Tuesday, September 11, 2012

MIGGS ‘15th & Hope’ Phil Ramone-Produced Album Out Today On Elm City Music



The fifth album by miggs15TH & HOPE, was released today via the Elm City Music label (EMI distribution) and quickly debuted on iTunes’ Rock chart at #18.  The album’s first single, “Stars,” is moving up the AAA charts and a video for the song premiered today on Vevo, which can be seen here:  http://vevo.ly/QDrObc.  A three-week tour with Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers will commence on October 17 in Seattle at Tractor Tavern, preceded by a few weeks of their own headlining shows including a CD release party in their hometown of Tampa on Friday, September 14 at The Orpheum.  

15TH & HOPE is streaming in its entirety all week on AOL’s Spinner.com here:  http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/spinner#/14.

As Jim Pasinski of the Record Journal (CT) described 15TH & HOPE, “The album begins with the polished, mainstream rock sounds of ‘Pretty.’ The band’s ten-plus years together shows in their musicianship and in their songwriting, as the album’s lead-single ‘Stars’ combines the two perfectly to create a power, pop-rock hit.”  While Patrick Hickey of Reviewfix.com noted, “…miggs definitely belongs on any list of great bands you haven’t heard yet, but should.”

When it came time to record their new album, miggs--Don Miggs (lead vocals/lead guitar), Michael Lombardo (bass), Walker Adams (drums), John Luzzi (guitar)--turned to legendary producer Phil Ramone (Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra). 

As singer/guitarist Don Miggs commented, “It’s hard to speak about Phil Ramone without first reminding people what the name means:  Phil Ramone has 15 Grammy® Awards and about three dozen nominations.  He has a Lifetime Grammy award.  He is a last remaining icon in an industry quick to announce and quicker to denounce ‘genius,’ and we are the closest thing he’s done to a ‘Rock’ band since Billy Joel.  Our experience with Phil was better than I imagined it could be.  15TH & HOPE doesn’t sound anything like a ‘Phil Ramone’ record.  It sounds like a better miggs record and that’s the secret to being Phil.  He inspired me throughout the whole recording process by sharing his amazing behind-the-scenes stories about experiences with many influential artists across the span of his career.  With no pressure felt at all, he very easily managed to extract the best out of each of us.  I did things I didn't think I was capable of.  The overall feeling in the studio felt like family.  I looked forward to every session.  It all went by so quickly.  I am so honored to have worked with him.” 

It was an equally memorable and cherished experience for Phil Ramone himself.  “When I stepped into the studio I was rewarded with a great musical experience,” he says.  “Don Miggs, the player, the vocalist and writer brings a lot of heart to the table.  The band matches that with energy and great attitude.  I am excited for people to experience this collection of miggs songs with thought-provoking lyrics and his subtle guitar brilliance.”

miggs’ previous album, WIDE AWAKE, spawned the Hot AC hit “Girls & Boys,” which lead to tours with Maroon 5, Ed Kowalczyk from LIVE, Plain White T’s, Thriving Ivory, Green River Ordinance and Parachute.  miggs’ music has been heard in movies, TV shows and video games such as “The O.C.,” A&E’s documentary “Kurt Cobain” and the series “Gene Simmons Family Jewels,” MTV’s “Five Questions: Nick Jonas” and “Bromance with Brody Jenner,” Disney’s “Fallen,” and the Buena Vista video game “Spectrobes.”  Don even wrote the song for the Florida tourism campaign, “Share A Little Sunshine.”

Check out miggs on tour at the following stops:

DATE               CITY                             VENUE

Headlining:

Fri 9/14             Tampa, FL                    The Orpheum (CD release party)
Sun 9/26           Memphis, TN                 The Abbey
Fri 9/28             Houston, TX                  House of Blues (with Cowboy Mouth)
Sat 9/29            Dallas, TX                     The Prophet Bar
Thu 10/11          Las Cruces, NM             Hurricane Alley
Sat 10/13          San Diego, CA              Lestat’s
Sun 10/14         Ventura, CA                  Zoey’s

With Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers:

Wed 10/17        Seattle, WA                  Tractor Tavern
Thu 10/18          Portland, OR                 Mississippi Studios
Fri 10/19           San Francisco, CA        Café DuNord
Sat 10/20          Hermosa Beach, CA      Saint Rocke
Sun 10/21         Denver, CO                   Bluebird
Tue 10/23          St Louis, MO                 Old Rock House
Wed 10/24        Nashville, TN                 Exit/In
Thu 10/25          Birmingham, AL             Workplay Theatre
Fri 10/26           Orlando, FL                   Social
Sat 10/27          Atlanta, GA                   Smith’s Olde Bar
Sun 10/28         Carrboro, NC                 Cat’s Cradle
Tue 10/30          Pittsburgh, PA              Rex Theater
Wed 10/31        Rochester, NY               Waterstreet Music Hall
Thu 11/1            Burlington, VT               Higher Ground
Fri 11/2             Boston, MA                  Paradise Rock Club
Sat 11/3            Washington, DC            Howard Theatre
Sun 11/4           Cleveland, OH               House of Blues
Tue 11/6            Ann Arbor, MI                Blind Pig
Wed 11/7          Milwaukee, WI               Shank Hall
Thu 11/8            Chicago, IL                   Park West
Fri 11/9             Madison, WI                  High Noon Saloon
Sat 11/10          Minneapolis, MN           Fine Line Café

Mon 11/12         New York, NY               Rockwood Music Hall (headlining)


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