God Bless Relative
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God Bless Relative

Nashville, TN | Established. Jan 01, 2016 | SELF

Nashville, TN | SELF
Established on Jan, 2016
Band Alternative Indie

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"PREMIERE: GOD BLESS RELATIVE – “CONSOLIDATE”"

Led by songwriter Blake J. Tallent, God Bless Relative is a new indie rock outfit based out of Atlanta that crafts sturdy, hooky songs with a decidedly Southern bent. The band’s forthcoming debut, The Bay of Gordon | The South, chronicles Tallent’s life-altering transition from living on the other side of the world — New South Wales, Australia, to be specific — and making his way back to life in Georgia.

“Consolidate,” which we’re excited to premiere for you this morning, is the second single to be revealed from the project. It’s a Billboard-friendly rocker — all spry guitars and anthemic melodies — but the track manages to pack some bite amidst the sunny uplift. That bit of scruffy grit is crucial; any more polish and the song might come off as too contrived. Instead, it’s warm, smart, and rousing. Everything on “Consolidate” is familiar territory, but Tallent treads across that space with confidence, like he’s ready to claim it for his own. - Immersive Atlanta


"29 LOCAL RECORDS TO LISTEN FOR IN MARCH"

God Bless Relative – Bay of Gordon | The South
Release Date: March 3
Label: Self-released

Release Info
Led by songwriter Blake J. Tallent, God Bless Relative is a new indie rock outfit based out of Atlanta. The band’s forthcoming debut, The Bay of Gordon | The South, chronicles Tallent’s life-altering transition from living in Australia and making his way back to life in Georgia. The five-song effort is available for streaming and download via Bandcamp. - Immersive Atlanta


"Listen to God Bless Relative's "Passengers" Exclusively on Myspace!"

Ever have a conversation that you'll never forget? That's apparently what happened with God Bless Relative's Blake J. Tallent. The talk moved him so much that he was inspired to write "Passengers."

"I was 19 and my girlfriend and I drank a bottle of wine and walked on the beach all night," Blake J. Tallent tells Myspace. "I had been getting some traction in the bands I was involved in at the time, and she was in between jobs. At one point, she started crying and admitting that she didn't understand why some higher being loved me more than her due to 'favor'... I had never heard anyone be that honest with me. I got home around 5AM and wrote the song immediately.”

"Passengers" is off their upcoming LP, The Bay of Gordon | The South.

Listen to the track below. - MySpace


"A NEW BATCH OF SINGLES FROM GOD BLESS RELATIVE"

