Local Musicians Stage Home Coming Show
By Melissa Corker
Sacramento Press
Eleven weeks, 24 states and 53 shows after they pulled out of their Sacramento driveway, Adrian Bourgeois and Ricky Berger are home once again.
Bourgeois and Berger, close friends and self-described “musical co-conspirators,” spent the last two and a half months on tour, criss-crossing the nation from Oregon to Maryland and back again, taking their music to all points on the compass.
This weekend, they celebrate the end of their tour with a homecoming show at The Refuge, an all-ages club on L Street in Midtown.
“It was a wonderful experience,” Bourgeois, 23, said in a recent interview. “We are glad to be home, though.”
The two traveled in Berger’s Chrysler Town & Country minivan (affectionately called “Vanna White”), filling it with a variety of musical instruments “and lots of shoes,” according to Berger.
“Eighty percent of being a musician is hair and shoes,” Berger said with a laugh.
Planning for the tour began in late December and included arranging for accommodations across the country with a variety of family and friends – and the occasional benevolence of a acquaintance found on a website designed to put couch-surfers together with available couches.
“We really saw how generous people can be,” Bourgeois said. “We met a lot of people for the first time when we dropped in to sleep on their sofa.”
Both Bourgeois and Berger are talented and accomplished musicians in their own right (Bourgeois has two albums to his credit, and Berger is working on her second album this summer), and their musical styles are similar and strikingly different at the same time.
While they both have an acoustic, folk music undertone to their work, Bourgeois has a pop-music sound with a subtle Beatles influence. Berger, however (who plays no less than eight different musical instruments), has a style that evokes a smoky ’20s jazz club with a distinctly contemporary edge.
When they come together for a show, they each bring something different to the stage, making for an energetic and engaging performance.
“We haven’t written a single song together,” Bourgeois said. “(On the tour,) we played our own sets, and we also combined sets by switching off with each other every couple of songs.”
The mix worked, Berger said.
“The more time we spend together, the better we work together,” Berger said. “There’s a chemistry between us that helps when we get on stage.”
At some of the venues they were slated to play on the tour, they were met with a crowded house of appreciative fans; at other stops, they were lucky if the customers at the bar turned around to watch between sips of Miller Light.
No matter where they played, though, for Bourgeois and Berger it was always about the music, and it was easy to see when they struck the right chord with the audience.
“Once in a while, we’d play the same venue more than once and we’d get a good crowd both times,” Bourgeios said. “If people come out and see you play again, that’s how you measure progress toward success.”
Now that the tour is over and they’ve had a chance to reflect on the experience, Bourgeois and Berger said they are looking forward to putting on a great show for a hometown crowd in Sacramento.
“We want to (perform) at The Refuge because it’s an all-ages venue,” Bourgeois said. “Sacramento is really lacking in places that welcome everyone, so this is a logical choice for us.”
“We remember what it was to be under 21,” added Berger. “You can’t get in anywhere, but you still want to see a good show.”
A Star is Born at Aloft: California Singer-Songwriter Adrian Bourgeois Wins 'Project: Aloft Star' Competition
Project: Aloft Star Is First Music Artist Discovery Program Powered by a Hotel Brand
The votes are in: Sacramento, CA singer-songwriter Adrian Bourgeois has topped the list of acts to win Project: Aloft Star, the musical artist talent search created by Aloft Hotels that has created major buzz among music fans. New Orleans crooner Jake Smith was named runner-up.
Bourgeois, whose “complex and lovely” songs “bring to mind a time when songwriters flooded the airwaves and all was well” (Pop-Rock Candy Mountain), will make a dream debut at “Live in the Vineyard,” a twice-yearly, three-day music, wine and food showcase in California’s Napa Valley, also presented by Aloft. With some of the music industry’s top moguls as his audience, Bourgeois will share the stage with stars like KT Tunstall, Zac Brown Band, and James Blunt.
An Aloft-sponsored tour will follow to give Bourgeois, 23, the opportunity to rock Aloft hotels across the United States
Launched in June 2010, Project: Aloft Star solicited artist music videos on Facebook (Facebook.com/AloftHotels, RockOut&Win tab). Aspiring “Aloft Stars” submitted a video of an acoustic performance of original material. The top three finalists were chosen based on a combination of votes from Aloft Facebook fans and judging criteria from Aloft insiders and Live in the Vineyard organizers.
Project: Aloft Star generated nearly 5,000 fan votes and hundreds of comments for submissions from around the world. “Aloft has been a launchpad for fresh thinking in our industry, so acting as a launchpad for other creative endeavors makes a lot of sense,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “The Aloft guest is always on the lookout for what’s new, and I think they appreciate that we’re their partner in the discovery process.”
Project: Aloft Star is just the latest musical riff from Aloft. Aloft properties also serve as concert venues for Live in the Vineyard artists who rock it up close and personal with hotel guests and locals alike through a series of “Live at Aloft Hotels” (www.liveatalofthotels.com) events, throughout the year. Previous Live in the Vineyard artists have included Macy Gray, Colbie Caillat, Train and Melissa Etheridge.
Aloft is the 2010 presenting sponsor for Live in the Vineyard (www.liveinthevineyard.com), currently in its third year and held every April and November.
Adrian Bourgeois:The New Face of Pop
By: Amanda Brumfield
Pop- Rock Candy Mountain
http://poprockcandymountain.com/
When I hear Adrian Bourgeois’s music I can’t help but hope that his particular style of songwriting will be the new wave in Pop. No offense to the Lady Ga-Ga’s out there, but Adrian’s music is the sort I’d like to hear when I turn on my radio. His songwriting is fluid, brilliant, not tweaked to death or over produced. It’s complex and lovely and brings to mind a time when songwriters flooded the airwaves and all was well. Adrian is highly intelligent and thoughtful and in his own way, hopeful. I spoke with him about his music and gained great insight into what helps a songwriter find his own groove.
