Big Sister PRODUCTIONS
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Big Sister Productions
Madison, TN
ph: 812-327-5494
sue
Brian Langlinais
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Get a Little Roadhouse Soul on the New CD from Brian Langlinais
Tonight I Might Hits Streets September 28
Texas Tour Kicks off November 5 • See Calendar Below
[NASHVILLE, TN] “I’m a roadhouse singer. My influences have always been the musicians who played the Texas and Louisiana roadhouses and dancehalls along the Gulf Coast,” says Brian Langlinais (LONG-la-nay). He laid out a mission for his sophomore CD, Tonight I Might: “I want to perform and record soulful, passionate, thought-provoking songs—music that moves people to dance.” One listen is all you need to know he accomplished that mission.
It has been four years since Langlinais’ debut CD, Rock & Fire, was released, but the wait has been worth it. Tonight I Might captures the passion he brings to the stage as a performer, without ever once sounding sterile or safe. The 12 songs on the album not only showcase his rich, soulful voice, they also open a window into the heart of a maturing artist reflecting on the joy and pain of life with uncommon honesty. “This CD is closer to who I am,” says Brian. “I’ve grown a lot in the last four years. Nothing heavy, but like a lot of people, I’m working on being a better man, a better father.
“That had a lot to do with the songs on this album,” continues Langlinais. “I wanted to pick songs that have a groove and just plain make me want to dance. But I was also drawn to songs that have deeper meaning … I call it ‘roadhouse haiku’.”
One theme that is consistent throughout the record is an unwavering commitment to personal responsibility, as heard in the album’s beautiful anchor song “By My Own Hand.” But there are no sermons here. “I don’t want to preach,” says Langlinais, “It’s about looking at life a little differently—seeing the glass half full.”
The songs run the gamut of emotions from the fun, up-tempo, swamp rock sounds of “Tennessee Hideaway” and “Don’t Shoot the Snake in the Bottom of the Boat” and the ‘60s rocker “Do What’s Right”—to poignant and tender love songs such as “When I Look into Her Eyes” and “She’s Everything to Me”—and to the spiritually-infused and brutally honest “Soul Searching” and “I Was a Burden.”
It is in the album’s title song, though, that Langlinais’ goal of recording “thought-provoking” songs may be most soulfully realized. “Never thought about tomorrow … Never thought about leavin’ … But tonight I might.”
With Bill Small and Walt Wilkins (of The Mystiqueros) as producers, it was easy to weave Brian Langlinais’ intellectual honky-tonk throughout the whole recording process and bring a rich musical expression to the finished project. Says Langlinais, “Bill and Walt provided a safe, fun, and relaxed environment by recording in Austin with musicians that I not only respect immensely but are also some of my closest friends. And to me, at least in music, safe equals trust, and trust equals true spontaneity and honest creativity—exactly what I was aiming for.”
Tonight I Might is Brian Langlinais’ first release with Ft. Worth’s Blue Boot Records, whose roster includes Texas heavy-hitters such as Tommy Alverson, The Mystiqueros, and artist, songwriter, and producer Walt Wilkins. Of Brian, Walt says, “He can shake a room and make the spirits swirl with his voice and his very presence. A Cadillac of a singer, and cool picker to boot. Lafayette, Memphis, Austin, West Coast, East Coast ... it's all in there, and he brings it out from his toes every time he sings."
With Tonight I Might, Louisiana-born Brian Langlinais has accomplished what few artists realize in a sophomore CD – an authentic musical work in a unique and singular voice. Like the best Cajun etouffee, each bite feeds both the body and the soul.
So open your roadhouse soul right now: toss the CD on, crack open a cold beer, contemplate honky tonks and haiku—and then dance ’til the sun comes up!
CALENDAR / TEXAS NOVEMBER 2010 (updated regularly)
11/5 4:00 pm KSYM on-air interview
11/7 4:00 pm Gruene Hall, New Braunfels, with Band
11/9 6:30 pm Private Party, Huntsville
11/10 8:00 pm Saxon Pub, Austin
11/11 8:00 pm Dosey Doe Club, Houston
11/12 4-6 pm KNON on-air
11/12 8:00 pm Poor David's Pub, Dallas
11/17 8:00 pm Waring General Store, Waring
11/19 5:30 pm KFAN on air
11/21 time tba Treehouse, Fredricksburg
TONIGHT I MIGHT • Track Notes
Executive Producer John Meacham
Produced by Bill Small & Walt Wilkins for Blue Boot Records
THE PLAYERS
Drums, percussion Ray Rodriguez
Bass, acoustic and electric guitars Bill Small
Electric, acoustic, and baritone guitars, and lap steel James Pennebaker
Electric and acoustic piano, organ and accordion, electric guitar Chris Gage
Piano Randy Handley
Guitar Marcus Eldridge
Acoustic guitar and frottoir Brian Langlinais
Background vocals Christine Albert, Tina Mitchell Wilkins, Walt Wilkins, Bill Small, Mike Cross, John Greenberg, Mike Horn and Ray Rodriguez
THE SONGS
Tennessee Hideaway (D. Flowers / K. Greenberg) 3:21 • I’ve loved this song since the first time I heard it on Danny [Flower]’s “Forbidden Fruit and Vegetables” and knew that if I ever had a chance to record it I would. As the sessions for this record started to fall in place, it became evident to me that this would be a great band to give it a go. If you like to dance, this one’s for you!
If the Blues Was Green (R. Handley / R. Fleming) 3:19 • Slick and skanky at its best. This is what Roadhouse music is all about. Makes me think of hot nights and ice cold beer, pretty girls with short skirts and cowboy boots and lots and lots of dancing.
