Consolation Champ
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Consolation Champ

Band Rock Folk

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"Consolation Champ releases debut CD "The Invitational""

Consolation Champ's debut CD, "The Invitational" was released Sept. 22.
Performing band deemed good background music Erik Wood Posted on: Sep 28, 2006 - 07:48 PM

I've got to ask you what's better, buying albums for the first listen or seeing a band live?
I think the answer to the question is completely rhetorical. I suppose I could be wrong though. Personally, if I can attend a live music event, let alone a rock show, count me in. The best way to get a feel for new music is listening to it live.
Well on Oct. 7 you've got a chance to catch a "comfortable"
three-piece rock band from Minneapolis by the name of Consolation Champ. Along with Consolation Champ, another local Minnesota musician will be playing — Mason Jennings.
The Big Event will take place in the UW-RF amphitheatre for an Oct. 7 Aids Awareness benefit concert. If you're looking for some mellow "rock" music and a great time, show yourself and represent local bands.
Consolation Champ is unique in the sense that it is a three-piece rock band suitable for all occasions, whether it be studying, partying, or even just as background music. While listening to the debut album, "The Invitational," which dropped Sept.22 at a release party at the Fine Line Music Café in Minneapolis, I heard what I thought sounded like a blend of Jack Johnson and a merging of indie rock. The album can be described as catchy, with a twist of funky indie vibes that will contain whatever mood you tend to be in.
The group has been together for approximately two years, playing at local clubs in Minnesota. For a debut album, words such as solid, creative, and again catchy can only be used when describing "The Invitational."
Some tracks to look for if you are in attendance are the opening track on the album, "She's Such a Fox," and "Wonderful Unknown."
Interestingly enough, they were recognized by iTunes music service, their genre classification being rock.
I disagree completely.
When I read the album description and saw the classification "rock-n-roll," I chuckled. Honestly, I don't think this is classifiable as rock music. Whether you like it or not, classification matters in today's music world. But just like any other local band, they possess a passion for music and continue to impress fans and gain them at each live performance.
Be sure to check out this AIDS benefit show, support the local music, and don't forget to catch recorded singles by Consolation Champ at their Web site, http://www.consolation champ.com and at http://www.myspace.com/consolation champ.
Until then, mark your calendars for Oct. 7 to give these guys a listen and form your own opinion.
- The Student Voice - UW River Falls


"Howwastheshow reveiw - The Big Event"

HOW WAS THE SHOW REVIEW

The Big Event fe: Mason Jennings, Haley Bonar, The Alarmists, The Exchange & Consolation Champ (Saturday, October 7, 2006, Wall Amphitheatre, University of Wisconsin – River Falls) By Jen Paulson

I visited the University of Wisconsin in River Falls for The Big Event, a concert put on by their chapter of the Student Global AIDS Campaign........The bill they put together was impressive; not only Mason Jennings, but Haley Bonar and The Alarmists fresh off their respective wins at the Minnesota Music Awards along with possible future contenders, Consolation Champ and The Exchange. Each band was sponsored by local businesses, with some of the bands donating portions of their merchandise sales to the cause.

Arriving for the last few songs of Consolation Champ, I was impressed by their subtle way of rocking the helicopters off the trees. - Jen Paulson, howwastheshow.com


"City Pages"

Modesty has always been a cornerstone of acoustic folk music, but these local folkies definitely undersell themselves in their band name. Far from musical also-rans, Consolation Champ have an everyman earnestness that is at once endearing and challenging. Theirs is a free-range sound that can take them from simple, sincere claw-hammer folk to an impassioned, detuned strum that evokes Jeff Magnum at his most plaintive. As Magnum proved, a sour note here and there never hurt anyone, and Consolation Champ's songs are often strengthened by running sharp. Lobos Pattern, their forthcoming new CD, drops tonight at the 400 Bar right before a month-and-a-half-long tour to the Mojave, a place where many a life lesson has been taught by many a spectral half-nude Indian. Here's hoping Consolation Champ leave their "aw shucks" humility in the desert. Hey, it worked for Jim Morrison. With the Builders and the Butchers.18+. — David Hansen

Consolation Champ (CD-Release); the Builders and the Butchers; Joey Ryan; Jonathan Delehanty
Fri., March 7, 8:00pm
Price: $5
400 Bar
400 Cedar Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN
- City Pages, Minneapolis


"Musician amps up zest for life after ski crash"

Last modified: Friday, April 4, 2008 10:49 AM MDT
Musician amps up zest for life after ski crash

By Karen Cotton
kcotton@wyomingnews.com

An incident in the mountains near Laramie ended up being a life-changing experience for John Richards, guitarist and songwriter for the Minnesota-based band Consolation Champ.

He is making a solo tour and will stop at Synergy Café on Vandehei Avenue at 7 tonight.

Richards' first trip to the state actually was in 2002; it left an impression on him.

"After my sophomore year in college, I went hiking 45 minutes outside of Laramie," Richards recalled.

He was with several friends, including one who was from Wyoming and was used to the elements.

"We were high in the mountains, and they were tightly packed with snow," Richards said. "When we were up there, we could see a storm starting to roll in."

The Wyoming friend was a downhill skier, so he decided to ski down a snow chute. That wasn't Richards' first choice, but gravity decided otherwise.

"I slid on my butt in the snow chute after falling, and I had my tennis shoes on," Richards said. "I couldn't stop my momentum when I dug my heels in on this 200-yard snow chute.

"I thought to myself, 'Is this where it's going to end, here in Wyoming?'"

He hit the rocks at the bottom.

"I never lost consciousness, and I got out of it with deep cuts on my leg, cracked bones and I shattered my left knuckle," he said.

