LETTERS TO CLEO ANNOUNCE FALL TOUR DATES IN CELEBRATION OF THE 3OTH ANNIVERSARY OF AURORA GORY ALICE

Photo by Chris Sikich

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of their seminal album Aurora Gory Alice, Boston's Alt. Rock pioneers Letters to Cleo will head out on the road this fall for a short run of intimate shows on the East Coast, playing the album in its entirety. The band will be doing their annual set of shows at the Paradise with both single and two-day tickets available, along with a  show at Brooklyn Made in New York. All tickets are on sale Friday. 

Letters to Cleo formed in 1990 in Boston, led by guitarist Greg Mckenna and singer Kay Hanley. This upcoming tour will feature original members Kay Hanley (vocals), Michael Eisenstein (guitar), Greg McKenna (guitar), Stacy Jones (drums) along with longtime collaborator Joe Klompus on bass.  Aurora Gory Alice, the band’s debut album, was originally released on CherryDisc Records in 1993. The albums received loads of press attention and local radio play around New England which led to the band signing to Giant Records, and the re-release Aurora Gory Alice in 1994. The album’s song “Here and Now'' became an instant hit after appearing on the soundtrack for the wildly popular 90s TV show Melrose Place. The song reached #10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Singles chart, was in the top 100 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the album debuted at #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. To this day “Here & Now” continues to be a fan favorite and one of their most popular songs. 

The band’s music could be heard on many of the top TV shows and films throughout the 1990s, including the cult classic 10 Things I Hate About You, where the band contributed 4 songs to the soundtrack and were featured in the film. The band played their last show in 2000 and each of the members went on to have successful careers working in different areas of music from production, writing, performance, musical directing etc. The band was thrust back into the pop culture spotlight via a cameo Parks and Recreation, playing themselves, the obsession of the show's  state auditor Ben Wyatt  played by Adam Scott. The band  achieved the pinnacle of pop culture validation as a subject in a Sunday version New York Times crossword puzzle.   Letters to Cleo reunited in 2016 for the release of Back to Nebraska EP, their first release in 17 years. The accompanying tour and incredible feedback from the elated hometown crowd at the Paradise Rock Club fans is what inspired their annual fall homecoming shows, which is now in its sixth year. 

The band is thrilled to be celebrating the album that gave them their start, especially returning to their hometown of Boston. “It’s unbelievable it’s been 30 years since the release of AGA. We expected that album to be our swan song but we ended up finding ourselves creatively and it really changed our lives. We can’t wait to celebrate its 30th birthday!” says guitarist Michael Eisenstein. Aurora Gory Alice,  along with Go!, Wholesale Meats and Fish, and their most recent EP releases Back to Nebraska and OK Christmas are available on vinyl at LettersToCleo.net.

TOUR DATES (on Sale Friday)

November 15 Brooklyn Made New York, NY

November 17 & 18 Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA

http://www.letterstocleo.net

https://www.facebook.com/letterstocleomusic/ 

https://www.instagram.com/letters_to_cleo/

https://twitter.com/letterstocleo

MARK ERELLI RELEASES NEW LP LAY YOUR DARKNESS DOWN VIA SOUNDLY MUSIC

NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

"...an excellent offering by any measure, informed as always by the intelligence, instincts, and emotions that have served him so well in the past. For those familiar with his previous offerings, that won’t come as any surprise. But for those that have yet to acquaint themselves with his work, it’s an excellent place to begin." - American Songwriter 

“Losing his vision has opened Mark Erelli’s eyes” - The Boston Globe 

"With his warm, Tom Petty-inflected voice and honest songwriting, Erelli navigates this tricky new terrain with graceful contemplation and resilience." - No Depression

"...an introspective collection of narrative poems. It’s clear that Erelli put his heart into this album…While it may have been emotionally purgative for him, it could easily be an emotional balm for the listener to hear the messages contained in these songs." - Americana Highways

“…one of the best showcases of Erelli’s impressive range as a singer.” - Glide Magazine

"...a musical exploration about finding hope and optimism in the midst of despair." - Twangville

"Epic" - Americana-UK

“Equal parts rootsy Americana and old-school rock, it’s a record loaded with raw emotion and steadfast truthfulness." - Lonesome Highway

"Bristling with energy and authenticity…brimming with good will and good intentions despite dealing with some [of] the bleakest news he could possibly receive. His ability to transform those moments into something positive goes to the heart of an artist who knows that challenges create opportunities." - For Folk’s Sake

"Stirring" - Ghettoblaster Magazine

“With his soulful voice and provocative lyrics, Erelli balances the grittiness of rock music with the tenderness of folk and Americana.”  - Music Mecca

“…Erelli uses his considerable talent to create a tightly integrated project that could be considered a musical suite…exploring different aspects of his acceptance and healing processes.” - Wild Mercury Rhythm

LISTEN: LAY YOUR DARKNESS DOWN

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Mark Erelli has released his new album, Lay Your Darkness Down, today via Soundly Music. Erelli created the powerful LP in the wake of being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (“RP”) – a devastating, degenerative eye disease that leads to blindness.

Unmoored, he was compelled to make music, but going to a lowly-lit recording studio was not a safe option anymore. “Erelli has been at it for more than 25 years, but Lay Your Darkness Down represents a significant shift in how he makes a record,” said No Depression in a recent interview. “When he realized RP would undoubtedly affect the usual recording process – putting him in an unfamiliar space with lots of knobs and expensive gear – he reevaluated.” Instead, he began to experiment with a recording style inspired by ELO’s Jeff Lynne, who produced artists like Paul McCartney, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty, mapping each instrument’s part and then recording them individually.

