Nate Leavitt
Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014
Music
Press
Nate Leavitt has been described as being able to break your heart with 30 seconds worth of a song…I have listened intently and it’s true. There is a deep amount of heart, sorrow, and persistence in this man’s songs. I can honestly say I really love Nate’s tunes. He is a songwriter after my own heart, writes about the darkest of human emotion that some folks are just plain afraid to touch on. These songs make me feel something, which is what music is supposed to do. - Red Line Roots
Nate Leavitt will be releasing his full-length debut, You, Me And The Silence, on February 25. Taking on the role as performer, engineer and producer, the album is fully his. - Magnet Magazine
If you like Nate Leavitt alone, you'll go nuts for him with his band.
One of the great local sidemen, Leavitt called in every favor to assemble the group playing Cafe 939 on Tuesday: Dan Nicklin on guitar, omnichord and vocals, Magen Tracy on keys and vox, John Maloney on bass, Ned Gallacher on drums, Brian Carroll on mandolin and Noel Coakley playing pedal steel.
Enjoy the videos, go see the show and try to keep yourself from weeping quietly in your cubical at work -- these songs are beautiful but they'll sock you in the gut.
Jed Gottlieb - Boston Herald
It may have been Richard Bouchard who started it a few years ago, we’re not sure, but ever since, we’ve been firm believers in the campaign that declares Nate Leavitt the finest guitarist in Boston. Not that it’s any sort of competition, mind you, just that it’s a certain acclaim that recognizes the former Blizzard of ’78 leader and current Parlour Bells and OldJack guitarist for his sound, style, and passion. When we worked together for the Smashing Pumpkins edition of the Tuesday Night Recording Club, he instantly impressed everyone in the room, and he only met everyone but me that night.
Leavitt’s embedded in several bands and projects around Boston, providing substance for everyone from glam troubadours to Americana veterans, but he’s also got his emotive solo gig, and the ghostly folk of “Where Did Your Love Go,” posted below, is the first offering from upcoming autumn record You, Me, And The Silence. Co-produced by Leavitt and his OldJack comrade Dan Nicklin, the track features Leavitt on vocals and most of the instruments, with Phil Aiken (Phil Aiken Army) on piano and Jason Meeker (OldJack) on drums.
The song is officially released tomorrow night at Cafe 939, and the Nate Leavitt Band features some familiar faces around town: Nicklin on guitar, omnichord and vocals; Magen Tracy (Parlour Bells) on piano and vocals; John Maloney (The Rotary Prophets) on bass; Ned Gallacher (Ad Frank and the Fast Easy Women) on drums; Brian Carroll on mandolin; and Noel Coakley on pedal steel.
You, Me, And The Silence is the 10-song follow-up to Leavitt’s previous solo release, 2011 EP Inference. You can peruse that via the Bandcamp link below (or play “Where Did Your Love Go” on that platform, if you’re a Bandcamp kinda guy/gal).
Michael Marotta - Vanyaland
Discography
You, Me and the Silence - 2014
Inference - 2012
Photos
Bio
Nate has been performing in the Boston music scene for a little over twenty years. While most of that time was spent with the Supercharged Soul band The Blizzard of 78, he now makes his time as a solo artist as well as with the bands Parlour Bells (nominated for Video of the Year by the Boston Music Awards 2013) and Old Jack (nominated for Best Live Act by the Boston Music Awards 2011).
Nates acoustic based, ghostly-folk debut EP "Inference" received many positive reviews like this one from Jonathan Perry of The Boston Globe, "Effectively reflecting his affinity for the softer sounds of singer-songwriter folk and alt-country of the Ryan Adams (circa Heartbreaker) variety...Inference is an emotionally stark, bare-bones affair that puts his plainspoken, plaintive voice squarely front and center." Alex Schab of The Weekly Dig wrote, "Nate Leavitts solo debut packs a lot of powersubtle, ghostly, chill-the-flesh-off-your-bones power. Which says a lot, considering this is a folk album." Also Ryan Spaulding of Ryan's Smashing Life said, "Leavitt is a gifted soul who deserves this attention and more. Regardless of the name he plays under, most everything he touches turns to gold. Highly Recommended."
Nate has completed work on his full length debut called "You, Me and the Silence" being released on February 25, 2014. Once again he takes on the role of performer, engineer and producer while playing most of the instruments and recording in his home studio. Being a breakup album, people are relating it to Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks" and Becks Sea Change.
Magnet Magazine's MP3 at 3PM debut of the title track "You, Me and the Silence"
With Parlour Bells and Oldjack, Nate Leavitt is one of Bostons best guitarists. Now hes got solo mojo.
Michael Marotta - Vanyaland
Try to keep yourself from weeping quietly in your cubicle at work - these songs are beautiful but theyll sock you in the gut.
Jed Gottlieb - The Boston Herald
There is a deep amount of heart, sorrow and persistence in this mans songs. He is a songwriter after my own heart, writes about the darkest of human emotion that some folks are just plain afraid to touch on. These songs make me feel something, which is what music is supposed to do.
Red Line Roots
A few years ago, when I was just getting into all this stuff, I'd hear people say that Nate Leavitt was Boston's secret weapon. The secret has been out for quite some time, so we can stop calling him that. I'd say that in the rock and roll Cold War with other cities, Nate Leavitt is our nuclear deterrent.
Richard Bouchard - Former Local Talent Buyer at T.T. the Bears Place and Editor of Boston Band Crush
Band Members
Links
