Lauren Lee and Liberty Road
Holdenville, Oklahoma, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
4 Out of 5 Stars****
Lauren Lee and Liberty Road are from Oklahoma. Lauren began playing the fiddle at the age of thirteen, inspired by Alison Krauss. Lauren plays fiddle, viola and Mandolin in the band as well as being the bands lead vocalist. Lauren’s younger brother Sawyer plays guitar in the band. Robbie Lee, Lauren and Sawyer’s father plays percussion and finally Jerry Dilday, a friend of the Lee family, plays acoustic bass as well as taking a turn on vocals. The bands first album was released several years a go. This new album shows how the band have matured and developed as musicians and as people. River Road is a gentle flowing song, which sees Lauren taking centre stage on vocals. Lauren’s voice is delicate and charming. Empty Lonesome Sound (Crazy Chick Song) has a more modern feel to it. Once again Lauren takes the lead on this vocally lead song. Hickory Grove is a musical number with a catchy toe tapping beat. Give Her Wings sees Jerry Dilday on lead vocals with Lauren harmonising. Jerry’s voice is deep and clear in contrast to Lauren’s soft youthful sound. This is a great song. I’m Gonna Rise sees Lauren on lead vocals. Lauren’s voice is raspy on this particular number. Jerry provides harmony blending well with Lauren’s innocent voice. I Still Haven’t Found What I Am Looking For will be a familiar song to many listeners just not in this format. Lauren and her band have turned a powerful rock song by U2 into a gentle traditional sounding country number. This transition seems to work well. Eisenheim's Greatest is another musical piece, which highlights the bands talents as musicians. The piece seems to stop and start giving it added depth. Take All The Sky You Need sees Lauren taking centre stage. Her quiet vocals on this particular song will remind the listener of the early work of Jewel. Ava’s Reel is as the title suggests another musical piece, which is lively and entertaining. Waitin’ For The Wind sees Jerry on lead vocals for the final time on this album with Lauren harmonising. It is easy to see the influence of Ricky Skaggs in this song. Jesus Loves Me brings the album to an end. Lauren’s voice is allowed to really stand out on this number. The backing is light and unobtrusive. This album pulls together many styles of music. A thoroughly pleasing and faultless album.
Sara
- Maverick/August 2009
NEW CD – Lauren Lee and Liberty Road will celebrate the release of their new CD, 2nd Floor, with a free performance at the Fossil Creek Ranch on April 24. The public is invited and can expect to hear all of the songs on the CD as well as a few surprises. Luke Simmons and others will also be performing during this special event.
Liberty Road will host new CD release party
By Bob Melton
Lauren Lee and Liberty Road recently completed recording their second CD, titled "2nd Floor," and they will be celebrating with a free performance at their release party on Friday, April 24. The fun filled family event will be held at the Fossil Creek Ranch, located south of Ada. The public is invited and Concession will be available.
Lauren says that the band will perform all of the songs from the new CD as well as some added surprises. The evening of music will also include a performance by Luke Simmons of Weleetka (son of Chuck and Donna Simmons) as well as some of Lauren's more advanced fiddle students.
In addition to Lauren on fiddle and vocals, the Liberty Road Band includes Lauren's brother, Sawyer Lee on guitar, her dad, Robbie Lee on percussion, and family friend Jerry Dilday on bass guitar and vocals.
Many longtime fans will be pleasantly surprised by the new direction that the band has taken their music on this CD. There is a stronger folk influence that is evident from the very start when the band launches into “River Road” by Jimmy LaFave, and later performs Ellis Paul's "Take All the Sky You Need."
Even more surprising is the U2 classic, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," which is easily recognizable even though Liberty Road puts their own special spin on the arrangement.
Lauren's vocals are featured prominently throughout the CD, and her singing is more confident and expressive than ever. Of course, her fiddle playing has not been ignored, and she has included two of her own instrumental compositions, "Hickory Grove" and "Ava's Reel" that are certain to satisfy her many bluegrass fans.
One song that stands out in a style all its own is "Eisenheim's Greatest," written by Lauren and Sawyer. The instrumental weaves an intricate melody and rhythm that dances between the two instruments before the full band kicks in, taking the tune to an even higher level.
The new CD has already gained plenty of attention and raised expectations after the song "Give Her Wings" started receiving airplay on KYKC radio. That song features Jerry on vocals and is one of four outstanding compositions he contributed to the new CD. He also sings on “Waiting for the Wind,” adding variety to the overall CD.
