We’d like to introduce one of our new endorsee’s Michael Sechrest. Michael has been using our products for over 7 years now! Michael Sechrest is a Vocalist, Guitarist, Emmy Nominated Composer and Producer:
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio Michael started playing guitar at a young age. He has been Music Director and/or performed with various artists including Lakita Garth, Jon Gibson, Israel Houghton, Eddie Money, Lee Greenwood, Wayne Newton, and currently plays with Diana Ross. Michael has also produced and composed music with Susan Kay Wyatt, Lakita Garth, International Star Coco Lee, Rich “Rico” Henderson, Teddy “RedSun” Orii and many more. Michael has been a staff songwriter for several Publishing companies and has had works published with television networks NBC, ABC, and CBS. Also received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Original Song in 2003. Michael is also a co-owner of Sound Vision Studios in Harbor City, CA.
This week only you can get 15% off all Clayton products at Musicans Friend.com. Just use the promo code shown in the image to get 15% off. Remember this promotion lasts this week only, so hurry up and stock up on your favorite Clayton products! Also, be sure to “like” Musicians Friend’s Facebook to get access to more promotions, ect.
Front-Man Aaron Robbie Fowler takes the lead with his soulful vocals, guitar, and harmonica. Django Lachlan’s skill and power behind his bass guitar are unmatched, along with his harmonizing vocals. Jeff LaCohn completes Urban Bleu’s musical magic with his rhythmic drumming and harmonizing vocals. Aaron Robbie Fowler and Django Lachlan have jammed together for eight years, Jeff LaCohn is a recent and welcome addition. With a wide range of technique and a broad musical knowledge, the power trio consistently produces fresh, dance-able music. Audiences love their blues roots,fused with rock, jazz, soul, and even a bit of country, with a more progressive sound unique to Urban Bleu.They write and play their music to cater to a wide range of listeners, their performances are always heartfelt and powerful. Their gigs have taken them to several cities within their home state, Utah. They have also traveled and performed in Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado. Urban Bleu’s goal is to open their doors to the world through technology and playing live shows initially in the West and Southwest, United States. Urban Bleu is ambitiously embarking on a unique and global distribution of the best their music has to offer. Urban Bleu’s plan is to take the airwaves by storm!
Born and raised in a small town in southern illinois , Billy Sidwell has spent his entire life exposed to music. After seeing country singer Randy Travis perform at just 5 years old Billy knew that he wanted to be up on that stage. During his teenage years Billy played electric/bass guitar in several different rock bands and to this day he is still heavily influenced by all genres of music ranging from Bluegrass to Metal . After the breakup of his rock band in 2001 he took a long break from writing/playing music then in 2004 billy met & married the love of his life and together they share 4 beautiful children . In 2009 Billy made his return to the music world when he wrote a song called ‘ Battlescars ‘ the song was a true story written about his own childhood growing up from a broken home he then shared his lyrics on facebook with a few friends and soon realized that so many people out there could relate to his words . through word of mouth and self promotion he has obtained nearly 4,000 loyal fans that call themselves ” The B.S Army ” and he has did all of this with no radio airplay or backing from a record label. Billy Recently went into the studio and recorded a 3 song acoustic demo cd called ‘ Battlescars ‘ which is a written reflection of his childhood .What makes Billy Sidwell stand out the most are his lyrics. As you hear them you feel the experience and emotions behind them. These words invoke images that are so clear, so vivid, you feel as though you are right there experiencing them with him.
“One of this country’s top blues guitar stars” writes the Globe and Mail about JW-Jones. JW-Jones has one of the most energetic and exciting live shows on the scene. It is no surprise that this young man has played throughout the world (CANADA, USA, EUROPE, AUSTRALIA, BRAZIL) and some of the biggest names in blues today, including The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, Rod Piazza, Anson Funderburgh with Sam Myers, The Mannish Boys and the legendary Hubert Sumlin have invited him to join them on stage. During a special appearance with the band, Hollywood celebrity and fan, Dan Aykroyd said, “this is an amazing blues band, and I’ve played with the best!” Mr. Aykroyd wrote the liner notes for the 2008 release ‘Bluelisted’. The new record “Midnight Memphis Sun” features special guest stars Hubert Sumlin and Charlie Musselwhite, while past CDs have had world-class musicians David ‘Fathead’ Newman (Ray Charles sax player), Little Charlie Baty, Junior Watson, Colin James, and multi-Grammy nominee Kim Wilson who appears on two discs and produced ‘My Kind of Evil’ in 2004. Their music has garnered radio-play worldwide, including heavy rotation on commercial radio stations, and features on shows such as the internationally syndicated House of Blues Radio Hour. In 2009, Guitar World Magazine featured a CD called ‘Guitar Masters Vol. 2’ that put Jones alongside guitar stars B.B. King, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana and more. The buzz this band has created over the last decade has earned them a national award – the Maple Blues Award for Electric Act of the Year, and rave reviews throughout the globe. Jones has been featured by Blues Revue Magazine and can be found in the books All Music Guide to Blues and Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. When working with Jeff Asselin (drums), and Marc Decho (bass), or adding the heavy grooves of Jesse Whiteley (organ), the musicians with Jones always add a powerful energy to the stage. Canada’s Top Touring Blues Act, Jones and his band are born entertainers, and with their unique sound, they continue to set the world on fire one country at a time!
Soulful music, strong entertainer, with a following that exceeds all expectations for a country music performer from Cincinnati, Ohio. Kenny Welch is a performer taking his music to the next level. Kenny Welch began singing at a very young age for his family and friends. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1973, he was raised in a small town south east of Cincinnati called Bethel. Kenny never saw himself as a performer or singer until nearly seven years ago, when he began to set his sights on a music career in Country Music. Kenny Welch has been recognized by the local news media in Cincinnati and surrounding areas The media continues to follow his progress and monitor his career. Kenny is very devoted to his music, friends, and children and is looking forward to a long and prosperous career in the music industry.
Check Kenny out on Facebook! He has been endorsed with us since 2010.
The Shiny Darks have been endorsed with us since 2010, here is a little bit about their band:
It’s rock-n-roll with a kick to the face and a pat on the back. It’s true that “happy” and “positive” aren’t normally associated with aggressive music, but there’s more to The Shiny Darks than meets the eye. The thrillsome threesome from Houston, TX has managed to create a sound like no other- one that can start a pit and keep you smiling all at once. Epitomized in their newly released EP “Stab at Love”, The Shiny Darks’ transcend traditional punk, kick it up a notch, and slam it back down with some good ol’ rock-n-roll fun.
To create the magic, the Houston-based band took to the outskirts of the nation and found their resting place in Radiostar Studios (Weed, CA). It was there, through the eyes and ears of the great Sylvia Massy (Tool, Powerman 5000, Johnny Cash) and veteran studio/session musician turned producer Cameron McKenzie, “Stab at Love” came alive.
“Recording in Weed, CA with The Shiny Darks was definitely in my top five experiences of all time.” says Cameron. “Everyone there had nowhere to go but straight into rock history.”
“Recording The Shiny Darks could be the highlight of my career.” says Sylvia. “These guys live and breathe true rock-n-roll, dredged from the depths of dirty thoughts and high-school rejection. Bite marks bleed with the song ‘Stab’. Paul’s vocals and bass wrap around you like a warm strait-jacket. Gem’s drums drill into your temples like a lobotomy. Quenton’s guitars wake you up like a slap in the face. No kissy-kissy music here…”
“Stab at Love”, the first single off of the titular EP, explores loving and losing with the honesty of being freshly wounded. A heart that was, as the song pines, left “beating on the floor” now picked up and proudly displayed on the wounded’s sleeve.
“These songs are lyrically very personal to us. But everybody can relate. Love and loss in ‘Stab’ and ‘Photographs’, the desire for the ‘greener pasture’ and its ultimate disappointment in ‘Kennedy’, and surviving tough times in ‘Holiday’.” says Quenton Rockwell.
“Human nature is driven by two basic emotions: love and fear” says Paul Mendez. “These songs delve into the love side of things…mostly surviving the pain of it. We wrote about it and, to a degree, celebrate survival.”
Though “Stab at Love” boasts the flavors of rejection, pain, and agonizing heartache, the underlying theme which can all but be avoided is hope. The same could be said of each band member. Three very distinct personalities that are each tinged with optimism. “We want people to know that these times don’t last forever” says Gem Mendez (Paul’s baby sister). “There’s something else right around the corner. We wish for our music to touch those that have endured such pain and have fun with it, enough to take a peek at what good things are to come.”
We have a really cool picks and a really cool band this week! This lovely pick is by the band Stephanie & THREE, which is local to Clayton, Inc. here in Southern Oregon. I love the shades of pink on the pick, and the design is just way to cool! Stephanie & THREE is an aggressive Rock ‘n’ Power-Pop Trio, that plays in clubs and venues throughout the Northwest. We always love seeing local bands being successful. I posted a video below so that you can really see how awesome this band is! Make sure to check out their website to find out where you can catch their next performance. www.threemusic.net
This week we have a different style of pick. This is a full black overbleed on our Acetal material. It looks like a black pick, but it actually is white on the other side. This is a great option because you get the look of a black pick, but it is printed on our popular Acetal material. We really loved Eldebrock’s design, plus they are an endorsed band here at Clayton. They have a very cool website at: www.eldebrock.net. Really, it is quite impressive there is some amazing flash animation on their site. They currently have just released their debut album, which can be downloaded on iTunes. Their music is really unique, and they have clips of it on their website, so make sure to listen. The band Eldebrock took shape in the early spring of 2009 when founding member, Del Bannerman(rhythm guitar), along with Richard Lalonde (bass guitar), recruited Jay Wegenast from Vancouver B.C. as the lead singer. The spring and summer of 2009 was spent in a small town in Saskatchewan writing the music for the debut album. Barrett Moore (lead guitar), who grew up with Jay in Forestburg, Alberta joined in late 2009 adding his own touch of Zakk Wylde and Slash influenced lead guitar to the tracks that finished off the sound they were going for.
This week we have a pick from the band Rock Sugar! You have to check out their website at: http://www.rocksugarband.com/. They have an amazing intro on their website. Here is a little description about their live show:
“THE ROCK SUGAR LIVE SHOW IS UNLIKE ANY YOU’VE EVER SEEN. ROCK SUGAR SLAMS 34 OF THE BIGGEST CROWD PLEASING SONGS IN HISTORY AS THEY’VE NEVER BEEN HEARD BEFORE, INTO ONE TIGHT 13 SONG SET. SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT!– “
This lovely pearl celluloid pick is printed with a purple and blank blended logo. It was made for the band guitarist and vocalist Chuck Duran. Also, make sure to check out their facebook page, where they have over 22,000 likes! Wow!
