shane lamb

Artist Information

Biography

Shane has called Nashville his home now for 13 years. “It is kind of funny that I ended up in Nashville, I guess. There is a great history here. I love rock ‘n’ roll, blues, soul, R&B, and older country. But I’m not much for the newer country music, and I wasn’t really exposed to bluegrass until I came here. Although country gets the obvious attention, there is a lot of different music here and a lot of great players and songwriters that don’t fall into that stereotypical Nashville thing.” After playing around town as a guitarist for some local artists, his first “break” came when he got the call to go out on the road with Lee Roy Parnell. “It’s funny,” Lamb says, “I met Lee Roy once and got the call a few months later to go on the road for some shows. The call came on a Friday around 6:00 p.m. saying to be at Lee Roy’s around 8:30 p.m. that night. I threw a bag together, went to Lee Roy’s, met the band on the bus, and waited till 12:30 a.m. for Lee Roy to get aboard. Then, we were off to Mississippi! It was all very up in the air. In Mississippi, I didn’t have a room and slept for about three hours on a pull-out couch full of food and change in a meeting room near the lobby. That is about how the next two years went,” remembers Shane.
Since then, Shane has worked as a guitarist and co-writer with many artists and songwriters around town. “I have been very fortunate with my time in Nashville. I’ve made great friends, and I have managed to make a living and pay my bills with guitar in hand. I have toured North America, and I have played all kinds of gigs.” Shane has shared the stage with the Yardbirds, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Delbert McLinton, Trisha Yearwood, T. Graham Brown, Lorrie Morgan, and numerous other artists and songwriters over the years. He has played guitar on recording sessions with some of Nashville's most respected and sought-after musicians, and he has done the same with folks that may never be heard or known. “I have played just about every type of music venue out there: bars, dives, clubs, VFW’s, coffeehouses, the Ryman, large arenas, theaters, fairs, rodeos, and living rooms.” A few years ago, Shane decided to focus mainly on writing his own music and making his own records with two-time Grammy winner and friend, Casey Wood. In 2009, Shane released Disengage. This record has drawn international attention and airplay, garnering Shane strong reviews and some pretty heady comparisons.
The release of Disengage was followed up just three months later with a burst of new songs and the tracking sessions of what would become Shane’s newest record Better Here, which is set for a Spring 2011 release (with the Nashville flooding, a summer tour, and a home repair in between). Disengage was also in consideration for three Grammy nominations. “Getting a nomination would have been unbelievable. We got close. I would have loved to have seen Casey nominated for all his work on this record. It was about as indie as it gets; just us with the songs,” Shane says.
“I’m really excited and grateful to be making music- it is all I have ever wanted to do. I enjoy the whole process: the writing, recording, and playing live. It is an amazing thing to write a song and bring it to a session with some great players and friends and see what happens. I would be thrilled just to be in a room with these great musicians, watching them do their magic. But to have them playing on songs I have written, it still gives me the ‘chill bumps’ as Emily Dickinson would say. There are a lot of awards, credits, and mojo that comes with the folks I have been able to work with on these records. I feel really fortunate.”
“I still daydream about the world in the headphones; I still write on scraps of paper, and I still believe there is truth in there— it’s still stacks of books and poetry. Although the mystery of making records and writing songs is a little less mysterious now, I am still enthralled and excited by the whole process. And after all those hours of listening to him as a nine-year-old boy, I did get to meet Johnny Cash. That alone was worth the ride!”