Pop-Rock Candy Mountain: If you had to categorize your music, what genre or genres would you attach to it?
Adrian Bourgeois: My music at it’s most basic essence is pop if you had to pick a genre. Pop tends to be associated with shallowness by some but tell that to John Lennon, Brian Wilson or Elvis Costello. Some of the most ambitious, adventurous of the past 100 years has been pop music. The thing I like most about pop is that whatever dressing you put over the top of it, at it’s core is a song that just has this universal appeal to it that leaves no one out. It’s world peace in the form of a song!
PRCM: Who are some of your musical/lyrical influences?
AB: My two musical foundations are the Beatles and the Beach Boys. The Beatles virtually invented modern pop music and did in eight years what I imagine the rest of us will be chasing for centuries and Brian Wilson, the music world’s William Blake with his songs of both innocence and experience, gave us visions of the laughter of children echoing the tears of angels. Other huge influences include Elvis Costello who somehow is able to be George Gershwin, Bob Dylan and Arthur Alexander all in the same person, and Neil Young, one of the great improv artists of our time, who should get a Guiness World Record or something for most beautiful stream of consciousness put to tape. Ben Folds is probably my favorite “modern” singer/songwriter and I’ve always had a soft spot for Hanson for being the band that convinced me when I was in fourth grade to not wait until I was all grown up to get working on my music career. U2 has been a big influence not only as incredible songwriters but in using their platform as the biggest band in the world to speak from about injustice, disease and poverty, and are true shining examples of individuals truly using their position as best as they can for the betterment of the world.
PRCM: I read that you mostly produced and arranged your debut album by yourself. Please tell me a bit about the album, what it means to you and let me know where we can get it!
AB: My album was recorded over a variety of times and places between my sophomore and senior years of high school. The first sessions took place at the recording studio at my old church where I worked on them with my dad who has over three decades of experience at just about everything you can be in the music industry. The other bulk of the album was recorded with a local producer/engineer named David Houston who has been making amazing music since the sixties. The album both musically and lyrically definitely captures a specific time of my life where I think I was really starting to come into my own as a songwriter. I had already written close to a hundred songs before I started writing the songs that are on the album but I think these are sort of my first set of good ones. Because of the relatively long span of time that I spent recording this album–most of it was recorded on donated time whenever there was available space at the studio which was sometimes few and far between–there are songs on here about falling in love with someone and then songs about losing someone and they’re about the same person, just written a year or so apart; it’s a little discombobulating for me to hear some of those songs played next to each other on the same album! As far as the production goes, I kind of think this album was similar to the early Beatles albums in that I was really taking a lot of cues from my influences and seeing if I could take my own stab at making some classic sounds. Most of the songs I made demos of beforehand just in my bedroom and would pretty much get the arrangement down. Once in the studio, whoever I was working with would help me polish it up and help me realize it sonically. There’s some things I would change about the album of course if I could go back but overall I’m pretty happy with it for a first effort. You can find it on my website www.adrianbourgeois.com, on CD Baby, iTunes, and a few other various independent online retailers like Not Lame Records and Kool Kat Records.
PRCM: Tell me what playing before a live audience means to you.
AB: I love playing live but it’s a little like taking a test at school. It’s where you put everything you’ve developed and learned up to that point on the line in real time and let the world be the judge. In the studio you can always go back and fix things but live you get what you give. I think sometimes I tie up the the experience of playing live with the stress of actually trying to get people out to shows but once I’m onstage I really do enjoy it. I recently completed my first tour of the US which I did with my good friend and fellow artist Ricky Berger. Playing almost every night in a different city in front of all sorts of different audiences I think really upped our game. It’s the musical activity that I do more than any other, more than recording or songwriting, and is arguably the playing field that in the end matters most. It’s always helpful getting feedback from audience members on different songs or different experiments I try. I love it when someone tells me that a lyric really meant a lot to them.
PRCM: Where do you derive inspiration for your music?
AB: I live in a constant state of inspiration. If you’re not spending every waking hour (and ever sleeping one at that) inspired by something or other, you’re not paying attention! Part of my inspiration for making music is just the profound effect music has had on me. Sometimes I’ve felt like a certain song or album was the only thing that was really connecting with what I was thinking or feeling at a given time. Sometimes the melodies spoke ever greater truths for me than the lyrics. I remember seeing Paul McCartney in concert for the first time when I was 14 and for three hours, the spell he cast over 30,000 people was just magical. Experiences like that just really inspired me to want to somehow create similar experiences for others and try to spread a little magic of my own. I’m also inspired by a want to influence and change society. For some reason, besides politicians and people in law based professions, the occupation that is arguably given the most power to influence culture and the biggest voice to speak with publicly is the entertainer. I don’t know if entertainers were a wise choice to be their generation’s spokespeople–teachers and doctors probably would have made much more good of their celebrity status than musicians and actors–but circumstances being what they are, being a musician seems like a pretty good thing to get into if you want a soapbox to stand on to start getting people to think differently. There are a lot of whole schools of “rational” thought, and unspoken prejudices, and societal patterns that have just gone unchecked for years…centuries probably. I’m not saying I’m the only one who could start talking about this stuff–a lot of people are already touching upon it–I’m just saying I’m willing to add my voice if someone will give me a big enough megaphone.
PRCM: Anything else we need to cover? Upcoming albums, shows, etc.?
