Gareth Asher • Safe & Sound

Singer/songwriter Gareth Asher has released the Official Music Video for Safe & Sound The video incorporates scenes from the new Indie film Painting In The Rain. The filmmaker approached Gareth after a show, interested in using the song for the movie. And here we are, watching the music video. Enjoy the video, for the song is just stunning.



For more about Gareth Asher, check out his official website here, and his Twitter account here. Gareth's latest album, Between the Smiles and Tears, is available on iTunes, on Amazon and on CD Baby.

The Best of Live Music of 2011

I wanted to compile a video that would prove once and for all what a lucky man I am. After all, I got to see Jason Antone, Levi Kreis, Eric Himan, Tom Goss, Nathan Leigh Jones, Garrin Benfield, Amy Regan, Shaun Hague, Jake Walden, Coyote Grace, Gareth Asher, Avi Wisnia, Jeffrey Johnson, and Namoli Brennet all perform live last year. They appeared at the World Cafe Live!, PSALM Salon, Joe's Pub, Sullivan Hall, MilkBoy Coffee, NightCat, World Cafe at the Queen, and Black Fox Lounge. Yep, I am a freakin' lucky man. Enjoy the highlights of my "show season."

Support independent musicians by attending their shows in your area, and buying their merchandise. You will not only feel better, you will undoubtedly be assured a better seat in heaven when the shows start.

Great Singles from 2011

Clockwise: Nhojj, Gavin Creel, Gareth Asher, and Ricky Martin.

There were many singles released this year that were of special interest to this blog, and four of them are appearing here on this post. In fact, all four are of similar theme, of people coming together, finding acceptance for the common good. Take, for instance, when the gifted Nhojj released a video for his version of the classic song, Amazing Grace, in support of marriage equality.



You can purchase Amazing Grace on iTunes, Amazon or visit Nhojj's official website.

Broadway star Gavin Creel has proven to be a talented and masterful voice on the New York stage, garnering Tony Award nominations for Best Actor in 2002 and 2009. He proved to have talents as a songwriter as well, working on a couple of non-Broadway releases. Recently, he wrote and recorded the song Noise, a song supporting equality nationwide. The proceeds from the sale of the single will go to Broadway Impact, which Creel co-founded with Rory O'Malley and Jenny Kanelos. Here he is, to make some Noise.



This single will be included on an album due out in the Spring. You can purchase Noise on iTunes, Amazon or visit Gavin's official website. You can also check out the official website for Broadway Impact.

After coming out as a happy gay man, Ricky Martin released his first single and video for The Best Thing About Me Is You. The video was a call for inclusivity, for the people of the world to fight against discrimination of any kind. And he looked damn good doing it.



You can purchase The Best Thing About Me Is You on iTunes, Amazon or visit Ricky's official website.

In early November, Atlanta-based singer/songwriter Gareth Asher released a new version of his song Get It Right. The new recroding was a collaboration with Nappy Roots, and was a call for the world community to strive to live together, to move past our differences and just Get It Right.



The song was originally found on Gareth's beautiful album, Between The Smiles And Tears. You can purchase Get It Right on iTunes, Amazon or visit Gareth's official website.

Free Download to "Get It Right"

Scenes from the music video.

"Hey now, can we get it right?" That is the questions posed by Atlanta-based singer/songwriter Gareth Asher. And when this purveyor of Southern Soul collaborates with the a group renown for their Southern Rap, you know that something special will result. Gareth already had the song on his latest album, Between The Smiles & Tears, but went back into the studio for this version of Get It Right featuring Nappy Roots.



What does it take to get things right? Turns out, not nearly as much as many would contend. Nor is it going to cost billions, or trillions. Asher believes all you need is to be honest with yourself, and to have good intention in all your actions. For more about getting it right, check out the website here. It is there you can get your FREE DOWNLOAD of the song!

