New York, NY (June 5, 2017) - Songwriter Cameron Mitchell releases his debut LP, Maspeth, on July 14, 2017. Self-mixed and largely self-produced, the album doubles down on the raw, roots-rock sound Mitchell introduced with 2015's Chelsea No Evil, an EP that presented the acclaimed multi-instrumentalist not only as a sideman, but also as a confident, articulate frontman.
Since moving to New York City twelve years ago Mitchell has become one of the city's most active musicians, racking up more than 1,400 gigs at home and abroad. Maspeth puts that road-warrior spirit to good use, with Mitchell playing multiple instruments - including guitar, pedal steel, dobro, mandolin, banjo, and bass - while writing about his marriage, his past relationships and a life spent on the move. He also nods to his influences, including songwriting legends Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Tom Petty and John Hiatt.
Named after the street of his Brooklyn apartment, Maspeth looks to Mitchell's own life for inspiration. "The Sound of Music" is a kiss-off to a former flame, while "Promise Not to Leave" takes its source material from he and his wife's wedding vows. "Let Me Tell Your How" was written in the wake of Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland's death, and "East Side to East Side" tells the story of the singer's move from Providence (where he played baseball at Brown University) to New York in 2005. Together, the 11 songs tell the autobiographical story of Mitchell's past, present, and future, pointing him toward a solo career that's as active as his sideman schedule. From waltzing piano ballads to overdriven roadhouse rockers, Maspeth shows off the full range of Mitchell's musicality, nodding to everything from classic country-rock to '90s grunge in the process.
Born in the Bay Area and raised in North Carolina, where he took up the guitar at age 14, Mitchell first made his mark on New York's Americana community as a member of The Barnstorm, a party-rock cover band with an international touring schedule. Started in 2008, the Barnstorm has grown from a three-piece acoustic bar-band to a full six-piece outfit playing private gigs around the US and in Europe and for sporting events like the Super Bowl and the Masters. Members of that band appear on Maspeth, as does longtime collaborator Carrie Welling. Even so, Mitchell's full-length debut is mostly a one-man project, recorded at a pair of NYC-area studios - including a storage-unit-turned-DIY-studio-space above a hockey rink in Queens - with only a handful of helpers.
The album's striking cover art is the work of visual artist Michael Trinsey, who created a custom-made abstract sculpture at Mitchell's request. The piece now hangs on Mitchell's wall. Look for Maspeth on iTunes and Spotify on July 12th. Mitchell will play an album release show at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City on July 19th.
For More Information on Cameron Mitchell:
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