AB: I’m going to be releasing my first my first new professionally recorded song in three years in the next month or so, called “Time Can’t Fly A Plane”. I’m in the process of working on my second album…or collection of songs…or however people our compiling music these days. I play pretty regularly in and around Sacramento and Ricky and I are planning on going out again for at least a short tour before the end of the year.
Singer and A Song- August 20, 2010
Adrian Bourgeois' music has often been described as Post-Beatles. While this video hints at that to hear how true the description is go to his site
http://www.adrianbourgeois.com and listen to Mr. Imaginary Friend and Juniper. His songs are strikingly eerie. They sound less like a mere homage and more like a continuation of the Beatles.
Sat, June 19, Adrian Bourgeois/Ricky Berger By Rachel Leibrock
Sacramento News and Review
Sacramento-area singer-songwriters Adrian Bourgeois and Ricky Berger have been traversing the nation, lugging their guitar cases coast to coast for a tour of small clubs. Now the pair returns to town for a homecoming show. Bourgeois, son of Brent, follows his dad’s school of intricate Beatlesesque pop—songs such as “Juniper” and “My Imaginary Friend” are timeless but add a 21st-century layer of sonic derring-do. Meanwhile, Berger—way ahead of the curve on that girls-with-ukuleles trend—makes music that’s difficult to define. Part cabaret, part circus sideshow and many parts classic torch, it’s literate, evocative and curiously pretty.
The Providence Phoenix Editor's Picks- The Power of Pop
AS220 may be known for its dedication to experimental arts, but they let traditionalists through the door on a regular basis. To wit: the welcome mat will be rolled out for Adrian Bourgeois, who writes and performs soft pop in a way that will conjure a warm-hearted mix of Abbey Road, Elliott Smith, and the Left Banke. There's lots of orthodox pop beauty on tunes such as "Clown Review" and "Silk from Ashes," and the young Sacramento dude's plaintive whisper has a way of surrounding you with sunny streams of light. He heads a bill that also features Miles Stenhouse & the Road to Ruin and the Ghost of Otis at 9 pm
Submerge Magazine- HEAR Adrian Bourgeois
Get with the program and pick up your copy of Sacramento-bred singer/songwriter Adrian Bourgeois's self-titled record before he blows up and becomes a major figure in the music world. Then you can brag to your friends that you knew about him first. The entire album has a very mature, post-Beatles pop sound, which is surprising considering how young Adrian is (he's just 20 years old). The future is bright indeed for this pop star in waiting.
My Hmphs- There Is Hope: Adrian Bourgeois
Brent Bourgeois must have played lots of Beatles music to his son, Adrian, in utero. Adrian’s now a singer-songwriter as well, and his self-titled debut reeks of Beatlesque pop - really intelligent, sophisticated music that you can actually hum. He’s one of us. And when you listen to his music, you’ll want to be one of him.
Powerpop Station: Adrian Bourgeois (This is a very imperfect internet translation from Portuguese. I included the Portuguese version also below so if someone wants to do a better translation for me, that would be superb!)
The end of the omnipotent power of major record labels and the omnipresence of the Internet in our day-to-day, gave us the opportunity to have, within reach of the hands, some tools that are true "Tracker talent worldwide." There are 10 or 15 years, it could achieve little beyond what was provided by record labels to the general public. And today, contrary to what many say, the scenario has never been so rich in exceptional artists. The difference is that now we can find them with a simple click, where you want them. And that is where Adrian Bourgeois is to strengthen the statement. At twenty years of age, has just launched his debut album and was a musician prodigy in their ability to produce pearls pop. It also impresses the sensitivity of the artist from San Francisco on capturing melodies and fit them into pieces perfectly sound. Bourgeois - also son of musician Brent Bourgeois - plays guitar, piano and drums from the four years. Probably grew with the ears embedded in the art of masters such as Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson and Todd Rundgren. What should have served to direct his immense gift. Escorted by a real orchestra of friends in his debut disc for, Bourgeois plays the instruments you know from an early age, and sing and sign all compositions. That sounds mature and consistent for someone who barely healed the bones - and thorns - of adolescence. “Mr. Imaginary Frind "opens the disc ready to impress: contagious melody, harmonization meeting spaces and vocal charisma of high-caliber pop. The soft "Clown Review" Elliott Smith merges with orchestral arrangements a la Brian Wilson. "Juniper" is one of the most beautiful songs of the year, with the gentle voice of Adrian commanding notes of the piano melody perfect line of Paul McCartney. Already "Dream On" could do well in the hit parade with "Wonderwall" of Oasis. Chorus is perfect with Adrian Bourgeois: the "Silk From Ashes" follows fluid into the bloodstream and is stored in the brain for days. The climate and dense "Summertime" or by far suggests the youth of Bourgeois. "My House" is enough for any radio FM on the planet, or TV series or feature-length film to film. Beat the piano dictating the pace, metals in profusion, of what an orchestral pop, and another of sunshine pop seventy, in the exciting "Melt In My Mind." The hidden bonus track lights in voice, guitar and harmonica to Adrian Bourgeois - the boy who is just a click and you two steps of pop paradise.
O fim do poderio onipotente das grandes gravadoras e a onipresença da Internet no nosso dia-a-dia, nos deu a oportunidade de ter, ao alcance das mãos, algumas ferramentas que são verdadeiras “rastreadoras de talentos mundiais”. Há 10 ou 15 anos, pouco se podia alcançar fora daquilo que era disponibilizado pelas gravadoras ao grande público. E hoje, ao contrário do que muitos dizem, nunca o cenário foi tão rico em artistas excepcionais. A diferença é que agora podemos encontrá-los com um simples clique, aonde quer que eles estejam.
