KERRY PHILLIPS - Songwriter, Guitars, Keyboards, Harmonica and Vocals
MIKE HUNTER - Bass
MIKE SALAS - Drums
ROBERT BRISCOE EVANS - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
VALERIE TULLOUS – Vocals and the occasional Cabasa
Influences
The Beatles, Warren Zevon, Talking Heads,
Frank Zappa...
...the list goes on and on.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
RainPace is a Los Angeles based collective of actors, singers, comedians and all-around musicians. Two-thirds of the musical/comedy act Changing Lanes (Kerry Phillips and Valerie Tullous) are here, as well Robert Briscoe Evans, Mike Hunter and Michael Salas. Phillips was a writer for Showtime’s Deep Fried TV and has starred with Peter Billingsley (Messy Marvin, A Christmas Story) in Who’s Watching Me. Tullous is an Award-winning stage actress and a pretty mean singer (check out the part in her bio about homicidal ideation). Robert Brisco “Good Friend Bob” Evans is a major stage actor in Los Angeles, and has had a host of small to mid-size roles on TV and in movies (What Women Want, Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Who’s The Boss, Caroline In The City, Ally McBeal). Mike Hunter is a longtime session player for A&M Records and was a childhood actor and model who spent two years touring the country with a mysterious and unnamed punk band (we dug but couldn’t find out whom). Michael Salas has played with numerous bands including Grupo America, The Tri Angels, 818 and The Pirates. As RainPace, the group is ready to release their latest storm of creation, known as Easy Labor.
EASY LABOR opens with "With Your Permission", a quirky folk duet that quickly grows into an ensemble vocal piece with a wicked sense of humor. The musicianship and vocals here are flawless with a down-home Country/Americana flavor that can't miss. "Mood Wonderful Mood" sounds like The Manhattan Transfer singing material from A William Finn musical. The song is incredibly lyrically dense; you almost need to stop the disc from time to time just to keep up with all the thoughts and ideas thrown your way. It's a great listen. "Easy Labor" is a melodic morality tale told ala Greek Chorus about taking the path of least resistance. "I D'Wanna Do It" is an amusing song about life's greatest ambition for someone who's done it all.
"Oliver Thom" renews the William Finn comparison, a biograph in song for a songwriter who never grew into his outlook. It's a charming tune with harmonies that are to die for. "Sittin' Around" sounds like an alternative take on "I D'Wanna Do It" and is probably a great euphemism for the "this is your brain on drugs" commercials from the 1990's. EASY LABOR closes with "At The Big Table", a song about coming home and family with all the quirks and dysfunction that grease the wheels of love. There's a Crosby Stills & Nash feel to the harmonies on this one, and the arrangement is solid Americana. This is perhaps the best song on the disc; I wouldn't be surprised to find this one licensed for films or even better, I wouldn't be surprised to hear this as part of a stage show.
RainPace match musicianship, harmonies, songwriting and humor in an explosive package of songs that you simply can't ignore. There's a high dramatic sense to the music on EASY LABOR; imagine if Shakespeare were still writing his farces in today's vernacular and had a penchant for folksy music. This is the sort of stuff he might come up with. EASY LABOR is going to be a bit hokey to some readers, but it mixes elements of classic old-style family entertainment with strong songwriting and musicianship. You can't go wrong with an album like this.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)
~http://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2009/08/review-rainpace-easy-labor.html
Bringing a jazzy sensibility to roots rock...
...with the tempo set to RainPace.
"Hurry up, Cletus -- it's about to come a toad-floater!"
GPR – Global Pirate Radio – is a free to air Metal/Rock internet radio station. We specialize in rare tunes that you don’t hear on FM radio. You will hear the famous and the not so famous. Wednesdays nights we do a Myspace Night, in which we feature bands from our Myspace friends list who have submitted songs to us for airplay. The station is on air 24 hours a day with frequent live shows hosted by our dedicated on air streamers. We have a chat room attached to the station where you can meet the “GPR Family” Talk about the tunes, make requests or just come and chat to the crew. It is a real time chat room so posting is instant - no waiting around for board replies. Come and check us out … you have nothing to loose but a lot too gain. Kick ass music and heaps of new friends all over the globe.
Just want to let you know that I just released a digital single version of our National Anthem – “The Defense of Ft. McHenry” – it has 3 of the 4 verses from the original Francis Scott Key poem – please check it out when you get the time – and let me know what you think?
Oh yea – It’s available from Rhapsody and emusic. com – soon on iTunes, etc.
Played at C&D's Welcome Cafe last weekend - thought about your great set there the last time we played together.
Hope all is well. Approaching the 4th I’ve decided to release a new single of an old song.
Though I'm more likely to write and play protest songs, I was invited to sing the "National Anthem" for my son’s little league. I found the original poem, written by Francis Scott Key. Some of the non-Anthem verses are, in their own ways, pretty “heavy.”
So, the next time I was in the studio, I recorded some of the “lost verses” Come over to my page and listen, won’t you? Add a comment or a (don’t be mean) suggestion, too.
p.s. – Hey everyone else: If you (or anyone else here) already haven’t ordered a copy of my “Life Is in Session” CD, come to my website or Amazon/iTunes/CDBaby and get yer copy. Thanks. Allan
Hi Valerie, just wanted to tell u of a new song we have up called "Ghostmaker" - we'd appreciate any comments (if u get chance) - thanks so much, all the best to you, Amanda OB x
Thanks for the friend request. Checked out your songs and your website. Very cool style -- best of luck! Let me know if you're ever performing in the Midwest!
Special invite for our LA4real friends. Check out our Grand Opening party this weekend with Shifty and DJ Adam 12! RSVP on our guestlist at www. la4real. com
Hi Valerie! Awww, thanks so much for your kind comments! Yeah, you 'got' "Rewind," didn't ya? HA! (-: Ahhh, would Life be all that simple! Push a button... Take 2! (Or 48,682!) Hey, have you been to Kulak's? You guys would LOVE it there! You should come in on Monday Open Mic Night & just do one song... people'd love it, and you could get more gigs from it. PLUS it's live webcast, & people watch all over the world! 2-5,000 of 'em! Well, stay in touch, wouldjya? Let me know if you want more info on K.W., and it'd be great to meet you all!
