Josh A. EP Release - December 10th at Billings Forge

This December, local Hartford based artist Josh A. will be releasing his very first EP featuring some exciting new music. These brand new tracks bubble over with the creative energy and unique style that has become indicative of Josh's music, and are a treat for ears of all ages. Rich vocal harmonies drift hauntingly back and forth against an alluring backdrop of compelling synth soundscapes, though within each piece there is a clear central message of hope driving it forward. Preview the tracks now at http://josha.bandcamp.com/, then come out to hear them live and get your free copy on December 10th; just bring a flash drive or iPod with you and the EP is yours for free.

October 23rd and other stuff

I'm happy to announce that the first official mcgriz Productions show will be taking place October 23rd at The Blue Plate in Plainville, CT. The show will be featuring a variety of talented performers, and the night will be capped off by a very special reunion show by The Logan Groovers in honor of Fairfield U's alumni weekend. More details to follow shortly once the lineup is finalized.

In other news, this band is extremely worth checking out. They're a uk band known as Foals and they're my latest musical obsession.

Another Quickie

It's been a while since a blues band has really caught my ear, but Dudley Taft seriously made me sit up and take note. The guitar work is really stellar, and the vocals are delivered in a deep, scratchy voice that sounds like the vocal chords producing it were designed expressly for singing the blues. If you have 4 minutes available and any interest whatsoever in blues rock, listen to Long Way Down.

Quickie

Things are still a bit crazy, but I just stumbled across this and thoroughly enjoy it. Well produced, interesting hip-hop out of Atlanta, GA courtesy of REHAB. The flow is fantastic, the beats and instrumentals are deeply engaging, and the vocal harmonies are pure sugar for the ear. Suggested Listening: Graffiti the World.

AFK, in a Good Way

My apologies on being conspicuously absent for a few weeks, the "Weekly ReverbNation Sweep" might as well be termed Monthly instead at this point. However, it's been a productive absence, and there's a lot of wonderful new music happening.

• Tomorrow night at Cafe Nine in New Haven will be a great show featuring Matt Thomas, Kyla Pitruzzello, and a new project known only as Them Moving Giants.
• Saturday night at The Rock Cafe in Rocky Hill will be another performance by Kyla Pitruzzello, possibly featuring a few surprises along the way.
• New music up at JohnnyMac Music, and also be sure to check out my collaboration with the fantastic FloMotive, featured on his page. Much more is in the works and soon to be seen, be sure to check back for some fresh collaborations and new beats.
• There is an Event in the planning stages right now for sometime in mid-October, a rather large music festival of sorts with a possible pre-Halloween theme. If you'd like to get involved in some way, please e-mail me. We're also still booking bands as of now, but we'll be looking to get a lineup set by early September so that we can start promoting, so if you're interested in playing let me know as soon as possible. We have a location but we're still settling on a date; I'll post both as soon as it's all confirmed.

ReverbNation Sweep #2

Cole Stacey
Suggested Track: "Walk to Midnight"

Upon first listening to "Walk to Midnight," I was struck by the range of expression that Cole Stacey achieves with his voice. He shifts effortlessly from a low, subtle half-whisper to a full-bodied tenor vibrating with emotion and back again over a backdrop of interlaced guitar, piano, and vocal harmony. It all serves to create a very visual musical experience, and in turn each song seems to tap directly into the listener's imagination. Relaxing, fascinating, and deep: this is just great music to listen to, plain and simple.

51/50s
Suggested Track: "Lies"

This music is downright Fun, the kind of sound that would pull me in off the street if I were walking by, and it's no accident. Each song is a wonderfully crafted, high-energy thrill ride propelled on a wave of soaring guitar, undulating bass, driving drums, and thick backing vocals that compels the listener to sing along, and dance while they're at it. The more I listen to these songs, the more I hope there's a US tour in store for these guys sometime in the near future.


CT MUSIC SPOTLIGHT:
Rod Washburn
Suggested Track: "Might Turn Around"

As many of those who know me are aware of, I am traditionally not a fan of country music. However, every now and then a particular artist will catch my ear and turn that opinion around for little while; Rod Washburn happens to be one of those artists. His voice is rich and passionate, and it meshes easily with beautiful guitar melodies and a variety of accompanying instruments. Harmonies come wafting up in just the right places, and the songs balance delicately between an overlying sense of down to earth simplicity and a substructure of finely crafted complexity.

Tales from the Studio

mcgriz Productions is excited to be in the studio today with Kyla Pitruzzello working on a few tracks for her forthcoming debut CD. As long as we've got her here, we figured we'd learn a little more about this dynamic singer/songwriter.

mP: So Kyla, when did you first get started playing music?

KP: Well I played saxophone all through elementary school and middle school, but I started playing guitar at 15 or 16. I found a guitar in a closet, it was my mom's old guitar, but I wasn't really serious about it, I just kinda messed around with it here and there. I probably became addicted to playing guitar when I started living by myself. I needed to occupy my time in some way. Living alone made me realize I think about stuff way too much, playing music was like my therapy, so to speak.