Tuesday, February 12, 2008

ALBERT CASTIGLIA’S NEW CD ANNOUNCES: THESE ARE THE DAYS

ALBERT CASTIGLIA’S NEW CD ANNOUNCES:
THESE ARE THE DAYS

MIAMI, FL – Blues Leaf Records announces an April 1st release date for guitarist/singer Albert Castiglia’s new CD, These are the Days, distributed nationally by Allegro.

Born in New York and raised in Miami, Albert Castiglia (pronounced “ka-STEEL-ya”), began playing guitar at 12. In 1990, he became a member of The Miami Blues Authority and was later voted “Best Blues Guitarist” by New Times magazine in 1997. Shortly thereafter, he was spotted by legendary blues singer/harmonica player Junior Wells, who asked Castiglia to join his band as a guitarist and singer. With Wells as his mentor, Albert performed at clubs and festivals across America, as well as in Canada and Europe. During that time, he also got the opportunity to play and jam with many other blues stars, including Pinetop Perkins, Ronnie Earl, Billy Boy Arnold, Lurrie Bell, Jerry Portnoy, Eddy Clearwater and Otis Clay. After Junior Wells passed away, Castiglia toured with Atlanta blues singer Sandra Hall.

In 2002, Albert launched his solo career with the debut CD, Burn, collaborating with his longtime friend, Graham Wood Drout of south Florida band Iko-Iko. Drout’s visceral, yet literary songs became the perfect vehicle for Castiglia’s soulful vocals, which recall Van Morrison, and stinging guitar playing. In 2006, he released his second album (and first for Blues Leaf Records), A Stone’s Throw, which included two more Drout compositions, “Big Toe,” and the amazing “Ghosts of Mississippi,” which has all the earmarks of becoming a blues classic. Castiglia and Drout also released a live CD together, titled The Bittersweet Sessions, in 2005.

These are the Days, contains five original Albert Castiglia songs, including the opening track, “Bad Year Blues,” which jumps out of the box with both killer guitar hooks and memorable lyrics, and “Godfather of the Blues,” his tribute to Junior Wells. Once again, Graham Wood Drout contributes another song for Albert, “Celebration.” The cover songs on These are the Days salute a wide range of styles and artists ranging from Bob Dylan (“Catfish”) and Nappy Brown (“Night Time is the Right Time”), to Fenton Robinson (“Somebody Loan me a Dime”) and Little Willie John (“Need Your Love So Bad”).

With the release of These are the Days, Albert Castiglia makes a statement as a major force in the blues.

For more information, visit www.albertcastiglia.com.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

THE TOM PRINCIPATO BAND IS RAISING THE ROOF ON NEW CD

THE TOM PRINCIPATO BAND IS RAISING THE ROOF ON NEW CD,
DUE MARCH 4, 2008, ON POWERHOUSE RECORDS

WASHINGTON, DC – Powerhouse Records announces a February 19, 2008, release date for Raising the Roof, the new album from guitarist extraordinaire Tom Principato and his band, distributed nationally by Redeye Distribution.

Long-acknowledged as one of the premier guitarists in the world, Tom Principato’s latest CD builds on the universal acclaim for his 2005 release, Guitar Gumbo, which won awards from the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) for “Best Blues Recording” and “Best Blues Vocalist.” With these new honors, Tom has now won a total of 22 “Wammies.” In addition, a song from that album, “If Love Is Blind,” written by Dave Kitchen, was named “Song of the Year.”

The Tom Principato Band has made a name for itself around the world with extensive touring throughout North America, as well as regular appearances in Norway, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Finland, Greece and Turkey, among others. In addition to Principato on guitar and vocals, the band features John Perry on bass and backup vocals, Joe Wells on drums and Josh Howell on congas and percussion.

