lanky
Houston, Texas, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
"A feeling of sunny joy, easy and fast as a motorcycle on a summer day, swirls out of the stereo as Lanky's inner onwriter plays. He is off to an infectious start as he tours from his New Jersey home throughout the South in support of his chock-full-of-pop debut. Lanky's lyrics are at once introspective and broad as he explores truth in a complicated and ugly world. He has a supple voice that reaches beautifully into falsetto at times, while his guitar chimes out hooky major seven patterns. The 10 tunes are reminiscent of John Mayer and Sting with a dose of Jeff Buckley, but the album has an irresistible innocence and longing that is distinctively Lanky's own." - Performing Songwriter -Abby White
I’ve heard enough solo acoustic troubadours in clubs to be bored with them. It’s an especially sweet accident, then, to stumble across something so stripped down, yet so engaging. “Lovesick” is an undeniable gem, catching the ear immediately and digging in to stay. Lanky’s melody flies well above typical coffeehouse fare, admirably earning the singer half of his singer-songwriter tag. This EP’s five original songs are captured freshly written and largely unexplored, performed during 200 dates on the road in 2003. “If You Break My Heart, Break It Good” and “Get Home Safe” meander without melodic focus, sounding like they could use some of the development given to songs like “True”, but he delivers U2’s “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” with spirit.
-- Jeff Elbel
- The Big Takeover
"...image lanky as the Jackson Browne-and-Sting devotee in the Mayer and Mraz triumvirate. His angles are perfectly acute, and the shapes the make are familiar, but there's a promising roughness in his Houston shuffle." - Independent Weekley 1.03.07
The layers are seemingly endless, from the simplicity of the acoustic guitar strums to the complexity of electric guitars and keyboards playing an atmosphere game of cat and mouse. To top it all off, Lanky's voice is astoundingly smooth, making it remarkably easy to digest lyrics that are sometimes tinged with angst and bitterness. As a result, the album can be both dark and bright, always tugging at your heartstrings and leaving you wanting more. - Rockpile
Discography
ODDHOUR WORK WEEK, 2005
LAST CHANCE FOR A FIRST IMPRESSION, 2004
INNER ONWRITER, 2003
Photos
Bio
CHECK OUT LIVE VIDEO ON THE VIDEO PAGE
Lanky is a Houston,TX based singer songwriter. The New Jersey native adopted the moniker after the release of his first cd, INNER ONWRITER, put him on the road performing hundreds of solo acoustic shows to promote it. Though he never intended to be a solo troubadour-style artist, he's made quite a mark as the one man show. Moving from introspective, heart on sleeve ballads to infectious, hook-filled rockers effortlessly. His road worn Martin guitar, like an orchestra, fills the room as his instantly likable voice flirts with falsetto. Quite often, light-hearted stage banter about his very heart heavy songs is delivered with a devilish grin. A lanky performance has most definitely become one part heartbreak and one part celebration.
By spending much of each year on the road, Lanky has developed a devoted national following. His songs have received airplay on radio stations throughout the country and his songwriting has been praised by publications such as Performing Songwriter, The Big Takeover, Houston Press, The Aquarian Weekly and Rockpile Magazine.
Lanky was named 2005 Unsigned Male Artist of the Year by Unsigned magazine.
Odd Hour Work Week , his newest release, landed in the Top 200 FMQB album airplay chart and PERFORMING SONGWRITER Magazine writes: "Lanky's music is reminiscent of John Mayer and Sting with a dose of Jeff Buckley, but has an irresistible innocence and longing distinctly Lanky�s own."
Lanky is currently hard at work on his next release. He will be touring the U.S. throughout the fall of 2007.
Songs from the Odd Hour Work Week release were played on over 75 AAA radio stations.
Airplay on XM Satellite Radio Channel 45 'XM Cafe' and Sirrius Satelite Radio.
Lanky has performed at :
SXSW
Dewey Beach Popfest
The Chris Whitley Tribute shows in Texas
The Rock Boat
Numerous Hurricane Katrina Relief Benefits
Lanky has been a support act for David Mead, Bob Schnieder and Ian Moore
Lanky hosts a monthly songwriter showcase in Houston TX called Listen Up Y'all
Links
