Erin McCarley

It has amazed me lately the community of artists in Nashville. Everyone seems to know everyone but not only that they collaborate, tour together, co-write songs together and are each others back up for shows. I realized this while researching this weeks artist, Erin McCarley. The first song of Erin’s I heard was “Pitter-Pat” on an amazing mixed CD a friend made me and I loved it immediately.

Click on the player below to hear some of Erin's tracks.

As I looked into this artist I discovered that she is also basing herself out of Nashville as are many of the other artists featured here. Not only that but she is buddies with them! As I was watching a video of her performance on Craig Ferguson I recognized Matthew Perryman Jones on the guitar, K.S. Rhoads (soon to be featured here) on keyboard and possibly Andy Davis on the keys as well but there wasn’t a clear shot of him but he wore the same hat Andy seems to always wear and had the same moves I saw in him live. Erin also co-wrote one of her songs with Greg Laswell, another one of our features here.

Erin is currently touring with Ten out of Tenn which is a group that does a collaborative tour with Nashville artist such as Joy Williams, Andy Davis, Andrew Belle, Griffin House, Matthew Perryman Jones and Katie Herceg. Do those names sound familiar? They should because they have all been featured on this blog. All these artist and many more cycle through the tour so they are not all performing at once. It is an ever-changing collaboration and they are coming to Los Angeles tomorrow and I sadly will not be able to attend.

Before Erin started pursuing a career as singer/songwriter she was a sheltered girl from Dallas, Texas who was given a quick awakening to the ways of the world after she left the comforts of her safe family environment. Erin started out as just a singer but later discovered her skills in song writing while living in San Diego. She decided to take her career to the next level and moved herself to Nashville with all the many aspiring artists there. She has been setting herself above the rest making waves at the South By Southwest conference last year and has had her songs featured on several hit TV shows such as Grey’s Anatomy (known for his great song choices), One Tree Hill, Kyle XY and several others.

Erin McCarley released her debut album, Love, Save The Empty last winter and the title track was featured in the film He’s Just Not That Into You and was the only song from the soundtrack that was given a music video to go along with the film. You can check out the full album on iTunes and Amazon.

http://www.erinmccarley.com/

http://www.myspace.com/erinmccarley

 


I hope you enjoyed the feature this week after the unplanned break last week do to technical difficulties with the flash player. Let me know what you think of this week’s artist and remember I love comments! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Here is a little taste of mine. This was the view I got to wake up to every morning in Lake Tahoe.

Flash Player Meltdown

UPDATE!! Thanks to my good friend Aaron, who is my savior when it comes to computers and all things technology related, I now have a new flash player system!! Of course the old one came back but too late, I'm done with you disappearing player!! Working on changing them all over now and will have a new artist next week. Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for all of you!

Well I don't know what happened but the flash player I have been using has disappeared off the internet like some illegal drug scam. The website doesn't exist anymore and all the players on my previous posts are gone!!

So now I'm on the hunt for another system and will have to redo all my previous posts. Let me know if you have some suggestions.

In the mean time enjoy some music off the old player and check out the free music downloads when you tell 5 friends or pay what you want. Joy Williams has a Christmas EP! I'm so excited!

On a side note: I should have know this was going to be an interesting day when I almost walked out of the house holding one running shoe instead of my water bottle... 

Sincerly,

Frustrated with technology Mary

Andy Davis

This week’s featured artist wasn’t on the schedule for this week but after seeing him live Friday night at the Hotel Café in Hollywood I couldn’t resist. Andy Davis has quickly become one of my favorite artists coming out of Nashville and there are so many talented artists trying to make it in Music City. Andy is another Brite Revolution find (I swear I don’t work for Brite but I’m starting to think I should!) and they are supplying two exclusive tracks each month. At his concert he performed several new tracks that Andy hasn’t made available yet but guess what? I have them complements of Brite. If you haven’t signed up for a Brite Revolution subscription I would highly recommend it.

