Sixpence None The Richer Kiss Me

Christian music news: Live, Everclear, Sixpence leaders to play acoustic show in Stroudsburg

2009-10-07T02:00:00.000-07:00

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Ed Kowalczyk, singer and frontman for the band Live, has announced a brief solo acoustic tour that will stop Oct. 23 at The Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg with Art Alexakis of Everclear and Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer.
The limited jaunt will premiere Kowalczyk’s new touring project, Open Wings-Broken Strings, in advance of an expected solo album on which he said on his blog last month that he would start studio work in September.

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Christian music news: Rockers from Live, Everclear and Sixpence None the Richer heading to Morristown

2009-09-30T01:52:00.000-07:00

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This is a rare opportunity to hear stripped-down versions of great '90s rock songs.

As Kowalczyk explains: "As a songwriter and a singer in a successful rock band, I have had the good fortune of being surrounded by incredible musicians, lots of wonderful production on both record and onstage and plenty of volume!"

"But did you know that the story of your favorite songs often originates in a much different environment? Open Wings-Broken Strings is an opportunity for you to get to the heart of your favorite artists and their songs in a unique and compelling way. . ."

"Stripped down, intimate and acoustic, you'll hear the strings on the guitar vibrate and buzz, the vocal chords hum and pulsate as the songs you love come to life like you never knew they could," Kowalczyk added. "In this intimate environment, the rock star steps out from behind the layers of decibel and drama to greet you with the essence, the story, and the song. Quiet just might be the new loud."

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Christian music news: Sixpence Cover The La's

2009-09-16T02:05:00.000-07:00

Latest christian music: Texas pop-musicians Sixpence None The Richer will release a cover of the La's "There She Goes" as their next single. This tune was a signature of the early-'90s Liverpool, England, pop group, but it is a live staple of Sixpence's sets.Sixpence None The Richer, best known for the hit song "Kiss Me," decided to enter the studio recently and record "There She Goes" after hearing their version played on radio stations, according to a band spokesperson. The original version is found on the self-titled 1990 album by the La's.

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Christian music news: Sixpence Offer Song To Fans Who Bought LP's First Pressing

2009-09-09T02:01:00.000-07:00

Latest christian music: Pop act Sixpence None the Richer are offering a free copy of "There She Goes" to fans who purchased their self-titled album prior to the inclusion of the single. Fans are instructed to send a photocopy of the original album's back cover Nashville label, Squint Entertainment. The band reissued the album earlier this year to include "There She Goes," originally recorded by the La's in 1988.

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Christian music news: Sixpence Take Dove Awards Group Of Year

2009-09-02T01:53:00.000-07:00

Latest christian music: After being locked out of the Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards in 1999 because they were too secular, Sixpence None the Richer not only returned this year, they took Group of the YearR&B/gospel group Anointed,meanwhile, took home two awards of their own.

The awards were handed out Thursday, in a ceremony at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. The award's syndicated broadcast is being shown in various markets during the next few weeks. (For stations and times, see the official Web site, www.doveawards.com.) Sixpence None the Richer also performed "Melody of You," a single from their upcoming album, at the show, according to the show's publicist.

Sixpence None the Richer had previously won the Dove Award for Best Alternative/Modern Rock Album, in 1996, for their release The Beautiful Mess. But their 1999 radio hit, "Kiss Me" (RealAudio excerpt), was disqualified from consideration from the 1999 awards because it didn't meet the Gospel Music Association's criteria for a Christian song.

Members of the group and representatives from the Gospel Music Association were unavailable for comment.

"Kiss Me" is on the group's eponymous fourth album, the first on which it aimed for an audience beyond just Christian-music fans. The song got a boost when it was featured in the TV show "Dawson's Creek" in 1998. It also appeared on the soundtrack of the 1999 film "She's All That."

The GMA excluded the song from consideration for the 1999 Dove Awards based on newly implemented criteria designed to ensure that nominated songs and groups had explicitly Christian content. Those criteria were relaxed for this year's awards.

Sixpence None the Richer are finishing up their next album in Nashville, according to the band's official Web site.

The R&B vocal group Anointed's self-titled fourth album took the Dove Award for Contemporary Album of the Year, while the single "Anything Is Possible" won the award for Urban Song of the Year.

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Christian music news: Sixpence None the Richer Finish Follow-Up to '97 Breakthrough

2009-08-26T01:37:00.000-07:00

Latest christian music: Sixpence None the Richer have finished recording the long-awaited follow-up to their eponymous 1997 breakthrough album and will release it in the fall.

The as-yet-untitled record was produced by Paul Fox (Phish, Semisonic) and features string


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arrangements by Beck's father, David Campbell, a spokesperson for the group said.

While the album's track listing is still being finalized, fans can expect to hear the live favorites "Dizzy" and "Melody of You."

Sixpence None the Richer formed in Austin during the early '90s but didn't gain national attention until their single "Kiss Me" was featured prominently in the teen flick She's All That and on the TV show Dawson's Creek. It climbed to the top of the charts in 1999, two years after its release on the group's third album.

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Christian music news: Rockers from Live, Everclear and Sixpence None the Richer heading to Morristown

2009-08-19T01:35:00.000-07:00

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It's a trip back to the alternative rock boom of the 1990s. . . with a lighter sound.

The lead singers from three of the '90s most popular groups -- Eddie Kowalczyk of Live ("I Alone"), Art Alexakis from Everclear ("Wonderful") and Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer ("Kiss Me") -- are teaming up for an acoustic performance on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Community Theatre at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts in Morristown.

The show, titled "Open Wings, Broken Strings," starts at 8 p.m.

Tickets range from $27 to $57 and go on sale to the public on Friday, Aug. 14, at 9 a.m. online and 10 a.m. at the Community Theatre box office and by phone. (see info below)

This is a rare opportunity to hear stripped-down versions of great '90s rock songs.

As Kowalczyk explains: "As a songwriter and a singer in a successful rock band, I have had the good fortune of being surrounded by incredible musicians, lots of wonderful production on both record and onstage and plenty of volume!"

"But did you know that the story of your favorite songs often originates in a much different environment? Open Wings-Broken Strings is an opportunity for you to get to the heart of your favorite artists and their songs in a unique and compelling way. . ."

"Stripped down, intimate and acoustic, you'll hear the strings on the guitar vibrate and buzz, the vocal chords hum and pulsate as the songs you love come to life like you never knew they could," Kowalczyk added. "In this intimate environment, the rock star steps out from behind the layers of decibel and drama to greet you with the essence, the story, and the song. Quiet just might be the new loud."

Community Theatre box office: 100 South St., Morristown

Box office phone: (973) 539-8008

Online tickets: http://www.mayoarts.org/online.htm

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Christian music news: Sixpence None the Richer The Dawn of Grace,

2009-08-17T01:37:00.000-07:00

Latest christian music: Sixpence None the Richer takes their rightful place alongside The Shins for easy listening indie pop with this must-have seasonal release The Dawn of Grace. Overshadowing everything I've heard to this point in the young season, this eminently loveable release is anchored by the huggable vocals of spritely Leigh Nash, who glides through this 10-song set of infectious pop arrangements like an elfen princess. I'm a sucker for Nash's white shoes brand of indie pop, so maybe she would have had me at "hello", regardless. But the product is very high-quality, and I don't see how it can help but earn high praise from the earnest and the ironic alike.
With brilliant new arrangements of traditionals (such as the wonderful Riu, Riu, Chiu!) and ambitious interpretations of pop standards (Joni Mitchell's dark classicRiver, for example, which is almost a bridge too far for the chipper Ms. Nash),The Dawn of Grace would already have enough fire power to blow most other new releases off the scene. But Sixpence NTR takes it a step further by including two (apparently--my advance copy does not offer much in the way of liner notes) new songs, The Last Christmas Without You and Christmas for Two, either one of which could easily show up when the credits roll on the Christmas episode ofFriday Night Lights or even Ugly Betty.

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Christian music news: Sixpence's Nash Goes Solo

2009-08-10T01:32:00.000-07:00

Latest christian music: It's been nearly eight years since Sixpence None the Richer singer Leigh Nash's winsome vocals invaded radios with the band's summer staple and teen-flick fave "Kiss Me." In that time, Nash has garnered a wealth of material from which to draw inspiration: She and her mates amicably called it quits in 2004, and Nash gave birth to her first and only child, Henry, the same year. These radical shifts fueled the singer's solo debut, due this summer."It's definitely been the period of the most change of my life," says Nash. "It's a really rich, emotional time for me. Plenty of inspiration with my first child. And my husband and I have been married for ten years now, so of course there's a lot of relationship stuff to write about. [The album] was good timing."
Produced by Pierre Marchand (Sarah McLachlan) and currently in the mixing stage, the as-yet-untitled album was recorded throughout the fall in Canada, and is suffused with the mature pop in the vein of Sixpence. Among the new tracks are "Between the Lines," "Nervous in the Light of Dawn" and the delicate ballad "Along the Wall," which Nash says is her favorite.
"That's the first song that [Pierre and I] wrote together when we first met," she says. "I like just the mood of it. It's very beautiful, piano-based, and I tend to like songs like that."
Nash entered the music business in her teens after meeting guitarist Matt Slocum at a church retreat in Austin. The two, initially rounded out by bassist T.J. Behling, formed the Christian rock outfit Sixpence None the Richer (the name taken from C.S. Lewis'Mere Christianity) and released four albums. But following the release of 2002's Divine Discontent, which suffered lengthy label tangles before hitting shelves, both Slocum and Nash decided to disband.
"Matt and I had basically been thinking the same thing during the months leading up to the breakup," she says. "I had heard that he didn't want to make another record, so I called him and said, 'If you don't want to make the record, and I don't, then what are we doing?' It was a pretty easy conversation to have. We were both just so tired. We are still friends."
In spite of her thirteen years with Sixpence, Nash isn't a stranger to solo outings. She recorded the song "Need to Be Next to You" for the soundtrack to the 2000 romantic film Bounce, and she made guest appearances on albums by surf-guitar rockers Los Straightjackets and electro-dance outfit Delerium. But Nash is thrilled to finally be releasing her first solo effort. "I'm already excited about making another record," she says. "Just the exploration of me as a writer has been an unbelievable experience, and I think it's just the beginning."
In the meantime, Nash is also throwing her weight behind Movement Nashville, a small group of musicians -- including AutoVaughn, Jeremy Lister and Bang Bang Bang -- dedicated to promoting the diversity of the city's music scene. "Of course, most people think of country music," she says of Nashville, where she also resides. "But there is a really vibrant, thriving rock scene. It's unbelievable, but it really gets underrated. And it's nice to be around musicians who are kind of brand-new."
Though she's currently playing sporadic gigs to support Movement Nashville's efforts, Nash plans to launch a full tour following her album's release. And should the whole "music thing" not pan out, the singer's got a backup plan: "Working at Wal-Mart," Nash deadpans. "That's where I'm headed after this."

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Christian music news: Sixpence None the Richer to perform at Greenbelt Festival

2009-08-05T05:24:00.000-07:00

Words: STREETBRAND Reporter
Sunday, 2 August 2009

GRAMMY-nominated American pop/rock band Sixpence None the Richer, most famous for Kiss Me and their covers of There She Goes and Don't Dream It's Over, will perform at the Christian music festival Greenbelt from 28 to 31 August at the Cheltenham Racecourse.

Made up of Matt Slocum and Leigh Nash, the band reunited in October 2008 after a four year break. Since then, they have released a Christmas record called The Dawn of Grace, and recently signed to EMI Credential.

Thousands are expected at this year's Greenbelt. The lineup at the Cheltenham Christian festival includes artists from yFriday, Jahaziel, Stu G, thebandwithnoname, Miriam Jones, L27, Karl Nova to Sharlene Hector, who featured in the 2004 worldwide Coca-Cola commercial singing I Wish (I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free), according to the event's website.

Most noted for the GRAMMY-nominated ballad Kiss Me, Sixpence None the Richer quickly became a household name and was featured in the film She's All That and played on TV during Prince Edward's wedding.

According to reports, the duo will release their new album early next year.

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Christian music news: The Gospel According to Sixpence None the Richer

2009-08-03T01:29:00.000-07:00

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TO HEAR “KISS ME,” THE SMASH SINGLE BY SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER, is to be overcome by a series of romantic images: a young, awkwardly beautiful girl feeling the first flush of love, shedding her shyness in the arms of a good-hearted hunk on prom night; a pair of teenagers tingling with the knowledge that their relationship is more than that of the archetypal boy and girl next door; and in the ultimate romantic fairy tale, a prince and a princess joining together in holy matrimony.

Yet these scenes are not from singer Leigh Nash’s life, and they aren’t allusions to song lyrics. They’re clips from, respectively, the hit teen movie She’s All That, the ultra-trendy teen TV showDawson’s Creek, and the BBC broadcast of the Prince Edward—Sophie Rhys-Jones nuptials. Each of these very high-profile moments came off with the simple sentiments and indelible melodies of “Kiss Me” playing ...

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Christian music news: Sixpence None The Richer Biography

2009-06-29T01:05:00.000-07:00

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This band's melodic indie pop shot into the mainstream on the back of 1999's bestselling single "Kiss Me'. Sixpence None The Richer, whose name was inspired by a passage of text in C.S. Lewis" Mere Christianity, was founded by vocalist Leigh Nash (b. Leigh Bingham, 27 June 1976, New Braunfels, Texas, USA) and guitarist and songwriter Matt Slocum (b. 27 December 1972, New Braunfels, Texas, USA). Bingham and Slocum first met at a church meeting in their native New Braunfels in the late 80s. They formed Sixpence None The Richer, although Slocum continued to play guitar with another Texas-based band, Love Coma. The duo recorded a four-track demo with bass player T.J. Behling, which led to a contract with REX Music.

Sixpence None The Richer's 1993 debut, The Fatherless And The Widow, was recorded with the help of Behling and Love Coma drummer Chris Dodds, and drew acclaim for Slocum's highly literate, quasi-religious lyrics and Bingham's expressive vocals. The following year the band toured extensively throughout Europe and America with new drummer Dale Baker (b. 29 June 1966) and rhythm guitarist Tess Wiley (ex-Nothing In Return), including a prestigious opening slot for 10,000 Maniacs. Bass player J.J. Plasencio joined in 1995 to help record This Beautiful Messand the EP Tickets For A Prayer Wheel. A move to Nashville followed, although the collapse of REX Music and the departure of Wiley and Plasencio delayed sessions for a new album. Leigh Bingham became Leigh Nash after marrying in May 1996.

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Christian music news: sixpence none the richer is good. no seriously, hear me out.

2009-06-22T00:47:00.000-07:00

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You shouldn't write Sixpence off for this song (or their follow-up radio friendly cover). Hear me out. Sixpence None the Richer is a great band. No irony intended. Let me explain:

The band didn't even plan to include the song Kiss Me on the album. It was a throwaway bubble gum song. The record company thought it would be gold. It was. Can you blame them for that? I can just hear matt saying “Damn right you can blame them!”. Calm down imaginary matt voice. There's more.

At it's foundation, Sixpence is Matt Slocum. He is a gifted guitar player, songwriter, and arranger. Their non-single tracks show asmart and interesting U2 influence. About the Kiss Me fiasco, Matt has said: ␄...somedays I feel as if we've been pushed to a precipice overhanging the sea of one-hit wonders, and until this next album comes out, who's to say we won't all fall in?”.

Matt also “...composed [and recorded] a piece for chamber orchestra two years ago based on C.S. Lewis' novel The Great Divorce”. How cool is that!?

Want proof that they are worth a listen? It you are not Lars from Metallica, and then search for “This Beautiful Mess” on Schmapster. But first, take 1 minute and 10 seconds of your precious top 40 hating time and watch this video of Leigh Nash (lead singer) and Matt Slocum performing an abbreviated version of The Lines of My Earth.

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Christian music news: Sixpence None The Richer - Love (Live)

2009-06-10T22:26:00.000-07:00

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Christian music news:Sixpence None The Richer ( HQ ) - Breathe Your Name

2009-06-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

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Sixpence None The Richer - Kiss Me

2009-05-27T22:15:00.000-07:00

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Leigh Nash - Mercy Lounge - Ocean Size Love

2009-05-20T02:44:00.000-07:00

Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer performing "Ocean Size Love" at Mercy Lounge in Nashville, TN for the annual Tin Pan South Songwritters Festival. 4/4/09

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Leigh Nash - Mercy Lounge - Sooner Than Later

2009-05-13T02:43:00.000-07:00

Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer performing "Sooner Than Later" at Mercy Lounge in Nashville, TN for the annual Tin Pan South Songwritters Festival. 4/4/09

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Leigh Nash - Mercy Lounge - Gonna Be Ok

2009-05-06T02:42:00.000-07:00

Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer performing "Ok" at Mercy Lounge in Nashville, TN for the annual Tin Pan South Songwritters Festival. 4/4/09

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Leigh Nash - Mercy Lounge - Calling Out My Name

2009-04-29T02:42:00.000-07:00

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Sixpence None The Richer - Field of Flowers

2009-04-22T02:39:00.000-07:00

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This Is “Sixpence None The Richer” Attractive

2009-04-15T00:21:00.000-07:00

Ever since we said that Clemson University Student Body President Callie Boyd was kinda cute “in that Sixpence None The Richer sort of way,” we’ve had more than a few old people inquire as to what we meant by this expression.

Well, “Sixpence None The Richer” was/ is a Christian pop band (named after a C.S. Lewis passage) that achieved mainstream success back in the late nineties with the hit single “Kiss Me.”

The band followed up with two solid Brit-pop covers, Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and the up-until-then-virtually-unheard of “There She Goes” by the La’s.

And since we were fans of the La’s before there was a “Sixpence None The Richer,” we chose to lend that cover tune to your auditory sensibilities …

Where is all this going?

Well, Leigh Nash (pictured) was/ is the singer for “Sixpence None The Richer,” hence the reference.

And while she probably looks nothing like Miss Boyd, for whatever reason the expression seemed to fit the piece.

There’s something irresistibly “Sprite-ish” about both girls, and they’ve both got great eyes … and yes, we will shut up now.

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Sixpence None The Richer - Kiss Me

2009-04-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

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Leigh Nash - Between The Lines - LIVE

2009-04-01T22:44:00.000-07:00

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Sixpence None The Richer & jars of clay - Silent Nigth Live - Love came down concert

2009-03-25T22:44:00.000-07:00

Sixpence None The Richer & jars of clay - Silent Nigth Live - Love came down concert

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Sixpence None the Richer - at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville - kiss me - live

2009-03-19T22:40:00.000-07:00

Sixpence None the Richer at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville - kiss me - live

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Sixpence None the Richer - Breathe Your Name

2009-03-12T21:19:00.000-07:00

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CN8's Backstage - Sixpence None The Richer

2009-03-04T08:04:00.000-08:00

Shawn Tempesta interviews Sixpence None The Richer, and they perform their smash hit "Kiss Me", on CN8's "Backstage". Airdate 12/11/08

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sixpence none the richer[ 2000]- there she goes (live)

2009-02-25T22:43:00.000-08:00

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Sixpence None The Richer - 12 Eyes Wide Open - Live 3RD & Lindsley

2009-02-18T18:00:00.000-08:00

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Sixpence None The Richer - 13 Ocean Size Love - Live 3RD & Lindsley

2009-02-11T18:02:00.000-08:00

Sixpence None The Richer - 13 Ocean Size Love - Live 3RD & Lindsley

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Sixpence None The Richer - Silent Night

2009-02-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

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Sixpence None The Richer- Kiss me

2009-01-28T09:56:00.000-08:00

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Sixpence None The Richer - Train wreck (Live in Madrid)

2009-01-21T11:49:00.000-08:00

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KGRL's Top 13 Albums To Watch Out For In 2009

2009-01-14T09:31:00.000-08:00

KGRL -- mentioned previously here -- is a local "...non-profit non-commercial internet radio station that plays the freshest and the best ALL QUALITY female artist / fronted acts in a wide variety of genres." Their "Top 10 Artists To Watch Out For In 2007" included local singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles (MySpace), who in 2008 experienced mainstream recognition due to "Love Song", which garnered Grammy nominations for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Song of The Year.

According to KGRL's Mysty, who's also responsible for their Best Albums Of 2008: "Some people believe that the number 13 is an unlucky number. I guess we'll try to debunk that and take away the fear by doing a Top 13 Albums To Look Forward To In 2009 list. Besides, this could be the 13 that will bring you luck in 2009."

