Live at Red Clay Theatre in downtown Duluth
The Bitteroots are an Atlanta/Decatur-based original jam-rock band founded in 2008. Fronted by female vocalist Laura Dees, the band has a sound that’s been called a “unique brand of soulful rock.” The Bitteroots’ groove-oriented approach to rock n roll has drawn comparisons to the Tedeschi-Trucks Band, Melissa Etheridge, and Janis Joplin.
From pop melodies to extended jams, The Bitteroots’ sets run the gamut with something for everybody.
Along with Dees, an accomplished songwriter who joined the band in 2010, The Bitteroots also include founding members Bill Taylor on bass and Mike Davis on drums. Kyle Bryant joined The Bitteroots in 2013 after the departure of founding guitarist Dan Shockley
The Bitteroots have released four compilations of original music, the latest being the single “Under the Big Sky,” recorded in the fall of 2013 at The Music Farm studio by Mark van Allen (Govt. Mule, Indigo Girls, Blueground Undergrass, Zac Brown Band, Whiskey Gentry). The melodic title track is accompanied by two bonus tracks, the hard-rocking “Defenseless” and a re-tooled version of “Try Me Again” which first appeared on the band’s debut release, “French Fries,” in 2011.
The Bitteroots have shared the stage with: The Freddy Jones Band, Allgood, Col. Bruce Hampton, Arrested Development, 7 Walkers (Bill Kreutzmann of The Grateful Dead), George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Anders Osborne, Coy Bowles (Zac Brown Band), Dead Confederate, Cigar Store Indians, Adron, The Deadfields, The Sundogs, The Shadowboxers, The District Attorneys, Lindsay Rakers Band, Greco, Tedo Stone, Saint Francis, honey honey, and many other great bands and artists.
Nine Times Blue’s new record, Matter of Time is a tour de force of driving, melodic rock, each song simultaneously infused with the craftsmanship of the Brill Building era and the electric energy of seminal bands like Big Star, The Replacements, and The Smithereens. The moniker power pop (coined by Pete Townshend) can be applied to Nine Times Blue, but only according to its original definition: a genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock, and features strong melodies, clear vocals, and infectious guitar hooks. Pop history enthusiasts might recognize Nine Times Blue as the title of a song by Mike Nesmith (of The Monkees), a fitting homage by a band not afraid to tap into power pop’s venerable roots. Matter of Time follows Nine Time Blue’s critically acclaimed 2012 release, Falling Slowly.
“There is no denying that singer/songwriter/guitarist Kirk Waldrop knows how to write a melodic, infectious tune.” - Lilli Friedman, Relix Magazine
Nine Times Blue came together while recording Falling Slowly, and Matter of Time unveils a more seasoned band, one that’s had time to hone their sound as well as inspire each other to grow musically. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Waldrop says “knowing that Jeff, Greg, and Jason would be playing these songs and developing their own parts really improved how I approach my own writing.” Nine Times Blue features Jeff Nelson on bass, Greg King on lead guitar, and Jason Brewer on drums. Almost all of Matter of Time was recorded in King’s home studio, Radial By Design, where the band was able to focus on laying down the perfect parts without worrying about tallying studio hours.
Waldrop and the band have been hard at work over the past year, writing and arranging all the songs on the EP (collaborating on the title track with friend, Cliff Hillis). The record’s first single, “Only Lonely (The Shovel Song),” is a dark, but catchy down tempo love song, telling the tale of unrequited love gone just a bit too far. The hooky chorus, perfect for boisterous car ride sing-alongs, is complemented nicely by driving bass and dynamic guitar parts. “Matter of Time” showcases the craft of a mature songwriter, seamlessly blending introspective verses with a percussive, high energy chorus, followed by a screaming guitar solo worthy of any Dinosaur Jr. record.
