For those of you in/near St. Louis Mighty City is putting on a very special show Sunday November 2nd at The Demo in the Grove neighborhood of St. Louis (4191 Manchester Ave 63110). Mighty City booking client Hannah Aldridge--the daughter of famous country music composer Walt Aldridge, and Lilly Hiatt--daughter of famous composer/performer John Hiatt, will play a night of special solo acoustic Americana music. Opening for Hannah and Lilly will be a phenomenal local band from St. Louis named the Cara Louise Band. You will not want to miss this show. Tickets $10 in adv/day of show. Pre-sale here http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/702389
Hannah Aldridge
Americana is the perfect concoction of American roots music that comprises our musical ethos as we know it today. It is something so engrained in our history, folklore, tradition, and mythology that it is not as simple as just "becoming" Americana, but rather, it is something that you are born into. It's that old cast-iron Coca-Cola sign that's been in your neighbor's shed for 50 years, a banjo and a Fender telecaster playing together, a 1955 Chevy with a modern stereo.
There are few artists that can truly encapsulate the essence and true range of Americana like Muscle Shoals artist Hannah Aldridge, whose musical pedigree precedes her and speaks for itself.
Hannah Aldridge is the daughter of Alabama Music Hall of Famer Walt Aldridge, who is one of the most prolific songwriters of the modern musical era. Twice named by Billboard magazine as one of the Top Country Songwriters of the year, ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, and countless Number One and Top Ten hits recorded by the likes of Lou Reed, Reba McEntire, Travis Tritt, Earl Thomas Conley, Ricky Van Shelton, Ronnie Milsap, and Conway Twitty.
With sounds ranging from blues in the Mississippi Delta to the dusty, dixieland jazz sounds from New Orleans, the musical stylings of Muscle Shoals on up to the primitive roots of American Country music, Hannah Aldridge leaves no inspiration or influence untapped.
"I think people have forgotten what real drums and real voices sound like. We have been so overexposed to these pre-packaged "#1 hits" that when there is anything that has any glimpse of truth or rawness to it, it is like a fresh breath of air. Americana music really is lyrically driven and is meant to make people think, which is the total opposite of most of the stuff out there on the radio, so I think that naturally people are being drawn towards it.", says Aldridge.
Besides being a seasoned staff songwriter for BAR Music with song placements in television shows like Hart of Dixie (CW) and recognition from American Songwriter as well as Relix Magazine, her vocal talents rarely go unrecognized, something that lends itself to being true to the Americana methodology of not using excessive "talent-enhancing" techniques in the studio or live. Both her natural and cultivated talent help her to emote with both listeners and musicians alike on a truly organic level.
Seasoned by both life events and musical events since the release of her first EP, "Wanderer" in 2011 (then "Unplugged and Unraveled" in 2012), Hannah's upcoming release "Razor Wire" shows a stark difference of growth in musical sensibility, writing, and maturity.
Hannah has toured all across the United States and Europe gaining a grassroots movement of fans that wait in silent adoration of the return of their Americana Heir Apparent Princess of Muscle Shoals.
Look for "Razor Wire" in May 2014.
Lilly Hiatt
Lilly Hiatt has a restless, adventurous spirit. Since releasing her debut record, Hiatt has been collecting experiences out on the road touring, during her time living in Austin and since moving back home to Nashville. Whether lived or dreamed, these observations are depicted in the songs on Hiatt’s upcoming sophomore album to be released on February 3rd on Normaltown Records/New West, Royal Blue.
Hiatt’s lyrics drive her songs and keep her grounded. “Songwriting is a means of processing life for me” she explains. “If I didn’t write, I’d be lost.” The sassy, playful songs on Royal Blue are a departure for Hiatt who until now mostly wrote heartbreakers. Hiatt opens up, letting the listener hear both her stumbles and her triumphs. She’s accepted where she’s been and admits she has no clue where she is going, but no matter what will continue writing songs.
Made in Nashville with producer Adam Landry (Deer Tick, k.d. lang, Middle Brother, Diamond Rugs, Sallie Ford), Royal Blue is Hiatt's first time recording analog. "My band, who I’ve been playing with for five years now, Adam and I got together for ten days to work together,” Hiatt says. “Adam is such a creative and energetic producer. He created an environment for us to let our guards down and really have fun making music together which I hope can be heard when listening to the record.”
Cara Louise Band
The Cara Louise bands consists of original singer/songwriter Cara Wegener, and her backing band; made up of members from local St. Louis act, Whale Shark. The band plays a classic country style fused with modern effects and twists, all the while staying truly consistent with the genre's folksy and humble roots.