J.C. Andersen Band

Music Row Magazine Critic Robert K. Oermann
J.C. ANDERSEN/Sweeter Than Sugarcane
Writer: John Scott Sherrill; Producer: Ted Hewitt; Publisher: Sony ATV Tree/Big Yellow Dog/Cry Wolf, BMI; Norstar (track)
Hewitts touch as a producer is just right. The spare percussion, interwoven guitars, lightly chiming mandolin and soft vocal harmonies make this sound as comfy as a lovingly stitched country quilt. Andersens tender tenor caresses every line. You will also find this enchanting song on Melonie Cannons fine CD. Andersens CD is titled When the Tide Rolls In”you will fall in love with its hillbilly rockers as well as its gentle ballads.
- Music Row

Andersen is a new artist hailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Andersen has it together like a veteran from a vocal stand point. Andersen can really sing just about anything and his main attribute is his voice.
Andersen is an independent artist, but he has several qualities that the top artists possess. Andersen has a great collection of songs on this debut - most notably "Sweeter Than Sugarcane," "A Kiss Away," "When The Tide Rolls In," and "You Are." "Sweeter Than Sugarcane" was on an album earlier this year - Melonie Cannon's debut from Skaggs Family Records. Cannon did a fantastic rendition of this song as well. "Sweeter Than Sugarcane" hands down, tops this album from Andersen. Nothing could surpass Andersen and his pure, soft vocals on "Sweeter Than Sugarcane." "I remember lying under that old Magnolia, and the sound of summer rain With a song of the South, rollin' around in my brain and kisses sweeter than sugarcane..." - Country Music

J.C.Andersen - When The Tide Rolls In
By: George Peden, CSO Staff Journalist
Here at CSO headquarters, the mailman lugs and struggles to deliver another weekly shipment from independent hopefuls. After sorting the pile, we begin the slow sift. They are all here: older performers, the youthful, the hopeful and the awkward, and along the way, and sometimes, the exceptional. Enter Nashvillian, J.C.Andersen.
Lets just skip the superlatives and get straight to it. Wow! This talented artist writes as well as sings he has all the right ingredients for his debut, When The Tide Rolls In. Already the album has critics applauding the effort, and many local and overseas radio stations are quickly finding places on tight play lists for this Fort Lauderdale native. And why not, as this is a keeper.
There is not one low point on this album. Produced by noted console man Ted Hewitt, whose recent interest Rodney Atkins is zooming up Billboard, has pulled together a choice song list contributing 4 co-writes with his If youre Going Through Hell... Hewitt has scored a bullseye here. He has saddled Andersen with a tight and capable band (noted session payers with perfect pedigrees), and mixed in a commercially viable blend of ballads and barn kickers, married to a youthful tenor and polished enthusiasm; the result is a winner.
Andersen is no slouch in the vocal area. His rich and full tenor, velvet when needed and complete with all the energy of a thunderstorm when he cuts loose, is a selling point. The well-thought-out song choices, too, add to an album that is as much a surprise as a delight.
The album is fires from the first pounded beat of Leanin?. Written by Hewitt, Atkins and Max.T.Barnes, the tune is a Saturday night toe tapper. It sits easy in the mix with other choice tunes When The Tide Rolls In, the fiddle-drenched Sing Along and Andersens own lyrical offering, the softly shuffled, A Kiss Away?.
While Andersen brings grit and toughness to his rockier cuts, its in the softer takes that he shines. His easy on the ear phrasing, his controlled sharing of emotion, works well on tracks like All Along? and his self-disclosed album favorite, Sweeter Than Sugarcane.
On a faultless album, there are so many good tunes; but theres one, if given the needed push that could make for Andersens breakthrough: The Girl That Broke Joes Heart?. The tune scores high on many fronts. Firstly, its hook-driven and comes with a modern story-line. That story, written by Butch Baker, Ted Hewitt and Wil Nance reads: boy meets girl, girl leaves boy, and new face on the scene arrives and hooks up with girl, only to find she is the ex of his best friend truly the stuff of heart-worn country. And Andersen nails it.
The Girl is well-produced, well played, well written, and delivered with the polished class of anything doing the radio rounds and enjoying high Billboard placement at the moment. Its a knockout tune.
Here at CSO headquarters, from our Independent mailbag, we sometimes get to hear something that is vibrant, original and fueled with possibility J.C.Andersens, When The Tide Rolls In, hits that mark.
Congratulations to J.C., his producer and the boys in the band. The young wannabe has nailed a take-notice album with his first venture. The best is surely to come as we monitor, watch and wait. In the meantime, lets support the effort. Buy the album.
The album is out on Norstar Records. - George Peden, CSO Staff Journalist

J.C. Andersen, "When the Tide Rolls In" (Norstar): Raised in Polk County, Nashville resident Andersen has the looks and voice for Music City stardom. His debut is a slick mix of ballads and line-step naturals. - Pop Music Critic, Curtis Ross

