Michael Slawter - Singer, Guitarist, and Songwriter Anthony Foltz - Drums and BGVs
Influences
The Beatles, The Byrds, Big Star, Sloan, The Jam, XTC, The Hollies, Nick Lowe, Redd Kross, The Minders, The Knack, The Smithereens, Marshall Crenshaw, Jellyfish, Herman Hermits, The Wondermints, The Jam, Badfinger, The Apples In Stereo, The Replacements, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, The Association, The Zombies, Pavement, Sonic Youth, The Pixies, Yo La Tengo, Guided By Voices, The Beach Boys, The Jayhawks, Golden Smog, Wilco, Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo, Cheap Trick, Matthew Sweet, Paul Westerberg, elvet Crush, Superdrag, U2, Teenage Fanclub, Todd Rundgren, Joe Jackson, The Raspberries, Weezer, ELO, The Posies, Jon Auer, Ken Stringfellow, The Cure, Cotton Mather, The Shazam, Paranoid Lovesick, Fountains Of Wayne, The Eels, Jeff Buckley, R.E.M., Television, Brendan Benson, Weezer, Elliot Smith, You Am I, Gigolo Aunts, The Mayflies USA, Jason Falkner, The Figgs, Myracle Brah, Soul Asylum, Nada Surf, The Creation, The Faces, The Small Faces, The Flamin Groovies, The Plimsouls, The Greenberry Woods, Ash, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, DM3, The Someloves.
Sounds Like
The Replacements, The dB's, Plimsouls, Cheap Trick, Split Enz, The Records, You Am I, DM3, Orange Humble Band, The Jam
Ready for a crash course in Pop? The Saving Graces are ready to give it to you. Led by singer/songwriter Michael Slawter, this Winston-Salem, N.C.-based combo writes shimmering and brainy tunes in the finest tradition of American power-pop, earning them comparisons to The Plimsouls and The Records.
A veteran of the North Carolina music scene, Slawter last fronted the short-lived pop/punk quartet Neidermeyer. The band's sole recorded offering, "For Those About to Pop" won them 2001 pop-rock album of the year honors from The Winston-Salem Journal. The newspaper praised Slawter for creating tunes as "smart and entertaining as (the band's) name." Slawter soon decided he wanted a band that reflected his own vision. In 2002, the Saving Graces were born.
"I was really happy with the songs I was writing in Neidermeyer but I felt like I had so much other stuff inside me that didn't really fit that band." Slawter recalled.
In the fall of that year the Slawter headed into the studio with respected Australian musician d.Henry Fenton and longtime Winston-Salem scenester Britt "Snuzz" Uzell. The end product, "These Stars Are For You," was released by respected Portland, Oregon indie The Paisley Pop Label to almost unanimous critical acclaim. Over five songs, "These Stars Are For You" effortlessly blended 60s-vintage Britpop ("The Things that Make You Strange"), bouncy New Wave-style rock ("Idiot Proof") and gorgeous balladry ("Sad Golden Waves Goodbye.").
Now, on their first full-length LP, Slawter upped the ante to produce "Outside Guiding Lights." Joined by veteran producer Jamie Hoover (Spongetones, Van Deleckis), the 11-song collection presents a fuller picture of Slawter's songwriting capabilities, veering from the energetic, Buzzcocks-inflected "Giving Up The Ghost," to the lovely sturm und jangle of "Southern Gothic Sound," to the deeply personal meditation that is "Why Don't You Cry."
So set the headphones on loud and the seat on recline, and let yourself be swept away.
Friday May 15th The Old One-Two Linus Van Pelt Dylan Gilbert Irata Taradactyl @ Campus Crossing Clubhouse 705 Milton Street Greensboro NC 27403 $5 For Campus Cross Residents $7 for non-residents Doors @ 6:30
I played "Isn't That Obvious" last night at a loal bar where I play tunes every Tuesday and now I can't get the song out of my head! Have you read my message about January yet??? Rock on! Joe G.
Give me a shout as ALL Photos fm the W/E are edited and on a cd for preview by committee members....Had a Blast and Enjoyed..Let's do it again in another 10 yrs...lol
Michael, I..m girding my loins, so to speak, to finish Part 2 tonight. I..ve been gigging and being a Dad since I..ve gotten home and by the time it..s quiet I..m zonked. Your CD is the one I keep coming back to over and over. I sent Parthenon a message today mentioning you, I don..t know if it..ll smoke him out of the cave, but I..m trying. You..ve actually inspired me to try and finish all my snippets that I accumulate, I churn out bits of music almost constantly but writing lyrics is a chore at times, back when I created turmoil in my life the lyrics seemed much easier, lol. If I don..t blog tonight I promise to do it tomorrow when I first get up, probably the best idea. See Ya!
Hi, Michael (& the Saving Graces)! Thanks for making contact and also for checking out our music online. We recently released a new CD and it's available for digital download! All the details are on our profile page. It was great to finally meet you at Pop Fest and I really appreciate the recommendation of the Hellhound, too. Thanks so much. Best wishes on your continued success!
Online Now!
