honky tonkin heart tuggin

Ray LaMontagne

Published January 24, 2011 |

When I was in high school in the 70′s, I listened to underground radio WABX in Detroit. The bands I liked were basically anti-commercial, and my fave was Led Zeppelin. For the majority of their career LZ refused interviews or any kind of promotions (such as releasing singles). That’s the roots of how I feel about commercial music, and the music business in general.

Here’s a story of a guy, Ray Lamontagne who snubbed record execs when they demanded a single from his latest crop of songs – he asked them “What is a single” and they couldn’t answer! Anyway, read this story – The Curious Case of Ray LaMontagne – Ray, you are my hero now.

Background on Ray

Ray LaMontagne was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, in 1973 to a constantly traveling mother and a violent musician father who abandoned the family during Ray’s childhood. Because of his father’s background in music, LaMontagne refrained from most musical activity, instead spending much of his time reading fantasy novels in the forest. He attended high school at Morgan High School in Morgan, Utah, but frequently ditched class, wrote stories, or got into fights with other students. As a result of these interactions, his grades were poor and he struggled to graduate. After graduation, LaMontagne moved away from his family to Lewiston, Maine in order to find a full-time job.
LaMontagne found a job at a shoe factory in Lewiston where he worked 65 hours a week. One morning at 4 a.m., LaMontagne heard Stephen Stills’ song “Treetop Flyer” on the radio as it awoke him for an early work shift. After purchasing the Stills Alone album, he decided that he wanted to quit his job at the shoe factory and start a career as a singer-songwriter. LaMontagne began touring in 1999, although he maintained a side job as a carpenter. In the summer of 1999, LaMontagne amassed 10 songs for a demo that he sent to various local music venues. Mike Miclon the owner of Buckfield, Maine’s Oddfellow Theater heard the demo and invited him to open for folk acts such as John Gorka and Jonathan Edwards. A friend and business executive heard LaMontagne’s recordings and introduced him to Jamie Ceretta of Chrysalis Music Publishing. CMP recorded his first album, and sold it to RCA Records in the US and Echo Records in the UK.
In 2008, LaMontagne moved into a farmhouse in rural western Massachusetts with his wife and two children

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Tom Waits

Published January 14, 2011 |

By Bree

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39087190@N06

Jonathan Terrell

Published January 14, 2011 |

By Bree

Maybe the next Willie, “Not In The Face” made a splash at Next Week in Austin recently.
myspace.com/jonathanterrellorganization
myspace.com/notinthefacemusic
jonathanterrell.com/

Bio:
Jonathan Terrell defines the next generation of Texas music. Pushing past the conventions of the singer/songwriter genre, the Longview-born lyricist possesses a style of writing that is sincere, introspective, and sometimes mischievous. Writing since a teen, Terrell has explored every corner and curve of sound and style. Ten years and 375+ songs later, his sophomore release Trials & Stimulations nestles him right into the belly of his roots and reveals his strength as a songwriter and performer. Jonathan Terrell has since been making waves in his new hometown of Austin – a place he feels “will challenge his musical ability.” The Austin American-Statesman recently declared his residency shows as “creating a buzz in the Texas music scene,” and his consecutive sold-out performances and ever-increasing audience have resulted in his sharing the stage with the likes of Willie Nelson. In an Austin Chronicle review, Jim Caligiuri writes: “Taking his cues from the likes of Townes Van Zandt and Steve Earle, the twenty-something songwriter moans poetry set to country and folk settings that kick up dust with a flourish.” With a signature narrative nature, dusty vocals, and a knack for addictive melody, Terrell has the ability to hypnotize and electrify a variety of listeners through telling images and characters. In support of the new album, Terrell has been viciously tearing up the road playing shows in 22 states this past year. Meanwhile there are no signs of slowing down. Terrell maintains a relentless schedule with two side rock-n-roll projects, Not In The Face and The Sterlings and keeps his audience coming back for more by a constant offering of endless fresh material.