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Moments with Emerson Drive's Brad Mates
Eastwood Brings Smooth Jazz To The Old Pueblo
A Modern Day Balladeer appearing June 10th
Song of the Month
Upcoming Concerts
Moments with Emerson Drive's Brad Mates
Emerson
Drive may just be the hardest working band in country music today. The
road is home for these six band members, as they tour and perform four
to five shows a week.
And their hard work is paying off. The band’s new hit, Moments, has just risen to number 3 on Billboard’s country music chart, and they were recently nominated for ACM (American Country Music) top vocal group of the year.
I recently had the opportunity to talk with lead singer, Brad Mates, and I asked him the meaning behind their hit song. “That’s funny you asked that,” said Mates. “Our fans give us the meaning. Our fans all over have been coming up to us and telling us what Moments means to them.” (If you have never heard Moments, visit www.emersondrive.com to hear the song.)
According to Mates, the success of the song is that it can have multiple meanings, based on one’s life experiences. “I think it is the highest honor a song can get,” Mates said. “The true meaning is different for each individual.”
While Moments is sure to rise to #1, the entire album, Countrified, is worth a listen. One of the band’s influences, the Charlie Daniel’s Band, makes a guest appearance. Mates said, “We got Charlie into the studio to record with us on our version of The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Mates explained that Charlie’s song has been a staple in the Emerson Drive concert playlist since day one.
Another aspect of Emerson Drive’s hard work is their desire to please their fans. “Emerson Drive tears it up live,” said Mates. “We feed off each other and put on a great live show. People who enjoy our CD’s enjoy our live shows or they see us live, then they buy our CD’s.”
In a music industry dominated by solo artists and dynamic duos, the six-man Emerson Drive forges forward, touring, recording, and touching the lives of their many fans. “As a singer my job is to interpret the songs and make people feel something when I sing them.”
Emerson Drive formed in 2001 and got their name from a gravel road in Mates’ hometown in Canada. In addition to Brad’s lead vocals, the band features Dale Wallace on keyboards, Danick Dupelle on guitar, David Pichette on fiddle, Mike Melancon on drums, and Patrick Borque on bass.
While the closest stop Emerson Drive makes to Arizona is Albuquerque, New Mexico at the Expo New Mexico on August 1st, you can purchase their latest CD, Countrified, at local music stores.
Eastwood Brings Smooth Jazz To The Old Pueblo
Kyle
Eastwood is a dead ringer for his father, actor/director Clint Eastwood.
The tall, lanky 38-year old Eastwood, however, decided that the silver
screen wasn't for him. In 1986, after two years as a film studies major,
Eastwood decided to pursue his passion for jazz music.
"I went to USC as a film major, and then I decided to take a year off to do music and see how it went. That was 20 years ago," said Eastwood, from his home in Paris, France.
Raised by enthusiastic jazz-loving parents, Eastwood got into jazz at an early age. "My parents would take me to the Monterey Jazz Festival when I was really young. I got into music in general, but Jazz has been my first love," he said.
Eastwood, who plays the upright, acoustic, and double bass, will be bringing his contemporary and hard-bop jazz to Tucson on Saturday, June 16th. "I'm really looking forward to coming to Tucson," Eastwood said. "I haven't been there in ages - probably 15 years. I don't mind the desert heat. It's warm here in Paris."
Does Kyle get tired of being referred to as the son of Clint Eastwood? "I don't know," Eastwood said. "It's always been that way, and it probably always will be to a certain degree. I try not to let it bother me."
In addition to a discography which includes 4 albums, including his latest release, Now, Eastwood has composed music for the Academy Award winning films, "Mystic River" (2003) and "Million Dollar Baby" (2004). Eastwood also composed along with Michael Stevens the entire score to Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima."
You can check out Kyle Eastwood at the JW Marriott Starr Pass on Saturday, June 16th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for Tucson Jazz Society members and $25 for non-members. To order tickets, log onto www.tucsonjazz.org.
A Modern Day Balladeer appearing June 10th
As
a young boy, singer/songwriter Fred Bayer received a simple six string
guitar and an Elvis 45 for Christmas. "Mom and Dad and Elvis got me
into music," said Bayer, who will be performing in Tucson this month. "All
it took was listening to the guitar work on Hound Dog and Don't be Cruel
and I was hooked!"
Fred Bayer is one of Tucson's best kept secrets. He is a balladeer who has been inspired by such musicians as Gordon Lightfoot, Livingston Taylor, and James Taylor. In fact, the music of these men inspired Fred to go solo in his early 20's.
