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Got to jam on my friend's cool old 50s Harmony he restored today -here's what happened:
"Louisiana Hold My Baby" is nominated for the John Lenon Songwriting Contest best R&B song for 2014.5/5/2015
 Hey it looks like one of my songs was nominated for best R&B song in the John Lennon songwriting contest! Pretty cool - if you haven't heard it yet, it's up on their site as a stream in it's entirety. Check it out, pass it on and let me know what you think about it. First time I've even come close to winning something so it's pretty cool. And hey, even though it didn't get 1st place, the process was really interesting and I'm just glad to know that this song is at least a part of a bigger piece of the puzzle out there now. The link is here:
http://jlsc.com/winners/2014b/finalists.php And a video of the band performing Louisiana Hold My Baby live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL0jwNa780Vajs55szI7elv6mtk7aoDNvS&v=OefNotPtMjs I thought I'd post the questions and answers I wrote about the song for the contest, too: 1. How was the song recorded? What equipment did you use? Who is singing? - The song was recorded in Lafayette, LA at Evangeline Studios. We started with the vocal and the acoustic guitar with the Drums and Bass live in the other room. Later I went back and redid the vocals, acoustic guitar and added electric guitars. I wanted to have as much live as possible but not lose any quality in the vocals. The backing musicians are Frank Kincel on drums and Lee Allen Zeno on Bass. 2. What inspired the creation of your song? Many of the people in the Acadiana area around Lafayette either work offshore or have family members that do. After the Deep Water Horizon explosion it really shook me how much was lost in an instant in the lives of the 11 men that died. I know that after the explosion, the national focus was on the environmental damage which is incalculably disastrous but I could not and can not stop thinking about how that must have felt to be there on their last day and what they may have left behind. The song came about one day like it was a story of someone I knew but I didn't know who it was. The lyrics and refrain all came together in the one sitting. There was actually a lot more to their story but basically the couple in the song are in the middle of a fight. The man works on an oil rig and often uses his two weeks offshore to basically run from the pressures of their marriage. In the song he is about to come home and he's made up his mind to make things work and stop running away. 3. What are your backgrounds and influences? I'm very influenced by writers and singers with a Blues/Soul/Country blend in their styles – mainly from (or influenced by) the 60's and 50's Blues and Soul scenes - such as: Arthur Alexander, Sam Cooke, Ted Hawkins, Ray Charles, Otis Redding. Also, a wide range of Louisiana artists like: Percy Mayfield, Guitar Slim, Dave Egan, Clifton Chenier, Earl King and Irma Thomas. I became heavily influenced by using the combination of the acoustic guitar and voice while building guitars for Collings in Austin, TX. 4. What are your goals as a songwriter? To write a variety of songs and stories that talk about people in the world who need their story told. Hopefully these songs will be heard by more people someday. But I will continue to perform them wherever I can for whoever I can no matter what the outcome of the business end of these songs. 5. Is there anything else we should know or that you can tell us about yourself that makes your “story” unique? Much of my interest started in Cleveland through the Blues radio shows but was inspired more through my stay in France where I started my first band. Later, when I first moved to Austin, TX to listen to the great musicians from Antone's, I started my own Blues-based bands there in 1997 and eventually was drawn to Louisiana in 2003 when I joined up with a Zydeco band. Since moving to Lafayette, I have written material for and released four original CD's. I've also recorded with Henry Gray and the Cats, Carol Fran and Thomas Fields. Since moving to Louisiana I have felt at home with the combination of French, roots music, great musicians and supportive fans.  Offbeat Magazine, Feb 2015 Review by: Dan Willging
