Los Angeles, CA (Top40 Charts/ MAD Ink PR) Respected singer-songwriter Riley Etheridge Jr. has reached many people with his poetic and vulnerable songwriting. His carefully crafted four-album catalog is rife with haunting and healing stories of the human condition, each emotionally resonate and each are thoughtfully placed within well-developed thematic albums. But after an artistic epiphany, and a spontaneous jolt of creativity, he made the brave decision to break the mold and write the invigorating party record, The Straight and Narrow Way.
"I remember a gig in North Carolina. During the third or fourth song people came down from their seats and danced," the NYC-based artist recalls. "It just lifted all of us up, it was fun, and I realized a new way I could connect with people."
The seeds of this album were sown over a weekend of spontaneous creativity with longtime producer Wendell Tilley and guitarist extraordinaire Shane Theriot (Neville Brothers and Dr. John) who has played in Etheridge's live band but hasn't factored in the creative orbit of Tilley and Etheridge until now. The trio reimagined the Riley Etheridge Jr. dynamic, suspending preconceptions and creative patterns, to see where writing some guitar-based rock n' roll could lead. Guest musician, and roots rock icon, drummer Jim Keltner summed up the work perfectly when he described it as sounding like "Steely Dan got lost over a long weekend in New Orleans."
The Straight And Narrow Way was born from freewheeling recording sessions in Los Angeles, Nashville, and New Orleans. Its loose and vibey feel is a testament to the folks Etheridge had the good taste to invite to the party. The album features Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek,
Joe Sample vocalist Erica Falls, former Allman
Brother Johnny Neel, Dan Dugmore (Linda Ronstadt,
James Taylor), and drummer Keltner (Traveling Wilburys, Bob Dylan, Elvis, John Lennon).
Riley Etheridge Jr. will be hitting the road this April & May, joining iconic American singer/songwriter Leon Russell. The shows launch on April 23rd in Ithaca, NY and continue through May 4th in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Just prior to this tour, Riley and his band will perform two special New York area shows - first at the Rockwood
Music Hall with special guest, Erica Falls and next, a cd release party at The Turning Point in Piermont. See full tour itinerary below.
Riley Etheridge Jr. Band Dates:
Wed/Mar-19 New York, NY @ Rockwood
Music Hall
"The Straight and Narrow Way" unplugged
with special guest Erica Falls
Sat/Apr-19 Piermont, NY @ The Turning Point (CD Release Party)
Riley Etheridge Jr. On Tour - Supporting Leon Russell:
Wed/Apr-23 Ithaca, NY @ Hangar Theatre
Thu/Apr-24 Buffalo, NY @ Iron Works
Fri/Apr-25 Rochester, NY @ Armory
Sun/Apr-27 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
Mon/Apr-28 Bloomington, IL @ Castle Theatre
Tue/Apr-29 Chicago, IL @ Mayne Stage
Wed/Apr-30 Chicago, IL @ Mayne Stage
Fri/May-02 Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater
Sat/May-03 Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center
Sun/May-04 La Crosse,WI @ The Cavalier Theater
