Thursday, June 30, 2011
TYRONE VAUGHAN HITS RADIO WITH "DOWNTIME" JUST IN TIME FOR SUMMER
(Austin, TX) Everybody needs and enjoys a little "Downtime," especially in
the summer. And Tyrone Vaughan has the ideal soundtrack for good ole boys
and girls to "have a little fun" in the sun with his debut single from his
first album of the same name, due out in September.
"Downtime" tells all about "how it's done" when you need a break from the
working life. "The lyrics are what needs to be said right now," explains
Vaughan. "We're seeing some tough times economically. Things have changed
and people know it. So as the song says, the only thing that I need to keep
working that line is a little downtime."
The hot guitar lick that opens the song hints at part of Vaughan's musical
heritage as the son of Grammy winning bluesman Jimmie Vaughan and nephew of
musical legend Stevie Ray Vaughan. Also a native son of Texas, he was raised country music and the many roots styles that the state and its capital
Austin are known for. After making a name for himself packing clubs in his
hometown as well as Dallas and Houston and other locales as lead guitarist
and songwriter in the indie band Breedlove, Vaughan found his artistic sweet
spot singing and writing country music. He makes his dynamic debut on the
Downtime album, bringing along the family guitar legacy and mixing it up
with mandolin, steel and fiddle to create a down home contemporary country
sound with wide listener appeal.
The song "Downtime" started out with a guitar-based melody that Vaughan
wrote. "It was one of those that popped out in about 20 minutes," he
recalls. His songwriting collaborator Steve Young had the lyrical basics of
the chorus that fit the tune perfectly, and they fleshed out the verses. The
song hit full stride when Vaughan came up with the hook about how some
downtime keeps hard working people happy. Then he and his co-producer and
co-writer Steve Boudreau polished up the number and transformed it in the
studio into a rollicking country-rock celebration of good time fun.
"Downtime is an expression that I'd been hearing for a long time, and now
more than ever, people saying, hey, I'm gonna do this on my downtime," says
Vaughan. "Taking some downtime is what keeps us all sane and happy. All work
and no downtime is no fun at all.
"It's a playful tune, a blue collar good time song. But there's an important
aspect to it as well. What does the world need to hear right now? What needs
to be said? I don't mind working. I work hard but I need to play hard too.
That's something that everyone can relate to. I hang out, I play my guitar,
I ride in my truck, I've got my girl and my boys. That's life."
Vaughan won't have much downtime in the coming month as he and his band hit
the road soon to start promoting the single and the upcoming album Downtime.
But even when he's working on his music, he and his band play hard making
his energetically rocking country style. And "Downtime" is just what people
need to hear about during this year's summer vacation season.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
MOBfest MOVES TO HARD ROCK HOTEL CHICAGO PROVIDES A MORE POWERFUL EVENT FOR CHICAGO’S MUSIC FANATICS
The deal, inked between Becker Entertainment and MOBfest founder Roger Jansen, brings together two companies long dedicated to epic music and creating awareness of new talent. Heading into its fifteenth year, MOBfest will celebrate Hard Rock style when over 5,000 music lovers take over Hard Rock Chicago during the three day bash. In true Hard Rock fashion, the Fender Ballroom and surrounding event space in Hard Rock Hotel Chicago will be transformed into the ultimate concert venue.
“This unique partnership will result in a higher profile for the 15th annual event and the local music community,” comments Roger Jansen, MOBfest founder. The Hard Rock brand provides an exciting new platform that brings added exposure to MOBfest. We are thrilled to be working with such a high profile organization that is equally music minded to bring the MOBfest experience to a new level,” he adds.
Relocating to Chicago’s musically inspired location; Hard Rock Hotel Chicago is thrilled to bring its signature guest experience to Chicago’s most successful music seminar. Located on Chicago’s famed Michigan Avenue, Hard Rock Hotel Chicago is the ideal locale to further promote and nurture the MOBfest and Hard Rock’s dedication to the evolving and distinctive needs of emerging talent who seek a shot at the big time.
“Hard Rock Hotel Chicago is ecstatic to be in partnership with Chicago’s preeminent music festival,” said Carrie Meghie, Executive Vice President of Becker Ventures/General Manager of Hard Rock Hotel Chicago. “This is a natural fit for our brand. We are honored to put the Mobfest mark on Hard Rock Hotel Chicago’s stage and we will be co-developing many exciting programs from this partnership. Hard Rock Hotel Chicago is looking forward to continuing their support of unsigned talent and it is our hope that our hotel will be the place where at least one of these bands gets its big break,” she adds.
June 23-25, 2011 are the dates set for MOBfest2011 and will feature three evenings of showcases and multiple educational seminars. During the three day event, bands can showcase their music in front of a distinguished group of industry executives giving young, unsigned bands the opportunity to play for a greater number of big wigs ranging from brand marketing specialists, advertising executives, managers, record label representatives and new fans, all looking to discover the next cool band to work with and support.