When Blake Tallent stepped away from his lead guitar role with Atlanta-based MYFEVER in early 2016, it was with the thought of possibly leaving music for good. After “facing down a few demons” for the better part of three years, Tallent recognized a need in himself to redefine what it was that fulfilled him. That’s when he decided to return home to Panama City, Florida, and contemplate his next move. Tallent says it was ultimately an old friend’s encouragement that convinced him to pick up his guitar and begin writing again. “I think my dear friend, Luke Seager, changed my mind, launching the first small, but special, writing session that eventually turned into God Bless Relative.” Tallent derives much of his subject matter from personal experiences. “To put it simply, if something moves me or challenges my thinking, I write it down in hopes that it will allow me to grow as an individual.” This includes the time he spent overseas at Hillsong College, before joining MYFEVER. “Most of it is a narrative of my time living in Sydney, Australia and how I processed leaving New South Wales to come back to my hometown and join a band.” That was the first time Tallent returned to the South at the crux of a major life change. This time, Tallent says, the motive behind the music is completely different. “What is really refreshing about the guys who have become a part of God Bless is the fact that we all want to create something that edifies us and speaks to us as artistic, creative individuals…” He says it’s not so much about trying to “make it” as it is just attempting to make something as artistically fulfilling as “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.” God Bless Relative does a good bit of work in its short arsenal of tunes. Vocally, Tallent challenges the long-standing convention that a band’s voice must be rugged and/or guttural to posses staying power. Not only is Tallent gifted with a voice, he’s gifted with the right voice. One that commands reconsideration of what we might tend to typically slough off as “young.” Effortlessly singing in a headspace that would require any other mere mortal to belt themselves bloody, Tallent isn’t pulling any strings. That’s his real voice. The one he speaks with. Musically, God Bless Relative hearkens to an early Oasis with an alt-country twinge. Among their latest singles, “Passengers” is masterfully indicative of that sound. This night-driving anthem is most familiar in its utility as the kind of rhythmic Americana that often drowns out conversation and accompanies heavy wind. In technical songwriting parlance, it’s a pocket groove with diamonds – a classic beat where the bass and kick align with shimmering strum patterns – but it’s Tallent’s vocal and lyrics that shine brightest here. “Passengers” is, first and foremost, a love song to the South (or at least a love song in the South), with its talk of “Mississippi evenings” and other familiar imagery, evoking the touristy daze of lights both natural and man-made…
GBR-Blake Tallent-2017
A grand old time/Two babies on a beach wrapped in arms so tight/Rubbing eyes/I hate when you’re driving and I’m in the passenger side/Neon signs/ The South is fine…
For the listener, it’s as much fun matching Tallent’s melodies, word-for-word, as it is hitting each “ooh” and every “aah.” “For the songs on this record, I found myself drawing a lot of influence from some of the more modern-day folk songwriters, like Josh Tillman, Ryan Adams, and Jeff Tweedy,” he says. “I think when people hear this EP they can expect folk songs arranged by dudes who like punk rock. I guess that would be considered alternative rock?” And perhaps that’s the best (and least frilly) way of describing it. Concerning that previously-referenced long play, Tallent says the recording process was as organic as it gets, leading to the band both filling its roster and yielding some pretty killer results in the process. “I brought up the idea of recording with my friends, Kiko and Luke. Within a couple of months, we booked some time at a private studio in Miramar, Florida, just to see what would happen…”
The end product is a full-length record, entitled “The Bay of Gordon | The South” which releases March 3rd. As for the circumstances that led him to where he is today, Blake claims to have found a freedom in making art that he loves again. In a band, with friends. “It completely changed my view of creativity, and I’ve never been happier with what we’ve come up with while behind our instruments.” Stream “Passengers” and other singles from God Bless Relative now on Spotify and Apple Music. Also be sure to find GBR on your favorite social media network or visit their website (www.godblessrelative.com) for news and info about upcoming shows.
God Bless Relative is Blake Talent // Luke Seager // Kiko Negron // Jordan Christie - Panama City Living Magazine


Discography

Still working on that hot first release.

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When Blake Tallent stepped away from his lead guitar role with Atlanta-based MYFEVER in early 2016, it was with the thought of possibly leaving music behind for good. After “facing down a few demons” for the better part of three years, Tallent recognized a need in himself to redefine what it was that fulfilled him. That’s when he decided to return home to Panama City, Florida and contemplate his next move. Tallent says it was ultimately the encouragement of an old friend that convinced him to pick up his guitar and begin writing again.

This time, Tallent says the motive behind the music is completely different. “What is really refreshing about the guys who have become a part of God Bless is the fact that we all want to create something that edifies us and speaks to us as artistic, creative individuals...” 

God Bless Relative does a good bit of work in its short arsenal of tunes. Vocally, Tallent challenges the long-standing convention that a band’s voice must be rugged and/or guttural in order to possess staying power. Not only is Tallent gifted with a voice, he’s gifted with the right voice. One that commands reconsideration of what we might tend to typically slough off as “young”. Effortlessly singing in a headspace that would require any other mere mortal to belt themselves bloody, Tallent isn’t pulling any strings. That’s his real voice. The one he speaks with.

Musically, God Bless Relative hearkens to an early Oasis with an alt-country twinge. Among their latest singles, “Passengers” is masterfully indicative of that sound. This night-driving anthem is most familiar in its utility as the kind of rhythmic Americana that often drowns out conversation and accompanies heavy wind. In technical songwriting parlance, it’s a pocket groove with diamonds - a classic beat where the bass and kick align with shimmering strum patterns - but it’s Tallent’s vocal and lyrics that shine brightest here.

For the listener, It’s as much fun matching Tallent’s melodies, word-for-word, as it is hitting each ooh and every aah. “For the songs on this record, I found myself drawing a lot of influence from some of the more modern-day folk songwriters, like Josh Tillman, Ryan Adams, and Jeff Tweedy. I think when people hear this EP they can expect folk songs arranged by dudes who like punk rock. I guess that would be considered Alternative Rock?” And perhaps that’s the best (and least frilly) way of describing it.

God Bless Relative is Blake Talent // Luke Seager // Kiko Negron // Jordan Christie 


By: Nick May

Band Members