Justin Roth picked up the electric guitar in ninth grade with a dream of playing in a rock band. Two years later, he had his proverbial 'Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show' moment: having gone to a Crosby, Stills, and Nash concert, when he saw innovative guitarist Michael Hedges open.
"It was Hedges' music that truly spoke to me," Justin says. "I was enthralled by his expressive playing and inventive compositions. He redefined my entire view of how the instrument could be played and I was immediately hooked. Justin began experimenting with alternate tunings and exploring the two-handed tapping technique he learned from watching Hedges and acclaimed fingerstyle guitarist/composer Billy McLaughlin. From there, Justin added more layers to his playing using partial capos to create an even wider range of textures and voicings to his compositions and live performances.
Now You Know is Roth's most expansive and personal work to date, delivered with the intimacy of a home recording. The textured arrangements and layered vocals (ala Bon Iver) are hung tastefully around his alternately tuned and fingerpicked guitar. Roth reveals and sculpts an expansive yet simple sonic palette, once alive only inside his head, without ever becoming over-produced. Bridging both contemporary and indie/alt folk, Now You Know paints pictures and tells stories of loss, hope, and redemption. A journeyto be continued. Now you know.
Discussion
Location
3 Coffee and Roastery (View)
1109 Broad Street
Milliken, CO 80543
United States
