who should produce the record, we figured why not shoot high? There's so much passion and power in everything he puts to tape, he really helped us get that across."
Lovesick Electric brims with the confidence and youthful energy that only a group of musicians with serious chops can deliver. "I think the album really reflects who we are and how we want the world to feel," Overstreet says. "We can have a lot of fun and goof off, or we can be very serious and work really hard, and the album shows it all. We've got songs for people to listen to if they're going through a break-up, like ‘The Distance' or ‘Last One Standing,' or if they want to just forget about work, like ‘I Like to Dance,' or they want to dream about the future, like ‘Say.' We've tried hard to make it completely accessible and something people can really relate to no matter what's going on in their lives."
Mixing full-throttle rock with dollops of blue-eyed soul, vintage R&B and melodic pop radio anthems in-the-making, Parachute has arrived. With routes in Charlottesville, VA, the five members of Parachute have been friends for years and have developed a sound that is all their own. Will has been playing with drummer Johnny Stubblefield, bassist Alex Hargrave and saxophone/keyboardist Kit French since they were classmates in high school almost seven years ago. Will met Nate while attending University of Virginia together, and the guitarist joined the band three years ago. The unmistakable energy on stage is a result of their friendship, and it has helped them to find many successes within their mixed genre.
Parachute's debut album Losing Sleep was released on Mercury Records (IDJ) in May, 2009, and has sold over 100,000 copies. The album went to #1 on the iTunes and Amazon charts, and reached #39 on the Billboard Top200. In conjunction with the release, their second single "Under Control" was released as the iTunes Free Single of the Week and went on to be one of the most downloaded releases of all times with over 600,000 downloads that week. In winter 2009, the band released a holiday EP titled Winterlove which has sold over 16,000 units.
Although the band has found many successes in their studio release, their major achievements can be found on the road. In 2009, Parachute played approximately 175 shows including headlining dates and support slots for band such as Switchfoot, O.A.R., Three Doors Down and Secondhand Serenade. In November 2009, the band took off on a national tour as support for American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson's "All I Ever Wanted" Tour, which included dates in Canada. The tour was so successfully, that Parachute was invited to tour with Kelly on the international leg of her tour in 2010. Other major touring opportunities in 2010 have included a co-headlining tour with Safetysuit in January (with sold out shows in New York, Boston, Minneapolis, and St. Louis, a headlining run in the UK, and an appearance on VH1's Best Cruise Ever in April.
Since their major label debut, the band has performed live on Good Morning America (ABC), The Early Show, (CBS) and Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC). Additionally, they have had songs placed on The City (MTV), One Tree Hill (CW), Vampire Diaries (CW), and 90210 (CW). Their first single, "She Is Love", was part of a major television campaign with Nivea Skincare, and was followed up by the company with a second campaign featuring the band's second single "Under Control".
This summer, the band has spent the majority of their time in Los Angeles with producer John Fields working on their new album. They will play 18 dates in their headlining tour this fall, including shows in New York, Boston, Washington DC, Atlanta, Austin, and two private college dates.
Eli “Paperboy” Reed & The True Loves
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
"It's been a wild ride, that's for sure," admits Eli "Paperboy" Reed, looking back at the incredible journey that took the boyish-looking yet preternaturally mature soul belter from a Boston high school band room to a Mississippi Delta juke joint, from Sunday morning gigs behind the organ at a tiny South Side Chicago church to headlining the coolest clubs in Brooklyn with his red-hot band, and now, signed to Capitol Records.
On his major label debut, Come and Get It, Reed proves to be the life of a soulful, sweaty party in which everyone eventually gets dragged onto the dance floor. As a performer, Reed approaches each song with nothing less than utter conviction; he's as authentically gritty as he is ingratiatingly sexy. Reed incorporates the feel of classic R&B and soul into a largely self-penned, 12-song set, produced with Mike Elizondo, the bassist-turned-producer whose credits include, among others, Eminem, Pink, Gwen Stefani and Fiona Apple. Admirers have likened Reed to such luminaries as Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett; the Boston Herald called him "Boston's answer to Sam Cooke." But he's not merely trying to recreate a sound; Reed is channeling his influences and inspirations into making something all his own.
"For me," says Reed, "it's all about writing pop songs. Soul music was the greatest pop music of the 20th century and its influence is so far-reaching. When I pick up a guitar to write a song, the influence of the music I love invariably comes out. For me, that music has been completely internalized. I'm not trying to put anything on; this is what comes out, this is what happens, I can't sing or write any other way than I do."
"I try to write from phrases that I think people will respond to," Reed explains. "Turns of phrase are very important to me," a point illustrated most potently on his song "Name Calling" (lyric: "You went from name calling to calling my name"). "I'm very inspired by Sam Cooke in that way and I learned a lot from country music too. To be able to create a mental picture for someone with just one line is very, very important. Sam Cooke talks about writing from conversation, personal stories, little turns of phrase that catch your ear and you can make a hook out of. That's my songwriting m.o.."
Most of the material on Come And Get It, Reed says, "was written at home, when I was messing around on the acoustic guitar." The title song began quickly when Reed's guitarist Ryan Spraker, who co-wrote several numbers, dreamed up the title phrase, "If You Want The Love of A Man, Come and Get It." But, says Reed, "That one actually took a little while because we wanted to get the sentiment across correctly without sounding cheesy." As for the subject matter he favors - finding, seeking and holding onto love - Reed admits "I like writing love songs because they are easy for people to relate to and mostly it's what I tend to understand and those are the kind of sentiments I come up with. Some of my songs come from personal experience, some of them are changed, just ideas that come to me, as most songwriting works."
The opening track "Young Girl" is a tribute to little-known Boston soul singer Frank Lynch, who died tragically just as his career looked like it would take off with the release of this song. That's part of Reed's m.o. too: going back to the source of his own inspiration, finding unsung veteran artists and bringing them along with him, however he can. This past summer Reed helped organize the Brooklyn Soul Festival, featuring under-recognized soul legends like Barbara Lynn, Roscoe Robinson, and Otis Clay, in the borough he now calls home.
While he was making Come and Get It, says Reed, "I was listening to a lot of late sixties, early seventies soul music from Chicago, in particular Mel and Tim and Tyrone Davis. It's all very lavishly produced stuff, a lot of horns, a lot of strings, but it's also really tough, the rhythm section is always really funky. I was going for that sort of vibe. That was the plan."
Producer Elizondo came at R&B from a markedly different angle than Reed, having deep roots in hip hop as well as contemporary rock. Says Reed, "It was definitely a different thing for him and it was a different thing for me, to work with a strong-minded producer, but it didn't take him long to earn my respect. When we were cutting the string section he'd have the score laid out on the board, following along. He's say, ‘measure 76, second violin, that note is flat.' That is very impressive. Mike's got great ideas and he's got great ears, and he's a great bass player. I definitely have a pop sensibility, but he brought more of an understanding of modern music."
Even as a youngster, Reed displayed unusually sophisticated - and good - taste, working his way through his dad's formidable record collection from the moment he learned to work a turntable. Reed absorbed early rock and roll (Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, The Coasters) before moving on to the Country radio hits of the day. (The first record he bought was Travis Tritt and Marty Stuart's single, "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'" - "I still think it's really good," Reed interjects.) Then he fell for Howlin' Wolf and the blues. However, the defining moment in Reed's youthful musical education came when his dad bought Atlantic's Ray Charles boxed set on cassette: "That was my introduction into soul music, it really changed my life. During one summer vacation, when we were in the car, we listened to those three tapes over and over again."
Along with passing on the record-collecting bug, his dad also gave him a harmonica, the first instrument Reed learned to play. In high school, he hung out in the band room with students as passionate about music as he was: "Most of them were way better musicians than me; I wasn't very good at the time as a guitarist. I played tenor sax, too - but I wasn't very good at that either." But he harbored a gift as one powerhouse singer. At a Martin Luther King Day assembly, he performed "A Change Is Gonna Come." As he recalls, "Everyone freaked out, I got a standing ovation."
From there, his path to a professional career was built on movie script-worthy twists and surprises. His love of the music (and a series of amazing coincidences) brought him to Clarksdale, Mississippi. After having just graduated high school at the age of 18, Reed was frequenting juke joints and lounges and playing the blues five nights a week. He found mentors among the veteran players like Terry "Big T" Williams, Sam Carr, and Wesley "Junebug" Jefferson, and honed his skills as a fledgling performer in a fertile but unforgiving environment. When he wasn't "on" during a gig, fellow musicians and onlookers told him in no uncertain terms that he'd have to leave the stage. But the baby-faced young man from Boston had guts to match his chops: "It was hard. I had never been away from home before. I learned a lot about growing up."
He returned north with new skills, and a new nickname - Paperboy: "I used to wear this hat, my grandfather's hat, a newsboy hat - it's retired now. All the musicians in Clarksdale had a nickname. They gave me that one and it stuck with me."
Reed did subsequently try college, getting accepted into the University of Chicago, but once again, he was drawn more to music than books, hosting a well-regarded Southern Soul show on the college radio station and exploring Chicago's south-side for records and fried chicken. Given his fascination with the lesser known but seriously influential figures in R&B, he tracked down a former Chess Records artist named Mitty Collier ("I Had a Talk With My Man Last Night"), who'd given up soul-singing for the ministry. She not only befriended Reed but hired him to play keyboards and sing at her Sunday services, paying him a small stipend that he poured back into expanding his record collection.
He returned to Boston after the school year ended, determined to put together his own band. For a time he worked for a band mate's florist mom, using her van to transport gear as well as to deliver floral arrangements. Reed put out two very well received albums while in Boston. His first - Sings Walkin' and Talkin' and Other Smash Hits! was independently released and the follow-up Roll With You was released by Boston's Q Division Records. In the US, Rolling Stone named Reed a "Breaking Artist," praising his "howling grooves and dirty down home R&B." In the UK, Reed received a nomination at the 2009 MOJO Awards for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. The thunderous buzz eventually brought him to the attention of Capitol Records.
"People say you make your own luck," Reed concludes. "I've definitely made it a point to seek some of these people out who've inspired me, but some of the things that have happened so far have just been amazing - and I have been unbelievably lucky that they've happened."
After listening to Come and Get It, it's clear that the rest of us are about to become the lucky ones.
Kyle Patrick (from The Click Five)
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Tony Joe White
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
In 1969, Tony Joe White brought his brand of Swampy Blues into a Top 10 hit with his song "Polk Salad Annie." This was followed very shortly in 1970, by Brook Benton's soulful rendition of White's timeless "Rainy Night In Georgia."
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s White toured in support of artists including Creedence Clearwater Revival and James Taylor. In the 1990s Tina Turner recorded four of his songs for her multi-platinum selling album Foreign Affairs, including the world-wide hit "Steamy Windows". With the advent of that project, White formed an alliance with Turner's manager, Roger Davies and his career began to soar.
In Europe, White gained legendary status following a successful debut at the historic Isle of Wight Festival in 1970. His European following has spawned a career that has spanned the decades.
In 1991 he issued the Closer To The Truth album and spent the next two years touring Europe in support of Eric Clapton and Joe Cocker, among others. He cut two more albums, 1993′s Path Of A Decent Groove and 1995′s Lake Placid Blues, the latter garnering the first of two nominations for "Best R & B Album" from the Nashville Music Awards.
In 1999, White went back to his roots and recorded One Hot July, in the swamps of Louisiana. He then toured Australia and Europe once again in support of the critically acclaimed album. In 2001, he released The Beginning - a stripped-down acoustic album that received worldwide recognition and five star ratings in virtually every country.
Most recently Tony Joe White has released The Heroines and the critically acclaimed new album "Uncovered" both have been released on his own label, Swamp Records.
"Uncovered" features Tony Joe White at his finest. The album features dear friends of the timeless musician; each of these visitors himself an icon. These featured musicians include Mark Knopfler, who's playing dovetails with Tony Joe on "Not One Bad Thought." Eric Clapton follows on "Did Somebody Make a Fool Out of You," finding a different perspective yet also providing a perfect complement to White. On "Baby, Dont Look Down" Michael McDonald proves once again why he is the outstanding blue-eyed soul crooner of our time. The elusive J. J. Cale snakes through the prowling groove of "Louvelda." Most notably on this album is the late Waylon Jennings, who joins Tony Joe for a timeless performance of the previously unrecorded, "Shakin the Blues," in one of Waylon's final studio appearances. Add legendary Memphis Horns to a couple of tracks and you've exceeded the hero's quota for any one album.
Even with the amazing addition of these artists, the focus here stays tight on Tony Joe. The tracks, most of them cut late at night at his studio south of Nashville, are raw and rough, as they should be. Emotions overflow in his vocals, spilling from each melody like rivers washing out their banks: sensual on "Run for Cover", defiant on "Rebellion", and enlightened by life's painful lessons in "Taking the Midnight Train". On "Keeper of the Fire" he pulls heat from the embers of blues and sings it softly back, like pictures blown in smoke. And he delivers, at long last, the definitive recording of his classic "Rainy Night in Georgia", in one flawless take. These performances are the culmination of a lifetime spent in music. A breathy lifetime of swampy blues.
Mindy Smith
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Art helps us articulate emotions. When complex feelings seem impossible to condense into words, we turn to musicians to speak on our behalf. On her new album, Stupid Love, Mindy Smith gives voice to the myriad sentiments, from elation to sorrow, that accompany falling in love.
As she acknowledges on the first single "Highs and Lows," life is full of twists and turns. And so are these thirteen originals. The solemn "I'm Disappointed," a bruised soliloquy for just voice and organ, gives way to the idyllic "True Love of Mine." With her straightforward, honest delivery, Smith steers Stupid Love through its varied emotional terrain, till the journey concludes with the rollicking "Take a Holiday."
Few singers are better prepared than Smith to sing convincingly about such a wide range of emotions. Her pure, unaffected soprano illuminates her words and sentiments-even when it seems as if she is singing for just herself, as on the intimate "Telescope." Each performance is rendered with exquisite care. Listen to the way she slowly rises out of world-weary dejection on the opening "What Went Wrong," the light gradually filling her voice like dawn breaking over the horizon.
Effortless as these performances feel, Smith is a perfectionist when she steps up to the microphone. "It is really important to me for every vocal to be as good as it can be." Especially in the recording studio. "There are some songs I do in one take and others where I have to go through and sing line by line." While making Stupid Love, she pushed herself harder than ever as a singer, building and sustaining passages. "There were a lot of parts that required big, long breaths," she admits.
With her every step of the way in recording Stupid Love were Ian Fitchuk and Justin Loucks, with whom she co-produced the album at Fairground Studio in Nashville. They proved ideal partners-in-crime for the adventure. "They are so musically driven, like I am," she observes. "And that's exactly what I needed for this record. They brought so much energy, and their talents are extraordinary."
The duo's involvement was decidedly hands-on, too. Fitchuk and Loucks ended up playing many of the instrumental parts, while Mindy focused almost exclusively on singing. "A lot of the time, it was just the three of us in the studio."
Other times, they invited in friends and colleagues. Familiar faces, like Thad Cockrell (who collaborated with Mindy on "Love Chases after Me") and guitarist Daniel Tashian, were joined by special guests. That's Mindy's "childhood hero," Amy Grant, singing along on "Couldn't Stand the Rain," while Grant's husband, Vince Gill, lends his pipes to "Telescope." Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer chimes in on "What Love Can Do," and Jeremy Lister contributes to "What Went Wrong" and "True Love of Mine.
Musically, Stupid Love reflects Smith's diverse personal tastes. "I'm influenced by all kinds of music," she confirms. Some arrangements incorporate banjo or slide guitar; others are graced with strings, particularly the cello parts of Matt Slocum. "There was a lot of exploring and experimentation," adds Mindy. On "What Love Can Do," an uplifting rocker that sounds more like a product of Southern California than Nashville, she played a beer bottle; several cuts feature parts played on an iPhone. The result is an album as variegated as vintage Fleetwood Mac or Steely Dan.
After years of refining her craft behind the scenes, Mindy arrived fully-formed with her 2004 critically acclaimed debut, One Moment More, and its hit single "Come to Jesus." Long Island Shores (2006) garnered still more raves from the critics: "Smith's best songs sound like little miracles," crowed USA Today. The following year, she brought that same level of excellence to My Holiday, which the New York Times hailed as, a "...thoughtful collection from a great singer-songwriter who knows how to evoke the feeling of warm rooms on cold nights."
After those triumphs, Smith slowed down for a while. "I took about two years off, and over that time, I just collected these songs." She wrote only when she felt compelled to pick up her guitar. "There are times I'll write three songs in a week, and then I won't write at all for a month or two." Ultimately, she went into the studio with roughly twenty-five new tunes completed; she still hopes to record the ones that didn't find a home on Stupid Love.
Smith is careful not to disclose particulars about individual songs because she worries that might interfere with the listening experience. "People tend to relate to my songs because of their own experiences. And they'll take what works in their own life away from this record." But rest assured all her music comes from the heart. "Everything here is definitely from my personal experience," she concludes. "Heartbreak, healing, all that stuff... it's all legit." And you can hear that honesty in every note she sings on Stupid Love.
Catie Curtis
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
"When I write a song," says Darden Smith, "the way it ends up is usually not the way I thought it would be when I started." And that notion of exploration, of following the path of the unexpected, has been a constant force in his career as a musician. Smith has transcended traditional singer-songwriter boundaries and over the past 25 years has assembled a varied, fascinating musical legacy as fulfilling to his listeners as it has been to himself.
His 10 critically acclaimed studio albums, recorded from New York to Nashville and London to Los Angeles, weave together rock, pop, country, folk and Americana influences with the musical roots of his home state of Texas. Based in Austin since 1982, Smith, praised by All Music Guide as "a singer-songwriter blessed with an uncommon degree of intelligence, depth, and compassion," has created a distinctive, admired body of work and has long enjoyed an international following as a compelling live performer.
Beyond his foundation as a singer-songwriter, Smith has, among other things, composed an orchestral piece for the Austin Symphony, written and produced a documentary for BBC Radio 2, scored compositions for experimental dance troupes and created a dramatic song cycle for a theatre production now underway. And his "Be An Artist Program," which he founded in 2003, is a popular series of in-school workshops that seek to foster creativity in students across the United States and Western Europe.
His most recent release, After All This Time: The Best of Darden Smith, is an enchanting 16-song collection chronicling what No Depression called "the restless stylistic evolution" of "an artist beyond category." It neatly encapsulates Smith's distinguished career with selections from every one of his studio albums, plus two new tracks. The debut release on his own Darden Music label, After All This Time draws its title from his 2002 No. 3 single on the BBC Radio 2 chart. It includes his 1993 hits "Loving Arms" and "Little Victories" as well as "Reminds Me (A Little of You)" from Evidence, his acclaimed 1989 collaboration with the British singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine.
"Sierra Diablo" is a new track included as a preview from Smith's upcoming album Marathon, which is scheduled to be released in the spring of 2010 and promises another stylistic shift from his most recent work. Also included is "Dying' To Be Born Again," a new honky-tonk, gospel-twanged piece recorded in 2009 with Harlem Parlour Music Club, which "brings me back around full-circle to roots music, where I started," Smith said.
Growing up in rural Texas in the 1960s and 1970s instilled in Smith a driven, independent creative vision. Born in Brenham in 1962, Smith spent his early childhood on a farm outside of the small town in central Texas. "I grew up in the country playing by myself and walking around everywhere," he said. He credits those hours wandering through nearby fields and woods "for giving me an imagination and a gift for making up stories." Singing in his local church's choir, and listening to its pipe organ, sparked a hunger to connect with music, and by the third grade Smith was learning to play the guitar. His guitar teacher taught him how to play every song on Neil Young's Harvest and After the Gold Rush albums, and, more importantly, instilled in him the idea of writing his own songs. He wrote his first song when he was 10 years old.
When his family moved to the suburbs of Houston when he was a teenager, Smith took refuge from his unfamiliar world by studying the songs of Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt and John Prine, and by writing songs of his own. He was soon slipping into Houston clubs to watch established singer-songwriters perform, and by the time he went on to graduate from the University of Texas in 1985, Smith was making his own mark as a regular performer on the Austin and Texas music scenes.
He released his debut album, Native Soil, in 1986, featuring fellow Texans Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffith on harmony vocals and earning accolades from All Music Guide as "a gem." The Nashville division of Epic Records signed Smith soon after, and his 1988 album Darden Smith produced two country chart hit singles, "Little Maggie" and "Day After Tomorrow." Evidence, his 1989 Chrysalis Records duet album with Boo Hewerdine of The Bible, earned a glowing 3½-star review from Rolling Stone, and Smith's projectory expanded beyond the country music scene.
