Biography
Middle Ground has successfully released their freshman full-length album Rooted. The album will be featured on-line at ITunes, Digg Station, on the group's own website(www.findthemiddleground.com), and myspace and facebook profiles.
Currently, the album is being spun on at least 26 radio stations throughout the Third Coast region including 90.1 KSYM in San Antonio, Texas.
Recently the group appeared live on Jim Beal's program on KSYM for a full-hour live interview and concert. Jim Beal, who is the head music editor at the San Antonio Express News, expressed the group as a "real treat", and "something truly refreshing".
The group's single "Sweet Cordelia" will be promoted by Cortland Records (San Antonio College) and distributed throughout the Third Coast listening region.
The alubm is and/or will be promoted heavily on radio, television, The San Antonio Current, Austin Chronicle and San Antonio Express News.
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Middle Ground, currently named the best Americana group in San Antonio by the San Antonio Current, has been playing together for over four years.
Highlights of the group include:
A quarter-finalist - that's 8th place out of over 600 bands - in the 2007 Austin City Limits Music Festival's "The Sound and Jury Competition".
A one month summer tour in 2007 of New York and New England. This included shows at the historic Parting Glass Pub in Saratoga, NY and the headlining act at the 30th annual Mayor's Cup Festival in Plattsburgh, New York.
The group has a weekly house show at the Bitter End in San Antonio, TX. Middle Ground also regular has monthly shows here:
Hanover's in Pflugerville, TX
The Shade Tree Saloon in Spring Branch, TX
Sam's Burger Joint, San Antonio, TX
Dirty Dog Bar, Austin, TX
Cindy's Hog Wild, Cedar Creek, TX
The group is a regular performer at the Crosbyton Jamfest in Crosbyton, TX every summer.
The group also books shows somewhat regularly with Dead Bunny Promotions in Austin, TX.
Middle Ground has had the honor of opening for the following groups:
Spoon. Monte Montgomery. Spoonfed Tribe. The Red Elvises. O2'L. Girl in A Coma. The Sons of Hercules. The Weary Boys. Tom Freund. The Hussy Hicks. Blowing Trees and others.
Middle Ground took the prize for best band in the annual battle of the bands at the famous Shade Tree Saloon in 2007. They were the first band that ever recieved a perfect score.
Most recently Middle Ground has been focusing their efforts on their first full-length album which was released on December 14th, 2008. Rooted was Recorded at the Farm Studios in San Antonio, TX and Produced by Jeff Reinsfelder. It was mastered by Donny Meals at Edit Point Studios.
The group includes an eclectic line-up.
Kelly Miller leads the group with vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica. He is also the songwriter.
Emanuel Meza takes the lead on electric and acoustic guitar, and mandolin.
Ross Renker plays a dirty cello and electric bass.
Sophie Severence is our classically trained violinist.
Juan Meza keeps everything together on percussion.
Although Middle Ground has an eclectic intrumentational line-up and unique sound, critics and fans both agree that their music can be enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.
Anyone listening can relate to the lyrics. Miller is a master at mixing Springsteen-style blue collar pain with Dylan-style poetry.
The sound itself is incredibly catchy without being too poppy. The 30 and up crowd is reminded of classic artists (Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, etc. . .) of the late 60's and early 70's. Those in their younger 20's love Middle Ground's music because of it's "festival band appeal". Even teens like the music because of the hints of pop and catchy hooks.
Promoters in San Antonio love Middle Ground for these reasons. The group has been given the opportunity to open for bands from all sorts of genres (punk to reggae to country) and done so successfully.
This group is serious about their music. Middle Ground has the focus and drive to be successful.
Thank you for your Time.
Instrumentation
Kelly Miller: lead vocals- acoustic guitar - harmonica
Emanuel Meza: acoustic guitar - mandolin
Sophie Severence: violin - vocals
Ross Renker: cello - acoustic bass
Juan Meza: drums
Discography
Rooted LP - December 2008
Chatagauy EP - July 2007
Easy Trouble (Kelly Miller Album) - October 2005
Middle Ground is excited to announce the release of their first full-length album Rooted. The Album was recorded at the Farm Recording Studio in San Antonio, TX and Mastered at Edit Point Studios in the same city.
The Farm is a historic mansion in the heart of the St. Mary's district and boasts a completely eco-friendly enviornment. The state-of-art hardware coupled with the atmosphere of a century-old mansion created an impressive collaboration of sound and ideas.
The production was led by Jeff Reinsfelder, a long-time studio engineer with a long list of credits to his name.
Also pitching in with production was Pinche Cuerpos from Austin, TX.
Links
| http://www.myspace.com/findthemiddleground |
| Middle Ground's Myspace |
| Middle Ground's Website |