Casey Shea
What We Say: Casey Shea is the kind of performer that stops you in your tracks. It’s obvious Casey loves what he does and he wants you to know it. He has traveled around the world following his heart, and these experiences have been set to music in the thoughtful, memorable songs he creates.
Casey’s love affair with music started at a young age. He was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and moved to Florida when he was 6. Every year his family would return to Louisiana for Jazzfest where Casey became inspired by the talent around him. “The most special Jazzfest experience was when I was 12 and I saw Paul McCartney play at the Superdome. At that moment I fell in love with The Beatles and didn’t listen to anything else throughout high school.”
After spending his youth in Florida, Casey picked up his bags and moved to Nashville to pursue his music career. After a couple years in the south, Casey left to follow his heart in New York City in January 2004. His high school sweetheart, Langhorne, had taken a job in the city, and Casey knew he belonged there too. Things quickly fell into place in NYC — Casey and Langhorne married, and he began playing with a group of local musicians.
Casey formed a band, The Undisputed Heavyweights, with these musicians and they had success on the indie level, headlining the Bowery Ballroom with Casey’s raucous, commanding taking control of the stage. Casey continued to write his own material, and in 2006 released “Take the Bite,” which he self-recorded on a four-track.
In late 2006 Casey formed a second band, Sundown, with friends Wes Hutchinson and Andy Stocks. After getting their demo, Universal UK flew the trio over to showcase. “They loved it, but they felt we were a bit ‘too American,’ says Casey. This began a six-month courtship between Sundown and the label, where the band had the opportunity to collaborate with a number of the label’s writers. In the end, Sundown didn’t get the deal. “Rule #1 of major labels – find what makes an act different or special. Rule #2 – change that thing,” Casey muses. Left disillusioned by the major label experience, Casey went back home to the states.
Casey and Langhorne had given up their apartment in NYC and were left homeless upon their return. They decided to take advantage of an empty cabin in Maine offered up by their family. The couple spent three, introspective months there, with Casey in the attic writing and recording songs. “A lot of songs came out of those months,” says Casey. “It was a combination of being away from the civilized world and coming off the England experience…and not knowing what was gonna happen next.”
Finally moving back to NYC in September 2008, Casey decided to focus on his solo career and the songs he had written in Maine. He re-united with some of his former bandmates, – Jeff Jacobson (Heavyweights/guitar), Wes Hutchinson (Sundown/bass), Jamie Alegre (Heavyweights/drums) and Gilber Gilmore (solo band drummer, now on guitar) to form his solo, backing band and began recording his first studio record.
From January-July 2009 Casey is releasing “ABCs Volumes 1-6” a series of 3-song singles, via Family Records, a label owned by former Undisputed Heavyweight Wesley Verhoeve. Casey is excited to be releasing his music in an independent way, with free downloads of volume of ABCs available on his blog. Casey is also playing a series of shows to celebrate each volume where 50 copies of a limited edition hand-made single are handed out for free. “This is something that a traditional label would have never allowed,” notes Casey. “We can do things our way, take risks, see what works and what doesn’t.” This approach has already paid off with Casey’s song, “Roll Your Windows Down,” prominently featured in the season finale of TV show One Tree Hill.
With Casey’s fanbase steadily growing he’ll be able to continue doing what he enjoys most – writing and playing music. Following his dreams is never something that Casey has had to think twice about.
What Others Say:
Casey Shea is an artist operating at the very top of his game and, by comprising the very best elements of Lennon, Davies and Stills, has captured a sound long since past. Although gloriously retrospective, Shea injects his own sublime, colourful use of language which, in turn, propels his songs to a far higher plain. -Joel Crane (NME)
Casey’s stage persona is equal parts James Brown, Elvis Presley, and Bono…But then comes the surprise, etched in cursive on the head of a pin. Listen closely, and the songs are beautiful heartfelt, and wrenching. - MTVNews.com
Sublime combination of wry, insightful lyrics and simply perfect songcraft. - CMJ
Lyrics can be found here.
Links :: Artist Site | MyspaceFamily Records will send you periodic updates with Casey Shea News, Releases and Show Dates.
Listen
(Coming Soon)
-
More About Casey Shea In TheFamilyRecords.com
- Family Records Goes SxSW
- Casey Shea Touring W/ Tally Hall
- Casey Shea Friday Residency At Rockwood Music Hall
- Matthew Dorrien Featured On Ghost Whisperer
- Wakey!Wakey! Releases “Brooklyn/Manhattan”, OTH, Show
- New Casey Shea Show Dates & Photos
- Wakey!Wakey To Appear On One Tree Hill
- New Release: Casey Shea – In Search Of Seas
- New Release: Casey Shea – ABCs, Vol. 6
- New Release: Casey Shea – ABCs, Vol. 5
<
<
<
<
<
<
<
<
<
<
<
<
<
<
News
Family Records