40 East
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40 East

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The best kept secret in music

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"Ohio Shows “BAND OF THE WEEK” Interview"

January 15, 2007

What is your bands name?
40 East

Where are you from?
Cincinnati, OH/Northern KY

What is your name?
Josh Muddiman or JMudd

When did you become a band?
September 2006

Whose initial idea it was to start a band?
Well, Joshua (lead guitar) and I had been in a previous band called The Hinges while David (bass) and Jason (drums) had been in a previous band called All Their Eyes. We appreciated each others’ talents and as those bands were diminishing, we decided to test the waters with a new project in an uncommitted fashion. By the third show, it was obvious that a collaborative effort had formed and gelled on its own. It was very natural in that sense and transformed into an unspoken agreement that this project was a top priority in our lives.

What do you play?
Acoustic guitar and vocals

Did you guys have any other names for the band before it had the one it does now?
No. We had a list of about 10 to choose from and we whittled it down to 40 East.

How many bands have you been in and what were there names?
Personally this is only my second band. I bashed around in punk bands in high school but nothing of any substance. I sang and played guitar in The Hinges before this band. The other fellas have had multiple bands as well and you may see them on the back of a cd at Everybody’s but none of them were in the same vain as 40 East.

What kind of music do you play?
I guess you could call it roots rock or Americana. I'm sure there is a more eloquent way to describe it but that's pretty much the heart and soul of what we do.

Who writes your songs?
I write a majority of the lyrics and normally have the basic melody ideas. As far as the music is concerned, it is definitely a much more collaborative process. The songs sound a certain way in my head but the other guys are necessary in shaping that vision.

Why do you want to record and release your own music?
I really feel like we have something new and vital to say. We love to see people having a fun and creating memories along with the melodies. It's always been a dream of ours to play music for a living and with this band I think we're a lot closer to our goal than any other project we've been involved in.

Where are your fav. Places to write your songs?
Well personally I like to sit on my couch with my guitar, watch T.V.
and let the ideas come that way. As strange as it is I need a lot of distractions to write. I have to have the stereo on, the T.V. blaring, or be in mid conversation. I can't write in the quite.

As a band it's got to be the garage. There's nothing better than looking into each other eyes and really bashing things out.

Where do you get your inspiration?
Everything. As general of a statement as that is it's true. It could be any number of things from a line on a television show to a conversation overheard at the bar to other musicians. But I definitely would say a majority of the songs are about relationships and how they affect our daily lives, good or bad.


What are your immediate music career goals?
We'll we are about to enter the studio to record our first EP so, the immediate future is about getting the EP to sound and reflect the band at our best right now. We'd also like to start playing outside of Ohio and Kentucky and building an audience the old fashioned way.

Is there any message you try to send through to your fans through your music?
I guess if anything that you're not alone in this big sad world. Everyone experiences a spectrum of emotions from horrible to wonderful and the artists I always admired have made me feel like I'm not the only person in the world who feels a certain way.

What song means the most to you that your band has written and why?
I would definitely have to say, "Stay Beautiful". It was the first time we really collaborated on something and it turned out to be one of our best and most requested songs. There is nothing about that song I don't like.

Who is your fav. Band?
Well that's a hard one. I probably wouldn't be going out on a limb to say My Morning Jacket. Those long haired Kentucky boys have built a sizable audience the old fashioned way, by hitting the road and doing things their own way. I can't say everyone knows who they are but they do their own thing and it works. You've got to admire that. And they write amazing songs.

What is the best thing you like to receive from fans?
Money. No just kidding. I'd have to say just showing up to our shows is one of the best compliments a person can play, especially when you start seeing the same people at different shows. It kind of tells you that they've enjoyed themselves enough the first time to come back, which is pretty much the point I guess.

What was the best show you have ever played and why?
We're a relatively new band so we've probably played less than 15 shows so far. I would have to say my personal favorite was our last show at the Mad F - Ohio Shows


"Falling But Not Failing"

This Friday, the rootsy rockers of 40 East release their first EP, the impressive five-song Fall In Love or Fall Apart. The band celebrates the new release with a show at the Southgate House's Parlour this Friday. The show also features performances by Israel Hensely and Tupelo Honey.

The band was formed by the "remnants" of area acts The Hinges and All Their Eyes, but 40 East's material and execution far outshine both of them. Both showed great potential, but now the members have reached that potential with 40 East. It's like the best elements of both former bands -- sort of the opposite of Velvet Revolver and Audioslave.

While the songs on the EP have a Roots aftertaste, this is more soulful, melodic Rock than AltCountry. Singer Josh Muddiman has a perfect Rock & Roll voice, which is bathed in a smoky rasp, giving the melodies and lyrics an extra "lived-in" depth.

The songs fall somewhere between the gritty, grounded soul of Ryan Adams and the (non-annoying) reflective, wistful Pop of Goo Goo Dolls, enveloped in a huge wall of driving, ragged guitar. But the songs are fairly dynamic, dipping into more spacious bits with less overdriven, echoing guitar parts, like on the strong opener, "Something to Look Forward." There's an accessibility to the songs, via the great hooks, but they never get to the point of pandering, keeping things gritty and real, instead of too shiny and overly thought-out.

Fall In Love or Fall Apart is a great start for this promising quartet. Keep an eye on 'em -- like perhaps this Friday at the Southgate Parlour? (40eastband.com)

-Mike Breen, Music Editor
- CityBeat Magazine


"Spill It - Best of Cincinnati Issue"

· Newcomers 40 East play The Mad Hatter this Friday with Matt Pond PA and Northern Southern (see below). The band, recently formed from the ashes of The Hinges and Terravada, also appears on WAIF's "Kindred Sanction" Thursday at 8 p.m. (myspace.com/40eastmusic) - CityBeat Magazine


"Two New Releases"

It's always a fun weekend when there are multiple must-see shows and new CDs to grab up. This week, both 40 East and Maurice Mattei and his new project the Tempers, and deliver new material.

40 EAST
The album: Fall in Love or Fall Apart

The sound: Alt-rock with folksy tendencies and great, crafty songwriting, with influences of Wilco, Ryan Adams and more. The disc has been spinning on WNKU-FM (89.7).

The background: Band members - Josh Muddiman, Joshua Howard, Dave Kruse and Jason Palm - came together in late 2006 and have been working on this release since about that time.

The show: 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24 at Southgate House Parlour, 24 E. Third St., Newport. $5 (or $10 with CD). 859-431-2201. Israel Hensley and Tupelo Honey also play.

More info: www.40eastband.com


MAURICE MATTEI AND THE TEMPERS
The album: The Tempers Perform the Best of Maurice Mattei, Volume 3

The sound: Folksy, rootsy sound with Mattei's trademark storytelling lyrics and crisp voice and guitar strumming. The album contains previously released material and six new songs; all material has been re-recorded by the Tempers.

The background: For this new project, Mattei enlisted a group of all-star musicians to round out his solo sound. Players include Mike Grimm (the Mortals, the Chants) on drums, Korin Mattei (of Radiolaria) on vocals and midi keys, Bob Nyswonger (psychodots, the Bears) on bass, James Cole (the Cole Brothers, the Delusionals) on keyboards, Rick Howell (the Heaters) on harp, Kenny Holycross on pedal steel, Greg Matusak on sax and Steve Girton on "radio noise."

For his live shows, Mattei currently plays with Grimm on drums and William Grapes on bass.

The show: 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24 at Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Free. 513-542-3603.

More info: www.mmattei.com

-Kari Wethington

- CinWeekly Magazine


"Worthy Cause"

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Worthy Cause
Local bands rock out at Habitat for Humanity benefit show
KARI WETHINGTON | CIN WEEKLY

(40 East Picture and caption here)

On Saturday, check out a handful of worthy bands and put $10 toward a good cause when the Mad Hatter hosts a concert that benefits Habitat for Humanity. Here are the details.

THE CAUSE
Funds raised at the show will go to help Habitat for Humanity volunteers build a house in New Orleans. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that "seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action." Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.

THE BANDS
You'll see sets by five local acts during the event. Performers include indie rockers Lonely The Seabird; rockers 40 East; Fort Thomas-based acoustic folk-rockers Tupelo Honey; Fort Mitchell-based, country-leaning group the Turkeys; and Lauren Houston and John Bedinghaus.

OTHER FUN STUFF
The show also features a cash bar, silent auction and more.
DO IT: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15 at Mad Hatter, 620 Scott Blvd., Covington. $10. 859-291-2233 or www.madhatterclub.com.

Contact Kari Wethington at kwethington@cincinnati.com or 513-768-6052.

- CinWeekly Magazine


Discography

FALL IN LOVE OR FALL APART (EP)
© 2007 Blue Room Records
Recorded by Ice Cream Factory Studios.
Mixed by Chris Schmidt at Sheperds Pie

SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO (SINGLE)
© 2006 Blue Room Records
Recorded by Ice Cream Factory Studios.
Mixed by Chris Schmidt at Sheperds Pie

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

The song of the open road. Stretching endlessly across the American landscape. Passing a variety of people and places; their stories reverberating. The same wanderlust that called Kerouac, calls each of us to travel new roads and perhaps even start over.

40 East came together in late 2006. Formed from the remnants of The Hinges and All Their Eyes. Consisting of Josh Muddiman on vocals and guitar; Joshua Howard on lead guitar; Dave Kruse on bass; and Jason Palm on drums.