AJ Roach: Difference between revisions

AJ Roach
AJ Roach
	AJ Roach at Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (June 10, 2007)
Background information
Also known as	Mr. Pleistocene, The Appalachian Sensation
Born	December , 1975; Newport News, Virginia, US
Genres	Singer-songwriter, indie folk
Instrument(s)	Voice, guitar, banjo
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Waterbug, Lucky Dice
Members	A. J. Roach; Adam Roszkiewicz; Alisa Rose; Nuala Kennedy; Anthony da Costa
Website	www.roachmusic.com

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AJ Roach (born 1975) is an American singer-songwriter originally from Virginia, but now based in Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland. Roach was born in Newport News, Virginia, but his family moved to his parents ancestral home in Duffield, Virginia when Roach was still very young.

As a teenager, Roach reportedly spent a number of months under the tutelage of cult blues guitarist Washboard Williams; however this rumor has never been properly substantiated, and Roach's playing style does not suggest such tutelage.

After attending college in Virginia, Roach lived in several different cities on the east coast of the United States before moving to San Francisco. The move to San Francisco was a turning point for Roach's musical career. There he met and befriended musicians like Tom Meshishnik, Todd Sickafoose, Sean Hayes and Noe Venable. The musical impact that these relationships had on Roach can be heard on Dogwood Winter, his first studio album. The album was jointly produced by Meshishnik and Sickafoose, and features Venable on backing vocals on several tracks.

Musical style

A. J. Roach's writing blurs the line between indie and traditional folk, and he has drawn comparisons in the press to Will Oldham, David Eugene Edwards and Vic Chesnutt.^[1] He is considered a troubadour in the tradition of Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. Roach's dry and cutting wit has made the stories he sometimes tells between songs almost as celebrated as the songs themselves.^{[citation needed]}

Touring

Roach is best known for his vigorous touring schedule in both the United States and in Europe, at times performing as many as 250 dates per year. Roach has had a number of "revolving cast" musicians who have formed his band over the years. Some musicians that Roach has performed and or recorded with include Mia Birdsong (vocals), Todd Sickafoose (bass), Noe Venable (vocals), Alisa Rose (violin), Nels Cline (guitar), Brian Williams (guitar), Adam Roszkiewicz (guitar, mandolin), Nino Moschella (drums), Tom Meshishnik (guitar), Ian Parks (guitar, bass, organ), Steve Moore (piano, trombone).

AJ Roach's first full-length recording is entitled Dogwood Winter and was released in the United States in the summer of 2003 on the New Folkstar recording label. A subsequent UK release followed in January 2005. A follow-up to Dogwood Winter, Revelation, was released in the UK in late 2006 and had an American release in January 2008 on Waterbug Records. Revelation reached number 1 on the Euro-Americana Chart in December 2006. Also in December 2006, the album reached number 5 on the Freeform Americana and Roots (FAR) Chart.

Roach frequently appears in concert with Nels Andrews. The two are close friends and have toured together often in both the United States and Europe.^[2] They are reportedly planning a full-length album together,^[3] having already recorded a split 7-inch vinyl entitled Duct Tape & Whiskey.

Awards and Distinctions

In 2004, Roach was the general category recipient of the 12th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Award at MerleFest in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

Revelation reached number 1 on the Euro-Americana Chart in December 2006

A. J. Roach was one of the six winners of the 2011 Kerrville Grassy Hill New Folk competition at the 39th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, TX

The second track from Roach's second album was prominently included in both the CW TV series One Tree Hill, seventh season, episode No. 01^[4] and in Showtime's United States of Tara, third season, episode #06)

Discography

Appalachia EP (2002, New Folk Star)
Dogwood Winter (2003, New Folk Star)
Live EP (2004, New Folk Star)
Duct Tape & Whiskey – Split 7-inch vinyl single with Nels Andrews (2005, New Folk Star)
Revelation (2006 Lucky Dice (UK); 2008, Waterbug (US))

(The second track, "Devil May Dance" can be heard in the TV series One Tree Hill, seventh season, episode No. 01^[5] and in United States of Tara, third season, episode #06)

The Poplar Tree (On Hold)
Pleistocene (2011)

On compilations

"Black Lung" on Music of Coal: Mining Songs from the Appalachian Coalfields (2007 Lonesome)

Notes

^ "Noise: SFBG Music Blog - A.J. Roach, why d'ya gotta look so young and sound so wise?". Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2009. Noise: SFBG Music Blog
^ "Nels Andrews AJ Roach Press Room". Archived from the original on March 27, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2006.
^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Cursing-Kerouac-Post-21. YouTube.
^ "One Tree Hill Music". OTH-Music.com. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
^ "One Tree Hill Music". OTH-Music.com. Retrieved January 10, 2012.

