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Event
Release Celebration for Birds of Prey!
Switchback, the award winning duo of Marty McCormack and Brian FitzGerald, will be celebrating the release of their Americana album, Birds of Prey, featuring their "Big Ol' Band" on Friday, September 27 at the Majestic Moon, 1955 Locke Ave, Waterloo, Iowa. Tickets are $20.
For people who live on the coasts, the Midwest often conjures up images of staid farmhouses on flat plains of corn, populated by people whose lives are, well, just as flat. In their opinion, culturally, historically, these fly-over states cant hold a candle to the vistas of California or the sophistication of New York. But to ignore the Midwest is to ignore the essence of America itself.
Chris Hoeksema of the SouthtownStar in Chicago, IL believes that as songwriters, Switchback successfully captures the essence of the Midwest in their original songs: Small Midwestern towns and the roads between them are filled with curious profiles. Towns of a thousand people are made up of individuals whose grand life philosophy has come out of very small situations. Marty McCormack and Brian FitzGerald of the band Switchback have rambled these highways and rested their heads in quiet enclaves between the more famous points night after night. A diary of their travels comes out in their songs.
"We feel it is important to create Americana albums that focuses on Middle America, says Martin McCormack. The Midwest is a very dramatic area to be from. The center of the country stretches from eastern Ohio to western Kansas and Canada to southern Missouri. Its a huge land filled with beauty, history and above all, unpredictable weather. And over the years of traveling it, we've encountered great people. There's a lot to write about.
The album was produced by Paul Von Mertens, who is the arranger for and band director for Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson. This is his third album as producer for Switchback.
Some of the stories capture that scene quite literally and others reflect the experience of 21st century troubadours plying their trade and putting it back into the music," says Mertens.
We made use of the talents of good friends and great musicians that we've known and worked with over many years; Ryan Murphy, Deb Stevenson, Nick Hirka, John Williams, John Rice, Jim Widlowski, Maggie FitzGerald and Paul Coscino, and also made a decision to put the spotlight squarely on Brian and Marty; their songwriting, singing and playing.
The duo, known for an almost Everly brother-like blending of voices, will be joined by Brian's nephew Paul Russell on fiddle, mandolin and guitar, Maggie FitzGerald on voice and guitar and Nick Hirka on percussion. Other guest artists may also be part of the ensemble as Switchback recreates the full sound of the album in a live setting.
In addition to their Americana roots music, Switchback is also considered one of the premiere Celtic acts playing today. The Irish Music Association named them as the top duo for North America, Ireland, UK and Europe in 2009. But, it is their Americana originals that have attracted the interest of producers such as the Grammy-winner Lloyd Maines. Maines has produced three of their albums. Two concert specials produced by the Emmy-winning director Jack Ginay of WTTW Chicago and "Live from the Mayne Stage" by WYCC Chicago have been airing throughout the U.S. on PBS stations.
Switchbacks music has also garnered some commercial success, with Chevy Blazer using the song Climb That Mountain in a television advertisement. Throughout all this work, the duo maintains an active performance schedule with 200 engagements at performing arts centers and festivals around North America and Europe.
For further information on the release party, contact Gary at 319-961-1244.
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LocationMajestic Moon (View)
1955 Locke Ave
Waterloo,, IA 50702
United States
Categories
| Minimum Age: 0 |
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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