Melissa Ludwig Band

"On the bandstand, she's a wisecracking performer whose original compositions ring with optimism about life’s possibilities, and the pain that comes with love. Her rich voice — both on stage and on her forthcoming album, Now That You’re Here — conveys those emotions with clarity and passion."
- David McKay Wilson , The Alcalde (Jul 15, 2010) - The Alcalde

Vanuit het Texaanse San Antonio bereikt ons het debuutalbum “Now That You’re Here” van de vijfkoppige formatie ‘The Melissa Ludwig Band’, bestaande uit de 32-jarige goedogende zangeres en songschrijfster Melissa Ludwig, gitarist en echtgenoot Mitch Connell, bassist Matt Wolff, drummer AJ Navarro en keyboardsspeelster en backing vocaliste Nicolette Good. - Rootstime

"Melissa is blessed with a voice as sweet and smooth as honey...(her) sound is one to rival crossover darlings like Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, Janis Joplin and Jewel. However, Melissa is one of a kind, with spectacular songwriting...that transcends the music genre barriers."
- Sherryjane Cooke , Texas Music Examiner (Nov 27, 2010) - Examiner.com

"The 11 sparkling gems that make up "Now That You're Here...are intelligently written and exquisitely crafted. "
- Richard Skanse , Lone Star Music Magazine (Jan 03, 2011) - Lone Star Music Magazine

thoughtful and emotional lyrics...the music comes to life with instantly likable lead guitar riffs. "
- Gleason Booth, Texas Music Magazine (Jan 14, 2011) - Texas Music Magazine

The standout on the Melissa Ludwig Band's debut disc is clearly "Get to You," a breezy yet mournful slice of Americana pop with an easygoing chorus that seeps its way into your subconscious. That could describe just about every song on the San Antonio group's CD, Now That You're Here.

Fronted by singer-songwriter Ludwig, the group includes guitarist Mitch Connell, drummer A.J. Navarro, bassist Matt Wolff and keyboardist Nicolette Good. Now That You're Here , which also features the sweet numbers "Break Away" and "The Way You Feel" in its 11 tunes, finds plenty of its musical influences in Fleetwood Mac, Sheryl Crow , Patty Griffin and Lucinda Williams, as noted on the band's MySpace page.

Although Now That You're Here is Ludwig and company's first full-length effort, they've wasted no time getting themselves cemented in the music mainstream. There's a professionally produced video for "Get to You" on YouTube. Also, Ludwig was a runner-up for best vocalist in the 2009 installment of the San Antonio Current Rammy Awards. The group also snagged runner- up honors for best Americana band. - Dallas Morning News

Talk about wearing your heart on your sleeve. Just the simple question, “How did you form your band?” provokes Melissa Ludwig and guitarist Mitch Connell to launch into a complicated love story. It happens to be their own, and it’s all over not just our interview but also the now-married couple’s live shows and the lyrics for their new debut album Now That You’re Here.

From anyone else, the story might induce winces. Ludwig, 32, and Connell, 39, met here three years ago playing in Hollywood Rehab, a dude-rock cover band equipped with what the couple jokes was a PA-system loud enough to play arenas. Oddly enough, Ludwig sang AC/DC, Guns ‘n’ Roses, and Zepplin, while Connell played lead guitar. Not that it was ever their intention, but Hollywood Rehab never made it to arena-sized gigs.

“Basically, it was like a VH1 Behind the Music compressed into a few months,” explains Ludwig, taking a brief break with Connell from moving into a new house. “What ended up happening is that Mitch and I fell in love, and when we announced to the band that we were in love and were going to be together, uh, everybody quit.” Maybe sensing my next question, Connell jumps in, “We were both married … to others, so it kind of freaked everyone out in the band.”

After playing in Hollywood Rehab for several months, one day something just changed, says Ludwig. “It was a series of dangerous text messages that spiraled out of hand,” she halfway jokes about the impetus that caused both musicians to leave their marriages. For a more serious take, try parsing some of the lyrics on Now That You’re Here: good starting points would be the dark rocker “Drink it Down” and “Husband’s Lullabye.”

Another strong influence on Now That You’re Here is Ludwig and Connell’s new life together. The album’s best song, “Get to You,” the first the couple co-wrote, includes the chorus “Now that you’re here, I don’t know what to do. I must destroy everything I ever knew to get to you,” over polished pop guitar riffs. Graceful in both honesty and arrangement, the song cements that rare synthesis of romantic partners in creative endeavors.

From the start of their relationship, Ludwig and Connell made music a central focus. “Once we found each other, it just became obvious that this is what we want to do,” says Ludwig. “We share the same goal and the same dream and until that changes I don’t see us doing it any other way.” Ludwig still handles lyrics and melodies, while Connell chimes in on guitar.

Together, they created the Americana-influenced Melissa Ludwig Band and have since pursued the band full bore. Ludwig’s autobiographical lyrics and soulful vocals are backed by Connell’s intricate guitar licks and grounded by drummer AJ Navarro and bassist Douglas Turley. Onstage and off, both Ludwig and Connell are goofy and self-effacing, teasing each other as often as they make doe eyes, which makes their dogged determination to achieve musical success seem almost effortless.

In reality, “Every single night after work, it’s band related activities,” says Connell. As a band, they gig around San Antonio’s restaurant scene, their acoustic adult contemporary sound a good match for laid-back eateries like the Cove and Tycoon Flats. The couple, who both have day jobs, used their gig money to record Now That You’re Here, which they had mastered by John Cuniberti (Tracy Chapman, Dave Matthews Band, The Grateful Dead). The result is a slick, professional album that sounds miles away from its restaurant patio music roots.

Ludwig and Connell view Now That You’re Here as the first leap toward something bigger. They’ve been booking weekend shows around the state and are planning a national tour in 2011. Despite recent band line-up changes, Ludwig and Connell are in it for the long haul, together. “I can’t imagine doing it without him any more,” says Ludwig. “I can’t imagine my songs without his guitar parts on them. I wouldn’t even want to play without them.” - San Antonio Current