Joe Driscoll
Location:
Syracuse, New York
Biography:
Creating waves on both sides of the Atlantic are the transcendental sounds of modern day one man band, Joe Driscoll. His revolutionary take on music is without boundaries. Effortlessly fusing hip-hop, reggae, soul, folk and rock to create a completely original and unique sound; an innovator not only for the genre-defying music he creates, but for the groundbreaking way in which he performs it. A true renaissance man, Driscoll is a lone figure on stage and in the studio, yet is able to create the complete soundscape of a full band utilizing heavy vocal percussion, an array of instruments, a loop pedal, and a lot of imagination.
Hailing from upstate New York, Driscoll was spotted and signed by London based label Buttercuts Records while touring the U.K. The resulting album ‘Origin Myths’ is the perfect synthesis, combining the raw live magic that has made him an international underground legend, with a more polished presentation created with thoughtful craftsmanship in the studio. Though the album is a more sculpted sound, thanks to producer Pierre Duplan, every audible creation is all Joe. The drums are beat box (oral percussion) with layers of guitar, mbira, bass, verse, and rhyme created by the man himself. The accompanying DVD features live performances and interviews, enabling viewers to witness his technique, which is almost impossible to grasp even when watched and explained.
On a seemingly never ending world tour, the venues and acts Joe has worked with are as diverse as the sounds he creates. From coffee shops to theatres, bars to festivals, crowds are moved by his poignant lyrics, deep rhythms, personal storytelling and funky grooves. He has shared the stage with acts ranging from Matisyahu to Regina Spektor, Coldcut to The Bees at hundreds of venues and events in both the US and EUROPE. From the unitiated to music royalty, JOE inspires. With the release of ORIGIN MYTHS gaining critical acclaim, Radio One airplay and sell out release shows in NY and London, the appeal of this one man magician/musician is undeniable. The overwhelming response from audiences, critics, and industry insiders makes it clear that the future is here.
Contact: TREY REAMES, 3RDEGREE LTD trey@3rdegree.net
Review:
NEXT RELEASE
Origin Myths available on Buttercuts Records
When you hear the phrase Folk music you think of gently strummed guitars and sing-along melodies. You imagine yourself sitting around a campfire or sipping tea at a coffee house. You may not think of an energized, beat-boxing rhyme slinger, who compels audiences to holler, whose sound pushes tables aside and charms audiences to their dancing feet. But according to Webster, folk is the music originated among the common people in a time and a place, and Joe Driscoll is the sound of the people right here, right now.
His eclectic compositions are a tapestry of American roots music. An indescribably original canvas of rock and soul, with dynamic tones of hip-hop, funk and reggae seeping through. “If you were going to send a diplomat to an intergalactic music conference, you would send Joe Driscoll to show them what’s up here on planet earth.”
Imaginative, innovative, and original are the words most frequently used to describe Driscoll’s work. Using a delay pedal as a sampler, Joe builds multi-layered loops in the live setting, creating the soundscape of a live band with only his voice and guitar. All the rhythms and melodies are created live, each and every night.
The intensity and diversity of the music is reflected by the acts he has shared the stage with, opening for artists of all styles; folk hero Bruce Cockburn, funk masters Soulive, tribal jammer Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root, reggae rebels John Brown’s Body, and jazz great Charlie Hunter.
Tracklisting: 1. Origin Myth 2. Not a crook (skit) 3. Grass will overcome 4. Nomad 5. Be not afraid 6. Just us 7. Seriously Man (skit) 8. Vision strong
Links:
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/joedriscoll
Management - http://www.3rdegree.net