Gareth Asher Live at The NightCat

On Wednesday, October 5, I drove to Easton, Maryland, to see Gareth Asher for the first time live. I've been a fan for a coupe of years now, and I am just crazy about his music. I have all the albums, am on the official website, the Gareth Asher Community, and kept searching for a show that worked for me. Hallelujah, this one did!



Gareth was joined by Nicki Thrailkill on stage and their voices often blend quite nicely. There were moments when I did wish Nicki had lost a bit of the shyness, and sung out a bit stronger. She and Gareth are currently writing new material, some of which was given a trial run at the show. At one point, Gareth decided to step down off the stage and into the audience for a few ultra intimate songs. One of those was Safe & Sound. Here is my video of that performance.



Safe & Sound will soon be a part of a indie movie soundtrack. The beautiful ethereal quality was matched by the lack of lighting, making for a magical performance. They also performed Something Familiar, a new song inspired by an evening with friends, involving wind chimes.



The beauty of the music is evident, as is the emotion that binds the evening together. Gareth's music is so rich, so soulful, it is hard to deny. But when you are listening live, there is no denying it, and you are enveloped by it. Take, for example, Crave. The song, one of my favorites from the I'm The Earth album, seems to combine the depth of great soul music with the storytelling of the finest folk, all merged to make finely tuned pop.



The show was amazing, and I can't wait to see him again. The music was great live, and Gareth has such a sweet and easy charm and a bold charisma, he is hard to resist. For more about Gareth Asher, check out his official website here. You can also find his YouTube account here and his Twitter account here. You can find his latest album, Between the Smiles and Tears, on iTunes here, on Amazon here and on CD Baby here.

Cover Boy • Gareth Asher

I was introduced to the music of Gareth Asher by Aiden James, and I will be forever grateful to Aiden for this. In fact, I have my fingers crossed that I will be seeing Gareth performing live tonight for the very first time. Excited! Like most touring musicians, he has a collection of cover songs, and can pull out one or two during a performance. As I have scanned YouTube for his videos, I was particularly fond of his cover of Jacksom Browne's Somebody's Baby. Browne had written it in 1982 for the soundtrack to Fast Times At Ridgemont High, and it because a hit, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.



While I love this cover, it is really Gareth's original work I truly fell for. Whe I think about that first time listening, at first I was blown away by Gareth's voice, with it's hearty warmth and beautiful tone. And then I got to the music, and I knew Asher was stuck with having me as a fan for life. He combines the haunting beauty of the singer/songwriter with the aching soul of southern artists with the joyous spirit of an artist truly loving what they are doing. All this makes for great music. Here is a video made by Asher of his song On My Own from the beautiful album, Between the Smiles and Tears.



So I am hoping at 8PM Wednesday night, I was sitting in a seat in Easton, Maryland, at the NightCat. For more about Gareth Asher, check out his official website here. You can also find his YouTube account here and his Twitter account here. You can find his latest album, Between the Smiles and Tears, on iTunes here, on Amazon here and on CD Baby here.

Sunday Evening with Gareth Asher

I am a big fan of this Georgia-based singer/songwriter, and have enjoyed reading his updates about his trip to Italy. Before that, he released a video for the new year for his song On My Own from his latest album, Between The Smiles and Tears. Gareth utilized footage taken with a flip camera, both personal as well as from the road. This gives it quite a personal, intimate feel.



Just before he left for Italy, Gareth also laid down a video for a new song he had written, Holy Train. I am not sure if he is performing the song at stops in Italy, or he just wanted to share it with fans, but their way, I really like the song. Despite the slightly scary moustache.



While traveling through Italy, Gareth seized the opportunity to send a little video postcard, as he sat on a bridge in Venice and sang the Otis Redding classic, Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay.



For more about Gareth Asher, check out his official website here. You can also find his YouTube account here.

Gareth Asher - Crave

Gareth Asher has been on this blog before, one of those str8 boys who deserve a bit of love, too. In fact, you would find my original post here. Well, it has been a while, and I thought it would be nice to hear his voice on the blog once again, especially if it is singing one of my favorite songs, Crave. The song is from his I'm The Earth album, and has been a slightly obsessive joy for me. [I am still blaming Adien James for recommending him!] Because of Gareth's smooth, laid back style, I thought it would be perfect for a Saturday morning.



