Damn Tall Buildings Independently Release ‘Sleeping Dogs’ – Vibrant, Rootsy, and Vivid

https://damntallbuildings.hearnow.com/sleeping-dogs

Witty and Engaging, Damn Tall Buildings
Independently Release Sleeping Dogs Sept 9

Stream/ Order Sleeping Dogs Today

What Folks Are Saying:

“Brooklyn indie folk trio Damn Tall Buildings have been making their way through the Americana world, releasing a trio of albums fusing roots rock, bluegrass, and swing. In their early days, the band busked together, and today their style captures that same ragtag charm and breezy joy, blending unassuming presentation with narrative observations on the mundanities of daily life.” 
—Under the Radar, Caleb Campbell

“With the title song defying conventional wisdom by advising ‘Don’t you let them sleeping dogs lie,’ Damn Tall Buildings delivers an album that is anything but conventional, guaranteed to be played on repeat.” 
—No Depression, Nancy Posey

“The group is damn close to excellence with songs like ‘Cold Rain.’ Here the performance is precise & the vocals resonate with vibrancy… ‘Lemons’ is mindful of the late John Hartford & expressive… They’re an engaging trio & they indeed know what they’re doing. What’s an added value is their original music is well-written & executed.”  —Americana Highways, John Apice

“I found their music to be energizing as they sing as witnesses into the world they explore”  —The Long Island Sound Podcast, Steve Yusko

“If you were needing a reason to stomp your feet (other than a tantrum), we have one.” —Dallas Observer

BROOKLYN, NY — Damn Tall Buildings are thrilled to independently release their 3rd album, Sleeping Dogs today, Sept 9. Bluegrass, roots rock, old time, and vintage swing are among the influences on this acoustic Americana trio. Whether sharing lead vocals and instrumental solos or blending their voices into loose, joyous harmony, the three members of Damn Tall Buildings—multi-instrumentalist and primary lyricist Max Capistran (guitar and banjo), bassist Sasha Dubyk, and fiddler Avery Ballotta—delight in entertaining. For a handful of tracks on the album, they brought in special guests on trumpet, drums, flutes, lap steel, and keys to add to their dynamic sound.

Damn Tall Buildings
Photos by Joe Angelini

Sleeping Dogs is a bop about looking things smack-dab-right-in-the-face and is essentially about how it has become almost impossible to not be constantly influenced by current events, media, and all of the other things that surround you in your day-to-day life.

Damn Tall Buildings produced and recorded the record themselves, back and forth between Sasha’s parents house in the south Jersey shore and in Max and Sasha’s apartment in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. After recording, they sent their tracks to Dan Cardinal [Darlingside, Lula Wiles, Josh Ritter] at Dimension Sound Studios in Jamaica Plain, MA to mix and master. Dan also played keyboard on the title track, adding to the texture of the song.

Max says, “With us taking the recording process into our own hands, we were able to set our studio up wherever we saw fit, which completely changed the recording process for us… With this new arrangement we were able to really take our time, which gave us more freedom to really explore the songs without the pressure of running out of studio days. We all love the beach, the ocean and surfing, so we set up shop at the house smack-dab in the middle of hurricane season in the northeast, so we were literally doing takes, then running out to the beach to catch some of the finest waves New Jersey has to offer. I’m pretty sure Hurricane Larry deserves co-producer credits, actually.”

The album opens with, “What A Nice Life,” which has some extra pep to balance out the darker “I-don’t-know-who-I-am-anymore” lyrics: “And it’s been feeling mighty lonesome now that winter’s coming on… Not sure who I’ve been lately… But holy sh*t can barely stand me.” This is followed by an old timey, swingin’ “Dark Window Panes,” in which they ponder a pending apocalypse, accompanied by longtime friend and maestro of sound Garrett Eaton [Dana Williams, Gracie and Rachel] on trumpet.

“Podcast” was premiered by Under the Radar who writes, “With ‘Podcast’ the band leans further into their sun-lit harmonies, rugged instrumentation, and lively performances… they deliver some deliciously biting lyrics, taking shots at the entertainment industry’s complacency as the world rushes to its end: ‘Sleeping on the ground/Thinking you’re so profound/Your podcast sucks and I think I hate you…Your bio says your an artist/Filtering all your garbage/Do you know what you’re even saying?’”

The velvety and rejuvenating “Cold Rain” was premiered by AmericanaUK who calls it, “music that is determinedly of Now.” For the song, they are joined by mandolin wizard Dylan McCarthy (a longtime DTB collaborator and 2019 Rockygrass Mandolin Champion) and rock-steady drummer Micah Cowher [STOMP in NYC]. Cowher also lays down the beat on the catchy “Sweet Girl,” with its chorus, “I am not myself, I am everyone else,” which became what the band calls, “the motto for the record; It’s basically our new anthem.” 

Damn Tall Buildings calls Sleeping Dogs, “an exploration to the depths of oneself to discover who we truly are… maybe it really is as simple as buying some new shoes, and feeling really good wearing ‘em, while you cruise down the block on the sunny side of the street.” 

You can hear this cheery sentiment echoed in the deep groove and colorful melodies of “Lemons,” in which the virtuosic flute playing of Anh Phung [Twisted Pine] elevates the song to a new level. This fresh energy can also be felt as the sunshine slips in on “Patio.”

The mid-tempo shuffle “Painter” illustrates a re-emergence into the world, with a regained sense of self with its lyrics—“But I’ve got some new shoes baby, and I’m feeling so fine… And it looks like we’ve got blue skies honey, coming up a’ down the line.” Lars Thorson [Kane Brown], an adjunct member of DTB since the beginning, brings the magic of the lap steel to this track.

They slow things down a bit in an ode to waiting, “Quietly Heartbreaking,” written on a beautiful rainy day, and the gentle “My Baby.” Avery wrote “My Baby” for his partner in both life and music (and soon-to-be-wife), Emily Gervaise Moran [Aurora Birch]; to hear her guitar sing over the bridge really brings everything full circle in sound and spirit.

The album closes out with the title track, “Sleeping Dogs,” pulling from the old proverb—“Don’t you let them sleeping dogs lie”—the song emphasizes the theme of the album: don’t ignore life, get out there and live it, take pleasure and meaning from the little things that keep us all connected and growing.

The trio is individually from all over the United States (New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Montana), but were born as a band while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA in 2013. They started as buskers on Newbury Street in Boston, started touring nationally, and then moved the band to Brooklyn in 2017. Max says, “Brooklyn has an endless influence on our music. Yemeni music on iPhone speakers at the deli. Reggaeton from the street side auto shop across the street rattling our window panes. West African guitar rhythms on the walk to the train. It’s insane. We love it.”

Damn Tall Buildings
Photos by Joe Angelini

Since their busking days, they’ve made two albums—Cure-All (2014) and Don’t Look Down (2019)—and released a self-titled EP in 2015. The band’s music has been praised by publications such as Bluegrass Today, PopMatters, The Boot, Saving Country Music, The Boston Globe, The Alternate Root, Folk Radio UK and more.

Damn Tall Building says, “Our innate desire is to connect with people on a level that’s beyond day-to-day interaction. Our hope is that the joy that making this music brings us will somehow get passed along to the people listening, which they can then take with them to pass along to someone else. It’s a shared celebration of positive energy, and that’s what keeps us cooking.”

Damn Tall Buildings on Tour

9/9 Fri – Coppell Arts Center – Coppell, TX
9/10 Sat – Cactus Cafe – Austin, TX 
9/15-17 Thu-Sat – Walnut Valley Music Festival – Winfield, KS
9/27-29 Tue-Thu – IBMA Bluegrass Ramble – Raleigh, NC
9/29 Thu – The Ramkat – Winston Salem, NC
9/30 Fri – Bourgie Nights – Wilmington, NC
10/1 Sat – IBMA Wide Open Bluegrass Festival – Martin St. Stage – Raleigh, NC
10/13 Thu – Parlor Room – Northampton, MA
10/15 Sat – Glastonbury Apple Harvest & Music Festival – Glastonbury, CT
10/16 Sun – 118 North – Wayne, PA
10/20 Thu – Rockwood Music Hall – New York, NY
10/21 Fri – City Winery – Boston, MA
11/10 Thu – Prius Hall-Ball State University – Muncie, IN
11/11 Fri – Thrasher Opera House – Green Lake, WI

Website: www.damntallbuildings.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DamnTallBuildings 
Twitter: @DamnTallTweets
Instagram: www.instagram.com/gramtallbuildings 
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/damntallbuildings

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Southern Soul Songwriters, Swift Silver, Release 1st Single from Self-Titled Debut Album

Behind The Scenes with Swift Silver

Swift Silver to Release Eponymous Album June 4, 2021
Songwriters Anna Kline and John Looney Hail in a New Era of Southern Rock and Soul

First Single: “Blackbird’s Refrain” Out Now!

“The organ on this will lift you up and the song itself will soar from there on Anna Kline’s vocals.  Think Grateful Dead’s ‘Masterpiece.’  ‘The higher you get the more you’ll see’ — isn’t that the truth.”–Americana Highways, Song Premiere of “Blackbird’s Refrain”

MT. STERLING, Ky. —   Get swept away by Swift Silver’s big river of sound with their self-titled debut album due out June 4. Swift Silver marks a meaningful milestone for Southern songwriters Anna Kline and John Looney as a 180° (re)turn to their musical roots: the drawling tremolo of rhythm and blues, the redemptive strains of Southern gospel, and the twang of the rural soul.

From the moment the listener presses play; from the mid-tempo album opener, the vocally empowering “Belleville Blues,” to the last track, a reflective ballad, “Ain’t Wrecked Yet;” Swift Silver celebrates the tenets of Southern sound. This is a collection of songs cultivated in the dim lights of listening rooms and local jams, regional festivals and side street bars, as well as alone in the woodshed or crafted as an ensemble.

Swift Silver is Anna Kline and John Looney

Kline’s vocal performances—on both lead and harmony—display an astonishing range of versatility and skill, her voice flows as smooth as a rippling river current. Looney gives a masterful performance on lead guitar, not only displaying his expertise as an integral sideman but also as a talented arranger, showcasing a finely-tuned ear for nuance and groove. Together, they drive the contagious electric surge of sound that is Swift Silver.

“This album speaks to the path we tread,” says Kline. It is lyrically insightful, eloquent—and timely when examined through the lens of current events. “These songs help us navigate lingering questions we daily seek to answer, they pulsate with discovery, and melodically confess the hunger to right a few wrongs.”

This is exemplified in the lyrics of “Blackbird’s Refrain,” an energetic, Beatlesque track showcasing John’s slide guitar: “This world is coming alive to some strange times, we’ve got to bend and sway together.” 

“There were several months of quarantine under our belt already, and I was constantly chasing sunshine. Anytime we could get outside, we’d let the dogs play and soak it up. We always start to feel worn thin during the winter and long for warmer days ahead. And, with everything that was going on politically and pandemic-wise, we were really feeling the weight of it all.” Anna says, “The lyrics are a literal bird’s eye view—if a bird, circling above the world and surveyed the chaos we’re all currently living in, what would he have to say about it?”

