Although we’re still early into 2010, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I’ve been anxiously awaiting the latest release Lost Souls Like Us from Benjy Davis Project. With anticipation like that, I guess it’s fairly easy to be disappointed with the final outcome. Don’t get me wrong, Lost Souls Like Us isn’t a bad album, per se, it’s just not overall representative of what I was expecting from BDP after the well-rounded, emotionally stellar Dust. And it certainly doesn’t live up to the high bar set by lead single “Stay With Me” a mandolin-driven song about love with room for interpretation, whether in the moment or reflection, with intensely personal lyrics written by Benjy Davis himself.
The album opens with “Mississippi,” a pretty safe ode to the wandering road-life as only a young musician can paint. It’s followed up by the light-hearted “Get High” that the college kids are sure to eat up. While these tracks aren’t necessarily throwaways, they’re also not particularly memorable, which seems to be the issue with the album until the midway point where things start to come to life.
Aside from “Stay With Me,” which is one of our favorite songs hands down, “Slow Wind” is beautifully reflective where Davis shines both vocally as well as lyrically. “Check Your Pockets” brings some good ol’ sunny southern rock courtesy of the guys’ Louisiana roots, which is sure to have you singing along to.
Joe Firstman will perform at The Living Room in New York City this Saturday, February 13th, in support of his recently released full-length album El Porto. If you’re a fan of good old americana rock, this album should be part of your music collection. El Porto is heartfelt with immensely personal lyrics penned by Firstman, who has the innate ability to transport you to another time with his intricate delivery.
For those familiar with Firstman’s debut album The War of the Women, which I happen to LOVE, El Porto is a natural evolution. The songs that comprise the new album are simple, yet demonstrate a certain confidence of a singer-songwriter coming into his own. And, I’m not certain, but believe that “Today,” which is featured on El Porto could easily be a continuation of “Can’t Stop Loving You” from The War of Women. (Joe, if you’re reading this — give me a shout, dying to know).
My favorite Louisiana natives, Benjy Davis Project, are getting set to release a new album, Lost Souls Like Us and we’ve got the official tracklist and cover art. BDP has gone through a bit of a line-up shuffle as of late, but the group is still comprised of original members Benjy Davis (shocker) and drummer Mic Capdeivelle.
The band recently dropped their new single “Stay With Me,” a mandolin-driven song about love with room for interpretation, whether in the moment or looking back on it. It’s quintessential BDP with a focus on intensely personal lyrics written by Benjy Davis as a result of life experiences.
Check out some footage of Benjy Davis Project in action that was captured at Sullivan Hall back in December. Official track-list for Lost Souls Like Us is after the jump, the album hits March 2nd.
Sara Bareilles announced last night via Twitter that she was releasing a FREE EP to thank her fans for all the love. She was sparse on details as to what the EP would entail, but told fans to check her official site today for details. True to her word, when I visited Sara’s website this morning I was greeted with a treat…actually two treats.
Not only did she release a free live EP of her (amazing) GravityTour, but it also features the man, Tony Lucca, on a Bruce Springsteen cover of “I’m on Fire.” For those unaware of the Tony Lucca/Sara B connection, he opened for her during the Gravity Tour. The EP features live versions of hits from her debut album, Little Voice, including “Bottle it Up,” “Vegas,” “Gravity,” and of course “Love Song.”
So how do you get the EP? Simply visit her official site, provide your email address and you’ll receive a download link. Well worth coughing up an email address, I’d say. Thanks, Sara. Now… all we need is a new album!
Looking for a way to keep warm on a cold December night? Well, we have the perfect remedy. The incomparable Tony Lucca hits NYC for one night only, Friday, December 11th, at Sullivan Hall.
Mr. Lucca will be joined by fellow singer-songwriters Matt Lowell and Josh Hoge. Doors are at 7:00p and the show starts at 7:30p (sharp). If you like acoustic bluesy-rock mixed with pop and folk influences, you won’t want to miss this show. Over the last seven years I’ve brought many friends (some not even music fans) to Tony Lucca shows around the U.S. and each one has left his show a fan. He’s that good.
Calling all NYC music fans, Joe Firstman will perform tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 13th) at The Living Room at 8p. After migrating west from his home in North Carolina, the talented singer-songwriter found his muse in LA — a city of excess, ego and beautiful ladies — which fueled his songs.
It didn’t take long for Joe to gain notoriety, first came the big Hollywood gigs, then the industry buzz, then the big deal with Atlantic Records and national tours with big rock stars like Sheryl Crow, Jewel, and Willie Nelson. Next he landed a regular gig as the bandleader on the “Last Call with Carson Daly” show.
