Official Website: http://www.theinnocencemission.com
The Innocence Mission hails from the Amish Country. Centered on husband-and-wife songwriters Karen and Don Peris,the original group, including Mike Bitts (bass) and Steve Brown (drums), was formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the early '80s. Their music appeared in the movie Empire Records and on the television series Party of Five.
Here is a video I found on YouTube of their song "Lakes of Canada", it's not an actual music video, but will let you hear the original version of this song (Sufjan Stevens has covered this one)...
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Mason Jennings
Official Website: http://www.masonjennings.com
Mason Jennings is a singer/songwriter from Minnesota. He is currently signed to Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records label. Jennings' latest release, The Flood, debuted at #1 on itunes singer/songwriter chart.
Mason Jennings is a singer/songwriter from Minnesota. He is currently signed to Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records label. Jennings' latest release, The Flood, debuted at #1 on itunes singer/songwriter chart.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Jesse Aycock
Official Website: http://www.jesseaycock.com
I had the privilege to catch Jesse Aycock in concert last month with Samantha Crain. I hadn't heard of him prior to that show, but since that show I've become a fan of his music. Jesse's music can be described as a blend of styles including early rock, traditional folk, psychedelic, country and soul. His high tenor (bordering on falsetto) coupled with his acoustic guitar (along with his "Lennon-esque" appearance) made it easy for me to imagine I was hanging out in Greenwich Village during the 60's.
Jesse is from Tulsa and has music in his blood; his father is Scott Aycock, who is a singer/songwriter and host of Folk Salad on KOSU.
In addition to his solo work, he's involved in a number of side projects:Boondogs, Little Chairs, The Dustin Pittsley Band, Paul Benjamin Band, and Love Ghost.
I had the privilege to catch Jesse Aycock in concert last month with Samantha Crain. I hadn't heard of him prior to that show, but since that show I've become a fan of his music. Jesse's music can be described as a blend of styles including early rock, traditional folk, psychedelic, country and soul. His high tenor (bordering on falsetto) coupled with his acoustic guitar (along with his "Lennon-esque" appearance) made it easy for me to imagine I was hanging out in Greenwich Village during the 60's.
Jesse is from Tulsa and has music in his blood; his father is Scott Aycock, who is a singer/songwriter and host of Folk Salad on KOSU.
In addition to his solo work, he's involved in a number of side projects:Boondogs, Little Chairs, The Dustin Pittsley Band, Paul Benjamin Band, and Love Ghost.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Great Lake Swimmers
Official Website: http://www.greatlakeswimmers.com/
Great Lake Swimmers is a Canadian melodic folk band built around the songs of singer-songwriter Tony Dekker. Originally from Wainfleet, Ontario, the band is currently based in Toronto.
The current touring line-up includes Tony Dekker on lead vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica, Erik Arnesen plays banjo, electric guitar and harmonium, Greg Millson plays drums, Bret Higgins on upright bass and Miranda Mulholland plays violin and sings the backing vocals.
Dekker has said his influences include Gram Parsons and Hank Williams. The band's style has similarities to Red House Painters, Nick Drake, and Iron & Wine among others.
The band released their fourth album, Lost Channels, on March 31, 2009. It was shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize, and was nominated for a Juno Award in the category of Roots & Traditional Album of the Year – Group.
In 2008, Dekker appeared on Jenny Omnichord's album Charlotte or Otis: Duets for Children, Their Parents and Other People Too, performing a duet vocal on the song "Do You Know Karate".
In 2010, the band contributed four tracks to the online music community Swim Drink Fish Music, including live versions of their songs "Your Rocky Spine", "I Could Be Nothing" and "Everything Is Moving So Fast" and a previously unreleased track, "Ballad of a Fisherman's Wife".
Below is the video to one of my favorite songs of theirs, "Stealing Tomorrow"...Enjoy!
Great Lake Swimmers is a Canadian melodic folk band built around the songs of singer-songwriter Tony Dekker. Originally from Wainfleet, Ontario, the band is currently based in Toronto.
The current touring line-up includes Tony Dekker on lead vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica, Erik Arnesen plays banjo, electric guitar and harmonium, Greg Millson plays drums, Bret Higgins on upright bass and Miranda Mulholland plays violin and sings the backing vocals.
Dekker has said his influences include Gram Parsons and Hank Williams. The band's style has similarities to Red House Painters, Nick Drake, and Iron & Wine among others.
The band released their fourth album, Lost Channels, on March 31, 2009. It was shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize, and was nominated for a Juno Award in the category of Roots & Traditional Album of the Year – Group.
