Sister Hazel’s new CD, “Release”, won’t be out until August 18th. The first single, “Take A Bow”, will be in radio airplay later this month but is available here for listening now. Enjoy and the best comment will win the CD when it becomes available.
Click here: “Take A Bow”
By Harris Cohen
Special to The Post and Courier
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Sister Hazel holds their fourth annualHazelnut Hang fan fest at the Windjammer this weekend. The event includes concerts Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon. The latter show will be performed solely acoustic similar to their last year’s CD release, “Before The Amplifiers, Live Acoustic.” Those who purchase V.I.P. passes will also enjoy the treat of a special pre-concert session of them performing Fleetwood Mac’s classic “Rumours” album in its entirety. Other events include a volleyball tournament against the band and a merchandise auction including signed T-shirts with the proceeds donated to the band’s charity, Lyrics for Life.
In addition, the band will play requests from the audience some of which they have been receiving via their website, songs they have not played for years, and they will also debut a couple of songs from their upcoming CD.
Sister Hazel’s new CD titled “Release” will be available for sale on August 18. The band’s bass player, Jett Beres, told me the disc will break new ground stylistically. He said the band asked themselves a year ago, “How do we make a different Sister Hazel album but with it still expressing our essence?” As opposed to previous efforts, each of the members brought two or three songs and the band as a whole worked them up but with the song’s author still steering the process. Further, they went to Nashville together and recorded all the songs as a band rather than dividing the songs into individual parts and tracks. Beres stated “it was important for us to get the vibe of the songs down and not just the notes, chords, and lyrics.” While a producer was utilized as a tiebreaker and facilitator, the band acted as their own executive producer. Beres said the result is “a cohesive collection of tight songs that the band is most proud. We wanted to progress but also to keep the fans happy and interested at the same time.”
I probed further on Sister Hazel’s sound. Beres said with all members hailing from Gainesville, Florida, their sound was most influenced by classic southern bands such as The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, harder southern rock bands like Molly Hatchet and Blackfoot, but also The Eagles with their four-part harmonies. When I told Beres that when 1997’s smash hit, “All For You” was first heard and into very heavy radio play rotation, the song sounded like one of the best if not the best Counting Crows compositions but with more musical substance and pleasantly a little less story-telling. He replied, “Thanks for the kind complement. We take utmost pride in our songwriting and at the same time we see ourselves as bridging the gap between poets and partiers.”
We further talked on the band’s longevity. Beres said the band has remained totally intact since inception in 1993 due to “the mutual respect for what each member brings to the table and of course some luck.” He bluntly stated, “sixteen years is a long time and there were certainly points where we were on the proverbial razors edge but managed to weather the storm.” He continued that while the five members are very different, they are also like brothers who love each other but occasionally fight and in the end there is that persevering thread bringing unity and desire to keep going.
Beres elaborated on my question to growing older while in the band stating that there has been a definitive effect in both writing and touring. He said naturally they write about what is going on in their life currently and that perspectives change with both events and age. With family, kids, and a bulldog pet, Beres said the tours and recording sessions are planned out much more thoughtfully than in the more carefree past. He said the whole band though is so pleased and even surprised with the continuing connection they make with younger college-age fans given their own mindless University of Florida days are well behind them. At the same time, Beres says the band is more focused now on their music and career than they ever had been. Beres also adapted the band’s song he and lead singer Ken Block authored “Starfish” into a children’s book “Starfish Lullabies.” (http://www.starfishlullaby.com/)
Sister Hazel has been a leader in trends in the music industry. In what seems an almost everyday occurrence now, the band left the Universal label in 2003 and proceeded to release music on their own. Their “Rockboat” event, a cruise with live rock bands performing, will celebrate its tenth anniversary next year. As recorded music sales have slumped dramatically over the past few years, Sister Hazel attempts to capture their live on-stage sound and feel in the studio rather than the other way around. Beres said with all of this “connecting with our audience in our music and performances is our highest priority.”
