Jerrod Medulla
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Jerrod Medulla

Winters, Texas, United States | SELF

Winters, Texas, United States | SELF
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"Dallas Observer Music Awards"

Best Country Act

Jerrod Medulla

Though he's been a honky-tonk mainstay in North Texas for years, Jerrod Medulla's latest album, Speak Easy, shows a versatility few hard-core troubadours achieve. Polished without feeling oily, Speak Easy can almost be termed a mood record. Medulla knows a dangerous woman is a lot sexier than any tractor could ever be.
- Dallas Observer - Kelly Dearmore


"Jerrod Medulla 'Stay The Night' Goes Top 10"

Jerrod Medulla Stay The Night goes Top 10

In the competitive Texas/Red Dirt music scene, it’s tough for a new artist to get past 30 on the charts. Jerrod Medulla has defied the odds this. “Stay the Night,” his first single off his new SPEAK EASY album went all the way to number 7 on the Texas Regional Radio Report and number 8 on the Texas Music Chart’s Texas Net 50. “I’ve been working for over nine years on my music career to get to this point,” said Jerrod, “I appreciate radio taking a chance on me.”

SPEAK EASY was named as one of top albums of 2012 by the Dallas Observer. The album was produced by Chuck Allen Floyd and Matt Nolen.

A slick country album that never feels overly polished. The smoky rock that Medulla folds into his honky-tonk recipe has a satisfyingly robust flavor. Also, it’s not a small deal that he landed a duet with the hotter-than-sin Lindi Ortega. Their duet, “How Bad,” is a jazzy, noirish number that would be tough for many pseudo tough guys to pull off. – Kelly Dearmore, Dallas Observer

“I went to school to be a surgical tech; however, I knew in my gut as I got older that I really did want to sing and write songs,” said Medulla, “I remember drawing pictures as a kid of singing before big crowds. Now, it’s really happening.” He has hit the road to tour in support of SPEAK EASY. He wants fans to come out to hear his new sound that he terms, “Swankabilly,” which is his own brand of blues and Country mixed together.

Please go to www.Reverbnation/JerrodMedulla.com

By Dan Harr - Music News Nashville - Dan Harr


"Jerrod Medulla"

“The slickest of this round-up, Medulla's Speak Easy is also his slickest album to date. Slick isn't meant to sound frivolous or poppy. In fact, the collection boasts a proper amount of country music themes ("Badly Bent" is about a broken down truck and a guy without any cash to have it fixed) and at the very worst, it might be categorized as a modern country album, which doesn't have to be a pejorative. The bluesy roadhouse atmosphere created is perhaps best hammered home with the tune "How Bad," as Medulla duets with the red-hot Lindi Ortega, a Toronto-based rockabilly beauty currently touring with Social Distortion, on a dangerously sexy tune. While a cover of the Cars' "Drive" is novel, we're not sure it necessarily fits in with the rest of the album thematically or musically, but it's a good tune amongst some quality offerings”. ?RIYL: Dierks Bentley, Roger Creager, Eli Young Band and hearing '80s pop tunes sandwiched between "Redneck Mother" and "Family Tradition."

Kelly Dearmore- Dallas Observer - The Dallas Observer - Kelly Dearmore


"Jerrod Medulla"

Jerrod Medulla is no stranger to the stage, and on Aug. 30 he will be stepping into the spotlight at the Courtyard Theater for an exclusive free show.

Medulla, whose music is a unique blend of rock, folk, country and blues, will be playing with special guest Marina Rocksu. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are only available at the door. Guests are encouraged to get there early to ensure a seat, as Medulla usually brings a big crowd. The show starts at 8:30 p.m.

For those who haven't seen Medulla live, expect to see "Texas roots in a pinstriped suit."

"This won't be a typical Friday night show," Medulla said. "It is a special, live showcase featuring songs from my 'Speak Easy' album with a few new ones that I cannot wait to introduce to everyone. The atmosphere in this theater is amazing and we are extremely excited to show our fans appreciation for all of their support."

Medulla, a west Texas boy with dusty roots from a tiny town outside of Abilene, began trekking across the state with his guitar a few years ago. Since then, Medulla has become a household name in the Texas music scene - even grabbing the attention of Bruce Springsteen, who called Medulla's rendition of "I'm on Fire" the best he's heard.

His newest album brings a lot to the table with songs like "Feelin' Good on the Inside," co-written by Chuck Allen Floyd, and "How Bad" featuring Lindi Ortega. Medulla even gives a friendly nod to a few folks in Rockport with "Rockport Wave."

After ending the summer on a touring high, Medulla is happy to be back in North Texas.

"We have been having a blast touring all over Texas this summer and recently got back from playing in Rockport, which is like a home away from home," he said. "But, there is something about coming back home and playing. There's that certain energy that the fans bring. It just fills the room and you can feel it on stage."

The Courtyard Theater is located at 1509 H Ave., Plano. For information about Medulla, visit him on Facebook.

By Marthe Stinton, mstinton@starlocalnews.com - Star Local News - Marthe Stinton


"Jerrod Medulla Breaks into the Texas Charts Top 10"

Jerrod Medulla Breaks into the Texas Charts Top 10

In the very competitive Texas music scene, it is pretty difficult to achieve a strong chart debut so Jerrod Medulla‘s first single, ‘Stay the Night,’ really is doing something special. The song, taken from his Speak Easy album, has reached #7 on the Texas Regional Radio Report and #8 on the Texas Music Chart’s Texas Net 50.

Via a press statement, Jerrod said: “I’ve been working for over nine years on my music career to get to this point. I appreciate radio taking a chance on me.”

And you can read more about Jerrod below:

SPEAK EASY was named as one of top albums of 2012 by the Dallas Observer. The album was produced by Chuck Allen Floyd and Matt Nolen.

A slick country album that never feels overly polished. The smoky rock that Medulla folds into his honky-tonk recipe has a satisfyingly robust flavor. Also, it’s not a small deal that he landed a duet with the hotter-than-sin Lindi Ortega. Their duet, “How Bad,” is a jazzy, noirish number that would be tough for many pseudo tough guys to pull off. – Kelly Dearmore, Dallas Observer

“I went to school to be a surgical tech; however, I knew in my gut as I got older that I really did want to sing and write songs,” said Medulla, “I remember drawing pictures as a kid of singing before big crowds. Now, it’s really happening.” He has hit the road to tour in support of SPEAK EASY.

Please go to www.Reverbnation/JerrodMedulla.com

#Jerrod Medulla

Written by Liv Carter - Urban Country News - Liv Carter


"Jerrod Medulla"

Texas music of late seems stuck on stop in another of its periodic pendulum swings where the college kids and the DJs think only one particular sound counts. One could be forgiven for having thought the whole Red Dirt thing would’ve run its course by now. That movement had its moments, and some of its stalwarts are making better music now than they ever have before. So no knock on the scene, or whatever the cool kids are calling it these days. But heaven have mercy, and with apologies to Waylon, hasn’t this Red Dirt shit done got out of hand?