External links

Official website Archived May 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
AJ Roach, page at MySpace
AJ Roach collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive
[1] video blog with Nels Andrews

[1] "Noise: SFBG Music Blog - A.J. Roach, why d'ya gotta look so young and sound so wise?". Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2009. Noise: SFBG Music Blog

[2] "Nels Andrews AJ Roach Press Room". Archived from the original on March 27, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2006.

[3] Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Cursing-Kerouac-Post-21. YouTube.

[4] "One Tree Hill Music". OTH-Music.com. Retrieved January 10, 2012.

[5] "One Tree Hill Music". OTH-Music.com. Retrieved January 10, 2012.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}
+{{For|the Australian water polo nicknamed "AJ"|Aidan Roach}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
 {{Infobox musical artist
+| instrument      = Voice, guitar, [[banjo]]
-| background  = solo_singer
+| name            = AJ Roach
-| instrument = [[Voice]], [[Guitar]], [[Banjo]]
-| name = AJ Roach
+| image           = AJ Roach 2007.jpg
+| caption         = AJ Roach at [[Paradiso (Amsterdam)|Paradiso]], Amsterdam, [[The Netherlands]] (June 10, 2007)
-| image = AJ Roach 2007.jpg
+| birth_date      = {{birth date |1975|12| }}
-| IMG_capt = AJ Roach at [[Paradiso (Amsterdam)|Paradiso]], [[Amsterdam]], [[The Netherlands]] (10 June 2007)
+| birth_place     = [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]], Virginia, US
-| birth_date  = {{birth date |1975|12| }}
+| death_date      =
-|birth_place =[[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]], [[Virginia]], [[United States|U.S.]]
+| alias           = Mr. Pleistocene, The Appalachian Sensation
-| death_date  =
+| genre           = Singer-songwriter, [[indie folk]]
-| alias = Mr. Pleistocene, The Appalachian Sensation
-| genre = [[Singer Songwriter]], [[Indie Folk]]
+| label           = [[Waterbug Records|Waterbug]], [[Lucky Dice]]
+| website         = [http://www.roachmusic.com/ www.roachmusic.com]
-| label = [[Waterbug Records|Waterbug]], [[Lucky Dice]]
+| current_members = A. J. Roach<br>Adam Roszkiewicz<br>Alisa Rose<br>Nuala Kennedy<br>Anthony da Costa
-| website =   [http://www.roachmusic.com/ www.roachmusic.com]
-| current_members     = A. J. Roach<br>Adam Roszkiewicz<br>Alisa Rose<br>Nuala Kennedy<br>Anthony da Costa
+| associated_acts = [[Nuala Kennedy]]<br />[[Nels Andrews]]<br />[[Noe Venable]]<br />[[Danny Schmidt]]<br />[[Anaïs Mitchell]]<br />[[Todd Sickafoose]]<br />[[Anthony da Costa]]
+| years_active    = 2003–present
-| associated_acts = [[Nuala Kennedy]]<br />[[Nels Andrews]]<br />[[Noe Venable]]<br />[[Danny Schmidt]]<br />[[Anais Mitchell]]<br />[[Todd Sickafoose]]<br />[[Anthony da Costa]]
-| notable_instruments = 1949 [[Martin Guitars|Martin]] 000-15
-| years_active = 2003–present
 }}
-'''[http://www.roachmusic.com/ AJ Roach]''' (born 1975) is an American [[singer]]-[[songwriter]] originally from [[Virginia]], but now based in [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, CA]]. Roach was born in [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]], [[Virginia]], but his family moved to his parents ancestral home in [[Duffield, Virginia|Duffield]], [[Virginia]] when Roach was still very young.
+'''AJ Roach''' (born 1975) is an American singer-songwriter originally from [[Virginia]], but now based in [[Ennis | Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland]]. Roach was born in [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]], Virginia, but his family moved to his parents ancestral home in [[Duffield, Virginia|Duffield]], Virginia when Roach was still very young.
 As a teenager, Roach reportedly spent a number of months under the tutelage of cult blues guitarist [[Washboard Williams]]; however this rumor has never been properly substantiated, and Roach's playing style does not suggest such tutelage.
-After attending college in Virginia, Roach lived in several different cities on the east coast of the [[United States]] before moving to [[San Francisco]].  The move to [[San Francisco]] was a turning point for Roach's musical career.  There he met and befriended musicians like [[Tom Meshishnik]], [[Todd Sickafoose]], [[Sean Hayes (musician)|Sean Hayes]] and [[Noe Venable]].  The musical impact that these relationships had on Roach can be heard on Dogwood Winter, his first studio album.  The album was jointly produced by Meshishnik and Sickafoose, and features Venable on backing vocals on several tracks.