Eventually, he began to focus more on the emotional impact of what the songs were trying to tell him: Use adversity to fuel hope and creativity. Hold on to a child-like sense of wonder. Focus on the present moment before it flies by unwitnessed. Acknowledge and move past the fear of the toll RP might take on his roles as a husband and father.

Anxious and agitated when thinking of his impending loss of independence, Erelli recalled a conversation with Joe Henry, the famously philosophical singer-songwriter/record producer who told him that an artist’s job is not to avoid but rather to delve into the darkness - and, with this album, that is what he has done. Now, he's on a mission to increase awareness about  RP and blindness, and to relay how important music is in processing and healing trauma.

The tracks, though decorated with references to shadows, light, and obscured vision, are about resilience, love, and the human condition - a message of hope. “In an era where pessimism seems to prevail, it’s a reminder that optimism is still worth preserving and ought not be forsaken even if it sometimes seems as if there’s no reason left to persevere,” commented American Songwriter. “With Lay Your Darkness Down, Erelli shines a light on precepts and possibilities well worth considering. In so doing, he’s made an album that shores up the strength that’s needed to be sustained.”

WATCH: “YOU”

WATCH: “YOU’RE GONNA WANNA REMEMBER THIS 

Lay Your Darkness Down is a reconciliation of life’s trials and human frailties, adversity transformed into finely-embroidered rock n’ roll, burning with urgency. “These aren’t songs about blindness. They’re songs I could only write once I realized what I was losing,” Erelli explained to The Boston Globe. “My impending blindness opened my eyes, and I was able to write from that new viewpoint.”

The album is more than a collection of affirmations and optimism in the face of despair; it is a clarion call for anyone lost in the shadows. Yet Erelli doesn’t proclaim any easy answers for how to navigate the unknown. Instead, he squarely examines question after question, reveling in mysteries both great and small. He reminds us in the title track that our deepest challenges are more than a simple test of our endurance—they ultimately help us chart our course.

“In some strange way, my disease has provided me with the chance to truly live what I sing. Sharing my diagnosis is my way of laying down my own darkness,” he says. “By making my private struggles public, maybe it helps others to see that we all have a choice. We can be overwhelmed by the shadows, or use them to show where the light is coming from. As for me, no matter what happens, I’ll forever be looking for the light.”

Lay Your Darkness Down is available to stream and download  HERE, and CDs and vinyl are available to purchase HERE. Erelli will celebrate the release with a series of tour dates, see below for a full list of shows. Be sure to follow Mark Erelli at the links below for all the latest news and updates.

TOUR DATES

3/2 - Flying Goose Brew Pub - New London, NH

3/3 - The Music Hall Lounge - Portsmouth, NH

3/4 - Burnham Hall - Lincoln, VT

3/5 - Caffè Lena - Saratoga Springs, NY

3/8 - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI

3/9 - The Bur Oak -Madison, WI

3/10 - CSPS Hall - Cedar Rapids, IA

3/11 - Stone Arch Brewpub - Appleton, WI

3/23 - Jamestown Arts Center - Jamestown, RI*

3/24 - Crystal Ballroom - Somerville, MA*

3/25 - The Parlor Room - Northampton, MA*

3/31 - Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2) - NY, NY*

4/1 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA*

4/2 - Jammin Java - Vienna, VA^

* with support from Jobi Riccio

^ co-bill with Elizabeth & the Catapult

CONNECT WITH MARK ERELLI:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY

MARK ERELLI RELEASES NEW SINGLE “IS IT ENOUGH” + LAY YOUR DARKNESS DOWN LP OUT FEBRUARY 3 VIA SOUNDLY MUSIC

NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED 

"Suspense, sustain, and we’re all ears for this one…A classic." - Americana Highways  

"...a musical exploration about finding hope and optimism in the midst of despair." - Twangville  

"Epic" - Americana-UK  

"Stirring" - Ghettoblaster Magazine  

"...once you’ve heard this man’s voice, all will be right in the world...he has one of the loveliest storytelling tenors in the business" - UpToHear   

“Lay Your Darkness Down is Erelli’s story of resilience and the indomitable creative spirit.” - Alchemical Records 

by Joe Navas

LISTEN: “IS IT ENOUGH”

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Mark Erelli has unveiled “Is It Enough,” the latest from his forthcoming LP, Lay Your Darkness Down, due out on February 3rd via Soundly Music. "Is It Enough" fights back at the complacency that can set in when something or someone is taken for granted. It’s a full-throated appeal to really feel the love in your life and to never leave the ones you love doubting your capacity to show the same in return.

"There is a certain degree of restlessness baked into the artist’s job description. A creative soul must always be pushing further in, chasing a mode of expression that remains tantalizingly just beyond reach," Erelli says. "It’s easy to be so distracted by all this seeking that you miss the value of all that you already have. Really, what more should one need than to be loved?"

“Is It Enough” follows the emotionally raw “You,” which Erelli calls a “wrecking ball of a love song,” soulfully sultry “The Man I Am,” a tribute to Polly, his wife of 20 years, and lead single “You’re Gonna Wanna Remember This,” an epic track he co-wrote with his “musical big sister,” GRAMMY-winning artist Lori McKenna.

LISTEN // WATCH: “YOU”

LISTEN: “THE MAN I AM”

LISTEN // WATCH: “YOU’RE GONNA WANNA REMEMBER THIS”

In the summer of 2020, Erelli was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa ("RP"), a degenerative eye disease that causes progressive loss of night and peripheral vision, and can lead to complete blindness. After his terrifying diagnosis, he began to wonder - Does diminished eyesight decrease one’s insight? What does it mean to be ‘fully seen,’ by oneself and by others? These questions, along with his drive to regain his creative agency, are at the heart of Lay Your Darkness Down.

