Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"Cleverly crafted songs and creative musicianship, this band loves what they are doing and it is infectious. Catch ‘em live if you can, or pick up a copy of Far Above Rubies for a taste of the Trousers at home. Swell folks, great music, nice pants!" - Carey Carlson
THE BEST FOLK ALBUMS OF 2002
...Tangerine Trousers Far Above Rubies (self-released, 2001). Fun local band Tangerine Trousers gives a fantastic live show and puts some of that magic into this album. Far Above Rubies showcases their eclectic instrumentation, their stunning vocal virtuosity and their unusual songwriting. ...
- Twila Oxley Price
John and C.J. Milroy, founding members of the Tangerine Trousers, were joking recently about the band's three 2002 Detroit Music Awards nominations. The Trousers have been nominated 12 times over the last six years but are still waiting for that elusive first win.
"We're the Susan Lucci of the Detroit Music Awards," C.J. laughed, relaxing with her husband John in the couple's Ferndale home.
Although the 2002 nominations are flattering -- outstanding acoustic/folk album, outstanding acoustic/folk songwriters and outstanding acoustic/folk instrumentalist -- and a win would be nice, John and C.J. say nothing would change what's always driven them: a love of music. "It's our full-time job, writing and performing, even though we have full-time jobs," C.J. said. Both work at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. This is the third year in a row that John and C.J. have been nominated in the songwriting category.
"The songs [on Far Above Rubies] are different," said C.J. "But there is some kind of thread that runs through them." Rubies, the band's second album, has 14 songs, and 11 are original. It has gained critical acclaim and is getting regular airplay on radio stations in Michigan and other parts of the country.
The band has a busy schedule this summer, with half of its weekends already booked at festivals around the state, C.J. said. On Tuesday, April 2, the Trousers are in Mount Clemens at the Emerald Ballroom to open for the Grammy-winning Men at Work, the Australian band that made it big in the '80s. The show starts at 8 p.m. "The phone has really been ringing off the hook," John said.
- Pat Dostine
Discography
FAR ABOVE RUBIES - LP/CD - In Print
TALKING WITH ED - LP/CD - Out of Print
hear more Hi-Fi tracks at www.mp3.com/TangerineTrousers
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
From the honest and introspective story telling of folk to the savvy hooks and craftsmanship of pop music; the sophisticated harmony and walking bass lines of jazz to the soul and rhythm of music from far away lands like Ireland and Africa; add the vocal harmonies from country and gospel music ... and you get the "eclectic and sublime" acoustic Americana sound that Tangerine Trousers has dubbed "Folkrockoustic".
All this wrapped into a high energy live show that'll knock your 'trousers' off!
Each of the 6 members who make up the fabric of the Tangerine Trousers are as unique as the music they create, covering instruments from acoustic guitar, upright bass, accordion, flute, mandolin, lap steel, dobro, harmonica, saxophone, musical saw, bells, whistles, drums & percussion, and multi-layered vocal harmonies to soothe even the most savage beast. Entertainment is an equally important focus for the band, and the audiences are always left smiling!
The bands' latest recording, "Far Above Rubies," earned a nomination for the 2002 DETROIT MUSIC AWARD for Oustanding Acoustic/Folk recording (bringing the total DMA nominations for the group to 12), and was named one of the TEN BEST FOLK ALBUMS of 2002 by The CURRENT Magazine in Ann Arbor, MI. The band is currently working on the follow-up to 'Rubies' with producer/engineer Chris Stamey (Whiskeytown, Ryan Adams, Michael Stipe, Catilin Cary), to be released in
May 2003!
The Trousers are quickly building a solid following, and had a busy summer tour schedule in 2002 headlining two shows at THE ARK in Ann Arbor, as well as music festivals across Michigan, including the Muskegon Summer Celebration, Blissfest, Hiawatha Music Festival, and Riverfolk festivals, as well as the Comerica TasteFest in Detroit and the Arts, Beats, and Eats Festival in Pontiac.
Tangerine Trousers are very proud to be showcasing at the FOLK ALLIANCE 2003 Coference in Nashville on Thursday, February 6, 2003, starting 10:45 pm in rooms 110/111 on the main floor of the Nashville Convention Center!
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