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Archive for the ‘Stephaniesid’ Category

New Year’s Eve Celebration with stephaniesĭd & Jon Stickley Trio
at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall on Dec 31, 2015


Dinner and Show will be an 8pm seating and includes a four course dinner, champagne toast and an evening of entertainment

Jon Stickley Trio at 9pm | stephaniesĭd at 10:30pm
$55 Dinner Only :: 6pm seating (three course dinner)
$75 Dinner and Show :: 8pm seating; (four course dinner)
$15 Show Only with doors at 8:30pm (does not include dinner)

More info, full menu and ticketing info at → www.isisasheville.com/events/new-years-eve-celebration-with-stephaniesid-the-jon-stickley-trio/

ASHEVILLE —  Isis Music Restaurant and Music Hall is happy to announce a New Year’s Eve Celebration with stephaniesid and Jon Stickley Trio on Thursday, December 31, 2015. Isis is located at 743 Haywood Rd  Asheville NC 28806.

Join 7-time “Best Pop/Rock” (Mountain Xpress) band winners stephaniesĭd, and their cadre of stellar guest musicians, back for the third New Year’s Eve on the Isis Restaurant & Music Hall main stage! Their show is a celebration in the deepest sense… a journey… a battle with obstacles… a gut-wrenching soul plea… and ultimately, a groovy party for the world’s heart.

stephaniesĭd will be joined by the Jon Stickley Trio, who’s been making waves with their new album Lost at Last. The New York Times’ Nate Chinen writes “… there’s hardy cohesion among the players — no less on the Gypsy standard ‘Valse de Wasso’ than on ‘Darth Radar’ a turbocharged original with a ska upbeat and a shredding melody. And when Mr. Stickley and friends turn to bluegrass, as on ‘The High Road,’ by Tim O’Brien, they sound both respectful and free.”

This will be a standing show with limited number of seats in the music hall, RSVP needed. The dinner and show will be an 8pm seating and includes a four course dinner, champagne toast and an evening of entertainment. General tickets are also available with doors at 8:30pm (does not include dinner). For those that do reserve their seats for dinner, the Isis New Year’s Eve menu includes Baked Oysters, Pork Belly, or Seared Sushi Tuna Ceviche, along with Lobster Bisque or Pickled Beet and Citrus Salad, as well as Pork Roulade, Filet Medallion, Sunburst Farms Trout, or Root Vegetable Poutine. The fourth course includes Champagne Mousse Verrines or Chocolate Tres Leches. For Dinner only or Dinner / Show Tickets ~ You must call Isis (828-575-2737) for reservations. “Show Only” Tickets may be purchased online. See link for menu for NYE Dinner.

stephaniesid-excavator-flight-054.jpgMore about stephaniesĭd:

The ĭd (pronounced like “kid”) is the real person, under the armor. It’s the inner wild being, the emotional mercury, the soft tissue, the genuine human. 

stephaniesĭd is a band working to excavate it.

The singer is Stephanie Morgan, a “female Jim Morrison at a ballet class” (The Asheville Disclaimer); her voice is equal parts child, smoke, cabaret coquette, and “Bjorklike panache” (Bonnaroo Beacon). The band’s “sharp writing” (World Cafe, NPR) ranges from belting soul to dream-pop to jazzish, making full use of band members’ varied musical backgrounds, “always with a childlike wink and skip” (The Big Takeover).

stephaniesĭd acknowledges the struggle within each human being to connect with other people, authentically and vulnerably, and attempts to make music that conjures the ability to do so. The songs unabashedly mine for light, ranging from deftly focused, emotionally-charged journeys to infectious dance tunes, braving the dark passages along with the audience, busting out improvisation to connect larger pieces of the story, and never missing the chance to revel in utter joy. “How far this music will go seems dependent on whether people are willing to expand their own horizons.” writes AW Music, Canada.