+After attending college in Virginia, Roach lived in several different cities on the east coast of the United States before moving to San Francisco.  The move to San Francisco was a turning point for Roach's musical career.  There he met and befriended musicians like [[Tom Meshishnik]], [[Todd Sickafoose]], [[Sean Hayes (musician)|Sean Hayes]] and [[Noe Venable]].  The musical impact that these relationships had on Roach can be heard on Dogwood Winter, his first studio album.  The album was jointly produced by Meshishnik and Sickafoose, and features Venable on backing vocals on several tracks.
 ==Musical style==
-A. J. Roach's writing blurs the line between indie and traditional folk, and he has drawn comparisons in the press to [[Will Oldham]], [[David Eugene Edwards]] and [[Vic Chesnutt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/music/2007/10/post_6.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2009-05-12 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014064300/http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/music/2007/10/post_6.html |archivedate=2008-10-14 |df= }} Noise: SFBG Music Blog</ref> He is considered a troubadour in the tradition of [[Townes Van Zandt]], [[Bob Dylan]] and [[Leonard Cohen]]. Roach's dry and cutting wit has made the stories he sometimes tells between songs almost as celebrated as the songs themselves.{{Citation needed|date=June 2017}}
+A. J. Roach's writing blurs the line between indie and traditional folk, and he has drawn comparisons in the press to [[Will Oldham]], [[David Eugene Edwards]] and [[Vic Chesnutt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/music/2007/10/post_6.html |title=Noise: SFBG Music Blog - A.J. Roach, why d'ya gotta look so young and sound so wise? |accessdate=May 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014064300/http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/music/2007/10/post_6.html |archivedate=October 14, 2008 }} Noise: SFBG Music Blog</ref> He is considered a troubadour in the tradition of [[Townes Van Zandt]], [[Bob Dylan]] and [[Leonard Cohen]]. Roach's dry and cutting wit has made the stories he sometimes tells between songs almost as celebrated as the songs themselves.{{Citation needed|date=June 2017}}
 ==Touring==
-Roach is best known for his vigorous touring schedule in both the [[United States]] and in [[Europe]], at times performing as many as 250 dates per year.  Roach has had a number of "revolving cast" musicians who have formed his band over the years.  Some musicians that Roach has performed and or recorded with include [[Mia Birdsong]] (vocals), [[Todd Sickafoose]] (bass), [[Noe Venable]] (vocals), [[Alisa Rose]] (violin), [[Nels Cline]] (guitar), Brian Williams (guitar), [[Adam Roszkiewicz]] (guitar, mandolin), [[Nino Moschella]] (drums), [[Tom Meshishnik]] (guitar), Ian Parks (guitar, bass, organ), Steve Moore (piano, trombone).
+Roach is best known for his vigorous touring schedule in both the United States and in Europe, at times performing as many as 250 dates per year.  Roach has had a number of "revolving cast" musicians who have formed his band over the years.  Some musicians that Roach has performed and or recorded with include [[Mia Birdsong]] (vocals), [[Todd Sickafoose]] (bass), [[Noe Venable]] (vocals), [[Alisa Rose]] (violin), [[Nels Cline]] (guitar), Brian Williams (guitar), [[Adam Roszkiewicz]] (guitar, mandolin), [[Nino Moschella]] (drums), [[Tom Meshishnik]] (guitar), Ian Parks (guitar, bass, organ), Steve Moore (piano, trombone).
 AJ Roach's first full-length recording is entitled ''[[Dogwood Winter]]'' and was released in the United States in the summer of 2003 on the [[New Folkstar]] recording label.  A subsequent UK release followed in January 2005.  A follow-up to ''Dogwood Winter'', ''[[Revelation (AJ Roach album)|Revelation]]'', was released in the UK in late 2006 and had an American release in January 2008 on [[Waterbug Records]].  ''Revelation'' reached number 1 on the [[Euro-Americana Chart]] in December 2006.  Also in December 2006, the album reached number 5 on the [[Freeform Americana and Roots (FAR) Chart]].
-Roach frequently appears in concert with [[Nels Andrews]].  The two are close friends and have toured together often in both the United States and Europe.<ref>http://www.the-medicineshow.co.uk/nelsandrews/pressroomajnels/index.html</ref>  They are reportedly planning a full-length album together,<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIMD8RPreoQ</ref> having already recorded a split 7" vinyl entitled ''[[Duct Tape & Whiskey]]''.
+Roach frequently appears in concert with [[Nels Andrews]].  The two are close friends and have toured together often in both the United States and Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.the-medicineshow.co.uk/nelsandrews/pressroomajnels/index.html |title=Nels Andrews AJ Roach Press Room |access-date=November 6, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070327105202/http://www.the-medicineshow.co.uk/nelsandrews/pressroomajnels/index.html |archive-date=March 27, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They are reportedly planning a full-length album together,<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/jIMD8RPreoQ Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160606083920/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIMD8RPreoQ Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIMD8RPreoQ| title = Cursing-Kerouac-Post-21 | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> having already recorded a split 7-inch vinyl entitled ''[[Duct Tape & Whiskey]]''.
 ==Awards and Distinctions==
@@ Line 40: / Line 43: @@
 A. J. Roach was one of the six winners of the 2011 Kerrville Grassy Hill New Folk competition at the 39th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, TX
-The second track from Roach's sophomore album was prominently included in both the CW TV series [[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]], seventh season, episode #01<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.oth-music.com/episode701.html|title=One Tree Hill Music|publisher=OTH-Music.com|accessdate=January 10, 2012}}</ref> and in Showtime's [[United States of Tara]], third season, episode #06)
+The second track from Roach's second album was prominently included in both the CW TV series [[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]], seventh season, episode No. 01<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.oth-music.com/episode701.html|title=One Tree Hill Music|publisher=OTH-Music.com|accessdate=January 10, 2012}}</ref> and in Showtime's [[United States of Tara]], third season, episode #06)
-==Cursing Kerouac==
-In 2009, Roach and his friend, [[Nels Andrews]] began chronicling their hectic touring schedules through the use of hand held video cameras.  Their video blog can be found at http://www.CursingKerouac.com and is posted on [[YouTube]] under the username ''cursingkerouac''.
 ==Discography==
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 *''[[Dogwood Winter]]'' (2003, New Folk Star)
 *''Live EP'' (2004, New Folk Star)
-*''[[Duct Tape & Whiskey]] - Split 7" vinyl single with [[Nels Andrews]]'' (2005, New Folk Star)
+*''[[Duct Tape & Whiskey]] – Split 7-inch vinyl single with [[Nels Andrews]]'' (2005, New Folk Star)
 *''[[Revelation (AJ Roach album)|Revelation]]'' (2006 [[Lucky Dice Music|Lucky Dice]] (UK); 2008, [[Waterbug Records|Waterbug]] (US))
-: (The second track, "Devil May Dance" can be heard in the TV series [[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]], seventh season, episode #01<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.oth-music.com/episode701.html|title=One Tree Hill Music|publisher=OTH-Music.com|accessdate=January 10, 2012}}</ref> and in [[United States of Tara]], third season, episode #06)
+: (The second track, "Devil May Dance" can be heard in the TV series [[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]], seventh season, episode No. 01<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.oth-music.com/episode701.html|title=One Tree Hill Music|publisher=OTH-Music.com|accessdate=January 10, 2012}}</ref> and in [[United States of Tara]], third season, episode #06)
 *''[[The Poplar Tree]]'' (On Hold)
 *''[[Pleistocene (AJ Roach album)|Pleistocene]]'' (2011)
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 ==External links==
-* [http://www.roachmusic.com/ Official website]
+* [http://www.roachmusic.com/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509170253/http://www.roachmusic.com/ |date=May 9, 2008 }}
 * [https://www.myspace.com/ajroach AJ Roach], page at [[MySpace]]
 * [https://archive.org/details/AJRoach AJ Roach collection] at the [[Internet Archive]]'s live music archive
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 {{Authority control}}
+<!-- home -->
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Roach, Aj}}
 [[Category:1975 births]]
 [[Category:Living people]]
-[[Category:American singer-songwriters]]
+[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Virginia]]<!-- birth -->
-[[Category:Singers from Virginia]]<!-- birth -->
+[[Category:Musicians from Newport News, Virginia]]
-[[Category:Musicians from New York]]<!-- home -->
+[[Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)]]
-[[Category:People from Newport News, Virginia]]
+[[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]]
-[[Category:Songwriters from Virginia]]
+[[Category:Waterbug Records artists]]
-[[Category:Songwriters from New York (state)]]

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