Join Lark Hall as we welcome Piano-rock trio, Jukebox the Ghost
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Piano-rock trio Jukebox the Ghost formed in 2006 and has been a steadily growing cult favorite and a globally touring band ever since. Composed of Ben Thornewill (piano/vocals), Tommy Siegel (guitar/bass/vocals) and Jesse Kristin (drums/vocals), they have played over 1,000 shows across the country and around the world over the course of their career. In addition to countless headlining tours, they have also toured as openers alongside Ingrid Michaelson, Ben Folds, Guster, Motion City Soundtrack, A Great Big World and Jack’s Mannequin, among others. In addition to festivals like Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, Bonnaroo, and Bottlerock, Jukebox the Ghost has also performed on The Late Show with David Letterman and Conan.
Lark Hall presents The Soul Rebels’ EPIC VIBES TOUR
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Eight men pick up shiny brass and drum instruments, lock into an unspoken groove and rotate genres like your favorite playlist shifting from funk, jazz and R&B to hip-hop and beyond
.With fire, focus and fluidity, New Orleans bred staple THE SOUL REBELS expand musical boundaries with an unwavering commitment to originality and innovation through genre bending songs and collaborations.
Brass sensation The Soul Rebels are riding high in 2021 after receiving national attention following the release of their new album, Poetry In Motion.
The eight member collective appeared on Def Jam artist Dave East and Nas’ “Godfather 4” single, Big Freedia and Icona Pop’s “Pipe That”, and reached fans with original singles “Greatness” featured as ESPN’s official College Hoops theme anthem, and “Good Time” featured on Netflix’s #BlackAF and Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!
The Soul Rebels have impressed viewers with two recent appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk series with Wu Tang Clan front man GZA, headlined the global TED Conference, and appeared on the official soundtrack for Universal Pictures’ hit comedy Girls Trip.
On the heels of their new supergroup with The Wu Tang Clan, The Soul Rebels continue to expand their international reach touring four continents including Europe, Australia, China, South Korea and Japan. Their explosive stage presence has led to live collaborations with the likes of Katy Perry, Nas, G Eazy, DMX, Robin Thicke, Macy Gray, Portugal. The Man, Robert Glasper, Big Freedia, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Matisyahu.
The Soul Rebels started with an idea to expand upon the pop music they loved on the radio and the New Orleans brass tradition they grew up on. They took that tradition and blended funk and soul with elements of hip hop, jazz and rock all within a brass band context. The band has built a career around an eclectic live show that harnesses the power of horns and drums in a deep pocket funk partylike atmosphere. The Soul Rebels continue to chart new territory as they feature in major films, tour globally, and combine topnotch musicianship with songs that celebrate dancing, life, funk and soul.
Victory Soul Orchestra is a hometown horn funk favorite. The dirty sounds of New Orleans brass drive their sound with some influences including Galactic as well as the Dap Kings. You can also find them fronted by Albany’s own JB aka Dirty Moses and singer Dali Soto. Their efforts combined help create a funk/rap show that brings the house down. In January 2019 they released their first album, ‘Astrobeat’ – now available on vinyl and all streaming platforms!
Join us in welcoming Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band) and Nick Cassarino (The Nth Power) to our stage on March 23rd!
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Trumpeter and vocalist, Jennifer Hartswick is one of the most exciting performers in music today. She exudes confidence and joy and brings her own refreshing spirit to the stage every time she performs. Jennifer’s music is honest, soulful and comes with a maturity far beyond her years.
Hartswick is an original member of the Trey Anastasio Band and has recorded/shared the stage with Herbie Hancock, Phish, Christian McBride, Tom Petty, Aaron Neville, Carlos Santana, The Rolling Stones, Big Gigantic, Dave Matthews, Meghan Trainor and countless others.
Jennifer’s live performances are renowned as spontaneous, joyful and contagious. Her natural charisma and sincerity shines through, and each performance is a celebration of musical collaboration. And whether she is wailing on the trumpet or singing an intimate vocal solo, her performance is all part of a single seamless instrument, one that is played not only with astounding technical proficiency, but also with sensitivity, conviction and heart.
Nicholas Cassarino (Nth Power, Big Daddy Kane) “oozes more soul in one finger than most guitarists could create in a lifetime……with a voice that immediately wraps the room in sex appeal”.
Jennifer and Nicholas have been playing, writing, laughing, and storytelling for almost two decades. Born and raised in Vermont, their bond is ever present in this intimate acoustic duo. Hartswick and Cassarino have each made names for themselves, touring tirelessly. Their passion, dedication and sophistication are evident in their joyous, soulful performances, providing audiences with a truly special musical experience.
Patrick Droney ‘State of the Heart’ Tour with special guest morgxn.