Stephanie Morgan is a former gymnast and dancer born in Iowa and raised in Colorado and West Texas. Chuck Lichtenberger (keyboards) is a seasoned jazzer, masterful and improvisational on the keys, toggling equal nods to faves Ahmad Jamal and Van Halen. Tim Haney (drums) is a rocker. He’s Irish, loud, and proud, he cusses like a sailor and he knows how to leave space to frame a melody. He’s everyone’s favorite brother.

stephaniesĭd songs have appeared on Showtime’s Nurse Jackie, The Weather Channel, in an award-winning short film called “The Red Helmet”, filmed in Switzerland and traveling the world with the Banff Film Festival; in a Cesare Paciotti Italian jewelry commercial with supermodels, and in a Sony PlayStation’s horror game Until Dawn.  The band has been covered in Paste, Bust, Blurt, Shuffle, Billboard, Southeast Performer, The Bonnaroo Beacon, and other magazines. and was also chosen by Shirley Manson in a contest for Bust magazine. “Cinematic” won an award in the International Songwriting Competition. Stephanie has received numerous Regional Artists Grants from the arts council Songs have spun on Philadelphia’s WXPN, NYC’s WFUV, NPR’s World Cafe, and many other college and AAA radio stations.

What does it feel like to be at a stephaniesid show? Watch this video and find out → www.youtube.com/watch?v=URi6YGqhJkM

For more information, please visit www.stephaniesid.com.

JonStickleyTrio_CreditHeatherHambor_2015_6662More about Jon Stickley Trio:

Jon Stickley Trio independently released Lost at Last, their 2nd album, on October 6, 2015. The originality and sheer energy of this genre-bending ensemble serves as a welcome wake up call for those who experience it. With roots in gypsy jazz, bluegrass, and hip-hop, Jon Stickley Trio combines Jon Stickley’s rapid-fire flatpicking guitar with the sultry and wild, yet refined, melodies of Lyndsay Pruett (Futureman) on violin set over the deep groove of Patrick Armitage (Atmosphere) on drums. The three have fused their collective styles into a repertoire of exciting and innovative original music along with some captivating covers.

Lost at Last was recorded in the band’s hometown of Asheville, NC at the iconic Echo Mountain Studios under the watchful eye of producer Dave King (The Bad Plus). While recording the album, King referred to the band’s imaginative sound as “this whole other thing.” King’s creative energy and inspired musical approach led the band deeper and deeper into the heart of their musical consciousness, which led to the solidification of their musical identity.

“Working with our producer Dave King was a life changing experience for us all,” says Stickley. “He is an intense, master musician, but also a hilarious, life-loving, positive, HEAVY, ‘unimpeachable’, inspiring dude! He helped us find ourselves, and his mark on the album is undeniable.” Jon goes on to say, “We succeeded in capturing a lot of spontaneous energy.

Jon Stickley is a guitarist based in Asheville, N.C., and rooted in the flatpicking bluegrass tradition, the quicksilver dialect of Tony Rice and Norman Blake. But in the Jon Stickley Trio, with the fiddler Lyndsay Pruett and the drummer Patrick Armitage, he also bounces around in Gypsy jazz, folk-punk and jam-band territory, tracing a fidgety continuity of style.” –The New York Times, Nate Chinen

“With Lost at Last, the Jon Stickley Trio combine the ethos of a newgrass power trio with the energy and dynamics of a runaway train. Stickley’s powerful flatpicking gathers influences from the greats such as Tony Rice, but also allows for other, more modern, sounds to creep in. ‘Darth Radar’ is a rapid-fire take that moves from a serious ska beat to burning surf-style runs that would make Dick Dale proud.” Stream Darth Radar at Premier Guitar, Jason Shadrick

“Asheville has a force to be reckoned with in the tight three-piece perfection of the Jon Stickley Trio. It’s pretty incredible how closely the three play with their unique blend of Appalachian, jazz, maybe even prog-rock styles.” –Martin Anderson, Music Director & Host at WNCW

This is very very cool music. Jon’s ideas on the acoustic guitar are the freshest of the fresh. Lost at Last is rated BA: Bad. Ass.” –Larry Keel, Guitar Legend & Master Fisherman

“Blending elements of traditional, fast paced bluegrass with sultry backings in jazz and raging hip hop beats, Lost at Last is an album not to be missed.” –Performer Mag, Kate Dennis-Skillings

For more information, please visit www.jonstickley.com.

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Lingua Musica interviews with stephaniesid!

