Pre-order Autographed Gracious Few CD! Options

[Bob]

... at newburycomics.com:

http://fb.me/D7wf1J41

[Hoodstock]

This is on the same site if you haven't seen it yet. Gives some nice background behind the formation of the band:

Pre-Order the upcoming release, The Gracious Few by The Gracious Few and get a limited* autographed CD Booklet with purchase!

"It was a wonderful moment," says The Gracious Few's chief protagonist, guitarist, and co-songwriter Chad Taylor of a particular late winters' 2010 day in Sausalito California. "As I loosened the grip on my guitar after that final take, I knew the past was exactly that. It can't come back to haunt me. It can only influence me and our future as a band. Primarily because we've all already been there." Typically, Taylor would be back in his home state of Pennsylvania at this time of year, perhaps even shoveling snow, but most likely thinking about his feature film company or other varied business interests, certainly not music. But, in that moment warmth came over him as the strings still resonated, "I looked into the control room, and the guys, and thought this very nearly didn't happen."

Earlier, LIVE bassist Patrick Dahlheimer and drummer Chad Gracey were at a crossroads. Their 90's alternative band had run its course, declaring a hiatus in July of 2009. Their guitarist, Chad Taylor, having sworn off writing music, was wrapped up in producing movies, while their singer was busy working on solo aspirations. "I told them that I had forgotten how to write music, which wasn't far from the truth," Taylor concedes. But, Gracey was insistent. He recalled a time when they had turned their frustrations and unmet desires into a raw, powerful sound that ultimately helped them reach worldwide, multi-platinum success. "Making music was our dream and somehow we had lost our way," Gracey said. "I knew if we were in a room without pressure, just for fun, we would find our spark."

So, the trio gathered at Dahlheimer's York, PA rehearsal space, lovingly called Spot. Within a few days, the trio had begun to unearth material that Taylor had been sequestering for several years. These ideas would soon form the sonic signature of their new band. "Only our will to create was present. We would have to begin again with a fresh approach to the music and each other," Dahlheimer recalls from their first few jamming sessions. Slowly, the material came to life birthing songs with rhythmic and chordal complexity that reflected their ability to resonate off each other. "We knew this was something special. If felt like we were back in my garage. The biggest question was who would sing?" quips Gracey.

With six demos in hand, the trio began to assemble a wish list of singers to front the band. They knew they needed an explosive vocalist with a wide dynamic range to lend itself to the music. On the short list was longtime friend, Candlebox frontman, Kevin Martin. "I knew Kevin from working with him as a drummer on a project I was producing. He had incredible timing and most important, he was a great guy to be around," adds Taylor. After conferring with Gracey and Dahlheimer, Taylor made the call to a surprised Kevin Martin. "You don't audition a vocalist who has sold millions of albums," continues Dahlheimer. "This was about faith. We had to really believe that Kevin was the right guy and thankfully, he was better than any of us could have imagined. His voice is perfectly suited for The Gracious Few."

'70's rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd or even the Rolling Stones influence the sound of The Gracious Few. They've made little attempt to mask their love for classic driving rock'n' roll. "We knew we couldn't be contrived," notes Dahlheimer. Martin continues, "We had to let our metaphoric hair down and let the music flow. You've got a world-class rhythm section playing heavy blues based songs mixed with screaming guitars. This is really raw, powerful music and I was ready to jump in!"

With Martin in place, the band began to write new material at Spot. When a musical interlude called for a guitar solo Taylor hesitated, "I've never had the passion to play solos, I think we should find someone who does." Martin recommended Candlebox sideman, Sean Hennesy, as the perfect guy for the job. Within a day, Hennesy was on a plane to join Martin and his new band. It took them only a few minutes to realize that their sound was complete. "I was just happy to get the call, thankfully, I picked up!" beams Hennesy. "I've been working hard, earning my musical chops but I was always the sideman. With The Gracious Few, they wanted my participation on all levels."

"We knew what type of album would get us excited. We were pissed off and sick and tired of the status quo. We wanted a return to music that wasn't careful to please the masses. We had that with our previous bands. Our new songs like 'Guilty Fever,''The Rest Of You', 'Closer' and 'The Few' captured our passion, pent-up fury and even sheer rage at times," Taylor reveals.

They also needed time to bond and let the band grow into its new sound and shared energy. "With The Gracious Few, we made a choice to write as a team. This was a first for me as I had always shouldered writing lyrics for my bands. I felt I could trust these guys and let them in on my process. I could feel that they had been holding back and were ready to break out. My role was to keep them on point and learn how to interact. They have a very guttural take on how to play music. They don't particularly know how to sound or play like anyone else. This meant that Sean and I had to find a way to compliment that sound while adding our musical and lyrical influence," said Martin.

Taylor and his bandmates feel they're back in a big way. He's happy with the inspired passion and new relationships that have merged in the band's sound and he knows fans will feel the same. "There's a real stamina to the album's pace. It's got rough edges that will cut you if you brush against them," says Taylor. "It's rock 'n' roll, and we're grateful to have the chance to showcase what we do best," ends Martin.



The Gracious Few's U.S. Tour Dates:

09/24 Tralf Music Hall Buffalo, NY
09/26 Water Street Music Hall Rochester, NY
09/28 Paradise Boston, MA
09/29 Bourbon Street Ballroom Baltimore, MD
01/01 Theater of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
10/02 State Theatre Falls Church, VA
10/03 The Hat Factory Richmond, VA
10/05 Lincoln Theater Raleigh, NC
10/06 The Handlebar Greenville, SC
10/08 Visulite Theater Charlotte, NC
10/09 The Music Farm Charleston, SC
10/10 The Masquarade Atlanta, GA
10/13 Warehouse Live Houston, TX
10/14 The Loft Dallas, TX
10/15 The Independent Austin, TX
10/16 Revolution Music Room Little Rock, AR
10/19 Newby's Memphis, TN
10/20 Tipitinas New Orleans, LA
10/26 20th Century Theatre Cincinnati, OH
10/28 Newport Music Hall Columbus, OH
10/29 The Machine Shop Flint, MI
10/30 Chameleon Club Lancaster, PA
10/31 Ephrata Theatre Ephrata, PA
11/03 The Fillmore New York, NY

http://www.newburycomics.com/rel/v2_home.p...=103&deptnr=661