The Blue News
The Blue News | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Nashville, TN, United States |
| Genres | Blues, blues rock, alternative rock, post-grunge |
| Years active | 2005-present |
| Labels | Musik and Film Records, Blame Records |
| Members | JB Orn, DB Rich |
The Blue News is an American rock band originally from Terre Haute, Indiana, now primarily based in Nashville, TN. The Blue News is known for their blues, alternative rock, post-grunge sound. They are influenced by bands across many genres such as: The Black Keys, Beck, RL Burnside, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Donny Hathaway. The Blue News has received steadily increasing exposure in the form of music placements, media coverage, radio charting and awards. The band has recently gained high-profile fans in the music industry including Sublime with Rome, producer Sylvia Massy & Stephen Wrench, original manager for Lynyrd Skynyrd who now works with the band.[1]
History
Formation and early years: (2005–2006)
The Blue News (originally called "Blue News") was formed in 2005, taking its name from a Spoonerism of the words "New Blues". JB Orn (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist and producer) formed the band after signing a release agreement with Statue Records of Hollywood, California after the indie label heard songs from a solo album Never Stop Playing (Out of Print). The concept for the band and signature sound began with songs recorded in a bedroom that combining live instruments and vocals with drum loops programmed with ReBirth RB-338 software. Before the formation of the band, Orn was known to "build" songs during his live solo shows by looping several instruments including; a microkorg synthesizer, drum machine, looper, vocoder and theremin. Orn self-produced the band's debut LP, titled "Blue News" in a private studio and the band began to tour, playing 2-3 shows per week locally as well as in several cities around the Midwest United States. After initially gaining the attention in the underground Midwest US music scene, the band interviewed with Chicago Music Guide and more people began to take notice of the band.[2]
The Signs: (2007)
In 2007, the recording contract with Statue Records was dissolved and before the release of the "The Signs" EP. The album was self-released as "The Blue News Project" to reflect that the songs were the result of a collaboration with multiple musicians. During this period, however, the band primarily played live as a duo featuring drummer, Kraig Kerins. Songs from The Signs EP were used in the band's first college campus radio campaign with Vigilant Promotions of Minneapolis, MN. The band's music aired on 75 stations across multiple states.
The songs Love's So Strong and Next Time were both featured in the PBS documentary series Roadtrip Nation. At the time the songs aired, the band was regularly playing shows at live music clubs in several US cities. In between gigs, the band started recording their third LP, Strange Light. The LP was self-produced and released by the band's "Blame Records" indie label after signing a distribution agreement with INgrooves Digital Distribution in San Francisco, Califorinia (now part of Universal Music Group).
Strange Light: (2008–2009)
By 2008, The Blue News was touring consistently while developing a concrete original style and sound and their 3rd studio album "Strange Light" was self-released to good reviews in the blues and rock communities. The LP was the first to include drummer and producer DB Rich who joined the band in early 2008. The band produced their first HD music video featuring the song "Shelter". The HD music video was shot and directed by Chris Thornberry of "Green Sky Media" and "The Price of Admission" and aired regularly on Indy's Music Channel (IMC), an independent 24-hour music television channel on cable station WDNI-CD. Although there was no official radio campaign for the album, songs from "Strange Light" received radio airplay in many areas and the music continues to be regularly placed on television. Multiple songs from "Strange Light" were placed in 2009 on the UCF TV cable channel at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL and that same year the station's programming received a 2009 Suncoast Emmy Award.[3]
Good at Falling: (2010)
Partly recorded at Stable Studios in Spencer, IN and the band's private studio, the EP "Good at Falling" had an indie rock sound and was a departure from their earlier sound. In May 2010, the songs So Easy and You've Got Someone were released for the popular music video game Rock Band 2 on Xbox 360.[4] Also in 2010, the band was invited to perform for a live "one-take" style video series called "Folked Up!". This resulted in 2 new HD music videos featuring stripped-down acoustic versions of the songs Be Yourself (And You'll Go Far) and Wasted Days. As of November 2012 the video for Wasted Days has over 35,000 views on the VISO Music Channel.[5]
Wartime Songs: (2011-2012)
In February 2011, Orn and Rich recorded their fifth studio album Wartime Songs at Retrophonics Recording Studios in St. Augustine, FL. Retrophonics is the private studio of producer Jim Devito who has recorded several famous bands included Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Don Henley, Creed and JJ Grey & Mofro.[6] The band recorded to analog reel-to-real tape and tracked all 6 songs during one session. The album features several vintage instruments and amplifiers from the 1950s-1970s and the song Be Yourself (And You'll Go Far) was recorded with a rare 1953 Guild acoustic guitar. In addition, the album was mixed with producer Sylvia Massy at her RadioStar Studios in Weed, CA.