The price of admission is $10 each day. Price includes shows, parties at Angels & Kings Chicago, and the industry seminar.
For a $20 dollar handling fee, artists can submit their music for a potential showcase slot. The showcasing artists are then selected from the pool of submissions by a committee and music industry consultants. All selected artists get full access to the music business panels held on Saturday June 25. These panels are also open to the public.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
TOBY KEITH ORDERS "MEZCAL FOR MY MEN ... " Wild Shot Thrown Back Nightly In "Beer For My Horses" Toast
A chart-topping singer, songwriter and entertainer every year since his 1993 debut, Toby recently helped to create the new spirit, which is handcrafted from 100% green agave. "The tradition and history of Mezcal is magical to me, and dates back to 16th century warriors celebrating the defeat of their enemies," Keith says, a concept with clear parallels to "Beer For My Horses":
When the gun smoke settles we'll sing a victory tune
We'll all meet back at the local saloon
We'll raise up our glasses against evil forces...
Wild Shot will be imported by Shaw-Ross, a leading importer and marketer of fine wines and spirits.
Toby has been topping album and singles charts, with his self-composed songs having amassed more than an astounding 70 million airplay spins. The music he writes and records has become the foundation of a far-reaching entertainment empire, which now includes Wild Shot Mezcal. His current album Bullets In The Gun debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and his single "Somewhere Else" is racing up the country charts.
No word on whether Keith's customary shot includes the bottle's worm.
Toby Keith's Locked & Loaded Tour Presented by Ford F-Series:
06.30.2011 Mt. Pleasant, MI Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort
07.01.2011 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheater at Summerfest
07.02.2011 Dauphin's Countryfest Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
07.08.2011 Gilford, NH Meadowbrook U.S.Cellular Pavilion
07.09.2011 Bangor, ME Waterfront Park
07.10.2011 Cavendish, PEI, Canada Beach Music Festival
07.15.2011 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center
07.16.2011 St. Clairsville, OH Jamboree In The Hills
07.21.2011 St. Augustine, FL St, Augustine Amphitheater
07.22.2011 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
07.23.2011 Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
07.25.2011 Harrington, DE Delaware State Fair
07.29.2011 Minot, ND North Dakota State Fair
07.30.2011 Cheyenne, WY Cheyenne Frontier Days
07.31.2011 Camrose, Alberta, Canada Big Valley Jamboree XIX
08.04.2011 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
08.05.2011 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
08.06.2011 Las Vegas, NV Red Rock Casino Amphitheater
08.09.2011 Sturgis, SD Buffalo Chip
08.12.2011 San Diego, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
08.13.2011 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
08.18.2011 Spokane, WA Northern Quest Resort and Casino
08.19.2011 Portland, OR Sleep Country Amphitheater
08.20.2011 Gorge, WA Gorge Amphitheater
08.31.2011 St. Paul, MN Minnesota State Fair
09.02.2011 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
09.03.2011 Pittsburgh, PA First Niagara Pavilion
09.04.2011 Darien Lake, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
09.08.2011 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts
09.09.2011 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Bank Center
09.10.2011 Washington, DC Jiffy Lube Live
09.14.2011 York, PA York Fair
09.15.2011 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountai
09.16.2011 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre
09.17.2011 Boston, MA Comcast Center
09.23.2011 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
09.24.2011 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
09.29.2011 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
09.30.2011 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theater
10.01.2011 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
10.07.2011 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
10.08.2011 Atlanta, GA Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood
10.09.2011 Mobile, AL BayFest 2011
10.14.2011 Tampa, FL 1-800-ASK GARY Amphitheater
10.15.2011 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
European Tour:
10.30.2011 Edinburgh Usher Hall
10.31.2011 Manchester O2 Apollo
11.01.2011 London Wembley Arena
11.03.2011 Amsterdam Paradiso
11.05.2011 Munich Kesselhaus
11.07.2011 Cologne E Werk
11.08.2011 Hamburg Gr Freiheit
11.11.2011 Helsinki Finlandia Hall
11.13.2011 Stockholm Cirkus
11.15.2011 Oslo Spektrum
11.17.2011 Copenhagen Vega
11.19.2011 Berlin Huxley's Neue Welt
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
FIRST AUSTRALIAN IDOL WINNER AND PLATINUM SELLING SUPERSTAR DOWN UNDER, GUY SEBASTIAN, SETS HIS SIGHTS ON THE U.S. WITH ‘WHO’S THAT GIRL’
PLATINUM SELLING SUPERSTAR DOWN UNDER,
GUY SEBASTIAN,
SETS HIS SIGHTS ON THE U.S. WITH ‘WHO’S THAT GIRL’ (FEATURING HIP-HOP STAR EVE), ALREADY ONE OF THE BEST SELLING SINGLES IN
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC HISTORY
The same week that this year’s “American Idol” finalists Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina were battling it out for the title, Guy Sebastian—one of the world’s most successful Idol winners, who took the first “Australian Idol” crown in 2003—was in Los Angeles collaborating with various songwriters and working on material for an upcoming EP that will mark his official U.S. debut.
Though the multi-talented, R&B/pop singer-songwriter (www.guysebastian.com.au) is essentially starting from square one Stateside, all signs are pointing to a loving embrace by American pop fans. Two of his platinum selling Australian releases, The Memphis Album (2007) and Like It Like That (2009), are already up on iTunes and “Who’s That Girl,” his infectious song featuring lady hip-hop star Eve, is currently being promoted in various radio formats: Top 40, Hot AC and Rhythmic AC.
The track is already a huge sensation in Sebastian’s homeland, where it was the second highest selling Australian artist single of 2010, selling four times platinum; it also reached #1 on the New Zealand singles chart.
While many American Idol winners struggle to build and maintain large fan bases, Sebastian’s popularity back home has grown over the past eight years due to great songs, bold stylistic choices and wildly successful tours featuring legendary American musicians like the M.G.’s (Steve Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn and Steve Potts, who played on The Memphis Album) and Lionel Richie.
His journey began with “Angels Brought Me Here,” his “winners’ song” on Idol which ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) named as the highest selling song of the 2000s; it also reached #1 in four Asian countries and New Zealand. Bookending that success is “Who’s that Girl,” Sebastian’s fifth single to reach #1 helping him become the first Australian male artist in history to achieve five #1 singles.
While U.S. audiences gear up for the American debut of Simon Cowell’s highly-anticipated “X-Factor” talent competition this fall, Sebastian will be appearing for the second season as a judge on the Australian version. The show is unique from Idol in that the judges help mentor competitors in multiple categories.
Contact: Chip Schutzman, Miles High Productions: chip@mileshighproductions.com
Friday, June 3, 2011
Natalie Walker Blends Pop, Electronica on Intimate, Revealing New Album “Spark”
Acclaimed Singer-Songwriter, Beloved of KCRW, Sofia Coppola and Thievery Corporation, Teams Up With Longtime collaborators Stuhr, as well as Ke$ha Producer Ted Bruner
NEW YORK, N.Y., May 31, 2011 — Dorado Records is pleased to announce the release of singer-songwriter Natalie Walker’s new album, Spark (Dorado). The captivating new disc blends electronic and acoustic textures as a foundation for Walker’s richly expressive vocals. Tracks from the album are already picking up spins from the likes of Tiesto, Jason Bentley, Morgan Page, and David Waxman.
The Colorado-based artist’s prior work has been heard on Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Bones, 90210, Smallville and Entourage, among other TV series, as well as on trendsetting L.A. station KCRW. She wrote and recorded half the album with her longtime collaborators Dan Chen and Nate Greenberg, AKA Brooklyn-based production team Stuhr (Mya, Nicole Atkins, Bebel Gilberto), and half with L.A. writer-producer Ted Bruner (Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Plain White T’s). The music occupies a sweet spot between pop and electronica, incorporating Moog, vocoders, cellos and pianos into its buttery, evocative mix.
Walker’s first session with Bruner, she says, began with his barraging her with questions – and resulted in one of the most personal songs of her career, “I Found You,”. Later came the questing “Sunday Afternoon,” which chronicles what she calls her “journey away from conventional religion.” Elsewhere on Spark she delves into similarly emotional territory, notably on the delicate first single, “Uptight,” and the soulful “Mars,” a meditation on life’s brevity and the importance of making connections while we still can.
But she also displays her adventurous side, feeling the rush of a hot Brooklyn night in the sensuous, grooving “Cool Kids”; diving headfirst into desire on the swooning “Against the Wall”; and, on “Experimental Love,” painting a pulsing, bittersweet portrait of new lovers exploring their chemistry.
Walker’s musical odyssey has taken her to an array of locales, including Philadelphia, where she sang in the trip-hop outfit Daughter Darling before collaborating with Stuhr and releasing her solo debut, Urban Angel, in 2006. The album was reissued by Quango in 2008; The Philadelphia Weekly called it “simply marvelous,” while A&R Worldwide declared, “An artist like Natalie Walker comes only once in a great while.” Urban Angel became a favorite among electronica fans and earned considerable airplay on L.A.’s KCRW; the station’s Jason Bentley, currently the host of the station’s flagship show, “Morning Becomes Eclectic,” proved a strong booster. “Quicksand” was heard on Ugly Betty, while Thievery Corporation remix of the same song appeared in the trailer of Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette.
2008’s With You, meanwhile, landed “Circles” on Grey’s Anatomy, “Empty Road” on Smallville and “Bye and Bye” on Bones; declared Billboard of the album, “A hypnotic undercurrent lingers beneath her music's drowsy sensuality.” Walker released a three-song EP, Live at the Bunker, in 2009. But with Spark, she has hit a new creative plateau.