In 2008, Dekker appeared on Jenny Omnichord's album Charlotte or Otis: Duets for Children, Their Parents and Other People Too, performing a duet vocal on the song "Do You Know Karate".
In 2010, the band contributed four tracks to the online music community Swim Drink Fish Music, including live versions of their songs "Your Rocky Spine", "I Could Be Nothing" and "Everything Is Moving So Fast" and a previously unreleased track, "Ballad of a Fisherman's Wife".
Below is the video to one of my favorite songs of theirs, "Stealing Tomorrow"...Enjoy!
Brett Dennen
Official Website: http://www.brettdennen.net
Brett Dennen is a singer/songwriter from Oakdale, California.
In 2004, Dennen released his first self-titled album, Brett Dennen, and has been releasing albums on a regular basis since. Dennen's music has been featured in several television shows, including Roadtrip Nation on PBS, Grey's Anatomy, House, The Unit, Scrubs, Ugly Betty, and Parenthood. Dennen also appeared shoeless (as is his custom) on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 8, 2008, and followed up that appearance with showings on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Late Show with David Letterman in 2009. In addition to television series, Dennen has also sold to national advertising campaigns for companies such as Hilton Hotels.
He has traveled extensively across the U.S., serving as stagehand for musicians such as John Mayer, Michael Franti, and guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela.
Dennen has been a part of The Mosaic Project, a San Francisco Bay Area-based non-profit organization, since its inception. The Mosaic Project works towards a peaceful future by uniting young children of diverse backgrounds, providing them with essential skills to thrive in an increasingly diverse society, and empowering them to strive for peace. As The Mosaic Project's Resident Rock Star, Dennen created an original musical curriculum for the program, which they released as an album called Children's Songs for Peace and a Better World, in 2003. It won a Children's Music Web 2004 Award and a Parent's Choice 2004 Approved Award.
In 2008, Entertainment Weekly named Dennen one of its eight "Guys on the Rise". Dennen has toured with Mason Jennings and Missy Higgins, and spent the summer of 2008 attending festivals such as the Rothbury Music Festival in Michigan, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Lyons Folk Festival, and the Mile High Music Festival in Colorado.
In 2008, Dennen, along with Jason Mraz, contributed the song "Long Road to Forgiveness" to the Survival International charity album Songs for Survival.
In January 2009, Dennen embarked on a 3-month vacation across the US, with friends Erin McCarley and Angus & Julia Stone.
On August 1, 2009, Dennen played at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
For those that haven't heard Brett Dennen's music before, here's a short sample featuring some of my favorite songs off his self-titled debut album...
Brett Dennen is a singer/songwriter from Oakdale, California.
In 2004, Dennen released his first self-titled album, Brett Dennen, and has been releasing albums on a regular basis since. Dennen's music has been featured in several television shows, including Roadtrip Nation on PBS, Grey's Anatomy, House, The Unit, Scrubs, Ugly Betty, and Parenthood. Dennen also appeared shoeless (as is his custom) on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 8, 2008, and followed up that appearance with showings on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Late Show with David Letterman in 2009. In addition to television series, Dennen has also sold to national advertising campaigns for companies such as Hilton Hotels.
He has traveled extensively across the U.S., serving as stagehand for musicians such as John Mayer, Michael Franti, and guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela.
Dennen has been a part of The Mosaic Project, a San Francisco Bay Area-based non-profit organization, since its inception. The Mosaic Project works towards a peaceful future by uniting young children of diverse backgrounds, providing them with essential skills to thrive in an increasingly diverse society, and empowering them to strive for peace. As The Mosaic Project's Resident Rock Star, Dennen created an original musical curriculum for the program, which they released as an album called Children's Songs for Peace and a Better World, in 2003. It won a Children's Music Web 2004 Award and a Parent's Choice 2004 Approved Award.
In 2008, Entertainment Weekly named Dennen one of its eight "Guys on the Rise". Dennen has toured with Mason Jennings and Missy Higgins, and spent the summer of 2008 attending festivals such as the Rothbury Music Festival in Michigan, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Lyons Folk Festival, and the Mile High Music Festival in Colorado.
In 2008, Dennen, along with Jason Mraz, contributed the song "Long Road to Forgiveness" to the Survival International charity album Songs for Survival.
In January 2009, Dennen embarked on a 3-month vacation across the US, with friends Erin McCarley and Angus & Julia Stone.
On August 1, 2009, Dennen played at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
For those that haven't heard Brett Dennen's music before, here's a short sample featuring some of my favorite songs off his self-titled debut album...
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