With the chorus, “The higher you get, the more that you see,’ Anna says, “I’ve always loved how little revelations shift your mind’s eye to perceive nuance in life and situations. And, as a person who has dealt with the life-long struggles of depression and anxiety, these little shifts in consciousness have added up to completely change my life. This past decade I’ve been on a healing journey… and I have come out on the other side. Something I never thought I’d be able to do.”

Anna and John’s collaboration spans ten years of exploring the great expanse of the American songbook—touring, conspiring, songwriting—fused together by the Mississippi heat, molded in the mountain air of Western North Carolina, and flung free in the hills of Kentucky bluegrass. Swift Silver has an unmistakable sound conjured from an intense musical intimacy and this new album embodies a new era of Southern rock and soul.

Swift Silver was recorded at Fat Baby Studios in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, enlisting the help of brothers Kenny Miles and Hayden Miles (of Wayne Graham). Kenny and Hayden not only comprised the album band—adding bass lines, keys and organ fills, as well as a few harmonies— Kenny was also at the helm as engineer and co-producer. The album includes 8 original songs and an alluring cover of Carter Stanley’s “The Fields Have Turned Brown,” a purposeful nod to their lives as bluegrass musicians with some mighty powerful harmonies.

Other songs on the album include a not-so-average cheatin’ song, the country soul “We’ve Given Up On Us;” the guitar driven and vocally riveting homage to Memphis soul, “Looking Back;” and the reflective cosmic country waltz tune, “Tonight, Forever Yours.” 

The pondering song, “We All Get Our Turn,” has the lyrics, “We all get our turn… To be young and grow old… Asphalt or gravel… No, it don’t matter… How you got here, the road you traveled… Ask yourself who is your master? Is this the life you’ve been chasing after?”

At the heart of the album, the high energy “Come On Home To Yourself,” steered by the fuzzed-out guitar lick that takes you back to Mississippi by way of Texas blues, is a love letter of sorts to “home.” Anna says, “I was inspired from the stories my parents told me about my kinfolk who settled in Mississippi in the 1800s. When I go home we visit the cemeteries where they are laid to rest. I also felt inspired to draw the parallel between myself and the Mississippi River to illustrate my progression and personal growth, and how constrained the river might feel as men have tried to forcefully control her path all these years, as she meandered and, ultimately, flows her own way.” 

She sings, “Fashioned out of the mud… From the Coldwater bottoms… Who wants to walk the Straight and narrow? Seek not to be reborn… Behold I am the pearl… Bent, bowed, undertow, journey on… Find your way back home.”

More about Anna Kline and John Looney: 

For the majority of their band life, Anna and John were known as the bluegrass duo, Grits & Soul

With a history of major festivals and appearances under their belt—MerleFest, Bristol Rhythm and Roots, Suwannee Springfest & Magnolia Fest, Countryfest in Belgium —and a performance on Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern—the time came where they felt led to explore new (and old) musical space. Thus, Swift Silver was born.

Anna comes from a line of several generations worth of musicians, singers, and artists. She grew up in Hernando, a small town between Memphis and the Mississippi Delta, and is a writer of both songs and Southern culture content. From Memphis Soul to Muscle Shoals and working in licensing at Malaco Records, her roots ring clear in her songwriting as well as her capabilities as a vocalist. 

John was born in the mountains of Southwest Virginia and raised in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. He is a sought-after multi-instrumentalist (John R. Miller  & The Engine Lights, Wayne Graham) whose accompaniment on mandolin or guitar gives each song personality and a distinct groove. Drawing from the varied influences of his mountain music heritage, blues, and the diversity of the American songbook, John’s contributions—in both live performances and on recordings—are ear candy.

The pair met in Jackson, MS, in 2011 and wrote their first couple of songs together. The following year they decided to move to Asheville to play music full time where they stayed for five years before returning to Mt. Sterling, Kentucky in 2016. 

“As collaborators and a couple, it’s all we’ve ever known. 2021 marks 10 years playing music and songwriting together.” Anna says, “We wrote our first few songs together and the course of our lives changed forever.”

Swift Silver Track listing and duration:

1. Belleville Blues 3:56

2. We’ve Given Up On Us 5:20

3. Looking Back 7:06

4. Tonight, Forever Yours 5:32

5. Come On Home To Yourself 5:26

6. The Fields Have Turned Brown 7:28

7. Blackbird’s Refrain 5:34

8. We All Get Our Turn 5:48

9. Ain’t Wrecked Yet  4:10

Players and Instrumentation:

Anna Kline: lead vocals, harmony vocals, acoustic guitar

John Looney: lead guitar, vocals

Kenny Miles: baritone guitar, bass, organ, harmony vocals

Hayden Miles: drums, keys

And special guest Chris Justice (Wayne Graham, John R. MIller): bass on “Looking Back”

Album Artwork by Joe King, logo and lettering by Grace Van’t Hof, album design by Zack Looney

Website: www.swiftsilvermusic.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/swiftsilvermusic  

Twitter: www.twitter.com/swiftsilverband 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/swiftsilvermusic 

Presave the Full Album, Swift Silver:  https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/swiftsilver/swift-silver

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We Can All Use Some “Love Medicine” Right Now– New Single by Nate Lee Out Today

Nate Lee Independently Releases Wings of a Jetliner June 12, 2020

1st Single “Love Medicine” Out Today:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/natelee/love-medicine

Produced by Professor Dan Boner, the Album Features Todd Phillips,
Wyatt Rice, Ned Luberecki, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Thomas Cassell, Daniel Salyer,
and the Becky Buller Band!

Wings of a Jetliner Preorder Link: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/natelee/wings-of-a-jetliner 

“On first hearing, Wings of a Jetliner reminded me of the first time I heard the original David Grisman Quintet album. Something distinctive and new has arrived, and it’s Nate Lee’s musical voice” —Chris Sanders

“Nate is an incredible musician and human being. This project really shows the world the depth of his abilities, both as a picker and a singer. I’m so honored to be along for the fun!”
—Becky Buller 

“Wings of a Jetliner is your first class window seat on an exciting musical journey with Captain Nate Lee at the helm. So put on your noise cancelling headphones, recline the seat and enjoy your flight!” —Ned Luberecki, SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction Derailed Host

“Wings of a Jetliner mirrors all that I have observed in Nate’s persona. He is an objective seeker, lifelong learner, patient teacher, and a quick-witted responder to happenstances. He is as nimble on the fretboard as he is at racking up airline points. His smooth bow arm reflects his own pursuit of balance.” —Professor Dan Boner

NASHVILLE, TN — Nate Lee is an International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award-winning instrumentalist and renowned teacher of private lessons and music camps. The overlapping landscapes of folk, bluegrass, old-time, and new acoustic music offer a wide field to hoe and singer/mandolinist Nate ably covers every bit of that ground. Tuneful lopes, the muscular bounce of ‘grass, the sparkling charm of Grisman-Rice inspired dawg music, and more are all in his comfort zone and he moves between them with uncommon ease. Nate is known as the kind of musician who is able to put his own stamp on whatever he plays and his forthcoming album, Wings of a Jetliner, brings that home and is set for independent release June 12, 2020 on his own Adverb Records.

The first single “Love Medicine,” (written by Chris Sanders of the Hard Road Trio) was premiered by The Bluegrass Situation who says, “Even while bluegrasser and multi-instrumentalist Nate Lee puts the main focus on the powerhouse instrumentalists on his new album, Wings of a Jetliner, the lyrics and masterful chordal harmonies of ‘Love Medicine’ — a song about addiction and tough situations — shine through.” 

Nate Lee. Photo by Dan Boner

Nate is known as a member of award-winning bluegrass group, the Becky Buller Band, which he joined in 2017. For this project Nate assembled an inspired collection of iconic players, modern masters, and rising stars—including bandmates from Becky Buller Band: Becky Buller herself, banjoist Ned Luberecki, bassist Daniel Hardin, and the album’s producer and engineer Dan Boner. Also joining in on guitar is original member of the Tony Rice Unit and flatpicking legend, Wyatt Rice,  icon of acoustic music and sideman to the stars, living-legend bassist Todd Phillips, and rising star Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (Mile Twelve) on fiddle. Bluegrass singer and songwriter Daniel Salyer joins in on harmony vocals on a few songs and Thomas Cassell (Circus No. 9) serves as Nate’s duet partner on the Grisman-inspired two-mandolin instrumental “Serenity.” 

Nate composed all five instrumental numbers on Wings of a Jetliner: The lead-off track and bluegrass ripper, “Wonderbat,” the light-hearted jazzy “Quick Select,” the lovely and spare “Comealong Brown Dog,” and the spiraling “Rook Roller.”

Listeners will find equally satisfying variety in the carefully chosen vocal numbers, penned by an eclectic assortment of accomplished songwriters, on Wings of a Jetliner. All here to delight are hard-driving bluegrass songs (“Tobacco”), western swing (“The More I Pour”), nuanced tales (“Miner’s Grave”, “Somewhere Far Away”), the waltzy “Sweet Allis Chalmers,” and the new-grassy sounds of “Love Medicine,” as well as a cover of 90’s rock icons The Offspring’s “All Along.”

Nate Lee: Wings of a Jetliner Track Listing and Credits

1. Wonderbat 1:54
2. Tobacco 3:21
3. Quick Select 3:05
4. Somewhere Far Away 3:27
5. Serenity 3:45
6. All Along 2:20
7. Comealong Brown Dog 4:10
8. Miner’s Grave 2:55
9. Rook Roller 3:39
10. The More I Pour 2:54
11. Sweet Allis Chalmers 3:45
12. Love Medicine 3:57

Nate Lee – mandolin (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12), lead vocals (2,4,6,8,10,11,12), fiddle (5,10), banjos (8)
Todd Phillips – bass (1,3,4,5,8,9,10,11,12)
Wyatt Rice – guitar (1,3,4,5,8,9,10,11,12)
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes – fiddle (1,3,4,8,9,10,11,12)
Ned Luberecki – banjo (1,2,3,4,5,6,9,10,11,12)

Becky Buller – fiddle (2,6,7), harmony vocals (2,6,11)
Daniel Hardin – bass (2,6,7), harmony vocals (6)
Dan Boner – guitar (2,6), fiddle (10), harmony vocals (10,11)
Thomas Cassell – mandolin (5)
Daniel Salyer – harmony vocals (8,10,12)

Songwriting Credits:
Nate Lee (Human Adverb Music, BMI) – 1,3,5,7,9
Daniel Salyer (Pay Low Music, BMI) – 2
Bradford Lee Folk & Nicholas Ian Woods (Folk/Woods, BMI) – 4
Bryan Holland (Round Hill Works, BMI) – 6
Ashleigh Caudill (Ashleigh Deanna Caudill Music, SESAC) – 8
Tim Stafford & Mark Bumgarner (Daniel House Music, BMI/Two Chairs Music, BMI) – 10
Bill Caswell (Farmhand Music, BMI) – 11
Chris Sanders (Desert Night Music, BMI) – 12

Produced by Professor Dan Boner at ETSU Recording Lab
© 2020 Adverb Records, a division of Nate Lee, LLC

www.thenatelee.com
www.facebook.com/LikeNateLeeLLC
www.twitter.com/NateLeeLLC
www.instagram.com/nateleellc
www.PlayNately.com (teaching information)

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Nate Lee To Release New Album 6/12 ‘Wings of a Jetliner’ w/ Members of Becky Buller Band

Nate Lee Independently Releases Wings of a Jetliner June 12, 2020

Featuring Members of Becky Buller Band
Produced by Dan Boner at ETSU Recording Lab in Johnson City, TN

Watch Nate Lee Perform Solo on Americana Highways Livestream
on FaceBook Wed 4/22 at 7:45pm ET 

NASHVILLE, TN — Nate Lee is an International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award-winning instrumentalist and renowned teacher of private lessons and music camps. The overlapping landscapes of folk, bluegrass, old-time, and new acoustic music offer a wide field to hoe and singer/mandolinist Nate ably covers every bit of that ground. Tuneful lopes, the muscular bounce of ‘grass, the sparkling charm of Grisman-Rice inspired dawg music, and more are all in his comfort zone and he moves between them with uncommon ease. Nate is known as the kind of musician who is able to put his own stamp on whatever he plays and his forthcoming album, Wings of a Jetliner, brings that home and is set for independent release June 12 on his own Adverb Records.