His major label deal with Epic was transferred to the pop division of Columbia Records, yielding Trouble No More in 1990 and, three years later, Little Victories, which included his pop hit single, "Loving Arms." He went on to release on independent labels Deep Fantastic Blue (1996) and Extra Extra (2000).
A stylistic trilogy of lauded albums from Dualtone Music Group followed: Sunflower (2002), which included the hit "After All This Time" and was praised by All Music Guide as "mature, passionate and thoughtful"; Circo (2004); and Field of Crows (2005), described by Harp as "a mesmerizing set of songs with a musical and emotional richness that so many other singer-songwriters only strive for." In 2007 Smith issued Ojo, a limited-edition recording from a series of live concerts in New Mexico.
An enthusiasm for creative exploration has led Smith to develop unusual pairings within his career as a singer-songwriter. He was the first local artist commissioned to create a work for the Austin Symphony, yielding "Grand Motion" in 1999, and his 2006 documentary for BBC Radio 2, "Songs from the Big Sky," skillfully explored the relationship between renowned Texas songwriters and the landscape of the Lone Star State. And his most recent venture has unfolded with Marathon, a dramatic song cycle matching 10 mesmerizing works onstage with a storyline based on Norwegian mythology.
Smith's nonprofit "Be An Artist Program" (www.be-an-artist.com) has melded his interests in music, education and community involvement into an innovative program that uses songwriting to encourage students to explore creativity in a way not usually seen in traditional school classrooms. In doing so, Smith has forged "another career that has nothing to do with the music business, but it's still music and art," he says. "I like working in that big context and doing different things."
Even as Smith celebrates his 25th year as a professional musician with After All This Time: The Best of Darden Smith, there's no doubt that new ventures are ahead. For him, being a musician has always been about answering the question, "I've done that, now can I do this?" He gratefully credits his co-writers, producers and fellow musicians with fueling and supporting his creative path, and for nurturing his own artistic muse. "I'm more excited about music now than I've ever been," Smith says. "And there's no end to it."
Catie Curtis has been a fan favorite on the acoustic music scene for a number of years now. Her well-deserved reputation as one of our very best singer/songwriters has followed her through nine critically-acclaimed recordings. With her tenth and newest project, Hello Stranger, released in August 2009, she gifts her loyal fan base and entices new listeners with a recording that captures some of the magic of her live performances. With the help of her Nashville-based record label, Compass Records, she selected a few of Nashville's best musicians to make an album featuring fiddle, mandolin and banjo as well as acoustic guitar.
Catie Curtis and her producer, Garry West, put a fresh spin on some of Curtis's best-loved songs as well as several handpicked classics. The supporting musicians, Alison Brown and Stuart Duncan, along with Gary Marinelli (acoustic guitars, mandolin and resophonic guitar), Kenny Malone (drums and percussion) and Todd Phillips (acoustic bass) deliver these tunes with a pop, sizzle and shine. But most of all, the music is fun to listen to again and again. Country meets Catie in style!
Curtis has created a dedicated following that has grown steadily over the course of her 15-year career. With her live shows, film and tv placements, the 2006 International Songwriting Competition Grand Prize, and now the Hello Stranger string-band project, Curtis has proven that she's the real deal: a musician with the kind of raw talent and artistic maturity that makes her a force to be reckoned with, albeit a sweet force.
Jill Sobule
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Amber Rubarth MySpace and Adam Levy MySpace
Jill Sobule belongs to a rare breed of artists. Her work is at once deeply personal and socially conscious, seriously funny and derisively tragic. Over five albums and a decade of recording, the Denver-born songwriter/guitarist/singer has tackled such topics as the death penalty, anorexia, shoplifting, reproduction, the French resistance movement, adolescence, and the Christian right. Did we mention love? Love found, love lost, love wished for and love taken away.
While her songs cover a huge amount of ground, they all have benefit greatly from Jill's subtle intelligence and skillful light-handedness. No sloganeering flag-and-fist waving here, but rather story songs about human beings, real and imagined, which allow us to step back from the issue, be it personal or social, and relate to it as we would a close friend.
To see Jill live and in concert is a rare treat. It is on stage that she is most comfortable, most powerful, and where the delicacy and range of her work can be best appreciated. She entertains, amuses, provokes, and more often then not, takes her audiences on an emotional roller coaster, from comedy to pathos in a few bars of music.
Jill began playing guitar when she joined the Junior High School band. She never learned to read music, though, and faked her way through rehearsals and performances by playing by ear. As she began writing songs, it was very clear to Jill this was becoming more than a teenage hobby. Music was serious stuff. She played in a variety of funk and rock bands in Colorado, and eventually made her first, Todd Rundgren-produced, album for MCA, Things Here Are Different.
But success did not knock on her door until three years later, when Atlantic Records released her MTV staple and national top 20 hit, I Kissed A Girl. "That song was a double-edged sword for me," Jill Says. "It was perceived as a novelty hit, but on the other hand it was the first song with an overtly gay topic to be aired on Top 40 radio. I am quite proud of that." The self-titled album also yielded another hit song, Supermodel, included in the Clueless soundtrack.
The song also jumpstarted her live music career in a big way, and since then she's had the honor to induct Neil Diamond in the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, to share the stage with the likes of Neil Young (at his yearly Bridge School benefit concerts), fellow activists Billy Bragg & Steve Earle, and Waren Zevon. Quite the serious guitar player, she even toured the world as lead guitarist in Lloyd Cole's band a few years back.
Since then, she has made four more critically acclaimed albums, Happy Town, Pink Pearl, Underdog Victorious, and 2009's California Years, which Jill released on her own record label, Pinko Records, after collecting over $85,000 from fans who funded the project.
A veritable gypsy, Jill divides her time between a busy touring schedule and a variety of other projects. She has played the role of political troubadour for NPR stations across the country and for Air America Radio. She also served as songwriter/composer for the hit Nickelodeon network show Unfabulous during that show's three-season run. She composed the music for the off-Broadway show Prozak and the Platypus and co-starred in the Eric Schaeffer film Mind the Gap.
In the words of New York Times pop music critic Jon Pareles, "Jill Sobule can claim her place among the stellar New York singer-songwriters of the last decade. Topical, funny and more than a little poignant ... grown-up music for an adolescent age."
Bell X1
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
James Vincent McMorrow MySpace
Bell X1 were named after the first aircraft to break the sound barrier, flown in 1947 by Chuck Yeager. Jagermeister is a particularly evil spirit that has no place in any reputable establishment, unlike gin. "Gin and tonic dressing gown..." is a lyric from Bell X1's debut album, Neither am I, released in 2000 in Ireland. Ireland used to be poor, was blingin for a while there, and now it's in a bit of a jocker with the old big R. Releasing their second album Music in Mouth in 2003, the band toured with many recording artists of note, including Bon Jovi and Elliot Smith in the same week - inspiring them to make small music with big hair. Hair-and-shoes bands kept getting in the way there for a while, but they've learned to deal with that, and don't seem to mind so much. Much rejoicing was had when in October 2005, the third record, Flock, went to number 1 in the Irish pop charts. Charts don't really interest them, but don't all bands say that, and deep down they care. Careful to cover all ground this time, Flock was the first record to be released across continental Europe and North America, and the band spent most of 2008 playing shows there and being on the telly. Telly shows they've performed on include Conan O Brien, David Letterman and Craig Fergusen, and The OC, Grey's Anatomy and One Tree Hill have all featured their music to accompany scenes of heartwrenching drama. Drama and big changes were afoot as Bell X1 left Island records in 2007 to set up their own label, BellyUp records, and released Tour de Flock, a live DVD and album recording of their triumphant homecoming show at the Point Depot, Dublin. Dublin is where they've just finished the new album, Blue Lights on the Runway, released worldwide in March 2009.
Neon Hitch
LATE SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
Jammin’ Java A Capella Music Fest featuring Sonos
EARLY SHOW!
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Jammin' Java is excited to present our first A Capella Music Fest! This family-friendly festival will showcase a variety of local a cappella groups, with headliners Sonos closing out the night. Expect to hear your favorite covers alongside original material. Come ready to be amazed by the vocals-only performances. No instruments allowed!
In December 2008, Los Angeles vocal collective Sonos debuted at the Hotel Café with an "intimate, yet scorching performance... brimming with fiery fervor, major dynamics and sexual tension" (Deli Magazine LA ). The group breathes new life into a cappella, giving the genre "a contemporary makeover... prepare to be stunned" (The Guardian UK) on their debut SONOSings, now available on Verve Forecast, on which the group combines a rich, classically choral sensibility with their ultra-modern repertoire and sonic toolkit.
Emerging from the SoCal college a cappella scene with the singular aim of turning the genre on its head, Sonos reinvents a 21st century songbook with bold reinterpretations of vital indie artists who inspire the sextet. The result is a spellbinding fusion of ancient and contemporary sounds, as songs by the likes of Radiohead ("Everything in Its Right Place"), Sara Bareilles (an a cappella UCLA alum herself, she joins Sonos for a rendition of her "Gravity"), Fleet Foxes ("White Winter Hymnal"), Bon Iver ("Re:Stacks"), Rufus Wainwright ("Oh What a World"), Björk ("Joga"), Imogen Heap ("Come Here Boy") and other cutting-edge creators are transformed into mesmerizing vehicles for voices only. The repertoire also extends to the iconic mainstream, hence their radical trip-hop rendition of the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" and their soulful take on Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence."
Sonos's imaginative approach has already won plaudits from such tastemakers as Chris Douridas of L.A. bellwether station KCRW-FM, who praised Sonos's "innovative vocal arrangements" and "inspired repertoire, supremely delivered."
Charlie Mars
LATE SHOW!
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
With his latest album, Like A Bird, Like A Plane, Charlie Mars has sewn together tightly crafted songs with moods and melodies that pulse with sex, wonderment and personal destruction - all themes that may clash on paper but in music, suggest mysteries that are organic to us all. He recorded the album in Austin, TX with drummer J.J. Johnson (John Mayer), keyboardist John Ginty (Citizen Cope), bass players George Reiff (Jakob Dylan) and Dave Monzie (Fiona Apple). The video for lead single "Listen to the Darkside" (a nod to Pink Floyd) featured "Weeds" star Mary Louise Parker and premiered as a Music Mix exclusive on Entertainment Weekly's website, www.ew.com.
"With gentle yet genuine hints of Paul Simon in both his singing and his guitar work, Charlie Mars takes listeners on a journey through some of the peaks and valleys of his life," said The Washington Post. "Even those who haven't experienced the personal turmoil of addiction, loss and heartbreak may feel a kinship to the singer-songwriter, who tells his story through lush musical vignettes."
Mars is known for his compelling live performances. "When he's onstage, songs with deep grooves get some breathing room, and his lush choruses inevitably lead to raucous audience sing-alongs," said Esquire.
Born in Arkansas and raised in Mississippi, Mars released three independent albums before signing with V2. His self-titled, 2004 major label debut was hailed by Rolling Stone as "Big emotional rock from Mississippi...with a knack for hooks, and the hooks here have real barbs: They tug at you and just might draw some blood." High profile tours with artists such as R.E.M., KT Tunstall, Citizen Cope and Bob Schneider followed. When V2 folded, Mars returned to his independent roots, financing Like A Bird, Like A Plane himself, and releasing it on Rockingham Records in conjunction with the Nashville-based Thirty Tigers.
David Choi
EARLY SHOW!
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
David Choi is a native Los Angeles singer/songwriter/producer whose songs and tracks have been heard on NBC, VH1, MTV, A&E, E!, Travel Channel, Style, PBS, Food Network, Disney, as well as in national commercials overseas. He has worked on several major online campaigns including Starburst and JC Penney. On YouTube, he has over 190,000 subscribers and over 45,000,000 total video views.
In 2004, Choi was the grand prize winner for David Bowie's Mash-up contest which Bowie himself chose. Following that, he was the grand prize winner for USA Weekend Magazine's John Lennon Songwriting Contest for teens and appeared in USA Weekend Magazine with recording artist Usher.
Choi also has a song on the album "State of Survival" called "This is Your Life" on upcoming Interscope group Flipsyde, which he co-produced.
In October of 2008, David released his self produced album "Only You" worldwide.
The Alternate Routes
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
In the small New England town of Mystic, Connecticut, lives Barefoot Truth, an independent band that is quietly creating history. You have never seen them on MTV, nor heard them on a Top 40 FM radio station, but with 5.5 million spins on Pandora, Barefoot Truth has quickly become a symbol of independent music success, and just may be 'the biggest band you've never heard of'. Mixing the sounds of folk, rock, jazz, and reggae, with lyrics full of unbridled optimism, the band has crafted a sound that is distinctly Barefoot Truth.
Since the band's establishment during college, Barefoot Truth has been developing this signature sound that has virally spread through a grassroots following. With their lead singer on drums, and an array of unlikely roots-based instrumentation, the band translates their originality to their ever-evolving live show. The quintet features Will Evans on lead vocals and drums, John Waynelovich on piano, Jay Driscoll on Weissenborn slide guitar, Andy Wrba on upright bass, and Garrett Duffy on harmonica. It is not unlikely for members of the band to switch instruments mid-show, or even begin playing a didjeridoo, adding to the dynamic of the band's sound.
Mixing a strong environmental message with the lofty theme of humankind's interconnectedness on their 2010 studio album 'Threads', Barefoot Truth reached #21 on the iTunes Rock Charts, momentarily stepping ahead of bands such as Dave Matthews Band and The Fray. The new disc was noted as "The best independently released album of 2010" by ThisIsModern. Barefoot Truth happily credits Pandora Radio for their crucial role in growing the band's silent army of listeners, as Driscoll recently stated in a USA Today article, "Pandora has basically created an avenue for us to have a career in music".
Since taking the band 'full-time' in 2007, after finishing college, Barefoot Truth has earned spotlight attention on many levels, including an invitation to play at President Obama's pre-debate rally in New York, where they performed between Bruce Hornsby and Crosby and Nash. They were asked to lend several songs from their new album 'Threads' to the upcoming 'Nature Propelled' film, in addition to scoring original music for the film. The band has also made appearances at major festivals such as Summerfest, 10,000 Lakes Festival, and FloydFest, in addition to tallying over 100 college and prepschool performances in the Northeast. Fans of Barefoot Truth can be confident that the quiet success of this small band will grow increasingly louder, one listener at a time...
The Sweetback Sisters
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Like their pseudo-sister role models, the Davis Sisters, the Sweetback Sisters sing country songs in close, surrogate-sister harmony and matching dresses. Their repertoire combines several of the Sisters' passions -- country music from before they were born and new interpretations of those traditions -- to create a fresh take on what it means to be country.
The Sweetback line-up features the lavish voices of Zara Bode and Emily Miller joined by an all-star cast of instrumentalists including: West Virginian triple threat Jesse Milnes; Stefan Amidon on drums; Philly's stringed slayer Ross Bellenoit on rippin' Telecaster, and the newest Sweetback brother Peter Bitenc on bass.
Their debut EP "Bang!" was released in early 2007 and earned them a spot on A Prairie Home Companion's talent contest for twenty-somethings. A full-length album, "Chicken Ain't Chicken," was released in June '09 on the Signature Sounds label.
Private Event
As one of the most versatile and accommodating spaces in the Washington DC area, Jammin' Java Music Club and Cafe is perfect for any private function you have in the works - day or night. Named the DC area's classiest music club by the Washington Post and Washington DC's best live music venue by America Online's CityGuide, our award-winning design creates an atmosphere that is intimate, comfortable and stylish - and our live music capabilities can add a special edge to an otherwise standard occasion.
Plan your next party with Jammin' Java and we guarantee you'll walk away feeling like a rock star.
Bert Jansch + Pegi Young
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
"Foul Deeds seemed like a good album title, because this record definitely has its share of dark themes... divorce, debauchery, disillusionment and despair," Pegi Young says of her second album and first for Vapor Records. "But I'm not trying to be a bummer. I'm just trying to tell some stories and make music that I can get behind."
Foul Deeds, which Young co-produced, overflows with the same richly evocative songcraft that made her self-titled 2007 debut a revelation. That album exposed the late-blooming artist as both an affecting singer and a songwriter of rare eloquence and insight. The new disc finds Young continuing to make music of uncommon warmth and gravity, delivering her lyrics of heartbreak and hard-won wisdom in understated, quietly powerful musical settings whose hushed, haunted beauty underlines the material's emotional immediacy.
"I don't write happy songs, and the songs I'm attracted to tend to be kind of melancholy," Young observes. "I don't really know why that is, but that's just how they come to me, and I have to let 'em come on through."
Pegi initially came to the public's attention through her longstanding role as backup singer with Neil Young, her husband of three decades. But Foul Deeds -- whose first 5000 copies will also include the bonus live DVD Love Like Water, directed by noted filmmaker Jonathan Demme at the Tower Theatre in Philadelphia -- makes it clear that Pegi's iconoclastic creative voice is very much her own. Her uncanny knack for cutting to the heart of thorny emotional issues drives such indelible originals as "Broken Vows," "Starting Over," "Who Knew" and the rueful title track. Another highlight is the dusky, lilting "Traveling," which appears on the album in two versions, one spare and dreamy, and the other performed with a full band.
In addition to Young's own compositions, Foul Deeds features the artist's personalized interpretations of a quartet of songs by other writers. Her compelling readings of Will Jennings' "Pleasing to Me," Lucinda Williams' "Side of the Road," Devendra Banhart's "Body Breaks" and B. Boatman's "Blue Sunday" imbue those already-distinctive songs with additional depth and color.
"I'm still a big believer in the old idea of a record being a complete experience," Young asserts. "So it matters to me that the songs have thematic relevance, and that somehow it tells some kind of story. Maybe people don't really listen to records as a whole anymore, and you can work on the sequencing till the cows come home but they'll still put it on shuffle and it doesn't matter. But it matters to me, and this group of songs just seem to make sense together."
Foul Deeds reteams Young with the group of veteran musicians and longtime friends whose sensitivity and rapport helped to distinguish her debut effort. Multi-instrumentalist Ben Keith (who co-produced the album with Young), guitarist/harmony singer Anthony Crawford and bassist Rick Rosas, who comprised Young's live band while touring behind her debut, were joined on the sessions by drummer Phil Jones, whose resume includes work with Tom Petty and Bob Dylan. Elsewhere on Foul Deeds, Neil Young plays guitar on three tracks, which also feature legendary keyboardist Spooner Oldham and noted session drummer Karl Himmel.
Pegi Young began writing songs and playing guitar while still in high school, but eventually put her creative instincts on hold to attend to the demands of family life. Pegi and Neil's experiences caring for their son Ben, who was born with cerebral palsy, led Pegi to co-found the non-profit Bridge School, whose innovative methods of aiding children with severe speech and physical impairments have established the school as a leader in its field over the past 25 years. Pegi and Neil have also been the forces behind the annual all-star Bridge School Benefit concerts, and Pegi continues to serve as president of the school's Board of Directors.
Pegi found herself drawn towards music again after she began touring as backup singer with her husband's band beginning in 2000. With her kids grown and the confidence gained from performing numerous live shows, she finally had the time and focus to begin recording her own songs.
"When I was younger, I was way, way too shy to do anything but very amateur performing," Young states. "But it eventually became a matter of having these opportunities and building some confidence and thinking, do I really want to be on my deathbed going 'Damn, I wish I'd made some records'? So I did it, and I loved it. And then I had more songs, so I did it again."
Having gained further experience from making her first album and touring extensively to support it, she took a more hands-on role in Foul Deeds' recording process.
"I did end up taking more of a leadership role this time," Young notes. "The whole project felt a lot less tentative and more focused, just because I'd done it already. It all came together very quickly. We'd been on the road so much that we were all pretty in sync, and adding Phil on drums had really opened things up, so I just thought, we had to get some of this on tape. We pulled it together very spontaneously, and recorded for three or four days, and everything kind of came together."
With a pair of personally charged, deeply felt albums under her belt, Pegi Young is embracing music-making with passion and pragmatism.
"I'm 57, so I'm never gonna be the next big thing, but I'm cool with that," she concludes. "If I was younger, I might be more focused on the commerce part of it. But I'm not a 20-year-old trying to make a living, so I don't have to conform to some record company's idea of whatever they're looking for that week. In that way, I guess I can be truly independent and focus on the creative part. I have no idea where it will go from here, but I'm having fun and I feel really, really good about what I've done so far."
