Nick Edelstein

“Nick is a consummate professional in every aspect of his career. He has helped raise the bar on our projects with his sheer musicality, attention to detail, and an ability to learn and execute quickly. I recommend Nick unequivocally!"

~ Kenneth Green, Director of Operations @ Vintage Earth Records
Nov. 14, 2008
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“Nick was and still is a pleasure to work with. I first worked with Nick in the studio and was amazed by his professionality and determination. He is definately not your typical artist in the fact that he is very goal-oriented and hard-working. I was so impressed with his work ethic that I added him to my artist roster at Unity Artist Management and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”

~ Lesley Daunt, Studio Manager @ Lakefront Studios
Nov. 8, 2008
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“Nick is a talented musician. His live performances are filled with artistry and passion. His original works contain thoughtful lyrics and memorable melodies.”

~ David Craver, Owner @ O.M. Entertainment
Jan. 9, 2008
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"It's rare that an artist who's never played here before packs the house on their first night. Nick and his band have great energy on stage and we're definitely going to have them again."

~ Dana LaChance, Owner @ The Crimson Moon
Dahlonega, GA
June 2007
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“Nick's band has an original sound which is a musical delight to the ears. You are truly missing out if you miss this group perform.”

~ Steve Hevenstone, Owner @ Hevenstone Music Publications
Dec. 2008
======= - Label Execs, Venues, & Agents

**** STARS!

"Nick gives us a bit of a sophisticated take on rock, while at the same time managing to leave a certain rawness still intact thereby giving the whole sound a greater depth of feeling than you generally expect from this approach.

The track of the album is "Kentucky Sun", a great piece of mid tempo guitar rock with just a hint of country and a wonderfully catchy beat. "Tripping" has a bit of a heavier, 'Hendrix-esque' rock feel that will appeal to those of you who like your guitar solos searing and effects laden. On the other hand, "Sign From Above" is a slower, almost gentle piece of rock. Part power ballad and part stadium rock, "A.J.E." is Nick's attempt at a more extravagant rock sound, and he manages to pull it of with a mixture of soaring instrumentation coupled to a plaintive saxophone and piano backing.

The album hangs together well thanks to the stylish yet unpretentious sound that has been created. Incidentally, according to the liner notes the album was recorded without the use pitch correction software. A refreshing approach in today's 'gadget-for-everything' world; and Nick certainly deserves credit for taking this approach and letting his music do the talking."

Source URL: http://www.bluesbunny.com/plist300930.html#p1

======= - The BluesBunny (UK)

"a terrific ride through the world of Blues ... Nick's handywork on lead guitar is impeccably precise ... each song spills with fervent balance ..."

"... Edelstein also shows his intimate and personal side ... on endearing works such as originals "Sign From Above" and "Ripple" ..."

"Certainly a highlight displaying his most superior guitar work falls in the intro and throughout "Red House," a dazzling, mesmerizing statement of guitar-driven Blues-Rock."

"breathtaking guitar work ... performances of liquid gold, compared to the swift speed of a dozen horses at Churchill Downs, as notes flourish like a roaring freight train ... his potential is boundless ... Santana's artistry comes to fruition in a frighteningly well-spoken version of 'Europa' ..."

~ Shawn M. Haney, May 2008 - album review: 'Live In 2007'

"Tasteful Blues Rock is on the menue from Atlanta dude Nick Edelstein, whose new album 'Ripple' features him tearing through tunes both bluesy and at times funky; there's a little Stevie Ray in there, some Hendrix and even a twinge of the Red Hot Chili Peppers from the rhythm section of Scott Brown on bass and Monty Coursey on drums." - Athens, GA

"matching immaculate phrasing and speed with soulful, tasteful melodies, check out Nick Edelstein!"

May 2005 'Nightlife' column - Lexi Tabback

"Georgia-based Blues rocker, guitarist, and singer/songwriter Edelstein plays straightforward Blues-touched rock and roll. The writing is strong while his band accents the classic guitar riffs on both rockers and ballads."

~ Samir Shukla,
106.5 FM "Music Menu"

- Charlotte, NC

"On The Rise"

Music has been a part of Dunwoody resident Nick Edelstein's life since he took up piano at the age of four. After mastering the ivories, he went on to add vocals, trombone and guitar to his repertoire. Now with an album in the works and countless live performances under his belt, the 23-year-old has made music into a career.

"I'm very tactile," Edelstein said. "I like being able to hold a guitar and have expression come out through my fingers. It's so comfortable, being able to express what I'm feeling without having to say it."

