Doug Kwartler

Artist Information

Biography

"Doug Kwartler brings to the 21st century the passion and perception of the great 20th century folk singers like Woody Guthrie and early Bob Dylan. As a songwriter, he can turn a headline into an anthem ("Hang On Wisonsin", "Occupy the Street"), celebrate traditional American values and sacrifice ("Peace for the Heart He Gave"), paint a "City of New Orleans"-like portrait-in-song ("Silver Meteor"), evoke a feeling of unconditional love ("Banjo Eyes") and much, much more. As a singer, he brings to all of these songs and others a memorable style, certainly unique for today and tomorrow but keeping faith with the sound and sensibility of yesterday." -- Nick Noble Host--THE FOLK REVIVAL WICN (Worcester, MA)

Doug's upcoming cd (due Fall 2013) features guest performances by Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, Ray Lamontagne, John Mellencamp, Robert Plant) Rami Jaffee (Foo Fighters, Wallflowers), Mark Spencer (Son Volt), songwriter Tim Easton and songwriter James Maddock (Wood).

Doug Kwartler's songs have been prominently featured on three major television networks including CBS (NCIS and the top CBS soap opera, "The Young and the Restless,") the TNT drama "Dark Blue," the ABC soap opera "All My Children" and independent film.

His latest video, for his song, "Hang On Wisconsin," was released in mid-March, 2011 and has garnered over 6,700 views on You Tube. The recording features Son Volt guitarist Mark Spencer on Weissenborn slide guitar.

Doug is a frequent guest for live performances and interviews on Worcester's WICN 90.5 FM - New Englands Jazz and Folk station.

Doug recently released a single called "Peace for the Heart He Gave" a tribute to WWII hero and Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient John Vincent Power after he was personally asked by WICN-FM DJ Nick Noble to do so for the John Power Society's annual reunion. Doug also performed the song in front of the Worcester, MA City Hall at a ceremony honoring John Power.

Doug has toured throughout the US including frequent trips to Nashville, TN. Doug has been honored to become a frequently returning artist at the legendary Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN. Additionally he regularly plays venues in New York such as The Living Room and in Boston at the Hard Rock Cafe. His last CD, "All Sides," was played on over 50 radios stations across the country and placed squarely on the americana radio charts. His 3 solo cd's have all been critically acclaimed with the last two picked at top 10 cd's of the year by alt.country reviewers.

Doug is also a prominent producer having produced many cd's for artists throughout the country out of his own Hollow Body Studios.

Doug Kwartler first picked up the guitar at the age of 15 trying to copy the slashing styles of Pete Townshend. Doug's next influence was rockabilly legend Brian Setzer. Soon after, Doug discovered Bruce Springsteen and his focus changed from lead guitar to songwriting. Other songwriters and artists Doug admires are: Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Woody Guthrie, Tom Waits, Tim Easton, Tom Petty, Kathleen Edwards, U2, Ray Lamontagne, Pete Seeger, Jay Farrar and more...

Instrumentation

Mark Spencer - Lap Steel, Electric Guitar.
John Henry Trinko - hammond organ, and Piano.
Rusty Chandler - "Bass"
Ben Dicke - Drums

Discography

As solo artist:

New cd due out Fall, 2013.

All Sides (double cd) - October, 2007

Silver Meteor - full - length cd - Oct. 12, 2004

Halfway House - full - length cd - Dec. 2003

With Foundry:

Give Me A Reason To Live, Dec. 2003 -- full length cd
World Rattles 'Round - April 2001 -- full - length cd

Official Website

http://www.dougmusic.com

Links

• Facebook
• Doug's recording studio.

Audio

• Too Much Pain for This World
  Listen  
• Bad Knee (w/ Tim Easton on dobro & back vox.)
  Listen  
• Silver Meteor
  Listen  
• Banjo Eyes
  Listen  
• Peace for the Heart He Gave (for John Vincent Power)
  Listen  
• On the Western Skyline w/comment from Bruce Hornsby
  Listen  
• Before I Get to Heaven
  Listen  
• Diamond
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Peace for the Heart He Gave (A song for John Vincent Power - WWII Hero)
• A Bad Knee Won't Kill Me
• Banjo Eyes
• Before I Get to Heaven
• Blind Faith
• Silver Meteor
• Too Much Pain for this World

Video

Doug Kwartler Band at Bluebird Cafe Nashville.

