posted by Tina on October 4, 2011
It’s been awhile since we brought up a Seattle band. I always seem to find the singer songwriters. Listening to a little Ray Lamontagne radio on Pandora brought Rocky Votolato into my life. One of my favorite things about music is discovering the history of where the music comes from. How did it come about? Why these lyrics? Why this guitar pitch? What keeps them going and writing? Moving forward till they reach that level of success where the music finally does what the creator meant it to do. Get to you. You would never guess it, but this singer songwriter started out punk rock. Through life’s trials and travails it brought him to a serene place where he was able to find peace and produce music with a soft spoken voice and passion from within…
His latest release True Devotion in 2010 shows signs of brilliance and ethereal lyrics with just a hint of sadness from experiences we can all relate to. Being lost at one time? Finding it hard to find your path and your purpose in life? Rocky Votolato covers it all. You can always find that musical artist who hit home with one or two tunes. But to put those experiences into music with all your heart is an accomplishment that should be well praised. I know I couldn’t do it. Rocky Votolato can. I chose to post a song from one of Votolato’s older albums Makers as it strikes a match and hits a chord that I’m familiar with. And let’s face it…it’s just plain catchy.
Rocky Votolato – White Daisy Passing (Downloaded 242 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Acoustic • Male vocal • Singer-Songwriter
(6 votes)
Loading ...posted by Adam on September 13, 2011
It’s always quite exciting when you discover a new artist, but it’s even more exciting when you find someone local to yourself. Jake Bugg, a 17 year old from Nottingham, has a glorious voice which instantly reminds you of acts such as Bon Iver or The Tallest Man On Earth, and he writes so poetically his words float through the air. He is unsigned currently and is yet to release any albums but I’m sure you’ll agree neither will take long. [Update: Jake was just signed in the U.K. and will have an album out in 2012!] Jake is one of those rare singer songwriters that can catch you in a moment with just his voice and a guitar; it sometimes feels like he’s only singing to you. AT 17 he has already played the Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds festivals.
“Someone told me” is a beautiful track which will make you stop whatever you are doing just to hear the rest – I promise you. It’s spine-tinglingly good. It’s currently receiving some airplay on UK radio and is sure to fire Bugg into success. This track clearly shows the resemblance his song writing has to great Dylan and Donovan. The second track, “Love Me The Way You Do,” has a bit fuller sound, and evokes classic 60′s folk. Both feature solid songwriting and Bugg’s expressive voice.
Here is Jake playing two tracks during a BBC session in August:
Jake Bugg – Someone Told Me (Downloaded 368 times)
Jake Bugg – Love Me The Way You Do (Downloaded 283 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Acoustic • Amazing Voice • Beautiful Lyrics • Male vocal • Singer-Songwriter
(16 votes) Loading ...posted by Tina on September 5, 2011
If my Indieball friends haven’t figured out by now what a HUGE Band of Horses fan I am…well…now you know. I’m always keeping my eye out for any side or solo project that comes from any of its five band members. Tyler Ramsey is no exception to that rule. You might recognize him as the extremely tall guitar player in Band of Horses but Tyler had his solo music out before he joined the band in 2007. I recently made a visit to Asheveille, NC where Ramsey calls home and I cannot say enough what an extremely great and musical town Asheville is. Seems where ever you go, no matter what bar or venue I was at, there was some sort of sign, book, or comment made about “Asheville’s own” Tyler Ramsey. And why wouldn’t they be proud of such a talented guitar player…occasionally referred to as “fingers”…
Ramsey’s first self titled release was put out in 2004 followed by A Long Dream About Swimming Across The Sea in 2008. I chose the tune “Ships” as the lyrics always catch me every time I hear it and the violins in the music are a soft subtle hint of sounds from his home. If you like what you hear, then good news follows. Tyler has a new release coming out this month called The Valley Wind. Recorded while on and off tour with Band of Horses this past year, Tyler found the time to make it to Alex The Great studio in Nashville, TN to record his third album release. Bandmate Bill Reynolds helped produce and contribute bass to create this heartwarming and comfortable music that is his own. You can check out a sample off the new release on Tyler’s facebook page. Tyler is also touring for the next few months. Should he make a stop in your hometown, be sure not to miss him. It’s those smaller quieter venues that singer songwriters choose to play at, that stick with you forever…
Tyler Ramsey – Ships (Downloaded 271 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Acoustic • Americana • Folk • Male vocal
(10 votes) Loading ...posted by Lewi on May 30, 2011
Like love (apparently) comes to you when you’re not looking, Adam Barnes’ music smacked me in the face like a bus (albeit not literally). I was dragged along to a gig of his with some friends, and from the moment I heard Barnes and his band of indie supermodels play, my life has never been the same (what was the headlining band even called?). His songs are literal works of art, and each track from last year’s debut EP Blisters follows the other in perfect company. Take a listen to “Come Undone,” my offering to you from the aforementioned EP. A simple and honest track with Bon Iver, Iron and Wine and Damien Rice influences, the lyrics really caught me when I first listened to them; his words border on sorrowful but don’t dwell there, and the song flows fluidly, his vocal range telling a story with each strum of the guitar.
Still but a teenager in Oxford, Barnes clearly puts a lot of thought into his music, as can be seen especially in his videos available on Youtube. Two are included below: in the first, he plays “Come Undone” halfway up a mountain(!) and in the second, he plays a song off of the upcoming album in two UK supermarkets (both of which he and his band were subsequently thrown out of).
All six songs from Blisters are into the triple digits in plays on my iTunes; I cannot recommend it enough. My other favourites include “If I Was A Lonely Man” and “Lighthouse,” but I can guarantee all of them will be firmly rooted into your brain space. So go on, give your eyes a rest from reading, and open up your ears to some charming musical scores.
Adam Barnes – Come Undone (Downloaded 436 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Acoustic • Amazing Voice • Beautiful Lyrics • Folksy • Male vocal • Singer-Songwriter
(18 votes) Loading ...
July 1st, 2011 at 11:56 am
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