Blake Mills documentary release and tour

Record Collection and Red Bull Sound Stage are thrilled to announce the release of Sound & Vision No 004, a short form documentary highlighting songwriter/producer Blake Mills. This is the 4th episode in a series that celebrates the individual stories of emerging artists. The video, which premiered last week via IFC introduces the 25-year old artist, and features commentary from Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers), James Valentine (Maroon 5), Tony Berg (producer), Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Jackson Browne, Kid Rock, Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), and more.

Today, Rolling Stone premiered a Blake Mills and Matt Sweeney-produced Billy Gibbons track titled, "Oh Well," for the upcoming Fleetwood Mac tribute record, Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac. Blake can currently be seen on tour this summer, both opening for and backing Fiona Apple on guitar. The full list of tour dates is below.



At 25, the Venice-based musician has already stacked up a career's worth of gigs as a session and touring guitarist, playing with a diverse array of musicians that span from Cass McCombs to Kid Rock. When producers like Rick Rubin need a guitarist, Mills is the first call. His flawless technique and uncanny confidence matched with a unique interpretation of every piece of music he touches has turned Mills into one of the most in-demand players in the music business.



As a guitarist, Mills is in a league of his own. As a songwriter, he's downright intimidating. After cutting his teeth in Simon Dawes, the band he co-founded in high school with Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Mills stepped out on his own, recording the highly personal 9-song album, Break Mirrors (Record Collection, 2010). Oddly enough, the original intention of Break Mirrors was to serve as a calling card for Mills to get session work and despite the low-key nature of the release, friends and fellow musicians began testifying about the strength of the record. Within months, as burned CD's and cassettes got passed around, that small group of fans quickly turned into a mass of believers. By the end of 2011, a handful of web sites and bands were hailing Break Mirrors as one of the year's very best.



As a collaborator, Mills never vies for the spotlight. Instead, he works to elevate the level of everyone around him. Over the last five years Mills has accompanied artists such as Fiona Apple, Lucinda Williams, Conor Oberst, Julian Casablancas, Cass McCombs, Band of Horses, and Dawes.



In late 2011, after spending back-to-back years on tour and in the studio playing on other people's records, Blake decided it was time to move into the producer's chair. "I've recently enjoyed working in the studio as a producer," says Blake. It's given me the opportunity to explore concepts that are sometimes broader than just guitar parts." In less than a year Mills has produced recordings for ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, Jesca Hoop, HAIM, Dawes, and Nickel Creek's Sara Watkins.



Blake Mills on Tour with Fiona Apple:

6/22 - Mashantucket, CT - MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods

6/23 - Holyoke, MA - Mountain Park

6/24 - New York, NY - Governor's Ball

6/26 - Washington, DC - The Warner Theatre

6/27 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre

6/29 - Danbury, CT - Ives Concert Park

6/30 - Boston, MA - Citi Performing Arts Center

7/1 - Portland, ME - State Theatre

7/3 - Montreal, QC - Olympia Theatre

7/4 - Toronto, ON - The Sound Academy

7/6 - Cleveland Heights, OH - Cain Park

7/7 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore Detroit

7/9 - Grand Rapids, MI - Meijer Gardens

7/10 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre

7/11 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theatre

7/13 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium

7/14 - St. Louis, MO - Peabody Opera House

7/16 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre

7/17 - Kansas City, MO - The Midland by AMC

7/20 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre

7/21 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kingsbury Hall

7/24 - Vancouver, BC - Orpheum

7/25 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre

7/26 - Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

7/28 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theatre

7/29 - Hollywood, CA - Hollywood Palladium



http://www.blakemillsonline.com/