Musicians

Singer/Songwriter Bobby Long Tours Behind EP The Backing Singer

2011-11-06T14:24:07Z

this article originally appeared on The Morton Report, 11/2/11

James Brown may be hailed as the hardest working man in show business, but I’m pretty sure singer/songwriter Bobby Long is determined to give him a run for his money. Earlier this year, he released his debut album, A Winter Tale, produced by Liam Watson (The White Stripes) and toured relentlessly for four months across North America, Australia, and Europe promoting it. Purchace on Amazon

After that, he did his turn through the music festival circuit, playing at Bonnaroo, Mountain Jam Festival, twice at Dave Matthews’ Caravan in Chicago and Atlantic City, and even Austin City Limits. He also supported reputable artists such as Joan Osborne, Brett Dennen, Guster, and Matt Nathanson.

He’s made television appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in February and on CBS’s The Morning Show in August. He’s done his fair share of radio shows as well, with WXPN on World Café/NPR in Philadelphia, AudioTree in Chicago, and KDHX in St. Louis, just to name a few.

Meanwhile, he wrote a book of poetry that eager fans are anxiously waiting to read and he’s written a few dozen songs for his second full-length album that he plans to record with his band early next year.

After a busy eight months or so, another artist might relish the chance to take a break, relax a bit, and bask in the glow of his success, but not Bobby Long. He’s not one to sit on his hands, so over the summer he recorded a five-song EP titled The Backing Singer, which he’s currently spending two months touring North America and Europe to promote.

If you’re not yet familiar with his name, Bobby Long is a British singer/songwriter currently living in New York City who first gained popularity as a solo acoustic act, singing his soulful folk tunes, rich with bluesy or sometimes country undertones. His songs tell stories of love and war and death and heartache. When he recorded his debut album, he had a band backing him, adding depth and a sense of maturity to his songs that many of his fans already were familiar with. His Winter Tale tour was also with a band, adding a harder rock element to his previously quiet yet passionate performances.

The stage is where he really comes alive. Whether it’s a pin-drop quiet room while crooning his soulful ballads, or a raucous crowd of clapping and singing while belting out his foot-stomping jams, Bobby Long has a commanding stage presence that always holds his audience’s rapt attention. Bobby Long at Radio Radio, Indianapolis, 10/7/11

On The Backing Singer, we see Long returning to his acoustic roots, with tender songs and his signature finger-picking style guitar in perfect tandem with his gritty, raspy voice. He’s accompanied by a number of talented musicians, like Dawn Landes (The Secret Sisters) and Cat Pierce lending their beautiful voices to the background, along with the intricate stylings of Jack Dawson on violin.

The Backing Singer is a lovely collection of meaningful songs and the perfect interlude between full length albums. But I don’t think it’s safe to label this artist as ‘the singer of sweet songs’ quite yet. Long’s extensive catalogue of songs already illustrates a vast variety of styles, whether it’s soft and melodic or loud and upbeat. He often talks about the music he listens to and is influenced by and his own tastes vary as much as his talents. The future of Bobby Long’s musical career will be equally varied. As he grows and develops further as a musician and songwriter, so will his sound change and evolve. And true music fans will, no doubt, have many years and many albums of eclectic music to enjoy from him.

His current tour finds him returning to North America beginning in Toronto on November 3, traveling down the east coast and finishing up in the deep South, in Alabama, on Nov 19. Check out his official site for more tour dates.

Art is not free~

2011-10-06T15:32:11Z

I posted this somewhere else, but it's perfect for right here too. I've got some great interviews and articles lined up soo....be on the look out!

art is not free....

It’s so easy to share music these days, and it’s a tempting thing to do, especially when there’s a musician or band that you love— you want to send mp3s and things to all of your friends so that they’ll love the same music as you do, right? And sharing is just a nice thing to do. We’ve all done it.