"One of the most influential musicians of all time" -THE GUARDIAN
"Jansch's influence on modern music is incalculable" -TIME OUT
"As much of a great guitar player as Jimi [Hendrix] was, Bert Jansch is the same thing for acoustic guitar...and my favourite" -Neil Young
"At one point, I was absolutely obsessed with Bert Jansch. When I first heard that LP [1965], I couldn't believe it. It was so far ahead of what everyone else was doing. No one in America could touch that" -Jimmy Page
"He completely re-invented guitar playing and set a standard that is still unequalled today...without Bert Jansch, rock music as it developed in the ‘60s and ‘70s would have been very different. You hear him in Nick Drake, Pete Townshend, Donovan, The Beatles, Jimmy Page and Neil Young. There are people playing guitar who don't even realise they've been influenced by him one step removed" -Johnny Marr
"He revolutionised the guitar...I don't think anybody has ever been revered as much as he is" -Dick Gaughan
"If you didn't know he was a guitar hero to many - including Jimmy Page and Keith Richards - your ears might tell you" -THE EVENING STANDARD
"Few guitarists, no matter how legendary, can keep an audience mesmerised for over two hours. Folk-blues 1960s icon Jansch is one of those few" -THE GUARDIAN
"Bert Jansch is a legend for our times" -METRO
Bert Jansch, legendary songwriter and guitarist, is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential musicians of all time. Since the mid 1960s generation after generation have been held spellbound by his extraordinary ground-breaking acoustic guitar playing and classic emotive songs. Jimmy Page, Neil Young, Nick Drake, Johnny Marr, Bernard Butler and Beth Orton have all been devotees, and further generations, led by Devendra Banhart and Pete Doherty, are still discovering Jansch for themselves.
Bert began performing his unique synthesis of folk, blues and jazz in the early 1960s, having hitch-hiked to London from his hometown of Edinburgh. His iconic first album, Bert Jansch (April 1965), was played on borrowed guitars and recorded on a reel-to-reel tape deck. Bert Jansch caused a sensation for its innovative guitar technique and powerful songs, and has been phenomenally influential to this day, cited by legions of guitar players (famous and otherwise) as a major inspiration. It was followed by It Don't Bother Me (December 1965) and the also hugely influential Jack Orion (September 1966), where Bert began exploring innovative treatments of traditional folk, something he took further with Pentangle, the acoustic supergroup he formed in 1967 with John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee, Danny Thompson and Terry Cox.
After Pentangle split in 1973, Bert returned to his prolific solo career. His 21st solo album, Crimson Moon, appeared in 2000 accompanied by a Channel 4 documentary, Dreamweaver, and Bloomsbury's publication of a major biography: Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch and the British Folk and Blues Revival by Colin Harper (new expanded edition August 2006 with foreword by Johnny Marr). In 2001 Bert was awarded a BBC Radio 2 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Radio 2 Folk Awards. Edge of a Dream (featuring Bernard Butler, Hope Sandoval, Dave Swarbrick and Ralph McTell) was released in October 2002 to widespread critical acclaim across Europe. In November 2003 Bert celebrated his 60th birthday with a BBC TV Special shown on BBC4, and a sell-out birthday concert with guests at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall.
In 2006 Bert worked with some of the latest musicians to emerge on the scene on his highly acclaimed most recent album, The Black Swan , including producer Noah Georgeson (Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow , Joanna Newsom - Milk-Eyed Mender ); and musicians and vocalists Beth Orton, Devendra Banhart, Otto Hauser (Espers, Vetiver), Helena Espvall (Espers) and Kevin Barker (Currituck Co). The Black Swan was hailed internationally as one of Bert's greatest albums - MOJO called it an "instant classic" and gave it five stars (something hardly ever seen), while in the US it was "better than Dylan".
On 5 June 2006 Bert received the MOJO Merit Award from MOJO magazine at the MOJO Honours List ceremony. The award was "based around an expanded career that still continues to be inspirational" and was presented by Beth Orton and Roy Harper. Bert was also involved in the major BBC TV series Folk Britannia, and featured in Will Hodgkinson's acclaimed books: Guitar Man and Song Man. In November 2007 Bert received an honorary Doctorate of Music from Napier University in Edinburgh.
A lavish Pentangle box set, The Time Has Come, featuring much previously unheard material, appeared in March 2007 to extensive commercial and critical acclaim, and Pentangle received a Lifetime Achievement Award of their own at the 2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, where they performed two songs - the first time the original band had played together in 35 years. A full UK tour for Pentangle followed in 2008 - a truly triumphant reunion, hailed by press and public alike.
Bert's own classic solo back catalogue has also been digitally remastered and is now available beautifully re-packaged, featuring all the original artwork plus new sleevenotes and photographs and many extra bonus tracks. This culminated in 2009 with the long awaited first-time CD release of Bert's three Charisma albums: the seminal L.A. Turnaround, Santa Barbara Honeymoon and A Rare Conundrum. The re-mastering of these most sought-after albums in Bert's catalogue was supervised by Bert himself, and as well as unreleased bonus tracks, the new CD of L.A. Turnaround includes a previously unseen 13 minute film made during the recording of the album. Each of these new editions is gorgeously packaged using the original artwork along with contemporary photos and memorabilia as well as specially written notes.
More than 40 years since the start of his distinguished career, passion and demand for Bert's work has never been higher. Today Bert is still as active, innovative and influential as ever, and in a live setting his performances are still a rare opportunity to see one of the British music scene's true legends play. His understated, low key approach treats the audience to a guitar playing master class, and an impressive catalogue of some of the most haunting songs in the British canon.
Drumming for the Song feat. Ben Tufts, Brian Shanley & Mike Smirnoff
Three drummers from acclaimed local bands No Second Troy, Honor By August, Justin Trawick, The Blackjacks and The Speaks demonstrate drum grooves and fills from their own recordings, as well as their favorite classics. This is a must see for all those who want to know more about how to 'drive' the band, those who enjoy the ride,or anyone in between! Brian Shanley, Mike Smirnoff and Ben Tufts, three of the area's busiest drummers, have teamed up for a fun and educational experience you won't want to miss. The presentation will include demonstrations by each drummer, and a round table discussion for open Q&A.
Mambo Sauce
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
The Five One's influences range from legendary rock/pop artists to the most iconic figures in hip-hop culture. If you had to define their sound you would have to imagine The Beatles rapping over a punk song made by Bob Marley. Although their sound is refreshing, the most meaningful aspect behind The Five One is their concept. Revalulion [rev-uh-loo-lee-n], is the action of personifying oneself as a color, which is a philosophical term coined by the band. The members of The Five One Red, Blue, Green, and Gold, have simplified themselves from the complexities of societal identity by becoming colors. Defined only by the color in their closets, the color-coded quartet has a niche for meaningful lyrics and a sound that defies the norms of popular music. Trekking around their area now known as the DMV (Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia), they have spread their music and mythology while sharing the stage with local acts whose genres range from Rock and Reggae to Hip-Hop and R&B. In the summer of 2008 the band played the Afro Punk Festival in Brooklyn, New York joining an eclectic blend of artists such as Janelle Monae, Saul Williams, and Murs. The Five One has always been able to naturally integrate into any music scene or genre. Entering MTV's Dewcircuit Breakout Contest, they obtained national exposure with their song "Active" on MTV2, side-by-side various rock acts across the nation. With the emergence of niche music blogs, the band gained a lot of attention on the internet through rearranging songs of various artists such as Bob Marley, Lykke Li, N*E*R*D, Gorillaz, Zero 7, Vampire Weekend, Kanye West, and many more. With songs like "District of Colossus" and "What Sarah Said" The Five One grants listeners a sample of their approach by creating songs that deliver intellectually, as well as providing infectious choruses and melodies. This remix project has accrued over 40,000 downloads, and individual songs and videos have been covered on various sites such as MTVU, USAToday, Chicago Now (Gowherehiphop) and Washington Post. Meeting in Reston, Virginia The Five One has recorded all of their music themselves, in a basement filled with guitars; a drum set, a few microphones, and looped-based recording software. As studio artists their explorations in music are focused on pushing boundaries Implementing samples and loops with live instrumentation. Percussion on their songs sometimes will be a drum kit and other times a chair or bang of a skateboard. Their live show is treated as an opportunity to re-engineer the material into a surprising new form with Red playing guitar, Blue on the drums, Green on keys, and Gold on bass. The Five One's songs deliver a real message in color that will inspire those who take the long and winding road to freedom.
Mambo Sauce - the electric-red mystery concoction that is a staple comfort and must-have of Washington, DC, has found itself a namesake, and a sound. Mambo Sauce (the band) brings to life a tapestry of unparallel musicianship. Although their sound is oft described as mystical, it is undisputed by their vast array of loyal fans that this coveted band looks, feels and sounds like pure, unadulterated music. Jawn Murray, Entertainment Reporter with the Tom Joyner Morning Show and columnist with AOL Black Voices called the group's sound "the quintessential savior the industry needs to return authenticity, quality and pure rhythm to music." Mambo Sauce delivers a fresh fusion of old-Soul (think Marvin Gaye), new school Hip-Hop, cross-bred with Rock and the deep and thick percussions of Go-Go, the indigenous sound of DC.
Mambo Sauce's high-energy live performance typically begins with the melodic chords of Grammy nominated musical director and keyboardist, Christian "Chris" Wright. He is solo until joined by the powerful rhythms of a true phenomenon - rightfully coined the heartbeat of the band, drummer Patricia "Twink" Little. Then bassist, Khari Pratt, alerts the crowd of his dramatic presence, roaring and thumbing along the bass strings, and producing deep sounds that infiltrate the listener's soul. Percussionist Jermaine "Pep" Cole then raps hard on the congas and timbales, stamping the true stylistic link between Mambo Sauce and Go-Go music. Lead vocalist Alfred "Black Boo" Duncan next takes the mic proving that he is not only one of the most talented and creative lyricist of his time, but that his unique vocal abilities add rawness to the Band. The ingredient of Mambo Sauce is only complete when the soulful and tantalizing vocals of lead vocalist Joi "JC" Carter are blended in the mix.
It soon becomes obvious that each member of the Band is a virtuoso in their own right --hand-picked for their breadth of talent, creativity and musicianship. Mambo Sauce's undeniable chemistry is portrayed through impeccable sound as they woo their audience with original songs such as "No Sleep", "Sweet Baby" and "Things Will Get Better." Mambo Sauce's listeners become one with their music; as the socially conscious lyrics and penetrating rhythms brings the crowd to the very edge of the stage, begging and chanting for more. As hailed in the Richmond Times Dispatch in 2008 by Kathryn Stewart, Mambo Sauce's "music forces you to move. Not just nod your head or tap your feet, the electrifying sound takes over your body."
Each year since their formation in 2005, Mambo Sauce climbs closer and closer to taking the music industry by storm - alerting the world that they are the groundbreaking incarnation of a new music realm. In 2007 they garnered the 93.9 WKYS award for Best Current Song ("Miracles") and Band of the Year. In 2008 "Welcome to DC" hit the Billboard Charts as one of the Hot 100 Hip-Hop/R&B Singles, followed by the release of its signature video directed by Tabi Bonney that was in rotation on BETJ, MTV, and VH1 Soul. They were honored in 2009 with two DMV EMA awards for Best Go-Go Band and Best Band, Duo or Group, and with a WAMMIE (Washington (DC) Area Music Awards) for best Go-Go Duo or Group. Mambo Sauce's extensive list of credits also includes performing at some of DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Ohio's finest venues, and sharing the stage with national artists such as Soldiers of Jah Army ("SOJA"), Nas, Fertile Ground, Gym Class Heroes, Reel Big Fish, Young Jock, Keisha Cole, The Game, The Clipse, Deadprez, Toots and the Maytels, Damien Marley, Trey Songz, J. Holiday, Lil' Kim, and O.A.R., to name a few.
Mambo Sauce and their company, Mambo Sauce Entertainment, LLC, is not only a band; they are a brand and a movement. Their endeavors include infiltrating the international music market and expanding their talents into other entertainment genres. Mambo Sauce's zeal and passion for music is only matched by their commitment to community service. They use the "Mambo Sauce" brand to speak out against prevailing societal issues such as the world AIDS epidemic, homelessness, child soldiers in Africa, and domestic violence; and to mentor and educate young people.
Buskin & Batteau
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
With the release of their long-awaited new CD, Red Shoes and Golden Hearts, award-winners David Buskin and Robin Batteau demonstrate that despite their thirteen-year hiatus - to 1) "Raise kids," and 2) "Take a nap" - they have not lost their unique alchemy - their "irresistible amalgam of melodic, sensual pop, folkie grit and killer wit" [Washington Post].
Ably assisted by super-percussionist Marshal Rosenberg, David (on piano and guitar) and Robin (on violin and guitar) take their audiences on a journey described by the New York Times as "... by turns acerbic, funny and plaintive. Buskin & Batteau are breathing new life into the genre of the folk-pop singer/songwriter." They are consummate entertainers as well as accomplished musicians. The Boston Globe headlined its review of a B&B concert, "Acoustic Heaven."
They've played in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to London street corners; worked with or written for most of the significant folkies of their generation - a sampling: Tom Rush; Judy Collins; Tom Paxton; Peter, Paul & Mary; Joan Baez; Bonnie Raitt; Christine Lavin; Bill Morrissey; Shawn Colvin; Josh White, Jr.; Lucy Kaplansky; Cheryl Wheeler; Cliff Eberhardt; Patty Larkin; and Mimi Farina; shared Grammy, Emmy, Clio, Gold Record Awards, and an Oscar nomination.
As professional jingle writers, Buskin & Batteau's voices and tunes have been heard in almost every American household. They've had us listening "to the heartbeat of America", living "in a Burger King Town" and climbing "all aboard Amtrak".
For their work in the nonprofit sector, they have each been honored with the World Folk Music Association's Kate Wolf Award. Among the organizations they have devoted their time and energies to: WHY (World Hunger Year); CauseEffective; Save The Whales/Ocean Alliance; and Paul Newman's Hole-In-The-Wall Camps.
They characterize themselves as "hopelessly romantic," "defiantly immature" and "usually hungry." But whatever the reason, the love affair between their music and their audiences has yet to show signs of slowing down.
Tyrone Wells
LATE SHOW!
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
$22 VIP tickets can be purchased by clicking HERE. VIP tickets guarantee seating in the first three rows. Exact placement of your seat within the first three rows will be subject to Jammin' Java management. Please email Mei at mei@jamminjava.com with questions.
Crown Point is an alternative pop/rock band from Portland, OR. Crown Point plays memorable, meaningful, danceable rock. Formed in late 2009, the band has burst onto the scene in impressive fashion, playing festivals such as SXSW and Cornerstone and touring in over 30 states. The band is comprised of consummate musicians: all four members have been lead singers in past projects, and each member is heavily involved in the writing and arranging process.
Crown Point's band members have played with acts such as Mat Kearney, Puddle Of Mudd, Augustana, Saliva, Russell Crowe, The Exies, Hurt, Powerman 5000, and many more. They have played venues such as the Safeco Arena, the Knitting Factory, and the Crystal Ballroom, and appeared in Entertainment Weekly. Their singles have spun on over 200 radio stations across the US and Canada, and received airplay on six different radio formats: Modern Rock, AAA, Hot AC, Country, Rock, and College.
The band is committed to using their music for more than just entertainment; its members have played benefit shows for organizations such as the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the March Of Dimes, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and more. In the wake of the Haiti disaster, the band has been involved in benefit events that raised over $25,000 for disaster relief, and are donating all proceeds from album and merchandise sales to the American Red Cross.
The Boise Weekly calls Crown Point's music "sweet alt/rock with a swirl of pop on top". With a summer-long national-act tour and a nationwide radio campaign on tap, the band is ready to allow you to draw your own conclusions.
Andrew Belle is a new artist on the pop singer/songwriter scene. Residing in both Chicago and Nashville, he is currently a member of the critically acclaimed national tour Ten Out Of Tenn. Andrew released his debut EP All Those Pretty Lights in 2008, containing songs featured in hit TV shows including "90210" and "The Real World." His song "I'll Be Your Breeze" garnered nationwide airplay including Los Angeles tastemaker station KCRW. Andrew recently was named "Best Breakout Artist, Chicago" by MTV. His music and vocal stylings draw comparisons to Coldplay, The Fray, and John Mayer. Fans and critics often refer to his songs as "smart pop"-nuanced melodies and contemplative lyrics coupled with bold, infectious hooks. Look out for his debut full-length album The Ladder, released in February 2010.
Tyrone Wells has delivered an epic pop/rock album with his second major label effort, Remain. Pursuing a more collaborative process and having added a more lush production to his singer- songwriter roots, the new album proves to be a great showcase for his powerful and emotional voice.
The Spokane, WA native's desire to ‘open up the process' found him traveling to London to work with a circle of songwriters/musicians who aligned with Wells' musical direction. "Half of the album was done in London and the other half completed here in the states," says Wells. "I didn't know what kind of record I was going to make before I got to London, but something just seemed to click while I was there that really defined what I wanted to do with this album." Invoking a cathartic creative process from the very beginning for Remain, the songwriter penned an astounding 60 songs for the record.
Tyrone worked with songwriter/producer Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, KT Tunstall, James Morrison) and Iain Archer (UK indie artist and Snow Patrol co-writer) in the UK, and Tim Myers (formerly of OneRepublic), David Hodges (formerly of Evanescence) and Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon) in the U.S. Creating a work that manages to be more guitar-edged than previous Wells' efforts - but still unabashedly soul-baring - he appreciated huddling with collaborators like Terefe, who - like Wells - is a big believer in trusting one's instincts. "We had great chemistry together." "Losing Ground," one of a handful of production/songwriting collaborations between Wells and Terefe, was written and demoed in less than 3 hours during their first writing session together.
Wells has found himself on a new musical path on his second Universal Republic effort, but he continues to display the same gritty determination and work ethic that has enabled him to chart his own course from the very beginning. Wells launched his career unveiling his first indie release with the take-me-as-I-am motif of 2003's Snapshot. An in-demand live offering followed in 2005: Close: Live at McClain's, (the coffeehouse where he established his raved-about live rep) capturing the singer's unique intimacy with an audience.
Soon, major labels came calling. "All of a sudden, after five years of doing everything on my own steam I had all these labels interested," says Wells. His 2007 release, the soulful Hold On, was originally his third indie record. The album was picked up by Universal Republic and released untouched as his major label debut.
The buzz surrounding Wells' inspiring wealth of songs was also beginning to land him song placements in films and TV shows. To date Tyrone has had significant placements including "One Tree Hill," "Everyone's Hero," "Rescue Me," "Ghost Whisperer," "Numbers," "Criminal Minds," "Army Wives," "What About Brian," "The 50 Greatest Moments at Madison Square Garden" and the "Rails & Ties" trailer.
Wells is particularly proud that Remain has carried him into some undiscovered territories. His voice continues to set him apart and his passion is demonstrated on this new album. "With constant touring it's important to believe in what you're singing every night. I'm excited about this new material and believe in these songs. I like where I'm going."
Tyrone Wells
EARLY SHOW!
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
$22 VIP tickets can be purchased by clicking HERE. VIP tickets guarantee seating in the first three rows. Exact placement of your seat within the first three rows will be subject to Jammin' Java management. Please email Mei at mei@jamminjava.com with questions.
Crown Point is an alternative pop/rock band from Portland, OR. Crown Point plays memorable, meaningful, danceable rock. Formed in late 2009, the band has burst onto the scene in impressive fashion, playing festivals such as SXSW and Cornerstone and touring in over 30 states. The band is comprised of consummate musicians: all four members have been lead singers in past projects, and each member is heavily involved in the writing and arranging process.
Crown Point's band members have played with acts such as Mat Kearney, Puddle Of Mudd, Augustana, Saliva, Russell Crowe, The Exies, Hurt, Powerman 5000, and many more. They have played venues such as the Safeco Arena, the Knitting Factory, and the Crystal Ballroom, and appeared in Entertainment Weekly. Their singles have spun on over 200 radio stations across the US and Canada, and received airplay on six different radio formats: Modern Rock, AAA, Hot AC, Country, Rock, and College.
The band is committed to using their music for more than just entertainment; its members have played benefit shows for organizations such as the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the March Of Dimes, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and more. In the wake of the Haiti disaster, the band has been involved in benefit events that raised over $25,000 for disaster relief, and are donating all proceeds from album and merchandise sales to the American Red Cross.
