Back Down South

Music Monday – Youth Model

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Photographed in Atlanta, GA at Smith’s Olde Bar
Randy (left), Matt (right)

Randy Borawski – the bearded Yankees fan – is a Columbia, South Carolina music veteran and co-host of WXRY’s Unsigned. When he reached out to me about his band Youth Model, I was about to board a plane back to Atlanta. There are two ways that I love most to listen to an album for the first time: on a long drive, or on a flight. The timing was perfect. I quickly added their six-song EP Open Season to a playlist and hit play as we took off. When I landed, I Tweeted their track “Tried This Time” as Song of the Day, which I still declare my favorite from the EP.

Matt and Randy met through Unsigned, where Randy showcases local, regional and undiscovered talent. “If only all decisions could be made as easily as my decision to accept Matt’s offer to join the band,” Randy says. Matt adds that Randy “accepted on the spot.” The two have consistently been playing shows and laying down tracks ever since.

I had the pleasure of meeting them and snapping some photos in Atlanta at Smith’s Olde Bar last week. We willingly accepted beers (PBR for Matt, something local for Randy) and took advantage of having the place to ourselves.

Stream: “Tried This Time”

Tried This Time

youthmodel 002

Raised in:
Randy: Marcy, New York
Matt: Columbia, South Carolina

Lives in:
Randy: Columbia, South Carolina
Matt: Charleston, South Carolina

Where does the name ‘Youth Model’ come from:
Matt: I was shooting guns with a friend when a buddy showed up with a youth model shotgun. I thought it was funny watching a grown man shoot a small gun, but it felt so comfortable because that’s what he learned to shoot with as a kid. Later it occurred to me that ‘this is just like my songwriting, I’m going back in time to place where music was fresh and a brand new experience with each song’ hence the name, Youth Model takes us back there.

Describe your music in 5 words or less:
Matt: Self-loathing infused power pop.
Randy: Indie rock for the masses.

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Highlight from your night at Smith’s:
Randy: We played to a new (and larger audience) that enjoyed our set, larger than the last time we played there.

Last record you purchased:
Matt: Nirvana’s Nevermind. This record is flawless, start to finish.
Randy: All Over the World: The Very Best of ELO.

Writer you most admire:
Matt: Jeff Tweedy from Wilco.
Randy: Justin Currie from Del Amitri.

Listen to Youth Model.
iTunes | Spotify

Music Monday – Matt Wertz

Wertz 001Photographed in Jasper, GA

Back in September when Matt was featured, I mentioned I’d be back to share his – well, to quote myself – rad stuff. So here I am, fulfilling my promise along with an interview with Mr. Wertz. Last week he released a remix of “Somebody New” from his 2010 EP While We’re Becoming, available on NoiseTrade. Simply put, it’s an exciting foreshadowing of what’s to come from him.

Stream: “Somebody New” (Leagues Remix)
Somebody New (Remix)

This new sound has changed so much since your first record, which I first heard when I was 15. We’re digging it a lot. What’s the main desire and drive for the new sound? What do we have to look forward to?
Thanks so much! It’s always a bit nerve-wracking to put out new music, especially when what you’re putting out there is such a departure from what people are accustomed to hearing from you. The biggest thing for me with this, and all the upcoming releases, is that I connect with it. My musical palate is ever-changing and I wanted to make sure whatever music I put out reflected where my tastes are currently. I wanted to make sure I was creating music I would want to listen to. Mission Accomplished.

What you liked most about working with LEAGUES on this remix:
It was super fun working with Jeremy Lutito and Thad Cockrell. I’ve known them both for a long time, and Thad and I had originally written “Somebody New” back in 2009. Both Thad and I had a feeling that song could be bigger (sounding) and it just made sense to bring Jeremy into the process because I’m really aligning with where he is musically right now. They are both super talented, and it was a blast to get to see what would happen when they got their hands on one of my songs. It’s like painting with new color or something.

The last movie you watched:
Alive Inside. It’s a beautiful documentary talking about the effect music has on Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients. When they are given an iPod playing music from their youth, it literally makes them come alive again. It’s just such and affirmation of the power music has.

Currently reading:
I’ve been reading Into the Wild by Krakauer, and just started chipping away at A General Theory of Love by a bunch of people MUCH smarter than me. Wish me luck…
If you had one last dance to dance, what song would you put on:
“Billy Jean,” all day long. Billy Jean, often imitated, never duplicated.Listen to Matt!
iTunes | Spotify | NoiseTrade, where you can grab the “Somebody New” remix.

