I've been honored to perform and record with a multitude of talented and terrific musicians and lifetime friends.
Influences
Lennon & McCartney, John & Taupin, Bacharach & David, Dozier & Holland, David Baerwald, Jimmy Webb, Brian Wilson, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Jackson, Partridge & Moulding, Paul Simon, Hollies, Byrds, Orbison, Strummer & Jones, Costello, Sting and a hoarde of others.
Sounds Like
R.E.M., Elvis Costello, Neil Diamond, Dave Matthews, Train, David Gray, Damien Rice, Jack Johnson, Matchbox Twenty, Soul Asylum, Bob Dylan, Cracker, Wallflowers, Bowie, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Band, The Beach Boys, Ryan Adams, Wings, Elliot Smith, Tom Petty, Mellow Beck
Hi, I'm Donovan. Thanks for stopping by my page for a look and listen.
I've been the frontman, singer, rhythm guitarist, pianist, songwriter, producer, manager, publicist, booking agent and designer for the Orlando founded, Los Angeles based rock band; Blue Meridian for some time now. So far, so good.
This page was designed primarily to attract awareness to the new album (4 years in the making) entitled "Avalon & Babylon & Me", as well as all of these solo, duo and acoustic shows that I've been doing. I've also been working as a Promoter and Booking Agent and setting up artists with some cool shows around Los Angeles. Check out Acoustic Cordiale, Hollow Body LA in my top friends. From those pages I set up and promote shows for The Viper Room, Cafe Cordiale, Trip, Santa Monica and the Catherine Hotel on Catalina Island
Avalon & Babylon & Me features nearly 40 guest musicians, playing everything from mandolin, banjo, violin, organ, french horn, cello, trumpet and much more. The disc is a bit epic, containing as many as 18 tracks. Nearly 80 minutes of music. The most that will fit on one compact disc. It's also a concept album about life's peaks and valleys and the re-ocuring cycle of it all. It tells the story of someone who finds themselves in a rut, turns over a new leaf, makes a move, uses the breath of fresh air to rediscover his motivation and apply it... only to eventually land in another rut. A rather personal album I must admit.
The album is now completed and available for purchase. Visit the AUDIO page at www.donovanlyman.com.
This in no way signals the last days of the Mighty Meridian. This album is just something I've always wanted to do. Calling it "Blue Meridian" would mean a serious departure for the band. I'm not interested in a "serious departure" for the band. I like what Blue Meridian has done and are currently doing.
Since I started down this path, I've written hundreds of songs. Not all of them have been ideal for the Blue Meridian sound. Some of them have been such a departure, that they were offered to other artists or recorded under pseudonyms. Regardless, I do hope you enjoy most of what I put out there. Your feedback is important and I do hope to see you at a show in the near future.
Twelve tracks have been written and recorded for the next Blue Meridian album entitled "Skint & Shattered". The songs are currently being mixed. We'll spend a good part of 2010 shopping the disc, but we promise either way, it'll be available before the fall of 2010
An in-depth biography of my career thus far can be found at http://www.donovanlyman.com/news/bio.htm
Click HERE to visit my official homepage, read lyrics and credits for all 18 songs, sample audio clips from all 18 songs and purchase the limited pre-release of the new album while supplies last.
I sure am...I'm pretty free all the time - gotta great space to live...amazing 360 degree mountain views...could show you around town. What say you? When can you swing it?
Hey Donovan!! We just wanted to let you know that we are playing a show at the Good Hurt on Sat. 10/24 – email us at: contact@lucidfly.com to get on the GUESTLIST FREE! (Ages 21+) ~ Good Times...We hope to see you there…keep rockN and spread the word!
Thanks for being our friend! Just wanted to drop by and say hello... Also wanted to invite you to our next gig 10/16/09 @ TRiP! We'll be giving away free merch at the show and playing NEW MUSIC for all our friends - only $6 w/our flyer. Go to http://tinyurl.com/krlp4u for more details! Looking forward to rockin' the house with you! Peace, love and rock n' roll, Lights on Fire
Thanks for being our friend! Please check out our new music on myspace and let us know what you think! Keep rockin, Lights on Fire www.myspace.com/lightsonfireband www.twitter.com/lightsonfire
So whats a guy gotta due to make D Lyman's top friends? I stay with you for almost a week, introduce you to the awsomness that is Bill Macek other wise known as Bill Macaaack & when joining forces we become Dagga Ragged! Cmon Jeeze...
Things are going well thankyou :) Working as a designer, doing lots of kayaking - level 2 coach now, got into mountain biking (currently muddy from head to toe!) and with a very lovely man who is an civil engineer and is really into kayaking ( way better than me - level 3 coach!) and biking :) Hope all's well on the otherside of the pond.