The band will be appearing live on KYKC 100.1 FM with Amber Taylor on Thursday evening, April 23, beginning at 5:30, and listeners will get a preview of the new songs at that time. They also been making frequent appearances at the Grape Ranch in Okemah, including the highly popular “Bud Break Festival” this weekend, April 18 and again on May 16.
To reach the Fossil Creek Ranch from Ada, take Hwy. 3 (J.A. Richardson Loop) to the Fittstown/Tishimingo Exit (377 S/ 99 S) and exit right. Go 4 miles and turn right on CR 1620. Go one mile and Fossil Creek will be on the left side of the road. Look for the Fossil Creek Entry.
- Holdenville News---Bob Melton
Discography
Lauren Lee & Liberty Road released their second CD on April 24, 2009, titled "2nd Floor" on Four Count Records, an independent label. The band pre-released "Giver Her Wings" in Dec. '08. It was played for 2 1/2 weeks straight on KYKC 100.1 Ada, OK on the Hit Kicker Cafe. "I'm Gonna Rise" has received much airplay also since the release of "2nd Floor".
Lauren Lee and Liberty Road's debut album, "Don't Look Back" was released on an independent record label, Four Count Records, in July of 2006. They released one single "Mexico" off of the album. It has been played on Oklahoma Radio stations as well as a lot of internet radio stations.
Photos
Bio
LAUREN LEE & LIBERTY ROAD BIO: Lauren Lee and Liberty Road are from Southeastern Oklahoma. Lauren began playing fiddle at 13 and started singing at 17. She always had a desire to learn fiddle after discovering Alison Krauss at a young age. She learned all of the basics on her own by ear and 3 years into her playing, her music took a turn of a lifetime. She was introduced to Herman Johnson of Shawnee. Herman is a Master Fiddler who has won many competitions including National Championships. Lauren studied under Herman for four years and has continued to stay very busy pursuing her own music career with Liberty Road and also by giving private lessons for fiddle and mandolin. Sawyer Lee is Lauren's younger brother. He started playing the guitar at age 11. After Lauren started learning more fiddle tunes, she needed a backup guitar player, so Sawyer stepped right up. His talent is completely raw with no formal training. Even without training, it was obvious that Sawyer had the abilities to master the instrument fairly quickly. His current songwriting skills have shown his ability to cross genres and bring them together with a contemporary style. Robbie Lee is the father of Lauren and Sawyer. He has always had talent in music by playing different instruments starting in high school. He eventually settled with the drums playing mostly Country and Western. After Lauren and Sawyer started learning more progressive styles in 2004, they decided Dad needed to learn the djembe. After receiving his first percussion *toy* for Father's Day, he quickly added more percussion instruments that now give the band its own style.
Their debut album, "Don't Look Back" was released July of 2006 on Four Count Records. Lauren and Sawyer lend their songwriting skills to 3 of the songs, while Jerry Dilday contributed 4 songs including the title track. The rest of the songs are all traditional standards which Lauren and the guys have added their personal style to.
The new album, which is titled, “2nd Floor” was released in April 2009. The album was a project that spanned over 2 years since the completion of “Don’t Look Back.” Lauren and the band claim that “2nd Floor” has taken their music to the next level of growth and maturity they were striving to reach.
Choosing music for the album was a difficult process because they knew they were growing tighter as a band and wanted material that would show just that. The end result was a very personal and intimate collection of material. Lauren wrote two instrumentals, which are totally focused around the fiddle. Lauren and Sawyer together wrote one instrumental that is a true definition of their personal style and ability to combine instruments in a unique way. Jerry Dilday is featured as a songwriter on 4 tracks while lending lead vocals on 2 of his songs. There are two songs on the album that were written by influential folksingers, Jimmy LaFave and Ellis Paul. Lauren and the band hope that the listeners will be led by the emotion and purity that flows through the entire album, from the very first opening chord to the very last note. The versatility in the styles of music that is played is something that the entire band strives for. So with that passion, they strive to play music that will touch anyone of any age.
For Booking or to Contact:
LAUREN LEE & LIBERTY ROAD
7955 E. 136 Rd.
Holdenville, OK 74848
(home) 405-379-3408 (cell) 405-712-0441 or 712-0434
theleelodge@aol.com
facebook.com/laurenleeandlibertyroad
www.MySpace.com/LaurenLeeandLibertyRoad
www.FourCountRecords.com
Links