Waldrop has been involved in the Georgia music scene since the 1990s, fronting Athens based group, The Features from 1994-1997, and releasing two singles on Democrat Records. In addition to his experience as a front man and songwriter, Waldrop has worked as a producer, notably on two Paul McCartney tribute compilations released on Oglio Records. The albums featured artists such as Robyn Hitchcock, Matthew Sweet, Semisonic, The Finn Brothers, Barenaked Ladies, and They Might Be Giants, and raised money for breast cancer research in honor of Linda McCartney. After initially working with these artists as a producer, Waldrop has since had the opportunity to collaborate with some of them live and in the studio, creating a strong network of talent and support that has stood the test of time.
Matter of Time will be Nine Times Blue’s second release on Renegade Recordings with national distribution through City Hall Records. Matter of Time’s first single, “Only Lonely (The Shovel Song)” is already getting play on Atlanta’s Radio 105.7 FM and Rock 100.5 FM, marking an auspicious start for an album that seems to have its own legs and a band who’s struck just the right balance of raucous energy and steadfast dedication to go the distance.
A fifteen-year-old singer-songwriter from Decatur, Ga. who began writing music and lyrics at the tender age of six, Sydney Rhame is an accomplished guitarist and pianist who has performed for more than 200 audiences throughout the country since the age of eight. Audiences are consistently surprised by her young age because of her insightful, mature lyrics and soulful voice, which have garnered her much media attention and label interest. Sydney received two record deal offers when she was just 11 years old.
A prolific songwriter in the acoustic pop-rock genre, Sydney’s body of work includes more than 100 original songs thus far. All ages – young and old – can relate to her songwriting. From her hilarious song “Grow” about a short guy friend, to her piano ballad, “Don’t’ Give It Away,” that deals with the pain of losing a family member, Sydney can have audiences laughing and crying during a typical performance.
She’s been compared to some of the strongest ladies in the music business: Adele for her deep, rich voice and guttural lyrics; Taylor Swift for her savant-like songwriting abilities; and Kelly Clarkson for her vocal range and likeability. But the truth is, Sydney has a unique sound and style all her own.
Sydney has won many regional and national singing contests including Kudzu.com’s Most Amazing Kids in America contest and the first annual Decatur Idol Contest. She recently was asked by producers of both The Voice and America’s Got Talent to audition privately for their upcoming seasons, which she declined.
Famed Vocal Coach Jan Smith of Jan Smith Studios, whose notable client list includes Justin Bieber, Usher and Sugarland, took Sydney on as a client in 2009 to further develop her as a performing artist. The Atlanta Journal Constitution featured a story on Sydney when she was 11 years old in which Smith remarks, “She’s already an artist. She’s already writing her own music, her own lyrics, playing guitar, expressing her own heart and not just parroting what she’s heard on the radio like a lot of people walking in here. That’s an artist, not an American Idol contestant. And I want to spend my time honing those people who are real artists.”
Sydney has been playing guitar since she was seven, and to further advance her musical talent and writing abilities, she began taking piano lessons and studying music theory at age 13. To even further advance her musical prowess, this year she began learning how to produce and sound engineer songs using industry software like ProTools and Logic Pro, with the ultimate goal of garnering more control over her music and helping others produce their own music.
With a penchant for always wanting to give back to the community, Sydney released her first EP when she was 12 and gave her net proceeds to a local education foundation. All proceeds of her song, “There’s Hope,” go to a non-profit helping to fight breast cancer. She frequently performs at benefit concerts in support of various causes.
Sydney released her eponymous debut CD on iTunes, Amazon and numerous other online sites on September 23, 2013 and has plans for other upcoming releases. The music video for her single, “One Day,” produced and directed by Gerhardt Slawitschka, was released on October 1, 2013 in support of the album. She continues to record new songs in the studio with Grammy-nominated Producer Russ-T Cobb as well as Streamline/Interscope Recording Artist/Producer Nick Hagelin
Sydney is a sophomore in high school, where she is a gifted honor student and a JV cheerleader. In addition to her music, Sydney is also a passionate writer and loves producing and editing videos, which have garnered her national and international awards. Sydney shot and edited most of her music videos on her Youtube Channel
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