S.A. Weekly Music News and Updates - Page 2
February 9 – Volume 14, issue 49

http://www.sambe.org/

Single from Jack Higginbotham
From: CD Tex E-mail: info@cdtex.com 02/02/12
“Better Than Being In Love With You” (2:54)
(Cory Morrow-BMI, Glenn Shankle-BMI)

Growing up with a last name like “Higginbotham”, the name seemed to have stuck in peoples head. No not the easiest to spell or say but the point of it sticking means a lot in the Music Biz. However, Country Music was not always Jack’s one and only passion. For the first 22 years of his life he was competitively involved in Track & Field. At La Vernia High School, Jack (known in the track world as “Adam”) was the 2004 State 3A 200-meter champion and entered Texas State University on a track scholarship. He lettered four years, was a four time all conference athlete, NCAA D1-1A Regional Qualifier, and was the Texas State Track & Field Team Captain 2006, 2007, and 2008. When Jack graduated from Texas State in December of 2008, he left Track & Field behind to pursue a career in music. Jack’s passion for music started at the age of 13, singing in youth group at the La Vernia United Methodist Church and picking up his first guitar at 16. Growing up his biggest influences were Neo-Traditional Country Music Artists such as Garth Brooks, Dan Seals, Doug Stone, Rhett Akins, Doug Supernaw, George Strait, and many more. As Jack got older, artists such as Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash, and others also influenced Jack’s songwriting. Songwriting became something that Jack would never seem to have enough notebooks for. Now, at the age of 25 Jack is on his third year of a music career and is playing six to ten dates a month.In his short career he has already shared the stage with various Texas Music Artists such as Charlie Robison and Granger Smith and was the Featured Keynote Speaker and Performer at the Texas State University 2010 Freshman Convocation with over 5,000 people in attendance. In early 2010, Jack put out an album that began as a demo project with his present producer, Glenn Shankle. The so called “demo” album has sold over 500 copies at performances alone since its release. Presently, Jack and Glenn have put the final touches on their debut album, ‘Roots’ with an anticipated radio release. For updates, schedule, merchandise and more please visit Web-site: http://www.jackhiggmusic.com (and don’t forget to join our mailing list!). Thank you for supporting the music and we hope to see you at a Jack Higginbotham show soon.

For more information or comments
Contact: CD Tex 2411 NE Loop 410 Ste 132 San Antonio, Texas 78217
For more information or comments email us or Ph: 210-654-8773 02/02/12

Martha’s Trouble To Record Album Of Lullabies
From: Krista Mettler – Skye Media E-mail: skyemedia@comcast.net 02/02/12
“Dreamland has come and it is peaceful, it’s where imaginations fly.
These safe and loving arms that keep you, will always be by your side.” – “Goodnight Sweet Child” by Martha’s Trouble

Americana folk/pop duo Martha’s Trouble has announced its plan to record an album of lullabies for children. The still-untitled project will be funded via a Kickstarter campaign and will run through Friday, February 17. (Bitly link to Kickstarter campaign Web-site: http://kck.st/y5HDNG.) Current plans for the album from the husband and wife team of Jen and Rob Slocumb will have it available just in time for Mother’s Day with a release date of May 8, 2012.

Says band member Jen Slocumb of the album: “Since we’ve been touring the country for years, I’ve had mothers come up to me all the time and say, ‘My child knows your voice,’ ‘We play your music for my children and it calms them down.’ We’ve been asked time and time again, ‘When are you going to do a children’s CD?’ Well, this is it – we are recording a collection of songs that will include traditional as well as original lullabies. These are the songs that we sing to our kids and have since they were babies. Even now, I put on our CD’s as the kids go to sleep at night. Wilson, our 6-year-old son, always wants to hear music as he goes to sleep. The Martha’s Trouble lullaby album will be a collection of music that works not only for babies, but for older children as well. In this busy world that our kids are growing up in, we all need a little peace and we hope that this music will bring a little of t! hat to children at bedtime.”

