Join the NTO Fan Club at www.nicholastremulis.com for regular updates and pearls from Nick himself, and free MP3 download with every message.
Nicholas Tremulis don't know small.
An orchestra, not a band. A five-year multi-artist, benefit concert series instead of a one-off. A well-received collection of swampy, Robert Johnson inspired tunes recorded called "Napoleon", with performances playing with the likes of Los Lobos, The Neville Brothers and Steve Earle. Followed by the year-long digital download odyssey, "52 Reasons", where Nick penned and the band recorded a new tune every week for a year on internet label Reel to Reel.
Both new efforts "Pinky" and "Little Big Songs" come via Tremulis' imprint, 52 Reasons, inspired by the same.
"Pinky" is the rip-rock yang to the story-telling yin of "Little Big Songs, Nick's first solo effort. The relentless rock & roll bravado that is "Pinky" couldn't be more a polar opposite to the silent and singular fury of 'Little Big Songs". Even the ballads seem dangerous, ready to erupt at any moment.
Much of the material for "Little Big Songs" was conceived during Nick's marathon, "52 Reasons" year. "A strange thing started to happen to me about a quarter of a year into that project, I began to dream songs while I was sleeping. I've always had wild dreams, the kind that can take more energy out of you than actually being awake. Only this time, they came with melodies and chords."
And "Pinky", the balls-out, straight ahead rocker?
"I guess after making a solo record I wanted to make something you couldn't possibly play by yourself. A real rock & roll album…that's the music that made me, man. It's what lives inside of me at every moment. It's why I'm alive. My oldest friends say this is the record I've been trying to make since I was fourteen years old!"
The seed was planted when Nick headed to Austin, to play with long time friend and collaborator, Alejandro Escovedo, who at the time was writing for his forthcoming album, "Real Animal".
"Alejandro suggested we might write some things together while I was out there for a few days. He said he wanted to make a real rock & roll record and for me to make a cd of all the music that got me hooked on it when I was a kid. The early, raw meat stuff of my childhood." So, Nick and his son hit the garage and started pouring through old albums and 45's . "It was a revelation! So wild and exotic! Without knowing it we both started playing air guitar!"
Which made for the perfect outlet and companion to Little Big Songs, a collection of folktales, the musical equivalent of the book "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men" by James Agee, a book written about the small and honest lives of people living in the dustbowl during the great depression.
Says Nick, "It's so easy these days to turn a single life into a fleeting Internet headline. These songs are all written about defining moments in an individual's life. They're short, just like the action they describe. I wanted them to feel as if they were in real time. Unfolding before your eyes. Fast and short…just like life."
*Releases on Island Records, Monsterdisc Records, Black Vinyl Records, other labels.
*In the last several years The Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra have hosted the incredibly popular "Waltz" benefit shows to sold-out crowds at the 1200 capacity venue, Metro, in Chicago. www.waltzchicago.com
*The Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra frequently perform with renowned musical guests, among them have been: Keith Richards, Billy Corgan, Jeff Tweedy, Ivan Neville, Ronnie Spector, Mavis Staples, David Johansen, Marianne Faithful and many more.
*Nick hosts WXRT radio show, The Eclectic Company.
*In the works: "Road Dog Revue", an original television program written by Nicholas and featuring Nicholas, Jon Langford and known musical guests throughout the U.S. Currently being presented to several cable networks.
Check out NTO's recent appearance on WGN Morning News!
NICHOLAS TREMULIS ORCHESTRA's Friend Space (Top 27)
Have you ever wondered what the wearechange.org group is all about? HELP OUT WITH THE TV SHOW! Many patriotic citizens across the GLOBE have united together,in a WORLDWIDE EFFORT OF, WE THE PEOPLE, to expose, confront, and ask the questions most are too scared to ask!Where do our tax dollars really go?Who calls the shots BESIDES OBAMA?Wonder why we are in a bankrupt economy? What is The AMERO or NWO or NAU?WHO is BARRY SOETORO and why is he using the name BARACK OBAMA?We Won't sit around and watch this world, and this GREAT COUNTRY crumble,Veterans against the war,200,000Architects andEngineers that have FACTS about 9/11 Lies,the 1st responder firefighters,and OATHKEEPERS families that we send OUR donations to,the mothers,the fathers, the brothers, the healers, the Lightworkers,Native Americans,the Rainbow Warriors, The Pro Se Personal Sovereignty Proffesors, the Liberatarians,the Musicians that unite us,the donating actors and actresses, the freedom fighters,the Patriots,The MOLON LABE militia that protect the people and our 2nd amendment, the ProBono LAWYERS THE Healers and the REALcongressman and woman that stand forTRUTH, ALL ARE COMING FORWARD TO SAVE THE COUNTRY!! When will WE ALL put down our ego's and realize that we need to work together.... before we ALL have NOTHING TO LOSE?!?!?!? www.wearechange.org Find OR START a CHAPTER NEAR YOU!!Are you IN ILLinois?Meet us! Join up!DO SOMETHING!! Sovereign Citizenship Project Memberships http://www.myspace.com/title4flag www.meetup.com/wearechangechicago http://www.youtube.com/user/WeAreChangeChicago
LORCAN MILLER is playing a solo set at Subterranean (2011 W. North Avenue in Chicago) this Wednesday 3.11 at 8:45 PM. Cover is $6 (cheap), drink specials of course, and other music- like Flabby Hoffman Trio. Should be a wild time. Hope to see you there!
