Talented Songwriters…

I have a pinched nerve in my shoulder right now, which seems particularly painful at night time.

This is why, at 2:51 am in the morning, I’m sitting here, writing about the talented songwriters I’ve been lucky to cross paths with:

  • Sam & Luke just came back from Nashville, as I recently wrote in a Blog Post.  Their new album isn’t out yet, but I was lucky to have been given the opportunity to have a listen to the un-mastered mix, and it is awesome !!!  In the meantime, check out some of their YouTube videos.  Yes, I keep talking about these guys, and I will still be talking about them in a lot of years… They’re THAT good !!!
  • Britt Bonshor was at the BC Songwriters’ Showcase tonight, and had finally remembered to bring her CD’s with her.  It’s called Seven, and has seven songs for seven bucks.  Her voice is very pure and clear.  In my head, she sounds like a female Vince Gill, and I mean that as an incredible compliment, because I think he has one of the best voices in Country.  I can’t think of a female artist to describe or compare her to, so I will direct you to her YouTube page, where there are a lot of excellent examples of her singing her own songs, and covers.
  • Delaney Rose also performed tonight, and I hadn’t heard her in a few months.  She has a great gift for connecting with her emotions, and being able to communicate that through her songs, and in her performances.    
  • Earl Taylor was the host/MC for this evenings’ Showcase, and I would be remiss to not mention his songs, which he doesn’t have NEARLY enough recorded…  (hint hint) …but has two YouTube videos that I love and have blogged about:  I Miss My Mom.

There are lots of other talented folks who come to the weekly Wednesday showcases, some of whom might have CD’s or websites… that I’m not aware of.  But I would heartily recommend that you check out the talented folks I’ve named… either at one of our BC Songwriter Showcases, or on the web !!!

BC Songwriters Showcase Assn.

Buy their CD’s, and get them to sign it !!!

You’ll have a heck of a story, once they are famous, and great music in the meantime !

Sam and Luke return from Nashville…

Frequent readers will know that I am a fan of Sam & Luke.

New readers need to know that they are two teenage brothers who formed a band, write their own songs, are self taught, and are stunningly amazingly good artists.

They just got back from Nashville, where they recorded their second album, but the first that wasn’t self-produced.

Renown Producer Colin Linden oversaw the production, writing and recording sessions.

Colin Linden with Sam & Luke

Sam and Luke have posted a couple of Videos:

The first is a 90 second video clip of “Black Magic Woman,” from one of the last gigs they played before heading to Nashville.  Please check it out !!!

The second is a video of one of their Nashville sessions, featuring “So Perfect,” one of the songs from their new album.

(Incidentally, the new album is not out yet, and I’ll post updates as I get them… last I heard the album is going to be mastered in New York in a few weeks, and should hopefully be available in August.)

The line for CD’s starts behind me !!!

Nashville Floods… By Sam & Luke

I have not yet been to Nashville, but Sam and Luke were there… right through the floods…(which I’m sure influenced the songs they wrote).  They’re heading back home and I’m looking forward to hearing from them first hand, about their experiences… but in the meantime, in a Guest Blog, here are a few of their thoughts, “borrowed” from their blog:

Sam & Luke Band

Nashville Floods–We Were There


We were huddled inside our Nashville hotel room, writing songs for our debut CD as Music City was experiencing severe thunderstorms and the worst flooding in 150 years.  For a while there, the weather was pretty terrifying to us.  We kept waiting for the windows to shatter…. or worse.
Reassured by our producer, the legendary Colin Linden, we pressed on and penned 11 brand new songs altogether . . . four of which were written in collaboration with Nashville songwriting giants: Gary Nicholson (Peter Frampton, Etta James, B.B. King, Los Lonely Boys, Ringo Starr) and Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Taylor Hicks, and Billy Ray Cyrus).  Colin lined us up with those great songwriters. They made us feel right at home so we could write freely and openly. We’d come up with the direction of the songs then we’d all collaborate on the music and lyrics.
We also wrote songs with Colin, and with the young Canadian recording artist, Liam Titcomb, who happened to be in Nashville at the time.   Liam’s close to our age and a lot of fun to write with. We’re really glad we got the chance to work with him.
But not all of the songs were collaborations. Sometimes we’d write alone in our hotel room at night. Our parents were in the room next door so we were free to fire up our micro amps and plug-in, working late into the night.  Thankfully the other guests in the hotel never complained.
Once all the songs were written it was time to lay down the tracks. The sessions, which came off without a hitch, were recorded at Nashville’s Sound Stage Recordings and Pinhead Recorders. We were blown away to record with the celebrated bassist and American icon, Bob Babbitt.  Never in a million years did we think that one day we’d be recording with him.  Bob is the original bass player with the Funk Brothers and is prominently featured in the movie, “Standing in the Shadows of Motown”. He has played on thousands of recordings with everyone from Stevie Wonder to Elton John.  Along with the other monster players: Tom Hambridge on drums, Kevin McKendree on Hammond B3 and grand piano, Stephen Mackey on bass, Colin Linden and Liam Titcomb on acoustic guitars, and Jim Hoke on horns, we blew through the fast-paced recording sessions charged with creative electricity. Our personalities immediately clicked. It didn’t take long before we were all playing and nodding and laughing and trying to outdo each other. It was magic.
Beginning September 7th, the CD “Standing in a Room” (working title) will be available on CD Baby, and iTunes.
We hope to have it available directly from the Sam and Luke website as early as August 1st.
Sam & Luke
Congrats guys !!!
We are SO looking forward to hearing your new songs live, and getting your new CD, as soon as it is available !!!