E é aí que Adrian Bourgeois vem para reforçar a afirmação. Aos vinte anos de idade, acaba de lançar seu álbum debute, revelando-se um músico prodígio na sua capacidade em produzir pérolas pop. Também impressiona a sensibilidade do artista de São Francisco, em captar melodias e encaixá-las perfeitamente nas peças sonoras. Bourgeois – filho do também músico Brent Bourgeois – toca guitarra, piano e bateria desde o quatro anos. Provavelmente cresceu tendo os ouvidos embebidos na arte de mestres como Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson e Todd Rundgren. O que deve ter servido para direcionar seu imenso dom natural. Escoltado por uma verdadeira orquestra de amigos em seu disco de estréia, Bourgeois toca os instrumentos que conhece desde a tenra idade, além de cantar e assinar todas as composições. Que soam maduras e consistentes para alguém que mal curou as espinhas – e espinhos - da adolescência.
“Mr. Imaginary Frind” abre o disco disposta a impressionar: melodia contagiante, harmonizações vocais preenchendo espaços e carisma de alto calibre pop. A macia “Clown Review” mescla Elliott Smith com arranjos orquestrais à la Brian Wilson. “Juniper” é uma das mais belas canções do ano, com a voz doce de Adrian comandando notas de piano na melodia perfeita de linhagem Paul McCartney. Já “Dream On” poderia fazer par, nos
hit parades, com “Wonderwall” do Oasis.
Refrão perfeito é com Adrian Bourgeois: o de “Silk From Ashes” segue fluído pela corrente sanguínea e fica armazenado no cérebro por dias. A climática e densa “Summertime” nem de longe sugere a juventude de Bourgeois. “My House” é radiofônica o suficiente para qualquer FM do planeta, ou seriado de TV ou longa-metragem de cinema. E o refrão? Nem com solvente sai da memória. Batida de piano ditando o ritmo, metais em profusão, um quê de pop orquestral, e outro de sunshine pop setentista, na empolgante “Melt In My Mind”. A bonus track escondida ilumina na voz,violão e gaita de Adrian Bourgeois – o garoto que está a um clique de você e a dois passos do paraíso pop.
"…new and literate pop songs for all of us to marvel at."-
Charlie Peacock (producer)
Pop Life: On strings and a prayer
Adrian Bourgeois follows his dad, Brent, into music, ministry
Published: Friday, Jan. 09, 2009 | Page 9TICKET
Like father, like son, Adrian Bourgeois is a musician.
In 1987, the singer's father, Brent, and his band Bourgeois Tagg scored a Top 40 pop hit with the song "I Don't Mind at All." Twenty-two years later, Adrian, 21, is trying to make a name for himself.
It's a journey taking the Elk Grove-raised singer-songwriter on a path paved by his father's experiences, myriad musical influences and Adrian Bourgeois' own deep, personal sense of religious faith.
Adrian Bourgeois & the Coincidence will perform Saturday at the Vox Cafe in West Sacramento.
Bourgeois sat behind his first drum kit when he was 2, started writing songs at 10 and picked up his first guitar when he was 12. At 19, Bourgeois' song "Mr. Imaginary Friend" won top honors in the national OurStage.com monthly songwriting contest.
"My dad's a musician; my mom has a good love of music," he says. "I feel like I was born with the desire to make music."
The contest's $5,000 prize was more than a cash infusion. It gave the budding musician exposure on a few nationally distributed CD compilations and an invaluable sense of confidence that, hey, maybe he could really do this. That was summer 2007, and in the 18 months since, Bourgeois, who now lives in San Francisco, has quit school for a job leading the music worship group at a Fairfield church and pursuing his art full time.
The decision to put academics on hold – Bourgeois was attending community college in San Francisco – wasn't easy.
"I really enjoy school, but my interests have been so split between school, music and work, it just felt like something had to give."
And so, armed with his love for the Beatles and the Beach Boys, Rufus Wainwright, Arcade Fire and, yes, Jesus Christ, Bourgeois is trying to make a living making music (with a little help from a part-time job at Trader Joe's in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood).
He knows, he says, that it's not exactly what his parents, Brent and Mary Ann, had in mind for him.
"It was hard for them to accept," Bourgeois says.
"They're a little concerned, but I think they're learning to live with the decision."
Brent Bourgeois is trying to do just that.
"Because of my own (background), I have very mixed feelings about Adrian's decision," the elder Bourgeois admits.
For Brent and his wife, it's difficult to watch Adrian pursue a career in music.
"On the one hand, I know what he's going through, what he wants to do," says Brent Bourgeois, whose own ambitions saw him through Bourgeois Tagg, working with legendary producer Todd Rundgren, solo albums and later as an A&R rep for Nashville's Word Records label.
"But I also know what he's getting himself into. (The music industry) is not a pretty picture – especially today; it's harder to break in."
These days, 50-year-old Brent Bourgeois leads a music worship group at St. Mark's United Methodist Church and is studying journalism and history at Sacramento State.
He says he and his wife wish Adrian would finish school to expand his career options.
But, he adds with a laugh, it's a funny thing.
"I was the same way (as Adrian), and my parents never said that to me."
And so, the elder Bourgeois says, he gives his son advice now and again – "sometimes I'll pass it along through friends because I think it actually gets to him then" – and watches and listens with more than a little fatherly pride.
"I think he's incredible – a very gifted songwriter."
The younger Bourgeois credits his dad for plenty of inspiration and support.
The two have played together and have co-written songs. Adrian has even worked with many of his father's friends and colleagues.
Bourgeois Tagg co-founder Larry Tagg and longtime Brent Bourgeois friend Mike Roe even appear on Adrian Bourgeois' self-titled debut album (available on Amazon.com and via www.adrianbourgeois.com).