The duo plans to embark on a summer tour in support of the new album (tour dates will be announced in the spring). Martha’s Trouble most recently completed the “At Your House” concert tour in the fall of 2011, which saw them performing at house concerts ranging across the East Coast and Southeast. The “At Your House” tour was in support of their most recent release,‘Anchor Tattoo,’ which was released in February 2011.‘Anchor Tattoo’ was the band’s tenth self-released record and the follow up to‘Forget October’ which came out five years prior. Said Billboard of the record: “With its 10th album, ‘Anchor Tattoo’, the Alabama-based husband-and-wife duo Martha’s Trouble continues to intensify the mystery as to why it remains a hidden gem.”

Web-site: http://www.marthastrouble.comWeb-site: http://www.facebook.com/marthastrouble
Web-site: http://www.twitter.com/marthastroubleWeb-site: http://www.myspace.com/marthastrouble

For more information Contact: Krista Mettler – Skye Media & Rock Ridge Music
E-mail: skyemedia@comcast.net

Rock Ridge Music 744 Broad Street, Ste. 1720 Newark, NJ 07102 02/02/12

Vintage Blue To Release ‘Strike The Mics’ Feb. 14
From: Krista Mettler – Skye Media E-mail: skyemedia@comcast.net 02/02/12

Chicago-based five-piece rock band Vintage Blue will be releasing its debut full-length record, ‘Strike the Mics’, on February 14, 2012. For the ‘Strike the Mics’ sessions, Vintage Blue enlisted grammy-nominated producer Jamie Candiloro (The Eagles, Luscious Jackson, Willie Nelson, Ryan Adams), who not only ensured a sparkling, 13-track-strong sonic result, but also drove the band to write their most concise, structurally impactful songs to date. Drawing on the various musical backgrounds of the members and under Candiloro’s direction, the new album features elements of rock, folk, ska and the blues.

“Vintage Blue delves into various rock, ska, pop, and ballad-driven hooks with intelligent lyrics and classy grooves. Anyone interested in folk-rock, roots, post-grunge, and classy music with style and swagger, than look no further.” – Inside World Music

“With the vision of placing a contemporary twist on classic rock, Vintage Blue succeed.‘Strike the Mics’ embodies 13 standout tracks that showcase the band’s ability to rock arenas while at the same time perform an intimate acoustic set. Not always an easy thing to accomplish, Vintage Blue’s debut full-length aptly showcases their staying power.” - You Sing, I Write

One of the key factors underlying Vintage Blue’s strengths as an original rock act is the dual writing tandem of Bassett and singer/guitarist Ryan Tibbs, who each pen and sing their own respective material. Both recently single after long-term relationships, Bassett and Tibbs admit that affairs of the heart dominate much of their lyrical content, with a range of emotions from blissful to vitriolic. Bassett’s “Speak,” the first track that will be released from the forthcoming album, plumbs the idea of recognizing love and not quite being able to get it, while “Just Breathe,” another Bassett-penned track, reminds listeners of the importance of letting things fall into place: stepping back, taking a breath, and trusting that things will work. Tibbs’ “What Lies” is based on the idea of two people who don’t really know each other, yet who are swept up in a beautiful place for a very short period of time.

Vintage Blue—which includes singer/lead guitarist Bassett, singer/guitarist Tibbs, drummer Will Crowden (the grandson of the founder and former owner of Ludwig Drums), bassist Cesar Corral, and saxophonist/keyboardist Matt Zimmerman—formed in Chicago several years ago as a cover band, and as time passed and the group solidified, the outfit started to compose their own original material. Lineup changes ensued, but the core roster persevered. Recently, the band played the House of Blues, Double Door, and Cubby Bear in Chicago, as well as several Chi-Town summer festivals (including Party at St. Mikes, Chicago Ribfest and Taste of River North). Additionally, the band performed at the Mint in Los Angeles in December, enjoyed a sold-out album release show at Subterranean in Chicago on January 21st, and will be performing with Marty Casey and the Lovehammers on March 10th at House of Blues in Chicago. They’ve opened for artists such as Vertical H! orizon, John Waite, and Ty Stone, and offered direct support for Sister Hazel for a Midwestern leg of their 2011 tour.

