Pick up your copy of Jesse Aycock's "Flowers & Wounds" today! Available on itunes, amazon, cdbaby, http://jesseaycock.bandcamp.com/album/flowers-wounds
You can puchase the new letterpressed limited edition 7inch vinyl from http://www.scissortailrecords.com/2013/11/st15-jesse-aycock-out-to-space-first-to.html . This 45 LP features "Out To Space" & "First To Last" from Jesse's up coming album "Flowers & Wounds" due out January 21, 2014
Jesse Aycock's new full length album "Flowers & Wounds" is set for release January 21 2014. "Flowers& Wounds" was recorded @ the legendary Church Studio in Tulsa, OK. For the session Jesse brought in his long time bassist Eric Arndt, along with Neal Casal, and George Sluppick of (Chris Robinson Brotherhood). The album was mixed by Jason Weinheimer, and features guest appearances by David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) Jimmy Karstein (JJ Cale, Eric Clapton, Joe ) Indy Gratto (Boondogs), and Al Gamble (City Champs).
You can also catch Jesse with "The Hard Working Americans" The group consist of Todd Snider / Dave Schools / Neal Casal / Chad Staehly /Jesse Aycock /Duane Trucks. For dates check here http://www.thehardworkingamericans.com/
Also on the way is a brand new release from Paul Benjaman Band http://www.paulbenjamanband.com/, Jesse's other musical venture. The album was recorded at Fellowship Hall in Little Rock, AR.http://www.fellowshiphallsound.com/It was done straight to tape and in true Okie fashion.
Oct 7 | The Warehouse | Bowling Green, KY | Jesse Aycock |
Oct 8 | SPACE | Evanston, IL | Jesse Aycock |
Oct 9 | Old Town School of Folk Music | Chicago, IL | Jesse Aycock |
Oct 10 | Riverside Ballroom | Green Bay, WI | Jesse Aycock |
Oct 11 | The Cavalier | LaCrosse, WI | Jesse Aycock |
Oct 12 | Fitzgerald Theater | St. Paul, MN | Jesse Aycock |
Oct 14 | Stoughton Opera House | Stoughton, WI | Jesse Aycock |
Oct 15 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater | Bloomington, IN | Jesse Aycock |
Oct 16 | Music Box Supper Club | Cleveland, OH | Jesse Aycock |
Oct 17 | Stuart's Opera House | Nelsonville, OH | Jesse Aycock |
Oct 18 | Rex Theater | Pittsburgh, PA | Jesse Aycock |
JESSE AYCOCK BIO
Jesse Aycock, is a Singer Songwriter/Multi Instrumentalist from Tulsa Oklahoma. He crafts his own unique brand of music with influences of early rock, the original Tulsa sound, folk, psychedelic, country and soul into his songs. His artistry captures the human condition in story songs, love songs, and songs about everyday life.
Jesse Aycock has already released two highly praised albums “Life’s Ladder”, and “Inside Out Of Blue”. Aycock just finished tracking his new full length album “Flowers & Wounds” @ the legendary Church Studio in Tulsa, OK. For the session Jesse brought in his long time bassist Eric Arnt, along with Neal Casal, and George Sluppick of (Chris Robinson Brotherhood). The album is being mixed by Jason Weinheimer, and features guest appearances by David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) Jimmy Karstein (JJ Cale) and Indy Gratto (Boondogs).
When he sings his songs in his high and tender tenor that is reminiscent of John Lennon, he conveys the loneliness and longing of Gram Parson’s best work with Emmylou Harris, and the soulfulness of Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes.
Jesse Aycock began writing songs at age 12 and even then the sometimes Dylan-esque phrasing and world weary images that emerged were startling, coming from someone so young.
Aycock has already shared billing with the Blind Boys of Alabama, and Lucinda Williams, on the famed Cains Ballroom stage. He has also opened for Eliza Gilkyson, Dwight Yoakam, Ian Moore, Steve Kimmock and Oklahoma’s other rising star, Samantha Crain.
Apart from being a great solo artist, Aycock is a wonderful side man. Adding sweet harmony and electric guitar, as well as lap steel and pedal steel. As of 2013 Aycock has been touring as the multi instrumentalist in the Internationally known group the "Secret Sisters". He is also touring some with singer songwriter Todd Snider’s new group "The Hardworking Americans" which also features / Dave Schools / Neal Casal / Chad Staehly /& Duane Trucks. He honed his lap steel chops while a member of the award winning Dustin Pittsley Band. www.dustinpittsleyband.com, and has been out on the road with The Paul Benjaman Band for the last year and a half. www.paulbenjamanband.com . His approach to playing, regardless of the instrument, is; that less is more.
Aycock’s debut album “Life’s Ladder” won accolades locally, regionally, and even internationally. “Life’s Ladder” charted #1 on the XM Radio’s Americana UK charts from the week of June 18th to June 25th 2006. He won the Spot Music Award in 2007 for best singer/songwriter in Tulsa, Ok. This is an award sponsored by the Tulsa World newspaper and voted on by his peers and music lovers in the Tulsa metro area. Aycock has also been a featured performer at the prestigious Cactus Café in Austin, TX.
Quotes:
“We love to play his music, whether it is a homespun recording of a live show or his beautifully rendered debut ‘Life’s Ladder’. He’s the real deal.” Folk Salad Radio, NPR
“Jesse Aycock is quite possibly the epitome of the understated Southern gentleman-an amazing talent in his own right. If it has strings he can play it, and play it well. His own material is incredibly good, melding his Americana roots and Beatle-esque pop sensibility. But he also proves to be a consummate sideman and stage foil, making him one of the most in-demand players in Tulsa.” G.K. Hizer- Urban Tulsa
Breaking Out and Away
Jesse Aycock shows his emotional and dark side in double-header CD release shows
MICHAEL COOPERAt times, local songwriter and guitar player Jesse Aycock seems to dedicate most of his time and energy to the music of everyone around him, leaving his own music in the wake.
If one catches Aycock on stage, he might very well be performing with Love Ghost or Boondogs, both of Little Rock, Ark. He could possibly be co-hosting the Higher Education series (currently on hiatus) with Dustin Pittsley or their weekly Sunday songwriter night at Elwood’s (1924 S. Riverside Dr.). He is also known to accompany the Paul Benjaman Band and their brand of funky bluesy rock to the stage.
"I’ve been really energized to play with all these different bands," Aycock said.
But that energy is really a distraction. It keeps him from focusing on his own songs; Aycock is a developed, melodic and sensitive songwriter in his own right.
For example the song, “Sometimes” on his upcoming release Inside Out of Blue is a moody, melodic and entirely memorable song encased in personal lyrics about nostalgia and longing for lost love. There is a familiar and timeless quality to his songwriting that makes it “classic” in a sense but also fresh — a difficult feat.
Luckily for fans, he is coming back around to his music by celebrating the release of the six-song EP Inside Out of Blue on Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18 at The Church Studio (304 S. Trenton).
"I feel like my attention is being pulled back to my music," Aycock said happily.
Saturday is scheduled to begin at 8 pm and will feature local pop rock act Philip Zoellner opening the event. Sunday will begin at 6 pm and features the aforementioned Boondogs from Arkansas. Admission to both nights is on a donation basis.
Aycock’s backing band for both nights will feature a parade of the usual suspects including Eric Arntt on bass, Nathan Price on drums and Dustin Pittsley on guitar. Guest appearances will be made by Paul Benjaman on guitar, Lindsey Neal on violin and Jared Tyler on lapsteel guitar.
On top of playing Inside Out of Blue in its entirety, Aycock will also be performing a slew of songs he has yet to record.
The material is more “edgy rock” and has “more attitude” than the EP, Aycock said referencing the riffage of Led Zeppelin and the strut of The Black Crows as influences.
Whereas the material of Inside Out of Blue features personal and relationship-oriented songwriting, the newer compositions are lyrically darker, more open to interpretation and occasionally political. Although many of the “new” songs are several years old, Aycock decided to showcase the material because it would translate well to a live setting.
"These are tunes that I’ve had written for a long time," Aycock said. "And it seemed like a good time to do something different."
Both evenings of the CD release will also be filmed and recorded, possibly to culminate as releases in the future. Aycock expressed excitement about the possibility of releasing a record and starting the recording process of another album on the same night. The pair of evenings might also result in a live concert DVD release.
"A lot of it depends on how it comes out," he said.
For Aycock, hosting the double-header CD release at The Church Studio is the icing on the cake. Throughout the past three decades, the building has been the legendary home to Leon Russell, Shelter Records, Steve Ripley and The Tractors (see Mike Eaterling’s “Feels Like Religion” in the Nov. 11, 2009 issue of UTW or visit urbantulsa.com).
"I’ve had the idea doing it (at The Church Studio) a long time ago," Aycock said. The two CD release shows have been scheduled since the spring, he said.
The actual performances will be held in the studio’s main recording space, a huge room with hardwood floors, ambience and high ceilings where bands set up to record.
The large room originally held the altar and the congregation of the church several decades ago. It has since been turned into a dynamic acoustic space for live performance and recording. Now, it welcomes a congregation of a different kind.
"Beautiful music has been made there," Aycock said referring to that room of the studio in particular. The space has documented the progression of the "Tulsa Sound" as well as bands such as The Gap Band, J.J. Cale and an early incarnation of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers then performing under the name Mudcrutch.
Aycock specifically chose The Church Studio for the room’s vibe and sound he said are acoustics and atmosphere unparalleled in Tulsa.
The CD release shows are reflective of Aycock taking his personal compositions more seriously this summer. In addition to his various musical commitments, he has been performing acoustic shows weekly on Thursday nights often backed by Pittsley at The Luchador Bar in the Eloté Café (514 S. Boston). Hopefully, Aycock’s renewed dedication to his own craft will remain throughout the year.
As for Aycock’s future recording ambitions, he suggested taking his songs out of town. Both his debut full-length album Life’s Ladder and Inside Out of Blue were recorded in Oklahoma (Tulsa and Norman respectively) with a supporting cast of friends, old band mates and future band mates.
Documenting his music outside of his comfort zone appeals to Aycock. It would force him to use different people, make different choices and the process could reflect in the presentation of the songs.
For now, listeners should be content to have back-to-back nights of talented musicians playing great music in a beautiful space.
The Jesse Aycock band will be celebrating the release of Inside Out of Blue Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18 at The Church Studio.