Rob Owen
PAST SHOWS:
Red Victorian-San Francisco
Barefoot Coffee-Santa Clara
Kuumbwa-Santa Cruz
Palo Alto Festival of the Arts
Foster City Art and Wine Festival
MARS Songwriter symposium
Mission Ale -San Jose
Defense Language Institute- Monterey
Vivas- Monterey
Black box Cabaret -Monterey
Santana Row-San Jose
UCSC AAR Benefit-Santa Cruz
Santa Clara Songwriter's Showcase
Santa Cruz Songwriter's Showcase
Club Octane-Monterey
Earth Wave Records-Rohnert Park
Santa Clara Art and Wine Festival
Red Victorian-San Francisco
Zelda’s-Santa Cruz
North Light Books-Rohnert Park
Barefoot Coffee Roasters-Santa Clara
Coffee Catz-Sebastopol
KMBY-Monterey
Blakes on Telegraph-Berkeley
Great Bear-Los Gatos
Ugly Mug-Soquel
Rosie McCann’s-Santa Cruz
Studio Z- San Francisco
Bocci’s Cellar-Santa Cruz
Red Rock Café-Mountain View
KJCC –San Jose
DanvilleArt and Wine
Borders-Los Gatos
Influences
Peter Gabriel, Live, Pat Metheny, Youssou N' Dour, Omar Faruk,
Dead Can Dance, Sting, Rob Thomas, Lucky Dube, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Krishnamirti, Hui Neng, Ken Weber, Thomas Merton, Pythagorus, Lao tzu, Plato, Martin Johnson Heade, Leonardo, Beethoven, Pliny, Wordsworth, Siddhartha Gautama, Joseph Campbell
One thing is guaranteed when you pick up singer-songwriter Rob Owen’s CD: you know that you’ll be feeling a little bit better once you hit “play.” Owen’s songs are simple, intimate gems: equally at home over a cup of morning coffee or a glass of wine well past midnight they celebrate all the wonderful—and not so wonderful—things we each go through everyday. And with his smooth but soulful baritone; pared-down, interesting arrangements and the incredibly visual element running through all of his songs, the melodies stay with you long after his CD runs out. And for that reason, Rob Owen is one of the top up-and-coming singers in Northern California. However, these same songs almost never saw the light of day.
For five years, Rob was the lead singer with Oka Road, a progressive rock outfit that toured California pretty heavily, released three critically-acclaimed independent albums and afforded Owen something of a rock-star lifestyle. The band received a short feature on MTV Real World, and before he knew it, they were offered a contract and a chance to be included on the Jenny Lopez swimsuit tour. And it was exactly at that point that the whole thing became a drag: the company, a subsidiary of a major label, wanted all rights to Oka’s current songs and all creative rights to their next CD. “At that point,” recalls Owen, “it turned into a business, and that’s when we all started to get burnt out.” And this is exactly when Owen had his own personal catharsis: he wasn’t looking to be a rock star; instead, he wanted to write honest music, and connect with listeners. The result was Barefoot in the Rain, his 2007 debut—and Owen hasn’t looked back since.
Owen’s realizations about himself, music and creative integrity have completely opened up his music. For the first time in a long time, he is perfectly happy to be exactly where he is, as he states in his new single, “Clear Day in July”: “I don’t pray for tomorrow, I give thanks for today.” That celebration of the ‘here and now’ gives his songs a sense of immediacy and they become living, breathing creatures in their own right. It also helps that Owen has an incredibly visual style of writing, as shown later in “Clear Day,” when he sings, “My eye caught light as the shadows splattered, against my faded gray paint job; And all I knew that the tank was full, and the road went past the state line.”
Musically, Owen draws on a wide range of colors to paint his songs. Whether it’s a driving indie pop number, laidback ballad, or a more up-tempo John Mayer-esque pop song, there’s always something in his songs to differentiate them: unusual chord progressions and voicings, an unexpected break, or some change in feel or time signature. But nothing is done for effect—only to better tell the story at hand. Anchoring all of these songs is Owen’s voice, which can be achingly beautiful on an acoustic number, and soulful and rocking on his harder numbers. Imagine Jack Johnson’s clear, laidback vibe mixed in with some of the range and tones of Peter Gabriel, and you can appreciate what a singular, compelling vocal sound Owen has developed.
