Austin Lucas, Somebody Loves You Suburban Home 118 Format: LP and CD Release Date: March 10, 2009 Following his successful run on the 2008 Revival Tour alongside Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music), Ben Nichols (Lucero), and Tim Barry (Avail), Austin Lucas is proud to release Somebody Loves You, his 11-song debut for Suburban Home Records. While Lucas came of age in the basements of DIY punk and hardcore, his solo musical output is less reminiscent of the gravel-throated whiskey-drinking punk troubadours. Rivaling the projection of Neko Case, the hushed cadences of Sam Beam (Iron and Wine), and the heartache of Gillian Welch, Somebody Loves You is Lucas’ richest work to date, placing him in the company of the strongest voices in contemporary Americana. Recorded in December 2008 by his father, Bob Lucas, at the Lucas family home in Ohio, Somebody Loves You finds Lucas backed by his father, Chris Westhoff, and Todd Beene (Lucero), and accompanied by his sister, Chloe Manor. The collective effort of the Lucas family on Somebody Loves You reflects the clan’s deep musical heritage; Austin spent six formative years as a member of the nationally-acclaimed Indiana University Children’s Choir, while his father has songwriting credits on two of Allison Kraus’ albums, including 1997’s Grammy-winning So Long So Wrong. The new material accelerates Lucas’ growth as a songwriter, continuing to expand upon the storytelling and instrumentation of The Common Cold (Hometown Caravan/ Sabotage, 2006), Putting The Hammer Down (Hometown Caravan/ Magic Bullet, 2007), and his recent collaboration with Chuck Ragan, Bristle Ridge (Ten Four/ Hometown Caravan, 2008). While Bristle Ridge teemed with the energy of an all-night barnburner, much of Somebody Loves You evokes the ambience of an Appalachian sunset waltz; Todd Beene’s pedal steel softly pulls focus like stars in a new night sky, while Chloe Manor’’s background vocals shade the songs in the fading warmth of dusk. Fiddle, banjo and upright bass are woven throughout, but it is Lucas’ guitar and vocals that anchor each song. Beyond his accomplished picking, Lucas’ voice defines his music, reaching from the intimacy of a lover to the fervor of a sinner begging atonement. Stylistically and thematically, the lyrics of Somebody Loves You ring more timeless and universal than those of Lucas’ past work. Whereas the characters in many of Lucas’ prior songs lived and died by the rhythms of the touring lifestyle and its accompanying benders and longdistance loss, the songs of Somebody Loves You feature Lucas employing the voice of a preacher bereft of his faith, coloring the tales with both the grandeur of religious imagery and the notion of the body as a perishable vessel. Throughout the album, Lucas subtly rephrases lines, switching perspective from first to second- and third-person, creating an ambiguity that enables the songs to resonate uniquely with each listener. Ultimately, Somebody Loves You is the album that will close the book on Austin Lucas’ tenure as the best-kept secret of the punk underground and bring him to the attention of altcountry and Americana fans everywhere. Lucas will be touring the US and Europe extensively in 2009.
Drag The River some history…. During the early days of the Blasting Room there were many open hours for learning how to make records. Jon & Chad recorded around 20 some songs in late '96 & early '97. Whoever was in the studio that day could play. They just basically had to learn the songs in the time it took to play them. Over the next couple years those recordings were bootlegged alot. So they finally released „Hobo's Demos“ and did some touring around the turn of the millennium. In March 2002 the band released „Closed“ which was also on Upland/O&O records. That label is owned & operated by the All-Descendents family & co run by Joe Carducci of the legendary SST label. They put out all your favorite 80's punk records like Black Flag, the Minutemen, DESCENDENTS, Meat Puppets, FIREHOSE, Husker Du…..all those and too many more to mention. At that time Karl Alvarez left & J.J. from the NOBODYS joined and they started traveling more seriously. Later that Oct. 2002 they put out „Live at the Starlight“ on Mars Motors (Jon, Flash and Chris Irwin's label) & produced their live, vinyl only release. That was a bar room idea that had little chance but actually happened. The companion to „Live at the Starlight“ is „At the GREEN DOOR O.K.C.“ a humbling & totally different show recorded five days later in front of a less than excited crowd. The „Chicken Demos“ is the sister release of „Hobo's Demos“ and came out May 2004, also on Upland/O&O. „Hey Buddies“ e.p. was released in Nov. '04. 