It’s about time the R&B singer and songwriter WILLIE WEST had his New York debut as a leader, more than half a century after his career began. Bluesy, brokenhearted ballads,... full of tears and betrayal, are his forte: he can moan, rasp and shout or break into falsetto. Born in Raceland, La., Mr. West was a teenager when he became the frontman for a band called the Sharks in 1958. He cut his first single in 1960, as Little Willie West, and in 1966 he started working with the songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint, who tried repeatedly to give Mr. West the breakthrough hit that never came, on shaky local labels.
Mr. West’s planned New York City debut, at the Apollo Theater about 40 years ago, never took place because another singer in the revue, Lee Dorsey, ran overtime. But Mr. Toussaint fitfully kept producing singles with him — soul ballads and New Orleans funk workouts — into the mid-1970s. In 1977, when two Neville Brothers left the definitive New Orleans funk band, the Meters, Mr. West took over for a short time as lead singer. But songs they recorded together were never released.
He spent the next two decades gigging around New Orleans, and he released albums of his own in 1999, 2000 and 2002. Hurricane Katrina displaced him, and he now lives in St. Cloud, Minn., where he leads his own band. Dig Deeper, the invaluable Brooklyn promoter of concerts for soul-music aficionados, is presenting Mr. West’s belated New York City show, with backup from the Sweet Divines.
By Jon Pareles
Get your tickets to the show, here!
Check this cool video and song out!
GABBY YOUNG AND OTHER ANIMALS PLAY SOUTHPAW ON MONDAY, MARCH 14TH with Vashti, Kai Altair, and Revere!
BUY TICKETS HERE
NYLON MAGAZINE
“A MILLION YEARS focused, spiraling melodies fall somewhere between driving music and sci-fi theme song, except with a rocking bass. And
though they claim they're "stimulated by the Intellectualism and sonic experimentation of bands like Radiohead, Spoon and Wilco," we
have a feeling their also influenced by the satisfying smack that a snare drum can make when you're feeling really hyper, sexed-up, or
pissed off.”
KNOCKS FROM THE UNDERGROUND:
“A Million Years brings tight, energetic rock of the Bloc Party variety – a big voice belting the lead vocals, catchy, intertwined guitar lines, and
tempos that bounce along with a pleasing youthful energy.”
A Million Years are a Brooklyn-based four piece who are making music for your grey matter. Stimulated by the intellectualism and sonic experimentation of bands like Radiohead, Spoon and Wilco, they strive to create a world of smart, brooding characters wandering around in our digitized soundscape.
Their debut full-length album, Mischief Maker, was released in July 2010 and was produced by Shannon Ferguson of the band Longwave.
On the record, A Million Years wear their love of guitar-driven indie- rock on their sleeve. Mischief Maker also touches on sonic elements
found in electronic music, using drum machines alongside real drums and synthesizers alongside the guitars and bass to create a sound that
is dense but also feels organic.
Formed in early 2007, A Million Years began as a sort of revolving door with an ever changing list of band members hashing out the songs
born in Keith Madden’s (vocals/guitar) bedroom. Andrew Samaha (bass/vocals), Andrew Vanette (drums/vocals) and Nick Werber (guitar/
vocals) later joined to create a collective of passionate, music-obsessed workaholics. During his stint as a touring guitarist in both Pin Me
Down (with Russell Lissack of Bloc Party) and Longwave, Keith was introduced to Ferguson who also produced the band’s first EP
Incandescent in 2009.
A Million Years has toured extensively throughout the east coast and in venues all around New York City including Bowery Ballroom,
Highline Ballroom, The Studio @ Webster Hall, and The Mercury Lounge, as well as received national airplay on radio stations such as
NYC's WRXP, WEQX, and WKZQ. A Million Years have shared the stage with 30 Seconds to Mars, Phoenix, The Klaxons, The Drums,
Longwave, The Wavves, One Eskimo and have just completed their first UK tour with Jesse Malin. In a recent poll conducted by the
national editors of the Deli Magazine, A Million Years was voted the #4 emerging Indie Rock Band in New York City.
