His voice is so powerful, husky and effortless that it captures an audience which led to the entire room being silent during every single song.
Author Archives: Amber
Mix Tape Monday: Holly Conlan
presents
Holly Conlan
Since you are ALL going to see Sam Bradley on his Minor Tour, those of you in the U.S. need to get familiar with another name… Holly Conlan. And let me tell you, you are going to want to get there early to see her because she is pretty much amazeballs. Srsly.
Here is her bio from Shore Fire Media:
Los Angeles native Holly Conlan has carved out a distinct niche in Hollywood’s expansive music community. Her musical journey from a child pawing her father’s grand piano, to classical composition student, to surefooted indie-pop artist has led to the sort of burgeoning career that few independent artists enjoy.
A 2008 release of the Bird EP saw Holly’s first national exposure, with the languid piano and soaring cellos of “Winter” and the upbeat smirk of “OK” appearing in hit shows like One Tree Hill, 90210, Drop Dead Diva, Ghost Whisperer, The Ex List, and Privileged. That Summer, “You Are Goodbye” was awarded the coveted iTunes Single of the Week spot– its heartbreaking lyric and haunting production garnering a slew of new fans. Soon the film world took notice, and Conlan was offered a spot on the soundtrack of Love and Other Impossible Pursuits starring Natalie Portman. Radio play followed in a nod from KCRW (Top Tune – “OK”) and her addition to their 2009 pledge-drive giveaway package.
With the support of LA’s famed Hotel Cafe, Holly has been lucky to share the stage with a number of notable performers including Sara Bareilles, Colbie Caillat, Katy Perry, and Butch Walker. As part of 2008′s Hotel Cafe Tour, she traded sets with the likes of Ingrid Michaelson, Meiko, and Erin McCarley. Plus, her addition of “I’ll be Home for Christmas” to their holiday compilation, Winter Songs, rounded out the Sony/Epic release.
2009 saw the independent release of her newest LP, Fascinator. A culmination of more than a year’s work, the thirteen song offering retains the piano driven spirit of the Bird EP but delves deeper into instrumentation and arrangement, with lyrics that hypnotize. Produced by Al Sgro (Meiko, Gary Jules) and mixed by Darrel Thorp (Beck, Radiohead), Fascinator’s mature realization is proof that Holly Conlan’s journey is far from over.
Here is a taste of Holly AND you can get this song on her website for free!
Not only does Holly have “You and Me” as a free download on her site, you ALSO get a free coupon code for Toms when you sign up for the newsletter. Free music and a deal on shoes? Win-win, my friends.
And really? Sam? You are not fooling anyone. We see what you are doing touring with all these hot babes. And for that we say, kudos Sam. Kudos.
Find Holly all over the interwebs below:
Website
Facebook
Youtube
Myspace
Twitter
AND, if you haven’t bought your tickets yet for the tour, while you are getting the major side-eye from us, you need to go check the tour dates and get on it.
What do y’all think? Tell us in the comments! We love to hear from you!!
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Day 3: The Songs
Amber’s Fave Live Performance
This may have been the hardest for me. One, I have not been to a bad Sam Bradley show yet, nor have I hated anything he has done on stage. And two, to pick just one song (and actually find a video for it) is the hardest thing ever. There are some songs I’ve liked, but couldn’t find videos for. And I can’t do video on my own. No way. The alcohol just does not allow me to hold a camera steady. Shocking, I know.
So when I talked to LiLi, I told her probably one of my fave shows was the last one I saw. Maybe cause it’s fresh on the mind or maybe because the album was just out and we got some new tunes. Who knows? LiLi can’t help cause she wasn’t there. (I know. We are still sad about that.)
The funny thing is… my fave song of the night was the last song Sam played, and the first song I ever heard by Sam. Maybe it’s cheesy and cliché , but this song still gets me. Every time. Even more so now because I think Sam plays it better then he did way back in the infant stages of my Sam love.
P.S. I’m pretty sure I can hear myself talking at the beginning, which always freaks me out especially when I have no idea who is recording.
Yes, the talking is so annoying. It always is. But c’mon. Does this song not just hit you in the gut? Does it not leave you just wishing for more? I mean, as the last song of the night, I was just drained following it. I love the emotions I feel when I hear it.
Maybe that is just me. And that’s cool. But damn y’all, I don’t think I’ll ever get over this song or this performance. Sam sets a new bar for me each time he performs. It really does get better every time. Which is why I love Sam, even with all the shitty jokes.
LiLi’s Fave Song Live
You know it’s funny– Amber and I met through Sam’s music first. And then as time went on (and we started to talk about other things) we realized that we do in fact share the same brain. Most of the time. Usually, we finish each other sentences and thoughts and then laugh about how much we think alike. But despite our common bond of music, there is one divide in our relationship. One that parts us like the Red Sea…
Amber likes ballads while I like fast songs.
::gasp::
I know. It’s like we are the Capulets and the Montagues. And yet, despite our differences, she is still my non-sexual lesbian life partner.
I tell you this to show that while we both heart Sam like WHOA, we see him in two totally different ways. And our favorite live performances couldn’t be more opposite. While she is drawn to his ballads, as you can see above, I am more into his faster music. Like “Derek”. I remember clearly hearing it live for the first time, that very first time we ever saw Sam in concert at Poor Davids. The whole show has a special place in my heart for many reasons, so naturally, when Amber and I decided Day 3 was going to be “favorite song live” I knew immediately it had to be this song from that night.
For me, when I see an artist or band live for the first time, no matter how much I may love their album or single, I am always wary of their live performance. What if it doesn’t translate well on stage? What if without all the studio “help” it just isn’t the same?
I usually spend the first show completely still, absorbing it all, waiting until I am at home to process it all. Every once in a while though, I will be at a show and there will be a song or a moment from the artist where I am like, “YES” and then I am in it. I feel a connection to the music and the artist and once that is established I am a fan forever.
And, that my friends is what happened when I heard “Derek” that night back in August of 2009. That was the moment that I became a Sam fan. So, without further a do….please take a trip down memory lane with me. And love this song as much as I do.
Video Source
Sorry to get all Serious Sam around here today…but sometimes we just gotta show our other side. That despite all the jokes and shenanigans we really are fans of the music first and foremost. Without it we wouldn’t be here. We wouldn’t be posting/tweeting/telling our friends and family about Sam and The Men.
Can we all hug now?
Now, what about you? What’s your fave song to hear live?
Day 2: THE shirt
I know what you are thinking…
“What? A shirt? What’s this business?”
Our original idea for Day 2 was to joke about our favorite outfit we’ve seen Sam in. (Yes, we are very aware these posts sound like high school yearbooks. That’s why we love them.) So while in the trust tree, we discovered something. Something that we BOTH agree on. Wholeheartedly. Without reservation. And in fact, we both thought of it separately, and then we both kind of said it at the same time and were like YES…
Our favorite outfit is the exact same…THE shirt.
OG Sam fans (like early 2009) know of the shirt. The shirt is magical. It has powers which we do not comprehend, nor do we try. The shirt… well.. you just need to see it. In action.
(On a separate note, we also determined that it is really hot when musicians talk or gesture to the sound guys. Yep. LiLi edit: it’s up there with a guy smoking while playing pool. Don’t ask me why…it just is.)
Beware of the awesomeness radiating from the stripes.
LiLi and I experienced the full on power of the shirt in person the Summer of 2009, in Dallas, at the Marcus & Bobby show. Sam, like us, was just there to watch, so he was sans blazer. AND wearing the shirt.
I didn’t get any pictures with the shirt since I wasn’t quite besties with Sam yet. But I did get to hug it. And it was soft. And smelled like sunshine.
And I had this realization… I think we like Casual Sam the best. Kinda like the way Ken has multiple outfits for multiple moods & events– Sam has his dressed up concert look and then his casual v-neck-tee-with-slip-on-vans-rugged-jeans-type thing going on.
Which, don’t get us wrong here people. We love Fancy Sam. A LOT. But in the end, we are beer drinking, sports watching, chicks who dig a man in a tee shirt and jeans tearing it up on stage. Especially if that tee is striped. With a hoodie. And smells like rainbows.
What about you all? Do you have a preferred look or outfit? Don’t be shy….lay it on us.
And of course, be sure to check in tomorrow for Day 3 of our OMG-The-Sam-Bradley-Band-Starts-The-Minor-Tour-This-Week-Post-A-Polooza…where we actually, I dunno, talk about the music? Crazy notion, huh?
eGigs Review of Marcus — Welcome to the Club Hayley!
Marcus Featured in Communion Flowerpot Session Video (Plus a BUNCH of Other Amazing Artists!!)
A FANTASTIC video from Communion on the Flowerpot Sessions.So many amazing artists featured, including our very own Marcus Foster! I say you should watch the whole thing, but if you are on a time crunch, you can see Marcus at 1:33, 2:32 (quick interview) and 4:41 (Marcus with a turtle, yep).
The sessions will be released on the 30th May, through Communion and Island Records, according to Stay Loose and the end of the video. I said it before and I’ll say it again… be sure to order as soon as it’s available. This compilation sold out before and I have NO doubt in my mind it will sell out again!
If you haven’t been on the site for the Flowerpot Sessions, go now. It is so well done and will make you a very eager beaver for the album. Trust.
Amber
Li Li