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Growing up in South Jersey, Patrick Droney’s career began with a bang, at age 13 he won a Robert Johnson New Generation Award as “Best Young Blues Guitarist” and began sharing stages with the likes of B.B. King, James Brown, The Roots, Taj Mahal, Macy Gray, and Elvis Costello. Droney became enamored of New York City at an early age, gigging frequently in esteemed Manhattan clubs and eventually attending the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU. He moved to LA and signed a publishing deal, and in 2018 relocated to Nashville to craft a self-titled EP, also making his TV debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers, performing at Barclays Center for Tidal X, and seeing his song “High Hope” featured on Grey’s Anatomy. After signing to Warner Records in 2019, he appeared at Bonnaroo and ACL, collaborated with Kygo, and recently reached the 75 million streams milestone. To craft his full-length debut, Droney pulled inspiration from his life experiences living in multiple places around the country with nods to both his musical heroes and current influences like The National and Bon Iver. With a résumé that reads like a dream, and after extensive touring and playing onstage with some of the all-time legends of blues, pop, rock, and soul, Droney’s STATE OF THE HEART released in May with a DELUXE version available now.
Pop singer/songwriter Morgxn debuted with a sound that combined electronic atmospherics with a warm R&B-influenced delivery, but quickly pivoted toward the mainstream with sleek alt-pop anthems heard on his 2018 full-length debut, Vital. Numerous singles and collaborations followed, including the chart hit “Home” with Walk the Moon. In 2021, he released the double-volume EP Meridian.
Born in Nashville, the soulful artist grew up surrounded by music, guided by his grandfather, a former vaudeville singer. Based in both New York City and Los Angeles, Morgxn signed with Wxnderlost Records and released his debut track, “Love You with the Lights On,” in 2016. Later that year, he issued a cover of Duran Duran’s “Notorious” and the thumping rocker “Home.” The popularity of the latter — which spawned remixes by LEFTI, Joywave, and Toy Armada — helped the artist exceed four million online streams. In 2017, he issued “XX” and “Hard Pill to Swallow.” The full-length Vital arrived in 2018, with the stripped-down Vital: Blue EP appearing in January 2019. A pair of singles — “A New Way” and “Omm!” — came out later that year. Collaborations with Smallpools, Ambassadeurs, and Meg Myers occupied much of 2020, while an EP of Wonder remixes featured “reimaginings” by PVRIS, Jagwar Twin, and more. Sara Bareilles later hopped onto that track in 2021. That same year, Morgxn released two EPs, the first of which (Meridian, Vol. 1) featured the singles “Porcelain” and “How Do You Hold What Hurts.” Volume 2 recruited Phoebe Ryan (“Broken People”) and Now, Now (“Burden”).
Join Lark Hall in welcoming acclaimed folk artist, Joe Purdy to our stage, Thursday February 24th. Doors open at 7pm; Show starts at 8pm.
About this event
Joe Purdy is an internationally acclaimed folk artist who has released 14 albums and a soundtrack to a movie in the last 15 years. Along the way, his songs have turned up on numerous TV shows, film soundtracks and he has co-starred in an acclaimed film. “American Folk” marked Joe’s first foray into acting. He also contributed to much of the soundtrack. It earned several awards including Best New Film at the Cleveland International Film Festival.
Joe’s last album, “Who Will Be Next?”, is deeply rooted in the tradition of artists such as Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan. It is a searing commentary of our turbulent times. Joe’s determination to honor the giants of American folk music while applying his formidable skills as a writer and vocalist reveal him as a compassionate observer and participant in our times. Joe has just finished a new album which will be released soon and supported by a Worldwide Tour in 2022.
WHO THE FUCK IS EARL BUCK?
Earl Buck was born in Baton Rouge. He was raised in Louisiana and East Texas until his family settled in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. He has called it home ever since. A screenwriter, a poet, and a classically trained actor, his songwriting is rooted in deeply human characters in all their levity and tragedy. His debut LP, Breakfast of Losers, is currently in the works.
With over 300 shows performed since their inception in 2014, Runaway Gin is the World’s Most Active Phish Tribute Band. They have also been voted the Best Phish Tribute in the World two years in a row. On July 4th, 2015, after the second show of the Grateful Dead GD50 run, Runaway Gin sold out the Hard Rock Cafe in Chicago and catapulting them from a Southeastern regional act onto the National scene.
The members of Runaway Gin are long time Phish fans who have united with the goal of creating musical moments inspired by Phish. The band’s song list is constantly growing and their improvisational and communication skills are constantly developing independently and together. Like Phish, Runaway Gin will never play the same show or jam the same way twice making every show a unique experience and every moment pure artistic creation.
