Singer/songwriter Chris Pierce will be touring the U.S. this fall in support of his new album, I Can Hear You, set for October 11th release. He’ll be hitting the road with his 1951 Gibson ES-150, a couple harmonicas and longtime friend Shane Alexander, another acclaimed Los Angeles-based artist. The two will co-headline the “Brothers From Another Mother” tour, which launches on October 17th at Nashville’s 12th & Porter. The run will include a show at The Living Room in New York City on October 28th. Pierce, who has opened for such artists as Seal, B.B. King, Al Green, Toots and the Maytals, and Colbie Caillat, will also play a series of Southern California record release showcase parties. The first will be at Hotel Café in Hollywood on October 11th. See below for itinerary.
“Pierce, whose work has been compared to that of musical elder tribesmen Van Morrison, Jimmy Cliff, Bill Withers and Otis Redding – engages his audiences with his rich vocals and heartfelt tunes,” said LATimes.com, which included Pierce on its list of “homegrown artists you ought to know.” BuzzBands.la noted: “his tunes…seem to come from a heart so open and honest that, your cynicism safely checked at the door, you believe music possesses mystical healing powers too.
For a limited time, fans can get a free download of the soulful focus track “Looking for the Spark,” which opens I Can Hear You, at:
http://buzzbands.la/2011/09/
Shane Alexander is an internationally known singer/songwriter/guitarist with four solo albums to his credit including his newest release, Mono Solo. Since 2005, in addition to his own headlining tours, Alexander has toured with Jewel, Seal, Suzanne Vega, Bon Iver, and most recently, opened for Styx / Yes on their ‘Progressive U.S. Tour’ in July-August of 2011. Shane Alexander’s music has been licensed for over 50 television shows and films, including: “Bones,” “Criminal Minds,” “White Collar,” and “One Tree Hill.”
“This album is for the strugglers, the invisible people – those who make light out of the darkest of times even when it seems like no one is listening,” says Pierce.
Co-produced with GRAMMY® award winner Seth Atkins Horan, who has worked on each of Pierce’s previous releases, most of I Can Hear You’s 10 tracks were captured live on the first take, underscoring the raw emotion of the material. Pierce penned five songs himself and four with long-time collaborator Marvin Etzioni. A poignant version of Bill Withers’ “Hope She’ll Be Happier,” featuring simply vocals and piano, completes the collection. I Can Hear You follows Walking on the Earth, which was named one of the Top 10 albums of July 2008 by Nic Harcourt, formerly of KCRW, and 2009’s Chris Pierce Live at the Hotel Café.
Although Chris developed otosclerosis, a rare hearing disorder that led to the loss of hearing in one ear at age 15, a journey he addresses in “Thunder or the Rain,” music continued to be his passion. He was awarded the prestigious Ella Fitzgerald scholarship for jazz studies at USC when he was 18. Impressed by his performance at a small Hollywood party, Seal invited him to open on a string of worldwide tours, launching his career to a new level. His music has been heard in the film Soul Men and on Music From and Inspired by Crash and been licensed by Banana Republic and such shows as “Brothers and Sisters,” “Eli Stone,” “In Plain Sight” and “Army Wives.”
Chris Pierce – Upcoming Tour Dates
Record Release Parties
10/11 Hollywood, CA Hotel Café (w/Shane Alexander)
10/12 Ventura, CA Zoey’s Café (w/Shane Alexander)
10/15 San Diego, CA Anthology (w/Melissa Morgan)
10/16 Hermosa Beach, CA Saint Rocke (w/Shane Alexander)
“Brothers From Another Mother” Tour with Shane Alexander
10/17 Nashville, TN 12th & Porter
10/18 Atlanta, GA Smith’s Olde Bar
10/20 Louisville, KY Uncle Slayton’s
10/21 Dayton, OH Wrights
10/22 Cincinnati, OH
10/26 Pittsburgh, PA Club Café
10/28 New York, NY The Living Room
10/29 Cambridge, MA T.T. the Bear’s Place
11/1 Ogunquit, ME Jonathan’s
Additional dates to be announced.