Andy Davis is a powerful performer and it was all I could do to resist dancing during his show but I was afraid I might embarrass my friends. He started off the concert behind the keyboard then switched to the acoustic guitar but it was behind the keyboard that Andy was really shining. He was absolutely electric on the keys and his stool could not contain him. It was so much fun watching him perform. After the concert he came out and made the rounds meeting people and I got the chance to introduce myself and wanted to ask for a picture with him but I felt like a dork asking even though everyone else was doing it too. I regret not asking but I can’t change that now. Oh well…

Andy Davis comes from a musical family in Baton Rouge where his dad played guitar and his mother played the piano (now I know where he got his multiple talents). Andy moved to Nashville for college and started writing songs and performing and had such a great response from friends and was later asked to open for his friend Dave Barnes (another favorite of mine). His homemade CDs were doing tremendously well and Andy caught the attention of Runway Network who helped him release a newly mixed version of his first recording titled, Thinks of Her. Andy’s most recent album, Let The Woman, is where all but one of the tracks on the playlist are from. "Chicago, City of Shoulders" is from his EP Fine China.

All of Andy’s albums are available on iTunes and Amazon. You’ll find a better deal on Amazon and they have a simple downloading tool that will put the music and artwork straight into your iTunes library.

Also I would highly recommend this video of Andy covering Etta James’ “At Last” in what appears to be and impromptu shoot in a stairwell. I was completely rapture by this version of one of the greatest love songs of all time.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s artist. Let me know what you think of Andy’s music. Also I promise next week to feature an artist not from Brite Revolution. Happy Monday!

Photo Credits

Photo 1 - Kyle Barnes Photography

Photo 2 - Mary's I Need A Better Camera Photography

Photo 3 - Micah Kandros Photography

The Silver Seas

Music can be intense. Filled with emotion and heavy hearts from artists who have a therapeutic outlet in the music they write. There is a time when I enjoy that music but sometimes I just need something happy and carefree. The Silver Seas are one of the bands I go to when I need that kind of music. Their music tells a story and I feel like I’m listening to a classic tune even though they are a new band.

The Silver Seas started out as The Bees (U.S.) but due the fact that there was a UK band with the same name they decided to change it with the release of their second album, High Society in 2006. Their first album, Starry Gazey Pie was released in 2004 under their original name. All the tracks featured are from that first album so when searching iTunes you have to look under The Bees or join Brite Revolution where they have been posting their older tunes. The band is working towards releasing their new album this year titled Chateau Revenge.

The band comes out of Nashville, TN and consists of four members. Daniel Tashian is lead vocals and guitar. Jason Lehning is piano and backing vocals. John Deaderick is electric bass and David Gehrke is on the drums as well as backing vocals. I don’t have an exact date for their new album but you can grab their first two on iTunes as well as on Brite Revolution. Hope you enjoyed this week’s feature!!

http://www.myspace.com/thesilverseas

http://www.thesilverseas.net/

Contest Winner!!

Well its official!

I've picked a winner.

I used my super scientific number generator known as my coworker

and asked her to pick a number between 1 and 8.

Soooo....

The winner is Craftygal86 from

Knots by Ashley

She has a super cute blog and Etsy store.

You all should check it out!

Craftygal86 loves Haley Bonar featured two weeks ago.

Email me to claim your prize and I'll send you Haley's newest album!

This week's feature on The Silver Seas coming shortly.

Matthew Perryman Jones

This week’s artist, Matthew Perryman Jones, comes from my favorite site – Brite Revolution. I know, I know a lot of the featured artists have come from Brite but they have such great artist there I just can’t help it. Jones is one of the many amazing singer/songwriters that are coming out of Nashville these days. Nashville is Music City and although I have never been there I’m pretty sure it will be my favorite place ever when I finally get myself there (anyone up for a road trip?).

Jones is originally from Georgia where he started his music career playing at Eddie’s Attic, which is where The Civil Wars recorded their live album. Soon Jones was encouraged to head to Nashville where he joined the musical community of independent artists. Jones began touring and writing with his fellow artists including the collaboration group Ten Out of Ten. TOT is a group of artists who tour and perform together whose members have included Joy Williams, Andrew Belle and Katie Herzig.

While touring, writing and recording three albums and one EP Jones has also had his music featured on several TV shows including Kyle XY, The Hills, Private Practice, One Tree Hill and Bones.

Jones’ most recent album is available on iTunes and his previous album you can download from the widget in the right hand column here for free if you tell  five friends or pay what you want.

Available albums from Matthew Perryman Jones

Swallow the Sea, 2008

Throwing Punches in the Dark, 2006

For the Road (EP), 2003

Nowhere Else But Here, 2000

http://www.myspace.com/mpjmusic

Almost forgot!! Music giveaway this week!!

Become a "public" follower (unless you are already a follower) and leave a comment stating who your favorite artist is on Mary's Musicology and if you win you'll get their recent album!!
Enter to win by 11-7-09