For Immediate Release

Turbine and Mason Jar Records team up for live release Sounds in the Hall

Set for release at shows and via all major internet distribution channels beginning May 22nd

Breaking through the proverbial glass ceiling of the improvisational rock scene proves no easy feat for young bands. Burgeoning musicians lumped in the dare we say it, jamband realm, need to successfully marry a deep high-quality catalog of material, whimsical stage presence, diverse writing chops, virtuoso instrumentation, and a calendar containing upwards of 200 shows per year. Correction, breaking through the glass ceiling of the improvisational rock scene is damn near impossible.

But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, and Brooklyn’s Turbine would like to submit their CV. On their first official live release, Sounds in the Hall, as they have over the course of 8 songs checked off every single one of the preceding prerequisites. Comprised of carefully hand-picked selections of both Turbine classics and newer material, Sounds in the Hall covers all the bases, but the clear differentiating factor that sets Turbine far above the masses is their amazing penchant for writing memorable and distinctive songs across a variety of sounds and genres.

Just running through the eight song track list, Turbine touches on a bonafide hit-single in waiting “Blackout Song,” the slow summer groove akin to the Grateful Dead “Eddy From the Sea,” a thick extended funk jam on “Behind These Walls” that stretches all way to cow funk-era 1997, blazing bluegrass chops on Maritime Rag, and a handful of tunes that highlight the remarkable vocals and smoking harmonica leads.

Having played a seemingly infinite number of shows over the past couple of years, the Turbine boys took a lot of time in selecting their finest renditions of the material on Sound from the Halls, as described by guitarist and harmonica player Ryan Rightmire.

“There were so many factors in selecting the songs. Being that this is our first official live album, we wanted to include songs from our two studio albums as well as feature some unreleased ones. In the end, half the album is made up of unreleased tracks. Listening back to the performances, it was hard to ignore the energy of the big shows. Bonnaroo and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival brought out some great moments, so they are well represented. As for a specific memory, at one point during “Stand Down” I played the harmonica with a balloon, and you can hear the crowd erupt mid-song. It’s those mid-song responses that always tell us things are going well.”

It bears highlighting that Turbine’s Ryan Rightmire incorporates the harmonica like it’s never been used in a rock context. Not only does he employ some trickery like playing with a balloon, but it’s not uncommon to hear him layer on some effects and turn his harp into a synth-laden rhythm instrument. Alternatively, he possesses to chops to play it clean and go toe-to-toe with John Popper and perhaps remain the last man standing. While it’s probably not wise for the bands’ publicity to start entering them into fights, these guys are pretty scrappy so keep your guard up, Popper.

Turbine is by no means any one trick pony either, guitarist Jeremy Hilliard plays law-running lead guitar and cranks out definitive melodies throughout his lead playing as well as helping shape Turbine’s wide reaching sound with his song-writing talents. Bassist Justin Kimmel and drummer Octavio Salman hold down the low post like Abdul-Jabar, as both are trained musicians with the ability to run the offense and take over the game at any moment.

Sometimes these things just feel meant to be; when Turbine showed up to perform their show at Bonnaroo, from which three of these tracks were taken, they found a bit of encouraging irony. “There was a giant wind turbine spinning next to the stage. As of matter of fact, it powered our entire show including all of the recording equipment. We made the announcement that this was the first turbine-powered Turbine concert. I kept expecting the songs to speed up every time a gust of wind made it spin faster.”

Taking the name from the lyrics of one the album’s highlight tracks, “Behind These Walls,” Sounds in the Hall evokes a sense of the live experience the overall feel for this tour, which included some big venues. We can only hope that with the help of a successfully release, that the halls will keep growing and the sounds will just keep getting better.

In support of the album, Turbine will host a record release party on May 22nd at the Mercury Lounge in New York City (with the Brew).

Sounds in the Hall Tracklist

Eddy the Sea – Telluride Bluegrass Festival, CO
War of 9161 (The Pledge) – Breckenridge, CO
Invited – Bonnaroo, TN
Behind These Walls – Boulder, CO
Doing to Me – Bonnaroo, TN
Stand Down – Bonnaroo, TN
Maritime Rag – Telluride Bluegrass Festival, CO
Blackout Song – Breckenridge, CO

For Immediate Release

STEEZ and Mason Jar Records team up to produce debut LP, Creepfunk Crusade

Set for release at shows and via all major internet distribution channels
beginning August 13th

Churning out their self-described “Creepfunk,” a high energy, danceable variety of funk – one uniquely laced with electronic and improvisational sensibilities – the Madison-based five-piece band Steez has and teamed up with Mason Jar Records to produce the band’s full-length studio debut, Creepfunk Crusade. The CD is set for release on August 13, 2009 via all major internet outlets and at gigs on the band’s CD release tour, which begins in Chicago.