The Boise Weekly calls Crown Point's music "sweet alt/rock with a swirl of pop on top". With a summer-long national-act tour and a nationwide radio campaign on tap, the band is ready to allow you to draw your own conclusions.
Andrew Belle is a new artist on the pop singer/songwriter scene. Residing in both Chicago and Nashville, he is currently a member of the critically acclaimed national tour Ten Out Of Tenn. Andrew released his debut EP All Those Pretty Lights in 2008, containing songs featured in hit TV shows including "90210" and "The Real World." His song "I'll Be Your Breeze" garnered nationwide airplay including Los Angeles tastemaker station KCRW. Andrew recently was named "Best Breakout Artist, Chicago" by MTV. His music and vocal stylings draw comparisons to Coldplay, The Fray, and John Mayer. Fans and critics often refer to his songs as "smart pop"-nuanced melodies and contemplative lyrics coupled with bold, infectious hooks. Look out for his debut full-length album The Ladder, released in February 2010.
Tyrone Wells has delivered an epic pop/rock album with his second major label effort, Remain. Pursuing a more collaborative process and having added a more lush production to his singer- songwriter roots, the new album proves to be a great showcase for his powerful and emotional voice.
The Spokane, WA native's desire to ‘open up the process' found him traveling to London to work with a circle of songwriters/musicians who aligned with Wells' musical direction. "Half of the album was done in London and the other half completed here in the states," says Wells. "I didn't know what kind of record I was going to make before I got to London, but something just seemed to click while I was there that really defined what I wanted to do with this album." Invoking a cathartic creative process from the very beginning for Remain, the songwriter penned an astounding 60 songs for the record.
Tyrone worked with songwriter/producer Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, KT Tunstall, James Morrison) and Iain Archer (UK indie artist and Snow Patrol co-writer) in the UK, and Tim Myers (formerly of OneRepublic), David Hodges (formerly of Evanescence) and Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon) in the U.S. Creating a work that manages to be more guitar-edged than previous Wells' efforts - but still unabashedly soul-baring - he appreciated huddling with collaborators like Terefe, who - like Wells - is a big believer in trusting one's instincts. "We had great chemistry together." "Losing Ground," one of a handful of production/songwriting collaborations between Wells and Terefe, was written and demoed in less than 3 hours during their first writing session together.
Wells has found himself on a new musical path on his second Universal Republic effort, but he continues to display the same gritty determination and work ethic that has enabled him to chart his own course from the very beginning. Wells launched his career unveiling his first indie release with the take-me-as-I-am motif of 2003's Snapshot. An in-demand live offering followed in 2005: Close: Live at McClain's, (the coffeehouse where he established his raved-about live rep) capturing the singer's unique intimacy with an audience.
Soon, major labels came calling. "All of a sudden, after five years of doing everything on my own steam I had all these labels interested," says Wells. His 2007 release, the soulful Hold On, was originally his third indie record. The album was picked up by Universal Republic and released untouched as his major label debut.
The buzz surrounding Wells' inspiring wealth of songs was also beginning to land him song placements in films and TV shows. To date Tyrone has had significant placements including "One Tree Hill," "Everyone's Hero," "Rescue Me," "Ghost Whisperer," "Numbers," "Criminal Minds," "Army Wives," "What About Brian," "The 50 Greatest Moments at Madison Square Garden" and the "Rails & Ties" trailer.
Wells is particularly proud that Remain has carried him into some undiscovered territories. His voice continues to set him apart and his passion is demonstrated on this new album. "With constant touring it's important to believe in what you're singing every night. I'm excited about this new material and believe in these songs. I like where I'm going."
Kim Richey
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Wandering the streets of Houston, playing regular gigs at bars like the Continental Club, or settling down for drinks with the kinds of characters that populate poetry (but rarely read it), Mando Saenz wrote it all down - in melody, on little scraps of paper, or in his head. Like the gloriously disorganized life he observed in his former neighborhood, his songs usually aren't about linear expectations or predictable narratives, they are flashes of emotion, snapshots of time reassembled in his songs with rhyme and melody to make uncommon, musical sense.
He carried most of the songs from Houston to his new home in Nashville, finishing out a few of them with co-writers like Will Kimbrough, Kim Richey and R.S Field, a first for the previously lone writer. The songs on his new album Bucket, are still populated with life's losers, soul-searchers, and dreamers - the kind songwriting that won him praise for his more acoustic-tinged debut, Watertown. But this time, he leaves the Texas imagery behind.
For his second album Mando distanced himself musically and thematically from his past. Partnered with some of roots-rock's most potent musicians - Kenny Vaughn, Richard Bennett, Tony Crow, Jason Lehning, and Chris Carmichael -- and helmed by producer R.S. Field, Bucket's distorted guitars and chiming acoustics punctuate Mando's haunting tenor and unexpected phrases.
Born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico and raised in Corpus Christi by his music-loving parents on an eclectic diet of 60s-era songwriters, traditional Mexican music and the Everly brothers, Mando Saenz began guitar lessons at the age of 11. But the realization that he could write and perform music for a living didn't hit until he had done the ‘responsible thing' and earned an MBA - if only to stick it in his back pocket.
He began playing live full-time and the response was encouragement enough to launch his career in DIY fashion. Soon, he joined the line of notable singer-songwriters to chronicle their lives in Texas via Watertown - originally self-released until landing in the hands of Carnival Music.
"Watertown had a definite underlying theme, and in some sense was almost a concept record - kind of revealing a lot of hidden truths," he says. "Bucket changes gears a bit more and I wasn't afraid into slipping into a love song."
The opening track of Bucket begins with exotic strumming and thumping tablas, matched with a drum loop and chiming, echoing guitar coming in slowly. "Wrong Guy" juxtaposes mellow mid-tempo pop-country with the macho, defiant stance of the narrator who is warning that he's a difficult person to be in a relationship -- saying "And don't call my name / Cause I'll be right there with a bucket of hate."
The leadoff single, "Pocket of Red," is the flipside of "Wrong Guy," -- written from the other person's perspective. Mando finished it with Kim Richey, and really wanted the hopeful pop-sounding music to reflect the alter ego of the song. Another song he wrote with Richey - "All Grown Up," Mando says, is about being "old and educated but you still don't know what the to say sometimes."
"Pittsburgh" is that song that hopefully every artist stumbles across - the song that everyone asks for during live shows, with a lilting melody that easily slips under the skin. It has been recorded, but never released. Mando started it with the melody, and pieced together the lyrics by writing 30 or so of random phrases that fit each line of the music then he, "puzzled them together as best I could to keep the sentiment of the song; which is really up for grabs at the end of the day." It wasn't until Bucket that Mando says they finally got it the way he heard it in his head, and it will always be a cornerstone of his live shows.
"Seven Dollars" was written about being broke and young in a bar in Houston and having just the amount to get you by. Mando believes it's "pretty abstract but pretty specific at the same time," which is a pretty good way to describe the album as a whole. But the song Mando sees as maybe being the most autobiographical on the album is "Touch is All."
"It's a song about moving around to be happy or not be happy," Mando explains, "Or just feeling the need to move, whether it's moving to another town or just being restless in a restaurant. It's about not being able to stay in one place for very long -- and at the same time finding it hard not to miss for lots of reasons. Many of which you don't realize till your gone. The title refers to how much it takes to stay with you and also bring you back."
It's this restlessness that drove him from Texas to Tennessee and that brought him to his new musical milieu, but has all the movement meant musical change?
At the end of the day, Mando believes that "Songs are songs. Whether they were written in Texas, Tennessee or Idaho doesn't really matter."
Intimacy has always been a hallmark of Kim Richey's music. A lover who apologizes that their hesitancy in committing to a relationship is hurting their loved one. A magical, middle-of- the-night walk in a snowbound city where the protagonist wants to keep the mood while worrying that the enchantment might end. A person leaving the home that they've shared with a loved one, melancholy yet hopeful of happier times ahead. These are only some of the vignettes that Richey brings to life with masterful attention to emotional detail on her sixth and latest album Wreck Your Wheels.
The two-time Grammy-nominated Richey is a storyteller par excellence; famed critic Timothy White said about Richey that she "entices you with sad and unembellished music that reveals an original spirit - and then she ensnares you for keeps by making you consider all the noiseless sensations that no songs can ever contain." Her music is tender, poetic and aching with life's truths. And then there's her voice. Pure, arresting and honest, her voice is a perfect instrument with which to paint these intimate pictures.
The 15-year musical journey that has led Kim to her latest album Wreck Your Wheels has been a dream run. Aside from her two Grammy nods, she has released five critically acclaimed albums, been listed in the ‘Top 10 Albums of 1999' in Time Magazine for her album Glimmer, been given 4-stars in Rolling Stone, and named ‘Alt- Country Album Of The Year' in People Magazine for her album Rise. She has written two #1 singles and had four others hit Top 10. Her songs have been recorded Trisha Yearwood and James Morrison among others, sung on albums by Ryan Adams, Shawn Colvin and Mary Chapin Carpenter, and even appeared on a William Shatner record produced by Ben Folds. She's worked with producer legends such as Bill Bottrell (Sheryl Crow, Michael Jackson, Tom Petty) and Hugh Padgham (The Police, XTC, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie), as well as Giles Martin (The Beatles Love) and Steve Earle collaborator Richard Bennett. Her music has been featured in films and TV and has toured all over the world.
Wreck Your Wheels features songwriting collaborations with some of the best co-writers imaginable like Beth Rowley, Will Kimbrough, Mark Olson, Pat McLaughlin, Boo Hewerdine, Mando Saenz and Karl Broadie among others. It's a testament to the esteem in which Richey is held that she consistently enlists the caliber of writers she does.
After recording her last album in London, Richey returned to Nashville to record with her touring band, this album was all about getting an organic, real sound: no auto-tune, no studio tricks - just five musicians in a room, playing together. "The core band on this record went out on the road with me for my last record Chinese Boxes, and they are friends," says Kim. "We had a great time making the record - we recorded all in the same room at the same time, which was very cozy. It's a small studio. We used the front seat of the producer's Honda pulled up next to the door as an isolation booth for the electric guitar amp."
Album producer Neilson Hubbard says about the making of the album, "Every record is personal, but how close can the listener get? Some records sparkle and shine. They sit way up on a hill for everyone to marvel at. But does that feel close? Kim wanted to make a record where you could walk around inside. Look in all of the rooms, peer into the shadows, and breathe in the dust, a record you could not only hear, but one you could touch. That's what our goal was when we set out to make the record. To strip away everything that gets in the way of the listener living inside the song. We tried to frame the voice so that you can feel every crackle and ache. Those were the kinds of records we both liked, where you listen to a singer and you believe every word that leaves their mouth without question."
This was also the first album that Richey recorded without a label already being involved from the beginning of the recording. "I've never made an album without there being a tense moment during the making of the album, but this album was totally free from that. This was the most fun I've ever had making a record." It was only after the album had been completed did she set about finding a home for it, which led her to Thirty Tigers.
The end result is an album that will surely be loved as much as Glimmer and Rise. Wreck Your Wheels is a masterpiece that gets into your head and into your heart... and will stay there.
Todd Wright
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Singer-songwriter Todd Wright spent the early part of this century with his band GetawayCar who's song "Superstar" was the soundtrack for the 2003 Pontiac Vibe. The band had to turn down the opening slot at the legendary HFStival in their hometown of Washington, DC when Todd landed a gig playing guitar with then-Atlantic Recording Artist Lucy Woodward. He spent most of 2003 with Lucy promoting her debut album "While You Can" in the US, Japan and New Zealand. From 2004-2006 Todd was the touring keyboardist/guitarist with the Pat McGee Band in support of their Warner Brothers release "Save Me." In addition to these artists Todd has been a fill in guitarist for Sony/Or artist Adam Richman and Better Than Ezra.
In late 2006 Wright left the touring world to join forces with songwriter Scott Simons. Their instant chemistry as a writing team produced a batch of songs that got them signed to World's End Management within months of their first collaboration. In addition to Simons/Wright Todd produced and co-wrote the Pat McGee Band's last album "These Days-The Virginia Sessions" and has been writing with, producing and developing the DC-based beyond-her-years teen singer Chelsea Lee. In 2008 Wright signed to Warner Chappell music publishing and has written songs with artists on Verve, Epitaph, Atlantic and Motown/Universal.
Nathan Angelo + Todd Carey + Andrew Hoover
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Twenty-two-year-old singer/songwriter/guitarist Andrew Hoover brings to the table a pot full of home cooked acoustic soul, R&B, and blues, stirred together with some tasty flamenco and colorful pop sprinkles. Which isn't surprising, really, since he originally trained to be a chef.
At age 14, Hoover apprenticed for two years with chefs at a AAA four-diamond restaurant in Connecticut in an effort to build his cooking knowledge base and really learn his way around a kitchen. He catered parties on the side to earn some money and even considered attending culinary school, but a comment from his sister about learning to play the guitar sparked something inside of him that would decide his future. Once Andrew picked up his first guitar he was hooked, and he started learning how to play the songs of his musical heroes. Visions of Michelin stars faded a bit and were put on the back burner, and Hoover sought to learn the instrument inside and out, watching YouTube videos and concert DVD's in an attempt to pick up guitar-playing techniques.
He started writing songs his senior year in high school, and started singing in college. "Around the end of my freshman year," Hoover explains, "it really started to hit me that this was something I wanted to do. I wanted to write songs and be a musician and make a living at it." By the time his sophomore year in college rolled around, he was spending all of his free time in the music practice rooms when he wasn't doing homework. At the end of that year, with his parents' blessing, he quit school to follow his dream of making music full time.
He recorded his first EP in his garage, and self-released it in 2007. Andrew mapped out and booked his own tour, which took him from Maine down to Florida and west to Chicago, hitting all of the points in between. "I just wanted to play," Hoover remembers. "Anywhere I could find an audience, I was there. It was not just what I had to do to build a name for myself, but it was also what I wanted to do." A second solo acoustic EP soon followed to stoke his growing fan base.
Andrew caught the attention of Rock Ridge Music through the new "old fashioned way" of MySpace outreach, sending messages to fans of comparable artists. Rock Ridge staffer Carly Kent received one of Andrew's messages, and liked what she heard enough to catch a show in New York. Blown away by what she saw, Kent passed along Andrew's demo to label President Jason Spiewak. Skeptical as always, Spiewak listened and was impressed. It was one of Hoover's YouTube videos that cemented Spiewak's interest. "Andrew Hoover is a show-stopping entertainer. He draws people in with his percussive, unique style of guitar playing and makes them fall in love with his unbelievable voice."
Hoover signed with Rock Ridge Music in 2008, and hit the studio with Spiewak in New York City to record his full-length debut. In addition to the NYC sessions, Andrew traveled South to work with Chris Henderson of 3 Doors Down fame at his Rivergate Studios in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The result is Hoover's full-band debut album, "Chances, Stances & Romances," which will be released on September 22, 2009.
Andrew is a solo musician, though he voices several instruments in his live shows. His unique slap guitar style carries inspirations from the bass and percussion instruments, giving his songs a groove and rhythm not often associated with singer-songwriters. His vocal style is raw and original, colorful, and dynamic. Andrew takes his cues from a variety of his heroes including but not limited to Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, Marc Broussard, Ray LaMontagne, Raul Midon, James Morrison, and Martin Sexton.
Andrew kicked off 2010 by performing on Sixthman's The Rock Boat sharing the stage with artists such as Marc Broussard, Will Hoge, Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, Tyrone Wells, and Augustana. Throughout 2010 he will continue to tour to promote 'Chances, Stances & Romances' and build on a touring history that already includes previous performances in support of Sister Hazel, Elliott Yamin, Tim Reynolds, Dave Barnes, Ernie Halter, Ari Hest, the Alternate Routes, and Kate Voegele.
Although a newcomer to the southeast music scene, Atlanta-based Nathan Angelo has been immersed in music for over a decade. The son of a practicing minister, Nathan was surrounded by a family of musicians who nudged him to learn piano at age six. Four years later, Nathan began leading his father's congregation in music and was later appointed the volunteer Director of Music, a title which he held until he left for college. This experience proved significant in shaping his career path and honed his talent as a performer.
Through Playing Me is Nathan's freshman effort, a collection of 13 songs that are both wistful and contemplative all at once. The debut is a candid account of his life experiences -- an outlet to "escape reality and guide it as well" that eschews any airs of pretentiousness. Propelled by remarkable melodies and the groove-tinged rhythm section, an homage to Nathan's early influences of Motown artists such as Jackson 5 and Ray Charles, Through Playing Me evolves as a refreshing and accomplished debut from a very promising new artist. It's that promise that prompted Edendust to write: "His voice, his lyricism, his musicianship ... a talent this enormous shouldn't have to do anything but write, record and perform. He's just got so much to give ... so much to say".
Through Playing Me is scheduled for a July 2006 release. His listeners will be nothing short of moved. Each and every track brings yet another sincere expression of human vulnerability and strength. For more information about Nathan Angelo and to listen to songs, please visit www.nathanangelo.com or www.myspace.com/nathanangelo.
Lights Over Paris
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
Reflective of the love of beautiful views, heights, planes and travel for which they are named, LIGHTS OVER PARIS' mentality and musical refection is indicative of the phrase "sky's the limit". The lyrical content, stage show and party atmosphere are a direct representation of the music that flows through the blood of each member.
As a teenager in 2005, Will Pepper did a web search for "singers" for his band "The Voice" to compete in a battle of the bands. Singer Robb Mawhinney aka TaLLLLL responded to the search and what would eventually be Lights Over Paris, began to take shape. After competing in battle of the bands, the two of them took all their savings, rented out a cheap studio and cut eight songs. They posted these songs on their MySpace page. Soon they captured the attention of songwriter and producer Matt Salazar. "The Voice" broke up but Salazar came in and cut four new songs and brought in another addition, DJ Shiny to help Will and TaLLLLL shape the sound of the band now known as Lights Over Paris.
Lights Over Paris operates with a group mentality. Front man TaLLLLL writes the lyrics and melodies summoning his own life experiences as well as his active imagination. Will Pepper rocks out on a custom Keytar, providing the keyboard based tracks that are evident throughout Lights Over Paris' music. Pepper has been a noted classical piano player since the age of five. Lead Guitarist Devin Bronson is the seasoned veteran of Lights Over Paris as he has not only toured with multi-platinum acts like Avril Lavigne but also helmed the music director reigns-the same position he holds with Lights Over Paris. Dave Gentry has been playing drums since 12 years old, touring since his teens and kicks ass on the Pork Pie Lights Over Paris kit. Rounding out the band is Mike Torres who was handpicked for his mind blowing bass playing (playing upside down) and leadership, Mike has been touring worldwide for acts such as Ashley Tisdale.
Lights Over Paris dropped their first EP, Turn Off The Lights EP on April 13, 2010 on Type One Records/Digital Records. With musical influences ranging from AC/DC and Oingo Boingo, Kanye West and Lady Gaga to Blink 182 and Green Day, Lights Over Paris is not limited to one particular genre. "The EP is really designed to have very unique tracks that suit various types of moods the audience could be feeling on any given day. I wanted to make an album where all the songs didn't sound the same", says TaLLLLL, "My influences were all over the place."
Although the music comes first, the social interactions come in a close second. Lights Over Paris is the marriage of music and the show Entourage. The parties are not just a way to blow off steam as much as they are a way to bringing fans to that next level of being a part of your favorite band. "People should expect a lot of movement and random events happening throughout the show" states TaLLLLL "A little after party to get to know the fans, always something eventful. Fans are most important to us." Lights Over Paris have been known to create events just so that fans can get involved and get the most out of there Lights Over Paris experience.
The first single, a radio SMASH called "Turn Off The Lights", produced by Kevin Rudolf ("Let It Rock") is heating up the airwaves. The band is now preparing for its first nationwide tour to kick off on the West Coast this FALL! The guys always have a plan lined up before and after the show, so regardless of anything else, people who come to a Lights Over Paris show can count on having an INSANE night!
Crash Boom Omar CD Release Show
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Tanner (From Coast To Skyline) MySpace
"There is a ton to like, love, and adore about Stacy Clark." -Absolutepunk.net
"Pop charmer Stacy Clark, whose on-stage style this night was pitched somewhere between Zooey Deschanel and a softer Katy Perry. Stacy Clark finds success indie style...and unapologetically wears her heart on her sleeve." -OCRegister.com
"Take Björk, Dolores O'Riordan, Imogen Heap and Lisa Loeb, stick 'em all on a deserted island, "Lost"-style, with the two dudes from The Postal Service and maybe the kids from OneRepublic or The Fray, let 'em all run around naked, singing and writing, writing and singing, and the sonic outcome would probably sound similar to the music heard on Stacy Clark's debut full-length Apples & Oranges." -Talentfilter
"A quirky blend of folk-pop, electronica, and dance music...brings to mind such notable songstresses as Regina Spektor and Imogen Heap." -Gibson.com
Pandamonium Dance Party
LATE SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
NOVA's Newest Dance Party!
