1. Why were there several years between CTA releases? First and foremost it took three years to complete this album. With everyone’s rotating schedules and both Marc Bonilla and myself imposing the same standard that we followed on Full Circle (our first release) we couldn’t seem to finish it. Every time we thought it was finished we’d find another song or another tour would set us back.

2. How do you feel this album compares to/differs from the first release? I feel that is a much deeper record and pretty much has everyone’s DNA attached to it. It’s a true collaborative band album.

3. The music on Sacred Ground includes tracks that are Jazz and Rock based, as well as ballads and instrumentals. What made you decide to place such a variety of styles on the disc? That stems from my days with Chicago, and with all the different tastes and personalities in the band, it creates diversity. I’m amazed that at the end of the day this album flows so well from track to track. I know both Marc and myself are extremely proud of that.

4. One can hear traces of Chicago on several tracks. What do you feel makes the sound Chicago created so timeless? Good songs, strong vocals, impeccable musicianship and strong production values, and of course the guitar, drum, brass driven style Chicago and BST pioneered in the 60’s and 70’s.

5. There are several guest artists on the album. Who are the core members of the band? And who are some of the guest artists? The core members are: Marc Bonilla, Ed Roth, Wes Quave, Will Champlin, and Travis Davis. The guest artists are: Peter Fish, Larry Braggs, Bill Champlin, Mick Mahan, and Eric Redd.

6. What is your favorite track on the disc and why? I think “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know.” Larry Bragg’s vocal performance will be historic someday, it’s that good. Plus I love where we took the song and did something different with a classic song. That’s my favorite today, ask me tomorrow and it will be different. That’s how deep this album is.

7. What do you hope the listener takes away from your music in general, and specifically from Sacred Ground? Music that forces you to listen, yet is very accessible. Music that will stand the test of time that Chicago’s music has.

8. Are there any new artists you have taken note of- that you feel stand out in today’s popular music? Nora Jones, Dave Matthews, John Bonamasa, Adele to name a few.

9. Are there plans for CTA to tour surrounding the release? Yes we will be touring the midwest in late May and early June. As the demand grows from the new CD we will be touring more and more.

10. What inspires you to continue to make music after many years in the business? The challenge of growing as an artist, musician and the need to express myself through my music keeps me going.

11. Can you write a little about the song “Take Me Back to Chicago?” What significance does this song hold for you? It was written about a close friend of mine who passed away long before his time. It’s really quite involved, the full story is in my book. “Street Player: My Chicago Story”

For more information about CTA, please visit http://www.ctatheband.com

B. Taylor will be attending the 23rd Annual “Night of 100 Stars” this Sunday, February 24, 2013. This is an annual red carpet event hosted by the famous Hollywood Agent, Norby Walters.

“On one night each year, Hollywood’s most prestigious movie industry awards show is televised to the world. It’s a night when constellations of stars come out of their Brentwood, Beverly Hills and Bel Aire estates to support their peers and participate in the spectacle. Hollywood’s finest come out to see and be seen, a stellar mix of TV and movie actors and actresses, moguls and media, producers, paparazzi and assorted glitterati. It’s also a night where, under the spotlights of the exclusive and historic Beverly Hills Hotel, hundreds of Hollywood’s brightest converge in limousines, walk the red carpet, smile for the cameras, and enter the most exclusive, high-profile awards night gala event of the year– Night of 100 Stars –hosted for more than two decades by Norby Walters.

Learn more about the event at www.nightof100stars.com.

decker.’s new CD, Slider, will be released on the 26th of this month but things are already heating up the airwaves and video channels with their first single, Killing Me.

Check it out here!

http://youtu.be/cVvgAnSDk0g

And visit www.deckermusic.org to see when decker. is coming to your city!

New York, NY– Declare Entertainment announces the release of “This Is Not A Casino,” the debut album from rock/alternative project, Truth Table. The album was recorded and produced by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brian Johnston.

“This Is Not A Casino” is filled with musical depth and lyricism, featuring a truly electrifying combination of musicians including drummer Dennis Leeflang (Lita Ford, Bumblefoot), vocalist Mike Fries (Long Island Idol Winner), bassist Chris Schropfer, and songwriter/guitarist Brian Johnston.

By creatively introducing lesser-used chord progressions, riffs, melodies, and syncopated rhythms while holding on to just enough of the familiar, the group has effectively struck the balance between originality and tradition. The music is complex yet engaging, ranging from up-tempo rock to dark, spacey jams, with occasional rest stop on the acoustic side of the road. Despite the varying levels of complexity, “This is Not A Casino” is cohesive and displays a common musical thread. Highlight tracks include the emotional “Dialogues and Chances” and “Truck,” as well as the catchy pop rock sound of “Animated.”

Truth Table’s lyrical focus draws the listener in with songs about freedom of the mind, betrayal, hope, war, and despair. It is a powerful musical endeavor that travels the shaded gray line between deeper psychological themes and the more universal subjects of relationships and loss.

“This Is Not A Casino” will be available February 15, 2013 through iTunes and the band’s website at www.truthtablemusic.com.

Arizona psychedelic-desert folk band’s 4th album set for February 26, 2013 release

Rising from the dust of a near-fatal August 2012 van rollover while on tour in California, the band still managed to record the 10-song follow-up to their third release, 2011’s, Broken Belts, Broken Bones, in three inspired months last summer to produce their most robust, captivating and compelling record to date.

