ART HOUSE ROCKERS, A 750ML AFFAIR, CELEBRATE ANDY WARHOL WITH TWO EXCLUSIVE OFFERINGS

In honor of Andy Warhol's passing on February 22, 1987, Washington based art house rockers, A 750ml Affair (www.myspace.com/a750mlaffair), are offering fans two exclusive downloads that celebrate the life and spirit of this decadent 20th Century icon.

The first offering is a faithful rendition of the immortal Bauhaus ballad, "Crowds," which singer, Gregory Rogers, says “eerily represents the struggle Andy faced as an often controversial and misunderstood public celebrity.”  While Bauhaus didn't have any direct ties to Warhol's career, Rogers feels that their stylistic implications share common, artistic themes with Warhol.

A 750ml Affair's second offering is a music video for their first single, “Fine,” which is inspired by Andy Warhol's black and white film studies he did at the Factory in the late 60's.  Much like Warhol's work, the video's non-linear approach to storytelling leaves a lot of interpretation up to the viewer and listener. Produced and directed by Rogers, the video features archival footage from the Library of Congress' Rick Prelinger collection – providing an artistic take on love, relationships, and society's influence on the human psyche through the eyes of history.

“Andy's legacy has played an important role in the development of A 750ml Affair.  His unique spirit and passion for pushing boundaries, creating controversy, and exploiting the lines between art and culture, resonate deeply in our music and art," says Rogers.

“Crowds” is now available for a limited time as a free download on the band's MySpace page www.myspace.com/a750mlaffair .  The video for “Fine” is available on the band's MySpace page, Website www.a750mlaffair.com , and on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XECEJpHa3ds .  In addition there is a North American college radio campaign underway for A 750ml Affair's debut album which is available now via their website and other online retailers.

 

 

 

 

A 750ML AFFAIR

THIS SIDE OF PARADISE: PROLIFIC ARTIST, A 750ML AFFAIR, INVITES LISTENERS TO EXPERIENCE LIFE, DEATH, AND A PERFECT END TO THE AMERICAN DREAM

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A 750ml Affair's Self-titled Alt/Indie/Rock Debut Is Set For Release on January 7, 2008, Supported By A Hard-hitting National Radio Campaign and Spring Tour

Pour yourself a drink. Place those expensive headphones gently over your ears. Turn the lights down. Light a few candles and a stick of Nag Champa. Kick back in that comfy chair you inherited from your Grandpa. Close your eyes. Press play. And listen. Listen closely. You're about to enter a world of love, hate, joy, and pain. Feel nothing. Feel everything. Laugh, cry, and when the last song ends, open your eyes. If you're still breathing, you've just experienced A 750ml Affair.

Fronted by permanent member and veteran songwriter, Gregory A. Rogers, A 750ml Affair's (www.a750mlaffair.com) self-titled debut album features a collection of 11 thought-provoking songs inspired by heartbreak, loneliness, addiction, pop-culture, and coping with fallibility. It's an ideal blend of taboo subjects that will inspire fascinating discussions among listeners.

Intent on exploring the many facets of human emotion and our sensory ability to interpret these physically, the Artist's debut weaves together a dynamic songwriting approach with stellar musicianship, resulting in a dark but melodic repertoire of well-crafted songs and often disturbing cerebral images.

The album's narrative tone, while melancholy and occasionally misogynistic, is inspired by Rogers' recent life events which include a painful divorce, the unwarranted relocation of his 6-month-old daughter, and the ultimate let down of what society deems “The American Dream,” a story told eloquently in a song by the same name featured on the album.

But despite these life-altering circumstances, Rogers is insistent that the most important message to take from this collection of songs is that we are all human, that idealism is a fairytale for the weak, and that until we suffer death's “perfect end,” life is full of challenges and decisions we must face honestly in order to define how we'll be remembered by friends and family when the lights go down.

Rogers describes the new album as “a candid exchange of dialogue and provocative innuendo that, while not focused on providing any redeeming life lessons or sugar-coated happy endings, offers listeners a very raw and personal glimpse into the human psyche.”

“I was committed to the idea of creating a ‘complete' album rather than the newly popular single-serve download. In doing so, the material inadvertently takes listeners on a journey – challenging them to engage in a sincere conversation regarding the literary contexts expressed within,” he adds.

Greatly inspired by self-examination, social criticism, and the traditions of his theatre and visual arts background, Rogers approached A 750ml Affair's debut album with the goal of establishing “characters” who shared not only his personal experiences and world views, but could play key roles in narratives most would seldom engage in. From themes of loss and betrayal, to pop idolatry and social idealism, Rogers has created a colorful world void of sympathy and redemption. Three standout tracks perfectly represent the overall vibe and point of view A 750ml Affair hopes to communicate to their audience.

