Ross Neilsen

Artist Information

Biography

Ross Neilsen
RESURRECTION
Canada’s hardest working blues rock musician, Ross Neilsen, does it right. He’s taking strong, timeless material to the place that matters: The People. Six Years, over 1000 shows and more than half a million kilometers traveled. In a time of corporate cookie-cutter music, this is the return to real. Proving hard work pays off Neilsen has been honoured with a nomination for Best New Artist at The Maple Blues Awards in 2010, two Rising Star nominations from CBC, back to back Blues Album of the Year nominations from the East Coast Music Association, a win for Best Blues Recording for Redemption at the 2010 MusicNB awards and in 2012 Neilsen was a semi finalist in the solo/duo category at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. He is a real, old-school kind of artist. Write. Tour. Record. Tour. Repeat.

Neilsen's latest studio effort, RESURRECTION, was recorded in Maurice, Louisiana at Dockside Studios. RESURRECTION was produced by New Orleans' favourite son, Anders Osborne and engineered by Grammy award-winning studio whiz, Warren Riker. RESURRECTION was funded in part by the Music Industry Development grant in New Brunswick as well as direct-to-fan funding site Pledge Music.

Neilsen's journey to RESURRECTION was an epic one. Detouring to Macon, Georgia to visit the Allman Brothers Museum, The Big House, Neilsen gained inspiration for recording after being one of the few people on earth to be allowed to play Duane Allman's 1957 Gold Top Les Paul. This is the legendary guitar used on the first two Allman Brothers albums as well as Eric Clapton's “Layla” album.

RESURRECTION contains ten original songs, each one a unique sonic assault that draws from Neilsen's full palate of influences. From the dueling southern rock guitar lines between Neilsen and Osborne on “Daddy Taught Me” (Neilsen's tribute to his late father), the poppy ear-worm hook in the rocker “Need You More”, ZZ Top-esque guitar work in “Walk on By”, or the closing ten minute opus of “Juanita” that conjures up the heavy drone of Crazy Horse, RESURRECTION explores bold new ground taking the band into dangerously beautiful new territory. The song topics are snap shots into the life the people Neilsen meets and the places he visits as he tours the great nation he so proudly calls home.

After the demise of The Sufferin' Bastards in December 2011, Ross Neilsen has spent much of the last year rebuilding his musical foundation with a new trio, ROSS NEILSEN BAND. Any doubt as to the impact of his return has been shattered with this latest recording. The old school, in-your-face guitar playing coupled with a thunderous, tight rhythm section has been Neilsen's trademark for years, blurring the lines between pop, blues and rock. With RESURRECTION, Neilsen has returned with an arsenal of mature, timeless material and a fire burning hotter than ever to take this new, exciting music to the place it matters most - The People. RESURRECTION is coming.

www.rossneilsen.com

Distributed in Canada by: Fontana North Distribution
230 Richmond Street W Suite 11
Toronto, ON M5V3E5 info@fontananorth.com

Instrumentation

Ross Neilsen - Guitar & Vocals
Karl Gans - Drums
Jim The Temp - Bass Guitar

Discography

"Where I'm From" released October 2005
"Early Grave" released October 2007
"Alone Vol. 1" released March 2009
"What You Need Vol 1" released Sept. 2009
"Redemption"
Produced by Cody Dickinson
Recorded at The Zebra Ranch, Independence, MS released April 2010
"Live at The Acoustic Grill" released April 2011
"What You Need Vol 2"
Recorded Live at Blues on Whyte
released Sept 2011
"The Shack Up Sessions"
Produced by Ross Neilsen
Recorded in Clarksdale, MS
released Sept 2012
"Resurrection"
Produced by Anders Osborne
Recorded at Dockside Studio Maurice, LA
Release date: May 2013

Official Website

http://www.rossneilsen.com

Links

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Youtube
• Official Website

Audio

• When My Trouble's Gone
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• Year of Tears
  Listen  
• Walk On By
  Listen  
• Daddy Taught Me
  Listen  
• Ain't Like That
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• Heartbreak Apart
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• Devil's Wife
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• Need You More
  Listen  
• Lay Down No More
  Listen  
• Juanita
  Listen  

Video

rock n Roll Machine of awesomeness. ECMA 2008 February!

Photo Gallery

Press

• Ross Neilsen & The sufferin' Bastards "Redemption" [+ Show ]
  

  Well my friends the verdict is in and it states that there is definitely a new kid in town, and he g...Well my friends the verdict is in and it states that there is definitely a new kid in town, and he goes by the name of Ross Neilsen and along with his Posse, The Sufferin' Bastards, they are coming straight at you with some of the best Gritty Down Under The Dog House Blues Rock, you have heard in a long while.
  
