The Laws
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The Laws

| SELF | AFM

| SELF | AFM
Band Americana Acoustic

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This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"THE APPLAUSE"


“… alternatively wistful and playful songs… collection of acoustic gems” Chris Neal, Nashville Scene (Critics Pick)

“ .. duo’s close-harmony singing, a deeply affecting blend that harks backs to the impeccable like of the Davis Sisters and Delmore Brothers...” Bill Friskecs-Warren, The Tennessean (Get Out Americana Pick)

“ …. begins with this languid, swaying, romantic melody that recalls The Everly Brothers in their prime. Yes, the harmonies really are that good. The mandolin and accordion solos are utterly lovely. Michele adds a third vocal part on “Go Easy” and swings lightly in “Put Some Love In It.” John dazzles with his mandolin instrumental “Texacadia.” They both hypnotize you on “Whiskey and Gasoline” and delight you with finger-popping “Getting Over You.” Heartily recommended.”
Robert Oermann, Music Row Magazine

“John and Michele Law's songs seem to be the lost essence of country music which has now become so commercial and formulaic sounding.” Randy Bachman
“You've got the sound.” Tom Russell

"If Gram Parsons married Alison Krauss their music would sound a lot like John and Michele."
Willie P Bennett
- Fellow Musicians


"Presenter Quotes"

April 10/10 
"The Laws put on the Freewheelin Concert of the year! The audience was begging for more even after 2 encores! What a musical treat to hear such fine harmonies, great pickin' and husband and wife banter that leaves you smiling, laughing, toe-tapping from beginning to end. These guys are not to be missed!  One of Canada's Top Acts for sure!!!
Jim Marino
Freewheeling Folk Show, Smokin Bluegrass Show
93.3 CFMU Hamilton On, Canada

" ... alternatively wistful and playful songs ... collection of acoustic gems."
Chris Neal, Nashville Scene

" .. duo's close-harmony singing, a deeply affecting blend that harks backs to the impeccable like of the Davis Sisters and Delmore Brothers..."
Bill Friskecs-Warren, The Tennessean (Get Out Americana Pick)

" ... recalls The Everly Brothers in their prime. Yes, the harmonies really are that good."
Robert Oermann, Music Row Magazine

"The Laws invaded Flint last Friday and conquered the hearts of every folk music fan there. An evening of great original music and stories ended all too soon, with folks saying "Man, you have to have them back!"
Ron Woods
Flint Folk Music Society

"The Laws are one of the strongest concert acts in Canada. Flawless harmonies, sensational musicianship and exceptional audience rapport are all hallmarks of their live performances. Their songwriting skills are second to none. I have had the pleasure of presenting The Laws on many occasions secure in the knowledge they will deliver an outstanding show. "
Bob Bale
Affinity Concerts, Sudbury, Ontario

" With inspired lyrics and exquisite harmonies, they engaged our audience like we've never seen before. It's crystal clear after a few bars that John and Michele were born to sing together. We are already being asked when we're having them back ... tomorrow if we could! "
George & Melina Scott
Songwriters Showcase, Tottenham, Ontario??

"What separates them from many is their ability to bring those lyrics, those harmonies and their instrumental prowess to life and to give their audience the intimate sense that they are in your living room. Have you ever been at a concert where it felt like you were the only one there? That the performers were leaving nothing for later? The entire audience leaving the show with a big smile and a spring in their step? The Laws are a delight- run, don't walk to their show, the next time they're in your town."
Sean Pennylegion
Haliburton County Folk Society, Haliburton, Ontario

“The Laws are a musical gem, the Big Valley Jamboree crowd got to experience what I knew was a great act, our audience now know it as well.”
Larry Werner,
Big Valley Jamboree, AB, Canada

“… with splendid inter-woven harmonies and voices and instruments that are so in tune with each other, one is reminded of the greatest masterpieces that have taken years and patience and dedication to bring to fruition.”
Lillian A. Wauthier,
Mariposa Folk Foundation, Acoustic Harvest Folk Club, Fiddles and Frets Music, ON, Canada

"They wowed the main stage audience with their glorious vocal harmonies, they played and sang beautifully in daytime sessions and they anchored a legendary late-night session. I was not at all surprised that their CD's sold out before the weekend was over. The Laws are loaded with talent…."
Chris White,
Ottawa Folk Festival, ON, Canada

"The Laws have skilfully combined compelling harmonies, strong song writing, and top-rate musicianship into a tasty musical blend that will appeal to a wide range of listeners. And they can cook, quite literally, too. They are the embodiment of the new Americana music movement."
Randy Judy,
MagnoliaFest and Suwannee Springfest co-producer, FL, USA

