#58 November 2009
indicates a
Holiday tune
SONG “Therapy”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Forget And Not Slow Down (JIVE Records)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Mark Townsend
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HOME Nashville via Canton, Ohio
AIRPLAY WOCM, KROK, KZYR, WRRW, KXLY, KVSF, KTAO
SHOWS in the US as part of the Winter Wonder Slam tour (dates)
AND ANOTHER THING To write the songs on Forget And Not Slow Down, Relient K’s sixth studio album, vocalist Matt Thiessen completely secluded himself at a lake house in Tennessee for a few months. Relient K was formed by Thiessen and guitarist Matt Hoopes in high school in 1997, and since then they’ve collected three Gold LPs, a Grammy nomination, two Dove Awards, five EPs, a Christmas CD and they’ve toured the world over.
QUOTE “Forget And Not Slow Down is easily one of the prettiest break-up albums you'll ever hear. The band once again flex their compositional muscles, showing that even heartbreak is all a matter of perspective.” —Alternative Press
CONTACT Danny Cooper (JIVE) 310.272.2068 & Erica Collins (Sony) 323.337.0503
2
STING
SONG “Soul Cake” (radio edit)
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD If On A Winter’s Night… (Deutsche Grammophon)
ON SALE now
GUEST MUSICIANS Chris Botti (trumpet)
PRODUCED BY Sting, Robert Sadin
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HOME Newcastle, England
AIRPLAY #2 Most Added out of the box on FMQB; KPRI, WFUV, WXPN, WYEP, WUMB, WHRV, KTBG, KNBA, KXLY, WEHM, WMMM, WQKL, KTHX, KPND, WRRW, KDBB and more
AND ANOTHER THING Sting has been a multi-Grammy-winning singer, an Emmy-winning actor, an activist of International proportions and a best-selling author. If On A Winter’s Night… is a selection of seasonal songs, including “Soul Cake,” Sting’s take on Peter, Paul & Mary’s 1963 “A Soalin’.” Soul cakes, small round cakes traditionally made for All Souls’ Day, date back to Middle Age-Britain and are generally considered the origin of trick or treating.
CONTACT J.B. Brenner (The J.B. Brenner Company) 805.777.7999
SONG “Star Of Wonder”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Midwinter Graces (Universal Republic)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Tori Amos
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HOME Raised in the Baltimore area, but she now lives in England
AND ANOTHER THING Tori Amos’ reworking of the traditional classic “Star Of Wonder” is from her first holiday-themed album, Midwinter Graces, on which the chanteuse offers her own take on both classic carols and some new holiday songs of her own. Every copy of Midwinter Graces also includes a 20-page photo book and a DVD. Midwinter Graces comes on the heels of Abnormally Attracted To Sin, which came out last May.
QUOTE “This is Christmas without irony or a wink. On ‘Pink And Glitter,’ she’s backed by a big band, giving the tune a retro feel; on other tracks she’s supported by a rock band and an orchestra, granting the arrangements some solidity and bite.” —Wall Street Journal
CONTACT Trina Tombrink 212.841.8228
SONG “For You”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Traces (Sarathan Records)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Peter Bradley Adams, Lex Price
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HOME Brooklyn
AIRPLAY KFAN, WUKY, WNRN, WBJB, KRVM, WMWV, WNKU, WHRV, Maine Public Broadcasting, Sirius XM The Loft
AND ANOTHER THING Singer/songwriter/pianist/guitarist Peter Bradley Adams wasted little time after his second solo album, Leavetaking, hit store shelves; within six months, the onetime Eastmountainsouth frontman and Birmingham, Alabama, native had written, recorded, mixed and mastered his next solo full-length CD Traces.
QUOTE “Peter Bradley Adams has established himself as one of our best, if vastly underappreciated, songwriters…Traces finds Adams delivering yet another understatement of quiet, exquisitely fashioned neo-folk. New tracks such as sweetly rendered, shuffling ‘Heart Of A Girl’ and the jangling, classic-sounding ‘For You’ are chillingly good examples of what contemporary singer-songwriting can be in the right hands…Traces [is] an essential and highly recommended listen for 2009.” —DirectCurrentMusic.com
CONTACT Marc Ratner (Mishara Music Management/Sarathan) 207.236.4833
SONG “Saturday”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Chances, Stances & Romances (Rock Ridge Music)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Jason Spiewak, Chris Henderson (3 Doors Down)
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HOME Fairfield, Connecticut
AIRPLAY WXPK
SHOWS one of many artists on the Rockboat X cruise in January (dates)
AND ANOTHER THING Before he’d even graduated high school, 21-year-old Andrew Hoover was writing his own songs, and by the time he’d finished two years of college he had decided to pursue music as a full-time career. Chances, Stances & Romances, his first full-length CD following two EPs, was recorded in New York City and in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Hoover has already supported Sister Hazel, Tim Reynolds, The Alternate Routes and Kate Voegele.
CONTACT Eric Cole 917.373.7985
SONG “What A Long Year It Was”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Merry EP (Emote Records)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Gregory Douglass
LINKS Facebook MySpace Twitter YouTube
HOME Burlington, Vermont
SHOWS throughout New England and one in Pennsylvania scheduled through early January (dates)
AND ANOTHER THING Gregory Douglass released his seventh CD, Battler, in 2009, and iTunes named him a Rising Star. Now comes his first collection of holiday songs, Merry; “What A Long Year It Was” is the lone original on the disc. Douglass has toured nationally and shared stages with Jason Mraz, Dar Williams, Eric Hutchinson and Regina Spektor, among others, and his fan base has basically financed his last four records with pre-orders and contributions.
CONTACT Glory Reinstein (Bluebird Promotions) 802.279.3233
SONG “Celebrate The Holidays”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD single (Churchill-Nash Records)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Cagle & Nash
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HOME Charlotte, North Carolina
AND ANOTHER THING Cagle & Nash is a songwriting/producing/performing duo who released their debut CD, Soul Complete, in 2009. Guitarist Greg Cagle and guest Robyn Springer handle the vocals on “Celebrate The Holidays,” while Rick Nash plays trumpet and flugelhorn. Cagle has two solo CDs and Nash studied under engineer Mark Williams (R.E.M., Don Dixon, James Brown). They were just named Best R&B Artist at the Charlotte Music Awards.
CONTACT Rick Nash 803.327.9301
SONG “Little Steps”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD On These Heavy Feet (Independent)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Rob Drabkin
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HOME Denver
AND ANOTHER THING Rob Drabkin, who has twice played KBCO’s Studio C, was named Colorado’s Best Singer/Songwriter of ’08 and ’09 by Denver Westword magazine. He has opened for Leon Russell, Back Door Slam, The John Butler Trio, Tim Reynolds, Carbon Leaf, Colin Hay and Freddy Jones Band, and he played at The Democratic National Convention in 2008. On These Heavy Feet is Drabkin’s debut full-length, following two EPs.
QUOTE “Rob, I would like to buy one of your CDs.” —Colin Hay
CONTACT “Notorious” Liz Cousins (Notorious Promotion & Marketing) 718.545.9816
SONG “Favorite Time Of Year”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Through It All (Independent)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Brad Hammonds
LINKS Facebook MySpace Twitter
HOME New York City
AIRPLAY WNCW, WBJB, KFAN, WMKY, WMSR, WSGE, WMSV, WVIA
AND ANOTHER THING Although he’s been playing in bands for 20+ years, on his debut solo disc, Through It All, Brazz Tree guitarist Brad Hammonds wrote lyrics for the first time. In fact, he couldn’t stop, writing about 30 songs in two weeks. His solo music is far less complex than what he writes and plays in Brazz Tree, which has toured the US extensively and received praise from Paste magazine, among others. Hammonds is already working on album number two.
QUOTE “Brad is a strong player in the Richard Thompson tradition, with a beautifully hypnotic approach.” —Vernon Reid, Living Colour
CONTACT Peter Hay (Twin Vision) 718.369.1370
SONG “Mister Tell Me ’Bout The Great Depression”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Ghosts (Rock & Sock Records)
ON SALE now digitally; CD on 1/26
PRODUCED BY Tokyo Rosenthal, Chris Stamey
HOME Chapel Hill, North Carolina
AIRPLAY WUNC
AND ANOTHER THING Tokyo Rosenthal’s career spans three decades, but things have really taken off since he released his debut CD in 2007—he’s toured Japan, Europe and North America, with numerous trips across the latter two; his song “Edmonton” led to “Toke” being awarded the key to that city. Ghosts, his third CD, features the timely “Mister Tell Me ’Bout The Great Depression,” which is about the Depression that’s taking place now.
QUOTE “…one of the freshest voices on the alternative Americana scene today.” —Fatea Magazine
CONTACT Tokyo Rosenthal 919.370.7353
11
ALEXIS HARTE
SONG “Mayflies”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Big Red Sun (Independent)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY JJ Weisler, Jon Evans
HOME Berkeley, California
AIRPLAY KCRW, KPFT, KDHK, KDEC, KDNK, KVMR, WERU, WMVY, KRVM, KVNF, KLCC, KAXE, KOPN, KFAN, KOHO, WHFC, WUIN, KBCS
AND ANOTHER THING Big Red Sun is the fourth CD from Alexis Harte, who worked as an ecologist in Brazil for three years before his music career. Now, he has a co-publishing deal with Lionsgate, Performing Songwriter listed his debut CD, Junebug, among 2001’s top indie releases, Acoustic Guitar named 2003’s Sunlight Loping an Editors’ Top Choice and 2006’s Tumbling was a mainstay on KFOG’s Acoustic Sunrise. His co-producer, Jon Evans, plays bass for Tori Amos.
QUOTE “On a scene with no lack of smart, resourceful singer-songwriters, the Bay Area's Alexis Harte has long distinguished himself with lovingly detailed tunes that transform his rootsy influences into a lithe, personal sound." —San Francisco Chronicle
CONTACT David Bean & J.P. Mosoff (Artist Airplay Advisors) 831.238.7425
12
KICKBEND
SONG “A Song For You”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Faith.Hope.Love (Konoba Records)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Gary Loizzo
LINKS Facebook MySpace Twitter YouTube
HOME Willow Springs, Illinois
AIRPLAY WONC, WIIT, WLUW
AND ANOTHER THING Faith.Hope.Love features a pair of Dallas Songwriters Association semifinalists, including “A Song For You,” which was produced by two-time Grammy nominee Gary Loizzo (Styx, Bad Company, Survivor). KickBend formed when Chicagoland’s Jealous Bone needed a keyboardist for some session work; that keyboardist, Dom Stasi, wound up enlisting Jealous Bone to back him for his own songs, which became Faith.Hope.Love, their debut.
QUOTE “KickBend [offers] up tasty blues and Springsteenesque rock. Their ‘A Song for You’ is a sweet song about the power of the love of a good woman.” —Skopemag.com
CONTACT Sparky 708.906.3901
13
KICKBEND
SONG “Gone”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Faith.Hope.Love (Konoba Records)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Danny Karabaic
LINKS Facebook MySpace Twitter YouTube
HOME Willow Springs, Illinois
AIRPLAY WONC, WIIT, WLUW
AND ANOTHER THING KickBend started when Dom Stasi laid some keyboard tracks down for Chicago-based blues band Jealous Bone. They, in turn, joined Stasi as KickBend, and Faith.Hope.Love is their debut. “Gone” was #1 for over three months on the Broadjam.com Blues-Chicago chart and a Most Voted For Video on HomeGrown Video, where KickBend will air every Saturday night at 10 in November and December on Cablevision in the New York City area.
QUOTE “Kick butt Southern rock….” —Skopemag.com
CONTACT Sparky 708.906.3901
14
RICK McGUIRE
SONG “Dust And Tears”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Dust And Tears (Independent)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Rick McGuire
LINKS MySpace
HOME Minneapolis
AND ANOTHER THING On his second CD, Dust And Tears, Rick McGuire wrote everything and played nearly everything; Donnie La Marca (Jonny Lang), who also played on McGuire’s first CD, contributed the keyboard parts. A veteran guitarist for Minneapolis bands Orion Eyes and Escape, McGuire’s freshman solo effort, 2001’s Screaming, featured players from Jonny Lang’s band and Five For Fighting.
QUOTE
“When an individual has the ability to hear exactly what sort of dense and
detailed sound issues forth from their speakers during Dust & Tears, they
will be amazed.” —NeuFutur
CONTACT Rick McGuire
15
PENNAN BRAE
SONG “Need You Now”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Amber Glow (Wink Records)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Adam Gallant, Matt Wilson, Paul Milner
LINKS Facebook MySpace Twitter
HOME Vancouver, Canada
AIRPLAY KPFT, KGNU, KKFI, KRCB, KAOS, WHFC, KSCL, WMBR, KSER, KBOO, WMKY, WAER, KUNI, KXCI, KVNF, WORT, WETS, WERU, WRRW, KRVS, KAXE
AND ANOTHER THING Amber Glow is one of two CDs released in 2009 by Vancouver singer/songwriter Pennan Brae. The first, Shaded Joy, received airplay in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Europe, Canada and the US. Brae is a classically trained pianist who discovered the blues when he picked up guitar and harmonica as a teen. Following a cross-country move from Toronto, he wrote his first song at 18.
