Subscribe free to our daily email newsletterMusic Review: Billy Coulter’s Live Verve
Oct 27, 2010 11:41 - 0 Comments
Photo from Billy Coulter
“I loved live albums growing up because of the excitement and exhilaration,” shared Billy Coulter during my interview. With the release of his new CD, Trace, he now has one of his own. His band recorded the entire album in one session last May with Goose Creek Entertainment where producer, Mike Pugh, and managing partner, Stuart Martin, specialize in live CD/DVD projects.
Fans have been calling out the names of the songs during his recent shows. Billy credits this enthusiasm to the album’s lighthearted and positive tone:
My first album was deep emotional thinking and feeling but these are a lot of fun and really positive songs. We’re getting great feedback.
Billy credits the quality of the album to the fine musicians playing with him rather than “studio magic”. The CD is a testament to his band and “what they sound like for real”. Although they were nervous to record and also videotape the session, they had a terrific time that night. Their spirit and enthusiasm shined through while playing their road-tested favorites along with five brand-new songs. Since the recording spans a range of influences that include rockabilly, Celtic, country and pop, the album is a slight departure from their usual classic roots rock.
“I’m very fortunate to have success at my age,” admits Billy. Of course, success is how you measure it. He has always had two simple goals: to play regularly and to earn the respect of his peers. With shows every month at locales such as Rams Head, Birchmere, Strathmore, Barns of Wolf Trap, and IOTA, he certainly plays regularly. Having been nominated for more than 30 WAMMIEs since 2004, his fellow musicians do affirm his talent.
Looking back, Billy’s career started with some success too. When he graduated from Wootton High School, he learned 40 songs in two weeks to play guitar with his older sister’s New Wave band, Insert. Then they won the Rising Stars of Washington contest on Channel 9. For 19-to-20 year olds, the experience was very exciting. He started to write songs and play in college, but then his adult life and career took over and he stopped for a long time.
In 2000 he started writing songs again and met Steve Thoma (Fleetwood Mac, Glenn Frey) when he was on vacation. Steve invited him to come to California and worked with him to produce a seven-song demo. The trip gave him confidence and courage to pursue his music. In 2003 the songs were remixed and produced in part by WAMMIE-winner Marco Delmar. In 2008, Billy also released a 10-song CD titled Dose which was produced by Delmar.
At the beginning of next year, he’ll have a formal CD Release Party. Right now he’s selling them at shows and, of course, you can buy the CDs online.
Since the band has played on the Rooftop and at Hometown Holidays, we’ll probably have to wait until warmer weather to hear him play in Rockville, which Billy describes as “a wonderful place to grow up and still a great city.”
If you are interested in hearing the band locally, their annual Christmas Show will be at the Café in Damascus on December 11, 2010 from 7 – 10 PM.
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