Darrin James

Artist Information

Biography

DARRIN JAMES BAND: THE LOVELY UGLY TRUTH

"Singer-songwriter Darrin James touches on Robbie Robertson’s gruff soulfulness, Tom Waits’ vaudevillian menace and Paul Westerberg’s ramshackle charm…” Time Out New York

Much is known about the way music impacts the brain; very little is known about its effect on the heart. That instant, visceral sensation when a song connects is universal; while sincerity and authenticity are intangible qualities, they are always present in the positive listening experience. Darrin James has been a guitarist for 15 years and a songwriter for just under a decade, drawing on his love for blues, soul, country and other roots genres to create songs with a timeless quality. “As a songwriter, I have wanted to combine honest, dark lyrics with old school blues and a fusion of styles, to express the emotions and stories of tragic or flawed characters.” Darrin has succeeded mightily at this aim, his debut album, Thrones of Gold earned a wealth of kudos in the music press – The Deli Magazine had this to say, “The man’s got Joe Henry versatility, a crackerjack studio band and a great sense of craft…from a Lovett/Waits blues into a John Prine diatribe then rocketing off with an Elvis Costello pop gem.” The title track placed in American Songwriter’s Lyric Writing Contest with the lyrics appearing in the Nov/Dec 2006 issue. “Crazy World” was used in the segment of Emmy-nominated reality TV fave The Deadliest Catch in which the crew demonstrate advanced cases of “Bering Sea Dementia.”

The Lovely Ugly Truth is the follow up album, and it's filled with parables that illustrate moral dilemmas and regret, outlaw stories, murder ballads and even a contemporary protest song that confronts the immigration debate. “I have always loved the saddest songs the best, so that is what I write most often,” explained James, who produced the album and assembled an ensemble of New York’s finest players, including staff from Antibalas, TV on the Radio, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Beirut and Arcade Fire. The tracks were recorded between 2007 and 2009 in numerous studios in New York by Matt Gill, who has worked with bands like Fischerspooner, Aimee Mann, The Raveonettes and Aqualung.

The album contains no filler, but standout tracks include “Baby Don’t Bitch”, a swampy Tony Joe White-esque burner that tells an outlaw tale with a Bonnie and Clyde theme. Viola was utilized instead of the predictable fiddle, lending dark richness while complimenting blues guitars and soulful backing vocals. “Lovely Ugly Truth” attacks divorce, a classic breakup song that evokes The Band, brilliantly summing up the strife everyone experiences in bad relationships. James chose the name for the album after realizing that great songwriting always illustrates both lovely and ugly truths. Scorching bluesy guitar, percussive piano and a mid-song rave up reflect the incendiary nature of every break up.

“Green Card Rag” rejuvenates a time-honored tradition, the protest song. A powerful tool for change, the songs of music greats like Woody Guthrie have spread messages to the populace. James addresses the injustices of immigration policy through the story of a struggling migrant worker. With a finger-picked electric guitar and a New Orleans-style horn section, it steps far from the traditional folky presentation, bringing real spirit to the form.

“Easier” is a regret-soaked acoustic song that powerfully evokes exhaustion, sadness and helplessness. Written to express man’s struggle with the world, it will resonate with anyone who has suffered in the current economy.

Darrin James was raised in suburban Detroit with an accommodating older brother who took him to concerts. Before graduating high school he’d already taken in many of his favorite blues and rock artists such as B.B. King, James Brown, Albert Collins, Bob Dylan and Pink Floyd. At a summer job at a forklift company he made the acquaintance of an older gentleman who brought cassettes of blues and jazz musicians like Albert King, Johnny Hodges, Richard “Groove” Holmes and Eddie Harris to the shop. Taking up guitar at 13, James’ main focus was playing blues, which gave way to jazz, folk and world music. He began playing shows as a teenager, playing lead guitar for many local acts in Michigan. After moving to Ann Arbor in 1996 he met some of his future band mates and collaborators, including Jordan Shapiro, Stuart Bogie, Jeremy Bronson and Matt Gill, who helped bring The Lovely Ugly Truth to life. Relocating to New York City in 2000, Darrin began to focus on singing and songwriting and wrote his first tunes. His Chinatown home was very near Ground Zero on 9/11, and his frustration during the Bush years fueled his writing. In 2002 he formed the Darrin James Band to perform his growing repertoire of original songs.

