Song Swap Soiree #3

Fort Worth's best kept secret of soul, Andy Pickett, is about to drop his first full length record; an eleven song journey through the deep end of love, longing and the inevitable entitled It Happens Every Night. Recorded by Britt Robisheaux and Jeff Ward and produced by Jerry Hudson at Eagle Audio Recording, It Happens Every Night features an all star ensemble including members of Telegraph Canyon and Theatre Fire. The release on CD and digital media via Dreamy Life Records will be punctuated by a live performance with full backing band at The Chat Room on June 13th.

Influenced by such genius as Nina Simone, Bill Callahan and Curtis Mayfield, Andy Pickett has been developing his own artistic style in private for many years. It Happens Every Night is a uniquely seasoned and mature debut from a tremendous talent who has only just decided to share his work with an audience. "I walk the night, that's the best I've done so far / and when I'm done I use your heart as a getaway car," Pickett confesses in the single "I Walk the Night". From the title track, a front porch narrative of nightlife on Hemphill Street, to the sweetly reassuring gospel of pilgrimage "Western Hills," It Happens Every Night fears no caveat in endeavoring the sincere expression of human emotion.


Optimism is not a word usually associated with a Nicholas Altobelli album. However, if you look hard enough, there are faint streaks of light all through his collection of new songs entitled Searching Through That Minor Key (out on July 7th via Dalton Records).

Shortly before the release of the 2013 acclaimed album, Without a Home, which was praised by No Depression as “pop perfection,” Altobelli quietly entered the studio to work on new music. “I went in with no plans to make another album. I just wanted to hoard as many songs as I could for my song vault and release them many years later if at all,” Altobelli recalls. However, it was quite clear early on that there was something special going on.

Once again, Salim Nourallah (Old 97’s, Rhett Miller) was at the reigns guiding an all-star lineup of Texas musicians that included John Dufilho (Deathray Davies), Joe Reyes (Grammy winner), Paul Slavens, Chris Holt (Sorta), Laura Scarborough, Rahim Quazi and many others.
By the time Halloween of 2013 arrived, the album was 85% finished and was on pace for a second quarter 2014 release.

However, Altobelli was confronted with growing troubles at home. “My marriage was crumbling and there was nothing I could do. The only thing I could do was put the album on hold indefinitely,” he says. “And being the dedicated, or overly obsessed, songwriter I am, I began to write new music and that’s where the Mesocyclone EP materialized.”

Mesocyclone was recorded during the hiatus from Searching Through That Minor Key during the winter of 2013/2014. The EP was released in August of 2014 to acclaim. Exclaim! Magazine in Canada called it “Americana roots perfection” and the EP also garnered local praise in North Texas.

After Mesocyclone, Altobelli almost decided to scrap the unfinished album. “There was a point where I didn’t know if I connected with these songs,” he says. “I’m used to writing about my inner turmoil with nothing but darkness. However, these songs had faint glows of optimism and it felt foreign to me.”

The light he references can be found subtly throughout the album. The lead single, “Sarah,” reminisces about a high school crush, “Dogwood” embraces a life path and decision, and “In The Morning” begins with the hopeful lyric, “Death may come a little too close/But I will feel alive in the morning.”

While there is a hopeful light to a majority of the songs, this would not be a Nicholas Altobelli album without some darkness. “Painted Aeroplanes” tackles the death of his grandfather, “Alabaster” narrates the story of a recently passed individual pleading with his survived lover to find new love, and “Pile of Leaves” is a journey through an autumn afterlife in search for an eternal home.

One of the most peculiar songs of Altobelli’s catalog can be found on this album. “Metal Tree” (the only song on the album in a minor key) tells the story of two astronauts whose love for each other is eroding while they struggle to live on the moon’s desolate surface. “This song has been in my back pocket for a long time, waiting to be released,” Altobelli explains. “I have no idea where this song came from. It is one of those that falls in your lap like a feather. If you don’t grab it quickly, it will blow away and be lost forever, or end up on someone else’s lap. I was lucky and snatched it up before anyone noticed.”

Certainly it is the most varied collection of songs Nicholas Altobelli has recorded, with both light and shade well represented. The search through that minor key will probably never be over but for this trip, Altobelli has made some important discoveries.


Matthew Gray began his young career as a solo performer playing locally while fine tuning his craft for songwriting. Before long it became apparent that his musical vision included more orchestration and hands; enter The Arrogant Sea. Watching them play together is a magical experience filled with dreamy omnichord pop and hints of folk psychedelia.


Cameron Matthew Ray writes songs of honesty. Sharing the stage with many artist including David Cook, Andrew Belle, Gungor, and many more Cameron always wears his heart on his sleeve. With a unique folk sound accompanied by classical musicians, Cameron's music is a very distinctive sound.


"Cameron had a more subtle way of plucking his guitar, something that was complimented well by the his accompanying clarinet player, while his voice shown as the main focal point" - The Music Enthusiast