Disengage was released in Sept of 09, and by December I was telling Casey I wanted to make another record. It didn't seem rational (for about 3 seconds) to make a record so quickly after the first one, but what's rational about any of it? Casey was very supportive and willing to hit it again, but was rightfully cautious, saying, "let's see if the songs are there." Disengage had come out of an interesting period. We had set out to make one kind of record, and into the process of recording, I showed up to the studio one day with these new songs. The first one I played was “disengage.” Casey said, “I think we are going to make a different record now. We’re going to go a different way.” I was surprised, exhilarated and frightened all at once. This new material was really personal and I was right in the middle of it…. I hadn’t sorted much of it out in a lot of ways. When I tried to back away from it emotionally at first, the music and lyrics wouldn’t come and EVERYTHING felt all wrong. I wasn’t going to refuse the muse after just spending a year in the desert so, I just had to keep writing what was there. It was a fragile and vulnerable time. The first song written was “dream tonight,” but I held it back for a bit. As the mixing was about done, I thought about not releasing the record. It was too close. But I knew that wasn’t an option on many levels, most importantly, artistically. I realized the whole process was one of letting go. And I let it go. The record covered a lot of ground. And through the whole process, I kept writing and writing.
Casey suggested that we get together and demo some new stuff…just some quick acoustic guitar and vocal recordings. We did 19 songs in one day. I still had more, and a bunch of half- finished ones. At the end of the day, Casey said he thought we already had one solid record there and we should get started. The songs pretty much picked themselves for the new record. I knew what kind of vibe and feel I wanted, and Casey was on the same page. It was going to be a different process this time around.. The goal was to record as much as possible, live, in 2 consecutive sessions and to work out the arrangements on the spot. We put a great band together and set the dates. Casey Wood on drums and engineering. Tim Marks on bass. Michael McAdam was on electric guitar one day and Rob McNelley the next. Rounding it out was Ericson Holt on keys. Then Paul Franklin came in on pedal steel. John Dederick on keys. Jaime Babbitt and Tania Hancheroff on harmony vocals. What a band!! Brandy made great food and documented the whole thing. It was so much fun and felt really present and in tune with what I wanted to happen. And it exceeded that too.
Then it was time to promote and support “disengage” live. The record was getting great reviews in the states and in Europe. People were buying the record here and abroad. Nothing on a huge level, but it was time to get out there and see what happened. I booked shows in the winter with the plan of leaving Nashville at the end of June with TWO records to play and put in the hands and ears of people. John Lennon said once, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” Nashville flooded. It was devastating. People lost instruments, gear, studios and homes. All deadlines and expectations for me and everyone else changed. Priorities changes instantly. And so, we left town for the west with one record.
The tour went really well and was a lot of fun. "disengage" continued to get great reviews and support. Radio stations all over the country were picking it up. When we weren’t playing music, there was some amazing hiking and camping….except Morro Bay where we made camp on a concrete pad in an RV park.....across the fence from the sewage treatment plant. LA traffic was not much of a treat either. But we hung out with some friends and family along the way, and we met tons of new people. It was difficult to turn east at Sacramento. We still had shows to play, friends and family to see, thousands of miles to drive. But it was past the halfway point and it was the start of it stopping. Well, now we could finish the new record! It was August 9th. My birthday was the next day. We had been gone since the end of June. Well, remember that Lennon quote? We got home to a house with some pretty substantial water damage. The newly finished studio had to be ripped out and redone...as did the bathroom and the laundry room. Brandy’s dream job came the day we got back. And the tour ended just like that! So now, in February, the new record is done. Life is funny.
I have been very fortunate with my time in Nashville. I toured North America with Lee Roy Parnell (didn't see much...the bus, the venue, the large crowds were fun, then the interstate again. We had a day off in Phoenix in July. 120 degrees. A day off in NYC was fun in the Village and hanging with the Conan guys...but I got food poisoning at an Indian restaurant and spent time in the dirtiest bathroom the city had to offer.) I opened a show in Minneapolis with the Yardbirds. I have played gigs with Trisha Yearwood, Delbert McClinton and numerous other artists and songwriters, Lynnyrd Skynyrd on the 4th down on the river, played guitar on sessions and records with some of Nashville's finest and most in demand musicians, met loads of great friends and now, I'm doing my own music. Feels good.

Instrumentation

I play solo acoustic shows, as a trio and as a full band...drums, bass, keys, 2 guitars and abackup singer.

Discography

"disengage," 2009
"Better Here," 2011

Official Website

http://www.shanelambmusic.com

Links

• Twitter
• Facebook
• MySpace
• shanelambmusic
• bandcamp
• cdbaby

Audio

• on my mind
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• nothing left to say
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• disengage
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• just one more time
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• free
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• better here
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• can't you see
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• goodbye
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• pull me in
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Lyrics

• adrenaline as medicine
• better here
• just one more time
• can't you see
• it's true
• goodbye
• i see now
• nothing left to say
• you shook me up
• pull me in

Video

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Press

• TOP PICK [+ Show ]
  

  Better Here is chock full of warm, hummable, cool guitar-driven mid-tempo pop/rock cuts...and they a...Better Here is chock full of warm, hummable, cool guitar-driven mid-tempo pop/rock cuts...and they all sound like hits. Produced, recorded, and mixed by Casey Wood (who has already won two Grammy awards), the album has a nice warm and inviting sound. Lamb's cool heartfelt vocals are caressed in layers of killer guitars. His music is anything but contrived and samey. Instead of making canned pop for cash, Shane writes and records catchy pop music that is genuine, credible, and real. The more we hear this album the more permanent its effects are. Killer tracks include "Adrenaline As Medicine," "Just One More Time," "I See Now," and "Pull Me In." TOP PICK.
  

• "He’s being compared to some of the giants of his genre, like Bob Dylan and Neil Young..." [+ Show ]
  

  with whom he shares an uncannily similar vocal quality and penchant for penning poetic and meaningf... with whom he shares an uncannily similar vocal quality and penchant for penning poetic and meaningful lyrics. But folk rock singer/songwriter Shane Lamb also brings his own indelible, non-political, introspective rawness to the table, willingly taking the listener down his surprisingly sunny road, yet pointing out his weaknesses and scars along the way with unashamed honesty. Produced with panache by Casey Wood, and backed by great musicianship, Lamb’s performances are vulnerable, yet strong; his lyrics revealing but hinting at mystery. His stories tell just enough, then leaving us to fill in the blanks."-Janet Goodman, Music News Nashville
  
  