Edelstein has been expressing himself through music his whole life in DeKalb County. He was the drum major of Dunwoody High School's marching band as well as part of the DeKalb Youth Symphony for 4 years. He said his guitar-playing influences include Carlos Santana, Chuck Berry and Brian May from Queen.

"I love the blues" he said.

Edelstein has played the blues, country, and rock with several bands over the years. "I was a hired gun," he said. "Some of the bands were successful, and some weren't." Now Edelstein is a solo artist. "I felt it was time to record and get some opinions," he said. "When people liked it I thought 'that's what I need to do.' It had been sitting in the back of my mind for a while." He recorded his album, "Ripple," at Lakefront Studios in Conyers. It is in post-production.

"It has to be mastered and manufactured," Edelstein said. A portion of all proceeds from the CD will go to the World Wildlife Fund.
The album's single, titled "What You Deserve," has gotten radio airplay on station WRIR in Richmond, Va.
Edelstein's Web site, www.nickedelstein.com, has a list of tour dates. His next gig will be at Jake's Roadhouse on Jan. 21 in Decatur.

======= - Leslie Prall

"Imagine if Skynyrd were starting up today — post Atlanta Rhythm Section, post Red Hot Chili Peppers. That’s the feel I get with Georgia’s Nick Edelstein Band. Made up of 4 members all from the South, this young band has already played the Great Atlanta Blues Festival. Band leader Nick Edelstein has been playing piano since the age of 4, and also does lead guitar on stage.

I’m sure that songs like “Kentucky Sun” and “Tripping” are great live, under the sun with drink in hand. “Sign From Above” is ... very old-school pop, like Styx or Kansas."

======= - Tamar Fleishman | 'Music Reviews' column

"Nick and his band are all down to earth, real music loving musicians. They truly play music for the fun of it, as you'll be able to tell from the interview below:

When did you guys start playing together?

'Monte (drums) has been with me since 7/06. Andy (bass, vocals) recently joined in 8/07. Before then, Scott Brown did a solid job on bass for 19 months. Ryan Whitehead joins the band this October on saxophone, and we're excited to have him. Will Scruggs layed down sax on my first album (he's also on Natalie Cole's Leavin'). Ryan and Will share duties on my second CD (coming soon!) along with some suprise guests! I love making music with as many artisis as possible. My music is all about creating moments and keeping things fresh. On our last tour we had some logistic issues and there were two shows which Monte and Andy couldn't get to! Fortunately, John "Califa" Bell and John Nania came to our rescue. Bell began drumming for Stax Records artists in the late '60s, touring with artists like Isaac Hayes and Albert King. When we did "Born Under A Bad Sign" I got chills, because John played drums for William Bell when W.B. first wrote that song.'

How did you start that process?

'Well, I used to be a 'hired gun' for touring bands, and in 2004 I was asked to work with a group based in VA. I moved to Charlottesville, and the beauty just floored me. I found myself writing tons of material with no outlet. I traveled all over the East coast with them but eventually I was too torn, and I returned to Atlanta to record my first album. I started doing solo acoustic gigs and open mics to test the songs on live audiences, and to get some demographic feedback. I got a lot of requests to play with a band, so I assembled some friends and in '05 did the first full-band show at Red Light Cafe. The response was phenomenal, so ever since then I've focused on touring with a band. It took a while to find the right people, but I'm incredibly happy with the current lineup. The funny thing is, I've known these guys for years; we just never played together until now.'

How would you define your style?

'The Atlantis Music Conference was just in town, and I found myself saying "Blues-Americana" a lot. Last year it was "Blues-Rock." I've always had trouble putting my finger on it. There's always a few folks in the audience who say my voice sounds like James Taylor, and my lyrics are definitely Americana-ish. But I love playing the Blues and Blues is at the heart of everything I write. Improvisation is a huge part of my live show, so some folks have said "Blues-Jazz mix." The "Rock" element is apparent on the first record, but as the upcoming album will show, we're getting away from that. I'm trying to avoid the "Southern Rock" genre because I want to stay true to my Blues passion. I think Americana is inherently Rock enough, so I'm going to say "Blues-Americana."'

Is there any place you'd really love to play?

'I would love to play at Carnegie Hall, in NYC. My parents are both from Queens, so growing up I heard a lot about the creme-de-la-creme venue. It may sound like a pipe dream, since I don't do classical music (though I was raised playing classical piano). But, many Blues greats like B.B. King and SRV have performed there so who knows?'

Do you have a manager? If you do, how did you get together?

