Photo Credit: Dave Tommo

After listening to Benjamin Taylor’s music on his website and MySpace page, I was quite interested to see him perform live.

Ben is Carly Simon and James Taylor’s son, so the idea of seeing him and hearing him in person was intriguing. Also, he’s from New England (Martha’s Vineyard), which is always a treat for me – running into fellow New Englanders in England.

The intimate showcase took place last Monday night downstairs at The Social in London. The Social is a great place for an acoustic show. There’s limited seating, but the stage is always in view as the room is quite small.

Before Ben started the set, his latest CD, ‘The Legend Of Kung Folk Part 1 (The Killing Bite)’ was playing through the speakers. You can look at this idea in two ways. Some might find his live show a repeat of what they just heard on the overhead. For me though, I liked the idea of hearing his tunes before the live show. It gave me a chance to get more acquainted with his music, and actually, made the night seem even more intimate.

Ben Taylor is a soft spoken guy, humble on stage and seems like he would fit right in with some of my friends from back home in Vermont – like by a fire at night…in the woods by a river. But I digress.

He played songs off of ‘The Legend Of Kung Folk’, along with David Saw, also on acoustic guitar, and there was bass (played left handed and upside down – or reverse headstock) and box drummer. One stand out of the night was David and Ben’s smooth harmonies. When singing in unison they sound almost as one – as though the same voice was layered in the studio. It’s always good to hear vocal harmonies in acoustic settings, but when their voices come together in unison, it makes the sound even warmer. David performed a song as well. His album, ‘Broken Down Figure’ features Ben, Christopher Thomas and Larry Ciancia. I’m looking forward to hearing it, which I have here, next to the computer.

Photo Credit: Patrik Andersson

One of my favorite songs of the night “Wicked Way”, is a song that had previously caught my ear from listening online. Now that I have Ben’s CD ‘The Legend Of Kung Folk’ and am listening to it now, I think it probably is one of the best tracks on the album. Although, the song did catch me off guard when I first heard it. With Ben’s gentle voice, and if you’re familiar with his parents, you can even hear them in there a little, I wouldn’t have expected a song with opening lyrics, “Well I just want to take you out and get you drunk so I can have my wicked way with you”. In the song he tells it like it is, maybe a bit harsh, but it’s how he feels about the girl and the three hours that he wants to spend with her. Blunt and real to life. Feminists won’t love it, but in this “wicked” world we live in, these things do actually happen, even if the song may be “tongue in cheek”.

“It’s Only Love” off of the album is also a winning track as is the laid back, sultry even, “Dangerous Girl”. Some well thought out placement of instruments, use of vocal effects and harmonies. The lyrics leave me wanting to know more about this dangerous girl, and what did she do? Excellent.

Jamie Cullum plays piano on three tracks – the intimate “After It’s Over”; the groovy “Wilderness” and – “Space”, which has a bit of an old school country feel, lovely guitars, bass and backing vocals by Ben’s sister Sally Taylor (who also contributes backing vocals on “Something For Nothing”) and yearning lyrics.

‘The Legend Of Kung Folk Part 1 (The Killing Bite)’ is set for UK release April 6, 2009.

The first single set for UK release is the radio friendly “She’s Gone” on April 20th.

Watch “She’s Gone” video:

Ben Taylor on amazon.com

Ben Taylor on amazon.co.uk

Ben Taylor will be playing in the UK in April. The live show was a great night out, and I would recommend seeing him – and why not buy the CD while you’re at it!

Ben Taylor Official Website
Ben Taylor MySpace

By: Jenny May – BandWeblogs.com

When I hear an artist that I like, I get this natural desire to want to tell people about them. That’s one of thee best things about Band Weblogs. It’s a great platform to do just that.

Today, while listening to MVY Radio (in Martha’s Vineyard) via iTunes, “One of These Days”, a song by Hawaiian artist John Cruz came on and suddenly I dropped everything, looked him up online, and here I am writing about him – and listening to more of his music on his website.