I asked “Why Charleston?” for the fan fest. Beres replied, “Early in our career we toured to where we could afford the gas to drive. Charleston was the outer edge of that concentric circle and while we had long wanted to play Charleston, we couldn’t secure a gig. The Windjammer had a last minute cancellation of an opening band and we knew the headline act. We fell for the city and have loved playing here every since.”
In addition to their music and closeness to their fans, the band has a history of giving back to the community. The band’s name comes from a lady who ran a homeless shelter in their home county. Lead singer Ken Block founded the cancer-focused charity, Lyrics for Life, in memory of his late younger brother. The funds that are raised are donated to groups that are working to find a cure as well as those aiming to enrich the lives of patients including research to summer camps and family support groups. (http://www.lyricsforlife.org/)
If you go
WHO: Sister Hazel.
WHEN: 10:00 Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30, 1:00 Sunday May 31.
WHERE: The Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd., Isle of Palms.
COST: $25 each show; $189.99 V.I.P. pass for all shows.
HEAR THE ARTIST’S MUSIC: myspace.com/sisterhazel www.sisterhazel.com
TICKETS: Etix.com.
Concert Preview
Harris Cohen for The Post and Courier
Who: Jack’s Mannequin, Matt Nathanson, & Erin McCarley
When: Wednesday, May 6
Where: House of Blues, Myrtle Beach
Their style is of the popular genre of piano-based rock pop that includes such top bands as Coldplay, The Fray, and Aqualung. While the band sings songs with catchy riffs and lyrics similar to the aforementioned more well-known bands, Jack’s Mannequin distinguish themselves with an edgier style without sacrificing melody. Many of their songs start with the familiar slow-to-mid tempo then explode into harder rock segments akin to Nickelback, though somewhat more melodic. Band leader, Andrew McMahon agreed telling me that he sees the band “with more rock elements” than others in this genre.
I attended their concert in New York City last week. While expecting a large crowd given the band’s increasing popularity and simply New York’s large population, I was surprised that not only was the show sold out, but also that their were scalpers doing a brisk business and the city’s newest radio rock station was broadcasting outside.
From the opening song, not just a small portion of the audience, but most of the diverse crowd sang ecstatically and danced along. This was not just for their most familiar songs, but all night long, and every song performed from the current and debut CDs. The band and especially leader and singer, Andrew McMahon, fed off of this high energy as he proceeded to bounce around from behind the piano to atop the piano to all around the stage and into the audience continuously entertaining all throughout the evening.
Speaking with him after the show, McMahon said that while he tailors each show differently, without doubt the audience rouses his verve during the performance. He too was amazed that the audience participated in so many songs given the emphasis on singles and not complete albums in this digital age.
Jack’s Mannequin has been on a world tour through Australia and Europe since early this year backing their recently- released second CD, “The Glass Passenger” on the Sire/Warner Bros. label. The album peaked at number 8 on the Billboard charts with the current single, “The Resolution”, at 28th on the singles list. McMahon said this CD is “completely different” than their debut, “Everything In Transit” in that their first album was almost completely a demo that he put together. The current CD has a different sound and a dynamic with the tone and pace and has a “band” feel to it.
After moderate success with his first band, the West Coast-based Something Corporate, Andrew McMahon, the band’s leader and piano-playing songwriter, released Jack’s Mannequin’s debut, “Everything In Transit”, in 2005. Prior to touring to support the CD, McMahon was diagnosed with cancer acute lymphatic leukemia. He was blessed with a successful bone marrow transplant from his sister and has fully recovered. The band toured intermittently and he began to write for their follow-up effort. The current CD reflects on this ordeal and his recovery saying that “this CD is shackled to history.”
While this allowed him to “breathe out feelings” through songs such as “Swim” and “What Gets You Off,” he said he does look forward more freedom in writing the next effort including the beauty in love. Further, while he is grateful in retaining fans from previous albums and bands, he is not afraid to explore different sounds although he is aware of “playing with fire” by veering too far left or right.