The tracks, though decorated with references to shadows, light, and obscured vision, are about resilience, love, and the human condition. The album is more than a collection of affirmations and optimism in the face of despair; it is a clarion call for anyone lost in the shadows. Yet Erelli doesn’t proclaim any easy answers for how to navigate the unknown. Instead, he squarely examines question after question, reveling in mysteries both great and small. With equal parts hope and resignation, he reminds us in the title track that our deepest challenges are more than a simple test of our endurance—they ultimately help us chart our course.

Lay Your Darkness Down is a reconciliation of life’s trials and human frailties, adversity transformed into finely-embroidered rock n’ roll, burning with urgency. “These aren’t songs about blindness. They’re songs I could only write once I realized what I was losing,” Erelli explained to The Boston Globe. “My impending blindness opened my eyes, and I was able to write from that new viewpoint.”

The album is available for pre-order HERE. Those who pre-order Lay Your Darkness Down through Bandcamp will receive an exclusive bonus track - a live acoustic performance of "You." Click HERE for more information.

Erelli has announced a series of new tour dates which kick off on January 6th in Philadelphia, see below for a full list of shows

TOUR DATES

1/6 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA

1/7 - Union Stage - Washington, DC

1/8 - Jammin Java - Vienna, VA

1/14 - 30A Songwriters Festival 2023 - Santa Rosa Beach, FL

3/2 - Flying Goose Brew Pub - New London, NH

3/3 - The Music Hall Lounge - Portsmouth, NH

3/4 - Burnham Hall - Lincoln, VT

3/5 - Caffè Lena - Saratoga Springs, NY

3/8 - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI

3/9 - The Bur Oak -Madison, WI

3/10 - CSPS Hall - Cedar Rapids, IA

3/11 - Stone Arch Brewpub - Appleton, WI

3/24 - Crystal Ballroom - Somerville, MA

3/25 - The Parlor Room - Northampton, MA

CONNECT WITH MARK ERELLI:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY

LOS ANGELES BASED SINGER-SONGWRITER TEDDY GROSSMAN’S EAST COAST TOUR

SUPPORTING VAN MORRISON IN BOSTON + SOLO SHOWS 

INCLUDING  A HOMETOWN SHOW IN PHILADELPHIA

"Grossman’s lyrics tread the classic territory of a failed love affair, while his vocals cast the track in the bruised cries and irresistible melodies of Otis Redding or Bill Withers. 

-Under the Radar

“It’s lushly orchestrated, adorned with strings, horns, organ, slide guitar and backing vocals. Not unlike contemporary soul men such as Curtis Harding, Benjamin Booker, Nathaniel Rateliff and Anderson East, Grossman does right by his R&B and folk heroes.”

-Buzzbands LA

“With its lyrics about opening up to someone and letting the walls come down in order to give love and receive love, the song has a throwback soul sound that is sunny and hopeful. Drawing on the 60s and 70s R&B and soul music, the song carries a deep groove and sensuality. It’s also a wonderful showcase for Grossman’s silky smooth vocals."

 -Glide Magazine

“Sometimes we still reach our destination even when our path veers off course. For singer-songwriter Teddy Grossman, that meant a much longer journey into seeing his dream of a debut solo album realized.”

-Americana Highways

His lyrics are both relatable and personal, and his story, even at its beginnings, is worth hearing. “

-SongFacts

“The L.A.-based singer/songwriter creates soulful music with melodies that linger in listeners’ minds. “

-American Songwriter

“Teddy Grossman …...takes inspiration from the heartland folk feel of Neil Young’s Harvest for an intimate look at Grossman’s joy in finally feeling settled after a cross-country move.”

-UPROXX

 Listen to Soon Come: HERE 

Los Angeles by way of Philadelphia singer-songwriter Teddy Grossman is thrilled to be returning home to the East Coast for solo shows in New York City and Philadelphia, before heading on to Boston to support Van Morrison for two nights at the Shubert Theatre. This east run follows up a West Coast tour where Grossman supported the War & Treaty, and sold-out shows in the UK where Grossman supported the legendary Mavis Staples.  

Although a lifelong music lover & maker, pursuing a career in music was put on the back burner. After a decade of his own music playing second fiddle to the life of a traveling salesman, Grossman picked up everything and moved to Los Angeles, where he soon began recording what would become, Soon Come, leaving behind his job and former life along the way.  The ever-soulful singer-songwriter emotes like a man who has been down many paths, only to arrive back definitively where he’s forever belonged. “I need to be able to look back at my life and say I gave it a real go.”  This steady perseverance, this take-no-prisoners passion of Grossman’s— it all goes a long way in explaining why the multi-talented artist has finally arrived at this moment, his moment, which comes pouring forth via his cerebral and sublimely centered songs— the sort that speak to years of hard-won wisdom and, well, maybe a bit of luck. 

With the reaction to Grossman’s  initial single offerings from the album, it looks like that  combo of luck and wisdom has come full circle.  “I had this impossible aim of following Music From Big Pink and Voodoo as the north star of this record,” Grossman explains. Part gospel and blues and rock and folk and Appalachia and soul and R&B his early singles won over fans and media alike Golden State called single “Out Of Thin Air,” “a warm glass of rye whiskey cupped in your hand while you digest your meal and watch the Lions lose another game.”  Soultracks said “‘Ready,” “showcases an artist who is more than ready to make his mark in the music world,”   and Under the Radar compared “Giving Up” to the classic soul of Bill Withers and Otis Redding, saying that the song “sports a universal pop appeal, with gospel backing vocals and a standout climactic sax solo, bringing the track to a sing-along fever pitch." The first few singles have garnered over 1 million streams and have featured on Spotify playlists such  Mellow Morning, Retro Soul, and Morning Commute, and  Apple Music playlists’  Acoustic Chill, Long Walk, Smooth Easy, Breaking R&B and New in R&B, seeing him right alongside artists like Leon Bridges, Yola, Lee Fields, Zella Day Brandi Carlile etc. 

