Austin, TX. (Top40 Charts/ Roger
Len Smith Official Website) - Austin-based singer-songwriter and jam-rock guitarist Roger
Len Smith will be performing in Topanga Canyon, California at this year's Topanga Days Festival over the Memorial Day weekend. The Roger
Len Smith band will be performing a 45-minute set starting at 4:20pm on the Indoor Stage on Saturday, May 24th. Performing with Roger will be bassist
Sam Bolle (**** Dale) and drummer Bryan Head (Peter Case, Dead Rock West). The festival also features sets by Chevy Metal (featuring Foo Fighters' drummer Taylor Hawkins),
Jim Lauderdale, Gary Louris and many more.
Roger Len Smith's strong songwriting features mind-probing lyrics backed by a rich, modern, jam-rock sound that incorporates blues, funk, folk, psychedelia, alt-country and provocative grooves.
Several songs from his fourth and most recent album, New Dark Ages, have already received critical acclaim - "Pharmaceutical Nation," (featured in a documentary film out later this year), "Bio Willie
Diesel (Leave Willie Alone)," which is receiving steady airplay on Mana'o
Radio in Hawaii, and "Holdin' Onto My Guitar For Dear Life," featured on Relix Magazine's annual spring compilation sampler including such artists as Bruce Hornsby, Ricky Skaggs and Umphrey's McGee.
Having toured, recorded and collaborated with many other artists over the last fifteen years, including bass guitar work with songwriters Phil Cody, Shawn Amos and Mark Seliger, Smith has also worked many a varied job in the entertainment industry - starting out as roadie, then benefit concert producer, then music and film journalist and road manager/performing musician. Smith pours his experiences and insights into song and for New Dark Ages, Smith integrated some of his talented friends into the mix 'Jennifer Stills, Austin wunderkind Warren Hood, Eric Heywood (Son Volt), members of Flounders Without Eyes, Scott Martin, Phil Cody, Chelle Murrey and more. Music Connection calls Smith "a cross between Dylan, Petty and Zevon," while Relix describes Smith as "an articulate wordsmith with a knack for alluring rock melodies."
Roger Len Smith has toured the U.S. and Europe many times with his band and other groups, opening for Warren Zevon, Bob Geldof, Todd Rundgren, The New Cars, Tracy Chapman, Little Feat, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Barenaked Ladies, Linda Perry, The Violent Femmes, John Hammond and many more. Smith showcased New Dark Ages in front of huge crowds at the 2007 Old Settlers Music Festival in Austin and opening for Todd Rundgren & The New Cars on the East Coast. The RLS Band held release parties in Austin and L.A. and live radio/internet broadcasts with Mana'o Radio from Maui, Hawaii.
RLS' set at Topanga Days promises to burn with his usual exciting, edgy and modern guitar-driven rock sound.
For concert review tickets, please contact Curtis Smith at Maelstrom PR 562/627-9251 or by email at maelstrompr@gmail.com.
For more information about Topanga Days and or Roger Len Smith please go to:
www.topangadays.com
www.myspace.com/topangadays
www.rogerlensmith.com
www.myspace.com/rogerlensmith