  Over the last 3 years, Ross Neilsen and the Sufferin' Bastards, have been catching the attention of a lot of people, not only with their epic tourings, 240,000+Kms, but also because of their epic sound. Hailing from the East Coast of Canada, they already have 5 national tours and over 600 shows under their belts and they managed to do it 100% independently on their own, which is a testament to their creative business savvy.
  
  Another piece of evidence as to how creative and liked this band is comes from the story of how they managed to raise the funds to get "Redemption" recorded. You see, "Redemption", was recorded at the "famed Zebra Ranch Studio in Mississippi", and because of that they were unable to get Canadian Funding for the Project. That however did not stop them and they decided to do a unique fund raising project, namely a bottle drive. Needless to say, the idea worked and the Bottle Drive was a huge success, with what seemed like most of New Brunswick pitching in to help and in doing so, another Album was born.
  
  "Redemption" consists of 11 Barn Burnin' Tracks of which Ross Neilsen solely wrote 7 of them and co-wrote one with "East Coast blues master Matt Andersen". The 3 Cover Tracks were "Possession" (Robert Johnson), "Commit A Crime" (Chester Burnett) and "Human Mud" (Randall Cable) which were all done magnificently with the kind of flare that only Ross Neilsen and the Sufferin' Bastards can bring to the table.
  
  Besides, Ross Neilsen and the Sufferin' Bastards, Shawn Worden (Bass) and Karl Gans (Drums), they also had help from, as they describe them, "Incredibly Awesome Guests", with Luther Dickinson (Slide Guitar Track 7), Alvin Youngblood Hart (Lead Guitar Track 9), Cody Dickinson (Keys Track 4 & 11 and Woogie Board/Percussion Track 6). All of those "Incredibly Awesome Guests" helped make one Incredibly Awesome Album.
  
  "Redemption" is dedicated to the "Legacy Of James Luther Dickinson", whom was supposed to be the producer of this Album, but had unfortunately passed away in August of 2009. However, having total faith in Ross Neilsen and the Sufferin' Bastards, his son Cody Dickinson took over the job and along with his brother Luther, played on the Album, as well.
  
  "Redemption" comes at you hot n heavy, straight out of the gates, and if you think you going to get a bathroom break or even want one, when listening to this gem, think again. Ross Neilsen and the Sufferin' Bastards are an invigorating, energetic, and rejuvenating sound, the likes of which you have not heard in a long time. Especially true for Neilsen's Over Drive Style of Guitar Playing.
  
  In 2010 Ross Neilsen and the Sufferin' Bastards, were nominated for "Best New Artist at The Maple Blues Awards, Two Rising Star nominations from CBC, back to back Blues Album of the Year nominations from the East Coast Music Association and more recently Ross won Best Blues Recording for Redemption at the 2010 MusicNB awards". This all shows that Ross Neilsen and the Sufferin' Bastards has certainly started a new Blues/Rock train heading down the tracks, and in doing so has caught not only the attention of countless fans across Canada, but has also really caught my attention, as well.
  
  "Redemption" gets a resounding high five from me via my highest rating of 5*****. Brilliant and Fresh Blues/Rock, all in one fabulous package. Ross Neilsen and the Sufferin' Bastards are not only going places, but they are also going far.
  
  Review By John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)
  

• Ross Neilsen & The Sufferin' Bastards Redemption [+ Show ]
  

  Ross Neilsen & The Sufferin’ Bastards Redemption Bootsoup/Thorny Bleeder/ Universal After a coupl...Ross Neilsen & The Sufferin’ Bastards
  Redemption Bootsoup/Thorny Bleeder/
  Universal
  After a couple of fine, locally produced
  discs, Fredericton’s Ross Neilsen took his band
  to Mississippi to make the great leap forward.
  The earlier electric CD, Early Grave, showed
  that this was not an unusual move but it certainly
  was a masterful one. Legendary producer Jim
  Dickinsonhad heard the demos and had agreed to
  do the album but after his sad passing last August,
  his sons wanted to continue the project. With Cody
  already a Grammy nominated producer, Neilsen,
  bassist Shawn Wordenand drummer Karl Gans
  headed for the home of the North Mississippi
  Allstarsand their famed Zebra Ranch recording
  studio. Clearly what kept this all moving forward
  was the quality of the songs by a road-hardened
  band. Neilsen sings in “Fire In The Ground”,
  that he’s ‘playing in the church of Rock & Roll’
  and perhaps the CD’s title should be taken in that
  context. Among the other songs of ‘love, lust &
  loss’is “She Ain’t You”, with LutherDickinson
  guesting on slide. The interplay of the two guitars
  bring to mind the pyrotechnics of the Allman
  Brothers, they are that good. I’m not sure Howlin’
  Wolf would recognize this “Commit A Crime”
  but I’m certain he would have appreciated such
  a modern performance. Yet more duo guitars
  highlight “Badlands” as Alvin Youngblood
  Hart steps in on lead. “Human Mud” is another
  good one, with an excellent tune and ominous
  lyrics. The closer, “Bold and Beaten”, is an epic
  road song co-written with Matt Andersen. Cody
  Dickinson contributes keyboards to this sonic
  masterpiece and to “Devil Knows” earlier on
  the disc. He could usefully have played on more
  but I don’t think they wanted too much piano on
  such a guitar lovers’album. Ross Neilsen & The
  Sufferin’Bastardswere here briefly in early May
  and are in BC & Alberta for most of this month.
  With this kind of touring behind such a quality
  album, we’ll be hearing much more about them,
  especially around awards time. The web site is