Layered in tension created by competing time signatures, polyphonic rhythms, and well-placed vocal melodies, “Fine” is a sardonic tale of failed love, deception, and our unflinching tendency to dismiss and hide pain by telling ourselves and those around us that “everything is fine.” The song's main character juxtaposes vivid anecdotes of his bleak surroundings with sarcastic stabs at how people expect him to feel.

The album's title track, “750ml Affair,” tells the all-too familiar story of a man engaged in a love affair. At first glance, this appears to be a classic tale of wine-and-dine infidelity. But a closer look reveals that this isn't a love affair with a woman, but with the bottle. Subtly embedded in the song's narrative is the protagonist's quest for solace and escape from the realities of a bitter life at home through alcohol-driven dependency.

A satire inspired by the E! Channel's daily entertainment review of the same name, “The Daily Ten” ridicules the shallow existence of the entertainment world and exploits the superficial realities defining the modern Hollywood dream. In particular, it follows a character inspired by the Paparazzi and its unrelenting pursuit of the vein pop-princess stereotype. Perhaps the most controversial track on the album, the song violently illustrates how society's ridiculous fascination with stardom can result in very dark outcomes.

Though Rogers is the band's songwriting foundation, A 750ml Affair features a rotating roster of musicians who delicately and passionately bring to life a homespun sound embodying the traditions of rock ‘n roll and the poetic mystique of history's most brilliant performing and visual artists.

With an indulgent desire for autonomy and artistic control, Rogers has taken the “Do-It-Yourself” creative approach to a whole new level. His credits on the album extend beyond the traditional songwriter, producer, and engineer roles. In fact, Rogers played every instrument on the album including all vocals, arranged and mixed it himself, designed all of the artwork, and created a legitimate and personally-financed indie record label, Kettle Black Records, to help coordinate all promotional and business related activities.

A 750ml Affair's debut album has been a labor of love for over 2 years now. Rogers began writing material in April 2005 and started recording demo tracks in January 2006. After investing more than $20K in studio equipment and new instruments, he took on the enormous task of recording the album in March 2006. With some technical guidance from his best friend, a recording engineer in Los Angeles, things began to take shape.

After 12 months of playing every instrument, writing every word, and recording every track, Rogers was finally satisfied with the outcome and began mixing the album. Recently Mastered by Darian Cowgill at the Den Recorders, the finished product speaks for itself and accurately captures the fractured perspectives of a man lost in a world crowded by idealism, social lethargy, and make-believe.

Rogers quotes one of his beloved childhood idols, Lou Reed, when describing his artistic journey and approach to songwriting – “Between thought and expression lies a lifetime.” As a songwriter and artist, he feels this mantra really speaks to the endless possibilities of the creative process. For almost 20 years, this philosophy has defined Rogers' approach to songwriting and he claims more times than not, the act of creation has been just as (if not more) rewarding than the end result. However, in writing this album, he's come to an emphatic conclusion.

“Recently, I've come to realize that the end result is equally important. Through the best and worst times in my life, that ‘song' has been there to laugh with, cry to, and influence the way I look at the world,” he says.

“And from my first vinyl record to my latest mp3 download, I can look back and pick out those songs that helped shape the person I am today. I know this isn't a unique experience but as a songwriter, I'm in a position to share with others, music that may be as significant in their lives as some of my favorite artists are in mine.”

In addition to his songwriting and artistic endeavors, Rogers is also an avid supporter of humanitarian issues and human rights awareness. He was the Vice President of Amnesty International Queensland (Australia) from 1997-1999 and a portion of all proceeds from the sale of A 750ml Affair's debut album will benefit OXFAM International. Please visit www.oxfam.org for more information.

On January 7, Howard Rosen Radio Promotion—which has specialized in indie artists for over 20 years—is launching a multi-pronged campaign for A 750ml Affair's debut that includes college radio, indie radio and satellite radio programs including the popular college rock outlet “Left of Center” on Sirius.

Rogers is currently co-producing a video for the album's first single, “Fine,” with up-and-coming Hollywood Director, Todd Kaufman, who has worked with Sean Connery, Betty Thomas, and directed the successful short film, “The Key,” currently on the festival circuit. The song is an edgy, mid-tempo track with a hypnotic vibraphone motif that has received the most enthusiastic response from listeners thus far. Rosen plans to promote the video to indie-friendly mainstream outlets like MTV2, Fuse, IMF, and MUCH.