Why go all the way out to DC or Baltimore for the same experience that you can find right here in your own backyard?!
DJ's of the night include Ypset and Santi spinning sounds similar to Daft Punk, Justice, and MSTRKRFT.
Interested in dancing with a panda? We got it! The giant panda will return with glow sticks provided!
This is a can't miss opportunity to have a crazy night right here in NOVA!
Jer Coons
EARLY SHOW!
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
"An appealingly eager soulfulness... songs of escape, romantic idealism and life on the road." -THE HERALD (Edinburgh)
"When it comes down to Seth's music, either you love it or you've never heard it before." -CD BABY
"Takes you to a place with his intoxicating groove." -PERFORMER
"A voice that has never sounded better..." -THE RECORDER
*4/09: Interviewed in BOSTON GLOBE for 100% Fan-Funded Tour
*Shared stages with: John Mayer, Erin McKeown, Ellis Paul, The Nields, Peter Mulvey, Tim Reynolds, Martin Sexton, Livingston Taylor
Seth Glier is a 20 year-old singer/songwriter/pianist from Massachusetts swiftly making a name for himself on the national scene. His debut album for MPress, The Trouble With People, is both timeless and modern and has drawn comparisons to Billy Joel, Marc Cohn, Gavin DeGraw, Elton John and Paul McCartney.
23-year-old, Philly-bred singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben freely confides that he's done a bit of "obsessing" over his second album, The Ones That Matter.
Not that such anxiety is evident on the highly accomplished disc, the follow-up to Ruben's self-released 2008 debut, Aiming for Honesty. Adding full-band accompaniment to his lush, soulful pop-rock, Ruben also stretches impressively as a writer on The Ones That Matter, achieving a near-novelistic sense of character and setting on finely hewn tracks like "A Lack of Armor," "Bleeker and Sixth," and "Unbreakable." His relentless attention to detail pays off handsomely.
He makes no apology for meticulously fine-tuning all aspects of his work and presentation. "Every time you create something you have an opportunity to say something new - or at least something honest," he says. "I take that opportunity seriously."
Ruben's expansive and deeply compassionate point of view has resonated strongly with an ever-growing audience, whom the performer has cultivated with virtually nonstop touring and persistent online networking; as a result, he's sold some 5,000 copies of Honesty on his own.
He often receives emotional messages from fans declaring that his songs have crystallized their feelings, commemorated milestones in their lives and even helped repair broken bonds. "One woman wrote to me and said she and her daughter didn't get along, but when she drives the girl to school every day they listen to my music - and it's the only time they don't fight," he marvels. "The songs I wrote in my basement helped her relationship with her daughter. How could I ask for more than that?" Indeed, his compositions have connected so powerfully with listeners that several cover versions have been posted on YouTube.
Such moments of connection helped inspire the title of The Ones That Matter. Ruben had compiled a list of some 80 candidates, but it was in the aftermath of the recording process that he realized what the disc should be called.
"I was on an epic road trip," he remembers of this epiphany. "I realized that as much as this album is about music, it's ultimately a representation of who I am - and all that amounts to is all the incredible people I've surrounded myself with, and the places I've spent time, and the stories and jokes that came out of those experiences with those people. That's when I understood that the only logical name for the album was The Ones That Matter."
Recorded during a record-breaking snowstorm in Charlottesville, Virginia - where producer Chris Keup (Jason Mraz, OAR, Parachute) and partner Stewart Myers (Mraz, Lifehouse, Rachel Yamagata, Mandy Moore) have their studio - the disc afforded Ruben a chance to fully appreciate the devotion of his pals. "I had some of my best friends in the world come down to help me finish the record," he relates. Other players on the disc include drummer Brian Jones (Mraz, Yamagata, Moore); and keyboardist Daniel Clark (Ryan Adams, kd lang, Moore). Meyers handled bass on several tracks.
The profound gratitude Ruben felt upon finishing the album snowballed in the coming days. "I wanted the title of this record to express my thanks to everyone who mattered - not just my friends who worked on the record, but their friends. The people who gave me a couch to crash on, made me dinner, drove me to the train station. Everyone who came to my shows, and walked up to tell me what the songs meant to them. I'm thanking them all with this record."
Ruben's story begins in the heart of a musical family. His father and grandfather were both professional musicians, performing at weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, corporate events and other gatherings in Philadelphia and its environs. Ruben recalls watching in awe as his dad's band rehearsed rock, pop and R&B hits. He began taking piano lessons, but lost interest during his adolescence. "I had told myself I couldn't play guitar because that was my dad's instrument," he notes. "Then I realized how stupid that was." His father bought him a cheap guitar with the promise of a better instrument if he made progress; the guitar felt right in Jesse's hands, and by age 16 he was writing songs.
The artist cites singer-songwriters like Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell and James Taylor as his greatest influences, but also admits a fondness for the standards penned by Cole Porter and the Gershwins. While he's loath to compare himself to his idols, he says he takes courage in their stories. "Paul Simon wasn't always hailed as a genius," he points out. "At first, he was a 20-year-old kid with a guitar who dreamed up these incredibly ambitious songs. Realizing that helped me give myself permission to write what I wanted to write."
He only applied to one college: Berklee College of Music in Boston. His first year there was a struggle, as he plunked out rudimentary solos in guitar classes filled with fusion-shredding virtuosos. But once he was able to focus on songwriting, Ruben blossomed; regular gigging soon followed. "By the time I graduated," he points out, "I was on the road pretty much every weekend."
As a live performer he racked up odd experiences like playing backyard barbecues, singing at a daytime Sweet 16 party, and even serenading a couple of fans on their anniversary (he showed up in their kitchen with his guitar, at the woman's bidding, to surprise her boyfriend). The gigs gradually got bigger, and soon Ruben was paying his rent with engagements across the East Coast - becoming adept at getting around by commuter rail, booking cheap flights, promoting his shows and maintaining contact with fans via Facebook, his blog and the comments on his YouTube video posts.
The online community also came in handy when he was recording his debut album. "I had no money, and five of my friends held a Facebook fundraiser for me," he reports. "They presented me with a giant check for $2,500 on my twenty-first birthday." And though elements of this initial effort seem distant to him now, Ruben credits Honesty with giving him a leg up in building his audience; in addition to the brisk sales of his debut, he continues to enjoy rapturous fan feedback about its songs.
Upon graduating from Berklee in 2008, Ruben was already living out of a suitcase in his battle-tested Toyota. "If I had my choice, I'd be touring all the time," he volunteers. "I love the lifestyle - sleeping late and getting up and driving and playing and meeting a bunch of people and doing the same thing the next day. I love not having to worry about cleaning my room or doing dishes; I'm cool with living out of a suitcase; I'm just working toward the day when I can trade the Greyhound for a bus of my own."
"I'm staying out of New York for a while," Ruben sings in "A Lack of Armor," although that self-imposed exile may soon be coming to an end, as the singer-songwriter plans a move to the Empire State from his temporary base in Nashville. But for the time being, Ruben's true home is the road - where he'll no doubt continue to touch lives, have offbeat adventures and add new names to the ever-growing list of The Ones That Matter.
The Story of Jer
Prologue:
Jer Coons grew up in Vermont, a small rural state that did not have television until 2004 (or internet until 2008 ... hoping to get high speed this year). In 2000, at age 11, an impressionable young Jer went to visit his cousins and saw something on their "picture box" that would change his life forever. That of course was the MTV music video for "Bye Bye Bye" from ‘N SYNC's platinum selling album, "No Strings Attached."
Was it Justin Timberlake's piercing brown eyes? Or Lance Bass' frosted tips? Maybe it was the group's dazzling dance moves? One thing is for sure, after seeing "Bye Bye Bye," Jer Coons knew he had to be a musician.
Story:
For the next eight years, following his first ‘N SYNC experience (a time now simply referred to as "the revelation"), Jer went through various phases of self-exploration. For a time he studied Scientology under Tom Cruise (also an ‘N SYNC fan), spent many days contemplating Freud, watched the Jersey shore, learned guitar, dated some girls and eventually found himself with enough songs to record an album in 2009.
That album, Speak, dropped last fall, and you may have heard his song "Legs" when your iPod broke and you had to listen to the radio. It is also possible that you heard it while buying some fresh digs at Hollister, grabbing some fresh produce at various chain supermarkets, picking out some fresh paint at Home Depot, purchasing some non-expired (hopefully fresh) contraceptives in CVS pharmacy, taking a nap on a comfy mattress at Big Lots or even while eating The Endless Lunch for only $6.99 at T.G.I. Fridays. Basically, the only way you could have not heard "Legs," is if you shop at Whole Foods or Lowes.
Today, Jer and his live performances are superior to virtually all singer-songwriters for one important reason:
• Most singer-songwriters suck. Especially the ones pushing middle age who have seen no real success and now hang by a thread shopping at Urban Outfitters in an attempt to look ten years younger.
Armed with drop dead catchy melodies, boyish good looks and a charm equal to or greater than Paris Hilton, Jer could wear pleated pants from Eddie Bauer and still look good.
Epilogue:
Jer often receives comparisons to many singer-songwriters and performers. Before jumping to any conclusions, take a look at these facts:
Ke$ha
Similarities: Jer and Ke$ha both like to wear Zebra print cat suits.
Differences: Jer brushes his teeth with Crest (plus added whitening), not Jack Daniels.
Jason Mraz
Similarities: They both have a huge vocal range and can sing many words in a short amount of time with few pauses
Differences: Guys actually listen to Jer Coons
Justin Bieber
Similarities: Jer is from Vermont, which many highly educated people still think is a part of Canada (which of course is where Justin Bieber is from).
Differences: Jer's voice improved after puberty.
Taylor Swift
Similarities: They are both young, tall, thin, attractive singer-songwriters with blondish hair (Jer's gets blonder in the summer).
Differences: Jer was cheer captain (Taylor was on the bleachers).
Lil Wayne
Similarities: Growing up, both Jer Coons and Lil Wayne spent time in "time out."
Differences: Jer Coons has never spent time in prison.
Howie Day
Similarities: Both play killer live shows with full bands, or solo acoustic with loop pedals.
Differences: When Jer gets a tour bus, he won't lock any fans in its bathroom.
Also, Jer has never been addicted to heroin, gone to rehab or dated Brittany Spears in rehab.
John Mayer
John Mayer is probably better than Jer Coons.
Bono
Similarities: Jer can count in Spanish.
Differences: Jer's real name is good enough to be his performance name unlike Paul David Hewson.
Damien Rice
Similarities: Jer has traces of Irish in him.
Differences: You don't need Zoloft to listen to Jer.
Kanye West
Similarities: Kanye now tries to sing, which we can only assume is because he wants to be like Jer.
Differences: Jer is totally modest.
Maria Muldaur and Her Red Hot Bluesianna Band
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Best known for her seductive '70s pop staple "Midnight at the Oasis," Maria Muldaur has since become an acclaimed interpreter of just about every stripe of American roots music: blues, early jazz, gospel, folk, country, R&B, and so on. While these influences were certainly present on her more pop-oriented '70s recordings (as befitting her Greenwich Village folkie past), Muldaur truly came into her own as a true roots music stylist during the '90s, when she developed a particular fascination with the myriad sounds of Louisiana. On the string of well-received albums that followed, Muldaur tied her eclecticism together with the romantic sensuality that had underpinned much of her best work ever since the beginning of her career.
Math, Music & Mayhem Tour with Score 24 + ELEVENTYSEVEN
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Long Island, NY has always been a breeding ground for upcoming bands destined for great things. It's newest generation of young-guns bound for major success is the passionate and driven Score 24. The guys have done more then enough on their part to keep up with the ever-evolving and changing music industry by writing and releasing three EP's in the last fourteen months alone! Their relentless work ethic, touring schedule and ability to always keep their fans on their toes, have lead them to stay strides ahead of their peers and bounds beyond many signed bands.
Joe Brooks
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Starting out as a 16 year-old guitarist recording music in his bedroom, Joe Brooks went on to become an online sensation. He received nearly 20 million plays on MySpace and spent nearly one year as the UK's #1 unsigned artist on the network. After selling out two UK tours on his own, Joe got a major label record deal and made a video for his first single, "Superman" that is currently exploding on Vevo & Youtube. Called "The Next John Mayer" by Seventeen/CosmoGirl Magazine - Joe Brooks' live show is not to be missed.
Jason Reeves
LATE SHOW!
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Its not uncommon for indie artists to cite The Beatles as primary musical influences--but the San Diego singer/songwriter Trent Hancock is breaking nationally with his solo EP debut, Ghostbird, which uniquely weaves the Fab Fours style into certain tracks.
Though hailing from the west coast, Hancocks other inspiration for the Ghostbird EP comes from relocating to the raw streets of Brooklyn. The singer was so impressed and inspired from touring in New York City last year that he took the plunge and embarked on a cross-country drive. Hancock began immersing himself into the citys open mic showcase scene, and on one particular night, he included the dark-themed Beatles tune Happiness Is A Warm Gun into his acoustic set only to realize that, unlike in San Diego where everyone wants to hear cover bands, NYC crowds frown on the practice. The crowds desire to hear original material inspired Hancock to develop some new songs with a mainstream pop/rock sound, which he would eventually release on the new Ghostbird EP.
Hancocks love for the Beatles, NYC, and his new material would served him well a few months later after moving to Brooklyn, when he impressed Los Angeles producers Mikal Blue (Colbie Caillat, Five For Fighting and OneRepublic) and his partner Andrew Williams (Hope, Angel Taylor, Colbie Caillat and Five For Fighting) with his new music vision. The two producers immediately asked Hancock to fly L.A. to work the singers new project. He was excited for the opportunity to work with Williams and Blue, who helmed Colbie Caillaits double platinum debut Coco.
Hancock has come a long way from his post college days in cover bands in San Diego and his once successful electronic rock duo (also called Ghostbird), along with drummer Mike Cooper. Though Hancock is now turned on to another musical genre and is taking on the solo career by storm, the duos name lives on as the title of Hancocks current EP. The new EP also secured Hancock to tour in July and August across the U.S. with renowned acoustic soul singer/songwriters Ernie Halter and Tony Lucca, and recently picked up endorsements by Gibson Guitars and Sennheiser USA.
If you haven't heard of Jason Reeves, you've almost certainly heard his music. With multiple hits around the world and collaborators from Colbie Caillat to Kara Dioguardi, Jason is one of the most sought-after new co-writers around. Yet Jason is also an artist in his own right, with a fresh honest approach that is rapidly winning fans everywhere. His debut album in 2007 earned raves from iTunes and a nod as one of the top indie songwriters of the year. Now signed to Warner Bros. Records, he is ready for his major label close up. Still don't know who he is? You soon will...
Caroline Herring
EARLY SHOW!
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
"We were recording," recalls songwriter Caroline Herring, "when, right in the midst of a very intense song, a blizzard came through and dropped fourteen inches of snow all around us. I had never been in one before...now I think there's a little blizzard in this record somewhere."
Sudden snow showers are just one unfamiliar element Herring introduced to her creative process on her new album Golden Apples of the Sun, available October 27, 2009 on Signature Sounds. Daringly intimate and unguarded, the making of Golden Apples of the Sun took the Mississippi native far from her comfort zone, to striking effect. Long associated with the Austin, Texas music scene from which she sprang nearly ten years ago, Herring chose to record on unfamiliar turf - the Signature Sounds Studio in Pomfret, Connecticut - with only producer David Goodrich providing tasteful, understated accompaniment to her own delicate, intricate guitar. "On this record," she observes, "I did none of the things that I've become comfortable with. I made it in a totally different part of the country, with a different kind of producer, and deliberately made it sparser. Still, I think it sounds like me."
From her 2001 debut Twilight and its immediate successor Wellspring (2003) to the widely acclaimed Lantana (2008), Herring's music has been hailed for combining traditional sounds with striking, original observations into modern life and love. The Austin Chronicle proclaimed Lantana to be "the best modern Southern Gothic album since Lucinda Williams' Sweet Old World." On Golden Apples of the Sun, Herring stakes out new terrain, exchanging the country-influenced sound of her previous albums for a darker, hauntingly personal sound inspired by the iconic female folk singers and songwriters of the 1960s and 70s. "There's no getting rid of my accent," she says slyly, "but other than that, this is not a twangy record. It's not roots-based." The new record suggests that Herring has been as much influenced by classic songstresses such as Joni Mitchell and Judy Collins as by her native Southland.
Unusual for a songwriter as evocative as Herring, half of the material on Golden Apples of the Sun comes from other writers. Her artistry shines through, however, in her understated and surprising reinterpretations of songs, as well as in the choices of the songs she covers. "Song of the Wandering Aengus" by W.B. Yeats is a good example. "Every version I've heard is different," Herring says. "I first heard Judy Collins sing it, and I loved it. Yet after listening to other musical arrangements of the poem, I realized that you could make the melody anything you want." With a confidence that reflects her musical maturity and originality, Herring performs a range of covers from pop (the Cyndi Lauper hit "True Colors") to traditional blues ("See See Rider") to the folk music that so strongly inspires her (Joni Mitchell's "Cactus Tree"). The choices seem like strange bedfellows on paper, but filtered through Herring's sensibility - stark, elegant, bittersweet - they settle in exquisitely alongside her original compositions, illuminating a new facet of her abilities as both a composer and interpreter.
Noting her new take on "True Colors", Herring admits that she was skeptical at first. "Goody suggested that I try a Cyndi Lauper tune, but I couldn't figure out how to do one. We both loved the lyrics of ‘True Colors'. As I was writing and rehearsing other songs, it kept coming back to me. Eventually I realized I could make this pop song my own. It's moving, and so beautifully written. I suppose great songs have certain things like that in common, despite their different genres. It was similar with ‘See See Rider' - that's an old blues tune that I learned from Mississippi John Hurt and Ma Rainey. I didn't feel comfortable trying to imitate them. So instead I honored them by taking the song in a new direction."
The process of reimagining the outside material on Golden Apples of the Sun was akin to the work Herring pours into her own songs. "I'm a huge editor of the songs I write," she explains. "My best songs are usually not on their first melody. Sometimes it's not entirely finished until I sing it in the studio. I just have to keep working at them until they feel right - when I reach the point that I enjoy playing a song over and over.
"I've been working on the first song, ‘Tales of the Islander', for several years," she continues. "The melody has changed a lot, the structure has evolved. It's about Walter Anderson, a Mississippi artist whom I've always loved. He was a naturalist - and I'm not. It took me awhile to understand his world. I was intrigued with his long trips to the islands around Mississippi, and I wanted to know what he got out of them - what he saw. He was so thirsty for life, and when he was on a good jag, he was so aware and just drinking in everything at once. In the end, I built the song around this little cottage he lived in that no one was allowed to go into. After he died, his family went in and discovered - in addition to thousands of pieces of art - that he had painted magnificent murals on the walls. Each wall was part of a day's cycle: sunrise, sunset..."
The spontaneity of Goodrich's approach, combined with the direct and uncluttered arrangements, fostered an atmosphere where chances could be taken and new avenues could be readily explored. "Almost all my vocals were cut live," Herring says, "which I had never done before. Most of the time it was me playing guitar and singing, and Goody playing alongside me on whatever instrument seemed appropriate. There were a lot of possibilities in that combination, and also a certain amount of flexibility. We recorded ‘The Wild Rose' three different ways. The last time, we played it with Goody doing a slow piano part, and I sang it in a totally different way than I ever had sung anything. Then, our dear engineer Mark Thayer, said ‘Why don't you make it sound like a Methodist hymn?' The next take was the one."
Paradoxically, Golden Apples of the Sun is both a departure from Herring's previous work and her most personal and representative collection yet. "I've been gone from the alt-country world of Austin for seven years, and it just seemed like it was time for me to make a change," she concludes. "It was the right time to launch out. On the road, I'm a storytelling folksinger, so it made sense for me to make that kind of record. I didn't have an absolute idea of what it was going to be when I started. I just knew I wanted to get back into the studio and do something new and different while also representing my sound clearly and truly. The process, the material, however, was all so unusual for me. It's not like anything I've done before..."