"We like the same music, (and) in some ways I think I get on better with them than I do most people my age," Adrian Bourgeois says.
Indeed, his music speaks to another time in pop songwriting. Lush with strings, angelic harmonies and melodies that swoop and soar like a hook-laden roller coaster, this is classic Beatles pop with a modern edge.
That's what persuaded Heath Dalrymple to book Bourgeois at the Vox Cafe, a small nonprofit that highlights local arts and culture.
"I'm amazed that (here is an) artist who writes classic pop material – but it still sounds new and refreshing," says Dalrymple.
"It's not that he just went and listened to a bunch of Beatles and Brian Wilson records – his music is not derivative."
A delicate thread of faith also runs through Adrian Bourgeois' music with songs such as "Jesus" and "To Be (The First Man on Earth)" touching on the singer's spirituality.
Although Bourgeois doesn't go as far as to call himself a "Christian rock" singer, religion plays a "very large" part in every part of his life.
"It's very much a day-to-day thing. It's something I just want to attempt to give my life to," he says. "In some ways, I think it's a motivation to write music."
Surely, Bourgeois adds, his faith has helped as he embarks on this uncertain journey.
"The hardest thing for me is that I have this very definite idea of what I want my life to look like, and the fact of the matter is that making music may not be part of God's plan," he says.
"I'm just learning to give myself up to (God) and saying, 'Wherever you may lead me, I'll follow.' "
Not Lame Recordings- Those old sayings have not only relevance but important hints at ‘inner truth’. Here, it’s ‘the apple does not far from the tree’. Adrian Bourgeios is the son of Brent Bourgeois, whose band Bourgeois/Tagg released two albums in the mid 80s, the second of which is a bonadfide lost classic. Strong as that album was "Yo Yo", his son Adrian launches way ahead for these ears in terms of his intense focus on crafting melodies that linger, swell in the ear and, importantly, leaving the impression of an album that will get pulled off the shelf in the coming years after its initial charms may wear off. Fans of Michael Penn, Jesse Sprinkle, Wisely, Chris Brown, Elliot Smith, Ben Folds and Josh Clayton-Felt. This is high-quality material, beginning to end. His plaintive, inviting voice intoxicates, filling the listener with the beautiful arrangements and Bourgeois’s easy cadence makes for an inviting introduction on this debut --- yet it`s the slow, urgent, unfolding melodies that shine, shine, shine and are impossible to miss. Bourgeois played and sang most of the parts on the album himself, with a little help from some notable friends such as 77's and Lost Dogs front man and lead guitarist Mike Roe, who is known to many on this site. If you miss out on this one, it’s just your loss. There’s enough here to sample and hear if it’s yr cup of tea. If you dig what you hear(and have read) here, it’s safe as milk. Righteously Not Lame-ish, Big Time Extremely Highly Recommended!
Powerpopaholic- Adrian Bourgeois album review
California pop artist Adrian Bourgeois starts with a great pedigree (his dad being part of the power pop band Bourgeois Tagg in the 80's) and he's been playing since he was three years old (no kidding). He's been weaned on a steady diet of Beatles, Beach Boys and Neil Young growing up in Sacramento, CA. Opening with "Mr. Imaginary Friend," it's fresh harmonies and Beatlesque melodies are best compared with Jason Falkner and Michael Penn. This debut continues to be engaging and immediate with the gentle ballad "Clown Review" and continues with "Juniper" an Elton John meets McCartney piano ballad. Other highlights are the violin and guitar ballad "To Be (The First Man on Earth)" which brings comparisons to Elliott Smith or Nick Drake. The very Todd Rundgren-like "Silk from Ashes" picks up the tone with great melodic chorus and those fabulous "do-do-do" backing vocals. The song "My House" has a sweet catchy guitar lead with a superb vocal melody. "Melt in My Mind" continues the chord twisting theatrics with a full horn section and organ solos, that recall the best of Ben Folds. The dreamy "Summertime" continues in that style and doesn't pull any punches either, as Adrian puts his soul out onto the table here. The Christian faith come out in "Jesus," and is the sole overtly "Contemporary Christian Music" track. This album is pure power pop and this guy is only twenty years old (Drake Bell has some competition here) and did all of the instrumentation and arrangements. This is a very impressive debut, a top ten contender and I can't wait to see what's next. Don't miss this one.
Absolute Powerpop- CD of the Day 4/10/08: Adrian Bourgeois
More proof that bloodlines can matter in music - on the heels of our Pinder Brothers review, here's Adrian Bourgeois, son of Brent Bourgeois of the 80s band Bourgeois Tagg, which worked quite a bit with Todd Rundgren. Adrian's his own man, though, and he's not going to need his last name to get his high-quality solo debut noticed. In fact, I am sorely tempted to break out the siren for this one.
This is a Grade A tour-de-force of pop (power and otherwise) stylings that we all know and love here at Absolute Powerpop. "Mr. Imaginary Friend" hooks you into this disc from the beginning, with its Michael Carpenter-like jangle and breezy melody. "Clown Review" follows, a stunningly beautiful track that channels both Elliott Smith and Michael Penn. "Juniper" is a Beatlesque delight in the vein of the more sublime moments of The White Album and Abbey Road ("Because" in particular). Meanwhile, the slightly bombastic "Dream On" is reminiscent of Oasis when Oasis were good; I've already mistaken the ballad "To Be (The First Man on Earth)" for David Grahame when it came up randomly on my iPod, and "Silk From Ashes" recalls the aforementioned Mr. Rundgren. And those are just the first six tracks. There's no dropoff in the second half either: "Melt In My Mind" has a bit of a Bacharachian/Brian Wilson vibe and the midtempo "My House" might be as good as anything on the album.