Watch “Missing You” video:

It’s funny that I would first hear his music via a radio station located in Martha’s Vineyard, because his bio states, “Although John grew up in Hawaii, it wasn’t until he moved to the East Coast in 1983 that he developed his own style as a singer songwriter. During his 12 years in the Northeast, John cut his musical teeth in subways, coffeehouses and bars in New York’s Greenwich Village, as well as in the clubs and local haunts from Martha’s Vineyard to the Boston area”. Go figure!

John returned to Hawaii in 1995 and has continued to tour and play various festivals including Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Musician fans of his include Jack Johnson, Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett, Lisa Loeb and Trey Anastasio.

Music writer Derek Paiva and the staff at Hawaii Magazine have named John the “Best Singer-Songwriter from Hawaii.”

Photo Credit: Twain Newhart

You can read more about John Cruz on his:

Biography Page

MySpace

John Cruz Official Website

By: Jenny May

Originally from New York, Willy Mason grew up on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts and hearing his music I naturally think of other famous residents of the island like Carly Simon and James Taylor. I’ve been there before and actually visited Carly Simon’s shop which was nice. Anyway – it was Willy’s parents, both folk singers, that brought him to Martha’s Vineyard and I can certainly understand why they were drawn to the island.

“Save Myself” is the latest release by Willy Mason and it’s a great song. Now that Virgin UK has taken him under their wing, I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from this young man. He’s already been playing the festival circuit and last year supported Radiohead, Beth Orton and KT Tunstall.

Watch the video for Willy Mason’s new single, “Save Myself”

*Dates could change! Go to Willy Mason’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

February 20 – Preston, England @ Action Records (free show)
February 21 – Brighton, England @ Resident (free show)
February 22 – London, England @ Sister Ray (free show)
February 28 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord (Noisepop Festival) (18+)
March 14 – New Orleans, LA @ The Parish (w/ Sondre Lerche, 18+)
March 19 – Phoenix, AZ @ Clubhouse (w/ Sondre Lerche, All Ages)
March 20 – San Diego, CA @ Belly Up (w/ Sondre Lerche, 21+)
March 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey (w/ Sondre Lerche, All Ages)
March 23 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore (w/ Sondre Lerche, All Ages)
March 24 – Eugene, OR @ Sam Bond’s Garage (w/ Sondre Lerche, 21+)
March 25 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (w/ Sondre Lerche, 21+)
March 26 – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile (w/ Sondre Lerche, 21+)
March 29 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room (w/ Sondre Lerche, All Ages)
March 30 – Chicago, IL @ Double Door (w/ Sondre Lerche, 21+)
March 31 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry (w/ Sondre Lerche, 21+)
April 2 – Toronto, ON @ Mod Club (w/ Sondre Lerche, 19+)
April 4 – Philadelphia, PA @ TLA (w/ Sondre Lerche, All Ages)
April 5 – Washington, DC @ Birchmere (w/ Sondre Lerche, All Ages)
April 6 – Boston, MA @ Paradise (w/ Sondre Lerche, 18+)
April 7 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall (w/ Sondre Lerche, 18+)
May 4 – Leicester, England @ Charlotte (16+)
May 5 – Liverpool, England @ Carling Academy (14+)
May 7 – Cardiff, England @ The Point (18+)
May 8 – Oxford, England @ Zodiac (14+)
May 9 – Sheffield, England @ Leadmill (18+)
May 10 – Norwich, England @ Waterfront (14+)
May 11 – Bristol, England @ Trinity (tbc)
May 12 – Nottingham, England @ Rescue Rooms (18+)
May 14 – Leeds, England @ Cockpit (14+)
May 15 – Manchester, England @ Academy 2 (12+)
May 16 – London, England @ Shepherds Bush Empire (14+)
May 18 – Brighton, England @ Pavillion Theatre (18+)
May 19 – Birmingham, England @ Academy 2 (14+)
May 21 – Edinburgh, Scotland @ Liquid Rooms (18+)
May 22 – Northumbria, England @ University (Stage 2) (14+)
May 23 – Glasgow, Scotland @ QMU (14+)
May 24 – Aberdeen, Scotland @ Moshulu (14+)
May 25 – Belfast, Ireland @ Speakeasy (18+)
May 26 – Dublin, Ireland @ Temple Bar Music Centre (18+)
*Dates could change!

Willy Mason’s Official Website
Willy Mason on Myspace

By: Jenny May