Dia + Mista Forty + Socz
LATE SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
Socz was born, raised and currently residing in Washington D.C. (The Nations Capital). He is a regular low key dude from "Uptown", the lyrics will inspire you and the soulful heart felt songs are versatile. Grew up on some of the most vicious blocks in the "Inner City", so of course he has a true message of hip-hop music to display to the world (political, conscious, hardcore and various other manifestations). He's a wise renaissance man who developed a uniquely "Crank'n" rhyme style and an affinity for soulful/ realistic type lyrics. Socz is a great song writer, over typical hard working man and oh yea plus he's a good earner. Unified Realete Music presents: Past To The Present (The Mix Tape Vol.1) promo only With tracks from the upcoming double album I AM HIP-HOP/The Debut.
Out of South Arlington comes the DMV's most unique & diverse artist, Dia. As he states "If Linkin Park had Lupe Fiasco and production done by Daft Punk, you get me." With a strong fan base that continues to grow Dia out sells most DMV artists. From killin tracks to murdering live performances Dia is in a league of his own. With beat boxers, break dancers, costumes, skits, and live bands, Dia is a complete entertainer. In 2007, Dia scored his first smash record "I Wanna" with fellow underground emcee Illnovelist. The single was a commercial success and even appeared on the movie soundtrack for " Running on Empty Dreams". He followed that up in 2008, with the political and inspirational track entitled "Obama" with Baltimore emcee Jade Fox and Rrice which was an attack at the republican party. Which started a buzz. Then in 2009 Midieast welcomed Dia aboard for their assault on the DMV. With the team that consists of Frayz, 2Face ya WildBoy, Rated R, and Rob Rugah. Dia brings something new to the table. Here in 2010, Dia is already back at it! The new preview of his album leaked thru the DMV streets. And after the underground buzz was growing, Dia has been killing live performances all thru the DMV including being a headline artist on the "The Loud Tour". This momentum has made Dia's album "Broken Halo" one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Dia is also currently remaking the Beastie Boys classic "Sabotage", along with Innerloop records' J-Scrilla. With DMV Legend 2Face ya Wild Boy engineering this new track, this is destined to become another classic. With the album "Broken Halo" and Midieast's support Dia hopes to open new doors for all artist. With tracks like his new single "Alive" and many to come, Dia has definitely secured his own place in the DMV movement.
Cerca Trova + Iona Sound
EARLY SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
We're a pop-punk band consisting of 4 handsome young men. We like to play various instruments and travel through time.
Moments away from releasing their 5 track EP the band All In karma continues to come forth from obscurity Having members and playing gigs around D.C, VA and Maryland. This upcoming rising band has yet to reveal themselves to the rest of the world. Giving Fans just what they want having the time of their life while still attending High-school. This young band has a lot of energy to share, already played to local clubs like Jammin' Java, Jaxx Nightclub, and opportunities to give back such as Benefit For Haiti, and many other open mics and local stages. Formed in late 2009 this band wants to hang on to their fun packed songs and give everyone a good time. Check out their EP that Will be release Late August!
Cerca Trova is an original band from Chantilly Virginia. Cerca Trova has been together since October 2005. They have a very refreshing sound and incredible stage presence. When they first started to play together, they came to it for the music and nothing more. Ever since day one it's been a group effort to achieve a common goal, the goal to share their music with as many people as possible. Every time they step onto a stage they are reminded of that and strive to put on the best performance they can.
Cerca Trova consists of four members, Jordan Waddell (Lead Vocals), Angelo Soares (Guitar), Dave Wernli (Bass), and Josh Cockrell (Drums). Jordan Waddell has had a passion for singing for a very long time and lets everyone know ita s soon as he steps on stage. Some of his influences are: Brandon Boyd of Incubus, David Grohl of The Foo Fighters, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer, Anthony Kiedis, and Paul McCartney. Angelo Soares has been in many different bands and has a lot of experience. He also has a very unique style when it comes to playing and writing music. Some of his influences are: Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Val, Led Zeppelin, Fall of Troy, and B.B. King. Then there's Dave Wernli. Dave has a very unique style and has a broad range of influences some of which would be flea from Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Used, and Fall of Troy. Finally, there is Josh Cockrell. Josh has been drumming for most of his life and was the captain of the Chantilly Drumline his senior year of high school. Some of his influences are John Bonham, Buddy Rich, and Bill Bachman. This four piece is very cultured band and lets it be known through their music.
The eclectic repertoire of Cerca Trova has grown even greater lengths with personal friendships as time has passed. They really strive to take their art to the next level. All four members have a great passion that cannot be defined in words, and with this great passion comes even more determination to succeed. Cerca Trova definitely has something to say and wants it to be known. They are a great act to be seen and should not be missed.
Mark Olson (founding member of The Jayhawks) CD Release
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
VANDAVEER is the alt-folk song singing/record making/globetrotting project penned and put forth by DC-by-way-of-Kentucky tunesmith Mark Charles Heidinger.
Vandaveer's debut album, Grace & Speed, a mostly live, stripped down affair, swiftly entered this great big dusty world in the spring of 2007 garnering rave reviews and comparisons to Donovan, Dylan, Waits, Drake, Simon, and the like. Touring continually on both sides of the Atlantic ever since, Vandaveer has played 250+ shows, sharing stages with a host of humbling artists including Bon Iver, Alejandro Escovedo, Vashti Bunyan, Vetiver, Evan Dando, Scout Niblett, The Ditty Bops, Smog, Fleet Foxes, Alela Diane and his dear friends in DC's ramshackle collective, The Federal Reserve. In addition to said Vandaveering, Heidinger has been known to fraternize and conspire with other music-making hooligans, primarily as a bassist with fellow DCers These United States.
Vandaveer's sophomore effort, Divide & Conquer, touches upon similar themes found in its elder sibling, winding timeworn themes of love & death, malice & goodwill, sin & perseverance into (mostly) four-minute vignettes. To see D&C through, Vandaveer enlisted the able assistance of longtime collaborator and producer Duane Lundy, brothers-in-arms/TUS bandmates Robby Cosenza and Justin Craig, and most notably, his fair sister Rose Guerin, supplying the loveliest harmonies this side of Eden. A decidedly more produced venture, D&C offers up a flourishing chamber folk companion to its bedroomy lo-fi folk/pop predecessor.
Divide & Conquer was released in France, Belgium and Switzerland on April 6th, 2009 via Alter K. Records and in the USA on August 25th, 2009 via Supply & Demand Music.
"Jarring new folk." -ROLLING STONE
"The music on Vandaveer's second album, Divide & Conquer, reflects the duality an old soul and a little child trapped in a 32-year-old's body, with lyrics referencing both World War I and children's author Beverly Cleary in daydreamy songs featuring rich piano melodies and the pure, delicate voice of bandmate Rose Guerin." -PASTE
Extensive touring behind Vandaveer's first record, "Grace & Speed," has helped the singer strengthen his songwriting and bump up his street cred. On "Divide & Conquer" he has worked himself into a world-weary wayfaring minstrel with shoe-leather vocal cords and breathy Dylanesque folk tunes rife with imagery cribbed from Testaments both Old and New. -WASHINGTON POST
The sun-soaked political reggae of Bob Marley certainly isn't the most obvious parallel to make when discussing the music of folk troubadour Mark Olson, but while discussing the song "Kingsnake" from his upcoming solo album, Many Colored Kite, Olson makes a compelling argument:
"I really like Bob Marley's lyrical attitude-the way he forcefully delivers his lyrics means everything to him. When I first heard him, I must have been nineteen or something; it was all very mysterious to me, and I didn't get it then. But as time's gone by, I realize that he's very direct. He has a point of view and a philosophy, and though my point of view and my philosophy are different, I try to be direct like that."
This philosophical directness has been a constant in a career that's spanned a quarter century. As a founding member and principal singer/songwriter of The Jayhawks, Olson spent a decade at the front of the alt-country movement, until leaving the band-and the familiar environs of Minneapolis-in 1995, for the California desert.
While The Jayhawks were experimenting with pop and rock influences and earning mainstream appeal, Olson wanted to strip back down to the essentials. He formed The Creekdippers with then-wife Victoria Williams and violinist Mike Russell, paring his brand of timeless folk down to a desert roots ramble.
After a decade with The Creekdippers, Olson left the desert for the train cars of Europe, creating what would become his 2007 solo debut, The Salvation Blues, a poetic rumination on redemption that earned him comparisons to the likes of Gram Parsons and Bob Dylan.
During that journey, he reconnected with former Jayhawks partner Gary Louris and in 2009 they released their first album together in fourteen years, Ready For The Flood.
Many Colored Kite is both a culmination of everything that came before it, and an exploration of uncharted waters. Recorded over a month's time in Portland with producer/engineer Beau Raymond (Chris Robinson, Devendra Banhart), the album finds Olson embracing a decidedly brighter path towards the future, exploring themes of freedom and struggle, isolation and belonging, spirituality and love.
He translates that idea of Bob Marley's lyrical directness into a beautiful simplicity of expression, creating "little moral stories," as he calls them. Album opener "Little Bird Of Freedom," which features folk-jazz chanteuse Jolie Holland, is an acknowledgement of both personal and universal struggle, which the title track, written at a park in Oslo, Norway, takes a step further. "To me, a ‘many colored kite' is the idea that instead of having a restrictive world, let's have an inclusive one, where it's good for people to have different ideas, different faiths, different languages."
Olson also turns inward. There's "Your Life Beside Us," about "a spiritual longing for good in one's life," and the lush, string-laden "Beehive," calling upon his love of metaphor to describe the evolution of religion into a destructive, rather than healing force. Most surprising is "Morning Dove," a "miracle song" inspired by a flock of doves that appeared right as he finished building his home. It marks the first time in his entire career that Olson performs completely solo and acoustic. "I've always been in bands or groups; I've always liked playing off of other people," he says. "But this song seemed so direct and personal, that I just went for it."
A message of positivity weaves through Many Colored Kite, offering up a nearly radiant version of Olson that not only hearkens back to his Creekdippers days, but also looks forward to the future of folk. There's the sweetly melodic "No Time To Live Without Her," inspired by the simple love songs of the ‘60s, featuring ethereal harmonies from influential British folksinger Vashti Bunyan. "Bluebell Song," inspired by flowers dotted along miles of Texas highway, recounts the experience of sharing those slices of Americana with his two international bandmates, Norwegian singer and multi-instrumentalist Ingunn Ringvold and Italian violinist Michele Gazich.
The experience of being on the road with people close to him is what ultimately shapes the narrative of the album. In this case, thousands of miles spent in vans, trains, and planes for The Salvation Blues led to the creation of Many Colored Kite. "It was more than a band-Ingunn was my girlfriend and Michele was this guy whose company I really enjoyed-and the way to keep that going was to write a new album together."
So you have the Laurel Canyon vibe of "Wind And Rain," borne from a lonely drive through rural Nebraska and the urge to pull over and stage an impromptu performance on a small-town bandstand. There's "More Hours," a sweet retelling of a conversation between Olson and Ringvold on a desert road. And the freak folk echoes of "Scholastica," about meeting a nun of the same name in New Mexico.
Ultimately, Many Colored Kite is a statement album. It's Mark Olson acknowledging the past, but making a conscious decision to lift up and continue his journey forward. "Let's face it-I worked hard on this record. I put everything I had into this one. I tried to play my best, sing my best, and write my best. I want this to look towards the future, and I hope our story goes on."
Brendan James
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Jason Ager is a blues-rock artist with hip-hop and R&B influences. Jason's self-taught guitar style is distinguished by stylized palm muting and percussive striking. He has been playing original music since picking up the guitar, and has grown a loyal following in his hometown Philadelphia music scene. With moves to Washington, D.C. and now Baltimore, Jason is a staple in clubs from New York to Virginia. He leads a trio that moves audiences to the dance floor, and also performs upbeat acoustic music that tests the boundaries of the traditional singer-songwriter.
Jason sings of love, loss, and youthful misadventures on his debut CD Lunchdate, out on March 5, 2010. High-energy guitar riffs and a driving rhythm section get the feet moving, and the rapid-fire lyrics of a veteran emcee draw smiles as they inscribe pop culture references and inventive rhymes. The album's 12 tracks capture the variety of Jason's influences, from Marvin Gaye to Taj Mahal, G. Love to Ben Harper. His signature sound is evident from track one, as "Jocelyn" demonstrates the syncopated vocal style Jason has cultivated, and "Sing-Along Jawn" pairs a memorable hook with stuttered consonants a la George Thorogood. He even goes a little bit country on standout single "Strawberry Wine."
Jason's backing band, affectionately known as the C.O.P.O., is comprised of bassist Austin O'Connor and drummer Sheri Gallagher. Austin has been playing with Jason since high school, where his melodic jazz/funk style began to take shape. Sheri brought her impeccable snare work and tight drum fills to the group in 2008. The band has crafted their blistering live show at Philadelphia venues like World Café Live, M Room, North Star Bar, Grape St. Pub, and more, and now they want to focus on widening and diversifying their audience. In February 2010 Jason played the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, and is an original member of The Nine, a traveling singer-songwriter showcase founded by D.C. musician Justin Trawick, whose Philadelphia performances are now run by Jason.
Whether as a solo performer or as head of a power trio, Jason creates songs that are memorable for their accessible, modern sound steeped in blues and rock traditions. Lyrically, gritty details from personal anecdotes are related with a sense of humor, and an understanding that life's greatest moments are shared. A musician who relishes connecting with live audiences, Jason is already testing out new material in venues up and down the East Coast.
Some artists name an album after themselves because they're stumped for another title. Brendan James grins at this suggestion. "As a fellow musician, I definitely get that," he says, "but I actually had a good reason to do it. The album is self-titled because I feel like it's my first recording that really showcases the different sides of me as a musician. It's got everything from the mellow to the upbeat, to the somber to the unashamedly positive. My friends know me as the guy who loves to jump in the middle of a pick-up basketball game, but they also know me as the guy who needs to be reminded to stop spiraling when I start thinking about something too deeply. I have a lot of different sides and I wanted to make sure my music reflected that."
A singer-songwriter who accompanies himself on piano, James began writing the songs on his second album after winding up a year and a half on the road in support of his debut album The Day is Brave, which was released by Decca Records in June 2008 and debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Several of its songs were featured on various television shows including Private Practice, Bones, So You Think You Can Dance, and Army Wives. After releasing the album, James hit the ground running to support it from coast to coast. "I went to 40 states, ate at 330 restaurants, stayed in 210 hotels, and slept on one boat - John Mayer's Mayercraft Cruise; I know because I wrote it all down," James says with a laugh. The 18-month tour enabled James (whom Entertainment Weekly has called "a songwriter on the rise") to build his fanbase the way many successful musicians have done before him: one room at a time, and he shares the fruits of that journey - renewed vigor, musical maturity, and even a new sound - on his second album.
"The tour gave me a new understanding of myself as a performer," James says. "I've definitely evolved as a musician, which gave me the confidence to be more adventurous on my new record. While The Day is Brave collected some of my favorite songs I had written over the years, with stripped-down arrangements to showcase the vocals and piano playing, I really wanted to change things up and play around with the styles on this second record. We added a lot of musical textures, like synths, strings, and even drum loops on a few tracks like ‘The Lucky Ones,' ‘Get it Right,' and ‘Changing Us.'"
Though they've pushed the envelope in terms of tempo and production, James and his producer Warren Huart (Augustana, The Fray, Howie Day) have emerged with an album that keeps the spotlight on James' emotionally resonant voice and expressive piano playing. "First and foremost, it was important to me that the vocals and piano were up front," James says. "Warren made sure that was his first priority. When it comes to the recording process, he's a traditionalist, which is important to me because though I want my albums to sound current, I also want them to stay true to who I am as an artist."
Recorded in James' new hometown of Los Angeles (where he relocated permanently after seven years in New York City), Brendan James is as layered in personality as the artist who made it. Thoughtful lyrical insights are revealed with repeated listenings. "My lyrical style is unmovable I've found," James says. "I have tried to write a little more abstractly, but I just can't. You are what you are and my heart is on my sleeve. I am a romantic as well as an optimist. I also go through my daily life thinking too hard about certain things. Stuff doesn't roll off of me that easily. So I think my songs have this heaviness meets romance meets positivity."
You can hear that dichotomy in the sheer diversity of the songs, which range from upbeat tunes like "Nothing For Granted," (about actually being in the moment rather than talking about it), "Stupid For Your Love," "Different Kind of Love," and "Emerald Sky", to a series of elegant piano ballads, including "Anything For You" (featuring guitarist David Welsh and drummer Ben Wysocki from The Fray), "Your Beating Heart," and "Let It Rain." James says "Let it Rain" is about seeing the realities of the music business and the challenges of selling one's art to the masses. "‘Get It Right' is about that, too," James says, "for me pursuing a career in music has been one hell of a challenge but everyone has their own individual pursuit they are trying to achieve, for me it is sharing my music with as many people as humanly possible." Finally, there's the album's first single "The Fall," which James wrote about having to let someone go with the knowledge that the freedom of letting them go is the most grounding feeling of all.
"As I've matured I've realized that though life is beautiful and enjoyable, it can be legitimately hard," James says. "I didn't know that until I had finished touring behind my first album and I was ready to write about it for this new album."
Brendan James grew up in Derry, NH, and began writing songs during his sophomore year at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. While at home on Christmas break, James was approached by a local music teacher, Kevin Kandel, who had heard him sing "Candle in the Wind" at the funeral for James' best friend's mother. Kandel encouraged him to try his hand at writing, which James did, taking a year off from school to spend time in Los Angeles. "I was so passionate about songwriting, I wanted to get involved in the music scene and start performing," he says. In 2002, he returned to Chapel Hill, graduated, and moved to New York City, where he toiled folding T-shirts at Urban Outfitters by day and performed at open mics around Manhattan's East Village at night. To gain access to a piano to practice, James would sneak into hotel ballrooms around the city. "I'd dress to look like a guest at the Plaza Hotel, so I could walk in there unnoticed," he says.
In 2003, James' manager was able to get a demo James had made to one of his idols, Carly Simon. Two weeks later, he received a call from the legendary singer-songwriter, who told him that she had begun singing his songs around the house. "It was surreal," James recalls. "She was so complimentary, not only of my voice, but of the songs. She said I needed to keep writing." Simon asked James to come to her home on Martha's Vineyard where the two recorded a version of her Oscar-winning song "Let the River Run," for the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
Encouraged by his new mentor, James continued to write and perform and eventually caught the attention of Capitol Records, which signed him to a recording contract in 2005. However, when the infrastructure at the label imploded, James became a free agent. Seeing a golden opportunity, he took the money from his termination agreement with Capitol and recorded As the Day Is Brave on his own terms before signing with Universal/Decca Records in 2007.
"I love my first album," James says. "It's a snapshot of what my life looked like then, coming off a bit of music business trauma and persevering to get my career off the ground. Now I'm looking forward to my fans and people who have yet to hear my music to discovering who I am as a person and an artist all around on my new album."
ABIGAIL WASHBURN
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Ted Pitney, co-founder and songwriter from King Wilkie, has just released his debut CD, The Genesee EP. Recorded in Central Virginia with his band The Roosevelts, it draws from a well of Americana while painting with shades more undefined and foreign. It is visceral but arranged. Rock n roll but humble. It's a 1957 D-18 Martin guitar. Dusty and dirty tube amplifiers. It's heartache and it's family and friends. As the designer Charles Eames said, ""The details are not details. They make the product. The connections, the connections, the connections."
Teddy & The Roosevelts MySpace
"weirdly wonderful...a student of Chinese culture and American-roots music, Washburn has combined her passions to create a gorgeous, joyful new sound." -Brian Braiker, Newsweek
"3 out of 4 stars" -Brian Mansfield, USA Today
"A way to break folk music's mold...On this collaboration with similarly boundary-blind players, Washburn blurs the line between folk and art music, between rural Americana and world music...The globe-trotting effect grows with the haunting instrumental "A Kazahk Melody," leading into the flat-out bluegrass breakdown "Banjo Pickin' Girl" that's all the more liberating because of the distance it's taken for Washburn to find her way home. Maybe it is a small world after all." -Randy Lewis, LA Times
"Intriguing new album...'So a spaceship we must build," Ms. Washburn sings in her sweet, clear voice, "Set off from a windowsill." Then she yodels. But that isn't the oddest moment on the album, which outfits some of its songs with lyrics in Mandarin. Ms. Washburn, who has spent substantial time in China, isn't dabbling here: her conviction is clear, as is her chemistry with the ensemble..." -Nate Chinen, The New York Times
"America's ambassadors of all things stringed." -Steve LaBate, Paste Magazine
"the one-of-a-kind ensemble delivers an otherworldly amalgam of Appalachian roots music and Chinese folkloric tunes...influences include Sichuan folk songs, American field recordings and work songs, Béla Bartok and Giacomo Puccini's experiments with music from the East, and a meld of American old-timey, revival gospel, grooved blues and mountain yodeling." -Dan Oulette, ABC News
"this spirited and elegant album...permanently removes Washburn from the ranks of revivalists and puts her in a broad if loosely defined art-folk community with musicians...[Washburn's] linguistic and cultural dexterity is just the starting point of the adventurousness on display...all four members show a fluid ease in moving between conventions and genres, and sometimes abandons them altogether...an unusual and unexpected album." -Jesse Fox Mayshark, No Depression
"the Sparrows are a one-of-a-kind prism capturing the glint of global perspectives and refracting it back in a hundred new and different ways." -Jewly Hight, Nashville Scene
Josh Abt & The Regulars + Meza Mudge
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
Meza Mudge is a brand new group with a fresh new sound. Blending the musical styles of Rock, Funk, Blues and Reggae with a splash of Latin, Meza Mudge creates an energy that is hard to resist. It's bluesy latin guitar and Eric Clapton vocals mixed with a Beatles sensibility.
An Evening with Preston Reed
This show will be seated.
Preston Reed has virtually reinvented how the acoustic guitar is played. Reed practices a flamboyant "self-invented" style, characterized by percussive techniques and simultaneous rhythm and melody lines that dance and ricochet around each other, giving his music a level of excitement that is unparalleled among today's guitarists.
Playing an array of guitars from acoustic to electric to classical Reeds vast range of explosively original music will forever change your expectation of a guitarist.
First-time listeners find it impossible to believe that they're hearing just the one musician, in real time. Reed attacks the entire instrument in a never-ending search for the orchestra he knows is lurking inside. At full tilt, his fingers, thumbs, fists and hands at once suggest a drummer, keyboardist, bassist and several guitarists at work.
The most impressive thing about Reed's technique, though, is that it doesn't draw attention to itself. His compositions are far from abstract virtuosic displays; even without lyrics he creates vivid, engrossing scenes. Sometimes the effect is almost onomatopoetic. Reed generates visual stimuli with every tweak of his instrument, thus augmenting his wordless compositions with an aura of the poetic. Each tune is a story in itself with a potent, cinematic atmosphere and an almost tangible thread of communication between Preston Reed and the listener.
Private Event
As one of the most versatile and accommodating spaces in the Washington DC area, Jammin' Java Music Club and Cafe is perfect for any private function you have in the works - day or night. Named the DC area's classiest music club by the Washington Post and Washington DC's best live music venue by America Online's CityGuide, our award-winning design creates an atmosphere that is intimate, comfortable and stylish - and our live music capabilities can add a special edge to an otherwise standard occasion.
Plan your next party with Jammin' Java and we guarantee you'll walk away feeling like a rock star.
Private Event
As one of the most versatile and accommodating spaces in the Washington DC area, Jammin' Java Music Club and Cafe is perfect for any private function you have in the works - day or night. Named the DC area's classiest music club by the Washington Post and Washington DC's best live music venue by America Online's CityGuide, our award-winning design creates an atmosphere that is intimate, comfortable and stylish - and our live music capabilities can add a special edge to an otherwise standard occasion.
Plan your next party with Jammin' Java and we guarantee you'll walk away feeling like a rock star.
LUKE BRINDLEY CD RELEASE
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
For a while, the only place Chelsea Lee was comfortable singing was in the shower. But at 15, the aspiring singer tried her hand at a local open mic -- and her attempt was received with praise.
"I'm downstairs running the club, selling beer, and she's soundchecking, and instantly I was blown away," says her manager, Daniel Brindley, who owns the suburban-D.C. music club Jammin Java.
Brindley began inviting Lee to open for his acts, and in a few months she was headlining shows. Armed with an alarmingly pure voice, down-to-earth charm, and a songwriting maturity that's rare for her age, Lee appears to have the entire package. In 2008 she got the attention of Atlantic Records, and in June she signed with the label just days after her 18th birthday.
With less than three years between her first open mic and her record deal, Lee's ascent is remarkable, especially given how quickly she's taken to performing. "I was really nervous at first" she says, but as an audience member you'd never know it.
A gorgeous girl with organic songs is bound to draw comparisons to Taylor Swift and Colbie Caillat, but Lee's voice carries an emotional depth that's more like Patty Griffin or Brandi Carlile. "A lot of people ask me, 'who do you sound like?" she laughs, "but I never have an answer for them."
Though she's well-known in her native D.C., in February a pair of synchs on MTV's "The City" for her songs "Figure Us Out" and "Long Way Down" provided some deserved national exposure. Around that time she spent three weeks in London writing with Martin Terefe, producer of Jason Mraz's platinum-selling "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things." Currently she's working out of Charlottesville, Virginia, with writer/producer Chris Keup (Parachute, O.A.R., Josh Kelley).
Jammin’ Java’s own Luke Brindley returns for two back to back nights! Arguably the most promising singer/songwriter to emerge from the Washington, DC area in recent years, Luke’s self titled release is called "one of the best roots-rock records of the year" by The Washington Post. With no song going “untouched by the energy and pure infectious joy of Luke's performance (The Washington Times),” Luke’s show will feature music from the 2008 WAMMIE winner for Best Contemporary Folk album and his latest release 5 Songs, and showcase some as-yet-unreleased tunes with help from Todd Wright, Jess Bennett and several special guests.
The Pimps of Joytime
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
MOJO is an upcoming band from Centreville, VA that combines reggae,ska,punk,and hip hop, to create a sound that cannot be categorized! Fresh on the Washington,DC/ Northern, VA music scene, MOJO has already opened up for bands such as SOJA, Passafire, and Ballyhoo! With the Hawaiian Roots of lead singer and guitarist Sean Millson, the pounding bass lines of Patrick Cheng, and the always driving beats of Jason Madison, MOJO has the sound to keep it flowing all night long.
If you have yet to encounter the Broklyn-based band, The Pimps of Joytime, prepare to take a funky ride! The PJT's live events and recordings have captivated fans all across the country, as they have begun writing their own success story, show by show, and track by track.
Bandleader Brian J is a charismatic and soulful visionary, whose well-crafted songs invite the listener to enter a world of infectious dance grooves and indelible melodies. Spending formative years in New York City, New Orleans and Los Angeles, Mista J honed his craft, becoming an accomplished live performer, multi-instrumentalist and producer.
In 2005, Brian began to assemble a group of righteously soulful vocalists and musicians to assist in bringing to life the musical concept that would become The Pimps of Joytime. The band's diverse sound and spirited attitude is strongly influenced by the Brooklyn DJ culture and live music scene from which they emerge. Recent collaborations with legendary artists Cyril and Art Neville of the Neville Brothers and Roy Ayers have helped vitalize the band's connection to its roots.
Over the course of the past four years, The Pimps have evolved into a road tested and audience approved groove machine. They have excited crowds at over 100 club dates and festivals in 2009 alone, and are on target to exceed that volume in 2010. The exponential growth of the band's fan base can be partially attributed to an artful blend of musical styles, including elements of afrobeat, salsa, rock & roll and electronica. Brian J's classic songwriting and the band's undeniable swagger on stage consistently energizes dance parties wherever they appear.
In 2008, with their first studio album and a remix album released through the boutique label Wonderwheel Recordings, The Pimps of Joytime were prepared to take their career to the highest level. With a steadily increasing repertoire and a passionate following of music lovers in NYC and San Francisco, the time was right to fortify their organization. After seeing the band live, Jesse Aratow of the North American booking agency Madison House signed them on the spot.
The Pimps now has a significant following in other key markets such as, LA, DC, Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, Portland and New Orleans. The wall of their Facebook page is constantly receiving enthusiastic posts from fans across the USA as word of mouth further carries news of this fresh new arrival.
The Pimps of Joytime are poised to bring their audacious sound to savvy audiences around the planet. Their forthcoming album, "Janxta Funk!" is a new chapter in the book of the Funk and a testament to the fact that real music is alive and kicking!
Peter Bradley Adams + Matthew Perryman Jones
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
"I have always gravitated toward records that were grand and a bit overly ambitious. With "Swallow the Sea" I didn't want to go the route of the low-fi indie record. The title represents what I was going for. I also have to stay true to my roots. I'm a product of the 80's and my musical taste was shaped largely by bands like The Pixies, REM, U2, Echo and the Bunnymen and other underground bands of that time. It was the era of epic art-rock and smart pop. I ate it up. This record certainly nods to my influences without apology."
Ambition is evident in Matthew Perryman Jones' third record, but first proper release. From the sense of hope that swells from the darkness of the opening track to the epic reinterpretation of the spiritual, "Motherless Child" to the closing track's two minute mantra, "Where can you go? Can you Swallow the Sea?", this record is the sound of Jones simultaneously putting his neck on the line and shedding musical inhibitions, and finding his voice in doing so.
Regarding "Swallow the Sea" Jones confesses, "It seems I can't get away from dealing with darker elements. The only way I can approach them, in my life and in my writing, is to approach them from a hopeful perspective. I think that's apparent on this record. Otherwise, I think the inclination is to not want to address those things...not wanting to go there if you can't see a way out."
Jones was born near Philadelphia and relocated to Atlanta at the age of 11. As a teenager he fell in love with the bands of the nearby Athens, Georgia music scene, including R.E.M., and the likes of Guadalcanal Diary and Mary My Hope. He began writing songs in high school, where he also formed his first band, and was 15 when they recorded their first five-song demo (produced by Indigo Girls producer Don McCollister.)
By the mid-90s, he was fronting an Atlanta folk-rock band with steady gigs at the legendary Eddie's Attic. As his own songwriting began to bloom and solo shows at Eddie's followed, friends encouraged the burgeoning artist to pursue his music full-time. Before long, Jones had packed his things and was headed for Nashville. After relocating, Jones soon found a pocket of independent artists who quickly became his musical community. Touring and writing with these contemporaries has contributed to Jones' growth as an artist. In collaborating with local talents, he eventually became acquainted with producer Neilson Hubbard with whom he soon began working.
Swallow the Sea is Jones' second consecutive album with Hubbard (Garrison Starr, Glen Phillips, Matthew Ryan). "With this record there was a bit of a struggle in that (musically) subtlety seems to be en vogue these days and I wanted to make a bigger record because those are the records I've always been into." As he did on 2006's Throwing Punches in the Dark, the disc finds Jones writing in a stream-of-consciousness manner, coming up with song ideas in a spur-of-the-moment fashion. "It's kind of like getting in your car and driving around and seeing what you can find."
"Save You" (co-written with Hubbard) was the first track on the record to garner attention via multiple television placements (Kyle XY, Private Practice) and resulted in an internet groundswell, as well as being the impetus for this new album. Jones' strength as a writer is further showcased on this record from the aggressive pop of "Without a Clue" to the breezy "Amelia" and the quirky "When it Falls Apart".
Matthew Perryman Jones Website
Peter Bradley Adams was formerly one half of the duo, Eastmountainsouth, signed by Robbie Robertson (of The Band) to DreamWorks Records in 2002. Peter co-produced their debut album with Mitchell Froom, and the duo toured extensively opening for Lucinda Williams, Tracy Chapman, and performed their final show at the Hollywood Bowl opening for Lyle Lovett and Shelby Lynn.
Since then, Adams has released three solo records: "Gather Up", "Leavetaking", and his most recent, "Traces", in October 2009 on Sarathan Records.
Peter's music has appeared in 40+ films and television shows including recent placements in CBS' "The Mentalist" , CW's "One Tree Hill", ABC's "Brothers and Sisters" as well as the Miramax Film, film "Everbody's Fine" starring Robert De Niro
"Adams is fast developing as a songwriter who both inspires and questions" - Nic Harcourt / Los Angeles Times Magazine - Jan 2010
XM Satellite Radio's "The Loft" named him "Notable New Artist of The Year" in 2006.
And the The Wall Street Journal named Peter in November of 2008 one of the "21st-century writers whose songs are worth exploring."
Krista Detor + Kenny White
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
"There are periods when you're not always willing to look into your heart and take inventory. But, in time, that day does come, and if you can give an honest account of what you find in there, you'll come out with something true." -Kenny White
Kenny White has driven a long and interesting road to bring him to this moment. At eight years old, upon being asked whether he'd practiced this week's piano lesson, Kenny remarked, "Yeah...but HERE'S what I wrote."
Those songs have not always come easily, however, after many successful years of various musical endeavors, they have led to White's new Wildflower Records release, "Comfort in the Static." A collection of wonderfully crafted songs, which continue to follow the human condition with both unbridled detail and humor.
For many years, White was a fixture in the NY studio scene, writing and producing literally hundreds of commercials for TV and radio. In this capacity, he worked with artists like Gladys Knight, Linda Ronstadt, Dwight Yoakam, Ricky Skaggs, Kim Carnes Felix Cavaliere, Dobie Gray and Aaron Neville among many others.
His relationships with Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin led to his producing Colvin‟s Grammy-nominated, "I Don't Know Why" and to his involvement in Cohn's eponymous platinum debut record. White went on to produce three records for legendary J Geils Band leader, Peter Wolf. The second of which, "Sleepless," garnered the distinction by Rolling Stone magazine of being one of "the 500 greatest albums ever made." As well as giving Kenny a chance to work with Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and Steve Earle. A brand new release with Wolf will be released in the Spring of 2010.
As a contributing writer/musician, White worked on many a film soundtrack including, Message in a Bottle, Ed TV, Forces of Nature, A Walk on the Moon, Where the Heart Is, Edie & Pen, and four films by indie master, John Sayles.
After being hailed by reviewers from the NY Times to the SF Chronicle for his thrilling and unique piano playing, White chose to devote himself to making his first album and subsequently, "hitting the road." His work in the studio enabled him to assemble an A-list team of players for that release, 2002's "Uninvited Guest." He traveled and opened shows for many mainstays, including Cheryl Wheeler, Shawn Colvin, Peter Wolf, Richard Shindell and Jonathan Edwards, quickly gaining a reputation as a "dazzling" and "not-to-be-missed" performer. An early copy of his follow-up record, "Symphony in 16 Bars" landed in the hands of folk legend Judy Collins who then signed White to her own Wildflower Records and released the CD in the winter of 2005.
Showcasing another remarkable ensemble of talent, Symphony in 16 Bars picked up where Uninvited Guest left off, following a main character whose story, set in New York City, navigates the heart‟s complexities through an ever changing urban landscape.
This year, in addition, Kenny is proud to announce his first non-musical publication. He joins a group of renowned essayists in a collection called, "The Black Body," published by Seven Stories Press.
Krista Detor is a performer out of Bloomington, Indiana, whose album, Mudshow was released in 2006 to international critical acclaim, garnering an average of 4+ star reviews, and reaching the #1 spot on the Euro-Americana Chart. Signed in Europe with Corazong Records, Detor's follow-up album, Cover Their Eyes made similar waves in the European musical world having released at #3 on the chart.
2010 brings the release of Chocolate Paper Suites to rave reviews. Maverick calls it ‘Exquisite,' Nuvo calls it ‘Brilliant..' She defies genre, but the quality of her writing has been compared to the likes of Leonard Cohen, Laura Nyro, Tom Waits and Joni Mitchell, company she is more than happy to keep.
Signed to Fleming Artists, U.S., she's rapidly making a name for herself in the acoustic music world - touring the U.S. and Europe consistently and sharing stages with Suzanne Vega, Aaron Neville, Joan Armatrading, Loudon Wainwright, Colin Linden, Luka Bloom, Slaid Cleaves, Eliza Gilkyson, Carrie Newcomer, Pierce Pettis and John Gorka, among others and travels with her partner and producer, David Weber.
Matt Hires
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
Zach Williams comes from Georgia and his music comes from childhood bike rides down steep hills, the valleys of real tragedy, the rivers of hope pushing you on, sincere prayers, wind chimes on a back porch where grandfathers rock in silence, the back of cereal boxes on Saturday mornings, rust and shadows in an old barn, wet pavement after rain in the city, a string full of caught fish, the advice of generations before, the way love will surprise you in someone you've known for years, a bullheaded grip on lifelong friendship, and the offering of an open hand.
Zach was a late bloomer as songwriters go and didn't perform his first song publicly till near the end of college. That was in West Palm Beach in 2004 and the reception to this new artist was as warm as a south Florida summer night. The music and Zach have been growing ever since. His first band developed quite a loyal following in West Palm, recorded their first self-titled album, and hit the road for a short tour of the southeast. The pull of being at different stages in life led the original band to part ways in Florida, but Zach carried the music and the spirit with him. It was the beginning of something.
Zach began to pull from the corners of his life, to weave fact and fiction, to pound out melodies from the backs of memories, and as life took him north he chose to root the expression of his music in the south that had formed him, the faith that sustains him, and his friends. He stumbled upon a sound that is both soulful and penetrating.
Zach currently resides with his wife Stacy in Brooklyn and would tell you that his music represents the communities he has had the privilege to pass through, experience, and the ones he is still holding on to. His voice carries layers of Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, and Adam Duritz. The blend is refreshing and above all honest. Zach has formed a new band since arriving in New York. The band's Americana folk sound drifts towards all out rock n roll at moments and Zach performs as if he is strapped to the front of a freight train. Zach and the band's crowning achievement thus far is crafting a live show that is both approachable and yet coursing with adrenaline. You can dance to it too. It leaves you feeling like you have spent the evening hearing the stories of your close friends.
Zach brings and open and collaborative spirit to the music he makes. He invites listeners to come in and live for a while in his songs, to take what you can and leave what you will. His music is not complete without the people who shape it, the people who are shaped by it, and God who holds it all together.
"Mike Grubbs could speak for each and every one of us when he pulls at our heartstrings with tales of lost love and broken spirits. But he's more than just another poetic, tortured soul. Grubbs' combines some beautifully played piano with a voice so striking it resonates around the room galvanising everybody within earshot - both painful and beautiful in equal measure." -Joel Crane (NME)
"Driven by a stern piano bounce -- courtesy of frontman Mike Grubbs -- indie-pop-on-Mozart quintet Wakey!Wakey! are quickly becoming the talk of the Big Apple with rhythm-heavy, heartfelt ballads, and -- most notably -- Grubbs' striking Top 40 pipes. With an audience that ranges easily from wet-eyed punk rockers to stay-at-home moms, Wakey!Wakey! merge old and new, downcast classical renderings and indie rock pop-smarts -- and formulate a dynamic sound all their own." -Spin.com
"Grubbs has the unique ability to transform a ho-hum venue into a futuristic circus." -CMJ
"In a word: Wow. Ear to ear smiles. Seriously good stuff. Trust me." -MTVNews.com Blog
"If you have ever been broken by love, the lyrics will tear at your heartstrings, yet leave you wanting more." -Beyond Race Magazine
"His voice is like a smoke alarm in the dead of night: huge, dominant, unable to be ignored, maybe even life-saving. His singing commanded the room, but his songs resonated for more reasons than just the one." -Pop Headwound
When you listen to Matt Hires, what comes across is the sound of an artist self-assured, authentic, and at ease with being completely and utterly himself. On his debut F-Stop/ Atlantic release, Take Us To The Start, the 23-year-old Florida native fuses the intimacy of the great singer/songwriters with indelible pop/rock hooks and propulsive rhythms. The result is a mesmerizing collection of songs that are immediately enchanting, while becoming more deeply rewarding with each listen.
Produced by Eric Rosse (Sara Bareilles), Take Us To The Start is filled with delights, most notably Hires's voice, an instrument striking in its warmth, expressiveness, and ability to convey a multitude of emotions within a single song. From the first notes of "Honey, Let Me Sing You A Song," Matt's vocals envelop the listener, creating an intimate, captivating realm.
FreQontrol + Lakeview
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
Epitome of the Weak was born with the idea of being a new kind of force. Something the world has not seen before while still maintaining a powerful recognition and the comfort of a rhythm that is recognizable. We are looking to make an uprising to the scene of metal.
Hello, we are FreQontrol! How nice of you to have visited our page! we are a six-piece rap/metal/techno/dance/electronic/rock/experimental group based out of Maryland and Northern Virginia. We enjoy playing shows for uncomfortably low amounts of people who are not fans of our genre of music. We believe that having fun is important, and try to show people something they have never seen before in a scene full of skinny jeans and screaming. So if you have some spare time, give us a chance, come to a show and talk to us! We love meeting people and gaining new fans! Lastly, we know you hate our band name, we do too!
