Monthly Archives: January 2014

“Drought” by Johnny Rooftop
29
Jan

Singer/songwriter, guitarist and producer, Johnny Rooftop (a.k.a. John Hanson), believes that anything is possible in this world. That if you set your mind to something, you can accomplish it. Thus, Johnny is determined to prove himself correct and do what it takes to pursue life as a musician. I wish you all the luck, Johnny!

Johnny has extensive experience playing live. He also holds certifications in both audio production and engineering. Furthermore, he has studied voice, guitar, songwriting, recording and writing. A busy guy he is as he also hosts an open mic in Walpole, Massachusetts where he currently resides. For more on Johnny, read his album reviews and visit his blog. Currently, he is recording his first self-produced album with expectations that it will release in 2014.

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“Drought” by Johnny Rooftop

Johnny Rooftop

Image and mp3 courtesy of Johnny Rooftop on SoundCloud

“Drinkin'” Live Acoustic Version by Holly Williams
26
Jan

Holly Audrey Williams is an American singer-songwriter. She is the granddaughter of Hank Williams, Sr., the daughter of Hank Williams, Jr. and half-sister of country singer Hank Williams III.

Holly Williams says she just writes songs. But as the owner of a Nashville boutique (H. Audrey) and Nashville General Store (White’s Mercantile) as well, this girl stays pretty busy. She still found time in 2013 to record her third album The Highway.

The Highway is her first self-released offering on her and her multi-instrumentalist husband Chris Coleman’s label, Georgiana Records. Williams’ spent nine months recording with a wonderful supporting cast including co-producer Charlie Peacock on keyboards, bassist Glenn Worff, and Dan Dugmore playing some beautiful pedal steel. A few friends also came to the studio to lend harmonies including Dierks Bentley, Jakob Dylan, Jackson Browne and Gwyneth Paltrow.

[audio:Drinkin’.mp3|titles=Drinkin’ (Live Acoustic)|artists=Holly Williams]
“Drinkin'” Live Acoustic Version by Holly Williams

{“Southern Living” shoot at the Ryman Auditorium}

Holly Williams

{White’s Mercantile opened the first week of December, stocked with Williams’ favorite things she found on all her travels}

White's Mercantile

Images courtesy of Williams’ Behind The Lens-2013 blog
mp3 courtesy of NoiseTrade

“Tennessee Whiskey” by Brush Prairie (Tribute to George Jones)
25
Jan

Country music legend George Jones (aka “The Possum”), a man credited with having the finest voice in the recorded history of country music, passed away on April 26, 2013.

In honor of the man who started out as a hardcore honky tonker in the tradition of Hank Williams but, over the course of his career, developed an affecting, nuanced ballad style, Portland, Oregon-based independent record label Deer Lodge Records put together a two-CD, thirty-track collection of songs from artists across the West Coast, paying homage to “The Possum.”

Produced by Deer Lodge’s Ezra Meredith and Bert Sperling, the album spans the gamut from punk, bluegrass, post-modern pop, and even reggae, putting Jones’ songs in a different light while giving them praise.

When asked why Deer Lodge decided to do a tribute to George Jones, Deer Lodge Studios owner and co-producer Ezra Meredith quickly states, “he’s the greatest singer of all time.”

The process for picking the bands on the tribute album, which includes heavy Northwest hitters including Sassparilla, Fernando, Water Tower, Drunken Prayer, Lewi Longmire & Portland Country Underground, Hearts of Oak, and Meredith Brothers, to name a few, started with Sperling and Meredith picking artists they knew and respected, then they “reached out to some personal heroes of mine and artists that I’d always wanted to work with,” says Sperling.

The end result is something Sperling and Meredith are very proud of, something they are happy to stamp the Deer Lodge name all over.

[audio:Tennessee Whiskey.mp3|titles=Tennessee Whiskey|artists=Brush Prairie]
“Tennessee Whiskey” by Brush Prairie (Tribute to George Jones)

Cover Art

Image and mp3 courtesy of Alex Steininger of In Music We Trust PR

“Hold A Place” by Dinah Thorpe
25
Jan

Folk/Singer-Songwriter Dinah Thorpe has a knack for crafting smart, genre-melding pop.

