The Only Man Tour

February 6th - 8pm - Rumba Cafe - Columbus, Ohio
CD Release Show with Micah Schnabel, Todd May, and Akillis Green

MARCH 18TH - 10pm - SXSW - BD RILEY'S - AUSTIN, TX

March 19th - 9pm - Howard's Club H w/Akillis Green - Bowling Green, Ohio

April 15th - Cinci/KY TBA

April 16th - Davey's Uptown w/ 45th St. Porch Band - Kansas CIty, MO

April 17th - Bottom Feeder Bay w/ 45th St. Porch Band - Warrensburg, MO

How do you know when it's the real deal? There is so much music out there today. Anyone can make a record. Almost everyone does, including those who pursue the craft for purely monetary reasons. Some who pursue for the righteous reasons also do it without the unknown factor that draws people in for more. Some, on the other hand, have it, and it is instantly known by all. And some artists have it, but it is too raw at first, and that pure raw talent only can be appreciated by a few at first, while the others wait for the artist to hone the craft before going back to discover the early stages of the artist. The initial few who realize instantly the innate genius can follow the artist and claim later that they were one the first, way before someone else said it was okay to listen. So how does one decide to take a chance and listen in? Maybe it’s instinct and the thrill of discovery, or just a love for the music.

Lydia Loveless, the 19-year old songstress, is worth the chance. One quick listen to Lydia’s hauntingly beautiful voice and you are instantly intrigued. Her craft is put together like a bride on her wedding (albeit a shotgun-type) day; something old, something new, borrowed and blue. Her voice calls on the spirits of past legends like Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, and Tammy Wynette, even Hank Williams – and living legend, Loretta Lynn. Lydia brings something new to the table as well; something distinctly her own. This element remains unidentified. Its something we’ll have to figure out as we get to know this new young artist.

Her songs are written from her perspective, raw and honest, without watered down concerns of pleasing the masses. How refreshing. The juxtaposition of Lydia’s timeless, sagacious voice singing out the concerns and perspective of a young turk is quite the introduction. Just think what she will be singing 5 years from now, or ten.

Lydia’s sound is also a reflection of her stylistic influences. From the juke joint era through the punk revolution Lydia borrows the energy that forged the DIY movements.

And then there is the blue: the heartbreak quality of Lydia’s voice that suggests that she is singing about something more intense, from a place deep inside that is mostly unknown, even for Lydia. It’s an intimate beautiful sorrow that she is sharing, even while she discovers the meaning of it herself.

Lydia is not doing this for the money. There are easier ways to make the cash. Indeed, Lydia hardly chose to sing at all; it is quite the opposite. Is that enough? Is she the real deal? Listen for – and to – yourself. Take the chance.

The Only Man

Lydia Loveless

"The Only Man"

Out Now on iTunes, CDBaby, MySpace Music, select retail outlets, and here.

Road-ready and fresh from the studio with a full-length CD, Lydia Loveless showcases her backwoods upbringing, raw energy, and songs which leave you smelling and tasting the smoke and whiskey. In fact, you may even find yourself catching a whiff of stale beer from your favorite roadside tavern.

'The Only Man' - The title track on her debut full-length CD, Lydia Loveless weaves a double-murder-suicide ballad of young love, lost love, bitter anger, and revenge.

'Wishing on Her Star' is the perfect crossover single on the disc and tells the tragic tale of star-crossed love, broken dreams, and broken hearts.

'Back on the Bottle' is a gut-wrenching ballad of a boys life dependent on alcohol. This song leaves you stinking of cigarettes and whiskey.

'Paid' tells the story of life on the road as a starving artist and the trials of a female performer crammed into a crowd-pleasing, high-paced, foot-stomping tune.

REVIEWS

"It’s about time – along with a good contingent of Columbus music fans, I’ve been waiting on this debut by spitfire country-punk Lydia Loveless for what seems like years. And, as cliche as it sounds, the wait was worth it as The Only Man (Peloton Records) is a timeless collection of heart-weary tracks written by a 19-year-old well beyond her years.

Since the dawn of time, songwriters have been afforded the luxury of straddling the line between truth and fiction and it’s hard to tell just how much of Loveless’s real life she brings into her lyrics. If these songs are all true life testimonials, it’s a wonder Loveless isn’t in a mental institution or, worse, jail – maybe it’s the gift of song that is saving her soul.

Tales of cheating lovers, jealous girlfriends, holy roller religion, and heavy drinking abound throughout The Only Man as Loveless – who sings with a southern drawl that sounds more Tennessee than Ohio – is backed by badass country musicians who sound fresh off the Grand Ole Opry stage. In fact, where it not for the randy language and tales of violence, I could easily imagine this record sitting comfortably amongst somebody’s grandparents record collection (not my grandparents, unfortunately) alongside offerings by Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette.

Before Disney made superstars out of teenage pop tarts, younger musicians were more the exception than the norm and had this record come out 20 years ago, Loveless would most likely be the subject of a major label bidding war and earn half-page featurettes in mags like Rolling Stone and Spin who would undoubtedly reference the old spirit living in the young body. But this is 2010 and the charts are loaded with girls (and boys) who have yet to earn high school diplomas. Those kids aren’t singing about shooting and killing their dads because their dad killed the only man they ever loved as Loveless does on the album’s title track, “The Only Man”. Don’t worry, Loveless and her dad are good friends, in fact her dad plays drums on the record and live (maybe he’s keeping his eye on his little girl so that she doesn’t fall for the ‘baddest boy around’ that she so often sings about).

“Girls Suck” is the penultimate country song and were it not for the lyrical content (sensing a theme here?), it would be easy to close your eyes and imagine Porter Wagoner introducing “the lovely and talented young lass from the Buckeye state” to the studio audience at the Grand Ole Opry. But lyrics like “There was a girl that everybody fucked / She had 10 men but 10 was not enough / So she asked my man if he would have a go / And he pulled it out and said ‘If you say so, I guess’” would probably send the blue hairs into a tizzy.

Having performed since her early teen years (starting off as a member of Carson Drew in which she played bass alongside two of her siblings), Loveless is no newcomer to the scene which is pretty surprising considering she’s a veteran at the old age of 19! At least now we’ve got something physical to hold in our hands, and listen to at will, to say we were there at the start of her recorded legacy as I have a feeling Loveless has a long, long career ahead of her." - Chip Midnight, Donewaiting.com

Lydia Loveless is hailed by critics with lofty accolades:

"Beautiful songs, beautiful voice." - James Wilsey, guitarist for Chris Isaak

Producer David Rhodes Brown says, "Forget Jewel - Lydia Loveless reminds me of Patsy Cline." He pauses and adds, "All pissed off."