Wasn’t always thus. There was a time when Texas music was every bit as big as Texas itself. The “why” behind all that was simple to understand, too. In a nutshell, what sets Texas apart is that it remains a place where you are supposed to dream big. Not just a place where anybody can do so – that’s the paltry American dream. In the Lone Star state, having the ability to shoot for the stars isn’t anywhere near enough. Rather, aiming high is exactly what everyone is supposed to do. The history books are brimming with fantastic tales of men and women who took that expectation to its fullest extent. It’s not just an Anglo-centric cultural thing, either. Something about the land itself, and what it requires in order for mankind to extract a living, gets rooted down deep in the soul. You want Texas dreamers? Forego the usual route with Stephen Austin and company; start with Buffalo Hump. His dreams came in the form of a vision, and resulted in a Comanche raid to the sea that still gets talked about today. Go read up on Cabeza de Vaca, and how his dreams worked out. But before you mourn for him, remember that he swung for the fences before ballparks were even invented. Think of the Parker family, and the myriad and widely varied prices they paid for their dreams. Yet theirs remains a frontier story which in the end brought a measure of forgiveness, and even unexpected unity between warring peoples. You could also saddle up and ride a piece with Audie Murphy, whose Texas roots and mindset played hell with Nazis during WWII. That was a man right there, the one leading all the other good ones who were running to the sound of the guns. But while you’re trying to remember what you think you’re supposed to know about Audie, here’s something you probably didn’t know: he wrote songs in his later years. Songs recorded by renowned performers as widely disparate as Dean Martin and Charley Pride. You can look it up.

That’s Texas. And that’s Texas music, too. The real music, the honestly good stuff, only flows from the deepest wells. It sparkles and refreshes like the purest waters from the oldest springs, and it dances just as mightily in the midst of tornadoes as it does under a summer sun. Lone Star dreamers being what they are, and the place being what it is, the depths and breadths of Texas music wind up peerless in the world. For every Lightnin’ Hopkins, a Doug Sahm. For every Willie Nelson, a Selena. ZZ Top to Janis, Jerry Jeff Walker to Cary Swinney, and all points in between. These are the lessons the hardcore “Texas Country” fans are missing. Nothing intrinsically wrong with enjoying the hell out of a Kevin Fowler show, or feeling like just maybe Pat Green wrote a song about your life. But it’s a crime against your soul to neglect the journey past the pretty sounding cover boys and into the depths of what Texas music is worth.

That’s where Jerrod Medulla comes in. Raised in Tuscola, TX, a little bitty town down south of Abilene, Medulla’s got all the native cred he needs. Fifth generation Texan on his mama’s side, y’all. Did the ranch work, stayed close to the family, earned his stripes and let the storied roots of his raising run deep. Here’s where the road gets a little interesting, though. On his daddy’s side, those roots are straight from Sicily. Your own thoughts on La Cosa Nostra and all the Godfather clichés aside, Sicilians aren’t far removed from Texans in the ways that they’ll band together and buck the odds. Or in their fanatic devotion to exceptional food. The two groups just come at it all from different perspectives. Which means Medulla often found himself in the middle growing up. Unlike some who opt for said middle’s easy rolling gait, however, this kid decided it all needed to be taken in. So while he was tacking up a working horse and earning his saddle sores, he was also spending time in the kitchen with a paring knife and the oral tradition of family recipes. With music from both family trees providing depth and color to the worlds he was making his own. Not a bad way to grow up, but also one that sorta sets a high bar in terms of expectations. How’s a kid deliver on all that?

He pays his dues around Lubbock for several years while attending college and working as a surgical tech. Hones his craft, finds his voice, and somewhere along the way also finds that others appreciate what he’d hidden away and thought of as mainly a personal hobby. - Outlaw Magazine


"Jerrod Medulla - Speak Easy Review"

