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There is a certain irony pertaining to the release of Joe Harvard's Country Eastern on AERIA Records.
For those who didn't know, Joe Harvard is the scrappy kid from East Boston who actually attended Harvard University and earned a degree in archeology and then went on to become an architect and forefather of the legendary Boston's indie rock scene that inspired and influenced none less than the late, great Kurt Cobain. While working with musicians from bands such as the Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., Mission of Burma, Throwing Muses, Billy Bragg and many others through his production efforts at the legendary Fort Apache recording studio as well as pioneering live musical events at the highly esteemed Middle East rock club, Joe Harvard was the eye in the storm of Boston's virile alternative rock movement throughout the 80's and 90's.
Unfortunately, despite being an in demand session player, engineer and prolific songwriter himself, Joe's own artistic vision was seriously waylaid by a crippling heroin addiction. As a consequence, his debut album, recorded at Fort Apache lay dormant and ended up sitting in a vault for nearly a quarter of a century.
Relocating to Asbury Park, NJ several years ago, Joe got a fresh start in Bruce Springsteen's fabled city by the sea working with upcoming regional artists such as Agency, Rick Barry and Mark Prescott as a sideman, being a sound engineer at local clubs such as the esteemed Wonder Bar, and actively writing, recording and performing live again as a solo artist. During this time, he also authored the widely acclaimed The Velvet Underground and Nico 33 1/3 Vol. 11.
To go forward, Joe soon realized that he would need to fall upon his academic background and embark upon another archeological expedition.. Himself!
Country Eastern was recorded back in Fort Apache’s glory days, with a cast that includes Howie Ferguson [Real Kids, Barrence Whitfield & the Savages], Billy Conway & the late Mark Sandman [Treat Her Right, Morphine], Jim Fitting [Treat Her Right, The The, Coots], Jerome Deupree [Joe Morris, Bourbon Princess, Morphine, Either-Orchestra], Sebastian Steinberg [Cibo Mato, Syd Straw, Soul Coughing], Marylou Lord, Florence Dore [Mudsills], Brother Cleve of the Church of the Subgenius [Del Fuegos, Combustible Edison], Paul Brown [Gtr. Player Mag Best Unsigned Guitarist], Bob Pernice [Pernice Brothers], Gary Smith [Lifeboat, Philosopher Kings], Bob and Greg Kendall [Lifeboat, Tackle Box] and a lot of other great players from Boston and Columbus – not to mention engineering by soon-to-be-hugesters Paul Q. Kolderie, Sean Slade, Tim O’Heir and Lou Giordano.
Life itself is only comprised of play, fast forward and ultimately stop. Yet music, through technology allows us to rewind, to go back and unearth what we left behind, so we can ultimately move forward.
With a title implying both a genre and a philosophical precept, the release of Country Eastern is a giant step forward for Joe Harvard.
For those who didn't know, Joe Harvard is the scrappy kid from East Boston who actually attended Harvard University and earned a degree in archeology and then went on to become an architect and forefather of the legendary Boston's indie rock scene that inspired and influenced none less than the late, great Kurt Cobain. While working with musicians from bands such as the Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., Mission of Burma, Throwing Muses, Billy Bragg and many others through his production efforts at the legendary Fort Apache recording studio as well as pioneering live musical events at the highly esteemed Middle East rock club, Joe Harvard was the eye in the storm of Boston's virile alternative rock movement throughout the 80's and 90's.
Unfortunately, despite being an in demand session player, engineer and prolific songwriter himself, Joe's own artistic vision was seriously waylaid by a crippling heroin addiction. As a consequence, his debut album, recorded at Fort Apache lay dormant and ended up sitting in a vault for nearly a quarter of a century.
Relocating to Asbury Park, NJ several years ago, Joe got a fresh start in Bruce Springsteen's fabled city by the sea working with upcoming regional artists such as Agency, Rick Barry and Mark Prescott as a sideman, being a sound engineer at local clubs such as the esteemed Wonder Bar, and actively writing, recording and performing live again as a solo artist. During this time, he also authored the widely acclaimed The Velvet Underground and Nico 33 1/3 Vol. 11.
To go forward, Joe soon realized that he would need to fall upon his academic background and embark upon another archeological expedition.. Himself!
Country Eastern was recorded back in Fort Apache’s glory days, with a cast that includes Howie Ferguson [Real Kids, Barrence Whitfield & the Savages], Billy Conway & the late Mark Sandman [Treat Her Right, Morphine], Jim Fitting [Treat Her Right, The The, Coots], Jerome Deupree [Joe Morris, Bourbon Princess, Morphine, Either-Orchestra], Sebastian Steinberg [Cibo Mato, Syd Straw, Soul Coughing], Marylou Lord, Florence Dore [Mudsills], Brother Cleve of the Church of the Subgenius [Del Fuegos, Combustible Edison], Paul Brown [Gtr. Player Mag Best Unsigned Guitarist], Bob Pernice [Pernice Brothers], Gary Smith [Lifeboat, Philosopher Kings], Bob and Greg Kendall [Lifeboat, Tackle Box] and a lot of other great players from Boston and Columbus – not to mention engineering by soon-to-be-hugesters Paul Q. Kolderie, Sean Slade, Tim O’Heir and Lou Giordano.
Life itself is only comprised of play, fast forward and ultimately stop. Yet music, through technology allows us to rewind, to go back and unearth what we left behind, so we can ultimately move forward.
With a title implying both a genre and a philosophical precept, the release of Country Eastern is a giant step forward for Joe Harvard.
For additional information please visit:
http://myspace.com/joeharvardband
http://myspace.com/joeharvardband
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ASBURY PARK MUSIC AWARDS!
THE HESH INC., - SOUL IN EXILE
RICK BARRY -Declaration of Codependence
Rick recently won his third Asbury Park Music Award for "Best Acoustic Act" after returning home from a west coast tour. In March 2006 Rick's song "Courage for A Rainy Day" was awarded the Grand Prize in the John Lennon International Songwriting Competition and was subsequently featured as one of Neil Young's "Songs of the Times" It is available on iTUNES
AGENCY - Live
Recorded live at Monmouth University, this is a monumental set and an intimate aural snapshot of an incredible band on the rise. Click here to purchase on iTunes.
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