Interweaving the classic songs and jams of The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band and The Band, Dead Man’s Waltz (formerly Steal Your Peach) is an all-star collective from the Northeast festival scene. Dead Man’s Waltz features top-notch musicianship and offers a refreshing twist to the music of three legendary and iconic bands. While staying true to the spirit of the music, the band members put their own dynamic spin on a vast catalog of beloved songs that are now part the new American song book.
At its core, DMW is a celebration of the long standing tradition of crossover between The Dead, The Allmans and The Band, culminating with the legendary 1973 Summer Jam Music Festival in Watkin’s Glenn, NY where the three bands performed together. DMW’s arrangements are experiments, as they easily flow from the familiar to the obscure, moving from standards like “Jessica” into Going Down The Road Felling Bad” into “Don’t Do It” or “Up On Cripple Creek” into “They Love Each Other” into “Midnight Rider”. The band always keeps it fresh with new and unexpected arrangements and improvisations, while engaging fans in the free-spirited party and colorful, close-knit community surrounding their shows.
With 2 drummers, DMW’s line-up mirrors those of both The Dead and The Allmans as well as later line-ups of The Band. Dead Man’s Waltz features “Rev” Tor Krautter (Rev Tor Band) on guitar and vocals, Tom Major (Entrain) on drums, Andrew Costa (Stone Revival Band) on keys, Jeremy Walz (Soul Sky) on guitar and vocals, Jeff Prescott (Rasinhead) on drums and vocals, and Brian O’Connell (Uncle Sammy, Gordon Stone Band) on bass and vocals.
You might expect a band that calls itself Yarn to, naturally, tend to spin a yarn or two. “that’s what we do, we tell stories, live and in the studio, truth and fiction” singer/songwriter Blake Christiana insists. “We don’t always opt for consistency. There’s a different vibe onstage from what comes through in our recordings. There’s a difference in every show as well, you never know what you’re going to get.”
It’s with that in mind that Yarn have announced a series of singles that will be digitally released on the 13th of every month beginning in January and continuing throughout the year. Each “single” will include an “A side”, a “B side” and an exclusive alternate version of one of the songs. Naturally, there’s no better name for the project than “Lucky 13.”
“These are essentially road stories,” Christiana says. “There’s an overriding theme that links these songs in a very broad sort of way, but again, the stories are not to be taken literally. The intention was to share the feeling of what it’s like to spend time travelling from city to city, with all the unlikely experiences that can be encountered along the way.
“People always ask us to tell them road stories,” singer guitarist Rod Hohl adds. “While this batch of songs aren’t exactly literal road stories, most deal with some degree of adventure and adversity as inspired by our tours and treks around the country. Yet like any good story, there’s an imaginative element to it as well. That’s why we’ve decided to release alternate versions of some of the tracks, to provide a glance at the oddities that exist just beyond sight…”
The titles of these tracks summarize the stories at a glance. Hohl describes “Sioux City,” “Road Less Traveled” and “Hurricane” as adventure stories as seen from the perspective of the road. “Too Young” re-imagines that road as an analogy, the highway of life. “Weary,” as title implies, describes the toll taken by that seemingly endless journey. However, there’s also hope on the horizon; “Heaven in You” suggests that there is an oasis out there somewhere. “Promised Land” and “American Dream” offer reason why one might choose to embark upon that sojourn in the first place.
Yarn have never been content to simply ride a wave and see where it takes them. Their last album, This Is the Year, was celebratory in tone and boldly optimistic. A seamless blend of vibrant, inspired, back porch melodies and narrative, descriptive lyrics, it detailed the challenges one faces when life is jolted off its bearings and, in reevaluating relationships, tough choices must be made that sometimes skirting the rules. It was recorded in the aftermath of real life challenges that left the band splintered and unsure of their forward trajectory.
“We were dealing with real life issues,” Christiana said at the time. “Broken relationships, a sense of having to regroup and put some things — and people — behind us. That’s what I was writing about lyrically in the new songs and it became kind of a catharsis. Nothing was contrived. We didn’t have to relate to it in the third person. We were living these circumstances, and that gave us the impetus and inspiration to share our sentiments. Ultimately those setbacks and difficulties led to new opportunities and allowed a little light to shine through.”
Yarn’s ability to persevere ought to come as no great surprise, especially for a band that spent two years honing their chops during a Monday night residency at the famed Kenny’s Castaway in New York’s Greenwich Village. In effect, it allowed them to rehearse onstage, mostly in front of audiences that often ranged in size from five to a hundred people on any given night. Five studio albums followed — Yarn (2007), Empty Pockets (2008), Come On In (2010), Almost Home (2012) and Shine the Light On (2013). The band then took to the road, playing upwards of 170 shows a year and sharing stages with such superstars as Dwight Yoakam, Charlie Daniels, Marty Stuart, Allison Krauss, Leon Russell, Jim Lauderdale and The Lumineers. They performed at any number of prestigious venues — Mountain Stage, Daytrotter, the Orange Peel in Asheville, the Fox Theater in Boulder, the 9:30 Club in D.C, South by Southwest, the Strawberry Festival, Rhythm and Roots, Meadowgrass, Floydfest and more, eventually surpassing 1,000 shows, half a million miles and performances in nearly every state. They’ve driven nonstop, made countless radio station appearances, driven broken-down RVs and watched as their van caught fire. They’ve paid their dues and then some, looking forward even as they were forced to glance behind.