• "one quality tine after another" [+ Show ]
  

  "Every year it seems like I come across a singer-songwriter who makes a great 'Ryan Adams album'.... "Every year it seems like I come across a singer-songwriter who makes a great 'Ryan Adams album'. Of course I'm speaking of the Ryan Adams of Gold and Heartbreaker. And this year it's Shane Lamb. Hailing from Nashville (where else?), Lamb mixes pop, classic rock and Americana, and comes through with one quality tune after another. "Free" grabs you right off the bat, with its memorable chorus, horns-and-organ backing, and some fine guitar work from Pat Buchanan, a name which may be familiar to many of you (no, not that Pat Buchanan). "I Would" is the kind of languid, midtempo number that you'd expect on a disc like this, and "To Get You Through" has a Jayhawks-style drive to it. Also don't miss the Springsteenesque "The Change in Me", a 2:10 slice of upbeat roots rock (complete with sax) that falls somewhere between "Working on the Highway" and "Stand on It".
  
  

• "will not let you down!" [+ Show ]
  

  "Shane's influences (Neil Young, Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty) are not worn on his sleeve, bu..."Shane's influences (Neil Young, Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty) are not worn on his sleeve, but in his heart. Indeed this is where artistry should be sheltered. The alt-rock sounds reminded me of the record 'Tomorrow the Green Grass' by the Jayhawks. 'Free', with it's uplifting melody and rolling lyrics remind me of Neil Young's folk rock a la 'After the Goldrush' but with a contemporaryy sound. It's the haunting beauty and the uneasy directness of the title track 'disengage' that makes this good album a great one. This album embodies the kind of rock that embraces all the things great about American folk music: love, freedom and the hunger for something else. I highly recommend this album for those who are obsessed with Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, The Jayhawks, Wilco and Neil Young. This album will not let you down." -Michael Morgan, Review You
  
  

• WOW! [+ Show ]
  

  "WOW! Shane Lamb's debut is truly one of the best alt. country/pop releleases we've heard this year!..."WOW! Shane Lamb's debut is truly one of the best alt. country/pop releleases we've heard this year!" KoolKatMusik

• "What's not to like?" [+ Show ]
  

  "This is an album of solid roots rock that is easy to enjoy. A strong suite of songs with highs, lo... "This is an album of solid roots rock that is easy to enjoy. A strong suite of songs with highs, lows and inbetweens.. Great band. What's not to like?" - Americana-UK
  
  
  
  

• "For me, Lamb's music is so engaging." [+ Show ]
  

  "Songwriting wise, Lamb is a blend between Petty and Dylan-not too sparse, not too wordy but a...
  "Songwriting wise, Lamb is a blend between Petty and Dylan-not too sparse, not too wordy but able to make his point amid very heartfelt statements and slice-of-life lyrics bolstered with melodies that stick. As a vocaloist, Lamb has a reedy tenor which serves his tales well. To me, the most surprising aspect of this entire album is the decision to call the album 'disengage.' For me, Lamb's music is so engaging, there is no way I would want to seperate myself from it. The eye for miniscule detail is there. The ability to craft a clever line. The melodic sense and the ability to make each word meaningful are all evident in Lamb's music and bode well for his success in the music business."-Scott Homewood, the Rock n Roll Report.
  
  

• "interested for the entire length of the record" [+ Show ]
  

  "Lamb's 'disengage' release has a very intimate feel to it. Shane Lamb's ability to write songs of... "Lamb's 'disengage' release has a very intimate feel to it. Shane Lamb's ability to write songs of various topics, plus the musical ability of Lamb and the musicians who appeared on the release, give the album that feeling of variety that you seldom get from today's releases. From the opening track 'disengage' keeps the listener interested for the entire length of the record. So when someone like Shane Lamb comes along with his new CD 'disengage', it reminds us all that there are still writers who want to create an album of music and not just put together songs that fill out a certain style." - Matheson Kamin

• "a truly engaging effort!" [+ Show ]
  

  "Much like Petty and his cautious optimism, even in the murky darkness, Lamb is ever looking for the..."Much like Petty and his cautious optimism, even in the murky darkness, Lamb is ever looking for the light. With it's overt soul elements, Memphis sounds also come to mind. And Lamb's pop songwriting further makes us think about classic rock inspirations. It's hard not to be encouraged by Lamb's utter determination. When he advises, 'You follow your dreams like tail lights in storm', you realize he's suggesting that dreaming is by no means a passive activity. Instead you need to stay tailgate close to your dreams or they will get away from you and leave you lost. Such perserverence turns 'disengage' into a truly engaging effort." -Dan MacIntosh, Ariepublicity
  

• "A true performer."
  

  "Shane is a true performer. Someone who sings and plays how he feels in every part of his music."

• "captured to best advantage." [+ Show ]
  

  "The production vision on this record is top-notch. The artists vision was accurately perceived, d... "The production vision on this record is top-notch. The artists vision was accurately perceived, developed, encouraged and captured to best advantage." -Michael Ososki
  
  

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