Razor & Tie Music Publishing announces signing of singer-songwriter Christian Lopez

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 11, 2016

RAZOR & TIE MUSIC PUBLISHING ANNOUNCES SIGNING

OF SINGER-SONGWRITER CHRISTIAN LOPEZ

 

Razor & Tie Music Publishing (RTMP) is proud to announce the signing of singer songwriter Christian Lopez. The West Virginia native released his debut full-length record Onward in May 2015 via Blaster Records. Rolling Stone Country recognized him as “Best Newcomer” at Americana Music Fest in 2015 and Alternate Root proclaimed him one of its Top 25 artists the same year. Lopez is managed by Rock Ridge Music.

 

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Christian on the RTMP team. He is a true artist, heart and soul… the whole package – incredible vocalist, songwriter, musician and performer. We’ll all be talking about him for years to come,” says Brad Kennard, Razor & Tie Music Publishing’s VP of Creative.

 

Lopez says,” I’m honored to be working with such a passionate and prestigious publishing company. Not only is Razor & Tie just that, but they’re staffed with truly amazing people that I’m so glad to have on my team. I’m excited for our future together, and even more excited about the songs to come.”

 

Growing up in West Virginia, Christian Lopez was influenced by the traditional Appalachian folk music of his upbringing. He began playing piano at the age of five and picked up guitar the following year, eventually leading to playing in several local bands throughout his teenage years. Eventually Lopez emerged to center stage, performing his own music as the Christian Lopez Band. Lopez released his debut full-length record Onward in May 2015 via Blaster Records. The record was produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson). Lopez and his band have toured continually since the release, opening dates for artists including American Aquarium, The Black Lillies, John Fulbright, Mary Stuart, Miranda Lambert and more.

 

Razor & Tie Music Publishing

Razor & Tie Music Publishing has distinguished itself with a focused, proactive approach to artist career development, cross-format songwriting, multi-media song placement and comprehensive royalty administration. The company is led by a seasoned and energetic executive team with representatives in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville. RTMP has scored numerous number one multi-platinum hits in multiple formats, including “Home”, co-written by Greg Holden and performed by American Idol winner Phillip Phillips, “Whiskey In My Water,” performed by Tyler Farr and co-written by Phillip Larue, and many more.

 

For more information visit:  www.razorandtiemusicpublishing.com

JD Eicher and Nicholas Spark join forces on soundtrack to accompany “Two By Two”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 7, 2016
 
JD Eicher and Nicholas Sparks join forces on soundtrack to accompany Two by Two 
 
The singer-songwriter’s music – including the original song “Two by Two” –
celebrates the bestselling author’s latest novel in this unique collaboration 
JD Eicher, the Youngstown, Ohio-born and bred musician, has teamed with author Nicholas Sparks in a unique collaboration to celebrate Sparks’s 20 years of publishing books.  Eicher has produced an original song and musical companion for Sparks’s forthcoming novel, Two By Two, which will be published on October 4, 2016.  The music will be available to fans for free via one of the author’s websites starting September 6 through December 6, 2016.
The soundtrack includes four songs by Eicher, one of which — “Two by Two” — is original and inspired by the new book.  The album also includes a re-recorded version of “Not Afraid” from Eicher’s latest release, The Middle Distance, and two remasters of previously released songs “Love Is Gonna Find You” and “The Last Love Song.” The song “Two by Two” is also incorporated into the narrative of Sparks’s novel.
“The opportunity to collaborate with Nicholas on the Two By Two project has been a great honor and very exciting for me,” says Eicher.  “I love the challenge of writing a song for a particular purpose, and diving into the Two By Two story and its themes was an inspiring and rewarding process. I am beyond grateful to have the chance to work with such a gifted storyteller!”

Sparks says, “It’s been so stimulating creatively, and rewarding at a personal level, to collaborate with JD on the Two By Two soundtrack project. I know my readers will flock to his music because he intuitively understands the characters and relationships at the heart of this story – he is a master of complex emotion.”
In his new novel Two By Two, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks returns with a poignant tale of rediscovered love and the power of family, with the story of one man’s journey to rebuild his life as the single parent of a six-year old daughter.  The novel will be published on October 4, 2016 by Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group.
About JD Eicher:
JD Eicher released his most recent album, The Middle Distance, via Rock Ridge Music on May 6, 2016. With his band, The Goodnights, Eicher’s soaring and graceful pop-rock songcraft garnered favorable comparisons to Coldplay, Keane, The Script, The Killers, and Death Cab for Cutie. Virgin America Airlines used one of the band’s songs (“Level Out”) in the teaser for the airline’s movie, Departure Date, and another song (“Aaron”) was used in a national television ad campaign for Olive Garden. His tracks have also been used in conjunction with the FYI Network, including a promo for the show “Married At First Sight” that was a tie-in with Carmax. Live, JD Eicher & the Goodnights have shared the stage with such diverse and respected artists as the Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay, Train, Maroon 5, Hot Chelle Rae, Pete Yorn, Anberlin, Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams, Kelly Clarkson, Cartel, Sister Hazel, and Matt Nathanson, among many others. www.jdeicher.com
About Nicholas Sparks:

Nicholas Sparks is one of the world’s most beloved storytellers.  All of his books have been New York Times bestsellers, with over 105 million copies sold worldwide, in more than 50 languages, including over 75 million copies in the United States alone.
Sparks wrote one of his best-known stories, The Notebook, over a period of six months at age 28.  This year, he celebrates 20 years since this landmark publication with his newest and 20th book, Two By Two, on October 4, 2016. Nicholas Sparks is represented by Theresa Park at Park Literary & Media. www.nicholassparks.com
About Rock Ridge Music:

Rock Ridge Music is an artist management company and independent record label with worldwide distribution through ADA (WMG). Founded in 2004 and with their office in Nashville, TN, Rock Ridge Music is focused on artist development at every level, working collaboratively to build long-term, sustainable careers.
About Grand Central Publishing:
Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, reaches a diverse audience through hardcover, electronic, trade paperback and mass market books that cater to every kind of reader. Our imprints are Twelve, Grand Central Life & Style, Forever and Forever Yours.
About Park Literary & Media:
Representing fiction and nonfiction with a unique, boutique-style approach, PLM is a full-service agency that manages all aspects of an author’s career with focused personal attention and the highest professional standards. With a robust foreign rights department and dedicated marketing, retail and client promotions, plus deep relationships with film and television entities in Los Angeles, PLM brings top-tier resources and a wealth of experience to every client, every day.

Tony Lucca plans full tour schedule for the fall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 20, 2016

 

Tony Lucca plans full tour schedule for the fall

Outings with Alex Dezen and Tyrone Wells scheduled

 

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Tony Lucca is set to hit the road this fall for an extensive cross-country tour (see full tour schedule below).  Lucca has planned a Southeast, Northeast and Midwest series of co-headlining dates with labelmate Alex Dezen (of The Damnwells) which they are billing as the “Heads or Tails Tour.”  (Joining Dezen and Lucca on their run will be Christian Lopez.) Lucca also plans to head out after that with Tyrone Wells for a series of twelve West Coast and Texas shows.

“It’s always nice to see the calendar chock-full of dates, knowing all the cities and venues I’ll be seeing this year, not to mention all the fans, friends and family I’ll be getting to perform for,” says Lucca.  “Even better is getting the opportunity to share the stage with some of my favorite artists of the last decade. Both Alex and Tyrone set the bar mighty high, both in their own fashion. I’m really looking forward to these dates.”

Prior to hitting the road, Lucca has a show planned in his hometown of Nashville on Wednesday, June 22nd at 3rd & Lindsley.  In celebration of his album Canyon Songs’ 10th anniversary this year, he’ll be performing the album in its entirety track-for-track, as well as a second set of Lucca classics from over the years.  Joining him onstage at this very special event will be “American Idol” winner and recent tour mate David Cook, Lady Antebellum guitarist Jason “Slim” Gambill, and tour mate Christian Lopez, among others.  A recording of Canyon Songs live will be mixed by the legendary Sun Studios and released later this year.  Lucca worked with Sun Studios earlier this year when his session at the famed studio was broadcast on PBS stations across the country; three tracks from that session were released in February on the Sessions Vol.1: Sun Studios EP.

Many fans and critics agree that the crown jewel of Lucca’s catalog is the emotive Canyon Songs, a touching 10-track tip of the cap to the legendary Laurel Canyon sound immortalized by master musicians including Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne.  Says Lucca: “Oddly enough, I’m one of the few artists at my stage of the game who actually owns all of his records; I own the whole catalog,” Lucca says. “Instead of diving back into the next album cycle, I’ve decided to reflect for a minute and promote the larger body of work, to shine more light on Tony Lucca, the songwriter.”

