Garth Reeves
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Garth Reeves

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"Blue Spark: Venus, Meet The Moon"

By: Alex Steininger

Following up their 1999 debut, the Transmitter EP, Blue Spark (who got their name from the X song, which you can find on 1982's Under The Big Black Sun) expand their ambition as they've grown exponentially in the past four years. Their full-length debut, Venus, Meet The Moon, blends the sound of early soul with warming pop, folk-pop, and even some gritty 70s rock 'n' roll. Where most bands would lose momentum in taking four years to follow up their debut, Blue Spark took the time and make good use of it. Front man Garth Reeves assembled a cast of friends and fellow musicians to flesh out his gorgeous songs and ensure they live and breath each time someone spins them. Goal accomplished, because Venus, Meet The Moon is a charming, enduring, and comforting piece of Northwest soul. The type of record you like the first time you hear it, and a year later, after constantly listening to it, fall completely in love with it as you discover it again - for the first time. - In Music We Trust


"Blue Spark, Transmitter"

By: Daniel Aloi

Fans of the Seattle band Goodness shouldn't despair that lead singer-songwriter Carrie Akre decided to leave for Los Angeles last fall. Her move didn't exactly leave her bandmates with nothing to do.

The band's family tree extends far and wide, including all the projects Akre (pronounced "ACK-ree") participates in -- she's a prime candidate for a left-of-the-dial "Six Degrees of" game.

Among Goodness' many spinoff bands are The Pin-Ups, Sweetwater (not the Woodstock-playing, VH-1 movie of the week band), Miracle Baby, and now, Blue Spark. Goodness guitarist Garth Reeves and drummer Chris Friel's side project has produced the kind of record that fans of melodic, thoughtful, guitar-driven roots rock should eat up.

Reeves' songs are intelligent and sincere, exploring a landscape of love found and lost. The rocking "Better Me" finds him bettered, not embittered, by a relationship; while the flip-side of that sentiment, "This Town," is about how everything changes and previously familiar places are avoided when a love affair is over. Reeves and company change tempo and mood from exuberant to reflective, while keeping all on a romantic even keel.

Mandolin, keyboards, vocal harmonies and pedal steel are added for taste on most of the seven-song album, but a basic trio carries off "Parks of Olympia," a solid, driving modern rocker (think Goo Goo Dolls) about some favorite public spaces to hang out.

Transmitter is an album for those who appreciate the fact that once upon a time the BoDeans cracked the Top 10. Highly recommended. - Consumable Online


Discography

Garth Reeves, Nothing But Time (2006)
Blue Spark, Venus, Meet the Moon (2003)
Blue Spark, Transmitter (1999)

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

After a long stint in the Pacific Northwest, Garth Reeves is relocating to New York City. Born and raised in Washington, DC, it's a return, of sorts, to his roots on the East coast.

He arrives in New York with his new album "Nothing But Time". It was two years in the making, and you might think that he and producer Jason Staczek (Chroma Studios, Shuggie) took the title literally. But what really kept them going - and going, was a mission. A mission to take no shortcuts and to follow the songs wherever they might lead. Using analog tape, an old Trident board, and a tight group of Seattle musicians they went on a quest for a sound. The journey has yielded a stunning and emotional record deeply rooted in tradition.

Although "Nothing But Time" is technically Garth's first solo album, it's his third as band leader, following up two successful albums with his Seattle-based Blue Spark. Joining him this time out are former band mate Jason Staczek on B-3, piano and production along with the cream of Seattle's roots scene; Pete Droge (Pete Droge, The Thorns), Rob Brill (Pete Droge), Jeff Fielder (Jeff Fielder, Sunday Morning Music), Andrew McKeag (P.U.S.A., Shuggie), Carrie Akre (Carrie Akre, Goodness), Danny Newcomb (Goodness), Myles Corbin (Glen Phillips), and Dan Tyack.

From the title track's SoCal twang to the hard driving lead off track "Out of Tune", this is music with purpose and with heart. A stunning reading of John Martyn's "Angeline" and the equally rich and emotional "This River" are centerpieces of a superbly crafted record.

Garth Reeves’ songs are timeless and his voice pulls you in to stories of love and loss captured in a heartfelt lyricism with layers of deep soul. Imagine Kris Kristofferson meeting Jeff Tweedy in a bar one night, knocking back a shot of Wild Turkey, then heading into the studio, and you’d come close to describing the sound of Garth Reeves’ music.

It's a sound that Garth is ready to take to the stage. The first and most recent Garth Reeves Band show was a guest appearance at the 2004 Farm Aid. After the recording hiatus, Garth is ready to deliver on the tradition of 110% passion that he is known for in venues across the west. It's about...time.

From 1995-2000, Garth Reeves played in one of Seattle’s best live acts, a diehard local favorite- Goodness. Goodness signed to Lava/Atlantic Records in 1996, then later to Immortal/Epic Records, and they are currently re-formed and playing upcoming dates around the Pacific NW.

Formed in 1998, Blue Spark began as an outlet for Garth's voice and songs that took on a more rootsy tone than Goodness. Blue Spark has toured the Pacific NW tirelessly, opening for The Jayhawks, Bobby Bare Jr., and Chuck Prophet while releasing two albums along the way, 1998's "Transmitter" and 2002's "Venus, Meet the Moon". Blue Spark was nominated in the Americana/Roots category for the Seattle Weekly’s “Best of Seattle” issue in 2003.