joseph to the lions

THE OFFICIAL MYSPACE OFJOSEPH TO THE LIONSOFFICIAL PRESSKIT RELEASE 2008-----------------------------------------“The true explosion of violence through passion and aggression… something only comparable with the tenacity of Ani Difranco.” – Portland Mercury 2006“The furthest thing from a quiet impulse… an absolute tidal wave”- Cornzine.com“The radical new face of folk…an explosive live performance” – Northwest Radio.comFeatured in March 2008’s VENUSZINE magazine (http://www.venuszine.com) In conversation with ANI DIFRANCOFormer member of the dynamic Portland based improvisational group, The Jupiter Moth ( http://www.myspace.com/thejupitermoth ) ---------------------------------------------------“If acoustic songwriters had a villain… I’d be him.” -joseph to the lionsJoseph to the Lions is the personification of the fiercely dramatic, a true pursuit to transfer emotion into music and share his heart on sleeve approach with a growing aggressive folk audience. Few artists have dare tread into the intensity required to muster such a compelling live performance and intense show of emotional availability to anyone caught unaware. The music hauntingly alive in the crescendo of high vocal acrobatics, and strongly energized in the machine of percussive aggression, he garners comparisons to the late Buckley and the audaciously original Ani Difranco. Much like the latter , lions has also embraced the DIY style of music promotion, and is found flyering and booking most shows himself. Born , breathing , and living most on the stage: Joseph spares no exhaustable expense of his mind or body when exercising his demons through song and performance. Often defined as a true genre-less sound, Joseph to the Lions may be a look into acoustic music aggressively redefined without comparison to any artist on the national circuit today. Growing up in relative poverty in the state of West Virginia, Lion’s sites his mother’s will power as being his inspiration as a youth. Nurtured through childhood by music, the sound of guitars were the source of incredible magnetism from an early age. His first guitar, left to him by his grandfather after his death, was the source of redefinition for a child without much monitary ability to stretch. Searching album covers and lyrical avenues, joseph found himself deeply caught in both the visual and creative identities of the artists. Paired as a youth with what would become the future Berkeley Graduate, Mountain Stage Backing guitarist and Bob Thompson Jazz Ensemble genius, Ryan ‘Bean’ Kennedy, Lions found new ways to express himself through the fatigue of long practice sessions and local performances attended by Appalachian Mountain jazz and bluegrass greats. Performance, live sound, and photography also became a focus in the late 90’s, which found Joseph working in the now defunct but infamous, West Virginia venue- “Common Grounds” (owned by folk and bluegrass staple Bob Webb, a dulcimer player from the early 70’s folk group ‘Stark Raven’) With a new artist showcasing nightly, he had a chance to meet, greet, and run live sound for many a touring folk artist and rock act. Visited over and over again by acts such as Fugazi , Leni Stern, the incredible Kristeen Young, Demonspeed, The Step Kings, Nashville duo- Canutte & Mayer, as well as many more … Lions had a first hand account of the rapidly expanding sonic palette of todays music market.In early 2001, following the spirit of traditional folk circuit ideals, Joseph took up travel as both a writing and learning tool, as well as a way to finally search for personal identity in a thick field of artists, players, and folk worthy heroes. Moving from rural West Virginia to the rock n roll city of Cleveland, Joseph met with a rediscovery through visual art and photography after attending a show from a seasoned and experienced touring band. Sub Pop Records darlings, The Murder City Devils, a band bent on dark organ based rock sound and a ravenous fan base, recruited him for over the next several tours to shoot photographs and bear witness to the incredible live sound and raw power of the Devil’s touring conquest. (see murder city devils.com or .org) Exhausted shortly after a final farewell tour , joseph decided it was time to lay down the camera and pick up the guitar once and for all. The next 7 years were spent on the road, and in studio, across the beautiful landscape of the United States. Recording and booking in Nashville, Portland, New York City, Phoenix, California, the breathtaking mountains of Colorado, and now finally to the heart of the music scene in Austin Texas, brought ‘Lions’ closer to the center of his message and the heart of his musical endeavors. Fearless and wrought with emotional delivery, the foundation of a stronger voice was steadied by the words