Tag Archive for 'Jason Mraz'

EASY RIDER

Published by Kate B on September 28, 2009 in Artist Feature, Artist News, Pop and Rock. 4 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .
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Sittin' Pretty: Philadelphia's Viv Peyrat

James Dean—ageless dreamboat, immortal rebel. If you’re gonna channel someone, you may as well aim high.

Viv Peyrat does so in his song, “So James Dean.” And though the 22-year-old singer-guitarist may share some of Dean’s rebel allure, he also begs more contemporary comparisons: Jeff Buckley for looks, and Jason Mraz for musical sensibility.

Peyrat, a Philadelphian by way of France, mixes pop with R&B, funk and blues, sometimes organically, sometimes with the amps turned up. Like Mraz, his singing is insouciant and breezy; with lyrics revealing a pure heart and a positive mind. Though most songs may shuffle along at an unhurried pace, they’re still driven by hooks—lots of them. “So James Dean” is a lackadaisical little melody, brightened by an organ and Peyrat’s pretty arpeggios. But “Mine Tonight” inches closer to pop rock—reverberating guitars pulse and break into an anthemic chorus:

“We can ride out in the sunset / We can walk right out the door / We can fly up to the stars/ I’ll leave you running back for more.” To all the Natalie Woods out there, this rebel promises a pretty sweet ride.

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DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK: VIV PEYRAT

Published by Sam C. on August 17, 2009 in Download of the Week. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

 

 

Viv Peyrat is becoming a fixture in the top rankings of the Pop and Singer-Songwriter Channels. This French born, Philly bred musician has cultivated quite a following in the “City of Brotherly Love,” recently selling out the city’s popular Tin Angel venue. Don’t let the lip ring and the sleeve tattoo fool you —Viv’s soulful croon and heart melting lyrics are definitely the kind of thing you wouldn’t mind bringing home to your Train-loving mom. With enough guitar chops, not to mention fanbases, to give Jason Mraz and John Mayer a run for their money,  Viv is a guy you’re sure to hear more of in the future. This week’s free track “Aces High” is fresh off his self-released EP of the same title.

50 STATES IN 50 WEEKS… WEEK 5: ILLINOIS

Published by BethanyLeavey on July 14, 2009 in Editorial and Playlists. 4 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

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Home of: Miles Davis, Buddy Guy, Cheap Trick, Kanye West, Allison Krauss, Fall Out Boy, Alkaline Trio, Walt Disney, Richard Pryor, Touch & Go Records, Oprah Winfrey, The Chicago Cubs

Fun Facts: State flower; violet, state song; “Illinois,” state bird; cardinal

The Venues: The fourth annual Pitchfork Music Festival takes over Chicago’s Union Park from July 17th to July 19th. In addition to a stellar lineup featuring Built To Spill, the Flaming Lips, Beirut, Grizzly Bear and more, the festival boasts a record fair, handmade goods market and the Flatstock poster show. Chicago non-profit Rock for Kids will also have a presence at Pitchfork. Rock for Kids is dedicated to providing free music education for underprivileged children in the Chicago area. Stop by their tent to learn more about how you can help and maybe win some swag from your favorite Pitchfork artists!

The Metro has been a Chicago music staple for over 25 years. This former Swedish community center is dedicated to providing Chicago music fans with the best local, regional and national emerging artists. The White Stripes, Kanye West and Alkaline Trio have all played the Metro on their way to the top. Schubas is another favorite Chicago venue. Many of the tracks from Jason Mraz’s 2006 live, online only album Selections For Friends were recorded here. With live music seven nights a week and acts ranging from indie rock to americana to jazz, Schubas is great for catching a show or just grabbing a drink with friends.

The Music:

fixqfvufwesu-520x520Cobalt & The Hired Guns – Taking first place in channels as diverse as Punk/Ska/Psychobilly, Folk and Singer/Songwriter (Male), Cobalt & The Hired Guns is one of those rare bands that can play any genre of music well. “You Left Your Sweater…” is an uptempo,  alt. country boot-stomper with hand claps and gang vocals.

jwmauoihjljl-320x240I Fight Dragons – Love old school video game music? Chicago’s I Fight Dragons is the band for you! The band combines sounds from old Nintendo game sound cards with a serious dose of pop rock. Currently entered in the MTV VMA Best Breakout Chicago channel, “Heads Up, Hearts Down” is a great example of the band’s signature superpower pop.

day_3-the_science-chronicleZoser – Some rappers can only rap about how good of a rapper they are. Zoser is not one of them. While he certainly has swagger, he is also a gifted storyteller. Checkout the track “Wind Blows (feat. Mela)” from Zoser’s record Day 3: The Science.

l_bb08537b9b54d28804b56954f7656c4f1Daphne Willis & Company – Whether her Berklee and Columbia pedigree band is playing funky grooves or uptempo rock, it’s Daphne’s smooth, soulful vocals that steal the show. She’s been compared to Norah Jones and Jack Johnson, and you can see why on the track “What To Say.” With three Number 1 Channel Prizes and a feature on AOL Music, Daphne Willis & Company is going places.

Check out these acts and other great Illinois artists in the playlist below!

Who are your favorite OurStage Illinoisans? Where do you like to see live music in Illinois? Let us know in the comments!

MY FAVORITE HIGHWAY’S ROAD TO SUCCESS

Published by jayschneider on July 2, 2009 in Artist Feature and Pop. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , .

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In today’s music industry dominated by American Idol and a wide array of pop stars, independent rock bands must often try extra hard to break out. Unlike the cliched qualities of your typically pop rock group, My Favorite Highway is a dynamic quartet that brings new meaning to the scene.

Starting much like any other band, their aspirations could not change the fact that their career’s future looked bleak. The band will be the first to admit that they were almost pushed to their limit and even considered giving up. After weeks of eating only peanut butter in the back of their tour van, the band decided enough was enough and it was time to take a different approach to writing music. David Cook (the band’s main songwriter), “began writing furiously, crafting a series of hook-filled power-pop anthems anchored by keenly felt lyrics about what [the band] was going through.” This classic case of “rising from the ashes” and overcoming adversity, won the band a long list of honors including two song placements on the MTV hit show, “The Hills,” two different Alternative Press features, and most notably, a record contract signed with Virgin Records in November of ‘08.

l_9f03b9dca6ef4f5896fed39e5bf4fd9fFollowing in the footsteps of bands like Yellowcard and the Click Five, this group’s sound is chock-full of pleasing melodies, well-rounded instrumentation, and poppy song structures. Don’t let this fool you though. My Favorite Highway brings a unique sound to the pop realm with heavy, driving rhythm, and to the rock realm with a radio-friendly melodic approach.With self-proclaimed influences including Coldplay, John Mayer, and Maroon 5, the band clearly has the right idea. In fact, their latest album, How To Call a Bluff (recently re-released on Virgin Records) was originally recorded with the help of producer Paul Barber and mixing engineer Jeff Juliano (John Mayer, Dave Matthews, and Jason Mraz).

After signing to Virgin Records, the band is still humbled by the opportunities presented to them. When asked about the recent record deal, lead singer David Cook had this to say:

“It’s all very surreal. It’s very much a ‘dream come true’ kind of experience. This is something that we worked so hard for so long to attain, and it’s really cool to see all of our hard work pay off, so to speak. All of us are very excited right now, but we’re just taking it one day at a time, we know we have a long road ahead of us.”

You can catch My Favorite Highway this summer on the What Happens in Vegas Tour with The Cab, The Secret Handshake, Rocket to the Moon and fellow OurStage band, Anarbor.