Amber deLaurentis Band

Artist Information

Biography

"Instant classic" is an appropriate term to describe Burlington, Vermont's phenomenal performer/writer Amber deLaurentis. Her forceful piano style and powerful vocals drive a diverse catalogue of melodic original songs, carefully crafted with long-time lyricist Sarah Blue and a growing list of co-writers. Influences range from Elton John to Emmylou Harris. The songs, like deLaurentis' distinctive stage attire, manage to be at once contemporary and timeless.

Amber, both individually and with her band, has already compiled an impressive resume. Amber, with her band, was one of six finalists (chosen from over 1,200 entrants by the editorial staff of Billboard Magazine) to play before a panel of 12 heavy-hitting industry judges, in the Northeast chapter of the 2002 Independent Music World Series, where deLaurentis' "home run" performance won her the Grand Prize! She followed up that effort with a prized invitation to perform for Billboard�s editors and staff at �Caf� Billboard.� Sarah and she added to their songwriting honors with a prize in the pop/rock category of Billboard�s International Songwriting Competition for �Lonely in Love,� and earned honorable mention in the 2004 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for �Calliope Calling.�

DeLaurentis' independent CD, "By George! Live at the Tin Angel", was nominated for "Best Live Album" of 2002 by the Just Plain Folks Musicians' Network (www.jpfolks.com).

Amber has opened for numerous nationally acclaimed performers, including:
Amos Lee; Five for Fighting; Ellis Paul; Marshall Crenshaw; Alana Davis; NRBQ; Tom Paxton; Patty Larkin; Jazz Mandolin Project; Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer; Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, and Entrain.

Amber's first full-length record, entitled "Hey Sadie," released in March, 2008, is now available through www.amberdelaurentis.com and iTunes.

Instrumentation

Amber deLaurentis: piano
Mark Tucker: guitar, steel guitar
Mark Schreiber: drums
David Anstine: bass

Discography

"Hey Sadie:" Released March, 2008!
Wishful Thinkin': Part of a 2005 complilation released by WXPN (88.5) in Philadelphia, home of "World Cafe."
"The Train Song": Recorded by Phil Roy
"Lonely In Love": 11th Annual Song Contest; "Billboard" compilation.
"Wishful Thinkin'" Discmakers Northeast Heavy Hitters '02 compilation.
"Lonely In Love": 7th Annual Millenium Music Conference 2003 compliation.
"By George!": Recorded live at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia

Official Website

http://www.amberdelaurentis.com

Audio

• Calliope Calling
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• Hey Sadie
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• Upside Down
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• Take Me On
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• On the Rocks
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• Rely on the Angel
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• Mistaken Mona
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• The Girl He's With
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Lyrics

• Upside Down
• Ocean Eyes
• Cryin' Kind
• Calliope Calling
• Black and Blue
• Hey Sadie
• Take Me On
• Mistaken Mona
• The Girl He's With

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Amber deLaurentis, Hey Sadie Album Review [+ Show ]
  

  Amber Delaurentis, Hey Sadie Album Review By Ben Hardy [05.21.08] - 336 reads (Self-released,...Amber Delaurentis, Hey Sadie
  Album Review
  
  By Ben Hardy [05.21.08] - 336 reads
  (Self-released, CD)
  
  On “Calliope Calling,” the second track of Amber deLaurentis’ latest effort, Hey Sadie, the Jersey-born, Burlington resident invokes the name of that most distinguished of the nine Muses. Greek for “beautiful voice,” Calliope is an apt invocation; deLaurentis’ confident vocal performance on her debut studio album sounds something more than just secularly inspired.
  
  In addition to mythological melioration, deLaurentis has some worldly help, most notably from her long-time friend and songwriting collaborator, Sarah Blue. Like a femme version of Elton John and Bernie Taupin, deLaurentis and Blue craft rockin’, soulful, piano-driven tunes that leave little choice but to draw deserving comparisons to Carole King.
  