But here’s a thought…

Musicians have bills. They need to eat. They need to pay rent. It costs a lot of money to tour and to record. Music is the thing they create…they create to sell so that they can keep creating. If your favorite singer didn’t sell records or tickets to shows then he or she would have to get a regular job and they wouldn’t be able to create the thing that you love— music.

If you give away their music, then you take away from their potential income.

There are other ways to share the music without giving it away for free. Fans are the best commodity an artist has, but you need to be smart about it if you want to keep your favorite bands and musicians in business. Write about them, talk about them, tweet about them. Post YouTube videos on Facebook and Tumblr. Invite your friends to come to shows with you. Join street teams and promote local shows and events. Call your local radio stations (the good ones, not the Clear Channel bullshit ones) and ask them to put your favorite bands and musicians in their rotation.

Share the music, yes. But allow your friends and followers to fall in love with the sound and voice that you love so much, without hurting its creator.

I’m not a musician so I won’t pretend to know how the music business works and how musicians actually earn a paycheck. But I am an artist and I know what it’s like to struggle and try to earn a living with your craft. It’s HARD. People think that just because you have this talent, this one thing that you love to do, that you’d be willing to do it for free all the time. They don’t take into consideration the time, effort and money it takes to get GOOD at the thing that you do. And equipment, my goodness. I’m a photographer and the equipment alone would bankrupt someone.

Just because I love to make pictures, doesn’t mean I can afford to give it all away.

Just because it’s easy to send mp3s via Dropbox or email or whatever, doesn’t mean you’re actually helping your favorite musician’s career.

If we give away their income….in the end, we lose.

I've always wanted to be a music writer...

2011-06-24T03:30:54Z

And it was pretty clear that Rolling Stone wasn't going to just up and offer me a job, so I decided to take it upon myself and JUST DO IT.

I love all kinds of music, all different genres, and it would be really easy to write about the arena-packing super groups that everyone loves. But you can read about them in Spin or see them on TV.

My heart belongs to the up & coming artist, the unsigned or unknown guy or girl who's singing his or her heart out in small bars and coffee shops, touring the country in a brokedown van, sleeping on friends' floors.

These are the people who deserve our attention... and I've been pretty lucky to meet a few for interviews. I'll be posting those here very soon....

In the meantime... enjoy this song by my all-time favorite artsit, BOBBY LONG:

(I really like Bobby Long alot...so get used to it... there will be more of him here!)

Margaret Durante - Maybe Tonight (EP)

2011-04-19T20:00:00Z

article first appeared on Blogcritics: http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-margaret-durante-maybe-tonight1/#ixzz1Srn163dH

In an industry where singers are a dime a dozen and everyone and their mother is recording an album or selling music online, it’s growing increasingly difficult to stand out among the masses. There’s no sure-fire secret for success, but there are factors which seem to help many make it in the music biz: you can’t sound like everyone else, you need to have talent, you need to have a personality, and you need to be genuine. All the spotlight, glitz and glamor will eventually shine right through any and all b.s.

This is good news for country singer/songwriter Margaret Durante, because she’s the triple threat. She’s got a strong, vibrant voice; her gift of music and penchant for lyrics stands out among her contemporaries, and she’s beautiful—not just on the outside, but inside as well.

The 22-year-old Maryland native relocated to Nashville three years ago to pursue her music full-time. But for as long as Durante could remember, she wanted to be a performer:

“I have always been singing and always enjoyed performing […] but when I really knew that I wanted to be a performer was at a young age. My parents would have friends over and I’d make them sit down and listen to me sing a song before they carried on with their evening And I sang at all these parties and weddings around the community…”

It was then that Durante knew she belonged on stage in front of a microphone.

“Performing in front of a live audience, it gets under your skin and there’s no way I could do anything else. The cool part about live performing is that all these people go into a venue not knowing each other. You go with your friends, but you don’t know everyone else in the room and by the end of the show—especially country music because there’s that story-telling aspect—everyone’s friends all of a sudden or they have some sort of common ground with the next person and I think that’s so cool.”

Indeed it is.

Despite the fact that Margaret Durante was clearly born for the stage, she’s still just a regular girl who can be found roaming one of Nashville’s many parks on a Sunday afternoon or simply doing her laundry. Her favorite book is Catcher In The Rye but she also loves the Backstreet Boys and NSync and is not afraid to throw down on some decadent Italian food. She’s grounded, down-to-earth and her music reflects her unpretentious personality.

Her latest project is a four-song EP, entitled Maybe Tonight. It’s a sample of what’s to come on her full length album, Words On Frosted Glass, that’s due out late summer or early fall. Maybe Tonight highlight’s Durante’s talents with the title track that she describes as “fun and flirty,” and a slower, moodier track, "Better," which the singer describes as “very relatable to women who have had their heart broken.” I have to agree; it’s a lovely song about heartbreak and healing after love lost.

"Whiskey and a Gun" illustrates what’s best about country music, with great storytelling that’s rough and raw. The EP is rounded out with the "Paper Chains," a beautifully melodic song about love and relationships.

Margaret Durante is currently on a radio tour promoting Maybe Tonight, which is available for download on iTunes and Amazon.com as of Tuesday, April 19.

Record Store Day...

2011-04-15T05:00:00Z

Article first appeared on Blogcritics: http://blogcritics.org/music/article/reflections-on-record-store-day/

It’s been said that music is the universal language, to which no one would argue. We all love music. It makes us happy, saddened too. It evokes memories of love and childhood, inspires and motivates, calms and relaxes. We all have an internal soundtrack — music that keeps us moving — always turning.

Although I’m not a musician (nor will I ever be) music has always been a huge part of my life. My dad had a big vinyl collection, full of old records he'd originally bought in the '50s, '60s and '70s — lots of old jazz, blues, some R&B and country. He played those records to death, too. I can still remember hearing him loudly cursing from the den when he'd discovered a scratch on one of his Earth, Wind, and Fire or Louis Armstrong records.

He played them all the time — all the time — while cooking. The smell of frying potatoes and onions will forever make me think of Count Basie or Miles Davis. I can’t drink red wine without thinking about Wes Montgomery, Nina Simone, or even Ricky Nelson.

When I was very small, I'd pull the records from their shelf, completely mesmerized by the album art and photographs. The cover to The Isaac Hayes Movement seemed particularly strange and beautiful to me; I’d stare at it for hours as my dad played the album.

I still love all of that old music, in fact. I can appreciate it more now, especially since I’ve inherited most of my father’s collection. My husband also inherited some cherished old records, and together we add to our collection all the time. It’s priceless to us.

There’s nothing better than browsing through an old record store. As soon as I walk through the doors and inhale that old, musty smell of precious music, I get excited. I love to flip through old crates and shelves, never knowing what I’m going to find. Very often I'll notice familiar titles; sometimes I’m lucky to find that one rare album I’d been looking for.

Recently, I browsed through an amazing record store alongside a group of my favorite musicians. The experience was surreal — I was giddy with excitement — and I’ll never forget it.

April 16 is Record Store Day, when the wonder and culture of independently owned record shops is celebrated around the world. There will be live music at various stores along with special releases reserved just for this day by such artists as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Regina Spektor and many more.

Tom Waits once said [about record shops], “Folks who work here are professors…” And he’s right. Go find a record store, talk to the people who work there. Tell them what you like, and they will find you music you will love. Not only will you be doing yourself a favor by enjoying new (or just new to you) music, but you will also be supporting a locally owned business, the kind that has traditionally supported artists and musicians for decades.

The art of music, the art of enjoying music, goes beyond the MP3. There’s a synergy inside a record store that can’t be replicated by an online playlist. So, go find one, experience it. You won’t regret it.

For more information including a list of special releases reserved for Record Store Day, and to find an independently owned record store near you visit www.RecordStoreDay.com. See you there!