“Delightful as a couple and dynamite as a duo ... they seem a match made in heaven ... luscious vocals, both exquisitely capable of lead and harmony.”
Joe Henry,
Acoustic Sounds, Little Rock, AR, USA

"Take a bit of old style western music - some Texas open range, solid and tight harmonies, lyrics that hit you in the ears, the eyes and the solar plexus - add to this a wonderfully loving stage presence that you just can't ignore - and you've got "The Laws".
Jim MacQuarrie,
New South Folk, Australi

"… totally captured the audience…an all round delight."
Graham McDonald,
Artistic Director, National Folk Festival, Australia - Festival AD's and Presenters


Discography

Estimated Time of Revival - 2000
Two - 2002
Another Road - 2004
Live at the Camp Street Cafe - 2005
Ride it Out - 2007
Try Love - 2011

Photos

Bio

It’s not surprising John and Michele Law kick off their sixth album Try Love (out January 23, 2011) with the line ‘I believe in love at first sight,’ as the album marks The Laws’ 10 years and one million miles on the road as a couple. “It was actually love at first height,” they kid. The song is also the perfect introduction to the grassy folk-duo’s essence, “we are a happy positive couple and we love playing music together” -- which they’ve been doing since releasing their first album 2000 and ambitiously touring over 200 dates a year both in the US and Canada. The couple recorded their tight harmony singing in one take with producer J.P. Cormier, whose musicianship embellished the songs of Waylon Jennings, Marty Stuart, Earl Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Charlie Louvin and Vince Gill on recordings as well as on the Grand Ole Opry stage.

Try Love is a melodic collection of country-folk with bluegrass hints, healthily supplied with pop sounding verses and intricate picking. “It captures The Laws sound like no other. We recorded in a room overlooking the ocean in Cape Breton.” It’s not hard to imagine them singing to sunset and waves while listening to the fully harmonic title track, a response to “the depressing and negative news on television. We had to write a positive song and send a little love out to the world.”

They have fun on “Who’s Keeping Score,” a swingy 2-step about a guy who keeps picking the wrong woman. “We have a great friend who falls in love all of the time! He calls us regularly to tell us ‘this is the one,’ but finds out a month later that ‘the one’ has a few problems or a husband. He stays positive and laughs it off and we tell him that we’re not keeping score.”

Elsewhere The Laws pick up a more poignant writing theme, on the rough times in marriage with “Walking Away.” Or “Same Rain” about being separated from the one you love -- Michele and John swapping verses in front of a rolling banjo and keyboard that would sound at home on country radio.

While John has always played music professionally, it wasn’t until meeting him that Michele picked up the guitar. “I had always been musically inclined and sang often, and then I met John and knew we were to make music together and hopefully be able to make it a career,” shares Michele. They came up with a five-year plan in the late 90s. “But we’d have jams and everyone there was a guitar player, so I switched to bass. As it turns out, I became the third chick bass player in my family.”

John and Michele officially became “The Laws” after touring and recording with numerous artists as back-up singers and players. “People kept telling us that we had something special on stage together, that we should start writing our own songs and doing our own shows. We hadn’t really taken it seriously until one day we woke up and wrote 2 songs before breakfast....we were hooked!”

They released their first album Estimated Time of Revival in 2000, recorded at Randy Bachman’s studio, and in the ensuing three years they worked in Canada and Australia before heading to the US to tour in 2003. Two more studio albums and a live album were released between 2003 and 2006. The two spent as much time as possible writing and co-writing in Nashville and moved there for a year.

In 2007 they became first Canadians to win Merlefest’s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, a launching pad for previous winners Gillian Welch and Tift Merritt. As well, the duo were inspired to see their heroes play live – John, was struck by Doc Watson’s picking, and Michele started playing electric bass after hearing T. Michael Coleman with the Seldom Scene – and brought those inspirations to Try Love.

Also in 07, they released their most successful album Ride It Out produced by hit songwriter Regie Hamm, and they became quickly known as the best duo out of Canada since Ian and Sylvia. “Their vocal harmonies recall the Everly Brothers in their prime. Yes, the harmonies are really that good,” said Music Row Magazine. While The Tennessean said their voices were “a deeply affecting blend that harks back to the impeccable like of Davis Sisters and Delmore Brothers.” The success of the record led to a songwriting deal and a feature on the PBS series, “Legends and Lyrics.”

The Laws share another one of their joys with their fans -- bringing cooking on the road with them with some shows that are one part cooking workshop and one part music. They have released one cookbook, and have appeared on numerous cooking shows, and featured on Canada’s top entertainment show. To coincide with their album release, The Laws will also release a new cookbook and DVD in the spring of ’11. The Laws will be touring in the US for the months of January through May with shows in Florida, North Carolina, Maryland, Texas and more.