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| 2012 PRESS COVERAGE
Spring/Summer 2011 Press Release
2011 PRESS COVERAGE
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Check out
Graham on NBC in Baton Rouge, LA as he kicks off the CNG tour. Click
here:
"Pacific Coast Eyes" official video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLJDd3yJmzw "Best Days" official video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAOUxV3knbI Tour dates and facebook info: http://www.facebook.com/grahamcolton?sk=app_123966167614127
"Graham Colton deftly balances simple introspective sentiments with huge, unapologetically mainstream tunes.” – Amazon.com Graham
Colton Strips Down, Drives Green Pacific
Coast Eyes Vol. 2 to be released October 18, 2011
OKLAHOMA CITY (September 29, 2011) — Singer-songwriter Graham Colton will celebrate the release of Pacific Coast Eyes Vol. 2 on October 18, 2011 by launching the Go Natural tour, a two-month jaunt across the Southeastern United States that will feature stripped down live performances, more intimate fan interaction and a powerful environmental message. Instead of crossing the country in a tour van burning dirty diesel fuel, Colton will embark in a vehicle that runs on compressed natural gas (CNG). CNG produces up to 90 percent fewer particle emissions than conventional fuels including gasoline, and is considered one of the cleanest fuels on the planet. It also costs about 50 percent less than the price of gasoline and is nearly one-third the price of diesel. The Go Natural
tour is engineered to draw awareness to the CNGnow movement,
an effort to educate the public about the economic and environmental
benefits of natural gas vehicle technology. Throughout Go Natural,
Colton will document his experience driving a CNG vehicle, reporting
back with video blogs, tour diary entries and road reports via Facebook,
Twitter and other platforms, including his website. He will also be
the first featured contributor on CNGnow.com,
a social network and information hub for people who drive CNG vehicles,
or are interested in learning more about this cleaner and more affordable
alternative fuel that is available in an increasing number of cities
nationwide.
In addition to learning more about CNG vehicles, fans who visit Colton’s page on CNGnow.com will receive access to an exclusive, previously unreleased MP3 download from the artist. Fans can also sign up to join Colton and the movement as an advocate for CNG. “This tour hits very close to home for me because natural gas is a fuel that’s produced in my home state of Oklahoma,” Colton said. “Driving a CNG vehicle gives me an opportunity to do my part in limiting my eco-footprint, as well as raise awareness about American dependence on foreign resources and oil. By educating people along the tour, I hope to show my fans just how detrimental our reliance on foreign oil is, and how making the switch to compressed natural gas can not only help us end that reliance, but also make a powerful, positive impact in the battle to curb carbon emissions.” Pacific Coast Eyes Vol. 2 will feature all of the material from Colton’s acclaimed sophomore LP Pacific Coast Eyes as well as alternate versions of the title track, "1981" and "Everything You Are." In addition, the release will include three brand new songs completed just last month. Pacific Coast Eyes Vol. 2 will be available for $5.99 via iTunes and http://grahamcolton.com. Critical praise for Pacific Coast Eyes: “Graham's new album Pacific Coast Eyes has so many memorable songs, it's been impossible to not have one in my head since my first listen, which was weeks ago. The songwriting, performances and production are so addictive that I'm not willing to give Pacific Coast Eyes up for quite a while.” – Michael Ragogna, Huffington Post
Watch the video for “Pacific
Coast Eyes” at http://grahamcolton.com/pacificcoasteyes/music.html Go Natural tour dates
For more on Graham Colton visit http://grahamcolton.com For press inquires, review
tickets, etc. please contact: Ken Phillips Publicity Group, Inc.