We’re continuing with our free music Wednesday to get you through the day, thanks to our good friends at Rock Ridge Music. On November 11th three of Rock Ridge’s finest, Benjy Davis Project, Andrew Hoover, and Joe Firstman will team up to perform at Sullivan Hall here in NYC.
Let’s just say it’s a singer-songwriter showcase made in heaven — all that’s missing is the amazing Tony Lucca. Hey Rock Ridge, can you get Tony on board?! I digress.
The Canal Room was rocking as the Evening of the Feeling Song Tour touched down in NYC on Tuesday night. Matt Duke, Tony Lucca, and Jay Nash provided hours of incredible music, a mini-jam session, as well as a few surprise guests including the lovely Sara Bareilles and talented Curtis Peoples. While the clear headliner appeared to be Jay Nash, it was Matt Duke’s and Tony Lucca’s sets that stole the show.
So, who is Matt Duke? Well, he’s a pint-sized (in comparison to the towering Jay Nash), singer-songwriter who has an affinity for a four letter word that rhymes with “duck.” His songs were poignant and emotional, his delivery was intense and focused. He commanded the stage he even though a rather noisy audience didn’t give him the respect he deserved on stage, which seemed to be an issue for all of the performers. Tony Lucca and Curtis Peoples confided with us post show that “the audience thinks you can’t hear or see them when you’re on stage. You can and you do. Trick is finding a way to politely say ’shut the f-ck up.”
Tony Lucca, or as I like to call him “the hardest working man in the indie music scene”, is back on the road again. This time, he’s teamed up with Jay Nash, Matt Duke and Roy Jay for the Evening of The Feeling Song Tour, which stops in NYC tonight, September 15th, at the Canal Room in Tribeca. And yes, I’ll be in attendance to see it all go down (happy birthday to me!).
I’ve seen Tony Lucca perform several solo gigs over the years, so it’ll be interesting to see him share the spotlight with his tour-mates. Meanwhile, in support of their 25-city US Tour, Lucca and Nash are releasing a series of video blogs from the road. The latest installment, vlog #6, finds an unshaven Lucca in Wyoming at Snowy Range Music Festival, checking out the local talent including 14 yr old guitarist, Michaela Rae, and clips from his set with Jay Nash. Always the crowd-pleaser, Lucca received quite a few compliments from his audience.
Check out the video below — also, if you haven’t seen him live in concert, it’s damn near time you did. Remaining dates for the tour can be found at Lucca’s official site. For NYC fans, catch a bonus performance and signing tonight, before the Canal Room gig, at Barnes & Noble located in Columbus Circle (1972 Broadway @ 66th Street), 5pm sharp.
A few weeks back, we gave you a sneak peek at new artist Andrew Hoover’s with his lead single “Lie to Me” off his debut album, Chances, Stances & Romances, set for release on September 22nd. We immediately fell in love with the uptempo track that features hints of R&B, soul, and funk with a clever pop twist, which left us anticipating listening to the full length album. Well, thanks to our friends at Rock Ridge Music, we got our hands on an advanced copy.
As it should, Chances, Stances & Romances, kicks off with “Lie to Me,” which is a nice introduction to Hoover’s sound for those unfamiliar with him. His self-taught, slap-style guitar playing sets him apart from counterparts and while his bio likens his sound to Marc Broussard and Ray LaMontagne, I’d probably equate him with Gavin DeGraw(vocally) when he burst on the scene. The DeGraw comparison is most notable on the last track of the album “Someday Cecilia,” a slow, raw, acoustic track where Hoover shines as he pines over a love.
We started as a three friends having conversations about music during lunches together at the office. Since then we have expanded to seven members, including a Chi-town native, and the conversations have gotten bigger and better. The Round Table has grown into a casual setting where music aficionados can gather to discuss all things music. Topics include (but not limited to) artists and bands, new music releases, concerts, recording industry news and concerns, and the occasional nugget of entertainment gossip. We have tastes that cover the entire music spectrum and love to share them (and our opinions) with each other. We are The Round Table! Come join the conversation!
Although we’re still early into 2010, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I’ve been anxiously awaiting the latest release Lost Souls Like Us from Benjy Davis Project. With anticipation like that, I guess it’s fairly easy to be disappointed with the final outcome. Don’t get me wrong, Lost Souls Like Us isn’t a bad album, per se, it’s just not overall representative of what I was expecting from BDP after the well-rounded, emotionally stellar Dust. And it certainly doesn’t live up to the high bar set by lead single “Stay With Me” a mandolin-driven song about love with room for interpretation, whether in the moment or reflection, with intensely personal lyrics written by Benjy Davis himself.
The Canal Room was rocking as the Evening of the Feeling Song Tour touched down in NYC on Tuesday night. 
A few weeks back, we gave you a 