With ‘Strike The Mics’, Vintage Blue are eager to share a much-anticipated batch of new material with fans, and bring their eclectic blend of soulful rock to their largest audience yet. Although the band are regulars in the ever-thriving Chicago club scene, a regional tour will follow the release, traveling from Madison, Wisconsin, to East Lansing, Michigan, and then to downstate Illinois, where several band members attended college.“To a man, Vintage Blue believes the music on our album is truly us,” says Bassett. “It speaks to our lives, our loves and our passion. We truly love what we gained from the process and look forward to making music for many more years to come. We could not be more excited to have listeners get to know the guys behind the sound.” Agrees Crowden: “We so excited to get this new material out to the public and truly think there is something unique for every different music fan out there.”

Web-site: http://www.vintagebluemusic.com Web-site: http://www.facebook.com/VintageBlueMusic Web-site: http://www.twitter.com/vintagebluechi

For more information Contact: Krista Mettler – Skye Media & Rock Ridge Music
E-mail: skyemedia@comcast.net

Rock Ridge Music 744 Broad Street, Ste. 1720 Newark, NJ 07102 02/02/12

CD Tex 10th Anniversary
From: CD Tex E-mail: info@cdtex.com 01/2612
CD Tex Celebrates Ten Years of Service to the Radio and Record Industry
CD Tex is celebrating it’s 10th Anniversary and has much to be proud of! Since 2002, CD Tex has delivered over 240,000 sampler discs and, in 2010-2011, via it’s download delivery service, accounted for over 60,000 downloads of Texas, Country, and Red-Dirt singles for radio and the music industry worldwide. The trend for download delivery of new singles and videos has become the dominant source for distributing promotional product to the broadcast and music industry and CD Tex is the mainstream source for the Texas-Red Dirt music format. The CD Tex website features the latest music and broadcast industry news, delivery information, download statistics, the weekly average, and information about the CD Tex Radio Show. In addition, the CD Tex Radio Show (hosted by “The Cowboy” Bobby Lopez) has also been nominated as the Syndicated Show of the year for the 2012 TRR Awards Show to be held in Arlington, Texas on March 24-25.

Stay informed and up to date with all the Music Industry News.
Download the CD Tex Toolbar!

Contact: CD Tex 2411 NE Loop 410 Ste 132 San Antonio, Texas 78217
For more information visit Web-site: http://www.cdtex.com or Ph: 210-654-8773
CD Tex is a division of BGM Network, Inc. San Antonio, Texas 01/26/12

Stephanie Urbina Jones
From: Stephanie Urbina Jones E-mail: jonesy@stephaniejones.net 01/2612
Hola Mis Amigos!!! I hope this finds you and yours HAPPY and BLESSED in the new year! I had a wonderful ,much needed break over the holiday season spending time with family and friends, but as soon as we rang in 2012 things started rockin in my world!!

It began with a call from Troubadour Texas, the ‘National TV Show’ I was cast on in March of 2011. If you haven’t seen it you gotta check it out! It follows the journey, lives and passions of some of the best in Texas. They filmed me numerous times throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall of 2011. On the weekend of January 20-22 I was a featured artist singing and taking Texas all across the country on the CW network. WOOOHOO!!!! I have not seen the episode I am on but heard that they will weave in some live performances, storytelling and me at the premier of ‘Courage’ the Texas Western I was the female lead in last summer. After watching all the episodes I am honored to be a part of such an amazing show that really shows the true grit and groove of the life of an artist. You can find out when and where to tune into by going to Web-site: http://troubadourtx.com/placesweair/

On top of that and to my surprise I was on the cover of Buddy Magazine in Dallas , included in the Best in Texas Music Magazine in January and have been asked to perform one of three nights at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo sponsored by Arriba! Salsa! Get your Yeehaw on Ya’ll..this year is kickin and so am I!! Hold onto your saddle cause we’ve got new music ad some exciting stuff happening in 2012!

Once again, I can’t thank you enough for your encouragement along the way. I know that I would not have gotten the opportunities that have come my way without your kindness and support. Happy New Year my friends ..I hope to see you sooner than later down the road and I guess on the big and small screen this weekend!

