Posted on: April 6, 2009 Posted by: anfnewsacct Comments: 0

On the heels of his sophomore disc Sobriety Kills, Los Angeles indie alt/pop artist Jason Karaban releases a three song EP titled Mayfly on April 7 on Ascend Records. The disc is available online. On April 10, Jason will perform at the Hotel Café songs from Mayfly and preview new tracks with his new band featuring members of Counting Crows, Elvis Costello’s Imposters and vocalist Lucy Schwartz.

On the self-produced disc, Karaban is accompanied by Chris Joyner (“No Casualties”) on piano and Lucy Schwartz backing vocals (“Sullivan Ballou” and “No Casualties”) before going solo on the closer “A Far Better Place.” Written with images of the Civil War in mind, the songs are beautiful vignettes that are a stark yet powerful contrast to his previous work.

A reluctant solo artist, Jason Karaban first began his career fronting the Philadelphia indie rock bands Dragstrip Courage in 1997, and later Grand in 2000. The latter recorded a disc for Maverick Records, but was not ultimately released by Maverick. Instead, it was released by Ascend Records, a NY independent record label which is currently the home for Karaban’s recordings. In 2002, the band broke up and Karaban moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles.

Surrounding himself with a diverse and well-respected talent, Karaban emerged as a solo artist with the release of Doomed to Make Choices, in 2006, co-produced with Mike Napolitano (Joseph Arthur, The Twilight Singers). His subsequent releases Leftovers, and 2009’s Sobriety Kills feature many notable guests musicians including Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum), David Immerglück (Counting Crows), Ani Difranco, Ivan Neville (Rolling Stones, Neville Brothers), Neil Larsen (Leonard Cohen, George Harrison), Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello), Glen Phillips (Toad The Wet Sprocket) and up-and-coming artists like Priscilla Ahn and Lucy Schwartz. Sobriety was co-produced with Barrie Maguire (Amos Lee, The Wallflower, Natalie Merchant) and Shane Smith.

Currently, Jason is in the studio with producer Ethan Allen working on new tracks along with friends/collaborators David Immerglück and Charlie Gillingham of the Counting Crows, Pete Thomas and Davey Farragher of Elvis Costello’s Imposters and Lucy Schwartz on backing vocals. Jason will be joined by his new band to preview songs and celebrate the release of Mayfly on Friday, April 10.

Leave a Comment