Accompanying these stunners are some of Grossman’s most story rich songs, which were saved for the album including, “Crowned,”  a song that sprang forth from an unlikely friendship with the iconic singer-songwriter Bill Withers near the end of the legend’s life. After a chance meeting one night, in 2018, at a small Bill Withers tribute concert in Los Angeles, Grossman and longtime musical collaborator and drummer, Josh Teitelbaum, wound up going over to Withers’ house for a few inspired hangs. The song recounts Bill’s incredible life, referencing a phrase Withers kept saying as he’d run his fingers through his full head of hair during their time together - “I’m Crowned in Glory.” “Why Should I Pretend?,” probably the most personal and poignant song on the album, was first written by Grossman’s grandfather Buddy back in the 1930’s. It was recorded later that decade by jazz icon Louis Prima & his New Orleans Gang. Grossman even plays his childhood instrument, the trumpet on the song, as a tribute to his late grandfather.
“For a long time in my life, I felt this low-grade hum in the background that I wasn’t really where I was supposed to be,”says Grossman. Soon Come, then, he says, “is ultimately a record about hope, and a deep knowing that we’re gonna get there… all in good time.”

TOUR DATES

11/11 Rockwood Music Hall New York, NY TIX + INFO

11/18 Silk City Philadelphia, PA  TIX + INFO

11/20 Shubert Theatre Boston, MA TIX + INFO **

11/21 Shubert Theatre Boston, MA TIX + INFO **

** w/ Van Morrison

Keep Up With Teddy Grossman

PRESS MATERIALS // BANDCAMP // INSTAGRAM // TWITTER // 

CANADIAN SINGER/SONGWRITER ALAN DOYLE RETURNS TO THE U.S. ON TOUR IN EARLY 2023 HERE, TONIGHT (LIVE) ALBUM OUT NOW

Photo Credit: Michelle Spice Photography

HERE, TONIGHT (LIVE) || LISTEN

ST JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND. - Alan Doyle, Canadian national treasure and unofficial ambassador of Newfoundland's rich musical traditions, returns to the U.S. in 2023 to support his first live album Here, Tonight (Live). Tickets are currently on sale for all shows.

On the heels of his 2020 album release Rough Side Out, Alan was in the midst of a Canadian national tour when COVID halted the live music industry across the world. “We came home from tour on March 9, and we never left,” Doyle told the San Francisco Examiner in an interview.

Looking for something comforting in a year that had everyone out of sorts, Doyle went back to his roots to rediscover his love of folk music, especially the traditional songs from his native Newfoundland.  

The result was Back to the Harbour (2021), “a 6-song EP that maintains his quality consistently with an energetic fusion that carries over to his own personal efforts. Songs that are a part of his language.” – Americana Highways

With a return to the road in 2022, it seemed fitting that Alan release his first live album Here, Tonight (Live) in anticipation of the tour. A collection of songs recorded at shows over the past few years with his longtime tour support The Beautiful Beautiful Band (Cory Tetford, Kendel Carson, Kris MacFarlane, Shehab Illyas and Todd Lumley).
Here, Tonight includes songs from Doyle’s solo albums: Boy on Bridge (2012), So Let’s Go (2014), A Week at the Warehouse (2017), and his 2020 chart-topping release Rough Side Out; as well as classic Great Big Sea favourites including “Ordinary Day” and “When I’m Up.”

“…his voice is Guinness-thick, and as warm as a Canadian kitchen, where Newfoundlanders traditionally gathered in the winter for family singalongs.” – San Francisco Examiner

Alan Doyle will continue to tour in 2023 with his 6-piece band and special guest Chris Trapper. For tickets and full list of dates, visit https://alandoyle.ca/tour/

ABOUT ALAN DOYLE: Alan Doyle – the songwriter, producer, actor and author – is a 12-time JUNO Award nominee for his solo material and work with his iconic band Great Big Sea. In 2018, he was awarded the Order of Canada for his contributions to the musical traditions of Newfoundland and for his commitment to numerous charitable initiatives. His most recent book, All Together Now: A Newfoundlander's Light Tales for Heavy Times, was released in November 2020 and quickly became his third national bestseller.

U.S. TOUR DATES

FEB 15 / BUFFALO, NY @ Town Ballroom
FEB 16 / CLAYTON, NY @ Clayton Opera House
FEB 17 / BARRE, VT @ Barre Opera House

FEB 18 / BOSTON, MA @ City Winery

FEB 19 / BOSTON, MA @ City Winery

FEB 21 / PORTLAND, ME @ Aura

FEB 22 / AMHERST, MA @ The Drake

FEB 23 / CONCORD, NH @ Capitol Center for the Arts

FEB 24 / NEW YORK, NY @ SONY Hall

FEB 25 / PORT WASHINGTON, NY @ Landmark on Main

FEB 26 / PHILADELPHIA, PA @ City Winery

FEB 28 / ANNAPOLIS, MD @ Rams Head On Stage

MAR 1 / WASHINGTON, DC @ City Winery

MAR 2 / CHARLOTTE, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre

MAR 3 / RICHMOND, VA @  Tin Pan

MAR 4 / RALEIGH, NC @ Lincoln Theatre

MAR 5 / ASHEVILLE, NC @ Grey Eagle

MAR 7 / PONTE VEDRA, FL @ Ponte Vedra Music Hall

MAR 8 / OCALA, FL @ Reilly Arts Center

MAR 9 / CLEARWATER, FL @ Bilheimer Capitol Theatre at Ruth Eckerd Hall

MAR 10 / BOCA RATON, FL @ The Funky Biscuit

MAR 11 / BONITA SPRINGS, FL @ Centers for Arts Bonita Springs 

KEEP UP WITH ALAN DOYLE

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter |  YouTube | Spotify |

LOS ANGELES SINGER-SONGWRITER TEDDY GROSSMAN ANNOUNCES NORTH AMERICAN FALL TOUR DATES W/ THE WAR & TREATY AND RYAN MCMULLUN