Nate is known as a member of award-winning bluegrass group, the Becky Buller Band, which he joined in 2017 and he quickly became a fan-favorite. For this project Nate assembled an inspired collection of iconic players, modern masters, and rising stars—including his bandmates from Becky Buller Band.

Two-time GRAMMY winning songwriter, eight-time International Bluegrass Music Association award winner, and leader of the band that bears her name, Becky Buller contributes her fiddle and vocal chops to four of the songs on Wings of a Jetliner and says, “Nate is an incredible musician and human being. This project really shows the world the depth of his abilities, both as a picker and a singer. I’m so honored to be along for the fun!” 

Nate Lee. Photo by Scott Simontacchi

A Texas native residing in Nashville, Nate first came on the bluegrass scene playing fiddle with legendary banjo player and teacher, Alan Munde, in the Alan Munde Gazette, and later on fiddle and mandolin with the Jim Hurst Trio. He has also played with The Hard Road Trio and continues to record with the band. When he’s not playing, Nate is heavily involved in the work of the International Bluegrass Music Association and is also a renowned teacher helping bluegrass musicians and the bluegrass community to develop and grow. Wings of a Jetliner finds Nate stepping forward as a leader in a new way, setting a higher bar for himself and bringing his singing and playing to the forefront.

Renaissance man, Professor Dan Boner, came on board early as producer and engineer. When not playing alongside Nate in the Becky Buller Band, Dan directs the bluegrass, old-time, and country music program at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) in Johnson City, Tennessee. Nate credits Dan with fostering an environment and process that pulled the best from every musician involved in creating Wings of a Jetliner, a freedom that is apparent on each song, primarily tracked at the ETSU Recording Lab.

Professor Dan says, “Wings of a Jetliner mirrors all that I have observed in Nate’s persona. He is an objective seeker, lifelong learner, patient teacher, and a quick-witted responder to happenstances. He is as nimble on the fretboard as he is at racking up airline points. His smooth bow arm reflects his own pursuit of balance. Life is navigated best with a calculated efficiency of motion, energy, and time.”

“Great soundscapes resonate with listeners in the same internal places as the sound-makers,” Dan continues. “Nate so thoughtfully recruited this group of like-minded artists to create a most fascinating listening experience.”

The musicians that joined Nate for this project would make anyone’s all-star ballot and many annual awards lists. Appearing on all but two tracks, 2018 International Bluegrass Music Association Banjo Player of the Year and host of “Derailed” on SiriusXM, Ned Luberecki pulls double-duty on the five-string banjo in Nate’s studio band and as a member of the Becky Buller Band. Joining Nate and Ned in the studio band on guitar is original member of the Tony Rice Unit and flatpicking legend, Wyatt Rice, and icon of acoustic music and sideman to the stars, living-legend Todd Phillips plays upright bass. Rounding out the studio band, rising star Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, founding member of IBMA Momentum award-winners Mile Twelve, handles fiddle duties on eight tracks.

Guesting in, we find bass monster Daniel “The Hulk” Hardin laying down the groove on a few and Dan Boner steps out from behind the glass to provide guitar and harmony vocals as well as fiddle on a track. Bluegrass singer and songwriter Daniel Salyer joins in on harmony vocals on a few songs. Three songs call on the talents of Buller Band members (Buller, Boner, Luberecki, and Hardin) exclusively: “Tobacco, “All Along,” and “Comealong Brown Dog.”

2016 winner of the prestigious Rockygrass mandolin competition (and founding member of the genre-bending group Circus No. 9), Thomas Cassell, serves as Nate’s duet partner on the Grisman-inspired two-mandolin feature “Serenity” a song (named for the spaceship in the sci-fi television show Firefly) which grew from a harmonic reworking of a traditional Irish tune that pays tribute in melody to the great David “Dawg” Grisman, mandolin innovator and father of the dawg style of jazz-bluegrass fusion. The whole band shines here, especially Nate, who plays both fiddle and mandolin.

Nate’s wide-ranging taste, not to mention his deep well of musical tools, give a lot for fans to enjoy in the striking variety of instrumentals on Wings of a Jetliner. Nate composed all five instrumental numbers on Wings of a Jetliner, and the quality of instrument and operator shine on each one. Mandolin players in particular will find much to love. Nate takes full advantage of his axe’s tone, monster chop, and uncommon sustain— which he says has had a significant impact on his playing—to great effect. 

The lead-off track, “Wonderbat,” is a bluegrass ripper named after his trusty mandolin, which Nate, a die-hard fan of The Simpsons, named after the baseball bat that Homer used in an episode. “Quick Select” is a light-hearted jazzy piece with a playful bounce that was inspired by his favorite video game, Ratchet & Clank. Nate is joined by Buller and Hardin on “Comealong Brown Dog,” a patient, lovely, and spare instrumental lope inspired by Nate’s dog, Cashew, which uses the “three T’s” of taste, timing, and tone. “Rook Roller” is a spiraling bluegrass number that comes from Nate’s favorite finishing move in chess and it’s traditional flavor belies the twists and turns of a decidedly modern tune.

Listeners will find equally satisfying variety in the carefully chosen vocal numbers, penned by an eclectic assortment of accomplished songwriters, on Wings of a Jetliner. Hard-driving bluegrass songs, western swing, and more, are all here to delight. The same taste and mastery that make each of Nate’s tunes stand out make every song shimmer on it’s own.

A powerful and driving tale of resistance, at great personal risk, in the face of exploitation, “Tobacco,” written by Dan Salyer, and performed with The Becky Buller Band supporting, draws from the history of western Kentucky and Tennessee to tell a story about the Black Patch Tobacco Wars of the early 20th century.

The darkly tender and nuanced “Somewhere Far Away,” written by Nick Woods and Bradford Lee Folk, has a special resonance for Nate and the title of the album, Wings of a Jetliner, comes from a line in this song, ‘I like the lights on the wings of a jetliner as they blink out, and they cut through the cloud cover.’ I really love to watch planes, especially takeoff and final approach before landing. My back porch is a front row seat for final approach at the BNA airport.” 

Some listeners will recognize “All Along” from 90’s rock icons, The Offspring, delivered here with all the raw urgency of the original, by Nate and the rest of the Becky Buller Band. Nate says, “The drive they created between the bass/kick drum and the snare is just like a fast bluegrass groove. ‘All Along’ has always been one of my favorites; the lyrics are pretty lonesome and look like a bluegrass song on paper.”

Nate’s clawhammer banjo propels the atmospheric canter of “Miner’s Grave,” written by Ashleigh Caudill, is a dark and rich tale of a moonshiner’s tragic life drips with mood, and holds a bit of sonic experimentation. “The More I Pour,” penned by Tim Stafford and Mark Bumgarner, began life as a honky-tonk song, but Nate pulled from his experience and transformed it into a dancehall-ready charmer. “In days past, I was a fiddler in a Western Swing band and I’ve always loved triple fiddle and swing chord changes which are present here”

Written by Bill Caswell and made famous by bluegrass legends, Country Gazette, which included the equally legendary Alan Munde on banjo, “Sweet Allis Chalmers” is a favorite song of Nate’s, and was the first thing recorded for Wings of a Jetliner.  “Love Medicine” closes out Wings of a Jetliner on a contemporary-feeling note. The song was written by Chris Sanders, Nate’s former bandmate in the Hard Road Trio, and looks at addiction in tough-but-tender terms. The influence of the Red Hot Chili Peppers peeks through consistently and gives the song a uniqueness. The arrangement gives each player a closing opportunity to shine, and they all do.

Nate Lee’s Wings of a Jetliner is an album of significant range and each track breathes with life. This release is a new high-water mark for Nate. It’s sure to make a lot of new fans for a fast-rising talent. Ned Luberecki says, “Wings of a Jetliner is your first class window seat on an exciting musical journey with Captain Nate Lee at the helm. So put on your noise cancelling headphones, recline the seat and enjoy your flight! Earn double miles if you buy one for a friend!”

Nate Lee: Wings of a Jetliner Track Listing and Credits

1. Wonderbat 1:54
2. Tobacco 3:21
3. Quick Select 3:05
4. Somewhere Far Away 3:27
5. Serenity 3:45
6. All Along 2:20
7. Comealong Brown Dog 4:10
8. Miner’s Grave 2:55
9. Rook Roller 3:39
10. The More I Pour 2:54
11. Sweet Allis Chalmers 3:45
12. Love Medicine 3:57

 

Nate Lee – mandolin (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12), lead vocals (2,4,6,8,10,11,12), fiddle (5,10), banjos (8)
Todd Phillips – bass (1,3,4,5,8,9,10,11,12)
Wyatt Rice – guitar (1,3,4,5,8,9,10,11,12)
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes – fiddle (1,3,4,8,9,10,11,12)
Ned Luberecki – banjo (1,2,3,4,5,6,9,10,11,12)

Becky Buller – fiddle (2,6,7), harmony vocals (2,6,11)
Daniel Hardin – bass (2,6,7), harmony vocals (6)
Dan Boner – guitar (2,6), fiddle (10), harmony vocals (10,11)
Thomas Cassell – mandolin (5)
Daniel Salyer – harmony vocals (8,10,12)

Songwriting Credits:
Nate Lee (Human Adverb Music, BMI) – 1,3,5,7 ,9
Daniel Salyer (Pay Low Music, BMI) – 2
Bradford Lee Folk & Nicholas Ian Woods (Folk/Woods, BMI) – 4
Bryan Holland (Round Hill Works, BMI) – 6
Ashleigh Caudill (Ashleigh Deanna Caudill Music, SESAC) – 8
Tim Stafford & Mark Bumgarner (Daniel House Music, BMI/Two Chairs Music, BMI) – 10
Bill Caswell (Farmhand Music, BMI) – 11
Chris Sanders (Desert Night Music, BMI) – 12

Produced by Professor Dan Boner at ETSU Recording Lab
© 2020 Adverb Records, a division of Nate Lee, LLC

www.thenatelee.com
www.facebook.com/LikeNateLeeLLC
www.twitter.com/NateLeeLLC
www.instagram.com/nateleellc

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Chicago Farmer’s ‘Flyover Country’ Featuring The Band of Heathens Out Today

Chicago Farmer Releases Flyover Country Today- Feb 7
Featuring The Band of Heathens
Recorded at The Finishing School in Austin, Texas

Buy & Stream now at → https://chicagofarmer.hearnow.com/flyover-country 

BLOOMINGTON, IL — Illinois-based Cody “Chicago Farmer” Diekhof paired up with Texas’ The Band of Heathens for Flyover Country, independently released February 7. In the past two weeks the album debuted at #33 on the Americana Radio Albums Chart and shot up another 10 spots to #23 with DJs across the country spinning many of the songs from the album.

The current single, “All In One Place,” is a humorous look at the sad truth about making money in the music business and debuted on the Americana Singles Chart at #43 this week. American Songwriter Magazine says, “This tale of high hopes and low returns [is] an outlaw country number that resounds with heart and humor.”

Through all the songs on Flyover Country — and most Chicago Farmer songs, for that matter —runs a common thread, a love and respect for regular folks, those who might be overlooked and underappreciated. He is a champion of the Midwest and the working class. “A lot of my friends are just getting by day-to-day,” Diekhoff said. “We keep at it, we keep working hard. Hopefully, eventually, things will turn around.”

Chicago Farmer. Photo by Bradley J Scott

Chicago Farmer is known for his clever and heartfelt songwriting and unique voice. Todd Snider exclaims, “I love Chicago Farmer’s singing and playing and songs, but it’s the intention behind the whole of his work that moves me to consider him the genuine heir to Arlo Guthrie or Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. He knows the shell game that goes on under folk music… which is sacred to me.” 

Flyover Country was recorded at The Heathens studio, The Finishing School, in Austin TX with Gordy Quist and Ed Jurdi serving as co-producers alongside Diekhoff.  Diekhoff’s longtime collaborator Chris Harden served as recording engineer (and mixed the album), on top of adding harmonies on two songs, and Heather Horton added harmony vocals on three tunes. 

Jurdi says, “Cody (Chicago Farmer) came in with a stellar batch of songs and really had a good vision for what he wanted the album to be. The material really takes a look at the kaleidoscopic fabric of the Midwest. Chicago Farmer writes and sings in a truly authentic voice about the people that inhabit the spaces that America’s hopes and dreams have been built upon. Always the underdog, sometimes overlooked, but never to be forgotten.”

“I knew as I was writing these songs that they called for another direction — and a band. A band that was tight, had soul, and knew how to make records,” Diekhoff said about Flyover Country, his sixth full-length studio album. “I’ll always be a folksinger, but you can’t just keep doing the same thing over and over. I decided it’s time to throw some fuel on this fire and get it going. For me, it’s all about the poetry and playing with a band is about putting the poetry in motion a little differently.”

Diekhoff and the Heathens cover a lot of musical territory on Flyover Country including a country-tinged rootsy tale of a desperate drive down the road to redemption (“Indiana Line”), a country-folk singalong anthem extolling the virtues of intimate live music shows and cheap beer over corporate arena concerts (“$13 Beers”), a talking-blues tribute to hardworking, unsung, everyday heroes (“Dirtiest Uniform), an uptempo folk-rock  (“Deer in the Sky”), and you see his grunge-rock roots coming out on “Mother Nature’s Daughter.” The album features nine original tracks and a cover of Hank Williams “Ramblin’ Man.”

Pokey LaFarge says, “His lyrics, his stories and his heart are true. He’ll give you that feeling of ‘going home’. He’ll make you want to say all those things you’ve been meaning to say but were too afraid. At the same time his songs can make you ask yourself some deep questions. His songs give you hope.”

Kind Words about Flyover Country

“This album shows both Diekhoff’s ability to spin a tale and to write songs that get people to sing along. It also shows how well he is able to evoke emotions – whether it’s a song that makes you laugh or a song that hits you right in the heart. Beyond all that, you realize that his is a style that will endure in a world where music has seemingly become disposable.”
—Americana Highways, Gary Schwind

“A terrific release… The Americana/Country Rock tunes are top class and the lyrics so interesting that you’ll be thinking them through later.”
—Americana Music Show, Tony Ives

“Chicago Farmer’s ‘All In One Place’ Is Outlaw Country with Heart and Humor”
—American Songwriter, Matt Wallock

“You will be moved by the poetry of these songs… You’ll dance to these songs even if you’re a song-and-dance man who never learned to dance. You’ll sing to these songs even if you don’t have the prettiest voice. Best of all, you’ll feel good for having listened. I know I do.”
—Making a Scene!, Viola Krouse

“… [Flyover Country is] a fitting title for the new album by Cody Diekhoff, aka Chicago Farmer, for two reasons. First, it’s an exploration of the lives and quirks of the residents of ‘flyover country.’ It’s also a good descriptor of Chicago Farmer’s sound, which kind of ‘flies over’ country music, touching on folk, Southern rock, and even tinges of punk.”
—Concert Hopper, Chris Griffy

“It’s poetry with a kick. There is power in the songs, from the arrangements to the lyrics, it makes you feel.”
—Festy GoNuts, Jason Law

“Diekhoff is a warm-hearted soul who manifestly likes others, though he wraps the sentimentality in wry humor. He’s most fond, one infers, of ordinary people’s imperfections and limitations, about which he writes amiably, not sparing his own.”
––Rambles.net, Jerry Clark

“With an ominous western intro, ‘Indiana Line’ builds up to a foot stompin,’ thumpin’ instant singalong. This bodes very well for Chicago Farmer’s Flyover Country. The harmonies with The Band of Heathens are irresistible, and the style is absolute contagion.”
—Americana Highways, Mellisa Clarke

Putting his solo troubadour days behind him (after a run of solo dates opening for Todd Snider in January), at least for a while, when Flyover Country comes out in February, Diekhoff is hitting the road with a band, performing as Chicago Farmer and The Fieldnotes which includes Jaik Willis, Cody Jensen, & Cosmic Charlie Harris.

Chicago Farmer & The Fieldnotes Tour Dates:

2/7 Fri – The Bootleg – St. Louis, MO
2/8 Sat –  The Eagle’s Theater – Olney, IL
2/9 Sun – Stellar Cellar – Effingham, IL
2/14 Fri – Castle Theatre – Bloomington, IL
2/15 Sat – Fitzgerald’s Nightclub – Berwyn, IL
2/16 Sun – Anodyne Coffee – Milwaukee, WI
2/20 Thu – Pearl Street Brewery – La Crosse, WI
2/21 Fri – The Turf Club –  St Paul, MN
2/22 Sat – The Outer Edge – Appleton, WI
2/27 Thu – Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza – Worthington, OH
2/28 Fri – Southgate House – Newport, KY
2/29 Sat – Duke’s Indy – Indianapolis, IN
3/6 Fri – Redstone Room @ River Music Experience – Davenport, IA
3/7 Sat – Vaudeville Mews – Des Moines, IA
3/8 Sun – World Theater – Kearney, NE
3/12 Thu – Magic Rat – Fort Collins, CO
3/13 Fri – The Walnut Room – Denver, CO
3/14 Sat – Western Jubilee – Colorado Springs, CO
5/28-29 – Thu-Fri – John Hartford Memorial Fest – Bean Blossom, IN
6/19 Fri – Moccasin Creek Festival – Effingham, IL
6/27 Sat – Private Event – Wilmington, IL
8/7 Fri – Rock the Farm @ Mackinaw Valley Winery – Mackinaw, IL
8/8 Sat – People Fest – Hillsboro, WI

Flyover Country Track Listing and Credits
1. Indiana Line 3:51
2. Flyover Country 4:59
3. Mother Nature’s Daughter 3:01
4. $13 Beers 3:17
5. Collars 5:23
6. All In One Place 2:51
7. Deer In The Sky 3:23
8. Ramblin’ Man 4:44
9. Dirtiest Uniforms 4:43
10. The Village Revisited 6:56

Chicago Farmer – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar 

The Band of Heathens:
Ed Jurdi – Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Harmonica
Gordy Quist – Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Trevor Nealon – All Things Keys
Richard Millsap – Drums, Percussion
Jesse Wilson – Bass

With Special Guests:
Heather Horton – Vocals (3, 5, 10)
Chris Harden – Vocals (8, 10)

Recorded February 2019 at The Finishing School in Austin, TX
Produced by Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist, & Chicago Farmer
Engineered & Mixed by Chris Harden 

All tracks written by Cody Diekhoff with the exception of Hank Williams’ “Ramblin’ Man” 

Further information and tour dates can be found at www.chicagofarmer.com, www.facebook.com/chicagofarmer, instagram.com/chicagofarmermusic, and twitter.com/chicagofarmer.

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Chicago Farmer Joins Forces With The Band Of Heathens On ‘Flyover Country’ – 1st Single Out Now

Putting the Poetry in Motion,
Chicago Farmer
Joins Forces with The Band of Heathens

Flyover Country  – Due Out Feb 7, 2020
Recorded at The Finishing School in Austin, Texas

First Single “Indiana Line” Out Now →  https://chicagofarmer.hearnow.com

BLOOMINGTON, IL — For recording artists, albums can be like children — it’s hard to go on record choosing one as a favorite. But Cody “Chicago Farmer” Diekhoff doesn’t hesitate to designate his forthcoming release, Flyover Country, as his “golden child.”

“I think it’s my best work so far and definitely the one that I put the most into,” Diekhoff said of the 10-song album, due out Feb. 7, 2020.

Americana Highways premiered the lead single, “Indiana Line,” which is out now, saying, “With an ominous western intro, ‘Indiana Line’ builds up to a foot stompin,’  thumpin’ instant singalong. This bodes very well for Chicago Farmer’s Flyover Country. The harmonies with The Band of Heathens are irresistible, and the style is absolute contagion.” Listen HERE. 

Flyover Country, his sixth full-length studio album, comes on the heels of his double-disc live release, Quarter Past Tonight, and the new one signals a turning point for Diekhoff. Quarter Past Tonight was a sort of valedictory statement for Chicago Farmer as a solo tale-spinning troubadour. He felt it was time for a change.

 

Chicago Farmer – Photo by Bradley J Scott

I knew as I was writing these songs that they called for another direction — and a band. A band that was tight, had soul, and knew how to make records,” Diekhoff said. “I’ll always be a folksinger, but you can’t just keep doing the same thing over and over. I decided it’s time to throw some fuel on this fire and get it going. For me, it’s all about the poetry and playing with a band is about putting the poetry in motion a little differently.”

 

As he was contemplating how to make his next record, he had some dates opening for The Band of Heathens. Talking backstage with Gordy Quist of the Heathens, Diekhoff discovered that the Heathens had their own studio (The Finishing School) back home in Austin, Texas, and had a strong track record of working on recording projects with other musicians, including Margo Price and Reed Foehl. On top of that, the five guys in The Band of Heathens are all versatile, world-class musicians with soul and they know how to make records.