Marty Christian originally intended this as a solo project since his songs really didn’t fit his band Rue Boogaloo’s funky-bluesy grooves. At least that’s what he thought until monster bassist Lee Allen Zeno (Buckwheat Zydeco) and jazz drummer Frank Kincel heard ’em. They wanted in and essentially shaped Christian’s solo affair with a Boogaloo foundation on most tracks. Christian achieves an artistic milestone with a handful of songs that were written from a third-person perspective. It’s something he has rarely done but through various encounters, the experiences of others were transformed sonically, such as the offshore worker yearning for reconciliation (“Louisiana, Hold My Baby”) and the ex-con trying to live clean (“Payment Down”). On “Her Promised Land,” a young mother attempts to battle her way through insurmountable obstacles. The title song sports two versions, an electric and a heartfelt acoustic version. Despite Christian’s folkie sensibility, he also defies strict categorization. His vocals occasionally border on soul-ish and he dives into blues, swamp pop and infectious, Zeno-powered funk at the drop of a hat. Additionally, he’s an impressive finger picker—witness the ripping jazz-tinged romp “Too Much.” Christian may not be easy to pigeonhole but he’s nobody’s remora either.  What I Came Here to Do "Honestly, when a white guy from Ohio puts out an album with a name like What I Came Here to Do, it carries a very large possibility of being a cheesy affair and sold in the “Louisiana Good Time Music” bin at whatever French Quarter tourist shop has a place for it right alongside rubber alligators and gumbo paddles. It’s almost certain that the “what” the musician came to do is something like have a good time, party all night or some other stereotype equally steeped in white guy blues. Honestly, Marty Christian should have picked another name for this record because that’s not what, apparently, he came to do. Christian’s been in Louisiana 11 years, seemingly soaking up touches of the sounds and correctly redirecting them into his own — not throwing a rubboard or accordion in and calling it swamp blues. Instead, he just shows a few shades of what he borrowed from these genres. “Last Train,” for example, is such a close cousin to a Leadbelly track that it’s worth googling to make sure. “Too Much” reflects his Louisiana tenure, adding a jazzy blues touch. Unlike the records in those tourist traps, this is all original material, not standards that have been covered (poorly) for the upteempth time. And backed by Lee Zeno (Buckwheat’s bassist) and Frank Kincel (Bluerunners and Specklers drummer), it’s a tight record with Delta blues minimalism yet smooth. Unlike the hard time blues men of old, Christian’s gentle and hopeful voice isn’t coming out of a throat full of gravel. Though there are a lot of “my baby” songs here, Christian goes introspectively deep in penning them, avoiding the low hanging fruit of easy cheese blues. Contrary to the genre, there seems to be hope in these blues songs. The title track — after it lists four verses of mistakes he made — ends with the assertion, “I just came here to leave with you.” “Louisiana, Hold my Baby” tells of heading offshore and fighting on the way out the door. Yet, by the end, it sounds like he might get the girl back. Going his own route, Christian’s songwriting skills keep him out of the clearance bin. He’s not trying to reinvent or fuse the blues by any means, which is just fine." - Nick Pittman, the Ind, Lafayette, LA, Feb 2015 http://theind.com/article-20111-FOR-THE-RECORD.html 
 Filling in for Patsy Grace tonight at the Neutral Ground. There's a possiblilty that she will make it to do a few songs with me, too so that would be really cool = fill-in/sit-in!
infos:
Patsy Grace: website
Really had fun playing at the Neutral Ground in New Orleans last night! Got to seem some old friends and meets a few new ones - you can't beat that. Great ambience in that joint. Should be back soon!   http://ymlp.com/zlNRF4
The New CD is out! CD Release Sat, Oct 4th Available on iTunes/Cd Baby I'm really glad to let you all know that my new CD is now available on iTunes and online at CD Baby! "What I Came Here To Do" encompasses a range of musical styles and influences that I enjoy - it comes from the Blues, Southern Country Soul music, Lafayette area's Cajun and Creole grooves, waltzes and ballads and definitely some of the Austin songwriter influences from my time there that have seeped in to my writing as well. I hope that you will enjoy this outing that is only coming to light because of a great collaboration with the musicians Frank Kincel and Lee Allen Zeno along with studio engineer, Jerry Lejeune at Evangeline Recording Studio here in Lafayette, LA. This CD was a musical journey for me that I have wanted to take for years now - and really that I have already been on - this is just the coolest leg of the trip so far.... It is available today at CD Baby, iTunes and at the Cedar Deli on Johnston St. in Lafayette. Also, the Cd Release party will be this Saturday, October 4th from 9pm on at Artmosphere Bistro where you can get a signed copy and groove to the tunes live as well! Hope to see you out there in the music... peace n luv, Marty Upcoming Shows: Sat, Oct 4th 9pm CD release Party! Artmosphere Bistro 902 Johnston St Lafayette, LA 70501 Tel: (337) 233-3331 Saturday, October 25th Richard sale Barn Non-Smoking show in a beautiful venue 7pm-9pm 1307 Henry Street Abbeville, LA 70510 tickets at: 337-893-5760 http://richardsalebarn.com/ http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/martychristian