Indeed, the accolades piled up quickly along the way. They have landed on the Grammy ballot 4 times, garnered nods from the Americana Music Association, placed top five on both Radio and Records and the AMA album charts, garnered airplay on Sirius FM, iTunes, Pandora, CNN, and CMT, and also accorded the “Download of the Day” from Rolling Stone. Shine the Light On found shared song writing credits with John Oates (the Oates of Hall & Oates fame), and when audiences expressed their admiration, it brought the band a populist following of diehard devotees, popularly known as “the Yarmy.”
As odd as that might seem, it’s proof positive that the Brooklyn and Raleigh based band — which is currently comprised of Blake Christiana, Rod Hohl, bassist Rick Bugel, and drummer Robert Bonhomme — have made their mark, and in dealing with their emotions, scars and circumstances, they find themselves in a position to share those experiences with others who have juggled similar sentiments.
Then again, one needn’t take them at their word. When one unravels Yarn, it’s best to add one’s own interpretations.
lespecial carve their own sonic path in modern music, creating their signature blend of “heavy future groove”. The power trio’s fresh synthesis of varied and divergent influences doesn’t underestimate the listener, reflecting a post-modern cultural climate in which fans have space on their aural palette for J Dilla, Radiohead, King Crimson and Fela Kuti. Veering from hip-hop to metal, prog to house, pensive indie-rock to apocalyptic dub, leaving room for head banging and hip swaying alike, while still presenting a unified sound and vision.
These three childhood friends from Connecticut play off of a lifetime of shared experience in their writing and performance. In a power trio, it’s essential that each of the players can utterly captivate you at any given time. Each individual has a lot of weight to carry and is only as strong as the weakest link. In the studio, as on stage, it seems at first blush that Jon Grusauskas—delivering lyrics that call for your attention and seamlessly moving from guitar to keys to samples—is handling the entire upper end of the spectrum… until you consider how broad the melodic embrace of rhythmatist Rory Dolan and low end wizard Luke Bemand: injecting splashes of color and wicked chops into their heavy groove foundations or driving assaults, this dynamic battery simultaneously eases and propels lespecial through fractious changes of mood and tempo. Additionally, whether at the forefront or scattered throughout the mix, all of them use live looping or triggered samples that contribute to a sound that is far greater than that generally created by three people as they seek to tap into a primitive past, distorted through the lens of contemporary technology.
Formed in 2007, Timbre Coup is a progressive rock band hailing from Albany New York. The band is comprised of Dan Gerken (guitar/bass/vocals), Andrew Chamberlaine (guitar), Ben (guitar/bass) and brother Matt Pickering (drums).
In their time together as a band, the members of Timbre Coup have become a cohesive force to be reckoned with. Often compared to groups such as King Crimson and Umphrey’s McGee, this prog (or “improg”) band also has a very danceable side. ”We want people to pay attention to the details and intricacies of our songs, but we love making people dance.” says drummer Matt Pickering. ”Our music was as accepted at Camp Bisco as it was at MoeDown.
Bearly Dead is an all-star cast of players with deep roots in the New England jam & festival scene. While the band plays all of the Grateful Dead classics, they also dive into an extended catalog, which may include any song that any member of the Dead ever performed. With over 230 songs in rotation and new material being added all the time, Bearly Dead performs wildly different set lists every night and ensures that each show is a unique experience. With no designated “Jerry” or “Bobby”, this band is able to breathe new life into songs with their fresh, high-energy approach to them. Bearly Dead is a setlist-nerd’s dream!
Founded during an intense snowstorm in April 2015, Bearly Dead played its first show at Church of Boston, marking the beginning of its hallowed Wednesday Night Residency. In September of that year, Church was sold and the band found a new home on Wednesday nights at Thunder Road in Somerville. During their 5 years at Thunder Road, Bearly Dead was nominated twice for the Boston Music Award’s “Live Music Residency of the Year,” and burst onto the scene as New England’s premier Grateful Dead tribute band. The band has had the opportunity to play at some of Massachusetts’ most prestigious venues, including The Paradise Rock Club and The Worcester Palladium, as well as headlining turns at The House of Blues Boston, The Sinclair, and The Middle East Downstairs. Bearly Dead has also become a staple in the New England festival scene with appearances at Disc Jam, Wild Woods, Luna Light, Wormtown, Yasgur Road Reunion, Great North, Kind Mind Campout, and many more.