A MILLION YEARS SOLD OUT MERCURY LOUNGE on Friday, February 11th. They pay SOUTHPAW ON FRIDAY, MAY 6 WITH FIELD MOUSE, DEAD HEART BLOOM AND TWO LIGHTS. TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
It’s about time the R&B singer and songwriter WILLIE WEST had his New York debut as a leader, more than half a century after his career began. Bluesy, brokenhearted ballads,... full of tears and betrayal, are his forte: he can moan, rasp and shout or break into falsetto. Born in Raceland, La., Mr. West was a teenager when he became the frontman for a band called the Sharks in 1958. He cut his first single in 1960, as Little Willie West, and in 1966 he started working with the songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint, who tried repeatedly to give Mr. West the breakthrough hit that never came, on shaky local labels.
Mr. West’s planned New York City debut, at the Apollo Theater about 40 years ago, never took place because another singer in the revue, Lee Dorsey, ran overtime. But Mr. Toussaint fitfully kept producing singles with him — soul ballads and New Orleans funk workouts — into the mid-1970s. In 1977, when two Neville Brothers left the definitive New Orleans funk band, the Meters, Mr. West took over for a short time as lead singer. But songs they recorded together were never released.
He spent the next two decades gigging around New Orleans, and he released albums of his own in 1999, 2000 and 2002. Hurricane Katrina displaced him, and he now lives in St. Cloud, Minn., where he leads his own band. Dig Deeper, the invaluable Brooklyn promoter of concerts for soul-music aficionados, is presenting Mr. West’s belated New York City show, with backup from the Sweet Divines.
By Jon Pareles
Get your tickets to the show, here!
NYLON MAGAZINE
“A MILLION YEARS focused, spiraling melodies fall somewhere between driving music and sci-fi theme song, except with a rocking bass. And
though they claim they're "stimulated by the Intellectualism and sonic experimentation of bands like Radiohead, Spoon and Wilco," we
have a feeling their also influenced by the satisfying smack that a snare drum can make when you're feeling really hyper, sexed-up, or
pissed off.”
KNOCKS FROM THE UNDERGROUND:
“A Million Years brings tight, energetic rock of the Bloc Party variety – a big voice belting the lead vocals, catchy, intertwined guitar lines, and
tempos that bounce along with a pleasing youthful energy.”
A Million Years are a Brooklyn-based four piece who are making music for your grey matter. Stimulated by the intellectualism and sonic experimentation of bands like Radiohead, Spoon and Wilco, they strive to create a world of smart, brooding characters wandering around in our digitized soundscape.
Their debut full-length album, Mischief Maker, was released in July 2010 and was produced by Shannon Ferguson of the band Longwave.
On the record, A Million Years wear their love of guitar-driven indie- rock on their sleeve. Mischief Maker also touches on sonic elements
found in electronic music, using drum machines alongside real drums and synthesizers alongside the guitars and bass to create a sound that
is dense but also feels organic.
Formed in early 2007, A Million Years began as a sort of revolving door with an ever changing list of band members hashing out the songs
born in Keith Madden’s (vocals/guitar) bedroom. Andrew Samaha (bass/vocals), Andrew Vanette (drums/vocals) and Nick Werber (guitar/
vocals) later joined to create a collective of passionate, music-obsessed workaholics. During his stint as a touring guitarist in both Pin Me
Down (with Russell Lissack of Bloc Party) and Longwave, Keith was introduced to Ferguson who also produced the band’s first EP
Incandescent in 2009.
A Million Years has toured extensively throughout the east coast and in venues all around New York City including Bowery Ballroom,
Highline Ballroom, The Studio @ Webster Hall, and The Mercury Lounge, as well as received national airplay on radio stations such as
NYC's WRXP, WEQX, and WKZQ. A Million Years have shared the stage with 30 Seconds to Mars, Phoenix, The Klaxons, The Drums,
Longwave, The Wavves, One Eskimo and have just completed their first UK tour with Jesse Malin. In a recent poll conducted by the
national editors of the Deli Magazine, A Million Years was voted the #4 emerging Indie Rock Band in New York City.
A MILLION YEARS SOLD OUT MERCURY LOUNGE on Friday, February 11th. They pay SOUTHPAW ON FRIDAY, MAY 6 WITH FIELD MOUSE, DEAD HEART BLOOM AND TWO LIGHTS. TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE