Happy Birthday to Soul Brother No. 1!!!!!

Jack of the Wood: Singer-Songwriter Round (Featuring Will McCranie)

• April 16, 2013 - April 16, 2013
• Location: Jack of the Wood
• Address: 95 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801
• Times: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Admission: Free

Born and raised in Georgia, Will McCranie, is not just your average singer/songwriter.  His southern roots of soul and jazz influence can always be heard in his music. Now a New Yorker, he is no stranger to the music scene. After years performing with other bands and artists, McCranie is ready to get back to how it all started, with just him and his guitar. McCranie released his brand new single “Ain’t That Strange” on February 19th, 2013.

Anchoring both ends of the emotion spectrum, intense and laid back are not typically used together to describe a musical experience, unless the music being experienced is from Will McCranie.

Tonight, the New York City-based musician will travel the highways and byways to Bloomsburg for a performance that not only encompasses a wide range of feelings, but also a myriad of musical styles.

“I pull from a huge range of influences but my music is a blend of my southern roots with soul and jazz. I’m a big fan of improvisation, so I do my best to mix things up to keep it fresh for myself and the fans,” McCranie said. “Someone once told me my music was simultaneously one of the most intense and laid back performance they’d ever seen. I like to think that’s pretty close to the truth.”

With guitar in hand and a voice both distinct yet reminiscent of  a vinyl recording of a well-worn blues record, McCranie brings to life music about life, its triumphs and tragedies with an effortless manor that comes from many years of playing any and every venue he could find, no matter how difficult or discouraging it might have been.

 “When I was starting out in my hometown, I was told I’d never play a pizza restaurant or bar again. A few years later, also in my hometown, I was opening for the Goo Goo Dolls and Colbie Caillat on a huge festival-sized stage,” he said. “Funny how things play out if you love something, keep at it and you’ll figure it out.”

And that’s just what this young musician did, crediting his greatest success as being able to pay his over- inflated rent in New York City while being a full time musician. Not bad for a musician who accidentally Super Glued his lips together as a kid.

Playing a mixed bag of covers and original music, McCranie has a tendency to dabble in a wide range of musical instruments, including the drums, and is often known to perform cover songs the crowd will quickly recognize along with covers people don’t expect from an acoustic act.     

His latest single, “Ain’t That Strange,” showcases his songwriting skills and the emotion he puts into each note. The song tells the story of the possibility and timing of love, or as McCraine describes the meaning of the song, it’s a “pretty simple story.

“Not being the most popular of kids, there are girls you almost had. You part ways for a few years, start playing some shows, get a little more recognition, run into those girls, hit it off and Yahtzee! It’s about the idea of what a difference a year or two makes in terms of perception and relationships.” 

And those years have treated him well both as a musician and a song writer.

“As far as my music, I can promise you some honest songs, without taking myself too seriously — or seriously at all, for that matter — and some good fun in the way of sing-a-longs,” he said. “Music just makes sense to me more than anything else. I love writing. I love performing. I love the people I meet along the way.”

We are very excited to welcome singer-songwriter Will McCranie to the Fieldhouse family! Born and raised in Georgia, McCranie’s southern roots of soul and jazz influence can always be heard in his music. Now a New Yorker, McCranie has shared the stage with Mike Gordon (Phish), Joe Russo (Furthur), Goo Goo Dolls, and Colbie Caillat. After years performing with other bands and artists, McCranie is ready to get back to how it all started, with just him and his guitar. Click here for his artist profile.

Will McCranie - Ain’t That Strange? (Official Music Video)
Video directed, filmed, & edited by John S. Krueger
Starring: Shelby AmandaLee & Chad Reynolds
Additional footage by Yusuf Shawkat

“Ain’t That Strange?”
Written & Performed by Will McCranie
Produced by Matty Amendola

Mastered by Hans DeKline (Sound Bites Dog - Los Angeles, CA)
Recorded & Mixed by Matty Amendola (825 Records’ Studio - Brooklyn, NY)

will mccranie (dot) com

My new single Ain’t That Strange? has finally arrived! Please help spread the word!

Or maybe Spotify is more your thing?

14 days until my new single “Ain’t That Strange?” Is released! Here’s a shot from the music video directed by @johnkrueger and featuring @xoitssam! #nofilter #musicianslife #recording #musicvideo #supportlocalmusic

From the “Ain’t That Strange?” sessions with producer @mattyamendola. New single out Feb 19th! #musicianslife #recording #supportlocalmusic #telefunken

(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) - acoustic cover edition

#127 & #145 on The Brick’s Around the World Club list. Milledgeville, Ga.

WM3 - 01.31.2012 @ The Bowery Electric, NYC

I Know What Living Is
Coming Back
Dance.Dance.Dance
Everything
Dear Chicago&
Going Down
City Lights
Ain’t That Strange
Bad$
I Know I Didn’t Know Anything
Peaches@

Notes:
& Ryan Adams
$ Michael Jackson
@ Presidents of the United States of America

Dance.Dance.Dance
Coming Back
I Know What Living Is
Ain’t Like Georgia
Ain’t That Strange
Murder In The City$
This Time
City Lights
Walk In
Answering Bell#
Everything
Wonderland%
Friday Night Fights at Al’s Place@

Notes:
$ Avett Brothers
# Ryan Adams
% Angie Aparo
@ Larry Jon Wilson

Not Giving Up
Guinness
Going Down
Thief
Laura
Never Again
Walk In
While the Night…
City Lights
This Time
Dance.Dance.Dance

E: Peaches$

E2: Cool It Down%

Notes:
$ Presidents of the United States of America
% Velvet Underground

Going Down
Guinness
Peaches#
Thief
Not Giving Up
Dance Dance Dance
Way Down In the Hole@
While the Night->
Booth Love/Tweezer Reprise Jam%
Never Again*
This Time*

Will McCranie
12.12.2011
Klimat Lounge
NYC

—-

Acoustic Set:

Laura
I Know What Living Is
Everything
Coming Back
Going Down
Take Your Place
Ain’t That Strange
I Know I Didn’t Know Anything
Friday Night Fights at Al’s 

Will McCranie Trio (WM3)
NYC CD Release Party
12.08.2011
Arlene’s Grocery, NYC

—-

E: Guinness

Notes:
*Presidents of the United States of America
$ Velvet Underground 

Treat your ears right. Listen to this album.