On Raising the Roof, the Tom Principato Band is joined by long-time DC-area favorite Tommy Lepson, who contributes his soulful Hammond B3 organ playing and vocals, as well as several other special guests. The new album showcases nine songs (including 6 originals) that demonstrate the breadth of Tom’s musical influences ranging from blues, jazz and rock, to funk, reggae and New Orleans sounds.

The three covers include a jazzy workout of Jimmy Smith’s “8 Counts for Rita,” a cooking take on J.J. Cale’s “Lies,” and a new version of Louis Jordan’s “Fish Fry” that brings on the funk and Jamaican flavors to this R&B classic, a long-time staple of the band’s live shows.

The Tom Principato Band will begin a world-wide tour in support of Raising the Roof shortly after its release, including showcase club dates and festival shows.

In a career that spans over 40 years, Tom Principato has established himself as a world-class guitarist, and with the formation of his Powerhouse Records, he has released critically-acclaimed music and video from such additional stellar talent as guitarists Roy Buchanan and Danny Gatton as well as The Nighthawks.

For more information on The Tom Principato Band or Powerhouse Records, visit www.tomprincipato.com or www.powerhouserecords.com.

BLUES/ROCK GUITARIST-SINGER RICK FOWLER IS BACK ON MY GOOD FOOT FOR NEW CD, OUT MARCH 25


BLUES/ROCK GUITARIST-SINGER RICK FOWLER IS
BACK ON MY GOOD FOOT FOR NEW CD, OUT MARCH 25

JAMMATES RECORDS DEBUT INCLUDES GUESTS R.E.M.’S BILL BERRY & RANDALL BRAMBLETT

SPECIAL ADVANCE CD RELEASE SHOW SET FEBRUARY 23 AT THE MELTING POINT IN ATHENS, GA


LaGrange, GA – Jammates Records announces a March 25 release date for Back on My Good Foot, the label debut CD from Athens, Georgia-based blues/rock singer and guitarist Rick Fowler. Among those joining him on the album are Randall Bramblett (Hammond organ), Gerry Hansen (drums) and Michael C. Steele (bass and backing vocals) – all members of the Randall Bramblett Band – as well as original R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry, who guests on the song, “Road to Nowhere.”

Rick Fowler will perform a special show in advance of the CDs release on Saturday, February 23, at The Melting Point in Athens, backed by a band including many of those musicians from the new album.

Back on My Good Foot showcases Rick Fowler’s main influences of classic raw blues and British blues/rock, which make for an exciting and powerful mix. The new CD features nine original songs either written or co-written by Rick Fowler, as well as a 10-minute rail-shaking version of the Savoy Brown classic, “Hellbound Train.” It was recorded at several studios in Atlanta and Athens, produced by Pat Patten and mastered by the legendary Rodney Mills (Atlanta Rhythm Section, Gregg Allman).

Originally from Bowdon, Georgia, Rick Fowler has been playing guitar and singing in bands since the age of 12. He has performed with some of the world's top musicians and toured much of Europe and The Mediterranean. Although he has played a number of musical styles with various artists, his deep blues roots can always be clearly heard.

Fowler's earlier bands included Ziggurat, Deacon Little, and Fortnox. Fowler also recorded with pop singer Bertie Higgins, whose hit single, “Key Largo,” reached platinum sales in several countries. In 1982, the Fortnox song, “Storm Inside My Head,” went to #44 in US airplay and the band’s video reached the top 20 on MTV. The band toured non-stop for a year in support of the record, headlining medium venues and performing in stadiums as support for such top rock acts as Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, George Thorogood, Joan Jett, The Ramones and The Outlaws. In 1984, Rick’s band Bombay recorded an album with legendary British producer Eddie Offord (John Lennon, Yes, and Emerson, Lake and Palmer), supported by the MTV video, “Rumble Tonight”.

