Live:
In NY: Philipp Gutbrod (drums); Elijah Tucker (bass)
In CA: Yair Evnine (bass, cello); Greg Peters (weissenborn); Steve Dekrone (drums)
In the studio:
Owen Roberts (vocals, acoustic and electric guitar); Yair Evnine (bass, electric guitar and cello); Greg Peters (weissenborn); Megan Slankard (vocals); Steve Dekrone (drums); Joel Behrman (horns); James Greenfield (percussion); Elijah Tucker (drums)
Influences
Manu Chao, Mark Knopfler, Michael Franti, Leo Kottke, Bad Religion, Beck, Andrew Bird, Fabrizio de Andre, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Francesco Guccini, Rev. Gary Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, The Waybacks, Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Outkast, Hieroglyphics, Nick Drake, Compay Segundo, Eliades Ochoa, Silvio Rodriguez, Caetano Veloso, John Butler, Nellie Mckay, Dan Bern, Wood Brothers, Beck, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Bell Biv Devoe
Sounds Like
Sufjan Stevens, Beck, Leo Kottke, Mark Knopfler, John Butler, Andrew Bird, Ben Harper, Fabrizio de Andre, Silvio Rodriguez, Nick Drake, Damien Rice, Paul Simon, Ryan Adams, Van Morrison, Elliot Smith.
DOWNLOAD MY RECORD, BAY TO MAPLES, FOR $5 ON CD BABY CLICK HERE
I've been bouncing around a bit since the beginning of my twenties. West Coast, Italy, East Coast and back round. Now I'm back in Berkeley where it all started after five years in New York. Me and the Dog House Brewer are hitting spots up and down the coast and getting our bags packed for trips back toward the east in 2008.
I released Bay to Maples in 2007 independently. We did most of the recording in the Bay Area, at Ice House Recording in San Rafael. Yair Evnine, my old friend from kindergarten, helped produce it and plays bass and cello (he also plays slide on "You Won't Burn Me." Greg Peters (my man the Dog House Brewer) lay the slide on "Around My Thoughts."). Megan Slankard was kind enough to drop some harmonies when she came by the studio. We threw the West Coast release party back home at the Starry Plough in Berkeley.
Back in Brooklyn I was playing shows with Philipp Gutbrod on drums, Elijah Tucker on bass and Bill Bell ..s and mandolin. Luna Lounge, Rockwood Music Hall, Knitting Factory, Banjo' Jim's, Otto's Shrunken Head, Vox Pop, and Pussycat Lounge are some of the venues we've played. I've taken the occasional trip through Connecticut and up to Boston, snuck into Jersey a time or two. Back by the Bay my favorite venues have been the Starry Plough, Freight and Salvage and the Hotel Utah. I'm always keeping my eyes open for more spots to play.
Two years I lived in Bologna, Italy eating like a champion, listening to Fabrizio de Andre, writing and performing around Northern and Southern Italy. Two of the songs on Bay to Maples are in Italian (check out "Mattine a Modena" right here.)
Some of my favorite places on earth are two hours north of New York City. I lived in Tivoli, NY for a few years where I wrote the songs on Bay to Maples and played monday nights at the Black Swan. Across the Hudson River in the Catskill Mountains is where my grandpa's closest friend lives with his family. My grandpa used to spend as much time as he could helping out on their farm and tapping maple trees. All those old stories and my own experiences moving from the Bay to New York went into the record.
Check out my blog by clicking that highlighted word. I keep a voice recorder on me at all times in case I run into someone playing music in the subway, on the street or anywhere else I won't get busted for recording. You can listen to the recordings on the blog and link to the artists myspace pages from there.
Hey buddy. We had a few moments free tonight so we made a music video to your song "You Won't Burn Me." I think your words and emotions come across in our video. Check it out:
I cannot believe you are moving and I will not be able to make your show.. I am working that nite.. :( Sniff.. soob.. wah.. Maybe I will have to come to Cali to see all of you again.. :)
Wow.. so you are moving back? How exciting and fun it must be.. I still want to get your cd. I am sorry I have not made it to the concerts, I work at nites when you play.. :( Maybe I can catch a show before you leave.. ? :)
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Hey! T-town is great, although back from honeymooning in the west indies it could be sunnier! Your songs are great, I can't wait to come listen in the big city! by the way, jumping in the sand photos are key! -j
