"Singer Hannah Prater and guitarist/songwriter Chris Meyers have the kind of chemistry that country rock legends are made of. His sparse yet dynamic guitar arrangements are a perfect foil for her sunshine and sadness vocals...these 11 songs provide a memorable launch for this promising band." (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
"[The Bittersweets] get it right on their first try with their impressive debut...the talent and songwriting dexterity is evident from the first track "When the World Ends" until the album's close...expect to be hearing more from The Bittersweets." (American Songwriter)
"The Bittersweets combine rootsy, country twang with pop sensibilities, spinning stick-in-your head tunes perfect for driving down a dusty back road on a hot sunny afternoon with the stereo blaring.†(Eugene Weekly)
"a very fresh and very brilliant sounding album" (Bob Harris, BBC Radio)
It is not every day that a band has airplay on one of the nation's most influential AAA radio stations before they have even played a live show [San Francisco’s KFOG]. Equally rare is being asked to open for a Grammy Award-winning band at a legendary venue before even releasing a full-length debut [Train at The Fillmore]. Having a former member of a multi-platinum band [Counting Crows] jump on board after hearing some demos is pretty much unheard of.
The band? Try the acclaimed five-piece outfit from San Francisco called The Bittersweets, who are now poised to release their stunning full-length debut, The Life You Always Wanted. The album was mixed by David Henry (REM, Josh Rouse, Guster) and arrives in stores everywhere in summer 2006.
The Bittersweets lineup consists of Hannah Prater on vocals and guitar; Chris Meyers on vocals, guitar, and piano; Steve Bowman (Counting Crows, Third Eye Blind) on drums; Daniel Schacht (Jolie Holland) on bass; and Jerry Becker on piano and guitar. All eleven songs were written by Meyers and the album was produced by Meyers, Schacht, & Becker.
Meyers, the band’s songwriter, stumbled upon country music, of all places, in his sociological studies at college in rural Ohio. "Some people go to college and discover Marx or Chaucer. I found Jimmie Rogers," he says. Meyers spent his senior year writing his thesis on the Carter family, booking a national tour out of his dorm room, and opening up for several national artists. After graduating and moving to San Francisco, he eventually met Prater and the two hit it off immediately. Prater was a seasoned musician herself, having already toured Europe as a jazz vocalist. Within weeks of starting jam sessions in a barn behind her house, neighbors were pulling lawn chairs into their backyards and rehearsals became impromptu concerts.
In 2005, Meyers & Prater issued a self-released EP, which garnered critical acclaim and strong audience response throughout the Bay Area, as evidenced by regular airplay on KFOG; the band being showcased as KFOG’s Local Artist of the Month for 3 consecutive months; a string of sold-out performances at premier venues; and numerous accolades from local press. The band soon expanded from a duo to its current 5 member configuration.
In early 2006, The Bittersweets returned to the studio with completely re-recorded versions of the EP tracks, along with 6 entirely new songs, resulting in the band's full-length debut, The Life You Always Wanted. The Bittersweets are now poised to build even further on their success in the Bay Area and replicate it throughout the country, supported by an extensive national touring plan.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.virtrecords.com
Track List:
1. When The World Ends
2. Adam
3. Bag Of Bones
4. Long Day
5. Houston
6. Mostly Happy People
7. Burn Out My Eyes
8. Shooting Out The Sky
9. Rapture
10. Prison
11. And Death Shall Have No Dominion
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
"[The Bittersweets] get it right on their first try with their impressive debut...the talent and songwriting dexterity is evident from the first track "When the World Ends" until the album's close...expect to be hearing more from The Bittersweets." (American Songwriter)
"The Bittersweets combine rootsy, country twang with pop sensibilities, spinning stick-in-your head tunes perfect for driving down a dusty back road on a hot sunny afternoon with the stereo blaring.†(Eugene Weekly)
"a very fresh and very brilliant sounding album" (Bob Harris, BBC Radio)
It is not every day that a band has airplay on one of the nation's most influential AAA radio stations before they have even played a live show [San Francisco’s KFOG]. Equally rare is being asked to open for a Grammy Award-winning band at a legendary venue before even releasing a full-length debut [Train at The Fillmore]. Having a former member of a multi-platinum band [Counting Crows] jump on board after hearing some demos is pretty much unheard of.
The band? Try the acclaimed five-piece outfit from San Francisco called The Bittersweets, who are now poised to release their stunning full-length debut, The Life You Always Wanted. The album was mixed by David Henry (REM, Josh Rouse, Guster) and arrives in stores everywhere in summer 2006.
The Bittersweets lineup consists of Hannah Prater on vocals and guitar; Chris Meyers on vocals, guitar, and piano; Steve Bowman (Counting Crows, Third Eye Blind) on drums; Daniel Schacht (Jolie Holland) on bass; and Jerry Becker on piano and guitar. All eleven songs were written by Meyers and the album was produced by Meyers, Schacht, & Becker.
Meyers, the band’s songwriter, stumbled upon country music, of all places, in his sociological studies at college in rural Ohio. "Some people go to college and discover Marx or Chaucer. I found Jimmie Rogers," he says. Meyers spent his senior year writing his thesis on the Carter family, booking a national tour out of his dorm room, and opening up for several national artists. After graduating and moving to San Francisco, he eventually met Prater and the two hit it off immediately. Prater was a seasoned musician herself, having already toured Europe as a jazz vocalist. Within weeks of starting jam sessions in a barn behind her house, neighbors were pulling lawn chairs into their backyards and rehearsals became impromptu concerts.
In 2005, Meyers & Prater issued a self-released EP, which garnered critical acclaim and strong audience response throughout the Bay Area, as evidenced by regular airplay on KFOG; the band being showcased as KFOG’s Local Artist of the Month for 3 consecutive months; a string of sold-out performances at premier venues; and numerous accolades from local press. The band soon expanded from a duo to its current 5 member configuration.
In early 2006, The Bittersweets returned to the studio with completely re-recorded versions of the EP tracks, along with 6 entirely new songs, resulting in the band's full-length debut, The Life You Always Wanted. The Bittersweets are now poised to build even further on their success in the Bay Area and replicate it throughout the country, supported by an extensive national touring plan.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.virtrecords.com
Track List:
1. When The World Ends
2. Adam
3. Bag Of Bones
4. Long Day
5. Houston
6. Mostly Happy People
7. Burn Out My Eyes
8. Shooting Out The Sky
9. Rapture
10. Prison
11. And Death Shall Have No Dominion
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- ROCK: Americana
- ROCK: Roots Rock
- TYPE: VOCAL