Vaya con Dios!!
Stephanie

Texicana Entertainment 11317 Monet Drive Austin, Texas 78726
For More Information or Booking Go To: Web-site: http://www.stephanieurbinajones.com 01/2612

Global Recording Artists present:
The Dave Getz Getaway ‘Can’t Be the Only One’ 01/19/12
From: news@gragroup.com
Dave Getz, who anchored the drums for Big Brother and the Holding during and after Janis Joplin’s tenure with the band, is a man of serious talents, including a beautiful eye for graphic arts. Not every drummer is a rounded musician - Getz very definitively is. The new offering, ‘Can’t Be The Only One’, doesn’t just come with Getz’s own Bay Area pedigree: it’s got a stable full of them.

The title song, as Getz explains in the CD’s liner notes, came from a snippet of song lyric written by Janis Joplin herself. For anyone familiar with Joplin’s all too well known tragedy, the lyrics are hauntingly prescient: “Reachin” too high, babe, can’t help from getting burned,twenty five years of sorrow and tears, you’d think by now I would have learned.” The song was never finished during her lifetime - but it’s been given music to ride by Getz forty years later, and given to Bay Area solo and session chanteuse Kathi McDonald to handle. McDonald can be guilty of taking things over the top a bit too often for my liking, but on this one, she simply shines. It’s a wonderful song and a wonderful way to lead off a bluesy, jazz-infused collection of beautifully eclectic material.

The musicians sharing the duties on ‘Can’t Be The Only One’ are solid professionals, with the choice of strong women vocalists - McDonald shares lead vocal duties with Andrea Mitrovich’s elegant offerings and a lovely turn from Lynn Asher on a wistful beauty called “Waiting For You”. There are no weak or soft spots here, and it’s hard to single out particulars, just because the damned thing moves with perfect musical logic that the connectivity is seamless. I can, however, offer up a few personal “whoa, DAMN!” moments: “Borderline (The Show Goes On)”, lyrically and thanks to Mitrovich’s phenomenal vocal, is a knockout. All four of the purely instrumental tracks - “She Comes In Dancing”, “Dark Song”, the hard-edged grind and shred of “Trail of Tears”, and Kate Russo’s exquisitely passionate violin on  “Heavning” - work, and work in different ways.There’s nothing about this that doesn’t work. Get it from iTunes, from Amazon, from wherever, but go check it out. It’s beautifully done.”

Holly Roberts, Head of Promotions
Global Recording Artists
E-mail: Shangrilahlady@aol.com 01/19/12

Low-Fi -‘What We Are Is Secret!’
From: 3 Sides Agency E-mail: lowfiband@alice.it 01/19/12
Low-Fi is an Electrorock/New wave band from Italy and will be releasing their new LP ‘What we are is secret’ in February on Octopus Records and are ready to play aournd world again. Recorded and mixing at Key Lab Studio (Naples) by G.Fontanella (24 Grana) e mastered at Swift Studios (Klaxons, My Vitriol, Pete&Pirates) in London by A.Balzana. Guests on LP are: No More(DE) ,Din [a] Tod(DE) , A.Gismondi from Pitch(IT), Daria & Mark from Sexinspace,Marakesh(UA). The LP will also be promoted by Gordeon music(EU), Promorama(Italy), Skywalker(Hungary), & Roxy music(Sud America).

Web-site: http://www.facebook.com/lowfiband Web-site: http://www.myspace.com/lowfiband
Video Medley at Web-site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGApWrFVZJA
Streaming single “Somthing” Web-site: http://soundcloud.com/lowfi/low-fi-something

3 Sides Agency
Web-site: http://www.3sidesagency.eu
E-mail: info@3sidesageency.eu
Skype: threesides.agency 01/19/12

Rachel Platten to Tour with Matt Nathanson
Writes theme song for ‘Jane By Design’ 01/19/12
From: Krista Mettler – Skye Media / Rock Ridge Music E-mail: publicity@rockridgemusic.com
Singer/songwriter Rachel Platten, who is hitting the road with Andy Grammer, has added dates with Matt Nathanson to her tour schedule for February and March. So far, Platten is scheduled to open 11 shows for Nathanson. On tour throughout 2011 in support of her debut album, Platten has shared the stage with the likes of The Fray, Mat Kearney, David Cook, Brett Dennen and Matt Hires. Says Platten of touring with Nathanson: “I’ve been a fan of Matt’s music for a long time and love “Faster” off his new record. I can’t wait to share the stage with him.”