  Though deLaurentis may not have hit her full stride yet — there’s no “It’s Too Late” or “I Feel the Earth Move” on Hey Sadie — it’s hard to imagine she’s far from it. The catchy “Upside Down,” with its tastefully arranged string section and sumptuously harmonized refrain, should have listeners scrambling for the “repeat” button. “Black & Blue” could have easily been nestled between “Over My Head” and “Rhiannon” on a Fleetwood Mac greatest hits album. Such is the edgy, love-centric poetry of deLaurentis and Blue, tactfully buoyed by their band’s subtle delivery.
  
  Of the latter, enough cannot be said. Band regulars Dave Anstine (bass), Mark Tucker (guitar and steel guitar) and Mark Schreiber (drums) are joined by a number of heavyweight Vermont guest musicians, including guitar guru Paul Asbell, pedal steel wizard Gordon Stone, organist Chuck Eller and guitarist Steve Blair. Jazz impresario Tom Cleary — deLaurentis’ husband — chips in with horn arrangements. Credit all involved for playing no more and no less than each song requires, allowing deLaurentis — the album’s real star — to shine through unobstructed.
  
  Instead of yet another overproduced album saturated with superfluous strings, overbearing brass and just-for-the-sake-of-it solos, Hey Sadie comes off as effortlessly professional, hinting that deLaurentis is much further along in her promising musical career than her current two-album discography would suggest.
  
  Amber deLaurentis celebrates the release of her new album at the FlynnSpace this Thursday, and unveils her new band, which includes drummer Caleb Bronz, Cleary, Blair and Stone. If Calliope comes a-callin’ for live performances like she did in the recording studio, the show should be well worth attending.
  
  

• Big-Voiced Pianist [+ Show ]
  

  "Big-voiced pianist deLaurentis sings lyrics written by longtime friend Sarah Blue. . . Perhaps the ..."Big-voiced pianist deLaurentis sings lyrics written by longtime friend Sarah Blue. . . Perhaps the comparison is too easy (woman pianist belting out songs that sound like they could have been written at the Brill Building) but deLaurentis has always reminded me of Carole King."
  -Brian Howard, Music Editor

• "By George!" [+ Show ]
  

  "A voice that guarantees goosebumps and piano skills to die for will quickly separate Amber from the..."A voice that guarantees goosebumps and piano skills to die for will quickly separate Amber from the crowd. And if that ain't enough, the ace up her sleeve is lyricist Blue."
  -Allen Foster, Songwriter's Monthly

• Amber deLaurentis' "By George!" [+ Show ]
  

  "A female blues artist that takes Bonnie Raitt-style blues to a new level. The pounding piano and "s..."A female blues artist that takes Bonnie Raitt-style blues to a new level. The pounding piano and "soultry" vocals are immediately recognizable and the honest, heartfelt deliberation of each song is unique. From ballad to bar-room rocker, each song, co-written with lyricist Sarah Blue, will become harder to get out of your head than a migraine."

• Excerpt from "Songwriter is Ready for the Spotlight" [+ Show ]
  

  "And so it's not surprising that her band boasts a soulful sound that culls from earlier influences...."And so it's not surprising that her band boasts a soulful sound that culls from earlier influences. DeLaurentis' powerful vocals have earned her comparisons to Bonnie Raitt by WXPN's Helen Leicht (88.5 FM) -- an accolade she is only too happy to accept. Carole King and Bette Midler are other names that come to mind, but deLaurentis says there's also a little bit of Elton John in there and, more recently, some Ben Folds Five and Randy Newman, too."

Setlist

Ocean Eyes
Mistaken Mona
Lonely in Love
Rely on the Angel
This is the Time
Upside Down
Black & Blue
Hey Sadie
The Girl He's With
On the Rocks

Sets generally run from 40 min to an hour, but can be longer or shorter, depending on request!

Generally the band does mostly original material, with a few covers thrown in!

Basic Requirements

Calendar