Forget auto-tune, background singers and flashy stage production. The real test of a true talent is to get in front of a live audience (not to mention hundreds of thousands of television viewers) with nothing but your own voice, an acoustic guitar and a boot heel for percussion, which is exactly what William Elliott Whitmore did when he recently appeared on the long running and wildly popular UK music program "Later...with Jools Holland" to perform "Old Devils" off his ANTI- Records debut Animals in the Dark. And, as they say, the crowd went wild.
Will took a few weeks off after a full European tour, and sets out again tomorrow for a headlining US tour with eclectic, operatic indie rockers Fake Problems and indie-folk outfit Frontier Ruckus.
Animals in the Dark came out in February to wide acclaim. Jonathan Zwickel at the Seattle Times wrote "you hear the diesel engine growl of his voice, the century of blues and folk tradition behind his banjo-driven stomps, the everyday relevance of his lyrics, and you succumb."
Straddling the punk world where he cut his teeth and the Americana folk scene that has embraced him, Will Whitmore's honesty and sincerity cuts a wide swath of appeal, a refreshing voice in a world filled with lip synchers and computer-augmented skills.
04-30 Downtown Brewing Co San Luis Obispo CA
05-01 The OC Tavern San Clemente CA
05-02 Knitting Factory Los Angeles CA
05-03 Casbah San Diego CA
05-04 Chyro Arts Scottsdale AZ
05-07 Lucky's Wichita KS
05-08 The Waiting Room Omaha NE
05-09 Outland Ballroom Springfield MO
05-10 Exit Inn Nashville TN
05-11 The Basement Columbus OH
05-13 Mohawk Place Buffalo NY
05-14 Grog Shop Cleveland Heights OH
05-15 Macs Bar Lansing MI
05-16 Stonefly Brewery Milwaukee WI
05-17 The House Cafe DeKalb IL
06-13 Bonnaroo Music Festival Manchester TN
07-24 Rock Island Brewing Company Rock Island IL
07-25 10,000 Lakes Festival Detroit Lakes MN
More information:
www.williamelliottwhitmore.com
Thursday, April 30, 2009
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