With numerous catchy songs including the current hit, “The Resolution”, and a dynamic stage presence, Jack’s Mannequin assures a splendid concert. Matt Nathanson, with the hit single, “Come On Get Higher,” and Erin McCarley, with current single, “Love, Save The Empty” and “Pony (It’s OK)” open.
McMahon founded the Dear Jack Foundation (http://dearjackfoundation.com/) dedicated to fund cancer research.)
DO NOT STEAL MUSIC
Classic pop pianist, William Joseph, performs in concert in Charlotte on April 2nd at the Blumenthal Center. After touring in support of high-profile artists such as Barbra Streisand, Alicia Keys, Natalie Cole, and John Mayer, Joseph headlines this tour in the U.S. to support his recently-released successful and critically-acclaimed CD, “Beyond.”
Joseph has burst to recognition and popularity from his early days playing solo in shopping malls, to being the challenged opening act, and now to headlining his own tour. As is with the warped, current music business model, a “break” was necessary to thrust him into the spotlight and he received this when he was “discovered” at a charity even in 2003 honoring Muhammad Ali. Also attending the event was successful producer, David Foster, who simply looked at him and said “Play something!” Joseph said he knew this was his big chance, his moment to shine, and everything he had worked for.” Impressed, Foster spontaneously signaled the band to join in and he proceeded to conduct. Joseph’s mind raced, “please don’t mess this up now.” The performance went so well that Joseph was asked on-the-spot to perform that night. Foster knew immediately that he had to work with Joseph.
When asked how his second CD differs from his debut, Joseph said that working again with accomplished producer David Foster let him relax and also refine his sound to a more-focused effort compared to the wider variety on his first CD “Within.” Further with a full “A-list” orchestra at his disposal, Joseph said he grew by leaps and bounds and stated emphatically, “this effort is absolutely me.”
Joseph said he was not influenced growing up in Phoenix, Arizona by any geographic influences but rather by his Russian teacher who sheltered him to strictly classical artist such as Chopin and Rachmaninov. While he has said that he is still afraid of her to this day, he was able to escape this protectionism and joined a band in high school that tended to the rock classics of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. This endeavor was certainly not wasted time as Joseph performs a creative and dynamic rendition of the latter’s “Kashmir”. See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed6BCh6HJvo .
Not only are his compositions innovative, but also the visuals of the live performance show that he does not just sit at the piano and bang out tunes, instead using his whole body, rocking back and forth not unlike David Gray, and he even entertains the audience by playing the piano upside down.
In writing his original music, Joseph said while he does not attempt to design epics, instead he attempts to compose songs that will endure the proverbial test of time. Concerning this, I asked him how he views his image as a new and upcoming artist and how he prefers to place himself in the accomplished category of musicians such as Chris Botti and George Winston as opposed to the media-defined fluff of Kenny G and Yanni. To my pointed and loaded question, he politely replied that he simply wants to appeal to the masses as this is a business and he would be delighted to sell millions of CDs as all of the aforementioned artists. However he pointedly stated that he “absolutely must remain true to himself as an artist,” and will not compromise this.
Joseph relates he does not start with a specific picture of a song but rather with a feeling and he attempts to draw with the piano these expressions in a musical manner. He likes to start with rolling chords to set the mood that will inspire on the spot. He said sometimes this process takes five minutes, sometimes days, weeks, months, or years to properly finish a composition. This “tightness” is forefront on the “Beyond” CD and bring an aural listening experience.
His songs flow full of emotion with expressive and intense feelings and moods . At the same time, the ambiance and vibes in his compositions vary to provide sensations from the forceful “Standing the Storm” to the epic “Heroes” to the delicate remake of legendary Ennio Morricone’s “Cinema Paradiso” to the passionate “Once Upon Love.” Joseph said the title-track “Beyond” typifies his music with its rolling melody and sweeping orchestral accompaniment through to his piano solo and joining back into the other instruments.
Listening to both of his CDs, William Joseph is poised to join both the popularity of and respect given to accomplished artist such as Chris Botti and George Winston.
As I will in the future with other performers, we discussed him performing at a later date, possibly next year in Charleston.
DO NOT STEAL MUSIC!