Cr: Ty Cole

‘Grossman has a voice that simply must be heard - it reminds me of St. Paul & The Broken Bones and Leon Russell. His lyrics are both relatable and personal, and his story, even at its beginnings, is worth hearing. “-SongFacts

“Teddy Grossman is as honest as they come. The LA-based singer/songwriter creates soulful music with melodies that linger in listeners’ minds.” - American Songwriter

“Just three tracks into the Soul/Americana hybrid it’s hard to believe Grossman ever considered doing anything else with his life. Grossman turns in a beautifully satisfying record that is emotionally tough at times but unapologetically joyful elsewhere.” - Americana Highways

"Introducing his take on gospel, blues, and folk music, filtered through the soul classics of his youth. His vocals cast the track in the bruised cries and irresistible melodies of Otis Redding or Bill Withers.” - Under the Radar

‘There’s an old soul man bottled up inside singer-songwriter Teddy Grossman. Not unlike contemporaries such as Curtis Harding, Benjamin Booker, Nathaniel Rateliff and Anderson East, Grossman does right by his R&B and folk heroes.” - Buzzbands LA

“Combines sonic elements of both Americana and R&B, evoking some of the best American songwriters.” - UPROXX

Listen to Soon Come: HERE

LA-based singer/songwriter Teddy Grossman will be headed out on tour this fall supporting the War & Treaty and Ryan McMullan, playing songs from his critically acclaimed debut album Soon Come. This tour follows up his sold-out album release show at Gold Diggers in April, debuting at the Troubadour with Joey Dosik the next month, and two sold-out nights supporting the legendary Mavis Staples at London’s Union Chapel in June.

Although a lifelong music lover & maker, pursuing a career in music was put on the back burner. After a decade of his own music playing second fiddle to the life of a traveling salesman, Grossman picked up everything and moved to Los Angeles, where he soon began recording what would become, Soon Come, leaving behind his job and former life along the way. The ever-soulful singer-songwriter emotes like a man who has been down many paths, only to arrive back definitively where he’s forever belonged. “I need to be able to look back at my life and say I gave it a real go.” This steady perseverance and passion of Grossman’s— it all goes a long way in explaining why the multi-talented artist has finally arrived at this moment, his moment, which comes pouring forth via his cerebral and sublimely centered songs— the sort that speaks to years of hard-won wisdom and, well, maybe a bit of luck.

With the reaction to Grossman’s initial single offerings from the album, it looks like that combo of luck and wisdom has come full circle. “I had this impossible aim of Music From Big Pink and Voodoo as the northern stars of this record,” Grossman explains. This is most recognizable on the lead single “Leave it on the Line” reflects these loft aims, which has amassed nearly one million streams to date. Part gospel and blues and rock and folk and Appalachia and soul and R&B, Soon Come has won over fans and media alike. Soultracks said “‘Ready,” “showcases an artist who is more than ready to make his mark in the music world,” and Under the Radar compared “Giving Up” to the classic soul of Bill Withers and Otis Redding, saying that the song “sports a universal pop appeal, with gospel backing vocals and a standout climactic sax solo, bringing the track to a sing-along fever pitch." Grossman has already garnered 1.5 million streams and featured on Spotify playlists Mellow Morning, Retro Soul, and Morning Commute, and Apple Music playlists’ Acoustic Chill, Long Walk, Smooth Easy, Breaking R&B and New in R&B, seeing him right alongside artists like Leon Bridges, Yola, Lee Fields, Zella Day Brandi Carlile etc.

Accompanying the singles are some of Grossman’s most story-rich songs, including “Crowned,” a song that sprang forth from an unlikely friendship with the iconic singer-songwriter Bill Withers near the end of the legend’s life. After a chance meeting one night, in 2018, at a small Bill Withers tribute concert in Los Angeles, Grossman and longtime musical collaborator and drummer, Josh Teitelbaum, wound up going over to Withers’ house for a few inspired hangs. The song recounts Bill’s incredible life, referencing a phrase Withers kept saying as he’d run his fingers through his full head of hair during their time together - “I’m Crowned in Glory.”

“Why Should I Pretend?,” probably the most personal and poignant song on the album, was first written by Grossman’s grandfather Buddy back in the 1930’s. It was recorded later that decade by jazz icon Louis Prima & his New Orleans Gang. Grossman even plays his childhood instrument, the trumpet on the song, as a tribute to his late grandfather.

“For a long time in my life, I felt this low-grade hum in the background that I wasn’t really where I was supposed to be,”says Grossman. Soon Come, then, he says, “is ultimately a record about hope, and a deep knowing that we’re gonna get there… all in good time.”

TEDDY GROSSMAN FALL TOUR DATES

9/19 The Alibi Palm Springs, CA ^

9/20 Thousand Oaks PAC Thousand Oaks, CA ^

9/21 The Independent San Francisco, CA ^

9/24 Guild Theatre Menlo Park, CA ^

9/25 Folktale Winery Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA ^

9/28 Drake Hotel Toronto, ON*

9/30 Sonia Boston, MA*

10/2 Milkboy Philadelphia, PA*

10/3 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY*

10/5 Songbyrd Washington, DC*

10/6 Schubas Chicago, IL*

10/7 Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI*

10/9 Basement East Nashville, TN*

10/11 The Echo Los Angeles, CA*

10/13 Brick and Mortar San Francisco, CA*

10/15 Jackson’s Monroe, OR*

10/16 Here-AfterSeattle, WA*

10/18 Biltmore Vancouver, BC*

^ w/ The War & Treaty

* w/ Ryan McMullan

Keep Up With Teddy Grossman

PRESS MATERIALS // WEBSITE // BANDCAMP // INSTAGRAM // TWITTER //

CHEST FEVER: A TRIBUTE TO THE BAND ANNOUNCE THEIR ROCK OF AGES TOUR DATES

Photo by Stacey Webb

San Diego band Mrs. Henry is excited to announce their project Chest Fever, a tribute to legendary rock group The Band, and will be touring and performing songs from the legendary Rock of Ages live album to celebrate its 50th Anniversary this year. 

Mrs. Henry is led by Dan Cervantes (Howlin Rain guitarist + Blind Owl label owner), and is rounded out by Jody Bagley (Vocals and Keyboards), Blake Dean (Vocals and Bass), and Chad Lee (Vocals and Drums).  The group was ignited by a consciousness-changing West Coast tour in 2015. Since then, Mrs. Henry has spent the last five years on the road building an unrivaled reputation for their brand of intergalactic boogie with a torrent of improvisation, and in turn, a cult following atop their already well-established individual credits (Howlin’ Rain, The Schizophonics, The Silent Comedy). Endurance is their vocation and bringing unapologetically live music into a new era is their mission. 

The idea of Chest Fever started to bloom back in 2017 when Mrs. Henry set their sights on paying homage to that historic 1976 night where The Band , along with a group of iconic friends and musicians, documented their legendary final performance at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, that we now know as the The Last Waltz, by recreating it in their hometown of San Diego.  Planning and rehearsing for the event took nearly a year, and the stress nearly broke up the band. But for Mrs. Henry, the challenge ignited a new purpose and an infectious wave of inspiration. On November 26, 2017 Mrs. Henry performed the Last Waltz in its entirety with a wonderful community of San Diego artists, along with guest performances by Pat Beers of The Schitzophonics, Brenden Dellar of Sacri Monti, Jesse Lee of The Paragraphs, Clinton Davis, Noah C Lekas and more. 

WATCH “DON’T DO IT” FROM MRS. HENRY PRESENTS THE LAST WALTZ HERE

The show was recorded and released by Blind Owl on multiple formats including a triple vinyl set, mixed by Stephen Kaye (The Growlers, Ziggy Marley), mastered by Joe Bozzi, known for his work with Last Waltz alumni Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, and housed in a high-quality LP jacket designed by artist Roy G. Biv.  The vinyl package also includes an exclusive bonus 7” featuring studio versions of “The Weight” and “Evangeline.”  The film premiered at the Oceanside Film Festival  (more details HERE),  was a part of the International Shorts Film Festival. The group performed The Last Waltz again in November 2021 at Solana Beach, CA’s Belly Up Tavern alongside legendary musicians including Eagles collaborator and hit songwriter Jack Tempchin, violinist Scarlet Rivera of Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Review, solo artist and Black Crowes Member Marc Ford, and local hero Isaiah Mitchell.  After the sold out performance, the group set out to continue their sights on honoring The Band and their impact on rock and roll. 

Now, with the official stamp of approval from The Band itself, the group is back to recreate another quintessential performance era from The Band’s collection. This year marks the 50th anniversary of The Band’s Rock of Ages live album, a collection of live recordings from the group’s four night 1971 residency at the Academy of Music in New York City. This residency additionally featured on-stage performances from a number of legendary artists including Howard Johnson, Snooky Young, Joe Farrell, J.D. Parron, and Earl McIntyre.  Bob Dylan additionally made a surprise visit and performance on the New Year’s eve show, and performed the final four songs with The Band to ring in 1972. A widely celebrated album, Rock of Ages underscored The Band’s ambitious on-stage vision, and further cemented their place in rock music history.

Each night Chest Fever will be performing songs from Rock of Ages, including such staples as “Caledonia Mission,” “The Unfaithful Servant,” “Get Up Jake,” and of course “Chest Fever.” They will additionally be cycling in a number of deeper cuts from The Band’s oeuvre, including “Rockin’ Chair,” “Time To Kill,” as well as classics originally left out Rock of Ages including “Up on Cripple Creek,” “I Shall Be Released,” and more.  “The first time I heard The Band was when I was a young kid seeing The Last Waltz over Thanksgiving,” says Blind Owl Records ringleader and Chest Fever member Dan Cervantes. “My Dad played the video or rented from Blockbuster at the time, that just lit a fire.” 

WATCH “THE SHAPE I’M IN” FROM DRUNKARD’S DREAM ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL HERE

The group will be performing alongside local horn sections from each city to recreate the iconic contributions from Johnson, Young, Farrel, McIntyre, and Parron, while additionally featuring a special guest in select towns to perform the 4 song Bob Dylan set from the original residency. The band will feature an all-star group of accomplished and celebrated players at the final tour stop at Brooklyn’s Sultan Room on August 15th, including trumpeter Eric Biondo (TV on the Radio, Budos Band, Antibalas), sousaphone and tuba player John Altieri (David Byrne, St. Vincent, Jon Batiste), saxophonist Stuart Bogie (Antibalas, TV on the Radio, Arcade Fire), and trombonist Dave ‘Smoota’ Smith (TV on the Radio, Run The Jewels, Steven Tyler).  Each concert will feature slight variations to give audiences a unique experience in honoring the legacy of The Band, and the lasting power of Rock of Ages.