13. A Camp (MySpace) - Colonia: "The Nina Persson solo side project, A Camp bursts back onto the music scene with the upcoming release of Colonia, the follow-up to their 2004 self-titled debut. In case you have not heard of Nina Persson, she's the vocalist for the ultra-popular Swedish band, The Cardigans. If the first single titled 'Stronger Than Jesus,' released in Swedish iTunes on November 2008, is an indication of things to come then we can look forward with great expectations to Colonia come 2009. The Scandinavian release of Colonia is scheduled on January 28, UK follows next on February 2, and finally the US on April 28."

12. Vedera (MySpace) - Stages: "Formed in 2004, the Kansas City-based indie rock band Vedera (formerly known as Veda) is due to finally release their sophomore offering, Stages, in 2009. With the release of a three-track teaser of new songs aptly titled Stages EP back in April 2008, it's really hard not to anticipate the release of the full-length album. Thanks to the refreshing and extremely likeable voice of Kristen May, we got hooked by Vedera."

11. Holly Brook (MySpace): "Like Blood Like Honey was an impressive debut by singer / songwriter Holly Brook released under Linkin Park's label, Machine Shop/Warner Brothers. The songs from the album received their fair share of exposure, but a lot has happened to this young artist after the release of the record. For reasons she likes to keep to herself, she asked to be released under the record deal. That step cost her a year and a half to get finalized. In what seemed to be the rock-bottom part of her career, she even did some busking - performing in the streets somewhere in downtown Ventura (California). Recently though, she's been performing as a back-up musician/singer for Duncan Sheik. In the midst of all these events, Holly has been writing and has almost finished recording a new album. Let this entry be our first shot at showing our support for Holly's comeback record in 2009!"

Numbers 10 through 1 after the jump.

10. Kari Kimmel (MySpace): "Kari Kimmel's 2006 debut, A Life In The Day, was an emotional stunner. With a voice to rival most, if not all, American Idol contestants it's easy to understand how she got tons, and I mean tons, of TV, movie, and ad placements. The recently released Pink Balloon EP strays a bit from the sentimental nature of the debut and presents a merry happy Kari Kimmel. But that's just a taste, for the upcoming second full-length album is due in March 2009."

9. Automatic Loveletter (MySpace): "One of the best vocals in a rock band I've heard in a while belongs to Juliet Simms from the band Automatic Loveletter. After listening to their 2007 Recover EP, all i could say is 'Perfect.' The ultra-addictive melodies are brought to life with Juliet's vocals. I'm just amazed at how such a few tracks can express her vocal flexibility. Whether singing a more hush hush somber track like 'Hush' or blasting out a rock track like 'Parker,' Juliet simply shines. Their EP makes me feel that every song Juliet sings will be good. So, allow us to be the first in line to buy their full-length when it comes out in summer of '09."

8. Butterfly Boucher (MySpace) - Scary Fragile: "Successfully breaking out of her record deal, Australian singer / songwriter Butterfly Boucher flutters by freely and is expected to land with her new album Scary Fragile in 2009. It seemed the new record would receive the same lack of support as her fabulous debut Flutterby, so she opted to sever ties with the label. Fortunately, she retained the rights to the new materials written and recorded during the deal. With only the final mastering left to be done, expect the release of the record very soon. You've had your warning. Now's the time to prepare for the return of the Butterfly."

7. Imogen Heap (MySpace): "Perhaps one of the most anticipated albums for 2009 is the third solo album from Imogen Heap. If you've been following Ms. Heap's "vBlogs" over at YouTube then you've probably heard a few tidbits and titles of the songs being considered for the upcoming full-length. There's been too many missed dates but it's certain the new record will come out early 2009. Here's to hoping that after the new solo album comes out, we can look forward to a new Frou Frou record."

6. Sarah Fimm (MySpace): "The wait for a new album from Sarah Fimm has been four long years. You can imagine our pent-up eagerness for something to come out. This Christmas's release of White Birds, the first in Sarah's planned trilogy of EPs (with the latter two EPs coming out in 2009) made it the best Christmas EVER! The fact that she is giving it away for free makes it even better. The new EP immediately captivated my musical senses. There was no choice for me but to take it all the way to the top of my Best Albums Of 2008 list. This is the kind of music that reminds me why I love what I do with KGRL. Download the White Birds EP and be one of the fans who, like us, awaits the second and third EPs in 2009."

5. Charlotte Hatherley (MySpace) Cinnabar City: "UK rocker and ex-Ash band member Charlotte Hatherley is about to release her third record, titled Cinnabar City, in 2009. We consider Charlotte Hatherley one of the most important UK artists that the people of the USA have not caught up with just yet. Her first two records, namely Grey Will Fade (2004) and The Deep Blue (2007), showcase the eccentric alternative style of Charlotte. Both records offer a variety from fast and quirky upbeat rockers, to slow and moody idiosyncratic compositions. With that knowledge in hand, we invite you to join us as we eagerly await our journey to Cinnabar City in 2009."

4. Nerina Pallot (MySpace): "Another one of our favorite UK pop artists who really should release her records in the US (and someone who we'd love to feature someday in our Flower-Powered Artist section), is Nerina Pallot. We consider both Dear Frustrated Superstar (2001) and Fires (2006) as two of the best pop records EVER. Too bad even the UK failed to notice the brilliance of Dear Frustrated Superstar when it was released. Fortunately, with the record Fires, she got the attention she deserves. Did I mention we totally love both CDs she has released so far? We are anxiously awaiting the new record that is supposed to come out soon (in 2009 of course). Whether she calls it 'When Did I Become Such A Bitch?' or anything sillier, we'd still buy it."

3. The Bird And The Bee (MySpace) - Rayguns Are Not Just The Future: "Greg Kurstin and Inara George of The Bird And The Bee continue to dominate our list as we look foward to Rayguns Are Not Just The Future, their follow-up to 2007's self-titled debut. Being that we've been playing the new tracks from this record on the station for a month and a half now, I can safely say that the new record is a worthy second offering and just as elegant as the debut. In the new record, The Bird And The Bee continues to capture the essence of retro music and flawlessly integrates the wonders of the digital age. Look out for the new record this January 2009 (January 13 on iTunes and January 27 in retail and online stores)."

2. Sixpence None The Richer (MySpace): "I've been a huge fan of Sixpence None The Richer (Matt Slocum & Leigh Nash) since their self-titled record in 1997. In 2002 they released Divine Discontent, a record that I personally consider as one of the best albums ever. It was like a stake was driven right through my heart when they announced in 2004 that the group was disbanded. Leigh Nash went on to embark on a solo career and released Blue On Blue in 2006. Nash collaborated with the duo of Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber (Delerium) to release a self-titled record under the name Fauxliage in 2007. But none of the Leigh Nash projects really satisfied the longing for the music of Sixpence None The Richer. Finally in 2008, we received the best news of the year (at least musically): the band was to be reunited. Immediately after the reunion they released My Dear Machine EP followed shortafter by their very first Christmas album, The Dawn Of Grace. We now wait with bated breath as 2009 hopefully brings us the new full-length from Sixpence None The Richer."

1. Hazel Mills (MySpace): "Last year, we gave the top spot on our Artists To Watch Out For In 2008 list to the Bristol-based singer / songwriter, Hazel Mills. It's not such a wonder that she takes the top spot this year again, this time for her upcoming second EP. Hazel's debut EP, Butterfly, was truly a brilliant masterpiece that delivered track after track of nothing but complex yet very accessible compositions. Unfortunately, we did not get any EP for 2008. Instead, she gave us a tasty slice of her new materials via an exclusive KGRL Flower-Powered Artist Live session. The new songs that debuted in our feature left us salivating for more. To say that we are excited about the upcoming release of the second EP is an understatement. So without further delay, allow me to share the excitement as I point you all towards Hazel's exclusive Flower-Powered Artist Live session (courtesy of her record label Xpress Records). The latest we got from Hazel and her writing partner / producer TJ Allen is that they just secured the blessings of their record label for the second EP. Expect the second EP sometime in 2009."

This month, KGRL features LAist favorite Obi Best (MySpace) as their featured artist.

Special thanks to KGRL.

Christian Music News Source

Album Reviews: The Dawn of Grace by Sixpence None the Richer

2009-01-07T08:05:00.000-08:00

What's more fitting than a Christmas album from a Christian pop band? Not much. Texas band Sixpence None the Richer celebrates the glory of God with their holiday album The Dawn of Grace.

Now, don't go grabbing your red and white, furry Santa hat or pouring yourself a hearty glass of eggnog spiked with your favorite liquer so you can start rockin' around the Christmas tree in the most amorous ways with your beloved! The Dawn of Grace foregoes the silly holiday romps in favor of all spiritual, pious songs like "O Come, O Come Emanuel," "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Silent Night," albeit performed with a twangy, acoustic guitar edge and sung by the angelically voiced Leigh Nash, whose delicate, lush and haunting voice finds its closest relative in Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval.

The Dawn of Grace is one of the more somber, faith-based Christmas albums we've heard, and it's perfectly suited to be played in a forward-thinking church during the holiday season. It's Nash's voice that chills the spine with its cool, collected and celestial quality. She does supreme justice to Joni Mitchell's depressing, heartaching "River," quite possibly the most gut wrenching Christmas-related song ever! Nash has the uncanny knack for conveying so much emotion through subdued singing, which is no simple feat. Most vocalists have to rely on show-stopping displays of prowess to make their points, but Nash demonstrates equal force and power simply by letting her voice carry.

You needn't be a Fundamentlist Christian or even a fan of the band's lone hit, 1997's ubiquitous "Kiss Me" in order to enjoy The Dawn of Grace. If anything, Nash's gorgeous voice will lull you into a happy, escapist trance when your relatives are fighting over who gets the last of the fruitcake or when they are going to return that hideous sweater that they were gifted with!

Christian Music News Source

Threepence X 2

2008-12-24T08:54:00.001-08:00

Sixpence None the Richer took a break, but when Leigh Nash gave Matt Slocum a call, he was ready.

Experiencing Europe did a world of good for Matt Slocum.

After getting married and living in Italy for a year and a half -- on a long honeymoon, basically -- Slocum returned to Nashville ready to make music again.

Fortunately for him, so was Leigh Nash, his former songwriting partner and vocalist in Sixpence None the Richer. The Christian pop group, which had a No. 2 crossover hit with "Kiss Me" in 1999, had split up four years earlier.

Slocum said that breakup was amicable.

"Leigh was pregnant at the time, and when she had her son, she just wanted to focus on that," he said. "We'd been at it a long time. I think there was definitely a little bit of fatigue and just the need to do something different for a while."

Slocum briefly played in another band, then married his girlfriend Kristen and moved to Verona, Italy, for a year and a half.

"It was like the last hurrah before we had a family," he said. "I did write, but it was kind of a sabbatical, an extended honeymoon. We experienced the world for a while, and it was great."

Back in Nashville, Nash gave her old band mate a call. Her son, Henry, was no longer a newborn. She was ready to play music again.

"We both felt maybe it was a good time to start making music together again," Slocum said. "It was really casual and low-key, but definitely good timing. I was happy to come back home to that opportunity."

Sixpence promptly released a four-song EP to let the world know they were back. They then decided to accommodate fans' requests for a Christmas album. Slocum said they prepared by listening to tons of holiday songs and found it daunting.

"There so many Christmas records out there -- so many good ones and so many bad ones. You start thinking you'll make a bad one. So much stuff has been done so well many times before. The other challenge was we wanted to write originals. That was a bit intimidating as well, to contribute to the holiday canon.

"The Dawn of Grace," released in October, includes Sixpence songs "The Last Christmas" and "Christmas for Two," as well as their take on standards such as "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Silent Night." For the latter song, Jars of Clay's Dan Haseltine made a guest appearance.

"He surprised us because he was coming in to sing and showed up with these separate lyrics that created a different subplot to the song. It was really cool; it just transformed the whole thing."

Look for Sixpence None the Richer and Jars of Clay, as well as Sara Groves and Leeland, to perform together in various combinations during the Love Came Down Christmas Pageant concert at the Warner Theatre on Dec. 11.

"There is a lot of interaction on the tour, as far as bands being up on stage at the same time and performing together," Slocum said. "I'm looking forward to that aspect most of all."

Slocum said Sixpence will stay true to the holiday theme, which means they won't play "Kiss Me," their signature song -- at least not for mainstream audiences.

"We know it's something that ended up defining the band and probably will continue to in the future," Slocum said. "At the end of the day, we're really thankful for having a song that's known all over the world. It opened a lot of doors and has given us a lot of opportunities.

"On the other hand, I think we're ready to move beyond it and keep creating a good body of work."

Slocum and Nash have found they're on the same songwriting wavelength more than ever because he recently became a parent, too. Olive, his daughter, is 4 months old.

"It does enhance the bond," Slocum said. "We have similar inspiration for future songs. It's nice to experience that together."

Christian Music News Source

Upcoming concerts for November 21

2008-12-03T15:34:00.000-08:00

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes and Leon Russell, Kes-wick Theatre, Easton Road and Kes-wick Avenue, Glenside, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $39.50-$49.50, 8 p.m., Nov. 28

Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone with special guest The Buck-inghams, Scottish Rite Auditorium, 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, (856) 216-2170, $34.50-$39.50, 8 p.m., Nov. 28

Fat City Reprise and Hale-storm, Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St., Philadelphia, (215) 922-1010, $15, 7 p.m., Nov. 28

Richard Bush & The Peace Creeps, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $12, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 28

Kate Gaffney, CD release party, with Andrew Lipke and Chris Kasper, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $10, 10:30 p.m., Nov. 28

Enter The Haggis, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia, (215) 222-1400, $23, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 28

All Time Low, Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., Philadelphia, (856) 338-9000, $18, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 29

Dave Mason, Scottish Rite Auditorium, 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, (856) 216-2170, $29-$34, 8 p.m., Nov. 29

Almost Queen, Sellersville The-ater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Seller-sville, Pa., (215) 257-5808, $29.50-39.50, 4 and 8:30 p.m., Nov. 29

Jeffrey Gaines, Clara Lofaro, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Phil-adelphia, (215) 928-0978, $22, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m., Nov. 29

Tina Turner, Wachovia Spec-trum, 3601 S. Broad St., Philadel-phia, (800) 298-4200, $29.50-$178, 8 p.m., Nov. 29

Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, (800) 298-4200, $39.50-$50.50, 3 and 8 p.m., Nov. 29

Dragonforce, Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., Philadelphia, (856) 338-9000, $25, 8 p.m., Nov. 30

The Bobs, Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellers-ville, Pa., (215) 257-5808, $21.50, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 30

Tyler Hilton, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $18, 8:30 p.m., Dec. 3

Hayes Carll, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia, (215) 222-1400, $16, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 3

A Peter White Christmas with Rick Braun and Mindi Abair, Kes-wick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $38.50, 8 p.m., Dec. 4

John McCutcheon, Robin and Linda Williams, Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville, Pa., (215) 257-5808, $29.50, 8 p.m., Dec. 4

The Irish Rover Christmas Concert, Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glen-side, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $29.50, 8 p.m., Dec. 5

Hot Tuna, Scottish Rite Audi-torium, 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, (856) 216-2170, $29-$36, 8 p.m., Dec. 5

Doug Church — “The Voice of Elvis,'' Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville, Pa., (215) 257-5808, $29.50, 8:30 p.m., Dec. 5

“Sleigh Bobs Ring!'' featuring The Bobs, Appel Farm Arts and Music Center, 457 Shirley Road, Elmer, (800) 394-1211, $21.50, 8 p.m., Dec. 5

Appetite for Destruction, Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St., Philadelphia, (215) 922-1010, $12, 9 p.m., Dec. 5

Adrian Legg, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $18, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 5

Josh Olmstead with Natalie Walker, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $10, 10:30 p.m., Dec. 5

John Legend, Tower Theatre, 69th and Ludlow streets, Upper Darby, Pa., (856) 338-9000, $40.50-$66, 8 p.m., Dec. 5

Tom Rush, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia, (215) 222-1400, $35, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 5

Holiday Doo-Wop Celebration-Vol. III with Mel Carter, Jay Siegel & the Tokens, The Chiffons, Johnny Tillotson and The Tymes, Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $45-$49.50, 8 p.m., Dec. 6

94.5's Winter Wonder Jam 2008 featuring Gavin DeGraw, Colbie Caillat, Sare Bareilles and Matt Nathanson, Sovereign Bank Arena, 550 S. Broad St., Trenton, (800) 298-4200, $27-$42, 7 p.m., Dec. 6

The Walkmen, Theatre of Liv-ing Arts, 334 South St., Philadel-phia, (215) 922-1010, $16, 9 p.m., Dec. 6

The Kennedys, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $15, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 6

Stargazer Lily, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $12, 10:30 p.m., Dec. 6

The Subdudes, Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville, Pa., (215) 257-5808, $33, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 7

Michael Bolton, Scottish Rite Auditorium, 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, (856) 216-2170, $49.50-$69.50, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 10

Andrew Lipke, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $10, 10:30 p.m., Dec. 12

Soweto Gospel Choir, Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, 260 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, (215) 893-1999, $29-$61, 8 p.m., Dec. 10

Mudvayne, Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., Philadelphia, (856) 338-9000, $26, 8:30 p.m., Dec. 12

Aimee Mann's 3rd annual Christmas Party, Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $39.50-$39.50, 8 p.m., Dec. 13

Raul Malo's Annual Christmas Party, Scottish Rite Auditorium, 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, (856) 216-2170, $29-$36, 8 p.m., Dec. 13

Carlene Carter, Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville, Pa., (215) 257-5808, $29.50, 8 p.m., Dec. 13

Bring Me the Horizon, Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St., Phila-delphia, (215) 922-1010, $15, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 13

Antje Duvekot, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $12, 7 p.m., Dec. 13

Q102 Jingle Ball 2008, Susque-hanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, (856) 338-9000, $49.50-$75, 6 p.m., Dec. 14

In the Round: Nicole Rey-nolds, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Rebecca Pronsky, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $12, 7 p.m., Dec. 14

Vienna Boys Choir Holiday Concert, Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $28.50-$35, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 16

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, 260 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, (215) 893-1999, $32-$59, 8 p.m., Dec. 16

Love Came Down at Christ-mas: A Christmas Pageant featuring Jars of Clay, Leeland, Sixpence None The Richer, Sara Groves, Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $39.50, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 17

Elliott Murphy with Jann Klose, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia, (215) 222-1400, $23, 8 p.m., Dec. 17

Savoy Brown, Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville, Pa., (215) 257-5808, $29.50, 8 p.m., Dec. 18

Badfish — a Tribute to Sublime, Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., Philadelphia, (856) 338-9000, $20, 8:30 p.m., Dec. 19

Oasis with special guests Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Susque-hanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, (856) 338-9000, $53.50-$73.50, 7 p.m., Dec. 19

CSS, Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St., Philadelphia, (215) 922-1010, $18.50, 9 p.m., Dec. 19

Dub Is A Weapon, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia, (215) 222-1400, $13, 9 p.m., Dec. 18

Gwar featuring Kingdom of Sor-row and Toxic Holocaust, Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., Philadelphia, (856) 338-9000, $20, 8 p.m., Dec. 20

Ledisi Christmas Concert plus special guest Noel Gourdin, Kes-wick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $35, 8 p.m., Dec. 20

A Holiday Concert with Marvin Hamlisch (a special, post-season fund-raising event), Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center, 130 Tomlinson Mill Road, Evesham, (856) 983-3366, $65, 8 p.m., Dec. 20

Ike, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia, (215) 222-1400, $15, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 26

Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., Philadelphia, (856) 338-9000, $25, 8:30 p.m., Dec. 27

All Time Low, Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St., Philadelphia, (215) 922-1010, $20, 7 p.m., Dec. 27

Francis Dunnery, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $23, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 26; 7 and 10 p.m., Dec. 27

Mary Fahl with Byron Isaacs and Glenn Patscha, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $22, 7 p.m., Dec. 28

Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $25, 7 and 10 p.m., Dec. 29

Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia, (215) 222-1400, $25, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 30

Gogol Bordello, Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., Philadelphia, (856) 338-9000, $38, 8:30 p.m., Dec. 31

Gregg Allman, A New Year's Eve Show, Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $49.50-$59.50, 8 p.m., Dec. 31

They Might Be Giants, Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St., Philadelphia, (215) 922-1010, $25-$30, 7:30 and 11:30 p.m., Dec. 31

Erin McKeown, Garrison Starr, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $25-$35, 8 and 10:30 p.m., Dec. 31

The Musical Box “A Trick of the Tail,'' Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $39.50, 8 p.m., Jan. 2-3

The Commander Cody Band with Professor Louie & The Crowmatix, Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville, Pa., (215) 257-5808, $19.50, 8:30 p.m., Jan. 2

Tim Butler Band, John Fay and Susan Steen, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $10, 7 p.m., Jan. 3

Three The Hard Way, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., Philadelphia, (215) 928-0978, $10, 10 p.m., Jan. 3

Mason Porter, World Cafe Live, Upstairs Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia, (215) 222-1400, $12, 9 p.m., Jan. 3

An Evening with Chris Botti, Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $35-$45, 8 p.m., Jan. 9

Dukes of Destiny, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia, (215) 222-1400, $13, 9 p.m., Jan. 10

Adele, Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St., Philadelphia, (215) 922-1010, $18, 9 p.m., Jan. 16

“Satisfaction — A Rolling Stones Experience,'' Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $27.50, 8 p.m., Jan. 17

Metallica, Machine Head and The Sword, Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, (800) 298-4200, $62.50-$98.94, 7 p.m., Jan. 17

Jerry Blavat's Roots of Rock and Roll, Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, 260 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, (215) 893-1999, $41-$81, 7:30 p.m., Jan. 18

Reel Big Fish, Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St., Philadelphia, (215) 922-1010, $20, 7:30 p.m., Jan. 22

5th annual Elvis Birthday Bash, Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $32.50, 8 p.m., Jan. 23

Red Molly with Carsie Blanton, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia, (215) 222-1400, $15, 8 p.m., Jan. 23

Dionne Warwick, Scottish Rite Auditorium, 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, (856) 216-2170, $45-$55, 8 p.m., Jan. 24

Funeral for a Friend, Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St., Philadelphia, (215) 922-1010, $14, 9 p.m., Jan. 24

Chris Tomlin, Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., Philadelphia, (856) 338-9000, $27, 7 p.m., Jan. 25

Three Girls & their Buddy featuring Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin and Shawn Colvin plus Buddy Miller, Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, Pa., (215) 572-7650, $55-$65, 8 p.m., Feb. 6

Lucy Kaplansky, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia, (215) 222-1400, $25, 7:30 p.m., March 7

Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia, (215) 222-1400, $30, 7:30 p.m., March 21

Christian Music News Source

Holiday Sound Check

2008-11-26T16:00:00.000-08:00

Underground Garage head Little Steven – he of Bruce Springsteen and Sopranos fame – has gathered 20 of his favorite fun holiday songs. Some

are brilliant variations on the traditional, such as The Chevelles joyous instrumental surf romp through “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” dubbed here

“Come All Ye Faithful Surfer Girls.” Some are great originals, such as The Kinks fabulous garage pop number “Father Christmas” and The

Ramones “Merry Christmas (I Didn’t Want to Fight Tonight),” with singer Joey relaying a familiar holiday conundrum. Some are iconic, such as Keith

Richards making like Chuck Berry on “Run Rudolph Run.” Tough to say, but Joe Pesci ( “If It Doesn’t Snow on Christmas”) and The Electric Prunes

(“Jingle Bells”) are a waste of space. But ex-Move man Roy Wood’s Wizzard, performing the British Yuletide classic, “I Wish It Could Be Christmas

Every Day,” more than makes up for any skipable moments.

Sixpence None The Richer “The Dawn of Grace” (Nettwerk)

Christmas brings people together. Usually. Four years since they split, Nashville-based pop outfit Sixpence None The Richer, the band responsible

for the hit 1997 hit “Kiss Me,” reunited to make a Christmas album. A decidedly odd reason for a pop reunion, one that could smack of quick money

were it not for the fact that, following a summer tour and some Christmas performances, a non-seasonal album is set to follow next year. Either

way, this is a delightful collection of mostly traditional Christmas songs. The two Sixpence originals -- “The Last Christmas” and “Christmas for

Two” – blend into the disc’s lovely ethereal atmosphere. Jars of Clay singer Dan Haseltine duets on a pretty version of “Silent Night.” But mostly,

the focus is Leigh Nash’s coy, sweet voice and guitarist Matt Slocum’s delicate instrumentation. A warm, welcome Christmas get-together.

Chrisian Music News Source

SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER, The Dawn of Grace (Nettwerk)

2008-11-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

This 10-song Christmas set is Sixpence's first new release since the Nashville Christian pop group re-formed late last year. With that in mind, the most intriguing tracks here are two new original tunes, "The Last Christmas" and "Christmas for Two," and they're both sweet, inspired successes, bundling up frontwoman Leigh Nash's vocals in cozy, wintry folk tones. Dreamy interpretations of reverent Christmas classics such as "Silent Night" and "Angels We Have Heard on High" are nothing to gloss over, either.
— DAVE PAULSON, STAFF WRITER

Christian Music News Source

Queen pledges to rock you in big-screen way

2008-11-06T16:59:00.000-08:00

One of those one-time-only showings features Bad Company's Paul Rodgers lending his vocal support to Queen.

"Queen + Paul Rodgers: Let the Cosmos Rock" hits the big screen at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6. Among the American movie theaters scheduled to show the recorded concert film are ShowPlace 14 in Michigan City, ShowPlace 16 in Schererville and Portage 16 IMAX. Recently filmed in Ukraine, the show is loaded with Queen fare, including "We Will Rock You," and "Tie Your Mother Down," a blistering track that perhaps ranks as the band's most underrated song. There's also Paul Rodgers' stuff from his days in Bad Company and Free ("All Right Now").

Visit www.FathomEvents.com for information.

Sixpence scheduled

There's an intriguing holiday show coming to the Star Plaza Theatre. It's different, boasting both a Christian edge and a youth-friendly pop slant.

One of the acts is Sixpence None the Richer, which is responsible for two lilting tunes that made their marks during the past 10 years. You might remember "Kiss Me," which was used in the Freddie Prinze Jr. movie "She's All That," and on TV's "Dawson's Creek." The Grammy-nominated band from Texas likewise scored with its cover of the La's "There She Goes."

Also on the bill is Jars of Clay, a Grammy Award winner for 1997's "Much Afraid," a million-selling CD in the "Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album" category. The aforementioned groups will be joined by Leeland and Sara Groves at "Love Came Down -- A Christmas Pageant," set for 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Merrillville venue. Tickets, $30, go on sale noon Saturday.

Leisure Suits & lounge guru

Here's an interesting mix of shows at The Venue, Horseshoe Casino's new theater.

At 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, TV's "Nashville Star" trots out its four finalists from the most recent installment of the talent-search series.

I didn't think there was still much of a demand for Johnny and the Leisure Suits, but Chicago DJ legend Jonathon Brandmeier will be horsing around with his band at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22.

Then there's a guy who's perfect for the casino scene: Wayne Newton. The lounge leviathan croons at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5.

Visit www.thevenue-chicago.com for ticket information on the Hammond shows.

Get down at Duffy's

Howard and the White Boys are dishing punchy contemporary blues at 10 p.m. Saturday at Duffy's Place, 1154 Axe Ave., Valparaiso. There's no cover charge. Featuring guitarist Rocco Calipari of the Valpo area, the band has played Europe and opened for B.B. King.

Christian Music News Source

That's the Ticket

2008-11-06T16:57:00.000-08:00

On sale 10 a.m. Friday

Bottle of Justus, Friday, Jan. 2 ($13-$15, 17+) at House of Blues.

Cradle of Filth, Satyricon, Septicflesh, Sunday, Jan. 25 ($23.50-$26, all ages) at House of Blues.

Reel Big Fish, Streetlight Manifesto, Monday, Jan. 12 ($20.50-$23, all ages) at House of Blues.

Sister Hazel, Pat McGee, Luke Mulholland, Saturday, Dec. 20 ($25-$26.50, 17+) at House of Blues.

Trippin' Billies, Saturday, Jan. 3 ($14-$16, 17+) at House of Blues.

Wu-Tang Clan, Sunday, Dec. 14 ($45-$48, 17+) at House of Blues.

On sale noon Friday

Gregory and the Hawk, Friday, Nov. 21 ($8-$10, all ages) at Schubas.

Haulin’ Boats, Mister Wolf, Friday, Oct. 31 ($6, 21+) at Schubas.

Chris Knight, Sunday, Dec. 14 ($15, 21+) at Schubas.

Angel Taylor, Wednesday, Dec. 10 ($10, 18+) at Schubas.

Rosie Thomas, Sunday, Dec. 7 ($12, 21+) at Schubas.

The Waco Brothers, Friday, Dec. 26, Saturday, Dec. 27 ($12-$14, 21+) at Schubas.

On sale 10 a.m. Saturday

Bottle Rockets, Wednesday, Dec. 31 ($25, 21+) at Beat Kitchen.

Egypt Central, Pop Evil, Tuesday, Nov. 18 ($10-$12, 17+) at Subterranean.

Lifehouse, Sarah McLachlan, Plain White T’s, Friday, Dec. 12 ($55-$75, all ages) at Chicago Theatre.

Owen, Monday, Nov. 24 ($12, all ages) at Beat Kitchen.

Denison Witmer, Sunday, Dec. 7 ($10-$12, all ages) at Beat Kitchen.

On sale 11 a.m. Saturday

John Legend, Raphael Saadiq, Friday, Nov. 21 ($46-$71, all ages) at Chicago Theatre.

Umphrey’s McGee, Monday, Dec. 29 ($30-$35, 18+), Tuesday, Dec. 30 ($30-$35, all ages), Wednesday, Dec. 31 ($65-$75, 18+) at Auditorium Theatre.

On sale noon Saturday

CSS, Ssion, Sunday, Dec. 14 ($18, all ages) at Metro.

D-Code, Jeekoos, Chris Widman, Phaded, Pinkushin, Thursday, Nov. 20 ($10, 21+) at Smart Bar.

Funeral For a Friend, The Sleeping, Friday, Jan. 30 ($14, all ages) at Metro.

Juliana Hatfield, Tuesday, Dec. 2 ($15, 21+) at Double Door.

Jars of Clay, Leeland, Sara Groves, Sixpence None the Richer, Sunday, Dec. 14 ($30, all ages) at Star Plaza Theatre, Merrillville, Ind.

New Colossus, Saturday, Nov. 8 ($5, 21+) at Double Door.

The New Fuse, Friday, Jan. 9 ($8, 21+) at Double Door.

Tapes ‘N Tapes, Saturday, March 7 ($16, 18+) at Metro.

On sale now

Canasta, Will Phalen and the Stereo Addicts, Thursday, Nov. 6 ($10, 21+) at Subterranean.

Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival: David Grisman Quintet, Avett Brothers, Ha Ha Tonka, others, Saturday, Nov. 22 ($31, all ages) at Congress Theater.

Christian Music News Source

Sixpence Non The Richer live @ Lemgo/Germany 2008

2008-10-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

Christian Music News Source

CD releases for the week of Oct. 21

2008-10-22T20:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a list of some new CD releases for the week of Oct. 21:

AC/DC - "Black Ice"

Building 429 - "Building 429"

Cold War Kids - "Loyalty to Loyalty"

Sylvain Cossette - "'70s Volume 2"

Nikka Costa - "Pebbles to a Pearl"

The Dears - "Missiles"

Brett Dennen - "Hope for the Hopeless"

Escape the Fate - "This War is Ours"

Everest - "Ghost Notes"

Adam Gregory - "Crazy Days"

LaBelle - "Back to Now"

Gary Louris - "Acoustic Vagabonds"

Ludacris - "Theater of the Mind"

Mary Mary - "The Sound"

Jon McLaughlin - "OK Now"

Craig Morgan - "That's Why"

Erik Mongrain - "Equilibrium"

Beth Rowley - "Little Dreamer"

Sea and Cake - "Car Alarm"

Carrie Underwood - "Carnival Ride" (Holiday Edition)

Various Artists - "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" Soundtrack

Lee Ann Womack - "Call Me Crazy"

Elliott Yamin - "My Kind of Holiday"

The Youngers - "Heritage"

Christian Music News Source

Sixpence None The Richer: There They Go Again

2008-10-21T18:16:00.000-07:00

More than four years ago, Sixpence None the Richer wrote an open letter to CCM Magazine readers that stopped them dead in their tracks: "After 10 years of music, we are closing up shop and moving on." The news shocked critics and music fans who grew to love the band's wistful melodies and almost otherworldly sense of arrangement and beauty, expressed to perfection in its breakout self-titled release and 2002's majestic Divine Discontent (Word). After a few projects on their own, longtime members Leigh Nash and Matt Slocum realized they missed each other and the band too much to let it fade into oblivion, so they brought it back last year and are now on the verge of releasing their comeback project, a Christmas album titled The Dawn of Grace (Nettwerk). In this conversation, Nash and Slocum talk about how they decided to put the pieces back together and begin creating in tandem again.

CCM: You published an open letter to CCM Magazine readers announcing your retirement. You signed off with, “Goodbye for now.” Did you know deep down you’d get back together?

Leigh Nash: No, I didn’t at the time. At a time like that, that’s not what you think about. But I did, six months after that on; I think I did start to wonder and kind of hope that eventually we would. But at the time I thought, “This is it. We’re done.”

Matt Slocum: I would agree with that as well. It was definitely a bit of a subconscious statement that ended up being, I don’t know, somewhat true. Maybe it was a subconscious desire just to get a break for a while, but kind of subconsciously knowing that there was still music to be made in the future.

CCM: Why did you break up in the first place?

Slocum: I think it was a mixture of a number of things. Leigh and I both started doing this really early in life. I think Leigh was 16 at the time we made our first record; I was 19 going on 20. It had been a long time [that we had been in the group]—all of our 20s into part of our 30s. I think there’s just sort of a natural [desire] to explore what else is out there.

In hindsight, it was probably a little bit of a drastic decision to break the whole thing up. I think we could’ve just taken a four-year break and avoided all the announcements and the hoopla and just kind of come back four years later with an album. We kind of overshot on that.

Christian Music News Source

Sixpence None the Richer's Christmas Q&A

2008-10-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

Sixpence None The Richer's Matt Slocum answers some holiday questions and shares his Christmas faves...

Q: What was it like recording a Christmas project, and how was this experience different than recording a regular studio album?

A: Recording a Christmas project seems to have a little less pressure on the writing side... You have hundreds of amazing songs to choose from that have stood the test of time, and it's fun to take these classic melodies and experiment with them as an arranger.

Q: If you had to describe your new Christmas project—The Dawn of Grace (Nettwerk)—in one word, what would it be?

A: Advent.

Q: What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?

A: Being with my daughter for her first Christmas.

FAVORITES…

Christmas Food: Eggnog ice cream

Christmas Tradition: Dragging the fake tree out for decoration

Christmas Carol: "Silent Night"

Christmas Album: A Charlie Brown Christmas, Vince Guaraldi

Christmas Movie: A Christmas Story

Christmas Present to Give: Framed photographs

Christmas Present to Receive: A nice bottle of wine

Christian Music News Source

Christmas Tour With Jars of Clay and Sixpence None The Richer

2008-10-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

Grammy and Dove awardwinning band JARS OF CLAY are excited to announce LOVE CAME DOWN: A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT. Jars of Clay will be joined by the recently reunited SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER, along with Sara Groves and Leeland, as they embark on a 13city tour filled with holiday songs and stories in celebration of the Christmas season.

Last year, Jars of Clay gave their fans a Christmas gift. CHRISTMAS SONGS was the first holiday release from the band in their 12year career. The band brought new light to memorable Christmas songs such as "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "In the Bleak Midwinter," and broke new ground with their own original holiday songs such as "Winter Skin" and "Evergreen." When they decided to go out on tour this season, they asked their friends Leigh Nash and Matt Slocum of Sixpence None The Richer to come along.

Grammynominated band Sixpence None The Richer was in a similar position as Jars of Clay. Their loyal fans had been asking for a Christmas record for years, and they thought there was no better way to celebrate their reunion then with a special album for their fans. THE DAWN OF GRACE will be released on October 14 and is made up of 10 tracks: eight traditional Christmas songs, including "Angels We Have Heard On High" and "Silent Night," featuring guest vocalist Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay, and two original Sixpence holiday tunes called "The Last Christmas" and "Christmas for Two."

Both bands are also in the process of recording new material to be released in 2009. Jars of Clay have been in and out of the studio with producer Ron Aniello (Lifehouse, Guster, Barenaked Ladies) to put the final touches on their upcoming album, due out in early 2009. They have already released the CLOSER EP on all major digital service providers in anticipation of the upcoming fulllength; the fivesong EP contains two brand new tracks ("Closer" and "Safe To Land"), as well as new versions of fan favorites including "Flood" and "Love Song For A Savior." They are currently in the midst of the "Music Builds" tour, which benefit local affiliates of Habitat For Humanity.

Sixpence None The Richer will hit the studio after the holidays to begin working on their first fulllength original record in over four years to be released in the summer of 2009.

Catch LOVE CAME DOWN: A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT on the following dates:
Dec 4 Montgomery, AL @ Montgomery Performing Arts Center
Dec 5 Longwood, FL @ Northland Church
Dec 6 Pompano Beach, FL @ Pompano Beach Amphitheatre
Dec 7 Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Echerd Hall
Dec 13 Grand Rapids, MI @ Sunshine Church
Dec 14 Merrillville, IN @ Star Plaza Theatre
Dec 17 Glenside, PA @Keswick Theatre
Dec 18 Plymouth, MA @ Memorial Hall
Dec 19 Lewiston, ME @ Androscoggin Bank Coliseum
Dec 20 Long Island City, NY @ Evangel Church
Dec 21 Harrisburg, PA @ Whitaker Center for the Science and Arts

www.jarsofclay.com
www.myspace.com/jarsofclay
www.myspace.com/sixpencethericher

Christian Music News Source

Jars Of Clay Team With Sixpence None The Richer for Christmas Tour

2008-10-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

(PR) Jars Of Clay are excited to announce Love Came Down: A Christmas Pageant. Jars of Clay will be joined by the recently reunited Sixpence None The Richer, along with Sara Groves and Leeland, as they embark on a 13city tour filled with holiday songs and stories in celebration of the Christmas season.

Last year, Jars of Clay gave their fans a Christmas gift. CHRISTMAS SONGS was the first holiday release from the band in their 12year career. The band brought new light to memorable Christmas songs such as "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "In the Bleak Midwinter," and broke new ground with their own original holiday songs such as "Winter Skin" and "Evergreen." When they decided to go out on tour this season, they asked their friends Leigh Nash and Matt Slocum of Sixpence None The Richer to come along.

Grammynominated band Sixpence None The Richer was in a similar position as Jars of Clay. Their loyal fans had been asking for a Christmas record for years, and they thought there was no better way to celebrate their reunion then with a special album for their fans. THE DAWN OF GRACE will be released on October 14 and is made up of 10 tracks: eight traditional Christmas songs, including "Angels We Have Heard On High" and "Silent Night," featuring guest vocalist Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay, and two original Sixpence holiday tunes called "The Last Christmas" and "Christmas for Two."

Both bands are also in the process of recording new material to be released in 2009. Jars of Clay have been in and out of the studio with producer Ron Aniello (Lifehouse, Guster, Barenaked Ladies) to put the final touches on their upcoming album, due out in early 2009. They have already released the CLOSER EP on all major digital service providers in anticipation of the upcoming fulllength; the fivesong EP contains two brand new tracks ("Closer" and "Safe To Land"), as well as new versions of fan favorites including "Flood" and "Love Song For A Savior." They are currently in the midst of the "Music Builds" tour, which benefit local affiliates of Habitat For Humanity.

Sixpence None The Richer will hit the studio after the holidays to begin working on their first fulllength original record in over four years to be released in the summer of 2009.

Catch Love Came Down: A Christmas Pageant on the following dates:
Dec 4 Montgomery, AL @ Montgomery Performing Arts Center
Dec 5 Longwood, FL @ Northland Church
Dec 6 Pompano Beach, FL @ Pompano Beach Amphitheatre
Dec 7 Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Echerd Hall
Dec 13 Grand Rapids, MI @ Sunshine Church
Dec 14 Merrillville, IN @ Star Plaza Theatre
Dec 17 Glenside, PA @Keswick Theatre
Dec 18 Plymouth, MA @ Memorial Hall
Dec 19 Lewiston, ME @ Androscoggin Bank Coliseum
Dec 20 Long Island City, NY @ Evangel Church
Dec 21 Harrisburg, PA @ Whitaker Center for the Science and Arts

Christian Music News Source

Sixpence None The Richer -My Dear Machine EP

2008-09-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

When Sixpence None The Richer teamed with Charlie Peacock for his 2004 release, Full Circle, it was a pretty firm belief that this was the last we would hear from the collaborative efforts of Matt Slocum and Leigh (Bingham) Nash. While the duo went their separate ways - Slocum to work with Astronaut Pushers and Nash to launch a solo pop career - they would later learn that what they had together, musically, was something special that they couldn't replicate on their own apart from each other. With that realized late last year, Slocum and Nash decided 2008 would bring about the return of Sixpence None The Richer.