Darrin James Band achieves that resonance we all recognize, when lyrics and music touch our hearts. Sheer talent helps but a genuine reverence for the art form is the key to transcending the mundane. The Cowboy Trance blogger Flash said it best, “The DJB sound so completely authentic and true to its voice that it feels almost cleansing, and makes you wonder why in the hell great songs like these aren’t everywhere, drowning out the vapid clowns that pollute the genre.” - Heather West

Instrumentation

Darrin James - Vocals, guitars, keys
Jordan Shapiro - organ, wuritzer, piano
Dave Johnsen - bass
Bill Mead - Drums and percussion
Dennis Lichtman (Guest)-fiddle and mandolin
Colin Stetson (Guest): Tenor Sax
Jo Solomon (Guest): backing vox

Discography

"Thrones of Gold" (2006)
"The Lovely Ugly Truth" (2009)
"Crazy World" Licensed to Discovery Channel for the Emmy-nominated series "Deadliest Catch"

Official Website

http://www.darrinjamesband.com

Links

• MySpace
• Facebook
• MySpace

Audio

• Green Card Rag
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• Baby Don't Bitch
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• Had Enough of Me
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• Thrones of Gold
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• Trivial
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• Only A Woman
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• Herie
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• Hate That Word
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• Duct Tape
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• Lucky Man
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• You Never Know (MP3)
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• C:\Users\darrin.greenawalt.ALTA\Music\Bombs Away
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Lyrics

• Thrones of Gold
• Trivial
• Had Enough of Me
• Faith on the Run
• Herie
• Crazy World
• Easier
• You Never Know
• Bombs Away

Video

Darrin James Band performs "Green Card Rag" on Fox

Photo Gallery

Press

• Vintage Guitar Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  "Saying James fits the mold of great songwriters could too easily have him fall by the wayside, like..."Saying James fits the mold of great songwriters could too easily have him fall by the wayside, like many others who have gone that route. But, given his writing, singing, and playing talent's , that's unlikely."

• Pittsburgh Daily News [+ Show ]
  

  When you review as many albums as we do each year in The Daily News, it’s easy to become jaded and m...When you review as many albums as we do each year in The Daily News, it’s easy to become jaded and more than a little cynical. Because it’s the nature of the music business — or for that matter, the entertainment industry as a whole — to find something that works and then copy it. That’s why so many bands sound the same at any given time. So when someone with an original voice comes along, we, as critics, invariably find ourselves drawn to the port in the musical storm. Darrin James is one such artist… The talented singer/songwriter and his Darrin James Band mates don’t fit neatly into any musical category. There are elements of rock, folk, country and blues evident throughout fantastic sophomore release “The Lovely Ugly Truth.” With a shape-shifting voice that has drawn comparisons to Robbie Robertson, Tom Waits and John Prine, the 12 songs gathered here are uniformly strong…You’ll have a hard time finding a song you don’t like on “The Lovely Ugly Truth” — and that doesn’t happen very often. - by Jeffrey Sisk

• Time Out New York [+ Show ]
  

  "Brooklyn singer-songwriter Darrin James touches on Robbie Robertson’s gruff soulfulness, Tom Waits’..."Brooklyn singer-songwriter Darrin James touches on Robbie Robertson’s gruff soulfulness, Tom Waits’ vaudevillian menace and Paul Westerberg’s ramshackle charm. His bluesy rockers carry perceptive lyrics and memorable tunes; his crack band supplies the laid-back grooves.

• North of the Border [+ Show ]
  

  "This Brooklyn singer-songwriter sounds more like an east Texas swamp-rock veteran than a Yankee mus..."This Brooklyn singer-songwriter sounds more like an east Texas swamp-rock veteran than a Yankee musician, but his love for roots music like blues, country and soul combine to spin out dark lyrics of desperate characters and situations…His gruff, growling vocals bring a Tom Waits comparison, but has more of a Springsteen sound to me….There is little doubt that this first-class, gut-bucket blues and swamp rock album with some serious subject matters will take more than a few spins to get the full effect, but I think you’ll get a big kick out of it."

• Deli Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  "The man's got Joe Henry versatility, a crackerjack studio band, and a great sense of craft... from ..."The man's got Joe Henry versatility, a crackerjack studio band, and a great sense of craft... from a Lovett/Waits blues into a John Prine diatribe then rocketing off with an Elvis Costello pop gem. The record was made with a lineup featuring seriously tasty musicians making notable decisions that allow Darrin’s throaty vocals to take the foreground. It’s got it all. "
  - By Walt Wells
  

• Blog Ctirics Review [+ Show ]
  

  "Darrin James distills hard-edged soul and craggy Americana into a redolent tincture that I've come ..."Darrin James distills hard-edged soul and craggy Americana into a redolent tincture that I've come to think of as New York City Melting Pot ...Its literate lyrics and subject matter are a big part of why Thrones of Gold stands as one of the best indie productions of the year."
  by Jon Sobel
  
  www.blogcritics.org

• Pace University Press [+ Show ]
  