Platten has been heating up the charts with her single, “1000 Ships,” which has hit the Billboard Pop Singles Chart, the BDS Hot AC Chart, and this week moves from #25 to #23 with a bullet on the Mediabase Hot AC Chart. In addition to being in rotation on Sirius/XM’s The Pulse, the song is receiving airplay across the country, including major markets such as Boston, Washington, DC, Detroit, Denver, Portland, OR, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Orlando, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Kansas City and others. The single is being worked by Rock Ridge Music, an indie label distributed by ADA. “1000 Ships” is Platten’s first single from her debut full-length, ‘Be Here’, which came out via Rock Ridge.

Platten can also be heard on TV – her song “Work Of Art” was written especially as the theme song for ‘Jane By Design’, the ABC Family series which debuted last week. The show, which stars Andie MacDowell, is about a teenager who is mistaken for an adult and lands a job in a hip retail company. She must balance her high school life and her job while keeping her identity a secret. Says Platten, who was tapped by a show producer to pen the tune: “I’m really proud of the song and I see a lot of myself in Jane’s character. Her quest to balance insecurity with a gritty determination to follow her dreams really resonates with me.”

Selling out clubs along her rigorous tour schedule, Platten infuses a unique love and passion into each and every one of her performances. Boston born and raised, Platten was classically trained on the piano from a young age and started performing while in college and studying abroad in Trinidad. Naming influences such as Lauryn Hill, Tori Amos, Patty Griffin, Ben Folds Five and Paul Simon, Platten attempts to do what she feels these artists do so beautifully - infuse often weighty, serious subject matter with light and melodic intelligence that is both instantly catchy and uplifting. Duluth News Tribune praises her album for its “infectious, upbeat and uplifting tunes that radiate a positive message. Her voice is an interesting mix of pop, world music and funk influences that bring her passionate lyrics to life in full color.” With songs that Jersey Beat says are “touching and joyful,” Platten, who meshes catchy piano hooks with her unmistakably soulful, and uplifting voice, creates music that boasts elegantly crafted, deeply melodic, intelligent songwriting, resounding with echoes of the Beatles and Carole King, Kate Nash and Regina Spektor: her music is infectious, raw, and powerful. The Washington Times says, ”Rachel Platten’s star is definitely on the rise.”

Web-site: http://www.rachelplatten.comWeb-site: http://www.twitter.com/rachelplatten
Web-site: http://www.facebook.com/rachelplattenmusicWeb-site: http://www.myspace.com/rachelplatten

For more information Contact: Krista Mettler – Skye Media & Rock Ridge Music
E-mail: publicity@rockridgemusic.com

Rock Ridge Music 744 Broad Street, Ste. 1720 Newark, NJ 07102 01/19/12

Contact Information for Austin Music + Entertainment
From: Dennis Carter E-mail: editor@austinme.com
Dear Valued Clients, Please make note of the new email address for Austin Music + Entertainment Editor, Jack Frink E-mail: editor@austinme.com. Please mail review copies to our address below. Check out our new Web-site: http://www.austinme.com or Web-site: http://www.whatsthemix.com

Best regards, Dennis Carter, Associate Publisher
Austin Music + Entertainment
13581 Pond Springs Rd. Suite 450 Austin, Texas 78729
Ph: 512-637-0371 Fax: 512-331-3900
Web-site: http://www.austinme.com 08/11/11

Austin Music Foundation
From: Austin Music Foundation E-mail: members@austinmusicfoundation.org
An Easy Way to Support Austin Music
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Please consider becoming a member of Austin Music Foundation. Your membership contribution directly supports our educational programs for musicians and provides nifty membership perks too.

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About AMF
The Austin Music Foundation (AMF) is a nonprofit organization that operates on a singular mission: to unite, ignite, and revolutionize Austin’s music community. Since February 2002, we have been fueling the local music scene by educating our local artists and professionals, building a world-renowned community with roots in local music, and incubating the next wave of talent.
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© 2006, Austin Music Foundation P.O. Box 4309 Austin , Texas 78765 03/31/11