Joe Hedges

Artist Information

Biography

Please visit joehedges.com to watch a short video giving an overview of Joe Hedges and his world.

Curvature "brims with bold, creative brush strokes...an album of such depth and beauty that it’s almost impossible to find enough superlatives to do it justice.
- Ink 19, Andrew Ellis, June 2007

His stunning debut “Curvature” is an impressive display of spiritual expression and musical creativity.
- Alternative Addiction, Chad Durkee, Wednesday April 25th 2007

His voice makes every song soaring and symphonic and so many of the songs on Curvature would be career-defining songs for some bands. For Hedges, its just another effortless part of self-expression.
- Resident Media Pundit, New CD Release: Joe Hedges’ Curvature, Greg Robson, Tuesday April 10th 2007

…Hedges possesses an everyman’s poet type of style…With this album, I suspect Hedges is getting himself yet one more step closer to indie-rock semi-stardom and respect. This disc is a proving ground for Hedges, and he proves himself in spades.
- Sound The Sirens Magazine, Trent Moore Monday April 16th 2007

…an experiment gone extremely right!
- Kidinbigd, iTunes Customer Review, April 2007

Joe Hedges is...a songwriting powerhouse filled with catchy hooks, painted mental pictures, unforgettable melodies and lyrics that make you want to be part of his world.
-Chris Line, The Stage TV and MTV 2 Vee Jay

Joe Hedges has created an intensely creative debut. Dark and uplifting all at once, Curvature weaves cello, piano, synth, and the occasional crushing guitar around Hedges’ soulful voice for a powerful, eclectic modern rock record. The album produced by Blumpy (Filter, Marilyn Manson, VAST) was recorded in the dead of winter at a remote lakehouse in northern Michigan. Hedges first honed his songwriting with July For Kings, formerly of MCA Records, as they worked their way from clubs in Cincinnati to #1 requested on Las Vegas KMXB

* YouTube honors received: Most Watched Today (#5), This Week (#11), This Month (#76).
* Won Cincinnati's WKRQ (Q102 101.9FM) Cincinnati Choice Award for Best Singer.
* Myspace Top Artist.
* July For Kings singles “Normal life” and "Girlfriend" generated airplay at hundreds of stations in the U.S. and elsewhere.
* #1 Most requested on Mix 94.1 Las Vegas
* Participated in National “You Saw it first” college tour and countless small club tours.
* Won two Cammys (Cincinnati Music Awards) including Favorite Band.
* National press and publicity including Billboard Magazine, Instyle, and Rolling Stone.
* Five songs featured on MTV’s “The Real World”
* 2005 July For Kings independent release Nostalgia #1 seller for several weeks on CDBaby.com (the world's largest online retailer of independent music)


In My Own Words…

I spent two months living in an isolated cabin on the edge of a lake with my friend and producer Blumpy. The scenery was beautiful; the weather was cold. It was the dead of winter. I went there to get inspired and to record these songs you’re listening to right now.

The idea was simple: not worry so much about writing songs that fit into a specific mold, just make music I really love. I first worked with Blumpy (an accomplished LA producer/engineer/programmer with credits ranging from VAST to Filter to Depeche Mode) with my former band July For Kings, on our MCA album, Swim. We recently reconnected and he said to me, “Let’s do an album”. So we started talking about it and our scheming became a reality.

I immediately locked myself away and did demos of about thirty songs. Some days I was writing several songs. Meanwhile Blumpy sacrificed a couple of months of work in LA and shipped his studio halfway across the country to a lakehouse just outside Traverse City near the great lake of Michigan. Trees crashed down around us in the occasional storm, it was freezing cold and the power would go out. But the whole idea was to completely get away and immerse ourselves in this project, and apart from trips into town to buy food and kerosene, there were no distractions.

The only concept we had was to be creative. Rather than get caught up in what people are going to like or dislike, we didn't over-think anything. We threw out some rules and started. We used what might be considered the wrong mic’s, and recorded things contrary to convention. We did use traditional rock guitars but we also experimented with keyboards, piano, sequencers, loops, and unusual sounds. One integral part of the record is the cello, performed by my band-mate cellist/guitarist T Miller.