of many folk artists and solo players on stages everywhere.TO THE LIONS became the synthesis of all his travels and advice , a moment with every avenue, every spirit, and every fear he could find on the paths of self-discovery and truthful spiritual connection. Joseph to the Lions became the growl and calling of absolute fearless siren, the true knowledge that every audience either “wants to be in fear of you, or eat you alive.” The town that made Elliott Smith an icon was chosen to produce Lion’s last EP, “ A BEAUTIFUL and BROKEN WRECKAGE” , was the fiercly solo undertaking produced in a small house studio under the guise of Portland’s own ‘THE JAMES MARTINs at the Producing/ Engineering helm. More or less a raw take and look at artist in singular form it finds “the sound on this CD finds Joseph stripped down and more charismatic that usual.” –NW RADIO dot com. Joseph to the Lions, now relocated to Austin, is seeking to redefine himself with the planning and upcoming full length release of the tentatively titled “The Darlings of the Fiercely Dramatic.”Focusing on booking solo shows and forming a new side project, THE ICARUS SIREN, is all that pushes this ‘young lion’ forward through trials and musical assaults. Finding vindication through local and national press, his performances have garnered him press from Northwest Radio Dot Com, The Portland Mercury, and the Barnes and Noble Published Magazine VENUS ZINE. (which Joseph to the Lions appears in conversation with one of his heroes, and perhaps the most important voice in Folk music today, Ani Difranco)Joseph to the Lions has appeared in conversation and performance on college radio stations such as Arizona State’s THE BUZZ (live version on ITUNES PODCAST includes CIGARETTES and THE LONELY GODS ) , WVSU’s Yellow Jacket Radio, Podcasts and appearances on many other Independent Solo Releases. ( such as San Francisco Indie Label , husband and wife duo, Tell the Truth -who are also featured on the LIONS’ release ‘THE CIGARETTES EP’ -http://www.myspace.com/tellthetruthpdx)Joseph has also performed and showcased at venues all over North America, including CBGB’s , Nashville’s Legendary BLUEBIRD CAFE, Portland’s venues The HAWTHORNE THEATRE and The Mcmenamin’s owned WHITE EAGLE, Phoenix’s RED OWL and YUCA TAP ROOM and here in Austin at The CACTUS CAFE, HIDEOUT COFFEE, CLUB 115, BD RILEY’s , HEAD HUNTERs , RUTA MAYA, EGO’s and THE ROCKING TOMATO. In addition to being a incredible performing musician… Joseph is published poet and author (with 3 Independent releases and one collection to his credit), as well as a master barista and award winning coffee artisan for Austin and Kuaui’s KOHANA Coffee- where he manages a rapidly growing demand for his herbal blended drinks and single origin organics.?? other projects Joseph to the Lions appears: THE JUPITER MOTH (PORTLAND) : live from the window room (Quiet Lovers Records) , A GRAVE OF LIONS (Portland), THE RELEVANT DYLANS (Nashville) , THE STATIC OF STORM AND RADIO (PORTLAND), A DOVE FROM THE BLACKSTAR (Cleveland/ Portland/ Nashville) : Independent Release, THE BAD KING TRIO (Cleveland) : Independent Live Release , AILY ECHO (Mufreesboro/Nashville): Blue Desert Publishing , BRASS CATHERINE (WV) : Independent Release Secondary Engineer for CAVE RECORDS Releases / opposite SCOTT ROBINSON Forthcoming full length release: THE DARLINGS OF THE FIERCELY DRAMATIC (independent) Produced in Austin , Texas A Beautiful and Broken Wreckage (quiet lovers records 2007) Produced by : The James Martins Portland , ORTHE CIGARETTES EP (quiet Lovers records 2007) Live release. The Scarlett EP (independent 2006) Produced by: Joseph to the Lions Nashville, TN / Portland , OR The Jupiter Moth (quiet lovers records 2007) Produced by Joseph to the Lions Recorded at Window Room Studios- Portland, Oregon------------------------------------------------------ --"...Then they danced down the street like dingledodies, and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones; the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time. The ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow Roman Candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes, 'Awww!'" - Jack Kerouac ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds. Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be."

- Patanjali

------------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------------ -FORMER PHOTOGRAPHER for:THE MURDER CITY DEVILS check out my PICS for more from MURDER CITY !http://mcdphotoselam.blogspot.com/http://ogami.subpop.com/b ands/murdercity/website/ (photo section: cleveland warped tour)

------------------------------------------------------------ -

Extended Network Banner made with MyBannerMaker.com! Click here to make your own!
Create your own custom MySpace Layouts