PRESS:
ARTICLE: Monday, 08 December 2008, Columbia, South Carolina City Paper:
by Greg Slattery
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Being a musician is no menial task. It’s a life that nearly every parent doesn’t want for a child of theirs and the odds are almost always against you. It’s not something that just anyone can succeed at, and it something that takes years of practice and begging before you really can afford to do it full time.
Elise Major, a Baltimore music veteran, has been in and out of various bands in her lifetime, teaching piano and guitar while bartending to make it by. “I have sacrificed a lot for it,” Major explained to me. “My music basically dictates where I am in life. I’ve given it my full attention. Luckily, I love to teach on the side so even when I am working, I am working with music and focusing on what I love to do.”
Elise Major just released her first album, Self-Titled, and was relieved to finally get an album done and “tohear the songs as I did in my head.” “I have a serious addiction to the dramatic elements of rock and roll,” Major explained. When I asked her what she was listening to when she was writing and recording the album, it wasn’t a huge shock she said Queens of the Stone Age and Muse after listening to driving bass, riff-heavy guitars and a more classically-inspired arrangement.
My favorite track, “Green”, is a great example of her dramatic arrangement skills, starting sans-drums and building to a heavily-driven harmonized guitar solo that drops off to a part reminiscent of the beginning, the major difference being a soulful Major vocal styling. “Icebox” is another recommended track, though the piano version, the only song tracked at Cue Studios, is in my opinion much better. Their track “Seal The Bleeding Heart” utilizes the Bellamy influence.
A good portion of the tracks from their new album are up on Myspace, including the three tracks I already mentioned, so check them out.
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Elise Major CD Review: Owl & Bear, August 13th, 2008
"One thing’s for sure: it’s a rocking, rollicking, reboot of 90s alternative rock. The album jumps right into the rock, and the trend continues throughout. Major and her band produce catchy riffs as she wails on the mic–sometimes like a female Ten-era Eddie Vedder."
- Owl & Bear
"Major, the writer and rocker for whom the band is named for. No where else can you find a female fronted act with looks, chops, and kick-assed songs you’ll find yourself humming through and through.”
- Bill's Music
“Elise Major is without a doubt one of the most talented outfits to breakout of the northeast of the United States, and will undoubtably put Baltimore back on the Rock & Roll map. All the right elements are there; great musicianship, a tremendously talented front woman, and songwriting craftmanship. The sky is the limit with this band. I love em'.”
- Joseph Lawson, FVIC Records
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BIOGRAPHY:
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Baltimore rocker, Elise Major, is a beacon for those who dig intense guitar work and vocal domination, both executed by the girl herself. Her music is a blend of intense, sweaty guitar work, vocal prowess, and brilliant songwriting. Elise’s music echoes a pure rock spirit combined with a modern rock approach that gives her a unique sound amongst the cookie cutter rockers of today. Also a classically trained pianist, Major injects each song with heart and soul that pleases her own musical tastes, but with a pop sensibility that can attract the masses.
Major is not alone, she surrounds herself with impressive musicians. Theron Day, who formerly toured as bassist for the DC electro rock artist “Thomas Lunch”, and Alex Straiter, the newest to the group who currently also plays in the band "Bulletproof Messenger" from New York are on the team. Recently, they opened up for the band, "Trust Company" as the Baltimore opener for their U.S. tour. Past shows including Elise Major opening for "Paramore" at the Vans Warped Tour and Elise and opening for "Big City Rock". Recent local shows where Elise and her band have performed include Rams Head Live, The Eight by Ten Club, Fletcher's,and Sonar. Performances outside of Maryland include such clubs as Arlene's Grocery and Fontana's in New York City,as well as the Rusty Rudder in Dewey Beach, Delaware for Dewey Beach Chickfest 2009.
Elise Major's song, "Green" won the Silver Award in the Rock/Alt category the 2008 Mid-Atlantic Song Contest where she competed with over 900 entries worldwide. In the same contest her song, "Icebox (Piano Version)" received an honorable mention the in Rock/Alt category. Elise and the band are getting a buzz on college radio stations across the country and internet radio stations such as Live365's ,"Women Who Rock Show" which airs every Friday from 4-6 PM PDT (7-9 PM EST) and on sites like Myspace.com. Elise Major's self-titled CD is available on Itunes, Rhapsody, CD Baby, and Amazon.com. The song, "Seal the Bleeding Heart" is available as a ringtone on Verizon phones.
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See you Thursday
Lv Lizbiz......