The Madisons

Lizzie Harrah Picks 5 Favorite Valentine’s Day Songs

themadisons — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:13 +0000

We’ve been busy rehearsing for our CD release party Saturday, but wanted to add our thoughts for great Valentine’s Day songs.

Why these songs? Lizzie tells you before each song.

Because he loves that woman so bad – Taj Majal -”Queen Bee“
Because she wants to steal this man any way she can – Gladys Knight – If I Were Your Woman
As close as he ever got to a love song, but still aches with sadness – Nick Drake – Time Has Told Me
Everyone I know starts belting out the chorus, regardless of gender – Billy Paul – Me and Mrs. Jones
Because it’s so honestly bad it’s good – Tom T. Hall – I Love
Yes, the headline says 5. Consider this a bonus. We love Tanita Tikaram’s Valentine Heart and that’s why we’re releasing it as a single (and you should give it as a Valentine gift) – The Madisons – Valentine Heart

We’d love to know your perfect Valentine’s Day love songs. Leave them in the comments.

Artist Lori Epperson creates album art for “Greener”

themadisons — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:39:23 +0000

I first met Lori Epperson in Houston,
Texas where we both attended the High School for Performing and Visual Arts. She created the artwork for The Madisons new album, Greener, as well as our previous release, Do You Love Me.

Learn more about the artist by visiting her blog here, where you’ll see stunning examples of her work

Original Madison member Teri Greene still involved

themadisons — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:35:22 +0000

One of the reasons The Madisons are still going strong after 17 years is largely due to the arrangements and guitar work of original member Teri Greene.

His hauntingly beautiful adaptation of Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child” is performed by guitarist Wayne Bean on The Madisons new album, GREENER.

He is somewhat of a legend in Texas and the Southwest, and has been a veteran of stage and studio in Houston and Austin for decades.

For those lucky enough to catch him with Allison Fisher, Eric Demmer and the Sax Dawgs, or hosting Dan Electro’s Blues Jam will experience a rare and unique guitar talent. He has a voice on that thing and something to say as well.

Greener CD Release Party February 11

themadisons — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:40:59 +0000

Excitement runs high in The Madisons camp as we approach our much anticipated Valentine’s Day CD release of Greener.

Even more exciting, we’re busy rehearsing for our Saturday, February 11, 2012 CD Release Party for Greener.

We’ll be headlining the show which begins 8 p.m. at the wonderful roots music club and restaurant, the Down Home 300 W. Main St. Johnson City, TN 37604.

As more details become available we’ll post them here. We hope to see you there.

The Madisons Sleepin’ Video

themadisons — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:34:12 +0000

The Madisons began in Texas seventeen years ago with original members Teri Greene, Lizzie Harrah, “Little” Stevie Wilson, and Denny “Cletus” Blakely, together on the live recording DRIVE. Ruel Russell, Lee Hamilton, and Rusty Stone later joined Teri and Lizzie, and the five-piece recorded GOODTIME AND MONEY and DO YOU LOVE ME. We made weekly appearances and headlined at major venues in Texas such as Balinese Room, Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar, Cosmos and Helios. Our song “Sleepin’” was featured in an independent film and video.

5 Things to Do When You Record Your Band in the Studio

themadisons — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:30:55 +0000

1. You Gotta Know Your Song Before You Sing it

Too many folks rely on charts and lyric sheets. Unless you’re a “work for hire” musician and have never played the song before, then learn it. Learn the lyrics, learn the notes you will be playing. Then, put the charts away.

2. Rehearse, Practice, Perform

It’s a common mistake for some musicians to enter the recording process thinking that the band will “work out” arrangements in the studio. Rehearse your new material, and then play it live. Live performance will help shape a song’s structure. Keep rehearsing and playing the material live in order to refine the song and its arrangement.

3. Record the Songs Yourself First

Use a simple 2-channel recorder, mp3 recorder, a computer or anything that can capture your band playing the new material in rehearsal and at live performances. Listen to it, and make adjustments. If you hear parts of a song that don’t work, change them. If you hear something that does work, do that every time.

4. Play Live in the Studio

When you do make it into the studio, track the band together as much as possible. Overdubs are great, but nothing can replace the beauty of tracks that capture a great performance by all the players at the same time. If you have any equipment failure, work around it and keep going. Big deal, your pedal is dead. Track anyway, however you can. Some of the most beautiful recordings have started as happy mistakes.

5. Do it Again

Record at least three usable takes of each song. Don’t waste time evaluating your work during the recording process. Your engineer is busy recording your music – he or she is not your producer – so asking their opinion on your tracks in real-time isn’t usually appropriate. Later you can listen to them and decide which take is the best overall. Most bands need a producer, an objective set of ears, to help them with this stage of the process. A producer is anyone who can envision the overall presentation of your music. They don’t always have to be there in the recording process, but their input is valuable in selecting of the best takes and how to showcase them in a final product.