LEAH-CARLA GORDONE
Returns to LA for two nights only - Tuesday, February 14th, 2006 - TEN20 Club - Bel Age Hotel Thursday, February 16th, 2006 - Genghis Cohen
* * *
Daughter of Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwright Charles Gordone,
A Fixture at Columbus' COMFEST Arts Festival, Has Opened for The Indigo Girls And Norah Jones
Back for two nights, and two nights only next month, the charming and colorful Ohio-based singer-songwriter Leah-Carla Gordone will be starting the new year with two performances in the City of Angels. Compared to the likes of Ani DiFranco and the Indigo Girls, Gordone will be playing a showcase concert at the Ten20 Club at the Bel Age Hotel on Tuesday, February 14th, 2006 and another performance at the well-know West Hollywood hangout - Genghis Cohen on Thursday, February 16th, 2006.
Aside from the playful smile and tight grip on her cherished 12-string guitar, the first thing you'll notice about singer-songwriter Leah-Carla Gordone is her bright, long royal blue hair. But as she sings on “Beauty,” one of the key tracks from her hot new Dancing on the Dragon CD, she'd prefer that we go deeper: ”And if we both look past what human eyes can see/Then maybe we'll agree on beauty/And What It Really Means.”
Take that as an invitation to draw closer, and you'll be moved by a vision even more compelling--the incredibly artistic tattoo down the length of her left arm which brilliantly depicts the musical and lyrical inspirations behind the album, which was released October 4, 2005 on her own Fat Dragon Productions label. “The Road,” the collection's autobiographical first single is currently being promoted to Hot AC, Top 40 and Crossover radio stations across the country, is a tale of personal growth applied to a more universal consciousness. The single has already started to generate airplay across the nation.
The song is a colorful reflection of her years of dues-paying, where she's been, what she's becoming, and her sense of destiny—which she then opens up to the interconnectedness of people throughout the world: “And aren't we all God's children under the sun? You and I, You and I, We Are One.” Gordone recently headed down from her adopted hometown of Columbus, Ohio—where she has opened at Promowest Pavilion for The Indigo Girls and Norah Jones--to Nashville to record a shorter version of the original track featuring a funkier beat, organ instead of violin, plus Wurlitzer piano and electric guitar.
The daughter of the late playwright Charles Gordone, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his 1970 play “No Place To Be Somebody,” the New York City native was a Theatre Arts major at SUNY New Paltz, where she played the Liza Minelli role in “Cabaret”; honed her chops as a regular at NYC clubs like CBGB's, Bitter End and Mercury Lounge; and performed everywhere from Woodstock to Boston, Key West, London, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Nashville before settling into the vibrant arts community of Columbus, Ohio.
RECAP CONCERT DETAILS:
Tuesday, February 14th, 2006
TEN20 Club - Bel Age Hotel
Leah-Carla Gordone - featured solo singer/songwriter - 8 pm - 10:30 pm
1020 N. San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood CA
310-854-1111
Price: $5
Thursday, February 16th, 2006
Genghis Cohen
Leah-Carla Gordone - 10:30 PM
740 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles CA
LEAH-CARLA GORDONE
DANCING ON THE DRAGON TOUR
Announces Texas and West Coast Tour Dates
* * *
Daughter of Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwright Charles Gordone,
A Fixture at Columbus' COMFEST Arts Festival, Has Opened for The Indigo Girls And Norah Jones
Leah-Carla Gordone is bringing her Dancing On The Dragon Tour to venues across the country in support of her newly released Dancing On The Dragon CD:
November 15 7:30pm MSC Rumours, TAMU College Station, TX
November 22 7pm El Mercado's Music Lounge
1302 S. 1st St., Austin, TX
November 25 8:30pm Rusty's 256 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA
November 29 8:30pm The Gig 7302 Melrose Ave, Hollywood, CA
December 2 7pm Borders 5800 Shellmound St, Emeryville, CA
December 4 6pm BrainWash Café/Laundromat
1122 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA
December 7 9pm Mr. Spot's Chai House 5463 NW Leary Ave, Seattle, WA
December 9 7pm Borders 1402 SE Everett Mall Way, Everett, WA
December 10 8pm Dream Street Live 2228 Bacon St, San Diego, CA
December 12 9pm Genghis Cohen 740 N. Fairfax, Los Angeles, CA
*More Dates TBA
Aside from the playful smile and tight grip on her cherished 12-string guitar, the first thing you'll notice about singer-songwriter Leah-Carla Gordone is her bright, long royal blue hair. But as she sings on “Beauty,” one of the key tracks from her hot new Dancing on the Dragon CD, she'd prefer that we go deeper: ”And if we both look past what human eyes can see/Then maybe we'll agree on beauty/And What It Really Means.”
Take that as an invitation to draw closer, and you'll be moved by a vision even more compelling--the incredibly artistic tattoo down the length of her left arm which brilliantly depicts the musical and lyrical inspirations behind the album, which was released October 4, 2005 on her own Fat Dragon Productions label. “The Road,” the collection's autobiographical first single is currently being promoted to Hot AC, Top 40 and Crossover radio stations across the country, is a tale of personal growth applied to a more universal consciousness. The single has already started to generate airplay across the nation.
The song is a colorful reflection of her years of dues-paying, where she's been, what she's becoming, and her sense of destiny—which she then opens up to the interconnectedness of people throughout the world: “And aren't we all God's children under the sun? You and I, You and I, We Are One.” Gordone recently headed down from her adopted hometown of Columbus, Ohio—where she has opened at Promowest Pavilion for The Indigo Girls and Norah Jones--to Nashville to record a shorter version of the original track featuring a funkier beat, organ instead of violin, plus Wurlitzer piano and electric guitar.
The daughter of the late playwright Charles Gordone, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his 1970 play “No Place To Be Somebody,” the New York City native was a Theatre Arts major at SUNY New Paltz, where she played the Liza Minelli role in “Cabaret”; honed her chops as a regular at NYC clubs like CBGB's, Bitter End and Mercury Lounge; and performed everywhere from Woodstock to Boston, Key West, London, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Nashville before settling into the vibrant arts community of Columbus, Ohio.
LEAH-CARLA GORDONE
IS INDEPENDENTLY AND BEAUTIFULLY
‘DANCING ON THE DRAGON'
* * *
“The Road,” The Autobiographical First Single From NYC- Bred,
Columbus, Ohio-Based Singer/Songwriter's Sophomore CD, Is Currently
Being Promoted to Hot AC, Top 40 and Crossover Radio
* * *
Daughter of Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwright Charles Gordone,
A Fixture at Columbus ' COMFEST Arts Festival,
Has Opened for The Indigo Girls And Norah Jones
Aside from the playful smile and tight grip on her cherished 12-string guitar, the first thing you'll notice about singer-songwriter Leah-Carla Gordone is her bright, long royal blue hair. But as she sings on “Beauty,” one of the key tracks from her hot new Dancing On The Dragon CD, she'd prefer that we go deeper: “And if we both look past what human eyes can see/Then maybe we'll agree on beauty/And What It Really Means.”
Take that as an invitation to draw closer, and you'll be moved by a vision even more compelling--the incredibly artistic tattoo down the length of her left arm which brilliantly depicts the musical and lyrical inspirations behind the album, which is being released October 4, 2005 on her own Fat Dragon Productions label. “The Road,” the collection's autobiographical first single currently being shipped to Hot AC, Top 40 and Crossover radio stations across the country, is a tale of personal growth applied to a more universal consciousness.
The song is a colorful reflection of her years of dues-paying, where she's been, what she's becoming, and her sense of destiny—which she then opens up to the interconnectedness of people throughout the world: “And aren't we all God's children under the sun? You and I, You and I, We Are One.” Gordone recently headed down from her adopted hometown of Columbus, Ohio—where she has opened at Promowest Pavilion for The Indigo Girls and Norah Jones--to Nashville to record a shorter version of the original track featuring a funkier beat, organ instead of violin, plus Wurlitzer piano and electric guitar.