• Early Grave Reviewed by David Bernard [+ Show ]
  

  ROSSNEILSEN Early Grave By David Bernard From New Brunswick, Neilsen’s sophomore recording is...ROSSNEILSEN
  Early Grave
  By David Bernard
  
  
  From New Brunswick, Neilsen’s sophomore recording is a major step up from his 2005 debut. Its strengths — unrushed, introspective performances, a fearless vocal approach and a strong mixture of blues-based originals and covers — are again present. Added are top-notch production values, more dynamic song arranging and a band approach to recording. The resulting CD has a harder, edgier tone than its predecessor, verging at times on primal blues rock. Neilsen’s singing is best when he’s pushing it to its limits, as on the urgent, gospel-infused “Let You Down” or the funky rocker “Back For More.” It also has a lonesome, plaintive quality heard best on the traditional sounding title track or the lament “How I Could Change.” Not a flashy guitar player, he focuses on brief, rhythmic solos woven into his tightly arranged compositions. The addition of keys to several tracks nicely enhances the trio format of his band. Capping things off is an eerie version of Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky,” with Neilsen sounding like someone with one foot in an early grave. (Independent)
  
  

• John's Picks: Early Grave by Ross Neilsen [+ Show ]
  

  An impressive sophomore effort from New Brunswick’s Ross Neilsen, with a wide range of styles effect...An impressive sophomore effort from New Brunswick’s Ross Neilsen, with a wide range of styles effectively presented. He’s supported by the Sufferin’ Bastards: Shawn Worden on bass and Karl Gans on drums, plus other guests who join in as the need arises. He opens this CD of mostly original songs with a nearly a capella gospel piece that signals the fact that this young man writes songs that show a maturity well beyond his age. The band kicks in for “Walk In The Sun” a grinding blues that seems patterned on “Tobacco Road”. And then comes “Don’t Need Love”, a driving rocker that should be a single. It has a searing tenor sax part by Chris Mitchell and monster slide guitar from Neilsen. It’s too bad it’s a straight-ahead rock song because the next line goes: “I’m gonna live on my blues”. “Yonderwall”, of course, was written for a monster slide guitar and Neilsen doesn’t disappoint. He doesn’t disappoint on the vocal either. “How I Could Change” is a lovely blues ballad that he isn’t afraid to let run over six minutes. Mitchell is back on sax with John Clayden on organ and a very effectively deployed background chorus. “Anyway I Can” has more pickup lines than you can count. It’s just the trio here and this one must rip it up in live performance! “Early Grave” returns midway as a guitar solo, subtitled “Eulogy” and the CD concludes with “Committal”, for a New Orleans marching band. He promises a major national tour in the coming year, check out www.rossneilsen.com for news.

• John's Picks-Toronto Blues Society [+ Show ]
  

  Ross Neilsen Where I'm From RN By the time you read this, Mr. Neilsen will have learned whethe...Ross Neilsen Where I'm From RN
  
  
  By the time you read this, Mr. Neilsen will have learned whether or not he has won an East Coast Music Award. The young guitarist most often plays a National Steel and writes effective, original songs. "New Stagger Lee Blues" is a particularly good example, with good lyrics re-working the familiar story. The strong vocals are complimented by solid slide work. Fellow New Brunswickers Hot Toddy help out quite a bit with Joel LeBlanc sitting in the producer's chair. He and Thom Swift play guitars with Darrell Williams on bass and Karl Gans on drums on the band tracks. The songs cover a range of styles, from a capella gospel to soul to rocking blues. The solo tracks seem strongest to me, with "Mailman" and "Walk On By" joining "Stagger Lee". "Goin' Somewhere" is a fine band track though, but it is curious way to end the CD: if you are very, very patient there is a `hidden' track, an atmospheric, electric slide piece that was probably too unusual in the context of the main program. A very impressive debut.
  -John Valenteyn
  

Setlist

In a Three set night Each set is typically 50 minutes. Relying heavily on Originals. Ross does perform a few covers ranging from Howlin' Wolf to James Brown, Deep Purple.

Basic Requirements

Calendar