The Americana and roots music authority
Angela Easterling...she's got the gift
I stumbled onto Angela through this community several months ago and was struck not only by her incredible voice, but also the way she presents her music and connects with fans. She is one of a new breed of performer that has embraced technology in a way that brings her closer to her audience as opposed to isolating them.
Basically a one woman show, she's often on the road performing while staying connected via her website and Facebook. She shares her life story, her daily ups and downs, her passions and frustrations,and by doing so her music becomes a living and breathing entity rather than just a soundtrack.
Yesterday her latest "Blacktop Road" was released online and at selected stores, and it was the #1 most-added title at Americana radio.
In getting to know her, I found myself eagerly awaiting Blacktop Road's release. She sent fans a free mp3 of "Better" a couple of months ago to whet our appetite and it sure did the trick. It has become my favorite song of the moment and when I downloaded the album last night I wasn't surprised to discover that every track is a killer.
The review from TwangNation posted below says it more eloquently than I can, but in a nutshell Angela has a true gift that we don't often find in a performer. As a true DIY'er in the modern age of the new music industry, you won't necessarily find her album in your local record store...that is if you still have a local record store. You'll hear it on Americana radio, at her shows and you can buy it right here/right now at any of the major online e-tailers. I would suggest that it would be a wise decision to do so.
Here's what TwangNation says:
If you want an excellent example of what Americana, that 5 layer-dip of genres, has to offer you need to just put on Angela Easterling s new release Blacktop Road. Easterling delivers neo-trad country, folk and rock in her earnestly melancholic voice betraying her Greenville, S.C. roots, and her expanded tastes and sensibilities that might have been cultivated by her stretch in L.A. She sounds like she d be right at home in a honky-tonk or a New York supper club. Blacktop Road was produced by Will Kimbrough (Todd Snider, Rodney Crowell, Kate Campbell, Jimmy Buffett) and the album reflects his good sense to not burdon it with studio wizardry. Easterling has the goods and needs little more than a mic (though here she has a crack band Al Perkins, Fats Kaplin, Ken Coomer, Anne McCue and Dave Jacques, along with Kimbrough backing her) to get the job done. whether it s John Mellencamp or Steve Earle style roots rocking on American I.D., a mid-tempo piece about American multiculturalism and self-identity and the title cut decrying the encroaching suburban sprawl and the loss of a rural way of life. American identity is again addressed in the The Picture about a woman s relationship with her father and his involvement in the Jim Crow South. For all braying about social messages in contemporary country music they are like crayon scribbling compared to finely crafted song like this. Better is a beautifully aching hillbilly-chamber piece featuring mandolin, dobro, cello and violin (not fiddle) as a backdrop for longing for the comfort of a loved one. AP Carter s Blues continues the bittersweet tone and offers a fine tribute to the Carter family patriarch with excellent pedal steel accompaniment by Fats Kaplin. The cover of Neil Young s Helpless is done similarly as the original s slow, woeful simmering manner that fits the song to a T without being done by rote. Stars Over The Prairie is wonderfully spirited; a Western Swing shuffle reworking of a song penned by her great-grandfather in the 40s. Easterling s first offering, 2007's Earning Her Wings, was an excellent first release, and with Blacktop Road she advances her skills and confidence and has provided us a great Summer soundtrack. --TwangNation
Basically a one woman show, she's often on the road performing while staying connected via her website and Facebook. She shares her life story, her daily ups and downs, her passions and frustrations,and by doing so her music becomes a living and breathing entity rather than just a soundtrack.
Yesterday her latest "Blacktop Road" was released online and at selected stores, and it was the #1 most-added title at Americana radio.
In getting to know her, I found myself eagerly awaiting Blacktop Road's release. She sent fans a free mp3 of "Better" a couple of months ago to whet our appetite and it sure did the trick. It has become my favorite song of the moment and when I downloaded the album last night I wasn't surprised to discover that every track is a killer.
The review from TwangNation posted below says it more eloquently than I can, but in a nutshell Angela has a true gift that we don't often find in a performer. As a true DIY'er in the modern age of the new music industry, you won't necessarily find her album in your local record store...that is if you still have a local record store. You'll hear it on Americana radio, at her shows and you can buy it right here/right now at any of the major online e-tailers. I would suggest that it would be a wise decision to do so.
Here's what TwangNation says:
If you want an excellent example of what Americana, that 5 layer-dip of genres, has to offer you need to just put on Angela Easterling s new release Blacktop Road. Easterling delivers neo-trad country, folk and rock in her earnestly melancholic voice betraying her Greenville, S.C. roots, and her expanded tastes and sensibilities that might have been cultivated by her stretch in L.A. She sounds like she d be right at home in a honky-tonk or a New York supper club. Blacktop Road was produced by Will Kimbrough (Todd Snider, Rodney Crowell, Kate Campbell, Jimmy Buffett) and the album reflects his good sense to not burdon it with studio wizardry. Easterling has the goods and needs little more than a mic (though here she has a crack band Al Perkins, Fats Kaplin, Ken Coomer, Anne McCue and Dave Jacques, along with Kimbrough backing her) to get the job done. whether it s John Mellencamp or Steve Earle style roots rocking on American I.D., a mid-tempo piece about American multiculturalism and self-identity and the title cut decrying the encroaching suburban sprawl and the loss of a rural way of life. American identity is again addressed in the The Picture about a woman s relationship with her father and his involvement in the Jim Crow South. For all braying about social messages in contemporary country music they are like crayon scribbling compared to finely crafted song like this. Better is a beautifully aching hillbilly-chamber piece featuring mandolin, dobro, cello and violin (not fiddle) as a backdrop for longing for the comfort of a loved one. AP Carter s Blues continues the bittersweet tone and offers a fine tribute to the Carter family patriarch with excellent pedal steel accompaniment by Fats Kaplin. The cover of Neil Young s Helpless is done similarly as the original s slow, woeful simmering manner that fits the song to a T without being done by rote. Stars Over The Prairie is wonderfully spirited; a Western Swing shuffle reworking of a song penned by her great-grandfather in the 40s. Easterling s first offering, 2007's Earning Her Wings, was an excellent first release, and with Blacktop Road she advances her skills and confidence and has provided us a great Summer soundtrack. --TwangNation
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Comment by Ron Frankl on July 15, 2009 at 1:54pm -
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Comment by Angela Easterling on July 15, 2009 at 2:02pm -
Thanks Ed & Twangnation & everyone! wouldn't be able to do it without your support & it means so much to me!
xox, Angela
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Comment by Daniel T on July 17, 2009 at 10:09pm -
Easy Ed and the Twang Nation review say it all. "Black Top Road" is going to be in my play anytime pile. It's a beautiful sophomore effort that does'nt succomb to the second record jinx. Will Kimbrough's production help, a great band, great songs, and Angela's golden voice all make this one of the best releases of the year. See her play out live any chance you get. She connects with her audience. Hope this one goes huge.
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Comment by Janice Brooks on July 18, 2009 at 9:46am -
Glad we hooked up in Austin and I'm proud to have her on my playlist
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Comment by TwangNation.com on July 18, 2009 at 11:52am -
It was a pleasure running into Angela a couple of time at the AMA conference in Nashville and to have the privilege to cast my 0.2 for her excellent "Black Top Road."
To add to Easy Ed's comment above, as much as Angela utilizes technology to allow her fans access there is one area I found lacking. I like to add a video of their performer to a review to give readers a taste of the performer. But in Angela's case I couldn't find one video of her performing. NOT ONE! Hard to believe these days.
This omission falls more on the audience of the shows than Angela herself, so listen up Angela Easterling fans! Crack put those video cameras and get some stuff out there!
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Comment by Angela Easterling on July 20, 2009 at 10:06am
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Thanks everyone! Please do consider posting these nice reviews on my CD baby and Amazon page it really helps my sales.
As much as I'm engaged in social media, I've been living in denial of Youtube, because watching myself makes me hate myself, which is generally not a pleasant feeling, LOL. I guess I was hoping that I could get by without having stuff up on Youtube or that someone else would post my show videos without me having to look at them. There are videos that have been taken of me in the past and sent to me and I must admit, I just can't bring myself to watch them and they were conveniently "lost". However, several of the shows on this tour have been filmed, so hopefully either the folks who took them will send them to me so I can squeeze my eyes shut and post them, or even better maybe they will take the initiative and post them themselves. I'm working on it!
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Comment by Easy Ed on July 20, 2009 at 10:16am -
You are so funny, but I know exactly the feeling. My kid taped me a few months ago at a celebration for Pete Seeger where I was music supervisor/player . I had thought I looked pretty good that day, and my stage patter was quick and witty. NOT! On tape I looked and sounded like an idiot. But at least it's not on the internet for all to see, and it definitely helped my stage presence for the future.
In your case, you're performing for a living and in the public domain. So I think that folks want to watch you on video and so you'll just have to shut your eyes if need be.
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Comment by Angela Easterling on August 3, 2009 at 3:37pm
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Here's some links to youtube videos I made today. They are all from the same show.
Better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVKAoR0QvAM
American ID http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwlRHrXULS4
Field of Sorrow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwlRHrXULS4
BlackTop Road http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyZEZA_5EJ8
Earning Her Wings http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl0m6D8rQkU
Feel Like Drinking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX-E1kAS8NE
Dear Johnny http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5G4M5tyTqk
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