Led by songwriter Brandon Decker, the album marks a return to the grittiness of the bedroom-recorded debut, 2009’s Long Days, while further honing the epic balladry of the 2010 follow-up, Long as the Night, but with a vastly more psychedelic, melodic and eerie sound (think Beck’s Sea Change meets The White Stripes meets The Arcade Fire).

But the album almost never happened.

In the final stages of recording the album, the band had a tire blowout on the I-5 en route to Los Angeles, jackknifing their trailer and catapulting them across the median. When the dust settled they found one of their members, singer Kelly Cole, had ejected from the vehicle and lay unconscious with a broken bone in her neck. “It was like a war zone, with this helicopter landing and dust and trash blowing everywhere and Kelly being carried out on a stretcher while we just stared on in a daze trying to process what just happened,” said Decker of the accident.

Fortunately for fans of the raw and honest music of decker., the band summoned the courage to forge on with a new-found lease on life and passion to share their music, and Slider is on the way in February with several tours to follow, beginning with two Arizona release shows and a return to Austin for SXSW in March, before setting out across the western US for several months, with most dates to be announced soon.

The music has accumulated a growing number of favorable reviews for their previous releases as well as the notice of news outlets including an interview and performance for CNN at 2012’s SXSW, with singer Brandon also being named Arizona Songwriter of the Year by Phoenix, AZ music blog, Yab Yum Music & Arts.

“The music of Brandon Decker, who records as decker. has proven to be a pleasant surprise…there’s enough grit, creeping unease and lyrical darkness on the record to appeal to fans of Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen as much as the fans of The Swell Season or Damien Rice” – Jason Woodbury, Village Voice Media

“The lasting impression of this CD is some of the most soul-baring songwriting you will ever hear.” – Dan Engler, Kudos AZ

“…his music, which is as romantic, dramatic, intense, primitive and harrowing as a birth in a kitchen in Arizona…Broken Belts, Broken Bones creates its own furrow somewhere in between Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska and Gillian Welch’s Time (The Revelator) with mandolins, sparse accompaniment, narcotic tempos and stray harmonies.” – Warren McQuiston, Performer Magazine

It’s our 5th Year Anniversary and we’ll be offering special promotions throughout the year to celebrate!

In addition to expanding our services throughout the year to include Artist Development, Music Licensing Services and Project Management, we’re also in the process of creating incredibly beneficial partnerships with others in our field to provide our clients with a wider range of exposure opportunities.

We want to thank each and every person that has helped to make Grit a success over the past 5 years. Without the support of our clients and those in the media industry, we could not succeed. We do not take you for granted– THANK YOU!

To all, we wish you a very happy, healthy and peaceful New Year.

Much love,
The Grit Team

Thank you to all of our artists, industry friends, and families for supporting our efforts!
We appreciate you!

Many who are seeking media coverage tend to ignore blogs or place them on their “secondary” list of contacts. With the allure of television, magazines and newspapers still in the forefront of most people’s minds, blogs have yet to gain the attention and care that is given to other media outlets.

I believe it’s time to change that perception. Many blogs and bloggers are more than deserving of the same treatment as the largest media outlets. Their reach is broad and many posts offer some of the best journalism found anywhere today. Bloggers have the freedom to express themselves without the restrictions of “word counts” and other editorial boundaries, often leading to some of the most interesting and comprehensive reviews, features, and articles.

With the surge in their rankings, I can’t imagine how bloggers can even begin to wade through the mountain of pitches they receive on a daily basis. So, in order to help you stand out amongst the pack, be sure to follow some simple, but very important guidelines when approaching blogs and bloggers:

-Familiarize yourself with the blog: Take the time to read some of the recent postings to see if what you are offering is truly a good fit.
-Get to know the blogger’s work: Many blogs feature several contributors. Read through some of the posts and see who best fits your message or work.
-Follow submission guidelines: Be sure to look for submission guidelines on the blog. Some have them, some don’t. But if they do, follow their instructions.
-Don’t spam: Personalize your contact with each blog or blogger, mentioning why you feel that you’re a good fit for the blog. Don’t just blast out a generic email because the blog happens to fall within the boundaries of your subject matter.
-Follow up: Critical for any contact with the media, it is important to follow up on your submission in a timely manner Don’t bombard the contact with emails or calls, but be polite and consistent. And if the submission guidelines tell you NOT to follow up… follow the rules.

At Grit, we absolutely love blogs and bloggers. Our goal is to provide them with the most concise and interesting information that meets their needs.

If you’re working on your own, do the same, and good luck as you enter the blogosphere!

Thank you for your support, we appreciate our clients and dear friends!

Casey Hurt: Half as Much as Love

The Perfects: Sudden Victory

Harold Honey: Helltown

To request radio or review copies of any of the discs, please drop us a line!

B. TAYLOR

Also, we’re very excited to announce that Hip Hop artist B. Taylor has joined the Grit family of artists! B. has had an incredible career so far, including top hits on the Billboard charts. His new single, “Fiesta,” is already a hit and we’re looking forward to working with this diverse and multi-faceted artist.

Learn more about B. Taylor at www.btaylor.com