Bill Carleton

Bill's songs are well produced and structurally sound, with good music in verses and chorus -- the songs communicate emotion to the listener with unique vocals being a selling point.

Bill combines pleasant sounding vocals with a well-executed lyrical structure. His musicianship is solid, with the guitar lines providing counter melodies to the vocals. A strong effort for the singer/songwriter genre. - TAXI A&R

Reviewer: Christy (:
Having seen the development of these songs from bare-bones acoustic to fully produced I am thrilled to listen to the quality of this album. As Promised has no filler songs. All 12 tracks are solid and have purpose on this album. Filled with emotions that everyone can relate to Bill sings about pain, hope, friendship, and perhaps in the most powerful song, Stephanie, about love and moving on. This CD is an exceptional collection of songs that make an excellent soundtrack for everyday life. - CD Baby Testimonial

Reviewer: Shea
Each track is filled with beautiful lyrics and exquisite music. The album is very personal and soothing, which makes it one you just don't want to miss! "As Promised" presents music that everyone can relate to and is quite charming. The artist's motivation and skill shines through each song on the album, thus making it a true work of art. "Breathe" is amazing; my personal favorite thus far. - CD Baby Testimonial

The Bill Carleton Band was nominated for 8 categories in the 2006 Hartford Advocate's Readers Poll -- winning the Reader's Choice for Best Duo (Bill Carleton and Lee Sylvestre), Best Bassist (Dan Prindle) and Best Drummer (Travis LaMothe). The Bill Carleton Band performed at the Hartford Advocate Band Slam 2006 at both Agave (For Best Duo) and at the Pig's Eye Pub (BCBand). - The Hartford Advocate

Bill Carleton, Diving Dreamers (billcarleton.com).

Despite the presence of a band, this really is a singer-songwriter record at heart--good natured, organic-sounding pop-rock, with acoustic guitar, piano, Hammond and clean electric guitars. There's something pleasantly yet eerily familiar about this songs: "Taste of Skyroad" and "Ahead of Things" recall Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl," and if you kick the vocal melody of "Valentine" up an octave, it'd fit in the Jon Bon Jovi songbook. Carleton's voice is easy on the ears, but his lyrics rarely get deeper than "I'm heading for the stars/if I could stop and think, I'd see I've gone too far"-- although the image of escaping a troubling adulthood on a raft made of Lincoln Logs is clever. Over the course of the disc, Carleton and band develop more of a groove and strip back the elcletic touches, a pleasant arc.

-- Brian LaRue - New Haven Advocate

By Keith McBride

When you really think about it, we should all hate Bill Carleton. He’s got a voice that walks the fine line between strong and suave. He writes songs that hold more captivating imagery than the Louvre, and he’s got a backing band that’s tighter than spandex. And most of all, he’s got Diving Dreamers, a new album of songs that absorb anyone within earshot.


“So far, reactions to the record have been very positive,” he says. Positive, indeed. In fact, positive energy oozes from Carleton’s pop and folk influenced rock. Surrounded by musicians battling society with anger, vulgarity and violence, Carleton displays a unique songwriting style that produces soothing, energizing and melodic tunes.


Carleton comes from a musically gifted family — a music scholarship/endowment at Colgate University is named for his aunt and mentor, the late Mary Kate Carleton. But it wasn’t until Carleton’s college days at the University of Delaware that he began writing and performing. Upon returning to Connecticut, Bill began playing endless open mics and taking whatever steps were necessary to have his music heard, including hosting his own open mic night at a Manchester, Connecticut pub — a task he continues to this day.

Out of the many friends he made along the way, Carleton put together one of the tightest bands in Connecticut to back him up. Lee Sylvestre (electric guitar) solos with a finger-plucking style that gives the band a completely unique and original sound. Travis Lamothe (drums) plays with extraordinary energy and adds power to each song, and blends brilliantly with Dan Prindle’s bass work. There’s also additional color added by Tony Parlapiano’s (keyboard, organ) subtle keystrokes and chords.


What they’ve produced is a collection of songs that range from upbeat danceable tunes, to mellow, soothing ballads. Each song has its own identity, but the uniting features of the tunes are their honesty and emotion.


On a crowded party bus heading for the album’s CD release party at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village, Carleton says, “More than anything, I hope the album reflects who we really are. I hope people get that impression. There are no facades on this record.” The bus is full of friends, fans and family traveling with the band into the city to celebrate the release of Diving Dreamers.


Each band member enjoys the ride in their own personal way. Lamothe makes a point to speak to everyone on the bus and thank them personally. Sylvestre, at the back of the bus, dons sunglasses and a Cheshire Cat grin and sips a beer. Parlapiano, glancing left and right, takes it all in quietly. Carleton is bombarded with praise from the fans, and in between giving endless thanks for the complements, he shakes his head and says, “This is just overwhelming.”

Carleton gives much of the praise to his bandmates.


“Everyone brings something completely different to the band, and I think it shows when we play,” Carleton notes. “These are all phenomenal musicians involved in this band, so we put a lot of effort into making sure that each person’s individual talent is showcased.” Recently, Carleton has stopped playing shows under his name, insisting on being billed instead as The Bill Carleton Band so as to draw attention to the dynamic between all five musicians.


Carleton isn’t the only one who has noticed their talents. The band members cleaned up this year’s Hartford Advocate reader polls. Lamothe and Prindle took home the best drummer and best bassist awards. Carleton and Sylvestre were also voted the best acoustic duo.