The J.C. Andersen Band Chosen as the Winner in the World-Famous Wildhorse Saloon House Band Search Contest
Nashville, Tenn.— Downtown Nashville, Tennessee’s number-one dining, dancing and entertainment destination is now home to a brand-new house band. In an intense and exciting competition last night in front of a standing-room-only crowd at the Wildhorse Saloon, The J.C. Andersen Band was named as the new house band after competing against six other bands in the World-Famous Wildhorse Saloon House Band Search Contest. The band has won the coveted top entertainment spot at the legendary venue, and their winnings include opening for a major national act during an upcoming concert night, a showcase in front of record label executives and the opportunity to play in front of a live, energized crowd every night.
The J.C. Andersen Band, with Lakeland, Florida native Andersen as the lead singer, has established their own unique and intense style of singing and performing influenced by a wide range of music and many different artists, including Van Zant, Nickel Creek, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley. The country-rock band has opened for numerous performers and bands and has performed throughout the United States and in Europe.
“I’ve never won any kind of competition before, and there was so much great talent here tonight. I’d like to thank everyone and give a round of applause to all of the bands who competed,” Andersen said. “I’m completely overwhelmed and grateful for everyone who came out to the show tonight to support us.”
The World-Famous Wildhorse Saloon House Band Search Contest began April 2009 in search for the perfect band to fill the venue’s top entertainment spot. Throughout a series of live auditions, seven bands were named to compete in last night’s finale—The J.C.Andersen Band, Sunny Fitz, Lucas Hoge, Matt Ramsey, Les Richardson, Riverbily and Stony Run. A panel of celebrity judges was on-hand during each live audition to help pick the winning band. Serving as judges last night were Ira Dean, one of the founding members of country act Trick Pony, who got their start as a Wildhorse Saloon house band; Steve Taliaferro, who works with Live Nation Country Touring, where he has worked with many country acts like Rascal Flatts, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban; Greg Cook, member of the former country band Ricochet, who also got their start as a Wildhorse Saloon House Band; Michael Knox, producer for country star Jason Aldean; and Ron Kerere, general manager of the Wildhorse Saloon. And emceeing the entire series was favorite “hick-hop” artist Cowboy Troy, who brought humor and insight from the stage each night.
“In wrapping up our inaugural house band search competition, we couldn’t be happier with the submissions received, quality of musicianship these bands The J.C. Andersen Band, and the others certainly have a bright future ahead of them.”
Since opening in 1994, the Gaylord Entertainment-owned Wildhorse Saloon has played host to the top performing artists in all genres, including Alan Jackson, Foreigner, Bret Michaels, Sugarland, Ringo Starr, Rick Springfield and Craig Morgan. The club attracts more than 1.5 million music fans each year, creating one of the best atmospheres for bands to perform.
For more information on the Wildhorse Saloon, please call 615-902-8211 or visit www.wildhorsesaloon.com. For pictures from last night’s World-Famous Wildhorse Saloon House Band Search Competition, please visit http://www.gaylordoprylandsales.com/press/wildhorse/house-band-search/index-03.html. - Gaylord Opryland

Talented lyricist and singer/country songwriter, J.C. Andersen,
presents a thrilling, 10-track disc of professional modern male
country pop/rock. Packed with plenty of honky tonky twang and
traditional heartbeat, his songs embrace the warmth and resonance of
modern country, taking the best from both worlds. There is a true
sense of craft here and these well-balanced songs walk that fine line
in production between over-indulgence and depravation- there is a
steady commitment to equalization between harmony, melody, lyric and
rhythm, each part finding balance with the others and enhancing the
whole. Definitely a noteworthy album.
- CD Baby Review

J.C. Andersen
When The Tide Rolls In
Producer: Ted Hewitt
Norstar Records
When he pitched up in Nashville, J.C. Andersen landed on his feet when he met Ted Hewitt. The writer and producer has given this indie record the sound and feel of a major label production, showcasing Andersens youthful tenor.
The songs are well chosen, too, sitting comfortably with Andersens age and outlook.
Some have previously been tucked away on albums, including several from Hewitt himself along with another of his protages, Rodney Atkins. So the standard is high and will have you wondering where you have heard the songs before.
You Are is probably the most recognizable and commercial song here. Previously cut by John Michael Montgomery. Andersen follows the same pacey and insistent arrangement. The gentle, nostalgic Sweeter Than Sugarcane could be found on Melonie Cannons debut last year, while The Girl that Broke Joes Heart is an old Hewitt co-write with Butch Baker, an artist I sadly have not heard anything of for a few years now. Andersen gets two of his own songs on to the set: the title track, When The Tide Rolls In, is a generic driving away from a broken romance? song.
Somewhat predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable for all that, with some perky guitar work and Andersen throwing himself into the lyric. His other song, A Kiss Away, is an ok love song.
Favorite track here is the easy going midpacer, Nobody Does Nothin, with its storyline about a guy escaping from the rat race and taking it easy, while the last verse supplies a great, so typical, Music Row twist. Excellent stuff.
Also enjoyable is Hearts and Horses , another Atkins/Hewitt song together with one Brian Gowan (who cut it for an album I never heard) and has a storyline that compares breaking hearts to breaking horses- fortunately, it is not as crass or awkward as that implies.
The feel and mood of the album is light and positive. There are no real downers certainly no honkytonkers, as he is probably still to young to venture into a bar- and all in all, When The Tide Rolls In is a lively and enjoyable set from a young man trying out for the majors.

- Julie Flaskett

Talented lyricist and singer/country songwriter, J.C. Andersen,
presents a thrilling, 10-track disc of professional modern male
country pop/rock. Packed with plenty of honky tonky twang and
traditional heartbeat, his songs embrace the warmth and resonance of
modern country, taking the best from both worlds. There is a true
sense of craft here and these well-balanced songs walk that fine line
in production between over-indulgence and depravation- there is a
steady commitment to equalization between harmony, melody, lyric and
rhythm, each part finding balance with the others and enhancing the
whole. Definitely a noteworthy album.
- CD Baby Review