ROGER LEN SMITH

Bio:

Austin-based songwriter Roger Len Smith mixes a lot of musical spices into his overall jamrock stew--alt-country, folk, hard rock, funk-flavored jams and ballads alike. RLS' fifth CD--CLEAR BLUE SKIES--debuted November, 2009.

Featuring the great, incredible Peter Rowan singing his high harmonies on three songs and the searing slide and sweet steel guitar work of co-producer Kim Deschamps, CLEAR BLUE SKIES is Smith's most accessible album to date. Also featuring many other fine musicians from mainly Austin but also California, Colorado and New England, CLEAR BLUE SKIES boasts fabulous appearances by Austin songstresses Jenny Meir and Leeann Atherton. The drums are performed smashingly by Victor Bisetti, Dick Ross and Andy Markoff and other splendid parts are provided by Jimmy Spencer, Ron Flynt, Pat Manske, Al Simmons, Tom Donovan and Mike Morgan. The album was mixed and mastered by the wiz, Pat Manske. CLEAR BLUE SKIES is now available at www.CDBaby.com/cd/RogerLenSmith.

Smith released his fourth album, NEW DARK AGES, on 4/20/07 and appeared at the 20th annual Old Settlers Music Festival that day in Driftwood, Texas, performing with his friends Flounders Without Eyes for a set on the main stage, following the insanely good Sam Bush.

After 15 years in Santa Barbara and LA, playing music, working for an amazing actor, John Amos, writing for magazines and growing tomatoes, RLS picked up and headed to Austin, truly the live music capitol of the world with endless venues and fantastic musicians to boot, not to mention the food. Food.

Reared in Cincinnati, Raj fondly recalls going to a 1975 World Series game between the Reds and Red Sox. Heading west only made sense, what with the snow and all. Raj settled in Santa Barbara, played in The Acoustic Chameleons, which sometimes went electric and Twelve Stories, jamming and hamming it up with Jim Mason, Smitty, Tina Sicre, Mike Pearl, Strange Brew, Tao Jonz, Spencer the Gardener, The Gathering and many more.

In those halycon days in SB, 12 Stories opened for Toad, Dish, and then there was that chili cook-off in Pahrump, Nevada, the Chameleons did. In early 90s LA, Raj re-joined longtime Cincy railroad buddy Phil Cody to record and tour as Phil's bassist/road manager. Raj also played bass, sang and wrote songs with the prodigious Shawn Amos in his band Uncle Tom for three years, while simultaneously playing bass for photo legend Mark Seliger and his band, Rusty Truck, as well as Angela McCluskey & Danny Keough's Water Bunnies (featuring the big drums of Chad Smith), Christian Lane, subbing for Al Wolovitch in Five Easy Pieces, working with The Adobe and other various jams, bands and bandhams, jamhams and handbands, jamhambands and then just some jam bands...nice not being in 6 bands all at once, not twenty anymore.

Many fine recording sessions occurred as they often do in the city of angels, lost or otherwise. Two of Raj and Shawn Amos' songs are "Now You're The Enemy," on Raj's MY BEST FRIEND and "Right On Time," on Shawn's IN BETWEEN and Raj and Phil Cody collaborated on "Some Things 'R Better Left Unsaid," from Raj's first album, NATIONAL BOULEVARD, released in 1997. Raj's second album, MY BEST FRIEND, came along in July, 2001, followed by A BETTER PLACE, which was recorded in 02-04, but wasn't released until 11/11/2005 due to Raj's move from L.A. to Austin, TX.

Raj musically toured the U.S. and Europe with his and Phil Cody's groups, opening for many great acts in many great places. The RLS band has opened for Little Feat, Todd Rundgren & The New Cars, Barenaked Ladies, John Hammond, Carla Olsen, The Ocean Blue, Arthur Brown, Patrice Pike and many others. In Phil's band, Raj toured with Warren Zevon, The Violent Femmes, Linda Perry, Pete Droge, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Low & Sweet Orchestra and also opened for Tracy Chapman, Steve Earle, Dave Alvin, Bob Geldof, Francis Dunnery, and the list goes on. Raj plays bass on Phil's three CDs.

Raj has also worked with many fine folk like Rami Jaffee, Jordan Zevon, Austin's terrific jam ban Flounders Without Eyes, The Adobe, Five Easy Pieces, Patti Spadaro, Andy If, Pippi Bernstein, Mark Lane, Garrison Starr, Janet Robin, Malford Milligan, & BOTS. In 2006, Raj joined Dave Cowan's college band, The Safarians, for fun reunion shows all around middle Ohio, college-style. Several appearances at the 2008 Topanga Days Music & Arts Festival included Raj's set with Sam Bolle and Bryan Head, sitting in with Jordan Zevon on two classics and playing bass for Phil's band again.

