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Greg Laswell

It’s been said that the best art seeks to transform pain into beauty -- a goal that was clearly somewhere in the back of Greg Laswell’s mind when he began putting together his Vanguard debut, Through Toledo. While the San Diego-based singer-songwriter has long had the innate skills to captivate listeners with his music -- a soaring tenor and a flair for crafting sweeping melodies chief among them -- it took an abrupt transformation in his personal life to bring the raw emotion of Through Toledo’s eleven songs to the surface. “The songs on this album all came from a heartbreak,” explains Laswell. “I don’t have a clear recollection of writing some of the songs because they were really such a reaction, an automatic response to what happened. It’s an album I never wanted to write, but I’m glad I did.” There’s no escaping the directness and candor that permeates Through Toledo, but even more importantly, there’s no denying the sonic sumptuousness that seeps from its grooves. At times (as on the stealthily building “Amazed”), Laswell conjures up a veritable rock orchestra to buoy his stiletto-sharp lyrical imagery, and at times (as on the stark “High and Low”), he uses little more than a spare, haunting piano line as accompaniment. “The songs just had a way of working themselves out,” he says. “The most important thing to me is communication -- that’s the reason I do this. People can tell if something is real, or if it’s fictional, and if it’s real, it just flows.” Through Toledo’s flow is all but inexorable, and despite its genesis in a specific point in Laswell’s life, it does take off in a number of compellingly different directions. That’s clear on “Same As You,” a hypnotic mantra of sorts, as well as on the nostalgically uplifting opener “Sing Theresa Says.” “That song was inspired by my grandmother, who passed away when I was 13,” Laswell explains. “I used to get a huge kick out of her. One night I dreamed she came to me, and in the dream she said ‘sing happy things.’ When I woke up, I said ‘I will,’ but nothing worked. Instead, I thought I’d at least make a song sound happy.” Laswell grew up in Long Beach, but moved to his adopted hometown to attend college a few years back, majoring -- naturally enough -- in communications. He quickly became ensconced in the local scene, producing albums for a number of kindred spirits (several of which were released on his own Twenty Inch label) and fronting a series of bands that helped him hone his skills as a front man. While he spent years sticking to the party line that playing in a band was an all-for-one, one-for-all proposition, he came to the opposite conclusion a couple of years back. “Ultimately, I began to realize that I was a singer-songwriter with a bunch of people behind me,” says Laswell. “I think that really came into focus when my last band went on a break. Once I got out on my own, playing solo, things opened up for me.” The reaction to his solo work was immediate. Laswell’s first solo offering, Good Movie, earned raves from Southern California cognoscenti and regular folk alike -- the disc won a San Diego Music Award for “Best Local Album” -- and pushed thoughts of being a full-time studio rat to the back of his mind for good. “In the past, I would write, then eventually start recording,” says Laswell. “There was no separation this time because I wasn’t really conscious of trying to get a particular sound, I was more interested in just getting things out of my system. I spent three months just doing that.” Working alone in the studio -- he plays virtually every note on the album himself -- Laswell nevertheless managed to capture an incredibly focused, cinematic set of sonics. From the woozy lilt of “Come Undone” (which recalls Jeff Buckley meeting Radiohead in an underground cabaret) to the misty shuffle of the title track, each song is stamped indelibly with an individual personality and sense of place -- giving Through Toledo the feel of a series of aural short films. “I guess there are a lot of references to places on the album, but they’re not all meant to be taken literally,” says Laswell. “Through Toledo is all about that. It was inspired by two friends of mine who told me they were moving to Toledo even though they really loved living where they were because there were some great opportunities there. In order to get what they wanted, they had to go through Toledo -- and that made me stop and ask myself ‘what’s my Toledo?’ I think I found the answer to that.” The answer -- and all the compelling questions that feed into it -- makes the trip Through Toledo a scenic one, even with the hairpin turns that line its path.

Latest bulletin 10.06.09

New EP 'Covers' Out Today!

Greg Laswell's 'Covers' is out today! The EP features covers of Echo & The Bunnymen, Morphine, Mazzy Star, Kate Bush and Kristin Hers...

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New Covers EP - Release Date Aug 13
IHopeYourEarsBleed.com Interview w/ Greg Laswell Mar 2
New Tour Dates... w/ Rachael Yamagata! Feb 24

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Aug 13, 09:47 AM

New Covers EP - Release Date

Hi.
I am very excited to announce the release date of my new EP on October 6th. It is not-so-cryptically entitled "Covers"-- I covered 5 songs by 5 different artists, one of which is "Your Ghost" by Kristin Hersh. Said song is currently available for you to listen to on my music player. Hope you enjoy it and as always, thanks for listening!
GL
Mar 02, 12:28 PM

IHopeYourEarsBleed.com Interview w/ Greg Laswell

Catch A Bloody Interview with Greg Laswell from Justin Metcalfe on Vimeo.
Feb 24, 05:31 PM

New Tour Dates... w/ Rachael Yamagata!

New tour dates have been posted in the shows section. Greg will be joining Rachael Yamagata for a few dates on her upcoming tour.