https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/what-i-came-here-to-do/id915061395 www.martychristian.com VISIT the SITES! https://www.facebook.com/marty.christian http://twitter.com/martychristian http://youtube.com/user/chainedemarty www.martychristian.com  This CD is a walk through a big group of musical styles and influences that I enjoy - it comes from the Blues, Southern Country Soul music, Lafayette area's Cajun and Creole grooves, waltzes and ballads and definitely some of the Austin songwriter influences from my time there that have seeped in to my writing as well. I hope my fans will enjoy this outing that is only coming to light because of a great collaboration with the musicians Frank Kincel and Lee Allen Zeno with studio engineer, Jerry LeJeune at Evangeline Recording Studio here in Lafayette, Louisiana. It is available today at CD Baby, iTunes and at the Cedar Deli in Lafayette. Also, the Cd Release party will be this Saturday, October 4th from 9pm on at Artmosphere Bistro where you can get a signed copy and groove to the tunes live as well. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/martychristian
 PreRelease of the new Cd now available on iTunes! You can be the first to get the CD downloaded onto your iTunes player on Oct 1st if you buy the CD on iTunes during the Prerelease - PLUS - you will get one song downloaded immediately - "Louisiana, Hold My Baby" is one of my favorite songs we did on this CD. It will be yours and downloaded as soon as you purchase - I think you'll dig it - the rest will show up magically at midnight on Oct, 1st. check it out in the link below or type in the Cd title in your iTunes store - coolness Click on the player, the Cd cover above or hit the link below to check it out now https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/what-i-came-here-to-do/id915061395  Her Promised Land is a song that I've been working on for a while now. It started out to be about one person I never met - and ended up being about the first person I ever sang the song for. The lyrics had to change a bit so the girl in the song could be as strong as she was. For this CD I decided to go with a solo acoustic performance of the song to keep the focus on the story and I think I got it right now. Enjoy the full song - on my site for a limited time as I get ready to put this CD out on Oct 1st on iTunes and Oct 4th in Lafayette... peace, Marty
http://www.martychristian.com/cd-sneak-peek2-her-promised-land.html For those who missed the first tune, I left it up for a while longer so you can still get you some... Check it out and pass it on by sharing with your friends! "What I came Here To Do" was recorded at Evangeline Recording Studio in Lafayette, Louisiana by Jerry LeJeune and features Frank Kincel on drums and Lee Zeno on bass, mastering by Tony Daigle - CD Release party is Sat, Oct 4th at Artmosphere Bistro Bistro with special guests Darrin Kobetich, guitar wizard from Fort Worth, TX in an acoustic opening set and Cal Stevenson on bass. peace n luv, Marty Upcoming Shows: Sat, Oct 4th 9pm CD release Party! Darrin Kobetich opens Artmosphere Bistro 902 Johnston St Lafayette, LA 70501 Tel: (337) 233-3331 Fri, Oct 17th 9pm Noble Savage Tavern 417 Texas St Shreveport, Louisiana, USA Tel: (318) 221-1781 Fri, Dec 12th 9pm Noble Savage Tavern 417 Texas St Shreveport, Louisiana, USA Tel: (318) 221-1781 VISIT the SITES! https://www.facebook.com/marty.christian http://twitter.com/martychristian http://youtube.com/user/chainedemarty www.martychristian.com Hey all, my new CD is coming out on Oct 1st, 2014 on iTunes and CDBaby with a release party set for Sat, Oct 4th at Artmosphere. To celebrate I'm going to preview the CD with you by sharing a new song from the CD in full with you guys, the best fans in the world, every Saturday until the release party!
But, why wait! Let's get this thing rolling today with the title track: "What I Came Here To Do". Click on my website link and listen to the full song - available until Saturday - peace http://www.martychristian.com/cd-sneak-peek-what-i-came-here-to-do.html The whole song will be available to stream for free for one week at a time. You'll also get photos from the sessions, lyrics, stories and what-nots! Check it out and pass it on by sharing with your friends! "What I came Here To Do" was recorded at Evangeline Recording Studio in Lafayette, Louisiana by Jerry LeJeune and features Frank Kincel on drums and Lee Zeno on bass, mastering by Tony Daigle - CD Release party is Sat, Oct 4th at Artmosphere Bistro Bistro. Check back on Saturday for the next tune!  Hey it's Valentine's day - again! And I'll be returning to Chez Jacqueline's for the third time - come on out and enjoy some food, music and other goodies in a cool French restaurant with that certain je ne sais quoi ambience. Reservations are needed and a waiting list is probable but sign up - she always lets you in eventually....
