Reminder • Eric Himan Band 'Formal'

I wanted to take the opportunity to remind everyone you can still pre-order the upcoming release from the Eric Himan Band, 'semi-Formal'. If Eric is playing somewhere, I wanna have my butt in a seat to enjoy. If Eric is back in the studio recording, I wanna put that on my 'must buy' list. He is just one of those artists for me, making music that always touches my heart, that speaks to me personally.

Now I have many videos on YouTube at this point, the vast majority from shows I have attended over the last few years. In fact, there are over 200 videos, which even shocks me! So I will take this opportunity to share the most viewed video of the 212, which is Eric singing at the MilkBoy Coffee, a show he played with the wonderful Namoli Brennet. He tackles the great song made famous by Janis Joplin, "Get It While You Can."

As many of you who visit the blog often already know, when there is an artist making incredible music, we need to support them. Especially indie artists. Singers with label support, like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Jason Mraz, and Justin Bieber, they all have plenty of corporate support behind them, promoting everything they do. That is not true for the indie artist, who need to rely on fans showing up to shows, and telling their friends about the great new music happening. Another way to support is to pre-purchase a download of 'Formal' once it is available. But that is not the only way. You can purchase the download, a t-shirt, and autographed CD, some time to chat with Eric, or even the actual guitar Eric played while writing his album 'Dark Horse'. Much like the upcoming elections, this is your chance to speak up and be heard. Unless you are supporting indie artists like Eric or others, you can't complain about the awful state of the music business. But when you purchase the album, you are allowing your voice to be heard, kinda like showing up to vote. So step up and participate in the discussion, with a pre-purchase of some kind or another, and tell the world that all kinds of music can and will be heard. Check out Eric's PledgeMusic site now.

Holcombe Waller • Into The Dark Unknown

Recently, I was on Facebook minding my own business, when I happened across a mention of the latest artist on the blog, Holcombe Waller. Singer/songwriter Andy Moore mentioned him, and as much as I love her music, I knew I'd have to check Holcombe out. Now that I have, I just gotta say, if Andy recommends something, check it out. Don't ask questions, don't dawdle. Look them up, and get ready to buy it. I am mad about Holcombe's music, and, by extension, about Holcombe. He makes his home in Portland, Oregon, I am not exactly sure how to describe Holcombe, or categorize his music. There is a Folk feel that I can't resist, but he blends it with a bit of Roots music, a dash of World music, and the layered construction of Classical music. And all the while, allows the songs and music to speak for itself, never trying to throw a stick of dynamite when a birthday candle is called for. And while 'Into The Dark Unknown' was released about a year ago, I will take a look at it, as it is brand new to me. 

'Into The Dark Unknown' was released in November 2011, a beautiful twelve song collection. The smart "Atlas" kicks it off with a light and airy opening that turns to a slight melancholia with the addition of the expressive cello. The song in moody, slipping in and surrounding you like a fog descending on the field. The second track is "Risk Of Change", a hint of Country barely hidden under the Folk veneer. It highlights the scare we all undertake when thinking about trying something new in our lives. Track three, "The Unicorn", offers up a lazy opening with a moody piano and a shimmering vocal, reminding me of some of the Celtic sound from the early 1990s, with groups like Clannad. But somewhere in the middle of the song, a shift in gears happens, and Holcombe takes a bigger bite of the listener. "Baby Blue" opens with a sweet acoustic guitar taking the focus, each note a separate brush stock to paint the mood. The fifth track begins with some Electronica that belies what is going to come. Check out the official video for "Hardliners".

I just love that song, with the build that takes you places you never saw coming, to the emotional climax. That is followed by an interesting choice, to be sure. Waller takes on Buffy Sainte-Marie with "Qu'Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan", originally recorded in 1976 by the Canadian Cree to celebrate her birthplace and heritage. Waller's voice becomes another instrument, not only holding a cadence, but also adding texture to the song. That is followed by another song with a mystical feel, with depth not only in the lyrics, but in the very essence of the music. See for yourself with "Shallow".

We finally roll into the title cut off the album. "Into The Dark Unknown" has an earnest honesty, with a slice-of-life realness of a Steinbeck novel. There is a sweetness in telling this story, a true warmth in Holcombe's live performance. "About Time" is a song driven by the cadence of the chorus, Waller's voice punctuating the song, allowing a build to offer a crescendo, and a natural ebb and flow. When the opening bars of "Bored of Memory" kick off, there is a return to a more languid feel, the harp and piano blending with a beautiful harmony, a lovely counterpoint to Waller's vocals. There is something about "Down & Cried" that makes me think of traditional Folk music, something unearthed from 2 centuries ago, without feeling the age, a beautiful blend of the old with a new twist, a shot of a spiced rum. And that leads us the the final offering, "I Can Feel It". There is something so bright, so uplifting about this song. It seems the perfect way to complete this album, to draw to a close this emotional journey with Holcombe Waller.

I'm telling you, Waller is one of my new favorites. His music has this regenerative quality for me, replenishing my soul. He manages to splice together a variety of sounds that might seem very different, and weave them into a wonderful tapestry. You can purchase 'Into The Dark Unknown' on iTunes, Bandcamp, CD Baby, and Amazon. For more about Holcombe Waller, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter.

The Wedding Dance Project

I was just made aware of The Wedding Dance Project on Indie-Go-Go, where gay writer/director Elliot London is trying to raise the money to make a film in February of this year. It is called The Wedding Dance, and it will touch on a theme that is near and dear to many of our hearts, marriage equality. I'll let London explain it to you.