“In these days of prefabricated, unadulterated, and sterilized auto-tuned, drum machine, synth-driven tastemaker-declared fake-cool “country” music, it is indeed refreshing to have a young singer/songwriter come along with some guts, glands, and honesty. I’m a little biased, because I’ve liked Jerrod Medulla since the first time I met him. He’s a down-to-earth, fun (and funny) guy... but I’ve also recognized a stellar musical talent in Jerrod’s singing, songwriting, and musical sensibilities. And I have hoped to hear that talent captured in a world-class recording. Jerrod’s new CD, Speak Easy is that recording. From the opening chords of the CD, it is immediately clear that producers Chuck Allen Floyd and Matt Nolen cut no corners when it came to achieving an exquisite production on Speak Easy. With an infectious sonic punch and clarity, the music all but jumps out of the speakers at you (listen on a good system, and turn it up)! It goes without saying that an album of this quality cannot be made without superb session musicianship, and these players nailed it. But what about the songs and the songwriting? Doesn’t matter how good a recording is, it’s the song (in my humble opinion) that counts. As revered Nashville guitarist Ray Flacke once told me in his delightful native Brit accent, “you can’t polish a turd”. Yet, our radio airwaves today are jammed with polished turds... great audio production, wasted on throwaway songs. And so it is especially satisfying to discover a record that throws all formulas out the window. Speak Easy manages to run a very tasteful gamut of musical styles without trying to follow any predetermined formula, and the songwriting is just damned top-notch. A majority of the songs on Speak Easy were written or co-written by Jerrod himself. Yet he has chosen a few very tasteful cover songs that flow perfectly. For instance, Jerrod’s take on the old Cars classic Drive... well, it just became a Jerrod Medulla song... it just clicks. It is rare for me to (a). discover a CD on which I literally can’t find a song that I don’t like, and (b). discover an artist whose songs, performances, and persona are genuine enough for me to want to write about them. And I could write exhaustive commentary on each and every song on Speak Easy. But I’m not gonna do that... I’m going to go listen and enjoy the CD some more. It’s that good, folks. I’ll close by saying this: Jerrod Medulla is not cool because he says he is or because I say he is or because some tastemaker wants to sell or tell you he is. Jerrod, like Dylan... like Cash... like Springsteen... well, he just is.”

Brian Burns - Ghost of the Baker Hotel, Multiple Award Winning Songwriter, Singer and Texas History Educator - Brian Burns


Discography

Still working on that hot first release.

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Bio

Five years ago, Dallas had no idea what was about to happen to its music scene. A man hailing from Abilene was about to slide into town and seduce Texas  music faithfuls with a sultry, sophisticated sound that flirts with genres such as Adult Contemporary, Roots and Americana all while wearing a pinstripe suit and a devilish grin.

It was heartbreak that led Jerrod Medulla to music, and the guitar that satisfied that dull, lonely ache only the end of a first love could cause. But once he found that riffs, slides and solos could heal just about anything, his true first love was born and there was no looking back.

He was bewitched; led astray from the average nine-to-five workday and lured into a world he could barely control. He was swept into the music scene when an unexpected undertow pulled him on stage at an Open-Mic night.

I had been studying for my surgical tech courses and my buddies kept calling me trying to get me to come to Open-Mic night at this bar, he said. I was just there to hang out, but they signed me up without me knowing, and when the time came to get on stage, they handed me a guitar. I couldnt say no.

Medulla took a drink and a deep breath and climbed on stage. With a borrowed guitar and a made-up set list, Medulla played in front of a crowd for the very first time. He was a natural. At the end of his set, a promoter for a local two-day music festival approached him and offered him an acoustic spot in the show.

He's been playing to packed houses ever since, as his style has continued to evolve.

After seeing success behind the mic, songwriting quickly began to woo Medulla, though his first attempts focused on heartbreak and hangovers. But once he left the dust-filled cities of West Texas and moved to Dallas, his writing skills began to heat up, inching him closer and closer to finding his now-salacious style.

I woke up from a dream with a melody in my head and Shouldnt Be Doin This was it, he said. I had been looking for my style for all of these years and I kept writing songs trying to find it. But once Shouldnt Be Doin This' came along, I knew that was it. Demand for the song from his fans and show attendees has prompted Jerrod to strongly consider releasing it as a single.

Its the innovative sound that mixes with Medullas carnal lyrics that make his style so unique. His latest tracks bait the listener with provocative accompaniments, smooth textures and sensuous bedroom-inspired lyrics. 

Right now, Medulla spends his time focusing on writing and challenging himself to continue pushing the innovative envelope. But with instrument combinations such as a baritone guitar and an Italian-inspired accordion, it's a path only Medulla can cut.  Its Texas roots in a pinstripe suit, and its not going anywhere but up!


Band Members