Askold Buk (John Scofield, BB King, PBS Frontline music composer),
Jon Leidersdorff and Rob Lebret (Producers/engineers – De Sol, Matt O’Ree),
Ron Haney, Bart Shoudel (The Churchills, Alicia Keys),
Hugh McDonald (Bon Jovi),
Marc Muller (Shania Twain, Van Zandt),
Bob Pantella (Monster Magnet, Atomic Bitchwax),
Dave Halpern (Highway 9, Love In Reverse, Hayley Westenra),
Michael Ghegan (Justin Timberlake, Pat McGee, Cirque De Soleil),
Richard Blackwell (Bruce Springsteen),
Delores Holmes (early Bruce Springsteen band),
Layonne Holmes (Bobby Bandiera’s Rock-n-Soul Revue, Bruce Springsteen),
Gerald Carboy (David Sancious, Tone),
Matt O’Ree (Matt O’Ree Band),
Bob Boyd (Holiday Express, Jazz Lobsters),
George Ott,
Rene Wooley,
Mike Sonatore,
Debbie Vaughan,
Pat Guadagno,
Roger Gardella,
Andy McDonough,
Mike Heady,
Michael Shearer,
Antonio Gambrell,
Melissa Chill
Influences
Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Replacements, Westerberg, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Son Volt, Billy Joe Shaver, Johnny Cash, old school country artists too many to list.
The ten songs that comprise Days To Here, the debut CD from New Jersey native
Rob Dye, are a journey through the rich landscape of American music’s roots.
With feet firmly planted in those roots, Dye’s music incorporates elements of
rock, old school country, Stax-influenced R&B, gospel and more while remaining
true to the essence of each style. Guitars wail, the pedal steel and piano bring
us into a honky-tonk saloon, a trio of singers takes us to church, an accordion
whisks us into bayou country, while a saxophone echoes the famed Jersey Shore
sound. Through it all, the lyrics tell classic stories of love, faith, drinking
and hitting the road.
The songs on Days To Here are split into two sides. The disc’s first 5 songs are
straight ahead rock with a touch of rhythm and blues and the last 5 songs are
country-based. “I wanted to capture the days of vinyl, when you listened to an
album and had to get up and turn the record over,” Dye says. “You were always
excited to hear what new and different sounds the other side would bring. The
first song on the second side was always great. It had to be or you might not
listen to the rest! Neil Young’s Rust Never Sleeps is a perfect example. Side
One was classic acoustic Neil – reflective, introspective storytelling – while
Side Two was flat-out rock, beginning with the first notes of ‘Powderfinger’ (a
song Dye often performs) to the last chord of ‘Hey Hey My My (Into The Black)’!”
From the eerie, ominous minor chord opening notes of ‘Maybe Some Day’ to the
uplifting gospel-influenced ending of ‘You Called Me Here’, the five songs on
Days To Here’s first side explore lost love, true love, faith, uncertainty and
hope. ‘Believe’ and ‘Loose Ends’ are bona-fide Jersey-style rockers, while
‘Precious One’ is a heartfelt, soulful ballad complete with classic Memphis R&B
horns. Side Two’s first track ‘Here Comes Loneliness’ continues these themes,
but the pedal steel sounds make it clear we are on a ride through country music
territory. Along the way, stops are made in Cajun country (‘My Baby Left Me
Yesterday’) and honky-tonks (‘I’ll Have Another Drink’), with the ride ending
(appropriately) on ‘Cars Trucks And Buses,’ an infectious toe-tapper that
recalls classic truck driving songs, complete with rip-roaring guitar solos.
Music has always been a part of Dye’s life. He logs over 150 shows a year,
whether it’s as a duo or with a band playing covers along the Jersey Shore to
touring the country and overseas in the groups Holiday Express and Light Of Day.
“I love music, all styles. Period. It can be a great ballad, a silly sing-along,
a hard-hitting social commentary or just a great riff. If it’s written well and
moves you, then ‘mission accomplished’ – the songwriter has done his or her job.
I’m more than happy to take what these great songwriters have done and share
that with an audience. Hopefully my music will do the same.”
To achieve the sounds on Days To Here, Dye enlisted a stellar cast of some of
the Jersey area’s finest musicians. “I wanted the right player to bring out the
best in each song. Everyone involved delivered beyond my wildest expectations.
It truly was a collaborative effort with an eclectic cast of musicians. I am so
thankful I was surrounded by such talent.”
The cover of Days To Here accents the CD’s theme and features a beautiful,
emotive photograph of two people under trees on a foggy early morning, taken by
renowned photographer Danny Clinch. A fellow New Jersey native, Clinch’s resume
is a virtual who’s who of today’s music stars, including Bruce Springsteen,
Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, Ben Harper, Metallica and many more. The CD’s accompanying
images of Dye were taken by rising star Jimmy Hubbard, who has shot bands such
as Mastodon, Slayer, Judas Priest and more.
For Dye, the days to here are much more than the culmination of years of live
shows, writing and recording. It marks the beginning of a journey – for both the
listener and the artist. The journey to get to here took many years. The journey
forward is just beginning.
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The Fourth Annual Wave Gathering Emerging Artist Music Festival will be held in Asbury Park, NJ on June 19th, 20th, & 21st. Tickets for one- and three-day passes for the 2009 Wave Gathering are available now for sale online and by phone via TicketWeb. http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/EventListings.action?orgId=23381
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks for the Friendship!
The Fourth Annual Wave Gathering Emerging Artist Music Festival will be held in Asbury Park, NJ on June 19th, 20th, & 21st. Tickets for one- and three-day passes for the 2009 Wave Gathering are available now for sale online and by phone via TicketWeb. http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/EventListings.action?orgId=23381
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks for the Friendship!
The Fourth Annual Wave Gathering Emerging Artist Music Festival will be held in Asbury Park, NJ on June 19th, 20th, & 21st. All artist submissions for the 2009 Wave Gathering Festival are currently being accepted thru Sonicbids.com Deadline for submissions: May 1, 2009
Hey Rob, Songs sound great! I gotta get the cd.. It's been a while, we gotta do a gig somewhere soon. At the very least gonna have to crash yer open mic! I'll never forget the Indian Restaurant in Long Branch! Peace Bro :)