Doug Kwartler Band at Bluebird Cafe - Song 2

Photo Gallery

Press

• Doug Kwartler's "Permanent Bruise" receives Honorable Mention in American Songwriter [+ Show ]
  

  Doug Kwartler's song "Permanent Bruise", which will appear on his upcoming record (summer, 2012) has...Doug Kwartler's song "Permanent Bruise", which will appear on his upcoming record (summer, 2012) has received an honorable mention in American Songwriter Magazine's Lyric Contest.

• 4 1/2 STARS FOR "ALL SIDES" - FREIGHT TRAIN BOOGIE! 11/28/07 [+ Show ]
  

  "There has to be more than a little bit of Rear Admiral David Farragut in Doug Kwartler. After two w..."There has to be more than a little bit of Rear Admiral David Farragut in Doug Kwartler. After two well-received earlier recordings, assembling the third can present a bit of a stumbling block that a lot of artists stub their creative toes upon. Well, none of that for Kwartler : what does he do? he takes the bull by the horns and releases a double disc set. Not recommended for the faint of heart.
  
  The first CD, titled Just About to Die , resonates with echoes of Dixieland, folk, mountain bluegrass, ("Just Walk Away" features some great fiddle sawin'), and some whimsical moments, as in "Closest New York Friend". As in his previous work, Kwartler handles the lion's share of the instrumentation, with some assistance from a few judiciously chosen sidemen. Aficionados of Kwartler's more aggressive persona will find their fix on Strong , the second disc, with its anthemed title track being a personal favourite. There's definitely more roll herein, but the same intelligence and detail that has always marked Kwartler's songwriting is evident in abundance. There's not a superfluous song to be found.
  
  Way to go Doug, "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead". - Don Grant, Freighttrainboogie.com
  

• Silver Meteor is "Like a 21st Century City of New Orleans" - Bill Noble, WICN 90.5 FM Worcester [+ Show ]
  

  Bill Noble of WICN's "Folk Revival" 90.5 FM, Worcester, MA calls Doug's song "Silver Meteor" a "21st...Bill Noble of WICN's "Folk Revival" 90.5 FM, Worcester, MA calls Doug's song "Silver Meteor" a "21st Century City of New Orleans" on his radio show, Thurs. May 6th, 2010.

• "C'mon City, Embrace a New Theme Song" [+ Show ]
  

  “Listening to his songs, including "Wilmington," you can tell that Kwartler grew up listening to art...“Listening to his songs, including "Wilmington," you can tell that Kwartler grew up listening to artists like Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. Just like his core influences, he too can combine rock with country and folk music, creating his own engaging sound without re-treading well-worn musical paths.” - Ryan Cormier
  

• "The Message is Clear: Look out Ryan and co." [+ Show ]
  

  The message is clear: look out Ryan and co. If there is any justice then Silver Meteor should do for...The message is clear: look out Ryan and co. If there is any justice then Silver Meteor should do for Doug Kwartler what Gold did for Ryan Adams and The Art Of Self Destruction did for Jesse Malin. Whether it catapults Kwartler into the national limelight may be in the lap of the gods but Silver Meteor sends out a clear and unequivocal message, there's a new kid in town.
  
  The comparison with Adams and Malin is reinforced by the album's opening track Disappear, it has the same rock undercurrent and aggressive attitude that is the trademark of both. Although this is Kwartler's second solo release, Halfway House being the first, it has an unsophisticated impatience, more reminiscent of the debut of a musician in a hurry. Maybe that's as much to do with his coming from New York, Kwartler is a street smart performer and his songs have dark places and shady characters.
  
  Writers like Kwartler makes an instant connection, his songs are so perceptive that there's no barrier to cross to get to the point, Wilmington is about as up close and personal as it can get without Kwartler being in your living room. If you buy into singer songwriters, and for the life of me I can't imagine why you wouldn't, then tracks like Nothing become irresistible. Wonderfully gentle guitars mix country and blues into a melody that allows Kwartler to float the song into your consciousness.
  
