NEW YORK (Top40 Charts/
Royal Family Records) - This April and May, funk powerhouse, Soulive will hit the road in support of their new record 'Up Here', which will be released April 14, 2009 on their new label
Royal Family Records. Tour dates are below.
March 2009 marks Soulive's 10th Anniversary - ten years since Eric Krasno, Alan Evans and his brother Neal Evans got together at a home studio outside of Woodstock, NY and recorded the funky soul-jazz EP, Get Down!, in a single afternoon.
While ten years is something to celebrate, Soulive is not looking backwards. Unencumbered by a record contract and equipped with a state-of-the-art recording studio, Soulive is embracing the new music business model, launching their own record label, Royal Family Records. The label will market and distribute all Soulive recordings as well as numerous affiliated projects such as the hard funk outfit Lettuce, Eric's soul project 'Chapter 2? and Alan's and Neal's solo records. The label will also sign and develop emerging talent. The first artist to join up is soul singer Nigel Hall, who will release an EP this spring and join the band on the road.
The debut release on Royal Family Records will be Soulive's new studio effort, 'Up Here'. The LP was recorded in Alan's studio in South Deerfield, Mass in the fall of 2008. 'This is the Soulive album I've always wanted to record - I've been hearing it in my head for years,' says Alan, who also tracked and mixed the record.
The record's opening track 'Upright' immediately sets the tone with an undeniably infectious groove featuring Neal on an old upright piano. The band then offers up a few nods to the old-school: 'For Granted' is a tip of the hat to Grant Green, featuring some Eric licks reminiscent of the classic early solos on Get Down and Turn it Out.
Guest vocalist Nigel Hall tears it up on the retro-soul number 'Too Much,' and Eric makes his guitar sing like D'Angelo on the laid-back grind of 'Put On Yo Pajamas.' The entire record features tight horn arrangements from long-time Soulive collaborators and friends, Sam Kininger and Ryan Zoidis.
Soulive April/May 2009 tour dates:
(Dates and information subject to change.)
Wednesday April 15, 2009 - Pearl Street - Northampton, MA
Thursday April 16, 2009 - Blender Theater - New York, NY
Friday April 17, 2009 - Higher Ground - Burlington, VT
Saturday April 18, 2009 - Asylum - Portland, ME
Sunday April 19, 2009 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
Monday April 20, 2009 - The Welmont Theater - Syracuse, NY
Wednesday April 22, 2009 - Revolution Hall - Troy, NY
Thursday April 23, 2009 - Water Street Music Hall - Rochester, NY
Friday April 24, 2009 - Oberlin University - Oberlin, OH
Saturday April 25, 2009 - Magic Bag - Detroit, MI
Sunday April 26, 2009 - Double Door - Chicago, IL
Tuesday April 28, 2009 - The Loft - Atlanta, GA
Wednesday April 29, 2009 - Birmingham, AL - The Workplay Theater
Thursday April 30, 2009 - New Orleans, LA - Howlin' Wolf - Royal Family Ball
Friday May 1, 2009 - New Orleans, LA - Colton Theater
Saturday May 2, 2009 - Austin, TX - Antone's
Tuesday May 5, 2009 - Cervante's - Denver, CO
Wednesday May 6, 2009 - Fox Theater - Boulder, CO
Thursday May 7, 2009 - Knotty Pine - Victor, ID
Friday May 8, 2009 - University Theater, Missoula, MT
Saturday May 9, 2009 - Nuemo's - Seattle, WA
Sunday May 10, 2009 - Doug Fir, Portland, OR
Monday May 11, 2009 - Harlow's - Sacramento, CA
Wednesday May 13, 2009 - Crystal Ballroom - Tahoe, CA
Thursday May 14, 2009 - The Independent - San Francisco, CA
Friday May 15, 2009 - The Independent - San Francisco, CA
Saturday May 16, 2009 - The Key Club - Los Angeles, CA
Sunday May 17, 2009 - House of Blues - San Diego, CA
