Artist Information
Biography
Shannon Tower
is a singer, songwriter and guitarist with her own unique style of music that crosses between alternative and folk. With her unique vocal style and writing abilities, her songs are both haunting and energetic. Her message is as much politically relevant as it is personal. Shannon Tower was raised in Eugene, Oregon, where at the young age of nine she performed her first solo at a school concert. When she saw the tears in the eyes of many audience members during her performance, she knew at that moment the stage was her home. Ever since she was a little girl she used a journal to write down her deepest thoughts and feelings. As she approached her high school years she realized her power to communicate intimate thoughts and ideas was through her ability to write. She left home at eighteen and moved to New York to explore and find her voice and after two years moved to Portland, Oregon. Self taught guitarist since the age of 23, Shannon started to combine her talent for lyrical poetry with songs composed on her guitar. Using a unique rhythmic pulse of the music, her unorthodox playing technique appears both fluid and percussive. Shannon writes about many of life’s situations, these include the Iraq war in her song “POWER PLAY”. Homelessness, poverty and the real consequences that are incurred in her song “THINK ABOUT IT”. “BEHIND CLOSED DOORS” is a song that stems from personal experience with a mothers abusive behavior and neglect. Music has always been apart of Shannon’s life. Such artists as Bob Dylan…Joni Mitchell…Paul Simon…Peter Gabriel…Natalie Merchant and Ani Difranco have influenced her. Shannon Tower has been playing music in the Portland area for years with a variety of different musicians. In 2004 she met lead guitarist Grant Warrens, who later introduced her to electric violinist Jeff Sullivan.
Grant Warrens
has played in bands in California, where he grew up, as well as in Texas, Japan, and now with Shannon Tower Band in Portland. Primarily a lead guitarist, he also writes music, and regularly co-writes with Shannon and the other band members.
Jeff Sullivan
was born in the San Fernando City Hospital and grew up in Los Angeles. He studied music and violin until the age of twenty. He began to improvise and played with local musicians forming a band in 1985. He briefly died in 1987, and returned to life as a struggling but dedicated musician. He's worked with many artists in the studio and on stage. Bands include Sex and Violins, Baghdad Nadsat (Eye of Newt), Brand New World, Leonard’s Bag, Ron Kat & the Soul Disciples, Jon T Howard Band and Melissa Flannigan. His influences are Hendrix, Floyd, Pretty Things, Zappa, Bowie, Beatles, Crimson and all the great electric violinists: Pappa John Creach, Don Harris (Sugarcane), David Cross, Jerry Goodman, Jean Luc Ponty, and Stephanne Grappelli.
Joe Day
Joe's earliest musical influence was his uncle Danny, whose 8-track collection of classic rock chestnuts Joe inherited at age seven, at the dawn of the cassette age. One of Joe's few regrets is that he didn't grow up to be Gene Simmons. But he did pick up the guitar around age thirteen and the bass at sixteen, all the while polishing his singing skills as a choir geek in middle and high school. Shortly after college, where he earned a degree in jazz studies and arranging, his flirtation with the drums developed into a full blown addiction, and drums have been his primary instrument ever since. As much as he loves exploring new sounds on the kit or just plain old going off, nothing makes him happier than shaping a song from behind the drums.
Paul Seer
Was born at 2 a.m. in a Chevy pickup traveling about 65 mph. His first year was spent in a trailer park by the railroad tracks. His mother was a German immigrant, and his father was from Texas. Some people hear voices: Since a young child, Paul has always heard music. He grew up listening to The Stones, The Beatles, and Beethoven. He plays bass, keyboard, and guitar, and performed for years in an afro-Cuban hand percussion ensemble. Composing and recording music continues to be an avocation which brings him great joy. His hero's are Apollo, Mary Magdalene, and working class people everywhere.
Instrumentation
Shannon Tower: Band leader, vocals, rhythm guitar
Grant Warrens: Lead guitar
Jeff Sullivan: Electric violin
Joe Day: Drums
Paul Seer: Bass
Discography
First studio album "For what it's worth" was recorded @ West slope studios 2008 by Chief Engineer and producer Douglas DeRouchie.
Audio
Lyrics
Video
Setlist
Original songs on the set list include:
Drunken state
Just like you
24 Seconds
But did you know
Confidence
Lost girl
Night stars
Concrete cell
Make a change
Such men
I can't believe
Think about it
Truth
Tough
Bad cycles
Quick fix solution
Karlee song
What it's worth
Pretty
Sparrows
and a whole lot more!!!