A lot has transpired in the lives of Slocum and Nash since Sixpence originally disbanded, including a broken relationship for Nash which has become a topic for her recent songwriting, especially on last year's collaboration with Delerium, entitled Fauxliage. The songs on Sixpence's first release this year, a four-song EP entitled My Dear Machine, seem to be heavily inspired by Nash's heartbreak as well, with lyrics that are brutally honest and painfully real throughout. Nash's sweet and soft vocals display more of this heartache this time around, as the listener can really feel what Leigh is going through. But the brutal honesty, coupled with the freedom that no ties to a record label for this release bring, lets the use of mild profanity creep in as Nash expresses her spiritual frustrations in "Amazing Grace (Give It Back)," "I knew a song that played in me / It seems I've lost the melody / So please, Lord, give it back to me.... You're everywhere in every time / And yet You're so d*mn hard to find." While most going through the Christian walk can empathize with a statement like that - being able to relate to the times in life where God seems absent - it's unfortunate to hear that on a Sixpence None The Richer release.

Lyrical themes aside, musically My Dear Machine feels very much like a Nash and Slocum composition. While a song like "Amazing Grace (Give It Back)" has a bit of the haunting darkness that was felt on Nash's Fauxliage project, the songs "My Dear Machine," "Sooner Than Later," and "Around" fit right in with the later Sixpence None The Richer art-pop approach. Some of the songs combine the pop flair of Divine Discontent with the more indie feel of the self-titled release, but there's a distinctly more bitter feeling than sad or melancholy that washes over the songs....

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Sixpence None the Richer - The Best of Sixpence None the Richer (Squint/Reprise)

2008-09-19T23:57:00.000-07:00

Sounds like … sophisticated and melodic pop/rock that resembles everyone from 10,000 Maniacs, The Cranberries, and Innocence Mission to The Corrs, Dido, and Plumb.

At a glance … this compilation offers something worthwhile to both longtime and casual fans with a mix of originals, covers, radio hits, and rarities.

Friends, we gather today to pay tribute to something of an enigma in Christian music. After earning a reputation as one of the genre's most important bands during the '90s, Sixpence None the Richer announced their retirement in early 2004. Sixpence was plagued by record label conflicts over the years, resulting in a revolving door of musicians with only the core of vocalist Leigh Nash and guitarist/songwriter Matt Slocum remaining intact. It's also amazing to consider the legacy Sixpence has left with just four albums, an EP, and a short list of radio success. This is a band highly acclaimed for its heady artistry, yet best known for a silly love song and a couple of cover tunes featured in teen flicks and WB television dramas.

Nevertheless, Slocum and Nash proved a potent and influential alternative pop/rock combination in their decade together, and their parting gift to fans is The Best of Sixpence None the Richer, an appropriately unusual but generous 73-minute retrospective. The essentials are all here, most notably the romantic smash "Kiss Me" and the cover of The La's "There She Goes" off of the breakthrough 1997 self-titled effort. From 2002's critically acclaimed Divine Discontent are "Breathe Your Name" and a faithful version of Crowded House's signature song "Don't Dream It's Over." Christian music radio regulars will also appreciate the inclusion of "Brighten My Heart" from the multi-artist Exodus worship project, as well as the beautiful ballad "Breathe" from 1999's Streams recording.

That sums up Sixpence's radio success, begging the question of how to best fill the compilation's remainder. For starters, the producers would be remiss in ignoring the band's early career and other fan favorites. Again, the key songs are here with "Angeltread" and "Within a Room Somewhere" from 1995's This Beautiful Mess, as well as "Trust" from 1994's The Fatherless and the Widow. (It should be noted, however, that the CD's track listing is incorrect. The disc includes the band version of "Trust," and unfortunately not the better, quieter "reprise.") Another smart inclusion is the gorgeous, poetic song of surrender "Melody of You" from Divine Discontent.

From there, Sixpence's "best" would be pretty subjective. This band has juggled two audiences-those who appreciate them for their artistic inventiveness, and those who liked their rich sense of pop interpretation. The latter will be satisfied with the inclusion of the radio singles. Those that love Sixpence for more than that probably already own the few albums. If you prefer Sixpence's older stuff, you may want to seek out 1999's poorly conceived Collage: A Portrait of Their Best, which might be seen as a fair companion piece to this new set....

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Sixpence None The Richer - Divine Discontent

2008-09-19T22:06:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Spotlight No longer Discontented

It’s interesting that the huge success of their self-titled album and the hit singles “Kiss Me” and “There She Goes” should also have contributed to the pain of the last few years. If ever there was a band who have paid their dues it’s Sixpence. It feels as though every record company they signed to have gone bust. Most recently the original set up of Squint Entertainment under Steve Taylor sank after they invested thousands and thousands of dollars breaking Sixpence into the mainstream. This follow up album should really have come two years ago maintaining the momentum of the success of “Kiss Me” establishing Sixpence as one of THE bands on the planet. Sadly record company wranglings and more disappointment have dogged the band. But finally ‘Divine Discontent’ has found its way onto the record shop shelves. I suspect that this isn’t actually the album they recorded as a follow up since I received a couple of pre-release tracks a year ago, neither of which are included here. However, one thing is for sure, this is a stupendously beautiful album and I’m glad that it finally escaped from captivity. Everything that makes Sixpence such a great band is in place here - poetic lyrics, bittersweet melancholy vibes, Leigh Nash’s distinctive vocals and let’s not beat about the bush here! Brilliant songs! With so many astounding moments, I confess that I just love the closing “Million Parachutes” with its lilting melodies and seemingly Coldplayesque atmospheres. At the other end of the album, the opening single “Breathe Your Name” starts with some strumming that is vaguely reminiscent of “Kiss Me” designed to give casual fans something they recognise but swiftly evolves into an uplifting groove and hooky chorus. As with “There She Goes” on the previous album, the band demonstrate a knack for choosing a cover version ripe for re-interpretation. This time it’s Crowded House’s magnificent “Don’t Dream It’s Over” that is reworked into something gorgeous. Another favourite is “Dizzy” with its timeless melody and beautiful strings and piano that evoke yet more beautiful yearning melancholy. The band’s sound has obviously grown since the last album and the stunning string arrangements and addition of more piano only enhance everything that’s great about the band. It’s been a while coming but it’s been worth the wait.

The Nashville-based sextet Sixpence None The Richer answer some questions.

Have all the delays in getting 'Divine Discontent' released been frustrating?
(Leigh Nash) It's been, at times, maddening and depressing. It's nice to be at the end of that now; something good happening makes the bad almost disappear.

What exactly is the meaning behind the title 'Divine Discontent'?
(Matt Slocum) A positive dis-ease, a restlessness leading to a doorway to something new and better. Without pain and other difficult situations, we tend not to grow and change for the good. A lot of songs we’ve recorded here have a fascination with the fact that God would strike you down, and then raise you back up. It’s our attempt to make sense of some of the suffering....

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Sixpence None the Richer - Portrait Of Their Best

2008-09-19T21:58:00.000-07:00

Seduced by Sixpence
Sixpence is a band with heart, soul, musicianship, and intellect to boot! After I picked up their current self-titled album, I decided to explore this "greatest hits" collection to find out what I'd been missing. What a find! "Collage" is packed with poetic lyricism, driving guitars, Leigh Nash's beautifully expressive voice, rich harmonies, and, above all, Matt Slocum's inspired songwriting. Fans of "Kiss Me" will find similar-flavored tunes in "Field of Flowers" and "Healer" and will be surprised by the depth of other songs like "Love, Salvation, The Fear of Death" and "I Can't Explain." Well, maybe they can't explain, but I can. Sixpence is worth their weight in gold and we are all the richer for being able to listen to their music. What's more, this CD rocks and repays repeated listening with its multi-layered musicianship and symbolism. Imagine! Lyrics with double meanings that refer to faith, self-discipline, and God rather than irresponsible sex and predatory relationships. The cover versions of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and "Love Letters in the Sand" are added treats. If you were seduced by "Kiss Me" and "There She Goes" on the radio, check out their other work. Countless riches await you.

A bit of background...
Quite a few fans have posted negative reviews of this compilation, and they're right. Although a number of Sixpence's stellar tracks made it onto the disc, it's mostly a tired collection of stuff-found-on-old-comps.

R.E.X. records, Sixpence's former label, kept the band in hellish limbo for three years after a nasty bankruptcy. Unable to escape their contract, but lacking the funds to produce or market a new CD, Sixpence languished for years between This Beautiful Mess and their self-titled release. Veteran artist Steve Taylor eventually bought their contract from REX's husk, fronted the money to record their self-titled release, and helped produce the CD.

Of course, REX still owns the rights to Sixpence's older songs -- and when they jumped into the national spotlight with Kiss Me, REX decided to cash in. A quick compilation of older (Owned-by-REX) songs was thrown together and marketed as 'Collage,' hoping to snag new fans looking for older material. They even misspelled the title of the band's earlier single, Angeltread, on the track listing. Sigh.

If you like Sixpence, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of This Beautiful Mess. Collage is nothing more than a sad attempt to cash in....

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Sixpence None the Richer - Sixpence None the Richer

2008-09-19T21:57:00.000-07:00

This album is amazing and original. I have never heard another album quite like Sixpence None the Richer. There probably isn't another album out there that's quite as epic and theatrical, yet simplistically beautiful. This album is the album that defines who Sixpence None The Richer really is. If you're only going to buy one of their albums, this is the one to get. And that's not just because it contains hits like "Kiss Me," "There She Goes," "I Can't Catch You," and "Love," but because the whole album works together to paint a beautiful picture of the ups and downs of life.

The self-titled album has a very distinct and powerful sound using violins, piano and guitars to craft rich melodies. Matt Slocum has made a wonderful piece of art here. Even though Sixpence None the Richer shines through both lyrically and musically, it doesn't really do anything complicated; it's just right in every sense with Leigh's beautiful vocals perfectly matched by hauntingly wonderful yet delightfully simple melodies. It's as if Sixpence's career was leading up to this significant climax. I highly recommend this album to anyone who loves great music. You won't regret it....