'No, I do not. I have worked with managers in the past, and I am definitely interested in working with one in the future. But so far I have yet to find someone who shares my drive and passion. If you're reading this article and you want a crack at the whip, contact me. Where do you guys play usually? In GA: Smiths Olde Bar, The Crimson Moon, and Tasty World are my fav's. Past venues have included Vinyl, Lennys, Red Light Cafe and just about every club in Atlanta, but it's hard finding the right home. In NC: Pucketts Farm has become a regular stop (famous for giving The Avett Bros. their start). In MS: Hal & Mals. In KY: Stevie Rays Blues Bar. We love to play, and we'll play anywhere if the situation is right. Festivals are a huge hit with us because we love meeting the other artists and making new fans. The Great Atlanta Blues Festival has booked us two years in a row, and this year we did our first Sweet Auburn Springfest.'

How do you arrange a gig?

'I book all our shows. It took a while to develop a system, but now I've got it down. I think. hah! There are different types of venues and you just have to know how to read them. Like people. Some prefer phone calls, some e-mails, some EPKs (electronic press kits) and some prefer hard-copies in the mail. If a venue is worth your time they will have a website, and usually that web tells you how they like to do business. Also, Sonicbids is a must-have in my book. I got my endorsement with First Act Guitars thanks to that web.'

How'd you guys promote your music?

'A lot of time is spent online. We have a listserve. We have a presence on over 40 websites including iTunes, Myspace, Amazon, and Reverbnation. Then there's personal profiles like Facebook. It's all about getting the word out there. My dad always told me: "you might be the next Einstein, but if nobody hears you speak they'll think you're mute." Every web is different (i.e., we can't afford a banner on iTunes) but we do our best. I sometimes joke with friends that I spend more time online than I do playing music, but it might be true. But music still pays my bills; it's a paradox. It used to be that successful artists were the ones with managers and agents, but these days I think success is measured by how many folks you have answering your e-messages. Don't forget about paper, though. Posters, handbills, flyers, etc. are still crucial. Placement is key: location x 3.'

Where do you sell it if you do?

'Apple iTunes is my leading digital retailer, with 2nd place going to Paypal via my website. The bronze medal is CDbaby, who sells physical discs (and you can ALWAYS buy one at a concert). I get some licensing via BMI, but since I don't have an agent pushing those syndication deals it's a small slice of the pie. I am on so many websites. And some are cheap! Payplay.fm sells my songs for $0.77, and I know there's at least one who sells for $0.60/ea (but I honestly can't remember which). Go to www.nickedelstein.com/hear.htm and start clicking.'

Where do you see yourself in the future?

'Performing in some non-smokey bar. *laughing* I can't stop playing live, it's a huge part of who I am. I will be writing records, because I love the creative process. I've done some indie film scoring but I would really love to score a major motion picture - that's always been a childhood fantasy. Also, I hope to be touring nationally. I miss visiting the North during winter, and I miss California. Hopefully I'll be heading in that direction with my music in tow.'

Go to Nick's official web site now! http://www.nickedelstein.com"

by Bill Wilcosky
http://www.indieshows.net
------------------------------------------ - IndieShows.net | 9/30 - 10/06/2007

Sept. 28, 2007 admin Posted in Main page

“Keepin’ the Blues alive”

Nick Edelstein was born in Florida. When he was a child he used to be a “hired gun” for touring bands, and in 2004 he was asked to work with a group based in VA. Then he moved to Charlottesville, and the beauty just “floored him”. He started by “doing solo acoustic gigs and open mics to test the songs on live audiences, and to get some demographic feedback. He had a lot of requests to play with a band, so he assembled some friends and in ‘05 did the first full-band show at Red Light Cafe. The response was phenomenal, so ever since then he focused on touring with a band. “It took a while to find the right people, but I’m incredibly happy with the current lineup. The funny thing is, I’ve known these guys for years; we just never played together until now.”

THE BAND
“Monte (drums) has been with me since 7/06. Andy (bass, vocals) recently joined in 8/07. Before then, Scott Brown did a solid job on bass for 19 months. Ryan Whitehead joins the band this October on saxophone, and we’re excited to have him. Will Scruggs layed down sax on my first album (he’s also on Natalie Cole’s Leavin’). Ryan and Will share duties on my second CD (coming soon!) along with some suprise guests! I love making music with as many artisis as possible. My music is all about creating moments and keeping things fresh. On our last tour we had some logistic issues and there were two shows which Monte and Andy couldn’t get to! Fortunately, John “Califa” Bell and John Nania came to our rescue. Bell began drumming for Stax Records artists in the late ’60s, touring with artists like Isaac Hayes and Albert King. When we did “Born Under A Bad Sign” I got chills, because John played drums for William Bell when W.B. first wrote that song! Nania was a treat too - he’s insanely talented. We were doing a show in Louisville and, during our break, Nania started busting out Jaco (Pastorius, and it sounded like the real thing). I like having a second guitarist on stage because I love slide (like in my song, Ripple) and it allows me to get on the organ; Joe Hallar has been with us since May.”

