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Easterling follows 'BlackTop Road' to Acoustic Coffeehouse
By Contributed to the PressAmericana singer/songwriter Angela Easterling, riding a wave of critical praise for her latest album “BlackTop Road,” performs Tuesday, Nov. 24, at Acoustic Coffeehouse, 415 W. Walnut St. Showtime is 8 p.m. and admission is free.
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Email ArticleShe’ll be performing with Brandon Turner. They’ll also be featured on WETS-FM playing live at 3 p.m.
“BlackTop Road” was produced by Will Kimbrough, and features such great musicians as Al Perkins, Fats Kaplin, Anne McCue, and Ken Coomer (Wilco).
Easterling, from upstate South Carolina, grew up there but spent timein Los Angeles. Her debut album, “Earning Her Wings”,was chosen as “Americana Pick of the Year” by Smart Choice Music.
She returned to tour the East Coast, having appeared on the bill with such artists as Lucinda Williams, Deana Carter, Dave Alvin, Victoria Williams and Michelle Shocked out west. She opened for the legendary Ray Price (at the Birchmere), Suzy Bogguss and others. Easterling’s music was featured in commercials (Southwestern Bell) and several of her songs were used in the series “Horsepower” on Animal Planet.
“BlackTop Road” has been highly praised in the press and was chosen as a top pick in both Oxford American and Country Weekly. The title song tells of her family’s struggle to hold onto their farmland in the face of widespread development and represents a bold new step in her singing and songwriting.
Easterling was selected for an official Americana Convention Showcase and also named a 2009 Kerrville Hill New Folk Finalist. Roger McGuinn, founder of the Byrds, called her “a bright shining star on the horizon!” and went on to say, “Her gift is so special. Her CD BlackTop Road brought me back to the time the Byrds recorded ‘Sweetheart of the Rodeo’ — tradition meets youthful exuberance.”
Among others singing her praise:
“Angela Easterling, we now know, is a quietly plaintive singer who rewards attentive listening. Her ‘Blacktop Road,’ with its mandolins, dobros, lap steels, peddle steels, fiddles, etc., is out-and-out ‘alt country.’ A lot of the songs here sound like they’ve been around for years — that’s a compliment — including the sweetly yearning cover of a certain Wannabe Southern Man’s ‘Helpless.’ Produced by the agile and sensitive Will Kimbrough.” — Oxford American, Editors Picks for June 2009
“Dynamite honky-tonk singer Angela Easterling brings a tough traditionalist sound to ballads and ravers alike on her fine new CD ‘BlackTop Road.’ ” — Philadelphia Inquirer
“Lovely (and theater-trained) vocals, penetrating songs, and a restless heart that always finds its way back home with stories to tell.” — Rick Cornell, Country Standard Time
“Angela has just about the prettiest voice to come out of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. While she claims Emmylou Harris as an influence (and wears it quite well), there’s also a spark of youth in her voice more reminiscent of someone with a rock background, like Jenny Lewis. She can also knock out an Appalachian rocker that sounds like early Steve Earle, such as the title track from her album ‘BlackTopRoad’ ” — Tug Baker, Free Times Columbia
Following Easterling’s performance, Stephen Warwick and Sarah Bowman will play at 10 p.m.