“I consider myself a songwriter first and a musician
second,” says James Germain. “Music is a way to
make my writing more accessible, allowing a reader
to be a listener instead.” Soothing, yet visceral, his lyrics
show an acute approach toward musical narrative. His songs,
woven with accessible melodies, are more acoustic short stories,
juxtaposing intimate specifics with abstract metaphors and
rhetoric. Blending styles of indie rock and folk, James has been
described as “Brian Molko (Placebo) singing for Bright Eyes.”
“He writes the kind of songs you stay up ‘till 3 a.m. listening to,
knowing you’ve felt that way before - only he just seems to say
it better,” says a fan from his hometown of Hampton, Virginia.
James recently relocated to Seattle, Washington, from
Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is quickly gaining clout in the
college music scene. On New Year’s Day, 2008, he self-released
his debut album, Jane Misanthrope. The record is a collection
of songs James wrote and performed throughout college in
Colorado Springs, where he won a campus battle of the bands
competition.
Influenced by more of today’s clever songwriters, Rhett Miller
(Old 97’s) and John K. Samson (The Weakerthans) for instance,
James has appropriately opened for artists who tend to draw a
young, skeptical audience, such as Lucero, The Honorary Title,
and Kind of Like Spitting. “James’ music is of such a high caliber
that it makes me uncomfortable to support artists that are so
obviously dispassionate and lazy,” says a grad student at the
University of Colorado.
In 2005, James was awarded ‘Band of the Year‘ by the Pikes
Peak Arts Council (Colorado Springs) for his involvement in
former hardcore band Harrison Bergeron, featuring members
of Laymen Terms (Suburban Home Records) and Signal to Noise
(Eyeball Records). Playing with James on the album are Chris
Combs (drums/percussion)
of Leer 43, Heather Collins
(vocals), Andrea Asprelli
(violin), and Tristan Shaffer
(bass) of Signal to Noise.
Fan Feedback
"One of my fondest memories of college is listening to James play. His poetic lyrics and truly original tunes bring tears to my eyes and make me laugh all at the same time. James really is my favorite musician."
"The music of James and Heather brings back some of the passions and convictions I felt towards life and love in earlier years.
"I really like how the music is: poppy, classical, alt-country, moody, teen agnst-esque...ok, maybe that's an overemphasis, but what can I say, I'm really impressed with such diversity, especially from a musician's first album."
"I liked [Jane Misanthrope] more than my Alicia Keys album."
James Germain & the Grey Gray Days live at the Skylark in Seattle.
Also visit James Germain at:
James Germain & the Grey Gray Days's Friend Space (Top 19)
James Germain & the Grey Gray Days has 422 friends.
The Springs seems to be doing DAMNED well. Or I am at the least. I'm working hard and its all paying off, or so it seems. The Branan/Snodgrass split should be out soon! Should be damned good.
Me and beck saw HWM back in August and decided that Chuck Ragan is a splitting image of Matthew Fox and, well, both are just dreamy. So I fan grrled out a little bit and got my photo. He is a damned handsome man. hahahaha.
So I was at Mom and Dad's today and I was listening to the scene aesthetic and mom goes, "who's that singing with him?" and I said, "singing with who?" and she goes, "with James." haha. Mom's so funny, she thinks everything acoutstic sounds lilke you. :)
I seem to be the first person to listen to Ballad for a Bastard, since it had 0 plays when I came to your page. Goodness gracious, it sounds incredible. So much talent on one recording. You know that feeling when you hear one song but somehow feel terrible because you have to wait before you hear more new stuff. Do you? Then you know how I feel. As a great man once wrote: 'It's enjoyable pain. '
Hey guys! How goes it? We really enjoyed playing with you at Columbia City Theatre a month back or so. ( hope you got enough obscenities on your recording) :-P