Bearly Dead’s Wednesday Night Residency at Thunder Road continued unabated every week since its inception in September 2015 until the club’s closing in 2020. The phrase “Never Miss A Wednesday Show” became ubiquitous around Boston…and you really never knew what might happen! Thunder Road was a beacon to all musicians on Wednesday nights to come join in the fun, with notable appearances by Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Paul Wolstencroft (Slightly Stoopid), Steve Molitz (Particle/Phil Lesh & Friends), Kebbi Williams (Tedeschi Trucks Band), Rob Compa (Dopapod), Hayley Jane (Hayley Jane & The Primates), Johnny Trama (Dub Apocalypse), and Gary Backstrom (Gary Backstrom Band); and a surprise appearance by Jerry Garcia’s “Wolf” guitar in 2018 on Jerry Garcia’s birthday! While one door closes, many more will open – stay tuned to see what Bearly Dead will do for the next 5 years!
For Briston Maroney, it’s been a journey to arrive at the current moment. A mental, physical, emotional, and musical one. But it’s left him equipped: not only with a deep understanding of self, discovered through life’s trials and errors, but just as important, with a piece of art that reflects his personal growth. Sunflower, Maroney’s debut album, is the culmination of the past decade of the now-22-year old’s life. “It’s all of the things I’ve been stoked about since I was 12 coming together,” the wise-beyond-his-years, Nashville-based singer-songwriter says with a laugh of his striking album. “It’s been a literal and physical relationship with the record as far as coming to a point where I understand what parts of me it represents, what it means to me as a person and what it means for my entire life.”
Recorded between the summer of 2019 and early 2020 in LA with acclaimed producer John Congleton, Sunflower is “definitely a milestone,” Maroney admits. “I’d be lying to say I didn’t feel a little bit of that. And why not let yourself enjoy it?” It’s also a gut-punch of fuzzy power chords (“Sinkin”) and genteel acoustics (“Cinnamon”); deftly-composed pop songs (“Freeway”) and hard-charging rockers (“Rollercoaster”). “I put all of myself into it,” Maroney adds of the 10-track LP. In retrospect, he adds, “I definitely have this sense of calmness now. I did what I was capable of doing and I’m just glad I was around my friends and my people to help me get to this point.”
An energetic live performer with a craft first honed in basements, living rooms, and jam-packed clubs, Maroney quickly developed a style steeped in the sweat and sounds of Nashville’s DIY scene. After self-releasing his 2017 debut EP Big Shot and amassing a strong local fan base, Maroney ultimately attracted the attention of Canvasback Music. After signing with the label, his subsequent releases – Carnival (2018), Indiana (2019), and Miracle (2020) – remained entirely self-written with just a single producer credited on each project, namely Grammy Award-winning producer Tone Def and UK-based producer Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Adele).
When Maroney began to tour the US and Europe alongside other artists, co-writing sessions became commonplace as they created music together while on the road. It was at this point he made the conscious decision that he would seek out additional songwriters and producers to work with on his debut full-length project; as Maroney’s music world grew, so too did his desire for collaboration.
While Maroney is the first to admit he was ‘terrified-in-a-good-way’ to be working alongside top-notch talents with the likes of Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull and venerated songwriter Dan Wilson on the creation of Sunflower, over time he came to understand a simple lesson. That being, “If you’re approaching what you’re doing from a place of love and kindness and passion you can be as open and flowing artistically as you want to be with your collaborators,” he says. “I learned a ton from writing with those people,” Maroney continues. “I think the biggest thing I took away is you get to decide how open you want to be, and you get to decide how much of a stage you want to set for emotions in songwriting.”
If there was a sense of apprehension heading into such sessions, it’s only because songwriting, for Maroney, has long been such a highly personal process. “It’s been my journal for a really long time,” he explains. “There’s a beauty in songwriting. It’s a scrapbook. It’s a photo album. And if you’re really putting your heart into what you’re doing and writing songs for the right reasons, every one of them should take you back to a very specific place.” For Maroney, the songs that comprise Sunflower take him along the long and winding path to the present, from his time as a young, upstart-tween musician busking at the Knoxville farmer’s markets to playing dank basement gigs, sobering up amid personal struggles, and finally arriving right now at his most fully-realized self.
“Hopefully this record is representative of my journey,” Maroney says, singling out the opening track “Sinkin” as summing up the record to him in a single cut. “Here’s 100 percent of who I am,” he says of the brash and bursting song. “It feels the most connected to my heart.”
“I hope that people hear the record and see the songs as windows into what I’ve been experiencing and hopefully they’ll relate to that,” Maroney says, continuing. “I know these songs will continue to do that for me.”
