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James Combs

About Me

NOW AVAILABLE AT I-TUNES and CD BABY:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/jamescombs


Some things to know about TO KNOW YOU IS TO SAVE YOU, the new album by James Combs.

It’s like this: a pinch of psychedelia, a spoonful of raw rock, a dash of experimentalism, a dusting of folk, and a heaping cup of evocative pop…

James Combs' new album “To Know You Is To Save You” has arrived on CD Baby and I-tunes. Mixed primarily by Bryan Cook ("Walk Hard" OST, Inara George) and Steve Kaye (The Lions, Connie Price), it was three years and many contributors in the making (including Erin Shawn Hawkins, Kelly De Martino, John Would, and Nik Freitas from Bright Eyes). Employing vintage synths, an 8 foot plate reverb, a Salvation Army brass band (or a machine that sounds like one?), a saxophone, a semi-professional whistler, and some ripping guitar, James has wrestled to life his most accomplished batch of songs to date. And take a moment to notice the striking cover art by Canadians Andrew Pommier and Derrick Hodgson.

The LA Weekly says James "won’t be one of folk-pop’s best kept secrets for long." Delusions of Adequacy wrote, “This is the direction rock music needs to go in… James Combs has tapped into the same pulse that Low and The New Pornographers have.” As if to put a fine point on it, “To Know You…” spent the first month of its life jumping up the airplay charts at tastemaker Santa Monica radio station KCRW. Live shows have included slots on bills with legendary NY guitarist Tom Verlaine, Jack Black’s Tenacious D, Kristin Hersh, and Ed Harcourt… not to mention upcoming LA artists like Inara George and Marjorie Fair. KCRW DJ Gary Calamar describes James as "one of LA's top songwriters".

James’ tracks have appeared in a number of films and television shows, including HBO's "Entourage" and "Six Feet Under", Showtime's "Dexter", ABC's "Men In Trees" and in the upcoming 2008 Nanette Burstein documentary "American Teen" (Paramount Pictures.).

In addition to his solo material, James is a member of two bands: The Plush Interiors with Linda Good (http://www.myspace.com/theplushinteriors) and Black Olive with Kelly De Martino (http://www.myspace.com/loveblackolive)

Some more things to know about “TO KNOW YOU IS TO SAVE YOU”:

- The album remains in the Top 50 Charts for legendary LA tastemaker station KCRW after four straight weeks – jumping 19 slots to number 25 for two week period starting March 3, 2008.

- To Know You Is To Save You is one of only two self-released albums currently in KCRW’s Top 50.

- “Barely Contained” was chosen as KCRW’s Today’s Top Tune podcast for March 5, 2008.

- James was Snocap Featured Artist on Myspace Music Main the week of Feb 20.

- Great reviews in the LA Weekly, LA Times Buzz Bands column and influential music blogs like Delusions of Adequacy.

- “To Know You Is To Save You” is named as one of three March, 2008, “DJ Picks” for KCRW’s Gary Calamar at KCRW.com.

- James is slated to perform live on the Radio8Ball program in Seattle, WA on April 10, 2008 (KAOS FM)

- Feature/cover story in Ryder Magazine, regional arts magazine in James’ college hometown Bloomington, IN.

If you like James' music, check out his friends:

KELLY DE MARTINO'S "Honest"

http://www.myspace.com/kellydemartinobaby

QUINCY BLAQUE TRIO:

http:/www.myspace.com/quincyblaque

NIK FREITAS "Sundown":

http://www.myspace.com/nikfreitas

TRACY SPUEHLER'S "You're My Star"

http//www.myspace.com/tracyspuehler

WILLIE WISELY'S "Wisely"

http://www.myspace.com/wiselymusic

LINDA GOOD

http://www.myspace.com/lindagood

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 7/20/2006
Band Website: www.jamescombs.com
Band Members:

Erin Shawn Hawkins, Matt Hergert, John Would, Julian Anderle

Influences: /p.
Sounds Like:"OH ME" JAMES COMBS, APRIL COMBS, LAURIE BURNHAM
"Pretty Head" by April Combs with James Combs, Laurie Burnham
"Salty Bite" James Combs/April Combs tour live in Bloomington
"ARMISTICE" April Combs, James Combs midwest tour 2008
James Combs and Erin Shawn Hawkins perform "Bathing Suit"
James Combs and 'Donnie Darko' composer Michael Andrews "Nice Dream If You Can Get It"
..
MY BAND THE PLUSH INTERIORS (WITH LINDA GOOD) HAS A NEW VIDEO FOR OUR SONG "LATELY I WONDER" - DIRECTED BY MICHAEL KLIMA AND EYESTORM PRODUCTIONS. MORE ABOUT THE PLUSH INTERIORS AT MYSPACE.COM/THEPLUSHINTERIORS

"Lately I Wonder" by The Plush Interiors

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James Combs "Tuned To Your Star" with Kelly De Martino

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with Kelly DeMartino (Black Olive) singing "Salty Bite"

Black Olive - Salty Bite

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Leonard Cohen's speech at the Rock N Roll hall of fame... what a lesson in humility mixed with stunning art power


Type of Label: Major

My Blog

"Oh Me" on '90210'

My track "Oh Me" aired on '90210' tonight... big thanks to True Music and Nic Harcourt for the recognition.
Posted by on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:59:00 GMT

JAMES COMBS/APRIL COMBS (ex-Arson Garden) TOUR STARTS TODAY...

Hey everyone,April and I are playing the first show of our Midwestern tour tonight in Cincinnati at the Southgate House - and there's been an exciting development: Arson Garden's guitarist Michael Man...
Posted by on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:55:00 GMT

GREAT REVIEW IN THE UK’s ’GUARDIAN’

http://music.guardian.co.uk/newbands/story/0,,2290894,00.htm lan excerpt: "And you should hear him sing. If you like Liam Finn, the son of Crowded House's Neil, and his introspective but accessible deb...
Posted by on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:49:00 GMT

JAMES COMBS ON YAHOO’S USER’S CHOICE - PLEASE VOTE!

FRIENDS - I'VE HAD AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY... MY SUPPORTERS AT YAHOO MUSIC HAVE ASKED ME TO BE ONE OF THEIR USER'S CHOICE ARTISTS THIS MONTH - WHICH MEANS ONE OF MY SONGS AND VIDEOS ARE FEATURED ON THE...
Posted by on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:01:00 GMT

Live In Paris this Wed, June 11

Hi Friends...Just a quick note to let you know...I'll be performing live at the very hip club Pop In in Paris this Wednesday, June 11. If you have any friends who live in or around Paris, please enco...
Posted by on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:34:00 GMT

PODCAST OF OUR RADIO8BALL APPEARANCE IN SEATTLE IS LIVE!

Hey Everyone,Our appearance last Friday on the Radio8Ball Show in Seattle is live... you can listen here:http://radio8ball.com/podcastsHost Andras Jones said that it just might be the best Radio8ball ...
Posted by on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:34:00 GMT

James Combs Live at Hotel Cafe this Thursday at 10pm

Hey everyone...It would be so lovely to see your gleaming visages visaging up at us at our Hotel Cafe gig in Hollywood this Thursday, April 17, at 10pm.I'll be performing with the fine fine band: John...
Posted by on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:29:00 GMT

Tomorrow (Wed): James Combs and Evan Slamka play free in LA!

Hey Everyone -I’m doing a free casual acoustic show for fun tomorrow (wed) with the most excellent Evan Slamka from Marjorie Fair - at King’s Road Cafe on the corner of Beverly and King&rs...
Posted by on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:53:00 GMT

"TO KNOW YOU IS TO SAVE YOU" on WVEW in VERMONT

HELLO EVERYONE - I’M HAPPY TO SAY "TO KNOW YOU IS TO SAVE YOU" IS GOING TO BE THE FEATURED ALBUM TOMORROW (SAT) MORNING ON BILL SLAMMON’S VERY HIP RADIO SHOW IN BRATTLEBORO, VT, FROM 8-10A...
Posted by on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:37:00 GMT

James Combs news: Special early show Wed. in Los Feliz, KCRW charts, more great press...

Hi everyone -Just a little reminder - we're doing a special early (8pm) show tomorrow (Wed) at Tangier. Please stop by on the way home from work and get your rock on... with the lovely band: Erin Sha...
Posted by on Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:39:00 GMT