  "Born to sing the blues, Darrin James tears at the soul...There's an uncanny, effortless authenticit..."Born to sing the blues, Darrin James tears at the soul...There's an uncanny, effortless authenticity to it that is aloof and genius at the same time. The Brooklyn-based musician has a certain weary, detached air about him, as if he barely realizes the scope of his words and music while executing them in untroubled fluency. Despite such ease in his music, every song is tinged with raw emotion...undeniable talent and originality." - Julyssa Lopez

• Dissolver Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  Thrones of Gold, the debut from the Darrin James Band, is a strong disk the whole way through, incor...Thrones of Gold, the debut from the Darrin James Band, is a strong disk the whole way through, incorporating an inspiring variety of musical styles and lyrical themes...With a rugged voice and virtuoso guitar skills, James and his band make the most of his well-written songs."
  - By Jon Gorey
  
  www.dissolvermagazine.com

• Americana UK Review [+ Show ]
  

  An intriguing debut for his own record label... Residing in Brooklyn NY, where James and his wife...An intriguing debut for his own record label...
  
  Residing in Brooklyn NY, where James and his wife settled following their year long honeymoon travelling the world, he’s bought back lots of influences from his travels. Bit of a worry though having a song on his album entitled ‘Hate That Word’ which is an indictment about love. Wonder what his wife thinks?
  
  Initial listens to this album indicated a blues leaning. His voice is gruff and rough and suited to the delta blues or jazz but this cd is far more than that. Whilst ‘Had Enough Of Me’ and ‘Crazy World’ demonstrates his fondness for Tom Waits and some tracks include Colin Stetson on tenor sax (who’s played with Waits), this isn’t ‘Heart Attack and Vine’ revisited.
  
  Opener ‘Trivial’ kicks the album off in Springsteen style. With its rousing chorus and loud guitar continually punching its way through. Followed by some funky organ on ‘Duct Tape’ it expands the expectation of what this album is all about. The title song brings in some bluegrass that harks back to ‘O Brother Where Art Thou’? Three songs in and we’ve experienced a raft of styles already. ‘Faith On The Run’ supplies a catchy country rock tune that’s got hit written all over it.
  
  But the best track here is ‘Herie’ which James wrote back in 2000. About a friend who fought in the Iran war, and the hatred that took over him after his family was murdered in front of his eyes, it outlines the narrator’s concerns that he won’t be able to love again, and will continue to keep hatred closer to him.
  
  Penultimate song ‘In The End’ brings in masses of guitar solo’s as James describes walking the desolate streets of Lafayette as he struggles with where he’ll end up at the end of his life, “Some say heaven, some say hell, I believe the latter, would suit me just as well”. Not a positive song.
  
  But the final entry in this musical diary ‘Lucky man’ gives him the realisation he’s looking for. “I’m a lucky man, I sink my toes in the sand. I’m lost in a foreign land, so I’m lucky that I got you. I hope you feel lucky too”. Sounds like a love song to his wife to me. Maybe it was inspired by his honeymoon. “We share a language and a destination. We share a ticket and an invitation”.
  
  He’s only joking about his views of love I reckon. He knows what side his bread is buttered.

• Blues Bunny Magazine (U.K.) [+ Show ]
  

  This is an album of contrasts. From straight rock to dark songs in the style of Leonard Cohen to Sou...This is an album of contrasts. From straight rock to dark songs in the style of Leonard Cohen to Southside Johnny soul influenced rock, the influences are certainly many and varied. It is one for people who like something a bit different rather than straight down the line pop music.
  
  The opening track "Trivial" is a cracking piece of pure rock, and is followed by the more soulful organ influenced funky rock sound of "Duct Tape". Two classy numbers that have genuine hit potential if given the airplay they richly deserve. With a couple of excellent rockers to open, you could be forgiven for thinking that you would be getting more of the same. Instead the rest of the album meanders its way through some diverse and often intriguing performances.
  
  With "Herie" we have what very much sounds like a personal piece of cathartic musical story telling - dark and verging on disturbing it may be, yet sung with a feeling that is rare in a musical climate that rewards insipidness. "Only a Woman" is another particularly outstanding song with Darrin's throaty and gravely vocals giving an extra edge to some cutting lyrics. "Faith on the Run" is a surprisingly catchy country rock style number; while "Crazy World" has a strong Doors influence. And nowhere is the eclectic nature of this album more apparent than with "Thrones of Gold" which actually brings to mind the Soggy Bottom Boys from "O Brother Where Art Thou?"
  
  This is singing and song writing as it should be. Darrin creates music that you want to listen to, that can be fun, and yet at the same time he is not afraid to deal with challenging subject matter when the need arises.

Setlist

While Darrin James Band performs mostly original material, we realize that new interpretations of recognizable songs can energize an audience. So Darrin injects his own personality into covers of songs from an eclectic variety of styles such as blues, folk, traditional, funk or classic rock.

Basic Requirements

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