For Lucca, who was raised in a very large musical family in Detroit, a short stint doing the Hollywood shuffle/auditioning actor thing led him to recognize his true passion: music.  A number of albums and EPs followed.  Lucca has made myriad television appearances on popular shows such as Parenthood, The Tonight Show, Last Call with Carson Daly, The All New Mickey Mouse Club, the Aaron Spelling-produced Malibu Shores, as well as small roles in some independent features.  He was also the source of tabloid fodder during his years dating actress Keri Russell, as well as when he was a third place finisher on Season 2 of The Voice (which served as a springboard for a series of additional key career milestones, including the signing of a recording contract with Adam Levine’s 222 Records, as well as high profile stints on tour with the likes of Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson, Sara Bareilles, and David Cook, among countless others).

 

TONY LUCCA TOUR SCHEDULE:

6/22/16 – Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsley (Canyon Songs live)

7/30/16 – Oswego, IL – Oswego Beats & Eats Festival

8/2/16 – Los Angeles, CA – Hotel Café (w/Keaton Simons and Christian Lopez)

8/20/16 – Nashville, TN – Musician’s Corner, Centennial Park (w/Christian Lopez)

9/12/16 – Spring Lake, MI – Courtyard Sessions

 

Tony Lucca/Alex Dezen co-headlining “Heads or Tails Tour” (with Christian Lopez):

9/25/16 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic

9/27/16 – Vienna, VA – Jammin Java

9/28/16 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live Upstairs

9/30/16 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom

10/3/16 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Café

10/4/16 – Columbus, OH – Rumba Café

10/7/16 – Chicago, IL – City Winery

10/8/16 – Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club

10/9/16 – Cedar Falls, IA – Cedar Valley House Concerts

 

Tony Lucca tour dates with Tyrone Wells:

10/21/16 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom

11/4/16 – Dallas, TX – Kessler

11/5/16 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Jr.

11/6/16 – Houston, TX – HOB Bronze Peacock

11/9/16 – Denver, CO – Soiled Dove

11/11/16 – Spokane, WA – Bartlett

11/12/16 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater

11/13/16 – Seattle, WA – Triple Door

11/16/16 – San Francisco, CA – Chapel

11/17/16 – Santa Barbara, CA – Soho

11/18/16 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour

11/19/16 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – The Coach House

 

www.tonylucca.com

www.facebook.com/TonyLucca

@luccadoes

www.instagram.com/Luccadoes

Stewart Eastham to release new album in August

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 14, 2016

 

STEWART EASTHAM TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM IN AUGUST

 

 

Nashville-based Americana singer-songwriter Stewart Eastham is set to release his latest album, Dancers In The Mansion, on August 12, 2016.  While Eastham’s previous album (The Man I Once Was) was a portrait of a man in turmoil, his new album paints a much different picture. The inky blacks and saturated reds splashed across the album cover provide clues as to the revelry within. The album’s closing line, “Celebrate yourself with love tonight,” is evocative of the celebratory spirit found throughout the record.

 

Dancers In The Mansion pushes the boundaries of what an Americana record can sound like.

This dynamic collection of songs elevates the genre to new heights with its lyricism and innovative musical arrangements. Everything from smoky, horn-inflected goodness (“In The Morning”), to disco-gospel (“Lift Your Soul”), to funk (“Pretty Little Songbird”), to country-flavored classic rock (“Leavin’ By Sundown”), to psychedelic country (“2023 Miles”), to classic pop (“Old Lovers [In A Cheap Motel]”), to the slick grandeur of Nashville’s late ’60s/early ’70s “countrypolitan”-era (“Jackpot”) combines to create a compelling whole. Big, funky drums have always been a trademark of Eastham’s sound, but that big rhythm is more prevalent than ever before on this album, where he wears his hip-hop influences on his sleeve. At times, he displays a pop sensibility that echoes Elvis Costello and early Tom Waits.

 

This album marks Eastham’s first time co-producing his own material. Being so closely involved with every stage of the album’s production, he was able to really craft the songs so the musical arrangements best represented his point of view. “Being so hands-on with this album, I think the snapshot it presents is closer to my personality than anything I’ve done before,” says Eastham. “While the last album was me looking inward, this one is more me looking outwards. So, in a strange way, it probably gives a better a sense of who I am and what I find interesting or moving.”

 

For the album’s production team, Eastham brought in producer Burke Ericson and engineer Dave Pearson from his previous album. Eastham also reunited with producer Jayce Murphy (who produced his final album with Day Of The Outlaw) to produce some additional Nashville sessions. Rich Mouser (Chris Cornell, Mike Portnoy, Weezer), who has worked with Eastham on two previous albums, mixed the album.