Love, FreQontrol <3
drumfish CD Release
LATE SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
For two decades drumfish has performed in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. During that time the band has amassed a large following through their energetic live performances and award winning CDs. The quartet of Aaron Bertoglio, James Hanford, Larry France and Alex Petty will jump through various musical genre influences while maintaining an acoustic driven modern rock edge. On September 11th the band continues building its legacy by releasing their fourth studio recording, "Memoirs", at Jammin' Java.
Rocknoceros Family Happy Hour - Celebrating the Band’s 1000th Show!
Zooglobble Recommended!: "Kudos to the great taste of the DC area. You already know what the rest of the country is starting to find out - that Rocknoceros is a gem of a band."
A Rocknoceros Family Happy Hour is a night out for the WHOLE family! Rocknoceros wanted to provide a way for entire families to get a night out on the town in a safe, clean, and family-friendly way. Jammin' Java, and even the famed 9:30 Club, have presented the show to the delight of everyone! The September 11th Family Happy Hour show will be extra-super-duper special because Rocknoceros will be celebrating their 1000th show together. That's right folks, five years three award-winning cds later, Rocknoceros has hit their 1000th show milestone. So get your tickets today and come help Rocknoceros celebrate this momentous occasion in grand fashion!
*You'll hear some rockin' Rockno classics but also a fun mix of classic rock cover tunes that grownups will enjoy!
*And don't forget the Signature Family Happy Hour drink special: BUY A BEER, GET A JUICE BOX! - the Jammin' Java bar will be in full operation.
Sam Cooper & The Sleepwalkers
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
We are a rock band out of the Northern Virginia area. As individuals and as a united artistic front, we value the music we make and the impact that it has on others. We strive to combine our unique skills and expressions to create a message and an experience that we can be proud to give to our fans.
Shrine Of The Silver Monkey MySpace
HALF BROTHER is a punk, alternative, progressive, classic rock and rock group based around alexandria, VA. Formed in the summer of 2009, by founders Jack Hubbell and Erik Liner. They write there own music, play shows, and record. Half Brother has several singles at the time, but a full length LP is on its way. Jack Hubbell plays lead electric guitar, sings, and writes most of the lyrics. Jack's late 60's hard rock/blues stile of guitar playing is a strong part of the group's sound. Wile jack's writeing exposes his punk rock favorites. Jacks music production skills are a key element of half brother. Erik Liner plays the drums; and is a very talented musician. Erik contributes a lot to the group's sound. He is also a key element in the group's song writing. Erik keps the band smiling by telling jokes. Last but not least, Calvin Jimmy Sumpter (or CJ for short) is the bassist for half brother. CJ didn't know how to play bass before he joined but he lives near jack so we took the time to teach him .... and now he is good.
Sam Cooper & the Sleepwalkers is an independent band from the outskirts of Washington, DC. Combining acute melodic sense, experimental leanings, and a fierce DIY attitude, the band strives to make music that is as emotionally affecting as it is sincere and enjoyable.
SNRG FIREDAY
LATE SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
From video rotation on MTV in Asia to guest appearances on MYX North America--- SNRG continues to make it's presence felt all over the world. Performing LIVE in numerous cities, [DC, Toronto, Manila, LA and NY just to name a few] they have taken their moxie on the road to share their message at a venue near you.
What is SNRG?
-Passion. Passion shared through music, graphic design, photography, film and fashion.
-The quintessential 'Coalition of Creatives' manifested.
-A platform of self-expression ranging from active artists--- all the way to the hidden artist that may reside within you.
SNRG. Some Never Really Get. . .
those that Get it- Get us.
Feed your subconscious.
Dreaming Of Eden
EARLY SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
"Madrone kicks ass! These guys not only rock hard but also have monster, radio friendly hooks that appeal to all rock fans. Madrone has the "it" factor and work ethic you just don't see out of many bands today." -Casey Krukowski (Program Director/Music Director Rock 102.1 the X Richmond, Va)
"I grew up back in PA watching LIVE and FUEL blow up, and they have this same kind of spark...and the ladies love 'em." -Cisqo (Program Director/Music Director Top 40 106.1 WJJS Roanoke, Va)
"Whereas 90% of the harder bands around town get lost when the pace slows, Madrone shines....brightly. As they drop the noise level, the beats become more intricate and the bass begins to sway hypnotically. For most acts, playing the decelerated part in a song means strumming the same 4 chords they've been playing, just without all the distortion. The guitars I heard went in a different direction, abruptly taking the shape of early Zeppelin with the airy quality of U2." -John Persinger (The Roanoke Times Newspaper)
"I love the sound, dig the "TOOL" vibe!" -Scott Enright (A&R, Interscope Records)
Dreaming of Eden is a melodic hard rock band based out of Northern Virginia. Stemming from roots in the hardcore and emo scenes, Dreaming of Eden brings a fresh take to hard music. The group provides listeners with innovative, passionate songs that far exceed the boundaries of today's traditional hard rock stereotypes. They bring their stellar sound and jaw-dropping live show with a take-no-prisoners approach. In a world of screamers the quartet presents a new side to hard rock with noteworthy melodies while offering a high amount of energy that is difficult to rival.
Life Rocks! Benefit Concert to Support Youth Suicide Prevention feat. Berret & Harrison
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
In recognition of National Suicide Prevention Week 2010 (Sept. 5-11) CrisisLink is holding "Life Rocks!" at Jammin' Java in Vienna, Virginia, on Thursday, September 9, 2010. The special concert event for high school students will highlight the importance of mental wellness and help teens better recognize and respond to the warning signs of suicide.
The doors will open at 6 p.m. and the show will start at 7 p.m. Popular teen band, Berrett and Harrison, will headline the show along with Reedo, using their music to spread the message in a way teens and their peers can relate to and understand.
"Peer-to-peer learning is extremely valuable to youth because they often already seek out their peers when they are experiencing frustration, worry, or concern," notes Linda Eatmon-Jones, executive director of CrisisLink.
In addition to great music, concert-goers will receive tools and resources to help them identify major warning signs and risk factors for suicide; know which intervention methods that can be to help oneself or a friend experiencing a crisis; and learn more about the many resources available for youth in crisis, explains Emily Dickert, director of administration and outreach at CrisisLink.
Simple, sun-kissed, salty-skinned folk rock.
Capable of altering a listener's mood with two guitars, a simple drum kit and vocals, reedo & the front porch offering write songs with a theme steered toward taking time to slow down, remembering the good things in life, and keeping a good attitude. Inspired by the sounds and vibe of Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pepper, and many other great artists, reedo & the front porch offering get your toes tapping with their own take on some familiar tunes as well.
Hailing from Bethany Beach, DE, they have delighted crowds from venues such as Mangos and Dogfish Head in Delaware to Buxy's in Ocean City and have also helped loosen some ties and top buttons west of the Chesapeake in Washington, D.C. from Clyde's in Georgetown, the Clarendon Grill, to the Madhatter deep in the heart. It's all about the love of music for reedo & the front porch offering. If they can make just one person happy every time they play, their goal has been accomplished and always remember; take time to breathe.
Drawing inspiration from screwing up (a lot), Taylor Berrett has been writing and performing songs for five years. His music can best be described as blues-influenced acoustic folk-pop that floats from sarcasm to sincerity, but he will also take "good" or "bad" as acceptable descriptions, based on individual opinion. In addition to songwriting, Taylor actively pursues guitar playing. His recently-obsessive study of jazz and blues instrumentation occasionally hops over into his songwriting before it is shooed back into its corner. Taylor has shared the stage with groups that include Switchfoot, REO Speedwagon, Derek James, and Shane Hines and the Trance. He loves ping-pong and hates speaking in the third person. I hope you enjoy my music.
Matthew enjoys what he does. And if he doesn't enjoy what he is doing, he doesn't do it. But he enjoys lots of things so that's usually not a problem. One of the things he greatly enjoys is music, music of all sorts, music that makes him want to dance, think, be happy, sad, delectable, undeniable, maniacal, really smiley. He expresses his own music through various percussion instruments (including the drum set, which he started playing around... let's say 6 years ago?? 2003? The international year of freshwater? European disability year?), the piano, and any melodic musical instrument, electric or acoustic, that has keys on it. He and Taylor have started to become obsessed with foosball. The favorite game used to be ping-pong but now it is foosball. It is no longer ping-pong. Just thought I would let you know that. Matthew says: "I hope you enjoy listening."
Jonathan Mudd
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
DREW GIBSON, guitarist, songwriter and Virginia native, is proud to announce the release of his long-awaited debut album, LETTERBOX from CRAGMONT RECORDS.
Distinct as a dusty street, as if grown from the earth, rooted in soil and dirt, yet blossoming with flowery heartache, Drew's music possesses a brand of yearning for the simple things - front porches, letterboxes, and all things folk and blue. Working with award-winning producer, MARCO DELMAR, and such talented musicians as drummer ROBBIE MAGRUDER, bassist JON NAZDIN, as well as close friend and fellow musician, PAUL CURRERI, Drew has released a body of work with eloquent testimony.
Possessing an acoustic foundation with walls of electricity and melodic in its simplicity, this debut release brings a level of professionalism and maturity rarely seen in a freshman effort today. LETTERBOX reaches into a world of country blues, roots music, Americana, and folk. With influences from Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, and Mississippi John Hurt, and even John Coltrane, spinning melodies with outstanding guitar picking stature is truly this working man's craft.
"Introducing Jonathan Mudd! This guy writes some killer tunes. ‘Run Amelia' has the makings of a true hit. ‘If You Ever Leave Me' and ‘Somewhere The Night' are freaking great songs. I am stunned." -Shockwave Magazine
"Standout Track: ‘Run Amelia' is a slinky power-pop kiss-off laced with a chunky, riff-addled chorus. Mudd mingles a lonesome, single piano note with spacious chord changes and a winsome melody on the verses. ‘Your lies pace like animals,' he intones as the chorus' Godzilla guitars gear up for another round. [This] power-popper's mendacity anthem is the truth." -Washington City Paper
"[Mudd's songs] are grounded in the sort of rock and pop that made it impossible to turn off the radio back in the day. No matter what kind of speakers you're listening to these days...this record will rock 'em, and the songs will sound even better once the weather gets decent enough to drive fast with the windows down." -Jim Bartlett, WMGN, "The Hits Just Keep On Comin"
"The album is a treat, a fetching collection of riff-happy rockers that never forgo the catchy parts. For fans of smart guitars and tuneful melody-making...‘Any Good Heaven' is a real find." -The Washington Post
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Jonathan Mudd hails from Washington, DC, but over the years has made his home in Chapel Hill, NC, Atlanta, GA, and San Francisco, CA. He's recorded and toured with several notable bands, including The Shake, Land of Giants and Jo Jo Ex-Mariner.
In 2005, Jonathan released his first solo record, Any Good Heaven. The Washington Post called it "great pop-rock...a fetching collection of riff-happy rockers that never forgo the catchy parts."
Jonathan's new release is Truth Lies, which Blurt raved "has all the requisite powerpop hallmarks: meaty guitar riffs atop propulsive rhythms; instantly hummable melodies and a keen sense of dynamics; lyrics about loving and losing and getting back together, all with an undercurrent of reflection and redemption."
Jonathan is performing live with his new band, featuring a stalwart cast of DC rockers: guitarist/vocalist Parthenon Huxley (Eels, Don Dixon, ELO II), bassist/vocalist Cal Everett (4 Out of 5 Doctors), and drummer Tom Conner (Simple Man).
Zeroshift + Black Dog Prowl
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
One Ton Wonton is a funk/rock band based in the Washington D.C. area. The band is composed of former members of some notable D.C bands: Charley Hoppe from Boogiehawg on vocals and guitar, Scott Mazza from The Ordinary Way on drums, and Keith McElroy from The Moondogs on bass. The Wonton plays original high-energy funk tunes and is definitely a "dancer's" band that appeals to college age club audiences, older R&B fans, and jamband enthusiasts alike! Blending tight funky grooves with rock power, soulful lyrics, and melodic improvisation is The Wonton's stock in trade! We gonna have a funky good time!
With a gritty blues-rock sound and high-energy live show, Black Dog Prowl has built a reputation around Washington, DC as an up and coming force in the area's music scene. Gearing up for the release of their debut album in May 2010, BDP has created a buzz in the area resulting in packed venues and a quickly expanding, rabid fan-base.
Upon forming in 2009, this traditional 4-piece has been making noise in venues around the District, such as H Street's Rock & Roll Hotel and the Red & the Black, and will be taking their show on the road when the album is released in the Spring.
Josh Finver and Micah McCutchan bring unique and complimentary styles as they split the duties of guitar and vocals. Sky Allen provides a driving bass groove while everything is held in place by the animalistic and dynamic drumming of Enzo Ferroggiaro.
Black Dog Prowl is a band to keep your eye on in 2010.
ZeroShift is a band located out of Springfield, Virginia comprised of four members; J.T.Gray on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Chris "Chaos" Baella on lead guitar, Zach Bonner on bass and backing vocals, and Jared Hornaday on Drums. Fusing elements of hard rock, alternative metal, and Gothenburg style melodies, ZeroShift has created a sound that is familiar yet uniquely their own. Whilst gaining popularity and a regular following, ZeroShift has played at local Northern Virginia venues such as Jaxx nightclub, Auld Shebeen, and O'Shaughnessy's. They competed in an extremely close battle of the bands for Gorilla Productions where they finished second overall, only barely being inched out for the win. The stage presence that ZeroShift presents consistently at every show is one of the many assets of the band. As a vocalist J.T. Gray has a way of reaching out to the audience at every show and making each person in attendance feel as though the show is personalized just for them. Their lyrics are full of hidden meanings and subtle references that allow the audience to apply them directly to their own lives, engaging them in a way that only a truly talented band can, and making them extremely marketable. They finished their first demo in March 2010, recording 4 of their best tracks at Studio 8121 with engineer Mike Watert. ZeroShift is in the process of working on new material for their first full length record, and are looking to begin booking shows for the summer of 2010.
Open Mic Showcase hosted by Ron Goad
This show will be seated.
Declared the "Best Open Mic in the DC area" by The Washington Post.
How do you sign up to play?
Email Ron Goad (mister goad at gmail dot com) and tell him about the music you perform. Keep in mind that all Open Mic Showcases are scheduled weeks in advance.
What do you provide? Do I need to bring anything?
Fans, friends, and diners who will enjoy the show! We provide a sound system with three vocal mics and two direct input lines for instruments. Bring your own guitar/instrument cable to expedite matters. No drum kits.
Who is scheduled to perform at tonight's Showcase? What about next Monday's Showcase?
You can find the complete line-up for every Open Mic Showcase at the Songwriter's Association of Washington website under SAW Calendar.
Food and Drink Specials: $6 Gourmet Chili and so much more!
Jammin’ Java’s Songwriters’ Circle - A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen
This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.
Featuring Anthony Fiacco, Luke Brindley, Todd Wright & Shane Hines.
Celebrate Labor Day weekend with a tribute to The Boss! Todd Wright, Anthony Fiacco, Shane Hines and Luke Brindley pay tribute to the heartland rock, pop hooks and poetic lyrics of Bruce Springsteen. You'll hear some of the songs that earned Springsteen his 20 GRAMMY awards alongside originals from 4 of D.C.'s own singer/songwriters. It's an intimate, stripped-down setting, with the best local musicians sharing stories and playing Springsteen songs and their own. And you don't even have to wake up and go to work Monday morning!
The Downtown Fiction
LATE SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
The Downtown Fiction
EARLY SHOW!
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
Future
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
The politically-charged Reggae, Latin-Rock band Among Criminals, is as much about the message as they are about the music. Blending Clash style Reggae, 90's and progressive rock with an Afro-Cuban feel never heard in Rock music.
"After listening to the bands' latest release Happy History, it seems there is more to AC than mellowed out reggae rhythms that make you want to smoke a j. The distinct, clear and pure musicality of the album reinforces the technical talent of the musicians and the good ear of a skilled producer, while communicating intelligent lyrics and important social messages. But the biggest trick these three pull off is including their politically loaded lyrics without coming across as preachy or condescending. The key to their domination over such a challenge is their ability to delicately scatter even the most potent accusations and reprimands throughout the irresistibly chilled out record. With tracks like these, they could trick even the staunchest Republican into bobbing their head.
The album opens with tribal-like chanting that is reintroduced later in "Fears Perpetual Disguise (This Will Never Burn)," serving as a reminder of AC's mission to spread awareness of issues beyond our own borders. As the album art, lyrics and message printed on the inner-cover all illustrate, this band takes every opportunity to remind listeners that they are about more than the music. In true Marley fashion, there is a distinct feeling of, "one world, one love."
This ideology is a common theme throughout the album even as it progresses between a variety of styles and techniques. Songs range from catchy, pop-like grooves to laidback rhythms and vocals are sometimes whispered barely above Latin-infused beats while others are more forceful, driving and demanding. One minute you could compare the band to Sublime or Pepper, the next to Incubus. Within a typical five-minute song you'll find misleading fadeouts and dead stops only to be bombarded with the continuation of a lost theme you thought had died minutes before. The stark contrasts between styles, lyrics and mood keep listeners intrigued." -Jessica Novak, Beyond Race Magazine
"Among Criminals had been touring furiously throughout most of 2008. Among Criminals is one of the best unsigned Rock/Reggae bands in the Philadelphia area. If you haven't heard of them until now, it's time you checked them out!
If you love a good, live show you'll absolutely love Among Criminals! Their shows are guaranteed to get you totally into the music. Thy play with every inch of their heart and soul, and then some, and you can feel it when you see them playing." -Becky E, Teen Ink
Future is a genre-melting hip-hop infused progressive rock band; featuring two extraordinary guitarists a stellar rhythm section and a vibrant young front-man who delivers an energetic and connected performance every show. Future has a style drenched in eclecticism each musician adding their own influences to the "wall of sound" style of groove oriented vivid and elevating music.
With over fifteen years of combined professional music experience Future uniquely delivers an experimentation of sound utilizing elements of Hip Hop, Reggae and Rock Fusion. From outdoor festivals and underground clubs to premier music venues and sound-stages Future is cultivating a dedicated following of listeners who are as diverse as the band itself.
Redemption Reggae presents: Thee Original Judge
This show will be standing room only - with very limited seating.
MOJO is an upcoming band from Centreville, VA that combines reggae, rock, hip hop, and funk to create a sound that cannot be categorized!
Open 24 is a unique blend of alternative rock/pop with reggae, punk, and ska, providing audiences with a high energy experience that is both entertaining and enlightening. The band officially formed in late summer of 2009. While all the members had played together in various other groups and ensembles, they came together as Open 24 to define a new musical concept. With a wide range of influence from reggae, to hard rock, to alternative rock/pop, Open 24 has an individual, new sound that has helped the band build an ever growing fan base. In their short history, Open 24 has shared the stage with local, regional, national, and international acts including: Englishman and Shango, Ballyhoo!, Feed God Cabbage, Fairgrounds, Coastal Vibrations, and more.
Nominated for multiple Washington Area Music Awards and Virginia Reggae Awards, Lucky Dub plays the feel good influence that stems from the positive vibes of reggae music.
The band creates a sound that is the result of the melting pot city that is Washington DC. Lucky Dub host members from all over, including DC natives, members from California, New York, the Virgin Islands, and as far as West Africa and Russia. We come from all walks of life, and musical influences, from Reggae, Funk, World, Ska, Rock Alternative, and Hip/Hop to create a sound to get down to. Ya gotta do what you love doing, and that's what we're sticking to.
Being a DC based group, living at the center for social and political change in our country, Lucky Dub has also been fortunate enough to align with groups working for social/political change, a greener, brighter, and positive tomorrow, as well as movements which seek justice and human rights for all. We support the noble causes of our friends out in the streets of DC. Music is in our blood and we've got respect for all Musicians and DJs worldwide doing their thing.
Thee Original Judge, better known to many as "Judge" is a powerful voice emerging from the West Indies. Judge has been singing and chatting from the young age of nine years old and has matured his craft through his growing pains and practice of Rastafarism.
Judges' live performance is invigorating. He captivates his audience with his energy and unforgettable stage presence. On his journey from St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the United States he has shared the stage with Reggae artist Luciano, Culture and The Wailers as well as playing his brand of genre-bending reggae for packed bars and clubs.
Judges' demeanor of a lion paired with the nationally known artist D-Madness and his universal beat makes their performance more than just an event; it produces a truly amazing one-of-a kind, emotional and unforgettable experience.
