Music
Press
Shades of Gray
Come to the Window
Independent
Street: 01.09
Shades of Gray = Van Morrison and all kinds of organ action
It's time to blues it up with Shades of Gray. When I was listening to this cd I totally wanted to be getting all wasted and bugging out with a bunch of old smoking pimps! I have a feeling that each member of the band secretly has a Stevie Ray Vaughn shrine at their house that kiss and pray to every night before they go to bed. It's boozing music for sure. There's nothing wrong with blues-jammed organ solos either. Especially to set it live or sit with your friends tell them all the troubles of life. Just picture the bar scene in Weird Science when an intoxicated Gary played by Anthony Michael Hall tells Fats his lady troubles. "Broke my heart in two!" "Broke more than ya heart!" –Jon Robertson - Slug Magazine
Shades of Gray Come to the Window
Shades of Gray are testament to the triumph of band nerds (potential groupies, take note). It might be unfair to assume these four young lads were/are nerds, but it would certainly explain why Come to the Window is so effin’ tight. The album effortlessly blends together a diverse palate of genres, making it look nearly easy to play jazz, blues, funk or reggae. A scorching guitar solo propels the record on opening track “Talk Is Cheap,” a bluesy swinger that could set the house on fire once the organ kicks in for the chorus. “Demon-Ishd,” the album’s highlight, is a truly odd jazz number filled with oboe solos stuttering trumpets, and even a rap (!). Technical prowess aside, Shades could take a lesson in self-editing; many of the songs drag on and feel a little too indulgent. But, once the chain-gang Southern blues of the title track stops, you may feel like you haven’t got enough. MySpace.com/ShadesOfGraySLC - City Weekly
Discography
Full Album- Come To The window
Photos
Bio
Hailing from Salt Lake City Utah, Shades Of Gray is establishing itself as one of the cities most exciting live acts to see. Shades takes the blues, funk, rock, and jazz and throws it into a blender, which creates a unique organic sound that is progressive yet still anchored firmly in its roots.
Shades Of Gray was formed in 2003 after guitarist Mat Wennergren and Bassist Nate Simpson decided they wanted to create an all original band, after playing together for many years in high school ensembles. Drummer Joey Davis was brought in to audition some keyboard players against. None of the keyboard players stayed, but Joey did. The trio had found a chemistry that they had not known before despite years of playing together in more formal settings. As they began to write material, the band realized that many of the songs required a keyboard element that was not there. In December of 2004 they once again called on another high school friend Anthony Phan to add Hammond Organ into the mix. Very early on Anthony’s supreme trumpet and fender rhodes chops were also thrown in. The result is that the, now four piece, band had the ability to sound like a five piece. As the new material was worked up and played live the band began prepping for a studio album.
They entered the studio in March of 2006 and cut “Come To The Window.” The album was primarily cut live in the studio with very minimal overdubs. “Come To The Window” manages to capture the band’s live, improvisational energy and also showcases their strong song writing ability. Released in March of 2007 the album is slowly gaining momentum through the band’s live shows.
Shades Of Gray is currently writing new material and playing live locally in Salt Lake City and is looking forward to expanding regionally. “Come To The Window” is available at CD Baby, iTunes and other digital retailers and will be available in local record stores very soon.
Links
