Live Show - Andrew Belle at Anthology in San Diego, CA

It's July, and I'm on a trip for work, so that must mean one thing - there's an Andrew Belle show I have to see! About a year and a half or so ago, I was fortunate enough to run across Andrew's music through the website Brite Revolution (which is now FREE, by the way if you didn't know). A few months later, I traveled to Nashville for work, so of course I figured I needed to catch some live shows. A friend of mine was playing with Andrew at the Basement for Nashville New Faces Night, so I figured I'd swing on over and see if this guy was as good in person as he was in studio. Boy, was I blown away! It's always a treat to find artists that are actually better live, even when you love everything they've recorded. Since then, Andrew was named the "Best New Arist" out of Chicago via MTV2, has had several songs featured on the show Grey's Anatomy, has toured with Ten Out of Tenn Vol 3, TOT Vol 2 Christmas, as well as many other artists around the country. It was such a treat to see that he would be playing in San Diego the one night I was there, and at such a great venue.

Andrew Belle
http://www.andrewbelle.com

Twitter: @andrewbelle
MySpace: Andrew Belle
Facebook: Andrew Belle

When I first went to buy tickets for Andrew Belle's show at Anthology in San Diego, I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself into. Most of the tickets at Anthology come with a requirement that you spend at least $15 on food and drinks, and the reservations are made several hours before the show starts. It was a little pricier than where I normally eat, but the food was absolutely fantastic! The atmosphere was unlike any other venue I've ever set foot in, and the huge open dining area and a booth so close to the stage made the night one I will remember for a long time.

Photo by Alexandra Jordan, July 18, 2010 at Anthology in San Diego, CA

As I said, I've caught Andrew several times over the past year, and I am thoroughly impressed by his performance every single time. Belle has built a solid band to back him, all phenomenal musicians in their own right. You can tell they've hit the point where everyone's comfortable on stage, they know how to read each other, and everyone enjoys each moment throughout the course of the night. Basically, Belle's shows are just a blast to watch. It was also fun to be 3000 miles away from home and see some San Diego fans singing along will all of Andrew's lyrics. 

Throughout the course of the night, Belle played most of the songs found on his All Those Pretty Lights EP as well as his full-length album, The Ladder. He has a way of bringing these songs to life in an entirely new way every time, to the point that I feel like every show of his I've seen has been completely different. Belle's voice has a melodic quality to it very similar to that of Isaac Slade (lead singer of the Fray), and he draws you in with the depths of emotion you can feel emanating from each song. Belle has the chops to go far in the music industry, and there's no sign of him slowing down any time soon.

Essentially, I had no idea what I was walking into venue-wise for at Anthology, but the night certainly did not disappoint. Andrew even said he felt Anthology was one of the best-sounding venues he's ever played, and I have to agree. The bottom line is that whenever this guy comes to your city, make it a priority to catch him. You won't be dissatisfied in any way. 

You can catch Andrew's cover of Greg Laswell's song "Sing, Teresa Says" from the San Diego show here. 

Also, you can find the official "Static Waves" video here.

Listen to These Tracks Now: "The Ladder," "Static Waves" (feat. fellow TOT-er Katie Herzig), "In My Veins," and "All Those Pretty Lights"

Always a pleasure! And I'd like to point out that I'm in 3-4" heels, and I'm still shorter... haha.

Project to Watch - Justin Branam, iPhone Sessions

First of all, I’d just like to say that I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to update! My initial intent had been to update a couple times a month, or once a month at the VERY least! Apparently launching a blog right before I closed on a house was a horrible idea, but I’m back, and I’ve got quite a lot of ground to cover. Let’s start off with an interesting new project by an independent artist in Nashville, TN.

Justin Branam
Twitter: @justin_branam
MySpace: Justin Branam
Facebook: Justin Branam

Justin Branam is an independent artist based out of Nashville, Tennessee, who originally hails from Indiana. Branam has been in the music business for a while now, dubbed “Best New Pop” by AOL in 2008, he later released a 3 song EP titled Introducing Justin Branam, which I highly recommend downloading off iTunes if you haven’t already. He’s opened for fellow Nashville artists Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz, and Mat Kearny, as well as the likes of Blessid Union of Souls, John Butler Trio, and Mute Math. Now Branam is looking to fund his latest record and has taken a unique approach to do so.