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Sixpence None the Richer - Tickets For A Prayer Wheel

2008-09-19T21:56:00.000-07:00

Tickets for a Prayer Wheel opens with two new versions of "Within a Room Somewhere," one a Radio Edit and one a Demo. Although "Within a Room Somewhere" is one of my favourite Sixpence songs, these tracks feel awkward when played right next to each other at the very beginning of the EP, and it probably would have faired better without them. Tickets also collects several b-sides that didn't make the cut of This Beautiful Mess, the best of which are "Healer" and "Dresses," two original Sixpence songs that are wonderful additions to their library, but just didn't have the right feel to fit on This Beautiful Mess. Following these two surprisingly good tracks are two covers, a delightful rendition of "Love Letters in the Sand," where Sixpence successfully combines their sound with a more surf-rock approach, and a slightly exhaustive yet artful version of Sam Phillips' "Carry You." Following these are two fairly good instrumental tracks, "Alisha's First Steps" and "Solomon the Mystic," the latter of which sounds strikingly familiar to their later hit, "Love." In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if "Solomon" was an earlier rendition of what would later become "Love." These tracks are nice surprises considering they are missing Leigh's signature vocals....

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Sixpence None the Richer - This Beautiful Mess

2008-09-19T21:54:00.000-07:00

Sixpense None the Richer's second album is one of their most notable. Although it was their self-titled album that really sky-rocketed them to success, it was This Beautiful Mess that really established a fan base for them and is considered by many fans to this day to be their best album. The deep, dreamy music along with Leigh's silky smooth vocals and Matt Slocum's deep songwriting that made this album a musical journey not to be forgotten. Almost every song on this album is amazing in its own right with one great song after another. My only complaint about this album is that the unique melancholy nature of the album gets a bit tiresome after a dozen songs, but the album's unique musical style is what gives it its charm. The band truly found something that works with this album, it just seems like they used what works a little too much. However, with almost every song being an epic musical movement, you can't go wrong with this Sixpence classic....

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Sixpence None the Richer - The Fatherless And The Widow

2008-09-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

This album is beautiful in its simplicity. It doesn't try to do anything new, exciting or complicated. This is music in its simplest form. The messages it conveys are simple yet profound. They are those little proverbs that don't really say anything you don't already know, but still need to be said and can sometimes open our minds to the most beautiful things that we sometimes miss in our daily hurry.

The Fatherless and the Widow was Sixpence None the Richer's first album and was not very well distributed when released. It was made in 1993 and sounds nothing like any of the music that was popular at the time which in a lot of ways is a major plus because it harkened back to a simpler kind of music that many had forgotten during a time when over-produced pop and rap were so popular. It is also notable that Matt Slocum was the only musician on this album, providing the backdrop for Leigh (Bingham) Nash's beautiful vocals which were a lot deeper and mellower at the time, which actually suits a more laid back album like this. It has a very under-produced sound, which really helps more than holds back the record. Overall, it's a very wonderful album by a band that showed a lot of potential right from their humble beginnings....

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Discography

2008-09-19T11:43:00.000-07:00

Albums

Year	Album	US	US Heatseekers	US Christian	UK	RIAA Certification
1994	The Fatherless & the Widow	–	–	–	–	–
1995	This Beautiful Mess	–	–	–	–	–
1997	Sixpence None the Richer	89	#1	#1	27	Platinum
2002	Divine Discontent	154	–	9	–	–
2004	The Best of Sixpence None the Richer	–	–	–	–	–
2008	The Dawn of Grace	–	–	–	–	–

* Notes:

1. Sixpence None the Richer were no longer eligible to appear on the US Heatseekers chart after the Sixpence None the Richer album appeared in the top 100 of the US Album Chart.

Other Releases

* 1993 - The Original Demos
* 1996 - Tickets for a Prayer Wheel (EP)
* 2002 - Mega 3 Collection
* 2005 - The Early Years
* 2006 - Blue on Blue (Leigh Nash's solo album)
* 2006 - Wishing for This (Leigh Nash's EP)
* 2007 - Stars in My Eyes (Leigh Nash's single)
* 2008 - My Dear Machine EP

Singles

Year	Single	Album	US	US AC	US Adult Top 40	UK	AUS	RIAA Certification
1996	"Angeltread"	This Beautiful Mess	–	–	–	–	–	–
1999	"Kiss Me"	Sixpence None the Richer	2	2	2	4	1	Gold
1999	"There She Goes"	Sixpence None the Richer	32	19	7	14	47	–
2000	"I Can't Catch You"	Sixpence None the Richer	–	–	–	–	–	–
2002	"Breathe Your Name"	Divine Discontent	–	–	18	–	–
2003	"Don't Dream It's Over"	Divine Discontent	78	12	9	–	–
2008	"My Dear Machine"	My Dear Machine EP	–	–	–	–	–	–

Christian Music Links!

Band Members

2008-09-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

Current members

* Matt Slocum – guitar, cello
* Leigh Nash – vocals
* Justin Cary – bass (1997-2004, 2007-)

Former members

* TJ Behling - bass (1993-1994)
* Dale Baker – drum (1995-2001)
* Tess Wiley – guitar (1995-1996) also in Sixpence None the Richer 2008 European Tour
* J.J. Plasencio – bass (1995-1996)
* Sean Kelly – guitar (1997-2004)
* Rob Mitchell – drum (2001-2004)
* Jerry Dale McFadden – keyboard (2001-2004)

Christian Music Links!

Biography

2008-09-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

The Early Years (1992-1996)

Guitarist/songwriter Matt Slocum met vocalist Leigh Bingham Nash at a church retreat in the early 1990s. They recorded a demo with bassist TJ Behling (which now circulates as "The

Original Demos") at Verge Music Works recording studio in Dallas, and eventually an album, The Fatherless and the Widow, for the independent R.E.X. Music record label in 1993. The

record featured Chris Dodds of Slocum's first band (Love Coma) on drums. Shortly after the release of The Fatherless and the Widow, Slocum left Love Coma to pursue Sixpence None

the Richer full-time. The band added Tess Wiley (guitar) JJ Plasencio (bass) and Dale Baker (drums) for 1995's This Beautiful Mess. Both albums were produced by Armand John Petri ,

10,000 Maniacs and John & Mary Producer, who also managed the band from 1993 to 1997. Shortly after the release of This Beautiful Mess, Wiley left the band.

Into the Mainstream (1997-2003)

In 1997, the group signed to Steve Taylor's label Squint Entertainment and released a self-titled album, which slowly began garnering attention from a wider audience in the mainstream

industry. Although Placencio played bass on most of the album, he left the band before it was released and was replaced by Justin Carry, who joined the band around the same time as

second guitarist Sean Kelly.

In 1999, "Kiss Me" was released as a single, propelling Sixpence None the Richer into the national pop spotlight. That year the song was also featured in the film She's All That as the

newly made-over protagonist, Laney Boggs, is revealed, and again at the end, during the film's credits. In 2001 the film Not Another Teen Movie would use the song in a parody of that

scene. "Kiss Me" was also played on the WB teen drama Dawson's Creek in episodes #2-06 "The Dance" and #2-18 "The Perfect Wedding," and is found on the show's first soundtrack

CD, Songs from Dawson's Creek (Volume 1).

In 1999, the band recorded a cover of The La's' "There She Goes", which became their second hit single. This recording was subsequently added to the band's self-titled album in the

US, though it had already appeared on all copies of the album internationally.

In 2000, Sixpence None the Richer contributed the song "Us" to Today Presents: the Best of Summer Concert Series CD, which raised money for the National Colorectal Cancer

Research Alliance. Later that year, the band recorded a Japanese version of "Kiss Me", which was released exclusively in Japan on an EP with numerous versions of the song, as well

as remixes of other songs on the self-titled album.

The band had a follow-up album ready to release, but their label Squint Entertainment started to fall apart, leaving the band in limbo for several years. Finally, Squint Entertainment folded

and that album, Divine Discontent, was released in October of 2002.

Baker left the band before that album's release and was replaced by Rob Mitchell. The album itself differs significantly from the first pre-release version of it that had circulated: the

songs "Us," "Deeper," "Don't Pass Me By," "Too Far Gone," Northern Lights," and "Loser Like Me" were cut, and "Down and Out of Time," "A Million Parachutes," "Tonight," "Waiting on

the Sun," and "Don't Dream It's Over" were added. All of the unreleased songs were eventually featured on singles or compilations, with the exception of "Deeper."

Sixpence None the Richer has recorded a number of cover songs for compilations and soundtrack albums throughout their career, including:

* "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" (How the Grinch Stole Christmas),
* "Bouquet" (Steve Taylor),
* "Road to Zion" (Petra),
* "Love Letters in the Sand" (Patsy Cline, Pat Boone and others),
* "Carry You" (Sam Phillips),
* "On the Run" (Electric Light Orchestra),
* "Dancing Queen" (ABBA),
* "I Need Love" (Sam Phillips),
* "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" (The Beach Boys),
* "Christmastime Is Here" (Vince Guaraldi, Peanuts),
* "Goodnight Children Everywhere" (Vera Lynn),
* "Don't Dream It's Over" (Crowded House),
* "Love Is Blindness" (U2),
* "Every Heartbeat" (Amy Grant).

The Break Up (2004)

On February 26, 2004, Matt Slocum announced that the group had disbanded. On July 22, 2004, it was reported that Matt Slocum had started a new band, the Astronaut Pushers, with

Lindsay Jamieson (of the band Departure Lounge) and Sam Ashworth (son of influential musician Charlie Peacock). John Davis (of the band Superdrag) joined the band in 2005. The

Astronaut Pushers released a self-titled, four-song EP on their own label, Runway Network, in 2005. Sam Ashworth reported via MySpace that he and Slocum had acquired and were

operating a recording studio in Nashville in early 2006.

Leigh Nash Solo Work (2005-2007)

Leigh Nash began work on a solo album titled Blue On Blue with producer Pierre Marchand in the fall of 2005.
Nash's first single My Idea of Heaven was released on July 14, 2006. The album Blue On Blue was released by Nettwerk Records under Nash's own imprint, One Son Records and the

album's official release date was August 15, 2006, she also released a Christmas EP Wishing For This on 14 November 2006 and some remix projects EP.
In 2007, Leigh Nash worked a collaboration with Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber of Delerium which called Fauxliage which Leigh contributed her vocal to the songs All the World, Some Day

the Wind, Draw My Life, Let It Go, Without You, Rafe and All Alone and the song Let It Go is used in the drama series Moonlight.
The song Ocean Size Love which is welcome thoughout the States and some countries and seems to be the second single of Blue On Blue and yet never promoted.

The Reunion (2008)

In November 2007, Sixpence None the Richer reunited. The band has released a new EP, entitled My Dear Machine, with tour dates planned throughout 2008 in the States and Europe.

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