Kelly Denson with Lush Life Today talks with Stephanie Morgan, Chuck Lichtenberger and Tim Haney of Stephaniesid at Tony Preston’s studio in Asheville in November 2011. The band talks about their “pop noir” sound and new record, Starfruit, their upcoming trip to Europe, being influenced by Holly Palmer when she played at Be Here Now, the dynamics of their music and more. Tony Preston filmed and edited this video which is copyright Luminescence 2011.

http://www.stephaniesid.com/
http://amrmediaproductions.com/
http://www.lushlifetoday.com/
http://linguamusicalive.com/

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Stephaniesid Fall Tour Dates


www.stephaniesid.com

Fri 11/11/11 – Preservation Pub- Knoxville, TN
Sat 11/12/11 – Uncle Slayton’s – Louisville, KY
Sun 11/13/11 – MOTR Pub – Cincinnati, OH
Mon 11/14/11 – Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe – Frankfort, KY
Thu 11/17/11 – The Blind Tiger – Greensboro, NC
Fri 11/18/11 – The Evening Muse – Charlotte, NC
Tue 11/22/11 – New Brookland Tavern – Columbia, SC
Sat 12/3/11 – Eighty-Five – Columbus, GA

If you are near on of these cities, call your local radio station and request to hear a song from “‘Starfruit”!

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Here is what the press is saying about the album!

“lush pop, layered vocals, rich horn parts and a certain velvety darkness” — Alli Marshall, Mountain Xpress

“Starfruit… brims with lush, sophisticated pop” — San Antonio News (TX)

“”The lyrics on the new recording derive from cinema, art and literature…intricate musical arrangements with witty and literate lyrics.” — Staunton News Leader (VA)

“This is our favorite album we’ve heard all year, hands down.” –Asheville Disclaimer‎

“[stephaniesid’s] cover of “Life in a Northern Town” brings a joyful bounce to the proceedings, adding in xylophones, horns, and whimsy aplenty.” — CoverMeSongs.com

“Their recent appearance in WNCW’s Studio-B debuted some of the danceable delights from ‘Starfruit’ and shows Stephaniesid is a forward moving force in music today.” — Dennis Jones, WNCW

“’Starfruit’ is a heck of a lot of fun and finds Stephaniesid covering both the Dream Academy’s “Life in a Northern Town” and the theme song to “Laverne & Shirley.” Seriously. Along the way are standout originals “Closer,” “I Like It,” “Starf***er,” “I Like It Too” and “So Low/A Hope.” The aforementioned Dream Academy cover is every bit as powerful as the original.” —  Jeffrey Sisk, Daily News (PA)

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Pop-Noir band stephaniesid released their new album STARFRUIT on October 18th. It’s now available on itunes, amazon, spotify, and bandcamp (physical cd). Get all the info at www.stephaniesid.com.

Buy the album:
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/stephaniesid/id450022523
Bandcamp (physical cd): www.stephaniesid.bandcamp.com
Official Website: www.stephaniesid.com


Throughout the day, they posted scavenger hunt on facebook for fans to find information throughout their website to win a free copy of the album. Here’s how it went:

first scavenger hunt question (winner gets a free starfruit cd!):
what phrase do you get when you put the following “starfruit” lyrics together?

-the 62nd word from “house of many colors”
-the 10th word from “closer”
-the 85th word from “life of pi”
-the 4th word from “i like it”
-the 2nd word from “house of many colors”
-the 52nd word from “closer”
-the 4th word from “cadiz”
-the 2nd word from “cinematic”
-the 79the word from “i like it”

hint: click around on www.stephaniesid.com to find the link to get to the lyrics for the songs. another hint: you might want to look in today’s news post.

Court Mariie ‎** You grow beautiful when you blow in the wind

 

The next question is purely guess work. How many pigtails is Steph wearing today? The 1st person to guess correctly wins a free starfruit cd!

Donnie Patterson four

Geez Donnie, that was too easy for you, eh? Congratulatons, we will message you! Give us a minute to come up with something a bit more challenging than this one.

ok, the genius of our first 2 winners, court mariie and donnie patterson, have forced us to raise the difficulty quotient.

 

next question: who was the original owner of the piano chuck used to record his tracks for “starfruit”? be specific. what name did chuck call this person? (spelling must be correct; only 1 guess per person. family members and close friends exempt from this one… sorry). winner gets a copy of the new “starfruit” cd!

Congratulations, Jenn O’Tool for answering question #3 correctly… Chuck played all those tracks on his Grammy Jo’s piano. Grammy Jo lived to be 98 years old, and loved to play by ear. She was also a prolific painter… here is one of hers…

QUESTION #4 is for you musicians… In the chorus for “I Like It”, what are the 4 chords in the progression? Be specific. Only 1 guess per person. First person to answer correctly wins a spankin’ new “Starfruit” CD! (Band members ineligible.)