Despite all the fun we had with production, we were careful to keep the album about the songs. First and foremost I am a songwriter so we kept the focus on the progressions, lyrics and melodies. Instead of the traditional studio order of drums and bass first, we started with only the guitar or piano and vocal and let the mood of the song dictate how we built up the rest of the track.

When we were done in Michigan we went our separate ways for a few last minute overdubs and mixing. I am unbelievably excited about this record. It’s been one of the most liberating experiences of my life. You can call these songs ethereal, experimental, or whatever you want, but they define me as a writer and an artist.

Instrumentation

Joe Hedges - vocals, guitar, piano
T Miller - cello, guitar, BG vocals, keyboard
Dan McQuinn - drums, percusison, programming
Brian Ives - bass

Discography

albums:

Curvature - April 17th, 2007

singles:

"Wake Up" - October 19th, 2006
"Mitral Valve Prolapse" - February 14th, 2007

Official Website

http://www.joehedges.com

Audio

• Mitral Valve Prolapse
  Listen   Download
• White Bird
  Listen   Download
• Wake Up
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Mitral Valve Prolapse
• White Bird
• Wake Up

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Quotes [+ Show ]
  

  It’s only May and I will hear a lot of music between now and December, but there’s absolutely no dou...It’s only May and I will hear a lot of music between now and December, but there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that Joe Hedges’ Curvature will sit proudly at the top of my 2007 best-of list come the year-end Ink19 polls.
  
  The former July For Kings frontman’s debut solo record positively brims with the sort of bold, creative brush strokes notably absent from the majority of signed or unsigned acts in today’s homogenous music scene, and his departure from a commercial modern rock sound to a more ambient and left-of-center vibe has proved to be richly rewarding.
  
  Acclaimed L.A. producer Blumpy took a chance on backing Hedges’ vision when the major labels would not and the end result is an album of such depth and beauty that it’s almost impossible to find enough superlatives to do it justice. And if you think such gushing praise is over the top, one listen to the beautiful “Futureflies,” the epic “Perseus” or the haunting closing ballad “Pray The Stars” should convince you otherwise.
  
  Not surprisingly, Hedges’ new material shares July For King’s innate sense of melody, but only the punchy opener “Wake Up” is remotely similar to his past musical endeavors. Instead, a combination of diverse instrumentation and inspired songwriting characterize Hedges’ new direction, principally demonstrated on the superb “White Bird” and the innovative "Mitral Valve Prolapse."
  
  Above all else, Curvature has allowed the wildly creative artist that lay within Joe Hedges to step outside of a constricting band environment and express himself in a way that is as unexpected as it is successful.
  - Ink 19, Andrew Ellis, Curvature - June 2007
  
  
  His stunning debut “Curvature” is an impressive display of spiritual expression and musical creativity.
  - alternative addiction, Chad Durkee, Wednesday April 25th 2007
  
  His voice makes every song soaring and symphonic and so many of the songs on Curvature would be career-defining songs for some bands. For Hedges, its just another effortless part of self-expression.
  - resident media pundit, New CD Release: Joe Hedges’ Curvature, Greg Robson, Tuesday April 10th 2007
  
  …Hedges possesses an everyman’s poet type of style…With this album, I suspect Hedges is getting himself yet one more step closer to indie-rock semi-stardom and respect. This disc is a proving ground for Hedges, and he proves himself in spades—he has without a doubt made the leap from fun rock front man, to now a respected singer-songwriter.
  - sound the sirens magazine, Trent Moore Monday April 16th 2007
  
  The snow on the trees and the quiet reminded him of C.S. Lewis’ fictional kingdom Narnia and helped shape the tone of the music.
  - traverse city record eagle, studio in the woods, Tom Carr, Friday April 6th 2007
  
  …the artwork of Middletown-born musician Joe Hedges, whose artwork for the show also serves as the cover for his latest album, “Curvature.” The artwork is known as the “Leaking Heart” series.
  - middletown journal, Miami University Middletown exhibits alumni artwork for anniversary, Eric Robinette, Friday April 6th 2007
  