Regarding their’s own style, Edelstein define themselves as a “”Blues-Americana” band. ” I’ve always had trouble putting my finger on it. There’s always a few folks in the audience who say my voice sounds like James Taylor, and my lyrics are definitely Americana-ish. But I love playing the Blues and Blues is at the heart of everything I write. Improvisation is a huge part of my live show, so some folks have said “Blues-Jazz mix.”

“The “Rock” element is apparent on the first record, but as the upcoming album will show, we’re getting away from that. I’m trying to avoid the “Southern Rock” genre because I want to stay true to my Blues passion. I think Americana is inherently Rock enough, so I’m going to say “Blues-Americana.”

His parents are both from Queens, so he grew up listening a lot about the “royal” music. “It may sound like a pipe dream, since I don’t do classical music (though I was raised playing classical piano). But, many Blues greats like B.B. King and SRV have performed there so who knows?” On the other hand, he would love to play at Carnegie Hall, in NYC. Is it that possible? Well, check it out by yourself!

If you want to check out their music click here: http://www.nickedelstein.com/hear.htm

Today, they are playing in differentes venues at GA: Smiths Olde Bar, The Crimson Moon, and Tasty World are my fav’s. Past venues have included Vinyl, Lennys, Red Light Cafe and just about every club in Atlanta, but it’s hard finding the right home. In NC: Pucketts Farm has become a regular stop (famous for giving The Avett Bros. their start). In MS: Hal & Mals. In KY: Stevie Rays Blues Bar. “We love to play, and we’ll play anywhere if the situation is right. Festivals are a huge hit with us because we love meeting the other artists and making new fans. The Great Atlanta Blues Festival has booked us two years in a row, and this year we did our first Sweet Auburn Springfest”.

Concering how they arrange their gigs, Edelstein answered: “I book all our shows. It took a while to develop a system, but now I’ve got it down. I think. hah! There are different types of venues and you just have to know how to read them. Like people. Some prefer phone calls, some e-mails, some EPKs, and some prefer hard-copies in the mail. If a venue is worth your time they will have a website, and usually that web tells you how they like to do business. Also, Sonicbids is a must-have in my book. I got my endorsement with First Act Guitars thanks to that web”.

They have not a manager yet. “I have worked with managers in the past, and I am definitely interested in working with one in the future. But so far I have yet to find someone who shares my drive and passion. If you’re reading this article and you want a crack at the whip, contact me.”

Also, they spent a lot of time online trying to promote their music. They have a listserve, and they have presence on over 40 websites including iTunes, Myspace, Amazon, and Reverbnation. Edelstein added “then there’s personal profiles like Facebook. It’s all about getting the word out there. My dad always told me: “you might be the next Einstein, but if nobody hears you speak they’ll think you’re mute.”

“Every web is different (i.e., we can’t afford a banner on iTunes) but we do our best. I sometimes joke with friends that I spend more time online than I do playing music, but it might be true. But music still pays my bills; it’s a paradox. It used to be that successful artists were the ones with managers and agents, but these days I think success is measured by how many folks you have answering your e-messages. Don’t forget about paper, though. Posters, handbills, flyers, etc. are still crucial. Placement is key: location x 3.”

Apple iTunes is their leading digital retailer, with 2nd place going to Paypal via their website.
Looking forward to the future Edelstein said “Performing in some non-smokey bar . *laughing* I can’t stop playing live, it’s a huge part of who I am. I will be writing records, because I love the creative process. I’ve done some indie film scoring but I would really love to score a major motion picture - that’s always been a childhood fantasy. Also, I hope to be touring nationally. I miss visiting the North during winter, and I miss California. Hopefully I’ll be heading in that direction with my music in tow.

Nick Edelstein 100%.

Thanks Nick to be part of our website! All the best!

UPCOMING SHOWS
10/12 ~WUGA 97.9 FM live on-air show
10/16 ~Smiths Olde Bar, Atlanta (GA)
10/19 ~ Puckett’s Farm, Charlotte (NC)
10/27 ~ Moonshine Festival (lunch)
10/27 ~ Crimson Moon (evening), Dahlonega (GA)

Responses:

blues_gds Says:
9/28/07 at 12:32 pm
"Love blues! like it!!!!!"

uk_lon Says:
9/28/07 at 12:32 pm
"Sounds pretty good man!"

fusssden Says:
9/28/07 at 12:36 pm
"Might go to Smiths Olde Bar. Like your music bro!" - “Keepin’ the Blues alive”