Working with producer John Congleton, Maroney explains, was about learning to trust his impulse. While Maroney had long been the first to question initial instincts, Congleton taught him to respect his gut. “He communicates really directly and really taught me a lot about speaking precisely and speaking about what you want to accomplish with a song and a record,” Maroney recalls. “Whereas I have a tendency to be really abstract. I learned to be able to switch into that mode. He had my back the whole time.”
Maroney gushes as he reflects on the session with Congleton that resulted in “It’s Still Cool If You Don’t.” Their initial stab at writing together, “was the first experience of really letting go,” Maroney contends of the song. “Just coming in and having a silly idea and being down to see where it goes.” Working on “Cinnamon” alongside seasoned songwriter Jenny Owens Young, which Maroney describes as a “quieter more low-key song,” was by contrast an exercise in “being all gushy” and exploring his feelings on love. “That was really fun to write a love song with someone else who was also in love with a person,” Maroney offers.
Where “Rollercoaster,” an older track that Maroney and his band typically closed out their sets with, was his attempt at getting a bit raucous, the track “Deep Sea Diver,” which Maroney penned with Dan Wilson, was a far more meditative affair. Or as Maroney says with a laugh, “It’s like, well, if this really pissed off angry rock thing doesn’t work here’s my best attempt at trying to be John Prine.”
If anything, the process of assembling Sunflower was the best way Maroney learned to take his foot off the gas a bit and ease into his life in a more gratifying way. Where he admits at times throughout the recording process he was “squeezing it so hard,” completing a brilliant debut album to him “was so much about just learning to be a little more laid back,” Maroney says with a smile. “I still feel really connected to it, but I’m so stoked to share it and especially one day play it live,” Maroney adds of Sunflower. “Right now, I am just so thankful and happy.”
The Record Company is breaking old habits on Play Loud. The Los Angeles trio was ready for a change when it came time to make their third album, and they got it: Play Loud pushes the group into uncharted territory with a dozen new tracks that move beyond the homemade sound of The Record Company’s first two albums. Band members Alex Stiff, Chris Vos, and Marc Cazorla brought in GRAMMY-winning producer Dave Sardy (Oasis, Wolfmother, Modest Mouse, LCD Soundsystem) to help broaden their sound.
“We came to the table for our third record with strong demos on songs that could have passed for our first two records, and asked, ‘Can we beat it?'” says singer Chris Vos. “And for the first time, we allowed talented people to come into our small circle to push the music higher.”
“In the past, we were really insular. Everything was just us,” says Stiff, who also played guitar and keyboards and sang on the album. “We totally flipped the process on this record to allow for every idea and possibility, so it wasn’t just the three of us, closed off in our bubble. It was like, ‘Let’s take some risks and see what we can really do.'”
As the title implies, Play Loud is a bigger sounding album, with songs packed full of taut grooves and stick-in-your-head hooks. It’s upbeat, and you can hear why Chris Vos described a common theme in the process as simply: “Fun.” Though there are echoes aplenty of The Record Company’s origins — including recording all the basic tracks together live in the studio during a brief window in May 2020 — there’s also a willingness to try out new sounds and styles. Lead single “How High” pairs bristling guitar with a sleek bassline and distorted vocals, while “Paradise” lays back in a deep pocket with a spare, locked-in rhythm from bass and drums, bright bursts of guitar and, on the chorus, swelling keyboards that give the song a sense of lift. There’s dirty electric guitar and a ’90s hip-hop influence on the pulsing track “Gotta Be Movin,'” and a punchy bassline, tight backing vocals and just the right amount of a pop sensibility on “Never Leave You.”
“We definitely wanted to expand,” says Cazorla, who played drums and keyboards on the new album. The Record Company got started in 2011 and were selling out small venues in Los Angeles before they released their first album, 2016’s GRAMMY-nominated Give It Back to You. Stiff produced the debut which yielded three Top 10 hits at Triple-A radio, including “Off the Ground,” which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Songs chart. Stiff also produced the trio’s 2018 follow-up, All of This Life, which cracked the Billboard 200 albums chart and launched another Adult Alternative chart-topper with “Life to Fix.” Yet when it came time to make their third record, the musicians knew they wanted to try something different.
Why did you shake things up on Play Loud?
Vos: You can’t stay the same and expect new things. Where is the fun in that? Sardy said at the very beginning, “to make a great record you need to be around people who lose sleep over it.” He did. We did.
Stiff: I stated right off the bat that we should try a new producer. I was ready to learn from someone with tons of record making experience, and focus on being creative, rather than wearing so many hats at once.
What did you learn from working with new collaborators?