Another of my favorite songs, I Keep Telling Myself, can be found on YouTube, and I keep finding it. It is from his latest album, Between The Smiles and Tears.



I have yet to see this young man live, but hope to do so soon. That certainly hasn't stopped me from buying his music, cause it sure makes me happy. For more about Gareth Asher, you can check out his official website, the Gareth Asher Community, here.

Gareth Asher - I'm Not Worried About It

Gareth Asher follows up the release of a new album, Between the Smiles and the Tears, with the release of a video for the single, I'm Not Worried About It. I love the song, and find the video every bit as tuneful and charming. I could easily see myself listening to this all summer long! Enjoy.



For more on Gareth Asher, check out his official website here.

New Follower - Wendy & News

I'd like to welcome Wendy Lane Bailey to the Soundtrack family. Wendy is a New York City-based singer and arts advocate, a very busy lady indeed. She also has a blog, Too Well Read, found here, that she shares with Laurel Massé, founding member of the great Manhattan Transfer. They discuss things musical and otherwise, so give it a peak. You can also check out Wendy's website here.




In other news, we've had lots of snow on the East Coast. Far more than I'd like to think about, to be honest. But it did push the talented and adorable Tom Goss to make some of his tee shirts available for a 40% discount for a limited amount of time.



A very special favorite of mine, SIRPAUL, announced on Twitter and FaceBook that he has finished working on a new release. The new one, Music & Me, does not have a definite release date, at least that I know about, but I hope to contact him soon and get more details.



Gareth Asher, recently featured on the blog, has released a single, Love Will Come To You In Return, available for download at his website here. The song is beautiful, and I am glad I DL'ed it. The money goes to the protection and stewardship of the Chattahoochee River, it tributaries and watershed.



Don't know if you heard [insert eyeroll here],but we had a bit of snow here. How exciting to think we'll be having more next Monday. Mother Nature, what did I do to you, babe?



Now, as is the blog tradition - at least what I force on those who follow it - I will welcome Wendy with a clip of one of my favorites, and today's choice is Levi Kreis, soon to be appearing on Broadway in Million Dollar Quartet, singing Not Afraid, a song from his CD, Where I Belong. He's gorgeous, can sing the bejeezus outta anything, write and play his own music. Only other thing I need would be for him to marry me. Just sayin'...

Str8 Boys Need Love Too - Gareth Asher

I found him on a recommendation from another musician, which is a great way to find talented artists. After I got the name, I went to find some music, and I was pretty impressed. His voice is quite good, with an expressive, soulful tone I really love. There is both a softness and a grit there. He has two albums so far, 2007's I'm The Earth and 2008's No Reality. He will be releasing a new album soon, Between the Smiles And Tears. Until then, I thought I would talk about some strong songs I really like from the Atlanta, Georgia, native.



Sometimes you just gotta hear the blues. When I do, I want them like this, in his song Bathe Me In Failure, when I hear a man who is down and pulls himself up to a good place. It is part of his I'm The Earth release.



Also from his debut release, My Love is a great song. I really enjoy it on the album, but this live version lifts it to another level. the vibrancy and depth is just good for my soul.



The simplistic beauty of Enchanted is an amazement to me. It is a classic folk song, with a melody that charms me deeply. But there is also a prose in this words, and you can feel the emotions of the artist returning home, the trepidation and the love.



As a touring artist, there are always cover songs you pull out of your pocket, hopefully ones that will not only charm and sate the audience, but will also please your own soul. Gareth plays Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah with a nice depth, never sacrificing the emotion of the song for his pure tone. It definitely works for me.



I scouted around, and couldn't find a release date for the new album, but will definitely keep an eye out for when it down. I have purchased the first two from Amazon, and you can find them here, both on sale for $8.99 a piece. You can catch a preview of his songs on his MySpace page here.