The Madison Square Gardeners - Teeth of Champions

2011-03-24T04:40:00Z

Article first appeared on Blogcritics - http://blogcritics.org/music/article/the-madison-square-gardeners-teeth-of/

Now that it’s spring, it’s time to start thinking about things to do to break out of the winter blues: picnics, weddings, gatherings with friends, and of course… concerts. One show that needs to be on your MUST SEE list this year is the Madison Square Gardeners.

With pedal steel and banging drums, the MSGs offer what’s best about good old fashioned American rock musis: loud, fun, with poetic lyrics that make you swoon. You can’t sit still here. This is the kind of music that conjures days of sitting in the sun with a six-pack on ice; of chilling with your friends and having a good time at a BBQ; of warm summer nights where everything is perfect and you just tap your toes to the infectious beat.

The Madison Square Gardeners is more than just your average rock band. They’re a repertoire of master musicians. And more than that, they’re simply a group of really cool guys who just want to make some good music. Based out of Brooklyn, NY, the band consists of Aaron Lee Tasjan (guitar/vocals), Mark Stepro (bass/vocals), Johnny Kengla (guitar/vocals), Rich Hinman (pedal steel/guitar/vocals), Bryn Roberts (keys/vocals), and Ramblin' Rob Heath (drums/vocals).

They’re currently on tour, promoting the release of the third EP, TEETH OF CHAMPIONS, a five track treasure that will keep your toes tapping and your spirits high. I recently caught one of their hypnotic shows in Columbus, OH where I asked Aaron a few questions:

How did you all meet?

Mark and I met at a recording session in Columbus, OH in 2006. We then both permanently moved to NYC in the following months. Mark, Rob, and John met in college and I met Bryn on a gig in NYC. Mark met Rich and brought him over to my house and he was just brilliant. Everyone was. I immediately knew these guys were the best musicians I would ever meet and I HAD to have them. They can do anything I ask better than I even thought possible.

How long have you been playing together?

We formed as a band in 2008 playing covers and made our first EP of original music in 2009, called Tune It Up, Dime It Out.

You guys are all are involved with other bands and solo things. Can you describe that a little?

Everyone in our band moved to New York to make it playing music. Mark plays with Ben Kweller, Rich with Roseanne Cash; Rob with Justin Townes Earle and, Bryn with Dar Williams. John plays with a ton of people in town and I'm just trying to write the best song I possibly can. Mark, Rich, and I also play in our friend Chris Morrissey's band Taurus. I also have a side project called Golden Eagle which includes pretty much every MSGer as well as other folks around town like Anton Fier and Chris Morrissey. We have our own little club we started and we all love making a joyful noise together. It's the reason we get up every day.

When you're writing a song, how do you decide which band it's going to be for?

That's a good question but a funny one to answer. My writing has been changing recently and that line between what music is for what project is getting blurry. I think the MSGrs will do some things that might pleasantly surprise some people on our next recording effort. I feel like I'm really growing as a writer and I think now in terms of what sounds like me as opposed to what is a creative way to reinvent someone's music whom I really admire. And that's not meant to cheapen what we've already accomplished in our band, but I have become very interested in getting outside of my comfort zone and challenging myself to do better and to do more.

Your schedule is insane...how do you keep track of it all?

Hahah...I guess it is. I don't really think in those terms. I love to write, play music and make records more than anything in the whole world. I just Have to do it. That is the one most true thing I've ever known in my life. No matter if anyone likes my music, thinks that it is or I am cool, I just have to do this. It's how I know I'm alive. I'd rather have a full bottle in front of me than a full frontal labotomy.

What's your biggest musical influence as a band?
I suppose there are some SUPER obvious ones...probably the main one being Tom Petty. However, I'm super inspired by the lyrics of Joe Pug. JP Olson is my songwriting hero. I love Kevn Kinney, Delta Spirit, Dawes, Ivan and Allyosha, Band Of Horses and I will ALWAYS forever love "A Ghost Is Born" by Wilco. That one is desert island material for me.