Cazorla: That we don’t have the answers to everything. We were fortunate to work with
some great people, and it’s helpful to listen to them and take some guidance where needed, and also to stand firmly up for the stuff that we believe in and find that great end result together. The best possible version of the song.
Vos: We collaborated in our writing process with a couple of people, like Shungudzo or Sam Hollander and Kevin Griffin or Dave, who awoke inspiration within us to find new ideas, or greatly improve upon existing ones. Every second of every song on the record is authentic to both who we are and where we are as people. It was a fresh feeling to have that experience because you got to participate with others in a process that adds to your own, and that opened new possibilities up.
What did Dave Sardy bring to the process?
Stiff: Even the first time we met him, all of us left that day with new knowledge about how to make something bigger than what we could conceive on our own. He also has an amazing studio with a lot of crazy gear that inspired ideas. It’s not just about expensive mics, sometimes we’d use a mic from an ’80s boombox to record. He brings a craft of experimentation that is an art in itself.
Vos: Nothing gets past Dave. He demands ideas and performances achieve a certain level. We as a band feel the same. I easily had a couple of nervous breakdowns making the record, and I think that’s what it takes. The melodies on this record, alongside Dave’s production, made me step away from a lot of my moves as a singer. It got me out of my normal comfortable zone and made me grow through the challenge of singing authentically from a different place. To refine and redefine how I saw singing and melody. That’s a delight.
What effect did the pandemic have on making this album?
Cazorla: We had much more time, so we took a few months before we went into record in May 2020 to really go over everything with a fine-tooth comb: every word, every phrase — everything, and it felt really great to be able to do that.
Vos: From the beginning, Alex was in his home studio making rock solid inspiring demoes for us to feed off of. That started the whole ball rolling from a strong place. There was nothing else to do but work on these songs and make them the sole central focus in our lives. We’ll probably never have a chance quite like that again. Through the whole process it is the band’s job to make sure we know what we want to say, to work as hard to get the best results, and to always do music you feel opens your heart to the listener.
What do you hope Play Loud does for the band?
Vos: I want the record to reach the people it’s supposed to reach. I don’t know how many that is — I don’t care about the numbers so much as the record is just finding its way to people who can hear the honesty that we put into it. We worked harder on this record than we’ve worked on any other record. We made a record we love.
Stiff: When this album drops is exactly our 10-year anniversary, and we just feel like it’s our time. It’s different than what some of our fans might expect from us, but we felt we had to evolve, and we found new ground and a bigger sound.
Warren Haynes broke his shoulder in a fall so this show is being rescheduled. We’ll let you know what the new date is as soon as we find out. All tickets will be honored for the new date.
GOV’T MULE Announces
Headlining Spring Tour Dates
In Support of Chart-Topping Blues Album
Heavy Load Blues
General On Sale Begins February 4th at 10am Local
“Warren Haynes is a meaty and masterful player, as well as a soulful singer and songwriter
– an all-star.” – Rolling Stone
“Gov’t Mule is an essential, iconic American band.” – Guitar World
“[Warren Haynes is] one of the most celebrated, legendary guitar pros.” –Billboard
“[Gov’t Mule’s] songs stomp and wail with unmistakable energy and heft.” – NPR
“Brilliant and never predictable…an effortless combination of blues, soul and classic roots-rock…innovative and commanding.” –American Songwriter
“One of the greatest live bands in existence.” – Music Connection
“Heavy jam legends Gov’t Mule lay bare their roots on Heavy Load Blues, resulting in one of the most satisfying albums of the year.” – PopMatters
“Heavy Load Blues is raw, heavy, and immediate.” –AllMusic
“Haynes and the band deliver a world-class musical experience.” – Goldmine
January 31, 2022 – Renowned quartet Gov’t Mule – led by GRAMMY®Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, guitar legend, and producer Warren Haynes – has announced a run of headlining Spring tour dates supporting their critically acclaimed, chart-topping blues album, Heavy Load Blues. Commencing April 6th in Syracuse, the month-long outing includes their rescheduled New Year’s shows in Philadelphia and New York City, the latter of which are now set for April 8th and 9th still at The Beacon Theatre, the band’s unofficial home-court venue. Other stops along the tour include Albany, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Memphis, St. Louis, Oklahoma City and New Orleans, where Gov’t Mule will return on April 29thfor a very special show during the first weekend of Jazz Fest. Details for New Orleans including venue, lineup and ticketing coming later this week. Additionally, the road warriors will be performing at select festivals this year including SweetWater420 Festival in Atlanta and Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga. Full routing below.
Artist pre-sale tickets will be available Wednesday, February 2nd at 10am ET with the general on sale beginning Friday, February 4th at 10am local time. Please visit www.mule.net for ticketing details and check with the venue’s website for local health and safety requirements.