What drives Carleton today is making new friends and fans. This fall, the band will be playing the college circuit for the first time, and also has a goal to play in at least four states they’ve never visited before. Every new person who gets to hear the songs of The Bill Carleton Band is just one more person on the long list of those who have a reason to hate the group, but who can’t help but be a fan.


www.billcarleton.com

- Northeast Performer Magazine

Bill comes equipped with a troubadour’s soul, a backlog of brilliant original tunes, and bandmates Lee Sylvestre (lead guitar/background vocals), Craig Struble (harmonicas), Tony Parlapiano (keys/organ bass) and veteran drummer, Travis LaMothe (formerly of RANE) on drums.

Carleton played a set of acoustic rock music with emotion, catchy hooks, enchanting lyrics, and captivating melody. Sylvestre and Struble added an improvisational aspect and a great deal of depth to each of the songs. “Circle” served as a showcase of everyone’s skills — Carleton’s lyrics and vocals, Struble’s harmonica (as both a lead and rhythm instrument), and Sylvestre’s tasteful solo arrangements. - Northeast Performer Magazine

By Dan Barry

August 24, 2006

Lemme let you in on a little secret. After writing 100 columns worth of Local Motion, I can honestly say that what began as a naieve belief has now been backed with ample proof: there are musicians on the local scene who are as good as anything you would pay $75 to see on national tour. Take, for example, the Bill Carleton Band. This past Saturday, they took a big fat bus down to The Bitter End in NYC to celebrate the release of Carleton's new CD, Diving Dreamers.

Man. I wish you coulda been there.

While their set only clocked in at 45 minutes (those New York bars are brutal with their stage times), it was one of the most concise sets I've seen. Carleton has a touch of James Taylor's reedy voice, but none of the kumbaya quaintness that tarnishes much of Taylor's best known work. What comes through clearly is Carleton's exceeding sensitivity. While Taylor trumps it up to the point where it's awkwardly feminine, Carleton's sensitivity is more like that of Adam Duritz from Counting Crows: a little rough-hewn and ragged. His voice breaks beautifully over those long-strung notes. It doesn't hurt that his backing band is nasty; it features Best Drummer category winner Travis LaMothe, and lead guitarist Lee Sylvestre, who took home your vote for Best Duo alongside Carleton. Look for a review of the excellent Diving Dreamers disc in a future column. - The Hartford Advocate

Bill Carleton Band rocks in Sullivan Lounge
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By: Silva, Adam T.
Issue date: 2/15/07

With the lights down to a soft yellow glow and the mood calm and relaxed, the Bill Carleton Band performed their distinctive mellow folk/rock at the Musicbox in Sullivan Lounge on Saturday, Feb. 10. The five piece band played before a small but very appreciative and responsive crowd. The band quickly picked up on the audience' s positive attitude and interacted with them often by making light of the small attendance and the tiny room they were playing in.
"I thought it was great, I totally enjoyed these guys," said sophomore Brianna Whitney. "I come to the Musicbox every week; it's what I do on Saturdays. I got here early this week and got to meet the guys and got to know them a bit."
The quintet hails from Stratford, Conn., and has developed a following playing dozens of college campuses in the Northeast. Their sound is easily comparable to John Mayer, David Grey, and Jack Johnson. The reverb-drenched sound coming from lead guitarist Lee Sylvestre bears a striking resemblance to Johnny Buckland of Coldplay and The Edge from U2.
The musical highpoint of the night came from the James Tayloresque delicate finger-picking from acoustic guitarist/lead vocalist Bill Carleton on "Valentine," from their new album, "Diving Dreamers."
"I really enjoyed that they were very upbeat," said sophomore Mark Richards. "They really put on a great performance that went beyond playing music. I wasn't sure how they were going to be at first, but they won me over. I really hope they come back next year."
The band looks as though they could easily be college students from the Northeast, but maintain somewhat of a rock star look with some shaved heads and assorted tattoos and piercings. Bill Carleton himself could easily be mistaken for Weezer's frontman Rivers Cuomo.
"I could definitely feel a great response from the crowd tonight," said shaggy-haired, heavily tattooed drummer Travis LaMothe. "I have been playing with the Bill Carleton Band for over two years now, and I love it to death."

- MCLA Beacon

BILL CARLETON BAND: The Bill Carleton Band line-up includes Lee Sylvestre (lead guitar), Tony Parlapiano (piano/keyboards), Travis LaMothe (drums), and Dan Prindle (bass). The band also regularly features additional talent including Craig Struble from the bands Fivewise and Percy Hill (harmonica). As a group, the band's live performances remind one of Counting Crows and the Barenaked Ladies, with electric and acoustic renditions of Bill's songs, as well as respectfully covered tunes by Bruce Hornsby, Johnny Cash, John Mayer and Men at Work. They have shared bills with popular touring artists and bands, including Ari Hest, The Alternate Routes, Snoozebox, Mighty Purple, Joe Beleznay, RANE, Tim Blane, and Lilith Fair performer Lori Amey. Bill's fan base has grown from local to statewide, and continues to grow in New England and throughout the United States.

College shows include: University of Connecticut ,Eastern Connecticut State University, Central Connecticut State University, Northwest Connecticut Community College,Yale University, Brookdale Community College, Monmouth College, New Jersey Institute of Technology, New York Medical College, Cornell Medical College, Marist College, College of the Holy Cross, Tufts University, Wellesley College, Penn State University, and the University of Delaware.

Skyroad Productions • Phone: 860-567-0348 • http://www.billcarleton.com • - Campus Activities Magazine