The Madison-based five piece, consisting of Matt Williams (keyboards, synthesizers, and accordion), Steve Neary (guitar and vocals), Rob Bessert (drums), Chris Sell (bass), and Andrzej Benkowski (saxophone, oboe, and violin) has garnered a loyal following throughout the Midwest, winning talent contests to perform at the 2008 and 2009 Summer Camp Festivals, the Rothbury Festival, and the 10,000 Lakes Festival.

After receiving repeated acclaim for their live performances, which typically include a seamless weaving of thoughtfully composed originals and crowd pleasing covers spanning from Madonna to clever obscurities like Genialstid (from Estonia), Steez hit the studio with producer Andrew LaValley of Bear Sound in Madison, WI over the course of six months to record intricately detailed renditions of twelve original songs.

When people talk about the old adage that debut albums are often the best of a band’s career – because they highlight the best work from the musicians’ entire lives up to that point – it is with albums like Creepfunk Crusade in mind. A true organic grassroots effort, Steez and LaValley teamed up after LaValley began recording their live shows and a mutual respect developed. Subsequently, after writing about Steez as a favorite up and coming band on Glide Magazine’s Hidden Track blog, Mason Jar Records co-founder Ryan Dembinsky and Steez became friends and decided that Steez and Mason Jar Records made a perfect collaboration for the start of a new independent record label. These connections translated into an incredible energy and excitement for the project, the result of which is a special end result.

At its core, Creepfunk Crusade is exactly what it sounds like, a dirty as a West Village Taco Bell funk album. The overarching theme of the album is set by songs like “Electric Mr. Boston,” “Duderfunk,” “Wrappin It Up,” and the album standout, “Scoring Position,” which integrate innovative funk song structures, a fresh driving rhythm section, and patient powerhouse playing on sax, guitar, and keyboards.

Alternatively, the band bends with sonic flexibility on departures such as the both catchy and hilarious, “Hot N Sweaty,” which pokes fun at the ladies (read: wookies) of the jamband scene of which it is a part, with its gut busting lyrics, “Girl you look really hot and sweaty. Got a little vomit on your dreadies. I was hoping you could save me a bag of headies. You could really use a new pair of tennies. Honey if you want to; you can have my pennies.”

Further, what is a debut album without a breakup song? Creepfunk Crusade includes the band’s two song, multi-part cathartic stop-start opus, “So I Guess I’ll See Ya” parts I and II, which highlights the band’s honorary sixth member Kenny Leiser (Lucas Cates Band) on violin and calls upon the Old West, Pink Floyd, and the Disco Biscuits for influence.

The patient approach and tireless studio hours come across in the album as each song layers near-countless tracks with meticulous detail. Particulars to note include keyboard player Matt Williams’ endless palette of unique tone colors, interactions and lick-trades between instruments with Swiss watch precision, and stop-start timings.

All told, with their remarkable work ethic, splendid song writing, unmatched chemistry, and now a brilliant debut album – one that turns the axiom that jambands can’t make a good studio album upside down – Steez is sure to make waves and take Creepfunk to the next level.

In support of the album, Steez will hit the road for a brief CD release tour, their first on a national level and highlighted with a record release/label launch party in New York City on August 21st at the Bowery Poetry Club.

CD Release Tour Dates:

Aug 13 2009 9:00 PM CD RELEASE TOUR – Kinetic Playground, Chicago, IL
Aug 14 2009 10:00 PM CD RELEASE TOUR – The Mousetrap, Indianapolis, IN
Aug 15 2009 8:00 PM CD RELEASE TOUR- Skullys, Columbus, OH
Aug 16 2009 9:00 PM CD RELEASE TOUR – Stanley’s Pub, Cincinnati, OH
Aug 17 2009 8:00 PM CD RELEASE TOUR – The Fishtank, Lexington, KY
Aug 20 2009 9:00 PM CD RELEASE TOUR – Mile High Club, Philadelphia, PA
Aug 21 2009 8:00 PM CD RELEASE TOUR – Bowery Poetry Club, New York, NY
Aug 22 2009 6:00 PM CD RELEASE TOUR – Nelson Ledges Quarry, Garrettsville, OH
Aug 28 2009 8:00 PM CD RELEASE TOUR – High Noon Saloon, Madison, WI
Sep 4 2009 9:30 PM CD RELEASE TOUR – The Cabooze, Minneapolis, MN
Sep 18 2009 10:00 PM CD RELEASE TOUR – Up and Under Pub Milwaukee, WI

Creepfunk Crusade will be available at the gigs as well as all major internet distribution channels such as Amazon, iTunes, Napster, eMusic, Lala, Shockhound, Rhapsody and other major internet outlets. For details check the label’s website at www.masonjarrecords.com or the band’s website at www.creepfunk.com.

For further information contact:

Ryan Dembinsky for Mason Jar Records at ryan @ masonjarrecords.com

Chris Sell for Steez at  booking @ creepfunk.com

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