THE RED LIONS ARE:
Eric Margan: vocals, guitar, etc. Rick Spataro: guitar, keys, vocals Scott Kellerhouse: bass, piano Jim Bertini: drums
Featuring:
Madalyn Parnas: violin
Cicely Parnas: cello
"Midnight Book is brilliantly informed by Impressionism, classic rock, and chamber and adagio musics with a dash of smoky nightclub jazz. Expect Stravinsky to spice the slow sonics, Gershwin to walk side by side with rapture, Ravel to pull in fog and rain, and Weill to spike the decadence factor throughout a conceptually based song cycle revolving around love, loss, anomie, and desperation.
The arrangements here are way above average, the quality that most puts Margan in an Elfman stratum. The strength of his technical talents matches the passion of the intuitive, both promising that, with a debut this overwhelming, his is a name we'll be hearing much more of as the years go by. Hollywood should be snapping Margan up as though he were flowing gold. Not only are the lyrical qualities of Midnight Book many pegs above the crowd, but the guy also plays everydamnthing: guitar, contrabass, vibes, Hammond, flute, celeste, harpsichord, harmonium, and mellotron. Existential romance by way of Byronic refrains has rarely been this evocatively stated."
-Mark S. Tucker, Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange
"Elegant, sophisticated and refreshingly open-hearted, singer-guitarist Margan pens wonderfully literate and melodically inventive songs that he has orchestrated for a most unusual but oh-so effective ensemble of musicians featuring drums, bass, keyboards, violin, cello, clarinet and flute. This is chamber music for the 21st century, and it simply sparkles."
-Greg Haymes, The Times Union
"Eric Margan’s songs and aesthetic are from another time: His musical influences seem drawn entirely from before he was born. His jazz-leaning, ornate, orchestral pop is unlike anything that’s come out of the Capital Region in as long as we can remember, and the band’s busy gig schedule has amassed them a devoted, even defensive, fan base. Trust us: This band will be going places."
-John Brodeur, Metroland
"Singer/songwriter Eric Margan’s unhurried melodies and subtle orchestrations are sweet and disarming. This accomplished multi-instrumentalist has been inspired by his time in the studio with folk and jazz heavy hitters Pete Seeger, Richie Havens and David Amram."
-Peter Wise, The Berkshire Fringe
BOOKING INQUIRIES:
Eric Margan
emargan at gmail.com
(518) 588-1511
The Red Lions is an indie-chamber rock band, a creation of singer-songwriter Eric Margan. Through a number of evolutions from its beginning in 2005, The Red Lions has always been and remains, by Margan’s design, the palette of sounds this young artist requires to paint his highly imaginative musical pictures.
Margan began formal musical training on the flute at an early age, and shortly thereafter began experimenting musically on the guitar, piano, and bass on his own time and in his own way. At fourteen he formed his first band – a three-piece rock group in which he was co-songwriter, bassist, and singer. Margan also played bass in a number of jazz ensembles and combos throughout his high school years until he entered the College of Saint Rose on full-scholarship majoring in Music Industry. It was then and there he focused on his passion of songwriting and recording, but he also earned top academic honors, studied and mastered the double bass, continued playing the flute, the bass guitar, the piano, singing, and playing in bands. His time spent on the double-bass performing in classical chamber orchestras and chamber ensembles, became for Margan part of the sound construction that would become uniquely his niche: the indie-chamber rock sound. A master of orchestration and a gifted writer of poetry, Margan is now writing sophisticated and engaging songs, orchestrating each with a unique combination of sounds, and breathing life into each with his inspired and sensitive lyrics. But the centerpiece of all his music is Margan’s talented band, The Red Lions, for which he is the frontman; Margan often quotes Duke Ellington, "My orchestra is my instrument.”
Margan demonstrates this in his debut full-length album, "Midnight Book”, which was released in March 2009, and is a collection of thirteen songs that are best understood when listening from “cover to cover.” Throughout the recording process, Margan often called upon the aid of multi-instrumentalist Scott Kellerhouse, presently studying jazz performance at Ithaca College, and Bard graduate and drummer/producer Jim Bertini. Live performances of "Midnight Book" often feature various woodwind and brass players, but Margan, Kellerhouse, Bertini, and Spataro form the core rock band with violin/cello "chamber parts" played by the dazzling duo parnas, soon to be graduate Artist Diploma students at Indiana University. The music draws on countless influences, and the borrowing and blending of musical elements result in an original sound to which most listeners respond with a natural familiarity. The album opens with "You Are A Ghost," a haunting jazz-club ballad blending the lyrical style of Tom Waits and Sylvia Plath with the music of Billie Holiday and John Lennon, among others. A sombre tone is blended with vague hopefulness in the song "Bay of Naples," which pulls you in with its unhurried pulse, hinting at the lo-fi vibe of Iron and Wine. As the album progresses, songs are sung with humor and lightness, such as the musical free-for-all "I'll Never Know." "Old Man River" tells the story of an estranged marriage with a twist of murder and revenge. And so it goes until the final notes. The varied and highly stylized musical constructions, coupled with creative lyrical depictions that wander from innocence to darkness with a deftness and poise, leave you wanting more.
The Red Lions is a unique and sophisticated addition to today’s music scene. They are rapidly earning the respect and admiration of fans, bands, and critics. They have opened for national acts including The Avett Brothers, St. Vincent and The Benevento-Russo Duo. Margan has recently played bass with tthe Dirty Dozen Brass Band, as well as recording sessions with Pete Seeger and Richie Havens. The Red Lions continue performing regularly in the Northeast while they are preparing to record a second disc including Margan’s new songs and more.
Music is my life! I work on instruments for a living. Pure sound impresses me. A lot of which are coming from the east coast. I search around and listen, bands send me links, But mostly the bands that perk my ears I will look at there top list and really dig in that way..... Do you find it funny to know someone from the midwest, that has never been to NYC yet knows such a an underdog of a band? That is really cool that you commented me such a random question... I approve!! Peace~*
hey dude i recently started actually listening to your music...you are actually pretty amazing..sorry i havent listened before...love the voice....i would love to jamm or colaborate with you one day..if our paths cross....have a great day.
wow ..what a dream...i am actually moving to the city in three weeks....so i will be in the heart of chicago..i wonder what a rock and roll mcdonalds looks like...hmmm...
