Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/music/local/3611723.html - Houston Chronicle
Exile on Main Street
Racket and the new guy take the annual Houston Press Music Awards Showcase plunge
By John Nova Lomax and Chris Gray
Published: August 2, 2007
Screw the haters — Million Year Dance is awesome. A stripped-down, acoustic version of the mystical Montrosian rocker band closed out Music Awards night at Livé with a transfixing set. Jonathan Welch's soaring tenor is a municipal treasure, and it's a little bit perplexing trying to figure out just why he's not a superstar yet.
Daniel Kramer
Jaime Hellcat's gold lamé shirt hangs ready as the Flaming Hellcats frontman unpacks his guitar before their showcase at Life Lounge Sunday.
Subject(s): Houston Press Music Awards Of course, taking in that set meant I had to miss Sideshow Tramps, Fondue Monks, Bring Back the Guns, Karina Nistal, Sharks and Sailors, Arthur Yoria and the Dimes, all of whom were playing at the same time at other venues. (I did catch a bit of John Evans's honky-tonkalicious set.) But for me, it was worth it. MYD unplugged was that cool.
- Houston Press
Million Year Dance singer Jonathan Welch has an arresting voice with an impressive multi-octave range, which he uses in a variety of ways on Liberation: gliding like Jeff Buckley on downcast opener "Divine Intervention," despairing a cappella on "Dreams of a Vacant God" — where he sounds a bit like Freddie Mercury — and even approximating a musical saw on "The Deep." The bulk of Liberation calls for candlelight, red wine and inward reflection, with the notable exception of "Honey & Mud." Prodded by an eager electric piano, Welch massages the tune from a simmering Thom Yorke croon to a suave bit of poppy R&B not all that far off from Maroon 5. — C.G.
- Houston Press
Discography
"Liberation" Tyagaraja's first band, EP won album of the Year in the Houston Press Music Awards, on line on Itunes. All songs from the album currently on ration on three radio stations in Houston.
Photos
Bio
Biography of J. Tyagaraja
Tyagaraja is the singer/songwriter of the critically acclaimed band Million Year Dance. Million Year Dance won Album of the Year in the 2007 Houston Press Music Awards. Tyagaraja’s birth name is Jonathan Welch. The name Tyagaraja was given to him by The Divine Mother from India, Sri Karunamayi Amma. The name given to Jonathan and sacred the teachings of Amma, shine in the message of Welch’s songwriting. There is a deep seeded spirituality within Welch’s music, and with its southern folk quality, the music is very adaptable and a wonderful ride for anyone that has appreciation for music—spiritual or not. The voice of Tyagaraja is what carries the music. Although the lyrical content and the songwriting is very present, it is his voice that draws in the listener. Even John Lomax of the Houston Press says, “I’m just wondering why he’s not a Superstar yet.”
Jonathan Welch is now working on a solo album called Tyagaraja, “An Open Book” that is due to release, as scheduled, in August of 2008. A collection of local musicians will grace the musical content of the album, while the main core of the music will be focused on the singer’s main musicians. Tyagaraja and his father, Mike Don Welch, have been playing and performing music together since he was twelve years of age. Now the two of them have joined up with a table player, Alaap Parikh. Tyagaraja’s folk music matched with traditional instrumentation gives it an even more unique quality.
Influences include: Patty Griffen, Nina Simone, Tom Waits, traditional Indian music of Sri Karunamayi Divine Mother, Rufus Wainwright, Pink Floyd, Krishna Das, and many others…
Contact:
johnmyd@hotmail.com
Website:
myspace.com/orionelapse
myspace.com/millionyeardance
Links
