The Madisons

Exclusive live tracks from the Madisons

themadisons — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:03:16 +0000

We’ve been compiling tracks from recent live shows.

Today, we’re making seven of these tracks available exclusively to you as a free download.

Click on link below and enjoy. Thank you for listening!

Madisons headline Old Mountain Campground in Greeneville, TN

themadisons — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:12:32 +0000

The Madison’s headline the
season opener at Old Mountain Campground in Greeneville TN, Saturday, May 26, 8:00 -10:30 pm.

Just us all night; no scheduled guest players (yet).

We’ll play new material from the just released, Greener, album (plus all the old stuff, too).

We’re honored to kick off the Old Mountain Campground’s music season on the Countdown to Brojo.

Free admission, BYOB, kid-friendly…..blanket or lawn chair recommended.

One more thing: what better way to spend your Memorial Day weekend camping out in the beautiful Smokey Mountains? Old Mountain Campground is a fun, quiet, and clean campground with a top notch outdoor music facility. There are RV hookups, tent camping, a free swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, and more. Contact Sherry Brobeck at 423-638-3236

Hey, I want a dancing bear!!!!

The Madisons live on Dave Carter’s Studio One program

themadisons — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:00:52 +0000

Not our storm, but a fair representation.

We’ve had a few people ask about our early February in-studio appearance on Dave Carter’s Studio One program on WETS.

After a mild mountain winter, a pretty nasty snowstorm moved into our area. We headed to WETS in Johnson City, TN, in near whiteout conditions. You might say, you haven’t driven in a snowstorm until you drive through a mountain snowstorm.

When we arrived in Johnson City, fortune smiled and we loaded up with Starbucks® coffee for everyone.

Dave and Mike Strickland, the studio engineer, welcomed us and the geeky recording talk flowed. Mike and Dave possess an extensive knowledge about the recording industry and recording techniques. In fact, Mike is one the best engineers with whom I’ve worked (and I’ve worked with many!).

The whole thing was like a homecoming for our guitarist, Wayne Bean, who hosted a show on WETS.

Here are four live Greener tracks via our WETS appearance:

If You Leave (Live on WETS)
Station At The End Of The Line (Live on WETS)
Model T (Live on WETS)
Turnstile (Live on WETS)

Another “Greener” guest: Valerie Haltom

themadisons — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:48:17 +0000

Ruel Russell and Valerie Haltom played
together in the Texas Ska big-band St. Vitus Dance.

Valerie is a rhythm guitar player and vocalist from the Gulf Coast. Valerie joined Ruel, Lizzie Harrah, and Lee
Hamilton in an acoustic band called The Sinclairs, and live as a guest
artist with Bone Simple and The Madisons.

In 2011, Valerie recorded tracks for The Madisons GREENER
and Bob Wall’s FOK albums. Her vocal and guitar work
reflect her zen balance and steady hand.

Alan Gill Contributes to The Madison’s “Greener”

themadisons — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:16:40 +0000

Allan Gill began his music life on drums,
but at age 11 he took up guitar during a family jaunt in Mexico. Inspired chiefly by the Beatles and other English rock and pop groups of the 1960s, he formed (or joined) several bands that achieved moderate notice on the Texas music scene.

Among these were Gravity’s Rainbow, the Incredibles, the Switch, Irian Jaya, the Cosmetics, Wall of Miracles, the librarians, the Sleepwalkers, and the Vermeers. He currently sings and plays bass with the Footnotes.

When I was seventeen, I played with him in Irian Jaya for five years. I helped get him his gig mixing monitors for Timbuk 3; he toured with them while I had a kid, and then he landed in Austin where he owns a studio. He commutes to Houston to play with the Footnotes. His brother is Glover Gill, and he wrote and played all the music on accordion in the film “Waking Life”, and was in the iconic punk band D-Day.

Allan I were skaters, he on his skateboard and me on my old-school skates, and we’d surf down the spiral parking garages of downtown Houston. He saved my life once when we were skating during the Jean Michel Jarre concert. They had closed down all the streets and freeways for this huge deal…we were skating the wrong way down some perfectly clear bit of road that became us going down an up-freeway ramp…we were going faster than I’ve ever gone, and I couldn’t stop. He ditched his board, turned around with his arms wide and said, “Hit me.” I did, and we survived, but there was an airline package of peanuts in his shirt pocket that was powder.

He taught me how to play music, in that there isn’t anything you can’t play. I was the keyboardist for Irian Jaya and the lead singer/songwriter would write on a 4 track with a lot parts going on. I didn’t think I could play four keyboards at once. Allan taught himself a really tricky part that was giving me hell so that he could teach me. It just came down to breaking into the tiniest pieces, just doing one at a time.

I asked him to play on Greener when I considered who in my life has been most creative, helpful, respectful and positive. Allan played acoustic guitar on “Humiditty” and “Seafaring”, and some small electric guitar bits on those two as well. He lets me be his Mac guru sometimes now, that makes me feel great.

Lizzie Harrah sings, writes, and plays multiple instruments with The Madisons.

Greener on the street

themadisons — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:51:09 +0000

We figure you know this, but Greener
is now available through multiple channels.

You can order a CD or download at CD Baby.

Digital only at I-Tunes, Amazon, and Great Indie Music.

You can also hear us on Spotify and MOG.

If you encounter us anywhere alse, let us know, eh?

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.