I sat down with Justin in Nashville back in March to catch up and see what he’d been up to, and he began explaining his latest endeavor of the iPhone Sessions to me – at the time an idea still beginning to take shape. Basically he wanted to create an EP completely on an iPhone – record the tracks, promotional videos, create album artwork, everything, using only an iPhone. Four months later, Branam has been able to bring this project to fruition. With the string of bad publicity Apple’s been getting lately with the release of the iPhone 4, Steve Jobs should be using this project in a new marketing campaign if you ask me…


As I mentioned, there is a larger purpose behind the creation of this unique and inspiring project that is sure to be duplicated by many an independent artist in the near future. Branam is using his iPhone Sessions EP to fund a more substantial project – the creation of a new full-length album. Having written over 40 new songs since last fall, Branam is ready to get back in the studio and get to work. The world of independent music, however, can be brutal, and studio time is not cheap. So how exactly does the iPhone Sessions EP help fund Branam's latest project? Go to the iPhone Sessions to find out more, but the idea is fairly simple. The website Kickstarter.com allows people to fund larger projects. Basically you can create a project and have other people become “backers” by donating a small or large amount to the project at hand. Depending on how much is donated, Branam has created a lengthy list of incentives for backers. The smallest donation ($5) gets you a download of the iPhone Sessions, and the larger the donation, the more creative incentives he tacks on – signed picks, handwritten lyrics, being thanked in the liner notes of his next album, video chats, YouTube videos, and on and on.

Here’s a glimpse at the iPhone Sessions. This is a promotional video Justin did of “Dial Tone.” Once again, using only an iPhone.
"Dial Tone"

So, to sum up as briefly as possible, Justin Branam is trying to create a new full-length album and needs help in raising $3000 to do so. He’s found a unique way to accomplish this task; at least take a moment to surf on over to the iPhone Sessions and see what he’s put together. It’s definitely worth your time.

Live Show - The Civil Wars with the Kopecky Family Band and Mikky Ekko

One of the things I love about Nashville is the city's ability to foster the development of a wide array talent and collaboration. You can walk into a venue knowing only the headlining band, and yet be completely blown away by the opening acts. I can't say that I've ever walked out of a venue in Music City thinking, "Man, those first few bands were a complete waste of my time." Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they're there. I guess I've just been lucky enough to have missed them so far.

Recently I had the opportunity to take a trip to Nashville and catch a packed out show at the Basement featuring Mikky Ekko, the Kopecky Family Band, and the Civil Wars. Every act had a killer performance, and I would definitely see any one of these amazing artists again.

Mikky Ekko
Twitter - @mikkyekko
MySpace - Mikky Ekko


When I think Mikky Ekko, one word comes to mind - vocals. Before this show, my only exposure to Ekko had been the Ten Out of Tenn (TOT), Volume 3 tour. Of course his vocals shined then, but I could not fully appreciate the range and precision of this man's vocal ability until I caught his full set at the Basement. Sometimes you listen to an album or a song and assume the vocals have been severely tweaked to produce the final sound. While this may often be the case, I can assure you it's not for Ekko. Throughout his performance I was left wondering, "How on earth does this man not lose his voice after every song, and never mind the entire set?" Apparently he's just that good. His set flowed well, something I greatly appreciate in watching live music. Nothing drives me crazier than long breaks between songs without much happening. Friendly banter and occasional stories are all well and good, but let's not forget what the audience has paid to see - the musical performances. Watching Ekko is like taking an incredible journey with him - this man clearly goes to another place while on stage. I had no idea Ekko was the opening act when I walked into the Basement that night, but I am quite thankful he started the night off with a bang.


Listen to These Tracks Now: "It's Only You," "Sedated," "Crystal Helmet"

FREE MUSIC ALERT: Ekko has several tracks posted on the amazing Brite Revolution website. All downloads are DRM-free and ready for you to download, so there's really no reason not to surf on over to their website. Look for a more in-depth review of this service in the future.

The Kopecky Family Band
Twitter - @KopeckyFamily
MySpace - Kopecky Family Band

While only four of the seven total band members were present for the show I attended at the Basement, the Kopecky Family Band was a pleasant discovery. The vocals of each member work to complement each other well and create fantastic harmonies. Kelsey Joy's vocals hit me as a mix of Regina Spektor and Sara Bareilles - warm and inviting with a bit of an edge. Gabe's vocals also have a warm and smooth quality to them that hug the melodies presented in each song. The strings were a nice touch and showed excellent musicianship. As a whole, the group performed incredibly well; you can tell these guys have been together for a while (about 2 years now).

Listen to These Tracks Now: "Trainwreck,""Gun," "Disaster" (will be on new album due out May 1)

FREE MUSIC ALERT: The Kopecky Family Band has been kind enough to offer quite a bit of their old music for free online. Visit their MySpace page listed above for a link to two free EPs as well as a track from their upcoming album.


The Civil Wars
Twitter - @thecivilwars , @joywilliams , @johnpaulwhite
MySpace - The Civil Wars

The show at the Basement was my second live experience with the group known as The Civil Wars, which consists of the incredibly talented individual artists Joy Williams and John Paul White. Joy, originally from California and who now resides in Nashville, first came to my attention through the Brite Revolution website and then later with the TOT Volume 3 tour. Her vocals have captivated me from the beginning, and John Paul (from Birmingham, AL) just might be her perfect vocal match. Never before in my life have I heard two people's voices work together the way Joy and John Paul's do.

From the beginning of the set with "Tip of My Tongue," the duo's vocals were spot-on, and they were only getting warmed up. This show was an inviting place for them - full of friends, family, and devoted fans. It also proved to be the perfect place to try out some new songs before heading back into the studio. I am incredibly excited for the full length album they are currently working on and cannot wait for its release date.

These two share a characteristic with the Kopecky Family band - they are obviously comfortable on stage and with each other. Although the duo has not been together long (1 year), the way they work together is magical to behold. Not only is the musicianship incredible, but the stage banter might as well be a comedy show. I had thought when I first saw them back in Knoxville that they were just having a silly, informal night, but I was pleased to see this was the norm for their shows. Joy seems to get the giggles at least once per show, which could be annoying for anyone else, but she plays it off so well and is so full of joy (no pun intended) and life, that it is truly a treat to behold. Throw in a few '80s covers, done in true Civil Wars style, and you have the makings for an entertaining and special night. I will definitely make every effort to see these two whenever they come anywhere near.

Listen to These Tracks Now: "Poison and Wine," "From This Valley," "Barton Hollow" (last two will be released on full-length album, but a quick YouTube search is worth your time) 

FREE MUSIC ALERT: This duo shines so brilliantly with their live performances that one of the best things they could have ever done for publicity was to offer up some tracks for free - which they've done (50,000+ downloads to date!). Check out their MySpace page for a link to download some tracks from a show the Civil Wars did in Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA. Of course, I'm sure getting "Poison and Wine" on Grey's Anatomy didn't hurt either... Joy's solo work is also showcased on the Brite Revolution website, so feel free to pick up some of her tracks as well. 


This review concerns the show that took place at the Basement in Nashville, TN, on March 26, 2010. 
www.thebasementnashville.com

Welcome

Thank you so much for visiting Absolutely Music! I am incredibly thrilled about the launch of this blog. With as much love and passion that I have for the music world, I am quite excited to be able to offer my thoughts and suggestions on what's out there today. I hear a lot of people complaining that, "Today's music just isn't as good as it was back in the day!" I'd say every generation has produced that same argument. To these people I say, you simply haven't explored today's music world widely enough. There are many incredibly talented musicians, especially in the depths of Nashville's independent artist scene. It only takes some effort to find it. That's right - Nashville isn't only about country. That may come as a shock to many of you, but just trust me on this, and allow me to be your guide.

That's what I hope to do with this blog - I hope to introduce you to new music, and I hope to help you navigate the diverse scape of what is today's music world.

Welcome, and I hope you enjoy all that is Absolutely Music.

Things to look for from me in the near future:

• Album Reviews
• Live Show Reviews
• Venue Reviews
• Free Music Alerts (that are legal!)
• Cool Music Services
• And More!

And if you aren't following me on twitter, please do! @akjmusic