What's next for the MSGs?

What's next for us are some dates supporting Mike Viola in Boston and Philly...some touring this summer and recording the last EP in our series of 4 followed by a very limited vinyl only release of selected tracks from all the EPs as voted for by our wonderfully and amazingly supportive fans to whom we are forever indebted.

I can’t wait to get my hands on that vinyl. Catch the Madison Square Gardeners in a city near you:

Mar 24 - Grog Shop, Cleveland
Mar 26 - Brillobox, Pittsburgh
Mar 31 - The Tin Angel, Philadelphia
Apr 2 - Lizard Lounge, Cambridge
Apr 22 - Beat Kitchen, Chicago
Apr 23 - Off Broadway Nightclub, St Louis

Visit their band page for more dates, information, concert tickets and downloads.

Ivan & Alyosha - Fathers Be Kind

2011-03-03T05:36:00Z

Article first appeared on Blogcritics - http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-ivan-alyosha-fathers-be/

We all know the type….the kind of guys you knew growing up…maybe they were your older brothers, or the dudes who lived down the street. They were always cool and smart and funny and friendly. They were popular, but not in an annoying kind of way. They played guitar on the front porch and smiled as you walked by. They spoke to everyone and always made you feel like you were cool enough to be "one of them." They were good guys though: didn’t get into trouble, got decent grades, the boys next door. They were polite to your parents and sweet to your little sister. We all know these guys and we love these guys.

These are the type of guys that make up the band Ivan & Alyosha: smart, compassionate, all around good people who just want to make great music. And they do. Ivan & Alyosha are currently on their first national tour, promoting their second EP release, Fathers Be Kind. The record is a wonderful mix of folk tunes that showcase their harmonious talents. From the honest declarations "Glorify," to the reflective title track, "Fathers Be Kind," the only criticism is that the record is too short.

The indie folk quartet who’s name comes from Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov, was started by Tim Wilson and Ryan Carbury, in Seattle in 2007. They were later joined by Tim’s brother Pete and Tim Kim. They sing songs in soulful melodies about life and family and love. Their songs evoke tales of personal growth and discovery, implying a lone writer’s journey. I asked Tim Wilson, recently, if he was the band’s sole songwriter. He said, “In the past it was just me but then Ryan and I would sometimes write together. But now, with the other guys, our new record will be much more collaborative.” He later adds: “A lot of times it’s simultaneous. Sometimes when I write a song it’s more of a thought that’s been running through my head that just becomes a song.”

Well, let the thoughts flow, because they are lovely.

Influenced by such great musicians and bands like Elvis, Roy Orbison, The Beatles, and even Wilco, The Civil Wars, and Emmylou Harris; Ivan & Alyosha are making the most of the North American tour, exploring and enjoying every facet of each new region they travel through. They recently performed at Folk Alliance in Memphis, a conference celebrating the best of American folk music and dance. Tim says: “It was good, we got to meet some great people; we played a late show. They have this crazy cool format with all these rooms in a hotel and bands just playing.”

Sounds like Heaven.

Ivan & Alyosha are currently in New York City, performing tonight at the Bowery Ballroom with Taurus, in support of headliner Bobby Long. And soon you’ll get to hear them on Daytrotter, as they visited the studio for a recording session. Download their latest music and check for tour dates at their official website.

On Tour With Bobby Long... Sort Of

2011-02-24T05:32:00Z

Article first published on Blogcritics--http://blogcritics.org/music/article/on-tour-with-bobby-long-sort1/

We’ve all thought about it before, I think: just leaving it all behind and taking off to embrace the open road, to follow that dream of youth, and to live free, devoid of the constraints of jobs and responsibilities. To actually do this, for many, is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I can tell you from my own experience, it’s absolutely worth it.

For three days my friend and I followed singer/songwriter Bobby Long and his band as they toured through the Midwest. Three days of no responsibility other than get to the venue on time. There were no kids or husbands or jobs and bosses, no ringing phones or emails that required answering. Our biggest decision of the day was where we were going to eat, or whether we wanted bottle or draft.