There's really no other conclusion to draw than to say this one just shot to the top of your "Discs to buy" list, and it's shooting right up my top 10 of 2008 list as well (to be finally unveiled next week, I promise).
"To be honest with you, I’m concerned. He’s a really good songwriter and very talented at playing just about anything, but he has that one-track mind that is disturbing to see as a parent. There is nothing inevitable in the music industry. I would like to see him finish college. There I am, turning into my father."-
Brent Bourgeois (dad)
Evolution of Media- Adrian Bourgeois (album review)
Adrian Bourgeois released his first full-length, self-titled album in 2007 to critical acclaim. Not only did Bourgeois win the grand prize for music, in the national OurStage contest (among other accolades,) in May, 2007, which led to features in CMJ and Relix magazines, the album also gained notice from Sacramento News and Review music columnist, Jackson Griffith, who deemed the work, “absolutely brilliant.” Aside from writing and singing lead on every song on this folk/pop gem, Bourgeois also co-produced and played guitars, keyboards, drums/percusion and harmonica on the album, with the support from a great band.
Early-on, the sound is heavily Beatles influenced, on songs, “Mr. Imaginary Friend” and “Juniper,” while later, Bourgeois' own style shines through on the light and airy “To Be (The First Man On Earth,)” which features cello, viola, violin and guitar, accompanied by Bourgeois' vocals. On the memorable, pop tune, “Silk From Ashes,” the Ben Folds Five comes to mind with a catchy, piano based melody. “Summertime,” showcases a warm, sweeping 3/ 4 time signature ballad that transports the listener to a picnic blanket, under an old oak-tree, on top of a breezy knoll. Bourgeois' ability to paint a picture in the mind of a listener, is a rare talent from a young artist, and one of his strong points.
Proving to be a multi-talented singer/songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Adrian Bourgeois is name to remember, and his album, something to behold.
-Craig Van Dyke
The Owl Mag- Adrian Bourgeois Self Titled
Adrian Bourgeois' bio doesn't pull any punches, and after the first handful of listens to his self-titled debut album, it's easy to see why the Bay Area singer/songwriter sounds so confident. The disc took a few spins to get me fully immersed, but sure enough, I was tapping my toes all the way to work that day. Best described as a cozier, coffee-shop Beatles sound, it's easy to see where Mr. Bourgeois gets his inspiration and one almost expects the track "Hey Juniper" to begin with a "Hey, Jude..." However, this is no copycat disc. The variation in instruments and backing vocals, paired with Bourgeois's own soothingly sweet harmonies, ensures that the songs stay interesting and engaging from beginning to end.
Standout tracks: "Mr. Imaginary Friend," "Melt In My Mind."
Sacramento News and Review- You've Got Mail
And
Adrian Bourgeois’ new, self-titled debut album is out, finally. Its 10 songs were recorded either by
David Houston or by Adrian’s father,
Brent Bourgeois. You can buy it through his Web site,
www.adrianbourgeois.com. Trust me on this: The record is absolutely brilliant.
-Jackson Griffith
WERS New Music Forecast
Adrian Bourgeois brings something new to the table of post-Elliot Smith indie artists: psychedelia. There's as much C.S. Lewis as there is Simon and Garfunkel in this Californian's airy, dreamy folk-laced sound. He has song titles like "Juniper," "Mr. Imaginary Friend" and "Clown Review." And the spare but lushly layered music swells at just the right moments, with every subtle inflection of Bourgeois' tender voice. He's a wide-eyed six-year-old boy trapped inside an twenty-something pop-genius's body. The result: cool new music you'll soon be hearing more about.
As his debut self-titled album is released, the Santa Cruz-based Bourgeois seems to have a firm grasp on these musical finger paintings. He causes critics to comment on his songs, "the finest post-Beatles pop tunes I've ever heard," says one. Weighty statement, especially when Bourgeois is so young, but the music more or less speaks for itself. Not many hip fanzines have been speaking his name (he's still playing coffee shops around California, so not yet at least), but if his surefooted, soulful tunes have anything to say, it's not only just a matter of time, it shouldn't even matter either way. Bourgeois seems pretty comfortable where he is, and after a few listens to him, you will too.
-Jon Meyer
Sacramento News and Review- He's Leaving Home
Predictions are a dime a dozen. Some of us are still waiting for our flying cars or for Michael Jackson to get a sex change before becoming the country’s first woman president. Any idiot can make a prediction, right?
OK, so here’s a prediction: One day, in the not-too-distant future, Adrian Bourgeois will be an influential force in pop music, the kind of star the entertainment business used to call a “career artist,” the kind of artist whose work turns up in critics’ yearly best-of lists.
At age 19, Bourgeois already has assembled enough first-rate songs to make him a serious contender. Over the past few years, he’s recorded those songs in small batches: with his father, Brent Bourgeois, himself a former major-label artist (as part of ’80s band Bourgeois Tagg and as a solo act) and head of Christian label Word Records’ artists and repertoire department; with David Houston; and with Ralph Stover.
Bourgeois the younger has sequenced some of those songs into a self-released 10-song CD (11, if you count the hidden bonus track) he’s titled Pop/Art. “It’s a little depressing to think that in the time that it took me to record this whole thing, the Beatles recorded Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt. Pepper,” he joked.
Listening to Bourgeois’ music, it’s quite apparent that he’s spent a lot of time listening to Beatles records, along with the Beach Boys and plenty of other acts whose creative high-water mark occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, long before he was born. His songs possess a remarkable melodic confidence--just when a tune has ingratiated itself into your memory, in the way the kind of pop music does that inspires one to whistle, the melody sweeps upward, turning and dancing in that unpredictable way that a flock of birds does when it moves toward the sun.