Rob Owen is currently finishing up two singles, “Let’s Just…” & “Clear Day in July.” He is continually expanding his fan base: he has gotten considerable airplay on 105.1 KVMR in Nevada City/Tahoe, was featured on the 2008 Yamaha Cubase DVD and has been garnering buzz online at www.myspace.com/robowenmusic and www.robowenmusic.com. This summer he’ll be performing at a number of shows across the Bay Area, including the Foster City Art and Wine Festival, Palo Alto Festival of the Arts, Santa Clara Art and Wine Festival, Kuumbwa’s Songwriter’s Showcase, and Santa Clara Songwriter’s Showcase—as well as a west coast tour from Santa Cruz to Seattle in June to support his new singles. Most recently, “Clear Day in July” was selected for Versailles Records’ compilation Surf Rock 1 & 2, to be released this summer. The CD will be distributed nationwide at Wal-Mart, Target and Virgin Mega Store.
Ex Masheena is blowing up the Moon! Extended Set warning We are pleased to announce Ex Masheena is returning to accept an extended set offer at El Rincon (2700 16th/ Harrison) on July 12th. Go get your tickets from them as this show with Against the Grain may sell out. Please arrive early Rob Owen opens following Chip Cosby. Doors at 8 P.M. 18+
Thanks- Rob www. ripstar. cfsites. org - Uniting Thru Music Special Thanks to our new sponsor Eastwood Guitars
Volunteers are needed for this and several pending events. Find out how you can help live music thrive in SF. Interships for people interested in learning about promotions are open for the 5 candidates in 2008.
Att: Fans: $200 giveaway will take place at a future event in 2009. Fans that bring proof of helping to promote events via gaining radio support, getting songs spun for bands playing our events and or just blasting your own networks to help bring people out to party could get you entered to win if you bring your proof of service with you to present at our door.
"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities." -Theodor Geisel
Ah yes. Ralph Waldo Emerson has all kinds of cool quotes. Thanks again for relating a quote in reference to me. Interesting stuff. It's nice to meet someone with a mind and some type of intelligence, considering how rare it is on myspace.
Hey ya Rob!!!! Great to hear from you. Lots has been up, I am in prelaunch right now. I won't bore you with the details. And you, how are things going my dear dear friend :)
love the video. i put it up on my site for some other advertising for you.
"How beautiful are the footsteps of those who bring good news. You crown the year with your goodness. Abundance flows in your steps, In the pastures of the wilderness it flows. "
"When you're traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don't have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road." -William Least Heat Moon, Blue Highways
"Time is just something that we assign. You know, past, present, it's just all arbitrary. Most Native Americans, they don't think of time as linear; in time, out of time, I never have enough time, circular time, the Stevens wheel. All moments are happening all the time." -Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess
Hey Rob ~ Long time no talk. Things are goin great lately. Been super busy! BETA has completely changed the website. There are alot of added features. Also, have you read any of the bulletins I've posted lately? I'm now also a field rep for OurStage. If you're not a part of us yet, you should get involved. I think you would do really well =) Here is a link to my profile with details. http://www. myspace. com/ourstage_melissa
just wanted to stop by and see ya... i see your moving out of your comfort zone and touring up and down the west coast. i am so excited for you.. hugs and kisses to the family..
Hope you had a good time performing at Community Television. I was the director of the show and just got a chance to watch a DVD of it. You have an awesome mellow sound that draws a person in to your music.
Soon as you register you would be featured in our top friends list. And beable to get more promotions on your gigs. If you are not a promoter its the best place to see whats going on at night & day in the north bay. :)
Loving the new song! You have a nice voice and style. Hopefully I can make it to the Foster City show as I haven't seen you in person yet,I almost did last year.
