RLR 2 Year Anniversary Show Artist Spotlight: Ian Fitzgerald Featured Artist by Brian Carroll - February 19, 2015January 21, 20160 I first came across Ian in February of 2013. I had just started writing this blog and he was one of the very first people to submit their music for review. To date, he writes the greatest songs that I have ever had come across my inbox for review...and I would be as forward as to say, he writes the best songs that I have ever heard, period. Ian has become a very good friend since that first submission of his album, 'No Time To Be Tender'. He played and sang on my last record. We have shared the stage on a variety of occasions (last year even, covering a song of our pal Joe Fletcher who had to miss out
RLR 2 Year Anniversary Show Artist Spotlight: M.R. Poulopoulos & Laurence Scudder Featured Artist by Brian Carroll - February 18, 2015January 21, 20160 I am always in awe of folks when they hold such an extreme level of talent, yet are some of the most humble and down to earth folks on the planet. That's exactly what these next two fellas. I first met M.R. Poulopoulos on a shared bill at Club Passim. It was an in the round situation for campfire and since he was in town, it was suggested by another good friend, Ian Fitzgerald, that I have him join the night before that gig for Roots in the Round at Toad. He quickly became a guy I gathered a lot of respect for as a songwriter and an all around good pal. A great guitar player, incredible story teller, and a
RLR 2 Year Anniversary Show Artist Spotlight: Molly Pinto Madigan Featured Artist by Brian Carroll - February 16, 2015January 21, 20160 Balance, that's what we will be bringing to you with the third songwriter to kick off the 2 Year Anniversary show. Molly Pinto Madigan will soften the edges of the trio swapping songs at the beginning of the evening on the 28th. Delicate, airy, whimsical. Molly's voice sends chills down my spine and her intricate finger picking is always impressive and only adds to the beauty of the stories she paints the pictures of within her songs. There is a poetry sense to the words that she writes and sings. Haunting whispers, dream like arrangements, and gorgeous balladry weaves throughout her songs. I am so happy to add Ms. Madigan to the line up for this evening...oh yeah, and this is the
RLR 2 Year Anniversary Show Artist Spotlight: Bob Bradshaw Featured Artist by Brian Carroll - February 13, 2015January 21, 20160 Yesterday we gave you a little peek into one artist from the 2 Year Anniversary show, and today you get another who will be performing 'in the round" with that artist to kick off the festivities on February 28th. Bob Bradshaw is the full package as far as singer-songwriters go for me. On the guitar he is an ace finger picker, can keep solid rhythm, and comes up with great progressions. His voice is unique, smooth, and really wonderful to listen to. And the guy writes some absolutely incredible songs. Plus, he is just a hell of a nice and humble guy to boot! I wanted Bob to be a part of this show because not only do I admire him as
RLR 2 Year Anniversary Show Artist Spotlight: Dave Deluca Featured Artist by Brian Carroll - February 12, 2015January 21, 20160 I first met Dave Deluca nearly 8 years ago. Dave had spent years playing in cover bands with his close pals which sprouted a band for original music called 'Highway Ghosts'. The band was modeled as after the band member's favorite group 'The Swinging Steaks', with a keen focus on multiple harmonies and heavy on the twang in the guitar department. While 'Highway Ghosts' is now on a hiatus, Deluca continues to immerse himself up to his eyeballs in the local music community. Dave is the type of guy that you have a 50/50 chance of seeing at any club on any night of the week supporting his friends bands (and often times jumping in for a song or two). The
January 2015 Artist of the Month: Krista Baroni Featured Artist by Brian Carroll - February 1, 2015February 3, 20160 There are great singers, and then there are great singers that are unique, special, and just have that something that the other folks do not. Krista Baroni is one of those singers. As a songwriter this gal excels. Painting visual landscapes and stories with her lyrics. As a guitarist, well to say she is accomplished and talented is an understatement if there ever was one. With a finger picking style that is unique and fresh, she is able to keep the listener guessing. Baroni ain't no I-IV-Ver type, she is a smart and intelligent writer that takes you for a ride with the way she crafts her songs. Her latest release "The Alabaster Girl" was welcomed with open arms by this writer. Defined by
Meet the Artists – The Nebraska Project: Dave Yuknat Featured Artist by Brian Carroll - January 29, 2015January 21, 20160 And the Nebraska Project rolls on. Today we catch up with Dave Yuknat to talk about his involvement in the project. Also, of note: the ticket link for the whole big shebang is now up. Get your tickets, tell your friends, come on out for a really great show! https://tickets.passim.org/ordertickets.asp?p=4534&backurl=default.asp 1) So who are you, what do you do, where are you from, what style of music do you play? The whole shebang, introduce yourself to the fine folks reading. DY: Dave Yuknat is my name and I lead a roots rock band known as The Inebriations. Our sound falls somewhere in between Sun Studio and a classic rock radio playlist. We released a couple of singles back in 2014, and most
Meet the Artists – The Nebraska Project: Blake Robinson Featured Artist by Brian Carroll - January 16, 2015February 3, 20160 The Nebraska Project stemmed from a conversation between musicians. Nebraska has always popped up on lists for songwriters as a lo-fi, stripped down masterpiece of sorts. Something that inspired them both in a writing and recording sense. With a focus on songwriting more so than production, Springsteen is able to portray this haunting and dark portrait of a number of characters in a moving and beautiful way. I hope that by shedding the light on some of the songwriters involved in this project perhaps an broader audience will find a new songwriter they enjoy, and thus the cycle will continue and the web will grow. Today we highlight Blake Robinson, who took on "Highway Patrolman" from the record. ---------------- 1) So who
December 2014 Featured Artist: The Meadows Brothers Featured Artist by Brian Carroll - January 5, 2015February 3, 20160 As musicians, artists, and songwriters we spend our lives trying to perfect our art with an always vague sense of what our “sound” is. Constantly seeking an ever shifting cocktail of sounds that are dynamic and influenced by what we are consistently bombarded with by our peers and the folks we admire. The second I heard the harmony and natural unity that lay within the sound that is produced when Ian and Dustin perform together I said “this is it”. The thing that I had been relentlessly searching for myself was solidified in these gents’ songs. It was immediate for me from the first note and I was hooked on their style, their performance, their banter, their writing. Everything just
November Monthly Featured Artist: Eric Lichter Featured Artist by Brian Carroll - December 1, 2014February 3, 20160 FAMILY. That is what comes to mind when I think of this month's featured artist here on Red Line. Not just because he is a great dad to his little girl who many of us know and love, but the musical brotherhood I have shared with Eric Lichter over the past few years. As a songwriter he writes poignant, witty, and heartfelt songs. As a singer, his voice is absolutely gorgeous and gives you the chills. As a musician, composer, and producer he is second to nobody. Lichter has an absolutely gifted and wonderful ear that hears things no one else does and wishes they could. In the studio he is someone you want there by your side. Playing a countless