That melodic sense, Bourgeois explained, came from exposure to pop classics from age 3, which turned him into a serious student of pop. “I spent years downloading chord charts online and learning how to play these different songs and chord structures and all that kind of stuff. It’s developed my sound--I’ve tried to use that late-’60s melodic thing, the Beatles and Beach Boys kind of stuff, the way the Beatles used early Motown and R&B in their music.” He figures that after a few albums, he’ll be up to speed in a similar fashion. “Hopefully, as they sprung from old rock ’n’ roll and developed that into something new, I’ll be able to jump off their foundation and make that into something new.”
The songs on Pop/Art certainly evoke that foundation; they include such gems as mellow opener “Juniper,” which could have come off Elton John’s American debut album; the elegant “Summertime,” whose melodic sweep evokes George Gershwin writing for Pink Floyd; and one of the newer songs, “To Be (the First Man on Earth),” a stark ballad with Bourgeois backed by the Christynas, David Houston’s two-woman string section.
And then there’s “Jesus.”
Bourgeois doesn’t hide his faith. “Christianity very much has a bad name in the culture these days, as represented by George Bush or Pat Robertson; that’s what a lot of people think of as Christians,” he explained, adding, “I do want to change that impression of Christians through my day-to-day life and also through my music.”
This month, Bourgeois leaves Sacramento to begin his freshman year at UC Santa Cruz, where he will major in philosophy. He’s played a few farewell gigs, both solo and with his local band, which includes guitarist Mike Roe of the 77s, bassist Cheyenne Hill and drummer Steve Mitchell--who once played with dad Brent Bourgeois’ 1970s band, Uncle Rainbow. He has a CD-release party at HQ on October 20.
And what if Pop/Art turns into something that entices him to put his studies on hold? “I’ve always said that the music comes first,” he said. “That’s always been my dream, and that’s what I want to pursue. If it comes down to it, it’s music, then college.
-Jackson Griffith
Sacramento News and Review: School of Rock For Real
The preceding Thursday, I witnessed another Stairway grad from a couple of years back,
Adrian Bourgeois, playing at the
Fox & Goose, one of his final local gigs before he leaves for college at UC Santa Cruz. Bourgeois was backed by a band that included 77’s guitarist
Mike Roe. On this night, his vocals sounded more confident and nuanced, and his songs had the ring of future classics.
-Jackson Griffith
Sacramento News and Review: 2006 Jammies Night Of Contemporary Music Performers: Adrian Bourgeois
It’s becoming silly to say, “Watch this guy; he’s going places.” The fact is, he’s already there. Yes, Adrian Bourgeois is the son of musician and former World Records A&R man Brent Bourgeois. But, at the ripe old age of 18, the singer-songwriter already has a fully articulated sense of his own musical self. Adrian’s songs sound like they always existed, just waiting for him to realize them, but that doesn’t mean they’re short on melodic and harmonic surprises. What’s more, his unshowy style of solo, multi-instrumental performance seems like just the right vehicle for his folksy, tender-hearted pop
Sacramento News and Review- This Is A Rave
I spend a lot of time on the bicycle. Even when it rains like it has in the past month, I usually ride to work. It’s a great way to listen to new music via an iPod; I load the device with a lot of new songs, and I try to mix it up and listen to a lot of different things.
This past month was different. I became obsessed. The focus of my obsession was, and still is, nine songs by a local artist named Adrian Bourgeois. Simply put, these demos--four of them recorded with his father, musician Brent Bourgeois, and the other five with local producer David Houston--are among the finest post-Beatles pop tunes I’ve ever heard.
That covers a lot of ground: obvious Beatle knockoffs like Badfinger and Cheap Trick, singer-songwriters like Elliott Smith, early Todd Rundgren and the obscure Emitt Rhodes, along with anyone else who ever embraced a style of songwriting where melody and smart chord changes trump dynamics and texture while still maintaining a sound identifiable as “rock.” This even includes Elton John, before he went Carmen Miranda on everyone.
I’ve held off on writing this, perhaps hoping that a realization that these songs are no better than what everyone else is doing might sink in and save me from further embarrassment. Alas, no dice.
Does that mean there’s a Jon Landau-like statement in the offing: “I have seen the future of pop music, and its name is Adrian Bourgeois”? Given the fragmentation of the music marketplace--this isn’t like the rock milieu in the mid-1970s when Bruce Springsteen arrived--it’s a risky pronouncement to make.
So, I’ll paraphrase: If some smart record label should sign young Bourgeois and put a Jon Brion or Brendan O’Brien in the studio with him to help him produce a debut album (with “help” being the operative word, as David Houston says Bourgeois is almost confident enough to produce himself), and if that record gets competent marketing and promotion, Bourgeois most likely will become a huge force in the music world.
There’s a density of musical ideas permeating these nine songs--the Rundgren-esque “Silk to Ashes,” a John Lennon-meets-Pink Floyd number called “Summertime,” an utter pop delight titled “Mister Imaginary Friend” and the Harry Nilsson-like “Hey Juniper” among them--not typically found on most current albums, where one often hears the same one or two ideas repeated over and over in minor variations. I’d say this is “can’t miss,” except for the upside-down cruelties of pop culture, which sometimes elevates the aggressively untalented while relegating its true creative forces to undeserved obscurity.
If there’s a criticism, it’s this: Like Jackie Greene does by reinventing post-Dylan Americana, Adrian Bourgeois redesigns the vibrant sound of an earlier era more than he creates anything truly groundbreaking. Not that there’s anything wrong with such neo-classicism, as long as the emphasis stays trained on creating something original rather than reworking somebody else’s classic work. And, in the case of both Greene and Bourgeois, there’s far too much originality present to be overwhelmed by their reverence for the past.
