BARD – ANGELS GOT HIS BACK
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE ALBUM PREMIERE
Today we are pleased to present the debut album from a New Jersey music collective known asΒ BARD. With its inspiring name, Angels Got His Back comes to use by way ofΒ Magic Door Records, and it is a wonderful smorgasbord of songs in the ilk of Van Morrison, Doobie Brothers, The Grateful Dead, My Morning Jacket and Fleet Foxes.
Being that the band calls Montclair, NJ home, it should come a no surprise that recorded, mixed and masteredΒ this album withΒ RayΒ KetchemΒ (Guided by Voices,Β Elk City, Luna,Β Gramercy Arms), at the MagicΒ DoorΒ RecordingΒ studio.
Previewed by the singlesΒ “Angels Got His Back” and “Dread Not The Ferryman”, this album is a captivating exploration of American musical heritage.Β Its rich and soulful sound, infectious rhythms and sense of timelessnessΒ creates a listening experience that is both nostalgic and uplifting. Β There’s a certain charm about their music, like something unique from a bygone era. This music and the guitar work involved ticks every box qualifying it as classic rock, recalling some of the best music output of decades past.
Formed in 2017 by college friendsΒ Jamie PagliaroΒ (acoustic guitar, lead vocals) andΒ Michael SchreiberΒ (keyboard, organ, vocals). After losing touch for two decades, BARDβs lineup grew to includeΒ Dave MenezΒ (bass guitar, vocals),Β Mike PotenzaΒ (electric guitar, vocals) andΒ David KolkΒ (drums, percussion, vocals),collectively creating a fusion resulted in a rich texture of sounds, enhanced by a cohesive approach to dynamics, tone, and articulate sound mix.
With a soulful groove-rock sound, BARD craft uplifting music that inspires and unites through a contagious rhythm. Initially inspired by Shakespeare, BARD’s vision of setting poems to music quickly expanded to include works from poets like Robert Browning, Langston Hughes, in addition to original poems by Jamie Pagliaro. A product of their collaborative process, each member makes their own unique contribution to the structure and composition of each song.
BARD’s music is as much inspired by soulful singers like Marvin Gaye and Van Morrison, the funky sounds of the Doobie Brothers and Grover Washington’s jazz as they are by classic rock influences like Neil Young and The Band, the Allman Brothers’ southern rock and the jam band style of the Grateful Dead, not to mention a touch of country sensibility.
In contrast to their 2002 debut EPΒ Come Back Often, which leans on their indie-folk roots with elements of country and rock, BARD’s new album represents an evolutionary step forward, highlighting the incorporation of funk and soul elements, while also allowing space for more improvisation and textured percussive elements.
As of October 4, the Angels Got His BackΒ album will be available everywhere Β (includingΒ SpotifyΒ andΒ Apple Music). It can also be pre-ordered viaΒ Bandcamp.
ALBUM CREDITS
Written by Jamie Pagliaro
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ray Ketchem
at Magic Door Studios, Montclair, NJ
Jamie Pagliaro – acoustic guitar, lead vocals
Michael Schreiber – keyboard, organ, vocals
Dave Menez – bass guitar, vocals
Mike Potenza – electric guitar, vocals
David Kolk – drums, percussion, vocals
Album artwork by Nourhan Sandouk
Publicity byΒ Shameless Promotion PR
BARD
Angels Got His Back
(Magic Door Records)
Release Date: October 4, 2024
Live Shows
Dec 14 Β Denville, NJ – Diamond Spring Brewery
Dec 28 Β Montclair, NJ – Bard For The Holidays
ArtistΒ Links
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: FACT PATTERN – THE SAME OUTCOME
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: MADAME PSYCHOSIS – MP3
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: PYPY – SACRED TIMES
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: JOE GENI – CITIES BUILT UPON CITIES