The album was originally released on the band's Blame Records label on July 4, 2011. The album received mostly good reviews and two songs (Hitman Blues and Just A Game were placed on the video game Rock Band 3 for both Xbox 360 and the PlayStation Network.[7] Another song from the album, Two Lovers, was selected by Sublime with Rome to be included on Guitar Center's Fresh Cuts Volume 7 and 50,000 CD copies were given away in stores nationwide. In 2011, The Blue News began performing with Jacob McCullough on bass and additional vocals and guitarist Patrick McDermott. This lineup was responsible for being awarded 2nd place for the Blues Foundation's Best Self-Produced Blues CD in the state of Indiana in October 2011. The Blue News charted on both CMJ Alternative Rock and Blues radio charts during a successful radio campaign with Tinderbox Music in 2011.
The band signed with Musik and Film Records in 2012 and the band's entire discography was re-released through The Orchard (company), a New York City based digital distribution and entertainment services company. Most notably, The Orchard also distributes the music of Butch Walker and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. Since 2011, the band has rarely played live in order to focus on songwriting, production and licensing. The band has remained self-managed during their successful 11 year career and the band owns all publishing rights, acting as their own Music Publisher.
In February of 2016, it was announced on the Internet that a new album was being recorded in various studios in Nashville, TN and Indiana.
In popular culture
The songs of The Blue News have been featured in TV series, commercials, movies and videos games. Some of the notable appearances are:
- 30 for 30 (Episode: You Don’t Know Bo) on ESPN TV (“Love’s So Strong”)
- Aussie Pickers – Australian Television
- Best Bars in America (Episode: Dive Bars) Bravo (“Run and Hide”)
- Demolition 2016 (Film Trailer TV Spot) Various Networks (“Just a Game”)
- Force of Execution (Film) Starz, Amazon Video and Netflix (“Next Time”)
- Heartland (Episode: Lost Song) Up Entertainment (“Break of Day” and “Rattlesnake Blues”)
- Necessary Roughness (Episode: Habit Forming) USA Network (“Run and Hide”)
- Necessary Roughness (Episode: Fall Guy) (“Same Old Story”)
- Rebel Galaxy (Video Game) Xbox, Playstation, PC (“Old River”, “Same Old Story” and “Stay Gone For Good”)
- Roadtrip Nation (Episode #4.1) PBS Television (“Next Time” and “Love’s So Strong”)
- Rock Band 2 (Video Game) Xbox, Playstation, PC (“You’ve Got Someone”)
- Rock Band 3 (Video Game) Xbox, Playstation, PC (“Hitman Blues” and “Just a Game”)
- Rock Band Blitz (Video Game) Xbox, Playstation (“Hitman Blues” and “Just a Game”)
- Swamp Monsters (Episode: Honey Island Swamp Monster) Destination America
- Tap Tap Revenge 3 (Mobile app game) (“Leavin” and “Next Time”)
- Tap Tap Revenge Tour (Mobile app game) (“Just a Game” and “Hypnotized”)
- Turn and Burn (Episode: Crown Jewel) Discovery Channel and Velocity
- Turn and Burn (Episode: Drag On) Discovery Channel and Velocity
- Turn and Burn (Episode: Memory Lane) Discovery Channel and Velocity
- Turn and Burn (Episode: Junk to Funk) Discovery Channel and Velocity
- UFC Ultimate Insider (Episode 224) Fuel TV and Fox Sports
- Welcome to Myrtle Manor (Episode: Let the Trailer Park Games Begin) TLC
Discography
- Blue News (2006)
- The Signs (2007)
- Strange Light (2008)
- Good at Falling (2010)
- Wartime Songs (2011)
References
- ^ "Fresh Cuts Volume 7: Sublime with Rome". Guitar Center. December 23, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
- ^ "Interview with Blue News". Chicago Music Guide. May 1, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
- ^ "Watch Emmy Award-Winning Gallery Series". University of Central Florida. June 3, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
- ^ "Blue News Songs: Rock Band". Harmonix. May 5, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
- ^ "Blue News - Wasted Days (Acoustic) - Music Video". VISO Music. March 18, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
- ^ "Creed - Higher (7' Vinyl) at Discogs". VISO Music. March 18, 1999. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
- ^ "The Blue News - Songs - Rock Band". VISO Music. September 13, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2012.