Rick moved to Athens in 1991 and began performing with a number of Athens-based artists, including Ralph Roddenberry, Redneck Greece and The Lonely White Boys (a band he formed with Drivin' N' Cryin’ guitarist Buren Fowler, Dreams So Real drummer Drew Worsham, and Normaltown Flyers bassist Greg Veale). He also regularly played guitar in side band projects with Bill Berry (R.E.M.), Dave Schools (Widespread Panic), Randall Bramblett (Sea Level, Traffic), and many other top musicians from the area.

In 1997, Rick put together a band of well-known musicians to perform the first rock concert benefit for Tourette Syndrome awareness. Bill Berry, who was at the time retiring from the mega-star band R.E.M., made the show his farewell performance, allowing his drums to be auctioned off for charity at the end of the night. The event received international coverage including MTV, CNN, VH-1, AOL, Rolling Stone, Spin and a number of other music news outlets. Welcome Companions, a CD recorded by the benefit concert band, was released by Polyglot Records as Rick Fowler and Friends.

Prior to signing with Jammates Records in 2007, Rick played guitar on dozens of CDs, performed hundreds of shows spanning three countries, and produced and performed the music track for the Sundance Film Festival award-winning movie, Dirty Work. Rick Fowler will tour nationally in support of the release of On the Good Foot. For more information on Rick Fowler, visit http://www.rickfowler.com/ or http://www.jammates.com/.

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LAST NOVEMBER IS OVER THE TOP OR UNDER THE WEATHER NEW CD RELEASE DUE MARCH 11 ON SOUTHERN TRACKS RECORDS


LAST NOVEMBER IS OVER THE TOP OR UNDER THE WEATHER

NEW CD RELEASE DUE MARCH 11 ON SOUTHERN TRACKS RECORDS

ATLANTA, GA – Southern Tracks Records announces a March 11 release date for Over the Top or Under the Weather, the new CD from Atlanta band Last November, distributed nationally by Select-O-Hits and AEC.

With the guidance of platinum-selling producer Steven Haigler (Brand New, Fuel, Oleander, Pixies, As Tall as Lions), Over the Top or Under the Weather delivers on the promise of the group’s impressive 2006 debut CD, All the Gory Details, which was featured on “The Real World” and other MTV shows, as well as garnering multi-formatted airplay on over 200 radio stations.

Luke Pilgrim, Last November’s vocalist and principal songwriter who began performing when he was 11, wrote most of the songs for the first album when he was still 15, and produced that disc himself. Now, on Over the Top or Under the Weather, Steven Haigler’s sparkling production concentrates Pilgrim’s highly melodic vocals within edgy guitar inventions like “The Bumper Sticker Song,” the album’s first single and video (which already has received over 100,00 internet views). Rockers like the wry “Jesus Had Breakfast in Bed” and “Butter Me Up”, with its Leslie-fied touches, demonstrate an astounding growth for Last November, while the superb “Sunday Afternoon” reveals the band’s special take on the indie pop rock sound. Besides Luke Pilgrim on lead vocals and guitar, the band includes Tyler Ayers on bass; Chris Jones on guitar, keyboards and vocals; and Taylor Woodruff on drums and vocals.

Over the Top or Under the Weather is Last November's second release on Southern Tracks Records, the independent label founded by legendary music publisher Bill Lowery. It was recorded and mixed at the renowned Southern Tracks Studio in Atlanta, home to such artists as Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Train, The Bravery, and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (who recorded their 2007 milestone CD, Magic, at the studio) and mastered by Rodney Mills.

Booking is in progress for a spring tour in support of Over the Top or Under the Weather
(
booking@lastnovember.com), and Southern Tracks will also back the release with a national radio promotion campaign.

Last November continues to expand its soaring international fan base, playing major venue shows, colleges and clubs, while the band’s web presence has been growing by leaps and bounds, as evidenced by the popularity of its MySpace web site:
www.myspace.com/lastnovember. Songs from the new CD can also be previewed at that site.

Last November's new video, “The Bumper Sticker Song,” can also be viewed at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7iTK4MzMtg.
For more information, visit
www.lastnovember.com.

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