NOW A PAUSE IN THE EUROPEAN TOUR PICTURES...
I want to introduce you to Shane Alexander... a friend.
Awesome new picture, taken by Moonie, with Shane in a T-shirt Manda and I designed.. Too Cool!
Shane Alexander - The Sky Below
The dynamic collection of ten new songs was recorded over two weeks during late September / early October in Los Angeles. Shane once again teamed up with LA production duo, Heroes & Villains, with whom he made his 2006 release Stargazer. Longtime sideman and co-conspirator, Chad Crawford appears on bass, Adam Benjamin on piano, and returning from Stargazer are: drummer Charlie Paxson (James Blunt, Colin Hay), multi-instrumentalist Billy Mohler (Macy Gray, Liz Phair), and Kim Bullard (Goo Goo Dolls, Tori Amos) on Hammond organ. Veteran producer / engineer / mixer Toby Wright (Alice In Chains, Wallflowers, Chris Whitely, Trey Anastasio) mixed the record.
Stylistically, the new album has a sound all its own and features some of Alexander's best studio performances to date. There are more up-tempo songs than his previous effort, including the anthemic opener "Amsterdam", the driving "Difference of Opinion" and the groovy "Outside the Lines". After touring so much as a solo acoustic artist, Shane sought to get back to a "band sound" and something that could get a crowd moving. However, there are still the trademark acoustic ballads - the title track is a delicate, infectious song with soft finger-picked guitar and doubled vocals that whisper "all is as it should be" and the sunshine-infused "Coffee Kiss" will be sure to please fans of songs like "Valentine" and "Front Porch Serenade" from his two previous efforts.
In 2007 Shane Alexander performed for the biggest audiences of his career when he opened SEAL's U.S. tour, in addition to his own touring in the US, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium. Nearly all of the songs from the Stargazer album were licensed for television, including: ABC's Brother and Sisters, Big Shots, and What About Brian?, ABC Family's Wildfire, CBS's Criminal Minds, FOX's Bones, MTV's Real World and Laguna Beach and shows and movies for Nickelodeon, and Lifetime – exposing Shane's songs to millions worldwide.
In 2006, Alexander toured constantly and was asked to open two U.S. tours with Jewel and one U.S./Canada tour with Lisa Marie Presley – armed only with an acoustic guitar; he won over thousands of new fans night after night.
One of Manda's favorite pictures of Shane...FROM MANDA:
Over the past year Shane Alexander and I have become good friends, I value his talent and enjoy his realistic approach to humanity. He is by far one of the greatest people I have met in this city. Our meeting was strange at best; I picked up his CD The Middle Way at Goodwill of all places solely because I liked the cover. Sent him a message on My Space with the subject reading “I guess you are worth $2.99” and when he responded with humor back I automatically was intrigued. He came to a sketch comedy show of mine and as we talked over a few drinks we found out just how small LA truly is. Turns out his old neighbor was my photographer and had mentioned Shane to me back 3 or 4 years ago. As it would turn out we had a lot of people in common and instantly formed a bond. He is a great guy and has a beautiful outlook on life; there is no doubt in my mind that he will succeed at any quest he sets his mind to. Naturally it doesn’t hurt that he is extremely talented. After listening to the first CD I picked up the next two Stargazer and then The Sky Below, when I thought his sound couldn’t get better it did when I checked him out live a few weeks later I was blown away how much he sounds just like the records! I have loads of love for him. He is one talent that I try to never miss live.
Thanks for being a friend Shane...
Painting I did of Shane... need to finally give it to him.Peace,
Travis
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