7/20 - Costa Mesa, CA @ Wayfarer 

7/21 - Chico, CA @ Argus Bar 

7/22 - Sunnyvale, CA @ Quarter Note Bar

7/23 - Red Bluff, CA @ Rock Of Red Bluff Festival

7/24 - San Francisco, CA @ The Park Side

7/29 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah San Diego

8/4 - Woodstock, GA @ Madlife Stage & Studios

8/5 - Louisville, KY @ Whirling Tiger

8/6 - Cleveland, OH @ The Winchester Bar

8/7- Columbus, OH @ The Summit Music Hall

8/8 - Columbus, OH @ The Summit Music Hall

8/10 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada @ El Mocambo

8/11- Pittsburgh, PA @t Thunderbird Music Hall

8/12 - Burlington, VT @ Nectar’s

8/13 - Brattleboro, VT @ Stone Church

8/14 - Rochester, NY @ Photo City Music Hall 

8/15 - Brooklyn, NY @ The Sultan Room

KEEP UP WITH CHEST FEVER

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BOB MARSTON & THE CREDIBLE SOURCES RELEASE NEW SINGLE “REAL MAGIC, GOOD PEOPLE” + DEBUT LP SO LONG DUE OUT JUNE 3RD

NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

LISTEN: “REAL MAGIC, GOOD PEOPLE”   

Birmingham, Alabama-based outfit Bob Marston & the Credible Sources have released “Real Magic, Good People,” the second from their forthcoming debut full-length LP So Long, due out June 3rd. Marston was walking his dog at a local nature preserve, processing a difficult breakup, and the groove for “Real Magic, Good People” bubbled up through his soul.  

"The first half of each verse presents my attempt to balance my love of Birmingham with what I had, at the time, recently learned about her history of labor injustice, including convict-leasing and union-busting," Marston explains. "The chorus is a rallying cry to believe in ourselves and our potential as a community, realizing that for all of our differences we share more in common." While the inspiration was the troubling history of his hometown, the overall themes are universal--the power of honest expression, understanding, forgiveness, and acceptance is what truly connects and unifies our communities. “Real Magic, Good People” follows the release of the album’s title track, which encourages understanding each other in order to heal societal rifts. 

LISTEN: “SO LONG”  

Marston has been on a journey of self-discovery, and with the help of therapy, meditation, and cannabis, his empathic creativity comes shining through the lyrics of every song on So Long. The Credible Sources are equal parts roots rock backing band and high-flying, improv-ready aces. Truly a whole greater than the sum of its wildly capable parts, the band is known for its intricately-woven guitar parts, tight and compelling bass and drum grooves, and pure, emotive vocals, a sound that garners comparisons to The Grateful Dead, moe., Wilco, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and more. 

Marston (acoustic guitar/electric guitar/lead vocals) is accompanied by George Hipp (acoustic guitar/electric guitar/dobro/ backing vocals), Natalie Valentine (backing vocals), Aaron Branson or Eric Onimus on bass, and drummer Brett Huffman. So Long also features keyboard master Matt Slocum (Allman Brothers, Susan Tedeschi, Widespread Panic, and more), powerhouse vocalist LaToya Matthews, and monster bass player Adrian Marmolejo (Early James and the Latest). Trombonist Chad Fisher (St. Paul and the Broken Bones), Allen Branstetter (St. Paul and the Broken Bones) on trumpet, and Gary Wheat on saxophone and clarinet bring horn-infused heat, while award-winning fiddler Adam Purvis, Niamh Tuohy (violin), Melanie Richardson-Rodgers (viola), and Patty Pillon (cello) provide cinematic strings.  

The album’s tracks explore love and devotion through the lens of attempts to salvage a challenging relationship, the processing of a painful breakup, and a patient plea for reconciliation, to pondering life’s big questions and commentary on issues of social injustice and society. Ultimately, So Long is about striving to find humanity in ourselves, our communities, and in society as a whole. Brought together by luck, fate, and destiny, this band of seasoned professionals and unproven hotshots upends stereotypes and breaks paradigms as it brings a message of love, honesty, empathy, and infinite possibility to the world, one song at a time.  

TOUR DATES 

4/20 - Awendaw Green - Awendaw, SC 

4/21 - Golden Grove Farm & Brew - Piedmont, SC 

4/22 - Willie Jewel’s - Martinez, GA 

4/23 - Bucking Goat Brewing Co. - Dallas, GA 

4/24 - Magic City Art Connection - Birmingham, AL* 

4/28 - White Water Tavern - Little Rock, AR^ 

4/29 - Romie’s Grocery - Tupelo, MS 

4/30 - The Grocery Brewpub - Tuscaloosa, AL 

5/6 - Little Italy’s - Birmingham, AL 

5/7 - The Market @ Pepper Place - Birmingham, AL 

5/13 - Diplomat Deli - Vestavia Hills, AL 

5/14 - Sinclair's East - Montgomery, AL 

5/28 - Coastal Crust - Charleston, SC* 

6/3 - Little Italy’s - Birmingham, AL** 

6/4 - Workplay - Birmingham, AL [ALBUM RELEASE SHOW] 