“It seemed like it was meant to be, a calling from the Americana rock ‘n’ roll gods,” Diekhoff said.

The Heathens thought as highly of Chicago Farmer as Diekhoff thought of them. “Cody writes and sings in a truly authentic voice about the people that inhabit the spaces that America’s hopes and dreams have been built upon. Always the underdog, sometimes overlooked, but never to be forgotten,” said Ed Jurdi of the Heathens.

With Quist and Jurdi serving as co-producers with Diekhoff, the Heathens and Diekhoff hit the studio with the blueprints for the next Chicago Farmer album. While there were some overdubs, Chicago Farmer’s voice was recorded completely live with The Heathens to drive his words even deeper. 

Diekhoff said. “I’ve never been put to the test like that before. It really made me kick it up a notch.”

“Cody came in with a stellar batch of songs and really had a good vision for what he wanted the album to be,” Jurdi added.

Diekhoff’s longtime collaborator Chris Harden served as recording engineer (and mixed the album), on top of adding harmonies on two songs, and Heather Horton added harmony vocals on three tunes.

Fans of Chicago Farmer will already know at least a couple of the songs on Flyover Country if they’ve seen a show in the past couple years. In fact, Diekhoff’s talking-blues tribute to hardworking, unsung, everyday heroes, “Dirtiest Uniform,” and his country-folk singalong anthem extolling the virtues of intimate live music shows and cheap beer over corporate arena concerts, “$13 Beers,” are among the highlights on Quarter Past Tonight.

Diekhoff and the Heathens cover a lot of musical territory on Flyover Country. “Indiana Line” is a country-tinged rootsy raveup, a tale of a desperate drive down the road to redemption with great, growling slide guitar work. The title track is a languid waltz with a shuffling beat and jangly guitar, an ode to the people of the rural heartland, his people, putting Diekhoff’s high vibrato to great use. A brisker waltz beat propels “Collars,” another tribute to small-town folks, this one inspired by a young soldier who didn’t come home from Iraq.

Harmonica and baritone guitar drive “Deer in the Sky,” an uptempo folk-rock number about the benefits of flying over driving (you can drink beer on a plane and you’ll never hit a deer). Things get downright raucous on a couple songs, with Diekhoff’s grunge-rock roots coming out on “Mother Nature’s Daughter,” an environmental protest song, while the guitars go to town on “All in One Place,” a humorous look at the sad truth about making money in the music business.

Diekhoff pays tribute to Hank Williams with the album’s sole cover, Williams’ “Ramblin’ Man,” while also honoring Kenny Forbes, a friend’s father who introduced a young Diekhoff to the music of Hank Williams, setting him off on his musical quest as a folksinger. “Ramblin’ Man” starts with a stripped-down presentation but by the final verse it explodes with intensity.

The album ends with “The Village Revisited,” a sprawling, gospel-tinged song about the importance of community that recalls Creedence Clearwater Revival’s take on “Midnight Special” at times and at the end sounds like a party has broken out in the studio.

Through all the songs on Flyover Country — and most Chicago Farmer songs, for that matter —runs a common thread, a love and respect for regular folks, those who might be overlooked and underappreciated.

“A lot of my friends are just getting by day-to-day,” Diekhoff said. “We keep at it, we keep working hard. Hopefully, eventually, things will turn around.”

When Flyover Country comes out in February, Diekhoff will put his solo troubadour days behind him, at least for a while. He’ll hit the road with a band, performing as Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes, something he’s really looking forward to after seeing how much fun The Band of Heathens have onstage.

This is Chicago Farmer’s first studio album in four years and it will be available on CD and vinyl, as well as digital & streaming services. Pre-order Flyover Country now through Kickstarter → http://kck.st/2KbMnLX.

Chicago Farmer Flyover Country Tour Dates
All Shows Feature Chicago Farmer & The Fieldnotes:
Chicago Farmer, Jaik Willis, Cody Jensen, & Cosmic Charlie Harris 

2019
12/26 Thu – Monarch Music Hall – Peoria, IL
12/27 Fri – Rosebowl Tavern – Urbana, IL
12/28 Sat – Hey Nonny – Arlington Heights, IL

2020
2/7 Fri – The Bootleg – St. Louis, MO
2/8 Sat –  The Eagle’s Theater – Olney, IL
2/9 Sun – Stellar Cellar – Effingham, IL
2/14 Fri – Castle Theatre – Bloomington, IL
2/15 Sat – Fitzgerald’s Nightclub – Berwyn, IL
2/16 Sun- Anodyne Coffee – Milwaukee, WI
2/21 Fri – The Turf Club –  St Paul, MN
2/22 Sat – The Outer Edge – Appleton, WI
2/28 Fri – Southgate House – Newport, KY
2/29 Sat – Duke’s INDY – Indianapolis, IN
3/6 Fri – Redstone Room – Davenport, IA
3/7 Sat – Vaudeville Mews – Des Moines, IA

Flyover Country Track Listing and Credits

1. Indiana Line 3:51
2. Flyover Country 4:59
3. Mother Nature’s Daughter 3:01
4. $13 Beers 3:17
5. Collars 5:23
6. All In One Place 2:51
7. Deer In The Sky 3:23
8. Ramblin’ Man 4:44
9. Dirtiest Uniforms 4:43
10. The Village Revisited 6:56

Chicago Farmer – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar 

The Band of Heathens:
Ed Jurdi – Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Harmonica
Gordy Quist – Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Trevor Nealon – All Things Keys
Richard Millsap – Drums, Percussion
Jesse Wilson – Bass

With Special Guests:
Heather Horton – Vocals (3, 5, 10)
Chris Harden – Vocals (8, 10)

Recorded February 2019 at The Finishing School in Austin, TX
Produced by Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist, & Chicago Farmer
Engineered & Mixed by Chris Harden

All tracks written by Cody Diekhoff with the exception of Hank Williams’ “Ramblin’ Man” 

Further information and tour dates can be found at www.chicagofarmer.com, www.facebook.com/chicagofarmer, and twitter.com/chicagofarmer.

 

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Out Today: The Drunken Hearts’ ‘Wheels of the City’ on LoHi Records, Produced by Tim Carbone

The Drunken Hearts Release Wheels of the City
October 18, 2019 on LoHi Records
Produced by Tim Carbone at Silo Sound Studios in Denver, Colorado

Out Now: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thedrunkenhearts/wheels-of-the-city-4

DENVER, CO — The Drunken Hearts release Wheels of the City October 18 on LoHi Records. Produced by Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth), the album was recorded at Silo Sound Studios in Denver, Colorado, and mastered by Jim Wilson. On Wheels of the City, The Drunken Hearts deliver tales of adventure, love, risk, and realization. 

Kind Words about Wheels of the City:

“Powerhouse singer Andrew McConathy is commanding from the outset on ‘Fire in House’ as he proceeds to light up Wheels of the City… More than anything, Drunken Hearts will evoke little snippets of our nostalgic memories of our favorite country-rock and rock bands. Yet, their music, as stated, is a bit more complex, without the usual clichés. And, surely McConathy has one of the most memorable voices in roots music.”
—Glide, Jim Hynes

“They bring positive proof of their sturdy existence in the form of Wheels of the City, a pulsating, ambitious, adventurous new record… Throughout an 11-song escapade, gutsy listeners might experience any number of thrilling sensations: the beauty of a string section on ‘Passchendaele’; a vibrant brass attack on ‘Wheels of the City’, the title cut inspired by Jack Kerouac’s essay ‘The Vanishing American Hobo’; and a psychedelic bridge on both ‘Two Hearts (On a Limb)’ and ‘Unrest’, the latter a lively folk tale about a weary man dying to go to sleep.” 
—PopMatters (full-length album premiere stream), Michael Bialas

“Made up of songs that emphasize positivity they start with ‘Fire in a House’ — a typical classic rock era swipe without sounding too retro. What’s commendable is the band maintains an absorbing pace… Rock & roll seeps into the fibers of ‘Unrest.’ It’s piano pounds as drums bop similar to The Beatles White Album years — quite impressive. This song is stellar.”
—Americana Highways, John Apice

“This album is a rare and natural gem that embodies its beauty through its rawness… Unlike a sad whiskey shot, these are eleven tequila toasts in a row.”
—Live Gig Source, Nathan M. Emerson

“Throughout the album, you hear examples of McConathy’s way of painting a picture with his words. The best example of that is in the title track. Over a gentle rhythm and a muted melody, he sings about someone who sleeps in a doorway, back to the wall. He goes on to sing, “Let’s build a bridge and not a wall. Something to bind us and not to divide us all.’ While the subject matter is heavy, the message is ultimately one of hope that is accented nicely with some horns at the end.”
—Americana Highways, Gary Schwind

“Listening to The Drunken Hearts pending release, Wheels of the City, dispels the notion that they are a one dimensional entity. There is country, with pedal steel and banjo, as well as elements of soul, some of the classic Laurel Canyon sound, touches of rock comparable to Drive-By Truckers, and alt-country stylings reminiscent of Son Volt.”
—NYS Music, Brian Cornish

More about The Drunken Hearts:

 

The Drunken Hearts. Photo by Tobin Voggesser

Mixing their mountain-spirit with the twang of the south, this electrifying five-man band met and live in the Denver/Boulder area of Colorado. Acoustic guitarist and powerhouse lead singer, Andrew McConathy is originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, and is known for his compelling songwriting and distinct and expressive vocals. Joining him are pedal steel, dobro, and lap steel player Cody Russell and electric guitarist and vocalist Kory Montgomery, both from Arkansas, along with bassist Jon McCartan, from Upstate New York by way of Vermont, and, from the outskirts of Chicago, drummer Alex Johnson.

The band wanted to try something new for this album: to create and record a new song each day, and continue that model until an entire album was realized. The result is eleven full-fledged, living, breathing, musical time capsules that make up Wheels of the City.  

“I loved working on this record with The Drunken Hearts,” exclaims Tim Carbone, a partner in LoHi Records. “We did a song a day and except for some vocal overdubs, solo replacements and the strings and horns, that was how it all went down. I’d never worked that way before. It was an amazing stretch of hyper-creativity. I’m very proud of Wheels of the City!” 

With notable performances at Winter WonderGrass Steamboat (CO), Winter WonderGrass Squaw Valley (CA), Mumford & Sons Gentlemen of the Road Fest (CO), Electric Forest (MI), FloydFest (VA), Vertex (CO), Fayetteville Roots Fest (AR), Hangtown Music Festival (CA), Bohemian Nights at New West Fest (CO), Northwest String Summit (OR), Grandoozy (CO), Four Peaks Festival (OR), and the band’s very own Yarmony Music Festival (CO), the band is very much at home on the festival circuit. They have also supported Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Greensky Bluegrass, Railroad Earth, Deer Tick, Leftover Salmon, String Cheese Incident, among others.

The band is touring the country from coast-to-coast, with stops at famed venues and festivals along the way and is set to perform a slew of shows with Yonder Mountain String Band during this album release cycle.

The Drunken Hearts Wheels of the City Tour Dates:

10/18 Fri – Norfolk, CT – Infinity Music Hall and Bistro*
10/19 Sat – Saratoga Springs, NY – Putnam Place*
10/30 Wed – Bend, OR – Volcanic Theatre Pub
10/31 Thu – Coos Bay, OR – 7 Devils Brewing Co.
11/1 Fri – Salem, OR – Governor’s Cup
11/2 Sat – Portland, OR – Private Party
11/13 Wed – Baltimore, MD – The 8×10*
11/14 Thu – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl*
11/15 Fri – Ardmore, PA – The Ardmore Music Hall*
11/16 Sat – Boulder, CO – The Fox Theatre
11/17 Sun – Woodstock, NY – Levon Helm Studios*
11/19 Tue – Greenfield, MA – Hawks & Reed PAC*
11/21 Thu – Portland, ME – Port City Music Hall*
11/22 Fri – Pawtucket, RI – The Met*
11/23 Sat – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall*
11/24 Sun – York, PA – The Capitol Theatre*

* supporting Yonder Mountain String Band

Wheels of the City Track Listing and Credits

1. Fire in a House 4:02
2. Shining Eyes 3:24
3. Alive ‘n Free 3:47
4. Run It All Together 3:09
5. Unrest 3:42
6. Wheels of the City 4:13
7. Passchendaele 4:52
8. Two Hearts (On a Limb) 3:15
9. In the Middle 3:19
10. Dream of Waiting 4:42
11. The Cave 3:38

The Drunken Hearts:
Andrew McConathy – Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Vocals
Cody Russell – Pedal Steel, Lap Steel, Dobro
Jon McCartan – Electric Bass
Kory Montgomery – Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Alex Johnson – Drums, Percussion

Special Guests:
Tim Carbone – Piano (tracks 1, 3, 5), Organ (3), Violin (3), Backing Vocals (7), Spoken Word (11), Percussion (1)
Sheryl Renee – Backing Vocals (tracks 7, 9)

Horn Section (track 6):
Sam Hoyt – Trumpet
Sam Burris – Trombone
John Devivo – French Horn
Jay Rattman – Alto Sax, Flute, Clarinet, and Arrangement 

String Section (track 7):
Stephanie Bell – Violin
Chris Souza – Violin
Marsha Cahn – Viola
David Moulton – Cello
Jay Rattman – Arrangement 

Produced by Tim Carbone / Engineered by Todd Divel / Recorded at Silo Sound Studios in Denver, CO
Mixed by Todd Divel with Tim Carbone / Mastered by Jim Wilson at Jim Wilson Mastering
Strings and Horns recorded by Don Sternecker at Mix-O-Lydian Recording
All songs arranged by The Drunken Hearts and Tim Carbone

For more information and updates from the road, please visit www.thedrunkenhearts.com, facebook.com/thedrunkenhearts, twitter.com/drunkenhearts, and instagram.com/thedrunkenhearts.

 

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The Drunken Hearts Release ‘Wheels of the City’ 10/18 on LoHi Records, Produced by Tim Carbone

The Drunken Hearts Release Wheels of the City
October 18, 2019 on LoHi Records
Produced by Tim Carbone at Silo Sound Studios in Denver, Colorado

The First Single “Unrest” Drops Friday 9/27 → https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thedrunkenhearts/unrest

Listen to “Unrest” at JamBase in this Exclusive Premiere → www.jambase.com/article/drunken-hearts-unrest

DENVER, CO — The Drunken Hearts found themselves entering Silo Sound Studios in Denver on April 1st, 2018 with friend and producer Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth)— just one day after the release of their then-brand new, self-produced album, The Prize. The band wanted to try something new for their next album: to create and record a new song each day, and continue that model until an entire album was realized, and the result is eleven full-fledged, living, breathing, musical time capsules that make up Wheels of the City. Mastered by Jim Wilson, the new album is out October 18 on LoHi Records.

Called, “Boulder’s Americana Heroes” by 303 Magazine who writes, “Since their inception as a trio [in 2012], the now rock ‘n’ roll quintet has gained quite the reputation. Their music is raw Americana-rock, with a touch of country and a sprinkle of folk, and the result is a steaming and raucous sound full of emotion and energy.”

 

The Drunken Hearts   Press Shot Credit: Tobin Voggesser

Mixing their mountain-spirit with the twang of the south, this electrifying five-man band met and live in the Boulder/Denver area of Colorado. Acoustic guitarist and powerhouse lead singer, Andrew McConathy is originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, and is known for his compelling songwriting and distinct and expressive vocals. Joining him are pedal steel, Dobro, and lap steel player Cody Russell and electric guitarist and vocalist Kory Montgomery, both from Arkansas, along with bassist and vocalist Jon McCartan, from Upstate New York by way of Vermont, and, from the outskirts of Chicago, drummer Alex Johnson.

 

“The Drunken Hearts deliver an intimate perspective to a nostalgic rock and roll sound,” says Paul Hoffman (Greensky Bluegrass), “Passionate vocals that are reminiscent of Eddie Vedder and country flavored pedal steel are both familiar and a newfound discovery.”

On Wheels of the City, The Drunken Hearts deliver tales of adventure, love, risk, and realization. There’s an overarching feeling of positivity throughout the songs, yet they also contain undertones of the darkness that inhabits life. Aspen Daily News says, “The Drunken Hearts are magnetic, as they combine catchy beats with unique melodies to create a well-synced mixture of musical sensibilities.”

“I loved working on this record with The Drunken Hearts,” exclaims Carbone, a partner in LoHi Records. “Andrew sent me the acoustic demos of the songs and I sketched out the arrangements and instrumentation. The band essentially learned the songs and added their ideas the day we tracked them.”

Andrew says, “Once we got into the studio with Tim, ultimately ‘Unrest,’ the first single, morphed into a rollicking piano-driven rock song topped off by a very psychedelic Pink Floyd-esque bridge with the lyrics, ‘Just getting up is getting me down… Gonna pull the string get my head unwound… Before I die I want to learn to live… Unrest is a state of mind…’” Listen to “Unrest” at this exclusive premiere at JamBase → https://www.jambase.com/article/drunken-hearts-unrest. 

Carbone says, “We did a song a day and except for some vocal overdubs, solo replacements and the strings and horns, that was how it all went down. I’d never worked that way before. It was an amazing stretch of hyper-creativity. I’m very proud of Wheels of the City!”

The title track was inspired by Jack Kerouac’s “Vanishing American Hobo,” written in 1960. McConathy explains the song, “‘Wheels of the City’ examines the cultural paradigm between the homeless, health insurance-less citizens of America and an opposing population who seemingly wish to leave their brothers and sisters helpless, and build a wall to keep freedom and opportunity at bay and weak against the overbearing patriarchy who wishes to repress them.” He sings, “Build a bridge, and not a wall… Something to bind us, not divide us all… ”

The album features a horn section on the title track and “Passchendaele” brings in a string section along with Sheryl Renee’s accompanying vocals to create a unique texture to the telling of a riveting tale of a soldiers love long ago that was lost upon returning from war. Renee also joins on “In the Middle” a song with poignant lyrics, “Here we are fightin’ in the middle, bleedin’ ‘n dying like fools… Here we are believin’ in the the middle, We got nothing but change for days… Here we are believin’ in the middle, I’m the only one that can change my ways…”

Carbone joins in on multiple instruments throughout the album including piano, organ, and violin. Cody Russell also brought two instrumentals to the table, one of which McConathy added words to (“Dream of Waiting”) and the other, “The Cave” to which Carbone added a spoken-word passage from ‘Plato’s Allegory of The Cave’ to create the intro.

Somehow with this ambitious “create and record one entire song per day” approach, the band was able to write and track eleven songs in eleven days, and the result was one of the more satisfying creative endeavors the band has ever taken on.

LoHi’s Vice President Chad Staehly (of Hard Working Americans) says, “We’ve known about The Drunken Hearts for years and it has been really cool watching their growth as artists and performers. This latest album Wheels of the City has an extra layer of depth and songwriting that is very engaging and emotive on a different level from anything they’ve done in the past.”

With notable performances at Winter WonderGrass Steamboat (CO), Winter WonderGrass Squaw Valley (CA), Mumford & Sons Gentlemen of the Road Fest (CO), Electric Forest (MI), FloydFest (VA), Vertex (CO), Fayetteville Roots Fest (AR), Hangtown Music Festival (CA), Bohemian Nights at New West Fest (CO), Northwest String Summit (OR), Grandoozy (CO), Four Peaks Festival (OR), and the band’s very own Yarmony Music Festival (CO), the band is very much at home on the festival circuit. They have also supported Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Greensky Bluegrass, Railroad Earth, Deer Tick, Leftover Salmon, String Cheese Incident, among others.

The band is touring the country from coast-to-coast, with stops at famed venues and festivals along the way and is set to perform a slew of shows with Yonder Mountain String Band during this album release cycle.

The Drunken Hearts Wheels of the City Tour Dates:
10/5 Sat – Denver, CO – Cervantes Other Side
10/10 Thu – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room Lounge*
10/11 Fri – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s*
10/12 Sat – TBA
10/13 Sun – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom*
10/16 Wed – Buffalo, NY – Tralf Music Hall*
10/17 Thu – Homer, NY – Center for the Arts*
10/18 Fri – Norfolk, CT – Infinity Music Hall and Bistro*
10/19 Sat – Saratoga Springs, NY – Putnam Place*
10/30 Wed – Bend, OR – Volcanic Theatre Pub
10/31 Thu – Coos Bay, OR – 7 Devils Brewing Co.
11/1 Fri – Salem, OR – Governor’s Cup
11/2 Sat – Portland, OR – Private Party
11/13 Wed – Baltimore, MD – The 8×10*
11/14 Thu – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl*
11/15 Fri – Ardmore, PA – The Ardmore Music Hall*
11/16 Sat – Boulder, CO – The Fox Theatre
11/17 Sun – Woodstock, NY – Levon Helm Studios*
11/19 Tue – Greenfield, MA – Hawks & Reed PAC*
11/21 Thu – Portland, ME – Port City Music Hall*
11/22 Fri – Pawtucket, RI – The Met*
11/23 Sat – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall*
11/24 Sun – York, PA – The Capitol Theatre*

* supporting Yonder Mountain String Band

Wheels of the City Track Listing and Credits

1. Fire in a House 4:02
2. Shining Eyes 3:24
3. Alive ‘n Free 3:47
4. Run It All Together 3:09
5. Unrest 3:42
6. Wheels of the City 4:13
7. Passchendaele 4:52
8. Two Hearts (On a Limb) 3:15
9. In the Middle 3:19
10. Dream of Waiting 4:42
11. The Cave 3:38

 

The Drunken Hearts:

Andrew McConathy – Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Vocals
Cody Russell – Pedal Steel, Lap Steel, Dobro
Jon McCartan – Electric Bass
Kory Montgomery – Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Alex Johnson – Drums, Percussion

Special Guests:
Tim Carbone – Piano (tracks 1, 3, 5), Organ (3), Violin (3), Backing Vocals (7), Spoken Word (11), Percussion (1)
Sheryl Renee – Backing Vocals (tracks 7, 9)

Horn Section (track 6):
Sam Hoyt – Trumpet
Sam Burris – Trombone
John Devivo – French Horn
Jay Rattman – Alto Sax, Flute, Clarinet, and Arrangement

String Section (track 7):
Stephanie Bell – Violin
Chris Souza – Violin
Marsha Cahn – Viola
David Moulton – Cello
Jay Rattman – Arrangement

Produced by Tim Carbone / Engineered by Todd Divel / Recorded at Silo Sound Studios in Denver, CO
Mixed by Todd Divel with Tim Carbone / Mastered by Jim Wilson at Jim Wilson Mastering
Strings and Horns recorded by Don Sternecker at Mix-O-Lydian Recording
All songs arranged by The Drunken Hearts and Tim Carbone

Press Shot Credit: Tobin Voggesser
Album Artwork Credit: John Westmark

For more information and updates from the road, please visit www.thedrunkenhearts.com, facebook.com/thedrunkenhearts, twitter.com/drunkenhearts, and instagram.com/thedrunkenhearts.

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New York Lawyer-Turned-Musician, Bill Scorzari’s ‘Now I’m Free’ Out Today, Produced by Neilson Hubbard, w/ Erin Rae, Will Kimbrough

Bill Scorzari Releases His 3rd Studio Album, Now I’m Free, September 20, 2019

Produced by Neilson Hubbard at Skinny Elephant Recording,With Performances by Erin Rae, Will Kimbrough, Eamon McLoughlin, Michael Rinne

Out Now →   https://nowimfree.hearnow.com

Huntington, NY —  With a raw and gritty sound, along with a stellar ear for lyrics and composition, New York native Bill Scorzari independently releases his third full-length album of all original music, Now I’m Free, on September 20. Produced by Neilson Hubbard (Orphan Brigade), Now I’m Free was recorded and mixed by engineer Dylan Alldredge at Skinny Elephant Recording in Inglewood, TN and mastered by Jim DeMain at Yes Master Studios.

Hubbard says, “Bill tears himself open on these 15 songs and leaves it all out there in plain sight. He is an open book delivering a record of astonishing intimacy… and the gravel and whispers in his voice carry a true knockout punch.”

Scorzari’s songs transition through a multitude of emotions centered on the experiences of the human condition and are, at times, downright sad. Of his music, some say it’s spoken word, and others, an amalgam of the voice of Tom Waits, the delivery of Sam Baker, and the soul of Kris Kristofferson. In his lyrics, there is a poetic grace, a calming and resigned wisdom of acceptance that shines through the wistful melancholy of hope, and breaks free. 

Bill says of the record, “During the past three years and beyond, I found myself in a place that demanded prolonged introspection and profound healing to be able to navigate through and journey past. This record is a journal of some of the lessons and discoveries that I’ve encountered along the way.”

Kind Words About Now I’m Free:

“delicately nuanced” with “detailed arrangements”
—Billboard, Gary Graff, Exclusive Interview and Full Album Stream

“There are poets, there are songwriters, there are painters of fine art, and there’s Bill Scorzari. The new album, Now I’m Free is a bold and delicate balance of each. To say it is a thing of beauty is an understatement… To compare Now I’m Free to the other albums released at this time would be unfair to the industry. Perhaps Dylan or Townes could go toe to toe, but my money’s on Scorzari. He makes me want to be a better writer. His writing is vivid and succinct.” —Making A Scene!, Viola Krouse

“There may be a handful of songwriters as good as Scorzari but no one else could deliver these stunning songs. It’s even deeper and every bit as good as his last one. Bigger names will get more recognition but Scorzari’s getting there. He did play the Newport Folk Festival this year. He has my vote for Americana Album of the Year.” —Glide, Jim Hynes

This new album simply blows me away… you might want to think about Tom Waits a little, but better… The thing that impresses me is, of course, is the fact that [Bill’s] voice is very distinctive, there is no question about the fact, that if someone hears this, hears this music, hears your new album, they are gonna know: this is Bill Scorzari, because there’s not many people that have this voice and evoke this kind of emotion.
—Mostly Folk, WIOX Catskills Cafe, Artie Martello

Bill says “I could feel some of the old 1970s ‘country rock’ (Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels Band…) influences from my youth welling up and flowing out and that made writing this song a whole lot of fun.”
—The Bluegrass Situation premiered the uptempo “Treat Me Kind”

“A stunning work. Bill’s poetic lyrics are a frozen rope to the heart.”
—Podcast interview on The Marinade with Jason Earle

“With a somber musical style and a hushed, gritty vocal that rises like the morning mist to mingle with Erin Rae’s grounded tones, ‘It All Matters’ is just outright pretty. Now I’m Free should be nominated for awards this year with its depth of grace and innovative tones; Scorzari taps into a nexus between the familiar and the uncanny.”
—Americana Highways Song Premiere of “It All Matters,” Melissa Clarke

“Like the songs on his last CD… the ones here are all original, deeply personal and affecting; and Scorzari’s earthy vocals, which are just a bit less sandpapery than Dave Van Ronk’s, drive them home. With any luck, this guy is going places, and chances are, you’ll want to follow along for the ride.”  
—The Morton Report, Americana Highways, Jeff Burger

“Like singer-songwriters, Kris Kristofferson, Leonard Cohen, and Tom Waits, Bill’s raspy baritone snarls, hisses, and whispers through his heartfelt lyrics. Sometimes leaving the melody and just speaking the words, he comes off like a modern-day Rod McKuen, sweeping us up in his narratives and wringing out their plaintive content.
—WTCA 106.1 FM & 1050 AM, South Bend Tribune, Kathy Bottorf

“Fans of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and anyone who likes quality song writing will dig this” —Live Music News and Review, Phil Simon

“A superb singer/songwriter with an outlaw rasp and a heavy-hearted soul”
—The Ripple Effect

“Wonderfully gruff and oozing with emotion and raw honesty.”
—Listening Through The Lens, Rob Dickens

“Singer-songwriter Bill Scorzari skates in the ether with a sort of Ry Cooder ambient dream. But his voice is absolutely of the earth with its whiskey-borne rasp. Scorzari sings in the folk tradition of those who aren’t afraid to jerk a few tears but doesn’t mask his intentions or pull any punches. Sometimes the man gets mean.”
—Rochester City Newspaper, Frank De Blase

______________________________________

More about Bill Scorzari and Now I’m Free:

Bill Scorzari. Photo by Jim Marchese

The album was performed live in the studio by Scorzari and a long list of critically acclaimed and otherwise notable musicians including, Hubbard on drums/percussion and piano, multi-instrumentalist Will Kimbrough, vocalist Erin Rae (Americana Music Association nominee for Best Emerging Artist of 2019), fiddler/strings Eamon McGloughlin (AMA nominee for Best Instrumentalist of 2019), upright and electric bass player Michael Rinne (AMA nominee for Best Instrumentalist of 2019), Brent Burke on Dobro, Juan Solorzano on electric guitar and lap steel, lap steel player and vocalist Megan McCormick, Greg Krockta on harmonica, and vocalist Mia Rose Lynne.

Throughout the entire album, Bill’s authenticity as a songwriter moves you through his music breath by breath. Profound and poetic, Scorzari’s emotionally charged and introspective compositions are sung with a knowing tenderness of heart. 

Bill transformed his life at a later age from being a New York trial lawyer turned full-time musician. In 2008, he stumbled upon a Live-at-Paste recording of Justin Townes Earle performing “Mama’s Eyes.” The song resonated within his soul and sparked the kind of life-altering moment that you hear a person speak of, that singular moment when everything changed. Although he picked up his first guitar at just 8 years old, it wasn’t until 2011 that he was able to give his artistry the attention it deserves. 

The passing of Bill’s father and role-model, whose footsteps he had followed into the practice of law, marked a time of profound change and opened a new chapter – one that required a giant leap towards pursuing a passion that had long been tucked away in Bill’s heart. Bill put out his first album, Just the Same, in 2014, followed by Through These Waves (produced by Jonah Tolchin) in 2017. The three albums (and their titles) that he created thereafter, represent the narrative and catharsis of his journey: past, present and future.

The success of his first two records allowed Bill to share stages with Sarah Jarosz, Sam Outlaw, The Dustbowl Revival, Tall Tall Trees, Seldom Scene, Billy Strings, Frank Fairfield, Tom Marion, Zak Sokolow, Jonah Tolchin, Jenni Lyn Gardner (Della Mae), Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, Twisted Pine, Whiskey Myers, Big Country, and others. In July of 2019, Bill became “One of the folk,” with his inaugural performance at the Newport Folk Festival.

This third installment in his discography, Now I’m Free, offers a deeper and unguarded look into Scorzari’s soul, weathered and bared, and rooted in the present moment while moving freely into the unspoken promises of the future.

For more information, up-dates and news, please visit www.billscorzari.com, www.facebook.com/billscorzari, www.twitter.com/BillScorzari, and www.instagram.com/billscorzari.

Now I’m Free Track Listing:

1. Into the Light of the Day (5:07)
2. Over Again (4:40)
3. Now I’m Free (3:44)
4. It All Matters (4:35)
5. One More Time (4:07)
6. When Will My Time Come Along (3:58) 
7. Treat Me Kind (3:23)
8. San Miguel County (4:36)
9. It’s Just What I Know (4:47)
10. Steel Wheels (4:48)
11. You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone (2:59)
12. Yes I Will (10:51)
13. Cypress Tree (3:37)
14. Don’t You Ever Go Away From Me (4:20)
15. New Mexico (I to Mine) (7:20)

PERFORMANCE CREDITS BY MUSICIAN
Bill Scorzari: Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
Erin Rae: Harmony Vocal (Track 4)
Mia Rose Lynne: Harmony Vocals (Tracks 2, 14)
Will Kimbrough: Electric Guitar (Tracks 5, 7, 10, 15), Slide Guitar (Track 7), Mandolin (Track 11), Cigar Box Guitar (Track 14), Piano (Track 5)
Juan Solorzano: Electric Guitar (Tracks 1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12), Lap Steel Guitar (Tracks 2, 8, 9, 11), 2nd Acoustic Guitar (Tracks 4, 15)
Megan McCormick: Lap steel (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 13), Harmony Vocal (Track 6)
Brent Burke: Dobro
Greg Krockta: Harmonica
Michael Rinne: Upright Bass & Electric Bass
Neilson Hubbard: Drums/Percussion, Piano (Track 14)

All songs, lyrics and music written, arranged and performed by Bill Scorzari

For more information, up-dates and news, please visit www.billscorzari.com, www.facebook.com/billscorzari, www.twitter.com/BillScorzari, and www.instagram.com/billscorzari. 

 

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Bill Scorzari Releases 1st Single From New Album, Produced by Neilson Hubbard, Feat. Erin Rae

Bill Scorzari Releases His 3rd Studio Album, Now I’m Free, September 20, 2019

Born of the past three years’ introspection and contemplation of the human condition, Scorzari writes some of his most compelling compositions to date

Produced by Neilson Hubbard at Skinny Elephant Recording,
With Performances by Erin Rae, Will Kimbrough, Eamon McLoughlin, Michael Rinne, and more

First Single “It All Matters” Out Now →  https://itallmatters.hearnow.com

 

“With a somber musical style and a hushed, gritty vocal that rises like the morning mist to mingle with Erin Rae’s grounded tones, ‘It All Matters’ is just outright pretty. Now I’m Free should be nominated for awards this year with its depth of grace and innovative tones; Scorzari taps into a nexus between the familiar and the uncanny.” —Americana Highways

Pre-order with “It All Matters” available now on iTunes

(Huntington, NY) —  On September 20, New York native, Bill Scorzari, independently releases his third full-length album of all original music titled, Now I’m Free. His sound is gritty, raw and at times, downright sad. His songs transition through a multitude of emotions, with themes centered on the experiences of the human condition. Of his music, some say it’s spoken word, and others, an amalgam of the voice of Tom Waits, the delivery of Sam Baker, and the soul of Kris Kristofferson. In his lyrics, there is a poetic grace, a calming and resigned wisdom of acceptance that shines through the wistful melancholy of hope, and breaks free. No Depression wrote, “Bill Scorzari is a force. His songwriting is stellar, his picking above par and his voice fits his songs perfectly.”

Bill says of the record, “During the past three years and beyond, I found myself in a place that demanded prolonged introspection and profound healing to be able to navigate through and journey past. This record is a journal of some of the lessons and discoveries that I’ve encountered along the way.”

Produced by Neilson Hubbard (Orphan Brigade), Now I’m Free was recorded and mixed by engineer Dylan Alldredge at Skinny Elephant Recording in Inglewood, TN and mastered by Jim DeMain at Yes Master Studios. Hubbard says, “Bill tears himself open on these 15 songs and leaves it all out there in plain sight. He is an open book delivering a record of astonishing intimacy… and the gravel and whispers in his voice carry a true knockout punch.”

The album was performed live in the studio by Scorzari and a long list of critically acclaimed and otherwise notable musicians including, Hubbard on Drums/Percussion, Multi-Instrumentalist Will Kimbrough, Vocalist Erin Rae (Americana Music Association nominee for Best Emerging Artist of 2019), Fiddler/Strings Eamon McGloughlin (AMA nominee for Best Instrumentalist of 2019), Upright and Electric Bass player Michael Rinne (AMA nominee for Best Instrumentalist of 2019), Brent Burke on Dobro, Juan Solorzano on Electric Guitar and Lap Steel, Lap Steel player and Vocalist Megan McCormick, Greg Krockta on Harmonica, and Vocalist Mia Rose Lynne.

 

Bill Scorzari. Photo by Jim Marchese

Throughout the entire album, Bill’s authenticity as a songwriter moves you through his music breath by breath. Profound and poetic, Scorzari’s emotionally charged and introspective compositions are sung with a knowing tenderness of heart.

 

The album opens with “Into the Light Of the Day,” of which Scorzari says, “Faith and trust are so important. When they are called into question, for whatever reason, it becomes difficult to see things clearly. We become distressed, and our distress makes it even harder to find clarity… Nothing can resolve until we look directly at it and confront the full depth of it all. The first step toward doing that is both the most difficult and the most liberating step, taking what troubles you into the light of the day.” 

This is fitting to describe Bill’s music in general and his approach of digging deeper into his own depth and bringing his thoughts and experiences honestly and authentically into the light through the medium of music.

He writes in the title track, “Now I’m Free,” “So, I stood there by the waterfall flowing from the bridal veil, with an angel dressed in rags. She said, ‘To hell you ride.’ And, to hell we sailed. And, we never did look back. And, she said, ‘Every word I say is true and someday you will see, spending all of our time always tryin’ to break through, leaves us no time for tryin’ to break free, and it’s time to break free.’”

Another standout track on the album is the first single, “It All Matters,” with Erin Rae adding vocal harmony. When asked about what the lyrics of this track mean to him, Scorzari says, “It’s so important to be attentive to each other. The way toward that goal, is to start to be more attentive to ourselves, to heal what needs to be healed in us and to find a path forward to our own better existence… It’s never too late to shine a light through the darkness... The big things are important, but so are the little things. It all matters.”

The nearly 11-minutes of “Yes I Will” were recorded in an unrehearsed, epic “first take” in which Bill sings, “And, I know these thoughts will come and that they will go again, and yes, I know, yes, I can still chase the harder days away with just some paper and a pen, the way the sun will rise and embrace the white moon in its own black skies, and then there’ll be no need to try to make me smile. Won’t you help me to more easily reveal my broken soul?...  I’m only distracted by my motion when I’m intent on standing still. And, if you let me have the time to just keep on tryin’ to break through, just to be human, well then, yes, I will.” 

Bill Scorzari. Photo by Jim Marchese

There is a wide variety of soundscapes in Now I’m Free, ranging from the slow country waltz of “Over Again,” the catchy uptempo road song “Treat Me Kind,” the sleepy-slow, intoxicating, drunken-swaying groove in “San Miguel County,” the crushingly intimate and breathtaking “One More Time,” and the raging blues number, “Steel Wheels.”

“When Will My Time Come Along” is a humble reminder of the seemingly endless struggles we must endure, and the importance of small accomplishments made along the way towards larger pursuits. It’s chord progression manifested easily in Scorzari’s mind, as did the lyrics for “It’s Just What I Know,” when he found himself in that “longed-for space where the words you’ve desperately searched for, and have been struggling with how to say, suddenly arrive as a gift in an unfettered moment of clarity.”

Although he picked up his first guitar at just 8 years old, it wasn’t until 2011 that he was able to give his artistry the attention it deserves. The passing of Bill’s father and role-model, whose footsteps he had followed into the practice of law, marked a time of profound change and opened a new chapter – one that required a giant leap towards pursuing a passion that had long been tucked away in Bill’s heart. The three albums (and their titles) that he created thereafter, represent the narrative and catharsis of his journey: past, present and future. 

The first two, Just the Same (2014) and Through These Waves (2017), were both released to critical acclaim. Waves, a spring release, made several best-album-of-2017 lists, including Folk Alley and Elmore Magazine. Jim Hynes, in his review of Waves in Elmore, says of Bill, “…his thoughtful, cinematically shaped songs that continue to resonate after repeated listens. Yes, this is a ‘must hear’ for singer-songwriter aficionados.” One such aficionado, WFUV’s John Platt, says, “Bill Scorzari has a lived-in voice that says, ‘Listen to these songs. They spring from the earth and the ocean with an open heart and the wisdom of experience.’” 

The success of his first two records allowed Bill to share stages with Sarah Jarosz, Sam Outlaw, The Dustbowl Revival, Tall Tall Trees, Seldom Scene, Billy Strings, Frank Fairfield, Tom Marion, Zak Sokolow, Jonah Tolchin, Jenni Lyn Gardner (Della Mae), Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, Twisted Pine, Whiskey Myers, Big Country, and many others. In July of 2019, Bill became “One of the folk,” with his inaugural performance at the Newport Folk Festival.

This third installment in his discography, Now I’m Free, offers a deeper and unguarded look into Scorzari’s soul, weathered and bared, and rooted in the present moment while moving freely into the unspoken promises of the future.

For more information, up-dates and news, please visit www.billscorzari.com, www.facebook.com/billscorzari, www.twitter.com/BillScorzari, and www.instagram.com/billscorzari.  

Now I’m Free Track Listing:

1. Into the Light of the Day (5:07)
2. Over Again (4:40)
3. Now I’m Free (3:44)
4. It All Matters (4:35)
5. One More Time (4:07)
6. When Will My Time Come Along (3:58) 
7. Treat Me Kind (3:23)
8. San Miguel County (4:36)
9. It’s Just What I Know (4:47)
10. Steel Wheels (4:48)
11. You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone (2:59)
12. Yes I Will (10:51)
13. Cypress Tree (3:37)
14. Don’t You Ever Go Away From Me (4:20)
15. New Mexico (I to Mine) (7:20)

PERFORMANCE CREDITS BY MUSICIAN
Bill Scorzari: Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
Erin Rae: Harmony Vocal (Track 4)
Mia Rose Lynne: Harmony Vocals (Tracks 2, 14)
Will Kimbrough: Electric Guitar (Tracks 5, 7, 10, 15), Slide Guitar (Track 7), Mandolin (Track 11), Cigar Box Guitar (Track 14), Piano (Track 5)
Juan Solorzano: Electric Guitar (Tracks 1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12), Lap Steel Guitar (Tracks 2, 8, 9, 11), 2nd Acoustic Guitar (Tracks 4, 15)
Megan McCormick: Lap steel (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 13), Harmony Vocal (Track 6)
Brent Burke: Dobro
Greg Krockta: Harmonica
Michael Rinne: Upright Bass & Electric Bass
Neilson Hubbard: Drums/Percussion, Piano (Track 14)

All songs, lyrics and music written, arranged and performed by Bill Scorzari

 

Bill Scorzari Tour Dates

8/24 Sat – Taste Budd’s Cafe’ – Red Hook, NY
8/25 Sun – Dogwood Bread Company – Wadhams, NY
8/26 Mon – Radio Bean – Burlington, VT
8/27 Tue – Abilene Bar and Lounge – Rochester, NY
8/30 Fri – Plain Folk Cafe’ Music & Coffee House – Pleasant Plain, OH
8/31 Sat – Over Yonder House Concerts – Toledo, OH
9/1 Sun – Visible Voice – Cleveland, OH
9/4 Wed – Uncommon Ground – Edgewater Listening Room – Chicago, IL
9/5 Thu – The Elbo Room – Chicago, IL
9/6 Fri –  Wild Rose Moon – Plymouth, IN
9/7 Sat – Wild Rose Moon – Plymouth, IN
9/8 Sun – Ca’d’Zan House Concerts – Cambridge, IL
9/13 Fri – Black Forest Community Center – Colorado Springs, CO
9/14 Sat – The Laughing Goat Coffee House – Boulder, CO
9/15 Sun – The Muse Performance Space – Lafayette, CO
9/21 Sat – Cafe Zippy – Everett, WA
9/22 Sun – Tim’s Tavern – Seattle, WA
9/27 Fri – Artichoke Music – Portland, OR
9/28 Sat – Crown Alley Irish Pub – Ocean Park, WA
10/3 Thu – Flynn’s Cabaret & Steakhouse – Felton, CA
10/5 Sat – The Shady Lady House Concert – Saratoga, CA
10/9 Wed – The Blue Guitar at The Arroyo Seco Golf Course – South Pasadena, CA
10/11-12 Fri-Sat – 16th Annual Far-West Conference – Woodland Hills, CA
10/25 Fri – Pecan Grove Store – Fredericksburg, TX
For more information, up-dates and news, please visit www.billscorzari.com, www.facebook.com/billscorzari, www.twitter.com/BillScorzari, and www.instagram.com/billscorzari.

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