Mill Town Records: Artists
JON NOLAN
Jon's first solo recording was recorded at home in his dining room and in his old band's practice space after that band , Say ZuZu (with Cliff Murphy), broke up after 10+ years together. The songs became "When the Summers Lasted Long," and ended up in the capable hands of Paul Q. Kolderie in Cambridge, MA at Camp St. Studio where he mixed the tracks. Paul's credits include recording, mixing and/or producing Radiohead, Morphine, Uncle Tupelo, Pixies, Clapton, Ryan Adams, Willie, and half of the other cool records in your collection .......
For ten years Jon Nolan co-fronted New England roots-rockers Say ZuZu. They released six full length albums, had a deal in Europe, and played hundreds of shows in 25 states and five countries- Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany and of course in The USA. After fighting the good indie fight for many great years, long miles, and shows of all kinds, Say ZuZu called it quits.
Jon and ZuZu toured the US and Europe several times and became cult faves in Italy in particular, selling more than 10,000 CDs there alone. Their successes landed them a record contract with Germany's Blue Rose Records, home to such acts as Alejandro Escovedo, Drive By Truckers, The Bottle Rockets, Slobberbone and others.
CLIFF MURPHY
Cliff Murphy co-fronted the now semi-almost-maybe-shoulda been legendary rootsy-rock outfit Say ZuZu with Mill Town labelmate Jon Nolan for more than ten years. He used the time well, and has emerged as one of New England's finest country folk songwriters and performers. Fans of Slaid Cleaves, Dylan, John Prine, Merle Haggard rejoice - Cliff's forthcoming solo debut shall not disappoint! Check back for news about the Cliff and his mighty back up band "The Massachusetts Trust Company," his album and shows.
SAY ZUZU
Formed in NH in the early 90's, Say ZuZu was a band made up of longtime friends who managed to harness their prodigious songwriting/singing/harmonizing talents and put out some great Alt-Country records (seven in all) before calling it quits after a great 11 year run.
In their time together Say ZuZu managed to forge a reputation as one of the hardest working and most respected indie bands of the nineties and early aughts. They were profiled and/or reviewed in No Depression, Harp magazine, The Boston Globe, Portland Press Herald, countless online 'zines and newspapers across the US and Europe including Italy's Buscadero, and the Netherland's Oor.
ZuZu toured the US and Europe several times and became cult faves in Italy in particular, selling more than 10,000 CDs there alone. Their successes landed them a record contract with Germany's Blue Rose Records, home to such acts as Alejandro Escovedo, Drive By Truckers, The Bottle Rockets, Slobberbone and others.
They shared the stage with Richard Buckner, The Dixie Chicks, Damnations TX, Dick Dale, Joe Ely, Guy Clark, Slobberbone, Bob Neuwirth, Geoff Muldaur and a bazillion other great (however lesser known) bands.
ZACH TREMBLAY
Lives in New Hampshire. Plays acoustic guitar and writes tunes. Records for Mill Town Records, for fun, and sometimes for other people. Has a record out called "Hotel Cities," you should probably buy it. Likes plaid shirts, levis and Hank Williams.
Zach's an old soul for sure. You're going to enjoy watching his craft develop over the coming years. "Hotel Cities" is a great snapshot of a young songwriter trying on his influences for size, and looking for his own voice. It's rare that one gets to witness this kind of journey from the start, and this CD is a helluva first volley.
ROY DAVIS & The DREGS
Roy Davis was born to rock'n'roll, with a skip in his step and a secret in his eyes. After some wandering and creating and destroying and then re-creating again, he moved to Portland, Maine. There, he immediately fell into step with the dregs of society, and met a few boys who played music as desperately as he did.
First, they made Grey Town. Turned out to be a nice little story, albeit a quiet one, about Maine and all the voices in Roy's head. Hell, why not?
Most recently, they've made a bigger, braver record. Still written by the voices (they won't let him go, really), but with a grilled-cheese-and-beer-for-dinner hopeless-search-for-the-truth X-files rock'n'roll feel to it. They beamed after this one. They can't wait for you to hear it. Maybe it's how the Stones felt after Exile on Main Street, or how Neil Young felt after On the Beach?? They doubt it.
They are called Roy Davis and the Dregs. The album is called Dead Weight and it will hit your eardrums in the Spring of 2008. Antsy yet? You are not alone.