John Lilley at Audubon, NJ's Auction House on November 7, 2009
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA ▪ John Lilley, one of the Philadelphia area’s most popular and well-known guitarists, will celebrate the release of his first CD, Lucky Kinda Guy, with a Saturday, November 7 performance at the Auction House, 100 West Merchant Street in Audubon, New Jersey. Showtime is 8 pm.
Conveniently located within a 5-minute drive from Center City Philadelphia, the Auction House is a former old bank that conducts estate, antique and collectibles auctions. By night, it transforms into one of the area’s most unique, all-ages live music venues, featuring comfortable seating, a décor boasting antiques and unusual decorative items for sale, and a refreshments bar.
Best known as guitarist for The Hooters, Lilley performed with them throughout Europe this summer, playing for festival crowds topping 100,000. (The Hooters are also playing the “Last Call” concert at The Spectrum in Philadelphia this Friday, October 23rd.) Now he’s also stepped up to the mic as frontman for his own band, playing his own music to local audiences.
Lucky Kinda Guy was primarily recorded and produced in Lilley’s West Chester, Pennsylvania studio over the past three years in between the Hooters’ international touring commitments. “I’d barely get unpacked from the road before I’d fire up the studio and get to work on my own stuff,” Lilley said. “I’ve always been a rocker, but it was like this sleeping cowboy just woke up late one night.”
The result is a potent blend of muscular roots-rock (“Digging Deeper Down,” “Second Chance”) and tender love songs (“Safe In Your Arms,” “Stay A Little Longer”), delivered with his stylized voice and road-honed guitar chops. The CD reflects Lilley’s finely-tuned rock sensibilities and his skills as a multi-instrumentalist;
Local music and media folks have responded favorably to Lucky Kinda Guy:
▪ Pierre Robert (WMMR-FM): “Lucky Kinda Guy shows us an entirely different side of this extraordinarily talented musician. This is not folk music or country music. It's not blue grass or even rock 'n roll. It's all of that and much more.”
▪ Rob Hyman (The Hooters): “Every note and every word is honest and sincere - he speaks the truth with pure emotion and no hesitation.”
▪ Jon Takiff (Philadelphia Daily News): “Pensive, playful and smartly executed roots-rocking music. We always knew John had the instrumental chops. The solid songs and full-bodied vocals are quite the pleasant surprise.”
▪ Debbi Calton (WMGK-FM): “On this record, you realize how much of the Hooters’ sound can be directly traced back to John: the mandolin, the mandola, the dobro, and lap steel. John brings it all to this collection of songs that proclaim self-confidence, satisfaction and security.”
▪ Bruce Warren (WXPN-FM): “The fabulously talented John Lilley has stepped out with a strong roots rock record that showcases his intimate, warm voice and his musings on life. Go Johnny, go.”
▪ Craig Ostroff (Montgomery News): “Filled with introspective, intensely personal songs, Lucky Kinda Guy is a country-tinged, roots-rock journey into Lilley’s mind, his life and, most importantly, into his heart. When Lilley lets that long-hidden voice tell its tales, expect to be taken on a journey through the life of a man who loves music, loves the friendships he’s made through the years, and loves every minute of the life he’s living.”
Advance tickets for John Lilley at the Auction House are $15 ($18 at the door) and may be purchased at the Auction House web site: www.aauctioneers.com. The Auction House is located at 100 West Merchant Street in Audubon, NJ 08106, and the phone number is (856) 546-7755.
For additional John Lilley performance dates and information, visit www.johnlilley.com or www.myspace.com/
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