Congratulations to Christopher Stevens-Brown of Montreal and Will Newman of Asheville! They tied as winners of Question #4. The exact chords in the chorus of “I Like It” are V9, iii, V9/4, I. In other words: B9, G# minor, B9 with A in the bass, and E Major. Good work, lads!

PRIZE QUESTION #5: In which video on the official stephaniesid website video page will you find a shot featuring pink smoke?

Congratulations to Marquita Davis Yother for correctly answering question #5… The Red Helmet, filmed in Interlaken, Switzerland and featuring stephaniesid’s music, has a shot of pink smoke at about 3:20.

PRIZE QUESTION #6: There is a Nurse Jackie episode featuring stephaniesid’s music. This is a 3-part question… 1) What song is featured, 2) Where are the characters when the song is playing, and 3) What is the name of the episode?

Congratulations to Jennifer Spiegelman (of Birmingham, AL), who correctly answered the Nurse Jackie question… our song “Hey Hey Hey” was featured at the end of Episode 2, Season 1, called “Sweet-n-All”. The characters were in Jackie’s husband’s bar when the song was playing.

You can watch Nurse Jackie here:  http://www.sho.com/site/nursejackie/home.sho

we’re on the home stretch… only 4 more chances to win a free “Starfruit” CD. QUESTION #7 is another lyric search… What sentence do you get when you put together the following words from stephaniesid’s new album?
–4th word from “cinematic”
–98th & 99th word from “cadiz”
–42nd thru 45th words from “so low”
–5th word from “house of many colors”
–86th thru 88th words from “starf***er”
Happy hunting… 🙂 s

Congrats to Emily Schumacher of Easton, Connecticut… she wins a free “Starfruit” CD by answering Question #7 correctly, with the phrase “feel mad grief, pick up heavy things, (then) run with bulls.” Yay!

QUESTION #8: What were the 2 affectionate names applied to the man in the Dale Earnhardt jersey described in a blog entry on Stephaniesid’s official website? First to give both names wins a new “Starfruit” CD.

Congrats to Daniel Fields of Chapel Hill, NC… for answering Question #8 correctly (in only 6 minutes). The blog entry entitled “Home from Mason Jar Tour” (September 10, 2010) described a man in a Dale Earnhardt (#88) jersey who saw “giving, especially to children, as a moral imperative”, and took it upon himself to let the occupants of each passing float have it if they didn’t throw to the kids immediately surrounding him. Candy Monitor.

PRIZE QUESTION #9 is called “friends of sid”. You must get all parts correct to win, so please only answer if you’ve got them all (and of course people named or referred to in the questions are ineligible). You’ll likely find clues on our website, but might need to search elsewhere for the answers:
1) What beverage was named by a midwest reviewer to describe stephaniesid labelmate Patrick Sweany’s musicianship?
2) What is the name of the radio show hosted by the author of the lyrics to Starfruit song “Cadiz”?
3) In what category was asheville musical project Paper Tiger a winner in the Best of WNC Mountain Xpress poll?
4) What is the name of the blog penned by Steph’s fellow Naked Babies songwriting group member Ami Worthen?
5) Who were the members of Naked Babies, the songwriting group that spurred several songs on “Starfruit”?
6) Which client of stephaniesid’s new publicity team, @dreamspider, was described by Modern Drummer magazine as “unconventional”?
7) On the website for the artwork designer for “Starfruit”, what date is on the 2nd poster in the gallery (right to left)?

Looks like question #9 has you stumped, or maybe a lot of you are sleeping. Good for you on a Tuesday night. We’ll save that question for the morning. This has been fun, and congrats to the winners! –steph, signing off

Good morning, Facebook… the CD is blissfully released, but we had a bit of a cliffhanger in our contest last night… so we’re spilling into today. This morning we awoke to Tim Swoape’s victory over Question #9! Hope you all were able to check out some of our friends’ great work in the hunting process…

–A Cleveland reporter said of our labelmate: “To say Patrick Sweany is just a Blues musician is like saying Coke is just a soft drink.” www.patricksweany.com

–Jon Reid, the writer of the lyrics to “Cadiz”, hosts Race to the Bottom on Sunday nights at Asheville FM. (Call in!) www.ashevilleFM.org

–Paper Tiger, led by Molly Kummerle (friend, lovely seamstress, and member of Steph’s songwriter group, Naked Babies) won top 3 Best Electronic Band in the recent Mountain Xpress poll. www.papertigermusic.com

