Josh Blake’s Acoustic Band | Nothing’s In The Way
Format | Acoustic, Folk, Reggae, Bluegrass
Release Date | Tuesday, May 14, 2019
DOWNLOAD | STREAM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JOSH BLAKE DROPS ZESTY NEW SINGLE “HERE COMES THE FOOL,”
ANNOUNCES ACOUSTIC ALBUM FEATURING ALL STAR CAST
MARCUS KING, BILLY CARDINE AMONG SPECIAL GUESTS
Monday, April 15, 2019 (Asheville, NC) - Many producers are also musicians, but few are as multidimensional as Asheville, North Carolina’s own Josh Blake. Longtime engineer and affiliate of the acclaimed Echo Mountain Recording Studio; mastermind behind the popular independent media group IamAVL; standing member of assorted outfits - the iconic Granola Funk Express, Asheville Music Hall’s Tuesday Night Funk Jam house band, and leader of his own Josh Blake Organ Trio (JBOT), there isn’t much that Blake hasn’t at least dipped his toes in.
In his latest venture, Blake strips down to the core of his musicianship to reveal a never-before-heard batch of tracks, collected from years of songwriting and collaboration. With an extensive discography of releases under a myriad of project names, the multi-instrumentalist has found strength in simplicity. A veteran of the jam, funk, and rock worlds, Blake knew that this particular compilation would be best served in its near-original form.
With today’s release of the debut single “Here Comes the Fool,” Blake lets his inner troubadour loose, alluding to the folk format the project has taken on.
Says the songwriter on his decision to go acoustic:
Although I’m mostly found performing as a funk guitarist, I’ve been writing singer-songwriter style songs since I was a kid. Stepping out of my comfort zone slightly, this album represents an aspect of my musicality that usually doesn’t leave my living room. There are just so many facets and styles of music that one can express themselves with, and I never really felt like it served my art for me to be one dimensional as a musician. This all-acoustic album is a testament to that fact.
A mix of playful arrangements (“Here Comes the Fool,” “Big Trucker”), relatable ballads (“When I’m With You”), anthemic sing-alongs (“Prohibition Song”), and hopeful hymns including title track “Nothing’s In The Way,” the album is a perfect showcase of both Blake’s personal and musical journeys. And with cameo appearances from southern soul prodigy Marcus King, dobro legend Billy Cardine (Acoustic Syndicate, The Biscuit Burners, Lover’s Leap), Grammy-winning vocalist Debrissa McKinney (Empire Strikes Brass, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo), Americana gem Aaron “Woody” Wood, prolific producer and multi-instrumentalist Matt Williams, and multifaceted actress and singer Marisa Blake, the record serves as a reunion for the musical comrades who have circled Blake’s orbit through the years.
The project rides on the heels of an unreleased experimental album that Blake recorded with the late Colonel Bruce Hampton. When the legendary musician unexpectedly passed, Blake recovered some songs he had previously tucked away, and felt called to facilitate their reprise.
I had wrapped up a concept album - a “Gorillaz” style recording with electronic beats and live instruments - that I had recorded with the late great Colonel Bruce Hampton as the narrator of the story. Very different sounding from this [new record], opposite side of the musical spectrum - a whole other dimension. Awaiting permission for its release, I decided to dig up some songs of mine that hadn’t been recorded yet and lay them down in an all-acoustic format. I had done an all-acoustic show a couple years back, and really liked the vibe it gave to this material. I have [played] some of these songs in other formats in the past, but after that show I felt like the acoustic approach would give them new life. Even though it’s not what people are used to seeing and hearing from me, I believe it is what these songs needed, and hope that after listening everyone agrees.
“Nothing’s in the Way” is slated to drop on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, and will be available on all streaming platforms. Josh Blake and his acoustic band will be celebrating the record release in Asheville, NC at the Ambrose Westlistening room the following Thursday, May 16. Tickets are available at https://joshblakealbumnrelease.eventbrite.com.
Track List
1. Nothing’s In The Way
2. When I’m With You*
3. Here Comes The Fool*
4. Pinwheels
5. Prohibition Song*
6. Big Trucker
7. Tizzy McDoogal
8. Rasta Box
9. Undertow
10. Time Warp
11. Prohibition Song (Radio Edit)**
*Focus Tracks: (2) When I’m With You, (3) Here Comes The Fool, (5) Prohibition Song
**Going For Radio Adds: (11) Prohibition Song (Radio Edit)
Recorded and mixed at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, North Carolina by Julian Dreyer and Josh Blake
www.echomountain.net
Mastered by Dave Harris at Studio B Mastering in Charlotte, North Carolina
www.facebook.com/StudioBMastering/
Additional remixing at Welcome To Mars in Asheville, North Carolina
www.welcome-to-mars.com
The Band Is
Josh Blake - Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Songwriting, Songs 1-10
Marisa Blake - Vocals, Songs 1-10
Phill Bronson - Box Drum Trap Set, Songs 1-9
Billy Cardine - Dobro, Songs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Simon Thomas George - Piano, Songs 5, 6
Daniel Iannucci - Upright Bass, Songs 1-10
Marcus King - Pedal Steel, Songs 5, 10; Electric Guitar, 3, 5
Debrissa McKinney - Vocals, Songs 1-10
Oso Rey - Percussion, Songs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10
Matt Williams - Violin, Songs 1, 4, 6; Grecian Mandolin, Songs 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9; Vocals, Songs 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
Woody Wood - Acoustic Guitar, Songs 1, 5, 8, 9; Vocals, Song 5
Additional vocals on Track 5 by: Scott Reese, Jeff Thompson, Juan Holladay
To download approved press photos, click HERE
To download album artwork, click HERE
For press and radio inquiries, please contact Josh Blake directly at joshblakemusic@gmail.com
Press release written by Danielle Dror at Sabra Music
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