Although music was Bayer's livelihood for several years, he took a break from writing and performing songs for many years. "After I left New York City, I put it all on the shelf. There were a lot of years when I barely picked up my guitar except to dust it off."
Today Fred is jamming again, and his crystal clear picking defines each note. Bayer has the voice of a true story teller, and through each song he shares his passion for God. "There's nothing I'd rather do than minister God's word to people through a song," Bayer said. "A 3-5 minute song can be so powerful it can change a person's life forever."
The lyrics that Bayer writes are born of his faith. "It feels like God has been doing some work on me over the past 2 to 3 years to draw me closer than I've ever allowed," said Bayer, whose new CD is titled In Those Quite Moments. "As a result of that process, God has been laying lyrics and music on my heart that gets expressed in song."
Although many think of Bayer as a "Christian James Taylor," trying to place Fred's music into a specific genre is difficult. "There are so many types of music I have enjoyed over the years - Folk, Country, Rock, Latin, Jazz, and so much of the songwriting done in the 40's that my folks would listen to. Sometimes I think it all goes into a blender. I never seem to know what the next song will taste like."
You can taste Fred Bayer's music at Pathway of Hope on Sunday June 10th at 10 a.m. at Coronado K-8 School (3401 E Wilds Rd). His concert will feature new music as well as tunes off his album, In Those Quiet Moments. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.pathwayofhope.net.
Country/Soft Rock:
Title: When
I Get Where I'm Going
Artist: BRAD PAISLEY (feat. Dolly pardon)
Album: Time Well Wasted
The spiritual duet When I get Where I’m Going features Dolly Parton
- and gives us hope and peace for a hereafter that will be filled with joy
and peace. A heart-lifting tune, When I get Where I’m Going also gently
reminds us that in life, we are always on the path home.
Lyric
Sample:
So much pain and so much darkness,
in this world we stumble through.
All these questions, I can't answer,
so much work to do.
But when I get
where I'm going,
and I see my Maker's face.
I'll stand forever in the light,
of His amazing grace.
Christian Alternative
Title: I'm
Not Who I Was
Artist: Brandon Heath
Album: Don't Get Comfortable
Quickly topping the Christian Billboard charts, Brandon Heath reminds us that there is always opportunity for change, and room for forgiveness in I’m Not Who I Was. Watch streaming video at http://brandonheath.net
Lyric
Sample:
I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was
I used to be mad at you
A little on the hurt side too
But I'm not who I was
I found my way
around
To forgiving you
Some time ago
But I never got to tell you so
Fri. 6/8/07
-- 8pm
Keith Urban (Country)
US Airways Center, Phoenix
Tickets: $41.25-51.25
INFO: usairwayscenter.com
Fri. 6/8/07
-- 6:30pm
Taking It To The Bridge
Lee Williams / Spiritual QC’s
Briana Scott / New Creation
(Gospel) South Mountain, Phoenix
Tickets: $35-45
INFO: 602.702.5248
Sat. 6/9/07
-- 8pm
The Beach Boys (Rock)
Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson
Tickets: $32-45
INFO: 520.393.2799
Sun. 6/10/07
-- 6:30pm
Broken (Christian Alt.)
Pantano Christian Church, Tucson
Tickets: Love Offering.
INFO: doughallock.com
Wed. 6/13/07
-- 7:30pm
John Mayer (Rock)
Jobing.com Arena Glendale
Tickets: $40.40-50.40
INFO: glendalearenaaz.com
Sun. 7/1/07
-- 7:30pm
Brad Paisley (Country)
Cricket Pavillion Phoenix
Tickets: $20-45.50
INFO: cricket-pavilion.com
Sat. 7/7/07
-- 9pm
Kenny Rogers (Country)
Casino Arizona, Scottsdale
Tickets: $25-40
INFO: casinoaz.com
Sat. 7/14/07
-- 7:00pm
Tree63 (Christian)
Teen Challenge of Arizona Benefit Concert, Christ Community Church, Tucson
Also Fri. 7/13 @ 7:30pm, Mesa
Tickets: Unknown at press
INFO: 800.346.7859
7/16/07 -- 7:30pm
The Fray (Ch. Crossover)
Dodge Theatre
Phoenix, AZ
Tickets: $35.50
INFO: ticketmaster.com
Fri - Sat. 7/27/07
- 7/28/07
Jeremy Camp w/Third Day (Christian)
Pine Mountain Spiritfest
Flagstaff, AZ
INFO: 928.556.1580
Travis Kelly is a freelance writer and the Student Ministry Director at Pathway of Hope Foursquare Church in Oro Valley.
