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Michael McDermott - new album

Posted by Krista Mettler on 3/17/2004, 10:51 am
24.243.11.131

MICHAEL McDERMOTT TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM "ASHES"
CHICAGO, IL: Michael McDermott, the Chicago-born-and-based singer-songwriter, will be releasing a new album this spring on his own label, Pauper Sky. Entitled "Ashes," the record will hit stores on May 4th. He recorded it over the course of a year and half, in Houston, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and the songs were produced by Joe Hardy (The Replacements, Steve Earle, Tom Cochrane), Dan Petty (Shawn Colvin, the Stone Roses, LeAnn Rimes), and McDermott himself in those respective locations. The album features guest appearances by Mike Malinin (Goo Goo Dolls), Jennifer Condos (Whiskeytown, Don Henley), Jay Belrose (Beck, Paula Cole), Scott Seiver (Jason Mraz) and Joe Karnes (Imperial Drag).
Triple A station WXPN-FM in Philadelphia has jumped on airplay for the album early and already has a song, "Everything I Got," in active rotation. WXPN Program Director Bruce Warren said, "It's so nice to have Michael back with an incredible album and a single that sounds great on the air. Listeners are already calling for it."
In addition to touring the country in support of "Ashes" (see initial tour dates below; many more forthcoming), McDermott co-wrote and performs "No Words," a song that has been selected for the end credits of Hillary Duff's forthcoming summer movie, "Cinderella Story."
McDermott's last album, "Last Chance Lounge," was released in 2000. He toured heavily in support of the record and garnered a great deal of press praise along the way:
· "McDermott's lyrical perspective is truly singular. His songs are redolent with Joyce-ian Irish Catholic imagery of saints, sinners and demon whiskey. ?there's plenty of musical passion to go with his words." ¨Chicago Tribune
· "The musical influences that marked McDermott's early work, among them U2's anthemlike chord sequences and the tangled narratives of early Springsteen, are still evident, but they're elements in a more mature, less absolute approach to storytelling. Always inclined toward spiritual themes, McDermott now sketches people at the crossroads, some bound for glory, others for self-destruction." ¨Philadelphia Inquirer
· "The talented Chicago resident's 45-minute set...was a vivid and entertaining descent into a sleazy and colorful world that McDermott interprets extremely well. Perhaps his tales of the downtrodden and luckless are taken from experience, but whatever the case, the at-ease McDermott is a natural storyteller whose hair-raising tales are accompanied by affecting playing on the acoustic guitar and keyboard from which his stories garnered their soundtrack. ... Despair never sounded so good." ¨Hollywood Reporter
McDermott broke onto the music scene at the tender age of 20 in the early '90s and was hailed by many as the next Dylan or Springsteen. A hit single ("A Wall I Must Climb") and accompanying MTV Buzz Bin video brought his first album a great deal of early attention. After a switch of labels (from Giant/Warner to SBK/EMI) and two albums exploring some darker themes and areas, McDermott found himself the victim of what many artists fear: a label closing its doors for good. He then opted to release his next album himself, and the result was "Bourbon Blue," which came out on Wanted Man Records in 1999. The grass-roots success of "Bourbon Blue," sparked the interest of Koch Records, who signed the performer and released "Last Chance Lounge."
Michael McDermott can be found online at www.michael-mcdermott.com.

Michael McDermott Tour Schedule:
DATE CITY VENUE
4/30 Rockford, IL Chubby Rains
5/1 Chicago, IL Metro
5/2 Cleveland, OH Wilberts
5/3 Pittsburgh, PA Club Café
5/5 Philadelphia, PA Kimmel Center
5/6 New York, NY Cutting Room
5/7 Germantown, PA North by Northwest
5/8 Vienna, VA Jammin' Java
5/13 Louisville, KY Rudyard Kipling
5/20 Passaic, NJ Loop Lounge
5/21 Cambridge, MA Lizard Lounge
?many more dates to come!