Jonathan Tiersten and Ten Tiers
Fort Collins, Colorado, United States | AFM
Music
Press
"If you haven't seen Jonathan Tiersten sing you are just cheating yourself" Dave Flomberg - Dave Flomberg
'How To Love You' is a swirling rocker that shows off the bands myriad talents. - Westword
Nothing Beats JTs work... It is so good to hear QUALITY music from an artist... Nothing scary about it... It has a great quality to it... You need to buy JTs latest today! It is so relaxing too.... - Mike Abrams - XM Radio
Jonathan Tiersten's arguably one of the best songwriters in Denver, and his band Ten Tiers performs at the Rox Bar and Grill. Bonus: He's a bonafide movie star, having starred in Sleepaway Camp and Return to Sleepaway Camp. - Rocky Mountain News Dec. 2008
JT’s back in town, fronting Ten Tiers, which is mostly a vehicle for his own writing and playing—originally conceived to record the album Don’s Club Tavern Part I. Named for the erstwhile dive bar on Sixth Street in Denver, the homage shows off a songwriting quality nearly unparalleled in the Mile High and beyond. It’s easy to imagine Tiersten breaking onto the big time soon. - Boulder
Getting a bit tired of having to write good reviews. I have been lucky enough to be able to preview most of the bands I have been checking out and once again have found another winner in the Denver music scene. But I have to be honest so here is another review that is on the positive note with one more very positive review coming next week.
I showed up a few minutes late to the Ten Tiers show on December 15th. And I do regret it. I have gotten in the very bad habit of believing all shows start late. Not this one and I missed most of the first song and with a group as energetic and inspiring as this one, I wish I would have gotten their early! Awesome show! JT is the lead singer/guitarist/songwriter and in general he IS the band. Original, fresh, upbeat music that is going to change the pop rock/alternative scene. With a front man that doesnt steal the show, he dominates it! My cameraman even said after the show I tried to take pictures of the other band members but the camera was drawn to JT.
To try to describe the sound, several bands come to mind but none quite fit. Ten Tiers is too upbeat to be put in the same category as Matchbox 20, too acoustic to be equated to 3 Doors Down and too energetic to be dragged into the same genre as Bare Naked ladies. But yet I can find some qualities similar to all three. Ten Tiers is striking out in their own direction (JTs direction!)
JT is an inspiring performer and is just as cool to talk to as he is to watch. I had a chance to chat with him for a few minutes after the show and he is personal, unpretentious and funny! I was surprised when he informed me he does acoustic sets all over town! I am definitely going to check out one of his acoustic sets.
This is one of the few shows I had to pay to see, and I dont regret a penny of it! If I have to pay to get in and dont like something, man, youre getting nailed! It is very hard to put words the energy Ten Tiers carries with them on stage, the best thing I can say is, go out and see them! It will be worth your time and your money!
As far as the venue goes, check out my article Friendly Violent Fun below.
- Grateful Web
"I'm really getting into the new album with two songs ALREADY thrusting themselves into my subconcious as I write (and in general) - The title track's (Tied Up) hook grabbed me from the very first listen, and just gets better each listen. And I was surprised to find myself really loving the 13th track (November) that I think is my current favorite..." - Sean Crouch, Lead Writer for the CBS hit show "NUMB3RS"
- Sean Crouch
"Imaginative songwriting, powerful vocal's backed by amazing melodies..." - Elana Jefferson, Denver Post Weekend
- Denver Post
Discography
"Heaven"- "Tied Up" - "Don's Club Tavern"- Chiller Theatre 2009.
And the newly released self titled EP. All tracks are available at CDbaby.com and most are on itunes. 93.3 The Adventure in Denver and 99.5 The Mountain play Ten Tiers "How To Love You" on regular rotation and KUNC, KRFC, and KCSU play a variety of Jonathan Tiersten and Ten Tiers. Jonathan and Adam Schalke are also releasing a single called "Be Like You" for a compilation blues album to benefit disadvantaged youths. This will be released out of Austin TX
Photos
Bio
Jonathan Tiersten started acting in highschool in a commercial with Gabriel Kaplan (Welcome Back Kotter) and a year later starred as ‘Ricky Thomas’ in the cult classic horror film Sleepaway Camp. He then went to NYU to study acting at The Circle In The Square Theater School. After graduating he worked as an actor in NYC for the next several years appearing in several national commercials and starring in two Afterschool Specials. He also became a regular in the Greenwich Village Music Scene, performing at Kenny's Castaways, The Bitter End, The Red Lion and CBGB's among others. This might have been when his priorities shifted from Stanislavsky to Leonard Cohen. In the early nineties he decided to give it all up for the mountains of Colorado. It seemed a songwriters paradise and it was noticeably absent of agents and casting directors. Plans are always liquid so shortly thereafter he found himself as the owner of the nationally renowned Beer Bar and Live Music Venue, The Mountain Tap Tavern(performances by David Gray, Dishwalla, Victor Wooten and Moe among many others). After two years he decided it was time to move on again. He first co-fronted the band Bambi’s Apartment, with Micah Stone, and more recently Ten Tiers (Tiersten backwards, sort of...). He also performs solo, and has been described as “one of the best singer songwriters on the Front Range in the last fifteen years” - Sharon Rawles, Director of The Capital Hill People’s Fair. Ten Tiers recently had the song "How To Love You" in the feature film, “Juncture” which was shown at The 2008 Starz Denver International Film Festival. JT also just completed the original score for the short film, “Demption” which was featured at The New York City Downtown Short Film Festival and stars David Krumoltz from CBS’s NUMB3RS. He recently reprised his role as Ricky Thomas in the 2009 film "Return To Sleepaway Camp". Working with Isaac Hayes, Vincent Pastore, punk band CKY, and actress Felissa Rose. Jonathan has shared the stage with Mark Slaughter, Taylor Dayne, Missing Persons and Mickey Dolenz. Jonathan and the band have just played shows in Las Vegas, Long Beach, Los Angeles and are headed to New York and Germany this winter. Jonathan returns from Germany to go straight to The National Rock Con where he will perform with many living legends including Todd Rundgren, Meat Loaf, The Hollies, The Yardbirds, The Animals among many others. He has placed two songs in television pilots and is acting in a TV movie for Lifetime this fall. Back home Ten Tiers is performing on the lead float for The Bellco St. Patrick's Day Parade, playing the Friday's On The Plaza series in Cheyenne and headlining two nights at The American Furniture Warehouse Amphitheater The Colorado State Fair in September. JT Says, "Life is a journey and plans be damned!" Jonathan now calls Fort Collins CO home where he lives with his wife and four year old son.
Links
