Rick Spreitzer

Artist Information

Biography

Americana Singer-Songwriter Rick Spreitzer beats a guitar like an old man cleaning a dirty rug. He sings like nobody’s angel. But if you spend any time with his songs, you’re struck by the poetry that sleeps within his lines… battered and blue, slung from a bruised chest and a sideways grin.

“There is a certain romance in seeking ballast through the bad luck and blue changes. For me, that is what the process of songwriting seems largely about. I try to carve out songs that have pieces of poetry, real emotional gravity and a sense of space. My aim is to write songs that really draw the listener in”

Rick has three collections of original material which are gaining airplay on Americana, College and Alt-Country stations both stateside and abroad. His latest, From the Bottom, released in March, 2006, follows Dirt Tracks (2004) and Meanderthal (2002).

• Album of the Month – AmericanaOK – July 2006
• 3rd Coast Music Freeform American Roots(FAR) Chart – June 2006
• Folk Alley Open Mic Top 10 – June 2006
• Spotlight Album – Songriver – March 2006
• 7th Annual North Carolina Songwriter’s Co-Op
Songwriter’s Contest Winner 2004
• Flat Rock Music Festival’s Hank Williams Songwriting Contest – 3rd place 2004 and Top 10 finalist, 2005
• Top 10 Best Mid-Atlantic Releases of 2003 -
Left Off the Dial

Shared Stages with: Malcolm Holcombe, Rod Picott, Stephen Bruton, David Childers, Jeff Black, Kevin Gordon, Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell, The Austin Lounge Lizards

Winner of the 7th Annual North Carolina Songwriter’s Co-Op Songwriter’s Contest 2004

3rd place at Flat Rock Music Festival’s Hank Williams Songwriting Contest, 2004 and Top 10 finalist, 2005

Left Off the Dial’s Staff Top 10 Picks for Best Mid-Atlantic Releases of 2003

"Music with generous grit and unsupervised emotional release... a good workhorse with energetic gait that makes the picture come alive." ~Eddie Russell/Outlaw for Peace, Jolly Roger Radio International

"Most young songwriters don't dig deep enough to get to the real song. Rick is a digging machine." ~Michael Reno Harrell

"Rick Spreitzer is a beautiful guy; gentle but strong, and clear sighted about the human condition. He writes about regular people in a way that reaches all of us, if we take the time to listen.” ~David Childers

"A pure, raw poet for those of us who don't get poetry. Rick's songs offer well-earned wisdom that gets you laughing just to set you up for the next line's punch in the face." ~Tom Eure, Jr

"I hope I’m never stranded on a remote island. If, somehow, I manage to find myself in that predicament, I want at least ten good songs to listen to. I’m not surprised to find that Rick Spreitzer wrote five of them!!” ~JD Wilson

"Listening to his songs is like watching a movie. The way he phrases lyrics with such texture will have you hearing something new with each listen." ~Christy Snow

Instrumentation

Rick Spreitzer: acoustic guitar and harmonica

Discography

Meanderthal, July 2002 (debut self-release)
Dirt Tracks, July 2004 (2nd self-release)
From the Bottom, March 2006 (self-release)

Audio

• From the Bottom
  Listen   Download
• Roll Back
  Listen   Download
• Invisible Wind
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• From the Bottom
• Roll Back
• Invisible Wind

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Music Monitor [+ Show ]
  

  "With dozens of vocalizing songwriters in every decent-sized city, it's too easy to lose the most pr..."With dozens of vocalizing songwriters in every decent-sized city, it's too easy to lose the most promising ones in the shuffle. Here's a heads up: be on the lookout for Charlotte's Rick Spreitzer...”
  
  ~Rick Cornell – Music Critic, Music Monitor/No Depression

• The Muse's Muse [+ Show ]
  

  "Sometimes I come across a CD from an independent writer that is better than most. It’s thoughtful, ..."Sometimes I come across a CD from an independent writer that is better than most. It’s thoughtful, well presented and well written. The truth of the writing rings through every song and I’m drawn into the stories and music from start to finish. Rick Spreitzer’s 3rd CD, from the bottom, is such a CD. With a voice reminding me of John Prine and Waylon Jennings, Spreitzer manages to entertain me all the way through."

• Jolly Roger Radio International [+ Show ]
  

  "Music with generous grit and unsupervised emotional release... a good workhorse with energetic gait..."Music with generous grit and unsupervised emotional release... a good workhorse with energetic gait that makes the picture come alive."
  
  ~Eddie Russell/Outlaw for Peace, Jolly Roger Radio International

• Digging Machine [+ Show ]
  

  "Most young songwriters don't dig deep enough to get to the real song. Rick is a digging machine." ..."Most young songwriters don't dig deep enough to get to the real song. Rick is a digging machine."
  
  ~Michael Reno Harrell

• Americana Roots
  

  "[Rick] puts forth an intimate sound that captures his wonderful ability with words."

• Down Home Video [+ Show ]
  

  "I hate to gush, but it's so damned exhilarating to hear a new (to me) local songwriter with his own..."I hate to gush, but it's so damned exhilarating to hear a new (to me) local songwriter with his own unique perspective on the elements of life that are truly worth writing songs about. Don't ever turn back. You have the ability to touch people."
  
  ~Billy Rollings - Down Home Video

• High Praise
  

  "They don’t make records like this anymore."

Setlist

Typically, when playing a 3-4 hour set, we'll do all originals. Sometimes we'll toss in the occasional Mike Strauss (good friend and hellified songwriter), Woody Guthrie or Dylan tune... but mostly we dance with what brought us, these tunes of mine.

Basic Requirements

Calendar