Shasta

Artist Information

Biography

http://www.shasta-music.com
http://myspace.com/shastaman

Shasta is a prolific songwriter and singer. Originally, from Connecticut, he began writing poetry when he was growing up in New England. By his teens, hearing Bob Dylan influenced him to turn his poetic efforts into songwriting. On a move to California to hone his musical skills he chronicled his journey in song with, “Chasin My Ghost”. There, he also became known as, “Shasta”, to those who knew him after a soul-searching quest upon that mystical mountain. On his return east during what he refers to as emotional weather, he penned the epic, “Cold New England Rain.” (these are included on this latest CD, "No More Smoking!" ) The title cut is a hilarious rant on smoking bans.

Shasta dives deep into a tapestry of Americana, with tongue in cheek lyrics accompanied by acoustic guitar rhythms and stinging electric guitar parts (provided by all the right people) to make his lyrics more meaningful and attention getting. One foot planted firmly in the roots of rock and the other in folk, he can be heard strumming his acoustic guitar and occasionally blasting his harmonica on his CD, but his main strength is in his lyrics. The songs are blends of philosophy, mystery and lonesome love ballads. The CD is self-produced and with an uncanny capacity, he brings together musicians that fit his style adding the final touches that keep you listening.

Shasta combines his musical influences with an unnerving need to tell the world how he feels about certain issues. Since the 90's, Shasta has been going strong, offering his musical prose to the burgeoning indie music scene. He is consistently receiving airplay in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia. He’s traveled through 44 states playing open mikes and jam sessions in cafes, clubs, San Francisco Bay Area benefits, fairs & has appeared on stage with Joe Bouchard (of Blue Oyster Cult fame) who played and sang, “No More Smoking!” with him - one of Joe’s favorite Shasta tunes! Shasta received, "Golden and Silver Poets Awards", from the World of Poetry for his lyrics. At West Coast Bob Dylan Imitation Contests Shasta won First Place in 1990 and 1993. He is a member of BMI. Others who have inspired him include: Dire Straits, Warren Zevon, Jewel, Arlo Guthrie, The Clash, and even Snake River Conspiracy!

In the words of this passionate Bard Rock Poet: "As the vidiot screens - control our dreams - marines die on foreign shores - And I swear I saw phantoms dressed in black at America's back door - Oh, say why can't you see?"

Instrumentation

Vocal & Harmonica with 6 & 12 string Acoustic Guitars. Occasionally perform as a duet with a friend on guitar & vocal.

Discography

1 New Album CD - "No More Smoking!" (Re-mastered Bonus Edition) Now @ http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shasta3 & ITunes!

Airplay: U.S., Australia (ILR), Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, UK & more.

"America's Home Town" now on http://www.MoozikooRadio.com/ out of Nashville.

1 45 rpm single on vinyl - “Little Fugitive”
1 song (Stronger Than The Storm) on Rodell Record's, "Sounds From The Undergound",
(A Various Artists compilation CD)
1 Album CD -"Stronger than the Storm"
1 Album, "Modern Fixations"- LP Now on CD @
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shasta2
(BMI)

Official Website

http://shasta-music.com

Audio

Lyrics

• "No More Smoking!" (RADIO EDIT)
• Cold New England Rain(RADIO EDIT)
• Little Fugitive
• America's Home Town
• It Won't Reach (My Hose Won't Reach)

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• The Album Stands like a Mountain!!! [+ Show ]
  

  The album stands like a mountain!!! Somewhere your lyrics remind me of Dylan: rough and clear. Just... The album stands like a mountain!!! Somewhere your lyrics remind me of Dylan: rough and clear. Just keep on doing what you're doing Waiting for more! Yours Paul van Kuik The Country Express Radio 0 16 2 - Dongen The Netherlands

• The Lance Monthly Album Pick of the Month [+ Show ]
  

  March 2007 Shasta is poet, guitar player, songwriter, and comedian all wrapped into one remarkable ...March 2007
  Shasta is poet, guitar player, songwriter, and comedian all wrapped into one remarkable package. No More Smoking! Consist of 14 tracks chock full of poetic justice, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, rollicking acoustic guitar parts, and at times some biting electric riffs provided by select guests, that make your ears perk up and take notice.
  
  This artist will remind you of Dylan. The influence is obviously there, and he openly and proudly proclaims his allegiance to the former Robert Zimmerman. Personally, I never liked Dylan’s vocals and actually this artist has a more palatable vocal style for these ears; and he is on the lighter side of those bloody tracks, which is always a welcome addition to my stereo. The best example of levity and some fun sexual innuendo is “It Won't Reach! (My Hose Won't Reach!).” The track is an absolute riot and the music is just dandy as well; in fact, Shasta does a nice job consistently offering up some decent guitar licks on the acoustic. The man seems to have an innate ability to put the lyrics right on top of the notes so it is smooth sailin’ all the way through.
  