Music Monday – Lou Ruiz

LouPhotographed by Trey Greenless 

A huge thanks to my friend Trey who both snapped this photo and introduced me to Lou Ruiz! Stream the opening track – my favorite – from his The Screen Door and Me EP. It’s the epitome of the soulful folk rock that Lou spits out, but without the rap (which yes, you do find in his EP). Intrigued? You should be.

Raised in:
Friendswood, Texas

Lives in:
Houston, Texas

Favorite song you’ve written to date:
“The Screen Door and Me.” It came out of a writing exercise I did when I studied in Los Angeles.
 
What’s coming up that you’d like to share about:
I’m getting back in the studio this Spring! I’ll be working with two of my heroes, Scott and Ed Cash. I grew up listening to these guys, so I’m super pumped to get to work with them. We are hoping to have tracking done by the summer which would mean an early fall release. I am also excited to be spending my summer playing at a couple Young Life camps. I’ll be at Windy Gap and SharpTop Cove. It’s always such a treat for me to get to do that.

Stream: “Nowhere Train”
Nowhere TrainIf you could have dinner with one living musician, who would it be?
I’m gonna say Ed Sheeran because I think he’s brilliant.

…what’s the first question you’d ask?
I’d ask him if he wanted to write together – ha!
No, I’d ask him about his writing process, specifically with the song “Small Bump.”

Listen to Lou!
iTunes | Spotify

Music Monday – Jonny P

jonnyp 011Photographed in Nashville, TN at Salemtown Board Co.

When Jonny P walked in Salemtown for his Love List Presents session, Jess and I in unison blurted out “dang, you look amazing!” We’d been listening to his debut EP, Right to You, pretty regularly over the course of our trip to Nashville. Watching him perform a new track and an original Christmas song was unforgettable, like his voice and his vibe the second you hear it. I’m calling huge things for this guy, who is as kind as he is talented. Get to know him a bit in this interview and don’t miss his videos for TLLP (links at bottom).

Stream: “Shine On”
Shine On

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Raised in:
The Bronx, New York

Lives in:
Nashville, Tennessee

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Describe your sound in 5 words or less:
Modern soul.

Musician you’d most like to see live:
I met him once but have yet to see Stevie Wonder live. Top of my list.

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Go to dance move:
Whatever embarrasses my girl most at the moment. Usually “pop and lock”!

Spot on Earth you’d most like to visit:
London.

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Outfit details:

Tell us about your fashion line, J&HP:
J&HP is the fashion brand started and ran by my wife Holly and I. We started the company in 2009, three months into our marriage. It’s existed in many fun forms; from vintage repurposing in it’s early stages to cut & sew capsule collections sold in our once East Nashville brick and mortar, to now a fully functioning bespoke suiting company. We suit everyone from bartenders to ball players living in Nashville! We recently welcomed our new daughter Rain Ivy to the world and are planning to launch a baby line next year!

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Outfit details:

johnnyp + charlie 002With Maltese Charlie, shot for Southerners and Their Dogs

Watch Jonny P perform “Stand By” and original Christmas song “Time of the Year” for The Love List Presents (videos by Josh Helton).
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Music Monday – Go Christmas

christmascardfinal2011 Christmas card. 2015 coming soon…

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, then Merry Music Monday is no new thing to you. You’ve maybe noticed we’ve pulled back on our Music Monday posts in an effort to provide all original content on every topic we discuss. Because of that, I’ve been Tweeting (most days) a Song of the Day to hold over those of you who love the songs posted here. I’ll continue to do this through Christmas, sharing only Christmas songs – new and old favorites. But for those of you who Spotify and maybe enjoyed Merry Music Mondays, here’s my Go Christmas playlist. 185 songs and counting. Ho ho ho!

Music Monday – MIGHTY

mighty. 009Photographed in Nashville, TN

Meet Angelo Fiaretti, the brainchild of MIGHTY. Produced by Dan Gleason of Grouplove, Fiaretti’s garage rock with grunge influence manages to be both reminiscent of early ’90s Cobain yet refreshing at the same time. Chalk it up to the self discovery lyrics (with a little paranoia and drugs) from a high school dropout. Who needs it anyway? The five tracks on his first EP Bye, Have Nice! were recorded entirely in Angelo’s kitchen taking garage rock up a level to kitchen rock. It’s exactly that kind of raw badassery that makes me love this EP.

Thanks to Angelo for answering a few questions for us (and you). All photos were taken in Nashville at the Nisolo showroom. The live shots were taken during his performance of “Back Porch Gin” for The Love List Presents.

Stream: “Losing Things”
04 Losing Things WAV(CD)
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Born and raised in:

Saxonburg, Pennsylvania – right outside of Pittsburgh.

