FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2014
CHRISTIAN LOPEZ BAND SIGNS WITH BLASTER RECORDS
New EP, Pilot, to be released on October 14th
Having one foot planted in the folksy, fiery twang of modern-day Americana and the other inching toward the rootsy rock & roll of early Sun Records, the West Virginia-based Christian Lopez Band is ready to make a lasting mark. Recently signed to Blaster Records, the band is set to release their debut EP, Pilot, on October 14th.
At 19 years old, front man Christian Lopez is growing into one of Americana’s most promising new performers and songwriters. Lopez sought out and signed a management deal with Rock Ridge Music at the end of 2013, who in turn, immediately played the initial demos for Blaster Records President, Derek Simon. In old school style befitting an artist who cites classic influences like The Band, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, a deal was struck after the first listen.
“The decision to sign Christian practically made itself,” says Blaster Records President Derek Simon. “He’s such a special talent and his poise and presence make it easy to forget just how young he is. There’s a shared vision between Christian, his management and our team and it just makes sense for us to be working together.”
Things kicked into high gear after bringing on producer Dave Cobb (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/producer-profile-dave-cobb-20140723), the man behind critically-acclaimed Americana albums like Jason Isbell’s Southeastern and Sturgill Simpson’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. A window in the producer’s busy schedule allowed Lopez to get into Cobb’s Nashville studio in April 2014 to record Pilot, a five-song EP that also highlights bandmate Chelsea McBee, an old-time banjo picker.
“Blaster Records truly believes in me, and that’s really the greatest thing an artist could ask for in a label,” says Lopez. “I’m very proud and excited to be working with Blaster, and the work we’ve done so far has felt very natural and very right. They are passionate about music and have made the songs that I’ve carried with me for my entire lifetime actually come to life.”
Lopez began playing piano at 5 years old, picked up the guitar at 9 and began writing songs as a teenager. Backed by a group of local pickers, he started touring before he could legally drive and racked up a long list of accomplishments along the way, including stints on the Warped Tour and the Belk-sponsored “Modern Southern Music” tour, which found him performing pre-show on bills with Zac Brown Band and Dave Matthews Band. Armed with their first label release and a passionate team behind them, the band will remain on tour throughout the fall while Lopez continues writing new material for a forthcoming full-length album.
CHRISTIAN LOPEZ BAND TOUR SCHEDULE
8/20 – Cumberland, MD / Downtown Cumberland Concert Series
8/21 – Floyd, VA / Dogtown Roadhouse
8/23 – Nashville, TN / Antique Archaeology
8/23 – Franklin, TN / Grey’s On Main (evening show)
8/29 – Charlotte, NC / PNC Music Pavilion
9/3 – New York, NY / Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3
9/12 – New Hope, PA / Triumph Brewery
9/13 – Winchester, VA / Bright Box Theater
9/18 – 9/20 – Dewey Beach, DE / Dewey Beach Music Festival
9/27 – Blacksburg, VA / Sycamore Deli (w/Deer Run Drifters)
10/4 – Thomas, WV / The Purple Fiddle
10/10 – Clear Springs, MD / Knob Hall Winery
10/11 – Bethesda, MD / Taste of Bethesda Festival
10/17 – Bedford, VA / Bedford Library Concert Series
10/18 – Shepherdstown, WV / Shepherdstown Opera House
10/25 – Centreville, VA / Cox Farms Fall Fest