Gillian Welch, Mark Lanegan, Jeff Buckley, Uncle Tupelo, Cracker, Wilco, Chris Whitley, Radiohead, Townes Van Zandt, Emmy Lou Harris, The Mermen, Martin Sexton, Morphine, Screaming Trees, Nirvana, Tindersticks, Beck, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Blind Melon, Alice In Chains, Mudhoney, Gas Huffer, Suicidal Tentencies, The Clash, Zap Mama, Temple of the Dog, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, Mike Ireland & Holler, Dinosaur Jr., Pixies, Breeders, Queens of the Stone Age, PJ Harvey, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Cake, Dick Dale, Leadbelly, Robert Johnson, Lightnin' Hopkins, BB King, Buddy Guy, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Talking Heads, Mad Season, David Byrne, Elvis Costello, Okkervil River, Sonic Youth, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Helmet, Weezer, Black Crows, Son House, Ani Difranco, Camper Van Bethoven, Karpov, Pirate Radio
Sounds Like
Gillian Welch, Mark Lanegan, Jeff Buckley, Uncle Tupelo, Cracker, Wilco, Chris Whitley, Radiohead, Townes Van Zandt, Martin Sexton, Ani Difranco, Richard Thompson, Nick Cave, Tom Waits
Ringtones are lame in theory, but awesome in practice! Get yours here:
Late Night Telephone
Play "Water Return" on any Ecast digital jukebox!
"Water Return" available at the following Northern California locations:
San Francisco: Open Mind on Divis., Amoeba on Haight, and Streetlight on Market.
Santa Rosa: Last Record Store on Mendocino Ave.
Ukiah: Dig! Music on N. State
Lakeport: Bandbox Music on 11th
Ian Shaul's music is a rich bastardization of Country, Blues, Rock, and Bluegrass that hails from Lake County, a rural area of Northern California best-known for its pear orchards and methamphetamine production. The rural and destitute surroundings have shaped Ian's songwriting and performing styles into something unique, and uniquely Northern Californian.
Now based in San Francisco, Ian Shaul has become known for his energetic performances and truly unique playing style, having taken his music to some of the city's premier venues, including 12 Galaxies, Hotel Utah, Amnesia, Make-Out Room, Edinburgh Castle, Studio Z, Rite Spot, Bender's, Odeon, and Grant and Green, to name a few. He can also be found as a sideman, filling in on guitar, lap steel, banjo and dobro for local acts Pirate Radio and Karpov's 2006 album, Soliloquy.
A follow-up to the widely circulated CDR "Pie for Hayseeds" (2004) "Water Return" marks Ian Shaul's studio debut. Recorded in the heart of San Francisco at the analog mecca Tiny Telephone and the historic Different Fur, the album was made on a shoestring budget at guerilla speed.
"Singer-songwriter Ian Shaul opened things up with some intense (and fancy) guitar picking, an impressive voice and a cache of folk songs about love lost and all things emo. Ladies, take note--he’s got the Jack Johnson good looks, but Shaul makes Jack Johnson sound like a one-trick pony … wait a second. Oh, and he didn’t wear flip-flops with pants."
--Mark Lore, Arts Editor, "Days of Lore" column, Chico News and Review. 5/31/07
"Water Return is an intriguing record. Shaul has a voice meant for country, but lyrically Water Return is more of a folk record. The guitar strumming is for the most part a combination of both folk and country, with a noticeable bluegrass influence in tracks like "Rest My Soul." On top of all of this, Shaul attempts a cover of Radiohead's "No Surprises" and certainly succeeds in making the song his own...Shaul succeeds in leaving the listener with vivid imagery and fantastic, weepy melodies which ultimately are the guiding force in Water Return."
--Mente Immaculada
Full Article
"Ian Shaul's vocals are soulful and sincere, yet his lyrics never lose the wit that will surely become his signature. At times the songs are so sadly beautiful that I wish to suffer through a break-up, if only to feel them more poignantly."
--Juliana Tringali, Music Editor, Bitch Magazine
"Ian's music is mean for the rowdy crowd, a crowd that isn't afraid to add a hoot and a holler every now and then. It's about as hardcore as a man and his guitar can get.
--Max Fox, Bagdad By the Bay
Read the full article
"I can't tell if his songs make me happy or if they make me sad. But when I listen to him play, I need a drink. Badly."
--Luc Martin, Alcoholic
"In performances that range from frantic to subdued and visceral, Shaul makes music that's equal parts Gillian Welch and David Rawlings."
--Now Magazine, Toronto
Well once again, I was just amazed by your brilliance. Why you are not hugely famous is beyond me.
...And besides that, it was just nice to see your sweet face again. :) Thanks for the conversation and the hugs. I'm so happy you're feeling good these days!
Hey-hope you had a great show last night! Cait and I are going to get out to that July show...we are out of town for a little while before then but that show is already on the calendar. I wanted to tell you guys to check out The Tallest man Alive. He is on my top friends. I think he is amazing and think you will like it too-he will be at the Independent on July 2nd. See you soon!
Hi Ian, just dropping in to say Hi & see how your New Year was going!! Heard a cool band from SF the other night when I went to see Ricky, they are called Blue Rabbit. I am loving them. You too, looking for next cd! Evelyn
Thanks for befriending my music page! Enjoy the tunes and check back for updated blogs, tour info, etc. And feel free to comment or msg me whenever. I love getting feedback from new friends and fans! Also, my debut album is coming out at the beginning of Oct! xoxo alyssa suede =)
Hi Ian, We just went to see Ricky play at an event here in Sacramento called "Chalk it up" nice venue outside. She was awesome as usual. Hope you are having a fantastic Labor Day weekend! Evelyn
Funny- we were thinking the same about you. And with all those lyrics about booze and women, I'm surprised we were able to appear so calm during your set.