Since the late 80s, Raj has been very active with benefit concerts for a variety of important causes--Amnesty Int'l, Coalition Against Aparthied, Rainforest Action Network, Special Olympics, Oxford Welfare Agency and in 2005, Raj and Jon Ramsey organized a Tsunami relief benefit in downtown Austin. Koncert For Kelsey came along in summer 2008. In Austin, there's a benefit every other day. Truly a good thing.

Raj released NEW DARK AGES in 2007, essentially a double album on one CD. The original plan was to release a 2-CD set but it was too expensive plus a 72-minute CD is a double album. NEW DARK AGES features truly fantastic performances from Austin and California musicians Jennifer Stills, Warren Hood, Mike Morgan, Dick Ross, Bryan Head, Pat Manske, Chelle Murrey, Eric Heywood, Steve McCormick, Phil Cody, Smitty, Sam Hendricks, Jay Ewell & alas, even more. .. .. ..

Member Since:

February 19, 2006

Members:

ROGER LEN SMITH
Electric & Acoustic Band, Trio, Duo, Solo

RLS - Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Harmonica, Keyboards, Coffee
Drums - Jimmy Spencer, Mark Leshner
Bass - Dawn Maracle, Dave Evertson
& Special Guests all the time at the same time
some of the time

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BOOKINGS CONTACT
Roger Len Smith
PUBLICITY
Rajlist@RogerLenSmith.com

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DISCOGRAPHY

2009
CLEAR BLUE SKIES

Roger Len Smith's fifth CD, CLEAR BLUE SKIES is a high-energy recording brimming with unforgettable grooves and melodies. Featuring legend Peter Rowan singing his trademark high harmonies on three songs and an excellent cast of musicians from Austin, Los Angeles and beyond. Produced by RLS and Kim Deschamps.
CLEAR BLUE SKIES @ CDBaby


2007
NEW DARK AGES

Singer-songwriter, guitar-slinger and multi-instrumentalist, Roger Len Smith combines jam-band fury and exploration with intricate and often humorous lyrics and story-telling against a diverse, driving, melody-infused and intriguing roots-rock backdrop.
NEW DARK AGES @ CDBaby

2005
A BETTER PLACE

Energetic modern roots-rock ala Wilco or Petty with top-notch lyrics on top of melodic groove numbers, driving rock and alt-country barnburners, hard folk ballads and all-out rockers.
A BETTER PLACE @ CDBaby

2001
MY BEST FRIEND

Catchy, melodic, lyrically-intriguing and chop-heavy rock songs about the thrills and ills of love with twists of funk, folk, alt-country, alt-power pop and more.
MY BEST FRIEND @ CDBaby

1997
SHRUBBERS -
NATIONAL BOULEVARD

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CD REVIEWS

“NEW DARK AGES is Smith’s best yet. Smith’s ability to balance humor and angst, cogent analysis and populist slogans, gravity and fun has only sharpened over the years, and his melodies grow more engaging with every disc. These times may be New Dark Ages, but Smith’s talent finds light in the darkness."
HIGH BIAS

"It's no surprise Smith is making waves with his fourth album. NEW DARK AGES delves headlong into the political and philosophical issues of the day without sounding heavy-handed."
SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

“Crafty, knowing lyrics and sturdy tunes. A cross between Dylan, Petty and Zevon.”
MUSIC CONNECTION

"An articulate wordsmith with a knack for alluring melodies."
RELIX MAGAZINE

"An artist of great talent, definite crossover appeal, MY BEST FRIEND is a gem."
NEW MUSIC WEEKLY

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Roger Len Smith live on 'Good Day Austin', Fox-7 morning show
w/ Julie Ewing & Brandon Jolley
performing
Don't Wanna Be Alone Right Now
4/12/10

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Roger Len Smith & Flounders Without Eyes
perform
Bio Willie Diesel (Leave Willie Alone)
at Old Settlers Music Festival April 20, 2007

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Roger Len Smith & Flounders Without Eyes
perform
You Don't Get It
at Old Settlers Music Festival, Driftwood, TX
4/20/07

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Raj playing with Flounders backing up Zee & Leeann
perform
Musical Capitol of the World
at Jerry Fest, Ruta Maya Cafe, Austin, TX
August 1, 2008

Influences:

Beatles, Dylan, The Who, The Dead, Marley, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Clash, Clapton, Stones, Tom Petty, Peter Gabriel, U2, Talking Heads, Neil Young, Fogerty, Springsteen, Steve Earle, Warren Zevon, Los Lobos, Elvis Costello, REM, John Prine, Little Feat, Sinatra, Bill Graham, Bob Geldof, George Harrison, Cat Stevens, Bono, Coltrane, Louis Armstrong, Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, Hunter S., Monty Python, David Gray, Mozart, Art Bell, Maui, Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, Miles Davis, the Rocky Mountains, clean air, good beer, tasty indeed.

Sounds Like:

Grateful Dylan in a Petty-Wilco waffler brimming with Wallflowers, Warren Zevon, Fastball and low sodium diets.

Record Label:

Big Rock Entertainment