Posted on: July 11, 2008 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Singer-songwriter Mike Mangione is set to release his album “Tenebrae” nationally via Oarfin Distribution on August 5th. With “Tenebrae” already enjoying a soft release on the internet, and reaching #9 on the Euro Americana Charts for January, Mangione has his sights set to top these achievements in 2008. Early favorable press on the forthcoming album has included the honor of being selected as New York Magazine’s pick of the week, the cover of M Magazine in Milwaukee, while Indie Launchpad defined “Tenebrae” as “a phenomenally great album.” Indiemusicstop has labeled it “a definite must have for any fan of folk and indie music genres,” and Illinois Entertainer called it “one of the best local releases.” The entire album has been licensed for use in upcoming seasons of multiple MTV shows such as Road Rules, Human Giant, My Super Sweet 16, and The Hills. The Oxygen Network licensed the entire album for use in their upcoming season of Bad Girls Club, as well as the Lifetime Network for use in their brand new show American Psychic.

Mangione creates music that speaks to the masses in a brutally honest tone. “Tenebrae” was produced by Duane Lundy (These United States, Scourge of the Sea, The Parlour Boys, Vandaveer, Ben Sollee). Mangione co-wrote and arranged most of the music with his brother, Tom, and called on him to do all the lead guitar work. He recruited friend and Samples keyboardist, Karl Dietel, to play on the record. Lundy brought in Robby Cosenza (The Apparitions, Scourge of the Sea) to play drums. John Collins, a Chicago-scene veteran who had recently begun playing upright bass for Mangione on the road, was an appropriate fit for the album, rounding out the rhythm section. Mangione also recruited 19 year-old Patrick Hoctor, a student in Milwaukee, to become the band’s cellist, and Kristina Priceman, a 19 year-old Milwaukee violin student, joined the band to complete the group. For two weeks, Mike and Co. recorded in a converted warehouse in Lexington, Kentucky, and much of “Tenebrae” was recorded live to give it a dynamic, organic air.

Born in a northern suburb of Chicago and now residing in Milwaukee, Mangione is no stranger to movement and change. Following the 2005 release of “There and Back,” which charted CMJ at number 16, Mangione has logged approximately one hundred and fifty shows per year throughout the country including such notable performances as SXSW, Midwest Music Summit, Chicago’s Mobfest, Milwaukee’s Summerfest, and the band has been invited to perform at the World Youth Day Festival (the largest youth festival in the world) in Sydney, Australia in July 2008. Mangione has opened for performers such as Jamie Cullum, The Samples, Will Hoge, Jacks Mannequin, Lifehouse, Brian Vander Ark, and Michael McDermott, and will continue on the road in advance of and following the release of “Tenebrae” in August.

www.mikemangione.com

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