Perhaps that’s a characteristic that will come to distinguish a Sacramento “sound” in the future, something this town will be known for--a place where the past gets reinvented in new and remarkable ways.
-Jackson Griffith
"Great! I just wish you could have played longer!"-
Todd Rundgren
"I thought you're supposed to think you know everything at your age.."-
Elvis Costello
“In a sense, he's like a cool, younger version of Raffi with a lot more instruments and probably a lot more talent.”-
The California Aggie
"Ahh . . . a TRUE songwriter. We can definitely appreciate that."-
The Wondermints (seminal L.A. pop group and the core of Brian Wilson's touring band)
"I freaked over [Adrian's] music. It's amazing....like the fab 4 all in one. It's SO good."
-Boyd DuPree (Eisley)
“He’s so good and writes some pretty kick-ass pop songs, and I’m not talking about current bullshit radio-pop stuff but more like the Beatles, Beach Boys-type stuff that came out of the ’60s and ’70s. Really awesome stuff.”-
Kevin Seconds (7 Seconds)
Sacramento News And Review- 2005 Jammies Night Of Contemporary Music Performers: Adrian Bourgeois
Adrian Bourgeois may be the son of Brent Bourgeois, a noted musician and the former head of A&R for World Records, but he deserves credit for creating a name for himself. With allusions to the Beatles and the Beach Boys (think
Pet Sounds era), Adrian Bourgeois knows how to fill a room with his pop-folk presence. The song “Juniper,” which is strongly reminiscent of the Fab Four, is so familiar that you’ll swear you’ve heard it before. At this year’s JAMMIES Battle of the Bands, Bourgeois’ performance of the beautiful, if not a little sad, song had the entire audience swaying back and forth with lighters in the air. At one point during the performance, an excited fan yelled, “We love you, Adrian!” To which the 17-year-old multi-instrumentalist responded, “I love my mother.”
Sacramento News and Review- The Beatle Kid: Adrian Bourgeois may come from Sacramento music royalty, but he's clearly his own man
Conversations often spring up spontaneously during set changes in music clubs, especially during those showcases for amateurs known as open-mic nights. So, at a recent open-mic at Midtown’s True Love Coffeehouse, few noticed the tall figure with long, dark-brown hair and a beard as he quietly stepped behind a microphone, plugged in his acoustic guitar and began playing.
But as soon as the young man’s voice began snaking through the sound system, people stopped talking. The supple vocal melodies he wrapped his voice around sounded vaguely Beatlesque--not unlike the music of the late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, or Alex Chilton’s work with Big Star. And the guitar arrangements underpinning his vocals were well-thought-out, the kind one might come up with after headphoning the Beatles catalogue night after night.
And that might not be surprising, coming from a player who’s 20- or 30-something. But Adrian Bourgeois, the man onstage, was all of 16 years old.
Bourgeois, of course, has somewhat of a leg up when it comes to getting into writing and playing music. His father is Brent Bourgeois, veteran of such storied local bands as Uncle Rainbow and Bourgeois Tagg, a solo artist, record producer and former head of A&R for Word Records, the dominant player in the Christian-music industry. Young Bourgeois has been playing music for as far back as he can recall.
“I started playing drums when I was, like, 3 years old,” he said. “And when I was about 4, I did Stairway to Stardom”--the Skip’s Music summer band program for kids--“playing drums. We were a showcase intermission band; the other guys were like 9 and 11. That was my first live performance, at the Radisson.”
Bourgeois has been working at it ever since. He plays guitar, keyboards, drums and harmonica. “I can kinda do bass a little bit, too,” he said. He began writing songs at 10; by his recollection, he’s written around 90, and 20 of those he considers keepers. As for influences, he cites the Beatles; the Beach Boys, with emphasis on post-surf albums like Pet Sounds, Sunflower and Surf’s Up; Elvis Costello, for his concise songwriting; and Neil Young, for his organic approach to recording.
When Bourgeois was 7, he moved with his family to Franklin, Tenn., a suburb south of Nashville. “It’s like Elk Grove is to Sacramento,” he said. “Nashville proved to be a pretty good growing experience, though. It’s very different from California--different culture, a lot more conservative. I learned how to exist in an environment where I was, more or less, the minority in a lot of ways: in my opinions and the way I present myself.
“I’m definitely glad to be back,” he added.
The family Bourgeois returned to Sacramento almost two years ago, and Adrian got busy making an impression here--performing in Stairway to Stardom and as part of the Natomas Charter High School’s No Bands Land, which played the Jammies shows in 2003 and 2004.
On Friday, Bourgeois will play a show with another young singer-songwriter, Christopher Fairman, at the True Love. Keyboard player Dave DeMuri and drummer Jon McHenry, who accompanied Fairman at the recent Jammies performance, will back the two songwriters.
Bourgeois exemplifies a young approach to Christian music, closer to U2 or Sixpence None the Richer than, say, Bill Gaither. “I definitely would consider my songs to be Christian songs,” Bourgeois explained, “but think that they might not necessarily be played on Christian radio--because they don’t actually say, like, ‘Jesus’ or ‘hallelujah’ in the words and stuff. But I think what Jesus was more about was having the message itself proclaimed, rather than every single thing being about faith and worship. Because then, you’re zeroing in on a very specific audience. But if you talk about his values and morals, you reach a much broader audience.”
And he’s already thinking hard about reaching that audience. “It’s always been my dream to go as far as possible with music,” he said. A boilerplate answer, perhaps. But in Adrian Bourgeois’ case, it is entirely believable.
-Jackson Griffith