peace n luv - Marty Friday, Feb 14th 7pm Chez Jacqueline's 114 E. Bridge St. Breaux Bridge LA 70517 337-507-3320 Valentines's Day Dinner Show at Chez Jacqueline's Hey everybody - Long time no email - I know! I guess with Facebook these days, we think everyone will read and keep up from there but I think it's good to check in here whenever I can and I've been out of touch for a while... Ok, quick updates... - I' ve been really busy with my teaching in a French Immersion 5th grade classroom as some of you know... oui, c'est tout bon! - Frank and Lee Allen have been recording with me since August for a new CD to be released later this year - lots of new original material... very cool sounds so far - samples soon... - coming up: I' ll be part of the band backing up Carol Fran at Festival International 2014, Sat April 28th. I also just wanted to let you know that I'll be performing an acoustic set at Chez Jacqueline's in Breaux Bridge this Friday for those Valentiners out there. It's a small place with reservations only and I don't think she has many seats still available - please call to reserve if you think you can make it out though - a waiting list is possible, too because they usually get a few spots that open that day. This is my third time playing for her for this event and it is always a cool night out with great food and ambience. Thanks for being on the mailing list, come on out to the show if you can and have a great week! Friday, Feb 14th 7pm Chez Jacqueline's 114 E. Bridge St. Breaux Bridge LA 70517 (337) 507-3320 peace n luv, Marty VISIT the SITE! www.martychristian.com www.rueboogaloo.com  "Rue Boogaloo morphed out of Henry Gray and the Cats when band manager/musician Andy Cornett—who sadly passed away shortly after this release—formed a side project with songwriter-guitarist Marty Christian and jazz drummer Frank Kincel. When Cornett left early on due to medical reasons, Buckwheat Zydeco’s monster bassist Lee Allen Zeno was brought in.
After Cornett returned, the band became a quartet with the versatile Cornet honking on harmonica when this eponymous debut was cut. Overall, it’s an alternative venture relative to the current state of mainstream blues with Rue Boogaloo standing smack dab in the middle of where Jimmy Reed, R.L. Burnside and the Meters would all crash and smash. While Boogaloo swings (“Rue Run”) and shuffles (“Know What to Do About You”) like crazy, its foundation revolves around the interlocking rhythm section of Zeno and Kincel, masters of moving the beat around while keeping it synchronized. The slow instrumental “Creeper” is the best example; Christian plays on top of a slippery, funky beat while Cornett has an uncanny sense of when to come in with scorching, buzz saw-slicing solos. Although Christian serves as chief songwriter and varies his styles among the various blues idioms, soul and Americana, at the same time Boogaloo’s groove is highly danceable, thereby fulfilling another Southwest Louisiana live music prerequisite. Still, the real challenge will be gaining higher ground as some momentum has been lost with Cornett’s passing. Worth checking out." - Dan Wilging, Offbeat Magazine, New Orleans, LA, Feb 2013 Buy on Amazon Buy on iTunes Valentine's Day dinner show at Chez Jacqueline's in Breax Bridge, LA
Thursday, February 14th: 6pm-9pm Special acoustic show with a four course dinner including: Filet Mignon, Lobster, champagne and chocolate reservations suggested, please call: 337-277-4938 Chez Jacqueline Restaurant, 114 East Bridge Street, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517  DFW House Concert: Hey everybody - just wanted to let you know about a weekend of acoustic originals and Blues that I'll be doing in March in the Dallas, TX area! I'm really looking forward to coming back to the Shedstock house concert on Saturday, March 23rd, 2013. Also, I'll be back in Shreveport the night before as well at the Savage...
Last time I played Shedstock it was a blast and it's not too far from Dallas and Fort Worth so I hope to see some of my old DFW friends out there. It will be an intimate night filled of acoustic originals (old ones and some new ones!) and of course a good dose of Blues and don' t be surprised if we get funky in there, too Seating is limited so if you are interested please hit them up with a Facebook message asap and get you a spot - also: the Weekend will start out at my favorite Shreveport haunt: The Noble Savage Tavern! - Friday, March 22nd from 9pm -11pm. Hope to see you out there one way or another ..... Peace n luv, Marty www.facebook.com/pages/Shedstock-House-Concerts/130675370280573 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Noble-Savage-Tavern/165626324258 |
Buy Marty Christian CD's at the Louisiana Music Factory!
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