GRAHAM
COLTON
“Halfway between somewhere and nothing, I woke up and I’m twenty-something” reflects singer-songwriter Graham Colton from his new album, ‘Pacific Coast Eyes’. Art really does reflect life. The songs are always more than just melodies. It’s the music that brings emotional meaning to the lyrics, and sheds some light on the story behind the artist and their intentions. With these lyrics, we see Colton at a crossroads. An all-too familiar scene with an honest sentiment that most all of us can relate to in some way or another. It’s a poignant observation by an artist who both literally and figuratively inserts himself directly into the middle of the song. It’s a depiction of one of those life-affirming moments. Perhaps, this is Colton's greatest gift…his ability to write lyrics about universal themes of love and loss, and everything between in a way that uniquely endears himself to the listener; and most importantly, enables them to feel as though they are hearing the story of their own lives. It should come as no surprise that his music has found its way to the masses on the big screen and in living rooms across the country, lending itself to multiple uses ranging from the famous 'exit song' on American Idol to dramatic and emotional montages for several promo campaigns on national networks and specials ranging from Oprah Winfrey's 'Big Give' to CBS's Thanksgiving Football programming. All of these licenses combined, led to multiple invitations for Colton to perform on nationally televised programs including the Today Show, Regis and Kelly, Ellen, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Late Show with David Letterman, and the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. “I performed ‘Best Days’ everywhere, it forever changed my life” says Colton. Before relocating back to Oklahoma, Colton spent the majority of his early adulthood living out of a suitcase as a traveling musician. After a brief stint at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX,
Colton left prematurely to accept an invitation from Counting Crows' front man, Adam Duritz, to open up for the band on what would turn into six national tours. Shortly after, the artist recorded his debut album, 'Drive', as part of Graham Colton Band with legendary producer Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Train, Pearl Jam) and toured with the likes of Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, and Maroon 5 among others. The relentless touring and hard work paid off with critical acclaim and a year-long tour with pop superstar Kelly Clarkson during her meteoric rise to fame.
Now a solo artist, he enlisted producer John Fields (Switchfoot, Jimmy Eat World, Semisonic) and newfound friend Tommy Walter (Eels, Abandoned Pools) to help craft the his second album, Here Right Now. The record was recorded in the spring and summer of 2007 and featured the hit single “Best Days.” 'Here Right Now' debuted at number two on the Billboard New Artist chart and #4 on the iTunes Pop Chart, where the single was featured as the highly sought after 'free download of the week'. Colton found a new confidence as a songwriter after witnessing these songs that were written in his bedroom come to life in ways that he never could have anticipated. “I took time after my last album to examine what I loved most about writing and performing my music, and also what I wanted to do differently.” Further, Colton adds “I settled back in to living in Oklahoma City and re-connected with friends and my family. I married the love of my life. And I found a new confidence in song writing.
The artist surprised himself by the depth and maturity displayed in this collection of songs for his third album, Pacific Coast Eyes. “At the beginning, I was convinced my writing and singing needed to go bigger. But, I quickly realized the good stuff happened when I wasn’t trying” says Colton. The album took shape in a similar fashion. Having earned his newfound freedom as a free agent, Colton elected to bet on himself and his songs, and take the courageous step of forging ahead with his newfound status as an independent artist, and focusing on making the best record possible. “I recorded songs in Norman, Oklahoma, and in Tommy Walter’s place in LA, using my own money. It was a little scary at times…but I knew I was onto something and was committed to chasing it.” Like the earliest days of his career, Graham slept on couches, pulled favors for studio time, and racked up serous airline miles while he re-discovered himself through writing and recording. From the infectious stomp and clap in the title track, “Pacific Coast Eyes,” to the driving chorus of “1981,” the album sets as a backdrop of young life and love with the windows down. “I tapped into childhood memories, untold stories and wrote about characters I’ve never met but somehow knew,” says Colton. Colton’s growth as a singer-songwriter is most evident when chronicling a young couple on their own road to redemption in “Graceland” or in the simple but stunning “Love Comes Back Around.”
"I allowed myself to have fun and open up in one song, and follow with total heartbreak in the next. I stripped songs down to their core. Somehow it all feels right to me now.” The album ebbs and flows through relationships and self-reflection with a resonating sense of hope. What started out as fragmented phrases and thoughts is now an instantly memorable music collection. Having spent the majority of his musical career traveling, the singer-songwriter has fittingly found his way back to his hometown of Oklahoma City and reestablished strong roots in the place where it all began. “The album started with me taking time off from the road and really learning how to live again,” says Colton. 'Pacific Coast Eyes' is certainly a reflection of just that, a personal account and intimate portrayal of the evolution of that process.
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