September 21, 2010 7pm
Outland Live
95 Liberty Street
(614) 744-0100
Ages 18+
$16 adv / $18 door
Bob Schneider
http://bobschneidermusic.com/
Bob Schneider is a fixture on the Austin scene, having kicked around for years in various bands before embarking on a solo career. He dropped out of the University of Texas at El Paso to front his first band, the funk and rap outfit Joe Rockhead. The band independently released three albums before disbanding immediately prior to signing with a major label. A stint with a jamming, slightly Phishy outfit called the Ugly Americans followed, which experienced some success as an opening act for the Dave Matthews Band. In 1997, Schneider went on to co-found the Scabs, where he made a further name for himself as a crotch-grabbing frontman. In 1999, Schneider became a solo act, though performing at first under the band name Lonelyland.
Schneider’s musical approach as a solo artist has proven as eclectic as the diverse musical styles of his former bands — a little bit singer/songwriter, a whole lot of bits and pieces of funk, country, rock, and folk. His scruffy good looks and strong, husky voice provide a good complement to his semi-confessional songwriting. His music is redolent of singer/songwriters of the ’70s from Neil Young to Paul Simon, with a slightly more modern musical sensibility reminiscent of Beck. Schneider has a knack for creating pleasant adult alternative music with edgy lyrics about alienation, drug addiction, and lost romance. His success may well depend on the twists and turns of music industry trends, which come to embrace talents such as his in cyclical fashion. Schneider’s solo albums include the major-label release Lonelyland, which arrived via Universal Records in 2001. After an appearance at the annual SXSW Music Conference in spring 2004, Schneider issued I’m Good Now. In 2006 he released The Californian, followed by When the Sun Breaks Down on the Moon in 2007 and Lovely Creatures in 2009. - ©2010 Rovi, All Music Guide
Smile Smile
http://www.smilesmilemusic.com/
Wanting to bring something new to the Dallas music scene, Ryan Hamilton and Jencey Hirunrusme create their own modern blend of folk, pop and rock in Smile Smile. Their songs range from heart wrenching ballads to foot stomping sing alongs. Jencey’s classical piano background teamed with Ryan’s self-taught guitar style combine to create sounds which both soar above you and pull you in tight at the same time.
“When we formed Smile Smile, we looked at what was missing in the world of folk and pop and then tried to create a sound that was uniquely ours,” says Jencey. “We really wanted our music to be catchy and memorable, but also focusing on the issues that we care about.”
The duo garnered local and national success in 2006 with their debut full-length album Blue Roses. Its full of infectious melodies, dusty blue lyrics whispers, hand-claps and toe-tappable folk songs set to guitar and keys. Smile Smile were nominated for “Best Folk Rock Song (“Sad Song”) at the Los Angeles Independent Music Awards, nominated as “Best USA Act” in the Toronto Independent Music Awards, and have had several tracks from Blue Roses licensed for programming on MTV’s NEXT. Smile Smile was also featured in the film Jack and Jill vs the World starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Tarynn Manning.
Although known for their subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) back and forth jabs onstage, when the pair sing together their voices sound as if they are one. Stripping songs down to the bone and emphasizing the simplicity of beautiful music, is about the only thing the two can agree upon. Curious about their relationship? The duo will release their sophomore album Truth on Tape on February 9, 2010 which chronicles their lives. Together. And apart. And…?
Bascom Hill
http://www.bascomhillband.com/
The members of Bascom Hill admit they have a tough time when someone asks them what kind of music they play. Usually, after attempting a few lame comparisons, they throw up their hands and say, “Have you heard of rock and roll?”
No, it’s not “rap-rock,” “indie-rock,” “dance-rock” or any other hyphen-happy subgenre. Unlike many of their contemporaries, Bascom Hill plays a brand of music that does away with endless categorization and pigeonholing while embracing anything that’s good—all while delivering effortless sounding hooks and instantly memorable choruses.
And really, to play spot-the-influence or name-the-genre is to miss the point. Just wade into the crowd and let the music carry you until you find yourself singing along. You’ll be in good company.
While coming across as a quartet of good-natured, lager-loving lads from Kenosha, Wisconsin (setting of TV’s That ’70s Show and not far from where Richie, Ralph and The Fonz once held court), the band—vocalist Charlie Victor, guitarist Jason Sheridan, bassist Quin Stickler and drummer Tom Reschke—is more accomplished and seasoned than their unpretentious Midwestern demeanor might indicate. For starters, the irresistible songwriting is theirs, not that of hired guns, and the core Sheridan/Victor team has been together more than 15 years now, predating the band’s formation. (All four band members have played together, on and off, for more than 12 years.)
The songwriting partnership got rolling nearly instantaneously just after Sheridan and Victor met, while in a choir together during high school—yes, no kidding. “The story goes that there was a battle of the bands, and I was a pretty good guitar player, and Charlie was obviously a good singer, so we got together and wrote a couple of songs for it,” Sheridan recalls. “Instantly—at 16 years old—we were able to write songs together without ever doing it before. And we’ve been doing it ever since.”
Bassist Quin Stickler, who worked with Sheridan at a local music store, was the next to come aboard, adding bass lines to duo’s growing list of songs (forming an increasingly busy trio in the process). Following Quin came drummer Tom Reschke, who was a natural choice. He was widely known as the best drummer in southeast Wisconsin and they had all played together during their high school years. Tommy would later leave the band for a period to tour with others, only to return in 2007.
After solidifying the lineup, one thing led to another and eventually the quartet recorded two albums independently. Meanwhile, the band went to work building a loyal word-of-mouth following through well-attended shows—both close to home and around the Midwest. (The name comes from a landmark on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, where the band cut its teeth and is now based.)
Through the independent success of prior album Maybe, Bascom Hill has graduated to bigger stages, touring and sharing bills with the likes of Augustana, The Fray, Hanson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Lifehouse, as well as performing at festivals across the country including the world’s largest music festival and Milwaukee’s own Summerfest, Sturgis’ Harleyfest, and others.