  The new album marks a change in style for Hedges, who used to write and record his demos on the guitar. The new tracks were layered in the studio, resulting in a more exotic sound Hedges likens to “ambient pop.”
  - dayton daily news, Barnes & Noble conducts ‘Curvature’ CD release party, Eric Robinette, Friday April 6th 2007
  
  …an experiment gone extremely right!
  - kidinbigd, iTunes customer review, April 2007
  
  
  "[Hedges] leaves behind the driving guitars of yore; and instead follows his ear, and heart, down an avenue more akin to an ambient singer-songwriter than a rock & roll frontman. Judging from the sampling of tracks I got to hear from Curvature, I would say that this will definitely be a release to watch out for."
  - Trent Moore, Sound the Sirens Magazine, UK
  
  "Joe Hedges is...a "songwriting powerhouse" filled with catchy hooks, painted mental pictures, unforgettable melodies and lyrics that make you want to be part of his world."
  -Chris Line MTV2 VJ
  
  "...Joe Hedges is without a doubt a passionate singer...with a gift for memorable hooks and anthemic, arena-rock-ready choruses."
  -Don Thrasher, The Dayton Daily News Dayton, OH
  
  "From the beginning, when I worked July For Kings' first single at radio it became clear how much programmers loved Joe Hedges' passionate voice and the mass appeal of the songs he wrote."
  -Dara Kravitz Senior VP of Radio Promotion Geffen Records New York
  
  "The new release is a reminder of why national labels would be attracted...melodic rock with Hedges lyrics that again sparkle'"
  -Rick Bird, Cincinnati Post
  
  "powerful songs...together with a real lyrical thoughtfulness and sophistication"
  -popmatters.com
  
  "The band's sound is built around Hedges' penetrating lyrics that alternate between whimsical and heart-wrenching...a group that stands a good chance of being the 'next big thing' to come out of the tri-state."
  -Rick Bird, Cincinnati Post
  
  "This would have to be the most brilliantly written and melodic music, and some of the most sincere and thought provoking lyrics I have ever heard...I am trying to spread the word in Australia..."
  -Steve Hunt CDBaby.com Consumer Review

Setlist

Scroll down for setlist, venues played

Show Description:

A typical headlining electric show is an hour and a half and ranges from cello/acoustic ballads, to dark synth-heavy tracks from Curvature, to July For Kings upbeat radio singles. Visually T Miller's electric cello and Hedges' tall presence are focal points. The set is dynamic and musical, built around the guitars but also features unusual instrumentation and sounds.

Also available is a scaled-down acoustic show which showcases the songwriting and musicality, featuring djembe, piano, acoustic guitar, cello, and orchestra bells.


Songs:

Wake Up Meteor Flower
Invincible Like That
One by One Believe
Float Away Normal Life
White Bird All The Way Across
Just Right Perseus
Champagne Blue Eyes
Mitral Valve Prolapse Glass Case
Virgo The Dark
Futureflies Pray The Stars


Artists Played With:

Muse, Kill Hannah, Collective Soul, Vertical Horizon, Counting Crows, Saliva, Trapt, Dishwalla, SR-71, The Calling, Nine Days, Local H, Tonic, Days of the New, Sponge, Jimmy’s Chicken Shack, The Clarks, et cetera


Some Venues Played:

Alabama: University Of West Alabama - Livingston; Arizona: McDuffy's - Tempe; Washington DC: George Washington University - Washington; Delaware: Rusty Rudder - Dewey Beach, The Lighthouse - Dewey Beach; Florida: University Of Florida - Gainsville; Florida Institute of Tech - Melbourne; Rollins College - Winterpark; Georgia: Smith's Olde Bar - Atlanta, Nine Lives - Atlanta, The Cotton Club - Atlanta, The Dark Horse - Atlanta; Illinois: Lakeview Links - Chicago, Rock Island Brewing Co - Rock Island; Indiana: Pierre's - Ft. Wayne, Birdy's - Indianapolis, Heartland - South Bend, Kentucky: Madison Theater - Covington, Mad Hatter - Covington, Avios - Lexington; Maryland: Recher Theater - Towson; Maine: The Skinny - Portland; Michigan: Emerald Theatre - Mt. Clemens, Finch Fieldhouse - Mt. Pleasant Missouri: The Galaxy - St Louis; New Hampshire: University of New Hampshire - Durham NH, McCallister Theatre - Manchester NH; New Jersey: The Saint - Asbury Park, The Stone Pony - Asbury Park, Harrys Roadhouse - Asbury Park, Stingers - Long Branch, Birch Hill - Old Bridge, Chubbys - Red Bank; Nevada: Sam Boyd's Practice Field - Las Vegas, Wet & Wild - Las Vegas, Desert Breeze Park - Las Vegas; New York: Cayuga Community College - Auburn, The Swing Set - Bay Shore, Empire Club - Binghamton, Northern Lights - Clifton Park, SUNY Delhi - Delhi, CBGBs - New York City, Arlene's Grocery - New York City, Baby Jupiter - New York City, Chance - Poughkeepsie, 32 Degrees - Syracuse NY; Ohio: Romers Entertainment Complex - Greenville, Jillian's - Akron, Tadmore Shrine Center - Akron, Summerfest - Canton, The Mad Frog - Cincinnati Bogart's - Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati - Cincinnati, Soupies - Cincinnati, Union Terminal Rotunda - Cincinnati, CD World - Cincinnati, Top Cats - Cincinnati, Taste Of Cincinnati - Cincinnati, Never On Sunday - Cincinnati, Sawyer Point - Cincinnati, Jillians - Cincinnati, The Overflow - Cincinnati, Sudsy Malone's - Cincinnati, Rhythm & Blues Cafe (RBCs) - Cincinnati, The Music Spot - Cincinnati, Xavier University - Cincinnati, Peabody's Downunder - Cleveland, The Odeon - Cleveland, The Agora - Cleveland, Scene Pavilion - Cleveland, Hard Rock Cafe - Cleveland, Newport Music Hall - Columbus, Scarlet and Grey - Columbus, Miani's - Columbus, OSU South Oval - Columbus, Skully's - Columbus, Victory's - Columbus, CBR's - Columbus, Oldfields on High - Columbus, Canal Street Tavern - Dayton, McGuffy's - Dayton, University of Dayton - Dayton, Fusion - Dayton, W.O. Wright's - Dayton, Sharky's - Dayton, Actionz - Fairfield, Twister's - Kettering, HiFi Club - Lakewood, Phantasy Theatre - Lakewood, Scottfest - Middletown, C.C.s Showcase - Middletown, Middletown H.S - Middletown, Finkelman Auditorium Miami University - Middletown , B.C.s - Middletown, Commons, Miami University - Middletown, Bicentennial Park - Middletown, Bingo Hall - Middletown, Knights of Columbus - Middletown, The Grand Exchange - Middletown, Country Barn - Monroe, Monroe Center Park - Monroe, The Stadium Bar & Grille - Oxford, The Mug - Piqua, Shelby Applefest - Sidney, Mars Music - Springdale, Seagate Center - Toledo, Harrys Southside - West Carrolton, College of Wooster - Wooster; Pennsylvania: The Sterling - Allentown, Crocodile Rock - Allentown, Mulenberg University - Allentown, Union Terrace Amphitheater - Allentown, Gulliftys Underground - Camp Hill, Coyote Hardware Bar - Harrisburg, Dragonfly - Harrisburg, Grape Street Philadelphia - Philadelphia, Theater of Living Arts - Philadelphia, Temple University - Philadelphia, The Northstar - Philadelphia, Nick's Fat City - Pittsburgh, The Silo - Reading, Crowbar - State College, The Staircase - Wilkes Barre; Tennessee: Mud Island Ampitheatre - Memphis, Hard Rock Cafe - Memphis; Virginia: Virginian Commonwealth University - Richmond, Canal Club - Richmond; Vermont: Picklebarrel - Killington, et cetera

Basic Requirements

Calendar