You see, all Elliot is asking for is a donation of $10, or more if you are so inclined, to help make his dream film come to fruition. With a small donation, you can be of great help to the filmmakers, and let the call for marriage equality be heard. This is not Elliot London's first film, and if you'd like, you can give a look at 306, a short Gay film. If you are at work, you might want to take care - there is brief nudity in this 11 minute film. It is on Vimeo, and has had over 65,000 views. Impressive.



So, if you have $10 to spare, or $100, $1,000 or even more, you can become part of the project by making a pledge. If you'd like to make a pledge, or just learn some more about London's thoughts or his plans, click on the widget below. That is how you can let your voice be heard.

Great Music - Chris Keys

I discovered Chris on the internet, first having heard his music on MySpace. I think I could just have well put him in the 'Str8 Boys Need Love Too' category, but I also think this works just as well. Chris is from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and is getting gigs around Belfast, and putting up YouTube videos. He is 26 years old, a singer/songwriter and rather good looking. Just about a month ago, Chris put out a new song, Stronger.



I came across him on MySpace, heard one song, and was hooked. I think he is a talented guy, writing some very nice songs and performing them well. That first song was Shooting Star, and I had to follow the trail to the site I could buy his music. After all, with all these artists, if you don't support them with a purchase, they can only keep going for so long. And I would like to think with my money, more music can keep coming.



As I said, he is playing in Belfast, and took some video. The sound is good, although the picture is a bit dark. Here he performs Seven Seas, another of my favorite songs. He has a sweetness to his tone, while maintaining a smokey edge to his voice.



To find out more about Chris Keys, go to his website here. To get some free downloads and to purchase his music, click here. If you do, you will not be disappointed.

New Music - Jake Walden

Jake Walden is an artist I discovered thru Tom Goss, first playing on the Rock The Folk Out tour, and then opening for Tom on tour and on the last show I attended in DC. Jake is very handsome, and quite intense while performing.



His CD is called Alive And Screaming. The song We Are, along with the video that follows, are the high points for me. If you like this video, order the CD. You won't be disappointed. You can find out more at Jake's MySpace site.

Great Music - Stewart Lewis

I am not sure when I became aware of Stewart Lewis, but I owned In Formation before going to see him last fall on the Rock The Folk Out tour with Tom Goss and Jake Walden. I truly enjoyed the CD, and loved Not A Love Song, a great cut off the CD. Lyrically and musically, it is a fantastic song, and Stewart does it so damn well.

As well as several of his own songs, he performed an amusing and intricate medley, blending 18 songs in under 5 minutes. After the show, I met Stewart, who was quite funny and charming. I bought a couple of CDs, as well as a novel he had written, Rockstarlet, which I am reading at this time. I follow Stewart on the web, eagerly awaiting his next move.

Rockstarlet is a tale of a young singer/songwriter getting ready for a major label release, but his excitement is being trampled on by the executives and handlers making the gay man return to the closet. Thus far, I am enjoying the light touch he has, keeping it fun and very real. You can purchase it here. He has a 2nd novel, Relative Stranger.

Stewart released a YouTube video of a new song, What You Get Back. It is a beautiful song, but the sound is a bit low - see it here. For a second video, I am giving you the song Shine, sung at an interview with Here! Networks.

You can find out more about Stewart Lewis at his website.

New Music - Jay Brannan - In Living Cover

On Tuesday, July 7, Jay Brannan is releasing a new CD, In Living Cover, with covers of such great songs as The Freshman, Blowin' In The Wind, and Zombie as well as some new material. I am hoping to make it to a show in Annapolis, MD, on Thursday, July 9th.



That is the cover of Zombie he did earlier this year at a gig in Ireland. I really love Jay's voice. If you are interested, you can get a free preview at Rhapsody by clicking here.




If I make it to the show, I will be sure to post about it, and hopefully get a picture or two. You can also get more information at his website or visit his online store.

New Music - Aaron Beaumont - Nothing's Forever (Not Even Goodbye)

OK, this is my oddest find to date - by story, not by talent. The other day, I received a MySpace Friend Request with a little note that said 'I'm one of the ones that, surprisingly, you discover you actually like. At least, that's what everyone else says. :)' Silly, yes, but it worked. I have often either ignored or rejected just such requests, but that made me laugh and so I checked him out - how could I not? And I'll be damned he wasn't right, and his music did interest me.



So, the first thing I noticed was his humor - the note showed me that - and he was cute, and I have already admitted to my shallowness in that area. Yes, he is more adorkable than adorable, but I am good with that. And then there is the music. It is this odd combination of ragtime, pop, string quartet, and a touch of EMO vocals that I just found endearing and charming. Kinda retro, with no real specific period attached, more nostalgic with a dose of today.




The first on my hit parade is a little ditty named Julia, a ragtime-ish number with charm and spirit. He is definitely added to the list of indie boys, and has several videos available on YouTube, all performance based, so not necessarily of the highest quality. His voice has the quality that reminds me of the singers from The Killers or Keane, while singing in a different style. I know, that sounded weird when I typed it as well.



While my description makes him sound all gimmicky, I don't get that impression while listening to all his music. He has a wonderful musicality, a greater understanding of the music - a love for it. The boy knows what he is doing. He goes beyond the 21st century goofball playing ragtime to an artist with his music, be it a rag or flat out pop styling. I really like The Park Bench Song, Any Other Way, and Those Were The Days.



You can listen to his music by clicking on the song titles above, or visiting his MySpace page.