http://www.thegeekcouch.com Music. Movies. Random Geekdom. Wed, 28 May 2014 13:27:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.11 Fiercely Independent Music. Artist interviews. Hosted by Sean C. Duregger. Sean C. Duregger no Sean C. Duregger [email protected] [email protected] (Sean C. Duregger) Sean C. Duregger Fiercely Independent Music. music, independent, rock, alternative, post rock, interviews, art, culture http://www.thegeekcouch.com/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/geekcouchbp.png http://www.thegeekcouch.com http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/12/19/the-geekcouch-backstage-pass-episode-6/ http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/12/19/the-geekcouch-backstage-pass-episode-6/#comments Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:47:37 +0000 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/podcast/?p=163 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/12/19/the-geekcouch-backstage-pass-episode-6/feed/ 0 Andrew Ripp,Bella Ruse,Ben Rector,Beta Radio,Deep Sea Diver,Great Lake Swimmers,Pillar,Sleeping At Last,Sufjan Stevens,The Eastern Sea Merry Christmas! Welcome the the Backstage Pass Christmas Spectacular! Discover Christmas through the sounds of Pillar, Bella Ruse, The Eastern Sea, Ben Rector, Deep Sea Diver, Sleeping At Last, Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Ripp, Beta Radio, Merry Christmas! Welcome the the Backstage Pass Christmas Spectacular! Discover Christmas through the sounds of Pillar, Bella Ruse, The Eastern Sea, Ben Rector, Deep Sea Diver, Sleeping At Last, Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Ripp, Beta Radio, and Great Lake Swimmers. Band #1: Pillar Album: n/a Song: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Release Date: Out Now (Digital, Vinyl) Label: n/a http://noisetrade.com/pillar Band #2: Bella Ruse Album: Welcome Christmas Song: Christmas Presence Release Date: Out Now (Digital, CD) Label: Self Released http://bellaruse.com/ Band #3: The Eastern Sea Album: First Christmas Song: This is Christmas Release Date: Out Now (CD, Digital) Label: WhitelabBlacklab http://theeasternsea.com/ Band #4: Ben Rector Album: Jingles and Bells Song: Let It Snow Release Date: Out Now (Digital, CD) Label: Self Released http://benrectormusic.com/ Band #5: Deep Sea Diver Album: n/a Song: It’s Christmas Time (and I’m still alive) Release Date: Out Now (Digital) Label: Self Released http://thedeepseadiver.com/ Band #6: Sleeping At Last Album: Yearbook (December EP) Song: It’s Christmas Time (and I’m still alive) Release Date: Out Now (Digital) Label: Self Released http://sleepingatlast.com/ http://sleepingatlast.com/snow-how-it-was-made/ Band #7: Sufjan Stevens Album: Silver and Gold Song: Christmas In The Room Release Date: Out Now (CD Box Set, Limited Edition Vinyl, Digital) Label: Asthmatic Kitty http://music.sufjan.com/ Band #8: Andrew Ripp Album: Christmas Tunes Song: Blue Sky Christmas Eve Release Date: Out Now (Digital) Label: Catapult http://www.andrewripp.com Band #9: Beta Radio Album: The Songs The Season Brings, Volume II Song: Winter Eclipse Release Date: Out Now (Digital) Label: Self Released http://betaradio.bandcamp.com/ Band #10: Great Lake Swimmers Album: Paste Holiday Sampler 2012 Song: Hang A String Of Lights Release Date: Out Now (Digital) Label: Self Released http://www.greatlakeswimmers.com/     Sean C. Duregger no 47:16 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/11/30/bands-you-should-know-denison-witmer/ http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/11/30/bands-you-should-know-denison-witmer/#comments Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:07:50 +0000 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/?p=9748 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/11/30/bands-you-should-know-denison-witmer/feed/ 0 Amos Lee,Bon Iver,Denison Witmer,Devin Greenwood,Lancaster,Leonard Cohen,Melody Gardot,Neil Young,Nick Drake,Rufus Wainwright,Sufjan Stevens,The Ones Who Wait   - I have a long history with Denison Witmer. Back in 2001 I fell in love with his songwriting on the album Of Joy And Sorrow and ever since then he's an artist that I've sought out for new music yearly. His music was used when I married my wife,   I have a long history with Denison Witmer. Back in 2001 I fell in love with his songwriting on the album Of Joy And Sorrow and ever since then he's an artist that I've sought out for new music yearly. His music was used when I married my wife, his music has influence my own songwriting, and his music has brought peace during many stressful situations. Denison Witmer's newest album is out now and it's probably his best work yet. Learn more about it after the jump. ——————————————————————————————————- DENISON WITMER (Landcaster, PA) THE ONES WHO WAIT CD / Digital (Asthmatic Kitty) RIYL: Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Cat Stevens, Nick Drake MP3: Brooklyn With Your Highest Wall STREAM: Bandcamp • BIO (reposted from Riot Act Media)  ——————————————————————————————————- Fifteen years and nine albums into his career, Denison Witmer is familiar with the unexpected and often quixotic intersections that can take place between life and musical career. His newest album,The Ones Who Wait, is a reflection of this understanding of self and the growth that comes through life experience. It is an intimate reflection on the meandering path of life, on family and friendships, on death balanced with new life, on endings and beginnings. In Denison’s own words,The Ones Who Wait is about “patience and reverence. Being mindful and open to what you’re experiencing. A desire to take hold of what’s happening in your life, yet trusting the mystery of it enough to let go and participate rather than dictate.” Much like any one of Denison’s previous eight records, this ninth record started as a collaboration. He and fellow producer/engineer Devin Greenwood casually started working on an EP. In the midst of this new start, however, Denison found himself pulled back to his native Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His father, who was diagnosed with cancer 3 years previously, had taken a turn for the worse. “My father was never the kind of guy who let people fuss over or take care of him,” Denison says of that time. “But in the last few months of his life, there was this kind of acceptance and he allowed himself to be taken care of. He did it really graciously and generously. It was a beautiful thing to participate in and a gift to those around hm. Those are months that I would never trade for anything. I stopped making music. I stopped doing everything. I just spent time with him.” A few months later, his dad passed away. Denison grieved with his family, and remembered. He returned to the studio with a new approach to the EP he had first started building the previous winter. What began as an EP grew into a full-length album, as Denison added songs that reflected the changes in the intervening year. Denison’s albums have always been markedly personal, each one a significant milestone in his life. But The Ones Who Wait marks a whole new level of intimacy with listeners. Getting married, starting a business, and watching his dad close the final chapter on his life have helped Denison tell his own story better, to be more delicate, and confident. Bringing things full circle, as he wrapped up post-production on The Ones Who Wait, Denison found out he was going to be a father too. The sound of The Ones Who Wait indicates a new maturity in Denison’s musical career, a subtle sense of confidence in his voice and music. His guitar and voice sit front and center in the sound, evoking a melodic warmth reminiscent of 70s-era singer-songwriters like Paul Simon and Jackson Browne. Denison reined in his well-established network of musicians to fill out the sound of the record, including CJ Camerieri (Bon Iver, Rufus Wainwright), Devin Greenwood (Norah Jones, Amos Lee), James McAlister (Sufjan Stevens), Charles Staub (Melody Gardot), Sean C. Duregger no