JJ Appleton

Artist Information

Biography

The touring continues back in the USA with the upcoming EP release, “Black and White Matinee” slated for May, 2008.

Many rainy days (and a love of PG Tips) led JJ to pen and record 6 new tracks, with multi-platinum producer Stephen Lironi (Hanson, Space, Bricolage, Black Grape). The daily trek on the tube to the Finsbury Park section of London for recording and writing sessions paid off. What started out as a few “demos” turned into a new EP release set to take the US by storm. While some may thrive in the sun, England served as a powerful muse for JJ. The new material has his usual emotion, humor and undeniable catchiness that his fans love him for, but the lyrical content has broadened beyond just the “relationship” and delves deeply into matters of the soul.

Songs like “Today, Today, Today” and “Falling Down” capture a mood that is melancholy and hopeful at the same time. “Coming Back Alone” documents the tragedy of a friend’s lost battle with addiction. “You’re Sweet on Him” paints a powerful yet intimate picture of unrequited love.

With an eclectic upbringing, JJ has lived all over the world including Tonga, Sweden, London, Vermont, and New York City. As the son of a world famous composer/inventor (his father, Jon Appleton pioneered digital recording with his invention, The Synclavier in 1976), his upbringing exposed him to many cultures and artists growing up, which further fed the musical brain that feeds JJ's creative drive.

His music and charm have landed him numerous appearances on national (and international) television including a guest house band slot on NBC’s Last Call with Carson Daly, guest host of E!’s Wild On Rock and Roll New York City episode, HBO’s Reverb, and video channels MTV2 UK. His songs have appeared on top rated shows The Wire (HBO), Today Show (NBC), The Guiding Light (CBS).

Not surprisingly, his music continues to get played on various TV shows (The Oprah Show, The Today Show and Brothers and Sisters) and films including the Emmy winning When America Was Rocked, by acclaimed director Bruce Sinofsky (Metallica: Some Kind of Monster), and Loki Film's award winning "Boys of Baraka". It's gigs like these that have led to invited performances at film festivals including Sundance and The Nantucket Film Festival.

Instrumentation

JJ Appleton - Guitars and Lead Vocals
Drums: Brian Delaney
Bass: Tim Lefebvre
Guitar: The Jet (Matt Anthony)
Piano: Dan Minsteris and Josh Dion

JJ performs as a trio: Piano & 2 Guitars, as well as full band (5 piece) and solo acoustic.

Discography

-Black & White Matinee 2008 - As Is
-Someone Else's Problem 2006-UK/AATW/Absolute/Universal
-Uphill to Purgatory" 2005 USA - As Is
-500 Moments 2003 USA - As Is

Official Website

http://www.jjappleton.com

Audio

• Today Today Today
  Listen   Download
• Caledonia Road
  Listen   Download
• Black & White Matinee
  Listen   Download
• You're Sweet on Him
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Today Today Today
• Coming Back Alone
• Black & White Matinee
• You're Sweet On Him
• Falling Down
• Caledonia Road

Video

JJ Appleton live on NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly

Photo Gallery

Press

• Entertainment Weekly [+ Show ]
  

  JJ's song "Downloader's Blues" was featured in the Jan. 13th issue of EW. "JJ APPLETON, ''DOWNLOA...JJ's song "Downloader's Blues" was featured in the Jan. 13th issue of EW.
  
  "JJ APPLETON, ''DOWNLOADER'S BLUES''
  ''All I wanted was rock & roll, but I ended up in this dingy hole," laments this song's lockedup, MP3-hungry narrator. But don't worry, this goofy rocker is totally legal. Download it for free at JJ Appleton's site "
  
  link:
  
  http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1146056_4||1055044_0_,00.html

• Uphill to Purgatory Review [+ Show ]
  

  Music Emissions compares JJ Appleton to Bob Dylan and The Beatles?? we'll take it. http://www.mu...Music Emissions compares JJ Appleton to Bob Dylan and The Beatles?? we'll take it.
  
  http://www.musicemissions.com/display_review/3065

• Uphill to Purgatory Review in Good Times [+ Show ]
  

  JJ's latest release is reviewed by Lauren Moraski of Good Times, here's the link: http://www.g...JJ's latest release is reviewed by Lauren Moraski of Good Times,
  
  here's the link:
  
  http://www.goodtimesmag.com/current_demolition/Demolition_929.jpg
  
  

• Aly's Hits and Misses [+ Show ]
  

  I shouldn’t like JJ Appleton. I should be writing a rant about how he sounds way too much like Gavin...I shouldn’t like JJ Appleton. I should be writing a rant about how he sounds way too much like Gavin DeGraw, we have way too many emo singer-songwriters, and be done with it.
  
  The thing is, I love Gavin DeGraw. I really like JJ Appleton as well – and even if they both speak to similar tastes within me, who cares. They both rock.
  
  Besides, on a closer listen, they are different artists on many levels. JJ Appleton is very much not just emo – there is an element of blues and garage rock to his sound, setting him apart from mainstream male singer-songwriters, who seem pretty much stuck in the emo-pop niche. His tunes have a definite appeal to them, and I absolutely want to hear more of it.
  

• JJ Appleton at BB King's [+ Show ]
  

  But we wanted more music! So we caught up with JJ Appleton at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New Yo...But we wanted more music! So we caught up with JJ Appleton at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City. (And no, you didn't have to have double, matching initials to be invited.) Appleton is a Budweiser True Music artist, which offers opportunities to emerging musical geniuses. Which--what do you know?--he is! And since it all went down at B.B.'s place, it felt like we were in Memphis all over again. Rockin'!

• JJ Appleton - black and white matinee review [+ Show ]
  

  J.J. Appleton, Black & White Matinee Every so often a little jewel of a CD comes along. J.J. Appl...J.J. Appleton, Black & White Matinee
  
  Every so often a little jewel of a CD comes along. J.J. Appleton's new six-song disc falls short of full-length, but merits more than the foreshortened "EP" badge. At 24 golden minutes, it seems the perfect length.
  
  It opens with its "single," an old-fashioned term that still means something, at least symbolically. "Today Today Today" is certainly a catchy pop nugget; so is the title track, which nods to 1950s rock-and-roll. Appleton does this sort of rosy-cheeked pop as well as anyone, wearing his Beatles influence (mostly John, a touch of George) not like a heavy cloak but more like a shimmering shirt.
  
  A more soulful take on pop sweetness is "Coming Back Alone." Its loping, gospel-influenced piano groove and soaring melody remind me a lot of Kevin So. In the gentle ballad "You're Sweet On Him," a smooth, jazz-folk melody slithers atop a Brazilian-style acoustic guitar accompaniment. "Caledonia Road" with its dark-toned verses and burst-of-sunlight chorus resembles something by Van Morrison or Martin Sexton. But though the songs vary in style, Appleton's strong musical personality carries through.

Setlist

JJ can perform 2 sets of original music.

JJ performs either solo, acoustic trio or full band (5 pcs)

Basic Requirements

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