  If you are looking for polished and pretty, you will not find that here on this CD. It’s WYSIWYG from start to finish and that is exactly why I enjoyed this music and the way Shasta goes about presenting his act. Now when I spin this CD again I know exactly what I am going to get. There are no false pretenses or surprises; you get “Modern Fixations” sandwiched in between a “Cold New England Rain” (Lord knows I can feel it as I write), which have no parallels whatsoever. This guy has something different to dish out in every song and each one has nothing to do with the last one you heard. When the party is over, this is a notable strength and what makes this album what it is in the first place: different, original, and all Shasta, even if he does sound like Dylan.

• “No More Smoking!” (Re-mastered Bonus Edition) [+ Show ]
  

  "How can one re-release an album that on first hearing needs no additional work? Well, Shasta has su..."How can one re-release an album that on first hearing needs no additional work? Well, Shasta has surpassed himself by revitalizing his previous album and, guess what? It works! The Bard has proved that one can improve on what others feel is a masterpiece and he has done so without either ruining the essential and initial essence of the album or over-vamping it. Not many could do that, but that just shows Shasta has an intuitive view of his work. This latest release should be bought as an add-on to its predecessor as the two are complimentary."

• Danbury native Shasta has issued a re-mastered bonus edition of his 2006 release "No More Smoking!" [+ Show ]
  

  Singer-songwriter and Danbury native Shasta has issued a re-mastered bonus edition of his 2006 relea...Singer-songwriter and Danbury native Shasta has issued a re-mastered bonus edition of his 2006 release "No More Smoking!"
  
  Influenced as a teenager by Bob Dylan, Shasta -- who moved to California before settling in Chester -- bears a slight resemblance to the quiet artist, though where Dylan's hair generally appears slightly unkempt, Shasta's tends to be somewhat mane-like.
  
  It's no large surprise, then, that Shasta won first place in 1990 and 1993 at a West Coast Bob Dylan imitation contest and placed second in a similar contest in New York in 1991.
  
  Dylan's influence certainly extends to Shasta's own music, too, including an aversion to standard verse-chorus formats and a slight, unplaceable drawl.
  
  "There's something for almost everyone here," he said. "Philosophy, politics, mystery and lonesome love ballads."
  
  It's been the title track that's probably gotten the most attention, though. The song, inspired by Connecticut's smoking ban, was featured on a smoker's rights Web site and has received worldwide airplay.
  
  In fact, since the '90s, Shasta has received air play in the U.S., Australia, Canada and Europe and has traveled throughout 44 states playing solo open mics and jam sessions in cafes, clubs fairs and benefits. He has also appeared on stage with Joe Bouchard (Blue Oyster Cult), who declared "No More Smoking!" one of his favorite Shasta tunes.
  
  Shasta's "No More Smoking!" re-mastered bonus edition is available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shasta3 while the original version is available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shasta.
  
  For more information on Shasta, visit www.shasta-music.com or www.myspace.com/shastaman.
  
  Shasta performs this Sunday at Widow Browns Cafe, 128 Federal Road in Danbury, following the 8 p.m. acoustic open mic.

• Shasta releases "No More Smoking!" [+ Show ]
  

  Artist: Shasta Title: No More Smoking! Genre: Folk Label: Mountain Thunder Music CD Baby Link: ...Artist: Shasta
  Title: No More Smoking!
  Genre: Folk
  Label: Mountain Thunder Music
  CD Baby Link: HYPERLINK "http://cdbaby.com/cd/shasta3/from/muzik" http://cdbaby.com/cd/shasta3/from/muzik
  Website: HYPERLINK "http://shasta-music.com" http://shasta-music.com
  Shasta is poet, guitar player, songwriter, and comedian all wrapped into one remarkable package. No More Smoking! Consists of 14 tracks chock full of poetic justice, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, rollicking acoustic guitar parts, and at times some biting electric riffs provided by select guests, that make your ears perk up and take notice.
  
  This artist will remind you of Dylan. The influence is obviously there, and he openly and proudly proclaims his allegiance to the former Robert Zimmerman. Personally, I never liked Dylan’s vocals and actually this artist has a more palatable vocal style for these ears and he is on the lighter side of those bloody tracks, which is always a welcome addition to my stereo. The best example of levity and some fun sexual innuendo is “It Won't Reach! (My Hose Won't Reach!).” The track is an absolute riot and the music is just dandy as well, in fact, Shasta does a nice job consistently offering up some decent guitar licks on the acoustic. The man seems to have an innate ability to put the lyrics right on top of the notes so it is smooth sailin’ all the way through.
  
  If you are looking for polished and pretty, you will not find here on this CD. Its WYSIWYG from start to finish and that is exactly why I enjoyed this music and the way Shasta goes about presenting his act. Now when I spin this CD again I know exactly what I am going to get, there are no false pretenses or surprises, you get “Modern Fixations” sandwiched in between a “Cold New England Rain” (lord knows I can feel it as I write), which have no parallels whatsoever. This guy has something different to dish out in every song and each one has nothing to do with the last one you heard. When the party is over, this is a notable strength and what makes this album what it is in the first place…different, original, and all Shasta, even if he does sound like Dylan.
  
  © Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck- HYPERLINK "http://www.muzikreviews.com" http://www.muzikreviews.com
  
  February 15, 2007
  
  Credits:
  Shasta: lead vocals, acoustic guitars, harmonica, effects
  Ed Goldfarb: keyboards
  Bill Hare: bass, electric & acoustic guitars
  Rod Farias, John & Pat Driscoll, Jeff Tracy & Brian Masaki: electric guitars
  Jeff Lewis: trumpet & harmonica
  Randy Musumeci, Steve Rosebery, Frank Stewart, Charlie Sporck & Joe Rizzi: drums
  Tracy Harris, Susie Slade, Monique DeMoulin & Lotte West: background vocals
  
  Tracks:
  01. No More Smoking! (live! Clean Edit) (3:41)
  02. Outside My Window (3:51)
  03. It Won't Reach! (My Hose Won't Reach!) (3:14)
  04. Cold New England Rain (6:34)
  05. Modern Fixations (3:53)
  06. No! No Doctor! (3:52)
  07. America's Home Town (bonus Full Length Edition) (4:38)
  08. Condo-Commandos (3:26)
  09. Stand Back! /Drop Down! (6:19)
  10. Silicon Heartland (3:48)
  11. Freudian Flowers (3:12)
  12. America's Child (4:02)
  13. Chasin' My Ghost (6:59)
  14. No More Smoking! (live! Explicit Lyric) (3:42)
  

• One of the most interesting cd's I received lately. [+ Show ]
  

  Jaap Hoek Alphen Stad FM  Netherlands: The songs on the album are very good, also, so is the m...Jaap Hoek
  Alphen Stad FM 
  Netherlands:
  The songs on the album are very good, also, so is the music. In my show I gave airplay to a few of them already, but more to follow. It's one of the most interesting cd's I received lately. Love your voice.

• Shasta Album [+ Show ]
  

  In an Option Magazine review, writer Steve Hecox said: "Shasta is clearly a poet with an overriding ...In an Option Magazine review, writer Steve Hecox said: "Shasta is clearly a poet with an overriding sense of social
  awareness." ". . .a clever lyricist. . . excellent songs," ". . . Hot, tight, inventive and totally professional."

• Jammin' on open-mic Mondays [+ Show ]
  

  While most of Danbury rests on a Monday night, the drinks continue to pour and the tunes rock hard a...While most of Danbury rests on a Monday night, the drinks continue to pour and the tunes rock hard at Cousin Larry's Cafe, where its open-mic night has turned the bar into a Monday hot spot..... Longtime singer-songwriter Shasta, a crowd favorite at Cousin Larry's, also attributed the popularity of the open-mic nights to the openness of both the hosts and the crowd. "It's more diverse here than in any other places I've been," he said, "There's everything from rap to folk to jazz to rock and roll." ... Although there aren't headliners, per se, at the open-mic nights, there have been some surprises in the past. For instance, last month there was a visit from Joe Bouchard, bassist from the '70s rock group Blue Oyster Cult; he performed both classic BOC songs and originals by himself and Shasta.
  The entire article is at: http://leisure.newstimes.com/story.php?id=68185

Setlist

Most sets are about half Original & half covers by Dylan, Maria McKee, Warren Zevon & Traditional. Sets are 30-60 minutes, depending on the gig.
Original songs include:
1. Whistlestop Lifetime
2. Stand Back! Drop Down!
3. Outside My Window
4. Be The Jester/Be The Fool
5. America's Home Town
6. When The Wick Burns Down
7. Brave New Blues
8. Most On Broadway Voice Of An Angel
9. Little Fugitive
10. Apache Tears
11. Happily Ever After
12. No More Smoking
13. Modern Fixations
14. Sword Of Demacles
15. My Hose Won't Reach!
16. America's Child
17. Silicon Heartland
18. Beyond A Moment Of Truth
19. Murder Town
20. Cold New England Rain
21. The Outsider
22. From Memphis To Heaven
Covers include:
1. Mutineer - (Warren Zevon)
2. Things Have Changed
3. Highwater
4. Boots Of Spainish Leather
5. Can't Wait
6. Senor
7. Man In The Long Black Coat
8. Absolutely Sweet Marie
9. Simple Twist Of Fate
10. Hurricane
11. Knockin' On Heaven's Door
12. Cry A While
13. Lovesick
14. Not Dark Yet
15. Tryin' To Get To Heaven
16. Stuck Inside Of Mobile.....
17. Like A Rolling Stone
18. Blind Willie McTell
19. Seven Days
20. Tangled Up In Blue
21. Ain't Talkin'
22. Workingman's Blues #2
(2-22 by Dylan)
23. Duncan & Brady
24. Jim Jones (Botney Bay) (both traditional)
25. Season Of The Fair
26. Everyone's Got A Story (both by Maria McKee)
27. Pancho & Lefty (Townes Van Zandt)
28. Heartland (Willie Nelson & Bob Dylan)

Basic Requirements

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