Ray Lamontagne
Fri, Sep 15, 7:30 PM Heineken Stage Stage
Not many artists can peg their careers directly on a single epiphany, but Ray LaMontagne remembers the moment exactly. It was when he heard the Stephen Stills song Tree Top Flyer emanating from his clock radio at 4 a.m. He quit his shoe-factory job, immersed himself in the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Otis Redding and Ray Charles, and got himself a monthly coffeehouse gig in Maine. A couple of opportune performances led to a publishing contract and the release of 2004s Trouble. With his emotional vocals and intriguing words and melodies, the album quickly gained attention. Trouble, Shelter, Burn, Hold You in My Arms theyre folk-influenced, but soulful and powerful tunes. Rolling Stone called LaMontagnes songs quietly devastating meditations on life and love. Hes been compared to Van Morrison, David Gray, Elliott Smith and even Redding, but his sound is unique and his late-summer followup, Till the Sun Turns Black, is one of the years most eagerly awaited albums.
www.raylamontagne.com