Her new album, Lullabies and Wake-Up Calls, is also an exercise in beautiful contradiction. As songwriter, performer, and producer, Thorpe plays multiple stylistic roles on the album. The Toronto-based artist has been favorably compared to Laurie Anderson, Portishead, Natalie Merchant, Beth Orton, Grace Jones, Feist, and David Bowie among others. But Thorpe draws on a hugely diverse range of influences – from folk to rap, trip hop to blues, orchestral to techno – and distills them into a musical style that is unmistakably Dinah Thorpe.

[audio:Hold A Place.mp3|titles=Hold A Place|artists=Dinah Thorpe]
“Hold A Place” by Dinah Thorpe

Dinah Thorpe Lullibies & Wake-up Calls

Image and mp3 courtesy of Jennifer and Samuel of Working Brilliantly PR

“Tidal Waves and Hurricanes” by Maggie
25
Jan

Singer-songwriter, Maggie, is a small town girl with a big voice and an even bigger dream. A native of Dundas in Ontario Canada, Maggie grew up with aspirations to pursue music. Inspired by other phenomenal women like Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, and Aretha Franklin, Maggie crafted her own unique, bluesy vocal style.

Shortly after graduating high school she moved to Nashville with nothing but a suitcase and her dreams. It was there that her blues inspired vocals, beautifully crafted storytelling, and dedication to her craft finally paid off. On a trip back to Canada, Maggie was offered a record deal with Linus Entertainment. In August of 2012 she released her debut album Now Hear Me Out.

Hot off the success of the debut, Maggie made another big move to Los Angeles. That’s when her new single, Tidal Waves and Hurricanes was born. The track is addictively sunny and uptempo. Plus, its rhythmic delight is blended with Maggie’s crooned message of perseverance and strength.

[audio:Tidal Waves and Hurricanes.mp3|titles=Tidal Waves and Hurricanes|artists=Maggie]
“Tidal Waves and Hurricanes” by Maggie

Maggie

Image and mp3 courtesy of SoundCloud via Sera Roadnight of MT Press

“Everything I’m Not” by Josh Matthews
20
Jan

Urban folk artist, Josh Matthews, busked on the streets of Tennessee for about three years doing some substantial soul searching and carving out his decidedly original sound. The resulting debut album, A-Sides, is an intense journey through the thoughtful, inquisitive, hopeful and often brutally honest mind of a young man who takes his time on this earth very seriously.

By accentuating the imperfections of music and embracing them, A-Sides is an unadulterated slice of life from a spirited blue collar bard.

While performing at Exit/In in Nashville, Matthews was given the inevitable compliment “Hey Man, I’m not sure how to categorize you, but I love what your doing.”

[audio:Everything I’m Not.mp3|titles=Everything I’m Not|artists=Josh Matthews]
“Everything I’m Not” by Josh Matthews

Josh Matthews Studio

Image and mp3 courtesy of Jennifer & Samuel of Working Brilliantly

“You Deserve A Song” by Holly Elle
11
Jan

Canadian classically trained singer, Holly Elle, recently released her EP, Leopardess, on iTunes. Leopardess is a smooth R&B blend heavily influenced by pop, seamlessly mixed with sparks of other genres.

Growing up, Elle frequented the music parties held by her parents, where they shared the European folk music of their childhood. They also introduced Elle and her siblings to music from their era such as the Beatles, ABBA and Elton John. Elle grew up in a small town — Chestermere, Alberta, Canada. She moved to Nashville and received a bachelor’s degree in Music Business at Belmont University, while performing several writers’ round nights at local venues.

Elle describes herself as a girl who loves to act silly and have fun, but also has a strong, fierce side.

[audio:You Deserve A Song.mp3|titles=You Deserve A Song|artists=Holly Elle]
“You Deserve A Song” by Holly Elle

Holly Elle

Image and mp3 courtesy of Amanda Blide, Director of Publicity at LaFamos, Marketing & Publicity Department