SUNDAY, JULY 12 GINA VILLALOBOS CD RELEASE PARTY FOR "DAYS ON THEIR SIDE" AT THE GRAND OLE ECHO
With guests, Effects of Cable Television, Stampead, and Cave Country
GINA VILLALOBOS
California native, Gina Villalobos is an American rock, folk and alt-country singer-songwriter. Villalobos became one of the most acclaimed new artists in the alternative country community with her breakthrough album, 2005’s “Rock N Roll Pony” when legendary BBC disc jockey, Bob Harris called it “a contender for album of the year”. Her follow up release, “Miles Away” increased her profile and cemented her as one of the “…finest voice(s) in the country-rock genre today” (PopMatters) and hailed “Miles Away” as “…one of those recordings you’ll be playing in a decade, it’s timeless and combines every element that makes a recording classic…it doesn’t get much better than this. “ (Paste Magazine)
Days on Their Side- Some albums you listen to, some you feel. Earthy and honest, the songs open up and breathe like the pages of a book with each respective listen. Their complexities emerge from between the lines, constantly changing shape, deepening in meaning, drawing you willingly into their jagged shadows. Her willingness to expose herself completely takes her audiences out of the moment, eventually nothing else exists. It’s truly a transcendent experience.
“Purveyors if the four-minute popular song usually stick to cataloguing one emotion. Gina Villalobos' compositions are not quite so simple, coming off the speakers like holographic Cracker Jack surprises that reveal a new depth with the slightest shift in light. Days On Their Side (Face West Records) finds her taking the Lucinda Williams/ Sheryl Crow model to a new level. (And it's about time someone did.) The rootsy production is a comfortable bed for Villalobos' exceptional voice, which often introduces a verse in a lower, cracked timbre before shooting up into early Stevie Nicks territory for yet another tragically orgasmic chorus. "I got some secrets/ no one can see them/ they're up on my ceiling/ they're stuck in my spine." Not for long Gina, not for long.”
- David Mead, American Songwriter July / August 2009
The name Gina Villalobos and the words “Best-of-List” will likely be placed together fairly often, once the end of 2009 begins to roll into 2010. This impending pairing is due to the release of Villalobos’ beautiful 4th studio album, Days on Their Side (Face West Records). Hailing from California, her geographical roots are prominent as the album has a laid-back and breezy feel, even as the songs delve into somewhat stormier terrain. As has been noted by many at the time of her previous releases, Villalobos’ voice is simply tailor-made for her brand Americana-infused rock. Feminine without being frail, her voice aches without attempting to clone the growl of Lucinda Williams.
-Kelly Dearmore, Twangville
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO PREVIEW THE RECORD PLEASE VISIT:
http://www.GinaVillalobos.com
EFFECTS OF CABLE TELEVISION
Cross the lyrical honesty of Bob Dylan, the soulful sentimentality of Johnny Cash, the relatable storytelling of the Grateful Dead, and an eclectic musical style along the lines of Wilco, and you get FXCTV. Emery and Fuller, who previously played together in the Indie Rock band Corsair, were based out of Atlanta, GA. Over time, their style of music underwent a metamorphosis in the direction of the genres of folk, rock and Americana, as the band naturally gravitated towards staying true to their southern roots, and FXCTV was born. In 2005 the band made the move out west to Los Angeles, their present home base, where they eventually added Jorgensen and Nunez to the mix to complete the lineup. Currently, FXCTV has released their first EP, are successfully composing music for television commercials, and have held a residency at the Cat Club on Sunset Strip for over two years.
"The Effects of Cable Television (FXCTV for short), a fresh new band that produces an exciting blend of country, folk and alternative rock, currently features singer-songwriter/acoustic guitarist Jason Emery, percussionist Jeff Fuller and violinist Mishkar Nunez-Mejia. Fuller and Emery’s southern roots contribute greatly to FXCTV’s fresh feel".
-Campus Circle (LA)
"The soothing, introspective “We Are Not Friends” highlights Emery’s stunning vocals. “Safe Bets,” though catchy, still sounds too intelligently offbeat for anyone to consider it “commercial.” “The Ashes of October,” a great country-influenced tune, showcases Emery’s wide vocal range."
Grade: A -Brenda Goldstein
STAMPEAD
"We never sought out to create a sound, we just started writing," says Eric David, lead guitarist for Los Angeles quartet Stampead, which consists of Eric and his younger brother, lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and lyricist, Judd David, bassist Ivan Demaria, and drummer Sean McKinney . On their latest album, Oh Boy, the band's freewheeling sound draws from the gutsy emotion of rock, the acoustic melodies of folk, and the jumpy two-step rhythms of country. It culminates into rustic-flavored Americana, replete with mandolin, pedal steel guitar, and harmonica flourishes.
After releasing three previous albums, including their self-titled debut album in 2002, followed by Couch the Comfort in 2004, and Milk and Honey in 2006, Stampead embarked on an epic 16-month U.S. tour. "We were playing at the best clubs in Los Angeles," Eric says, "but after our third album we said, "We've been playing here for two years. Let's see what it's like to play for different people every night.'"
