Bill Scorzari

Bill Scorzari creates songs that act as curators for folk, blues and Americana origins. Just the Same, his most recent release, picks gentle folk blues (“She Says”), sun-dappled folk note reveries (“I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You” and stiches rail rhythm into the tracks (“I Keep Rollin’ On”). Bill Scorzari recalls the early 60’s Village folk men like Dave Van Ronk and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. Musicians who had a way of holding the past in their live set and taking what they hear into the music they create today. Bill lets influence base his original songs, using melody and a talking blues growl in his vocal that delivers the modern moments in tunes like “Baby's Got a New Dress” and “Eight of Nine (Just the Same) through a sepia-tuned guitar. - The Alternate Root

with Bill Scorzari also with Barnaby Bye Celebrated Scottish band Big Country has returned with The Journey (April 30th / Megaforce), their first studio album in 14 years, and first with frontman Mike Peters. “When Bruce Watson called and asked me to sing for Big Country, it was something I didn’t need to think twice about,” says Peters, a good friend and a favorite singer of the late Stuart Adamson. “It’s been an incredible honor getting to know the music of Big Country intimately and a pleasure to be around such great musicians. I find singing the lyrics of Stuart Adamson very life affirming.” Written and produced by the entire band, The Journey is a return to the classic Big Country sound; a shared vision of widescreen guitar melody, harmony and lyric. The lineup features Mike Peters, co-founder Bruce Watson, longtime drummer Mark Brzezicki, bassist Derek Forbes from Simple Minds, and guitarist Jamie Watson. “New music is always in the blood with Big Country, and so it becomes the life blood the band need to evolve,” says Brzezicki. “The new songs, along with the chemistry and timing, felt right.” Green Day and U2’s hit cover of The Skids’ “The Saints Are Coming”, Adamson’s previous band, sparked big Country’s reunion. Coinciding with their 30th anniversary, the band’s energy had been renewed, and soon they were performing the Isle of Wight (twice), V Festival, T in the Park, and many of the UK and Europe’s most famous festivals. “When we are playing, it is as if we never stopped,” says Watson. “But I know we have, I know we suffered a great loss. But you heal…slowly.” I can assure you that Stuart will be there with us every night, in our thoughts, in our words, and in our hearts.” In 1983, Big Country released The Crossing, the seminal album produced by Steve Lillywhite that broke the band massively worldwide with classic singles “Fields of Fire”, “Chance” and signature song “In a Big Country”. The run of success continued throughout the 1980′s with the release of the their second album Steeltown (1984), which debuted at Number 1 in the UK. They have opened for the Rolling Stones on two separate tours in the 90s, and Mick Jagger has called Big Country “one of the best opening bands we’ve ever had.” - See more at: http://paramountny.com/shows/big-country/#sthash.enVnKcJ1.dpuf - The Paramount Theater

Having a gravelly voice gets you compared to Bruce Springsteen or Tom Waits, depending on the amount of roughness. It’s not necessarily a fair comparison all the time. Bill Scorzari‘s Just the Same relies on his gravelly voice to power his folk/country tunes, but he uses it differently than the aforementioned fellows.

Opener “Eight of Nine (Just the Same)” shows how he fits his vocal tone into acoustic-led arrangements that also feature mandolin, organ, and shakers. The vocal melody is catchy, showing off a surprising and stereotype-breaking range. His lyrics are of the first-person storytelling persuasion, spinning yarns of life and loss and drinking. The album is quite long, giving fans plenty to hear; about half of the 13 songs are over four minutes or more. If you’re into storytellin’ folk, you’ll be into Bill Scorzari. - Independent Clauses

When I set out to write about Bill Scorzari’s debut album, Just the Same, I didn’t know that it would be such a difficult album to discuss. I mean, it is as authentic as Americana-Folk-Country comes, but it has rendered me speechless. I am without speech. So I’ve procrastinated; I’ve watched more of the World Cup than I did on those summers I was unemployed. I’ve dried up available online quizzes to take to the point I’m now on “What Kind of Tree Lichen/Garden Gnome Are You?” I’ve emailed this album to members of my family simply saying “This.” I’ve done everything other than try and write about this baffling album.

The music itself is not that baffling. We’ve written about other great folk and Americana artists like Rin Tin Tiger, Niall Connolly, the Rationales and Buckeye Knoll to name a few. Drawing comparisons would be an easy way to start; it would be incredibly facile to say Scorzari’s vocals were the equivalent of the Boss Trucking Company driving a dump truck of gravel up to the Waits Foundry, and that the truck was driven by this guy. But to make those inevitable vocal comparisons does not come close to painting the entire picture so let me try this avenue:

For good or ill, I have never been a “country” guy. I don’t know if it’s because of the direction it took towards the Garth Brooks/Alan Jackson route during my formative years or that I just don’t like big hats, but I have never been able to chip into the genre. But I talk to people all the time who say they were converted into country fans and all it took was “that one band” to open their eyes. I have listened to enough bands that I didn’t think it was in my DNA.

Enter Just the Same. It is not by any stretch just a country album, but I get it now – or rather, I get what country can make you feel. Combine a raw voice with raw emotion and lyrics about the human condition that are never heavy-handed – add in efficient acoustic guitars, mandolin, steel guitar, piano and drums from the Raddle Chains and Straw Walkers band and you are hooked on the folk. You are hooked from every “I’m going downtown/to drink all the whiskey I can find” in Eight of Nine (Just the Same) to every “it’ll be OK” in One More Time Today.

Bill Scorzari’s Just the Same could be my gateway drug to discovering country music, or at least I’m now tuned into Americana-folk-country from the New York area. Maybe it’s the genuine and unguarded emotions of the music, maybe it’s the voice, maybe the beard, or maybe the lack of big hats. I just know that Just the Same is going to be on heavy rotation this summer. - Nanobot Rock Reviews

If I was told to sum up the debut album Just The Same by Bill Scorzari in one word I would have to choose the word “warmth.” Everything from the guitars, to the violins, to his voice is free of any harsh frequencies, which makes for a very inviting sound. Scorzari plays roots/blues/folk music that sound as old as the hills themselves. It’s a sound that in my opinion can only be achieved by live acoustic instrumentation that the album is decorated with. And then there is that voice. Scorzari has an incredible raspy voice that often sounds like a distant cousin to Tom Waits and an even more distant cousin to The Boss. His voice fits around the music like a glove and provides shades of melancholy, adversity and hope.

The fluidity and cohesiveness of the album makes for an easy listen where you can press play and not have to worry about skipping tracks. Once you hear the “warmth” of the first track you won’t want to start skipping tracks.

The album starts with “Eight of Nine (Just The Same),” which lyrically taps on seemingly disparate topics such as heartbreak, the omission of Pluto as a planet and drinking whiskey. A single shaker provides some rhythm while the string work takes center stage. The song isn't bursting with energy but finds a balance between melancholy and hope.

One of the highlights was the festive “I Keep Rollin' On,” which has some excellent violin work. When Scorzari exclaims, “I keep rollin' on,” it resonates not only as an empathetic statement but also as a universal truth. Scorzari takes it down a notch on “Baby’s Got A New Blue Dress” while “Because Of You” introduces effective horns into the mix. The album closes with “Sweet Surrender.” It’s a lyrically potent yet instrumentally sparse song that puts Scorzari’s voice front and center. It’s an excellent way to close the album.

At thirteen tracks Just The Same may seem a bit daunting at first but I encourage you to take this journey. Scorzari’s debut album is one you will not want to miss. - The Equal Ground