6/24 - Diplomat Deli - Vestavia Hills, AL** 

7/1 - Little Italy’s - Birmingham, AL** 

8/5 - Little Italy’s - Birmingham, AL** 

8/13 - The Market @ Pepper Place - Birmingham, AL** 

9/24 - The Market @ Pepper Place - Birmingham, AL** 

10/7 - Little Italy’s - Birmingham, AL** 

10/9 - Mountain Brook Presbyterian - Mountain Brook, AL 

10/15 - The Market @ Pepper Place - Birmingham, AL** 

11/4 - Little Italy’s - Birmingham, AL** 

11/5 - The Market @ Pepper Place - Birmingham, AL** 

12/2 - Little Italy’s - Birmingham, AL** 

12/10 - The Market @ Pepper Place - Birmingham, AL** 

*Bob Marston solo show  

^w/ Joe Sundell 

**Bob Marston w/ Natalie Valentine  

MARK ERELLI CONFRONTS PRIVILEGE IN NEW SINGLE “ROSE-COLORED REARVIEW”

Photo credit: Joe Navas

Boston-based master songcrafter Mark Erelli has released his new single “Rose-Colored Rearview,” a track from his forthcoming LP Blindsided, out March 27th via Soundly Music. “Nostalgia has a way of allowing us to gloss over certain parts of the past…Mark Erelli examines the ‘good old days’ through a different lens,” Wide Open Country said in its premiere of the song. “The song's final verse looks at how privilege plays a role in how you view days gone by.” "I wanted to land a bit of a lyrical gut-punch to finish the song, and just couldn't let go until I felt the last verse's visceral impact,” Erelli told Wide Open Country. “Though we certainly have a ways to go to improve things for all colors and creeds, I am fairly certain that longing for the 'good ol' days' is mainly another form of white privilege. I love how this track feels nostalgic and almost like a classic rock song you might have heard before -- until you pay attention to the lyrics.”

LISTEN: “ROSE-COLORED REARVIEW”

“Rose-Colored Rearview” follows the release of the title track via The Bluegrass Situation last month, and “A Little Kindness” via American Songwriter in January. “For Erelli, music is a way to appreciate the world and the people in his life,” American Songwriter remarked. “And perhaps most acutely, the practice of music has taught Erelli the beauty of sublimation and reinforced the joy of helping others achieve their dreams, which, in turn, helps Erelli also achieve his.” 

LISTEN: “BLINDSIDED”

LISTEN: “A LITTLE KINDNESS”

Blindsided, a step in a different sonic direction for Erelli, is an unflinching examination of the distance between innocence and experience. The album was forged in a process of reckoning, of taking stock of the soul, and being pleasantly surprised. Mining the same gritty yet soulful territory as John Hiatt’s Bring The Family or Bonnie Raitt’s Nick Of Time, Erelli contemplates the delicate tension between love and commitment, faith and family, disillusionment and hope. But this isn’t a confession from the therapist’s couch, it’s rock ’n roll, and Erelli is clearly taking his cues from heroes like Petty and Prine. To create the soundtrack that reflected this reinvigorated approach to songwriting, Erelli consulted his mental list of fellow musicians with whom he had forged connections in recent years, and realized they all lived in Nashville. So, he made the trek to the Music City, with best friend and multi-instrumentalist/producer Zachariah Hickman in tow, curious to see what effect a change in geography, personnel, and context would produce. With the help of drummer Jamie Dick (Rhiannon Giddens, Our Native Daughters), guitarist Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell, Josh Ritter), Kai Welch (Molly Tuttle, Kacey Musgraves) on keys, producer Hickman on bass, and Dan Knobler (Lake Street Dive, Caroline Spence) recording and mixing, the result couldn’t have been more unanticipated. Against the backdrop of Blindsided’s hungrier, hook-laden sound, with the inspired addition of a string quartet on half of the album, Erelli has never sounded more passionate or vital. Over the course of Blindsided’s 11 tracks, the message of each song is distilled to its purest form, as fearlessly honest in perspective as it is straightforward in its delivery.  

Erelli has forged a colorful career by making the art of “being everywhere all the time” seem effortless. It’s hard to think of another artist who seems equally at home serving as a sideman for GRAMMY-winning artists like Paula Cole, Marc Cohn, and Josh Ritter, or producing albums for Lori McKenna, as he does writing and producing his own material, like last year’s “By Degrees,” on which he was joined by a host of voices including Rosanne Cash and Sheryl Crow. That song was nominated for “Song Of The Year” at the 2019 Americana Music Awards, and served to reintroduce Erelli to a wider audience. And just in time, because Blindsided combines the exuberance of Erelli’s signature sound with the wisdom that comes with over 20 years of songwriting, capturing an artist at a point in his career where he is clearly digging deep and swinging for the fences.  

TOUR DATES

3/6 - The Stone Church - Brattleboro, VT

3/7 - Narrows Center For The Arts -  Fall River, MA

3/20 - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI

3/21 - The Kent Stage - Kent, OH

3/25 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

4/5 - G.A.R. Hall - Peninsula, OH

4/16 - The Basement - Nashville, TN

~

4/23 - Ripspique Lier, Lier, Belgium

4/24 - Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands

4/25 - SPOT Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

4/26 - Theater Junushoff, Wageningen, Netherlands

~

4/29 - Rogue Theatre - Grants Pass, OR

4/30 - Aladdin Theater - Portland, OR

5/1 - Historic Everett Theatre - Everett, WA

5/2 - McMenamins Elks Temple - Tacoma, WA
5/6 - Rockwood Music Hall - New York, NY

5/7 - Philadelphia Folksong Society - Philadelphia, PA

5/8 - The Parlor Room - Northampton, MA

5/9 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

5/12 - Woodbury Brewing Company - Woodbury, CT

5/13 - One Longfellow Square - Portland, ME

5/14 - Caffe Lena - Saratoga Springs, NY

5/15 - The Word Barn - Exeter, NH

5/17 - Cotuit Center for the Arts - Cotuit, MA 

5/19 - Hangin’ & Sangin @ Bearsville Theater, Woodstock, NY 

5/21 - The Kessler Theater - Dallas, TX

5/22 - The Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX