Great EPs in 2011

Clockwise: Matt Doyle, Chris Riffle, Stewart Lewis, Andy Moore, and Shaun Hague.

This year several Eps were released from some great musicians. EP stood for Extended Play Single, a single with a few supplemental tracks. Now, they are more of a demi-album, a smaller collection of songs put out by an artist. It can be more affordable for all concerned - the independent artist who has to pay the costs, and the fan who can get new and fresh music at a lower cost. Take, for example, Broadway star Matt Doyle, who is an out singer/songwriter when not appearing on stage. Currently, he is featured in the New York production of War Horse. But earlier this year, he released the EP Daylight. It is a wonderful collection, beautifully written and sung. Check out this clip as he sings If Morning Can't Wait.



You can find Daylight on iTunes and Amazon.

Though he was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Chris Riffle now calls New York City home as he pursues his career in music. Earlier in the year, the out performer released I Am Not From Here, a strong acoustic collection of songs song from the heart. Here he sings the title track from the EP, I Am Not From Here.



You can find I Am Not From Here on iTunes and Amazon.

Stewart Lewis sings Shine from the album In Formation. Earlier this year, he released the EP Stumbling For Truth. I have seen the out singer/songwriter perform a few times, and have loved him every time. The five-song collection is filled with honesty and love, a welcome addition to any collection.



You can find Stumbling For Truth on iTunes and Amazon.

I have been fascinated with the music of Andy Moore since I saw her performing with Eric Himan many years ago. So I was quite thrilled to hear she was releasing new music, and had to buy it right away. 5 In Common is a beautiful group of songs, sung with a simplicity and beauty that is hard to match. I have the first two album from the out lesbian, and love them both. Check out as she sings Cemetery off the EP.



You can find 5 In Common on iTunes and Amazon.

I first heard of Shaun Hague when Jake Walden announced they would be touring together. When I went to see them, I wasn't sure what to expect, but was blown away by him and his music. Shaun adds a bluesy touch to his Rock-infused Pop, with plenty of heart and soul. Watch as he sings Make It A Great Day from the EP The Time Is Now. I took this video at the show at the MilkBoy Coffee this summer.



You can find The Time Is Now on iTunes and Amazon.

Sunday Morning with Eric Himan & Andy Moore

Left: Eric Himan. Right: Andy Moore.

To cool out on this Sunday morning, I thought I'd draft the help of two incredible singer/songwriters, Eric Himan and Andy Moore. They recently played a show together in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I am a little jealous. See, they were supposed to play together in Phillie the last time I say Eric, but Andy couldn't make it. However, Eric played the show himself, and made up for it with just an excellent show. I first became aware of Andy when she played at an early show of Eric's, and have been a fan ever since.I have both her albums, and would rush out to get another. This morning, the first song we shall watch is Eric's We Are The Same, from the album Resonate.



Individually, they have amazing voices, but together, they are magic. This is I Don't Wait Well from Eric's album Everywhere All At Once.



Eric was kind enough to play guitar with Andy for the song Room To Grow from Andy's album Shifting.



For more about Eric Himan, click here. For more about Andy Moore, click here.

Great Music - Andy Moore - Repost

This was originally posted to this website on June 18, 2009.


Andy Moore is another musician I can thank Eric Himan for an introduction. Andy is an out and fabulous lesbian whom I saw while she was touring with Eric a couple years ago at the World Cafe Live! in Philadelphia. I was thrilled that she was on the bill with Tom Goss in a show at Nellie's Sports Bar in Washington, DC, earlier this year.



Andy is a wonderful mix of the Indigo Girls, Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, and Bob Dylan, with an order of soul and a dash of sarcasm sometimes added to spice things up. She has released two studio CDs, both of which I own. Dig Right In was released in 2004, and Shifting in 2001. I like 'em both, but if I had to choose one, it would be Dig Right In.



It offers 11 songs, and all are extremely good. Her voice is gorgeous and full, and so damn expressive. The song Desire is just amazing, perfectly describing the burgeoning feelings affiliated with love and, well, desire. There is also Forgiven, a song she wrote and duets with Eric Himan. I can't say about how their voices harmonize perfectly together. 'You should see, how I've forgiven me.' Wow, that is good stuff.



Slip Away is a lovely folk ballad, with Andy's crisp and clear tone never faltering. Sobering is some old school folk, and emotional gift about love and life. Long Before Goodbye opens with 'You left me long before goodbye, I could feel it in your cool green eyes.' We've all been there, haven't we? Her guitar playing certainly doesn't take a backseat to a strong voice. The girl can play, and not just strum. There is such an honesty in her voice and performances.

Unfortunately, there are not any videos available of Andy, so I have to make due with one I made myself following the Nellie's show. My pictures roll to the song Uncomplicated from Dig Right In.



I bought her stuff from CD Baby, a great resource for indie music. You can find out more information about Andy on her website.

Great Music - Andy Moore

Andy Moore is another musician I can thank Eric Himan for an introduction. Andy is an out and fabulous lesbian whom I saw while she was touring with Eric a couple years ago at the World Cafe Live! in Philadelphia. I was thrilled that she was on the bill with Tom Goss in a show at Nellie's Sports Bar in Washington, DC, earlier this year.



Andy is a wonderful mix of the Indigo Girls, Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, and Bob Dylan, with an order of soul and a dash of sarcasm sometimes added to spice things up. She has released two studio CDs, both of which I own. Dig Right In was released in 2004, and Shifting in 2001. I like 'em both, but if I had to choose one, it would be Dig Right In.



It offers 11 songs, and all are extremely good. Her voice is gorgeous and full, and so damn expressive. The song Desire is just amazing, perfectly describing the burgeoning feelings affiliated with love and, well, desire. There is also Forgiven, a song she wrote and duets with Eric Himan. I can't say about how their voices harmonize perfectly together. 'You should see, how I've forgiven me.' Wow, that is good stuff.



Slip Away is a lovely folk ballad, with Andy's crisp and clear tone never faltering. Sobering is some old school folk, and emotional gift about love and life. Long Before Goodbye opens with 'You left me long before goodbye, I could feel it in your cool green eyes.' We've all been there, haven't we? Her guitar playing certainly doesn't take a backseat to a strong voice. The girl can play, and not just strum. There is such an honesty in her voice and performances.

Unfortunately, there are not any videos available of Andy, so I have to make due with one I made myself following the Nellie's show. My pictures roll to the song Uncomplicated from Dig Right In.



I bought her stuff from CD Baby, a great resource for indie music. You can find out more information about Andy on her website.