All Upcoming Shows:
2/25/2009 Atlanta, GA - Vinyl (w/ Jay Nash)
2/26/2009 Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse (w/ Jay Nash)
2/27/2009 Easton, MD - Coffee East (w/ Jay Nash)
2/28/2009 Philadelphia, PA - Tin Angel (w/ Jay Nash)
3/2/2009 Vienna, VA - Jammin' Java (w/ Jay Nash)
3/4/2009 Syracuse, NY - Funk n' Waffles (w/ Jay Nash)
3/6/2009 Boston, MA - Café 939 at Berklee (w/ Jay Nash)
3/7/2009 Pittsburgh, PA - Club Café (w/ Jay Nash & Anya Marina)
3/9/2009 Lakewood, OH - The Winchester Tavern & Music Hall (w/ Jay Nash & Anya Marina)
3/10/2009 Columbus, OH - Rumba Cafe (w/ Jay Nash & Anya Marina)
3/11/2009 Chicago, IL - Martyr's (w/ Jay Nash & Anya Marina)
3/12/2009 Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews (w/ Jay Nash & Anya Marina)
3/14/2009 Lawrence, KS - The Bottleneck (w/ Jay Nash & Anya Marina)
3/15/2009 Oklahoma City, OK - Blue Door (w/ Jay Nash & Anya Marina)
3/16/2009 Dallas, TX - Good Records (In-Store 6:00pm)
3/16/2009 Dallas, TX - The Prophet Bar (w/ Jay Nash & Anya Marina)
3/27/2009 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge (w/ Rachael Yamagata)
3/28/2009 Salt Lake City, UT - Avalon Theater (w/ Rachael Yamagata)
3/30/2009 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge (w/ Rachael Yamagata)
3/31/2009 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe (w/ Rachael Yamagata)
4/2/2009 San Francisco, CA - Slim's (w/ Rachael Yamagata)
4/4/2009 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour (w/ Rachael Yamagata)
4/6/2009 San Diego, CA - House of Blues (w/ Rachael Yamagata)
Feb 23, 03:46 PM

On Tour with Jay Nash

2/23/2009 Birmingham, AL - Workplay Theater
2/25/2009 Atlanta, GA - Vinyl
2/26/2009 Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse
2/27/2009 Easton, MD - Coffee East
2/28/2009 Philadelphia, PA - Tin Angel
3/2/2009 Vienna, VA - Jammin' Java
3/4/2009 Syracuse, NY - Funk n' Waffles
3/6/2009 Boston, MA - Café 939 at Berklee
3/7/2009 Pittsburgh, PA - Club Café
3/9/2009 Lakewood, OH - The Winchester Tavern & Music Hall
3/10/2009 Columbus, OH - Rumba Cafe
3/11/2009 Chicago, IL - Martyr's
3/12/2009 Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews
3/14/2009 Lawrence, KS - The Bottleneck
3/15/2009 Oklahoma City, OK - Blue Door
Feb 20, 02:07 PM

Dallas: Free In-Store @ Good Records

Join Greg Laswell and a keg (w/ free beer) at Good Records in Dallas for a free in-store performance.

Monday, March 16 @ 6pm
Good Records
1808 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
Feb 19, 10:45 AM

Daytrotter Session

Hi,
A couple of months ago I recorded a session for Daytrotter and it just went up today!
Check out my session:
http://daytrotter.com/article/1610/greg-laswell
xGL
Feb 17, 01:52 PM

Starbucks: Pick of the Week

i don't have cable. i never get to see/hear my songs on the tv shows they get into.
i don't go to the movies often, i wait till they are on dvd and watch them in the van
on tour, so i don't get to hear/see my songs in the movies either.
i DO drink coffee. and when i am on tour, starbucks is everywhere.... so i DO
go there a LOT. today i saw a free download card for my song "how the day sounds"
sitting right there at the check-out counter......
cable-shmable, movies-shmovies.... i saw my song at starbucks while i was
getting my fix. i'll take it.
it will be there all week until next monday.... so if you like coffee and free songs,
have at it!
-gl
Dec 23 2008, 10:43 AM

Top 10 Songs of 2008

Greg's favorite songs of 2008 are now featured on Imeem's Extravaganza page. To hear Greg's Top 10 Songs of 2008 playlist click here.
Sep 04 2008, 01:57 PM

Indie 103.1 "Dead Air" session this Sunday night!

So... my Indie 103.1 "Dead Air" session is airing Sunday Sept 7th at 8pm PST... If you're in LA or near, tune into 103.1 Fm, everywhere else log onto www.indie1031.com...
give them a call or email to let them know what part you liked best... :)
Jul 08 2008, 03:18 PM

three flights from alto nido IN STORES NOW!

three flights from alto nido is in stores today!!

Order your copy from Amazon or iTunes!

For a limited time, you can stream the full album on Imeem or myspace /greglaswell.

Those in the LA Area:

Come check out Greg at the following shows to celebrate the album release:

TONIGHT (July 8): Fingerprints in Long Beach- 7pm.

Friday (July 11): Hotel Cafe in Hollywood: 7-10pm. Click here for tickets.

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Greg Laswell

Latest bulletin 10.06.09

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