Clay Colton Band
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Clay Colton Band

Vista, California, United States | SELF

Vista, California, United States | SELF
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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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"CD Review: Looking Back Ahead"

B+ "Looking Back Ahead"

Clay Colton Band

Vista's Clay Colton Band specializes in power ballads with a country-tinged rock approach. The band's new album, "Looking Back Ahead," ranges from the anthemic "Roses Don't Mean a Thing" and "Little Feet" to the tender and sentimental "Daddy's Last Dance."

But the band also has the chops ---- and self-confidence ---- to knock out a spot-on cover of Neil Diamond's "Holly Holy" and take on an energetic reading of Dylan's much-covered "All Along the Watchtower."

Lead singer Colton wrote or co-wrote all the other songs here, and they are solid, melodic tunes that lend themselves well to his rich voice. The lyrics tell personal stories of modern living, from being a noncustodial parent to the natural, normal heartache of watching your kids grow up and leave the nest.

The four-piece band has a nice, relaxed groove to it, creating a solid foundation for Colton's vocals to soar above.

---- Jim Trageser

Staff Writer - North County Times


Discography

"Two Months" - December 2002

"Looking Back Ahead" - July 2006
Available at CDBaby and iTunes

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Bio

The Clay Colton Band has been entertaining audiences across Southern California with a diverse blend of Classic, Southern, and Modern Rock covers, Folk and Americana favorites, and rowdy Country and Irish tunes since 1999.

The band's repertoire crosses through every modern genre while tapping into influences of iconic hits from the past 60 years of popular music. One moment will feature the soaring harmonies of the Pure Prairie League, Allman Brothers, or Grateful Dead, and the next will showcase blazing technical prowess of the Charlie Daniel's Band, Lynyrd Skynard, or Guns 'n' Roses. The Clay Colton Band has a song for every event, and makes an event out of each and every song.

Through a rigorous performance schedule of 120 or more shows every year for the past decade, the Clay Colton Band is one of the most stage ready groups in Southern California, and has established a broad fanbase spanning all backgrounds and ages. Currently, the Clay Colton Band can be found performing throughout Southern California's favorite hangs, pubs, and casinos several nights a week.

In its present form, the Clay Colton Band is able to accommodate nearly every performance situation, from an intimate solo act, small acoustic guitar duo and/or trio, to a prodigious multi-piece rock-n-roll outfit, featuring electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, fiddle, mandolin, and lush 4-part harmonies.

Audiences have come to love the band for their entertaining demeanor, rustic rock sound and energetic stage presence.

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Clay Colton grew up in Louisville, KY, hopping around the coffee shops of Bardstown road, which is often referred to as “Little Seattle”. His mother got him into 70’s folk rock listening at an early age, acquiring heroes such as Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, and Van Morrison.

Colton was seventeen when he was invited to sing backup for a Barry Manilow Concert. From the stage he saw his destiny - but with a different style.

He fell in love with the “grunge” tones that came out in the early ‘90s and immediately began writing songs with acoustic heart but a powerful distortion tone on the guitars.

The Album “Bender -Two Months" was Colton's first professional work to call his own. Since its release in December 2002, Colton has personally sold over 4,000 copies locally.

In 2004, Colton partnered with guitarist Colin Beasley, percussionist B.J. Morgan, and bassist Rob Smith to take his music to the next level. Out of this group, the first album to bear the CCB name, "Looking Back Ahead," was released in 2006.