So it looks like the new record is being well received. We have had a a few killer reviews and are tickled as can be that people are digging the new sounds.
As some of you know, this new full band electric sound is still new to me but the results can’t be denied. It’s just plain old rocking.

Here are a few of the good words:

NO DEPRESSION.COM
California Kid
“Ultimately, this album is wonderful as a pure rock record with some nice roots elements strung throughout. This is, in a way, the perfect summer album and one that deserves to be listened to while flying over back roads. I would highly recommend this album as one of the year’s (2010) best.” – Adam Sheets, No Depression read the full review here

BABYSUE.COM
California Kid (Independently released CD, Pop)
The sixth full-length release from Los Angeles, California’s Circe Link. This sassy young lady writes and records modern commercial music with the punch and kick of modern country, pop, and rock. California Kid has a really huge sound…and features thick arrangements and plenty of appropriately layered backing vocals…read the full review here

POWERPOPAHOLIC.COM
Circe Link and the Discount Candy Family Band “California Kid”
….you know this group has experience right out of the gate. Circe’s got a strong blues-pop vocal approach, much like Sheryl Crow or Natalie Imbruglia….

COUNTRYJUKEBOX.COM (Hilarious in German)
Singer/Songwriteress CIRCE LINK has a kind of Americana up her sleeve that is not longing for death but rather good-humored, never too simple but always edgy….

Here are a few new shows playing us:
(click the name to go there)
POP GARDEN RADIO – GA, USA
RADIOGIRL on Dollard Radio – Oldambt, The Netherlands
ROOTS REVIVAL in Belgium

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I don’t listen to my own music.
Once it’s done, I don’t fondly go over old songs like worn pictures in a vintage scrapbook. Honestly, I’m more interested in creating something new than reliving the past. That coupled with my overly active creativity makes me a rather prolific songwriter. Hence my sixth full length studio release titled “California Kid”.

On this record I tried, for the love of baby jesus, to stick with one style, call it Roots Rock or Americana if you will. I used to call my style “Cowboy Jazz” and that worked when I had an upright bass player and a Bettie Page pencil skirt, but now it’s anyone’s guess.
I’m not sure if any of you out there agree, but my genre hopping may have limited my “marketability” so I have been told by some industry wigs. Alas, I have yet to come up with a catchy sound bite moniker for the new sound, but rest assured it keeps me up at night…..

The tones, style and approach for this record were along the lines of The Band, Tom Petty, and Derek Trucks and a little Sheryl Crow. Throw my vocal into the mix with some lovely harmonies and hear the results for yourself. Additionally, this record introduces my reformatted band now called ‘Circe Link and The Discount Candy Family Band‘ and includes the stellar bass playing of Jason Chesney from the Los Angeles local buzz band Old Californio, backing vocals by session singer Laura Drew and singer songwriter Debra Tala.

The band name came from conversational scraps that stuck in my flypaper mind, my love of 1970′s cheesy family bands, and the lack of pretension a name like that suggests. We “play” music after all right?
And the name fits pretty darn well if I do say so myself as folks feel a family atmosphere at both our rehearsals and shows.

Fun facts on this record include:
Christian Nesmith on the left speaker and Bart Ryan on the right in all mixes except California Kid so one can hear the wonderful character of each player. Just like on a Judas Priest record. (Yes, I love them still)
Laura Drew’s riotous squeak going into the bridge of Gettin’ High.
Deb Tala’s lilting Texan accent peeking through on Tiger Swami.
Michael Sherwood pondering about 1970′s Legend Barry Gibb.
Christopher “Peanut-butter” Allis and “Chocolate” Jason Chesney’s killing rhythm on every bleeding track.
Oh, and I’m naked on the inside artwork.
The official street release date is September 14th 2010.

The record release will be at The Grand Ole Echo at The Echo on July 25th.
The show will be all ages and FREE!
Please come down and join us for some down home family style fun in a wild west of a town we like to call Los Angeles.

1822 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 in downtown Echo Park. Enter through the alley at 1154 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90026

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Tonight will be the last night of the residency I have held at Genghis Cohen for over a year now on the first Saturday of every month.

It’s hard to explain to those of you who are not in Los Angeles, or are not musicians, the incredible challenges there are to gigging in this dark and beautiful city.
The traffic, the parking, the weather, the parades, the protests, and the all around torpor of “I could do that” upon the faces of a crossed armed audience so many bands face. Given all that hullabaloo, we’re pretty to lucky to have had such a good run at Genghis and had pretty much none of that, thanks to the baby cheesus.
But we have outgrown our old digs and like Roy said, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

Our wonderful First Saturday’s with me at 8:30pm, Danny Peck at the 9:30 slot and Fren Askin & Frens holding down the 10:30 has allowed us to build up our following and finely hone the band.
Unfortunately, the stage was never big enough to house all our players and often we had to choose between having Bart Ryan, or Michael Sherwood join us. Leaving me with that “Mom, can’t we keep them all?” feeling.

So, we are on to larger rooms and new venues to share this gift, hokey I know, with as many folks as possible.
And while making money with this music doesn’t suck it was never what this project was about.
So we will be trying to do as many free shows as possible and hope that you will all continue to join us for the love and for some love.

So far our next show is the record release party for California Kid at the Grand Ole Echo on July 25th 2010 at 5:30pm Free and all ages!
We hope to see you there!

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The new record will be called California Kid.
And I could tell you more about how Christopher Allis would’a made Levon Helm proud, Michael Sherwood was channeling Leon Russell, Jason Chesney was just his amazing self with no comparison, Bart Ryan was greasy and dirty just like we knew he would be, and how Christian Nesmith not only produced but played like Wiley Coyote if he were a rock n roll octopus, but I think you just gotta listen to this one.

Notes about the wet and wild background overdubs with Debra Tala and Laura Drew to come…..

The folks at Stagg Street Studios were lovely to work with. And the homey atmosphere, pooches and all, only enhanced the great sounding room and gear.

Feel free to show them some love by visiting them here:

http://www.staggstreetstudio.com

Join us for the FREE record release show on

Sunday July 25th at
The Grand Ole Echo
1822 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026

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Next week I am headed to the studio for a pre production rehearsal with my wonderful band.
That’s right kiddies yet another album from the mind of this odd and prolific, if nothing else, artist.

We are hoping to track eleven songs in two days. Heck The Beatles did “Please Please Me” in a day, so all I need is two right?

Now, as many of you know who have seen me over the last year, I have been unveiling these new songs at shows and doing the cooking live.
Trying out different parts, arrangements and soloists just to see what works and what doesn’t. And I thank you all for your patience….an occasional ear plug was needed.

All of my previous albums were thrown right into the deep end of the pool by recording them almost as soon as the songs had been written. And subsequently there are a few things I would have done differently to be sure.

Sometimes like a great recipe a song often needs a few tries to find that perfect blend between what is possible and what is good.
Between what is obvious, once you put it in your mouth and chew on it, and what is the unexpected delight of context and execution, aka getting out of the way and letting go. Sorry if that’s too absurdist Jazz talk for you, but I think you get the point.

Stay tuned as I plan to keep the process of this madcap endeavor at your disposal with videos, song clips and the like…..

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