Eben Levy (guitar); Ian M. Riggs (bass); Vito Dieterle (sax)
Influences
John Prine, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett, Jonathan Richman, Randy Newman, John Guare, Edward Albee, Richard Yates, Ionesco, Yoshitoshi, Bulgakov, Neil Young, the Beatles, the Who, Caro & Jeunet, Charlie Chaplin, Bonnie Raitt, Leon Redbone, Hoagy Carmichael, Donna Summer, Warren Zevon, Rickie Lee Jones, Dwight Yoakam, Marcus Roberts, Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, Chet Baker, Nino Rota, James Brown, Johnny Cash, Beck...
Ethan Lipton is a bandleader and playwright. This April, the Ethan Lipton Orchestra released its first full-length studio album, "Mr. Softy." Ethan has previously released two live albums on NYC indie label Home Office Records. Click here to buy Mr. Softy on CD Baby or get it on Itunes.
Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley (ah, Los Angeles), Ethan lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife, photographer Heather Phelps-Lipton.
To read more about Ethan's music or plays, and especially if you want to be on the band's email list for gigs, go to his website: www.ethanlipton.com. And thanks for stopping by!
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"Hilarious, dark, sophisticated, schleppy and sad all at once… songs that take the mundane of life and twist it." (NPR's Weekend Edition)
"A sardonic voice that offers an unlikely kind of comfort against the vagaries of everyday life." (Popmatters)
"Sad little songs packed full of absurdity."(Fluxblog)
"Ethan Lipton + his Orchestra play some crazy whack music. We’re talking funny and poignant and sassy. Melodic and well-orchestrated. Clever and fully enjoyable. It’s jazzy, bluesy, folky, did I mention funny?" (The Late Greats)
"It’s always enjoyable when a singer-songwriter throws some humor into his misery." (Timeout NY)
"Ethan Lipton making like Andrew Bird on 'Corner Soul' makes me want to hear everything he's ever done." (Orange County Register)
Instead of listing metaphors comparing Ethan Lipton to a Eucalyptus tree, or his music to a recently acquired dairy farm, I will instead list reasons why it is Ethan Lipton's world, and you are paying the rent." (The Deli Magazine)
"Laugh-out-loud funny, delivered with integrity and style." (BabySue)
Ethan,Thanks for havimg me as a friend. Love the lyrics and really dig the humor you bring. Thanks for having me aboard (sounds like a bannana split) Thats funny dude P e a c e
I live in Tucson Arizona and our amazing, community radio station KXCI (kxci. org) played "Girl From the Renaissance Fair" the other day. I was absolutely stunned by the beauty and playfulness of your song; can't wait to hear more. Well done! I'll be spreading the word.
Hey Ethan and Co.- Trevor Exter, who introduced me to your music, is playing at my theatre company's fundraising party at the Pilates Garage in Park Slope this Friday- if any of you are free I'd be thrilled to have you at the party-- check out http://magistheatre. blogspot. org for the details. Hope to see you there!
Thanks for Add my dear. I'm sincerely happy and honour to be your friend. You're always welcome to me in my place. A lot of sweets kisses and hugs. Your Heart Woman (Laura) from Italy with much Love. ;)
Hi Ethan, Thank you for the add, but more importantly, thank you for recording Mr. Softy - things have never been the same for me after hearing Hit It and Pirates of the Heart... who knew I'd ever hear the words evaluate, transcripts, and bleed in the same song and actually love it!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I'm so sorry but Jason and I will not be able to join the festivities tonight. We'll have to do some post-birthday celebration this coming week. Hope you have lots of fun though. XOXO
Ethan, I don't know if you remember me, but I remember you. We went to UCLA together. I hope you are well, and things are great. I just came back to acting after leaving for literally 12 years. Peace to you, Jay Laisne
Okay - the whole reason I wanted to become your friend on MS is because I wanted to tell you (and apparently the whole world) that I woke up the other day singing "hit it" and could not get that song out of my head.. and of course, it was gone until now, when I came on here to leave a message -and there it is again...
anyway, thanks for being my one and only MS friend!
Came to your show at the bandshell with your friend Gwen...we had such a great time! I'm your new biggest fan, and I'm so glad she introduced me to your magical music!
Just wanted to tell you I've listened through the new album a few times, and I think it's great. "Bossy Man" had me in stitches. Great work. Hopefully I'll see you in September. My best to you and Heather.
Outstanding performance at the Rockwood last weekend (as usual). Added bonus that I got to pick up Mr. Softy. I must say, "If Devils Can Slow Dance" was always one of my least favorite songs of yours. Yet, I cannot listen to it now on the album without getting chills. Thanks for a really tremendous record!
