Christian Beach

In a world filled with EMO whining and aggressive male howling, it's refreshing to find something that stands out alone, without a crutch. Christian Beach definitely fits this bill in a big way. Christian Beach is a singer songwriter following in the traditional footsteps of Bob Dylan, the Band and Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

With stripped down arrangements, featuring sparse, melodic piano, country flavored acoustic and electric guitars and mandolin accompanist, Christian Beach Belts it out with style and Hank Williams soul. While his current project is being completed, Christian had decided to hit the circuit and showcase his new record to audiences not ordinarily accustomed to his style, gaining a new following thru his Nashville tinted vision. 

 The audience viewed his performance on 5/12/06 at The SICA benefit with awe and hammering applause. Usually you will listen to a solo performer along with the usual background yammering by the undiscerning public, but not this night. They were all watching, listening and learning about a style not often heard in suburban New Jersey. Accompanied simply by Gorgo on mandolin, Christian went thru a small number of gems from his catalog such as Great ideas, Open Spaces and Cemetery friends.

Influences in the set range from Dylan to Charlie Rich and Trent Reznor from Nine Inch nails.  Prior to the show I had received a 4-song promo copy of the Cd and was impressed with what I heard. The song "Open Spaces" drips with Kentucky back porch sessions and "Cemetery friend's" reminds me of the Eerie Tori Amos styled piano hauntings, accompanied by ghost like and intertwining electric and acoustic guitars. The next tune aptly titled "figure it out' does just that with a country flavored journey back thru time with Nashville Tennessee's "Hickory lake boys" (one of them named Johnny cash) and that down home feel that just cant be copied. This stuff has to come from within, aint no other way kids. The cd 's final track "great ideas" is total and vital blues inflected Levon Helm (the band) with a little more Charlie Rich thrown in for good measure.

The whole thing is sprinkled with some great tele twang from an unknown source (hmm, I wonder..)  And The Top-notch veteran musician Gary Massaropi (Les Paul trio) adds legendary stand up bass class on two of the four tracks. The completed record will contain 10-12 songs and will tentatively go under the artist's name. I gotta tell ya, I love this stuff. Christian Beach is a name you'll be hearing in the future from East coast to western coast its one worth checking out. Watch this publication for upcoming shows. Also, Check out his myspace at   http://www.myspace.com/christianbeach