–Ami Worthen, fellow Naked Baby, singer, former uke player, gal extraordinaire, pens a great blog called “Ami Whoa!” at ukulelerockstar.com

–Jonathan Scales, the wonderful pan steel player, was said to take an “unconventional approach” to the pans by Modern Drummer Magazine. www.jonscales.com

–Jenny Greer of Sound Mind Media did the original artwork and graphic design for the Starfruit cover! soundmindmedia.net

ok… one last feat, the finale, the terminus, the denouement…. winner gets the last Starfruit CD in the giveaway pile, and a Stephaniesid tshirt. QUESTION #10 is actually a task, not a question… first person to obtain an actual Starfruit (the fruit, not the CD), cut it half so you can see the star, and post a photo of it to this page, wins!

Congratulations to Todd Brown of Burlington, VT! He posted this photo of a starfruit (also known as a carambola: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carambola). Todd wins a “Starfruit” CD and a sid tshirt!

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Stephaniesid Releases “Starfruit” Today 10/18!

~Announcing A  Scavenger Hunt for a Free Copy~

Buy the album:
iTunes:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/stephaniesid/id450022523
Bandcamp (physical cd):  www.stephaniesid.bandcamp.com
Official Website:  www.stephaniesid.com

Today is the national release day of Stephaniesid’s “Starfruit” through Nine Mile Records! Asheville, NC band Stephaniesid return with this sparkling, new pop gem, cementing their status as one of the region’s most ambitious, innovative, and influential bands.

They were just voted BEST POP BAND in the Mountain Xpress poll 2011, which marks the 4th year in a row to be voted #1! “Starfruit” is also a leading album in Magnet Magazine‘s poll about what album people are most excited about that releases this week!

To celebrate the day, Stephaniesid is running a scavenger hunt online through their facebook page. Throughout the day, they will post some tidbit to hunt for on their website. The first correct answer will win a free copy of the album! Become a fan and take part in the contest at: http://www.facebook.com/stephaniesid

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“lush pop, layered vocals, rich horn parts and a certain velvety darkness” — Alli Marshall, Mountain Xpress

“Starfruit… brims with lush, sophisticated pop, hip-hop and jazzy atmospherics” — Hector Saldaña, Express-News MySan Antonio.com

Imaginative, innovative songs married to musical arrangements that are as much jazz-based as rock or pop are something that Stephaniesid does unlike most other groups out there these days. It’s something that sets them apart in a world of copy-cat music and makes them interesting and intriguing.” — Bill Kramer, Staunton News Leader

“Their recent appearance in WNCW’s Studio-B debuted some of the danceable delights from ‘Starfruit’ and shows Stephaniesid is a forward moving force in music today.” — Dennis Jones, WNCW

“It’s an incredible album that gets better with each listen… support your ears and your brain’s request for incredible sonic input (what the brain calls “music food”). What we’re saying is that it’s fu**ing amazing. This is our favorite album we’ve heard all year, hands down.” — Tom Scheve, Asheville Disclaimer‎

Call, Request, and Listen on
Actively Spinning Stations:

WNCW (Spindale, NC) Cinematic, LiaNT, Shlamiel
WUSC(Columbia, SC) #3 add for CMJ
WPRK (Orlando) Cinematic
WMSE (Milwaukee)
WHFR (Detroit)
KSYM (San Antonio) Cinematic
KFSR (Fresno) LiaNT
KTUH(Honolulu)
KTSW (San Marcos, TX)

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Sweet! The Annual Best of poll in Asheville Mountain Xpress has tallied the votes for this years winners!

Congratulations to Stephaniesid (#1 Best Pop Band), Jonathan Scales Fourchestra (#3 Jazz, #2 Best Video), Secret Secret 23 Skidoo (#1 Local Hip Hop), The Mad Tea: Krekel and Ami (#2 Fragglepop), Papertiger (#3 Electronic) , Steep Canyon Rangers (#1 Local Bluegrass/ Old- Time), Josh Phillips Folk Festival (#1 Best Local Jam/ Progressive band and #3 Acoustic/ Folk)), Toubab Krewe (#1 World/ Reggae and also #2 Local Jam/ Progressive band) , the Honeycutters (#1 Americana/ Country), Pierce Edens (#2 Americana/ Country), Dave Desmelik (#3 Americana/ Country), The Secret B-Side (#1 R & B/ Blues and also #1 in Soul) Vertigo Jazz Project, LaZoom Tour (#1 Comedy Group), Kovac and the Polar Bear (#1 Best Music Video), Dustin Spagnola (#1 Visual Artist) and all of the other winners in the variety of categories!

See all the entertainment winners and categories here: http://www.mountainx.com/bestof/2011/8/Arts-Entertainment#.TpWGTXK3OCh

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra won #2 Best Video and #3 Best Jazz Band:

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Official video for “Cinematic” from the 2011 Stephaniesid album entitled “Starfruit” which  releases on October 18th.

This video was shot in an undisclosed location in Asheville, NC by Paul Chelmis, Jesse Hamm, Lisa Jourdan, and Cody Wright. It was edited by Stephanie Morgan.

“Cinematic” Official Video (Stephaniesid) from Stephanie Morgan on Vimeo.

Asheville, NC band Stephaniesid return with their sparkling, new pop gem Starfruit, cementing their status as one of the region’s most ambitious, innovative, and influential bands.

In the downtime since their last record, lead singer Stephanie Morgan formed a local songwriter’s group to help spur her creativity.

She began recording the songs that emerged from these sessions, and posting them online for fans. This collection of singles formed the nucleus for Starfruit, and the rest of the band joined her over the course of many months to record more material in the home she shares with husband/co-bandleader Chuck Lichtenberg.

As a result, Starfruit has a much looser, more organic feel than the band’s first three full-lengths, while retaining the band’s penchant for intricate arrangements, unusual textures, and virtuosic playing. The sprawling 14-track effort touches on all of the band’s many influences, even including a faithful cover of Dream Academy’s hit “Life In A Northern Town,” and a cheeky reworking of the Laverne & Shirley theme song.

BACKGROUND:
Stephaniesid quickly became a local powerhouse with their debut Spiral In (2005). The band was signed by Nine Mile Records in 2007 and released Grus Americanus, a record that NPR’s Robin Hilton described as “A mesmerizing mix of songs that can be hushed and calm one moment, and then suddenly dark and explosive the next.” Grus also spawned singles which appeared on HBO’s “Nurse Jackie,” the award-winning short film “The Red Helmet,” and numerous compilations.

In 2008, the band performed at Bonnaroo, and was reviewed in The Bonnaroo Beacon: “…a rather transcendent set …the band was different, melodic, quirky, and just plain good…. A sleeper act which hit the mark with an almost Bjork-like panache.”

2009’s Warm People garnered more national attention for the band, with plays on NPR’s “World Cafe” (“Sharp writing!” exclaims David Dye), and glowing reviews in Blurt, Billboard, and Big Takeover. By 2010, Stephaniesid had been named “Best Rock Band” in Asheville in the (weekly paper) Mountain Xpress poll 4 years in a row.

Touring in support of “Starfruit” are Steph (vox, guitar, synth), Chuck (keyboards, vox), Maine-born Tim Haney (drums), and former NYC horn players Justin Ray and Jacob Rodriguez, with Matthew Richmond (vibraphone) and Jonathan Pearlman (guitar) also appearing on shows in the Southeast.

Find out more about the band at stephaniesid.com

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Asheville, NC band Stephaniesid return with their sparkling, new pop gem Starfruit, cementing their status as one of the region’s most ambitious, innovative, and influential bands.In the downtime since their last record, lead singer Stephanie Morgan formed a local songwriter’s group to help spur her creativity.

She began recording the songs that emerged from these sessions, and posting them online for fans. This collection of singles formed the nucleus for Starfruit, and the rest of the band joined her over the course of many months to record more material in the home she shares with husband/co-bandleader Chuck Lichtenberg.

As a result, Starfruit has a much looser, more organic feel than the band’s first three full-lengths, while retaining the band’s penchant for intricate arrangements, unusual textures, and virtuosic playing. The sprawling 14-track effort touches on all of the band’s many influences, even including a faithful cover of Dream Academy’s hit “Life In A Northern Town,” and a cheeky reworking of the Laverne & Shirley theme song.

BACKGROUND:
Stephaniesid quickly became a local powerhouse with their debut Spiral In (2005). The band was signed by Nine Mile Records in 2007 and released Grus Americanus, a record that NPR’s Robin Hilton described as “A mesmerizing mix of songs that can be hushed and calm one moment, and then suddenly dark and explosive the next.” Grus also spawned singles which appeared on HBO’s “Nurse Jackie,” the award-winning short film “The Red Helmet,” and numerous compilations.

In 2008, the band performed at Bonnaroo, and was reviewed in The Bonnaroo Beacon: “…a rather transcendent set …the band was different, melodic, quirky, and just plain good…. A sleeper act which hit the mark with an almost Bjork-like panache.”

2009’s Warm People garnered more national attention for the band, with plays on NPR’s “World Cafe” (“Sharp writing!” exclaims David Dye), and glowing reviews in Blurt, Billboard, and Big Takeover. By 2010, Stephaniesid had been named “Best Rock Band” in Asheville in the (weekly paper) Mountain Xpress poll 4 years in a row.

Touring in support of “Starfruit” are Steph (vox, guitar, synth), Chuck (keyboards, vox), Maine-born Tim Haney (drums), and former NYC horn players Justin Ray and Jacob Rodriguez, with Matthew Richmond (vibraphone) and Jonathan Pearlman (guitar) also appearing on shows in the Southeast.

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“This looks happy, but the music hits much deeper. Stephanie Morgan’s vocals [move] delicately between The Sugarcubes and The Sundays, but always with a childlike wink and skip…. Sometimes the band evinces a sadness that lives in the world, but there is always an answer of music and joy to bring light out of every possible shadow.” –Marcel Feldmar, The Big Takeover Magazine

“The songs move from intimate to anthemic… effortlessly poetic letters…acute insights … shimmering synth hooks and smoothly shifting melodic textures… difficult to classify but easy to love.” –Wayne Robins, Billboard Magazine

“This is world-class music, period. No labels necessary.” –Fred Mills, Blurt Magazine

ARTIST: Stephaniesid
TITLE: Starfruit
CATALOG NUMBER: NMR 0123
RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2011
FOCUS TRACKS: #1 Closer, #4 I Like It,
#5 Cinematic, #7 Life In A Northern Town
BEST MARKETS: Asheville, NC, Charlotte, NC,
Atlanta, GA, Cincinnati, OH, Greenville, SC

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The 10th annual LAAFF is right around the corner in Downtown Asheville on Labor Day Weekend Sept 3-4th on Lexington Ave. 

A handful of Dreamspider bands and friends are performing at the Fest:

  • Stephaniesid is doing their CD release at their show on Saturday Sept 3d at 7:30 on the main stage.
  • Galen Kipar Project plays on Sunday 2:45-3:30 pm on the main stage
  • Jonathan Scales Fourchestra on Sunday 5:45-6:30pm on the Mai Stage
  • Spork! on Sunday 1:15-2pm on the Main stage

Also, be sure to check out 23 Skidoo & The Family Band (Sat 11am Main Stage), Santos (Sat. 1pm bobo stage) , Paper Tiger (Sat 3:15 Main Stage), Vertigo Jazz Project (Sat 4:15 Main Stage), The Secret B-Sides (Sun 6pm bobo stage), Lotion (Sun 2:30-3:10 Mountain Xpress Walnut Stage), GFE (Sun 8:15 MX WaLnut Stage), Ten Cent Poetry (Sun 11:45- 12:30 Main Stage), Jeff Santiago y Los Gatos Negros (Sun 1:45- 2:30 main stage), Zansa (Sun 6:30-7:15 Main Stage), Moses Atwood Band (Sun 4:45-5:30 main Stage) and lots of oither great stuff.

For the full schedule and lots more fantastic Asheville bands check out the Mountain Xpress: http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2011/083111laaff-bandsschedule#.Tl-jfWoglIE

The Xpress also did this wonderful interview with Stephaniesid about their album release:

The new Stephaniesid album, Starfruit — despite its name-association with things tropical and celestial — was conceived in a dark basement. “A universe leapt out of the grayness,” says front woman Stephanie Morgan.

An advance listen of the album reveals lush pop, layered vocals, rich horn parts and a certain velvety darkness (perhaps it’s the snarl of baritone sax or echoes of reverb ). But even through an edge of bitterness (despite dance beats and bells, the track “Starf—ker” is not without teeth), the record is backlit by undeniable sparkle.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE:http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2011/083111ripe-for-the-picking#.Tl-m_WoglIE

LAAFF is not only a music festival, it is also a arts and fun festival.. So be sure to wander around and stumble into many other fabulously freaky things that will happen both day! Here are some fantactic pics of last years LAAFF by local Photographer Lissy Whelan with Bright Life Photography:


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