I Was a Burden (D. Flowers) 3:52 • Maybe it has something to do with my age, but I’m really interested in singing songs about introspection and redemption. I think this is another amazing Danny Flowers song about just that. James, Chris, Bill and Ray do such wonderful job bringing this one back to a great ‘70s Stax-type groove, and Mike Cross and Billy add all the church you could ask for with their perfect background vocals.
Soul Searching (J. Sundrud) 3:55 • Who says looking inward has to be all work and no play? I first heard “Soul Searchin’” in my RV with Randy Handley and instantly loved it. It wasn’t until I learned the lyrics that I realized just how great of a song it is. James plays a fabulous solo on this one, and I’m joined by the Mystiqueros and Mike Cross on background vocals.
She’s Everything to Me (G. Simmons / B. Jones / B. Langlinais) 4:31 • Glenn Simmons and Buck Jones started this song only weeks before Buck’s untimely death. Months later Glenn asked if I would help him finish it. I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of this song. Thanks, guys.
It Could’ve Been Worse (M.T. Jordan / R. Handley) 4:08 • This is a true one-take wonder. Originally a Mark Jordan and Randy Handley shuffle, Walt suggested that we try camping it up and slowing it down a bit. Ray took out the brushes and … well, here’s the result. No overdubs … just a whole lotta of fun.
Do What’s Right (J. Pearson) 2:45 • As good of a rocker as it gets. Wasting no time in getting to the point, this Jack Pearson-penned song tells it like it is. You just GOTTA do what’s right. From James and Chris’s honky tonk-soaked solos to Ray and Billy’s “ain’t no way you gonna sit for this one” driving rhythm section, this one rocks. Enough said.
By My Own Hand (J. Sundrud / R. Handley) 3:20 • I have been deeply moved by this song in the past, and I still am. I can sometimes be my own worst enemy. Realizing it is probably the first step to changing. This beautiful song by Jack Sundrud and Randy Handley is about just that. From James’s opening guitar lick to Christine Alpert’s background vocals, this song pulls at my heart in ways that I still don’t understand. I hope it does the same to you.
Never Give Up (R. Handley / B. Langlinais) 2:51 • I got the idea for this song from a conversation about marriage with a guy I met in a bar in South Houston a couple of years ago. Originally more about quitting than staying together, Randy suggested we turn it around a bit. What we got was a fun, positive song about being married. Both being huge devotees of New Orleans music, it came out pretty quick. This one gets me pretty close to home with the accordion and frottoir. And again…I dare you not to dance.
Don’t Shoot the Snake in the Bottom of the Boat (G. Nicholson / J. Hadley / K. Welch) 3:46 • Chris Gage on guitar, James Pennebaker on lapsteel, Ray Rodriguez on drums and Bill Small on bass. Add Walter on background vocals and this is what you get. Real boot scootin’ starts here.
Tonight I Might (D. Flowers / W. Wilkins) 3:52 • I’ve wanted to record one of Walt’s songs for more than 10 years, but could never figure out how to pull it of. You know…not sound like I was trying to copy Walt. Randy and I had been playing this song out for a little bit when he came up with the idea for the arrangement. Bill’s extremely tasteful guitar playing and vocal arrangement finish what is, in my opinion, a perfectly written song.
When I Look into Her Eyes (R. Handley / B. Langlinais) 6:59 • I started this song at sound check one night and had the first verse and half of the chorus done in less than 3 minutes. Then I got stuck. Stumped for an idea to write on at a session a year later, I pitched the pieces to Randy Handley and off we went. This one didn’t come easily, but they say good things come with time. Driven by James Pennebaker’s beautiful vibrato-soaked introduction and Lindley-esque lapsteel, this song took on such a sweet, sweet soul of its own. I’m so proud to have been a part of it.
TONIGHT I MIGHT
The new CD from Blue Boot Records
Street Date: September 28, 2010
For more, visit BrianLanglinais.com
For more photos, please scroll down. (Use right-click or control+click to save as jpg and export.)
The Buzz
"Langlinais ... blends soul, gospel, country, turbo folk and a touch of rock. A noted guitarist and singer, Langlinais delivers an array of songs including the spiritual 'I Was a Burden,' the common-sense 'Don't Shoot the Snake in the Bottom of the Boat,' and the chugging 'Tennessee Hideaway.' Call it country soul and you're on the right track."
"The music is so fresh and unique that someone [had] to come up with an equally unique handle for the sound. I'll have to add 'Roadhouse Soul' to the list of great sounds that I have encountered in a city that many still regard as a 'Country Music Town'."
--Rootstime
"Although distinctive singers are often in short supply, Brian Langlinais is a fresh voice that's worthy of notice. With an obvious ear for top shelf songs and a unique vocal approach, Brian Langlinais is a must hear."
--Wade Jessen, Senior Chart Manager, Billboard
"Brian Langlinais can shake a room and make the spirits swirl with is voice and his very presence. A Cadillac of a singer, and cool picker to boot. He is the realest of deals, a deep cat, and an all-around general badass of a human. Lafayette, Memphis, Austin, West Coast, East Coast ... it's all in there, and he brings it out from his toes every time he sings. I'm proud he's my friend and in my tribe."
--Walt Wilkins
"With the help of roots-rockers like Brian Langlinais, the American roadhouse as we know it will survive for at least a little while longer. On his new LP "Tonight I Might" ... Langlinais keeps it simple and swinging full of guitar boogie and soul. ... Langlinais's music, pure American roadhouse soul ... truly shines."
--Rochester (NY) City Newspaper
BRIAN LANGLINAIS
BRIAN LANGLINAIS (photo by Rich Voorhees)
Big Sister Productions
Madison, TN
ph: 812-327-5494
sue