“Since recording the song originally,” she says, “I've gone through a lot of ups and downs, periods of elation and depression, and come to terms with the struggle to find my place as an artist in this world,” she says. “The theme of the song is the same, about people finding strength through adversity, but musically it's definitely a richer, more soulful rendition!”
Just as “The Road” is a compelling metaphor open to the listener's own interpretation, the whole Dancing On The Dragon concept is symbolic of Gordone's fascinating musical journey, which would probably make a roller coaster blush just a little.
“The tattoo shows a fairy standing on the dragon's back, grabbing the monster by the tail,” she says. “The dragon symbolizes the trials and obstacles I have faced first as an actress and then as an up and coming independent musician, the hopes and letdowns, the empty promises and the ultimate goal of finding success. The fairy has become the superhero version of me, with the ability to overcome the dragon. The songs on the album deal not only with tackling the dragon but also dancing on him, which is a metaphor for defying the odds and battling my own fears and demons. At first you resent your roadblocks, but as I've grown and matured as an artist, I've become grateful for them.”
The daughter of the late playwright Charles Gordone, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his 1970 play “No Place To Be Somebody,” the New York City native was a Theatre Arts major at SUNY New Paltz, where she played the Liza Minelli role in “Cabaret”; honed her chops as a regular at NYC clubs like CBGB's, Bitter End and Mercury Lounge; and performed everywhere from Woodstock to Boston, Key West, London, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Nashville before settling into the vibrant arts community of Columbus, Ohio.
Her first album Butterfly Child—which she dedicated to her father, “an incredible man who had a great impact on my life and very much influenced my development as a songwriter”—received significant airplay on NPR, college radio stations and the internet, in addition to a ton of glowing critical praise. The Daily Freeman Preview in Kingston , NY compared her powerful, edgy vocals to those of Patti Smith, Melissa Etheridge and Grace Slick, while Jeff Hepner of “Burn Yer Radio” www.wakeupweb.com said, “Gordone makes me think of a tougher, hipper, more street wise Natalie Merchant…listening to her makes me feel stronger and more hopeful.” The South Bend [IN] Tribune added, “Her music resembles the pop-folk-soul vein of such women as Joan Osborne and Carole King.”
Since moving to her mother's native Columbus in 2002, Gordone has plugged into the music scene there in a big way, performing a total of three times at COMFEST, a three day festival of arts, crafts and music with five stages. The annual event, which has been a local institution for some 30 years, is a celebration of local and regional talent. Gordone is still connected artistically to her hometown as well. She was recently one of three performers selected to perform at the Global Entertainment and Media Summit (GEMS) in New York City , and reconnected with her NYC fans at a Bitter End performance.
Although all eyes and ears in the independent world are currently on “The Road,” Gordone is excited about the prospect of listeners exploring the wealth of life experience she taps into on the other tracks of Dancing On The Dragon. “My first album represented me at a time when I was learning how to walk as a songwriter, while the new collection is me starting to run,” she says. “Songs like ‘Crystal Clear Infinity' speak about the need to be recognized, despite the feeling that no one can see you or relate to you. But the feeling of aloneness is often more of an illusion than a reality when you wake up and realize that we all go through similar struggles. I like to tap into issues that a lot of writers don't, and this involves going places beyond just simple love songs. People need to be encouraged to express what they're going through.
“My tune ‘Soul Sister' is about a problem I had with a girlfriend, regarding our over-competitiveness and the need to let it go. I wrote it as a plea for a meaningful, unpretentious friendship.” Gordone adds, “‘Let It Flow' was written during a time when I was feeling alienated and stuck, but needing to do just what the title says. On Butterfly Child, people got a sense of what I was struggling with. Here, I'm more celebrating where I'm going, with a more complete vision. The more I write, and the more sophisticated I get in sharing my thoughts, the better I am able to express things that people can relate to.”
You can see/hear Leah-Carla on her website: http://leahcarlagordone.com.
