Jimmy Needham set to release a soulful collection of poetry

The soothing and vibrant vocals of Houston-based singer/songwriter Jimmy Needham are set to infect your ears and your spirits May 18 with the release of his third studio project, Nightlights.

Instantly captured, as a listener, by the funky guitars and smoking key section in the album opener, “Moving to Zion,” Needham’s music is quick to exhilarate his listeners with a light and airy tone and deeply moving lyrics.

“The goal of this record is to break down walls and help me achieve my mission in the same sense those old spiritual songs did in the past,” Needham said. “If people can take something positive away from this album, that’s all I can ask for.”

Filled with a modern and carefree spirit reminiscent of a sunny day, stand-out selections “Being Small” and the pop-classic remake of “How Sweet it is (to be Loved by You)” are just a few classics on this album rich in glory.

When Needham slows down the album for his semi-autobiographical song, “The Reason I sing” the raw talent of the artist is beautifully complimented by an emotional texture of a jazz guitar and well-placed trumpet. If you were to listen to this song, and all you were able to hear was the music, you could easily be wrapped up in an amazing guitar section and lost in a serene state of mind. But, as you take in the lyrics and the motive of what drives Needham to sing, you are left reflecting a bit more that just the words.

Comparable to a mix between Michael Bublé and Jason Marz, Needham manages to still establish his own sound and individuality in this honest collection of work. Ending on a raw note, “Nightlights” strips away the instruments and singing and takes a moment to just speak to its listeners. Delivering another solid project to his collection, Needham has left us with a soulful collection of poetry.

Concert Review: Citizen Cope

In support of his latest offering, The Rainwater LP, Citizen Cope (aka Clarence Greenwood) sold out the House of Blues in Dallas March 10.

Selling out the House of Blues in Dallas is not the easiest thing in the world. Trust me, I am a professional. However, when you fill the halls with the unique melting pot of hip-hop, folk and blues of Cope, you better have purchased your tickets pre-sale.

Free from the restraints of a major tour, there were no awful headlining acts to sit through, and instead, we were treated to an intimate performance of old and new Citizen Cope selections.

The set began in a solemn and still manner. Cope slowly walked on to the stage, he awkwardly tuned his guitar and fumbled into his set.

“If I were a musician, I would wait until the crows was completely drunk and start playing songs over again, just to mess with their heads,” my friend whispered to me during the set.

Ironically, we were then treated to a second performance of “Sideways,” an obvious favorite of Cope. Now, I am not saying anyone noticed, but the crowd seemed to cheer and sing just a bit louder. Teamed with sensual and at times melancholy vocal styling, “Sideways” was a crowd hit, both times around.

With a positive response from the crowd, the offerings from The Rainwater LP were artfully arranged and extremely well-performed pieces with deep and thoughtful lyrics. Stand-out tracks, “I Couldn’t Explain Why” and “Lifeline” did particularly well with the crowd.

The heavy keyboards from “I Couldn’t Explain Why” filled the room, and the acoustic guitar crept from the speakers. Instantly, the crowd responded with boisterous cheers as Cope began the dark and evenly paced selection. This track is easily the most recognizable song on the album, with a smooth and flowing sound and solid lyrics.

It would have been hard to find a person in the crowd that was not singing along to Cope’s music. This was still the case during
“Lifeline.” The simple yet effective chord arrangement of the selection complimented the rolling drums and slow tempo that layered perfectly with his vocals. The brilliance of this track lies within its simplicity and understated performance. Utilizing a very basic setup of percussion, guitars, piano and voice created a sensual and velvet smooth track.

An evening spent with Citizen Cope is not one you will soon forget. While he does not jump around or interact much with the crowd, the focused attention to his music cannot go unnoticed.

For more reviews and images go to www.shadylittleroad.com