We slept very little, we drank lots of beer, ate greasy food to settle uneasy stomachs, and we met some amazing people -forging friendships that will last a lifetime.

Our journey began in Columbus, Ohio, where we said goodbye to our loved ones and hello to adventure. We drove west to Indianapolis, the first stop on our mini-tour. Bobby Long performed at Radio Radio, located in the historic Fountain Square district, an area that’s enjoying a revival of sorts with its many eclectic restaurants, bars, theaters and shops. We perused an old record store where I bought a near-mint-condition Joan Baez album, some Jimmy Smith, and a rare Miles Davis.

After an amazing show, we hit the highway again, energized by the music and passing city lights. We ate at an all-night diner and dozed for a bit in the car at a truck stop before finally giving in to slumber’s call and getting a room a cheap motel off the interstate. With only a few hours of restless sleep, we were anxious to make our next stop: Chicago.

The Indiana landscape passed us by with its expansive plains and impressive wind farms which made way to abandoned factories and skeletal stockyards. Soon the Chicago skyline was on the horizon.

It was still early when we arrived, maybe four o’clock, but I don’t think either of us paid attention to the time. We were just excited for the night’s concert at Schuba’s, an authentic Chicago tavern located in the Lake View district, housed in a gorgeous 100-year-old gothic-style building. We ate and relaxed a bit, then took a walk around the neighborhood before settling again at the bar, waiting for the sold-out show to begin. It was another incredible concert. Bobby and his band were on fire and so were we, singing along to every song, letting the music consume us and pulse through our bodies.

Shortly after the show and a few conversations with some new friends and band members, we hit the road once again, south, back home to Columbus. We watched as early dawn rose before us on breathtaking landscape. Home, yes, but our adventure was not yet over. It was our final destination, as Bobby Long had another concert that night at The Basement in Columbus’ trendy, up-and-coming Arena District.

A stop at the house to shower, change and hug the family and we were out again. And this night, everything was different. Maybe it was the nap we took in real, clean beds. Maybe it was the fact that were on our own turf. It could have just been the beer. It was probably none of those things. It was just Bobby Long and his band, pure and simple. They were simply amazing in Columbus. And the crowd was insane: cheering, clapping, and singing along to every word. Bobby Long has fans all across the world, but he must know that he’s got a home here in Columbus, with many hardcore fans who love his music.

Each night opened with the song Two Years Old, which starts out sort of low and mellow, then bursts into an explosion of sound that caused the crowd to go nuts. Then in each city, they played songs off the new album A Winter Tale, sometimes varying the song order, or adding a new song like the sad and melodic It’s Hard to Take, or the belty, hit-in-the-making Devil Moon. Each night ended with the lullaby, Dead and Done which was more of a group effort as the crowd sang along to Bobby’s poetic words.

If you’ve seen Bobby Long in concert before and are expecting his mellow, croony solo performance, then don’t fret. He still sings a handful of songs on his own, and it’s still just as intimate as it was a year or two ago. But the band - Mark Stepro, Chris Morrissey, and Rich Hinman - supply the perfect backdrop to Bobby’s already near-perfect songs. You won’t be disappointed.

Never mind his British upbringing, Bobby Long’s very American music was the perfect soundtrack to our trek across the Heartland. His music is both down-home Blues and edgey Rock; at times it’s thoughtful Folk, and at others it can be Country that would keep Johnny Cash’s toes tapping. Each performance, each night, was electric.

I may not be a rock star, but for one long weekend I lived like one. And I was exhausted afterward. Would I do it again? You bet. The open road, music blaring through the speakers, noisy bars filled with friendly faces – such is the life. And it’s just my luck that Bobby Long will be touring again my way in another month!

Catch him in a city near you:
Feb 23 Divan - Montreal, CA
Feb 24 Higher Ground - Burlington, VT
Feb 25 Port City Music Hall - Portland, ME
Feb 26 Brighton Music Hall - Boston, MA
Feb 26 Newbury Comics Faneuil Hall (in-store appearance) - Boston MA
Feb 28 Iron Horse - Northampton, MA
Mar 1 Otto Bar - Baltimore, MD
Mar 3 Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
Mar 4 World Café - Philedelphia, PA
Mar 5 Jammin Java - Washington, DC

For more tour dates, including Australia and Europe, visit his website at www.bobbylong.info

Bobby Long - A Winter Tale

2011-01-28T05:27:00Z

It's no secret I love Bobby Long. My family might be tired of hearing about it, I don't know. But talking to them isn't enough, I had to write about it too....

Article first published as Music Review: Bobby Long - A Winter Tale on Blogcritics.

It’s a remarkable thing to be able to watch an artist grow and develop from the very beginning of their career. I first discovered Bobby Long and his music while browsing videos on YouTube nearly two years ago. He was just beginning to tour across the U.S., playing at small bars and venues, trying to get his name out there, introducing the world to his brand of stories and blues. He’s been able to build a legion of steadfast and loyal fans here in the U.S. and abroad, though he’s still relatively unknown. 2011 promises to change all of that. Now, Bobby Long is preparing to embark on another tour with his new band, this time to promote his debut album, A Winter Tale.

THE ARTIST:
Bobby Long is a 24-year-old British singer/songwriter. He grew up in a small town in Wiltshire, in southwest England, and moved to London to study Music in Film at London Metropolitan University. Music was always a big part of his life, from his father’s guitar strumming and love of American folk music, to his grandfather’s love of old jazz and blues. Despite only playing guitar for a few short years, Bobby quickly built a library of music—writing songs—mastering his instrument (guitar), and began frequenting the open-mic circuit in London. He met other like-minded musicians with whom he’d sometimes perform and write songs. One of those songs found its way onto the soundtrack for the movie Twilight, exposing Bobby’s music to a broader audience. Soon, he developed a strong following and was able to take his brilliance on the road to continental Europe and all across America.

Though much of his success can appear to be luck or circumstance, it’s due largely to the fact that this artist is smart and deliberate and values the integrity of his music over commercial success. This old-school approach made the partnership with legendary producer, Liam Watson, the perfect choice for his debut album, A Winter Tale, which was recorded both live and analog. And just last year, he signed with ATO Records, the musician-centric label founded by Dave Matthews.

THE MUSIC:
His style can be considered folk, but with a sort of bluesy, country influence. He has described his own music as “a crash in the woods when its [sic] raining.” While that description is clever, I’d go with soulful and searching, edgy yet composed. His voice is sin and silk, honey and grit. His guitar playing is intricate and complex, an artful mix of finger-picking melodies and melancholy chords. His lyrics defy his youth, like poetry reminiscent of an early 20th century writer. Think Dylan Thomas or T.S. Eliot. He weaves stories about love and death and abandonment; he evokes tales of soldiers brutalized in battle, working-class widows struggling to keep their families together, and bored youth trying to find their place.

Or maybe not. But it doesn’t matter. Like all good poetry, Bobby Long’s lyrics are meant to be interpretive. He doesn’t sing down to his listener, he invites the listener to join in on the experience. So a song about a woman killing her abusive husband could take on a completely different meaning for someone else. He gives us this gift and allows us to hear our own truth. For this, he is a master story teller. There is no passive listening here.

On stage is where the true magic happens. I’ve been lucky to see Bobby Long perform live both on his own, crooning softly in a bar filled with 30 people or less, and also backed by a full band, loud and raucous, all power and energy, singing to a sold-out venue. His performances pull you in. When he sings, it’s apparent he feels the words, the music. It’s more than just a show. It’s visceral, it’s organic—it’s extraordinary.