QUOTE “This amazing singer-songwriter has captured the listener with outstanding lyrics and uniquely presented vocals. Amber Glow has catchy and upbeat songs, bluesy and sexy tracks. Pennan’s songwriting skills show throughout.” —Indie Showcase
CONTACT Crystal Ann Lea (M:M Music) 323.939.8206/323.939.2665
16
NEIL NATHAN
SONG “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD single (Pirate Vinyl)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Neil Nathan
LINKS Facebook MySpace YouTube
HOME New York City
AND ANOTHER THING Neil Nathan’s acoustic version of Jeff Lynne’s “Do Ya” was on the second soundtrack from Showtime’s Californication, and his recording of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” is similarly arranged. The “Santa Claus” video will raise money for the Fred Gabler Helping Hand Camp Fund. Nathan’s debut full-length CD, featuring players from Queens Of The Stone Age, Kid Rock and more, is due in 2010.
CONTACT Peter Hay (Twin Vision) 718.369.1370
17
IKE REILLY
SONG “The War On The Terror And The Drugs” (radio edit)
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Hard Luck Stories (Rock Ridge Music)
ON SALE now
GUEST MUSICIANS Shooter Jennings, David Lowery (Cracker), Johnny Hickman (Cracker)
PRODUCED BY Ike Reilly, Ed Tinley
LINKS Facebook MySpace Twitter
HOME Chicago
SHOWS planned for spring 2010 (dates)
AND ANOTHER THING “The War On The Terror And The Drugs” is a duet with Shooter Jennings that found a bit of its inspiration in the classic Bing Crosby/Louis Armstrong duet, “Gone Fishin’.” Leading up to his new CD, Hard Luck Stories, Ike Reilly hosted a series of free podcasts on his website called “Where’s My Goddamn Medicine?”; the podcast previewed many of Reilly’s new songs and gave listeners a glimpse into his life.
QUOTE “Reilly’s tales of American life don’t just resonate, they chime out like cathedral bells...sheer genius.” —AllMusic.com
CONTACT Eric Cole 917.373.7985
18
MARY KARLZEN
SONG “It’s Christmas Once More”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD A Politically Incorrect Christmas EP (Y&T Music)
ON SALE now
GUEST MUSICIANS Gabe Dixon (keys)
PRODUCED BY Jansen Press
LINKS Facebook MySpace YouTube
HOME Milwaukee
AND ANOTHER THING Mary Karlzen’s pedigree includes previous tours with Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, John Hiatt and Nanci Griffith, and at one time she was VH1’s most-played independent artist of all time. She’s between CDs (her latest was 2007’s Wanderlust Diaries) but Mary wanted to say Happy Holidays with a song from her Christmas EP that first came out in 2004 and was later expanded, renamed A Politically Incorrect Christmas and re-released in 2007.
CONTACT Rich Ulloa 305.608.5643
19
KATE MacLEOD
SONG “Something Left You Living”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Blooming (Waterbug Records)
ON SALE now
GUEST MUSICIANS Darrell Scott (guitar, piano, pedal steel, steel guitar), Tim O’Brien (guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, banjo, fiddle, vocals)
PRODUCED BY Tim O’Brien
LINKS Facebook MySpace YouTube
HOME Salt Lake City
AIRPLAY KUWR, KRVM, WEVL, KRCL, WCBE, WRRW, WNRN, KDNK, KAXE, KFAN, WMKY, KXCI
AND ANOTHER THING In recent years, Kate MacLeod has been voted Best Lyricist, Best Stringed Instrument, Best Folk/Acoustic Musician, Best Fiddler, Best Bluegrass and Best Solo Act in the annual Salt Lake City Weekly Reader’s Poll, and she has also been recognized by the Utah Arts Council. Her songs have been recorded by artists as far away as the Czech Republic (she has toured several European countries). Blooming is Kate’s sixth CD and first since 2005.
QUOTE “One of the leading lights of the contemporary folk music scene.” —Associated Press
CONTACT Peter Hay (Twin Vision) 718.369.1370
SONG “So Am I”
AVAILABLE FOR AIRPLAY now
CD Hey La Hey (Pauper Sky Records)
ON SALE now
PRODUCED BY Lex Price
LINKS Facebook MySpace Twitter
HOME Chicago & Nashville
AIRPLAY WXRT
AND ANOTHER THING Eighteen years and 12 albums into his musical career, Michael McDermott is in the midst of a couple of new endeavors: First, he married singer/songwriter and band mate Heather Horton in 2009, and second he’s writing a novel. Hey La Hey is his first CD in two years, and in the meantime he’s toured in Europe three times. McDermott has shared stages with Van Morrison, The Wallflowers, Cracker, 10,000 Maniacs and many others.
QUOTE “Michael McDermott is probably the greatest undiscovered rock & roll talent of the last 20 years!” —Stephen King
CONTACT Matt Suhar (Tantrum Management) 773.588.8825
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