The Future Laureates latest album effort, Fortress Sessions, was reviewed by The Total Scene‘s Eric Schelkpof . We learn about the motivation behind the album, and what lies ahead in the band interview. Plus, we get a look at the album from a new angle. See the full interview and feature here.
Congratulations!
CAUDog Records’ Left Turn at Albuquerque was featured in the Illinois Entertainer “Around Hear” in May 2012 for LTAA’s “In Broad Daylight” Release:
Left Turn At Albuquerque’s full-length debut, In Broad Daylight, is noteworthy for the way guitarist Jeff Churchwell and keyboardist Sarah Scanlon weave their voices throughout melodic arrangements. At times, the folk-rock trio (bassist Joe Nemec is the third member) drifts into pretentious material like”Kaliedoscope,” but succeeds with clever C&W toe-tapper “Respectable” and the rapid-fire vocals of the band’s namesake track. (leftturnatalbuquerque.com)
– Terrence Flamm
Above article as appears at: Illinois Entertainer Link
We here at CAUDog Records also believe that “Respectable” is one of the most radio-friendly hits on the album. Check out the album and see the band tonight 5/2/12 at Act One Pub/Mayne Stage in Rogers Park at 10pm.
Danny Surico as appears at http://music-defined.com/hasty-revelations/
Check out the interview and more:
Video: Music Defined Exclusive Interview With The Future Laureates – Click this link to see video
Article: http://music-defined.com/hasty-revelations/
The Music Defined blog showcases videos, write-ups and music. Developed by Josh Terzino, he says:
“ This site was started to serve my base need to write about music. It’s a purely selfish endeavor that you may find enjoyable. Rest assured that is not my intention. My main goal is to write about music I love, and that I think people should be listening to. I know that people will continue listening to Katy Perry and Justin Beiber no matter how many times I tell them it kills more brain cells than bad acid. If I help turn someone on to a new band that they would have otherwise not known about, then I’ve done my job and my mission is complete.” - http://music-defined.com/
Live at Subterranean 2011 W. North Ave. 4/22/12Doors 7:30 PM | Show 8:00 PM
CAU is giving away FOUR FREE TICKETS to the upcoming show to the first two people that email us at with the answer to this simple riddle: Back to the ______.
The Future Laureates CD Release show for “Fortress Sessions” is up May 12, 2012 at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave. with special guests Cobalt & The Hired Guns and Tree!
Email us now for your free tickets!
Fresh from Austin’s SXSW, the nation’s largest indie music showcase, Chicago’s “The Future Laureates” had the chance to play several showcases and report back. Here’s the scoop from James of The Future Laureates:
We’ve been hearing about South by Southwest (SXSW) for years. Some people told us it was the best thing ever. Others said that the festival was one big sellout. Well, last week, we finally had a chance to see it for ourselves: it was AWESOME.
This past Friday and Saturday, The Future Laureates had the pleasure of playing three shows on 6th street, in Austin, TX. We were right in the thick of all the beautiful commotion and musical hullabaloo that is SXSW.
Friday afternoon found us at Bat Bar, along with a great lineup of fellow Chicago bands. Big thanks to Columbia College’s AEMMP Records, who put on this showcase.
Friday night we wandered down the block to the Thirsty Nickel for our first show at the RedGorilla Festival. Concurrent with SXSW, and in the same city, RedGorilla shows are therefore “unofficially” part of SXSW. That is, they are part of the many satellite events that have
grown out of the SXSW phenomenon. In contrast to official shows, RedGorilla shows are free, so we brought our music to the people…and what a lot of people there were! It was a real treat to play for so many enthusiastic new fans.
Saturday, at the Dizzy Rooster, we rounded out our week with a final showcase. It was St. Patrick’s Day, it was SXSW, and spirits were soaring. The energy in the crowd fed back to us on stage, and made for a truly amazing experience.
All in all, it was an incredible week full of warm, welcoming people and excellent music. We would be remiss if we did not extend a very big “thank you” to Kathy, Elsbeth, Mark, and Brynn for hosting us and keeping us off the streets at night. The trip would have been miserable without you.
Be sure to witness “The Fortress Sessions” CD Release event in May at the SubTerranean as TFL brings you their latest and greatest!
Learn more about The Future Laureates on CAUDog Records.
Left Turn at Albuquerque will support Dawn Xiana Moon’s CD Release Party April 7, 2012 at the ViaDuct Theater, 3111 North Western Avenue Chicago, IL 60618, along with Common Shiner. Filling out the eclectic bill and making the event a music and art showcases are Read My Lips Belly Dancers and art by Loni Diep.
Left Turn At Albuquerque is a synthesis of 70s folk, 60s pop and classic rock, with lyrics that are not quite Shakespeare but are more than bubblegum (not that there’s anything wrong with bubblegum pop, it’s a not-so-guilty pleasure). Relying on intricate guitar fingerwork, sultry piano and well-thought-out lyrics, songwriters and co-lead singers Jeff Churchwell and Sarah Scanlon work all sides of the street to bring you music that refuses to sit in a single niche, but rather appeals to a wide variety of tastes and age groups. Bassist Joe Nemec rounds out the core of the band very tastefully, with groove and soul one minute, and rock and punch the next. Left Turn At Albuquerque is a detour well-worth taking.
A seductive and passionate voice, evocative songwriting, and formal training make Dawn Xiana Moon one of the most distinctive Asian-American singers of her generation. With influences ranging from traditional Chinese music to modern American folk, she bridges the musical traditions of the East and West.
Recently, the singer-songwriter began exploring her roots, fusing elements from traditional Chinese music with her signature blend of folk, pop, and jazz. The result is a musical brew in several languages that draws influences from sources as disparate as Han Dynasty literature and Americana. In Spaces Between, traditional Chinese melodies hover on top of lush layers that take a cue from Philip Glass. The two-thousand-year-old guzheng (zither) punctuates alt folk guitar. Erhu (Chinese violin) joins an understated piano trio, adding a melancholy, haunting note.
But this synthesis of world cultures takes a back seat to Moon’s earthy songwriting and soulful vocals. She continues to wrestle with themes of brokenness, identity, redemption, and hope, delivering every note with raw conviction: “Beauty is born in the midst of struggle, in dark nights that seem like they will never end, in the moments when we try to communicate with each other and fail. Because it’s when we stop trying, when we give up, that we become impenetrable – and we lose something of what it means to be human.”
At times epic and impassioned, at times quiet and introspective, Spaces Between reveals an intense honesty. “There are so many things I struggle to articulate in normal conversation,” Moon says. “But with music, there’s an immense freedom, even requirement, to drop our pretenses and reveal the mess.”
Backstage Chicago is filming the show tonight– as CAUDog artists Matthew Morgan & the Lost Brigade and CAU-approved The Real Jane Martin are featured by Backstage Chicago. Get on film! Bring your friends! Lots of ‘em!