THE ALBUM:
A Winter Tale is Bobby’s first official record released by ATO Records, and will hit stores and be available for download on February 1st. He previously recorded the album Dirty Pond Songs in his bedroom and sold it at his live shows. DPS is more of a collection of his music to date but it represents the best of Bobby…acoustic, stripped, pure and simple. A Winter Tale takes that essential Bobby Long and gives it polish. While still holding on to the purity that sets Bobby apart from his contemporaries, it’s refined and mature. A Winter Tale is a collection of songs that perfectly illustrates this young man’s journey of and passion for American music, while preserving his very English roots.

Veteran Bobby Long fans will enjoy hearing their favorite songs re-recorded with a finer touch, as the familiar melodies are backed by A-list musicians and singers such as Nona Hendryx, Lay Low, and B. J. Cole. Bobby’s new listeners will enjoy this masterful anthology of songs, sometimes soft, other times loud, but at all times perfect.

No matter your preferred genre, there’s something on this record for everyone: the rockish anthemic title track, the haunting and evocative Bounty of Mary Jane, the acoustic lullaby A Stranger Song, and the down-home bluesy Penance Fire Blues and Dead and Done, along with the old-time country vibe of Being a Mockingbird.

Bobby Long is a name to remember in 2011 and he’s already starting the year off with a bang. Having just performed at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT, he begins his world tour on January 28th with performances spanning North America, then moving on to Australia. European dates will soon be announced as well. Be sure to also catch his performance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on February 3rd.

Buy A WINTER TALE!

Nina Simone Sings the Blues and Silk & Soul

2006-06-07T17:07:00Z

Earlier this year, two albums by Nina Simone were re-released by RCA: Nina Simone Sings the Blues and Silk & Soul. Both originally released in 1967, yet two very different albums from the legendary “High Priestess of Soul.”

Nina Simone Sings the Blues is a moody, mellow, bluesy album, true to its roots and full of emotion. Simone disliked being pigeonholed in any specific genre, but rather preferred to be defined by her body of work. This album, however, is a masterpiece, heavily reflecting her roots in gospel and blues. Each song stands well on its own, each with its own tale of sorrow and loss, as well as desire, love, and political message.

A few of the standout songs include the opening bluesy track, “Do I Move You,” which sets the perfect tone for this down-home and earthy gem. “In the Dark” and “Backlash Blues” continue with that tradition, the latter being a joined effort with famed “Harlem Renaissance” poet and friend, Langston Hughes. It is in “Backlash Blues” that Simone, along with Hughes, remains true to the cause of Civil Rights, and creates a song rich with depictions of social inequity.

“Real Real” reflects Simone’s deep influence of gospel music. “I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl,” continuing the bluesy feel, is a sweet, flirtatious expression of sexual frustration, while “My Man’s Gone Now” is a melancholy tale of love lost. This beautiful ballad reflects a combination of Simone’s blues and classical influences. With the haunting and aching bass line that pierces through to the heart, it is a song that emotes the feeling of sadness, desperation, and unfulfilled desire. The classically styled piano is a soft and appropriate accompaniment to Simone’s raw emotion that is felt throughout this four minute and sixteen second masterpiece.

A less effective effort, Silk & Soul, is the follow-up to Nina Simone Sings the Blues. Again defying genre, Simone compiles an assortment of songs which range from the sassy and groovy “It Be’s That Way Sometime” to “Go To Hell,” rich with strong moral and religious themes, to the weaker renditions of “Cherish” and “The Look of Love.”

The standout song is “Consummation,” which is reminiscent of one of Simone’s previously recorded songs “Wild Is the Wind”. This song is a passionate anthem that celebrates the Christian faith, without sounding like a typical gospel song. Here, Nina Simone sings with the strong and vibrant voice that justifies her title as the “High Priestess of Soul.”

Nina Simone Sings the Blues and Silk & Soul are two unique CDs in style and sound, but both celebrate the work and life of the great singer who considered herself a musician with no particular style or pattern. Both CDs include two rare tracks that were not on the original releases, making both a “must have” for all Nina Simone fans.