 

Eastham recruited his former bandmates from Day Of The Outlaw—Kim Lee (bass, vocals) and Allen Jones (drums)—to create this record. Nashville guitar player extraordinaire Jeff Rogers (who has played live with Eastham many times over the years) filled out the band’s core unit. Many musicians featured on this album also performed on the last record (David Yuter/keys, Ted Russell Kamp/guitar, Skyko Tavis/strings), but there are some new faces. One is Bruce Springsteen’s longtime pedal steel player Marty Rifkin. Gospel legends The McCrary Sisters are featured on several tracks. Oscar Utterström (Los Lobos, My Morning Jacket), Jim Williamson (The Mavericks), Evan Cobb, and Tutu Sweeney played horns on the album, with Michael Roundtree (Wu-Tang Clan) on percussion.

 

Lyrically, Dancers In The Mansion highlights a more playful side of Eastham’s songwriting. There are several songs laced with his dark sense of humor. Songs like “Old Lovers (In A Cheap Motel)” and “Fruit Cocktail Cannery Blues” display a verisimilitude that brings a poignancy to their darkly comic tales. The title track is a madcap romp that may be the first shit-kickin’ country song to mention both “moonwalked” and “Jheri curl.” “She’s My Gal” displays a wry bawdiness that belies its retro stylings. Eastham felt the freedom to be more experimental with his lyrics as evident in the narrative shifts of “In The Morning,” the first person plural point-of-view of “The Barroom,” and the cinematic transcendency of album closer “Lift Your Soul.”

 

Eastham was born and raised in rural Northern California. He grew up on the sounds of classic and outlaw country, with a special place in his heart for California country greats Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. This was supplemented with a love of rock ’n’ roll­ and hip-hop. While attending UC Davis, Eastham played drums in a satirical thrash band and later a power pop group. After graduating, he switched gears and moved to Los Angeles to attend film school (he is an avid filmmaker). There he developed his skills as a storyteller through writing, directing, and acting in films. He also became an acolyte of country music—starting with Hank Sr. and working his way through the country-flavored singer-songwriters of the ’70s (like John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, and Mickey Newbury) on up through the neo-traditionalist sounds of Dwight Yoakam. It was at this point he started writing and singing his own songs. He fronted the band Day Of The Outlaw for two albums before he moved to Nashville from Los Angeles in the fall of 2010. He released his first solo album, The Man I Once Was, in 2013.

 

Eastham plans to tap into his filmmaking background and shoot multiple music videos to accompany tracks from the album, similar to what he did for his previous album.

 

 

www.stewarteastham.com

Jon Reynolds’ forthcoming EP (to be released in August) tackles issues of racism and sexism accompanied by throwback music vibe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 2, 2016
Jon Reynolds’ forthcoming  EP, scheduled for August release, tackles issues (racism, sexism) accompanied by throwback music vibe
 
“Music is about reaching people, bringing them together and telling them something,” says Jon Reynolds, a longtime singer/songwriter whose solo debut, an EP entitled Generation, Love, shines a light on social issues that still haunt the American South. Influenced by the moods and melodies of 1950s pop-pock, Reynolds’ songs deliver bright hooks and weighty messages, tackling issues like racism and sexism along the way. Generation, Love nods to a wide range of influences, too, from the songwriting of The Zombies and Ray Charles to the barrier-breaking art of comedians like Richard Pryor.
Choosing to join the ranks of activist art developed from Reynolds’ recent relocation to the South. “My wife has repeatedly changed jobs because of sexist treatment and sexual harassment, and people have openly expressed their distaste for my black brother-in-law and black friends,” says Reynolds about his first year living in Tennessee. Instead of responding in kind, he chose to transform the words of hate and prejudice into songs of introspective growth and social relevance, delivering a long-awaited revival of lyrical density. Generation, Love leaves no listener uncertain about its theme, with Reynolds calmly expressing that prejudice exists in all of us and must be corrected – starting with himself.
A multi-instrumentalist, Reynolds cut his teeth with Oklahoma-based band The Waymires, whose blues-rock sound landed them headlining performances at festivals like Red Gorilla Fest. He’s still in that band, but Generation, Love is a different project, inspired by his realization that inequalities still exist in the Bible Belt. On songs like “Situational Demise,” he ditches the blues and leans heavily on the pop music of his parents’ generation, using it as a vehicle to deliver a wake-up call to anyone who’s become complacent with the status quo.
“It was important to find the right people to help interpret such a substantial topic,” says Reynolds about the project’s colorful musicianship, which included time-tested instrumentalists such as Hubert Payne, John Thomasson, and Evan Weatherford, along with vocal trio, The Horsettes, from country band A Thousand Horses. Reynolds also struck gold working with Josh Reynolds as his project engineer and producer. Josh’s live production experience with Little Big Town lent itself beautifully to Generation, Love by grounding the recordings in live performances, giving the project a genuine, human touch. On title track Generation, Love, all parties combine their unique artistic colors to create a masterful blending of past and present musical expression, headed by Reynolds’ lyrical lament of a generation failing to live up to its potential.
Reynolds’ EP will be released August 5, 2016.  (The first single from the EP, the title track, will be released early on July 8, 2016.)

