Edgehill Avenue Electronic Press Kit

Edgehill Avenue is a 5 piece rock and roll band from Louisville, Kentucky  steeped in the roots of 70's rock tradition that draws comparisons to Tom Petty, The Black Crowes, The Allman Brothers, and Bruce Springsteen.  Growing from the initial duo of Drew Perkins and "Hurricane" Mike McLaughlin the band added John Poole on bass and Lamont "Phatbeat" Melson and recorded an acoustic sounding self-titled demo EP in February of 2007.  After playing nearly everywhere and anywhere in 2007 and 2008 the band added Paul Nevitt on keyboards and signed with Louisville's Departure Records to record the full-length and full on rock and roll record, Rambler, released Feb 24th, 2009.  February 2010 brings the release of Off the Edge (Live from the Highlands Festival).  Recorded by John Torstrick and mixed/mastered by WFPK's Andy High this release is a high energy jaunt across old and new material featuring reworked songs from the original acoustic EP, three songs from Rambler, and two previously unreleased tracks; Summer Rain and Corduroy. As bloggerhythms.blogspot.com notes… “the band proved they are just as comfortable playing live as they are in the studio.” And “If you’re a fan of Rambler this CD is a nice companion disc.

Rambler saw the band move from their acoustic roots to a more mature and rock-oriented sound drawn from their rigorous live schedule over the past 2 years.  Produced by William Bartley and Nick Stevens at Downtown Studios this album is as Louisville Music News notes…”a piping-hot stew of southern rock, blues, folk, and country, served up in generous portions, that kicks you in the pants one song, then buys you a drink on the next...throughout the work, we get crisp, dead-on-target musicianship from the entire lineup!”

REVIEWS (Click publication for full review) Remember how Tom Petty’s seminal ‘Damn the Torpedoes’ album instantly grabbed you with its classic rock salvo, “Refugee”? Well, it’s no exaggeration to compare that with Edgehill Avenue’s CD-opener (& title-track), “Rambler”, an Hammond organ-rich, Neil Young-meets-Bottle Rockets gem that serves as an excellent introduction to a disc of riveting roots rock of the 1st order. Hailing from Louisville, KY, the 5-member Edgehill Avenue are much at home with Allman Brothers-style Southern Rock  (“Don’t Come  Around Here Anymore”, “How You Really Feel”), but also display a more-than-able touch with country-rock balladry (“I’ll Be Leaving Now”, “Out of Time”). Elsewhere, “With These Hands” is reminiscent of R.E.M.’s “Driver 8”, & “Just Don’t Care Anymore”, with its honky tonk piano backing, feels like Blue Rodeo at their rocking best. Regardless of style, though, ‘Rambler’ is nothing less than a seamless & compelling mix of well-crafted & equally well-played (think Petty’s Heartbreakers or the E Street Band ensembles as models) Americana-inspired classic rock.   Village Records (July 13, 2009) The spirit of Springsteen’s epic song “The River” is conjured repeatedly...and Edgehill Avenue pulls it off splendidly. “With These Hands” is as catchy as a Tom Petty hit...the voice of Drew Perkins reminds one of a less affected Steve Earle."  - Jonathan Ashley, Louisville Eccentric Observer (Mar 25, 2009)  Swirling in Hammond organ and countrified blues rock, Edgehill Avenue instantly draw you in to their down-home, soulful, folksy, Americana southern-rock...will satisfy more than a handful of Black Crowes fans...a very retro feel and wouldn't be out of place on an Allman Brothers album."  - Dirty Rock Magazine, Dirty Rock Magazine UK (Jun 15, 2009)  "This a perfect summer party record. Best served with friends & drinks. For music lovers Edgehill Avenue brings you blues,country and rock 'n' roll with damn fine class."    Andy Flash, Spinechained (Sweden) (Jun 03, 2009)  "Dense with bold Southern rock-style anthems, Allman Brothers-like swirling jams, and jangly countrified folk-rock-Rambler is powerful, memorable music...inhabits a unique spot at the crossroads where heady jams meet down-home roots rock...this is a band I would love to see and hear perform."  - Chip Withrow, musesmuse.com (Apr 20, 2009) "On Rambler, you get a piping-hot stew of southern rock, blues, folk, and country, served up in generous portions, that kicks you in the pants one song, then buys you a drink on the next...throughout the work, we get crisp, dead-on-target musicianship from the entire lineup."    Tim Roberts, Louisville Music News (Mar 01, 2009) a cool cocktail of Americana...   Powerplay Magazine UK (Aug, 2009) Music Waves review (France) alt.country.nl (Netherlands) review Billybop.be 5 stars review   Rootstime.be review (Belgium)   Roots Highway review (Italy) Heavyhardes.de review (German) Andyflash.se review (Sweden) Blues Matters! (UK) review UK Classic Rock Society Magazine (Aug/Sept 09): UK Bubblegum Slut Fanzine:

Edgehill Avenue feature Next Big Thing Podcast (July 8, 2008) Feature interview from UK's Powerplay Magazine: click here for article text

hi-res pics available in downloads section above:

Instrumentation:

Drew Perkins - lead vocals, electric & acoustic guitar

"Hurricane" Mike McLaughlin - lead electric & acoustic guitar

John Poole - bass guitar and backing vocals

Lamont "Phatbeat" Melson - drums/percussion

Paul Nevitt - organ, piano, keys

(Can also perform stripped down acoustic with upright bass, Drew Perkins also available solo.)

Edgehill Avenue has been fortunate to have shared the stage in the past with bands like Justin Townes Earle, Cornmeal, Grayson Capps & the Stumpknockers, Tommy Womack, &  The Gourds and played Festivals and venues like Forecastle Kickoff, Rock the Water Tower, Peak Summit, Highlands Festival, Headliners, Phoenix Hill,  Slugger Field, & 91.9 WFPK.

Publicity, Europe - Peter Holmstedt, Hemifran