Why “MIGHTY” – tell people a little of the story behind this project:
After I started some project with some friends we happened upon a sound and way of writing that was new to me personally. After those friends were out I still had a love for what we did. I just want to keep expanding on those initial feelings.

Describe the EP in 5 words or less:
Big old box of lead.

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Your most played song (or album) these days:
I’ve been loving the FIDLAR self-titled record.

Favorite concert you’ve ever been to:
Foxy Shazam/Circa Survive at Mr. Smells in Pittsburgh. I just broke up with a girl who was going to go with me, so I ended up taking my best friend, which was a way better choice. That show brought me so much joy. It was like if I saw Billy Graham speak in his prime days of preaching. I just remember Foxy blowing my mind and changing the way I looked at performing. 

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Watch him perform “Back Porch Gin” for The Love List Presents (video by Josh Helton).

Music Monday – Great Peacock

Great Peacock 01Photographed in Atlanta, GA

I’m still in a bit of shock from Great Peacock‘s show at The Earl…and it was months ago. I can’t recommend enough that you see them live. The Nashville-based band are “red-blooded country boys who aren’t afraid of the big city.” In their Love List Presents performance, you get a taste of their softer folk side. In the stream below, you’ll get another favorite from their album Making Ghosts – a taste of their electric talent – precisely what blew me away at their live show. Beer in hand, right foot stomping, head and torso semi-banging with the riffs. I was lost in it, looking back at Jess every few minutes to mouth “Wow.”

Stream: “Arms”
Arms

You’ve maybe noticed that I’ve slowed down the Music Monday posts. For more music talk, make sure you’re following backdownsouth on Twitter where I’ve been posting a Song of the Day almost everyday. Also, Spotify!

Music Monday – Dwayne Shivers

Micah Dalton, aka, Dwayne Shivers, has now made 3 appearances here (Part I, Part II). Dwayne Shivers is his new project and he answered a few questions for y’all to explain the sound and switch. Don’t skip the video at the bottom for The Love List Presents, filmed by The Reason.”Harlem Hill,” performed in the Green Room at The Earl, is my favorite from the EP. The take left us all jaw-dropped with no other words than “your voice!”

DwayneShivers03-2Tell everyone who Dwayne Shivers is:
Dwayne Shivers is an indie blues ensemble. I was tired of playing solo all the time and wanted to work more consistently with a band. Some of the songs from my solo records had the same tone / feel and felt like they’d be sung by a guy named Dwayne Shivers more than Micah Dalton. 

DwayneShivers02-2Why the switch:
It was fueled by wanting to try something new – to have a new musical start, dropping old associations, and to collaborate and write from a more pure place.

DwayneShivers04-2 What most inspires the sound:
All sorts of things inspire the sound – the guys that I invite into the recording / performing process have sensibilities that I admire and a musical vocabulary that I don’t have. So, in short, my friends. The sound is born first by a great song – then, the treatment should illuminate the lyric and melody. Since I’m first and foremost a songwriter, I need to be personally sincere with the lyric before sound crafting is entertained. That said, I started this project to do more that is musically ambitious and energetic in a live setting.
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Listen to Dwayne Shivers EP
iTunes | Spotify

Micah Dalton

MicahDalton 003Photographed in Atlanta, GA

Raised in:
Atlanta, Georgia

Lives in:
Atlanta, Georgia

Favorite burger in Atlanta:
Argosy is currently my favorite burger. For quantity, obviously Ann’s Snack Shack.

Best concert you’ve attended this year:
Best concert is whenever Marshall Ruffin or Cleveland P. Jones sings and I get to hear them, which I have a handful of times this year.

Now would ya look at that:
Musician Micah Dalton, whose music was featured here a few years ago. He has since changed his sound and name and I’ll be featuring that new project on our next Music Monday.

  • Atlanta Crackers hat, gifted from a friend. The Crackers were Atlanta’s home baseball team until the Braves moved from Milwaukee 1966.
  • Club Monaco shirt.

Matt Wertz

Wertz 005 BDSPhotographed in Jasper, GA

Raised in:
Liberty, Missouri

Lives in:
Nashville, Tennessee

In your opinion, what’s the most underrated spot in Nashville:
Local Honey Vintage. The place has amazing stuff and is way cheaper than NY and LA.

Currently listening to:
Anything Max Martin touches.

Now would ya look at that:
Musician Matt Wertz, whose music I’ve been listening to since 2002. He’s got some rad stuff in the works and we’ll be sharing some when it’s released in a few months. Until then, if his is a new name to you, get familiar.

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