Riley Etheridge Jr. to release new album in September, including hi-res audio version

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 1, 2016  

 

Riley Etheridge Jr. to release new album in September, including hi-res audio version

 


Album tells one story from multiple perspectives


Abstract artwork syncs with songs for multisensory listening experience
NYC-based Americana singer-songwriter Riley Etheridge Jr. will be releasing a new album, Secrets, Hope & Waiting, on September 9, 2016 via Rock Ridge Music (with distribution through ADA). In addition to the usual CD and digital formats, Etheridge also plans to release the album in a high-resolution audio version (96kHz/24-bit) through portals that distribute hi-res files. The album tells a story from multiple points of view, encompassing an eight-song travelogue (plus two alternate versions) that takes its listeners on an intimate, acoustic-oriented character journey that spans the course of three decades.

The sonic template for Secrets is quite an intentionally intimate one – minimalistic and sparse to let the mood and story shine. You’ll hear Etheridge’s chair move at the outset of the attempted soothing of “Hush,” how the delicate four-part harmonies mesh on the pleading of “Hoping & Waiting,” Simon Lott’s subtle toms and mallet work on the optimistic charge of “Everything You Wanted,” and the wistful wishfulness of the lead track “Like a Fool.” Overall, the very nature of the high-resolution recording itself, co-produced by Etheridge with longtime bandmate Larry Sieberth, makes you feel like you’re right there in the studio alongside Etheridge and his fellow musicians.

Secrets was recorded, mixed, and mastered at Esplanade Studios, located in a refurbished 1910 church in New Orleans owned by the album’s engineer, Misha Kachkachishvili. The album’s dimensionality directly stems from the highly personal Esplanade studio setting, reflected in the musicians’ collective interpretations of the Secrets song cycle. “I knew I wanted something we’d record in complete takes, with minimal isolation and full visibility,” says Etheridge.  “We were all in a room playing together, and that natural room sound needed to be part of the listening experience. I wanted us to capture the beauty of creating face to face.  It was the number one thing in terms of the mood I wanted. In the recording, I wanted the openness of spontaneity and interpretation in the moment.”

The multi-tiered viewpoints on display throughout Secrets are also mirrored in the album’s artwork, thanks to Derek Weisberg’s visceral, abstract sculptures as photographed by Shaun Roberts. “It was an intimate process of two different people’s perspectives of the underlying sculpture that started it,” explains Etheridge. “Now imagine going to see them at an art installation in a museum where you’d put on headphones and have a narrator discuss the images. But in this case, you’d have a high-definition listening experience with one specific song synced to that particular piece of art.”

Before going into the studio to lay down the tracks, Etheridge performed the songs live with Kenji Shinagawa, Melissa Tong, and Gary Frazier (who also played on the album). Getting that just-right live feel in the studio emerged from those onstage song tryouts. “One of the things about this process that I liked was performing these songs live before we tracked them,” Etheridge says. “Some of that growth happens only when you play a song in front of an audience and are willing to take chances. Some of my favorite moments have come from live onstage improvisation or when we’re backstage warming up.”

A South Carolina native, Etheridge spent many years living – and playing music – in Louisiana, soaking up the region’s unique and rich musical heritage; he now calls New York City home. With a catalog that deftly blends together a broad palette of authentic and finely crafted Americana, late-night blues, hard-luck folk, buoyant Bayou soul, and barn-burning country, Etheridge has released four prior albums (The Straight and Narrow Way – 2014, The Arrogance of Youth – 2012, Powder Keg – 2011, Things I Used To Know – 2009) and one EP (Better Days – 2012).  As Innocent Words said of Etheridge, “…the NYC-based artist… has been carrying the smart Americana torch for some time.” Over the years, Etheridge has shared stages with a broad array of respected artists such as Ricky Skaggs, Sister Hazel, and Tony Lucca, and has embarked on repeat tour outings with Leon Russell in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

www.rileyetheridge.com

Matt Brown signs management deal, new album coming in July

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2016
 
 
MATT BROWN SIGNS MANAGEMENT DEAL, NEW ALBUM COMING IN JULY
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Matt Brown has signed a management deal and will be releasing his next album, Walk Into The Light, on July 22, 2016 on Rock Ridge Music (with distribution via ADA).  Co-managing Brown will be the management arm of Rock Ridge Music (where he joins other management clients such as Christian Lopez Band, Tony Lucca, Ike Reilly, JD Eicher, and Riley Etheridge Jr.) and John Tumminello of Blue Plaid Management (those in Nashville will recognize his name from his role as Executive Director of Musician’s Corner).
Says Brown of his new deals:  “I’m thrilled to have signed with Blue Plaid Management and Rock Ridge Music. John Tumminello, Tom Derr [Rock Ridge Music CEO], and Cynthia Cochrane [Rock Ridge Music President] are an amazing team of managers to help guide me and further my career. I cannot wait to release my first full length album on the Rock Ridge Music label in July and start doing a lot more touring to showcase my latest songs.”
Derr of Rock Ridge Music had this to say about Brown:  ?”What drew Rock Ridge Music to Matt is his ’70s era vocals and vibe, a great combination which shines through on his album.”
Tumminello added, “Matt is an incredibly talented vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter.  I cannot wait for people to hear the amazing album he’s created. It’s such a great record and will hopefully represent a major step in his career.”
Brown’s forthcoming album, Walk Into The Light, is a collection of 10 songs Brown wrote during his time in Nashville.  The album was produced by Grammy winner Andy Hunt.  As is to be expected from Brown, the songs have a pop/blue-eyed soul sound with a throwback vibe.  His music is deeply rooted in timeless soul while sounding remarkably fresh and new, with a voice seasoned by influences such as Ray Charles and Bill Withers and guitar styling steeped in the tradition of Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Originally from Washington state, Brown grew up soaking in the classic melodies of The Beatles and Roy Orbison that filled the house. Brown demonstrated a natural rhythm by banging to the beat whenever music was played, and he could be found playing along to music his father made.  His father gave him a drum set for his fourteenth birthday, and a guitar when he left home for college in Seattle, encouraging him to follow in the family musical tradition.

During college, Brown fell in love with the guitar, and at the urging of his classmates, started performing at open mic nights, revealing his innate ability as a vocalist.  Brown soon became inspired to write songs and grow his skills as a guitarist. Since that time, Brown has fronted bands, played hundreds of shows, opened for Huey Lewis, recorded albums, and journeyed across the country to Nashville to continue developing his craft of songwriting.
Brown plans to tour heavily in support of Walk Into The Light—a current tour schedule is below, with many more tour dates to be announced soon.  He is also working with Razor & Tie for TV/film placements.
 
MATT BROWN TOUR SCHEDULE
5/16 – Nashville, TN / South
5/19 – Nashville, TN / Tennessee Brew Works
5/28 – Goldendale, WA / Maryhill Winery
7/1 – Richland, WA / Bookwalter Winery
7/2 – Pasco, WA / Milbrandt Vineyards
7/3 – Ridgefield, WA / Confluence Winery
7/29 – Nashville, TN / Bluebird Café
8/27 – Arlington, WA / private show
9/5 – Goldendale, WA / Maryhill Winery

Martha’s Trouble to rehab historical Opelika, AL house into studio/creative space

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 25, 2016

 

Martha’s Trouble to rehab historical Opelika, AL house into studio/creative space

 

Husband-and-wife folk/rock duo Martha’s Trouble (aka Rob and Jen Slocumb) have purchased a historical Victorian house, originally built in 1910, in downtown Opelika, AL, and have already begun work on rehabbing the abode into a creative studio space in their hometown. The renovation should take approximately five months.

 

“We’ve wanted to do this for about four years, and we looked at a number of potential locations including warehouses,” says Rob. “This particular house came available in February,” adds Jen, “and we liked the look of it and the vibe of the place. We wanted something that would be part of the town, to help support and grow the arts scene here, to support the community, and a space that would inspire artistic endeavors and creativity.”

 

The completed facility will be known as The Sound Wall. The Slocumbs are hoping to provide a small town recording experience in a premiere space. Two studio rooms are planned for the first floor; the rooms can be used for recording, rehearsals, writing sessions, post-editing video, photo shoots, video shoots, and will be available for special events.  A gourmet kitchen with a large family-style farm table will allow local chefs to prepare meals on-site for visiting artists and bands. A one-bedroom apartment will be housed upstairs, offering lodging to artists using the studios downstairs or to people who want an inspiring place to stay in town.

 

The Slocumbs moved to Opelika from Canada ten years ago.  “We are always asked, ‘Why did you move here?’” says Jen. “And really the short answer is we felt  – and still do – that there is something special about the Auburn/Opelika area. Now that we are touring less and spending more time at home raising a family, we are very passionate about contributing to our local community.”

 

“We hope The Sound Wall will become an extension to the already existing and expanding arts community,” adds Rob.

 

Martha’s Trouble, called “a hidden gem” by Billboard Magazine, is known for its signature sound of folk and country twang, which has been praised by some of the most influential and well-respected music critics of our time. Martha’s Trouble has been listed and featured in the aforementioned Billboard Magazine, as well as USA Today, AOL Music, Sirius XM Satellite Radio and Performing Songwriter. Their songs have received awards and have been featured in the show “Army Wives” and made-for-TV movies on Lifetime and CBS. The duo’s band name comes from a Bible story about Martha and Mary, one that they say is a reminder to stop and smell the roses and to keep an eye on the bigger picture and the important things in life.

 

Late last year, Martha’s Trouble offered some new additions to their holiday repertoire with two digital singles, “River” and “White Christmas,” which followed on the success of two independent holiday albums, Christmas Lights (2002) and This Christmas (2008). Prior to that, they also released: Jen Coates’ Seed Sessions (2014), A Little Heart Like You (2012), Anchor Tattoo (2011), EP (2008), Forget October (2006), Still (2003), Sleeping Dogs (2002), and The Road Ahead (2000).

 

www.marthastrouble.com

www.facebook.com/marthastrouble

twitter.com/marthastrouble

JD Eicher to release “The Middle Distance” in May

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 24. 2016
 
JD EICHER TO RELEASE THE MIDDLE DISTANCE IN MAY
JD Eicher, the Youngstown, OH-area born and bred musician, is set to release his new album, The Middle Distance, via Rock Ridge Music on May 6, 2016. The Middle Distance marks the first album Eicher will issue since sunsetting JD Eicher & the Goodnights, the moniker used on the trilogy of titles, The Shape of ThingsShifting, and Into Place, released previously. So why put The Goodnights to bed? Eicher explains: “The truth of the matter is, not a whole lot has changed. There will still be a band. But the name shift felt natural with the very personal nature of this new music and the very strong desire to simplify.”
Eicher found that his creative process changed a bit for the new album. “It’s more of a journal entry/diary-type approach this time around. The music that I’m writing and releasing is really mirroring who I am and where I am at this time in my life. It’s easy to perform songs when they’re very true.  I’m really glad that my career has taken the longer, ‘scenic’ route, because the music I’m writing now has a certain truth to it that I’m not sure I would have found otherwise.”
The first chapter of Eicher’s new aural journal begins with nearly one minute of U2-ish guitar that sets the sonic table for the album opener, “This Heart,” in which he sings, “All my fears, all my worries, are alive and well inside this heart.” Eicher expounds, “This whole record – and definitely that song – is moodier, and there’s a lot of internal struggle, internal processing. When you hear the song title, ‘This Heart,’ it sounds like it’s gonna be a love song, but it’s really more about coping and figuring out how to get past whatever you’re dealing with in that moment.”
Songwriting and superb singing are at the center of each track on The Middle Distance, exemplified by the lyric line “Maybe we’ve been trained to wash, rinse, and then repeat” and the heavenly falsetto vocals found on “Be Well,” a song which sounds like it would fit perfectly into Death Cab For Cutie’s catalog. An audio oasis to the overall “moodier” sound of the record is refreshingly felt when the soundscape lightens up for the bouncy “The Little Bit,” which musically and lyrically has a Jason Mraz vibe to it, most notably on the playful line, “I didn’t write any lyrics for this part of the song… everybody relax.” Eicher’s songwriting gravitas shines in the more serious selections – “Not Everybody Runs,” a sonic commitment to, well, commitment; “Not Afraid,” in which abstract fears about our dreams not coming true, relationships going wrong, internal struggles and pressures, letting your guard down and being hurt, and failure are all tackled; and “Man of Faith,” in which Eicher espouses the somewhat ambiguous supplication: “And I’m pretty sure my heaven’s just the answer to my questions.”

