Ian Hunter - Man Overboard

Legendary Mott the Hoople front man and renowned solo artist, Ian Hunter, is out with his new work Man Overboard

With Mott the Hoople, Ian Hunter quickly established himself as an incredibly inventive songwriter with his gritty and thought provoking songs which paved the way for the original wave of punk rock. The 1972 David Bowie produced breakthrough album All The Young Dudes catapulted the band into the British Top 10 and the American Top 40. Additionally, the band was the first act to ever sell out a week of Broadway concerts in New York City. Ian Hunter’s autobiography, Diary Of A Rock and Roll Star, written during the band’s 1972 US Tour and published in 1974, was also acclaimed by Q Magazine as “the greatest music book ever written.”

As a solo artist, Mr. Hunter has been responsible for instantly recognizable classics as “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” “Cleveland Rocks” (which went on to be the theme song for ABC’s hit series The Drew Carey Show), and many, many more. Both Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople have been cited as major inspirations for numerous artists including The Clash, Kiss, R.E.M., Oasis, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Motley Crue, Blur and Primal Scream among others. Hunter’s influence on modern rock and roll music has been immeasurable, with over 150 different cover versions of his songs.

Man Overboard is Ian Hunter’s 13th solo album since his eponymous debut in 1975. Recorded in late 2008 in Pawling, NY, the 11-song set is a stunning follow up to the overwhelmingly critically acclaimed Shrunken Heads album. Man Overboard was produced by Andy York (veteran guitarist for John Mellencamp) and Ian Hunter and features a backing band of superstar talent comprised of Steve Holley on drums and percussion (Wings, Joe Cocker), Paul Page on bass (Dion), Jack Petruzzelli on electric guitar (Rufus Wainwright, Joan Osbourne), James Mastro on electric guitar (Patti Smith, John Cale), Andy Burton on piano and organ (The Db’s) and Producer Andy York on guitar and backing vocals. Many of the band members are returning from the Shrunken Heads sessions. Regarding Man Overboard, Ian Hunter stated, “When we did Shrunken Heads, I felt like we had a good thing going so I wanted to revisit the experience before anything changed, and that’s what we did.”

Ian Hunter has worked with many musical legends such as the members of Queen, David Bowie, Mick Jones of The Clash, Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Mick Ronson and Ringo Starr’s All Star Band.

Pieta Brown - One and All

Pieta Brown is a striking poet-songwriter with a haunting voice and an unmistakable style. Her unique blend of alt-country, folk, blues and indie-rock speaks to music fans around the world and has garnered rave reviews from the likes of the BBC and Boston Globe, as well as a variety of hip music blogs and indie radio stations. Even her own musical hero Iris DeMent is a fan, saying she is “the best poet I’ve heard in a long damn time.” An artist with cross-genre appeal, Pieta has toured with such diverse artists as John Prine, Ani Difranco, Calexico, J.J. Cale and Mason Jennings.

Informed by her travels and the many places she has called home, Pieta writes story songs with beautiful landscapes and vibrant characters. And, coloring it all, a deep abiding saturation in folk and blues that’s beyond her years, showing she is a songwriter to be reckoned with and a talent too good to ignore.

The daughter of two preacher's kids, her early upbringing in Iowa was in a rural outpost with no furnace or running water. There, Pieta was exposed to traditional and rural folk music through her father, Greg Brown, the now beloved Midwestern folk singer. Later, while living with her mother in Alabama during her formative years, Pieta drew on and expanded these influences and began writing poetry and composing instrumental songs on piano.

By the time she left home at 18, Pieta had lived in at least 17 different houses and apartments between Iowa and Alabama. Staying true to the disjointed lifestyle of her childhood she wandered from the West Coast to the East. Each locale left its mark on her, accounting for an artist who brings together the unvarnished humility of Loretta Lynn, the honest modern rock punch of P.J. Harvey, the hipster swagger and poetry of Cat Power, and the airy sophistication of Feist.

After releasing two critically acclaimed albums in the last four years--Remember the Sun (2007) and In the Cool (2005)--Pieta has now signed with Red House Records. A natural addition to the label’s award-winning roster, she spent her early childhood in the very red house that gave the label its name. Her label debut Shimmer (2009) was an EP of stripped-down alt-country songs recorded by legendary producer Don Was (Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Rolling Stones). Hailed as “incisive and carefully crafted” (All Music Guide), it charted on Americana and folk radio.

Now, with her new CD One and All, Pieta proves she is “one of the best modern songwriters” (Sonic Boomers). Produced by Pieta and frequent collaborator Bo Ramsey, this compelling collection of original songs employs guitars, keyboards, and pedal steel to create hypnotic melodies and raw, soul-tinged grooves.

Pieta is currently touring in support of her new album and will be joining rock music icon Mark Knopfler for his entire 28-date North American tour.