Stampead's relentless hard work paid off and after returning to L.A. last year, the band was able to self-finance their fourth album, Oh Boy. The album was recorded at legendary studio Sunset Sound, with producer Jamie Candiloro, best known for his work on Ryan Adams' studio albums Follow the Lights and Easy Tiger.
"Jamie has a really great sense of honesty about a recording," Eric says. "In the past we'd go into the studio, jam it out and say, 'Okay, session's over.' But now our music has all these different layers. I'm singing backup vocals and we're adding banjo, cello, organ, and pedal steel. Our fear was that it would start to sound fake or overproduced, but he didn't allow that. He had a really good ear for making it sound authentic."
"One difference between Oh Boy and our other albums is that I play the acoustic guitar all the way through-something I usually don't do," Judd says. "It had a lot to do with us writing on tour." Adds Eric,"Being on the road was such a nomadic existence... When you live in a van it's not that easy to set up your amps on the side of the road and play. The only time we plugged in was to perform. I put my electric guitar down for a lot of these new songs; it didn't feel right to start ripping electric solos. I started looking towards harmonicas and mandolins and thought about other ways to experiment ways to experiment with acoustic sounds and layers."
The band's lyricist, Judd is always coming up with ideas for songs. "I usually write about whatever's going on in my life," he says, "but with this album, I did my best to make sure not to have 12 songs about being on the road." And so the album's highlights address everything from living in Los Angeles ("Oh Boy") to dating a widow ("My Widow") to a relationship's end ("Red Green, Yellow"). The song "Funeral Train" was inspired by a photography book about Robert F. Kennedy's funeral train.
"Each song takes you to a different place," Judd says. "We're just excited for people to hear it."
CAVE COUNTRY
cave country March 30, 2009 "...They kind of reminded me of sixties band New Riders of the Purple Sage with the sweet vocal work of The Byrds, but with a freshness and spirit that felt contemporary. With beautiful swelling harmonies over lush yet precice guitars, the songs are well crafted indie/country/rock. I was kind of surprised, when we talked afterward, to find out at least some of them are surfers. But I see the connection, now, in that the dexterity and balance required of a surfer seems to infuse the precision of their music." review by Brad Roberts from feedyourheadtoday.blogspot.com and RadioFreeSilverlake.com
Duane Jarvis was an exceptional talent and spirit. Here are some photos we thought we would share of Duane playing the Grand Ole Echo, which he did every year since it began in 2005. We will miss you, dear friend!
Will Scott's new album, GNAWBONE is here!!! The CD is available at CDBaby and other online retailers.
Over three years in the making, GNAWBONE is Scott's fully-produced studio debut and features a crack team of hand-picked musicians as well as guest performances by Jan Bell, Jolie Holland, Samantha Parton, and Preacher Boy (the album's producer).
Hi - Sorry for posting this as a comment instead of sending an invitation…we’re too stupid to figure out how to send an event invitation! The Ridge Route Romeos are coming to Ronnie Mack's Barn Dance on Tuesday, July 7 for a set of songs about drinking, bad decisions, and degenerate behavior. We'll be featuring special guests Marty Rifkin on steel and John Groover McDuffie on guitar. Fun for the whole family, as long as the whole family is over 21 and not confined to the trailer park by an electronic tracking device! There will be 5 of the finest roots-music bands in LA, with the all-star Barn Dance Band kicking it off at 8:30. The Ridge Route Romeos take the stage at 10:30.
El Cid 4212 W. Sunset Blvd. - Los Angeles, CA 90029
Hello, it's me, Ruby Jane.To those who don't know me, I am a 14 year old fiddler, songwriter. I have some songs posted that are fresh out of the studio. Let me know if you like the new songs..be one of the first to hear, even before they are released!Thanks! new videos too! Ruby Jane
last sunday is one of the grand ole echos i'll remember for a long time. both the opening band (killing casanovas) and the middle band (the believers) were really good. but serby just raised the bar that night on la country both with his set and the new cd and happily the grand ole echo was there to present it for all. see you in a couple of weeks.
You've created a real home-away-from-home for so many folks and whether playing a show or just hanging out it's an honor and always a blast to be a part of it.
Many thanks for all the hard work you did on the CD Release show. I wish you both - and everyone at the GRAND OLE EHCO - much love and continued success!
Join us for a prohibition era inspired night at "The Church" (an early 1900's church).
Another fancy dress event brought to you by The Love Committee!
Lady Tigra and Miss Barbie Q host "Jelly Roll" featuring tons of live music, burlesque, tap dancing, fire eating, aerial feats, a 10 piece brass ensemble, old 78's, silent films, gourmet chocolates, cigarette girls, banjos, fiddles and psychedelic country music.
Add three bars, the bling fairy, vendors, crafts, special sec
Red Wings shall repeat and LeBron prevails over the Nuggets! This is my decree! Have a great playoff season and if you couldn't care less, my apologies in advance!
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