  As it is with the very best, Doug Kwartler is as skilled portraying the bottomless beauty of I Need Your Darkness or 82nd Street, or the very much harder Come Tomorrow. The reason for that is that everything on Silver Meteor is rooted in reality. Nothing happens because it is contrived or staged, the music flows naturally and because it's right. There's also a super little live cameo at the end with a reprise of Nothing and an extra track Mars. Kwartler on record is a treat, if these two live tracks are indicative, then he's better when you can see the whites of his eyes.
  

• "The songs on Silver Meteor, all written by Kwartler, are country-breathed and as honest as they are haunting. The lyrics are fantastic." [+ Show ]
  

  Silver Meteor is Doug Kwartler’s second solo release and sticks close to his alternative country roo...Silver Meteor is Doug Kwartler’s second solo release and sticks close to his alternative country roots.
  
  Kwartler paints incredibly vivid pictures of the American landscape, and the imagery created is rich and meaningful. Lyrics on “Come on City Save My Soul” create a sense of mysterious hope such as when you return home after being away for too long.
  
  The songs on Silver Meteor, all written by Kwartler, are country-breathed and as honest as they are haunting. The lyrics are fantastic. “Show me your bullets and I’ll show you my gun,” from I Need Your Darkness is dazzling in its effectiveness.
  
  The playing on Silver Meteor is just as evolved as the songwriting. Kwartler, who has been playing guitar since he was 15, does a masterful job escorting the music through the songs and shows a knack for creating drama in the music; a pause here and there to allow the piano or fiddle to come through sets the dramatic tone of the record without weighing it down. (Lance Looper)

• 4 - Stars!!! "I Think That Doug Kwartler is On A Roll" [+ Show ]
  

  I think that Doug Kwartler is on a roll here. The tapestry of the Americana landscape that he starte...I think that Doug Kwartler is on a roll here. The tapestry of the Americana landscape that he started to weave in Halfway House is expanded in this, his second solo outing.
  
  This New Yorker reminds me of John Mellencamp in his country moments, a bit of early Dylan, (lyrically, not vocally!), and, when his subject matter is the road and movement, as in the Mex-flavoured title track, it's an emotional combination of Simon & Garfunkel's “America” and Matt Minglewood's “Swing Low Sweet Cadillac”.
  
  You can't judge a book by its cover, and you can't judge an artist by the age evidenced by his/her photograph. Kwartler's depth of perception and knack for getting ‘inside' the mundane and the everyday amazes me in one who looks so young. That capacity usually only arrives after kicking one's ass around the block several times.
  
  He has been compared to Ryan Adams, and on the bonus live track, “Mars”, I can see the correlation, but, I think his observations run a mite deeper than Adams' do. Who says you can't find good Americana in the megapolitan sprawl of urban America? It's not a state of geography so much as a state of mind.

• * * * * 4 - Stars - Roots Music Report gives Halfway House 4 Stars [+ Show ]
  

  CD:  Halfway House Label:  Hollow Body Rating:  4 -Stars Genre:  mixed Halfway house features th...CD:  Halfway House Label:  Hollow Body
  Rating:  4 -Stars Genre:  mixed
  
  Halfway house features the songwriting and vocal talents of Doug Kwartler.
  
  This is Roots Music all the way. Several different styles of music are on this CD just waiting for the exposure it deserves.
  
  An ingeniously compiled CD that has the potential to climb to the top of the charts.

• * * * * 4 - Stars - Freight Train Boogie gives Halfway House 4 - stars and says: [+ Show ]
  

  "...this is a wonderful CD, full of great fine well thought out songs and arrangements..." "...This ..."...this is a wonderful CD, full of great fine well thought out songs and arrangements..." "...This is an ambitious and eclectic work that hits the mark on most every song."

• * * * * 4 - Stars! Alt. Country Tab gives Halfway House 4 - stars and calls it:
  

  "...quite brilliant..." "...superb..."

• Freight Train Boogie [+ Show ]
  

  "He not only wrote and produced everything, but he sings and plays a huge assortment of instruments,..."He not only wrote and produced everything, but he sings and plays a huge assortment of instruments, and fortunately, he has a lot of talent.
  
  His voice reminds me a little of Son Volt's Jay Farrar and his songs are full of rootsy hooks and ripe with social commentary."

Setlist

Set list features original songs from Doug's 3 solo records - All Sides, Silver Meteor & Halfway House and selected songs from his former band, the seminal americana band Foundry

Roots rock & traditional country, folk and pop covers are sometimes incorporated.

Basic Requirements

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