JEFF ANGELL’S STATICLAND –BLUES-ROCK TRIO WITH PSYCHEDELIC EDGES– ON HEADLINING TOUR INCLUDING DIRECT SUPPORT DATES WITH ALICE IN CHAINS AND CANDLEBOX

—Classic Rock Magazine’s Team Rock, June 17, 2016

JEFF ANGELL’s STATICLAND-who deliver provocative, imaginative blues-rock with psychedelic edges-are on the road hot off the release of their self-titled, full-length album (released earlier this year via UDR Music) with a run of headlining performances in addition to dates as direct support for Alice In Chains and Candlebox throughout the U.S. (see full tour itinerary below). JEFF ANGELL’s STATICLAND can be purchased digitally via iTunes here and physically on CD and vinyl via Amazon here.

Fronted by singer-songwriter-guitarist JEFF ANGELL, along with band members Benjamin Anderson on keys/bass and Joshua Fant on drums, the Seattle-based band’s debut album-produced by Grammy Award winner Vance Powell (Jack White, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs, Seasick Steve)-breathes new life into the blues genre both sonically and stylistically. As a well-versed guitarist, JEFF ANGELL digs deep with his precision attack, and his vocals are smoky, versatile and compelling. Asked what he hopes the audience takes away from their live performances, ANGELL says: “I’d want to hear them say that it was one of the best shows they’d ever seen and that we expanded their idea of what a rock n’ roll band could be by turning the art form into a religious experience.” (full Q&A below). You can watch an EPK on the band here.

At the turn of the century ANGELL threw himself into the Seattle music scene as the lead singer and principal songwriter in the unapologetic, swaggering Post Stardom Depression before he began performing with keyboardist Benjamin Anderson, drummer Michael Alex, and saxophonist Gregor Lothian as dirty post punk blues-rock band The Missionary Position. ANGELL‘s subsequent band, Walking Papers, boasted the rhythm section of Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees, Mad Season) and Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) along with keyboards provided by Benjamin Anderson, and Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready gave his blessing by contributing a few blistering guitar solos to the group’s effort. Their debut was labeled, “a masterpiece of mood and tension” by Classic Rock Magazine and “a classic cocktail of dark, malevolent blues” by Rolling Stone. With its release in 2012, ANGELL finally graduated from the van tours he had endured for over a decade in North America to touring internationally, first in clubs, then festivals, and finally arriving in arenas supporting heavyweights Alice in Chains, Jane’s Addiction, Biffy Clyro, and Aerosmith. Walking Papers recorded an eagerly awaited second album in 2014-2015, but due to McKagan’s return to Guns N’ Roses, its release has been put on hold for now.

A: “My mindset was turning obstacles into opportunities. Life at the time was a lot like finding oneself  finishing a marathon only to find the finish line had been moved  a few miles down the track. For me adversity has always been a major motivator. So I dug my feet in and rolled up my sleeves and these are the songs I cameup with. I think the underlying theme of the record is to leave the past where it belongs and to throw yourself into the present. I think it might hold a person’s hand if they are struggling with a similar dilemma. I like the idea that it requires a dilemma to develop a person’scharacter. So why not embrace it? Also I was trying to tap into my subconscious and I always kept a dream journal because I found that imagery fascinating, so a started to bring some of those images into the songs. A few of the songs are basically my describing those dreams or interpreting them.”

A: “I have a collection of old 8 and 16mm films. Ben [Anderson]and I were going through some of them looking for inspiration when we came across the image of the boxer who was down for the count. Most people think the guy is knocked out, but I like to think that he is about to get back up and start swinging! I’ve always rooted for the underdog and I think at one time or another we have all felt like that guy. I think that’s what makes it a compelling image. It coincides with the theme of the record.”

A: “Music has always been a place for me to sort myself out. I guess I use the writing process as a way to work out whatever it is that’s troubling me at the moment. It also helps me form my opinion about events and scenarios outside myself. I think it’s a pretty healthy outlet compared to some of the ways I might deal with those issues if I didn’t have the songs. So to me maybe the songs are therapy, anger management.”

A: “Ben thinks, I feel. He likes cats, I’m a dog person. I’m a big picture guy and Ben is more likely to be looking into a microscope. Somehow our differences make for a productive relationship because we end up having both ends of the spectrum covered. We get along really well that way. It’s our trick, I think, to have me, primarily a blues singer songwriter, challenged by an ambient instrumentalist. When we find something we both can stand behind we know it’s working on multiple levels. Josh [Fant] is a perfect drummer because his primary focus is to serve the song and he has the versatility to do that in a variety of different ways. I’ve played with him in the past and he has always been one of my favorite drummers to create with. He tries to find a way to make the song work rather than use it to put himself on a pedestal. Less fill, more kill I suppose.”

A: “When I was a kid, things in my life were pretty chaotic. I sheltered myself by leaning on my guitar and by scribbling into a journal. I guess I’m still carrying on that way. Music has been a good friend to me and I’ve always felt like it was a safe place for me to direct my energy.”

A: “I’d want to hear them say that it was one of the best shows they’d ever seen and that we expanded their idea of what a rock n roll band could be by turning the art form into a religious experience. Yeah, that sounds nice! I’d hope they described it as genuine.”

A: “The best night would be playing our own sold-out show in an intimate venue to an enthusiastic crowd with a really short drive home. Of course all gear loading would be provided by the venue! The worse night would be having our van and gear stolen somewhere far away from home and then being held up for the merch money. I don’t even like to think about that. Runs a sick feeling through my entire body.”

 

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