TTW presents Jeff Caudill (US), Dexy and more

Jeff Caudill

It’s not the destination, it’s the journey. Not many artists stay relevant to their fan-base over a sustained period of time, but Californian singer-songwriter, Jeff Caudill, is one such rarity. Shooting to prominence with punk-pop band, Gameface, in the early 1990s, his irrepressible knack for a memorable hook and melody quickly established a dedicated following. Never standing still, he led the band around the globe, gradually shedding the youthful exuberance for a string of increasingly mature releases, before finally abandoning the tour van in 2003.

Music is in his blood and it wasn't long before Caudill reappeared, acoustic guitar in hand. Rather than signalling a new direction, the new, earthier sound was a logical progression from his punk roots. The release of acclaimed debut album, ‘Here’s What You Should Do’, confirmed this was an artist equally comfortable mixing up pop, indie and alt-country to create something fresh. Never one to shy away from putting the hard yards in, a steady stream of releases followed...

Still wearing his heart on his sleeve and fiercely independent, the release of new album, ‘Try to be Here’ promises to win over a new raft of fans, as well as provide a convenient jumping on point for any who may have lapsed. The trademark pop sensibility burns as bright as ever, but the lyrics are sure to connect with his loyal fan-base, confirming him as a man in thrall to his family and comfortable in his own skin. Upbeat and warm, ‘Try to be Here’ represents another urgent step forward. Back with a band once again and showcasing his strongest material yet, this is the sound of Jeff Caudill in his natural environment and at the top of his game.
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“If you’re a fan of American bands such as The Replacements, REM and The Lemonheads, you’ll find something here for you” – Whisperin’ and Hollerin’

“Some of our best singer-songwriters come from long-standing rock bands, Caudill’s career is just starting” – Mean Street Magazine

"Caudill comes through with winning, heart-on-sleeve urgency and sincerity" – Los Angeles Times

“Caudill's trump-card is his ability to craft instantly memorable songs that swing with an outrageously catchy hook.” – Joyzine

“The second coming of [Michael] Stipe.” – San Diego Troubadour

“He just takes a simple song, gives it the right vocal treatment, leaves out the superfluous and serves up a fine performance time after time.” – Americana U.K.

Dexy (Full Band)
‘TEAR IT DOWN’
The debut album from DEXY
Released on 3 Minute Records on 19th May 2017
Album Launch Show May 19th at The Gunners, Finsbury Park, N5.

For his debut release songwriter DEXY has enlisted the services of Producer Adrian Hall (Lou Rhodes, The Young Knives, Ray Davies) to help create an album that provides a blast of late night barroom rock n’ roll while simultaneously digging deep into the emotions and consequences of the morning after.

‘TEAR IT DOWN’ is an album that wears its heart as well as its influences on its sleeve, simultaneously offering us a reminder of the thrill of adrenalised power-pop and a taste of the melancholic, touching on many of those emotional shades of grey in-between.

You’ll recognise the familiar piano and organ sounds of LUCERO’s Rick Steff across swathes of the record, a meeting of minds that occurred after DEXY opened for the mighty Memphis legends in London recently.

You may also pick up on SWAMPMOTHER’s Alex Williams, contributing a perfectly pitched cello to album closer ‘Twenty Years Of Dischord’.

His choice of guests tells you where DEXY is coming from; his influences ranging from THE REPLACEMENTS and SPRINGSTEEN to MORRISSEY and OTIS REDDING; the bands he’s played with including CORY BRANAN, BADLY DRAWN BOY, TWO COW GARAGE and ARLISS NANCY.

DEXY decided to record his debut release after many years of writing and playing - he just never could settle on the right time to capture a set of songs and send them out into the world. With this 10-song collection DEXY felt that he’d collated a body of work that “could hold up as the best representation of who I am, why I write, where I’ve been and where I’m heading.”

The record really does feel like the ending of a chapter, the beginning of a fresh one, with songs like the heartbreaking ‘Broken Fixtures’ referencing DEXY’s past struggle with mental health but also detailing his efforts to escape a situation that was destroying him.

On ‘A Hollow Place’ we hear him lost, in his words “drifting away from anyone who could ever help” yet on ‘Summer Heist’ we have an upbeat, melodious pop tune about a dream DEXY once had in which bears reenacted the plot of the Al Pacino starring movie ‘Dog Day Afternoon’. Seriously.

There’s a nod to the past with ‘Barlights’, a storming tribute to legendary producer Jim Dickinson, and the George Jones-inspired, whiskey-soaked ‘Your Fucking Move’ that somehow combines depression and defiance in one savage package.

By the time closer ‘Twenty Years Of Dischord’ rolls around, a joyous homage to the years of rock n’ roll that have brought DEXY to where he is right now, we’ve seen a multitude of joys and woes, glances to the past and future, all firmly rooted in the now, trying to keep a grip.

The release of the album in May will see DEXY finally step up as not only a highly regarded live artist and songwriter but now also one whose songs are indelibly etched into this remarkable long player.

The Band:
Dexy: Electric/Acoustic Guitar / Vocals / Bass / Percussion
Ben Todd: Electric Guitar
Don Bannister: Drums

For more information contact: Dexyinfo@gmail.com

Fullback- New atmospheric indie project. Ex Ghouls.

Blissed Out- New Americana punk project. Ex The New Heat.

James Hull- one of my tallest friends goes... ACOUSTIC.