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

Haley Bonar

There isn’t too much information on this week’s featured artist Haley Bonar. I found her while listening to Pandora Radio at work and took note when I heard “Big Star” come on. I quickly wrote down her name and promised to look into her more.

What I do know about Haley is that she is a 25-year-old pop folk singer/songwriter from South Dakota who now resides in Minnesota. She plays a 1957 acoustic Guild guitar, which makes me happy as I have a 1962 acoustic Guild I call “Ole Willie”. Bonar is signed to Afternoon Records, an independent record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

If you are enjoying Haley Bonar’s music and would like to purchase it then here is how you do it. Some of her early releases are available on iTunes but her recent album Big Star is only available from the store on Afternoon Records’ website. You can still sample 30-second clips on iTunes as well.

To buy:

You will need a paypal account in order to pay for your purchase

http://www.afternoonrecords.com/catalog/music

Find Haley Bonar in the list and you can choose to download her MP3 album ($8.99), purchase and actual CD or if you are really cool, a vinyl.

Once you have made your purchase just sit back and wait a few minutes and don’t start freaking out like I did wondering how to get the music after you’ve paid. You will receive an email from AR with a link and codes to download a zip of the album. Just add it into your iTunes or player of choice and bam!! You’ve got yourself some new music.

Hope you enjoyed this weeks feature artist! I love comments so let me know what you think.

 www.haleybonar.com

*Spoiler* Next week we just might have a CD giveaway! Yeahy!!

Andrew Belle

When I was about 6 or 7 years old I had a friend in the apartment below who was a few years older than me. She had high heels, make up, and music - music that my mom would not let me listen to. Still I couldn’t resist the cassette tapes of Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson that my friend was willing to lend me. So every once in a while I would sneak down, borrow the tape, then listen to it quietly in my room. My mom was always very cautious about the music I listened to which is probably a good thing but it didn’t quiet my desire to hear the pop music of the day. I had this trip down memory lane after reading about this week’s artist, Andrew Belle. Andrew Belle is another Brite Revolution find from their new/emerging section.

After reading about Belle I discovered we had a similar history with music. When Belle was young his parents wouldn’t let him listen to the radio or secular music until he was in high school. In Junior High he would secretly record music off the radio and then listen to it quietly in his room. His first album was by the Counting Crows – one that had been out for several years but that time spent secretly listening to that music set the foundation for his career in music.

“Not that I think of myself now as important to music as Adam Duritz or the Counting Crows have been, nor do I even dare to compare myself to such talent, but thinking back on my earliest experiences with music, there is no doubt that those quiet moments spent alone in my bedroom shaped my desires and passions and gave me the hope to make my small mark on this world, one song at a time.”
-Andrew Belle

Belle is a 25-year-old singer/songwriter from Chicago who is also residing in Nashville. His EP All Those Pretty Lights was released last fall and his full length album, The Ladder, will be released January 2010. You can download his EP for free or be a good human being and pay something. Click here to download. He has a duet with Katie Herzig, who was featured here a while back, which is the first track on our playlist. The last track “My Oldest Friend” is a demo and shows off his Coldplay sound. Belle has probably been my favorite find on Brite Revolution next to Joy Williams.

Hope you enjoyed reading about Andrew Belle and hearing his music. For more information check out his webpage and myspace.

http://www.andrewbelle.com/

http://www.myspace.com/andrewbelle

*** All photos of Belle are by www.dartphotographie.net

Nikki & Rich

This week’s new artist is hot off the presses. Nikki & Rich is a brand new duo that just signed with Warner Bros. Records. They had only their second show together last Thursday at The Viper Room in Hollywood and I was invited to attend. I was enticed with free admission and open bar to celebrate the duo’s signing and I happily attended.

Nikki & Rich are comprised of Nikki Leonti, a pastor’s daughter from California, and Rich Velonskis, who goes by Rich Skillz, from Queens, New York. Rich is a former DJ and hip-hop/R&B producer who has produced tracks for Robin Thicke, Ludacris and several others. Nikki on the other hand was working out of Nashville as a background singer for Carrie Underwood. Rich was looking to do something different with his music and found Nikki in 2007 to collaborate as the vocals to his tracks.

So what happens when you pair Rich’s DJ/Remixing/Producing skills with Nikki’s strong vocals? Something that sounds like the Supremes, a little Amy Winehouse and a touch of the Black Eyed Peas. Music that will make you want to shimmy and shake, do the mashed potato and the Beyonce booty shake all at the same time.

At their show last Thursday I knew I was in for a treat when the three back up singers came out all wearing the same vintage gold dress and matching black wigs. Rich started out with some beats and a beautiful woman in black came out and began dancing on the stage to welcome Nikki up. The backing track for “Heatwave” started up, a few choreographed moves and Nikki appeared dazzling a short white sequined dress and high heels. Everyone on stage had great energy, the music was great and the spirits in the room were high thanks to the open bar.

Nikki & Rich have taken the great sounds from 40 years ago and made them contemporary without being just a tribute group. They have already had several tracks featured on Entourage and the new 90210 so this new duo is on their way to be a huge success. Their single “Cat & Mouse” is available on iTunes and you can hear two other tracks on myspace.com. Their debut album is due out in 2010 and I’ll keep you all updated on the release. Hope you all enjoyed this brand new group. I thought we could use a little music that gets the body moving since the cold weather is setting in.