6 songs co-released by the fine people at Red Sand. It was super limited to begin with and more limited when more than half of them were stolen at a show in Green Bay. Two months later a more widely available version with different art & packaging was released by Mars Motors & distro'd by suburban home records….beginning that relationship. At this point Zach went back to school and the band kept on as a four piece….but not without infrequent visits from Chad Rex who easily stepped in when available. Casey Prestwood picked up the steel & lead duties for a year and a half from Feb. 2005 thru Oct. 2006. In October 2005 Paul entered his silver years surfing in California. He was in the band a full decade. He later joined the Street Dogs Dogs from Boston & has sat in with DTR on several occasions since. Dave Barker played drums for a year and a half from the end of 2005 to the beginning or 2007. In Dec. '05 the band mixed songs for 3 different 7inches. Chris Peirce of ''technical ecstasy studio" in N.J. mixed & recorded two songs for a „THIRD WORLD INDUSTRIES“ 7in. & the others were mixed at Jon's where they were recorded. the first release is from our friend Darick's label „wallride“ in MD. In January '06 the band recorded a new record at the Hideaway in Sedalia Co. with Marc Benning. An all analog studio totally lost in the Colorado mountains. There is also a split with the DENTS from Boston where the bands cover each others songs. & Roger De Rok released ''gabba gabba HEY BUDDIES'' on vinyl w/ bonus songs. „It's Crazy“ from Suburban Home Records came out June 6th 2006. 10 years of music for the band. January 2008 „you can't live this way.“ was released. Summer '08 more songs have been tracked & mixed in the garage and at the Blasting Room. Shows happened and continue to happen. Some are Jon & Chad duo shows & as many are with J.J., Zach & Chris Pierce of N.J. on drums.….it never ends.
Cory Branan Honest, sometimes a little dark, and riddled with self-deprecating humor – traits that led themselves well to his songs. Songs that, like Cory, are original and unpredictable, prompting one music critic to note that “…he writes serious music without taking himself too seriously, without being afraid to smash a guitar, throw in a line about Miami Vice, or smack his audience in the head every once in awhile – figuratively, of course.” “I never play a song the same way twice,” says Cory. “It’s the only way I’ve found for me to keep the music honest and immediate and, more importantly, to keep my self amused.” A young Branan played Death Metal before moving on to a Black Sabbath cover band, but it wasn’t until someone handed him a John Prine album that things began to fall into place. Discovering songs with intelligence, humor and edge inspired Cory to strike out with his own unique songwriting style. Aside from “recreational destruction and the lamentations of the women,” Cory’s influences change daily, but could typically include “Henry Miller, Tom Waits, Federico Garcia Lorca, my little brother, Dark Lord Satan, the girl from last Thursday…” Perhaps finding his inspiration in his perpetually changing world – Branan has called Los Angeles, New York, Nashville the Ozarks and now Austin his home over the last several years – is his strongest asset and the easiest explanation for his reputation as a prolific songwriter. Branan, despite being ‘under the radar,’ has experienced widespread growth in his fan base over the last several years, due in large to his inimitable live show and singular stature as ‘a writer for the next generation.’ His underground reputation is typified by a gesture of the Memphis chapter of NARAS, who presented Cory with the Phillips award for Newcomer of the Year and a nomination for songwriter of the year – all before he’d even released an album. With immeasurable talent, the freedom to follow his muse and a growing number of devout fans, Cory Branan is poised to attain that which eludes even the most successful musicians, a career marked by longevity. His gift as a song-writer and performer made him a staple of the lauded Memphis music scene and brought him national recognition with the release of his debut album, The Hell You Say. A full page feature in Rolling Stone’s Hot issue, a year’s-top-ten-honor in Billboard magazine and an appearance on the late show with David Letterman represent just a sample of the attention this breakthrough record garnered. Despite the success of The Hell You Say, it took four years for Cory to release 2006’s 12 Songs. Although, as Blender magazine noted, “Branan banked the praise and laid low…12 Songs justifies the sabbatical.” In a music review of the newer album for Playboy, famed music critic and author of It Came From Memphis, Robert Gordon, said it best when he said of Cory, “A new voice emerges to run with the greats.” Branan just finished his third studio album, recorded primarily with American Music Club’s Tim Mooney at Mooney’s Closer Studio in San Francisco. He is currently looking for the right label partner to release this project. Quotes on Branan: “Intense dynamics, deep humor, brave production and heavy songwriting: A new voice emerges to run with the greats." – Playboy „There's a new breed of singer-songwriter – Ryan Adams, Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst and now Cory Branan.“ – Rolling Stone „Songwriting prodigy gives John Prine a run for the money.“ – Billboard „…armed with fierce lyrical gifts, Branan rejects Southern musical clichés, approaching his songs with humor, intuition and lowdown poeticism.“ – Blender „…this isn't your typical strummer.“ – American Songwriter „4 Out of 5 Stars.“ – Blender on 12 Songs “Editors pick.” – GQ on The Hell You Say