Far less ambiguous is how much Eicher’s Rust Belt upbringing seeps into, or serves as, the foundation of his songwriting. “I think it definitely affects the music,” he affirms without hesitation, “even in the way I approach touring and my overall work ethic with songwriting and recording. There’s a world-wariness that comes out of this area that gets into the songs. I think there’s a realism that comes out of this part of the country, too, and I think that gets in there as well.”  It’s no wonder that Pittsburgh, not far from his hometown of Youngstown, has embraced the performer and his music as their own.
With his band, The Goodnights, Eicher’s soaring and graceful pop-rock songcraft garnered favorable comparisons to Coldplay, Keane, The Script, The Killers, and Death Cab for Cutie. Alternative Addiction named the group one of the top 10 unsigned bands. Virgin America Airlines used one of the band’s songs in the teaser for the airline’s movie, Departure Date. Live, JD Eicher & the Goodnights shared the stage with such diverse and respected artists as the Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay, Train, Maroon 5, Hot Chelle Rae, Pete Yorn, Anberlin, Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams, Kelly Clarkson, Cartel, Sister Hazel, and Matt Nathanson, among many others.

Johnny Boyd plans tour in support of new album

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 3, 2016

   

Johnny Boyd plans tour in support of new album, Someday Dreams of You

 

 

“If Frank Sinatra and Johnny Cash had a love child, it would be Johnny Boyd.” – NPR

Modern-day crooner Johnny Boyd has logged a few dates on tour already in 2016 in support of his soon-to-be released album, Someday Dreams of You (out February 12th via Cliffdive Records), and he has just added more stops to his trek on the performing road (see tour schedule below), including dates as far afield as Montana, Missouri, Texas, Washington, and Oregon, plus two shows this week in California.  Cabaret Scenes wrote of his January New York City show: “[Boyd] made it clear that most others trying to affectionately affect that elusive oh-so-hip manner may as well give up or ask if he’ll give lessons. Pluck, panache, and high energy mix well. …Grinning yet laidback confidence make him the ultimate hard-working, eager-to-please old-school entertainer we long to listen to.”

 

Johnny Boyd’s smooth, romantic vocals, matinee idol charisma, classic gentleman’s style, and dynamic, irreverent performances are all memorable and noteworthy, but it’s his fresh, emotive, all-original contributions to the Great American Songbook that will be his legacy.  With his highly anticipated upcoming album, Boyd introduces a whole new generation of listeners to the Great American Songbook and his classic crooning style.

 

The eleven-song Someday Dreams of You is Boyd’s seventh studio album and his first solo album in over three years. The album was co-produced by Boyd and acclaimed industry veteran Oz Fritz (Tom Waits, Bill Laswell, Primus), and unlike other Great American Songbook collections, Boyd’s new album has a twist.

 

 

 

“I wanted to create an updated Great American Songbook album,” Boyd explains. “The wonderful thing about GAS compositions is their timelessness – they are rich with real human feelings, like love, loss, joy, hope, reflection, etc. These things don’t change over time. People still experience them today. Why not write brand new songs in the classic Great American Songbook style that express these timeless emotions?  The challenge for this new album was to take the timeless styles and sounds from classic mid-century recordings I adore and fold them into the way we live today – to create new songs and update old favorites that complement each other in a fresh way. I think we accomplished this.”

 

The Washington Post has heralded Boyd as “romantic,” the New York Daily News touted him as “smooth,” and the San Francisco Bay Guardian lauded him as “sophisticated and fun.” Indeed, Johnny Boyd is all of this and more. In 1998, after performing tirelessly for five years in San Francisco Bay Area nightclubs and dance halls, Boyd was signed to a major-label recording contract with Time Bomb Recordings/BMG. Today, with hundreds of thousands of records sold and more than 2,000 live performances to his credit – including engagements with celebrated artists Rosemary Clooney, Lionel Hampton, and the Brian Setzer Orchestra – Boyd is preparing to depart for the next leg of his creative journey.

 

Johnny Boyd Tour Schedule:

 

2/5/2016 – Torrance, CA / George Nakano Theatre

 

2/6/2016 – Torrance, CA / George Nakano Theatre

 

3/17/2016 – Spokane, WA / Club of Spokane St. , Paddy’s Day Party

 

3/18/2016 – Whitefish, MT / O’Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center

 

3/21/2016 – San Antonio, TX / Sam’s Burger Joint

 

3/23/2016 – Dallas, TX / Sons of Hermann Hall

 

3/25/2016 – Kansas City, MO / Knuckleheads Saloon

 

4/29/2016 – Portland, OR – Duff’s Garage

 

…more dates to be announced soon!

 

ADDITIONAL PRESS INFORMATION / EPK / LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEO:

 

http://www.johnnyboyd.com/press

http://www.facebook.com/JohnnyBoyd

https://www.youtube.com/user/johnnyboydtv