“We’ve really been looking forward to getting back out on the road and doing a ‘proper’ tour to play all these new songs,” shares Haynes. “I don’t know who’s more excited – the fans or the band. We can’t wait to get back to playing every night. Most of these venues are ones we’ve played before and love, but there are a few new places we’re eager to visit. We’re also thrilled to reschedule our New Year’s shows and continue our ‘Black and Blue’ theme, which I think is different from what people may have expected. See you out there!”
Heavy Load Blues (Fantasy Records), the band’s first-ever blues album, debuted at #1 on theBillboard Blues Albums chart upon its November 2021 release, marking Gov’t Mule’s third album to enter the Billboard charts at the top spot in their storied career. Heavy Load Blues, which has amassed 3.4 million total global streams, also peaked on the Amazon Best Sellers in Blues chart and Music Connect’s Blues Albums chart, among many other charting positions. PRESS HEREto listen. The 13-track album, produced by Haynes alongside engineer and co-producer John Paterno (Elvis Costello, Michael Landau, Bonnie Raitt, Robbie Williams, Los Lobos), encompasses an even mix of Haynes’ originals, such as “Heavy Load,” and revered covers, including their rendition of the Tom Waits classic “Make It Rain,” a groovy arrangement of the Junior Wells standard “Snatch It Back and Hold It,” and more originally made famous by the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Elmore James, Ann Peebles, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and The Animals. A deluxe edition featuring additional studio and live tracks, including another Haynes original and covers originally by Savoy Brown, Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, Otis Rush and more, is also available now. Though technically considered a studio album, Heavy Load Blues was recorded live in the studio at The Power Station New England on analog tape, utilizing vintage guitars, amps and other equipment to capture an authentic sound.
Worldwide, Heavy Load Blues has received critical praise and acclaim from the likes of Consequence, Guitar World, BrooklynVegan, No Depression, Ultimate Classic Rock, PopMatters, Downbeat, Classic Rock, Relix, Guitar Magazine, Paste and many more, including numerous 9- and 8-out-of-10-star reviews. Additionally, Haynes was a recent guest on NPR Weekend Edition for an in-depth discussion on the new album – PRESS HERE to listen.
Gov’t Mule – Haynes,Matt Abts [drums], Danny Louis [keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals], and JorgenCarlsson [bass] – returned to the stage earlier this month for their first shows of 2022 at Island Exodus 12, the band’s annual destination “concert-cation” event at Jewel Paradise Cove Resort in Jamaica. The 5-day extravaganza (January 16-20) saw Mule perform three full shows along with performances from Dawes, The War and Treaty and RonHolloway for a truly memorable experience.
GOV’T MULE TOUR DATES *New dates in bold
April 6 – Syracuse, NY @ Landmark Theatre
April 7 – Albany, NY @ Palace Theatre
April 8 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre (originally 12/30/21)
April 9 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre (originally 12/31/21)
April 11 – McKee Rocks, PA @ Roxian Theatre
April 13 – Wilkes-Barre, PA @ F.M. Kirby Center
April 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met (originally 12/29/21)
April 15 – Erie, PA @ Warner Theatre
April 16 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
April 17 – Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe Live
April 19 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Clyde Theatre
April 21 – Memphis, TN @ Soundstage at Graceland
April 22 – Little Rock, AR @ The Hall
April 23 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
April 25 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Jones Assembly
April 27 – Mobile, AL @ Saenger Theatre
April 28 – Atlanta, GA @ SweetWater 420 Festival
April 29 – New Orleans, LA @ TBA
April 30 – Tuscaloosa, AL @ Druid City Music Hall
June 3-5 – Chattanooga, TN @ Riverbend Festival
Photo Credit: Jay Sansone
ABOUT GOV’T MULE & WARREN HAYNES
Gov’t Mule – Warren Haynes [vocals, guitar], Matt Abts [drums], Danny Louis [keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals], and Jorgen Carlsson [bass] – has galvanized a global fan base with their honest, organic and daring music and improvisational virtuosity, leading them to be recognized as one of the most timeless, revered and active bands in the world whose spot amongst rock titans remains unshakable. Led by visionary GRAMMY Award-winning artist and guitar legend Warren Haynes – a cornerstone of the American music landscape – the enduring, globally revered group has showcased its intelligence and breadth over the course of 20+ studio and live albums, thousands of memorable performances and millions of album and track sales. Gov’t Mule has become a human encyclopedia of great American music while adding to that canon with their signature sound. The band’s flexible interplay in the studio and on stage makes them a true living, breathing ensemble and Haynes is lauded as one of the most formidable guitarists and vocalists of the modern era and a prolific songwriter and producer. Throughout his prolific career as part of three of the greatest live groups in rock history – Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule and the Dead – and an acclaimed solo artist, Haynes has become one of music’s most treasured storytellers.