He waited, prone and in agony, on the steep part of the mountain while his friends flagged down a truck driver who called an ambulance.

"I feel lucky that I escaped it with minimal damage," he said.

Because of this incident, Richards says he now lives life to the fullest.

"That event encouraged me to take risks with being a musician and to take an alternative lifestyle other than 9 to 5," he added.

Richards, who has a business degree and was an analyst at Target corporation headquarters, left his job to pursue musical ambitions.

Consolation Champ was formed in 2003 and released its first album in 2006.

The band is made up of childhood friends: Richards and Chris Mitchell on guitar as well as Mitchell's brother, Matt, on bass guitar. The band's drummer is Rick Nordquist.

The members' jobs keep them from touring, which is why Richards is traveling solo. But when they can, the members perform together in the Twin Cities area.

Consolation Champ's first album, "The Invitational" is available on iTunes.

Richards currently is promoting his EP "Lobos Pattern." He recorded that late last year with band mate Chris Mitchell after they did an acoustic tour through the Rocky Mountains.

Now Richards says he puts his energy into songwriting and doing what he calls the "independent musician thing."

John Richards to perform tonight at Synergy Café

When: April 4, 7 p.m.

Where: Synergy Café,

459 Vandehei Ave #100

More info: No cover.

Call 778-3838 or go to

www.synergycafe.com.
- Wyoming Tribune Eagle


Discography

The Lobos Pattern EP - released March 2008

1. Lobos Pattern
2. Den (It's the Same)
3. Young Michael
4. FC Carolin
5. 12-0 Run

This five song acoustic EP was recorded the week after John and Chris returned home from a 3-week fall tour to the Rocky Mountains. It was recorded almost entirely live in the studio with the goal of capturing these songs as they were performed on the road.

All songs written by John Richards

John Richards - lead vocals, guitar, shaker, bells, hand claps
Chris Mitchell - lead guitar, backing vocals, hand claps
Additional shaker by Brad Baker

Recorded Nov-Dec 2007 at Taylor Sound in Minneapolis
Produced by John Richards, Chris Mitchell and Brad Baker
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Brad Baker
Cover photo taken by Chris Mitchell while touring in New Mexico

This album can be purchased on iTunes and most digital music services, as well as at record stores throughout Minnesota.

-----------------------------------------------------------
The Invitational - released Sept 2006

1. She's Such a Fox
2. Texas
3. Race Car in the Shop
4. Short Sweet Messages
5. The Blues & Basil McRae
6. Checkout Girl
7. Tomorrow's the Start
8. Wonderful Unknown

The first album recorded under the name Consolation Champ. Recorded in the summer of 2006 at Taylor Sound in Minneapolis. Features re-recorded, full band versions of "Checkout Girl" and "The Blues & Basil McRae," which were both found on John's debut album. In addition, four of the songs--"Wonderful Unknown," "Texas," "Tomorrow's the Start," and "Checkout Girl" are featured in the 2008 film "Cold Feet" by Ross McNamara and Ryan Jones.

John Richards - vocals, guitars
Matt Mitchell - bass
Rick Nordquist - drums, backing vocals

All songs written by John Richards and arranged by Consolation Champ

Produced by Consolation Champ and Brad Baker
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Brad Baker
Mandolin on "Texas" by Joey Ryan
Album photography - mattblumphotography.com

This album can be purchased on iTunes and most digital music services, as well as at record stores throughout Minnesota.

----------------------------------------------------


John Richards (2004)

1. Bottlerocket
2. Checkout Girl
3. Foreign Rain
4. Maroon Pontoon
5. State of You
6. The Blues & Basil McRae
7. Quietly Shouting
8. The Next 20
9. You the Man

Unpolished and acoustic, this was John's first crack at making an album. Recorded in a bedroom in St. Joseph, MN in the winter of 2004. At this time, it is only available for purchase at live shows.

all songs written by John Richards
produced by John Richards and Matt Blum at "Big Dipper Productions"
mixed by Matt Blum at Rockhouse Productions
mastered by Jeff Vee at Rockhouse Productions
cover art by Brady Bussler

John Richards - acoustic guitar, vocals, piano on "Quietly Shouting"
Matt Mitchell - bass
Matt Blum - percussion, additional backing vocals, keys



Photos

Bio

Singer-songwriter John Richards has been writing and performing original music for ten years, and since 2006 he has released two records and toured clubs, cafes and colleges throughout the USA under the name Consolation Champ. Many Consolation Champ shows are intimate solo acoustic performances. Others are lively, full-band rock shows where Richards is joined by Matt Mitchell on bass, Chris Mitchell on lead guitar, and Rick Nordquist on drums.

John, Matt, Chris and Rick all grew up in the same Twin Cities suburb and attended the same schools all the way from Kindergarten through college at the University of Minnesota. They span three graduating classes, and, while some members collaborated together in various bands during school, it wasn’t until after they had all finished college that they first played together as a quartet.

Champ self-released the debut album “The Invitational” in the fall of 2006, then followed it up in March of 2008 with “Lobos Pattern,” a 5-song EP recorded mostly live in the studio after John and Chris had just returned from a duo-acoustic tour of the Rocky Mountains and Southwestern US. Both can be found on iTunes and most digital music services. Tracking for the next album has recently begun, with the release date to be determined.

Whether on stage or around a fire, Consolation Champ loves playing music and roasting marshmallows. Hope to see you at a show sometime, and hope you don’t mind if the marshmallow is a little burnt.

www.consolationchamp.com
www.myspace.com/consolationchamp
www.facebook.com/pages/Consolation-Champ/29392122551